Mountain Xpress 12.21.22

news tips & story ideas to NEWS@MOUNTAINX.COM letters/commentary to LETTERS@MOUNTAINX.COM sustainability news to GREEN@MOUNTAINX.COM a&e events and ideas to AE@MOUNTAINX.COM events can be submitted to CALENDAR@MOUNTAINX.COM or try our easy online calendar at MOUNTAINX.COM/EVENTS food news and ideas to FOOD@MOUNTAINX.COM wellness-related events/news to MXHEALTH@MOUNTAINX.COM business-related events/news to BUSINESS@MOUNTAINX.COM

PUBLISHER & EDITOR: Jeff Fobes

ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER: Susan Hutchinson

OPERATIONS MANAGER: Able Allen

MANAGING EDITOR: Thomas Calder

NEWS EDITOR: Daniel Walton

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR: Thomas Calder

OPINION EDITOR: Tracy Rose

STAFF REPORTERS: Edwin Arnaudin, Thomas Calder, Justin McGuire, Sara Murphy, Brooke Randle, Jessica Wakeman, Daniel Walton

COMMUNITY CALENDAR & CLUBLAND: Andy Hall

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Lisa Allen, Peter Gregutt, Mary Jean Ronan Herzog, Rob Mikulak

REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS: Mark Barrett, Blake Becker, Morgan Bost, LA Bourgeois, Carmela Caruso, Nikki Gensert, Bill Kopp, Linda Ray, Kay West

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS: Cindy Kunst

ADVERTISING, ART & DESIGN MANAGER: Susan Hutchinson

LEAD DESIGNER: Scott Southwick

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Olivia Urban

MARKETING ASSOCIATES: Sara Brecht, Vicki Catalano, Scott Mermel, Braulio Pescador-Martinez INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES & WEB: Able Allen BOOKKEEPER: Amie Fowler

What’s wrong with safe routes for bicycles?

I had to read the Dec. 7 comment by Sandra Kilgore several times: “My concern is the relationship between the city of Asheville and Asheville on Bikes, who I feel is doing the driving as to where and how we do things” [“Squeaky Wheels: Community Groups Discuss City Advocacy,” Xpress].

It’s unbelievable to me that an elected official would complain about a not-for-profit grassroots advocacy group working with the local community by doing things that benefit the community! They educate all of us in that process. Why would someone complain about more safe routes for bicycles? Bicycling is good for your health and good for the planet. What is wrong with that?

Say it isn’t so, Ms. Kilgore! They are doing the riding, not the driving!

— Gabriele Marewski Asheville

Start taking pride in WNC

Mountain pride — think about what this means. Living here in these gorgeous mountains, I feel a great love and pride in this area. I have lived in other states before, but this truly is a wonderful place.

But then as I drive the roads in this area, all I see is trash along the roadways, discarded mattresses and furniture, and I wonder: Where is the pride of people who live here? How can anyone not take more pride in this beautiful home of western Carolina?

And also the killing of the bears: How can anyone kill a bear and just leave it to rot by the roadside after cutting off its paws? What, for souvenirs? This is disgusting!

The Cherokee would hunt bear, but they did it for survival. They would utilize all the parts, and so the bear would be killed with respect. Many hunters now have no respect for wildlife. It is all for a trophy.

I hope people start to realize how lucky they are to live in such a beauti-

ful, unique place and start taking some pride in their home.

— Bern Sroka Asheville

Ask Duke Energy to stop chemical defoliation

This fall, I was greatly distressed by the sudden appearance of large areas of dead vegetation along many sections of Pinners Cove Road (and Mills Gap, Sweeten Creek and other areas of town). And so have my wife and many neighbors. How about you?

It’s been months since Duke Energy defoliated our neighborhood, and yet every time I ride past the 100yard section of deathly brown hillside approaching my house, I get angry all over again. Even though I thought the issue was resolved by contacting Duke with my concerns and notwithstanding many hours of spiritual reading, meditation, group support meetings and loving kindness affirmations.

In case you haven’t heard, Duke Energy no longer mows weeds alongside the road, clears undergrowth, trims a few tree limbs or cuts down an errant tulip tree sapling that threatens to grow into a power line. They are now spraying an herbicide that kills all plant life in the targeted area near electrical power lines.

It’s heartbreaking. We enjoy living in Asheville because of the ever-present trees, forests and beautiful plant life, surrounded by fellow citizens who share an Earth- and nature-friendly consciousness. We call it our Garden of Eden. Sadly, sections of the roadside now resemble regions of Dante’s “Inferno.” Driving home became no longer an exhilarating trip through a plush green paradise; instead it evoked flashes of Agent Orange-devastated jungle growth in Vietnam. I’ve been angry, sad and feel a sense of betrayal every time I drive to and from the house.

I feel betrayed because Duke emphasizes “its commitment to support the vitality of a healthy ecosystem.” Their web page headline boasts: “Company heightens vegetation management practices to protect endangered wildflower, threatened lizard in Marion County,” Florida. I would like Duke Energy to show the same support for Asheville and Buncombe County residents and our beautiful countryside.

Chemical defoliation creates an environmental eyesore that detracts from the natural beauty, which has gotten uglier and uglier week by week. Herbicide usage is aggressive and invasive. It’s disrespectful and demeaning to the area residents. I’m also concerned about contamination of our well water, erosion of the defoliat-

ed hillsides, increased fire hazard from ubiquitous areas of dead vegetation and the threat of the chemical agents to local wildlife.

I’m further upset because Duke Energy is not defoliating the roadsides and residential properties of Biltmore Forest; they are actively running power lines underground for the homeowners there. So if you can afford a million-dollar home, you will be treated respectfully and can still enjoy a plush, green neighborhood.

I encourage everyone to request that Duke Energy stop using chemical defoliants.

— Richard Kownacki Pinners Cove resident Asheville

Editor’s note: Xpress contacted Duke Energy with a summary of the letter writer’s points and received a response from spokesperson Jeff Brooks, which said in part: “To reduce and prevent outages, it’s important that Duke Energy maintains vegetation — especially in our transmission line easement areas, where an outage can affect an entire community. These main lines generally must remain overhead because of operational requirements.

“We are increasingly turning to herbicide applications to ensure longevity of our work and safety of our crews. These targeted, water-based treatments are safe for humans and

animals and are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency for our vegetation purposes — and they keep power lines clear of tall-growing plants while maintaining low-growing vegetation for wildlife habitats. These are many of the same products used by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and conservation organizations to control undesirable vegetation. This approach is recognized as an industry-best management practice by the International Society of Arboriculture. The products used in our herbicide applications are listed on our website.

“Although there may be browning of leaves after initial application, those leaves and stems will drop. During this transformational process, compatible vegetation such as grasses, weeds, wildflowers and other herbaceous growth can fill in areas once covered with brush — leading to a more self-sustaining state in the right of way.” X

Editor’s Note

The Xpress team is taking the next week off, which means this is our final issue of the year. Our annual Humor Issue hits newsstands on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023. Happy New Year!

CARTOON BY BRENT BROWN

Speak your mind

Readers shared opinions on growth, environment, homelessness and more

Readers had a lot to say this year about a host of local issues — from our region’s growth and development to the environment, homelessness and more. In letters, commentaries and online comments, readers spoke their minds on the things that mattered to them and their community.

YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK

In a Jan. 19 commentary, Asheville reader Stacy Claude expressed disappointment that the Asheville City Board of Education voted to close Asheville Primary School.

“Shutting down a school is a huge move: Why was there no task force in the case of Asheville Primary?” asked Claude. “No search for solutions? No stakeholder input beyond a public hearing held with less than 24 hours’ notice that closing the school was even being considered. What’s really going on here?”

Other issues involving local government likewise caused readers to question the status quo. An Xpress story about occupancy taxes prompted Asheville reader Brandi Andrade to write in a May 25 letter: “But I am equally certain that tax should be spent on our community, not on more tourism. … I say to use the money

toward food insecurity, homelessness, city cleanups and affordable housing.”

Meanwhile, a dozen readers weighed in on a pair of bond referendums totaling $70 million that proposed raising property taxes to support conservation of open space and provide more affordable housing. Most, such as state Rep. John Ager of Fairview, were in favor.

“Affordable housing needs to be available in the already built-up areas, along established road corridors and bus routes,” Ager wrote in an Oct. 19 letter. “At the same time, we need to preserve the rural landscapes that remain in our county.”

But in a Nov. 6 commentary, urban planner Joe Minicozzi urged voters to reject the bond issues: “Our wealthiest households are not paying their fair share now, and these bonds will simply add to the inequity, asking disproportionately assessed lower-income households to continue to shoulder more than their fair share of the burden,” wrote Minicozzi, whose company has analyzed the Buncombe County property tax assessment system.

In the end, voters approved both measures by margins of over 23 points.

TO LOG OR NOT TO LOG

Multiple readers wrote in about the U.S. Forest Service’s plan for managing the Pisgah and Nantahala forests.

one of more than 14,000 people who have objected to the forest plan.”

But commentary writer Susan Fletcher, whose family owns Canton Sawmill, offered a different point of view in a June 8 commentary, arguing that logging can be beneficial to the national forests: “We need to create healthier, more resilient forests by using our perpetual, sustainable and renewable timber resources wisely — and, much like the patchwork of a quilt, that means including varying age classes and stands.”

On another topic, Bill Branyon, who lost in the primary for a seat on the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, prompted a flurry of responses when he called the local Sierra Club chapter “one of Buncombe County’s most destructive environmental parasites” for its political endorsement process.

“It’s become increasingly apparent to me that the lion’s share of the local Sierra Club chapter’s endorsements seem to go to incumbents, many of whom have been responsible for the most environmentally ravaging decisions I’ve seen in my 30 years of reporting on such issues,” declared Branyon in a June 29 commentary.

BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS

Our area’s growth and development sparked a raft of opinion pieces this year. One issue was whether Asheville City Council should approve an amendment to the city’s Unified Development Ordinance to reduce requirements for open space in large developments — which proponents argued would remove barriers to more infill development and affordable housing.

“Do we really believe that reducing open space in order to build more units per development will actually produce more affordable housing?” asked Asheville reader Victoria Williamson in a March 9 letter. “Do we really believe that a new development will have units that are affordable? I don’t.”

But Susan Bean, community engagement director for the nonprofit MountainTrue, argued in a March 16 commentary that the amendment, which City Council ended up passing in July, was ultimately good for the environment. “Development in places with preexisting infrastructure is a crucial strategy for combating sprawl,” wrote Bean. “It fosters both healthy communities and a healthy environment. And ultimately, we want both.”

And Andrew Paul, co-founder of the nonprofit organization Asheville for All, took aim at what he calls “aesthetic anti-capitalism,” a stance that “demands that the housing stock be stuck in time, to preserve the city’s so-called ‘character’” — to the detriment of the city’s working class.

Editor’s Note

For our annual Year in Review, Xpress reached out to nearly 90 local leaders, elected officials, health care professionals, entrepreneurs, artists, historians, chefs, musicians, activists and members of the nonprofit community to discuss the challenges and opportunities that 2022 presented. Of the 89 individuals contacted, 60 responded and are featured in this year’s final issue. Responses have been condensed and lightly edited for clarity. Thanks to everyone who participated! X

“Sadly, the U.S. Forest Service just released a 30-year plan that will quadruple logging in the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests, while reducing protections for its most important recreation and conservation areas,” wrote Katherine Pesce of Asheville in an April 11 letter. “I am

Pushback included a July 13 letter from local Sierra Club volunteer John Sterling, who wrote: “He heaps venomous scorn, most of it unfair and baseless, on an organization staffed exclusively by conscientious volunteers who selflessly devote their time and energy to doing what they can to preserve and protect the environment of Western North Carolina.”

“Aesthetic anti-capitalists often lament that Asheville is no longer ‘weird,’ but they misidentify the cause,” Paul wrote in a June 1 commentary. “Residential construction hasn’t kept up with population growth, and the resulting scarcity pushes up rents and home prices. This means that the folks who make Asheville weird, its artists and young people, are being pushed out.”

But in an Aug. 24 letter, Randall Grohman of Asheville complained

STACY CLAUDE

OLIVIA SENOR BEN STEERE ANDREW PAUL

that the reality of development isn’t meeting the city’s goals set out in Living Asheville: A Comprehensive Plan for Our Future: “Asheville dies by a thousand cuts via high-density development that does not support alternative forms of transportation, with no space for recreational opportunities or neighborly engagement.”

‘THEY ARE STILL HOMELESS’

Readers likewise had strong opinions on issues relating to the local homeless population. That included a Jan. 5 letter from Asheville reader Lisa Morphew, who decried the Department of Transportation’s destruction of a homeless camp near the Haywood Street Congregation on the edge of downtown Asheville.

“The camp provided some safety and access to food, clothing and health needs,” wrote Morphew. “So, now where do they go — and who cares? They are still homeless; they still need help; they still need a place to set up camp, a place to try to survive the winter.”

Meanwhile, Asheville reader Dallas Triniti complained that a homeless shelter opened in 2021 by the city of Asheville at the Ramada Inn in East Asheville created major problems for his neighborhood.

“I feel that the City Council just dropped these people off in East Asheville to continue their downward spirals out of sight of downtown or the Montford area,” wrote Triniti in a Jan. 19 letter . “The lack of transparency has me very upset. Why wasn’t the Oakley community involved in this decision?”

The city ended up closing the shelter in March. A California developer will renovate it as permanent supportive housing for people without homes, with a California nonprofit providing services.

SHARING PERSPECTIVES

Readers also shared their perspectives on issues beyond the hot-button topics of the day.

In a Sept. 21 commentary, UNC Chapel Hill senior Olivia Senor wrote about the academic pressures of progressing through Buncombe County Schools as an “academically or intellectually gifted” student — and suggests that the entire educational system’s “emphasis on excellence” needs a rethink.

“The time has come to ask ourselves: Why do we push children to succeed so tirelessly? And what does ‘success’ mean, anyway?” asked Senor. “My advice to teachers, administrators and anyone else within the educational system is to support students of all abilities and interests.”

Meanwhile, Ben Steere, an associate professor in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology at Western Carolina University, offered thoughts about how to approach National Native American Heritage Month.

“Far too often, even well-meaning Native American Heritage Month programs present Indigenous cultural practices as interesting or exotic, but not clearly relevant to the world at large,” Steere wrote in a Nov. 9 commentary. “Indigenous heritage is not just important for its cultural value: It offers solutions to some of the biggest problems we face as a society today.”

And in a Sept. 28 letter, Asheville reader Ed Sacco described attending the local wedding of two 80-plus-yearolds, which prompted some additional reflections that we all might take with us into 2023:

“I’m moved to share this with you to remind and encourage us to participate actively in our democracy by informing ourselves of the good in the world and how blessed we are when we come together as a people.” X

People and power

BY DANIEL WALTON

dwalton@mountainx.com

National attention to Western North Carolina’s politics may have reached its high-water mark May 17, when Republican U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn conceded his primary reelection race to Chuck Edwards. With the controversial freshman congressman for North Carolina’s District 11 no longer in the running, WNC seemed to lose its allure for those outside the region.

But for people actually living in WNC, the year continued to bring a bevy of meaningful political developments. The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners turned entirely blue with the replacement of Republican Robert Pressley with Democrat Martin Moore. The county’s state House delegation turned over completely, with three new Democratic representatives winning their first elections in the wake of three veteran lawmaker retirements.

Voters chose four new representatives in the first election for the Asheville City Board of Education.

Those local politics likely matter more for the daily lives of WNC residents than goings-on in Washington — especially given the gridlock that’s expected to result from polarized parties in a divided Congress. Xpress reached out to the area’s elected officials, activists and community leaders to learn more about what they took away from 2022’s political action.

“I was energized by the overwhelmingly positive response to the Buncombe County bonds for open space and affordable housing. Employers have shared with me that the three biggest challenges

WNC looks back on political change in

to recruiting and keeping talented employees are the preservation of the natural beauty of WNC, access to outdoor recreation and housing that’s affordable for their employees. I am thrilled that my neighbors voted to fund solutions to these challenges, and I am eager to see the results.”

— Jennifer Caldwell-Billstrom, founder, Velo Girl Rides

YEAR YEAR IN

REVIEW REVIEW

“After discussing the question of the most meaningful electoral result in WNC this year with the Asheville Food and Beverage United steering committee, we feel it’s significant that two of the candidates endorsed by the Central Labor Council — Maggie Ullman and Antanette Mosely — were elected to City Council. While AFBU did not endorse candidates in this election, we look forward to working with elected officials who are committed to advancing the interests of workers and organized labor in Asheville.”

— Jen Hampton, organizer, Asheville Food and Beverage United

“For the Asheville City Schools Board of Education, even the process was meaningful, since this is the first time the board has had elected members. Those who were elected seem excellent and, for the most part, were the candidates endorsed by the local teachers association. I am always glad when people listen to teachers.”

— Sarah Boddy Norris, activist and teacher

“[The most meaningful results included] Buncombe County having the second-highest percentage of votes for Democrats in the state behind only Durham County, and the vote for continuity on the Asheville City Council with the reelection of the mayor and two City Council members.”

— Ken Brame, political chair, WNC Sierra Club

“I think it was the turnout of voters, not just in WNC but statewide. With all the important issues that affect people, it appears that in North Carolina only 51% of eligible voters actually voted, compared to 53% in the last midterm election in 2018. That shows there is a long way to go to get people engaged in elections and in our democracy.”

What was the most meaningful electoral result in WNC this year and why?

— Ron Katz, social justice advocate

On what political issue do you think the local conversation is most misguided, and how does your approach differ from commonly held perspectives?

“I think there is a misconception of what the Asheville City Council

2022

LAST HURRAH: Republican Rep. Madison Cawthorn, left, speaks to the press prior to his primary election defeat by Chuck Edwards. Edwards went on to beat Democrat Jasmine Beach-Ferrara in November’s general election. Photo by Brooke Randle

ERICA MEIER

KEN BRAME

SARAH

BODDY NORRIS

JENNIFER CALDWELLBILLSTROM

DREW REISINGER

JEN HAMPTON

KIM RONEY

VIC ISLEY

ZEB SMATHERS

ROBYN JOSEPHS

BRUCE WALLER

RON KATZ

JARED WHEATLEY

ERIN MCCOMBS

can and can’t do. Many people expect them to be able to ban hotels and eliminate homelessness. The first can’t be legally done, and the second is far more complex and requires far more resources than the city has.”

— Ken Brame

“Our conversations and actions addressing our currently unhoused neighbors need swift improvement. It is easy for us to ‘other’ these folks, but compassion is always the right first step. I think that we as a community need to address our not-inmy-backyard mindset and be more open to radically rethinking the way we talk about and solve these problems. I’m grateful for local organizations like BeLoved Asheville and Homeward Bound for leading the way on this.”

— Drew Reisinger, Buncombe County Register of Deeds

“I think the political issue that is most misguided is the perception that an insurmountable divide exists between Buncombe County and her rural neighbors that prevents cooperation and progress. As mayor of Canton, Buncombe County’s neighbor, there is ample ground to find practical solutions concerning infrastructure, economic development and public safety. As we have accomplished in Papertown, we can welcome new ideas, new people and new interests without sacrificing our soul and what makes WNC special.”

— Zeb Smathers, Canton mayor

“How I differ is, rather than focusing on symptoms, I encourage us all to look to the causes that are causing community suffering. This requires open, active communication. We elect folks to represent us, and then we never hear from them again unless we have the privilege to attend meetings. It’s more important for us to be in relationship and get to know each other’s needs than to be right.”

— Robyn Josephs, admin/community manager, Black Mountain Exchange and Asheville Politics

ing for an open meetings policy to advance participatory democracy and address barriers to public participation; sharing information regarding upcoming decisions; communicating how I arrive at my positions; and maintaining my public record — my votes, my communication in meetings and the press and my correspondence. As an elected member of City Council, I also make regular recommendations to improve accessibility and transparency in our organizational processes.”

followed soon thereafter by the town of Andrews, the city of Asheville and Swain County. This bipartisan effort is inspiring.”

— Drew Reisinger

“Some ways I work to establish and retain trust include: advocat-

—

Kim Roney, Asheville City Council member

“Local politicians’ unique position affords them institutional power and local recognition. They need to recognize their power, maintain local presence, empathize with constituents and implement locally beneficial policies. To know what will benefit their constituents, they must listen. This includes offering multiple options for public input on local programs and policies (e.g., climate action plans) and appreciating constituents’ feedback, whether the feedback takes the form of an email or a protest.”

— Erica Meier, hub coordinator, Sunrise Movement Asheville

“Trust is hard to gain but easy to lose. Being a servant to the community comes with a lot of work and sacrifice. The biggest piece of advice I can give is ‘steady wins the race.’ I am more interested in seeing a consistent leader with integrity than a shiny leader hoping to be seen. Stability is what our community needs: not another ‘new happening,’ but unfolding the treasure that is already here.”

— Bruce Waller, executive director, Black Wall Street AVL

“Politicians could best regain the trust of the public by engaging on a personal level at events that are most meaningful in our lives. As a father of two, it is concerning that I have yet to see any Council members show support at any elementary or middle school events. As a leader of the Native rights movement in Asheville, it is interesting that Council members have never engaged our community while performing land acknowledgments.”

— Jared Wheatley, founder, Indigenous Walls Project

“Bipartisan efforts successfully changed the allocation of Buncombe County’s lodging tax after years of advocacy by local hotel leaders and elected officials. A bill jointly filed by Sens. Chuck Edwards, Warren Daniel and Julie Mayfield passed in July, changing the allocation of the lodging tax paid by visitors who stay in hotels, vacation rentals and B&Bs in Buncombe County. This was a hard-won result for our community.”

— Vic Isley, president and CEO, Explore Asheville

“Two Indigenous women, Lavita Hill and Mary Crowe, from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians have been working to restore the ancestral name of the mountain we know as Clingmans Dome to its historical name, Kuwohi. The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners was the first government entity outside of Cherokee to support their effort,

“Water is life, and I’ve seen time and time again people and communities come together to reach commonsense solutions to right environmental injustices and reconnect habitat for species to thrive in the face of climate change, like in the coalition the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians established to reconnect the Oconaluftee River. Rivers connect us, and my hope is we can all continue to work together for clean water for everyone everywhere.”

— Erin McCombs, Southeast conservation director, American Rivers

“AFBU’s reduced price parking campaign built a large block of support. Our campaign demonstrated the power of workers, business owners and community leaders coming together with elected officials to advance our common interests, regardless of our small political differences.”

— Jen Hampton X

How do you think local politicians could best work to regain the trust of those they serve?

What’s the best example you saw locally this year of people with different political beliefs working together toward a common goal?

Signs of the time

Development and tourism remain hot topics

BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN

earnaudin@mountainx.com

This summer, Xpress wrote about West Asheville homeowners making the most of the city’s shrinking available land by building up instead of out — and the rest of town seems to have followed suit.

Wherever you look in Asheville, development seems to be happening at an unrelenting clip. For example, a report by the Inspection Report Network found that for every 1,000 existing homes in the Asheville metropolitan area, 18.4 new housing units had been authorized in 2021, compared with an average of 12.5 new units per 1,000 existing units across the U.S.

For a town with so many arts, food and beverage, outdoors and other cultural offerings, such development is perhaps expected. Tourists also continue to show high interest in the area: The fiscal year ending in June set new records for Buncombe County lodging sales, and this year’s numbers are on track to exceed that mark. But navigating those moving to and visiting from outside Western North Carolina brings its own set of challenges and rewards.

To gain a broader perspective on the past year in tourism and development, Xpress consulted some of Asheville’s most notable figures in those fields, as well as those significantly impacted by their decisions.

“The Merrimon Avenue reconfiguration had a tremendous impact on my professional and personal life. The project demonstrates that our state and local transportation officials are willing to prioritize safety over speed, which speaks to future complete street opportunities. I also received hate mail over my support of the reconfiguration and had to navigate the impacts of vitriol on my well-being. I look forward to more civil discourse in 2023.”

— Mike Sule , executive director, Asheville on Bikes

“Asheville City Council’s unanimous decision to build the Memorial Stadium track and walking trails is a triumph for the East End/Valley Street neighborhood and our entire Asheville community. It’s the fulfillment of a promise, and it will benefit everyone’s health and well-being.”

— Will Harlan , conservation biologist, Center for Biological Diversity

“The new Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Center is still under construction, so it hasn’t impacted my life yet. It’s still to be seen if it will be a place for people from the community to go and swim and enjoy or if it is going to be for gentrifiers. They are fixing potholes now that have been in the road for 20 years

YEAR YEAR IN

REVIEW REVIEW

— it makes you question who it’s being built for.”

— Kikkoman Shaw , executive chef, Equal Plates Project

“Being a craft beer lover, I immediately thought of 7 Clans Brewing. It opened earlier this year, and its beer and atmosphere are awesome. It was also nice to see part of Interstate 26 finished around Brevard Road. I hope to see a higher priority placed on that section of our roads getting completed, as it’s a major nuisance area for locals and visitors alike. It definitely affects staff, fosters and visitors coming into our Adoption Center, especially as Brevard Road gets just as backed up and little can be done to alleviate travel times in that area when that happens.”

— Laila Johnston , donor relations director, Asheville Humane Society

How have your interactions with tourists changed in 2022?

“I honestly feel that my tie to the tourist market has gotten deeper in ways. There is a socially conscious tourist emerging out of the ’common traffic,’ and I’m seeing an increase of Black, Indigenous and people of color travelers come and inquire on the work that is taking place.”

— Bruce Waller, executive director, Black Wall Street AVL

“With the easing of restrictions on gathering and face coverings, I have noticed more smiles, greater energy and perhaps a bit of gratitude for simple things like having a beer together.”

— Leah Wong Ashburn, president, Highland Brewing Co.

“I don’t interact with tourists much at work because I’m in the kitchen. I do pay attention to them when I walk to work. I have remarked sev-

What’s something new that you’ve seen built close to where you live or work, and how has it impacted your daily life?

PEDAL TO THE METAL: Protected bike lanes like this one in Asheville’s River Arts District have won widespread acclaim from local transportation and recreation activists. Photo by Jack Igelman, courtesy of Carolina Public Press

eral times to my co-workers that the tourists seem to be in much more pleasant moods this year overall. I’ve also heard the same from people who work directly with customers.”

— Jen Hampton, organizer, Asheville Food and Beverage United

“Being a first-generation Ukrainian American, at the end of February, I started fundraising for Humanitarian Aid in Ukraine, in my studio and at various events. The conversations with tourists turned to the topic of Ukraine, people asking about my family in Ukraine, my fundraising efforts, people’s experiences in Eastern Europe and an emphasis on Ukraine and Ukrainian culture.”

of strategic imperatives, which were crafted in alignment with broader community goals. We invested more than $1 million in marketing dollars with BIPOC-owned companies and platforms to engage and invite more diverse audiences. We also invested over $15.6 million in community projects this year, the largest annual investment since the establishment of the Tourism Product Development Fund 20 years ago. The selected projects serve the needs of both residents and visitors.”

out of downtown and hasn’t kept up with investment.”

nity to rivers and support the adaptation needed for species to thrive.”

—

Joe Minicozzi, head of consulting firm Urban3

— Erin McCombs, Southeast conservation director, American Rivers

—

Andrea Kulish, mixed-media artist

“I’ve always tried to be gracious to tourists visiting the area, and as I get older, I think I appreciate them even more. I now realize the importance to our local economy that those individuals bring. When I hear that someone is visiting our area, I like to find out where they are coming from and what brought them here. I now find myself offering up lots of suggestions for things to do.”

—

Chris Smith, interim executive director, Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission

What did the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority get right in 2022, and where is there room for improvement?

“2022 is the first full year that Explore Asheville applied a new set

Vic Isley, president and CEO, Explore Asheville

—

“I’m excited to see the Karen Cragnolin Park become a reality (cost: $360,000). But with $46 million in tax revenues, this is a drop in the bucket. The unelected TDA is the largest taxpayer slush fund in WNC, with no oversight or accountability. They gave $1.6 million to a golf course while our city struggles to address early childhood education, affordable housing and the opioid crisis. The county should stop collecting this tax until there is oversight.”

— Drew Reisinger, Buncombe County Register of Deeds

“It’s great to see that the TDA amended their financial policies. But I do think that our community vilifies them too much. Since I moved to Asheville in 2003, the value of downtown has grown from about $200 million to close to $2 billion today, yet we’ve seen less service in the downtown. The failure to serve our community isn’t the TDA’s job. The city has 10 times the money

“This year, the TDA’s budget soared to over $40 million while the number of our neighbors living on the streets doubled. The hotel industry is attempting to buy support via grants for Asheville’s business class, plus diversity washing and increases in infrastructure spending, but these self-serving ’gifts’ are paid for with our money by an industry built on the exploitation of Black, Indigenous and working people. It’s past time to abolish the TDA and rethink tourism dependency.”

“The expansion of I-26. We haven’t seen the worst of what is about to happen, and I would encourage everyone to look at the plans for what the N.C. Department of Transportation has in store for us. And ask serious questions of our local leaders and their failed courage when they had the opportunity to make effective change. Just wait until you see the new highway bridge over the river that will be about 18 lanes wide of concrete.”

— Joe Minicozzi

Libertie Valance, co-owner, Firestorm Books & Coffee

—

“This year, the BCTDA funded four important city of Asheville projects that meet the needs and wants of the community, supporting facilities and experiences that are valued by our residents. The BCTDA is at its best when it supports local residents, like 2020’s Buncombe County Tourism Jobs Recovery Act. I am hopeful that, in the future, more funding can be used in this way to assist our local tourism industry workers with affordable housing and transportation.”

— Esther Manheimer, Asheville mayor

If you could subtract something from Asheville, what would it be?

“I’d remove the Craggy Dam and any other dams blocking free-flowing rivers to reconnect the commu-

“People who are rude to service industry workers. Many of us, including myself, began our careers waiting tables, working in kitchens or behind a bar. Beyond fulfilling essential roles in our society, service workers are the front lines of our community’s social network and deserve to be treated with respect by residents and visitors alike. If we strive to be a community in which everyone matters, it’s vital that we treat our service industry workers with care and kindness.”

— Vic Isley

“The litter. Asheville is so naturally beautiful, I wish our city prioritized keeping our public spaces clean for everyone to use. The city can find the time to take down my positive signs

— why can’t we pick up the trash?”

Elle Erickson, founder, The Booth Fairy X

—

ERIN MCCOMBS

LEAH WONG ASHBURN

JOE MINICOZZI

ELLE ERICKSON

DREW REISINGER

JEN HAMPTON

KIKKOMAN SHAW

WILL HARLAN

CHRIS SMITH

VIC ISLEY

MIKE SULE

LAILA JOHNSTON

LIBERTIE VALANCE

ANDREA KULISH

BRUCE WALLER

ESTHER MANHEIMER

Quality control

BY SARA MURPHY

smurphy@mountainx.com

The World Health Organization defines quality of life as “an individual’s perception of their position in life in context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns.”

But what does quality of life mean in Western North Carolina? For the 2022 Year In Review, Xpress asked community members to share their thoughts.

Though none of the respondents is homeless, they all had thoughts on the housing crisis. Many see Asheville city government as uncaring, prioritizing tourists and transplants over existing residents.

Perhaps surprisingly in the face of rising rents and inflation, not everyone was negative when asked about the economy’s impact on their lives this year. A few framed economic challenges as opportunities to become more creative.

As for what aspect of community life they were most excited to see return as concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic wane, respondents overwhelmingly chose live, in-person events.

Responses were more muted regarding quality of life in the future. Environmental and economic sustainability, community polarization and affordable housing were all cited as causes for concern. Yet respondents also shared reasons to hope.

The biggest takeaway from these answers may be optimism that community members can come together to find solutions to pressing problems.

Economy, homelessness and live events shape quality of life in 2022

YEAR YEAR

REVIEW REVIEW

“It suggests that quality of life in our area is out of reach for many individuals who are under increasing pressure to jump higher and leap further with less support and resources.”

— Mike DeSerio, AHOPE outreach program manager, Homeward Bound

“Our community continues to identify ways to help the most vulnerable. This year there are 105 Code Purple shelter beds — nearly 30 more than 2021. The city is also working with providers like Homeward Bound to create 200 units of

permanent supportive housing for people transitioning out of houselessness.”

— Esther Manheimer, Asheville mayor

“Our cost of living is skyrocketing, and wages aren’t keeping up. Our mountain home is a climate refuge, and our systems are not prepared to respond. My source of hope is knowing our residents demand better.”

hard to solve these problems; it just takes courage and accountability”

— Joe Minicozzi, head of consulting firm Urban3

—

Kim Roney, Asheville City Council member

“We are causing housing problems because we don’t deal with policy in an adult manner. We could have eliminated [Buncombe County’s] $120 million wealth-fare, used the $70 million for what we bonded and then had $50 million left over for homelessness. It’s not

“Neither city nor county cares enough about this issue. I’ve lived in Asheville since 2008 and the homeless population has exploded. We need a strong coalition of concerned citizens from the medical and business communities and the homeless speaking for themselves to redirect community health priorities.”

—

Kevin Mahoney, peer support specialist

“As rent has risen exponentially over the past 20 years, housing stock has been depleted by short-term rentals. The data show that people are moving in from

What does the increase in Asheville’s homeless population suggest about the quality of life in WNC?

COME TOGETHER: Community members celebrated the return of live events this year, from concerts and live dancing to the Asheville Holiday Parade and public programming at local libraries. Photo by Jeffrey DeCristofaro

VICTORIA ISLEY

LEAH WONG ASHBURN

LAILA JOHNSTON

ERIN HALLAGAN CLARE

ANDREA KULISH

KATHERINE CUTSHALL

KEVIN MAHONEY

ELLE ERICKSON

MIKE DESERIO

ESTHER MANHEIMER

JEN HAMPTON

ERICA MEIER MICAH MACKENZIE

WILL HARLAN WILLIAM HATHAWAY

DAVIDA HORWITZ

elsewhere and displacing local residents who then have no affordable options.”

— Sarah Boddy Norris, activist and teacher

“To positively impact generational change, we need to think bigger. More ‘and’ and fewer ‘either/or’ conversations will foster collaboration and create opportunities for more people to succeed. We are fortunate to be managing the challenges of success rather than struggling in an atrophying community.”

“With higher gas prices and inflation, the summer and early autumn sales were very slow for a lot of artists and businesses in the [River Arts District]. Fortunately, things picked up in October.”

— Andrea Kulish, mixed-media artist

What part of community life were you most excited to see return this year?

“Quality of life for future generations in WNC will be greatly impacted by the availability of a health care workforce providing access to essential health and wellness services. We need better funding for local public health and more regional collaboration among hospitals, federally qualified health centers, nonprofits and funders.”

— Vic Isley, president and CEO, Explore Asheville

“Climate change will have the biggest impact on the lives of future generations living in WNC. As an outdoor theater, we’ve experienced more rain cancellations in the last two years than in the previous 10 combined. WNC is as susceptible to changes in weather patterns as any other place.”

“The movie theater business hasn’t been stellar this year, but I don’t think it’s the economy as much as remnants of COVID closures and changes in behavior. We have seen a steady return of patrons to the theater.”

“Live arts! Of all the outlets that have the power to remind us of our shared humanity — to connect, learn and even change — live arts take the cake.”

Erin Hallagan Clare

—

Davida Horwitz, co-owner, Grail Moviehouse

—

William Hathaway, CEO, Mountain Area Health Education Center

—

“My biggest concerns are inequity and exploitation (of all life). But there are large coalitions currently organizing across class, race, gender, age, ability, religion and sexual orientation to support a vibrant, livable future. I hope they will have the biggest impact on the future of WNC.”

— Erica Meier, hub coordinator, Sunrise Movement Asheville

“The biggest impacts to quality of life for future generations will be sustainability and community. Sustainability goes beyond environmental concerns to include our willingness to allow critical conversations around decision-making, planning and development. Dissenting opinions on housing, jobs and transportation will have to be respectfully heard and reconciled.”

— Jared Wheatley, founder, Indigenous Walls Project

“With the Pisgah Nantahala Forest Plan, the U.S. Forest Service is planning to reduce protections for the 1.1 million-acre forest and quadruple logging, even though 96% of public comments support less logging and more protected areas. This 30-year plan will affect the drinking water, air quality and health of everyone in WNC.”

— Will Harlan, conservation biologist, Center for Biological Diversity

— John Russell, executive director, Montford Park Players

“Participation. My wish is that people consider why they are passionate about living here and then ask how they can contribute to its growth and sustainability. Being intentional with our actions will have the greatest impact for generations to come.”

— Erin Hallagan Clare, founder/artistic director, Story Parlor

“Transportation planning. According to the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, the biggest threat to our air quality is vehicular emissions. We either plan and implement a multimodal approach to our transportation needs or commit ourselves to more pollution and asthma.”

— Mike Sule, executive director, Asheville on Bikes

How did the economy affect your professional life this year?

“As an entrepreneur, I get to face all kinds of challenges. It excites me. One of the greatest gifts humans have is the ability to adapt and overcome in extraordinary ways. The marketplace has pushed me to become the best professional that I can be.”

— Bruce Waller, executive director, Black Wall Street AVL

“I was hopeful this summer when things seemed to be picking up, but it never quite reached the levels of previous years. I’m only working parttime hours at my kitchen job because business has slowed, and I’ve had to increase my side hustling to make ends meet.”

— Jen Hampton, organizer, Asheville Food and Beverage United

“It’s been a time of rebalancing. Increased costs for raw materials, transportation and staff have all added pressure, and consumers are price conscious. We have to deliver more than great beer — we have to deliver company values, which our taprooms do well.”

– Leah Wong Ashburn, president, Highland Brewing Co.

“Recovery looks like downtown businesses working together to make sure that they’re not only taking care of their own employees and customers but also each other.”

—

Micah

“I have been delighted to watch the library return to a hub of community life over the course of the last year. It’s been exciting to see families returning for activities, like Lego club and story time, and to see an uptick in new and familiar faces hanging around Special Collections.”

— Katherine Cutshall, manager, Buncombe County Special Collections

“I was most excited to see the Asheville Holiday Parade return. Attendance was higher this year, and I sensed a very positive vibe in the city. I walked the entire route and received so many words of encouragement from our community. Many officers shared similar experiences.”

—

David Zack, chief of police,

Asheville Police Department

Mackenzie, photographer

“We have seen a massive increase in helpline calls, requests for pet food assistance and need for veterinary assistance vouchers. We are not affiliated with the Humane Society of the U.S. or the ASPCA and rely on local donations. The economy has definitely affected giving this year.”

— Laila Johnston, donor relations director, Asheville Humane Society

“Live music. It’s so important for people to be close to one another, having a good time, dancing and hugging. Asheville’s live music scene supports all of that.”

—

Elle Erickson, founder, The Booth Fairy

“Smiles on people’s faces. The last several years have been extremely difficult, especially for our children and the elderly. If you are not finding ways to bring joy back into people’s lives, you are missing out on an opportunity to do good.”

—

Zeb Smathers, Canton mayor X

What do you think will have the biggest impact on the quality of life for future generations living in WNC?

KIM RONEY

BRUCE WALLER

JOHN RUSSELL

JOE MINICOZZI

JARED WHEATLEY

ZEB SMATHERS

SARAH BODDY NORRIS

DAVID ZACK MIKE SULE

Crime time?

BY JUSTIN M c GUIRE

jmcguire@mountainx.com

“CRIME SOARS IN DEM-RUN TOURIST TOWN,” screamed a Fox News chyron in September, as a network report labeled Asheville one of America’s most violent cities.

Tucker Carlson and other Fox personalities joined the pile-on, blaming city leaders for a 31% increase in violent crime. The news channel claimed the city was an antifa hub and that there was “evidence of increased Mexican drug cartel activity.”

Much of what Fox reported has been debunked as false or misleading by Asheville Watchdog and other news organizations. For example, the reported 31% crime increase referred to a period ending in 2020, and the violent crime rate actually decreased in 2021. (Violent crime went up again in 2022, according to the Asheville Police Department.) Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller says he’s seen no evidence of Mexican drug cartels operating locally.

Nonetheless, the nation’s mostwatched cable news network shined a spotlight on crime in Asheville this year. And there is no doubt public safety, fentanyl use, law enforcement and homelessness were on people’s minds, even when they weren’t topics featured on TV.

As Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer put it: “Crime is a serious issue and one that I hear about as a top concern for our community.”

Xpress asked activists, law enforcement leaders, government officials and others to weigh in on how local crime and related issues shaped 2022.

Public safety issues were top of mind in Asheville in 2022

YEAR YEAR

REVIEW REVIEW

Has Asheville become more or less dangerous over the last year? If you’ve seen a change, what part of town do you have in mind?

“I live and work downtown. Three years ago, I felt perfectly safe going out and walking home at night. Things have changed since then, with this year being the worst for me. I don’t feel safe walking around downtown after dark at all. The last time I did so, I had a knife pulled on me right outside my building. I can’t imagine having to park far from work and walking back, alone, after a closing shift.”

most upsetting examples is parks, especially Aston, where unhoused folks and locals doing food sharing have been targeted and chased off so visiting tennis players don’t have to see poor people.”

— Sarah Boddy Norris , activist and teacher

“Asheville is experiencing a historical rise in violent crime. There has been a 70% increase in violent crime (homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault) this year compared to the average of the last 10 years. So far in 2022, there have been 11 homicides, the second-highest count since 2018.”

“I think everywhere has become more dangerous. The national system for mental health in this country is our prison system. People suffering from mental and emotional health issues are incarcerated instead of being given the resources to heal and become a functioning part of society. All of our major systems are broken. Systems that were developed to help the people have morphed into systems whose sole purpose is to protect themselves.”

— Alan Yeck , executive director, Veterans Healing Farm

Jen

—

Hampton , organizer, Asheville Food and Beverage United

“I don’t feel personally unsafe. I do see ever more space in the city being ceded to tourists, such that locals trying to live their lives, get by and share with each other aren’t welcome in public space. And that feels unsafe. One of the

— David Zack , chief of police, Asheville Police Department

“I certainly don’t see it becoming less dangerous, especially to our more vulnerable population that can’t even get into cold-weather shelters.”

— Kevin Mahoney , peer support specialist

Are you confident local law enforcement is keeping the area safe?

“Goodness, no. APD spent $125,900 for a PR firm to make them look less terrible after the nationally embarrassing destruction of a medic tent during 2020 protests and ongoing, documented

PROTECT AND SERVE: Crime in Asheville became a topic of national debate in 2022. Photo courtesy of the city of Asheville

JIM CAUSBY

ELIZABETH COLTON

PHILIP COOPER

MIKE DESERIO

RON KATZ

JEN HAMPTON

KEVIN MAHONEY ESTHER MANHEIMER

racism in practices and outcomes. APD has used significant public resources criminalizing 16 local mutual aid organizers whose political speech they don’t like for ’felony littering.’ (I am one of them.) Relationships and communities are what keep people safe.”

— Sarah Boddy Norris

“I trust in our institutions in general, especially those locally. However, I also believe that citizens need to hold those institutions and the leadership accountable. To me, that means there must be mechanisms for all people, especially those who have been victimized in the past, to file complaints and get quick resolution.”

— Ron Katz , social justice advocate

“I’m distrustful of law enforcement services in their current form/culture but am respectful of those officials and officers who try and do their jobs.”

— Kevin Mahoney

“Asheville is an incredibly safe place to live despite what Fox News has told folks. The city of Asheville’s Crime Stats page shows a 20% drop in the worst crimes (murder, assaults and sex offences) over the past year and a 20% drop in property crimes. But The biggest success story of 2022 is ... Sheriff [Quentin] Miller ’s partnership with EMS. Now 911 overdose calls can be deferred to the better-equipped Community Paramedic program.”

Drew Reisinger

—

, Buncombe County register of deeds

year has been more than the last few years combined.”

— Mike DeSerio , AHOPE outreach program manager, Homeward Bound

“Fentanyl is taking people out. It’s heartbreaking. Prison saved my life. My recovery journey began while I was in prison, which means that I missed the opioid storm. I have friends who have died from overdoses. So yes, public safety has been compromised, as the streets are more dangerous than ever. But let’s not make it an ’opioid thing,’ but rather a substance misuse issue, so that people are not left out of the equation.”

— Philip Cooper , INspire Project coordinator, Land of Sky Regional Council

“Fentanyl and other opioids affect the safety of a community, families and individuals. The city received $1,519,518 in funding from the National Opioid Settlement. The city approved hiring a position to work with partners on a strategic plan and use of the settlement funds. Because of the correlation between the opioid epidemic and housing instability, this position will work closely on the intersecting issues of homelessness, affordable housing and economic development.”

Esther Manheimer , Asheville mayor

“Of course, it has; all street drugs have a potential death warrant attached to them. The communal side effects of opioid use include increased police, EMS, homelessness, medical (think of massive hospital bills from endocarditis), unemployment and educational deficits.”

— Kevin Mahoney

dispute that has escalated rapidly to an absurd degree. Many of those involved have some connection to the drug trade. Overdoses have increased significantly over the past two years.”

—

David Zack

“Criminalization is deteriorating the quality of life for everyone in Asheville, and the city’s plan to ’reimagine public safety’ has been a failure by design. Evidencebased solutions — including harm reduction and access to treatments like methadone or buprenorphine — remain underfunded and undersupported, but the city and county continue to increase resources for surveilling, policing and imprisoning our neighbors. Asheville desperately needs decriminalization, coupled with the diversion of millions from law enforcement to community-controlled health and safety initiatives.”

— Libertie Valance , co-owner, Firestorm Books & Coffee

What do you think were the main drivers of crime in 2022, and how has the city responded to them?

“The main drivers of crime are a combination of Asheville being the largest western city in North Carolina and our growth in recent years. We have the highest amount of services for houseless people at this end of the state. More are coming here for those services, and stats show that at least 20% of the crimes being committed are from that population. Tourist cities often have an increase in drug use. With that also comes more crime.”

— Honor Moor , playwright/nonprofit board member

vants and civil safety personnel. These are shown in words, action and funding. Local politicians and all community leaders can lead by example in speaking out always in promoting respect for all our fellow citizens, neighbors and our civil and public safety personnel.”

— Elizabeth Colton , diplomat- and journalist-in-residence at Warren Wilson College

“I think the main drivers of crime in 2022 are the proliferation of guns, the shortage of police officers and the increase in the sale and use of illegal drugs. I think the city has responded as well as can be expected with the challenges they face with a significant vacancy of police officers.”

— Jim Causby , interim superintendent, Asheville City Schools

“Poverty. For years, there have been calls to action to address affordability and disparities in the social determinants of health. Now we’re behind in addressing root causes of crime, yet we have the most resources our community has ever known. The biggest hurdle in meeting this moment is stubborn attempts to return to business as usual. My heart yearns for us to keep growing through lessons learned, to have enough courage to change and to make space for what’s possible.”

— Kim Roney , Asheville City Council member

“Absolutely, and we have felt the impact firsthand in our daily work with people in need. The amount of funerals we have attended this

“The most common low-level crimes are mostly committed by persons with opioid addictions, usually in the direct pursuit of fentanyl. For the past year, in most shootings where a motive is established, that motive is a

“Some of the main drivers for crime in 2022 are actually complex interrelationships between increasingly widespread tolerance of disrespect of neighbors and fellow citizens coupled with cultural displays of disrespect for civil ser -

“APD’s staffing crisis has played a role, as our lack of presence, particularly downtown, hasn’t had the deterrent factor it once did. This year we have seen an increase in violent crime driven primarily by aggravated assaults. Gunshot victims and shots-fired calls for service are also up slightly after a significant reduction in 2021. Hopefully, our continued focus on gun violence can reduce the harm created by those offenders.”

— David Zack  X

Do you think the use of fentanyl and other opioids has affected public safety?

HONOR MOOR

SARAH

BODDY NORRIS

DREW REISINGER

LIBERTIE VALANCE

ALAN YECK DAVID ZACK

KIM RONEY

Better together

BY JESSICA WAKEMAN

jwakeman@mountainx.com

One doesn’t need to be an avid consumer of the news to know the world is filled with seemingly intractable problems. It’s easy to feel hopeless about civilians dying in Ukraine, the persecution of religious minorities in China or wildfires on the West Coast. But when one zeroes in on Western North Carolina, it seems harder to be hopeless. It becomes apparent that, for all the problems that exist in the area — and to be sure, there are many — no one wants to give up. And perhaps more importantly, no one is claiming those problems can’t be solved.

If there’s one thing that gives Xpress hope for 2023, it’s the knowledge, based on the responses from our Year in Review, that WNC’s citizens are deeply committed to making this small corner of the world a better place.

What did you hope for over the last year, either politically, economically or personally? Were your hopes and dreams realized?

“Like many, I have the continuing hope that all our American citizenry can, even with all the differences in political viewpoints, come together to show respect for other citizens and visitors in our great country. I’ve realized over a long lifetime that there are always cycles of discord, yet also times of reunion. Each year we can continue and not give up working to bring about better, respectful relations among all groups of people here.”

— Elizabeth Colton, diplomat- and journalist-inresidence, Warren Wilson College

“I’m a plaintiff in Davis v. HCA, which claims HCA violates antitrust and monopoly laws. This suit has been years in the making and took

enormous effort and coordination. For most of the year, we’ve held our breaths, hoping it would not be dismissed. The business judge saw merit in the suit, and discovery will begin soon. It could set precedent nationally and improve health care across the country.”

— Will Overfelt, creator of Mountain Maladies and HCA lawsuit plaintiff

“I had hoped for a reduction in the number of veterans taking their own lives. Sadly, it was discovered that the number of 22 a day had been vastly underreported due to classification errors. The number today is more like 40 veterans a day committing

suicide. We are a nation in crisis, and it’s being ignored by Washington.”

— Alan Yeck, executive director, Veterans Healing Farm

“At the beginning of 2022, I talked to a business coach and was planning to really focus on growing my business. After the invasion of Ukraine, to deal with emotions of anger, fear, shock, etc., I co-organized two concerts and began fundraising. Since February, I’ve raised over $60,000 for humanitarian aid for Ukraine. My business took a total back seat. I realized my hope of success, not for my business, but in doing my part to help Ukraine.”

— Andrea Kulish, mixed-media artist

YEAR YEAR

REVIEW REVIEW

“Being reelected after almost a year of campaigning is rewarding, but mostly because it has been my greatest honor to serve as the mayor of Asheville. I am humbled and fortunate to keep doing one of the best jobs in the world.”

Esther Manheimer, Asheville mayor

What person, incident, event or local election result gives you the most hope going into 2023?

“The election of Maggie Ullman to Asheville City Council will provide the strong environmental leadership of City Council that has been

WNC’s residents have hope for 2023

KEEP GOING: The Booth Fairy Project’s second positivity-encouraging billboard was made possible with money raised from a GoFundMe campaign and Elle Erickson’s Patreon page. Photo by J Smilanic

ESTHER MANHEIMER

JENNIFER CALDWELLBILLSTROM

KEN BRAME

HONOR MOOR

ELIZABETH COLTON

JULIA DARITY WILL HARLAN ANDREA KULISH MITCH LI

missing since [state Sen.] Julie Mayfield left Council.”

— Ken Brame , political chair, WNC Sierra Club

“ Martin Moore ’s recent election victory in District 2. We now have two Black leaders (Moore and Al Whitesides ) serving as Buncombe County commissioners. These changes are not merely symbolic; they stand as constant reminders that our demographics are shifting, that we’re all in community together and that everybody’s interests need to be considered.”

— Jim Stokely , president, Wilma Dykeman Legacy

“Bishop William J. Barber II , Sheriff Quentin Miller and Michael Hayes are my biggest influencers when it comes to being political or driven to change the world because to see someone that looks like me in high places is something really special to me. They are my hope.”

their recovery program. But the underdogs have made a comeback, thanks to litigation and new leadership. This year, a new red wolf recovery plan was released, and six red wolf pups were born in the wild for the first time in years.”

— Will Harlan , conservation biologist, Center for Biological Diversity

“The tiny home project by Beloved Asheville has given me the most hope: small, beautiful homes to help people in transition. A thousand more of these, and we’ll be making real progress. Gentrification is the norm and affordable housing the exception. More homeless will be coming.”

— Alan Yeck

those who are committing serious crimes. This is not an attack on our DA [ Todd Williams ], but rather a question of how he is working within our complex judicial system.”

— Honor Moor , playwright/nonprofit board member

“Election turnout is discouraging. This election was personal — and close. We have a lot of work to do organizing our community outside of elections and building trust through relationships so we can move and grow together when we face challenges. We can’t let go of hope; we have to stretch it. We can’t lose energy, we have to compost it. We are capable of being better.”

Kim Roney

Supreme Court and what that will mean for future gerrymandering.”

Ken Brame

—

“The office of N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein . The public has seen more vigor, conviction and tweets from the office of the AG regarding the price of Taylor Swift concert tickets than antitrust enforcement in the health care system. With a widely expected 2024 gubernatorial bid, I have hope that the people’s attorney will make a strong stand against hospital consolidation and enforce existing laws prohibiting the corporate practice of medicine in North Carolina in 2023.”

— Mitch Li

“Although I see a lot of conflict about Democrats or Republicans, my problem is the division of color and gender in politics. We are in 2022. We should’ve learned from mistakes in the past by now and not be repeating the same problem.”

Julia Darity

—

Julia Darity , eighth-grade student

—

“The DeWeaponizing Medical Debt event in Asheville led by N.C. Treasurer Dale Folwell and featuring Mayor Maureen Copelof of Brevard. A Navy veteran, she demonstrates a backbone that inspires, fighting for her citizens and pioneering the path for the city of Asheville and counties of Buncombe and Madison to take on (file an antitrust suit against) the Wall Street corporation that now owns the once-independent Mission Hospital and surrounding hospitals.”

— Mitch Li , physician and co-founder of Take Medicine Back

“Red wolves are the most endangered animal on the planet — fewer than 25 are left in the wild, and they only live in North Carolina. They had nearly been hunted to extinction, and managers had abandoned

“Our youth! Our young neighbors care deeply for each other and are demanding a hopeful future. They boldly speak their truth. From policy advocacy in their schools to making comments during Council meetings to rallying in defense of human and civil rights, I am deeply hopeful because our youth care and show up.”

— Kim Roney , Asheville City Council member

What person, incident, event or local election result makes you less hopeful going into 2023?

“Despite what we know about how social media is used to sway our opinions and actions, many of my neighbors still rely on social media engagement to inform their voting decisions. This is an actual, identified threat to our democracy.”

— Jennifer Caldwell-Billstrom , founder, Velo Girl Rides

“I don’t think the public has an understanding of how important the district attorney’s office is with regard to combating crime. We need fair policing and a fair judicial system. The concern is not criminals let out for minor drug offenses, but

“I am particularly troubled by the switch in control of the state

“The Forest Service’s GAP Project proposes to log 25,000 acres of Pisgah National Forest. In 2022, hundreds of people rallied against logging in Pisgah. The Forest Service is ignoring the public and pushing forward with the largest-ever project ever in Pisgah, the most visited national forest in the country.”

— Will Harlan  X

Departures and arrivals

The news never stops — nor do the comings and goings of local journalists — as a roundup of 2022 local journalism news attests. And yet again, area news outlets racked up some notable awards and accomplishments this year.

• In February, Mountain Xpress staffer Daniel Walton became the publication’s news editor.

• In March, Blue Ridge Public Radio, NPR ’s voice in Western North Carolina, welcomed a new general manager and CEO, Jeffrey Pope . He held previous public media leadership positions in Colorado, where he organized news collectives for station KSJD . And in October, BPR ’s news director, Matt Bush , departed the job after six years for a similar post at a Maryland station.

• Other big news for the broadcaster: BPR conducted the “Big Switch” on Oct. 31, swapping the 20 frequencies of its two channels, BPR News and BPR Classic , to nearly double BPR ’s news coverage area in WNC.

• This summer, Asheville-based WNC Magazine welcomed a new editor, Allison Watson

• Online investigative publication Asheville Watchdog, powered by mostly volunteer professional newshounds, had another banner year.

• In November, it grew its team by hiring John Boyle — a 27-year veteran of the Asheville Citizen Times who qualifies as a lion of local journalism.

• Meanwhile, reporter Sally Kestin won national awards for her “Equity Erased” series about predatory real estate investors from the Institute for Nonprofit News and the National Headliner Awards, along with

REVIEW

a public service award from the N.C. Press Association.

• Two locally based publications — Carolina Public Press and Mountain Xpress — were among 31 American news outlets awarded support this fall through the American Press Institute’s Election Coverage and Community Listening Fund, an effort to deepen community engagement in local political reporting.

• In October, Carolina Public Press also named Kara Andrade as its editor-in-chief.

• In November, community radio station Asheville FM launched The New Wave, “a mini-station within the station geared toward training and amplifying the voices of young members of our community,” as the station describes it. The show airs Sundays from 10-11 a.m. on 103.3 FM and ashevillefm.org. The station is celebrating a slew of awards this year from the Alliance for Community Media Foundation, including one for overall excellence in community radio.

— Jon Elliston X

JON ELLISTON

Roney, left off oversight committee, questions APD spending

Asheville City Council’s consent agenda typically consists of noncontroversial business that is approved with little discussion. That wasn’t the case Dec. 13.

At the request of Council member Kim Roney , six consent agenda items pertaining to the Asheville Police Department were singled out for discussion and separate votes. Over an hour of deliberation and public comment followed, with 23 residents speaking during the normally swift portion of the meeting.

Those items included four resolutions that would authorize City Manager Debra Campbell to seek over $100,000 in federal grant funding for bulletproof vests and crime investigation technology; a renewal of a more than $111,000 contract with data analytics company LexisNexis; and a three-year contract renewal for $54,000 annually with Cole Pro Media for “police transparency engagement advising services.” Roney voted no on each item, citing transparency issues within the APD’s budget; the only other Council member to oppose any item was Sheneika Smith , who voted with Roney against the Cole Pro Media contract.

“Bulletproof vests are an absolutely necessary tool for the role we assigned to our APD staff, and there is funding in the budget for this resource,” Roney said. “Until we have updates on our budget, my ‘no’ vote is directed not at approving an increase to the budgets that lack transparency because these items would otherwise and are literally named as being funded in our existing budget, of which 47% of our general fund balance is allocated to public safety.”

Simmering beneath the discussion was Mayor Esther Manheimer ’s decision earlier in the month not to reappoint Roney to the Council committee that oversees the APD. In a Dec. 9 Facebook post, Roney said the mayor had denied her request to sit on the city’s Environment and Safety Committee “at request of APD ‘command staff.’”

According to a Dec. 13 report from the Asheville Citizen Times , Asheville Police Chief David Zack acknowledged that he and other department leaders had expressed

concern over Roney being on the committee. But during the Council meeting, Manheimer pushed back against the notion that her choice had been determined by Zack.

“I’ve got to say, I am a little ruffled at the idea that I need a chief of police telling me what to do because that’s not how this works,” Manheimer said. “I can make my own decisions and I do make my own decisions.”

The Environment and Safety Committee, which also handles climate change, climate justice and other environmental issues, will now be chaired by newly elected Council member Maggie Ullman . (Ullman, who works as a climate change consultant and was Asheville’s first sustainability officer, also donated $150 to Manheimer’s reelection campaign; Roney was Manheimer’s electoral opponent.) Rounding out the group are Council members Sandra Kilgore and Smith; both served on the committee with Roney last term.

“When we look at the data of who is most impacted by violence, and by climate change, we see that women of color are our most vulnerable,” Ullman said of her appointment. “To me, the proposed committee centers two of our three women of color, and in my case, [someone] with the most professional experi-

ence on the environment, to serve for the next two years. I think this is a good makeup.”

Roney added that she respected Manheimer’s decision but that she planned to continue asking questions regarding APD’s budget requests.

“In addition to my moral and social obligations as a taxpayer and a neighbor, my fiscal obligations and duty to ensure human and civil rights of the people of Asheville as a Council member compel me to continue to ask hard questions,” she said. “Though I may not be seated on the Environment and Safety Committee, I am commit-

ted to the work of oversight and ensuring quality equitable service outcomes.”

Black residents want Juneteenth celebration to remain “in community”

Community members Paul Howell and Daniel Suber raised concern during public comment about the city’s efforts to host a celebration for Juneteenth, the June 19 holiday that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans. Both men, who are Black, said that since Asheville held its first city-funded Juneteenth observance in 2021, celebrations have been taken out of the hands of local community organizers who have managed a Juneteenth event for over a decade.

In October, the city released a request for proposals to identify “qualified nonprofit organizations” to manage the 2023 Juneteenth event in partnership with the city, potentially excluding community members with more informal leadership backgrounds.

“We’ve been celebrating this on and off since 2011 in the Hillcrest community,” Suber said. “It’s something that’s really, really important to the Black community here, and we want to make sure that it stays in the community. We always appreciate city efforts to make things equitable and include people and things like that. I think it’s important to look at those processes very carefully and well and think long term about how we can engage in that.”

— Brooke Randle X

FRESH FACES: City Council member Kim Roney, pictured, will not serve another term on the Council committee that oversees the Asheville Police Department after Mayor Esther Manheimer denied her reappointment request. Newly elected Council member Maggie Ullman was appointed to the Environment and Safety Committee instead. Screen capture courtesy of the city of Asheville

Q&A: What it takes to operate Winter Lights

Even as this year’s Winter Lights display sparkles at The N.C. Arboretum, staff members are already planning for next year’s celebration.

“It is a year-round gig,” says Mary Rose Ridderbusch-Shearer , who has co-designed the event with her colleague Clara Curtis since 2018.

Launched in 2014, Winter Lights is the arboretum’s biggest annual fundraiser and has become a tradition for many Western North Carolina families. Its popularity, Ridderbusch-Shearer notes, continues to grow. Last year, an estimated 107,000 guests strolled through the light display. And because of the use of LED lights, the cost to run the six-week-long event is only $34 per night.

Ridderbusch-Shearer recently spoke with Xpress about the ins and outs of the annual holiday tradition — both the joys and unique challenges of lighting up the arboretum.

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed.

Xpress: What goes into designing Winter Lights?

Ridderbusch-Shearer: Clara Curtis has been designing the show since its inception nine years ago. Typically, what we do is start with the things we know we want to keep — like the big, iconic tree in the middle of the show. We try to identify those elements that have become a tradition for folks and consider whether or not we want to do a refresh.

The quilt garden is a great example of that. Its design typically changes for Winter Lights every three or four years. Clara uses traditional quilt squares and patterns for inspiration. For the show, we typically try to pull a design that has been used in the plantings as well, so that we are mirroring some of the natural, more plant-based displays throughout the year.

From there, once we know our returning elements, we start planning. It’s an open-ended creative process where we just throw things at each other throughout the year and save ideas if we see things in other places. We try to ensure that our designs, no matter the theme or the specific displays, tie into our mission by offering nods to the natural world.

LIGHT IT UP: Since 2018, Mary Rose Ridderbusch-Shearer has co-designed The N.C. Arboretum’s Winter Lights event. Photo by Abby Cantrell of The N.C. Arboretum

How do you choose where to place the lights?

Clara’s background is in horticulture, and so we work really closely with the horticulture department. Typically, our light displays are not on a lot of plants besides trees. We do use some net lighting on bushes, too. But we try to incorporate structural elements and designs that don’t have a strong impact on the garden itself.

Does the crew have a favorite decoration?

This year, we’ve all been really loving the rainbow tunnel. We have a large arbor that comes off of one of the buildings as folks enter the show. We’ve done it as a white light tunnel the last couple of years, and we decided to go rainbow this year.

We do light checks in the leadup to the show, and the first night we all got to see the tunnel — we were pretty excited. The light crew shared that the rainbow was a lot of work. It took a lot more time than we thought, but the impact and the result were really satisfying for them.

How do you store the lights?

Our maintenance and install teams put a lot of work into being really intentional about the way

things are taken down, packed away and inventoried. And before we even think about putting up lights each year, there’s a huge process of unpacking, testing and figuring out what we need to replace.

How long does it take you to get everything down? And when does the following year’s setup actually begin?

We usually finish teardown by the end of February, and we start unpacking the lights to test them in July or August. So, it’s just a few months that the lights are stored away.

Our team has to constantly be checking on things and making sure that the lights are not getting chewed by critters or getting rained on. Our staff has really good systems in place, but it’s a pretty big undertaking.

Are there other challenges the general public might find surprising?

When folks start light shows, they don’t think about how much space you need to store these kinds of displays, and what it takes to keep them from being unusable the following year. We have several containers in a nonpublic part of the property — big, metal 20-foot containers, where we store most of the lights. Then we store some of the more sensitive things in our operations facility.

Besides the Winter Lights, what’s your favorite event at the arboretum?

I mean, it’s such a simple event, but I really love the ArborEvenings series that started in 2019. It usually runs from mid-June through the end of September. Twice a week, we bring out local regional musicians, and we sell beer and wine and snacks.

And it’s been growing year to year. It used to be me trying to track down people and convince them to play because they didn’t really know who we were. Now, we have so much interest that we can only offer each musician one date to perform.

It’s been a really nice way to connect with all the great talent in the area.

Recent history

Like all years before it, 2022 will soon join the past. To celebrate its entry into history, Xpress reached out to three local historians to discuss important happenings from the year.

Featured are: Katherine Cutshall , manager of the Buncombe County Special Collections; Anne Chesky Smith , executive director of Western North Carolina Historical Association (and author of the recent book, Murder at Asheville Battery Park Hotel: The Search for Helen Clevenger’s Killer ); and Darin Waters , N.C. deputy secretary for the Office of Archives & History (and co-host of “The Waters and Harvey Show”), who is speaking as an Asheville resident and not in his official capacity.

Xpress:  What 2022 local event or community decision will make its way into future history books?

Cutshall: The formation of the Community Reparations Commission. The work of the commissioners to highlight systemic racial injustice, document harm and recommend policy changes will shape the way our community develops for years to come.

Chesky Smith: I agree. The first members of Asheville and Buncombe County’s Community Reparations Commission were appointed in March 2022 to make recommendations that will help repair the damage caused by systemic racism. The work that this commission does has the ability to not only help Asheville residents but also to serve as a road map for other municipalities undertaking similar initiatives.

Waters: I think for many, the response to what key local decision will be remembered in future history books is the decision concerning the Vance Monument. The monument, at least as I understand, was originally gifted in memory to Zebulon Vance — who served the

Historians consider local historical events from 2022

whether our nation’s mission has been and remains one committed to the expansion of liberty for all who make up our national body politic. While this and other conversations can be and have been difficult, they are nevertheless healthy and very much needed.

state not only as governor during and after the Civil War but also earlier as a U.S. congressman and later as a U.S. senator . But it has, over time, became a central and representative image of the Lost Cause and white supremacist narrative of the Civil War. I believe people will look back on the period of the monument removal as a time of reckoning with the false narratives we often construct about our past.

Outside of your own work, what 2022 local history project stands out to you the most and why?

Cutshall: The continued progress on the RAIL (Railroad and Incarcerated Laborers) Memorial Project is incredibly exciting to me. In October 2021, the group placed a memorial honoring incarcerated laborers killed on the Western North Carolina Railroad. Since then, the team has continued research by employing the use of dogs trained to find human remains to discover the final resting place of some of the workers. The work that the team of historians, forensic experts and community members

has done to highlight the stories of the incarcerated laborers who built the Western North Carolina Railroad has drawn much-needed attention to this often forgotten piece of history.

Chesky Smith: The Buncombe County Register of Deeds launched the story map, “As Long as the Grass Shall Grow: A history of Cherokee land cessions and the formation of Buncombe County,” to document how the land we inhabit was acquired “through violence, oppression, coercion and broken treaties.” This is one of many projects they have undertaken which utilizes historical documents to amplify the stories of people who have been marginalized by these same land deeds.

Waters: Again, I would point to the debate and ultimate removal of the Vance Monument as a pivotal moment in 2022. As we move toward the nation’s commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, this past year’s happenings around the Vance Monument — which while local was still a part of a much larger state and national conversation — offer us the opportunity to reflect upon

Cutshall: I’m extremely proud to be a part of the Pack Square Plaza Visioning process by providing support as a researcher and an archivist. I love Asheville and Buncombe County, and my passion is sharing our stories. To have the opportunity to do that in a way that will have an impact on the community for years to come is humbling and exciting.

Chesky Smith: For the last few years, I’ve been involved in The RAIL Memorial Project, which as Katherine mentioned earlier, seeks to tell the story of the incarcerated men and women who constructed the railroad into Western North Carolina under brutal conditions. This year, as part of that project, I worked with the Jackson County NAACP on an application for an N.C. Historic Highway Marker to acknowledge the state’s role in the drowning deaths of 19 incarcerated men.

Waters: The work that my friend and colleague Dr. Marcus Harvey and I have done through our radio show and podcast, “The Waters and Harvey Show ,” is what I would point to as being key to our local efforts this year. The purpose for starting the show in 2014, was to help facilitate important local conversations around history, memory and the future of our republic. Having reached the milestone of our 100th episode this year, I feel like we have helped to stimulate thoughtful conversation about who — as a community, state and nation — we are and hope to be.  X

What is one project that you worked on this year that you’re particularly proud of as it relates to local history?

by Thomas Calder

| tcalder@mountainx.com

Got It Covered

Every week, Xpress proudly displays a new issue in its purple distribution boxes. Every cover has a backstory. For some, we work with local illustrators; for others, we connect with local photographers. We’re also fortunate to have a wonderful design team that comes up big when a cover story calls for a more conceptual design. Featured here are 12 of our top favorites from 2022.

— Thomas Calder X

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.

WELLNESS

Asheville Aphasia Support Group

Every Friday in Rm 345. No RSVP needed.

FR (12/23, 30), 10am, WCU at Biltmore Park, 28 Schenck Pkwy Zumba Gold for Adults 50+

This free class helps work on mobility while moving to the beat to burn off calories. Every Wednesday and Friday.

WE (12/21, 28 & 1/4),

FR (12/23), 11am, Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Rd

Men’s Cancer Support Group

Safely meet in a large conference room and stay socially distant while wearing masks. RSVP: Will at (412)913-0272 or acwein123@gmail.com.

WE (12/21), 6pm, Woodfin YMCA, 40 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 101

Still, Dark & Quiet: A Deep Rest Retreat A circle of women for an evening of deep rest, poetry and reflection. Facilitated by author/ coach Renee Trudeau.

WE (12/21), 6:30pm, visit avl.mx/c98

Nar-Anon Family Group Meeting

Weekly meeting for family and friends of addicts. Use Door C. TH (12/22, 29 & 1/5), 7pm, 1316D Patton Ave

Ben's Friends

Offering supportive community to food and beverage industry professionals struggling with addiction and substance abuse. Every Tuesday.

TU (12/27 & 1/3), 10am, Avenue M, 791 Merrimon Ave

Blood Drive Walk-ins welcome, appointments encouraged. Sign up at redcrossblood.org or contact Jennifer at (828)356.2561.

TH (12/29), 10am, Haywood County Library-Canton, 11 Pennsylvania Ave, Canton

Magnetic Minds: Depression/Bipolar Support Group Weekly meeting for those who suffer with depression, bipolar and other mental health challenges. Email depressionbipolarasheville@gmail.com or call or text (828)367-7660 for more info.

SA (12/24, 31), 2pm, 1316 Ste C Parkwood Rd

Enriching Mental Health with Complementary Treatments (Music, Nutrition and Color) Presented by Vaya Health, this course covers a variety of complementary treatments for overall mental health that can support managing everyday stressors. To register: vayahealth. com or Kathleen.olsen@ haywoodcountync.gov.

WE (1/4), 2pm, Waynesville Library, 678 S Haywood St, Waynesville

ART

Weaving Small Nets to Capture Life

An exhibition of new work by textile-based artist Erin E. Castellan, who utilizes both fabric she has woven as well as stretched canvases; adding hand embellishments of stitching, beadwork, and acrylic paint. Gallery open Tuesday through Saturday, 11am.

Tracey Morgan Gallery, 188 Coxe Ave

Winter Magic Annual group exhibition with over 20 local artists participating. Gallery open daily 11am. Exhibit through Jan. 31.

Asheville Gallery of Art, 82 Patton Ave

North Carolina Works by Martin Pasco Paintings from Barnardsville-based artist. Gallery open daily 11am.

Asheville Gallery of Art, 82 Patton Ave

Place and Wonder

Featuring five American artists whose work explores the things

we know and cannot entirely know about a place - real, imagined, or remembered. Exhibit through Jan. 8, 2023.

Gallery open 10am (11am Sunday), closed Monday.

Tyger Tyger Gallery, 191 Lyman St

COMMUNITY MUSIC

Pianist Brian Turner

The pianist will perform solo piano favorites in the Great Hall.

SA (12/31), 7pm, The Omni Grove Park Inn, 290 Macon Ave

Mountain Music Jam

Celebrate old-time and bluegrass heritage with other musicians at the intermediate level.

Singers and listeners welcome.

MO (1/2), 6:30pm, Jewish Community Center, 236 Charlotte St

The Charlotte Piano Trio

A group of young artists who represent chamber music excellence in the Charlotte area will play in the atrium, part of the Rising Star Concert

Series.

TU (1/3), 6pm, Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

LITERARY

Little Ones Learn

A creative play session that includes a short storytime, ideal for children 6 months to 3 years old. For more information, contact Ashlyn at ashlyn.godleski@ haywoodcountync.gov or at (828)356-2567.

WE (12/21), 10am, Haywood County Library-Canton, 11 Pennsylvania Ave, Canton

Black Experience Book Club Book Swap

Instead of reading an assigned book this month, the group will be discussing what each member is reading and trading ideas about what to read next. Bringing a book to swap is not required.

TH (12/22), 6:30pm, Noir Collective, 39 S Market St

Listen to This: Stories on Stage Away in a Manger

True tales of holiday celebrations in odd locations.

TH (12/22), 7:30pm, Story Parlor, 227 Haywood R

Mother Goose Storytime

This storytime focuses on rhymes, songs, and simple stories to promote early literacy. Target ages 0-2.

WE (1/4), 10:30am, Waynesville Library, 678 S Haywood St, Waynesville

THEATER & FILM

An Upstairs Downstairs Christmas Special Saturday Manitee and Speakeasy House Improv Troupe perform an improvised Chrismtas party.

FR (12/23), 7:30pm, Story Parlor, 227 Haywood Rd

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

A parody of the low-budget 1964 film, by local playwright and director Rodney Smith.

Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2:30 pm, through Dec. 23. Christmas Eve matinee at 2:30pm. Attic Salt Theatre, The Mills at Riverside, 2002 Riverside Dr, Ste 42-O

Poetry Open Mic Hendo

TH (12/29), 7:30pm, Shakedown Lounge, 706 Seventh Ave East, Hendersonville

Movie Night: Intruder Free popcorn during this 1989 slasher film produced by Lawrence Bender. “Heckling encouraged.” WE (1/4), 8pm, The Odd, 1045 Haywood Rd

MEETINGS & PROGRAMS

Wired Wednesday Staff will be available, by appointment, to answer questions and assist you in the use of computers, smartphones, tablets, and e-readers. Call (828)648.2924.

WE (12/21, 29 & 1/4), 3pm, Haywood County Library-Canton, 11 Pennsylvania Ave, Canton

Sovereignty: A Women’s Mastermind Group

For leaders, teachers, healers, creatives and small business owners.

Led by author/speaker Renee Trudeau.

WE (12/21), 6:30pm, visit avl.mx/c98

Art and Chai Tour

See some of Asheville’s under-the-radar street art, graffiti, murals, and more from a heated bus while sipping chai.

FR (12/23), 2pm, $35-40, Summit Coffee Asheville, 4 Foundy St

Game Designers of North Carolina (GDoNC) Meetup Meet local designers and playtest board game

prototypes. Feedback by all playtesters is encouraged.

TU (12/27), Well Played Board Game Café, 162 Coxe Ave

LEGO Builder's Club

Drop in or stay the entire time - LEGOs and snacks provided.

FR (12/30), 3:30pm, Leicester Library, 1561 Alexander Rd, Leicester

STEAM Club

Each meeting will explore topics in science, technology, engineering, art, and math. Ideal for elementary, middle, and high school students.

For more information, contact Ashlyn at ashlyn. godleski@haywoodcountync.gov or call (828)356-2567.

WE (1/4), 1pm, Haywood County Library-Canton, 11 Pennsylvania Ave, Canton

Laurel Chapter of the Embroiderers' Guild of America

The annual outreach to Project Linus, creating 20 no-sew fleece blankets for the local chapter.

Visitors are welcome to attend this meeting and participate. If interested, contact Mary Ann Wyatt (828)681-0572 or Janet Stewart (828)575-9195.

TH (1/5), 9:30am, Cummings United Methodist Church, 3 Banner Farm Rd, Horse Shoe Watercolor Snowflake Art

Create a snowy scene with watercolor. Ideal for elementary-aged students. Contact Ashlyn at ashlyn.godleski@ haywoodcountync.gov or at (828)356-2567.

TH (1/5), 3:30pm, Haywood County Library-Canton, 11 Pennsylvania Ave, Canton

LOCAL MARKETS

RAD Farmers Market Winter Season

With 25-30 vendors selling a variety of local wares. Handicap parking available in the Smoky Park lot, free public parking available along Riverside Dr. Also accessible by foot, bike, or rollerblade via the Wilma Dykeman Greenway.

WE (12/21, 29 & 1/4), 3pm, Smoky Park Supper Club, 350 Riverside Dr

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 (12/28), 1pm, Leicester Library, 1561 Alexander Rd, Leicester

FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS

Solstice & Cherokee Calling of the Bears Ceremony

A community ceremony

and ritual led by Yona FrenchHawk, with a candle lighting to serve as beacons that connect the Ancient Past to the Ancient Future. Sliding scale donation, with 50% of the proceeds going to Jubilee.

WE (12/21), 6:45pm, Jubilee Community Church, 46 Wall St

December Star Gaze

This free public event will occur after sunset. Registration is not necessary. Visit astroasheville. org/star-gazes for more information.

WE (12/21), 5pm, Grassland Mountain Observatory, 2890 Grassland Pkwy, Marshall

BENEFITS & VOLUNTEERING

Winter Coat Drive

Bring lightly used and recently cleaned jackets, coats, and related winter apparel to the HCCA Box Office during business hours or during active event times. In partnership with Grateful Bread. Through Dec. 22 Harrah's Cherokee Center - Asheville, 87 Haywood St

Stop Having Kids

A benefit to support Friendly Fields Farm Sanctuary. With a doggy Christmas sweater contest. See p36 WE (12/21), 6pm, The Odd, 1045 Haywood Rd

Indie Benefit Show for AVL Comm. Bail Fund With music by local indie artists.

WE (12/21), 6pm, Static Age-Records, 110 N Lexington Ave

Dumpster Fire: A Video for Burnpile Skateshop

The film features skateboarders from Western North Carolina. Proceeds from the event will help fund the future phases of the Brevard Skateboard Park. TU (12/27), 7pm, Coed Cinema, 79 W Main St, Brevard

Jim Lauderdale and the JAM Kids of Henderson County

The two-time Grammy winning country and bluegrass musician will hold a special fundraising concert for Henderson County’s Junior Appalachian Musicians program. WE (12/28), 7pm, Oklawaha Brewing Co., 147 1st Ave E, Hendersonville

Benefit Concert for Evergreen Community Charter School

With Southern rock jam band Late Shifters and folk group Blushin' Roulettes. All ages, standing room only.

TH (1/5), 7pm, The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave

JIM JAMS: Two-time Grammy-winning country and bluegrass artist and North Carolina native Jim Lauderdale will play a fundraiser at Oklawaha Brewing Co. in Hendersonville Wednesday, Dec. 28, at 7 p.m. The show will benefit Henderson County’s Junior Appalachian Musicians program, also known as JAM Kids. Photo by Andy Hall

HOLIDAY

EVENTS

MCAC Member Holiday Art Sale

Locally made gifts and items from 25 artist’s booths, with paintings, jewelry, woodworking, body products, glass, baskets, fabric, and more. Open 10am Monday through Saturday, through Dec. 23.

The Arts Center, 90 S Main St, Marshall Show & Tell Holiday

Pop Up Shop

Shop over 100 vendors with housewares, handmade jewelry, ceramics, apparel, vintage clothes, floral wreaths, ornaments, treats for you and your pup, candles and more. Daily through Dec. 24.

WE (12/21), 10am, Center for Craft, 67 Broadway

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

The Grove Street crafting club's showcase, created to celebrate the holidays and bring joy to the community.

WE (12/21), 10am, Grove St Community Center, 36 Grove St

Photos with Santa Visitors receive one free 4” by 6” photo and digital download of a single image (while supplies last). Located in the food court.

WE (12/21, 23), 12pm, Asheville Outlets, 800 Brevard Rd

Hanukkah Candle Lighting

The half hour of warmth and light will be accompanied by singalong led by Penny White. Outdoors in the front courtyard.

WE (12/21), 5pm, Jewish Community Center, 236 Charlotte St

Take & Make Kit: Paper Plate Wreath

Create your own paper plate wreath. Ideal for middle and high school students. Kits available while supplies last and cannot be reserved. For more information, contact Ashlyn at ashlyn.

godleski@haywoodcountync.gov or call (828)356-2567.

TH (12/22), Haywood County Library-Canton, 11 Pennsylvania Ave, Canton

Tryon Resort Holiday Ice Skating

Enjoy ice skating, see festive light displays, eat, and shop. With skate rentals available by the hour, various times through Feb. 14, 2023. Visit avl.mx/c73 Tryon International Equestrian Center, 25 International Blvd, Mill Spring

A Very Glassy Holiday Market

Watch glassblowers at work. All purchases support the nonprofit center and local artists. Daily 10am to 5pm, through Dec. 31. North Carolina Glass Center, 140 Roberts St, Ste B

Winterfest Village

With live performances, concessions, shopping, dining, carousel rides, visits with Santa, and a closing parade each evening. Thursday through Sunday through Dec. 31.

TH (12/22), 5pm, $5-10, Tryon International Equestrian Center, 25 International Blvd, Mill Spring

Vienna Light Orchestra Christmas Concert

Performing Christmas songs while being illuminated with over 2000 flickering candles. Also 6pm and 8 pm.

TH (12/22), 4pm, Asheville Masonic Temple, 80 Broadway

Lake Julian Festival of Lights

Watch the lights twinkle over the lake while you drive through and listen to your own favorite music.

TH (12/22), 6pm, Lake Julian Park, 37 Lake Julian Rd, Arden

Indigenous Holiday Pop-Up Market

Featuring handmade and unique items from Cherokee artists.

FR (12/23), 10am, Museum of the Cherokee Indian, 589 Tsali Blvd, Cherokee

Live Holiday Glassblowing by Jason Probstein

The artist will make unique holiday ornaments live.

FR (12/23 & 24), 10:30am, Mountain Made Art Gallery, 1 Page Ave, Ste 123

Early 1800s Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

Featuring music from the early 1800s performed on the hammer dulcimer, guitar, and the church’s pump organ (which dates from the early 19th century), in addition to music from the chancel choir. This service is based on John Wesley's The Sunday Service for the Methodist Church in North America (1784)

SA (12/24), 5pm, Asbury Memorial UMC, 171 Beaverdam Rd

Multi-Faith Festivals of Lights Sing & Dancealong Co-hosted by Mary Stair and Billy Jonas, celebrating music and dance of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali and Solstice. Everyone is invited to bring finger food to share and their own beverage. Coffee, tea and water provided.

Donations welcome.

SU (12/25), 5:30pm, Jubilee Community Church, 46 Wall St

Tryon Drive-Thru Christmas Light Show

Featuring a two-mile display that dances along to the music in your car. Open nightly 6-10pm, tickets sold per vehicle. Every evening 6pm through Jan. 1.

Tryon International Equestrian Center, 25 International Blvd, Mill Spring

Sippin' Santa Pop-Up Tropical Christmas-themed bar daily through Jan. 1.

The Montford Rooftop Bar, 199 Haywood St

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

The Grove Street crafting club's showcase

to celebrate the holidays and bring joy to the community. Monday through Friday, 10am. Through Jan. 6. Grove St Community Center, 36 Grove St

Miracle on 1st Ave Pop-Up Bar

A Christmas-themed pop-up cocktail bar offering seasonal drinks in a festive setting. Every evening through Jan. 1.

The Poe House, 105 First Ave, Hendersonville

Christmas Tamaleada

A Latin American Christmas celebration where you can try tamales from all around Central America, and learn their history.

WE (12/28), 6pm, One World Brewing West, 520 Haywood Rd

Winter Lights

An open-air, walkthrough light show in the gardens, featuring live performances, a model train, educational exhibits and food and beverages available for purchase. The Arboretum's largest annual fundraiser. Visit ncarboretum.org for more info on tickets and pricing. Every night through Dec. 31.

NC Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way

Miracle at the Golden Pineapple Kitschy holiday decor, whimsical cocktails, and the nostalgic energy of the best office holiday party ever. Nightly through Jan. 1.

TThe Golden Pineapple, 503 Haywood Rd

All That Glitters

A nationally-celebrated collection of Space Age aluminum Christmas trees and vintage ornaments. Open Thursday through Saturday, noon to 4pm. Through Jan. 14.

Transylvania Heritage Museum, 189 W Main St, Brevard

Noon Year's Eve Storytime & Celebration Ring in the New Year with a special storytime, followed by celebrating

with a craft, music and countdown to noon.

Children of all ages are welcome.

FR (12/30), 11am, Waynesville Library, 678 S Haywood St, Waynesville

Deck The Trees: Let Heaven and Nature Sing

Decorated Christmas trees at the Monte Vista Hotel and in stores and businesses throughout Black Mountain and the Swannanoa Valley area, to help raise funds for

the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry Fuel Fund. Daily through Jan. 2.

Monte Vista Hotel & Various Locations, 308 W State St, Black Mountain

Downwtown Marshall New Year’s Eve Celebration Dress in 80s attire for this “Back to the 80’s” countdown to 2023 by the French Broad River. SA (12/31), 7pm, Downtown Marshall

New Year’s Eve with 007

Vocalists Mikki Sodergren and Jonathan Christopher will be backed by the Asheville Symphony peforming hits from Bond movie favorites like Goldfinger, Skyfall, and more. See p38 SA (12/31), 8pm, $40-85, Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, 87 Haywood St

New Year's Eve Speakeasy Soiree

A 1920s-style celebration in the historic Art Deco buliding, with two sets from Emerald Empire Band, playing both a traditional and Top 40 set. See p36 SA (12/31), 8pm, Grove Arcade, 1 Page Ave

Taking stock

Health was more than metrics in 2022

BY JESSICA WAKEMAN

jwakeman@mountainx.com

COVID-19 has dominated discussions about health and wellness for nearly three years, and that’s certainly been reflected in the media landscape nationwide. In Asheville, however, the effects of COVID-19 on physical health and mental health are just one story to be told.

Along with updates on the pandemic, 2022 saw multiple lawsuits against HCA and Mission Health, nurses unionizing at Mission Hospital, the county disbursing millions of dollars received from the opioid settlements, expansion to Buncombe County Emergency Medical Services and the ongoing impact of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision on local residents and medical institutions.

The featured responses to this year’s Year in Review reflect the diverse experiences people have had on their personal health journeys.

Has COVID-19 had a lasting impact on your life? If so, how?

“The way that I work and think about work has changed a lot. My mantra is ‘There is no such thing as a reference emergency.’”

— Katherine Cutshall , manager, Buncombe County Special Collections

“My perspective on COVID-19 shifted from facing my own mortality to outrage at the ongoing effects of corporate greed and opportunism, using the virus as cover to accelerate our path into a new Gilded Age of corporate monopolization and inequities.”

Mitch Li , physician and co-founder of Take Medicine Back

REVIEW

YEAR YEAR IN

REVIEW

from my friends. They were people I could talk to. With my family, I had to spend even more time away from my mom and my 1-year-old sister because of the risk of having COVID.”

Julia Darity , eighth-grade student

“I have witnessed friends and family members becoming estranged due to differing beliefs in the value of masks and vaccines. I have had to learn to adapt my work life in many instances to virtual communication techniques, and my skills in that area have increased.”

Jim Causby , interim superintendent, Asheville City Schools

“COVID hasn’t stopped me or slowed me down at all. It’s more of an opportunity for us to take care of ourselves and look out for each other.”

— Micah Mackenzie , photographer

What events have had the biggest impact on your mental health? And how?

“I am much more appreciative of the people I get to see in person. The strength of our area is in community, and that means the development and maintenance of relationships.”

Ron Katz , social justice advocate

“COVID-19 has been a demon in my life because I’ve been separated

“The opportunity to help other veterans and their families is a great honor and tremendous responsibility. Working at the Veterans Healing Farm has given me the greatest sense of peace I’ve ever known. It is a place of hope, and all are welcome.”

— Alan Yeck , executive director of Veterans Healing Farm

KIKKOMAN SHAW

WILLIAM HATHAWAY

MIKE SULE ALAN YECK

ROBYN JOSEPHS

CLASS ACTION: A 2022 lawsuit alleged HCA/Mission Health is operating a monopoly over general acute care in hospitals, including overnight stays, and outpatient care. Photo by Jen Castillo

RON KATZ

JIM CAUSBY

MITCH LI

PHILIP COOPER

MICAH MACKENZIE

KATHERINE CUTSHALL

KEVIN MAHONEY

JULIA DARITY

WILL OVERFELT

MIKE DESERIO

KIM RONEY

ELLE ERICKSON

“Monkeypox and COVID — I believe it was largely a scare tactic to control the population.”

— Kikkoman Shaw , executive chef, Equal Plates Project

“Community bicycle rides lighten my heart and energize my commitment to the community. Advocating for safer streets and greenways is an uphill battle at every twist and turn, so it’s invigorating to experience the results.”

—

“Commit the funds and cut the bureaucracy. The current approach certainly hasn’t been working well. Action, not rhetoric! Actively work to destigmatize mental health and substance use disorders. They need help, not punishment and isolation.”

Alan Yeck

—

“Lack of housing and community connection contribute to substance use and mental health challenges. I would support a facility/structure that would provide increased support for those social determinants of health.”

I’m pleased to say that we’ve seen everyone ‘lean in’ rather than ‘back out.’ I’m confident that this spirit of collaboration based on new and deepened relationships will continue, allowing our impact to be far greater than the sum of our individual efforts.”

William Hathaway , CEO, Mountain Area Health Education Center

industry is probably the biggest drug dealer in the world.”

Kikkoman Shaw

“As a native of WNC who is in long-term recovery from substance use disorder, I recommend that the county and the city have more people with lived experience at the decision-making tables. I would like to see more culturally sensitive recovery services, recovery housing and evidence-based treatment. If we are to combat the stigma in the communities of color, then we must be intentional about investing in programs that are connected and trusted in those communities.”

—

“Introducing safe injection sites and expanding the work by peerled groups to support harm reduction is going to be key in preventing overdoses. Also, more support needs to be found for those with severe, persistent mental illness that blocks them from engaging in the available resources.”

— Mike DeSerio , AHOPE outreach program manager, Homeward Bound

“Our community is desperate for appropriate public safety responses! We have access to data-informed solutions, and now the public has to push us on funding priorities beyond business as usual. I would like to see partnership in expansion of the county’s community paramedicine program, and we should also address barriers to mutual aid efforts.”

—

Kim Roney , Asheville City Council member

—

Kevin Mahoney , peer support specialist

How do you feel that local wellness and health institutions have met or not met our health needs?

“I love Asheville’s alternative health options. I’ve been impressed by the level of care provided by all of the acupuncturists, massage therapists and other holistic wellness professionals. We are blessed to have so many talented healers that help people take their power back in the form of better health.”

“I don’t think they meet our health needs. I look at it from the standpoint of Black people. They give us medication for stuff like high blood pressure or diabetes that doesn’t actually help long-term health. It gets people addicted to drugs, then they try to wean them off with another drug. It’s all a moneymaking scheme; the health

“Our institutions spend most of their resources maintaining and protecting their institutions, with systems so complicated you need an advocate to navigate them. Many of our health providers are constrained from sharing the best possible care due to insurance, politicization of health care and lack of funding for public health clinics. The sooner we establish health care for all, the sooner we can begin to repair the inequities and disintegration of our health systems.”

Robyn

—

Josephs , admin/community manager, Black Mountain Exchange and Asheville Politics  X

—

Elle Erickson , founder, The Booth Fairy

“COVID pushed us all to think about wellness much more holistically and comprehensively. Our wellness is more than our blood pressure or our heart rate or any set of metrics. It’s also about setting limits on how we spend our days and whether that time is in service of our own values. Most health care organizations are based on the medical model that has little to do with wellness.”

— Will Overfelt

“The privatization of Mission Health to HCA has had incredible impacts, and the firsthand accounts are terrifying. Our local nurses have unionized, calling out how HCA prioritizes profits over patient care, and our community is rallying in solidarity when they call for support.”

Kim Roney

“Local health and wellness institutions that began as a regional response to COVID continue to collaborate. This group, the Mountain Health Alliance, continues to meet to discuss the emerging issues impacting the health of our region.

Mike Sule , executive director, Asheville on Bikes

How would you like to see the city and county support those experiencing substance use disorder and/or mental health issues?

Philip Cooper , INspire Project coordinator, Land of Sky Regional Council

Rising tides

BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN

earnaudin@mountainx.com

Xpress asked seven local members of the arts community to ponder the biggest issues facing the creative sector in 2022 and the movers and shakers who rose above the rubble. Featured below are reflections from Stephanie Hickling Beckman, managing artistic director at Different Strokes Performing Arts Collective; photographer Heather Burditt ; hip-hop artist and voiceover actor Michael “Foul Mouth Jerk” Capra; actor Ariel Casale; Robb McAdams, assistant manager at The Orange Peel; John-Paul Miller, founder and guitarist of Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band; and Jessica Tomasin, Echo Mountain Recording studio manager and Asheville Music Professionals co-founder.

Arts professionals lift each other up

Hickling Beckman: Everything that ArtsAVL [formely the Asheville Area Arts Council] initiated this year, particularly the Creative Sector Series. Its Town Hall Candidate Forum served to educate and benefit Asheville’s arts and artists by facilitating a moderated platform to put arts issues front and center prior to this year’s local, county and state elections. Unfortunately, the series did not receive sufficient press coverage to bolster attendance.

Burditt: It’s not really so much an initiative as it is an exhibit, but This Skin I’m In: A Visual Narrative of Self at Revolve Gallery. In the LGBTQIA+ community, personal identity is often

a more significant part of life than usual. Considering current events, even a wonderful and inclusive space like Asheville can benefit from deeper understandings of queerness.

McAdams: SoundSpace@Rabbit’s Music Rehearsal Studios has been around for over a year, but I just love

the concept of giving local musicians an affordable dedicated space to hone their craft. I used to live in the South French Broad neighborhood, and I always thought that property was very interesting and hoped someone would give it new life.

Miller: IAMAVL.com is a great service to the Asheville community, and they deserve proper funding from the city. The sheer number of shows they stream brings Asheville’s live music to anyone with internet access, and that could be used to increase music tourism if promoted properly.

Tomasin: ArtsAVL’s initiative to increase funding from Buncombe County. The county was just funding the arts at $.02 per capita when the average funding for counties of our size is $.73 per capita. Thanks to the advocacy work of ArtsAVL, that number has increased to $.50 per capita for the 2022-23 budget. We have a ways to go, but it’s definitely a big step up from where we’ve been.

Burditt: This is an easy question with a not-so-easy answer. I’m sure it will surprise exactly zero artists just how much I’m asked — or expected — to provide for free. It’s a huge source of personal conflict, and I often don’t know how to approach it.

Photography is an oversaturated art form. So long as people will show up for free (and they definitely will), if I want a certain type of gig, I’ll probably have to show up for free as well. It’s a problem that just feeds itself.

McAdams: It is a big topic in the media world at the moment, but the resale [i.e., scalped] ticket debate hurts my heart. Watching big-money entities taking advantage of people’s love of music for financial gain is especially infuriating. The artists and independent venues don’t benefit when someone pays a 300% mark-

What local arts initiative deserved greater recognition than it received this year?

As an artist/arts professional living in Western North Carolina, what keeps you up at night when it comes to your line of work?

CREATIVE

from top left, John-Paul Miller, Ariel Casale, Heather Burditt, Robb McAdams, Jessica Tomasin, Stephanie Hickling Beckman and Michael “Foul Mouth Jerk” Capra helped keep Asheville’s arts community active this year. Photos courtesy of the artists

up on a ticket; only the scalpers and major ticket companies see the reward for their unethical behavior. It’s one of the most disgusting practices in our industry and makes me thankful that local independent venues still offer fans a fair price for a magical night of live music.

Miller: I see a lot of talented artists that don’t know how to properly market themselves. Some of my favorite acts don’t know the ins and outs of the business side of the industry, and that definitely holds them back from achieving next-level stardom. As we all know, talent doesn’t equal success. It’s a business, and just because you play really well doesn’t mean you know how to push your brand.

Tomasin: Seeing artists get priced out of Asheville as the pace of the growth of this city continues to increase. There are no designated staff members in city or county staff for art and culture, so the creative community unintentionally gets overlooked. With tourism being our main industry in Asheville, it’s imperative that we support our creators who are all entrepreneurs.

much conflict in recent years. Public spaces are for all of us, and art has a way of igniting conversations. I hope the future of Pack Square Plaza continues to be a space for community and for communication.

Capra: That’s hard to answer because one of art’s purposes is to be challenging. There’s a mural in West Asheville by [Donnie] Destro and Ian Wilkinson that’s of birds flying toward a beautiful sunset and says “Reparations ... Cut the check.” I find that comforting, knowing it’s pissing a lot of people off. That probably counts as significant or challenging, right?

Casale: All of them. The arts are fighting for survival. All mediums are valid and significant at this point.

As an artist, what is it about Asheville that keeps you here?

Hickling Beckman: Asheville has a vibrant and artistically diverse arts community, and I have strong roots here. Additionally, I’m inspired by various opportunities to creatively and representationally advocate for the change that I would like to see in the world.

the level that I get to without the help and support of a whole lot of people that see the creation and support of art in a very interconnected and unselfish way. I’m grateful to have had the chance to build relationships with people like that. It’s one of the main things that keeps me in the ’Ville.

Casale: I love Asheville in general, but truly my job — by day, I’m a probation officer — and the “framily” my husband and I have here are a huge reason to stay. There is always something cool happening here and so many cool folks. Neither of us are from here, but we’ve made it our home.

McAdams: The political and social climate help create a place where you can live a less restrictive lifestyle than in other cities in the South. An abundance of wonderful food, music,

art and the truly unique offerings of the mountains just makes this area a joy to live in despite the ongoing challenges of affordability. Even the exponential increase of tourism is really just showing that we are curating a way of living that people want to be a part of, even if it’s just for a weekend.

Miller: There is something magical and inspirational about this area. After a run to the West Coast and back, I will have seen a thousand beautiful sites. But the minute I drive over that hill and catch my first glimpse of the Blue Ridge Mountains, I feel a true sense of home and the happiness that exists here for me.

Tomasin: I love how supportive the community is of one another. I stay because I love being a part of this community and want to do my part to help all artists not just survive but thrive. X

Hickling Beckman: ArtsAVL’s Arts Coalition committee on art equity. This committee took a thorough and honest look at the need for a more racially equitable lens in regard to artistic opportunities and representation in Buncombe County. On several occasions, the coalition publicly addressed long-standing contributors to racial inequity in Asheville and challenged our arts leaders to make authentic and systemic changes in the area of racial equity and inclusion in the arts sector.

Burditt: Art in the Heart. Pack Square Plaza has been the site of so

Burditt: I’ve had a few places I’ve called home — New England, San Francisco and Seattle. I’m not sure my art ever found a home until Asheville. The artist community here is vast, diverse and uniquely tied together. There are a lot of photographers here, but I’ve never felt like I was in competition with anyone. I adore this particular group of image makers — they’re some of the most supportive and encouraging people I know.

Capra: The community. I’ve been lucky enough to work with exceptionally talented musicians who enjoy contributing to each other’s projects in whatever way possible, whether studio sessions or support at live shows, filming videos or photography. I wouldn’t be able to operate on

What public art project raised the most significant or challenging questions for our community this year?

BY THOMAS CALDER

Staffing issues, supply chain woes and rising costs have all made running a restaurant, particularly challenging over the last few years. But amid these obstacles, local chefs and restaurateurs have continued to find ways to not simply survive but thrive in 2022.

Xpress reached out to members of the local food industry to see how they’re feeling after another demanding year. Participants include Katie Button , whose restaurant Cúrate won this year’s James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Hospitality; Steve Goff , who took over ownership of Tastee Diner earlier this year with his wife, Sam; and Meherwan Irani , whose restaurant Chai Pani earned the James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Restaurant. Both Irani and Button served as grand marshals at this year’s 76th annual Asheville Holiday Parade.

reflection of its people — authentic, self-storytelling through food.

Button: For this, I’m choosing J Chong ’s chili oil. The theme that I have been seeing in 2022 is chefs in Asheville pursuing their authentic selves, and we couldn’t be happier about it. Just a few examples are J Chong ’s Cantonese food paired with her Canadian upbringing; chef Silver Iocovozzi launching Neng Jr., a Filipinx restaurant; and Iris Rodriguez ’s Little Chango. Increasingly, Asheville’s food is a

Goff: Asheville is such a melting pot of talented chefs, farmers and artisans that it’s hard and feels somewhat unfair to pick a single dish to represent our city and our people. We had a slew of great openings from Neng Jr. to The Trashy Vegan to La Bodega. The old guard is also still standing strong. I’m so proud to be a part of this food scene!

Irani: I can’t just pick one! If I had to, the Nordic deviled eggs at Vivian are a perfect bite. The classic (and very Southern) deviled egg is transformed with smoked fish and chopped cornichons and then topped with caviar. It’s such a clas-

sic Asheville menu item — a humble dish so unexpectedly elevated with impeccable technique and global flavor by an immensely talented chef. Honorary mention must go to the radicchio, ricotta and black garlic at Cucina 24 — [chef and owner] Brian Canipelli sources everything from [ Evan Chender of] The Culinary Gardener.

pop-ups featuring independent chefs and new names on the scene. It is all very exciting. A lot of new restaurants are also considering living wages and new standards of pay — driving the industry here to be more thoughtful and intentional.

Goff: I was soooo excited to see Asheville Food and Beverage United come together and stand up for the rights of the folx in our industry. I salute them! Seeing a group rise to combat some of the massive issues in our industry that have plagued it since its inception is such a breath of fresh air.

Button: For the first time in almost three years, the restaurant industry felt a little push of forward momentum. We saw really fun and interesting new concepts opening,

Irani: Five eateries in Asheville were nominated for a James Beard Foundation Award in 2022 — no other city in the country had that many nominations. That’s a stunning accomplishment for our city and, I believe, has cemented our reputation as a culinary destination. That drives tourism, attracts talented young cooks and chefs, allows restaurants to justify pricing their menus in line with the true cost of doing business and allows our local farm and maker communities to thrive.

What concerned you most about the restaurant industry in 2022?

Button: The continuation of the slow recovery from the pandemic. It has been longer and harder

What dish do you think best represents Asheville in 2022 and why?

In what ways did the local food industry thrive this year?

THREE OF A KIND: Asheville’s top chefs contemplate the local food industry’s 2022 achievements and setbacks. Featured, starting left, are Katie Button, Steve Goff and Meherwan Irani. Photo credits, starting left, Evan Sung, Sam Goff and Tim Robison

than we all thought. As we look into the future, we see how anticipation of further inflation is weighing on our team. We have been talking about it a lot, and trying to keep wages at pace is a challenge. It feels like we are on the cusp of a good balance but that the target keeps moving. At the end of the day, we are all concerned about how Asheville will be impacted if the economy recesses.

Goff: The rising cost of goods, which is not set to stop anytime soon, has me literally shaking in my boots. I pride myself on being able to provide big value for the money spent in my establishment, and I also pride myself on giving my staff a sustainable work environment and living wages, as well as purchasing sustainable product from local sources. It’s getting harder and harder to provide quality ingredients and living wages and affordable products. I keep my nose to the ground researching and staying abreast of how to provide all three, but it ain’t an easy task.

Irani: Inflation and the shortage of employees. With notoriety comes expectations, and I think it’s critical for Asheville restaurants to maintain the quality of food and service, innovation and caring hospitality while supporting our local producers that make us such a unique and special dining destination, which put us on the map in the first place. Inflation often forces restaurants to make difficult decisions with what ingredients to buy and from where, as they balance menu pricing that doesn’t drive away customers. And employee shortages and turnover affect the service experience and consistency. I’m worried that a large part of the labor shortage is due to the high cost of living in Asheville, parking expenses downtown and no practical public transportation for anyone living outside the city limits.

at the dining room from the corner seat at the bar.

Goff: I got to attend the opening of La Bodega and, gosh dang, was it everything I have been wanting! Escargot en brioche, tinned fish, great charcuterie, excellent bread — it was the perfect clean yet rustic upscale goodness we needed. The personal touches from Félix and the Button family built into the space is truly top-notch.

Irani: The Garden & Gun’s Made in the South Awards were held in Asheville this year, and Chai Pani hosted a Bollywood dance party at Citizen Vinyl, which was one of my favorite events of the year. Where else but in Asheville could you find nominees for the best of Southern products celebrating to Bollywood dance and music and eating Indian street food in a locally owned vinyl printing factory?

Any bold predictions for the food industry come 2023?

Button: I think that restaurants are going to find more ways to reach people outside of the dining room. We are seeing it through curateathome. com and Goldbelly, where our products are available for shipping all over the country, along with Cúrate Trips. There has been incredible interest in experiences beyond the plate and restaurant, and we predict this interest will only continue to expand.

Goff: I mean, I hope to keep seeing the movement toward sustainable environments at work and living wages dominating the conversation. Everyone in the restaurant industry has been chronically underpaid from dish to buzzer to executive chef for as long as I’ve been in this industry, and the end to that can’t come soon enough!

Button: The April opening of the upstairs of La Bodega by Cúrate was an incredible feat for our team. It has been a blast to see the evolution of chef Matt Brown ’s menu — a great brunch, easy lunch options and a fun, celebratory dinner. The space feels like a personal and authentic version of us. Decorated with paintings from Felix [ Meane ’s] late father, it is a bright and fun place to enjoy all day. My favorite seat is looking out

Irani: Asheville has the potential to be a thought leader within the restaurant industry in terms of sustainability — not just in sourcing ingredients but in business practices, employee growth, culture, retention, community service, work-life balance and so much more. I think we have an opportunity for being known not just for exceptional food and concepts but for exceptional restaurant culture and for business models that break the mold. The number of chefs and owners in the food industry in Asheville who are involved in activism for the betterment of the industry is inspiring and motivating. X

What event, dish or opening made your year and why?

Return of the taps

Brewers get back to business

BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN

earnaudin@mountainx.com

When looking back on the Asheville craft beer industry’s past year, the appropriate complementary tune very well may be Wilco’s “Art of Almost.”

Though 2022 was the first full year since 2019 when operations proceeded largely “as usual,” COVID-19 continued to sideline workers and force temporary closures. And while beloved events like AVL Beer Week returned in close to full force, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.’s Oktoberfest and other annual gatherings remained on hiatus.

Distinct challenges likewise persisted for some of Asheville’s smaller breweries. To get an insider’s view on what it was like to keep such establishments running, Xpress spoke with local brewers Brandon Audette of 12 Bones Brewing; Zac Harris of Eurisko Beer Co.; Billy Klingel of Oyster House Brewing Co.; and Mike Vanhoose of Riverside Rhapsody Beer Co.

In what aspects has your brewery recovered from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic? Where are you still playing catch-up?

Harris: The best we’ve done in recovering from COVID times is building back and then growing our out-of-house sales. Outside sales weren’t a huge part of our business before 2020, but relying almost entirely on our taproom for a long while was brutal. We hired a full-time sales manager this year, and he’s been an incredible asset to our team.

We’re still catching up a bit on bigger projects and expansion plans that were put on hold. Thankfully, none of those are really holding us back too much.

Vanhoose: We opened our brewery about six months prior to the onset of COVID-19 and were just starting to feel like we were getting going when we were blindsided by the pandemic. The pandemic did force us to take advantage of our outdoor area and convert it into a space where our patrons felt com -

fortable and safe, despite the ongoing spread of COVID-19. We are still recovering financially from the strain imposed by the pandemic.

Audette: We never had a “normal” year since I came on board [in early 2020], so we’re just now getting a sense of what a normal year would be like and we’re adjusting to that every day. Like most breweries, we were packaging everything and focused more on to-go options, and we’re now refocusing on in-house taproom experiences and customer relationships.

Klingel: Unfortunately, we had a cooling system crash out during the shutdown. Obviously, with the restaurant closed frequently and shortened operating hours, our production volume was diminished. So, it really was the best time for the worst thing to happen to temperature control. It halted any production for a few weeks. Since

REVIEW

Harris: Foraging for Forty from Cellarest Beer Co. A Keller Pils with sumac berries, primary-fermented in wood with Hallertau Blanc hops didn’t exactly sound like something I was going to love. I’m usually more of a purist when it comes to lagers, but this beer was out of the box without being messy and overdone. Ever so slightly tart, musty, vaguely fruity, dry, mildly tannic and well carbonated — it was just so superbly drinkable.

Vanhoose: Eurisko’s Cerveza Eurisko Mexican Lager.

Audette: I really like what the DSSOLVR brewers are doing with their tap list. They kind of

then, we’ve gotten back to our pre-pandemic production levels.

What was your favorite new beer that another Asheville brewery made in 2022?

IPA INGENUITY: Clockwise from top left, Oyster House Brewing Co.’s Billy Klingel, Eurisko Beer Co.’s Zac Harris, 12 Bones Brewing’s Brandon Audette and Riverside Rhapsody Beer Co.’s Mike Vanhoose overcame various obstacles in 2022. Photos courtesy of the brewers

spread the love around but they really shine in their lagers, which I believe to be the best in town. I also dig what they’re doing with reviving beer-flavored beer with their West Coast IPAs and classic American pale ales.

Klingel: Not sure if it was 2022, but Ashezilla IPA from Asheville Brewing Co. and Zillicoah Beer Co. Galaxy hops might just be the best-tasting thing ever. Well done, friends!

rethink our layout and seating, leading us to add outdoor seating ahead of our schedule. After reopening our taproom, we chose not to have bar seating, [thereby] greatly increasing our efficiency.

Audette: I think everyone has become a little more business savvy, a little more focused and grown up. The party isn’t over, and we still like to have fun, but the Wild Wild West days of the early Asheville beer scene are clearly over — at least for now. I believe that to be a good thing for everyone’s health and longevity in this crazy industry.

Harris: Consumer demands and, as a result, brewers’ output is slowly leaning further and further away from being dominated by IPA, especially in Asheville. I’m seeing more and more traditional styles being brewed frequently and being done quite well.

Vanhoose: Despite COVID, the craft beverage community seemed to improve with the addition of new breweries and Devil’s Foot [Brewing Co.]’s new facility for craft sodas. We were forced to

Klingel: There has always been a real close-knit, buddy-buddy relationship in our bubble. Everyone has always been willing to help out, whether you were in a pinch for a bag of malt or some hops — or even bigger than that, when your system crashes down and halts everything, you’ve got friends who you can count on to get back up and going. During the last couple of years, that support has really elevated the local brewing community. Thanks, everybody! X

In what ways did the Asheville craft beverage community improve as a whole in 2022?

What’s new in food

Haven’t quite decided how you’ll be ringing in 2023? A trio of events at Grove Arcade, Avenue M and Top of the Monk might help make up your mind.

For the first time since 2019, the Grove Arcade’s Roaring Twentiesthemed New Year’s Eve Celebration has returned to transport attendees back in time while rolling the calendar forward. Tickets costing $75 per person grant entry into the soiree from 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Emerald Empire Band will play traditional big band sets from the 1920s, as flappers and dancers perform.

The building’s 1920s architecture sets the perfect scene for a full-service bar serving classic cocktails, a flashback photo booth and a midnight countdown and Champagne toast featuring a complimentary take-home glass. Guests are encouraged to dress to impress.

“Our expectations for the year were to host more events, and we were very successful,” says Travis LeJune , CEO of Dolo Digital, a marketing agency representing the Grove Arcade. “We’re so excited to see your outfits and to have fun as we look optimistically into the next year! Our goal for 2023 is to continue to grow these events.”

Meanwhile, at Avenue M, chef Andrew McLeod has prepared a five-course New Year’s Eve dinner featuring Kermit Lynch wine pairings hosted by Nick Demos , an advanced sommelier.

“Our dinner begins at 6 p.m. and will provide the perfect base for those staying up until midnight or later,” says Avenue M owner Ralph

Lonow , also a sommelier. “Last spring, we founded the Asheville Wine Society to bring our wine community closer together and raise awareness about wine in our beer-focused city. This led us to the opportunity to highlight Kermit Lynch’s incredible wines with a menu highlighting both France and Italy during this dinner.”

The evening’s menu will include oysters with heirloom tomato, lardo and caviar, sea scallops, smoked celery root, New York strip steak and opera cake. All five courses will be paired with five distinct Kermit Lynch wines selected by Demos.

Lastly, over at Top of the Monk, craft cocktails and Champagne will flow from 10 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Tickets costing $40 per person include entry, a glass of welcome punch, a complimentary midnight toast and light snacks provided throughout the event. The evening’s menu will pay homage to classic New Year’s tipples as well as clever modern twists on established favorites.

Grove Arcade is at 1 Page Ave.; visit avl.mx/c8w for tickets and information. Avenue M is at 791 Merrimon Ave.; the fixed-price menu costs $150 per person (not including tax and gratuity), call 828-350-8181 to reserve your spot; Top of the Monk is at 92 Patton Ave.; visit avl.mx/c8x for tickets and information.

Doggy Christmas sweater contest

Stop Having Kids – Asheville will host its first benefit event

Wednesday, Dec. 21, at 6 p.m. Taking place at The Odd, the gathering will support Friendly Fields Farm Sanctuary.

Stop Having Kids – Asheville is a local chapter of a larger national movement that advocates for focusing time, energy and resources that would have otherwise been allocated toward supporting new life into caring for and improving the lives of existing individuals and places.

Guests are encouraged to bring their furry companions to the event and enter them into a doggy Christmas sweater contest. First-, second- and third-place winners will receive prize bags filled with Stop Having Kids merchandise, homemade dog cookies made by The Odd and various other dog treats. The first-prize winner will also receive a gift card to The Trashy Vegan. The Odd will feature signature drink specials, discounted whiskey/PBR combinations and opportunities to take photos with Santa.

“This is our first benefit event, and we would like to introduce people to the movement while having fun and giving back to the community,” says Stop Having Kids – Asheville ambassador Ariel Ash .

“Our mission as the Asheville chapter of Stop Having Kids is multifaceted: First, we aim to provide a safe space for like-minded anti-natalists and child-free individuals to feel welcomed. We also aim to serve our community by giving back to the animals and humans that are already here, rather than focusing on making new ones.”

The Odd is at 1045 Haywood Road. All proceeds generated from a $10 suggested donation will benefit Friendly Fields Farm Sanctuary. There is no additional charge to enter your dog into the contest. Visit avl.mx/c90 for additional information.

Taste of Chile

Open Oven Cafe invites guests along on a culinary journey through

ROARING TWENTIES: The Grove Arcade hosts its first 1920s New Year’s Eve celebration since 2019. Photo courtesy the Grove Arcade

the flavors of Chile with a themed five-course dinner on Friday, Dec. 23, at 6:30 p.m.

Focusing specifically on the seafood made famous by Chile’s large coastline, chef Jamie Myers will draw from his many years of experience and appreciation for Chilean cuisine to provide a one-ofa-kind meal.

“I found it fitting to do a seafood dinner the Friday before Christmas,” says Myers. “I have always loved the blend of fresh bountiful ingredients used in Chilean cuisine; the mix of spice and bright colors have called to me from a young age.”

The evening menu includes corvina ceviche, smoked chili and roasted tomato blue mussels, monkfish stew, white sea bass and a tres leches cake dessert. “I hope to inspire people in the flavorful journey that is Chile and that people can take away a new interest in cultural foods and broaden their personal palate,” says Myers.

Open Oven Cafe is at 102 Church St., Black Mountain. Tickets are $99 per person, with a $30 wine and cocktail pairing package available as an add-on. For more information, visit avl.mx/c8v.

Christmas Eve potluck and caroling

Tucked away in the River Arts District, the Asheville Guitar Bar provides a space for local bands and singer-songwriters to play, network and share community. On Saturday, Dec. 24, from 5-9 p.m., the venue welcomes all for a free Christmas Eve potluck and caroling event for the holidays.

An annual tradition before the pandemic, this potluck and caroling event invites guests to bring their favorite holiday dishes and join one another in the revelry of the season. Singing is not required, but don’t be surprised if you find yourself joining in and following the lead of local musicians Greg Candle and Sarah Weiss as they head the evening’s caroling.

Asheville Guitar Bar is at 122 Riverside Drive, Suite D. Bringing a potluck dish is encouraged but not required. Visit avl.mx/bra for additional information

Wicked Weed celebrates 10 years

Wicked Weed Brewing will hold a special anniversary party to mark its

10th year in business on Wednesday, Dec. 28, from 6 p.m.-midnight, at the brewery’s downtown brewpub location. Unique draft and rare bottle selections featuring some of Wicked Weed’s most notable beers from the past decade are planned to be rolled out for the occasion.

DJ Marley Carroll and DJ Lil Meow Meow are on deck to provide the tunes for the evening’s celebrations.

The Wicked Weed Brewpub is at 91 Biltmore Ave. Visit avl.mx/c91 for additional information.

Barn Door Ciderworks embraces tradition

Barn Door Ciderworks rings in the new year with a special menu paying homage to Southern tradition on Sunday, Jan. 1, from noon-6 p.m. A traditional meal of collard greens, black-eyed peas and cornbread will be served all day alongside small-batch cider, beer and wine.

Some believe the meal promotes a prosperous year with collard greens representing paper money, black-eyed peas representing coins and cornbread representing gold.

“We are strong on traditions as is evident in our approach to cider making,” says co-owner Katie Moore . “We’re delighted to have a fun way to share another delicious tradition by offering a New Year’s Day meal to our guests.”

Barn Door Ciderowrks is at 23 Lytle Road. Visit avl.mx/9ni for additional information.

Taco Boy

meets Asheville

On Dec. 20, Taco Boy, the Mexican-inspired restaurant originally from Folly Beach, S.C., opened its fourth location and its first in North Carolina.

Located at 521 Haywood Road in the former Zia Taqueria space, Taco Boy serves up its signature tacos along with rice and beans, chipotle slaw, Mexican street corn, guacamole, margaritas, Latininfused craft cocktails and a brunch menu available on weekends.

Visit avl.mx/byw for additional information.

Around Town

Spend your New Year’s Eve shaken, not stirred.

The Asheville Symphony will present New Year’s Eve with 007 on Saturday, Dec. 31, at 8 p.m., in the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium at Harrah’s Cherokee Center –Asheville. The symphony and two guest vocalists will perform iconic James Bond theme songs from the likes of Paul McCartney, Madonna and Billie Eilish

“The James Bond vibe of tuxedos, martinis, luxury cars and eccentric gadgets seems a perfect marriage for the glitz and glam of New Year’s celebrations,” says Daniel Crupi , executive director of the symphony.

The Bond concert is the latest in a string of New Year’s Eve performances by the symphony. Past shows have featured the music of Beethoven, the Beatles, Cirque du Soleil and Motown.

New Year’s Eve with 007 will showcase guest vocalists Mikki Sodergren and Jonathan Christopher Darko Butorac, the symphony’s music director, will be the conductor.

Sodergren, executive and artistic director of the American Traditions Vocal Collection, will sing “Goldfinger,” “Diamonds

MOVIE REVIEWS

Local reviewers’ critiques of new films include:

BABYLON: Writer/director Damien Chazelle (La La Land) blends Singin’ in the Rain with Boogie Nights in this wild, energetic ode to old Hollywood.

Grade: B-plus — Edwin Arnaudin

AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER: Like its predecessor, James Cameron’s return to Pandora isn’t a movie — it’s a technology showcase. Grade: D-plus — Edwin Arnaudin

Are Forever,” “No Time to Die,” “Skyfall” and other Bond songs.

“She is a stunning vocalist who has the uncanny ability to span multiple styles with incredible range,” Butorac says.

Baritone Christopher, who toured nationally with Hamilton , has a four-octave range and will be featured in such songs as “Live and Let Die” and “From Russia with Love,” Butorac says.

“It is challenging, powerful and very well-orchestrated music that is perfectly suited for the symphony,” Crupi says.

The Harrah’s Cherokee Center –Asheville is at 87 Haywood St. Tickets are $32-$82. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit avl.mx/c8y.

Atomic Age Christmas

If you’re still yearning for a little Christmas magic after Dec. 25, the Transylvania Heritage Museum may be just the place for you.

The popular annual Aluminum Tree and Ornament Museum will remain on display in three rooms at the Brevard museum through Saturday, Jan. 14.

Visitors will find 24 kitschy aluminum Christmas trees and hundreds of ornaments dating from the 1950s-’70s. Such artificial trees peaked in popularity nationally in the early 1960s and were even called out as a symbol of crass commercialization in “A Charlie Brown Christmas” in 1965.

In recent decades, the trees have come to be seen as campy remnants of midcentury America.

“We hope visitors have a laugh, a memory, a happy feeling,” says museum director Rebecca Suddeth “In today’s world, bringing a little fun and levity into people’s lives is a worthwhile endeavor.”

Brevard’s tradition of aluminum trees and vintage ornaments started in the 1990s, when home designer Steven Jackson began displaying his collection at various downtown businesses. The Transylvania Heritage Museum first exhibited the trees in 2009 and became the permanent home for ATOM in 2013.

“Once [Jackson] stopped displaying the trees, we approached him to see if we could pick up where he’d left off,” Suddeth explains. “He

agreed to sell us 35 trees, and we went from there.”

ATOM is the Transylvania Heritage Museum’s most popular event each year, Suddeth continues. “We have new people as well as repeat visitors each year. Local people bring visiting family and friends to see it, and tour groups put it on their holiday trips. Everyone loves the exhibit.”

The exhibit is free, but donations are encouraged. For exhibit hours and additional information, go to avl.mx/c8z.

Wolfe award goes to Martin

The Western North Carolina Historical Association named Brent Martin’s George Masa’s Wild Vision: A Japanese Immigrant Imagines Western North Carolina as the 67th winner of the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award.

Martin was one of five finalists for the award, which has been presented annually by the association since 1955 for printed works that focus special attention on Western North Carolina.

“Martin brings together Masa’s arresting images and his own reflections on walking in Masa’s footsteps to tell one of our region’s important stories in an innovative way,” Catherine Frank , chair of the selection committee, says in a press release. “Masa played a pivotal role in the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

and the Appalachian Trail through photographs that allowed viewers to experience places they would never visit.”

Martin, a poet and environmental organizer based in the Cowee community in Macon County, will receive $2,500.

Call for artists

Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center is seeking artists to participate in the 2023 {Re} HAPPENING on Saturday, March 25, at Camp Rockmont in Black Mountain, the former Lake Eden campus of Black Mountain College.

“Artists are encouraged to take risks and demonstrate elements of process, experimentation, collaboration and audience participation,” the museum says in a press release.

The letter of intent deadline is Monday, Jan. 9. Artists should email letters to info@blackmountaincollege.org . Notifications will be sent by Wednesday, Jan. 25. For more information, go to avl.mx/c94.

Christmas casting

The Casting Office Inc. is looking for background performers for an upcoming made-for-TV Christmas movie filming in the Asheville area starting Monday, Jan. 9.

The company is looking for people of all ages and ethnicities.

For more information or to apply, go to avl.mx/c95.

DOUBLE AGENTS: Singers Mikki Sodergren and Jonathan Christopher will join the Asheville Symphony on New Year’s Eve for a concert of songs from James Bond movies. Photos courtesy of the Asheville Symphony

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21

12 BONES BREWERY

Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm

ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY

Beauty Parlor Comedy: Stephen Taylor, 7pm

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR

Classical Guitar Christmas Special, 7:30pm

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

BIER GARDEN Geeks Who Drink: Trivia, 7pm

BOLD ROCK MILLS RIVER

Trivia Night, 6pm

CAMDEN'S COFFEE HOUSE

Open Mic Night, 7pm

CORK & KEG K.C. Jones and Daniel Coolik: A Very Melancholy Christmas, 8pm

GRATEFUL ORGANIC DINER Open Mic, 6pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Well-Crafted Wednesdays w/Matt Smith (Americana, singer-songwriter), 6pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. French Broad Valley Mountain Music Jam Session, 6pm

OLE SHAKEY'S Sexy Tunes w/DJ Ek Balam & DJ Franco Nino, 10pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Latin Night Wednesdays w/DJ Mtn Vibez, 8pm

RENDEVOUS Albi (vintage jazz), 6pm

RIVERSIDE RHAPSODY BEER CO. Open Acoustic Jam, 5:30pm

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

SOVEREIGN KAVA

Poetry Open Mic w/ Host Caleb Beissert, 8pm

SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Witty Wednesday Trivia, 6:30pm

THE BARRELHOUSE Open Mic Hosted by Kid Billy, 8pm

THE BRANDY BAR The Songwriter Series, 7pm

THE FOUNDRY HOTEL

Andrew Finn Magill (acoustic), 7pm

THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR

Asheville FM Live Music Sessions, 9pm

THE GREY EAGLE Jump, Little Children (rock), 8pm

THE SOCIAL Wednesday Night Karaoke w/LYRIC, 9pm

TWIN LEAF BREWERY Wednesday Open Mic, 5:30pm

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22

185 KING STREET

Kendall Street Co. (jam, alt rock), 8pm

ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY

Kiki Thursdays Drag and Dancing, 9pm

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR

Blue Ridge Jazzway Christmas Special, 7:30pm

BOLD ROCK ASHEVILLE Trivia Night, 7pm

BOTTLE RIOT Alt Thursday w/ Selector B (90s throwbacks), 7pm

CAMDEN'S COFFEE HOUSE Open Mic Night, 7pm

DIFFERENT WRLD Jolly Holly-Gay Trivia w/DJ Ranchwrap, 7pm

DOUBLE CROWN

Gospel Night w/The Legendary Singing Stars, 9pm

FLEETWOOD'S Search and Destroy Punk Karaoke, 8pm

FRENCH BROAD

RIVER BREWERY

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

FROG LEVEL BREWERY

Kind, Clean Gentlemen (rock), 5:30pm

GIGI'S UNDERGROUND Mr Jimmy (blues), 10pm

CURTAIN CALL: ShadowGrass, a bluegrass band with members from Southwest Virginia and Western North Carolina, will play the final show at Isis Music Hall on Friday, Dec. 30, at 8:30 p.m. The music venue and restaurant, which recently marked its 10-year anniversary, will close its doors after the show. Photo courtesy of Isis Music Hall

GINGER'S REVENGE

SOUTH SLOPE

LOUNGE

Christmas Disco Party w/DJ Kevin "Corndog" O'Brien, 6pm

GREEN MAN BREWERY

Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm

ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Making Spirits Bright Holiday Jazz & Blues, 8:30pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Bluegrass Jam hosted by Drew Matulich, 7:30pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.

Henderson County Rangers Christmas Show Can Drive, 7pm

OLE SHAKEY'S Karaoke w/DJ Franco Niño, 10pm

ONE WORLD BREWING

Jason Hazinski (sax & improv), 7pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS

Cal Folger Day, Mike Martinez (experiemental), 9pm

THE BARRELHOUSE Trivia w/Po' Folk, 8pm

THE FOUNDRY HOTEL

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

THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR

Karaoke w/Terraoke, 9pm

THE GREY EAGLE Datrian Johnson & Friends: A Soulful Christmas, 7pm

THE GROCERY Gin Mill Pickers (Americana, Piedmont blues, ragtime), 6:30pm

THE ODD Graveyard Shift Unholy Night: A Darkwave Gothic Dance Party, 8pm

THE POE HOUSE Mr Jimmy (blues), 6pm

TWIN LEAF BREWERY Thursday Night Karaoke, 8:30pm

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23

185 KING STREET A Christiana Christmas ft Joey Recchio & Ashley Sutton, 8pm

ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB

Latin Nite Salsa Dancing w/DJ Mountain Vibez, 9pm

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR

Mr Jimmy's Christmas Blues Special, 7:30pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Dieselboy & Dark Adaptation w/ Lieutenant Ried (edm), 9pm

BLUE GHOST BREWING CO.

Jed Flanders (funk), 6pm

BOLD ROCK ASHEVILLE Holiday Party, 6pm

BOLD ROCK MILLS RIVER

Holiday Party w/Nick Mac & The Noise (blues rock), 5pm

CEDAR MOUNTAIN CANTEEN Jazz w/Jason DeCristofaro, 2pm

CORK & KEG Zydeco Ya Ya (Cajun), 8pm

DIFFERENT WRLD Nightmare Before Xmas Dance Party w/ Santa, 10pm

FLEETWOOD'S Holiday Karaoke Spectacular, 8pm

GIGI'S

UNDERGROUND

• AVL Underground Comedy: Mara Wiles & Kevin O'Brien, 7pm

• Don't Tell Comedy Downtown Asheville, 10pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

• Moon Water Xmas Show (Americana, roots), 1pm

• Pimps of Pompe (jazzed-up pop & hip-hop), 7pm

HIGHLAND DOWNTOWN TAPROOM

• 2 to Toot (trumpet duo), 3pm

• Up Jumped Three (jazz), 7pm

ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743

• Amy Steinberg Holiday Show (singer-songwriter, storyteller, blues-infused pop), 7pm

• A Jazz Piano Christmas w/Bill Bares Trio, 8:30pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Dirty Dead Solstice Jam IV (Grateful Dead, jam band, rock), 9pm

MAD CO. BREW HOUSE Seth & Sara (Americana), 6pm

MEADOWLARK MOTEL Friday Night Karaoke, 7pm

MILLS RIVER BREWING

Circus Mutt (rock, bluegrass), 7pm

NEW BELGIUM BREWING CO.

Jason Krekel & Friends (roots, rock, jazz), 5:30pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.

Pleasantly Wild (indie/ alt, surf rock), 8pm

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Uncle Lenny's Funky Christmas, 10pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

• Chase Away the Blues Holiday Dance Party w/Peggy Ratusz & The Cool Yule, 6pm

• Kevin Spears Tribaltronics Trio (world, Southern funk, dance), 9:15pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA Lo Wolf & Friends (singer-songwriter), 8pm

THE BARRELHOUSE

The Dubber w/Riyen Roots & Catoe White (blues), 8pm

THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR

Hail Santa Holiday Drag Show, 9pm

WXYZ BAR AT ALOFT

Susie Copeland (rock, pop, blues), 7pm

WRONG WAY CAMPGROUND Fireside Fridays, 5:30pm

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24

305 LOUNGE & EATERY

Old Men of the Woods (folk, pop), 1pm

ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY

A Very Cody Christmas (comedy), 7pm

ASHEVILLE CLUB Mr Jimmy (blues), 3pm

ASHEVILLE GUITAR

BAR

Christmas Eve Potluck & Caroling, 5pm, see p37

BATTERY PARK BOOK EXCHANGE

Dinah's Daydream (Gypsy jazz), 5:30pm

BOLD ROCK ASHEVILLE Bluegrass Brunch, 10am

BOTANIST & BARREL TASTING BAR + BOTTLE SHOP Fancy Marie Christmas Honky Tonk, 2pm

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25

BIG PILLOW BREWING

Christmas Day Two Year Anniversary w/ Kevin Reese (guitarist), 4pm

MONDAY, DECEMBER 26

27 CLUB

Monday Night

Karaoke hosted by Ganymede, 9:30pm

DADDY MAC'S

DOWN HOME DIVE DJ Bingo, 7pm

GREEN MAN BREWERY Old Time Jam, 5:30pm

HAYWOOD COUNTRY CLUB

Taylor Martin's Open Mic, 6:30pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

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

LITTLE JUMBO The Core (jazz), 7pm

NOBLE CIDER DOWNTOWN Freshen Up Comedy Open Mic, 6:30pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Open MIc Night: It Takes All Kinds, 7pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Mashup Mondays (funk, soul, jazz), 8pm

SILVERADOS Bluegrass Jam Mondays w/Sam Wharton, 7pm

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR Mr Jimmy and Friends (blues), 7pm

THE SOCIAL Line Dance Mondays w/DJ Razor, 9pm

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27

5 WALNUT WINE BAR The John Henrys (jazz, swing), 8pm

ARCHETYPE BREWING Trivia Tuesdays, 6:30pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Tuesday Night Funk Jam, 10:30pm

BOLD ROCK MILLS RIVER CIDER Bingo, 6pm

BOTTLE RIOT Turntable Tuesday w/ DJ Lil Meow Meow, 7pm

OLE SHAKEY'S Booty Tuesday: Queer Dance Party, 10pm

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Early Tuesday Jam (funk), 8pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Grateful Family Band Tuesdays (JGB, Dead tribute, rock, jam), 6pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA Weekly Open Jam hosted by Chris Cooper & Friends, 8pm

THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Open Mic Night hosted by Jehd, 7pm

THE GREY EAGLE Modelface Comedy presents Michael Palascak, 7pm

THE SOCIAL Travers Freeway Open Jam Tuesdays, 7pm

TWIN LEAF BREWERY Tuesday Night Trivia, 7pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Open Mic Night, 7pm

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR

Gentlemen Callers (blues, soul, R&B), 7:30pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Disclaimer Stand-Up Lounge Comedy Open Mic, 8pm

BIER GARDEN Geeks Who Drink: Trivia, 7pm

BOLD ROCK ASHEVILLE Survey Says: Hosted by Mindless Minutia, 7pm

BOLD ROCK MILLS RIVER Trivia Night, 6pm CAMDEN'S COFFEE HOUSE Open Mic Night, 7pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Well-Crafted Wednesdays w/Matt Smith (Americana, singer-songwriter), 6pm

ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743

Marisa Blake presents La Mezcla (Latin, blues, funk, soul), 8:30pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.

Jim Lauderdale and the JAM Kids of Henderson County, 7pm

OLE SHAKEY'S Sexy Tunes w/DJ Ek Balam & DJ Franco Nino, 10pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

Latin Night Wednesdays w/DJ Mtn Vibez, 8pm

PULP

The Blackout Diaries Comedy Show, 8pm

RENDEVOUS Albi (vintage jazz), 6pm

RIVERSIDE RHAPSODY BEER CO.

Open Acoustic Jam, 5:30pm

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

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

SWEETEN CREEK BREWING

Witty Wednesday Trivia, 6:30pm

THE BARRELHOUSE Open Mic Hosted by Kid Billy, 8pm

THE FOUNDRY HOTEL

Andrew Finn Magill (acoustic), 7pm

THE ODD Reppertons, Accidents Club, CodaPen (punk), 7pm

THE SOCIAL Wednesday Night Karaoke w/LYRIC, 9pm

TWIN LEAF BREWERY Wednesday Open Mic, 5:30pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Traditional Irish Music Session, 7pm WICKED WEED BREWING Ten Year Anniversary w/DJ Marley Carroll & DJ Lil Meow Meow, 6pm, see p37

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29

185 KING STREET Josh & Mallory Carter w/Madeline Dierauf (traditional), 7pm

27 CLUB Night Rivals w/ Bruschetta Delorean (pop), 10pm

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR MGB (covers, singer-songwriter), 7:30pm

BOLD ROCK ASHEVILLE Trivia Night, 7pm

BOTTLE RIOT Alt Thursday w/ Selector B (90s throwbacks), 7pm

CAMDEN'S COFFEE HOUSE Open Mic Night, 7pm

FLEETWOOD'S Karaoke Dance Party, 8pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY Jerry's Dead (Grateful Dead & JGB Tribute), 6pm

GIGI'S UNDERGROUND Mr Jimmy (blues), 10pm

ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743

• Mean Mary w/Frank James (Americana, bluegrass, roots), 7pm • Queen Bee and the Honeylovers (holiday, swing, jazz), 8:30pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Bluegrass Jam hosted by Drew Matulich, 7:30pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.

Kid Billy & Friends (Americana, roots), 7pm

OLE SHAKEY'S Karaoke w/DJ Franco Niño, 10pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA Stand Up Comedy for Your Health, 8pm

THE BARRELHOUSE Trivia w/Po' Folk, 8pm

THE FOUNDRY HOTEL

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

THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Karaoke w/Terraoke, 9pm

THE GREY EAGLE Byrds of a Feather: A Tribute to Gene Clark and Gram Parsons, 8pm

THE ODD The Welcoming, True Lilith & Shutterings (metal, alt rock, math rock), 7pm

THE ORANGE PEEL 80s vs 90s Dance Party: Winter Ball, 9pm

THE POE HOUSE Mr Jimmy (blues), 6pm

TWIN LEAF BREWERY Thursday Night Karaoke, 8:30pm

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30

185 KING STREET

Wonky Tonk Squalor (bluegrass, country, Western swing), 8pm

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR

Mr Jimmy (blues), 7:30pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Empire Strikes Brass w/Hustle Souls (funk), 10pm

BOLD ROCK MILLS RIVER

Bold Rock'N Into the New Year w/ Billingsley, 6pm

BOTANIST & BARREL

TASTING BAR + BOTTLE SHOP

The Blushin' Roulettes (modern old-time), 5:30pm

CEDAR MOUNTAIN CANTEEN

Jazz w/Jason DeCristofaro, 2pm

CORK & KEG

The Uptown Hillbillies (honky tonk), 8pm

FLEETWOOD'S Eve of the Eve w/Cam Girl, Trash Police, Bad Sleepers (punk), 9pm

GIGI'S

UNDERGROUND

• AVL Underground Comedy: Mandal, 7pm

• Where Ya From? A crowd work show w/ Cody Hughes, 10pm

GREEN MAN BREWERY

Kate Thomas w/ Dirty French Broads (Americana), 7:30pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO. LazrLuvr (80s), 7pm

HIGHLAND DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Jukebox Jumpers (blues, soul), 7pm

ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Bluegrass w/ShadowGrass, 8:30pm

MEADOWLARK MOTEL

Friday Night Karaoke, 7pm

NEW BELGIUM BREWING CO. Jason Krekel & Friends (roots, rock, jazz), 5:30pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Abbey Elmore (pop, rock), 8pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Sayln Roots Reggae, 8pm

SALVAGE STATION

Leftover Salmon w/ Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley (jamgrass, Americana), 6pm

SILVERADOS

Ricky Gunter Band (country), 9pm

CLUBLAND

SOVEREIGN KAVA

End of Year EDM

Party ft Stiletto & Krusher, 9pm

STORY PARLOR

A Holiday Roast w/ Morgan Bost & Cameron Davis, 7pm

THE BARRELHOUSE Krave Amiko (indie, electronic, folk), 8pm

THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR

Ho Down Honky Tonk Drag Show w/Nova Jynah, 10pm

THE GREY EAGLE Love Bubble meets The Beatles, 8pm

THE ORANGE PEEL Papadosio (jam band), 8pm

WXYZ BAR AT ALOFT Jay Dipaola (Americana), 7pm

WRONG WAY CAMPGROUND Fireside Fridays, 5:30pm

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31

185 KING STREET

NYE w/Jeff Sipe's

Electric Buddha (psychedelic funk rock), 8pm

27 CLUB

New Year's: 1980s Costume Party & Contest, 6pm

305 LOUNGE & EATERY

Old Men of the Woods (folk, pop), 1pm

ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY

NYE Shimmer Extravaganza w/Ganymede, 9pm

ASHEVILLE CLUB Mr Jimmy (blues), 10pm

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR

New Year's Eve Potluck & Celebration, 5pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band w/April B and The Cool (funk, R&B, soul), 4pm

BATTERY PARK BOOK EXCHANGE Dinah's Daydream (Gypsy jazz), 5:30pm

BIG PILLOW BREWING

Dirty Dead New Year's Eve Party (Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia, rock), 9pm

BOLD ROCK ASHEVILLE

• Bluegrass Brunch, 10am

• Iggy Radio (rock, metal, blues), 7pm

BOTTLE RIOT NYE Disco Ball, 7pm

DIFFERENT WRLD

New Year's Eve w/DJ Ohhhnohoney & DJ Lil Meow Meow, 9pm

DRY FALLS BREWING CO.

Awake in the Dream (classic rock), 7pm FLEETWOOD'S NYE Disco Ball 2023, 8pm

GIGI'S UNDERGROUND

• NYE Comedy w/ Caleb Synan (Early Show), 7pm

• NYE Comedy w/ Caleb Synan (Late Show), 10pm

GUIDON BREWING

New Year's Eve Dance Party, 7pm

HI-WIRE BREWING Dancing Through the Decades NYE Prom, 8pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

• Nobody’s Darling String Band, 4pm

• New Year's Eve Party w/Jared Petteys & The Headliners (rockabilly), 9pm

MAD CO. BREW HOUSE 80's New Years Eve w/DJ Roy, 9pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. LazrLuvr (80s), 8pm

ONE WORLD BREWING NYE w/DJ Mtn Vibez, 9pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST NYE Party Like It's 1999 All Star 90s Tribute, 9pm

SALVAGE STATION Leftover Salmon w/ Jon Stickley Trio (jamgrass, gypsy jazz, punkgrass), 6pm

SILVERADOS NYE Bash w/Contagious (rock), 7pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA New Year's Eve Party w/Lactones, Lo Wolf & Paul Stiletto, 8pm

THE GREY EAGLE The Dolly Disco: Country Western Dance Party, 8:30pm

THE ODD New Year's Eve Massacre (metal and drag), 7pm

THE ORANGE PEEL Papadosio (jam band), 8pm

TOP OF THE MONK NYE Party, 10pm, see p36

URBAN ORCHARD CIDER CO. SOUTH SLOPE NYE w/DJ Cousin TL (hip-hop, soul, R&B), 7pm

WXYZ BAR AT ALOFT DJ Molli Party, 7pm

SUNDAY, JANUARY 1

ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY

The Future is Drag Brunch, noon

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

• Bluegrass Brunch, noon

• Traditional Irish Jam, 4pm

SILVERADOS Karaoke Sunday Nights w/Lyric, 9pm

PL Ē B URBAN WINERY Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 4pm

MONDAY, JANUARY 2

27 CLUB Monday Night Karaoke hosted by Ganymede, 9:30pm

DSSOLVR Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm

DADDY MAC'S DOWN HOME DIVE DJ Bingo, 7pm

GREEN MAN BREWERY

Old Time Jam, 5:30pm

HAYWOOD COUNTRY CLUB Taylor Martin's Open Mic, 6:30pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

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

NOBLE CIDER & MEAD DOWNTOWN Freshen Up Comedy Showcase, 6:30pm

SILVERADOS Bluegrass Jam Mondays w/Sam Wharton, 7pm

THE GREY EAGLE Wyatt Moran, Well Kept, Convalescent, Mary's Letter (indie rock, pop punk, emo), 8pm

THE JOINT NEXT

DOOR

Mr Jimmy and Friends (blues), 7pm

TUESDAY, JANUARY 3

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Tuesday Night Funk Jam, 10:30pm

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

HIGHLAND BREWING CO. JackTown Ramblers (bluegrass), 6pm

OLE SHAKEY'S Booty Tuesday: Queer Dance Party, 10pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA Weekly Open Jam hosted by Chris Cooper & Friends, 8pm

TWIN LEAF BREWERY Tuesday Night Trivia, 7pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Open Mic Night, 7pm

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4

12 BONES BREWERY

Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm

BIER GARDEN Geeks Who Drink: Trivia, 7pm

CAMDEN'S COFFEE HOUSE

Open Mic Night, 7pm

OLE SHAKEY'S Sexy Tunes w/DJ Ek Balam & DJ Franco Nino, 10pm

RENDEVOUS Albi (vintage jazz), 6pm

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

TWIN LEAF BREWERY Wednesday Open Mic, 5:30pm

THURSDAY, JANUARY 5

BOTTLE RIOT Alt Thursday w/ Selector B (90s throwbacks), 7pm CAMDEN'S COFFEE HOUSE Open Mic Night, 7pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY Jerry's Dead (Grateful Dead & JGB Tribute), 6pm

GREEN MAN BREWERY

Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Bluegrass Jam hosted by Drew Matulich, 7:30pm

OLE SHAKEY'S Karaoke w/DJ Franco Niño, 10pm

SHAKEDOWN LOUNGE Poetry Open Mic Hendo, 7:30pm

TWIN LEAF BREWERY Thursday Night Karaoke, 8:30pm

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Aries author Eric G. Wilson has written a book that I might typically recommend to 40% of the Aries tribe. But in 2023, I will raise that to 80% of you. The title is How to Be Weird: An Off-Kilter Guide to Living a One-of-a-Kind Life. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, it will make sense for you to stop making sense on a semi-regular basis. Cheerfully rebelling against the status quo should be one of your most rewarding hobbies. The best way to educate and entertain yourself will be to ask yourself, “What is the most original and imaginative thing I can do right now?

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): One of your potential superpowers is cultivating links between the spiritual and physical worlds. If you develop this talent, you illuminate the ways that eternity permeates the everyday routine. You weave together the sacred and the mundane so they synergize each other. You understand how practical matters may be infused with archetypal energies and epic themes. I hope you will be doing a lot of this playful work in 2023, Taurus. Many of us non-bulls would love you to teach us more about these mysteries.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Here are fun and useful projects for you to cultivate in 2023: 1. Initiate interesting trends. Don’t follow mediocre trends. 2. Exert buoyant leadership in the groups you are part of. 3. Practice the art of enhancing your concentration by relaxing. 4. Every Sunday at noon, renew your vow to not deceive or lie to yourself during the coming week. 5. Make it your goal to be a fabulous communicator, not just an average one. 6. Cultivate your ability to discern what people are hiding or pretending about.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): In 2023, I hope you will refine and deepen your relationship with your gut instinct. I will be ecstatic if you learn more about the differences between your lucid intuition and the worry mongering that your pesky demons rustle up. If you attend to these matters — and life will conspire to help you if you do — your rhythm will become dramatically more secure and stable. Your guidance system will serve you better than it ever has. A caveat: Seeking perfection in honing these skills is not necessary. Just do the best you can.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Psychiatrist and author Irvin Yalom wrote, ”The question of meaning in life is, as the Buddha thought, not edifying. One must immerse oneself into the river of life and let the question drift away.“ But Holocaust survivor and philosopher Viktor Frankl had a radically different view. He said that a sense of meaning is the single most important thing. That’s what sustains and nourishes us through the years: the feeling that our life has a meaning and that any particular experience has a meaning. I share Frankl’s perspective, and I advise you to adopt his approach throughout 2023. You will have unprecedented opportunities to see and know the overarching plan of your destiny, which has been only partially visible to you in the past. You will be regularly blessed with insights about your purpose here on earth.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): As a young woman, Virgo-born Ingeborg Rapoport (1912–2017) studied medicine at the University of Hamburg in Germany. But in 1938, the Nazis refused to let her defend her Ph.D. thesis and get her medical degree because of her Jewish ancestry. Seventy-seven years later, she was finally given a chance to finish what she had started. Success! The dean of the school said, ”She was absolutely brilliant. Her specific knowledge about the latest developments in medicine was unbelievable.“ I expect comparable developments for you in 2023, Virgo. You will receive defining opportunities or invitations that have not been possible before. Postponed breakthroughs and resolutions will become achievable.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Of the 2,200+ humans quoted in a 21st-century edition of Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations, 164 are women — a mere seven percent! At least that’s more than the four females represented in 1855’s first edition. Let’s take this atrocious injustice as our provocation for your horoscope. In accordance with astrological omens, one of your assignments in 2023 will be to make personal efforts to equalize power among the genders. Your well-being will thrive as you work to create a misogyny-free future. Here are possible actions: If you’re a woman or nonbinary person, be extra bold and brave as you say what you genuinely think and feel and mean. If you’re a man, foster your skills at listening to women and nonbinary people. Give them abundant space and welcome to speak their truths. It will be in your ultimate interest to do so!

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): To prepare you for 2023, I’m offering you wisdom from mythologist Michael Meade. Of all the signs in the zodiac, you Scorpios will be most likely to extract riches from it. Meade writes: ”Becoming a genuine individual requires learning the oppositions within oneself. Those who fail or refuse to face the oppositions within have no choice but to find enemies to project upon. ’Enemy’ simply means ’not-friend’; unless a person deals with the not-friend within, they require enemies around them.“

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): ”I will always be as difficult as necessary to achieve the best,“ declared Sagittarian opera singer Maria Callas (1923–1977). Many critics say she was indeed one of the 20th century’s best. The consensus is that she was also a temperamental prima donna. Impresario Rudolf Bing said she was a trial to work with ”because she was so much more intelligent. Other artists, you could get around. But Callas you could not get around. She knew exactly what she wanted and why she wanted it.“ In accordance with astrological omens, Sagittarius, I authorize you, in your quest for success in 2023, to be as ”difficult“ as Callas was, in the sense of knowing exactly what you want. But please — so as to not undermine your success — don’t lapse into diva-like behavior.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): To inspire your self-inquiry in 2023, I have chosen a passage from Herman Hesse’s fairy tale, ”A Dream Sequence.“ It will provide guidance as you dive further than ever before into the precious mysteries in your inner depths. Hesse addressed his ”good ardent darkness, the warm cradle of the soul and lost homeland.“ He asked them to open up for him. He wanted them to be fully available to his conscious mind. Hesse said this to his soul: ”Just feel your way, soul, just wander about, burrow into the full bath of innocent twilight drives!"

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Cardiovascular surgeon Michael DeBakey lived till age 99. He almost died at 97, but was able to capitalize on an invention that he himself had created years before: a polymer resin that could repair or replace aging blood vessels. Surgeons used his technology to return him to health. I am predicting that in 2023, you, too, will derive a number of benefits from your actions in the past. Things you made, projects you nurtured and ideas you initiated will prove valuable to you as you encounter the challenges and opportunities of the future.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): I decided to divine the state of your financial karma. To begin, I swirled a $10 bill through the flame rising from a green candle. Then I sought cosmic auguries in the burn patterns on the bill. The oracle provided bad news and good news. The bad news is that you live on a planet where one-fifth of the population owns much more than four-fifths of the wealth. The good news is that in 2023, you will be in decent shape to move closer to the elite one-fifth. Amazingly, the oracle also suggests that your ability to get richer quicker will increase in direct proportion to your integrity and generosity.

MARKETPLACE

Want to advertise in Marketplace? 828-251-1333 advertise@mountainx.com • mountainx.com/classifieds

REAL ESTATE

HOMES FOR SALE

5 BEDROOM HOUSE FOR SALE Located near downtown, hospitals, schools. Large yard for additional house. Full basement. 5 bed, 2 bath, large front porch. $625,000. Contact Wayne Purcell, broker-owner: 828279-8562

LAND FOR SALE

SERVICES

AUDIO/VIDEO

DISH TV SPECIAL $64.99

For 190 Channels + $14.95

High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 1/21/23. 1-866-566-1815 (AAN CAN)

BUSINESS

BEGIN A NEW CAREER AND EARN YOUR DEGREE AT CTI Attention Active Duty & Military Veterans & Family. Online Computer & Medical training available for Veterans & Families. Computer with internet required. Call 866243-5931. (M-F 8am-6pm ET). AAN CAN.

CREDIT CARD DEBT RELIEF! Reduce payment by up to 50%! Get one LOW affordable payment/ month. Reduce interest. Stop calls. FREE no-obligation consultation Call 1-855-7611456. (AAN CAN)

when counseling for additional insight into yourself, your relationships and life directions. Stellar Counseling Services. Christy Gunther, MA, LCMHC. (828) 2583229

NATURAL ALTERNATIVES

BUNCOMBE CO LAND FOR SALE 15 acres for sale off Standhill Dr in Candler for $515,000. Divided into 6 parcels. Joins Pisgah National Forest for 2000+/- ft. Paved access and underground power. Views, privacy, and convenient to Asheville. Must see opportunity! Email suncrestmulch@gmail.com

TENANT & EMPLOYEE

BACKGROUND CHECKS - $50 Credit, Criminal, and Eviction - King Background Screening has been serving the needs of business owners and the rental industry since 2006. Quick results! Denise Anderson (owner) call/text 941-284-4612

KingScreening@gmail.com See web site for full details and prices.kingbackgroundscreening.com

HOME

BUNCOMBE CO LAND FOR SALE 53 acres off Quartz Mountain Trl in Candler for $795,000. Borders the new Pisgah View State Park. Perfect for family retreat or place rental cabins throughout. Underground power to property. Email suncrestmulch@gmail.com

EMPLOYMENT

JOBS WANTED

PET STYLIST WANTED Shampoodles Salon is in need of a skilled pet stylist. 2 year's experience preferred. Vacation pay and retirement offered. Tues-Fri 8-5, Sat 9-4. Call Richard 828-707-4620

AUDIO/VIDEO/IT TECHNICIAN NEEDED Looking for a trustworthy and presentable technician for Audio/Video and IT work. Full time, PTO, paid holidays, and a great work environment. Some experience required, email info+mtx@wncav.com for more information.

4G LTE HOME INTERNET NOW AVAILABLE! Get GotW3 with lightning fast speeds plus take your service with you when you travel! As low as $109.99/mo.! 1-866571-1325. (AAN CAN)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

BATH & SHOWER UPDATES In as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months!  Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 1-866-370-2939. (AAN CAN)

BATHWRAPS IS LOOKING FOR HOMEOWNERS We update bathtubs with new liners for safe bathing and showering. Specialize in grab bars, non-slip surfaces and shower seats. All updates are completed in one day. Call 866-531-2432. (AAN CAN)

BCI WALK-IN TUBS ARE ON SALE Be one of the first 50 callers and save $1,500! Call 844-514-0123 for a free in-home consultation. (AAN CAN)

DIRECTV SATELLITE TV Service Starting at $74.99/ month! Free Installation! 160+ channels available. Call Now to Get the Most Sports & Entertainment on TV!  877310-2472 (AAN CAN)

DON'T PAY FOR COVERED HOME REPAIRS AGAIN American Residential Warranty covers all major systems and appliances. 30 day risk free - $100 off popular plans. Call 855-731-4403. (AAN CAN)

DONATE YOUR VEHICLE TO FUND THE SEARCH FOR MISSING CHILDREN Fast free pickup. 24 hour response. Running or not. Maximum tax deduction and no emission test required! Call 24/7: 999-999-9999 Call 855-504-1540. (AAN CAN)

LONG DISTANCE MOVING

Call for a free quote from America’s Most Trusted Interstate Movers. Let us take the stress out of moving! Call to speak to our Quality Relocation Specialists: Call 855-787-4471. (AAN CAN)

SPECTRUM INTERNET AS LOW AS $29.99! Call to see if you qualify for ACP and free internet. No Credit Check. Call Now! 833-955-0905 (AAN CAN)

WATER DAMAGE TO YOUR HOME? Call for a quote for professional cleanup & maintain the value of your home! Set an appt. today! Call 833-664-1530 (AAN CAN)

GIFT OF HEALTH - 20% OFF 3 ACU-HEALING APPTS. ($66 VALUE) THRU 1/31/23 Soothe your mind and body, heal from within with Acupuncture, acu-massage, cupping, various hands-on revitalizing healing modalities. Ramsey Higgins, licensed Acupuncture Physician, West Asheville 828-773-2435 by appt. only.

RECOVERY SUPPORT FOR

WOMEN Get FREE! Find true healing and happiness with the support you deserve: bodywork, coaching, and emotional support. Completely confidential, nonjudgmental, and empowering. Over 15 years of experience. medicinemamawellness. com

FOR MUSICIANS

MUSICAL SERVICES

GUITAR REPAIR / RESCUE Somewhat famous luthier with 35 years experience offering comprehensive repair service. Quick turnaround, competitive rates, free evaluation / estimate (in-person only). Convenient Asheville location. Brad Nickerson. 828-252-4093 nickersonguitars.net nickersonguitars@hotmail. com

CASH FOR CARS! We buy all cars! Junk, high-end, totaled – it doesn’t matter! Get free towing and same day cash! NEWER MODELS too! Call 866-535-9689. (AAN CAN)