Mountain Xpress 12.22.21

OUR 28TH YEAR OF WEEKLY INDEPENDENT NEWS, ARTS & EVENTS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA VOL. 28 NO. 21 & 22 DEC. 22, 2021 - JAN 4, 2022

C O NT E NT S

FEATURES

STARTS ON PAGE 6

NEWS

10 WORK IN PROGRESS WNC looks back on employment in 2021

16 LESSONS LEARNED Education has challenging but encouraging year for locals

FEATURE

NEWS

THE END OF 2021

26 Q&A WITH SANTA CLAUS (AKA DENNIS REED) Asheville’s most beloved St. Nick shares his tricks of the trade

As 2021 winds down, residents reflect on the highs and lows of another challenging year.

COVER DESIGN Scott Southwick and Eleanor Annand

3 LETTERS 3 CARTOON: MOLTON 5 CARTOON: BRENT BROWN 6 COMMENTARY

WELLNESS

34 WINE, DINE AND TAKEOUT Asheville chefs and restaurateurs reflect on another unusual year

A&C

30 COPING WITH COVID-19 Community members discuss 2021 health concerns

A&C

8 NEWS 15 SNAPSHOT 22 BUNCOMBE BEAT 28 COMMUNITY CALENDAR

40 AROUND TOWN Asheville Symphony celebrates New Year’s Eve with ‘Queens of Soul’ and other cultural happenings

30 WELLNESS 32 ARTS & CULTURE 42 CLUBLAND 46 FREEWILL ASTROLOGY 46 CLASSIFIEDS 47 NY TIMES CROSSWORD

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

COPYRIGHT 2021

BY MOUNTAIN XPRESS ADVERTISING COPYRIGHT 2021 BY MOUNTAIN XPRESS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

OPINION

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

We must stand together to repair historical wrongs [Regarding “Former Asheville Council Member Sues City, Asheville City Schools Foundation Over Scholarships,” Dec. 8, Xpress]: The lawsuit by Carl Mumpower and three families to block college scholarships for Black students is chilling. As white parents with children attending Asheville City Schools, we have wrestled with the moral imperative that comes from participating in a school system with the worst achievement gap in the state. This lawsuit highlights a critical question facing white parents in Asheville: What is our role to support the success of Black students within an educational system that has failed them?

We as white parents can choose to not hoard resources that advantage our children; listen to the priorities of Black students; support the school administration when policies shift that challenge our comfort but create more equity; and support increased educational opportunities for Black students.

We served on the board of the Asheville City Schools Foundation from 2019-21, when this scholarship was created. It was one of many initiatives to invest in opportunities for Black students.

To prevent our community from continuing to fail our Black youths, white parents should demand that barriers to opportunities for Black youths are removed, and policies are implemented with an intentional focus on racial equity.

Passive approval of anti-racist efforts isn’t going to work against those who are increasingly organized to sue, elect and create fear to protect white supremacy culture and systems. Mr. Mumpower claims this is a “David versus Goliath” moment. We wonder who is the Goliath when undoing the legacy of white supremacy culture that sustains our educational system. Who is the Goliath protecting the status quo when two national conservative groups fund a legal battle for a small scholarship in Western North Carolina? We must stand loudly and visibly with our city, county, school system and nonprofits when they take action to repair historical wrongs.

— Rebecca Strimer and Kate Shem Asheville

36,000 SQ. FT.

OF ANTIQUES, UNIQUES & REPURPOSED RARITIES!

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

Rules should not restrict light use

Get on board and get vaccinated

[Regarding “Let It Shine (Less): WNC Wrestles With Light Pollution,” Nov. 24, Xpress:] I think we have way too many rules already.

I can’t imagine putting a rule on a person’s private property restricting light usage.

I do like looking at the stars, but I also like to have light to take my trash out to the garbage can, and there are many other reasons for needing light outside at night. I happen to garden a lot at night; others have other reasons.

To make a rule to not have light, or lesser amount of light to just a dim light, will only be useful for a few folks. I think most of us are adult enough to make our own decisions on how much light we require on our property, without being told how much light we can use on our own property.

— V. Grant Fletcher

There are many versions of this joke, but this is a brief one. A man’s boat sinks in a storm, and he clings for his life to a piece of wood. A boat comes along and offers help, and he says, “No, God will save me.” Another larger boat comes along, throws down a rope ladder, and the man once again says, “No, God will save me.” Well, no more ships come to his aid, and he dies in the ocean. He gets to heaven and asks God, “Why did you not save me?” God’s response is, “I sent you two boats to get you out of the water, and you chose not to board them.

What more can I do?”

This joke/story reminds me of what is happening now during this time of COVID. God has gifted humans with the knowledge, the ability and the science to help prevent the spread

CONTINUES ON PAGE 5

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CARTOON BY BRENT BROWN of infections, as well as COVID. We know that wearing a mask is the easiest way to help weaken the spread of the virus. So simple, just put it on.

Additionally, we now have the vaccines and the boosters. The same type of vaccines that have prevented and caused us to forget about such diseases as polio, tetanus, hepatitis, measles, whooping cough and mumps. God gave us experts with the knowledge and the scientific resources to develop these vaccines. So as God said, why not get on board? It is hard to understand people’s resistance to getting a vaccine or wearing a mask.

If you are a religious person, it should be considered God’s will. If you are an anti-vaxxer, just look at what diseases you no longer have to worry about getting because of vaccines. It seems so simple, so logical, so easy to understand and certainly easy to do.

What about the old adage of loving your neighbor? Don’t be a spreader!

We have been given experts with the knowledge to develop these vaccines.

As God said, “What more can I do, why not get on board?”

Topping this all off, we have elected officials like Cawthorn and Tillis pandering to the unvaccinated.

Telling them not to wear masks and to keep up the good fight about not getting vaccinated. Send your kids to school without masks, exposing other children and teachers to the

virus. Throughout our country and right here in Asheville, there are teacher shortages, nursing shortages, and employers are struggling to keep their businesses open due to employee shortages. But a lot of politicians only care about themselves and getting reelected. So they indulge constituents by working to get them unemployment benefits when they refuse to get vaccinated for their jobs.

All the while they themselves are more than likely vaccinated.

Our hospitals are overloaded with new, unvaccinated individuals with COVID to the expense of individuals who need health care who are vaccinated. I say stop treating unvaccinated people; turn them away. They have made a selfish decision that is grossly impacting the well-being of their families, their community and the United States.

— M.L. Kates Asheville Editor’s note: Sen. Thom Tillis noted on his website Dec. 8 that he plans to vote to repeal President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate, though

he has also encouraged people to get vaccinated.

Boost the readability of Xpress I love your paper and often donate to it. But I would like to point out that many readers are over 50, and their eyesight is not what it used to be, or even worse. Looks like your paper uses 8- to 9-point copy and is very difficult to read in anything but bright light.

I am no stranger to publishing, and I understand that fewer pages cost less to produce, but how many more pages would it take to use 11-point copy that is much easier to read?

When you combine the tiny type now used on newsprint, which diminishes the contrast between type and paper, you have a difficult situation for the eyesight-challenged.

— Karen Johnson Asheville Editor’s response: Thank you for the feedback, particularly coming from

someone who knows publishing. And thanks for valuing the work we do.

As you likely know, if we increase the point size, then we either have to publish less content or increase our expenses. These are challenging times to raise expenses, particularly given that in order to survive the trends away from print and the difficulties of COVID lockdowns, we have had to rely on a strategy of expense reduction (in addition to thinking creatively about sales, distribution and alternative income sources).

All that said, we will discuss the idea of slightly larger text point size and the full context of publishing and reaching older readers effectively.

NOW! Campaign ends

DECEMEBER 31ST

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. 5, 2022.

Happy New Year!

MOUNTAINX.COM

GIVELOCALGUIDE.ORG DEC. 22, 2021 - JAN. 4, 2022

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OPINION

May I have a word?

YEAR YEAR REVIEW IN

In 2021, readers shared thoughts on pandemic, growth, Vance Monument and more

REVIEW

BY TRACY ROSE Readers weren’t shy about expressing their views in 2021. From the pandemic to growth, the Vance Monument and more, Xpress readers offered up a raft of thought-provoking letters to the editor, commentaries and comments about local affairs.

Here’s a look at what sparked opinion pieces over the past year.

THE PANDEMIC

Readers had plenty to say about the topic that’s dominated everyone’s lives — and livelihoods — for almost two years.

In January, when indoor dining capacity for Buncombe County establishments was reduced from 50% to 30%, local restaurateur Eric Scheffer penned one of the most widely read and discussed pieces this year, “Enough is Enough: Local Restaurants and Their Employees’ Lives Are Being Destroyed by Government Mandates.”

“Hospitality and culinary professionals are being mandated and regulated out of business for the sake of optics and at the senseless sacrifice of hardworking people and their families,” he wrote.

Throughout the year, readers reacted to the changing landscape of vaccine supply and demand, along with mask mandates.

“Rather than completing the vaccination of the most vulnerable population, the more than 40,000 seniors still on the COVID-19 vaccination waitlist, the commissioners decided to divert about 50% of the supply to their supporters under pressure from the teachers union,” wrote Gary Incorvia of Weaverville in the Feb. 24 letter “Vaccine Allocation Dooms Buncombe’s Seniors.”

Buncombe Commissioner Amanda Edwards responded in part, “Vaccinating school personnel is an

LAND OF THE SKY RULERS? Satirist Bill Branyon looked at the “fantastic F-35 Lightning II family of fighter planes” and its connection to Buncombe County. Photo by Getty Images Photo by Getty Images important step to getting parents back to work and in school to complete their degrees and getting our local economy back on track, while ensuring we stop the spread of the virus that has been unrelenting in its attack on our elderly population.”

Some readers expressed support for local mask mandates (“Masks Should Be Required Indoors,” in the Aug. 18 issue) while another reader questioned them (“Amazed

by Support for Mask Mandates,” in the Sept. 8 issue).

Meanwhile, Carl Mumpower, former Asheville City Council member and onetime chair of the Buncombe County GOP, offered up a widely read and discussed letter, “COVID19 Vaccine Resistance Explained,” in the Oct. 6 issue.

“Diversity of thought will remain a hinderance — in Asheville and

everywhere else — for those who self-righteously confuse legitimate public safety concerns with political control issues,” he wrote.

Countered online commenter bsummers: “Please drop the partisan political drapery around a public health emergency, Carl. You’re making things worse.”

GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT In January, Asheville writer Bill Branyon was the first of many com-

munity members this year to offer his take on Pratt & Whitney’s plans to build an aircraft engine component factory in the area, with the help of Buncombe County economic development incentives (“High Anxiety: Welcome to Buncombe County’s New Mascot.”)

“Knowing that we have such brilliant skin in the game could boost Buncombe residents’ interest in and unquestioning support for any future wars America might fight — and perhaps also our contempt for those pesky peaceniks who clog Asheville’s

Editor’s note For our annual Year in Review, Xpress reached out to nearly 60 local leaders, elected officials, health care professionals, entrepreneurs, artists, historians, chefs, musicians and members of the nonprofit community to discuss the challenges and opportunities that 2021 presented, as well as the individual highs and lows of another unusual year. Of the 59 individuals contacted, 45 responded and are featured in this year’s final issue. Responses have been condensed and lightly edited for clarity. Thanks to everyone who participated.

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DEC. 22, 2021 - JAN. 4, 2022

MOUNTAINX.COM

ALEXLA PÉREZ SÁNCHEZ

streets whenever their thin skin gets rankled.”

But Asheville reader Derek Husar offered another perspective in a Sept. 15 letter, “Arguments Against Raytheon Plant Fall Flat”: “The cost of the podium from which the morally indignant denounce industry suitors is tremendous. The proposed factory is a $650 million investment in Buncombe County, which will provide approximately 800 new jobs.”

Readers also proclaimed their views on residential development — including the now scaled-back 101 Charlotte St. project in North Asheville and the still-pending Bluffs proposal for Woodfin.

Concerning the Asheville area’s overall growth, a letter by Asheville reader M. Branch in the June 2 issue seemed to strike a nerve, prompting letters and numerous comments.

“Asheville is ‘sold out,’ so go somewhere else to live,” wrote Branch.

“There are other places, and I don’t know why we have to coddle everybody who wants to live here, destroying the very essence of why anybody wishes to live here.”

One response came from a prospective future resident, Gil Borrero of Charlotte, in the June 16 issue: “I hope Asheville is not sold out. I have been planning to move there from Charlotte for over 10 years. I love the area, and there is a great deal of room, just not necessarily ‘in Asheville,’ but all surrounding areas.”

THE VANCE MONUMENT

In commentaries and letters to the editor, readers pondered what should be done with the Vance Monument, the 123-year-old obelisk honoring Civil War governor Zebulon Vance, Asheville City Council member Sandra Kilgore offered her views in a Jan. 27 commentary, “Full Circle: Can Repurposin­g the Vance Monument Help Heal the Divide in Asheville?”

One of three Black Council members, Kilgore argued: “Asheville’s history could be told full circle as we address the dark stains of slavery and the impact of urban renewal and institutional racism in the once-robust Black community. Lifting the monument up and using the power of the obelisk could provide a new narrative that unites us all to create the desired results of unification, equity and inclusion. The obelisk would provide a platform to begin to have those difficult conversations that bring us together.”

Offering another perspective, former city resident Sequoya Waring wrote in a Feb. 3 letter, “Nothing

ERIC SCHEFFER to Salvage in Vance Monument”: “Please realize every day this statue remains intact is another day you’re not actively renouncing white supremacy.”

Ultimately, City Council voted 6-1 on March 23 (with Kilgore opposed) to take down the monument, though a subsequent court challenge has halted its full removal.

OPENING CONVERSATIONS

Not all of this year’s opinion pieces were driven by events, though all had a point to make. One of the most hopeful came Oct. 20 from UNC Asheville student Alexla Pérez Sánchez, who had just completed an internship at a WNC conservation nonprofit (“Vámonos Outside! Conserving Carolina Intern Shakes Change Into Spanishspeaking Community.”)

Recounting her own family’s difficulties in navigating trails, Pérez Sánchez explained her efforts to make the outdoors more welcoming to Spanish-speaking residents through a series of bilingual hikes.

“My Spanish-speaking community finally felt actively welcomed in the outdoors!” wrote Pérez Sánchez.

“The progress made through this program was incredible and much needed, but the work is only beginning. I say to the individuals reading this article: Go outside today and do something that brings you joy and strength! And while you’re at it, take someone with you! Help them.

Encourage them. Grow with them.”

As we wrap up 2021, this sounds like a good piece of advice for all of us to take into the new year. X MOUNTAINX.COM

DEC. 22, 2021 - JAN. 4, 2022

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NEWS

Uncentered

Pisgah wildlife education hub to close after flood damage

BY LARRY GRIFFIN lawrencegriffin5@gmail.com When Tropical Depression Fred tore through Western North Carolina in August, among the casualties was the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education. The Pisgah Forest hub for learning about fishing, hunting and the great outdoors suffered severe damage — as volunteer Steven Gutierrez, who was on the property during the storm, vividly recalls.

Water started rushing down the Davidson River and began covering the pools at the adjacent Bobby N. Setzer Fish Hatchery, Gutierrez says. And then, it started rushing into the center itself.

“After that, we pretty much had to get out of there. It was starting to get pretty high,” he tells Xpress.

“There were at least thousands of trout in the parking lot. You didn’t know what was going to happen.

Where that place is, you have no cellphone reception. I couldn’t even call my parents.”

The damage to the Pisgah Center was so dire that, in October, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s executive board decided to cut its losses. No funding will be allocated to repair the damage; instead, the center will be closed permanently and demolished on a timeline yet to be determined.

In its place, according to NCWRC Division Chief of Wildlife Education Travis Casper, will go an expansion of the Setzer Hatchery. The facility, the commission’s largest trout hatchery, had already been scheduled for some new construction in 2022.

SIGNING OFF: Visitors to the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education now encounter barrels and barriers indicating that the facility is off-limits. Photo by Larry Griffin Casper says the expanded hatchery will now include an educational component to provide learning opportunities about trout production, management and fishing skills.

IN MEMORIAM

The Pisgah Center ed in Pisgah National U.S. 276 near Brevard. taking classes, visitors

was locatForest off Along with could view

Introducing the

OPMENT GUIDE DEVEALcitizen’s guide to local government decision-making

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828-251-1333 x 1 advertise@mountainx.com

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DEC. 22, 2021 - JAN. 4, 2022

use, and general education on topics like plate tectonics and mountain formation. But she says that those offerings had been on the decline in recent years. (Casper says the NCWRC regularly reviews its educational programs “to ensure they align with our agency’s mission, match the purpose-designated funding sources and continue to serve the public’s interests and needs.”)

And fellow resident Josiah Weeks says he often took his 2-year-old son to the center before it closed.

“He didn’t understand a lot, but he loved going in and looking at the fish,” he says.

Kevin Howell, owner of Davidson River Outfitters in Pisgah Forest, which sells fly-fishing equipment and offers guide services and classes, says his business hasn’t yet been affected by the closure of the Pisgah Center. But he believes the pause in its fly-fishing classes will likely bring more people looking to learn to the sport to his door.

Publishes Mid-January 2022 MOUNTAINX.COM

exhibits about WNC’s rich native biological diversity — both aquatic and terrestrial — conservation and the environment.

Residents of the area are saddened by the decision to close the center. Oskar Blues Brewery bartender Michael Plauche calls it a substantial loss for the community.

“Anytime people come here to camp, it was one of the stops,” he says. “You got to see fish up close, and there were snakes and plenty of other animals. It was good for educational purposes. Not everybody’s going to have time to spend a few nights hiking, but anybody could go in there and see wildlife and get a sense of the forest.”

Another Brevard resident, Michele Barg, tells Xpress that the town and its surrounding hiking trails, and by extension the Pisgah Center, were a destination. “People come here for vacation from all over the world,” she says. “People come here with kids. [The Pisgah Center] was a good place to go if the weather was bad. It’s a loss for everybody.”

For residents, Barg continues, the center’s classes covered both practical skills, such as compass

SILVER LININGS

Despite the flooding and the center’s closure, Casper suggests that things could turn out better than before for the region’s nature lovers.

He says the commission is using the closure as an opportunity to expand partnerships between other facilities around the region, such as the Armstrong and Marion fish hatcheries in McDowell County and DuPont State Recreational Forest.

“Our agency was already elevating our educational operations across the state,” he explains. “The flood at Pisgah forced us to reevaluate the center earlier than scheduled and presented us with the opportunity to refocus and increase our hatchery footprint and gain efficiencies in education and fish production for the state.”

The Pisgah Center’s former staff will also see new duties, offering in-classroom presentations on aquatic life at schools and on-site instruction at parks and waters around the area. And the newly expanded Setzer Hatchery will continue to offer its raceway tours, which show how trout are bred from eggs into full-grown fish that maintain a healthy population in WNC waters, as well as fly-fishing classes.

“It’s important because there are a lot of sales of hunting and fishing licenses,” Casper says. “This way, we can support wildlife and manage species — and maintain connections with the public and the relevance of the agency.” X

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NEWS

Work in progress Those who want to make $20 an hour in Western North Carolina could become a trainee of the Asheville Police Department — a job that involves chasing criminals, serving legal papers to disgruntled citizens and handling complaints over homeless residents.

Alternatively, they could become a carhop at the Sonic Drive-In on Airport Road in Arden, which (aside from the potential roller-skating wipeout) poses considerably less risk to life and limb.

Higher wages in unexpected roles are just one sign of the upheaval COVID-19 and its fallout have caused to WNC’s economic landscape. Perhaps most striking is the reduction of lowwage work in Buncombe County.

According to Opportunity Insights, a nonprofit research project based at Harvard University, the number of workers in Buncombe County earning less than $27,000 annually fell by 50.4% between January 2020 and August.

The number represents the biggest drop of any county in North Carolina and a larger percentage reduction than that at the height of pandemic shutdowns in April 2020.

Meanwhile, area employers struggle to fill jobs across the wage spectrum.

As of July, according to Mountain Area Workforce Development Board Director Nathan Ramsey, over 23,000 job openings existed in the Asheville metro region. Even if every currently unemployed person in the area’s labor force took one of those jobs, about 14,000 openings would still remain.

As WNC heads into yet another year of economic uncertainty, Xpress asked regional business leaders, government figures and laborers about their takeaways from 2021 in the world of work.

— Daniel Walton How has 2021 changed how you feel about your job or industry?

“The pandemic created an opportunity for people to pay more attention to the food system. The opportunity for agriculture is a move towards holistic,

JAMIE AGER 10

DEWAYNE BARTON

DEC. 22, 2021 - JAN. 4, 2022

YEAR YEAR REVIEW

WNC looks back on employment in 2021

IN

REVIEW

SHORT-HANDED: Employers across all sectors in Western North Carolina, including manufacturing, are having difficulties hiring enough workers. Photo courtesy of A-B Tech triple-bottom-line production models that are good for the environment, humane for livestock and improve the lives of consumers and farmers.”

— Jamie Ager, owner, Hickory Nut Gap Farm “I think one of the largest gaps we’ve identified in how we can support small businesses is in the human resources space — the majority of our brewery members are smaller businesses, with owners often wearing a multitude of hats (brewer, sales manager, bartender, etc.). As their businesses evolve, this usually means bringing on additional staff and/or delegating some of these responsibilities. My hope is that

CLAUDE COLEMAN JR. MOUNTAINX.COM

SHANNON CORNELIUS

in collaboration with our HR adviser, some of our allied trade members and our more seasoned brewery members, we can provide education and resources that will hopefully make folks’ lives easier as they grow their businesses.”

— Leah Rainis, executive director, Asheville Brewers Alliance “I am disheartened by the tenor of our political dialogue. While lies, exaggerations and misleading statements have always been an element of our governance and elections, they have become mainstream and are coming from high-ranking Republican elected officials and party leaders. And too few

J HACKETT

CLAIRE HUBBARD

traditional Republicans are objecting, apparently happy to remain in power rather than speak the truth and risk the consequences. Party power and fealty to our former president have become the altar on which everything else — honestly, civility, science, reality — is sacrificed, and that prevents us from finding real solutions to real problems.”

— Sen. Julie Mayfield, N.C. Senate District 49 “It has become apparent that nonprofit support services, like the free legal aid and access to health care that Pisgah Legal Services offers, are as important now as they ever have

JESSIE LANDL

JULIE MAYFIELD

been. Working to help folks access health insurance, we heard from many people this past year who have never accessed our services before — people who were not familiar with accessing free assistance from the many local nonprofits who form a safety net of services supporting our community.

More folks now have an awareness of the need for social services, and really the need for community support.”

— Shannon Cornelius, health justice program director, Pisgah Legal Services “My work as an artist has changed a lot in 2021. Artists are in great demand during this time due to the pandemic and quarantine. We find more people wanting more of a direct contact with the artist to see how impactful it is in our everyday lives. Art is becoming more essential to emotional healing.

— Jenny Pickens, artist/educator This year has given me a distinct sense of what becomes possible through genuine collaboration, and thus a new standard for growth that prioritizes creativity and relationships in the community.

— Claire Hubbard, community paramedic program manager, Buncombe County It feels like a time that we have to remember to be gentle with each other.

People are burned out and stressed, and knowing that has changed the way I interact. I try to expect less and appreciate more — not always an easy task!”

— Jessie Landl, executive director, Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County What have staffing shortages meant for your own work and the local economy?

“The pandemic shined a light on underlying issues that already existed.

So, while the staffing crisis is impacting every sector, those already dealing with workforce challenges are especially hard hit. We’re seeing this in the local early care and education field

RACHAEL NYGAARD

JENNY PICKENS

with a critical shortage of teachers and staff for child care and preschool. A silver lining is that we’re seeing some promising policy and funding strategies at the federal, state and local levels to support this critical workforce.”

— Rachael Nygaard, strategic partnerships director, Buncombe County “The restaurant business has always been a labor-heavy industry, and we’re seeing that it’s not sustainable, especially with no affordable housing in our area and the growth of more restaurants, breweries and hotels all relying on an ever-smaller group of people for staffing. It’s definitely a long-term concern for our area, but it’s happening in every cool town that people want to live in.”

— Mike Rangel, president, Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co. “There are the obvious impacts we’re seeing across the food and beverage landscape — sometimes having to close early or take a day off to give staff a break, limited menus, etc. As far as how this impacts the Asheville Brewers Alliance specifically, I think workforce development will feature heavily in our educational offerings going forward.”

— Leah Rainis How can workers best seize the opportunities created by the current local employment situation?

“Build their skill sets, find their passion, collaborate with like minds/ hearts and create the opportunities that don’t exist.”

— DeWayne Barton, owner, Hood Huggers International “The current employment climate has a yin and a yang. There are lots of places to work, and employers are struggling to keep up. It would be great if team members could see themselves as partners in their business and talk to their employer about what they need. In this conversation, employers could also share what they need. It can be a win-win situation, but it requires some vulnerability from everybody.

LEAH RAINIS

MIKE RANGEL

Right now, workers can work the jobs they want and plan for creative longterm engagement.”

— J Hackett, founder, Black Wall Street AVL “Live your dreams now before it’s too late. The corporate complex of work is not doing it for folks anymore.

People have been treated as disposable for too long. Invest in yourself and your dreams — whatever that is to you. I think that’s the new motto.”

— Cliff B. Worsham, musician

have forged on unabated, almost supercharged. Creative expression is impervious to industrial trends, and the commodity of art is not art itself.

— Claude Coleman Jr., co-owner, SoundSpace @ Rabbit’s I’ll tell you what didn’t surprise me: How quick musicians pulled it all together and got back on the road and throwing shows again. Some of the most hardworking folks I’ve met in my life.

— Cliff B. Worsham X

What surprised you most about your industry this year?

Probably the tone-deaf behavior of my own union. While I’m grateful to be a union member, I’ve been on the administrative side of things in the past, so I’m empathetic to the difficulties that theater management has to work through to keep regional theaters alive.

Actors’ Equity has always been a bit clueless regarding the real-world situation out here in the “regions” and how difficult it is to keep regional theaters afloat. Yes, protecting members from COVID-19 is important, but the overthe-top protocols they’ve demanded from regional theaters have been ridiculous, unaffordable and paralyzing.

— Scott Treadway, actor COVID-19 has challenged us to become more flexible and be more understanding of each other. In this egalitarian kind of way, everyone was impacted, so everyone had to adjust.

(Pivot!) There was no playbook for how to keep everything going amidst the backdrop of the pandemic, and we’ve all been kind of figuring it out as we go along. For me, this has been incredibly humbling. I noticed that because everyone has been called upon to practice so much flexibility and learning themselves, people seem to be giving more grace to one another when they need it.

— Rachael Nygaard Its resilience. Despite the state of suspension the music industry is reemerging from during the pandemic, artists and overall creative work

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CLIFF B. WORSHAM MOUNTAINX.COM

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Coming ’round the mountain Residents and local leaders reflect on Asheville’s growth and tourism

YEAR YEAR REVIEW IN

REVIEW

GROWTH MINDSET: The Interstate-26 expansion was one of several new construction projects that community members mentioned as Asheville continues to grow in population. Photo by Max Hunt As the 2020 census proved, Asheville is indeed growing. The city grew 13.4% between 2010 and 2020, from 83,393 to 94,589 residents. Buncombe County saw a similar increase of 13.1%, from 238,318 residents in 2010 to 269,452 tallied last year — the largest gain of any county in Western North Carolina.

With growth comes worsening traffic, rising housing costs and long lines of tourists waiting at locally beloved bars and restaurants. (Here’s looking at you, New York Times Restaurant List honoree Chai Pani).

But it’s not all bad, as 2021’s Year in Review participants note in their reflections on Asheville’s development and tourism sector. These residents and local leaders shared their growth gripes and hopes as they look forward to the coming year.

— Brooke Randle

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PONKHO BERMEJO

What specific solution do you have for an issue created by the tourism industry?

“We need to stop thinking of tourism as something that happens to us.

Tourism can be an opportunity to model diversity, equity, inclusion and sustainability to our visitors through our festivals, museums, stores, hotels and restaurants. It doesn’t require a government program. We simply need our various identity communities and business and community leaders to change who they lunch with; change who they call to pursue an opportunity or to solve a problem. Our informal networks shape our thinking and action far more than do programs and policies.”

— Tina Madison White, executive director, Blue Ridge Pride Center

ANDREW CELWYN

JP CHALARCA

“The best solution for the variety of negative issues created by the tourism industry is changing the authorizing legislation to enable much more of the occupancy tax revenue to go toward solving these issues – housing, infrastructure, transportation, etc. Tourism and the occupancy tax have benefited Asheville tremendously, with over 25,000 jobs and $44 million invested in capital projects, but tourism’s negative impacts are real, and that industry has to help solve them. That legislation was not able to move forward this year, but I remain hopeful that the aligned stakeholders in Asheville can make it happen next year.”

— Sen. Julie Mayfield, N.C. Senate District 49 “In light of the high visitation that we are seeing across parks and other public lands, a simple solution that everyone can employ is remembering to recreate responsibly. What this means is to plan ahead, share your plans with family and friends, know your limitations, use ‘Leave no Trace’ principles and in general protect the experience for yourself — and everyone who comes after you! Recreating responsibly includes not only when, where and how you recreate, but also where you park and what you leave behind. Each of us plays an important role in being a good steward of the places that we care about.”

— Tracy Swartout, superintendent, Blue Ridge Parkway “My best solution would be to have circulator buses and remote parking lots for both locals and tourists. Locals who complain about the difficulty of parking downtown, employees who are burdened by the cost of parking and visitors who want to explore without trying to find parking would all benefit. This could also expand the footprint of the downtown to West Asheville, the River Arts District and Biltmore Village. It’s a win for employees who wouldn’t have to pay for parking, locals who could visit downtown more often and visitors who would get to see more of the city.”

— Andrew Celwyn, owner, Herbiary; member, Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority

HOLLY JONES

JESSIE LANDL

How has your relationship with downtown changed over 2021?

“My relationship with downtown Asheville in 2021 has been divided.

Asheville is in high demand with its uniqueness. This city has the experience of traveling the world in one location. I love living here and have the feeling of being in a beautiful place that is sought out by so many.

On the other hand, my feelings are that with growth comes change. Not everyone is accepting of that. I miss seeing the old neighborhoods I grew up in, the older buildings that held a lot of Black businesses known as The Block. The Black community had and still has a lot to do with the growth of Asheville. I just don’t want to see that part of history lost and forgotten.”

— Jenny Pickens, artist/educator “One of my favorite things to do downtown is go out to eat. This hardly happened at all in 2020. I’ve been excited to get back out there in 2021, as restaurants are rebounding, and vaccines are more prevalent.

Unfortunately, because of the pandemic, we’ve lost some businesses for good, and others are making compromises to keep things going. This experience has led me to be a more loyal patron of local businesses and a more generous tipper, too.”

— Rachael Nygaard, strategic partnerships director, Buncombe County “It’s complicated! My affection for our sweet downtown hasn’t changed, yet downtown does feel less like home. It’s a bit like when a close friend becomes famous. The bond continues, but the person changes, and a whole new set of admirers who do not share history and experience are on the scene. I miss familiar faces when I eat or shop. However, after months of businesses being closed, I was absolutely giddy when my husband and I walked downtown to eat at our favorite restaurant. I also remain proud to show friends and family around my little city when visiting.”

— Holly Jones, WNC community outreach coordinator, N.C. Department of Justice

TIM LOVE

JULIE MAYFIELD

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

“The Wilma Dykeman Greenway is a really great addition as a community asset and an economic development driver. As a road biker living on the east side, it really opens up the possibilities for my routes. This is a really exciting community amenity and further activates the RAD from a development perspective. Kudos to the community and city for advocating, leading and executing on this vision.”

— Tim Love, director of economic development and governmental relations, Buncombe County “The parts of [Interstate] 26 in the Arden area have been very beneficial due to the lower traffic as they has been enlarged. We frequently travel that corridor in our work at BeLoved Asheville in our box truck, named Esperanza, to take food and diapers to communities in need.”

— Ponkho Bermejo, co-director, BeLoved Asheville “I have seen several new apartments and hotels built in the area of downtown where I work. I have been impacted by the lack of parking during events. It can get a little expensive at times. It would be great to have a less expensive way to park for employees downtown. I would also like to see more foot traffic and possible signage directed to the Eagle and South Market Street businesses.”

— Jenny Pickens “Surveyors, tree mechanics, bulldozers and contractors. New homes, new neighbors, detours and more hand waves. Wondering what will be the future of this community with all the momentum of I-26 highway expansion coming to the Burton Street neighborhood soon.”

— DeWayne Barton, owner, Hood Huggers International “The completion of the new Element Hotel as you come out of the Beaucatcher tunnel, which I pass every day on my way to work. I miss the view of the mountains and

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downtown and wish that it had been replaced with something more interesting. I don’t mind new development, but as the executive director of the Preservation Society, I wish we were seeing more new construction that we would want to defend in 50 years. I’m also struck by how many buildings we have in this city with empty space, and yet we continue to build new.”

— Jessie Landl, executive director, Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County Has Asheville’s development over the last year helped or hurt you, and how so?

“Asheville’s continued development has certainly helped my small business keep afloat during challenging times. It has also made it more challenging for keeping wages up for my employees who rent and are more subject to market prices that keep increasing. If our community doesn’t invest in more affordable housing, it won’t even be able to retain some of the better-paying jobs in the hospitality industry.”

— Andrew Celwyn “Asheville’s development over the last year has hurt me. Real estate prices are exceedingly high compared to the surrounding areas. Restaurants are overcrowded and overpriced. And the city is trying to accommodate an increasing population within a limited geographical space, making competition for resources very intense.”

— JP Chalarca, founder, WECAN Man “As an individual and professional, I think it is fair to say that development is bittersweet. There is no doubt that increased development can generate additional traffic and strains on infrastructure if proper mitigation efforts aren’t implemented. However, development can also generate needed housing units and jobs in our community. Ultimately, there is a balance that we should strive to achieve so that we preserve what makes our community great but maintain openness to beneficial changes as well.”

— Tim Love X

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Safe and sound?

When Xpress asked community members about safety and security in 2021, the questions were intentionally left very broad. After all, concepts like safety and risk can mean very different things to different people depending on their circumstances.

Would respondents opine about public safety? Housing security?

Financial security? Sexual assault?

Homophobia? The resulting responses take the temperature of the community and demonstrate a wide range of priorities on residents’ minds and hearts.

Feeling protected from COVID-19 was mentioned frequently, both in terms of individuals receiving vaccinations and the community coming together to address the virus, and some respondents viewed the risks of the pandemic as more than just to physical safety. Folks also had thoughtful responses about how reactions to this virus have changed everyone’s lives; for some people, putting life on pause created opportunities for reflection about family, friendships and work.

Many community members cited racism — specifically white supremacist culture — as causing them to feel unsafe. Asheville was host to numerous racial justice protests in 2020, and some in the community continued to address systemic racism in 2021.

But among all of the Year in Review responses in this issue, those about racism were some of the least hopeful.

Other respondents interpreted Xpress’ questions more individualistically. They remarked about feeling strength and security amid their families and their desires to leave a legacy for future generations.

— Jessica Wakeman

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Security felt elusive in 2021

YEAR YEAR REVIEW IN

REVIEW

ON THE STREETS: The Asheville Police Department has grappled both with critiques of law enforcement and accusations that the department is not tough enough on crime. Photo by Brooke Randle What in 2021 makes you feel safer or more secure than 2020?

“Seeing our community mobilize together to address COVID-19 made me feel more secure in 2021.”

— Claire Hubbard, community paramedic program manager, Buncombe County “Even though it is really a false sense of security, being fully vaccinated and now having the Pfizer booster gives me a sense of some safety in the public arena in 2021. But I have also found that being in spaces where people are distancing and masking feels more reassuring, whether other folks are vaccinated or not.”

— Rev. Tami Forte Logan, founder, Faith 4 Justice Asheville “My family has gone through a lot in the last two years, but we are so much stronger as a unit. That makes me feel secure.”

— T‹rey Adcock, executive director, Center for Native Health

TREY ADCOCK MOUNTAINX.COM

JP CHALARCA

“I feel like 2020 knocked us down, and 2021 helped us build resilience to get back up again. This year, we had to realize there is no ‘going back to normal,’ and adapting to the new normal of wearing masks, thinking about the safety of others and often working from home has not all been bad.”

— Shannon Cornelius, health justice program director, Pisgah Legal Services What in 2021 makes you feel less safe or secure than 2020?

“As a first responder, it makes me feel less secure to have fewer and fewer options, particularly after hours, to support the growing population of people who are displaced, unhoused or struggling to survive and in need of basic resources in Buncombe County.”

— Claire Hubbard “The potential for white-supremacist-based

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domestic terrorism

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supported by politics that care more about power than people.”

— Trey Adcock “As a Black woman in America, I am not sure if I ever feel fully safe in a country actively practicing white supremacy in each and every institution and system that exists. Even though it appears that a combination of the COVID-19 pandemic and global protest have heightened our white siblings’ awareness and acknowledgement of structural racism and anti-Blackness, supremacy culture persists.”

— Rev. Tami Forte Logan As you assess the risks in your life, what do you feel are the greatest ones and why?

“The greatest risk I have is not taking advantage of the hard but critical lessons learned from COVID-19: Make more time for myself away from work to spend with family and friends, having fun. Keeping focused on responsibilities of providing a nurturing, fair,

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KEYNON LAKE

SNAPSHOT positive workplace. Appreciating how amazing our little city is — not that it’s perfect, but I wouldn’t want to live or work anywhere else. This town is magic.”

— Mike Rangel, president, Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co. “The biggest risk in my life now is the negative effects that the vast amount of bad information (misinformation) that is being proliferated across social/traditional media is having on people’s/ politicians’ decision-making and critical thinking abilities. The influx of bad information is leading policymakers to offer solutions to problems that don’t exist, such as passing legislation to reduce nonexistent voter fraud, which is making it more difficult for people of color like me to vote.”

— JP Chalarca, founder, WECAN Man “As a person with a preexisting condition, but in the coffee business, I am concerned about health and safety.

Considering our business is located in a gentrified area, I am concerned about BIPOC [Black, Indigenous and People of color] inclusion in economic growth and development. Everything is on the line, but I think that’s life. We are going all in with the belief that we can honor history and build together as a community. It’s worth it. Our ancestors are depending on it.”

— J Hackett, founder, Black Wall Street AVL

How has your perception of law enforcement changed in 2021?

“They proved that if they can’t be arrogant bullies and have to be held accountable for their actions, they quit.”

— Cliff B. Worsham, musician “My perception of law enforcement has not changed at all.”

— Keynon Lake, executive director, My Daddy Taught Me That “It looks like there are pockets of law enforcement departments across

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the country who are trying to filter 911 calls and refer as needed to mental health professionals who can respond with care, compassion and relevant skills. This prevents police from responding with force against people whose condition they don’t understand, and that is somewhat encouraging but it is not pervasive enough. And it is hard to imagine that an institution that originated as slave patrols during Reconstruction, assigned to control Black bodies, can transform in a few hundred years without major structural changes. It is clear that the old guard is tightly clinging to its past.”

— Rev. Tami Forte Logan “The pandemic made clear that 75% of the country is living paycheck to paycheck. We have neighborhoods, communities and regions that have fallen into systemic poverty. This leads to higher levels of anxiety, depression, self-medication, black market economy, higher levels of incarceration and broken families.

We have a country that was pumped full of opioids by the pharmaceutical companies for 20 years, and then that supply was cut off. Now we have prisons being the primary mental health provider in each state; we have mass incarceration and prisons for profit.

Law enforcement is part of this overwhelmed, broken system, and that hasn’t changed in 2021.”

— JP Kennedy, co-founder, Musicians for Overdose Prevention “What I see now in the law enforcement industry is an openness to change that I have not seen before — officers recognizing that there are situations where others can provide a better response, that their skills are not always the right ones for every situation. Local governments are leading the change, and officers seem willing, even eager, to make it work.

The General Assembly also passed important criminal justice reform measures this year. There is so much more to do, but we’ve taken important steps forward.”

— Sen. Julie Mayfield, N.C. Senate District 49 X

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CLIFF B. WORSHAM

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YEAR YEAR REVIEW IN

Education has challenging but encouraging year for locals After spending the better part of a school year learning entirely remotely, students returned to Buncombe County Schools in February — under a hybrid plan, with part of the week at home and part at school. And all that absence from the classroom took a toll.

The county’s 2021 end-of-grade test scores displayed significant deterioration compared with 2019 results for all grades and subjects. Enrollment dropped as well, with more families than usual opting to home-school or attend private schools, even as the county system returned to full in-person learning in August.

The staffing situation at local schools also shifted significantly over the year. At least seven Buncombe schools got new principals in 2021; meanwhile, at least 18 vacant teacher positions are posted with the county, and at least 21 vacancies are open at Asheville City Schools.

On the political front, national debates over masks and COVID-19 measures in schools also played out in Buncombe — as did the conservative uproar over critical race theory. And new legislation means the Asheville City Board of Education will be elected rather than appointed starting next year.

Yes, local schooling has seen drama this year. Given those issues, Mountain Xpress chose education as one of the areas to spotlight in discussion with community leaders about insights from 2021.

REVIEW

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Holidaze

— Able Allen As a parent or educator, what worried you most about schooling in 2021?

SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK: Hybrid classrooms, staffing issues and the politicization of school board meetings created a challenging year for students, educators and parents alike. Photo courtesy of Asheville City Schools hopeful that, now that we have a path towards having an elected school board, we will see new leadership that is invested in our community and can provide accountability and stability for our students. Our family has been so impressed by how the teachers and schools have managed this difficult year, and I hope that soon our state and district will give teachers the pay and the respect that they deserve.”

— Drew Reisinger, Register of Deeds, Buncombe County

“Aside from the obvious fear of my child catching a deadly virus, I’ve been concerned about the administration at Asheville City Schools. I am

“As much as I supported and understood the necessity of online schooling, it was a bit of a disaster.

It was really frustrating watching my daughter struggle with it, and frankly I was happy as hell when in-person returned. My daughter is very cautious and wears her mask willingly,

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and getting back in person was really crucial for her. I wouldn’t wish online schooling on anybody. It was a mess.”

— Scott Treadway, actor “Educators are doing incredible work in a challenging environment, so I worry we may lose some of our most talented folks to the significant pressures they are under. We need to take care of our teachers, administrators and staff. Likewise, I am concerned about the stress that many students are under, and I hope that as a society we can devote resources to help young people manage their stress. On a related note, parks are great places for kids to reduce stress, so adults, get some kids outside in 2022!”

— Tracy Swartout, superintendent, Blue Ridge Parkway

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“My greatest worry has to do with the profound negative impact on students’ mental health given the extensive isolation and disruption they have experienced. We need only look to the recent school shooting tragedy in Michigan to understand the extent of the mental health challenges facing our youths.”

— Holly Jones, WNC community outreach coordinator, N.C. Department of Justice “The pandemic forced us into remote learning until vaccines, masks and improved understanding of the virus allowed us to return to the classrooms. At first, I worried about student and staff health on returning, but our safety protocols proved effective, and the joy of working with students in person was so strong. This school year has been hard. Student emotional needs are higher than they have ever been, but academic requirements haven’t gone away. Lacking adequate funding for our schools, we haven’t had the staff to meet students’ needs as they should be met.”

— Daniel Withrow, president, Asheville City Association of Educators “The thing that worried me the most about school this year was consistency. Knowing that school could be shut down in the blink of an eye.

More importantly, the disappointment the kids would have — those that got a taste of being in school for the first time or the ones who were just glad to be back in school.”

— Keynon Lake, executive director, My Daddy Taught Me That How has your guidance to young people changed in response to the last year?

“Guidance? I’m afraid that my generation isn’t in a position to offer guidance. We have built incredibly powerful institutions: governments, corporations, schools, media empires and organized religion. But we seem to have allowed them to become

unmoored from any sense of a social contract. Many young people want to walk away from these institutions. I think that would be a grave mistake.

I counsel young people to lean in and to take control of these institutions. With better governance, their power to do good is unparalleled in human history.”

— Tina Madison White, executive director, Blue Ridge Pride Center “As a professor at UNC Asheville, the message has become less about personal achievement and more about having students slow down to really check in with themselves, their friends and their families — to build community and take time to remind themselves of what’s truly important.”

— Trey Adcock, executive director, The Center for Native Health “We’re all paying a lot more attention to social and emotional needs.

The pandemic has been traumatic for everyone, including for children, and it really shows in the schools.

Children are often in crisis, and we have to help their mental and emotional health at the same time as we help them develop academic skills and knowledge. I have heard criticism of, and contempt for, social/ emotional learning, but never from anyone who has spent any part of this year in a classroom. By attending to all a child’s needs, we can see them thrive and take joy in school.”

— Daniel Withrow “I have found myself encouraging both young and old alike to take time to breathe, to feel, to spend time with family and to celebrate the good things that are surrounding them in the midst of what seems like unending chaos and conflict.”

— Rev. Tami Forte Logan, founder, Faith 4 Justice Asheville How have politicized debates in education impacted your life?

“We are fortunate in Asheville that the twin scourges of misin-

formation about COVID and misinformation about critical race theory haven’t really taken hold.

We practice appropriate health protocols and struggle to build an anti-racist educational system.

But the politicization of educational funding is hitting us hard.

The state continues to underpay school staff, and staff are leaving at unprecedented rates. We are in a staffing emergency the likes of which I’ve never seen before — and without a dramatic change in funding for schools, I don’t know how we’re going to make it through the emergency.”

— Daniel Withrow “I have been a public educator for 20 years, so unfortunately, this is not new. Part of the gig.”

— Trey Adcock “I don’t feel impacted as much personally, but I am concerned about how aggressive adults have been in school board meetings and the way they are shaping the minds of their children around mask mandates, vaccinations and critical race theory. Children mimic the adults in their lives, and if adults can’t have respectful discourse with people who don’t share the same beliefs, ideology or strategies, children will not learn to think critically, problem-solve or engage in healthy relationships or debates. The world is watching us, and it is becoming embarrassing to see grown people behaving like middle-schoolers.”

— Rev. Tami Forte Logan

What happened in 2021 that gives you hope for the children in your life?

“Every day my students amaze and delight me. They program com-

puters, build marvelous constructions from paper, write hilarious stories, create tricky mathematical codes and make videos of their pandemic experiences. And they love and support one another, even when it’s hard. When the logistics and bureaucracies of modern education leave me exhausted and dispirited, I find joy in the young people I work with, in their creativity, compassion and love of learning.

We’ve got to come together to do right by them, but the kids are going to be all right.”

— Daniel Withrow “Honestly, my own daughter’s maturity and resilience more than anything. She handled the adversity of 2021 with a grace and strength that makes me so proud, whereas so many adults around her handled it like petulant children.”

— Scott Treadway, “Here at Buncombe County, we are supporting creation of more than 250 new child care opportunities through our Early Childhood Education and Development Fund, and our libraries have not only found creative ways to engage children during the pandemic but also delivered nearly 6,000 books to child care centers across the county.”

— Tim Love, director of economic development and governmental relations, Buncombe County “Children are incredibly resilient and amazingly forgiving, sometimes more so than we are as adults. In this year of unrest, I continue to see examples of young people leading, positively, by example, towards a future of their own design. I am certain that the future is in good hands.”

— Tracy Swartout

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Optimistic outlooks

Community members find hope amid uncertain times

YEAR YEAR REVIEW

Xpress asked a variety of community members from a range of professions to tap into their optimistic sides and look to the future.

IN

REVIEW

What gave you hope in 2021?

“It’s so easy to feel hopeless these days, but I do see little lights twinkling in the darkness. That sudden overwhelming interest in gardening that sprouted in spring 2020 seems to have dug in for the long haul. And pandemic supply chain problems have forced us into an awareness of how fragile our current corporate food system can be. Most of all, though, I feel hopeful when I see how pandemic response mutual aid efforts like the Asheville Buncombe Food Policy Council’s neighborhood outdoor pantry project have not withered over time but instead gained momentum and evolved toward the establishment of longterm networks and infrastructure for resilience.”

— Gina Smith, coordinator, Asheville Buncombe Food Policy Council “Many risky behaviors among our youth (e.g., drugs, sexual activity and violence) continue to trend down. We innovated and rolled out vaccines faster than anyone anticipated; the costs of renewable fuels continue to fall; and the meteoric rise of telemedicine, outdoor dining, meatless burgers and alternative work models testify to our

YEAR-ROUND SMILES: Elle Erickson, center, and her Booth Fairy Project volunteers helped spread hope and positivity throughout 2021. Photo by Jaze Uries underlying resilience. The pace of change has been disorienting and sometimes overwhelming, but it has also freed us from a lot of tired traditions and assumptions. Locally, I have witnessed more collaboration across communities, organizations and interest groups than ever.

This is a wonderful time to be a social entrepreneur.”

— Tina Madison White, executive director, Blue Ridge Pride Center

“This year was amazing. We launched Asheville’s newest festival, GRINDfest — a celebration of Black business and entrepreneurship.

We had such an amazing response hosting 4,000 people from 19 different states. We’re preparing for next year’s event to be even bigger and better. I have hope that more diversity is coming back to the River Arts District to the point that it will honor the history of its origins as Southside — before urban renewal. This means businesses and

activities from people of color will participate in growth happening in our neighborhood.”

— J Hackett, founder Black Wall Street AVL “Societally, there wasn’t much that gave me “hope,” honestly.

But the focus and commitment of people in my industry, like [Flat Rock Playhouse Producing Artistic Director] Lisa Bryant and [N.C. Stage Co. Artistic Director] Charlie Flynn-McIver, gave me hope. They

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have been laser focused on protecting their theaters, their staff members, their facilities and the future of theater in Western North Carolina.

It’s been hard, but they have worked their butts off to get through these weird, uncertain times and have probably made their theaters stronger for it in the long run. I appreciate how freaking hard they work. Their stewardship gives me hope.”

— Scott Treadway, actor “The great people who I know and see working to help people give me hope. Their selfless acts and kind gestures make such a big difference in folks’ lives, and it’s wonderful seeing the small guys get rewarded and not forgotten about.”

— Keynon Lake, executive director, My Daddy Taught Me That “In a very challenging year, I would highlight these remarkable local milestones: the opening of Maple Crest Apartments, 212 units of affordable housing in the former Lee Walker Heights development; the launch of a city reparations process in recognition of harms done to the African American community, including neighborhood destruction and displacement during urban renewal; and the use of peer specialists to support people in recovery.”

— Holly Jones, WNC community outreach coordinator, N.C. Department of Justice “All the people I see still hustling for the love of people and place have me hopeful.”

— DeWayne Barton, owner, Hood Huggers International “I’m blown away not only by the resiliency of our members but also by how committed our breweries and beverage producers have remained to their collaborative and philanthropic efforts. In particular, we had a brewery member and a couple of long-standing industry folks who were hit especially hard by [Tropical Storm] Fred back in August. Seeing our industry come together to con-

SCOTT TREADWAY

tribute funds, resources and volunteer hours in support of fellow industry members in their time of need was incredible. I don’t know that I’d say it gives me hope about next year, but more that it gives me hope in general — and confidence that this industry is full of some pretty remarkable people.”

— Leah Rainis, executive director, Asheville Brewers Alliance “Actually, a lot of things give me hope about 2022. This is a time that, as a culture, we have finally made space for language to talk publicly about issues of equity and inclusion. We can recognize institutional racism and policies that keep certain people marginalized so that we can change the hurt and damage they have caused for generations.

It doesn’t have to be the way we live forever.”

— Shannon Cornelius, health justice program director, Pisgah Legal Services “Millions of people visited the Blue Ridge Parkway in 2021, many of whom spent time in our neighboring communities. … The fact that park visitors are drawn to these treasured spaces gives me hope that no matter what is going on in the world, people value their national parks — and need them now more than ever.

— Tracy Swartout, superintendent, Blue Ridge Parkway Working with students gives me hope. This generation is full of fearless, creative thinkers who are much more inclusive in many ways that I remain hopeful in our shared futures.

— Trey Adcock, executive director, Center for Native Health “Now that North Carolina has raised the age of marriage to 16, I’m hopeful that more teens will be protected from the harm of child marriage (and I hope that soon that age will be raised to 18, where it should be). It was encouraging to see this bipartisan effort to protect children.

In addition, I’m hopeful that after our Cherokee Land Acknowledgement

TINA MADISON WHITE

CLIFF B. WORSHAM

project, Buncombe County will continue its ongoing dialogue with our Native American neighbors, and we can start to build a relationship that can achieve something substantial.”

— Drew Reisinger, Register of Deeds, Buncombe County “Buncombe Emergency Services employees inspire me daily with the level of care and customer service they provide to this community.

In the wake of the Tropical Storm Fred flooding, my hope was also reinforced to see so many neighbors helping neighbors, and our emergency service teams responding and providing lifesaving services. Lastly, the Board of Commissioners has shown strong support for our community and emergency services. When EMS was experiencing a major increase in call volume, commissioners voted to provide an extra ambulance and staff to improve response times, and have awarded American Rescue Plan Act funds toward expanding our Community Paramedic Program and incident response capabilities.”

— Taylor Jones, Emergency Services director, Buncombe County “The union between people — the unity in the community; the sibling-hood created by this tragic time; the love and mutual support; the solidarity from children to older adults — gives me hope. The people I have met joining hands and lifting each other up have become heroes in their own communities.”

— Ponkho Bermejo, co-director, BeLoved Asheville “I’m optimistic from Asheville continuing its growth as a “music city,” which will continue to draw music lovers from all over the region, plus the amazing people moving here and continuing to bring new, cool businesses to the area, including Citizen Vinyl, Harvest Pizza and so many more. Also, city of Asheville and Buncombe County staff helped small businesses by allowing outdoor tables in parking spaces, having the mandatory mask mandate and providing aid with grants. Kudos to our elected officials for being proactive.”

— Mike Rangel, president, Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co.

“The actual community that pulled together to get the jobs done when the government wouldn’t or simply just didn’t has me hopeful.”

— Cliff B. Worsham, musician, “Several of the ways that our City Council and County Commission are spending the COVID recovery funding from the federal government are giving me some hope for the future.

Investing in housing the homeless, improving internet access, digital literacy, early education and many other projects should bring longer-term benefits to our community.

That, combined with the steps our community is taking toward reparations, are all giving me hope that we are moving in the right direction.”

— Andrew Celwyn, owner, Herbiary; member, Buncombe County Tourism Development Authoirty “What happened this year that gives me hope is witnessing leaders in faith institutions who, before the COVID-19 pandemic, were silent and complicit about state-sanctioned violence and structural racism but are now pushing to the forefront of justice issues, explicitly naming white supremacy in themselves, their churches and their denominations, and supporting the strategies of Black-bodied leaders to experience reparations and collective liberation.”

— Rev. Tami Forte Logan, founder, Faith 4 Justice Asheville “I am most hopeful about all the work that equity advocates are doing to shift policy, practice and procedural changes across the region. It’s unlikely we will solve all the issues surrounding racism, homophobia or anti-semitism in this lifetime, but I’m excited by the leaders that are getting educated, asking tough questions and leading the change. Daily, I’m inspired by community activists and teachers starting new initiatives and sharing new solutions. We have a lot of work to do, but I feel good about doing the work together.”

— Aisha Adams, program developer, Lenoir-Rhyne Equity & Diversity Institute X

See you next year!

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If there was one constant in local media this year, it was change. Here are some of 2021’s notable comings and goings in the Asheville area’s media landscape.

• We begin on a sad note with the recent passing of longtime and beloved local sports journalist Keith Jarrett. He passed away at 62 on Dec. 8 after suffering a tear in his aorta. The McDowell County native, who covered local sports for the Asheville CitizenTimes for 29 years before retiring from the paper in 2015, was lauded for this reportorial flair, generosity and humor.

• David Feingold, general manager and CEO of Blue Ridge Public Radio, retired this December after a long career in news broadcasting capped by six years at the Asheville-based network of NPR-affiliated stations.

He’s credited with overseeing significant reinventions and expansions while transitioning the former WCQS

to BPR. Mark Vogelzang has been named interim general manager.

• WLOS-TV, the local ABC affiliate, saw significant staff changes with moves by three of the station’s key personnel: longtime anchor, reporter and editor Frank Kracher retired in March; station Vice President and General Manager Joe Fishleigh retired in May; and veteran reporter and resident funnyman John Le departed in November for a new job at Fox 46 in Charlotte.

• Two of the Asheville Citizen-Times’ local fixtures moved up in their parent company’s ranks in 2021.

Longtime food writer, editor and author Mackensy Lunsford (also a former Mountain Xpress food writer) recently relocated to Nashville, Tenn., to work as the USA Today Network’s new food and culture storyteller for the South. And earlier this year, longtime reporter, editor and columnist Casey Blake was promoted to North Carolina statewide team editor for the same network.

• Lastly, Xpress’ managing editor, Virginia Daffron, stepped down from her position in June. Daffron began her work with the paper as a city reporter before taking on the position of managing editor in October 2017. She is replaced by Thomas Calder. X

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N EWS

BUNCOMBE BEAT

Council OKs Ramada proposal despite transparency concerns New Asheville government projects, such as the city’s much-ballyhooed reparations effort, tend to move at a pace charitably described as cautious. The conversion of an East Asheville Ramada Inn into permanent supportive housing for at least 100 homeless residents, authorized in a 6-1 vote by City Council Dec. 14, proved an exception.

The project was only announced to the public Dec. 3, and the single public meeting on the proposal prior to Council’s vote was held with one day’s notice Dec. 8. The pivot came after months of previous discussion about remodeling the hotel into a low-barrier shelter, plans that had met with opposition from neighborhood residents and a lack of support from potential funding partners such as Buncombe County.

Asheville leaders claimed that the speed was necessary due to the Dec. 15 expiration of the city’s purchase contract for the hotel.

Assigning those purchase rights to Shangri-La Industries, a Californiabased for-profit developer that has committed to maintain the property as supportive housing for 50 years, would still allow the city to shape the future of the site, said Director of Community and Economic Development Nikki Reid.

But Council member Antanette Mosley, the sole vote against the project, said the process had been deeply flawed. While she acknowledged that the city had not been required to issue a public request for proposals for the new Ramada plan, she said no staff member had explained why they couldn’t have taken that step toward transparency.

“When I asked how we ended up with the proposed partners from out of state, essentially I was told that staff reached out and had heard good things,” Mosley said, in reference to Shangri-La and California-based nonprofit Step Up on Second Street, which will operate supportive services at the property. “What I heard was the good-old-boy network taking place. And so by definition, to me, the process we undertook was not equitable.”

Several community members who commented during the meeting shared Mosley’s concerns. Rick Freeman, president of the Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods, said his 22

DEC. 22, 2021 - JAN. 4, 2022

HOME SWEET HOTEL: Asheville City Council voted 6-1 at its Dec. 14 meeting to approve the conversion of an East Asheville Ramada Inn to permanent supportive housing. Photo by Brooke Randle group had unsuccessfully pushed to delay the vote to allow for “thorough due diligence and thoughtful public engagement.” And West Asheville resident Grace Martinez suggested that “when private capital comes into these projects, I think we need to have a deeper conversation as a community about what that looks like, who is involved and where we want these funds to come from.”

Meanwhile, although Council member Kim Roney ultimately voted for the project, she said Asheville had failed by not already converting the Ramada into a low-barrier shelter.

She moved for the city to purchase the hotel and fund the low-barrier shelter itself, at an estimated cost of $24.75 million for five years, but the motion did not receive a second.

Shangri-La will entirely fund the purchase and remodeling of the hotel, recouping its investment from rents on the apartments (much of which will be subsidized with federal housing vouchers). But the city will commit $1.5 million to Step Up on Second Street for support services. Of those funds, $500,000 will come from federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars, with the remaining $1 million to be allocated from other sources in the future. Occupants of the permanent MOUNTAINX.COM

supportive housing are slated to start moving in late next year.

Occupants of the city’s current temporary shelter at the Ramada will be allowed to stay through March.

Emily Ball, Asheville’s homeless services systems lead, said the city and nonprofit partners would work to find permanent housing for all of those residents; 24 of the 80 staying at the shelter, she said, had already been accepted into housing programs.

Reid emphasized that the city will “continue to work with funding partners and the community on a new, consultant-led planning process for an emergency shelter.” She did not provide a timeline or funding details for the effort.

That lack of specificity irked Patrick Conant, director of local government transparency project Sunshine Request. “The city needs to clarify their commitment and specify a clear path forward for this community,” he said. “Furthermore, I’m also concerned by what seems to be a common cycle in our city.

You brought together local groups and individuals for months, created a plan, went under contract to buy a property, then bailed at the last minute; now, we need a ‘consultant-led planning process.’”

Homestay changes pass, allowing kitchens A long-running debate over the presence of kitchen facilities in Asheville’s homestays was finally resolved by a 6-1 Council vote in favor of new zoning rules. Property owners will now be allowed to rent out spaces that include a stove, fullsize refrigerator or sink on a shortterm basis; the practice had been banned in 2018 in an effort to preserve spaces for long-term renters.

According to data presented by Robert Michel, head of the Asheville Homestay Network, the kitchen rule hadn’t slowed homestay applications; instead, owners seeking to rent ineligible spaces had ripped out the offending appliances and utility hookups, with most spending between $500 and $1,000 to do so. “There have been some instances where we’ve lost housing stock as a result of this,” confirmed city Principal Planner Shannon Tuch.

Sage Turner was the only Council member to vote against the change, citing concerns that more residents would be displaced by property owners converting apartments into shortterm rentals. “I think the kitchens is a risk,” she said. “I just hope this doesn’t continue to push housing prices up.”

In addition to allowing kitchens, Council’s vote now prohibits detached accessory dwelling units from being used as homestays and requires owners with at least a 5% stake in a property to list themselves on homestay applications. Because homestay permits are limited to one per person, the latter move is designed to discourage outside investors from operating multiple properties as STRs. Mayor Esther Manheimer said the new rules brought greater clarity to Asheville’s regulations but acknowledged that identifying violations remained a problem. While she said city staff has been in negotiations with Airbnb, the leading STR platform, to gain better data on renters and their properties, an agreement is unlikely.

“Airbnb says, ‘We’ll be glad to be the police officers in all this and do the enforcement … but we’ll only do it if you promise to loosen up your short-term rental regulations and, for example, open up short-term rental opportunities in your entire downtown,’” Manheimer said. “It really puts us between a rock and a hard place.”

— Daniel Walton X

The Key to a New Barbering Career

Spending a moment with Asheville’s homeless residents Emily Witherspoon, one of Asheville’s more than 500 homeless residents, sits in the parking lot of Haywood Street Congregation with a bag of belongings at her side and a small pencil box full of flower wreaths she fingers through.

“People usually think we’re tweaking when we have all our stuff on the ground,” Witherspoon says. “But really we’re just making sure we have all our things together. That’s all we have.”

While drawing flowers on her jeans with a marker, Witherspoon recalls her time at Warren Wilson College studying yoga and therapy. But she left the school after a short while, she says, as mental illness created difficulties with her long-term memory.

Suddenly a hissing sound comes from Doug Short as he opens a can of pineapples with his pocketknife.

The friend of Witherspoon sits nearby, chiming in periodically.

“People just ignore us sometimes.

Like, I’ve had bus drivers completely drive past me at the bus stop,” Short says. “Makes it hard to get the stuff that we need sometimes because people will run us off.”

Short says people tend to discriminate against him just because of his looks, such as during a recent visit to a local cafe. “I was able to get a cheap biscuit at the counter and I asked where the bathroom was,” he recalls.

“But when I went back there, one of the girls working told me I wasn’t allowed into the bathroom because ‘She knew what I’d do.’”

The two have no shortage of anecdotes from their experiences on the street. They share details about which areas are safe to sleep near, which business owners are hostile toward homeless people and where the best places are to go “flying,” or asking for money with signs on the roadside.

Witherspoon says some men will approach and proposition her for sexual acts in exchange for cash or food.

“I know that some ladies do that, and that’s fine; they can make their own decisions,” Witherspoon says. “But I don’t, and it’s just really disrespectful that [men] just assume I will because I’m out here with nothing.”

After finishing his pineapples, Short says he has little to no access to basic resources — even small things like can openers for the food he sometimes receives from donations.

“It’s hard to even find drinking water without walking into a business,” Short says. “We rarely get access to microwaves to heat food up, people will shoo me away while I’m trying to rest, we spend all day

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A TIME TO REFLECT: Emily Witherspoon checks her phone battery in the parking lot of Haywood Street Congregation as Doug Short, left, sits nearby. Photo by Hayden Robinson walking around, and there’s no places to sit.”

Short says he used to suffer from opioid addiction acquired after a surgery years ago but has since tried to stay sober. “I see what people mean when it comes to our community and drug use,” he says. “I hate seeing [needle litter] everywhere too, and we both try our best to pick up after people. But I honestly don’t think our community uses drugs any more or less than middle-class folks.”

“We both have lost, like, four of our friends to opioids,” he adds. “Last month, four of them died from overdose. It’s heartbreaking.”

“Most of the time, I can be content enough without using drugs,” Witherspoon said. “I’m sober now and try not to waste money on it. It’s horrible to imagine, but when you’re living out here on your own, what else are we supposed to do?”

Witherspoon says the hardest part of being homeless is not being able to spend time with her three sons, who currently live with her ex-husband.

“I know he doesn’t want anything to do with me anymore,” she says. “I just want to see my boys and spend time with them.”

Witherspoon follows Sufism, an Islamic discipline that focuses on divine love through personal experience of God. She says her beliefs reinforce her ability to live with very little, and it has never really bothered her that she has no permanent housing.

“I know I’m on the street and don’t really have a house, but home is wherever you make it,” Witherspoon says.

“This is my home. I just want to be treated like a person.”

— Hayden Robinson X

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ASHEVILLE ARCHIVES

Cover time Every week, Xpress proudly displays a new issue in its purple distribution boxes. Each week’s cover comes about in a unique way, as our design and editorial teams work together with local photographers and illustrators to create an eye-catching visual.

Below, we’ve selected a cover from each month to highlight some of the important topics we covered in 2021.

— Thomas Calder X

Vol. 28, No. 25 Jan. 20-26

Vol. 28, No. 28 Feb. 10-16

Vol. 28, No. 35 March 31 - April 6

Vol. 28, No. 43 May 26 June 1

Vol. 28, No. 38 April 21-27

Vol. 28, No. 44 June 2-8

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25

FEA T U RE S

Q&A with Santa Claus (aka Dennis Reed) Don’t tell the kids, but Asheville’s most beloved Santa doesn’t live at the North Pole. Dennis Reed and his wife Deborah — aka Mr. and Mrs. Claus — reside in Haywood County, where they both grew up.

Dennis worked for 35 years at the Blue Ridge Paper plant and got his start as Santa in 2004 after Haywood County suffered a devastating flood.

The community decided a visit from Santa could help raise spirits.

“Well, guess who had the big belly and beard?” Reed says with a laugh.

He bought a cheap Santa suit from Walmart for the role and he says “after that, being Santa just grew and grew.”

So did the wardrobe: The Reeds have an entire room in their home devoted to Mr. and Mrs. Claus suits, dresses, accessories and accoutrements, including a set of century-old genuine Clydesdale bells. They’re also members of the Fraternal Order of Real Bearded Santas.

During the countdown to Christmas, the Reeds’ calendar fills up with appearances, parades and, prior to COVID-19, visits to schools and nursing homes. After a pause on the Asheville Holiday Parade in 2020 due to the pandemic, it returned on Nov. 20. The occasion was particularly meaningful for Reed, who donned the Santa suit worn at the very first Asheville Holiday Parade and many years after. “Deborah and I met a fellow who had found it in a city property building he was cleaning out more than 30 years ago and couldn’t bring himself to throw the Santa suit in the dumpster,” Dennis recalls. “He wanted me to have it. It seemed like the 75th parade was the right time to wear it.”

Xpress spoke with Dennis about the tricks of the trade, the best way

26

DEC. 22, 2021 - JAN. 4, 2022

MAKING A LIST: Dennis and Deborah Reed are members of the Fraternal Order of Real Bearded Santas. Photo courtesy of the Reeds for parents to photograph crying kids on Santa’s lap and how to get off the naughty list (yes, it’s possible!).

What are your favorite memories of Christmas?

It was a really big deal to get to go to Asheville at Christmas, go to the parade and to Sears. We just had our little stores in Canton. When I was a boy, you’d get to go to the big

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Sears store, you’d see Santa, all the appliances, all the toys, all the lights.

It was like going to a magic place.

Did you sit on Santa’s knee?

Oh yes! One year I wanted a bicycle so bad. Santa brought me one and a Gene Autry vest, two little cap busters, a pair of boots and a cowboy hat.

I rode my bicycle around like it was a horse. I was the bicycle cowboy!

In 2000, you and your wife attended Santa school at Gatlinburg’s biannual Santa convention. What did you learn at Santa school?

How to deal with children is the biggest thing. You don’t want to come up to children with a big “HO, HO, HO!” That’s terrifying to a child. You come up gentle and let them see your happiness and joy and pass that joy to them. You learn what makes children happy and what they respond to. You learn the business side and fun side, the good and bad. Always keep your hands visible, for example.

Experienced Santas share advice.

How do you manage and comfort the kids who are frightened, crying or having a tantrum?

A lot of parents want the photo of their kids crying. I will cry with them.

I’ll hold him, let them scream and I do a silent scream. The photo looks like both of us are terrified of each other.

I talk to them and be calm, but if they’re real upset, I may say “Okay, I need to take a little break” and walk away. My wife will tell the parents to sit their child in the chair and I’ll come up behind them and bend down over the chair. I have my finger across my mouth going “Shhhhh!”

[The kids] don’t know I’m there and it makes a great picture.

What do you do about adults who want to sit on Santa’s knee?

I let them. We went to a nursing home in Waynesville a few years back and this little lady was 102 years old.

She said ‘I’m gonna sit on Santa’s knee’ and they rolled her up in her wheelchair. They helped her onto my knee. She told me she could remember the very first time Santa came to the log cabin she lived in up in the mountains. Santa left her a orange and red ribbon for her hair. Isn’t that amazing? A 102-year-old telling you the memory of her first Christmas almost 100 years before.

What is the best cookie to leave for Santa on Christmas Eve? Chocolate chip, of course! It’s Santa’s favorite all year.

What is your favorite Christmas carol?

“Jingle Bells” is our trademark song. I have brass bells hanging off each side of my belt, so I jingle while I walk. The kids hear the bells coming and get so excited. We have them sing “Jingle Bells” really loud so Rudolph can hear it at the North Pole.

Have you seen Christmas miracles?

We’ve had miracles happen every year! Being Mr. and Mrs. Claus can be a little overwhelming. It’s a big responsibility. Kids come up to you believing you might have some help or hope for them. They say ‘Santa, can you help us?’ It never, ever fails: If a need comes, the good Lord answers.

What is the message of Christmas you want to share?

Our motto is ‘Love one another.’

Just think what a wonderful world we’d have if you looked after me and I looked after you. If we passed that around and shared the love, it would spread worldwide. We have to get back to love and caring for one another. Love is the only thing that can bring people together.

Do you have a naughty list?

Well, Mrs. Claus and I like to tell people there is always time to get off the naughty list. It’s never too late to do good and be good.

— Kay West X

ASHEVILLE ARCHIVES

by Thomas Calder | tcalder@mountainx.com

Past, present and future

3 local historians speak of 2021’s historical achievements

As the year nears its end, Xpress reached out to three local historians to discuss historical moments from 2021, as well as highlights from this year’s local history-focused initiatives and projects. Featured are Crystal Cauley, business owner and founder of Black History Collective of Hendersonville County; Ellen Pearson Holmes, Roy Carroll Professor of Arts & Sciences and professor of history at UNC Asheville; and Heather South, lead archivist at Western Regional Archives.

What 2021 local event or community decision will make its way into future history books?

Cauley: At the first Hendersonville City Council meeting this year, Joseph Knight, CEO of Hands On! Children’s Museum made a proposal for a new museum, The People’s Museum. Knight received unanimous support and $120,000 fund agreement to help with this expansion of a space that will celebrate diversity in Henderson County. The People’s Museum will highlight the African American experience with topics concerning slavery, religion, education, Black-owned businesses and true stories regarding The Kingdom of the Happy Land. The space will also have original artwork by myself and Diamond Cash.

Pearson Holmes: Mine is a tie between Asheville City Council’s vote to remove the Vance Monument (and its subsequent removal) and the City Council’s appropriation of $2.1 million for community reparations to address the historical discrimination, oppression and denial of liberties to Black residents of Asheville. Either way, it’s the Asheville City Council for the win!

South: The addition of Pisgah View State Park is definitely one for the history books. The mountains and our wild and wonderful natural areas are such a draw. Adding a new state park in the region is going to help land conservation, preserve nature and allow more hiking, nature watching and fun.

ONE FOR THE BOOKS: Local historians, scholars and archivists discuss 2021 highlights from local history projects, as well as present-day events that are historical in nature. Featured, from left, are Crystal Cauley, Ellen Pearson Holmes and Heather South. Photos courtesy of Cauley, Pearson Holmes and South Outside of your own work, what 2021 local history project stands out to you the most and why?

Cauley: This year the African American Neighborhood Project group came together to discuss how to preserve African American history, especially as it relates to former historic neighborhoods in Hendersonville that were removed during urban renewal. Brooklyn, for example, was once a predominantly African American community that was renamed in 1972 to the present-day Green Meadows community. Meanwhile, Black Bottom, previously located behind today’s Chamber of Commerce, was once an area filled with homes until businesses were built and former homeowners were shifted to federal public housing projects.

The other historic neighborhoods are West End and Peacock Town, which were not impacted by urban renewal.

Upcoming projects include the installation of historical markers, as well as an interactive app showing landmarks of former Black businesses and communities.

Pearson Holmes: For me it’s got to be Andrea Clark’s James Vester Miller Historic Walking Trail, which offers a walking tour of the buildings that her grandfather designed and built. Mr. Miller was a formerly enslaved man

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who became a master brick mason. He designed and built landmarks such as St. Matthias Episcopal and Mount Zion Missionary Baptist churches and the old Asheville post office, which was built around 1892 and demolished in 1932.

Ms. Clark’s beautifully constructed trail uncovers a compelling story about Mr. Miller’s career during the Jim Crow years and his important contributions to Asheville’s architectural history.

South: Many historic sites and museums made new strides in 2021 to shine a light on stories and people that haven’t been given the attention they deserve.

A great example of this is the Vance Birthplace State Historic Site’s True Inclusion Initiative [an online campaign using the hashtag #TrueInclusion].

The site’s thoughtful research and Juneteenth installation is not only bringing awareness — they are changing the cultural conversation surrounding enslaved individuals and their lives here in Western North Carolina.

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

Cauley: I am most proud of is the monthlong events I organized celebrat-

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ing Juneteenth. I had two public displays at the Henderson County Public Library and Hola Cultural Center. I advocated for a Juneteenth proclamation that was approved by city Mayor Barbara Volk. There was an invitation to speak to youths of different ages at the Boys and Girls Club of Henderson County about Juneteenth’s history, official flag, our local proclamation and the fact that President Joe Biden recognized Juneteenth as a federal holiday, which is awesome! The events featured dance performances by Carolina Diva Diamonds, spoken-word poetry by Tony Robles, a musical performance by singer Jewel Ward and African drumming. What stands out to me the most, however, is the spoken word poem “Ashes to Ashes” that I wrote and performed. It pays homage to the countless African Americans who were enslaved in Henderson County. The poem also included a dance interpretation performed by Indian Jackson.

Pearson Holmes: My proudest moment during 2021 was watching Mr. George Gibson, founder of the South Asheville Cemetery Association, receive the Historic Resources Commission’s Historic Resources Champion Award.

The award was actually presented to both Mr. Gibson and posthumously to the family of Mr. George Taylor. “The Georges” devoted decades to preserving the South Asheville Cemetery, a historic African American cemetery in the Kenilworth neighborhood. The cemetery and St. John “A” Baptist church was also named to the National Register of Historic Places in 2021. I am proud to chair the South Asheville Cemetery Association and to benefit from Mr. Gibson’s mentorship.

South: My role has been small, but I’m really proud of helping with the River Front Development Group on the Asheville African American Heritage Trail project, expected to be completed in 2022. The wayfinding signage and markers will bring light to the underrecognized contributions of Asheville’s Black community. My hope is that this connection of people, place and past will continue to expand and be here for generations to come. X

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR DEC. 22, 2021-JAN. 6, 2022 For a full list of community calendar guidelines, please visit mountainx.com/calendar. For questions about free listings, call 828-251-1333, opt. 4. For questions about paid calendar listings, please call 828-251-1333, opt. 1.

Online Events = Shaded WELLNESS Sparkle Time - Holistic Senior Exercise Aerobic, strengthening, balance and flexibilty.

Proof of vaccination and booster required.

WE (12/22, 29), (1/5), MO (12/27) (1/3),10:30am, Avery’s Creek Community Center, 899 Glennbridge Rd SE, Arden Skate-ville All levels. Every Wednesday and Sunday.

WE (12/22, 29), 8:30am, SU (12/26, 1/2), 3pm, Carrier Park, 220 Amboy Rd Montford Tai Chi Hosted by local acupuncturist Tyler White. All ages, every Thursday.

TH (12/23, 30) (1/6), Free, Montford Recreation Center, 34 Pearson Dr Ben's Friends A local meeting of the national support group for people in the hospitality industry struggling with addiction.

MO (12/27), 10am, Free, AB Tech Culinary Arts & Hospitality School, 30 Tech Dr Steady Collective Syringe Access Outreach Free naloxone, syringes and educational material on harm reduction.

TU (12/28), (1/4), 2pm, Firestorm Books & Coffee, 610 Haywood Rd Introduction to Tai Chi Taught by Roger Byrd Class size is limited.

TU (12/28), (1/4), 10:30am, Free, Asheville Yoga Center, 211 S Liberty St Quest4Life 5Rhythms Waves Class Weekly instructional classes based on Gabrielle Roth's work.

No dance experience necessary.

TU (12/28), (1/4), 7pm, $12-22, Terpsicorps Academy, 1501 Patton Ave

8th Annual New Year's Resolution Run Participants of all ages and levels are welcome to participate in the 5 or 10K, which ends with a hot chocolate bar and more. Presented by iDaph Events.

SA (1/1), 10am, Downtown Asheville

ART Preserving a Picturesque America: Along the French Broad Art Sale & Exhibit Features original artworks by local artists of the mountain landscapes in the Hot Springs area.

Through Dec. 31, closed Dec. 25.

Big Pillow Brewing, 25 Andrews Ave N, Hot Springs Joyful Light A group show featuring images that welcome the light and joy of the season. Daily through Dec. 31, closed Dec. 24 and 25.

11am, Asheville Gallery of Art, 82 Patton Ave Mountain Inspirations January show featuring three new artists: Jan Smith, Mandy Kjellstrom, and Raymond Byram.

Daily from 11am to 6pm, through Dec. 31, closed Dec. 24 and 25.

11am, Asheville Gallery of Art, 82 Patton Ave The Last Rock & Roll Art Show Fourteen artists from NC were given 12 months to create or produce pieces for the exhibition. Artwork and photography for bands include popular acts such as Widespread Panic, Animal Collective and Wilco. Daily through Jan. 2, closed Dec. 25.

12pm, Push Skate Shop & Gallery, 25 Patton Ave Nocturne A collection of works in a variety of media that celebrates the drama and mystery of the night.

Open daily 10-6, Sundays 12-5, closed Dec. 25.

10am, Momentum Gallery, 24 N Lexington Ave

IT’S GOOD TO BE THE KING … AND QUEEN: Asheville Mardi Gras will hold its annual Twelfth Night celebration Thursday, Jan. 6, 7-11 p.m. at Grove House. Participate in the tradition of receiving a slice of king cake and become royalty for the 2022 season if your slice contains the tiny plastic baby. DJ Chilligan will spin festive tunes. Photo courtesy of Asheville Mardi Gras Small Work/Big Impact Annual exhibition that assembles intimately-scaled works in a variety of media by gallery artists and special guests. Open daily 10-6, Sundays 12-5, closed Dec. 25.

Momentum Gallery, 24 N Lexington Ave A Dance of Images and Words: The Nancy Graves/Pedro Cuperman Tango Portfolio Exhibition presents Graves’s eight prints alongside the portfolio frontispiece and a page of Cuperman’s text to immerse visitors in the collaborative dance of the tango. Daily except Tuesdays. Closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square Gestures: Mid-Century Abstraction from the Collection Explores works in a

See you next year!

28

DEC. 22, 2021 - JAN. 4, 2022

variety of media that speak to the vibrant abstract experiments in American art making during the middle of the 20th century. Daily except Tuesdays. Closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square Modernist Design at Black Mountain College Highlights the collection of design from Black Mountain College and situates it in the context of its influences and surroundings at BMC. Daily except Tuesdays. Closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square Ruminations on Memory On view in conjunction with A Living Language: Cherokee Syllabary and Contemporary Art. Daily except Tuesdays. Closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

is taking next week off!

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ᎢᏛᏍᎦ ᏫᏥᏤᎢ ᎠᎵᏰᎵᏒ Weaving Across Time Showcases the works of nine Eastern Band Cherokee basket makers - touching on the dynamic evolution of lineage, sustainability, and cultural expression.

M-F through Apr. 22.

Closed Dec. 25.

11am, Center for Craft, 67 Broadway Gallery Group Show: Revanant A response to the pandemic and a “post-pandemic” world.

Showing are local sculpture artist Julie Slattery, Copenhagen artist øjeRum, Dan Hillier, and Netherlands’ artist Juul Kraijer.

Wednesdays through Saturdays, closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.

Continuum Art, 147 ste C, 1st Ave E, Hendersonville Unearthing Our Forgotten Past Exhibit exploring the Spanish occupation of Fort San Juan and the native people who lived in the Joara area of WNC. Sponsored by the Western NC Historical Association.

TH (12/23, 30), (1/6), FR (12/31), 10:30am, Smith-McDowell House Museum, 283 Victoria Rd

SPOKEN & WRITTEN WORD Malaprop's Science Fiction Book Club Participants will discuss Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik.

MO (12/27), 10pm, Registration required, avl.mx/7on The Apocalypse Crunchmen Avant garde sound poets from Roanoke, VA. Zoom option available, email ccc.avl. nc@gmail.com at least 24 hours before event for link. Donations appreciated.

TH (12/30), 7pm, Center for Connection + Collaboration New Year's Eve Community Readings Ring in 2022 with poems of New Year and Yuletide, hope and resolution.

FR (12/31), 8pm, Center for Connection + Collaboration Malaprop's WILD (Women in Lively Discussion) Book Club Participants will discuss Piranesi by Susanna Clarke.

TU (1/4), 6:30pm, Registration required., avl.mx/9or

Miss Malaprop's Storytime Recommended for ages 3-9.

WE (1/5), 10am, Registration required, avl.mx/7b9 Intro to Flash Fiction Discussion and practice of the genre include microfiction, nanofiction, short-short fiction, sudden fiction, and prose poetry.

WE (1/5), 10:30am, Fairview Library, 1 Taylor Rd, Fairview Malaprop's Book Club Participants will discuss The Great Fire by Shirley Hazzard.

WE (1/5), 7pm, Registration required, avl.mx/9s5 Swannanoa Library Book Club Discussion of Eleanor Olipant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman.

TH (1/6) 4pm, avl.mx/b11 Julia Smith and Joanna Pearson in Conversation A conversation between Julia Smith, author of the memoir The Sum of Trifles, and Joanna Pearson, author of Now You Know It All. Sponsored by Malaprop's.

TH (1/6), 6pm, Registration required, avl.mx/azb

East Asheville Library Book Club This month's pick is The 100 Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin.

TH (1/6), 6:30pm, avl.mx/b12 Malaprop's Crime and Politics Book Club Participants will discuss A Silent Fury: The El Bordo Mine Fire by Yuri Herrera.

TH (1/6), 7pm, Registration required, avl.mx/ahj

FILM Harold and Maude 50th Anniversary Screening A special showing of a classic.

TH (12/23), 7pm, $10, Grail Moviehouse, 17 Foundy St

CLASSES, MEETINGS & WNC Chapter of Project Linus Meeting to process blanket donations to give out in 12 WNC counties. For meeting time and location, contact Ellen Knoefel at (828)6458800 gknoefel@

Introducing the charter.net or Pat Crawford(828)883-8746 in Transylvania County.

TU (1/4) Laurel Chapter of the Embroiderers' Guild of America Annual outreach to Project Linus. Participants will create no-sew fleece blankets.

TH (1/6), 9:30am, Cummings United Methodist Church, 3 Banner Farm Rd, Horse Shoe

LOCAL MARKETS Weaverville Tailgate Market The last market of the season WE (12/22), 2pm, 60 Monticello Rd, Weaverville River Arts District Winter Market Local produce, cheese, breads, meats and more.

WE (1/5), 3pm, Pleb Urban Winery, 289 Lyman St YMCA Mobile Market Bring grocery bags and get fresh food. All community members are welcome.

TH (1/6), 4:30pm, Free, Enka-Candler Library, 1404 Sandhill Rd, Candler

HOLIDAY EVENTS Lake Julian Festival of Lights A drive-through tour with thousands of lights around the lake. Nightly through Dec. 23.

6pm, Lake Julian Park and Marina, 406 Overlook Extension, Arden Howliday Dog Drive Accepting donations of new or gently used sheets and towels, bleach, garbage bas, dog treats and toys, small blankets and more to benefit Charlie’s Angels Animal Rescue, through Dec. 31.

Ruff Life Training Center, 95 Thompson St Asheville Humane Society Giving Tree Give to the wishlist by choosing one of the one-of-a-kind, paw-made pieces of art made by animals in the society’s care and find an item or dollar amount attached.

Through Dec. 31.

Asheville Humane Society, 14 Forever Friend Ln NCGC Winter Wonderland With glass ornaments, snowflakes, snowmen, candy canes, and live glassblowing demonstrations, through Dec. 31.

Closed Dec. 25 and 26.

North Carolina Glass Center, 140 Roberts St, Ste B Sippin’ Santa A holiday oasis with over the top kitschy, festive décor and a tiki themed cocktail menu, with 10% of all proceeds from the

sale of signature glassware to the James Beard Foundation’s Open for Good campaigns. Daily through Dec. 31 The Montford Rooftop Bar, 199 Haywood St Miracle on Haywood Road A holiday-themed pop up bar with specialty drinks and decor. Nightly except Wednesdays through Dec. 31. Closed Dec. 25.

The Golden Pineapple, 503 Haywood Rd NC Arboretum Winter Lights: Forest & Garden Whimsy The event is the Arboretum’s largest annual fundraiser, to support educational programs.

Ticket prices online at ncwinterlights.com.

Nightly through Jan. 1.

6pm, NC Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way Winter Tree Carnival Over 50 decorated trees will be on display, featuring creative, unique decor from local brands and non-profits. Daily except Monday (weather permitting), through Jan. 2. Outdoors.

Free, Rabbit Rabbit, 75 Coxe Ave Winter Wonderland The historic 1920s building is decked for the holidays with Mr. and Mrs. Claus visits, a tree lighting ceremony, indoor snow and more.

Through Jan. 3.

Grove Arcade, 1 Page Ave Deck The Trees: A Black Mountain Christmas Thirty-five plus decorated trees situated at the Monte Vista Hotel and in stores and businesses throughout Black Mountain and the Swannanoa Valley, to help raise funds for the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry Fuel Fund. Daily through Jan. 3.

Various locations, Black Mountain 29th Annual National Gingerbread House Competition A holiday tradition, on display daily through Jan. 22.

The Omni Grove Park Inn, 290 Macon Ave Virtual Holiday Jazz Hour with Michael Jefry Stevens Sponsored by the Enka Friends of the Library and the "One Buncombe" Grant from MountainBizWorks.

WE (12/22), 6:30pm, avl.mx/b0e Holiday Pop Up Market A celebration of local and indie craft, design and vintage.

WE (12/22), TH (12/23), FR (12/24), 12pm, Archetype Tap Lounge + Venue, 174 Broadway Family Christmas Eve Service For children and families to usher in the wonder of Christmas through interactive storytelling,

carols, and candles.

FR (12/24), 10:30am, First Baptist Church of Asheville, 5 Oak St Christmas Eve Candlelight Service All are welcome.

FR (12/24), 4:30pm, Trinity United Methodist Church, 587 Haywood Rd Early 1800s Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Musical selections during the service, which will be from the 1800s or earlier, will be performed on Celtic harp, hammer dulcimer, flute, guitar, organ and piano. The Chancel Choir will also be performing period pieces.

FR (12/24), 5pm, Asbury Memorial UMC, 171 Beaverdam Rd It’s A Wonderful Life - 75th Anniversary Screening An annual tradition.

FR (12/24), SA (12/25), SU (12/26), Various times, $10, Grail Moviehouse, 17 Foundy St Holiday Camp for Teens Enjoy games, activities, crafts, exercise and all kinds of holiday fun, presented by Asheville Parks and Rec, camp runs Dec. 27-31.

8:30am, Stephens Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave YMI Cultural Center Kwanzaa Celebration The celebration will include a presentation on the Kwanzaa principles, the origins of Kwanzaa, and an opportunity to learn about the significance of Kwanzaa to the African-American community. This year’s featured artist is “The Magic of African Rhythm,” an African-American dance and drum troupe from Raleigh, NC. TH (12/30), 3pm, YMI Cultural Center, 39 S Market St New Year's Eve Apple Rise A family celebration with children's crafts and activities, hot beverages, NYE swag and a DJ. FR (12/31), 5pm, Hendersonville Historic Courthouse Square, Hendersonville Twelfth Night Partake in a slice of King Cake and become the King or Queen for the Asheville Mardi Gras season. Music by DJ Chilligan.

TH (1/6), 7pm, Grove House Entertainment Complex, 11 Grove St

OUTDOORS WNC Sierra Club Teams with Black Folks Camp Too Earl B. Hunter, Jr., founder and president,

will talk to Sierra Club members and friends about how his company is encouraging black people to participate in camping, particularly in America’s National Parks.

TH (1/6), 7pm, Free, avl.mx/b0o 2022 Virtual Hiking Challenge The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy Virtual Hiking Challenge sets a goal for participants to complete 60 miles in 60 days. Sign up online before Feb. 1. avl.mx/az0

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SPIRITUALITY Sacred Circle Dance with Maggie Moon A way to be connected to the spirit through our bodies, the two hour session includes opening and closing rituals, silence after each dance, and personal sharing.

FR (12/24), 2:30pm, UR Light Center, 2196 NC-9, Black Mountain Online Baha'i Sunday Devotional This informal gathering is unstructured, welcoming all to share prayers, readings, music, and inspiration.

SU (12/26), (1/2), 10am, avl.mx/a4t NYE Prayer Celebration: Loving Creation Facilitators include Jackie Boyce, Leslie Cotney, Ph.D., and Tully Moss. Composer and artist Richard Shulman provides inspired piano music at the evening, in-person session.

FR (12/31), 10am, UR Light Center, 2196 NC-9, Black Mountain Jewish Power Hour Weekly Torah class via Zoom. All are welcome.

TH (1/6), 6pm, avl.mx/b0h

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Your donated car can open the doors to independence, increased income, and higher education for a hardworking member of our community. Vehicles of all types and conditions are welcomed and appreciated!

The donation is tax-deductible. The process is simple.

The impact is real.

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VOLUNTEERING NC Arboretum Winter Lights Volunteers Needed Play a vital role in guest experience and safety. Needed nightly 5:30-10pm through Jan. 1. Receive a complimentary ticket after completing three shifts.

Email volunteering@ ncarboretum.org NC Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way Experiential Garden Volunteers Needed Looking for people who are interested in landscaping, gardening, carpentry, and art.

Please contact Polly Phillips at pphillips@ verneremail.org.

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DEC. 22, 2021 - JAN. 4, 2022

29

WELLNESS

Coping with COVID-19 Community members discuss 2021 health concerns

For nearly two years, the COVID19 pandemic has been at the forefront of many Western North Carolina conversations about health. The region may at times feel beautifully isolated from the rest of the world by its mountains, but the prevalence of coronavirus and its impact on people’s lives have continued to demonstrate WNC’s global interconnectedness.

2021 saw most people, including children ages 5 and older, become eligible for COVID-19 vaccination. Some were eager for these shots; others refused while challenging other pandemic measures.

Businesses grappled with reactions from both customers and employees to vaccine and mask mandates, and some municipalities and schools developed incentives to encourage vaccination. Area hospitals began offering monoclonal antibody infusions to lessen the severity of the illness among those infected. The arrival of the delta and omicron variants continued to pressure mental health and mental health care providers.

While COVID-19 may have dominated WNC’s psyche in 2021, it was by no means the only health and wellness story Xpress told.

Buncombe County continued to face opioid abuse head-on, and everyone from health care providers to musicians sought to address the problem in their own ways. Also this year, Buncombe County Emergency Services and several other agencies debuted a post-overdose response team program designed to connect opioid users with harm-reduction strategies and other services.

The year saw the closure of the WNC Birth Center, leaving Asheville without a 24/7 midwifery option.

And a bit further north, the Outland Family Clinic opened at a church in Mars Hill to provide free health care to anyone in need.

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PONKHO BERMEJO

DEC. 22, 2021 - JAN. 4, 2022

YEAR YEAR REVIEW IN

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HOW TO SAVE A LIFE: Musicians for Overdose Prevention board members Bayla Ostrach, left, and JP Kennedy want to make naloxone, the overdose-reversal drug, accessible in Asheville. Photo courtesy of MOP For a fuller picture of life in wellness this year, Xpress solicited reflections from people in various Buncombe County fields. Not surprisingly, COVID-19, opioid abuse, mental health and self-care came up a lot.

— Jessica Wakeman How has your field?

COVID-19

impacted

“As we have gone through the COVID-19 pandemic, I have seen

SHANNON CORNELIUS MOUNTAINX.COM

BLAKE FAGAN

many people in the emergency services field, including myself, struggle with finding a balance between caring for their communities by providing the lifesaving services desperately needed and caring for themselves, as well as their own families. I find myself still trying to problem-solve solutions to the issues our department and community face, even during my own personal free time.”

— Taylor Jones, Emergency Services director, Buncombe County

CLAIRE HUBBARD

TAYLOR JONES

“Like the year before, 2021 has been incredibly challenging for health care providers as we continue to help our communities navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Although it’s been tough, I’ve never been prouder to be a health care provider, and I’ve never felt closer to my colleagues and fellow community members. Time and time again, we have risen to the occasion to support each other. In the process, we’ve learned to become more innovative and resilient as an industry and as a nation. I’m more committed than ever to practice medicine and serve my community so we can all thrive.”

— Dr. Blake Fagan, incoming chair, Mountain Area Health Education Center Department of Family Medicine “All over the country, we are experiencing a shortage of paramedics and people interested in pursuing careers in public safety. Until we can more effectively recruit, train, hire and retain people from a diversity of backgrounds and life experiences to stay and grow in these roles, we will continue to experience these large-scale shortages.

Not only do staffing shortages in emergency medical care negatively impact patient care, but they affect the well-being and resiliency of our providers due to burnout, overload and the cumulative effects of trauma without time to properly address it.”

— Claire Hubbard, community paramedic program manager, Buncombe County

What concerned you about the impact of opioids in 2021?

“I was caught a bit off guard when I saw the overdose death statistics this past April. The rate has increased 29% over the previous year. More people are dying in 2021 from an opioid-related overdose than they were before the pandemic.

In fact, in 2018, we actually saw a 5% decrease in accidental overdoses. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, however, as substance use disorders thrive in isolation, and isolation is

JP KENNEDY

KEYNON LAKE

something many of us have experienced during the pandemic. It’s an important reminder that community and social support networks are powerful medicine for well-being.”

— Dr. Blake Fagan “Over 100,000 people died from overdose in 2021, the most in any year. The underlying issues of poverty, mental health, trauma and generational trauma continue. Anxiety and depression have increased, and people self-medicate. With fentanyl, which is in so many drugs now, overdose is rampant. Everyone I know has someone in their family or their close friend group who is facing this issue. And nothing changes. The ordinary person loses.

Big Pharma wins. Big Pharma made billions on the overprescription of opioids and is now making billions on naloxone.”

— JP Kennedy, co-founder, Musicians for Overdose Prevention What is one way that your well-being suffered in 2021?

“Probably self-care. While I am fully aware how important it is to take care of myself, I usually sacrifice or put others before me and my needs. I’m working on this, though. I know better; I just have to do better.”

— Keynon Lake, executive director, My Daddy Taught Me That “I miss being around people and traveling with ease. I have a 4-yearold who won’t be able to get vaccinated until next year and I am never quite certain it is a good idea to make travel plans to take her places — not only for her health, but also for the health and well-being of the people we are visiting or traveling with. That inability to plan ahead

and know for certain we can see friends and family seems like a new way of life.”

— Shannon Cornelius, health justice program director, Pisgah Legal Services What is something in 2021 has made you feel optimistic about 2022?

“The different rapid responses to the pandemic to help the community and to offer resources directly to where they are needed the most.

For example, BeLoved Asheville has helped to vaccinate hundreds of people by holding vaccination events directly in mobile home communities, under bridges, in restaurants, in the bus station and in camps where homeless people live, making sure everyone had access to the vaccine.”

— Ponkho Bermejo, co-director, BeLoved Asheville “As the executive director of the nonprofit Center for Native Health it has been extremely rewarding to build a strong organizational foundation to impact Indigenous communities in positive ways alongside partners like Dogwood Health Trust.”

— Trey Adcock, executive director, Center for Native Health “Things are changing — at least in the music scene. It’s been tough with the pandemic and no live shows.

But musicians are talking with each other about mental health, overdose, checking in with each other, carrying naloxone, looking after each other.

If this is all going to get better, feel safer, more secure, this is the way it happens — with small acts of kindness. If a bunch of punks with bad attitudes can look after each other, we all can.”

— JP KennedyX

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DEC. 22, 2021 - JAN. 4, 2022

31

ARTS & CULTURE

Creative solutions

Arts leaders reflect on a tumultuous year

YEAR YEAR REVIEW IN

REVIEW

Xpress asked eight local members of the arts community to discuss the highs and lows of an unpredictable year. Featured below are reflections from Davaion “Spaceman Jones” Bristol, hip-hop artist and Urban Combat Wrestling founder; Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle, author of Even As We Breathe; Alli Marshall, creator of Asheville Music History Walking Tour; Tamara Sparacino, Asheville Community Theatre interim executive director; Reggie Tidwell, photographer and graphic designer; Jessica Tomasin, Echo Mountain Recording studio manager and Asheville Music Professionals co-founder; Jennifer Trudrung, actor, screenwriter and director; and Scott “Doc” Varn, Preserving a Picturesque America founder.

— Edwin Arnaudin What person or local business within your industry made a significant difference in 2021 and why?

Saunooke Clapsaddle: I have been most excited to see the work of three Eastern Band Cherokee women — Maggie Jackson, Sheyahshe Littledave and Ahlisha Stephens — who created and launched the We Are Resilient: A MMIW True Crime Podcast. This podcast shines a critical spotlight on the plight of missing and murdered Indigenous women in the U.S., as well as brings a Native American cultural lens to the conversation, thus creating awareness and building a more nuanced approach to addressing this national crisis.

Marshall: The Sly Grog Lounge does so much to offer performance

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MOVERS, SHAKERS: Clockwise from top left, Davaion “Spaceman Jones” Bristol, Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle, Alli Marshall, Tamara Sparacino, Reggie Tidwell, Jessica Tomasin, Jennifer Trudrung and Scott “Doc” Varn look back on the year that was. Photos courtesy of the artists space to fringe and experimental acts in Asheville’s arts scene. The staff and owners are wonderful supporters of local art and music, and their outdoor patio made it possible for live music to return to the venue even during the pandemic.

I encourage everyone to help Sly Grog recover from the fire it recently suffered — a number of benefits have been organized.

Tomasin: Many artists turned to livestreaming during the pandemic, and one person who really stepped up to the plate in our music community is Josh Blake.

He founded and runs IamAVL (Independent Arts and Music Asheville), which has been behind livestreams in our community for years, including “Echo Sessions,” streamed live from Echo Mountain and then broadcast at a later date on PBS. When the pandemic hit, Blake was primed and ready to elevate the quality of the numerous livestreams that came out of our music community. He and his team were pivotal in facilitating a way for many artists to access MOUNTAINX.COM

high-quality streaming services while also raising roughly $45,000 for artists.

Sparacino: ACT has been working with Alexandria Ravenel and David Greenson from Collaborative Organizing in 2021. They are leading us in meaningful and hard conversations around racism. I find both of these people deeply inspiring because they are listeners as well as truth-tellers, and are creating space and accountability for facing the difficult work ahead of us. The difference that this will make is yet to be fully realized, but it’s an opportunity to grapple with our shadow side, both individually and organizationally. If we can do it honestly and with care, we can significantly change how we impact our world.

Bristol: For me, it’s not just one person. It’s the people who choose to buy the tickets and the merchandise — the ones who come to events.

They are the folks who made the most difference. Paying attention to what they want and delivering it is very important.

What was the greatest threat to your industry or arts community this year?

Trudrung: I was incredibly excited to return to movie theaters this year — partly because I know how much the independent cinemas in town struggled during the pandemic. I also know the lack of a live audience was incredibly hard for the live theater community. The financial strain of not having regular shows had a huge impact on the industry.

Also, many actors and crew members struggled financially because TV and film production was still limited this past year.

Tidwell: The greatest threat to the graphic design industry in 2021, as I see it, was burnout. I talked to many people that feared they were close to burnout because they were working more and vacationing less.

I think so many people still aren’t comfortable traveling, and it has taken its toll. In the photography industry, the lack of travel hasn’t necessarily led to potential burn-

out, but it has lessened the size of our playground, so to speak.

Varn: It has been a challenging year for everyone navigating the ever-changing data stream and subsequent emotions. In some ways, that has been a new target of inspiration for creatives. Having subject matter that literally everyone can relate to affects the creative process tremendously. But for those not in the creative field taking advantage of that outlet, it’s simply confusing and frustrating.

So, I don’t necessarily blame the community for their lack of financial support to the artists. I don’t believe that most realized that purchasing art in these challenging times is still important.

Bristol: The greatest threat is still COVID. We have a ton of light at the end of that particular tunnel with vaccinations, which will do more to help us out of this fear that’s kept us in for so long. More folks will be out and about and looking for things to do — and that’s good for all of us.

Saunooke Clapsaddle: Indie publishers and bookstores are poised to best put authentic narratives in the hands of readers. So, the greatest threat to authors this year is a continued consolidation of major publishing houses and a reliance on big business book sales. When this occurs, fewer diverse voices are made accessible to readers, and community literacy suffers as online retailers push out independent presses and bookstores. This trend threatens not only the arts and artists, but also small-town economies.

As publishing and sales become more corporate, it is increasingly difficult for independents to financially survive. If they don’t survive, writers don’t survive.

Tomasin: COVID has continued to shake the entire music industry.

We certainly did not go “back to normal.” Tours and festivals con-

stantly had to grapple with difficult decisions in order to prioritize safety, often at a significant financial cost. Even livestreams and recording sessions required vigilance to keep from spreading the virus.

Although some concerts and tours did occur over 2021, many were rescheduled or canceled, and there are a large number of professionals in our music community who continue to be financially devastated by the pandemic.

What inspired you this year and how did you use this inspiration within your work?

Trudrung: This past year I have struggled with watching my father disappear with dementia. What has kept me afloat is my family, friends and the horror genre. This may be a strange combination, but for me, horror is all about confronting your fears but in a safe place. My anger, grief and fear have become my creative catalyst. And this past year has been all about writing horror/comedies because I’ve learned laughter within grief is the best therapy.

Marshall: Watching my fellow artists (and arts-related businesses) pivot, adapt and move forward has been exciting. Based on that idea, I’ve been creating a spoken-word production for the stage called The Top-Ten Superpowers of All Time.

It’s about how success is less about winning and more about showing up with whatever talents and tools we have on hand. I’ll be performing the piece at the 2022 Asheville Fringe Arts Festival in late January.

Tidwell: My biggest inspiration of the year has been family. Not just biological family but also close friends who are much like family to me. That kind of connection gives me the motivation to thrive and inspire others.

Sparacino: I recently took my 11-year-old daughter to Asheville Community Theatre’s youth performance of Clue, and her delight at the antics of the characters, played hilariously by high school youths, was a high point for me. As I watched those kids onstage masterfully playing comedic moments — after everything kids have been through these past two years — hearing my daughter laugh in the seat beside me gave me hope.

Theater has that power to put us all in a room together to laugh. I don’t think there’s anything more important, right now, than that.

Varn: The early adventure artists that helped create a conservation movement have always been inspiring to me. But the kindness and generosity of the current artists has been deeply moving. These are some of the people with the biggest hearts and greatest character that I’ve ever met. They understand their duty to protect the landscape that inspires their art and have stepped up with their love of this community and the natural world.

Hearing their voices as unique, yet unified under one mission, has lifted me up and strengthens me to keep moving forward.

Saunooke Clapsaddle: My students are nothing short of inspiring. Their energy in the face of an uncertain world is heartening.

They bring hope and kindness into my classroom every day and teach me more than I can ever teach them. Additionally, had it not been for beautiful trail systems like Fire Mountain and Tsali, I quite possibly could not have continued to write. They provide an escape from daily pressures and an opportunity to deeply engage with our environment without having to travel far from home. I crave this balance as I create. I craved it more as the pandemic unfolded. X

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ARTS & CULTURE

Wine, dine and takeout

IN

Asheville chefs and restaurateurs reflect on another unusual year Perhaps the best that can be said about 2021 is that it was an improvement over 2020, when COVID-19 badly battered the food and beverage industry. Though the struggle to right the ship continues, positive developments and reasons for optimism did shine through a challenging second year of COVID-19.

Xpress reached out to members of the local food industry to get their perspective. Participants include J Chong, chef and owner of J Chong Eats; John Fleer, chef and owner of Rhubarb, The Rhu and Benne on Eagle; Luis Martinez, multimedia designer, chef and owner of Tequio Foods; and Drew Wallace, restaurateur and co-owner of The Admiral, The Bull and Beggar, Baby Bull and Leo’s House of Thirst.

What was your most memorable dining and/or cooking experience in 2021?

In 2021, what was the most positive development in Asheville’s food and beverage industry, and what was the most challenging?

CHECK, PLEASE: Clockwise from top left, J Chong, John Fleer, Drew Wallace and Luis Martinez offer their takes on a challenging year for the food and beverage industry. Photo of Martinez by East Fork Pottery; additional photos courtesy of individuals featured

Chong: I believe one of the most positive developments in Asheville this past year was the support for our community, whether that be folks supporting locals with ordering takeout from their favorite local restaurants or shopping at all of our great local farmers markets each day. I believe that the most challenging aspect of this past year for the food and beverage industry — and it will only get worse — are the rapid increases in pricing.

Food products are continuing to go up [as are prices for] supplies. This is the reason behind consumer cost increasing as well.

Fleer: The most positive development is the display of resiliency and rethinking of how our industry operates and what we collectively view as important. The change in the staffing landscape has by far been the most challenging.

Martinez: One of the most positive things I saw was the inclu-

sion of BIPOC [Black, Indigenous, People of Color] in high positions within the industry. Asheville has been known for not being highly diverse, but little by little, people like Hector Revilla, Santiago Vargas, Chef May [Sujitra Chubthaisong], Paty Saenz and others share their love for food and their roots. The biggest challenge was the departure of many talented people from our industry.

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Wallace: We are still here and flourishing. The operators who remained open have proven that restaurateurs are resilient and have mastered the art of pivoting.

Leo’s House of Thirst was in its infancy, and we opened the doors to Baby Bull this year, so the challenges of staffing and looking out for the health of our team without any previous comparisons or familiarity were our biggest struggles.

— Kay West

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Chong: My most memorable cooking experience for 2021 was cooking for the Secret Supper 2021 series back in June. [A national pop-up series, Chong was one of six chefs selected to participate in this year’s event.] It was such a learning experience for me and the support that I had going into the event leading up to the day was magical. It was a night that I will be dreaming of for the rest of my days.

Fleer: I was asked to host an evening of dining for a prominent California winemaker who is considering relocating his family to Asheville. The level of cuisine, beverage and hospitality that we experienced at Cucina 24, Table/ Right There and The Times Bar made me very proud of our food and beverage community. And we bumped into Anne Grier [co-owner of Gaining Ground Farm] at Cucina, which gave me a chance to brag on our amazing farming community. This could have been three different restaurants and a different farmer several times over. That’s Asheville.

Martinez: I was very excited for the chance to cook at Chow Chow festival with Mackensy Lunsford before she moved to Nashville, Tenn. She is such an institution in town; it made me happy to spend an evening cooking, laughing and spending quality time with a great friend. Also, I liked how Chow Chow held different types of unique events. It was something new and evolving.

Wallace: A tie. Reuniting with Cucina 24 and experiencing [chef] Brian [Canipelli’s] take on a fami-

ly-style menu was at the top of my list. Also, Danny Reed’s [founder of Hot Stuff Tattoo and Crooked Creek Holler] home-cooked smash burgers, potatoes, and endless Beaujolais reminded me of the camaraderie and comfort that only a delicious meal in the presence of friends can provide.

What food event or new opening (other than your own) excited you the most in 2021?

Chong: The Cultivated Community Dinner Series that Cultura has masterfully put on.

All of the great minds at Cultura have created such a wonderful experience for our community. It is such a great way to bring people together over sharing a meal.

Fleer: I thought the reboot of Chow Chow was a major win for Asheville. The strides made in celebrating a diversity of culinary and beverage voices and beginning to ask difficult questions about how the culinary community can impact social and climate issues was a significant advance in modeling what food and beverage celebrations should be. To add a personal disclaimer: I am on the Chow Chow board, but I have often been the contrarian voice.

Martinez: The Cultivated Community Dinner Series events hosted by Cultura have been one of my favorite events in the last months of the year. The space is beautiful and chef Eric Morris is doing great dishes there daily.

The dinners highlight talents in our town like chefs Silver Cousler of Neng Jr’s, Jonathan Pridgen from Cúrate and J Chong. They all have unique, sincere and innovative approaches to classic dishes and experiment with new flavors.

Seriously, I want this kind of event back in 2022!

Wallace: My wife, Leila, and I are bringing up our two sons and found ourselves eating out of to-go boxes for the majority of our meals.

Watching Gan Shan West pivot to a delicious takeout-forward concept [was a highlight], and it became our go-to. Takeout from the new Andaaz was also a very welcome addition and at the top of our list.

What about 2021 gives you hope for the local food scene going into 2022?

Chong: This past year, for myself included, was a year for the underdog to shine. We had so many diverse pop-ups around town that gave us a glimpse of the quality of talent that the food industry has to offer here in Asheville. I hope that Asheville and beyond can finally truly see the raw talent that this great mountain town has to offer when it comes to the local food scene. We have such a wide range of movers and shakers in this industry, and we are still going strong.

Fleer: The local food scene endured some difficult times, most certainly. But when you look around the country, it is clear that we are weathering these challenges better than many other food and restaurant communities. To me that indicates that the foundation we have built our local food scene on — great producers, collaboration and passionate chef/owners — is a really solid base to build from in 2022.

Martinez: This year was rough for the local scene, but a lot of conversations took place that needed to happen. This gives me hope that our industry is headed in a good direction where 15-hour shifts, sacrificing everything for “the rush” and constantly turning a blind eye to the substance abuse in the kitchens are not viewed as the norm. Things are changing, maybe not as fast as we need them to, but I am very optimistic that we will learn from our mistakes.

Wallace: The drive, creativity and passion I’ve seen from young chefs Chuck Baudendistle at The Admiral, Austin Inselmann at Leo’s, Seth Fowler at Baby Bull and Erin Hughes, the pastry chef of Leo’s, The Admiral and Bakesale Social, have all revived my obsession with this industry after a challenging year and questioning why to keep pushing forward. I believe 2022 will be the biggest dining year in my time. Restaurants, and in particular fine dining, have long been troubled and in need of a revamp. We are already seeing fantastic food being served in a more comfortable manner. Our hourly employees have long deserved higher wages, and that bar has been raised. X

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ARTS & C U L T U R E

FOOD ROUNDUP

What’s new in food Molly Nicholie discusses her new leadership role with ASAP

Molly Nicholie came to Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project in 2005, hired for a one-year project in the Growing Minds Farm to School program.

“I was the school ‘garden lady,’ hired for a project at Hazelwood Elementary in Haywood County,” Nicholie recalls. “I was at the school every day to work with teachers to integrate local food and farm connections into their curriculum, do field trips and take kids out into the garden we grew there.”

Her temporary stint evolved into a 16-year career and counting. Over the previous eight years, Nicholie has served as the nonprofit’s program director for its Local Food Campaign. And at the start of 2022, she will assume the role of ASAP’s executive director, replacing founder Charlie Jackson. The two have

served as co-directors throughout 2021, which both believe will ensure a smooth transition.

Nothing has steeled Nicholie more for the leadership role, however, than the roller coaster the organization has been on since March 2020.

“Through the pandemic, our focus was on figuring out how to support farmers to continue selling products and connect them with community members,” she says. “The resilience everyone showed was incredible and inspiring.”

Come April, ASAP plans to bring back its Asheville City Market to downtown with a likely return to North Market Street. The Saturday gatherings relocated to the A-B Tech campus at the start of COVID-19 and was rebranded as ASAP Farmers Market. The current market will continue to oper-

FIELD OF DREAMS: Molly Nicholie will take over as ASAP’s executive director at the start of 2022. She replaces the nonprofit’s founder, Charlie Jackson, who will retire at the end of this year. Photo courtesy ASAP ate at the campus each Saturday through March.

“We have been having lots of conversations and partnership building with the city, county and downtown businesses,” Nicholie reports. “It will be wonderful to be back downtown, which is the ideal location for residents and visitors to see the connection Asheville has to our farms in the region and experience our sense of place. It is very exciting to be planning for what’s next.”

To learn more about ASAP, visit avl.mx/b0y.

Goodbye, Hello

In other ASAP news, Emily Jackson, founder and director of Growing Minds for nearly 20 years, is also retiring the end of 2021.

Jennifer Trippe will be assuming the role of program director. Trippe is a registered dietitian and nonprofit professional with over a decade of experience building programs and partnerships that address hunger’s impact on health.

Secret Santa

Mother Earth Food, a food delivery service working with over 300 local and regional farmers and food artisans, is the recipient of a $750,000 grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Local Food Promotion Program — the largest of four award36

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ed in the state and one of the largest in the grant’s history.

“We are thrilled about the support this grant brings to local farmers and food artisans,” says CEO Janelle Tatum. The money, to be released over the next three years, will fund the Mother Earth Food Hub Expansion project.

According to a recent press release, the expansion project will help the company’s 301 current (and 50 additional) local and regional farmers and food artisans gain or maintain access to existing and new retail and wholesale customers.

“Through this grant, we hope to double our purchasing power to our farmers and local producers, who are the backbone of our community,” Tatum states in the press release.

Soul mates

For the third consecutive year, Bounty & Soul — the Black Mountainbased nonprofit that connects people in need to nutritious food, health and wellness education — is the recipient of a $30,000 Impact Grant from WNC Bridge Foundation. The grant will be used to strengthen the organization’s three main programs: Produce to the People, Farmers Alliance and Rooted in Health.

According to Ali Casparian, Bounty & Soul’s executive director,

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ARTS & CU L T U R E the nonprofit distributed approximately 1 million pounds of food to nearly 90,000 people with the support of over 19,000 volunteer hours in 2021. “We are deeply grateful to WNC Bridge Foundation for their investment in our programs and our community,” Casparian says.

In 2022, Bounty & Soul will be rolling out a hybrid model of distribution that will include pre-made box pickups for clients who want the convenience of drive-thru services, as well as and an open-air famers market where people can safely select their produce.

Chow now

Time to stop wondering where in the world 2021 went and crack open the 2022 calendar. Circle the weekends of June 23-26, Aug. 4-7 and Sept. 8-11 for the Summer of Chow Chow 2022 trifecta.

The Asheville Culinary Festival made a smashing debut in September 2019, was COVID-canceled in 2020 and pandemic-pivoted in 2021 with a series of dinners, demonstrations and workshops from June through September. The comeback followed what organizers pointed out was a difficult 18 months for the food, beverage and farming industries, and during continued stresses from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The 2021 Summer of Chow Chow supported our mission, highlighting the region’s many food and beverage businesses and makers,” says Chow Chow Executive Director Rebecca Lynch. “Through intentional programming, Chow Chow 2021 was more than a beautiful meal; it brought food for thought as each event engaged with conversations on issues including food justice and food insecurity, racial justice, climate change and resilient agriculture.”

Planning is well underway for 2022, continues Lynch. “Our sched-

ule for 2022 will include fun, delicious, immersive, meaningful and educational events that celebrate and enrich the unique foodways of Southern Appalachia, while continuing to foster dialogue about issues that impact our community.

We believe that food is universal and that there is power in gathering people together around a table for the exchange of knowledge and dialogue.”

For video of 2021 events and updated Chow Chow 2022 programming, visit avl.mx/6gm.

Kitchen kids

Asheville Mountain Kitchen is now taking registration for their Kids Cooking Camp taking place Thursday, Dec. 30, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Instructor Ofri Hirsch says featured dishes will depend on dietary preferences of the participants, who should be in the 8-14 age group. The class will take place in her kitchen at 332 E. Sondley Drive.

For more information and to enroll, visit avl.mx/b08.

On the AIR

The Asheville Independent Restaurant Association has resumed its popular AIR passport program, grounded by the pandemic in 2021.

Fifty participating restaurants will offer BOGO (buy one, get one) meals through the pocket-sized passport.

Priced at $65, all proceeds go to AIR’s efforts to support and promote independent restaurants in Buncombe County. Orders can be made online, or the passport can be purchased in time for stocking stuffing at the Visitor Center Asheville Shop, 36 Montford Ave. For participating restaurants and to purchase, visit avl.mx/b09.

— Kay West X

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ARTS & C U L T U R E

ROUNDUP

Around Town

Asheville Symphony celebrates New Year’s Eve with ‘Queens of Soul’ The Asheville Symphony has celebrated past New Year’s Eves with music from Beethoven, The Beatles and Cirque du Soleil. The tradition continues this year with a concert of classic Motown, soul and R&B songs.

The symphony will present New Year’s Eve: Queens of Soul on Friday, Dec. 31, at 8 p.m., in the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium at Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville.

The concert will feature guest vocalists Morgan James and Erica Gabriel singing classic hits from Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Whitney Houston, Marvin Gaye and more. Darko Butorac, the symphony’s music director, will be the conductor.

“Morgan James and Erica Gabriel are both phenomenal vocalists who really embody the style and sound of soul, Motown and R&B,” says Daniel Crupi, executive director of the symphony.

A graduate of The Juilliard School, James has released three studio albums on Epic Records as well as albums covering Joni Mitchell’s Blue and The Beatles’ White Album.

Gabriel has performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Savannah Philharmonic and

the Jackson Symphony. She won the Classical Singer Regional University Competition, the Hartford Memorial Scholarship competition and was the 2018 gold medal winner of the American Traditions Vocal competition.

The Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville is at 87 Haywood St. Ticket are $35-$85. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit avl.mx/b0j.

A right jolly old elf You might say Tom Jerman is a bit obsessed with Santa Claus.

The retired attorney’s collection of Santa figurines, which began modestly in 1985 when he purchased a single piece at an art festival in California, has grown over the years to about 4,500. He even added about 1,500 feet of extra storage space to the attic of his Biltmore Park home to accommodate the collection.

Jerman’s interest in St. Nick — and frustration with existing books — led him to write Santa Claus Worldwide: A History of St. Nicholas and Other Holiday Gift-Bringers, which was published by McFarland & Co. The book takes an in-depth

SINGING FROM THE SOUL: Morgan James, left, and Erica Gabriel will be the featured performers at the Asheville Symphony’s New Year’s Eve: Queens of Soul concert at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium at Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville. Photos courtesy of the Asheville Symphony look at Saturn, Odin, Sinterklaas, Father Christmas, Knecht Ruprecht, Kriss Kringle, Belsnickel and countless other holiday gift-givers dating back to 5,000 B.C. “While collecting and decorating is enjoyable, writing history is a lot more fulfilling because I discovered that it had been years since anyone had written a quality history, and none of the existing books covered the breadth of mine, both chronologically and geographically,” Jerman asserts.

People’s biggest misconception about Santa Claus is that he is merely an Americanization of St. Nicholas, notes Jerman. But according to the author, Santa’s actual lineage can be traced to gift-giving figures who developed as specifically non-Catholic alternatives to St. Nicholas in post-Reformation Germany.

Jerman’s next book will examine whether Clement Clarke Moore actually wrote “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” more commonly known as “The Night Before Christmas.”

The poem’s authorship has been the subject of controversy, with some claiming it was actually written by Henry Livingston Jr. Jerman hopes to publish the book in 2022.

For more information on Santa Claus Worldwide or to purchase the book, visit avl.mx/b0a.

Curiouser and curiouser

In the spring, faculty members of UNC Asheville’s department of 40

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management and accountancy were brainstorming ways to engage students, alumni, potential students and others in their research and classroom topics.

The result is Conversations for the Curious Mind, a podcast series featuring interviews with faculty members, as well as professionals and industry leaders. The podcast launched in September and has produced four episodes so far on topics such as retirement, the gender gap in leadership and the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in lower-income countries.

“While podcasts were gaining in popularity prior to COVID, they have become an increasingly new way to learn and share knowledge and ideas,” says Deena Burris, associate professor of management. “I personally love to listen to podcasts and learn about new ideas and topics that I otherwise would not have had the time to sit and read about.”

The department hopes to post at least one new episode per month with the goal of doing more if possible, Burris continues. Planned topics for 2022 include behavioral economics and decision-making, the history and impact of discriminatory lending practices, and the purpose and progress of the United Nation’s sustainable development goals.

“It is a way to take what we are thinking, researching and teaching and share it with a larger audience,” she says.

The podcast is an all-volunteer effort that is produced and edited by new media student Nathan Morales

Responsible Automotive Service & Repair and features music by Brian Felix, chair and associate professor of music, and Alex Harvey, a UNCA student in computer science, music and neuroscience. UNCA new media student Leslie Reynalte designed the cover art.

The podcast is available on the department of management and accountancy website at avl.mx/b0c and on Spotify at avl.mx/b0d.

Glass appeal

If you want to get in the holiday spirit, do some window shopping.

The Asheville Downtown Association recently selected winners of its annual Downtown Holiday Windows Contest. Judges scored the businesses on creativity, originality, use of merchandise and the wow factor.

The winners are: • Best in Show: Madam Clutterbuckets Neurodiverse Universe, a gift shop at 21 Battery Park Ave., Suite 101.

• Wow Factor: Dog & Pony Show, a gift shop and home decor store at 59 Haywood St. • Best Use of Merchandise: Fired Up! Creative Lounge, 26 Wall St., and Mast General Store, 15 Biltmore Ave. “Our judges were very impressed with the creativity and heart that went into each window,” said Meghan Rogers, executive director of the Asheville Downtown Association.

You can view the windows by following along the Downtown Holiday Windows Walking Tour. A map of businesses can be found at avl.mx/b0l.

Memoirs contest The Writers’ Workshop of Asheville will accept submissions for its annual Memoirs Contest through Friday, Dec. 31. The contest is open to writers of all experience levels, and contestants may submit multiple entries.

Participants should submit a memoir of 5,000 words or less. The entry fee is $25 per story.

If submitting by mail, pages should be paper clipped with name, address, phone number and title of work on the first page. Enclose a legal size, self-sealing SASE for a critique and list of winners. Make a $25 check or money order payable to The Writers’ Workshop and mail to: Memoirs Contest, 387 Beaucatcher Road, Asheville, NC 28805.

Emailed submissions may be sent to writersw@gmail.com, with “Memoirs Contest” in the subject. Please send attachments as Word documents only.

For more information or pay the entry fee online, go to avl.mx/98r.

Artist-in-residence The Transylvania Community Arts Council has named Sommer Coen studio manager and artist-in-residence of the TC Arts Ceramics program. Coen joined the staff of TC Arts in November.

Coen has a degree in studio art from the University of North Georgia and has interned at Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass Village, Colo., as well as volunteered with the Foxfire Museum and Heritage Center in Mountain City, Ga. After graduating, Coen worked at Fowler’s Clay Works in Gatlinburg, Tenn., as a production potter and lead pottery teacher.

“Coen’s focus in ceramics and traditional weaving have led her to have a deep admiration for the Indigenous peoples and the Appalachian pioneers who adapted to these harsh mountains,” the arts council said in a press release. “Through arts education and teaching, she hopes to preserve the pockets of culture and diversity found in and around Appalachia.”

TC Arts has also announced the reopening of its ceramics studio and program.

For more information, go to avl.mx/b0k.

Wishing you a season full of Peace, Joy, and Adventure!

Voted one of the BEST OF WNC for 16 years in a row.

Thank you!

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MOVIE LISTINGS Edwin Arnaudin’s latest critiques of new films available to view in local theaters and on popular streaming services include: SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME: As a cure for so-called “superhero fatigue,” this third feature-length pairing of star Tom Holland and director Jon Watts is a giddy treat for comic book fans and proves that the MCU is far from being out of fresh ideas. Grade: A-minus. Rated PG-13 LICORICE PIZZA: Writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights) returns to the 1970s San Fernando Valley of his youth for this entertaining but largely aimless series of vignettes about a teen (Cooper Hoffman), his 25-yearold crush (Alana Haim) and their various get-rich-quick schemes.

Grade: B. Rated R

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

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CLUBLAND

k

The featured icon indicates which venues or artists require proof of vaccination for upcoming shows. Due to the evolving nature of the matter, the list may not be comprehensive.

Before heading out, please check with all venues for complete information on any vaccine or negative COVID-19 requirements.

For questions about free listings, call 828-251-1333, opt. 4.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22

BREWSKIES Free Pool All Day, All Night, 12pm

12 BONES BREWERY Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm

CASCADE LOUNGE Wednesday Bluegrass Jam, 5pm

185 KING STREET Trivia Night, 7pm

CITIZEN VINYL Open Folk, 6pm

ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB Asheville's Best Karaoke, 8pm

GREEN MAN BREWERY Green Man Trivia, 7pm

ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Beauty Parlor Comedy: Tom Petersk 7pm Aquanet: Goth Nightk 9pm

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

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

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

BLACK MOUNTAIN BREWING Jay Brown (roots), 6pm

OFF THE WAGON All Request Piano Show, 8pm

RING IN THE NEW YEAR: Dr. Bacon will headline A Very Greasy New Year’s Eve Party at 185 King Street in Brevard on Friday, Dec. 31, at 9 p.m. The Asheville-based six-piece funk and rock band released its full-length album debut, Fast & Loose with the Essentials, in 2019. Photo by Rich Levine OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. French Broad Valley Mountain Music Jam, 6pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Wild Wednesday Funk-n-Rock w/Free Anesthesia, 10pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Latin Night Wednesdays, 7pm

305 LOUNGE & EATERY Bob Sherill (singer-songwriter), 1pm

SILVERADOS Open Mic Wednesday w/Marc Keller, 7pm

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

SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Witty Wednesday Trivia, 6:30pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Bluegrass Jam w/Drew & the Boys, 7pm

ASHEVILLE CLUB Mr Jimmy (blues), 5pm

OAK AND GRIST DISTILLING COMPANY Oak and Gristmas w/ Katie Kasben (holiday jazz), 5:30pm

THE OMNI GROVE PARK INN The B's (jazz, standards), 7pm TRISKELION BREWING CO. TriskaTrivia, 7pm TURGUA BREWING CO Trivia Night w/Pub Trivia Nerds, 6pm WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Irish Music Circle, 7pm

DEC. 22, 2021 - JAN. 4, 2022

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

HIGHLAND BREWING DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Drag Music Bingo w/ Divine the Bearded Lady, 6pm ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Amy Steinberg Holiday Show (singer-songwriter, blues-infused pop) k 7pm A Jazz Piano Christmas w/the Bill Bares Trio & Special Guestsk 8:30pm

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

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185 KING STREET Pre Pre Xmas Show w/ Dave Desmelik, Mike Ashworth (singer-songwriter), 7pm

BEN'S TUNE UP Offended! Open Mic (comedy), 9:30pm BOLD ROCK HARD CIDER Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm CASCADE LOUNGE Team Trivia, 7:30pm DOUBLE CROWN Ninth Anniversary w/ The Legendary Singing Starsk 9pm FLEETWOOD'S Rocking Around with ROND, 8pm GINGER'S REVENGE CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM Gluten-Free Comedy (open mic), 6pm

OFF THE WAGON All Request Piano Show, 8pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Chandler Huntley (singer-songwriter), 7pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Phursdays w/Gunslinging Parrots (Phish tribute), 9:30pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST The Trusty Hucksters (rag-a-billy, swing), 7pm

RYE KNOT KITCHEN BREWERY DISTILLERY Chris Flanders (acoustic), 6pm THE 2ND ACT Russ Wilson & The 2nd Act Orchestra (swing), 7pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Karaoke w/Karaoke Jackazz, 8pm THE GREY EAGLE Pink Beds & Friends: The Naughty List Throwdown (rock)k 9pm THE ODDITORIUM Bold Burlesque Presents Locals Only, 7pm

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24 ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Everybody Free Dance Partyk 10pm ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Mr Jimmy Friday Night Blues, 7:30pm BREWSKIES Karaoke, 10pm CROW & QUILL Drayton & the Dreamboats (Christmas crooners)k 8pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Christmas Eve w/ Jackson Grimm (singer-songwriter), 6pm

OFF THE WAGON All Request Piano Show, 8pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Free Dead Friday w/ Gus & Phriends & Generous Electric Duo (Grateful Dead tribute), 9:30pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Jack Marion & The Pearl Snap Prophets (folk, outlaw country), 7pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Cody Hughes Christmas Comedy Spectacular, 8pm THE ODDITORIUM Asheville After Dark presents Perversions (a play party)k 8pm

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 25 THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Slasher: Hard Dance (techno), 10pm

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26 185 KING STREET Open Electric Jam w/ the King Street House Band ft. Howie Johnson, 6:30pm

ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Sunday Dance Party w/DJ RexxStepk 10pm BURNTSHIRT VINEYARDS Roots and Dore (roots), 2pm BURNTSHIRT VINEYARDS CHIMNEY ROCK Riyen Roots (blues, soul, roots), 2pm CORK & KEG Sunday Matinee: The Uptown Hillbillies (classic country)k 4pm CROW & QUILL The Roaring Lions (parlor jazz)k 8pm HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Soul Jazz Sundays w/ Taylor Pierson Trio, 3pm HIGHLAND DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Jim Fielder (blues), 1pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Bluegrass Brunch w/ Supper Break, 12pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Sunday Jazz Jam w/ The Fully Vaccinated Jazz Trio, 1pm ST. PAUL MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS IN FLAT ROCK Geriatric Jukebox (oldies), 2:30pm

THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Sissy Sunday Drag Show, 9pm TRISKELION BREWING CO. Johnnie Blackwell (rock, blues), 3pm

MONDAY, DECEMBER 27 ARCHETYPE BREWING Trivia Mondays, 6:30pm BREWSKIES Open Jam w/the legendary Tall Paul, 7:30pm DOUBLE CROWN Country Karaoke, 10pm HIGHLAND DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Cheers to Chess, 5pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS Nag (punk), 8pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Trivia by the River w/ James Harrod, 8pm THE JOINT NEXT DOOR Mr Jimmy & Friends (blues), 7pm TRISKELION BREWING CO. Jason's Krazy Karaoke, 6:30pm

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28 305 LOUNGE & EATERY Bob Sherill (singer-songwriter), 1pm FRENCH BROAD BREWERY Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Quizzo! Pub Trivia w/ Jason Mencer, 7:30pm

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

LITTLE JUMBO The Core (jazz)k 7pm

GREEN MAN BREWERY Old Time Jam, 5pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. It Takes All Kinds Open Mic Night, 7pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Monday Mashup w/ Grant Green Jr. (jazz), 7pm

HI-WIRE BREWING BIG TOP Free Weekly Trivia Night, 7pm ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Darren Nicholson Band (bluegrass), 7:30pm

MAD CO. BREW HOUSE Team Trivia, 6pm MILLS RIVER BREWING Trivia Night, 6pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Team Trivia, 7pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Grateful Family Band Tuesdays (Dead tribute), 6pm

• Aquanet: Goth Nightk 9pm ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Disclaimer Stand-Up Lounge Comedy Open Mic, 8pm BLACK MOUNTAIN BREWING Jay Brown (roots), 6pm BREWSKIES Free Pool All Day, All Night, 12pm

THE GREY EAGLE Drunken Prayer w/ David Childers & The Serpents, & A. Lee Edwards (Americana) k 8pm

CASCADE LOUNGE Wednesday Bluegrass Jam, 5pm

WAGBAR Tuesday Trivia Night, 6pm

GREEN MAN BREWERY Green Man Trivia, 7pm

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29 12 BONES BREWERY Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm 185 KING STREET Trivia Night, 7pm ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB Asheville's Best Karaoke, 8pm ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY • Beauty Parlor Comedy w/Charlie Vergosk 7pm

CITIZEN VINYL Open Folk, 6pm

HI-WIRE BREWING BIG TOP Free Weekly Trivia Night, 7pm HI-WIRE BREWING RAD BEER GARDEN Game Night, 6pm HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Well Crafted Wednesdays w/Matt Smith (singer-songwriter), 6pm ICONIC KITCHEN & DRINKS Marc Keller (acoustic), 6pm

2022

Wellness Issues

Coming Soon in January!

828-251-1333 x 1 advertise@mountainx.com MOUNTAINX.COM

DEC. 22, 2021 - JAN. 4, 2022

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CLU B LA N D ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 The Kruger Brothers (Americana, bluegrass) k 7:30pm OFF THE WAGON All Request Piano Show, 8pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Izzi Hughes (acoustic), 7pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Wild Wednesday Funk-n-Rock w/Free Anesthesia, 10pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Latin Night Wednesdays, 7pm SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Witty Wednesday Trivia, 6:30pm THE GREY EAGLE Sly Grog Benefit Showk 7pm THE OMNI GROVE PARK INN The B's (jazz, standards), 7pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Bluegrass Jam w/Drew & the Boys, 7:30pm OFF THE WAGON All Request Piano Show, 8pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Maggie Valley Band (Americana), 8pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Phursdays w/Gunslinging Parrots (Phish tribute), 9:30pm

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

THE 2ND ACT Izzi Hughes (acoustic), 6:30pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Karaoke w/Karaoke Jackazz, 8pm

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30

THE GREY EAGLE Maggie Rose w/Them Vibes & Gracie Lane (rock, soul, funk)k 8pm

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

THE SOCIAL Ricky Gunter (country), 8pm

185 KING STREET Songwriter Showcase w/John Trufant, Barrett Davis, Ryan Stigmon, 7pm

UPCOUNTRY BREWING COMPANY Phish NYE Live Stream, 7:30pm

AMERICAN VINYL CO. Thieves Like Us, Slow Poison & Dancekrieg (post-punk, synth, pop), 7pm

NEW YEAR’S EVE 185 KING STREET A Very Greasy NYE Party w/Dr. Bacon (funk), 9pm ALOFT ASHEVILLE DOWNTOWN DJ Molly Parti, 7pm

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

ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Everybody Free Dance Partyk 10pm

ASHEVILLE CLUB Mr Jimmy, 5pm

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Mr Jimmy's New Year's Eve Party (blues), 4pm

BEN'S TUNE UP Offended! Open Mic (comedy), 9:30pm BOLD ROCK HARD CIDER Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm CASCADE LOUNGE Team Trivia, 7:30pm FLEETWOOD'S The Stargazer Lilies, Knives & Daggers & Spirit System (shoegaze, post-punk), 8pm GINGER'S REVENGE CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM Gluten-Free Comedy (open mic), 6pm

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ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 The Kruger Brothers (Americana, bluegrass) k 7:30pm

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

305 LOUNGE & EATERY Bob Sherill (singer-songwriter), 1pm

DEC. 22, 2021 - JAN. 4, 2022

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

TRISKELION BREWING CO. TriskaTrivia, 7pm

UPCOUNTRY BREWING COMPANY Phish NYE Live Stream, 7:30pm

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HARRAH'S CHEROKEE CENTER Pigeons Playing Ping Pong (psych funk), 9pm

CORK & KEG The Old Chevrolet Set (classic country)k 8pm CROW & QUILL Firecracker Jazz Band (New Orleans style hot jazz)k 8:30pm DRY FALLS BREWING CO. Awake in the Dream (rock), 8pm GROVE HOUSE 39th Epic NYE Bash, 8pm GUIDON BREWING New Year's Eve Dance Party, 8pm HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Dis-N-Dat (reggae, R&B), 5pm

UPCOUNTRY BREWING COMPANY Phish NYE Live Stream, 7:30pm URBAN ORCHARD CIDER CO. SOUTH SLOPE NYE w/DJ Cousin TL (hip-hop, soul), 7pm

SATURDAY, JANUARY 1 185 KING STREET The Feels (folk, soul, roots), 8pm

ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Jesse Barry & The Jam NYE Dance Party (funk, soul), 8:30pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL ZEKE BEATS, Ahee, Lavier & Tan Leather (dubstep, dance, electronic), 9pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Mose Wilson New Year's Eve Honky Tonk Party, 9pm

BOOJUM BREWING COMPANY New Year's Day Bash w/Arnold Hill (alt rock), 9pm

LITTLE JUMBO New Year's Eve with Party Jazzk 7pm

BREWSKIES Pool Tournament Saturdays, 7pm

OFF THE WAGON All Request Piano Show, 8pm

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

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Free Dead Friday w/ Gus & Phriends & Generous Electric Duo (Grateful Dead tribute), 9:30pm

DRY FALLS BREWING CO. Robb Simmons (solo acoustic), 7pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Jones Cove NYE Celebration (funk, soul, rock, Americana), 9pm OSKAR BLUES BREWERY New Year's Eve Hootenanny w/Jeff Sipe's Electric Buddha ft. Melissa Reaves, 7pm RIVER FALLS LODGE New Year's Eve Contra Dance, 6:30pm SALVAGE STATION New Year's Eve w/ Arrested Development (hip-hop)k 9pm SILVERADOS New Year's Eve w/ Twisted Trail (Southern rock, country), 9pm THE DUGOUT New Years Eve Masquerade Party w/ Graywind (classic rock), 7pm

BREWSKIES Karaoke, 10pm

THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR • NYE Comedy w/Caleb Synan (early show), 6pm • NYE Comedy w/Caleb Synan (late show), 8pm • Popperpalooza! NYE Party & Drag Show, 10pm

BURNTSHIRT VINEYARDS CHIMNEY ROCK The JackTown Ramblers (bluegrass, swing, jazz), 2pm

THE GREY EAGLE NYE: Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band w/ Rebekah Todd & The Odyssey (funk, soul) k 9pm

CITIZEN VINYL NYE Party: Angels & Demons (rock, metal, pop), 8:30pm

THE OMNI GROVE PARK INN Solo Pianist Brian Turner, 7pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Empire Strikes Brass New Year's Eve Prom w/Andrew Scotchie & the River Rats, 10pm

THE ORANGE PEEL New Year's Eve Benefit for Sly Grog Lounge w/ ill.Gates, KirbyBright, Zeplinn (EDM), 9pm

GUIDON BREWING Bill and Donald (blues), 6pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Laura Blackley & The Wildflowers (folk, rock), 8pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST New Years Day w/ Gruda Tree (psychedelic funk, soul, jazz), 6pm SALVAGE STATION Karl Denson's Tiny Universe w/DJ Logic (rock, soul, funk)k 8pm STATIC AGE RECORDS Gif from God (metal), 8pm TRISKELION BREWING CO. Izzi Hughes (acoustic), 7pm

SUNDAY, JANUARY 2 CROW & QUILL The Roaring Lions (parlor jazz)k 7pm HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Soul Jazz Sundays w/ Taylor Pierson Trio, 3pm HIGHLAND DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Blues and Brews, 1pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Sunday Jazz Jam w/The Fully Vaccinated Jazz Trio, 1pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Sissy Sunday Drag Show, 9pm

THE GREY EAGLE Samara Jade (modern folk)k 8pm

MONDAY, JANUARY 3 BREWSKIES Open Jam w/the legendary Tall Paul, 7:30pm DOUBLE CROWN Country Karaoke, 10pm LITTLE JUMBO Jay Sanders' Sinfonietta (jazz)k 7pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Monday Mashup w/ Grant Green Jr. (jazz), 7pm STATIC AGE RECORDS Poison Ruin, Forever Peace and Charm, & Bolt Cutter (punk, post-punk), 8pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Trivia by the River w/ James Harrod, 8pm THE GOLDEN PINEAPPLE Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 8pm THE JOINT NEXT DOOR Mr Jimmy & Friends (blues), 7pm

TUESDAY, JANUARY 4 305 LOUNGE & EATERY Bob Sherill (singer-songwriter), 1pm FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm MILLS RIVER BREWING Trivia Night, 6pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Team Trivia, 7pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Grateful Family Band Tuesdays (Dead tribute), 6pm STATIC AGE RECORDS Lily Seabird, State Park Ranger & Hiding Places (indie, indie/rock), 8pm TRISKELION BREWING CO. Irish Session (Celtic), 7pm

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5 12 BONES BREWERY Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm 185 KING STREET Trivia Night, 7pm BREWSKIES Free Pool All Day, All Night, 12pm CASCADE LOUNGE Wednesday Bluegrass Jam, 5pm

ICONIC KITCHEN & DRINKS Marc Keller (acoustic), 6pm OFF THE WAGON All Request Piano Show, 8pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. French Broad Valley Mountain Music Jam, 6pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Latin Night Wednesdays, 7pm SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Witty Wednesday Trivia, 6:30pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Getaway Comedy w/ Sean Patton, 7pm THE OMNI GROVE PARK INN The B's (jazz, standards), 7pm TRISKELION BREWING CO. TriskaTrivia, 7pm TURGUA BREWING CO Trivia Night w/Pub Trivia Nerds, 6pm

THURSDAY, JANUARY 6 131 MAIN Aaron LaFalce (soul, rock, pop), 6pm 185 KING STREET The Neverwhere Trio (piano, cello, guitar), 7pm 305 LOUNGE & EATERY Bob Sherill (singer-songwriter), 1pm BEN'S TUNE UP Offended! Open Mic (comedy), 9:30pm BOLD ROCK HARD CIDER Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm FLEETWOOD'S Terraoke (karaoke), 6pm GINGER'S REVENGE CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM Gluten-Free Comedy (open mic), 6pm HIGHLAND BREWING DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Drag Music Bingo w/ Divine the Bearded Lady, 6pm OFF THE WAGON All Request Piano Show, 8pm RYE KNOT KITCHEN BREWERY DISTILLERY Chris Flanders (acoustic), 6pm THE 2ND ACT Russ Wilson & The 2nd Act Orchestra (swing), 7pm

CITIZEN VINYL Open Folk, 6pm

THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Karaoke w/Karaoke Jackazz, 8pm

HI-WIRE BREWING BIG TOP Free Weekly Trivia Night, 7pm

THE GREY EAGLE The Late Shifters (Southern rock, jam) k 8pm

MOUNTAINX.COM

DEC. 22, 2021 - JAN. 4, 2022

45

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY ARIES (March 21-April 19): You may become a more audacious storyteller in 2022. You could ripen your ability to express the core truths about your life with entertaining narratives. Bonus: The experiences that come your way will provide raw material for you to become even more interesting than you already are. Now study these words by storyteller Ruth Sawyer: “To be a good storyteller, one must be gloriously alive. It is not possible to kindle fresh fires from burned-out embers. The best of the traditional storytellers are those who live close to the heart of things — to the earth, sea, wind, and weather. They have known solitude, silence. They have been given unbroken time in which to feel deeply, to reach constantly for understanding.”

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus author May Sarton wrote a poem celebrating her maturation into the person she had always dreamed she would be. “Now I become myself,” she exulted. “It’s taken time, many years and places; I have been dissolved and shaken, have worn other people’s faces.” But at last, she said, “All fuses together now, falls into place from wish to action, word to silence. My work, my love, my time, my face: gathered into one intense gesture of growing like a plant.” I invite you to adopt Sarton’s poem as a primary source of inspiration in 2022. Make it your guide as you, too, become fully and richly yourself.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In 2012, the writer Gore Vidal died the day after Gemini writer Maeve Binchy passed away. They were both famous, though Binchy sold more books than Vidal. Vidal was interesting but problematic for me. He was fond of saying that it wasn’t enough for him to succeed; he wanted others to fail. The misery of his fellow humans intensified his satisfaction about his own accomplishments. On the other hand, Binchy had a generous wish that everyone would be a success. She felt her magnificence was magnified by others’ magnificence. In 2022, it will be vital for your physical and mental health to cultivate Binchy’s perspective, not Vidal’s. To the degree that you celebrate and enhance the fortunes of others, your own fortunes will thrive.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Cancerian political leader Nelson Mandela was wrongly incarcerated for 27 years. After his release, he became President of South Africa and won the Nobel Peace Prize. About leaving jail in 1990, he wrote, “As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.” Although you haven’t suffered deprivation anywhere close to what Mandela did, I’m happy to report that 2022 will bring you liberations from limiting situations. Please adopt Mandela’s approach as you make creative use of your new freedom.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): French poet André Breton wrote, “Je vous souhaite d’être follement aimée.” In English, those words can be rendered as “My wish is that you may be loved to the point of madness” or “I wish you to be loved madly.” That’s got a romantic ring to it, but it’s actually a curse. Why would we want to be loved to the point of madness? A person who “loved” you like that might be fun for a while, but would ultimately become a terrible inconvenience and ongoing disruption. So, dear Leo, I won’t wish that you will be loved to the point of madness in 2022 — even though I think the coming months will be an interesting and educational time for amour. Instead, I will wish you something more manageable and enjoyable: that you will be loved with respect, sensitivity, care and intelligence.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Many people in our culture are smart intellectually, but not very smart emotionally. The wisdom of feelings is undervalued. I protest! One of my great crusades is to champion this neglected source of insight. I am counting on you to be my ally in 2022. Why? Because according to my reading of the astrological omens, you have the potential to ripen your emotional intelligence in the

46

DEC. 22, 2021 - JAN. 4, 2022

MARKETPLACE

BY ROB BREZSNY

coming months. Do you have ideas about how to take full advantage of this lucky opportunity?

Here’s a tip: Whenever you have a decision to make, tune in to what your body and heart tell you as well as to what your mind advises.

REAL ESTATE & RENTALS | ROOMMATES | JOBS | SERVICES ANNOUNCEMENTS | CLASSES & WORKSHOPS | MIND, BODY, SPIRIT MUSICIANS’ SERVICES | PETS | AUTOMOTIVE | XCHANGE | ADULT

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl said that a sense of meaning is crucial. It’s the key gratification that sustains people through the years: the feeling that their life has a meaning and that particular experiences have meaning. I suggest you make this your theme for 2022. The question “Are you happy?” will be a subset of the more inclusive question, “Are you pursuing a destiny that feels meaningful to you?” Here’s the other big question: “If what you’re doing doesn’t feel meaningful, what are you going to do about it?”

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

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Scorpio guitarist Rowland S. Howard spoke of “the grand occasions when love really does turn into something far greater than you had ever dreamed of, something auto-luminescent.”

Judging from the astrological configurations in 2022, I have strong hopes and expectations that you will experience prolonged periods when love will fit that description. For best results, resolve to become more generous and ingenious in expressing love than you have ever been.

EMPLOYMENT SKILLED LABOR/ TRADES BEGINNING TO EXPERIENCED MAKERS (SEWERS) NEEDED FOR A COOL PROJECT Trekroll has part time employment for a team of talented cut & sew types. $20 hr, flexible 16 hrs a week, 4-6 weeks project duration beginning January. Join us!

Please contact us at info@ trekroll.com for more information.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “I’ve been trying to go home my whole life,” writes poet Chelsea Dingman. I know some of you Sagittarians resist the urge to do that. It’s possible you avoid seeking a true and complete home. You may think of the whole world as your home, or you may regard a lot of different places as your homes. And you’d prefer not to narrow down the feeling and concept of “home” to one location or building or community. Whether or not you are one of those kinds of centaurs, I suspect that 2022 will bring you unexpected new understandings of home — and maybe even give you the sense that you have finally arrived in your ultimate sanctuary.

HIRING MANUFACTURING POSITIONS (ALL EXPERIENCE LEVELS!) MAU is hiring for multiple manufacturing positions.

Our recruiters are standing by to help you land your next career! We have positions available for all shifts and all experience levels. 828-558-2800 • jobs. hendersonville@mau.com • https://www.mau.com/ hendersonville-nc.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): To ensure that 2022 will bring you the most interesting and useful kind of progress, take good care of your key friendships and alliances, even as you seek out excellent new friendships and alliances. For best results, heed these thoughts from author Hanya Yanagihara: “Find people who are better than you are — not smarter, not cooler, but kinder, and more generous, and more forgiving — and then appreciate them for what they can teach you, and listen to them when they tell you something about yourself, no matter how bad — or good — it might be.”

COURIER EXPRESS IS HIRING DRIVERS Courier Express is seeking independent contract drivers with a Cargo, Sprinter, Transit Van, Minivan, small Box Truck to make deliveries in the Asheville and surrounding Western Carolina area.

Weekly settlements from $700.00 to $1,000+. For more information please call 704-369-8621 or visit http://www.courierexpress. net/opportunities/independent_contractors_form.php

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Sometime during the Northern Song Dynasty that ruled China from 960 to 1127, an artisan made a white ceramic bowl five inches in diameter. About a thousand years later, a family in New York bought it at a garage sale for $3. It sat on a mantel in their home for a few years until they got a hunch to have it evaluated by an art collector. A short time later, the bowl was sold at an auction for $2.2 million.

I’m not saying that 2022 will bring a financial event as dramatic as that one. But I do expect that your luck with money will be at a peak.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In the Quechuan language spoken in parts of Peru, the word takanakuy means “when the blood is boiling.”

Every year at this time, the community of Chumbivilcas stages a holiday called Takanakuy.

People gather at the town center to fight each other, settling their differences so they can forget about them and start over fresh. If my friend and I have had a personal conflict during the previous year, we would punch and kick each other — but not too hard — until we had purged our spite and resentment. The slate between us would be clean. Is there some humorous version of this ritual you could enact that wouldn’t involve even mild punching and kicking? I recommend you dream one up!

MOUNTAINX.COM

DRIVERS/ DELIVERY

MOUNTAIN XPRESS DELIVERY Mountain Xpress is seeking an energetic, reliable, independent

contractor for part-time weekly newspaper delivery.

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

SALES/ MARKETING

SALES PROFESSIONAL Mountain Xpress is looking to add a new member to our sales team. This is a full-time position with benefits. Ideal candidates are personable, organized, motivated, and can present confidently, while working within a structure.

Necessary skills include clear and professional communications (via phone, email, and in-person meetings), detailed recordkeeping, and working well in a team environment. While no outside sales experience is required, experience dealing with varied and challenging situations is helpful. The position largely entails account development and lead generation (including coldcalling), account management, assisting clients with marketing and branding strategies, and working to meet or exceed sales goals. If you are a high energy, positive, cooperative person looking to join an independent, communityminded organization, please send a resume and cover letter (no walk-ins, please) explaining why you are a good

NEW! 2022

fit for Mountain Xpress to: xpressjob@mountainx.com

MEDICAL/ HEALTH CARE HIRING: DENTAL ASSISTANT We are looking for a highly motivated individual to work under the supervision of the dentist and is responsible for a wide range of tasks in the office, ranging from patient care to laboratory functions, to tracking monthly statistics.

This position is very varied and requires a diverse set of skills: clinical, clerical, interpersonal, technological and more. Deborah G. Anders Adult & Family Dentistry Please send resume to: info@andersdds.com.

(828) 669-8781 3094 • US 70 Hwy., Black Mountain, NC 28711.

HIRING: DENTAL HYGIENIST We are looking for a dental hygienist to join our team to promote dental health by completing dental prophylaxis; providing oral hygiene instructions, taking X-rays, charting conditions of decay & disease; performing procedures in compliance with the dental practice act. Please email your resume to info@ andersdds.com. Deborah G. Anders Adult & Family Dentistry (828)-669-8781.

HUMAN SERVICES CAMP & PROGRAM MANAGER Under 1 Sky Village Foundation seeks a Program Manager to oversee all aspects of day camps and other programming for children in the foster care system. For details and to apply go to https://www. under1sky.org/now-hiring. html under1sky.org .

FULL TIME PROGRAM COORDINATOR WORKING WHEELS seeks a Program Coordinator

- detail-oriented, excellent communicator, committed to the cause. 35 hours/ week; $18.50/hr + benefits; Submit cover letter and resume to i nfo@workingwheelswnc.org. No phone inquiries, please.

STUDENT SUPPORT SPECIALIST Children First Communities in Schools is looking for someone who has experience in education, mentoring or social services and can help us continue to improve how we serve people of color. Specifically, we are seeking candidates that are representative of the communities that we serve. Student Support Specialists have the ability to form their plan based on what the school and students most need. We are looking for an organized, self-starter who can receive feedback and adjust accordingly. Interested applicants will need to submit a cover letter, resume and three professional references by email to employment@ childrenfirstbc.org .

YOUTH SERVICES DIRECTOR Under 1 Sky Village Foundation, which provides camp experiences, mentoring, and wraparound services for youth in the foster care system is seeking a Youth Services Director.

For details: https://www. under1sky.org/now-hiring. html under1sky.org .

TEACHING/ EDUCATION A-B TECH IS HIRING A-B Tech is currently taking applications for a Adjunct Instructor- Part-Time limited position Adjunct Instructor, Cosmetology(Position needs to be filled immediately).

For more details and to apply: https://www. abtcc.peopleadmin.com/ postings/5923

BROWSE THE DIRECTORY & PURCHASE YOUR CARD

& DIRECTORY

GO LOCAL CARD & DIRECTORY

G O L OCAL A SHEVILLE . COM

See you next year!

is taking next week off!

THE N EW Y OR K TI M ES C ROSSWORD P UZ Z LE

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edited by Will Shortz | No. 1117

ACROSS 1 Like the comment “I heard you the first 10 times!”

6 Biceps locale 9 Hide (away) 14 With 45-Across, one who’s adorable 15 Mauna ___ 16 “Gadzooks!”

17 “Mrs. America” actress Uzo 18 Goal of some meditation 20 Kylo ___ of “Star Wars” 21 Like many items on Etsy 23 Home front?

25 Grasslike swamp plants 29 Hugs, on a love letter 30 Politicians in the House of Commons: Abbr.

31 Kind of milk that’s an alternative to soy 32 Headstrong 36 One of 12 on a die 37 Bruins’ sch.

38 Ideal scenario 40 What large birds typically do less often 41 Comparative word 42 Flesh out some wedding plans, perhaps 44 Pop star Grande, to fans 45 See 14-Across 47 Body shot, in brief?

48 Cain with a 2012 presidential campaign 50 Roughly putting (together) 55 Like September’s equinox 57 Path to enlightenment 58 What the five formations of circled letters in this puzzle represent 61 ___ omen (Latin akin to “Heaven forbid”) 63 Wonderland girl 64 Before, in poetry

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25 30 34

37 41

39

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57 61

64

65

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67

68

27 Former U.S. coin worth $10

62

49 “America’s Bodyshop” company 50 Informal summons 51 Infancy 52 “You wanna fight? Let’s go!”

53 Mythological being that’s an anagram of DIANA 54 Arrived at 56 Treated as a pawn 58 Major vegetable export of Nigeria (nearly 70% of the world’s total) 59 Portuguese greeting 60 Ingredient in a Negroni 62 Member of the fam

28 [Do not delete] 30 What an Impossible Burger lacks 32 Clayey color 33 Serena’s best friend on “Gossip Girl” 34 British bum

MOUNTAINX.COM

53

52

63

1 Freak out 2 “The Shield of Achilles” poet 3 Publicity act 4 12- or 62-Down 5 Response to “Who, me?!”

6 ___ Thompson a.k.a. Honey Boo Boo 7 Unruly 8 Palindromic title 9 Subjects of King Carl XVI Gustaf 10 Muscular 11 Breathtaking feeling 12 Member of the fam 13 “___ a Tramp” (Disney song) 19 Hoarse voice 22 “Let’s talk …”

24 Fearsome pteranodon of classic film 26 “Waiting for ___”

28

40

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60

DOWN

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47 50

55

65 Neighbor of a Slovene 66 Many a Jane Austen setting 67 Pistons or Lions, on scoreboards 68 Netflix’s “Sparking Joy With Marie ___”

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36

42

48

12

31

35

38

45

11

22

33

44

10

19

24

32

9 16

29

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35 Common garment for tie-dyeing 36 ___ alert 37 Great Salt Lake locale 39 Venomous snake 43 Colorfully named victim in the U.K. version of Clue 45 Mark Twain title character 46 Fancying

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K A R S A B A T T A X I S R E N B L E O A F E S T R I C H A L O P E R C P E N S E N I

DEC. 22, 2021 - JAN. 4, 2022

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