Mountain Xpress 11.13.24

Historian

team

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TROUBLED WATERS

In the midst of Asheville’s ongoing water crisis, restaurant owners have collaborated with everyone from plumbing experts to Buncombe County officials to develop workarounds for potable water access so their businesses can reopen safely. But the expense of these solutions is more than some small operators can bear.

PUBLISHER & EDITOR: Jeff Fobes

ASSISTANT PUBLISHER: Susan Hutchinson

MANAGING EDITOR: Thomas Calder

EDITORS: Lisa Allen, Gina Smith

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR: Thomas Calder

OPINION EDITOR: Tracy Rose

STAFF REPORTERS: Lisa Allen, Thomas Calder, Justin McGuire, Pat Moran, Greg Parlier, Brooke Randle, Gina Smith

COMMUNITY CALENDAR & CLUBLAND: Braulio Pescador-Martinez

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Jon Elliston, Mindi Friedwald, Peter Gregutt, Rob Mikulak

REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS:

Oby Arnold, Mark Barrett, Eric Brown, Carmela Caruso, Cayla Clark, Brionna Dallara, Storms Reback, Kay West

PHOTOGRAPHERS: Cindy Kunst

ADVERTISING, ART & DESIGN MANAGER: Susan Hutchinson

LEAD DESIGNER: Scott Southwick

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS: Tina Gaafary, Caleb Johnson, Olivia Urban

MARKETING ASSOCIATES: Sara Brecht, Scott Mermel, Geoffrey Warren

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES: Hinton Edgerton, Jeff Fobes, Mark Murphy, Scott Southwick

WEB: Brandon Tilley

BOOKKEEPER: Amie Fowler

OFFICE MANAGER: Mark Murphy

ADMINISTRATION & BILLING: Hinton Edgerton, Lisa Watters

DISTRIBUTION: Susan Hutchinson, Cindy Kunst

DISTRIBUTION DRIVERS: Ashley Alms, Cass Kunst, Henry Mitchell, Courtney Israel Nash, Joey Nash, Carl & Debbie Schweiger,

Why so hard to apply for disaster nutrition program?

Why was D-SNAP (Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) so seemingly inaccessible to those devastated by Helene?

My experience with D-SNAP filled me with a mix of emotions. The folks running the booths were patient and kind, despite the chaos. I thank them dearly for their time; however, there were a number of observations that concerned me to my core.

1. The limited number of places to apply for D-SNAP. Twenty-five counties were approved in Western North Carolina for D-SNAP, and each county had only one location to apply. Buncombe County consists of more than 200,000 residents alone.

I personally saw a car line at the Henderson County location reach at least a mile. I myself had to hike about 10 blocks if I were to make it in time, and luckily, my physical stamina gave me the means to do so. How many were not so lucky? Whether it be due to transportation, medical limitations or being turned away at the end of the line because they cannot walk in?

Why did we only have seven days to apply when the application itself takes hours in person?

2. The difficulties in applying on the phone. So many of my personal friends and colleagues were not able to get through on the phone. A lot abandoned the job due to it taking hours and even days to make any headway. There are still many people who have an unstable connection to the outside world. Why did they not anticipate such high call volumes? Especially with folks facing a deadline.

3. The lack of awareness in the community about this program. I’m the founder of United Appalachia,

and I speak with dozens of locals every day. No one I knew was aware of this program until days before the deadline. I did not hear of any commercials nor of any official announcement. Everyone I know heard of this through word of mouth.

When I was in line at the Henderson County location for D-SNAP, I asked a few different people in line the same question because I wanted to know: “When did you learn about D-SNAP? How did you find out?”

Nearly all of them had the same answer. “I learned about this in the last three days, through word of mouth.”

I was personally told by my mother living in South Carolina the day after it was announced.

Further, I have since made a TikTok video [avl.mx/ea5] that went viral with dozens of comments from

a response from spokesperson Summer Tonizzo, which said in part: “The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services understands the concern of individuals impacted by Hurricane Helene navigating the D-SNAP process. The department advocated for and received every possible flexibility from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support individuals and families as they recover from the devastation. USDA limits the D-SNAP application window to seven days and has rules about how D-SNAP applications can be processed and who is allowed to process them.

“In compliance with those restrictions, hundreds of county and N.C. DHHS staff worked to ensure as many people as possible could apply for D-SNAP benefits. More than 180,000 people (including over 40,000 in Buncombe County) were approved for D-SNAP through both in-person and phone applications.

people singing a very similar tune: “I learned too late,” or “I couldn’t get there in time.”

Again, why did we only get seven days to apply for this program? There are over 1 million people combined in the 25 counties, most of whom have been affected by this storm in some way.

The limited locations and the lack of virtual accessibility made for this program to be a failure for those affected by Helene.

The locations should have been multiple, the phone lines should have been accessible, and the deadline should have been longer than seven days.

My question is: Why? — Autumn Mullins Hendersonville

Editor’s note: Xpress contacted the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services with the letter writer’s points, and we received

“If people weren’t able to apply for D-SNAP, they can still apply for regular Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) [avl.mx/ea6], Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) [avl.mx/ea7] or contact 2-1-1 [avl.mx/ea8] for food assistance.”

Our gritty, chicken-loving city

I was recently reminded of what lured me to return to Western North Carolina after many years working in large cities out west and overseas when I stumbled upon a charming exchange on Nextdoor.

A woman named Joan, whom I do not know, wrote, “We have a beautiful chicken wandering around our neighborhood, hopefully someone is missing it.” A woman named Joy responded, “Is it white?” and added a link to an Asheville resident who

CARTOON BY RANDY MOLTON

was missing a white chicken that was also thought to be wandering around doing whatever runaway fowl are wont to do.

I love that, in a town such as ours, these thoughtful strangers didn’t just let the ball drop and allow strangers’ chickens to run hither and yon all willy-nilly and maybe get killed without attempting to be good citizens and help reunite humans with birds. Far from being passive, Joan took the initiative to write back: “Joy, no, it’s not white, but we haven’t noticed it around this afternoon, so hoping it wandered home. I hope they found their white chicken, though.”

I love that thoughtful Joan noticed that she had not noticed the first aforementioned lost, wayward (?) wandering chicken that prompted her original post. I love that she still held out hope that the original lost chicken made it safely home. And I find myself moved that she adds her concern over Joy’s mention of complete strangers being distraught over their lost, wandering, possibly wayward, but certainly beloved white chicken.

Eggs aren’t part of my daily diet, but I appreciate chickens and the might they add to our soil and atmosphere. I love that I live in a community that has not quite gotten so big or full of itself as to completely

disallow the keeping of chickens. I love that I live in a place where chicken-loving humans are so kind that I am moved to try to be kinder myself.

I’ll admit that in the past, whenever I happened to see a lost chicken, my first thoughts often ran to Le Creuset cooking pots and recipes for coq au vin. But since reading the concerned words of Joan and Joy, I shall aspire to be a better and kinder citizen as we all work to rebuild and reinvent our gritty, chicken-loving town.

— Robert McGee Asheville

We should ditch standardized testing

Do you remember when you took the ACT or had to take a big test at the end of a course? Did you struggle? Students deal with standardized tests all the time, and most of us are not good test takers. Many students stress over these big tests when they define nothing about us.

In the early 1900s, France began to use testing. America has used testing to rank its students and make the schools act as factories. Our country has changed over the past 100 years, so what’s the point of a standardized test?

Students often take these bigger tests and panic over it because it defines which college we get into, which will define the rest of our lives. This way of thinking is very outdated. The SAT was created to measure an ill-defined concept of “g.” But what is “g,” and why is it so important? People don’t know what “g” is, nor do we care how much one has scored. We should be focusing on the work we have now and how to function getting into being an adult, not staying up all night studying for one big test that you will most likely fail.

Due to COVID, many tests were forgiven and didn’t happen. When my eighth grade year was interrupted, I was glad I didn’t have to do the end-of-the-year tests because my test-taking skills weren’t the strongest. When I had to take the ACT, nothing changed, but I still got into the college I wanted because it doesn’t count that score. If most colleges don’t need this information, why do we use it? These tests typically are used if you are going for an Ivy League school that looks at these scores to decide which student is different from the other.

Since Tropical Storm Helene came through and caused mass devastation, these students don’t have the resources to live, let alone study for a test. Why are we think-

ing that these kids can make a future for themselves when they don’t have a home to live in, food, water, power or even family? What if these kids were going to Ivy League schools? What do they do? They will not get into their dream school they worked so hard to get to only because they couldn’t take a test.

We need to get rid of this outdated way of education. If we want to continue and give our youths the best lives possible, why are we torturing them with this idea of standardized tests defining their lives? This is why we should get rid of standardized testing and teach our students to work hard for their future and not some big test.

— Carter Warren Cullowhee

Word of the week

denouement (n.)

1. the final outcome of the main dramatic complication in a novel, play, film, etc.

2. the outcome of a complex sequence of events

A week out from the 2024 general election, we have reached the denouement of the latest election cycle. See you all in 2026. X

X

CARTOON BY BRENT BROWN

Troubled waters

Restaurants need potable water to operate, but at what cost?

BY KAY WEST

kswest55@comcast.net

As power, internet, cell phone service and nonpotable running water returned to much of Asheville and the surrounding area in the weeks after Tropical Storm Helene, the sighs of relief practically created their own autumn breeze. But one frustrating and debilitating day-to-day challenge that lingers even seven weeks later is sourcing potable water.

For home cooks, not being able to clean produce, cook or wash dishes with water coming from the faucet is an inconvenience. For those in the hospitality industry, it has been the determining factor in whether, when and how they can open for businesses.

For many restaurateurs, the path to that goal began in the immediate aftermath of the storm when they did what restaurant people do — jumped into action to feed their community.

Though those setups worked, he says, they were a short-term solution for emergency relief. As those first-response efforts began to wind down and restaurants wanted to reopen to paying customers, health department requirements made it necessary to segue to more sophisticated — and costly — systems in order to charge people for food.

COLLECTIVE EFFORT

Moody says he attempted to go through city channels for assistance in creating a long-term alternative water plan, but without success. “They just weren’t prepared for something as big and complex as this,” he says.

For several, that happened through partnerships with global humanitarian food nonprofit World Central Kitchen (WCK), which arrived in Western North Carolina immediately following the storm and set up headquarters at Bears Smokehouse BBQ on the South Slope.

Bobby Moody, owner of Moody Plumbing, ended up joining those efforts soon after WCK’s arrival when, while working from a relief command center he’d set up at his business on Airport Road, he received a call from a client, Bear’s co-owner Cheryl Antonic. WCK needed a plumbing company to find a way to get water to restaurant kitchens they planned to partner with, she told him.

“We partnered with them, and it was nuts from that point forward,” Moody says. “We set up so many additional places for them in Asheville, Boone, Banner Elk, Lake Lure, Green River. They were feeding like 30,000 people a day.”

Helene was not Moody’s first experience with natural disasters. He did some small jobs in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, then got into the thick of the chaos in Wilmington in the wake of Hurricane Florence in 2018. The first systems he began installing in Asheville for WCK were very basic — just the large, clear plastic water cubes seen all over town, set up with pumps and garden hosing.

Eric Scheffer was among the Asheville restaurateurs who collaborated with WCK in the first weeks after the storm. At that stage, the organization set up and paid for the potable water systems needed at restaurant sites, including two of Scheffer’s four restaurants — Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian North and Jettie Rae’s Oyster House — which were making 4,000 relief meals a day. But while working to help the community, Scheffer was also looking ahead to a time when he could reopen his businesses. “World Central doesn’t stick around forever,” he says. “Around day 14, they began winding down to fewer locations and told us they were coming to pick up their tanks. I needed to find a way to get water to my restaurants to open.”

Scheffer called on Moody to help source equipment needed to set up systems for his restaurants and others. “I had connections in that world and was able to get five to eight tanks at a time as needed and brought in on 18-wheelers,” Moody explains.

Through his friend Rob Foster, CEO of Virtelle Hospitality Group, Scheffer got connected with mobile water provider Top Water Energy Solutions (TWES). After meeting with a company representative, he realized he needed to put together a large collective of restaurants to make daily deliveries of potable water viable on both ends.

Scheffer started calling fellow members of Asheville Independent Restaurant Association (AIR) about the project; one of those was Rich

by Chelsea Pickett

Cundiff, owner with wife, Lauren, of Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack on Patton Avenue and Sweeten Creek Road. WCK had been using the Cundiff’s Patton Avenue restaurant as a meal preparation site, and when WCK closed it, the organization left Cundiff with a 2,000-gallon storage tank and equipment but no water source. Scheffer’s call found him at the perfect time. Scheffer explained to Cundiff that they could source potable water from TWES at 10 cents a gallon with some additional costs, including a charge for joining the company’s delivery route. Water deliveries would be made daily.

Since Rocky’s already had the tank and system, the business didn’t have to pay for installation or equipment rental. The Cundiffs said yes, as did several other local restaurants.

GOING WITH THE FLOW

With water sourcing resolved, the group contracted Moody Plumbing to get large water tanks — 1,550 to 5,000 gallons — to place outside their restaurants, then build the systems to pump that water into the buildings. “We go to each restaurant to draw a plan,” says Moody. “Places like

Vinnie’s with standalone buildings are easy, but downtown restaurants are a lot more challenging. There’s not a lot of room for tanks, and one or two pipes feed several buildings.”

Installation takes about four to five hours, with an upfront investment up to $4,000, along with additional weekly fees that cover rental of the tanks, pumps and pipes as well as maintenance. Once a business is finished with the equipment, it can be returned.

Water is delivered daily to the 16 restaurants now in Scheffer’s collective with an average usage per restaurant of 1,000-2,000 gallons per day. That group has exclusive rights to an 8,000-gallon water truck and another half the size that source from potable-certified sites in Waynesville, Weaverville and Tryon.

According to City of Asheville spokesperson Kim Miller, the city has not been requiring permits for water tanks placed in public rights of way. “When we become aware of the tanks going in, we ask the recipient to coordinate with the city to ensure emergency access is not affected, as well as to minimize impacts to sidewalks and more,” Miller says. “For all locations that worked with the

city, we have found a way to make placement work safely.”

Before a restaurant can reopen, someone from Buncombe County’s Department of Health and Human Services has to inspect its water system and sign off. Felissa Vazquez, the county’s environmental health food and lodging supervisor, says that shortly after the storm ended, her team was on the ground helping conduct assessments of relief feeding sites, such as those operated by WCK, to ensure community food safety.

At the same time, one of her first requests to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Protection and Facilities Branch was to develop an emergency operations template that would speed up the process of approving alternate water supplies for food service businesses so they could safely reopen. With the county’s water situation constantly in flux over the past several weeks as efforts to restore service progress, Vazquez says her team tries to go with the flow.

“We had to remain flexible in our daily work and make sure we worked with industry,” she says. “When evaluating an establishment’s emergency operation plan, we make a visit to

verify the source of the water or to see their procedure for boiling the water. In addition, we look at the containers and fixtures used to hold and transport the water to ensure they are intended for potable water.”

In addition to potable water being necessary for direct consumption, Velazquez points out that restaurants must use it for hand washing, ware washing and food production as well.

“Felissa has been a real ally in getting this going,” says Scheffer. “I can’t say enough about how helpful she and her department have been. [Assistant City Manager] Ben Woody has been great too.”

Moody is proud that he and his staff have been on the front lines in finding solutions. But he feels bad for the smaller businesses that can’t afford the up-front investment and ongoing costs of installing alternate water systems. “I wish I could record the conversations I have with people who desperately want and need to reopen but can’t afford to get the water to do it,” he says. “The City of Asheville has to do something to help.”

Scheffer is equally frustrated. Insurance generally hasn’t been covering the huge costs associated with the alternate systems, he says. He, too, has looked to city government to provide some kind of funding to offset what has become a crippling burden to one of Asheville’s most vital sectors, but without success.

“We are providing a service at great expense to us, operating for locals and visitors. Residents still have no water in their homes, and the city wants tourists back but is not offering to help us or reimburse us somewhere down the line,” Scheffer says. “We are taking this on the chin and bleeding money, and some places can’t get open at all. ... My restaurants are between 50 and 65% of where we should be this time of year, but it’s better than zero. We just pray we can keep doing it until city water comes back.” X

WATER MAIN: Eric Scheffer stands beside the potable water tank at Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian North on Merrimon Avenue that allowed him to reopen his restaurant while the city continues its struggle to supply safe water to residents.

Photo

Final count

BY XPRESS STAFF

Reporting

by Lisa Allen , Thomas Calder, Greg Parlier and Justin McGuire

Nov. 5 was a big day for Republicans on the national level, with former President Donald Trump defeating Vice President Kamala Harris to earn a return to the White House and the GOP capturing the Senate. But on the state level, Democrats won the races for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state and superintendent of public instruction.

Democrats also did well in Buncombe County and Asheville, winning more than 20 seats on the state, county and municipal levels. But local Republicans had reason to celebrate as well. U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards easily defended his District 11 seat, earning nearly 57% of the vote against challenger Caleb Rudow. And State Sen. Warren Daniel, District 46, cruised to reelection.

As for voter turnout, despite coming out of the gate strong with a high number of early voters, the overall total — 74% of registered voters in Buncombe County — closely mirrored 2016’s 71% and 2020’s 78%.

Unofficial results show that 159,778 people voted, down from the 162,137 people who voted in 2020 but up from the 140,014 who turned out in 2016.

How people have voted over the previous decade varied by election. In 2016, early in-person voting captured 72% of the votes, compared with 65% in 2020 and 54% this year. Absentee by mail soared in 2020 to 22% but fell to 5% in 2024. It was 4% in 2016.

NEWS

Takeaways from WNC’s 2024 general election

Election Day voting comprised 20% of votes in 2024, 12% in 2020 and 23% in 2016.

Below are a few key additional takeaways from the 2024 general election.

MONEY DIDN’T PAY OFF

In at least two local races, the candidates who raised the most money didn’t end up victorious.

In the race for chair of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, Amanda Edwards, Democrat, raised $73,160 as of her third-quarter report posted Oct. 27. Her opponent, Van Duncan, unaffiliated, raised $128,145 as of his second-quarter report filed July 2. His third-quarter report was unavailable on both the county and state election websites. However, on election night,

the three candidates for that seat would split the vote, narrowing the margins for the BCAE-endorsed Democrat Greg Cheatham, who is a former teacher and current firefighter. In the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene, Peele noted, Cheatham had limited time to campaign because of his professional involvement in recovery efforts.

In the end, Cheatham won the closest race for a board seat, earning nearly 39% of the vote. Nancy Hargrove, who is unaffiliated and also a former teacher, came in second with just over 31% of the vote. Republican Sara Disher Ratliff finished with a little over 29% of the vote.

Duncan told Xpress he had raised over $190,000.

Despite the difference in fundraising, Edwards garnered 61% of the vote, compared with Duncan’s 39%.

In the race for three open seats on the Asheville City Council, the top fundraiser, Tod Leaven, came in fifth of six candidates. According to pre-election reports filed at the end of October, Leaven raised $48,069, compared with top vote-getter Sage Turner, who raised $8,500. Rounding out the race, second-place finisher Kim Roney raised $8,951; the thirdspot winner Roberto “Bo” Hess raised $15,000. Candidate Kevan Frazier, who placed fourth, raised $22,261, and Charles “CJ” Domingo, who placed sixth, raised $2,151.

DEMOCRATS AND ALLIES SWEEP LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD RACES

After a contentious school year rife with conversations about politically divisive culture war topics and Republican-led redistricting, observers weren’t sure what to expect on election night in races for the Buncombe County Schools Board of Education.

In the end, registered Democrats and those supported by the Buncombe County Association of Educators (BCAE) swept all four seats on the county school board.

Before the results came in, BCAE president Shanna Peele told Xpress she was most concerned about the race for District 2 on the Buncombe County Schools board. She worried

Voters rejected both Disher Ratliff and Jim Fulton, who both had endorsed Republican Michele Morrow for N.C. superintendent of public instruction, who lost to Democrat Mo Green . Morrow faced criticism for comments wishing physical harm to national-level Democrats such as Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Fulton lost to former Republican Amy Churchill, an incumbent who left the Republican Party after she was allegedly assaulted at a GOP town hall last summer by current Buncombe County GOP Chair Doug Brown. BCAE had endorsed Churchill in the race.

Voters also elected Democratic newcomer Charles Martin, who became the first Black member of the county school board with his victory over Republican Glenda Weinert, who was appointed this summer to fill the position vacated by Amanda Simpkins

Current chair and Democrat Ann Franklin also secured victory over Republican Greg Parks, despite not earning an endorsement from BCAE.

On the Asheville City Board of Education, all four candidates on the ballot earned endorsements from the Buncombe County Democratic Party. Pepi Acebo secured the most votes to join incumbent Jesse Warren and current Chair George Sieburg to complete the board, which is now represented entirely by elected candidates for the first time.

The city board held its first elections in 2022 after previously being fully appointed by Asheville City Council. Warren won despite not receiving an endorsement from the Asheville City Association of Educators, which instead threw its support behind William Young, who finished fourth in the race for three seats.

INCUMBENTS REIGNED SUPREME

In both races for Buncombe County Board of Commissioners and Asheville City Council, incumbency was rewarding.

POST-ELECTION REVIEW: The results are in, and Xpress is looking at what local trends materialized in this year’s general election. Photo by Pixabay

MAKING HISTORY: With her election victory, Amanda Edwards will become the first woman chair of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners. Photo by Greg Parlier

Council members Turner and Roney, who were both first elected in 2020, earned the top votes in this year’s three-seat race. Turner received 27,678 votes; Roney received 25,404. Hess, a first-time Council candidate, took the third seat with 23,890 votes.

Meanwhile, the three commissioners, all Democrats, seeking reelection topped their opponents. Terri Wells won District 2 with 54% of the overall vote, defeating Bruce O’Connell Parker Sloan, representing District 3, earned 100% of the votes in his uncontested race.

And, as previously noted, Amanda Edwards, who currently represents

BACK AT IT: U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards speaks to supporters at the Cambria Hotel during the Republican Party’s election night watch party. Edwards, an incumbent, won a second term, defeating state Rep. Caleb Rudow. Photo by Brooke Randle

District 3, beat former Buncombe County Sheriff Van Duncan, in the race for chair. Edwards will replace Brownie Newman, who served eight years in the position.

According to Kathie Kline, chair of the Buncombe County Democratic Party, “We will be having Democrats in [Edwards’] district attend a special meeting to elect her replacement sometime next month.”

On Nov. 5, Edwards spoke with Xpress after her race was called. She said she was honored to be the first woman elected as chair of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners. “The voters were looking for a commissioner that could hit the ground running even more, post-Helene,” she said. “I think in that way the storm affected this election.”

POST-HELENE IMPACT?

“There’s a reason that incumbents win more than 90% of the time and it’s not because they’re universally loved,” Chris Cooper, Western University Carolina political science professor, told Asheville Watchdog in October. “Incumbents have name recognition, a proven electoral playbook and, of course, the advantages they are afforded by the office itself.”

That was certainly the case in the latest contest for U.S. House District 11, where Republican incumbent Chuck Edwards of Hendersonville defeated N.C. House Rep. Caleb Rudow of Asheville.

The district encompasses 17 counties — with Buncombe being the lone blue county in an otherwise sea of red.

Along with the benefits of incumbency, Edwards’ response to Tropical Storm Helene may have also played a factor in his reelection. In the storm’s aftermath, Edwards said he was suspending his campaigning to focus on helping Western North Carolina residents. Early on in the recovery, he sent out regular updates to constituents, including a press release debunking numerous conspiracies and rumors about the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) response to Helene. He also participated in multiple press conferences that featured a number of prominent Republican officials, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, and then-candidate, now President-elect Donald Trump

It’s unlikely, however, that Edwards’ response to Helene was the determining factor in his victory. From the start, Rudow was considered a long shot in the heavily Republican district. Ultimately, Edwards received 57% of the vote, earning nearly 60,000 more votes than Rudow. X

County reviews Helene response and recovery

At its Nov. 7 meeting, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners received an update on the county’s Tropical Storm Helene response and recovery process. (Commissioner Martin Moore was absent.) Following a short video presentation, Hannah Vick, assistant federal coordinating officer with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), spoke to the board.

“Our priority is to ensure that displaced families have a safe and sanitary place to stay,” Vick said, addressing housing needs. According to Vick, more than 50,000 households in the county have been approved for FEMA assistance, with the agency paying out more than $73 million to local families. The money helps survivors pay for temporary housing, making home repairs and replacing essential personal property.

“As we complete home inspections, we can approve survivors for more money or programs based on their specific damages or ... specific needs,” said Vick. “We also help survivors [pay for] moving and storage and other needs not covered by insurance.”

In addition, FEMA is directly paying for more than 1,500 people to stay in local hotels.

Other highlights from Vick’s address included:

• FEMA currently has 300 community responders in Buncombe County.

• The Army Corps of Engineers is aiding the agency in its top priority — restoring potable water to the region.

• The Army Corps of Engineers is also engaged in debris removal, which is being conducted at no cost to the county.

Small business loans update

approve the updated agreement at its next regular meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 19.

In other news

A second presentation from E.B. Odderstol , Buncombe County’s economic development program analyst, covered updates on the Mountain Community Capital Fund (MCCF). The MCCF provides loans for small-business owners who don’t have collateral.

The presentation proposed edits and updates to the program’s operating agreement.

“The updated agreement will allow the Operating Committee to more easily accept additional funds moving forward, including for potential Helene relief needs,” Kassi Day, Buncombe County spokesperson told Xpress in a follow-up email.

The program is not specific to the Helene response, Odderstol said. The board will be asked to

• The board voted unanimously 6-0 to approve a $285,000 Safety and Justice Challenge grant from the MacArthur Foundation. The grant funds an assistant district attorney position, an assistant public defender position for the county and projects that increase community engagement.

• The board also unanimously approved 6-0 two budget amendments. One accepts a $75,082 grant for the DWI Task Force, which consists of three sworn officers. The grant requires a 75% ($225,247) match by the county — funding that was already budgeted for fiscal year 2025. The second budget amendment accepts a $510,000 grant from Dogwood Health Trust that supports the Ujima Collective Healing Space. According to the county, “The need for this project arose after research on ways to use Opioid Settlement Funds discovered there is a disproportionate increase in the overdose deaths of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color populations.”

• The board voted unanimously 6-0 to approve a resolution waiving all penalties for businesses that pay occupancy taxes late during the region’s recovery from Helene. The proposal does not waive payments of occupancy taxes.

— Pat Moran X

RECOVERY UPDATE: Hannah Vick, assistant federal coordinating officer with FEMA, addresses the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners. Photo by Pat Moran

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

 Online-only events

 More info, page 24

WELLNESS

Gentle Yoga for Seniors

A yoga class geared to seniors offering gentle stretching and strengthening through accessible yoga poses and modifications.

WE (11/13, 20), 2:30pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Tai Chi for Balance

A gentle Tai Chi exercise class to help improve balance, mobility, and quality of life. All ages are welcome.

WE (11/13, 20), 11:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Tai Chi Fan

This class helps build balance and whole body awareness. All ages and ability levels welcome.

Fans will be provided.

WE (11/13, 20), 1pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Chen Style Tai Chi

The original style of Tai Chi known for its continual spiraling movements and great health benefits.

TH (11/14, 21), MO (11/18), 1pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Qi Gong for Overall

Health & Wellness

Learn how to relax your mind and body through slow intentional movements.

FR (11/15), 9am, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

Tai Chi for Adults

Improve your movement and flexibility with relaxation techniques each week. Intended for participants ages 40 and over.

FR (11/15), 1:30pm, Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave

Qigong for Health

A part of traditional Chinese medicine that involves using exercises to optimize energy within the body, mind and spirit.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

opportunities are open to the public. Open daily, 10am. Demonstrations run through Dec. 31. Folk Art Center, MP 382, Blue Ridge Pwy

Vessels of Merriment

FR (11/15), TU (11/19), 2:30pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Sound Bath Sound

Healing

Imagine the soothing tones of Tibetan singing bowls washing over you, calming your mind, and rejuvenating your spirit. This event is open to all levels.

SA (11/16), SU (11/17), 11am, Somatic Sounds, 12 1/2 Wall St

Serenity Sound Bath

A deeply immersive, full-body sound and vibrational experience to help cleanse your soul, restore your balance, surround you with peace and tranquility and stimulate healing.

SU (11/17), 9:30am, Center for Spiritual Living Asheville, 2 Science Mind Way

Sunday Morning Meditation Group

Gathering for a combination of silent sitting and walking meditation, facilitated by Worth Bodie.

SU (11/17), 10am, Quietude Micro-retreat Center, 1130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

Strength & Exercise

Workout at your own pace in a fun atmosphere in this weekly class for active adults working on overall fitness and strength.

MO (11/18), 9:30am, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

Zumba Gold & Silverobics

Calorie-burning, fun, low-impact class that incorporates dance and fitness for older adults each week.

MO (11/18), 10:30am, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

Power Hour Chair

Exercise

Build power through fun, upbeat, and gentle chair exercises each Tuesday.

TU (11/19), 10am, Grove St Community Center, 36 Grove St

AMERICANA COMMUNITY CONCERT: Haywood Community College Foundation hosts Afternoon of Americana, a free community concert on its main campus, on Saturday, Nov. 16, starting at 3 p.m. The concert will bring together musical groups Fancy and the Gentlemen, The Walker Family Band and the J Creek Cloggers for an afternoon of music, dancing and history. Proceeds from donations will benefit the Haywood Strong program. Photo courtesy of Haywood Community College

Balance, Agility, Strength, Stretch

This weekly class for adults focuses on flexibility, balance, stretching, and strength. Bring your own exercise mat.

TU (11/19), noon, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

Kung Fu: Baguazhang

It is the martial arts style that Airbending from the show Avatar: The Last Airbender was based on.

TU (11/19), 1pm and 5:30pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Nia Dance Fitness

A sensory-based movement practice that draws from martial arts, dance arts and healing arts.

TU (11/19), 10:30am, TH (11/21), 9:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Intro to Fitness

Learn how to use equipment and machines in the fitness center to jump start a regular fitness routine on the third Thursday of each month.

TH (11/21), 1pm, Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave

SUPPORT GROUPS

Nicotine Anonymous

People share their experience, strength and hope to stop using nicotine. You don’t need to be stopped, just have a desire to attend.

TH (11/14, 21), 4:30pm, Asheville 12-Step Recovery Club, 1 Kenilworth Knolls Unit 4

Magnetic Minds: Depression & Bipolar Support Group

A free weekly peer-led meeting for those living with depression, bipolar, and related mental health challenges. For more information contact (828) 367-7660.

SA (11/16), 2pm, 1316 Ste C Parkwood Rd

A Day of Healing

This free community event is designed to support everyone affected by hurricane Helene so we can ground, restore and get well-sourced as we move forward in the his new era together as a community

with resilience.

SU (11/17), 10am, AyurPrana Listening Room, 312 Haywood Rd

All Souls Counseling Mental Health Monday Educational Series

In these free mental health education sessions, community members can learn coping skills, how to manage their emotions, how to support others, and how to navigate the difficulties of grief and loss in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

MO (11/18), 2pm, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

Trauma-Informed Learning Session

The intention of this session is to give language to the impacts of trauma we each have experienced in some form and to provide resources and practices to equip you moving

DANCE

Latin Night Wednesday w/DJ Mtn Vibez

A Latin dance social featuring salsa, bachata, merengue, cumbia, and reggaeton with dance lessons for all skill levels.

WE (11/13, 20), 8pm, One World Brewing W, 520 Haywood Rd

Bachata Dance Lesson & Social

Live DJ Bachata nights with some Cha Cha, Cumbia, Merengue and Salsa added to the mix.

TH (11/14, 21), 8:30pm, Urban Orchard Cider Co.

S Slope, 24 Buxton Ave

The Asheville Monday Night Contra Dance

The welcoming atmosphere makes it a perfect evening for beginners and seasoned contra dancers. Lessons at 7:45pm to 8:15pm.

MO (11/18), 8:15pm, The Center for Art and Spirit at St George’s Episcopal Church, 1 School Rd forward. Please RSVP at avl.mx/e9v.

TH (11/21), 6:30pm, Lantern Health South, 11 Crispin Ct, Ste 106 ART

An Artful Journey:

A Morning or Art, Conversation & Gourmet Treats

An artful journey to the world’s most exciting art centers: Paris, New York, London, and Venice to virtually tour this year’s best museum exhibitions. Each journey will begin with a drink and pastry followed by an inspiring lecture and discussion.

WE (11/13), 10:30am, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W State St, Black Mountain

Moving Stillness: Mount Rainier

An immersive experience that explores the ideas of death and regeneration in nature. Gallery open daily, 11am, closed Tuesday. Exhibition through Jan. 20, 2025.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

The Lost Weekend: The Photography of May Pang

May Pang, John Lennon’s lover during the Lost Weekend will showcase candid photos of Lennon. May Pang will appear live and works will be available to purchase.

WE (11/13), noon, BlackBird Frame & Art, 365 Merrimon Ave

Be Real Exhibition

This exhibition allows artists to capture the essence of reality, whether through lifelike portraits, detailed landscapes, or intricate still life. Gallery open Monday through Friday, 10am. Exhibition through Nov. 26.

Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W State St, Black Mountain

The Farm

Built on more than a decade’s worth of deep, original archival research, this exhibition will constitute a comprehensive new history of Black Mountain College. Gallery open Tuesday through Saturday, 11am. Exhibition through Jan. 11, 2005. Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center, 120 College St

The Last Chair of the Forest & the Plastic Bottle

Immerse yourself in a poignant virtual reality (VR) short film that delves into environmental consciousness and the delicate balance of

This annual exhibition will feature handcrafted drinking vessels by 17 potters from across the country. Visitors will be able to browse anything from wine and whiskey cups to flasks, goblets and more. Gallery open Monday through Sunday, 10am. Exhibition through Dec. 31.

Grovewood Gallery, 111 Grovewood Rd

At the Table

nature. Gallery open daily, 11am, closed Tuesday. Exhibition through Jan. 20, 2025.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

Amanda N. Simons: Forest Feels

Forest Feels invites its viewers to participate in two distinct realities of an art museum experience: to observe the work as it is in this moment, and also to change the work by contributing to its evolution. Gallery open daily, 11am, closed Tuesday. Exhibition through Jan. 20, 2025.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

Bachelor of Fine Art Portfolio Exhibition

This exhibition highlights the comprehensive course of study at WCU’s School of Art & Design and serves as a preface to their forthcoming careers as professional artists. Gallery open Tuesday through Friday, 10am. Exhibition through Dec. 6, 2024.

WCU Bardo Arts Center, 199 Centennial Dr, Cullowhee

Forces of Nature: Ceramics from the Hayes Collection Forces of Nature is drawn from the collection of Andrew and Hathia Hayes, demonstrating the different approaches to ceramics in Western North Carolina.Gallery open daily, 11am, closed Tuesday. Exhibition through March, 2025.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

Big Little Show

An evening showcasing the creativity of seven local artists. All works featured in the Big Little Show will be on the smaller side. Each artist presents the unique spirit of their styles. SA (11/16), 5:30pm, Modern Muse Gallery, 191 Lyman St, Ste 110 Daily Craft Demonstrations

Two artists of different media will explain and demonstrate their craft with informative materials displayed at their booths, daily. These free and educational

Deep River Play Prime Country & Yacht Rock

If you’d like to hear songs by Shania, The Chicks and Mary Chapin Carpenter and Fleetwood Mac, The Doobie Brothers and America plus a couple of country originals from our Nashville decade, you’ll love this show. SA (11/16), 8pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

Dark City Songwriter Round: Beth Lee, Amanda Anne Platt & Jane Kramer

This exhibition features numerous contemporary works of art from the 1980s to the present that explore ideas of community, power, and representation through their depiction or use of a table. Gallery open Tuesday through Friday, 10am. Exhibition through Dec. 6, 2024.

WCU Bardo Arts Center, 199 Centennial Dr, Cullowhee

Paint Your Pet

This class is open to all skill levels, and our experienced instructors will help guide you to capture your pet's unique charm in a portrait that you will love.

TU (11/19), 5pm, 12 Bones Brewery, 2350 Hendersonville Rd, Arden Ginny Ruffner: Reforestation of the Imagination This exhibition explores an imaginative landscape of plant forms that come to life when activated with augmented reality. Gallery open daily, 11am, closed Tuesday. Exhibition through Jan. 20, 2025.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

COMMUNITY MUSIC

Yarn/Wire Performs

Annea Lockwood & Katherine Young

This ensemble will perform the second realization of their Fromm Foundation supported project in collaboration with composer Katherine Young, entitled BIOMES 6.1

TH (11/14), 7pm, Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center, 120 College St

Yala Cultural Tour

An in-house cultural exchange with Adama Dembele. Yala Cultural Tour includes drumming, dancing, and stories from Ivory Coast.

SA (11/16), noon, LEAF Global Arts, 19 Eagle St

Candlelight: Coldplay & Imagine Dragons

Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Asheville.

SA (11/16), 7:30pm, Asheville Masonic Temple, 80 Broadway

The Dark City Song Swap takes place once a month and focuses on the art and craft of singer-songwriters. WE (11/20), 7pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS

So You Bought a Farm, Now What?

This workshop is designed to assist new and aspiring farmers in taking the first steps in thinking through farm start-ups, whether you already have land access or not.

TH (11/14), 2pm, Madison County Cooperative Extension Office, 258 Carolina Ln Marshall

LITERARY

Scott McClanahan: Crapalachia Scott McClanahan discusses the New Classics Edition re-lease of his book Crapalachia. He'll be joined in conversation by Juliet  Escoria, Author of You Are The Snake. TH (11/14), 6pm, Malaprop's Bookstore and Cafe, 55 Haywood St Black Girl, Black Girl Book Signing Celebrate the release of Black Girl, Black Girl and get your book signed by the authors, Ali Kamanda and Jorge Redmond. SU (11/17), 2pm, The Hop, 640 Merrimon Ave, Ste 103 Rookie Readers

An engaging literacy program designed specifically for toddlers with an aim to foster a love for reading while nurturing creativity through crafts. MO (11/18), 10am, Dr Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St Dark City Poets Society Open Mic Night As usual, signups to share will begin at 5:45 p.m. All proceeds will go back to supporting Oak & Grist.

TU (11/19), 6pm, Black Mountain Library, Black Mountain

w/Christine

Celebrate

Naughty Noel No, No, No

D. Page & Dana M. Irwin

the launch of the new children's book Naughty Noel, No, No, No! with author Christine

D. Page and illustrator

Dana M. Irwin.

TU (11/19), 6pm, Malaprop's Bookstore and Cafe, 55 Haywood St

Wise Words Open Mic

Welcoming beginners and fellow artists to a creative space to express ourselves poetically.

TU (11/19), 6pm, Dr Wesley Grant, Sr. Southside Center, 285 Livingston St

Pen to Paper Writing

Group

Share stories of your life with others on the first and third Wednesday of each month.

WE (11/20), 10am, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

Asheville StorySLAM:

Asheville

Prepare a five-minute story about the land of the sky. Resilience, strength, and the community that lent a hand when you needed it the most.

Basking in the Blue Ridge Mountains, or a visit to the buzzy restaurant with the life-changing food.

TH (11/21), 7:30pm, The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave

THEATER & FILM

American Ballet Theatre Studio Company

Performing a dynamic blend of favorites, from classical and neoclassical canons to thrilling contemporary works, these vibrant young dancers share all of the talent, artistry and innovation of their parent company counterparts.

TH (11/14), FR (11/15), 8pm, Wortham Center For The Performing Arts, 18 Biltmore Ave

Tahi Documentary

A one woman’s journey around the world on a quest to find answers about connection. The resulting film, Tahi, investigates whether our commonalities are the key to unlocking an emerging world where people, animals and the environment can co-exist in balance.

FR (11/15), 7pm, Center for Spiritual Living Asheville, 2 Science Mind Way

Bright Star Touring

Theatre Presents:

Cherokee Tales

This play introduces young audiences to the Cherokee People through a series of fun and engaging stories.

SA (11/16), 4pm, Black Mt. Library, 105 N Dougherty St Black Mt

The Mousetrap

A suspenseful mystery set in a remote and snowbound English Manor, where a group of strangers must unravel a murder all while knowing one of them is the killer.

FR (11/15), SA (11/16), 7:30pm, SU (11/17), 2pm, Hart Theatre, 250 Pigeon St, Waynesville

Eulogy Movie Night

A viewing of a 2003 favorite with a special cocktail menu, popcorn

and your guilty pleasure movie candy all available at the bar.

MO (11/18), 7:30pm, Eulogy, 10 Buxton Ave

Duo Baldo

Virtuosic performance, theatrical humor and pop culture meet in the heart of this dynamic musical comedy team discovered by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli.

TH (11/21), 7pm, Wortham Center For The Performing Arts, 18 Biltmore Ave

Cocktail Hour: The Show Watch as mocktail “Shirley Temple,” “Manhattan,” “Bloody Mary,” and more spring off the menu and onto the stage in a series of dazzling vignettes. See p24

TH (11/21), 7:30pm, Tryon Fine Arts Center, 34 Melrose Ave, Tryon

MEETINGS & PROGRAMS

IBN Breakfast Club: Mills River

The meeting will consist of introductions by every guest, a discussion of future networking opportunities in the area, a roundtable business needs and solutions segment, a time for gratitude and more.

WE (11/13), 8am, Mills River Restaurant, 4467 Boylston Hwy, Mills River

Lunch & Learn w/ MountainTrue: Why Should Environmentalists Support Building More Housing?

Learn more about MountainTrue’s newest program, Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC

WE (11/13), 11:30am, Green Sage Cafe-Merrimon, 633A Merrimon Ave Mountain Stitchers Gather with other makers while you work on knitting, crocheting, stitching, or other personal fiber projects.

WE (11/13), 1pm, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

Mycoremediation & Mushroom Cultivation

An afternoon focused on learning about fungi with Mycorhizing Mushrooms and Deep Woods Mushrooms. Learn soil remediation techniques, mycofilters, stump removal, soil building and repair and more.

TH (11/14), 3pm, Turgua Brewing Co., 3131 Cane Creek Rd, Fairview

NSA-WNC Meeting

Professional keynote speakers, coaches, trainers, facilitators, and consultants who cover a broad range of topics, skills and knowledge.

TH (11/14), 10am, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

IBN Biz Lunch: Brevard/ Pisgah Forest Network and have lunch with new and old friends while you promote your business products and services. Bring a big stack of business cards and a

friend if you like.

TH (11/14), 11:30am, Hawg Wild Smokehouse & Taproom, 91 Pisgah Hwy, Pisgah Forest WNC Repair Cafe

If it can be mended with thread, they can fix it. No reservation is required, but you may have to wait.

TH (11/14), 4pm, Black Mountain Library, Black Mountain

Asheville Ecogathering

Guided conversations explore how to make sense of the modern world by regrounding connections to nature and one other.

FR (11/15), 6:30pm, Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave

Tantra Speed Date

A speeding dating revolution with a 94% connection rate. Meet singles and ignite connections through fun, chemistry-building games.

FR (11/15), 6:30pm, WellSpring Wellness Center, 960 Tunnel Rd

Chinese Tea & Tai Chi Foundations

Settle your Qi with Chinese tea while learning the fundementals of Tai Chi to imorive your health. Beginner friendly so all levels are wecome.

SA (11/16), 10:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Coloring w/Cats: Teens & Adults

Set time for yourself and cuddle with the panthers, meet other cat-lovers, and color a beautiful picture of a cat from our adult coloring books.

SU (11/17), 2pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd

Family Sunday Funday

Every Sunday this fall will feature family-friendly crafts on the patio with a bonfire and free s'mores. There will also be food available from Haywood Common.

SU (11/17), 5pm, The Whale: A Craft Beer Collective, 507 Haywood Rd, Ste 10

WNC Farmer Resource Meeting: Tools for Rebuilding

You will have the opportunity to hear directly from Ag partner agencies and supporting organizations about their resources, ask questions related to livestock support and soil remediation, and provide feedback to agencies to best shape the future of agriculture in WNC.

MO (11/18), 9am, Haywood County Cooperative Extension Office, 589 Raccoon Rd, Waynesville

IBN Biz Lunch: Arden

The meeting will consist of introductions by every guest, a discussion of future networking opportunities in the area, a roundtable business needs and solutions segment, a time for gratitude and more.

TU (11/19), 11:30am, Wild Wing Cafe South, 65 Long Shoals Rd, Arden

EveryDay Strong

A program that equips caring adults with training and tools to support the mental health and wellness of children aged 8 to 18.

TU (11/19), 2pm, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

No More Climate Havens: Educating for Reality

As institutions of higher education have the potential to both model practices and educate students on ways to address climate change, this panel explores the role of higher education in taking on this responsibility. Visit avl.mx/e9y to participate in this program.

WE (11/20), noon, Online

Celebrate Cozy Season w/Ashley English

A series of workshops with Ashley English, author of books on topics ranging from raising chickens to canning and preserving, and from hosting potlucks to homemade health and wellness products.

WE (11/20), 6pm, Black Mountain Library, Black Mountain

GAMES & CLUBS

Bridge for Fun

A bridge game night for mid-level players, not for beginners. Contact Tom Fehsenfeld at tom. fehsenfeld@gmail.com.

WE (11/13, 20), 2pm, N Asheville Recreation Center, 37 E Larchmont Rd

Firestorm Game Night Cooperative and competitive table-top gameplay for new and experienced player. You’re welcome to bring your own games.

FR (11/15), 6pm, Firestorm Books, 1022 Haywood Rd

Community Bingo Prizes awarded to winners of each game. Recurs the third Saturday of each month.

SA (11/16), 1pm, Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave

Weekly Sunday Scrabble Weekly scrabble play where you’ll be paired with players of your skill level. All scrabble gear provided.

SU (11/17), 1:30pm, Stephens Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave

Music Bingo w/DJ Spence

A recreation experience for kids and teens who are homeschooled with a variety of activities. Advance registration required.

TH (11/21), 6:30pm, Lookout Brewing Co., 103 S Ridgeway Ave, Black Mountain

KID-FRIENDLY

class is free to see if it’s a good fit for you.

TH (11/14, 21), MO (11/19), TU (11/19), 4pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109 Storytime Fun and engaging activities for toddlers. Grab a coffee while your kids engage.

FR (11/15), 10am, Peri Social House, 406 W State St, Black Mountain Coloring w/Cats: Kiddie Edition

An artistic session with coloring books and markers for children ages 13 and under to relax by coloring as they pet cats to reduce stress and anxiety.

SA (11/16), 1:30pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd

Parks & REC-cess

A recreation experience for kids and teens who are homeschooled with a variety of activities. Advance registration required.

WE (11/20), 1pm, Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Rd

LOCAL MARKETS

Weaverville Tailgate Market

A selection of fresh, locally grown produce, grass fed beef, pork, chicken, rabbit, eggs, cheese, sweet and savory baked goods, artisan bread, body care, eclectic handmade goodies, garden and landscaping plants. Open year round.

WE (11/13, 20), 3pm, 60 Lake Shore Dr Weaverville

East Asheville Tailgate Market

Featuring locally grown vegetables, fruits, wild foraged mushrooms, ready made food, handmade body care, bread, pastries, meat, eggs, and more to the East Asheville community since 2007. Every Friday through Nov. 22.

FR (11/15), 3pm, 954 Tunnel Rd

Asheville City Market

Featuring local food products, including fresh produce, meat, cheese, bread, pastries, and other artisan products. Every Saturday through December 21.

SA (11/16), 9am, 52 N Market St

Black Mountain Saturday Tailgate Market

Featuring organic and sustainably grown produce, plants, cut flowers, herbs, locally raised meats, seafood, breads, pastries, cheeses, eggs and locally handcrafted items.

SA (11/16), 9am, 130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

Rebuild RAD: Local Market

A local RAD Market every Saturday where visitors can peruse local arts, crafts and other handmade goods. Enjoy a beer or taco from the

in-house taqueria while you browse.

SA (11/16), 10am, The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave

WNC Farmers Market

High quality fruits and vegetables, mountain crafts, jams, jellies, preserves, sourwood honey, and other farm fresh items. Open daily 8am, year-round.

570 Brevard Rd

Honky Tonk Flea

A honky-theme flea market featuring western wear, vintage, antiques and hand crafted finds galore. There will also be a live DJ and food on site.

SU (11/17), 11am, Eda's Hide-a-Way, 1098 New Stock Rd, Weaverville

Junk-O-Rama

Browse vintage clothing vendors, local crafters, antiques and more.

SU (11/17), 11am, Fleetwood's, 496 Haywood Rd

Daylit Market

A large market to help support local artisans, makers and more. There will be 20+ makers spanning the full Burial Beer with special drinks and food available.

SU (11/17), noon, Eulogy, 10 Buxton Ave

West Asheville Tailgate Market

Featuring an array of goods including fruits, vegetables, baked goods, bread, eggs, cheese, milk, poultry, and fish to locally made specialty items such as natural beauty products, herbal medicine and locally made art and crafts. Every Tuesday through November 26.

TU (11/19), 3:30pm, 718 Haywood Rd

FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS

The 5th Annual Asheville Tattoo Arts Festival

This event will feature hundreds of tattoo artists, some from across the country, and a few from around the world, specializing in all different tattooing styles.

FR (11/15), 2pm, SA (11/16), SU (11/17), 11am, Harrah’s Cherokee Center - Asheville, 87 Haywood St Henderson County

Disaster Recovery Center: Resource Fair

A resource fair to help our community who still need support after Hurricane Helene. It’s a great opportunity to connect and learn about disaster recovery resources available in Henderson County. FR (11/15), SA (11/16), 1pm, Disaster Recovery Center, 2111 Asheville Hwy, Hendersonville

3rd Annual Blackhawk

Bolt 5k & 1 Mile Fun Run

This unique road-to-trail course takes place entirely on the rolling hills of the North Buncombe High School campus. Prizes awarded for age groups. Light concessions

available. SA (11/16), 10am, N Buncombe High School, 890 Clarks Chapel Rd, Weaverville

4th Annual Holiday Craft Fair

Browse an array of local vendors, all from Western North Carolina. Support local this holiday season and keep small businesses strong in our community. SA (11/16), noon, Pisgah Brewing Co., 2948 US Hwy 70 W, Black Mountain

Haywood Community College Foundation

Presents: Afternoon of Americana

A free concert on Haywood Community College's campus that will bring together musical groups Fancy and the Gentlemen, The Walker Family Band and J Creek Cloggers for an afternoon of music, dancing and history. Proceeds from donations will benefit the Haywood Strong program. SA (11/16), 3pm, Haywood Community College, 185 Freedlander Dr, Clyde

Annual Tree Lighting & Santa’s Arrival

This family-friendly event will include festive music from the Enka High School Marching Band, strolling magic, face painting, giveaways and the much-anticipated arrival of Santa Claus.

SA (11/16), 5pm, Tanger Outlets Asheville, 800 Brevard Rd

Cornhole Tournament Play cornhole for a good cause. All entry fees and donations benefit Owen Babe Ruth League to aid in rebuilding the fields at Veteran’s Park.

SU (11/17), 12:30pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

BENEFITS & VOLUNTEERING

Oakley Community Closet

A cost-free opportunity to shop clothes, shoes, and toys. Donations for Oakley Community Closet happily accepted at Murphy-Oakley Community Center throughout the week.

WE (11/13), 1pm, Murphy-Oakley Community Center, 749 Fairview Rd

Southside Volunteer Day Volunteer with RiverLink to maintain the native ecosystem and rain gardens in the Erskine Community.

TH (11/14), 10am, Herb Watts Park, 64 Erskine St

Edible Park Workday

Bountiful Cities, East End Valley Street Neighborhood Association, and other volunteers will steward the George Washington Carver Edible Park food forest.

FR (11/15), 3:30pm, Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave

Laughter in the Heart of Asheville

A night of laughter and goodwill with a benefit show supporting Asheville Comic Aid and BeLoved Asheville. Get ready for an evening filled with hilarious performances, community spirit, and the chance to make a difference.

FR (11/15), 6:30pm, Botanist & Barrel Tasting Bar + Bottle Shop, 32 Broadway St Ste 110 East County Benefit Bash This is an East Buncombe County specific fundraiser for Bounty & Soul. It’s Swannanoa/Black Mountain people raising money for Swannanoa/ Black Mountain people. FR (11/15), 7pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

The Brunch of Oz

An enchanting Oz-themed drag brunch that celebrates the magic of togetherness. Enjoy delicious delights from Biscuit Head South and proceeds will benefit Cornbread and Roses.

SA (11/16), 11am, Banks Ave., 32 Banks Ave

Rise & Rebuild: Disaser Relief Concert

An all-day festival supporting Fallout ArtSpace artists affected by Hurricane Helene. This family-friendly event will feature an incredible lineup of local music, including performances by Mad Mike, Safety, Coffin, Southron Rancor, and more.

SA (11/16), noon, Fallout Art Space, 475 Fletcher Martin Rd, Alexander Sal Landers Party Rx Weirdly Woodstock: Grassroot Gratitude Benefit Concert

A unique concert with special guests Josh & Marisa Blake, Jenny Bradley, Melissa Mckinney, Peggy Ratusz and more. Door is donation-based and 100% of the proceeds will go to Beloved Asheville and Blue Ridge Pride.

SA (11/16), 4pm, One World Brewing W, 520 Haywood Rd

Big Love for Salvage Station Benefit w/DJ Logic & The JLloyd Mashup

A very special benefit show with DJ Logic & The JLloyd Mashup featuring special guests, including talented Asheville artists: Datrian Johnson, Christina Chandler, Rebekah Todd and more. All proceeds will support Salvage Station employees.

SU (11/17), 7pm, Asheville Music Hall, 31 Patton Ave

Chris Rosser Benefit for BMCC

Chris is a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, composer and producer. This show will benefit Black Mountain Counseling Center, a professional mental health Counseling Center.

SU (11/17), 7pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

by Pat Moran

Emergency trauma team helps parents, children process Helene

The Asheville Waldorf School expanded its education into teaching parents and children about trauma in the wake of Tropical Storm Helene. Collaborating with an international team of 14 volunteers from Mexico and Germany, the school offered a series of workshops Oct. 28-31, wherein parents learned how to identify trauma in their children and how to help mitigate its effects.

The children learned how to process their experiences, guided by the team that knows about the importance of addressing those thoughts and feelings in the beginning stages of their traumatization. The program was developed by the German group Friends of Waldorf Education, which points out on its website that it’s much harder to organize long-term assistance later, when symptoms caused by trauma and reaction formations are already chronic.

“We advertised the series as interventions for the children, but the parents stayed when they brought their children [and] had their own programs that paralleled [the work we did with the children],” says Elizabeth McKay, a teacher at the Asheville experiential academy that integrates the arts into education.

Events were held at the school, the Peri Social House in Black Mountain, Asheville’s St. Mark’s Lutheran Church and the Asheville Yoga Center. Teachers and volunteers — led by Bernd Ruf, co-founder of the Free Waldorf School in Karlsruhe, Germany — helped children ranging from toddlers to high schoolers minimize the long-term effects of Helene-induced trauma through art, play and music.

Sessions ranged in size from 20-100 participants and were aimed at creating

a sense of community, emphasizing the importance of being together after the disaster, says McKay.

“[Symptoms of trauma] that parents can recognize in their children include regression to earlier-age behaviors like needing to sleep in their parents’ bed again or not wanting to leave the home for activities that used to be fun for them,” McKay says.

Ruf teaches that there are windows where responses to trauma, such as shock, are normal.

“Things like being more irritable, angry, or crying – all of that is a normal part of trauma response,” McKay says. But if a response goes on too long, parents should be concerned and consider consulting mental health professionals, she says.

Talking about their feelings at their own pace can help children, McKay says.

Ruf uses music, singing and dancing to help children overcome trauma. Singing moves one’s breath readily through the body, movement and dance integrate emotions back into the body, and making art reestablishes a sense of control over their environment.

“Bernd says just give the children crayons and let them just draw. Don’t give them prompts to draw something from the storm,” McKay says.

“Rhythm is also important, because body rhythms get disturbed after a shock,” McKay says. “Making sure children go to bed and get up at the same time reestablishes body rhythms. Walking is helpful because we’re surrounding ourselves with beauty and aesthetics. That helps us to bring order back to the soul.”

Parents can take heart that people are resilient when it comes to moving through natural disasters, McKay says.

Ruf has been heading emergency education crisis interventions in war and disaster zones since 2006 in Lebanon, China, the Gaza Strip, Indonesia, Haiti, Kyrgyzstan, Japan and Kenya.

“He said that the difference between the trauma in a natural disaster versus a man-made disaster is significant. When a natural disaster happens, about 75% of people can move through it without needing extra help,” McKay says.

“But in human-made events like war, only 50% of people can move through that. If trauma happens with a close family member, it’s 100%. That’s just not something anybody can move through without additional support,” McKay says.

More information is at avl.mx/e9x.

In other news

• The Center for Native Health (CNH) received two grants to support relief and rebuilding in Western North Carolina post-Helene. With a $20,000 grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina and a $25,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, CNH is providing front-line supplies and critical assistance to impacted communities. CNH also plans to use funding to support river and waterway cleanup.

“This grant funding reaffirms CNH’s commitment to the health, safety and well-being of Indigenous families and surrounding communities in Western North Carolina,” says Trey Adcock,

executive director, in a CNH press release. “We are deeply grateful to our funders, whose support is instrumental in helping us restore and strengthen our communities after this disaster.” More information is at avl.mx/e9l.

• The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services is providing one-time disaster supplement benefits to help households already receiving Food and Nutrition Services in 23 counties impacted by Tropical Storm Helene. There is no action participants need to take to receive the benefit, which has been automatically loaded onto participants’ Electronic Benefit Transfer cards and are now available for use. The total benefit of more than $16 million has been issued to 68,000 households and 135,000 people in Western North Carolina. The benefit totals $292 for an individual, $975 for a family of four and $1,536 for a family of seven. More information at avl.mx/e9s.

• David Sweat is the new director of Buncombe County Health and Human Services (HHS). Sweat brings more than 30 years’ experience in public health to the post, most recently as Mecklenburg County’s COVID response unit director. Sweat says his immediate focus will be balancing ongoing programs and services with continued recovery efforts from Tropical Storm Helene. “We want the agencies within the HHS portfolio to work together in an integrated way to promote the health and well-being of all Buncombe County residents, whether that involves disease prevention, health promotion, emergency assistance, economic support, mental health services, community paramedicine, or social work services, we want to make sure these programs are working optimally,” he says. More information is at avl.mx/e9z.

Save the date

• A group of local health practitioners host the Madison County Wellness Day on Sunday, Nov. 24, 10 a.m.—4 p.m. at the Prama Wellness Center, 161 Wellness Way, Marshall. The inaugural monthly event, organized by the Prama Institute, offers community members essential wellness services free of charge, including acupuncture, massage therapy, counseling, herbalism, yoga, meditation and more. A free vegetarian and vegan lunch will be served. “We believe that healing is a community effort,” says Ramesh Bjonnes, event organizer. “Our goal is to provide accessible wellness resources that can help individuals cope with the emotional and physical impacts of Hurricane Helene and beyond.” More information is at avl.mx/ea9. X

CLASS IN SESSION: The Asheville Waldorf School recently held a series of workshops discussing the impact that natural disasters have on children. Photo by Torin Finser

FEMA DEBRIS REMOVAL GUIDELINES for Private Residential Properties

Please do not bag debris.

• City of Asheville regular curbside waste collection customers should download the AVL Collects app or sign up for sanitation alerts here: ashevillenc.gov/AVLcollects

• NO construction debris, concrete, or other bulky or hazardous items in carts.

• Roadway debris collection has begun in areas with critical infrastructure throughout the city and county.

• Do not block roadway. Ensure access for large trucks and emergency vehicles. There will be more than one pass for debris collection, so you don’t have to get it all out at once.

• The community can begin to place debris to the curb in the right of way.

• Debris should be SEPARATED at the curb according to the diagram.

• For more info, visit https://www.ashevillenc.gov/helene/debrisremoval/

Have a professional inspect your damaged property before attempting to clean up or repair any damage.

Wear protective gear and exercise caution during cleanup.

Check out FEMA safety guidelines for PPE and personal safety while cleaning up.

ARTS & CULTURE

Day of reckoning

BY BILL KOPP

bill@musoscribe.com

When Warren Haynes began gearing up for press availability to promote his latest album, he had no idea what lay ahead. The disastrous impact of Tropical Storm Helene on his hometown brought a realigning of priorities for the Asheville native.

Haynes’ fourth solo studio album, Million Voices Whisper, was released Nov. 1, and he is now also hard at work on a more pressing concern: an all-star benefit concert to be held later this month at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

WHISPERS MORE POWERFUL THAN SHOUTING

Viewed against Haynes’ entire body of work, Million Voices Whisper is notable for a subtle shift in tone. “I’ve written a lot of dark material through the years,” he says. “I haven’t always been known for writing the most positive lyrics.” But many of the songs on his new album — his first solo release in nearly a decade — are built upon a foundation of positivity and hope.

Haynes laughs as he explains that he’s been asked many times over the years why he doesn’t write more happy songs. “My response was always, ‘I’m not inspired to write when I’m happy. I’m inspired to write when I feel like I need to pull something out of myself.’” He says that as a general rule, when things are going really well, “that’s the time to enjoy your life,” not sit down and write songs.

But the lockdowns and isolation of 2020 and beyond forced Haynes to rethink that approach. “I took a turn down a new path,” he says. He recalls thinking, “Every songwriter is doing what I’m doing right now: trapped somewhere, making the best of a situation and writing more than they’ve written in ages.” Haynes says that he found himself focusing on what he considered more important in life. “It seemed like a turning point for me.”

That forward-looking mindset informs many of the songs on Million Voices Whisper. Elsewhere on the album, “These Changes” (co-written with old friend Derek Trucks and Mike Mattison) explores relationships through a lens that applies equally to a committed romantic partnership and interaction with the wider world.

Warren Haynes pitches in for storm recovery

ROCKIN’ RECOVERY: Asheville native Warren Haynes pivoted quickly from promoting his new solo album to planning an all-star benefit concert. Photo courtesy Press Here Publicity

Among the album’s highlights is “Day of Reckoning,” a co-write with Lukas Nelson that features both Nelson and country singer-songwriter-guitarist Jamey Johnson on the recording. The song’s message is one of unity (“All come together as one / and we know it can be done”), a striking perspective in an era during which the United States’ citizenry is perhaps more polarized than ever.

Another co-write with Nelson, “Go Down Swinging,” reflects on life lessons learned (“Life didn’t have to make any sense / It was all brandnew, and we were so curious”) while serving up some hard-won optimism (“I can feel it coming ’round again / Sometimes it’s like a gentle wind / And other times it’s like a freight train coming ’round the bend”).

The album’s thoughtful lyrics are set against a strong blues-rock foundation, one that will be warmly familiar to longtime Haynes fans but that also represents his ongoing desire to keep things fresh and new and

to keep exploring. The lineup of the Warren Haynes Band has changed over the years, in part because of Haynes’ desire to bring a new musical perspective to the live performance of his work.

SOULSHINE ON WNC

Haynes was born and raised in Asheville. He has deep roots here; many of his family members still live in or very near the city. Haynes’ commitment to Western North Carolina has been a central part of his life as a high-profile, Grammywinning (and nine-time nominated) artist. Launched in 1988 and held in December, his annual Christmas Jam has brought top-line artists to the city for gala fundraising concerts, yielding significant donations to local charities, including Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity and BeLoved Asheville. Preparations for each year’s Christmas Jam begin many months in

advance. But in the wake of Tropical Storm Helene’s serious damage to the region’s infrastructure, Haynes made the late-in-the-game decision to suspend Christmas Jam for 2024. Instead, Asheville’s favorite son has pivoted, quickly coordinating a different event designed specifically to aid victims of Helene and Hurricane Milton. “We started thinking about how we could raise the most money and awareness for this,” Haynes explains. “Because it’s more devastating than people even realize.”

Scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 24, the Soulshine Benefit Concert will take place at Madison Square Garden. With a nearly 20,000-seat capacity — 2.5 times that of the Harrah’s Cherokee Center in Asheville — the venue will provide an opportunity to raise a substantial amount of money for the designated beneficiaries. Thanks to Haynes’ stature in the music community — plus his years of experience calling upon famous friends to help out for worthy causes — a lineup for the Madison Square Garden concert came together very quickly. He explains that the Dave Matthews Band had already scheduled a pair of sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden for Friday and Saturday, Nov. 22 and 23. So not only would they be happy to take part in the Soulshine concert, but all of their gear would already be set up onstage. That simplified the logistics of Haynes’ planned event.

Along with the Warren Haynes Band and Dave Matthews Band, other artists co-headlining the bill include Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats and Goose. Special guests include Trey Anastasio of Phish, Mavis Staples, Robert Randolph, Joe Russo, Trombone Shorty, Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks; more names are likely to be announced.

According to the event’s official press release, net proceeds to the Soulshine Concert Fund will benefit Habitat for Humanity’s 2024 Hurricane Recovery Fund as well as supporting “a variety of nonprofits on the ground in North Carolina and Florida.” Haynes is characteristically modest when it’s suggested that he has put a great deal of work into this endeavor. “There are a lot of details, a lot of which [are above] my pay grade,” he says with a chuckle. “But I’m so happy that we were able to make it work.” X

Rough justice

Historian Timothy Silver investigates a Yancey County culture clash turned fatal

BY JON ELLISTON

Just before the credits roll on the 1969 counterculture classic Easy Rider, the film’s two longhaired protagonists meet death on their motorcycles, ripped from their rides by a redneck’s rifle. The haunting ending, while fictional, emblematized some of the most visceral divides in Vietnam War-era America and hinted at a spate of actual so-called “hippie killings.”

One of those killings occurred at a remote Yancey County campground in the summer of 1972. Timothy Silver, professor emeritus of history at Appalachian State University, gives the case its first full airing in his new book, Death in Briar Bottom: The True Story of Hippies, Mountain Lawmen, and the Search for Justice in the Early 1970s

It is a gripping investigative history, one driven by Silver’s decadeslong pursuit of the story, which he first encountered contemporaneously as a teenager. He will read from it at two free events: at Malaprop’s Bookstore/ Cafe in Asheville on Sunday, Nov. 17, at 5 p.m. (preregister online), and at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva on Monday, Nov. 18, at 6 p.m.

SETTING THE STAGE

On the night of July 3, 1972, 24 young people from Clearwater, Fla., parked their vans and pitched their tents at Briar Bottom, a U.S. Forest Service campground in the shadow of Mount Mitchell. They were overnighting en route to their highly anticipated destination: a Charlotte concert by the Rolling Stones, who had just released their epic album Exile on Main Street. The tired travelers played some tunes and sipped some beers before calling it a night.

“We believed we could find someplace off in the mountains and just do our thing,” one of the campers recalled to Silver, but local authorities believed otherwise.

Shortly before midnight, seven heavily armed, plainclothes law officers burst from the darkness and raided the site. Within seconds, a shotgun blast tore the life out of Stanley Altland, a 20-year-old from Clearwater.

Neither Altland, an avid cyclist who managed a health food co-op, nor any

BLOOD AND MUSIC: In his new book, historian Timothy Silver examines a violent exchange between a group of young music fans and the police at a remote Yancey County campground in 1972. Photo courtesy of Silver

of his friends were looking for trouble, and later investigations would establish that they’d brought none to the mountains (save perhaps a little rock and roll and marijuana). But unbeknownst to them, reports (and rumors) of riotous hippies invading local campsites had started to spread in Yancey, setting the stage for the deadly raid.

HISTORICAL JUSTICE

Who killed Altland? According to the Florida witnesses, the shooter was the man they would later identify as Yancey County Sheriff Kermit Banks, who, they said, appeared to fire into Altland accidentally while striking a different camper with the butt of his shotgun. The campers accused the sheriff and his posse of misconduct from the start of the incident and said it continued after Altland perished.

As for Banks and the other lawmen, their stories changed over time, with one of Banks’ deputies ultimately claiming responsibility for discharging the weapon. In any case, no one was charged in Altland’s death.

Silver re-creates the crime scene and the tragedy with vivid, thorough detail, revealing the cultural forces, personalities, interactions and twists of fate that

collided that night. Then, he chronicles the lengthy struggle for justice subsequently waged by the campers, all of whom were arrested that evening.

Many faced trumped-up charges and alleged they were mistreated during the raid and their detention in the county jail. They fought an insular local justice system that seemed predisposed against them at every turn and lawmen who closed ranks to concoct a cover story. But their lawsuits attracted some of North Carolina’s most accomplished civil rights attorneys and widespread press coverage.

The campers’ legal maneuvers ultimately failed to produce justice for Altland and the other victims, but Silver has provided an important contribution of historical justice in this extensive and probing account. He writes that he was surprised to find that his subjects — ’70s hippies who “were about as white as they could be” — had much in common with the victims of police brutality who sparked the recent Black Lives Matter movement.

In the end, Silver writes, the Clearwater campers “got a hard lesson in the selective application of American justice, something countless other marginalized citizens encounter every day.” X

Magical Offerings

11/14:

11/15:

Reader: Krysta 12-6

11/16: Reader: Edward 12-6

Book Signing w/ Oberon Zell 2-4

11/17: Reader: Andrea 12-4

Welcoming Circle 4-5:30

11/19: Reader: Jessica 12-5

‘Plenty of ghosts’

BY THOMAS CALDER

Editor’s note: This article was written before Tropical Storm Helene.

Local poet Clint Bowman and I arrive at the dirt parking lot at the base of Appalachian Way road in Montreat around 9:45 a.m. We’re there to hike Brushy Mountain and discuss his latest collection, If Lost

The book of poems, which is divided into three sections, is both a love letter to and a lament over Appalachia. A series of works where interstate traffic rushes past forgotten towns; where blue jays make nests out of styrofoam and cigarette cartons; and where, despite the odds, nature still finds small and occasional victories.

It is the poet’s interest in the natural world that led me to suggest that we meet for a hike. Originally from Davidson County, a region just south of Winston-Salem, Bowman relocated to Black Mountain in 2019 to join the town’s Parks and Recreation Department. He says he liked the idea of living in the mountains and envisioned a seamless transition from one rural part of the state to another.

But things didn’t quite work out the way he’d hoped. He initially lived close to the interstate. The incessant sound of traffic, he says, was foreign to him. “Where I grew up was very quiet,” he says. “And that’s kind of what I’ve been trying to work toward since moving here.”

As we begin our ascent, Bowman tells me the trail is one of his favorites because “no one’s hardly ever on it.”

’ESTABLISH YOUR BEARINGS’

Among its many recurring settings, the interstate is prominent in If Lost, especially within the collection’s opening section, “Establish Your Bearings.” Across multiple poems, characters are often daydreaming about the past as they drive down the highway or stand alongside it.

In one of the section’s most devastating and disturbing pieces, “Routine,” a truck driver settles in for the night inside his cab. Before

going to bed, he calls his ex-wife, leaving her a 15-minute voicemail recalling the good times in between accusations and expletives. By the poem’s end, it is evident that this episode is not a one-off but a ritual.

Meanwhile, the book’s opening poem, “Ghost Town,” captures the tension that embodies much of the collection — the love and despair characters carry with them over their communities. In its opening three stanzas, Bowman writes:

“I prefer this old town where there are plenty of ghosts to haunt you.

Where history whispers in your ear to not repeat a word it says.

Nature cracks through pavement and climbs though storefronts— all the poems are there, but no one cares.”

’NOTICE NATURE’

Back on the trail, Bowman continues to discuss the influence of highway traffic on both his work and his living situation. Five years

into his stint in Black Mountain, he and his wife, B, have found a place farther away from Interstate 40.

“We can still hear little whispers,” he says, as we pass through a tunnel of rhododendron. “Our next place has to be completely away on the other side of the mountain.”

The collection’s second section, “Notice Nature,” is where Bowman’s empathy toward the natural world shines.

In writing these particular poems, he says, “I had a realization of the parallels between the human struggle and the environmental struggle and how we’re all going through it.”

One of Bowman’s many talents as a poet is his surprising and impactful use of personification. For example, in “Act Natural,” he writes “The power company/gave the oak tree/a lobotomy.” In “Detox,” city storm drains become beer funnels “for our drunken creeks.” And in “Throw Me Back” he cautions readers, “If you bushwhack/the woods will bite back.”

As a poet, he is also skillful in addressing environmental concerns without being heavy-handed or didactic. In “Killing the Game,” for instance, he offers a moving

ON THE TRAIL: In his latest poetry collection, If Lost, local poet Clint Bowman examines a number of topics, including the parallels between humans and wildlife. Photo by Thomas Calder

hypothesis for why so much wildlife is spotted dangerously close to busy highways.

In the poem’s final stanza, he writes:

“I keep telling my mother we don’t give animals enough credit. When they sit on the shoulder and stare into traffic, they’re not scared or confused — just pushed to their limits.”

Meanwhile, in “False Spring,” the poet disorients readers in a thrilling way, as they follow a pair of hikers who stumble upon a bear den and begin tossing rocks inside it. The pair, standing above the mossy crag, manage to draw the cubs out, followed soon thereafter by the drowsy mother.

As the adult bear emerges, readers experience both frustration and concern for the foolish hikers. But by the poem’s end, Bowman shifts perspective, offering the mother bear’s take on the situation, seeing these humans as nothing more than “tiny trespassers/that buzz about/these mountains/like mosquitos/struggling to find their worth.”

’DON’T BE AFRAID’

Whereas interstates and nature dominate the first two sections of If Lost, the third and final portion, “Don’t Be Afraid,” weaves the collection together through its more direct meditations on death, regret and moments of connection.

In “Mother’s Veins,” a woman and her grown son discuss the death of a relative, whose body is discovered inside his home bathroom, three days after a snowstorm. It’s 2 a.m. when the mother finally opens up to her child about the loss. And midway through the poem, Bowman writes:

“We walked outside to shrink ourselves against the stars.

The coyotes by the creek offered their condolences, and we cried with them.”

This particular line about the coyotes, Bowman says as we reach the Brushy Mountain overlook, is among his favorites from the collection.

It is around 10:30 a.m. The view, while slightly hazy, is nevertheless expansive and striking. I ask Bowman what we’re looking out onto.

He peels the skin off a mandarin and considers the view. “So this is another reason why I love this hike so much,” he says. “It’s so undeveloped. This is basically a big swath of Pisgah National Forest, down to Old Fort.”

It is, unsurprisingly, quiet up here. The sort of space Bowman would naturally be drawn to. He goes on to note that the land itself is all protected. “It’s pretty untouched,” he says, still looking over the mountain range. “So you don’t see any [developments].”

We continue to discuss aspects of his writing as well as his work with Dark City Poets Society, which Bowman launched alongside fellow writer Melisa Pressley in January 2020. The group meets twice a month in Black Mountain for free workshops and readings.

Then we head back down the trail, and I ask the question that I always kind of hate asking fellow writers — what they hope readers will take away from their work. It’s the sort of question that implies a piece of writing can and should be distilled into a single message or emotion, which Bowman and I both agree is antithetical to the work.

Still, he considers a message that readers might take away from If Lost.

“I hope that people who read it feel less alone,” he says. “I think that’s the ultimate goal. Everything and everybody is going through it, and I feel like as long as we understand that, it makes life easier and less lonely.” X

What’s new in food

Tropical Storm Helene has had a profound impact on Western North Carolina; one of the hardest-hit industries is hospitality. It was also among the first sectors to begin relief efforts, helping feed the community.

Throughout the crisis, local trade organization Asheville Independent Restaurant Association (AIR) has been on the front line supporting local food and beverage businesses.

“Not since COVID have restaurants here experienced a crisis like this,” says Meghan Rogers , AIR executive director. “I was overwhelmed but not surprised at how quickly restaurants came together with their staff to start feeding the community out their own front doors and with nonprofits.”

Soon after the storm, Rogers says, restaurants and community organizations began reaching out to AIR for information on how they could help.

“The first week was really spent figuring out how to feed people; that’s what this industry does.”

The arrival of World Central Kitchen, Crisis Response International and other groups helped mobilize those efforts on a massive scale. The next step was figuring out how to get restaurants open safely.

On Oct. 8, AIR hosted a meeting for both member and nonmember restaurants at 12 Bones Smokehouse in Arden to hear from Felissa Vazquez , environmental health supervisor at the Buncombe County Health and Human Services Department; 125 people crowded into the room. “It was the first time [since the disaster] people in the industry were together, and we all knew Angela and Bryan [King, owners of 12 Bones] had lost the RAD restaurant,” says Rogers. “It was very emotional.” AIR repeated the meeting the next day via Zoom for 100 more people.

Restaurants begin to reopen post-Helene

on the internet) and emergency relief grants (avl.mx/e99). The organization also reached out by phone to all member restaurants, assessing needs and operation statuses to create an online listing that includes new operation hours (avl.mx/e9a).

“This industry is generous and resilient, but Helene hit at the worst possible time for them,” Rogers notes.

“Now they’re in need of support from locals and visitors as they return.”

Botiwalla opens downtown

Bar for both lunch (11 a.m.-3 p.m.) and dinner (5-9 p.m.).

Favorites like curries, rice, chaat, desi salad, kebabs, pakoras, naan and sweets are served cafeteria-style by kitchen staff. Prices are $16.99 all-you-can-eat for adults, $9.99 for kids ages 10 and younger. Chai Pani is at 32 Banks Ave.

The hot bar is not planned as a permanent change, so check the Chai Pani Asheville website for updates at avl.mx/e9d.

AIR has set itself up as a clearinghouse for information from city, county and state agencies, adding links on its website where restaurant employees and owners can access support resources (go to avl.mx/e98

Explore Asheville’s Always Asheville site (avl.mx/e9b) also provides information about restaurants that have reopened and those still temporarily closed. Additionally, local food tour guide and writer Stu Helm is doing boots-on-the-ground reporting via social media (avl.mx/prxg) on which restaurants — particularly downtown — are open and how they are operating.

The much-anticipated Oct. 4 opening of Chai Pani Restaurant Group’s (CPRG) second Asheville Botiwalla location in the original Chai Pani space at 22 Battery Park Ave. downtown was delayed by Tropical Storm Helene. Instead, for several weeks, the small spot served as CPRG’s headquarters for making meals for World Central Kitchen where it ultimately made 25,000 hot meals for the community.

AROUND THE REGION

Be sure to check individual restaurant websites and social media pages for current information.

On Oct. 23, Molly and Meherwan Irani — who first launched Chai Pani 15 years before — finally cut the ribbon on the new restaurant. Current hours at the downtown eatery are 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. The West Asheville store at 697 Haywood Road is open daily. Learn more at avl.mx/e9c.

Chai Pani pivots to Hurricane Hot Bar

CPRG’s flagship restaurant, which supersized its space in May when it relocated to the South Slope building formerly occupied by Buxton Hall Barbecue, reopened on Oct. 25 with a temporary buffet-style Hurricane Hot

Newstock restocks

Among Helene’s commercial casualties in the River Arts District was Newstock Pantry, the prepared meals and provisions shop owned by chefs Ashley Capps and Travis Schultz. After several years of taking online orders for weekly meals and dishes, the couple opened their first brick-and-mortar in September 2022 inside Riverview Station on Lyman Street. The former warehouse space that housed more than 60 artists was decimated by flooding from the French Broad River.

With Newstock’s commercial kitchen located outside the RAD and undamaged by the storm, the couple resumed operations after electricity returned in October using its original model. Capps and Schultz release a weekly menu, take orders online and announce designated pickup sites.

RISE UP: Angela and Bryan King are pictured at their restaurant, 12 Bones Smokehouse South. The location hosted a meeting of 125 AIR members the week after Tropical Storm Helene severely impacted the Asheville area’s restaurant industry. Photo courtesy 12 Bones

Since reopening, menu items have included coq au vin, smoked pork shank, chicken and dumplings, sweet potato soup and vegetable chowder. To see offerings and learn more, sign up for the weekly newsletter at avl.mx/e9e.

Talkin’ turkey so you don’t have to cook

Preparing everyday dinner without potable water is challenging enough, but a Thanksgiving spread for family and friends? Some might want to bring in the professionals.

Red Fiddle Vittles is taking preorders for Thanksgiving dinner, offering a robust a la carte menu that includes (as long as supplies last) a whole or half Joyce Farms roast turkey with herb gravy, entrée-sized vegan and gluten-free stuffed baby pumpkins, sourdough stuffing, collard greens, mashed potatoes, salad and other sides and sweets. Pickup will be Wednesday, Nov. 27, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., at the storefront at 1800 Hendersonville Road. Learn more at avl.mx/e9g.

Luella’s Bar-B-Que’s Thank-Fully Complete Meal is the whole shebang, from big bird to pumpkin pie. Pulled pork, brisket, smoked turkey breast and barbecued tempeh are other protein options; side dishes include savory cornbread and sausage dressing, sweet potato casserole, and mac and hoop cheese. Pickup is Monday-Wednesday, Nov. 25-27 at Luella’s North, 501 Merrimon Ave., or South, 33 Town Square Blvd. in Biltmore Park. Learn more at avl.mx/e9i. Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack has your back when it comes to sides, appetizers and desserts. Rocky’s has deviled eggs and pimento cheese dip to get the Thanksgiving party started; sweet potato casserole, green beans, mac and cheese, corn pudding, collard greens, squash casserole and mashed potatoes are available for surrounding the protein centerpiece. Desserts include Rocky’s Coca-Cola cake and chocolate, banana or butterscotch pudding. Pickup is Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 26-27, at 14555 Patton Ave. or 3749 Sweeten Creek Road. Learn more at avl.mx/e9j.

Give a bird

Wild East Farm is partnering with Mother Earth Foods and Asheville Buncombe County Christian Ministry to gift organic-fed, pastured turkeys to families impacted by Tropical Storm Helene. The turkeys are raised entirely on pasture at Lyric and Noah East’s McDowell County farm. Turkey sponsorships are $120 and can be made through Sunday, Nov. 24. People can also buy a bird for their own table. Learn more at avl.mx/e9p.

Pie bakers get busy again

Local baking legends not only can help relieve your pie anxiety this holiday season, but buying their wares will support them as they get back in the swing post-Helene.

Beth Kellerhals has built a fervent following for her biscuits, scones and other baked goods — not to mention her stylish outfits, outlandish eyeglass frames and bubbly personality — at local tailgate markets. She was weeks away from opening her first brick-andmortar, ButterPunk, on Depot Street when Helene devastated the River Art District. Her building suffered significant damage. Rebuilding is underway, but meanwhile, she she’s baking biscuits and pies for Thanksgiving. Follow her on Instagram at avl.mx/e9k for more information and updates on the bakery.

Kelsianne Bebout has baked for Short Street Cakes, Buxton Hall Barbecue and All Souls Pizza. In 2021, she launched her own online baking business, BeeBowBakes, focusing on cakes and pies, plus baked goods for local coffee shops. After Helene, Bebout’s commercial kitchen was without power for three weeks, and many of

her wholesale outlets were closed. Now, just in time for peak pie season, she’s returned to direct-to-consumer sales. On her greatest hits menu is chess pie made with local buttermilk and meyer lemon-honey vinegar; Manhattan cherry pie with bourbon-soaked cherries in a toasted rye crust; and autumn custard pie with locally grown ube, sweet potato and apple in a chamomile crust. All pies can be made vegan. She also offers a savory vegetarian pie. Learn more on her website, Flour Coffin (Bebout was an undertaker in a previous life) at avl.mx/e9m.

James Beard Award-winning pastry chef and Madison County resident Camille Cogswell recently told Xpress she intends to host a few pay-as-you’reable bake sales in WNC leading up to the holiday season. The dates and locations are yet to be decided. Cogswell plans to open her Walnut Family Bakery near Marshall this spring. For updates about Cogswell’s holiday sales, sign up for her email newsletter at avl.mx/e9w.

The 1 % solution for recovery

A new initiative, 1% for AVL, has been launched by Sourhouse sour-

Holiday Market

Saturday and Sunday November 16th and 17th 11am-4pm Featuring

dough baking business co-owner Erik Fabian to support the WNC community in the wake of Helene. Fabian has enlisted more than a dozen local companies and individuals to pledge 1% of their sales of items from home baking tools to artisanal foods in November and December toward recovery efforts. To learn more, donate directly or join the coalition, visit avl.mx/e9n.

Dine out for HOPE

Mauricio Montano, owner of El Paso Mexican Restaurants of Hendersonville, invites the community to dine at any of his five local locations on Saturday, Nov. 16, when 10% of every sale will go directly to Project HOPE (Health Opportunities for People Everywhere) for disaster relief, with a focus on medical needs. The restaurants will also offer 20% off dinein, takeout and delivery options within the Hendersonville region. The group includes El Paso Mexican Restaurants No. 1 and No. 2, El Paso Mariscos & Taqueria and Tequilas Bar & Grill No. 1 and No. 2. For more information and addresses, visit avl.mx/e9o.

— Kay West  X

SMART BETS

by Gina Smith | gsmith@mountainx.com

Cocktail Hour: The Show Oral history exhibit

Following nearly three weeks’ closure after Tropical Storm Helene, the Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center (SVMHC) reopened in mid-October with new hours of 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday. With the reopening, the Black Mountain museum debuted a new mini-exhibit, “In the Spotlight: How Older Adults in Western North Carolina Serve their Communities.” The installation runs through Saturday, Feb. 1, showcasing the oral histories of 22 elders from 12 WNC counties. AARP North Carolina Mountain Region staff and volunteers conducted the interviews with training

and guidance from Deep Gap-based oral historian Willard Watson, revealing themes of community pride, environmental stewardship, preservation of Appalachian culture, volunteerism as a spiritual practice and more. The current featured exhibit, “Striking a Chord: Music and Community in the Swannanoa Valley,” also continues, highlighting the musical traditions of the area. In the wake of Helene, SVMHC is seeking contributions from community members to create a historical archive of stories, videos and photos from the storm and its aftermath. avl.mx/ea0 X

New York City-based dance company Ballets with a Twist blends the talents of choreographer and artistic director Marilyn Klaus, Grammynominated composer Stephen Gaboury and costume designer Catherine Zehr. Likewise, its signature production, Cocktail Hour: The Show, mixes tuxedos, tutus, jazz moves, acrobatics and more to celebrate Hollywood’s Golden Age through nine cocktail-themed dance

vignettes. First staged in Manhattan in 2009, the show comes the the Tryon Fine Arts Center for single performance at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21. Through fast-paced music and pop-infused ballet moves, the production travels from sparkling big-city ballrooms to an evening on Manhattan’s Park Avenue to the American Wild West. The show is appropriate for all ages. Tickets cost $38-$48, $20-$25 for students. avl.mx/ea2. X

Photo from Cocktail Hour: The Show by Nico Malvaldi

Photo courtesy of Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center

Caverns of Gold The Palmist of Marshall

Featuring artists from R.E.M. to Underhill Rose to the Dirty French Broads, the 279-track compilation Caverns of Gold , organized by Asheville musicians Chad Nance, Alex Deutsch, Jason Bugg, Kelly Minnis and Joe Hooten, is — true to its name — a goldmine of work by performers with connections to Western North Carolina. The fact that it was created to raise money for and awareness about WNC’s recovery from Tropical Storm Helene makes it even more of a treasure. Among the collection’s many gems, its R.E.M. song, “Feeling Gravity’s Pull,” is a previously unreleased live performance from the band’s

1989 Green World tour secured through Hooten’s collaboration with R.E.M.’s longtime manager Bertis Downs. The Leftover Salmon track, “Fire and Brimstone,” is a cover of a Link Wray tune recorded live at Asheville’s Salvage Station, now destroyed by flooding. Paired with money raised from the album’s Nov. 2 release concert at Sly Grog Lounge, the initiative has so far raised close to $15,000 for local nonprofit BeLoved Asheville, which has been on the front lines of storm relief efforts. Caverns of Gold is available for unlimited streaming and download with donations starting at $10 avl.mx/ea3. X

Though Candler resident and romance writer Cory Jones drafted her 108-page novella, The Palmist of Marshall, several years ago, she held off on publishing the manuscript. After Tropical Storm Helene, she decided it was time to push publication efforts into high gear, with the goal of using its sales as a fundraiser for local residents impacted by the storm. Working quickly — and around the nap schedule of her 4-month-old son, Shiloh — Jones released the book on

Kindle and as a paperback on Oct. 18. Set in Marshall, the story focuses on an interracial romance between a local schoolteacher and a newcomer from New Orleans, highlighting themes of racism, faith and small-town dynamics. Included in the book is a collection of photos of Marshall taken by the author pre-Helene. The paperback costs $14.99 with all proceeds benefiting Community Housing Coalition of Madison County and other Marshallarea nonprofits. avl.mx/ea1 X

Photos of Nance, Deutsch, Bugg, Minnis and Hooten courtesy of the musicians

Photo and book jacket image courtesy of Jones

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13

ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

Stand-Up Comedy Open Mic, 8pm

EDA'S HIDE-A-WAY

Bless Your Heart Trivia w/Harmon, 7pm

EULOGY

Spiter & Diabolus (metal, punk), 8pm

FLEETWOOD'S

PSK Karaoke, 9pm

FRENCH BROAD

RIVER BREWERY

Saylor Brothers & Friends (jamgrass), 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Old Time Jam, 5pm

OKLAWAHA

BREWING CO.

Bluegrass Jam w/Derek McCoy & Friends, 6pm

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

Improvement Movement (alt-indie, psych, folk), 10pm

SHILOH & GAINES

Trivia Wednesdays, 7pm

SIERRA NEVADA

BREWING CO.

Nate Smith & King Garbage (jazz, R&B, hip-hop), 6pm

SLY GROG LOUNGE

Weird Wednesday Open Jam, 6pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA

Poetry Open Mic, 8pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS

Total Wife, Tombstone Poetry, Baby Wave & Trust Blinks (alt-indie, shoegaze, noise-pop), 8pm

THE GREY EAGLE

Old Marshall Jail Ballad Swap (Appalachian, folk), 6pm

THE MEADOW AT HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Well-Crafted Music w/ Matt Smith, 6pm

opt. 4.

THE ORANGE PEEL

Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway (bluegrass, Americana, folk), 8pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Irish Session, 7pm

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14

BATTERY PARK BOOK EXCHANGE

Mike Kenton & Jim Tanner (jazz), 5:30pm

DSSOLVR

Hot To Go! Karaoke Night, 8pm

EDA'S HIDE-A-WAY

Karaoke Night w/KJ Marcula, 8pm

EULOGY

King Buffalo (psychrock), 8pm

FLEETWOOD'S TerraOke Takeover, 8pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY

Jerry's Dead (Grateful Dead & JGB Tribute), 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Bluegrass Jam w/Drew Matulich, 7pm

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Isaac Hadden's Thursday Throwdown, 9pm

ONE WORLD BREWING

The Blinds (indie-pop, funk, soul), 7pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

Fee Fi Phaux Fish (Phish tribute), 8pm

SHAKEY'S Karaoke w/Franco Nino, 9pm

SHILOH & GAINES

Karaoke Night, 8pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA

Django & Jenga Jazz Jam, 7pm

STATIC AGE LOFT

Auto-Tune Karaoke w/ Who Gave This B*tch A Mic, 10pm

CLUBLAND

TRADITIONAL BALKAN BAND: On Thursday, Nov. 14, Black Sea Beat Society brings its traditional Balkan, Turkish and Middle Eastern music to the Double Crown, starting at 8 p.m. This high-energy band promises to bring rock ’n’ roll spirit to a repertoire that ranges from Balkan brass to Turkish psychedelic, Middle Eastern classics and klezmer tunes. Photo courtesy of Cory Podielski.

STATIC AGE RECORDS

Frankie Rose & Star

Anise (alt-indie, pop), 9pm

THE GREY EAGLE Harbour (pop, rock), 8pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

Yoke Lore (indie-pop), 8pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Unspoken Tradition (bluegrass), 7pm

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15

ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

Melissa & McKinney w/ Rainy Eyes (funk, soul, blues), 9pm

EDA'S HIDE-A-WAY

Wayne Hancock, IV & The Strange Bandcw/ Vaden Landers (country, honky-tonk), 8pm

EULOGY

Gilded Palace of Metamodern Sounds w/ DJ Johnny Cashapp, 9pm

FLEETWOOD'S Yall're, Warmones & My Gal Monday (punk), 9pm

LOBSTER TRAP

Dinah's Daydream (jazz), 6:30pm

OKLAWAHA

BREWING CO.

Reedy River String Band (Appalachian, bluegrass, rock), 8pm

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Derek McCoy Trio (jazz), 10pm

ONE WORLD BREWING

Rich Strater (rock, folk), 8pm

ONE WORLD

BREWING WEST

The Late Shifters & Blue Ridge Betty (Southern-rock), 8pm

SHAKEY'S Friday Late Nights w/ DJ Ek Balam, 10pm STATIC AGE RECORDS

Camp Saint Helene, Pilgrim Party Girl & Claire Whall (lo-fi, experimental, pop), 9pm

THE GREY EAGLE

An Evening w/Boot Scootin’ Boogie Nights, 8pm

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR Moonshine State (Americana, country), 7pm

THE MEADOW AT HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Fo Daniels (rock'n'roll), 6pm

THE ODD Two Planes & Two Vespers (post-rock), 8pm

THE ORANGE

PEEL Pink Pony Club: Chappell Roan Night, 9pm

THE STATION BLACK MOUNTAIN

Mr Jimmy (blues), 5pm

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16

27 CLUB

Belfast 6 Pack, Below 7,

Seven Year Sideshow & Hightower (metal, hardrock, nu-metal), 8pm

ASHEVILLE CLUB

Mr Jimmy (blues), 4pm

ASHEVILLE GUITAR

BAR

Doss Church & the Unholy Noise (Americana, folk-rock, country), 7:30pm

CORK & KEG

The Uptown Hillbillies (honky-tonk, country), 8pm

EULOGY

Friends with Benefits w/Phantom Pantone & AVL:XLR, 9pm

HIGHLAND BREWING

CO.

Boat Command (post-lofi, jazz, yachthop), 5pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

• Nobody’s Darling String Band, 4pm

• The Resonant Rogues (dark-Appalachian, folk), 9pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.

The Maggie Valley Band (indie, folk-rock, Americana), 8pm

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

Seven Teller (funk, artrock, psych), 10pm

ONE WORLD BREWING

Luna Worldcast (rock'n'roll, folk), 8pm

ONE WORLD

BREWING WEST

Hot Brown Smackdown & Bibelhauser Brothers (newgrass, rock, funk), 9pm

SHAKEY'S

Trash Talk Queer Dance Party & Drag Show, 10pm

SHILOH & GAINES

Commander Voodoo (R&B, funk), 9pm

SIERRA NEVADA

BREWING CO.

Charles Walker (bluegrass, folk-country), 2pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS

Paprika, Bombay Gasoline & Puppy Chain (dark-electro, rock, metal), 9pm

THE GREY EAGLE

Adeem the Artist w/ Sug Daniels (pop, country), 8pm

THE ODD

Party Foul Drag, 8pm

THE SOCIAL Saturady Karaoke w/ Steph, 9pm

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17

CATAWBA BREWING

CO. SOUTH SLOPE

ASHEVILLE Comedy for Community, 6:30pm

CITIZEN VINYL

Hayden Pedigo (folk, country), 8pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY

Reggae Sunday w/ Chalwa, 3pm

GINGER'S REVENGE CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM

Jazz Sunday's, 2pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Traditional Irish Music Session, 3:30pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.

Andrew Wakefield (bluegrass, folk-rock, Americana), 4pm

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Brightsome Color (multi-genre), 9pm

ONE WORLD

BREWING WEST

One Love Sundays (reggae), 6pm

S & W MARKET

Mr Jimmy (blues), 1pm

SIERRA NEVADA

BREWING CO.

Roots & Dore (blues, Americana, rock), 2pm

SLY GROG LOUNGE

Open Mic w/Mike AndersEn, 6:30pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS

Big Bend, Emily Hay & Yes Selma (jazz, rock, experimental), 8pm

THE GREY EAGLE

Kristy Lee (folk), 8pm

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18

FLEETWOOD'S

Best Ever Karaoke w/KJ Chelsea, 9pm

HIGHLAND BREWING

CO.

Trivia Night w/Two Bald Guys & A Mic, 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Quizzo! Pub Trivia w/ Jason Mencer, 7:30pm

OKLAWAHA

BREWING CO.

Takes All Kinds Open Mic Nights, 7pm

ONE WORLD

BREWING WEST

Mashup Mondays w/ JLloyd, 8pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS

Kee Avil (experimental-folk, avant-pop, glitch), 8pm

THE GREY EAGLE

Bluegrass Jam w/Sam Wharton, 7pm

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR

Mr Jimmy & Friends (blues), 7pm

THE RIVER ARTS DISTRICT BREWING CO.

Trivia w/Billy, 7pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN

Local Live Presents: Mark Moore & Dave Desmelic, 7pm

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19

ARCHETYPE BREWING Trivia Tuesday, 6:30pm EULOGY

Lo Moon (al-pop, rock), 8pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY

Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm

LOOKOUT BREWING CO.

Team Trivia Tuesday's, 6:30pm

OKLAWAHA

BREWING CO.

Team Trivia, 7pm

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

Turntable Tuesdays, 10pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

The Grateful Family Band Tuesdays (Grateful Dead tribute), 6pm

SHAKEY'S 3rd Bootys w/DJ Ek Balam, 10pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA Tuesday Night Open Jam, 8pm

THE ORANGE PEEL Sarah Squirm (comedy), 8pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Open Mic, 7pm

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Stand-Up Comedy Open Mic, 8pm

EDA'S HIDE-A-WAY

Bless Your Heart Trivia w/Harmon, 7pm

FLEETWOOD'S PSK Karaoke, 9pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY

Saylor Brothers & Friends (jamgrass), 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Old Time Jam, 5pm

OKLAWAHA

BREWING CO.

Bluegrass Jam w/Derek McCoy & Friends, 6pm

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

JCE & The End (indie, alt-country, Appalachian), 10pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

Emerald Empire Asheville Showcase (multi-genre), 6pm

SHILOH & GAINES

Trivia Wednesdays, 7pm

SLY GROG LOUNGE

Weird Wednesday Open Jam, 6pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA Poetry Open Mic, 8pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS

Hotline TNT & The Silver Doors (desert-rock, garage, shoegaze), 9pm THE GREY EAGLE Olive Klug (indie-rock, folk), 8pm

THE MEADOW AT HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Well-Crafted Music w/ Matt Smith, 6pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

Mipso (country, bluegrass, indie), 8pm

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21

DSSOLVR

Hot To Go! Karaoke Night, 8pm

EULOGY

Hannah Kaminer & The Wistfuls (Americana), 8pm

FLEETWOOD'S Katie Sachs, Mr Zone, Bad Authors & Lavendar Blue (indie), 9pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY

Jerry's Dead (Grateful Dead & JGB Tribute), 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Bluegrass Jam w/Drew Matulich, 7pm

LAZOOM ROOM BAR & GORILLA

Eyes Up Here Comedy

Presents: AVLGBTQueer Comedy, 7pm

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Isaac Hadden's Thursday Throwdown, 9pm

ONE WORLD BREWING

Sweet Degenerates (indie, folk, bluegrass), 8pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

Fee Fi Phaux Fish (Phish tribute), 8pm

SHAKEY'S • Comedy Showcase w/ Hilliary Begley, 8pm • Karaoke w/DJ Franco, 9pm

SHILOH & GAINES Karaoke Night, 8pm

STATIC AGE LOFT Auto-Tune Karaoke w/ Who Gave This B*tch A Mic, 10pm

THE ORANGE PEEL Blood Incantation (metal), 8pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Pierce Pettis (folk), 7:30pm

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You may be on the verge of the breakthrough I prophesied a while back. Remember? I said you would be searching for the solution to a boring problem, and on the way you would discover a more interesting and useful problem. That exact scenario is about to happen. I also predict that the coming weeks will be a time when you tame an out-of-control aspect of your life and infuse more wildness into an overly tame part of you. I will speculate on one further stroke of good fortune: You will attract an influence that motivates you to be more passionately pragmatic about one of your key dreams.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): It’s time for some friendly warnings that will, if heeded, enable you to avoid problematic developments. 1. An overhaul in your self-image is looming; your persona requires tinkering. 2. Old boundaries are shifting and in some places disappearing. Be brave and draw up new boundaries. 3. Familiar allies may be in a state of flux. Help them find their new centers of gravity. 4. Potential future allies will become actual allies if you are bold in engaging them. 5. Be allergic to easy answers and simplistic solutions. Insist on the wisdom of uncertainty.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): To honor and celebrate your melancholy, I’m turning this horoscope over to Gemini author T. H. White and his superb formulation of the redemptive power of sadness. He wrote: “The best thing for being sad is to learn something. That is the only thing that never fails. You may lie awake at night listening to the disorder of your veins, you may miss your only love, you may see the world about you devastated by evil lunatics, or know your honor trampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing for it then—to learn. Learn why the world wags and what wags it. That is the only thing which the mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or distrust, and never dream of regretting.”

CANCER (June 21-July 22): A Massachusetts woman named Andrea Martin loves chickens so much she treats them as family. A few years ago, she took pity on one of her favorites, a young bird named Cecily, who had been born with a damaged tendon in one of her legs. Martin arranged to have the limb amputated. Then she made a prosthetic device on a 3-D printer and had it surgically grafted onto Cecily’s body. Success! The $2,500 cost was well worth it, she testified. I propose we make Andrea Martin one of your role models for the coming weeks. May she inspire you to take extra good care of and shower bonus blessings on everyone and everything you love. (PS: This will be really good for your own health.)

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Once a year, the city of Seoul in South Korea stages a Space-Out Festival. Participants compete to do absolutely nothing for 90 minutes. They are not allowed to fall asleep, talk, or check their phones. To test how well they are banishing stress, burnout, and worries, their heart rates are monitored. The winner is the person who has the slowest and most stable pulse. If there were an event like this in your part of the world sometime soon, Leo, I’d urge you to join in. I expect the winner would be a member of your astrological tribe, as you Leos now have a high potential for revitalizing relaxation. Even if you don’t compete in a Space-Out Festival, I hope you will fully cash in on this excellent chance to recharge your spiritual batteries.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): My favorite Virgos love to learn. They are eager to add to their knowledge. They have a highly honed curiosity that is always percolating, continually drawing them towards new comprehension. On the other hand, some of my favorite Virgos are inefficient at shedding long-held ideas and information that no longer serve them. As a result, their psyches may get plugged up, interfering with their absorption of fun new input. That’s why I

recommend that you Virgos engage in regular purges of your mental debris. Now would be an excellent time for one of these sessions.

PS: The futurist Alvin Toffler said that a key to intelligence is the ability to learn, unlearn, and relearn. I invite you to act on that counsel.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I endorse Libran tennis star Serena Williams’ approach to self-evaluation—especially for you right now. She testified, “I’m really exciting. I smile a lot, I win a lot, and I’m really sexy.” I’m convinced you have the right to talk like that in the coming weeks—so convinced that I suggest you use it as a mantra and prayer. When you wake up each morning, say what Williams said. When you’re asking life for a sweet breakthrough or big favor, remind life why it should give you what you want. Feel free to add other brags, too, like, “I’m a brilliant thinker, a persuasive negotiator, and a crafty communicator.”

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You are entering a phase when you can acquire more mastery in the arts of self-care and self-sufficiency. I hope you will become more skillful in giving yourself everything that nurtures your emotional and physical health. Have you gathered all you need to know about that subject? Probably not. Most of us haven’t. But the coming weeks will be a favorable time to make this your main research project. By the way, now is also an excellent time to kick your own ass and unbreak your own heart.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): My father was a big fan of the military. As a young man, he served as a lieutenant in the army and for a time considered making that job his career. I’m the opposite of him. I keenly avoided becoming a soldier and have always been passionately anti-war. I bring this subject to your attention because I think now is an excellent time for you to get clearer than ever about how you don’t resemble your parents and don’t want to be like them. Meditate on why your life is better and can get even better by not following their paths and ways. There’s no need to do this with anger and blame. In fact, the healthiest approach is to be lucid, calm, and dispassionate.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): At age 49, James Patterson retired from his job as an advertising writer. Until then, he had produced a few novels in his spare time. But once free of his 9 to 5 gig, he began churning out books at a rapid pace. Now, at age 77, he has published over 305 million copies of 200+ novels, including 67 that have been #1 New York Times bestsellers. Would you like to make an almost equally memorable transition, Capricorn? The coming weeks and months will be an excellent time to plan it and launch it.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): *The Breakfast Club* was an iconic 1985 film about teenagers coming of age. Critics liked it. At the box office, it earned 100 times more than it cost to make. Aquarian director John Hughes wrote the screenplay for the 97-minute movie in two days, on July 4 and 5 of 1982. I predict that many of you Aquarians will have a similar level of productivity in the coming weeks. You could create lasting improvements and useful goodies in short bursts of intense effort.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Ben & Jerry’s is a wildly successful ice cream maker that sells it products all over the world. Its founders are two Pisceans who met in seventh grade. Over 45 years since they launched their business, they have become renowned for their wide variety of innovative flavors and their political activism. When they first decided to work together, though, their plans were to start a bagel business. They only abandoned that idea when they discovered how expensive the bagel-making equipment was. I suspect that you are near a comparable

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REAL ESTATE HOMES FOR SALE

CONVERTED TOBACCO BARN FOR SALE Tobacco barn converted to 1/1 cabin. Half acre fronting fishing pond. $160,000. No CO. (828) 380-6095

OUT-OF-TOWN PROPERTY

TEMP RELOCATE TO GREENVILLE SC House lease/rental till end of May 25 Greenville SC, One with lots of storage. (864) 3358683

EMPLOYMENT

MEDICAL/ HEALTH CARE

DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS NEEDED Irene Wortham Center is hiring multiple Direct Support Professionals 2 Rose S W Asheville NC 28803 828274-7518 srobinson@iwcnc. org ireneworthamcenter. org

COMPUTER/ TECHNICAL

ENGINEER II, MECHANICAL Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. seeks an Engineer II, Mechanical, in Asheville, NC to develop specifications for system-level, subsystem and component performance based on customer needs and product requirements. Up to 10% domestic travel required.  See full req’s & apply online: https://jobs. thermofisher.com/global/ en. Req # R-01287666.

RETAIL

HELP WANTED Beautiful plumbing and hardware showroom seeking administration/sales support with Quickbooks experience a plus. Please email Dana at DanaB@bellaHardwareandBath.com bellahardwareandbath.com

HOME IMPROVEMENT

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1 “RuPaul’s Drag Race” airer

4 Self-assurance

10 Letter that’s sixth in the Greek alphabet, not last

14 “I’m on vacation” email inits.

15 High-end German car, casually

16 Dwarf planet with the largest mass

17 Fanatic

18 Photography option commonly represented by a 37-Across

20 Coffee order specification

22 Like Igor’s posture

23 N.F.L. team whose helmet features a 37-Across

25 Relish

29 Arm of the Mediterranean

30 Lick … or slick

32 Game whose name is shouted

33 Episode interruptions

34 Hitch

36 Buy and then quickly sell

37 What’s formed by connecting this puzzle’s circled letters from A to F and then back to A

40 Port, for one

41 Far from friendly

42 Poetic praise

43 “___ So Fine” (1963 #1 hit)

44 Deli order

45 Houses

48 Ready to be drawn, perhaps

50 Drink with a 37-Across in its logo

52 Shield

55 Muslim denomination

56 Character with a 37-Across on his forehead

60 Counterpart of flow

61 [Gasp!]

Life Works

62 Tangle

63 Drink aptly found within “social event”

64 Tikka masala go-with

65 Don’t have a choice

66 Dead end? DOWN

1 Friend on “Friends”

2 “Fair point!”

3 Ixnay

4 Jackson 5 song that begins “You went to school to learn, girl”

5 Bird with a showy mate

6 Madagascar mammal

7 Portentous signs

8 Soldier for hire, in brief

9

Squadron, e.g.

Head Start

“I’ve