Mountain Xpress 12.15.21 by Mountain Xpress

OUR 28TH YEAR OF WEEKLY INDEPENDENT NEWS, ARTS & EVENTS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA VOL. 28 NO. 20 DEC. 15-21, 2021

DEC. 15-21, 2021

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C ONTENT S

WELLNESS

ARCHIVES

FEATURE

FEATURES 14 Q&A WITH H. BYRON BALLARD Asheville's village witch talks pagan spirituality as winter solstice approaches

15 'THE SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF USELESS GIVING' Local writer satirizes holiday shopping, 1912

PAGE 8 CHAPLAIN CRUNCH Local chaplains have seen their roles impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in ways large and small, and the effects continue to linger. But the women and men who have answered the spiritual call to serve people at their most vulnerable and afraid find the rewards of their jobs far outweigh the frustrations. COVER PHOTO Neil Jacobs COVER DESIGN Scott Southwick

20 HEALTH ROUNDUP Hospitals suspend COVID-19 vaccination requirements and other wellness news

4 LETTERS 4 CARTOON: MOLTON

A&C

5 CARTOON: BRENT BROWN 22 THE GREAT MYSTERY Local worship leaders balance ministry and music

8 NEWS 11 BUNCOMBE BEAT 16 COMMUNITY CALENDAR

A&C

18 SNAPSHOT 24 SHOW DOWN Local holiday theater offers both Grinches and glad tidings

20 WELLNESS 22 ARTS & CULTURE 34 CLUBLAND

A&C

38 FREEWILL ASTROLOGY 26 HOLIDAY SPIRITS WNC's favorite bartenders share winter beverages and tales

38 CLASSIFIEDS 39 NY TIMES CROSSWORD

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

MOUNTAINX.COM

DEC. 15-21, 2021

OPINION

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

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

Say ‘no’ to city’s plan to gut open space requirements “Pavement or Paradise? Asheville’s Future Is Yours to Decide” [Dec. 8, Xpress] revealed the attempt by Asheville’s Planning and Urban Design Department to eviscerate development rules to include open space, by proposing an “open space amendment” that waives up to 80% of green space incorporated in future builds (existing ordinance 7-11-4 at: avl.mx/b06; radical “OSP” changes at: avl.mx/b05). Appointed, unaccountable PUDD members’ efforts to cede taxpayers’ right to chill spots in developments would provide the lobby myriad ways to eliminate green space at odds with both Council’s recent passage of a zero net loss tree canopy ordinance and inclusion of greenways and parks in Asheville’s Downtown Master Plan. Locals suffer construction noise, toxic runoff, radiating concrete heat and increased traffic while watching agog as the Planning and Zoning Commission grants wealthy speculators building variances and lets them pay a fee not to comply with open space requirements — this fund accruing during litigation without being used to preserve what developers destroy: wildlife, views, neighborhood character and climate resilience. PUDD’s effort to override rules designed to make developers responsive to residents seems driven by fallacies such as “density infill” is necessary; developments provide “affordable housing”; and “all cities must grow.” But naming their maneuver an open space proposal is downright cynical — its words crafted to mislead people to assume it a good thing. 4

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Many activists, citizens, ecogroups, the Urban Forestry Commission and the Neighborhood Advisory Committee are justly appalled by and formally opposed to PUDD’s machination. People don’t flock here for a pseudo-Charlotte experience; they come for the homey vibe at risk. Readers should appreciate their right to nature amid runaway sprawl by repudiating PUDD’s unilateral overreach; PZC’s pending consideration to approve PUDD’s egregious open space proposal and development variances; and City Council’s history of whole-cloth adopting staff's and commissions’ recommendations. I encourage everyone to express their outrage to PUDD at 828-259-5830; to PZC via contact info at avl.mx/8b6 and by emailing all Council members at AshevilleNCCouncil@ashevillenc. gov. — Queen Lady Passion (Dixie Deerman) Asheville Editor’s note: The writer notes that she is a member of the Tree Protection Task Force and Rhododendron Creek Community neighborhood association in West Asheville. She can be emailed via oldenwilde.org.

About those big, ‘remote’ outdoor weddings Outdoor weddings are big business here. What could be more romantic than holding a wedding in an open field with the magnificent Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop? And inviting a hundred close friends to an openair reception, with the DJ playing your (really loud) favorite music? Maybe add some fireworks and air horns to

celebrate. Or maybe it’s not a wedding, and you just want to hold a really big noisy party on that remote hillside. Unless that hillside’s not so remote. Like when the “event barn” is in the middle of an established residential community. Then the loud music destroys every vestige of our neighborhood’s peace and quiet, and the traffic on our narrow country road creates gridlock. What if an ambulance or firetruck has to get through? Buncombe County doesn’t regulate these events on properties zoned as open use. The original intent of OU zoning was to protect rural enterprises from undue restrictions. Most residents of OU districts have chosen to live here because we want a slower, quieter life, close to the land and its natural rhythms. We want to live in a peaceful community where we have some space to stretch out. Let the kids play in the woods, plant a garden or raise a few chickens. Invite friends to sit on the deck on a warm summer evening. But clever entrepreneurs are exploiting the loopholes offered by OU zoning. They often promote their events as “agribusiness,” because they’ve discovered how lucrative it can be to rent out a piece of farmland for the weekend. Regardless of what the neighbors think about the noise and traffic. Article IV (Noise) Section 26-181 of the Buncombe County general ordinance prohibits any noise that interferes with the “peace, dignity or good order” of the neighborhood — specifically those that are “unreasonably loud, disturbing and unnecessary.” But someone’s got to file the complaint and go to court, where they will likely go up against well-paid lawyers hired by the event-venue owners to defend their business. The N.C. Department of Transportation says we can install speed bumps (“traffic calming devices”) on our narrow, dead-end road — but we will have to pay for the “devices” and foot the bill for a traffic engineering study to determine need and location. The best solution? Get the county to add a permitting aspect to the OU zoning structure, something that requires event-venue managers to request (and pay for) a permit for any commercial gathering of more than 20 people. The permit could restrict the number of participants and vehicles, set clear limits on noise, limit or ban alcohol consumption, confirm security arrangements and acquire signoff from all neighbors within, say, 600 feet of the venue. This wouldn’t restrict gatherings of family or friends. And it would help promote real agritourism (farm tours, farm stand businesses, educational

CARTOON BY BRENT BROWN programs) and the normal operation of a real farm. Until that happens, we all have to be ready to call the Sheriff’s Office to file noise complaints and request traffic control. We need to restore a semblance of peace and quiet to our mountain communities. — Sarah Blanchard Weaverville

lights in Asheville. The growth has been great. We need to revisit 2012 rules and update please! — Sally Safara Asheville

Noticing the effects of light pollution

In the Nov 17 edition of Mountain Xpress’ “Buncombe Beat” article on page 13, “Second Mountain Raise Highlights Crowdfunding for WNC Businesses,” readers experienced the following: Ten bolded names of those featured and interviewed. Nine of the bolded names were men, with one female introduced in relation to her husband, a co-founder. I attended the event, which was relatively gender-balanced in terms of audience, and Mountain BizWorks, the host, also did a fair job of representing both women-founded and male-founded businesses. The press coverage, however, unfortunately replicates the felt exclusion of women business owners in the community. As an advocate, activist, author and educator who strives to promote gender equity across opportunities and outcomes for business owners, this felt quite gender-imbalanced. In my book co-authored with Banu

[Regarding “Let It Shine (Less): WNC Wrestles With Light Pollution,” Nov. 24, Xpress:] We agree that light pollution is a problem in the western Asheville (Candler) area. You cannot see the stars at times, or they are dim. We personally don’t use lights around our house, but neighbors do. I wasn’t aware, but should have been, that this causes problems for nocturnal animals. Thanks for your article. — Lynne and Richard Gaudette Candler

Update needed for city’s outdoor lighting ordinance [Regarding “Let It Shine (Less): WNC Wrestles With Light Pollution,” Nov. 24, Xpress:] There are too many

Women need to be included in entrepreneurial ecosystem

Ozkazanc-Pan (Brown University), Entrepreneurial Ecosystems: A Gender Perspective (2022), we provide research-backed best practices and recommendations for how we can individually and collectively close the gender gap in entrepreneurship. Asheville’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is featured in the book, published by Cambridge University Press. I ask Mountain Xpress’ editorial board, journalists and readers to be more aware, mindful and intentional regarding who is featured, covered and portrayed in your newspaper with a gender-aware lens. This intentional change is necessary for women to feel included, accepted and welcome as entrepreneurs, potential or nascent entrepreneurs into the community. Having a stand-alone edition for women business owners is insufficient. Women need to be mainstreamed into the high-growth, scalable, fundable entrepreneurial ecosystem. The press plays a critical role in this effort. Thank you for responding publicly to this request. — Susan Clark Muntean Associate professor of management UNC Asheville Asheville Editor’s response: Thank you for your feedback. Xpress ran two articles on Mountain Raise, one before and one after the event. Our Nov. 3 pre-coverage featured Jessie Dean, founder

of Asheville Tea Co., and Aron and Jessica Wehr, owners of Wehrloom Honey and Meadery (“Capital Idea: Mountain Raise Connects Small Businesses With Local Investors”). Both Dean and Aron spoke at the Nov. 10 event to discuss their previous crowdfunding successes, but neither pitched to local investors there. The purpose of our event reporting was to highlight those who did pitch, which is included in the Nov. 17 issue.

What about Sugar Britches? As the owners of Sugar Britches in downtown Asheville, we were delighted to see that Mountain Xpress devoted an article to local costume shops in its Dec. 1 issue [“Going Out in Style: Asheville’s Costume Shops Serve Diverse Community Desires”]. The cover even featured a variation on our tagline: Dress to Thrill! However, we were disappointed to find that we weren’t mentioned at all in the article. Sugar Britches features a range of found, handmade and upcycled clothing and accessories, provided by at least 15 of Asheville’s most talented designers. Our pieces span the gamut from straight-up costume offerings to carefully curated upscale consignment pieces with rock ’n’ roll

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MOUNTAINX.COM

DEC. 15-21, 2021

OPINION

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

Xpress seeks student writing & art for 2022 Kids Issue Attention, local kids and teens: What’s the most beautiful thing in your community or the world? Why? Once you have an idea, it’s time to get creative, then share your work for possible publication in Xpress’ Kids Issue! The theme for 2022 is “Simply Beautiful.” Each March, Mountain Xpress publishes the colorful, engaging work of Western North Carolina’s K-12 students. There is no fee to enter for possible publication, and the deadline for submissions is Friday, Jan. 28. THEME: “SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL” Students, here are some questions to think about to get started. What is the most beautiful thing in your local community or the world? Why do you like it? What makes it beautiful? If it’s a beautiful idea, what obstacles might there be to making it a reality? How would you overcome them? If it’s a person, place or creature, what challenges do they face? Are there ways you can make a difference? Create art or writing to share your vision!

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Educators, parents and students, please send us the best work in the following categories: • Essays Essays should be no more than 300 words (though some exceptions can be made). Typed entries are encouraged. • Short fiction Fiction should be no more than 300 words (though some exceptions can be made). Typed entries are encouraged. • Poems Short-form poetry is preferred, with poems limited to a maximum of 30 lines. Typed submissions are encouraged. • Art Art should be digitally photographed or be able to be photographed by Mountain Xpress. Photos of sculp-

DEC. 15-21, 2021

SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL: Local K-12 students are invited to create art and writing for possible publication in the 2022 Mountain Xpress Kids Issue. Deadline is Friday, Jan. 28. Photo by Getty Images tures are also permissible. Artists’ statements are welcome. • Photos Photos should be high resolution, digital photos between 200 KB and 6 MB (cellphone setting of “medium” size). Artists’ statements are welcome. • Deadline The deadline is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Friday, Jan. 28, 2022, to be considered for publication in Xpress’ two-part Kids Issue, publishing March 9 and 16. Sorry, we cannot accept late entries. • Submit your work Here’s the link to upload student work: avl.mx/b0m • Returns Mailed or hand-delivered pieces may be picked up after the issue publishes, though Xpress cannot be responsible for their return. • Questions? Email kids@mountainx.com and one of our staffers will get back in touch. We can’t wait to see what local kids and teens have to share!

MOUNTAINX.COM

— Xpress staff X

flair. We also showcase the high art of Asheville’s costume couture scene, including pieces created for Asheville Community Theatre’s Costume Drama show as well as Color Me Goodwill. Additionally, we have hosted FASHMOB, a cooperative effort among local fashion photographers, models, makeup and hair artists, and designers. We also sponsored and created a uniquely costumed Christmas tree display for Rabbit Rabbit’s Winter Tree Carnival, with a portion of proceeds benefiting MANNA FoodBank. Our initial effort at bringing Sugar Britches to life at Foundation in the River Arts District in 2019-20 was cut short just 10 months into our operations by the pandemic. However, we are now open at a brand-new location downtown (31 Page Ave.) and would encourage your readers to stop by and check out a truly “Asheville” shop. — Michael Franco and Diane Curry Asheville Editor’s response: We appreciate your letter and regret that we could not include all of Asheville’s wonderful costume shops in the piece. The article was intended to look at different approaches to running costume shops, as well as how the featured shop owners arrived at where they are today. Due to space, this required us to limit our focus to three businesses.

Let’s make the new year a new beginning If it is true that all human hearts yearn for peace, why isn’t peace education given an important place in our personal lives, in our schools, in our political relationships or our spiritual lives? Peacemaking can be taught in our schools — not as a fringe benefit but as an alternative to our military industrial complex and the dominating power of the so-called “free market” that has created economic inequality that threatens and weakens our democratic system. The literature on peacemaking is large and growing. How many of you reading this have taken a peace course? Some colleges and universities have programs, and the Center for Teaching Peace has reached what's estimated to be thousands of elementary and high schools at appropriate age levels, starting from primary grades to adults. I know of no public school in our area, but Warren Wilson College lists Peace and Justice Studies, which includes peacekeeping as part of the curriculum. Peace studies draw on political science, sociology, history, anthropology, psychology, philosophy and other fields that influence our way of life. Let’s give peace a chance and place it

in the school curriculum. Take peace seriously, not merely once a year when the International Day of Peace is observed locally in Asheville. I am operating on the principle that it is easier to build a peaceful child than heal the tendency of war-making and violence in adults. It will be a long and tedious journey to develop and incorporate teaching peace as part of our curriculum in public schools. It reflects changes in the American way of life. Here are a few example topics geared to the child’s development: nonviolence, human nature, personal conflict resolution and Socratic discussions. By middle school or high school, include the writings of Gandhi, Tolstoy, Dorothy Day, Howard Zinn, Gene Sharp, Martin Luther King Jr. and Coleman McCarthy, who founded the Center for Teaching Peace in 1980, which has spread to many public and private schools. There are too many inspirational and thoughtful people to name in this short essay. They come from all ethnic, religious, secular and political backgrounds throughout the globe. I suggest you check it out for yourself. It will inspire you, frustrate you, perhaps anger you — and paradoxically, bring you the joy of participating with a sense of being connected to the world. And, in our area, there are a lot of wonderful, dedicated and sincere people to meet that may just expand your life. I can’t tell you what to do, but depending on your life situation, the least you can do is inform yourself, notify your representatives and support peace and justice workers. Live up to your ideals, resisting the temptation to just go along. We Americans tend to call demonstrations “protests,” but we are asking not just to stop something but “to start something new” — a new way to look at the past, present and forge a truly United States. Find out for yourself: Read and reflect on American history in the period that interests you, such as the making of the Constitution, George Washington’s presidency and the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, known as the “trust buster,” breaking up big businesses. For more resources on education or nonviolence, email esacco189@gmail.com. — Ed Sacco Asheville

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

MOUNTAINX.COM

DEC. 15-21, 2021

NEWS

Chaplain crunch Spiritual guidance in the time of COVID

IN THE

S P I RUIET ISS

BY JUSTIN MCGUIRE jmcguire@mountainx.com Editor’s note: In preparing this story, Xpress also reached out to Mission Health seeking comment, but while an initial contact was made, the organization ultimately did not respond to the paper’s request for an interview. As a longtime hospital chaplain, Molly Garnett is used to navigating emotionally challenging moments. In her job, she offers comfort to folks when they’re at their most frightened or are getting life-shattering news. She’s often present when people are nearing the end of their own lives. She prays with grieving family members and stressed hospital workers and sometimes even cries with patients. None of that, though, quite prepared Garnett and other hospital staffers for the physical, emotional and spiritual toll the COVID-19 pandemic has taken. “The most gut-wrenching times were end-of-life situations when we had to be in full PPE, holding up iPads and seeing these devastated faces having to say goodbye,” says Garnett, the spiritual care manager at Pardee UNC Health Care in Hendersonville. “Under different end-of-life situations, they would be there with their family members, but they just couldn’t be because it’s COVID. So they’re having to do it in this sort of impersonal, remote way. And that’s gotta be really tough.” Local chaplains — women and men who have answered the spiritual call to serve people who are at their most vulnerable and afraid —

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MOVED BY THE SPIRIT: Steve Brady, left, and Mark Graham have full-time jobs outside law enforcement but serve as volunteer chaplains with the Asheville Police Department. “It’s just really a personal calling, and I think it’s a great opportunity to love on people,” says Brady. Photo by Neil Jacobs have seen their roles impacted by the pandemic in ways large and small. That’s true for hospital chaplains like Garnett as well as those who work with law enforcement officers, crime victims and jail inmates. And while many of the most stringent COVID-19 safety measures have gradually been lifted at hospitals and elsewhere, the pandemic’s effects are still very much with us. “It just has not gone away,” says Garnett. “So there’s not that time to step back and recover. It’s just on and on and on and on. People are tired, and it’s hard.”

SPIRITUAL SUPPORT

Garnett, a board-certified chaplain, is considered part of the hos-

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pital’s clinical team and, as such, she must manage a wide range of responsibilities. They include assessing a patient’s spiritual needs when called upon, just as a nurse would do a physical assessment. “We are not in the role of being a pastor or a priest or anything, because those folks represent one particular congregation of like-minded people,” she explains. “We are here for all patients, all families and all team members.” The chaplain’s role, notes Garnett, who has a master’s degree in religious education, is to respond to the spiritual issues and needs of all of those groups, including things like fear, trust, guilt and despair. Where do people find hope? How do they find meaning in suffering?

Carol Stefaniak, Pardee’s vice president for clinical services and chief nursing officer, sounds a similar note. “Chaplains provide a listening ear and the emotional and spiritual support so important to our patients, their relatives and friends, and hospital team members. Their understanding of various religious beliefs and cultural diversity are critical components when providing spiritual care and guidance in a person’s time of need.” During the early days of COVID19, one of the primary responsibilities for Garnett and Pardee’s other chaplains was keeping patients connected with spiritual resources such as clergy, family members and friends when visitors weren’t allowed in the hospital. “I did speak with as many clergy as I could to let them know that if they had someone in the hospital, I could visit on their behalf,” she recalls. As a result, Garnett ended up spending time with many of the hospital’s COVID-19 patients, even when verbal communication was difficult because the patients were wearing breathing apparatus or coughing frequently. The pandemic has had ripple effects as well. Like hospitals across the country, Pardee has lost staff as overworked, stressed-out nurses and other team members have opted to exit the health care profession. “It’s been hard to see folks leave, but I understand,” says Garnett. Rather than trying to talk people into staying, she emphasizes the good they’ve done for people in need. “That means reminding them that they are still that same person who was called, that they have value and that God will use them in new ways,” she says.

BUILDING IT BACK UP

For the Asheville Police Department, the combination of COVID-19 and the well-publicized exodus of officers — roughly 90 have left since the start of 2020 — has meant drastic changes to its chaplaincy program, which is entirely volunteer-based. The other chaplains quoted in this article are paid employees of the organizations they work with. Police Department officials say they’re confident, however, that their program is headed in the right direction. One of a police chaplain’s main jobs is providing spiritual and emotional support for the agency’s officers, says Mark Graham, who coordinates the APD’s program. In order to provide that support, chap-

“It’s just on and on. ... People are tired, and it’s hard.” — chaplain Molly Garnett lains must get to know the men and women on the front lines. “So we do what we call a ridealong, which gives us a chance to spend time with the officers in the car, ride with them for two hours, four hours, six hours, whatever we feel is appropriate,” Graham explains. As officers’ comfort level grows, they become more willing to discuss problems and concerns, whether personal or work-related. That deepening trust also makes them more likely to involve a chaplain when called to the scene of a suicide or homicide. For the department’s chaplains, such callouts, which often mean helping the deceased person’s family members or friends, are another key responsibility. “This is a traumatic thing in someone’s life,” says chaplain Steve Brady. “Our job is to take the spiritual side, pray with them, whatever they want us to do to try to help them. Maybe they want us to call a family member. Maybe they want us to call the funeral home. They might ask us to go get them coffee. It doesn’t matter. We feel called to that purpose.” But due to COVID-related safety protocols, the ride-along program was shut down for about a year, meaning chaplains haven’t had as much chance to develop relationships with newer officers. Social distancing concerns have also made officers less likely to turn to chaplains in the wake of a colleague’s death. “So our calls have gone down drastically during COVID,” notes Graham. “We used to get two to three every month; now it’s gone down to probably one a month. Not that the suicides and fatalities have

HEALING PRAYER: Molly Garnett has been a chaplain at various hospitals for 20 years. “It’s incredibly rich and a wonderful experience,” she says. Photo courtesy of Pardee UNC Health Care dropped. It’s just something we have to build back.” The first step in preparing for the future is adding more chaplains. Right now, the department has four certified volunteer chaplains, including Graham and Brady. Two more are expected to be on board soon, with an ultimate target of eight. Capt. Mike Lamb says he’s optimistic that the program will expand as COVID-19 numbers decrease. Lamb heads up the APD’s Community Engagement Division, which oversees the chaplains program. “We have a lot of folks that are reaching out and feel called to offer support to law enforcement, especially now,” he reports. And the chaplains already in the program are taking steps such as visiting the department’s resource centers

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DEC. 15-21, 2021

N EWS and bringing snacks to help build relationships with officers. Meanwhile, in spite of the resignations, Graham and Brady say they don’t see a morale problem within the department. Both maintain that Chief David Zack, who was hired in February 2020, is providing outstanding leadership. “I think morale is very good, to be honest with you,” Graham observes. “So even with all of these things going against them, the officers are getting the job done, despite being short-staffed.” Brady agrees. “We’re with these guys quite a bit, and I think it’s a new era: I think we’ve endured the difficult days, and going forward, it’s going to get better, honestly.” Both men sing the APD’s praises and lament the negative attention nationally in the wake of the 2020 killing of George Floyd in Minnesota and the defund-the-police movement. “That was so disappointing when you see things on the news, because I’m there, I’m with these guys,” says Brady. “We have some first-class officers. When everybody in the world runs away from danger, they go to it, and without them, we will be in a whole world of hurt.”

“Sometimes there are words; other times I must just practice being present as tears flow.” — chaplain Vanessa James

A HIGHER CALLING: Vanessa James says she decided to become a chaplain because she believes most people's problems stem from a spiritual inner struggle. Photo courtesy of Vanessa James

INMATE INTERVENTIONS

Chaplain Vanessa James helps provide spiritual guidance to almost 500 detainees at the Buncombe County Detention Facility. That

includes one-on-one visits, filling requests for Bibles and other faithbased reading material, providing comfort to prisoners and their families during times of grief and leading monthly prayer services. But all of those efforts were hindered when, at the start of the pandemic, chaplains and faith-based volunteers were barred from the facility. “With fearful, lonely, isolated detainees and their family members, this posed a challenge,” says James, who works for the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office. The agency partners with the Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry to run the chaplaincy program. Things have slowly been returning to normal, but restrictions remain. Although chaplains can now be in the detention center, they’re still not allowed in the housing units. Instead, one-on-one visits with inmates take place in the glass-partitioned booths used by attorneys.

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“As time progresses, the hope is to have the faith-based volunteers return for small-group discussions, either in person or virtually,” says James, who holds a master’s in divinity from the Princeton Theological Seminary. Throughout the pandemic, ABCCM, local churches and other groups have continued to donate faith-based materials. Inmates can submit written requests for such items, she says. But COVID-19 hasn’t been the only challenge the detention center’s chaplains have had to deal with. Four inmates have died this year, three of them by suicide. After the most recent incident, on Nov. 19, detainees were given a chance to discuss their feelings with a chaplain one-on-one, says James. Chaplains offered support to staff and officers as well. There have also been unsuccessful suicide attempts. Speaking about her confidential conversations with those inmates, James said, “Recently, I had the miraculous privilege of speaking with individuals who returned alive to the facility and have seen the hand of God lifting them up out of depression.” Another key function these chaplains perform is taking phone calls from family members who ask them to inform a detainee about a loved one’s passing. “Here is where the chaplain must literally walk with the individual through the valley of the shadows of death, helping them to fear no evil and assuring them that God is with them,” she says. “Sometimes there are words; other times I must just practice being present as tears flow.” But the most rewarding part of serving as a chaplain, she continues, comes when an inmate receives “a divine revelation” that they need to stop making excuses for their harmful choices. “The individual goes on to realize that past hurts do not excuse, justify or even pardon the charge or crime, but with the revelation, now healing, deliverance, transformation, rehabilitation and moving forward becomes a real possibility,” says James. And despite the many challenges and heartbreaks that the work entails, particularly in the time of COVID-19, all of those interviewed by Xpress affirmed how rewarding it is to be a chaplain. “I think I have the best job,” says Garnett. “What a privilege it is to be allowed into a person’s vulnerable moments.” X

BUNCOMBE BEAT

County authorizes nearly $1.7M in pandemic funding for economic development

GET CREATIVE: Leaders in Asheville’s arts and entertainment sectors gather for the Asheville Area Arts Council’s Creative Summit Nov. 3 to discuss the impacts of the pandemic on the industry. The nonprofit was awarded $50,000 from Buncombe County's American Rescue Plan Act funds for its Creative Sector Recovery Grant Program, which targets the region’s artists and arts organizations. Photo by Reggie Tidwell The ongoing effects of the COVID19 pandemic rang heavily throughout discussions at the Dec. 7 meeting of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners. Board members signed off on three funding initiatives designed to boost job retention and creation in sectors harmed by the pandemic, offered bonuses to county staff involved with COVID-19 response and formally affirmed an extension of the county’s indoor mask mandate by Chair Brownie Newman. No one spoke at a public hearing on the funding, after which the board unanimously approved appropriations totaling $1,675,000 from the county’s federal American Rescue Plan Act money for three different economic development projects. The largest award, $1.25 million, went to the Mountain Community Capital Fund, which offers small-business loans to local entrepreneurs with limited collateral for traditional banking. An additional $375,000 was awarded to the Eagle Market Streets Development Corp. for its Community Equity Fund, which focuses on the development of minority-owned local businesses. And $50,000 went to the Asheville Area Arts Council’s Creative Sector Recovery Grant Program, targeted specifically for the region’s artists and arts organizations. (All three awards had been included in an $11 million tranche of funding approved

Nov. 16 but required the additional public hearing under state law.) “As folks know, the commission reviewed over a hundred — well over a hundred — different proposals, and I think these really stood out … as really strong ideas for helping the people in our community who are out there, who have a vision for owning their own business or growing a locally owned business, which is really the heart of our economy,” said Newman. Commissioners also approved a policy for doling out over $1 million in pandemic premium pay to Buncombe staff. Employees will be eligible for the money, drawn from federal ARPA funds, in four different tiers for employees based on their involvement in the county’s COVID19 response, with some receiving bonuses as high as $3,000. The county estimates that 757 workers are eligible for at least some bonus pay, which will be distributed by the end of the month. Meanwhile, board members voted unanimously in support of Newman’s extension to the county mask mandate, which had been set to expire Nov. 30, through Wednesday, Jan. 5. The vote was a formality, as the chair had announced the extension Nov. 30, but marked a newly united front on the issue for the commissioners; Robert Pressley, the board’s only Republican, had voted against an extension Sept. 21. Newman noted rising COVID-19 case numbers, increases in holiday

travel and shopping and the potential risks of the coronavirus’s omicron variant as reasons for extending the mandate. Buncombe is alone among Western North Carolina counties in imposing an indoor mask requirement, although elsewhere in the state Durham, Orange and Wake counties have continued to keep mandates in place. Board member Al Whitesides suggested that the mandate remain effective “until further notice” instead of continually being extended. “When you look at the seriousness of what’s going on with the virus — I’ll be the first to say I hate wearing the mask, but I want to stay around a few more years, too.”

— Brooke Randle X

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Commissioners set budget priorities for fiscal 2022-23 The polished hardwood floors of the Ivy Building at A-B Tech speak to the structure’s history as a gymnasium for the former St. Genevieve-of-the-Pines Catholic girls school. It played host to a different type of exercise Dec. 9: the annual budgetary goal-setting conducted by the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners. Emerging from the retreat was a renewed focus on affordable housing, which six of the seven board members listed as among their top five priorities. Matt Cable, Buncombe’s community development division manager, also unveiled a draft county goal to build or repair 2,800 affordable housing units by 2030. To achieve that goal — which includes the construction of 1,500 new rental units and 400 new units for purchase at prices affordable to households making less than 80% of the area median income, as well as repairs to 500 current affordable units and 400 new units for households making between 80% and 120% AMI — Cable said the county would have to increase its staff capacity and spending. But Buncombe leaders seemed willing to take up that challenge. Board Chair Brownie Newman distributed a memo to his colleagues during the meeting that estimated $52.5 million in additional local spending through 2030 would be necessary to meet the affordable housing construction targets, assuming the county took advantage of federal low-income housing tax credits. That amount roughly lines up with the $50 million mentioned in ongoing county discussions regarding an affordable housing bond referendum that could take place in 2022. “It’s a big investment, but it’s not beyond our community’s capacity,”

LOCATION, LOCATION: Buncombe County has flagged several properties it owns in downtown Asheville, including a cluster of short buildings and parking lots along Coxe Avenue, as possibilities for redevelopment into affordable housing. Screen capture courtesy of Buncombe County Newman said, noting that the city of Asheville and Dogwood Health Trust could also provide funding. Some of the affordable units are likely to be built on county-owned property in downtown Asheville. On Dec. 7, the board unanimously approved hiring three new planners to oversee housing feasibility studies for locations near Coxe Avenue, Valley Street and Woodfin Street; Cable estimated that construction at those properties could begin in fiscal year 2024-25.

Second on the board’s list of priorities was the broad topic of “climate and environmental solutions.” Commissioner Parker Sloan, who chairs the board’s recently created Environmental and Energy Stewardship Subcommittee, said he was particularly interested in preserving Buncombe’s open spaces through conservation easements and other measures as the county continues to gain population. While Newman, another member of the environmental subcommittee,

acknowledged that climate and conservation work aren’t traditionally regarded as core government services, he said residents have been demanding county action on those fronts in recent years. “In the community that we live in and the day that we live in, these are areas where it’s very important to make a difference,” he said. Rounding out the top three budget focus areas was expanding workforce apprenticeship programs for young county residents, a topic that hadn’t appeared on the board’s list of priorities for the previous fiscal year. Commissioner Amanda Edwards, who also works as executive director of the A-B Tech Foundation, suggested such programs could help the county address staffing shortages in emergency medical services while increasing opportunities for children of color. Buncombe is heading into the next fiscal year with substantial cash reserves that could be used toward these priorities or other new spending. At an Oct. 19 meeting, County Manager Avril Pinder estimated that between $17 million and $19 million could be spent from the county’s fund balance while still maintaining the nearly $50 million cushion required by board policy. And as noted by Buncombe budget analyst Rusty Mau, elevated consumer spending continues to yield high sales tax revenues for the county. As of November, he said, seasonally adjusted spending levels were up more than 19% compared with January 2020; actual sales tax revenues for this July through September, the latest period for which data is available, set new county records for those months.

— Daniel Walton X

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WNC’s state lawmakers reflect amid electoral uncertainty It was billed as a wrap-up of a busy year for Western North Carolina’s state legislative delegation. But much of the Dec. 10 gathering hosted by the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce wound up being devoted to the future of the General Assembly — a future that, following a Dec. 8 order by the N.C. Supreme Court, faces many unknowns. Due to lawsuits challenging new district maps drawn by the Republican-majority legislature, the state Supreme Court suspended candidate filing for all races and rescheduled primary elections from March to Tuesday, May 17. WNC’s lawmakers were asked to predict if the maps would stand following the court’s review, currently slated for early January. For Republican Sen. Chuck Edwards, who represents the eastern third of Buncombe County along with Henderson and Transylvania counties, the answer was clear. “As one of the architects, I fully expect that these maps will be upheld,” he said. The senator claimed that redistricting had been conducted in full compliance with previous court orders and had not taken partisan or racial data into account. Two previous sets of maps developed by state Republicans over the past decade were declared unconstitutional by federal and state courts due to racial and partisan gerrymandering. Democratic Sen. Julie Mayfield, representing the remainder of Buncombe, strongly disagreed. She pointed to projections showing that, despite North Carolina’s nearly even division of 2020 presidential votes between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden, the new maps would likely lead to at least 10 of 14 U.S. House seats going to Republicans and large Republican majorities in the state legislature. “These maps are on the edge of probability,” Mayfield said. “To say there was no intentionality is hard to believe.” Further complicating matters in Buncombe County is a unique state requirement that districts for the county Board of Commissioners match those of the N.C. House. Corey Atkins, the Asheville chamber’s vice president of public policy, noted that incumbent commissioners from different districts may be forced to compete for the same seat if the new maps remain in place.

TABLED DISCUSSION: Members of Western North Carolina’s General Assembly delegation shared their thoughts on new district maps and recent accomplishments at a Dec. 10 event hosted by the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. Photo by Daniel Walton That requirement was pushed forward in 2011 by Republican Rep. Tim Moffitt, who at the time represented Buncombe County. Now representing Henderson County, Moffitt said the move “made sense at the time” but admitted that he hadn’t anticipated the amount of legal wrangling over state districts that has since occurred. He said he would now consider passing new legislation to draw county commission districts separately from state district lines.

MISSIONS ACCOMPLISHED

Despite the future focus, legislators did get an opportunity to share their proudest achievements from the recently concluded General Assembly session. For Buncombe Democrat John Ager, that was shepherding through a $30 million state grant for cybersecurity programs at Montreat College. The money had proved controversial in a previous budget cycle after Ager’s Democratic colleagues objected to funding the school, which

requires all employees to sign a “Community Life Covenant” reflecting conservative Christian values. (See “A wider web,” Xpress, Dec. 4, 2019, avl.mx/b0b.) But this time around, he said, he’d succeeded at “keeping it enough on the down-low so my caucus didn’t notice it until the very end.” Fellow Buncombe County Democrat Brian Turner flagged his biggest win as pushing through an increase to the legal age of marriage in the state, a move he said would help combat human trafficking. North Carolina had allowed anyone over 14 to be wed; the new legislation raises the minimum age to 16 and requires anyone marrying a minor to be no more than four years older. The third of Buncombe’s House members, Democrat Susan Fisher, chose instead to reflect on accomplishments from early in her more than 18-year tenure. Among her biggest wins, she mentioned shifting the state’s approach to sex education away from an abstinence-only model and allowing brewers to produce high-gravity products.

All three representatives have announced that they will not be running for reelection in 2022. Ager and Turner plan to finish out their terms, while Fisher will retire in January, with her replacement to be appointed by Buncombe County’s Democratic Party leadership. Meanwhile, Edwards touted tax cuts that were included in the current state budget. North Carolina’s corporate income tax rate will start phasing out in 2025 and be eliminated completely by 2029, and personal income tax rates are being reduced as well. Residents will also be able to exclude more income from taxation due to bigger standard deductions and child tax reductions. And Mayfield trumpeted her role in passing House Bill 951, an overhaul of the state’s energy regulations. She said the legislation held Duke Energy, North Carolina’s largest utility, to aggressive carbon reduction goals in an effort to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change.

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— Daniel Walton X DEC. 15-21, 2021

FEA T U RE S

Q&A: H. Byron Ballard, Asheville’s village witch Winter in Western North Carolina is marked by freezing temperatures, barren landscapes and snow-capped mountains as nature settles into its yearly slumber. But for all of its stillness, winter is also often a time of reflection and celebration for the new year to come. The cycle of the seasons is full of spiritual meaning, says H. Byron Ballard. Known as Asheville’s village witch, Ballard specializes in Appalachian folk magic and folkways. Ballard is also senior priestess and co-founder of the Mother Grove Goddess Temple, a nonprofit church with a focus on the many forms of the divine feminine. Her work as a pagan priestess has her regularly performing rituals and ceremonies for locals, from sainings (an Earthfocused baby blessing) and full moon celebrations to final rites to honor those who have passed. Ballard is a fourth-generation native of WNC who attended Enka High School and UNC Asheville. She is a published author of six books

— with a seventh in the pipeline — on Earth-based spirituality and Appalachian culture. Xpress sat down with Ballard to discuss her spiritual beliefs, how she celebrates the winter solstice and common misconceptions about witches. This interview has been condensed for length and edited for clarity. How do you define spirituality? Spirituality is the feeling — I’m going to call it a feeling first — of a deeper connection. It feels metaphysical. But obviously, it manifests in a lot of different ways. And then spirituality as a verb is the act of being in touch with your spiritual self and working to grow and deepen that connection. What is your spiritual background? I was raised unchurched. My mother’s family are Methodists, and my father’s family is Baptist. But I was raised without either of those things. I would go to church sometimes with neighbors, and I would go to church with my grandmother sometimes. But I was never baptized and I’ve never been Christian.

VILLAGE WITCH: H. Byron Ballard is senior priestess and co-founder of the Mother Grove Goddess Temple. Photo courtesy of Ballard You’re a Wiccan priestess. What does that mean? I am known as the Asheville village witch because I do all those witchy things — energy clearings on houses, house blessings, baby blessings, funerals and midwifing. Which is just what clergy people do, let’s just be clear. I’m clergy with Mother Grove Goddess Temple. My spirituality is completely tied into nature. In that sense, I’m an animist and a pagan. I find the divine through nature and I see nature as divine. I grew up hiking on the mountain, climbing trees and raising animals. I always felt that what I learned in nature was more significant than anything that I received or understood from the various churches that I visited with friends. It felt holy, though at that time I wouldn’t have used that word to describe it. What are some common misconceptions about pagans or witches? That we are evildoers and we bring blights on communities. The biggest [misconception] around here is the notion that we are anti-Christian, which is absolutely not true. We don’t have green faces and we don’t have warts on them. Well, some of us may have warts on our nose. A wart is a very successful virus, after all. Every year, I encourage people to do a hashtag on my Facebook

DEC. 15-21, 2021

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page about what witches look like. I encourage all the witches I know to post a picture of themselves at work or at home with #whatwitcheslooklike, so that people can look at all these just regular faces and people. What are some pagan celebrations for this time of year? All of the holidays and holy days that are built into December in the Northern Hemisphere — whether people will admit it or not — are based on the winter solstice. When we reach the autumnal equinox [Sept. 22 or 23 each year], that’s the point where there is as much light time as there is dark time in a day. From there on out to the winter solstice, the nights get longer and longer and longer. Then when we hit the winter solstice [Dec. 21 or 22 each year], the days start becoming longer again. We finally have the possibility of crops being able to grow again, of being able to feed people. So there’s an outpouring of joy and delight around the winter solstice. If people want to celebrate the winter solstice — and I’ll use the phrase nontraditionally, but actually it’s deeply traditional — something that my daughter and I always did would be to get up before dawn on the day of the winter solstice and make a lot of noise. We’d have shakers and bells and we would sing up the sun. It’s a wonderful bonding experience and it really makes that time significant. Do you have advice for how to incorporate more spirituality into our lives? I want to encourage people to be in their spiritual self all the time and not save it for a special holiday or a special day of the week, but to really be in touch with the divine however you see them. And also to center that into the cycle of the seasons. Observe the seasons as they are where you are. Don’t feel like you need to harken back to some other place that isn’t your place. Love the soil you’re on and observe what happens as things change. Observe what animals are here that you didn’t see in the summer, what plants are blooming. I find more and more as life gets challenging that when I can root myself into the cycle of the seasons and when I can allow myself the luxury of that deep observation, it heals all kinds of stuff.

— Brooke Randle X

ASHEVILLE ARCHIVES by Thomas Calder | tcalder@mountainx.com

‘The Society for the Prevention of Useless Giving’

S P I RUIET ISS

Local writer satirizes the holiday shopping experience, 1912

shopper in the land where no Santa Claus dare venture.” The cheeky author concluded his piece with one last push for consumerism. “Get up early tomorrow and take a look at the various windows,” he wrote. “You’ll find them well worth seeing, and if you can’t find enough in the windows to take care of all your superfluous coin, gamble in Wall street.” Editor’s note: Peculiarities of spelling and punctation are preserved from the original documents. X

Tooth Barkington, an occasional contributor to The Asheville Citizen, opened his Dec. 15, 1912, article in The Sunday Citizen with an original poem: “Christmas windows oft remind us As we pass each Asheville store; That to do our Christmas shopping We have only nine days more.” The writer then clarified the number he offered in his original stanza, noting one of the nine days was a Sunday, meaning “only eight real money spending days remain.” Fortunately for Asheville shoppers, Barkington had some sage advice. “The best thing to do is to take your purse gently in one hand, a list of things you want to buy in the other, and beat it down town the first thing tomorrow morning,” he wrote. “Everything that anyone could possibly want (and a great many things that no one will ever want) can be found in the store of the Asheville merchants, all laid out and decorated with Christmas trimmings.” The sarcastic piece went on to note a scarcity of “SPUG” members within Asheville. “The Society for the Prevention of Useless Giving seems to have but few advocates in this city or rather, none of the Asheville citizens appear to think that their gifts will be useless,” Barkington wrote. “At any rate [shoppers] are drifting right along, get-

IN THE

All the rage ’TIS THE SEASON: A local article published in 1912 makes one thing clear — last-minute shopping is nothing new. Photo courtesy of Buncombe County Special Collections, Pack Memorial Library ting the pick of the Christmas articles already on display, and in spite of this, it is expected that the usual throng of late givers will crowd into the stores the last night before Christmas, buying the things they have overlooked before.” Despite his previous critique of useless gift-giving, Barkington went on to encourage readers to “shop early, and

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keep on shopping early, until the last Christmas present is safely ensconced in its tissue paper wrapping and laid away to gladden the heart on Christmas day.” Procrastinators need not worry, though. According to Barkington, local shops were staffed with hundreds of clerks “smiling and pleasant as can be … cheerfully desiring to see that late

One year prior to Tooth Barkington’s 1912 holiday reporting, The Asheville Gazette informed its readers of a new policy at the post office that appeared to excite the majority of Asheville shoppers. “A few days ago it was made known that the patrons could send their Christmas packages through the mails and write on the outside that they were not to be opened until Christmas,” the paper revealed in a Dec. 18, 1911, article. “Now there are long lines of people standing at the windows waiting to get stamps and to have their packages weighed.” X

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR DEC. 15-23, 2021

Advent Pause Concert with Hannah Sorrells Tyler The last of the series, with Ms. Tyler on violin. TU (12/21), 12pm, First Baptist Church of Asheville, 5 Oak St

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.

6th Annual Trolley La La La Trolley to the Grove Park Inn for caroling followed by an oyster roast (purchase separately) with live holiday music from The Silent Knights at The Grey Eagle. Bring canned food items for MANNA Food Bank. TU (12/21), 6pm, The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave

Online Events = Shaded HOLIDAY EVENTS

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Historic Johnson Farm Christmas Tours Tour the decorated farmhouse and learn about the farm's history. Through Dec. 17. 10:30am, $5-15, 3346 Haywood Rd, Hendersonville

Miracle on Haywood Road A holiday-themed pop up bar with specialty drinks and decor. Nightly except Wednesdays through Jan. 1. The Golden Pineapple, 503 Haywood Rd

Holly Jolly Market Featuring the the best in handmade, vintage and fair trade with 50+ vendors. Outdoors, through Dec. 19. Rabbit Rabbit, 75 Coxe Ave

NC Arboretum Winter Lights: Forest and Garden Whimsy The event is the Arboretum's largest annual fundraiser, to support educational programs. Ticket prices online at ncwinterlights. com. Nightly through Jan. 1. 6-10pm, NC Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way

Lake Julian Festival of Lights A drive-through tour with thousands of lights around the lake. Nightly through Dec. 23. 6pm, Lake Julian Park and Marina, 406 Overlook Extension, Arden NCGC Winter Wonderland With glass ornaments, snowflakes, snowmen, candy canes, and live glassblowing demonstrations, through Dec. 31. North Carolina Glass Center, 140 Roberts St, Ste B Holiday Magic Marketplace and Exhibition An invitational event with homemade gifts created by local artists including jewelry, pottery, sculpture, paintings, photography, fiber arts, wood working and more. Through Dec. 23. 11am, Transylvania Community Arts Council, 349 S Caldwell St, Brevard Peppermint Bear Scavenger Hunt Kids of all ages are encouraged to help mama bear Peppermint locate her lost cubs by picking up a scavenger hunt brochure at the Hendersonville Visitor Center and search for them at downtown merchants. Through Dec. 23. Historic Downtown Hendersonville Sippin' Santa A holiday oasis with kitschy, festive décor and a tiki themed cocktail menu, with 10% of all proceeds from the sale of signature glassware to the James Beard Foundation's Open for Good campaign. Daily through Jan. 1. The Montford Rooftop Bar, 199 Haywood St

Winter Tree Carnival Over 50 decorated trees on display, featuring unique decor from local brands and non-profits. Daily except Monday (weather permitting, through Jan. 2. Free, Rabbit Rabbit, 75 Coxe Ave 29th Annual National Winter Wonderland The historic 1920s Grove Arcade is decked for the holidays with Mr. and Mrs. Claus visits, a tree lighting ceremony, indoor snow and more. Through Jan. 3. Grove Arcade, 1 Page Ave Deck The Trees: A Black Mountain Christmas Thirty-five plus decorated trees at the Monte Vista Hotel and throughout the area were created to raise funds for the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry Fuel Fund. Through Jan. 3. Various locations, Black Mountain Gingerbread House Competition A holiday tradition, on display daily through Jan. 22. The Omni Grove Park Inn, 290 Macon Ave Jingle Bell Toddler Party The gym will be packed with inflatables, toys, activity tables and light refreshments, with a special appearance from Santa. From Asheville Parks and Rec. WE (12/15), 10am, Free, Stephens Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave The Sights and Sounds of Advent See nativity displays while hearing a cello

DEC. 15-21, 2021

Holiday Camp for Teens Enjoy games, activities, crafts, exercise and all kinds of holiday fun, presented by Asheville Parks and Rec. WE (12/22), 8:30am, Stephens Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave Christmas Cantata A celebration with sounds of choir and brass, with Scripture, prayer, and sermon to accompany. SU (12/19), 11am, First Baptist Church of Asheville, 5 Oak St

BAH! HUMBUG!: The Montford Moppets Youth Shakespeare Company will present A (slightly chaotic) Christmas Carol at the Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Center Friday-Saturday, Dec. 17-18, at 6:30 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 19, at 2:30 p.m. The cast of 10 youth actors will randomly draw roles for each performance just before showtime, giving every audience a fresh take on the Charles Dickens classic. Photo courtesy of The Montford Moppets Youth Shakespeare Company ensemble, ending with a carol by candlelight, hot chocolate and sticky buns. WE (12/15), 6pm, First Baptist Church of Asheville, 5 Oak St Photos with Santa Paws Bring your family, friends and dogs as well as a monetary donation of at least $5 for the Asheville Humane Society. TH (12/16), 5pm, Archetype Brewing, 265 Haywood Rd Classical Guitar Holiday Show A mix of solo and ensemble music, including works developed and arranged by Andy Jurik, Steve Newbrough and the accompanied vocals of Rachel Hansbury. Ticketed for limited indoor seating. Also live streamed on Facebook. TH (12/16), 7:30pm, Asheville Guitar Bar, 122 Riverside Dr Holiday Mini Market Pop-Up This holiday-inspired pop up features new local artisans each week, with live music from 7-9pm.

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FR (12/17), 4pm, Highland Brewing Downtown Taproom, 56 Patton Ave Holiday Light Night Luminaries, warm drinks, carolers and more, from Asheville Parks and Rec. FR (12/17), 6pm, Burton Street Community Center, Burton St Stan Kenton Christmas Concert Presented by the Asheville Jazz Orchestra. Donations will be collected to support the AJO's educational fund and Trinity UMC's Bless Our Schools fund, offering assistance to community schools and children. FR (12/17), 7pm, Trinity United Methodist Church, 587 Haywood Rd Second Annual Holiday Fireworks A ten minute Christmas-themed display, with a free concert at 6:30pm, on the front porch of the Jackson County Chamber. FR (12/17), 7:30pm, Downtown Sylva Hope for Holidays Jingle Jog A 5K/Fun Run to bring community together

to raise awareness about substance misuse and serve those who need support in their recovery journey. SA (12/18), 9am, Historic Downtown Hendersonville Holiday Mingle & Jingle Local craft market and tacos. SA (12/18), 10am, The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave The Holiday Bazaar Over 40 vendors, Saturdays through Dec. 18. SA (12/18), 10am-1pm, North Asheville Tailgate Market, 3300 University Heights Holiday Arts Festival at The Refinery AVL Items from cards, prints, T-shirts, silk scarves to mixed media and paintings for sale, from a local nonprofit, supportive art space for creatives who have been impacted by mental health needs, addiction or being unhoused. SA (12/18), 11am, The Refinery AVL, 207 Coxe Ave

Blue Ridge Ringers: Carols of the Bells Traditional carols from around the world mixed with contemporary holiday music. SU (12/19), 3pm, Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, 72 Charles St, Saluda Winter Solstice (& Full Moon) Dance Rain or shine, drug and alcohol free. Opening ceremony at 3pm. Presented by StarTribe. SU (12/19), 3pm, Pack Square Park, 22 S Pack Sq Solstice Candlelight Walk A solstice story will be told to open the gathering, followed by a walk around the lake by candlelight to celebrate the returning light. Bring your own lantern. SU (12/19), 6pm, Free, Charles D. Owen Park, 875 Warren Wilson Rd, Swannanoa Holiday Pop Up Market A celebration of local and indie craft, design and vintage. MO (12/20), 12pm, Archetype Tap Lounge + Venue, 174 Broadway St

Virtual Holiday Jazz Hour with Michael Jefry Stevens Sponsored by the Enka Friends of the Library and the "One Buncombe" Grant from MountainBizWorks. WE (12/22), 6:30pm, avl.mx/b0e

WELLNESS Sparkle Time - Holistic Senior Exercise Aerobic, strengthening, balance and flexibilty. Proof of vaccinations and booster required. WE (12/15, 22), MO (12/20), 10:30am, Avery's Creek Community Center, 899 Glennbridge Rd SE Arden Montford Tai Chi Hosted by local acupuncturist Tyler White. All ages, every Thursday. TH (12/16, 23), Free, Montford Recreation Center, 34 Pearson Dr Help Save Lives this Holiday Season at Asheville Outlets’ Red Cross Blood Drive Located behind the Food Court. Visit RedCrossBlood.org/give and enter the sponsor code AshevilleOutlets. FR (12/17), 11am-3pm, Asheville Outlets, 800 Brevard Rd Yoga in the Park Join together alongside the French Broad River in this all-level friendly Hatha/Vinyasa flow taught by certified yoga instructor Ceiara Cartony.

SA (12/18), SU (12/19), 1:30pm, Carrier Park, 220 Amboy Rd Community Blood Drive Each blood donor will receive a $20 Visa gift card as a thank you for donating. In partnership with The Blood Connection. SU (12/19), 1pm, Archetype Brewing, 265 Haywood Rd Skate-ville All levels, every Sunday. SU (12/19), 3pm, Carrier Park, 220 Amboy Rd Ben's Friends A local meeting of the national support group for people in the hospitality industry struggling with addiction. MO (12/20), 10am, Free, AB Tech Culinary Arts & Hospitality School, 30 Tech Dr Introduction to Tai Chi Taught by Roger Byrd. TU (12/21), 10:30am, Free, Asheville Yoga Center, 211 S Liberty St Steady Collective Syringe Access Outreach Free naloxone, syringes and educational material on harm reduction. TU (12/21), 2pm, Firestorm Books & Coffee, 610 Haywood Rd Bereavement Support Group For those over 21 who have lost an adult loved, the session is complimentary and peer-led and coordinated by trained and certified facilitator Will Weintraub. RSVP is required by calling (412)913-0272. TU (12/21), 6pm, Woodfin YMCA, 40 N. Merrimon Ave, Ste 101 Quest4Life 5Rhythms Waves Class Weekly instructional classes based on Gabrielle Roth's work. No dance experience necessary. TU (12/21), 7pm, $12-22, Terpsicorps Academy, 1501 Patton Ave

ART Joyful Light A group show featuring images that welcome the light and joy of the season. Daily through Dec. 31. 11am, Asheville Gallery of Art, 82 Patton Ave Preserving a Picturesque America: Along the French Broad Art Sale & Exhibit Original artworks by local artists of the beautiful mountain landscapes in the Hot

Springs area. Through Dec. 31. Big Pillow Brewing , 25 Andrews Ave N, Hot Springs The Last Rock & Roll Art Show Fourteen artists from NC were given 12 months to create or produce pieces for the exhibition. Artwork and photography for bands include popular acts such as Widespread Panic, Animal Collective and Wilco. Daily through Jan. 2. 12pm, Push Skate Shop & Gallery, 25 Patton Ave Nocturne A collection of works in a variety of media that celebrates the drama and mystery of the night. Daily through Feb. 19. 10am, Momentum Gallery , 24 N Lexington Ave Small Work/Big Impact An annual exhibition that assembles intimately-scaled works in a variety of media by gallery artists and special guests. Daily through Feb. 19. 10am, Momentum Gallery, 24 N Lexington Ave

Gallery Group Show: Revanant This group show is a response to the pandemic and “post-pandemic” world. Showing artists are local sculpture artist Julie Slattery, Copenhagen artist øjeRum, Dan Hillier, and Netherlands’ artist Juul Kraijer. WE (12/15, 22), TH (12/16, 23), FR (12/17), SA (12/18), Continuum Art, 147 Ste C, 1st Ave E, Hendersonville

(12/16, 23), FR (12/17), SA (12/18), SU (12/19), MO (12/20), Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

A Dance of Images and Words: The Nancy Graves/Pedro Cuperman Tango Portfolio Exhibition presents Graves’s eight prints alongside the portfolio frontispiece and a page of Cuperman’s text. WE (12/15, 22), TH (12/16, 23), FR (12/17), SA (12/18), SU (12/19), MO (12/20), Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square Gestures: Mid-Century Abstraction from the Collection Explores a variety of media that speak to the vibrant abstract experiments in American art making during the middle of the 20th century. WE (12/15, 22), TH

Modernist Design at Black Mountain College Highlights the collection of design from Black Mountain College and situates it in the context of its influences and surroundings at BMC. WE (12/15, 22), TH (12/16, 23), FR (12/17), SA (12/18), SU (12/19), MO (12/20), Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square Ruminations on Memory On view in conjunction with A Living Language: Cherokee Syllabary and Contemporary Art. WE (12/15, 22), TH (12/16, 23), FR (12/17), SA (12/18), SU (12/19), MO (12/20), Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square Unearthing Our Forgotten Past Exhibit exploring the Spanish occupation of Fort San Juan and the native people who lived in the Joara area of WNC. Sponsored by the Western NC Historical Association.

TH (12/16, 23), FR (12/17), SA (12/18), 10:30am, Smith-McDowell House Museum, 283 Victoria Rd

ART/CRAFT STROLLS & FAIRS Jackson Arts Market The last one of the season. SA (12/18), 1pm, 533 W Main St, Sylva Mountain Makers Craft Market A monthly indie art fair designed to cultivate community in WNC, with 20+ artisans selling handmade and vintage goods. SU (12/19), 12pm, Free, Haywood Square Plaza, 308 N Haywood St, Waynesville Mountain Dews Monthly local artist and makers pop-up. SU (12/19), 3pm, Static Age Records, 82-A N Lexington Ave

SPOKEN & WRITTEN WORD Enka History Book Club This month's book discussion will be Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford.

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DEC. 15-21, 2021

C OMMU N IT Y CA L E N D AR WE (12/15), 3pm, Enka-Candler Library, 1404 Sandhill Rd, Candler My Story Memoir Program Book Discussion Moonshiner's Daughter by Mary Judith Messer. WE (12/15), 7pm, Registration required, avl.mx/b00 Black Experience Book Club A bi-monthly book club sponsored by the YMI Cultural Center and Buncombe County Public Libraries. This week's discussion will be of The Perishing by Natashia Deon. TH (12/16), 12pm, avl.mx/9gb Friends of the South Buncombe Library Book Club Discussion of The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich. TH (12/16), 2:30pm, Skyland/South Buncombe Library, 260 Overlook Rd Malaprop's Notorious HBC (History Book Club) Participants will discuss Black Wave by Kim Ghattas. TH (12/16), 7pm, Registration required, avl.mx/axv

Creative Non-Fiction Writing A workshop led by Glenn Proctor. SA (12/18), 10am, The Writers' Workshop, 387 Beaucatcher Rd

Fairview Book Club A discussion of The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 1/4 Years Old. TU (12/21), 7pm, avl.mx/b01

Winter of Poetry: Form - Sounds and Structures One in a series from The Center for Connection + Collaboration's artist-in-residence David Barratt. Email ccc. avl.nc@gmail.com for in person and online address. SA (12/18), 10:45am, avl.mx/b0f

Miss Malaprop's Storytime Recommended for ages 3-9. WE (12/22), 10am, Registration required, avl.mx/7b9

Leicester Library Book Club Discussion of The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. TU (12/21), 1pm, avl.mx/b02 North Asheville Book Club A discussion of A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell. TU (12/21), 2pm, avl.mx/b03 Women's Veterans Writing Class No writing experience necessary - just bring pen and paper. To register, contact Stacie Litsenberger: stacie. litsenberger@va.gov or (254)466.0960. TU (12/21), 4pm, East Asheville Library, 902 Tunnel Rd

THEATER A Christmas Carol Based on the classic tale by Charles Dickens, these performances are a new adaptation by Dwight Chiles. WE (12/15), TH (12/16), FR (12/17), SA (12/18), SU (12/19), $28-32, Owen Theatre, 44 College St, Mars Hill Listen to This: Stories on Stage Host Tom Chalmers presents an evening of tellers of tales and singers of songs, all built around the central theme of The Holiday Show Must Go On: T’is the Season for True Tales of Christmastime Tenacity. TH (12/16), 3pm, $15, Asheville Community Theatre, 35 E Walnut St

The Magnetic Theatre Presents A Darkly Hilarious Holiday Alternative: It’s the Most _____ Time of the Year: Oil on Canvas A dark comedy with a contemporary take on family dynamics, traditions, and the power of love. Written by local author Erin McCarson, directed by Jessica Johnson. TH (12/16), FR (12/17), SA (12/18), 7:30pm, $25, The Magnetic Theatre, 375 Depot St Ballet Conservatory of Asheville Presents The Nutcracker A festive, full-length production, featuring professional classical dancers and the Ballet Conservatory’s celebrated pre-professional company. FR (12/17), SA (12/18), Diana Wortham Theatre, 18 Biltmore Ave Readers Theatre Showcase: On Golden Pond Presented by The Autumn Players. FR (12/17), SA (12/18), SU (12/19), 2:30pm, $8, Asheville Community Theatre, 35 E Walnut St It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play The holiday classic staged as an old-fashioned live radio broadcast where the actors

portray numerous characters and create clever sound effects, presented by Fire in the Head productions and produced in partnership with BMCA. FR (12/17), SA (12/18), 7pm, SU (12/19), 2:30pm, $20, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W State St, Black Mountain Carolina Christmas Show Family-friendly Broadway style show featuring live music, dance, and comedy presented by performers from WNC and special guest artists. FR (12/17), SA (12/18), SU (12/19), $12 -18, Municipal Event Center, 29 Logan St, Marion The Moppets Present: A (slightly chaotic) Christmas Carol A cast of 10 youth actors will randomly draw their roles for each performance just before showtime, giving every audience a fresh take on Charles Dickens’s classic tale. FR (12/17), SA (12/18), 6:30pm, SU (12/19), 2:30pm, Free-$10, Dr Wesley Grant Sr Southside Center, 285 Livingston St Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol: A Play with Music This two man adapta-

tion is a fast-paced and imaginative production that combines Dickens’ original text with both traditional and unexpected Christmas music, along with old-fashioned foley-style sound effects. WE (12/15), TH (12/16), FR (12/17), SA (12/18), 7pm, SU (12/19), 2pm, $25, North Carolina Stage Company, 15 Stage Ln Miss Bennet: Christmas At Pemberley A sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice set two years after the novel ends, the play continues the story of the Bennet family, centering bookish middle sister Mary as the heroine. FR (12/17), SA (12/18), 7:30pm, BeBe Theatre, 20 Commerce St Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and then some) A madcap holiday romp with three actors performing every Christmas story ever told; plus Christmas traditions from around the world, seasonal icons from ancient times to topical pop-culture, and every carol ever sung. FR (12/17), SA (12/18), 7:30pm, SU (12/19), 2pm, $10-20, Hart Theatre, 250 Pigeon St, Waynesville

SNAPSHOT IN THE

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FILM Harold and Maude 50th Anniversary Screening Celebrating the classic film. FR (12/17), 7pm, SA (12/18), 9:15pm, TH (12/23), 7pm, $10, Grail Moviehouse, 17 Foundy St

BENEFITS Howliday Dog Drive Accepting donations of new or gently used sheets and towels, bleach, garbage bags, dog treats and toys, small blankets and more to benefit Charlie's Angels Animal Rescue, through Dec. 31. Ruff Life Training Center, 95 Thompson St 2021 Charity Formal Benfitting the Hensley Family One hundred percent of all donations will go to provide Christmas and needed relief to the Hensley family. WE (12/15), 7pm, $20, The Social, 1078 Tunnel Rd Franny's Farm Foods Interactive Dinner Theater "Nonna's New World Gnocchi" (pd) An interactive vegetarian dinner theatre featuring a 5-star meal with vegan main course and dessert by Chef Jason of Plant, supporting non-profit Utopian Seed Project. Contact Tiffany 828.505.7105 or info@ FrannysFarm.com. SU (12/19), 5pm, Franny's Farm, 22 Franny's Farm Rd, Leicester

CLASSES, MEETINGS & WORKSHOPS

DEC. 15-21, 2021

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West Asheville Tailgate Market The last market of the season. TU (12/21), 3:30pm, 718 Haywood Rd Weaverville Tailgate Market The last market of the season. WE (12/22), 2pm, 60 Monticello Rd, Weaverville

OUTDOORS Walking Tour of Downtown Black Mountain Learn the history of Black Mountain and the Swannanoa Valley from the staff of Swannanoa Valley Museum. SA (12/18), 1pm, Free-$10, 223 W State St, Black Mountain Sandy Mush Game Land Full Moon Hike The two hour hike, presented by The Hemlock Restoration Initiative, will start before sunset and finish after twilight under the full moon. RSVP is required by Dec. 17 by emailing education@ savehemlocksnc.org or calling (828)252-4783. SU (12/19), 3pm, Sandy Mush Game Land, Alexander

SPIRITUALITY Online Baha'i Third Wednesday Devotional All are welcome at this unstructured, informal monthly gathering. WE (12/15, 22), 7pm, Free, avl.mx/arx Jewish Power Hour Weekly Torah class via Zoom. All are welcome. TH (12/16, 23), 6pm, avl.mx/b0h

2021 Parkway Accomplishments Webinar The 30-minute presentation will highlight projects completed this year on the Blue Ridge Parkway thanks to donors and volunteers. TH (12/16), 11am, avl.mx/b0g

Online Baha'i Sunday Devotional All are welcome at this unstructured gathering via Zoom. SU (12/19), 10am, avl.mx/a4t

Skyland Library Knitting & Crochet Club All skill levels welcome. TU (12/21), 6pm, Skyland/South Buncombe Library, 260 Overlook Rd

Project Linus Seeking volunteers to make children’s blankets to provide a sense of security and warmth to children in crisis. Contact Ellen Knoefel at (828)645-8800 gknoefel@charter. net or Pat Crawford (828)873-8746.

FOOD & BEER

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: In a recent video filmed by Western Carolina Rescue Ministries, artist Brian Peterson, who designed a series of new murals on the ministry’s downtown Asheville building, says his role on the planet “is to touch the hearts of people and hopefully in turn introduce them to the kindness of God.” To see the full video, visit avl.mx/ axf. Photo by Thomas Calder

ASAP Farmers Market The last market of the season. SA (12/18), 9am, A-B Tech, 340 Victoria Rd

YMCA Mobile Market Bring your grocery bags and get fresh food for your family. All are welcome, regardless of income or family size. Distributions are free and no paperwork is required. WE (12/15), 2pm, Leicester Library, 1561 Alexander Rd, Leicester

VOLUNTEERING

Experiential Garden Volunteers Needed Looking for people who are interested in landscaping, gardening, carpentry, and art. Please contact Polly Phillips at pphillips@ verneremail.org. Verner Center for Early Learning, 2586 Riceville Rd

MOUNTAINX.COM

DEC. 15-21, 2021

WELLNESS HEALTH ROUNDUP

Hospitals suspend COVID-19 vaccination requirements Earlier this month, AdventHealth Hendersonville, UNC Pardee Health Care and Mission Health suspended requirements that employees become fully vaccinated against COVID-19, as per a federal Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services memorandum. CMS had issued an emergency regulation on Nov. 4 mandating that all eligible workers at Medicaid and Medicarecertified providers receive their first COVID-19 vaccine dose by Dec. 6 and be fully vaccinated by Tuesday, Jan. 4. The mandate is facing legal challenges in the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern District of Missouri and Western District of Louisiana. “As part of our commitment to protecting the health and well-being of our team members, patients and communities, we strongly encourage all of our team members to receive the COVID-19 vaccine,” wrote AdventHealth spokesperson Victoria Dunkle in a statement. “We will continue to monitor the ongoing litigation regarding the federal law.”

“Prior to the CMS action creating a mandate, as part of HCA Healthcare, Mission Health had encouraged our colleagues to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and made vaccines readily available, but we had not mandated vaccination,” Nancy Lindell, spokesperson for Mission Health, said in a statement to Xpress. “Because recent federal court decisions have resulted in the CMS mandate being put on hold indefinitely, we have paused our vaccine requirement.”

Buncombe County reports uptick in COVID-19 cases The confirmed COVID-19 case rate in Buncombe County increased 54% in a week and stood at 208 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec. 7, according to Stacie Saunders, the county’s public health director. Buncombe’s COVID-19 test positivity rate had

also risen to 6.6%; the World Health Organization has set a target of 5% or lower for governments to begin relaxing pandemic measures. The increase hasn’t caused a strain for the area’s hospitals, but it is “something to take note of,” Saunders said. The county reported that almost 5% of inpatient beds in the Mission Health hospital system were occupied with COVID-19 cases as of Dec. 6, compared with 2.8% of inpatient beds prior to Thanksgiving. Saunders continued to encourage vaccination, hand washing, social distancing and wearing masks to slow the spread of COVID-19. On Dec. 7, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to support an extension of the county’s indoor face covering requirement through Tuesday, Jan. 5. Free COVID-19 vaccines are available to anyone 5 and older at Buncombe County Health & Human Services, 40 Coxe Ave., 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. No appointment is necessary, and no ID is required. More information is available at BuncombeReady.org.

Trauma Intervention Programs of WNC seeks volunteers Trauma Intervention Programs of WNC is accepting applications from those seeking to undergo its 55-hour training and become an “emotional first aid” volunteer. Trainees are not certified counselors, explains TIP CEO Mandy Atkission, who is active in the organization’s WNC affiliate. Rather, they provide emotional support and logistical assistance for family members and loved ones in the immediate aftermath of a tragedy, such as a violent crime, suicide or overdose. Volunteers are dispatched 24/7 through the 911 system for Buncombe County and the city of Hendersonville by police, fire departments and emergency medical services. Atkission says volunteers aim to respond to a scene within 20 minutes of being requested. The next TIP WNC trainings will take place on weeknights and weekends Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 6-15; there is no deadline to apply. Prospective volunteers must pass a background check and attend all eight classes. Upon completion of the program, volunteers will be sched20

DEC. 15-21, 2021

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EMOTIONAL FIRST AID: Mandy Atkission of Trauma Intervention Programs of WNC says volunteers provide emotional support and logistical assistance in the aftermath of a tragedy. Photo courtesy of TIP uled for three 12-hour “on call” shifts each month. More information about TIP training, class times and an application can be found at avl.mx/azt.

Pardee receives grant to purchase technology for blood clot removal The Community Foundation of Henderson County awarded a $35,500 grant to the Pardee Hospital Foundation of Pardee UNC Health Care to purchase technology that removes blood clots. In a minimally invasive procedure, the AngioJet Rheolytic Thrombectomy System can mechanically remove a clot from an artery or vein, according to a Pardee press release.

Steady Collective expands hours The Steady Collective, an Ashevillebased harm reduction organization, has expanded its outreach hours. Biweekly on Tuesdays, the group will provide syringe exchanges and overdose-reversal medication at Woodfin Apartments for apartment residents only noon-1 p.m.; services will also be offered every Tuesday in front of Firestorm Books & Coffee,

610 Haywood Road B, 1:30-4 p.m. On Wednesdays, Steady Collective will operate at Haywood Street Congregation, 297 Haywood Street, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. And on Thursdays, services will be offered every other week at Hillcrest Apartments at the curve of Atkinson Street, 11 a.m.12:30 p.m., and weekly at Pisgah View Apartments in front of the basketball courts, 1-4 p.m. More information is available at avl.mx/azz.

Mental health for seniors

The gerontology team at Vaya Health will hold two free information sessions about mental health Monday, Dec. 20. “Depression: From Surviving to Thriving” takes place 10-11 a.m. at the Jackson County Senior Center, 100 County Services Park Drive, Sylva. Registration is available by calling the Jackson County Senior Center at 828-586-5494. “Anxiety: Calming the Anxious Mind” will be offered 12:30-1:30 p.m. at the Jackson County Public Library, 310 Keener Street, Sylva. Registration is available by calling the library at 828-586-2016.

Movers and shakers • The Mountain Area Health Education Center announced Dr. Blake Fagan will chair its Department of Family Medicine beginning in January. Fagan is a family physician and UNC School of Medicine professor who currently oversees office-based opioid treatment services at MAHEC’s family health centers. Fagan succeeds Stephen Hulkower, who led the department for 13 years and announced his plans to step down last spring. • Dr. Ralph Christian Estes is retiring from Pardee UNC Health Care at the end of December. Estes is an orthopedic surgeon at Southeastern Sports Medicine and Orthopedics within Pardee.

Mark your calendars • The American Red Cross Blood Drive Mobile Bus will take donations at the Asheville Outlets Friday, Dec. 17, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., in the parking lot by the food court. • Asheville nonprofit Tranzmission is hosting a nonbinary support meeting online Thursday, Dec. 23,

6:30-8 p.m. The meeting is only open to those who identify as nonbinary or who are exploring an nonbinary identity. More information is available by emailing info@ Tranzmission.org. • Pardee Hospital is hosting a class on labor and birth Thursday, Jan. 6, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the Pardee Hospital Orientation Classroom, 800 N. Justice St., Hendersonville. Registration is available at avl.mx/azy. • The YMCA of Asheville hosts a health fair Saturday, Jan. 8, 10 a.m.2 p.m., at 185 S. French Broad Ave. The fair will include tours of the gym and aquatic center, a self-defense mini-course, a mini-group exercise class taught by YMCA instructors and local vendors. More information is available at avl.mx/b04. • The Buncombe County Violence Prevention Task Force, a collaboration between nonprofits Our VOICE, Helpmate, Pisgah Legal Services and other organizations, meets Wednesday, Jan. 26, 3:305:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public and presented in English, Spanish and ASL. More information is available at avl.mx/azw.

— Jessica Wakeman X

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DEC. 15-21, 2021

ARTS & CULTURE

The great mystery

Local worship leaders balance ministry and music

BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN “I try to push the envelope in terms of creative language for God and for church and all that kind of stuff, because why write what’s already been written?” says the Rev. David Eck, a musician and pastor of Abiding Savior Lutheran Church in Fairview. “Sometimes, contemporary Christian music is very repetitive, so I wanted to bring fresh language and fresh music styles to the table that were different from what I was hearing on Christian radio.” With such musically rich communities in and around Asheville, it’s perhaps no surprise that Eck is not alone in his approach. But when and how church leaders introduce original songs to their congregations is a different story. And for some, the challenge of balancing their faith and their artistic vision creates further challenges as to when and where they share original works. REACHING PEOPLE’S HEARTS

For Eck, the son of a harmonica player, music was always part of his life. He studied voice through high school and began playing guitar at 16. By his senior year, he was writing original songs and in his 20s began playing shows and releasing independent albums. But amid his musical quest, he discovered another calling. While attending a songwriting school in Nashville, colleagues recognized Eck’s talent and interest in religious guidance. “They encouraged my writing ability but said, ‘You can do something that not a lot of songwriters can do. You need to be

DEC. 15-21, 2021

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Worship. A fan of classic and prog rock, Eck says those influences can sometimes be heard on his originals as well as interpretations of traditional hymns. “Music has always been a part of my faith journey. What I resonate with the most are the songs that the church sings — and that’s how I think people access theology better than anywhere else. They may kind of listen to a sermon, but they’re going to remember a hymn or a really great song,” Eck says. “As we’re going through difficult times, we access those songs, and they’re there for us. I think it reaches people’s hearts in a way that just words themselves do not.”

earnaudin@mountainx.com

IN THE

PUSHED INTO PERFORMANCE

TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE: “God is inviting me into a role that does not change me in terms of my external presentation,” says the Rev. Erin Maxfield-Steele of navigating her pastoral and musical sides. “And so, in that way, I feel like the two roles are very compatible.” Photo by the Rev. Esta Jarrett a pastor, but you can do this on the side.’ And that was the best advice I got — and they were right.” While studying at Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Pa., Eck found a passion for writing music for worship services, and shortly after being appointed pastor of Abiding Savior in 1993, he and his congregation recorded Abiding Savior Praise, a collection of his original songs.

MOUNTAINX.COM

“We realized our gift to the bigger church was to share our music,” he says. “We decided to make it available online and just ask for donations, and I’ve found that’s been a really great thing to do, especially during the pandemic.” Congregations across the U.S. use Eck’s music, including Beyond Silent Night (a collection of 14 less familiar carols of the Advent and Christmas seasons) and Love Feast: Music for

Unlike Eck, the Rev. Erin Maxfield-Steele of St. George’s Episcopal Church in West Asheville put her musical ambitions on the back burner to focus on her leadership role with the church and her family responsibilities. For years, most of her playing took place alone or with a few friends. But amid the pandemic, she felt an urge to reconnect with her guitar in a more meaningful way. Since the onset of COVID-19, Maxfield-Steele has written several songs and performed at select outdoor venues. “I haven’t played in Asheville very much, and I think partly because I don’t want people to have the expectations put on me that the collar already puts on me,” she says. “God is inviting me into a role that does not change me in terms of my external presentation. And so, in that way, I feel like the two roles are very compatible. But I do worry that if people knew that I was a priest playing a

what Episcopalians would consider ‘Baptist music,’” she says. “And it was great. So I did that for a while until we were able to hire a new church musician.” Though Maxfield-Steele performed a trio of songs on All Saints’ Day, feeling that they conveyed that Sunday’s message better than any sermon could, she’s generally resumed separating her two worlds while still prioritizing more personal songwriting going forward. “Dolly Parton says that songwriting is like praying for her, and I feel that, because you don’t know what it’s going to be,” she says. “You don’t know what it’s going to sound like. You don’t know what the whole story is sometimes until you put one word down, and then it shifts and changes.”

ROCKING AROUND THE TANNENBAUM: Rev. David Eck’s albums for use in worship services include Beyond Silent Night, a collection of lesser-known carols. Photo by Gary Mitchell song, they would be looking for a hidden message or a hidden doctrine or dogma, and my songwriting doesn’t have any of that.” While she considers a few of her original tunes Christian in theme and content, the majority of MaxfieldSteele’s numbers are stories or reflections unrelated to her faith. “The process of songwriting and the process of writing a sermon and the process of prayer is allowing myself to take those parts that I don’t understand of myself, of the universe, of whatever’s going on around me, and just sort of move with them into a place of not knowing and allow that to be,” she says. Given the way Episcopal liturgy traditionally places the priest, deacon and other worship leaders in somewhat of a performative position, Maxfield-Steele initially shied away from weaving her musical talents into her sermons, worried it would come across as self-indulgent. But a few weeks after the pandemic hit, just as the church was pivoting to virtual sermons, St. George’s parish musician resigned. Concern over copyright laws and the legality of streaming music prompted MaxfieldSteele to embrace the role. “I was sort of pushed into performing in my wheelhouse, which is old gospel songs, old country songs, stuff that’s in the public domain, traditional stuff. And some hymns —

STRONGER THAN UNITY

David LaMotte isn’t a pastor — but he’s also not not a pastor. A self-described “musician who dabbles in faith work,” the Black Mountain-based artist is a practicing Quaker but maintains close ties to the Presbyterian world, with several ministers in his family. Unlike the Presbyterian church, he notes, Quakers hold meetings where everyone sits in a circle with no obvious person performing the role of the clergy, which makes it appear that such roles have been eliminated, when it’s actually the other way around. “Quakers tend to believe that everybody is charged with the work of loving each other and thinking things through together — which is one way to describe what it is to be clergy,” he says. “So, in that sense, I guess I’m clergy in the way that all Quakers are clergy. But I’ve never been to seminary.” That lack of formal training hasn’t kept LaMotte from being invited into religious spaces. In 2019, for example, he was asked to preach the baccalaureate sermon at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga. Furthermore, he’s often hired to work with clergy and faith communities on a national and sometimes international level, focusing on the core messages of his book Worldchanging 101: Challenging the Myth of Powerlessness, which argues for groups making small changes together rather than relying on a hero to inspire people who might not feel up to big, heroic tasks. And locally, he’s part of Faith 4 Justice Asheville under the leadership of the Rev. Tami Forte Logan, which works on racial and equity issues in Western North Carolina. But he’s still foremost a musician, which creates a fascinating paradox.

OUTSIDER/INSIDER: David LaMotte has never been to seminary but is consistently invited into religious spaces. Photo courtesy of the artist “I’m a musician, and I’m Christian, and I’m not a Christian musician,” LaMotte says. “I want my music to be accessible to people in all sorts of traditions, and I think so often music that is tagged as ‘religious music’ just presents the answers. It doesn’t present questions, and that’s just not reflective of my own theology.

“As an artist, I love subtlety,” he continues. “And so, if people are listening really closely to my music, they’ll hear some of my theology in there, but it’s not dogmatic, and I hope it’s not preachy.” At its core, notes the musician, his songs raise questions and offer space for other people’s perspectives. “Mystery is at the heart of my theology, so I need to approach anything theological with humility if I’m going to approach it honestly.” He does just that in Abraham Jam, a trio with Jewish musician Billy Jonas and Muslim artist Dawud Wharnsby, which LaMotte describes as the one place where he’s commercially identified himself as Christian. “One of our tag lines as a band is ‘Harmony can be even stronger than unity.’ You don’t have to sing the same note in order to create something beautiful together. You can sing different notes that resonate,” he says. “So it’s not about watering down our faiths. We each claim them quite deeply. And I’ve learned about my own faith from these guys of different faiths, and it’s just been a beautiful, beautiful project over the last decade.” X

MOUNTAINX.COM

DEC. 15-21, 2021

ARTS & C U L T U R E

THEATER

Show down

Local holiday theater offers both Grinches and glad tidings

IN THE

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BY ALLI MARSHALL allimarshall@bellsouth.net Holidays are all about traditions — stockings hung by the chimney with care, candles lit on menorahs and kinaras, yule trees decorated. This city has a bit of a tradition of subverting traditions, however (“Keep Asheville Weird”), especially when it comes to holiday theater offerings. Here, Xpress rounds up three local shows that remind us that part of the reason for the season is wonder, laughter and artful stage magic.

IN THE FAMILY WAY

For a decade, The Magnetic Theatre regaled us with boozy, irreverent adventures in the annual holiday-themed dark comedy, The Bernstein Family Christmas Spectacular. But after its final run in 2019, the theater company’s producers sought a new seasonal show. “We knew we wanted to avoid something that was an overtly traditional piece,” says Jessica Johnson, who directs this year’s run of It’s the Most ___ Time of the Year: Oil on Canvas. The play, created by local actor and director Erin McCarson, follows matriarch Jean, who wants a family oil painting made, though none of her relatives are thrilled about the project. “The halls are decked, the trees are up, and the kids, Rosemary and Bing, will be arriving any minute,” reads the show description. “Loving tolerance and charity abounds.” Johnson describes the show as “quirky craziness” with “some sad moments,” as characters deal with grief and interpersonal relationships. Collaboration with the production’s six actors was crucial for the show’s success, notes Johnson. Each actor was asked to think about how they might deal with major life changes, such as having a new baby or coping with a death. Such reflection infused the play with authenticity. “Everybody who’s been involved in this show walks away identifying the [characters] as a family member or someone they know,” says Johnson. “They feel like real people.” But don’t expect things to get too earnest. While there’s certainly a place for sweet holiday theater, dark comedy has an eager audience. “I think that’s partially because we all live those things more often than 24

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HAPPY HOLIDAZE: The Magnetic Theatre debuts a new dark comedy, “It’s the Most __ Time of the Year.” From left, Strother Stingley as Paul, Jane Hallstrom as Jean, Clara Burrus as Rosemary, David Mycoff as Doug, Petey Smith-McDowell as Mike and Dillon Giles as Bing. Photo by Cheyenne Dancy we live the ‘happy, tidy, superheartwarming,’” says Johnson. “Sometimes it’s fun to escape and see something you know is going to have a happy ending, and that’s great,” Johnson continues. But Magnetic wants to offer an alternative for those who don’t necessarily have “happy families to spend all their time with, or children to take to The Nutcracker or traditional things in their lives,” Johnson explains. “They shouldn’t be excluded.” Onstage at The Magnetic Theatre, 375 Depot St., Thursday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m. through Dec. 18. Tickets are $25. For more information, including COVID-19 policies, visit avl.mx/avq.

WINTER WONDER

Four years ago at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts, local actor and director Mike Yow

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was cast in the live radio version of the Christmas production It’s a Wonderful Life, and he fell in love with the piece. “I’ve always loved that story and the characters and the way they spoke back then,” he says of the 1946 film starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed, directed by Frank Capra. “For the live radio version, you only need five actors, so it’s a little cheaper to produce, and audiences like to watch the actors doing all the different voices.” While It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play is based on the 1946 classic, it is staged as a 1940s-era radio show, with actors portraying multiple characters and creating sound effects. Like the movie, the radio show tells the story of George Bailey, a well-meaning but downcast man, who, with the help of an angel, rediscovers the holiday spirit.

Four years since Yow’s first run with the production, he now returns to direct the 2021 holiday season performance, while also taking on the role of Freddie Filmore, host of the radio show. For the show’s foley, or live sound effects, Yow and company rely as much as they can on devices used in 1940 radio productions, with some alternatives for items unavailable. “The audience likes seeing the actors go to the foley table to make a sound effect, then make it back to the microphone in time to sing a commercial jingle,” Yow says. There’s a sense of nostalgia inherent in the 1940s-themed show, which Yow believes is part of its appeal. “We live in a complicated era, and [the play] harkens back to simplicity,” he says. “It’s a Wonderful Life ends with a sense of hope and accomplishment.”

Onstage at Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W. State St., Black Mountain, Friday-Saturday, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, at 2 p.m., through Dec. 19. $20. For more information, including COVID-19 policies, visit avl.mx/axy.

WHAT IN THE DICKENS?

Actor Jeffries Thaiss of New Yorkbased Art & Anvil Entertainment plays 26 characters in his version of Charles Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol. But the production isn’t a one-person show. Music created by Eric Scott Anthony (and performed in Asheville by Ben Mackel) supports the story, says Thaiss. “There’s music that happens in a scene, like somebody’s at a party and a Christmas song is playing. But most of the time, the music sets the mood.” Additionally, sound effects further the world of the show because the play itself has no set. “There are a couple of chairs and no costumes to speak of,” Thaiss explains. “The sound effects serve a function similar to what a set would serve.” If this sounds as if the audience is asked to experience an all-new A Christmas Carol — the story where hardhearted businessman Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, and ultimately grows into a more compassionate and generous person — that’s not the case. Yes, Thaiss created a bare-bones production (though at N.C. Stage, it will include projections), but “the text is drawn almost entirely from Dickens’ original text.” Thaiss, a professional actor for more than 30 years, has performed in a number of A Christmas Carol productions and felt they tended to deviate from the original 1843 story. “I really wanted to take what Dickens wrote and put that on the stage,” he says. And he did — though he truncated Dickens’ multiple hours of text into one 80-minute show. “Human beings are natural storytellers and live in a world where stories are constantly present,” Thaiss says of why Dickens’ holiday tale has persisted for nearly 200 years. “A Christmas Carol is really good at delivering a promise of hope. ... And the character of Scrooge is so extreme, we don’t feel personally indicted when we see him act greedy, but we subconsciously identify with him a lot.” Onstage at N.C. Stage Company Tuesday-Saturday, 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, 2 p.m., through Dec. 19. Tickets are $25 for in-person seating or virtual show. To learn more, including COVID-19 policies, visit avl.mx/915. X

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ARTS & C U L T U R E

DRINKS

Holiday spirits

WNC’s favorite bartenders share winter beverages and tales

IN THE

S P I RUIET ISS

The life of a bartender is rarely dull, but the work atmosphere gets especially active each holiday season. This year’s Xpress Best of WNC bartender winners all have witty insights about what it’s like to work behind a bar this time of year, which cocktails put them in the holiday spirit and how readers can get in on the fun.

SEASON’S GREETINGS

“People are extra emotionally charged during the holidays,” says Jennie Lou Nelson of The Odditorium. “A bartender has to really step up their role as counselor, shrink, legal adviser and babysitter.” Add nutritionist to the list as well: A few years during SantaCon, there was a blizzard. “About 30 minutes before last call, a dozen Kris Kringles arrived, covered in snow,” Nelson says. “They ended up in a big puddle on the floor. We fed them cookies and

WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU’RE GOING?: “I absolutely love the holidays,” says Josh March, bartender at Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian. “I am the quintessential sentimental embodiment of Clark Griswold.” Photo by Kristine Ker-March milk and sent back them out in the blizzard on foot. I miss them. We talk about that a lot.” Other cherished memories from holidays of yore at The Odd include hosting a Blind Pig Supper Club dinner with a Gremlins theme, and several Christmases in a row when Nelson threw her entire living room Christmas tree — decorations, lights and all — into the back of her car and took it to the bar for 12-hour solo shifts that left her “filthy rich and exhausted.” Over at The Bier Garden, Jackson Zoeller looks forward to seeing long26

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time customers catching up with family and friends while he serves them drinks. “It really is a great time to be in this business,” Zoeller says. “People are mostly happier, and I get to see old faces from almost 20 years ago that I maybe see every couple of years or so.” And at Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian, bartender Josh March and his colleagues “deck the halls with lights, wreaths and bows,” dressing in their finest holiday wear throughout December to help spread holiday cheer.

“We have all walks of life that come to sit at our bar, and by midmeal — two drinks in — strangers have become best friends, buying each other drinks and dinner. The more reserved types start jovially yelling with the staff, ‘Welcome to Vinnie’s!’ every time a new person walks through our doors,” March says. “The older folks end up singing and dancing the night away as our music transforms them back to a simpler time. It’s really heartwarming to witness this vibe go down on a nightly basis, especially amplified

by holiday celebrations. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year.”

MIX MASTERS

Keeping the clientele jovial are beverages that ramp up in popularity as outdoor temperatures plummet, including hot drinks that annually prove especially appealing at Nelson’s bar. “We offer liquor-spiked hot cocoa with whipped cream and sprinkles; bourbon-loaded hot toddies that take forever to make because of a million magical little touches; hot mulled cider with blackstrap molasses rum; and cranberry Jello shots that are to die for,” she says. “We keep it whimsical at The Odditorium. You might find a plastic dinosaur, a bone, glitter or a pumpkin-shaped Peep on your beverage. We like to have fun.” Also on the menu is coquito, a coconut-based alcoholic drink that business co-owner Tamy Kuper makes from scratch. “It is decadently delicious,” Nelson says. “It’s a Puerto Rican drink similar to eggnog.” Meanwhile, Zoeller sees an uptick in sales for bourbons and the darker beers at The Bier Garden, and Vinnie’s cycles in punchstyle cocktails. “We run the Jingle Jangle, which is a light, boozy, holiday spiced punch that pairs nicely next to some of our more robust dishes,” March says. “It’s always a crowd pleaser.” During the holidays, March also incorporates dry sparkling wines like Spanish cava and Italian prosecco in cocktails, which he feels work better than higher-end Champagnes this time of year. And he’s additionally a big fan of tiki drinks, especially ones that use the liqueur St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram.

Tamy Kuper’s coquito

THE CHAMP IS HERE: “We keep it whimsical at The Odditorium,” says Jennie Lou Nelson. “You might find a plastic dinosaur, a bone, glitter or a pumpkin-shaped Peep on your beverage. We like to have fun.” Photo by Heather Burditt “It’s a Jamaican rum based with strong notes of allspice, cinnamon and nutmeg,” he says. “I feel this is under most people’s radar and underrated as an addition in lots of holiday cocktails. A little goes a long way and is an excellent way to add a little layer of complexity and spice to your warm apple ciders, cardamom pear margaritas and even eggnogs.”

AFTER HOURS

After returning to the homestead following a busy night working the bar in the winter, March usually

makes himself an Old Fashioned — typically with a higher-proof bourbon, like Wild Turkey 101 or Old Forester 100 proof. “They tend to warm the soul a little more while sipping next to the Christmas tree,” he says. Meanwhile, Zoeller’s annual tradition involves homemade eggnog — one with rum and another with bourbon. “It’s fun to make but takes a while. So, of course, I pop on some Elvis Christmas tunes,” he says. “I also find myself getting into the hot chocolate with my toddler, but I add Rumple Minze to mine. And I always look forward to my dad’s White Russians. He throws in a little of the leftover cold coffee from the morning.” March likewise gets in on the homemade eggnog game, courtesy of one of Vinnie’s “superregular” customers who makes a small batch each year to share. He always feels lucky to receive a bottle of “Bob’s Nog” and treasures its keepsake bottle, complete with description of that year’s batch rolled and fashioned around the bottle’s neck. “The true genius is what lies inside,” March says. “To say it’s the best eggnog I’ve ever enjoyed is an understatement. Layered between the creamy eggy goodness are notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, Grand Marnier, overproof dark rums and so many other tantalizing flavors. I always give tidings of gratitude for all our regulars as I sip this dreamy concoction every Christmas Eve.” The magic continues Christmas morning at the March home, where his wife assumes the position of active bartender and makes her signature Lebowskis, aka White Russians. “They’re a perfect marriage of Kahlua, vodka, cream and a little something extra she keeps secret,” he says. “It’s the perfect sipper when watching our family revel in Christmas joy.” As for Nelson, her household is all about Bloody Marys. “Like, smoked

Jackson’s Homemade Eggnog

Ingredients: • 1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk • 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk • 2 cups (one 15 ounce can) cream of coconut • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon • 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg • 1 teaspoon vanilla • 1 1/2 cup white Don Q rum

Ingredients: • 4 egg yolks • 1/3 cup sugar, plus 1 tablespoon • 1 pint whole milk • 1 cup heavy cream • 3 ounces bourbon (or spiced rum) • 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg • 4 egg whites

Instructions: • Stir with intention. Garnish with cinnamon sticks. Serve with a kiss. X

Instructions: • In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the egg yolks until they lighten in color. Gradually add the 1/3 cup

sugar and continue to beat until it’s completely dissolved. Add the milk, cream, bourbon and nutmeg, and stir to combine. • Place the egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat to soft peaks. With the mixer still running, gradually add the 1 tablespoon of sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. • Whisk the egg whites into the mixture. Chill and serve. X

SANTA’S HELPER: Jackson Zoeller has been keeping The Bier Garden jolly for 18 years. Photo by Carly Sutton salmon pinwheels, lobsters and $20 bills crazy. We started having them instead of turkey. I don’t even remember how we started doing that, but it’s really gotten out of hand,” she says. “The Odditorium won No. 1 Bloody Mary in the Xpress readers poll this year, so I have a reputation to uphold. I just go nuts with them on Thanksgiving and Christmas day.”

— Edwin Arnaudin X

Jingle Jangle: Holiday Style Punch Cocktail Ingredients: • 1 1/2 ounces Titos Vodka • 1 ounce fresh blood orange juice • 1/2 ounce cranberry juice • 1/4 ounce holiday spiced pomegranate cordial • 1 ounce dry prosecco Instructions: • Combine all ingredients minus the prosecco in a cocktail tin with ice. Shake vigorously. Pour everything into a large rocks glass. Finish with the prosecco pour. • Garnish with two fresh cranberries and a mint leaf to look like a holly plant. X

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DEC. 15-21, 2021

ARTS & C U L T U R E

ARTS

Guided by the light Local artists connect to faith through painting

IN THE

S P I RUIET ISS

“My studio is my church,” says Onicas Gaddis. The spiritual expressionist painter was, until recently, based in the River Arts District, crafting vivid canvases where human faces and forms emerge from entangled lines and abstract shapes. Though now based in Pittsboro, he remains part of Black Wall Street AVL and plans to show his work in the collective’s new 8 River Arts Place location. For Gaddis as well as many other local artists, faith informs creative output and, in turn, artwork fuels their faith. “The entire artmaking process, for me, is a conversation with the canvas,” Gaddis says. “I allow it to tell me what it wants to be.” This approach comes from the artist’s mentor, the late Sarah Carlisle Towery, who instilled in Gaddis a sense of confidence. But long before working with Towery at her art colony

MESSAGE RECEIVED: “God told me to not give up on my art,” says spiritual expressionist Onicas Gaddis, pictured with his work. “I wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t for my faith and my belief in my art.” Photo courtesy of Gaddis in Kellyton, Ala., Gaddis discovered the power of creativity while growing up in foster homes. At 7, he explains, he saw a man sketching a cowboy and Indian and became enamored with the process. Since then, art has helped him through good and bad times. “God told me to not give up on my art,” he says. “I wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t for my faith and my belief in my art.” That dedication eventually led him from Alabama to Florida and, later, North Carolina. Though raised in both Catholicand Methodist-operated group homes, Gaddis says his faith extends beyond organized religion. “I’ve always been connected to spirituality,” he explains. “My [style] is called 28

DEC. 15-21, 2021

MOUNTAINX.COM

‘spiritual expressionism’ because I’m not really in control of the work per se. What comes out, that’s what it is. Then, when I sign it, it’s revealed to me what I just painted and how it relates to my life. Once I sign it, everyone else can create their own story from the painting.” The artist sells his art and has been steadily building a following. But he’s also given away nearly 300 paintings in his life because, he explains, “God wants me to share my work with the world.”

GOD’S THUMBPRINT ON THE WORLD

Faith also permeates the work of contemporary landscape painter

Philip DeAngelo. “I believe in a creator and then I believe that he has not only gifted us with the talent to create, but the joy of it,” he says. “I don’t put my work on the level of most artists, let alone God, but I sure do love what I do.” Before moving to Asheville by way of Ocean City, N.J., the artist was a traditional oil painter. “But Asheville was this freeing time,” he says. “It was a great time to start to paint the world as I would like to see it.” The golden ratio — used for centuries as an ideal design proportion — shows up in much of DeAngelo’s work. “Studied by artists and math geeks forever,” the artist explains, “Da Vinci recoined it ‘the divine proportion.’ And that is my favorite interpretation: It’s basically God’s thumbprint on the world.” DeAngelo also works with implied symbolism, which he describes as “an always evolving thing.” A tree is iconic for creation, he notes, “but if you mix in color theory, like red, red stands for blood and passion and life. So a red tree, for me, is the tree of life.” Meanwhile, a green tree stands for new beginnings and hope, a little house represents the idea of shelter and refuge, and a small group of houses speaks to community, he explains. More recently, DeAngelo’s been painting a lot of old barns. In these works, he clarifies with a laugh, “A barn is just a barn.” The artist has worked from a studio in the Wedge Building for 13 years, but he finds a lot of inspiration in rural landscapes. “There’s such an order to nature, which makes me believe it was created with the purpose of being beautiful,” he says. “I believe in a God who’s in love with beauty.” For about six years, DeAngelo led a Bible study for artists, which included discussion of both creative work and faith. These days, he’s one of the leaders of a group called David’s Men that shares readings, social gatherings and community service. “I’m a Christian who is an artist, [but] I’m not painting typical Christian paintings,” he notes. “For me, I’m just painting.” Currently, he’s working on sculptural pieces. “That’s brand-new. That’s based on the encouragement of a fellow artist friend of mine,” he says. DeAngelo is known for his contemporary Americana style of painting, but every few years he takes what he calls an “artistic vacation” and paints a series of abstract expressionist works. “For me, it’s just so fun to do that,” he says. “It’s a totally different vibe.”

SETTING HER SIGHTS

Visionary mixed media artist Nancy Moore, whose work can be

NEW! 2022

HOLY LAND: “Above It All” by Philip DeAngelo incorporates color theory and the golden mean. Image courtesy of DeAngelo found at Trackside Studios in the River Arts District, starts each piece with nothing in mind. “Then I make the first stroke of color, and it just feels like it comes through me,” she

says. “It’s probably the only thing that I do that’s fast.” Moore describes her childhood as growing up “free range” on a farm, and says she carries the col-

ors, smells and images of water and trees with her. Currently, she mainly paints outdoors. But, “I’m not painting what I see there,” she explains. “It’s more the energy that I’m picking up.” That expression of energy also comes through in Moore’s spirit portraits, a practice she started in Milwaukee while caring for her mother. She completed 36 small paintings of and for people she knew “as part of my process of gaining strength.” She later signed up to be a vendor at a spirit fair, where she created portraits of people who stopped by her booth. It took about an hour to complete each piece, and she did nine on the first day. “I wouldn’t tell them what it meant while I was painting it,” Moore says of that in-real-time process. “I’d show it to them at the end and let them interpret it.” Like spirit portraits, much of Moore’s spiritual practice has come to her through a combination of exploration and kismet. “Something would come up that I’d be drawn to without knowing why,” she says. A shamanism workshop in Milwaukee led to her involvement with the Foundation for Shamanic Studies. She’s also an ordained ministerial counselor through Pathways of Light, a “church without walls,” and a certified InterPlay leader. InterPlay is, according to the organization’s website, “an active, creative way to unlock the wisdom of the body.” All of these practices, along with her poetry writing, “are opening doors for me to the next painting,” says Moore. And, “I must honor all those who have crossed my path who have been [and] are my teachers, guides, messengers, support, courage space holders and so much more.” Learn more about each artist at the following websites: onicasart. com, philipdeangeloart.com and artofnancymoore.com

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THE CHANNEL IS OPEN: “Passion (After Frida)” is a spirit painting by Asheville-based artist Nancy Moore. Image courtesy of Moore MOUNTAINX.COM

DEC. 15-21, 2021

ARTS & C U L T U R E

FOOD ROUNDUP

What’s new in food

Haywood Street Congregation resumes indoor service of biweekly Welcome Table meals

OPEN KITCHEN: Pre-COVID, the Cúrate crew members were regular and enthusiastic participants in the Haywood Street Congregation Downtown Welcome Table. When indoor seated service resumes Wednesday, Dec. 22, Cúrate and other restaurant partners will be back in the Haywood kitchen. Photo courtesy Haywood Street Since the onset of COVID-19, Haywood Street Congregation has tabled its Downtown Welcome Table, which previously served hot meals to nearly 300 people each Wednesday and Sunday in the congregation’s dining room. Instead, community members have been served boxed meals outside the property. But this month, the religious institution is preparing to welcome back the full-service gathering. “At Haywood Street, our biggest mission and what we strive for is relationship above all else,” says Katlyn Mailman, The Haywood Street Congregation companion coordinator. “Sitting at the table and eating together fosters good relationships between people that probably wouldn’t happen otherwise. The Welcome Table is important to that.” The Welcome Table model is for the unhoused and the housed, employed and unemployed, to enjoy healthy meals together with china, 30

DEC. 15-21, 2021

silverware and glassware. Prepping, setting up, serving and cleaning are performed by volunteers. Additionally, close to 50 locally owned restaurants, food trucks and caterers participate. Due to the lengthy hiatus and COVID-19-related changes, Welcome Table is asking veteran and new companions to attend a reorientation in the dining hall Thursday, Dec. 16, or Monday, Dec. 20; both trainings start at 5 p.m. Regular Wednesday and Sunday services begin the following week, 10:30 a.m.-noon and 8:30-10 a.m., respectively. Everyone will be required to be masked except when eating; capacity will be capped between 120 and 150 guests. Says Mailman, “We are looking forward to welcoming everyone to the table again and getting people out of the cold for a warm meal.” Haywood Street Congregation is at 297 Haywood St. To learn more, visit avl.mx/ayz.

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Hit the bottle

It’s been a busy year for West End Bakery. After undertaking significant renovations in July — knocking down a wall, expanding the kitchen, replacing floors, painting the interior and exterior, adding a community table and creating a cozy lounge in the rear room — the bakery subsequently reopened to indoor service in September for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. More recently, owners Cary Hitchcock and Catherine McConachie have launched evening hours, added wine service and created a new menu with options that include charcuterie and healthy, wine-friendly fare under the direction of Charles Clyde Toney II, formerly of Bottle Riot in the River Arts District. Toney says the bakery’s natural, affordable, approachable wines will be available by the glass, carafe or bot-

tle. McConachie adds that Wednesday nights will be pizza-and-wine night. Come January, West End will launch pop-up dinners on Thursday nights, with the goal of hosting weekly guest chefs. The inaugural event, scheduled for Jan. 6, will feature an Indian dinner from Sunil Patel. West End Bakery is at 757 Haywood Road. New hours are WednesdaySunday, 5-9 p.m. in addition to daytime hours, Wednesday-Monday 8 a.m.-2 p.m. For more information, visit avl.mx/ays.

Wide open

Now that tourist traffic has slowed a bit, locals can get first dibs on a new restaurant opening and the expansions of two others. Earthling Coffee & Espresso, 800 Brevard Road, is at full perk in the Asheville Outlets food court. Founded by Jaimi and Chris Gunkel in 2019 as a drive-thru in Candler,

2022

the new store will serve, as indicated, coffee and espresso drinks, with 11 milk options for lattes. Earthling is open daily the same hours as Asheville Outlets. avl.mx/ayu. Meanwhile, in North Asheville, restaurateur Aaron Cheng recently opened a second location of the sushi-burger mashup Sushi Madness at 1020 Merrimon Ave. The first location launched 11 months ago at 275 Smokey Park Highway, Suite 251. Cheng — who also owns two locations of Yum Sushi Burrito and Poke — is clearly drawn to unique culinary fusions. Like the first, the Merrimon Madness is outfitted with multiple screens for sports fans to watch the game over their bento box and Hangover Burger. avl.mx/8ug. Speaking of unlikely fusions, Huli Sue’s BBQ & Grill, 1 Page Ave., Suite 150, opened Nov. 17 in the Grove Arcade. An April press release from co-owners Lisa Vann and Ben Krueger describes the concept as a celebration of Hawaii’s affinity for all things Southern — who knew? — with the result a Hawaiian-Southern restaurant, with a side of Texas-style barbecue. avl.mx/ayv.

Season’s eatings During her tenures at Rhubarb and Buxton Hall BBQ, Ashley Capps built a following for her boozy aged fruitcakes. Made with Farm & Sparrow flour, Mills River Creamery milk, Colfax Creek Farm eggs, quality dried fruit soaked with rum, bourbon and Madeira, wrapped in cheesecloth and “watered” weekly with more booze, they are things of beauty. “I only make them once a year and continuously revisit the same recipe and make alterations based on trying to get it closer to something that is close to perfect,” she says. “This year I added black walnuts, pistachios and almonds.” Though she expanded the timeline of her online Holiday Bakeshop to the entire month of December, time is running short. In addition to the annual fruitcakes, holiday cookie boxes, quarts of made-from-scratch eggnog and panettone baked in No. 10 cans, Capps has added other sweet treats, including sticky fig and plum pudding and persimmon pudding and bread (fruits from Lee’s One Fortune Farm), chocolate mint pies and gingerbread bars. avl.mx/prwd Also in the holiday spirit is Corner Kitchen and Chestnut pastry chef Mallory Foster, who created Cookies for a Cause, a festive box of individually wrapped holiday cookies — chocolate chip, molasses, spiced pecan pinwheel, gingerbread and

chocolate peppermint thumbprint — now available at Chestnut for $10 a box. All proceeds will be donated to ABCCM Transformation Village, with a matching donation from the restaurants. Chestnut is at 48 Biltmore Ave.

Issues

Coming Soon in January!

Souper bowl

Earlier this month, chef Travis Schultz of New Stock Pantry, 175 Clingman Ave., introduced a soup and bread series to the shop’s online menu. He makes each week’s selection reliant on the local produce at hand in the New Stock kitchen. Each package is a quart jar of soup, a whole loaf of bread of your choice from baker Gus Trout and a pint jar of garnish, for $20. Schultz says almost all soups are vegetarian and/or vegan and that the series will continue into spring. To order, visit avl.mx/az3. Meanwhile, Sovereign Remedies, 29 N. Market St., recently launched its Monday night Soup Kitchen popup series with roasted corn chowder, Portuguese chicken and dumplings, The Chop Shop Butchery beef and house chorizo chili and farm fresh vegetable soup. The selections will change weekly. Doors open at 4 p.m., food service begins at 5 p.m. with the last seating at 9 p.m. Each Monday, 5% of sales will be donated to a local nonprofit.

Wellness

One stop shop

It’s S&W Market’s first Christmas, and it’s decked out for eating, drinking and shopping. December’s final Mini-Market on the Mezzanine happens Friday, Dec. 17, 4-8 p.m. featuring local artisans and live music. (Live music now takes place every Friday and Saturday from 7 – 9 p.m.) S&W Market 56 Patton Ave. To learn more, visit avl.mx/9hl.

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Come Celebrate your Holidays with Smoky Park 350 Riverside Drive, Asheville, NC 28801 828-350-0315 • smokypark.com

— Kay West X

LATIN FARE-STYLE TACOS & ENTREES

Vegan, Vegetarian & Gluten Free Options

Thoughtful, locally-sourced dishes, inspired by the dynamic regions of Latin America. At El Gallo, our vibrant atmosphere celebrates food, dining, drinking and music. MON. & THUR.: 12pm-9pm • FRI.: 12pm-10pm SAT.: 11am-10pm • SUN. 11am-9pm | CLOSED TUES. & WED. 48 College St. • Downtown AVL • 828.505.8455 • elgalloavl.com MOUNTAINX.COM

DEC. 15-21, 2021

ARTS & C U L T U R E

ROUNDUP

Around Town

Virtual celebration aims to raise local awareness of Kwanzaa traditions Crystal Cauley wants to help preserve African American history in Western North Carolina. To that end, the Hendersonville writer and activist has organized local Black History Month and Juneteenth events; she has also written a spoken word poem about the history of slavery in Henderson County. And now she is putting her efforts into the WNC Kwanzaa Collective, which will hold a virtual celebration at the Hands On! Children’s Museum in Hendersonville on Saturday, Dec. 18, at 4 p.m. “The goal is for people to learn about Kwanzaa and decide to celebrate this year,” she says. “Learning about this cultural observance increases knowledge and feelings of inclusion.” Kwanzaa begins on Sunday, Dec. 26, and lasts through Saturday, Jan.

1. The annual celebration of African American culture, first held in 1966, was created by Maulana Karenga and is based on harvest festival traditions from various parts of Africa. “The misconception I find is that people believe it’s a religious holiday,” Cauley says. “Kwanzaa is a cultural observance week that has a spiritual element, but is not associated with any religion. If someone celebrated Christmas, then it’s fine to celebrate Kwanzaa, too.” The virtual event will include speakers, drumming, a dance performance by Carolina Diva Diamonds and the unveiling of art by Diamond Cash, a Henderson County native. Cauley’s efforts to raise awareness of Kwanzaa has already paid off in other ways, as well. Asheville, Hendersonville and Brevard have issued proclamations acknowledging Dec. 26-Jan. 1 as Kwanzaa Week. New Fletcher Mayor Preston Blakely will follow suit during the Dec. 18 virtual event. And the WNC Kwanzaa Collective is sponsoring a monthlong Kwanzaa display at Henderson County’s main library, 301 N. Washington St. in Hendersonville. The exhibit includes the proclamations, art, children’s literature and the display of a kinara, the seven-branched candleholder used in Kwanzaa celebrations. The virtual event will be streamed on the Hands On! Children’s Museum’s Facebook page. To learn more, visit avl.mx/az2.

Home for the holidays After going virtual in 2020, A Swannanoa Solstice returns to the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts for two shows on Sunday, Dec. 19, at 2 and 7 p.m. The event, now in its 19th year, features Appalachian folk, roots, Celtic and world-influenced music. “Western North Carolina is rich in tradition and roots,” says Rae Geoffrey, managing director of the Wortham Center. “To many audience members, A Swannanoa Solstice feels like a homecoming that honors their families, ancestors and history.” Among the featured artists at the shows will be multi-instrumentalist Robin Bullock, Grammy winner David Holt, Josh Goforth, EJ Jones 32

DEC. 15-21, 2021

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CULTURAL CELEBRATION: A display at Henderson County’s main library is among several projects the WNC Kwanzaa Collective has sponsored to raise awareness of the weeklong holiday, which runs Dec. 26-Jan. 1. Photo courtesy of Crystal Cauley and the Piper Jones Band, Phil Jamison and host Doug Orr. New to the bill this year will be Asheville-based Americana duo Zoe & Cloyd, made up of Natalya Zoe Weinstein, a renowned fiddler and vocalist, and her husband, John Cloyd Miller, a multi-instrumentalist and the grandson of pioneering bluegrass fiddler, Jim Shumate. The group will tie Shumate’s traditional Jewish instrumental music into their old-time bluegrass sound. The Wortham Center for the Performing Arts is at 18 Biltmore Ave. For more information or to buy tickets, visit avl.mx/atr.

Reborn identity

In folklore, a revenant is a figure reborn after death or a long absence. That idea, particularly popular with the ancient Egyptians and Greeks, has particular resonance at a time

when many people are reentering society after a long absence. That’s why Hendersonville’s Continuum Art gallery chose the word as the title of its new group show. Revenant’s opening takes place 4-7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, and the show runs through Monday, March 7. The exhibit is a response to the pandemic and a “post-pandemic” world and will include works by local sculptor Julie Slattery, Copenhagen artist øjeRum (Paw Grabowski), London artist Dan Hillier and Dutch visual artist Juul Kraijer. “Our gallery owner and curator of this show, Katie Montes, grouped together artists that were responding to their new normal,” says Mandy Hartman, gallery and studio coordinator. “She is encouraging guests to view these works and reflect on the shared experience of isolation, then reentering society, social groups, returning to work.”

The Key to a New Barbering Career Collage artist øjeRum uses only antique magazines and early 19th-century newspaper clippings to create otherworldly compositions. The artist will include original, ambient music to accompany his pieces, and the gallery encourages people to bring headphones to hear the music via a YouTube link as they move through the exhibition. Meanwhile, Hillier creates ethereal collages by manipulating elements of 19th-century wood and steel engravings and adding her own line work to produce screen and giclee prints. Slattery’s sculptural work explores emotional responses of loss and attachment. And Kraijer’s principal mediums are drawing and photography. Continuum Art is at 147-C First Ave. E. in Hendersonville and is open Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and by appointment. For more information, go to avl.mx/az4.

Helping the homeless Usually, you don’t bring a gift when you visit Kris Kringle, but Santa’s Mini Workshop On the Go is an exception. The family-friendly holiday workshop provides clothing items to Homeward Bound WNC, a local nonprofit seeking to end homelessness. Sponsored by Go Mini’s Portable Storage, the final socially distanced event takes place Thursday, Dec. 16, 5-8 p.m., at Highland Brewing Co. “We want families and kids to have that special opportunity to talk to Santa,” Go Mini’s owner, Robie Campbell, says in a press release. “And it’s important for us to support community organizations like Homeward Bound. In uncertain times, it’s more important than ever that we care for one another.” Radio station 99.9 Kiss Country will be on hand 5:30-7:30 p.m., selecting one winner to receive tickets to The N.C. Arboretum’s Winter Lights. During the event, participants will also have a chance to be entered to win a $250 Visa gift card and a personalized video from Appalachian Santa. Highland Brewing Co. is at 12 Old Charlotte Highway, Suite 200. For more information, visit avl.mx/aza.

A Christmas Carol ... Take a trip back to Christmas Past while staying right here in Christmas Present. The Mars Hill University Theatre Arts department, in conjunction with the Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre, will present live performances of A Christmas Carol at Owen Theatre Thursday, Dec. 16-Saturday,

Dec. 18, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 19, at 2 p.m. Virtual performances will be available on demand Monday, Dec. 20-Sunday, Dec. 26. Standard seats are $28, premium seats are $32, and the virtual pass is $25. The Owen Theatre is at 44 College St. in Mars Hill. For more information or to buy tickets, go to avl.mx/az8. For more on virtual performances, visit avl.mx/az9.

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And speaking of Mr. Scrooge & Co., the HART Theatre’s latest production starts off as a traditional production of the Dickens classic, until an actor onstage proclaims, “I can’t do this!” What follows is Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and then some)!, a comedy featuring three actors performing stories from around the world, complete with costume changes, a plethora of props and even a Jimmy Stewart impression. The show will be performed Friday-Saturday, Dec. 17-18, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 19, at 2 p.m. HART Theatre is at 250 Pigeon St. in Waynesville. For more information or to get tickets, go to avl.mx/az7.

— Justin McGuire X

MOVIE LISTINGS Edwin Arnaudin’s latest critiques of new films available to view in local theaters and on popular streaming services include: WEST SIDE STORY: Director Steven Spielberg and screenwriter Tony Kushner pay homage to the legendary 1961 musial while putting their own fresh spins on the material. Prepare yourself for 2.5 hours of pure bliss. Grade: A. Rated PG-13 NIGHTMARE ALLEY: Director Guillermo del Toro's star-studded remake of the 1947 noir classic takes a while to find its groove, but once huckster Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) and his assistant/ girlfriend Molly Cahill (Rooney Mara) take their mentalist show beyond its circus roots, the film becomes an atmospheric stunner. Grade: B. Rated R

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

DEC. 15-21, 2021

CLUBLAND

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

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15 185 KING STREET Trivia Night, 7pm

NOW OPEN!

ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB Asheville's Best Karaoke , 8pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY • Beauty Parlor Comedy: Kourtlyn Wigginsk 7pm • Aquanet: Goth Nightk 9pm ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Disclaimer Stand-Up Lounge Comedy Open Mic, 8pm

BEER • WINE • CIDER • SPRITZ • ART HOPPYTREES.COM • 7 FLORIDA AVE WEAVERVILLE, NC 28787

TURGUA BREWING CO Trivia Night w/Pub Trivia Nerds, 6pm

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16 131 MAIN Aaron LaFalce (soul, rock, pop), 6pm 185 KING STREET Hard Candy Christmas Show w/Colleen Orender (jazz, pop, soul), 7pm 305 LOUNGE & EATERY Bob Sherill (singer-songwriter), 1pm

BREWSKIES Free Pool All Day, All Night, 1pm-2am

ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Move On Up: Soul/R&B Night, 9pm

CITIZEN VINYL Open Folk, 6pm

GREEN MAN BREWERY Green Man Trivia, 7pm

ASHEVILLE CLUB Mr Jimmy (blues), 5pm BEN'S TUNE UP Offended! Open Mic (comedy), 9:30pm CASCADE LOUNGE Team Trivia, 7:30pm

HI-WIRE BREWING RAD BEER GARDEN Game Night, 6pm

FLEETWOOD'S Gold Light, Minorcan & Lurky Skunk (folk/punk), 8pm

HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Well Crafted Wednesdays w/Matt Smith (singer-songwriter), 6pm

GINGER'S REVENGE CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM Gluten-Free Comedy (open mic), 6pm

ICONIC KITCHEN & DRINKS Marc Keller (acoustic), 6pm

HIGHLAND BREWING DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Drag Music Bingo w/ Divine the Bearded Lady, 6pm

OFF THE WAGON All Request Piano Show, 8pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. French Broad Valley Mountain Music Jam, 6pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Wild Wednesday Funk-n-Rock w/Free Anesthesia, 10pm SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Witty Wednesday Trivia, 6:30pm THE DUGOUT 3 Cool Cats (oldies), 7pm THE GREY EAGLE Charlie Parr w/Dead Horses (folk)k 8pm THE ODDITORIUM Bumpin Uglies Presents Best of the 90s Dance Party, 8pm

DEC. 15-21, 2021

TRISKELION BREWING CO. TriskaTrivia, 7pm

BLACK MOUNTAIN BREWING Jay Brown (roots), 6pm

DOUBLE CROWN Emily Nenni, Dyland Earl & Willi Carlisle (country) k 8pm

THE OMNI GROVE PARK INN The B's (jazz, standards), 7pm

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ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Christie Lenée (instrumental, indie, songwriter)k 7:30pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Bluegrass Jam w/Drew & the Boys, 7pm MAD CO. BREW HOUSE Jim Hampton & Banjo Mitch (country, bluegrass), 6pm OFF THE WAGON All Request Piano Show, 8pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Kid Billy (multi-instrumentalist ), 7pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Phursdays w/Gunslinging Parrots (Phish tribute), 9:30pm

CELEBRATING SEAN: On Sunday, Dec. 19, former bandmates of Asheville drummer Sean Mason, who died in 2020, will gather with a long list of local musicians at 9 p.m. in honor of what would have been Mason’s 40th birthday. Dirty Dead, pictured, will headline the event at Asheville Music Hall, which will raise funds for Sean’s Percussion Scholarship at the Asheville Music School. Photo by Andy Hall ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Medicated Sunfish (rock), 6pm RYE KNOT KITCHEN BREWERY DISTILLERY Chris Flanders (acoustic), 6pm SECRET LOCATION Don't Tell Comedy (Downtown), 8pm STATIC AGE RECORDS Curt Cloninger, Vaina (Thing), & Peter Kusek (experimental, noise), 8pm THE 2ND ACT Russ Wilson & The 2nd Act Orchestra (swing), 7pm THE DUGOUT Open Jam w/Paul Liford (open mic), 8pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Karaoke w/Karaoke Jackazz, 8pm THE GREY EAGLE Illiterate Light w/Future Crib (indie rock, folk, pop)k 8pm THE ODDITORIUM Witchpit, Auralayer & Systematic Devastation (sludge metal), 7pm TRISKELION BREWING CO. Jason's Krazy Karaoke, 6:30pm

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17 185 KING STREET Unpaid Bill & the Bad Czechs (blues, jazz, swing), 8pm

305 LOUNGE & EATERY Geriatric Jukebox (oldies), 5pm ALOFT ASHEVILLE DOWNTOWN Zach Meadows (singer-songwriter), 7pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Everybody Free Dance Partyk 10pm ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Mr Jimmy's Big City Blues Christmas Show, 7:30pm BREWSKIES Karaoke 10pm BURNTSHIRT VINEYARDS Ken & Nicole (acoustic duo), 3pm BURNTSHIRT VINEYARDS CHIMNEY ROCK Roots and Dore (roots), 5pm CORK & KEG The Barsters (acoustic, old time, bluegrass) k 8pm DRY FALLS BREWING CO. The Lads avl (rock), 7pm FLEETWOOD'S Slow Poison, Wilbur Lane & Motel Pearl (rockabilly, country punk), 8pm GINGER'S REVENGE CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM The Freeway Jubilee (psychedlic rock, gospel roots, funk), 7pm GUIDON BREWING Chris Wayne (rockabilly, blues), 7pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Heidi Gilson and Friends (acoustic), 7pm

THE BLACKBIRD RESTAURANT Spiro & The Falling Trees (rock, jam), 10pm

ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Holiday Swing w/ Queen Bee and the Honeyloversk 8:30pm

THE DUGOUT Ricky Gunter Band (country), 8pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Jackson Grimm (singer-songwriter, Appalachian folk), 8pm MAD CO. BREW HOUSE Hope Griffin (acoustic, folk), 6pm OFF THE WAGON All Request Piano Show, 8pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Wyatt Espalin (Americana), 8pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Free Dead Friday w/ Gus & Phriends & Generous Electric Duo (Grateful Dead tribute), 9:30pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Joker's Trade (jam band), 7pm OSKAR BLUES BREVARD John Trufant (singer-songwriter), 6pm SALVAGE STATION Dopapod (rock)k 8pm STATIC AGE RECORDS Sagittarius Season Zodiac Party w/DJ Nex Millen, 9pm

THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Getaway Comedy: Greg Behrens, 8pm THE GREY EAGLE Sarah Shook & The Disarmers w/Bex & Maggie Valley Band (Americana)k 9pm THE ODDITORIUM The Return of EMO Night, 8pm THE POE HOUSE Howie Johnson (rock), 7pm THE SOCIAL John Cox Band (old honky tonk soul), 8pm TRISKELION BREWING CO. Pleasantly Wild (alt rock), 7pm UPCOUNTRY BREWING COMPANY Iggy Radio (rock, metal, blues), 6pm WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Evening with Aditi & Jay (roots), 8pm

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18 ALOFT ASHEVILLE DOWNTOWN DJ LC Tamagotchi, 7pm

ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY • Beauty Parlor Comedy: Mike Lebovitzk 7pm • Sacrilege: Goth Party w/Jagger & Neckroftk 10pm ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Family Holiday Show, 7:30pm ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Toadface w/Shanghai Doom (dance, electronic), 9pm BREWSKIES Holiday Party 6pm BURNTSHIRT VINEYARDS Hope Griffin (acoustic, folk), 2pm BURNTSHIRT VINEYARDS CHIMNEY ROCK Ben Phantom (singer-songwriter), 2pm CORK & KEG Brody Hunt & The Silent Knights (country Christmas, honky tonk) k 8pm DADDY MAC'S DOWN HOME DIVE 5th Annual Ugly Sweater Crawl, 2pm DRY FALLS BREWING CO. The Double Naught Spies (classic rock, blues), 7pm FLEETWOOD'S Volunteer Department, Lavender Blue & State Park Ranger (indie), 8pm HIGHLAND DOWNTOWN TAPROOM The Moon Water Duo (holiday, jazz), 7pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB West King String Band (rock, funk, classic country, bluegrass), 8pm

THE GREY EAGLE Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters: A Holiday Spectacular (Americana)k 9pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Sean Mason's Birthday Celebration (rock, jam), 9pm

MAD CO. BREW HOUSE Chris Caruso's 5th Annual Christmas Jam (holiday music), 6pm

THE ORANGE PEEL The Mercury Arcs (garage rock)k 8pm

BURNTSHIRT VINEYARDS CHIMNEY ROCK Hope Griffin (acoustic, folk), 2pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Sumsun (DJ), 8pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Uncle Lenny's Funky Christmas, 10pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST • Sixth Anniversary Holiday Pop Up Party, 12pm • Greenhouse Lounge w/ElectroChemical (electronic), 8pm OSKAR BLUES BREVARD Ska City, 6pm POINT LOOKOUT VINEYARDS Carribbean Cowboys (classic rock, Southern rock, R&B), 4pm SALVAGE STATION Rising Appalachia (indie folk)k 6pm STATIC AGE RECORDS Tomato Flower, Superflower, Sleep Number, Period Bomb, Nostalgianoid & 7 1/2 Giraffe (punk/syth), 7pm SUNNY POINT CAFÉ Albi (vintage jazz), 6pm THE BLACKBIRD RESTAURANT Sister Ivy (soul vibes, 10pm THE DUGOUT The Loudes (punk, folk, rock), 8pm

THE POE HOUSE Mr Jimmy at the Poe House, 7pm TRISKELION BREWING CO. Short 'n Lowe (alt rock), 7pm UPCOUNTRY BREWING COMPANY Dirty Dawg (acoustic, Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia), 2pm URBAN ORCHARD CIDER CO. SOUTH SLOPE Shake, Jiggle, & Wobble w/Your Cousin TL (dance, hip-hop), 7pm WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Tuatha Dea (rock), 7:30pm WAGBAR Christmas Pawty w/Two Fontains, 11:30am

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19 185 KING STREET Open Electric Jam w/ the King Street House Band ft. Howie Johnson, 6:30pm ARCHETYPE BREWING Burnt Reputation (acoustic rock), 3pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY • Life's a Drag Brunchk 11:30am • Sunday Dance Party w/DJ RexxStepk 10pm

CROW & QUILL The Roaring Lions (parlor jazz)k 8pm DIANA WORTHAM THEATRE A Swannanoa Solstice, 2pm HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Taylor Pierson (jazz), 3pm HIGHLAND BREWING DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Brews and Blues w/ Mr Jimmy & Charlie Wilkinson, 1pm HIGHLAND DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Charlie Wilkinson (blues), 1pm ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 A Celtic Celebration w/ the Reel Sistersk 7:30pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Bluegrass Brunch w/ Supper Break, 12pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Human Ladder (rock), 4pm POINT LOOKOUT VINEYARDS Gospel Christmas w/ Elaine Anderson, 2pm SALVAGE STATION Grateful Sunday w/ Phuncle Sam (Dead tribute, jam)k 8pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Drag Show, 9pm

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DEC. 15-21, 2021

CLU B LA N D THE GREY EAGLE • Burlesque Brunchk 12pm • 5th Annual Jingle Dangle & Shakey's Booty-Christmas Partyk 6pm TRISKELION BREWING CO. Jason Whitaker (rock), 3pm WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Tuatha Dea (rock), 7:30pm

MONDAY, DECEMBER 20 BREWSKIES Open Jam w/the legendary Tall Paul, 7:30pm DOUBLE CROWN Country Karaoke, 10pm HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Totally Rad Trivia w/ Mitch Fortune, 6pm HIGHLAND DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Cheers to Chess, 5pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Quizzo! Pub Trivia w/ Jason Mencer, 7:30pm LITTLE JUMBO Bill Bares' Golden Age Trio (jazz)k 7pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Monday Mashup, 7pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. House of SYNth, 6:30pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Trivia by the River w/ James Harrod, 8pm THE JOINT NEXT DOOR Mr Jimmy & Friends (blues), 7pm

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21 305 LOUNGE & EATERY Bob Sherill (singer-songwriter), 1pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Drag Bingo w/Calcuttak 8pm CORK & KEG Old Time Learning Jamk 5pm

DEC. 15-21, 2021

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FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm GREEN MAN BREWERY Old Time Jam, 5pm HI-WIRE BREWING BIG TOP Free Weekly Trivia Night, 7pm MAD CO. BREW HOUSE Karaoke Night, 6pm MILLS RIVER BREWING Trivia Night, 6pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Team Trivia, 7pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Grateful Family Band Tuesdays (Dead tribute), 6pm

CITIZEN VINYL Open Folk, 6pm GREEN MAN BREWERY Green Man Trivia, 12am HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Well Crafted Wednesdays w/Matt Smith (singer-songwriter), 6pm ICONIC KITCHEN & DRINKS Marc Keller (acoustic), 6pm OFF THE WAGON All Request Piano Show, 8pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. French Broad Valley Mountain Music Jam, 6pm

THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Solstice Sacrilege w/DJ Avel Veeta and Pelletier, 4pm

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Wild Wednesday Funk-nRock w/Free Anesthesia, 10pm

THE PAPER MILL LOUNGE Comedy Night w/ Gregg McGaha, 7pm

SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Witty Wednesday Trivia, 6:30pm

TRISKELION BREWING CO. Irish Session (Celtic), 7pm

THE GREY EAGLE Christmas with Datrian Johnson & Friends: A Soulful Melodyk 8pm

WAGBAR Tuesday Trivia Night, 6pm

THE OMNI GROVE PARK INN The B's (jazz, standards), 7pm

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22

TRISKELION BREWING CO. TriskaTrivia, 7pm

185 KING STREET Trivia Night, 7pm ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB Asheville's Best Karaoke , 8pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY • Beauty Parlor Comedy: Tom Petersk 7pm • Aquanet: Goth Nightk 9pm ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Disclaimer Stand-Up Lounge Comedy Open Mic, 8pm BLACK MOUNTAIN BREWING Jay Brown (roots), 6pm BREWSKIES Free Pool All Day, All Night, 12am

TURGUA BREWING CO Trivia Night w/Pub Trivia Nerds, 6pm WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Irish Music Circle, 7pm

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23 131 MAIN Aaron LaFalce (soul, rock, pop), 6pm 305 LOUNGE & EATERY Bob Sherill (singer-songwriter), 1pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Move On Up: Soul/R&B Nightk 9pm ASHEVILLE CLUB Mr Jimmy (blues), 5pm

BEN'S TUNE UP Offended! Open Mic (comedy), 9:30pm CASCADE LOUNGE Team Trivia, 7:30pm DOUBLE CROWN Ninth Anniversary w/ The Legendary Singing Starsk 9pm FLEETWOOD'S Terraoke (karaoke), 6pm GINGER'S REVENGE CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM Gluten-Free Comedy (open mic), 6pm HIGHLAND BREWING DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Drag Music Bingo w/ Divine the Bearded Lady, 6pm ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 • Amy Steinberg Holiday Show (singer-songwriter, blues-infused pop)k 7pm • A Jazz Piano Christmas w/the Bill Bares Trio & Special Guestsk 8:30pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Bluegrass Jam w/Drew & the Boys, 7pm OFF THE WAGON All Request Piano Show, 8pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Chandler Huntley (singer-songwriter), 7pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Phursdays w/Gunslinging Parrots (Phish tribute), 9:30pm RYE KNOT KITCHEN BREWERY DISTILLERY Chris Flanders (acoustic), 6pm THE 2ND ACT Russ Wilson & The 2nd Act Orchestra (swing), 7pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Karaoke w/Karaoke Jackazz, 8pm THE GREY EAGLE Pink Beds & Friends: The Naughty List Throwdown (rock)k 9pm THE ODDITORIUM Bold Burlesque Presents Locals Only, 7pm

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DEC. 15-21, 2021

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY ARIES (March 21-April 19): Key questions for you, beginning now and throughout 2022: 1. What do you need to say, but have not yet said? 2. What is crucial for you to do, but you have not yet done? 3. What dream have you neglected and shouldn’t neglect any longer? 4. What sanctuary is essential for you to visit, but you have not yet visited? 5. What “sin” is it important for you to forgive yourself for, but you have not yet forgiven yourself? 6. What promise have you not yet fulfilled, even though it’s getting late (but not too late!) to fulfill? 7. What secret have you hidden so well that you have mostly concealed it even from yourself? TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus novelist Anthony Trollope (1815–1882) took one of his manuscripts to a publishing company, hoping it would be made into a book and sold to the public. A few weeks later, he got word by mail that his masterpiece had been rejected. He took a train to the publisher’s office and retrieved it. On the train ride home, he turned the manuscript over and began writing a new story on the back of each page. He spent no time moping. That’s the spirit I recommend you embody in the coming weeks, dear Taurus. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “John Coltrane was an addict,” wrote author Cornel West about the renowned jazz saxophonist and composer. “Billie Holiday was an addict. [Nobel Prize-winning author] Eugene O’Neill was an addict. What would America be without addicts and post-addicts who make such grand contributions to our society?” I welcome West’s sympathetic views toward addicts. Many of us who aren’t addicts understand how lucky we are not to have the genetic predisposition or the traumatic experiences that addicts often struggle with. We unaddicted people may also have been spared the bigotry and abuse that have contributed to and aggravated some addicts’ addictions. Having acknowledged these truths, I nevertheless hope to do whatever I can to help you convert any addictive tendencies you might have into passionate obsessions. Now is an excellent time to launch a new phase of such work. Invitation: Make a list of three things you can do in the coming months to nurture the process. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Actor and model Kate Beckinsale unleashed a cryptic boast: “My best feature is unfortunately a private matter, although I’m told it is spectacular. But you can’t really walk it down the red carpet. What can I say?” Are you imagining what I’m imagining? I bring this oddity to your attention in the hope that I can convince you to be more forthright and expressive about your own wonderful qualities. It’s time to be less shy about your beauty, less secretive about your deep assets. Show the world why you’re so lovable. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Leo-born Edna Ferber (1885–1968) was a celebrated author who won a Pulitzer Prize. She was witty and outspoken. Her stories featured strong women and characters struggling against discrimination. “I never would just open a door and walk through,” she said about her career. “I had to bust it down for the hell of it. I just naturally liked doing things the hard way.” At least in the coming weeks, Leo, I urge you NOT to adopt Ferber’s attitude. In my view, you’ll be wise to do everything possible to open doors rather than bust them down. And the best way to do that is to solicit help. Cultivate your ability to ask for what you need. Refine your practice of the arts of collaboration, synergy and interweaving. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “No one has ever written, painted, sculpted, modeled, built or invented except literally to get out of hell,” wrote Virgo dramatist Antonin Artaud. That’s a ridiculous generalization, in my opinion. For example, I occasionally generate songs, stories and horoscopes to help me escape from a momentary hell. But most of my creations are inspired by my love of life and a desire to inspire

DEC. 15-21, 2021

MARKETPLACE

BY ROB BREZSNY

others. I’m very sure that in the coming weeks, your own motivations to produce good things will be far closer to mine than to Artaud’s. You’re in a phase when your quest for joy, generosity, blessings and fun could be fierce and productive.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Author Barbara Sher offered this wise counsel: “Imaginary obstacles are insurmountable. Real ones aren’t.” I bring this to your attention because I believe the coming weeks will be an excellent time to identify the imaginary obstacles you’ve erected in your inner world — and then smash them or burn them or dispose of them. Once you’re free of the illusory interference, I think you’ll find you have at least twice as much power to neutralize the real obstacles.

Want to advertise in Marketplace? 828-251-1333 advertise@mountainx.com • mountainx.com/classiﬁeds If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Remember the Russian proverb: “Doveryai, no proveryai,” trust but verify. When answering classiﬁed ads, always err on the side of caution. Especially beware of any party asking you to give them financial or identification information. The Mountain Xpress cannot be responsible for ensuring that each advertising client is legitimate. Please report scams to advertise@mountainx.com

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Prolific author Ray Bradbury liked to give advice to those with a strong need to express their imaginative originality. Since I expect you will be a person like that in 2022, I’ll convey to you one of his exhortations. He wrote, “If you want to create, you must be the most sublime fool that God ever turned out and sent rambling. I wish you a wrestling match with your Creative Muse that will last a lifetime. I wish craziness and foolishness and madness upon you.” Keep in mind that Bradbury was referring to constructive craziness, wise foolishness, and divine madness. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The coming months will be a favorable time for you to redefine the meaning of the term “sacred” and to deepen your relationship with sacredness. To spur your imagination, I offer four quotes: 1. “Recognizing the sacred begins when we are interested in every detail of our lives.” —Buddhist teacher Chögyam Trungpa 2. “When you notice something clearly and see it vividly, it then becomes sacred.” —poet Allen Ginsberg 3. “Holiness begins in recognizing the face of the other.” —philosopher Marc-Alain Ouaknin 4. “Modern culture, in its advertising of sex, is in a misguided fashion advertising its longing for the sacred.” —teacher Sobonfu Somé CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Capricorn author E. M. Forster wrote, “The only books that influence us are those for which we are ready, and which have gone a little further down our particular path than we have yet gone ourselves.” I propose we universalize that statement: “The only people, information and experiences that influence us are those for which we are ready, and which have gone a little further down our particular path than we have yet gone ourselves.” I believe this principle will be especially fruitful for you to embrace during the next three months. Prepare yourself for lessons that are vital for you to learn — and on the frontier of your understanding AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Among America’s Founding Fathers was Aquarian William Whipple (1730-1785). He was one of 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776, instigating war with Great Britain. Unlike many of his colleagues, however, Whipple believed it was hypocritical to enslave human beings while fighting for freedom. That’s why he emancipated the person who had been in bondage to him. The coming months will be a favorable time to make comparable corrections, Aquarius. If there are discrepancies between your ideals and your actions, fix the problem. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): According to Piscean author Ryunosuke Akutagawa, “People sometimes devote their lives to a desire that they are not sure will ever be fulfilled.” So true! I can personally attest to that behavior. Is such a quest misguided? Delusional? Naive? Not in my view. I see it as glorious, brave and heroic. Akutagawa did, too. He said that those who refrain from having inspirational desires are “no more than mere spectators of life.” In any case, I recommend you think big in 2022, Pisces. From an astrological angle, this could be the year you home in on and refine and upgrade the single most important desire you will ever have.

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HUMAN SERVICES

EMPLOYMENT GENERAL FULL TIME WAREHOUSE ASSOCIATE AFG Distribution is looking for several full-time employees to join our growing shipping and receiving departments. Job Type: Full-time Pay: $15.00 - $16.00 per hour For more information contact us at afgdistribution.com/careers or call us at 828-252-5228.

SKILLED LABOR/ TRADES BEGINNING TO EXPERIENCED MAKERS (SEWERS) NEEDED FOR A COOL PROJECT Trekroll has part time employment for a team of talented cut & sew types. $20 hr, flexible 16 hrs a week, 4-6 weeks project duration beginning January. Join us! Please contact us at info@trekroll. com for more information. HIRING MANUFACTURING POSITIONS (ALL EXPERIENCE LEVELS!) MAU is hiring for multiple manufacturing positions. Our recruiters are standing by to help you land your next career! We have positions available for all shifts and all experience levels. 828-5582800 • jobs.hendersonville@ mau.com • https://www.mau. com/hendersonville-nc.

no outside sales experience is required, experience dealing with varied and challenging situations is helpful. The position largely entails account development and lead generation (including coldcalling), account management, assisting clients with marketing and branding strategies, and working to meet or exceed sales goals. If you are a high energy, positive, cooperative person looking to join an independent, communityminded organization, please send a resume and cover letter (no walk-ins, please) explaining why you are a good fit for Mountain Xpress to: xpressjob@mountainx.com

MOUNTAIN XPRESS DELIVERY Mountain Xpress is seeking an energetic, reliable, independent contractor for part-time weekly newspaper delivery. The contractor must have a safe driving record, a reliable vehicle with proper insurance and registration, and be able to lift 50 lbs. without strain. Distribution of papers is on Tuesday afternoons and typically lasts about 7-8 hours per week. Occasional Wednesday morning delivery is sometimes needed or an option. E-mail distro@ mountainx.com. No phone calls or walk-ins please. Central Downtown Asheville route.

SALES/MARKETING

SALES PROFESSIONAL Mountain Xpress is looking to add a new member to our sales team. This is a full-time position with benefits. Ideal candidates are personable, organized, motivated, and can present confidently, while working within a structure. Necessary skills include clear and professional communications (via phone, email, and in-person meetings), detailed record-keeping, and working well in a team environment. While

CAMP & PROGRAM MANAGER UNDER 1 SKY VILLAGE FOUNDATION seeks a Program Manager to oversee all aspects of day camps and other programming for children in the foster care system. For details and to apply go to https://www. under1sky.org/now-hiring. html under1sky.org. FULL TIME PROGRAM COORDINATOR WORKING WHEELS seeks a Program Coordinator - detail-oriented, excellent communicator, committed to the cause. 35 hours/ week; $18.50/hr + benefits; Submit cover letter and resume to info@workingwheelswnc. org. No phone inquiries, please. LIVE IN PERSONAL ASSISTANT Strong, intelligent woman needed to support independent disabled person. Cooking, errands, driving a van, tech savvy. Hours are flexible, but needs to be on call in case of mobility challenges. References required. Apartment on premises included, plus salary. deyerleanderson@charter.net. YOUTH SERVICES DIRECTOR UNDER 1 SKY VILLAGE FOUNDATION, which provides camp experiences, mentoring, and wraparound services for youth in the foster care system is seeking a Youth

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TEACHING/ EDUCATION

YOUTH LITERACY DIRECTOR Literacy Together seeks a YL Director to provide leadership and specialized training to volunteer tutors for K-5th grade students who are behind grade in reading. For full info: https://lit-together. org/job-openings/.

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LEGAL NOTICES NON-RESIDENT NOTICE In the chancery court for Carter County at Elizabethton, Tennessee. Peter Arnold Zolton, Jr., Plaintiff VS Penny Leigh Marler Zolton, Defendant. Civil Action No. 31387. In this cause, it appearing from the Plaintiff's bill, which is sworn to, that the Defendant, Penny Leigh Marler Zolton, last known address, 258 Luther Road, Candler, NC 28715, it is ordered by me that publication be made for four successive weeks, as required by law, in the Mountain Xpress, a newspaper published in Asheville, NC, in Buncombe County, with a general circulation in Candler, North Carolina, notifying said Defendant to appear before our said Chancery Court, at the Courthouse, 801 East Elk Avenue, Elizabethton, TN within (30) days after this notice has been published for four successive weeks in said newspaper, and make answer to said complaint, or the allegations there of will be take for confessed and this cause will be set for hearing ex parte as to Penny Leigh Marler Zolton. This, the 19th day of November, 2021. Andrew J. LaPorte, Clerk and Master. NOTICE TO CREDITORS STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF BUNCOMBE NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned, as EXECUTOR of

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edited by Will Shortz | No. 1110

ACROSS

1 Redding of Stax Records

5 It often surrounds highmaintenance people

10 Eponym of a famed N.Y.C. deli 14 One who’s got the goods

25 On and on and on 28 x or y, in math class 29 ___ hand 30 State bird of Arizona or South Carolina 31 Debtor’s note 34 56-Across, to a gambler 39 Battle of Britain grp.

51 Bad, in Bolivia 52 “Wanna ___?” 55 Apple variety 56 Small amount 59 Mishap during a shave

63 Rustic verse

DOWN 1 Nordic capital 2 Marvel movie directed by Kenneth Branagh

24 Jump on the ice

43 Frothy beverage

25 Day of the week named after 2-Down: Abbr.

44 Title woman in a hit song by Dexys Midnight Runners

26 Actress Chaplin 27 “___ said!” 31 Wait for the light to change, say

4 Lotion letters

32 What helium and nitrogen lack

7 Mockery, of a sort 8 Motivational speaker Robbins 9 Genesis craft 10 Gold standards 11 Its dried stalks can be used to make didgeridoos 12 The “dial” in “Don’t touch that dial” 13 Attractive, fashionable man, in modern parlance 15 “Yeezus” rapper 21 Author of the “Fear Street” series

61 They consist of reps

22 Cartoon character who says “Swiper, no swiping!” 23 Stinger

45 Disdain 46 Lookalikes

30 Is, in hindsight

3 Johnny Carson’s home state

60 Pharmacist’s workplace in a hospital

62 Actor Buddy of “The Beverly Hillbillies”

6 Order back

50 Succeeded in

41 Plant used by ancient Greeks and Romans to treat wounds

46 56-Across, to Occupy protesters

40 Reddit Q&As

43 Becomes more and more irksome

5 Hold up

42 BuzzFeed offering

22 56-Across, to a smartphone user

17 56-Across, to a dairy farmer

21 Backed up, say

22 25

20 Side with tandoori chicken

19 Singer Rita

16 Contents of Lago Titicaca

18 South African currency

PUZZLE BY MAX CHEN LAURING AND BENJAMIN CHEN LAURING

33 Exploits 35 Olympic event featuring a table 36 Not bring up

47 “___ the Clown” (classic episode of “The Simpsons”) 48 Put into law 49 Make ___ of things 52 Bit of hair decoration 53 Professor ’iggins

37 Popular flip phone of the mid-2000s

54 Texter’s sign-off 56 Dedicated work

38 Sworn words

57 Writing tip?

42 Ones who treat people poorly?

58 CBS series with spinoffs

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS NY TIMES PUZZLE

B E J E I M A G L O N G S U M P G A I E G N A S I N S B P O E A U S B L O O B A N K A T A R G O T A E R A S

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T A R G E T A R E A S

E N L A R G E M E N T

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S L I F E A M E R M P E R

DEC. 15-21, 2021