A-B Tech OKs deal on sales tax issue
Eblen Charities chief exits under pressure
Biltmore Gardens Railway firing up
See STORY, Pg. A2
— See PICTURES/STORY, Pg. B1
Bill Murdoch
— See STORY, Pg. A4
LLE I V HE AS ASHEVILLEʼS GREATEST NEWSPAPER
April 2019
Vol. 15, No. 05
An Independent Newspaper Serving Greater Asheville www.ashevilledailyplanet.com FREE
$45M mall revamp plan sent back to drawing board
Special photo courtesy of Seritage Growth Properties
A $45 million redevelopment project, which could reshape the Asheville Mall into a mixed-use facility that will include housing, a movie theater, and more stores
and restaurants, was sent back to the drawing board March 12 by Asheville City Council. A story on the proposal — and council’s response — appears on Page A4.
Woman wonders about her eye anxiety
Q: I’ve been with my boyfriend for four years. I thought I was super happy, but I recently got a crush on a co-worker. Now I’m worried that maybe I’m not totally satisfied in my relationship. If I were truly in love with my boyfriend, why would I be crushing on somebody else? Does this make me more vulnerable to cheating? Should we go into therapy? — So Confused Want to know the answer? See ADVICE GODDESS, Page A14
The Advice Goddess
Amy Alkon
Syndicated Columnist
Muslim official rips Daily Planet for publicizing an ‘Islamaphobe’
From Staff Reports The chief spokesman for a major national Muslim civil rights and advocacy group, headquartered on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., emailed the Asheville Daily Planet on March 6, slamming the newspaper’s decision to cover and run a story about Chris Gaubatz, who wrote the 2009 book “Muslim Mafia: Inside the Secret Underworld That’s Conspiring to Islamize America.” The email included the title line (without a question mark), “Did you do ANY research on Gaubatz’s Islamophobia.” It was sent by Ibrahim Hooper, national communications director and spokesman for the Council of American Islamic Relations (better known as CAIR), to John North, editor and publisher of the Daily Planet. The Daily Planet contacted Hooper at the CAIR headquarters on March 26 for a 15-minute telephone interview during which Hooper explained — in detail — his email jab at the newspaper as follows: “It always depends on how these things are covered... If it’s on one of the (world’s) leading Islamaphobes,” a category in which he feels Gaubatz clearly belongs, then the newspaper, in his view, was Ibrahim Hooper irresponsible in publicizing the views of someone who despises an entire religious faith, such as Islam. “If a KKK (Ku Klux Klan) speaker came (to Asheville), how would you deal with it?” Hooper asked. “If a neo-Nazi came in, how would you deal with it? I don’t think you would cover it.” North, who interviewed Hooper, responded that he would expect any good newspaper, when in doubt, to always err on the side of freedom of speech and of the press and, without fear of favor, to cover “hot” speakers, rather than censoring those deemed too politically incorrect, presuming the Daily Planet’s readers are independent Chris Gaubatz critical-thinkers who can make their own assessments. Addressing the Asheville Tea Party, Gaubatz had shared his concerns about what he sees as the national security threat posed by Muslim extremists in the United States. A story on his Feb. 12 speech at the Skyland Fire Department appeared in March’s Daily Planet. See MUSLIM OFFICIAL, Page A9
‘Good to be here for my periodic drubbing,’ Mayfield tells CIBO By JOHN NORTH
john@AshevilleDailyPlanet.com
Julie Mayfield
A report on the progress (or lack thereof) on the I-26 Connector project that is to cross West Asheville and cost an estimated $950 million was presented by Julie Mayfield, a member of Asheville City Council and an environmental activist, to the Council of Independent Business Owners on March 1. About 50 people attended the group’s breakfast meeting at UNC Asheville’s Sherrill Center. On a separate and unrelated matter, Buncombe
County Commissioner Mike Fryaer gave a status report on the Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College tax issue. The third and final presentation was made by city Planning Director Todd Okolichany on the 2019 work plan for Asheville’s Planing Department. Speaking last, Mayfield, a political liberal who noted that she moved from Atlanta in 2008 to become executive director of the local environmental protection group MountainTrue, began her presentation by quippng that “it’s good to be here for my periodic drubbing from this group” — a reference to the conservative-leaning CIBO.
Turning more serious, Mayfeld asserted, “There’s been this thing (with CIBO saying) that my organization has been the problem, or I’ve been the problem” that has caused a decades-long delay in the I-26 widening and I-26 Connector projects. ‘I’d just like to point out.... The narrative that I see of this project is very tight community collaboration” in making the I-26 Connector the best-possible project it can be. “That has happened here again,” she said, referring to the latest changes that the NCDOT has agreed to make to the project. See CIBo, Page A8
A2 - April 2019 - Asheville Daily Planet
On 7-5 vote, A-B Tech OKs deal with county on sales tax debacle
From Staff Reports
The A-B Tech Board of Trustees on March 6 voted 7-5 to approve an agreement with Buncombe County that specifies how sales tax revenue intended for campus construction will be spent over the next eight years. To date, $15 million in revenue from the quarter-cent sales tax, which was approved by local voters in a referendum in 2011, “has been allocated by Buncombe officials for other uses,” the Asheville Citizen Times reported, citing its independent review of records the newspaper had obtained from the county Board of Commissioners. Meanwhile, Asheville’s WLOS-TV News 13 reported that “the balance from that tax ... could total $19 million by the end of the eight-year period... Some $3 million to $4 million of that money will be used for deferred building maintenance ... Some of that money could be used for building construction.” Next, local officials have said they plan to ask the state General Assembly to pass a local bill to make it a binding agreement. The March 6 agreement will allow
Buncombe to allocate a maximum of $5 million per year toward its annual appropriation to A-B Tech, more formally known as Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. “Maintenance funding will be increased to address a $25 million backlog, and the tax’s fund balance is projected to ultimately grow to roughly $19 million to allow for potential construction of a new building,” the ACT reported. “The agreement also includes the formation of a subcommittee to make funding recommendations.” What’s more, the ACT quoted A-B Tech trustee Ron Edgerton as saying, “This is a floor. It doesn’t stop us from asking for more. But if we don’t approve it, then the county can take it all back.” Casting dissenting votes were Chair Mary Ann Rice and trustees Bruce Briggs, Frances Ramsey, Roger Metcalf and Matt Kern. “First proposed by then-interim county manager George Wood, the agreement fails to make good on a campaign promise to county voters in 2011 that the revenue only would fund a nearly $130 million building plan at A-B Tech and nothing more,” the Citizen Times noted.
BCGOP chooses retired teacher as its new leader
From Staff Reports
The Buncombe County Republican party elected Jerry Green as its new leader on March 2, according to Asheville’s WLOSTV New 13. “I want to work with the community, help others, bring people together,” Green told WLOS shortly after being elected to the chair. “There’s too much hate going on — people need to be kinder. We all want the same thing, we Jerry Green just have different ways of going about it, is all. Greene, 73, is a retired teacher. He was born in Madison County. He moved to Buncombe County in 1967 for a job at Emma Elementary School, and spent his entire educational career as a teacher and administrator. Prior to his retirement, he was employed by Black Mountain Primary. Greene replaces Carl Mumpower, who chose not to seek re-election after his twoyear term as chairman of the BCGOP. Earlier in the week prior to the convention, Mumpower told WLOS that he is most proud of what he called his positive battle against political opposition. Mumpower said the local GOP will be in good hands with new leadership, WLOS noted. In addition to Green, leaders elected at the BCGOP Convention included the fol-
lowing: • 1st Vice Chair Betty Hudson • 2nd Vice Chair Marilyn Brown • Secretary Loretta Reynolds • Treasurer Kendra Ferguson • Members at Large — Bob Jolly, Michelle Rippon, Bob Penland, Robin Ramsey and Fremont Brown.
Published monthly by Star Fleet Communications Inc. JOHN NORTH Publisher
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The popular local dance band Tuxedo Junction will perform 4-8:45 p.m. April 26 on the bandstand at Antler Hill Village at the Biltmore Estate.
Antler Hill’s ‘Asheville Bandstand’ concert series to begin April 1
From Staff Reports
The Biltmore Estate recently unveiled the first part of its schedule for the 2019 “Asheville Bandstand” daily concert series, which starts April 1 and runs until November. The concerts feature performers using the gazebo — next to Cedrik’s Tavern and in Biltmore’s Antler Hill Village square — as a bandstand, with the audience dancing, or seated on their own lawnchairs and/or blankets on the grassy square, or standing. Admission is free to those with valid passes and their guests. The concerts run from 4-8:45 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays — and 2-6:45 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays. The first concert of the the year will feature local favorite Clay Lunsford, beginning at 2 p.m. April 1. Following is a listing of the Friday, Saturday
and Sunday performers through early May: • Fri., April 5 — Gypsy Swingers • Sat., April 6 — Clay Lunsford Band • Sun., April 7 — The Moon and You • Fri., April 12 — Joseph Hasty and Centerpiece Jazz • Sat., April 13 — Firecracker Jazz Band • Sun., April 14 — Dulci Ellenburger and Kevin Williams • Fri., April 19 — Bruce Lang Band • Sat., April 20 — Emporium * Sun., April 21 — Dulci Ellenburger and Kevin Williams • Fri., April 26 — Tuxedo Junction • Sat., April 27 — Flashback • Sun., April 28 — Clay Lunsford Trio • Fri., May 3 — Eliott and the Untouchables • Sat., May 4 — Fwuit • Sun., May 5 — Nuance Trio
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Asheville Daily Planet — April 2019 — A3
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A4 — April 2019 - Asheville Daily Planet
Under pressure, Murdock resigns from Eblen Charities post, A-B Tech board
From Staff Reports
The executive director of Asheville’s Eblen Charities announced recently his immediate departure from his post after a 47-year-old woman told the news media that he sexually abused her when she was his teenage student Bill Murdock, 63, made the decision to retire from Eblen Charities on March 21, according to a statement issued by the Eblen board. He led the organization, one of Western North Carolina’s largest non-profits, since its beginning nearly three decades ago. Murdock also resigned from the board of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College on March 22. “He was charged with a felony sex crime in 1988 and pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor,” CNN reported. “He maintains Bill Murdock he is innocent and says he took the plea deal on the advice of his lawyer, who cited the high cost of a defense and said he couldn’t guarantee an acquittal.” In the aftermath, Eblen’s Charities posted on its website the following statement: “The staff of Eblen Charities would like to thank those who have expressed their commitment to the work of the
organization during the recent difficult days. “Our organization was founded to support those in need in our community. For almost 30 years, Eblen Charities has provided assistance to our neighbors in need during some of the worst times of their lives. We accomplish this with a small staff, an army of volunteers, and this community’s support and involvement. “Whether you have purchased a pumpkin or a BOOster, donated a coat or school supplies, distributed turkeys, donated toys at Christmas, attended an auction, played golf, walked in our 10k, or volunteered your time and expertise-you have been a vital part of the work of Eblen Charities. We hope you are as proud of your efforts and engagement as we are of the work we are doing. “We, the staff, remain committed to helping people-- children, the elderly, families and individuals through the difficulties they face that are no fault of their own and with many of the things we often take for granted. The list is almost endless. Medications, lights, heat, water, shelter, clothing, food, and school supplies are just the basics. “We are grateful for your past support and present concern. We look forward to your ongoing involvement-- this continued engagement will allow us to fulfill our mission for our neighbors today, tomorrow, and each day after. “We have scheduled upcoming events and would greatly appreciate your support and participation....”
$45M redevelopment plan for AVL Mall? City says take it back to drawing board
From Staff Reports
zen Times noted, it caught flak from critics, citing potential impacts to a neighborhood, the project’s failure to meet city urban-style design guidelines and a link to nationwide job losses, resulting on the vote for a continuance and a request for the developer to take the plan back to the drawing board.
Asheville City Council voted unanimously on March 12 to continue the public hearing on a proposed $45 million redevelopment of closed Sears properties at the Asheville Mall. Council never made a motion to vote on the proposal, voting instead to continue the public hearing to April 23, so that council members could further discuss the plan more — and to give the developer more time to revise it. “People who live near the project area expressed concern about the multi-use development. They’re concerned about the traffic it would bring to the area and how it would impact property values,” Asheville’s WLOS News 13 reported. “Residents also think the complex needs to have more units that affordable for the people who want to live there. As it’s proposed, only 10 percent, or 21 units, would be affordable,” WLOS noted. Holistic before it was cool! “While most council members are not opSince 1990 posed to having some type of development NATURAL AND ORGANIC where the old Sears building near the mall FOODS AND TREATS is , they said the plan from Seritage Growth Wellness, Solid Gold, Properties just isn’t good enough for them Wysong, Nature’s Variety, to approve right now. City staff agrees.” WLOS quoted City Planner Shannon Raw Frozen, Tuch as saying, “Staff continues to have EVO, Innova, concern and does not support the project California Natural primarily because it doesn’t support what we believe to be the most defining characteristic of a town center project.” While the planning and zoning, and the Herbal remedies technical review committees approved the Flower Essences plan, city staff recommended denying the Homeopathic Remedies request to rezone the area. Meanwhile, according to WLOS, Lou WHAT MORE COULD Bissette, who represents the developer, YOUR PET NEED? Seritage Growth Properties, urged council, “Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the Toys! Lots of toys! good. This is a great project for our city, a The fun place to shop great project for the developer and a great for you and your best friend. project for the people of Asheville.” While proponents of the redevelopment ASHEVILLE PET SUPPLY project say the plan “would transform empty 1451 Merrimon Ave., Asheville former retail space into a vibrant residential (828) 252-2054 and commercial center,” the Asheville Citi-
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Holocaust survivor discusses ‘camps,’ Nazis, anti-Semitism Second in a series of two stories By JOHN NORTH john@AshevilleDailyPlanet.com
EDITOR’S NOTE: Weaverville resident and Holocaust survivor Walter Ziffer, a local scholar now in his 90s, addressed “Anti-Semitism” on Jan. 31 at the UNC Asheville Highsmith Center’s Grotto — and drew a standing-room-only crowd of around 165 people. Ziffer spoke about 45 minutes each on the topics of anti-Semitism and his experiences as a Holocaust survivor. He then fielded questions from the audience for about 15 minutes. His talk came on the heels of a Jan. 24 speech at UNCA by Tamika D. Mallory, who brushed off accusations of being anti-Semitic Walter Ziffer for her friendship with the Rev. Louis Farrakhan, an outspoken anti-Semite. She has called him “the GOAT” — greatest of all time. Her talk sparked concern, particularly in the Asheville Jewish community. The previous article spotlighted Ziffer’s retelling of his early life and experiences in what is now the Czech Republic, prior to enduring and surviving imprisonment for more than three years — from ages 15 to 18 — in seven Nazi slave-labor concentration camps. • Ziffer shared his recollections of his family’s experiences after being ordered to leave its comfortable home — and of meeting the first girl with which he was smitten. He told the UNCA audience, “We had two more evictions. We eventually ended up in a ghetto… an abandoned entertainment complex,” where “nothing was working... “All of this for about 1,000 Jewish men, women and children. It was atrocious living. But I fell in love with a girl (Livia) with golden hair. We played ping-pong with improvised boards. Our family lived in the (complex’s) dance hall on the stage. “My father was lucky enough to find a factory about an hour’s train travel from our town, where he was willing to work in a defense factory,” Ziffer said. “Livia told me that she and her family had decided to leave clandestinely to walk east toward Russia, which was still a haven for Jews... We cried and embraced….” Somberly, he added, “About 10 days later, someone told my father that Livia and her family had been found and shot dead.” As he absorbed the shock of Livia’s death, Ziffer said, “We (his family) were “ordered to pack for our resettlement to the east. “Then the (approximately) 1,000 Jews (in their settlement) were marched down to a nearby junkyard. We were ordered to hand over all valuables. There were German soldiers with guns and whips. “The men and women were separated, each into three groups — old, middle-aged and young... My mother raced after me and yelled, “Waltie, Waltie… don’t leave me!” Ziffer recalled grimly, “She was brutally stopped by a German soldier.... “I’m going to stop here and say this... I still can’t give over our (U.S.) recent policy of separating parents and children (of illegal immigrants) at our Southern border. If there is any sin, that is a sin.” Continuing, Ziffer said, “We were bru-
tally pushed into the train cars. And then the trains started moving and the destination was unknown. I’m so glad we didn’t know the destination — because that destination was death” in concentration camps — for most Jews.” “The purpose of a concentration camp was exactly the same as an extermination camp. It was just a longer period before death.... Joseph Goebells was right when he said what he said” about “the big lie,” Ziffer said. (“Goebbels was a German Nazi politician and Reich minister of propaganda of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. He was one of Adolf Hitler’s close associates and most devoted followers, and was known for his skills in public speaking and his deep, virulent anti-Semitism, which was evident in his publicly voiced views. He advocated progressively harsher discrimination, including the extermination of the Jews in the Holocaust,” according to Wikipedia. (Goebbels also was considered the originator of “the big lie,” which, according to Wikipedia, “was a narrative of an innocent, besieged Germany striking back at an ‘international Jewry,’ which, it said, started World War I. The propaganda repeated over and over the claim that a conspiracy of Jews was the real power in Britain, Russia and the United States. It went on to state that the Jews had begun a ‘war of extermination’ against Germany, and so Germany had a duty and a right to ‘exterminate’ and ‘annihilate’ the Jews in self-defense.”) Ziffer noted that, upon entry into the concentration camps, “out of 16 kids (that he traveled with on the train), two of us survived” the years in the camps. “One was Peter Berger, who, after separation, went to Israel... and me. “I lived in seven different camps in Nazicontrolled Poland. They’ve now reverted to the Polish names,” he said. “I was liberated on May 8, 1945” at age 18. Regarding the seven camps, Ziffer said, “The most important item in our concentration camp life” was food. “We were hungry all of the time. We were given bread and a concoction of coffee. There was soup… There was favoritism for a friend who would dig deep in the kettle for content.” As prisoners, “most of our conversations were about food,” Ziffer recalled. “For instance, how best to eat bread... I called these conversations ‘food philosophies.’ I decided to eat the whole piece of bread when I got it.” He said the work in the camps included shoveling sand, unloading cement, mixing cement, laying cinderblock, bending rebar and building railroad lines. As for clothing, Ziffer said that “the first few months, you wore the clothing you wore into the camp. Instead, of taking off your clothes, instead of receiving your clothes back, they were gone.” Each prisoner was assigned a number by the Nazis. Appearing to focus hard, Ziffer said, “64,157 — is that correct? That was done only in Auschwitz. That was my number. I was deprived of my name. I was deprived of my humanity. I had all my hair cut off. I was an object, with which you could do whatever you wanted. We were given thin, loose weave pajama-type of clothes — a shirt, pants, a jacket and shoes. Never any underware or socks. “We wore filthy rags, basically... There were infestations of lice. There was mutual de-lousing. But the lice would also burrow under our skin. So each night we had a mutual lice inspection. If you had lice, you had an infection and no longer could work. Then you would be sent to a camp where people who no longer work were machine-gunned and cremated en masse. “Instead of being addressed by name, we were addressed by number. We also were called ‘Jew dog’ or ‘You Jewish piece of (expletive deleted).’” See HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR, Page A12
Asheville Daily Planet — April 2019 - A5
Heritage Life Skills VIII Weekend Hands-On Classes
To register, visit www.CarolinaReadiness.com
April 12-14 Folkmoot Center
112 Virginia Ave, Waynesville
Come and join us for a weekend of learning!
Classes (and more) being offered are: Canning Meat, Vegetables, Butter, and Jam Knot-Tying Practical Everyday Carry Wine Making 101 Colloidal Silver Bugging In — Urban Backyard First-Aid Pioneers Food Reloading Building an Effective Faraday Cage Convoy Planning for TEOTWAWKIT Hardening Your House Home Survival Plan
Kidnapping Prevention & Escape Off-Grid Energy Systems Survival Groups Tiny House Road Safety Vermiculture Getting Ready, Not Arrested Gun Laws for Preppers You Have 5 Minutes: Are You Ready to Evacuate? Breadmaking Cheesemaking Soapmaking Ham Radios Land Navigation Off-Grid Solar Systems
Some classes will be limited — sign up for classes early.
Classes are subject to change. Materials fee may apply for some classes.
Bring pads and pens — and folding chairs.
Other highlights:
• Dr. Arthur Bradley, NASA • Wheel of Doom • Meet the Authors
Carolina Readiness Supply Inc. Will you be ready when the lights go out?
72 Montgomery St. Waynesville, N.C. 28786
(828) 456-5310
www.carolinareadiness.com
A6 - April 2019 - Asheville Daily Planet
Asheville ranks 14th for ‘bang for your buck?’ Some locals scoff?
From Staff Reports
Asheville, often touted for its desirability as a place to live (or visit) by city-rankers, recently was named No. 14 on Livability’s “2019 Top 100 Places to Live” for its “bang for your buck.” Specifically, Livability said, “With a population just under 100,000 (86,789), Asheville provides a lot of bang for your buck. Known primarily for its love of beer and good food, Asheville is the world’s only Foodtopian Society and has an unparalleled foodie scene.” However, the ranking was scoffed at as absurd in some quarters. For instance, the Asheville Citizen Times, in a March 6 article headlined,“Asheville named #14 most livable city in U.S.
— but it’s not as affordable as they think,” opened by stating, “Another day, another ‘best-of’ list for Asheville. But this one may not be deserved.” The ACT article went on to note that “keen-eyed Ashevillians scoffed at the price listed for median home value — $231,678. That’s a cool 94 thousand shy of the figure calculated by local real estate agency Mosaic Community Realty, $325,000. “Another page on Livability.com lists Asheville’s median home price as $199,800, which makes us both laugh and cry.,” the ACT reported, addiug that, “according to the North Carolina Housing Coalition, 30 percent of Buncombe County households are ‘cost-burdened,’ meaning the cost of housing exceeds a third of their total income. Hit hardest are the renters, 50 percent of whom are cost-burdened.”
The ACT reported in July 2018 that Asheville’s skyrocketing home prices “have climbed steadily higher since 2011 and show few signs of slowing.” In its March 6 story, the ACT added, “Somehow, we’ve also climbed Livability.com’s rankings — we’re up 34 places from our first appearance in 2014.” Leading Liviability’s list was Boise, Idaho. Rounding out the top five were Raleigh, N.C.; Madison, Wisc.; Iowa City, Idaho; Rochester, Minn. Livability ranked nearby Greenville, S.C., at No. 10, noting, “There’s no getting around it: Greenville is having a moment.” Annually, Livability editors and data scientists analyze statistics on economics, housing, amenities, infrastructure, social and civil capital, and more to create annual rankings of the “Top 100 Best Places to Live in America.”
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Faith Notes
tion of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place, Asheville. The UUCA will screen a yet-to-be-announced film. After the screening, a discussion will be held. All are welcome and admission is free.
Send us your faith notes
Thursday, April 18
Please submit items to the Faith Notes by noon on the third Wednesday of each month, via email, at spirituality@ashevilledailyplanet.com, or fax to 252-6567, or mail c/o The Daily Planet, P.O. Box 8490, Asheville, N.C. 28814-8490. Submissions will be accepted and printed at the discretion of the editor, space permitting. To place an ad for a faith event, call 252-6565.
Thursday, April 4
SACRED ABUNDANCE CLASS, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Unity of the Blue Ridge, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Road, Mills River. A class titled “The Art & Practice of Sacred Abundance” is being held on Thursdays through April 18. Leading the class is the Rev. Darlene Strickland. Registration is $20 for first-time participants and $5 for returning participants. “This class is based on the practice of tithing,” Unity noted.
Friday, April 5
STATIONS OF THE CROSS SERVICE, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Trinity Episcopal Church, 60 Church St., Asheville. A stations of the cross service will enable attendees to follow Jesus’ journey to the cross.
Sunday, April 7
SCIENCE/RELIGION LECTURE SERIES 9:45 a.m., Trinity Presbyterian Church, 900 Blythe St., Hendersonville. The church’s Sunday Ohmann Lectures Series on Science and Religion will explore the religious implications of scientific advances in today’s times. “Uncertainty” SERMON, 9:45 and 11:30 a.m., Unity of the Blue Ridge, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Road, Mills River. Best-selling author and speaker Tama Kieves will share her message on “Thriving Through Uncertainty” at both services. Afterward, she will hold a workshop.
Wednesday, April 10
“REQUIUM” PERFORMANCE, 6 p.m., Grace Lutheran Church, 1245 Sixth Ave. W., Hendersonville. The choirs of Grace will perform “Requium” by Gabriel Fauré.
Thursday, April 11
“MAKING MEANINGFUL CHANGE” Talk, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Jubilee! Community Church, 46 Wall St., downtown Asheville. Mark McCurties will address “Making Meaningful Change — How God’s Love Can Change Your Life and the World.” His talk is sponsored by the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Asheville.
Friday, April 12
CHURCH YARD SALE, 8 a.m.-noon, Zion Hill Baptist Church, 1008 Newfound Road, Leicester. The church will hold a yard sale 8 a.m.-noon April 12-13. SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVIE NIGHT, 7-9 p.m., 1 Sandburg Hall, Unitarian Universalist Congrega-
MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICE/PROGRAM, 6:30 p.m., sanctuary, Hendersonville Presbyterian Church, 699 N. Grove St., Hendersonville. The church’s choir and musicians will present part two of “A Walk Through the Bible.” The script for “A Walk Through the Bible” was written by Brenda Bradshaw in 2000, when choir member Ray Wissolik suggested to director of music Gayle Stepp that she compile a list of choral anthems that would tell the entire story of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation “The Old Testament, Part I” was presented on Ash Wednesday. The Maundy Thursday presentation will include liturgical dancers as well as singing by soloists, duets and the choir, accompanied by an ensemble of musicians. In addition, Pastor Tom Pitman and the Rev. Bob Hicks will reveal the New Testament story with readings. The service will include Holy Communion.
Sunday, April 21
EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE, 6:45 a.m., labyrinth, Unity of the Blue Ridge, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Road, Mills River. An Easter sunrise service will be led by the Rev. Laura Collins. Later on April 21, Easter services also will be held indoors — at the regular Sunday services times of 9:45 and 11:30 a.m., “with an inspiring message and special music,” Unity stated.
Friday, May 3
“LIVING WITH SOUL” WORKSHOP, 7-9 p.m., Unity of the Blue Ridge, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Road, Mills River. A workshop on “Living with Soul“ will be led by author and mythologist Michael Meade. Regarding the program, Unity stated that Meade would present “an evening of surprising ideas, a soulful and mythological view of current affairs and a resounding collective call to find unity and wholeness in this time of conflict and confusion... We are living through an extended moment of radical change that is life-defining as well as life-changing. The storms and tragedies of contemporary life can be seen as a spiritual crisis where we must find a greater sense of self and soul or become more subject to increasing feelings of anxiety and helplessness... The current loss of meaning in life and denial of truth imperils the heart and soul of human culture. Changes at the level of the individual soul can generate the collective energy needed to change the conditions of the world. This is an event about the necessity of making soul at a time when the world seems to be losing its soul.” For tickets, which are $15, visit www.mosaicvoices.org.
Saturday, May 4
“PATHS OF AWAKENING” WORKSHOP, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Unity of the Blue Ridge, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Road, Mills River. A workshop on “Paths of Awakening” will be led by author and mythologist Michael Meade. He will explore themes that include initiation and the soul, the acorn myth, a collective rite of passage and paths to the sacred. For tickets, which are $95, visit www.mosaicvoices.org.
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Asheville Daily Planet — April 2019 - A7
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A8 — April 2019 - Asheville Daily Planet
Fryar gives update on agreement on A-B Tech tax issue From Staff Reports The Buncombe Board of Commissioners and A-B Tech Board of Trustees had “been working on this for a long time,” Mike Fryar said — of an agreement that had been reached recently between the two parties — in an address at the March 1 meeting of the Council of Independence Business Owners in UNC Asheville’s Sherill Center. “I didn’t vote for it, but here it is.” He noted that, on a split vote, the A-B Tech trustees agreed to accept a settlement offer from the county. (A story on the settlement appears on Page A2.) Fryar also complained that “you don’t need all the building” that has occurred at A-B Tech in the last few years, when “what we have (already built) needs to be fixed.” As for former long-time County Manager Wanda Greene, Fryar said, “Basically, she robbed the 1/4-cent sales tax.” While he admitted that Greene’s activity happened while he was on the board, “I kept asking questions” of Greene’s spending practices. Regarding the referendum vote for the tax, he said, “It won in a citywide election by 500 votes,” in a campaign backed by a coalition of political progressives. In referring to a story about the A-B Tech tax issue that appeared recently in the Asheville Citizen Times, Fryar said that, “in that article, I basically called it (the A-B
Tech tax funds) a ‘slush fund’ that Wanda” had raided. In an apparent reference to commissioners’ Mike Fryar Chairman Brownie Newman, who Fryar never named, Fryar asserted, “Then there was someone who said he didn’t feel committed to using the money just for buildings” While some money has been spent at A-B Tech on new building construction, he reiterated, “I’m working hard to make sure that the buildings (already existing) at A-B Tech are fixed. They are ‘down.’ “We’d like to get them to at least ‘fours,’ but we’ll never get them back to ‘fives’” on a scale of one to 10, best to worst, Fryar said. In criticizing some of the building use on the campus, he noted that “a computer lab at A-B Tech is used two hours a week.” In a reference to fellow Commissioner Amanda Edwards, Fryar said, “Ms. Edwards needs to take a lesson. I wish she was here.” Fryar then triggered laughter from the CIBO crowd when he quipped, “For what they’re paying for salaries at the fire training center… I wish I worked there.” See A-B TECH, Page A9
Continued from Page A1 For “those of us who have been involved with this project for the last 15-20 years...The (CIBO) narrative that the city is at fault for all of this... is wrong. Hopefully, I can show this to you.... What we’re talking about here is this (I-26) Connector section... Here’s a little timeline, just to remind everyone.” Mayfield added, “The city hasn’t (simply) made up what it wants” on the I-26 Connector. Instead, she said, “The city has given broad” direction with lots of lattitude to NCDOT. “It was this community working together… all with (NC) DOT at the table.” As for CIBO’s past contentions that the project has been long-delayed, Mayfield asserted, “It’s important to note that it’s not unusual for projects like these to take a long time.” In her review of the project’s timeline, Mayfield noted that in the 1980s, NCDOT proposed the project and the city requested that it cross through Asheville. In the period of 1997 to 2000, she said NCDOT proposed alternatives 2 and 3. “In 2009, first time, you see a real divide between the city and the county. (NC) DOT didn’t like that. They like local governments united.... Even so, (NC) DOT went again.” trying to proceed forward. “However, the funding was pulled. I think that was due to the recession. The funding was finally restored in 2012. “You had some ‘flaming liberals’” involved in the questioning of the I-26 Connector project over the years, Mayfield said in reference to CIBO criticisms, “but I wouldn’t call (former city councilman and tire store owner) Jan Davis a ‘flaming liberal’ — or the chamber’s Lou Bissette.” She added, “In 2015, (NC) DOT issued a new draft EIS.” In response, “the city supports Alternatives. 4 and 4B. The city and NCDOT agree to form a working group to resolve ourtstanding concerns with 4 and 4B.” As for 2016, she said, “(NC) DOT selects 4B as the preferred alternative, which originated with the Asheville Design Center, and
begins more intense design and discussions with they city.” (Mayfield had supported the ADC’s involvement in the project.) In a jab at CIBO, Mayfield said, “You might not like endangered species,” but delays to protect nature will pay off in the long-run. Mayfield then asked, rhetorically, “What did all this fight get us? It’s only through the persistence of the people working on this project for years (that a number of residents) won’t lose their homes — and you won’t have to pay for it. They’ve saved 50 homes in the last year from the redesign” that Mayfield and others sought. Mayfield also listed the following other accomplishments by her and her allies: • Six — rather than the proposed eight— lanes through West Asheville • Dozens fewer residential.business relocations than would have occurred under the 2008 or 2015 designs • Emma and Burton streets spared major residential losses • Mauy miles of new mutli-use paths and greenway connectors • Patton Avenue “will become a surface street and new gateway to downtown,” contrary to original NCDOT plans. “If we get what we want, that means increased tax base for the city,” Mayberry told the CIBO gathering. “This is the way the city is going to be successful — by going in and up... Again, we wouldn’t have gotten this if we hadn’t gotten into this about 20 years ago” and fought with NCDOT for improvements to the original project. After a pause, Mayfield asserted, “So, as for the question…. ‘Why are we still holding things up and what’s our problem?’” In response, she said, “We’re not holding anything up. These are happy, cooperative conversations” between locals concerned about making the best out of the I-26 Connector project , along with well-meaning NCDOT officials. “There’s still time to refine the design… to maybe we could save some more houses on Hill Street. A third big area is the design of the Bowen Bridge.
CIBO
City planning chief reviews accomplishments, issues From Staff Reports
Asheville Planning Director Todd Okolichany began his presentation with much laughter from the audience — as Okolichany joined in the merriment — after Buzzy Cannady, chief and emcee of the Council of Independent Business Owners, mispronounced the head city planner’s last name in his introduction. Cannady introduced him as Todd “Okeechobee” — as in Lake Okeechobee, also known as Florida’s “inland sea,” which is the largest freshwater lake in the state of Florida. The CIBO meeting was held March 1 at UNC Asheville’s Sherrill Center. After the laughter died down, Okolichany, who seemed to relish the humor in the situation, told Cannady with a reassuring smile, “Just call me ‘Todd O.’” As for the Planning Department’s 2018 accomplishments, Okolichany said, “Last year, we reviewed as a department … 35 total projects.” He also said, the city “adopted the Living Asheville Comprehensive Plan. This is our document for the future,” including strategies for transportation, affordable and the environment. “It’s almost 400 pages.” He also said the city adoped the South Slope Vision Plan, which is a roadmap for Asheville’s southern central business district. “A major focus is Coxe Avenue and some adjoining streets,” Okolichany said, “We’re in the process of transforming those streets.”
“We want fewer lanes of traffic and more lanes for bikes and pedestrians,” Mayfield said. “The city’s job is to make this project better for the city — rather than just be a throughway between South Carolina and Tennessee. And that’s been the goal.” During a question-and-answer session that followed, CIBO member Mac Swicegood said, “On this project, this is a regional highway… But city councils — not just you — have been self-centered in looking at this. It impacts every city using it... “Right now, people are being killed” as a result of the delay in construction to the I-26 Connector,” Swicegood asserted. “What you all have done is unconsiounable!”
He added that, in 2018, long-needed updates to the Downtown Master Plan were approved: “A lot has changed since 2009, when it was last updated,” he noted. “There’s a need to see how we manage our downtown space... We want to make sure Todd Okolichany we have the right policies and critieria. To that end, Okolichany said Section One covers public space management, Section Two cover code and design guideline updates and Section Three features the streetscape master plan Also in 2018, some code amendments were adopted, including changes to lodging use regulations. What’s more, he said that changes were made to definitions in the outdoor lighting zoning amendment. In general, Okolichany said, “We opened up our outdoor lighting,” Rhetorically, Okolichany asked, “Where are we going for the next year? Our fiscal year starts July 1. First is implementing the Living Asheville Comprehensive Plan…. We’re looking at areas along Patton (Avenue), Merrimon (Avenue), Tunnel Road, and Bleachery Boulevard...
See PLANNING, Page A9
In response, Mayfield noted that Swicegood’s and CIBO’s criticism of the efforts of her and others come from the conservative side — and that she also has caught flak on other road issues from the liberal side. “If I’m getting criticism from both sides, I’m right where I need to be,” she reasoned, with a laugh. Fryar, who gave an unrelated presentation earlier in the meeting, told Mayfield, “This is a road that has to get through this county. Roads are built to move traffic....” Responding to Fryar’s assertion, Mayfield said that any highway built in the area will be inadequate. “It’s going to jam up, again,” even with the widening of I-26 and the new I-26 Connector through the city.
Muslim official
Continued from Page A1 In introducing Gaubatz prior to his Skyland speech, ATP Chair Jane Bilello said he had worked as an undercover for the U.S. State Department, posing as a Muslim convert to get a job as an intern at CAIR’s Washington office. (The State Department had trained Gaubatz, a former special agent for the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, as an Arabic linguist.) In winding up her introduction, Bilello praised Gaubatz for serving as “lead in one of the most dangerous undercover investigtions” ever, in which he “revealed clear patterns of fraud, sedition and terrorism.” Meanwhile, in the March 26 interview with the Daily Planet, CAIR’s Hooper said he is totally convinced that Gaubatz is an “Islamaphobe,” noting that “it’s pretty clear the target of his bigotry” — Islam. He added, “This (Gaubatz’s viewpoint) is just raw bigotry — and you gave him a platform.” Upon further questioning, Hooper defined “Islamaphobia” as an “irrational fear of the entire faith of Islam, based on misinformation or falsehoods.” (Similarly, Merriam-Webster.com defined “Islamophobia” as an “irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against Islam or people who practice Islam.”) Continuing, Hooper said, “It’s all about context. We’re (CAIR) big defenders of the First Amendment, but we’ve seen too many cases” where people who hate the religion of Islam and its Muslim practioners are given a platform that, he said, they do not deserve. “Any faith can be distorted,” he asserted. “When you decide” — as he said is the case with Gaubatz — “an entire faith should be wiped off the face of the earth,” the message is not worthy of news coverage. In another jab at the Daily Planet, Hooper said, “If all you did was regurgitate (exactly) what he said, you’re not doing a good job.” Instead of straight reporting of what was said, the CAIR spokesman said the story (if one was published) — to be fair — demanded a lot of context to counterbalance Gaubatz’s message. For instance, he said rarely is it reported that 10 percent of Egypt, a predominately Muslim country. is Christian. Or that, “for hundreds of years, there were thriving Jewish communities in the Muslim world.” What’s more, Hooper asked, rhetorically, “If he (Gaubatz) says Islam is the problem — how does he propose to solve the problem? If they say Islam is evil, what do they propose” to fix the issue? He then added that, “I don’t think they’re (Gaubatz and others he accuses of Islamaphobia) too eager to come forward” with a solution. Hooper said it concerns him greatly that the solution to Islam for Islamaphobes, which, he said, they are reluctant to admit publicly, is the killing —
A-B Tech
Continued from Page A8 Regarding the spending of A-B Tech funds for new construction, he said, “We get a parking deck. That’s wasn’t on this deal. We get a multipurpose building. That wasn’t on this deal....” Fryar also lamented that “people don’t understand what I tried to do for this school….” During a brief question-and-answer session that followed, an unidentified man thanked Fryar for his presentation. He also asked two questions: “Does that (1/4-cent sales tax) ‘sunset?’ By whom or to whom do we have recourse against Mr. New-
Planning
Above is the cover of Chris Gaubatz’s book, “Muslim Mafia: Inside the Secret Underworld That’s Conspiring to Islamize America.” en massse — of the world’s Muslims. “What happens when he (Gaubatz) extends his logic?” Hooper asked. “What is ‘the solution?’” to the so-called Muslim threat? (Hooper’s mention of “the solution” appeared to connect his view on the Islamaphobes’ goals with the so-called ‘Final Solution to the Jewish Question,’ which was a Nazi plan for the genocide of Jews during World War II.) In his March 6 email with the critical title line to the Daily Planet included the following story postings: “CAIR Calls on GOP to Drop, Repudiate Islamophobic Speaker at Feb. 19 North Carolina Event Who Tweeted ‘#IslamIsTheProblem” “(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/14/19) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on the Republican Party to drop a notorious anti-Muslim conspiracy theorist as a speaker at an upcoming event in North Carolina and to repudiate his hate-filled Islamophobic tweets and rhetoric. “Islamophobe Chris Gaubatz has been invited by the Haywood County Republican Party as a guest speaker Tuesday, Feb. 19, at the Haywood GOP headquarters in Waynesville, N.C. “Gaubatz has tweeted, ‘When you understand the threat, you understand that there is no such thing as “radical islam” [sic], just islam. [sic],’ using the hashtag ‘#IslamIsTheProblem. “In the past, Gaubatz joined his former employer and fellow anti-Muslim conspiracy theorist John Guandolo in smearing American mosques and claiming the Black Lives Matter movement is funded by ‘enemies’ of America. See MUSLIM OFFICIAL, Page A13
man?” (The term “sunset,” in this context, refers to preovisions whereby a law shall cease to have effect after a specific date, unless further legislative action is taken to extend the law). Succinctly Fryar replied that the “quarter-cent tax can’t ‘sunset.’” He did not address the question about Newman. CIBO member Swicegood asked, “How can we fix all this, as it’s been a trainwreck? Fryar nodded, but did not address Swicegood’s query, perhaps assuming it was a rhetocial question. He was applauded for his presentation as he took a seat.
Asheville Daily Planet — April 2019 - A9
Continued from Page A8 “Also, we’re looking at corridor planning for Tunnel Road, South Tunnel Road and Hendersonville Road... So we’re going to slow down our process and try to get input from our community. “We’re also looking at Haywood Street and Page Avenue city-owned property design... It’s call the ‘Pit of Despair,’” Okolichany said with a grimace, as the crowd laughed. Also, he said, “We’re looking at a road diet to convert Charlotte Street from four lanes to three lanes.” (The fourth lane would be limited to bicycles). During a brief Q&A session, an unidentified man said, “I’m somewhat concerned, being a developer, that the company that owned property in Biltmore Village… They were denied (city approval) to build that thing (a hotel). They had a $5 million or $6 million investment. That’s not going to encourage” others. “Is there a way to ensure if they go through that many steps that they’ll be guaranteed they’ll get approval?” he asked. “I think we need to put more predictability in the process,” Okolichany replied. City Councilwoman Julie Mayfield, who gave a different presentation on another topic at the meeting, then interjected, “I’d just like to echo that I didn’t hear anything about that hotel. I thinks starting early with council.” CIBO member Albert Sneed then said he wanted to know “What a road diet is?” Okolichany said tha the
proposed “road diet” would affect the section “between Chestnut Road to Edmonds Place on Charlotte Street... What it would be is take one southbound and northbound lane — and one turning lane. The other (driving) lane would be used for bicyclists and pedestrians.” The planner added that, “In the last decade, there have been “about 100 crashes” on that stretch of Charlotte Street. Some traffic studies have shown that that section of Charlotte Street has averaged 20,000 cars, at one point,” but, lately, that number has dropped to 12,000 cars, “so there’s been a decrease on Charlotte Street.” Yet, Okolichany admitted that “we have seen some levels of (traffic) increases during rush hour in morning and late afternoon.” Ultimately, the planner said of the road diet plan, “the intent is safety.” Regarding an assertion earlier by Mayfield, an unidentified man said, “There’s a systemic problem with your answer. I, too, have been a developor (in Asheville) for more than 30 years... We need rules where we don’t have to make it public and involve politics in it. The answer (from Mayfiend): ‘Get with your politician’ is not an answer for a systemic problem.”
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A10 — April 2019 — Asheville Daily Planet
The Daily Planet’s Opinion Move soccer complex out of floodplain to avoid $1M bills
S
o it is good and bad news that East Asheville’s popular-but flood-prone John B. Lewis Soccer Complex, which has been closed since major flooding last May, is set to get a $1.1 million cleanup soon, as was reported widely on March 8. The good news, of course, is that about 7,500 local children and adult players, along with thousands of out-of-town soccer enthusiasts who come to JBL — one of the region’s most popular sports facilities — for tournaments, will be able to resume use of the facility. Well, that is, if there is no more major flooding in the meantime. As WLOS New 13 reported, “the city and the Asheville Buncombe Youth Soccer Association have a contract with an astro-turf company” costing more than $1 million. (About $1.1 million is the repair price, to be more precise, as reported by the Citizen Times, which also noted that the repair company actually IS AstroTurf. The city taxpayers will cover $875,000 of that, with the remaining $200,000 coming from the nonprofit Asheville Buncombe Youth Soccer Association, which also runs the adult leagues. Sandra Travis, Asheville parks and recreation operations manager, saud (as reported by WLOS, “What will happen in the cleanup is that they will remove all the silt and sand and the debris that is currently on the turf. And once they get down to the turf, they’ll be able to have a better idea as far as any damage that might be lurking underneath. And then we’ll go from there.” That may be all well and good to the extent that it provides a temporary solution to a problem, but the bad news is that the city made a horrendous decision originally to locate the soccer fields in a floodplain, and then facing bills to repair the damage to the Astro-Turf costing around $1 million. With major flooding from the adjoining Swannanoa River happening ever more frequently, there seems to be no end to a treadmill of floods followed by humongous cleanup and repair bills. If the current Plan A (to keep repairing the complex, which strikes us as a sure-fire disaster) is deemed no longer feasible, what is Plan B, we wonder? From what we can gather, and as WLOS reported, it’s merely this: “City officials are also working with the youth soccer association on a long-term agreement that would set aside money to pay for maintenance and repairs at the complex.” And as the Citizen Times stated, “The complex was built to withstand flooding from the nearby Swannanoa River... But a May 30 inundation brought a record 10 feet of water, depositing a thick layer of silt on the East Asheville facility. City officials said cleanup was delayed by three smaller floods, a contractor shortage and missteps in a federal aid application. That kept JBL shuttered for nine months and sent soccer leagues scrambling for other places to play.” The contract gives AstroTurf 10 days to get on site, then 80 days to do the job, Travis told reporters. “If it exceeds 80 days, there’s a $500 penalty per calendar day. The 80 days can be extended due to weather issues if mutually agreed upon,” she said. The Plan B to transfer more of the responsibility for cleanup costs to the youth soccer association is a step in the right direction. But we think an even wiser step would be for the city to cut its losses and find a new location for the soccer complex that is not in a floodplain and make some other use of the property — or, perhaps better yet, sell it.
Letters to the Editor
What socialism is and isn’t; Sanders, AOC? Mislabeled
I
t is about time that the American people were educated and informed about what true “socialism” is and is not. The fact is that, in true socialism, “the means of production” are owned by all of the people. In other words, in true socialism all of the workplaces and businesses are owned, controlled and run by all of the people, for the good and well-being of all of the people. They are not privately owned by individuals and groups. In true socialism, we would not be paid totally equally in terms of how much we would Bernie get paid for our work, but we Sanders would be much, much more equal than we are now. There would not be any billionaires or people who have hundreds of millions of dollars and tens of millions of dollars in total wealth, most of which they inherited and did not earn Alexandria by their own labor. We would Ocasioshare what we have. Cortez Those individuals such as Bernie Sanders and Alexandria OcasioCortez who call themselves “Democratic Socialists” are not really socialists at all. They are actually ultra-liberal/progressive Democrats who believe that our federal government should do more and spend more on the safety-net programs, as well as other social programs that help the poor, the near-poor (those living on 100 percent to 125 percent of “the official poverty line”), the lower-middle-class, the middle-class, and even the upper-middle-class because they also have financial struggles and problems especially when it comes to medical and health care expenses in their families. They don’t advocate replacing our capitalist economic system with a truly socialist economic system. That has never worked on a large-scale. They support our market-based capitalist economic system, but they want
a more humane capitalist economic system that has more federal government spending to help all of the people in our country just as our traditional allies do more of than we do here in the USA. So, Republicans and Democrats, please stop spreading the false belief that having a federal government social program such as “Social Security” somehow makes us a “socialist” country. Because it does not. Stewart B. Epstein Rochester, N.Y. EDITOR’S NOTER: Epstein, a Democrat, is running against incumbent Congressman Chris Collins, R-N.Y., for the seat that represents western New York. Collins was the first sitting U.S. representative to endorse Donald Trump for president of the United States, and he served on Trump’s presidential transition team.
Actress-singer Jane Powell touted on her 90th birthday
That sweet “Girl Next Door” singeractress Jane Powell celebrated her 90th birthday on April 1, 2019! A star of stage, screen and radio, she is noted for her work in such entertaining musicals as ‘’Seven Brides For Seven Brothers,” sharing honors with Howard Keel and “Royal Wedding,” co-starring with Jane Powell Fred Astaire, among many other delightful family movies. Happy birthday Jane and many more from your legions of fans around the world! Herb Stark Mooresville
Looking for a restoration specialist
Y
ears ago, when I was young and working, I was approached by a company needing help with their name. The company’s business was house fires. They did everything necessary to return the house to its original condition, from demolition to final touches. The name of the company was Restoration Specialists. Now as we approach fateful 2020, that’s exactly what I’m looking for in a Democratic candidate for president. I want a restoration specialist. Our Founding Architects designed a stout form of government that withstood stormy feuds, floods of immigrants, a fiery Civil War. It stood strong because successive presidents, congresses and courts wanted it to survive and prosper. The Founders were hugely optimistic on the future of the nation they established. John Adams predicted it would be celebrated “from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.” But James Madison foresaw a time when their creation could fall into irresponsible hands: “The hope is that [those elected] will be…patriotic and just, chosen due to their virtues. …But, on the other hand, the reverse could happen. People of
Lee Ballard sinister designs might wangle their way into office.” Well, it took 230 years to come true, but now the Wangler is in the White House. Every day there’s some new outrage – making foreign policy with Russia and Saudi Arabia for their m-o-n-e-y, ignoring the Constitution’s separation of executive and legislative branches, attacking our free press, threatening critics. He sees himself as head of a mom-and-pop country where he gets no guff. The great puzzle of our time is that almost 90 percent of Republicans agree with him. They seem to want Trump as an authoritarian president with press and Congress muzzled on a leash. I know many Trump supporters. They’re sensible people. I understand that a lot about American isn’t working and nothing gets done in Washington. It’s tempting to wonder if Enlightenment ideas of government by the people
aren’t out-of-date. Tempting, yes – if that president were patriotic, smart, honest, truthful and informed on issues. Talk to me about an American dictator when we have a president with the character traits that Trump is famous for not having. Until then, I’m stickin’ to the Founding Fathers. The election of 2020 will decide our direction. If American voters re-elect Donald Trump, they strengthen the strongman. If they defeat him, they welcome back our democracy. Right now, Trump’s opposition looks like fans before the big game – candidates rushing about, most of them unknown until they declare for president. They’re polishing life stories and concocting charisma. They’re teeming fish in a pond. How do we pick one? Smart and tough, that’s my combo. I picture them sitting across from Mitch McConnell and squashing the worm into his chair. It’s part physical presence, part strength of character, part open-armed warmth. That person can restore our democracy – helping along a functioning Congress, voting rights laws, somehow controlling money in elections. This new tough-andsmart Democratic president can take us
back to a time when reasonable people practiced the art of governing, not political warfare – before Newt Gingrich and Rush Limbaugh. He or she can free senators and congressmen to walk the halls of government like giants once more, adopting an old-time work ethic, even staying in Washington most weekends. And best of all, oldfashioned values will be back, like truth, honesty and, yes, honor and patriotism. For my grandchildren, I want to see the old house restored to the glory envisioned by the Founding Fathers. I hear some Democratic candidates planning a new house next door. I’m sorry, but it’s not a house. It’s a Walt Disney castle. The Green New Deal takes me back to my childhood, when Mother’s lust for stuff would crash against Daddy’s income. I’m solid behind universal healthcare, for example, but tough-minded budgeting and fair taxation must come first. But if one of the new-House Democrats wins the nomination, I’ll back them enthusiastically. Trump must be defeated. Our democracy must be saved. • Lee Ballard , who lives in Mars Hill, has a website at Mountainsnail.com.
Asheville Daily Planet — April 2019 - A11
Commentary
The Candid Conservative: Who’s writing your script?
“To have doubted one’s own first principles is the first mark of a civilized man.” — Oliver Wendell Holmes
I
The problem
n the early part of the 20th century, Germany was arguably the most advanced culture on the planet Though many countries could duplicate pieces of their model, none could claim a higher place on the ladder of social, economic, intellectual, cultural, academic and scientific success. Before the half-way point of that century, it would all be squandered on the egotistical insecurities of a vanity-driven hysteric masquerading as a progressive benevolent. Think AOC with a mustache. If a citizenry of such remarkable strengths and character could be collectively seduced into cultural suicide, it can be well-argued that none of the rest of us are immune. America’s vulnerability is ironically formed out of our extraordinary blessings. No matter what the naysayers sell, America is exceptional. Not to be confused with the pretense of American perfectionism, our specialness is easily demonstrated by our history. For the past 200-plus years, no country on earth has had more positive impact on international and even celestial affairs than our own. Next time you look at the moon, remember whose footprints are there. All of the descriptors used to describe prewar Germany apply to the United States, but with multipliers. That fact is most surely demonstrated in one truth – people from all over the world want to come here more than any other place in the world. The guy who cooks the best burger attracts the most customers. Living in such a special place – especially if one hasn’t tasted the limitations of secondand thirrd world countries – makes it easy to believe our culture can’t fail. That conclusion is as dangerous. In a world under temporary command of the master of darkness, nothing good is immune from rot, rust or ruin. Guarding and preserving the exceptional vision we call America requires vigor and a functional script. Don’t look now but there are a bunch of script-writing vanity kings attempting to sell us Barney Meets Godzilla as a sub for Gandhi.
Bad actors pretending to be good directors
At no time in our history have we had so many dysfunctional people in positions of high-visibility leadership. Their script is more predictable than gravity – promise something for nothing, generously expel superlatives – positive ones for your side, derogatory ones for others – and attack the opposition for what you duplicate faithfully
Carl Mumpower in your own life. Obsessed with climate change and the green deal? Travel in jets and black SUVs. Anti-gun all the way? Surround yourself with armed security. Hate the idea of a wall to protect our borders? Build a wall around your house to protect you. Alarmed over vaccination requirements for a child attending public school? Expand public policy that allows for the termination of new life whenever it suits the donor. People of this ilk are persuasive political phonies covering bad meat with pink slime.
Targeting the weak and vulnerable
A dead give-a-way of a predatory nature is the instinct to go after the struggling antelope. Voracious politicians don’t eat people, they kidnap their head and heart and turn them into zombies. Don’t believe it? Rerun the Kavanaugh hearings. We are always going to have weak and vulnerable people – many as victims of their own bad choices – others as unwitting prey for the self-serving confusing an ego fix with munificence. Let’s try to make sure you’re not one of them.
Socialists-are-us
Nothing reveals America’s flirtation with self-destruction than our current fascination with socialism. It doesn’t matter that it doesn’t work. The fantasy that it can if we just try hard enough continues to swoon those looking for that magic pot of something for nothing at the end of a progressive rainbow. Yes, we’ve all heard how socialism is magnificently successful in Norway, Denmark, etc. Those are small countries with a homogeneous society linked to a strong community ethic. For a view of how well that community thing works in America, take a scenic ride through the Southside of Chicago. For a view of how its failing Norway, Denmark, etc. talk to someone who lives there amidst an increasingly predatory immigrant population whose concept of mutuality is “I live – you die.”
Distractions, drugs and dogma are dead-end scripts
We live in a world that confuses being distracted with being happy. Distraction is a temporary escape from reality. The more one runs from reality the more surely one is about
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to be stomped into the mud by reality. Drugs as a chemical form of distraction are enjoying a bubbly reception amongst a broadening percentage of the population. They can be fun and temporarily ease pain – what drugs can’t do is give us a lasting escape from the relentless demands of nature. Nature’s end game is killing us. Every moment in drug-induced time out is a moment we don’t grow. Every moment we stop growing finds reality creeping a little closer to that stomp us into the mud thing. Dogma is any belief that we cling to out of habit versus good sense. It’s comforting because it cushions us in a cocoon of clarity guarded with artificial certainty. Dogma is like a dam that works well right up to the moment it doesn’t.
Write your own
People who can’t run their own life shouldn’t be running yours for the same reason you shouldn’t ride in a car with a drunk driver. Writing your own script begins with noting the difference in reacting and responding. Reacting has us constantly and instinctively bouncing off the external influences. Reacting puts our script in the hands of whatever it is we’re reacting to. Responding finds us hitting our pause button and running our behavior through our head, heart, hand, spirit and experience before we act. That team is guaranteed to produce a better plan than running off instinct and reaction. With practice our team is faster than a computer. Writing one’s own script takes courage. Most people borrow theirs out of laziness,
confusion or fear. It takes courage to be bold, focused and adventuresome. Find your courage button and you’ll have more fun and encourage others with your example. Embrace the inevitability that people who write their own script screw up. Achievers and perfectionists aim equally high. Perfectionists focus on what they don’t get done while achievers emphasize what they do. The difference means resisting the temptation of self-rejection. Life is filled with opportunities for accomplishment and failure. A good script requires we embrace the latter as surely as the former. There’s more learning in a stumble than a success. Frame your script with good bones. I like King Solomon’s wisdom on the subject. He suggested life boils down to four things built on one thing. The foundation is seeking the will of higher authority – you know, the one we Christians call God and that the rest of the world is pushing us to ignore. From there Solomon’s advice is pretty simple. He suggested that good living boils down to four things – labor, love, learn and live (as in celebrate the gift). A script built on carrying one’s own weight and putting something back into the world; loving one another; sponging up sources of wisdom; and gratitude for the opportunity sets us up for success. In contrast, lethargy, selfishness, folly and anger guarantee the opposite. One last thing on writing one’s own script – anything that’s easy is usually a dead-end. A good script has you working. We’re surrounded with false profits selling easy and seductive life scripts. You shall know them by their deeds – and though their faces may smile, in their eyes you will find no joy.… • Carl Mumpower, a psychologist and former elected official, is the past chairman of the Buncombe County Republican Party. He can be reached at drmumpower@aol.com.
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A12
April 2019 - Asheville Daily Planet
Holocaust survivor
Continued from Page A5 Ziffer added, “Roll call for me was a nightmare. What happens when nature calls, right then and there? Most of us had diarrhea, chronically. We had roll call day or night. ... because the numbers never jibed. Some died at night. Others were shot. It was a nightmare. “If you needed to urinate or (have a) bowel movement (during roll call), the inevitable thing happened,” since the prisoners never would be excused to use a toilet. “The urine would run down the legs to the wooden shoe (the prisoner wore) and onto the ground. And when it came time to march, they were frozen. We would hit them with our shoe. But under their shoe there would be several inches of ice underneath their shoe. Later, they’d fall and we’d walk over them. No choice. Later, they would be shot.” Pausing, Ziffer said, “It’s hard for me to understand that I went through this and that I survived.” Regarding his second camp (Bronte), he noted, “We arrived after a horrible train ride. It was wintertime. On the horizon, we saw little houses. I’d see in the windows little lights. I saw them as the lights of Christmas trees. Jews usually don’t have Christmas trees.” However, he noted that his family was different from that of many Jews — so “we often had Hannukah gifts under a Christmas tree. “I would hear ‘Silent Night’ and I was in the deepest of depressions. Somebody said Bronte was the convalescent camp. It didn’t have any construction site.” Tragically, Ziffer soon learned that “Bronte was something else. It had a Nazi commandant who was a sadist. He (the commandant) hobbled around from a World War I injury, which he blamed on the Jews…. “So how did he avenge himself?” Ziffer asked, rhetorically. “During roll call, we were organized into groups. We (later) were dismissed to clean barracks” or to perform other jobs. “Shortly thereafter, we heard screaming… I asked a prisoner, what was this about? He just looked at me… A few days later, a couple came with two boys and said, ‘Follow me.’ What we saw were 12 or 14 naked corpses lying on the floor in excrement and blood on the tile floor. We had to put these corpses into a cart and put them in a park for burial and then clean up the barracks. “I asked what happened to the men. The men were hit with pots of hot water and whips by Nazi guards until they died. I guess you could call it ‘Nazi entertainment,’” Ziffer said sadly. Later, “a letter was intercepted — by a Jewish prisoner. I had (the misfortune) to be there, when the man was brought in.” The commandant “walked in and pulled out a piece of paper. He asked, “Did you write this?’ ‘Yes,’ the young man said. Immediately, whips hit him and he died. Eventually, there was nothing but a piece of flesh.” That night, “we heard sounds… that I had never heard. Animal sounds. Howls. Screams. Then, toward morning, silence, because …. he (the Jewish prisoner) had died... This was a real Hell that people prepared .. and make ... and do ... to people. “I will skip the other descriptions of camps. It was a parallel universe. Nothing like you’d find in this room.” Continuing, Ziffer said, “We marched to work at 5 or 6 o’clock (in the morning) to work. I don’t know the exact time because we didn’t have watches. “One day, someone threw a package over the fence. I received it. I ate the sandwich inside... Shots rang out. I don’t know if the person who threw it was killed” for that gift of food, but that is what Ziffer suspected. He added, “My first night after the delousing, after getting into the bunkbed, I had to take my shoes off. There was something oozing from my foot. I just went to sleep. ‘When you don’t get enough food, your brain doesn’t work well. Several days later, I saw my foot was green. I went to a clinic and I heard the word ‘gangrene.’ They cleansed my foot with alcohol. I screamed. They hid me under the floor for several days,” as the Nazis would shoot to death prisoners who were too sick to work. “On May 8 (in 1945), in the early morning, we stood for roll call. We looked at the triple fence. There was nothing up there. There were no soldiers. In my state of mind, it meant nothing to me.
“The triple gates opened, the German Waffen-SS commander entered, talked to the prison commander, then left. He took a key from his belt and threw it over the three fences and it landed on our side. “Then a Soviet tank drove in and smashed some of the fences. We still didn’t understand what had happened. Then, a person standing next to me (an Austrian) said, ‘I think it’s over. Let’s get organized and get some food.’ Get some food was (always) the No. 1 thought in our minds. "There was nobody around. There were brown cans on the shelves. Another guy found a screwdriver” and they opened a can that was filled with grease,” Ziffer recollected. “But it smelled like pork fat. So we ate can after can of pork fat. We hadn’t had meat in four years.” Next, “We found sugar. We hadn’t seen sugar in three years. We got on all fours and shoveled sugar into our mouths. “Then, my friends, everything went blank. I later awoke, and there was a cuckoo clock on the wall.” It was at that point, Ziffer said, that he realized, “Now it is over. You are free.” He added, “We finally woke up. We stayed with a woman who cooked us soup.We also broke into the basements of abandoned houses. But we wanted to get rid of our filthy rags. I don’t know what I found, but it was good. “We hadn’t had to make a decision in three years. So we went back to the camp. Then women came to our camp from other concentration camps. “I asked if they had ever run into any women named Ziffer.” To his surprise, he recalled, “they said, ‘Of course.’” “I was a skeleton. I was 18 years old and weighed 87 pounds. We looked like apparitions from Hell.” In his early observations after being freed from the camps, Ziffer said, “The women had made much more progress than the men” in adjusting to life after imprisonment. Soon, he observed a door opening, “and in came my sister, my mother and my cousin. They came in with sacks filled with food... They smiled sort of an angelic smile. They walked right by me,” not recognizing him. Ziffer noted that “I was scared — and walked over to my Mom and said, ‘I’m Walter, your son,’ surprising but delighting her, as he was so thin she did not — at first — see him as her son. “We spent nights with peasants and we finally arrived in my (home) town. We found out that my father already was there.He was staying in the apartment of our maid.” Sadly, Ziffer said, “It took my father a long time to heal. Something had gotten taken away from him” from the Holocaust experience. “So that is my story,” Ziffer concluded. “Anti-Semitism over the centuries has done enormous damage to my people. It murdered one third of us (Jews) on the globe — 6 million human beings (died), including 14 members of my family.” In shifting to contemporary times, Ziffer said, “After the slaying of the Jews in the synagogue in Pittsburgh — I think the Jewish community is slowly coming out of shock. Anti-Semitism is still alive. I’m optimistic that we have the capacity to do that. “We also know other American minority people are ready to join us, as we join them…. “So I ask myself what the future will bring.” He then spoke of “a political science,” in which “the future is not some place we’re going, but some place we’re creating…. “So I’m convinced about the future that, with your help, ‘We shall overcome.’ Thank you!” His hour-long speech received a standing ovation from the crowd. After his address, he fielded questions from the audience for about 20 minutes. A grey-haired man led off the Q&A by asking Ziffer, “There always were (television0 shows on the Haulocast as I was growing up. I don’t see any of that now. I wonder why” Ziffer thinks this is occurring? “They recede into the past,” Ziffer replied, “Particularly nowadays, with the media. They bring us new catasrophes and problems and all kinds of controversies. You know, we don’t even have time to think through from yesterday, last week, last year. We’re being overwhelmed with constant news. That problably explains
why the Halocaust has receded into the past. “I’m not sure how many of you realize how anti-Semitic actions have hurt our people for 20 centuries… We don’t talk about this even in our own synagogues.” Yet, Ziffer said he realizes he is not beyond criticism, so “don’t think I’m patting myself on the back... I was invited to do this talk.” Another oIder man asked, “When you were in the camp did you lose your faith in God? How did, you regain your faith in God?” “While my father was an extraordinary person in every way, my father was not a very religious person,” Ziffer replied. “He was an upright person and a very ethical person — and I think that is why he was the leader of our congregation. “Some people who came out of the concentration camps not only kept their faith, they came out with stronger faith.” He added, “Questions were raised, such as, ‘Where was God?’ ‘Where was the God of the Book of Exodus who told us we were his special people?’ These are quotes from the Hebrew Bible. ‘Where was Jesus?’ These are problems. “There are some folks who would say you don’t have to deal wth them… Isaiah — ‘My thoughts are not your thoughts’…. Well, what do you do with that, for Pete’s sake? Then the rest of the Bible tells you all about love... Then professional religious people, as rabbis are, say they are things we just don’t know... If we don’t know what happened then, then we won’t know what happens tomorrow.” Further, Ziffer asserted, “History is important from an academic standpoint. But also that we don’t need to make the same mistakes over and over... We seem to have good teachers, but not good students.” A young man asked Ziffer to share his thoughts “about fascism and bigotry in this country.” “I’m not sure what can be done, other than conversation with other people,” Ziffer said. “This is happening (even) in Asheville. People are conversing. I don’t participate because I’m too old. I’m getting tired right now, as a matter of fact.... “The German people jumped on Hitler’s bandwagon. There were some tiny (Christian) churches, however, that said ‘no’ to Hitler.. They
laid their lives on the line.” Ziffer then quoted Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German Lutheran pastor and theologian was put to death by the Nazis for his opposition to Hitler, who said the oft-quoted: “Only those who criy out for the Jews may also sing Gregorian chant.” Pausing, Ziffer said, “First of all, you have to be interested. I could stand here and tell you much more about theology, which happens to be my profession. “You have to be open to listening. But that is not enough. Because listening has to be transformed into action. But that can be dangerous. A young woman asked, “How can we, as Americans today, combat modern-day anti-Semitism? “Have you ever attended a Jewish worship service?” Ziffer said in response. “Yes, when I was younger,” the woman replied. “That’s good,” Ziffer answered. “We’re open to women. We’re open to all .. You have to come be with us — and you’ll be included, without having to become a Jew... Once you come to us, we’ll be in contact. And that’s where everything starts.” A grey-haired man asked, “Why there persists in our country an element of antiSemitism? I don’t see it with others — Irish or Greeks... Why does it persist? “First of all, let me say that anti-Semitism doesn’t just persist in our country,” Ziffer replied. He then asked, rhetorically, “Why does it persist in our country, given our Founding Fathers’ documents? Why are women not fully accepted? Millions of years of evolution have left some deposits here…. Some of that is still in us. …. If you study evolutionary psychology, we’ve acquired antidotes to that. “In Judaism, we don’t have Original Sin. In Judaism, every child who comes into the world has an equal inclination…. You have to nurture the good side of the scale, so the good side goes up and the bad side goes down. … “Only that (education) can heal that absolutely ugly phenomena you see in the world. Also, the capacity to be thinkers who can distinguish between lies and the truth. Education is the key,” Ziffer said, in concluding the Q&A session.
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City Councilwoman Julie Mayfield to seek District 49 N.C. Senate seat From Staff Reports Asheville City Councilwoman Julie Mayfield announced on March 23 that she plans to run for the North Carolina Senate seat in District 49. “Not only will I take on climate change and restore protections for air and water, I will fight to free Asheville and Buncombe County from the restraints of Raleigh, which holds us hostage when it comes to enacting Local Living Wage laws, generating revenue, releasing body cam video, enacting green building standards, and adopting simple things like tree protections
Muslim official
Continued from Page A9 “Gaubatz falsely claimed that there are Muslim ‘no-go zones’ in Minnesota and that two Muslim members of Congress, Reps. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) and André Carson (D-Ind.), had ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. He has also been linked to other online Islamophobes. “‘We urge Republican Party leaders in North Carolina and nationwide to disassociate the GOP from all forms of bigotry, including the kind of Islamophobia spewed by Mr. Gaubatz,’” said CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw. “McCaw noted that last year, CAIR welcomed a decision by Virginia’s Amherst County Sheriff’s Office to tell the Amherst County Republican Committee that an event featuring Gaubatz must be moved to another venue. CAIR had urged the sheriff’s office and the Amherst County Republican Committee to drop the event. “CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.” Also on March 6, the Daily Planet received an email titled, “Welcome to CAIR,” which later states, “Thanks for joining us! Stay tuned for news and updates delivered straight to your inbox.” While the newspaper had not “joined” CAIR or requested its news updates, the Daily Planet nevertheless now receives constant email updates about CAIR and its positions on issues, which the paper’s staff now monitors in an effort to stay informed from all directions. Meanwhile, Gaubatz, who was contacted by the Daily Planet for a response to the comments and accusations by Hooper, provided the following email message as his answer: “CAIR was set-up to be a support node for Hamas in the United States. Evidence in the US v Holy Land Foundation trial identified CAIR as a Hamas organization. “Due to evidence in the HLF trial, the FBI severed all outreach to CAIR in 2009. “CAIR purports itself to be a civil rights organization, when in actuality their sole purpose is to support Hamas. Hamas is a U.S. state department-designated terrorist organization whose stated purpose is the destruction of the state of Israel. “Just this past weekend, CAIR hosted anti-semitic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar at one of their fundraisers.” In addition, Bilello, the chair of the Asheville Tea Party, offfered the following response to Hooper and CAIR: “False accusations and character assassination of Mr. Chris Gaubatz and those who seek the truth, will not change what
and a plastic bag ban,” Mayfield stated in a press release announcing her decision to run. “The General Assembly has been an obstacle to local progress for far too long.” District 49 includes parts of Asheville and much of Buncombe County. The seat will be open in the 2020 election because the current senator, Asheville’s Terry Van Duyn, will not be seeking re-election to that post, as she is running for state lieutenant governor. Mayfield has been a co-leader of WNC’s largest environmental nonprofit, MountainTrue, since 2008.
CAIR is. “Let’s not forget that in 2007-2008 CAIR was named an unindicted co-conspirator in the terror financing trial of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development. “That case, in turn, led the FBI to discontinue its work with the organization. In 2009, a federal judge ruled that the government ‘produced ample evidence to establish’ the ties of CAIR with Hamas, the Palestinian terror organization. The United Arab Emirates labeled CAIR a terrorist organization in 2014 (a decision that the Obama administration opposed). “Mr. Chris Gaubatz, a national security consultant, speaker and conservative political activist, trains law enforcement on the severity and dangers of the jihadi network in the U.S., detailing the strategies and modus operandi of the jihadis while providing specific investigative guidance by showing them how to locate and prosecute terrorists, and working with citizens, legislators and leaders at the state and local level to create strategies to expose and dismantle these networks. “Gaubatz has testified before the United States Senate on issues relating to the consequences of agency efforts to deemphasize radical Islam in combating terrorism. Transcripts from his Congressional testimony can be found at: https://www. judiciary.senate.gov/download/06-28-16gaubatz-testimony “As the lead undercover researcher in one of the most successful post-9/11 undercover operations in the United States, Gaubatz posed as a Muslim convert and gained access to Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas-backed organization leadership meetings. “While undercover, he preserved more than 12,000 pages of evidence and 300 hours of covert audio/video recordings from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) headquarters, revealing clear patterns of fraud, sedition, and terrorism. “The only ‘phobes’ in the room are those who want to change the facts and silence free speech to fit their narrative. “Mr. Gaubatz put his life on the line to preserve the liberties this country was founded upon and many have fought and died for. Americans will not be silenced or cowed by an organization dedicated to destroying those liberties.” Also, a source who requested anonymity told the Daily Planet that Gaubatz likely will be invited back to the Asheville area in the near future to speak — this time — mainly about his undercover experiences with CAIR and Hamas
Asheville Daily Planet — April 2019 — A13
A14 - April 2019 - Asheville Daily Planet
Advice Goddess
Continued from Page A1 A: You’re in a relationship, not a coma. That said, your worries are understandable. There’s been a belief, even amongst some researchers, that crushing (on somebody other than one’s partner) is the gateway to cheating — as well as lower commitment and lower relationship satisfaction. Obviously, crushy thoughts about, say, a co-worker can lead to a hookup (or more) in a way that matter-of-fact thoughts — “Why does he have four chargers?” — do not. However, it turns out that researchers failed to make a distinction — between having a crush (an attraction to a person other than one’s partner) and having a high degree of what’s called “attention to alternatives” (basically, eyeballs ever on the prowl for “attractive alternatives” to one’s current partner). In research by doctoral student Charlene F. Belu and psychologist Lucia F. O’Sullivan, 80 percent of the participants reported having a crush on somebody other than their partner while in a committed relationship. Only a small subset (17 percent) of those participants “reported they would leave their romantic partners for their crush if the opportunity arose,” suggesting that for many, their crushes “are not considered true viable alternative partners.” The researchers found people’s crushes to be “of relatively long duration, although not as long as the length of” a person’s “current romantic relationship.” This “duration ... suggests that one’s crush endures in parallel to one’s primary relationship.” They even speculate that having a crush may even help sustain a relationship, by (mentally) “providing some variety to help cope with monotony” that’s a natural part of long-term relationships but “without the risks inherent to infidelity.” So, getting back to you, as long as your relationship’s satisfying and the only sex vacations you take with your crush are in your mind, you’re probably okay. In short, “I only have eyes for you” sounds lovely but is probably only realistic if you wear special headgear whenever you leave the house -- such as one of those stylish black bags favored by kidnappers and executioners.
Who’ll stop the reign?
Out of nowhere, a male friend started criticizing me, telling me that I need to change careers to make more money. He does have a successful business (started with seed money from his extremely wealthy family). But I didn’t ask for his advice, and besides, I love my job, and I’m working on what I need to do to move forward. So I ended up snapping at him. He got mad and insisted that he just wants the best for me. — Steamed Criticizing someone does not make them want to change; it makes them want to google for listicles like “10 Foolproof Tricks For Getting Away with Murder.” To understand your friend’s spontaneous outburst of unsolicited advice, consider that human communication is strategic — just like that of our earth-dwelling colleagues, from apes to insects. Honeybees, for example, do a little dance to tell their fellow bees where the nectar is; they don’t just go all twerky for no reason. Back here in Humanland, evolutionary scientists Vladas Griskevicius and Douglas Kenrick find that seven “deep-seated evolutionary motives” — emerging from survival and mating challenges our ancestors faced — “continue to influence much modern behavior.” These evolved motivations still driving us today are 1) evading physical harm, 2) avoiding disease, 3) making friends, 4) acquiring a mate, 5) keeping
that mate, 6) caring for family, and — dingding-ding! — 7) attaining status. Yes, status. There’s a good chance that a dispenser of unsolicited advice has the best of intentions — like “I just want to help you...uh...help you (and others who hear about my help) think more highly of me!” (He then becomes the expert, the career seer, the swami of success.) But whatever this guy’s motive, you have no obligation to donate your attention to his cause. The best time to set boundaries is before they’re needed. Or needed again. Gently inform your friend that you truly appreciate his desire to help but the only advice that works for you is the solicited kind. Should he wish to, uh, solicit your solicitation, he can ask: “Would you be open to hearing...?” If you accept, it might help you keep an open mind if you focus on what you two have in common — for example, a relative who proclaimed, “When I die, all of this will be yours!” Unfortunately, your grandma was making a sweeping gesture toward her salt and pepper shaker collection.
Worst-chase scenario
I’m a guy, and I’ve noticed that many women (at cafes, etc.) give me flirtatious looks, suggesting they’re interested in me, yet they never approach me. Why don’t they just come over and say hi and get my number and call me or message me? — Annoyed It isn’t hard to get a woman to chase you. Just grab her purse and take off down the street. However, as a dude, if you’re looking for dates or a relationship, you should plan on doing the chasing rather than the waiting. “Males chase/females choose” evolved to be kind of a thing across species — those in which the females get stuck with the greater share of child production and caretaking (“parental investment,” in anthro terms). As evolutionary scientists Peter K. Jonason and Norman Li explain (in their research on playing hard to get), “the sex that bears the greater obligation to offspring is the more choosy sex (females in most species) and will put the opposite sex (usually males) through ‘tests’ for access.” Keep in mind that many men will have sex with a woman they aren’t all that interested in simply because she pursues them. (In guy terms: “My wrist is tired. You’ll do.”) In line with this, Jonason and Li’s research finds that women benefit from playing hard to get in a way men do not. A woman who refrains from pursuing a man “may increase her perceived value” in his eyes and motivate him to work harder to pursue her. “In contrast,” they write, “men who limit their availability may pay heavier costs than women will through the loss of potential mating opportunities.” As for what this means for you, waiting for women to ask for your digits and blow up your phone with calls and texts is a fantastic idea — if your mail comes addressed to Chris Hemsworth, 26 Movie Star Avenue. • (c.) 2019, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved. Got a problem? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave, #280, Santa Monica, CA 90405, or e-mail AdviceAmy@aol. com (advicegoddess.com). Weekly radio show: blogtalkradio.com/amyalkon
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A16 — April 2019 - Asheville Daily Planet
Entertainment
Special Section PULLOUT
& Calendar of Events
B1
Asheville Daily Planet — April 2019
Biltmore Gardens Railway to make sparks fly
Edwin McCain
Asheville’s Biltmore Gardens Railway is bringing large-scale model railroads and handmade buildings (above and below) to two locations on the estate — the Conservatory and Antler Hill Village & Winery. Running May 24-Sept. 29, the
Special photos courtesy of the Biltmore Company
exhibition will feature replica structures fashioned from natural materials by artists, craftspeople and gardeners, creating “an enchanting display amid the estate’s celebrated landscape,” an event promotion noted. In the Conservatory, notable replicas will include Biltmore House and the Cathedral of All Souls in Biltmore Village. Nearly 800 feet of track will carry G-scale locomotives and railcars around the replicas, traversing bridges and trestles on varied levels in multiple rooms and weaving through the estate’s renowned collection of exotic botanicals. The display in Antler Hill Village & Winery will showcase the travels of George Vanderbilt, Biltmore’s founder. Model trains will travel amid international landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower in Paris and London’s Tower Bridge.
Donated photo
Edwin McCain to perform for fire fighters’ show
From Staff Reports
E
dwin McCain will perform in concert at 8 p.m. April 5 at the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Asheville in a fundraiser for the Asheville Fire Fighters Association. “Called the ‘great American romantic’ by the New York Times, ‘Edwin McCain has built an enviable career over the past 20 years by balancing his massive pop success with the year-round touring schedule of a tireless troubadour,” the center’s press release noted. “His hit songs, authentic spirit and surprisingly affable sense of humor keep fans coming back time and time again for nights that feel more like parties with old friends than rock concerts. “After recording two of the biggest love songs in the history of pop music, McCain now performs upwards of 100 shows annually throughout the U.S. as a solo artist, with his full band or his acoustic trio. “Recently, he’s added orchestras to his repertoire, performing with symphonies in select markets where he brings his powerful songs to majestic new heights.” See MCAIN, Page B7
Annual Heritage Classic’s dance competitors? Bedazzling From Staff Reports he pro show — as usual — was a highlight of the 32nd annual Heritage Classic Dancesport Championships, which featured competitive ballroom-style dancing from Feb. 26 to March 2 at the Omni Grove Park Inn in North Asheville. The pro show — performed in four different segments during the finale night between competitions — featured dazzling performances by Victor DaSilva and Anna Melnikova, billed as “world-renowned champions and performers.” Regarding the featured couple, Asheville’s Kem Overby, himself a certified judge by the National Dance Council of America, told the Daily Planet on March 26, “They were magnificent — the control, the passion....” Overby also said he thought the show Saturday night (March 2) was “incredible.” He added, “Both professional competitions were more than expected. The level of dancing and showmanship was exquisite... Amazing talent from all over the world.” See HERITAGE CLASSIC Page B6
T
Youtube Photo
Victor DaSilva and Anna Melnikova are shown in a previous dance performance.
Daily Planet Staff Photos
Couples perform in the dance competition on March 1.
B2 — April 2019 - Asheville Daily Planet
Montford Park Players opens its 2019 season on May 3 with “Shakespeare in Love” YouTube Photo
Rumours of Fleetwood Mac, which claims to have played for 700,000 Mac fans worldwide and says it is “now recognised as the Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute Show globally,” will perform at 7:30 p.m. April 13 in the Foundation Performing Arts Center at Isothermal Community College in Spindale.
Calendar
of
Events
Send us your calendar items
Please submit items to the Calendar of Events by noon on the third Wednesday of each month, via e-mail, at calendar@ashevilledailyplanet. com, or fax to 252-6567, or mail c/o The Daily Planet, P.O. Box 8490, Asheville, N.C. 288148490. Submissions will be accepted and printed at the discretion of the editor, space permitting. To place an ad for an event, call 252-6565.
Monday, April 1
BILL NYE PROGRAM, 7 p.m., Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, U.S. Cellular Center, downtown Asheville. A program titled “A Conversation With Bill Nye — EXTREME Weather” will be presented. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $37-$69.
Thursday, April 4
ARTHUR TRACE SHOW, 7 p.m., Diana Wortham Theatre, downtown Asheville. Arthur Trace will perform in his show, “The Artful Deceiver.” His performance has been called “one of the most unique acts in the world of magic today” by the director of the Society of American Magicians and “one of magic’s bonafide superstars” by the Chicago Tribune. THE CLEVERLYS CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Salvage Station, 468 Riverside Drive, Asheville. The group The Cleverlys will perform as part of The Collider’s 2019 Climate City Expo. Doors will open at 7 p.m. “IN THE MOOD” SHOW, 7:30 p.m., Bo Thomas Auditorium, Blue Ridge Community College, East Flat Rock. The show “In The Mood” will be presented by The Center for Art & Inspiration.
Friday, April 5
BILLY RAY CYRUS CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for Performing Arts, 1028 Georgia Road, Franklin. Country singer and actor Billy Ray Cyrus will perform in concert. He has scored eight top 10 singles on the Billboard Country Songs chart. His breakout hit was “Achy Breaky Heart.” For tickets, which are $38 to $55, visit www.greatmountainmusic.com or call (866) 273-4615. “ALICE IN WONDERLAND” PRODUCTION, 7:30 p.m., Asheville Community Theatre, 35 E. Walnut St., downtown Asheville. A musical version of the 1984 film “Alice in Wonderland” will be performed April 5-21. (Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 2:30 p.m. Sundays.) Regarding the show, the ACT noted, “A journey into a world of complete illusion! All the familiar characters from Lewis Carroll’s famed Victorian fairy tale are here: Alice, The Mad Hatter, The White Rabbit, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, The Red Queen, The Cheshire Cat … and many more! Produced and reviewed on Broadway, this is considered the most successful dramatic version of ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and ‘Through the Looking Glass.’” For tickets, which are $15-26, visit ashevilletheatre.org. “CONSTELLATIONS” PRODUCTION, 7:30 p.m., HART Theatre, 250 Pigeon St., Waynesville. HART
will perform “Constellations” April 5-7. (Other showtimes are 7:30 p.m. April 6 and 2 p.m. April 7.) “The play follows Roland, a beekeeper, and Marianne, a cosmologist, through their romantic relationship. Marianne often waxes poetic about cosmology, quantum mechanics, string theory and the belief that there are multiple universes that pull peoples’ lives in various directions,” a HART promotion stated. “This is reflected in the play’s structure as brief scenes are repeated, often with different outcomes.” The show contains adult material. For tickets, visit harttheatre.org. “SYLVIA!” PRODUCTION, 8 p.m., Leiman Mainstage, Flat Rock Playhouse, 2661 Greenville Hwy., Flat Rock. The show “Sylvia” will be performed April 5-20. (Showtimes are 2 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays.) Regarding the show, FRP stated, “A family in midlife crisis. They’ve drawn a line in the sand: it’s man vs. wife… and their dog. Discover this love connection in an increasingly impersonal world. What could be funnier? What could be more full of heart? Find a way home. Woof!” For tickets, which are $54 or $48, visit flatrockplayhouse.org.
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Saturday, April 6
ASHEVILLE ORCHID FESTIVAL, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., North Carolina Arboretum, West Asheville. The Asheville Orchid Festival will be held 9 a.m.-5 p.m. April 6-7. The event will feature “incredible orchid exhibits, fabulous plants for sale, educational programs and lectures. Admission is $5 for adults — and free for those ages 12 and under. ASHEVILLE YOGA/GUN CLUB RECONVENES, 4 p.m., Asheville Armory, 957 Riverside Drive. Asheville. After a year-long hiatus, the Asheville Yoga and Gun Club will reconvene. Jason Brodsky, who bills himself as a “holistic realtor,” will lay the foundation for total beginners. “I teach people who have no yoga experience and no firearm experience,” Brodsky was quoted as saying March 10 in the Asheville Citizen Times. “They might be qually intimidated by both words. He reportedly has developed a hatha yoga routine structured around classic shooting positions — prone, sitting or kneeling, and standing — to help new mindful markspeople perfect their stance, breathwork and focus.” To register for space that is limited, visit the Asheville Armory to sign up in advance. Participants in the class should bring safety goggles, a yoga mat or blanket and a Daisy Red Ryder air rifle, Broadsky told the ACT.
See CALENDAR, Page B3
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Calendar of Events Continued from Page B2
Sunday, April 7
CONCERT, 3 p.m., Blue Ridge Community College, East Flat Rock. The Hendersonville Symphony will perform “A Musical Fantasy,” featuring clarinet, double-bass and piano. Admission is free.
Tuesday, April 9
BALLET HISPANICO SHOW, 8 p.m., Diana Wortham Theatre, downtown Asheville. Ballet Hispanico will perform its show April 9-10.
Wednesday, April 10
BOOK DISCUSSION/READINGS, 5:30-7 p.m., Thomas Wolfe Memorial State Historic Site, downtown Asheville. Ellen Brown, author of “John Apperson’s Lake George,” will discuss “The Hollyhock Savers.” Refreshment will be served from 5:30 to 5:45 p.m. Admission is free.
Friday, April 12
“HIS LAST DAYS” STAGE PRESENTATION, 7 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for Performing Arts, 1028 Georgia Road, Franklin. “His Last Days” will be performed by the choir and cast of the Tallulah Falls, Ga., outdoor passon drama. The event is billed as “a musical, pictorial and live state presentation of Jesus’ last days, based on a cantata by Dallas Holmes. For tickets, which are $10 for adults and $5 for students, visit www. greatmountainmusic.com or call (866) 273-4615. COMEDY SHOWCASE/HEADLINER DERRICK STROUP, 7:30 p.m., The Magnetic Theatre, 375 Depot St. (in the River Arts District), Asheville. The Magnetic Theatre will present what it is billing as “a cavalcade of comedy,” featuring headliner Derrick Stroup, an Alabama-born, Colorado-based comic, who will be joined by fellow Colorodan Kyle Pogue and Asheville comics Hilliary Begley and Cody Hughes. “Please join us for this one night only East meets West standup comedy convergence,” an event promotion stated. Doors will open at 7 p.m. For tickets, visit themagnetictheatre.com.
Saturday, April 13
BOOKFEST, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Asheville Outlets Mall, West Asheville. The Asheville Bookfest, sponsored by Grateful Steps Publishing, Pisgah Press and YAV Publications, will be held. Booksfest planners told the Asheville Citizen Times that they are thrilled that the event will have more “foot traffic” than any previous Bookfest — as the mall also will be hosting on the same day the annual Asheville Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival and the annual Kids Day & Summer Camp Expo. Both of the latter events traditionally have attracted thousands of fans. WNC publishers’ authors and self-published authors are invited to display and sell their publications in a public venue. A speakers program will be held in the Food Court all day. For details on the program of Bookfest in general, visit www.gratefulsteps.org. Admission to the Bookfest is free. FLEETWOOD MAC TRIBUTE SHOW, 7:30 p.m., The Foundation Performing Arts Center, Isothermal Community College, Spindale. Rumours, billed as “the country’s premier Fleetwood Mac tribute band,” will perform in concert. The band is touted for its blend of “perfect harmonies, precise instrumentation and a visually engaging stage show.” For tickets, visit www.FoundationShows.org. CONCERT, 8 p.m., Diana Wortham Theatre, downtown Asheville. A concert will feature Avital Meets Avital in what is billed as “a dialogue between two musicians who come from different worlds, but share a common richness of musical heritage.” Grammy nominee mandolinist Avi Avital, who comes from a classical tradition; performs with award-winning bass virtuoso and oud player Omer Avial, who is an acclaimed jazz performer and composer. When the two musicians, joined by a pianist and percussionist, perform, “these two worlds collide,” an event promotion stated.
Sunday, April 14
ANNUAL PALM SUNDAY LUNCHEON, 11 a.m.2 p.m., Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church and the Morris Hellenic Cultural Center, 227 Cumberland Avenue (in the Montford neighborhood), Asheville. The Annual Palm Sunday Luncheon will be served by the Greek Orthodox Ladies
Asheville Daily Planet - April 2019 - B3
Philoptochos Society of the Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. This year will mark the 54th year for the fundraising luncheon. All are invited and welcome. “An array of delicious foods like the béchamel topped pastichio, spanakopita (spinach & buttery filo), keftethes (meatballs)... will be offered,” an event press release stated. “The pastries table will be filled with all the favorite Greek pastries like Baklava, Kourambiethes, Galatoboureko and many more. Think honey, nuts and, yes....buttery filo. They are the perfect finale to the vast buffet of savory foods you will find here. There will be Greek music and dance presentations as well.” Proceeds from the luncheon go to charities worldwide — and locally to programs for the homeless, children and hunger. DAVID SEDARIS PERFORMANCE, 7 p.m., Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, downtown Asheville. Sedaris, a humorist, comedian, author, and radio contributor, will perform in “An Evening With David Sedaris.” He gained national recognition in 1992 when National Public Radio broadcast his essay “Santaland Diaries.” Doors will open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $37.50-$52.50.
Thursday, April 18
CRYSTAL BALL ECONOMIC SEMINAR, 7 p.m., Lipinsky Auditorium, UNC Asheville. Crystal Ball XXIV will feature noted economists discussing the performance of the international, national, state and local economies for the past 12 months — and then will make predictions for the next 12 months. The program will be preceded by a reception in Lipinsky’s lobby from 6:15 to 7 p.m. Admission to the event, hosted by Parsec Financial and UNCA’s Department of Economics, is free.
Wednesday, April 24
“STONES IN HIS POCKETS” SHOW, 7:30 p.m., N.C. Stage Co., 15 Stage Lane, downtown Asheville. The show “Stones in His Pockets” will be presented April 24-May 19. It will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Sundays. Also, two Saturday matinees have been added at 2 p.m. may 11 and 18. For tickets, visit ncstage.org.
Thursday, April 25
ACTIVIST SPEAKER, 7 p.m., Kimmell Arena, UNC Asheville. Bryan Stevenson, billed by UNCA as a “national leader and attorney” as well as “founder of the Equal Justice Initiative and its National Memorial to Honor Victims of Lynching,” will speak. Seating is free at the unticketed event on a firstcome, first-served basis. “FROM MOZART TO POP CHARTS” CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Leiman Mainstage, Flat Rock Playhouse, 2661 Greenville Hwy., Flat Rock. The show “From Mozart to Pop Charts With Nat Zegree” will be performed April 25-28.Thursday 7:30 pm; Friday 8 p.m.; Saturday 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Sunday 2 p.m. (Other showtimes are 8 p.m. April 26; 2 and 8 p.m. April 27; and 2 p.m. April 28.) Regarding the show, FRP stated, “Guess who’s coming back home! We fell in love with him as Jerry Lee Lewis in ‘Million Dollar Quartet.’ He amazed us as Mozart in ‘Amadeus.’ He delighted us all with his charm in ‘Pickin’ and a Grinnin’.” But he didn’t stop there! He also crafted three one-man shows for us. His enthusiasm permeated the community as he shared his passion for music with us and reminded us all what a powerful role music plays in our everyday lives. This April, he returns to share the joy of music from Mozart to modern-day accompanied by a 16-piece symphonic orchestra.” For tickets, which are $17 to $48, visit flatrockplayhouse.org. RAINBOW KITTEN SURPRISE CONCERT, 8 p.m., Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, downtown Asheville. The genre-defying group Rainbow Kitten Surprise will perform in concert. Doors will open at 7 p.m. All seats are general admission. Tickets are $36 at the door.
See CALENDAR, Page B6
TO REPORT AN ERROR
The Asheville Daily Planet strives to be accurate in all articles published. Contact the News Department at news@ashevilledailyplanet.com, (828) 252-6565, or P.O. Box 8490, Asheville, N.C. 28814-8490.
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Asheville Daily Planet — April 2019 — B5
B6 — April 2019 — Asheville Daily Planet
Calendar
Continued from Page B3
Friday, April 26
“AN EVENING OF ONE-ACTS” SHOW, 7 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for Performing Arts, 1028 Georgia Road, Franklin. The Overlook Theatre Company will present “An Evening of One-Acts,” featuring four different shows and four different directors. For tickets, which are $12, visit www. greatmountainmusic.com or call (866) 273-4615. “THE FOREIGNER” PRODUCTION, 7:30 p.m., HART Theatre, 250 Pigeon St., Waynesville. HART will perform “The Foreigner” April 26-May 12. (Other April showtimes are 7:30 p.m. April 27 and 2 p.m. April 28.) “The scene is a fishing lodge in rural Georgia often visited by ‘Froggy’ LeSeuer, a British demolition expert who occasionally runs training sessions at a nearby army base,” a HART event promotion stated. “This time ‘Froggy’ has brought along a friend, a pathologically shy young man named Charlie who is overcome with fear at the thought of making conversation with strangers. So ‘Froggy,’ before departing, tells all assembled that Charlie is from an exotic foreign country and speaks no English. Once alone the fun really begins, as Charlie overhears more than he should.” The show is the winner of two Obie Awards and two Outer Critics Circle Awards as Best New American Play and Best Off-Broadway Production. The HART production is directed by former 880-AM The Revolution progressive radio host Jeff Messer. For tickets, visit harttheatre.org. YING QUARTET CONCERT, 8 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 1 Edwin Place, North Asehville. The Ying Quartet and cellist Zuill Bailey will perform works by Bach and Schumann. For tickets, visit ashevillechambermusic.org.
Saturday, April 27
TRAVIS TRITT AND THE MARSHALL TUCKER BAND CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Event Center, Harrah’s Cherokee Resort. Travis Tritt and the Marshall Tucker Band will perform in concert. For tickets, which start at $210, visit Ticketmaster.com. SISTERS CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for Performing Arts, 1028 Georgia Road, Franklin. The award-winning female gospel group Sisters will perform in concert. For tickets, which are $15 and $18, visit www.greatmountainmusic. com or call (866) 273-4615. QUEEN BEE & THE HONEYLOVERS CONCERT, 8:30 p.m., Isis Music Hall, 743 Haywood Rd., West Asheville. The band Queen Bee and the Honeylovers, billed as a “newly budded swing-jazz-folk ensemble,” will perform during an “Asheville” album-release party. For tickets, which are $10-$12, visit isisasheville.com.
Thursday, May 2
“COUNTRY ROYALTY — HANK AND PATSY” CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Leiman Mainstage, Flat Rock Playhouse, 2661 Greenville Hwy., Flat Rock. The show “Country Royalty — Hank and Patsy” wll be performed May 2-12.(Showtimes 2 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays). Regarding the show, FRP stated, “Jason Petty as Hank Williams and Katie Deal as Patsy Cline. A homecoming tribute to the Country Royalty who touched our hearts and souls. Songs that transcend time and culture. Come share an evening of music with your extended Playhouse family.” For tickets, which are $58 to $54, visit flatrockplayhouse.org.
Friday, May 3
TOME IMPALA CONCERT, 8 p.m., U.S. Cel-
lular Center, downtown Asheville Tome Impala, whose real name is Kevin Parker, will perform in concert. His is billed as “the almost-legendary messianic figure and creative soul who has developed the particular sonice universe of psychedelic pop cultivated with guitar pedals, delays, revers and liquid explosions of color. There’s no one like him in the current music scene.” AARON LEWIS CONCERT, 9 p.m., Event Center, Harrah’s Cherokee Resort, Cherokee. Aaron Lewis will perform in concert at the resort as part of his “The State I’m in Tour.” For tickets, which start at $36, visit Ticketmaster.com.
Saturday, May 4
CONCERT, 8 p.m., Diana Wortham Theatre, downtown Asheville. A concert will feature multiinstrumentalist and composer Jonathan Scales with his Fourchestra, which has what is billed as “a fluid lineup,” allowing Scales to work with a wide range of artists.
Sunday, May 5
“MACBETH, 3 p.m., Bardo Arts Center, Western Carolina University, Cullowee. The BAC Sunday Cinema Series will feature a screening of “Macbeth.” Single tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors (ages 65 and older) and $5 for WCU students and faculty. To reserve tickets, call 227ARTS or visit bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.
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Friday, May 10
SCHUBERTIADE CONCERT, 8 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 1 Edwin Place, North Asehville. Asheville’s Schubertiade will perform works by Franz Schubert.
Sunday, May 11
EARTH, WIND & FIRE CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Event Center, Harrah’s Cherokee Resort. The iconic band Earth, Wind & Fire will perform in concert. For tickets, which start at $55.50, visit Ticketmaster.com. ASHEVILLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERT, 8 p.m., Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, downtown Asheville. The ASO will perform “Masterworks 7: Stravinsky” under its new conductor Darco Butorac, and featuring violinist Simone Porter. For tickets, visit ashevillesymphonyorchestra.org.
Thursday, May 16
JERRY SEINFELD COMEDY SHOW, 7 p.m., Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, U.S. Cellular Center, downtown Asheville. Comedy great Jerry Seinfeld will return to Asheville again this year. Seinfeld, the star of the famed 1990s sitcom bearing his name and host of “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee,” will make his first return performance in Asheville since 2015. In an announcement of the show, the U.S. Cellular Center officials note Seinfeld has been “hailed for his uncanny ability to joke about the little things in life that relate to audiences everywhere.” Seinfeld has been a regular touring comedian since the mid-1970s, making his first appearance on Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show” in 1981. His run as a successful standup comic led to his breakout NBC hit “Seinfeld” with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jason Alexander and Michael Richards, which ran from 1989-1998 — and got scooped up in a massive streaming agreement by Hulu in 2015. For tickets, which range from $199 to $597, visit Ticketmaster.com or www.centerasheville.com.
Friday, May 24
ALABAMA CONCERT, 9 p.m., Event Center, Harrah’s Cherokee Resort. The Southern rock group Alabama will perform in concert.” For tickets, which begin at $96, visit Ticketmaster.com.
Heritage Classic
Continued from Page B1 “Talent like this will once against help establish the Heritage competition as one of the best competitions in the country,” Overby noted. Dancers, fueled by energy, passion and excitement, included world professional champions in the NDCA-sanctioned, ballroom dance competition
1st annual
Elevated seating on three sides provided sweeping views of the dance floor. The organizers, Colin and Joy Hillary, are former competitors and champions, They represented their native country, Australia, in the 1970 World Professional Latin Championships in London, England. A list of the winners of the Heritage Classic is available at www.theheritageclassic.
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Asheville Daily Planet - April 2019 - B7
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The Asheville Ballet takes the main stage at the 2018 Dirty Dancing Festival to re-enact one of a series of scenes it performed from the original movie.
Tickets available for Dirty Dancing Festival
From Staff Reports
L
ake Lure — Ticket sales began in mid-March for the 10th anniversary of Lake Lure’s Dirty Dancing Festival on Sept.13-14. Tickets may be purchased by visiting www.dirtydancingfestival.com. “This two-day celebration of one of the world’s most treasured pop-culture films features a film screening, dance lessons and movie performances by the Asheville Ballet Company, live bands playing soulfilled hits from the 1960s, and a variety of vendors and film-inspired activities,” an event presss release stated. “Every year the celebration is punctuated by the hilariously renowned Lake Lift Competition where daring couples test their re-enactment skills of Baby and Johnny’s iconic water scene.” Since the film’s release in 1987, “Dirty Dancing” has accumulated fans, accolades and praise worldwide, with the “Time of My Life” final dance scene finding its way into new television commercials and viral YouTube videos decades later every year. “Festival organizers are proud to honor Lake Lure’s legacy as the film’s backdrop and plan to unveil special elements to highlight this year’s milestone event,” the press release noted. “It’s incredible to see the event reach its 10-year anniversary and I look forward to the special fun we have in store for this year,” festival co-founder Michelle McConnell Yelton said. “My favorite part of the
McCain
Continued from Page B1 The event press release also said of McCain: “Those enduring love songs (and wedding must-haves) ‘I’ll Be’ and ‘I Could Not Ask For More’ aren’t just for the romantic at heart; ‘American Idol’ and ‘The Voice’ contestants turn to Edwin’s ballads every single year to help them win over judges and fans alike (just ask last season’s AI winner, Nick Fradiani). “Even Justin Bieber has been known to belt out ‘I’ll Be’ during his own concerts. “Earlier this year, McCain suddenly found himself with a whole new crop of fans when his ‘Flipping Ships’ television show debuted on Animal Planet. ‘Flipping Ships’ took him from the chart tops to the boat shop — his very
festival is watching everyone come unglued with giddiness as we remember how much we all love this movie and dancing, even after all these years.” The weekend will begin with a Patrick Swayze gets ticketed Kick-Off close with Jennifer Party at 5 p.m. Grey in the iconic on Friday, Sept. film “Dirty Dancing” 13, featuring live music and a 10th anniversary tribute, followed by free admission for the 8 p.m. public film screening of “Dirty Dancing.” The festival will continue from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, with a packed schedule of entertainment, activities, contests and vendors. • Tickets sold on the day of each event are priced as follows: • Advanced ticket sales end at 11:30 p.m. Sept. 10, and range in price from child to adult for activities on both Friday and Saturday night as follows: • Sept. 13 Film Screening Kick-Off Party, 5-8 p.m.: $5/children (4-10-years-old) or $10/ adults (11-years-old and older). Gates open to the public at 8 p.m. for free admission to the film screening, which begins at 9:15 p.m. • Sept. 14 Dance & Music Festival 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.: $10/children (4-10-yearsold) or $25/adults (11-years-old and older).
own ‘Boats Have Souls’ (www.BoatsHaveSouls.com), a restoration outfit dedicated to bringing life back to vessels and customizing them to perfectly fit their new owners. “‘We started the business to put good boats into good families’ hands by restoring them in ways that might otherwise be financially out of reach,’ Edwin explains. Viewers were fascinated by the blood, sweat and the occasional tear that he poured into his renovations while rehabbed boats found new life and new owners, including a few non-profit organizations in his homestate of South Carolina. Just like his songs, Edwin’s boats all have a story to tell; about the people who built them, Edwin’s team who defies all odds to reconstruct them, and the families who take them home,” the release said.
DancesDances at Oliveat or Twist 121 West Barnwell St., Downtown Hendersonville Olive or Twist • Tuesdays —Shag and Swing
121 West Barnwell St., • Wednesdays — Ballroom and Country Downtown Hendersonville Lesson at 6:30 p.m. • Dancing 7-9 p.m. Requests are always welcome. Tuesdays $5 per person • Food and drinks available at the bar Shag and Swing
Dances at the Asheville Ballroom Wednesdays 291 Sweeten Creek Asheville Ballroom andRoad, Country
Saturday, January 12p.m. Lesson at 6:30 p.m. • Dancing 7-9 Admission $10welcome Requests are always
Lesson at 7 p.m. • Dancing fromavailable 8 to 10:30 p.m.. $5 per person • Food and drinks at the bar
B8 — April 2019 - Asheville Daily Planet