Mountain Xpress 04.16.25

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LEGACY LANDS

Across North Carolina, hundreds of farms have been passed down through generations. But without careful planning, many farmers risk having to sell their property to cover rising taxes, health care or estate issues. Locally, NC FarmLink has launched workshops to educate farmers on how to keep their farms in the family.

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, Troy Jackson, Carol Kaufman, Bill Kopp, Chloe Leiberman, Jessica Wakeman, Kay West, Clark Wilson, Jamie Zane

PHOTOGRAPHERS: Caleb Johnson

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: Jeff Fobes, Mark Murphy, Scott Southwick WEB: Brandon Tilley

BOOKKEEPER: Amie Fowler

OFFICE MANAGER: Mark Murphy

ADMINISTRATION

UNCA can help Asheville’s housing crisis and save the woods

When I was a biology student at UNC Asheville, I spent countless hours in the 45-acre forest south of W.T. Weaver Boulevard. Many of my classes held labs there — we learned to identify trees, recognize birdsongs and conduct mark-and-recapture experiments. That forest remains an educational treasure for students and faculty. It’s also a haven for wildlife and a cool, shaded refuge for locals that helps buffer North Asheville from the urban heat island effect.

So when I heard Chancellor Kimberly van Noort suggest that this land would be more valuable if the forest were removed, I was shocked.

Looking into it further, I learned that UNCA has lost 25% of its enrollment over the last five years. The UNC Board of Governors has barred tuition increases, while also designating campus land as a Millennial Campus, encouraging development with private partners. As enrollment drops and funding for public education declines, UNCA — like many schools — is in a tough financial spot.

Still, I was surprised to learn that UNCA’s dorms are currently at full capacity despite lower enrollment. Back when I was a student, a good portion of us lived off campus. I never paid more than $200 a month for a walkable place near campus. That more students now need to live on campus points to something else: Asheville’s housing crisis. Faculty and staff are struggling, too. Here’s where UNCA can — and should — help.

One of the most frustrating parts of the chancellor’s proposal is its lack of clarity. In a March op-ed, she wrote that development possibilities include “affordable workforce and student housing, educational facilities, entertainment and recreational facilities, sports facilities, research industry collaborations and child care facilities.” That list is vague, and frankly, Asheville doesn’t need more entertainment or sports venues. UNCA already spent $41 million on the Wilma M. Sherrill Center in 2011. What Asheville does need is housing. The Bowen report found that Buncombe County needs nearly 8,000 more units. Hurricane Helene damaged over 9,200 residential units, worsening an already dire shortage. UNCA could help by building a few hundred dorms or workforce housing units — without cutting down the forest.

UNCA has better options. The university owns about 10 acres on Broadway at the old Health Adventure site and another 9.5 acres at Merrimon and W.T. Weaver Boulevard. Both are connected to city utilities, served by bus lines and walkable to campus. These

sites are perfect for housing students, faculty and staff — and they don’t require destroying beloved green space that doubles as a public park.

Look no further than Warren Wilson College for a smarter approach. Its leadership recently placed more than half of its campus under a conservation easement. That decision not only generated millions through the sale of development rights — it also inspired a $10 million donation, the largest in the school’s history. UNCA could follow suit, conserving its forest while building on more suitable land. The result? Revenue, goodwill and a real contribution to Asheville’s housing needs.

UNCA is holding a public listening session on April 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the Highsmith Student Union. At that meeting, the university should clearly articulate its needs. If the 19 acres more appropriate for housing development aren’t enough, then let’s have a solution-oriented discussion about what to do next. But don’t lead with bulldozing the woods.

UNCA has the chance to be bold and visionary — by conserving an irreplaceable forest, addressing the housing crisis and earning the community’s praise instead of its protest. I hope

Word of the week

bunk (slang, n.) bad or subpar weed

Obviously, there are many other definitions for the word “bunk.” But seeing as this week includes 4/20 and all that comes with it, marijuana slang felt appropriate. Be sure to check out our hemp roundup on Page 37. X

opportunity. — Josh Kelly UNCA class of 2003 MountainTrue’s Resilient Forests program director Asheville

Speak up for urban forest and how Asheville grows

Last month I had the opportunity to show up for the “Good Morning America” videotaping that focused on Asheville six months after Helene. While they did a great job of highlighting local organizations doing amazing work, the overall message of the program was that Asheville is open for tourism.

Unfortunately, Asheville needs so much more support than just the tourist sector, and focusing on tourism only increases the gentrification of the area, which pushes out longtime

residents and the local artists and working-class folks behind the scenes on every level here. It was great that there were donations from major corporations to local organizations, but what about cleanup efforts along the river? Neighborhoods outside of the tourist district? Highlighting the City Council’s deer-in-headlights response to choosing a different path forward when it comes to making responsible choices around rebuilding efforts along the river and around town?

All of these issues are further exacerbated by UNC Asheville’s current decision to develop 45 acres of woods across the street from the Asheville Botanical Garden. It has designated these woods as a “millennial campus,” which would mean clear-cutting the entire area to develop it, without a real expressed need. The deforestation without a real plan is highlighted by their question to the public: “What expansion of university operations and/or development would you like to see on UNC Asheville’s designated Millennial Campus property?”

We’ve already lost 40% of our trees in Buncombe County, which is exacerbating fire risk and landslide risk, and UNCA’s response is to cut down more trees? Let’s be very clear: UNCA’s designated property is part of the state school system and therefore state land, owned and maintained by our taxes. UNCA has announced three “listening sessions” with students, faculty and the public with the above proposal, which presumes that the destruction of all 45 acres is inevitable. It is not.

We have an amazing opportunity right now as we rebuild, to make choices around how we want to see Asheville move forward. Will it continue to be developed until it’s unrecognizable? Until locals can no longer afford to live here? Until we have to drive long distances to be able to walk in these woods that we love dearly?

CONTINUES ON PAGE 6

Chancellor van Noort and the board of trustees seize this historic

CARTOON BY RANDY MOLTON

‘We mean everyone’ Black Mountain Presbyterian Church works to rebuild WNC

Mary Katherine Robinson is the pastor and head of staff at Black Mountain Presbyterian Church.

Xpress: How has Tropical Storm Helene and the ongoing recovery efforts informed the type of outreach and messaging you are offering your congregants?

Robinson: Black Mountain Presbyterian Church’s vision is — embodying the love of Christ, we ask: Has everyone been fed? Body, mind and spirit. And we mean everyone. Working through a theology of abundance has always been key. There is always enough for everyone if we all give and share. The day after the storm, we handed out cold cups of water and started grilling frozen meat in our parking lot on black stone grills. We fed over 100 the first day, but our numbers quickly grew to over a thousand by day five. In the beginning, I used Scriptures to remind my congregation that we belong to God and one another. We’ve been honest about our grief and the different phases of disaster relief and recovery. We continue to lean on one another as we strive to care for everyone in our valley. Sharing our Helene stories of resilience with one another and those we minister to continues to bring us hope.

SPREAD THE LOVE: “The most hopeful things are when a family or individual’s life has been changed by the generosity I see coming into our valley,” says Mary Katherine Robinson, pastor of Black Mountain Presbyterian Church. Photo courtesy of Robinson

What passages do you regularly turn to in times of need?

Powerful words from the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 43:2): “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire, you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”

Jesus embracing the world God loves so very much (Matthew 11:28): “Come to me all you who are weary and carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest.”

Jesus’ powerful words reminding us to feed all, specifically the least of these, in the last chapter of Matthew (Matthew 25:37-40): “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

What gives you hope for the future of WNC?

Affordable housing was an issue before the storm hit our valley, and our congregation is committed to doing everything we can to help those who are in need to find shelter. We have had individuals and churches in 50 states give to our Helene relief efforts. We are partnering with agencies who have done the hard work in housing people: Mountain Housing Opportunities, BeLoved Asheville, the Fuller Center Disaster ReBuilders, Homeward Bound. The most hopeful things are when a family or individual’s life has been changed by the generosity I see coming into our valley. Their stories of recovery and resilience remind me that our efforts are making a difference in our valley. Through the resources that have been provided to our communities post-Tropical Storm Helene, I have seen people who have struggled for years to find adequate housing, finally be housed. This brings me so much joy! X

If we don’t speak up about how we want to see Asheville grow, then others will make the decisions for us.

Please come to the public hearing session on Wednesday, April 16, from 6:30-8 p.m., for the general public at the Blue Ridge Room in Highsmith Student Union on UNC Asheville’s campus. Attendees will be able to sign up for a three-minute opportunity to speak.

See you there?

— Jen Hyde Asheville

Social district should encompass all of downtown

[Regarding “State of Downtown: Annual Event Talks BID, Grants and Plans for Generating Revenue,” March 26, Xpress:]

As a local business owner in downtown Asheville, I am in favor of creating a social district downtown. I am also very pro-South Slope, but I am more importantly pro the greater downtown Asheville business district (South Slope included).

I find it confusing why the city would limit a social district to only the South Slope. A social district should encompass the entire downtown area. Limiting a social district to only the South Slope area would have little to no impact on the greater downtown business district. It’s time this city and its management open up their eyes and look at the greater downtown business district as a whole.

Ask yourself this:

• Where is the highest foot traffic?

• Where are the highest number of galleries?

• Where are the highest number of restaurants and bars?

• Where are the highest number of shops?

• Where are the greatest number of music and special event venues in the city?

• Where is there a great need in the city? One sliver? Or the entire downtown business district?

Why does it seem the city is so shortsighted and overly concerned with only the South Slope? Why would you think this is? Because:

• The city has lost all of its invested money in the revamp of Coxe Avenue?

• The newly over-budget parking decks are sitting empty?

• They just adore the South Slope?

• They truly care about the entire downtown district?

• The South Slope is so close and accessible to 90% of the downtown district?

If you want a true answer, you need to look no further than the city’s

decision to move the Fourth of July celebration to the South Slope. A few more questions:

• Why would they move the celebration away from a city center amphitheater?

• Why would they move the celebration away from a city park?

• Why would they move the celebration away from a city-owned gathering spot?

• Why would they severely limit ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) access to a holiday celebration?

• Why would they make people stand on sidewalks and parking lots, instead of green areas built for enjoying such festivities?

• Because it’s for the good of the greater city?

Creating a social district would be a huge positive for the City of Asheville and bring in tourism. It should be for the entire city. Not one street, cluster of businesses or a tiny section in need of help. This entire city is in need of help. If a social district is created, it should be for all of the city to enjoy the benefits.

— Matt Donnelly Owner, Sparky’s Bardega Asheville

County must return funding to local schools

Our children are facing battles they don’t even know about. Year after year, their education gets chipped away by our county and state government. Historic norms are being broken on a national level, and the right to a good education moves further down the line.

I went to North Carolina public schools when education felt like it mattered. Politicians kept it high on their list of priorities and treated it as important. That was 20 years ago. Since then, we have seen a steady decline in valuing and funding our public schools.

Public education saves lives — literally! Many children would not be able to attend school without it. Public school communities must fight relentlessly for every dollar, and now we’re being forced to fight again. To keep students in public schools, we constantly shift resources and juggle staff levels. Parents must fundraise, act as public relations representatives and convince neighbors to enroll. It’s exhausting.

Our community is already struggling after Hurricane Helene. Our kids have endured so much. Cutting school budgets only adds to the chaos. Our county commissioners went through the same disaster: How can taking away critical funding from our schools be the solution?

To continue retaining kids in public schools, the 2025-26 education bud-

get must ensure no staffing or program cuts. Asheville City Schools and Buncombe County Schools should be reimbursed $4.7 million by July, and the Asheville City Schools special tax rate should be restored to 12 cents per $100 of assessed property value.

Let’s work together to continue building strong public schools that retain kids and celebrate them. Demand county commissioners return this funding now!

— Amanda Wilde Asheville

Promote native plants, not bamboo

As a newly minted Buncombe County master gardener, I was excited to see your gardening cover [March 26, Xpress].

Imagine my disappointment when your gardening section turned out to be about growing bamboo, an invasive plant that provides no habitat for our native fauna and crowds out our native plants [“Riot of Color, Courtesy of Spring.”] Bamboo is highly invasive and damaging in the United States as it is an aggressive spreader. We should be removing it, not encouraging people to grow it.

We have lots of native shrubs, such as American holly, mountain laurel or viburnum, that would make a more bio-

diverse privacy screen. Please promote our native plants, not invasive plants.

— Diane Mooney Asheville

Concerned for animals at WNC Nature Center

I’m very disappointed to see Xpress’ enthusiasm about the Western North Carolina Nature Center reopening.

I will never forget my one painful visit two years ago watching animals with no enrichment in small enclosures with nothing to do but sleep. The exception was a bear, pacing back and forth in an oval. He would touch his nose to the gate latch each slow loop. I watched for 30 minutes, then left in tears. He was still making his loop of captivity insanity as I walked away.

That this place receives accreditation is evidence of the insufficiency of regulatory oversight of captive animal businesses. How people take their children there for entertainment is indicative of how tragically separated most people are from natural animal behavior. Heartbreaking.

— Janet Thew Flat Rock

Editor’s note: Xpress reached out to the City of Asheville, which manages the Nature Center, and received the following response to the writer’s points from City spokesperson Kim Miller:

“We appreciate your genuine concern for our animals’ welfare at the Nature Center. Sometimes a single visit may not allow a guest to see all that we do to care for our animals. They are here because they cannot survive on their own in the wild, and many of them have special medical needs that require daily care and attention.

“Your letter mentioned lack of enrichment, pacing and sleeping. Animals at the Nature Center receive enrichment daily, and sometimes enrichment is given to the animals before the park opens. Our animals can pace when their keepers are near, they are anticipating meal time or if there is a bird, squirrel or rabbit on the other side of their habitat fencing that they cannot reach. Lastly, many of our animals are nocturnal, so you might see them sleeping when you visit. If you have additional questions, please email us at questions@wildwnc.org.”

Spring is time for tick prevention

It’s time to be worried about tick prevention. While I am very grateful to the people cutting the downed trees for our safety, I am also concerned about them getting bitten by infected ticks.

Chronic Lyme disease is not covered by insurance, and the tests are not reliable. There are now 20 known

infections in ticks, and if you are lucky enough to find a doctor who will treat you, they give doxycycline, which only covers three of them.

When I was bitten while taking up golf in 1995, over 30 doctors told me I needed a psychiatrist. That went on for a dozen years. I had five infections in my brain. I have now been sick for 30 years, and the cost so far has been $400,000.

Spray your shoes with permethrin, see The Quiet Epidemic streaming free and check for ticks. Use tweezers to remove them and send them out to be tested.

— Jan Dooley Asheville X

CARTOON BY BRENT BROWN

Legacy lands

BY BROOKE RANDLE

Tucked within the picturesque foothills of Delight, a rural area north of Shelby, lies Beam Family Farm, a farm 150 years in the making.

Owner Luke Beam, a seventh-generation cattle farmer, and his wife, Kathy, once lived in the same house that Beam’s great-great-grandfather built in 1870.

“My parents were full time on the farm, my mom looking after the baby calves and being in charge of the books and my dad taking care of most everything else. I grew up by getting up early and feeding calves and milking cows. That was just our life,” remembers Beam. “When I went to college, I came home every weekend just because I loved being on the farm.”

Today, Beam lives with his wife on that same property where the couple raised their three children, now in their teens and early 20s, and sells pasture-raised beef directly to consumers.

Beam’s story is not unique. Across North Carolina, hundreds of farms have been passed down through generations. But without careful planning, many farmers risk having to sell the farm to cover rising taxes, health care or estate issues.

That’s where Stephen Bishop steps in. He is the western director of NC FarmLink, a program of N.C. State Extension that helps farmers navigate the complex process of farm transition, ensuring that farmland remains in the same families for years to come. NC FarmLink held its first workshop in Western North Carolina last month as part of a pilot program aimed at educating farmers on how to keep their farms in the family.

Bishop notes that more than half of North Carolina’s farmers are over

the age of 65, and the vast majority of farms throughout the state are family-owned. The U.S. Department of Agriculture projects that nearly 70% of farmland will change ownership within the next 20 years. Yet, nearly 60% of farmers lack even a basic will.

“What we’ve learned is that these transition issues are generally pretty complex, and there’s a lot of different variables that go into them. It can be overwhelming for farmers to try to work through them,” says Bishop.

“Part of our role is educating folks on transition issues and trying to connect them to resources.”

MORE THAN A BUSINESS

Farming is full of risk, which can make planning difficult. Weather, yields, government policies, global markets and other factors all impact what a farmer can earn year to year. But having a plan in place is the first step in mitigating future stress.

“Research shows that if your parents had an estate plan, you were more likely to have an estate plan because you saw your parents do it,” says Bishop. “But for most folks, it’s very common to

hear ‘My parents didn’t have a will, and everything worked out fine.’ Eventually, there’s going to be a weak link in there if we keep letting that continue.”

Additionally, family farms are often more complex than other types of family-owned businesses because they include sentimental and historical value, adds Bishop.

“A lot of times your home is where your children grew up. You’ve got a lot of memories there. So there are human emotions wrapped into it,” he explains. “It’s not as clean-cut as a lot of other family businesses because it’s a bigger knot to untangle.”

Beam says that he and his siblings have plans in place to share the farmland after it passes on from their mother but adds that talk about farm succession is difficult for family members. “I think for most people, the biggest hurdle is having that conversation — because no one wants to come to grips that they’re going to die, right?” says Beam.

UNPROTECTED ASSETS

As farmers age, they experience many of the same issues as other aging seniors — long-term medical care needs, pro-

bate, complex family dynamics — all of which expose farmers and their families to losing their farmlands and businesses.

According to AARP, about half of seniors will require long-term care, with one in seven (14%) incurring outof-pocket costs of more than $100,000. Medicaid, a low-income health program, covers the cost of some long-term care, but eligibility is determined by available income and assets — like a farm.

If an owner dies unexpectedly, probate, a court-supervised process of managing a deceased person’s assets, could force the sale of property to cover estate taxes, even if the surviving family members wish to maintain the farm and the business.

Disputes among family members, including divorce or other domestic matters, could also lead to unintentional losses through forced sales. Siblings who inherit farmland are co-owners of the property, Bishop explains, and it takes just one sibling to force a sale even if others want to keep the property.

“That’s perfectly legal here in North Carolina,” says Bishop. “If you don’t have a plan, it’s really easy for your family just to start bickering and fussing and fighting, and the easiest thing at that point is to just sell the property,” Bishop says. “And so that’s what we’re trying to warn folks of.”

WEIGHING THE OPTIONS

In 1987, Tom and Karen Elmore put down roots in Leicester and started Thatchmore Farm, a 10-acre certified organic farm that grows Christmas trees and other ornamentals as well as mushrooms and fruit.

The Elmores never put pressure on their daughter, Liz, to take over the farm and began to consider their options. One of the goals of NC FarmLink is to educate farmers on options outside of family members. Farmers can choose to lease their land and equipment to another farmer or create a revocable trust that helps manage the farm in case of incapacity.

Conservation easements also offer options for farmers who wish to maintain their agricultural lands in perpetuity. Forever Farms, a program of the N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, pays farmers to waive development rights in the form of conservation easements.

“The farmer still gets to pass it down to his children, but they can’t develop it either. So it will stay a farm for perpetuity,” says Bishop. “So not only is it protecting the farm, but it’s also

providing the farmers with a lump sum of money that can be used to pad their retirement savings or maybe to pay for a long-term care policy.”

But much to her parents’ delight, Liz Elmore began working full time at the farm in 2018 after she graduated from college.

“We were very pleased,” recalls Tom. “We never required Liz to work on the farm growing up. We weren’t expecting her to come back to run the farm, but she chose to. I think a lot of times decisions stick a little better when they’re made from free choice as opposed to being pressured.”

Liz says she doesn’t yet know whether she’ll continue farming long term, but she and her parents are exploring options that would prevent the land from being developed for housing or other uses. “Western North Carolina just has a history of having to be self-sufficient for various reasons. And if we lose that, of course, it’s sad economically, but also culturally,” she explains.

PRESERVING FARMS

Farmland is slowly declining across the state, which could have significant economic and cultural impacts. The 2022 Census of Agriculture found that

North Carolina experienced an almost 8% decrease in the number of farms from 2017-22, and a loss of 8.1 million acres of farmland.

“Farming is a huge economic driver for the state. It’s a $1 billion business. But, then there’s also the heritage,” Bishop says. “People like seeing rural landscapes. They like seeing hay bales out in fields and cows in the pasture. It becomes part of your heritage and upbringing, and so it means a lot to people.”

Beam says that regardless of whether his children want to farm one day, he sees the value in maintaining undeveloped land. His dream is to ensure that the property stays in agriculture in perpetuity. “I think we have a responsibility to God to care for what he’s put in our hands as stewards. It’s crucial that we maintain land to produce food, to produce fiber, to grow stuff. It’s so important that we continue to have those options in the future,” he explains.

Bishop reminds local farmers that it’s never too early — or too late — to begin planning and having conversations with family members about the future of their farmlands.

“It’s kind of like planting a tree,” adds Bishop. “The best time was 20 years ago, and the next best time is now.” X

April 25 & 26 April 27

J&S Farms

Useful Plants Nursery

‘Mass confusion’ Asheville VA deals with federal government cuts

BY GREG PARLIER

On a recent weekend at the Charles George Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Asheville, a nurse couldn’t find eye drops for a patient. They weren’t there because the supply technicians whose job it was to ensure the nurse stations were stocked had been fired, according to Brandee Morris, a union leader stationed at the Asheville medical center.

Initially fired in February, the status of 14 probationary employees remains unclear after a flurry of legal actions. Meanwhile, a steady stream of executive orders from President Donald Trump and large-scale firings by the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency have caused confusion and chaos at the WNC veterans medical center.

A March 27 order effectively eliminated collective bargaining for much of the federal workforce, including the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). That means the local chapter of the Association of Federal Government Employees (AFGE) — whose membership has grown 20% since Trump took office — may lose its full-time employees. The union is suing the Trump administration over the order. That’s atop a March 4 memo from VA Secretary Doug Collins’ chief of staff to undersecretaries and other VA officials that outlines plans to cut 80,000 VA employees nationwide. Collins has said that would return the VA to 2019 staffing levels. No details on how that would affect staff in Asheville have been provided.

“It’s just mass confusion. There’s no guidance. This administration continues to jump in the middle of traffic without looking both ways,” says Morris,

president of local AFGE Chapter 446 who has worked at the Asheville VA for 24 years. “It’s absolute chaos.”

For weeks, information requests from Xpress about cuts, rumors of policy changes and the local effects of executive orders were left unanswered. The Asheville VA did not have a dedicated communications representative after public affairs specialist Katherine Ramos Muniz was fired as part of the cuts. Ramos Muniz has

been reinstated, she told Xpress April 9, but was unable to provide responses to any other questions, including the length of her absence.

While Ramos Muniz was gone, media requests were forwarded to Scott Pittillo, communications project manager for the region that includes Virginia and North Carolina. He was unable to provide responses to most questions about the initial cuts or the state of the labor union at the VA, telling Xpress in March that management didn’t want to get ahead of any statements made by Collins for fear of contradicting the new secretary.

Over the course of several weeks, more than a dozen workers have declined to speak to Xpress about the situation inside the Charles George VA, even anonymously, for fear of reprisal from management. Eventually, Morris agreed to speak on the record.

“I’m scared I’m going to lose my job, too. I mean, I’m not going to lie to you — it worries me with all the interviews I’ve done,” she says. “But I took an oath as president [of the union]. I’m trying to be a voice for these people that don’t understand, or they don’t feel comfortable being a voice for themselves.”

WHO GOT FIRED

On Feb. 24, the VA dismissed more than 2,400 probationary employees nationwide, including 14 of the 2,450 employees who work for the VA in WNC, Pittillo, the VA spokesperson, says. Those layoffs were reversed after U.S. District Judge William Alsup said the Office of Personnel Management did not have the authority to terminate employees across six agencies after AFGE sued the Trump administration.

“It is a sad, sad day when our government would fire some good employee and say it was based on performance when they know good and well that’s a lie,” Alsup said at the end of a hearing, as reported by CBS. “That should not have been done in our country. It was a sham in order to avoid statutory requirements.”

On April 8, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked Alsup’s temporary injunction, keeping the VA from reinstating the fired employees while litigation continues. Typically, employees are on probationary status when they’ve served less than a year in their current roles or were promoted to new roles.

VA Secretary Collins said at a press conference in Asheville on March 18 that the money saved from those dismissals are “being redirected to patient care” and will make the use of taxpayer funds more efficient.

According to Morgan Ackley, the VA’s director of media affairs, those 14 included an interior designer and supply technicians. She did not confirm if there were other positions included in that round of firings.

Morris says the interior designer position isn’t “picking fuschia or pink” but is in charge of ordering furniture and lights and making sure patients and employees are not overly crowded in various rooms.

Sherry McCulley-Hall , an advanced practice nurse at the VA who retired five years ago, says the interior designer helped her team create a clinical space that was welcoming for patients with mental health issues, addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder. The careful selection of low lighting, for example, helped create an atmosphere that calmed veterans and prepared them for treatment.

“Her role was very important, and she did it for other clinics [within the VA] as well. She didn’t just decorate by picking out wallpaper. That’s not what it was about,” McCulley-Hall says.

The supply technician roles that were temporarily eliminated are vital to the nurses caring for patients, both Morris and McCulley-Hall told Xpress. There are supply technicians working around the clock to ensure supply staches on the hospital ward are fully stocked with everything nurses

TOP VET: Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins insisted that he had no plans to privatize the system at a press conference in Asheville March 18. Photo by Greg Parlier

might need, from eye drops to diapers. Nurses add any needs to patient charts, and roving supply technicians make sure the supplies are available on the floor, Morris says.

“Believe me, they’re important because we don’t have time to go downstairs and get them,” McCulleyHall adds.

UNION DUES

President Trump is seeking to limit union power as union membership grows around the country, including in Asheville, Morris reports.

Morris’ WNC AFGE chapter, which includes employees from the VA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Blue Ridge Parkway, has grown to include about a third of 3,000 employees, Morris says.

The White House released an order to limit “union obstruction” of agencies with national security missions and put the VA in that category. The order claimed some federal unions have “declared war on President Trump’s agenda.” VA unions have filed 70 national and local grievances as of March 27 over Trump policies since his inauguration, the White House contends.

AFGE announced March 31 it will challenge Trump’s order, calling it the “biggest attack on the labor movement in history” in a news release.

Morris says the union does more than lodge lawsuits against the Trump administration. In the VA, Morris and her team help mediate grievances between workers and their supervisors, often easing tensions in the high-

stress atmosphere of a hospital. She says managers call daily for help with employee relation issues or to navigate an employee’s contract.

Typically, that work is done during “official time” in the union office, a full-time job for Morris and her team. Once the VA implements the executive order, Morris would have to go back to her administrative assistant job at the VA and any union work would have to take place after hours, essentially creating a second job for all union officers, Morris says.

To Morris, the intent of the move to stifle unions is clear: Save money by firing people at will.

“If you get rid of unions, then they don’t have representation. They can fire people at will, and then they can hire contractors, and it’s cheaper, and they can line their pockets, and they can privatize the federal government, which is exactly what this administration wants to do.”

In the March 18 press conference, nine days before Trump’s executive order on collective bargaining, Collins said he had no plans to privatize the VA.

VETERAN FEARS

Meanwhile, veterans range from worried to angry about what changes might come to the Charles George Medical Center.

“This is the best health care in America, and they’re messing with it,” said veteran Robert Burns, one of more than a dozen gathered outside the Asheville VA to protest Collins’ visit.

The Asheville VA earned a top two ranking from VA Claims Insider in 2022 after a survey showed 90% of patients gave the hospital a nine or 10 ranking for quality of care, with 10 being the highest.

Ashley Fortune, a Brevard-based disabled veteran, receives regular services at the Asheville VA, but Fortune has had trouble getting appointments.

“If we’re already not getting appointments, we’re already not getting care that we need, and you’re cutting people, how is that going to improve anything?”

Fortune says the messaging from Trump and Collins suggests that serving veterans is not the priority.

“You’re writing a blank check with your life when you sign up for the military. And one of the things that they offer you is if something happens to you when you sign that blank check, [they’re] going to take care of you, and they’re not,” Fortune says. “I’m fortunate that I was not one of the ones that had to go to Afghanistan or Iraq or anything like that. But if you’re failing a veteran, you’re failing a veteran. It does not matter.” X

Take three

BY JACK IGELMAN A CAROLINA PUBLIC PRESS REPORT

jack@igelman.com

A decade in the making, the future of the forest plan to manage Western North Carolina’s national forests is now hazy, threatened by a lawsuit, a presidential executive order accelerating timber production and the scars of Tropical Storm Helene, which leveled thousands of acres of forest.

Finalized in 2023 the forest plan sets out a strategy to restore the integrity of forests, ecosystems and watersheds within Pisgah and Nantahala national forests. However, the the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) executes specific actions on the project level. The agency analyzes and carries out each project it proposes, including logging projects, within the framework of the forest plan.

The focus and scale of timber projects, however, are in flux. A new lawsuit filed by the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) challenges the plan at the same time that a federal directive may force the Forest Service to accelerate logging across national forests, deepening concerns over environmental harm.

The lawsuit filed on March 28 by the SELC on behalf of four environmental organizations alleges that Tropical Storm Helene exposed critical flaws in the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan, which underestimates climate-driven storm impacts and promotes high levels of timber harvesting.

“Our national forests are reeling from massive storm destruction, yet they’re still subject to a management plan that includes unrealistic timber targets,” said David Reid of the Sierra Club’s North Carolina chapter, one of the litigants.

WNC forest plan under pressure from storm devastation, lawsuit and Trump

“Failing to change the plan would create additional threats to the natural beauty treasured by millions of visitors,” he said.

The suit is the third connected to one of the two WNC national forests that the Virginia-based nonprofit legal organization has filed since early 2024.

mated that “somewhere between 10% and 20% of the forest has some meaningful level of damage” due to Helene. That amounts to 100,000 to 200,000 acres of impacted forest.

“We simply can’t stand by and ignore the significant and long-lasting harm this plan will do to these remarkable forests and the communities that rely on them,” he said.

will streamline Forest Service’s project planning, decision-making and implementation. The memo also instructs National Forest units to limit the number of project alternatives presented in an environmental assessment, potentially limiting or overlooking more environmentally sound alternatives.

In February 2024, the SELC opposed a 15-acre timber sale in Nantahala National Forest. The Forest Service announced it would not harvest the trees last June.

And in April 2024, the SELC sued the Forest Service again, arguing that the forest plan aims to significantly increase timber production, threatening sensitive areas and endangered bats. The ongoing legal action alleged the forest plan’s analysis was flawed and violated the Endangered Species Act by failing to study the plan’s impact on federally protected bats, endangering their survival and causing broader ecological consequences.

“We’ve given the agency every possible opportunity to do the right thing and fix the plan, but the Forest Service has refused,” said attorney Sam Evans of the SELC. Evans esti-

The Forest Service did not comment on litigation regarding the Nantahala and Pisgah Forest Plan. By law, the agency has 60 days to respond to the allegations in the complaint.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration is pressuring the Forest Service to go in the opposite direction, logging more trees on millions of acres of national forest throughout the western and southeastern U.S. On April 3, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins released an emergency order memo to address “declining forest health.”

The directive aims to boost timber production by streamlining processes, enhancing efficiency and consistency, and proposing legislative changes to support sustainable forest management. The memo said the changes

The directive seeks to increase timber production by 25%, which represents a tall order for an agency that recently experienced staffing cuts, Evans said.

“You don’t (increase timber production) by that level by being careful and making sure that you’re not harming rare species, closing important recreational areas or protecting scenery,” Evans said. “You do it by taking procedural shortcuts to put logs on trucks with the bare minimum of resources.”

The SELC is currently examining the presidential directive and considering its response.

This article first appeared on Carolina Public Press and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. X

STORM AFTERMATH: Fallen trees and debris from Tropical Storm Helene litter the Wilson Creek area of Pisgah National Forest in Caldwell County. Photo courtesy of Will Waugh

Battle over The Bluffs

Inside the fight to conserve Richmond Hill

BY DANIELLE AROSTEGUI

danielle.arostegui@gmail.com

In March, the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) purchased 83 acres adjoining Richmond Hill Park for permanent conservation, ending a 4 1/2-year battle over the fate of the land.

The property, which straddles the boundary between the Town of Woodfin and the City of Asheville, was slated for development under two separate proposals. These proposals were ultimately scrapped in the face of intense local opposition, clearing the way for SAHC to purchase the land for conservation.

“This is a great outcome for this prominent forested bluff above a big bend in the French Broad River, especially in light of the shared desire among locals to support the river’s recovery from Hurricane Helene,” says Carl Silverstein, SAHC’s executive director.

SAHC is a nonprofit land trust conserving land and water resources in the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee for over 50 years. Since 1974, SAHC has protected more than 90,000 acres.

SAHC hopes to add the tract of land to the City of Asheville’s Richmond Hill Park, which would increase the park size from 180 to 263 acres. In the meantime, the property is closed to the public as SAHC assesses damage from Helene and develops a land management plan.

But while conservationists won this round, they know the war isn’t over. The need for housing will mean that a proposal will arise in another area, posing its own set of tradeoffs.

INSIDE THE BATTLE OVER THE BLUFFS

SAHC first attempted to purchase the property in 2013 but couldn’t reach an agreement with the owner, who was holding out for a more lucrative offer from developers.

That offer came in 2020, when a Florida-based developer purchased the land and released its plans for The Bluffs at Riverbend, a mixed-use development that included more than 1,500 residential units, a 250-room hotel, a 59,000-square-foot office building, an amphitheater and a church. A bridge would be built across the French Broad River to handle the increased traffic.

By the developer’s estimates, the project would provide $1.5 million in annual

PROTECTED: Michelle Pugliese, land protection director at Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, poses on the parcel preserved next to Richmond Hill Park. Photo courtesy of SAHC

property tax revenues to the Town of Woodfin, representing a 16.6% increase to the town’s budget, which was roughly $9 million in 2020-21.

Neighbors in both Woodfin and Asheville quickly organized to oppose the proposal, saying it would threaten water quality in the French Broad and overload the roads and infrastructure in the neighborhood. Together, they formed a coalition under the name Richmond Hill & River Rescue, put up a GoFundMe account to raise donations and hired an attorney to fight the proposal.

They also attracted the support of local environmental nonprofit MountainTrue, which stepped in to support the neighbors in their fight. In an online petition, MountainTrue argued that the site was unsuited to the intensity of the proposed development due to the steepness of the slopes, which drain into the French Broad, endangering water quality and the proposed whitewater wave and recreation park, which would be located just downstream.

The tactics worked. In 2022, after years of intense local opposition, the

Bluffs developer scrapped the proposal and sold the parcel in an apparent victory for concerned neighbors.

THE SECOND AND FINAL BATTLE

Except the battle didn’t end there. The property was purchased by a second developer — this one based in Delaware — who proposed building 650 residential units. No bridge was included in this second proposal, which was dubbed Mountain Village.

Once again, neighbors rallied to defeat the new proposal, which they argued was still out of scale with the fragility of the surrounding ecosystem.

In the summer of 2023, SAHC made another offer on the property. Again, it was rejected.

However, as opposition to the project dragged on, the developer began to change its tune. Permits for the second, scaled-down development were mired in the complex and time-consuming conditional zoning process.

Frustrated with the slow pace, the developer sued the Town of Woodfin. When that also failed to speed up the process, the conversation began to shift.

Neighbor and local business owner Shelli Stanback says bringing the various parties to the lawsuit together led to a breakthrough.

“I spoke about the Wilma Dykeman RiverWay Plan and how so many of us have dedicated decades of time, energy and personal resources to see that vision of a protected, accessible river corridor become reality. I wanted the developers to understand that our efforts were not just aimed at stopping a project — they were part of a long-standing commitment to a dream shared by many,” Stanback says.

Stanback is the CEO of OM Sanctuary, a nonprofit holistic education and retreat center next to the proposed development. Stanback had worked with SAHC to preserve its portion of the forest in 2014.

Stanback requested that SAHC be included in the roundtable conversation. “When I introduced Carl [Silverstein], he spoke sincerely and that moment of shared understanding apparently opened the door to ongoing dialogue.”

While SAHC had been engaged in the process from the start, this was the first time that the outcome seemed as if it might be tipping in its favor. By the spring of 2024, the developer

and SAHC were engaged in regular weekly talks.

According to Silverstein, the developers became increasingly receptive to the idea of receiving another offer. SAHC leapt into action to raise the funds to purchase the property.

Last month, SAHC purchased the property for $12.4 million with the help of neighbors and private donors. After nearly five years, the battle was over.

AN UNUSUAL CHOICE

As with any proposed development, it pits against each other developers and housing advocates, who point to national and local housing shortages as evidence for why more development is needed, and neighbors and conservationists, who argue that preservation is the more sustainable choice.

“We know that we live in an area where affordable housing is a crisis,” Silverstein acknowledges. “The key to our conservation approach is balance. In this case, the property wasn’t the right location for a high-density development.”

At first glance, the 83-acre Richmond Hill property was an unusual choice for SAHC, given its proximity to Asheville’s urban core.

“Most of our conservation projects have been in more remote places,” says Silverstein. Previous SAHC purchases have adjoined the Appalachian Trail corridor, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Mount Mitchell State Park.

“SAHC strives to protect the things that people love about this region —

the scenic beauty of the mountains, parks and public lands for all people to enjoy outdoor recreation, habitat and wildlife corridors that support a plethora of species, and clean water sources for drinking and for recreation activities like fishing or kayaking,” says SAHC’s communications director, Angela Shepherd

The Richmond Hill property met all of these criteria. The tract is one of the last undeveloped parcels along the French Broad River near Asheville. It adjoins Richmond Hill Park and the state-designated Richmond Hill Forest Natural Area. It overlooks the French Broad River, providing scenic views.

THE TRADE-OFFS OF CONSERVATION

Beyond the views, the water that flows down the property’s steep slopes empties directly in the French Broad River.

“Seeing hundreds of landslides as well as businesses and homes washed away in Hurricane Helene underscored the importance of protecting our floodplains and forested slopes to soak in and filter stormwater, protect important riparian species and help reduce future flooding,” says Hartwell Carson, clean waters director for MountainTrue.

In addition, the property contains streams, wetlands and vernal pools, which provide habitat for local flora and fauna. Richmond Hill Park and the adjoining lands are home to several rare species, including the mole and southern zigzag salamanders, nodding trillium and eastern fairy shrimp.

SUSTAINING COMMUNITY

‘We

must be prepared’

Laurel Community Center member reflects on Tropical Storm Helene

Mary Sauls Kelly is vice president of the Laurel Community Center.

Xpress: In the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene, what can individuals inside and outside of your community do to help address the ongoing needs?

Floods will happen. We’re all connected. Leaders must look ahead to a wetter future. People shouldn’t sleep in floodplains. Roads, utilities and communications must withstand. We need sensible building codes. One bad driveway or steep-slope road bank can cut off a whole community — kill people — in a landslide or debris flow. How are you personally coping with and sustaining yourself during the ongoing recovery process?

Most that have lived along streams and rivers already know: We must be prepared. X

Local land development planner Scott Adams, who volunteers with the pro-housing nonprofit, Asheville for All, acknowledges the valuable ecosystem services that conserved land can provide but pointed out that all land-use decisions come with tradeoffs, including potential downsides for conservation elsewhere.

“Where will those original 1,500 housing units be built now? The demand for those will go somewhere,” Adams points out.

Adams argues that unless Ashevilleans can agree on places in town where major housing developments can be built, these types of projects will continue to be pushed farther out from the city center, where they are more likely to disrupt intact forests and farmland and contribute to urban sprawl.

“In my view, this all points back to the benefits of policies like the ones the Asheville City Council passed in March that make it easier for large residential projects to be built on our major corridors, where they belong,” says Susan Bean, director of housing and transportation for MountainTrue. Adams agrees. “We can have housing and retain portions of urban forests.” X

STAY SHARP: “Most that have lived along streams and rivers already know: We must be prepared,” says Mary Sauls Kelly.

NEWS Outdoor alarm

BY JUSTIN M c GUIRE

jmcguire@mountainx.com

Environmentalists worry that public lands in Western North Carolina, already devastated by a tropical storm and wildfires, are about to suffer a human-made disaster — adverse federal policies from the Trump administration.

Several environmental leaders held a forum at The Mule at Devil’s Foot Beverage on April 9 to talk about it. The event, Support Our Public Lands, included short presentations by representatives of more than half a dozen organizations.

A crowd of about 150 people attended the forum, which organizers say was designed to educate community members about nonprofits that focus on public resources, land and wildlife, especially given recent federal policies that could pose long-term challenges.

“The Trump administration’s actions have fueled an atmosphere of hostility toward the very concept of public lands,” said Ben Prater, Southeast

program director of Defenders of Wildlife. “Federal workers are our guardians of these lands. They’ve been left powerless to stop the reckless agenda, and their ability to protect that land and the wildlife we love is now stifled with political pressure and chronic shortages of resources.”

Speakers expressed particular concern about the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision to roll back environmental protections around logging projects in more than half of U.S. national forests, including Pisgah and Nantahala, under an emergency designation that cites dangers from wildfires. The administration’s plans to sell some public lands also raised alarms.

“When we think about our forest loss from Hurricane Helene, when we think about the fires that just happened, do we need more forest loss in Pisgah and Nantahala?” said Liz Hillard, senior wildlife biologist for the Wildlands Network. “We don’t. This affects us specifically here in Western North Carolina.”

Asheville High School student River Harlan, a youth leader with I Heart Pisgah, said the Pisgah and Nantahala forests are the backbone of the regional economy. I Heart Pisgah is a coalition of more than 100 organizations and businesses working to protect the forests.

“National forests are especially important to young people like me,” Harlan said. “They protect our drinking water, clean air, scenery, economy and climate. Forests are our future. We don’t want them clear-cut, mined, drilled and sold. We want them permanently protected. National forests are worth far more standing than cut down.”

GETTING INVOLVED

Despite the bleak picture, speakers implored attendees not to lose hope.

“Some of the best advice that I ever got was, ’Cynicism kills,’” said the event’s organizer, Jeff Hunter, Southern Appalachian director of the National Parks Conservation Association. “Do not be cynical. Each one of you has a sphere of influence. You have friends, you have colleagues, you have coworkers. Please share this information with people. Ask them to get involved together.”

Hunter and others encouraged people to volunteer and to serve on boards of environmental nonprofits as well as contact elected officials, including U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards and U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, all Republicans.

“It shouldn’t be a partisan issue. We can’t let it be,” said Jill Gottesman, Southeastern states director for the Wilderness Society. “What we can do is make sure our elected officials know that North Carolina has a critical and important outdoors legacy, and not

PUBLIC

HELP

NEEDED:

Jeff Hunter, Southern Appalachian director of the National Parks Conservation Association, organized a forum on how communities can work together to support federal lands and parks. “Right now, our public lands are threatened like never before,” he said. “We can’t do this alone. We need members and supporters and volunteers.”

by Justin McGuire

only do we need our land management agency staff, but these agencies can better manage these places than states or private corporations can. They’re not for sale.”

Hunter said people should remain calm when reaching out to elected officials.

“If you get angry, if you shout, that’s really not an effective way to convince your legislator to see things your way,” he said. “Just passionately let your representative know why these issues are important to you and be specific: ‘Hey, my family likes to go and have a picnic on Max Patch on the Appalachian Trail.’ Conservation is about storytelling, and you can all be storytellers. Speak your truth.”

Renee Fortner, director of programs at RiverLink, said she is encouraged that so many people are fired up about protecting the environment in Western North Carolina.

“I

“If there is a silver lining to the natural and political disasters that we are living through, it’s the incredible collaborative work that’s happening to help rebuild our communities and restore our waterways,” she said. “And it’s just really inspiring for me to see all of you out here tonight and all the amazing organizations doing good work.”

A second event is planned for Knoxville, Tenn., but no date has been set, Hunter said. X

Photo

Asheville City Council OKs plan for $225M in disaster recovery funds

Asheville City Council approved, 7-0, a final plan on how to spend $225 million in disaster recovery funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at its April 8 meeting.

After three public work sessions with 120-plus attendees, over 200 recommendations posted on the city’s public input page and an initial rejection from HUD in March for including diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies — the city sent its revised plan for the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds to HUD by the April 21 deadline.

HUD now has 45 days to approve or suggest changes to the plan. Once finalized, the city plans to begin projects this fall and continue drawing down the grant over six years.

The funds will go into programs for infrastructure, economic revitalization and housing that address needs as a result of Tropical Storm Helene.

The $29 million earmarked for mitigation will support flood protection and stormwater management efforts across all three programs. For example, work will specifically go to underserved residential communities as part of the housing plan, and other work will target commercial districts as part of economic recovery efforts.

The city outlined its plan using the Helene Recovery Priorities Survey that ranked the unmet needs based on engagement from nearly 6,900 residents, business owners and stakeholders.

Resident Michael Crawford attended all three public work sessions and commended the city for the engagement process.

“The interwoven mitigation strategies, the creative and savvy use of double dipping of the funds so that each dollar can be used to benefit not just one but two or even all three of the funding categories, I think is absolutely beautiful,” Crawford said.

Rachel Cohen, a member of the Sunrise Movement, a local climate activist group, urged the city to use renewable energy funds to fulfill Council’s 2020 promise to end greenhouse gases by 2030. Cohen unrolled a scroll of 178 signatures of residents who want to build back greener.

“We urge you to please prioritize climate resilience. We need you to fight like our lives depend on it, because they do,” Cohen said.

“This is the end of the beginning. This is a paper document; now begins the work, and we are really serious about stewardship,” said James Shelton, community development division manager for the city. “Stewardship is something I’ve emphasized in our community engagement process — whatever we do, we keep stewardship in mind because these are American taxpayer dollars that have come to help us recover.”

While helpful, the grant doesn’t close the gap between insurance payments and those from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and actual damage. The city pegs that amount at nearly $1.2 billion.

Here’s how the city plans to use the grants:

• Infrastructure ($125 million): Funds will go toward upgrades to water, sewer and energy systems, along with stormwater management and flood control projects that align with the Hazard Mitigation Plan. The infrastructure funds also go toward new parks and recreation facilities, as well as arts and cultural facilities and improving emergency shelter services.

• Economic revitalization ($52 million): $30 million will go to the Flooded Commercial Districts Program, which focuses on creating and retaining jobs for public and privately owned entities in the French Broad River and Swannanoa River corridors; $17 million will go to grants and loans from the Small Business Support Program; and $5 million for Workforce Development Programs.

• Housing ($31 million): A bulk of the housing funds, $28 million, will go to building affordable multifamily housing led by nonprofits, public housing authorities, developers and the city. The rest of the housing funds, $3 million, are allocated for the state’s Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of Owner-Occupied Housing (R&R) program that issues grants to repair units damaged or destroyed by Helene.

About $2 million will go toward the Housing and Economic Security Support Services Program, which funds public or nonprofit organizations to target homelessness in the city, as well as employment-focused organizations.

The remainder will be set aside for administrative costs, $11.25 million, including staffing and grant adminis-

In other news:

• Council approved charging rent for those who use the just-renovated Memorial Stadium Track. The Parks and Recreation Department will charge $15 an hour to rent the track. The fee is consistent with how the city manages its other resources, said Lindsay Spangler, budget and performance manager for the city.

• City staff gave an update on the Metropolitan Sewerage District (MSD) Carrier Bridge Pump Station Replacement Project, estimated to cost $105 million. It is the largest pump station in MSD and serves large portions of southern and western Buncombe County and northern Henderson County. Adding an 800-foot sewer line under Amboy Road across the river at both French Broad River and Carrier parks will be completed first to minimize disruption to parkgoers. Work on the river crossings is anticipated to begin this summer and take a year and a half to complete.

tration, and $3.8 million for long-term recovery planning and updating existing plans.

The city included in the appendix a matrix of each suggestion from the public and whether the city adopted it or why it didn’t.

Water fee increase

Starting July 1, water service bills for residential, commercial, manufacturing and wholesale properties will rise anywhere from 7.5% to 32%, depending on the type of users. Rates will increase 7.5% for residences to $59.14 bimonthly. For manufacturers, rates will rise 14%-20% depending on their size, and rates will jump 32% for wholesale customers, the Town of Woodfin, the Town of Black Mountain and the Town of Biltmore Forest.

The fee hike is part of the three-year plan to raise revenues to shore up the city’s water system, which needed $239 million of repairs and improvements before Helene. Council in March 2024 also approved issuing $26.9 million in bonds to replace meters.

Staff recommended the three-year time frame in an effort to eliminate inequity among customer classes, establish reserves for funding capital projects and preserve the city’s debt ratings, thereby keeping borrowing costs as low as possible.

• Council appointed members to the Asheville Downtown Improvement District (ADID) steering committee, which will report regularly to Council and the public on its success in providing safety, hospitality and cleanliness as part of the Asheville Business Improvement District (BID) services. The committee consists of one Council member, two city staff members and 17 members representing property owners, business renters, residential renters and one staff from the Continuum of Care, which is responsible for the homelessness response in Asheville and Buncombe County. Council approved the slate 6-1 with member Kim Roney as the lone no vote. Roney said the BID isn’t the right tool for downtown’s issues, like behavioral health, substance abuse, homelessness, bike and pedestrian accidents, and economic recovery from Helene.

• Concerns over the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Interstate 26 Connector Project were raised by five people during public comment. They said a proposed overpass above Patton Avenue will divide neighborhoods, negatively impact health and possibly lead to tent villages occupied by unhoused people under the overpass. Council member Maggie Ullman said NCDOT will host a public meeting from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, April 24, at the Renaissance Asheville Downtown Hotel. “That will be a time they’re bringing plans and materials and backand-forth engagement,” Ullman said. Editor’s note: This story was supported by the Fund for Investigative Reporting and Editing

— Brionna Dallara  X

BOTTOM LINE: Rachel Cohen, a member of the Sunrise Movement, a local climate activist group, unscrolled 178 signatures of residents who want to build back greener as part of the $225 million disaster recovery funding plan. Photo by Brionna Dallara

New chapter

The North Asheville Library is getting an overdue paint job and new carpeting. But that means the 20-year-old facility will be closed through Friday, May 9. Items can be returned to any other Buncombe County Public Library location. The $81,000 upgrades will be paid entirely by the Friends of North Asheville Library and the Trust Fund

ArtsAVL launched a marketing campaign, “Redefine the Weekend,” designed to connect visitors to Buncombe County’s arts scene across four key regions: downtown Asheville, the River Arts District (RAD), Weaverville and Black Mountain. The campaign, which will run through the rest of the year, invites travelers and locals to immerse themselves in creativity, from artist studio strolls and demos to public art trails and live music performances, theater and cultural landmarks. X

Birds of a feather

Blue Ridge Audubon is hosting its annual Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary Celebration from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at 1056 Merrimon Ave. There will be bird activities for kids, a live raptor demonstration, naturalist stations located throughout the sanctuary and local artists showcasing their work. The chapter raised $400,000 in 1988 to save the 8 acres of riparian habitat that now sees 100,000 visitors annually. “The sanctuary serves as a migratory bird trap, attracting a disproportionate amount of birds passing through that recognize the habitat as an ideal place to rest and refuel before moving on toward their destination. It’s a safe haven,” says chapter Vice President Danielle DiBella-Lenaway. X

Meet Cole, a charming pooch who gets along well with other dogs and will likely make a great playmate, according to staff at Asheville Humane Society. Cole’s a little anxious, so he would thrive in a calm environment. To find out more about Cole, dogs, kitties and other critters, go to avl.mx/co0 X

Anne Turnbow Raustol of Weaverville won this year’s Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize for her story “Brown Butter.” She will receive $1,000 and publication in The Thomas Wolfe Review. In a press release, final judge John Vercher wrote that Raustol’s lyrical prose “engages all the senses and grounds you firmly in scene while also striking an emotional chord, standing out in a field of incredibly talented writers.” Raustol owns Water Leaf Writing, which offers college application essay coaching. X

Week of the Pet Votes in question

As reported by the Citizen Times, the N.C. Supreme Court ruled April 11 that more than 60,000 ballots cast in November by voters in a close state Supreme Court race between Republican Jefferson Griffin and Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs could be counted, “but it left open the possibility of discounting thousands of others.” Over 2,500 votes cast by Buncombe County residents are among the ballots that Griffin has challenged; since the November election and following recounts, Griffin trails Riggs by 734 votes. According to the Citizen Times “some military and overseas voters whose ballots Griffin challenged for not providing photo identification would need to verify their eligibility within a 30-day period or risk having their votes tossed out.” Visit avl.mx/epn to learn more about the ongoing legal dispute and to review the official list of challenged votes. X

Photo by Thomas Caldor

Beyond the classroom

Warren Wilson and UNCA launch new programs aimed at climate change

BY LARRY GRIFFIN

lawrencegriffin5@gmail.com

Since July, Keith McDade has been developing Warren Wilson College’s new master of science in applied climate studies major. But like so many other aspects of life in Western North Carolina following Tropical Storm Helene, plenty has shifted since he initially set out with designing the coursework.

“Perspective is the thing that changed,” says McDade. “Not to mix devastation with opportunity, but there’s a recognition that this is a moment where we are living in the aftermath of a climate disaster and having to build back after that. The thing that’s different now is that we have experienced and we will continue to experience the aftermath of a disaster.”

Similar to Warren Wilson, UNC Asheville also has new degree programs that invite students to study ways to combat the effects of climate change through a variety of classes and field opportunities.

Xpress recently caught up with faculty from both programs to learn more about how the two institutions are thinking about environmental studies in the wake of Helene.

FINDING NEW WAYS

In Swannanoa, Warren Wilson’s latest program is an extension of the college’s climate-related courses. Such focus has been a decades-long asset for the college, says McDade, and new leadership wanted the graduate program to expand and consolidate the studies.

OUTDOOR SESSION: Keith McDade, director of Warren Wilson College’s applied climate studies program, stands before a group of students outside the lecture hall. Photo courtesy of Warren Wilson College

Since the storm, McDade says the program’s overall goal has shifted its emphasis on “resilience, postdisaster recovery and rebuilding.”

McDade notes that he and his colleagues have met numerous students or prospective students who “identified their own participation in Helene recovery and mutual aid and recovery efforts” as motivations to further their studies.

“These are personal stories of students working with their neighborhood group or the Swannanoa

Grassroots Alliance or a larger project on cleanup,” McDade says. “So many have been active. … We have students who are deeply connected to this community coming to the program.”

The applied climate studies program will offer a range of classes with different focuses related to climate change, including science courses on renewable energy and agriculture. Several will involve data analysis on “people’s perspectives as well as data about atmospheric conditions,” McDade notes.

Other courses will focus on climate justice, economics and policy, examining the ways governance and policy have adversely affected some groups in the climate crisis, including Indigenous people, immigrants, the unhoused and those with low incomes.

In light of the Trump administration’s defunding of climate initiative efforts, McDade says the college’s latest program will also feature entrepreneurial courses that include messaging strategies to reach peo-

ple with different views, conflict management and ways of getting funding for projects outside of the federal government.

“Personnel, rules and services are being reduced across major federal institutions like NOAA, EPA and the Department of Energy,” he says, referring to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S Department of Environmental Protection. “As those changes happen, there needs to be other ways of doing the work, finding ways to build coalitions and working together. [It] will probably take a stronger leadership role, as these other services and budgets and personnel go away. It’s going to be hard. We have a hard road ahead for a handful of years.”

UNCA TACKLES CLIMATE CHANGE

Meanwhile, UNCA’s McCullough Institute has partnered with Trinity Episcopal Church and the French Broad River Garden Club for the series “Restoring & Protecting Asheville: Science and Storytelling Show Us How.” The gatherings will feature several speakers on climate issues and resilience.

Casey King, director of UNCA’s Office of Sustainability, says the university hopes to “bring healing” to the community and its students post-Helene. Part of the focus, she adds, is to encourage residents to “think about the ways we’re all recovering.”

Margaret Renkl, author of The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year and a New York Times contributor, will deliver a speech titled “Finding Hope in the Age of Climate Change,” Tuesday, April 29, at 10 a.m. in the Blue Ridge Room at Highsmith Student Union.

King’s experience with students since the storm echoes McDade’s: She says students have been invigorated to pursue more climate-related studies, including the university’s

new environmental resilience master’s program, which will launch this fall.

“It will prepare people to go in a couple different directions,” King says, including city planning and nonprofit work. “They’ll be able to do some data analytics on information people are getting from disasters, sea level rise, agriculture and transportation planning. It’s aimed at giving people skills in areas of data analytics, geographics, mapping, data GIS — things like that,” referring to Geographic Information Systems.

Other UNCA opportunities to study climate change include an interdisciplinary certificate in sustainability, which allows students to work with other schools and community organizations to study long-term solutions. The McCullough Fellowship Program also awards funding as well as opportunities to complete research projects in one or more of the following areas: land use and conservation; urban planning; sustainable agriculture; resilience; and environmental sustainability.

King thinks the region needs a “well-educated, vibrant” workforce, which the McCullough Fellowship provides. Participants collaborate with organizations such as MountainTrue, Asheville GreenWorks and RiverLink as well as the city and county governments, to get real-life experience in the field.

King, who is currently teaching a class on food systems for a warming planet, says her students have seen things in a new light since the storm.

“I was surprised how positive and energetic the students [were when they] came back in the spring, and how they loved to have a role in the restoration in Western North Carolina and addressing the issues globally with climate change,” King says. “It’s really wonderful. It keeps me going. It really inspires me to see the energy, the focus, the desire to play a role in addressing these issues.” X

Tech savvy

BY CLARK WILSON

clarkjenkwilson@gmail.com

A powerhouse of teenage ingenuity and teamwork in Jackson County is making a mark in the competitive robotics community. Composed of local high school students, the Smoky Mountain Academic Robotics Team (SMART) recently won the Creativity Award at a district competition held at UNC Asheville as well as the Gracious Professionalism Award at a Mecklenburg County event.

Working cooperatively with other teams, For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) robotics competitions require groups to direct their custom robots to solve complex puzzles and navigate specialized tasks, making alliances with other competitors and earning ranking points and special recognitions along the way.

On Saturday, April 26, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., the team will be showcasing its robot on Main Street in downtown Sylva at the Greening Up the Mountains event.

To learn more about how this small mountain town is assembling an award-winning competitive robotics machine, Xpress recently sat down with student team members Aeryn O’Connell , Elise Denmon and Heidi Dinkelmeyer, as well as team mentor and co-founder, Larissa Miller, who helped create the Smoky Mountain Academic Robotics Team out of a desire to see her sons continue to develop their interest in robotics as they moved from middle to high school.

Xpress : What is your SMART origin story? How did you become

Jackson County high school students build and compete in robotics

aware of and interested in competitive robotics?

Miller: I was part of the original group that started this program in Jackson County. I have three children, and all of them were really into Lego. In 2013, we started the FIRST Lego League team at their elementary school, and we have been able to just continue to grow that program. I don’t work for the school district. I’m just a really ded-

icated parent. I just love this program so much, and I love being able to give my time to it.

When I look at the activities that we do as a team, we’ve just been growing every year. We do STEMfocused activities and lead summer day camps and after-school programs. Out here in the western part of the state, there just are not very many opportunities for kids who want to pursue their interest in sci-

ence and technology, engineering, art and math. We try to grow that every year.

O’Connell: I had never really done an extracurricular before, but I had some connections with people on the team. They sparked my interest, and it sounded really fun.

Denmon: At one of the team’s outreach events, I was hooked.

Dinkelmeyer: I am really interested in coding and electronics and

GO TEAM: Xpress recently sat down with members of the Smoky Mountain Academic Robotics Team to learn about the group’s backstory and growing success in the field of robotics. Photo courtesy of SMART

was part of FIRST Lego League when I was younger.

What are the most important skills required to participate in competitive robotics?

O’Connell: There are definitely hard and soft skills that you need to focus on. Communication is a really big part of it.

Dinkelmeyer: We have several subteams on our team. We are on the PR and impact teams, which focus on marketing and outreach, but there are also build, electrical and programming [teams].

Denmon: It’s also really important that we cooperate with other competing teams. One of the core values of the FIRST organization is to build relationships with other teams. What do these competitions look like, and is it anything at all like that old TV show “Robot Wars”?

Dinkelmeyer: [Laughs] We don’t do robot fighting.

Denmon: Really, it’s about working with each other to complete a game.

O’Connell: Our big thing with FIRST is “gracious professionalism” — working with other teams to reach a goal. It’s not like trying to break someone else’s robot. It’s actually more about building relationships with other teams. A lot of people make friends with people on other teams.

Dinkelmeyer: Before the actual competition starts, we walk around to the other teams and ask them questions about what their robot can and can’t do. Typically, each robot can do something different. We also do match scouting. In each match there are six teams, each divided into two alliances. So before each match, each alliance gets together to create a sort of game plan so we can all work together.

O’Connell: And there’s more than just matches that will take you further in the competition. You can also win the Impact Award, which is the

most prestigious award, which we actually won last year.

Denmon: That was insane. That was a very big accomplishment.

NASA is listed as a sponsor on your website. How is the team attracting new supporters on a local and national level?

Miller: NASA is a big sponsor of FIRST robotics competition teams all across the nation. The first two years that we were a team, they were our main sponsor. They paid for our registration and just helped get us off the ground — literally.

Then for the last five years, we’ve been working with an organization called the Smoky Mountains STEM Collaborative who provide STEM opportunities in our region. FIRST North Carolina is a huge supporter of our team. There are 87 teams in the state, and they’ve really helped to make sure that us folks in the outer regions of the state have the resources that we need to be able to compete successfully.

We also have a draft letter that we’re going to send out to some bigger corporations like the Googles and Apples to see if we can get some sponsorship.

On your website, each of your robots has a name. What is that process like? Do you feel as if each robot has a distinct personality?

Dinkelmeyer: We always change it up a little bit every season because each year the FIRST robot competition game is based on a different theme. This year [the theme] is called “Reefscape” and is based on the ocean.

Denmon: It really is a collaborative, creative effort brainstorming to come up with what each year’s robot is going to be called. This year it’s called “Hippocampus,” which is a mythological sea creature which fits with the ocean theme, but also we’re team “SMART,” and the hippocampus is part of the brain. We thought it was perfect! X

‘Game changer’

Electrify Asheville-Buncombe discusses 2042 renewable energy goals

Sophie Mullinax is the chief administrative officer of Let’s Go Electric/Electrify Asheville-Buncombe, an electrification program aimed at enabling active community participation in the City of Asheville and Buncombe County’s clean-energy goals.

Xpress: Tell us how the initiative came about?

Mullinax: At its heart, Electrify Asheville-Buncombe is focused on the goal set by the City of Asheville and Buncombe County to achieve 100% renewable energy communitywide by 2042. Sustainability leaders here have long had a vision for accomplishing this. And they recognize that success involves more than converting government facilities and fleets. Local residences and businesses — essentially everyone — are a part of this transformation.

Key is empowering people with tangible and accessible ways to swap fossil fuel-based systems and appliances for clean, electric solutions for their homes. As I often say, we ought to try to stop lighting “tiny fires” inside our homes — gas or propane-burning devices — and move toward an all-electric future for health, climate and cost savings.

Electric appliances can lower energy bills and improve indoor air quality and health. With Electrify AshevilleBuncombe, residents get no-cost expert advice, identify incentives and, if needed, access financing.

What past challenges does the pilot program specifically address in terms of access?

CLEAN AND EFFICIENT: “As our grid evolves toward renewable energy, transitioning means a cleaner, more efficient environment,” says Sophie Mullinax, chief administrative officer of Let’s Go Electric/Electrify Asheville-Buncombe. Photo courtesy of Electrify Asheville-Buncombe

The array of equipment, contractors, incentives and financing can be overwhelming. And a high percentage of HVAC replacements happen in emergencies, when you have to act quickly. In my own experience, it’s excruciating to figure out the best options. Making a plan for your home goes a long way toward sound economic decisions — ones that also help our community lower its carbon footprint.

That’s why we provide navigation on a personal, one-on-one basis. There are also offerings from local firms such as battery storage and solar as well as reducedcost portable generators for home resilience available.

Can you speak to the importance of this pilot program as it relates to the environment.

This is local climate action that’s part of a national and global movement to electrify the built environment. Going electric is a game changer. As our grid evolves toward renewable energy, transitioning means a cleaner, more efficient environment. Contractors are also vital. Local HVAC specialists, electricians and plumbers are part of the front lines, leading Asheville and Buncombe County toward a renewable-powered future. X

10 Years of Experience

Live fast The music and politics behind Drew Ball

BY GREG PARLIER

After high school, Drew Ball just wanted to play music. But his dad insisted he go to college. Shortly after enrolling at Guilford Community Technical College in Greensboro, his interests expanded into politics and environmental advocacy. His love for music, however, never abated.

In December, Ball was voted in as the newest member of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners by county Democrats in a basement election to fill an open seat. Despite his win and the newfound responsibilities that come with it, Ball still plays in three bands in addition to his fulltime job with the Natural Resources Defense Council.

“I just stay up late,” Ball responds when asked how he squeezes it all in. “Live fast — and hopefully die when you’re not too young.”

Ball admits he’s been surprised by some elements of his new county posi-

tion — such as constituents’ unfiltered passion for school funding and trash pickup — but believes his experiences in politics have helped him hit the ground running as a commissioner.

One of the highlights — which later became a lowlight — of his early career was his stint as a legislative assistant for state Rep. Tricia Cotham in 2007-08 and again in 2016. Back then, Cotham was a Democrat with progressive views, particularly on education, Ball says. He was proud of the work they did.

But in 2023, Cotham famously switched to the Republican Party, delivering a veto-proof supermajority to the GOP. The flip blindsided Ball and would later help inform his decision to put himself up for the County Commission seat, his first elected position.

“I had so much faith in her, and her doing that really just kind of … shook me,” he says.

Since filling the vacated Commission seat created when Amanda Edwards won her election for chair, Ball has stepped down from his role as a volunteer firefighter and into meetings with

state and federal officials to advocate for Tropical Storm Helene relief while navigating controversial votes for steep budget cuts in the wake of the natural disaster.

“When it’s hard, I have to remind myself that this is important work,” he says. “I’m uniquely positioned to — I think, I hope — do a good job for the county. But we had eight other folks that wanted this job. So, there’s no time for ‘Woe is me, this is hard.’ Shut up and get to work.”

A LIFE IN POLITICS

Originally from Kentucky, Ball grew up in Winston-Salem and frequently visited Western North Carolina with his mom on vacations. After high school, his dad gave him an ultimatum: enroll in college or get booted off the family health insurance plan.

It turns out he liked college, particularly his political science professors, although his views back then were different from what they would later become.

“I thought I was Republican,” he says. But as he got more into politics, he realized his values — protecting the environment, ensuring everyone has a good education and taking care of people in need — were more in line with the Democratic Party.

From Guilford Community Technical College to UNC Greensboro and later N.C. State, Ball made his way through school staying active with college Democrats. He got his first campaign job in 2004 and became the Get Out the Vote director for the Wake County Democratic Party as a senior in college in 2006, leading to several legislative assistant jobs in the state legislature.

He also worked as a lobbyist with the N.C. Sierra Club before moving to Washington, D.C., to earn a master’s

HONKY-TONK: Drew Ball, the newest member of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, is also known to shred a guitar from time to time. Here, he is pictured playing guitar in one of his three bands at Sweeten Creek Brewing. Photo by Sam Bennett

degree in public administration from American University. Still, he took every opportunity to travel to WNC, and after Duke Energy spilled toxic-laden coal ash into the Dan River in 2014, he knew he had to get back to his home state.

Like so many recent graduates, Ball tried to make it in Asheville by living with friends and bartending. His 2015 stint at former MG Road lasted only about eight months. Life in Asheville was too expensive then, but he would return in 2019 after he convinced his supervisor at Environment North Carolina that he could do his job from the mountains.

In 2024, when Democratic Party members told Ball he should run for Edwards’ vacant seat, he knew it was his time.

“I was just ready to do the work,” he says.

SCHOOLS AND TRASH

Two days into the job, Ball was invited to put care packages together with then-Gov. Roy Cooper at Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry. Ball asked him for advice.

“He kind of looked at me and he’s like, ‘You picked a heck of a time to start serving Western North Carolina.’”

Cooper told him it was going to be really frustrating at times, but if he stuck with his constituents and listened, he’d be fine, Ball recalls.

Ball thinks his experience in Raleigh and Washington has prepared him well to represent the county and help the region maximize the assistance it needs after the storm.

“I’ve been constantly on the phone with our local delegation but also reaching out to other folks in the General Assembly that I know, to say, ‘What are you seeing? What’s happening? What’s going on with the disaster relief package?’” he says.

While storm relief and resilient recovery are the commission’s top priorities in the short and medium terms, Ball says most of the conversations with residents have revolved around schools and trash.

In his first full meeting as commissioner Jan. 23, he voted to approve steep cuts to the county budget to make up for revenue losses related to Tropical Storm Helene, including a clawback of $4.7 million from the public school districts in a hotly contested meeting.

“That was a really, really tough first vote. I thought I was going to throw up after,” he says, noting that his sister is a teacher. Public education “is a great equalizer,” he adds. “It is something I really want to fight for.”

He says commissioners had no choice because protecting the county’s bond rating is what matters, as public funding for schools and all the other county services depends on the county being able to borrow money.

As far as trash goes, Ball says it’s been a tough rollout for new provider FCC Environmental after it took over for WastePro on Jan. 1, especially considering road repair, storm debris and cold winter weather. Ultimately, the service has to improve, he says, and the county will have to start fining the company if it doesn’t.

“We’re kind of the complaint department as commissioners,” he says with a chuckle.

FARM BOY: Drew Ball lives just outside Asheville’s city limits on a small farmstead where he raises sheep with his fiancée, Meaghan Collins. Photo courtesy of Ball

fiancée, Meaghan Collins, manages to still find time to play with three rock bands. Two of them — Aunt Vicki, which played at AVL Fest last year, and Sparkle Mountain, a progressive honky-tonk band he has with Collins — can be found around town. His third band, The Riverbreaks, based in Washington, D.C., still tours. He went to Kansas with the group in March.

To squeeze it all in, he commits at least one weekend day a week to commission work in addition to dedicating time each weekday to the role.

“I really want to be everywhere and say yes as much as I can. So, yeah, you know, I’m using vacation days for commission stuff, as opposed to spending days at the beach. I’m happy to do it,” he notes.

He’s committed to being present for residents of Swannanoa and Barnardsville after they got rocked by Helene, even though they’re not in his district, he says. The two communities are unincorporated and therefore don’t have a town council or mayor to advocate for them, leaving county commissioners as their primary local representatives.

He says Asheville City Council member Bo Hess, who was elected in November, recently gave him advice on how to settle into his elected position. Hess told him to just do what he can, try not to get overwhelmed and eventually he’ll find a rhythm. Ball says he doesn’t think he’s quite found that rhythm yet, but he’s getting there.

“I only get two years,” he says.

KNOWLEDGE IS ON THE MENU THURSDAY, MAY 15TH FROM 11-1 PM

SAYING YES

Ball,

“I’m not promised another four years, so that’s the other reason why I’m working really hard to say yes to everything — [to] try and get as much done as I can.” X

Reimagining retirement has never been easier. Come enjoy a presentation about 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.

who has a small farm just outside city limits in Oakley with his

‘Striking to see’

BY GREG PARLIER

It’s not often that a geologist becomes the most famous guy on YouTube, but in the weeks following Tropical Storm Helene, you couldn’t stand in a drinking water supply line around Asheville without someone raving about “the geomodels guy”.

People were desperately trying to understand what had just happened to turn their mountain refuge into an unrecognizable hellscape. Geologist and landslide researcher Phillip Prince thought he might be able to help.

After the storm, the Greenville, S.C.based geologist was in the Fairview area assessing how landslides affected roads during the storm. He kept hearing people talk about the devastation from debris flows in Craigtown and Garren Creek, trying to get their heads around what happened.

So he made a 28-minute video explaining the science behind how mountainsides wound up in their backyards.

“I made that first video [after] talking to people in that area. People had questions based on their experience with it, and their efforts to try to understand what on Earth had just happened,” he says.

It turns out more than just neighbors in Fairview were interested. The video, posted Oct. 11, blew up, garnering about 30,000 views per hour by that evening, a pace of interest that Prince had never seen his videos garner before. Eventually, almost 500,000 people would see that first video. He went on to make about a dozen about Helene, focused on areas most affected by the storm, from Chimney Rock to the Nolichucky Gorge.

Originally from Greenville, Prince got his undergraduate degree from Furman University. He thru-hiked

SCIENTIFIC STUDY: Geologist Phillip Prince poses while making a video at the site of a deadly debris flow in Craigtown near Fairview on Nov. 1 while explaining how landslides became so big during Tropical Storm Helene. Photo courtesy of Prince

the Appalachian Trail before living in Virginia for years, eventually getting his Ph.D. at Virginia Tech University in geomorphology, with research focused on the Appalachian mountains.

In 2019, Prince moved back to Greenville to live near his parents and started working at Asheville-based firm Appalachian Landslide Consultants. He still serves as an adjunct professor at Virginia Tech, where he started making videos for his students 11 years ago. He didn’t start making public videos on global geology and posting on the GeoModels page until 2023, he says.

“I’m interested in how material moves at large scale in the Earth, so that might be big landslides, or how moun-

tain ranges are built, or how tectonic plates can interact in different ways and produce different geologic structures and different landforms,” he says. He also studies what types of videos get interest and attempts to keep viewers engaged while still explaining complex science.

“The deeper you get into the geology, the fewer people are going to see your video. To max out your YouTube performance, you have to be careful about how much you’re asking of the viewer, who is probably just trying to unwind after a day of work,” he notes. His videos on Helene bounce back and forth between Google Earth and Microsoft Paint, sometimes mixing

in on-site photography to illustrate his explanations.

“People seem to want to engage with stuff that looks cool more than stuff that doesn’t look cool. So I guess I try to find things that I think look cool,” he says.

Prince sat down with Xpress six months after the storm to reflect on his brief local fame, why he made the videos and what geologic legacy the largest natural disaster in his lifetime — so far, at least — will leave.

Xpress: What were you up to as Helene approached?

Prince: I had been working in Virginia right up to the night before. I decided I was going to drive back [to Greenville] Thursday night just so I didn’t have to drive back in the weather the next day. The anticipation of the scale of the event was just not there.

[Appalachian Landslide Consultants] had been doing a landslide inventory in McDowell County, and we’d been working on it for a couple years. At that point, the state was funding — and continues to fund — landslide mapping within mountain counties for the purpose of understanding where slides happen and what kind of soil conditions favor them, how far they’re going to go downhill, etc. We were trying to say what a worst-case scenario would look like in Western North Carolina from a landslide standpoint.

How does Helene compare to previous disasters like 1916?

Helene was unquestionably worse than 1916, and, depending on where you go, probably substantially worse. My sense is that the scale of this event really was above and beyond.

In terms of how slopes behaved, where the landslides, and particularly the debris flows, or mudslides, occurred, how they started and how far they traveled … it’s consistent with information we’ve collected and reported back to the state.

In some places like the Craigtown debris flows in Fairview, where there is massive impact a huge distance from the foot of a mountain, that is not something that has really been observed or recorded before, and that type of behavior is something that’s going to receive a lot of attention to increase awareness going forward.

What surprised you most about Helene’s landslides?

It’s not so surprising that there were such a large number of slides from Helene. If it rains that much, you’re going to have a lot of landslides. No question there. I think how far some of them traveled [was surprising]. These big debris flow landslides, as they move downhill, sort of fluidize and almost flow like liquid with soil and rock. They went a really long way. They move fast, their potential for impact, and how they just kind of gut the little stream channel

that they end up following down the mountain. I’ve seen it before, but some of the big ones with this event were really just exceptional. Just the scale, the amount of wood that they move, the amount of trees that come down the mountain with one … I guess you anticipate that, but the reality of it was striking to see. The amount of damage that a large and highly mobile landslide will do is quite staggering.

Another surprise is there were places that had really steep terrains that had just as much rainfall as the other side of the ridge, but their geology was a little bit different, and the landslides that happened there did not travel quite as far, and ended up being not as deadly as slides in other places. That’s something that I think needs to be further studied.

Why is it important to record all these landslides?

It’s so people can look back at it and see what happened. There are probably a dozen landslides that we know for a fact are from 1916. We don’t know exactly how far they went. We don’t know what their impacts were. It was the benchmark event, but we have almost no record of what that actually looked like. As Helene approached, the National Weather Service said this is going to be the biggest storm of the modern era. But how bad is the biggest storm of the modern era actually going to be? There wasn’t a way to visualize just how significant that was. So we’re trying to keep a record of what happened and determine what made them behave like they did so that next time people are not going to wonder what it’s going to look like.

How should we prepare for an event like Helene going forward?

First and foremost, we need acceptance and awareness. A common thing I’ve heard from people is, “I moved here to get away from the storms,” or “Hurricanes don’t come to the mountains,” or “These mountains are supposed to be safe and protect you from bad stuff from the outside.” That can be the case in some scenarios, but this kind of thing happens here. It happened in 1916. It’s happened throughout time. And I think there needs to be an acceptance that now and then, you’re going to see events like this. You have to understand that they’re going to produce a lot of flooding and that there’s going to be this debris flow type of landsliding, where you have really fast, destructive slides that are going to come roaring down the hill and kind of blast out into the valley below. And if you’re in their way, you know it’s going to be bad for you.

It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t live in the mountains. It just means you need to be aware of what can happen and when those conditions are right, you need to take action. X

Ballot Categories 2025

This year’s Best of WNC ballot offers voters an opportunity to celebrate the local individuals, organizations and businesses that are helping define our region and how it evolves. You are invited to vote this April based on your local knowledge and passions. The online ballot covers hundreds of topics and issues. Don’t be daunted — just vote for the categories you care about and skip those you don’t.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Music Events & Venues

• Local Music Festival

• Indoor Music Venue

• Outdoor Music Venue

• Intimate Music Venue/ Listening Room

Arts & Crafts

• Arts/Crafts Fair or Event

• Studio Stroll/Driving Tour

• Craft School or Place to Learn a Craft

• Art Gallery

• Craft-Oriented Gallery

• Nonprofit (Not Music) That Serves the Arts

Film, Stage, Dance & Writing

• Movie Theater

• Local Filmmaker

• Theater Company

• Actor (any gender)

• Comedian

• Improv Group/Comedy Troupe or Series

• Local Comedy Show/ Night/Event

• Open-Mic-Night Venue

• Trivia Night Emcee

• Drag Performer/Group

• Karaoke Night

• Performance Dance Company

• Place to Take Dance Classes or Lessons

• Local Literary Event

• Local Author

• Local Poet

Musicians & Bands

• All-Round Favorite Band

• Acoustic/Folk

• Americana/Country

• Blues

• Local Busker/Street Group

• DJ (Nonradio)

• Funk

• Jazz

• Old-Time/Bluegrass

• R&B/Soul

• Rock

• Hip-Hop

• Punk/Metal/Garage

• Lyricist (Songwriter)

• Vocalist (Singer)

* Traditional Appalachian Musician

• Guitarist

• Bass Guitarist

• Keyboardist/Pianist

• Percussionist-Drummer Music Services

• Musical Instrument Repair Company

• Recording Studio

• Music-Related Nonprofit Artists, Crafters

• Fiber Artist

• Jewelry Artist/Designer

• Metal Artist or Blacksmith

• Mural Artist

• Painter/Illustrator

• Potter/Ceramic Artist

• Woodworker

• Glass Artist or Studio

• Wedding/Event Photographer

• Portrait/Headshot Photographer

• Still Life/Nature Photographer DRINKS Bars

• Bar That Best Represents the Spirit of Asheville

• Bar for Live Music

• Bar With a View

• Bar With Games

• LGBTQ+ Friendly Bar

• Hotel Bar

• Dive Bar

• Sports Bar

• Upscale Bar

• Wine Bar

• Family-Friendly Bar or Brewery

• Bar: Local Beer Selection (excluding breweries)

• Bar: Unusual Beer Selection (excluding breweries)

* = New Category

• Neighborhood Bar - North

• Neighborhood Bar - East

• Neighborhood Bar - South

• Neighborhood Bar - West

• Neighborhood BarDowntown (including South Slope)

• Neighborhood BarRiver Arts District

• Bartender

• Bar or Brewery That Gives Back to the Community Beer, Cider & Breweries

• Local All-Round Brewery (for its beers)

• Brewery (for its taproom & atmosphere)

• Creative, Experimental Brewery

• Brewmaster

• Favorite Local Beer Event

• Local Beer (Any Style)

• Local Dark Beer

• Local Lager

• Local Sour Beer

• Local IPA

• Seasonal Beer

• Beer Store

• Cidery

• Local Cider Cocktails, Spirits & Wine

• Cocktails

• Bloody Mary

• Margarita

• Local Winery

• Wine Store

• Distillery Coffee, Tea & Healthy Drinks

• Coffeehouse for Its Vibe

• Establishment With the Best Coffee

• Barista

• Coffee Roaster

• Place to Drink Tea

* Bubble Tea

• Smoothies/Juices

• Mocktails or Nonalcoholic Options

• Local Nonalcoholic Drink or Soda

• CBD Drinks/Health Elixirs

EATS

• Favorite Restaurant

• Bagels

• Barbecue

• Best Value

• Biscuits

• Breakfast

• Brunch

• Burger

• Burrito

• Catering Company

• Cheesemaker/ Cheese Dairy

• Chef

• Restaurant Comfort Food

• Desserts

• Diner/Homestyle

• Doughnuts

• Fine Dining/Upscale

• Food Truck

• French Fries

• Fried Chicken

• Healthiest Food

• Hot Bar/Buffet

• Hot Dogs

• Green/SustainabilityFriendly Restaurant

• Kid-Friendly Restaurant

• Late-Night Eats

• Local-Food Emphasis

• Lunch

• Outdoor Dining

• Pasta

• People-Watching Restaurant

• Pizza

• Pub Grub

• Quick Meal

• Ribs

• Restaurant to Take Out-of-Towners to

• Restaurant Still Needed in Asheville

• New Restaurant (Opened in the Last 12 Months)

• Restaurant That Best Represents the Spirit of Asheville

• Restaurant Cocktail Selection

• Restaurant Wine Selection

• Restaurant With a View

* Quiet Restaurant

• Ramen

• Romantic Dining

• Salad

#AVL STRONG

• Sandwich Shop

• Seafood

• Best Service

• Special Diet Options (Gluten-Free, LactoseFree, etc.)

* Steak

• Sub Shop

• Taco

• Takeout

• Vegan

• Vegetarian

• Veggie Burger

• Wings

• Local Cookie Maker

• Local Food Product

• Nonprofit Helping With Hunger Issues

• Pastry Chef

• Fresh Meat Seller

• Fresh Fish Seller

• Local Food Festival or Event

• Locally Made CBD Treats

• Local Meal Delivery Service Neighborhoods

• Restaurant in Downtown (including South Slope)

• Restaurant in the River Arts District

• Restaurant in West Asheville

• Restaurant in North Asheville

• Restaurant in East Asheville

• Restaurant in South Asheville Cuisine

• Chinese

• French

• Greek

• Indian

• Italian

• Japanese

• Latin American

• Mexican

• Middle Eastern

• Southern

• Sushi

• Thai

Desserts & Sweets

• Ice Cream

• Frozen Treats Other Than Ice Cream

• Chocolate Bakeries

• Bakery (Sweets/Desserts)

• Bakery (Bread)

FARM, YARD & GARDEN

• Tailgate/Farmers Market

• Roadside Farm Stand

• Farm to Visit

• Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Farm

• Orchard

• Community Garden

• Garden Supply Store

• Mulch Supplier

• Nursery (Trees, Shrubs)

• Lawn/Yard Care

• Landscaping Service (Other Than Lawn Care)

• Tree Service

• Nonprofit Supporting Farms/Farmland Preservation

HEALTH & WELLNESS

• Physician (General Practice)

• Physician (Specialist)

• Dental Practice

• Dentist

• Pediatrician

• Eye Care Specialist/Service

• Chiropractor

• Acupuncture Clinic

• Acupuncturist

• Nutritionist

• Holistic Medical Practice

• Family Medical Practice

• Women's Health Center

• Maternity Care/Service

• Membership Health Care Provider

• Hospital

• Emergency Room

• Urgent Care/Walk-In Clinic

• Place to Get Medical Care

When Under- or Uninsured

• Therapist or Counseling Center

• Hospice

• Mortuary/Funeral Services

• Yoga Studio

• Yoga Teacher

* Pilates Studio

• Massage Therapist

• Physical Therapy Clinic

• Physical Therapist

• Fitness Studio With Classes

• Gym or Place to Work Out

• Physical Trainer

• Martial Arts Studio

• Place to Buy Supplements, Vitamins & Herbs

• Place to Center Yourself

• Place to Buy CBD Products

• Assisted-Living Community

• Pharmacy/Drugstore

• Health & WellnessFocused Nonprofit

KIDS

• Child Care or Day Care Service

• Music Teacher

• Art Education Program

• Dance Studio

• Gymnastics Program

• Martial Arts Program

• Team-Sports Program

• Kids Clothes

• Toy Store

• Pediatric PracticeGeneral Medicine

• Pediatric Practice

- Dentistry

• Orthodontist Schools & Classes

• School (Precollege)

• Preschool

• After-school Program Places

• Day Camp

• Overnight Camp

• Daytrip for Kids

• Place for Indoor Fun

• Place for Outdoor Fun

• Playground

• Kid-Friendly Hike

• Museum

• Place for Birthday Parties

• Bakery for Birthday Cakes

• Parents Night Out Program

MEDIA

• Local Radio Station (commercial)

• Local Radio Station (noncommercial)

• Local News Source

• Local News Website

• Local Reporter (Print and/or Online)

• Local Events Information Source

• Local Social Media Page to Follow for Local News, Events and Local Happenings

* Local E-Newsletter

• Local Podcast

• Local Print Publication Other Than Xpress

• Most Important Local News Story (in the Last 12 Months)

• Most Overreported Story (in the Last 12 Months)

• Most Underreported Story (in the Last 12 Months)

• Local Radio Personality/ Announcer

• Local TV Personality/ Announcer

• Favorite Feature in Xpress OUTDOORS

• Day Hike Trail

• Backpacking Trail/ Overnight Hike

• Picnic Spot

• Waterfall

• Walk - In or Near Asheville

• Easy Hike Trail (For Kids, Elders, Limited Mobility)

• Camping Spot

• Place to Relax on the Water

• Swimming Hole

• Mountain Bike Trail

• Place to Roller Skate or Skateboard

• Rafting Company

• Outdoor Gear and Apparel Shop

• Canopy Tour/Zip Line

• Ski Resort

• Environmental or Conservation Nonprofit

PERSONAL SERVICES

• Hair Salon

• Hairstylist

• Barber

• Barbershop

• Tattoo Parlor/Studio

• Tattoo Artist

• Piercing Studio

• Spa

• Local Body-Products Maker

• Esthetician

• Nail Salon

• Nail Technician

• Eyebrow Shaping

PETS

Medical

• Veterinary Services

• Veterinarian

VOTE NOW!

• Alternative Pet Health Care Provider Services

• Pet Kennel

• Pet Day Care Facility

• Grooming Service

• Pet Sitting/Dog Walking Service

• Trainer/Training Center

• Animal Shelter/Rescue Organization

Places & Shops

• Pet Supply Store

• Outdoor Place to Take Your Pet

• Pet-Friendly Bar or Brewery

PROFESSIONAL & HOME SERVICES

• Accountant/CPA Firm

• Place to Have Your Taxes Prepared

• Alternative Energy Sales and Installation

• Bike Repair

• Car Repair

• Cellphone Service Provider for the WNC Mountains

• Computer Repair

• Construction Firm (Design and/or Build)

• Dry Cleaner

• Electrical/Electrician Company

• Equipment Rental Services

• Financial Adviser

• Green Builder

• Handyperson

• Heating/Cooling Company

• Home Cleaning Service

• Home Inspection Service

• Home Restoration/ Improvement/Renovation

• House Painters

• Insurance Agent

• Junk Removal Service

• Law Firm

• Family Law Attorney

• Real Estate Attorney

• Estate Planning Attorney

• Moving Company

• Pest Control Service

• Place To Get Your Oil Changed

• Plumbing Company

• Print Shop

• Real Estate Company

• Real Estate Agent

• Roofing Company

SHOPPING

• Store That Best Represents the Spirit of Asheville

• Clothing: Used or Vintage (for-profit store)

• Clothing: Used or Vintage (nonprofit store)

• Clothing: Dress-Up/Stylin'

• Asheville-Style Clothes

• Shoe Store

• Jewelry Store

• All-Round Grocery Store

• Local Grocery Delivery or Curbside Pickup

• Budget-Friendly Grocery Store

• Health Food Store

• International/Specialty Food Store

• Convenience/Corner Store

• New Furniture Store

• Used Furniture Store (for-profit store)

• Used Furniture Store (nonprofit store)

• Refurbished Or Upcycled Goods

• Antique Store

• Mall-Style Market

• Automobile Tire Store

• Auto Dealer - New and/or Used

• Adult Toys, Lingerie & Naughty Things Store

• Bed and Mattress Store

• Bike Shop

• Bookstore - New

• Bookstore - Used

• Comics & Collectibles Store

• Game Store

• Florist/Plant Shop

• Gift Shop

• Head Shop

• Musical Instrument Store

• Pawn Shop

• Picture Framer

• Record/CD Store

UNIQUELY ASHEVILLE

• Neighborhood

• Biggest Threat to Asheville's Uniqueness

• Biggest Opportunity for Asheville's Uniqueness

• Best Thing to Happen to Asheville in the Last 12 Months

• Worst Thing to Happen to Asheville in the Last 12 Months

• Nonprofit That Improves Asheville

• Nonprofit That Serves the Underprivileged

• Local Fundraising Event

• Activist Group for Civic/Political Action

• Local Asheville Attraction

• Place to Take Your Eccentric Friends

• Holiday EventSpring/Summer

• Holiday EventFall/Winter

• Project You'd Like to See Local Government Do

• Local Hero

• Local Politician

• Local Villain

• Bumper Sticker or Slogan About Asheville

• Place to Get Married

• Street for a Stroll

• Place to Connect With Nature Within or Near to Asheville

• Place to Pretend You're a Tourist

• Thing Downtown Asheville Needs

• Thing West Asheville Needs

• Thing North Asheville Needs

• Thing South Asheville Needs

• Thing East Asheville Needs

• Thing the River Arts District Needs

• Local City Tour

• Hotel

• B&B or Small Boutique Hotel

• Historic/Interesting Building

• Venue to Book for a Party or Event

• Event/Wedding Planner

WORK & BUSINESS

• Employment Sector to Work in

• Business That Best Represents the Spirit of Asheville

• Business That Gives Back to the Community

• Bank

• Credit Union

• Bank/Financial Services for Small Business

• Co-Op/Employeeowned Business

• Support Organization for Entrepreneurs and New Businesses

REGIONAL

Questions for the following regions: Brevard Burnsville Hendersonville/ Flat Rock/Mills River Hot Springs Marshall/Mars Hill Swannanoa/ Black Mountain Cullowhee/Sylva Waynesville/Maggie Valley/Canton Weaverville/Woodfin

• Business That Best Represents the Spirit of Your Town

• Breakfast Restaurant

• Lunch Restaurant

• Dinner Restaurant

• Coffee & Sweets

• Local Bar/Brewery/ Watering Hole

• Music/Entertainment Venue

• Retail Store

• Art Gallery

• Cultural or Historical Landmark

• Cultural or Arts Event

• Local Place to Enjoy the Outdoors

• Local Cause to Support

• Best Thing to Happen to Your Town in the Last 12 Months

When does voting start and end?

Voting officially begins April 1 and continues through April 30.

In how many categories must I vote in order for my ballot to be counted?

Each ballot must have votes for at least 30 categories to be counted.

Why do voters have to vote for 30 categories?

We want meaningful results from people who are invested in and knowledgeable about the Asheville/WNC area.

How do I get a category added or changed? The categories are set for this year, but to suggest a change for next year, email: bestofwnc@ mountainx.com

How are the votes counted? Mountain Xpress tallies the votes by hand, taking great care to understand each voter’s intent. We reserve the right to reject any ballot with inappropriate responses.

How do you prevent voter fraud?

Ballots are examined for telltale signs of voter fraud or ballot stuffing. We disqualify all ballots that appear to be fraudulent.

I hope my business wins. How do I get voting promotional materials? Call us at 828-251-1333. We can provide you with printable and digital materials, or contact your sales representative for information.

APRIL. 16 - APRIL. 24, 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

 Feature, page 49

 More info, page 50

WELLNESS

Therapeutic Recreation

Adult Morning Movement

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

WE (4/16, 23), 10am, Tempie Avery Montford Community Center, 34 Pearson Ave

Free Community Functional Fitness

Build muscular endurance through exercises that focus on multiple repetitions with lower weights while moving in all planes of motion.

WE (4/16, 23), 10:15am, YWCA of Asheville, 185 S French Broad Ave

Balance, Agility, Strength, Stretch

This weekly class for adults focuses on flexibility, balance, stretching, and strength.

WE (4/16, 23), 10am, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

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 (4/16, 23), 1pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon, Ste 109

Qigong

A gentle form of exercise composed of movement, posture, breathing, and meditation used to promote health and spirituality

WE (4/16, 23), 11:15am, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

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 (4/17, 24), MO (4/21), 11:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Intermediate Tai Chi Yang 24

Slow, gentle movements that promote

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

HATS OFF TO EASTER: Dillsboro hosts its annual Easter Hat Parade downtown on Saturday, April 19, starting at 2 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to wear their finest Easter bonnets to participate or just come to watch an array of folks strolling down the avenue in their holiday attire. The Easter Bunny will be in attendance for photos; small prizes will be available for children; and various local businesses will be open. Photo courtesy of the Town of Dillsboro

good health.

FR (4/18), 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 (4/19), 8:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Free Community Yoga (Level 2)

Resist-Dance

One World Brewing West 520 Haywood Rd

Saturday, April 19 • 4 p.m.

Brought to you by Musicians Organizing Activist Committee and Indivisible Asheville, this event will feature music from Rock While Rome Burns, Sal Landers Party RX and Ovadya.

“They had me at ‘dance.’ I always keep an eye on what’s happening at One World West because it’s likely to be a blend of entertainment and community. In this case, the former is three local bands and the latter is two local organizations. I love an activism chaser with my beer.”

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

SA (4/19), 9am, YWCA of Asheville, 185 S French Broad Ave

Yoga in the Park

All-level friendly yoga classes based on Hatha & Vinyasa traditions. Classes led by a rotation of certified yoga instructors.

SA (4/19), SU (4/20), 11am, W Asheville Park, 198 Vermont Ave

Free Community Qi

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

SA (4/19), 11:30am, 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 (4/19), SU (4/20), 11am, Somatic Sounds, 157 S Lexington Ave B1

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

SU (4/20), 10am, The Lodge at Quietude, 1130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

Springtime Serenity Sound Bath

Kristin Hillegas will lead a one-hour serenity sound bath for a deeply immersive, full-body sound and vibrational experience.

SU (4/20), 1pm, Center for Spiritual Living Asheville, 2 Science Mind Way

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.

SU (4/20), 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 (4/21), 8am, YWCA of Asheville, 185 S French Broad Ave

Strength & Exercise

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

MO (4/21), 9:15am, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

Medical Qigong

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

TU (4/22), 9am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109 QiGong w/Allen Horowitz

The movements help improve circulation relaxation and balance. For more information contact allenhavatar@ gmail.com

TU (4/22), 10am, Asia House, 119 Coxe Ave

Nia Dance

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

TU (4/22), 10:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109 Drumming for Exercise Jam to some tunes while getting a great, low-impact arm and

core workout.

TU (4/22), 1:30pm, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

Free Community Integrated Restorative Yoga

Offer both traditional yoga poses as well as guided meditation to help you relax deeply, release stress, and increase resilience.

TU (4/22), 5:45pm, YWCA of Asheville, 185 S French Broad Ave

Community Yoga & Mindfulness

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

WE (4/23), 10:30am, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland 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 (4/16, 23), 11:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Mindfulness Stretching

It uses physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation to improve overall health

TH (4/24), noon, Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave

SUPPORT GROUPS

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 (4/16), 2pm, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

Marijuana Anonymous

Whether you’re exploring sobriety, new to recovery, or have been on this path for a while, you are welcome here.

TH (4/17, 24), 6:30pm, American Legion Post #2, 851 Haywood Rd

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 (4/17, 24), 4:30pm, Asheville 12-Step Recovery Club, 1 Kenilworth Knolls Unit

NAMI Virtual Anxiety Support Group

This group is for adults who have experienced generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks, social phobia, agoraphobia, phobias, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Register at avl.mx/epo.

TH (4/17), 6pm, Online, namiwnc.org

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 (4/19), 2pm, First Congregational UCC of Asheville, 20 Oak St Families Anonymous Meeting

Gain support from others who have had lived experiences with a family member or friends substance abuse and related behavioral health challenges.

TU (4/22), 6pm, Love and Respect Community for Recovery and Wellness, 350 Chadwick Ave Ste 300, Hendersonville

NAMI Connection

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

TU (4/22), 6pm, NAMIWNC, 356 Biltmore Ave

DANCE

Latin Night Wednesday w/DJ Mtn Vibez

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

levels.

WE (4/16, 23), 8pm, One World Brewing W, 520 Haywood Rd

Tap Dance: Beginner

Tap dance for beginners teaches the basics through a combination of exercise, music, and incredible fun.

TH (4/17, 24), 10am, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

Tap Dance: Intermediate

Fun and active class for students who have already taken beginner tap here or elsewhere.

TH (4/17, 24), 10:45am, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

Tap Dance: Advanced Beginner

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

TH (4/17, 24), 11:45am, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

Free Community Zumba Gold

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

FR (4/18), 10am, YWCA of Asheville, 185 S French Broad Ave

Dances of Universal Peace

An evening of simple melody and movement set to sacred phrases from a number of spiritual traditions.

SA (4/19), 7:30pm, Haw Creek Commons, 315 Old Haw Creek Rd

Intro to Line Dance

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

MO (4/21), 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 (4/21), 7:30pm, A-B Tech, Genevieve Circle

Zumba Gold & Silverobics

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

TU (4/22), noon, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

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

Joanie Krug & Alan Wieder: The Incidental Moment

This exhibition will feature Joanie's gestural brushwork that conveys a lively energy and connection to her world. Alan will be showing recent work that he has made on the streets of Asheville. Gallery open Monday through Saturday, 10am, and Sunday, noon. Exhibition runs through May 4. Pink Dog Gallery, 348 Depot St

Laine Bachman: Elsewhere & Beyond

A solo exhibition of vibrant nature paintings by New Contemporary artist Laine Bachman, featuring alternative planets, real and imaginary creatures, and mother nature figures. Gallery open Monday through Saturday, 10am and Sunday, noon. Exhibition runs through April 26. Bender Gallery, 29 Biltmore Ave

Open Art Studio

Bring your favorite medium and work in a collaborative environment to improve your individual talent. Whether it’s paint, pencils, pastel, paper mache, whatever inspires you.

TH (4/17), 1pmHarvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

Heather Hietala: Explorations

This exhibit invites viewers into a world of vessels, paddles, and forms that symbolize life’s journeys, transitions, and relationships. Gallery open Monday through Friday, 8:30am. Exhibition through April, 18.

John M. Crawford Jr. Gallery, 360 Asheville School Rd

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

Sustenance Exhibition

Sustenance invites artists to explore and interpret the many dimensions of nourishment—physical, emotional, spiritual, and communal. Gallery open Monday through Friday, 10 am, Exhibition through April 25. Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W State St, Black Mountain

Let's Paint!

Painting class for beginner to intermediate painters. Use you choice of media (acrylic, oil or watercolor). Learn at your own pace with individual instruction. MO (4/21), 1pm, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

Viewshed Exhibition

The exhibition highlights works that span painting, textile, sound, and performance, inviting viewers to consider the ways in which artistic methodologies evolve and reverberate across time. Gallery open Tuesday through Saturday, 11am. Exhibition through August, 16, 2025.

Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center, 120 College St

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

Asheville Strong: Celebrating Art & Community After Hurricane Helene

An exhibition of artwork by artists who live and work in the Helene-affected Appalachia region. Gallery open Wednesday through Sunday, 11am. Exhibition through May. 5, Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

Identitas Exhibition

The works in Identitas examine culture & heritage through personal narratives, reflecting each included artist’s distinctly unique perspective on self and experience. Gallery open Wednesday through Saturday, 11am. Exhibition through May 10. Tracey Morgan Gallery, 22 London Rd

guest artists popping up to share their talents.

FR (4/18), 7pm, Center for Spiritual Living Asheville, 2 Science Mind Way

Laura Boswell & Molly Hartwell in Concert

Laura Boswell writes intimate folk music with classical influence that has been described as meditative, transcendental, and within the "chamber-folk" genre.

FR (4/18), 7pm, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W State St, Black Mountain Artist ReLEAF Series w/YAHZAY

YAHZAY is a producer, musician, and storyteller who blends modern production with heartfelt lyricism and soulful textures.

SA (4/19), 4pm, LEAF Global Arts, 19 Eagle St

Newfound Gap

Newfound Gap is a rising Bluegrass band of young musicians who have already garnered several national accolades for their prodigious playing.

SA (4/19), 7pm, Kittredge Arts Center, 701 Warren Wilson Rd, Swannanoa

The Ancient Law: A Film & Concert

Silent film, The Ancient Law will be accompanied by a live, original score composed and performed by the klezmer violinist Alicia Svigals and Donald Sosin.

TU (4/22), 7pm, Diana Wortham Theatre, 18 Biltmore Ave

Asheville Beer Choir

For anyone looking to blend great music, local brews, and a sense of community. Weekly rehearsals are held every Thursday, and people can come together to practice, socialize, and support local breweries and businesses.

TH (4/24), 7pm, Ginger's Revenge Craft Brewery & Tasting Room, 829 Riverside Dr

COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS

Raising Worms for Vermicompost Workshop

Enjoy an introductory Vermicompost workshop from Vincent Grossi, Compost Consultant for Warren Wilson College, which will also feature a live

demonstration.

TH (4/17), 4pm, Pearson Garden, 408 Pearson Dr

Magical Resistance Workshop

A one-hour class that will provide attendees with some ideas and magical techniques for supporting yourself and your community, to help ensure that we’re all staying safe in this tumultuous political climate.

FR (4/18), 6pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd

YALA Drumming w/ Adama Dembele

Drop in for Yala Cultural tours for a two-hour drum class and cultural exploration led Leaf Ambassador, Adama Dembele.

SA (4/19), noon, LEAF Global Arts, 19 Eagle St

Therapeutic Recreation

Adult Crafting

A variety of cooking and crafts, available at two different times. This week features fairy gardens. Advance registration required.

TU (4/22), 10am, free, Murphy-Oakley Community Center, 749 Fairview Rd

Nature Crafts: Botanical Bookmarks

Get crafty and create wonderful pieces of art

using natural materials. Advance registration required.

WE (4/23), 12:30pm, Weaver Park, 200 Murdock Ave

1-Hour Make Ahead Freezer Meals for the Week In this class, we’ll meal-prep 6 tasty and nutritious freezer meals that can be heated and eaten at a later point.

WE (4/23), 5:30pm, Madison County Cooperative Extension Office, 258 Carolina Ln Marshall

Access to Capital

Whether you’re a start-up or interested in growing your business, this workshop is here to guide you through the process to secure a business loan. Register at avl.mx/epp.

TH (4/24), 11am, Online

Crafting Club Whether you’re into knitting, scrapbooking, painting, or any other creative hobby, this is the perfect opportunity to connect with fellow crafters and share your passion.

TH (4/24), 1pm, Hendersonville Family YMCA, 810 6th Ave W, Hendersonville

Events Chainsaw Safety Course

A free chainsaw safety course presented by STIHL where you can learn the basics of chainsaw safety and maintenance.

TH (4/24), 5:30pm, FIND Outdoors, 49 Pisgah Hwy, Pisgah Forest

Nourishment Through the Seasons Workshop

Ashleigh Whittington, MS, CNS, LN, will lead an enriching workshop that explores how to align your eating and lifestyle habits with the natural rhythm of the seasons.

TH (4/24), 5:30pm, All Bodies Movement and Wellness, 211 Merrimon Ave

LITERARY

Mutual Aid Against Catastrophe

A discussion with Lux’s editor-in-chief

Sarah Leonard about the role of feminism in confronting a rising fascist movement.

WE (4/16), 6pm, Firestorm Books, 1022 Haywood Rd

Asheville StorySLAM: BLOOM

Prepare a five-minute story about growth. Rising from the concrete or blossoming late in life tell us about the journey to reach your full potential.

TH (4/17), 7:30pm, The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave

Trans Girl, Rollercoasters & Middle School: Glitch Girl

This book launch event will feature author Rainie Oet and her book, Glitch Girl. There will be a feature reading, conversation with Mars Marson, Q&A and an author signing.

SA (4/19), noon, Firestorm Books, 1022 Haywood Rd

Mildred Barya & Robert McGee

Mildred Kiconco Barya and Robert McGee will visit City Lights to share

their poetry and essay collections.

SA (4/19), 3pm, City Lights Bookstore, 3 E Jackson St, Sylva 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 (4/21), 6:30pm, Flood Gallery, 802 Fairview Rd Ste 1200 Celebration of Poetry

Six award-winning North Carolina poets will read from their work: Kathy Ackerman; Cathy Smith-Bowers; Luke Hankins; Keith Flynn; Pat Riviere-Seel; and Lee Stockdale.

TH (4/24), 7pm, Fairview Library, 1 Taylor Rd, Fairview

THEATER & FILM

Alice's Smile: The Contagious Effects of Extraordinary Joy

This production will tell the story of Alice's missing smile and the quest to make her smile again. The production will feature puppets and other characters brought to life through digital animation and projections.

TH (4/17), FR (4/18), SA (4/19), 7:30pm, Belk Theatre, UNC Asheville, 1 University Heights

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 (4/18), 7pm, Flood Gallery, 802 Fairview Rd Ste 1200

Death Comes To Play

(A High-Stakes Comic Gothic)

On a dark, stormy night, in a remote location, the celebration of a 75-year-old’s birthday is upended by the arrival of a mysterious, uninvited guest who turns out to be...fun?

TH (4/17, 24) FR (4/18), SA (4/19), 7:30pm, BeBe Theatre, 20 Commerce St

Into The Woods

A captivating and whimsical musical that weaves together beloved fairy tales into a dark and enchanting narrative.

TH (4/17), FR (4/18), 7:30pm, SA (4/19), SU (4/20), 2:30pm, Asheville Community Theatre, 35 E Walnut St

The Magic of Jeki Yoo

See the world-renowned illusionist that social media collectively crowned “the cutest magician of all time."

TH (4/24), 7pm, Diana Wortham Theatre, 18 Biltmore Ave

Our Planet Live w/Dan Tapster

Discover the epic story of Earth’s life through the lens of Life on Our Planet. Showrunner Dan Tapster will offer behind-the-scenes insights into this breathtaking Netflix series.

TH (4/24), 7:30pm, WCU Bardo Arts Center, 199 Centennial Dr, Cullowhee

MEETINGS & PROGRAMS

55+ Club: North Carolina Arboretum History Tour

Participants aged 55+ are invited to join a guided History Tour and visit the new National Geographic exhibit, The Greatest Wildlife Photographs.

WE (4/16), 2pm, The North Carolina Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way

Walking the Labyrinth as Metaphor: Listening w/the Ears of Our Hearts

Explore the labyrinth as a practice of deep listening with our hearts and a metaphor for our spiritual path.

TH (4/17), 10am, Kanuga Main Campus, 130 Kanuga Chapel Dr, Hendersonville

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 (4/19), 10:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

A Bicycle Day Celebration & Symposium

A full-day deep dive into entheogenic ceremony, psychedelic exploration, the future of psychedelic medicine, harm reduction & integration, end-of-life compassionate use, and the role of psychedelics in music and the arts.

SA (4/19), 11am, Third Room, 46 Wall St

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 (4/19), 11am, The Episcopal Church of St John in the Wilderness, 1895 Greenville Hwy, Flat Rock

Find Your Familiar: Black Cat Adoption Event

A black cat adoption event that will feature black kittens galore of all shapes, sizes, and ages. Find your loyal guardians, energy protectors, healers, and the truest of companions.

SA (4/19), noon, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd

Coloring w/Cats

Take 50 minutes 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 (4/20), 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 (4/20), 4pm, Dr Wesley Grant Sr.

Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St

Seed Swap!

Come ready to share seeds, gardening tips, and connect with fellow plant lovers. Bring your seeds.

SU (4/20), 4:30pm, Leveller Brewing Co., 25 N Main St, Weaverville

Alive After 55+

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

MO (4/21), TU (4/22), 10am, Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Rd

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 (4/21), 10am, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

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 (4/21), TU (4/22), 10am, Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Rd

Black Men Monday

Featuring a local group that has stepped up in the community to advocate for and mentor students through academic intervention.

MO (4/21), 5:30pm, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

The Kena Upanishad & Clear Seeing

This evening's session will explore through dharma talk, contemplation and direct pointing out the immediacy of clear seeing and its inherent power to release false and limiting self

identifications.

MO (4/21), 6:30pm, The Lodge at Quietude, 1130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain Youth Mental Health First Aid For Adults Program designed to teach adults how to help an adolescent who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis.

MO (4/21), TU (4/22), 10am, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

AYPROS April Pub Club

AYPROS Pub Club is the perfect way to build your network, make new connections, and strengthen your ties to Asheville’s young professional community.

TU (4/22), 5pm, Wildwood Still, 61 Biltmore Ave

Doc Talk: 10 Warning Signs of Dementia

In this session, you'll learn about the 10 warning signs of dementia, a crucial topic for understanding early detection and care. This is a free

event, but registration is required.

WE (4/23), 11am, Black Mountain YMCA, 25 Jane Jacobs Rd Black Mountain

IBN Biz Lunch

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

WE (4/23), 11:30am, Yao, 153 Smoky Park Hwy

RSAA Lunch N' Learn

Series w/Guest Speaker

March's guest speaker, Shaniqua Simuel, founder and owner of Change Your Palate.

In memory of one of our community leaders, Robert Simmons.

WE (4/23), 12:30pm, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

PowerPoint Nights

A unique evening of hilarious presentations as everyone is encouraged to share their funniest, most creative, or most absurd ideas.

WE (4/23), 6:30pm,

SUSTAINING COMMUNITY

Educational moment

Hope as resilience

Sarah Thornburg is the chair of the Asheville City Board of Education.

Xpress: How should Buncombe’s two school districts better collaborate?

Thornburg: The chairs of both school boards and both superintendents are already in conversation to discuss areas in which the two districts can collaborate. We believe we will find not only cost efficiencies but also ways to share talent, share successful programs and find innovative ways to improve both school districts. What’s your vision for the future of publicly funded education?

OPTIMISTIC: Sarah Thornburg, chair of Asheville City Board of Education, shares why she is hopeful about the future of our county’s two school systems. Photo courtesy of Thornburg

Dr Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St

Doc Talk: Lung Health

A doc talk with Dr. Zeni Scott, a pulmonologist, who will discuss lung health and how to keep your lungs strong. This informative session will cover key tips for respiratory wellness, followed by a Q&A.

TH (4/24), 10am, Asheville YMCA, 30 Woodfin St

NSA-WNC Meeting

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

TH (4/24), 10am, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

Create the Avatar & Corner the Market

This program is for the entrepreneur and small business owner who understands the importance of identifying, and engaging, their ideal client.

TH (4/24), 1pm, A-B Tech Small Business Center, 1465 Sand Hill Rd, Candler

GAMES & CLUBS

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 (4/17, 24), TU (4/22), 9:15am, 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 (4/17), 1pm, Murphy Oakley Park, 715 Fairview Rd

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

Kung Fu For Children

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

WE (4/16, 23), 3pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

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 (4/16, 23), TH (4/17, 24), FR (4/18), 4pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd

Toddlers in the Park

Come out for fun, themed-days as warm weather returns. This weeks features tumble time, but advance registration required.

TH (4/17, 24), 9:30am, Hummingbird Park, 97 Starnes Ave

Baby Storytime

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

TH (4/17, 24), 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 (4/18), 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 relax by coloring as they pet cats to reduce stress and anxiety.

SA (4/19), 1pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd

MoveAbility: Weekly Dance Class

structures, and more fun.

WE (4/23), 10am, Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave

LOCAL MARKETS

East Asheville Tailgate Market

Featuring over 25 vendors selling meat, seafood, produce, flowers, bread, eggs, baked goods, fruit, herbs, sweet treats, tamales, and more. Every Friday through Nov. 22.

FR (4/18), 3pm, Groce United Methodist Church, 954 Tunnel Rd

North Asheville

Tailgate Market

Browse from over 70 vendors that will be offering sustainably produced produce, meats, eggs, cheeses, breads, honey, plants, prepared foods, crafts and more.

SA (4/19), 8am, 275 Edgewood Rd

Swannanoa Farmers Market

This market will feature farm-fresh produce, local honey, eggs, baked goods, and delicious eats. You’ll also find handmade jewelry, artwork, fiber crafts, wooden utensils, yard art, apothecary essentials, and more.

SA (4/19), 9am, 216 Whitson Ave

Mars Hill Farmers & Artisans Market

A producer-only tailgate market located on the campus of Mars Hill University on College Street. Offering fresh local produce, herbs, cheeses, meats, eggs, baked goods, honey, body care and more. Every Saturday through Oct. 26.

SA (4/19), 10am, College St, Mars Hill

Honky Tonk Flea

FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS

Downtown After 5 w/ Caitlin Krisko & the Broadcast

A beloved music series that celebrates the diversity and the creativity of Asheville. This week will feature music from Caitlin Krisko and the Broadcast and The Dirty French Broads. See p50 FR (4/18), 5pm, Pack Square Park, 80 Court Plaza

Good Friday's Twilight Egg Hunt & Movie

A magical Good Friday featuring an outdoor movie night and egg hunt. Bring your lawn chair or blanket and enjoy a fun-filled evening with family and friends.

FR (4/18), 6pm, Peri Social House : Bar ~ Coffee ~ Boutique Hotel, 406 W State St, Black Mountain Hendo Earth Fest

The purpose of the Hendo Earth Fest is to promote community education for all ages on environmental and sustainable practices, inspire action, and renew and expand commitments to protect our planet.

SA (4/19), 10am, Historic Downtown Hendersonville, 145 5th Ave E, Hendersonville

The People’s Town Hall for Liberty

Be a part of the the community gathering to demand answers from our elected reps. There will also be an activism fair where various groups will have tables set up with information and calls to action for attendees to get involved.

I see Asheville City Schools (ACS) and Buncombe County Schools (BCS) being the top choice for parents and families in our county. We will be school systems where all children are accepted and loved. We will be school systems where all students achieve academic growth and graduate ready for work, the military or further education. Our traditional public schools have always had the most qualified and talented teachers and support staff, and those professionals will be paid a living wage, allowing them to reside locally and provide for their families without seeking supplemental employment. In the face of so many challenges to our public schools, how do you cope and stay positive?

It’s because of the many challenges that I stay committed to the work that needs to be done to support public education. It is hard to balance the work of the school board with my day job and family responsibilities and other community organizations I am involved with, but I made a commitment to serve the Asheville City Schools, which I take very seriously. Remaining hopeful is my coping strategy. X

SA (4/19), 1pm, Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave Weekly Pinball Tournament

This is a weekly group knockout pinball tournament. All ages and skill levels are welcome.

SU (4/20), 5:30pm, Level 256 Classic Arcade Bar, 79 Coxe Ave

KID-FRIENDLY PROGRAMS

Family Story Time

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

WE (4/16, 23), 10:30am, Black Mountain Library, Black Mountain

Everyone is welcome to explore movement, creativity and self express through dance. Intended for kids ages 5 and up, though. MO (4/21), 5:30pm, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W State St, Black Mountain

Toddler Discovery Time

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

TU (4/22), 10am, Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave

Tiny Tykes Wednesday Play Dates

Open play for toddlers to explore bikes, balls, inflatables, climbing

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

SU (4/20), 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 (4/20), 12pm, Fleetwood's, 496 Haywood Rd

Meadow Market

This vibrant outdoor market features a curated selection of local makers and artisans. Browse a delightful array of one-of-a-kind textiles, handcrafted jewelry, beautiful pottery, and more.

SU (4/20), 1pm, The Meadow at Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Hwy, Ste 200

SA (4/19), noon, Pack Square Amphiteahter Spring Eggstravaganza An annual Spring Eggstravaganza featuring an outdoor egg hunt, food, refreshments and crafts.

SA (4/19), 11am, Dr Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St

Resist-Dance

Brought to you by Musicians Organizing Activist Committee and Indivisible Asheville, this event will feature music from Rock While Rome Burns, Sal Landers Party RX and Ovadya. SA (4/19), 4pm, One World Brewing W, 520 Haywood Rd

Pisgah Brewing Company’s 20th Anniversary Party w/ Spafford Celebrate 20 years of Pisgah Brewing C. with jam titans Spafford and the local psychedelic rock band New Dawn Starkestra.

SA (4/19), 6:30pm, Pisgah Brewing Co., 2948 US Hwy 70 W, Black Mountain Asheville Dispensary

420 Block Party

Celebrate 420 with Asheville Dispensary and an epic 420 block party filled with live music, local DJs, delicious eats, giveaways and artists as well as vendors.

SA (4/19), noon, Asheville Dispensary, 919 Haywood Rd

Bastet's Meow-gical Egg Hunt

If your miniature human likes hunting eggs and black cats, bring them out for this meowgical experience. This event is free but you must register in advance.

SU (4/20), 11am, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd

Easter Brunch & Egg Hunt

Celebrate with the whole family this Easter with a delicious brunch buffet crafted from farm-fresh ingredients. There will also be a kid-friendly and funfilled easter egg hunt.

SU (4/20), 11am, 155 Horse Shoe Farm Rd, Hendersonville

4th Annual Springfest

Featuring nature inspired local art, fresh flowers, a rosé wine tasting, pastries and a propagation swap station.

SU (4/20), noon, Lookout Brewing Co., 103 S Ridgeway Ave, Black Mountain Easter High Tea

Celebrate Easter in style with a high tea experience, enjoy wonderful food, soft music and the exquisite ambiance.

SU (4/20), 2pm, The Venue, 21 N Market St

Earth Day Learn & Play

Meet local animal ambassadors, catch critters in the stream, sow native seeds, and learn from mini-ecology classes.

TU (4/22), 3:30pm, free, Kanuga Main Campus, 130 Kanuga Chapel Dr, Hendersonville

Cake Baking Contest

Put your skills to the test as judges score on overall taste, texture, and originality.

TH (4/24), 2pm, Grove St Community Center, 36 Grove St

Student & Family DV Awareness Workshop: SAFE Program

Our Voice and Verbal

Purple will be facilitating an Anti-Human Trafficking Prevention Education Workshop for students in 6th to 12th grades as well as their parents

TH (4/24), 6pm, The Franklin School of Innovation, 21 Innovation Dr

BENEFITS & VOLUNTEERING

Haywood Road Clean Up

A day where volunteers work to pick up trash and recycling along the Haywood Road corridor. Breakfast and post clean up rewards will be provided to volunteers.

SA (4/19), 10am, New Belgium Brewing Co., 21 Craven St

MRB 5K & Fun Run

One beverage included with entry and Blue Ridge Humane Society will benefit from race proceeds.

SA (4/19), 10am, Mills River Brwing Co., 336 Banner Farm Rd

Asheville Drag Brunch Presents: Taylor Swift Themed Drag Brunch

Encore Taylor Swift-themed drag brunch featuring bejeweled performances by Katarina's

Saturday Cabaret. Proceeds will go to Youth Outright.

SA (4/19), 11am, Banks Ave, 32 Banks Ave Earth Day Clean-Up & Service Projects Volunteers are invited to assist in clean-up and service projects at Lake Julian Park. All tools and materials will be provided.

TU (4/22), 9am, Lake Julian Park, 37 Lake Julian Rd, Arden Volunteer w/Energy Savers Network Worksite volunteers perform energy-saving upgrades in groups for clients in and around Buncombe County. You will also learn helpful energy-saving measures like changing lightbulbs, weatherstripping doors, and insulating water heaters.

WE (4/23), 11am, Buncombe County

Dining Out For Life

This special event encourages residents of Asheville and WNC to eat out at participating restaurants in order to raise money for HIV care and prevention in our region. Visit avl.mx/ep5 for full list of particiapting restaurants. See p49 TH (4/24), 8am, Restaurants across Asheville

We can feel trapped by circumstances - but living a spiritual sense of God-given liberty opens the way to overcome what binds us.

Thursday, May 1 at 5:30pm

LOCATION

Homewood 19 Zillicoa St. Asheville, NC 28801

Plenty of free parking!

Nicole Virgil, CS

Christian Science practitioner Member of the Christian Science Board of Lectureship

HOSTED BY First Church of Christ, Scientist, Asheville

MOMENT IN TIME: On April 11, Corner Kitchen co-owners Vanessa Salomo, left, and Joe Scully, center, gathered with Amy Westmoreland, right, wife of co-owner Kevin Westmoreland, to place time capsules inside the walls of the Biltmore Village restaurant. Opened in 2004, Corner Kitchen was flooded up to its second floor during Tropical Storm Helene, destroying everything on the first floor and forcing the owners to do a complete gutting and renovation of the 130-year-old building. The nine quart-sized Ball jars used for the time capsules include photos, letters and memorabilia from the owners, restaurant staff and community members reflecting the history and spirit of Corner Kitchen, Biltmore Village and Asheville’s restaurant community. The restaurant plans to reopen in July, ahead of a Saturday, July 12, event planned by the Historic Biltmore Village Association to celebrate Biltmore Village’s post-Helene rebirth. Photo by Gina Smith

CONTACT: 828-707-6127 christianscienceasheville.com

Rooted activism Appalachian Herb Collective offers free clinics and product swaps

BY ALLI MARSHALL

Although Western North Carolina has passed the six-month mark since Tropical Storm Helene, much support is still needed. And not just in big ways — rebuilding, debris removal, cash influx — but in subtler ways. Self-care, anxiety and immune system support, an empathetic ear.

This is where the Appalachian Herb Collective steps in. The self-described “herbal re-leaf effort” is a collaboration of herbalists from around WNC offering free herbal mutual-aid hubs. The group works out of locations in Madison, Buncombe and Yancey counties, as well as Unicoi County, Tenn.

“When Helene hit, I was just already prepped for this,” says Lupo Passero, owner of Twin Star Tribe, a spirit-based herbal and energetic school with a location in Asheville. A native of Sandy Hook, Conn., she had experience addressing a crisis — the 2012 school shooting in that community — through herbal support. Her background in natural products (including working at GreenLife Grocery, Earth Fare and Whole Foods) meant she had good relationships with national herbal suppliers such as Gaia Herbs and Herb Farm, which supplied herbal remedies to Sandy Hook residents.

“I got pretty involved and excited about mutual aid work when it came to herbalism and I started teaching at different conferences around the country about what I call community herbalism in action,” she says. After Tropical Storm Helene hit WNC, “I just put the word out to the natural products industry: This is what’s happened to our community. We need stuff for stress, we need stuff for the immune system, we need first aid.”

HERBALISTS COME THROUGH

One thing Passero learned through her years of mutual aid work is that “people are incredibly generous, especially when it comes to something horrific because they feel helpless, and this gives them the ability to help.” As soon as the post office and UPS were able to deliver, the donations flowed in. “We just got box after box, after box, after box,” Passero says.

French Broad Food Co-op in downtown Asheville became the local distribution hub. Among the donations were three pallets of tea from Yogi Tea, along with various herbal medicines. The sup-

ply is rounded out with preparations created by volunteers during monthly medicine-making days at Red Moon Herbs in Candler, where, Passero says, 500-600 bottles can be filled and labeled in just a couple of hours. Financial donations help buy auxiliary supplies such as amber bottles for holding medicines.

So far, the Appalachian Herb Collective has held more than 60 events. In Mars Hill, there’s a weekly free herbal pantry and regular clinic days; free and donation-based bodywork, herbal medicine and mental health support are provided on Thursdays at the Walnut Community Center; and monthly herbal clinics are run out of French Broad Food Co-op.

“There’s someone in Swannanoa every week, Black Mountains once a month, downtown [Asheville] once a month, Mars Hill twice a week, Barnardsville once a week,” says Passero. (Find all of the collective’s initiatives on its website, avl.mx/ep9.)

The clinics, which began as a simple table or tent setup in hard-hit areas such as Swannanoa and Black Mountain, have evolved to reflect community needs. They addressed stomach issues when the water wasn’t potable and flu and cold remedies over the winter.

“In the beginning [people were saying] ‘I’m not able to get my heart medication’ or ‘I have this ailment going on,’ and we always have somebody there

that can speak to their health needs and their health concerns,” Passero explains. “But there’s always been a group of herbalists who have shown up to give away free natural medicine to the community,” along with a clinical herbalist with whom community members can discuss specific health concerns.

An herbal share, held on the last Saturday of each month at White Horse Black Mountain, launched around Christmas — a holiday gift to the region. Unlike the clinics, there is no clinical herbalist available, but community members are welcome to come by and pick up teas, tinctures and other herbal medicines.

“Everyone who lives in Western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee and needs support should come,” says Passero. “We have people who have lost everything. [Other] folks just say, ‘Hey, I’m really having some serious anxiety.’ And I think it serves not just as a place to receive medicine but also a place to receive community support.”

IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL

The plan is for the clinics and herb shares to continue through 2025, and perhaps longer. “I think it will shift and change,” Passsero says. “Only time can tell what that will look like, but all our hubs are committed.”

Her experience from Sandy Hook offers insight. “For the first six months, we just worked around the clock, and then the needs of the community shifted, but we continually showed up for about two years afterwards,” she recalls. “I think that what people are experiencing in Appalachia, and what we’re all going through collectively, we’ll be lucky if a decade from now we’ve recovered. There’s still just so much uncertainty and change.”

Passero points out, “Almost everyone who does this work is also a business owner who either lost their business or their business was seriously impacted. And they continue to just show up for everybody else. I’m very proud to work alongside these other herbalists.”

Passero, too, lost the River Arts District location of her school due to flooding. Jeannie Dunn, who owns Red Moon Herbs in Candler, offered Passero space to teach classes.

“I’d love to start offering some free community classes and [events] to get people in the community together — even if it’s not so much about receiving free herbal medicine,” Passero says. “It’s just about solidarity and being together.”

PLANTS FOR THE PEOPLE: Volunteers at an Appalachian Herb Collective pop-up offer free herbal medicines to support a variety of ailments, from cardiovascular issues to anxiety. Photo courtesy of Lupo Passero

In the weeds

Asheville celebrates 4/20 with hemp events and infused foods

HEMP FOR HEALTH: WagWorld Pub’s upcoming HempFest celebrates hemp’s medicinal benefits. Pictured are WagWorld staff members Sarah “Squirrel” Martin, left, and Amy Wooten. Photo courtesy of WagWorld

BY GINA SMITH

gsmith@mountainx.com

Sunday, April 20 — aka 4/20 — is known to many as the annual day for celebrating cannabis and hemp culture. Xpress joins the party this year with the paper’s first dedicated roundup of local hemp and cannabis news and events.

WAGWORLD HEMPFEST

True to its name, WagWorld Pub in Fletcher is a dog-friendly bar with its own 1-acre, off-leash dog park. But canine companions will have to stay home for WagWorld’s inaugural HempFest event, Friday-Sunday, April 18-20.

Also limited to a 21-and-older crowd, the event serves as the grand opening party for WagWorld’s new Zen Den Holistic Lounge, a social spot offering cannabis-, kratom- and kava-infused drinks, plus nonalcoholic beers and seltzers, coffees,

teas and its own Wag Garden dog play area.

The weekend’s focus is on hemp-related health and wellness, says owner Akasha Nickolas. “At WagWorld we believe cannabis is a gift from Mother Earth. The amazing medicinal effects of the entire plant should be celebrated, not villainized.”

The HempFest schedule is packed with live musical performances, food trucks, hemp-related wellness sessions and fun activities — Stoner Olympics, an adult Easter egg hunt and Stoner TerraOke (described as “elevated karaoke”) are all on the agenda.

“We are more than a dog bar; we are also an event center. We are also a growing community of like-minded, dog-loving and open-minded individuals,” says Nickolas. “This is a safe place for our welcoming community.”

Admission prices range from $7 for a single day to $50 for an

Ultimate Pass that includes full festival admission, an alternative beverage flight and WagWorld Starter Kit with cannabis pre-roll and other goodies. WagWorld Pub is at 21 Redmond Drive, Fletcher. For more information, visit avl.mx/eph.

SECOND BREAKFAST CLUB AND 420 PIZZA

Chefs Katherine and Griffin Riffe readily admit to being huge nerds. In fact, it was a conversation about the importance of food in fantasy novels that spurred the idea for the next event for their cannabis-infused fine-dining business, Infuso.

On Sunday, April 20, 11 a.m.3:30 p.m., Infuso will partner with Hygge Market grocery and craft store to host Second Breakfast Club, a brunch buffet with microinfused dishes (less than 5 mg of cannabis per item) inspired by The Lord of the Rings.

“If all goes well, we plan to do more of these, exploring the culinary arts of other fantasy worlds,” says Griffin, noting possible Harry Potter and A Game of Thrones themes meals to come.

Hygge Market is at 188 Coxe Ave. Tickets are $80 plus taxes and fees. Learn more and make reservations at avl.mx/epi.

Infuso is also partnering through the end of April with Asheville Pizza South chef Drew Peterson to offer the Take and “Bake” frozen pizza. Made to be reheated at home in a 400-degree oven, the pie has a THC-infused sundried tomato pesto base, Hickory Nut Gap Farm hot soppressata, fresh mozzarella, chili-infused raw honey and fresh parmesan cheese.

Each pizza contains 25 mg of whole-plant, hemp-derived cannabis extract. It’s also available without THC upon request. Take and

PIE IN THE SKY: The April Pizza of the Month at Asheville Pizza South, a collaboration with Infuso, contains 25 millgrams of cannabis extract. Photo courtesy of Infuso

“Bake” is for ages 21 and older only, must be ordered by phone (not online) and is for pickup only. Find out more at avl.mx/epj.

ASHEVILLE CANNABIS TOURS

Food writer and restaurant tour guide Stu Helm knows a lot about the Asheville food scene, but he’s also a big fan of the city’s weed culture. Along with the food tours he offers through his Stu Helm Food Fan website and social media platforms, he organizes tours of local cannabis dispensaries.

Though his Easter 4/20 Asheville food and smoke tour is already sold out, he offers monthly walking tours of Asheville’s legal weed scene that include visits to up to seven dispensaries plus smokable and edible products, take-home treats and more. Helm is also available for private

tours that include both restaurants and dispensaries.

To learn about Asheville Cannabis Tours, email Helm at stuhelmAVL@ gmail.com or subscribe to his Substack newsletter at avl.mx/epl. X

LYRICS BAND // DANIEL SAGE

CITY // RIVER ROOTS BAND PURPLE PEOPLE FEEDER

RAINBOW

MOUNTAIN DAWGS

Magical Offerings

4/16: Reader: Jessica 12-5

Women’s Circle 5-6

4/18: Reader: Krysta 12-6

Intermediate Lenormand w/ Salix Jenkins 5:15-6:45

4/19: Reader: Edward 12-6

Kate Stockman Pop Up Shop 11-6

4/20: Reader: Andrea 12-4

Rainbow Circle 2-3:30

Welcoming Circle 4-5:30

4/22: Reader: Byron 1-5

ARTS & CULTURE

Power through the people

Community sustains local breweries post-Helene

SECOND ACT:

downtown Marshall reopened March 28. Photo by Amanda Hilty

BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN

earnaudin@mountainx.com

Just two months before Tropical Storm Helene ravaged businesses along the French Broad River, the fledgling River Arts District Brewing Co. sustained severe property damage from a separate catastrophic flood.

In mid-July, a rainwater runoff ditch that runs along the edge of the property was overwhelmed, sending muddy water racing toward the brewhouse and taproom.

“It ran over the bank, into our beer garden and clogged our outside drains

with debris,” recalls General Manager Shawn Robinson. “Our keg cooler is approximately 4 feet off the ground, but when the water got high enough to reach it, the flood had relatively easy access to get inside the building. The end result was about 5 feet of standing water in our basement.”

During breaks from cleaning up, Robinson and founder/brewer Robert “Lem” Lemery contacted Charlottebased draft beer system installers Crafty Beer Guys to assess the damage to the brewing system, which temporarily left RAD Brewing unable to serve its own beers. And Karis Roberts, exec-

Another hurdle

Just when the Asheville-area craft beverage industry is starting to recover from the effects of Tropical Storm Helene, a new challenge has arisen.

On April 2, the Trump Administration announced a 25% tariff on all empty aluminum can imports. Though a 90-day moratorium on many tariffs followed on April 9, aluminum remained at 25%. In recent years, most local breweries have pivoted from glass to aluminum packaging.

As Devil’s Foot Beverage Co. president and co-founder Benjamin Colvin

notes, covering these new costs is “going to be expensive” and will “require us all to make decisions” — particularly since alternatives are few.

“The U.S. can’t simply pivot to make aluminum cans,” says Leah Wong Ashburn, president and CEO of Highland Brewing Co. “Mining is not done here; aluminum is 100% brought in from other countries and we are dependent on Canada. The effort to make aluminum here would be complex, costly and take a lot of time. It won’t come soon enough.”

utive director of the Asheville Brewers Alliance (ABA) — whom Robinson calls “our guardian angel” — contacted area breweries for support, helped set up a GoFundMe campaign and even delivered a keg from another brewery while she was on crutches.

Additional support came from Wicked Weed Brewing, BearWaters Brewing Co., DSSOLVR, Black Mountain Brewing, 12 Bones Brewing and Archetype Brewing.

RAD Brewing received some insurance coverage due to the catastrophic nature of the event, but not a full payout. Yet as it did from the start, the community has stepped up to help.

The tariffs are also expected to significantly increase operational costs for farmers, who supply the raw materials that brewers rely on.

“The cost of animal feed going up is going to impact the cost of grain, which impacts the cost of food, which impacts the cost of sitting down in the restaurant. The cost of fertilizer is going to impact the cost of beer,” says DSSOLVR co-founder Vince Tursi. “Nothing is safe from these tariffs. The policy is essentially a total loss for small businesses.” With additional reporting by Brionna Dallara X

Six months after the French Broad River flooded its lower level, Mad Co. Brew House in

As of press time, nearly $13,000 of the GoFundMe’s $50,000 goal to replace the broken equipment has been raised. And multiple benefit shows have been organized by local musicians.

“When we were opening this brewery, our goal was to be a community-oriented and -focused business. To have so many people reach out to help, show up unannounced, ready to clean or move tables — it warms the heart,” says Robinson, an Asheville native. “We have truly been humbled and are so thankful, and wouldn’t be open without that help and support.”

RETURNING THE FAVOR

Because of the July flooding, Robinson says the RAD Brewing team didn’t take Helene lightly. The crew spent all day Sept. 25-26 taking every single item out of the building’s basement. Lemery used his forklift to move all nonbeer tanks upstairs into the brewery, and everything stored downstairs got relocated.

“We even removed paper towel and toilet paper dispensers off the wall,” Robinson says. “We just knew that we were going to get flooded a second time. Our logic was ‘If it’s left downstairs, it’s one more thing we will have to clean and/or replace afterwards.’”

Though the beer garden flooded again overnight Sept. 25, resulting in nearly 4 feet of water outside the building’s basement door, RAD Brewing emerged relatively unscathed after the high winds of Sept. 26-27. The property’s electricity came back the evening of Sept. 27, saving the beers in its keg cooler and those in the process of fermenting.

Recognizing how fortunate they were, Robinson and Lemery committed to helping the community that had come to their aid a few months earlier. They kept a 700-gallon water tank full for people to fill up jugs. And a neighbor who’s a private chef and was given a significant amount of food from restaurants without electricity began making hot meals to serve at the brewery. Fuego’s Grill Catering also began cooking hamburgers and hot dogs to supplement the chef’s efforts.

“As people came by for the hot meals and drinking water, others began bringing donations of supplies for people to pick up. The word got out about the hot meals, water and supplies, and more donations came in,” Robinson says. “We estimate almost 4,000 hot meals were given out at the brewery over the first six weeks post-Helene.”

The brewery held benefit concerts for BeLoved Asheville, Asheville Tool Library and the ABA. And as RAD Brewing ran low on beer, it bought kegs from local breweries that hadn’t reopened post-Helene.

“We are just now starting to build our draft list back to the size it was before

the storm,” Robinson says. “As for future preparations, I think it is just developing a mindset of staying vigilant and going with the idiom ‘Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst.’ These are some crazy times. The importance of community is stronger now than ever before.”

BACK IN BUSINESS

Mad Co. Brew House in downtown Marshall has felt similar support from its neighbors over the past six months. Without it, owner/operator Rhesa Edwards is sure her brewery wouldn’t have been able to reopen March 28.

Established in 2016, the business was flooded with 8 feet of water inside and 12 feet on the building’s exterior when the French Broad River jumped its banks in late September. Mad Co. lost all of its equipment, as well as its food, alcohol and beverage inventory, office supplies, furniture and fixtures. Flooring had to be ripped up along with drywall, doors and other infrastructure.

According to Edwards, the brewery secured a few grants, started a GoFundMe that raised nearly $40,000 and received flood insurance money. The funding has allowed for new tile flooring, drywall, door and window trim, and new stairs on the back deck, plus replacing the building’s electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems.

“We moved to Marshall because we couldn’t resist the natural beauty it provided. We stayed because the community has given us a home,” Edwards says. “We always knew this place was special, and we didn’t need a natural disaster to realize it. But it happened, and we are here, and we are stronger as a community because of it.”

As the floodwaters receded, volunteers came in droves along with construction crews and heavy-equipment operators to clean up the Madison County seat. And the dedicated assistance gave Edwards and her team the confidence to commit to returning.

“It was important for us to get the taproom open first so people could have a place to gather again. Though there have been many events, pop-ups and community gatherings, it’s nice to have a place that is open seven days a week for the community,” she says. “Opening the pizza kitchen is our next phase. Having a smaller kitchen with a concise menu has allowed us to be nimble and adaptable while offering a quality product at a reasonable price.”

While gradually resuming these regular operations, Edwards is already seeing her trust in Marshall’s residents pay off. She notes that Mad Co.’s reputation as a desirable host for celebrations and events has already resulted in upcoming venue rentals for graduation parties and that such sustained support keeps her optimistic about the future. X

‘Uplift everyone’ Support for educators is key to school success

Timothy Lloyd is president of the local union the Asheville City Association of Educators (ACAE).

Xpress: How should Buncombe’s two school districts better collaborate?

The question is timely, given our current funding issues. Ultimately, I think Asheville City Schools (ACS) and Buncombe County Schools (BCS) should do much of what ACAE and Buncombe County Association of Educators (BCAE) do: work together to strengthen each other, share resources when we can and push for the greatest health of the two districts. Both districts also need to be deeply connected to schoolbased staff to ensure that cross-district collaboration is as fruitful as it can be.

What’s your vision for the future of publicly funded education?

ALL AROUND SUPPORT: “My multidecade vision for public education is that we become a people that praise educational attainment, uplift everyone who works in education and support students in every way possible as they pursue education,” says Timothy Lloyd, president of Asheville City Association of Educators Photo by Shanna Peele

I believe that when people are educated, they have tools to better themselves, their families and their communities. Because of that, my multidecade vision for public education is that we become a people that praise educational attainment, uplift everyone who works in education and support students in every way possible as they pursue education. To even get to that point, we must first increase public education funding and form public education community support groups. In the face of so many challenges to our public schools, how do you cope and stay positive?

What keeps me going is remembering how much our schools helped out our WNC communities after Helene. A-B Tech was used as a shelter, A.C. Reynolds High property was used for resource staging, Asheville Middle was used for supply pickup, Candler Elementary helped set up a community recess. School buildings and school staff are there doing great work every day and are willing to support the community when needed. X

Beyond surf and garage rock

Seattle’s La Luz comes to The Grey Eagle

BY BILL KOPP

by

A full-day deep dive into entheogenic ceremony, psychedelic exploration, the future of psychedelic medicine, harm reduction & integration, end-of-life compassionate use, and the role of psychedelics in music and the arts.

La Luz is a Seattle-based quartet of four female musicians. The group combines surf, garage and other rocking styles, suffusing its arrangements with heavenly vocal harmonies that recall the best of early ’60s “girl groups.” The band comes to The Grey Eagle on Saturday, April 19, at 8 p.m.

Songwriter and lead guitarist Shana Cleveland was born some two decades after much of the music that inspired her. As a child, she frequented Portland, Ore., record store Mississippi Records. The shop is renowned for its eclectic offerings and runs its own label.

“They put out a lot of vinyl records, reissues, compilations and mixtapes,” she says.

One of those cassettes was a collection of Indonesian music from the late 1960s and early ’70s. “The vocal harmonies were so ethereal and dramatic,” Cleveland says. “And those beautiful harmonies were combined with twanging guitar.”

While it’s difficult to pinpoint definitively the kind of music that inspired those Southeast Asian sounds, Cleveland suggests that some of it may have been “a response to American garage rock.” This unusual combination of American garage rock with Indonesian sensibility sparked a deep fascination in Cleveland. “I was really excited about it and wanted to get that feeling in my own music,” she says.

INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS

Early La Luz releases built upon Cleveland’s original vision, which also drew inspiration from sounds closer to home, such as surf/instrumental heroes The Ventures and Link Wray.

Cleveland says in the early 2010s, she was endeavoring to teach herself a specific type of guitar playing, one exemplified by those ’60s artists. “The guitar lines [on their records] were so clear and easy to distinguish,” she explains, “so I felt that was the easiest way to learn that style. A lot of our early sounds came out of those riffs.”

The band’s 2013 debut album, It’s Alive, scored positive notices for

BEYOND THE GARAGE: On its latest album, Seattle quartet La Luz expands its musical vision beyond garage rock, taking in flavors of ‘60s baroque pop heroes like The Beach Boys and Love. The group plays The Grey Eagle on April 19. Photo by Ginger Fierstein

its modern take on classic sounds. Two years later, the lo-fi 2015 album Weirdo Shrine, produced by latter-day garage legend Ty Segall, received similar praise. Meanwhile, the band’s 2018 Floating Features continued La Luz’s practice of working with hip producers — The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach this time — and found the group extending beyond its original trademark mix of gossamer vocals and garage-band instrumentation. While the first two albums didn’t sell in quantities commensurate with their critical success, Floating Features soared up the charts …

in the United Kingdom. Cleveland says that La Luz’s success in the U.K. — significantly outpacing the band’s chart action stateside — mystifies her. “My theory is that in the U.K., there’s a big appreciation for the period of music that’s so inspiring to me,” she says. “Maybe it’s because The Beatles are from there. Who knows?”

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE

Cleveland’s crate-digging bona fides shine through when she reveals

another influence on La Luz’s music: Love.

The ’60s L.A.-based group led by mercurial singer, songwriter and guitarist Arthur Lee made one of that era’s great lost classics, 1967’s Forever Changes. But Cleveland cites another, lesser-known Love LP as her favorite: 1969’s harder-edged Four Sail. “That album was probably the biggest musical influence on me for News of the Universe,” Cleveland says.

Released in May 2024, La Luz’s latest full-length continues the group’s creative progression, building on what the musicians have done before but always moving outward in multiple directions.

Over the years, La Luz’s lineup has undergone many changes as well. The band is currently on its second drummer, Audrey Johnson , and third bassist, Lee Johnson . Meanwhile, its third keyboardist, Maryam Qudus , joined the band after producing News of the Universe.

La Luz’s music is unique in that it exudes power and subtlety at the same time. That duality is on display on the new album’s “Always in Love,” in which Cleveland’s lead guitar break is placed quietly low in the mix. That production choice — with the solo sounding like a blasting guitar break played in a room down the hall — all but beckons the listener to lean in to appreciate it.

“I felt like it was giving ‘loud solo energy,’” Cleveland explains, “so I didn’t want to overdo it.”

The ethereal, wordless vocalizations of The Beach Boys’ 20/20 track “Our Prayer” were a direct influence upon “Reaching Up to the Sun,” the album’s sublime opening cut.

As she has done with all of the music written for La Luz, Cleveland took that inspiration, filtered it through her own creative sensibility and came forth with something new and original in the process. “For us humans, there’s something deeply satisfying about vocal harmonies,” she says. “When I heard ‘Our Prayer,’ I thought, ‘I want this.’” And she got it. X

La Luz with Color Green

Empty tables Restaurant closures take a toll on WNC growers

BY BRIONNA DALLARA

bdallara@mountainx.com

Spring sunlight brightens the greenhouse where farmer Evan Chender stands, watering hose in hand. The jets of water shower colorful rows of cauliflower, marigolds, turnips, lettuce, beets and bok choy — plants that have just begun to sprout.

“This is where we do all of our seedling production,” says Chender, who owns the 2-acre farm The Culinary Gardener in Weaverville.

“We buy seeds, and we do the entire process ourselves. It’s all about having that ultimate control over everything. Because with farming, there are so many things that are out of your control.”

For over a decade, the 36-year-old has produced high-end vegetables for a very specific market: restaurants. But after months of market uncertainty following Tropical Storm Helene — including the closure of several high-profile Asheville restaurants — there is a lot that’s out of Chender’s control.

Among the restaurants that have shuttered since the disaster are Cucina 24 and Rhubarb, two of Chender’s biggest accounts. Founding chef John Fleer permanently closed Rhubarb in February, citing impacts from Helene; Cucina 24 has yet to reopen after chef and owner Brian Canipelli died suddenly in early February.

Both restaurants were well-known for their commitment to sourcing from local farmers. With their closures, Chender lost about 25% of his annual sales — which equates to $170,000 a year, a number the farmer recites without hesitation.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do now, honestly,” says Chender, noting that he also recently lost about a half-

acre, or 20%, of his growing space when the landowner decided to use it for nonagricultural purposes.

“It’s going to be a lost year, and it’s a hard thing to swallow knowing that.”

A DECLINING MARKET

“Farms and restaurants are very similar in that they are always operating at absolutely the line where there’s very, very little margin for error,” says Sarah Hart, communications and engage-

Talking tariffs

Local farmers, brewers and an outdoor equipment manufacturer gathered at Devil’s Foot Beverage Co. on April 2 to discuss tariffs — taxes on imported goods — and their potential impact to the economy. The event was conducted by Tariffs Cost US, a social welfare organization with the mission to spread the word about the effect of tariffs on businesses and consumers.

The press conference was held ahead of the Trump Administration’s announcement that afternoon of plans to raise tariff rates on dozens of coun-

tries and impose a 10% minimum tax on imports. (Note: On April 9, the federal government issued a 90-day moratorium on most tariffs, with the notable exception of China — which had its tariffs raised to 125% — and imports of steel and aluminum.)

“Today we’re facing tariffs that will increase our costs on everything from fertilizer and feed to construction materials and tractors,” said Wendy Brugh, owner of Dry Ridge Farm, a Mars Hill producer of beef, pork and eggs.

Brugh noted the significance to growers of the federal government’s

ment director for the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP), which helps create and expand markets for local food.

In 2024, restaurants accounted for nearly 12% of overall sales for farms in ASAP’s Appalachian Grown network, which covers 16 counties within 100 miles of Asheville, including areas of Tennessee, Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia.

Taking into account all markets — including restaurants, as well as farm-

timing in introducing these additional costs and uncertainty. In April, she said, farmers have already planned their growing season and are spending money toward a good harvest. Tariffs could be another blow to push small farms to close, said Mary Carroll Dodd , owner of Red Scout Farm, an organic vegetable farm in Black Mountain. “If we lose our farms now, the next natural disaster or pandemic could leave communities without access to fresh food,” Dodd said. “Most farms in our region are still healing from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene.”  X

ers markets, community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs, grocery stores, food relief sites and more — Helene impacted the income streams of 60% of the 185 farmers who responded to ASAP’s most recent Appalachian Grown Producer Survey, conducted in December.

Like Chender, Aaron Grier, co-owner of Gaining Ground farm in Leicester, is among the Western North Carolina growers feeling the strain of recent restaurant closures. “We’ve got awesome restaurants in Asheville, and we’ve got awesome chefs,” he says. “I think we’ve all just got a heavier lift in front of us to maintain the beauty that Asheville has been.”

Like Chender, Grier’s business relied heavily on purchases from Rhubarb and Cucina 24. Together, the two accounts made up 20% of annual sales from Grier’s 70-acre vegetable-growing operation.

“Those have been the two biggest supporters of small producers in town, and having them both gone is hard, not only for our sales, but for the local food movement,” he says.

Looking at this year’s peak growing season “feels a little scarier this year,” he adds. Both he and Chender say they’re scaling back on planting this season.

“Cucina 24 was a restaurant that would buy, like, 300 pounds of tomatoes a week from me,” says Chender. “So where are those going to go?”

Chender is also trimming his pepper-growing efforts. “We do a very diverse array of peppers, and some of them are very specific,” he says. “It feels like it may not be worth trying to grow all these specific peppers if I’m not sure if I have an outlet for them.”

EGGS IN MANY BASKETS

Another post-Helene pivot for WNC farmers has been identifying and expanding into alternative markets. Immediately following the storm, Chender temporarily sold to distributors in Charlotte, Atlanta and Knoxville, Tenn., making up to three trips per week outside WNC for sales. “It was really stressful, really exhausting and very challenging. And in the end, it proved to be too much,” he says.

Chender also found another poststorm market outlet in nonprofits and human services organizations, including World Central Kitchen and Foothills Food Hub in Marion. According to the ASAP survey, 25% of local farms are now selling to food relief sites, up from 11% in 2020. Before 2020, ASAP did not ask about food relief sites as a market outlet. “COVID ushered in more grant funding for food relief nonprofits to purchase locally and generally increased the food-buying budgets for these nonprofits,” Hart says. “With the additional funding, those relationships have been

GROWING CONCERNS: Farmer Evan Chender has built his entire businessmodel around growing special produce for restaurants. After losing annual sales in the wake of Hurricane Helene, he’s unsure how the rest of the season will unfold. Photo by Brionna Dallara

sustained over time and grown stronger, contributing more farmers to sell to food relief.”

Since Helene, many WNC nonprofits have had even larger budgets for buying from local farms, she adds. And survey respondents reported that, like Chender, new relationships they built with food sites in the wake of the disaster helped cushion the loss of restaurant sales.

Pastured egg producer Wendy Brugh, owner of Dry Ridge Farm in Madison County and president of ASAP’s board of directors, says that before October 2024, about 50% of her sales were to restaurants, 23% were carton sales to retail grocers, and the rest were direct sales through local farmers markets. But in the days after Helene, with most restaurants and some grocery stores closed, Brugh found herself with 2,000 dozen eggs on her hands.

In the short term, she cut her losses, she says, by redirecting them to food hubs, like TRACTOR Food & Farms in Spruce Pine, that have federal funding allocated for buying from local farms. But by January, two of her largest restaurant accounts, Vivian and ELDR — together contributing $10,000 to her business annually — announced permanent closure, both citing economic damage from Helene.

Dry Ridge’s bottom line was also indirectly affected by reduced restaurant sales to Mountain Food Products, a local distributor that Brugh’s farm supplies. So, in the long term, she was forced to flip her business model. At the end of December, Dry Ridge’s restaurant sales were down to 25% and retail carton sales had risen to 45%. By early April, retail and restaurant sales each accounted for about 35% of sales, with the remaining share from direct sales at tailgate markers. But the future remains unclear.

“I anticipate that the restaurants that have made it through winter will have a spring similar to the post-COVID spring — locals will be happy to be out. But for some restaurants, it’ll be too little too late,” Brugh says, predicting more closures before June.

“Also, tariffs won’t help — for restaurant expenses nor for customers wanting to spend money out with costs being higher everywhere.” (See sidebar for more on tariffs.)

LINGERING PANDEMIC IMPACTS

Declining farm-to-restaurant sales has been a trend since COVID-19, Hart says. But farmers note that COVID-era market shifts both differed from and informed post-Helene pivots.

During COVID, restaurant closures seemed indefinite, says Brugh, whereas, during Helene it was a waiting game for the water to come back on. “COVID caused permanent shifts in how I move my product; COVID also made me real-

ize I needed to diversify our markets way more than I had,” she explains. “Therefore, the pivot during Helene was a little bit easier, because I was already more diversified, because I had a grocery customer, I had some relief organization customers.”

Chender says that, for his business, the losses from Helene feel a lot harder and bigger than those from COVID. “I was younger, I was smaller, I had way less employees, I had the energy to pivot really hard, and I was able to successfully pivot,” he says.

During the pandemic he received a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan to support his payroll and a $25,000 relief grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Since Helene, Chender’s gotten a total of $34,000 in disaster relief grants and GoFundMe donations to buffer losses and help sustain his payroll.

As a way to help both WNC’s struggling farms and restaurants, part of ASAP’s Helene response has been a reboot of its COVID-era Appalachian Farms Feeding Families program, which pays farms to provide CSA boxes or grow produce for businesses and agencies. The program is currently pairing farms with early care and education centers, but this spring, it plans to begin paying farms to provide CSA boxes to restaurant staff members and provide fresh ingredients for restaurant menus, Hart says.

Beyond the economic impact of restaurant closures, the loss of the restaurants themselves is hard to process, says Chender, who was close friends with Cucina 24 owner Canipelli. “This was about people’s love and passions for food and cooking and hospitality,” he says.

“It’s also [about] Asheville losing a lot of the vibe of Asheville — special restaurants that people adore — and then what are we left with? We’re left with more corporate restaurants and hotels.”

The bonds between local growers and restaurants can be very personal, Grier says. “The people who are delivering to you [are asking,] ‘How are your kids?’

‘How’s the farm?’ ‘This looks a lot better than it did last year.’ ‘This tastes different because of the rain or the drought.’

You know, it’s a deeper relationship.”

Both Chender and Grier say they hope restaurants that have reopened will step up to fill the gaps left in the local market by places that have closed. And with consistency, Grier adds — not just when they need a local item to highlight on the chalkboard.

“The restaurant industry is hurting, other farmers are hurting, Western North Carolina’s hurting,” Grier says.

“That’s at the forefront of our minds: caring about the people who are out there struggling in our little ecosystem, hoping that we can all come out as intact as possible. And I think we can.

I think if we’re important to each other, we’re going to support each other.” X

Turning over a Twin Leaf

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 dive into homebrewing and bottle shops, visit avl.mx/epm.

The first thing I noticed when our group meandered into Twin Leaf Brewery in early April was the crowd. Compared to some of the places we’ve visited this year, Twin Leaf was bumping: a van full of people on a brewery tour, a Rotary Club, a hodgepodge of customers playing games plus the 20 or so of us.

The second thing I noticed was the mic setup in the corner. If I’d done my research, I would’ve known that Wednesday is Twin Leaf’s open mic night, but, to be honest, I’d been a little slapdash in my planning. Normally, I’m more “make things happen” than “see what happens,” but that week, I was leaning into serendipity.

Ever taken a wrong turn and ended up at the right place? Maybe it wasn’t even the place you intended but was somehow better? Or maybe your go-to brewery got washed away in a hurricane, so you started a yearlong brewery crawl? Or maybe you said “sin of omission,” but your friend thought you said “Cinnabon mission,” and 20 minutes later, both of your bellies are full and your faces are covered in icing?

Open mics are a test of serendipity because when they’re good, they’re really good, and when they’re not

… whoo, boy. I’m happy to say Twin Leaf’s open mic was the former, hosted by a fellow who calls himself Old Sap — despite being young and, as far as I could tell, not at all sappy.

Everyone who played, including Old Sap himself, was top-notch, so if you love music, it’s worth checking out.

The brewery space was also home to a bunch of quirky games, including familiar ones like giant Jenga and new-to-me ones like boccerball. Imagine foosball, but instead of players skewered on metal rods, you move the ball down the field by hitting it with marbles rolled down

ramps. A series of random collisions eventually leads to success. All right, universe. I get it. Be a little more open to things. I tried Twin Leaf’s Uproot ESB, so-named because (according to the menu) it “gave [the brewery’s founders] the gumption to uproot their lives and pursue this brewing dream.” It was delicious. So I dared to ask the owner, Tim Weber, for a taste of The Fire Within, an IPA “smoked with ancho peppers, poblanos, and arbol chiles.” If you’d asked me beforehand, I’d have said that spicy heat belongs in the food you eat with beer, not in the beer itself. But I’d have been wrong. Somehow Tim manages to get a full, nuanced flavor out of the peppers that really works. I’m glad I tried it. Cheers to new experiences. Come join us on another adventure. We gather at 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays. You can email me at yearinbeerasheville@ gmail.com or just show up.

• April 16: Mills River Brewing Co.

• April 23: Sweeten Creek Brewing X

BREW CREW: The Year in Beer group added to an already robust crowd on a recent Wednesday at Twin Leaf Brewery.

Photo by Christopher Arbor

Lunch at Asheville Proper

On Friday, April 18, downtown live-fire restaurant Asheville Proper will begin offering lunch service 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Friday-Monday. The goal is to offer more affordable dining options to the community, says executive chef Jason Sweeney. “We have built a menu we feel can be within reach for locals and tourists that still features the steaks and fire and refined flare we strive for.”

The lunch menu features starters such as oven-roasted meatballs and grilled calamari; four choices of steak plates; a house-ground burger, grilled eggplant sandwich and much more. Asheville Proper is at 1 Page Ave., Suite 151, in the Grove Arcade. For more information, visit avl.mx/epc. X

Cúrate brew & Easter bites

James Beard Awards finalists

In early April, the James Beard Foundation announced its finalists for the 2025 James Beard Awards, including local Silver Iocovozzi and April Franqueza. The annual awards recognize excellence in the U.S. food and beverage industry.

Iocovozzi, executive chef and co-owner of Neng Jr.’s in West Asheville, is nominated in the Best Chef: Southeast category. Neng Jr.’s opened in 2022 and was named a James Beard Best New Restaurant finalist in 2023. Iocovozzi has been tapped as a Food & Wine Best New Chef and Esquire Rising Star Chef, among other honors.

Franqueza, pastry chef at The Dining Room at High Hampton in Cashiers, is a finalist for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker. She attended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y., and has worked in France and New York City and at Blackberry Farm in Tennessee.

The winners will be announced Monday, June 16, in a gala at the Lyric Opera in Chicago. For more information, visit avl.mx/epb. X

Spring mountain dining & foraging

Downtown Spanish tapas restaurant Cúrate and Highland Brewing Co. recently released a collaborative beer that will be served only at Cúrate through early fall. In a media release, the restaurant describes its Cúrate Blanca beer as “a refreshing, spiced wheat beer brewed with subtle spices and just the right amount of orange zest to finish.”

Cúrate has also announced a special menu to run Saturday-Saturday, April 20-27,

celebrating Easter and the Catalan tradition of St. Jordi’s Day. Featured dishes include seared calamari with salsa verde and lardo, and Cúrate alcachofas — marinated artichokes with radish and lemon. Cúrate is at 13 Biltmore Ave. To make reservations, visit avl.mx/d7k. X

Michelin Guide comes to WNC

chef, author and musician Susi Gott

offers tasty and adventurous ways to celebrate spring in the mountains with several upcoming events.

Séguret’s Appalachian Culinary Experience, starting at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, takes guests on a foraging expedition around her 200-acre mountain property, followed by a casual cooking lesson and dinner.

At her next French Farmhouse Dinner at 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, the French-trained chef will prepare a French menu with wine pairings and conversation at her Madison County home. For more information, visit avl.mx/epd. X

For the first time, Western North Carolina restaurants will have an opportunity to earn a coveted Michelin star. Michelin announced in early April the development of a new Michelin Guide American South that will cover North Carolina, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee along with the already existing Atlanta Guide.

The new publication will be Michelin’s first regional guide in North America, according to a media release. Anonymous inspectors are already in the region scouting restaurants for inclusion. Learn more at avl.mx/epf. X

Local

Séguret

Photo by Susi Séguret

Photo by Jason Sweeney

Photo courtesy of High Hampton

Photo courtesy of Cúrate

Kind bites

Dining Out for Life marks 23 years of fundraising for WNCAP

BY KAY WEST

kswest55@comcast.net

Whether you’re a frequent flyer at Asheville restaurants or only go out to eat for special occasions, Western North Carolina AIDS Project invites you to be among those Dining Out for Life on Thursday, April 24. The organization’s largest annual fundraiser will mark its 23rd year with nearly 50 restaurants on the team.

“The first year, we had 10 restaurants and raised about $25,000,” says Bellamy Crawford, WNCAP’s development director. “Last year we raised over $85,000, and our goal for 2025 is to reach $100,000.”

A small group of volunteers founded WNCAP in 1986, during the early years of the AIDS epidemic, to provide food, comfort and care for people with AIDSrelated illnesses. In the ’90s, the nonprofit added more services dedicated to prevention education, harm reduction, pharmacy resources and case management. As WNCAP grew — it now serves 18 WNC counties — so did the need for funding. WNCAP took the Dining Out for Life (DOFL) model already in existence in other cities out for a spin, launching DOFL Asheville in 2002. The concept requires nothing from diners other than eating out at one of the participating restaurants, which commit to donating 20% of net proceeds to the designated local AIDS organization.

In 2003, Asheville restaurateur Eric Scheffer, who had just co-founded the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association (AIR) that year, was approached by Harry Brown, member of the international board of DOFL and early proponent of the nascent Asheville DOFL. A successful partnership developed from there.

In the effort’s peak year of 2018, Crawford says, over 100 restaurants participated to raise $175,000. “We were No. 5 in the U.S. and Canada and brought in more money than San Francisco, Atlanta, Dallas and Miami.”

Then came COVID-19 in 2020, which shut down the hospitality industry just weeks before that year’s DOFL. Like everyone else, WNCAP pivoted, offering the alternative Dine In for Life, encouraging supporters to order takeout, purchase gift cards from participating restaurants and make online donations.

LIFE FORCE: Asheville restaurateur Eric Scheffer, right, joined forces with international Dining Out for Life board member Harry Brown, left, in 2003 to create Asheville’s annual DOFL event. Courtesy of WNCAP

In the four years since, DOFL had gotten back on track before Helene dealt another devastating blow to Asheville’s hospitality industry.

This year, WNCAP is not asking the 50 DOFL restaurants to commit to donations in advance. Instead, they can see how the day/night goes and do what feels comfortable. As always, DOFL volunteer ambassadors will be assigned to each restaurant to greet diners, share information about WNCAP and invite people to make donations online or through the QR code printed on handouts.

Everyone who donates any amount — whether $5 or $5,000 — from April 24-May 1, will be entered in a drawing for one of three prizes: two nights at the Hutton Hotel in Nashville, two 2025 AIR Passports or a 90-minute float at Still Point Wellness Spa.

Crawford says given the current uncertainty around government funding, it is particularly crucial to maintain awareness of the services WNCAP provides. “We have made great strides, but HIV still exists, and the need remains.”

For more information and a list of this year’s DOFL restaurants, visit avl.mx/ep5. X

SMART BETS

by Edwin Arnaudin | earnaudin@mountainx.com

Caitlin Krisko & The Broadcast Music Is Life — Band Day

After years of operating at the north end of Lexington Avenue, Downtown After 5 has a new home: Pack Square Park. The Asheville Downtown Association’s annual outdoor concert series will hold just three performances this year in its new, more spacious environment, while maintaining the high level of artist curation that attendees have come to expect. Continuing that tradition, Caitlin Krisko & The Broadcast will open the season on Friday, April 18. The longtime Asheville-based roots rockers are known for their captivating live shows, featuring Krisko’s powerhouse vocals and guitarist Aaron Austin’s smooth solos. Fellow locals The Dirty French Broads will warm up the stage starting at 5 p.m. with their self-described “rowdy grass” music. New this year is a dedicated kids zone and a $90 Patron Pass that grants a seat in the

exclusive preferred access area for all three events of the season, as well as one drink token per event. Otherwise, admission is free. avl.mx/ep6 X

Breast Cancer Journeys — Women’s Stories

In honor of National Cancer Control Month, 17 area women who have had breast cancer, or are related to someone who has, are sharing their stories in an exhibit. Breast Cancer Journeys: Women’s Stories opened April 4 at the First Congregational United Church of Christ’s gallery in downtown Asheville. “It has been a wonderful experience working with all of these women and listening to their stories,” says event

organizer Suzanne Ziglar in a press release. “It has been especially gratifying to hear them say that the experience enabled them to have conversations that they had not had before.” The art installation features torsos that the women have collaged, alongside their stories from diagnosis to the present. The works will be displayed in the gallery through Wednesday, April 30. Free to attend. avl.mx/ep8 X

Who doesn’t love a drumline and majorettes combo? Recognizing the universal appeal, the Christine W. Avery (CWA) Learning Center will bring N.C. Central University’s Marching Sound Machine to the Asheville High School football field on Thursday, April 17, as part of the community group’s launch of its Music Is Life program. The acclaimed musicians will perform and lead an interactive clinic for youths ages 7-18. The Music Is Life program offers students marching band and performance training; science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics

Wild Life

One sure sign of a good marriage is successful artistic collaboration. So it goes for local poet Ayal Hurst in her new collection Wild Life, which features photography by her husband, Hawk Hurst. Published on March 17, this set of poems focuses on the author’s search for what personally feels like the ultimate truth. Ayal’s writing reflects the unexpected paths she’s taken throughout her life, leading to fulfilling adventures and mystical experiences. She concludes that unconditional love is always the solution. “To live from that level of love, I also found that I had to let go of my own shadows and wounds, and anything else that seemed to be in the way,” Ayal says in a press release. “It has been a lifelong, ongoing journey of discovery.” avl.mx/pryr X

(STEAM) concepts through music; and social and emotional learning. “We’re thrilled to bring this exciting program to Asheville, as we know how impactful music and performing arts can be for youth development,” says Marcus Joyner, the Music Is Life director and an accomplished drummer, in a press release. “The Music Is Life program not only provides creative outlets for young people, but it also fosters teamwork, discipline and self-expression.” The event runs 11 a.m.-5 p.m. $10 admission includes lunch and use of instruments. Free for current CWA students. avl.mx/ep7 X

Photo of Caitlin Krisko & the Broadcast by Aaron Austin

Photo of the Sound Machine Marching Band courtesy of N.C. Central University

Wild Life image courtesy of Hawk Hurst

Photo courtesy of First Congregational United Church of Christ

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16

12 BONES SMOKEBOUSE & BREWING

Trivia Night w/King Trivia, 7pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

Stand-Up Comedy Open Mic, 8pm

FLEETWOOD'S

PSK Pole Dancing w/ Karaoke, 9pm

HIGHLAND BREWING

CO.

Well-crafted Music

Series: Datrian Johnson w/Mike Rhodes, Tony Black & Matt Smith (multi-genre), 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD

PUB

Old Time Jam, 5pm

NEW BELGIUM BREWING CO.

Daniel Shearin (acoustic), 5:30pm

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

DJ Badonkey Kong (R&B, hip-hop, disco), 10pm

PULP

Standup Comedy Picture Show, 7:30pm

PISGAH BREWING

CO.

The Glass Hours (Americana, country-folk), 6pm

SLY GROG LOUNGE

Weird Wednesday Open Jam, 7pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS

Gull, Infinitikiss & Werewolf Hours (experimental, post-punk, psych), 8:30pm

THE GREY EAGLE

Being Dead w/Seismic Sutra (garage-rock, indie), 8pm

THE JOINT NEXT

DOOR

Moonbeatz (rock, folk, country), 7pm

THE ODD Terraoke Karaoke Takeover, 9pm

opt. 4.

THIRD ROOM

Will Evans (folk), 8pm

TWIN LEAF BREWERY

Open Mic Night, 6pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN

Straight Ahead

Wednesdays w/Evan Martin, 7:30pm

THURSDAY, APRIL 17

12 BONES

SMOKEBOUSE & BREWING

Clint Roberts (Appalachian, old-time), 5:30pm

27 CLUB

Vicki's Dream w/The Amatory Murder & October Noir (darkwave, metal, goth), 8pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Houseplant w/Ben Atkind (indie, electronic), 8pm

BEARS SMOKEHOUSE

BBQ Roots in the Round (multi-genre), 7pm

CROW & QUILL

Meschiya Lake & The Moodswingers (blues, jazz), 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

Bluegrass Jam w/Cast Iron Bluegrass Jam, 6:30pm

FLEETWOOD'S

The Cult of Nasty & Night Beers (metal, punk), 9pm

FLOOD GALLERY

True Home Open Mic, 6pm

GINGER'S REVENGE CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM

Blue Ridge Pride Open Mic, 6pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Carolina Sage (country, western-swing, Americana), 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Bluegrass Jam w/Drew Matulich, 7pm

LEVELLER BREWING CO.

Open Old Time Jam, 6pm

NEW BELGIUM BREWING CO.

It's Trivial w/Divine, 5:30pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.

Kid Billy (funk, soul, Americana), 7pm

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

Open Jam, 9pm

ONE WORLD BREWING

K.T. Vandyke & Roger Ramsey (Appalachian, bluegrass), 8pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

Fee Fi Phaux Fish (Phish tribute), 8pm

PISGAH BREWING CO.

Unihorn (funk), 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

STATIC AGE RECORDS

Slow Slow Loris, XAMBUCA, Unbridled

Sonic Anarchy (avant-garde, industrial, experimental), 8:30pm

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR

Hope Griffin (folk), 7pm

THE ORANGE PEEL Sold Out: Glaive (hyper-pop, alt-indie), 8pm

WICKED WEED

BREWING

Pete Townsend (acoustic), 5pm

CLUBLAND

BAKER & TORRES PROJECT: On Thursday, April 24, country duo Julien Baker & Torres will perform at The Orange Peel as part of their Send A Prayer My Way tour, starting at 8 p.m. Known for their guitar, banjo and pedal steel, the pair also promise elegant lyrics and tales of struggle, love and more. Photo courtesy of Ebru Yildiz

WORTHAM CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Karen Morgan (comedy), 7pm

FRIDAY, APRIL 18

CORK & KEG

Fancy & The 45s (jazz, honky-tonk, rockabilly), 8pm

CROW & QUILL

Nick Garrison (jazz), 8:30pm

EULOGY

The Weird Sisters w/ Fantomex (disco, funk alt-rock), 8pm

FLEETWOOD'S Deca-Dance: An Asheville FM Dance Party, 8pm

GINGER'S REVENGE CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM

Mike Hollon (roots, blues, Americana), 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Brother & the Hayes (Americana, country), 9pm

LEAF GLOBAL ARTS Jazz Jam, 6pm

LAZOOM ROOM

The Braver Variety Show, 8pm

NEW BELGIUM BREWING CO.

Lavender Blue (grunge, folk), 5:30pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.

Ashley Heath & Chris Everett Group (blues, rock'n'roll), 8pm

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

• Gill Knott (folk, Americana, pop), 6pm

• Florecia & The Feeling (pop-funk, jazz, Latin), 10pm

ONE WORLD BREWING

Red Rock Hill (Americana, indie-rock), 8pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

Mountain Walrus (funk, rock), 9pm

SHAKEY'S Big Blue Jams Band (multi-genre), 9pm

SHILOH & GAINES

Candler Rice (folk, country), 8pm

SIERRA NEVADA BREWING CO.

The Nth Power (soul, jazz, funk), 7:30pm

SLY GROG LOUNGE Basstripper w/Souljunk, Chaos Syndicate, Eclipsed Shadows (electronic, drum'n'bass), 8pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS Auralayer, Sunbearer & Mean Green (doom-metal, pop, rock), 9pm

THE GREY EAGLE

• Kyle Gordon (comedy-songs), 7pm

• Tank & the Bangas (R&B, soul, hip-hop), 10pm

CLUBLAND

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR

Soul Blue (soul, blues, R&B), 7pm

THE MEADOW AT HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

BoogiTherapi (funk, R&B, soul), 7pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

The Taylor Party: Taylor Swift Night, 8pm

THE STATION BLACK MOUNTAIN

Mr Jimmy (blues), 5pm

THIRD ROOM

Armchair Boogie (funkgrass, new-grass), 8pm

URBAN ORCHARD

A Journey into Sound w/Hypnocat, zHoods, Hackett & Brick_Fist (tech-house, deep-tech, techno), 9pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN

Abby Posner w/Paula Fong (folks, electronic, pop), 7:30pm

SATURDAY, APRIL 19

ASHEVILLE CLUB

Mr Jimmy (blues), 6pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

LTJ Bukem w/MC Armani Reign (jungle, drum'n'bass), 10pm

BEARS SMOKEHOUSE

BBQ

Shed Bugs (funk, blues, psych-rock), 7pm

BATTERY PARK BOOK

EXCHANGE

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

CROW & QUILL

Drayton & The Dreamboats (jazz, rock'n'roll), 8pm

EDA'S HIDE-A-WAY

Tanner Burch (country, honky-tonk), 8pm

EULOGY

Cheekface w/Pacing (indie-rock), 8pm

FLEETWOOD'S Small Doses, Snake

Snake Whale & Come in Travis (punk, noise-rock, hardcore), 9pm

GINGER'S REVENGE

Modelface Comedy

Presents: Gluten-Free Comedy, 7pm

JACK OF THE WOOD

PUB

• Nobody’s Darling String Band, 4pm

• Ashley Heath & Her Heathens (Americana, soul), 9pm

MEADOWLARK

MOTEL

Kevin Dolan & Paul Koptak (folk, Americana), 7pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.

The Abbey Elmore Band (soul, indie-pop), 8pm

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL Water Tower (bluegrass, punk-rock), 10pm

ONE WORLD

BREWING

Brent Hyder (psychpop, synth-rock, funk), 8pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

Jost Daniel's Grateful Dead (rock'n'roll, bluegrass, funk), 9pm

PERI SOCIAL HOUSE : BAR ~ COFFEE ~ BOUTIQUE HOTEL

Z Man Experience (acoustic), 4pm

SHAKEY'S Trash Talk Queer Dance Party & Drag Show, 10pm

SIERRA NEVADA

BREWING CO.

Life Like Water (global-folk), 2pm

SLY GROG LOUNGE

Bicycle Day w/ SOOHAN, Plantrae & Numatik (electronic), 4pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS

DJ Digital Spliff, 9pm

THE GREY EAGLE

La Luz w/Color Green (rock), 8pm

THE MEADOW AT HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Pleasure Chest (blues, soul, rock), 6pm

THE ODD

• Terror Cell, Rotting In Dirt, Serrate & Wide Open Wound (screamo, metal-core, hardcore), 2pm

• Party Foul Drag, 8pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

Sold Out: Bingo Loco, 6pm

THIRD ROOM

Bicycle Day By Night w/ KR3TURE (multi-genre), 8:45pm

TURGUA BREWING CO

Rod Sphere (soul, rock, reggae), 5pm

SUNDAY, APRIL 20

27 CLUB

Bill's 420 Hotbox, 9pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Small Axe 420 Bash w/ Beekeepers, Big Fur & After Ours, 9pm

BEARS SMOKEHOUSE

BBQ

Mike Hollon (roots, blues, Americana), 2pm

EULOGY

420 w/Bongripper, Dorthia Cottrell, Kalgon, Wyndrider & Hempire (sludge, metal, stoner-doom), 5pm

FLEETWOOD'S Bloodletting (Gothic Night Easter Night), 8:30pm

GINGER'S REVENGE CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM

Sunday Jazz Jam, 2:30pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

• The Bluegrass Boys, 12pm

• Traditional Irish Music Session, 3:30pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Shakedown Sunday (Grateful Dead tribute), 9pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

• Suns of Stars Sunday Residency (bluegrass), 2pm

• 420 w/DJ Bios+a+ic (reggae, dub), 7pm

PISGAH BREWING

CO.

Pisgah Sunday Jam, 6:30pm

SIERRA NEVADA BREWING CO.

South Hill Banks (bluegrass, rock), 2pm

SLY GROG LOUNGE Open Mic w/Mike Andersen, 6:30pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA 4/20 Roots Reggae Party w/The Sun Sippers, 4pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS Mtn Dewbie, bangx7, Ton of a Bitch, Rich Inner Life Love You So Much, Soured & Soleil Ouimet (rock), 7:30pm

THE GREY EAGLE

• Burlesque Brunch, 12pm

• Patio: Phuncle Sam (Grateful Dead tribute), 3pm

• Corridor w/Robber Robber (indie-rock), 8pm

THE MEADOW AT HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Ashley Heath (Americana, blues, country), 2pm

THE ODD Destroy All Music w/ Jimbo, 1pm

THE ORANGE PEEL Protoje Meets Tippy (reggae, dub), 8pm

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

STATIC AGE RECORDS

Dauber, Pipsqueak & Matt Geary (rock'n'roll), 8:30pm

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR

Mr Jimmy & Friends (blues), 7pm

TUESDAY, APRIL 22

27 CLUB

Here to Pee (comedy), 8pm

ARCHETYPE

BREWING

Trivia Tuesdays w/Party Grampa, 6:30pm FLEETWOOD'S Turntable Tuesdays, 9pm

LITTLE JUMBO

Jay Sanders, Will Boyd, Zack Page & Evan Martin (jazz), 7pm

LOOKOUT BREWING CO.

Team Trivia, 6:30pm

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

• Tuesday Early Jam, 7pm

• Uncle Lenny's Krazy Karaoke, 10pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

The Grateful Family Band Tuesdays (Grateful Dead tribute), 6pm

THE GREY EAGLE

The Mystery Lights & Levitation Room w/ Designer (rock'n'roll, psych-rock), 8pm

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR

The Lads AVL (rock, blues), 6pm

THIRD ROOM Open Decks, 8pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN

White Horse's Open Mic, 7pm

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23

12 BONES

SMOKEBOUSE & BREWING

Trivia Night w/King Trivia, 7pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Stand-Up Comedy Open Mic, 8pm EULOGY

Rezn w/Harsh Realm & Howling Giant (metal, prog-rock, psyche), 8pm

FLEETWOOD'S PSK Pole Dancing w/ Karaoke, 9pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Well-crafted Music Series: Wyndham Baird w/Kevin Williams, Evan Martin & Matt Smith (multi-genre), 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Old Time Jam, 5pm

NEW BELGIUM BREWING CO.

Daniel Shearin (acoustic), 5:30pm

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Jared Sage Band (rock), 10pm

PISGAH BREWING CO.

Laura Blackley & Dave Zoll (Appalachian-blues, soul, rock'n'roll), 6pm

SLY GROG LOUNGE

Weird Wednesday Open Jam, 7pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS

Jackson Fig, Better Living & Sean O'Hara (alt-rock, shoegaze, punk), 8:30pm

THE DOUBLE CROWN

Liliana Hudgens Grace w/Wes Pearce & Oil

Derek (indie-folk, alt-country, Americana), 8:30pm

THE GREY EAGLE

Golden Folk Sessions, 7pm

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR

Laura Thurston (Americana, folk-grass), 7pm

THE ODD

Terraoke Karaoke Takeover, 9pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

The Birthday Massacre w/Essenger & Magic Wands (electronic, rock, dark-wave), 8pm

TWIN LEAF BREWERY Open Mic Night, 6pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN

• Irish Session, 5pm

• Melissa McKinney's Bad Ass Blues Jam, 7:30pm

THURSDAY, APRIL 24

12 BONES

SMOKEBOUSE & BREWING

Andy Ferrell (folk, country, Appalachian), 5:30pm

27 CLUB

Zombii, The Ruff'tons, Colossal Human Failure & Halogi (punk, rock), 9pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

Penelope Road (rock, pop, funk), 8pm

BEARS SMOKEHOUSE

BBQ Roots in the Round (multi-genre), 7pm

CROW & QUILL

Meschiya Lake & The Moodswingers (blues, jazz), 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 Why Why? w/My Gal Monday & Pinkeye (surf-rock, alt-rock, punk), 8pm

FLEETWOOD'S The Peawees, Cam Girl & Yellowbellies (garage-punk, rock), 9pm

FLOOD GALLERY

True Home Open Mic, 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Bluegrass Jam w/Drew Matulich, 7pm

LEVELLER BREWING CO.

Irish Session, 6pm

OKLAWAHA

BREWING CO.

Izzi Hughes (acoustic), 7pm

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

Lady & The Lovers (altR&B, soul, rock), 9pm

ONE WORLD BREWING

Eli Lev (alt-country, Americana), 8pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

Fee Fi Phaux Fish (Phish tribute), 8pm

PISGAH BREWING CO.

Andrew Scotchie & Special Guests (rock'n'roll, blues, Americana), 6:30pm

SHAKEY'S Karaoke w/Franco Nino, 9pm

STATIC AGE LOFT

Auto-Tune Karaoke w/ Who Gave This B*tch A Mic, 10pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS Yellow/Pink, Subvertigo, Trust Blinks. &ArawrA (electronic, hyper-pop, alt-folk), 8:30pm

THE GREY EAGLE

• Patio: Whitehall w/ Cal in Red (indie-rock), 5:30pm

• Grayson Capps w/ Corky Hughes (folk, blues), 8pm

THE MEADOW AT HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Juice Ratsusz & The Moonshine Boys (honky-tonk, bluegrass), 6pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

Julien Baker & Torres (country), 8pm

WICKED WEED BREWING

Owen Walsh (acoustic), 5pm

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): I am always surprised when there appears yet another authoritative article or book that implies there is one specific right approach to meditation. The truth is, however, that there are many ways. Here’s teacher Christopher Bamford: “Meditation is naturally individual, uniquely our own. There are no rules. Just as every potter will elaborate their own way of making pots, so everyone who meditates will shape their own meditation.” This is excellent counsel for you right now, Aries. The planetary alignments tell me you have extra power to define and develop your unique style of meditation. Key point: Have fun as you go deeper and deeper!

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): From 1501 to 1504, the artist Michelangelo worked to create a 17-feet-tall marble sculpture of the Biblical king known as David. Today it stands in Florence’s Galleria dell’Accademia and is one of the most famous statues in the world. But the block of marble from which it was carved had a troubled beginning. Two other artists worked on it but ultimately abandoned their efforts, regarding the raw material as flawed. Michelangelo saw potential where they didn’t. He coaxed a masterpiece from what they rejected. Be like him in the coming weeks, dear Taurus! Look for treasure in situations that others deem unremarkable. Find the beauty hidden from the rest of the world.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The Judean date palm was considered extinct for over 800 years. Then scientists germinated a 2,000-year-old seed discovered in the ancient fortress of Masada. That was 20 years ago. Today, the tree, named Methuselah, is still thriving. Let’s regard this as your metaphor of power, Gemini. You, too, are now capable of reviving a long-dormant possibility. An old dream or relationship might show unexpected signs of life. Like that old seed, something you thought was lost could flourish if you give it your love and attention.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): In more than a few ancient cultures, dolphins were regarded as playful allies that would guide lost ships and assist sailors in stress. In ancient Greek myth, dolphins were sacred companions and agents of the sea god. In Maori culture, dolphins were thought to deliver important messages that were unavailable any other way. Many modern Westerners downplay stories like these. But according to my philosophy, spirit allies like dolphins are still very much available for those who are open to them. Are you, Cancerian? I’m pleased to tell you that magical helpers and divine intermediaries will offer you mysterious and useful counsel in the coming weeks — if you are receptive to the possibility.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Do you know about the Leo liberator Simón Bolívar (1783–1830)? This Venezuelan statesman and military officer accomplished a cornucopia of good works. Through his leadership, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Panama, Bolivia and Ecuador gained independence from the Spanish empire. He was one of history’s greatest crusaders for liberal democracy. I propose we make him one of your inspiring symbols for the next 12 months. May he inspire you, too, to be a courageous emancipator who helps create a better world.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Virgo conductor Leonard Bernstein was a global superstar because of his stellar musicianship, activism, philanthropy and teaching. He transformed classical music by dissolving barriers between “high” and “low” culture, bringing elegant symphonies to popular audiences while promoting respect for jazz and pop. He wanted all kinds of music to be accessible to all kinds of listeners. I think you are currently capable of Bernstein-like synergies, Virgo. You can bridge different worlds not only for your own benefit, but also others’. You have extra power to accomplish unlikely combinations and enriching mergers. Be a unifier!

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): A rainbow is gorgeous, with its spectacular multi-hued arc

sweeping across the sky. Here’s another element of its poetic appeal: It happens when sunlight and rain collaborate. In a sense, it’s a symbol of the sublimity that may emerge from a synergy of brightness and darkness. Let’s make the rainbow your symbol of power in the coming weeks, Libra. May it inspire you to find harmony by dealing with contrasts and paradoxes. May it encourage you to balance logic and emotion, work and rest, light and shadow, independence and partnership. I hope you will trust your ability to mediate and inspire cooperation.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You now have more power than usual to transform ordinary things into extraordinary things. Your imagination will work at peak levels as you meditate on how to repurpose existing resources in creative ways. What other people might regard as irrelevant or inconsequential could be useful tools in your hands. I invite you to give special attention to overlooked assets. They may have hidden potentials waiting for you to unlock them.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): If you google the term “the religion of work,” many critical references come up. They condemn the ways humans place an inordinate importance on the jobs they do, thereby sacrificing their health and soulfulness. The derogatory English term “workaholic” is a descriptor for those whose are manically devoted to “the religion of work.” But now let’s shift gears. The artist Maruja Mallo (1902–1995) conjured a different version of “the religion of work.” Her paintings celebrated, even expressed reverence for the agricultural laborers of rural Spain. She felt their positive attitudes toward their tasks enhanced their health and soulfulness. In the coming weeks, Sagittarius, I invite you to explore Mallo’s version of the religion of work.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Astrologer Aliza Kelly likes Capricorns for their “fearless ambition, limitless resilience, and ability to keep pushing forward, even in the face of challenging adversity.” But she also praises their “secret wild side.” She writes, “Inside every earnest Capricorn is a mischievous troublemaker” that “loves to party.” I agree with her assessments and am happy to announce that the rowdier sides of your nature are due for full expression in the coming weeks. I don’t know if that will involve you “dancing on tables,” an activity Kelly ascribes to you. But I bet it will at least include interludes we can describe as “untamed.”

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In 1922, Aquarian author James Joyce published Ulysses, a novel recognized as one of the masterworks of 20th-century world literature. Seventeen years later, he produced Finnegans Wake, an uproarious experimental novel that was universally reviled when it first emerged because of its wild wordplay, unusual plot and frantic energy. In the ensuing years, though, it has also come to be regarded as a monument of brilliant creativity. It’s one of my favorite books, and I’m glad Joyce never wavered in his commitment to producing such an epic work of genius. Anyway, Aquarius, I’m guessing you have been toiling away at your own equivalent of Finnegans Wake I beg you to maintain your faith! Keep going!

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Years ago, in the early days of my infatuation with a new lover, she put a blindfold on me and ushered me around the city of Columbia, S.C. The goal was to enhance my non-visual senses. The experiment worked. I heard, smelled and felt things I would never have noticed unless my dominating eyesight had been muffled. Ever since, my non-visual senses have operated with more alacrity. This fun project also improved the way I use my eyes. The coming days would be an excellent time for you to try a similar adventure, Pisces. If my idea isn’t exactly engaging to you, come up with your own. You will benefit profoundly from enhancing your perceptual apparatus.

MARKETPLACE

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

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

REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE SERVICES

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RENTALS

APARTMENTS FOR RENT

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EMPLOYMENT

GENERAL

JOIN THE UNITED WAY TEAM: UNITED FOR YOUTH NETWORK MANAGER United Way seeks a United for Youth Network Manager to facilitate cross-sector collaboration, support partners, develop strategic workgroups, and create space for youth leadership. This role ensures effective systems and community-wide partnerships to drive meaningful impact. Apply today and help strengthen our community! For more information and to apply, visit unitedwayabc.org/ employment-opportunities

SYSTEM LOGISTICS CORPORATION CURRENTLY HAS OPENINGS IN THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS IN

OUR ARDEN, NC OFFICE

AGV PROGRAM MANAGER

– Responsible for managing commissioning of AGV systems and ensuring proper installation maintenance, and service of automated handling systems.

Vocational or Technical high school diploma with a focus on electronics, electrical technology, or related area and 3 years experience as a customer service technician or related occupation required. Up to 90% travel to customer sites throughout the U.S. required. Reference AGVPM-AD1. 24/7

Technical Support Engineer –Responsible for developing and supporting VPS and Systore software applications, including development in one or more application environments. Bachelor’s degree and 1 year experience in a related software development application required. Up to 10% travel to various customer locations throughout the U.S. required. Reference TSE-PS1. Send resume to SLC HR, 115 Visa Boulevard, Arden, NC 28704 or via email to erin.carter@ systemlogistics.com. No phone calls please.

SALES/ MARKETING

SENIOR SALES ASSOCIATE

Work for a local company that has covered the local scene for 30 years! Mountain Xpress newspaper is a supportive, team-oriented environment serving local readers and businesses. We are seeking an experienced and enthusiastic advertising sales representative. Ideal candidates are personable, organized, motivated, and can present our company with confidence. Necessary skills include clear and professional communications (via phone, email, and in-person meetings),

detailed record-keeping, and self motivation. Experience dealing with varied and challenging situations is helpful. The position’s responsibilities include account development and lead generation (including cold-calling), account management, assisting clients with marketing and branding strategies. If you are a high energy, positive, cooperative person looking to join an independent media organization, please send a resume and cover letter (no walk-ins, please) explaining why you are a good fit for Mountain Xpress to: xpressjob@mountainx.com. This is a noncommissioned position. There is potential for a performance-based annual bonus. Salary: $22 per hour.

TEACHING/ EDUCATION

HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER Fletcher Academy, Inc. seeks a High School Teacher in Fletcher, NC. Req: Bach. in Phys. Educ., Coaching and Athletics Admin. and 2 yrs. of exp. Contact: cpetty@ fletcheracademy.org

ARTS/MEDIA

FRONT OFFICE/MARKETING

RETAIL

PART TIME RETAIL MER-

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SALON/ SPA

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STUDIO CHAVARRIA - 17 RANKIN AVE Booth rental available for hairstylist. Salon located in downtown Asheville. Seeking stylist with experience to join our team. Must have

ASSISTANT Work for an alternative newsweekly that has covered the local scene for over 30 years! Mountain Xpress is a supportive, team-oriented environment serving local readers and businesses. Help build community and strengthen democracy by joining a fiercely independent, mission-driven business. We are seeking an enthusiastic and diligent addition to our front office operations. The ideal candidate is a community-minded, proven self-starter who is adept at juggling multiple diverse tasks at the same time. Responsibilities vary from day-to-day requirements such as answering the main line and being a point person for visitors, accounting and collections work and sales support, to taking ownership of digital marketing initiatives to grow our member and subscriber base. Skills needed: A friendly, professional demeanor, thorough (almost fanatical) accuracy with financial data entry details, strong verbal and written communication skills, broad computer literacy (including digital marketing and office software tools such as spreadsheets), the ability to self-organize, engage with repetitive data-entry, multitask under pressure. Experience in office administration and/or marketing preferred. This is a full time position with annual PTO and sick days. Please email xpressjob@mountainx.com with a cover letter and resume.

INTRO TO LYRA

Sundays 12pm BUTI YOGA

Mondays 4:45pm FLOOR SORCERY

Tuesdays 7:30pm

INTRO TO BUNGEE

Fridays 6:30pm

INTRO TO POLE Fridays 4:30pm Saturdays 11:00am

a valid NC license. Please call to set up interview. 828-2307088

HOME IMPROVEMENT

ELECTRICIAN

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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IF YOU HAD KNEE OR HIP REPLACEMENT SURGERY and suffered an infection due to use of a Bair Hugger (Blue Blanket), between 2020 and the present time, you may be entitled to compensation. Call attorney Charles H. Johnson 800-535-5727. (NC Press)

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MARKETPLACE

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ACROSS

1 Exclamation before the 10th inning

8 Facets

15 Gabriel García Márquez’s “Love in the Time of ___”

16 Cousin of a squadron

17 Greek goddess whose namesake NASA mission plans to land the first female astronaut on the moon

18 Folk song figure who is implored not to cry

19 Allow

20 ___-ops

21 High-traffic hosp. areas

22 German article

23 Sierra ___

25 Mall stall

27 Globular regalia

30 Marché de ___ (French yuletide market)

32 The Wicked Witch of the West, in “Wicked”

35 Grammy’s Album of the Year winner for 2024’s “Cowboy Carter”

39 Someone with a burning desire

40 Uncomplicated

42 Take off

43 Show visible disdain

45 Crazy, sexy or cool: Abbr.

46 Place to buy a toy for a toy

47 Boolean operators denoted by v-like symbols

48 Professional in risk assessment

51 “___ be my honor”

52 Kid-lit character with telekinetic abilities

54 “Brand New Key” singer, 1971

56 Sticky stuff

57 Tool to unlock most modern cars

58 Perform a classic magic trick that’s depicted figuratively in this grid?

67 Target of a military hunt

68 Heidi Klum, for one

69 Birthplace of Halle Berry and Simone Biles

70 Ruse

71 Yarn spinner’s tool

72 Like plump peaches, typically

DOWN

1 Poker declaration

2 Kinsey scale rating for someone equally attracted to men and women

3 ___ voce (musical notation meaning “soft voice”)

4 Lager alternative

5 Paint sometimes made with egg yolk

6 “Bearded” flower

7 Uncomplicated

8 Part of the Hagia Sophia with a celebrated mosaic of Mary and child

9 Curve on a score

10 FaceID or TouchID

11 Important info for an airport pickup, informally

12 What an apartment may be converted into

13 Musical notes

14 Mocking comments,

24 Never ever ever 26 “You win!”

28 ___ America, network behind “Killing Eve”

29 Sprinkled with seasoning, in Italian

30 Classic arcade game in which characters can dunk at humanly impossible heights

31 Poetic preposition

32 Surrey town known for its salt 33 Yoga pants fabric 34 “Drink up!” 36 Unavailable, as a doctor

Parodia and peyote, for two 38 Wear down 41 Ending with Smith or Barnard

44 TV series whose name is shown on a vanity license plate in its opening sequence 46 Traffic cone 49 Obsolescent data storage options 50 Freebie at most American diners 53 Country that elected its first female P.M. in 2022

Hate, hate, hate!

Sticky stuff

Leatherworker’s tool

Court

Swab

Hullaballoo

Prefix with -phyte