Mountain Xpress 03.27.24

CONTENTS

FEATURES PAGE 14

DOGGONE ADORABLE

8

HCA critics may not realize they’re also shareholders

9

Business improvement district proposal praised at State of Downtown address

13

Cease Harm Audit shows lack of equity data in Asheville, Buncombe governments

23

Longime educator and advocate for the deaf wins statewide

28

Local poet revisits childhood memories in latest collection

Not all of Asheville’s dogs live a life of leisure. Some have jobs providing comfort in our libraries and schools as well as on our streets. Xpress met up with three community canines who work hard for the money — OK, the dog treats. This week’s cover features eightyear-old Cora Geitner and Flora, a certified therapy dog.

COVER PHOTO

Jess Wakeman

COVER DESIGN

Scott Southwick 4 LETTERS

4 CARTOON: MOLTON

5 CARTOON:

Rose

Edwin Arnaudin, Thomas Calder, Andy Hall, Justin McGuire, Greg Parlier, Brooke Randle, Gina Smith, Jessica Wakeman

30

Couple trade corporate life for kimchi

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Mindi Friedwald, Peter Gregutt, Rob Mikulak

REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS:

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Cindy Kunst

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Susan Hutchinson

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Ashley Alms, Corey Biskind, Tracy Houston, John McKay, Henry Mitchell, Courtney Israel Nash, Joey Nash, Carl & Debbie Schweiger, Gary Selnick, Noah Tanner

Take responsibility for carbon footprint

Asheville scores above the national average in sensitivity to climate change due to global warming and the importance of green and clean energy. A personal carbon footprint should not be all that difficult to understand.

Here is a look at the impact of our motor vehicle culture. One gallon of gasoline produces 20 pounds of CO2. If a person drives a vehicle 15,000 miles per year and averages 30 miles per gallon, that’s 10,000 pounds of CO2 produced from that vehicle in one year. If the owner of the vehicle drives that vehicle for 10 years, the vehicle produces 100,000 pounds of CO2.

Currently, most of that CO2 by weight is stored in either the atmosphere or bodies of water. Every molecule of CO2 from the first year through the 10th is still present, adding to the crisis of global warming. If you multiply the number of vehicles on the planet that average placing 10,000 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere in one year and 100,000 pounds in 10 years, the number is in billions of metric tons.

So, what is the implication of these numbers? The answer is environmental degradation. It starts with one vehicle at a time. It starts here in Asheville and in Buncombe County. What are you driving? How many miles per year? How many miles per gallon do you average? Now do the math to look at just this one component of your personal carbon footprint.

In the end, the equation is simple. We all must take greater responsibility for the degradation of the planet and actions we must take to reverse the trajectory of this destructive curve. For a lot of us who drive motor vehicles, it can start one gallon at a time. The results may be electrifying.

— Richard Boyum Candler

CARTOON BY RANDY MOLTON

Another layer of The Orange Peel’s story

That was a very nice article about The Orange Peel’s history [“The Soul of Asheville: Uncovering The Orange Peel’s Black Music Roots,” March 6, Xpress]. It looks to be a great supplement to the work the OP’s staff had already done on the club’s history. And the club’s relationship to the Black history of Asheville is an important part of Asheville’s history that deserves to be known and something we’re all proud of. However, the modern rebirth of the club is, unfortunately, not accurately described in the last few paragraphs.

Public Interest Projects does not own the building and never has. As part of our efforts, financed by Julian Price’s generosity, to revitalize a downtown and a city that had suffered economically since the Depression, we created or financially supported businesses

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Lesley Groetsch from New Orleans to manage the club. Jack had run a New Orleans club for many years, and he was a big help in setting up the new venue. Many people got the impression that they owned the club. Although we always owned the club and were financially responsible for it in every way, we were happy to stay in the background, as Julian preferred.

During the first years of operations, the club did not do well financially, and after three-plus years, Jack and Lesley left. Public Interest Projects then took over management of the club with able help from a number of young, music-loving managers and with advice from Ashley Capps and AC Entertainment. We wouldn’t be writing this, but we’ve corrected the record a few times in the past, and still, almost 20 years later, this misunderstanding has persisted.

downtown (including a bookstore, a bakery, a number of restaurants, a movie theater, a furniture store, a grocery store and a number of workforce housing apartment buildings). As part of that effort, we had looked for a number of years for a downtown site in which to open a live music club.

Based on our knowledge of downtown Asheville’s nascent but growing eclectic energy and our experience of intimate live music shows at other smaller local venues, we felt a worldclass music venue could be transformative for downtown. We heard that the auto parts store on Lexington behind the club was no longer using the site as an auto parts warehouse and were aware that years before it had served as The Orange Peel. We got permission from the owner, then a bank trust department, to view the interior.

We found that apparently the warehouse function had largely been on the lower level. The main floor was still set up as a music club with a weddingcake-style stage covered with shag carpeting located at the west wall. It had the wooden floors we still have. The entire main room had a drop ceiling hanging about 9 feet above the floor. I pushed up a drop-ceiling panel and saw that above that, high above the floor, was a steel-truss-supported roof. This meant there didn’t need to be any view- or sound-distorting interior columns. We knew we had found our potential live music venue.

In order to amortize the extensive repairs and updating required by modern codes, we arranged a long-term lease of the building, which is still owned by an heir of the auto parts business. We hired and brought Jack and

Everybody involved in The Orange Peel’s success is proud of the venue and the part it has played in helping Asheville develop a national reputation for its live music scene. We’ve also been proud to pay homage to and continue the legacy of the original Orange Peel.

— J. Patrick Whalen Jr. Public Interest Projects, Inc. Asheville

Ask Edwards to support Alzheimer’s work

As a speech-language pathologist who lost her grandfather to Alzheimer’s, I understand firsthand the impact this disease has. At a time when more than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, including 180,000 in North Carolina, prioritizing how this devastating disease is addressed remains critical.

This is why I advocate. My grandmother put her life on hold to care for my grandfather. I watched Alzheimer’s take its toll on them — physically, emotionally, spiritually, financially. I watched through two windows: speech therapist with knowledge of disease progression and granddaughter wanting to hold onto who her PawPaw was! My why … is more time! More Sunday lunches. Jokes from the man who gave us side stitches. Bowling with BLTs and golf with oatmeal cookies, a “pack o’ Nabs” and sweet tea! More time to travel and never get lost thanks to his trusty atlas. Mowing days with his solar-powered fan hat. Recliner naps while “watching” TV. Mornings reading the funny papers, having coffee and eating cereal or oatmeal. Firm handshakes for anyone he met. More tight hugs for his granddaughters. More “Good morning, I’ll be back in a jiffy,” “Yehoooo, I’m home” and goodnight kisses for MawMaw. More

CARTOON BY BRENT BROWN

late-night popcorn and peanut butter snacks. I could go on and on!

What if diagnosing Alzheimer’s was more streamlined and accompanied by next steps; follow-up was timely; there was better support; prevention was prioritized; treatments were equitable, accessible, affordable? What if?

Progress has been made in the fight against Alzheimer’s since the implementation of the National Alzheimer’s Project Act and the Alzheimer’s Accountability Act. With NAPA and AAA set to expire in 2025, updated legislation is urgent

Thankfully, U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-11th District, can act today to address the Alzheimer’s and dementia public health crisis in North Carolina and across the nation.

NAPA will build upon research, clinical and long-term care and public awareness, and would add focus on the importance of healthy aging and risk reduction.

The Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act will ensure scientists can perform at a more rapid pace to advance basic disease knowledge, explore ways to reduce risk, uncover new biomarkers for early diagnosis and drug targeting, and develop new treatments.

PleasejointheAlzheimer’sAssociation in encouraging Rep. Edwards to support the NAPA Reauthorization Act and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act.

For information and assistance, see [avl.mx/dhy]. The direct link to action is at [avl.mx/dhz].

— Karolanne Trogdon Waynesville

Are we taking steps toward peace and justice?

Again, I wish our local churches were more visible in our area and across the United States. There have been some signs since Mountain Xpress published an opinion piece in October 2023 asking, “Where Are the Involved Local Churches?” I’ve noticed actions of locals calling for a cease-fire in Gaza. I don’t know if they are affiliated with with any specific church, but the silent prayer vigils for Israel and Palestinians were attended by Christians and Jews. And I’m thankful as the Resist Raytheon and Veterans for Peace groups continue to vigil for peace and justice.

I do know that Land of Sky United Church of Christ in Asheville is making itself visible in the call for love and peace in the world, calling us to stop the killing of innocent people and children in Gaza. They are demonstrating for a cease-fire on Thursday afternoons. And, equally important, Land of Sky hosted a Palestinian from Gaza, Hani Almadhoun, on March 9. Almadhoun shared his personal

experiences of tragedy, famine, faith and hope along with some historical background. I estimate about 200 or so people attended the session.

Here’s a blurb from Land of Sky: “During the season of Lent, we will join with others across the globe by walking in solidarity for those suffering in the Holy Land. We will meet at the French Broad Park, walk approximately 3.2 miles each week and commit to calling our representative or writing.”

But, on the whole, mature spiritual religious values are not at the forefront of our Disunited States of America. Perhaps it’s impossible to number how many different religions are on this planet, but in our country, there are some 2,000 different Christian denominations. That’s a lot of churches, but basically invisible.

There is much that is right about a mature religious spirituality. In the Asheville area, there are many people supporting others with hearts of compassion and kindness to relieve suffering and nonviolently stand up for justice. But that’s not enough. For example, our Asheville Council we elected has not approved a proclamation calling for a cease-fire in Gaza that would favor both Israel and the Palestinians. The count is over 31,000 killed, including 4,100 children.

Recently, Rabbi Arthur Waskow spoke of Aaron Bushnell, an air-

man in the U.S. Air Force who set himself on fire while shouting “Free Palestine.” The rabbi said, “What I learned from Aaron is not to do the act he did but to act in the spirit of his action: I will increase and strengthen my own work to end this bloodshed of utter destruction in which my own nation has become a major part.”

This reminds me of the monks, nuns and laypeople in Vietnam who set themselves on fire to end the Vietnam War — a war that ended in defeat for the Disunited States. And in Afghanistan, the return of the fundamentalist Taliban to power is another example of an American defeat.

The evil of war-making will not drive out evil. Kindness, respect, toleration and cooperation will create a better world. Not perfect, but better. Let us all pray, read, study, reflect and act with others to create a more peaceful and just world.

“Many of us like to ask ourselves, ‘What would I do if I was alive during slavery? Or the Jim Crow South? Or apartheid? What would I do if my country was committing genocide?’ The answer is, you’re doing it. Right now.” — Bushnell before he set himself on fire to protest Israel’s bombing.

— Ed Sacco Asheville

Editor’s note: A longer version of this letter will appear at mountainx. com. X

Taking root

Pulling pandemic weeds as time stretched wide

BY RACHEL HINES

It’s been four years since the pandemic started, which means this will be my fifth season picking COVID weeds. Certain events have marked the passing of time for me since March 2020, when COVID inexorably entered our consciousness. For example, my mom’s birthday is in March, and we were visiting her when my work went virtual. Our last group gathering was a holiday carnival at the Asheville Jewish Community Center.

But one of the most tangible markers for me is the reemergence of a particular weed in my front yard every March. I never noticed it until 2020, but now I know it’s called ivyleaf speedwell and is among the first signs of spring in our North Carolina mountains. The weeds spread in clusters low to the ground that pull up completely with little effort — perfect for anyone who, like me, has a penchant for picking weeds.

When we returned to a changed world after visiting my mom, the weeds had already begun popping out under the two cedar trees in our front yard. And like parents everywhere, we suddenly had to improvise. We made a bowling game out of plastic cups and a soccer ball. We drew with chalk. We dragged two chairs and a water table out under the cedars and

let our kids splash in their undies. Our front yard became the center of a very small radius in which to live our lives.

IMPRINTED MEMORIES

With no choice but to notice them, I started picking the weeds. After the first satisfying tugs at their roots, I was hooked. I picked one clump at a time near the water table. Then I donned gloves to get some near a thorny rose bush. Taking breaks to play with the kids or take one to the potty, I would inevitably find more speedwell to tackle. A pinch, a pull, a gentle rip. Pinch, pull, rip. Over and over. It was a meditation, my mental white noise. I’d pile it up, and the kids used it for their play, turning it into pretend potions or salads.

We spent at least an hour of our day, every day, in the front yard for six weeks (or was it eight?) while day care was shut down. I was obsessed with the weeds. Sometimes my husband and kids would go inside to clean up, and I’d hear myself say, “Just a minute!” in order to keep at my picking. With so much time on my hands, I felt compelled to control their spread. I was the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of my front yard — a virus may have been making its way across the globe, but at home,

I could spot new growth before it took off.

Those weeks are imprinted in my memory from the combination of anxiety about the pandemic and the eternity of each day. I remember the clothes that were in rotation for my kids, who were 4 years old and 19 months old at the time. My son sang Panic! at the Disco songs and seemed to finally notice his sister as a potential playmate. My daughter honed climbing skills on stumps, ran bowlegged down the steepest part of our street and resisted clipping wispy hair out of her eyes. I noticed things around us because they did — water dripping out of a drain pipe or pooling in a knot in a tree; an outdoor cat slinking by; trees budding at different paces. Not wanting to focus on pandemic news, we instead watched spring unfurl in excruciating detail.

If time were an accordion, it was stretched as wide as possible during the early springtime of 2020. But when we realized COVID wouldn’t be completely contained, we had to reenter life, masked and awkward. Later that spring when the weeds were gone, the kids went back to day care, and I went back to work in person. We spent time with friends cautiously, always outdoors. We got a pool membership with caveats for social distancing. I can’t remember what my kids wore or sang that summer.

THE WEED’S REMINDERS

Each March since 2020, the ivyleaf speedwell has returned and reminded me of a time of simplicity, anxiety, joy and boredom. It is, in fact, a memory of time itself. In subsequent years, I felt surprised when I saw the first weeds pop up. I couldn’t believe we had lived with COVID for a full year, then two, then three. I picked some weeds with a familiar, satisfying rip,

but since 2020, I haven’t come close to containing their spread. I always had to get somewhere when I scurried down the front steps, leaving the little green sprouts in place.

Now I long to pull at those weeds again. I had my last baby 19 months ago, and during the hot summer days of her infancy, I again tasted time expanded. There was no way to have an agenda besides what her needs dictated. I couldn’t plan laundry, much less venture out of my little home radius. I nursed her on my right, then left. Her little gulps and satisfied hums imprinted in my memory. I read a novel while I held her, cooled by a fan and the shade of the cedar trees. I stared at her buds of hair while she slept and swore I could see them grow from one day to the next. The accordion bellows opened wide.

When I returned to work after four months, I thought working only part time would allow me to savor her infancy. But even part time meant meetings, emails, a whiteboard calendar and child care. Those summer weeks in her early life were a slingshot, pulling time back only to go forward five times as fast. Life hurtled forward. Some days, I picked her up at day care and swore she had changed since the morning, the way flowers blossom or bow with a passing shift in weather. I missed the days when I lived my life at the pace of her fuzzy hair growing: a pace glacial and perfect.

I returned home the other day to find the first of this year’s COVID weeds sprouting in our front yard again. I had gone to meetings and for a run and was feeling productive and healthy. But upon seeing the weeds, it felt as if my energy had been misdirected. Surely I would have picked them into neat piles by now, had only I been confined to the front yard, ordered to stay home — whether by the CDC or a nursing baby on my breast and an abdominal wall weak down the middle.

Today I will pick my kids up, and they’ll have changed since this morning. I’m more fit and rested than after giving birth and certainly less anxious and freer than in 2020. But the ivyleaf speedwell beckons; it reminds me of the immense satisfaction in taking root in a time and place; it reminds me that spring will unfurl whether I notice or not. Other Marches will come with weeds and three children’s outfits and favorite songs. I may not remember it all, caught between unending choices to stay still or to run, but the COVID weeds remind me to try.

Rachel Hines is a family physician who works and resides in Asheville with her spouse, three children and one dog, all of whom have grown tolerant of her weed-picking and writing pastimes. X

RACHEL

Blame game

BY PETER KRULL

An unfortunate reality of the nature of capitalism is that it seeps into and pervades every aspect of our lives. Yet, there are certain sectors that have no business being for-profit, and health care is a prime example. Across the country, for-profit health care has driven down the level of care patients receive. It’s difficult for any major corporation to prioritize both people and profit, and in the case of health care, profit almost always wins out.

And so, perhaps not surprisingly, there have been a lot of, shall we say, less-than-flattering headlines recently regarding HCA Healthcare’s Mission Hospital here in Asheville. “Conditions at Asheville’s Mission Hospital pose ‘immediate jeopardy to patients’ health and safety,’ state investigators report,” Asheville Watchdog noted in January. “N.C. Attorney General: HCA Healthcare Failed to Comply With Mission Purchase Contract,” said a recent headline in the Asheville Citizen Times

HCA critics may not realize they’re also shareholders

It’s no secret that Western North Carolina residents are unhappy with the way HCA’s 2019 purchase of the formerly nonprofit Mission Health system has played out. At a Feb. 6 news conference in response to the “immediate jeopardy” findings, state Sen. Julie Mayfield, a former Asheville City Council member, said, “We now have confirmation of what our community has known for years, that HCA is failing to run Mission Hospital in a safe manner.”

And as part of his remarks at a community event in January sponsored by Asheville Watchdog, Dr. Clay Ballantine, co-founder of Blue Ridge Premier Medicine, gave a scathing summary of how deeply the for-profit health care giant has gutted the Mission Health system: “Since HCA’s arrival here, the breadth and the depth of the health care services available to the people, especially the disadvantaged, has declined across our region. We’re talking about unnecessary worry, suffering and even death for human beings.”

At the same time, we continue to allow HCA representatives to peddle misinformation. At a Leadership Asheville breakfast last year, for example, an HCA spokesperson gave a short speech touting the hospital’s virtues; the organization’s home page lists Mission Health as its “sustaining partner.” The community needs to come together and reject the blood money that is being used to sponsor such events.

WHO CASTS THE FIRST STONE?

PETER KRULL

“You may well own at least a little bit of HCA stock yourself.”

HCA stock and submit a shareholder resolution to address the company’s profit-first business strategy at Mission.

Now, here’s a kick in the teeth for many HCA critics: You may well own at least a little bit of HCA stock yourself. The S&P 500 is one of the most widely recognized stock indexes available, and HCA is a component of the index. So if you own an S&P 500 mutual fund or exchange-traded fund in your brokerage account, 401(k) or other investment account, you are sharing in the profits of HCA’s unconscionable and self-serving management of Mission. And while HCA constitutes only a small component of the index, most people don’t realize that they own any amount of the stock.

Don’t be too hard on yourself: Many mutual fund and ETF investors have no idea what underlying stocks or other securities they own. In fact, investors in the S&P 500 also own companies such as ExxonMobil Corp., Wells Fargo and Philip Morris International. So while these funds may provide diversification, they can also include companies that are controversial and may not align with the investor’s values.

But perhaps the worst part of owning HCA stock in a mutual fund or ETF is that you can’t vote on shareholder resolutions. Recently, there has been a local movement to buy individual shares of

The goal would be to shine a spotlight on the practices that have tarnished Mission’s previously solid reputation. And while it’s unlikely that such a resolution would pass, because most shares are owned by large institutions (think BlackRock, Vanguard, Fidelity), the process is still important from a public relations and institutional change perspective. Although shareholder resolutions are nonbinding, companies don’t like them and will often decide to negotiate rather than allow the matter to come to a vote.

BEST CASE/BETTER CASE

In this instance, the ideal outcome would be that the combined effects of pressure from the community, the state attorney general, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and shareholders pushes the health care giant to sell the system to a nonprofit entity that can begin to rebuild what HCA has torn down. A more realistic hope, though, is that this kind of pressure might persuade the hospital’s corporate owner to increase staffing levels, thereby improving care at least somewhat.

And in the meantime, what I know for sure is that I don’t own a fund that holds shares in HCA — and I feel pretty good about that.

Peter Krull is a partner and director of sustainable investments at Earth Equity Advisors, a Prime Capital Investment Advisors company based in Asheville. The views expressed in this commentary are Krull’s and are not representative of PCIA.

Open for business?

Business improvement district proposal praised at State of Downtown address

BY JESSICA WAKEMAN

Before beginning her remarks at the Asheville Downtown Association’s annual State of Downtown address March 19, Mayor Esther Manheimer commented that the occasion has not been fun the past few years.

The mayor was referring to downtown Asheville’s struggle with negative perceptions of high crime and rising homelessness, making the annual meeting of the downtown business advocacy group less than cheery occasions.

But this year’s address would be fun, Manheimer told the packed audience of business owners and politicians at the event space, Eulogy at Burial Beer Co. She welcomed new Asheville Police Department Chief Mike Lamb to uproarious audience applause, as well as new Asheville Fire Chief Michael Cayse, and recounted the City of Asheville’s progress in the previous year.

The mayor shared her enthusiasm about a potential business improvement district, or BID, in the city’s downtown. In 2012, City Council approved a BID for downtown Asheville, but it was never funded. “I’m very excited about the opportunity, again, to try for a BID here in Asheville,” Manheimer said. “We’ve hopefully set ourselves up for success.” (Asheville City Council saw a presentation about a BID at its March 26 meeting. Read more about the BID proposal at avl.mx/dhs.)

The mayor also mentioned as a highlight the 24-hour downtown restroom project. “We’re getting a Portland loo,” Manheimer said, referring to the 7-by-10-foot tall structure that will be located near Rankin Avenue parking garage. “These are virtually indestructible, because apparently people want to destroy bathrooms.”

Manheimer went on to describe such aggression as a “tremendous expense and a tremendous challenge” for the city.

“I know the price tag has given everyone a little bit of sticker shock,” Manheimer said, referring to $650,000 allocated from American Rescue Act funds to the project. “Please know that a lot of that price tag is because we have to bring sewer and water to this site, so it’s more of an infrastructure [cost]. But these are, again, fairly indestructible and easy to clean and have lower costs in terms of managing them.”

Hayden Plemmons, Asheville Downtown Association executive director, also spoke approvingly of a BID at the State of Downtown address. While she praised the 60-day downtown safety initiative launched by the City of Asheville in May, she said a BID would be “a permanent solution” to addressing issues downtown. (Asheville’s BID, if approved, will have a term limit of 10 years, according to an informational website.)

Plemmons also shared results from the association’s Downtown Stakeholder Survey, conducted earlier this year. The survey primarily of downtown employees and visitors found safety was the top concern among respondents, followed by parking.

Holiday lights came up, too, a job that Plemmons announced may be taken up by the Asheville Downtown Association, which submitted a proposal to the city.

During his turn at the microphone, Buncombe County Board of Commissioners Chair Brownie

Newman lauded the co-responder unit that pairs an officer from the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office with a mental health professional from Buncombe County Emergency Medical Services’ community paramedics team to respond to certain acute calls. The program, Newman explains, is one piece of “attempting to divert individuals from the criminal justice system.”

Newman also spoke approvingly of proposals for low-barrier, high-access shelter being discussed by the City of Asheville and Buncombe County. A low-barrier shelter was a recommendation from the National Alliance to End Homelessness, which in 2023 presented a plan to halve homelessness in the area in two years.

Newman acknowledged that the community hasn’t reached “complete consensus” about supporting a low-barrier shelter but said he is convinced it’s needed. Newman noted that a location for a low-barrier shelter has not been confirmed.

Gerren Price, CEO and president of Washington, D.C.’s DowntownDC

BID, delivered the headlining speech and outlined how BIDs operate in the nation’s capital. D.C. introduced BIDs in 1997 as the city was in the midst of a crack epidemic, Price explained. The DowntownDC BID originally paid for 100 hospitality ambassadors to provide a presence on the street in tourist areas; over time, the BID’s focus switched to addressing cleanliness and safety.

DowntownDC’s BID employs 85 ambassadors, who focus exclusively on safety, hospitality and maintenance across 1 square mile in its major tourist area between the White House and Union Station. Among other responsibilities, they aim to remove graffiti within 48 hours after it is reported.

“It’s all about getting expletive done, getting through the red tape, cutting through bureaucracy,” Price said. He praised the BID structure for being able to “amplify” the services already provided by a city and county, and ended on a positive note. With a BID, he said, “there’s so much possibility.”

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: At the Asheville Downtown Association State of Downtown address on March 19, ADA Executive Director Hayden Plemmons spoke approvingly of a proposal for a business improvement district. Photo by Jessica Wakeman

County chooses vendor for school district consolidation study

An independent firm will launch a study next month to determine the feasibility of consolidating Buncombe County’s two public school districts. The N.C. General Assembly mandated the districts study consolidation with a new law passed last fall.

The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners voted 5-1 to pay Charlotte-based education consultants Prismatic Services about $300,000 to provide a comprehensive report, including an analysis of the risks and benefits of consolidating Asheville City Schools and Buncombe County Schools. Commissioner Al Whitesides dissented. Commissioner Jasmine Beach-Ferrara was absent.

Commissioner Terri Wells and Chair Brownie Newman questioned what they saw as a large price tag for the study.

Rachael Sawyer, director of strategic partnerships for Buncombe County, said staff found the amount to be reasonable compared with seven other proposals, which ranged from $57,000 to $1.5 million. “We were really excited about the number of on-site days, the number of hours dedicated to each phase of the project and the number of personnel brought to bear to assist on the project,” she said.

The study will be paid for out of the county’s reserves since the 2023-24 budget was passed before the N.C. General Assembly voted in a law requiring the districts to study consolidation. Buncombe County signed on to be the lead entity of the study in October.

Prismatic Services, founded in 2007, has a network of more than 50 contracted consultants across the country and has performed 300 projects for clients in 31 states and the District of Columbia, according to Sawyer’s presentation.

Consultants are scheduled to spend 75 days on-site in 19 trips to Buncombe County over the nine-month project, according to the contract.

Commissioner Parker Sloan asked if community input would be sought to guide Prismatic’s final report.

“You’re absolutely right; the community has a right to have input as to what their schools look like,” said Prismatic President Tatia Prieto. “Are we a community that wants to have many small schools, or are we a community that wants to have one larger school? There are benefits to each side and drawbacks to each approach. But that’s neither here nor there to us

UNFUNDED: Several members of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners expressed frustration that they were expected to pay for a school district consolidation study that was mandated by the N.C. General Assembly last fall. Ultimately, the board voted 5-1 to fund the study out of reserves.

as outsiders; it’s really dependent on what the community wants to do.”

Prieto added community input is often rife with emotion, as invested stakeholders have strong opinions about schools being closed or reconfigured, so that must be considered.

Newman asked what experience Prismatic has with finding cost savings from district consolidations elsewhere, particularly when merging central office staff.

Prieto, who said she focused much of her Ph.D. dissertation on economies of scale in comparing large and small school districts, said consolidations often realize less savings in administrative positions than initially anticipated. A certain number of central office staffing is needed to run a district, and when a district expands through consolidation, that usually requires more administration, leading to fewer cuts than people expect, she said.

“The research is fairly solid out there that economies of scale have been chased since the ’90s in various areas within school districts, and you may achieve some, but you don’t usually achieve as much as you think you’re going to get,” she said.

The study also will compare equity across district departments in both educational outcomes and operations, Prieto said.

If nutrition services are far superior in one school system versus the other, for example, that creates an equity issue that needs review, she said.

Whitesides voted against approving the study because he said it was an unfunded state mandate.

“We didn’t request it. The people of Buncombe County didn’t request it. So if they’re going to mandate it, why can’t they pay for it? Are we going to send them the bill?”

County Manager Avril Pinder said staff members were exploring getting money back for the study through its legislative delegation.

Newman said despite the unfunded mandate, a study will provide the community with a lot of good data to consider.

“I think it’ll spark a lot of good discussion in the community. If the legislature attempted to mandate some outcome to this that is contrary to what the public support is for the future of our school systems

… I certainly believe we should fight that, 100%.

“It’s our most important priority, ensuring a good public education system. So I’m hoping that this can be a good, healthy process that eliminates this question, even though I don’t particularly like the way that it originated either,” Newman added.

Prismatic is scheduled to submit its report to the County Commission and both school boards by December. The Asheville City and Buncombe County boards of education must report to the General Assembly on the issue by February.

Talking trash

Despite pleas from seven WastePro employees during public comment, commissioners voted unanimously to negotiate a contract with a new trash collection firm, Houston-based FCC Environmental Services.

FCC was recommended by staff because of its focus on customer service, low staff turnover ratio, experience in transitioning to new markets, and its promise to have staff dedicated to only Buncombe County, said Dane Pedersen, Buncombe’s solid waste director.

If an agreement is reached, FCC already has committed to bringing in trucks as well, Pedersen said.

During public comment, Chip Gingles, regional vice president of WastePro, said his company has been serving Buncombe County for about 15 years and he doubts another company will be able to provide the same level of service as WastePro.

The complexity of Buncombe’s terrain and winding mountain roads is difficult to get used to, Gingles said, and WastePro’s experience and willingness to go above and beyond to serve difficult-to-reach homes shouldn’t go unnoticed.

Pedersen said he planned to come back to the board with a proposed price structure in April. WastePro’s contract is up at the end of this year.

— Greg Parlier  X

Key takeaways

• Commissioners voted 5-1 to approve an about $300,000 contract with Charlotte-based Prismatic Services to study the feasibility of consolidating Buncombe County Schools and Asheville City Schools.

• The study will begin Monday, April 1 and run through December.

• Commissioners empowered county staff to begin negotiations with FCC Environmental Services for trash collection starting in 2025. WastePro has served the county for the last 15 years.

• Commissioners approved spending $500,000 to fund an updated 10-year master plan for Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. The plan will provide overall guidance, a facilities assessment and guide the expansion of programming to satellite campuses.

Photo by Greg Parlier

Cease Harm Audit shows lack of equity data in Asheville, Buncombe governments

At a Community Reparations Commission meeting March 18, the Carter Development Group, an independent consulting firm, identified four themes and outlined 10 “high priority” recommendations for actions the City of Asheville and Buncombe County should take to cease harm to their Black residents.

A lack of data specifying who uses government services topped the list of identified harms, while additional recommendations spanned the audit’s seven focus areas — criminal justice, economic development, education, health and wellness, housing, internal workforce, and equity, inclusion and human rights.

Adrian Carter, project lead and CDG founder, said the Cease Harm Comprehensive Audit shows that among other things, local governments should collect more data on who accesses its services to effectively track whether the administration of programs is equitable across the area’s residents.

While in many cases opportunities exist, there’s no way to determine if knowledge, representation and access are achieved by the Black community if more data is not continuously collected, Carter said.

Asheville became one of the first municipalities in the nation to pass a reparations resolution in July 2020 and, in partnership with Buncombe County, established a 25-member commission in March 2022. The commission contracted with Carter Development Group in December 2022 for about $174,000 to perform an audit of internal and external services for both the City of Asheville and Buncombe County.

The audit examined government services, policies, procedures, outcomes and compliance with local, state and federal regulations to create a baseline for local governments to make changes and shape the reparations commission’s recommendations, Carter said.

The second harm, according to Carter’s presentation, is that neither government sufficiently evaluated whether recipients of government-issued grants practiced racial equity. The third harm was the lack of racial equity training for city and county staff.

The fourth key harm pointed out a limited supply of affordable housing across the county, which is compounded by the absence of cohesive strategies among county and city officials and other key stakeholders, Carter noted.

GETTING ENGAGED: The Community Reparations Commission has started an “ambitious” community engagement strategy in an effort to collect feedback on its progress from other members of the Black community in Asheville and Buncombe County. Screenshot courtesy of the City of Asheville

TOP 10 RECOMMENDATIONS

Auditors took 30 measures across seven focus areas and came up with 108 recommendations. The top 10 were highlighted at the March 18 CRC meeting.

La’Shana Wiggs, project manager of the audit, said the commission should consider getting Buncombe’s legacy communities designated as historic districts so legal protections will prevent further gentrification in traditionally Black-majority neighborhoods such as Southside or Shiloh. The report cited state and local laws that would provide a pathway to achieving such designations.

To address the fact that Black students are subject to much higher disciplinary and law enforcement actions, Wiggs recommended the county tie school district funding to various initiatives so that the districts can be better held accountable. Wiggs suggested the county encourage the school districts to require cultural sensitivity training for district staff, integrate culturally relevant textbook selections and ensure core-subject staff members accurately reflect the student body’s demographics in exchange for funding.

Wiggs also suggested that local governments create a procurement industry and utilization dashboard to track the governments’ spending. They should include a search tool that would allow business owners to identify relevant opportunities for government contracts to increase competition and make the process more accessible for Black business owners. Along those same lines, Buncombe County should

conduct a disparity study to determine how contracts are awarded to various demographic groups, she added.

Wiggs urged commissioners to consider establishing a Black Chamber of Commerce to focus on Blackowned enterprises at various stages of development.

Another recommendation was for Buncombe County to establish a Black Health Directory to increase the visibility and accessibility of Black therapists, doctors and nurse practitioners around the city and county.

That aligned directly with one of the recommendations outlined by the CRC’s own health and wellness focus group, which was presented by JéWana Grier-McEachin later in the meeting.

Commissioner DeWayne Barton asked for a bottom-line takeaway.

Carter, who often reiterates the importance of framing the reparations process in terms of solutions rather than problems during his presentations, illustrated his optimistic take.

“I see a lot of opportunities that with proper training, with proper leadership and with the right attitude … not only do you all make history and are groundbreaking in passing reparations, but in actually leading the country in how to actually implement and make these types of shifts and do it collectively with the city and county,” he said.

Facilitator Vernisha Crawford echoed Carter’s optimism, noting how the spirit of the room has changed since she came on board last fall.

“We’re doing some great work, y’all. We’re actually talking about things that change the system, which is really, really, really important. That’s how we sustain this work. … I’m proud, I’m flattered and I’m honored to help lead this conversation,” she said.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

CRC Vice Chair Dewana Little presented an “ambitious” calendar of events for the community engagement committee.

“They have been very, very productive,” she added.

The committee is writing scripts to talk about reparations to those who may not be familiar and garner feedback for the commission’s developing recommendations.

Racing against a June deadline, the CRC discussed adding an extra meeting in April. A virtual meeting was already added in March to discuss focus area recommendations as a group.

Commissioner Osondu McPeters pointed out that instead of squeezing in extra meetings and rushing through community engagement, the commission should be given more time by city and county staff.

Sala Menaya-Merritt, equity and inclusion director for the City of Asheville, said she was looking at June as a sort of checkpoint, and if the commission needs more time, it will have to show the Asheville City Council what it will do with the extra time

— Greg Parlier  X

Key recommendations

• Designate legacy communities as historic districts.

• Hold school districts accountable regarding increased equity.

• Develop a procurement dashboard.

• Establish a Black Chamber of Commerce.

• Study disparity between Black and white recipients of government grants.

• Establish a Black Health Directory.

• Implement skills assessments for scenario-based law enforcement equity training.

• Hire subject matter experts to review education-related grant recipients.

• Revise hiring panel policies and procedures.

• Conduct a workforce equity audit.

Doggone adorable

BY JESSICA WAKEMAN

Asheville is a haven for its furry residents, from dog-friendly breweries to numerous dog parks. Common sights include canines lazing under outdoor cafe tables, strolling along greenways or perusing wares in local shops.

But not all of Asheville’s pups live a life of leisure. There are several who work hard for the money — OK, the dog treats — in our libraries and schools as well as on our streets.

Xpress recently visited a number of our dedicated canines at their places of work.

LIBRARY CARDS

Flora might be the only one working at East Asheville Public Library who can get away with sleeping on the job.

Flora’s mellow temperament — very mellow — is exactly what her owner and handler, Cassie Walton, sought in a therapy dog. Flora is the star of the show for the bimonthly Read to a Dog! story hour, and she’s perfectly content with little hands petting and high voices squealing and giggling.

“Her energy is just fantastic” for working with kids, says children’s services librarian Zoe Bergmire-Sweat. Flora’s 15-minute segments with each child involve a mix of listening to stories read aloud and draping herself over each child who is sunk into a beanbag next to a pile of books. Flora’s paws often end up in their laps, and she stretches out, exposing her tummy for a belly rub.

Walton is a school-based licensed clinical social worker for RHA Health Services. While working at a residential treatment program for kids

with mental health challenges, she was impressed by the therapeutic benefits she saw with therapy dogs, specifically golden retrievers. When she adopted Flora two years ago, she began training for certification with the Alliance of Therapy Dogs. Around the time of Flora’s graduation, East Asheville Public Library was looking for a canine for Read to a Dog!

Flora spends a lot of time around children and is tolerant of loud noises, Walton says. Because some kids are fearful around dogs, Walton sits nearby holding Flora’s leash and gently guides her to sit up, sit down or move. (Bergmire-Sweat is on hand to help sound out difficult words, and she collects a waiver from each parent whose kid participates in the program.)

Asheville dad Ryan McGovern brought Fenden, 7, and Maybelle, 8, to Read with a Dog! on a recent Tuesday afternoon. “They’ve both struggled with reading confidence,” McGovern says, explaining how their early education occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. “I also like that this is a lower barrier of entry to [experiencing] therapy dogs. … I think they can be really valuable for less acute [situations].”

The reading opportunity also inspired Haw Creek’s Jenna Marshman to bring her daughter, Cora Geitner, 8, to meet Flora. While Marshman reads from a Black Beauty picture book and gives ear scritches to Flora, Cora listens with a smile on her face.

But truthfully, Flora isn’t much of an active listener during story time. “She’s not too focused on the reading part,” Walton admits with a laugh.

“She’s honestly more focused on getting the pets.” But judging by the hugs Flora receives when each 15-minute session finishes, that’s just fine with the library’s young patrons.

‘LET’S MAKE THE BEST OF IT’:

Not far from the library, there’s a hubbub downstairs at Groce United Methodist Church. Pete is bouncing around, and Morty is getting a belly

MAN’S BEST FRIEND: U.S. Army veteran Matt Estridge has trained puppies with Warrior Canine Connection for two years. “It feels like home to me to be here with these puppies — and the people,” he says. Photo by Jessica Wakeman

rub. No, nothing untoward is happening in the church basement: Pete and Morty are puppies who are about to start a training session with the nonprofit Warrior Canine Connection.

The organization offers the opportunity as a community service option for veterans going through Buncombe County’s Veterans Treatment Court.

Corralling all the puppy energy is the work of WCC Asheville program manager Amy Guidash, and she’s good at it. (After all, not everyone could stay strong in the face of puppy-dog eyes.) She initiated WCC’s Asheville program in 2018 and began collaborating with VTC the following year. WCC provides “mission-based trauma recovery” for its veterans, who are called Warrior Trainers.

When Warrior Trainer Darrin Echerd enters the room, 10-month-old black Labrador Pete cannot contain himself — he whines and jumps. “Pete really likes Darrin,” Guidash emphasizes. But training a service dog means teaching self-control, and so Guidash won’t let Pete go to Echerd until the puppy calms down. It takes a few minutes, but when Pete is allowed to greet his friend, he leaps up to administer doggy kisses. He’s treated to pets and some Cheerios from Echerd’s pocket. Echerd has been working with Pete for only three weeks, which illustrates the strength of their bond.

Training is a lot more than slobbery kisses and Cheerios; as the puppies age, they advance through increasingly sophisticated tasks to assist veterans. “Fully trained service dogs can open doors, and if you tell them to ‘touch,’ they will go close the door that they opened with their nose,” Echerd explains.

Matt Estridge of South Asheville has been part of WCC for two years. He served in the Army from 200308 and did two tours in Iraq. He experiences anxiety in groups, and at the beginning of his involvement with WCC, he struggled to enter the building.

“I would just show up and I would sit in my truck. But I knew if I made it here and was able to get inside, I could see the dogs,” Estridge explains. “Now it’s to the point where I just walk straight [in]. It feels like home to me to be here with these puppies — and the people.”

Estridge is waiting for a service dog of his own. In the meantime, he says training WCC puppies by taking them out in public is a great help. “I’ve got to socialize them and, therefore, I’m socializing myself,” he says.

Estridge formed a particularly close relationship with a WCC dog named Bryce. (Bryce recently left Asheville for the WCC headquarters in Maryland, where he will be paired with a veteran.)

PAGE TURNER: Eight-year-old Cora Geitner reads a book to certified therapy dog Flora at East Asheville Public Library’s Read to a Dog! event. Photo by Jessica Wakeman

Socializing Bryce empowered Estridge to visit public places; many people, of course, want to meet a puppy, and that’s an easy way for veterans experiencing anxiety to form a connection with strangers. Together, Bryce and Estridge hiked, fished and even took in a Lukas Nelson concert at The Orange Peel with WCC dog trainer Michele Tate and her (human) partner.

“I sat down and wrote down all the places that I took him, and it made me tear up,” Estridge says. “I haven’t been active in so long. There’s a lot of really easy places that people go that I haven’t been. I found myself wanting to go and explore places because I had him — ‘I got Bryce today, let’s make the best of it.’”

‘LOVE AND ATTENTION’:

Asheville Police Department’s most visible ambassador is Kora, who can often be seen downtown “paw-trolling” the streets in a blue light-bedecked cart.

She’s not the typical police dog. The goldendoodle’s only job is to be approachable and petable.

She’s popular with tourists and merchants alike, according to Sgt. Debbie LeCroy. “It softens the interaction between law enforcement and

the community,” says LeCroy, who is Kora’s owner. “It makes us very approachable because they haven’t seen anything like it.”

In addition to her public relations role, the 3-year-old therapy dog helps detect anxiety and stress in humans. Kora’s pawprints are all over the department; she participates in everything from death notifications and suspect interviews. Lawyers sometimes ask Kora to accompany a child or an adult during testimony at the Buncombe County Courthouse. LeCroy has brought her to Helpmate, the anti-domestic violence nonprofit, and to sit with children who are describing to police officers their experiences of physical or sexual abuse.

LeCroy adopted Kora as a puppy and soon enrolled her in seven months oftraining at Highland Canine Training in Harmony. The program trains autism service dogs, mobility assistance dogs, police dogs and military dogs.

In 2021, when Kora was 8 months old, LeCroy, then at the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, asked to bring Kora aboard. The department approved a therapy dog program, but when BCSO discontinued the program in 2023, LeCroy submitted her resignation.

Kora’s primary role is to support the health and wellness of officers. She does “deep compression therapy” with officers, meaning she lays atop their chests and helps regulate breathing. Kora is allowed to wander through parts of the Asheville Police Department and visit employees’ offices, imploring anyone to play tug-of-war or toss a ball. (As interviews with the media take place in the boardroom, the high-pitched squeaks of Kora playing with her toys can often be heard beyond the closed door.)

Kora also attends Critical Incident Stress Management Team debriefs after officers have been involved in traumatic events, such as missing persons searches or the death of a child. Though her home base is APD, LeCroy and Kora will travel when asked to support other Western North Carolina agencies. “She’s requested at a lot of debriefings, and I go to as many as I can,” LeCroy says.

Around that time, APD was considering its own therapy dog program. LeCroy had worked for APD before joining BCSO. So LeCroy returned to APD in spring 2023, and Kora quickly became part of the team. “We both have been very welcomed,” she says.

Canine therapy is a component of “letting the officers talk about it and process the event,” LeCroy explains. Typically officers sit in a circle. “I let Kora just mix and wander in the crowd,” she says. “She might mosey over to someone that she senses needs her love and attention at that moment.” X

BY CHLOE LIEBERMAN

Warming greetings to you, March lambs. Our mountain home is abundant with blossoms as the trees and bees awaken and the green ones begin growing. As you get into gardening this year, be sure to reach out with any questions that pop up with the dandelions and violets. Send them to me at gardening@mountainx.com. This month’s questions were all about soil, which feels very appropriate as we begin to engage with the living earth once more after winter’s rest.

CONTAINER CONFINEMENT

Do I need to change out the soil in my container garden each spring? Or add anything into them?

Gardening in containers is a bit different from gardening in the ground, but many of the same principles apply. Since the soil in raised beds is finite in quantity, plant roots can’t explore beyond it in search of water and nutrients as they can in the ground. In addition, raised-bed soil mixes generally need to be fluffier and more aerated than the soil of the ground. Water, nutrients and plant roots need to be able to move about easily in the small amount of soil that’s contained in even the biggest containers.

The short answer to your question is no, you don’t need to completely change the soil in your container garden each year, and yes, it’s a good idea to add some amendments to it. Whatever plants you grew in that particular soil last year pulled many of the nutrients into their bodies in order to grow. That means those nutrients will be in shorter supply in the soil mix this year. Additionally, pests and diseases can build up in soil over time, especially in a closed system like a container that probably isn’t teeming with beneficial organisms.

There are a couple of ways to add good stuff to your used potting soil. One is to simply sprinkle an all-purpose organic fertilizer like Plant-Tone onto the surface of the soil and scratch it in with your fingers, a trowel or hand rake. Another is to remove the soil and add some amendments like compost, worm castings, fertilizer, etc., thoroughly incorporate the additions, then put the soil back into the containers. A third option is to leave the soil and be prepared to “fertigate” your plants with liquid amendments like fish emulsion, Neptune’s Harvest fish and kelp blend, compost tea, and/ or urine. (Yes, urine, human pee. You can read more about using urine as a garden fertilizer on my blog post here: avl.mx/cs1.) Of course, you can choose some combination of all three of these approaches, too.

FRESH START: Replenishing the soil lays the groundwork for a healthy growing season. Photo courtesy of Wild Abundance

Another important step in caring for soil in container gardens, or any garden, is to employ crop rotation: Don’t plant the same thing in the same place two years in a row. Different crops require different amounts of nutrients and are more susceptible to different kinds of pests and diseases. Moving things around helps reduce plant illness and maximizes the fertility of the soil.

Beans and peas are members of a very special plant family called

Fabaceae (some of us think this should be renamed Fabulouseae because of the amazing ability I’m about to describe). All plants in this family — also known as legumes or pulses — have a symbiotic relationship with a type of soil bacteria that can transform atmospheric nitrogen (dinitrogen) into a form of nitrogen that’s usable by plants (ammonia). The legume plants grow nodules on their roots that house this bacteria, and they share some of the sugars they make through photo-

synthesis with their tiny tenants. In return, the bacteria provide nitrogen for plant growth. This is part of why beans and peas are high in protein, which is a nitrogen-based substance. It’s also why following “heavy feeder” crops that pull a lot of nitrogen from the soil with “nitrogen fixing” legumes is a good move for the soil and your garden’s productivity.

Even with these soil-care practices, it is a good idea to change or significantly add to your container garden mix every couple of years. It doesn’t have the benefit of billions of micro- and macro-organisms carrying nutrients and other compounds from nearby decomposing organic matter to enrich it over time as the soil in the ground does.

PICKING THE BEST SEED-STARTING SOIL MIX

What’s the best potting mix for starting seeds? Can I make my own?

The growing medium, or soil, that you choose for growing transplants is very important. An ideal material will be fine and without large particulates, have a balance of water-holding capacity and drainage, and contain some amount of fertility for the plants as they grow and get hungry. Potting soils that are appropriate for container gardening are usually too chunky for seed starting. Similarly, soil dug out of a garden bed isn’t ideal because it’s likely to be both too chunky and too heavy (dense with clay particles).

You may find growing mediums sold specifically as seed-starting mixes. I don’t tend to use these because they’re typically devoid of plant nutrients, and therefore only appropriate for germination and not any growing. If you use a seed-starting mix that doesn’t contain compost, worm castings, or another source of fertility, you’ll need to transplant your babies very quickly into something richer, so they don’t starve.

The reason these seed-starting mixes don’t have fertility is that they’re meant for seeds that have very long germination times. If you water soil for many weeks without a seed growing in it, other organisms, like algae, may make use of the nitrogen and actually create a toxic environment for your seed. Low-fertility seed-starting mixes are great for slow-germinating seeds because they avoid this problem, but they’re not ideal for hungry little veggies.

You can mix your own growing medium using coconut coir or peat moss, compost, vermiculite and perlite, along with amendments, and up to one-quarter sifted garden soil. I usually don’t do this because I’ve found that when I do, it doesn’t work as well and doesn’t actually save me much time or money. Unless you run a nursery or have a very large garden or farm, the cost savings associated with mixing up your own growing medium is pretty minimal. Plus, high-quality premade mediums have been crafted and analyzed for best results and usually contain lots of ingredients to give your transplants just what they need. Two nationally available mediums that we’ve had success with are Daddy Pete’s Sea ‘n’ Farm (which is blended here in North Carolina) and Vermont Compost’s Fort Vee and Fort Light.

If you have some old container gardening soil that you know isn’t carrying diseases, you could make your own mix by sifting that if it’s chunky and adding worm castings and an all-purpose organic fertilizer, plus other amendments that you can afford such as microbial inoculants and kelp meal. Similarly, if you have trays or pots that you tried to start seeds in and it didn’t work, you can add that soil to a container garden mix. But keep in mind that if it’s been exposed to water and sun for many days or weeks, it’s probably lost most of its nutrition and is now simply a physical substrate rather than food for plants. X

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

MARCH 27 - APRIL 4, 2024

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

WELLNESS

Tai Chi Fan

This class helps build balance and whole body awareness. All ages and ability levels welcome. Fans will be provided.

WE (3/27, 4/3), 1pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Community Yoga & Mindfulness

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

WE (3/27), 11:30am, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

Therapeutic Recreation Adult Morning Movement

Active games, physical activities, and sports for individuals with disabilities ages 17 and over. Advanced registration at avlrec. com required.

WE (3/27, 4/3), 10am, Tempie Avery Montford Community Center, 34 Pearson Ave

Tai Chi for Balance

A gentle Tai Chi exercise class to help improve balance, mobility, and quality of life. All ages are welcome.

WE (3/27, 4/3), 11:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Free Zumba Gold Fitness program that involves cardio and Latin-inspired dance.

Free, but donations for the instructor are appreciated. For more information please call (828) 350-2058.

WE (3/27, 4/3), noon, Stephens Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave

Kitten Yoga

Bring your yoga mat and recharge your energy while being assaulted by adorable, adoptable kittens.

WE (3/27), 6pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd

Asheville Women's Breathwork Circle

A transformative and empowering women's circle where the power of our breath meets the strength and healing of sisterhood.

TH (3/28), 6pm, WellSpring Wellness Center, 960 Tunnel Rd

Nia Dance Fitness

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

TH (3/28, 4/4), 9:30am, TU (4/2), 10:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Tai Chi for Beginners

A class for anyone interested in Tai Chi and building balance, whole body awareness and other health benefits.

TH (3/28, 4/4), MO (4/1), 11:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

 More info, page 32-33 Alternative

DINING WITH A PURR-POSE: The Asheville Humane Society hosts its 19th annual Dine to be Kind on Tuesday, April 2, starting as early as 6 a.m. More than 60 participating local businesses will donate 15% or more of their proceeds to support the animals in our community. Visit avl.mx/prx5 for the full list of participating venues. Photo courtesy of AHS Photography

Roll & Release Workshop

Learn ways to ease pain, roll and release to help alleviate tension and discomfort.

FR (3/29), 4:30pm, Hendersonville Family YMCA, 810 6th Ave W, Hendersonville

Qigong for Health

A part of traditional Chinese medicine that involves using exercises to optimize energy within the body, mind and spirit.

FR (3/29) , TU (4/2),

9am, SA (3/30) , 11am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Yoga for Everyone

A free-in person yoga class for all ages and abilities that is led by alternating teachers. Bring your own mat and water bottle. Registration required.

SA (3/30), 9:30am, Black Mountain Presbyterian, 117 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

Magnetic Minds: Depression & Bipolar Support Group

A free weekly peer-led meeting for those living with depression, bipolar, and related mental health challenges. Email depressionbipolarasheville@ gmail.com or call or text (828) 367-7660 for more info.

SA (3/30), 2pm, 1316 Ste C Parkwood Rd Spring Flow w/Jamie Knox

Prepare your body for warmer weather with a

yoga practice designed to release toxins and heaviness left over from winter. Walk ins welcome. No need to pre-register, but bring a mat.

SU (3/31), 10:30am, One World Brewing W, 520 Haywood Rd Barre Fusion

A high energy low impact practice that shapes, sculpts, and tones the body like a dancer. No experience necessary, open to all

levels. MO (4/1), 10am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

ART

Asheville’s Naturalist: Watercolors by Sallie Middleton

This exhibition features a selection of botanical and wildlife prints by renowned watercolor artist Sallie Middleton. Gallery open daily, 11am, closed Tuesday.

Exhibition through June 10.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square Western North Carolina Glass: Selections from the Collection Western North Carolina is important in the history of American glass art. A variety of techniques and a willingness to push boundaries of the medium can be seen in this selection of works. Gallery open daily, 11am, closed Tuesday.

Exhibition through

April 15.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

In Conversation: Ann

Shafer

An exciting In Conversation with Ann Shafer in conjunction with our current exhibition American Art in the Atomic Age: 1940–1960.

TH (3/28), 6pm, Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

WNC Bonefire Studio

Paniting Bonfire brings all the supplies and handles the clean-up. The goal is to guide participants through pictures so that everyone creates something exceptional no matter the skill level.

TH (3/28), 6pm, Ginger's Revenge Craft Brewery & Tasting Room, 829 Riverside Dr

Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts Exhibition

Featured in this exhibit are Arrowmont’s nationally and internationally recognized practicing artists and university workshop instructors. Open daily, 10am. Exhibition through May 1.

Folk Art Center, 382 Blue Ridge Pkwy

Counter/Balance: Gifts of John & Robyn Horn

A presentation of important examples of contemporary American craft, including woodworking, metalsmithing, fiber and pottery by renowned American artists. Gallery open daily, 11am, closed Tuesday. Exhibition through July 29.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

Larry Turner: Cows Come Home Exhibition Party

In this collection, Asheville-based artist Larry Turner, reproduces an image of a cow he found on a match box while traveling in India. It features many new

works and some older that been reworked.

FR (3/29), 6pm, Citizen Vinyl, 14 O Henry Ave

Daily Craft Demonstrations

Two artists of different media will explain and demonstrate their craft with informative materials displayed at their booths, daily. These free and educational opportunities are open to the public. Open daily, 10am.

Demonstrations run through Dec. 31.

Folk Art Center, MP 382, Blue Ridge Pkwy

The New Salon: A Contemporary View

A modern take on the prestigious tradition of the Parisian Salon with the diversity and innovation of today’s art world. Gallery open daily, 11am, closed Tuesday. Exhibition through Aug. 19.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

Rob Yamabushi

Presents: The Chimera Art Show

The show will feature never before seen originals, custom canvas prints, and much more. The Chimera is a reference to the multi-headed poly-crisis reality of our modern world.

Gallery open Monday through Sunday, noon. Exhibition through March 31.

Push Skate Shop & Gallery, 25 Patton Ave

American Art in the Atomic Age: 1940–1960

This exhibition features works created during the 1940s–1960s. Much of the art during this time expressed the uncertainty of the era, often relying on automatism and biomorphic forms. Gallery open daily, 11am, closed Tuesday. Exhibition through April 29.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

Chris Jehly: The Soil's Gaze

An exhibition of pleinair watercolor paintings

by Chris Jehly, unveils the artist’s serendipitous moments painting outdoors where nothing ever stands completely still. Gallery open Tuesday through Saturday, 10am, and Sunday, 11am. Exhibition through April 14.

Tyger Tyger Gallery, 191 Lyman St, Ste 144

Julieta Fumberg: Of Chaos & Peace, Beauty in Both Fumberg's most recent exhibit portrays darkness to see the light and the contrast of things. Gallery open Monday through Saturday, 10am, and Sunday, noon. Exhibition runs through May 5.

Pink Dog Gallery, 348 Depot St

Vera B. Williams: Stories

This retrospective will showcase the complete range of award-winning author and illustrator. Williams' life and work. It will highlight her time at Black Mountain College, her political activism in addition to her work as an author and illustrator. Gallery open Monday through Saturday, 11am. Exhibition through May. 11.

Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center, 120 College St

Sov·er·eign·ty: Expressions in Sovereignty of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

This exhibition educates visitors about the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ autonomy, its relationship with the federal government, and how the tribe has defined its own relationship with its land, people, and culture. Gallery open daily, 9am. Exhibition through Feb. 28, 2025. Museum of the Cherokee People, 589 Tsali Blvd, Cherokee Making Changes Exhibition

Echoes the sentiment that growth is universal, whether planned or

spontaneous, material or spiritual. Red House Studios invite all mediums to contribute to a collective exploration of the unawakened and unknown. Open daily, 10am. Exhibition through May 13.

Red House Gallery & Studios, 101 Cherry St, Black Mountain

Focus Gallery Exhibit: Art of Detailing

The Southern Highland Craft Guild opens its first focus gallery exhibition of 2024 with Art of Detailing, featuring both traditional and contemporary craft by five members of the Guild. Open daily, 10am. Exhibition through May 20.

Folk Art Center, 382 Blue Ridge Pkwy

Spark of the Eagle

Dancer: The Collecting Legacy of Lambert Wilson

This exhibition celebrates the legacy of Lambert Wilson, a passionate collector of contemporary Native American art.

Gallery open Tuesday through Friday, 10am. Exhibition through June 28.

WCU Bardo Arts Center, 199 Centennial Dr, Cullowhee

Mandala Madness III

A third biannual showcase of Mandala artwork that features collections of hypnotizing, meditative and geometric pieces. Open daily, noon. Exhibition through May 5.

Foundation Studios, 27 Foundy St

Please Bug Me

An exhibition that celebrates the importance and beauty of insects while educating the community about what each of us can do to protect bug populations. Gallery open Monday through Friday, 10am. Exhibition through April 26. Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W State St, Black Mountain

2024 X Awards

APRI L 1ST VOTING STARTS

Agony & Ecstasy: Images of Conscience by Janette Hopper

These linoleum prints show the agony and ecstasy of human life. The love, sorrow, conflict, beauty, enjoyment of nature, contemplation of what is, was and could be and political commentary. Gallery open Monday through Saturday, 11am and Sunday, 1 pm. Exhibition through May 31.

Flood Gallery Fine Art Center, 850 Blue Ridge Rd, Black Mountain

COMMUNITY MUSIC

Citizen Swing w/ Connor Law & Eli Kahn

The fun starts with some cool, old jazz vinyl, and then continues with live sets by Connor Law and Eli Kahn.

WE (3/27), 6pm, Citizen Vinyl, 14 O Henry Ave

Chad Lawson

Multi-award winning pianist and composer with a unique style of a virtuoso.

TH (3/28), 7:30pm, Brevard Music Center, 349 Andante Ln, Brevard

Kieran Kane & Rayna Gellert

An unlikely musical couple that digs deep into their exploration of minimalist writing and recording.

Dembele. Stay for an all-ages drum workshop.

SA (3/30), noon, LEAF Global Arts, 19 Eagle St

Superwoman Sundays

Each week will highlight a powerful female artists who will perform for an hour before opening the stage for collaboration and open mic.

SU (3/31), 2pm, One World Brewing W, 520 Haywood Rd

The Yale Whiffenpoofs

The Whiffenpoofs are the country's oldest collegiate A Cappella group, and have been singing around the country delighting audiences with a wide variety of A Cappella music. See p32-33

TU (4/2), 7:30pm, Basillica of St. Lawrence, 97 Haywood St

Music To Your Ears

Series: Abbey Rd

In this installment of his monthly discussion series, local musician and NPR composer BJ Leiderman joins author and journalist Bill Kopp for unknown insights into The Beatles' Abbey Road

WE (4/3), 7pm, Asheville Guitar Bar, 122 Riverside Dr

Sō Percussion: A Celebration of John Cage

FR (3/29), 7pm, Wortham Center For The Performing Arts, 18 Biltmore Ave Dervish

Journey to the heart of Ireland with one of the most respected and influential bands in the Celtic genre.

FR (3/29), 8pm, Wortham Center For The Performing Arts, 18 Biltmore Ave

Yala Cultural Tour & Drum Workshop

Visit LEAF Global Arts every Saturday for an in-house cultural exchange with Adama

This percussion quartet performance will feature music by John Cage, Dan Deacon, Matmos, Pauline Oliveros and others.

WE (4/3), 7pm, Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center, 120 College St

The Brother Brothers

An indie folk duo created by identical twins Adam and David Moss from Peoria, Illinois.

TH (4/4), 7pm, Citizen Vinyl, 14 O Henry Ave

The HawtThorns

KP and Johnny Hawthorn, have had celebrated careers that started in LA’s singer-songwriter and

alt-country scenes.

TH (4/4), 7:30pm, Asheville Guitar Bar, 122 Riverside Dr

LITERARY

Tween Book Club

This month, the club is reading and discussing Braver: A Wombat's Tale by Suzanne Selfors. Fourth to sixth graders are welcome to this book club.

TH (3/28), 4pm, Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St

Black Experience Book Club: Womaning

The Black Experience Book Club reads books by Black authors. This month's pick is, Womaning, by local author Meta Commerse.

TH (3/28), 6:30pm, Noir Collective, 39 S Market St

Hang the Moon w/ Jeannette Walls

NYT best-selling author Jeanette Walls will talk about writing her new book, Hang the Moon and there will be an audience Q&A.

TH (3/28), 6:30pm, Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St

The CAP Playbook w/Author DeWayne Barton

This new book articulates a powerful vision for creating a sustainable, inclusive, and economically empowered culture.

FR (3/29), 5pm, Firestorm Books, 1022 Haywood Rd

Book Signing w/ Auburn Lily Auburn Lily, author of Appalachian Witchcraft for Beginners, will be hosting a book signing, Q&A and a mini-marketplace.

SA (3/30), 5pm, Asheville Raven & Crone, 640 Merrimon Ave Ste 207

Books Through Bars w/Dave “Mac” Marquis & Julie Schneye Julie Schneyer and Dave Marquis will join in discussion about Books Through Bars: Stories from the Prison Books Movement, a collection of essays highlights the need for prison book programs. See p32 MO (4/1), 6pm, Malaprop’s Bookstore & Cafe, 55 Haywood St Book launch for Drawn from Life Author Sarah P. Blanchard will sign and read selections from her debut novel. See p32 MO (4/1), 6pm, Blue Mountain Pizza, 55 N. Main St, Weaverville Poetry Critique Night Everyone is welcome to share a few poems or just sit back and listen. Signups to share will open 15 minutes prior to the start.

TU (4/2), 6pm, Black Mountain Library, Black Mountain

THEATER & FILM

360 Allstars

Feel the exhilarating energy of phenomenal physical performance with this international cast of world champion and world record-holding athletes and artists.

WE (3/27), 7pm, Wortham Center For The Performing Arts, 18 Biltmore Ave

Jen Silverman: Witch A charming devil arrives in the quiet village of Edmonton to bargain for the souls of its residents in exchange for their darkest wishes.

WE (3/27, 4/3), TH (3/28, 4/4), SA (3/30), 7:30pm, FR (3/29), SU (3/31), 2pm, NC Stage Co., 15 Stage Ln

Sordid Lives

In this cult classic, chaos erupts in smalltown Texas when the elderly family matriarch accidentally dies during a clandestine meeting

in a seedy motel room with her married lover.

FR (3/29), 7:30pm, SA (3/30), 3pm, Hendersonville Theatre, 229 So Washington St, Hendersonville

Edward Allan Baker: Dolores

A one-act drama about two sisters drawn together by domestic violence.

TH (4/28, 4/4), FR (3/29), MO (4/1), WE (4/3), SA (3/30), 6:30pm, SU (3/31), 3:30 pm, Lamplight AVL's Residency at 821, 821 Haywood Rd

JoJo Williams: Who in the Hell Left the Back Door Open

A musical stage play where Southern soul, gospel, and R&B music come together with an all-star cast featuring some of the hottest artists in the music industry.

SA (3/30), 7:30pm, Diana Wortham Theatre, 18 Biltmore Ave

MEETINGS & PROGRAMS

Every Black Voice: AVL's Racial Justice Coalition Lunch & Learn

This event will be discussing reparations and the history of black Asheville. Housing, health and wellness along with community building and education will also be hot topics of conversation.

WE (3/27), 12:30pm, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

The Great Bird Adventure

An expertly guided educational tour that gently leads you through five magnificent exhibits, showcasing rare and endangered birds from every continent of the world.

WE (3/27, 4/3), FR (3/29), SA (3/30), 11am, Carolina Avian Research and Education, 109 Olivia Trace Dr, Fletcher

Nature Lovers Craft

Time

Get crafty and create wonderful pieces of art using natural materials.

WE (3/27), 12:30pm, Asheville Recreation Park, 65 Gashes Creek Rd

Eightfold Path Study Group

A group will gather to study the Eightfold Path Program. Kris Kramer will host the group as a fellow participant and student.

WE (3/27. 4/3), 3pm, Quietude Micro-retreat Center, 1130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

Change Your Palate

Cooking Demo

This free lunchtime food demonstration is open to ALL but tailored towards those with type 2 diabetes

or hypertension and/ or their caretakers. Our featured host is Change Your Palate's very own Shaniqua Simuel.

WE (3/27), 4pm, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

Aerial Silks Foundations

Learn how to properly ascend, descend, and create stunning shapes on the silks while emphasizing safety and proper form. Participants of all ages and all abilities are welcome.

WE (3/27), 4pm and 5:30pm, Amethyst Realm, 244 Short Coxe Ave

Scattergories Challenge Night

A classic fast-thinking word game. Prizes will be awarded to the top-3 scoring players.

WE (3/27), 5:30pm, Beradu--Specialty Market, Kitchen & Bar, 2 E Market St, Black Mountain

Comales & Cornbread: Exploring the New-Southern Latino Table in Appalachia

A roundtable discussion between foodways scholar Marcie Cohen Ferris and cookbook authors Sandra Gutierrez and Ronni Lundy. This lecture series will discuss Latin American and Appalachian foodways in North Carolina.

WE (3/27), 6pm, Highsmith Student Union, 1 University Heights

Gardens 101

Learn what plants need to grow and discover ideas for making a garden without a huge plot.

WE (3/27), 6pm, Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave

Recreate Asheville: Virtual Feedback Session

This virtual community meeting features a community-built comprehensive plan to guide the City of Asheville’s parks and recreation decisions for the next 10-15 years. Register at avl.mx/dg0.

WE (3/27), 6pm, Online

The Wisdom We Need Right Now

This special talk about wisdom features Eastern US National Spiritual Director, Kadam Morten Clausen.

WE (3/27), 7pm, Je

Tsongkhapa Kadampa Buddhist Center, 1070 Tunnel Rd

Brew & Taste

Learn coffee brewing science using only locally roasted coffees with a Specialty Coffee Association certified Pro Brewer.

TH (3/28, 4/4), FR

(3/29), SA (3/30), SU (3/31), 9:30am, Coffee

Curious Workshops, 45 S French Broad Ave

NSA-WNC Meeting

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

TH (3/28), 10:30am, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

Recreate Asheville:

Open House

This drop-in open house community meeting features the opportunity to participate in hands-on budgeting activities and speak directly with City of Asheville staff.

TH (3/28), 1:30pm, Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Rd

Business In Color

An inspiring night dedicated to fostering inclusivity, diversity, and community in Asheville's business landscape. Whether you're starting up, scaling up, seeking professional growth, or eager to diversify your network, this gathering is where your journey intensifies.

TH (3/28), 6pm, Different Wrld, 701 Haywood Rd, Ste 101

Kids & Teens Kung Fu

Learn fighting skills as well as conflict resolution and mindfulness. First class is free to see if it’s a good fit for you.

TH (3/28, 4/4), MO (4/1), TU (4/2), 4pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Lifestyle Choices

A group discussion for 14 to 19 year-olds that offers an opportunity for young males to engage in open discussion regarding their behaviors and community involvement.

TH (3/28), 6pm, Dr Wesley Grant, Sr. Southside Center, 285 Livingston St

Dharma Talk w/John Orr

John will give Dharma talk and lead discussion on various topics related to meditation and Buddhist teachings.

TH (3/28), 6:30pm, Quietude Micro-retreat Center, 1130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

Transcend w/Tarot

A three-part series to learn about the world of tarot from a professional teacher. Advance registration required.

TH (3/28, 4/4), 7pm, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd

Pride Nights

A special night of Pride to socialize with friends and family or make connections while listening to music.

FR (3/29), 8pm, Oklawaha Brewing Co., 147 1st Ave E, Hendersonville

Popcorn Creation Bar

Start with freshly-made traditional popcorn and then make every kernel a work of art.

SA (3/30), SU (3/31), 11am, Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

What’s Shaking?: Music & Dance Workshop

A live, interactive 60-minute immersive class for young people and their adults. Shows include Mr. Ryan’s original poems, songs, and a few classic covers.

SA (3/30), 11am, LEAF Global Arts, 19 Eagle St

Beacon Spring Town Square

This is an opportunity for locals to learn and share about what’s happening in their communities. Attendees will have an opportunity to make announcements, requests, and offers during our Community Forum portion of the evening.

SA (3/30), noon, One World Brewing W, 520 Haywood Rd

Bid Whist

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

SA (3/30), 1pm, Dr Wesley Grant, Sr. Southside Center, 285 Livingston St

Country Tea Dance & Line Dance w/ Stepping Out

Come to learn to line dance or show off your boot scooting skills with Jerri and the crew from Stepping Out.

SU (3/31), 4pm, Fleetwood's, 496 Haywood Rd

Women's Sovereignty Circle

A donation based group for women that explores topics such as boundaries, discernment, feminine power, identifying needs and desires, and more.

MO (4/1), 10:30am, The Well, 3 Louisiana Ave

Monthly Companion Orientation

Learn about our worship services, our medical respite facility, and our bi-weekly restaurant style meals and how you can get involved.

MO (4/1), 5pm, Haywood Street Congregation, 297 Haywood St

Black Men Monday

A local group that has stepped up in the community to advocate for and mentor students through academic intervention. Kids, ages 7 and up, are welcome

to join.

MO (4/1), 5:30pm, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

Sketchbook Club

A bi-monthly gathering for sharing inspiration and collaborating on drawings while developing a consistent sketchbook.

MO (4/1), 6pm, Foundation Studios, 27 Foundy St

Community Drum Class w/Larry McDowell

VOTING STARTS APRIL 1ST

A fun gathering for all skill levels where you will be learning and practicing techniques, including some traditional West African rhythms.

MO (4/1), 7pm, The Well, 3 Louisiana

Dharma & Discuss w/ David McKay

David will lead a conversation on the dharma, with many opportunities to ask questions, share insights, or listen and learn.

MO (4/1), 7pm, Quietude Micro-retreat Center, 1130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

Random Acts of Flowers Creative Therapy: Floral Arrangement Workshop

Learn how to create a floral arrangements in

this workshop. You'll need to bring vases you can donate, garden snipes/scissors, friends and smile.

TU (4/2), 10am, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

Therapeutic Recreation Adult Crafting & Cooking

A variety of cooking and crafts for individuals with disabilities ages 17 and over each week. Advance registration at avlrec. com is required.

TU (4/2), 10am, Oakley Community Center, 749 Fairview Rd

Innerdance: Altered States of Consciousness w/Soundscapes & Energy Work

A music-based, meditative, healing journey. It involves the use of special soundscapes that mimic circadian rhythms and enable people to move effortlessly between different brain wave states.

TU (4/2), 4pm, The Horse Shoe Farm, 155 Horse Shoe Farm Rd, Hendersonville

Future of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Dr. John Plant will discuss ideas for a future NATO expansion and

other decisions for its growth.

TU (4/2), 7pm, UNC Asheville Reuter Center, 1 University Heights

Tarot Club

Each month we will study new ways to work with the cards while engaging in personal journey work.

TU (4/2), 7pm, The Well at Mountain Magic, 3 Louisiana Ave

Spring Migration

Through the Southeast Speaker Pam Torlina of Conserving Carolina will discuss the annual cycle of spring migration by songbirds through the southeast. After the presentation, guests will be invited to get an up-close look at nests, feathers and even bird specimens.

WE (4/3), 10:30am, Etowah Public Library, 101 Brickyard Rd

Electrify ABC Program

The Federal Inflation Reduction Act aims to make electric living affordable. Sophie Mullinax of Electrify Asheville-Buncombe will introduce ways we can all benefit.

WE (4/3), 7pm, OLLI/ Reuter Center, UNCA, 300 Campus View Rd

Music Together: Black Mountain

Each week babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and the grownups who love them come together for 45 minutes of fun-filled family time.

TH (4/4), Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W. State St, Black Mountain

Healthy Brain, Healthy Body & Healthy You

This program is intended for anyone who is interested in the latest research on brain health as we age. It focuses on key factors of exercise, diet, cognitive activity and social engagement.

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

French Broad River Series: Native Brook Trout Conservation in NC

Learn about efforts to help conserve North Carolina's native Book Trout with a presentation by Jacob Rash, Coldwater Research Coordinator for the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.

TH (4/4), 6pm, Transylvania County Library, 212 S Gaston St, Brevard

Relational Mindfulness w/Deborah Eden Tull

This session is about healing the myth of separation through our relationship with self, one another, and our planet.

TH (4/4), 6:30pm, Quietude Micro-retreat Center, 1130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

LOCAL MARKETS

RAD Farmers Market

Winter Season

Browse 30+ local vendors all winter long with fresh produce, pastured meats, baked goods, honey, and more. Safely accessible by bike or foot on the greenway, plus free public parking along Riverside Drive.

WE (3/27), 3pm, Smoky Park Supper Club, 350 Riverside Dr

FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS

Toddler Egg Hunt

Enjoy a fun a day of hunting eggs on the playground. For ages 4 and under with the supervision of an adult WE (3/27), 11:30am,

Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave

Friend's Night Out

Jackson County Chamber presents its third annual Friends Night Out fest, providing visitors with the chance to support several member businesses. A prize drawing will be held at the end of the event.

TH (3/28), noon, Jackson County Chamber and Visitor Center, 773 W Main St, Sylva

First Annual Adult Spelling Bee

An adult spelling bee contest to test your wits and spark a bit of nostalgia. Register at avl.mx/dh8 to participate.

TH (3/28), 7pm, Leveller Brewing Co., 25 N Main St, Weaverville

Josh Blake's 50th Birthday Bashment

Josh Blake is throwing his 50th Birthday on the indoor stage with music from DJ Tablesaw, DJ Adam Strange and he Josh Blake band.

FR (3/29), 8pm, Salvage Station, 468 Riverside Dr

Forest Frequency Presents: Metamorphosis

A music and arts day festival taking place in Asheville’s South Slope.

FR (3/29), 9pm, Amethyst Realm, 244 Short Coxe Ave

Spring Eggstravaganza

An eggcellent time welcoming spring that features a popular outdoor egg hunt with food, refreshments, and crafts.

SA (3/30), 11am, Burton Street Community Center, 134 Burton St

Easter Celebraton & Rabbit Romp

An education session that offers full rabbit care training for people who genuinely want to learn about having rabbits as pets. There will also be games, prizes, face painting and rabbits for pet and play time.

SA (3/30), 1pm, Center for Spiritual Living Asheville, 2 Science Mind Way

Easter at St. John in the Wilderness

An Easter egg hunt for children of all ages, hosted by Saint John's Young Family Ministry. The hunt will happen between church services on Easter Sunday.

SU (3/31), 10am, The Episcopal Church of Saint John in the Wilderness, 1905 Greenville Hwy, Flat Rock

Bastet's Meow-gical Egg Hunt

A fun day for children who like to hunting eggs and interacting with black cats. This event is free, but registration at avl.mx/dhm is required. Egg hunt for children under 5 years old will start at 11am.

SU (3/31), 11am and 2pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd

Pickle Fest

First annual intimate pickle-themed festival with special foods, drinks and more.

SU (3/31), noon, The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave

Easter Egg Hunt

The Easter Bunny will be available for pictures after the egg hunt on the front lawn. Please make sure to bring a basket.

SU (3/31), 1pm, The Monte Vista Hotel, 308 W State St, Black Mountain

Women's History

Month Latin Celebration w/DJ Malintzin & Cubaso Band

Come wrap up Women's History month celebrating Latin Women with music from DJ Malintzin and Cubaso Band Duo. There will also be art and jewelry vendors, a women-led salsa class and food.

SU (3/31), 5:30pm,

One World Brewing W, 520 Haywood Rd

The Great Easter Joke Hunt

Easter eggs with jokes will be hidden all over the brewery and there will also be a great lineup of comedians.

SU (3/31), 6pm, Catawba Brewing Co.

S Slope Asheville, 32 Banks Ave

Healthcare, Medical & Wellness Professionals

Networking

Five presenters will give short speeches

about topics pertaining to their own ventures in healthcare and wellness.

WE (4/3), 6pm, Plēb Urban Winery, 289 Lyman St

Parkinsons Education Fair

Ten local businesses will provide an overview of their services and ways they may benefit you, if not now, perhaps some time in the future.

TU (4/2), 10am, Groce United Methodist Church, 954 Tunnel Rd

BENEFITS & VOLUNTEERING

Dine w/Divas: A Drag Dinner Show

This fundraiser for Beloved Asheville promises to dazzle attendees with an extraordinary lineup of drag queen celebrity impersonators and a dinner catered by Celine and Co.

FR (3/29), 7pm, Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Hwy, Ste 200

Reproductive Freedom Art Show

This art show is an artistic act of defiance against the reversal of Roe vs Wade and the future of abortion access. All proceeds raised from the art show will support Planned Parenthood Action PAC NC.

SA (3/30), 6pm, Haiku AVL, 26 Sweeten Creek Rd

Spring Fever: A Queer Dance Party & Fundraiser

A queer dance party with DJ Ganymede and lavish raffle with proceeds going to support WNCAP. There will also be free HIV and Hep C testing van on site for free, starting at 7 p.m. SU (3/31), 8pm, The Odd, 1045 Haywood Rd

Dine To Be Kind 2024

Asheville Humane Society's 19th Annual Dine to be Kind will feature 60+ local businesses that are coming together to donate 15% or more of the their proceeds to support the animals in our community. Visit avl.mx/prx5 for the full list of participating venues.

TU (4/2), 6am, Multiple Locations, Citywide

The Blood Connection Blood Drive

The Blood Connection and Highland Brewing Co. are partnering to host this blood drive. Visit avl.mx/dhx to schedule a donation appointment with sponsor code 1189.

TU (4/2), 1pm, Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Hwy, Ste 200

Interpreter of the year

Longtime educator and advocate for the deaf wins statewide award

BY ALLI LINDENBERG

What started out as a curiosity quickly became a passion for sign language interpreter Kim Martin. Over two decades ago, Martin enrolled in a sign language interpreting class at Santa Fe Community College in New Mexico with hopes of learning the language that piqued her interest. Today, she is an award-winning educational sign language interpreter and advocate for deaf and hard-ofhearing students.

Earlier this year, Martin received the interpreter of the year award from the N.C. Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. Martin is the lead interpreter for Buncombe County Schools, where she’s worked since 2004, aside from a brief hiatus to work in college interpreting.

“I just fell in love with it and found that education was really kind of my niche. I really like working with kids, especially in our field,” said Martin.

Many of the kids that Martin works with are not only deaf or hard of hearing but also struggle with language deprivation. Language deprivation is when a child is subjected to a lack of full access to language during the critical period of development when language acquisition occurs, typically during a child’s first five years of life. It is estimated that up to 70% of deaf children experience language deprivation, according to the National Association of the Deaf.

“Most deaf kids are born to hearing parents, and there’s usually a lag time of identifying deafness in a baby and often a struggle with accepting that you have a deaf child. There’s a long process in which there can be a lot of language deprivation for children. So for us, that’s a big part of our job, being language role models and teaching,” said Martin.

Martin is part of a larger team made up of an audiologist, two teachers of the deaf, hearing interpreters and a deaf interpreter. Hearing

interpreters are interpreters who use hearing to translate language for deaf students. Deaf interpreters are interpreters who are born hard of hearing or deaf. They serve preschool students to seniors in high school. The interpreters typically provide one-on-one support for students throughout the school day. This support extends beyond academic instruction as interpreters provide social support on the playground or in the cafeteria and during extracurricular activities.

This school year, the team started a deaf education playgroup. The playgroup addresses language deprivation by focusing on language acquisition for their youngest students.

“In the past, it’s been the case where they’ll take an interpreter and put them in front of the student and be like, ‘OK, now you have an

district used to have where deaf and hard-of-hearing students were bused to the same school, but that program was disbanded about a decade ago, according to Martin.

“We’ve been working really hard to get the cluster back so that the deaf and hard-of-hearing kids can be together. Because, as you can probably imagine, being deaf or hard of hearing is very isolating. When the only person who knows your language is your interpreter, it’s very isolating. It’s really important for the kids to be together so that they can see other deaf people and other people using sign language so they don’t feel so isolated. We’re working on reinvigorating that cluster program right now,” said Martin.

While Martin loves her job, it isn’t without its challenges. Compensation for interpreters is lower in the school system than outside of it. The district struggles to hire long-term employees, and school officials often have to hire contractors to fill the needs they can’t meet with their own staff.

“I think as far as educational interpreters, just the weight of being responsible for teaching someone a language … we’re grossly underpaid. Contract interpreters are paid three times as much as we are,” said Martin.

interpreter,’ but they don’t know the language themselves. It’s very complicated to try to teach someone a language and academics at the same time. You have to learn the language first. That’s what this little playgroup is all about is trying to get these kids language acquisition first, so that then they can learn the academics, but you can’t really do both at the same time,” said Martin.

The team is also working on revitalizing a cluster program that the

Martin plans to keep advocating for both more support for her deaf and hard-of-hearing students and better pay for interpreters. With a career spanning over two decades in the field, she hopes her commitment and insights will inspire others to care more about both hard-of-hearing students and their support staff.

“I just have a heart for, you know, these kids. It is my passion, and it’s so important to me that these kids have access to language, to acquiring language and to learning. I do feel like if I wasn’t here, I don’t know who would be doing it, so that keeps me in it,” said Martin. X

WINNER: Kim Martin, lead sign language interpreter for Buncombe County Schools, earned the interpreter of the year award from the N.C. Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. Photo courtesy of Kim Martin

WITH CAYLA CLARK Local comedians reimagine the Asheville Tourists’ mascot and name

BY CAYLA CLARK

Spring is somehow here, and with it comes post-primary disillusionment and highly anticipated warmer weather. As we collectively shake off our seasonal depression, and the light (read: will to live) returns to our eyes, we ask ourselves pressing questions such as “Which hike should I take my dog on first?”

Speaking of dogs, this month I have invited slam poet, comedian and life coach Justin Blackburn to weigh in on several important topics, along with Comedian Couple of the Year for two consecutive years, Allison Shelnut and James Harrod. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing all three comedians perform around town, and while Allison is undeniably the funniest, the boys are pretty good, too.

It’s almost Pretty Good Friday! Pretty Good Friday is a nonreligious holiday during which people commit to having a mediocre day that teeters right on the edge of pleasantness. I like to joke with my friends at the office, “Every day is Pretty Good Friday when you observe the weekend!” It’s a little joke we have; they always laugh. (I should note, I work from home.) But in all seriousness, Easter is almost upon us, which means pricey brunches and plastic egg hunts. I’m not much of a “He is Risen” gal myself, but I do partake in my own sort of celebration. Rather than multicolored, chocolate-filled trash, however, I hunt for DADBOD tags. So far I’ve found 870 hidden around town. What are your favorite hidden gems in Asheville?

Justin: I like to try and find the ghost of the woman at Biltmore Estate who spontaneously combusted. If you don’t know the story (which may or may not be true — read: definitely not true), George Vanderbilt was lacking in a certain area, so he built the biggest house in the world to impress his mistress, Ida Bertha. Upon seeing the house

a small town 45 minutes outside of Asheville. Sometimes this distracts from the fact that I personally hail from the second-most despised state in the country (California, second only to Florida). Unfortunately, this tactic rarely works. If I could change one thing about myself, it would be my license plate.

James: My favorite thing hidden around Asheville is people who remember seeing me perform at a comedy show but don’t remember anything about the experience, can’t remember if they had a good time or they actually confuse me with fellow local comedian Ryan Gordon

Allison: Not interested in ghosts or James’ past. I like hunting in local thrift stores and antique malls for anything that survived the ’90s. I find a good number of practically free Beanie Babies in the bins (while carefully avoiding the Machine Gun Kelly-looking vintage reseller youths whom I am terrified by).

Cayla: Along with not being an Easter gal, I am possibly even less of a baseball gal. That being said, Friday, April 5, is the Asheville Tourists’ opening day. I think that means they walk out onto that little diamond and try to hit that white ball with those sticks for a couple hours while everyone screams and drinks beer. Fun! I’ve personally never understood the mascot. Why are we repped by something we loathe? (Just kidding, this town runs on tourism and we all know it.) If you could rename the Asheville Tourists, what name would you give them, and why?

in all of its splendor and excess, she spontaneously combusted. It’s fun to try to find her ghost. I don’t know the science behind it, but if you spontaneously combust, are you able to have a ghost?

Cayla: Have you tried asking her?

Justin : I have, but she hasn’t responded. She seems a little standoffish. I’ve also tried channeling George to see about building a house for me so I could spontaneously combust, but I didn’t get a response from him either. You win some, you combust some.

Cayla: Or you don’t. Another one of my favorite things to find hidden around Asheville are born and bred locals. They are extremely rare nowadays. Finding a true Ashevillian feels like finding a prized morel while mushroom hunting. (Or at least that’s what I imagine, as mushroom hunting is a level of integration I have yet to achieve.)

When I do find a local, I like to first ask them why they hate me, even though I already know the answer. Then I like to tell them that my partner was born and raised in Etowah,

Justin: I was the one who came up with the name Asheville Tourists 100 or so years ago, and yes, I apologized then and yes, I regret it still to this day. I’d like to formally change the name of our minor league team to the Asheville Landlords.

Cayla: Can you imagine? Going to a baseball game in Asheville would become unaffordable so fast. I actu-

BATTER UP: Friday, April 5, is the Asheville Tourists’ opening day. In this month’s “Best Medicine,” co-host Cayla Clark, top left, speaks with fellow local comedians about the team and if there’s a more appropriate name for the ball club. Also pictured, clockwise from top right, Allison Shelnut, James Harrod and Justin Blackburn. Photo of Clark by Donnie Rex; all other images courtesy of the comedians

ally think the Landlords is a brilliant name. But I might go more in the direction of the Asheville Woo-Woo Gurus. The team uniform would be open linen shirts with wire-wrapped necklaces, striped festival pants and Chacos. All of the players would hug one another before and after the game for an uncomfortable amount of time. (The old Asheville “long hug” — you know the one.) The mascot would be Silly Cybin, a Ziploc bag full of magic mushrooms. He would run around the field picking flowers and handing them to people in the bleachers, yelling things like, “One love” and “Don’t Bogart that joint, man.” I don’t think the Woo-Woo Gurus would ever score points, but I also don’t think they would care. Could be a fun vibe.

James: People who know me know that my main toxic trait is that I’m a HUGE fan of everything sports related. As a sports fan, I think that Asheville should just be glad we are named the Tourists and not something overtly racist like some other teams. I mean sure, some tourists in this town are definitely racist, but that’s beside the point.

Allison: As a person hoping to receive a security deposit back (and it’s not looking too good), I cannot

emotionally tolerate a landlord joke right now. (Thank you for understanding.) Now that James has officially come out as a sports fan in print, I am happy that he and I will be able to move forward in our relationship and lives with less shame and more authenticity. I think the baseball team should be named the Doodles and have a live mascot on the field. This way, the bored significant others of sports fans will have a cute dog to look at while they pretend to enjoy the game.

Well, rumor has it that you two, Allison and James, are packing up and moving onto bigger and better things in Denver. Of course, you aren’t the only members of the comedy community to high-tail it out of here. Last year, we lost a great in Best Medicine’s original host Morgan Marie, though she isn’t too far east of here. Meanwhile, Mario Trevizo bounced to Baltimore earlier this month. Allison and James, what are you seeking in the Denver comedy scene that’s lacking here, and how will the local scene shift once you bounce?

James : For me personally, I have loved being a part of the comedy scene and learned so much from many of the talented people I’ve worked with in Asheville. I’ll never forget the Disclaimer comics putting me on my first show or getting to perform with Cody Hughes on his special taping. Also, the Asheville comedy scene is how I met Allison — so yeah, I’m a big fan. What it boiled down to for me was I wanted to move to a city that has a copious amounts of recreational drug use and people who enjoy jam bands. Denver has that and Asheville just doesn’t. Buncha narcs over here!

Allison: I’m honestly pretty worried about stumbling into another scene and what I’ll have to hear at open mics in Denver, but it’ll be worth it for access to big city perks like getting a calzone delivered at 2 a.m.

Justin : The local scene will be devastated with the loss of Allison and James and will not recover. However, if the hilarious Cayla Clark started doing standup, that would be a step in the right direction.

Cayla : Fortunately for you, Justin, and unfortunately for the city at large, I have my first standup gig on Saturday, April 20. Ticket holders will have the unique opportunity to watch me crash, burn and sob until I barf, live onstage. As is the case everywhere, the comedy scene is dominated by men. I know we’ll all be sad to see Allison leave, as she’s a truly funny lady and human being. Fortunately, we won’t lose the Open Mic Comedy Freakshow at The Odd, currently facilitated by James, because James will be naming a successor soon.

James: I will truly miss everyone deeply, especially those who sign up at The Odd open mic under strange stage names such as “Jimmy 5,000” and “Drumstick.”

Cayla: What would have to happen to the scene in order for everyone to stay?

James: I really don’t think the scene needs to change at all. It really depends on what you want to get out of comedy. Asheville is a great place to start doing comedy and to perform in front of people. The comics here are funnier than in other small towns and the opportunities are there for the taking. Unless you’re a prop comic, of course; then there is no future here. Or anywhere.

Cayla: What’s a prop comic?

James: A prop comic is someone with items that they use onstage for laughs, such as a giant hairbrush, a

watermelon or a mullet. Also known as a comedian with a disposable income. Now that I think about it, they can be pretty funny. (OK, I’m saying this just in case Steve Martin reads this article.)

Allison: I agree there are a lot of things to love about the Asheville comedy scene. I’ve heard many a traveling comics comment on how lucky we are to have access to attentive crowds. They’re also impressed by the amount of stage time we get here. So many local comics are extremely supportive and kind. I know I wouldn’t have wanted to start comedy anywhere else. Everything I want to change about comedy is attached to larger social issues like casual sexism and gendered violence sprinkled throughout the material of nearly every new dude open mic comic I’ve ever met. We have a lower tolerance for that stuff than other cities. So most of these comics stop saying the most harmful sh*t pretty quickly, though some stick with it. But I’ve started a public service program covering transportation to Austin, Texas; so I’m sure several will continue the mass exodus by taking advantage of Rogan Roamers. (That’s what I’m calling my service.)

Justin: It would be cool if someone opened up a comedy club here.

Cayla: Yes, a comedy club would fill a big need, for sure. But I also think Asheville’s comedy scene has a ceiling, which is probably the case in most smallish cities — or maybe in every city outside of a select few such as New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago. There’s only so much success you can have without traveling or moving.

Justin : Yeah, that’s true. And since most comedians have set jokes they perform over and over in the local scene, a lot of the audience hears the same jokes more than once. I get self-conscious about it at times. I host a funny monthly show at Sovereign Kava, and some months I stick to crowd work because I feel like the audience has heard my one good joke over and over. I do think the internet is a great tool for comedians who are living in Asheville and looking to get booked in other places. I have some friends who have had videos go viral on Instagram or TikTok, which helps them get the word out.

Cayla: That being said, there is an immense amount of local talent here; definitely more than in any other comparably sized city I’ve lived in. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Asheville feels like a small, E. coli-laden pond packed full of big, funny fish. X

A priest or cocaine trafficker?

Local poet revisits childhood memories in latest collection

BY THOMAS CALDER

In her latest poetry collection, Honest Sonnets: Memories from an Unorthodox Childhood in Verse , Nicole Farmer explores her youth spent traversing the United States and the globe.

“I moved 16 times in 18 years,” says the local poet.

Born in Manhattan, Farmer has lived throughout much of the Northeast, Midwest and South. She’s also spent time in parts of England and Mexico. For the past seven years, she’s called Asheville home.

In this month’s poetry feature, Farmer speaks with Xpress about two of her poems — “Daring” and “Conspirators.” Both examine the larger-than-life personality and illegal activities of her late father, Loren Edwin Farmer

Xpress: Talk to me about the inspiration behind these two poems.

Farmer: My book Honest Sonnets is a journey through my childhood and a love letter of sorts to my parents and sister. “Daring” and “Conspirators” appear near the end of the collection and are based on memories from my teen years when I was living with my dad in Lafayette, La.

I tried for several years to write a memoir about being a kid in the ’60s and ’70s. These sonnets, and many in the book, began as short stories or prose poems. After reading the American sonnets of Diane Suess, Terrance Hays and Gerald Stern a floodgate opened for me. I found the restrictions of having to tell a story in 14 lines, in the structure of a sonnet, both comforting and challenging. Something clicked, and for three months the poems flowed out of me at a rate of two to three

Daring

What constitutes a memory? Dad now gone I simply remember what I remember true or not. There were only the two of us left at home: seeing him emerge from the bedroom in full priest habit as Padre Lorenzo, devout traveler between Catholic Louisiana and Catholic Columbia, doing God’s work with a friendly smile — flamboyant Spanish and a love of Central America, its people, its culture. You would never guess he had plastic bags of sugar duct taped under his pants — practice run for the big day — me wondering if this was really happening. Now I ponder his desperation and fear of failure — dreading invisibility more than death.

Conspirators

I was his eyes, his judge, his confidante: Did his pants catch when he walked, did he look convincingly chubby? Was his belly believable? Did he waddle like a worshiper who loved to eat? — and all I could think about was how his white plastic collar contrasted with the black linen shirt, how his black shoes shone, how much cocaine would be duct taped to his body, and what they would do to him if they caught him, would I ever see him again, would I be allowed to visit him in the pen? But this was 1979 and he waltzed through customs with a pirouette — shook hands, smiled, joked — his priest a role that far surpassed his Broadway debut.

poems per day — a luxury of being confined to my home during the COVID epidemic.

Obviously, my dad — referred to in my writing often as Lorenzo, my old man and Mr. X — is the main character in both poems. He was a true chameleon and the consummate actor on the stage of life as he went from the mean streets of Chicago to being a Golden Gloves boxer, studying acting with Lee Strasberg, appearing on Broadway and years being a college history professor before he made his bold criminal move to raise money he needed to open his own honky-tonk.

Along with being about a specific memory, the poem “Daring” also touches on how memories morph and change over time. Could you speak to that concept and how it informed/inspired the collection as a whole and this poem specifically.

Memories are elusive. I think acknowledging that in the opening of this poem is my way of saying that I have such vivid memories, and yet I have no one to confirm these images seared in my brain. Some moments fade with time, and others are so pellucid, it is as if they happened yesterday.

The days with my dad, before he departed, are tattooed into my bones because of the fear I felt and my

desire to remember him just the way he looked at that moment in case I never saw him again. I know if he were alive, his perspective would be vastly different. In 2015, I wrote a 10-minute play that was given a staged reading in Wilmington, N.C. I was so happy to recount a largerthan-life family legend about him and my sister in a small village close to Oaxaca, Mexico, when he saved her life by staying awake all night killing the scorpions that were skittering across the floor of their one-room hospital. I proudly sent the play to my dad, and he said, “What’s this bullsh*t about?” We had a good laugh.

In this collection, I am trying to define the meaning of home. For me, it is not a geographic location. It is the connection with the people I love.

Were these actual scorpions or a detail you embellished/misremembered within the play?

Yes — and there were tarantulas, too!

So his response about it being “bullsh*t” was less a dispute about the accuracy and more just a way of downplaying the moment?

Exactly.

You also mentioned a sense of fear in never seeing your father again. I imagine this relates to his

MANY SIDES: Poet Nicole Farmer describes her late father as a true chameleon — a onetime boxer turned actor turned professor turned cocaine trafficker. His many lives are captured in her latest collection. Photo courtesy of Farmer

cocaine smuggling and your fear that he’d be arrested. Or did you mean something else?

Yes, I am referring to when he was going to smuggle cocaine as a way to open his nightclub. He couldn’t find a teaching job anywhere and was working as a teller at the racetrack. I never feared that I would not see him during the many times he and my mom separated and eventually divorced. He was a fiercely loyal father.

Was he ever arrested?

Nope.

At what point in your life did you start using language as the way to commit your experiences to memory? And did the urge to remember predate your understanding that you were/are a poet?

I started keeping a diary when I was living in Cambridge, England, in the second grade. This was tricky because I was dyslexic and couldn’t spell at all. By the time I was in the fourth grade living in West Virginia, I began to dream of being a writer and possibly a spy, because I loved observing people and writing about them. I would hide out and eavesdrop on conversations way above my head — neighbors, family, bus drivers, teachers, my sister and her friends, anyone.

I relied heavily on my journal while my father was traveling without me. It became an outlet for dealing with a life that seemed so different than any of my friends. It is no surprise to me that I gravitated to the theater and a world of similar artists who also wanted to hide behind a character and escape into a world of fantasy. If you had asked me in my 20s when I was studying drama at The Juilliard School if I ever wrote poetry, I would have laughed. My only poems were very bad attempts to detail my many failed romances. I would say that reading, if not writing, has always been a constant in my life. The summer I was 17, I read over

100 plays and damaged my long-distance vision.

How has your travel influenced your writing?

I think travel in general is always mind-expanding as it exposes us to other cultures and traditions. Living abroad certainly changed my perspective on the world. The constant moving did two things. First, it created a closeness in my nuclear family that was long-lasting. Second, it manifested as a restlessness when we stayed in one place for longer than usual — this kind of “shouldn’t we be moving again?” feeling, and by the time I reached high school, I was tired of the effort involved in making new friends.

Is there a local collection that recently came out or is forthcoming that you’re excited to read, and why?

There are more local writers I admire than I can mention. But Mother Body by Diamond Forde is an extraordinary collection of poems. I recently heard her read some of her new poems at Story Parlor and was so impressed by their power and passion.

Brit Washburn has a very unique collection of poems [Notwithstanding] that really resonates with me as a mother. Her poems are so beautifully crafted and have a haunting quality almost like a tragic Irish love song you cannot forget. I am also very impressed with Andrew K. Clark’s poems in Jesus in the Trailer, so I am eagerly awaiting his first novel, Where Dark Things Grow. Last but not least is Kenneth Chamlee’s collection of delightful poems, If Not These Things. I keep this book bedside to read and reread.

Who are the four poets on your personal Mount Rushmore?

I am carving a few more heads — Rainer Maria Rilke, Ada Limon, Ocean Vuong, Ross Gay, Victoria Redel, Natalie Diaz, Sharon Olds, Diane Seuss and Margaret B. Ray.

Colleen Queeney was working for a startup company in Silicon Valley in the 1990s when a fellow engineer showed her how to make kimchi. She fell in love with the fermented cabbage condiment and perfected her craft, learning from non-English videos featuring Korean women without subtitles. After 35 years of working in corporate America and making kimchi for friends, Queeney left her job last fall and started Queeney Kimchi in Asheville. She launched the business at various farmers markets this past winter and has plans for continued expansion.

Queeney met her business partner, husband and best friend, Michael (who also left his 40-year corporate career), during her time in Los Gatos, Calif. “He brings all the financial, legal and logistical knowledge,” she says. “I bring all the food, fermenting, planning, business development, product development and sales to the table.”

The couple moved to Asheville in 2002 with their then-infant children, Annie and Ricky, and Colleen eventually helped build the project management office for Mission Health’s information technology department. For the last seven years, she was the vice president of project and product management at Guardian Research Network in Spartanburg, S.C., where she helped develop artificial intelligence to match patients with cancer treatment trials.

Queeney says she and her husband decided to sell kimchi full time after friends and family members started offering to pay for it. The couple produce six small batches at a time, fermenting by hand and pressing the kimchi every 24 hours with wooden mallets to prevent it from bubbling over. This process can last six to 11 days, depending on the thickness of the cabbage leaves.

“Because we come see the kimchi every day, we can listen to it every day,” says Queeney. “It tells us when it’s getting to its perfect fermentation point. When it smells, tastes and crunches right, we refrigerate it to stop the fermentation.” Once each jar is ready, the Queeneys apply hand labels “and a lot of love,” she says. Queeney Kimchi can be bought from local markets, farmers markets and on the web.

For more information, visit avl.mx/dhh.

Black Mountain community’s new café

Harrison Jones was on a connector flight from Charlotte to Minneapolis when he met his future wife, Lexi, in August 2019. Harrison, a native of Waynesville, was traveling to a friend’s wedding in Hawaii and had to make a last-minute flight change — and ended up on one where Lexi was a flight attendant. Earlier this month, the now-married couple opened Recess Coffee and Baked Goods in Black Mountain.

The year they met, Harrison was living in Kathmandu, Nepal, doing anti-human trafficking work but was visiting his parents in his hometown for the summer. He and Lexi started going on dates when she had layovers in Asheville. When he returned to Nepal at the end of that summer, she visited frequently. During the COVID19 pandemic, Harrison returned to the United States to be closer to family. He and Lexi married in Whittier but then moved to Nepal, where they ran a coffee shop employing youths who were vulnerable to trafficking. But family — and the mountains of home — called again, and the couple landed in Black Mountain in 2022.

Ever since that first serendipitous encounter, the Joneses had dreamed about opening their own bake shop focusing on croissants, sourdough, coffee and community. “We’ve come to know our beautiful community ... to be full of people with intricate stories,” says Harrison. “We wanted to build a place for them to share those stories and connect.”

The café, open Thursday-Monday, features weekly specials as well as regular items such as a chocolate cherry sourdough loaf and ham and cheese croissants. All items are made daily from scratch by Harrison and Lexi.

“Recess was everyone’s favorite subject growing up,” says Harrison. “Our shop continues that feeling by giving people a place to belong and to be curious.”

Recess Coffee and Baked Goods is at 107 Black Mountain Ave., Black Mountain. For more information, visit avl.mx/dhk.

LISTEN AND YOU SHALL LEARN: “Because we come see the kimchi every day, we can listen to it every day,” says Colleen Queeney, co-founder of Queeney Kimchi. “It tells us when it’s getting to its perfect fermentation point.” She and her husband, Michael, launched the business this past winter. Photo courtesy of the Queeneys

Local creamery places in world cheese contest

Looking Glass Creamery won third place for its Drovers Road cheese in the Natural Rind Cheddar class at the World Championship Cheese Contest, held March 5-7 in Madison, Wis.

The dairy farm is run by husband and wife Andy and Jennifer Perkins, along with a small group of employees. “We are delighted to be in the ranks of some of the best cheesemakers nationally and internationally,” says Andy in a press release.

The biannual competition drew cheesemakers from over 25 countries, with over 3,300 total entries.

The farm and store are open to the public Thursday-Sunday, 11 a.m.5 p.m.

Looking Glass Creamery is at 115 Harmon Dairy Lane, Columbus. For more information, visit avl.mx/dhj.

Cuban eatery expands in RAD

Beginning Monday, April 1, Guajiro Cuban Comfort Food will

extend its operating hours, offering diners an evening option until 10 p.m. Early next month, El Patio de Guajiro — an extension of the restaurant — will open next door.

The new hours are a response to customer demand, says Chris Barroso, owner.

The new addition, featuring beer, wine and cocktails, will include indoor and outdoor seating and host local art showings, live music and private events.

Guajiro Cuban Comfort Food is at 122 Riverside Drive. For more information, visit avl.mx/prwu.

Münki snack maker expands

Asheville-based healthy snack maker Münki Food Co. is getting a new production facility as well as a product makeover, owners Matthew and Gretchen Brown announced in a press release earlier this month.

The company, known locally for its healthy products and sustainable practices, produces snacks, granola, hot chocolate and creamers found in coffee shops and specialty food stores around the country as well as online.

“After 10 years of nonstop production, we are taking a few months to travel to meet with new suppliers, revamp our product line and soak up some superfood inspiration,” says Gretchen.

A limited supply of the company’s current products is available on its website.

For more information, visit avl.mx/av6.

Heroes of Hospitality nominations sought

Explore Asheville is inviting nominations for its Heroes of Hospitality Awards program, which “honors top-of-the-line service from front-line staff and volunteers in the travel and hospitality industry in and throughout Buncombe County.”

Nonmanagerial and nonsupervisory service employees or volunteers of a visitor-facing business or organization are eligible for nomination.

The deadline for submissions is Friday, April 12.

For more information and a nomination form, visit avl.mx/dhi.

April Stone: Botswana Agate

April Herb:

3/27: Reader: Jessica 12-5

Magical Book Club 6-7

3/29: Reader: Krysta 12-7

Merry Meet & Greet 5-7

3/30: Reader: Jessica 12-5

Book Signing & Pop-Up w/ Auburn Lily, author of Appalachian Witchcraft for Beginners 5-7

3/31: Reader: Andrea 12-5

4/1:

Blue Ridge Mountains inspire debut suspense novel Magical

Toxic family relationships, trauma, guilt and a horrific car crash all have roles in Sarah P. Blanchard’s soon-to-be-released psychological suspense story, Drawn from Life. So do the Blue Ridge Mountains, which serve as the backdrop. The Weaverville author will sign and read selections from her debut novel at a launch event Monday, April 1, 6 p.m., at Blue Mountain Pizza in Weaverville.

The setting for the book’s first four chapters — a remote mountain cabin, a winding gravel road and treacherous storms — was inspired by the climb to a waterfall above Elk Pen in the Big Ivy area of Pisgah National Forest, where the author used to regularly ride her horse, she explains. “Drawn from Life doesn’t have horses, just a couple of fat ponies,” says Blanchard. “But the Blue Ridge Mountains are always present in the background.”

The creative origins of the dynamic personalities in the novel, such as the guilt-ridden and damaged Emma Gillen and her bullying, greed-driven cousin Lucy, also have Western North Carolina influences. “I’ve always been fascinated by the sheer diversity of people who are drawn to these mountains and bring with them their art, music, creativity and spirit,” Blanchard says. “Many of the characters in this book are modeled on people I’ve met here.”

Drawn from Life will publish on Monday, April 1, and will be available at local bookstores and other outlets. In addition to the Blue Mountain Pizza launch celebration, a May 18 book reading and signing event is

SENSE OF PLACE: Weaverville author Sarah P. Blanchard wove elements of Western North Carolina’s landscape and people into her debut novel,

planned for Sassafras on Sutton in Black Mountain.

Blue Mountain Pizza is at 55 N. Main St., Weaverville. Sassafras on Sutton is at 108 Sutton Ave., Black Mountain. For information about Drawn from Life and the two events, visit avl.mx/di0.

Prison books movement: essays and action

In the late 1990s, then-Asheville resident David “Mac” Marquis helped found Asheville Prison Books, a local organization providing free reading material to prison inmates. The first program of its kind in the

Southeast, Asheville Prison Books is part of a national movement that grew out of lawsuits and other efforts by incarcerated people to gain access to books other than the Bible, which was the only book permitted in jails and prisons in the 1960s and 1970s.

At two Asheville events — Monday, April 1, 6 p.m., at Malaprop’s Bookstore, and Sunday, April 21, 3 p.m., at Firestorm Books — Marquis, now a postdoctoral history fellow at the University of South Carolina’s Institute for Southern Studies, will join current Asheville Prison Books organizer Julie Schneyer in discussing Books Through Bars: Stories from the Prison Books Movement. The collection of essays highlights the need for prison book programs and offers guidance on how to establish new ones or become involved with existing efforts.

Both events will be hybrid, with virtual and in-person options. Preregistration is required for in-person attendance.

Malaprop’s is at 55 Haywood St. Visit avl.mx/di1 for more information. Firestorm Books is at 1022 Haywood Road, and details are available at http://avl.mx/di2.

Yale singing group at St. Lawrence Basilica

Fourteen seniors from Yale University compose the century-old a capella singing group the Whiffenpoofs, which makes a stop in Western North Carolina on Tuesday, April 2, 7:30 p.m., for a performance at the Basilica of St. Lawrence.

Founded in 1909, the group performs a mix of traditional Yale songs, jazz tunes and other classics. The “Whiffs” are well known for their signature theme song, “The Whiffenpoof Song,” which has been recorded by Rudy Vallée, Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley and many others. In recent years, the Whiffenpoofs have been featured on television shows such as “The West Wing” and “Glee.”

The Basilica of St. Lawrence is at 97 Haywood St. Tickets range from $10-$35. For more information, visit avl.mx/di3.

Entrepreneurial skills for creative folks

Business skills might not be part of every creative person’s repertoire, but Mountain BizWorks addresses that with its spring 2024 Craft Your Commerce series, “The Entrepreneur’s Toolkit.” Taught by owners of local creative businesses, classes provide instruction in topics including social media content development, smoothing difficult client relationships, copyright and licensing processes, grant writing, AI technology, handling sales as an introvert and more.

“As a small-business owner myself, I understand the complexities that come with managing time, promotion and the myriad tasks involved in running a successful business,” says Craft Your Commerce program manager Jamie Karolich in a press release. “My hope is that the workshops offered this spring will assist individuals in streamlining some of these tasks.”

All classes are virtual and take place on Tuesday or Wednesday afternoons in April and May. The first class, Copyright and Licensing for Artists with Katherine de Vos Devine, takes place Tuesday, April 9, 1-3 p.m. Cost is $10 per workshop or $50 for the entire series.

For the full list of classes and to register, visit avl.mx/di4.

New digs for Echo Mountain Recording

Echo Mountain Recording, which has made its home in a historic church building near downtown since 2006, recently announced plans for an expansive new eco-friendly space on 68 acres north of Asheville. In addition to new music production and recording studio facilities, the planned location will function as a destination retreat, offering on-site lodging for artists with riverfront

access, mountain views and full-service catering and hospitality.

Echo Mountain’s iconic building on North French Broad Avenue has been sold to the Ohio-based historic real estate company GBX Group to fund the project, says Echo Mountain assistant engineer Talia Service. However, the current studio space will continue operating until construction is finished on the new facility, which is projected to open in 2026.

For more on Echo Mountain Recording, visit avl.mx/di5.

Village Art & Craft Fair on hiatus

After more than half a century of annual late-summer events in Biltmore Village, the 2024 Village Art & Craft Fair has been canceled due to upcoming construction of the Kessler Hotel. New Morning Gallery, which independently sponsors and produces the fair, announced in a press release that the hotel project prompted event planners to “take space to reflect on the future of our show.”

The 99-room hotel, restaurant and retail space, approved by Asheville City Council at its March 12 meeting, will be built at 10 Kitchin Place next to All Souls Cathedral, the site of the Village Art & Craft Fair. At past fairs, proceeds from church-sponsored concession booths benefited the cathedral’s programs.

Last year’s free, two-day fair hosted more than 100 artists and crafters. The show is usually held the weekend after Labor Day.

For more on the Village Art & Craft Fair, visit avl.mx/di6.

— Gina Smith  X

MOVIE REVIEWS

GHOSTBUSTERS - FROZEN

EMPIRE: Four decades after the theatrical release of Ghostbusters, this series continues to earn fairly big laughs through its winning blend of horror and comedy.

Grade: B-minus

— Edwin Arnaudin

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27

12 BONES BREWERY

Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm

27 CLUB

Kazha, Offensive, Bloodhone & Ametropia (metal, heavy-thrash), 8pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

Stand-Up Comedy

Open Mic, 8pm

ASHEVILLE PIZZA & BREWING CO.

Trivia Night, 6:30pm

BARLEY'S TAPROOM & PIZZERIA

Trivia Night w/ PartyGrampa, 7pm

DIFFERENT WRLD

Everybody But You Bro

Open Mic, 6pm

EULOGY

The Messthetics & James Brandon Lewis (jazz, punk, noise), 8pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY

Saylor Brothers & Friends (jamgrass), 6:30pm

HIGHLAND BREWING

CO.

Well-Crafted Music w/ Matt Smith, 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD

PUB

Old Time Jam, 5pm

OKLAWAHA

BREWING CO.

Bluegrass Jam w/Derek McCoy & Friends, 6pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

Latin Night w/DJ Mtn Vibez, 8:30pm

PULP

Slow Pony Magic Show, 8pm

RIVERSIDE RHAPSODY BEER CO.

Acoustic Jam, 5:30pm

SHAKEY'S Sexy Service Industry Night, 10pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA

Poetry Open Mic, 8pm

THE DRAFTSMAN

BAR + LOUNGE

Trivia Nights, 7pm

THE GREY EAGLE

Bearly Dead (Grateful Dead tribute), 8pm

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR

Circus Mutt (folk, Americana, bluegrass), 7pm

THE ODD

Discoveries, Snake Father, Divisive, Detest the Throne & Darkhand (metal), 9pm

THE RAILYARD BLACK MOUNTAIN

Dan's Jam (bluegrass), 7pm

URBAN ORCHARD

CIDER CO. SOUTH SLOPE

Trivia, 6:30pm

THURSDAY, MARCH 28

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR

Santiago y Los Gatos (indie-rock, pop, soul), 7:30pm

BATTERY PARK BOOK

EXCHANGE

Mike Kenton & Jim Tanner (jazz), 5:30pm

BLK MTN PIZZA & ALE HOUSE

Billy Presnell (folk, Americana), 6pm

CROW & QUILL

Para Gozar (Cuban), 8pm

CULTURA

Vinyl Night w/DJ Lil Meow Meow, 8pm

EULOGY

Pink Beds w/Slow Packer (indie-rock, psych-folk, pop), 8pm

FLEETWOOD'S Search & Destroy Punk Karaoke, 9pm

FRENCH BROAD

RIVER BREWERY

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

CLUBLAND

MUDDY ORIGINALS: On Friday, March 29, five-piece band Muddy Guthrie and Friends play at Shiloh & Gaines, starting at 9 p.m. The band specializes in original songs with rock, classic rock and Americana influences. Photo courtesy of Muddy Guthrie

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Bluegrass Jam w/Drew Matulich, 7pm

LAZOOM ROOM BAR & GORILLA

LaZoom Room Comedy w/Courtney Maginnis, 7pm

MAD CO. BREW HOUSE

Karaoke w/Banjo Mitch, 6pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.

Seth & Sarah (country), 7pm

ONE WORLD BREWING

Eli Lev (alt-country, Americana), 7pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

TreeHouse w/Kaya’s Embrace (reggae, rock, hip-hop), 8pm

OUTSIDER BREWING

Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm

SALVAGE STATION

Katie Pruitt (country), 8pm

SHILOH & GAINES

Karaoke Night, 8pm SOVEREIGN KAVA

Stand Up Comedy for Your Health, 8pm

THE GREY EAGLE

Wayne Hancock (country, blues, rock), 8pm

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR

Anything Goes (jazz, pop), 7pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

Inzo w/Black Carl, Daggz & Lhasa Petik (electronic, dance, bass), 8pm

THE RAILYARD BLACK MOUNTAIN

Parker McCown (Americana), 7pm

THE STATION BLACK MOUNTAIN

Mr Jimmy (blues), 6:30pm

URBAN ORCHARD CIDER CO. SOUTH SLOPE Bachata Thursdays, 8:30pm

FRIDAY, MARCH 29

27 CLUB

Bruschetta Deloran, Haunt3d, Juniper

Willow & DJ Emerald Hollowe (synth-rock, electronic, experimental), 9pm

ASHEVILLE BEAUTY

ACADEMY

Friday Night Karaoke, 9pm

ASHEVILLE GUITAR

BAR

Mr Jimmy's Friday Night Blues, 7:30pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

Snakes & Stars w/Sam Brouse, 9pm

CATAWBA BREWING COMPANY SOUTH SLOPE ASHEVILLE

• Comedy at Catawba: Casey James Salengo, 7pm

• Hot & Horny Comedy Showcase, 9pm CORK & KEG

The Easy Chairs (country), 8pm

CROW & QUILL Meschiya Lake & The Moodswingers (jazz), 8pm

EDA'S HIDEAWAY

The Whiskey Charmers (rock, country), 9pm

EULOGY

• Secret Shame w/Fake Eyes & Dish (alt-indie, rock, shoegaze), 8pm

• Dance Floor Rapture w/DJ Lil Meow Meow, 10pm

FLEETWOOD'S Snakesnakewhale, Lower Peaks & Paprika (indie-rock), 9pm

GINGER'S REVENGE

CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM

Mark & Mary Duo (jazz), 6pm

HIGHLAND BREWING

CO.

Modern Mammals (rock, blues), 7pm

HIGHLAND BREWING

DOWNTOWN

TAPROOM

In Flight (prog-rock, jazz), 9pm

JACK OF THE WOOD

PUB

The Old Chevrolette Set (country), 9pm

LA TAPA LOUNGE

Open Mic w/Hamza, 8pm

MAD CO. BREW

HOUSE

Hope Griffin Trio (Americana, folk), 6pm

NOBLE CIDER & MEAD TAPROOM AND PRODUCTION

FACILITY

Crisp Comedy w/Rowen Young, 7pm

OKLAWAHA

BREWING CO.

Circuit Breakers (rock'n'roll), 8pm

ONE WORLD BREWING

Acklen Walker (hip hop, pop, indie-rock), 8pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

Eternally Grateful (acoustic), 8pm

SHILOH & GAINES

Muddy Guthrie & Friends (rock, Americana), 9pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA

My Magnificent Nemesis (multi-genre), 9pm

THE DRAFTSMAN BAR + LOUNGE

Beaverdam Valley Band (blues, soul), 8pm

THE GREY EAGLE

Sold Out: Sam Barber w/Lily Fitts (country, folk), 8pm

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR

Vince Junior Band (blues, Appalachian-soul), 7pm

THE ODD

Asheville After Dark: Perversions, 8pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

Sold Out: Wyatt Flores (country), 8pm

THE RAILYARD BLACK MOUNTAIN

Broken Sound (Americana), 7pm

THE STATION BLACK MOUNTAIN

Vaden Landers (country), 6pm

WXYZ BAR AT ALOFT

Jay Dipaola (funk, blues, jazz), 7pm

SATURDAY, MARCH 30

27 CLUB

Rough Lovers, Blistering Dissonance & Lauren Eve Scheff (punk, dark-indie, gothsurf), 9pm

ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY

Cosmo Dance Party w/ Glam DJ Ganymede, 9pm

ASHEVILLE CLUB

Mr Jimmy (blues), 6pm

ASHEVILLE GUITAR

BAR Vince Junior Band (blues, Appalachian soul), 7:30pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Houseplant w/Jacoozy (indie-rock), 9pm

BATTERY PARK BOOK EXCHANGE

Dinah's Daydream (jazz), 6pm

BLACK MOUNTAIN

CENTER FOR THE ARTS White Horse Black Mountain Comedy Show, 8pm

BLUE GHOST BREWING COMPANY

The Accentrix Duo (acoustic), 6pm

BLUE RIDGE BEER HUB

8Trk Cadillac (blues, rock, pop), 5pm

CATAWBA BREWING COMPANY SOUTH SLOPE ASHEVILLE

• The Unteachables

Comedy Tour, 7pm

• Secret Saturday Late Nite Comedy Showcase, 9pm

CORK & KEG

Fancy & Friends w/ Meschiya Lake (honkytonk, blues), 8pm

CROW & QUILL

Drayton & The Dreamboats (vintage-jazz, rock'n'roll), 8pm

DIFFERENT WRLD

Muevelo w/DJ Grimmjoi & DJ Zarr, 10pm

EDA'S HIDEAWAY

Brody Hunt & the Handfulls (country), 8pm

EULOGY

Ratboys w/Ducks Ltd. (indie-rock, Americana), 8pm

FLEETWOOD'S

Never Have I Ever, Acid Jo & Subvertigo (shoegaze, punk, emo), 9pm

GINGER'S REVENGE CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM

Scottish Music, 4pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Hearts Gone South (country, honky tonk), 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

• Bluegrass Brunch w/ the Hillclimbers, 12pm

• Nobody’s Darling String Band, 4pm Reedy River String Band (bluegrass, rock'n'roll), 9pm

LA TAPA LOUNGE Karaoke, 9pm

LAZOOM ROOM Karaoke, 9pm

OKLAWAHA

•

•

TUE: Open Jam w/ house band the Lactones, 8pm WED: Poetry Open Mic AVL,

3/29

3/30

4/5

9pm

Authentic

CLUBLAND

ONE WORLD

BREWING WEST

• Zambi (rock, punk, metal), 4pm

• Crystal Fountains (bluegrass, folk, Americana), 8pm

SALVAGE STATION

Same As It Ever Was (Talking Heads tribute), 8pm

SHAKEY'S

• Friday Late Nights w/ DJ Ek Balam, 12am

• DJ Rab!d Ron!e, 10pm

SHILOH & GAINES

Lyric (pop, rock, funk), 9pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA

DJ Uncle Rizz (rock, blues, reggae), 8pm

THE GREY EAGLE

Sarah Shook & the Disarmers w/Jack Marion & the Pearl Snap Prophets (country, Americana), 9pm

THE JOINT NEXT

DOOR

Virginia & The Slims (blues, swing), 7pm

THE ODD

Party Foul Drag: Saturday Night Tease, 8pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

Sold Out: Sampha (electronic, R&B, soul), 8pm

THE RAILYARD BLACK MOUNTAIN

Ashley Heath (Americana, blues), 7pm

THE STATION BLACK MOUNTAIN

Live Music Saturday Nights, 7pm

WXYZ BAR AT ALOFT

DJ Abu Disarray, 7pm

SUNDAY, MARCH 31

ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

Visages, Sylph & Johnny GoodTime (electronic, drum & bass), 8pm

EULOGY

Sheer Mag (rock, punk), 8pm

FRENCH BROAD

RIVER BREWERY

Reggae Sunday w/ Chalwa, 3pm

GINGER'S REVENGE

CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM

Jazz Sunday's, 2pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Ashley Heath (Americana, blues), 2pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

• Bluegrass Brunch w/ Bluegrass Brunch Boys, 12pm

• Traditional Irish Jam, 3:30pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.

Phibian (alt-folk, indierock), 3pm

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Blue Ridge Blues Jam w/Abby Bryant, 9pm

S&W MARKET

Mr Jimmy (blues), 1pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA

Cosmic Appalachian Soul Sundays, 7pm

THE DRAFTSMAN BAR + LOUNGE

Karaoke Nights, 7pm

THE OUTPOST

The Grateful Family (Grateful Dead tribute), 2pm

PLĒB URBAN WINERY

Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 4pm

MONDAY, APRIL 1

5 WALNUT WINE BAR

CaroMia, Rahm, Iannuci & Jaze Uries (dreampop, soul, R&B), 8pm

ASHEVILLE MASONIC

TEMPLE

Sold Out: Andy Shauf (alt-indie, folk), 7:30pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

MIKE MELLO (COMEDY), 8PM FLEETWOOD'S Best Ever Karaoke w/ Chels, 8pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Geeks Who Drink Trivia, 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

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

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.

Takes All Kinds Open Mic Nights, 7pm

ONE WORLD BREWING

Open Mic Night, 7:30pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

Mashup Mondays w/ The JLloyd Mashup Band, 8pm

SHAKEY'S

Open Mic Night w/ Nick, 6pm

THE GREY EAGLE

Twin Tribes (dark-wave, synth), 8pm

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR

Mr Jimmy & Friends (blues), 7pm

THE RIVER ARTS DISTRICT BREWING COMPANY Trivia w/Billy, 7pm

TUESDAY, APRIL 2

ARCHETYPE BREWING

Trivia Tuesday, 6:30pm

EULOGY

Fashion Bath w/Aunt

Vicki & Safety Coffin (rock, indie, Americana), 8pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY

Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.

Team Trivia, 7pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

The Grateful Family Band Tuesdays (Grateful Dead tribute), 6pm

RIVERSIDE

RHAPSODY BEER CO.

Drinkin' N Thinkin' Trivia, 7pm

SHAKEY'S

Booty Tuesday w/DJ Lil Meow Meow, 9pm

SHILOH & GAINES

Open Mic, 7pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA

Tuesday Night Open Jam, 8pm

THE GREY EAGLE

Sold Out: Josiah & the Bonnevilles, 8pm

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR

The LADS (rock, blues), 6pm

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Stand-Up Comedy Open Mic, 8pm

BARLEY'S TAPROOM & PIZZERIA

Trivia Night w/ PartyGrampa, 7pm

CAROLINA AVIAN

RESEARCH AND EDUCATION

The Great Bird Adventure, 11am

FLEETWOOD'S Scott Yoder, Juniper Willow, Puppy & the Dogs (glitter-folk, punk, rock), 9pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY

Saylor Brothers & Friends (jamgrass), 6:30pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Well-Crafted Music w/ Matt Smith, 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Old Time Jam, 5pm

OKLAWAHA

BREWING CO.

Bluegrass Jam w/Derek McCoy & Friends, 6pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

Latin Night w/DJ Mtn Vibez, 8:30pm

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

SALVAGE STATION

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram (blues), 8pm

SHAKEY'S

Sexy Service Industry Night, 10pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA

Poetry Open Mic, 8pm

THE DRAFTSMAN BAR + LOUNGE

Trivia Nights, 7pm

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR

Lefty (Americana, folk), 7pm

THE RAILYARD BLACK MOUNTAIN

Dan's Jam (bluegrass), 7pm

URBAN ORCHARD CIDER CO. SOUTH SLOPE Trivia, 6:30pm

THURSDAY, APRIL 4

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Steely Dead (Steely Dan & Grateful Dead tribute), 9pm

EULOGY

Seriff, Wolf & Sipe w/ Rebekah Todd (jazz), 8pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY

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

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Bluegrass Jam w/Drew Matulich, 7pm

NEW ORIGIN BREWING COMPANY

Flimflams & Shenanigans Comedy Night, 8pm

ONE WORLD BREWING

Will Hartz (Appalachian), 8pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

Anon Trio w/Lemon City Trio (multi-genre), 8pm

SALVAGE STATION

MoonTricks (electro-folk), 8pm

SHILOH & GAINES

Karaoke Night, 8pm

THE GREY EAGLE

• Patio: Kimberly Morgan York (Appalachian, country), 5:30pm

• Birdtalker (pop, indiefolk), 8pm

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR

Soul Blue (soul, blues, R&B), 7pm

THE ODD

Belushi Speed Ball, The Deathbots & Bongfoot (thrash, pop-punk), 9pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

Slice of Life Comedy

Open Mic, 7pm

THE OUTPOST Outpost: Kevin Daniel (blues, rock, country), 8pm

THE RIVER ARTS

DISTRICT BREWING COMPANY

Peggy Ratusz & Kelly Jones (blues), 6pm

URBAN ORCHARD CIDER CO. SOUTH SLOPE

Bachata Thursdays, 8:30pm

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY BY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): In the coming days, your hunger will be so inexhaustible that you may feel driven to devour extravagant amounts of food and drink. It’s possible you will gain ten pounds in a very short time. Who knows? You might even enter an extreme eating contest and devour 46 dozen oysters in ten minutes! APRIL FOOL! Although what I just said is remotely plausible, I foresee that you will sublimate your exorbitant hunger. You will realize it is spiritual in nature and can’t be gratified by eating food. As you explore your voracious longings, you will hopefully discover a half-hidden psychological need you have been suppressing. And then you will liberate that need and feed it what it craves!

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus novelist Lionel Shriver writes, “There’s a freedom in apathy, a wild, dizzying liberation on which you can almost get drunk.” In accordance with astrological omens, I recommend you experiment with Shriver’s strategy in the coming weeks. APRIL FOOL! I lied. In fact, Lionel Shriver’s comment is one of the dumbest thoughts I have ever heard. Why would anyone want the cheap, damaged liberation that comes from feeling indifferent, numb, and passionless? Please do all you can to disrupt and dissolve any attraction you may have to that state, Taurus. In my opinion, you now have a sacred duty to cultivate extra helpings of enthusiasm, zeal, liveliness, and ambition.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): At enormous cost and after years of study, I have finally figured out the meaning of life, at least as it applies to you Geminis. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to reveal it to you unless you send me $1,000 and a case of Veuve Clicquot champagne. I’ve got to recoup my investment, right?! APRIL FOOL! Most of what I just said was a dirty lie. It’s true that I have worked hard to uncover the meaning of life for you Geminis. But I haven’t found it yet. And even if I did, I would of course provide it to you free. Luckily, you are now in a prime position to make dramatic progress in deciphering the meaning of life for yourself.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): For a limited time only, you have permission from the cosmos to be a wildly charismatic egomaniac who brags incessantly and insists on getting your selfish needs met at all times and in all places. Please feel free to have maximum amounts of narcissistic fun, Cancerian! APRIL FOOL! I was exaggerating a bit, hoping to offer you medicinal encouragement so you will stop being so damn humble and self-effacing all the time. But the truth is, now is indeed an excellent time to assert your authority, expand your clout and flaunt your potency and sovereignty.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Michael Scott was a character in the TV sitcom The Office. He was the boss of a paper company. Played by Leo actor Steve Carell, he was notoriously self-centered and obnoxious. However, there was one famous scene I will urge you to emulate. He was asked if he would rather be feared or loved. He replied, “Um, easy, both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me.” Be like Michael Scott, Leo! APRIL FOOL! I was half-kidding. It’s true I’m quite excited by the likelihood that you will receive floods of love in the coming weeks. It’s also true that I think you should do everything possible to boost this likelihood. But I would rather that people be amazed and pleased at how much they love you, not afraid.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Now would be an excellent time for you to snag a Sugar Daddy or Sugar Momma or Sugar Nonbinary Nurturer. The astrological omens are telling me that life is expanding its willingness and capacity to provide you with help, support, and maybe even extra cash. I dare you to dangle yourself as bait and sell your soul to the highest bidder. APRIL FOOL! I was half-kidding. While I do believe it’s prime time to ask for and receive more help, support,

ROB BREZSNY

and extra cash, I don’t believe you will have to sell your soul to get any of it. Just be yourself!

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Happy Unbirthday, Libra! It’s that time halfway between your last birthday and your next. Here are the presents I plan to give you: a boost in your receptivity to be loved and needed; a constructive relationship with obsession; more power to accomplish the half-right thing when it’s hard to do the totally right thing; the disposal of 85% of the psychic trash left over from the time between 2018 and 2023; and a provocative new invitation to transcend an outworn old taboo. APRIL FOOL! The truth is, I can’t possibly supply every one of you with these fine offerings, so please bestow them on yourself. Luckily, the cosmic currents will conspire with you to make these things happen.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Now would be an excellent time to seek liposuction, a facelift, Botox, buttocks augmentation, or hair transplants. Cosmic rhythms will be on your side if you change how you look. APRIL FOOL! Everything I just said was a lie. I’ve got nothing against cosmetic surgery, but now is not the right time to alter your appearance. Here’s the correct oracle: Shed your disguises, stop hiding anything about who you really are, and show how proud you are of your idiosyncrasies.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I command you to love Jesus and Buddha! If you don’t, you will burn in Hell! APRIL FOOL! I was just kidding. I was being sensationalistic to grab your attention. Here’s my real, true oracle for you: Love everybody, including Jesus and Buddha. And I mean love them all twice as strong and wild and tender. The cosmic powers ask it of you! The health of your immortal soul depends on it! Yes, Sagittarius, for your own selfish sake, you need to pour out more adoration and care and compassion than you ever have before. I’m not exaggerating! Be a lavish Fountain of Love!

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): If you gave me permission, I would cast a spell to arouse in you a case of ergophobia, i.e., an aversion to work. I think you need to take a sweet sabbatical from doing business as usual. APRIL FOOL! I was just joking about casting a spell on you. But I do wish you would indulge in a lazy, do-nothing retreat. If you want your ambitions to thrive later, you will be wise to enjoy a brief period of delightful emptiness and relaxing dormancy. As Buddhist teacher Sylvia Boorstein recommends, “Don’t just do something! Sit there!”

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In accordance with current astrological omens, I suggest you get the book Brain Surgery for Beginners by Steven Parker and David West. You now have the power to learn and even master complex new skills, and this would be a excellent place to start. APRIL FOOL! I was half-kidding. I don’t really think you should take a scalpel to the gray matter of your friends and family members — or yourself, for that matter. But I am quite certain that you currently have an enhanced power to learn and even master new skills. It’s time to raise your educational ambitions to a higher octave. Find out what lessons and training you need most, then make plans to get them.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In the religious beliefs of Louisiana Voodoo, one God presides over the universe but never meddles in the details of life. There are also many spirits who are always intervening and tinkering, intimately involved in the daily rhythm. They might do nice things for people or play tricks on them — and everything in between. In alignment with current astrological omens, I urge you to convert to the Louisiana Voodoo religion and try ingenious strategies to get the spirits to do your bidding. APRIL FOOL! I don’t really think you should convert. However, I believe it would be fun and righteous for you to proceed as if spirits are everywhere — and assume that you have the power to harness them to work on your behalf.

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26

ACROSS

1 Something a student may cut

6 Doesn’t bother

12 Team V.I.P.s

15 Author of “The Eagle and the Fox” and “The Fox and the Lion”

16 Where to watch the Lightning and Hurricanes

17 Porridge grain

18 Region that spans about 8% of the earth’s land area [Arabic]

20 Attempt

21 Rodin sculpture featuring a couple whose lips don’t quite touch

22 “My Gal ___”

23 Fencing option

24 Addams family cousin

25 Body of water bordering Nevada and California [Washoe]

27 Actor McGregor

30 Biological molecule

32 Days past

33 Shakespearean fairy queen

34 Playground retort

37 Electricity bill datum

40 Landmark on which most U.S. radio stations base the starts of their call signs, with “W” on the east and “K” on the west [Algonquin]

43 Together (with)

44 Clay targets, informally

45 Official language of Ghana: Abbr.

46 Certain mattress material

48 Commonly torn band, for short

49 Excited about

50 Nation that shares an island with part of Indonesia [Indonesian]

54 Fall behind

56 Takes home

57 Governor DeSantis

58 Commercial spaces in an app

62 “Mud”

63 Like the names of 18-, 25-, 40- and 50Across vis-à-vis the bracketed languages

65 Undivided

66 Look away from

67 Wombs

68 Big fashion inits.

69 Some downtown street liners

70 Start over

DOWN

1 Dramatis personae portrayers

2 Actress and documentarian Remini

3 Arthur of the court

4 Be absorbed, as a marinade

5 Pole that extends a sail

6 Fellows

7 Prior to, in poetry

8 ___ Virtue, three-time world ice dancing champion

9 Sly sort

10 Grain in some hearty soup

11 Is French?

12 What all good children do, in a nursery rhyme

13 Penguins great Lemieux

14 Do, as hair

19 First M.L.B. team to use artificial turf in its stadium

23 Persian language

25 Eye-opening experience?

26 They might be guided

27 ___ Raducanu, 2021 U.S. Open women’s tennis champion

28 Cry out

29 What some workout videos promise

31 Loch ___

34 Investigate persistently

35 Ape’s weapon in “Planet of the Apes”

36 International oil grp.

38 Fellow

39 Therefore

41 Little brats

42 “That’s sufficient, I guess”

47 It’s just an illusion

49 Take a lighter to

50 “Have fun!”

51 Long, long times

52 Get on

53 How ballerinas often perform

55 Fortune tell

58 Some pub brews

59 Freezes (over)

60 Scale button

61 Thin cut

63 Cook with a long history at Apple

64 Bobby of Bruins lore