Mountain Xpress 03.12.25

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8 CHARTING A DIFFERENT COURSE

The case for open minds and innovation in

KIDS ISSUE, PART 1

For this year’s Kids Issue series, Xpress asked local K-12 students to create art and writing around the theme “Who or what inspires you?” Check out their drawings, photos, essays, poems and short fiction in this week’s issue. Part 2 of the series will come out next week.

Preservation Society documents historic buildings after Helene

Tips for talking to your

48 ‘HUMMUS

Yalla food truck moves its most popular item to retail shelves

news tips & story ideas to NEWS@MOUNTAINX.COM letters/commentary to LETTERS@MOUNTAINX.COM sustainability news to GREEN@MOUNTAINX.COM

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try our easy online calendar at MOUNTAINX.COM/EVENTS food news and ideas to FOOD@MOUNTAINX.COM

On the cover is “Autistic Joy,” a painting by Milo McBrayer, a 12th grader at The Franklin School of Innovation. “I think most people have a skewed view of what autism is and what being autistic is like, they only see the negatives,” he writes. “As an autistic person, I wanted to show that autism is not a scary or bad thing, it can be joyful and autistic people can have happy, fulfilling lives.”

COVER

Milo McBrayer

COVER

Caleb Johnson & Scott Southwick

PUBLISHER & EDITOR: Jeff Fobes

ASSISTANT PUBLISHER: Susan Hutchinson

MANAGING EDITOR: Thomas Calder

EDITORS: Lisa Allen, Gina Smith

OPINION EDITOR: Tracy Rose

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

COMMUNITY CALENDAR & CLUBLAND: Braulio Pescador-Martinez

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

REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS: Christopher Arbor, Edwin Arnaudin, Mark Barrett, Eric Brown, Carmela Caruso, Cayla Clark, Tessa Fontaine, Mindi Meltz Friedwald, Carol Kaufman, Bill Kopp, Chasity Leake, Jessica Wakeman, Kay West, Clark Wilson, Jamie Zane

PHOTOGRAPHERS: Caleb Johnson, Cindy Kunst

ADVERTISING, ART & DESIGN MANAGER: Susan Hutchinson

LEAD DESIGNER: Scott Southwick

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS: Tina Gaafary, Caleb Johnson, Olivia Urban

MARKETING ASSOCIATES: Emily Baughman, Sara Brecht

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

WEB: Brandon Tilley

BOOKKEEPER: Amie Fowler

OFFICE MANAGER: Mark Murphy

ADMINISTRATION & BILLING: Hinton Edgerton, Lisa Watters

DISTRIBUTION: Susan Hutchinson, Cindy Kunst, Kyle Ramser

DISTRIBUTION DRIVERS: Cass Kunst, Henry Mitchell, Courtney Israel Nash, Joey Nash, Carl & Debbie Schweiger, Gary Selnick, Noah Tanner, Mark Woodyard

Federal budget cuts would impact my family

[Regarding “Speaking Out: Concerns About the Trump Administration

Overwhelm Chuck Edwards’ Office Hours,” Xpress, featured in the Xpress newsletter, both March 5:]

This is in response to the inquiry in the Xpress newsletter about local effects of the pending or executed budget cuts. No one disputes that inefficiencies are to be found in most all federal programs, but cutting them rapidly, ruthlessly and possibly illegally, without study, by an unelected billionaire and his 20-something minions, is inexcusable!

I have a large immediate family living within Rep. Chuck Edwards’ District 11. Two of us are on Social Security and Medicare. Cuts to those programs will certainly impact us. Two additional members are veterans who procure care and treatment from the Charles George Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The staffing and funding cuts there likely will impede medical services in the future. Another family member with two small children works for one of the targeted federal agencies, and their job security is a fear daily. All of our immediate family members (14) enjoy the national forests; the staffing cuts will reduce their ability to hike, bike, fish and maintain healthy lifestyles as easily as before.

The current administration has not put forth any defined programs to reduce the costs of food and housing. In fact, with the current rate of inflation, new tariffs and aggressive deportation of many agricultural workers, food prices are not likely to decrease anytime soon.

Please share this with Mr. Edwards! — Sheryl Fortune Arden

BACK IN THE DAY

Layoffs put WNC’s forests at risk

With the recent wrongful termination of thousands of National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service employees, Western North Carolina’s public lands were just dealt a massive blow. These layoffs come at a time where we desperately need more

Driving up and down the hills of Asheville in the late 1960s

In 1966, I was the oldest of five children and therefore the first to get a driver’s license. Our mother was ready for a driver. Our dad bought me a 1959 two-door white Rambler American. So, at Mom’s request, immediately I began chauffeuring siblings all around Buncombe County.

The first job was school deliveries. We lived in Beaverdam, so the first drop-off was for a little sister at Ira B. Jones Elementary School on Kimberly Avenue. Story has it that if traffic was backed up at drop-off, our brother, who always got the front seat, would open the door, pull up the seat and tell our sister to jump.

The next stop was David Millard Junior High, which was on Charlotte Street. That building is no longer standing, but this drop-off also frequently called for quick exits by my brother and another sister.

Then, with just me in the car, I had to face the dreaded hill on Valley Street. The many hills of Asheville were a constant cause of driving fear. The Rambler had the gear shift on the steering wheel column and no modern-day roll control. When the clutch was engaged, the car would roll backward. It was therefore a constant balancing act between the clutch and the gas!

My final school delivery was for myself at Lee Edwards High School, now called Asheville High. The parking lot in the back was my literal straight-up nemesis. Getting up that hill without rolling into the car behind me was so stressful that I would sit in the parking lot after school until all other cars were gone. In future years, that proved a frustration for siblings who then rode with me there too.

Our mother nicknamed the car White Lightning. Looking back, White Lightning left us with a lot of good memories.

— Emily K. Thomas X

funding for public land management agencies to account for Helene damage, increased outdoor recreation and ecological threats.

Predictably, these layoffs will likely lead to local trail closures and reduced tourism, as the agencies’ limited staff (who were already stretched thin) will not be able to repair and maintain these areas. Local wildlife species are also at risk.

But the most concerning development here can be traced back to an executive order from January.

On Jan. 20, the president issued an executive order declaring a “National Energy Emergency,” despite the fact that U.S. energy production exceeds consumption by the widest-recorded margin since 1949. The order states that agency and executive department heads may use “any lawful emergency authorities available to them” to “facilitate the identification, leasing, siting, production, transportation, refining and generation of domestic energy resources … on federal lands.”

In other words, national parks and forests will be targeted for increased oil drilling and mining (the order notably omits solar, wind and other renewables as permissible energy types).

When looked at independently, the layoffs are concerning and disheartening enough. When viewed in tandem with January’s executive order, they paint a terrifying picture of an administration that appears to be gutting federal land management agencies in preparation of an unprecedented land grab for the sake of additional fossil fuel development.

While political polarization may have soared to extreme levels over recent years, I hope most of us here in WNC can agree that we want to protect — not develop — our forests.

BEHIND THE WHEEL: Emily K. Thomas, the oldest of five, was responsible for dropping off three of her younger siblings to various schools throughout Asheville in the 1960s. Photo courtesy of Thomas

— Rob M. Campbell Asheville

We need smarter school snow-day policies

This winter in Buncombe County, thousands of students — already behind from extended Helenerelated school closures — have lost vital instructional time. Not because of illness, but because of Buncombe County Schools’ long-standing practice of shutting down schools when icy or snowy conditions occur anywhere in the county, no matter how remote.

While safety is paramount, the current system of blanket school closures is failing our kids and families. And it has a disproportionate impact on working families, many of

CARTOON BY RANDY MOLTON

whom are forced to choose between earning a paycheck and staying home to supervise their children’s remote learning.

What happens when families get the dreaded last-minute notice that school is going remote? Many scramble to find child care, only to face another challenge: transporting their kids to a caregiver on the same supposedly unsafe roads. Families who can’t access child care must choose between missing work, medical appointments or other responsibilities and leaving their kids home without supervision. Is this really a safer choice for our students than keeping school doors open?

As my children would say, “It’s not fair.” Though some will argue that closing schools is fair in that it puts all students at an equal disadvantage (hardly something we should be aspiring to), it actually widens the learning gap. Students from families with a stay-at-home

Word

of the week

chirk up (v.)

to fill with courage or strength of purpose; to inspire

This week’s Kids Issue will hopefully chirk up the paper’s adult and youth readers alike! X

parent or other resources to support supervised learning stay on track, while those without these advantages fall further behind — literally left to their own devices.

The impact goes beyond the 20,000plus students who attend Buncombe County Schools. My kids go to a public charter school that, like most charters and preschools in the area, follows the lead of Buncombe County when it comes to inclement weather closures — even though they don’t have a fleet of buses. At my kids’ school alone, that’s another 1,200 students needlessly missing out.

The lack of resources and infrastructure for snow preparedness and safety is often cited as a justification for school closures. But many of us have noted that our other local institutions — whether they be libraries, City Hall or YMCAs — don’t close

due to snow flurries or icy patches in the surrounding areas, and people who can and need to access them find a way.

The ripple effects of these blanket closures — financial strain, family stress, social isolation and learning loss — are far more hazardous than icy roads. On the heels of Hurricane Helene, our communities simply can’t afford this continued disruption.

One commonsense alternative is to give students who can’t get to school safely the option to take an asynchronous remote learning day. This would keep schools open for those who can safely attend while ensuring others aren’t penalized for weather-related absences.

It’s time for Buncombe County Schools to rethink its outdated

CONTINUES ON PAGE 7

Editor’s Note

In this week’s paper we have a series of interviews, “Beyond the Dais,” with members of Asheville City Council and the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners. In these talks, which are part of our Kids Issue series, participants discuss childhood memories as well as issues our area’s young people currently face. Be on the lookout next week for additional conversations with elected officials. In this week’s issue we also have the first in a two-part series called “Back in the Day.” These boxes feature stories from readers about growing up in Western North Carolina. The remaining submissions will appear in next week’s Kids Issue, Part 2. X

CARTOON BY BRENT BROWN

approach to inclement weather. With the exception of closures for true snowstorms, keeping schools open — even when buses stay off the roads — will support families, reduce learning loss and demonstrate a real commitment to the education and well-being of all students.

— Talia Kirschner Swannanoa

Better things to do than babysit trash company

I have been a customer of FCC Environmental Services since December. I had to enroll in services three times, which is the same number of times my trash has been picked up, but only after I reported it. In addition, I still haven’t received my trash cans, despite multiple requests.

Today I found a feed on Reddit, and apparently I am not the only one, and I am not talking about a few people, either. It’s utter nonsense. I know we have been through a lot recently, and I have been very patient, but I’m sick of the half-assery that has become prevalent in our society.

I’m almost 50, and even though I would hate to be that person, but:

“In my day, we worked our asses off for $4.75 an hour, and we still went above and beyond even on the days we had to walk 5 miles uphill both ways in the snow and … we liked it!”

Today, people want you to pay extra for customer service or charge you a fee to pay your bill over the phone with a customer service representative.

Anyhoo, to make a long story long, I am fixing to buy my own trash cans. I imagine they will still require me to pay the rental fee. Nevertheless, I have better things to do than babysit the trash company every week.

— Aerin Adams Garren Creek community Fairview

Reconsider I-26 Connector project

[ Regarding “From Asheville Watchdog: I-26 Bridge Over Patton Avenue, Nixed Years Ago, Is Quietly Revived in Connector Plan,” Feb. 17, Xpress:]

In light of the damage to both current infrastructure and the vulnerabilities that Helene exposed, the whole Interstate 26 Connector project should be both reconsidered and

BACK IN THE DAY

All roads wind their way to Asheville

In the 1950s I lived in Forest City in Rutherford County. My grandmother — we called her Gran T for Gran Thomas — summered in Asheville and wintered in St. Petersburg, Fla. I remember she and her cousin picking me up in Forest City for a visit with them in Asheville. She often stayed in guest houses or would have an apartment at the Manor Inn, which I always thought was so special.

possibly redesigned with probable future flooding put into the mix.

— Nancy Kehr Woodfin

Community’s strength shows after Helene

For some of us, the hurricane may be a distant memory. For others, the debris from the storm may still be in their backyard. I know that, whereas my life is back to normal, I am still surprised when the tap turns on and drinkable water flows from it. Regardless of where we all are in the recovery process, we all went through Hurricane Helene together, and I hope to always remember Asheville’s response to the catastrophe.

Three days after Helene left us without power or water, it began raining again. It was only a sprinkle, and when the light caught it just right, it became a sun shower. Looking up, I searched the skies for a rainbow and found one. Arcing over my house was a beautiful band of color against the purple-blue clouds behind. It struck me how something so beautiful could come right after a natural disaster that uprooted our lives so thoroughly.

Walking around West Asheville, I saw the same beauty sprout from our community. In the span of a 20-minute walk, I would pass dozens of people offering help to those who needed it. Two of my neighbors offered to let us use a generator, and several people shared the resources they were lucky enough to have collected. I saw so many people offering aid, whether it was passing out supplies, cooking food, lending resources or even just checking to make sure each other’s families were all right.

I saw a real strength in the community of Asheville, and I’m happy that I got to watch people lift each other up in times of crisis rather than tear each other down. It is a wonderful trait of humanity to come together in times of struggle, but that trait often goes overlooked in the face of more horrific news stories, and I think this is a terrible loss.

Our community’s strength and sharing after Helene was a light in a power outage, a rainbow after a storm, and I’m proud to say that I’m a member of Asheville’s strong community.

— Juniper Finneron Ninth grade Asheville X

SAY CHEESE: Charlotte Ware Epley poses with her Gran T. Photo courtesy of Epley

The drive up Highway 74 around the curves past Lake Lure (Grandfather Thomas was part of the development team) through Chimney Rock from Forest City to Asheville was horrid. I sat in the back on a round hassock — as backseats at that point were optional — sliding from one side of the rear of the car to the other. These trips usually included a stop, so for me to lose my cookies!

— Charlotte Ware Epley X

Charting a different course

The case for open minds and innovation in education

BY SARENA FULLER

Think back to your school days. Remember the oft-dreaded essay assignments? You’d sit there staring at the prompt, perhaps even adjusting your font size and margins to help fill the space. Without fail, someone would ask, “How many pages does it need to be?” — as though the length of your work was somehow more important than, you know, the actual content. Imagine, though, if the assignment didn’t come with page limits at all. Instead, you could express your ideas as a podcast, a dramatic monologue or even a TikTok video. Suddenly, that essay feels a lot more like an opportunity to showcase your creativity and your learning.

What if school worked like that all the time — where the how of learning matched the what of your interests? That’s the promise of school choice, and it’s time we explore it beyond the labels.

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT

Unfortunately, the conversation around school choice has been hijacked by political forces that conflate it with the concept of privatization. At its core, school choice is about giving parents the power to choose the best educational setting for their children. Certainly, healthy debate helps us ensure the strength of our education system and safeguard public funds. But I am concerned that I am seeing more vitriol and misinformation as political debates take center stage. This does not serve our students, teachers or families. It does not further educational opportunities for anyone.

First, let’s set the record straight: Charter schools are public schools. They do not charge tuition, and their sole admission criterion is that students must reside in North Carolina. Enrollment is determined through a lottery, ensuring that no student is excluded based on race, income or abilities. Contrary to the narrative that charter schools are “privatized,” they are part of the public education system, held to the same testing and accountability standards as other public schools.

Where charter schools shine is in their innovations. Free of bureaucracy and driven from needs within their school community, charter schools operate with flexibility and a founding motivation to create dynamic opportunities for students. In Buncombe County, charter schools are based on various instructional philosophies, including arts integration, experiential learning, Montessori and inquiry-based or expeditionary learning. Families have many options here to find the place that will best meet their needs and support students on their learning journey.

Traditional district schools are also doing great work. Their size and scale provide options and resources that may resonate with families, like transportation and nutrition programs. Critics often point to the fact that not all charter schools provide these services as evidence of inequity. But these criticisms overlook a crucial context. In North Carolina, students are assigned to schools based on where they live. This system inherently exacerbates inequities, especially in areas affected by the housing

“Let’s prioritize the educational needs of our students over political divisions.”

crisis and disparities in local funding models. For many families, charter schools represent an opportunity for a better educational experience that might not otherwise be available due to geographical limitations.

WHO BENEFITS FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

We should really ask ourselves: Who benefits the most from our public school system? If we think of

individual families as the “clients,” it makes sense why school vouchers (or the idea that “money follows the child”) can seem like an appealing argument. But, if we see public education as something that benefits everyone by creating a smarter, more capable society, then the conversation changes. In that case, taxpayer money should go toward supporting public schools, including charter schools, to make sure every child has access to a great education, no matter where they live or how they learn.

I believe in the latter. We need to put more resources into our state’s public schools, giving them the financial support they need to succeed. At the same time, parents should have the power to choose what works best for their child’s learning, making them active partners in the process.

Let’s prioritize the educational needs of our students over political divisions and embrace the opportunities that charter schools and other forms of public education offer. By focusing on the needs of students and supporting all educational models, we can ensure a stronger, more equitable future for every child in our state.

Now is the time that charter schools across Western North Carolina are accepting applications for enrollment this fall. District schools are preparing to enroll new kindergarten students and graduate high school seniors. It is an exciting time to work in a school! So much potential for greatness!

As you and your family are making your choices, consider what type of essay you will write with your choices. How beautiful is it that there’s no wrong answer?

Serena Fuller is the executive director of ArtSpace Charter School in Swannanoa and the 2024 N.C. Charter Principal of the Year. She holds a doctoral degree in educational leadership and has 20 years of experience in public education — from traditional schools to state schools, special education programs and charter schools. X

SARENA FULLER

Waterlogged Preservation Society documents historic buildings after Helene

BY GREG PARLIER

There’s not usually much work in the mountains for Chelsea Freeland After all, the maritime archaeologist typically studies shipwrecks. But after Tropical Storm Helene put much of Western North Carolina underwater Sept. 27, she unexpectedly found a use for her skillset right in her backyard. Freeland, a remote research fellow at East Carolina University (ECU) who lives in Asheville, wanted to apply her expertise to help with storm recovery. Meanwhile, Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County members worried that historic homes in eastern Buncombe County could be demolished before being documented.

The two joined forces. ECU made Freeland’s work with the Preservation Society part of her job, and she began to document about 1,200 historic buildings from Swannanoa to Montreat.

The work is about halfway done, estimates Jessie Landl, executive director of the Preservation Society, thanks in part to graduate archaeology students from ECU who came to do a survey blitz Jan. 25-26.

The partnership between an archaeologist who specializes in underwater artifacts and a nonprofit interested in historic architecture is an unusual one, but a useful one in this case, Landl says. Freeland’s experience studying and restoring shipwrecks harmed by spending years underwater brings a unique perspective to documenting historic structures damaged by a historic flood.

“Because I studied as an archaeologist, I’m used to seeing a bunch of wood on the ground. That’s basi-

HISTORIC SURVEY: Evan Olinger, left, and Cory Van Ness take notes during a survey of historic homes in Montreat on Jan. 25. The two maritime archaeology graduate students volunteered to help the Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County take note of changes to structures after Tropical Storm Helene.

cally what a shipwreck looks like,” Freeland says. “[The Preservation Society] is used to seeing buildings that are upright, and we saw a lot of buildings that are no longer upright.”

Freeland studied how a house appeared to have been knocked off its foundation or how the position of certain debris told her where it came from, all of which helped determine what the building may have looked like before the storm.

“There were a couple places where we were able to say, ‘Oh, I bet this goes with this.’ Or ‘This fell apart this way,’” Freeland says. “It’s just a different framework. It’s just a different way to look at things while you’re trying to capture as much information about how this happened.”

Beyond making a record of previously undocumented structures, such as those in Swannanoa’s Beacon Village, Landl hopes the project will answer several questions. Did older homes fare better than newer construction? Did builders learn from previous floods about where — or how — homes should be built? How can builders learn from the latest disaster to design more resilient homes?

Landl plans to submit survey results to Buncombe County Public Library Special Collections as part of the Come Hell or High Water project documenting the impacts of Helene.

SURVEY SAYS?

Beyond providing historical perspective, Landl says the project is important for people living in historic neighborhoods like Beacon Village. “Their communities are not only important to them; they’re important to the whole region,” she notes.

To Landl’s knowledge, the Preservation Society hasn’t conducted a survey of historic homes like this, at least in the eight years she’s been executive director, she says. Usually, private consultants are hired to determine if a certain building belongs on the National Park Services’ National Register of Historic Places. But after Helene, Landl says, a couple dozen volunteers wanted something to do.

After surveying damage in the county at large, Landl, her small staff and volunteers decided to focus on the heavily damaged eastern part of the county, including Botany Woods in East Asheville, where several homes had recently gotten a historic designation.

Teams of volunteers went out to take photos of buildings identified by Freeland and the society as historic and note any debris, damage or apparent recent changes the buildings had undergone.

In Swannanoa, Beacon Village was of interest because the neighborhood, constructed in 1924 to support the adjacent Beacon Mill, had never been

inventoried. Because of extensive damage, Landl was concerned that there would be a spree of demolition in the area.

“We were really looking to get that documented as quickly as we could. So we had our architectural historian write the history of the place, and we did the survey work that we’ve been doing in other neighborhoods there quickly, just to hopefully get in front of any potential losses,” Landl says.

Just a month after the storm, Freeland went out with an architect to start documenting the area, taking photos of buildings and taking note of any damage observed.

“The only documentation that exists of those houses is the rapid photo survey that we did with the Preservation Society,” Freeland notes.

IN THE FIELD

Most volunteers for the Preservation Society are retirees. The surveys they’ve worked on have been conducted largely from their cars. But in Montreat, the town’s narrow, winding roads required on-the-ground work.

That’s where Freeland’s connection to ECU came in handy again. Professor Jennifer McKinnon made the trip to Montreat with 12 graduate students to help survey all of Montreat in one weekend, amounting to about 400 buildings built before 1974. Xpress tagged along with one of the two-student teams.

Evan Olinger and Cory Van Ness had conducted surveys of historic structures before but never in an area affected by a natural disaster.

“This project feels meaningful. It feels good to volunteer,” Van Ness said as they trudged up one of Montreat’s narrow, steep roads.

Following a map designed by Freeland that noted each house they wanted to survey, the students wandered through Monreat for two days, photographing old homes from multiple angles while noting any debris, damage or other possible storm impacts along the way.

It was relatively easy work, especially for students well-versed in data collection. But for Landl, their help was invaluable, she says.

Once the society completes its initial round of work, Landl says she hopes to expand the survey work to areas like Fairview and Barnardsville. The outreach also has the added benefit of spreading the word about the society’s grant program, designed to help property owners fund rehabilitation projects on their historic buildings. Thus far, the society has given out $230,000 in $5,000 grants to individuals; about $50,000 is left, Landl says.

To apply for one of the grants or learn more about the Preservation Society’s survey work, go to psabc.org. X

Photo by Greg Parlier

Countywide property tax assessments resume

Even after the storm of the century turned Buncombe County upside down, one thing remained certain: taxes.

At the March 4 Buncombe County Board of Commissioners meeting, Eric Cregger, the county’s interim tax assessor, reported that prior to Tropical Storm Helene, the county was about 70% finished with reappraisals to meet the January 2025 deadline.

But widespread property damage and upheaval caused by Helene led commissioners to vote 7-0 on Oct. 15 to delay the 2025 tax reappraisal deadline by a year — to Jan. 1, 2026 — to give the county more time to assess the storm’s impact.

A North Carolina General Statute requires counties to reappraise all real property at least every eight years. But Buncombe County chooses to reassess property every four years. The last appraisal occurred in January 2021.

According to Cregger, more than 5,500 real estate parcels were affected by Helene, including hundreds of business accounts and mobile homes. Properties that remained damaged or destroyed as of Jan. 1 have been reappraised for 2025. Businesses and private property owners will begin receiving property valuation notices for the current tax year as soon as next week, with all notices expected to be mailed out by the end of the month.

“We are not far off from a typical nonreappraisal year, which, to me, that’s a great accomplishment for this team,” he said. “Typically in a nonreappraisal year, it’s 10,000 to 12,000 notices. This year we’ll be sending out 17,000 real estate notices alone.”

Business and property owners seeking to appeal their valuation will have 30 days from the date of the mailed notice.

To prepare for next year’s countywide revaluation, Cregger said that assessors will conduct site visits and analysis of aerial and street-level photography for all Buncombe County properties beginning in April, with preliminary values presented to the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners by August. Property owners will have the opportunity to appeal the reappraised values in October.

“I know we had put off the reappraisal, obviously based on Helene,

TAKING STOCK: Eric Cregger, the county’s interim tax assessor, said the county will conduct site visits and analysis of aerial and street-level photography for all Buncombe County properties beginning in April, with preliminary values presented to the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners by August. Photo courtesy of Buncombe County

[but] can you just speak some to the decision to go ahead and proceed with that reappraisal in this upcoming year? Why is that staff’s recommendation?” asked District 2 Commissioner Terri Wells.

“Our assessment level right now, which is our market value versus our appraised value, is currently at 62%, so we are 38% below market value. State law says we should be as a median at the county very close to or at 100%,” Cregger explained. “So, if you’re below 85%, you get a notice saying that you must do a reappraisal within three years. We got that notice in January 2023. So we were able to delay it at this level, [but] we must do it in January 2026.”

In other news

Commissioners also voted unanimously to approve a resolution that would allow the county to accept up to $8.45 million in cashflow loan funding from the state to support Helene-related activities. The county will receive the loan interest-free and has until five years to complete repayment. This story was supported by the Fund for Investigative Reporting and Editing.

— Brooke Randle  X

The Blue Banner, UNC Asheville’s student news outlet, earned seven awards at the annual statewide College Media Association’s conference Feb. 22 at Appalachian State University in Boone, according to a press release.

The Blue Banner received:

• Third place in News Writing: Emily Koscinski, “River Arts District artists celebrate return with RADfest”

• Honorable mention in Cartoons: Samantha Adams, “A tale of two Hendersonvilles”

• Honorable mention in Digital Storytelling: Abigail Cutler, “An introduction to the North Carolina Glass Center”

• Honorable mention in Digital Storytelling: Evannes Edmonson, “An inside look at the UNCA ceramics department”

• Honorable mention in Feature Writing, Emily Moosbrugger, “ReString Appalachia supplies instruments to those who lost them in Hurricane Helene”

• Honorable mention in Sports Writing, Jacob Brown, “UNCA student fights for mixed martial arts promotion” X

In photo: Blue Banner staff members (front row from left) Abigail Cutler, Sarah Booth, Emily Moosbrugger, (middle row from left) Brayden Giffin, Chrisoula Theodorou, (back row) Brandon Washington and Cameryn Shochet. Photo courtesy of UNCA

NEXT GENERATION

Pictured are student representatives from all 10 Buncombe County Schools (BCS) high schools who comprise the Student Advisory Council. The students meet throughout the school year with district leadership and Student Services teams, according to a BCS press release, to discuss a variety of issues. Recent topics include challenges faced in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene, how they feel their schools foster a sense of belonging and the role of artificial intelligence in education. X

BOOKS ON DEMAND

MORE THAN Robotic winners

Members of the Asheville High and SILSA football teams were selected by the U.S. Army National Guard as one of only 10 teams nationwide to receive this year’s Next Greatest Generation Award. Behind them are members of the Asheville City Board of Education. After Tropical Storm Helene, the Asheville High football team finished its season strong, with a 5-3 win-loss record. Team members were recognized for their demonstration of strength and courage during what was an exceptionally challenging season for the community, according to an ACS press release. X

for the state competition, being held Wednesday, March 16.

To compete in tournaments, the 24 robotics team members break into smaller teams to create, code and build robots.

Along with the state competition, six teams made it into the top 10 category at three recent tournaments and won several awards. The Bot Fire Team won the Create Award for creative engineering design solutions and the Vortex Team won the Judges Award for displaying special attributes, exemplary effort or perseverance at the event. X

Working with the Buncombe County Schools Foundation, Paul and Sue Romesburg will be donating 20 “Inchy the Bookworm” vending machines to Buncombe County Schools elementary schools over the next two school years. Students will receive tokens on birthdays, special occasions and for achieving positive behavior goals. Kids can use the books to build their own home libraries. “Reading was my way to go places, to travel and to escape the heaviness of the world when I was younger,” Paul Romesburg said in a press release. “We hope this gift helps students find that same sense of joy, wonder and possibility through books.” X

Wee of the Pet

Meet Garnet! She has a sweet and bossy personality to stand her own with friends of all sizes, says the staff at Brother Wolf Animal Rescue. They say she loves toys and snuggles when she’s been tired out. To find out more about Garnet or see other animals ready for a forever home, visit avl.mx/ckd X

Arya A., left, and Annabelle B., right, members of the robotics team at Asheville City Schools’ Hall Fletcher Elementary, recently qualified

MARCH. 12 - MARCH. 20 , 2025

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



Online-only events

 More info, page 49

 More info, page 50

WELLNESS

Free Tai Chi for Beginners

Improve your balance, fitness, and flexibility without putting stress on the joints.

WE (3/12), 9am, Marshall Public Library, 1335 N Main St, Marshall

Therapeutic Recreation

Adult Morning Movement

Wednesday mornings are all about active games, physical activities, and sports adapted to accommodate all skill levels.

WE (3/12, 19), 10am, Tempie Avery Montford Community Center, 34 Pearson Ave

Community Yoga & Mindfulness

Free monthly event with Inspired Change Yoga that will lead you into a morning of breathwork, meditation and yoga.

WE (3/12), 10:30am, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave, Thrive 55+ Exercise Party

Every Wednesday, active adults will come together for chair exercise, balance challenges, and strength training.

WE (3/12, 19), 11am, Burton Street Community Center, 134 Burton St Qigong

Gentle form of exercise composed of

movement, posture, breathing, and meditation used to promote health and spirituality.

WE (3/12, 19), 11:15am, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

Balance, Agility, Strength, Stretch

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

WE (3/12, 19), 10am, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

5x5 Strength

Alternating exercises and stretches designed to improve physical performance, enhance range of motion, and reduce muscle fatigue.

WE (3/12, 19), 10:15am, YWCA of Asheville, 185 S French Broad Ave

Gentle Tai Chi for Balance

This class works on improving our balance through exercises that help you to think with your feet while strengthening your balance muscles.

WE (3/12, 19), 11:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Tai Chi Fan

This class includes partner work showing the martial application of the fans when they are used as a weapon and Flying Rainbow

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

REINTERPRETING

CLASSIC BRAZILIAN JAZZ: Mars Landing Galleries hosts a special concert featuring harmonica virtuoso Yvonnick Prené and acclaimed pianist Geoffrey Keezer on Wednesday, March 19, starting at 7 p.m. The artists will join forces to reinterpret the timeless elegance of Antônio Carlos Jobim’s legendary compositions. Photo courtesy of Mars Landing Galleries

Double Fan form.

WE (3/12), 1pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Nia Dance

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

TH (3/13), 9:30am, TU (3/18), 10:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

QiGong w/Allen Horowitz

Qigong is the self help aspect of Chinese Medicine that is the basis for Tai Chi and all martial arts. For more information contact allenhavatar@gmail.com

WE (3/13, 20), 6pm, Fairview Library, 1 Taylor Rd, Fairview

Tai Chi For Beginners Yang 10 & 24

In the Beginner Tai Chi class, the focus is on the Yang 10 and 24 forms as well as Qigong exercises for health.

TH (3/13, 20), MO (3/17), 11:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Free Community Zumba Class

The class introduces easy-to-follow Zumba choreography that focuses on balance, range of motion, and coordination.

FR (3/14), 10am, YWCA of Asheville, 185 S French Broad Ave

Intermediate Tai Chi Yang 24

This is the Tai Chi that most people envision when they think of Tai Chi.

FR (3/14), 10:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Intermediate Tai Chi Yang 37

A great class for those who have studied Yang 37 or would like a form that is a little bit more involved than Yang 10 or 24.

SA (3/15), 8:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Blissful Chiropractic

Experience a 45 minute adjustment that starts with a cranial sacral massage to relax the nerves followed by a gentle hands-on chiropractic adjustment. Sacral Occipital, Applied Kinesiology, and traditional adjustments also available

SU (3/16), 10am, The Lodge at Quietude, 1130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

Prenatal & Postpartum

Yoga

A rejuvenating and relaxing yoga session designed specifically for pregnant and postpartum folks.

SU (3/16), noon, W Asheville Yoga, 602 Haywood Rd

Queer Yoga

This class is donation-based and centered towards creating an affirming and inclusive space for all queer folks.

SU (3/16), 1:30pm, W Asheville Yoga, 602 Haywood Rd

Tai Chi Open Clinic

All are welcome in this new curriculum course, regardless of the style of internal martial arts you practice, your skill development or age level.

Free Community Yoga (Level 2)

This class is designed to nourish your body, mind, and spirit by further developing your balance, coordination, flexibility, and cardiovascular health.

SA (3/15), 9am, YWCA of Asheville, 185 S French Broad Ave Himalayan Sound Bath Meditation

Imagine the soothing tones of Himalayan singing bowls washing over you, calming your mind, and rejuvenating your spirit.

SA (3/15), SU (3/16), 11am, Somatic Sounds, 157 S Lexington Ave

Free Community Qi Gong

Qi Gong improves balance and coordination, enhances physical and emotional energy, and promotes an experience of well-being.

SA (3/15), 11:30am, YWCA of Asheville, 185 S French Broad Ave

Magnetic Minds: Depression & Bipolar Support Group

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

SA (3/15), 2pm, First Congregational UCC of Asheville, 20 Oak St Wild Souls Authentic Movement w/Renee Trudeau

An expressive movement class designed to help you get unstuck, enjoy cardio movement, boost immune health, dissolve stress and celebrate community.

SU (3/16), 9:30am,Dunn's Rock Community Center, 461 Connestee Rd, Brevard Sunday Morning Meditation Group

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

SU (3/16), 7pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109 Free Community Athletic Conditioning

Combining strength training, HIIT, plyometrics, kickboxing and step, this class offers a diverse, challenging training experience.

MO (3/17), 8am, YWCA of Asheville, 185 S French Broad Ave

Mindfulness Exercise

Participate in a free exercise designed to help you drop into the present moment.

MO (3/17), 9:15am, Corduroy Lounge, 444 Haywood Rd, Ste 103

Strength & Exercise

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

MO (3/17), 9:15am, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

Prenatal Yoga

Paulina, a yoga teacher and certified birth doula, will guide you through gentle poses and breathing exercises to help you connect

with your changing body.

MO (3/17), 5:30pm, W Asheville Yoga, 602 Haywood Rd

QiGong w/Allen

Horowitz

Qigong is the self help aspect of Chinese Medicine that is the basis for Tai Chi and all martial arts. For more information contact allenhavatar@gmail.com

TU (3/18), 10am, Asia House, 119 Coxe Ave

Medical Qigong

A moving meditation and an internal martial art for calming the mind and strengthening the body and spirit.

TU (3/18), 9am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Zumba Gold & Silverobics

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

TU (3/18), noon, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

Drumming for Exercise Jam to some tunes while getting a great, low-impact arm and core workout.

TU (3/18), 1:30pm, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

Free Community Integrated Restorative Yoga Integrated Restorative Yoga will offer both traditional yoga poses as well as guided meditation.

TU (3/18), 5:45pm, YWCA of Asheville, 185 S French Broad Ave

Tai Chi

This class teaches the Sun Style form of Tai Chi that is endorsed by the CDC and the Arthritis Foundation to be effective in decreasing pain, stiffness and risk for falls.

WE (3/19), 1pm, YWCA of Asheville, 185 S French Broad Ave

Tai Chi Fan

This class includes partner work showing the martial application of the fans when they

are used as a weapon and Flying Rainbow Double Fan form.

WE (3/19), 1pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Intro to the Fitness Center

Learn how to use equipment and machines in the fitness center to jump start a regular wellness routine.

TH (3/20), 1pm, Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Av

Active & Expressive Breathwork

An in person breathwork session designed to help you release stress, regulate your nervous system, reconnect with yourself and others.

TH (3/20), 7:15pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

SUPPORT GROUPS

Community Event: Mental Health Workshop

This workshop will help individuals understand how to approach and work with friends and/ or family members who are struggling with a mental health crisis.

TH (3/13), 10am, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

Nicotine Anonymous

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

TH (3/13, 20), 4:30pm, Asheville 12-Step Recovery Club, 1 Kenilworth Knolls, Unit 4

NAMI Connection

Trained peer facilitators guide you in learning how to empower yourself in a place that offers respect, understanding, encouragement, and hope.

SA (3/15), 10am, NAMI - WNC, 356 Biltmore Ave

Spill the Beans: Social Group

Come socialize with friends, tell stories and share memories. Staff will have fun and engaging questions and prompts to start off conversation.

WE (3/19), 2pm, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

DANCE

Open-Level Adult Dance

Each class will feature a full-body warm-up, specific skill practice, and a dance combination to your favorite music.

WE (3/12, 19), 5:30pm, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W State St, Black Mountain Latin Night Wednesday w/DJ Mtn Vibez

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

WE (3/12, 19), 8pm, One World Brewing West, 520 Haywood Rd

Yes, I Can Dance Practice dance skills in classes led by professional instructors. Monthly themes include swing, tap, salsa, tango, and more.

WE (3/12, 19), 6pm, Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave

Tap Dance: Beginner Tap dance for beginners teaches the basics through a combination of exercise, music, and incredible fun. Students provide their own tap shoes.

TH (3/13, 20), TU (3/18), 10am, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

Tap Dance: Intermediate Fun and active class for students who have already taken beginner tap here or elsewhere. Students must provide their own tap shoes.

TH (3/13, 20), TU (3/18), 10:45am, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

Tap Dance: Advanced Fun and active twice-weekly class for advanced students. Students provide their own tap shoes.

TH (3/13), 11:45am, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

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

TH (3/13, 20), 8:30pm, Urban Orchard Cider Co. S Slope, 24 Buxton Ave

Sunday Salsa Salsa lessons at 5 p.m. with a dance social curated by DJ MTN Vibes.

SU (3/16), 5pm, Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Hwy, Ste 200

Intro to Line Dance

A true beginners course for those who are new to line dance taught by Liz Atkinson.

MO (3/17), 10:30am, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

Monday Night Contra Dance

A welcoming environment for anyone who would like to contra dance. Lessons start at 7 p.m. and a social dance starts at 7:30 p.m.

MO (3/17), 7:30pm, A-B Tech, Genevieve Circle

ART

2025 School of Art & Design Faculty Biennial

This exhibition provides students and the community an opportunity to view recent work created by distinguished faculty members whose primary research output is studio-based. Gallery open Tuesday through Friday, 10am. Exhibition through May, 2.

WCU Bardo Arts Center, 199 Centennial Dr, Cullowhee

57th Annual Juried Undergraduate Exhibition

This exhibition is a great opportunity for

WCU undergraduate students to share their artwork with a larger public and to enhance their skills in presenting artwork in a professional gallery setting. Gallery open Tuesday through Friday, 10am. Exhibition through March, 21.

WCU Bardo Arts Center, 199 Centennial Dr, Cullowhee

An Artful Journey: Black Mountain College

John Singer Sargent, and the Venice Biennale, will gather to explore three new topics: Siena and the Rise of Painting, Black Artists and Ancient Egypt, 1876–Now, and Leap Before You Look: A History of Black Mountain College. FR (3/14), 10:30am, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W. State St, Black Mountain

Asheville Strong: Celebrating Art & Community After Hurricane Helene

An exhibition of artwork by artists who live and work in the Helene-affected Appalachia region. This special, non-juried exhibition celebrates the strength and diversity of our regional arts community. Gallery open Wednesday through Sunday, 11am. Exhibition through May. 5, Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square Mountain Songs

This poignant exhibition features local artists Nick Colquitt and Natalie Ray. It celebrates the resilience of the Appalachian community and the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Gallery open daily, 11am.  Exhibition through March 30.

Asheville Gallery of Art, 82 Patton Ave

Greetings from Asheville: Tourism & Transformation in the Postcard Age

This exhibition explores how the land, the people, and the built environment of Asheville and its surrounding environs were

Thurs., March 20

11:00 - 1:00 PM

Reimagining retirement has never been easier. Come enjoy a presentation about 60 Givens Gerber Park: a more affordable rental retirement option (55+) and enjoy lunch on us. Monthly fees are all-inclusive based on income. RSVP required.

Q&A: BEYOND THE DAIS

Vice Mayor Antanette Mosley’s childhood memories of pet cats and C-SPAN

Xpress: Most people have at least one story their family and relatives can’t help but retell at most reunions and/or holiday gatherings. What is the quintessential story from your childhood that you can’t seem to escape at these types of gatherings?

Mosley: One story my family never fails to bring up is the time our cat, Miss Cat, decided that my toddler bed was the perfect place to give birth to her kittens. I must have been about 3 years old, and as soon as I realized what was happening, I sprang into action — doing my best to comfort her like I was some kind of tiny midwife. I was so proud of myself, but when my mother walked in and saw the scene, she absolutely lost it! Needless to say, my bed was never quite the same after that.

SAVED FROM THE STORM:

During Tropical Storm Helene, a tree fell on Vice Mayor Antanette Mosley’s home. Among the many items damaged but salvaged were childhood photos, including this one. Photo courtesy of Mosley

I’ve always loved animals and even considered becoming a veterinarian at one point. But as I got older, I realized my allergies were way too intense for that dream to work out. Still, my love for animals has never faded — even if I have to admire them from a safe, sniffle-free distance. How would you describe yourself as a teenager? And how do you think your former teenage self would have reacted to learning you ended up serving as an elected official?

As a teenager, I was pretty studious, athletic and definitely outspoken — but I didn’t necessarily crave the spotlight. I was definitely an extroverted introvert. I had a neighbor who was a political science professor at UNC Asheville, and one summer during high school, I actually took his course. I even used to fall asleep watching C-SPAN, so the interest in government and policy was always there. If you’d told my teenage self that I’d one day serve as an elected official, I think she would have been surprised but not entirely shocked. I always cared deeply about fairness, justice and making things better for people. But I also would have had a lot of questions about how I ended up in the public eye — because back then, I preferred working behind the scenes rather than being front and center. The young people in our community have been through a lot since COVID and Helene. What is your top concern for our area youths and what influence do local officials have to address it?

Our youth shave faced major disruptions — from COVID to Hurricane Helene — impacting their education, mental health and overall well-being. My top concern is ensuring they feel supported and have access to the resources they need to thrive. Local officials can advocate for stronger mental health initiatives, invest in education and create safe spaces where young people can connect and be heard. We must work to remove barriers that stand in their way and provide opportunities that empower them to shape their own futures. Our youths are resilient, but they shouldn’t have to navigate these challenges alone.

Lightning round: As a child, what was your favorite ...

• Book: Go Ask Alice by Beatrice Sparks

• Album: 1999 by Prince

• TV show: “The Golden Girls”

• Movie: Purple Rain

interpreted through early 20th century vintage postcards. Gallery open Wednesday through Sunday, 11am. Exhibition through May. 30, 2025.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

Tattoo/Flash Exhibition

This exhibition showcases the cultural significance of tattoos, highlighting their ability to bridge tradition and innovation, personal expression, and visual storytelling. Gallery open daily, 11am. Exhibition through April 23.

Blue Spiral 1, 38 Biltmore Ave

Painting w/Diamonds

Experience the joy of crafting beautiful, sparkling masterpieces with a new craft hobby that's a mix between paint by numbers and cross stitch.

TU (3/18), 6pm, Tempie Avery Montford Community Center, 34 Pearson Ave

Emerging Artists Exhibition

This annual exhibit showcases the work of award-winning artist and instructor Bob Travers alongside the inspiring creations of his students. Gallery open Monday through Friday, 10am. Exhibition through March 28.

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

Anti Form: Robert Morris’s Earth Projects

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

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

57th Annual Juried

Undergraduate Exhibition: Reception

This event will include a talk from the juror, awards presented by the juror, complimentary hors d'oeuvres, and beverages.

TH (3/20), 5pm, WCU Bardo Arts Center, 199 Centennial Dr, Cullowhee

COMMUNITY MUSIC

Michael Jefry Stevens & Jason DeCristofaro

Michael Jefry Stevens will perform a concert of his original music with Jason DeCristofaro.

SA (3/15), 3pm, Kittredge Arts Center, 701 Warren Wilson Rd, Swannanoa

The Ada Khoury Band Ada hails from Texas and began performing professionally during childhood. Her voice has been compared to that of Karen Carpenter, Patsy Cline and Linda Ronstadt. See p50 SA (3/15), 6pm, Modern Local Art Gallery, 42 N Main St, Mars Hill

St. Patrick Concert w/Simon de Voil & Samara Jade Kanuga’s musician-in-residence Rev. Simon Ruth de Voil and folk artist Samara Jade honor the feast day of St. Patrick with an evening of Celtic music, story, lore and handcraft.

SA (3/15), 7:15pm, Kanuga Main Campus, 130 Kanuga Chapel Dr, Hendersonville

Jane Monheit

Featuring a voice that exudes warmth and sophistication, this vocalist is renowned for her innovative interpretations of the Great American Songbook standards, from ballads to blues.

SA (3/15), 8pm, Wortham Center For The Performing Arts, 18 Biltmore Ave

Yvonnick Prene & Geoffrey Keezer in Concert Harmonica virtuoso Yvonnick Prené and acclaimed pianist Geoffrey Keezer joined forces to reinterpret the timeless elegance of Jobim’s music, blending their unique talents into a seamless collaboration of new arrangements and improvisation.

WE (3/19), 7pm, Mars Landing Galleries, 37 Library St, Mars Hill

COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS

AROUND THE REGION

• Publication (magazine or newspaper): Right On! X

Crafting Your Business Plan: Financials (Part 3)

In Part 3 you will work on the operations and the important financial sections of the Business Plan. A financial business plan is also vital if you are seeking loans or funding for your endeavor. Regiser at avl.mx/eko.

TH (3/13), 10am, Online Friday Night Spike Volleyball

The goal of this program is to teach girls and boys fundamentals of volleyball including bumping, setting, spiking, blocking, and other techniques.

FR (3/14), 5:30pm, Dr Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games Clinics

Enhance skills and discover new passions through APR’s free clinics, available to all interested participants in this year’s Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games.

TU (3/18), 10am, W Asheville Park, 198 Vermont Ave

Therapeutic Recreation Adult Crafting

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

TU (3/18), 10am and 11am, Murphy-Oakley Community Center, 749 Fairview Rd

Change Your Palate Cooking Demo

This free lunchtime food demonstration is open to all but tailored towards those with type 2 diabetes or hypertension and/or their caretakers.

WE (3/19), noon, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

LITERARY

Christa McCrorie Presents: Rediscovering You

include female sexuality, abjection within the decline of a romantic relationship and more.

SU (3/16), 4pm, Firestorm Books, 1022 Haywood Rd

Flooded Poetry

Each poet will be able to share 2-3 poems, and occasionally we will have local celebrity poets close out our night with a featured reading.

MO (3/17), 6:30pm, Flood Gallery, 802 Fairview Rd Ste 1200 Bringing Wilma Dykeman’s Work & Words to New Generations w/ Shannon Hitchcock Local author Shannon Hitchcock will discuss her children's book, Of Words & Water, as well as her research into Wilma Dykeman's life.

TU (3/18), 6pm, Asheville Museum of History, 283 Victoria Rd

Cozy Chapters Bookworm Club Gather fellow bookworms for a weekly book club. Enjoy hot chocolate, delicious snacks, and engaging conversation about latest reads.

TH (3/20), 6pm, Tempie Avery Montford Community Center, 34 Pearson Ave

Asheville StorySLAM: Beef

Prepare a five-minute story about bad blood.

TH (3/20), 7:30pm, The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave

THEATER & FILM

The Philadelphia Eleven

This film series hopes to offer the community a way to consider the intersections of faith and action within a peace and justice framework. See p50

A St. Patrick's Day Celebration with Dervish

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Dervish, Ireland’s premier traditional music group, for a joyous evening of high-energy performance.

TH (3/13), 7:30pm, Parker Concert Hall at Brevard Music Center, 349 Andante Ln, Brevard

Crafting Your Business Plan: Marketing (Part 2) In Part 2 you will learn how strong marketing is critical to make your business thrive. Attendees will learn how to understand the market for your business. Register at avl.mx/ekn.

WE (3/12), 10am, Online

Jewelry Making w/ Laurie

Make a bracelet, necklace or earrings for yourself or as a gift. Registration required, but all materials are included with the class fee.

WE (3/12), noon, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

Christa McCrorie presents her new workbook, Rediscovering You: Exploring Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation for Established Adults. WE (3/12), 6pm, Malaprop's Bookstore and Cafe, 55 Haywood St

Julia Nunnally Duncan

Julia Nunnally Duncan will be a featured author for a booksigning and reading from her latest two books, When Time Was Suspended  and All

We Have Loved SU (3/16), 3pm, Flood Gallery, 802 Fairview Rd Ste 1200

Hannah Bonner & Julia Anna Morrison Poetry

Reading Southern poets Hannah Bonner and Julia Anna Morrison read from their recent collections, exploring topics that

TH (3/13), 6pm, St. Johns Episcopal Church, 18 Jackson St, Sylva Free Kung Fu Movie Night Free kung fu movie night, hosted the second Thursday of each month.

TH (3/13), 7pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Storytelling w/Andy Offutt Irwin Beloved storyteller, whistler, and songwriter performs hilarious and heart-filled stories.

TH (3/13), 7pm, Weaverville Community Center, 60 Lakeshore Dr, Weaverville Movie Music: Pink Mercury Improvises to The Red Balloon

An audiovisual feast featuring projection of the 1956 Academy Award-winning film The Red Balloon plus a musical interpretation by Asheville's seasoned all-improvisatory band, Pink Mercury.

TH (3/13), 8pm, Corduroy Lounge, 444 Haywood Rd, Ste 103

Friday Family Movie Nights

Freshly popped popcorn and drinks provided. Movie titles announced closer to the event dates.

FR (3/14), 6pm, Dr Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St

Foreign Film Fridays

Every Friday visitors can enjoy a cozy movie night in the gallery featuring some amazing foreign films curated by film-buff Carlos Steward.

FR (3/14), 7pm, Flood Gallery, 802 Fairview Rd Ste 1200

Something Rotten Jr.

This riotous musical comedy, set in the 1590s, follows struggling playwrights Nick and Nigel Bottom as they attempt to outshine Shakespeare by inventing the world’s first musical.

FR (3/14), SA (3/15), 7:30pm, SU (3/16), Hart Theatre, 250 Pigeon St, Waynesville

The Lehman Trilogy

This epic theatrical event charts the humble beginnings, outrageous successes and devastating failure of the financial institution that would ultimately bring the global economy to

its knees.

TH (3/13, 20), FR (3/14), SA (3/15), WE (3/19), 7pm, SU (3/16), 2pm, North Carolina Stage Co., 15 Stage Ln

The Comedy Zone: Collin Moulton

Featuring some of the hottest stand-up comedians of today that deliver witty one-liners, preposterous punchlines, and hysterical anecdotes that you’ll never forget.

SA (3/15), 8pm, Wortham Center For The Performing Arts, 18 Biltmore Ave

The Best of Enemies

In this 2019 drama film, based on a true story, civil rights activist Ann Atwater faces off against C.P. Ellis, Exalted Cyclops of the Ku Klux Klan, in 1971 Durham, North Carolina over the issue of school integration. See p50 TH (3/20), 6pm, Jackson County Public Library, 310 Keener St, Sylva

MEETINGS & PROGRAMS

IBN Breakfast Club: Mills River

All are invited to attend and promote their business, products, and services, and meet new

referral contacts. WE (3/12), 8am, Mills River Restaurant, 4467 Boylston Hwy, Mills River

AFP WNC Presents: Bank of America

Philanthropy Study Hear about the latest giving trends and patterns from Holland Dunn, SVP with Bank of America providing key insights from the Bank of America Study of Philanthropy.

WE (3/12), 11am, AB-Tech, 340 Victoria Rd Ferguson Building

Homelessness Series: The City of Asheville Invites You to Attend

The City of Asheville's Community and Economic Development department invites you to attend an upcoming 3-part community education series on understanding homelessness.

WE (3/12, 19), 4pm, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

Protecting Your Farm: Understanding Property & Liability

Insurance

Learn how to protect your farm with the right property and liability insurance to safeguard against risks and unexpected events.

WE (3/12), 6pm,

Buncombe County Cooperative Extension Center, 49 Mount Carmel Rd, Ste 102 Tarot Community Circle

Each week we will cover different topics, so every class will provide new information. Please bring a deck based on the system of the Rider Waite Smith tarot or a copy of the Rider Waite Smith Tarot.

WE (3/12), 6pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd, NSA-WNC Meeting

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

TH (3/13), 10am, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

Resources for Women & Girls: What's Available & Needed

This community conversation will discuss what resources are available for local women and girls and what is needed. All members of the community are invited to participate.

TH (3/13), 11:30am, First Congregational UCC of Hendersonville, 1735 5th Ave W., Hendersonville

Learning to Dance w/ Demenetia

This interactive session offers insight and strategies to help caregivers navigate the delicate balance of communicating with a person whose brain is changing.

TH (3/13), 1pm, Parish Hall of St John in the Wilderness, 1905 Greenville Hwy, Flat Rock

Free Sober Disc Golf

This is a great opportunity to get outside and get some exercise. It's also a fun time to meet others in recovery, build community and create connection.

TH (3/13), 3:30pm, Richmond Hill Park, 300 Richmond Hill Dr

Nerd Nite

A monthly event held in 100+ cities around the world featuring fun-yet-informative presentations across a variety of subjects.

TH (3/13), 7pm, The River Arts District Brewing Co., 13 Mystery St Hemlock Treatment Demonstration

A demonstration of chemical treatment methods to control the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA).

FR (3/14), 1pm, The North Carolina Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way

Tarot w/Cats

This 1-hour workshop will include a brief history of the tarot, and how to incorporate a one- and three-card pull for daily guidance.

FR (3/14), 5:30pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd

Gender Reveal Party: A Queer Craft Circle

This craft circle will explore themes related to gender and sexuality through simple handicrafts, giving each other permission to experiment, go out on a limb, and get messy.

FR (3/14), 6pm, Firestorm Books, 1022 Haywood Rd

Therapeutic Recreation

After Dark

Experience fun activities with old friends and make new friends along the way. This week features a fun night of laser tag.

FR (3/14), 6pm, Murphy-Oakley Community Center, 749 Fairview Rd

Full Moon & Total Lunar Eclipse Circle

Facilitated by Sierra Hollister, author of Moon

Path Yoga, these circles are held at each new moon and full moon and are open to all who wish

to join.

FR (3/14), 7pm, W Asheville Yoga, 602 Haywood Rd

Rim Hike: Swannanoa Valley Museum Weatherford Heights

This hike to Weatherford Heights explores the history and geography of Y.M.C.A. Blue Ridge Assembly. The hike follows the original boundary line of the conference center’s grounds, surveyed by educator, author, and religious leader Willis Duke Weatherford in 1906.

SA (3/15), 8am, Swannanoa Valley Museum, 223 W State St, Black Mountain

Chinese Tea & Tai Chi Foundations

Settle your Qi with Chinese tea while learning the fundamentals of Tai Chi to improve your health. Beginner friendly so all levels are welcome.

SA (3/15), 10:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109 Tours of St. John in the Wilderness The guided tours of the church and churchyard (cemetery) are led by church docents. Learn about their history with lead docent Polly Morrice.

SA (3/15), 11am, The

Episcopal Church of St John in the Wilderness, 1895 Greenville Hwy, Flat Rock

Trusting the Earth: A Workshop on Balance

This workshop takes a deeper dive into understanding how balance works, both in body and mind, and how we can cultivate it at any stage of life.

SA (3/15), 3:30pm, W Asheville Yoga, 602 Haywood Rd Queer Community Circle

A place to make some friends, find support in other Queer people, and rant about the world with the emotional support of our 12 housepanthers.

SA (3/15), 6:30pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd

World Fiddle Workshop Students will learn pieces from genres including old-time and bluegrass, Celtic, Romanian, Russian and Ukrainian, Klezmer, and Middle Eastern music.

SU (3/16), 1pm, Asheville Music School, 10 Ridgelawn Rd

Coloring w/Cats: Teens & Adults

Set time for yourself and cuddle with the panthers, meet other cat-lovers, and color a beautiful

picture of a cat from our adult coloring books.

SU (3/16), 2pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd

Family Open Gym

Weekly time in the gym reserved for all ages to shoot hoops and play other active games as a family.

SU (3/16), 4pm, Dr Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St

Conversations w/Cats

Mix and mingle with cat lovers from all walks of life and twelve adoptable housepanthers. All proceeds from this event will be donated to Binx's Home for Black Cats.

SU (3/16), 6pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd

Alive After 55+

A program for active older adults to socialize, play board games and puzzles, create in group art activities, and more.

MO (3/17), TU (3/18), 10am, Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Rd

Walking the Great Lakes of WNC

Bring walking shoes and friends to see the lakes of western North Carolina. This program is for any individual who is looking to get a good workout in while enjoying the scenery.

MO (3/17), TU (3/18), 10am, Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Rd

Creative Check-in

This 1-hr set-up-yourweek session is designed for just about anyone who wants a supportive group to help them keep account of their dreams and goals, and how they play out in the week.

MO (3/17), 10am, Corduroy Lounge, 444 Haywood Rd, Ste 103

Random Acts of Flowers: Floral Arrangements for Those Needing a Smile

Random Acts of Flowers improves the emotional health and well-being of individuals in healthcare facilities by delivering recycled flowers, encouragement, and personal moments of kindness.

MO (3/17), 10am, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave, Virtue & the Meditative Journey

Through meditation, dharma talk and inquiry, Paul Linn will introduce some of the wholesome qualities that naturally arise and can be cultivated in our lives.

MO (3/17), 6:30pm, The Lodge at Quietude, 1130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

IBN Biz Lunch: Arden

Bring a stack of business cards, and if you like, a door prize to add to our drawing at the end of the meeting.

TU (3/18), 11:30am, Wild Wing Cafe South, 65 Long Shoals Rd, Arden

Diabetes Prevention & Management Program

Learn how nourishing foods, mindful exercise, stress management, and restful sleep all play a vital role in balancing your blood sugar and supporting overall health.

TU (3/18), 4pm, Bounty & Soul Education, Warehouse & Volunteer Hub, 1038 Old Hwy 70 W, Black Mountain

Welcome to the Agents Helping Agents Club

A fun and informative event where agents come together to share tips, tricks, and success stories. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, this club is the perfect place to connect with like-minded individuals in the industry.

WE (3/19), 9:30am, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

Reiki Circle w/Valerie Holbert & Danielle Sangita

This will be a beautiful Reiki offering with Valerie Holbert and Danielle Sangita. Be sure to RSVP as space is limited.

WE (3/19), 6pm, free, Be Well Black Mountain, 10 E Market St, Black Mountain

Script Reading for Confidence, Voiceover, or Screen

Stephanie Morgan, owner of Corduroy, will direct and coach 2-3 readers as they each work thru one short script, allowing for class feedback.

WE (3/19), 6:30pm, Corduroy Lounge, 444 Haywood Rd, Ste 103

Treks Hiking Club for Adults 50+

Senior Treks is a low-impact hiking club offering leisurely-paced hikes for active adults 50 or better. Bring lunch, water, good walking shoes, and dress for the weather.

WE (3/19), 9:30pm, Murphy-Oakley Community Center, 749 Fairview Rd

Soul Tending: The Art of Spiritual Self-Care w/ Renee Trudeau

Acclaimed author and retreat leader Renée Trudeau leads an embodied spiritual experience exploring ways to connect with the Divine in everyday life.

TH (3/20), 10am, Kanuga Main Campus, 130 Kanuga Chapel Dr, Hendersonville

IBN Biz Lunch: Canton

All are invited to attend and promote their business, products, and services, and meet new referral contacts.

TH (3/20), 11:30am, Southern Porch, 449 Main St, Canton

Lunch & Learn: Dementia Awareness Session

An in-person, interactive lunch n' learn. You will learn to recognize dementia symptoms & receive tips on how to

help. TH (3/20), 11:30am, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

Self Defense for Queer, Non-Binary & Trans Folks

Instructor Freya Bairdsen wants to empower women, girls, and all marginalized genders with practical self defense skills, so they can take on their next adventure with confidence.

TH (3/20), 5:30pm, All Bodies Movement and Wellness, 211 Merrimon Ave

Celebrate Black History: Soul Food Supper Come hungry for the annual Soul Food Supper co-sponsored by East End Valley St Neighborhood and Stephens-Lee Alumni associations. Please call (828) 350-2058 for more information and register in advance.

TH (3/20), 6pm, Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave

GAMES & CLUBS

Grant Southside Center

Walking Club

Walk inside in the gym or outside (if the weather is nice) with themed music each week.

WE (3/12, 19), 10:30am, Dr Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St

Indoor Walking for Wellness Club Weather doesn’t matter when you have a community gym. Let us crank up the tunes to get you motivated.

TH (3/13, 20), TU (3/18), 9:15am, Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave

Bid Whist Make bids, call trumps, and win tricks. Every Saturday for fun competition with the community.

SA (3/15), 1pm, Dr Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St

Community Bingo

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

SA (3/15), 1pm, Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave

Southside Spades Tournament

Compete against the best players in Asheville. Bring your best partner and register to secure your spot as 16 teams compete for prizes.

SA (3/15), 1pm, Dr Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St

Weekly Sunday Scrabble!

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

SU (3/16), 1:30pm, Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave

Outdoor Field Bingo Bring a lawn chair and friends to play bingo outdoors for prizes.

TH (3/20), 1pm, Burton Street Community Center, 134 Burton St

KID-FRIENDLY PROGRAMS

Tiny Tykes Wednesday Play Dates

Open play for toddlers to explore bikes, balls, inflatables, climbing structures, and more fun

WE (3/12, 19), 10am, Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave

Black Cat Tales: Story Time w/Cats

A special after-school workshop where families with children age 7 and under can relax and foster a love of reading while also socializing with the cats in the lounge.

WE (3/12, 19), TH (3/13, 20), FR (3/14), 4pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd

Family Story Time

A fun and interactive story time designed for children ages 18 months to 3 years.

WE (3/12, 19), 10:30am, Black Mountain Library, Black Mountain

Kung Fu For Children

Designed to begin with the foundations of these styles while also teaching application and self awareness.

WE (3/12, 19), 3pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 NMerrimon Ave, Ste 109

Suessville Creations

Toddlers listen to whimsical stories by Dr. Seuss and create fun and imaginative crafts inspired by the book with creativity, laughter, and magic.

WE (3/12), 5pm, Tempie Avery Montford Community Center, 34 Pearson Ave

Baby Storytime

A lively language enrichment story time designed for children ages 4 to 18 months.

TH (3/13, 20), 10:30am, Black Mountain Library, Black Mountain Toddler & Me Time Out

This open gym time allows toddlers and caregivers to make memories and new friends through structures and unstructured activities.

FR (3/14), 10am, Dr Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St Coloring w/Cats: Kiddie Edition

An artistic session with coloring books and markers for children ages 13 and under to

Bo Hess’ outgoing personality started at a young age

Xpress: Most people have at least one story their family and relatives can’t help but retell at most reunions and/or holiday gatherings. What is the quintessential story from your childhood that you can’t seem to escape at these types of gatherings?

Hess: When I was a child, I was extremely inquisitive and curious — always fascinated by people and people-watching. My parents love to tell the story of how, whenever we were out shopping or at the grocery store, I would walk up to complete strangers, introduce myself and say, “Hi, my name is Roberto, what is your name?” I was always eager to connect with others, even at a young age. Another favorite family memory: My go-to phrase as a kid was “Goodness gracious, me!” — something that, to this day, they never let me forget.

How would you describe yourself as a teenager? And how do you think your former teenage self would have reacted to learning you ended up serving as an elected official?

ON BRAND: Even as a toddler, Asheville City Council member Bo Hess rocked the shades.

I think my teenage self wouldn’t be too surprised by where I ended up. I have always been passionate about helping others, advocating for justice and amplifying the voices of those who often go unheard. Even back then, I was bold and outspoken, unafraid to challenge the status quo. In high school, I was actually voted “Most Likely to Be Famous or Become President” — so in a way, I guess I was always on this path.

The young people in our community have been through a lot since COVID and Helene. What is your top concern for our area youths, and what influence do local officials have to address it?

My top concern for young people today is mental health. This generation is struggling with mental illness, anxiety and depression at far higher rates than previous generations. We need to stop treating mental health as an afterthought and start building real infrastructure for accessible, affordable and comprehensive mental health care. Local officials can push for more school-based mental health services, community wellness programs, youth mentorship initiatives and crisis response teams. Asheville must be a place where young people feel supported, valued and equipped to thrive.

Lightning round: As a child, what was your favorite ...

• Book: Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Daniel Millman

• Album: Boys for Pele by Tori Amos

• TV show: “Unsolved Mysteries” and “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”

• Movie: Waking Life and The Lion King

• Publication (magazine or newspaper): Adbusters, Rolling Stone and Spin X

Photo courtesy of Hess

relax by coloring as they pet cats to reduce stress and anxiety.

SA (3/15), 1pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd

Youth Beginner

Climbing

A three-week instructional climbing class for beginners. A parent or guardian must attend and be prepared to participate and belay their child.

MO (3/17), 6pm, Tempie Avery Montford Community Center, 34 Pearson Ave

LOCAL MARKETS

River Arts District

Farmers Market

Weekly market featuring local fruits, vegetables, meats, bread, honey, eggs, pastries, flowers, crafts and more. SNAP and disaster SNAP are accepted.

WE (3/12, 19), 3pm, AB Tech, 24 Fernihurst Dr

Asheville City Market

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

SA (3/15), 10am, 52 N Market St

Black Mountain Tailgate Spring Market

Weekly tailgate farmer's market, held every Saturday through April 12.

SA (3/15), 10am, White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

North Asheville Tailgate Market

The oldest Saturday morning market in WNC, since 1980. Over 60 rotating vendors providing a full range of local, sustainably produced produce, meats, eggs, cheeses, breads, plants and unique crafts.

SA (3/15), 10am, UNC Asheville, Lot P34, 275 Edgewood Rd

Honky Tonk Flea

Discover unique antique treasures, vintage gems, and handmade goods while listening to the best honky tonk vinyls.

SU (3/16), 11am, Eda's Hide-a-Way, 1098 New Stock Rd, Weaverville

Junk-O-Rama Vintage Market

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

SU (3/16), 12pm, Fleetwood's, 496 Haywood Rd

Weaverville Winter Tailgate Market

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

Open year round.

WE (3/19), 3pm, 60 Lake Shore Dr Weaverville

FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS

St. Paddy's Luncheon & Bingo

Put on your green and grab a good luck charm as we enjoy tradition Irish fare followed by bingo games.

TH (3/13), noon, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

ASAP's CSA Fair

Meet local farmers face-to-face and learn more about CSA (or Community Supported Agriculture) programs. In addition to traditional produce CSAs, the fair includes farms with specialty CSA products, such as meat or flowers. See p49

TH (3/13), 3:30pm, YWCA of Asheville, 185 S French Broad Ave

Franny's Farmacy

Ribbon-Cutting Ceromony

The community is invited to join in the celebration as we mark this exciting milestone

Q&A: BEYOND THE DAIS

Commissioner Terri Wells reflects on her favorite childhood music, movies and publications

Xpress: How would you describe yourself as a teenager? And how do you think your former teenage self would have reacted to learning you ended up serving as an elected official?

Wells: I was independent, curious and responsible. My teenage self would be surprised that I ran for elected office because I definitely preferred the behind-the-scenes directing; however, I have always had a strong commitment to our community, serving in 4-H, volunteering with our Sandy Mush Community Center and fundraising for community causes with my basketball team while growing up.

The young people in our community have been through a lot since COVID and Helene. What is your top concern for our area youths, and what influence do local officials have to address it?

B-BALL: Commissioner Terri Wells at summer basketball camp at Leicester Community Center. Photo courtesy of Wells

It is important for our youth to have access to healthy and engaging activities to help with their mental, physical and social well-being. A sense of belonging and purpose is beneficial for everyone. In addition to supporting our schools, the county provides funding to various arts and youth organizations and provides youth programming through our libraries and parks and recreation, as well as great recreational spaces to enjoy.

Lightning round: As a child, what was your favorite ...

• Book: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

• Album: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Live/1975-85

• TV show: “Cheers”

• Movie: The Sound of Music

• Publication (magazine or newspaper): Rolling Stone and Architectural Digest X

with special discounts, giveaways, and more. There will be complimentary refreshments and light bites.

TH (3/13), 4pm, Franny's Farmacy: W Asheville, 645 Haywood Rd

March Madness

Charcuterie Board & ACC Tournament

Watch Party

Make your own basketball out of charcuterie snacks and watch the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament.

TH (3/13), 5:30pm, Burton Street Community Center, 134 Burton St

Fashion & Puppet Show: How Do We Disappear Yet Still Be Seen?

A fashion/puppet show featuring an improvised live scored orchestra, river runway, and a lineup of wearables exploring the theme: How can we disappear but still be seen?

FR (3/14), 7pm, Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center, 120 College St

Chai Pani: Holi Night Market

Celebrate Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, spring and love with an outdoor Holi Night Market. Partygoers will find Indian-style street food booths, slushies, a photo booth, Bhangra dancing, a Bollywood DJ, plus several local vendors. See p49 FR (3/14), 5pm, Chai Pani, 32 Banks Ave

2025 Spring Conference: Organic Growers School

This event features the Southeast's largest gathering of farmers, gardeners and sustainability advocates. It will host over 32 workshops across 8 tracks such as gardening, soils, mushrooms and more. Visit avl.mx/ekt for the full schedule.

FR (3/14), 9am, Mars Hill University, 265 Cascade St, Mars Hill

New Belgium Asheville Marathon & Half

The New Belgium Asheville Marathon and Half is back this year with a new perspective, renewed purpose, and a story that’s unlike any other.

SA (3/15), 7:30am, Pack Square Park, 80 Court Plaza

Kickoff Kiki NWSL Watch Party & LGBTQ+ Meetup

An evening of women’s soccer, queer community, and celebration of Q-Hall’s first-ever pop-up over a year ago. This event is free, but space is limited, so sign up in advance.

SA (3/15), 4pm, Olde London Rd English Pub, 270 Depot St

St. Paddy's Taproom

Celebration

Throw on your best green outfit for an incredible lineup of

entertainment and specialty Irish brews. The Seelie Court and Lazr Luvr will be performing live music.

SA (3/15), noon, Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Hwy, Ste 200

St. Waggy's Day

Bring your canines down for some happy tail-wagging at the annual St. Waggy’s Day pawty. Refreshments provided for canines and humans with giveaways, music, festive décor, and the chance to win prizes for best dog costume, best dog trick, and treat jar guessing game.

SA (3/15), noon, Burton Street Community Center, 134 Burton St

Asheville St. Patrick's Day Bar Crawl

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day weekend in style by exploring the hottest bars in town, enjoying exclusive drink specials. There will also be food specials, a free after party and professional photographer and videographers.

SA (3/15), 1pm, Urban Orchard, 24 Buxton Ave

St. Patrick's Day

Kick off your St. Patrick’s Day weekend with Irish drinking songs and shanties galore. This event will feature an Irish food menu, a whiskey sampling, and live music with Craig Kellberg.

SA (3/15), 2pm, Wicked Weed Brewing, 91 Biltmore Ave

Green Day Party

Get ready to rock your green with a fusion of St. Patrick’s Day cheer and pop-punk vibes for a celebration that’s equal parts festive and rebellious. There will also be various activities, live music and plenty of Irish-mischief.

SA (3/15), 3pm, Hi-Wire Brewing Big Top, 2A Huntsman Place

St. Paddy's Day w/ ROND

Sing, stomp and swing to penny whistle Irish ditties and the salty ROND classics you can't not sing to. There will also be local beer and food from Mission Pizza.

SA (3/15), 5pm, Terra Nova Beer Co., 101 S Lexington Ave

Irish Chili Cook-Off

Experience an afternoon filled with live music, Irish dancers, green beer, food specials and a chance to showcase your best chili recipe to a panel of judges. See p49

SA (3/15), 2pm, Sweeten Creek Brewing, 1127 Sweeten Creek Rd

Spring Equinox Concert w/Simon de Voil

The Spring Equinox Concert, held on Kanuga’s labyrinth, ushers in the season of renewal with music

to soothe the soul and nourish the spirit.

TH (3/20), 5:30pm, Kanuga Main Campus, 130 Kanuga Chapel Dr, Hendersonville

BENEFITS & VOLUNTEERING

Oakley Community Closet

A cost-free opportunity to donated shop clothes, shoes, and toys.

WE (3/12), 1pm, Murphy-Oakley Community Center, 749 Fairview Rd

Singer Songwriter ROUNDup: Benefiting Beloved Asheville’s Hurricane Helene Recovery

Four rounds of local songwriters, three or four performers per round. All proceeds will go to Beloved Asheville.

WE (3/12), 7pm, The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave

Southside Volunteer Day

Volunteer with RiverLink to maintain the native ecosystem and rain gardens in the Erskine Community. TH (3/13), 10am, Herb Watts Park, 64 Erskine St

Flower Power Dance Party

Dance the night away and raise money for the mission to bring smiles to others with fresh flowers. The night will feature music from the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's.

FR (3/14), 6:30pm, Weaverville Community Center, 60 Lakeshore Dr, Weaverville

Land of Sky Burlesque Fest Fundraiser

A benefit burlesque show presented by Bold Burlesque. FR (3/14), 9pm, The Odd, 1045 Haywood Rd

REACH Volunteer Training

The morning training will be general information about REACH, domestic violence and sexual assault, with DVDs and interactive scenarios. After lunch, training will be about resources SA (3/15), 9:30am, REACH of Haywood County, 627 N Main St, Waynesville

Bowl For Kids' Sake: Buncombe County Money raised by bowlers, sponsors, and supporters funds the agency’s work to boost Littles chances of success by matching them with vetted and professional mentors from Big Brothers Big Sisters of WNC. SA (3/15), 11am, Sky Lanes, 1477 Patton Ave The Benefit for Josh & Friends

Featuring a stacked line of bands for a benefit show. All proceeds

go to Josh’s Son Kai, Audrey’s partner Maggie, Zelena’s children, and Jade’s family. SA (3/15), 3pm, Sly Grog Lounge, 271 Haywood St

St. Patrick’s Day Drag Brunch for Tzedek Social Justice Fund Savor a delicious brunch by The Sweet Monkey with proceeds going to the Tzedek Social Justice Fund. This all-ages celebration is your ticket to a pot of gold.

SU (3/16), 11am, The Hideaway, 49 Broadway St.

Green River Green Love & Good Luck: Hemlock Treatment Volunteer Workday Help treat hemlocks to protect against hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) at Little Bradley Falls in Green River Game Land. Volunteers will be working with insecticide and moving through potentially challenging terrain.

MO (3/17), 10am, Trail to Little Bradley Falls, Little Bradley Trail, Saluda Fundraiser for Limestone Gumption

The free event will showcase top professional entertainment, side-splitting laughter, free delicious, hand-crafted food from Chef Michelle Bailry, and a cash bar.

MO (3/17), 6pm, Citizen Vinyl, 14 O Henry Ave

Low-Cost Community Cat Neuter Clinic You must schedule and pay for your appointment prior to showing up. TH (3/20), 8am, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd Swannanoa Valley Museum Supper & A Story Fundraiser On the first day of Spring, history comes alive at a special gala dinner to benefit the Swannanoa Valley Museum hosted by Hell or High Water, Black Mountain’s newest restaurant.

TH (3/20), 7pm, Hell or High Water, 128 Broadway St, Black Mountain Kiss Country Guitar Jam A benefit show for Valley Strong Disaster Relief featuring performances from various local artists.

TH (3/20), 8pm, The Orange Peel, 101 Biltmore Ave The Music Circuit Presents: The Great Rebuild Showcase A concert benefiting Western NC rebuilding efforts. It features performances by FOE Big Sav, Lilah Price, Moody Bridge, Granny's Mason Jar and more. Donations are strongly encouraged, TH (3/20), 8pm, The Odd, 1045 Haywood Rd

Kids Issue2025

Who or what inspires you?

We are delighted to share Part 1 of this year’s Kids Issues, our annual feature showcasing the creative talents of our local K-12 students. We asked kids and teens to submit art and writing around the theme of “Who or what inspires you?” We received more than 400 entries from students around the region who attend area public, charter, private, parochial and home schools. Many of these young artists and writers shared stories and images of people who stepped up to help the community in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene. Others were inspired by their parents, teachers and even their pets. Still more found inspiration from the likes of Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr. and Taylor Swift.

Though space limitations prevent us from sharing all the work we received, we hope you enjoy the engaging collection of colorful art, poems, essays and short fiction on the following pages. And be sure to check back next week for more inspirational student art and writing in Part 2, along with our annual guide to area summer camps

— Xpress Staff X

An amazing community

I am inspired most by the community of Asheville. Recently, Asheville experienced a horrifying hurricane that wrecked most of the community, but only 30 minutes after the storm was over, people immediately got up and started helping each other. The neighbor next to us had a tree fall right through his house, but he thought of us before himself. He has a pool in his backyard and offered water from the pool

to help flush toilets, which was so thoughtful. And this was just in my small neighborhood.

When I was able to go back to school, it was so amazing on the drive there to see all the people helping with all the damage. When I pulled up to my school, I was a little confused. We have this huge building in the back of our property that we use to store gear, but this time instead of gear, it was filled to the brim with hurricane relief supplies. Apparently, the HRC (Hurricane Rebuild Collaborative) had moved into the building, and it was so unbelievable to see so many people helping our community.

DAD’S GUITAR: “I made this piece in honor of my dad, who recently passed away,” writes Azalea Ludlow, a fourth grader at ArtSpace Charter School. “He is the one who inspired me. He was brave and kind to everyone. He played guitar, and all of the symbols in the painting are things he taught me and inspired me to do. He inspires me to keep trying even if it’s hard. He also has a lot to do with how I act and how I speak because he was sort of my kindergarten teacher during the pandemic. He was a big part of my life.”

The whole thing started with a few guys handing out water after the storm, and they started getting more supplies and their truck couldn’t hold it all, so they moved into our building. They started gaining more donations and supplies and were planning on using their money to start getting places to live for people that didn’t have anywhere to go. They planned on getting a few sheds and insulating them and dropping them where they were needed.

There are so many stories like this, and it’s amazing to see how something little can become amazing and so helpful. This is why Asheville inspires me the most.

– Gemma Holland, sixth grade, French Broad River Academy

My teacher inspires me

My teacher inspires me. She tells me the right thing to do. She always helps me when I need help and with learning more things in school. She is very smart and beautiful.

I love her very much.

I like having her as my teacher. She inspires me to be a teacher when I grow up.

– Alexis Curry, third grade, Johnston Elementary School

SHIMMERING PLANETS: “I was inspired to create this piece because I have always loved space and our solar system,” says Asheville School 11th-grader Sarah Lil Phillips. “By having the planets hanging from strings, it brought them together and created a facade that they are so close to us despite being so far away.”

My culture inspires me

I live in a city where there is diversity, but unfortunately there is still plenty of racism. My father is Italian and African American, and my mother is European, which makes me and my sister mixed.

I was about 7 years old when I found out I was African American. I was just in the car with my mom on the way home from my grandparents, just asking why is my dad so much darker than his parents. I went to a middle school where most of my classmates were Black. I have always gotten asked, “Why is your hair so curly, Jayden?” Kids would tell them that I’m mixed. I

would get laughed at and told I was lying and I just wished I was Black like them. At 7 years old, I felt like I didn’t fit in anywhere. I felt lost because I was confused about why it mattered what color I was.

Back in 2020, when the Black Lives Matter movement started and George Floyd couldn’t breathe, I didn’t understand. I remember sitting in my room playing with my pet lizard and thinking “Why are they saying that only Black lives matter?” because the only people that were bullying me were Black and I didn’t understand the concept of what they were doing until my dad explained it to me. I started to understand but deep down I still felt some type of way.

I wanted to fit in so badly. My dad noticed I was acting different because I wanted certain types of shoes and needed my hair a certain type of way, and I wasn’t acting like the goofy, outgoing Jayden. My dad kept telling me, “Jayden, don’t change yourself for other people. Just do you.” When he would tell me that, I would think I did want to be myself, but I was too scared I would get made fun of.

How did this affect me in the long run? It took me a while to get to where I am now, and I have grown to love myself. The journey to selflove hasn’t always been easy. I have learned to love myself and control my anger.

Overall, my life experiences have made me a better, stronger person who is inspired by my Black culture. It doesn’t matter what race you are. Just be you and you will find people that love you for you.

– Jayden Jeffords, 11th grade, T.C. Roberson High School

Inspired by animals

The things that most inspire me are animals. Their adapting strategies can save them. It inspires me to make art. I love how the chameleon changes colors with their surroundings. I love how the chameleon’s world is so lively, it inspires me to make my world more lively.

The chameleon has so many colors, it inspires me to make the world more elaborate. The chameleon’s instincts inspire me to make my instincts better.

– Sadie Childs, second grade, Rainbow Community School

A changing world

Once there was a happy little girl who lived with her parents in a happy little family. They rarely fought and spoiled her with little treats. She lived all of a few minutes away from school and would walk there every day. And although her parents loved her dearly, she had no friends. One day at recess she looked up at the clear blue sky and said, “Oh big blue, won’t you give me a friend to play with when I am lonely?” When nothing happened, she sighed and walked away. Later that day when she walked home and opened the door, her parents were fighting loudly in the living room. She walked to her room and did her homework. The next day at school, when she was sitting alone

THREE THINGS: Leah Littman, a sixth grader at Hanger Hall, is inspired by love, honesty and respect.

at recess, a lille girl walked up to her and asked, “Do you want to be my friend?”

Something that inspires me is that there will always be change, no matter what, whether it is good or bad.

– Beatrix Gaddy, seventh grade, Hanger Hall

My stepdad

My stepdad inspires me because he likes to help out others and helps people that went through Hurricane Helene. He also inspires me because

CLOSER TO FINE: Annalyn Kebton, a fifth grader at The Franklin School Innovation, finds inspiration from folk rock duo The Indigo Girls. The artwork includes the line, “There’s more than one answer to these questions, pointing me in a crooked line, the less I seek my source for some definitive, the closer I am to fine.”

he is kind to others and understands what people are going through. He is amazing and so helpful to my mother. My stepdad is also amazing to everyone he meets. That’s why my stepdad inspires me.

– Lyla Kemp, fourth grade, Weaverville Elementary School

Remember role models

A lot of young people these days think of role models as someone they saw on the internet or someone they don’t even know for sure what their personalities are like. I think a lot of this generation is so fascinated by the idea of disliking their parents. This is outrageous. Since when did it get cool to not like the people who put food on the table?

Role models, to me, are the people who make me who I am, who teach me, who raise me, who understand me. This is my family. This family cares, helps, motivates, and inspires me. This family is a family you’d want to meet in a grocery store. Of course they sometimes are mad, or annoying, or irritated, but we all are sometimes. They don’t just care for people for the sake of someone seeing, but they really care about people and relationships. They make things matter. This family knows when to crack a joke and when to be serious. They lighten moods. They make good food. They listen. They are respectful.

This family is all of that and more. I could sit here and name out every factor that makes my family role models, but I won’t. That would take too long, that would take up your time. I think instead I’ll finish this with a quote. Don’t forget about your family, the bad or the good memories: always remember them.

– River Edwards, eighth grade, The Learning Community School

A good brain

I inspire myself.

I think encouraging thoughts. My brain has good ideas.

– Saoirse Paris-Fischer, first grade, Friends-Montessori School

Why I run

With every stride I take, they show me the way,

To push through the pain, to push every day

STILLNESS AND MOTION: Natalie Eberlin-Morgan, an eighth grader at Polk County Middle School, writes: “I was inspired by the rivers pre-Helene, as well as the book Braiding Sweetgrass. I am looking forward to when ponds and rivers will flow clean once again.”

My strides become strong, my heart now bold,

With their support, I go for gold. Through every mile, my legs rise and fall, But for my teammates, I give it my all.

Their strength lifts me when I feel slow, Together we run, together we grow. In their spirit, I find my pace, Chasing opponents’ footsteps, I set my race

Friends inspire me with every cheer, To run faster, to conquer my fear.

– Lyndon Norris, ninth grade, A.C. Reynolds High School

Local artist

Edwin Salas is an Asheville artist who creates linoleum prints. He inspired me to look at art differently, and now I’m also creating linoleum artwork. My favorite artwork that he created was “Snoop Dog and Godzilla.” I was lucky enough to meet him twice. He was very kind and he took time to talk to me. I hope I can be as talented as he is someday.

– Theodore Mattox, fifth grade, Isaac Dickson Elementary School

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Forest Floor Wilderness Programs

“When I look at the sky, I feel inspired,” writes West Henderson High School ninth grader Eli Norton. He took this photo in Mills River.

Inspiration in 289 words

When you wake up in the morning, what is the first thing you think about? Maybe it’s breakfast, maybe it’s dinner, or maybe it’s the Ryan Reynolds poster you have on the ceiling. No matter what, there is something inspiring you. Maybe it’s the Ryan Reynolds poster that is making you hungry. Now that’s what I call inspiration.

When you do your homework, what makes you do it? Maybe you want to get good grades, or maybe you want to get it over with because you want to watch Deadpool. I’m guessing that if you have a Ryan Reynolds poster, you are not watching it for Hugh Jackman.

When you go to bed, why do you want to go to sleep? Maybe you are just really tired, maybe you don’t want to go to sleep and you want to stay up playing video games, or maybe, if you do want to go to sleep, you really want to dream about Ryan Reynolds. Okay, let’s all be honest, if you are dreaming about Ryan Reynolds you might have a bit of an obsession/addiction, but if you’re sleeping, fine by me. Now, when you are at school, work, or even home, there is always something inspiring you. Whether it’s Ryan Reynolds or video games, you get it done. Or, maybe you don’t get it done, let’s be honest, there is a sock on your floor somewhere, or if you have kids, maybe an unflushed toilet. Even though a lot of things are annoying or imperfect, promise me, next time you wake up in the morning, and you see that Ryan Reynolds poster, remember what

Deadpool says, “When life gives you a wet willy, you give a noogie right back.”

– Reese Sommer-McPhail, seventh grade, The Learning Community School

Thank you, hurricane helpers

All of the people of North Carolina and surrounding states inspired me during the hurricane. The people who donated and helped others real-

THE BALLAD OF THE LILY PAD: Oli Centeno-Oxford, an 11th grader at Asheville School, writes: “I’m very frequently inspired by the idea of reusing and recycling stuff to include in artwork, including this one, where I made a collage out of recycled paper. Reducing the waste that I create is really important to me, so I do it whenever I can — turning junk into art is just the most convenient way for me to do that!”

BACKROADS:

ly made me realize how many good and generous people there are. It’s very sad that people died and lost everything. But it also makes me think about how strong our state is. I want to thank all of the firefighters, police, ambulance workers, electric people, water people, soldiers and everyone who helped. Especially the people who worked in the middle of the night. It would be hard to repair pipes and electricity in the dark. And I want to thank Crossroads Church for all the donations and hard work. Even when the church flooded, they still helped others. And I want to thank Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church for donating a lot of money. I love you AVL.

– Sally Rose Falk, fourth grade, Fairview Elementary School

Inspired by music

My mom always says that my love of music began a long time before I was even born. She would listen to music and dance around with my older siblings and I would kick and squirm inside her belly as if I was dancing around with them. To help

calm me and my constant movement, she would put headphones on her belly and play Mozart or to get me to move to be sure I was still growing, she would throw on Billy Joel and Michael Jackson. I started my life listening and loving music and I’m still inspired by it today.

Growing up, music was always in the background of our days and nights. My siblings and I are also lucky to have a room full of instruments and parents that allowed us to explore different instruments

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NATURE: ArtSpace Charter School fourth grader Warren Van Marter Newby is inspired by mountains, trees, rivers and wildlife.

CATS DON’T KNOW: “I am inspired by my cat because during the storm he walked out of the house and dug a hole and pooped in it, and why it inspired me is because cats don’t know about natural disasters,” writes Beatrice Honeycutt, a second grader at Mountain City Public Montessori.

through lessons. While both of my siblings ended up loving the guitar and ukulele, I ended up loving to drum. I didn’t like it just for the banging, I could actually hear the different drums in every song and could eventually repeat what I had heard almost identically. I really can’t just play the boring 4 count beats though, I have to be chal-

lenged by the changing rhythms and drums. The harder the song, the more I get inspired and excited to learn the beat.

I’m now playing in a rock band with Rock Academy and also have my own band doing covers of Van Halen. We jam on weekends, and I spend hours every day practicing and perfecting. I see myself in

the future going on tour around the country. I can’t imagine my life without music.

– Treynor Hoehne, seventh grade, The Franklin School of Innovation

Because she is

She is a cat

She walks proudly, so beautiful

Her knowledge and stories flow like a river

The sweet wisdom never ends

She is a mountain

Her back straight and her body tall

Or like an octopus, a heart for each of her children

When she asks “How was your day?”

A sense of relief rushes through me, Like a summer breeze

She is always there when I need her,

Or support me, but most of all love me,

Because she is my mother

– Amelia LeCompte, sixth grade, Polk County Middle School

Agricultural inspiration

Farming inspires me because I think it would be fun. When I have visited farms, I love getting chicken eggs and milking the cows, and picking apples from the orchard. I also love feeding the horses. Playing with the baby chickens is fun. I enjoy feeding the pigs, too! I love farming.

– Karl McGee, third grade, The Learning Community School

Walking in his footsteps

When I saw the question “Who or what inspires you?” I had many peo-

TREE WITH MANY COLORS: Hanger Hall sixth grader Lucy Dixon says: “My artwork is a tree with lots of colors. Kind of like a sunset. It inspires me because it’s very colorful and the tree because I love nature.”

ple go through my head for multiple reasons, but there was one person who stood out. As they have found ways to inspire me in more ways than they even know.

From playing video games and wrestling years ago, laughing together during late nights, and making the most out of every situation to helping me accept Christ into my life, and assisting me in new experiences, my closest brother is someone that I truly look up to and want to be like.

Seeing his experiences in high school, I am absolutely amazed by the path he has created in life. Now I’m following in his footsteps in some ways. As I walked the path that he made for me in school and life, he always told me that he wanted me to make my own path and not follow him.

He turned little things into big experiences and memories. Even if

he had a ton of school work or a packed schedule, he always found some way to make time for me and help with my schoolwork during the COVID lockdown. He taught me many things in life: how to ride a bike, how to tie my shoes, but especially how to walk with Christ in my heart.

He helped me accept Christ on Dec. 27, 2021, and later was the one to baptize me on Feb. 27, 2022. But something he never knew about was the effect of what he said right before he baptized me.

He said before he dunked me under the water, “Change the world.” He has changed my world more than he’ll ever know. Those three words became the inspiration for the path I create.

– Andy Bradley, ninth grade, A.C. Reynolds High School

My inspirational dog

Jasper was my sweet dog that had been there for me since I was a baby and passed away when I was 10. He loved and cared for me and he would lay with me if I was sick or hurt. He was so caring to people and he always wanted to play. He inspired me to smile, care and love people. Although he is not with me anymore, he always will have a place in my heart.

– Keaton Reagan, fifth grade, Isaac Dickson Elementary School

Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks is someone in history who inspired me. Through her stories, I have witnessed how her actions changed a country. She was born in a “separate but equal” time period, where Black

THE BEAUTIFUL GAME: Rainbow Community School sixth grader Oli Tickle is inspired by soccer.

and white Americans could not use the same bathrooms, water fountains, bus seats and more. This is clearly unjust, but was considered “constitutional.”

Rosa Parks is famously known for the “Montgomery Bus Boycott” incident, which is when she didn’t move and let a white American take her spot on the bus. I remembered this part when I was about 9-10 years old until now. I couldn’t fully feel how much courage she took, but I know that because of this movement, she has silently encouraged other Black Americans to fight back against the unjustment they are in and has broken the “separate but equal” to equal.

In conclusion, Rosa Parks has inspired me and has taught me that no matter what situation you are in, don’t be afraid of fighting against unequalness, true unjustment will be subverted once someone starts a lead. This makes me remember a

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Garden Camp

quote from Martin Luther King Jr., “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

– Joanna Zheng, eighth grade, Asheville Catholic School

Medical marvels

Doctors inspire me because they save lives and know so much about the body that they can use their knowledge to heal others. They know all the medicines and how they work, how to heal so many diseases and what they are called. If you get burned, cut, or are sick doctors are always there and know what to do.

– Jack Brown, fourth grade,

The Learning Community School

The song queen

Taylor Swift inspires me because at her concerts she donates money to people in need. Her music inspires me because it is so good. She also likes cats so much, and I started to love them even more!

Her music brings me to life. It is very inspiring!! She works hard and is really nice to people. I love when at the concerts, she gives out the “22” hat. I wish I could have that hat. Taylor is the best.

– Sophia Sharpe, second grade, Rainbow Community Sc

FROLICKING: “I have been around horses my whole life,” writes Asheville School 12th grader Marni Ashrafi. “My mom used to love horses so much that she convinced my dad to buy a farm for her. She has been my inspiration for my entire life.”

THE END OF AN ERA: “I chose Taylor Swift because I’ve looked up to her for a long time,” says Hanger Hall seventh grader Sophie Aho. The artwork includes the line, “It was the end of an era but the start of an age...”

One light on the street

While the hurricane was happening and especially after, all of my neighborhood didn’t have power, except for one house at the bottom of our street. The lady with the power was so kind. Every morning she would make coffee and everyone was welcome to use her power strips. Everyone in the neighborhood would use it, and every morning we would come down there to listen to the radio. I think it really brought my neighborhood together. My best friend, Poppy, was flooded, even with a tiny small creek in her yard. I’m very grateful that she and her family are OK. I was relieved because for about a week I couldn’t get a hold of her. My dad’s coffee shop on the river completely flooded. I’m so grateful that my family and I are OK. But I’m so sad that some people’s houses, businesses and families are gone.

– Selma Weatherly-Hunt, fifth grade, Isaac Dickson Elementary School

My swim coach

Someone who inspires me the most in my life is my swim coach. She has inspired me and so many different people in so many different ways. She has done so much more than just teach me how to improve my swimming. She teaches me men-

tal techniques to help me improve my races. She was also a hero in the military before she was a swim coach. She has done so many amazing things in her lifetime, it’s hard to comprehend.

When she was in the military, she basically stood up and reported the bad things that people in the military did to women. She was a hero and stood up for so many women in the military. This is just one of the few reasons why she is so inspirational.

On a more personal level, my swim coach is super supportive to everyone. She can often be very tough, but if I do really well in a race or improve my times, she really shows how proud she is. She is also very supportive to my brother when he has anxiety about swimming. She is just an amazing swim coach and has helped me and so many other people become great swimmers.

Overall, my swim coach is an amazing person. She has accomplished so many incredible feats in her lifetime, (like swimming in open water all around the world) and changed the lives of so many people. I’m so glad to have her in my life and she is all around just an incredibly inspiring person.

– Charlie Ballisty, seventh grade, French Broad River Academy

Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa is very inspiring to me. She believed in God very much

and respected her faith. She traveled the world to teach kids about the Lord and how to follow in his footsteps. I want to be as faithful as her and inspire others like she does me.

Mother Teresa founded multiple charities and helping services for people in need around the world. She left home to go be a nun at the young age of 18. She devoted herself to working with poor people in

multiple countries. The society that she opened, became an international religious group by the pope. She helped kids everywhere and I want my faith to be as strong and everlasting as hers.

Mother Teresa put time and effort into all of her missionaries. She opened so many Christian/ Catholic groups and still made time for prayer and scripture. I love how no matter what, she made someone smile. One of her quotes was “We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do” which I love because a simple smile really can help someone with a tough day.

Mother Teresa opened 275 soup kitchens, 224 children’s homes, 438 homes for the dying and 10 commu-

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STORM WARNING: Grace Deserio, a seventh grader at North Buncombe Middle School, created this painting of “Helene as a young woman.”

FLAMES OF FAITH RISING: “This image stirs up strong feelings of discipline, commitment and spiritual connection,” says Asheville School 12th grader Shruti Gupta. “A commitment to tradition, faith and the river’s holiness is symbolized by the priests’ coordinated motions during the Ganga Aarti, their torches blazing brightly against the night sky. I am inspired by this picture because it serves as a reminder of the beauty of shared spiritual experiences and the strength of group rituals.”

nities. She helped so many people through her inspiring life.

I want to live in faith like Mother Teresa did. I want to have faith as strong as her and have an impact on so many people’s lives. She had such a great life striving for God and I want to be as strong as her.

– Cassidy Elkins, sixth grade, Asheville Catholic School

Exploration inspiration

Sir Ernest Shakelton, who was the captain of the Endurance and an Antarctica explorer, inspires me because he was very brave, determined, smart, and he looked at things in a different perspective. He was not just on the Endurance expedition in 1914, he was trying to get himself out alive, but to get the other

men out alive. He seemed generous and considerate because he knew he could get to Antarctica, but his men would have perished. He didn’t ever get there because he wanted his crew to live. That kind of decision-making takes a very wise and kind person. That’s why Shakleton inspires me!

– Roan Cox, third grade,

The Learning Community School

Inspired by MLK

Martin Luther King inspires me because he helped Black people as much as he could. He fought for justice and taught people about rights. He was inspirational.

– Mateo Garza-Mascorro, second grade, Rainbow Community School

What inspires you?

The forest inspires me with glowing blue lakes, the sounds of the mountains and the wind in my face. The fields inspire me with flowers so bright and the crickets chirping all through the night. The sounds of the birds a cute little bunny sometimes its the bees that make honey. So think back just once a day. What inspires you? Is it the sky shining a shade of light blue?

– Piper Kiely, fourth grade, The Learning Community School

Who inspires me

My dad is a public school teacher at Asheville Middle School. He works all day, breaks up fights and has about 200 kids to supervise. So when Helene hit Asheville, I figured he’d take this time off as a break to stay home and hunker down. Instead, he sent me, my brother, and my mom to Raleigh, where we could be safe while he stayed home. At first, he told us he was waiting to ensure no one tried to loot our house but I knew that wasn’t the reason why. My dad is and always will be a public servant no matter if he is a teacher or not. He went to do welfare checks on students, delivered food and water, and even distributed makeshift toilets.

People like my dad during Helene inspire me to be a better person and

HOOP DREAMS: Cody Wells, an eighth grader at The Franklin School of Innovation, finds inspiration in basketball. The artwork includes a quote by Chris Paul that reads: “Keep practicing. Never let someone tell you you’re too small or too slow.”

to never give up. In times of doubt or despair, I remember heroes from Helene who put their lives on the line to make sure that people in their communities were OK. My dad didn’t care if people noticed what he was doing; he didn’t care about media attention the same as so many other unidentified heroes. Because of him and so many other

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ASHEVILLE STRONG: “My community inspires me,” writes Isaac Dickson Elementary School fifth grader Kira Dissen.

THE WHOLE WORLD: Hayden Maas, a fourth grader at North Buncombe Elementary School, writes: “Be the one who inspires!”

heroes, I try to approach difficult situations now knowing that it isn’t about being noticed, it’s about making a difference.

– Max Hooten, eighth grade, Asheville Catholic School

Two inspirations

I love to draw and play soccer. Someone who inspires me is Messi and Dragon Ball Z. They inspire me because I’ve loved Dragon Ball Z since I was in first grade, and Messi since someone told me. Also, I draw Goku the most and Messi has the World Cup. That is why they inspire me.

– Matvii Linnyk, second grade, Johnston Elementary School

Inspired by acro

What inspires me is acro. Acro is a combination of gymnastics, cheer, and dance. It’s REALLY fun and makes me stay active and healthy. I get thrown up in the air and get to do fun tricks. Once I get close to the ground, my partner Bella catches me. Bella is an older girl and is my partner in acro. She is really nice and kind. Bella also inspires me. She is really good at it and teaches me new moves and tricks. I compete in Acro, but I had never done it before. This is my first year doing it and I am already loving it. I learn new tricks

just in a couple of months. In March I have my very first competition! If I win a couple of them with Bella, we will go to the nationals! This is what inspires me.

– Ella Hovermale, fifth grade, Francine Delany New School for Children

MLK, a powerful man

A powerful man that knows what’s right,

me

MIRROR BALLS: “Mirror Balls inspire me because they are so sparkly and remind

of having a good time,” writes Hanger Hall sixth grader Ivey Neel.

That doesn’t give up,

He’s like a doe just trying to find their way in the world,

But his words dig deep in your soul

He saw things differently

Saw things how they should be and not just how he wanted them to be

As a Black man he became a leader, a hero, a savior.

He knew what he wanted and didn’t settle for anything less

He wanted equality, freedom, a world that bases people off of their hearts and not the color of their skin, he wanted his kids to be able to do whatever they wanted and not have someone telling them what to,

He will always be remembered throughout history no matter what.

– Emory Dow, sixth grade, Polk County Middle School

Legendary life

Pele was born in Brazil, and his parents didn’t have much money. The only way he could play soccer was to kick paper against a wall. He got his first soccer ball when he was around 11. He practiced every day as long as he could. He tried out for a soccer team a couple of years later and made the team. Three or four years after that, he was famous for his skills. One day he did a bicycle kick from half field and finally from full field. Less than a year later, he became known as one of the best soccer players in the world. That is why Pele inspires me!

– Avi Sethi-Brown, third grade, The Learning Community School

Ms. Fields

The one person who inspires me is my teacher. Ms. Fields is the best

LOST AND FOUND: “I’m inspired by the resiliency of nature and how we were still able to see so much idyllic beauty amidst the devastation of Hurricane Helene,” writes FernLeaf Community Charter School ninth grader Claire Brunner. “This block print shows that despite all that was lost, many important things were found.”

teacher. She inspires me because when I cannot get something, she helps me and she understands me whenever I need her. I know that

her. I love the way she makes me think confident and I love the way she understands me. I like every little thing about her and she is the best teacher. Ms. Fields brings me confidence and joy and I know that when I need her she will always have my back no matter what I need. She is the most inspiring, caring, loving teacher I ever met. If anyone gets into her class, you should know all these things and you will be lucky to have her as your teacher. She will always have your back. One thing I will never forget about Ms. Fields is her inspiration and her brave confidence. Anyone would be lucky to call her a teacher.

– Sofia Corona, fourth grade, Weaverville Elementary School

You belong

I am inspired by Ilona Maher. She was in “Dancing with the Stars,” and she won second place. She is an Olympic rugby player. She is not ashamed of having a bigger body. She makes everyone feel equal. She reminds me that no matter what you like, you belong. That is inspiring.

– Lucy Akers, third grade, Friends-Montessori School

Finding inspiration

she will always be there no matter what I need. Ms. Fields is the most loving and caring teacher I have ever met. I love everything about

When COVID hit, I thought it would be the worst thing I would ever experience. But unfortunately I was wrong, so, so wrong. I used to love reading about Hurricane Katrina, but experiencing a natural disaster is a whole different story. I know I should

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Home Delivery

feel sorry for those who lost their homes, but I just feel emotionless, like it hasn’t processed through my brain yet. We will never be the same. Sometimes it all just overwhelms me that future kids in school will someday be learning about something I experienced first hand. The future kids will probably be wishing that the school day will go by faster while their teacher explains what a natural disaster is. They really will not understand what we all went through. My grandparents’ house was flooded with 3 1/2 feet of water. I also have an aunt on my mom’s side that lives in Swannanoa. Luckily she was not flooded out, but just down the road is completely gone. I think that we can all agree that life is stressful enough as is, without natural disasters coming in and totally destroying your entire life. On a positive note, what really, truly inspires me is how our entire community came together to recover. There are good people willing to help others while experiencing the lowest of lows.

– Della Szumski, fifth grade, Isaac Dickson Elementary School

WHAT INSPIRES ME: Rainbow Community School fifth grader Opal Schweigert is inspired by a wide variety of things, including cosplayers, animals, animators and pop singer Billie Eilish.

Tommy Caldwell

My inspiration is Tommy Caldwell. He is a famous American

rock climber. I am inspired by him because he never gives up. Tommy is most famous for free climbing the Dawn Wall with his partner Kevin Jorgeson. Free climbing is when you

climb with ropes but only to catch your fall. He had wanted to climb this for seven years. Most people would give up after three years, but Tommy stuck with it. An example of him never giving up is when he cut off his finger with a table saw, in rock climbing a finger is very important. Everyone thought that his climbing career was over, but he trained very hard, and learned how to climb with his thumb and middle finger. This is why I am inspired by him.

– Dash Todd, seventh grade, French Broad River Academy

The hiker

Looking like a warrior

The amazing hiker from the lands

Enters the woods for an adventure

She is herself a bird

Her feet have walked many miles

Her hand has felt many leaves

Her eyes fly and move pounding in her heart like stomps the long for hiking roams about

Rocks tumble down the mountain of her feet

Brave In Fears

Even when it’s storming she still moves on

From a backpack of tools the woman pulls out a camera

She holds it up to the view

And takes it as a memory

The woman sees life as a time to go out

For her memory which already has scenes from travel

She listens all around her and says “Beautiful”

– Laylah Nicole Yelton, sixth grade, Polk County Middle School

Neighbors helping neighbors

My neighbors inspire me to take care of others. Some days they have people come over for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. When my parents are stressed and need to do stuff, my neighbors help. They have a little boy named Levi and he is very sweet and really fun to play with. When we go over, we go sledding together when there is snow. They make the best food! They are watching other people’s backs and looking out for others!

I’ve always loved their little crew. Their names are Emma and Zany!

– Jetsun Dorji, fourth grade, Friends-Montessori School

PERSEPHONE: “Not only Persephone, but gods and goddesses in general are known for something and have a purpose to stand for,” writes Hanger Hall sixth grader Ryleigh Smith. “Persephone, Goddess of Spring, whose purpose is to control spring. And in order to have spring, she needs to follow her role. She inspires me.”

How music inspires me

Music is a very versatile topic. It inspires me because some songs can change your entire mood during the day, while others can just match it. I think it’s amazing how anyone can make music, and there would be at

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IMAGINE: “I feel inspired by the complex stories that people write, and how they paint vivid pictures with simple words. One day I hope to get a book published myself,” says Hanger Hall seventh grader Natalie Sky.

TAKE FIVE: ArtSpace Charter School fifth grader Catie Wren drew this pictures of “the instruments used by the Dave Brubeck Quartet on a background inspired by the cover art of their album Time Out.”

least some people who would be fans of it. Anyone with a microphone and some limited knowledge of technology can write a song, and post it on a streaming platform. That’s why I like music, because anyone can do it. However, there are certain types of music that influences me more than others. I would say that rock has influenced me the most. In songwriting, and in the way I judge certain artists.

Some specific influences on me in the more recent years have been Nirvana, MJ Lenderman, Daniel Johnston and Elliot Smith. Nirvana has some of the most influential songs of the ’90s that really came from the heart, and you could really see the passion they put into their work, but they weren’t the most technically advanced at playing their instruments, while Elliot Smith was an all around prodigy in multiple instruments that trended more

towards more calmer, quieter songs. Both of these artists are great, but are wildly different in terms of their material. That is a great example of music versatility.

Some specific songs that have inspired me are “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Elliot Smith and “Walking the Cow” by Daniel Johnston. A thing all these songs have in common is that they all are about experiences these people have had in their lives. In conclusion, music is a beautiful thing that has inspired me to be creative, and to really strive towards being myself. It has created some great memories.

– Jack Campbell, seventh grade, French Broad River Academy

The people I look up to

The wind was blowing and the rain was pouring and all the trees came crashing down

We were all frightened and we were all scared and nobody was prepared for this

When the rain stopped and we went outside we couldn’t recognize anything

We were all in shock and afraid and didn’t know what to do

We prayed and hoped and prayed some more that help would come for us

Then there were flashing lights and sirens and big trucks

There they were they had arrived and we were all so thankful

The firefighters and police and medics and volunteers and everyone

They came and brought some life jackets and rafts and so much more

They saved and helped and were kind and loving

Others came from different states and cooked us many meals

We had barbeque and soup and chili and these were delish

But none of them could outmatch my mom’s homemade lasagna

Everyday for a week we walked down to the pool

Where they were giving us free meals

Our water was out but that didn’t matter

Because when we went down to the grocery store

The people from FEMA would fill up our cases of water

So we wouldn’t have dry mouths anymore

They brought us the water from the huge truck and carried it back to the car

So I say thank you

Thank you so much for helping us through these hard times

Thank you firefighters and nurses and doctors and more I want you to know that I look up to you

In every which way and form

– Scout Neder, sixth grade, ArtSpace Charter School

My mom inspires me

The world is full of challenges

But people help you pull through

It may be your friend

May be a celebrity

BENSON BOONE: Weaverville Elementary School fourth grader Kinlee

Carson is inspired by singer-songwriter Benson Boone. The artwork includes a caption that reads:“Benson Boone inspires me because the music he writes, and I want to be a Artist some day, and his music he writes is amazing song and he my favorite artist. He inspires me to be one some day.”

But for me

It’s my mom

No matter what happens

Our love will stay strong

She’s driving with no fear

And she loves me no matter what I do wrong

She is who I want to be

And who I should be

If everybody was like her

This world would feel free

– Connor Parden, seventh grade, Asheville Catholic School

grader Alisa Gorshkova.

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Family matters

Techniques to address anxiety in kids, post-Helene

BY JESSICA WAKEMAN

The Tingleys rode out Tropical Storm Helene like many families in Western North Carolina. They sheltered in their house in North Asheville with their children, listening as trees fell around them. When the storm passed, they ventured outside to explore the damage. Thankfully, neither they nor their property were harmed.

The days following Helene were full of unknowns for the family. Brett and Elizabeth Tingley temporarily evacuated their kids, 10-year-old son, Lytton , and 7-yearold daughter, Jewel , to South Carolina and tried to encourage play. But the children picked up on their parents’ panic. With phones and internet down from the storm, the Tingleys had no way to confirm Brett’s parents’ safety for three or four days.

Then the Tingleys received devastating news about the family of their close friend Lance Wisely. Helene’s flooding killed Lance’s former partner, Alison Wisely, as well as her fiancé, Knox Petrucci, and the Wisely children, Felix, 9, and Lucas, 7. Felix and Lucas were lifelong friends with Lytton and Jewel.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT: Reminding children that they are part of a community is one of many ways to help young people come to terms with a natural disaster, experts say. Featured, Tatiana, left, and Eula Rivest Calder, at the Oct. 22 candlelight vigil at Pack Square Park. Photo by Thomas Calder jwakeman@mountainx.com

In the aftermath of Helene and since losing their friends, the Tingleys see anxiety in their children that heretofore didn’t exist.

“I think that is when it really started hitting the kids the most because they saw us break down,” says Elizabeth. The Tingleys attended their friends’ funeral as a family, which they sense is when the finality of their friends’ deaths fully sunk in for the children. “The funeral was really hard on them,” says Brett.

“I have noticed with Jewel, our 7-year-old, she has started expressing anxiety over different kinds of disasters that could happen,” says Elizabeth. “Like the other night, she suddenly got worried and fixated that the house was going to burn down.” The couple showed their daughter where the smoke detectors and fire extinguishers were locat-

ed and talked to her about their fire plan.

Strong winds have also been frightening to their son. “A week or two ago, the wind was blowing,” Brett explains. “And he’s never been scared of the wind. But he came to a room late at night because he could hear the wind blowing in the trees. He was worried trees were going to come down.”

He adds, “They’ve definitely been more anxious about, not only natural disasters but any kind of disaster since then.”

NIGHTMARES AND DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS

Research is clear that children do not need to lose anything to be impacted by a natural disaster. The threat of danger, or witnessing danger around them, is destabilizing enough for a child’s sense of safety. And both witnessing and experiencing trauma directly can contribute to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental health condition with symptoms that can impact daily life.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, signs and symptoms of PTSD in children include becoming upset when something triggers memories of the event, nightmares and sleep problems, being easily startled, constantly looking for threats, restlessness, fidgeting and irritability, among others.

“Every child and adult, actually, experiences traumatic events in a different way” depending on their personalities, their community support system and what the storytelling is around the experience is, says Jill Williams, licensed clinical social worker and owner of Flourish Counseling & Wellness in Asheville, which works with children as young as 3, teens and adults.

Anxiety can manifest differently among age groups. Preschool-age children will have a lot of questions and will parrot the answers they hear. This age doesn’t understand the finality of death, Williams says, and may require a lot of verbal reassurance. Small children might also use play to express their feelings, like donning dress-up clothes to play as a firefighter rescuing someone or pretending to cut down trees with toy tools.

Elementary school-age children will have questions about topics that might make the adults uncomfortable because the answers seem “dark” or “morbid,” Williams says.

She recommends that parents keep their answers factual and that they can research answers together.

This resonates with the Tingleys, who found themselves discussing death with their kids in a manner they had not anticipated. “What was hardest as a parent going through this is that I think they have been able to kind of think of their own mortality,” explains Brett. “When you’re 7, you don’t think about dying. So, having friends that they’ve known their whole lives pass like that …” he trails off.

Middle school-age kids may also have questions that parents feel are “dark” or “morbid,” Williams says. But she warns parents not to dismiss such questions as “inappropriate.” This is an age when children may not be able to sort out accurate information from misinformation, so it’s important for adults to answer questions or help find the correct answers.

Among all ages, Williams says, parents should point out who the helpers are and emphasize that a community exists to support them. Parents should let kids know about family members or friends that they can go and stay with if there’s a future emergency and make sure they understand parents have a plan for their safety. Children can even help the family with safety planning, like assembling a to-go bag.

‘IT’S OK NOT TO BE OK’

Children’s responses to trauma will depend on their exposure, but “even more importantly” it will depend on how the adults around them handle themselves and interpret the events, Williams says.

For example, her family lives near the Blue Ridge Parkway, and they could hear lots of trees falling during the storm. They sheltered in their basement during Helene, and she was intentional about staying calm for her teen while responding to the threats.

“My kid was able to see that they have two parents who, even though we were very worried, were keeping our cool,” Williams explains. “We were focused on the goal of keeping the basement clean.” The couple gave their teenager a job — make sure the dog stayed out of the water, got treats and remained calm — and it helped make them feel in control.

“My kid’s narrative [about Helene] was: ‘This horrible thing happened, and my parents kept us safe, and all the neighboring adults got out and helped everybody,’” she says.

Williams recommends parents be age-appropriate, honest and fact-

based when discussing tragedy. “It may feel good to us as adults to give our children this false sense of security as a temporary measure,” she says. “But what happens is that kids will then start to question, ‘Well, that [thing Mom and Dad said] doesn’t match reality.’ … Your kid is now left to create this horror story of their own without you having any input in it.”

The Tingleys were honest with their children about the Wiselys’ and Petruccis’ deaths; they told them about it immediately after they learned from Lance Wisely.

“We have taken the path of being pretty transparent with them about what happened,” Elizabeth says. According to Lance Wisely’s post on Facebook, the foursome tried to evacuate from their home in Green Mountain and were swept into the Toe River and killed. The Tingleys explained how the flooding led the family to try to leave their home and evacuate in their car. But the car started to float and they had to escape. While trying to get to safety, the floodwater was so strong that it overpowered them, and that’s how their friends died.

“Their parents had two bad choices because it turns out later that the water came up within 2 inches of the ceiling in the house,” Elizabeth continues. “We talked about that and we said, ‘Sometimes you can do the best that you can, and you make the smartest choice that you feel like you can make in the moment, and it still might not give you the outcome that you hope it will.’ They didn’t do anything wrong. They didn’t make any mistakes. It’s just really, really bad luck, and it’s really scary that happened.”

Buncombe County Schools was proactive about arranging for the kids to meet weekly with a counselor during the school day, Elizabeth says. “We’ve felt very supported,” she says.

The Tingleys say they’re letting their children express all their feelings, and they are acknowledging that “weird outbursts or something that doesn’t necessarily seem directly related to grief or loss or the fear of a storm” can be part of their processing, Elizabeth says. “It’s OK not to be OK,” Brett adds.

They try to reassure their children’s anxiety as best they can.

“We’re always going to make the smartest choices that we can to keep all of us safe and healthy,” says Elizabeth. “Resiliency, I’m hoping, is something that will come out of this for them — especially to recognize their own strength and their own ability to adapt to difficult situations.” X

Commissioner Drew Ball’s youthful impromptu karaoke session

Xpress: Most people have at least one story their family and relatives can’t help but retell at most reunions and/or holiday gatherings. What is the quintessential story from your childhood that you can’t seem to escape at these types of gatherings?

Ball: At the age of around 8, at my sister’s baptism, I decided it was a good time to take to the mic and share my rendition of “There’s a Tear in My Beer.”

How would you describe yourself as a teenager? And how do you think your former teenage self would have reacted to learning you ended up serving as an elected official?

He would be excited and he would ask me how many skate parks I’ve gotten built.

The young people in our community have been through a lot since COVID and Helene. What is your top concern for our area youths, and what influence do local officials have to address it?

I would want them to know that we’ve been through this together, so we’ve got their back. Every person and every child has a place and a future in our community.

Lightning round: As a child, what was your favorite ...

• Book: The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

• Album/Band: Hootie & the Blowfish

• TV show: “The Price is Right”

• Movie: Disney’s Robin Hood

• Publication (magazine or newspaper): The Nation X

SENIOR MOMENT: Drew Ball in his senior year of high school. Photo courtesy of Ball

Love

Sex & IN WNC

Navigating difficult topics

Tips for talking to your kids about sex

BY JAMIE ZANE

jamie@outofthewoodstherapy.com

Dear Readers,

After last month’s debut column, I’m excited to say that I have already received several emails with advice-seeking questions and topic suggestions. Thank you so much to those of you who have emailed me. I plan to respond to as many as I can in April’s feature.

In the spirit of keeping up with this month’s Kids Issue series, we are going to focus on questions I commonly get from parents about how to navigate conversations with their children about sex and relationships. We’ll explore a bit of the why and how before I send you off with some suggested resources on your own.

WHY ARE THESE CONVERSATIONS SO IMPORTANT?

• Prevention. As in prevention of unwanted sexual experiences, unwanted sexually transmitted infections that could go undetected for quite a while if you don’t realize what your kids are up to and unwanted pregnancies. Prevention of intimate partner violence can be included here as well.

• You can’t count on school to do it for you. If I could change the way we typically do education in our culture, I would include classes on healthy relationships and sex throughout elementary school and beyond. I see these topics as equally important as other school subjects. Sadly, we don’t have comprehensive sex education in most of our school systems.

• If you don’t talk to your kids about these issues, where will they learn it from instead? The internet is a pretty wild place, and most of us are not prepared for what it has created — the good and the terribly bad.

• Some would say that relationships are the most important parts of our lives. No matter how we do relationships — whether we are monogamous or polyamorous or something in between — I find that many people do not have a template for how to navigate these important life experiences well.

WHY ARE THESE CONVERSATIONS SO CHALLENGING TO NAVIGATE?

I think the most obvious answer is that most people don’t have enough knowledge about the issues. It’s common for people to make it far into adulthood and not have any concept of what is normal for themselves or others. Many of us have had plenty of examples of conditional love or emotional immaturity but not a whole lot of examples of well-informed and mature adults engaging in relationships that we are able to witness.

It’s uncomfortable for parents to talk about sex with their kids and vice versa. Some might say that it’s challenging because neither party necessarily wants to imagine the other party actually engaging in anything remotely sexual. (Ick — I don’t want to even think about that.)

We should also address the shame that many of us feel about sex — whether that be regarding our own bodies, how they function (or don’t), our proclivities, our sexual identities or orientations, or just the shame of not knowing. That shame has been imposed onto us culturally, and it exists whether you heard those messages from your own household, community or some other part of dominant culture.

Because many of us carry our own shame about sex and relationships, we run the risk of inadvertently shaming our own kids if we don’t find a way to address our own preconceived notions about sex. What are your beliefs, attitudes and feelings about sex and relationships? And where do they come from? Are there parts that you don’t even necessarily agree with anymore but that still haunt you?

HOW DO I GO ABOUT TALKING WITH MY KIDS ABOUT SOMETHING THAT’S SO HARD TO TALK ABOUT?

Well, we’re not just talking about one thing. It might be easier for you to talk about relationships than it is to talk about actual sex. So think about navigating conversations about healthy relationships first. And what does it take to have a “healthy” relationship? If you don’t know the first thing about answering that question, you can start to think about the opposite — the things that

you feel make for an unhealthy relationship. You can also ask your kid a lot of questions about what they think about these topics (rather than lecturing them).

When it comes to sex, I think that an important thing to keep in mind is that we often think about it as “THE Talk,” and I find that so limiting and unrealistic. It’s more like multiple talks over the course of a lifetime — and not necessarily all the damn time but sprinkled in throughout the years and done at very age-appropriate levels.

For example, something I wanted to instill in my son was the concept that his body belongs to him and that my body belongs to me. Boundaries, respect, consent, autonomy — those were the lessons that he first learned as a toddler, and those expanded as he grew older and could handle more nuanced conversations about these topics.

It’s very important to teach young kids the correct terminology for all of their body parts rather than only using the cutesie terms for genitals or other parts that might make us uncomfortable. It’s also important for us to work through some of our own discomfort or shame when it comes to bodies so that when we teach our children about their own bodies, we’re able to do so from a place of normalizing, empathizing and validating their human experiences.

Pacing is very important. It’s sometimes hard to know exactly where your kids are developmentally, and they can sometimes surprise us a whole lot. I find it best to move at your kids’ pace whenever possible. This might mean that you get it wrong sometimes because you’re having to do some guesswork. If you do get it wrong, you have an opportunity to model for your kid that humans aren’t perfect and that can then lead to yet another teachable moment.

It’s tough to consider these topics strictly from the perspective of a certain age or grade level because kids aren’t always fitting into the standard expectations that are dictated by school systems. They’re still not catering to the diversity of learning styles that we humans experience in a lot of educational settings — so that means you really do need to do your own homework first, consider your own kid and customize the lessons you teach them.

BEYOND ‘THE TALK’: Discussing sex and relationships with your child can be difficult. This month, Jamie Zane offers readers ways to navigate the subjects in a healthy and productive way. Photo by Ryan Brazell

WHERE ARE SOME PLACES I CAN GO FOR MORE RESOURCES?

I really love the work of Peggy Orenstein. Her books are fabulous, and she has some fantastic resources for parents on her website.

Other books I recommend can be found at avl.mx/ekp.

For teens, I specifically recommend Let’s Talk About It: The Teen’s Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan

I am also a big fan of Becky Kennedy, author of Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want To Be. Her approach, which she calls “sturdy parenting,” feels intentional, sane and humane — maintaining a leadership position without being authoritarian, while also approaching your kid and yourself with empathy.

I hope this gives y’all a good starting place. I want to end with a ton of emphasis on normalizing the challenges we face as parents when engaging with our kids. If you have questions you’d like me to consider for a future column, please email me at jamie@outofthewoodstherapy. com and indicate Mountain Xpress in your subject line.  X

ARTS & CULTURE

Sip and sing Asheville Beer Choir fosters community

BY MOLLY DEVANE

molly.devane@gmail.com

The Asheville Beer Choir opens every rehearsal the same way — with a rendition of popular pub song “Beer Is Great” by English folk band The Longest Johns. “Beer is great, beer is grand/I long to hold one in my hand,” the group belts. And for many of the singers, a cold beer is exactly what they’re holding, as rehearsals take place at one of several Asheville breweries.

Unlike more traditional choirs, the Asheville Beer Choir doesn’t have auditions or a strict attendance policy, nor does it require any significant time. Instead, it’s what founder and director Laura Williams calls a “casual sip-andsing ensemble.” The group rehearses at a different brewery once a week and performs about five times a year.

“The goal,” she says, “is to connect with other singers, make friends within the community and support local businesses.”

And in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene, Williams adds, the mission feels more important than ever. “It’s been a rough year in the community. People are looking for spaces where they can feel safe and connect with one another. It’s so cool to be able to provide that.”

GEARING UP FOR ST. PATRICK’S DAY

While Williams herself is a voice teacher at Mars Hill University and a professional musician, the choir is open to anyone who enjoys singing, regardless of skill level. Someone with more experience who wants to hone harmony and polish solos is just as welcome as the casual car singer.

“Maybe someone doesn’t even think of themselves as a singer, but there’s a part of them that’s like, ‘Well, that might be fun.’ It’s such a great space to just try that out,” she tells Xpress

The choir is just as open in terms of the music the members sing. For its holiday concert, the chorus performed traditional Christmas choral music. For Asheville Beer Week, Williams arranges mountain-themed songs by artists like John Denver and the Fleet Foxes. In 2024, the choir put on a ’90s-themed show, belting out all the popular hits and encouraging the crowd to sing along.

For ita upcoming St. Patrick’s Day shows, the choir will draw on traditional Irish music sessions, performing a set of pub songs, sea

one song and beer at a time

shanties and classics like “Danny Boy,” and will be accompanied by the Carpenter Academy of Irish Dance. Performances are Saturday, March 15, 4-6 p.m., at the Asheville Performing Arts Academy and Sunday, March 16, 2-4 p.m., at Sweeten Creek Brewing.

VOICES REBUILDING

The concept of a beer choir is not new. Williams first became aware of them years ago while performing and teaching in Germany. But it wasn’t until 2022, on the heels of the pandemic, that she formed the Asheville Beer Choir.

“A lot of my adult students really missed singing together, but joining a traditional choir or being in a theatrical performance was too much of a time commitment,” she says. “So I saw the need to create a space that was

very open and can meet people where they are.”

Williams announced her plan on the Asheville subreddit, sharing details for the first rehearsal. “People were brave,” she says. “They just took the leap and came out.” The group has been steadily growing since, with 15 newcomers joining since Helene.

The September storm dealt the choir a particular blow, as Cursus Keme, the brewery where the singers had been rehearsing every week for a year, was completely washed away. Having no place to sing, the group didn’t rehearse for an entire month but gathered to check in on each other.

“After Helene, it was so wonderful to have people to reach out to — to connect with and commiserate with. Sometimes it takes something really terrible like that to make you realize the community you have and the people who are there for you,” Williams says.

It wasn’t too long before other breweries became operational and jumped in to help, opening their doors and taps to the displaced choir. “We were finally able to make music again and just rebuild in a lot of different senses of the word,” she says.

Williams also enjoyed bringing business to breweries that had been struggling from the downturn in tourism. Even now in late winter, a historically slow time for local businesses, an average rehearsal brings 50 choir members who are not only buying drinks but providing free music for the other patrons, who are more likely to linger for another round or two.

“It really feels like my initial goals are paying off,” she says. “We’re supporting the breweries, the bartenders and the waitstaff. And they’re very happy about the energy we bring to the space.”

EVERYONE WINS

Williams seems to have perfected a boozy business model: Breweries see more sales, their patrons enjoy free entertainment, and the choir members themselves reap the benefits of belonging to a fun, supportive community.

“I thought I was going to a one-time event to drink and sing,” Tatiana Martinez says. “But at the very end when Laura mentioned T-shirt sizes, it dawned on me that I’d just joined a choir. Truly one of the best decisions.”

After making the difficult decision to leave the classroom as a music teacher, Brandon Betz still wanted to sing but didn’t care to join the classical, auditioned choirs he’d grown up in. “When I heard about the opportunity to join an inclusive community and make art for the sake of art, I had to go,” he says.

For Sarah Dobbins, the Asheville Beer Choir has seen her through difficult times in life, providing her with joy and laughter needed to keep going. And for Meghan McCoy-Smith, being a member of the choir just makes sense.

“Singing is good for you,” she says.

“People who sing live longer.”

The Asheville Beer Choir is open to everyone — young and old, professional singers and shower singers, busy parents, people who travel and can’t commit a lot of time, and people who only feel compelled to break out into song during the holidays. “It’s a very open environment for someone to come in and check out,” Williams says. “We’re here when you want to be here.”

For more information on the Asheville Beer Choir, visit avl.mx/eku. X

IN HARMONY: Members of the Asheville Beer Choir sing at last year’s St. Patrick’s Day event. Photo by Laura Williams

From the ground up

Sowing and reaping at Burial Beer Co.

BY CHRISTOPHER ARBOR

On Jan. 1, Christopher Arbor and his friends pledged to visit one Asheville brewery each week for all of 2025 in the order that they opened then share the experience with Mountain Xpress readers. To read about their recent visit to Wicked Weed Brewing, visit avl.mx/ekv. I liked them before they were cool.

Flashback to 2013: I was wandering around the dilapidated buildings on the South Slope with my young kid on my hip, following a lead from a fellow preschool parent on the new Burial Beer Co. It didn’t yet have a sign, but I finally discovered it between two vacant buildings.

When I walked in, one of the three owners, Jess Reiser, was behind the bar pouring beers with her infant son strapped to her — about as Asheville an image as I can imagine. When I got to the front of the line, I introduced myself, explained that our kids went to preschool together, ordered my beer and offered to hang out with her kid while she worked.

She looked at me, in a half-second assessing my sketchiness vs. wholesomeness and calculating my worthiness as a babysitter. Then she handed me one of the best beers I’d ever had and one of the cutest kids you’ve ever seen.

I later learned that Burial had planned to do a quiet soft opening to get its footing with its 1-barrel brewing system. But word got out, and the taproom was mobbed. In those early days, the team would brew all week then open on the weekend until the beer ran out — often by midday on Saturday.

Fast-forward to 2025: On a recent Wednesday morning, I delivered a talk to the Asheville Rotary Club about our yearlong brewery crawl, and that evening several members joined us for a beer at Burial.

Arriving there is a different experience these days. The seeds planted by Jess and her fellow co-owners, husband Doug Reiser and brewer Tim Gormley, have taken root and bloomed. The original Collier Avenue location has expanded in all directions — including up, with the additions of Eulogy music venue and VISUALS rooftop bar. There’s also a bottle shop now, and the former scrapyard behind the taproom has transformed into a stellar outdoor space.

Burial’s Forestry Camp near Biltmore Village now handles most of the brewing and offers fantastic dining in a renovated Civilian Conservation Corps facility. There are also outposts in Charlotte and Raleigh. The original 1-barrel system has grown to three brewhouses totaling 135 barrels.

Gormley continues to produce extraordinary beers often named after

tools — Thresher, Scythe, Shadowclock, Skillet — or long, dramatic musings, such as “Things We See In The Shadows Are Reminders of the Unforgotten.”

But don’t think Burial takes itself too seriously. Its website features a beer name generator. Based on your name and birth month, you’ll get hilarious creations such as “Forlorn Despondence on a Dispatch of Maelstrom.”

Gormley says passion, a drive to contribute to the community and the vision to curate talented creatives have helped foster Burial’s growth. “If we stand out, I’d like to think that it’s due to our tireless efforts to infuse all that we do with intention and to pay very close attention to the details,” he says.

In December, Burial launched the Manifest Eternity Program, a series of events and collaborations aimed at supporting breweries recovering from Tropical Storm Helene through the N.C. Craft Brewers Foundation. Gormley says the disaster ultimately made Burial’s team closer and stronger. “There has been more buy-in,” he says. “The passion for what we do has been amplified.”

We gather at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. Join us if you like. You can email me at yearinbeerasheville@gmail.com or just show up.

• March 12 — One World Brewing downtown

• March 19 — Pisgah Brewing Co. X

3/13:

3/14: FULL MOON Morena Dolls & Ritual 5:15-6:45 Reader: Aimee 1-6

3/15: Seed & Tarot Swap 1-5 Reader: Edward 12-6

3/16: Welcoming Circle 4-5:30 Rainbow Circle 2-3:30 Reader: Andrea 12-4

GATHERING OF SOULS: Burial Beer Co.’s outdoor beer garden — a former scrapyard — was the meeting spot for a recent Year in Beer get-together. Photo by Christopher Arbor

‘Hummus evangelist’

Yalla

BY KAY WEST

Move over, guacamole. Step aside, salsa. Take a ride, pimento cheese. Hummus is having a moment, and new local brand Snuuny is here for it, with 8-ounce containers in the cooler case at French Broad Food Co-op and coming soon to other groceries and tailgate markets. It all started with the sky-blue Yalla food truck.

Nathan Phillips and chef Nir Asaf rolled out Yalla in March 2024, and it became clear almost immediately that the most popular item on its Mediterranean street food menu was the hummus bowl, plain and drizzled with olive oil or with toppings like mushrooms, peppers and eggplant.

Then again, Phillips says with a laugh, “We put our hummus pretty much on or in or under everything on the Yalla menu.”

As locals tasted Yalla’s hummus at the truck’s primary parking spot, Catawba Brewing, and weekly at the West Asheville Tailgate Market and River Arts District Market, the partners frequently heard this feedback: “Have you heard of Roots hummus? We miss it. You need to get yours in stores.”

Phillips was aware of the popular local hummus company, which suddenly went out of business in March 2023. “We loved it too, but in the beginning, we were focused on getting the food truck solid.”

When Tropical Storm Helene hit Asheville, as soon as the partners could get out of their respective neighborhoods, they drove Yalla downtown, parked in front of the LaZoom Room on Biltmore Avenue and began cooking and distributing free meals, accepting donations as people were able.

“We were making so much hummus,” Phillips recalls. “We got very good at making a lot of hummus very quickly. It inspired us to start thinking bigger than the truck. Coming out of the storm, we wanted to bring something good to our community.”

Phillips and Asaf launched Snuuny Hummus from Yalla’s Marshall commercial kitchen space, which wasn’t damaged by Helene. The recipes are

Nir’s. Born in the Middle East, the chef has been making hummus his entire life.

“We think people can taste the difference in our hummus,” says Phillips. “We have the tahini flown in from Israel and use local produce.”

Phillips drew on his marketing background to direct the design of the logo, packaging and website. Snuuny, he says, means “to be delighted by our differences and see the beauty in everyone.”

Snuuny’s three introductory flavors are original, spicy jalapeno cilantro and a slightly sweet roasted red beet. The partners intend to add more, including Yalla Amba, a spicy pickled mango.

“Chef Nir is adamant that hummus is more than a dip or a spread or a little bowl to fill if there’s room on a charcuterie board,” Phillips says. “He is a hummus evangelist. We hope that by the end of this year, we’ll be in every tailgate market, every local grocery and that everyone knows Snuuny.”

For more information, visit avl.mx/ekl. X

TRUCK TO TABLE: Yalla food truck owners Nir Asaf, left, and Nathan Phillips recently started offering Asaf’s popular hummus recipe at grocery stores under the brand name Snuuny. Photo courtesy of Phillips

Meet local farmers and learn about their community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs — also known as farm shares — at the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project’s annual CSA Fair 3:30-6 p.m. Thursday, March 13, at the YWCA of Asheville, 185 S. French Broad Ave. Farmers will answer questions about growing practices, what’s included in their CSA boxes and more. All participating farms offer CSA pickup locations in Buncombe County. The event is free and family-friendly. Learn more at avl.mx/ekw.

Cider & cheese event

Barn Door Ciderworks welcomes spring with a cider and cheese pairing event 3-5 p.m. Sunday, March 16. Four ciders will be paired with cheeses from WNC Cheese Trail members. The afternoon also includes a discussion on tasting and pairing techniques and artisan cider and cheese making, Barn Door co-owner Katie Moore said in a press release. Tickets are $45. Barn Door is at 23 Lytle Road, Fairview/ Fletcher. For tickets, visit avl.mx/el1. X

Irish Chili Cook-off

Chai Pani will partner with the Asheville Downtown Association to celebrate Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, spring and love, with an outdoor Holi Night Market 5-9 p.m. Friday, March 14, on Banks Avenue on the South Slope. Partygoers will find Indian-style street food booths, slushies, a photo booth, Bhangra dancing and a Bollywood DJ plus local vendors, such as The Hop, Carolina Flowers and many more. Chai Pani will serve its regular menu with Holi specials during the event. Chai Pani is at 32 Banks Ave. avl.mx/ekz. X

Chai Pani Holi Night Market

Snack for a

Asheville-based

Cause

Poppy Hand-Crafted Popcorn is partnering with the nonprofit Asheville Music School (AMS) this month to raise money for AMS scholarships and outreach programs. Through Friday, March 21, 30% from all orders at Poppy’s website that include the code “AMS25” at checkout will benefit AMS. Purchases will ship directly to the customer. To shop and participate, visit avl.mx/ch3. X

Green beer, Irish chili, Irish dancers and a performance by the Asheville Beer Choir (see the story on page 44 for more on this group) will all be part of the early St. Patrick’s Day festivities at Sweeten Creek Brewing’s fourth annual Irish Chili Cook-off 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, March 16. For a $25 fee, teams can enter their Irish-inspired chili — it must include corned beef, Irish whiskey or some Irish twist — to compete for cash prizes and coveted leprechaun trophies in eight categories. For a suggested donation of $5 (or more), attendees can taste the chilis and vote for the People’s Choice Award winner. Proceeds will benefit local organizations working on Tropical Storm Helene recovery, according to organizer Kelly Chadwick For details and to enter, visit avl.mx/el3 X

Post-Helene reopeni n gs

Local food businesses whose spaces were destroyed by Tropical Storm Helene continue to find creative ways to reopen.

• Root Down — After losing both his Salvage Station kitchen and food truck to flooding, Root Down chef Dano Holcomb announced on social media a March 5 reopening at Terra Nova Beer Co.’s Swannanoa outpost at 204 Whitson Ave. Holcomb is serving his Cajun-Southern dishes for lunch and dinner Wednesday-Saturday. avl.mx/el4

• Boy Howdy — Christian Myers had only been serving his Boy Howdy smashburgers for about a month at 219 Amboy Road when floods submerged the building. Myers says the business relaunched March 7 in DSSOLVR’s VOWL bar at 61 ½ N. Lexington Ave. The new menu features hot and cold sandwiches — no burgers yet due to kitchen constraints. Service starts at 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon Sundays. avl.mx/el5. X

Photo courtesy of Asheville Music School)

Photo by Katie Moore

Photo by Tim Robison

by Kay West

Ada Khoury Band at Modern Local Art Gallery

After opening the Modern Local Art Gallery in Mars Hill in 2022, Beth Boone went on to found the nonprofit arts collective ARTSOUP as a way to help Western North Carolina artists and their communities work together for mutual benefit. The space at 42 N. Main St. became a vital community hub following Tropical Storm Helene, but the area’s drastic decline in tourism in the wake of the storm was a significant blow to Boone’s business and the collective’s artists. In response, local singer/songwriter Ada Khoury is partnering with Boone to bring live music

to Modern Local as a way to draw more visitors to view work by WNC artists. The gallery includes exhibits of oil and acrylic paintings on canvas, watercolor, sculpture, photography and printmaking. On Saturday, March 15, singer/ songwriter Rae Miller will play a 30-minute set at 6 p.m. before the Ada Khoury Band — with Diane Matheson on bass, John Schaffner on drums and Roberta Greenspan on fiddle — gives the space a spin, playing until 9 p.m. A $10 donation at the door is suggested to help support the gallery, but no one will be turned away. avl.mx/eks X

Faith + Justice + Film

Common ground and civil conversation can be challenging to find in these divisive times. With its free film series, Faith + Justice + Film, St. John’s Episcopal Church in Sylva hopes to offer space to consider the intersections of faith and action within a peace and justice framework. The first of the four films, The Philadelphia Eleven, will be screened Thursday, March 13, at St. John’s Episcopal, 18 Jackson St., Sylva. The remaining three movies — The Best of Enemies, The 13th and Bad Faith — will be shown on Thursday, March 20; Thursday, April 3; and Tuesday, April 8, respectively, all at the Jackson County Public Library, 310 Keener St., Sylva. The festival’s presenters hope the series will allow community members to “come together to explore how their faith can lead them to greater depths of empathy, compassion and love,” says the church’s Rev. Erin Maxfield-Steele. The films, she continues, were chosen because they tell stories of faith in action against sexism, racism, bigotry, criminalization and the

misuse of religion to promote fascism. The screening event will be followed by refreshments and discussions with special guests, including Dr. Andrew Krinks, author of White Property, Black Trespass, and the Rev. Dr. Jennifer Copeland, executive director of the N.C. Council of Churches. All films begin at 6 p.m. avl.mx/prym X

Asheville Greats

Asheville Watchdog’s Answer Man

John Boyle may not have all the answers, but the veteran local journalist and chronicler of human behavior knows how to ask the questions. Which makes him the perfect person to lead the community event Asheville Greats, a conversation with Highland Brewing Co. founder Oscar Wong and community leader and Black-owned businesses advocate Matthew Bacoate Jr. The free event will be presented by the Friends of the East Ashevile

Public Library at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 18, at the East Asheville Public Library. “I’ll be asking them about their histories here in Asheville, their various accomplishments, what their greatest concerns are moving forward and for any nuggets of wisdom they’ve acquired over their many years on planet Earth,” says Boyle. “Both are pillars of Asheville, and I look forward to a casual conversation with them at the library.” Doors open at 6 p.m. avl.mx/ekq X

Photo of Ada Khoury Band courtesy of Khoury

Photo of Dr. Jennifer Copeland courtesy of St. John’s Episcopal Church of Sylva

Photo of Matthew Bacoate Jr., left, by Jennifer Castillo. Photo of Oscar Wong, right, courtesy of Highland Brewing

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

EDA'S HIDE-A-WAY

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12

EULOGY

Vundabar w/ Yot Club & faerybabyy (indie-pop, surf-rock, post-punk), 7pm

GRANGE BY

FOOTHILLS

Trivia Night, 6pm

HI-WIRE BREWING -

BILTMORE VILLAGE

Free Weekly Trivia, 7pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Old Time Jam, 5pm

LEVELLER BREWING CO.

Folk Club Open Mic, 6:30pm

OKLAWAHA

BREWING CO.

Bluegrass Jam w/Derek McCoy & Friends, 6pm

PISGAH BREWING CO.

Hunter Begley (acoustic), 6pm

SKYLARANNA HOTEL & RESORT

Standup Comedy w/ Paul Snyder, 7pm

SLY GROG LOUNGE

Weird Wednesday Open Jam, 7pm

SOUTHERN

APPALACHIAN

BREWERY

Jazz Night, 6pm

THE MULE

Trivia w/Party Grampa, 6:30pm

THE ODD

Terraoke Karaoke Takeover, 9pm

THE ONE STOP

Eli Kahn (jazz, hip-hop, funk), 10pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

Bright Eyes w/Hurray for the Riff Raff (folkpunk, indie), 8pm

VOODOO BREWING CO.

Music Bingo Thursdays, 7pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN

Melissa McKinney's Bad Ass Blues Jam, 7:30pm

THURSDAY, MARCH 13

ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

The Kings of Queen w/East Coast Dirt & Asheville Rock Academy (rock, psychedelic), 8pm

CORK & KEG

The Horsenecks (oldtime, folk), 7pm

CROW & QUILL

Las Montañitas (cumbia), 8pm

EDA RHYNE DISTILLERY & TASTING ROOM

The Gilded Palace of Metamodern Sounds, 6pm

Bless Your Heart Trivia w/Harmon, 7pm

FLEETWOOD'S All Blissed Out, Busy Weather, & Basement Healer (punk), 9pm

FLOOD GALLERY

True Home Open Mic, 6pm

HI-WIRE BREWING

Open Mic Night w/ Stephen Evans, 6pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

The New Suspenders (country), 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Bluegrass Jam w/Drew Matulich, 7pm

LAZOOM ROOM BAR & GORILLA Eyes Up Here

Comedy Presents: AVLGBTQueer Comedy, 7pm

LEVELLER BREWING CO. Irish Session, 6pm

LOOKOUT BREWING CO.

Music Bingo w/DJ Spence, 6pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.

Jeff Michels Folkadelic Jam (folk, psych, soul), 7pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

Fee Fi Phaux Fish (Phish tribute), 8pm

PISGAH BREWING CO.

Joe Medwick's For The Love of Levon & Lowell: Music of the Band & Little Feat, 6:30pm

SHAKEY'S Karaoke w/Franco Nino, 9pm

STATIC AGE LOFT

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

THE ORANGE PEEL

Bright Eyes w/Hurray for the Riff Raff (folkpunk, indie), 8pm

THIRD ROOM

PORTALS w/Space Fiddle, Osiah, & More (electronic, psychedelic), 8pm

FRIDAY, MARCH 14

27 CLUB

UniS, East Ritual & Puppy & the Dog (rock, experimental, indie), 8pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

Benny Holiday & Freddy Dukez w/Knolagclc, Kilo Fresh, TP3, & more (hip-hop), 9pm

CATAWBA BREWING

CO. SOUTH SLOPE

ASHEVILLE

• Comedy at Catawba: Chris Higgins, 7pm

• Comedy at Catawba: Chris Higgins, 9pm

CLUBLAND

COUNTRY TWANG WITH A ROCK EDGE: On Friday, March 14, Nashville-based singer-songwriter Charles Walker performs at Highland Brewing Co., starting at 6 p.m. Born and raised in Charlotte, Walker’s music is inspired by the sounds of bluegrass and folk, and now blends classic country twang with a slice of indie rock edge. Photo courtesy of Haley May

CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING

ASHEVILLE Karaoke Sing Along, 7pm

CORK & KEG

Vaden Landers Band (country, folk, Americana), 8pm

CROW & QUILL

Firecracker Jazz Band (swing, jazz), 8:30pm

EDA'S HIDE-A-WAY Sawtooth Troubadours (rock, country), 8pm

EULOGY

Left Lane Cruiser, Pentagram String Band & Little Foot (blues-rock, bluegrass, alt-folk), 8pm

FLEETWOOD'S

We Have Ignition w/ Why, Why?, DG & the Big Sky (surf-punk),, 9pm

HIGHLAND BREWING

CO.

Charles Walker (country, Americana, indie-rock), 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Jack Marion (alt-country, southern-rock), 9pm

LEAF GLOBAL ARTS

Jazz Jam, 6pm

LOOKOUT BREWING

CO.

Friday Night Music Series, 6pm

OKLAWAHA

BREWING CO.

Congdon Griffin Band (rock), 8pm

ONE WORLD

BREWING

Curious Strange (folk), 8pm

ONE WORLD

BREWING WEST

Seba w/Johnny Goodtime, Fluid Dynamics, Krumbz, & Plume (drum-n-bass, electronica), 8pm

SHILOH & GAINES

Free Flow Band (funk), 9pm

SLY GROG LOUNGE

Stone Soup w/Bryce Robertson Band & Dark City Kings (soul, indie), 6pm

STATIC AGE

RECORDS

Soot, Tongues of Fire, & Two Planes (punk, alternative, post-rock), 9pm

THE GREY EAGLE

Cameron Whitcomb w/ Ben Cottrill (country, folk-pop), 8pm

THE ONE STOP

• Jesse Valcich (Americana, rock, experimental), 6pm

• Domocile (funk, electronic), 10pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

The Amity Affliction w/ Hail The Sun, Many Eyes, & Unwell (post-hardcore, metalcore), 7pm

THE STATION BLACK

MOUNTAIN

Mr Jimmy (blues), 5am

THIRD ROOM

Clouds of Delusion (tribute-band), 8:30pm

WICKED WEED WEST

Stephen Evans (folk, rock), 5:30pm

SATURDAY, MARCH 15

27 CLUB

Drowning Leo, Tombstone Highway & Holley 750 (rock'n'roll), 8pm

ASHEVILLE CLUB

Mr Jimmy (blues), 6pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

Adam Knight's Buried Alive (tribute-band), 9pm

BEARS SMOKEHOUSE

BBQ

Morgan Bevis (psychrock), 7pm

BATTERY PARK

BOOK EXCHANGE

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

CATAWBA BREWING CO. SOUTH SLOPE

ASHEVILLE

Comedy at Catawba: Andrew Rudick, 7pm

CITIZEN VINYL

NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition, 7pm

CORK & KEG

Zydeco Ya Ya (cajun), 8pm

CROW & QUILL

Meschiya Lake & The Mood Swingers (jazz), 8:30pm

EDA'S HIDE-A-WAY

Cactus Kate & The Pricks (country, Americana), 8pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

• Alma Russ Trio (country, folk, Americana), 4pm

• Cloud Circuit w/ DJ Matthew Francis (trip-hop, indie, psychedelic), 8pm

PISGAH BREWING CO.

Phuncle Sam: Phil Lesh Birthday Bash, 8pm

THIRD ROOM In Plain Sight, Jody with a Y, & Fried Coffee (edm, techno), 8pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN

10th Annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration (celtic, folk, old-time), 7pm

JACK OF THE WOOD

PUB

• The Bluegrass Boys, 12pm

• Traditional Irish Music Session, 3:30pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.

St. Patrick's Day w/ Jason Meritt & the Dudes (Irish-folk), 2pm

ONE WORLD

BREWING WEST

EULOGY

TRVE Anniversary

Bacchanal w/Artifical Brain, Goetia, Moynoq & Harsh Realm (metal, thrash), 7pm

HIGHLAND BREWING

CO.

• The Seelie Court (celtic), 3pm

• Lazr Luvr (pop, rock, tribute-band), 8pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

• Nobody’s Darling String Band, 4pm

• 1916 (celtic, punkrock), 9pm

OKLAWAHA

BREWING CO.

Carolina Drifters (alt-country, Southern-rock), 8pm

ONE WORLD BREWING

Mojo Mountain Duo (multi-genre), 8pm

SHAKEY'S Trash Talk Queer Dance Party & Drag Show, 10pm

STATIC AGE LOFT

Daddy Deem's Night (R&B, hip-hop), 10pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS

Tami Hart, Krekel & Whoa, Yet To Be Gold, & Tanner York (indie-rock, post-punk, alt-country), 9pm

THE GREY EAGLE

Jesse Roper w/ Jacoozy (rock, blues, Americana), 8pm

THE ODD Party Foul Drag, 8pm

THE ONE STOP Muskrat Flats (Americana, funk), 10pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

Sold Out: Ani DiFranco w/Rainbow Girls (folkrock, Americana), 8pm

SUNDAY, MARCH 16

CATAWBA BREWING CO. SOUTH SLOPE ASHEVILLE

Irish Nonsense: St. Patrick's Day Comedy Show, 6:30pm EULOGY

Castle Rat w/Seismic Sutra & Auralayer (doom-metal, psych, rock), 8pm

FLEETWOOD'S Blissful Thoughts, Puppy Chain & Tiny City (rock'n'roll, indie, punk), 9pm

GINGER'S REVENGE CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM

Sunday Jazz Jam, 2:30pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Eleanor Underhill (folk, old-time, bluegrass), 2pm

• Suns of Stars Sunday Residency, 2pm

• Captain Midnight Band (rock, funk, R&B), 7pm

PISGAH BREWING CO. Pisgah Sunday Jam, 6pm

SLY GROG LOUNGE Open Mic w/Mike Andersen, 6:30pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS Bestial Mouths, Cold Choir, & Formless (electro, darkwave, drone), 8pm

THE GREY EAGLE Burlesque Brunch, 12pm

THE GREY EAGLE Jimmy Vivino Band (blues, rock), 8pm

THE ORANGE PEEL Sold Out: The Elovaters w/Surfer Girl & Veni Sun (reggae, surf-rock), 7pm

VOWL

Freshen Up Comedy Open Mic, 7pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN

Tuatha Dea w/Barley Juice (celtic, folk-punk, blues-rock), 5pm

MONDAY, MARCH 17

27 CLUB

27 Club Karaoke, 10pm

CATAWBA BREWING

CO. SOUTH SLOPE

ASHEVILLE

Musicians in the Round: Monday Open Mic, 5pm

FLEETWOOD'S

Best Ever Karaoke, 9pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

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

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

• St. Patrick’s Day Celebration: Traditional Irish Music Session, 1pm

• St. Patrick’s Day Celebration w/Double In Town (celtic, folk), 7:30pm

OKLAWAHA

BREWING CO.

Takes All Kinds Open Mic Nights, 7pm

ONE WORLD BREWING

Open Mic Downtown, 6:30pm

ONE WORLD

BREWING WEST

Mashup Mondays w/ JLloyd, 8pm

STATIC AGE LOFT

The Hot Seat Comedy, 7pm

THE GREY EAGLE

St. Paddy’s Celebration w/Lyndsay Pruett Express (bluegrass), 7:30pm

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR

Mr Jimmy & Friends (blues), 7pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN

Dr. Pandit Ranajit Sengupta & Friends (Indian-classical, jazz, folk), 7:30pm

TUESDAY, MARCH 18

EULOGY

Ritual Senses w/Christopher Hamilton, Ross Gentry & Peter Speer (multi-genre), 7pm

HI-WIRE BREWING

Not Rocket Science Trivia, 7pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Music Bingo w/ Spencer, 6pm

LOOKOUT BREWING COMPANY

Team Trivia, 6:30pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.

Team Trivia, 7pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

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

STATIC AGE RECORDS

Katy Pinke, Todd Weakley, & Pilgrim Party Girl (indie-folk, alt-pop), 8pm

VOODOO BREWING CO. Trivia Tuesday w/ Principal Mike, 7pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN

White Horse's Open Mic, 7pm

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19

EULOGY

Orion Belte w/The Silver Doors (alt-indie), 6:30pm

GRANGE BY FOOTHILLS

Trivia Night, 6pm

HI-WIRE BREWINGBILTMORE VILLAGE Free Weekly Trivia, 7pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Well-crafted Music Series w/Life Like Water & Matt Smith (indie-folk, world-music), 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Old Time Jam, 5pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.

Bluegrass Jam w/Derek McCoy & Friends, 6pm

PULP

Ben Balmer, Sarah Kohrs, & Peter Tart (acoustic), 7:30pm

PISGAH BREWING CO.

The Hillclimbers (bluegrass, jazz-fusion, funk), 6pm

SOUTHERN

APPALACHIAN BREWERY

Jazz Night, 6pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS

Femme Cell, Paper Pills, Bombay Gasoline (dream-pop, electro-rock, emo), 8pm

THE GREY EAGLE Nefesh Mountain: Album Release Show (folk, bluegrass), 8pm

THE MULE Trivia w/Party Grampa, 6:30pm

THE ODD

Terraoke Karaoke Takeover, 9pm

THE ONE STOP

JCE & The End (southern-rock, grunge, alternative), 10pm

VOODOO BREWING CO.

Music Bingo Thursdays, 7pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN

Straight Ahead

Wednesdays w/Taylor

Pierson: A Nod to Erroll Garner (jazz), 7:30pm

THURSDAY, MARCH 20

CROW & QUILL

Las Montañitas (cumbia), 8pm

EDA RHYNE

DISTILLERY & TASTING ROOM

The Gilded Palace of Metamodern Sounds, 6pm

EDA'S HIDE-A-WAY Bless Your Heart Trivia w/Harmon, 7pm

EULOGY

Phyphr & 5AM Trio w/3420 (electronic, funk, hip-hop), 9pm

FLOOD GALLERY

True Home Open Mic, 6pm

GINGER'S REVENGE CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM

Blue Ridge Pride Open Mic, 6pm

HI-WIRE BREWING Open Mic Night w/ Stephen Evans, 6pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Cactus Kate & The Pricks (country, Americana), 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Bluegrass Jam w/Drew Matulich, 7pm

LEVELLER BREWING CO.

Open Old Time Jam, 6pm

LOOKOUT BREWING CO.

Music Bingo w/DJ Spence, 6pm

OKLAWAHA

BREWING CO.

Hash Cabbage (rock, country, reggae), 7pm

ONE WORLD BREWING

Buffalo Brown (jazz, blues, pop), 8pm

PISGAH BREWING CO.

Jacoozy (funk, rock, alternative), 6:30pm

SHAKEY'S

• Comedy Showcase w/Hilliary Begley, 8pm

• Karaoke w/Franco Nino, 9pm

STATIC AGE LOFT

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

THIRD ROOM

GOODGOAT w/My

Magnificent Nemesis (psychedelic, electronica, jazz-fusion), 8pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK

MOUNTAIN

Mutlu (folk, reggae, rock), 7:30pm

SERVING THE ASHEVILLE

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): What can you do to show how much you care about everyone and everything that deserves your love? Now is a fantastic time to unleash a flood of gratitude and appreciation that takes very practical forms. Don’t just beam warm and fuzzy feelings toward your favorite people and animals, in other words. Offer tangible blessings that will actually enhance their lives. Find your own personally meaningful ways to nourish all that nourishes you.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Ancient Egyptians loved the color blue. The mineral azurite and the semiprecious stones turquoise and lapis lazuli satisfied their fascination to some degree, but were rare and difficult to work with. So the Egyptians decided to fabricate their own pigment. After extensive experimentation, using copper, silica, and lime, they succeeded. The hue they made is known as Egyptian blue. I heartily endorse a comparable process for you in the coming weeks, Taurus. Identify the experience, substance, or feeling you really, really want more of, and then resolve to get as much of it as you really, really want.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Dandelions germinate quickly and grow fast. Because of their deep taproots, they are hardy. Once they establish their presence in a place, they persist. Dandelions are adaptable, too, able to grow anywhere their seeds land, even from cracks in concrete. Their efficient dispersal is legendary. They produce large quantities of lightweight seeds that are easily carried by the wind. Bees love dandelions in the spring when there are few other flowers yet to provide them with nectar. I propose we make the dandelion your symbol of power in the coming weeks, Gemini. Be like them! (P.S. They are also beautiful in an unostentatious way.)

CANCER (June 21-July 22): About 36,000 years ago, humans created remarkable drawings and paintings in the Cave of Altamira, located in what we now call Spain. When an early discoverer of the art published his findings in 1880, he was met with derision. Experts accused him of forgery, saying such beautiful and technically proficient works could not have been made by ancient people, who just weren’t that smart. Eventually, though, the art was proved to be genuine. I propose we meditate on this as a metaphor for your life. It’s possible that your abilities may be underestimated, even by you. Hidden potentials and unexpressed capacities may be close to ripening, but they will need your full confidence and boldness. Don’t let skepticism, either from your inner critic or others, hold you back.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In 1977, NASA launched two Voyager probes to study our solar system’s outer planets. Their original mission was designed to last a few years. But in 2025, they still continue to send back useful information from the great beyond, far past Uranus and Neptune, and into interstellar space. I suspect that now is also a good time for you Leos to seek valuable information from adventures you began years ago. Even if those experiences have not yielded relevant revelations recently, they may soon do so. Be alert for ways to harvest new riches from old memories.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): About 3,775 years ago, a Babylonian man named Nanni wrote a crabby letter to Ea-nasir, a merchant who had sold him substandard copper ingots. Nanni was also upset that his servant was treated rudely. It is the oldest customer complaint in history. With this as our touchstone, I remind you that maintaining high standards is always crucial for your long-term success. Others may be tempted to cut corners, but your natural integrity is one of your superpowers. Please redouble your commitment to providing highest value, Virgo. And ask for it from others, too.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Blogger Yukiko Kisaki writes about the Japanese concept of “ma.” She says it’s “the emptiness full of possibilities, like

a promise yet to be fulfilled. It’s the purposeful pauses in a speech that make words stand out; the quiet time we all need to make our busy lives meaningful; the silence between the notes that make the music.” According to my analysis, Libra, you will be wise to make “ma” a central theme in the coming weeks. I invite you to research the power of pauses. Rather than filling up every gap, allow space for pregnant blankness. Trust that in being open to vacancy, you will make room for unexpected riches.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The literal meaning of the Japanese word “yohen” is “kiln mutation.” It refers to a type of glaze that undergoes unpredictable variations in color when baked in a kiln. The finished pottery that emerges displays patterns and hues that are blends of the artist’s intention and accidental effects created by the heat. I would love to see you carry out metaphorical versions of “yohen” in the coming weeks, Scorpio. Suggested meditations: 1. Collaborate to create beauty with energies that aren’t entirely manageable. 2. Undertake projects that require both careful preparation and a willingness to adapt to shifting conditions. 3. Engage with opportunities that will have the best outcomes if you relinquish some control.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): A big party is underway in your astrological House of Self-Understanding and Self-Definition. The near future will be a favorable time to discover yourself in greater depth and bring your identity into clearer focus. I see this mostly as a task for you to carry out in intimate conversation with yourself. It’s also fine to solicit the feedback of allies who have insight into your nature, but I urge you to rely heavily on your private investigations. How can you deepen your knowledge of the reasons you are here on earth? Can you learn more about your dormant potentials? Who are you, exactly?

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.19): Ethiopian marathon runner Abebe Bikila was selected by his country to compete in the 1960 Rome Olympics. But the honor was offered shortly before the games began, and he had to scramble to get there in time. When he arrived for the main event, he couldn’t find any running shoes in local stores that fit comfortably. So he decided to go barefoot for the 26.2-mile race. Success! He won, setting a new world-record time. I propose we make him your role model, Capricorn. May he inspire you to respond to an apparent scarcity or deficiency by calling on earthy alternatives. May you adjust to a problem by deepening your reliance on your natural self.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): After being part of two journeys to Antarctica, Aquarian explorer Ernest Shackleton (1874–1922) assembled a team to try what no one had ever done: crossing the entire continent on foot with pack dogs and motorized sledges. But the proposed 1,800-mile expedition failed soon after it began. That’s when Shackleton did what he is most famous for. His leadership during the harrowing struggle to survive became legendary. I don’t think you will face anything remotely resembling his challenges in the coming weeks. But I suspect that your response to tests and trials will define your success. As you encounter obstacles, you will treat them as opportunities to showcase your resourcefulness and adaptability. You will inspire others to summon resiliency, and you will bring out their best as together you engage in creative problem-solving. Trials will become triumphs.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): I’m not exactly sure where you are going, Pisces, but I’m certain you are headed in the right direction. Your instincts for self-love are at a peak. Your ability to see your best possible future is lucid and strong. Your commitment to gracefully serving all that gracefully serves you is passionate and rigorous. I will congratulate you in advance for locating the exact, robust resources you need, not mediocre resources that are only half-interesting.

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ACROSS

1 Distance traversed by an arrow

8 Cocksure 13 Not the same 14 “You got me there!” 15 Obstacle in achieving one’s goal?

16 Something acquired in a salon bed, perhaps

17 Added fuel to

18 Opens, as a menu ... or a description of this puzzle’s circled letters?

20 Bang the drum for

23 Iridescent stone

24 Cellular messenger

25 Verb often abbreviated to a letter

26 Oz., e.g.

28 Brief bit of time

30 Analytical thinker?

34 Old standard of tape

36 Doesn’t really matter

40 Himalayan ox

41 Steamed beverage with spices from the Indian subcontinent

42 Up to now 44 One trained in CPR

45 Educational support grp.

46 Notes or Messages

49 Place for a cooling pie

51 Is out 54 Common assignment for editorial assistants ... or a description of this puzzle’s circled letters?

57 Judger of pitches

58 Furry wetlands growth

59 Console device with triggers and thumbsticks

63 Summer hire, perhaps

64 Tennis period since 1968

65 Common reply to “Who’s there?”

66 Appendage for a morning glory

DOWN

1 Pardner

2 Four quarters

3 Starchy food item named for a food it resembles 4 Smooth and glossy

5 One who practices bhakti and puja

6 Gives the thumbs up

7 Up for a drive?

8 Climax in many a video game 9 Regretted 10 Hawke or Crowe 11 William ___, longtime editor of The

Trim (down)

Like the French words for every weekday and month: Abbr.

Kind of seed

Base for some lunches

46 Character

Fictional bandleader of the 1960s

Good things to have about you

URL starter

Oolong and rooibos, for two

Easy basket