Mountain Xpress 11.02.22

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PUBLISHER & EDITOR: Jeff Fobes

ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER: Susan Hutchinson

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MANAGING

Thomas Calder

NEWS EDITOR: Daniel Walton

ARTS & CULTURE

Thomas Calder

OPINION EDITOR: Tracy Rose

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

COMMUNITY CALENDAR & CLUBLAND: Andy Hall

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

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Where’s the public safety action plan?

The mayor pitches from Esther Manheimer and Kim Roney should lead voters to conclude Esther is the best choice on the ballot for mayor. But nei ther has a sufficiently functional public safety and public health strategy.

I was the one on the 2022 primary ballot to come up with the AshevilleBuncombe Public Safety Action Plan and WNC Counter IMF (Illegally Manufactured Fentanyl) Task Force ideas. Also, I was one of the few people on the primary ballot not already on Council to have participated in a multitude of Public Safety Committee meetings.

Public safety and public health have correlation around IMF. Whether locally, statewide, nationally and even globally, there needs to be a fresh stance against issues like IMF. With the city manager on board, the mayor of Asheville must lead those difficult policy directions as part of the WNC Counter IMF Task Force within the PSAP — a task force which unfortunately does not yet exist.

It can seem Asheville public safety is hopelessly in free fall. At the Buncombe County government level, the Citizen Times story “What Will Buncombe Do With $2.25M in Federal Grants to Help Victims, Reduce Crime?” reveals one chunk of the larger strategy per formance picture. More resources without strategy that apprehends the true nature of the challenge won’t get the public safety and public health job done — whether it’s IMF or related

solutions like America’s TBD National Health Service.

Let’s all surface the truth.

— Grant Millin Strategy innovator Asheville

Beach-Ferrara favors an inclusive society

In their recent debate on WLOS, NC-11 congressional candidates Jasmine Beach-Ferrara and Chuck Edwards took very different positions on a woman’s right to make her own reproductive health care decisions.

Beach-Ferrara stood firm on her stance that she supported a woman’s

right to choose. She added that it should be the woman’s decision to make choic es regarding her own body with only her doctor and those closest with her, not the government. A recent Public Policy Polling survey reports that 74% of North Carolina voters believe abortion should be legal.

Edwards said the decision of abortion belongs in the state’s hands. He sup ports the state ban on abortions beyond 20 weeks of pregnancy. However, since he previously has stated that he believes that life begins at conception, he likely favors greater restrictions or a total ban. Consequently, as we ready ourselves to vote in the upcoming 2022 general election, we should note which candi dates believe in a free and open soci ety where the rights of all people are respected. Too often, the candidates of the current Republican Party do not seem to value the restoration of full rights to all citizens in our country. Fortunately for us in Western North Carolina, Jasmine Beach-Ferrara has had a career dedicated to seeking jus tice for all under the rule of law. She favors an inclusive society that main tains rights, fairness and opportunity for every citizen.

— Frank L. Fox Asheville

Edwards has top-tier leadership qualities

I am writing to strongly support Ms. Amanda Edwards for Buncombe County commissioner. As a recently retired dean at A-B Tech, I have known Amanda as a work colleague for about 10 years and can without question state that I have met few people in my long life who have the wonderful combina tion of qualifications to lead as she has.

We worked together on many proj ects at A-B Tech, and she never failed to show intellectual brilliance, compassion for everyone, fairness to all (regardless of their viewpoints), impeccable hon esty and ethics, an understanding of the needs of people and an invitational charisma and personality that is, well, difficult to not like and gravitate toward. Amanda is kind by nature, listens to everyone and considers all their opin ions, and, even with a workload that is diverse and quite large, takes the time to talk and listen to everyone.

I have known, like everyone I suspect, good, indifferent, incompetent and bad leaders in my lifetime. Amanda is top tier in her qualifications, personality and motivation to help her community and the people in it. I strongly urge everyone to consider Amanda for reelection to county commissioner.

— Jon R. Wiener Dean (retired) of Allied Health A-B Tech Community College Asheville

Take a look at Asheville school board candidates

The North Carolina state legis lature has moved the assignment of Asheville City Board of Education mem bers from appointed by City Council to elected by voters. The election in November includes votes for four of eight candidates.

The best image of these persons may be from this video [avl.mx/c4o]. It was produced by the local Democratic Party of Buncombe County. The video is a bit long, but by jumping around within the video, it does not take long to find an image of these candidates. This aspect of the election is very important.

— John Brigham Asheville

Berthiaume is inclusive coalition builder

At a time when politics feel especially divisive and good stewardship appears increasingly rare, we need Maggie Ullman Berthiaume on Asheville City Council.

Maggie is an inclusive coalition build er. She’s proven effective in her work on sustainability and climate advocacy because she brings people together. Maggie also has the experience in policy to be effective in City Hall.

Maggie has put in the work to listen to Ashevilleans. She has knocked on more doors than any other candidate for City Council. I’ve seen her attend countless forums, engaging with every kind of person about the issues that are important to them.

RANDY MOLTON

At a time when we feel divided, Maggie’s campaign is focusing on the things that matter to everyone: afford able housing, a livable city and core city services.

I encourage you to vote for Maggie on Nov. 8 (or vote early through Nov. 5). Maggie is the leader who can get things done for Asheville.

Our rights are on the line this election

The midterm elections are critical this year. On the ballot are reproduc tive rights, democracy and the choice between kindness and decency versus the politics of fear and division!

Senate candidate Cheri Beasley and NC-11 congressional candidate Jasmine Beach-Ferrara have pledged to sup port and protect women’s reproductive rights. They will both support legislation that would codify Roe vs. Wade, which had been the law of the land for 50 years.

Ted Budd, the Republican Senate candidate, co-sponsored HR 1011, The Life at Conception Act, a bill which would grant fetuses legal protections. Budd also co-sponsored HR 705 in 2021, which would effectively outlaw abortion nationwide with no exceptions for rape or incest and could put doctors in jail.

NC-11 candidate Chuck Edwards, who called abortion access supporters “evil,” also wants to eliminate women’s right to make their own reproductive health care choices. Edwards, whose campaign website says he’s “a pro-life candidate who believes life begins at conception,” represents an extreme and minority view. These positions are completely out of touch with what most Western North Carolinians believe.

Beasley and Beach-Ferrara will protect the rights we have enjoyed for decades. Budd and Edwards want to send us back 50 years or more.

Recently, we’ve seen how fragile democracy can be. U.S. Rep. Ted Budd objected to the certification of the 2020 election and earlier this year stated that the violent attack on the Capitol was “nothing” and “just patriots standing up.” Republican elected officials have supported the Big Lie that the 2020 election was stolen, falling in line with Donald Trump’s expectation of loyalty.

I don’t see Chuck Edwards as an inde pendent maverick standing up for truth or going against party leadership. He’s closer to a Madison Cawthorn without the drama.

The choice is clear. Let’s send these two smart, ethical and sensible women to Washington! Support Cheri Beasley, Jasmine Beach-Ferrara and the Democrats.

— Debbie Resnick Asheville

Editor’s note: Resnick reports writ ing the letter as a citizen and addi tionally working as a part-time paid fellow with the N.C. Democratic Party’s coordinated campaign to “get out the vote” in support of Beasley and local Democratic candidates.

Officials must oppose nuclear war

With the war in Ukraine, the dan gers of nuclear war have risen sharp ly this year. Unfortunately, very few members of the House and Senate, including our own representatives here in Western North Carolina, have spoken out to deescalate tensions between nuclear powers and seri ously revive negotiations to re-create treaties between nuclear armed coun tries. We actually need immediate action by public officials at all levels of government to decrease the risks of nuclear war, as the dangers of nuclear war impact all of us, and the voices of all public officials are important.

In particular, we need the following:

• End the policy of first use — meaning, all countries pledge to never use nuclear weapons.

• Rejoin and reestablish the nucle ar treaties that the U.S. recently abandoned. Eliminating those treaties seriously increases the risks of war.

— Hannah Cole Parent and business owner Asheville

CARTOON BY BRENT BROWN

• Take U.S. nuclear weapons off hair-trigger alert, which greatly increases the risks of accidental use and war.

• Dismantle intercontinental bal listic missiles (land-based nucle ar missiles).

• Support congressional action to avert nuclear war (HR 1185).

• Move money away from war and into human needs, such as addressing the issue of homeless ness in Asheville.

We urge everyone to take a simple action by calling the U.S. Capitol switchboard and demand that our representatives take action to reduce or eliminate the risk of nuclear war (202-224-3121). During this election season, you can and should ask all candidates for public office what their plans may be to address this cri sis, which endangers all of humanity.

— Steven Norris Fairview

Road diet improves noise levels

[Regarding “Asheville Gets Oneyear Update on Noise Ordinance,”

Oct. 5, Xpress:] My neighborhood noise from Merrimon Avenue is much reduced with the new street design. Thanks, Asheville, for mak ing it more pleasant to live here!

— Mary Johnson Asheville

Candidates should state positions about Jan. 6

In response to Paul Weichselbaum’s letter concerning lack of coverage of Chuck Edwards and Xpress’ note about Edwards’ lack of response [“Where’s the Coverage of Edwards Vs. Beach-Ferrara?” Oct. 26, Xpress], I think the first question that should be asked of all candidates for any office this election is if they think Jan. 6 was an insurrection. Edwards has answered this question: He does not think it was, and if the Republicans can take control of the House, he said he’d do away with the Jan. 6 committee.

I’d add a second question about Christian nationalism. Sadly, this is just now coming on many of our radars, and many are not aware of the danger. Our lieutenant governor

has offered to help those who have a problem with [the U.S as a “Christian nation”] leave the country.

Edwards says he pledges to be guided by his Christian faith and family values in all his decisions. I have no problem with Christians being guided by their faith in their personal lives, but I do not want any of my elected officials making decisions that will impact all of us based on their religion. Whatever that religion is.

There is a challenge to Florida’s abortion law from religious groups that readers might find inter esting [avl.mx/c4x]. It is based on the establishment cause (not separation of church and state). The plaintiffs are seeking the right to make person al decisions according to their, not someone else’s, religious scruples. An example given is that in Jewish law, or halacha, a premium is placed on the health of the mother, not the developing fetus.

Edwards says “my” Christian faith. Which is not shared by all Christians. Liberal forms of Christianity have a spectrum of views on abortion. And other issues.

— Lynda Cozart Asheville X

Choose

BY BILL BRANYON

What do J.P. Morgan, IBM and Moderna have in common with Asheville? They all ponied up big bucks to shine on the electronic signs that skirted center court at this year’s U.S. Open. The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority paid $1.3 mil lion, plus $70,000 in related expenses, in hopes the TV cameras would land on its “Asheville” logo during the 168 hours of ESPN coverage. This was coverage that included shots of the valiant swan-song loss of Serena Williams, the women’s champion Iga Świątek’s forehand top spin rates that rivaled the wicked slashes of Rafael Nadal, and the power and speed of the 19-year-old men’s champi on, the ebullient Birdman of Alcaraz.

The money also bought a “luxury suite” for two sessions, according to Sally Kestin of Asheville Watchdog. The final result was an advertising bonanza with up to 23,859 live spectators seeing the word “Asheville” all tournament long and an average of about 1.21 million theoretically seeing it on ESPN’s two channels for each TV segment, accord ing to sportsmediawatch.com.

In reality, the word “Asheville” appeared only on the sides of the court, though the cameras are mostly aimed at the end of the court, where the logos of the big hitters J.P. Morgan, Chase, IBM, Emirates and Rolex resided. When you did get a passing glimpse, it was still surreal to see our city’s name next to IHG Hotels & Resorts, Chubb, Moderna, Cadillac and Deloitte. It also made you wonder if most of the viewers knew that Asheville is a tourist destination city in North Carolina? Or did they see it as just another small city with a big, immensely expensive inferiority complex? Maybe if the ad were “Asheville.com,” then view ers could have found out what it meant?

Alternatively, the font used for the Asheville ad is a rollicking, playful one as opposed to the competing, all-business fonts of say, Emirates airlines or Chase. Maybe if the viewers knew that the font reflects Asheville’s motto — once a TDA ad slogan — of “Any way you like it,” they’d be more interested?

LOBBING OVER THE HOMELESS CRISIS

We can at least presume that those lucky enough to catch the Asheville name and informed enough to recognize it are fans of tennis. If it entices them to book some hotel rooms in Asheville,

racket

they might want to play tennis here. And, as most of the major tennis centers — the Omni Grove Park Inn, the two Asheville Racquet Club locations and the Asheville and Biltmore Forest country clubs — are private, they might be forced to consider the open-to-the-public, city of Asheville-owned Aston Park Tennis Center to really get involved in the local tennis community.

Be forewarned, theoretical tennis tourists, Aston Park conditions are a lot different from the supersecure ones at the U.S. Open. Aston is wonderfully run and maintained, and the home of the Asheville Open, one of the most prestigious and player-friendly tourna ments in the Southeast. But Aston also harbors homeless people sleeping on benches next to the courts and trying to use clubhouse bathrooms in hopes of a shower, ablutions or, as I’ve heard from regulars and staffers, for shooting up illegal drugs.

From my experience as a frequent and very satisfied Aston tennis player, the homeless are usually asleep or polite, but I’ve seen brave Aston employees diplomatically handle a number of tense situations. And of course, Aston Park also was recently the site of a homeless encampment in which 16 people were arrested for “felony littering.” Or was it for too obviously and compassionately helping the homeless?

If these theoretical tourists for some reason don’t go to Aston Park, they’ll almost certainly go downtown and see the homeless crowding Pritchard Park and begging, sleeping, partying or suffer ing on almost every downtown sidewalk. Joel Burgess, in an interesting article in the Asheville Citizen Times, interviewed longtime resident and downtown work er Beth Underwood. She believed that tourists will tell their friends that “literal ly every [downtown] corner smells like a port-a-potty and every doorway is filled with garbage and people.”

Underwood concluded that tax dollars should first be used to address some of the area’s most serious issues, including housing for the homeless and for service workers struggling to afford rent.

Recent state legislation reduced the amount of TDA occupancy taxes that must be spent on tourism advertising from 75% to 66%. The remainder still must, by state law, go to “projects meant to increase tourism but [that] can also have public benefits such as greenways and sports fields,” stated the Citizen Times article.

mated 637 homeless residents. Our goal should be maximized compassion for the homeless and maximized safety for neighborhoods and businesses, as well as that great phrase and reality: permanently supportive housing for the houseless. The state’s mandates could be met by redefining such expenditures as “advertising” and “public benefit,” since otherwise, word may spread that Asheville isn’t safe, and our tourist econ omy will be at risk. Not to mention it’s the humane and logical thing to do. This is also the fault of our city and county representatives. They appointed eight of the nine members of the TDA board, and the TDA board appoint ed Vic Isley as president and CEO of Explore Asheville, which develops and carries out advertising, marketing and associated tourism promotion plans.

DOUBLE-FAULTING ASHEVILLE’S LEADERS

You’d think Asheville and Buncombe County could afford to rectify Underwood’s criticisms. We’re rolling in public dough! The $1.3 million for the Asheville advertising is just a small part of the TDA’s immense budget of $46 million for just this year, paid for by taxes collected from Buncombe County lodging properties. The Asheville city budget is currently $217 million, and the county budget is about $574 million, paid for by our tax dollars. Thus, the TDA controls the equivalent of about a fifth of the money of the entire city budget of Asheville, a huge amount that has to be spent according to state law.

Thus, isn’t it obvious that, at least for the foreseeable future, most of the TDA money should be spent as Underwood suggested, on programs trying to solve the homeless crisis? Forty-six million dollars would buy 460 tiny houses at a cost of $100,000 per house, which would go a long way toward housing our esti

The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners recently agreed to put a $40 million affordable housing bond ref erendum to voters, but that’s small pota toes compared to the $46 million or more that the TDA will likely generate every year for the foreseeable future. Instead, our leaders are allowing dubious choices like spending $1.3 million on vague ads and luxury VIP suites in New York City, while Asheville’s homeless situation is ever more disturbing. If they haven’t noticed, Asheville is growing desperate homelessness as fast as we’re growing expensive hotels.

On the other hand, as a dedicated tennis fan, I find seeing Asheville among the corporate overlords of the world economy to be great ironic fun. It’s as if we’re yelling a primal scream to all the world’s tony tennis teams: “We’re here, we’re ‘any way you like it,’ and we’re as tough as any global, corporate juggernaut striving to maximize profits no matter what the human and ecologi cal costs.”

Bill Branyon is a freelance historian whose latest book is Advanced Romance: Liberation From 16 Romantic Rules to Vastly Enhance Your Chances for LifeChanging Love. X

BILL BRANYON

All eyes on me

groups recruit local poll observers

BY BROOKE RANDLE

Every election Corinne Duncan has worked since joining Buncombe County Election Services in 2015, she says, has felt more intense than the one before. Ever more people are voting, requesting information from the office she now directs and scrutinizing the electoral process.

And an increasing number of citi zens, Duncan continues, want to take an active part in that process by serv ing as poll observers. As their name implies, poll observers work inside polling locations and are responsi ble for watching voters and election workers as citizens cast their ballots. They take notes of any irregularities, such as a location running out of ballots or a voting machine malfunc tioning; they may also ask procedural questions of election officials and report concerns to the chief judge.

The role has traditionally been a low-key check on election officials to make sure voting runs smoothly. But as allegations of voter fraud in the 2020 election — the vast majority of which have been disproven — continue to reverberate among some voters, several conservative activist groups are recruiting and training poll observers in the name of “elec tion integrity,”

Local election officials are tak ing notice. Amid those recruitment efforts, reports of aggressive observ ers elsewhere in the state and rising interest among first-time workers, Duncan’s office held its first informa tion session to lay out the rules and regulations regarding poll observing.

The hourlong Oct. 13 event drew roughly a dozen online and in-per son participants.

“We thought, ‘How are these peo ple getting trained? Where are they getting their information from?’”

Duncan explains. “And so that sig

naled to us that it was time to do an information session.”

BY THE BOOK

Political party chairs are respon sible for appointing observers, who

must be registered voters in the coun ty they wish to serve. In Buncombe County, those people include Democratic Party Chair Jeff Rose and Republican Party Chair Glenda Weinert. (Green and Libertarian party leaders may also appoint observers, but Duncan says they have not done so in recent elections.)

Names of appointed observers must be turned in to Buncombe County Election Services five days before an individual’s service, mak ing Thursday, Nov. 3, the last day to qualify during the 2022 fall election. The county requires that each work er participate in a four-hour training session and assigns each observer to a specific polling location.

Duncan explains that poll observ ers must follow a strict set of rules, including not speaking to voters or other election workers except for the chief judge, who is responsible for overseeing each precinct if issues arise. Observers work four-hour shifts and are supposed to be located where they can see and hear inter actions between poll workers and voters. However, they aren’t allowed to enter a voting booth, look at bal lots or take pictures. No more than three observers from a single polit ical party can work at one polling place at the same time.

While Duncan says Buncombe County Election Services doesn’t have complete data regarding poll observers over the years, she says interest has grown. The most recent numbers show that 274 people served as poll observers on Election Day in Buncombe County during the 2020 election and 93 observers served on Election Day during this May’s primary.

CALL TO ACTION

Training and recruitment of poll observers have usually fallen to local party chairs and election boards.

But following the 2020 election, a number of state and national orga nizations emerged with a focus on poll observers.

One state group active in Buncombe County is the North Carolina Election Integrity Team, headed by Jim Womack. Womack, a former Lee County commissioner, chairs the Lee County Republican Party and is a member of the state GOP executive committee. According to NCEIT’s website, the group aims to “create and maintain an active, ongoing, trained citizen election integrity task force in key counties in 2022” and make the electoral process “easy to vote, but very hard to cheat.”

The Asheville Tea Party, a con servative local nonprofit, held sev eral poll observer training sessions together with the NCEIT in October. Reporters were not welcome to attend the sessions, with one online newsletter stating, “‘the media’ have relentlessly ridiculed the Election Integrity Network and our work to build an election integrity infrastruc ture throughout the nation, com prised of patriotic Americans who want to save our elections.”

Representatives from the Asheville Tea Party did not respond to several requests for comment. Womack responded to an interview request by directing Xpress to the NCEIT website.

NCEIT is in turn overseen by the national Election Integrity Network, a multistate coalition of conservative organizers led by Cleta Mitchell, a lawyer who helped represent former President Donald Trump as he tried to overturn the 2020 election. Mark Meadows, Trump’s former chief of staff and former U.S. House District 11 representative, is also a senior EIN partner.

EIN representatives did not respond to multiple requests for comment. However, in her introduc tion to a training document for the organization, Mitchell writes, “The powers-that-be in America don’t want citizens to discuss the 2020 elec tion or to question the process that millions of Americans believe was less than fair. … Ideological advo cacy groups and Democratic party operatives and lawyers descended upon courthouses across the nation demanding — and getting — chang es in the duly enacted state elec tion laws.”

Rose, with Buncombe’s Democratic Party, calls the recruitment groups “a concern,” noting that he was not aware of any liberal-aligned orga nizations leading similar efforts. He suggests that some citizens may be misled by the way these groups

cast the role of poll observers. That could lead some observers to become confrontational or disrupt elections, he argues.

“You’re not an auditor of the elec tion; you’re not there to correct any body. I think the term ‘observation’ is very literal, in the sense that you are there to look at what is going on. So, I think there’s some miscon ception when I see groups advertise about what an election observer is,” he says.

But Duncan says that so far, she is not concerned about outside groups like NCEIT. She says all observers must follow rules laid out by the N.C. State Board of Elections, regardless of any outside training they receive.

“We heard this same [concern] in the primary, and we really didn’t see any problems in the primary,” Duncan says. “And at the end of the day, everybody has to have to follow the same rules, and our poll workers have been informed of that.”

“I think people just want to feel like they’re contributing,” adds Republican Chair Weinert. “There’s been a real concerted effort to make sure that, regardless of what side of the political extreme they’re on, that they’re still required to learn how to be an observer and to do it correctly.”

WATCHING THE WATCHERS

Despite thorough training from local elections services, however, some issues regarding poll observers have popped up across the state. Results from a survey of county elections directors by the N.C. State Board of Elections revealed dozens of instances of observers becoming con frontational with voters and election workers and disrupting the electoral process during the May primaries, including reports from Haywood and Henderson counties.

No such problems have yet occurred in Buncombe County, says Duncan. “We’ve had a few issues but not malicious issues. The one that sticks out, in my mind, was an observer who misinterpreted her role. It was just question after ques tion after question after question of the chief judge, which was interrupt ing their purpose,” she says.

In August, the NCBOE attempt ed to rein in poll observer behavior when it unanimously approved new temporary regulations. Among other changes, the new rules would have prevented observers from standing too close to voting machines — where they could potentially view marked ballots or confidential voter information — and give elections

officials authority to remove observ ers who tried to enter restricted areas, interact with voters or disrupt election proceedings.

Those rules were rejected by North Carolina’s Rules Review Commission, a state executive agency that reviews and approves rules state agencies have adopted, less than two weeks after their introduction. The RRC is chosen by the Republican-controlled General Assembly and consists pri marily of Republican appointees.

Rose sees the veto of the rules as potentially enabling poor conduct among poll observers. “Ambiguity can be really helpful if you’re look ing to cause trouble, because there’s nothing that legally says that you cannot do X, Y and Z,” he says. “I do think there was kind of a wink and a nod to some of those more fringe groups that are doing their recruit ing programs.”

Despite the potential problems, Rose believes that the hands-on experience poll observers get might also quell some of their concerns about how elections are run.

“The level of work that goes into making sure that elections are fair in North Carolina, at least the tab ulation of the votes, as far as I’m concerned, is extraordinary,” Rose says. “Once you understand what the team does and what policies are in place, it’s harder to believe the story that you see on TV about somebody grabbing a thumb drive from a trash can and just uploading results or something like that.”

Weinert agrees. “People are just looking for assurance. And regard less of what your opinion is or your perspective, I think we all want the same thing, and that’s to have a fair and honest election,” she says. “Whatever motivation brings peo ple to the table or gets them out, I want people to not just sit on the sidelines.”

Educational experience

Xpress holds forum for Buncombe school board candidates

BY DANIEL WALTON

dwalton@mountainx.com

Tensions were high heading into the Oct. 14 forum for Buncombe County Board of Education can didates. The previous afternoon, Kim Plemmons and Rob Elliot had announced they would pull out of the event, being hosted at Black Wall Street AVL in partnership with Mountain Xpress.

Plemmons and Elliot, regis tered Democrats running for the Erwin and Reynolds district seats in the nonpartisan race, cited recent social media posts by Erwin District candidate and registered Republican Greg Parks, saying their campaigns had concluded the forum “could present public safety issues.” Plemmons in particular referenced a comment Parks had posted on a video by Chad Nesbitt of Skyline News, which stated if “you want to see a fighter, come to [the forum] Friday night.”

The roughly 30 people who attended the forum did see Parks and Republican Reynolds District

candidate Sara Disher Ratliff take to the floor — not as fighters, but as dancers. Moderator Aisha Adams opened the event by blasting DJ Casper’s wedding-reception clas sic, “Cha Cha Slide,” and inviting the two hopeful leaders to show that they could follow instructions as well.

Once Parks and Ratliff had fin ished sliding to the left, sliding to the right and crisscrossing, the two settled down to answer questions about a race with importance to county voters of all political persua sions. The seven-member school board, on which three seats are contested this year, oversees edu cation for over 22,000 students in Western North Carolina’s largest school district.

(Democratic Enka District board member Judy Lewis and Republican challenger Kim Poteat were both unable to attend the forum. Of the six school board can didates, all but Lewis submitted responses to the Mountain Xpress voter guide, which can be viewed online at avl.mx/c4n.)

AT THE TABLE: Buncombe County Board of Education candidates Greg Parks, left, and Sara Disher Ratliff appear at a candidate forum at Black Wall Street AVL. Photo by Thomas Calder

The event, supported in part by the American Press Institute’s Election Coverage and Community Listening Fund, also aimed to uplift community voices regarding edu cation issues. As Adams revealed through conversations with the audience, many concerns about the school system are shared among voters with different views, even if they may disagree about how best to solve those issues.

FEEDBACK SESSION

Candidates and audience mem bers alike agreed that securing ade quate funding for the school system is a key challenge. Outgoing BCS Superintendent Tony Baldwin had asked Buncombe’s Board of Commissioners to fund about $8.1 million in cost-of-living pay increas es this fiscal year, but the board instead plans to phase in those raises starting in fiscal 2023-24.

Anonymous comments collected from the audience via online polling during the forum repeatedly flagged funding as the most important issue in the race. “Show me the money. Work with the commissioners and stand up for us to the [North Carolina] General Assembly,” one attendee wrote. “We need a supple ment increase in order to retain our educators. If you don’t have enough people to run the school, you’ll really be in trouble,” wrote another.

Several comments referenced ongoing disputes in the Leandro v. State of North Carolina case, in which a judge ordered the Republican-controlled General Assembly to spend billions on ensuring “a sound basic education” for North Carolina children. The legislature has continued to fight the ruling and appealed to the N.C. Supreme Court, which has yet to issue a decision. Neither Parks nor Ratliff said they would advocate for the General Assembly to go through with the mandated spending.

Other comments emphasized allowing teachers to do their jobs without undue interference from the school board. “Trust your teach ers to be professionals — don’t micromanage their every move,” one audience member wrote, while another stated, “Board members have to check their personal opin ions at the door when making deci sions that affect all students and staff, many who don’t share their same opinions.”

Ratliff echoed that language in response to a question about ensuring equity for underserved student groups. She said teachers too often deal with “bureaucratic

red tape” in trying to help children, especially those with special educa tional needs.

“You offer solutions that people in higher places don’t necessari ly know because they don’t see it every day,” Ratliff said, address ing the teachers in the audience. “Equity comes from listening to the solution-driven individuals who are doing that job every single day.”

FEARS AND QUESTIONS

Also prevalent among the audi ence feedback were references to what commenters called “divisive rhetoric” and “inflammatory pic tures.” Before the forum, Parks had made several social media posts in which the candidate had objected to “any kind of sexuality or gender ideology” or “critical race theory” being taught in schools.

One of those posts featured a menacing black hand sprouting from the end of a rainbow sleeve — an apparent reference to the LGBTQ community — and said, “I do not accept that you impose your ideas by manipulating the lit tle ones.”

When given an opportunity to discuss his approach to finding common ground with people of dif ferent political beliefs, Parks said he liked to “raise difficult ques tions” to learn more about others.

“I don’t want to say that CRT or hate is being taught in our schools, but what I would be saying as your candidate is there’s a possibility that it could be,” Parks explained. “Sometimes you have to be coura geous and you have to ask those tough questions. You have to put things out there to get people to open up and tell you how they really feel about an issue.”

(Previous reporting by Xpress has found no indication that crit ical race theory is being taught in county schools, and officials with the system have repeatedly said that the theory is not included in the curriculum. During the event itself, Buncombe elementary teach er Lissa Pedersen repeated several times, “We do not teach CRT in Buncombe County Schools.”)

Meanwhile, Ratliff said her cam paign hadn’t made any statements on CRT or other hot-button issues. Instead, she said she was focused on issues specific to the Buncombe County system, such as transparen cy on the school board.

“We are never going to agree on everything, ever,” Ratliff said. “And that’s what makes us human, and that’s what makes us special.”  X

with Peace of

Gatekeepers

What do gated neighborhoods mean for

BY JUSTIN M c GUIRE

Real estate agent Byron Greiner recently worked with a client who wanted to sell her house in Asheville’s Thoms Estate and move elsewhere in Western North Carolina. As she considered new homes, one thing was non-negotiable.

“She would not consider living anywhere but a gated communi ty,” says Greiner, a past president of Land of the Sky Association of Realtors. That’s because the woman, a native of Florida, had lived in gated developments her whole life. She ended up buying a house in Kenmure, an upscale gated golf neighborhood about four miles south of Hendersonville in the village of Flat Rock.

Grenier and other observers of local housing trends say that expe rience is typical. Most of the people relocating to the region from the Sunshine State seek gates out of familiarity. And with Florida a major source of inbound migration — according to American Community Survey conducted annually by the U.S. Census Bureau, four of the top 10 counties outside North Carolina for new Buncombe County residents between 2015-19 were Floridian — the market for such communities continues to grow.

Gated neighborhoods are not near ly as common here as in Florida. In fact, the city of Asheville banned new gated developments in 2007. “I just don’t want to become a series of gated communities, especially with the more high-end neighborhoods as they continue to be developed,” then-Mayor Terry Bellamy said at the time, according to the Asheville Citizen-Times

But dozens of gated neighborhoods are available throughout Buncombe and its surrounding counties, as well as in other parts of WNC. While some neighborhoods have gates mostly to control traffic, others sell themselves as complete upscale com munities with spectacular mountain views, scenic hiking trails, 18-hole golf courses, fitness centers and club house activities.

Such amenities are a big selling point, Greiner says. “It’s kind of like, ’This is my sandbox, and these peo

community?

ple like to do the same thing I like to do,’ whether it be golf or whether it be tennis or whether it be boating,” he explains.

APART OF THE WHOLE?

To some, the idea of a “gated community” is an oxymoron. That line of thinking spurred Asheville’s 2007 ban.

“When I came to Asheville, I moved into an established neighbor hood, and I joined the community,” then-Councilman Bryan Freeborn said at the time, the Citizen-Times reported. “To me, gates are really anti-community.”

James Fraser, a UNC Asheville sociology lecturer who studies urban and community development, under stands such concerns.

“There are those who may argue that gated communities represent more of a fortress than a communi ty,” says Fraser. “There has been a lot of work done on these in city and regional planning [studies], and it does show that it’s something that people that are higher income par ticipate in. And in doing so, they’re explicitly agreeing to live in an area that excludes other people that don’t live there.”

Those dynamics are particularly relevant at a time when so many people without local ties or social networks are moving into WNC from states such as Florida. Privacy is certainly a major attraction to many moving into gated communities.

“You find the fact [gates] can reg ulate vehicular traffic and pedestri an traffic going into the community a real plus,” says Nick Weedman He served as the first president of the Kenmure Property Owners Association and still lives there.

(Supporting the point that privacy is important: Xpress reached out to representatives from neighborhood associations at 10 gated commu nities to find residents willing to be interviewed for this story. Only one responded.)

Weedman, who now serves as the mayor of Flat Rock, says safety also is a concern because many widows and widowers live in Kenmure. “I think they find the gate particularly attractive,” he explains. “Because if they have to leave home, there’s a

ACCESS POINT: The Ramble Biltmore Forest is one of many gated communities in Western North Carolina. Photo by Justin McGuire

reasonable possibility that it keeps unwarranted people out.”

But the residents Xpress talked to all dismissed the idea that gated neighborhoods cut them off from the broader community. Jan Getz, who moved from Pittsburgh to Beaverdam Run in North Asheville, says people can easily become part of the area scene if they are willing to make an effort. She has met people through the Asheville Newcomers Club, which is geared toward women, and by ushering at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts.

Rob McKown, who moved into The Ramble Biltmore Forest from elsewhere in Asheville five years ago, agrees. “I’ve met dozens and dozens, scores of people, here in The Ramble, and most of them are very social peo ple,” he says. “They have significant social interests outside the gate.”

And as mayor of Flat Rock, Weedman is obviously involved in the community beyond Kenmure. He says many others in the neighbor hood are as well.

“You can isolate yourself, but that’s just a personal decision,” he says. “It really has nothing to do with the gate.”

’IT DOESN’T MATTER’

Greiner, the real estate agent, says he sometimes sells a property to

someone who has little interest in participating in the life of the com munity. But those tend to be highly affluent people who are buying a second or third home, he continues, and they are the exception.

“Most people want to be involved, and they want to hang out downtown and do the Blue Ridge Parkway and bicycling and hiking and stuff, which tends to be interactive with other people,” he says. “That’s one of the reasons you move to the mountains.”

Greiner adds that many people, including the woman he moved into Kenmure, are specifically looking to live in a politically conservative community. Some even check voting records in the area to see which political candidates their potential neighbors support.

“In Asheville, we’re a blue dot in a red state,” he explains. “The fur ther south you go, like Henderson County, the more red you get.”

To some residents, the “gated” aspect is secondary to the other attractions of their community. Tom McDonnell and his wife, who moved from Cleveland two years ago, found a property they liked that happened to be in the gated Crossings at Cane Creek in Fairview. “It doesn’t matter to us one way or the other,” he says. The two say they’ve gotten involved in local action through the Asheville Tennis Club and other activities.

Similarly, McKown was impressed with the walking and biking trails, lap pool and fitness center in The Ramble when considering his move to the community. “I wouldn’t say the gate is irrelevant, but I’d say it’s something I don’t even think about,” he says.

Both men believe a gate can offer a false sense of safety, espe cially in neighborhoods that don’t employ security guards to man their entrances. They say residents often share security codes with con tractors, delivery drivers and visi tors. Some gates are easy to drive around or jump over. Sometimes they malfunction.

“Biltmore Park is an adjoining neighborhood to The Ramble, and there’s no gate there,” McKown says. “And I would be feel just as safe there.”

Weedman also says a gate wasn’t a factor in his decision to move to Kenmure 25 years ago.

“But the way that I look at it is that, now that we have it, I think it’s important, and we certainly do want to keep it,” he says. “I don’t think there’s anybody [in Kenmure] that wants to get rid of it.” X

Council approves Close the GAP plan

Asheville’s future will be a lot more walkable, bikeable and acces sible, at least if the goals of the city’s new Close the GAP transpor tation plan come to fruition. The document, unanimously approved by Asheville City Council Oct. 25, aims to increase the connectivity of greenways, improve sidewalks and bike lanes and make public walkways friendlier for dis abled residents.

As presented by Transportation Manager Lucy Crown , Close the GAP combines three separate city plans into a single umbrel la policy. It updates the City of Asheville Pedestrian Plan, which was last modified in 2005, and serves as the city’s ADA Transition Plan, which evaluates existing pub lic facilities and determines how to bring them into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Funding for the work came from a $135,000 block grant from the N.C. Department of Transportation as well as a $100,000 city allocation for updating the existing Greenway Master Plan. Crown said Close the Gap will ensure consistency and coordination of priorities and recommendations throughout the city’s transportation work.

“Going into these plans, we knew we had immense needs. We know that we need more greenways in order to make a strong greenway network. We know that we have to make our rights of ways more accessible to people with disabili ties,” said Crown. “And we know we want more sidewalks in down town but also in our neighborhoods and that sidewalks also include the

ability to cross the streets and curb ramps and access to bus stops.”

Crown said that the public out reach and engagement for Close the Gap was conducted over a two-year period, beginning in 2020, through online meetings, surveys and focus groups. City staffers then created a ranking system using census data and other demographic information and prioritized Asheville’s streets by equity, connectivity, safety and public input.

While Crown did not outline the funding required to implement the greenway and pedestrian portions of the plan, she estimated that the

city would need more than $100 million to make its recommended ADA improvements alone.

“This is a lot of money. If we were to look at spending, let’s say, $3.3 million a year, it would take us 30 years to finish all the improvements that we need,” Crown explained.

“For people who rely on this every day, that this has become acceptable or part of the furniture or the story of Asheville is unac ceptable,” Council member Kim Roney remarked. “And it’s also a sign of great need.”

Crown said that among the next steps for the plan is the creation of an online dashboard that will show progress on prioritized items. The city plans to identify short-term actions that could be completed over the next three years but did not include a timeline for when work will start or be finished.

Council updates manufactured home rules

Council members also voted unanimously in favor of updating the city’s mobile home ordinance to allow for the replacement of manu factured homes in certain locations. The change will allow new man ufactured homes to go in places where a previous home has been removed and the space has been vacant for more than 180 days.

City staffers said the move would increase the availability of afford able housing without expanding or changing current zoning regu lations that designate where man ufactured homes may be located.

Asheville’s Planning and Zoning Commission had also recommend ed the change in a 6-1 vote Oct. 5.

Alan Ramirez , a resident owner of Sourwood Mobile Home Co-op and coordinator at Poder Emma, a community-based nonprofit, praised Council’s decision.

“We are a neighborhood where the majority of the members of our organization live in mobile home parks in our community. I came with my neighbors to appreciate your consideration to amend the rules that put families living in mobile homes at risk and that erased mobile home parks in Asheville,” said Ramirez. “The amendments to the development ordinance [are] a good step to continue to protect mobile homes and mobile home parks as affordable housing.”

On curing sweet potatoes and protecting figs against frost

Greetings gardeners, this will be my last 2022 gardening feature in Xpress But don’t worry — I’ll be back come spring. I’ve enjoyed answering your questions and sharing what I know to help our mountain gardens be more successful. If you have queries over the winter, you can reach me through Wild Abundance, where I teach gardening year-round.

For this year’s final edition, I’m addressing ways to cure sweet pota toes, options for excess leaves and ideas for keeping your figs warm amid frosty nights.

The answer is yes: Sweet potatoes will keep and taste better after the process of curing. When you dig sweet potatoes in the fall, they contain more starches than sugars — meaning, they’re not sweet right away. During this stage, they also have thinner skins, which make them more susceptible to drying out.

Ideal curing conditions are 90 degrees Fahrenheit and 90% humid ity for 90 hours (about four days). However, if you can’t achieve those conditions, keeping sweet potatoes in a somewhat warm and somewhat moist space for longer (a couple of weeks) can also do the job. The nonnegotia ble components are heat and humidity; if you store sweet potatoes in a cool and dry fridge, for example, they’ll be bland, overly starchy and withered.

I cure sweet potatoes by placing crates of tubers on top of a seedling heat mat with a dish of water on it. Next, I wrap the whole mess in blankets and plastic sheets (old shower curtains work well). This technique can be a little messy, with water dripping down as it condenses inside the curing cham ber. If you’ve got a greenhouse or an extra bathroom, laundry room or other indoor space that can be taken over for a few days, these are good options, too. In the case of a small room that can get wet, the whole space can become a curing chamber with the help of a space heater and a humidifier or pot of hot water.

If you can’t achieve ideal conditions, an alternative is to cure them at 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit (the warmer the better) for two weeks, also with humidi ty as high as possible. Simply wrapping

crates, trays or boxes of tubers in damp paper bags or towels can help hold humidity. This won’t achieve 90%, but it will keep them from drying out. You’ll need to remoisten the bags or towels each day.

Once sweet potatoes are cured, they’ll keep best in cooler conditions that are still moist. These tropical tubers don’t want to get as cold as so-called “Irish” potatoes (both kinds of potatoes are originally from Peru). Indeed, it’s best to keep sweet potatoes between 55 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit, with humidity around 60%-80%. Under ideal condi tions, sweet potatoes will keep well for several months.

bag of leaves around a bit to crush them without losing any, then spread them as mulch and water them so that they stick together and stay on the ground.

Another use for fall leaves is to make leaf mold. This is basically a fungal-driven leaf compost that is great as a soil amendment. It can improve water-holding capacity, feed microor ganisms and increase organic matter. Leaves are mostly carbon and some minerals, with very little nitrogen. This means that they’re broken down mostly by fungus, rather than a flurry of bacteria and other nitrogen-lov ing organisms.

compost, they’ll be available to layer as you build up the pile.

I HAVE A FIG TREE THAT’S LOADED WITH FRUIT. IS THERE ANYTHING I NEED TO DO TO PROTECT THE TREE FROM FROST?

Ah yes, the beauty and tragedy of autumn fruits. Just as many crops ripen to their sweetest, cold weather does them in. This is a normal part of the cycle of the seasons and not to be too worried about. That said, there are some steps you can take to protect your figs from the winter cold.

First, harvest any ripe fruits before a hard freeze comes. Here in the moun tains, we have many microclimates, and low temperatures aren’t the same everywhere. If the forecast predicts a hard frost, but your fig trees are close to a building or rock wall, they may be just fine. You can wait and see if the leaves have been frosted before taking further winterizing action. As long as leaves are looking green and perky, the tree is still growing and fruits may still ripen if we get warm enough days following the freeze.

HOW CAN I USE FALL LEAVES IN THE GARDEN?

Fall leaves can be a great boon to your garden! In fact, I’ve known many gardeners who drive around collecting bagged leaves from roadsides to bring this generous source of organic matter back to their plots. Whether you gather just your own fallen fortune or scour the neighborhood for autumn’s gifts, there are several ways to use fall leaves in your garden.

First is as a simple mulch: Just dump the leaves on garden beds that are resting for the winter or around the bases of fall and winter crops. It can be helpful to crush the leaves slightly, so they don’t blow away. I like to roll a

To make leaf mold, simply pile up leaves and moisten them. It can help to make a ring of wire fencing to pile them within (this keeps the pile tidy and tall), and to spray water periodically as you pile the leaves. It’s best to choose a cool spot for this project, not in the direct sun. Over time, if the pile stays moist, various kinds of fungus will move in and enjoy the buffet, breaking down the leaves and turning them into a love ly, moist, fluffy friend for your garden soil. If you make a pile like this, you should have leaf mold ready for your spring garden.

Finally, due to their high-carbon nature, fall leaves can be a great addition to a traditional compost pile. Where you might now be using straw to cover up additions of kitchen waste or other green/moist material, fall leaves can also make a great carbon covering. If you simply put fall leaves next to your

Once the leaves have turned crispy and puckered, it’s time to say goodbye for the year and pull off all unripe fruits. This is also a good time to prune back the tree to a manageable size. Most fig fruits emerge from new growth, so pruning can actually increase next year’s crop. Applying a thick layer of organic mulch (dry leaves, wood chips, straw, etc.) around the base of the tree will help the roots stay warm all winter. Even if the aboveground parts die, most fig varieties will sprout back vigorously from the roots in the springtime. If an extreme cold snap approaches, you can also wrap the aboveground parts of the trees in blankets or cardboard; you could also stuff straw within these makeshift tents to keep the trunk and branches from freezing.

For a few years, we would set up a plastic high tunnel over our figs and string old-fashioned incandescent Christmas lights on the branches. During very cold spells we would turn the Christmas lights on to add a little extra heat. This worked well to keep the figs alive, but then our lives got busy, and we skipped the elaborate treat ment last year. Turns out, the figs were fine! They’re hardier than you might think and very capable of bouncing back if they do get nipped by frost.

I GREW SWEET POTATOES THIS YEAR AND I’VE HEARD THAT THEY NEED TO BE “CURED” IN ORDER TO KEEP. IS THIS TRUE? AND IF SO, HOW DO I DO IT?

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR: For this year’s final set of queries, Chloe Lieberman addresses ways to cure sweet potatoes, options for excess leaves and ideas for keeping your figs warm on frosty nights. Photo courtesy of Wild Abundance

Stephen Walter Woody discusses receiving The Order of the Long Leaf Pine

Since 1975, Stephen Walter Woody — a retired banker and Asheville resident — has organized the annu al Cataloochee Reunion. Originally launched in 1937 by Woody’s father, Jonathan, the gathering has helped descendants of the former communi ty maintain a connection to the place.

Cataloochee Valley was first used by the Cherokee for hunting and fishing. Later, in the early 1800s, European settlers arrived and built permanent homes on the land. By 1900, the area’s population numbered about 1,250. In 1936, after the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was established, the federal gov ernment purchased the land from the remaining families, dissolving the community.

At this year’s annual reunion, Elaine Marshall, N.C. sec retary of state, made a surprise visit to award Woody with The Order of the Long Leaf Pine. The award is bestowed by the governor of North Carolina in recognition of an indi vidual’s service and friendship to the state.

Along with maintaining the Cataloochee Reunion, Woody is a founding member of the Friends of the Smokies, a nonprofit that supports Great Smoky Mountains National Park through fundraising and educational outreach. Woody also served on the board of trustees at Western Carolina University for 16 years and later founded the Research and Development Corp., an organiza tion formed to own and manage cam pus housing. In 2003, WCU awarded Woody with an honorary doctorate in recognition of his contributions to the university.

Xpress recently sat down with Woody to discuss his many achievements.

This interview has been lightly edit ed and condensed.

What was your first reaction to receiving The Order of the Long Leaf Pine?

I was shocked, surprised, stunned. It’s just hard to say the way I felt.

I couldn’t believe it happened. Because I know the significance of the award. I’ve had several friends and acquaintances and classmates from college who received it. I think the one word is honored — just over whelmingly honored.

I would like to sincerely thank the people who arranged for this award. I accepted with humility and gracious ness and in remembrance of all the people who lived in Cataloochee in the National Park.

Your father launched the reunion, and you eventually took it over. Outside of COVID, has there ever been a year that the event didn’t take place?

In 1937, they had the first Cataloochee Reunion at Palmer Chapel Methodist Church in Cataloochee Valley, and we’ve only missed four years during World War II. And, of course, due to COVID, in 2020, we didn’t have a reunion. Except for those, we’ve been there every year.

What is it about the gathering that keeps people coming back?

It’s just the love of the valley and what it meant to everybody. There were some hard feelings when [res idents] left, but now it’s part of a beautiful national park. And it’s a beautiful valley, which has been preserved. [Participants] just like to come back and see not only family or distant family but also people they’ve grown to know outside their family and the culture of the former commu nity. We have a church service on the grounds. People get to swap stories and photographs.

Could you speak to your work with Friends of the Smokies?

Most of the big national parks have what’s called Friends groups. We support the park financially and through just talking about the things we need. We don’t tell the park what to do. The park comes to us with what

IN SERVICE: Earlier this year, Ste phen Walter Woody received The Order of the Long Leaf Pine. The award is bestowed by the governor of North Carolina as recognition of an individual’s service and friendship to the state. Photo courtesy of Woody

they call a “needs list.” And then we basically provide funds for whatev er’s on that list.

We have several endowments. We have an endowment called Trails

Forever. With that, we support a trail crew and all the equipment to redo all the hiking trails in the park. We sponsor the Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center at Purchase Knob and a couple of teachers at the facility in the fall. They’ll have 5,000 school kids a year up there doing science work.

We have another fund called Forever Places. There’s still a lot of structures left in the park — houses, cabins, barns. This fund will be used to keep those in good shape and improve them. We do all sorts of things like this.

What do you feel is your great est achievement?

I wouldn’t say any one thing. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve done. I feel good about what happened at Western Carolina University. I feel very good about the Friends — start ing an organization from scratch. It’s been so successful. We’ve had very good leadership. We’ve had excel lent staff and workforce to get things done. And we’ve done a lot for the national park.

If someone wanted to get to know Great Smoky Mountains National Park, what would you recommend they do?

I’m going to give you a direct order. You go to Cataloochee. Take a picnic and just go see what’s over there. Purchase Knob is quite a place, does a lot of good work, and a lot of people don’t know about it. It’s just above the ridge of Cataloochee. Plus, it’s an incredible view once you get up there.

— LA Bourgeois X

WELLNESS

Therapeutic Recre ation: Wednesday Morning Movement

A variety of physical activities such as active games, aerobics and dancing. Open to indi viduals ages 17+ with disabilities - participants who cannot meet eligibility requirements can attend with a 1:1 worker. Contact the Therapeutic Recreation Program at (828)2324529 for additional information.

WE (11/2, 9), 10am, Tempie Avery Montford Community Center, 34 Pearson Ave

Zumba Gold for Adults 50+

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

WE (11/2, 9) FR (11/4), 11am, Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Rd

Men’s Cancer Support Group

Safely meet in a large conference room and stay socially distant while wearing masks.

RSVP to Will (412)9130272 or acwein123@ gmail.com.

WE (11/2), 6pm, Free, Woodfin YMCA, 40 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 101

Dementia Partners Support Group AVL

Providing a social setting for individuals to meet and discuss coping techniques, share experiences, and present resource speakers from a variety of agencies.

TH (11/3), 6pm, Scenic View Terrace Clubhouse, 60 Fallen Spruce Dr

Wild Souls Authentic Movement Class

A conscious movement experience in a 100-year old building with a community of like-minded women at all life stages.

SU (11/6), 9:30am, Dunn's Rock Com munity Center, 461 Connestee Rd, Brevard

Yoga Taco Mosa Practice led by Clare Desmelik, followed by tacos and mimosas.

SU (11/6), 10:30am, The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave

We Will Not be Silenced: Standing for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

A series of photographs and sculptures that bring voice to the inter national Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) move ment through the lens

of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Com anche Nation, Lumbee, and other Native American artists. Open 10am Tuesday through Friday. Reception on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 5pm.

WCU Bardo Arts Center, 199 Centennial Dr, Cullowhee

Natural Collector | Gifts of Fleur S. Bresler

Features around 15 artworks from the col lection, which include important examples of modern and contemporary American

craft including wood and fiber art, as well as glass and ceramics.

Open 11am, closed Tuesday.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

Inspiration Features jewelry, fiber, clay and wood from six Southern Highland Craft Guild members. Open daily 10am. Folk Art Center, MP 382, Blue Ridge Parkway

Saints of Paint: Unearthed Opening Night Reception

A group show of nine

artists, with partial proceeds from sales benefitting the Appa lachian Barn Alliance adn Madison County nonprofit SART. TH (11/3), 5pm, Mars Landing Galleries, 37 Library St, Mars Hill

Cultivating Collections: Glass

In this year’s exhibition, student researchers tell the stories of the Museum’s glass col lection, which includes a range of artists who have made significant contributions to the Studio Glass Movement

in Western North Carolina. Open Tuesday through Friday, 10am. WCU Bardo Arts Center, 199 Centennial Dr, Cullowhee

The Way I'm Wired: Artist Reflections on Neurodiversity This exhibition invites artists to share their lived experiences with neurodiversity and how these experiences have impacted their work as an artist. Open Tuesday through Friday 10am.

WCU Bardo Arts Center, 199 Centennial Dr, Cullowhee

First Fridays at Downtown Asheville Arts District

A variety of open galleries and studios, plus light refreshments.

FR (11/4), 5pm, Downtown Asheville

Form in Motion Opening Reception Exhibit runs through Dec. 4. Gallery open 10am daily, 12pm on Sunday. See p33

FR (11/4), 5:30pm, Pink Dog Gallery, 348 Depot St

Erin E. Castellan: Weaving Small Nets to Capture Life

A reception with the textile-based artist, who utilizes both fabric she has woven, as well as stretched canvases, adding hand-embel lishments of stitching, beadwork, and acrylic paint.

FR (11/4), 6pm, Tracey Morgan Gallery, 188 Coxe Ave

Augmented Reality and Oil Painting Exhibition: Big, Bold, and Colorful Contemporary artist Jaime Byrd will be featured for the months of October and November, exhibiting her larger scale works. Open daily 10am. Through Nov. 30. See p29

SA (11/5), 10am, Trackside Studios, 375 Depot St

Rebel/Re-Belle: Explor ing Gender, Agency, and Identity

Combines works, primarily created by women, from two significant collections of contemporary art to explore how artists have innovated, influ enced, interrogated, and inspired visual culture in the past 100 years. Through Jan. 16, 2023. Open 11am, closed Tuesdays.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

Jazz '22 Story Walk

This exhibit of informa tional panels about NC jazz greats is designed to share the history of

jazz.

SU (11/6), 7:30am, Stearns Park, 122 E Mills St, Columbus

Weaverville Art Safari Fall Studio Tour 2022

A two-day, juried, studio tour featuring 75 artists creating art in diverse media including ceramics, glass, photography, sculpture, jewelry, furniture, painting, drawing, fiber art, mixed media, wood art, and more.

SA (911/5) & SU (11/6), 10am, Weaverville Art Safari, Multiple locations

North Carolina Works by Martin Pasco Paintings from Barnardsville-based artist. With a “meet the artist” opening on Friday, Nov. 4 from 5 to 8pm. Gallery open daily 11am.

Asheville Gallery of Art, 82 Patton Ave

Explorations in Heritage & Nature: Paintings by Lelia Canter

A unique and colorful collection of over 25 years of work that illustrate Cherokee, Celtic, Appalachian, and various cultural legends. Meet the artist and exhibit sale Nov. 17, 4-6pm and Dec. 15, 4-6pm. Open 8am, closed Sunday. Zuma Coffee, 7 N Main St, Marshall

COMMUNITY MUSIC

Quarteto Nuevo The quartet creates jazzy rhythmic soundscapes that fuse different cultures, past and present, around the world.

FR (11/4), 8pm, $38, Diana Wortham Theatre, 18 Biltmore Ave

Contemplative Music with Roots by Aditi Seti-Brown and Jay Brown

Roots and world music by husband and wife duo.

IN A PICKLE: The WNC Fermenting Festival will take place Sunday, Nov. 6, at the Madison County Fairgrounds in Marshall, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The festival, which will celebrate fermenting, food preservation and farming, will donate all proceeds to Marshall’s Beacon of Hope food bank. Photo courtesy of WNC Fermenting Festival

SA (11/5), 7pm, $25-35, The Light Center in Black Mountain, 2196 Hwy 9 South, Black Mountain

Ustad Shafaat Khan Indian classical/ folk music on sitar, tabla and vocal performing Sufi-inspired compositions, and a multi-cultural fusion ranging from western classical, jazz, and rock, to pop, flamenco, and African rhythms.

TU (11/8), 7:30pm, $35, Brevard Music Center, 349 Andante Ln, Brevard

Museum Meditation: Morton Feldman’s Piano and String Quartet

A series of guided contemplative listening practices. Following each practice, the group will reflect on their experiences. No familiarity with Feldman’s work is necessary.

TH (11/10), 12pm, Free, Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center, 120 College St

Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández Fifth-generation Mariachi musician and internationally recognized musician, composer, and educa tor. See p33

TH (11/10), 7:30pm, $5-25, WCU Bardo Arts Center, 199 Centennial Dr, Cullowhee

LITERARY

Book Talk: Bauhaus Graphic Novel with Valentina Grande

The author discusses her book, in which the main character is not a person but an idea - the school of Bauhaus, which arose in the wake of World War I, and emerged as the fundamental reference point for virtually every avant-garde artistic movement that fol lowed.

WE (11/2), 1pm, Free, Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center, 120 College St Storytelling on the Mountain Storytellers are invited to share a five minute true life story. If you are interested in being a storyteller, send an email to Jim at jamesr ludwig@gmail.com.

WE (11/2), 5:30pm, Homeplace Beer Co., 6 South Main St, Burnsville

Calliope Shorts: Campfire Stories

With seven new, original stories rooted in the WNC mountain region, made possible by local professional and pre-professional artists. Outdoors.

TH (11/3), 7pm, Full Spectrum Farms Pavilion, 185 Wayehutta Rd, CullowheeA

Story/Arts Residency: Romance, Jingles and Dreams

This first iteration in the Nov. residency program featuring Meta Commerse will involve a weaving of monologue, music, images, movement and selected story readings from Womaning, a memoir

TH (11/3), 7pm, Story Parlor, 227 Haywood Rd

Louise Morgan Runyon: Where Is Our Prague Spring?

The poet launches her book, which expresses her deep love for the mountains of WNC, her childhood experience of love here, and her attempts to reconcile this love with the hatred and division found in the present. SA (11/5), 4pm, City Lights Bookstore, 3 E Jackson St, Sylva Between The Dark and Light – The Grateful Dead Photography of Jay Blakesberg

The author gives a pre sentation on his book, and shares stories about his adventures photographing The Grateful Dead and their fans

TU (11/8), 6pm, $20, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., 100 Sierra Nevada Way, Mills River Runestone Saga: Children of Ragnarok by Cinda Williams Chima

The Asheville author launches her book. See p33 WE (11/9), 6pm, Mal aprop’s, 55 Haywood St

THEATER & FILM

The Crucible The classic play by Arthur Miller explores the infamous witch tri als of 1692. Presented by Tryon's Shakespeare and Friends. Outdoors.

TH (11/3) - SU (11/6), 7pm, $10, Rogers Park, 55 W. Howard St, Tryon Goddess Trilogy Film Series: Full Circle

Donna Read's critically acclaimed films, which have appeared on pub lic television, create an experience of women's culture and history from the Paleolithic caves of France to the streets of San Francisco in the 1990s. Viewing followed by discussion. Open to the public. FR (11/4), 7pm, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ashe ville, 1 Edwin Place

The Magnetic Theatre’s One Act Play Festival

The third annual festival will feature 20 short plays in a variety of styles, presented in two blocks of performances running Nov. 4-13. See p32

The Magnetic Theatre, 375 Depot St

MEETINGS & PROGRAMS

Building Our City: Small Scale Develop ment Matters Now More Than Ever

Featuring Bernice Radle, founder and CEO of Buffalove Development, who will speak on how Buffalo, NY's 2017 zoning overhaul made a walkable, transit friendly development legal again, how it is helping enable small scale projects, creating wealth for working people, and rebuilding a legacy Great Lakes city that despite losing half of its population from 1950 to 2010, is now America's fastest growing Rust Belt city.

WE (11/2), 5:30pm, The Collider, 1 Haywood St, Ste 401

Night of the Teenagers Teens and young adults can shoot hoops, listen to tunes, play games, lift weights, chill out, or do almost anything else they want.

WE (11/2), 6pm, Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Rd

Native American Wisdom: Teaching the Old Ways

Nicholas Thorne, a Penobscot teacher in Asheville who learned from the Cherokee, uses language and stories to provide multi cultural perspectives of the world's ecosystems.

WE (11/2), 7pm, avl.mx/8u5

WNC Sierra Club: All Things Great and Small - Intro to Biodiversity Rachel Muir, Emeritus Scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey, will discuss the importance of biodiversity worldwide and the extraordinary variety of creatures that call the southern Appalachians their home. She will also discuss why protecting biodiversity is one of the most important challenges of our time and what we can do to protect it.

TH (11/3), 7pm, avl.mx/prx3

Swannanoa

Valley Museum: André Michaux in Western North Carolina

This lecture will focus on Michaux as an explorer of northwestern North Carolina and adjacent east Tennesseeidentifying the places he went, some of the early settlers who were his hosts and guides, and the then-unknown plants that drew him into these rugged mountains.

MO (11/7), 6:30pm, Free-$10, avl.mx/b99

Third Thirsty Thursday - WCC Social Western Carolinas Coaches monthly social

event. Rain or shine.

TH (11/10), Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Hwy

LOCAL MARKETS

Staples Artisan Market Small and homegrown market.

WE (11/2), 11am, Staples Artisan Market, 65 Merrimon Ave

Free Community Market/Mercado de Despensas Gratis Staples, produce and perishables, by MANNA FoodBank.

WE (11/2), 11:30am, Hola Community Arts, 801 Fourth Ave E, Hendersonville

RAD Farmers Market Winter Season

The RAD Farmers Market provides yearround access to fresh local foods including produce, with 25-30 vendors each week set up indoors and outdoors. Handicapped parking available in the Smoky Park lot, free public parking available along Riverside Dr. Also accessible by foot, bike, or rollerblade via the Wilma Dykeman Greenway.

WE (11/2, 9), 3pm, Smoky Park Supper Club, 350 Riverside Dr

Sunset Markets at Oak and Grist Fall cocktails and local vendors.

FR (11/4), 5pm, Oak and Grist Distilling Company, 1556 Grovestone Rd, Black Mountain

North Asheville Tailgate Market

The oldest Saturday morning market in WNC. Over 60 rotating vendors.

SA (11/5), 8am, 3300 University Heights

Asheville City Market

Over 50 vendors and local food products, including fresh produce, meat, cheese, bread, pastries, and more.

SA (11/5), 9am, 52 N Market St

Black Mountain Tailgate Market

Seasonal community market event featuring organic and sustainably grown produce, plants, cut flowers, herbs, locally raised meats, seafood, breads, pastries, cheeses, eggs and local arts and handcrafted items.

SA (11/5), 9am, Black Mountain Tailgate Market, 130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

Jackson Arts Market Makers & Music Festival

With live, local music on Saturdays and an open mic on Sundays.

SA (11/5) & SU (11/6), 12pm, Downtown Sylva

Rabbit Rabbit Sunday Market

Vintage clothes, housewares, handmade jewelry, ceramics,

apparel, music, special activities, and drinks and bites by AVL Taco and AVL Brewing Co.

SU (11/6), 12pm, Rabbit Rabbit, 75 Coxe Ave

West Asheville Tailgate Market

Over 40 local vendors, every Tuesday.

TU (11/8), 3:30pm, 718 Haywood Rd

FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS

Friends Night Out

With some surprise treats. There will be a drawing with prizes at the end of the evening. Stop by the Chamber of Commerce to register.

TH (11/3), 4pm, Downtown Sylva

20th Annual Art and Craft Festival

Three dozen local artisans will show handcrafted work, including Old World Santas, Intarsia, jew elry, baskets, stained glass, pottery, fiber and leather items, and holiday décor.

Proceeds support a self-help fund for low-income residents of church-owned apartments. Breakfast

and lunch will be available for purchase from FUMC's Curbside Cafe.

SA (11/5), 8:30am, First United Methodist Church of Henderson ville, 204 6th Ave W, Hendersonville

Family Discovery Day

Explore the 25-acre forest, ninja course, pine play, chicken field, and more.

SA (11/5), 10am, Asheville Farmstead School, 218 Morgan Cove Rd, Candler

13th Annual Knuckle Deep BBQ Fest

All proceeds will go to Food Connection.

See p31 SU (11/6), 11am, Wedge at Foundation, 5 Foundy St

PumpkinPOST

Attendees can smash their own carved pumpkins to be used as compost in the gar den or donate edible ones back to Bounty & Soul. Complimentary hot chocolate and hot cider from Four Sisters Bakery will be available while supplies last (please bring your own cup).

Live acoustic music will be performed by Syrrup, a jazz/soul duo from Asheville. A

composting workshop will also take place by community garden volunteers at 3pm.

SA (11/5), 2pm, Free, Dr. John Wilson Community Garden, 99 White Pine Dr, Black Mountain

U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Harvest Cele bration

Celebrate and help send off the “The People’s Tree” as it embarks on a twoweek journey from Pisgah National Forest to the U.S. Capitol lawn.

SA (11/5), 3pm, WNC Agricultural Center, 1301 Fanning Bridge Rd

Spiritual Fusions Psychic & Holistic Expo

With astrology, pet communication, psy chics, tarot and angel card readings and holistic practitioners. Also crystals, jewelry, handmade drums, Aura photos and henna.

SA (11/5) & SU (11/6), 10am, WNC Agricul tural Center, 1301 Fanning Bridge Rd

WNC Fermenting Festival

Local and regional fermenters will be pre senting their products with several hosting free fermenting demonstrations and sharing skills in pre paring beneficial food and drinks. Admission fee proceeds will benefit the local food pantry Beacon of Hope Services. See p31 SU (11/6), 11am, Madison County Fair grounds, 330 Carolina Ln, Marshall

GOVERNMENT & POLITICS

State of the Arts Brunch

Organized by the Asheville Area Arts Council, the brunch provides a snapshot of the current state of the area's creative sec tor. Speakers include Mayor Esther Man heimer and Buncombe County Board of Commissioners Chair Brownie Newman. Ticket sales will sup port the Arts Council’s mission to keep the arts at the heart of the community.

WE (11/2), 10:30am, $45, The Orange Peel, 101 Biltmore Ave

Library Youth Voting Event & Election Party

Stop by and cast your vote for your favorite ice cream flavor. Results will be revealed Tuesday, Nov. 17 from 3:30pm – 4:30pm at the Library Election Col lection Party. Closed Saturdays, open 1pm Sundays.

Haywood County Library-Canton, 11 Pennsylvania Ave, Canton

BENEFITS & VOLUNTEERING

Community Trash Clean Up Supplies provided (puncture proof gloves, bags, safety vests, trash grabbers and music. Must wear closed toed shoes due to hypodermic needles. By The Booth Fairy Project.

WE (11/2), 12pm, Greenlife Grocery, 70 Merrimon Ave

Fairview Road Resilience Garden Work Day

Volunteers are needed at the garden every Wednesday. All ages and skill levels are wel come to help harvest, weed, plant, and build

community.

WE (11/2, 9), 5:30pm, Fairview Resilience Garden, 461 Fairview Rd

Puerto Risas: A Fundraiser Comedy Show

Asheville's own and Puerto Rican trans plant Christian Lee is hosting Puerto Risas to help raise money for those still without power and basic necessities from years of hurricane damage and blatant neglect from the government.

Funds will be going to Brigada Solidaria del Oeste. 21+

WE (11/2), 7pm, $15, Asheville Beauty Acad emy, 28 Broadway St

David LaMotte, Chris Rosser, Nikki Morgan: Benefit Concert

For P.E.G. Partners, which has been work ing in Guatemala since 2004, supporting local community leaders in efforts to nurture kids through education, arts, scholarships and mentoring.

SU (11/6), 4pm, $20-22, White Horse Black Mountain, 105 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

Firefly's Frost Moon Fundraiser Gala

A night of ceremony, music, and mystery, featuring Leah Song of Rising Appalachia, Holy River, Black Sea Beat Society, and more.

MO (11/7), 5pm, $25-$250, Asheville Masonic Temple, 80 Broadway

At Home with Miss Mary's Meatloaf

Pick up a to-go order of Miss Mary’s meatloaf with

Why

homemade sides to enjoy at home, with an accompanying video featuring Miss Mary and select partner chefs sharing Downtown Welcome Table stories. With family-style dinners for groups of 6 and 12 also available.

Proceeds go to Downtown Welcome Table.

TH (11/10), 3pm, Haywood Street

Congregation, 297 Haywood St

– Michele Bryan

represents the heart of Asheville and I want it to always be here.”

and become a member at

A wound that won’t stop bleeding from direct pressure needs a tourni quet applied. In other cases, the type of response needed isn’t clear-cut. For example, a woman who appears to be passed out and in need of medi cal attention may actually be healthy and sleeping on a park bench.

BY JESSICA WAKEMAN

On any day of the week, first responders in Buncombe County might be dispatched to this com mon scenario: A business owner or a bystander sees a woman on the sidewalk who is agitated, yell ing, screaming, and pacing back and forth.

Concerned, a bystander calls 911 to get this person help; it’s unclear whether she’s injured, reacting to drugs, having a mental health epi sode or something else. In these instances, the 911 call center makes an assessment on who should be dis patched: law enforcement, the fire department, the Buncombe County Emergency Medical Services or some combination.

A new mobile outreach team with in the BCEMS now can address the mental and physical health issues that can lead to these complex calls to 911 in the first place, explains lead paramedic Claire Hubbard

Unhoused people and people experiencing severe mental health issues often lack the money or trans portation to obtain regular health care. “Homelessness is a health cri sis,” says Amy Cantrell, co-director

of the nonprofit BeLoved Asheville, which works with the unhoused community. “It really exacerbates chronic illness; it often creates its own health crises.”

Hubbard explains that this lack of access means people might not seek

medical care until they’re experienc ing an emergency — a wound has become infected, or a prescription for a lifesaving medication has run out. It is then that many people call 911. Explains Hubbard, “People use 911 as primary care, as a basic needs resource.” And, as with the situa tion above, some individuals call 911 for them.

Whenever first responders are dis patched, they’ll transport a person to an emergency room if needed. But Hubbard explains that the outreach team is an option for care for people before a crisis. Law enforcement, the fire department and BCEMS also can request the outreach team if it would be a better fit for a person’s needs. In both cases, relying on the outreach team for these complex situations frees up the county’s first respond ers for more pressing emergencies

Hubbard says the county is still figuring out how the outreach team will be dispatched, and the protocol will be announced publicly once established.

COMPLEX SCENARIOS

For some emergencies, calls to 911 and the actions needed from first responders are clear immediately. A cardiac arrest means performing CPR until a defibrillator can be used.

“It’s very difficult for the average person to know exactly what kind of help or first response is needed in complex nonemergent medical/ mental health scenarios,” Hubbard writes in an email to Xpress. “This is not a burden that should fall on any one person without advanced medical, psychiatric or law enforce ment training to tease out. It takes a diverse working group of people with access to resources to address these situations.”

First responders have limited time to spend on calls. The mobile out reach team aims to provide “higher levels of care” than BCEMS is able to provide daily, Hubbard says. A basic life support ambulance and SUV will allow the team to offer mobile wound care, provide emotional support and refer people to places for food or shelter. The department is hiring emergency medical technicians, nurses specializing in wound care, community health workers and two mobile mental health clinicians for the mobile outreach team.

Mobile outreach is a program wel comed by the Buncombe County’s Sheriff’s Office. “We support looking further into co-responder models that work to better serve community members who are experiencing a crisis but are not committing crimes or compromising public safety,” writes Aaron Sarver, spokesperson for Buncombe County’s Sheriff’s Office, in an email statement.

He continues, “Our deputies are certainly very busy with high-call volumes, and any level of relief helps. Any expansion of services that allows for a more tailored and/or comprehensive approach to some one in crisis is a win.”

Bill Davis , spokesperson for Asheville Police Department, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

MULTIPRONGED APPROACH

Mobile outreach is the latest addition to the BCEMS community paramedicine program, which began in November 2020 to address the effects of substance use, particularly opioid overdoses. BCEMS responds to several overdose calls each day, writes Justin Hall, community para medic peer coordinator, in an email to Xpress

In 2021, the BCEMS launched a post-overdose response team to dis patch paramedics, a mental health counselor and a peer support to over dose calls. Within 72 hours of the overdose, a member of the overdose team follows up and encourages the individual to seek treatment. The overdose team has responded to 3,568 calls since the program started, Hall writes. In March, the overdose team began offering medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder; it can treat a patient on nights and weekends when traditional programs aren’t open.

The community paramedic pro gram is now expanding into other health care needs. In the request for proposals from the spring, BCEMS explains the mobile outreach team will be “dedicated to the overwhelm ing amount of calls we receive out side of our current funding param eters (overdoses).” For example, the nurse practitioner with a specialty in wound care on the mobile out reach team will be able to redress bandages; an EMT or mental health clinician can counsel someone expe riencing severe anxiety attacks.

The bigger idea behind the mobile outreach team, Hubbard says, is to address “social determinants” of health, like access to nutritious food, transportation or affordable housing. Mobile outreach workers can build on the rapport they’ve developed by assisting and checking in on people in vulnerable situations, Hubbard says. These relationships can be used as a bridge for referrals to organiza tions or agencies that can provide assistance with larger issues.

BCEMS requested $1.14 million from coronavirus state and local fis cal recovery funds for the two-year pilot, Hubbard says.

‘A LOT OF CROSSOVER’

Mobile outreach teams exist in municipalities around the country, including New York City and Eugene, Ore. And Hubbard emphasizes that outreach teams are not even a new concept in Asheville, as several local nonprofits have teams that serve dif ferent aspects of the community.

The four-person outreach team at Homeward Bound of Western North Carolina primarily interacts with people who are unhoused. They can help people get on waitlists for hous ing and navigate housing-related issues, like acquiring identification, explains outreach program manager Mike DeSerio.

Homeward Bound’s outreach team already has “a lot of crossover” with the community paramedics because their demographics often overlap,

DeSerio says. The establishment of a dedicated outreach team within BCEMS that can be proactive “is putting more legs on something [community paramedics] do well already,” DeSerio says.

Nonprofit Beloved Asheville also has people it calls “street medics” who distribute first aid supplies, like Neosporin, and educate people on how to recognize the signs of a heart attack, hypothermia or stroke.

Cantrell says street medics have their own vehicle to use, but there are also “dozens” of homeless or formerly homeless individuals who assist on an as-needed basis.

The nonprofit has offered its vol unteers CPR and first-aid training led by nurses and EMTs. It also offered training with an expert in wil derness survival about safety precau tions in extreme heat and extreme cold, Cantrell says.

Beloved Asheville’s street medics are equipped with bags containing basic first-aid supplies like bandages and a blood pressure cuff, as well as naloxone, the opioid reversal drug. Cantrell says street medics call BCEMS when people require a more advanced level of health care.

Cantrell applauded the county government for expanding its out reach team. Local nonprofits are already doing this work, she says, and she’s glad to see it “move into a systemic solution.”

COMMUNITY TRAINING

Another component the outreach team plans to offer is customized training for community members, particularly in the downtown busi ness area, Hubbard says. The team will solicit information on best prac tices on deescalation from groups like the Haywood Street Congregation Mercy League, she adds.

In addition, DeSerio says Homeward Bound would like to offer engagement training that will pro vide verbiage for bystanders to use when talking to someone who may be in distress, such as during a mental health crisis or under the influence of drugs. “[Bystanders] don’t necessari ly know how to handle those things,” he explains. They can “offer people some tools that we found through our experience that have been super helpful and get somebody to calm down to maybe be a little bit more logical,” he says.

But DeSerio is careful to note, “We’re not trying to fill a gap where their safety [is concerned] — if some one’s waving a knife or a gun or threatening to hurt somebody, that would be an instance where someone could call 911.” X

Statement pieces

BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN

Asheville received an infusion of color and culture Oct. 20-23, as the Intertribal Graffiti Jam brought art ists to town from across the U.S., representing 10 Indigenous nations.

The event is part of the Indigenous Walls Project founded in April by Asheville-based Jared Wheatley, a dual citizen of the Cherokee Nation and the U.S. The project’s goals are centered on reclaiming visibil ity, space and social dialogue with Indigenous artists and culture. Though previous murals have been created on downtown walls donated by local businessman David Moritz and others, the October Jam was by far the project’s biggest event yet. The weekend gathering resulted in seven walls painted at six locations on the land of the Anigiduwagi, more commonly known as the Cherokee.

“It’s an honor for myself to be able to harness the energy of these artists and their skills, and get them to concentrate in such a small area,” Wheatley says. He adds that, due to relocation, the bulk of Indian country rests west of the Mississippi River. With this in mind, Wheatley hopes to help turn Asheville into the East Coast’s center for conversation around contemporary Indigenous issues and culture.

With many of the murals in prom inent locations around the city, Wheatley says that there’s now “a native gateway to enter Asheville” from the city’s northern (109 and 95

Broadway), southern (224 S. Coxe Ave.) and western (405 Haywood Road) parts of town. Once an appro priate wall is secured and painted in East Asheville, he feels it will offer a

Intertribal Graffiti Jam honors Asheville’s Indigenous roots

powerful statement of inclusivity on Native land.

“That’s kind of our symbol to every Native entering Asheville — that it’s a loving and caring community

where their Indigeneity is welcome,” he says. “That’s why the event is important — not only to have such visible spaces but also a component of the intertribal nature whereby all Indigenous people feel like they can step up, say who they are, free ly speak their language and exude their culture.”

Helping Wheatley and the artists over the weekend were marketer and photographer Sarah Hoski; Wheatley’s mother, Brenda Lee Whitmire; The Hop co-owner Greg Garrison; and Wheatley’s children, Alexis and Ezekiel.

Visiting Asheville from Phoenix, artist Breeze (a member of the Tohono O’odham nation) notes that all of his fellow participating mural ists either already knew or knew of one another but that the weekend still provided plenty of opportunities for connections.

Before the event, Breeze researched Cherokee narratives to

URBAN VISIBILITY: Jared Wheatley, left, and Portland, Ore.-based artist (and Purépecha nation member) Tekpatl stand by the latter’s mural from the Intertribal Graffiti Jam on the rooftop of 109 Broadway. Photo by Thomas Calder

Broadway.

by Vyal (Zuni nation; Los Angeles) and Breeze (Tohono O’odham nation; Phoenix). Photo by Greg Garrison

405 Haywood Road. From left, Vyal, mural artist Yukue (Yaqui nation; Phoenix), mural artist Rezmo (Navajo nation; Phoe nix), Breeze and Jared Wheatley. Photo by Greg Garrison

95 Broadway. Mural by Lawst (Menomimen tribe, St. Paul, Minn.), Luscious (Ojibwe; St. Paul, Minn.) and Rain (Quechan tribe, Trenton, N.J.). Photo by Greg Garrison

inform his two collaborative murals with Los Angeles-based artist Vyal (a member of the Zuni nation). In turn, the pair painted a colorful buz zard for the wall at 46 Millard Ave., as a nod to the mountain creation story. Meanwhile, their work at 95 Broadway features eight eyes, an ember inside a vessel and intricate, weblike patterns to represent the spider at the core of the fire cre ation story.

Breeze notes that he and Vyal also met members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians over the weekend. Following their initial introduction, the two muralists accepted an invita tion to visit the Qualla Boundary and tour the surrounding mountains.

“That was the high point for both of us because it was actually engag ing with that community,” Breeze says. “Just to put it bluntly, it’s a lot of white people in Asheville and hardly any Native people — and that’s their original homeland. So, to go off on our own and have that conversation and interact with those

tribal members and that family, I think that made it more meaningful.”

While Breeze and Vyal proved that fostering such connections is possi ble, Wheatley sees greater challenges in the overall process of what natives call “remembering” traditions. In his talks with Cherokee elders, he’s come to understand how difficult it will be to achieve his goals of bridging Indigenous youths to their ancestors’ ways and establishing a cultural center for all Indigenous people living in or visiting Asheville — but it’s a quest he accepts.

“I really realized that the [Indigenous Walls] project and hav ing an urban Indian center here in Asheville are big enough missions that they really should be the corner stone of my life’s work,” Wheatley says. “It’s going to take that level of commitment to bring not just my kids back into our Indigenous, spir itual ways of living and perspective, but also the people around them.”

To learn more, visit avl.mx/c4p. X

46 Millard Ave. Muray by Vyal (Zuni nation; Los Angeles) and Breeze (Tohono O’odham nation; Phoenix). Photo by Greg Garrison

46 St. Aston. Mural by Sen1 (Arawak nation; New York City) and Saba (Navajo nation; El Paso, Tex.). Photo by Saba

244 S. Coxe Ave. Mural by IROT (Apache nation; Albuquerque, N.M.) and Saba (Navajo nation; El Paso, Texas). Photo by Thomas Calder

Great Scott! A Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands odyssey

BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN

We’re practically best friends now, but it’s hard to believe that David Scott and I were strangers a few weeks ago.

That all changed when the Black Mountain-based artisan agreed to let me shadow him during the 75th Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands Oct. 13-16 at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville.

At that point, I was also a stranger to the show itself. Despite growing up in Brevard, I have no recollection of my parents dragging me and my sister to the event — somewhat of a shock, seeing as they love these types of cultural experiences. But their general dislike of crowds and hesitancy to explore places larger than the Transylvania County seat kept us from making our way to “the big city.”

My parents’ anxiety over large groups is apparently hereditary, as evinced by my trepidation in seeing this assignment through. Along with swarms of people, I was entering new territory and potentially messing with a man’s livelihood by trailing him for several hours across multi ple days.

On top of all that, Scott and I got our initial dates mixed up regarding when I could witness the load-in pro cess. What initially felt like a missed opportunity, in retrospect, was a good thing. It would have been a tad awkward (and a bit creepy) to have one grown man watch another grown man strategically place rocking chairs, tables, stools and coat racks in a fairly small square space. Yet in the moment, the mix-up further added to my nerves as the morning of Oct. 13 rolled in.

DAY 1: ONE SMALL STEP FOR MAN

Though Scott and I arranged to meet shortly after the show opened at 10 a.m., I headed downtown early to see what kind of tent city had been set up by the hardcore craft enthu siasts and how far this makeshift civilization had progressed. Sadly, no signs of such a community were evi dent, though a line of fair attendees stretched from the front door down to Roman’s Deli.

“So these are the craft folk,” I thought, looking them over. They

didn’t seem so bad — mostly retirees with a few fellow elder millennials and Gen-Xers tossed in. The sort of group you wouldn’t mind having on your side when the zombie apoca lypse comes.

After a brief security stop where the ticket scanners didn’t know what to do with my press badge, I got waved in and made my way down the empty ramp to the arena floor.

Inside booth 309, Scott showed me around his station. The interplay of different-colored wood as well as cre atively cut pieces immediately pulled me in. And though many of the angles were unusual, the tabletops were clearly level, and the rocking chairs looked quite comfortable.

I complimented the curved legs of the tables, adding that they remind ed me of something out of a Tim Burton movie — so much so, I half expected them to start walking away.

“There’s a real energy in curved lines,” Scott said. “Early on, I learned that the furniture industry loves straight lines because it’s very effi cient and the cheapest way to make the most out of the material. Simply by not doing that, I could really dis tinguish myself from the industry.”

Scott has participated in the craft fair since 1981. For decades he also partook in the guild’s July and October events as well as up to eight additional East Coast shows per year.

But in the early 2000s, he became a member of the Ariel Gallery, a co-op currently located next to the Mast General Store in downtown Asheville. Though the initial invest ment of time and money felt intim idating, Scott now considers it “the best thing [he] ever did.” The move has resulted in him making enough money that he no longer has to travel to shows. Instead, he can focus on making furniture and stick to the two annual Southern Highland Craft Guild fairs, sleeping in his own bed each night rather than paying for a hotel or Airbnb.

“I love doing this show,” he told me on opening day. “It’s kind of

the hometown show, and I really love this organization and want to support it that way.”

Not wanting to interfere with sales, I left Scott to his commerce and wandered around, getting a glimpse of each booth. Over the years, I’ve trained myself to ignore eccentric human sights while traversing urban areas. As an arts reporter, I’m also more of a planner and try to arrange interviews in advance rather than cold calling. Sudden encounters aren’t really my thing. So, as I turned the corner and saw an elderly woman working a large sloth puppet that was as tall as her torso and head, I instinctually blasted by and avoided eye contact. Two booths down, how ever, I forced myself to stop.

“Engage, dummy. That’s why you’re here!”

And so, I turned back and had a chat with Alabama-based puppet maker Lucy Moore, who informed me that the fuzzy creature engulfing her right arm was named Pokey and that Pokey was shy. I inquired if Pokey was a gentleman, and she said she didn’t know. Well, folks — it’s official: Puppets are gender fluid, and I’m all for it.

DAY 2: JUDGMENT DAY

Having witnessed the craft fair at the start of a day, I decided to compare it with its 4 p.m. activi ty on day two. After some pleasant small talk with the ticket taker, I made my way toward the ramp and spotted local woodworker Jesse Sawyer, my favorite server from his

STILL STANDING: Black Mountain-based woodworker David Scott, right, and Xpress reporter Edwin Arnaudin commemorate their shared experience on the final day of the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands. Photo by Arnaudin

days at Plant. Stationed at Booth 44 with his wife, studio jeweler and metalsmith Audrey Laine Sawyer, Jesse reported a somewhat slow day though noted that overall sales had been strong.

Back down at 309, Scott had already made a few sales. I let out a huge exhale, relieved that I hadn’t jin xed him with this whole experiment.

On that note of superstitions, I asked about any “cursed spots” — dead zones in the arena or concourse that participating artists strive to avoid. Scott laughed, unable to think of any that are especially bad, but noted that booths close to the stage where live music is performed on Saturday and Sunday have been known to struggle.

“There can be a lot of people stand ing there, listening to the music, and nobody’s looking at your booth,” he told me. “And it’s a little hard to have a conversation.”

Bells rang from a nearby booth and continued to do so as we talk ed. Scott informed me that the maker, Beer Chunhaswasdikul, is a native of Thailand but is now based in Alabama.

“It’s kind of interesting — this is the Southern Highland Craft

Guild, but we’ve had longtime mem bers who are Hmong from South Vietnam,” Scott continued. “And there are several Japanese American members. It’s a neat mix of people.”

This and other comments drove home just how friendly the craft com munity is and the joy they get by reconnecting at annual events.

Amid our conversation, Jesse walked up and I introduced the two woodworkers. Jesse noted his admiration for Scott’s furniture and the two soon discovered they were both graduates of the Haywood Community College Professional Crafts Program — albeit 30-plus years apart. After a few minutes, Jesse headed back upstairs, and Scott made plans to visit Audrey’s booth.

Though Scott remained confident about the show, I continued to worry my presence would have an adverse effect on sales and opted not to visit on Saturday — historically the fair’s busiest day. Admittedly, I also had intentions of battling a different form of tourism by contending with the fall leaf-seeking crowd on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I updated Scott on my plans, and he handed me a card for a good psychiatrist.

DAY 4: CLOSING TIME

I arrived shortly before noon in hopes of beating the post-church rush, and there was a palpable sense of finality in the air. Artisans looked more tired than they did on Thursday and Friday, and booths didn’t seem quite as full. All things must pass, indeed.

Down on the floor, Scott was talking with a potential customer, so I headed one booth over and chatted with Colleen Williams, who made the drive from Chattanooga, Tenn. It was her first time at this par

ticular craft fair, and though she’d sold several colorful porcelain bird sculptures, she said it hasn’t been a hugely successful show.

Undeterred, she vowed to return in 2023, ideally at a concourse booth where she thinks she’ll fare better. That night, she planned to return to Tennessee, then head down to Alabama on Thursday for her next show. I wished her well, in awe of her dedication to the craft fair grind.

At 309, Scott reported several more sales since we last spoke and noted that the cumulative results exceeded his expectations. Minutes later, I nearly witnessed a sale myself as a couple from Michigan seemed on the cusp of purchasing one of Scott’s tables. Instead, they walked away with his card in hand and photos on their phone of the piece.

“For the record, I was pretty sure those folks were going to buy,” Scott said. “To me, a couple is the gold standard, because in a home you really have to get both sides with buy-in.”

With the final hours of the show ahead, I thanked Scott for his willing ness to be a guinea pig and snapped a few more selfies. In a post-fair check-in the following morning, he informed me no additional sales came through after I left.

Yet he holds out hope that the Michigan couple — and others — might eventually come through.

“I’m feeling really good about the show,” he said. “Sales were good, and I think I ‘planted a lot of seeds.’ Who knows if or when they’ll grow?” X

NO INTERFERENCE: Potential customers near David Scott’s booth on the show’s first day, signaling our intrepid re porter’s time to leave. Photo by Edwin Arnaudin

Amid the mayhem

Local artist brings calming visuals to life through augmented reality

BY PHILLIP WYATT

In a fast-paced world filled with daily stress and anxiety, local visual artist Jaime Byrd creates a wel coming calm and stillness amid the mayhem.

With her latest exhibit, Big, Bold and Colorful at Trackside Studios in the River Arts District, Byrd lends viewers her artistic lens, giving audi ences the chance to see the world through her perspective. And with the aid of augmented reality tech nology, she creates an interactive scene beyond the canvas with serene nature sounds and magical move ments of color and shape.

The Los Angeles native further enhances the experience with her distinct selection of colors as well as many layers of oil paint and cold wax to create the high-textured, vibrant expressionistic landscapes she’s become known for.

“It’s all about subtle stillness for me and taking people to places I have been or like to be,” Byrd says. “I want to express and dive deeper into these landscapes.”

INSPIRED BY DOWNTIME

Though painting was not Byrd’s first career move as an artist, the multimedia creator has devoted her life to the arts.

In the early ’90, she began her own jewelry business, Byrd Designs, in Northern California, before relocat ing to Oregon. Near the end of that decade, her sister-in-law moved to Asheville and encouraged Byrd and her husband, Adam Cohen, to visit.

“We loved it,” Byrd says. “It was cute and quaint and had mountains, so we moved.”

After working more than two decades in jewelry, Byrd transitioned into filmmaking, spending years on various film sets for music videos, commercials and documentaries.

“My love of storytelling drew me toward filmmaking,” she explains. “I just really like that connection with folks.”

The artist ultimately created her own production company, Blind Lyle Films, in 2005 with her hus band. For over a decade, the cou ple traveled the world, filming and

editing documentaries for nonprofits and nongovernmental organizations throughout Southeast Asia and Central America.

Her extensive experience working with cinematography allowed her to learn about composition and light ing, she explains, which carried over to her painting.

By March 2020, COVID-19 put all future film production projects on hold. “All the film sets were closed,” Byrd says. “I had nothing to shoot or edit. Since I couldn’t go out and film anymore during the pandemic, I decided to paint more.”

FROM PAINT TO PIXELS

At first glance, Big, Bold and Colorful features vivid, sprawling landscapes, ranging from the misty peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains to quaint, charming farmhouses standing in isolation, surrounded by dense, distant woodland.

However, the physical paintings are only one aspect of the art exhibit. Through the free online app Artivive, Byrd introduces the use of augment ed reality technology to transform

these extraordinary scenes into mag ical multisensory pieces.

Once the app is activated, water begins to cascade down shimmering waterfalls in one piece. In another painting, the blazing sun sets into a luminous moon as birds fly, fish swim and cars zoom across canvases.

Along with movement, partici pants can hear the sounds of cicadas conversing on a hot summer day, children laughing as they play in a park in France, birds chirping and people chatting over coffee in a café in Portugal.

“When I first started this, the whole point was to bring some tranquility, peacefulness [and] some stillness,” Byrd says. “I felt like people were so stressed [during the onset of the pandemic] and I thought that’s what they needed. It’s what I needed.”

THE ARTISTIC PROCESS

Byrd chooses not to formally plan or map out her paintings, relying instead on intuition.

“I’m painting from memory and how I feel, using expressionism tech niques,” she says. “It’s my version of what I remember.”

Byrd begins each painting by writ ing a positive affirmation, which is then covered by 20-30 layers of dried paint, taking months to finally dry.

She then takes a digital image of her painting and uses editing and special effects software to manip ulate it. This is accomplished by adding hand-drawn animation and overlaying footage she has captured, essentially creating a short film last ing from 10-30 seconds that is subse quently hosted by Artivive.

Byrd says every aspect of her work, from color combinations to self-recorded soundscapes, is inten tional and critical to creating the overall sense of calm.

“I definitely like sitting and just listening. It’s tranquil, nice and relaxing,” Byrd says. “If I’m going to make some AR to go with my paintings, that’s what I’m going to be expressing and diving deeper into — take you into this place where I like to be, which is just sitting and being still.”

Lynn Stanley, co-manager and a featured artist at Trackside Studios, became familiar with Byrd’s work three years ago when Byrd was juried into the Trackside family, she says.

“Her work is an amazing com bination of the simple and the complex, whether the augmented reality aspect is in play or not,” Stanley says. “At first glance, there’s a small house, a few trees on the horizon, but then — colors flow in layers below, words can be faintly seen, shapes enchant the eye in sub tle combinations.”

The co-managers of the gallery were initially impressed by her art and energy, Stanley says. Their admiration for Byrd has only grown as her work has evolved.

“Like most of the visitors to Trackside I’ve encountered, I had never seen nor even heard of AR before seeing Jaime’s work, and like them, I was astonished and excit ed by her innovative merging of physical and digital realms in art,” Stanley says.

X

WHAT Jaime Byrd’s exhibit, Big, Bold and Colorful

WHERE Trackside Studios, 375 Depot St.

WHEN Though, Wednesday, Nov. 30. avl.mx/9fv

ART IMITATES LIFE: Artist Jaime Byrd combines her love of filmmaking and painting with augmented reality technology to invoke feelings of tranquility and relaxation with her landscapes. Image courtesy of Byrd

In the 14 years he lived in Portland, Ore., chef Trevor Payne helped launch the kitchens of four new restaurants, including Clyde Common (where he first crossed paths with fellow future Asheville restauranteur Charlie Hodge).

But in 2020, Payne, his wife and baby son left the West Coast to return to Asheville, the couple’s hometown. More recently, on Oct. 19, Payne opened Tall John’s, his first restau rant as principal owner.

Constructed in 1906, the landmark Montford building has been a gro cery store, church and most recently the Italian restaurant Chiesa. Payne — whose father is the late John Payne, the highly revered metal artist and former owner of Wedge Studios — has been long familiar with the address. “My wife grew up in Montford, and every time we’d come back to visit her family, we drove past that building,” he explains. “I coveted it.”

Originally planning a diner con cept for a different location, Payne jumped when the Montford location became available. “I kind of threw myself through the door, started

Inspired by the high-standard, quality restaurants found in bor oughs and neighborhoods in cities such as New York, Montreal and London, Payne pivoted with his orig inal plans. “I am a big believer in not forcing a concept into a location but rather thinking about what the location needs,” he explains.

He got the keys to the building on Dec. 21, and began a transformation of the space with Traci Kearns at Alchemy Design Studio and contrac tor Jeremy McCowan. The red trim on the charcoal-painted exterior of the wood building has been refreshed in white; inside, the original floors have been refurbished, the kitch en was opened up and a spacious new bar was built. Meanwhile, Tina Councell — who apprenticed with John Payne — and Kayla Councell of Iron Maiden Studio designed the restaurant’s custom metalwork.

In March, Payne hired Jasper Adams as general manager. Adams arrived with extensive hospitality and design experience in Asheville. “That relationship was what I need ed for this to land,” Payne says.

Once the aesthetic was deter mined, Payne turned his attention to the menu. “I wanted to distill things down to simple, good and comforting food with a European and American continental influence,” he says. “Roasted chicken, a good steak, some sort of chop, a Caesar salad done with care and intention.”

Additional items such as cheese burger and fries, steak tartare, oys ters on the half shell and seared branzino on a bed of lentils with grilled scallion relish reveal the influ ence of Payne’s four years as chef at Portland’s Little Bird Bistro.

Payne says the menu will fluctu ate, but he will not flip it daily; cer tain items will remain with seasonal tweaks. “Our specials will be a little more involved and will cycle through big French and English classics to keep the kitchen and regular din ers engaged.”

Tall John’s will not be taking reservations. “Our concept is neigh borhood tavern, and we feel if we allow reservations, we will lose the neighborhood. And neighborhood is what we’re about.”

Tall John’s is at 152 Montford Ave. Hours are 4-10 p.m. Wednesday-

Sunday. For more information, visit avl.mx/c45.

It’s a hoot

On Oct. 14, Susannah Gebhart sent an email to a small circle of cli ents, friends and supporters with the long-awaited announcement that Old World Levain Bakery’s new North Asheville location would have a soft opening Oct. 19 and 20. She did not share the dates on any social media platforms, but word got out as surely as the scent of bread baking in the new oven; on both days nearby res idents flocked to the storefront and the shelves and cases were emptied by noon.

“Everything went really smooth ly with the exception of needing to make more things,” she says with a relieved laugh. OWL North officially opened to the public Oct. 21.

OWL’s original West Asheville location launched in 2016. Bread production eventually relocated to a commissary kitchen on Riverside

RAISING THE BAR: Chef Trevor Payne, left, owner of Tall John’s neighbor hood tavern, is joined by General Manager Jasper Adams, inside the newly opened Montford neighborhood restaurant. Photo by Steve Mann

Drive while the pastry kitchen has remained in the building on Haywood Road.

“The motivation in opening anoth er place was to have our bread team be a part of our daily operations,” Gebhart explains. “We have built a following in North Asheville through the North Asheville Tailgate Market. We looked [for options] downtown but really wanted to be part of that community, and this space was per fect for us.”

OWL North will carry the West Asheville store’s biggest hits baked fresh on-site, as well as new items developed over the summer such as the orange blossom poppy seed soft brioche braid and a new oatmeal cookie. “It sounds pedestrian, but we are all addicted to that cookie!”

A semiopen kitchen also allows customers to watch bread being made, carried directly from the oven to the shelves behind the counter. “We always have country baguettes and a ciabatta, and our rotating bread menu is printed and online so customers who have found their spirit loaf know when to come in,” Gebhart says.

OWL North is at 197 Charlotte St. Hours are 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. For more informa tion, visit avl.mx/bfo.

Knuckle down

Jeff Miller, owner of Luella’s BarB-Que, can’t remember how long he has been on the judge’s panel for the Knuckle-Deep BBQ Fest. Nor can he remember the names of the winning teams he’s judged over the years. But he says he will never forget one particular bite. “It was whole hog barbecue, chopped with a nice vinegar sauce served on cracklings,” he says dreamily. “It was the perfect balance of moist, crisp and smoke, and was absolutely sublime.”

Miller doesn’t recall the name of the team that made the dish, but he says his co-judges were Elliott Moss (former co-owner of Buxton Hall Barbecue, who is in the midst of opening the new restaurant Regina’s in West Asheville) and Matt Dawes of The Bull and Beggar. “We had to taste about 40 boxes of food that year,” Miller says. “It was before we realized we needed more judges.”

Technically, a two-day event, the 13th Knuckle-Deep BBQ Fest begins Saturday, Nov. 5. On opening day, competing chefs will set up and begin smoking their grub. Come Sunday, the public is invited to sample foods from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at Wedge at Foundation. Brent Campbell, whose architecture firm BCA is behind many Asheville restaurant renovations and designs, co-founded Knuckle Deep in 2007, staging it on a private driveway for a few years before moving to larger staging grounds in the River Arts District.

Like the event itself, the judges’ bench has also expanded, nearly tri pling in size and charged with ana lyzing the efforts of 19 teams cooking chicken, pork butt, pork ribs, beef brisket and freestyle (anything in the smoker). Trophies, gift cards, cash prizes and bragging rights await the winners.

Those who attend will sample dish es from each team, as well as more barbecue and fixin’s donated and cooked by Chop Shop Butchery. “We had about 2,000 people last year and ran out of food, so we’re grateful Chop Shop is making sure that doesn’t happen again,” says Campbell.

Attendees are asked to make a donation upon entry; they will then receive a ticket to log their vote for the coveted People’s Choice trophy. Thanks to sponsor support, all pro ceeds will go to Food Connection.

Wedge at Foundation is at 5 Foundy St. For more information, visit avl.mx/alv.

Sour Ball

Product tastings, demonstrations and oodles of information on the benefits of eating probiotic-rich and locally grown fermented foods will all be part of the sixth annual WNC Fermenting Festival taking place Sunday, Nov. 6, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., at the Madison County Center.

For the $5 admission, attendees can sample food and drinks like jun, koji, ciders, fruit wine, chocolate, kombucha, gluten-free sourdough and vegan cheese. Ceramic artists, farmers and food trucks will also be on-site for this family-friendly event presented by Fermenti Foods and led by Fermenti founder Meg Chamberlain. Proceeds from the event will go to local food pantry Beacon of Hope.

Madison County Center is at 258 Carolina Lane, Marshall. For more information, visit avl.mx/8ji.

Talking turkey

Thanksgiving is near. Below are some local initiatives and offers:

• Step away from the frozen food case and treat yourself and your guests to a fresh, local turkey as the cen terpiece of your Thanksgiving meal. Visit Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project’s guide to WNC gobblers. To pre-order, visit avl.mx/c48.

• MANNA FoodBank is seeking donations to purchase turkeys for the food-insecure clients the non profit serves. To participate in the 2022 Virtual Turkey Drive and help set a community member’s table, visit avl.mx/c49.

• Multiple restaurants have their Thanksgiving takeout menus up and ready for you to order, pick up, take home and transfer to your

own serving dishes before company arrives. No one will know!

• Buxton Hall Barbecue has com plete dinners and sides. including sweet potatoes, caramel banana pudding and bourbon chocolate pecan pies. avl.mx/c4a

• Luella’s Bar-B-Que has whole turkeys but probably not for long; owner Jeff Miller says the restau rant sold out of 220 turkeys by mid-November in 2021 — though sides remain available up until Thanksgiving week. avl.mx/bwx

• Red Fiddle Vittles will also have whole and half pan-roasted Joyce Farm turkeys, Hickory Nut Gap beef tenderloin and a vegan but ternut squash lasagna main, as well as a slew of sides. Orders must be made by Wednesday, Nov. 16. avl.mx/c4b

• Additionally, Asheville Independent Restaurant Association will have a listing on its website of member restaurants that will be open and serving on Thanksgiving. Reservations are recommended. avl.mx/asi

— Kay West X

Around Town

Act Play

returns

The Magnetic Theatre’s One Act Play Festival, born out of necessity when live performances shut down in 2020, has since become an annu al tradition.

The event began two years ago with a series of short plays present ed over Zoom. Last year, Magnetic hosted the festival before live audi ences with distance seating and masks required.

“After having done it in person, we were like, ‘Well, this is actually really great and we want to keep doing it just on principle,’” says Katie Jones, Magnetic’s artistic director.

The third annual festival will fea ture 20 original plays presented in two blocks over consecutive weekends, Friday, Nov. 4-Sunday, Nov. 13. The shows will run Thursday-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays-Sundays at 4 p.m.

The Magnetic cast a wide net for the 20 plays, spreading word on net works like New Play Exchange and other social media sites specific to playwrights. The result was near ly 1,000 submissions from around the world.

While the selection process did not pursue specific themes, some com monalities emerged. “We have a lot of plays about couples that are deep ly in love, but the world just doesn’t want them to be together,” Jones says. “There’s also a lot of comedies about animals reclaiming society.”

The festival will feature a rotating cast of 35 local actors and directors, as well as a handful of plays written by local authors.

Aaron Ybarra ’s Nice Dress explores the world of polyamory, Jones says, while Doug Savitt’s An Actor Prepared is a farcical comedy about a show gone terribly wrong.

Bach Bach Bach Bach by David Hopes tells the story of a woman who disconnects from her partner over her love of Johann Sebastian Bach.

“Part of Magnetic’s mission is to support local writers, so those authors do get particular consider ation,” she says.

The Magnetic Theatre is at 375 Depot St. For more information, go to avl.mx/c4l.

Biblical proportions

Filmmaker Christopher Zaluski didn’t know much about frescos when he first learned of plans to create one at Haywood Street Congregation, a United Methodist mission congrega tion and faith-based nonprofit.

But he quickly was drawn to the project as he learned about the artistic process, the long tradition of fresco paintings in Western North Carolina and what the Haywood Street mural represented.

“I have always been interested in doing films about artists — both visu al and musical,” he explains. “The story of the Haywood Street Fresco, specifically, is such a visual story that I thought it really lent itself to documentary.”

The result is Theirs Is the Kingdom, a film that follows artist Christopher Holt through the process of creating the 11-by-28-foot fresco in the con

gregation’s sanctuary. It also profiles many of the local people featured in the painting. The documentary recently became available to stream for free on Amazon Prime.

Frescos use sand and lime to cre ate a plaster that then is spread across a wall and subsequently paint ed on. The one at Haywood Street was inspired by the Beatitudes, eight blessings recounted by Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount, and includes images of Asheville iconography and residents.

“Many traditional frescos ... are depicting either traditional biblical scenes or maybe portraits of the rich and powerful,” Zaluski says. “This painting is depicting real people in the Asheville community who are typically overlooked by society, peo ple battling homelessness, addiction and mental illness.”

In 2021, the movie won Best Documentary at the Longleaf Film Festival, as well as Best Documentary Feature at the Knoxville Film Festival.

“I hope the film urges people to reserve judgment, keep an open mind and be loving toward others because we never know what some one is going through,” Zaluski says.

The public can view the fresco at 297 Haywood St. Sundays, 9 a.m.-

noon and Mondays-Thursdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. To watch the movie, go to avl.mx/c4c. For more information on the fresco, visit avl.mx/c4m.

Poetic license

Asheville’s Philip Belcher wrote a poem in kindergarten his parents still consider their favorite. At 11, he published a poem about the Vietnam War in his local newspaper.

After high school, though, he gave up writing as college, graduate school and then a job in the corporate world got in the way. It wasn’t until he turned 40 that he decided to nurture his creative side again.

“I started reading poetry and writ ing again and haven’t stopped since,” he says.

Belcher’s first full-length poetry collection, Gentle Slaughter, was recently published by MadHat Press.

“My poems often combine memory and imagination,” he explains. “So, a poem might begin with an image or a situation very close to fact but then head in a direction I didn’t intend when I began writing. Creative writ ing is surprising that way.”

Several of the poems also find their genesis in literature or visu al art, including pieces inspired by

TAKING THE STAGE: Blades, a play by Margo Hammond, was featured in The Magnetic Theatre’s 2021 One Act Play Festival. Photo courtesy of The Magnetic Theatre

photographs by Diane Arbus and Shelby Lee Adams. “Just like mem ory, other forms of art can spark an idea or image that develops into a poem,” he says.

For more information, go to avl.mx/c4e.

Fantastic voyage

Asheville author Cinda Williams Chima will launch her new YA fan tasy book Runestone Saga: Children of Ragnarok with a hybrid event at Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe on Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 6 p.m.

The first in a series, the book will be released Tuesday, Nov. 8, by Balzer & Bray.

Rooted in Norse history and mythology, Children of Ragnarok follows Eric Halvorsen in a postRagnarok world without magic after he is falsely accused of murder.

Chima is the bestselling author of The Shattered Realms, The Seven Realms and The Heir Chronicles series.

Malaprop’s is at 55 Haywood St. For more information about the hybrid event, go to avl.mx/c4f.

Moving days

Form in Motion, an exhibit of jew elry and paintings by Asheville artists Christie Calaycay and Pat Phillips, will run Friday, Nov. 4-Sunday, Dec. 4, at Pink Dog Gallery in the River Arts District.

An opening reception with the art ists will be Friday, Nov. 4, 5:30-8 p.m. at the gallery.

The jewelry and paintings in the show depict physical movement as well as suggested movement in the push/pull of color and line. According to a press release, “The show aims to push beyond the sim ple reaction of motion and explore the reciprocal link between emotion and movement.”

Calaycay has designed and made jewelry for more than 15 years using traditional metalsmithing tech niques, including piercing cutouts by hand, forming, forging, hard soldering, textural hammering and riveting. Phillips is a goldsmith art ist whose work focuses on jewelry, painting and sculpture.

Pink Dog Gallery, 348 Depot St., is open Mondays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sundays, noon-4 p.m. For more information, visit avl.mx/c4h.

Dress for success

Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina is seeking Ashevillearea designers to compete in its Color Me Goodwill upcycled fashion show, which returns to The Orange Peel on Saturday, April 21.

The seventh annual show will feature seven designers, each of whom will create a five-piece collec tion based on their selected color. Designers each receive $200 to shop for clothing and materials at local Goodwill stores.

Designers can apply to compete in Color Me Goodwill as individuals or as teams of up to three.

To apply, visit avl.mx/c4i and complete the application by Monday, Nov. 14.

Mariachi

Mariachi Sol de México, a Grammy-nominated band led by José Hernández, will perform at the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center at Western Carolina University on Thursday, Nov. 10, at 7:30 p.m.

Hernández is an internationally recognized musician, composer and educator. The band has collaborated with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Santa Rosa Symphony and San Francisco Symphony as well as

popular artists like the Beach Boys, Willie Nelson and Jose Feliciano

The Bardo Arts Center is at 199 Centennial Drive, Cullowhee. For more information to to buy tickets, go to avl.mx/c4j.

Back in the saddle

Tickets are available for Warren Haynes Presents: Christmas Jam, which returns to Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville on Saturday, Dec. 10, after a three-year hiatus.

The lineup for the 31st jam includes Phil Lesh & Friends (fea turing Haynes, John Scofield, John Medeski and John Molo), Tyler Childers , Gov’t Mule, Brothers Osborne, Dinosaur Jr., Beth Hart and more.

The concert will benefit the Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, as it has since 1994, as well as BeLoved Asheville.

Harrah’s Cherokee Center –Asheville is at 87 Haywood St. To buy tickets, go to avl.mx/c3l.

— Justin McGuire X

MOVIE REVIEWS

Local reviewers’ critiques of new films include:

DECISION TO LEAVE: The latest masterful thriller from writer/director Park Chan-wook (Oldboy; The Handmaiden) follows a Korean detective whose investigation of a mountainclimbing death becomes compromised by his attraction to the dead man’s widow. Grade: A — Edwin Arnaudin

TÁR: Writer/director Todd Field’s first film since 2007’s Little Children inspires career-best work from Cate Blanchett as a famous composer/conductor whose transgressions come back to haunt her. Grade: A-minus — Edwin Arnaudin

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

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2

ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY

Puerto Risas: A Fundraiser Comedy Show, 7pm

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

BLACK MOUNTAIN BREWING Jay Brown (roots), 6pm

BLUE GHOST BREWERY Brett Winning (acous tic), 7pm

BOLD ROCK ASHEVILLE Survey Says, 7pm

BOLD ROCK MILLS

Trivia Night, 6pm

CONTINUUM ART Westie Wednesdays (West Coast swing),

GRATEFUL ORGANIC DINER Open Mic, 6pm

HI-WIRE BREWING RAD BEER GARDEN Game Night, 6pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Well-Crafted Wednes days w/Matt Smith, 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Old Time Jam, 5pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Mountain Music Jam, 6pm

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

SILVERADOS Open Jam hosted by Hamza Vandehey, 6pm

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

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

SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Witty Wednesday Trivia, 6:30pm

THE FOUNDRY HOTEL Andrew Finn Magill (acoustic), 7pm

STAND UP: Chicago-based comedian Winslow Dumaine will perform at Asheville Beauty Academy’s Beauty Parlor Comedy on Saturday, Nov. 5, at 7 p.m. The per former bases much of his comedy on life’s frustrations, as well as death. Photo courtesy of Asheville Beauty Academy

THE SOCIAL Karaoke w/LYRIC, 9pm

TWIN LEAF BREWERY Open Mic, 5:30pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Palmyra (Appalachian folk), 7:30pm

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3

185 KING STREET Rachel Cole (R&B/soul), 7pm

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Blue Ridge Jazzway, 7:30pm

BLUE GHOST BREWING CO. Random AF Trivia, 6:30pm

BOLD ROCK ASHEVILLE Trivia Night, 7pm

CASCADE LOUNGE Trivia Night w/Nick, 7pm

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

HIGHLAND DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Kevin Williams and Dulci Ellenberger (rock, soul), 6pm HOMEPLACE BEER CO.

Cody Fair (country & rock classics), 9:30pm

ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743

• The Black Feathers (Americana, acoustic indie), 7pm

• The Adam Ezra Group (Americana, folk, folk rock), 8:30pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Bluegrass Jam w/Drew Matulich & Friends, 7pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Andrew Wakefield (singer-songwriter), 7pm

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Phirsty Phursdays w/ Lumpy Heads (Phish tribute), 9pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Kuf Knotz & Christine Elise (contemporary), 8pm

PULP

Slice of Life Comedy Open Mic, 8pm

QUEEN AUDITORIUM Folkmoot LIVE! presents Eireann's Call, 7pm

THE BARRELHOUSE Trivia w/Po' Folk, 8pm

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

THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Rum Punchlines Come dy Open Mic, 6pm

THE GREY EAGLE Steep Canyon Rangers w/members of Town Mountain (bluegrass, Americana), 8pm

THE ODD Talking Props, Busy Weather, Bonny Dagger (punk), 7pm

THE OUTPOST Snake Oil Medicine Show (reggae, funk, newgrass), 5pm

TWIN LEAF BREWERY Thursday Night Karaoke, 8:30pm

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4

185 KING STREET Funk'N Around (funk), 8pm

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Mr. Jimmy, 7:30pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL So Down (edm), 9pm

BABE'S PIZZA & TREATS

Greg Candle (Ameri cana, classic country, blues), 6:30pm

BIG PILLOW BREWING Mark Blumling, 5:30pm

BOOJUM BREWING CO. The Get Right Band (psychdelic indie rock), 9:30pm

BURNTSHIRT VINEYARDS

Seth and Sara (acoustic duo), 3pm

CEDAR MOUNTAIN CANTEEN Jazz Night w/Jason DeCristofaro, 2pm

CORK & KEG

Erika Lewis (classic country, Americana, indie folk), 8pm

DOUBLE CROWN Soul NiteSoul Nite w/ Slick James, 10pm

FLEETWOOD'S The Absurd, Snake Snake Whale & The Deathbots (indie), 8pm

FROG LEVEL BREWERY Jay Alm (acoustic alt psychedelia), 6pm

GINGER'S REVENGE CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM

Gin Mill Pickers (Amer icana, Piedmont blues, ragtime), 7pm

GREEN MAN BREWERY

Houston Keen (alt/ indie), 12pm

GUIDON BREWING Crystal Fountains Bluegrass, 7pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO. The Pinkerton Raid (pop, folk, retro rock), 7pm

HIGHLAND DOWNTOWN TAPROOM

Drag Music Bingo w/ Divine the Bearded Lady, 7:30pm

HOMEPLACE BEER CO.

Houston Keen (alt/ indie), 6:30pm

ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743

• Molly Stevens (alt country), 7pm

• Damian McGinty (pop, folk pop), 8:30pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Plate Scrapers (blue grass), 9pm

MAD CO. BREW

HOUSE

Vaden Landers (classic country), 6:30pm

MILLS RIVER

BREWING

Christina Chandler (folk, soul, Americana), 7pm

NEW BELGIUM BREWING CO.

Gruda Tree (psychedel ic soul), 5:30pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.

Circuit Breakers (rock), 8pm

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Free Dead Friday (Grateful Dead, rock), 7pm

ONE WORLD BREWING

5j Barrow (folk rock), 8pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

• Black Sea Beat Society (Baltic, Klezmer, Turkish), 6pm

• Rahm Squad (world, indie rock, lo-fi), 9pm

SILVERADOS

Ricky Gunter Band (country), 9pm

THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR

Getaway Comedy: Zak Toscani, 8pm

THE GREY EAGLE

• Adrianne Blanks & The Oracles (folk, vintage country, 5pm

• Chatham Rabbits (Americana), 8pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

1990s vs. 2000s Dance Party w/Mad Mike and Oso Ray, 8pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK

MOUNTAIN

The Buddy K Big Band (swing), 7:30pm

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5

185 KING STREET

Sarah Siskind and Two Bird Stone w/The Greybirds (modern Appalachian), 7:30pm

305 LOUNGE & EATERY

Old Men of the Woods (folk, pop), 3pm

ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY

Beauty Parlor Comedy: Winslow Dumaine, 7pm

ASHEVILLE CLUB

Mr Jimmy (blues), 8pm

ASHEVILLE GUITAR

BAR Tumo & Kohrs w/Kim Butler (jazz), 7:30pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Caitlin Krisko & The Broadcast w/Josh Clarks Visible Spectrum (psychedelic soul rock), 9pm

BATTERY PARK BOOK EXCHANGE

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

BIG PILLOW BREWING Those Guys (acoustic), 5:30pm

BLUE GHOST BREWING CO.

Sunlight Drive (acoustic duo), 6pm

BOLD ROCK ASHEVILLE Bluegrass Brunch, 10am BOOJUM BREWING CO.

Nic Mac & The Noise (rock, covers), 9pm

FLEETWOOD'S Drunken Prayer (Ameri cana, rock), 8pm

FLOOD GALLERY FINE ART CENTER

Ash Devine (sing er-songwriter), 7pm

FROG LEVEL BREWERY

Smoky Blue Rain (Americana), 6pm

GIGI'S

UNDERGROUND

Chaotic Comedy, 10pm

GUIDON BREWING Mike Pauer (acoustic), 7pm

HENDERSONVILLE COMMUNITY THEATRE

Drag Queen Bingo w/ Patti O'Furniture, 7pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Big Dawg Slingshots (Western swing), 6pm

HIGHLAND DOWNTOWN TAPROOM

Aunt Vicki (retro rock, folk), 7pm

HOMEPLACE BEER CO.

Crystal Fountains Bluegrass, 6:30pm

ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743

• Rebecca Folsom (Americana, folk), 7pm

• Jordan Scheffer & Band w/Chinobay (world, soul, pop), 8:30pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

• Nobody’s Darling String Band, 4pm

• Jackson Grimm Band (modern folk), 8pm

MAD CO. BREW HOUSE

Burnt Reputation (acoustic rock, 80s pop), 6pm

MEADOWLARK

MOTEL

The Pigeon River Messengers w/Andrew Wakefield (Applachian ballads, bluegrass), 6pm

MILLS RIVER

BREWING

• McIntosh & The Lionhearts (country), 2pm

• Aaron "Woody" Wood (Appalachian soul, Americana), 7pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.

The Feels (r&b, soul, roots), 8pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

• The Goldz (jazz, electronic), 4pm

• Something You've Got (musical duets), 8pm

SIERRA NEVADA

BREWING CO.

Resonant Rogues (Appalachian folk), 2pm

THE GREY EAGLE

• Doss Church & The Unholy Noise (folk-inspired acoustic guitar), 6pm

• The Legendary Pink Dots & Orbit Service (experimental rock), 9pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

Beth Stelling (comedy), 8pm

THE ROOT BAR

White Oak Splits (rock), 8pm

URBAN ORCHARD

CIDER CO. SOUTH SLOPE

Breakin' on Buxton w/ Free Range DJ (80s dance party), 8pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK

MOUNTAIN

Fwuit (indie, r&b, soul), 8pm

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6S

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR

Mark's House Jam and Beggar's Banquet, 3pm

BOLD ROCK

ASHEVILLE Bluegrass Brunch, 10am

FLEETWOOD'S

Aunt Vicki & The Floral Hygienists (indie rock), 8pm

FROG LEVEL BREWERY

David Potter (bluegrass, Americana), 3pm

GREEN MAN

BREWERY

Divine's Karaoke Kiki, 7pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Appalachian Renegades (rock), 2pm

HIGHLAND DOWNTOWN TAPROOM

Mr Jimmy Duo (blues), 1pm

ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743

Slaid Cleaves (Ameri cana), 7:30pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

• Bluegrass Brunch, 12pm

• Traditional Irish Jam, 4pm

LITTLE JUMBO

Casey Driessen's Sunday Experiment (fiddle), 7pm

MILLS RIVER BREWING

Ben Balmer (folk), 2pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.

Last Full Measure (folk, soul, roots), 4pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Sunday Jazz Jam Brunch, 1pm PULP

40Boyz Hip Hop Collective, 8pm

PUSH SKATE SHOP & GALLERY

Don't Tell Comedy, 7pm

SIERRA NEVADA BREWING CO. Daniel Shearin (sing er-songwriter), 2pm SILVERADOS Karaoke Sunday Nights w/Lyric, 9pm

THE GREY EAGLE

Nine Treasures w/ Fractured Frames & Haishen (folk metal), 5pm

THE ODD

The Knife Kickers, Aunt Ant, Dish, Acid Jo (alt/ indie), 5pm

UPCOUNTRY BREWING CO. Al Lyons (acoustic, fok), 3pm

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7

305 LOUNGE & EATERY

Old Men of the Woods (folk, pop), 5pm GREEN MAN BREWERY Old Time Jam, 5:30pm

HAYWOOD COUNTRY CLUB

Taylor Martin's Open Mic, 6:30pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Totally Rad Trivia, 6pm

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

LITTLE JUMBO Asheville Art Trio (jazz), 7pm

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

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

THE GREY EAGLE Ceremony w/ SRSQ, GEL & Tongues of Fire (hardcore), 6pm

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR

Mr Jimmy at and Friends (blues), 7pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Jay Brown w/Utah Green (roots), 7pm

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8

5 WALNUT WINE BAR

The John Henrys (jazz, swing), 8pm

FROG LEVEL BREWERY

Kind, Clean Gentlemen (roots rock), 5:30pm HOMEPLACE BEER CO.

Kevin Scanlon (sing er-songwriter), 6:30pm

LITTLE JUMBO Jay Sanders, Zack Page & Alan Hall (jazz), 7pm

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Early Tuesday Jam (funk), 8pm

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

THE GREY EAGLE Tenth Mountain Division (rock), 7pm

THE SOCIAL Travers Freeway Open Jam Tuesdays, 7pm

TWIN LEAF BREWERY Tuesday Night Trivia, 7pm

WAGBAR Tuesday Night Trivia With Your Dog, 6pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Open Mic Night, 7pm

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9

ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Beauty Parlor Comedy: Matt White & Friends, 7pm

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

BLACK MOUNTAIN BREWING Jay Brown (roots), 6pm

BOLD ROCK ASHEVILLE Survey Says, 7pm

BOLD ROCK MILLS RIVER Trivia Night, 6pm

GRATEFUL ORGANIC DINER Open Mic, 6pm

HI-WIRE BREWING RAD BEER GARDEN Game Night, 6pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Well-Crafted Wednes days w/Matt Smith, 6pm

ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743

• Cruz Contreras (acoustic, Americana, country), 7pm

• Michelle Malone Band (Americana, folk rock, blues), 8:30pm

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

SALVAGE STATION Dopapod (jam band), 8pm

SILVERADOS Wednesday Night Open Jam hosted by Hamza Vandehey, 6pm SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN BREWERY Jazz Night w/Jason DeCristofaro, 6pm

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

SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Witty Wednesday Trivia, 6:30pm

THE FOUNDRY HOTEL Andrew Finn Magill (acoustic), 7pm

THE GREY EAGLE The Weight Band (ft members of The Band and Levon Helm Band), 8pm

THE ODD Sister Kill Cycle & Mr. Lugosi (metal), 8pm

THE ORANGE PEEL Alvvays (alt, indie), 8pm

THE SOCIAL Wednesday Night Karaoke w/LYRIC, 9pm

TWIN LEAF BREWERY Wednesday Open Mic, 5:30pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Irish Music Circle, 7pm

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR

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

BLUE GHOST BREWING COMPANY

Harry Potter Trivia, 6:30pm

BOLD ROCK

ASHEVILLE Trivia Night, 7pm

FLEETWOOD'S Istari, Tight & Scrap Metal (indie, garage, punk), 8pm

GIGI'S UNDERGROUND

Mr Jimmy After Hours (blues), 10pm

HIGHLAND DOWNTOWN TAPROOM

Drayton & The Dreamboats (vintage pop), 6pm

HOMEPLACE BEER CO.

Cody Fair (country & rock classics), 9:30pm

ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743

• Tim Grimm (Ameri cana), 7pm

• Jennifer Knapp & Sarah Peacock (indie), 8:30pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Bluegrass Jam w/ Drew Matulich & Friends, 7pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Two Step Two (rock), 7pm

SALUDA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Mountain Song Concert, 7pm

THE BARRELHOUSE Trivia w/Po' Folk, 8pm

THE FOUNDRY HOTEL

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

THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Rum Punchlines Comedy Open Mic, 6pm

THE ODD Osi and The Jupiter, US Christmas, Khan droma (neo-folk, rock), 7pm

TWIN LEAF BREWERY Thursday Night Karaoke, 8:30pm

ARIES (March 21-April 19): In the coming weeks, I encourage you to work as hard as you have ever worked. Work smart, too. Work with flair and aplomb and relish. You now have a surprisingly fertile opportunity to reinvent how you do your work and how you feel about your work.

To take maximum advantage of this potential breakthrough, you should inspire yourself to give more of your heart and soul to your work than you have previously imagined possible. (PS: By “work,” I mean your job and any crucial activity that is both challenging and rewarding.)

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Here’s my weird suggestion, Taurus. Just for now, only for a week or two, experiment with dreaming about what you want but can’t have. And just for now, only for a week or two, go in pursuit of what you want but can’t have. I predict that these exercises in quixotic futility will generate an unexpected benefit. They will motivate you to dream true and strong and deep about what you do want and can have. They will intensify and focus you to pursue what you do want and can have.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Your most successful times in life usually come when all your various selves are involved. During these interludes, none of them is neglected or shunted to the outskirts. In my astrological opinion, you will be wise to ensure this scenario is in full play during the coming weeks. In fact, I recommend you throw a big Unity Party and invite all your various sub-personalities to come as they are. Have outrageous fun acting out the festiv ities. Set out a placemat and nametag on a table for each participant. Move around from seat to seat and speak from the heart on behalf of each one. Later, discuss a project you could all participate in creating.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): A Cancerian reader named Joost Joring explained to me how he cultivates the art of being the best Cancerian he can be. He said, “I shape my psyche into a fortress, and I make people feel privileged when they are allowed inside. If I must sometimes instruct my allies to stay outside for a while, to camp out by the drawbridge as I work out my problems, I make sure they know they can still love me — and that I still love them.” I appreciate Joost’s perspective. As a Cancerian myself, I can attest to its value. But I will also note that in the coming weeks, you will reap some nice benefits from having less of a fortress mentality. In my astrological opinion, it’s PARTY TIME!

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Leo poet Antonio Machado wrote, “I thought my fire was out, and I stirred the ashes. I burnt my fingers.” I’m telling you this so you won’t make the same mistake, Leo. Your energy may be a bit less radiant and fervent than usual right now, but that’s only because you’re in a recharging phase. Your deep reserves of fertility and power are regenerating. That’s a good thing! Don’t make the error of thinking it’s a sign of reduced vitality. Don’t overreact with a flurry of worry.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Virgo author Siegfried Sassoon became renowned for the poetry he wrote about being a soldier in World War I. Having witnessed carnage firsthand, he became adept at focusing on what was truly important. “As long as I can go on living a rich inner life,” he wrote, “I have no cause for complaint, and I welcome anything which helps me to simplify my life, which seems to be more and more a process of eliminating inessentials!” I suggest we make Sassoon your inspirational role model for the next three weeks. What inessentials can you eliminate? What could you do to enhance your appreciation for all the everyday miracles that life offers you?

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You Libras have a talent that I consider a superpower: You can remove yourself from the heart of the chaos and deliver astute insights about how to tame the chaos. I like that about you. I have personally benefited from it on numerous occasions. But for the next few weeks, I will ask you to try something different. I’ll encourage you to put an emphasis on practical action, however imperfect it might be, more than on in-depth analysis. This moment in the history of your universe requires a commitment to getting things done, even if they’re untidy and incomplete. Here’s your motto: “I improvise compromises in the midst of the interesting mess.”

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “Fear is the raw material from which courage is manufactured,” said author Martha Beck. “Without it, we wouldn’t even know what it means to be brave.” I love that quote — and I especially love it as a guiding meditation for you Scorpios right now. We usually think of fear as an unambiguously bad thing, a drain of our precious life force. But I suspect that for you, it will turn out to be useful in the coming days. You’re going to find a way to transmute fear into boldness, bravery, and even badassery.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): For decades, the Canadian city of Sudbury hosted a robust mining industry. Deposits of nickel sulphide ore spawned a booming business. But these riches also brought terrible pollution. Sudbury’s native vegetation was devastated. The land was stained with foul air produced by the smelting process. An effort to re-green the area began in the 1970s. Today, the air is among the cleanest in the province of Ontario. In the spirit of this transformation, I invite you to embark on a personal reclamation project. Now is a favorable time to detoxify and purify any parts of your life that have been spoiled or sullied.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The literal meaning of the ancient Greek word aigílips is “devoid of goats.” It refers to a place on the earth that is so high and steep that not even sure-footed goats can climb it. There aren’t many of those places. Similarly, there are very few metaphorical peaks that a determined Capricorn can’t reach. One of your specialties is the power to master seemingly improbable and impassable heights. But here’s an unexpected twist in your destiny: In the coming months, your forte will be a talent for going very far down and in. Your agility at ascending, for a change, will be useful in descending — for exploring the depths. Now is a good time to get started!

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Evolved Aquarians are often blessed with unprecedented friendships and free-spirited intimacy and innovative alliances. People who align themselves with you may enjoy experimental collaborations they never imagined before engaging with you. They might be surprised at the creative potentials unleashed in them because of their synergy with you. In the coming weeks and months, you will have even more power than usual to generate such liaisons and connections. You might want to make a copy of this horoscope and use it as your calling card or business card.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): I surveyed the history of literature to identify authors I consider highly intuitive. Piscean-born Anaïs Nin was my top choice. She used language with fluidity and lyricism. She lived a colorful, unpredictable life. No one better deserves the title of Intuition Champion. And yet she also had a discerning view of this faculty. She wrote, “I began to understand that there were times when I must question my intuition and separate it from my anxieties or fears. I must think, observe, question, seek facts and not trust blindly to my intuition.” I admire her caution. And I suspect it was one reason her intuition was so potent. Your assignment, Pisces, is to apply her approach to your relationship with your intuition. The coming months will be a time when you can supercharge this key aspect of your intelligence and make it work for you better than it ever has before.

MARKETPLACE

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

RENTALS

SHORT-TERM RENTALS

FOR RENT: 200 YEAR-OLD TOBACCO BARN RENOVATED TO CABIN 10mins to downtown. Short-term, $500 a week. Longer negotiable. Available Dec 1st - March 30th. On a pond in a country setting. Furnished. 1br 1 bath. 828-380-6095

EMPLOYMENT

GENERAL

2ND SHIFT WAREHOUSE OPERATIONS - PICKERS & PACKERS AFG Distribution is looking for several fulltime employees to join our growing shipping & receiving departments. Benefits package, paid time off. Must be able to pass background check. $17.55/hour. joyceb@ afgdistribution.com

FOOD MANUFACTURING FACILITY HIRING MULTIPLE POSITIONS Dover Foods Manufacturing facility in Mills River NC is hiring for multiple positions including Production Associates and Bending Operators. The hours for these positions are currently Monday- Thursday 7:00 am-3:30 pm and Fridays 6:00 am-2:30 pm. Positions are full time offering benefits and a sign-on bonus. Applications can be placed online under the "Careers" tab or submitted directly in-person at our manufacturing facility. (828) 891-6260 avl.mx/c3b

time. Salary is $28,000/year. For details and application go to: https://lit-together. org/job-openings/

THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA UPSTATE IS SEEKING TO HIRE A POLICE SERGEANT USC Upstate is seeking to hire a Police Sergeant. For more information and/or to apply, go to uscupstate.edu/ employment/

ADMINISTRATIVE/ OFFICE

ADMISSIONS MANAGER Adventure Treks is seeking an admissions manager to join our team in WNC. The ideal candidate is a self-starter and detail-oriented, and will be responsible for our admissions process. info@adventuretreks.com adventuretreks.com.

HUMAN SERVICES

HOME

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

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ATTENTION HOMEOWNERS If you have water damage and need cleanup, call us! We'll work with your insurance to get your home repaired and your life back to normal ASAP! Call 833-664-1530 (AAN CAN)

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

take the stress out of moving! Call to speak to our Quality Relocation Specialists: Call 855-787-4471. (AAN CAN)

PAYING TOP CA$H FOR MEN'S SPORT WATCHES! Rolex, Breitling, Omega, Patek Philippe, Heuer, Daytona, GMT, Submariner and Speedmaster. Call 888320-1052

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

ART/CRAFT FAIRS

CRAFT SHOW AT LEICESTER COMMUNITY CENTER There will be a craft show at the Leicester Community Center featuring local crafters November 12, 2022. Come do your Christmas shopping with us. 9AM-3PM.

PROGRAM ASSOCIATE--ENGLISH FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES (ESOL) Literacy Together is hiring a Program Associate for our ESOL program. The program recruits and trains volunteer tutors to work with immigrants seeking to learn English to improve employment opportunities, navigate the health care system, participate in school conferences with their children and/or prepare for the citizenship exam. The ESOL Associate will work alongside the ESOL Director in all aspects of the program. The ideal candidate will be proficient in Spanish and have experience teaching English as a Second Language. This is a 30 hour/ week position with flexible hours, a generous time-off policy, and the ability to work remotely for a portion of the

YOUR CAREER STARTS HERE WITH MHC! Get paid to do good! Assessment/ Youth Counselors are needed to support at-risk youth in our residential facility in Asheville. We offer paid training and excellent benefits. Apply at bit.ly/MHCCareers 919-7543633 vpenn@mhfc.org mhfc. org/opportunities

COMPUTER/ TECHNICAL ALLCLEAR IS SEEKING A MOBILE DIAGNOSTIC/ ADAS TECHNICIAN IN ASHEVILLE Seeking motivated individual to aid our body shop partners in calibrating all electrical safety systems to manufacturer specification. We offer benefits, robust starting salary, and weekly bonuses. (828) 989-2441 allcleardandc.com HOTEL/ HOSPITALITY

FOODSERVICE ASSOCIATE NEEDED Food service associate needed to work at Headstart in the Asheville area. communityactionopportunities.org

SERVICES

AUDIO/VIDEO

DISH TV SPECIAL $64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 1/21/23. 1-866-566-1815 (AAN CAN)

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

COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM Train online to become a computer & help desk professional. Grants and scholarships available for certain programs for qualified applicants. Call CTI 888-2811442. Computer with internet is required. (AAN CAN)

CREDIT CARD DEBT RELIEF! Reduce payment by up to 50%! Get one LOW affordable payment/month. Reduce interest. Stop calls. FREE no-obligation consultation Call 1-855-761-1456 (AAN CAN)

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

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

DONATE YOUR CAR FOR KIDS Fast free pickup. Running or not. 24 hour response. Maximum tax donation. Help find missing kids. Call 855504-1540. (AAN CAN)

LONG DISTANCE MOVING Call for a free quote from America’s Most Trusted Interstate Movers. Let us

MIND, BODY, SPIRIT

COUNSELING SERVICES

ASTRO-COUNSELING Licensed counselor and accredited professional astrologer uses your chart when counseling for additional insight into yourself, your relationships and life directions. Stellar Counseling Services. Christy Gunther, MA, LCMHC. (828) 258-3229

POSITIVE HYPNOSIS | EFT NLP Michelle Payton, M.A., D.C.H., Author | 828-6811728 | www.MichellePayton. com | Mind Over Matter Solutions books, online and in-person education, workshops and sessions. Positive  Hypnosis—re-learning thru positive reinforcement, Emotional Freedom Technique, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Birth Mix Personality Assessment, Past Life Regression.

AUTOMOTIVE

AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES

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