Mountain Xpress 11.20.24

FEATURES

Nonprofit

Waterway protectors reflect on

38

CONFRONTING THE DESTRUCTION

Though much of the River Arts District was destroyed by Tropical Storm Helene, the recent success of RADFest 1.0 has many artists hopeful that the district can bounce back. Multiple initiatives are underway to assist those district makers who’ve lost everything. And the creative community continues to support one another amid ongoing cleanup efforts. On this week’s cover, starting left, Philip DeAngelo, Mark Harmon, Andrea Kulish and Jeffrey Burroughs.

COVER PHOTO Cindy Kunst

COVER

Scott Southwick

Debut

news to GREEN@MOUNTAINX.COM a&e events and ideas to AE@MOUNTAINX.COM

can be submitted to CALENDAR@MOUNTAINX.COM or try our easy online calendar at MOUNTAINX.COM/EVENTS food news and ideas to FOOD@MOUNTAINX.COM wellness-related events/news to MXHEALTH@MOUNTAINX.COM

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, Brionna Dallara, 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, 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, Gary Selnick, Noah Tanner, Mark Woodyard

Our hero

On Oct. 25, Asheville Water Resources Department spokesperson Clay Chandler offered the public a chilling vision of a catastrophe averted. He reported that a spillway project completed in 2020-21 at the North Fork Reservoir arguably prevented “what is already a catastrophe from being exponentially worse.” It probably prevented the collapse of the North Fork Dam, which would have released 6 billion gallons of water to scour the valley from Black Mountain to Biltmore and beyond. I think I was not alone in thinking, “Whew!” Last week I bumped into my friend Holly Jones, a former Asheville City Council and Buncombe County Board of Commissioners member, who surprised me with “Congratulations!” I obviously looked perplexed. “When I saw that report, I had to look it up. You voted for the project in 2017!” She hugged me.

I was glad we approved it, though I honestly didn’t recall, but what I realized is that there’s not a chance in the world that we elected officials came up with the idea. I wanted to find out who did.

It turns out it was Steve Shoaf, Asheville’s director of water resources from 2009-15, who recognized the need following the 2004 flood (among others) and advanced the idea before his retirement.

Editor’s Note

As part of our Fall Nonprofit Issue, Part I, Xpress reached out to a number of local organizations to learn how their work has shifted post-Helene. The “Unstoppable” series is available throughout this week’s issue. Be on the lookout for more in our Fall Nonprofit Issue, Part II — out next week! X

Thanks, Steve, we sure needed that!

— Cecil Bothwell Asheville Council 2009-17 Asheville

Hot showers and clean clothes are human rights

I recently used the showers and facilities run by the American Red Cross at Innsbruck Mall. It was a good experience. The showers were hot; the porta potties were clean. I grabbed some water and tuna on the way out. I imagine the laundry facilities are just as good.

Why can’t we make this a permanent fixture? The dignity of a hot shower and clean clothes was made evident in the wake of Hurricane Helene. They are a human right.

The current operation is large and can accommodate many people. But

Your goals are as unique as you.

Personalized service means having a financial advisor who understands you and what you’re trying to achieve, and helps to create a unique strategy based on your needs and circumstances. We’re ready when you are. Contact us today.

spread burning would have on our air quality. Turning woody material into mulch would give us much better protection against drought and would feed the soil instead of soiling the air. But how much can realistically be processed that way? Could the rest be turned into landfill? Where? And if landfill is an answer, is it possible that locations other than the county landfill could also capture methane off the rotting process? How about investing in a big biochar facility? That at least might compensate for the loss of so many trees that once drained carbon dioxide out of our air.

One way or another, how we handle this mess will have big impacts on our natural environment. We just lost immense numbers of beautiful and often very old trees. What will become of them? The least we can do is give them a proper burial.

— Erik Bendix Asheville

even a quarter of its current size could help ameliorate longer-term poverty and address emergency needs for those who will inevitably face hardship as we recover. The location is great, and the Innsbruck Mall parking lot is underutilized. Let’s make it a part of our community.

— Paul Choi Asheville

Where will all the dead trees go?

Storm debris is everywhere in Buncombe County in quantities we’ve never seen before. Where will it all go? We are told the county will pick it up, and the Army Corps of Engineers will help. Both deserve our thanks, but what exactly are their plans? The Swannanoa stump dump is already full. The county landfill can’t possibly accommodate all this stuff. And property owners are impatient to have it carted off. Without clearer guidance, folks are likely to resort to just burning it. Given the wildfire risks left by the storm, that would be a bad result, not to speak of the impact that wide-

Separate valid political speech from antisemitism

[Regarding “Repeat Trauma: Local Jews Endure Ongoing Antisemitism,” Nov. 6, Xpress:]

I agree with the author of this article when he writes that antisemitism is nothing new. It is a dangerous and regrettable phenomenon, and it is disturbing to see instances of it in our community. It’s particularly important to discern what acts are expressions of hate toward a person or group because of their ethnicity or religion and what is political speech which expresses perhaps unpopular but valid views.

This article seems to lump together expressions of “anti-Jewish” feeling such as swastika painting or defacing campaign signs with sincere expressions of disagreement with U.S. foreign policy (military and weapons deliveries, “diplomatic” and political cover) that is resulting in horrific and ongoing suffering for the Palestinian people and in wider war in the region.

The journalist has centered “Jewish trauma” both historically and currently in his article. Those including myself who have supported

Word of the week

riparian (adj.) relating to or living or located on the bank of a natural watercourse (such as a river) or sometimes of a lake or a tidewater

Read all about the benefits of large riparian zones alongside riverbanks in this week’s article “River watch: Waterway protectors reflect on Helene, look to the future,” on page 18. X

CARTOON BY RANDY MOLTON

a local ceasefire resolution to stop the killing in Israel/Palestine, who have participated in public demonstrations, who have met with local and regional leaders for an end to U.S. enabling of the plausible genocide are not the people painting swastikas on restaurants or campaign signs, or calling in bomb threats. As a Jewish person, I shudder when I learn of such expressions of real hatred. Perhaps the author could have written a companion article or integrated into this article the very real racism in our community toward Muslims, Palestinians and Arabs, which has been expressed by some of the people named in your article. Many who aren’t given a voice in this article are experiencing the trauma of family members being killed, injured, starving or displaced in Gaza and Lebanon.

It is beyond time to separate out legitimate criticism of the U.S.’s and Israel’s actions from real “antisemitic” behavior and speech expressed predominantly by white supremacists. The people I know who are advocates for an end to the Palestinian genocide are the real human rights defenders — human rights for all. My question is: Whose suffering matters in this community, and whose suffering is ignored?

— Anne Craig Asheville

Editor’s note: Reporter Pat Moran responds: “Thank you for writing, Anne. If you believe the article equates antisemitism with pro-Palestinian/anti-genocide activism, then I owe you an apology. That was not the intent of the story. Keeping with Xpress’ local focus, the story looks at Western North Carolina’s legacy of antisemitism. As part of that story, I attempted to place local activism on either side of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict within that broader context.

“In the wake of a fracas at the West Asheville Library mentioned in the article, it seemed most local media presented the Zionist/pro-Israel view exclusively. So I interviewed 11 peace activists versus two self-described Zionists — along with two rabbis, three local Jewish Americans who did not self-describe as activists but expressed disapproval of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, and spokespeople from the Jewish Community Relations Council, Asheville Jewish Community Center and Carolina Jews for Justice. Of the peace activists, four were Jewish American and three were members of historically marginalized communities.

“If I have one takeaway from writing the story, it’s that people along the continuum from pro-Israel to pro-Palestine aren’t hearing each other.” X

CARTOON BY BRENT BROWN

Weathering the storm

Nonprofit groups address fundraising, volunteer challenges in wake of Helene jmcguire@mountainx.com

BY JUSTIN M c GUIRE

October is usually a key fundraising month for Waynesville’s Shelton House. In addition to the donations it gets from visiting tourists, the nonprofit museum draws hundreds of people to its annual Historic Home Tour.

This year’s tour, set for Oct. 13, was to include stops at the Massie House, the Hannah-Graham-Morgan House, the Yellow House and the Stone House. But just days before the $50 tickets were to go on sale, Tropical Storm Helene hit Western North Carolina.

“We ended up postponing the tour because we just thought it would be incredibly disrespectful to ask people to buy tickets,” says Morgan Winstead, museum director. “But that does mean that one of our bigger fundraising events for this year got canceled until next year, so that was kind of difficult.”

While the 1875 Shelton House, which is home to the Museum of North Carolina Handicrafts, didn’t suffer any damage from Helene, it was forced to close for several weeks, cutting off another source of donations. Fortunately, Winstead says, most of the museum’s annual donors have continued to contribute.

“We’ve just been kind of rolling with what we have to do to support the community and respect the fact that it is harder for people to donate to a historical museum right now,” Winstead says.

The Shelton House is just one of many local nonprofits facing challenges as money and volunteer hours pour into groups with a more direct role in storm recovery efforts. These groups are trying to address the issue in cre-

PHYSICAL THERAPY: Performers from the Flat Rock Playhouse’s Rock Out concert series perform at Tryon International Equestrian Center’s People Helping People fundraiser Oct. 25. Photo courtesy of the Flat Rock Playhouse

ative ways, including reaching out to donors and volunteers outside WNC for help.

Mostly, though, they are making the case that they have a key role to play in the post-Helene world.

“We don’t want to sell ourselves short as an organization because we do offer a unique space for healing for girls,” says Nicole Lowery, executive director of Girls on the Run WNC. “We aren’t a critical immediate response organization, but we are part of the long-term healing response for the area.”

TOOLS TO COPE

Girls on the Run WNC is an outof-school program that serves girls in third through eighth grades throughout the region.

“We address things like how to have healthy friendships, how to tap into what makes us unique and makes us special and how to resolve conflict in a healthy way,” Lowery says. “And then we wrap all of that around running, so there’s an emotional learning aspect of it and a physical development aspect of it.”

At the end of each season, the participating girls run a 5K.

The program was put on hold while schools were out, but it has returned with 217 participants on 16 teams (down from 19 when the storm hit), mostly based at local elementary and middle schools. The 5K has been rescheduled for Sunday, Dec. 15, at Tanger Asheville outlet mall.

The organization’s leaders know local donors may be tapped out right now, so they reached out to former volunteer coaches and other supporters who have moved out of the region. And they are exploring ways to expand the base of volunteer coaches.

“We rely really heavily on teacher/ coaches, but their workload has been increasing anyway, and now their capacity has had another hit,” Lowery says. “We may have to look at some other outreach ideas, such as working more with our junior coach program, which allows high school students to join an adult coach to help coach one of the teams.”

Ultimately, she believes, donors and volunteers will continue to support Girls on the Run because its work is more important than ever.

“The lessons we teach are important in normal development and normal times for girls,” she explains. “But in times like these, it gives them extra tools to get through some of the challenges that something like a natural disaster can present.”

ADDRESSING THE TRAUMA

Flat Rock Playhouse was on track to have a “banner year” in 2024 with attendance of more than 60,000 and a run of Cats scheduled to start Oct. 25, says Jim Brewer, director of development for the nonprofit theater.

“When the storm hit, we were just preparing to bring the Cats cast and crew onto the campus to begin rehearsal,” Brewer explains. “But with everything that happened those next two weeks [after the storm], they didn’t have time to rehearse, and we didn’t have time to create the sets, so we had to cancel.”

Most of the people who had bought tickets to the show donated them back to the playhouse, helping alleviate the financial hit. And community members, including some first-time donors, stepped up to support the theater. “A note card from a firsttime donor said: ‘Everybody’s been through a rough time, but I want to give this to you because you support and edify all of us.’”

Even with no shows in October, the playhouse stayed active in the community, offering its free Rock Out concert series at schools and community venues around Henderson County and surrounding areas. Additionally, staff members did in-class readings for more than 700 county students.

“The emotional and mental trauma that everybody has experienced has not even been addressed yet,” Brewer says. “And the arts, especially theater, offer ways for people to express and give voice to that trauma, to get rid of those pent-up emotions, to work through the anxiety.”

Some of the theater’s regular donors have agreed to help fund the concert series, Brewer says.

The playhouse had its first post-Helene production, Mozart to Pop Chart: Volume 3 — The History of Rock and Roll, in mid-November and will begin its popular annual A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas on Friday, Nov. 29. Most of its volunteer ushers have returned for the shows.

“I believe we’re going to be all right,” Brewer says. “We will adapt. We are already planning the 2025 season.”

LITERACY

Literacy Together is an Asheville nonprofit that matches volunteer tutors with students in three programs: youth literacy, adult literacy and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).

All the students in the programs are from Buncombe County, but some of the ESOL teachers are from other places and work with students over Zoom. Amanda Wrublewski, executive director of the organization, thinks that may provide a model for finding volunteers for the other programs at a time when local volunteers may be harder to find.

The program serves about 500 people in its core programs and needs about the same number of volunteers because all lessons are one-on-one.

“I’ve been checking in with the people who are in our program, whether they’re volunteers or supporters,” she says. “A lot of them have experienced some kind of loss, whether it’s home damage or job loss. These are such unprecedented times, so I’m not exactly sure how that will play out in the long haul.”

The good news, she says, is that many of the volunteers already are back in the program, and most have indicated they want to continue tutoring.

Wrublewski points out that her organization’s mission will be vital in the long-term efforts to recover from the tropical storm.

“If you’re a young person in the school system who’s now dealing with the trauma of Helene, coupled with reduction of learning time due to school closures, and you were already reading below grade level, then that impact is going to be long lasting,” she says.

With that in mind, Literacy Together organized a book drive to provide reading material to children who were out of school for several weeks. The group collected thousands of books that it distributed to different community partners and schools, Wrublewski says.

In addition to the book drive, the nonprofit took on new responsibilities like helping students fill out Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) applications and make use of other resources. “It might be hard for people with low literacy skills, or for people who don’t speak English, to even know how to access and navigate these things,” she says.

Wrublewski has been impressed with the generosity displayed by people in the community in the aftermath of Helene and hopes it will continue.

“I’m so thankful for what they’ve done, and I’m hoping that they can see we still need them to show up for our communities because the work doesn’t stop now,” she says.

“Organizations like mine are in this for the long haul. I’m feeling a strong sense of connection and compassion between people that I don’t know that I felt to this level before. That does make me hopeful that we’ll grow our volunteer base moving forward.” X

Want to give?

To donate to one of these nonprofits, follow the link: Flat Rock Playhouse: avl.mx/ead Girls on the Run WNC: avl.mx/eae Literacy Together: avl.mx/eaf Shelton House Museum: avl.mx/eag

Second act

Rose Pillmore serves as a board member of Asheville Theater Alliance, an organization that works to unite, promote, strengthen, cultivate and celebrate the performing arts in Western North Carolina.

Xpress: How has your nonprofit’s focus shifted in the aftermath of Helene?

ROSE PILLMORE

Photo courtesy of Pillmore

Pillmore: In response to Helene, we established an emergency fund to provide grants for more immediate needs, helping our members recover financially. This experience highlighted the importance of adaptability and reinforced our commitment to supporting the resilience of our local theater community. 100% of respondents had shows impacted by postponements or cancellations. While 40% could reschedule, 60% needed financial assistance to cover lost income, venue rentals and marketing expenses — totaling over $10,000 in losses. In addition, through the end of 2024, we are offering free membership for new members’ first year. This is for organizations and individuals with the promo code AshevilleStrong

Could you share a positive story about your nonprofit’s interaction with the community post-Helene?

We knew that our members’ needs were immediate; we contacted George Awad with Double Dip Productions about hosting a fundraiser since their Asheville Improv Festival was an indefinitely postponed event. Together, we put on a fundraiser graciously hosted by LaZoom Tours. Through cash donations, ticket sales and auction items from local theaters and businesses, we raised $4,500. Much of our cash donations came from people outside the WNC area who wanted to support the performing arts. We were able to split those funds among the ATA members who were impacted and requested financial assistance. We understand they were able to use those funds to pay their performers and crew slated for the canceled shows. Based on the communities you serve, what are the most dire needs?

WNC theaters were finally getting close to pre-COVID attendance, and Helene set us all the way back. As venues start to repair and open again, we need patrons to show their love.

Beyond monetary donations, how else could community members support your mission?

Check out the amazing talent in your community. Performances are happening now, and more are scheduled for the holiday season. We’re working on putting together an all-in-one theater calendar for WNC. Learn more at avl.mx/ear. X

WINTER spirit issue

After the ballots

Winning Hendersonville, Black Mountain candidates discuss post-Helene challenges

BY JUSTIN M c GUIRE

jmcguire@mountainx.com

Candidates for council seats in Hendersonville and Black Mountain did not list disaster recovery among the top issues facing their communities when they began campaigning this year.

Instead, they mostly focused on familiar concerns like growth, affordable housing, taxes and public safety.

But when Tropical Storm Helene swept through the region Sept. 27, it left behind a whole new set of headaches for elected officials, including damaged buildings and roads, displaced residents and enormous cleanup costs.

As a result, candidates who were elected (or reelected) Nov. 5 know their terms will be dominated by the aftermath of Helene.

“Tropical Storm Helene was nothing any of us could have prepared for, and it caused significant damage throughout our area,” says Hendersonville City Council member Lyndsey Simpson. “In fact, city staff is currently estimating the financial impact to be $5 million, but that number could change as we move into recovery. It does not include any sort of economic impact, which we know we will see.”

Simpson and fellow incumbent Jennifer Hensley were reelected to City Council, defeating challenger DJ Harrington. Newcomer Gina Baxter beat Colby Coren and Lynne Elizabeth Williams to win the seat that was vacated by Jerry Smith, who resigned last year.

In Black Mountain, incumbents Doug Hay, Pam King and Archie Pertiller Jr. were reelected in a race that also included challengers Dan Cordell, Rick Earley and Lisa Milton Ryan Stone, appointed to fill a vacant seat in 2023, was unopposed for reelection.

“Recovery from Helene will not be a sprint, but a marathon,” Pertiller says.

IMMEDIATE NEEDS

Black Mountain sustained substantial damage to a number of its public facilities, including parks, the Lakeview Center for Active Aging and the public works building, Hay

explains. Repairs will take months, he adds.

“Our watershed was also hit hard,” he says. “Right now, we’re estimating about $900,000 in urgent repairs needed to get the system back up to full capacity.”

After reconnecting to the water supply at the North Fork Reservoir, the town issued a boil water notice Oct. 17 for all customers due to loss of pressure in distribution system pipes and levels of turbidity (particles) in the water. The notice was lifted Nov. 18. Black Mountain sources about 30% of its water from the City of Asheville, with the rest coming from a dozen wells.

The town government is facing a cash-flow problem as it pays to make the repairs while awaiting insurance payouts or federal and state support. Because of that, the town put some projects on hold, he says.

That includes renovations at Cragmont Park, a 5.14-acre site on Swannanoa Avenue previously known as Youth Center Park. The town wants to make parking area improvements, install permanent

restroom facilities, repair or replace tennis and basketball courts, and construct six pickleball courts at the park.

“I’m hopeful it will move forward soon, but we’re not ready just yet,” Hay says.

Adds King: “I’m sure difficult choices will have to be made about priorities — what has to be addressed now and what will have to wait.”

In Hendersonville, Hensley says some projects are being delayed for now because many city staff members are working on Helene recovery and cleanup efforts. Simpson adds that the city will have a better idea of how the timelines of projects will be affected early next year when it moves into its next budget cycle.

“Thankfully, the city was in a good financial position before the storm, and that will help us through the recovery period to build back better,” she says.

Many Hendersonville residents have been displaced by the storm, including in the areas surrounding Clear Creek Road, Dana Road, Lincoln Circle and Robinson Terrace,

Baxter says. “As the city assesses the long-term implications, getting folks back into safe housing is a priority,” she says.

Among other immediate needs, Hendersonville has to repair damaged city buildings, inspect and repair roads and bridges, and restore stream banks that washed out, Simpson says. And then there’s the debris.

“So far, we have removed 1,253 truckloads of vegetative debris,” she says. “This time last year, we had moved 52 truckloads.”

ECONOMIC IMPACT

While the governments of Hendersonville and Black Mountain are facing major repair and recovery costs right now, officials also have concerns about the long-term economic health of their communities.

“We need to help our small businesses sustain through the holidays and the winter months,” Hendersonville’s Simpson says. “Since tourism was down, a lot of their sales are down as a result, and this is supposed to be the busiest time of the year for them.”

Adds Hensley: “I will continue to sing loudly that loans are not enough for our small-business community. Many businesses are still paying loans they were forced to take due to COVID lockdowns and economic losses then. These are great businesses that were successful and, through no fault of their own, have suffered. We need to be there and show up for them.”

King is excited that most shops and restaurants in Black Mountain have reopened and encourages people to come out and support them during the holiday season.

LESSONS LEARNED

Responding to a major natural disaster was an eye-opening experience for the elected officials.

“One of our biggest obstacles was being unable to communicate with each other at the beginning of the crisis,” Black Mountain’s Pertiller says. “I feel that this was noticed, and it and many more issues are being addressed and a plan formulated for any future crisis situations.”

Hendersonville faced the same issue, Simpson says. “Moving forward, we are looking at ways to ensure Council and key staff can communicate in the event of an emergency that isn’t dependent on cell towers.”

Hensley says Hendersonville officials also learned the importance

ELECTION VICTORS: Top row, from left: Gina Baxter, Jennifer Hensley and Lyndsey Simpson were elected to Hendersonville City Council Nov. 5. Bottom row, from left: Doug Hay, Pam King and Archie Pertiller Jr. were reelected to Black Mountain Town Council. Photos courtesy of the candidates

of infrastructure and strategic planning. “Water and sewer are not exciting things to fund and talk about, but the City of Hendersonville’s water system, and the professionals who run it, have created capital improvement planning that has allowed us to be redundant and resilient. We were able to restore complete water to our customers within two weeks after the storm.”

Black Mountain’s King says Helene demonstrated the importance of having staff in leadership positions who are experienced, proactive and resourceful.

FUTURE PRIORITIES

While Helene recovery will be at the forefront in Hendersonville and Black Mountain, the winning candidates say they will continue to work on issues that were top of mind before Sept. 27.

“We had a housing crisis and shortage before Helene, and now that is even worse, with many residents displaced from storm damage,” Simpson says. “I’d also like to put a focus on parks and green space, and to make sure we continue to prioritize our staff’s needs and benefits.”

Baxter says affordable, accessible housing remains her top priority. She also wants to work on public transportation and public safety initiatives. Hensley wants the city to build a more diverse revenue base that doesn’t rely entirely on ad valorem taxes. “We still have a quarter-cent sales tax to lobby for, that could help provide much relief to Western North Carolina in recovery efforts that would free up other pots of money that our legislature will need for recurring expenses.”

Black Mountain’s Hay lists his priorities as land-use planning, improving parks, pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, and green spaces. “Ultimately, we need to come together as a town and community to ensure Black Mountain is a vibrant, affordable and safe place to live for generations to come,” he says.

Pertiller says his priorities will emerge through the town’s upcoming budget process. “My personal priority for this term is to listen more closely to what our community feels is a priority and make that my goal,” he says.

And King says her priority is to work with Town Council, staff and the community to rebuild the town. “We’ve experienced so much loss, but we will work together to identify priorities and opportunities and bring in available resources,” she says. “Our spirit here is our biggest asset and will get us through.” X

Other municipal election winners

Hendersonville, with a population of more than 15,000, and Black Mountain, with more than 8,000 residents, are the two most populous WNC towns outside Asheville that had elections this month. But several other municipalities also welcomed new and reelected leaders.

Biltmore Forest mayor: George F. Goosmann III (incumbent)

Biltmore Forest Board of Commissioners (three seats): Doris P. Loomis (incumbent), Drew Stephens, Allan R. Tarleton

Montreat mayor: Timothy (Tim) Helms (incumbent)

Montreat Board of Commissioners (three seats): Jane Alexander (incumbent), Katheryn (Kitty) Fouche (incumbent)

Montreat Board of Commissioners special election: Grant C. Dasher (incumbent)

Flat Rock mayor: Anne Guerard Coletta

Flat Rock Village Council, District 1: Thomas F. Carpenter (incumbent)

Flat Rock Village Council, District 3: Cheryl Stuller (incumbent)

Fletcher Town Council, District 2: Keith Reed (incumbent)

Fletcher Town Council, District 3: Jim Player (incumbent)

Laurel Park mayor: Carey O’Cain (incumbent)

Laurel Park Town Council (two seats): George W. Banta (incumbent), Travis Bonnema

Mills River Town Council (two seats): Jeff Moore, Brian Kimball

Saluda Board of Commissioners (two seats): Melanie Talbot (incumbent), Kevin Burnett

Tryon mayor: J. Alan Peoples (incumbent)

Tryon Board of Commissioners (two seats): Skip Crowe, Tracie Greenway Morris

Tryon Board of Commissioners special election: Julie Lambakis

Storm delays Woodfin’s Riverside Park improvements

The under-construction Taylor’s Wave — an integral part of Woodfin’s $34 million Greenway and Blueway system of parks, greenways and waterways — sustained only minimal damage from Tropical Storm Helene, but construction on the manufactured “river wave” still will be delayed, says Shannon Tuch, Woodfin town manager.

In June, Woodfin broke ground on the $4.8 million Taylor’s Wave, a rock and concrete ledge that diverts the French Broad River’s current to create a whitewater “wave.” The Greenway and Blueway project also includes an $8.9 million doubling of the adjacent, soon-to-be-8-acre Riverside Park.

Prior to Helene, both the wave and the park were expected to be completed in spring or summer 2025. The deadline has been extended, potentially into spring 2026, with construction on the wave set to resume in the spring.

Tuch does not anticipate that the delay, as well as minor damage to a cofferdam, a temporary enclosure in the river that creates a watertight space where workers could build Taylor’s Wave, will add to the projects’ cost.

“As Helene approached, the contractor [Contractor Charles Baker Grading & Landscaping] … got their equipment out so we didn’t lose anything in terms of materials,” Tuch says. “The cofferdam survived remarkably well, [and] the storm caused only minor damage.”

One caveat to Tuch’s cost projection is an unanticipated rise in the river’s water level post-Helene.

Before resuming wave construction, the town collected poststorm data and discovered that the water level downstream of the site is running about 5 inches higher than normal.

“The concern is that the flooding may have reconfigured the shape of the riverbed,” says Tuch.

If that’s the case, the wave design might need to be modified. Currently, the town has no idea how much.

“It depends on things outside our control,” Tuch says.

“Our engineers are investigating the potential causes for changes in the water levels,” Tuch says. One possible factor is the Metropolitan Sewerage District dam downstream from the building site, which has suspended operations since Helene.

IF THE RIVER DON’T RISE: A cofferdam, built to keep workers dry while they worked on improvements to Riverside Park, sustained only minor damages from Tropical Storm Helene. Photo courtesy of Marc Hunt

“They’re not pulling water through [the dam] right now,” Tuch says. “We don’t know to what extent the operation of that dam may or may not affect our water elevation, but it’s something that we’re waiting to rule out.”

In the meantime, Woodfin is exploring whether or not the contractor can do some onshore park work while the town waits for conditions on the river to stabilize.

The Riverside Park expansion is the site of a former landfill, and the town planned to remove 26,000 cubic yards of construction debris.

“[Removing landfill] was always a beneficial piece to this project, so we’re just looking to do that work sooner rather than later,” Tuch says.

More information is at avl.mx/e95.

Good to know

• The National Park Service (NPS) announced that it has opened three sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina, restoring access to over 70 miles of the roadway. One of the restored sections runs from N.C. Route 215 to U.S. Highway 441 in Cherokee, near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park entrance. Another span connects U.S. Highway 276 to Black Balsam, and includes the Graveyard Fields overlook and

trailheads in Canton. “The section from Milepost 421 to 423.2, between the two open sections and including Devil’s Courthouse, remains closed,” says Tracy Swartout , Blue Ridge Parkway superintendent, in an NPS press release. That section of parkway will require reconstruction. Campgrounds, picnic areas and other visitor services in newly opened sections of the park will stay closed for the 2024 season. A third section, comprising 11 miles of the parkway within the Asheville corridor, from Milepost 382 near the Folk Art Center, to Milepost 393 near the N.C. Arboretum, has also been reopened. “We ask

visitors traveling the parkway to be patient and respect all road closures,” writes Melissa Weih, an NPS information officer, in an email to Xpress. “Many areas remain unsafe due to hidden hazards, such as weakened portions of the roadway, hazard trees and unstable ground. Visitors should also be aware that trail assessments are not complete, and caution should be exercised when hiking on trails in areas of the parkway that have reopened to vehicles.” More information is at avl.mx/e94.

• In the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene, Black-led nonprofit Southside Community Farm began supporting residents in Asheville’s historically marginalized neighborhoods, stepping up relief efforts and providing vital supplies to those impacted by the storm. In the weeks after the storm, a small team led by farm administrator Kate Wheeler and youth educator and community outreach manager Lydia Koltai distributed $5,000 worth of supplies three to five times per week. The farm is currently making weekly deliveries of fresh food and essential items to 46 households directly, plus additional households via community hub members across neighborhoods such as Livingston, Erskine, and Walton. “Our approach is unique because we ask what people need and bring it directly to their door. This has been especially important for elderly residents, postop patients and caretakers who can’t spend the time or energy traveling to find these resources,” Wheeler says. More information is at avl.mx/dnl.

• Smokies Life has published George Masa: A Life Reimagined, the first comprehensive biography of the Asheville-based Japanese photographer whose work helped spur the national park movement in the Great Smoky Mountains, as well as the creation of the Appalachian Trail. Written by Cornell University librarian Janet McCue and documentary filmmaker Paul Bonesteel, the biography answers questions about the Japanese immigrant who stepped off a train in Asheville in 1915 and devoted his life to the conservation of the Southern Appalachians. The paperback includes a 32-page

SHANNON TUCH

color photo insert and is $28.95 at Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s visitor center bookstores or online. More information is at avl.mx/e4q.

• The City of Hendersonville has won three awards from the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Mobi Awards program for the Oklawaha Greenway. Completed in July 2019, the project expands the greenway an additional 1.5 miles, completing a citywide network that connects four parks in Hendersonville. The three awards are first place –Small Urban Category, first place – Most Voted Project and second place – Innovation Category. “We are thrilled to see the Oklawaha Greenway recognized as a model of multimodal infrastructure,” said Brent Detwiler , public services director for the City of Hendersonville. “This greenway project demonstrates what’s possible when a community comes together to prioritize safe and sustainable pathways that enhance quality of life for our residents and visitors.” More information is at avl.mx/pryh.

Save the date

• MountainTrue hosts a screening of the No Man’s Land Film Festival (NMLFF), Tuesday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m. at The River Arts District Brewing Co., 13 Mystery St., Asheville. The all-women adventure film festival features conservation focused shorts. Space is limited, so pre-registration is required to attend the in-person screening. The festival can also be viewed virtually on Dec. 3, 7p.m.12 midight. Admission is free, but donations to MountainTrue are suggested. More information is at avl.mx/eak.

• Horticulturist and landscape designer Brannen Basham will host the class “Bee My Little Baby – Intro to Bee Nesting,” Monday, Dec. 9, 6-7:30 p.m. at Asheville Botanical Garden, 151 WT Weaver Blvd., Asheville. Basham, who has designed pollinator gardens at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville, 7 Clans Brewing in Asheville and the Haywood County Arts Council, shows attendees the variety of nests for species, including mining bees, squash bees and carpenter bees, and guides participants through the process of building a mason bee nest. More information is at avl.mx/e96.

— Pat Moran X

‘We want to spread joy’

Kate Frost is the executive director of Friends of the WNC Nature Center, a conservation organization that works to inspire a passion to learn and do more for the wildlife of the Southern Appalachians.

Xpress: How has your nonprofit’s focus shifted in the aftermath of Helene?

Frost: With the WNC Nature Center being temporarily closed for the foreseeable future due to our main access bridge being washed away, the Friends of the WNC Nature Center is leaning into our mission of connecting people to the wildlife of the Southern Appalachians. For example, our outreach education program continues to provide affordable, hands-on wildlife experiences to schools, libraries and people who cannot access the Nature Center in person. Right now as we’re closed to the public, this target audience includes all local residents who love the Nature Center but can’t come visit. Our outreach educators are working to connect our communities with the Nature Center while we’re closed by providing special interactions and educational moments across the region. In addition to providing connection to wildlife off-site, the Friends staff has been supporting relief efforts managed by other organizations. Since it was clear the animals were taken care of, our gift shop, membership, and education team members have been directly helping their communities recover from the storm.

Could you share a positive story about your nonprofit’s interaction with the community post-Helene?

The first month after Helene hit, we all felt the weight of loss for our community. While this is still heavy, the Friends of the WNC Nature Center — who manage the WNC Nature Center’s social media — wanted to share positive, uplifting messages too. So many people find encouragement and community in their love for our wild animals, and we hope our social media was a positive light during this dark time. For us personally, it was so heartening to hear from so many families who were worried about the safety of the Nature Center animals post-Helene. To know that our work matters to so many inspired us to continue finding impactful ways to reach our community while being closed

Based on the communities you serve, what are the most dire needs?

We have heard from families that it’s hard not having safe places to take their kids outside or for educational activities. With many parks, libraries and the Nature Center closed, families don’t have places to learn, play and relax together. We are doing everything we can to reopen our wildlife park so families can regain that sense of normalcy. In the meantime, the Friends’ outreach education team is providing family-friendly activities to our Cubs and Kits kids club members, hosting programs off-site, and bringing free animal programs to libraries as they reopen. Since we are closed, local schools have also not been able to access the Nature Center for field trips or programs. If you’d like to sponsor a school and provide a free in-school outreach education program for students, contact outreach education to learn more at education@wildwnc.org

Beyond monetary donations, how else could community members support your mission?

Spread the word about our outreach education program while we’re closed (wildwnc.org/outreach-education). Follow us on Facebook and Instagram (@WNCNatureCenter) and like and share our posts and stories. We want to spread joy and keep our community informed about the animals they love who call the WNC Nature Center home. X

KATE FROST AND RODDY THE NIGERIAN DWARF GOAT

Photo courtesy of Frost

Council approves $16 million for Helene recovery

Asheville City Council unanimously approved 12 contracts at its Nov. 12 meeting to help the city recover from Tropical Storm Helene. The contracts, which passed 7-0, total about $16.3 million, including $14 million for repairing Asheville’s water system, $1.2 million for solid waste disposal and debris removal, and $850,000 for meals and lodging for emergency responders.

A contract that partners with Illinois-based Hagerty Consulting Inc. for recovery management services is capped at $1 million.

Another contract pays standby staff $120,000 per week to repair vehicles. It is unknown how long the supplemental contract will run.

The city expects all costs to be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Helene recovery update

The city manager’s report was an update on disaster recovery efforts. The presentation by Rachel Wood, Asheville assistant city manager; Nikki Reid, economic development manager; and Stephanie Monson Dahl, planning and urban design director, addressed housing and economic recovery.

“The housing pipeline will be crucial to our recovery,” Reid told Council. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded the city $1.7 million, in additional Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds in October. City staff will bring Council a proposed allocation plan for the funds this month, and Council will vote on the plan at its next meeting, Tuesday, Dec. 10.

Monson Dahl said city staff had attended or presented at over 20 meetings with business owners and advocacy groups to identify the public’s immediate priorities regarding economic recovery. Potable water was the No. 1 need, followed by debris pickup and funding sources.

“It’s not just loans but grants,” Monson Dahl said.

The public talks about eviction

Although evictions weren’t on Council’s meeting agenda, 10 speak-

ers addressed the issue during general comments.

“Be relentless in your creativity to get rental assistance. Evictions are happening today,” Vicki Meath, director of Just Economics, told Council.

Asheville resident and restaurant employee Joel O’Brien said that many hospitality workers helped feed people in the wake of Helene.

“In an emergency, we know what to do — we feed people,” O’Brien said. “But when the emergency is over, they want to throw us out like trash.”

Jen Hampton, Just Economics housing and wages organizer and

lead organizer for Asheville Food and Beverage United, called on Mayor Esther Manheimer to use her new appointment to Gov.-elect Josh Stein’s transition team as an opportunity to lobby for rent relief for the community.

“We cannot keep putting people out on the streets. We did not choose to go through a natural disaster, but we do have a choice whether or not we go through an economic disaster,” Hampton said.

In other news

• The Nov. 12 meeting was Vice Mayor Sandra Kilgore’s last as a

member of Asheville City Council. She was elected in 2020. “I will miss your voice,” Council member Sage Turner told Kilgore.

• Council approved the purchase of four 30-foot, clean-diesel buses for Asheville Rides Transit (ART) for a total of $2.6 million. Council member Kim Roney asked why the hybrid buses in the city’s inventory cannot be replaced. Jessica Morriss, assistant director of transportation, said that the two bus manufacturers no longer make them.

— Pat Moran X with additional reporting by Brionna Dallara

HELENE UPDATE: At Asheville City Council’s Nov. 12 meeting, Rachel Wood, assistant city manager, provided an update on disaster recovery efforts. Photo by Pat Moran

Asheville City school board delays decision on staff bonuses for post-Helene volunteer work

Unsure of exactly how much it would cost, the Asheville City Board of Education voted 7-0 Nov. 12 to table a decision on bonus payment for nearly 200 district staff members who volunteered their time in the immediate aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene, Sept. 27-Oct. 12.

Asheville City Schools

Superintendent Maggie Fehrman initially proposed the bonus at a Nov. 4 work session. Regardless of an individual’s volunteer status, all staff received their base pay during the two-week period when schools were closed.

“Staff went above and beyond call of duty, and I want to recognize their hard work,” Fehrman said when introducing the plan. She added that she chose the two-week period because she started asking staff to return to school sites after Oct. 12 to prepare for reopening.

Board member James Carter, who was in his last regular meeting on the board, said he would not vote for the effort until he knew details about how the district would fund the initiative.

“I know the money will have to come out of our fund balance in order to pay for this. In light of that, I would personally have a hard time voting tonight. I don’t know what that number looks like, and although I don’t have much longer on the board, I want to be as fiscally responsible as possible while I’m here,” Carter said before making a motion to table the vote. (Pepi Acebo will replace Carter on the board on Monday, Dec. 9. Carter did not run to keep his seat this year.)

Fehrman’s recommendation notes that in addition to their regular pay, classified staff such as bus drivers, nutrition workers and maintenance staff would be paid their hourly rate for all hours worked during the twoweek period after the storm, plus overtime if they put in more than a week. Meanwhile, certified staff would be paid $100 for every eight hours worked with no overtime pay; or they could convert volunteer shift hours into future paid time off during noninstructional workdays.

Supervisors in the district, such as principals at school sites, would be responsible for determining who is eligible for the bonus pay based on volunteer shifts during the des-

ignated two-week period, Fehrman said. As of the Nov. 12 meeting, the number of volunteer hours worked remained unconfirmed, and therefore Fehrman could not estimate the total cost of the proposal.

At the Nov. 4 work session, Fehrman noted that staff who volunteered with organizations outside the district would not be eligible for additional pay.

Board member Amy Ray expressed concern that asking prin-

SURVEY RESULTS: Timothy Lloyd, president of the Asheville Association of Educators, shares results Nov. 12 from a survey ACAE conducted of staff members, who largely supported the bonus proposal. Photo by Greg Parlier

cipals to determine who is deserving of a bonus and who isn’t based on where they worked after the storm would create friction among school staff. Board member Jesse Warren questioned whether access to the bonuses was equitable, since people didn’t know ahead of time that bonuses could be provided for those working at school sites.

According to Fehrman, Buncombe County Schools (BCS) and McDowell County Schools have passed similar bonus programs for employees. A BCS spokesperson did not verify details of its plan by press time. Haywood County Schools and Henderson County Schools are also considering providing bonuses or stipends to its essential workers in the aftermath of the storm, and several districts in the eastern part of the state that more frequently deal with school closures due to hurricanes have policies on the books, Fehrman added.

In the public comment section of the Nov. 12 meeting, Asheville Association of Educators (ACAE) President Timothy Lloyd presented results of a survey conducted by ACAE on the matter.

Lloyd sent the survey to all ACS staff Nov. 7 and heard back from 175 employees — both members and nonmembers of the advocacy group.

An “overwhelming majority” of respondents — 76% — supported the proposal as is, Lloyd said. Less than

6% opposed it outright, with the rest undecided or supportive with tweaks to Fehrman’s recommendation.

Reasons for hesitation include concerns about fairness to those who could not work because of impacts from the storm and concerns about executive leadership receiving bonuses in light of the district’s budget concerns, Lloyd said.

“While we understand these concerns, we do not believe that the perfect should be the enemy of the good when it comes to compensation for public school staff. The benefits of this proposal far outweigh the imperfections, and given the direction we have received from our survey results, we ask you to support,” Lloyd said.

Board Chair George Sieburg said the board should consider drafting a policy in case such a situation arose in the future. The matter will come to a vote at a meeting Monday, Dec. 4.

Montford school gets old name back

The William Randolph name has officially returned to ACS’ Montford Avenue campus.

The board voted unanimously to rename the former home of Montford North Star Academy the William Randolph Campus at the Nov. 12 meeting. The campus is home to the district’s new alternative school.

The board voted to close Montford North Star Academy — a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) middle school — in March and merge the population with the larger Asheville Middle School. Before it was a middle school, the campus hosted an alternative school for 10 years known as the Randolph Learning Center.

The location has a long history as a school dating to the 1800s. It was first renamed for William Randolph, the first secretary of the Asheville school board, in the 1930s, according to an ACS presentation.

Along with the name change, the school will get a new logo, complete with a cougar to signify its status as a feeder school for Asheville High School, whose mascot is also the cougar.

— Greg Parlier  X

GIVING RECOGNITION: Asheville City Schools Superintendent Maggie Fehrman, left, has proposed bonus payments to staff members who volunteered in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene. Photo by Greg Parlier

River watch

BY GREG PARLIER

Erica Shanks was in Milwaukee for a water and climate conference Sept. 26, but all she could think about was the weather back home. Saluda had gotten 5 inches of rain the evening of Sept. 24, and her hometown was projected to get quite a bit more throughout the upcoming weekend, so she landed in Wisconsin with plenty of anxiety.

“It was pretty terrifying actually, leaving an area where you knew something bad was about to happen,” she recalls.

The conference went on as scheduled, but Shanks couldn’t look away from her phone. It soon became clear that Tropical Storm Helene had ravaged Western North Carolina, including Saluda and the Green

River, which she is in charge of protecting as the Green Riverkeeper. She needed to get home.

Before she could find a return flight, Shanks’ friend Chris Wing, who runs the H2o Dreams Paddling School on the Green River, was on his way to Saluda from Boone with donation money and supplies for anyone who needed them. Shanks’ recently established office near the interstate in Saluda would be the perfect place to host a resource center, the pair decided.

Shanks returned on Sept. 29, and they got to work doing wellness checks, running rescues in the Green River Gorge, and collecting and distributing supplies and gas for generators and chain saws. From sunup to sundown that first week after the storm, Shanks and her volunteer team sent search and rescue teams out to deliver supplies, clear debris and do anything they could to help local fire departments.

Shanks’ experience was not uncommon among those tasked with protecting and monitoring river waters in the region. After Helene, many jumped in to help their community in any way they could before transitioning their focus back to how they can better protect riverbanks, prepare for future storms and sustain the river-related economies that many towns in the region depend on.

Xpress sat down with several of the area’s river protectors to hear what it’s been like to oversee and protect the rivers — usually a source of life and commerce — after Helene

turned them into seething waves of destruction.

NOT OUR FIRST RODEO

calling this event “Fred plus 4,” in reference to the extra 4 feet that the Pigeon rose during Helene compared with the 2021 storm.

Haywood County hadn’t finished cleaning up from the devastating floods of 2021’s Tropical Storm Fred when Helene came barrelling down on the region Sept. 27. Preston Jacobsen, executive director of Haywood Waterways Association, a nonprofit focused on the health of the Pigeon River, says he expected it to take five to 10 years to clean up from Fred, and Helene’s remarkably similar impact will extend the recovery at least another decade, he estimates.

“We are again experiencing the same exact devastation and lives lost here in Haywood County, in particular from the Cruso and Sunburst areas all the way into Canton and Clyde,” Jacobsen says.

From stream-bank failures and mudslides to washed out bridges and flooding, the devastation from Helene is so similar that Jacobsen is

Jacobsen says damage from Fred inspired his organization to create a flood risk reduction plan, the first of its kind in Haywood County covering from Clyde all the way up to Cruso in the higher elevation parts of the county. The plan was nearing completion in September and will be ready to present to local government bodies in late November or December, Jacobsen says.

“What that plan has provided us is some momentum ahead of Helene to get some of this resiliency work going and/or to push it even further, whether that be expanding projects, additional funding, [or] additional capacity to do more work in the hardest-hit areas,” he says.

For other parts of the region, you have to go back much further to see the same scale of devastation as Helene created. Over on the Rocky Broad River in Rutherford County,

CLEANUP CREW: Green Riverkeeper Erica Shanks, left, joined Mel Miliff, middle, and Chris Wing, right, in cleanup efforts on the Green River after Tropical Storm Helene. Photo courtesy of Shanks

Broad Riverkeeper David Caldwell pointed to a description of impacts in the Charlotte News from the infamous 1916 flood in the Hickory Nut Gorge as eerily similar to Helene.

“At Bat Cave every store was carried off … the river wiped out everything,” the reporter noted back then. “The river has widened to two or three times its usual width. Only houses built deep in the mountain sides are standing at Bat Cave. The state has had for months a special force of convicts building a splendid highway between Asheville and Rutherfordton through the Hickory Nut Gap. Great stretches of this are obliterated. Bridges and high banks of earth have been replaced by holes in the ground. The aspect of the valley, in many respects one of the most scenic in North Carolina, has been in many respects changed.”

The report quoted the chief engineer of the state highway commission at the time, W.S. Fallis, with an apt prediction. “Not in another hundred years, could a like disaster happen to the Bat Cave region, no matter how heavy the rains,” he said.

Indeed, Caldwell notes, it took another 108 years for the Broad River above Lake Lure to produce such devastation.

In Asheville, the nonprofit wholly focused on the French Broad River’s watershed, RiverLink, was at ground zero for Helene.

Though RiverLink no longer owns the building in which its offices are located on Lyman Street in the River Arts District, the high-water mark from the flood of 1916 adorns its side. Helene eclipsed that mark by a foot and a half, ruining much of what RiverLink left in its offices. The organization lost about $45,000 in office equipment, says Lisa Raleigh, RiverLink executive director.

“We certainly had a tremendous amount of displacement, just given the fact that our office and everything, all of our office equipment and our organizational equipment, was destroyed,” Raleigh says. But she sees RiverLink, which was founded 38 years ago to help clean up a river beset by industry and pollution, as well-positioned to help alter Asheville’s connections with its main river once again.

“This sort of feels like our next 35-year chapter of helping champion and reimagine what Asheville’s relationship, especially in the River Arts District and in other flood prone areas, should look like,” Raleigh says.

LESSONS LEARNED

For RiverLink, the storm presents an opportunity to learn from

past mistakes and better acknowledge the potential for an increase in devastating storms due to climate change.

“I guess if there’s a silver lining, the scale of this event maybe really reinforces what it means to live somewhere so water-rich,” notes Raleigh.

“Let’s collectively use this moment to see if we can come back with more resilience and what might that look like. What are some low-hanging fruits in that conversation?”

For starters, says Renee Fortner, RiverLink’s watershed resources manager, the storm has eroded the riverbanks, adding tons of sediment into the waterways.

“It’s going to be important to address those eroding stream banks, because sediment will continue to be the No. 1 pollutant for the French Broad River moving forward, and the active erosion is going to contribute to that issue,” she says.

That highlights the importance of RiverLink’s work to reduce stormwater runoff as part of its day-today work.

“So much of what we worked on day to day is as relevant as ever, and if anything, it’s magnified because the watershed is much more vulnerable to all these things now, like the stormwater and the new drainage patterns and the raw exposed land and sediment everywhere,” Raleigh says.

Additionally, Raleigh and Fortner observe that many of the areas with larger riparian zones — those with organic material growing along riverbanks — sustained less damage in the storm.

RiverLink’s Karen Cragnolin Park on Haywood Road, for example, maintained most of its fencing and sidewalk, which Raleigh attributes to what some may see as overgrowth along the river, blocking the view of the river from the greenway but solidifying the riverbank and preventing erosion at the same time.

Biltmore Estate’s banks on the south side of the river near Amboy Road also seemed to fare better, as there is little development close to the river on the estate, allowing for waters to spread across the floodplain uninhibited by buildings, Fortner points out. Raleigh hopes leaders will consider these outcomes when deciding how and where to rebuild near the river and prioritize passive park space over the type of development there before Helene.

Like RiverLink, Jacobsen says the storm has shown the importance of Haywood Waterways’ everyday

Efforts to end homelessness

Jessie Figueroa is the communications specialist of Homeward Bound of WNC, a nonprofit that works to prevent and end homelessness in our community through permanent housing and support.

Xpress: How has your nonprofit’s focus shifted in the aftermath of Helene?

Figueroa: In the aftermath of Helene, Homeward Bound of WNC shifted to immediately address the safety of all our staff and the clients we serve through our homeless and housing services programs. We have 11 households who were stably housed through our Permanent Supportive and Rapid Re-Housing programs that are now displaced, so our team is urgently working on rehousing options for those folks.

Could you share a positive story about your nonprofit’s interaction with the community post-Helene?

Our local community stepped up within hours to donate in-kind items for all our programs, including generators, gray water, potable water, food, clothing, hot meals and more. It has been incredible to see the support from community members who ensured our clients had all they needed while also navigating their own lives in the wake of the storm.

Based on the communities you serve, what are the most dire needs?

Our most dire in-kind needs at this time are the items our AHOPE Day Center needs daily to serve our neighbors experiencing homelessness. These items include coffee, nondairy creamer, paper plates, napkins, toilet paper, hygiene items, towels and washcloths.

Beyond monetary donations, how else could community members support your mission?

Community members may also support through volunteer opportunities at our locations. To learn more, please visit avl.mx/eac. X

titles For Sale in our bookstore & online!

titles for library research.

JESSIE FIGUEROA

Photo courtesy of Figueroa

work, and incentivizes them to scale up their efforts to conduct river cleanups, monitor water quality and conduct education campaigns in an effort to recruit new river stewards in the community.

Beyond feeling empowered in their work, river watchers say this event has shown that the community at large needs to consider how it can rebuild in a more resilient way.

“We are seeing something we have not seen before, and it’ll be quite some time until we return to normal,” Jacobsen says. “And that being said, what defines that normal is a conversation we’ll have to have for the next five to 10 years to see if there are any funding opportunities to create a more resilient community as we plan and prepare for more of these future events to occur.”

Resiliency, Raleigh notes, might mean crafting a new definition of what should exist in the river’s floodway.

RIVER ECONOMY

In the short term, Jacobsen and Shanks are particularly worried about the stability of the river-based economies in small WNC

AFTER THE STORM: RiverLink’s offices were flooded in Tropical Storm Helene Sept. 27, causing $45,000 in losses from office equipment alone, says Executive Director Lisa Raleigh. Photo courtesy of RiverLink

communities built around river tourism staples like fishing, rafting and kayaking.

“One of the saddest things that we saw [after the storm] was our water-related partners and business

partners closing up shop,” Jacobsen says. “That’s a major concern for us, is the economic fallout that we’ll see, but specifically the economic fallout with our businesses that are tied to the water.”

He notes that some river trip outfitters in Haywood County assisted the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as local experts when the agency conducted hazard surveys on the Pigeon River, helping recoup some lost profits from October. Such partnerships are occurring throughout the region, but Shanks fears there will be a longer-term economic impact, especially in towns so dependent on their local river, like Saluda’s relationship with the Green.

“There’s a big outdoor industry here that thrives off of having recreational access to that river,” she says. “And so we want to make sure that we’re doing everything correctly, so that not only the habitat ecosystems can come back to life, but also so that the local economy can survive and hopefully get back on its feet in the next couple of years.”

POWER OF WATER

The impacts of Helene run deep, and ongoing concerns run from debris cleanup to water quality and erosion.

But those who know the rivers best know that over time, waterways heal themselves. So the role of the riverkeepers is to get out of the way and let that healing happen, Shanks says.

“It’s horrible to see, but Mother Nature, she’ll be fine,” she says. “What we’re seeing — the devastation and impacts — is from us building in areas and floodplains. We’re seeing what was wiped off the map. Mother Nature, she’ll bounce back. She always will, but us having to rebuild as humanity is just … something that we’ve never had to deal with in this capacity.”

Beyond acknowledging the human toll Helene took, those involved intimately in river protection can’t help but be struck, like many of us, by the overwhelming power of water.

For Raleigh, it was seeing the breadth of the Swannanoa River in Black Mountain at its peak that made her gape in wonder. For Shanks, seeing massive, house-sized boulders moved dozens of feet after the storm, and watching as the Green River carved a new path through the gorge, gave her a new respect for the water she’s dedicated her life to observing.

“I don’t know if the right word is ‘cool’ or not, but it continually makes you respect not just Mother Nature, but the power of water,” she says. “Seeing what that can do is just … you’re in awe thinking about that and respecting what the river, what water and its flow and its power can do.” X

Planning ahead

Grassroots recovery teams anticipate future needs for WNC

BY CARMELA CARUSO

carmela.caruso@yahoo.com

Just after Tropical Storm Helene hit Western North Carolina, Eric Robinson and Matt McSwain , business partners at Acme Aero in Maiden, got a call from their friend Doug Jackson of Operation Airdrop. Jackson, whose Texas-based volunteer-run organization deploys airplanes to natural disaster zones, wanted to help those impacted by the storm. Familiar with the area, Robinson and McSwain knew that airplanes would struggle to navigate WNC’s unique mountain topography. If they wanted to run rescue missions, what they needed was helicopters.

Robinson and McSwain sent out a call to their friends, asking volunteers with privately owned helicopters to fly in and help. By the Sunday after the storm, they’d set up a base at Hickory Regional Airport and expected about 15 pilots to show up, says Robinson. Instead, more than 100 choppers arrived from all over the country.

The support was overwhelming, but fortunately for local residents, the outpouring has not been unique to Robinson and McSwain’s experience.

Xpress recently caught up with several individuals who mobilized into action immediately after the storm, leading search-and-rescue missions, distributing supplies and gathering funds for long-term support. All say they plan to stick around to help for as long as it takes the region to recover. And they stress that recovery will come in phases, requiring them to adapt their missions in order to support the community’s evolving needs.

Flying missions all over WNC and witnessing the devastation firsthand, Robinson says, “To say it’s apocalyptic is not an exaggeration. … The sheer magnitude of the water and the mud that went through there, it’s hard to explain to anybody that hasn’t seen it.”

PROJECT CAMELOT

Like so many people in WNC, Autumn Mullins spent the first few days after the storm without cell coverage or internet service and no way of knowing about the wide-

LONG HAUL: Marshall native Rachel Dudasik has been struck by the strength of her community, and she is committed to helping the region return to the vibrant, artistic place it was before the storm. To help with the process, she recently partnered with the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina to create the WNC Long Haul – Recovery and Resilience Fund, a donor-advised fund for disaster relief. Photo courtesy of Wade Asa

spread damage that Robinson and his crew were witnessing. But there were clues in her Hendersonville neighborhood — old-growth trees had come down, and power lines had snapped in half.

When her cell coverage returned on Sunday, Mullins began scrolling through groups on social media and seeing the many calls for help. One comment on a post stood out to her: A man said he and others in his mobile home park were trapped on a mountainside without food, water, gas or a way to get out. Mullins immediately messaged the man. Since reception was still spotty, it took four hours before Mullins could get the man’s location. Soon after, she loaded her car with water and drove out to the 55-unit Camelot Senior Mobile Home Park and began knocking on doors and talking to residents to find out what they needed.

She compiled a list — items such as water, nonperishable food, candy for diabetics, incontinence products, denture cream, propane, cat litter, toilet paper and wet wipes — and sent out a call on Facebook for donations.

After her post, Mullins says, “The community came together immediately.”

Within days, Mullins raised nearly $800. Kasey Jackson, founder of the lotion candle company Element Tree Essentials, donated $3,000 worth of supplies, according to Mullins. A man from South Carolina sent in 40 cases of water. Mullins pulled together a team of 15 volunteers to assemble care packages that they personally delivered to the 75 and older residents of Camelot.

Mullins, who previously worked as an event manager and community coordinator, had no prior experience with disaster relief. After the success of Project Camelot, things “kind of snowballed,” she says.

Among those who reached out to Mullins was Tracy Roberts of the Greenville, S.C.-based Runway Relief Project — now called Carolinas Relief Project — which provided a fleet of helicopters and private planes that brought aid to WNC in the immediate aftermath of Helene. Roberts offered Mullins supplies. Mullins, expecting a pickup truck of goods, was shocked when a 32-foot box truck arrived. She quickly secured temporary warehouse space to store the donations and began connecting with local groups to find out who was most in need.

Mullins, who grew up in WNC, has been bolstered by how quickly the community rallied around each other. “Appalachian families lean on each other,” she says. “The people from the hollers and the hills, they’ve been through some traumatic times in history and they really know how to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. … But mountain people, they got some strong boots. … Witnessing it changed my life. I’m a whole different person.”

Mullins has since decided that she wants to be a part of the recovery efforts for the long haul. She formally incorporated United Appalachia — a mutual aid organization fostering community through direct action.

Mullins is currently searching for a permanent warehouse and plans to continue collecting and distributing supplies, but, she says, that’s not the organization’s primary mission. “My goal is to unite Appalachia. …

Rapid response

Couple finds a new life purpose in disaster aid

Like many residents, Dan and Courtney Crouse of Candler awoke Sept. 27 thinking Tropical Storm Helene didn’t do much damage.

“The sun was shining, and everything looked great, and we honestly thought the storm had just passed over North Carolina,” Dan recalls.

Then they ventured out beyond their home. As the couple drove toward the Westgate Regional Shopping Center, they saw the River Arts District flooded below.

“That was our first clue that it was bad,” Dan says. “We turned around, came back and regrouped and said, ‘There’s going to be a lot of people that need help.’”

With no cellphone service, the couple’s only source of information was radio station 99.9 Kiss Country. They heard that Marshall was in bad shape, so they headed north.

“But it was just chaos with no communication and everybody trying to help but nobody really knowing what to do,” Dan says.

Frustrated, they returned home, eventually locating a hot spot for cellphone service. Dan called the radio station. “I said, ‘I have a truck full of supplies. I have people that are skilled and ready to help. Where will we be of most service?’”

The radio host responded: Garren Creek in Fairview, where landslides killed over a dozen residents.

The next day, Dan and Courtney began what has since become Hell or High Water, a project dedicated to the restoration, rebuilding and long-term support to all areas of WNC affected by the aftermath of Helene. From food and generators to tiny houses, its mission is to meet immediate needs.

And they are not alone. The couple has had help from a number of residents, including Kevin Driggers, Robi Eckley, Mike Razzano, Belle Crouse, Kylee Parris and Lauren Bruin

Xpress caught up with Dan and Courtney to find out how this all came about and what’s next.

Xpress: What was that first day like when you went to Garren Creek?

Dan: They weren’t letting anyone into the area because it was just so devastated. Even though we had everything needed to help, law enforcement had a roadblock that would not let us in. So we did what we do and went around the other way, bypassing the road block, and

the road was just simply washed away in the other direction. There was no way to get in. On our way out, we met some people and told them we were there to help. They had some ATVs with racks and baskets on them that they were using to take supplies up to the people who were trapped. So we made that a distribution point for us. We started going up there daily, or multiple times a day, dropping off supplies so the people could load up their ATVs and take them up to the people that needed them.

How did you know what to do?

Dan: We have a farm and a little bit of property in Candler just outside of Asheville. And when you have 50 acres with lots of trees and lots of gravel roads, you learn how to do certain things. You learn how to cut down trees. You learn how to clear creeks. You learn how to do a lot of the things that are needed in the mountains. It’s not something that would be common for somebody who’s coming from out of state. They don’t know how to work on the side of a mountain, clearing trees. And we have some connections. My best friend is a general contractor and a master builder, and he helped me do a lot of projects here on the farm. But just over time, living in the mountains, you just kind of learn to do certain things.

Are you from here?

Dan: I’m not from here, but I got here as quick as I could. I moved up here in 1993. I’ve been here a little over 30 years; but my wife is a native so I’ve got some cred there.

Courtney: I got hassled a whole lot about marrying a Florida boy, but now we joke that he has definitely become an honorary member of the Appalachian men’s club. He has this big old mountain-man beard right now. He wants to trim it. But we laugh because someone back where we’re working said that that gave him “holler cred” instead of street cred. Courtney, what kind of skills do you bring into this endeavor?

Courtney: I have ADHD, so I am phenomenal in a crisis. I have trouble in normal life. But there’s a quote that people have been throwing around that says, “In a crisis, grab a Crouse,” because we all pretty much have some form of ADHD or whatever. I guess I bring the heart to the table. I do community care projects. What we found is a lot of people that we’re helping up

ONE DAY AT A TIME: “There is so much destruction and so much need that it is very easy to get overwhelmed,” says Courtney Crouse, co-founder of Hell or High Water. “Making a difference to one person or family at a time is how we are operating.” Also pictured is fellow co-founder, Dan Crouse. Photo by Belle Crouse

there just want to talk. They want to be heard. We’re trying to do something a little different. [We don’t want to just bring] a generator and then never see them again. So much of it is just listening to people, finding out their direct needs, just letting them be heard.

I’m also a writer. I began to write, this is what we’re seeing. People just stepped up. Our friends have been phenomenal. They caught on fire. Their hearts caught on fire like ours did, and they’ve just not stopped. For instance, we needed a certain kind of syringe for a woman who could not get out of her house. I put out the call for those syringes. I had somebody drop them off in an hour. We took them to her within the hour.

A lot of people are in tents right now, and so I put out a call for air mattresses. What’s your long-term plan?

Courtney: We have learned looking too far ahead right now is counterproductive. There is so much destruction and so much need that it is very easy to get overwhelmed. Making a difference to one person or family at a time is how we are operating. The future will take care of itself. But I will say that we much prefer helping people like we are, in disaster relief, than anything else we’ve ever taken on. It gives us a sense of purpose where we were a bit aimless before. It also breaks our heart daily but the hugs and seeing a tangible difference being made helps us to keep going.

To learn more, visit avl.mx/eab.

— Lisa Allen X

I really want to help these people be stronger.”

OVER THE LONG HAUL

Like Mullins, Marshall native Rachel Dudasik has been struck by the strength of her community, and she is committed to helping the region return to the vibrant, artistic place it was before the storm. Dudasik is hopeful that recovery is possible because she’s seen it happen before.

In 2004, Dudasik witnessed the flooding in Asheville due to Hurricane Frances. She recalls how the Lowe’s parking lot on Tunnel Road “looked like the things you see on TV from disaster zones.” And she remembers that it took some time for places such as Biltmore Village to fully recover.

After Helene, Dudasik evacuated to Charlotte with her father, who was in need of medical care. From there, she saw early on the impacts of the storm through news reports and social media. She knew immediately that WNC would be facing a yearslong recovery.

Dudasik, who has a background in nonprofit management and currently serves as the community engagement and communications manager at Wicked Weed Brewing, wanted to make sure individuals, nonprofits and businesses would have the funds to rebuild — not just in the immediate aftermath of the storm, but in the months and years to follow. She partnered with the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina to create the WNC Long Haul Recovery and Resilience Fund, a donor-advised fund for disaster relief. To date, the initiative has raised over $500,000. Dudasik says she is distributing grant money at three-month, sixmonth, one-year and three-year marks, ensuring the community has ongoing support.

Unlike other grant programs that involve lengthy paperwork, the WNC Long Haul fund doesn’t require an application process. Instead, Dudasik, the Community Foundation’s advisory board and local stakeholders determine where the funds should go. As the money is released, Dudasik says she will make the information public.

She says she hopes to focus on organizations that “aren’t getting as many funds or aren’t getting as much spotlight.”

The fund is designed to target three areas of need: culture and arts, local businesses and long-term individual support. Dudasik explains the categories are intentionally broad so she can send the money to where it’s most essential at each benchmark.

She also believes WNC’s artists and local businesses are what make the

community special and she doesn’t want to see those disappear.

“Asheville is known for its heart,” Dudasik says. “We’re known for creativity and artists and music and resiliency, and that’s what I want to see come back.”

SHIFTING GEARS

Back at the airbase, Robinson says he understands the importance of long-term support in WNC.

“We received so much support in the way of financial donations, physical donations, people donating their time,” Robinson tells Xpress “We learned that, especially in the aviation community, people really want to help; but a lot of times, they just don’t know how. More than anything, we gave them a conduit and a way to plug in and help in real time.”

As of Nov. 7, Robinson says the group, now formally launched as Operation Helo, has run over 2,000 missions, delivered more than 2 million pounds of supplies and extracted 439 people. Six weeks after the storm, they are still performing search and rescue missions. As Robinson spoke to Xpress, two of his helicopters were headed to Yancey County to reach a pocket of people who had been stranded since the storm.

More recently, Operation Helo has shifted its focus to a long-term but urgent need — housing.

“This is a once in a thousand-year storm,” Robinson explains. “No one evacuated. There were so many people caught off guard. So many people have lost everything, including family members.”

Now, with the help of private donations, Operation Helo is working to bring campers to families that have lost everything. The organization has received over 250 requests and has already delivered 100 units. For this latest project, the group is working in coordination with local fire departments to ensure campers get to people truly in need.

Permanent housing solutions, says Robinson, is next on the list, as Operation Helo hunkers down for the region’s slow recovery. “This is our backyard. These are our neighbors. So we are going to continue to help as long as we can possibly help,” he says.

REBUILDING TOGETHER

Mullins of United Appalachia is also committed to sticking around.

She’s currently preparing for winter — collecting heaters and generators to distribute — and hoping to meet more long-term needs like collecting materials for rebuilding homes, finding jobs for people who are unemployed and establishing contacts with government organizations designed to offer aid.

Mullins encourages others to volunteer, adding that you don’t have to be a first responder to have a real impact.

“Go up to a distribution hub and just start volunteering,” Mullins urges.

“Because folding the clothes and sorting the food is just as important as the teams that are doing the search and rescue. Because folding the clothes and sorting the food is going to get into the hands of people who need it.”

Despite the task ahead, Mullins remains optimistic.

“I really hold a lot of hope for the future,” she says. “I think Asheville is going to be better for it because I think a lot of people are waking up to how much you can do if you’re doing everything together.” X

GROUP EFFORT: Volunteers with United Appalachia worked with Sly Grog Lounge in the immediate aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene to gather and sort goods. Photo courtesy of Autumn Mullins

A special place

Marielle DeJong is the donor engagement officer at The Pisgah Conservancy, a nonprofit dedicated to the well-being and betterment of the Pisgah Ranger District.

Xpress: How has your nonprofit’s focus shifted in the aftermath of Helene?

Ardle: The Pisgah Conservancy (TPC) field staff are skilled machine operators, certified sawyers and knowledgeable of Pisgah’s vast acreage. After the storm, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) called on our team to work alongside them in the emergency response, restoring access to critical infrastructure like the Hendersonville reservoir and roads for the families who have property accessed through forest land. Collectively, TPC field staff added 50 hours of capacity per day to the emergency response.

Now, we are moving toward long-term recovery. Pisgah is such a special place. Its high peaks and lush valleys provide so many different kinds of opportunities: adventures with loved ones; moments of quiet and solitude; breathtaking sunsets and sunrises; fresh air among the trees and waterfalls.

TPC is focused on ensuring those opportunities are evergreen. We are dedicated to providing key resources so that Pisgah remains the beloved place that it is for WNC residents and all who pass through these mountains.

Could you share a positive story about your nonprofit’s interaction with the community post-Helene?

One of the most beloved and cherished sites in Pisgah is Sycamore Flats. It’s a beautiful, shaded picnic area that sits in the bend of the Davidson River surrounded by lush hardwood forest and rhododendron. Wading, tubing, fishing and picnicking are common scenes comprising many generations at this easily accessible local treasure. After Helene swept through, it left behind a trail of debris and disarray. TPC invited the public to lend a hand to kick off the cleanup process. Nearly 100 volunteers from near and far showed up one Friday to gather debris, clean split rail fences and shovel washed away gravel. There is much work left to be done. But the energy and heart from the community was nothing short of overwhelming — and inspiring.

Based on the communities you serve, what are the most dire needs?

We’re lucky to have access to many different public lands in WNC. Pisgah provides some of the quickest access to the most user groups. It might be surprising to know that it doesn’t have the staffing you’d think one of America’s most-visited national forests would have. To be sure, the local USFS is made up of talented, dedicated and wonderful people. And organizations like Pisgah Area SORBA and Carolina Mountain Club are truly essential partners that do great work. It takes all of us. Destruction left by Helene — and just a few years before, Tropical Storm Fred — compounded with the many complexities of caring for such a well-loved place requires a great deal of full-time, long-term work.

At The Pisgah Conservancy, our goal is to raise money to support full-time, professional crews that the forest will otherwise go without.

That’s why sustaining and growing TPC crews so they can continue their vital work in the forest is our greatest need. These skilled professionals are essential for maintaining and restoring Pisgah’s trails and recreation sites and improving the health of our forest ecosystems. Their ongoing presence is crucial. Beyond monetary donations, how else could community members support your mission?

TPC is still a fairly young organization. We were founded almost 10 years ago to be a “friends” group for the forest. There are so many iconic places like Shining Rock, Black Balsam, Looking Glass Falls and Bent Creek that need more support than they have now. We’d like the community’s help getting the word out about that need, and we’re open to ideas on how to share our mission. Get in touch with us. X

Life Works

Coaching families who live on low-income as they achieve education, employment and financial goals.

Head Start

Offering a free high-quality early development program to children, ages 3 to 5 who live in low-income families.

families

live on limited resources.

MARIELLE DEJONG

Photo courtesy of The Pisgah Conservancy

Seeking synergy

Local entrepreneurs invite business owners to brainstorming sessions

BY LISA ALLEN

lallen@mountainx.com

Alyssa Phillips Downey, owner of Amp’d Designs, and Nicole McConville of Nicole McConville Photography, leaned on each other shortly after Tropical Storm Helene, trying to find ways to keep their respective businesses afloat.

The two met through the national trade group AIGA (which at its founding in 1914 was the American Institute of Graphic Arts). Since then, they’ve become friends and colleagues, collaborating on work for their respective clients, most of them small businesses comprising restaurants, wellness providers, venue owners, artists, makers and retail shops. As they brainstormed ways to not only survive but thrive, they quickly realized that just about every other business owner in the area was going through the same thing: testing various ideas of how to navigate this new normal.

What if, they thought, they brought everyone together to bounce ideas off of each other?

This led the pair to create Resilience Roundtable: WNC Business Pivot Chats. The free video discussions will be held once a month, every third Thursday at 3 p.m., starting Nov. 21. The intent is to give business leaders an avenue to talk with each other and come up with ways to shore up Asheville’s economy.

To register, go to avl.mx/ea4. Xpress talked to Phillips Downey and McConville to find out what spurred the idea and what they hope people will get out of it.

Xpress: What prompted the idea to form this series?

Phillips Downey: We are both business owners, and we run service-based businesses in Asheville. And we’ve seen all of our friends and colleagues and fellow business owners feel really stuck and concerned about the future, and we are as well. We personally feel a need for these kinds of conversations as a way to help sustain our businesses. And in talking with others, we find that other people are also needing this. And so we figured, instead of just sitting by ourselves trying to figure out what to do, we might as well all put our heads together and help each other out. I think that’s one thing that’s really beautiful about the Asheville

community. All of the businesses are always so supportive, and there’s a lot of cross-collaboration. We definitely have seen in so many other instances of how our community is better when we come together. We feel excited and confident that by having this conversation as a group, we can all come out the other end strong.

McConville: Alyssa and I, very early on, after the storm, were having conversations because a lot of our work is based locally. Not only are we impacted by the fact that resources are going to be limited or redirected short-term, we both have such immense gratitude for the local business economy for helping us form our businesses. We are so mutually invested in the business community that we … wanted to broaden the table. … Instead of just having one-on-one coffee chats with other people that are in a similar situation, we wanted to have a large coffee chat to get people together to not skirt around the issue, but simply put it right in the middle of that table and say we are immediately affected by what has happened and likely this is going to have ramifications into the next six months. So we’re all having to make some very quick decisions on how to not just survive the next few months, but how can we survive and also thrive? We want to have immediate pooling together of ideas based on who attends, but also … these ideas are going to benefit us in the business community long term.

How do you think others can benefit from your talks?

Phillips Downey: Over the past six years of running my business, 80% of my clients have been local. I know I’m not alone in this, but I felt this initial panic of what am I going to do? How am I going to book new work? And so talking with Nicole, we started talking about how we can reach clients outside of Asheville for the time being so we can continue to make an income and sustain our businesses. In turn, we can continue to stay in Western North Carolina and put money back into our own economy and fellow local businesses so we can recover. We got to talking about how that’s basically everybody’s need right now.

McConville: I’ve had my business for 10 years and I would say 90% of my work has come locally. We’ve both had a desire and a need to expand our own clientele beyond Western North Carolina. This is fast-forwarding something that we’ve already wanted to do, and I think that we’re going to find that’s also the case with many other businesses — those back-burner ideas are in the front now.

How will this group differ from working with other business associations?

Phillips Downey: It’s not a webinar where we are talking at people and telling them this is what you have to do to pivot your business. It’s a participatory, brainstorming event

hosted by us. We are not marketing experts and we’re not giving out the answers. What we’re bringing is probably what everyone who shows up to the event is bringing: our own experiences and our own ideas and brains and willingness to share and collaborate with the rest of the community. It’s really about connection.

McConville: By welcoming people from the local business community to a table, we’re naturally going to get representatives from different fields of industry. We’re going to get people in the restaurant industry, product manufacturers and service industry folk. There really isn’t an across-theboard solution for every single industry. Our hope is that we can have dialogue in these conversations so that we can build that toolkit for each other. This really does rely on people wanting to show up and participate. Asheville is about people coming together to lift each other up, to make connections, to make introductions, to reach out and make things happen. That is very Asheville. I want to stress that the other organizations that are out there are absolutely providing extremely valuable information right now, and people are also hungry for that. This is simply about an honest dialogue between peers that can create that spark of, “Yeah, that’s an interesting idea.” We’re planting seeds that people are going to want to follow up afterwards, or seek out some of those local organizations where appropriate, or build new relationships that may come from those that attend. … It’s a rollup-your-sleeves kind of community, creative, brainstorming session.

Phillips Downey: We need to help get in front of the right audience and get creative with what we’re offering, how we’re offering it in ways that we have never really needed to before because all of our business has always been right here.

How will you measure the success of this group?

McConville: I think this will be successful if people can walk away with some new ideas with some new connections to other people.

Phillips Downey: One thing that’s a driving factor for me in doing this is continuously seeing that statistic that 40% of businesses won’t recover [after a natural disaster]. We can just cross our fingers and hope we make it through or we can proactively try to pivot and try to widen our audience and continue making an income and sustain ourselves through this. Obviously I can’t promise anything … but I like to think that we can change that number by doing something like this. X

TWO OF A KIND: WNC Business Pivot Chats is a new online monthly discussion initiated by local entrepreneurs Nicole McConville, left, and Alyssa Phillips Downey. Photos courtesy of McConville and Phillips

NOV. 20- NOV. 28 , 2024

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 51

 More info, page 54-55

WELLNESS

Tai Chi for Balance

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

WE (11/20, 27), 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 (11/20), 1pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Gentle Yoga for Seniors

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

WE (11/20), 2:30pm, 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 (11/21), MO (11/25), 1pm, 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.

TH (11/21), TU (11/26), 10:30am, 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

Tai Chi

Improve your movement and flexibility with relaxation techniques each week.

FR (11/22), 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

FR (11/22), TU (11/26), 2:30pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Sunday Morning Meditation Group

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

SU (11/24), 10am, Quietude Micro-retreat Center, 1130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

Yoga Taco Mosa Donation based yoga with Clare Desmelik.

Bring your mat, a water bottle and an open heart.

SU (11/24), 10am, The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave

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 (11/25), 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 (11/25), 10:30am, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

Power Hour Chair

Exercise

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

TU (11/26), 10am, Grove St Community Center, 36 Grove St

Yoga w/Michele

A safe space that gathers every Tuesday and Thursday to feel and heal together in community.

TH (11/21), TU (11/26), 11am, White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

Balance, Agility, Strength, Stretch

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

TU (11/26), 12pm, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

Qigong

Weekly class focuses on a gentle form of exercise composed of movement, posture, breathing,

PACK SQUARE HOLIDAY JAM: This year, Asheville’s annual holiday parade transforms into a vibrant Holiday Jamboree on Saturday, Nov. 23, at Pack Square Park. This special event will begin at 11 a.m. and will feature local musical talent, along with crafts, games and fun activities, as well as a festive holiday market. Photo courtesy of Asheville Downtown Association

and meditation used to promote health and spirituality.

TU (11/26), 1:15pm, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

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 (11/21, 28), 4:30pm, Asheville 12-Step Recovery Club, 1 Kenilworth Knolls Unit 4

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 forward. Please RSVP at avl.mx/e9v.

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

International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day

This day provides support, connection, and healing for individuals who have lost someone to suicide.

SA (11/23), 9am, NAMI - WNC, 356 Biltmore Ave

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 (11/23), 2pm, 1316 Ste C Parkwood Rd

Innerdance: Altered States of Consciousness with Soundscapes & Energy Work

A healing journey into altered states of consciousness as we flow through brain wave states with soundscapes and energy work.

WE (11/27), 6pm, The Horse Shoe Farm, 155 Horse Shoe Farm Rd, Hendersonville

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 (11/20), 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 (11/21), 8:30pm, Urban Orchard Cider Co.

S Slope, 24 Buxton Ave

Zumba Gold

A fun dance exercise that concentrates on cardio, flexibility, strength, and balance for older adults.

FR (11/22, 27), 11am, Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Rd

Line Dance

Some familiarity with line dance steps is helpful, but not necessary in this weekly class.

MO (11/25), noon, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

Line Dance: Beginner & Improver

A more challenging weekly line dancing

through Friday, 10am. Exhibition through Dec. 6, 2024.

WCU Bardo Arts Center, 199 Centennial Dr, Cullowhee

Vessels of Merriment

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

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 Wednesday through Sunday, 11am. Exhibition through Jan. 20, 2025.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

(VR) short film that delves into environmental consciousness and the delicate balance of nature. Gallery open Wednesday through Sunday, 11am. Exhibition through Jan. 20, 2025. Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

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 Daily Craft Demonstrations

experience that builds on skills learned in the beginner class taught by Denna Yockey.

MO (11/25), 1pm, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

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 (11/25), 8:15pm, The Center for Art and Spirit at St George’s Episcopal Church, 1 School Rd

West Coast Swing

A true lead and follow dance with lots of room for creativity and expression to a wide variety of musical genres. No partner necessary.

TU (11/26), 6pm, Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave Zumba Gold

A weekly interval-style dance fitness party that combines low- and high-intensity moves. Burn calories as you move to the rhythm.

WE (11/27), noon, Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave,

ART

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 Wednesday

through Sunday, 11am. Exhibition through March, 2025.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

Moving Stillness: Mount Rainier

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

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

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

At the Table

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

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

At The Table: Reception Contemplate themes of community, power, and representation as explored through At the Table. This event will include a gallery talk by the artists, along with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and drinks.

TH (11/21), 5pm, WCU Bardo Arts Center, 199 Centennial Dr, Cullowhee

Anti Form: Robert Morris’s Earth Projects

The suite of lithographic drawings by Robert Morris presents a series of ideas for ten works of art shaped out of earth, atmospheric conditions, and built environments. Gallery open Wednesday through Sunday, 11am. Exhibition through May 2025.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

Carly Owens Weiss: The Boys Will Get Hungry if They See Fruit

In this body of work, Owens Weiss wrestles with selfhood and interiority through indirect means. Gallery open Wednesday through Saturday, 11am. Exhibition through Dec. 24.

Tracey Morgan Gallery, 22 London Rd

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

The Last Chair of the Forest & the Plastic Bottle Immerse yourself in a poignant virtual reality

Two artists of different media will explain and demonstrate their craft with informative materials displayed at their booths. These free and educational opportunities are open to the public. Open daily, 10am. Demonstrations run through Dec. 31. Folk Art Center, MP 382, Blue Ridge Parkway

COMMUNITY MUSIC

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

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 Alien Music Club's Rock & Soul Revue

A collaborative musical exploration into the heartbeat of 50’s, 60’s & 70’s rock and soul music. FR (11/22), 7:30pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

Masterworks 3: Messiah

Experience the full might of Handel’s legendary Messiah and kick off your holiday festivities with this powerful performance featuring four outstanding soloists and the Asheville Symphony Chorus. See p55 FR (11/22), 8pm, SA (11/23), 2pm and 8pm, First Baptist Church of Asheville, 5 Oak St The Paper Crowns Perform the Music of Jerry Garcia The Paper Crowns’ Spiro and Nicole Nicolopoulos will perform their renditions of some of the great tunes that Jerry Garcia performed as well as some of their original songs. FR (11/22), 7:30pm, Tina McGuire Theatre, Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, 18 Biltmore Ave

Yala Cultural Tour

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

SA (11/23), noon, LEAF Global Arts, 19 Eagle St

Amici Music: Jewish Jazz

Pianist and Artistic

Director Daniel Weiser

will be joined by clarinetist Seth Kibel as they highlight the intriguing interconnections between Klezmer music and American Jazz.

SA (11/23), 2pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

Student Helene Benefit

Recital

Area violin students will present a violin recital for our community.

During the recital they will also give brief presentations on an individual or organization that has been directly impacted by Hurricane Helene.

SA (11/23), 2pm, Asbury Memorial UMC, 171 Beaverdam Rd

Off Book: The Improvised Musical Podcast

Jessica McKenna and Zach Reino create a completely improvised musical in an attempt to combat the notion that musicals should be “carefully crafted” or “thought out at all.

See p54

SA (11/23), 8pm, The Orange Peel, 101 Biltmore Ave

Hustle Souls in Concert

An evening of masterfully blend Retro-Soul, New Orleans Brass, and Americana into a unique and captivating sound.

SA (11/23), 7pm, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 West State St, Black Mountain

Artists on the Rise: A Local Showcase

Come check out this local showcase of talented musicians, featuring Dylan Walshe, Vaden Landers, Kelly Morris and Watkins.

SU (11/24), 7pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

COMMUNITY

WORKSHOPS

Youth Mental Health

First Aid For Adults

Program designed to teach adults how to help an adolescent who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis.

MO (11/25), TU (11/26), noon, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

LITERARY

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.

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

Poetry-Palooza

This evening is all about connecting through the beauty and depth of poetry. Bring your own poetry to share, recite a favorite poem, collaborate on a group poem and more.

FR (11/22), 7pm, Center for Spiritual Living Asheville, 2 Science Mind Way

Spencer Sunshine on Countercultural Fascism

Antifascist researcher

Spencer Sunshine discusses his new book Neo-Nazi Terrorism and Countercultural Fascism, which explores the hidden connections between a countercultural clique and violent neo-Nazis.

WE (11/27), 6pm, Firestorm Books, 1022 Haywood Rd

THEATER & FILM

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

Listen To This: Stories & More on Stage

Featuring stories by Brenda Lilly, Karen Ramshaw, Gary Sizer, and a story and a song by Kim Richardson. Plus music by Chris Tullar and stand-up comedy from Larry Griffin. FR (11/22), 7:30pm, Citizen Vinyl, 14 O Henry Ave

Defying Gravity; A Celebration of Women in Musical Theater

This uplifting program includes music from popular musicals including; Chicago, Frozen, Legally Blonde, and Wicked

SU (11/24), 3pm, Bo Thomas Auditorium, Blue Ridge Community College, 180 W. Campus Dr, Flat Rock

MEETINGS & PROGRAMS

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 the free webinar.

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

IBN Biz Lunch: Canton

All are invited to attend and promote their business, products, and services, and meet new referral contacts. Bring a big stack of business cards / flyers and invite your business contacts to attend.

TH (11/21), 11:30am, Southern Porch, 449 Main St, Canton

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 (11/23), MO (11/25), 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 (11/24), 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 (11/24), 5pm, The Whale: A Craft Beer Collective, 507 Haywood Rd, Ste 10

Random Acts of Flowers: Floral Arrangements for those Needing a Smile Random Acts of Flowers improves the emotional health and well-being of individuals in healthcare facilities by delivering recycled flowers, encouragement, and personal moments of kindness.

MO (11/25), 9am, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

Dharma Sharing w/ Michael Scardaville

Michael believes that meditation can be a transformational practice that can enable us to recognize our true nature and live from our hearts.

MO (11/25), 6:30pm, Quietude Micro-retreat Center, 1130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain Therapeutic Recreation

Adult Crafting & Cooking

A variety of cooking and crafts, available at two different times. Advance registration required. Open to individuals ages 17+ with disabilities.

TU (11/26), 10am, Murphy-Oakley Community Center, 749 Fairview Rd

Kung Fu: Baguazhang

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

TU (11/26), 1pm and 5:30pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

IBN Biz Lunch: West Asheville

All are invited to attend and promote their business, products, and services, and meet new referral contacts. Bring a big stack of business cards, flyers and invite your business contacts to attend.

WE (11/27), 11:30am, Gemelli by Strada Italiano, 70 Westgate Parkway

IBN Biz Lunch: Woodfin

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 and more.

TH (11/28), 11:30am, The Village Porch, 51 N Merrimon Ave

Lifestyle Choices

A monthly group for 14 to 19 year-old men to engage in open discussion regarding behaviors and community involvement.

TH (11/28), 6pm, Dr Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St

GAMES & CLUBS

Music Bingo w/DJ Spence

Test your music knowledge and your luck with Music Bingo by DJ Spence.

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

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

SU (11/24), 1:30pm, Stephens Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave

Remarkable tenacity in the artists

Stephanie Moore is the executive director of Center for Craft, a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) dedicated to resourcing, catalyzing and amplifying how and why craft matters.

Xpress: How has your nonprofit’s focus shifted in the aftermath of Helene?

Moore: The Center for Craft’s mission to support artists and the craft community has taken on a heightened urgency in the region. Our immediate focus shifted from our longterm national programming to providing rapid emergency relief through the Craft Futures Fund. Initially created during the COVID-19 pandemic, this fund has been reactivated to help local artists and craft-focused businesses recover from the profound devastation Helene left behind. The loss of studio spaces, tools and entire towns means we are now dedicated to supporting artists’ basic needs and helping them rebuild their livelihoods. We are here to ensure that this community, which contributes so much to our region’s identity and economy, has the resources to recover and thrive again.

Could you share a positive story about your nonprofit’s interaction with the community post-Helene?

We have witnessed remarkable tenacity in the artists. One of our emergency relief recipients, a ceramic artist who lost her studio in the River Arts District, expressed deep gratitude for the support she received just days after applying. She told us that this grant provided financial assistance and gave her the strength to move forward. Reading these personal stories has been incredibly moving and a powerful reminder of our work’s impact on individual lives. Knowing that we can provide a glimmer of hope in such a dark time drives us forward, and we feel honored to stand alongside these artists in their recovery.

Based on the communities you serve, what are the most dire needs?

The craft community in Western North Carolina faces a range of urgent needs. Many artists have been displaced from their studios, lost essential tools and supplies and need help with basic living expenses. There is an immediate need to secure workspaces and funds to cover housing costs. Beyond the immediate financial burdens, the region’s craft sector faces a significant loss of infrastructure and the economic impact of decreased tourism, which sustains much of the local creative economy. Providing resources to help artists stabilize is critical to reviving the cultural heart of our community.

Beyond monetary donations, how else could community members support your mission?

Community members can support the Center for Craft and our mission in numerous impactful ways. For those with available resources, offering temporary studio spaces or donating supplies like tools, clay and other materials can help displaced artists get back to creating. Also consider purchasing locally made crafts for the holidays at the Show n Tell Pop UP Shop in the center’s Ideation Lab or the Big Crafty, get out to visit exhibitions and celebrate Western North Carolina’s rich craft heritage. Every gesture of support helps sustain the artists who bring creativity and culture to our region and strengthens our mission and our community’s resilience. Together, we can ensure that craft continues to thrive and inspire for generations to come.

specialty shops

STEPHANIE MOORE

Photo by Nicole McConville

Bid Whist Group meets weekly with light refreshments and teams formed based on drop-in attendance.

MO (11/25), 5:30pm, Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave

Live Music Bingo

Four rounds and free to play, prizes include Burial Gift Cards and Tickets to an upcoming Eulogy Show of your choice

MO (11/25), 7pm, Eulogy, 10 Buxton Ave Grove Street Card Sharks

Play a variety of card games including bid whist, spades, tunk, and more every Wednesday.

WE (11/27), 2pm, Grove St Community Center, 36 Grove St

KID-FRIENDLY PROGRAMS

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

Kids & Teens Kung Fu

Learn fighting skills as well as conflict resolution and mindfulness.

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

TH (11/21), MO (11/25), TU (11/26), 4pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Storytime

Fun and engaging activities for toddlers.

Grab a coffee while your kids engage.

FR (11/22), 10am, Peri Social House, 406 W State St, Black Mountain

Coloring w/Cats: Kiddie Edition

Release your inner child by coloring with us in the cat lounge while you relieve stress and anxiety.

SA (11/23), 1:30pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood 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 (11/20), 3pm, 60 Lake Shore Dr, Weaverville

RAD Farmers Market

A vibrant mid-week market with dozens of high-quality artisan food businesses. Fresh vegetables, baked

goods, pastured meats, raw honey, ferments, hot sauces and more.

WE (11/20, 27), 3pm, 848 Merrimon Ave

Handcrafted Holiday Market

A festive craft market with one-of-a-kind gifts and artwork. Guests can enjoy holiday food, drinks, and music while shopping the market. Santa will also be joining us for those wanting a picture.

WE (11/20), 6pm, Tryon Arts and Crafts School, 373 Harmon Field Rd, Tryon

15th Annual Handmade Holiday Sale

This event features high-quality, handmade gifts created by students, staff, and alumni. Items for sale include artwork, ceramics, wearable accessories, woodwork, and a variety of other handmade craft items.

TH (11/21), 10am, WCU Bardo Arts Center, 199 Centennial Dr, Cullowhee

Biltmore Park Farmers Market

Enjoy an abundant selection of products from farm fresh seasonal produce, eggs, honey, handcrafted teas and foraged mushrooms to artisan baked goods, organic body care, flowers and more.

TH (11/21), 3pm, Biltmore Town Square, 1 Town Square Blvd

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 (11/22), 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 (11/23), 9am, 52 N Market St

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 (11/23), 10am, The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave

Resurgence Market

Support local artists, healers, farmers and other small business owners who have experienced loss due to Helene. We will have music, food and fun for kids.

SA (11/23), noon, Apocalypse Parlor, 21 Young Rd, Weaverville

Ross Farm & Appalachian Standard Holiday Farm Market

It'll be an afternoon filled with local craft vendors, sweet holiday treats to tempt your taste buds, Mountain Man BBQ food truck, cheerful holiday and more.

SA (11/23), noon, Ross Farm, 91 Holbrook Rd, Candler

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

Junk-O-Rama

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

SU (11/24), 11am, Fleetwood's, 496 Haywood Rd

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 (11/26), 3:30pm, 718 Haywood Rd

FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS

Thanksgiving Meal Box

Distribution

Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, in partnership with 23XI Racing and The Bubba Wallace Live to Be Different Foundation will be delivering Thanksgiving meals for 1,500 families in Asheville.

TH (11/21), 11:30am, WNC Farmers Market, 570 Brevard Rd

One Last Riot

Everyone is invited for one last night to celebrate all things

Bottle Riot. Enjoy wine, beer, THC Drinks and NA options. See p51 FR (11/22), 2pm, Bottle Riot, 37 Paynes Way

Town Square Tree

Lighting & Holiday Market

Explore WNC-based artisans, creators, bakers and farmers during the Holiday Market. At 6:30 p.m., don’t miss the Town Square Tree Lighting Ceremony.

FR (11/22), 4pm, Biltmore Park Town Square, Town Square Blvd

Holiday Jamboree

This year, Asheville’s Annual Holiday Parade will take on a fresh twist as it transforms

into a vibrant Holiday Jamboree. It will bring the community together with music, crafts, games, and fun activities as well as a festive Holiday Market, featuring local artists and retailers.

SA (11/23), 11am, Pack Square Park, 1 South Pack Square Park

Little Crafty at the Museum: Artist Relief Edition

This special artist market supports Western North Carolina artists impacted by Tropical Storm Helene. The Museum invites visitors to browse and shop locally made art and explore the Museum galleries to kick off the holiday season.

SA (11/23), noon, Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

Uplift Asheville

A day filled with music, art, food, and the kind of joyful connection we all need after recent hardships.

SA (11/23), noon, Rabbit Rabbit, 75 Coxe Ave

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.

SA (11/23), 1pm, Disaster Recovery Center, 2111 Asheville Hwy, Hendersonville

How Do We Mark The Flood?

Lsten to ambient and old-time tunes, enter mutual-aid raffles, paint en plein-air, eat together, get your portrait photographed by AVL Darkroom and learn about WWC’s historic farm and garden.

SA (11/23), 1pm, Warren Wilson College, 701 Warren Wilson Rd, Swannanoa

Holiday Tree Lighting Party

This festive evening promises to be filled with joy and warmth for the entire family. Party starts indoors with crafts, cookies and hot drinks, then moves outside to light up our tree.

SA (11/23), 5:30pm, Spicer Greene Jewelers, 121 Patton Ave

South Asheville Turkey Trot

The sixth South Asheville Turkey Trot brings together local residents and visitors for a morning of festive fun and fitness.

TH (11/28), 9am, Biltmore Park Town Square, Town Square Blvd

BENEFITS & VOLUNTEERING

Hurricane Helene Benefit

All proceeds will be donated to nonprofits helping those affected in WNC. The bill features performances by: Cut Rugs B2B Zeplinn, Earth Cry, Kirby Bright, Mimosa, Soohan, Gangbeef and more. FR (11/22), 4pm, Sly Grog Lounge, 271 Haywood St

76th Street: Stronger Together Relief Benefit

Experience the rhythms of 76 Street while helping raise funds for local artists and musicians impacted by Helene. FR (11/22), 7pm, One World Brewing West, 520 Haywood Rd

Mutual Aid Fest 2

This music and art market will benefit families affected by Hurricane Helene. It will feature food, drinks, fire spinners, bonfires, storytelling and a packed list of artists. No one turned away for lacked of funds.

SA (11/23), 11am, Apocalypse Parlor, 21 Young Rd, Weaverville

Dieselboy & Dara Present: AVL Benefit Show w/BK, MC Reality, Jericho, Kri Samadhi, BOH & Nichole G

A multi-genre night with a stacked line up of artists. Some proceeds will benefit Stronger Together Music and Arts Relief as well as WNC Holistic Community. SA (11/23), 6pm, Urban Orchard Cider Co. S Slope, 24 Buxton Ave Madison County Wellness Day

This event aims to honor and support the local community in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, providing essential wellness services free of charge. Attendees can enjoy the following holistic health modalities for free: Acupuncture, Massage Therapy, Yoga and more. SU (11/24), 10am, Prama Wellness Center, 161 Wellness Wy, Marshall 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 (11/24), 1pm, free, White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

Located in Asheville at Western Carolina Universit y ’s Biltmore Park instructional site, the Master of Public Af fairs program equips leaders in public ser vice. Graduates ser ve in local government and nonprofit sectors, influencing regional management and policy decisions. This accredited MPA program provides professionals with the exper tise needed to leave a lasting impact

Dust and smoke

More sensors arrive in Buncombe County to track air cleanliness

station, along with one ozone monitor. Only about 1,000 of the roughly 3,000 counties in the United States have monitoring data, according to the EPA.

Six weeks after Tropical Storm Helene, sludge from roiling floodwaters has turned into sunbaked dust, brought on by an extended warm, dry spell and repair crews trying to make Asheville and surrounding areas whole again.

Overall particulate levels have not been unhealthy, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) daily index, but the Asheville Buncombe Air Quality Agency recommends wearing an N95 mask if you’re working in dusty conditions, removing storm debris or cleaning up damage in an enclosed area.

More worrisome to air quality experts is smoke pollution from open burning of storm debris.

“What we’re particularly concerned about is the fine particles from open burning that we expect we’re going to see more of,” AB Air Quality Agency Director Ashley Featherstone said.

Tons of debris are being hauled off for processing, but some of it is being burned. Though open burning is illegal inside Asheville city limits and in other municipalities, burning in unincorporated areas is allowed through permitting.

The Air Quality board prefers that there would be no burning anywhere.

“What we’re telling folks is, please don’t burn,” Featherstone said. “Please put your material out on the curb and let the removal contractors come and pick it up. Can you imagine if everybody started burning the stuff in their yard? It would be terrible.”

From Oct. 3 to Nov. 11, there were nine days when the EPA’s measurement of air-borne particulates — known as the Air Quality Index or AQI — climbed into the moderate range, meaning that while acceptable, the air could pose a risk for some people, especially those who have respiratory conditions or who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. On all other days, the measurement has been considered good.

But there’s a caveat: Buncombe doesn’t have sensors that show what exactly is in those particles and it has only one particulate measurement

“AB Air Quality is aware that there is dust in the air from the flood waters that have receded and are also concerned about particles in the air from open burning of storm debris,” according to a statement from the AB Air Quality Agency. “Dust can contain fine particulate, but also contains particulate matter that is larger than what these monitors measure. Those larger particles are considered less dangerous to human health but can still cause irritation to lungs and upper respiratory systems.”

The AQI is a color-coded system that measures parts per million (ppm) of particulate matter. The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and health concern, according to the AQI website. The system is coded as follows:

• Green (Good) – 0-50 ppm

• Yellow (Moderate) – 51-100 ppm

• Orange (Unhealthy for sensitive groups) – 101-150 ppm

• Red (Unhealthy) – 151-200 ppm

• Purple (Very unhealthy) – 201 -300 ppm

• Brown (Hazardous) – 301 and more ppm

“I haven’t sifted through the longterm data, but I can tell when I check the [air quality sensor] map that particulate matter around the city is a little bit higher than it usually is,” said Evan Cuozo, an atmospheric and environmental scientist by training, a professor at the University of North Carolina Asheville and a member of the AB Air Quality board. “It’s not surprising. There’s a lot of dust in the air. Nothing to be concerned about for long-term health.”

Buncombe doesn’t have sensors that show what exactly is in those particles, according to Cuozo and the AB Air Quality Agency.

“Certainly we’re breathing in slightly more petrochemicals, pesticides, fuels, solvents, etc.,” Cuozo said. But there aren’t ways to measure how much right now.

So, is the air safe to breathe, even on yellow-level days?

“I never like to breathe in a lot of dust, so I always try to wear a mask or avoid visible plumes of dust,” Cuozo said. “But I think for acute

exposures, short-term exposures, I don’t have any long-term concerns for my health based on this. I think we’re exposed to so many synthetic compounds and plasticizers in our diets and just touching things that I’m not worried about the additional burden in the air right now.”

TRACKING SMOKE

What Cuozo and the AB Air Quality Agency are most concerned about is smoke from open burning of storm debris.

And the risk of wildfires during this dry season is growing, posing perhaps the greatest threat to air quality in the region.

Tree destruction after the storm’s 80-100 mph wind gusts will have long-lasting impacts to the fire environment, the N.C. Forest Service said in a Nov. 3 warning.

“The potential for increased wildfire activity, especially in WNC, is above normal in November,” the Forest Service said. “In the aftermath of Helene, the amount of fuel on the ground is excessive.”

Since burning is inevitable, the EPA sent the AB Air Quality Agency several PurpleAir monitors, small portable devices that measure air quality. Five of these were scheduled to be added to Buncombe County in the coming weeks, and some are already running.

“We have four new PurpleAirs installed and showing up on the Air Now Fire and Smoke map at Leicester Library, South Buncombe Library, Biltmore (Hi-Wire) and Board of Education,” Featherstone said Nov. 12.

Having more PurpleAir sensors will allow the agency and the EPA to know whether burning is seriously hurting air quality in areas outside of Asheville and suburban communities.

Anyone can buy a PurpleAir sensor for a little less than $300 and allow EPA to track the data it collects.

PurpleAir sensor data is published live on the brand’s website. The EPA also uses PurpleAir sensors in tabulating its own data.

The AB Air Quality Agency has only one fine particulate monitor, which is located at the Buncombe County Schools Board of Education in the Emma community.

“The Air Quality Index is meant to give an indication of air quality conditions for a general area and does not give specific information on a smaller scale and may not be representative of the air quality in Swannanoa or Fairview for example,” the agency said in an Oct. 22 statement.

Even though AB Air Quality Agency has been tracking and publishing data for many years, Helene has brought it into a new phase where understanding rapidly changing air quality will be vital to understanding how the area is getting rid of its debris.

The effort could last for at least a year, the agency said.

“We’ve heard that the sensors are going to be here for a year,” Featherstone said.

Asheville Watchdog is a nonprofit news team producing stories that matter to Asheville and Buncombe County. Andrew R. Jones is a Watchdog investigative reporter. Email arjones@ avlwatchdog.org. Investigative reporter Victoria A. Ifatusin joined Watchdog through a fellowship as part of the Scripps Howard Fund’s Roy W. Howard Fellowship program. Reach out to her at vifatusin@avlwatchdog.org. The Watchdog’s local reporting during this crisis is made possible by donations from the community. To support this vital public service, go to avlwatchdog.org/ support-our-publication/.X

COVERED: Dust fills the air in the Biltmore area as workers clean up from Tropical Storm Helene floodwaters. Watchdog photo by Starr Sariego

Floods of illness Aftermath of Helene making WNC survivors sick

BY JANE WINIK SARTWELL CAROLINA PUBLIC PRESS

One week after Tropical Storm Helene hit Western North Carolina, Asheville resident Sonya Lynn woke up with stomach cramps that she could only compare to going into labor.

“The cramps woke me out of a dead sleep,” Lynn told Carolina Public Press. “I started noticing severe bloating, constant diarrhea and nausea.”

Lynn went to Mercy Urgent Care, where she was diagnosed with E. coli. The facility put her on antibiotics, but a few days later, she was in the emergency room with extreme dehydration.

Lynn is just one of thousands of Western North Carolinians who have experienced — or will experience — adverse health effects brought about by the damage caused by Tropical Storm Helene. Contaminated drinking water caused by flooded private wells, damaged municipal water systems and compromised septic systems is one of the chief public health concerns.

Lynn isn’t sure how she contracted E. coli. Did she rinse her dentures under the tap in her bathroom sink? Did she use ice from her freezer in a drink? Did she wash her dishes in the kitchen sink out of habit? Did she eat some bad food that had been donated to Homeward Bound, the homeless shelter where she works?

“We’re seeing unprecedented issues in terms of the very prolonged disruption to basic services like water and sewer,” state epidemiologist Zack Moore told CPP

“That raises a lot of concerns around gastrointestinal infections, things that come from contact with

Do you run a business in a local town outside of Asheville?

Advertise in Xpress’ once-a-month recurring feature!

WELL CONTAMINATION: An AppHealthCare environmental health specialist looks at a well flooded due to a rerouted creek in the Valle Crucis community in Watauga County. Thirty percent of water samples from wells in Ashe and Watauga counties have tested positive for dangerous bacteria. Photo courtesy of AppHealthCare

sewage, eating food that hasn’t been maintained properly or not having the same access to hand hygiene that you normally would. We’re worried about Legionnaires disease,

hepatitis A, campylobacter and other infections.”

Most people who experience gastrointestinal illness don’t immediately head to the doctor or emergency

room, making the actual rate of these illnesses in Western North Carolina difficult to track, Moore said. Lynn is now healthy and back at work. But even so, she and all Western North Carolina residents will have to look out for additional public health issues as the region continues to recover from Helene.

MYRIAD HEALTH CONCERNS

Weeks of dry weather following the storm turned flood mud, chockfull of raw sewage and industrial contaminants, into airborne dust, raising concerns about respiratory diseases.

Flooded basements and homes are rife with dangerous mold.

The Mission

The mission of the Center for Native Health is the reduction of health disparities for Native communities through engagement in the preservation and respectful application of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS).

• Education and Consulting

• Cultural Preservation and Application — Birthing & Doula Programs, Annual Medicine Walk

• Community Based Partnerships

• Training and Mentorship — Medical Careers & Technology Pathways (MedCaT)

As a 501(c)3 your contributions are tax deductible and will contribute directly to CNH’s work to integrate community-based knowledge into all facets of Native health care and education and to promote individual, family and community wellness for Indigenous peoples. For more information, visit

WINTER spirit issue

Moore recommends people wear N-95 masks when doing any cleanup project. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers to remove water-damaged material for free under the agency’s individual assistance programs.

Plus, flu, COVID and RSV seasons are upon us, and public health professionals are encouraging Western North Carolinians to make time to get fall vaccinations, despite the chaos of the storm’s aftermath.

“Unfortunately, there are many still in shelters and campsites living in close quarters where they’re more likely to be exposed to respiratory viruses,” Moore said.

Asheville nurse Elle Kruta told CPP that in addition to an increase in communicable respiratory illnesses, gastrointestinal issues and dehydration at Mission Hospital in Asheville, she has noticed that those with asthma and COPD are struggling due to the dust in the air.

The number of patients at the hospital is lower than average, according to Kruta, but more patients are staying longer than usual.

“There are a lot of people who cannot be discharged from the hospital into a nursing facility because those

rehabs don’t have potable water or space,” Kruta said.

“And some patients may not have homes to go back to. With shelters starting to close, people are staying in the hospital longer.”

UNC Asheville health sciences professor Fabrice Julien is teaching a course called Public Health in Disasters this semester. He and his students had just gotten through their unit on Hurricane Katrina when Helene struck Asheville.

One health concern he has is injuries.

“Driving by the River Arts District (in Asheville), I saw a lot of folks among the rubble doing construction, extraction and cleaning,” Julien told CPP. “A lot of them are up on ladders.”

“When you’re up on a ladder, leaning up against a foundation or structure that could cave in and collapse at any time, your risk of serious injury is very high.”

It is important to consider social determinants of health in an emergency like this one, according to Adam Hege, director of Appalachian State University’s public health program.

“The most immediate impacts are on those facing financial challenges or those with access to less resources for their health,” Hege told CPP “They may not be able to afford the care they need or rebuild their lives in a way that sets them up for optimal health.

“When you look at disadvantaged communities, you start to see that how their houses are built and where they are built make them the most susceptible to the worst outcomes.”

LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS

On the front lines of the fight to keep Helene survivors healthy in the long term are local public health departments.

Officials are having disparate experiences of the threat: Henderson County’s health director Dave Jenkins says he has minimal concerns, while Joshua Kennedy , the health director in adjacent Polk County, is anxious about the county’s ability to serve vulnerable populations.

One of those vulnerable populations on Kennedy’s mind is the elderly.

“We’ve seen an increase in the number of senior citizens needing home-delivered meals through our nutrition programs,” Kennedy told CPP.

“We’re working to get those folks fed, but the cost of food is high right now. We see that as a budgetary concern long-term.”

The state legislature’s Helene relief bill allocated $12 million to local health departments to deal with these myriad issues, including helping residents with testing, decontaminating and repairing their flooded wells.

Thirty percent of water samples from wells in Ashe and Watauga counties have tested positive for dangerous bacteria, AppHealthCare director Jen Greene told CPP.

“Even if your water smells fine and looks fine, it is very possible that it is not fine,” Greene said.

“If you have any concerns that your well may have flooded, we encourage you to come in and get your water tested.”

County governments are providing tests and well decontamination kits at no charge.

“Well decontamination is pretty quick and easy,” Kennedy said.

“We have kits provided by the state, so after folks come pick those up, it generally doesn’t take much time before their well is back in order.”

This article first appeared on Carolina Public Press and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. X

Confronting the destruction

RAD members embrace the highs and lows of a long recovery

BY PAT MORAN

“The reindeer stand for wealth and prosperity,” Andrea Kulish says. “The tree symbolizes a healthy and prosperous life.”

Kulish is explaining her favorite design for the colorful pysanky eggs she crafts in her studio at Pink Dog Creative. The eggs aren’t here today, but Kulish is selling life-size, two-dimensional depictions of the Ukrainian art form on the first day of RADFest 1.0, a two-day gathering. Billed as a weekend of art, resilience and community, the festival celebrates the soft reopening of Asheville’s storm-ravaged River Arts District (RAD).

The bustling event is packed with artists, locals and, yes, some trusty tourists. Especially on the opening day, an unseasonably warm Saturday, it’s clear that any reports of the death of the RAD are premature.

Outside, visitors stream down Depot Street, with a growing cluster gathered to enter Kulish’s space. The scene is duplicated throughout the district. Despite a fine patina of dirt, which seems to coat every surface, and a no man’s land of gutted buildings farther south along Lyman Street, the sidewalks on Depot and Roberts streets are filled with people dropping in at art studios and lining up for food and beer trucks.

“Today has been the busiest day I’ve ever seen in the RAD,” Kulish says.

THE RIVER RAGES

Despite the success of RADFest 1.0, the district’s loss of creative capital from Helene remains staggering. An estimated 80% of the RAD was effectively destroyed by the flooding, according to ArtsAVL. Many local artists saw it happen in real time.

On Sept. 26, with Tropical Storm Helene on the way, painter Mark Harmon moved artwork and equipment off the floor of his studio in the Riverview Station building. The next day, he joined a crowd of people on a steep hill in West Asheville off Riverview Drive and watched the rising flood waters of the French Broad River.

“There was a lot more water than I even thought existed on this planet,” Harmon says.

Jeffrey Burroughs is an artist, jewelry maker and president of the

RESILIENT: Tropical Storm Helene destroyed a significant number of studios in the River Arts District. In the aftermath, the creative community has come together to help displaced artists salvage what they can from the destruction and reimagine the future of the district. Featured, starting left, Philip DeAngelo, Jeffrey Burroughs, Andrea Kulish and Mark Harmon. Photo by Cindy Kunst

River Arts District Artists (RADA), an all-volunteer nonprofit that provides and advocates for shared spaces, scholarships and technical assistance programs for RAD artists.

“I watched paintings, beer and wine just flowing down the river,” Burroughs says. He even saw shipping containers filled with art carried by the current. “It was so unbelievable. I think I’m still in shock.”

Photographer René Treece has long rented a space in The Asheville Cotton Mill, a building filled with art studios and small businesses on Riverside Drive. She had time to grab a couple armloads of stuff from her studio, including her computer and hard drives, before firefighters shut down the roads leading into and out of the RAD.

Like Burroughs and Harmon, Treece witnessed the French Broad carry much of the RAD away. “We watched semitrucks crumple under-

neath the bridge and entire roofs of industrial buildings float by,” she says.

As she watched the nearby outdoor shop Second Gear collapse, she wondered if her space would be next.

JENGA TOWER

When the waters abated, Harmon surveyed the damage to his studio. His first reaction was denial.

“I thought, ‘This is not so bad,’” he says. Although 3 inches of water covered the floor of Harmon’s second-floor studio, he lost only 20% of his work.

But once Harmon finished his initial cleanup, he surveyed the devastation along Riverview Station and the French Broad River. Where once his neighbors’ studios and businesses stood were mounds of waterlogged rubble.

“Even in the best of times an arts community is a fragile thing,” Harmon says. “The RAD is like building a Jenga tower. You take out a couple of pieces and the rest might not stand.”

Harmon now worries about lost time — months or years without access to art buyers while the RAD recovers.

“I cannot foresee being able to earn my living largely from in-person visitors as before,” says Harmon, who hasn’t had to rely on online sales until now. Despite his unease, he holds hope for the future. “Everybody has lost a lot, but they’re upbeat and supportive,” he says. “It’s really beautiful.”

COMPLETELY GUTTED

The ability to see beauty amid disaster, and to envision a future RAD, is a common theme among the district’s artists — even those who have lost the most.

Mark Goldthwaite, who co-owns the Asheville Guitar Bar on the first floor of The Cotton Mill with his wife, Julia, has not been as lucky as Harmon. “The bar is completely gutted out,” Goldthwaite says. “It’s gone.”

Water engulfed the ground floor of The Cotton Mill, where 10 businesses and artists rent spaces, says the building’s owner, Jannette Montenegro The Goldthwaites occupy two spaces, the Guitar Bar and an art gallery.

The bones of The Cotton Mill, built in 1887, are still sound after the storm, Goldthwaite says. But the drywall, flooring and everything else on the first floor was totaled and has been removed. And the couple’s woes were compounded by looting, Goldthwaite says.

“In broad daylight, when I was trying to get stuff out of there, people were looting in the space next to me,” says Goldthewaite, who is missing eight or nine guitars. The larceny slackened only when the city imposed a nightly curfew.

“This [disaster] has devastated the whole art community, and it’s just a shame that people took advantage of that,” he says.

Treece’s studio was on the second floor of The Cotton Mill, and when she got back into the building, she found that everything remaining in her space was fine. “But I had to move everything out because looters were trying to break the doorknobs off with cinder blocks,” she says. She dragged her work equipment through sludge before putting it in storage.

“It’s like a hellscape,” Treece says of the ravaged parts of the RAD.

GLIMMERS OF HOPE

Despite that stark description, Treece praises the arts community for pulling together. She says that during recovery efforts she’s gotten to know artists she never had time to meet before, and she’s collaborating with videographer and RADA board member Julieta Fumberg to document artists’ work for use on their websites and GoFundMe pages.

One bright spot Treece highlights is Philip DeAngelo’s studio in the Wedge Building. “It’s been a hub for anybody to stop by for food or drinks,” she says.

DeAngelo was glad he could provide a haven. “My other passion, other than painting, is cooking,” he says. “I just came in and we just started feeding artists.”

At his studio, which was spared serious damage, impromptu meetings sprang up while he prepped meals six days a week. For the first three weeks after Helene struck, on Mondays and Fridays at 11:30 a.m., RAD neighbors came for food and updates on recovery efforts. The meetings recently switched to just Fridays.

“We’re a tight-knit group here and we take care of each other,” DeAngelo says. While he expects that some artists will pack up and leave the RAD, he says the vast majority of those he’s talked to want to rebuild and reimagine the district.

“The silver lining in all this has been the community response, outpouring of generosity and mutual support,” says Harmon, who has donated supplies to other artists. “These gestures help me

gather strength to face the much larger challenges coming our way.”

CONTEMPLATING A FUTURE

With so much artistic infrastructure in ruins and the ongoing Helene recovery challenges throughout the region, it can be hard to talk about continuing the RAD vision, but local artists are sparking that discussion in earnest.

“The arts district is not only a beating heart for this city, it’s a place where people have come to live their dreams,” Burroughs says. “While it’s hard and almost feels tone deaf to even have a conversation about the future, it’s something that has to happen now. I would love to have a meeting with developers and city officials who could help us realize this.”

In the meantime, RADA has launched a slate of initiatives to help RAD artists get back on their feet. It includes fundraising to assist with repairs and lost materials, sourcing permanent or temporary space for displaced artists, donating art supplies and fostering community projects where artists can collaborate.

Back at RADFest 1.0, as visitors move through Kulish’s studio into adjoining spaces, she takes advantage of a lull in business to tell her story.

“The water went right up to our door and completely flooded Depot Street,” she says. Her studio sustained minimal damage and her salvage efforts have been mostly limited to cleaning mud off her artwork and out of her space.

For the festival, Kulish is selling RAD T-shirts and donating all proceeds to help other artists. She has also given

UNSTOPPABLE

Creative expression post-Helene

shelf and display space to two artist friends, potter Lori Theriault and glass jewelry maker Emily Yagielo. Both were based at Riverview Station, which is currently being gutted. Yagielo remembers watching the RAD from the steep hill off Riverview Drive in West Asheville and crying.

“I didn’t think the river would get that high,” she says. Yagielo was turned away on her first attempt to return to her studio because the smell of gasoline lingered in the air. The jewelry she’s selling at Pink Dog Creative is art she pulled from her space, but the salvage effort cost her.

“[Because of] conditions in the building, I had lung and chest pain [and] inflammation for three-and-a-half to four weeks,” Yagielo says. When asked if she plans to return to her former studio, she takes a long pause.

“I’m just taking it one day at a time,” Yagielo says. “At the same time, people from all different facets of my life have shown up [today]. It feels like a community and that’s exciting.”

Kulish points out another one of her folkloric pysanky eggs designs. This one depicts a playful reindeer surrounded by birds and yellow discs.

“Chicks are the fulfillment of wishes,” Kulish says. “Suns mean good fortune, and the lines going all the way around the egg are for a long life.” It’s a forward-looking message for the damaged district and its embattled artists.

“I hope that we can all keep going, doing our art,” Kulish says.

To help RAD artists go to avl.mx/e78.  X

Debbie Harris is the co-executive director of Open Hearts Art Center, a nonprofit supportive studio and gallery dedicated to representing and empowering adults with varied abilities to connect to and reach their full potential through the arts.

Xpress: How has your nonprofit’s focus shifted in the aftermath of Helene?

Harris: Our focus has fluctuated since the storm, adapting to meet the evolving needs of our community. Right after Helene, we prioritized checking in with everyone — making sure all were safe and connecting those in need with critical supplies and assistance. Once we knew our community was safe, we shifted to addressing the financial needs of our staff, who faced weeks without income due to closures. Thankfully, our emergency savings allowed us to cover two weeks of pay. Next, we focused on reopening, even without water access, by securing 275 gallons of clean water, allowing a limited number of artists to return. Since the return of running water we have been fully operational but continue to work toward a new normalcy.

Could you share a positive story about your nonprofit’s interaction with the community post-Helene?

Our staff stepped up in incredible ways, making home visits to artists and delivering essential supplies where needed. We recently collaborated with Art Kit Aid to host a free art-making day for the community. It was heartwarming to see people come together, share in creative expression and find a bit of normalcy through art during this difficult time. Based on the communities you serve, what are the most dire needs?

Clean water is by far the most immediate need, especially for those in our community who are immunocompromised. Beyond monetary donations, how else could community members support your mission?

Community members can help by attending our events, lending their time as volunteers and spreading awareness of our mission and needs. X

DEBBIE HARRIS

Photo courtesy of Harris

Disaster Zone Cooking: Thanksgiving edition

BY JONATHAN AMMONS

For a few years, local food writer Jonathan Ammons has produced an ongoing series of social media posts titled “Struggle Meals,” offering advice for home cooks on preparing high-quality dishes on a tight budget and with minimal waste. In the weeks following Tropical Storm Helene, with no water or electric service, he transitioned the series to “Disaster Zone Cooking,” focusing on meals made from the contents of his cupboard or donated foods found at relief sites and cooked with limited potable water over a butane camp stove. Ammons wrote this special Thanksgiving installment for Xpress

Let’s face it, Tropical Storm Helene was a terrible tourist. She came for a visit, got hammered and wrecked our power grid, roads, homes, livelihoods — even our entire water system.

In the wake of the storm, many have been struggling to get food on the table. For weeks, the city’s water advisories told us that we could drink it if we boiled it and that we could use it for washing dishes, but only if your dishwasher reaches 170 degrees. Not to mention, with many unable to access unemployment benefits and with dwindling D-SNAP, a bountiful Thanksgiving dinner seems like a pipe dream.

But there are a few simple strategies for making a cheap mess of food to feed a holiday crowd without making a pile of dishes in the process. A key part of affordable cooking is using the same ingredients across a range of dishes to prevent waste. It’s also all about leaning heavily into items already in your pantry or refrigerator.

Looking in the crisper, there’s a cucumber, carrots and celery — maybe a bell pepper. In the pantry, we find a couple of onions, fingerling potatoes, canned tomatoes, canned white beans and pasta. Peek in the freezer to find some frozen corn. That means we only need to pick up our protein, lima beans, some fresh tomatoes, garlic and maybe some citrus to make the meal complete.

Here’s what we can make:

(Note: Measurements are purposely vague in an effort to encourage home cooks to use whatever they have available rather than buying specifically for the recipe. Cooks are urged to rely on their common sense, instincts and judgment. Also, keep in mind that the ratios will vary depending on how many people you need to feed, but the process is the same.)

ROASTED CHICKEN THIGHS WITH SUCCOTASH

Chicken is a far more practical and affordable alternative to the traditional Thanksgiving turkey. Plus, I would argue that it is far tastier than the dry, vapid bird of typical holiday fare. Buying a whole chicken can still be costly, but you can easily find enough bone-in, skin-on thighs or a pre-cut roaster chicken for a fraction of the price by weight. Just keep an eye on the prices and find what fits your budget — the important thing is that it be bone-in, skin-on.

This recipe is ideal for a cast-iron skillet or Dutch oven because you can just wipe them out and reseason them afterward rather than having to wash them. This dish alone makes for a wonderful one-pot dinner.

Let’s start by making the marinade. Add the following to a gallon-sized zip-close bag:

• Two parts cooking oil (Depending on how much chicken you are preparing, the amount will vary: Think around 1 ounce of oil per pound of bird.)

• One part lemon juice or vinegar (white, red wine or cider vinegar is ideal, but use what you have)

• Four to five cloves of crushed and minced garlic

• A teaspoon-esque dollop of Dijon mustard

• A generous pinch of oregano Generously salt and pepper your chicken thighs, then stuff them into the bag with the marinade. Seal and shake vigorously, moving the chick-

11/24: Reader: Andrea 12-4 11/30: Reader: Edward 12-6

KEEP IT SIMPLE: Affordable chicken thighs and veggies come together quickly and easily with little water needed to make a comforting holiday meal centerpiece. Photo by Jonathan Ammons

Advocating for food security

Micah Chrisman is the director of marketing and communications of MANNA FoodBank, an organization working to end food insecurity in the 16 counties of Western North Carolina, including the Qualla Boundary.

Xpress: How has your nonprofit’s focus shifted in the aftermath of Helene?

Chrisman: MANNA FoodBank’s immediate focus shifted to disaster relief for our WNC communities affected by Tropical Storm Helene, which devastated our primary facility in Asheville. In response, we established a temporary donation and distribution site at the WNC Farmers Market and managed daily relief operations during the initial two weeks following the storm.

We have resumed normal food distribution to all of our 225-plus partner pantries across 16 counties in WNC and the Qualla Boundary, thanks to our dedicated team and community volunteers.

We officially acquired a new facility at 99 Broadpointe Drive in Mills River, which will become MANNA’s central warehouse and operational headquarters, increasing our capacity to serve the region’s long-term needs.

Could you share a positive story about your nonprofit’s interaction with the community post-Helene?

The outpouring of support has been truly incredible, and one highlight has been our new partnership with Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity. Like MANNA, Habitat’s facilities in Biltmore Village were heavily damaged and are closed indefinitely. To support each other, we’ve welcomed some of Habitat’s skilled team members to our new Mills River warehouse, joining our operations, volunteer center and community markets teams to expand relief efforts. This mutual support strengthens our shared commitment to rebuilding and creating a stronger, more resilient community.

Based on the communities you serve, what are the most dire needs?

Access to basic resources like food, clean water and essential supplies remains critical in WNC, especially in areas hit hardest by Helene’s flooding.

Prior to Helene, MANNA was already serving an average of 158,000 people each month. With the storm’s impact, we anticipate a significant rise in food insecurity as more families and individuals turn to us and other community resources in the coming months.

Beyond monetary donations, how else could community members support your mission?

We are always in need of dedicated volunteers to support our work in the weeks and months ahead, as we continue to meet the ongoing demand for food and resources.

Donations of shelf-stable foods, hygiene items and essential supplies are critical to support our neighbors in need.

Advocating for food security by spreading awareness of WNC’s food needs and joining community discussions can also make a big impact. X

MICAH CHRISMAN

Photo courtesy of MANNA FoodBank

en around until it is nicely coated. Marinate in the fridge for anywhere from 30 minutes to 24 hours.

Meanwhile, chop an onion, a large carrot or two, and a couple of stalks of celery. Smash and dice three to five cloves of garlic.

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. While that heats up, brown the chicken in a ripping hot skillet or Dutch oven with a little oil, starting with the skin side down. Flip and brown the thighs on the other side before removing and setting aside.

Reduce heat to medium and sauté the veggies until they release their liquids. Pour in a handful of corn and lima beans from the freezer and simmer. Pour in a can of tomatoes and a little water — just enough to cover the veggies. Add salt and pepper to taste, then season generously with oregano or thyme.

Set the chicken back into the skillet/Dutch oven, and toss it in the oven for 30-45 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 160 degrees. By then, the dark skin should be nice and crispy and the chicken moist and tender. Serve in the skillet, allowing guests to help themselves to a thigh and as much succotash as they’d like.

The succotash makes a beautiful stock, which braises the chicken, leaving you with the most flavorful, juicy chicken and delightfully crispy skin. You can also use this same method with Cornish game hens if you’d like to have the full-bird (albeit smaller) experience for an equally unique but affordable centerpiece.

SMASHED AND ROASTED POTATOES

These tubers became famous as Stanley Tucci’s favorite potato recipe. For a long time, they struck me as too complicated to attempt until I finally made them — my God, are they a great bang for the minimal amount of buck. The best part is that you can do the first step the day before the meal so the last step is only about warming and crisping up the taters.

Start by boiling fingerling potatoes in a pot with enough salty water to cover them. Boil for 15-30 minutes, or until they pierce easily with a fork. Remove from the water (save the water in the same pot for another use), place them on a baking sheet lined with foil and lay another sheet of foil on top.

Next, smash each potato into a nice, 1-inch-thick puck using a grill-press, if you have one. If not, you can use a book or other weighty object. Remove and discard the top layer of foil. Brush each of the potatoes with the low-smoke-point fat of your

choice — olive oil, melted butter or bacon grease — then season with salt, pepper and a little paprika. At this point, you can refrigerate them on a plastic-wrapped baking sheet overnight or bake them immediately. When the time comes, throw the potatoes into the 450-degree oven along with the chicken and succotash for the last 10-15 minutes of their cooking time. The potatoes should brown and crisp up nicely.

PASTA SALAD

Every holiday dinner needs a chilled side dish. The best part about this one is that you can make it in the same dish you’ll use to store the leftovers. As far as the exact amount of vegetables to use, tt’s like the late painter Bob Ross would say: However many happy little trees your heart desires — but with tomatoes, bell peppers and cucumber. Into a large storage bowl with a lid, add the following:

• Two cups of cooked pasta (I use rotini, but macaroni, penne, farfalle or other bite-sized noodles will suffice — feel free to cook the pasta in the same water in which you boiled the potatoes).

• Chopped tomatoes (I used cherry tomatoes, halved).

• Chopped bell pepper.

• One can of beans (chickpea, navy or cannellini beans are best).

• Chopped cucumber, if you have it.

In a cup, whisk together a smaller batch of that same basting dressing we made for the chicken and drizzle over the pasta salad. Cover the bowl with a lid and shake the hell out of it until everything is thoroughly coated in the dressing. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

THE MEAL

The nice part about this meal is that you can serve everything family-style in the dishes in which the foods were cooked, making cleanup a cinch. For the potatoes, just throw away the foil. Wipe out the cast-iron skillet from the chicken and succotash. Store leftover pasta salad in the bowl you made it in. The only things requiring a proper wash should be the pasta/potato pot and any utensils used in the process.

In addition to being remarkably affordable for the number of mouths it can feed, the whole process of cooking this meal requires minimal potable water. It’s the perfect disaster zone meal to satisfy a small crowd on this very unusual Thanksgiving Day in Western North Carolina. X

Quick-change artists

BY BILL KOPP

The Snozzberries released a new self-titled album on Oct. 11. The Asheville-based group — a fixture of the progressive/psychedelic/funk scene since forming in 2017 — had already previewed the new album with a pair of advance singles, “Return” and “Hide.” And beginning in August, the band embarked on a tour visiting 20 cities, some as far away as Colorado, Nebraska and Illinois.

The tour began in the band’s Western North Carolina hometown, and in mid-September, the Snozzberries announced plans to end the run of live dates with a grand celebration — the fourth installment of Psychedelic Circus. Historically held at Salvage Station, the annual performance is an immersive, multimedia, multisensory celebration that delivers much more than a concert.

At the time, guitarist and vocalist Ethan Heller noted that the 2022 edition featured several hundred balloons variously stuck onto surfaces and launched into the audience with the aid of a leaf blower. The 2023 Psychedelic Circus focused on art installations and featured massive murals and neon netting. The convivial feel of those events established a baseline that the Snozzberries planned to exceed with their 2024 hometown performance.

“Psychedelic Circus is our homecoming show after the tour,” Heller told Xpress in September. “It’s also the unofficial album release party.”

The event was set for Friday, Nov. 29, at Salvage Station. Tropical Storm Helene had other plans.

The Snozzberries reconfigure canceled gala event Psychedelic Circus

THE SHOW MUST GO ON

In the wake of the massive flooding of the French Broad River, Salvage Station suffered total destruction. Though the venue was facing imminent closure to make way for the planned construction of a new Interstate 26 interchange,

Salvage Station still had an impressive schedule of shows lined up for the remaining months. But Helene’s razing of large swaths of Asheville’s River Arts District and regions along the banks of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers meant that the popular concert venue met an early end.

As Asheville and other affected areas in WNC began to recover and deal with the aftermath of Helene, the Snozzberries pivoted. The group has secured a new venue for the fourth annual Psychedelic Circus — Asheville Music Hall. While adding new aspects aimed at helping the region heal from the disaster, the event has retained much of its originally planned experience.

Only a few components couldn’t make the shift. Acclaimed bandleader and punk-jazz vibraphonist — and frequent visitor to Asheville — Mike Dillon had been billed with his Punkadelick trio as part of the show. But when Helene struck, it wasn’t immediately clear that the event would continue in any form, so his management rescheduled a run of dates in the Midwest.

Other pieces changed because the Snozzberries’ plans at the outset had leveraged the unique character of Salvage Station. “We were going to have fire spinners and make this year’s Psychedelic Circus a sort of indoor/ outdoor event,” Heller explains. Open flames certainly aren’t an option at Asheville Music Hall, so the group adjusted the theme in a less incendiary direction. “We’re bringing in visual artists and their work,” Heller says.

As part of that, Heller is pleased to add Joel Schooling to the event’s festivities. The Charleston, S.C.-based video artist has done extensive work adding visual elements to performances by a number of regional musical acts, including fellow Charlestonians, satirical pop group Sexbruise? “Joel will bring a whole new element to the show,” Heller promises, noting that Schooling’s setup includes lasers. “His style is really exciting.”

Asheville-based Magenta Sunshine was billed for the event as originally scheduled, and the group will open the show at Asheville Music Hall. “They’re a really fun, feel-good band,” Heller says. “Especially with what we’re all going through as a city right now, it’s great to have them on the bill. Their positive messages will help bring a really good vibe to the show.”

SPIRIT OF FUN

Heller believes that the progressive, psychedelic and funk textures of the Snozzberries’ music lend themselves to the sort of audiovisual extravaganza the event has in store. But the band’s development has been a gradual process. “We started

CIRCUS ACT: After Salvage Station was demolished by Tropical Storm Helene, Asheville band Snozzberries quickly shifted plans to make its fourth annual Psychedelic Circus happen. Photo by Asheville Art Family

as a bar band playing covers,” he says. “At the beginning, we didn’t really take it seriously. We were just a silly jam band.”

That lack of seriousness was underscored by the ad hoc name they adopted. “But the name stuck,” Heller says with a laugh and a shrug.

Heller recalls a gig at The Orange Peel opening for Here Come the Mummies as a major break for the band. Within a year of forming, the Snozzberries had begun adding original material to its set, and a more distinct musical identity began to emerge.

Baked into that identity, though, is variety. Heller says that each band member — himself plus keyboardist Ian Taylor, bassist Josh Clark and drummer Paul Gladstone — has contributed songs to the new album. “Each of us comes into the studio with our composed ideas,” he says. “Then it’s a free-for-all from there.”

The group has gone through its share of changes. Clark, who joined a year and a half ago — in time to be involved in all aspects of writing and recording the new album — is the third bassist since the band’s launch. Original drummer Sean Mason passed away during the COVID-19 lockdown, and Gladstone’s addition

brought a harder sound that moved away from the jam aesthetic and toward rock. “The lineup is solid now,” Heller says. “And our material has gotten a lot more mature lately.”

But the spirit of fun that inspired the group’s formation remains embodied in its annual Psychedelic Circus. “I had always wanted to throw an event that combined a rock concert with a carnivalesque character,” Heller says. “Doing this show reminds me of some of the first music festivals I ever attended.”

Another component of this year’s event that will set it apart from previous Psychedelic Circus stagings — the first of which took place in 2019 — is an auction and raffle. “We’ll have some Snozzberries merch, and we’re talking to local artists and businesses who will add to that,” Heller says. Proceeds from the auction and raffle will benefit the work of local nonprofit BeLoved Asheville. “We want to help as much as we can,” he adds.

Amid the sensory spectacle, the centerpiece of this year’s Psychedelic Circus will be the original music of the Snozzberries. The new album was recorded at The Eagle Room in Weaverville with producer/engineer Matt Williams, and The Snozzberries

is available in digital and on CD and vinyl.

Heller notes that Williams created a unique mix of the album for its vinyl configuration. And one of the tracks, “Storm,” is nearly a minute and a half shorter on the LP version than on the other formats. “I actually like the shorter version better,” Heller admits with a laugh. “But it was too late to change on the other formats.”

Still, the Snozzberries have proved resilient when it comes to making late-breaking changes like rebuilding concert plans on short notice in response to a disaster like Helene. “We try to make it a little more exciting every year,” Heller deadpans. X

Blurring time

Debut memoir explores the intractability of memory

BY ALEX M c WALTERS

Like any exquisitely crafted narrative, local author Rachel M. Hanson’s debut memoir, The End of Tennessee, encapsulates the story’s fundamental ache within the book’s opening lines.

She writes:

“Not a year before I ran away from home at seventeen, I stepped out of my house at dusk, still able to see shrub oaks thinned out for winter, fame flower, too, and dun clay so wet the smell of it seemed settled in my skin. At my back, pastures spread far, darkened where dairy cows huddled for warmth in a slow January drizzle. I crossed the road, walked the length of my neighbor’s yard, and knocked on his door, asking to play the piano he’d mentioned I was welcome to weeks earlier. I’d played when I was younger, when one of the houses we rented had an upright in the living room. Here, at my neighbor’s, I hoped to remember how to make the keys work, and for the briefest moment, have some space to be more than a second mother to my siblings.”

Much can be made of the author’s subtle turn of phrase, “make the keys work,” but suffice it say that Hanson’s memoir, at its core, is an account of her remarkable but often heartbreaking determination to overcome the abuse she suffered during her nomadic and religiously extreme childhood in rural Tennessee — an account of a woman seeking again and again to find or make metaphorical music amid the relentless difficulty of her circumstances.

THE THINGS THAT HAUNT US

Hanson’s mother, readers learn early in the memoir, struggles with mental health issues and is neglectful. A reli-

gious fanatic, she also forbids Hanson and her siblings from attending school.

Meanwhile, Hanson’s father is a former truck driver turned third-shift factory worker.

Given the family dynamic, the preadolescent Hanson is often left to care for her younger siblings. It is a role she both relishes and resents, in that her unwanted duty to them is what initially keeps her around — exposing Hanson to severe abuses.

Her eventual departure is also what continues to haunt the author long after she leaves.

“Now in my thirties,” Hanson writes, “because I understand we can never go back and that things cannot be set right, I write of my older brothers as children — I speak to the children they were then. Boys. Men. I don’t know how to speak to them, grown up, big brothers. I don’t know them, don’t care to know them. But once upon a time, many different times, there were parts of my heart that broke for them. There are parts that break still.”

’IMPRECISE CUTS’

While there is a compelling ambiguity built into Hanson’s narrative, her sentences are terse, direct and powerful. There is a fitting starkness of tone that is in turns punctuated and ruptured by crisp often poignant imagery.

Describing one of the many ramshackle dwellings her ever-growing family either rented or squatted in during her Tennessee years, Hanson writes: “There were holes in the floor where a clawfoot tub had once stood, another where there had been a toilet. Our father covered the holes by nailing boards over them, imprecise cuts of yellow plywood.”

Here, as elsewhere, Hanson finds exactly the right words — “imprecise cuts” — to make the image, vivid in itself, blossom with metaphorical

power. Nothing about the life she describes in these pages is precise, ordered, stable, normal.

And because no amount of adult retrospection can quite explain or comprehend the child’s wounds, her cuts, now scars, will remain always painfully amorphous, resistant to coherence.

FINDING THE RIGHT WORD

Yet there is real triumph in this story. After the harrowing saga of her teenage escape, Hanson eventually beats the odds and makes it to college. From there she goes on to earn her master’s in creative writing and later a Ph.D. in literature and creative nonfiction — an achievement for anybody, much less somebody who was forbidden from attending school as a child.

To pay tuition she finds employment as a river guide in the Grand Canyon. She finds love. None of this is without trouble and difficulty. But much of what gives the book its heft and moving complexity is the truth it confronts; the truth the author knows she cannot change or escape: Her past will always be a part of her.

— it goes against the way I experience these things now, this order. Memory doesn’t work chronologically. I collect the years I lived at home next to those after I left—wondering how much the distance between the two has changed me.”

Remarkably, artfully, The End of Tennessee is and is not chronological. While it does move in a generally linear fashion from Hanson’s early girlhood into the present, the narrative simultaneously manages to capture, through its brilliant use of past and present tense and its episodic structuring, the inner reality of the teller’s ongoing and often disruptive or uncooperative experience with her past. To tell it chronologically would be to imply that it happened and has passed, that the recollections can be contained, placed, assigned to some sensible or navigable former self.

“All the moving and babies have a way of blurring time,” she writes. “When I think back to the beginning of Tennessee, I add it to my mental map of my family history and the years I spent with them in Appalachia. I piece together the events. ... I reorder them as best I can chronologically

The truth, however, is that memories such as the ones Hanson renders here do not conform or comply with a person’s efforts at order or relinquishment. They are, by their very nature, disordered, incomprehensible, maddening. And so only by telling her truth, by weaving amid the bits and pieces, can one hope to achieve a semblance of — what? Justice? Peace? Catharsis? By the memoir’s end, Hanson does find the right word. But only by reading to the end can you know what it is and how she found it. X

LEAVING IT BEHIND: In her debut memoir, local author Rachel Hanson delves into her past and the decisions that ultimately led her to flee her childhood home in Tennessee. Author photo courtesy of Hanson

An ecosystem of literacy access

Jessica McLean is the co-executive director of Read to Succeed Asheville/Buncombe, a nonprofit that works to help close the racebased opportunity gap through community-powered literacy programming that engages children, families and community partners.

Xpress: How has your nonprofit’s focus shifted in the aftermath of Helene?

The co-executive directors of local literacy nonprofit Read To Succeed, Jessica McLean, left, and Ashley Allen. Photo courtesy Read to Succeed Asheville/Buncombe

McLean: The aftermath of Helene resulted in significant disruptions to the education of local students. With students missing more than a month of instruction and schools still navigating what learning recovery looks like, the support Read 2 Succeed (R2S) offers is more crucial than ever. R2S has amplified its community literacy response with trained volunteer tutors returning to instruction as soon as schools reopened. R2S also joined families the last week of October to distribute reading resources and books in Pisgah View Apartments, supporting their community center and Head Start programs. After-school literacy support, book distribution and family reading events also resume in the coming weeks. With reflection and volunteer training on post-disaster student support, we honor the impact and trauma caused by the storm and continue to focus on supporting families and the community to ease back into learning.

Could you share a positive story about your nonprofit’s interaction with the community post-Helene?

Directly after the hurricane, some R2S staff members supported resource and hot meal distribution along with other BIPOC-led nonprofits out of the Arthur R. Edington Education and Career Center. One of the emerging leaders at the resource center was a local middle school student who attends Chosen PODS after-school where R2S tutors and instructors serve. This student stepped up and led the charge coordinating the distribution center as resources were delivered and organized. At one point, he even instructed multiple National Guard troops on how and where to unload their trucks. The power and hope of a young Black boy being celebrated and given the encouragement to lead others in serving his community aligns with the work of R2S when it comes to centering the voices of those who have been intentionally undervalued — our Black and brown students.

Based on the communities you serve, what are the most dire needs?

The areas where our city and county can most serve the strategically undervalued communities impacted by the disaster include rent and housing assistance. But the most often overlooked areas for support is in sustaining the ongoing resource distribution and education support that has been spearheaded by BIPOC-led organizations and community members. This disaster further exacerbated disparities that exist across Asheville, and for organizations that have been doing this work before Helene and continue still, they deserve to be uplifted. These organizations and individuals include but are not limited to: YTL, Chosen PODS, Grace Covenant, Umoja Health, Wellness & Justice Collective, Operation Gateway, YMI Cultural Center & Bridging the Gaps, Center for Participatory Change, Reparations Stakeholder Authority of Asheville, Colaborativa La Milpa, Poder Emma, My Daddy Taught Me That and many more.

Beyond monetary donations, how else could community members support your mission?

The majority of local students, no matter their race, background and socioeconomic status, were not reading on grade level prior to the storm, and they just lost another month-plus of critical instruction. In order to create an ecosystem of literacy access and opportunity, R2S is always working with community organizations and recruiting volunteers to support literacy programming. Learn more about how to get involved at r2sasheville.org. X

What’s new in food

Foothills Meats opens Skillet in landmark Black Mountain building

Foothills Meats has built quite the thriving culinary destination in Black Mountain. Having begun 23 years ago selling locally sourced meat from the back of a pickup truck at the Black Mountain Tailgate Market, the business is set to launch its latest Black Mountain venture at the end of this month. The restaurant, Skillet, will make its home in one of the town’s historic icehouse buildings, with former Cultura and Wicked Weed Funkatorium executive chef Eric Morris at the helm.

Sourcing whole animals from small, local farmers, the business opened Foothills Butcher Shop on Black Mountain Avenue in 2013, soon followed by two Butcher Bar restaurants (one in West Asheville) and a food truck.

Owners Amanda and Casey McKissick sold the West Asheville restaurant in early 2021, and in 2022, closed the Black Mountain Butcher Bar, refocusing energy on growing the female-led butchery business. Also in 2022, they opened The Grange, a casual, family-friendly concept with a massive outdoor space, covered patio and indoor seating, 16 taps for local brews and a menu Casey described as “everything I liked to eat growing up,” all of it prepared from the food truck. Meanwhile, the building next door was calling their name. “Both of these properties were owned since the early 1930s by Virginia and Cyril Huffman,” Casey explains. “It operated as Black Mountain Ice and Coal — the coal yard was where Grange is, and the icehouse is the building next door.”

In 2023, with The Grange having outgrown its food truck kitchen, the McKissicks bought the vacant, two-story icehouse, which had been renovated in 2019. They built a built a large kitchen and in August fired it up to cook for The Grange; they also began refining their concept for an elevated dining restaurant and launched the search for a chef.

In mid-September, Morris gave his notice to Wicked Weed Brewing after growing increasingly uncomfortable with the Anheuser-Buschowned company’s corporate culture. “The job provided stability and benefits when my wife and I had our

daughter,” he says. “But personally I wasn’t feeling very fulfilled.”

Morris says he looks forward to his new role in Skillet’s large, new kitchen. “Amanda and Casey’s philosophy on food really works with mine, and their commitment to using the whole animal in creative ways is something I’m really excited about,” he says.

Tropical Storm Helene caused a change of plans. “After the storm, we felt like, for now, a high-end menu is not the right way to go,” says Casey. “People need comfort now, and Eric and his food can feel like a big, warm hug.” Skillet, he says, will offer affordable comfort food served family-style.

Morris is fine with that shift and eager to feed Black Mountain. Among the dishes on the opening menu are brown butter cornbread with chicken butter and hot honey; curried pumpkin and coconut soup with cilantro, apples and pepitas; chicories salad with fried pumpernickel and anchovy vinaigrette; roast chicken with maitake, parsnip puré e, Brussels sprouts and candied pork belly, and sweet potato gnocchi with broccoli rabe, pecorino and sage.

Skillet will be open five days a week at first (closed Monday and Tuesday) starting in late November. In the spring, the McKissicks hope to segue to the more elevated concept and a new name, yet to be decided.

“Amanda and I are really happy to be offering jobs to people in this industry and really excited to have Eric here,” says Casey. “He is just a delight to be around, and we know people in Black Mountain will feel the same.”

Skillet is at 128 Broadway St., Black Mountain. For details, visit avl.mx/eaq.

Last call at Bottle Riot

In early 2018, Lauri and Barrett Nichols channeled their love of wine, art and the River Arts District into The District, a funky, friendly wine bar/art gallery they fashioned from the brick-walled studio space of their late friend, sculptor and RAD pioneer John Payne

NEW DIRECTION: Foothills Meats co-owner Casey McKissick, pictured, is set to launch Skillet as a comfort food concept this month in Black Mountain’s historic icehouse building. Photo courtesy of McKissick

In 2019, they endured a trademark dispute over the bar’s name. (Spoiler alert: The District became Bottle Riot.) Then they survived the challenges of COVID-19. But Helene has dealt the business a blow it can’t recover from. In early November, the Nicholses announced the permanent closure of Bottle Riot due to the destruction and flooding from the storm and no help from insurance.

One Last Riot will be held 2-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22. Guests are asked to BYOG — bring your own glass — to fill with wine, beer, THC beverages and nonalcoholic options to enjoy on-site. People are also encouraged to bring tote bags to carry purchases of wines by the bottle, commemorative glassware and other mementos. Asheville party band Pleasure Chest will entertain beginning at 5 p.m.

Bottle Riot is at 37 Paynes Way. For more information, visit avl.mx/eam.

Thanksgiving feast for Eblen Charities

For those who’d rather skip the cooking on Thanksgiving, Embassy Suites by Hilton will host a Thanksgiving celebration noon-3:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 28. The menu features all the classics — turkey, ham, gravy, mushroom and sausage dressing, mac and cheese, whipped potatoes, sweet potatoes and green bean casserole. Twenty-five percent of ticket sales support local nonprofit Eblen Charities. Tickets are $55; $25 for ages 4-12; ages 3 and younger gobble for free. Reservations are requested for parties of eight or more. Leftovers will go to Asheville Poverty Initiative’s 12 Baskets Café. Embassy Suites by Hilton is at 192 Haywood St. For tickets and information, visit avl.mx/ebh.

CONTINUES ON PAGE 53

NOLA for AVL

Just as Asheville restaurants and chefs have fed their community in the wake of Tropical Storm Helene, chefs in New Orleans have stepped up to help Asheville’s hard-hit hospitality industry. Organized by NOLA chef John Harris, owner of Lilette and Bouligny Tavern, Cooks for Carolina is a series of dinners hosted by over 20 New Orleans restaurants. Several Asheville chefs — including Jacob Sessoms of Table/All Day Darling/Golden Hour, Tall John’s Trevor Payne, Bull and Beggar’s Matt Dawes and Gourmand’s Peyton Barrell — will join their Big Easy colleagues for designated dinners. Explore Asheville’s Always Asheville fund will receive 100% of the proceeds from each dinner. For more information, visit avl.mx/eaj.

Cocktails support storm recovery efforts

Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Biltmore Village has introduced two new cocktails created to raise funds to support recovery efforts for its hardhit neighbors. All proceeds from the sales of Citrus Sunset (Absolut vanilla vodka, Ketel One Oranje, orange juice and cream) and Sweater Weather (Pyrat XO rum. St. George, St. Germain, lime juice, ginger beer and cinnamon) will be split between the Historic Biltmore Village Association and the Ruth’s Chris Team Member Prime Persistence Fund, which provides crisis relief to Ruth’s Chris staff members.

Ruth’s Chris is at 26 All Souls Crescent. Visit avl.mx/eau for more information.

Save the buildings

Three local restaurants — Corner Kitchen and Andaaz in Biltmore Village and The Bull and Beggar in the River Arts District — have received $5,000 each in storm recovery grants from the Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County (PSABC). The organization maintains three preservation grant programs: Bricks and Mortar, Public Education and Historic Designation. But in response to Helene, the organization quickly began awarding grants exclusively for repairs to historic structures, “They do not have to be designated [historic sites or landmarks], just 50 years or older and damaged by the hurricane — that includes businesses and residences,” says Executive

Director Jessie Landl. PSABC committed $100,000, and the Community Foundation of WNC added $50,000, with all the applicants so far receiving the top grant of $5,000. PSABC is continuing to raise funds with the goal of distributing a total of $200,000.

To donate, visit avl.mx/eal.

Santa comes to South Slope

Helene wrecked Hi-Wire’s River Arts District location and suspended brewing, but the company is bringing happiness to the holidays with the repurposing of its South Slope Tiki Easy Bar into pop-up spectacular: Sippin’ Santa. The tropical hideaway tucked behind the Hilliard Avenue Hi-Wire has decked the walls and turned the bar over to Santa’s helpers who have created a festive menu of Christmas in the Caribbean holiday cocktails.

Frosty the Merman, Sugar Plum Mai Tai, Holiday on Ice and Merry Spritzmas are among the seasonal sippers; spirits-free mocktails will also be available as will custom mugs and glassware for your secret Santa parties. Sippin’ Santa runs 4-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 3-10 p.m. FridaySaturday and 3-9 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday, Dec. 21.

Sippin’ Santa is at 197 Hilliard Ave. For more details, visit avl.mx/ean.

To pie for

OWL Bakery is taking orders for Thanksgiving pies through midnight, Sunday Nov. 24; pickups are at the newly reopened West Asheville location 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27. The pie menu includes heirloom apple crumb, heritage pumpkin, maple pecan and oat cream in an oatmeal cookie crust. Other offerings are gingerbread chocolate torte, sweet potato rosemary rolls, country hearth bread and crusty baguettes.

OWL’s West Asheville location is at 295 Haywood Road. To order, visit avl.mx/eao.

Not feeling crust confident? Camille Cogswell, founder/owner of Walnut Family Bakery, says she expects her whole holiday pies will sell out quickly, but she’s also taking orders for her frozen, ready-to-bake pie crusts through Sunday, Nov. 24. Pickups are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27, at Walnut Family Bakery, 590 Barnard Road, Marshall, or 3-6 p.m. the same day at Leveller Brewing, 29 N. Main St., Weaverville.

To order, visit avl.mx/eap.

Off Book: The Improvised Musical

Love musicals? Love to laugh? Love improv? Off Book: The Improvised Musical has it all in one zany ball of fun, and it’s all done on the fly by musical comedy duo Jess McKenna and Zach Reino. The popular podcast-turnedlive-show will be at The Orange Peel at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23. At every Off Book show, McKenna and Reino present a completely improvised musical. Their podcast has been featured at Comedy Central’s Clusterfest Festival,

Moontower comedy festival the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, and the Netflix Is A Joke Festival in Los Angeles. The pair have written for the Peacock series Baking It starring Maya Rudolph, Amy Poehler and Andy Samberg, and created musical sketches for the animated television show Rick and Morty and the Party Over Here comedy sketch show. Off Book is a seated show; tickets are $27.50 and $30. avl.mx/eb0 X

Arts Rising!

In the wake of Tropical Storm Helene, the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts sought to find a way to bring together and heal the community. What arose from those conversations is Arts Rising!, an initiative offering deeply discounted — $15 — tickets to designated upcoming performances plus $15 classes through the end of this year. “The arts have a unique power to heal communities,” says managing director Rae

Geoffrey in a media release. All $15 performances will be announced the day before the show on the Wortham Center event calendar and immediately available for purchase as long as the supply lasts. Also part of Arts Rising! efforts are pop-up galleries in the Wortham lobby featuring artists from the River Arts District; work by Sarah Faulkner and Anna Bryant is on exhibit through December. avl.mx/eay X

Photo of Anna Bryant courtesy Wortham Center for the Performing Arts

Photo of McKenna and Reino by Robyn Von Swank

Handel’s Messiah Marshall Handmade Market

Among the Marshall structures wrecked by Tropical Storm Helene was Marshall High Studios, a former school building on Blannahassett Island in the French Broad River that housed over 30 artists in 26 studios. For 14 years, people have flocked there from near and far the weekend before Thanksgiving to shop for one-of-a-kind gifts made by the local artist community at the Marshall Handmade Market. Though the century-old building is currently under

major repair, the market will still go on. Nearby Odonata Farm in Mars Hill is opening its historic barn and scenic grounds to host the beloved event 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 23-24. Dozens of local vendors will be selling handcrafted jewelry, ceramics, woodcarvings, stationery, fiber art, paintings, photography, crafts, mixed media works and much more. Food trucks will be on-site to provide coffee, artisan pastries and lunch items. avl.mx/eav X

Music director Darko Butorac and the Asheville Symphony invite the community to rejoice together as they return to the stage Friday, Nov. 22, and Saturday, Nov. 23, with their first post-Helene production, Handel’s iconic Messiah. The Asheville Symphony Chorus, led by Kyle Ritter, will also participate in the performances of the 18th-century composer’s emotional oratorio telling the story of Christ’s birth, death and Resurrection. As part of the symphony’s commitment to making this concert series accessible, 200 tickets for the Nov.

22 performance can be reserved for free or whatever amount community members are able to pay. Free tickets are available for first responders for each performance. Performances are at 8 p.m. Nov. 22 and 2 and 8 p.m. Nov. 23 at First Baptist Church of Asheville at 5 Oak St. Attendees are encouraged to bring nonperishable items such as canned ham, canned fruits and vegetables, boxed macaroni and cheese, instant potatoes, and other holiday staples to help restock the church’s pantry serving families in need. avl.mx/b3a or 828-254-7046. X

Photo by Ezekiel Coppersmith

Photo from a past Marshall Handmade Market by Eliza Bell Photography

ReClaim the R.A.D. Vintage Market Days

During Tropical Storm Helene, the French Broad River swept away hundreds of works from artists who had their studios in the converted warehouses of Asheville’s River Arts District. In the aftermath, Rob Czar , artist and owner of CZArt Gallery on Haywood Road in West Asheville, began conversations with colleagues about how to respond. ReClaim the R.A.D: Flood Debris Resurrected into Art opens with a reception 5-10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at the gallery. Participating artists used scavenged items such as disfigured street signs, broken furnishings and battered pieces of

metal as canvases to produce new work. “For some of these artists, this is their first time creating artwork since the flood,” says Czar. “The emotions being expressed on these makeshift canvases are both profoundly raw and gut-wrenching.”

The pieces will be for sale at the reception, then on view and for sale by appointment through the second week of January. Eighty percent of the funds will go to the artist, and 20% will be shared among the following relief charities: River Arts District Artists Foundation (RADA), ArtsAVL and N.C. Arts Disaster Relief Fund. avl.mx/eb3 X

And just like that, the holidaze are upon us. The Mistletoe Market — the theme of the 2024 Vintage Market Days event — offers a very merry way to kickstart your to-do list 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Nov. 22-23, and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24, at the WNC Agricultural Center in Fletcher. The annual seasonal spectacular features vintage collectibles, timeless treasures, handcrafted home accessories, artsy attire, jewelry, linens, ceramics, gourmet packaged foods and oodles of items for decking the halls from over 130 vendors. Plenty of seating is available for attendees to take a

break and refuel from a selection of food trucks, coffee vendors, doughnut makers and concession stands. Santa will be there taking names and lists 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Charlie’s Angels Animal Rescue will again manage the bagcheck service and collect donations to support its work. Also, barrels will be set up at the entrance and exit doors to gather cash donations to support the River Arts District’s disaster recovery efforts. A portion of the $15 (Friday), $10 (Saturday) and $5 (Sunday) admission fees will also benefit RAD recovery. avl.mx/eb4 X

Photo of Broken RAD Sign by Amar Stewart, courtesy of the artist

Photo courtesy of Vintage Market Days Asheville

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

THIRD ROOM

Marley Carroll (electronic, experimental), 8pm

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21

CROW & QUILL

Drayton & The Dreamboats (jazz, rock'n'roll), 8pm

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

GINGER'S REVENGE CRAFT BREWERY AND TASTING ROOM

Blue Ridge Pride Open Mic Night, 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

ADDICTING SHOEGAZE-POP: On Saturday, Nov. 23, Static Age Records hosts Asheville-based

starting at 9 p.m. This shoegaze-pop band will be joined by high-tempo

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

THIRD ROOM Translating w/Nolz (electronic, jazz), 9pm

TWIN WILLOWS

The Candleers (country), 4pm

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

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

George Porter Jr. & Runnin Pardners w/ Jontavious Willis (funk, R&B), 9pm

CORK & KEG

Vaden Landers Band (country, honky-tonk, folk), 8pm

CROW & QUILL Firecracker Jazz Band, 7pm

EDA'S HIDE-A-WAY

The 40, 20, 10's (Americana), 8pm

EULOGY

Supatight w/My Magnificent Nemesis (funk, reggae, country), 8pm

FLEETWOOD'S On the Block, Busy Weather & All Blissed Out (punk), 9pm

GINGER'S REVENGE CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM

The Liz Teague Band (country, Americana, folk-rock), 6pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Mind Beach (multigenre), 6pm

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

• MerylJane w/Mon Bethelwood (acoustic), 6pm • DJ Boomtown w/Chris Bullock, Justin Stanton & Jaze Uries (multi-genre), 10pm

ONE WORLD BREWING Will Hartz (Appalachian), 8pm

SHAKEY'S DJ Dance Party w/Ek Balam, 10pm

STATIC AGE LOFT Night Moves w/Brandon Manitoba, 10pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS

Total War, Pretty Pretty, Puppy & the Dogs (indie-rock, dance-pop, cowpunkadelic), 9pm

THE GREY EAGLE Stop Light Observations w/Pocket Strange (blues, pop, indie-rock), 9pm

band Doc Aquatic,

Boone band Real Companion. Photo courtesy of Zack Hayes

THE ORANGE PEEL

Sold Out: Animals As Leaders (prog-metal), 8pm

THE STATION BLACK MOUNTAIN

Mr Jimmy (blues), 5pm

THIRD ROOM Party w/Djs, 8pm

TWIN WILLOWS

The Candleers (country), 5pm

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23

ARCHETYPE

BREWING

Underground House Music Night, 6pm

ASHEVILLE CLUB

Mr Jimmy (blues), 4pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Machine Funk (Widespread Panic tribute), 9pm

CATAWBA BREWING

SOUTH SLOPE

Don't Tell Comedy: South Slope, 7pm

CORK & KEG

Andy & Ruthie Hunter (folk-rock, R&B, Americana), 8pm

CROW & QUILL

Meschiya Lake & The Moodswingers (blues, jazz), 8pm

EULOGY

Iglesial Del Perreo:

Club Night w/Grimmjoi, 10pm

FLEETWOOD'S Janx Spirit, Sun Goblin & The Long Distance Relationship (indierock, psych-pop), 9pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

KD Groove Alliance (soul, blues, rock), 5pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Nobody’s Darling String Band, 4pm

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

Elefante (rock, jazz), 10pm

ONE WORLD BREWING Wyndham Baird (folk), 8pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

• Ka-Pow (jazz, funk, blues), 4pm

• Commander Voodoo (funk, R&B), 8pm

SHAKEY'S DJ Dance Party w/DJ Wit My Demons, 9pm

SHILOH & GAINES

Lyric (pop, rock, funk), 9pm

SIERRA NEVADA BREWING CO.

The Big Hungry (rock, funk, folk), 2pm

STATIC AGE LOFT

Time Lapse: Jose Vera & Chris F (electronic, deep-house), 8pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS

Doc Aquatic & Real Companion (shoegazepop, psych, alt-rock), 9pm

THE GREY EAGLE

Illiterate Light w/Liz Cooper (indie-rock, neo-psych), 8pm

THE ODD

Party Foul Drag, 8pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN

Lillie Syracuse (retro-pop), 8pm

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24

CATAWBA BREWING CO. SOUTH SLOPE

ASHEVILLE

Comedy at Catawba: Chris Weir, 6:30pm

CITIZEN VINYL

Mariee Siou (neo-folk, indie), 8pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY

Reggae Sunday w/ Chalwa, 3pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Jackson Grimm (folk, pop, Appalachian), 2pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Traditional Irish Music Session, 3:30pm

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Brightsome Color (multi-genre), 9pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

• Suns of Stars Sunday Residency (bluegrass), 2pm

• One Love Sundays (reggae), 7pm

S & W MARKET

Mr Jimmy (blues), 1pm

SIERRA NEVADA BREWING CO.

Alex Hunnicutt Duo (blues, jazz, funk), 2pm

SLY GROG LOUNGE Open Mic w/Mike AndersEn, 6:30pm

SOVEREIGN REMEDIES

ShooBees (jazz, blues), 11am

THE GREY EAGLE

Odie Leigh w/Angela Autumn (country, folk, blues), 8pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

Shane Smith & The Saints (country), 8pm

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25

CATAWBA BREWING CO. SOUTH SLOPE

ASHEVILLE

Musicians in the Round: Monday Open Mic, 5:45pm

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

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

Live Piano Karaoke, 7pm

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26

ARCHETYPE BREWING

Trivia Tuesday, 6:30pm

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

SOVEREIGN KAVA

Tuesday Night Open Jam, 8pm

THIRD ROOM

You Deserve It w/DJ Lil Meow Meow, 9pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Open Mic, 7pm

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27

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

Swanny, Crowe & The Monk (funk, bues), 10pm

SHILOH & GAINES Trivia Wednesdays, 7pm

SLY GROG LOUNGE

Weird Wednesday Open Jam, 6pm

THE GREY EAGLE

All Aboard AVL: The Last Waltz, 8pm THE MEADOW AT HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Well-Crafted Music w/ Matt Smith, 6pm

THE ORANGE PEEL Ocie Elliot w/William Prince (folk), 8pm

THIRD ROOM Marley Carroll (electronic, experimental), 8pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Irish Session, 7pm

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28

BATTERY PARK BOOK EXCHANGE

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

DSSOLVR

Hot To Go! Karaoke Night, 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

SHAKEY'S Karaoke w/Franco Nino, 9pm

SHILOH & GAINES Karaoke Night, 8pm STATIC AGE LOFT Auto-Tune Karaoke w/ Who Gave This B*tch A Mic, 10pm

TWIN WILLOWS The Candleers (country), 5pm

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Award-winning Aries filmmaker Quentin Tarantino was born and raised in the US. But he has said, “I don’t make movies for America. I make movies for planet Earth.” I applaud his expansive perspective and recommend you cultivate your own version of it in the coming weeks. You will generate good fortune for yourself as you enlarge your audience, your range of influences, and your sphere of activity. It will be an excellent time to transcend previous notions of who you are and what your life’s assignments are. The frontiers are calling you to open your mind wider than ever as you leap to the next higher octave of your destiny.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “Earth knows no desolation. She smells regeneration in the moist breath of decay.” Author George Meredith said that, and now I’m conveying it to you. Why? Because you’re entering a phase when you will have maximum power to ensure that decay leads to regeneration. My advice: Instead of trying to repress your awareness of what’s decomposing, tune into it energetically. The sooner you embrace the challenging but interesting work to be done, the faster and more effective the redemption will be. Here’s your battle cry: Turn rot into splendor!

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Mercury will be your slippery but sticky companion in the coming weeks, Gemini. Whether or not you believe he is a literal god who abides in the spiritual realm, I trust you will acknowledge that he is a vivid archetype. He symbolizes forces that facilitate communication and promote connection. Since he is constantly traveling and conversing, he also represents boundary-crossing and thresholds. I encourage you to summon his assistance whenever you want to lubricate links and foster combinations. He can help you unify disparate influences and strengthen your network of allies.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Utility poles and telephones poles may seem to be indestructible towers, but they have a limited life span. A prime factor in their gradual demise is woodpeckers. The birds drill holes that over time weaken the wood. Their handiwork allows moisture to seep in, causing rot, and creates access points for small animals to burrow in and cause further disintegration. I bring this to your attention because I want to encourage you to launch a woodpecker-like campaign against any seemingly impregnable structures that oppress and restrict you. It might take a while to undermine their power to interfere with your life, but now is an excellent time to begin.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): As an American, I’m jealous of how many festivals the Japanese people celebrate. By some estimates, there are over 100,000 events every year—an average of 274 per day! They may feature music, theater, dancing, entertainment, karaoke, sumo matches, games, delicious food, colorful costumes, spiritual observances, and parades of floats and shrines. If you are a Japanese Leo, you’re in luck. The astrological indicators suggest that in the coming months, you should take extra advantage of your culture’s revels, parties, and social merriment. If you’re not in Japan, do your best to fulfill your cosmic mandate to frolic and carouse. Start as soon as possible!

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): *The Flintstones* was an animated TV comedy show broadcast in the US from 1960 to 1966. It was colossally silly and wildly popular. It portrayed cavemen and cavewomen living suburban lives in the Stone Age with dinosaurs as pets and cars made of wood and rocks. The chirpy theme song for the show was stolen from a piano sonata written by the classical composer Ludwig van Beethoven. In the coming weeks, Virgo, I invite you to steadily carry out the opposite of that conversion. Transform what’s daft or preposterous into what’s elegant and

meaningful. Change superficial approaches into righteous devotions. Move away from trifling diversions and toward passionate magnificence.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Even if you’re not a professional writer, I invite you to compose three lyrical messages in the coming days. One will be a psalm of appreciation for a person who enchants your imagination and inspires you to be your best self. Another will be a hymn of praise that you address to yourself—a gorgeous, expansive boast or an outpouring of gratitude for the marvel and mystery of you. The third salutation will be an address to a higher power, whether that’s God, Goddess, Nature, your Guardian Angel, Higher Self, or Life itself. If you can find it in your brave, wild heart to sing or chant these exaltations, you will place yourself in close alignment with cosmic rhythms. (PS: In general, now is a fantastic time to identify what you love and express your feelings for what you love.)

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The Greek term *pharmakon* has a complicated set of meanings: scapegoat, poison, remedy, and recipe. According to my astrological analysis, all of these could soon be operative in your life. One surprise is that a metaphoric “poison” you are exposed to may ultimately serve as a remedy. Another curiosity is that a scapegoat may reveal a potent recipe for redemptive transformation. A further possibility: You will discover a new recipe for a very fine remedy. I’m not certain exactly how the whole story will unfold, but I’m betting the net effect will be a lot of healing.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The Museum of Broken Relationships is in Zagreb, Croatia. It collects castaway objects left behind after intimate relationships have collapsed. Among its treasures are love letters, wedding rings, jars of bitter tears, stuffed animals, featherfilled quilts, and matching sweaters. Inspired by this sad spectacle, I invite you to create a very different shrine in your home: one that’s dedicated to wonderful memories from times of successful togetherness. Making this ritual gesture of hope and positivity will prepare you well for the potential relationship growth available for you in the coming months.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): It’s the Soul Retrieval phase of your long-term cycle, Capricorn. Have there been people, either alive or dead, who wounded or pirated parts of your treasured essence? Have you experienced painful events that weakened your connection to your inner riches? The coming weeks will be an excellent time to undertake meditations in which you carry out repair and restoration. You will summon curative agents whenever you reclaim lost and missing fragments of your soul. Be aggressive in seeking helpers who can synergize your own efforts.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The Wistaria Vine in Sierra Madre, California is the world’s biggest blooming plant. Spread over an acre, it weighs 250 tons and teems with over 1.5 million blossoms. I propose we regard it as your inspirational symbol for the coming months. Why? I expect you will be more abundantly creative and generative than maybe ever before. Your vitality will overflow. Your vigor will be delightfully lavish and profound. Homework: Start planning how you will wield and manage all that lushness.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Piscean playwright and songwriter Robert Lopez is the only person to have won all four of the following awards more than once: Oscars, Tonys, Emmys, and Grammys. He was also the youngest person to have won all four. I propose we make him your inspirational role model in the coming weeks and months. According to my astrological analysis, you are primed to ascend to new levels of accomplishment in your chosen field—and to be acknowledged for your success. Think big! Then think even bigger.

MARKETPLACE

Want to advertise in Marketplace? 828-251-1333 advertise@mountainx.com • mountainx.com/classifieds

EMPLOYMENT

MEDICAL/ HEALTH CARE

DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS NEEDED Irene Wortham Center is hiring multiple Direct Support Professionals 2 Rose S W Asheville NC 28803 828-274-7518 srobinson@iwcnc.org ireneworthamcenter.org

HOTEL/ HOSPITALITY

FRONT OF HOUSE

RESTAURANT SUPERVISOR Cousins Cuban Café seeking Front of House Restaurant Supervisor to manage operations and customer experience in Black Mountain, NC. Will manage and train minimum of 8 employees, oversee product ordering, and resolve customer issues. Must have 2 years of restaurant experience. Send cover letter and resume to: Cousins Cuban Cafe, Attn: B. Martinez-Sperry, 108 Broadway Street, Black Mountain, NC, 28711

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

HANDY MAN

HANDY MAN 40 years experience in the trades, with every skill/tool imaginable for all trades with the exception of HVAC. No job too small. $35 an hour. Carl (828) 551-6000 electricblustudio@gmail. com

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

AFFORDABLE TV & INTER-

NET If you are overpaying for your service, call now for a free quote and see how much you can save! 1-844588-6579 . (AAN CAN)

AGING ROOF? NEW HOMEOWNER? STORM DAMAGE? You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind their work. Fast, free estimate. Financing available. Call 1-888-292-8225 (AAN CAN)

BATH & SHOWER UPDATES In as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 1-877-510-9918 (AAN CAN)

BEAUTIFUL BATH

UPDATES in as little as one day. Superior quality bath and shower systems at affordable prices. Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Call Now! 1-855402-6997 . (AAN CAN)

GOT AN UNWANTED CAR? Donate it to Patriotic Hearts. Fast free pick up. All 50 States. Patriotic Hearts’ programs help veterans find work or start their own business. Call 24/7: 1-855-402-7631 . (AAN CAN)

NEED NEW WINDOWS? Drafty rooms? Chipped or damaged frames? Need outside noise reduction? New, energy efficient windows may be the answer! Call for a consultation & FREE quote today. 1-877248-9944. (AAN CAN)

PAYING TOP CA$H FOR MEN'S SPORT WATCHES Rolex, Breitling, Omega, Patek Philippe, Heuer, Daytona, GMT, Submariner and Speedmaster. Call 1-855-402-7109 (AAN CAN)

PEST CONTROL Protect your home from pests safely and affordably. Roaches, Bed Bugs, Rodent, Termite, Spiders and other pests. Locally owned and affordable. Call for service or an inspection today! 1-833-237-1199 . (AAN CAN)

STOP OVERPAYING FOR AUTO INSURANCE A recent survey says that most Americans are overpaying for their car insurance. Let us show you how much you can save. Call now for a no obligation quote: 1-866472-8309 . (AAN CAN)

WATER DAMAGE CLEANUP & RESTORATION A small amount of water can lead to major damage and mold growth in your home. We do complete repairs to protect your family and your home's value! For a free estimate, call 24/7: 1-888290-2264 . (AAN CAN)

YOU MAY QUALIFY For disability benefits if you have are between 52-63 years old and under a doctor’s care for a health condition

TOP CASH PAID FOR OLD GUITARS! 1920-1980 Gibson, Martin, Fender, Gretsch, Epiphone, Guild, Mosrite, Rickenbacker, Prairie State, D'Angelico, Stromberg. And Gibson Mandolins / Banjos. 1-855402-7208 . (AAN CAN)

have an extra car that needs a

Your donated car can open the doors to independence, increased income, and higher education for a hardworking member of our community. Vehicles of all types and conditions are welcomed and appreciated!

The donation is tax-deductible. The process is simple. The impact is real.

1 Friend on “Friends”

5 Besmirch

10 U.S. immigration policy, familiarly

14 From which Christmas lights might hang

15 Dystopian horror film of 2013, with “The”

16 Birds with wings about one-tenth the length of their bodies

17 Three tickets

19 Cheeky

20 “Is that OK with you?”

21 “Despite all that ...”

23 L’il ___

26 With money

29 Makes apprehensive

31 Put forth, as a question

32 Well-worn

33 Onetime Houston athlete whose helmet featured a derrick

35 Frodo Baggins’s pursuers

39 Introductory foreign language class suggested by this puzzle’s theme

43 First British P.M. appointed by Queen Elizabeth II

44 Sung tribute

45 Tax prep pro 46 “Tangible” balance sheet item

49 Host

51 More revered 55 Comedian Youngman

56 Goddess associated with the owl

57 Outback hoppers

59 Suffix with Jumbo

60 Crazy reason

66 Bits of advice

67 Object of finger-pointing on “Fantasy Island”

68 Instruments heard at luaus, for short 69 Subside 70 Number of blessings at a Jewish wedding 71 See 64-Down DOWN 1 Li of martial arts fame 2 Item on a boathouse wall 3 Time of anticipation 4 Sycophants

Neuter 6 “Thou sing’st sweet ___”: Shak.

Hosp. areas usually on the ground floor

Get wiser, supposedly

Look to for support

Drop an F-bomb, say

Founder of the Pacific Fur Company, 1810

with

Bundled, as hay

One miraculously healed by Jesus

48 Resells at hiked-up

50 What to do before a marathon, perhaps

Open courtyards

Looks to sell

It might go way over your

The appearance of a butterfly in a home, for some

Fútbol cheer 62 Basketball’s King James, from 2003-10 and 2014-18 63 Prez #34 64

“Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.”

– Norman McLean

Heartfelt greetings from RiverLink. In the months following the disaster, we have witnessed that we are so tangibly connected by a network of waterways and human kindness. We will never be the same, and yet we are committed to this journey of recovery, bringing more resources to the restoration work ahead. Helene is a call to action for everything we do. As we rebuild, RiverLink is collaborating with community leaders and stakeholders to maximize adaptive solutions that increase community resilience for life in a water-rich area.

When you support RiverLink, you inspire the next generation toward stewardship through understanding of the river’s many faces; you underwrite local water and land management designed to accommodate the river’s power in a time of climate change; and you invest in a thriving French Broad riverway where all may recover.

If you are in a position to give of your time or your treasure, please consider supporting this work at this time. We will be honored to have you with us.