Mountain Xpress 11.10.21 by Mountain Xpress

OUR 28TH YEAR OF WEEKLY INDEPENDENT NEWS, ARTS & EVENTS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA VOL. 28 NO. 15 NOV. 10-16, 2021

C O NT E NT S

WELLNESS

ARCHIVES

NEWS

FEATURES 12 REPLANTED 40 Afghan refugees being resettled in Asheville

24 GREEN ROUNDUP Asheville falls behind carbon reduction targets and other environmental news

PAGE 6 PANDEMIC PERPLEXITY COVID-19 and its resulting shutdowns have created a variety of challenges for local animal adoption agencies. Xpress takes a look at how the Asheville Humane Society and others are handling dogs with behavioral problems, burnedout staff and volunteers, a sharp increase in kitten and puppy births and other issues. COVER PHOTO Blue Ridge Humane Society

35 ‘THOUGHT LITTLE OF AND SPAT UPON’ Salvation Army establishes a local chapter, 1890

COVER DESIGN Ele Annand 3 LETTERS 3 CARTOON: MOLTON 4

40 RUNNING ON EMPTY Local nonprofit workers discuss pandemic burnout

CARTOON: IRENE OLDS

5 CARTOON: BRENT BROWN 6 NEWS 25 SNAPSHOT 28 BUNCOMBE BEAT

A&C

36 COMMUNITY CALENDAR 48 FOOD FOR THOUGHT Area nonprofits fight hunger despite supply chain woes

39 LOCAL NONPROFIT CROSSWORD 40 WELLNESS 44 ARTS & CULTURE

A&C

66 CLUBLAND 58 DOWN BUT NOT OUT New art exhibit promotes creation amid the darkest days

70 FREEWILL ASTROLOGY 70 CLASSIFIEDS 71 NY TIMES CROSSWORD

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

OPINION

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

Masks or no masks? [News release:] The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners has extended the countywide face covering requirement for all indoor public spaces through Nov. 30, 2021. The indoor mask requirement also extends to Asheville, Biltmore Forest, Black Mountain, Montreat, Weaverville, and Woodfin. What good is a mandate if no one enforces it? Or do they? Last week, we went to a long-established bar in Asheville. Decided to try it on a whim while waiting for rush hour traffic to thin out. I did not see any of the staff wearing masks. In fact, we got a lot of stares from the regulars when we walked in wearing ours. Then, we had dinner at a new restaurant on Tuesday. (The food ranged from OK to “are you kidding me?”) But my complaint is that at least half the wait staff was not wearing masks. I was not facing the bar or kitchen so I cannot comment on the whole team. I hate to diss anyone, but seems like we should do everything in our power to stay safe so restaurants, bars, etc., can stay open. I have no idea how to deal with this type of situation except to tell all my friends I won’t be going back. Just food for thought. — Stephen Harris Asheville

Developers should pay infrastructure fees I hope that city leaders are also levying infrastructure fees on all past and future developers/landlords to pay for upgrades to city systems that are already stressed by all the new arrivals to our area. Items such as roads and traffic controls (timed traffic crossings come to mind), parking, electrical grid, sewer system, wastewater treatment, landfill, freshwater system, policing, fire and rescue, emergency room capabilities. An associate of mine (an ex-Asheville resident) has worked extensively as a builder and architect in Orange County, Calif., and said that there, developers post bonds and pay infrastructure fees that stretch 20 years into the future. All I read about is how many tax breaks developers in AVL have been granted by the city. — Arthur Treff Asheville

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C A RT O O N B Y R AN DY M O L T O N

You must participate in our democracy When you participate in your local community, you are participating in the Big Story of the Universe. We do our little thing in our corner of the world to make the world a little bit better. Recent experiences at Pritchard Park, Hominy Creek Greenway and Bent Creek brought responses that change was hopeless; Raytheon good at providing jobs; and we need

defense. This ignores the issues demonstrators are addressing. Local groups such as Resist Raytheon and the Veterans for Peace support good-paying jobs and the defense of our country, along with the hope that informed citizens will recognize the military industrial complex and the trillions of dollars spent on wars that corrupt the democratic American dream.

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HERBS, TEAS, & ESSENTIAL OILS

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

We do not claim that we can stop wars, economic inequality, suffering or poverty in the near future. But we do encourage participation and informed decision-making to create a place for common sense. It requires that we the people do not lose hope. What can you do? Resist the seeming easy answers. Dare to dream! Yearning for security isn’t enough. You must participate in our democracy. You are a part of the eternal drive for freedom, justice and ever greater truth, goodness and beauty. Inform yourself. Be courageous and participate in fulfilling your democratic responsibility. Our election system, economic system, political system, health care, etc., are broken. The least one can do is study the issues, demand the truth — be skeptical of politicians running for office. The information is out there: documentary films and dramatizations, books, peace and justice organizations — not only locally, but millions of people globally demonstrating for a more just and peaceful world. Recently, a conversation with angry neighbors about today’s problems echoed my own concerns, despite differing worldviews. When asked what they were doing about this, they replied they ignore the news and focus on their own lives. Think about this: If you are not informing yourselves by listening and

studying all sides of an issue, your inaction is compliance and support for the systemic domination by the very wealthy and the politicians who are controlled by them — this includes both Republicans and Democrats. A registered Republican in the 1960s, I argued against my father’s method of voting. He told me, “I’m voting against every incumbent because they become too powerful.” Now I understand his words of wisdom. As Lord Acton said, “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” My sense is that most of us know things have gone wrong. If wars and the so-called “free market” were truly effective, we would have had economic justice years ago. It’s up to us folks to support and dialogue with others who support change. Here’s a challenging comment by Eleanor Roosevelt: “Some people are dreamers and some people are doers, but what the world really needs are dreamers who do and doers who dream.” Check this inspirational book: What to Do When It’s Your Turn: (And It’s Always Your Turn) by Seth Godin. It explores the dance we have to do and the tensions we must embrace in order to do work we care about — pushes us to dig deep inside to address the things we care about. — Ed Sacco Asheville

Editor’s note Due to changing health recommendations related to COVID-19, readers are encouraged to check with individual businesses for the latest updates concerning upcoming events.

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NEWS

Pandemic perplexity

How local animal shelters are surviving COVID

CANINE COMPANIONS: The Asheville Humane Society puts some dogs with behavioral issues into play groups with animals that have similar personalities. “It’s really, really cool to watch,” says Laila Johnston, the nonprofit’s donor relations director. Photo courtesy of Asheville Humane Society

BY JUSTIN MCGUIRE jmcguire@mountainx.com When Asheville Humane Society adoption counselors send someone home with a new puppy, the advice is always the same: Get your pet into a kindergarten class or other training program. “It’s so important for healthy growth and healthy behavior,” Donor Relations Director Laila Johnston explains. During much of 2020, however, such classes weren’t available due to COVID-19 shutdowns, and animals, like people, were often left socially

isolated. As a result, the agency is now seeing an influx of dogs with behavior issues at its West Asheville adoption center. “Dogs that were adopted during COVID, especially as puppies, they’re now 10 to 15 months old and they were undersocialized,” says Johnston. “You adopted a dog, you stayed in your house. They didn’t go to puppy class; they didn’t go to those normal things we recommend.” Some of those dogs are now anxious or overly timid. Some have high energy levels that they never learned how to control. To deal with the problem, the Humane Society has

2021

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relied on its full-time, three-person behavioral team, which Johnston describes as “pretty cutting edge” for animal rescue operations in the U.S. The team assesses every dog that comes in and then crafts an appropriate behavior plan. The dogs are assigned to various categories based on such factors as how high-energy they are and how much they trust humans or other dogs. The behavioral team works with some dogs individually and puts others into play groups based on their personality types. “Especially with the extremely timid dogs, you’ll see one of our behavioral specialists sitting outside their dog run, feeding them by hand, sitting with them against a wall or taking them to a park off-site to work on commands,” she says. Dogs with intense issues need more time in the behavior program, she notes, but even some of the hardest cases have found homes

eventually thanks to that support — and because the organization is honest with potential adopters. “If you go look at dogs on our adoption floor, you see notes that they are super high-energy and they’re gonna need people who are avid hikers, avid runners, experienced dog owners,” continues Johnston. People who adopt those dogs are given free vouchers for behavior classes and are encouraged to commit to at least six weeks of such training. Not all local animal adoption agencies have noticed the same problems with canine behavior. But without exception, the organizations contacted by Xpress said the pandemic continues to significantly affect the way they do business. BACKLOGS Spay and neuter procedures declined sharply during the height

of the pandemic, as most private veterinary practices were performing only urgent surgeries, says Leah Craig Fieser, executive director of Brother Wolf Animal Rescue, and local agencies are still scrambling to catch up. “We will likely see the impact of this for years as dogs and cats have offspring and those offspring reproduce, and those offspring reproduce, and so on,” she predicts. That pattern has been sharply evident at the Humane Society. In June and July, the shelter took in a total of 761 cats and kittens, compared with fewer than 600 in the same period of 2019. Meanwhile, waitlists for surgery remain long as veterinarians play catch-up. Like other local shelters, the Humane Society requires that animals be spayed or neutered before being adopted. Thus, felines that ordinarily would have been adoptable two or three days after entering the facility may now up staying for two weeks while awaiting surgery, says Johnston. The Humane Society usually contracts with private practices to do spaying and neutering, but this summer their in-house vet performed 200 such surgeries. The Blue Ridge Humane Society in Hendersonville has had a similar experience with both cats and dogs. “It is simply devastating to see how six months without [spaying and neutering] can drastically affect the animal population in our community,” says Executive Director Angela Prodrick. “I have seen more puppies enter the shelter this year than in the past five years.”

“When you can’t spay/ neuter animals, your adoption programs come to a halt.” — Leah Craig Fieser, Brother Wolf Animal Rescue The agency’s waitlist for surgeries is about three to four months for both shelter animals and those served through the Spay/Neuter Incentive Program. SNIP enables Henderson County residents to have their pets spayed or neutered for $10. The number of monthly surgery slots available for the program is still below pre-COVID levels, however. And though the nonprofit has tried to rely more on local veterinarians for the surgeries, many of them are backlogged as well. To help reduce the number of animals entering the shelter, Blue Ridge has expanded its community outreach programming. Because a majority of those new arrivals are strays, the nonprofit now offers assistance for folks who’ve lost a pet or found a stray. It’s also helping owners find new homes for animals they can no longer care for before they end up in the shelter system. Brother Wolf’s mobile spay/ neuter clinic briefly closed during the early days of the pandemic but

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Nonprofits Why we help

Providing sanctuary to wolfdogs At Full Moon Farm, we provide sanctuary to wolfdogs in crisis. Some will live with us forever, but others are just waiting for the right family to call their own. While the need is nationwide, Western North Carolina provides a beautiful area and mild climate, perfect for our residents. WNC is also a great place to find volunteers and adopters with an outdoorsy, active lifestyle best suited for our athletic woofers. The work is hard, but we think every animal’s life is worth it. Whether it’s becoming a wolfdog’s first human friend or preparing them for a life with a loving family,

it’s the little victories that keep us going. The societal changes over the past couple of years have greatly impacted our fundraising and volunteer base. We miss the days of fundraising events and educating the public about the challenges wolfdogs face. We are entirely donor funded, and no one in our organization collects a salary. Everything we do is for the sake of our animals, and we thank WNC for your love and continued support. — Paulina Romanelli Vice president Full Moon Farm Black Mountain

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N EWS opened back up within weeks after officials saw the growing backlog, says Fieser. Last year, she reports, the clinic performed 5,846 surgeries, helping ease the burden on its shelter partners. The clinic is stationed in Buncombe County twice a week and travels to both Burke and Transylvania counties once each week. “When you can’t spay/neuter animals, your adoption programs come to a halt, which means that your shelters quickly fill up and there isn’t room for more animals who need help,” she points out.

STRESSED OUT

Like many nonprofits, local animal adoption agencies rely on volunteers to ease the load on often overtaxed staff. But the pandemic and its resultant social distancing rules have made it harder to train and use volunteers. Blue Ridge’s adoption center, for instance, remained closed to volunteers for nearly a year, Prodrick reports. “Our facility makes it incredibly hard to distance socially,” she explains. “We did not want to put volunteers or staff in a com-

promising position. This has set a lot more tasks on the team that would typically be volunteer tasks.” The Asheville Humane Society has faced similar challenges, notes Johnston. The agency only recently reinstated the animal-handling classes it requires for volunteers who want to walk dogs, and the classes are much smaller than they were before. Johnston lauds her employees’ dedication and passion for the job. “But on the flip side, I do think everyone’s run down, because we’ve had to rely on the staff even heavier than usual,” she says. The good news, however, is that COVID-19 hasn’t quashed the volunteer spirit: “People want to volunteer with us,” says Johnston. “It’s something that really calls to a lot of them.” To capitalize on that, local agencies are finding creative ways to get folks involved. The Blue Ridge Humane Society’s Kibble Krew meets weekly to bag food that’s then distributed through local food banks and pet food drives, notes Prodrick. In addition, some people who wouldn’t typically volunteer at the thrift store in Hendersonville

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Nonprofits Why we help

A passion to help animals in need A passion to help animals in need led me to work in animal welfare. Lucky for me, Brother Wolf Animal Rescue’s work spoke directly to my heart and my skill set. I’m motivated every day by the incredible happiness that Brother Wolf brings into the lives of the animals we serve and the families whose lives are made whole by the companionship they find through adopting an animal. We literally get to change animals’ lives every single day, thanks to the support we receive from caring people in our community. It’s the best thing in the world to know you’ve helped create happiness, love and companionship in the lives of others (two- and four-legged). I am forever grateful to have found my calling and to live it out every single day.

HAPPY TAILS: Brother Wolf Animal Rescue was able to keep its outdoor volunteering opportunities, such as dog walking, going during the worst days of the pandemic. Now that many volunteers are vaccinated, the animal adoption agency has opened up additional opportunities and begun orientation again. Photo courtesy of Brother Wolf now do so because that’s where they’re most needed. Early in 2020, Brother Wolf shut down most of its indoor volunteer activities while continuing outdoor offerings such as the Outward Hounds Hiking Club and canine play groups. In the second half of the year, the agency once again began allowing a limited number of indoor functions, with masking and social distancing required. “This was great, because we once again had volunteers helping with key indoor activities such as cat socialization, dishes and laundry,” Fieser explains. And as many of its volunteers have gotten vaccinated, Brother Wolf has opened up additional roles and relaunched its volunteer orientation. FOSTER CARE TO THE RESCUE If there’s been any kind of silver lining for local animal adoption agencies, it’s been their expanded use of foster homes, which have helped alleviate all of the issues detailed above: behavioral problems with dogs, an explosion of kitten and puppy births, and staffing issues. “Our foster program has been wildly successful and allowed us to have record-setting intake numbers this summer, because we had 200 families in town open their doors to

take something in,” says Johnston of the Asheville Humane Society. The shelter had neonatal kittens that needed to be bottle-fed as well as weeks-old kittens that weren’t ready to trust humans yet. Foster caregivers were able to put in the time to get those animals ready for adoption. Similarly, many of the dogs with behavioral problems were placed with experienced foster families to see if they could thrive outside the animal shelter’s high-energy environment. “There’s hundreds of animals there. There’s barking, there’s anxiety in the air,” she notes. “You can sometimes see a totally different side of that dog in a home setting.” COVID-19’s impacts on the Blue Ridge Humane Society’s operations inspired the organization to rethink the way it handles homeless animals, says Prodrick. The agency asked the community for help fostering dogs and cats and was overwhelmed by the response. Blue Ridge soon realized that it could house 50% to 90% of its animals in foster homes, helping ease space and staffing shortages. Like Johnston, Prodrick says foster caregivers can provide valuable information on how an animal interacts in a domestic environment. That

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It’s a tough time for our nation right now. As families suffer, so do the animals they share their homes with. Medical care and housing are basic needs for pets and humans alike, but it’s a struggle for many right now. We focus on the good — our incredible team members and shelter partners who carry out this work, the caring donors who make it possible and the community who celebrates alongside us with every happy adoption photo we post (thank you!). Together we do the most good we can do, and together we save lives. — Leah Craig Fieser Executive director Brother Wolf Animal Rescue Asheville

Nonprofits Why we help

Throwing a lifeline to orphaned and injured wildlife Growing up on a farm in Candler, animals have always been central to my life here in the mountains. I mentored in wildlife rehabilitation at an early age, thanks to Janice Burleson, a licensed rehabilitator who specializes in squirrels with neurological disorders. While working for 16 years at the WNC Nature Center, the pressing need in our community for a centralized wildlife rehabilitation facility became clear to me. Teaming up with co-founder Kimberly Brewster, Appalachian Wildlife Refuge was officially registered as a nonprofit back in 2014. Seven years later, AWR has grown into a full-scale rehabilitation facility that rescues, rehabilitates and releases orphaned and injured wildlife, provides conservation education and runs an Emergency Wildlife Hotline. We have helped over 4,000 animals get back out into the wild since opening the doors to our animal care facility in 2018.

NOW!

Wildlife rehabilitation is a tireless endeavor that takes passion, long days, late nights, overnight feedings of wild orphans, bites, scratches, heartbreak alongside the triumphs, and a whole army of volunteers and supporters to make it possible. As a nonprofit that depends solely on donations to operate, finding funding is always a struggle and a challenge made even more difficult with the pandemic. Seeing orphaned and injured animals recover and go free again makes all the challenges worthwhile. Thank you so much to everyone in the community who has supported Appalachian Wildlife Refuge and please reach out to our hotline (828633-6364, ext. 1) if you find an animal that needs help! — Savannah Trantham Executive director Appalachian Wildlife Refuge Candler

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N EWS

FEELING THE HEAT: Local animal agencies have seen an influx of kittens and puppies as a result of spay and neuter services being curtailed by COVID-19. “It is estimated that spay/neuter efforts in the United States could have been set back by as much as 10 years due to all of the litters who were born as a result,” says Leah Craig Fieser, executive director of Brother Wolf Animal Rescue. Photo courtesy of Brother Wolf makes finding an appropriate permanent home much easier. Brother Wolf saw an increase in foster volunteers when the pandemic forced people to stay home. The organization relies heavily on foster homes for a variety of reasons, says Fieser. Some animals are too young to be adopted; others may be recovering from a medical condition or are stressed and need to decompress. Last year, the group made 1,498 such placements with 605 volunteer hosts. That success has come at a price, however. “Many of our foster homes who have been going nonstop during the pandemic are now feeling fatigued and are needing to take a break,”

Fieser explains. To compensate, the organization has stepped up its recruitment efforts. Foster caregivers can commit to as little as 10 days, and Brother Wolf provides all of the supplies. For her part, Johnston credits community and volunteer support with helping the Asheville Humane Society get through the last 20 months. “We don’t turn away any animal for any reason, and we were still able to deal with this in the face of all this adversity,” she points out. Despite the challenges that lie ahead, she sums up the situation nicely: “The fact is, our team has been crushing it.” X

Get involved Asheville Humane Society Adoption center: 16 Forever Friend Lane, Asheville To offer foster care: Fill out an online application at avl.mx/aqc or email foster@ashevillehumane.org To volunteer: Email volunteer@ashevillehumane.org or go to avl.mx/aqd Blue Ridge Humane Society Adoption center: 88 Centipede Lane, Hendersonville To offer foster care: Fill out an application at avl.mx/aqe.

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For more information, go to avl.mx/aqg To volunteer: Contact volunteer@blueridgehumane.org or fill out an application at avl.mx/aqh. Brother Wolf Animal Rescue Adoption center: 31 Glendale Ave., Asheville To offer foster care: Email foster@bwar.org or visit avl.mx/aqi for more information. To volunteer: Email volunteer@bwar.org or go to avl.mx/aqj to learn more.

IMPORTANT DATES

Pop-up clinics are our response to community crisis and are focused in those affected communities. We also offer trainings. If you are interested in hosting a pop-up clinic for a marginalized group or see community need, please email admin@atherapistlikeme.org

11/12, Fri, 2-4PM: Colonial Practices by those in Power: NBCC and why you won’t be receiving continuing education units for this training (Case Example) 12/2, Thurs, 6-8PM: A Therapist Like Me Review Team Training 12/5-12/12, Sun-Sun: Voucher Applications Open, apply at www.atherapistlikeme.org/vouchers 12/16, Thurs, 6-8PM: A Therapist Like Me Review Team Meeting of Voucher Applications

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NOV. 10-16, 2021

NEWS

Replanted

40 Afghan refugees being resettled in Asheville

WELCOME WAGON: Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte caseworker Noele Aabye greets Afghan humanitarian parolees when they arrive at Asheville Regional Airport. Photo courtesy of Catholic Charities

BY JESSICA WAKEMAN jwakeman@mountainx.com On Aug. 15, shock rippled around the world as Taliban forces took control of Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. Over the ensuing weeks, people watched on their TVs and phones as people crowded Kabul International Airport attempting to flee. Among those trying to leave were Afghans who had worked with the United States military, nongovernmental organizations or the media during the previous two decades of conflict. On Aug. 29, President Joe Biden directed Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas to coordinate Operation Allies Welcome for the roughly 120,000 Afghans who left. Over the following months, the government has been slowly processing the evacuees and resettling them in the U.S. 12

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Since Oct. 2, 18 of an estimated 40 Afghan evacuees planned for resettlement in the area by the Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte have arrived in Asheville. They have been placed in temporary housing in four AirBnbs offered by local homeowners, a private home donated for three months, another private home vacated for six weeks and a local hotel. “These are people who supported the U.S. mission in Afghanistan for many years, which is part of the reason we are so protective of their privacy and safety,” says Noele Aabye, a Catholic Charities caseworker in the nonprofit’s Asheville office. “Keeping in mind they still have family in Afghanistan and have been supporting American efforts there for a long time.” Two children are among those being resettled, and Catholic Charities is working to enroll them

in Buncombe County Schools. Additionally, one teenager has arrived and is seeking to enroll in college. Catholic Charities declined to share more detailed information about the individuals, such as their previous employment in Afghanistan.

COMING TO AMERICA

Each new arrival will have endured weeks of traveling prior to arriving in Asheville that began at a U.S. military facility for screening, Aabye explains. Evacuees will have been relocated from Afghanistan to bases in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Germany, among other countries, for security vetting, medical exams and vaccinations. When Afghans arrive in Asheville, Aabye meets them at the airport, often late at night and with as little as six hours’ notice. She has been learning basic phrases in Dari and Pashto, the two official languages of Afghanistan, but also has 24-hour phone access to interpreters. The new arrivals are “a little disoriented” upon arrival, she says. “They’re exhausted and very much looking

forward to finding their feet somewhere and unpack.” They’re treated to a culturally appropriate hot meal, such as vegetarian fried rice or curry; many new arrivals are Muslim and eat halal meat while abstaining from pork products and alcohol. Aabye says Catholic Charities customizes pantry boxes for each new arrival as well. “Food is so central to each one of us,” she says. “It’s been a particularly difficult situation to be put somewhere where there’s no familiar food necessarily.” Evacuees are immediately put into temporary housing. But Catholic Charities still needs both temporary and permanent affordable housing, ideally in the vicinity of support services in Asheville. (Some families may be moved to Black Mountain, where there have been offers of donated housing, Aabye says.) Catholic Charities staff doesn’t have the resources to sort through donated clothing or household items, she says, but the new arrivals will need furniture once they enter

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Nonprofits Why we help

Protecting (and restoring) healthy plant communities I’ve spent my life studying, recreating and working professionally in natural plant communities in the Southeast, from the mountains to the coast. My botany professor at the University of South Carolina fired my passion for wild plants and brought our class up to the mountains for several backpack field trips. I immediately became excited by the diversity of plant species here and the mountain geology. Soon after moving here in 1996, I eagerly accepted the ecologist position with the Western North Carolina Alliance, now MountainTrue. I’ve worked as a forest ecologist in our region for 23 years, protecting healthy plant communities and restoring many that suffered from poor management. I’ve had the pleasure to work with many like-minded people, from students to retirees, as well as partner conservation organizations and natural resource scientists in the U.S. Forest

Service, National Park Service, state forest and wildlife agencies and universities. All have inspired me. The greatest hurdles in this work have been educating the public in how our plants, pollinators and terrestrial wildlife are being harmed by nonnative invasive plants, and in convincing retailers to stop selling such species. The public is increasingly demanding that only native species are sold, which is hopeful. Continued education and public pressure can have a major impact. The goal is for plant retailers and their suppliers to focus on growing and selling the many wonderful native trees, shrubs and wildflowers that belong in our Western North Carolina mountains! — Bob Gale Ecologist and public lands director MountainTrue Asheville

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Nonprofits Why we help

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Witnessing families gain safe, affordable housing

permanent housing. (Locals with available housing for rent or who want to make donations of money or gift cards should call 800-227-7261 or email info@ccdoc.org.)

FACING HURDLES

Nationwide, the immigration status of Afghan evacuees varies depending on their previous jobs in Afghanistan. Those who worked for the U.S. military or government for an extended period generally qualify for lawful permanent resident status, as well as federal help through the Office of Refugee Resettlement. But others — including those coming to Asheville — have “humanitarian parole” status. These arrivals usually don’t receive any federal assistance; however, in September, Congress passed a bill to provide services to humanitarian parolees. Additionally, parolees will only be allowed to stay in the country legally for two years without further approval from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. “The reality is, refugees are essentially resettled into poverty,” says Josh Hinson, program director for the UNC Refugee Mental Health and Wellness Initiative at the UNC School of Social Work. While arrivals may be skilled and speak English, Hinson says, the pressing need to find employment means many end up working in low-paying industries like food service, housekeeping and meat processing. And after being resettled for some time, refugees may experience the difficulties of meeting their needs on a low income. “They’re saying, ‘How am I going to afford this?” says Hinson. “‘How am I going to avoid eviction?’” Acclimating the new guests in the early days and weeks is important. “We want to reassure people that they’re very much welcome in our community,” Aabye says. Catholic Charities caseworkers will help to enroll evacuees in English classes if needed, connect them with employment services and social services benefits and enroll children in school, explains Sandy Buck, the nonprofit’s regional director. The charity provides case management for up to 90 days, as well as ongoing support services for years.

CULTURE SHOCK

Refugees often experience “a complete culture shock,” says Mark Gibney, a humanities and politics professor at UNC Asheville who

LISTENING EAR: Josh Hinson of UNC Refugee Mental Health and Wellness Initiative at the UNC School of Social Work says all refugees have experienced trauma. Photo courtesy of UNC teaches courses about immigration and refugee law. He surmises that some Afghan evacuees may have a comparatively easier time adjusting because they have worked with Americans. Still, arriving in Asheville will be “like entering a different world,” he says. With that in mind, addressing the mental health needs of resettled people is paramount, says Hinson. The UNC Mental Health and Wellness Initiative has provided treatment for arrivals in three North Carolina counties since 2014; it expanded services to seven additional counties, including Buncombe, in 2020. The initiative has reached out to Catholic Charities to offer services, including telehealth screening and treatment through interpreters, for the arriving Afghans. Resettlement agencies will refer clients to counselors who tailor their assistance, Hinson says, noting that other cultures and languages have different ways of discussing mental health. “Typically we’ll use words like ‘stress’ and ‘coping’ rather than mental health or mental illness or depression,” he explains. “We try to normalize and reduce stigma in that way.” “We are very trauma-focused in terms of our refugee mental health,” Hinson continues, explaining that

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I was initially drawn to Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity to help advance a pilot deconstruction program created to reduce construction waste at our landfills and generate additional ReStore income to support Asheville Habitat’s mission around affordable housing. I have spent the last 10 years growing the organization’s affordable home repair program. The initial response to our repair program and continued growth in applicants have driven our organization’s increased focus on this community need. I was first attracted to the environmental impact and mutually beneficial service the deconstruction program could have in our community. Witnessing all of the wonderful outcomes for all involved in Habitat’s greater mission of providing safe and affordable housing to area families really resonates with me and remains a source of inspiration.

My motivation is currently fueled by Asheville Habitat’s continual desire to increase our impact in the local community. Additionally, the opportunities for positive interactions and to learn about the families we partner with, many of whom lack these experiences in their everyday lives, is extremely rewarding. There are many external factors that continue to present challenges: staffing (paid and volunteer), supply chain issues, including limited availability and high pricing of materials, changing protocols and lingering uncertainty around COVID, and the ever-increasing need for affordable housing in our region. — Joel Johnson Home repair manager Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity Asheville

Nonprofits Why we help

Focused on well-being, entrepreneurship and empowerment I am a loving mother of three, entrepreneur, self-published author of inspirational memoir/ self-help books and founder of a support outlet and entrepreneurial platform for single moms — Warrior Moms, a 501(c)(3) social enterprise — with advanced knowledge in universal law, coupled with business-success strategies and personal growth. Warrior Mom’s mission: to eradicate emotional paralysis among single mothers who live in poverty. We focus on emotional well-being, entrepreneurship and empowerment. More insight? www.WarriorMomsAVL.org. Our goal is to provide opportunities in emotional/mental well-being and entrepreneurial training to develop the entrepreneurial mindset and business success. We will tailor our services for solutions to the challenge and opportunities identified to address the emotional healing of single moms, her children and her support system.

We are currently offering a free entrepreneurial course called How to Eradicate Fear — A Guide for Entrepreneurs for single moms in North Carolina. I am a single mother, and I know firsthand of the struggles and victories as a single mother. Warrior Moms as an organization began in Cincinnati, Ohio. I relocated in 2020 during the pandemic and expanded my program here in WNC. The mountains are what led me here to Asheville! Asheville is the perfect place to do purpose work. A single mom who has experienced our program says: “My experience with Warrior Moms was great. I was educated on entrepreneurship, as well as things in life. I left this session feeling inspired and motivated. I highly recommend Warrior Moms. — Sharnequa J.” — Nicole Lee Founder Warrior Moms Candler

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N EWS “refugees have all experienced trauma by nature of their refugee status — this well-founded fear of persecution.” Fleeing Afghanistan so quickly will have caused upheaval in their lives, and new arrivals are worried about the safety of loved ones still in Afghanistan. “We’ve mostly been receiving individuals who have been torn away from their families,” explains Aabye. “[They] are not only adjusting to a completely new language and lifestyle here, but doing so while struggling with the trauma of having left their families behind under very uncertain circumstances.” She says reunifying with their families is their “primary concern.”

MOVING IN, MOVING ON

Resettlement, even with the support of a community, can be tough. “What we often don’t think about is the trauma in the host country,” Hinson says. He cites acculturation stress, shame, survivor guilt and Islamophobic bias as hardships that Afghan refugees may face. In his experience, Hinson says, many refugees initially meet the criteria for a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder. As they settle into their new lives, anxiety and depression may set in.

Representatives from Catholic Charities are optimistic that Asheville will embrace the Afghan evacuees, noting the numerous residents who have offered housing and that some employers have reached out offering potential work. Gibney says that the successful resettlement of refugees depends on how well they are integrated by the community that absorbs them. He points to the Hmong from China and Southeast Asia and their successful resettlement in Minnesota as an ideal scenario. Given the Afghans’ alliance with the U.S. military, “I’m hoping and I’m expecting a very warm welcome for this group,” Gibney says. For locals looking to help with that effort, Hinson suggests an organization called Welcoming America, which has recommendations for supporting Afghan evacuees. “These are not people coming to take your jobs; these are not terrorists,” adds Hinson. “These are people who, in many cases, have been allies of the U.S.” Catholic Charities appreciates the community who have sought to help the new arrivals. Says Aabye, “We’re looking forward to helping people on this process of integrating into the community, while being mindful that we don’t want it to be an overwhelming experience either.” X

Nonprofits Why we help

Transforming lives through power of literacy The Youth Literacy program at Literacy Together focuses on youths of color, grades K-5. We are aware of the gap in reading between Black and white students in Asheville City Schools and want to be a part of breaking that cycle. This summer, we launched a reading initiative with Youth Transformed For Life during its eight-week summer camp. We have continued to work with YTL and are expanding to work with Christine W. Avery Learning Center. This is just the beginning. Coral Jeffries, the founder of New City Christian School, encouraged me to continue teaching and training in the literacy arena after the closing of New City Christian School. I am thrilled to be a part of Literacy Together. It has allowed me to hopefully continue to be part of a solution

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to address a growing concern in our community. Two parts of the story keep me motivated. Seeing and hearing the growth in reading a child is experiencing is exciting and joyful. The melancholy part is that the numbers in the gap have plagued our city for years. I realize we must continue to find ways to reach the children and stay on the mission of transforming lives and communities through the power of literacy. One of the most significant hurdles Literacy Together continues to face is having enough volunteer tutors. We hold ongoing volunteer tutor orientations and trainings all year. — Tonya Johnson Youth Literacy program director Literacy Together Asheville

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NEWS

Sustained signals

Local nonprofit radio stations thrive in difficult times

ON-AIR APPROVAL: Julio Tordoya, producer of Asheville FM’s La Neta program, is one of the community radio station’s numerous volunteers. Photo by David Huff Creative

BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN earnaudin@mountainx.com Along with numerous corporate music and talk radio stations, Asheville is home to a healthy variety of nonprofit and community options on the FM dial. Coinciding with the 101st anniversary on Nov. 2 of the first commercially licensed broadcast in the U.S., Xpress spoke with representatives from three local stations about the advantages and disadvantages of operating without commercial aid, as well as why radio remains a steady force in many people’s lives despite an ever-increasing number of news and entertainment options.

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COMMUNITY RESOURCE

For Asheville FM (103.3 FM) General Manager KP Whaley, one of the biggest perks of running a community radio station is acrossthe-board freedom. Not beholden to corporate sponsors or syndicated programming, the West Ashevillebased enterprise can more fully represent its listener base — as well as pivot quickly in the face of drastic changes like the COVID19 pandemic. “We have nearly 100 volunteers producing programming and over 60 DJs, so we had to figure out how to keep those voices on the air while being safe,” Whaley says. “And I also

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really felt strongly that the station needed to be a live resource. I wanted the ability to go on the air and let people know what was happening.” While the majority of Asheville FM DJs recorded shows from home, live programming remained in effect, and new shows were added to address the public’s needs as they arose. Whaley looped in a daily coronavirus update and began hosting an hourlong talk show about the pandemic and its wide-ranging effects, bringing in medical professionals, local business owners and other individuals impacted by the crisis. And the station doubled down on its commitment to music, recruiting sponsors to pay local bands to perform in venues across town and broadcasting the shows live. “We also added a children’s story hour because the kids were not going to school and parents were having to stay home and watch the kids all day, so we sort of gave an hour break to parents — we like to

think, anyway,” Whaley says with a chuckle. The day-to-day flexibility has also made it easier for Asheville FM to stay true to its founding principles and reflect the city’s diversity through its programming and volunteers. Whaley notes that, while radio is usually a male-dominated medium, the station is proud to have female, people of color and queer voices heard throughout the week. He adds that the lineup of minority hosts has proved especially beneficial in recent years for providing more informed dialogue as the nation wrestles with political tumult and reckons with racial issues. Though the advantages of independence are plentiful, Whaley admits that it also comes with the challenge of operating on a low budget. Yet despite the hardships of the pandemic, listeners have consistently come through on Asheville FM’s spring and fall fund drives, meeting the $30,000 goal each time and showing that the resource remains important to them.

“As long as cars have radio, it’s not going anywhere,” Whaley says. “We are that friend that people want to connect with. And as long as we keep our pulse on the community, then we’re being relevant.”

REMOTE CONTROL

Like Asheville FM, downtown-based WPVM (103.7 FM) went from having its volunteer DJs broadcast live from the studio to mostly remote programming. Davyne Dial, the station’s general manager and producer, calls the pandemic-prompted change “an interesting evolution,” but she quickly saw the benefits that a more flexible schedule afforded her collaborators. “When you’re going in and doing the show live in the studio, you have a set time,” Dial says. “But the fact that people have options to record an interview changed how people are able to do radio.” The shift encouraged WPVM’s hosts to expand their reach and interview people from around the U.S. and the world. Among the featured guests were musicians who were able to stay connected with their Asheville fan base, many of

whom had plans to see the artists perform at area venues in 2020 until those gigs were canceled or postponed. But despite this variety, the station remained focused on the Asheville area and the needs of its residents during quarantine. “We concentrate on local programming — local issues, local interviews, local music. So that was the advantage of listening to your radio: You still had that intimate connection with your community, but safely,” Dial says. While the station’s overhead costs are relatively low, Dial points out that with much of WPVM’s listener base financially impacted by the pandemic — including many of Asheville’s service industry workers — donations to community radio became a luxury. In turn, the station saw a decline in smaller, $10-level donations, but the generosity of multiple patrons dedicated to keeping WPVM on the air ensured that broadcasts could continue. However, she adds that the digital performance rights organization SoundExchange recently doubled

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Nonprofits Why we help

Inspired to think bigger, brighter and outside the box With my bachelor’s degree in elementary education and my master’s degree in educational leadership, I have taught first, second and third grades in Florida and most recently at Claxton Elementary in Asheville. I found the opportunity gap between Black and white students in Asheville egregious and disheartening. I knew I wanted to broaden my reach and support children beyond my classroom, and that’s when I found Read to Succeed Asheville/Buncombe. Fully aligned with the mission and heart of R2S, I decided to take a leap out of the classroom and into nonprofit work in the community. Kids always inspire and challenge me to think bigger, brighter and outside the box. The opportunity gap is a problem, but we can work together to support our students. Our children — all children — deserve the very best that we have to offer, and it is our

duty to give them the best possible education. Who inspired me to pursue my work? Black women! More explicitly, Edna, Jonnie Ruth, Betty, Gloria and Joan (my grandmother, mother and aunts). It is only with direct input from Black women leaders in our community that we can dismantle systems of oppression and close the opportunity gap. I am overjoyed at the sight of dedicated community partners coming together to support our children who have historically been pushed to the margins. As a small organization with limited staff, R2S faces its own challenges around serving our community with as much fidelity, intention and high-quality resources as we would like. — Jaimee Stanley Co-executive director Read to Succeed Asheville/Buncombe Asheville

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Making Asheville a place you love to live for 48 years

Even during a pandemic, over 1,000 volunteers cleaned up 23,704 lbs of litter from rivers & roads, gave away 1,172 native trees, planted 1,500 pollinator plants and collected 141,000 lbs of Hard 2 Recycle materials.

its annual fee for nonprofit stations to $1,000, prompting many to drop their internet streaming and solely offer traditional radio. Citing an audience that’s spread out across the globe, Dial says it was important for WPVM to maintain an online option, and the decision paid off. She reports that listenership has gone up nearly a third during the pandemic — an encouraging sign considering WPVM’s near-unicorn status. “There are a little over 2,000 low-power radio stations in the country at this time. Over 1,000 of those are owned by churches, and then approximately 150 by colleges and another 800 or so by the NAACP, Native American tribes and groups like that,” Dial says. “There are 60 stations like WPVM in the country that are not under the umbrella of a larger organization. So on the one hand, that means we have to be very frugal, but it also gives us a lot of freedom in the programming that we can do.”

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AMPLIFIED SERVICE

Blue Ridge Public Radio (88.1 FM) has many of the same community-oriented goals as its local nonprofit peers. But as a National Public Radio affiliate, the station’s

GO DJ: Sebastian Matthews, host of the Jazz on a Summer’s Day program, broadcasts each Tuesday afternoon from the WPVM studio. Photo by Davyne Dial downtown-based staff is able to pursue those aims with greater resources. According to Membership Manager Erin Adams, listener support accounts for 55% of BPR’s total

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Nonprofits Why we help

Conserving and restoring Appalachian forests It is fitting that my path to EcoForesters and sustainable forestry began in the birthplace of modern forestry. In 1997, I was drawn to Western North Carolina by the natural beauty and a plentiful supply of native hardwoods. For over 20 years, I was a furniture maker, using local wood and supporting area suppliers. Doing so allowed me to appreciate the forest products supply chain and how it impacts the Western North Carolina economy. I also watched the furniture industry move to China and the slow-moving collapse of the forest products infrastructure. Wanting to do more, I found inspiration from groups such as the Appalachian Sustainable Agricultural Project, which showed me a positive way to support local supply chains that also support the region’s working lands and the families that are caring for them. My

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desire to do something similar with our forests led me into the field of sustainability and my current role as co-director of EcoForesters. EcoForesters’ mission to conserve and restore Appalachian forests drives our team to share the realities of what we see daily in the forest and what science is telling us to do about it. Trees and forests are impacted over decades, so our biggest hurdle is to avoid the slow-rolling devastation to the region’s forests by collaborating with communities and supporting forestland owners. We are blessed to be in a region that supports conservation and the hard work done by local nonprofits. Thank you, Mountain Xpress, for all you’re doing to help! — Lang Hornthal Co-director EcoForesters Asheville

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N EWS revenue, and the station’s development team recently wrapped up the 2021 fiscal year with increases of up to 25% in active donors, monthly donors and those giving more than $1,000 per year. BPR also saw a boost to its vehicle donation program, which she attributes to elevated used car prices during the pandemic. “The pandemic underscored the need for connection and engagement, and our listeners told us BPR News and BPR Classic provided that,” Adams says. “One trend we’ve observed is an increased reference to mental health in our listeners’ feedback. BPR is often cited as a source for stability, levity, inspiration, civility and calm. There’s a personal and positive connection to voices and programming on BPR and with public radio overall that most news sources don’t have.” The October launch of BPR News at 90.5 FM in Jackson County means the station is now broadcasting on 20 frequencies across 13 WNC counties. Listeners who tune in will hear a station with an increased commitment to racial justice and equity, as evidenced by 10 additional hours of national programming hosted by women of color (“The Takeaway”

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LIVE AND DIRECT: Helen Chickering broadcasts from BPR’s downtown Asheville studio. Photo by David Feingold/BPR and “1A Evening Edition”) on the weekday schedule, and three additional hours on the weekend (“Code Switch/Life Kit,” “Our Body Politic” and WUNC’s “Embodied”). Such moves have allowed BPR to remain

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a steady force in listeners’ lives as the number of other news sources continues to rise. “Content may be available everywhere these days, but trust in all of our media institutions is not,” Adams

says. “In national polls, audiences consistently rank public media as their most trusted news source. BPR consistently provides WNC listeners with reliable voices and factchecked journalism. It’s ingrained in our mission and in our vision for a more informed community, and our listeners recognize and value our credibility.” Catherine Komp, BPR’s director of content, notes that it’s important for the station to meet community members where they are and offer multiple options for accessing content. As such, locally produced programs “The Waters and Harvey Show,” “Going Deep” and “BPR News Presents” are released as podcasts, and like WPVM — and within the next year, Asheville FM — BPR has a free mobile app. “The app has a lot of terrific features,” Komp says. “There’s a station finder tool, so when you’re driving around WNC you can find the BPR frequency nearest you. And there’s a voice memo option where you can record a question or comment for BPR in the app and it’s sent directly to us. It’s a great way for gathering community responses about local news and current events.” X

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GREEN ROUNDUP

Asheville falls behind carbon reduction targets While Asheville city government has steadily lowered its carbon dioxide output since establishing a 4% annual reduction goal in 2011, the city’s emissions cuts have failed to meet that target since at least fiscal year 2016-17. That’s according to a recent presentation shared by the city’s Office of Sustainability with the Sustainability Advisory Committee on Energy and the Environment. In fiscal year 2019-20, the most recent year for which data is available, the city emitted the equivalent of roughly 18,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide. Its target for the year was approximately 15,600 metric tons of CO2, about 15% less than the actual figure. The presentation to SACEE notes that the addition of new outdoor lighting at parks and greenways, an unstable biodiesel supply and aging city facilities all contributed to the higher emissions. “The city of Asheville implements projects that support sustainability as funding is available,” wrote Amber Weaver, the city’s chief sustainability officer, in response to an Xpress request for comment. “Some years have more projects than others, which affects the carbon reduction goal.” A study recently conducted by Lenoir Rhyne University also found that citywide carbon emissions increased by a little more than 1% between 2012 and 2019; Asheville’s population rose by roughly 8.5% over the same period. According to the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, global carbon emissions must be slashed 45% from 2010 levels by 2030 to avoid the worst impacts of warming. In January 2020, Asheville became North Carolina’s first city to for-

is meant to honor “the innovators, pioneers and leaders who have made it so that our region has become a worldwide mecca of whitewater paddling,” according to the museum’s website. Nearly 40 members of the inaugural class are or were residents of Western North Carolina. Notable local names include Angus Morrison, an Olympian paddler and longtime guide for the Nantahala Outdoor Center; Lecky Haller, an international slalom canoe champion and current multi-sport coach at Asheville School; Marc Hunt, a former Asheville City Council member and co-founder of Sunburst Adventures; and Shane Benedict, the co-founder and lead designer of Fletcher-based kayak maker Liquidlogic.

MountainTrue releases results from 2021 E. coli sampling

CALL TO ACTION: Demonstrators used bold artwork to demand that Asheville officials address local government’s contribution to climate change at a December 2019 protest. The city’s carbon emissions currently exceed target levels set by a 2011 resolution. Photo by Daniel Walton mally declare climate change an emergency, although as previously reported by Xpress (see “Taking the Temperature,” Feb. 3, avl.mx/as1),

The Collider is a nonprofit supporting a network of member businesses, organizations, academic institutions, and individuals advancing climate solutions so that all can mitigate, adapt, and thrive in a changing world. We no longer operate a CoWork space. Membership in The Collider is for climate-focused individuals and organizations, and is now much more affordable. We also welcome community support via the Friends of The Collider gift program. Find more information www.thecollider.org and via hello@thecollider.org 24

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fulfillment of that resolution’s goals has been inconsistent. Weaver said the city has embarked on “the development of a road map to implement a municipal climate action plan,” with further details to be made available by early summer.

Southern Appalachian Whitewater Hall of Fame names first inductees Over 50 whitewater competitors, teachers, boat designers and more were inducted into the Southern Appalachian Whitewater Hall of Fame Nov. 1. The hall, a project of the Asheville-based Southern Appalachian Paddlesports Museum,

Asheville-based nonprofit MountainTrue wrapped up its annual season of E. coli sampling in the French Broad River and other local waterways on Labor Day. The results, released Oct. 25, give mixed news for water quality throughout the region. Whitewater areas on the French Broad in Madison County showed improvement over last year’s results, with sections at Stackhouse, Hot Springs and Big Laurel all regularly falling under the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s limit for E. coli in recreational areas. And the Pigeon River in Hartford, Tenn., saw no E. coli throughout the majority of the summer. However, several Buncombe County waterways continued to show substantial E. coli counts. The worst location, a creek running through the Shiloh community in South Asheville, had a seasonal average of 3,393 E. coli colony-forming units per 100 milliliters — over 14 times the EPA’s 235 cfu/100 mL limit. Hominy Creek in West Asheville was also highly polluted.

Opportunities knock • The Asheville-based Energy Savers Network is offering free

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SNAPSHOT

REMEMBRANCE: On Oct. 30, hundreds gathered at Pack Square Park, where the Buncombe County Remembrance Project held its opening remarks for the installation of three historical markers recognizing and remembering the three known victims of racially motivated lynchings in Buncombe County: John Humphries (1888), Hezekiah Rankin (1891) and Bob Brackett (1897). The markers are located at Pack Square Park, Triangle Park and at the corner of Craven Street and Emma Road in West Asheville. Photos by Thomas Calder

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INVEST FOR HIGH IMPACT. A deposit in Self-Help Credit Union is one of the highest impact investments you can make. We have been investing in the businesses you care about with more than 18,464 loans, totaling over $221 million dollars lent in Western North Carolina since 1980. Salsa’s, Blue Ridge Biofuels, West End Bakery, French Broad Food Coop and Hendersonville Food Coop are just a few of the businesses we have helped in WNC. Invest in a GoLocal CD and we’ll reward you with a free 2022 GoLocal Card good for bargains at local merchants. Sponsored by Go Local Asheville, the GoLocal Card supports Asheville City Schools. JOIN US! Purchase online at www.self-help.org/golocal or visit our local branches: 391 South French Broad or 1911 Hendersonville Road. MOUNTAINX.COM

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GREEN BUILDING: Employees with Pratt & Whitney partnered with Asheville GreenWorks to construct a greenhouse for the nonprofit’s Urban Canopy Project. Photo courtesy of Pratt & Whitney heat pump repairs or replacements to low-income homeowners in Buncombe County. The work is an extension of the nonprofit’s previous efforts to provide weatherization and energy-efficiency upgrades. More information is available at avl.mx/aiz or by calling 828-585-4492. • Area growers have until Tuesday, Nov. 30, to submit soil samples for free testing through the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. From December through March, the state lab charges a $4 fee per sample. Sample boxes and more information are available through local cooperative extension offices. • WNC farmers looking to diversify or expand their operations are encouraged to apply for grants of up to $8,000 from WNC Agricultural Options. The application deadline is Friday, Dec. 17; farmers can contact their local cooperative extension agents through Friday, Nov. 12, to set up an appointment to discuss potential projects. More information is available at WNCAgOptions.org.

Community kudos • The WNC Nature Center received a Significant Achievement Education Award from the national nonprofit Association of Zoos and Aquariums for its Young Naturalists initiative. The program 26

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trains over 80 area teenagers each year as environmental stewards and wildlife interpreters over the summer months. The center also renewed its AZA accreditation, a status it has held since 1999. • Transylvania County was listed among 2021’s Top 100 Destination Sustainability Stories by Green Destinations, a global sustainable tourism nonprofit. The award, one of only four given to North American destinations, recognizes the Transylvania County Tourism Development Authority’s Transylvania Always sustainability initiative and associated efforts, including the Leave It Better program for responsible outdoor recreation. • Asheville-based companies Deltec Homes and Red Tree Builders each received a Housing Innovation Award from the U.S. Department of Energy in recognition of their energy-efficient construction practices. Additionally, Deltec was named the department’s 2021 grand winner for innovation in custom homes of less than 2,500 square feet. • Asheville GreenWorks partnered with employees from Pratt & Whitney to construct a greenhouse for 500 saplings that will be planted as part of the nonprofit’s Urban Canopy Project. The educational program, funded by a $25,000 donation from the aerospace manufacturer, will help teach local youth about urban forestry.

• Mountain Meadows, an Asheville neighborhood located off Town Mountain Road, became the first neighborhood in the state to receive BearWise Certification. The recognition, awarded by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, notes the neighborhood’s commitment to eliminating bear attractants like unsecured trash cans and educating people about human-bear interactions.

Get outside

• As of Oct. 1, veterans are permitted to fish all Mountain Heritage Trout Waters free of charge. Towns with these fishing spots in the Xpress coverage area include Burnsville, Hot Springs, Maggie Valley, Sylva and Waynesville. More information and locations are available at avl.mx/arl. • The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is seeking volunteers to contribute early winter observations as part of the N.C. Bird Atlas, a community science project that seeks to catalog all bird species in the state. Roughly 100 bird species migrate to North

Carolina during the season, making it a particularly critical time for observations. More information and registration are available at NCBirdAtlas.org. • Hendersonville-based nonprofit Conserving Carolina has opened its sixth White Squirrel Hiking Challenge, a self-paced program that encourages residents to visit eight trails throughout Western North Carolina. New hikes on the list include a recently opened section of Wildcat Rock Trail in Gerton and Pinnacle Trail in Brevard; those who complete the challenge receive a patch and a package of prizes from local businesses. More information is available at avl.mx/arm or by emailing Ericka Berg at Ericka@ ConservingCarolina.org. • New interactive exhibits have been installed at the Waterrock Knob Visitor Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway to the southwest of Maggie Valley. Displays including a 12-foot mural, funded by the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, interpret the knob’s high-elevation ecosystem and geology.

Commercial kitchen annual membership $375 $25/hour kitchen rental Full-time coworking membership $125/month Part-time coworking membership $85/month Coworking Day Pass $12

— Daniel Walton X

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The Haw Creek Commons is a hub for community, connection, and relationships in the heart of Haw Creek. Co-working. Commercial Kitchen. Event Space.

315 Old Haw Creek Road Asheville, North Carolina 28805 info@hawcreekcommons.com

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N EWS

BUNCOMBE BEAT “The consultant looked at data and numbers. And what gets lost in that is the intangible quality of the libraries and what they really mean to people,” concluded Jim Blanton, Buncombe’s library director. “They mean so much to so many folks, and we really need to invest in them to make sure they’re up to par.”

Buncombe to preserve branch libraries “Grandad, who are the idiots that are proposing we close the library?” Buncombe County Commissioner Al Whitesides recalled his grandson commenting on a recent drive through Oakley. “I didn’t have the nerve to tell him,” Whitesides continued, that the idea to shutter the Oakley/South Asheville branch, along with the current libraries in Black Mountain and Swannanoa, had come from a master plan commissioned by the county Board of Commissioners. (See “Reading Rooms,” Xpress, Sept. 1, avl.mx/as4.) Whitesides’ grandson — as well as community groups that have stridently opposed the plan since its presentation in May — can breathe easier after the board’s Nov. 2 meeting. In a unanimous vote, the commissioners directed Buncombe staff to maintain the county’s current library branches and explore other ways to improve the system. The vote also confirmed that Pack Memorial Library will remain at its current Haywood Street location instead of moving to a proposed new building on county-owned land on Coxe Avenue.

SIGNS OF SUCCESS: Oakley residents placed posters outside their neighborhood library celebrating a Nov. 2 Buncombe County Board of Commissioners vote to keep the facility. Photo courtesy of Shannon Watkins The original $81 million library proposal, developed by Dallas-based consultancy 720 Architects, had suggested closing some smaller branches so Buncombe could focus its resources on fewer, larger branches distributed throughout the county. Maureen Arndt, the consulting firm’s principal,

Nonprofits Why we help

Inspiring radio listeners to build connections 103.3 Asheville FM is a nonprofit, volunteer-programmed, community radio station with a mission to keep Asheville thriving by producing diverse and eclectic programming that inspires our listeners to build connections across our communities and to discover new music and ideas. We have been around since 2009, when we started as an internet-only station with a couple of dozen volunteers in the back of a coffee shop on Haywood Road in West Asheville. Today, we have over 100 volunteer DJs producing over 70 local programs featuring local news, arts and political talk shows, and the best free-form music you can get here in Western North Carolina. I’ve been involved in community media for nearly two decades. I came to WNC in 2009 to help manage WPVM. Although the job

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didn’t last long (budget), I fell in love with WNC. I moved back here in 2017 to be the first paid manager at Asheville FM. I’ve found that communities that have a strong community radio station are better informed, more cohesive and committed to building a better place for all of us to live. There is always more work to do, more money to raise and more great ideas that need a little more traction, but I continue to be motivated because of what I hear from our DJs. Asheville FM is a resource for this community, and I think more and more people are beginning to realize what hundreds of us have known for years. — KP Whaley General manager 103.3 Asheville FM Asheville

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had noted the Oakley and Swannanoa libraries were located within 10-minute drives of bigger facilities already. But residents objected to the elimination of their neighborhood libraries despite their small size and relatively poor physical condition. During an Aug. 10 listening session regarding the Oakley facility, for example, Elizabeth Wallace of the Oakley Neighborhood Association said eliminating walkable branches would disproportionately harm low-income residents without vehicle access. “When this was first presented to us, I think there were a lot of unique and creative ideas for our libraries that I personally was really excited about,” said Commissioner Amanda Edwards prior to the vote. “After hearing from so many residents across Buncombe County about how closely tied they are to the particular library in their community … it certainly shifted some of my own personal excitement.” Edwards said that she now hoped to modernize the county’s existing libraries. Commissioner Jasmine Beach-Ferrara added that Buncombe should prioritize addressing safety and accessibility concerns at the current facilities that had been raised through the planning process.

Why I support Xpress:

County to consider referendum on affordable housing bonds

In 2016, Asheville residents authorized city government to issue $25 million in new debt to support affordable housing projects. According to county Board of Commissioners Chair Brownie Newman, Buncombe may put a similar spending plan before voters as soon as next year. Newman said Nov. 2 that the board’s Affordable Housing Committee, consisting of himself, Edwards and Commissioner Parker Sloan, had recently been exploring the idea of a public bond referendum. In an Oct. 5 presentation to that committee, county Finance Director Don Warn outlined a hypothetical repayment schedule for $50 million in affordable housing debt and noted that a referendum could be held during the 2022 midterm elections. While the board has yet to commit to a bond referendum, its members unanimously approved a letter asking The Trust for Public Land for “technical assistance and research on funding strategies for land conservation and affordable housing.” Newman said the national nonprofit has offered to study “the public’s priorities and the feasibility of funding options” at no cost to the county. Commissioners also unanimously approved several changes to the county’s personnel ordinance, including an overhaul of its conflict-of-interest policy. The new rules explicitly define a conflict of interest as “when private interests interfere or appear to interfere with the performance of official duties” and provide more detailed guidance on accepting gifts while conducting Buncombe business.

— Daniel Walton X

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Q&A with Vicki Meath, executive director of Just Economics of WNC Many issues are close to Vicki Meath’s heart. She has spent her life in community organizing, working on environmental justice with Western Colorado Congress and striving to raise Ohio’s minimum wage with Cleveland Jobs With Justice. In 2010, she joined Just Economics of Western North Carolina, a nonprofit that advocates for a living wage, as executive director. Asheville’s housing costs have risen steadily during her 11 years in the role, and now, Just Economics is “doubling down on housing and its connection to wages,” Meath says. “We often say that we have big-city housing costs, but we don’t have big-city wages.” (ApartmentList.com, a listings website that publishes rental trends for cities across the U.S., reported in November that Asheville’s median two-bedroom rent was $1,771, well above the national average of $1,285. Additionally, the city’s rents have grown by 29.8% over the past year, compared with 15.8% nationwide.) Meath spoke to Xpress about what constitutes a living wage, her experience as a waitress, and her opinion on “hustle culture.” This interview has been condensed for length and edited for clarity. What brought you to Asheville and your job at Just Economics? In 2006, I was working with an organization called Cleveland Jobs With Justice. I had been going through a divorce at the time, and my ex-husband and I decided we wanted to move back to Western North Carolina to co-parent, so we came here in 2007. I actually worked at [now-closed Asheville restaurant TK] Tripp’s for a while; I was waiting tables and living below the poverty line. I have very direct experience with a lot of the issues we are working on. Why is economic justice the area you chose to focus on professionally? Economic justice is at the heart of so many of society’s problems. As a person that has struggled on a low income and been on the other side of people’s negative judgment and stereotypes, I deeply understand those issues. Throughout history, we have seen the only thing that rights those wrongs is organizing and people’s movements. Just Economics designates certain businesses, including Mountain Xpress, as “living wage certified.” What’s the difference between a “living wage” versus a “minimum wage”?

A living wage means a person can meet their basic needs without public or private assistance if they’re working full time. There’s something fundamentally and morally wrong with a society where full-time workers can’t put a roof over their head and food on the table. We know no one can really survive on $7.25, which is the current minimum wage. If you’re making minimum wage and you’re working full time, 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year — never taking a single day off, because we know that low-wage workers often don’t have access to paid sick days or paid time off — you make $15,080 a year before taxes. That’s not enough for anyone in the country, certainly not in Western North Carolina and definitely not in Asheville, where the cost of housing alone would be a minimum-wage worker’s full paycheck. Our living wage rate [$17.30 an hour or $15.80 an hour with employer-provided health benefits] is based on a single individual. But we know that a living wage for different people based on their family size is different. How does Just Economics convince a business that it should become living wage certified? We have a lot of employers that are truly trying to do right by their workers. And they care about the economic community. If low-wage workers have more money in their pockets, it’s better for their local economy because people are spending it in the local economy. Low-wage workers don’t have Swiss bank accounts and foreign investments. But workers spend that money at the local pizza shop, the local coffee shop, the local brewery and on rent. We also talk about the business case for paying a living wage. When you pay your workers well — and more employers are seeing this right now and have been through the summer, as they were finding it hard to find workers — they tend to stay longer. You spend less money on retention, recruitment, training and development. And we have somewhat of a conscious consumer base here, so paying a living wage can give you a competitive edge. In June, Asheville City Council approved a budget that included eight weeks of paid parental leave and six weeks of paid family leave for city employees. How did that come about?

THE GOOD FIGHT: Vicki Meath, executive director of Just Economics of Western North Carolina, says housing costs in Asheville are in crisis. Photo courtesy of Meath We led that campaign. We had actually worked with the city’s Human Resources Department for about two years; we were waiting for

a wage and compensation study to be completed. It was not a hard thing to sell to City Council members, especially as we have an all-female Council, and they tend to understand the need for care. But it was a lot of work with the HR department to make sure they understood financially what that meant for the city. I’m a millennial, and during my 20s and early 30s, I heard a lot of messages that everyone should “hustle” and have a “side gig,” like driving for Uber. What are your thoughts on “hustle culture”? I do think that’s problematic. It’s contradictory with a type of lifestyle that allows for rest, for health, for family, for caring for each other. It’s a type of lifestyle that takes some of what is human about us out of the equation. People say things, like “If you don’t like your job, get a better job.” Well, there’s no time for learning new skills when you have to work 60, 70, 80 hours a week just to meet those basic needs.

— Jessica Wakeman X

Nonprofits Why we help

Motivated by those working to improve water quality The biodiversity and wild areas of Western North Carolina speak strongly to my lifelong love of nature. While dinosaurs or sharks may have been my youthful preference, I’m quite content with small monsters in the form of aquatic invertebrates. They are just as captivating, but much easier to find. I was lucky in 2005 to work for Rick Maas, who founded the Environmental Quality Institute in the late 1980s. Training community members to participate in stream and lake monitoring was novel in those early days, but Rick and his colleagues realized it is crucial for frequent and widespread testing. Measuring water conditions and stream life over time is meaningful information for conservation, since pollution is often invisible.

I continue to be motivated by the hundreds of volunteers and watershed professionals who have been working to improve water quality in these mountains. Folks have spent their time and energy on this for more than three decades, building on each other’s work. EQI’s small staff coordinates volunteers and tests water samples in our North Carolinacertified laboratory. Funding to keep EQI’s lab equipped with modern water-testing equipment is key to continuing this high-quality science program. We also love the opportunity to put people in waders and get them looking for bugs with us in the streams. — Ann Marie Traylor Executive director Environmental Quality Institute Black Mountain

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Q&A with Shannon Kauffman, homeowner services manager for Habitat for Humanity Shannon Kauffman, who moved to Asheville with her 3-year-old son, Caleb, in 2009, remembers working as a child care subsidy case worker and struggling to make ends meet. “Between rent and child care, there was nothing left. I would skip my light bill to pay for a week of child care, then skip my car payment to keep the lights on,” she recalls. “I felt like I was treading water.” That was when a friend told Kauffman about Asheville Area Habitat For Humanity’s Homeownership Program, which offers qualified applicants a monthly mortgage that is equal to or less than 30% of their gross monthly income. Kauffman applied for the program and began working to build a home of her own. In 2013, she became a first-time homeowner. Today, Kauffman helps other area residents become homeowners themselves as Habitat’s homeowner services manager, where she says her personal experience not only informs her work but inspires others. Xpress sat down with Kauffman to discuss Asheville’s housing market, Habitat’s homeownership program and the importance of volunteering.

This interview has been condensed for length and edited for clarity. What are the most common challenges people face regarding homeownership? In a traditional housing market, it’s problems with their credit. People tend to ignore their credit until they’re ready to buy a home. While we can move on from our bad choices, our credit report is like that person who never lets you live down your mistake — that repossessed car, that maxed-out credit card. Collectors may have lost track of you, but our credit report is here to stay. How is housing in Asheville different from that in other areas around the country? Our housing crisis mirrors that which is seen in big cities. Unfortunately, Asheville wages lag far behind what it takes to live here. Wages in Asheville are similar to rates paid in small towns. We’re a midsized city with big-city costs and smalltown wages. In addition, we’re a hot spot for investors looking to buy up properties for short-term rentals, with unlimited resources on hand to outbid individu-

Nonprofits Why we help

Fueled by inspiration and possibility My decision to move after 30 years in Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley to Asheville to join the fabulous RiverLink team and legacy was fueled by inspiration and possibility. I am a hydrologist by training and a nonprofit leader by passion, and the opportunity to lead RiverLink represented the convergence of my professional and personal work. My husband and I were ready for an adventure, and Asheville met all of our desires and more. As only the third executive director in RiverLink’s three-decades-plus history, I am not just excited, but honored to be part of this extraordinary journey to advocate for and protect the French Broad River and to champion responsible economic development and vitality. At RiverLink, we are excited to continue to provide our impactful programming and community partnerships, from water and

NOV. 10-16, 2021

land resource management to educational outreach throughout the watershed. In addition, we are actively working toward bringing to life Karen Cragnolin Park (in honor of our founder) and The Wave, in partnership with the town of Woodfin. To learn more about supporting our work and projects, please visit riverlink.org. I look forward to learning more about the rich history of the area and the meaningful work so many organizations are providing. I am grateful to all those who are helping introduce me to the fabulous people and ways of the area. Thank you in advance for your openness and support. I look forward to a bright future together. — Lisa Raleigh Executive director RiverLink Asheville

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RIGHT AT HOME: Shannon Kauffman says her experience of buying her first home through Habitat For Humanity’s Homeownership Program helps her encourage and guide applicants through the process. Photo courtesy of Kauffman al buyers. Asheville residents cannot compete. We’re seeing a lot of people who work in Asheville having to live in neighboring counties because they cannot afford to rent, let alone buy, in Asheville. How do you describe Habitat’s homeownership efforts? Established in 1983, Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity has built 356 homes in Buncombe County, serving 480 adults and 746 children. We will close on nine more homes by the end of this fiscal year. Unlike a traditional lender, AAHH acts as both the lender and builder, and we only sell to low-income homebuyers earning less than 80% of the area median income ($60,100 for a family of four). By selling to low-income buyers, we provide opportunity to those who would not be able to buy a home in this area. We’re in the midst of building our largest neighborhood to date. New Heights is a diverse, multigenerational neighborhood located off Old Haywood Road 6 miles from downtown Asheville. The neighborhood will include single-family homes, two-story town homes, and single-level townhomes specifically designed for aging adults 55 years and older. It will be accessible to people in all stages of life, a place where 98 households of all ages and backgrounds will build strong, stable futures.

According to Habitat’s website, all housing applicants must be willing to perform 200 hours of “sweat equity.” Why is this an important part of the program? Our program of affordable homeownership is made possible by the use of volunteer labor, and the buyer’s sweat equity is a part of this volunteer workforce. At Habitat, we like to say that we offer a hand up instead of a handout, and our buyers must exhibit a willingness to partner with Habitat. The sweat equity is also important to prepare buyers for the responsibility of homeownership. Homebuyer education alone accounts for about 60 hours of sweat equity. Our homebuyers are familiar with the language in the deed of trust; they learn how to do small repairs on their homes, care for their HVAC systems, avoid predatory lenders and budget for the future. They do estate planning with our volunteer attorneys and learn conflict resolution. They earn sweat equity for each step along the way. Finally, sweat equity builds vibrant, diverse communities. Our homebuyers come from all walks of life, but they are all centered on building a safe, affordable home for their families. When future neighbors work side by side, build each other’s homes and work at the ReStore, the community begins forming long before they close on their home. What is your favorite part of your job? As the homeowner services manager, I love to share my story with applicants. I want them to know I understand their struggle. Having done it myself, I can encourage them, because it’s not easy working full time while completing your sweat equity. In fact, it’s like taking on a second job for six--seven months. I tell them, “You will be exhausted, you will sweat, you will miss your kid’s soccer games. But in the end, you will be a homeowner. The pain will be a distant memory, but your home will last many lifetimes.” Habitat has been instrumental in my life. As a Habitat homeowner, I have an affordable mortgage payment. As a Habitat staff member, I earn a living wage. To say that Habitat has had an impact on me would be an understatement. I feel like I won the lottery.

— Brooke Randle X

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Q&A with Joseph Jamison, United Way equity and network specialist Just as the 1918 influenza pandemic was coming to an end, the United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County was founded as a way to raise funds for local charities and coordinate relief services. Roughly a century later, the nonprofit was thrust into helping manage the effects of another pandemic — COVID-19 — while continuing its mission to improve the lives of area residents. Joseph Jamison is part of that work. As the equity and network development specialist for the United Way’s Community Schools program, his job is to help lift student voices during this challenging time and make sure that adults are listening. “One of the biggest challenges students face is a lack of voice in a lot of decision-making within our schools and the community at large,” he explains. “For example, debates over masks or virtual over in-person learning. We’ve all heard a lot of loud adult voices at the table, but I think most people would be hard-pressed to recall a news clip or an article where they heard what students thought about those decisions.” Xpress sat down with Jamison to learn more about the needs of Ashevile’s students and how community support can create a path toward success. This interview has been condensed for length and edited for clarity. What is the Community Schools program? Community Schools is really a strategy about ensuring there are appropriate resources in the schools so that they can serve as hubs of support for the community.

Our current roster of community schools includes Erwin Middle, Enka Middle, Owen Middle, A.C. Reynolds Middle and Asheville Middle. Joining those ranks this year are North Buncombe Middle and Asheville High/SILSA. As these school communities across our county are unique, each community school looks a little bit different. But an effective community school has four pillars that it stands on: integrated student support, like mental health services; active and authentic community engagement; expanded and enriched learning time and opportunities, like summer or after-school programming; and collaborative leadership practices. What does a typical day look like for you? Co-creating opportunities for youth leadership and strengthening the network of schools and community partners are really my main focus areas. That might look like me connecting one-on-one with staff from some of our community partners or presenting to their boards to discuss the new network partnership agreement that we have. We’ve defined a bold community goal — by 2035, all Asheville City and Buncombe County students will graduate ready and fully prepared to pursue their goals and dreams. That goal and the agreement were run through a series of focus groups, surveys and outreach with over 150 youth and community partners over the last year. That’s also a big part of my work: ensuring that there is equity of voice and leadership in everything we do as we

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NOV. 10-16, 2021

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SCHOOL OF THOUGHT: Joseph Jamison says that centering student voices during discussions about their education is critical to boost academic and personal success. Photo courtesy of Jamison evolve as an organization, network and community. What challenges do students experience locally that you help to address? Long before this pandemic, it’s been well known that there are children in our community who are experiencing homelessness or living in homes with little to no access to resources like food, water and internet. We also have many Latinx youth and other students from immigrant communities facing language barriers. The pandemic has turned up the heat on a lot of those well-known issues, but it’s also brought some students into those situations for the first time. How do you think kids feel when they are given a seat at the table? Youth are speaking all the time, whether they’re at the table or on social media or in the classroom or lunchroom. Youth are proximate to the issues, and they are reflecting on them and talking about them with one another and with adults. The question is really, how does it feel when adults actually listen to what youth are saying? Part of

my work right now is building that capacity in our community. We have a lot of organizations and a lot of initiatives that are rightfully looking to more authentically include youth in their design and decision-making capacities. As with any group whose voice is so often marginalized, the people who are building the table or holding the space for those voices to enter the room and have an impact have to be prepared to do that in a way that is truly inclusive and equitable. They need to make sure that students are not just present and not just heard, but really have an influence on whatever the room is talking about. What’s your favorite part of your job, and what are some challenges that you experience? I’m the kind of person whose favorite thing is the challenge — that’s what motivates me and drives me. With United Way, what’s really challenging right now is that we’re in our centennial year, which is exciting because we’re in the process of envisioning our work in the community over the next 100 years. But doing that requires us to reflect on the last century and acknowledge where we’ve made our own mistakes and potentially caused harm. I feel really fortunate to be here at this organization when our team and our leadership is willing to commit to centering equity as we move forward and dive deep into that level of introspection. What do you think students and teachers need in terms of support? There are so many needs. So rather than speak to one specifically, I feel really comfortable saying that all our schools are in need of all our support right now. That’s why community is in the name of Community Schools, but that approach isn’t necessarily limited to the schools we currently work in. And so to anyone out there, I would encourage them to connect with the schools in the districts that they live in about what needs they have. Opportunity gaps manifest as achievement gaps in the schools, but they’re born in our communities. It’s going to take all of us, the whole community working together, to close them.

— Brooke Randle X

ASHEVILLE ARCHIVES by Thomas Calder | tcalder@mountainx.com

‘Thought little of and spat upon’ On Dec. 11, 1890, the Asheville Daily Citizen announced that the Salvation Army was establishing a local branch in the old opera hall located in the courthouse. The new chapter was spearheaded by Capt. F.L. Sawyer, with plans for an initial service the following week, Dec. 17. According to the article, the gathering would feature song and prayer, along with “an exhortation to sinners.” “We were attracted here, partly by the fact that there are large numbers of people coming and going here all the time,” Sawyer told the paper. “These people are so busy when here that they have not time to go to church and we hope to attract them by our peculiar modes.” Originally from Quebec, Sawyer shared his backstory with the Asheville Daily Citizen. A former cabinetmaker and self-described “drinking man … leading a low life,” he found religion in 1886 before joining the Salvation Army the following year. His family

Salvation Army establishes a local chapter, 1890

WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD: A view of Pack Square, circa 1892, around the time the Salvation Army would have established its new branch in the city. Photo courtesy of Buncombe County Special Collections, Pack Memorial Library disapproved of his decision and ultimately disinherited him. “We often meet with persecution,” Sawyer proclaimed. Since joining the organization, he reported being arrest-

ed nine times “by sinful people, whose sins we were disturbing[.]” Such abuse, he continued, made the Salvation Army “like Christ, Paul and Peter. We are ‘thought little of and spat upon.’”

Still new to Asheville, Sawyer had arrived in the city on Nov. 20 “dressed in citizens’ clothes,” he stated. “We often have to do this when making arrangements for establishing ourselves in a place, as people will not listen to us if we appear in uniform, when on that kind of business.” According to Sawyer, since its launch in 1865, the Salvation Army had established branches in 445 cities in the U.S. with 1,125 officers. The new chapter leader credited a Mrs. Maudlin of West Asheville with helping to establish the city’s local branch. The Asheville Daily Citizen concluded the article with additional background on the organization, noting how it “afforded an immunity from a sad life to women in extreme poverty” and had established specific branches to look after prisoners. “One of the Army’s strongest holds has always been among the criminal classes,” the paper wrote. Editor’s note: Peculiarities of spelling and punctuation are preserved from the original documents. X

I am Jane Doe. You won´t know who I am or hear my story. I am one of the thousands of children who suffered from abuse in Buncombe County last year. Mountain Child Advocacy Center gave me Hope, Help, and Healing.

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR NOV. 10-18, 2021 For a full list of community calendar guidelines, please visit mountainx.com/calendar. For questions about free listings, call 828-251-1333, opt. 4. For questions about paid calendar listings, please call 828-251-1333, opt. 1.

Online Events = Shaded WELLNESS Free COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics FEMA's mobile vaccine center will administer up to 250 vaccines each day. First and second doses, as well as booster vaccines, will be provided. WE (11/10), TH (11/11), FR (11/12), SA (11/13), 7am-7pm, Asheville Outlets, 800 Brevard Rd Queer Trans Body Love: a Yoga class in the Park All people across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum and allies are welcome. Meet at the bridge to the picnic pavilions. SA (11/13), MO (11/15), 11am, Carrier Park, 220 Amboy Rd Ben's Friends A local meeting of the national support group for people in the hospi-

tality industry struggling with addiction. MO (11/15), 10am, Free, AB Tech Culinary Arts & Hospitality School, 30 Tech Dr Rise and Flow Yoga A gentle session, outdoors. TU (11/16), 9am, One World Brewing West, 520 Haywood Rd Steady Collective Syringe Access Outreach Free naloxone, syringes and educational material on harm reduction. TU (11/16), 2pm, Firestorm Books & Coffee, 610 Haywood Rd Bereavement Support Group For those over 21 who have lost an adult loved one. Peer-led and coordinated by trained and certified facilitator Will Weintraub. RSVP

LOCAL MARKETING: The West Asheville Tailgate Market, featuring locally grown and crafted items as well as live music, will be held Tuesday, Nov. 16, 3:30-5:30 p.m. The market, which takes place every Tuesday at 718 Haywood Road, will run through Dec. 21. Photo by Andy Hall

You know us in print each week.

is required by calling 412-913-0272. TU (11/16), 6pm, Woodfin YMCA, 40 N. Merrimon Ave, Ste 101 Quest4Life 5Rhythms Waves Class Weekly instructional classes based on Gabrielle Roth's work. No dance experience necessary. TU (11/16), 7pm, $12-22, Terpsicorps Academy, 1501 Patton Ave

Try us online each day. Essential updates. Original reporting. Daily at 2 p.m.

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Yoga and the 12 Steps of Recovery (Y12SR) The Y12SR model addresses addiction as a physical, mental and spiritual disease. WE (11/17, 24), 8:30am, Free, Asheville Yoga Center, 211 S Liberty St

ART The Price of Progress: Remembering the WNC Railroad and the People Who Built It

An exhibit focusing on the builders of the Western North Carolina Railroad, the first rail line to penetrate the state’s mountain region and open it for trade and tourism. WE (11/10, 17), TH (11/11, 18), FR (11/12), SA (11/13), SU (11/14), TU (11/16), Mountain Gateway Museum and Heritage Center, 102 Water St, Old Fort

A Dance of Images and Words: The Nancy Graves/Pedro Cuperman Tango Portfolio Exhibition presents Graves’s eight prints alongside the portfolio frontispiece as well as a page of Cuperman’s text. WE (11/10, 17), TH (11/11, 18), FR (11/12), SA (11/13), SU (11/14), MO (11/15), Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

TIP of WNC is Recruiting Caring Volunteers to respond through 911 system to: · Comfort family members after a sudden death · Provide support after a suicide · Assist those emotional shaken after an accident or crime

TRAINING STARTS SOON! Put Your Compassion Into Action Recruiting Volunteers for Buncombe, Henderson & Transylvania Counties

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Gestures: Mid-Century Abstraction from the Collection Explores works in a variety of media that speak to the vibrant abstract experiments in American art making during the middle of the 20th century. WE (11/10, 17), TH (11/11, 18), FR (11/12), SA (11/13), SU (11/14), MO (11/15), Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square Modernist Design at Black Mountain College Highlights the collection of design from Black Mountain College and situates it in the context of its influences and surroundings at BMC. WE (11/10, 17), TH (11/11, 18), FR (11/12), SA (11/13), SU (11/14), MO (11/15), Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square Grounded Flow Exhibit featuring works by apprentices Caroline Woolard and Keira Peterson. WE (11/10, 17), TH (11/11, 18), FR (11/12), SA (11/13), SU (11/14), MO (11/15), TU (11/16), 10am, The Village Potters, 191 Lyman St, #180

Black in Black on Black Virtual Tour & Discussion Join curators and exhibiting artists for a virtual tour of the Center for Craft exhibition, followed by a panel discussion. WE (11/10), 6pm, Free, avl.mx/aq4 Unearthing Our Forgotten Past Exhibit exploring the Spanish occupation of Fort San Juan and the native people who lived in the Joara area of WNC. Sponsored by the Western NC Historical Association. TH (11/11, 18), FR (11/12), SA (11/13), 10:30am, Smith-McDowell House Museum, 283 Victoria Rd Toe River Arts Studio Tour Free, self-guided tour of artists’ studios in Mitchell and Yancey counties. FR (11/12), SA (11/13), SU (11/14), 10am, Toe River Arts Council, 269 Oak Ave, Spruce Pine NCGC Winter Wonderland With glass ornaments, snowflakes, snowmen, candy canes, and live glassblowing demonstrations throughout the weekend.

SA (11/13), SU (11/14), North Carolina Glass Center, 140 Roberts St, Ste B The Last Rock & Roll Art Show Artwork and photography from 14 NC artists including acts such as Widespread Panic, Animal Collective and Wilco. TH (11/18), Push Skate Shop & Gallery, 25 Patton Ave Night Visions One Night Exhibit & Reception Night photography combined with “light-painting” by Weaverville artist Daniel Iyari. TH (11/18), Renaissance Hotel, 31 Woodfin St

ART/CRAFT STROLLS & FAIRS 2021 Fairview Craft and Gift Fair From 35 crafters of handmade items plus a used book sale by the Friends of Pack Library. FR (11/12), SA (11/13), Fairview Community Center, 1357 Old Charlotte Hwy (US 74A), Fairview Aurora Studio & Gallery’s Fun on Friday Arts/fundraising activity for Asheville visitors.

To register, text Lori Greenberg at 828335-1038. Suggested donation. FR (11/12), 2:30pm, $20, The Refinery, 207 Coxe Ave Maker's Market Live art performances, craft cocktails, home goods, pottery, jewelry and more from WNC artists, farmers and craftspeople. SA (11/13), 1pm, Oak and Grist Distilling Company, 1556 Grovestone Rd, Black Mountain WCU Fine Art Museum Handmade Holiday Sale Featuring high-quality, handmade gifts created by students, staff, and alumni. Located throughout the BAC lobby and Star Atrium. TH (11/18), 12-7pm, WCU Bardo Arts Center, 199 Centennial Dr, Cullowhee

COMMUNITY MUSIC Drum & Dance w/ Bolokada Conde & Friends Celebrate African drumming with a djembe master. FR (11/12), 7:30pm, $20, Jubilee Community Church, 46 Wall St

Waves and Particles World premiere of John Luther Adams’ new composition Waves and Particles, performed by JACK Quartet. FR (11/12), 8pm, $15, Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center, 120 College St, Black Mountain The Music of John Cage With Carl Patrick Bolleia on John Cage Piano/ Toy Piano followed by Thomas Moore with solo piano works by John Cage. SA (11/13), 8pm, Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center, 120 College St, Black Mountain PAN HARMONIA: Flute and Piano Emerging from lockdown for the 22nd season of donation-based community concerts. Limited seating. SU (11/14), 3pm, First Presbyterian Church Asheville, 40 Church St

SPOKEN & WRITTEN WORD Discussion Bound Book Club Monthly discussion will focus on Carrie Mae Weems by Sarah Lewis (editor) and Christine

Garnier (contributor). WE (11/10), 12pm, Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square UNC Press Presents Michael Graff & Nick Ochsner, Authors of The Vote Collectors A conversation moderated by Christopher Cooper. In-person or online. WE (11/10), 6pm, Registration required, Malaprop's Bookstore and Cafe, 55 Haywood St Reader Meet Writer: Volunteers: Growing Up in the Forever War with Jerad W. Alexander Part of a series hosted by the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance. TH (11/11), 7pm, Registration required, Malaprop's Bookstore and Cafe, 55 Haywood St Entrepreneurial Ecosystems: A Gender Perspective Highlights and a Q&A session with local author Susan Clark Muntean. FR (11/12), 12pm, Registration required, avl.mx/as9

Donate your car. Change a life. Do you have an extra car that needs a new home? Your donated car can open the doors to independence, increased income, and higher education for a hardworking member of our community. Vehicles of all types and conditions are welcomed and appreciated! The donation is tax-deductible. The process is simple. The impact is real.

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COM M U N I TY CA LEN DA R Janisse Ray and Sami Grover in Conversation A conversation with Ray, author of Wild Spectacle and Grover, author of We're All Climate Hypocrites Now, moderated by Danna Smith. Sponsored by Malaprop's. FR (11/12), 6pm, Registration required, avl.mx/arb Asheville Science Tavern presents Margaret Lowman, Author of The Arbornaut A discussion of Lowman's book. SU (11/14), 6pm, Registration required, avl.mx/arc Crystal Wilkinson presents Perfect Black, in Conversation with Deesha Philyaw The authors discuss Wilkinson's book. Sponsored by Malaprop's. TU (11/16), 6pm, Registration required, avl.mx/ard Miss Malaprop's Storytime Recommended for ages 3-9. WE (11/17), 10am, Registration required, avl.mx/7b9 Sandor Katz presents Fermentation Journeys in Conversation with Chris Smith The authors discuss book by Katz. Sponsored by Malaprop's. WE (11/17), 6pm, Registration required, avl.mx/are

Tanja Hester presents Wallet Activism The author discusses her book. Sponsored by Malaprop's. TH (11/18), 6pm, Registration required, avl.mx/arg Malaprop's Notorious HBC (History Book Club) Group discusses The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang. TH (11/18), 7pm, Registration required, avl.mx/9s9

THEATER Live from WVL Radio Theatre: The Word Exchange A world premier play based on the novel by Alena Graedon. In-person and virtual tickets available. WE (11/10), TH (11/11), FR (11/12), SA (11/13), 7:30pm, SU (11/14), 2:30pm, $25, North Carolina Stage Co, 15 Stage Ln Eyes Up Here Comedy With a different lineup of femme-identifying comics each show, featuring Becca Steinhoff, Cortney Warner, Lily Campbell and more. 16+ TH (11/11), 7:30pm, $15, The Magnetic Theatre, 375 Depot St MOANA JR. A Disney musical with music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda,

Opetaia Foa’i and Mark Mancina. FR (11/12), SA (11/13), 6:30pm, SU (11/14), 3pm, $10-15, Parkway Playouse, 202 Green Mountain Dr, Burnsville The Magnetic Theatre hosts The Speakeasy Soirée A partnership with Speakeasy Improv presenting a weekend of 1920s-themed comedy. FR (11/12), SA (11/13), 7:30pm, $15, The Magnetic Theatre, 375 Depot St Warren Wilson Theatre presents Appropriate By Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, this play explores the story of a troubled family reunited by the death of the patriarch and the haunting consequences of our shared American history. FR (11/12), SA (11/13), 7:30pm, SU (11/14), 2:30pm, Free-$10, Kittredge Theatre, Warren Wilson College, 701 Warren Wilson Rd, Swannanoa David: The Faces of Love The stories of David and his relationships to biblical figures retold in spoken word, song and music. Written by Asheville native Fred Northup. SA (11/13), 7pm, $2028, Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, 18 Biltmore Ave

The Little Mermaid Jr. A Disney musical featuring a cast of 32 local children. SA (11/13), 7:30pm, SU (11/14), 2pm, $8-18, HART Theatre Main Stage, 250 Pigeon St, Waynesville

BENEFITS Canine Collaborative A benefit for the Asheville Humane Society with music from the New Lefties, local brews and food. FR (11/12), 4pm, $30, Atelier Maison & Co, 121 Sweeten Creek Rd

CLASSES, MEETINGS & EVENTS Veterans For Peace With music, readings, signage, and commentary leading up to the bells of the Basilica ringing 11 times. TH (11/11), 10am, Elder and Sage Community Gardens, 37 Page Ave Virtual Hendersonville Green Drinks: Neighborhood Hawks John Lane, Emeritus Professor of Environmental Studies at Wofford College, will present on his book. Presented by MountainTrue and Conserving Carolina. TH (11/11), 6pm, Free, avl.mx/aq6

Nonprofits Why we help

Inspired by clients at emergency youth shelter Child and youth homelessness are never OK. I have seen children living outside in our community and wanted to be part of the solution. As the program manager at Trinity Place emergency youth shelter with Caring for Children/ Eckerd, I love that I get to blend my passions/interests of individual connection/empowerment with larger systems of community/ inclusion/accessibility. I was drawn to pursue this focus when I was working with unhoused adults and found that a significant amount of them had spent time in the foster care system as children. So I decided to move upstream and be a source of support for youths and address the generational trauma and adverse childhood experiences that can lead to homelessness. I am honestly so inspired by the clients that I get to know/sup-

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port and their ongoing resiliency, openness and dedication. Some of the greatest hurdles for our organization are too many families and children in need of help, and not enough foster families or funding to support services. We have just created a new Foster CARING Program, where individuals, couples and families can provide long- or short-term respite or mentoring support to children in the foster system. We are currently holding group and individual informational sessions for anyone interested in being part of this support network. Please connect with us at fostercare@caring4children.org. — Debbie Alford Program manager Trinity Place Runaway and Homeless Youth Shelter Caring for Children Asheville

Local Nonprofit Puzzle PUZZLE BY TOM CANTWELL Livable Appalachia: Affordable and Accessible Housing This interactive session will include local leaders and national experts discussing developing communities in our region that support aging safely and affordably. FR (11/12), 10am, avl.mx/as5 Better Together Discussion Group Group's goal is "to empower a racial awakening through building relationships and deepening our understanding of our true connection." Meets second and fourth Sunday of every month. SU (11/14), 12:30pm, Center for Spiritual Living Asheville, 2 Science Mind Way Traditional Gathering Methods of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians Hosted by the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation and presented by Tribal Forest Resource Liaison Tommy Cabe. TU (11/16), 11am, avl.mx/aeu Introduction to Medicare - Understanding the Puzzle A webinar on how Medicare works, the

enrollment process, how to avoid penalties, and ways to save money. TU (11/16), 2pm, avl.mx/9hz

ASAP Farmers Market Weekly event every Saturday through Dec. 18. SA (11/13), 9am-12pm, 340 Victoria Rd

Achieving Racial Equity in NC’s Legal System A virtual panel discussion. TU (11/16), 7pm, avl.mx/asa

Enka-Candler Tailgate Holiday Market Local vendors. SA (11/13), SU (11/14), 11am, 1465 Sand Hill Rd

Men's Garden Club of Asheville November Meeting Speaker Alison Arnold, NCSU Cooperative Extension Agent, will present Landscape Design – Start Now To Look Forward. Box lunch available by advance reservation - contact Ron Garrett, grgpeg@att.net by noon 11/14. WE (11/17), 12pm, Beverly Hills Baptist Church, 777 Tunnel Rd

Jackson Arts Market Weekly event every Saturday through Dec. 18. SA (11/13), 1pm, 533 W Main St, Sylva, Sylva

FOOD & BEER Weaverville Tailgate Market Every Wednesday through Dec. 22. WE (11/10, 17), 2pm, 60 Monticello Rd, Weaverville RAD Farmers Market Year round, midweek featuring 30+ local farmers, makers, bakers, and craft artisans. WE (11/10, 17), 3pm, Pleb Urban Winery, 289 Lyman St

West Asheville Tailgate Market Local market, every Tuesday. TU (11/16), 3:30pm, 718 Haywood Rd

FESTIVALS Dogwood Alliance 25th Anniversary Virtual Festival Including award-winning documentary films, stories, musical performances, and more. Suggested donation. WE (11/10), TH (11/11), FR (11/12), SA (11/13), SU (11/14), Free-$15, avl.mx/aq0 Cold Mountain 25th Anniversary With live music, food trucks, and special draft beer releases.

TH (11/11), FR (11/12), SA (11/13), SU (11/14), Highland Brewing Co, 12 Old Charlotte Hwy ReViewing Black Mountain College A forum for scholars and artists to contribute original work on topics related to Black Mountain College and its place in cultural history. SA (11/13), 8am, OLLI/ Reuter Center, UNCA, 300 Campus View Rd Picklepalooza2021 All things pickled in celebration of National Pickle Day, benefitting the Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity. Music from local band Billingsley. Donations appreciated. SU (11/14), 3pm, Blue Ghost Brewing Company, 125 Underwood Rd, Fletcher

SPIRITUALITY Online Baha’i Sunday Devotional An unstructured, informal virtual gathering. All are welcome. SU (11/14), 10am, avl.mx/a4t Online Baha'i Third Wednesday Devotional An informal, unstructured virtual monthly gathering. WE (11/17), 7pm, Free, avl.mx/arx

Nonprofits Why we help

Meeting the basic need of clean diapers for children We distribute diapers to partner organizations for families struggling to afford enough to keep their children clean, dry and healthy. We do this work because we are moms invested in the health and well-being of other moms and children in our community. Clean diapers are a basic need, and it is unacceptable to us that children in our community go without them and that parents, often mothers, bear the stress, worry and financial hardship of trying to afford them. Families need diapers to keep their children clean and healthy, and when they cannot afford enough, often have to delay changes or use other items like paper towels or plastic bags. And most child care facilities require at least a day’s worth of diapers in advance, so parents must have diapers to access child care so they can work. Diapers really matter to families!

We are motivated by our remarkable partnerships in the community; we now have more than 50 distribution partners. Our biggest challenges are the incredible increase in need since the pandemic. In 2018 and 2019, we were distributing 3,000 diapers a month. In 2021, we have been distributing 25,000 to 30,000 diapers a month, and we have a waitlist of partners. We rely on donations of diapers, dollars and time from our incredible community. We are a small but mighty group and need logistical and practical support to maintain our growth and meet this painful need during these unprecedented times. Learn more and join us: www.babiesneedbottoms.org. — Alicia Heacock and Meagan Lyon Leimena Co-executive directors Babies Need Bottoms Asheville

ACROSS 1 Artist run performing arts group 9 Before to Keats 10 Local trauma & addiction support 13 First lady 14 Bonobo or gibbon 16 Brazilian rainforest tribe 20 Noisy napper 21 1914 global conflict 23 Long haul truckers cert. 24 Pitcher Hershiser 25 Abated 27 Rice wine 28 Sketch 29 From Mykonos 31 Crisis intervention agency 35 Mitchell and Pigah 36 Capture a trout 37 Emotional health org. with local chapter 39 Community chorus founded in 1987 40 “_____Warriors” veteran health nonprofit 41 _______Society, rescue and adoption group

DOWN

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9 10

20 22

36 37

2 Enviromental Group 3 Climate change business network solutions 4 Piece of animation 5 Three prefix 6 Roosters concern 7 Social services national org. with local chapters 8 French Broad conservation group 11 Green or Mendes

12 Fabled wish granter 15 Foot 17 FM format 18 Rapper Dr. 19 Sense of wonder 20 Jr.s dad, et al. 22 Womens equity grp. 26 Org. for 1776 decendents 29 Meet The _____, network for net workers

30 consume 32 Elec. measure 33 Econ. field 34 Endangered sea snail 35 ________ Foodbank 38 wrath 39 Business advocacy and training group

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Local nonprofit workers discuss pandemic burnout BY JESSICA WAKEMAN jwakeman@mountainx.com As the executive director of True Ridge, a Hendersonville-based nonprofit serving Western North Carolina’s Hispanic population, Lori Garcia-McCammon has never had an easy job. Her organization helps survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and refers clients to bilingual mental health counselors. Recent years have been straining, as many of the Central American immigrants her nonprofit works with are undocumented and fear deportation by federal authorities. But as a self-described “firecracker,” she was ready to fight for her clients. The COVID-19 pandemic added greatly to True Ridge’s workload. “The number of people that we’re serving has increased, I would say, in a year, almost 200%,” Garcia-McCammon says. Because undocumented immigrants did not receive stimulus checks from the government, the nonprofit assisted those who needed financial help with rent and utilities, dispersing $80,000 in 2020. But on July 20, Garcia-McCammon temporarily left her job while she addressed her mental health. “I couldn’t handle it anymore,” she tells Xpress. “I would go to court for advocacy, and I see what our families are suffering. I would come back and I would be crying, which never has happened before. ... It got to the point where [I felt] I just need some time away to be able to calm down and not feel down.” Her experience is familiar to many nonprofit employees in the social and

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MAMA BEAR: Lori Garcia-McCammon, executive director of True Ridge, holds Uni, a stuffed animal she used to teach kids the importance of wearing face masks during COVID. Photo courtesy of True Ridge cultural realm, where being emotionally attuned to the suffering of others can bring insight and compassion to their work. “That’s a gift and a curse sometimes — to be such an empath,” Garcia-McCammon says.

‘USED UP’

Work impacts the mental well-being of nonprofit employees in several ways. According to a 2011 survey by

Opportunity Knocks, a job site for nonprofits, 40% of workers said their duties involved dealing with emotionally charged issues, and 25% said they were required to provide comfort to people in crisis. Roughly a third of respondents said they often or always felt “used up” at the end of the day. Mental health providers generally refer to these feelings as “burnout.” Burnout happens when someone does not get enough rest or time to recharge, says Jessica Ringle, a counselor with the All Souls Counseling Center, an Asheville-based nonprofit that provides mental health support to WNC’s uninsured and underinsured. “You feel flat; you don’t really care,” Ringle explains. “You’re trying to care, but you can’t really make yourself care.” Burnout also occurs when someone feels responsible for others, even when circumstances are outside of their control. “People depend on you, and when … things go off track, the guilt you feel is tremendous,” says Butch Thompson, president of the nonprofit Blue Ridge Pride. “It’s a lot of pressure, and burnout does happen from the pressure of being the ‘rep’ of the organization.”

HITTING RESET

The COVID-19 pandemic stressed area nonprofit employees in new ways. Some, like Garcia-McCammon, had an overload of need at their organizations. Others saw their work either dry up or change drastically. Prior to the pandemic, Asheville Community Yoga had 32 staff members teaching 80 classes each week,

says Michael Greenfield, executive director of the donation-based yoga studio. Even though the nonprofit may be more wellness-focused than most — employees could purchase healthy food from the studio’s Karma Cafe at a discount, for example — their work took a lot from them “energetically,” he says. Staff members interacted with up to 600 people on the studio’s premises each day, he says, noting that the constant buzz could be exhausting. “Our biggest burnout was being so big, helping people all the time, from 7 or 8 in the morning to 9 at night, and not having a day off,” Greenfield explains. The studio offered free yoga classes and one free massage once a month to employees. But he knew that alone couldn’t stave off burnout. In terms of slowing down the pace, “COVID was a blessing for that piece,” Greenfield says. “COVID was a big reset for us.” But Greenfield acknowledges that moving yoga classes to Zoom from March 2020 until August, the closure of the restaurant and temporary closing of the healing arts center were difficult for students who used those services for their health and well-being. Staffing also took a significant hit; ACY currently has seven employees.

‘YOU HAD TO SOLDIER ON’

Nonprofit work has at times been a rocky career path for Ringle, the counselor with All Souls, who also works at a state-run psychiatric hospital. Ringle primarily counsels survivors of trauma who have post-traumatic stress disorder. At times, she says, she’s felt despair after serving clients, particularly when their lives are adversely impacted by what she believes are inefficient government services. But Ringle’s meditation and spiritual practice, as well as the realization that she cannot fix her clients on her own, enable her to be a willing receptacle for others’ pain. She credits her years of experience with coping mechanisms for keeping her proverbial tank full. Yet she’s also experienced serious periods of burnout in the past. Several times Ringle left counseling temporarily and worked other jobs. Once she became a housecleaner; another time, she became a potter’s apprentice and attended art fairs. And a third time, she joined the

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Nonprofits Why we help

Increasing access to health care, language services My area of focus is increasing access to health care and language services for low-income uninsured people in Western North Carolina. I started out as a contract interpreter for the Western Carolina Medical Society Interpreter Network, and now I’m the director of health access and equity programs. Project Access has an expansive network of specialty care and hospital partners that provide donated care — including preventive screenings, hospital care, surgery, cancer care, specialty outpatient care, mental health care, diagnostic care (such as labs or imaging), medications, durable medical equipment and language services through the WCMS Interpreter Network. I’m inspired to do this work by my own experience. I do what I do to help people get the access to services that I didn’t have as an

immigrant child with an undocumented family. What keeps me motivated? The main thing is the lifesaving health care that we are able to provide to low-income uninsured people in our community every day. There are a lot of hurdles in place around equity. It starts with us making sure that we are being equitable in our organization, and then goes out into the communities that we serve: trying to work against the barriers around lack of access to language, health and socioeconomic services that we are constantly running into. The need continues to increase, especially amid a pandemic as more and more people fall into the insurance gap. — Mariela Solano Director of Health Access and Equity Programs Western Carolina Medical Society and Project Access Asheville

35 Years To provide equitable access to care and reduce harm from HIV, Hepatitis C, and drug use.

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Peace Corps as a health educator and wrote a novel while stationed in Morocco for two years. But Ringle always returned to counseling because of her belief in the importance of mental health — and meeting new people is “endlessly interesting,” she says. Burnout reemerged during the beginning of the pandemic while working at the psychiatric hospital. “A lot of people got to hunker down and stay home; well, we didn’t,” Ringle says. “We had to go to work or lose our jobs.” She thought that she had been coping well. But Ringle recalls watching the 17th season of the TV show “Grey’s Anatomy,” which showed health care providers fighting COVID-19. The similarities she saw between the fictional Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital in Seattle and her own workplace evoked an unexpectedly emotional response. “Every episode, I would just bawl,” she recalls. “Because [at work,] you couldn’t stop, you couldn’t slow down, you couldn’t feel your feelings, because you had to just soldier on. … You just had to do what you had to do and you had to get through it.”

FAMILY FIRST

Coming back from burnout often involves a reset like that described by Greenfield at his yoga studio.

For Garcia-McCammon, that reset came from taking time off. First, she was diagnosed with COVID-19 and quarantined; she then went to Florida for the month of August and stayed at a counseling facility. “It’s a refuge for women,” she says of the center. “They took my computer, they took my phone. And it was time that I had to focus on myself.” Taking a break to recalibrate enabled her to come back to True Ridge and set herself on a path to work more sustainably. One of her takeaways from counseling, she says, is the importance of self-care for every staff member: “Take 20 minutes to walk outside, breathe fresh air, read a book,” she offers as examples. Garcia-McCammon also clarified her priorities. She had not spent as much time with her spouse, five children and nine grandchildren as she would have wanted since True Ridge started in 2017. “Resentment starts setting in,” she recalls. “Being part of a nonprofit, you end up giving so much of yourself that there’s nothing left for those people at home,” she says. “I almost lost a marriage because of it. My marriage is doing well, but it’s because I had to make changes and say, ‘OK, my priority is family; then it’s work.’” She adds, “Everything’s not about work. Work is going to be there the next day.” X

Nonprofits Why we help

Offering the support families need As a family physician, I have always been drawn to caring for families as a whole. When a person develops a memory disorder, the lives of others in the family are directly impacted as they adjust to providing needed support. When facing challenges of dementia, it is so important to have access to a health care provider who understands what is happening, who is available for questions when there are changes and who can help families understand what to expect as the disease progresses. The greatest reward of this work is to be able to offer the support families need. Dementia is a devastating illness that can happen to anyone. With good medical care for the person with dementia and education and support for their caregivers, it is incredibly gratifying

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to see how many individuals and families are able to manage the disease in a way that facilitates the best quality of life possible for all touched. I am routinely humbled by the loving care I see families provide, and I feel privileged to be a part of that process. Having to raise half of our budget every year is a profound challenge. Each time we grow, the challenge increases. Income for our program comes from insurance reimbursement, caregiver fees and fundraising. Each year, we waive 25%-30% of the caregiver fees for those unable to afford the cost. Thus, charitable resources are needed for every family we see. — Dr. Virginia Templeton Executive director MemoryCare Asheville

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ARTS & CULTURE

Challenge: accepted

Local arts nonprofits creatively navigate pandemic hardships

BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN earnaudin@mountainx.com Their existence may have been turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the work hasn’t stopped for Asheville-area arts nonprofits. In many ways, their activity levels have actually increased as leaders adapted to continue delivering high-quality services amid an ever-shifting public health environment. “Even though the pandemic is still ongoing, we have a lot more clarity than we did a year ago,” says Katie Cornell, executive director of the Asheville Area Arts Council. “We have moved out of emergency mode, identified the key areas that need our support and are actively working toward solutions.” For Cornell, the most challenging problem to solve is the toll that the pandemic has taken on the creative sector. According to the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, the

NOW! SKY’S THE LIMIT: Local artist Micah Mackenzie conducts a workshop on aerial photography with Asheville Writers in the Schools and Community’s Word on the Street/Voz de les Jóvenes youth program. Photo by Sekou Coleman

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local arts and entertainment industry experienced the greatest percentage of job loss in Buncombe County. “The arts council continues to monitor and report on the impacts of the pandemic on the local arts sector, and advocate for more resources and aid for artists and arts businesses — including a request for $250,000 in regranting funding from the Buncombe County COVID recovery funds,” Cornell says. Collaborations, she says, have been key to sustaining momentum during the pandemic, and she hopes the trend of community leaders working together to creatively address the challenges of the last 20 months continues to grow. Such efforts have resulted in a wealth of AAAC-sponsored projects, including the Black Lives Matter street mural,

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the Equity in Creative Placemaking speaker series with Leadership Asheville, the formation of the Arts Coalition and the LIVE! An Asheville Arts Benefit Series. In addition, the annual Creative Sector Summit returned in early November after the 2020 iteration was canceled. The single-day, in-person/virtual hybrid edition included panel discussions on equity and artist wages in Asheville, as well as the presentation of the inaugural “Crammy” award to DeWayne Barton, founder/ CEO of community resource Hood Huggers International. Named after local entrepreneur and philanthropist John Cram, who died in 2020, the award seeks to honor individuals who have made a large contribution to the arts in Buncombe County.

RAD RESILIENCE

Among the fellow local arts nonprofits continuing to enrich the community is The Magnetic Theatre, whose leaders made significant pivots at the pandemic’s onset to continue its mission. Unable to host performances due to statewide indoor gathering restrictions, the Magnetic began producing digital and livestreamed content. The nonprofit also changed its pricing to a pay-what-you-can model so that local performers and playwrights could continue to create and be paid. To help on the financial front, Executive Director Jessica Johnson and Artistic Director Katie Jones elected to forgo their salaries until the theater could afford to pay them.

When warm weather arrived in spring 2021, the theater produced an outdoor walking show along the Reed Creek Greenway, in which a cast of 20 actors performed scenes in groups of one-to-three people. An outdoor weekly variety show at Smoky Park Supper Club likewise kept the Magnetic crew active AprilSeptember and brought in revenue. The changes proved effective and resulted in the theater reopening its River Arts District indoor space in July, welcoming back audiences at a reduced capacity and requiring masks and proof of either vaccination or a negative COVID test within 48 hours of entering the theater. “We shut our doors, but we didn’t stop,” Johnson says. “We are preparing to announce our 2022 season in mid-November, and there were times we thought we might not get there, so knowing that we can say with confidence that we’re ready for 2022 is a huge accomplishment.”

TAKE IT OUTSIDE

In-person gathering had likewise been key to the identity of Asheville Writers in the Schools and Community. The 10-year-old non-

profit aims to ignite social change through the power of the arts, culture and restorative self-expression from its space in the Arthur R. Edington Education & Career Center. Executive Director Sekou Coleman notes that regular meetings with participants and staff, special community celebrations and the simple act of holding space for children, families and others in the community to interact all had to be rethought amid the public health crisis. “While we’ve been able to transition some things to a virtual space, not everything can be easily delivered via a camera and a screen,” Coleman says. “During the warmer months, we were able to do more outdoor activities, and as winter approaches, we’ve strived to make our indoor program spaces safer and more conducive to creative work. This has included purchasing items like air purifiers and technology upgrades, and developing activities better suited to small group and individual participation.” The pandemic’s first year saw Coleman and his colleagues focus

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Nonprofits Why we help

A R TS & CU LTU R E

Inclusive public art to uplift everyone So many times as a young girl, I witnessed prejudice and felt the numbing suffering that rejection inflicts on others. A strong desire was born to heal the sense of separation that created such pain. My artist’s way became a landscape of bright colors and cheerful, inclusive public art to uplift everyone who took the time to see. Inclusivity is the basic motivation for our nonprofit, Appalachian Mural Trail. There’s an added value in bringing a diverse community together to create an outdoor historical mural project. Small towns can begin to “wither on the vine” when community spirit becomes low. A community betterment project breathes life back into small mountain towns. One especially interesting mural is called “Snowbird Cherokee Matriarchs,” just completed in Robbinsville. Standing nearly 20 feet

high, the mural colors and scenes are brilliant! I and members of the Cherokee Snowbird community painted the mural. The sense of unity and excitement the mural brought to the town is tremendous. The Appalachian Mural Trail, a subsidiary of Catch the Spirit of Appalachia, has become something to do for visitors and locals that’s safe, and visiting these priceless murals does uplift the spirit. Each mountain community now has opportunities to join the mural trail to create their own outdoor historical mural or showcase what they have already developed. With every new inclusive public mural comes less separation and more inspiration to create true community. Visit muraltrail.com and join the mural movement! — Doreyl Ammons Cain Co-founder Appalachian Mural Trail Tuckasegee

Nonprofits Why we help

Called to help artists with disabilities I came to the area to study human services at a local private college, not exactly knowing what I would do with that, but it was a field I could see myself in. I ended up getting an internship one summer for an agency that employed workers to help an adult with disabilities. My job was with an artist with autism, and I helped him with getting to and setting up at his locations to draw. Later, we would go back to his house, and he would paint. I helped him to get things framed and found places in the community that would show and sell his work. I also helped him with his social skills, and emotion and behavior management out in the community. When the summer was over and it was time to go back to school and end my internship, I found myself really feeling very called back to the work I was doing. I ended up asking to be rehired and was this time placed with a fun-loving guy who had Down syndrome. I took him to his retail job and helped him there, and we also spent time doing things he needed and wanted to do, like walk for exercise or go visit his friends. One of his weekly outings was at a nonprofit arts program for adults with disabilities. I absolutely loved that day of the week when we would go to his art classes. I so

NOV. 10-16, 2021

enjoyed getting to know all the artists there and became friends with them and the staff. Eventually, I was offered a job there. That place closed down, and the staff who remained started Open Hearts Art Center. That was almost 17 years ago now, and what motivates me has shifted throughout the years. Lately, I am motivated to see how much we can spread their work further into the awareness of others. People are so delighted with it once they discover it. The work hanging in your house often has a story, and if you get to actually meet the artist, the work becomes gold to you. I love that about what we do. The greatest hurdle we are facing lately is sustaining our workforce. There are a lot of jobs in the area that are offering more than we can to our direct-care workers who are also amazing artists themselves and just top-notch people. It isn’t hard to love your job here, but it is hard to afford living in this city, and unfortunately that has to be prioritized for some people sometimes, and we have lost staff that we miss dearly. — Jessie Francis Co-founder and co-executive director Open Hearts Art Center Asheville

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COMMUNITY SUPPORT: Ana-Alicia Carroll, left, and Jason Williams perform in The Magnetic Theatre’s One Act Play Festival. Thanks to a successful GoFundMe campaign that provided much-needed funding for the nonprofit this fall, the event will return in 2022. Photo by Cheyenne Dancy nearly all of their energy on supporting the Word on the Street/Voz de les Jóvenes youth program for teens of color. But with the dexterity of a capable staff and a supportive board of directors, plus financial support from Paycheck Protection Program loans, foundation grants and individual donations, AWITSC has now rekindled two previously dormant programs: its residency opportunities for artists of color and an elementary grade-level literacy program called Family Voices. The number of employees is about to grow, too. “Thanks to funding we recently received, we’re looking forward to expanding our staff to include someone dedicated to maintaining healthy relationships with the youth in our programs and making sure they have access to resources that help them navigate any challenges they might face — from academic struggles to bullying or sexual violence and housing insecurity,” Coleman says. “This is a significant development for us because it not only adds value for our participants, it also supports our existing staff who are already working at full capacity.”

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Back around the corner on Depot Street, the Magnetic’s emphasis on new, original work and direct collaboration with playwrights on as-yet-published pieces means the theater doesn’t have to pay the high royalties that many other companies incur. Still, its yearlong closure has created ongoing financial hurdles. Even with Johnson and Jones working pro bono, the nonprofit’s current limited seating and forgone concessions has reduced revenue. In order to carry on, the Magnetic turned to the public for help in late September, and the outpouring of kindness is something Johnson says she and her colleagues won’t soon forget. “We were able to raise funds through a GoFundMe campaign that will allow us to [remain open] and are forever grateful for the incredible support we received from the community, friends and family,” Johnson says. “We are working on more sponsorships and other collaborations now that local businesses are feeling more stable as well.” X

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ARTS & CU L T U R E

FOOD

Food for thought

Area nonprofits fight hunger despite supply chain woes

BY MARY CATHERINE MCANNALLY SCOTT mcmcannally@gmail.com Before the COVID-19 pandemic, MANNA FoodBank served an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 people per month across 16 Western North Carolina counties. Over the last 18 months, that number has skyrocketed. “In October of last year, for example, we served over 140,000 people,” says Kara Irani, the nonprofit’s director of marketing and communications. Like MANNA, other local foodbased nonprofits are seeing a rise in demand for assistance as well. But with the global health crisis still impacting daily life, many of these organizations continue to experience major disruptions. “There’s an arm of [our] organization that rescues perfectly edible, beautiful food that would otherwise end up in the landfill,” says Ali Casparian, executive director of Bounty & Soul. “[It comes] from Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s or Sam’s Club.” But with interruptions in delivery schedules due to understaffing or no-show drivers, the food that would normally be rescued by food banks is at risk of spoiling en route, say local nonprofit leaders. A typical problem, notes Casparian, is that grocery store managers make arrangements for trucks that don’t arrive. Then, days later and sometimes with little warning, the fully stocked truck appears at the grocery, ready to be unloaded onto store shelves. “Those disruptions trickle down to me,” Casparian explains, “because those trucks don’t come in on time. If the truck shows up and they don’t have staff, the food sits there. By the time they do get staff, I’ve already missed three days of pickups.”

LEARNING TO PIVOT

In response to these ongoing supply chain woes and other COVID19-related issues, WNC’s food-based nonprofits have had to come up with creative solutions of their own. “Our model was based on in-person large gatherings where we’d see 100-150 households coming into a space, having classes, cooking together, shopping and eating,” says Casparian. “Everything was set up 48

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FUN AND FESTIVE: Children often accompany parents at drive-thru food distribution sites. To keep the mood light, volunteers at Bounty & Soul dress in vegetable costumes. Photo courtesy of Bounty & Soul like a farmers market, and our clients had choice.” Now, both Bounty & Soul and MANNA have switched to a drive-thru option, where customers can receive their food safely. Implementation of the new systems wasn’t without hiccups, though. “We had 450 households showing up in downtown Black Mountain, driving through to get their groceries,” Casparian recalls. “The police chief had to call me because we were shutting down traffic in Black Mountain.” Since then, Bounty & Soul has relocated to a supermarket parking lot, where its staff can accommodate large numbers of cars as traffic snakes through a streamlined path. Meanwhile, MANNA has shifted from relying on regular donations to sourcing and purchasing food itself. Before the pandemic, around 85% of the nonprofit’s inventory was dona-

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tion-based; currently, only 65% of its supply comes from donors, and the rest is purchased. “We’re often able to buy it at discounted, wholesale prices,” says Irani. “Our purchasing power can be pretty strong. But when the supply chain is locked up, it can be really hard to find. We continue to make lots of deep connections with local farmers.” The Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project has been essential to helping those very farmers create strong relationships with smaller food banks and child care centers. Sarah Hart, communications manager, says that ASAP launched its Appalachian Farms Feeding Families program to serve this particular pandemic-era need. “Farmers had lost a lot of restaurant markets,” says Hart, “and we knew something needed to change to support them.”

ASAP, through grants and outside funding, was able to create a win-win situation for food banks and farmers: The food banks and feeding centers received fresh, locally grown produce; participating farmers got compensated at market price for food that otherwise might go to waste. “To date,” says Hart, “the program works with 73 feeding sites and 56 farms, working in 23 Western North Carolina counties and the Qualla Boundary.”

RETAINING RESPECT

While local nonprofits have changed a lot about their practices, one thing has stayed steadfast: the respect and dignity shown to their clients. “We try to make sure that everybody who’s coming to access food feels like they’re not coming to a char-

HELPING HAND: Since the start of the pandemic, MANNA FoodBank has seen a rise in community need. “We had people coming through constantly saying, ‘I’ve never been in this position. I didn’t know what to do. I’m so grateful this is here,’” says Kara Irani, the nonprofit’s director of marketing and communications. Photo courtesy of MANNA FoodBank itable organization but that they’re coming to a market,” says Irani. Doing so helps destigmatize the need for food assistance, which is important Irani notes, as many people now receiving aid are doing so for the first time. “We had people coming through constantly saying, ‘I’ve never been in this position. I didn’t know what to do. I’m so grateful this is here,’” she says. To retain its sense of connection and continue to provide choice for clients, Bounty & Soul now offers recipe card suggestions in each takeaway parcel of groceries. Says Casparian, “We have a nourishment guide that goes out in every box. It spotlights the farmers that helped to put the food in the box this week, three recipes, and a couple of nutrition and cooking tips.” Each card is uniquely designed based on the ingredients in the box. Furthermore, volunteers at Bounty & Soul continue to dress in fruit and vegetable costumes to give children,

often in the car with parents for a pickup, something exciting to look forward to. Boxes are even adorned with fresh flowers and handwritten notes. “Taking the stigma out of reaching out for help is a huge piece of advocacy for families in our area that are struggling,” says Irani of the 90,000 to 100,000 clients per month the nonprofit continues to serve. She encourages community members to share MANNA’s help line information, where people in need can call to receive instant information about food availability and to find out if they’re eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. “It could be any one of us. That’s why we work so hard to keep this community supported.” For information about volunteering, please visit mannafoodbank. org, bountyandsoul.org and asapconnections.org. For food assistance and information about SNAP eligibility, call 800-820-1109. X

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ARTS & C U L T U R E

MUSIC

A different winter wonderland Asheville musicians prepare for cold-weather changes

What a difference a year makes! As 2020 wound down, many outdoor performance venues had welcomed back live-music fans, but indoor spaces remained closed as owners waited for capacity restrictions to lift. Now, with COVID-19 vaccines available, concerts are occurring across Western North Carolina at close to pre-pandemic numbers. Xpress spoke with three local artists about their plans for winter, as well as their experiences returning to the stage and the various ways the past year and a half has changed their approaches to creating and sharing their work.

STAGE MENTALITY

When the pandemic hit and tour dates were canceled, Asheville-based indie rock power trio The Get Right Band not only lost a significant amount of revenue but also a way of life. “One of the big things I miss about touring is the fun of it and visiting friends and family along the way,” says guitarist/vocalist Silas Durocher. “[My bandmates and I] see each other now almost exclusively for work, whereas it used to be we’d go on tour for two weeks, and there was a decent amount of hanging out and hiking and walking around New York City. I miss all that, but it is a grind, for sure.” Durocher, Jesse Gentry (bass) and JC Mears (drums) stayed sharp and maintained ties with their fans through livestream performances, which Durocher says provided distinct, encouraging feedback through

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SEASON’S GREETINGS: Clockwise from left, Eleanor Underhill & Friends, The Get Right Band and Mike Martinez have a variety of creative plans for the winter. Underhill photo by John Gellman; Get Right Band photo by Tom Farr; Martinez photo by Josh Weichman each concert’s online comment section. Still, they craved true live performance and eventually played indoor shows last winter at The Grey Eagle and The Orange Peel. Both venues’ management teams put thorough COVID precautions in place to make the musicians and masked

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audience alike feel safe, but since then, every gig The Get Right Band has played has been outdoors. “We’ve had such nice weather, and it’s just really fun to be outside all the time,” Durocher says. “It kind of makes you think, ‘Why were we ever inside? In this beautiful weather, why were we doing these dingy dive venues?’ — which, don’t get me wrong, can be super fun.” On Nov. 5 at the Salvage Station, the group came together for its last outdoor performance for the season. During the winter, the trio plans for no more than one indoor concert per month at venues within a two-hour radius of Asheville. “Even though we’re gigging a lot right now, we’re not really touring far because of COVID,” Durocher says. “It just feels weird with the waves of it going up and down. And you’ve got to plan this stuff four, five months in advance, so even if it’s an outdoor show, it just feels tough to be a thousand miles from home. And

then if things get worse or someone gets sick, you’ve got to cancel shows.” Meanwhile, singer/songwriter Mike Martinez plans to perform on a regular basis — within reason. He feels comfortable knowing that the venues where he’ll play require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID19 test. But he’s currently uninterested in being onstage in large rooms. “It’s harder to maintain a safe environment,” he says. “So far, the biggest show that I’ve played had like 900 people at it. And I was like, ‘This is too much.’” With his band Natural Born Leaders on indefinite hiatus, Martinez and several bandmates from that group joined with Rob McConnell of fellow local ensemble Papadosio to form Beekeepers. Martinez describes their music as heavier than his previous work but still tapping into a blend of hip-hop and soul as well as other influences. In tandem with this renewed artistic creativity while home from the road, Martinez says

2021 he realized the toll that touring had taken on his mental health and stopped drinking alcohol as a result. The decision, he notes, has given him a newfound clarity onstage and an increased appreciation for his craft. “I’m trying to play it more reasonably — play shows that are going to benefit me, the band and the community, and taking that more into account rather than just playing shows just to play shows for whoever and for however much,” Martinez says. “It’s a privilege to perform, but it’s also a privilege to go to shows. If I’m going to lay my soul down on the table, I don’t want to play to people who ... are just there to get [messed] up.” PROSPEROUS HIBERNATIONS With touring at pre-pandemic levels not yet practical for many musicians who’d previously relied on such means to get by, and with the unemployment assistance that helped sustain numerous artists in the pandemic’s first year no longer available, some local creatives have turned to other sources of income to pay the bills. Martinez is working a variety of jobs, including as an announcer

for Blue Ridge Public Radio, and both The Get Right Band and singer/ songwriter Eleanor Underhill have played a fair number of weddings, including some receptions delayed by the pandemic. In doing so, they’ve also discovered some benefits to a less nomadic lifestyle. “As a lot of people have in every job, once they stop, they’re like, ‘Oh, I’ve been pushing it so hard for so long. I’m exhausted,’” Underhill says. “It’s really hard to find the time to go deep on something creative when you’re constantly out there performing and doing the extrovert thing. It’s nice to actually have some time to go in and get more intimate with musicians and create something really cool.” Indeed, Underhill is hard at work on three albums, including a new solo record that builds on the synthesizer-heavy experimentation of her previous releases, Navigate the Madness and Land of the Living. “I like to think that I’m getting better as a producer and as a musician and continuing to follow the bliss, wherever that goes,” Underhill says. “And some of that is more electronic,

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A R TS & CU LTU R E and it tends to be trending in that direction, but I’ll still have the banjo.” The traditional string instrument is arguably what she’s best known for via Underhill Rose, her revered country/soul group with Molly Rose Reed. The duo are in the process of sharing recent songs with one another and plan on releasing a new record in 2022. But first, Underhill will put out a full-length covers album — a reflection of the work that she features prominently in her Eleanor Underhill & Friends band and via her Patreon, where she also shares visual art. The pandemic has likewise proved fruitful for Durocher, who’s been able to stave off writer’s block despite rampant societal woes from the past year and a half. “I’ve got a million projects between me and my bandmates,” he says. “We’ve got a long list of things we want to do, and we’ve never gotten to the point where we’re like, ‘Oh, that’s the end of the list? What do we do now?’ We’re always like, ‘Damn! I wish we had some more time.’” After The Get Right Band released its fifth album, Itchy Soul, in late May 2020, the trio quickly started working on the next project. The 2022 release

will be a concept album, something Durocher has wanted to do since he was 12 years old. “It’s very layered, and the scale of it is much more ambitious than anything we’ve done before,” he says. “There’s no way we would’ve had time for it with our normal touring schedule, so that’s a silver lining.” In addition to putting out some unreleased Natural Born Leaders material over the winter, including multiple live albums, Martinez reveals that Beekeepers just finished mixing its debut EP and will be releasing the collection’s tracks as singles with accompanying videos. The group plans to keep working together — “I’ve never written as many songs as we did in such a short period of time,” Martinez says — and he’ll also stay busy with various solo and side projects. “Everybody’s home for the first time in years, so I think I collaborated with more artists over the past year and a half than I have in the past five years,” he says. “You always see people, and you’re like, ‘We should write a song together someday or something!’ and it never happens. But we actually did it.”

— Edwin Arnaudin X

Partners with Asheville City Schools Foundation to offer summer school programs. Members were paid $10 per hour for 10 hours per week to attend classes. Partners with A’ville Housing Authority & Asheville City Schools to offer learning pods. Monday through Friday, 10-14 youths can participate in virtual learning & academics. Currently focused on job training & skill building programs for 70 of its youth members Future goals include procuring our own building to provide more programming, resources & space

Now accepting new participants

Open Mon-Fri 5:30-8:00 p.m. Extracurriculars being offered on the weekends

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AR T S & C UL TU R E

FOOD

Meeting the need

Food pantry initiatives aid underserved communities

You know us in print each week.

HELP IS ON THE WAY: Talya Mazuz Food Program Director Hart Groves prepares orders at the Tranzmission office. Photo by Jenifer Sterling

Try us online each day.

Large hunger-relief nonprofits like MANNA FoodBank do a tremendous job of feeding people across Western North Carolina, but various obstacles nevertheless arise that keep resources from reaching those in need. (For more, see “Food for Thought: Area Nonprofits Fight Hunger Despite Supply Chain Woes,” page 44.) To help fill those gaps, several food pantry initiatives have arisen during the COVID-19 pandemic, serving marginalized communities in search of nourishment at a time when food insecurity is especially dire.

Essential updates. Original reporting. Daily at 2 p.m.

NOV. 10-16, 2021

DESTINED TO SERVE

Food has been a part of Tranzmission’s offerings in some fashion since its inception in the early 2000s. Back then, the Asheville-based education, advocacy and support

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nonprofit for nonbinary, transgender and gender-nonconforming people was involved with the local Food Not Bombs group, providing a stove and helping pass out meals downtown. Over the years, Tranzmission has hosted Passover Seder meals, which welcomed such community members as Talya Mazuz, who passed away in 2012 at the age of 27. As needs within the Tranzmission community gradually rose, establishing an official food program increasingly made sense. When the pandemic struck, the organization polled its network members regarding what service would help them during this difficult time, and in response, the Talya Mazuz Food Program was launched in March 2020. The contactless delivery and pickup service operates out of the Tranzmission office in downtown

Asheville. Food program director Hart Groves, who uses they/them pronouns, says the pantry strives to provide a diverse array of foods from MANNA and Trader Joe’s, offering various dry and shelf-stable goods. “We always work to keep a good stock of vegan and gluten-free options, refrigerated veggies, frozen meats and meals, and we work to provide personal hygiene items, as well as household cleaners, toilet paper, trash bags and pet supplies,” Groves says. “If the food program’s clients have a need, we try to meet it.” Stocked and maintained by Groves and “a bunch of wonderful volunteers,” the pantry prioritizes serving the nonbinary, transgender, gender-nonconforming and queer community in WNC but does not turn away anyone who wants food support.

“We are prioritizing our specific community because oftentimes the rate of food insecurity is much higher amongst transgender and queer individuals. This has a lot to do with institutional stresses and social and cultural stigma affecting job prospects, housing opportunities and stability in general,” Groves says. “Additionally, there are seen and unseen barriers to traditional support services, like food banks and pantries that keep transgender and queer people from accessing them easily and comfortably, or sometimes at all. Tranzmission decided to remove those barriers, like requiring one’s legal name or income information, in order to make food as accessible as possible.” In fall 2020, Tranzmission Executive Director Jenifer Sterling and her team of directors decided to make the pantry a permanent part of Tranzmission’s programming, recognizing its importance in reducing food insecurity for its particular service community. She notes that many people within these groups remain food insecure even without pandemic-related pressures and that helping them eat is only one part of a larger goal. “Their food insecurity often comes from job and housing insecurity,

COMMUNITY EFFORT: East End residents come together to install a new food pantry adjacent to the St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church. Photo courtesy of Asheville Buncombe Food Policy Council which is often informed by discrimination, transphobic actions and hostile legislation,” Sterling says. “While the pantry is a meaningful contribution to the support of transgender and nonbinary people in our region,

it is also a very small step on the path toward full and equal rights and representation for a marginalized and often maligned group of people.” For more information, visit avl.mx/as8.

STRUCTURAL ADDITIONS

Planning for an emergency is one thing, but responding in the midst of one is something else entirely. That was the situation that confronted the Asheville Buncombe Food Policy Council’s Emergency Food Preparedness working group at the onset of the pandemic, though its members were fortunate to have somewhat of a head start. “We were trying to get a feel for neighborhoods and reaching out to them to see where the needs were that we could possibly try to help supplement,” says working group member Isa Whitaker, coordinator of Bountiful Cities’ Asheville Buncombe Community Garden Network. “We were talking to the Red Cross and learning about the way [the Federal Emergency Management Agency] does its rollout in emergencies — just learning all the ins and outs.” Inspired by small food pantries and farm stands they’d seen around town, the working group members then went out in pairs to neighborhoods, including Deaverview, Haw Creek

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Nonprofits Why we help

ARTS & CU L T U R E

Helping women find access to resources My daughter inspired me to pursue my work. When we moved to Asheville from Caracas, Venezuela, in 1998, we didn’t know English. Pursuing our “American dream” at first was challenging due to many factors, including the language barrier. While I had access to an interpreter in some cases, I knew they weren’t telling my story the way I would tell it. I was scared, but I knew I had to find my voice — not just for me, but for my daughter. Through these challenges, I realized my purpose in life was to help others, especially women, who have difficulty accessing resources. This is my “why” for coming to work every day at the Western

IN MEMORY OF: Local artist Jenny Pickens honors the late Bernadette Thompson with a mural of the longtime East End resident and member of the St. James AME Church on a recently completely food pantry. Photo courtesy of Asheville Buncombe Food Policy Council and East End, with Whitaker and Mary Lou Kemph focusing on Shiloh. There, they found willing allies in the Shiloh Community Association, whose members Whitaker says were already having conversations about food emergencies. Together, they soon had an outdoor pantry built in the Shiloh Peace Garden. Whitaker compares the pantries — designed by local carpenter Keenan Phillips — to slightly larger versions of the Little Free Libraries and notes that they were implemented quickly. In addition to the pantry at Shiloh Peace Garden, Phillips also constructed one at St. James AME Church and will be putting up an additional pantry in Deaverview. “Early into lockdown, there were a lot of supplies around the office that were being distributed — household supplies and cleaning supplies and all different stuff aside from food that was being taken to the different pantries. Or, if there wasn’t a pantry built, to a central [neighborhood] location,” Whitaker says. “There was definitely a quick response that we tried to have in order to get stuff to folks once it started to become a little unclear of how the future was going to look.” Once a pantry is in place, neighborhood leaders then take on the responsibility of keeping it filled. Norma Baynes, assistant liaison for the Shiloh Community Association, notes that Shiloh residents regularly donate nonperishable items and that Peace Garden volunteers also contribute exciting seasonal items.

“The garden crew that we have makes sure it’s continually stocked, and people are using the things that are in there,” Baynes says. “And during the time that we have fresh vegetables and things from the garden, we also put those in there.” One of the founders of the SCA and its liaison for nearly 18 years, Baynes has been encouraged by both the garden’s popularity among neighborhood youths — “We try and make sure they’re eating healthy snacks,” she says with a laugh — and the pantry’s steady use, which she stresses isn’t restricted to Shiloh residents. “It’s open to everyone,” she says. “If you are in need, please come and get whatever you can use for your family. That’s important to us.” Whitaker says that the ABFPC working groups plan to film the process of building an outdoor food pantry so that interested parties near and far can more easily participate. But with winter approaching, extra consideration will have to be taken to continue serving those who need what the pantries offer. “It’ll likely switch a little bit more into specific cans and boxed stuff. There probably won’t be as much produce, but some of the winter crops might be available,” he says. “We’ll also be looking at what type of supplies will be good for the winter, because it’s coming up fast.” For more information, visit avl.mx/as7.

— Edwin Arnaudin X

Women’s Business Center. It is important that women feel empowered and prepared to face any challenge. Together with my great team, we inspire other women in their respective entrepreneurial journeys through one-on-one business coaching, workshops and providing access to capital. At the WWBC, we are committed to advancing women in business and the community. It is important to us that they have a voice and they are heard in the Western North Carolina community and beyond. — Zurilma Anuel Director Western Women’s Business Center Candler

Nonprofits Why we help

Embracing the wild, wonderful world of aging I have always had a heart for the generations that came before me. As the oldest grandchild of over 40, I grew up with the elders in my family and was honored to know great-grandparents, great-aunts and my own grandparents. I came to senior care professionally in 2007, and in 2020, found the next phase of my career at Council on Aging of Buncombe County. With ongoing education and experiential growth as part of my development, the role at Council on Aging is in perfect alignment with my focus areas on promoting the independence, dignity and well-being of adults through service, education and advocacy through a wide array of programs and services available in an equitable, home and community-based model of care. We have an amazing network here that continues to strengthen and support our shared commit-

ment and values in embracing the wild and wonderful world of aging. Some of the challenges of this work include ensuring that we have the sustainable resources to continue to build our programs to serve the growing number of older adults in our area, connecting with the most isolated and vulnerable adults (especially in rural areas), and can include mitigating risks for staff burnout due to the nature of the work. We experience great reward but also have witnessed a lot of loss and death. While we know that we cannot always please everyone, we continue to receive such amazing feedback from our community. Gratitude keeps me going. — Heather Bauer Executive director Council on Aging of Buncombe County Inc. Asheville

2021

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NOW! ROCK ’N’ ROLL: More than a dozen artists are featured in the new exhibit, The Last Rock & Roll Art Show, at Push Skate Shop and Gallery. Curator Joshua Marc Levy organized the gathering to help highlight the fragile state of the arts community in Asheville as well as the city’s distinctive rock ’n’ roll character. Artwork, “2020 Vision,” by Ken Vallario

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Concert posters and album art make up a significant portion of local artist Joshua Marc Levy’s commissioned work. So when COVID-19 led to the widespread cancellation of tours and local shows, he experienced firsthand the financial strain the industry was under. “I was thinking intuitively that [the pandemic] might bring a longer break,” he recalls. “And when I started talking to artists, I realized some of them were moving away from [the creative sector].” In an effort to celebrate and encourage his network of colleagues and friends, Levy proposed a challenge of sorts. Over the course of the past year, he asked 14 North Carolina-based artists and organizations to create an original piece of art as if it were the last work they’d ever make.

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“I told them to pretend like it was their ‘desert island’ painting, picture or poster,” he recalls. The result is The Last Rock & Roll Art Show. Hosted by Push Skate Shop and Gallery, the collection opens Friday, Nov. 12, and runs through Sunday, Jan. 2.

SOURCE OF INSPIRATION

Among the group’s participants is Ken Vallario, who began his career as a working artist in 1996. He creates museum-quality paintings that often focus on the human form, science and psychology. Even art novitiates are likely to spot the influence of surrealist Salvador Dalí in Vallario’s richly detailed, dreamlike pieces. Despite his work not being tied specifically to the music industry,

Levy says he reached out to Vallario because the painter’s style feels “very rock ’n’ roll to me.” Levy also credits Vallario for inspiring the exhibit’s title. When the two first discussed Levy’s proposed group show, Vallario had already announced his decision to close his River Arts District studio after four years in Wedge Studios. According to Levy, Vallario told him he’d still like to participate but declared, “It will be the last one.” Though he remains active as an artist, Vallario’s video announcement on social media signaled a change in direction, building on his deep interest in technology and nonfungible tokens.

MULTIPLE MEANINGS

Despite the somber source of inspiration, Levy says that The Last

Rock & Roll Art Show is an optimistic homage to other last-but-not-reallylast endeavors. He laughs and suggests that in art, as with popular music, “There’s always a sequel. How many times has KISS retired? They always come back!” But the exhibit’s name also underscores the financial vulnerability local creatives often face, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic. According to this year’s Asheville Area Arts Council arts impact survey, Buncombe County’s creative sector reported a loss of over $23 million between March 2020 and February 2021. “The art scene has really suffered over this period,” Levy says.

DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES

The majority of the show’s participants are known for their visual contributions within the arts and music communities. But a few are more directly tied to the latter, including Statesvillebased musician Matt Walsh. “While I’m not known for my paintings, I’ve been drawing and painting since I was a kid,” he explains. He says his work for the upcoming exhibit displays his longtime fascination with werewolves. Other artists like Vallario are confronting personal struggles brought about during the pandemic. Vallario describes his featured piece, “2020 Vision,” as “a conscious meditation on mortality, a memento mori.” Vallario continues that in the early days of COVID-19, he realized that pandemic-related stress would bring about societal transformation. “I wanted to make a painting to mark time,” he explains. Along with Vallario, Levy and Walsh, The Last Rock & Roll Art Show roster includes Fian Arroyo, Wayne Bernstein, Jerry Cahill, Phil Cheney, Matt Decker, Stuart Engel, John Root, David Simchock, Slow Poison, Scott Sturdy and Subject Matter Studio. And while none of the featured artists have officially announced a complete break from the creative sphere, the “last” tag in the exhibit’s name serves as a cautionary reminder of the economic peril many creatives face and what the ongoing struggle could result in. Levy says that he hopes those who view the show come away inspired

Why I support Xpress:

SHOWRUNNER: Joshua Marc Levy takes a break inside his studio. “My studio floor is a forever-changing work of art,” he says. Photo by Amy Kayln Sims to create their own art; he also hopes patrons will consider purchasing available prints that several of the participating makers will have on sale. “It’s going to be mind-blowing,” he promises. And despite the show’s title, he is confident a follow-up will take place. Granted, he says, “it might be a few years before the next one.”

— Bill Kopp X

WHAT The Last Rock & Roll Art Show WHERE Push Skate Shop and Gallery, 25 Patton Ave., pushskateshop.com WHEN Friday, Nov. 12, through Sunday, Jan. 2 (Sunday-Thursday, noon-5 p.m., Friday-Saturday, noon-7 p.m.), free

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FOOD ROUNDUP

What’s new in food

DJ’s Pickles celebrates National Pickle Day National Pickle Day is a big dill for Don Paleno and Justin Dewalder, the “D” and the “J,” respectively in DJ’s Pickles. To celebrate the holiday, the local smallbatch pickle company has partnered with Blue Ghost Brewing Co. to host the inaugural Picklepalooza. The event takes place Sunday, Nov. 14, 3-7 p.m., at the Fletcher brewery. Admission is free, but $5 donations to benefit the Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity will be accepted on-site and via a link on the event page. Planning for the festival began in February, the same month DJ’s Pickles officially launched. The company’s origin, however, dates back several years. In the summer of 2018, Paleno opened Chef Don’s Gourmet Snack Wagon. With a heavy focus on sandwiches, Paleno developed a recipe for a pickle to garnish the entrees. The Silly Dilly — a hybrid between a dill and a bread-and-butter — became so popular people began asking to order them as a side and later requested them by the pint.

At the time, Paleno remembers being a little annoyed. “I was like, ‘Look, I’m selling sandwiches, not pickles.’” Chef Don’s Gourmet Snack Wagon, however, didn’t last. But the legend of the pickle lived on. “Justin asked me one day if I still had the recipe for the pickle, and I did. It was in pencil with measurements like ‘a handful of fresh dill,’” Paleno remembers. The pair made a batch and gave some jars to friends, who came back and asked for more jars to give to their friends. Just like that, Paleno and Dewalder were in the pickle business, building it one jar — and many buckets — at a time. “Trout Lily Deli & Market, the New York Butcher Shoppe and the Hungry Ghost food truck at Blue Ghost buy them by the bucket for their sandwiches,” Paleno says. Meanwhile, pint jars are sold at tailgate markets, the WNC Farmers Market and in specialty shops in WNC. The Silly Dilly is the company’s flagship pickle, but it has since added spicy En Fuego pickle chips and

Nonprofits Why we help

Passionate about offering affordable therapy When I was a kid, I wanted to be a singing, novel-writing, moviemaking psychiatrist. I always wanted to contribute something to the world and to be a healer and a creative. I did end up doing some singing. Wrote a novel, only watched movies and never went to medical school, so I am now a substance abuse and mental health counselor. It brings me joy to be a witness to change when it happens, to be part of people’s journey, to see them grow in their relationships to self and others. It can also be frustrating at times because change is usually very gradual for all of us, and with substance use and mental health disorders, it is the nature of the beast that folks relapse, often multiple times, before settling into long-term recovery. And then, many never make it.

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I am one of the lucky ones. I struggled in my own journey to find affordable therapy, so it is my passion now to offer services as we do at All Souls at a rate that people can afford. I started there a mere six months before the pandemic put a halt to faceto-face sessions. For those who have no transportation, which is true of many of our people, it is a godsend. We here in Asheville are so fortunate to have places like All Souls Counseling, especially now when people have been through so much. I am proud to be part of it! — Jessica Ringle Substance abuse and mental health counselor All Souls Counseling Center Asheville

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IN A PICKLE: Don Paleno, left, and Justin Dewalder, the D and the J in DJ’s Pickles, gear up for the first annual Picklepalooza on Nov. 14 at Blue Ghost Brewing. Photo courtesy DJ’s Pickles Basil Balsamic Beets, which Paleno swears have converted avowed beet haters. They also carry Silly Dilly salad dressing and Dilly Butter. All those products will be available for tasting and purchase at Picklepalooza. The gathering will also have a pickle eating contest, pickle juice shooters (nonalcoholic), kids’ activities, live music and pickleball. Additionally, Blue Ghost has created a Gose-style pickle beer, Kinfolk food truck will have fried pickles, and swag will include glass Christmas pickle ornaments. Blue Ghost Brewing Co. is at 125 Underwood Road, Fletcher. For more information on Picklepalooza2021, visit avl.mx/aqt.

Independence Day The big news to rock Asheville’s restaurant industry occurred the final week of October and was neither trick nor treat: Jane Anderson, executive director of the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association since 2013, announced she was taking flight from the organization whose membership increased by over 150% during her tenure. In a newsletter to members on Oct. 27, Anderson said, “The sign of a good leader is knowing when to step aside. It is clear to me that the challenges our independent restaurants face in a post-COVID world require fresh thinking and leadership.”

Chef Michel Baudouin, a founding member of AIR, says the group is sad to see her go, noting Anderson’s steady hand, communication skills and strong community relationships, particularly vital during the pandemic. “When you’ve been herding cats for nine years, it will wear you out,” he says. “The last two especially have been tough on everyone, but she used the relationships she built to stay ahead of it. She has worked with the city, county, fire department, labor board, health department and liquor board — and AIR members — all behind the curtain. I think her next job could be a juggler in a circus.” Anderson has not indicated any desire to go under the big top but says she is keeping her window open to opportunities. The search for Anderson’s replacement has begun with the goal to have an executive director in place the first quarter of 2022.

Smoky Bear

In 2020, Cheryl Antoncic and Jamie “Bear” McDonald drove their supersized Bear’s Smokehouse food truck down from their home base in Connecticut and parked it in front of the building they purchased on Coxe Avenue in South Slope. Their arrival marked the first location for their Kansas City-style barbecue outside the Nutmeg State.

One year later, they are bringing their baby back ribs and burnt ends to Sweeten Creek Brewing on Sweeten Creek Road. Diners can chow down on those specialties as well as slow-smoked brisket, pulled pork, pulled chicken and jalapeno-cheddar sausage. The new South Asheville location will also include a vegan and gluten-free impossible meatloaf option. Sweeten Creek Brewing is at 1127 Sweeten Creek Road. For more, visit avl.mx/ar0.

B&B Nate Whiting and Ryan Brower, who worked together years ago at Luella’s Bar-B-Que, were chewing the fat one night about opening a business of their own. Whiting, who spent the last nine years as a company chef for Farm Burger, says that despite neither having any Lone Star State roots, they were fired up about Texas-style brisket. This summer the pair hunted down a reverse flow smoker in Sneed, Ala., picked it up in a parking lot in Chattanooga, Tenn., and hauled it back to Asheville. After extensive research on sauces, smoke time and trim, the two quietly launched Iron and Oak Brisket Co. in August, under a tent outside of Riverside Rhapsody Beer Co. in Woodfin. “We don’t consider ourselves masters of brisket yet but we’re working hard at it, and people are loving it,” says Whiting. Iron and Oak’s still-developing menu also includes pulled pork, ribs on Fridays, Texas hot link sausages from Southside Market & Barbeque in Austin and sides. Current hours are Thursday, 3-8 p.m., and Friday– Sunday, from noon until sold out. Riverside Rhapsody is at 995 Riverside Drive. For updates on Iron & Oak’s menu and hours, visit avl.mx/aqu.

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Thanksgiving is still two weeks away, but turkey lovers need to act fast if they don’t want to be standing in line at Cracker Barrel, come Nov. 24. Zadie’s Market in Marshall is taking pre-orders for small, medium and large fresh or frozen Joyce Farms turkeys for pickup Nov. 19- 24. avl.mx/aqv. The Chop Shop Butchery has already sold out of turkeys but is offering poultry alternatives like pheasant, quail, duck and rabbit. avl.mx/aqw. Leave the cooking to the professionals and get a cider-brined bird or the whole meal shebang from Luella’s Bar-B-Que. avl.mx/aqx . Black Bear BBQ promises to make Thanksgiving easy-peasy with an email order placed by Tuesday, Nov. 16. avl.mx/aqy.

Global fermentation Chris Smith, author of The Whole Okra: A Seed to Stem Celebration and executive director of Utopian Seed Project, calls Sandor Katz a legend in fermentation circles and his James Beard Award winning book, The Art of Fermentation, “biblical.” Smith will interview Katz about his new book, Fermentation Journeys in a virtual presentation by Malaprop’s Bookstore & Cafe on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 6 p.m. “I’m very excited to be ’in conversation’ with Sandor,” says Smith. “I enjoy his thoughts on fermentation beyond the practical food stuff and interested in talking about connection and how things like fermentation, bacteria and food are a way to see the sameness in people instead of the otherness.” To purchase a book and register for the live stream, visit avl.mx/aqz.

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— Kay West X

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A R TS & CU LTU R E

ROUNDUP

Around Town

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Asheville is known for its history of bluegrass, country, folk and other forms of mountain music. The city’s legacy, though, goes well beyond that, says Alli Marshall. “People are surprised about the eclecticism of Asheville’s music scene — how many genres are represented,” says Marshall, former Arts & Entertainment editor for Xpress. “But that’s always been the case. For more than a century, Asheville has been at the intersection of innovation and sophistication as well as deep-seated tradition.” Marshall recently started the Asheville Music History Walking Tour, which explores downtown through the stories of bands, musicians, culture and more. The 90-minute, 1.5-mile stroll works its way through such areas as Lexington Avenue and The Block and stops by the Moogseum, Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center and The Orange Peel. The tour, which Marshall hopes to offer five times a week, spans the 1870s to the present and touches on the area’s Scots-Irish roots, as well as rock, blues, electronic, hip-hop and experimental sounds. “I love highlighting the R&B, funk and soul scene from the ’60s and ’70s, as well as the Stephens-Lee High School marching band,” she says. “I also mix in some 1990s and early 2000s history, such as the legendary Vincent’s Ear and Be Here Now.” The tour is a multimedia experience, with historic photos, flyers and a soundtrack in the form of a Spotify playlist.

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Marshall has long been interested in the area’s musical heritage and was inspired to start the tour by her friend Anna Helgeson, who offers a walking tour of the Asheville arts and crafts scene and another of the Montford neighborhood. The Asheville Music History Walking Tour is offered through Airbnb Experiences and costs $24 per person. For more information or to book a tour, go to avl.mx/ar1.

O Tannenbaum

When Mike Rangel was looking to create a family-friendly holiday event for Rabbit Rabbit, a friend mentioned Tinsel Trail, a Huntsville, Ala., tradition for more than a decade. “We did a little research and we thought it would work perfectly for our downtown event,” says Rangel, co-owner of the outdoor performance venue operated by Asheville Brewing Co. and The Orange Peel. Rabbit Rabbit will present Winter Tree Carnival Tuesday, Nov. 16-Sunday, Jan. 2, 3-9 p.m. The event will be closed on Mondays, Thanksgiving and Christmas. The carnival will feature at least 60 holiday trees adopted and decorated by local businesses, community groups and nonprofits. Depending on interest, there could be as many as 120 trees on display, Rangel says. Along with the trees, Rabbit Rabbit will show Christmas movies such as Elf and Home Alone and will host a visit (or two) from Kris Kringle himself. The venue also plans to have an on-site pop-up market featuring local vendors, a holiday drink menu and newly released craft beers. Organizations can adopt and decorate a tree for $300. A second option is to adopt two trees at $600, with the second going to the purchaser’s nonprofit of choice. Organizers will donate proceeds from the adoption fees to MANNA FoodBank and will also encourage attendees to bring canned food donations. “We’ve worked with and supported them for years,” Rangel says of the food bank. “Their impact is needed now more than ever, and they were the first nonprofit we thought of asking to partner with.”

Asheville Women’s Rugby is looking for new players Practice Thursdays 6:30pm at Carrier Park Everyone is welcome

SOULFUL STROLL: Alli Marshall’s new walking tour will take people on a musical journey through downtown Asheville. “I’m interested in how the history of the local music scene got us to where we are now, as a creative culture,” she says. Photo by Ryan Glass Rabbit Rabbit is at 75 Coxe Ave. For more information or to reserve a tree, visit avl.mx/ar2.

Party like it’s 1929 The Magnetic Theatre is partnering with Speakeasy Improv to host The Speakeasy Soirée, a 1920s-themed party, Friday-Saturday, Nov. 12-13, at 7:30 p.m. Friday night will feature standup comedy from Asheville-based Morgan Bost, improv duo Brothers Grimmprov and an extended set starring several local improv teachers and performers. Two Charlotte acts, stand-up comedian Don Garrett and improv troupe Now Are the Foxes, will take the stage on Saturday, as will local improv group Reasonably Priced Babies. The two-night event also will include raffles, prizes and a costume competition (fedoras and flapper dresses encouraged). “This is one of our biggest performances to date, so we really wanted to throw a big party for everyone in the local performing arts community,” says Tim Hearn, Speakeasy Improv instructor. “And who doesn’t love a good costume party?” Speakeasy Improv offers a series of classes on the art of improvisational comedy. “We are a new school, and hopefully this will let people interested in

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improv join in on the party,” Hearn says. “Our goal for next year is to have a larger comedy festival with troupes, comics and acts bringing entertainment from all over the country.” The Magnetic Theatre is at 375 Depot St. Tickets are $15 per night and can be purchased at avl.mx/ark.

Speaking words of wisdom As Beatlemaniacs eagerly anticipate the release of Peter Jackson’s three-part The Beatles: Get Back documentary on Disney+, Asheville music journalist Bill Kopp offers an appetizer through an evening of unreleased music from The Fab Four. Kopp presents Getting Back to The Beatles: Two Weeks in January ’69, at Citizen Vinyl on Thursday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. Drawing from his extensive collection, Kopp will share rehearsal recordings of the band during the sessions that eventually led to the 1970 album Let It Be. The presentation will also include recordings that the band worked on prior to its 1970 breakup. Some of these tunes ultimately went on solo albums by John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison. Last, Kopp says the program will

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include several songs that were never released in any form. Kopp will be joined by local musician and artist Rich Nelson of the Rich Nelson Band. Citizen Vinyl is at 14 O. Henry Ave. For more information or to get tickets, go to avl.mx/ar6.

Family affair

No sibling rivalry here. First Congregational United Church of Christ’s Oak Street Gallery will host artworks by Jenny Pickens through the end of November; meanwhile, the YMI Cultural Center’s gallery will exhibit All Things Found in WNC, photographs by her brother, Richard Pickens. Jenny Pickens’ paintings are prdominately acrylics and mixed media. Also on display will be her hand-built pottery, jewelry from repurposed materials and handcrafted dolls using new and sentimental fabrics. Pickens will be at the Oak Street Gallery on Saturday, Nov. 20, 3-6 p.m. Richard Pickens’ exhibit will include photographs of landscapes, plants, street art, sunrises and sunsets, old barns and silos.

MOVIE LISTINGS Bruce Steele’s and Edwin Arnaudin’s latest critiques of new films available to view in local theaters include: ETERNALS: Despite an appealing cast and impressive CGI, reigning Best Director winner Chloé Zhao (Nomadland) struggles with her first superhero endeavor — an overlong, mythology-heavy movie that feels more like a DC Extended Universe effort than the latest MCU release. Grade: C-plus. Rated PG-13 SPENCER: Rather than present a sympathetic Princess Diana, Pablo Larraín’s confused portrait interprets the beloved figure as a prickly wild card. While a miscast Kristen Stewart is merely playing dress-up as Diana, Steven Knight’s script and its heavyhanded symbolism is more fully to blame for the film’s many failings. Grade: C-minus. Rated R

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“I see the vision of art in everything,” says Richard. “The real passion is capturing the moments of life in their true settings and natural forms via photography.” The Jenny Pickens show at First Congregational UCC’s Oak Street Gallery, 20 Oak St., will be open to the public Sunday, Nov. 14, Sunday, Nov. 21, and Sunday, Nov. 28, from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 16, and Tuesday, Nov. 30, from 3-6 p.m. The Richard Pickens show at the YMI Cultural Center, 20-44 Eagle St., is open Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. through Tuesday, Nov. 30.

Here for the drama Warren Wilson Theatre presents Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ family drama Appropriate FridaySaturday, Nov. 12-13, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 14, at 2:30 p.m. at Kittredge Theatre. The play explores the story of a troubled Arkansas family reunited by the death of the patriarch. The siblings must confront both their resentment toward each other and the disturbing artifacts found among their father’s things. Some of the content of the play touches on racial violence and has caused controversy on the campus, with some students attempting to discourage participation in the production, according to director Candace Taylor. “Appropriate is intended to make you uncomfortable and was chosen for that reason — to cause understanding and empathy, and very possibly, change,” she says in a press release. “Personally, I think this campus is brave enough to face one small story of our American history.” Warren Wilson Theatre will be hosting talkbacks with the actors after every performance. Kittredge Theatre is at 701 Warren Wilson Road, Swannanoa. Tickets are $10. For more information or to get tickets, visit avl.mx/ar7.

Rock the house

Jubilee! Community church will host Drum and Dance with Bolokada Conde & Friends on Friday, Nov. 12, at 7:30 p.m. Conde, a djembe master, will explore the rhythms of Guinea with a variety of percussion instruments. He will be joined by several local Asheville musicians. Jubilee! Community church is at 46 Wall St. Tickets are $20. For more information, visit avl.mx/ar8.

— Justin McGuire X

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HOW’S THE WEATHER? Baltimore-based WeatherAmes will perform at 185 King Street in Brevard Friday, Nov. 12, 8-11 p.m. The five-piece indie rock band recently released its third album, Stone Soup. Photo courtesy of WeatherAmes

The featured icon indicates which venues or artists require proof of vaccination for upcoming shows. Due to the evolving nature of the matter, the list may not be comprehensive. Before heading out, please check with all venues for complete information on any vaccine or negative COVID-19 requirements. For questions about free listings, call 828-251-1333, opt. 4.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10 12 BONES BREWERY Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm 185 KING STREET Trivia Night, 7pm ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB Asheville's Best Karaoke, 8pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY • Beauty Parlor Comedy w/Hunter Robertsk 7pm • Aquanet: Goth Nightk 9pm ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Disclaimer Stand-Up Lounge Comedy Open Mic, 8pm BEN'S TUNE UP Big Blue (jam), 8pm BLACK MOUNTAIN BREWING Jay Brown (roots), 6pm BOLD ROCK HARD CIDER Trivia Night, 6pm CASCADE LOUNGE Open Bluegrass Jam, 6pm

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GREEN MAN BREWERY Green Man Trivia, 7pm HANDLEBAR & GRILL Ladies Night Karaoke,7pm HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Well-Crafted Wednesdays w/Matt Smith (Americana, singer-songwriter), 6pm HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Songwriter Series w/ Matt Smith, 6pm ICONIC KITCHEN & DRINKS Marc Keller (acoustic), 6pm MYSTIC DOME STUDIO Open Jam in the Dome (open mic), 6:30pm OFF THE WAGON All Request Piano Show, 8pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. French Broad Valley Mountain Music Jam, 6pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Wild Wednesday Funk n Rock w/Free Anesthesia, 10pm

RENDEVOUS Albi (vintage jazz), 6pm SILVERADOS Open Mic Night w/ Riyen Roots, 7pm SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Witty Wednesday Trivia, 6:30pm THE 2ND ACT Round Robin Open Mic w/Letters to Abigail, 6pm THE GREY EAGLE • The Shady Recruits (funk, jazz)k 5pm • The Cybertronic Spree (rock)k 8pm THE ODDITORIUM Cloak, Demiser & Subhollow (rock), 8pm THE OMNI GROVE PARK INN The B's (jazz, standards), 7pm THE ORANGE PEEL GWAR (metal), 8pm TRISKELION BREWING CO. TriskaTrivia, 7pm WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Irish Music Circle, 7pm

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11 131 MAIN Aaron LaFalce (soul, rock, pop), 6pm 305 LOUNGE & EATERY Bob Sherill (singer-songwriter), 1pm ALLEYCATAVL Open Mic w/Lincoln, 8pm ASHEVILLE CLUB Mr Jimmy (blues), 5pm

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Craggy Blues w/Rachel Alleman (blues), 7:30pm BEN'S TUNE UP Offended! Open Mic (comedy), 9:30pm BOLD ROCK HARD CIDER Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm CASCADE LOUNGE Team Trivia, 7:30pm FLEETWOOD'S Terraoke (karaoke), 6pm GINGER'S REVENGE CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM Gluten-Free Comedy (open mic), 6pm ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 The Dirty Grass Players (bluegrass), 7:30pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Bluegrass Jam w/Drew & the Boys, 7pm OFF THE WAGON All Request Piano Show, 8pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Collin Cheek (singer-songwriter), 7pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Phursdays w/ Gunslinging Parrots (Phish tribute), 9:30pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Dirty Dead (Grateful Dead tribute), 6pm PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Hunter Begley & Eric Ledford (Americana), 6:30pm

RABBIT RABBIT Sunset Rooftop Comedy, 7pm RYE KNOT KITCHEN BREWERY DISTILLERY Chris Flanders (acoustic), 6pm SALVAGE STATION Galactic (feat. Anjelika "Jelly" Joseph), 8pm SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN BREWERY Howie Johnson and Bill Mattocks (acoustic), 6pm STATIC AGE RECORDS Michael Potter & Wes Tirey (singer-songwriter), 8pm SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Open Mic, 6pm THE GREY EAGLE The New Lefties (acoustic cover band) k 6pm J Roddy Walston (rock), 9pm THE JOINT NEXT DOOR Rod Sphere (rock), 5:30pm THE ODDITORIUM Bonny Dagger, Call The Next Witness & Bad Banker (alternative, indie), 7pm THE ORANGE PEEL Todd Barry (comedy) k 8pm WHISTLE HOP BREWING CO. Jazz and Wine Night w/ Adi the Monk, 6pm

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12 185 KING STREET WeatherAmes (indie rock), 8pm

ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Everybody Free Dance Partyk 10pm ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Mr Jimmy (blues), 7:30pm BEN'S TUNE UP DJ Kilby Spinning Vinyl (throwback dance party), 10pm BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA & BREW PUB Acoustic Swing (acoustic duo), 7pm BURNTSHIRT VINEYARDS CHIMNEY ROCK Hope Griffin (acoustic, folk), 5pm DRY FALLS BREWING CO. Awake in the Dream (classic rock), 7pm GINGER'S REVENGE CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM Eliza Thorn (Americana), 7pm GUIDON BREWING The Baggage Brothers (acoustic duo), 7pm ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 • TEOA (acoustic, folk, folk rock)k 7pm • Mindy Smith (Americana, alt country, pop), 8:30pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Free Dead Friday w/ Gus & Phriends & Generous Electric Duo, 9:30pm SALVAGE STATION Jake Shimabukuro w/ Thunderstorm Artis + Taku Hirano (jazz, funk, classical), 8pm

SAWYER SPRINGS VINEYARD Myron Hyman (classic rock, blues), 2:30pm

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR The Travelling Pilsburys (rock), 7:30pm

SLY GROG LOUNGE The New Rustics (Americana, folk, country), 8pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Blockhead (hip-hop, electronic), 9pm

ST. PAUL MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS IN FLAT ROCK Friday Night Jams w/ Wiregrass (bluegrass), 6pm

BATTERY PARK BOOK EXCHANGE Dinah's Daydream (jazz), 5pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS Immaterial Possessions w/Gloryhole Singers (alternative, indie), 8pm THE BLACKBIRD The Prestones (indie), 10pm THE DUGOUT Pleasantly Wild (alt rock, '90s), 8pm THE GREENHOUSE MOTO CAFE Howie Johnson and Bill Mattocks (acoustic), 7pm THE GREY EAGLE • Rooster w/Jim Swayzee (Americana) k 6pm • Adam Melchor (folk) k 9pm WNC OUTDOOR COLLECTIVE Dirty French Broads (Americana), 6pm WILD WING CAFE SOUTH Commodore Fox (rock, dance), 8:30pm

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13 185 KING STREET Hustle Souls (funk, soul), 10:30pm ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB Karaoke, 9pm AMERICAN VINYL CO. Michael Flynn w/Carly Taichk 7pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Beauty Parlor Comedy w/Eddie Pepitone, 7pm ASHEVILLE CLUB Kyle Corbett (acoustic), 6:30pm

BURNTSHIRT VINEYARDS CHIMNEY ROCK Ben Phantom (singer-songwriter), 2pm DRY FALLS BREWING CO. Fine Line (rock), 7pm FLEETWOOD'S Death Bots w/Dead Billionaires & Smoky Mtn Sirens (punk, rock), 8pm ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 • Carrie Elkin w/Danny Smith (acoustic)k 7pm • Unspoken Tradition (bluegrass), 8:30pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB The Saturday Old-Time Jam (musical collaboration), 2pm JIMMY'S ON THE RIVER Lucky James (Americana), 7pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Tenth Mountain Division (rock), 10pm SALVAGE STATION The Hip Abduction (alternative/indie), 8pm SLY GROG LOUNGE Catacomb VII - Scorpion's Den (hard techno), 9pm STATIC AGE RECORDS Cosmic Reaper w/ Doomsday Profit & US Christmas (rock), 8pm SUNNY POINT CAFÉ Albi (vintage jazz), 6pm THE BLACKBIRD Cuberow (indie, funk, rock), 10pm THE BURGER BAR Karaoke, 9pm

THE DUGOUT The Ricky Gunter Band (country), 8pm THE GREENHOUSE MOTO CAFE Pyletribe w/Marvin King Revue (rock), 6pm THE GREY EAGLE • Tray Wellington Band (acoustic newgrass) k 5pm • Harmonies for Homes (Americana, folk, bluegrass)k 8pm TRISKELION BREWING CO. Johnnie Blackwell (rock, blues), 3pm WAGBAR Brown Mountain Lightning Bugs (folk, Americana), 5pm

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14 185 KING STREET Open Electric Jam w/the King Street House Band ft. Howie Johnson, 6:30pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Sunday Dance Party w/ DJ RexxStep, 10pm ASHEVILLE CLUB Vaden Landers (country blues, honky tonk), 3pm BEN'S TUNE UP Good Vibes Sunday (reggae), 6pm BLACK MOUNTAIN BREWING Dark City Kings (rock), 2pm BURNTSHIRT VINEYARDS CHIMNEY ROCK Clay Johnson (singer-songwriter), 2pm ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Anya Hinkle (Americana, bluegrass, folk)k 7:30pm OFF THE WAGON All Request Piano Show, 8pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Shakedown Sunday w/ Dirty Dead, 10pm

RIVERSIDE RHAPSODY BEER CO. Drinkin' & Thinkin' Trivia w/Allie & Alex , 5:30pm SLY GROG LOUNGE Open Mic w/Mike, 6pm ST. PAUL MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS IN FLAT ROCK Geriatric Jukebox (classic rock, classic pop), 2:30pm THE FOUNDRY HOTEL Daniel Shearin (acoustic), 6pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Sissy Sunday Drag Show, 9pm THE GREY EAGLE • Cordovas (indie)k 5pm • Emily Scott Robinson w/Violet Bell (bluegrass, country, folk)k 8pm THE OMNI GROVE PARK INN Bruce Lang (guitar, vocals), 7pm TRISKELION BREWING CO. Johnnie Blackwell (rock, blues), 3pm

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15 ASHEVILLE CLUB Freshen Up (comedy, open mic), 7pm DOUBLE CROWN Country Karaoke, 10pm HAYWOOD COUNTRY CLUB Open Mic Night, 7:15pm HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Totally Rad Trivia w/ Mitch Fortune, 6pm HIGHLAND DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Cheers to Chess, 5pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. It Takes All Kinds Open Mic Night, 7pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Trivia Night, 6pm SILVERADOS Monday Bike Night w/ Contagious (rock), 6pm

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NOV. 10-16, 2021

CLU B LA N D SLY GROG LOUNGE Blind Tiger, Basilica, Dying Whale, Sludge Muffin, Gutter Princess (metal, punk), 7pm THE GOLDEN PINEAPPLE Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 8pm

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16 185 KING STREET Tuesday Casual Collaborations Hosted By Jon Stickley w/Lyndsay Pruett & Christian Ferri, 6pm 305 LOUNGE & EATERY Bob Sherill (singer-songwriter), 1pm ANTIDOTE The Little Posey Trio (jazz, swing), 6pm

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 20TH

Content Violation the Tour

12 BONES BREWERY Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm 185 KING STREET Trivia Night, 7pm ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB Karaoke, 8pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Move On Up: Soul/R&B Night, 9pm ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Disclaimer Stand-Up Lounge Comedy Open Mic, 8pm BEN'S TUNE UP Big Blue (jam), 8pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Bendigo Fletcher w/ Ona (country, folk, indie rock), 8pm

BOLD ROCK HARD CIDER Trivia Night, 6pm

GREEN MAN BREWERY Old Time Jam, 5pm

Tickets On Sale NOW SilveradosWNC.com

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17

ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY • Drag Bingo w/ Calculttak 8pm • Karaoke w/Ganymedek 9pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm,

EXPERIENCE WNC’S NEWEST OUTDOOR CONCERT VENUE

WHISTLE HOP BREWING CO. Trivia Tuesdays, 6pm

HAYWOOD COUNTRY CLUB Grass at the Club (bluegrass), 8pm MAD CO. BREW HOUSE Team Trivia Tuesday, 6pm MILLS RIVER BREWING Trivia Night, 6pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Team Trivia, 7pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Inside Out Stand-Up Comedy Showcase, 6:30pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Turntable Tuesday, 10pm THE ORANGE PEEL Noah Kahan (folk, pop) k 8pm THE PAPER MILL LOUNGE Comedy Night w/ Gregg McGaha, 7pm WAGBAR Tuesday Trivia Night, 6pm

BLACK MOUNTAIN BREWING Jay Brown (roots), 6pm

CASCADE LOUNGE Open Bluegrass Jam, 6pm GREEN MAN BREWERY Green Man Trivia, 7pm HANDLEBAR & GRILL Ladies Night Karaoke, 7pm HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Well-Crafted Wednesdays w/Matt Smith (Americana, singer-songwriter), 6pm HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Songwriter Series w/ Matt Smith, 6pm ICONIC KITCHEN & DRINKS Marc Keller (acoustic), 6pm ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 An Evening of New Orleans Funk w/John "Papa" Gros, 8:30pm MYSTIC DOME STUDIO Open Jam in the Dome (open mic), 6:30pm OFF THE WAGON All Request Piano Show, 8pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. French Broad Valley Mountain Music Jam, 6pm

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

Gates 6pm • Show 7pm • ALL AGES SHOW

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

NOV. 10-16, 2021

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ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Free Anesthesia (psychedelic power trio), 9pm Wild Wednesday Funk n Rock w/Free Anesthesia, 10pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Latin Night (dance), 6pm RENDEVOUS Albi (vintage jazz), 7pm SILVERADOS Open Mic Night, 7pm SLY GROG LOUNGE Safety Coffin, Cardinal Lake, North by North, Lavender Blue (rock), 7pm SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN BREWERY Jazz Night w/Jason DeCristofaro, 5:30pm SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Witty Wednesday Trivia, 6:30pm THE 2ND ACT Round Robin Open Mic w/Letters to Abigail, 6pm THE GREY EAGLE • Sean K. Preston (honky tonk, blues, rock)k 5pm • Hustle Souls w/The Orange Constant (soul, rock, jazz)k 8pm THE OMNI GROVE PARK INN The B's (jazz, standards), 7pm THE ORANGE PEEL Sullivan King (metal) k 9pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Toadface w/Shanghai Doom (dance, electronic), 9pm BEN'S TUNE UP Offended! Open Mic (comedy), 9:30pm BOLD ROCK HARD CIDER Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm CASCADE LOUNGE Team Trivia, 7:30pm FLEETWOOD'S Terraoke (karaoke), 6pm GINGER'S REVENGE CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM Gluten-Free Comedy Open Mic, 6pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Bluegrass Jam w/Drew & the Boys, 7pm MILLS RIVER BREWING Funky Ass Trio Jam (funk), 6pm OFF THE WAGON All Request Piano Show, 8pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Kid Billy (roots, blues, ragtime), 7pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Phursdays w/Gunslinging Parrots (Phish tribute), 9:30pm

THE SOCIAL Karaoke w/DJ Lyric, 8pm

ORANGE PEEL Purity Ring (dance, electronic)k 8pm

TRISKELION BREWING CO. TriskaTrivia, 7pm

PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Hunter Begley & Eric Ledford (Americana), 6:30pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Irish Music Circle, 7pm

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18

RYE KNOT KITCHEN BREWERY DISTILLERY Chris Flanders (acoustic), 6pm

131 MAIN Aaron LaFalce (soul, rock, pop), 6pm

SALVAGE STATION Andy Frasco & The U.N., 8pm

185 KING STREET Spalding McIntosh (Americana), 7pm

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

305 LOUNGE & EATERY Bob Sherill (singer-songwriter), 1pm ALLEYCATAVL Open Mic w/Lincoln , 8pm ASHEVILLE CLUB Mr Jimmy (blues), 5pm

THE ORANGE PEEL Not Your Mama's OldTime Radio Comedy Showk 7pm TRISKELION BREWING CO. Open Mic Night, 7pm

2021

specialty shops issue advertise@mountainx.com

Publishes December 1

MOUNTAINX.COM

NOV. 10-16, 2021

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY ARIES (March 21-April 19): For much of her life, Aries poet Mary Ruefle enjoyed imagining that polar bears and penguins “grew up together playing side by side on the ice, sharing the same vista, bits of blubber, and innocent lore.” But one day, her illusions were shattered. In a science journal, she discovered that there are no penguins in the far north and no bears in the far south. I bring this to your attention, Aries, because the coming weeks will be a good time to correct misimpressions you’ve held for a while — even as far back as childhood. Joyfully modernize your understanding of how the world works. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Actor Elizabeth Taylor described her odd rhythm with actor James Dean. Occasionally, they’d stay awake till 3 a.m. as he regaled her with poignant details about his life. But the next day, Dean would act like he and Taylor were strangers — as if, in Taylor’s words, “he’d given away or revealed too much of himself.” It would take a few days before he’d be friendly again. To those of us who study the nature of intimacy, this is a classic phenomenon. For many people, taking a risk to get closer can be scary. Keep this in mind during the coming weeks, Taurus. There’ll be great potential to deepen your connection with dear allies, but you may have to deal with both your and their skittishness about it. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): There are many different kinds of smiles. Four hundred muscles are involved in making a wide variety of expressions. Researchers have identified a specific type, dubbed the “affiliation smile,” as having the power to restore trust between two people. It’s soothing, respectful and compassionate. I recommend you use it abundantly in the near future — along with other conciliatory behavior. You’re in a favorable phase to repair relationships that have been damaged by distrust or weakened by any other factor. (More info: tinyurl.com/HealingSmiles) CANCER (June 21-July 22): According to feminist cosmologists Monica Sjöö and Barbara Mor, “Night, to ancient people, was not an ’absence of light’ or a negative darkness, but a powerful source of energy and inspiration. At night the cosmos reveals herself in her vastness, the earth opens to moisture and germination under moonlight, and the magnetic serpentine current stirs itself in the underground waters.” I bring these thoughts to your attention, fellow Cancerian, because we’re in the season when we are likely to be extra creative: as days grow shorter and nights longer. We Crabs thrive in the darkness. We regenerate ourselves and are visited by fresh insights about what Sjöö and Mor call “the great cosmic dance in which everything participates: the movement of the celestial bodies, the pulse of tides, the circulation of blood and sap in animals and plants.” LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Your heart has its own brain: a “heart brain.” It’s composed of neurons similar to the neurons in your head’s brain. Your heart brain communicates via your vagus nerve with your hypothalamus, thalamus, medulla, amygdala and cerebral cortex. In this way, it gives your body helpful instructions. I suspect it will be extra strong in the coming weeks. That’s why I suggest you call on your heart brain to perform a lot of the magic it specializes in: enhancing emotional intelligence, cultivating empathy, invoking deep feelings and transforming pain. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): How did naturalist Charles Darwin become a skillful thinker who changed the world with his theory of evolution? An important factor, according to businessperson Charlie Munger: “He always gave priority attention to evidence tending to disconfirm whatever cherished and hard-won theory he already had.” He loved to be proved wrong! It helped him refine his ideas so they more closely corresponded to the truth about reality. I invite you to enjoy using this method in the coming weeks, Virgo. You could become

NOV. 10-16, 2021

even smarter than you already are as you wield Darwin’s rigorous approach to learning. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You could soon reach a new level of mastery in an aptitude described by author Banana Yoshimoto. She wrote, “Once you’ve recognized your own limits, you’ve raised yourself to a higher level of being, since you’re closer to the real you.” I hope her words inspire you, Libra. Your assignment is to seek a liberating breakthrough by identifying who you will never be and what you will never do. If you do it right — with an eager, open mind — it will be fun and interesting and empowering. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Scorpio theologian Eugene Peterson cleared up a mystery about the nature of mystery. He wrote, “Mystery is not the absence of meaning, but the presence of more meaning than we can comprehend.” Yes! At least sometimes, mystery can be a cause for celebration, a delightful opening into a beautiful unknown that’s pregnant with possibility. It may bring abundance, not frustration. It may be an inspiring riddle, not a debilitating doubt. Everything I just said is important for you to keep in mind right now. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In 2017, Richard Thaler won the Nobel Prize for Economics. His specialty: researching how unreasonable behavior affects the financial world. When he discovered that this great honor had been bestowed on him, he joked that he planned to spend the award money “as irrationally as possible.” I propose we make him your role model for the near future, Sagittarius. Your irrational, nonrational, and trans-rational intuitions can fix distortions caused by the overly analytical and hyper-logical approaches of you and your allies. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “Neurotic” and “neurosis” are old-fashioned words. Psychotherapists no longer use them in analyzing their patients. The terms are still useful, though, in my opinion. Most of us are at least partly neurotic — that is to say, we don’t always adapt as well as we could to life’s constantly changing circumstances. We find it challenging to outgrow our habitual patterns, and we fall short of fulfilling the magnificent destinies we’re capable of. Author Kenneth Tynan had this insight: “A neurosis is a secret that you don’t know you are keeping.” I bring this to your attention, Capricorn, because you now have extra power to adapt to changing circumstances, outgrow habitual patterns and uncover unknown secrets —thereby diminishing your neuroses. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Author Darin Stevenson wrote the following poetic declaration: “’No one can give you the lightning medicine,’ say the people who cannot give the lightning medicine.” How do you interpret his statement? Here’s what I think. “Lightning medicine” may be a metaphorical reference to a special talent that some people have for healing or inspiring or awakening their fellow humans. It could mean an ingenious quality in a person that enables them to reveal surprising truths or alternative perspectives. I am bringing this up, Aquarius, because I suspect you now have an enhanced capacity to obtain lightning medicine in the coming weeks. I hope you will corral it and use it even if you are told there is no such thing as lightning medicine. (P.S.: “Lightning medicine” will fuel your ability to accomplish difficult feats.) PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The superb fairywren gives its chicks lessons on how to sing when they are still inside their eggs. This is a useful metaphor for you in the coming months. Although you have not yet been entirely “born” into the next big plot twist of your hero’s journey, you are already learning what you’ll need to know once you do arrive in your new story. It will be helpful to become conscious of these clues and cues from the future. Tune in to them at the edges of your awareness.

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BY ROB BREZSNY

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BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES LOOKING FOR A BUSINESS PARTNER Looking for an experienced and enthusiastic partner for a Indian fast food type restaurant in downtown Asheville. Space will be available with prime location in February 2022. Serious inquiries only please. If interested please contact me at manugole@yahoo.com

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NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE JACKSON COUNTY DISTRICT COURT DIVISION FILE NO. 21-JT-45 IN RE: BLADES, A minor child MICHAEL S. BLADES, Petitioner, V. VIRGINIA CLAIRE NOVOBILSKI Respondent, Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been filed in the above entitled action. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: Petition to Terminate Parental Rights You are required to make defense to such pleading no later than November 29th, 2021 and upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the court for the relief sought. This 25th day of October, 2021 NIELSEN LAW, PLLC Joshua D. Nielsen Attorney for Petitioner 413 Walnut St Waynesville, NC 28786 (828) 246-9360 (828) 229-7255 facsimile NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION EBCI THE CHEROKEE COURT, CHEROKEE, NC. FILE NO.: CV 21-601. WALANIA SHELL v. DAWNINA MIA SHAE JUMP, and DALTON RAY CLINE. TO: DAWNINA MIA SHAE JUMP. TAKE NOTICE that a pleading seeking relief against you has been filed in the above-entitled action. The nature of the relief being sought is CHILD CUSTODY. You are required to make defense to this pleading not later than December 13, 2021, said date being 40 days from the first date of this publication, and upon your failure to do so, the party seeking service against you will apply to the Court for the relief sought. This is the 3rd day of November 2021. Stephanie-Lyn Lepre, Attorney for Plaintiff, EBCI Legal Assistance Office, PO Box 2280, Cherokee, NC 28719. 828.359.7400. N.C.G.S._1A-1, Rule 4(j1). NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Executor for the Estate of the late Kenneth Wayne Fraher of Buncombe County, North

Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to present them, in writing, to the undersigned at c/o Paula A. Kohut, Kohut & Adams, P.A., P.O. Box 269, Wilmington, North Carolina 28402 on or before the 4th day of February, 2022, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate settlement with the undersigned. This the 3rd day of November, 2021. Robert Grey Bustle III, Executor for the Estate of Kenneth Wayne Fraher. Paula A. Kohut, KOHUT & ADAMS, P.A., 513 Market Street, Wilmington, NC 28401. PO Box 269, Wilmington, NC 28402.

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edited by Will Shortz | No. 1006

ACROSS

1 Animal that’s also a plant? 5 Genghis Khan tactic 10 F.D.R. jobcreating program 13 Follower of the calends and the nones 14 Like some texts and cows 15 Holds 16 Good advice during an emergency 18 “Always Be My Maybe” actress Wong 19 Obliquely 20 Made like an artisan 22 Yokohama drama 23 Baseball Hall-ofFamer Mel 24 “___ quam videri” (“To be rather than to seem”) 25 Gymnast on Time’s August 2, 1976, cover with the headline “She’s perfect” 29 Geezers and fogies 31 Knock out 32 Meathead 34 35 Not used to 38 Consumed 39 Cutting 42 Political journalist Berman 43 Constellation resembling a harp 45 Drop (off) 46 What participles shouldn’t do 49 Brand with a snow-covered mountain on its label 52 Not duped by 53 Actor Cariou 55 John of Scots

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1 “Morning Joe” co-host Brzezinski 2 Lyric verses 3 Soup bulb 4 Sevilla’s home 5 Yard ___

56 Doing dinner and a movie at home, say 58 Excerpt 62 Tick off 63 Typecasts, in a way … or a hint to four squares in this puzzle 65 China’s Chou En-___ 66 Battery ends 67 Like a flag on a windless day 68 Scratch (out) 69 Coffee go-with 70 Website for 20-Across items

30 34

42 47

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6 German pronoun 7 Put up 8 Customize for 9 One literary source for Wagner’s “Ring” cycle 10 “How are plans coming along?” 11 Most ghostly 12 They break the fourth wall 14 Slid over a bit 17 In short order 21 Consumed 23 Rockefeller or Getty 25 Pokey 26 Be in a red state, perhaps 27 TV monster’s catchphrase 28 One source of global warming 30 ___ Cruces, N.M. 33 Yukon, e.g.: Abbr.

ANSWER TO LOCAL NONPROFIT PUZZLE (PG. 39) M U S E U M O F S C I E N C E

PUZZLE BY JULES MARKEY

A M U R E S E N E S R O W N R E A G A M R E L A T H E R

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36 Its atomic number is 18 37 No later than, informally 40 “I’m such a meathead!” 41 Summer setting for N.Y.C. 44 Mongols and Mughals, for example 46 Easily tamed 47 Winter coat 48 Current event? 50 Tie down securely 51 Flat liner? 54 Incite 57 Tech release of 2010 58 Writer of 2-Down 59 Made a touchdown 60 Masterpieces 61 Award for a great play 64 Follower of “spelman.”

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS NY TIMES PUZZLE S E S T A B I G N P A P A R G Y O P U S I T E R I H E C O V E R T M L A L E O C E E R N U D G E R V O L U T I O N A E L O P E S S L L E A U S E D E F E A S T S R E A L E E D M A G I P H I I S L E S E C T H E N R E

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NOV. 10-16, 2021

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