Mountain Xpress 01.28.26

FEATURES WELLNESS ISSUE,

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Are you looking for ways to cut back on social media? Do you need inspiration for healthy eating habits? Has the winter weather got you sick and seeking homemade remedies? Find insights on these topics and more throughout this week’s Wellnes Issue, Part 1.

PUBLISHER & EDITOR: Jeff Fobes

ASSISTANT PUBLISHER: Susan Hutchinson

MANAGING EDITOR: Thomas Calder

EDITOR: Gina Smith

OPINION EDITOR: Tracy Rose

STAFF REPORTERS: Thomas Calder, Brionna Dallara, Justin McGuire, Brooke Randle, Gina Smith

COMMUNITY CALENDAR & CLUBLAND: Braulio Pescador-Martinez

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

REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS: Emily Klinger Antolic, Christopher Arbor, Edwin Arnaudin, Danielle Arostegui, Mark Barrett, Eric Brown, Cayla Clark, Molly Devane, Ashley English, Merin McDivitt, Mindi Meltz Friedwald, Troy Jackson, Bill Kopp, Chloe Leiberman, Anabel Shenk, Jessica Wakeman, Jamie Zane

PHOTOGRAPHER: Caleb Johnson

ADVERTISING, ART & DESIGN MANAGER: Susan Hutchinson

LEAD DESIGNER: Scott Southwick

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS: Tina Gaafary, Caleb Johnson, Olivia Urban

MARKETING ASSOCIATES: Sara Brecht, Dave Gayler

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

BOOKKEEPER: Amie Fowler

OFFICE MANAGER:

Senior housing overcharges demand attention

I am writing out of concern for senior citizens and other vulnerable residents living in HUDsubsidized (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) housing in Asheville.

What began as advocacy on behalf of seniors has revealed a troubling pattern of overcharging, accounting discrepancies and a lack of meaningful oversight in properties receiving federal housing funds. During a period of informal research and documentation, we identified at least two senior residents in one complex who appear to have been overcharged by approximately $8,000 each. These are individuals living on fixed incomes who rely on HUD subsidies to remain housed. “We” refers to myself, several senior residents and a former property manager who helped verify billing practices during an informal review.

When seniors are overcharged at this scale, the harm is not abstract. It affects their ability to afford food, medication, transportation and basic stability. Seniors do not have the financial cushion or energy to untangle complex billing errors or challenge housing providers without assistance. Yet they are often expected to do exactly that.

Housing providers that accept federal subsidies have a responsi -

bility to maintain accurate records, comply with HUD regulations and protect tenants from financial harm. When oversight fails, the burden falls squarely on the most vulnerable residents.

This is not merely an individual dispute but a systemic issue that warrants public attention. Transparency, enforcement and accountability should not be optional when public funds and senior citizens are involved.

I urge local leaders, housing authorities and the public to closely examine how HUD-subsidized properties are managed and to lis -

PRO TIP

Roney and Ullman deserve your votes

As a 25-year resident of Asheville (45 in Buncombe), former managing editor and investigative reporter with Mountain Xpress and two-term Council member, I believe I have a reasonably good understanding of the complex issues that local

Less is more when it comes to social media

Dr. Lauren Keely Carlisle of French Broad Pediatrics arrived in Asheville by way of New Orleans, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. “I have always been interested in healthy living, from both a medical and a personal standpoint,” she says.

Xpress : What’s your approach for managing screen time and technology to support optimal health?

Carlisle: The most important thing is to realize and believe that less is better for everyone. Too much screen time stresses me out, and it also is easy for me to get sucked into it, so I have chosen not to have social media on my phone. I try also not to use the phone at all if possible after a certain time at night.

Can you share one or two food items or simple dishes that are your personal go-tos for maintaining a healthy diet?

More veggies always! I have a Greek salad shrimp pasta that is definitely a go-to for me — the ingredients are what you would expect from the name. I also have a couple of stores whose veggie sushi I like — that to me is a quick lunch source. What is one wellness habit readers should consider adding to their daily or weekly routines in 2026? Continue to build and foster your community. We know that social connection impacts social, mental and physical health in positive ways. Strategies to do this include volunteering, joining a group/club and keeping in touch with friends and family.  X

government can and must address. I have also had a front-row seat as elected officials have struck a balance between the ideal and the possible, standing strong for what they believe while knowing that effective governance often demands compromise.

Kim Roney and Maggie Ullman have both earned my unreserved respect in their time on Council. Both came to office with strong environmental activist backgrounds and have proved true. They both listen to constituents and act on their behalf. I urge my fellow Asheville voters to support them both on March 3. — Cecil Bothwell Asheville

No thanks to widening I-40 west

[ Regarding “Transportation Staff Update CIBO on Future Road Improvements,” Jan. 9, Xpress:]

If anyone, including the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT), can show us any road-widening project that actually reduced traffic anywhere in the USA, we’re all ears. Because they and we won’t find one.

The reason is because of what traffic engineers call “induced demand.” Simply put, increasing roadway capacity is followed by more drivers using that capacity and filling up the roadway. This is often followed by another road-widening project and another and maybe another. Southern California is the most absurd example, where Interstate 405 is eight lanes each side in places.

The interstate highway system was built for interstate transportation. Instead, most trips in metropolitan areas are strictly local trips. NCDOT has this data, and we should request it.

Western North Carolina has huge rebuilding needs after Hurricane Helene, and the money is not there. Not yet and maybe never.

It makes little sense to me that we are spending $1 billion to create an Interstate 26 Connector of a few miles, given our more pressing needs. And it makes little sense to widen Interstate 40 west for the same reasons. I-40 west is currently using vast resources to repair Helene damage, and I-40 west has huge deferred maintenance issues, too.

This is another political boondoggle for the politicians to cut some ribbons, while we are stuck with the tab. I say no

ten to senior residents before more damage is done.

— Dionne Lang Asheville

— Rob Dickson Asheville

CARTOON BY RANDY MOLTON

LAUREN KEELY CARLISLE

Express lanes aren’t good fit for WNC

[ Regarding “Transportation Staff Update CIBO on Future Road Improvements,” Jan. 9, Xpress:]

Having moved from a larger city that has tolled express lanes, I do not think they are a good solution from an environmental or traffic management point of view, nor a good fit for Western North Carolina. These lanes often require dedicated flyovers or underpasses that increase the highway footprint. They are underused except during peak hours, when it becomes necessary to implement surge pricing in order to keep them from getting clogged. (Even with surge pricing, the express lane entrances often back up during peak hours, and given that you typically enter them from the fast lane, that creates a safety issue.)

If there is a wreck in the express lane, it is hard to clear, since express lanes are usually designed without shoulders. They are a locus for road rage, since some aggressive drivers feel entitled to speed in the express lane, but there is no way for them to pass vehicles that are doing the speed limit.

Ultimately, study after study has found that widening roads does not

improve traffic in the long term. It just encourages more driving and more sprawl, which makes traffic worse due to induced demand. We need to stop doubling down on failed midcentury ideas.

— Darrell Commander Asheville

NIMBY doesn’t work for big picture

In his letter to the Mountain Xpress , Doug Baughman asks: Why has NIMBY (not in my backyard) come to be seen as a bad thing?

[ “Why Is NIMBY Considered a Bad Thing?” Jan. 21 ] He remembers when the environmental movement was getting started and our mission was to protect and prevent: If a forest or wetland was threatened by development, we tried to stop it.

What has changed? Global warming and the broader environmental vision it requires. Now, when new housing is proposed for Haw Creek, where Mr. Baughman and I live, we have to ask not only, “Will a few trees be cut down?” but also, “If housing is not built here, where?” And the answer is farther out of the city, where it will not only destroy forests and fields, it will require those living

there to take long car trips to work, school, shopping and friends, each time pumping more carbon into the atmosphere.

To reduce damage to the global environment, we need more people living in more central, denser neighborhoods, where they can walk, bike or bus to many of the places they need to go. And this requires some building in closein areas like Haw Creek — not high-rises on every block, but townhomes, duplexes, small apartment buildings and cottage clusters on some lots. The younger generation understands this as part of the big picture of a healthy planet; some of us older homeowners need to realize it, too.

— Michael Bell Asheville

Asheville should educate city workers on rights

I am concerned about Asheville’s response to what the city is doing in the face of immigration raids that we are seeing in Minnesota and elsewhere.

The towns of Boone, Carrboro and Durham have all passed resolutions that include Fourth

Amendment Workplace training for city workers and some other measures of not letting immigration use city-owned property to stage raids. Asheville needs to lead by example when it comes to educating city workers on understanding and applying their constitutional rights when they see something that isn’t right.

Why haven’t City Council and the county commissioners passed anything? If they aren’t in favor of this, what are they doing proactively to protect our city? I would like some answers during these very challenging times on what our great city is doing to protect all community members.

— Carly Wild Asheville  X

Word of

the week

demulcent (n.) a usually mucilaginous or oily substance (such as tragacanth) that can soothe or protect an abraded mucous membrane

This week’s selection comes courtesy of contributing writer Ashley English. In addition to being a noun, demulcent is also an adjective and means “soothing.”  X

CARTOON BY BRENT BROWN

NEWS Uninsured?

Local health centers offer free services to those in need

BY BRIONNA DALLARA

bdallara@mountainx.com

As the proverb goes, “Health is wealth.” But with recent changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicaid, millions of people are grappling with rising insurance and medical costs.

Locally, a network of organizations is available to provide free medical services to uninsured patients, including Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM). Dr. Daniel Frayne, the nonprofit’s medical ministry director, says that last year the clinic saw an uptick in patients because other federally qualified health centers were overwhelmed.

“The places that are supposed to be available to people with Medicaid, with Medicare — it’s harder and

harder to get in,” Frayne says. “And so that’s put an increase on us.”

The majority of free clinics like ABCCM offer primary care services for those who need general checkups, blood testing and immunizations. Some locations also participate in programs such as Western Carolina Medical Society’s Project Access, which connects uninsured patients with health care specialists.

Below is a selection of facilities that offer free medical care across the region.

ASHEVILLE BUNCOMBE COMMUNITY

CHRISTIAN MINISTRY

In Buncombe County, ABCCM offers a free clinic for primary and urgent medical, dental and specialty care. The site also provides medicine

to uninsured residents and community members earning below 250% of the federal poverty level ($39,125 annually for a single household and $80,375 annually for a family of four). ABCCM also offers lab and X-ray scans through partnerships. Additionally, referrals are available for services the nonprofit is unable to provide.

ABCCM is at 155 Livingston St. Walk-in clinic check-ins are MondayThursday, 9-11 a.m. and Monday, 2-4 p.m. The dental clinic is by appointment only on Friday, 8:30 a.m.-noon. Pharmacy hours vary. For more information, visit avl.mx/faj.

BIG IVY HEALTH

Big Ivy Health is a community care center in Barnardsville offering free general checkups, chronic disease management and mental health services. The center offers sports physicals, care for minor injuries and skin conditions, pregnancy testing, wellness education, stress management resources and screenings for blood pressure, blood sugar, depression and anxiety. All services are provided at no cost, with no insurance required.

Big Ivy Health is hosted at the Barnardsville Fire Department, 100 Dillingham Road. Hours for walk-ins are Monday, 4:30-7:30 p.m. For more information, visit avl.mx/fak.

THE FREE CLINICS

The Free Clinics in Hendersonville provides free medical and behavioral

health care for low-income, uninsured residents of Henderson and Polk counties. The clinic offers chronic and specialty care, pharmaceutical support, mental health care, acute care and other community health services. The Free Clinics office is at 841 Case St., Hendersonville. Hours are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Tuesday, 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. For more information, visit avl.mx/fal.

SWANNANOA VALLEY CHRISTIAN MINISTRY

Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry (SVCM) provides free walkin and scheduled appointments for primary and urgent care needs. According to its website, the facility manages “sickness, wounds, labs, orthopedic care, nonnarcotic prescriptions and general family doctor-related situations.” The ministry also works with various providers to assess visual, dental, pediatric and orthopedic needs. Bilingual services are available.

SVCM is at 101 N. Ridgeway Ave. Clinic hours are Wednesday, 9 a.m.noon. Community outreach by phone is available Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Call 828-669-9404, ext. 232. For more information, visit avl.mx/fam.

BUNCOMBE COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES CLINIC

The Buncombe County Health and Human Services Clinic offers a range of public health services, including sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and treatment, reproductive health

VOLUNTEER LED: Dr. Barry Duncan, left, a volunteer dentist at ABCCM, speaks with Izzy Temple, a dental coordinator. Photo courtesy of ABCCM

support, cervical cancer testing, breast and chest exams as well as referrals for mammograms and permanent birth control procedures, including tubal ligations and vasectomies. All of the aforementioned services require scheduling. The department also administers immunizations and provides tuberculosis testing on a walk-in basis and operates the Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program. Dental care is available through WNC Community Health Services at the Minnie Jones clinic. Bilingual services are available. Clinical health services are available at 40 Coxe Ave. Hours are MondayFriday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, visit avl.mx/fan

MUTUAL AID WELLNESS COLLECTIVE

The Mutual Aid Wellness Collective provides free medical care with a focus on the unhoused and uninsured. The clinic offers general services such as tending to basic wounds and over-thecounter medicine. Additionally, the clinic can test for diabetes and make referrals to Project Access specialists. The collective partners with organizations such as the Pansy Collective and

Appalachian Medical Solidarity, and is part of the West Asheville Home Hub. Bilingual services are available. The clinic is at 610 Haywood Road. Hours are Monday, Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. For more information, visit avl.mx/fao.

VECINOS

Vecinos, or “neighbors” in Spanish, is a free clinic serving uninsured and underinsured patients. Bilingual primary care and behavioral health care services are provided. A full clinical service team is staffed at the nonprofit’s Franklin site, offering primary care on-site, including laboratory services and some pharmacy accessibility. There is an additional hub in Western Carolina University’s Health and Human Sciences Building in Cullowhee. Vecinos also offers a mobile clinic for migrant farmworkers. Wellness groups and mental health services are also available through the hub.

Vecinos is at 19 Smoky Mountain Drive, Franklin. Hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.9 p.m. For more information, visit avl.mx/dyj. X

Exercise does not have to be traditional cardio or weightlifting

Dr. Jason F. Goldie, president of The Family Health Centers, joined the Asheville center in 2009. “The opportunity to take care of multiple generations within a family, along with the ability to provide guidance for patients in regard to wellness and disease prevention, is what inspires me,” he says.

Xpress: What’s your approach for managing screen time and technology to support optimal health?

Goldie: For most of us, screen time is inevitable. It is important to carve out some time where screens just aren’t allowed. For me, mealtimes with my family and about 30 minutes prior to bedtime are nonnegotiable screen-free times.

Can you share one or two food items or simple dishes that are your personal go-tos for maintaining a healthy diet?

Lentils are a great source of protein and fiber. Particularly during the winter, soups are an easy way to get vegetables and meet your nutritional goals. What is one wellness habit readers should consider adding to their daily or weekly routines in 2026?

Movement is medicine! Exercise does not have to be traditional cardio or lifting weights (although that is great too). Something as simple as walking after a meal can lower your blood sugar levels, preventing spikes in glucose. Yoga, stretching or dancing can all be great forms of exercise if done correctly. X

PRO TIP

JASON GOLDIE

Post-Christmas report

Downtown Asheville sees busy holiday season, but recovery remains uneven

BY JUSTIN M c GUIRE

jmcguire@mountainx.com

Asheville sidewalks were busy sidewalks during the holiday season.

December visitor traffic increased 12% compared with November and rose about 26% over the same period in 2024, when the city was just a few months removed from Tropical Storm Helene, says Hayden Plemmons, executive director of the Asheville Downtown Association (ADA). The number of visitors was about the same as December 2022.

“People are coming downtown, they’re spending money in downtown, and I think many businesses are seeing that as well,” she says. “But it really depends on the business. We’ll hear one thing from one business and something totally different from the next.”

A strong digital presence and consistent hours were a common denominator among shops that reported solid holiday sales, she says.

Overall, the season reflected resilience rather than a full rebound for local restaurants, retailers and other destinations.

‘BETTER THAN WE HAD HOPED’

After a year shaped by the aftermath of Helene and broader economic uncertainty, fine-dining restaurant Asheville Proper entered the holiday season with low expectations.

“But the month of December overall was better than we had hoped,” says Jason Sweeney, executive chef of the restaurant, which opened in the Grove Arcade in 2020. “Compared to previous [pre-Helene] years, it was still pretty far off the mark, but we were very pleased with how it went.”

On a typical weeknight, Asheville Proper served 70-80 diners, compared with roughly 100 on similar nights two years ago, Sweeney says. Saturdays saw around 100 people served, down from about 140 in past years.

The restaurant’s lunch service, launched in the spring, helped offset some of the losses. “It was actually our best month for our lunch service yet,” he explains, probably aided by increased daytime holiday shopping downtown.

But foot traffic overall felt uneven, Sweeney says. Weekends remained

strong, with crowded sidewalks and scarce parking. But weekdays near Grove Arcade were noticeably quieter than pre-Helene levels.

Looking ahead, Sweeney expresses cautious optimism mixed with concern, particularly for a higher-end steakhouse like Asheville Proper. Rising beef costs — driven by low cattle populations, disease, tariffs and higher feed prices — continue to strain operations. “Every direction it’s coming from is rough,” he says.

Still, post-holiday bookings offer some encouragement, including solid business around Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend. A more meaningful tourism rebound typically begins in April, Sweeney says, when spring break travel and seasonal blooms draw visitors back.

“It’s not doom and gloom,” he says. “But I wish it looked better.”

Sweeney adds that while downtown has shown signs of resilience, recovery across the city remains uneven. “It’s going to take a while to get back to where we all want to be,” he says, emphasizing the need for continued local support.

STEADY CROWDS

Lexington Glassworks co-owner Geoff Koslow says December marked a clear turning point for his business, which sells handblown glass items and custom lighting. After a “scary” stretch in the early months of 2025, December felt far more like a typical pre-COVID-19 holiday period, he says, with steady crowds throughout the week rather than just on weekends.

“It was pleasantly busy,” Koslow says, noting that many neighboring downtown businesses reported similar conditions. “We were slammed all month long.”

Koslow says 2025 began grimly, with sales down about 35% in the first quarter compared with the year before. By midyear, losses had narrowed to the teens, and by year’s end, the business finished less than 10% down from 2024, which had been a strong year overall.

Shoppers purchased high-volume, lower-priced items such as ornaments and drinkware alongside larger, higher-end glass pieces, including custom lighting. “It felt really healthy,” Koslow says.

SHOP LOCAL: Hayden Plemmons, executive director of the Asheville Downtown Association, says local support has played a key role in sustaining downtown. After Tropical Storm Helene, many residents made a point of shopping and dining downtown, a trend that Plemmons says has continued into this year as locals have “reintroduced themselves” to the area. Photo by Stephan Pruitt Photography

He also credits sustained local support and online orders with helping the business weather uncertainty.

While he says it’s difficult to define what “normal” looks like anymore, he sees reasons for confidence. “I’m very optimistic that 2026 is going to be a good year,” he says. He points to the quality and resilience of Asheville’s arts and restaurant communities, adding that businesses are prioritizing community and identity alongside tourism.

“Very few people are coming in talking about the storm anymore,” Koslow says. “That’s progress.”

FAMILY FRIENDLY

At the Asheville Museum of Science (AMOS) on Patton Avenue, staff members found themselves doing something they hadn’t expected over the holidays: asking visitors to come back later due to large crowds.

“December was great,” says AMOS Executive Director Amanda Bryant. “We actually surpassed the numbers from 2023, which is really exciting for us.”

Warmer-than-usual weather early in the holiday season initially pulled families outdoors, but colder temperatures after Christmas led to a noticeable spike in museum visits, she explains. During the two-week holiday period around Christmas and New Year’s, the museum welcomed 3,541 visitors, up from roughly 2,485 during the same period in 2023.

The museum served 4,205 customers overall in December.

Bryant says the increase reflects both a return of families to downtown and a growing demand for activities geared toward children.

“We are one of the only family-friendly places downtown,” she says. “We’re at capacity quite often and have to turn people away or ask them to come back later.”

Holiday programming helped drive traffic. In December, AMOS expanded weekday science demonstrations, added educator-led activities on the museum floor and introduced SPIN, an exhibit on the science of rotation with hands-on exhibits and real-world examples. The museum also hosted winter camps, providing full- and half-day options for families during school breaks.

Bryant also credits increased marketing and public discussion around AMOS’ planned expansion for keeping the museum top of mind. The museum hopes to double its footprint and add exhibits by 2027.

AMOS recently conducted a feasibility study that found strong demand for family-friendly activities downtown, Bryant says, reinforcing plans to expand rather than relocate.

“That need is there,” Bryant says, adding that families want experiences to pair with shopping, dining and other downtown attractions.

NEW KIDS IN DOWNTOWN

Estate Jewelry AVL, which operated in Biltmore Village for nearly two decades before relocating to Haywood Street in the fall, experienced its first holiday season in downtown.

“It went well,” says co-owner Stephen Frommel. “There was a lot of foot traffic. There felt like there was an energy in the city downtown, and we were happy with how December turned out for the holidays.”

The store’s Biltmore Village location, which opened in 2006, was badly damaged by floodwaters from Helene. After operating a pop-up store on Wall Street for about six months, Frommel and co-owner Adam Strauss decided to

make the move downtown. By October, the store was operating at full capacity and able to take advantage of the crucial fourth quarter.

“It was not a planned move, but under the circumstances, we found a great location,” Frommel says.

The Haywood Street store offers two entrances — one directly on the street and another through the Haywood Park Hotel — a feature Frommel says helped draw both locals and visitors. “It’s good to see the hotels being full,” he explains. “It felt like people were downtown and were staying in the hotels.”

Frommel notes weekends were noticeably stronger than weekdays. “Thursday through Sunday were definitely busy and good with people,” he says, pointing to concerts at nearby Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville and events such as the annual Holiday Parade, held Nov. 22

“We had quite a few regulars that don’t live in Asheville but visit quite frequently,” Frommel explains. “And then we had a whole lot of new business too, which was nice.”

Frommel says he is looking forward to operating in the spot for the entire year after the uncertainty of the past 16 months.

‘ONGOING EFFORT’

Downtown’s recovery has differed from other parts of the city, ADA’s Plemmons says. While areas such as Biltmore Village and the River Arts District sustained significant physical damage from Helene, downtown experienced relatively little. That helped keep businesses operating and attracted Estate Jewelry and other relocated retailers and restaurants.

Those moves brought existing customer bases into downtown and contributed to overall activity, Plemmons says, though they also highlight how uneven the citywide recovery has been.

The co-owner of Boomer’s Bourbon and Cigar Bar, a Coxe Avenue business

NEW SPOT: Estate Jewelry AVL, which operated in Biltmore Village for nearly two decades before relocating to Haywood Street in the fall, experienced its first holiday season in downtown. Pictured is co-owner Stephen Frommel.

Photo by Thomas Calder

that recently closed, told the CitizenTimes South Slope continues to struggle due to reduced foot traffic, lack of local and tourist support, limited retail and entertainment options and ongoing litter and loitering. The owner of Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ, also on Coxe Avenue, expressed concern to the newspaper that South Slope lags behind downtown’s north side because it lacks hotels, anchor entertainment venues and retail options, and that major events often draw people away rather than boosting local businesses, highlighting the need for better signage, parking and transit connections to attract visitors.

South Slope faces unique challenges, Plemmons acknowledges, largely due to its geography. Located downhill from the downtown core, the area can be overlooked by visitors unfamiliar with what it offers. To address this,

downtown organizations are working on improved wayfinding, including signage, banners and temporary visual cues to guide visitors.

But she says the area has been seeing some progress. ADA data show that the downtown core experienced a 16.4% increase in foot traffic from November to December and a 29% increase year over year. South Slope, while seeing a smaller month-to-month gain of about 9%, posted a 41% increase compared with December 2024 and was up nearly 9% compared with 2022, she says.

Across the full year, South Slope visits were up about 11% from 2024 to 2025, roughly flat compared with 2023 and slightly down from 2022.

“This is not to say that the businesses in downtown or businesses of South Slope are not struggling,” she says. “We are seeing, in addition to local trends post-Helene, there are also national

trends that are impacting our businesses downtown, for sure.”

Local support has played a key role in sustaining downtown. After Helene, many residents made a point of shopping and dining downtown, a trend that Plemmons says has continued into this year as locals have “reintroduced themselves” to the area.

One event that clearly boosted activity was the Holiday Parade. Using anonymized cell phone location data, ADA found that about 25% more people stayed downtown after the parade compared with previous years, when most attendees left shortly after the event ended. Longer stays are typically associated with spending at restaurants, bars and shops.

At the same time, Plemmons says downtown requires more intentional care and promotion than it once did. Consistent business hours, clean public spaces and coordinated marketing remain ongoing priorities.

That effort includes the ambassador program, part of the Asheville Downtown Improvement District that launched in June. Ambassadors provide cleaning services, connect people experiencing homelessness with resources and serve as a point of contact for businesses and residents.

Plemmons says the program has received positive feedback and has improved response times for quality-of-life issues.

Downtown plans for 2026 include investments, public art, flower baskets, winter lights running through March and a slate of major events, including bluegrass star Billy Strings’ four-night return to Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville in February, the Chai Pani Holi Celebration in March and the Downtown After 5 concert series, which runs monthly April-September on South Lexington Avenue.

“There are positive signs,” Plemmons says, “but downtown success takes ongoing effort.” X

Road rules

BY DANIELLE AROSTEGUI

On Jan. 9, members of the Council of Independent Business Owners (CIBO) received an update on the status of road improvement projects in the Asheville area, including the Interstate 26 Connector project and a potential expansion to Interstate 40 in the form of an express lane.

Tristan Winkler, director of the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), presented a proposal to widen the section of I-40 between Exit 27 and Exit 44. This section of the highway, which passes through Canton, has long been high on the MPO’s list of priorities as a result of safety and reliability concerns.

Despite the identified need for upgrades, the project has previously

failed to garner the necessary funding. Winkler explained that projects on major highways such as I-40 compete for funding with similar projects throughout North Carolina, including in larger cities such as Raleigh and Charlotte. In previous years, the proposed I-40 expansion lost out to higher-scoring projects in other parts of the state.

This delay is part of a wider trend in which transportation projects across Western North Carolina have been delayed or defunded in recent years, Winkler said. He attributed this slowdown in transportation improvements to inflation.

“Construction inflation has been even higher than consumer inflation in recent years,” he told CIBO members. Revenues, on the other hand, have remained roughly the same. The result is less funding to go around, with many projects competing for a limited pot.

Due to these issues, MPO voted in November to change the I-40 expansion project from a simple highway widening to a paid express lane. According to Winkler, express lanes generally score higher and “have a better chance of being funded” than simple highway widening projects, in part because of the revenues these roadways generate.

Additionally, he noted that express lanes typically cost less for taxpayers because revenues help to offset construction and maintenance costs and can be designed to incentivize carpooling and transit, if desired.

On the other hand, he continued, express lanes can be unpopular,

ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Tristan Winkler, director of the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization, updated the Council of Independent Business Owners on a proposal to widen the section of Interstate 40 between Exit 27 and Exit 44.

require additional buffer space between lanes and raise affordability concerns due to the associated tolls.

When asked by an audience member whether adding a toll lane would really meet the identified need for expansion, given the aversion the average person has to paying tolls, Winkler replied, “Our board was very deliberate in making sure this is a viable option. DOT studied it for more than a year to make sure the demand is there.”

The hope, Winkler reiterated, is that this change will increase the likelihood of this long-overdue project being funded.

NEW TIMELINES FOR THE I-26 CONNECTOR

CIBO members also heard from Nathan Moneyham, a construction engineer with the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT), who offered an update on new timelines for current road repairs and improvements.

• The I-26 widening project, which began in the fall of 2019, recently

met a milestone with the completion of the new Blue Ridge Parkway bridge and demolition of the old bridge. The project was initially projected to be completed in the fall of 2026. It is now expected to be completed by January 2027.

• The I-26 Connector project continues to move forward. NCDOT is pursuing right-of-way acquisitions for several sections of the project. Utility relocation is also underway. Construction on the largest portion of the project, from Haywood Road to Broadway, will begin in the summer of 2026, with an expected completion date in 2031.

• Repairs continue to be made to roads and bridges damaged by Tropical Storm Helene. Moneyham estimated that 80% of these repairs are complete but said that the remaining repairs are some of the largest, including repairs to I-40 and a number of bridges. In total, Helene caused in excess of $5.75 billion in damages. X

Photo by Danielle Arostegui

‘Not

about taking property’

City

officials seek to ease concerns over proposed abandoned buildings

BY JUSTIN M c GUIRE

jmcguire@mountainx.com

City of Asheville officials are seeking to reassure business owners that a proposed ordinance on abandoned commercial buildings is aimed at a small number of long-neglected properties that endanger public safety, not at responsible owners acting in good faith.

At a Jan. 22 virtual meeting hosted by the Council of Independent Business Owners (CIBO), Asheville City Council member Bo Hess and other city officials and elected leaders stressed the proposed ordinance is at a stage where community feedback is essential.

“This is not about taking property or expanding authority for the sake of it,” Hess said. “It’s about safety, accountability and fairness.”

A small number of abandoned buildings have created ongoing hazards in Asheville, including fire risk, squatting, illegal dumping and crime, Hess explained. These properties negatively affect surrounding businesses, neighborhoods and property values, he added.

City Attorney Brad Branham told the business owners the city already enforces ordinances related to building code violations and property maintenance, such as trash and overgrowth. But staff members identified a gap in regulations when it comes to abandoned nonresidential structures that do not necessarily violate building codes but still create health and safety concerns.

The proposed ordinance would rely on a state law that allows local governments to regulate abandoned buildings if they pose health or safety hazards due to insect or rodent infestation, fire risk, dangerous conditions threatening children or frequent use by squatters without sanitary facilities.

DEMOLITION AS A LAST RESORT

“This is not an allowance for the city to decide subjectively what it doesn’t like,” Branham said. “The conditions are spelled out very clearly in state law.” If the city ordinance is adopted, property owners would receive notice of a complaint, be given time to address the issue and have access to hearings and appeals. Fines could be imposed at up to $100 per day, capped at $5,000. In extreme cases, the city could step in to secure a property, such as boarding it up. The most controversial provision — the possibility of demolition — was

ordinance

described as a last-resort measure requiring full City Council approval. Branham noted that in his seven years with Asheville, only one demolition has been approved and similar authority was rarely used during his tenure with the City of Charlotte.

Mark Matheny, the city’s director of development services, said the ordinance would not significantly change how the city interacts with property owners. Instead, it would provide a clearer and more direct path for addressing long-term problem properties.

“Our goal has always been compliance and safety,” he said.

Matheny explained that many abandoned buildings cycle in and out of compliance, often becoming unsecured again after repairs. He also highlighted challenges related to out-of-state owners, probate cases and inherited properties where ownership is unclear — situations he said often lead to prolonged neglect.

QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE

Several questions from CIBO members focused on whether the ordinance could be used to pressure owners into redevelopment or residential construction. Hess and Mayor Esther Manheimer rejected that characterization.

“This is not about forcing housing or redevelopment,” Manheimer said, citing the former Kmart site in West Asheville as an example where zoning requirements were relaxed rather than tightened.

Manheimer noted the city is responding primarily to a small number of repeat offenders that generate frequent complaints, such as properties on Tunnel Road and Merrimon Avenue. “This is not about sending out an army to inspect every building,” she said.

Other questions addressed funding and staffing. Matheny said the ordi-

nance could be implemented without adding compliance staff, though a more formal abandoned-building program would require additional resources. Those costs are still being evaluated.

City officials also acknowledged broader concerns about homelessness and public safety, but emphasized that the ordinance does not replace law enforcement or social services.

The proposed ordinance is scheduled for review by the City Council’s Public Safety Committee on Thursday, Jan. 29, at 11 a.m., with possible consideration by the full Council in February.

“This ordinance is just one more tool in our toolbox and as a backstop for when the carrot has been offered again and again and the door is still closed,” Matheny said. “I think everyone here shares the same vision for Asheville. We want safe corridors, we want a thriving business district, we want predictable rules and we want a city that takes action.” X

SAFETY CONCERNS: A proposed City of Asheville ordinance is aimed at dealing with long-neglected abandoned properties, including ones like this Merrimon Avenue building. Photo by Thomas Calder

NEWS

Primary residence

Elections board denies challenge to Vice Mayor Antanette Mosley’s eligibility to run for reelection, finding she lives in the city

BY DAN DEWITT

AN ASHEVILLE WATCHDOG REPORT

bark@avlwatchdog.org

On Jan. 20, the Buncombe County Board of Elections unanimously denied the challenge to Asheville Vice Mayor Antanette Mosley’s candidate eligibility, finding that her primary residence is in Asheville.

John Miall Jr. , the longtime former City of Asheville employee who filed the complaint on Jan. 8, submitted evidence that he said cast doubt on Mosley’s residency — her history of voting in both North Carolina and Georgia and claiming a primary-residence tax break for her home in Atlanta until December.

But the five-member board determined those issues weren’t relevant for its consideration of Mosley’s eligibility to run in a 2026 election.

“We have one question to answer. And that is whether or not, in the eyes of this board, Ms. Mosley is a resident of the City of Asheville,” said board member Jake Quinn . “Because if she is, she is eligible to run for City Council.”

That followed the main argument of Mosley’s attorney, Gene Ellison

There’s no law against owning residences in two states, he said several times during the two-hour hearing. The issue of whether she voted in two states more than a decade ago has no bearing on the ongoing run for office, he also said, and the question of whether she had improperly claimed a tax break “is a Georgia issue.”

CITY RESIDENT: Asheville Vice Mayor Antanette Mosley acknowledged that she rents an apartment near downtown Asheville and did so even before she was appointed to fill a vacant seat on Asheville City Council in 2020. But her primary residence has always been the house formerly owned by her now-deceased father, 3 Devonshire Place in the Asheville neighborhood of Kenilworth, she said during a Jan. 20 hearing. Photo by Starr Sariego, courtesy of Watchdog

Mosley acknowledged that she rents an apartment near downtown Asheville and did so even before she was appointed to fill a vacant seat on Council in 2020.

But her primary residence has always been the house formerly owned by her now-deceased father, 3 Devonshire Place in the Asheville neighborhood of Kenilworth, she

said. She intends to repair the home, which was badly damaged by Tropical Storm Helene, she said in the hearing, and return there to live.

‘NO EVIDENCE OF ABANDONMENT’

Intent is important, according to Assistant County Attorney Amy Broughton , who read a section of the applicable state law stating that a candidate’s residence is the dwelling where “that person has the intent of returning.”

That means the Kenilworth house is her “domicile,” Ellison said, using the legal term.

“There is no evidence of abandonment of her Asheville residence,” he said. “The burden is not met and the challenge must be denied.”

Mosley, 56, won reelection in November 2022 and her fellow Council members elected her vice mayor in December 2024.

In previous interviews Mosley, an Asheville native who attended law school and began her legal career in Atlanta, said she moved back to the city full-time in 2016 to care for her ailing father. Though she is currently employed by an Atlanta firm, her work is “100% remote,” she said previously, adding that she lives in Asheville “90% of the time.”

She asked the Fulton County Assessor’s Office to remove the tax-relief designation — called a homestead exemption — from her Atlanta home in December, and the office has done so, its exemption manager said earlier this month.

Mosley added more details about her past and current living circumstances when she was questioned about the lease agreement for the apartment, which she submitted as evidence.

She began renting it well before she began serving on Council because she underwent several operations and chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer and needed a place for “respite,” she said. After her appointment, she began receiving threats, including a tombstone that was placed on her yard, she said, “and the place I had gotten for respite became my place of safety.”

The apartment is in the city, and Broughton read a section of the statute “that, I think, is relevant,” she said. It indicated the crucial factor of eligibility is whether candidates live in the area they are running to represent.

The law lists a variety of “election districts,” she read, and says that whether a candidate’s “bedroom or usual sleeping area” is within that

“The law does not require that a person sleep every night in a single structure. It asks where a person’s life is rooted. My life is rooted in Asheville.”

— Vice Mayor Antanette Mosley

district “shall be controlling as the residency of that person.”

The listing of a home other than the one where she lives is a potential matter for the N.C. State Board of Elections, a board spokesperson said earlier this month. The board opened an investigation into Mosley in December amid reports about her residency and voting record, The Watchdog previously reported.

The Watchdog also reported last month that Mosley voted 14 times in Georgia and four times in North Carolina from 2008 through 2014, including in two primaries with presidential candidates on the ballot in the same year — the March 2012 Republican primary in Georgia and the May 2012 Democratic primary in Buncombe County. NC Local originally reported Mosley’s history of voting in both states.

Miall was allowed to introduce evidence documenting this voting record over Ellison’s objections, though it did not ultimately factor into the board’s vote.

Miall also brought up previously reported information that Mosley had received primary-residence tax benefits on a home in Atlanta throughout her time on Council while also submitting election documents showing she lives in Asheville.

CROSS EXAMINATION

The evidence was introduced by Heather Boyd , a Transylvania County resident who called herself a “neutral fact witness,” and said in a brief interview that she had volunteered to retrieve public records for Miall, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor and City Council in elections more than a decade ago. Miall said in an interview before the hearing that he has no intention of running for office again and did not challenge Mosley’s candidacy for political reasons.

Ellison challenged Boyd aggressively during cross examination and objected several times when Miall asked her to draw conclusions from the documents she had presented.

Ellison also attacked the statement Miall made on the form he filled out to file the challenge, which said, “it appears from recent

news stories that the candidate may not meet residency or eligibility requirements for this position.” The evidence listed to back the challenge was “multiple news stories that the candidate has residences in at least two states.”

“‘May not’ is not competent evidence,” Ellison said during his closing statement, and “news articles are not proof. News stories are hearsay, unsworn, not subject to cross examination.”

Miall countered that though he cited information from news media in his challenge, he didn’t rely on it for evidence. “It was the basis on which we developed a lot of information,” he said.

Miall, who is white, was one of several plaintiffs in a federal suit against the city in federal court claiming discrimination in its criteria for appointments to the Human Relations Commission of Asheville. The original language covering appointments encouraged the involvement of minorities, including Black and Hispanic members. The suit was resolved in mediation last summer, with the city agreeing to remove mentions of race.

But both Mosley and Ellison, who submitted a dozen documents as evidence, said their case was more firmly grounded in fact than Miall’s.

“I have provided sworn affidavits, government records and contemporaneous documents that show where I live, where I am registered and where I intend to remain,” she said in her opening argument. “The law does not require that a person sleep every night in a single structure. It asks where a person’s life is rooted. My life is rooted in Asheville.”

Asheville Watchdog is a nonprofit news team producing stories that matter to Asheville and Buncombe County. Dan DeWitt is The Watchdog ’s deputy managing editor/senior reporter. Email: ddewitt@ avlwatchdog.org. Asheville Watchdog is a nonprofit news team producing stories that matter to Asheville and Buncombe County. The Watchdog ’s local reporting is made possible by donations from the community. To show your support for this vital public service go to avlwatchdog.org/ support-our-publication/.  X

Tragedy spurs action

Asheville cyclists, mourning a fatal crash, push for federal bill to improve road safety

BY LAURA HACKETT A BPR NEWS REPORT

news@bpr.org

Griffin Tichenor was on the same bike ride that killed Lennie Antonelli and Jacob Hill last July.

While peddling along N.C. 251, a scenic byway that runs along the French Broad River, all three were hit by a box truck that crossed over the line and struck the bikers head on. Tichenor was the only one to survive.

Six months after the tragedy, he’s working to channel his grief into advocacy. On Jan. 12, he spoke in front of a crowd at Liberty Bicycles in South Asheville as part of the inaugural meeting of the Asheville chapter of The White Line, an advocacy group that seeks to end road deaths and create safer streets for everyone.

“It’s been a tremendous weight,” Tichenor said in a speech to the 100-something people who attended the event. “But surviving that has meant for me, that it’s my responsibility to try and make sure it doesn’t happen to anybody else.”

Tichenor, in partnership with The White Line, is pushing for a new piece of federal legislation called the Magnus White Cyclist Safety Act. If passed, the law would require all new motor vehicles to include an automatic braking system that detects cyclists and other vulnerable road users. There’s already a law in place that requires car manufacturers to include a variation of this technology. But now, the system is only programmed to brake for other cars.

“They missed the opportunity to also protect other vulnerable road users like bicyclists,” Tichenore said. “The solution we’re proposing is very cost effective, at about $23 per car. It’s a software update, bolstering systems that are already required.”

Tichenor is working on getting the law passed with Maddie Barondeau, who got engaged to Antonelli only days before his death. At the event, Barondeau asked cyclists to document on sticky notes all of the places where they almost got hit by a car.

“It’s really important that people hear where you had a near miss,” she said. “A near miss is just as statistically significant as a crash. But, unfortunately, it’s not reported most of the time.”

It wasn’t long before participants filled a large poster board with multicolored sticky notes, each citing near misses — in Biltmore Village, on the

Blue Ridge Parkway and all over the River Arts District.

“There are a lot of near misses, because a lot of these roads have no shoulders. And traffic has increased. The population has increased and the city has grown,” said Sara Shea, one of the evening’s participants.

Asheville is one of the most dangerous places to bike in the state,

according to a report from the Asheville Citizen-Times. It’s a troubling statistic, Shea said, given the city’s reputation as an outdoor mecca.

“Jacob [Hill] came here from Florida because he had a full scholarship for cycling to Mars Hill University. He chose this area because of cycling,” she continued. “I feel like our state let him down by not fulfilling their

duty to create safe roads and a safe cycling environment.”

Road safety is not a problem that’s going to be solved overnight. The N.C. Department of Transportation is evaluating different ways to improve safety for cyclists, according to spokesperson David Uchiyama. On Riverside Drive, the department has already lowered the speed limit and added signs that alert drivers to cyclists.

In August, the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization released “Safe Streets for WNC,” a plan that aims to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes by 2035 by 10% and move toward zero fatalities and serious injuries by 2050.

In addition to that, Asheville City Council has approved two recent agreements with the Department of Transportation that will expand bicycle infrastructure in the Asheville area: a $2 million bridge crossing for cyclists and pedestrians near Craven Street and a nearly $3 million project to build a pathway along Deaverview Road in West Asheville.

As for the Magnus White Act, Tichenor is still trying to get Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-11th District, on board. At the event, dozens of people wrote emails to the congressman in support of the bill.

“He’s got to feel the heat because cycling means a lot to this district and this community,” Tichenor said. X

WITNESS TO TRAGEDY: Griffin Tichenor, shown here at Liberty Bicycles, was on the same bike ride when two other cyclists were killed. Photo by Laura Hackett

CYCLING DANGERS: Cyclists document near misses and ideas for road improvements at Liberty Bicycles in Asheville on Monday, Jan. 12. Photo by Laura Hackett of BPR News

Taking to the streets

Demonstrators

protest Trump administration with focus on ICE

Around 200 people gathered at Pack Square on Jan. 20 as part of “Free America Walkout,” a nationwide demonstration held in response to the oneyear mark of President Donald Trump’s second term.

The local rally was the latest in a series of gatherings held downtown in the wake of the killing of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old woman who was shot by a federal officer in Minneapolis on Jan. 7. — Xpress Staff X

Photo by Jeffrey DeCristofaro

Photo by Thomas Calder

Photo by

Thomas Calder

Photo by Thomas Calder

Photo by Jeffrey DeCristofaro

Commissioners hear updates on Buncombe measles cases, Helene recovery

Buncombe County Public Health Director Ellis Matheson updated the county Board of Commissioners on the “evolving measles situation” during the Commission’s Jan. 20 briefing.

A sixth case was confirmed and reported Jan. 20 by Buncombe County Health and Human Services, and one child is in isolation, Matheson noted. Due to contact tracing, 136 people are in quarantine. If a person has no proof of immunity from a measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination, the quarantine period is 21 days, she told the Commission.

Individuals who visited the following locations at the listed times may have been exposed to measles: Food Lion at 35 Westridge Market Place, Candler, on Jan. 13 between 6 and 8 p.m.; Mission Hospital’s emergency department waiting room, 509 Biltmore Ave., on Jan. 16 between 5:15 and 7:50 p.m., and 10 p.m.-midnight. If you think you may have been exposed, call 828-2506100 for additional guidance.

“We now have community spread,” Matheson continued. “I do expect we will reach outbreak status quickly.” The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines an outbreak as three instances of community spread, she said.

To prevent further spread, Matheson implored people to call in advance before visiting a medical provider, urgent care or emergency room to learn if there is a suspected case of measles at the facility. “Measles is so infectious, it stays airborne for two hours, even if someone just walked through a hallway,” she said.

Matheson also encouraged people to get vaccinated at the Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services (BCDHHS) if they have not already done so. “We have plenty of availability of the MMR vaccine,” she said. BCDHHS is still working on a plan to administer the MMR vaccine via its mobile health unit — a more complicated process because it’s a frozen vaccine, Matheson said.

BCDHHS is working closely with public and private schools, day care centers and higher education institutions to inform them about the potential measles outbreak. The department also did a call with the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce to update the business community. Matheson noted North Carolina law allows religious exemptions for medical and religious

reasons. School nurses are aware of which children are unvaccinated. Commission Al Whitesides asked about the safety of older community members and shared that he had measles in 1952. Matheson informed him he is immune, as people born before 1957 are considered to have immunity due to probable measles exposure before the development of the MMR vaccine. For more information about measles cases in Buncombe County, visit avl.mx/faw.

UPDATE ON HELENE RECOVERY

During the briefing, Buncombe County Helene Recovery Officer Kevin Madsen provided an update to the Commission. Eleven Buncombe County departments are collaborating on 31 recovery plan projects, and each project has been assigned a project manager, Madsen said.

Landslide mitigation projects began in December. Phase one of the projects, which includes design and engineering, is funded through the

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance program. Currently, landslide mitigation projects are active in Grovemont and Garren Creek. The Grovemont project is in progress on a 10-month timeline, Madsen said. The Garren Creek project has six vendors under review, and the timeline is to be determined by contractors.

Madsen reported that the county plans to submit a grant to construct boat launches in three Buncombe County parks: Bent Creek, Hominy Creek and Glen Bridge. The grant, which Madsen said is seeking matching funds from the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority, would build accessible boat launches that will reduce erosion and expand recreation opportunities. (Commissioners approved the grant application in its consent agenda at that evening’s Commission meeting.)

Madsen also spoke about the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, a FEMA program that tries to mitigate loss from future federally declared disasters. Buncombe County submitted 429

applications; the majority, 277, are for acquisitions of property, followed by 95 projects tied to elevation issues.

Madsen also noted that the Renew NC Small Business Rental Rehabilitation Program is currently open for small rental property owners. For more information, visit avl.mx/fax. Moving forward, Madsen will provide the Commission updates every quarter. His next planned report is scheduled for March.

County moves forward with C-PACE program

The Commission also approved an intent to participate in the Commercial Property Assessed Capital Expenditure, or C-PACE, which is administered by the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. The N.C. General Assembly passed a law establishing the C-PACE program in 2024.

Sustainability officer Jerimiah LeRoy explained that C-PACE is a state-sponsored program to finance sustainable improvements to commercial property through the placement of a lien. Project types can include energy efficiency, resiliency projects, clean energy and water conservation. A public hearing and vote on the resolution to join the C-PACE program will take place at the Commission’s Feb. 2

“It’s a long time coming,” said Commissioner Parker Sloan. “Can’t pass it fast enough in my opinion.” LeRoy said the county would like to host an event in the spring to educate the business community about the program meeting.

In other news

• Transportation planner Tristan Winkler from the Land of Sky Regional Council gave a presentation about the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization on transportation and regional growth. Winkler said population growth has been highest in unincorporated Buncombe County and Henderson County, and these locales overlap with the areas with the fewest transportation options. It is difficult to build more infrastructure to serve outlying areas due to inflation in construction costs, Winkler said. • Commissioner Martin Moore was reappointed to a two-year term on the Early Childhood Education and Development Fund Committee. This story was supported by the Fund for Investigative Reporting and Editing.

— Jessica Wakeman  X

PROGRESS REPORT: Kevin Madsen, Helene recovery officer with Buncombe County, left, updated the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners at a Jan. 20 briefing about landslide mitigation projects. Photo by Jessica Wakeman

Let the games begin

Local youth sports leagues stress fun, community with launch of spring sign-ups

BY JUSTIN M c GUIRE

Youth sports leagues across Buncombe County are opening registration for their seasons, offering families a chance to sign up children for baseball, soccer, lacrosse and a variety of other sports.

Local organizers say youth sports play an important role in helping children grow — on and off the field.

Wayne Johnson , president of the North Asheville Little League, has seen those benefits firsthand. Johnson has been involved with the league for about six years and is entering his second year as president. He is also a parent of three boys who play in the program.

“At the very basic level, it gets kids outside and moving,” Johnson says. “As parents, we’re constantly battling electronic devices. Sports give kids something active and positive to do, and they’re doing it with other people, not alone.”

North Asheville Little League serves children as young as 4 and now includes a junior division for ages 13-15. While the league has existed for about 50 years, it recently expanded its boundaries and now serves families from across Buncombe County. Johnson said that expansion has helped strengthen community connections.

“You might go to school with the same group of kids every day, but through the league, you’re meeting people from South, East and West Asheville,” he explains. “That growth of community is important, for both kids and parents.”

Johnson emphasized that recreational leagues differ from more competitive travel teams, particularly in their focus on fun, safety and inclusion. Skill level is less important than ensuring each child has a positive experience.

“Our No. 1 goal is to see kids come back and play the next year,” he says. “If they’re having fun and feeling successful, they’ll want to keep playing.”

The league accommodates a wide range of experience levels and encourages children to play multiple sports rather than specializing too early. Johnson says he believes kids benefit from trying different activities and learning new skills, rather than feeling pressure to focus on one sport at a young age.

Series

Youth sports also offer lessons that extend beyond athletics.

Johnson points to teamwork, working toward a common goal, learning to handle challenges and building friendships as key takeaways for young players.

“A lot of what keeps kids coming back are the buddies they make,” he said. “Those memories matter.”

North Asheville Little League typically serves between 375 and 400 players each year, and participation has grown steadily even as youth baseball participation has declined nationally. Johnson says the league also works to remove financial barriers by offering scholarships to families who need assistance.

“If a child wants to play, we make sure they can,” he says. “We don’t turn anyone away.”

As parents consider spring signups, Johnson encourages families who may be unsure to give recreational sports a try.

“If someone’s looking for a place to start with team sports, this is a great way to do it,” he says.

Below is a list of upcoming registration deadlines and sign-up details for spring youth sports programs across Buncombe County:

ASHEVILLE EMPIRE LACROSSE

• Age range: 5-14

• Season: March-May/June

• Last day to sign up: Thursday, Feb. 19

• Where to sign up: avl.mx/faz

ASHEVILLE HOCKEY LEAGUE

• Age range: 6-16

• Season: March-May

• Last day to sign up: Monday, March 9

• Where to sign up: avl.mx/fad

ASHEVILLE TENNIS ASSOCIATION

• Age range: 5-18

• Season: April-May

• Last day to sign up: Tuesday, April 7

• Where to sign up: avl.mx/fb0

NC TARDEVILS

• Sport: Field Hockey

• Age range: 6-18

• Season: March-June

• Last day to sign up: Sunday, March 15

• Where to sign up: avl.mx/fb1

NORTH ASHEVILLE LITTLE LEAGUE

• Sport: Baseball

• Age range: 4-15

• Season: April-June

• Last day to sign up: Saturday, Feb. 14

• Where to sign up: avl.mx/fa6

NORTH BUNCOMBE YOUTH ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

• Sport: Baseball, softball

• Age range: 3-12

• Season: March-May

• Last day to sign up: Monday, Feb. 23

• Where to sign up: avl.mx/fac X

PLAY BALL: North Asheville Little League is among several Buncombe County organizations that offer spring youth sports programs. Photo courtesy of NALL

Access granted

Online platform helps individuals with physical limitations navigate local businesses

BY DANIELLE AROSTEGUI

danielle.arostegui@gmail.com

As a popular tourist destination, Asheville is famous for its stunning natural beauty, vibrant arts scene and variety of craft beer. One thing the city is not particularly well known for? Accessibility.

Katie Reph is trying to change that. Reph is the founder of Accessible Towns, a new online platform that connects locals and visitors to area businesses that are proactive in accommodating individuals with physical limitations.

Think of the Accessible Towns website as the Yelp of accessibility. Staff members visit local businesses and rate them on a five-star scale in terms of ease of access. Criteria include the number of designated parking spaces, distance from parking to the front door, steepness of the terrain, availability of accessible seating and accessibility of bathrooms.

According to Reph, the organization focuses primarily on independent restaurants and businesses as opposed to franchises. “I kind of sum it up as the places that bring joy,” Reph says.

To date, the organization has completed over 400 assessments of local businesses in Asheville. Since the website launched in August, it has reached over 1,500 users from all over the country.

Xpress recently sat down with Reph to learn more.

Editor’s note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Xpress: What is the goal of Accessible Towns?

Reph: The goal is to enable differently abled people to get out and experience our local businesses by giving people the information that they need to feel confident. A lot of people stay away from situations that they don’t know or understand how they’re going to navigate. But we also have a lot of businesses here that do take the extra measures to try to be accessible. And when people know that, they can utilize that information.

So my hope is that there’s kind of a two-way flow here. We have people who want to get out more and be part of a community. And we have businesses who are open and available and want to serve them.

My hope is that we’ll benefit residents. But we’re also a big outdoor adventure city. And outdoor cities don’t always look quite as appealing to people who need accessibility. But we do have a lot of other things to offer. So my hope is that when people can see those things, that it can also bring in a different kind of visitor as well.

What does it mean for someone with a physical limitation to have access to this kind of information?

Information is power. Being able to understand and plan and adjust how you’re going to navigate a place can be the difference between whether you get to do it or not. There are a lot of people who would make the choice to not do something because they don’t know what it looks like. And the longer that cycle goes on, the easier and easier it is to withdraw altogether. So I think having the information allows people to keep participating in their communities.

What are the biggest challenges to accessibility in Asheville?

Parking. And not just availability of parking in general but of actual accessible parking and properly done accessible parking. Also making sure that there is accessible parking within a reasonable distance of an establishment. There may be an accessible parking space across the street, and it’s not that that’s not

Series

CREATING CONFIDENCE: “The goal is to enable differently abled people to get out and experience our local businesses by giving people the information that they need to feel confident,” says Katie Reph, founder of Accessible Towns, a new online platform. Photo by Danielle Arostegui

helpful, but people who need accessible parking probably aren’t going to be able to walk half a mile to get to your establishment.

What would you like local businesses to know about this project?

We really value transparency. We’re not secret shoppers. We introduce ourselves and what we’re doing. Everyone gets my contact info. No one’s forced to do anything,

and we get permission before we do our assessments.

We really wanted to make sure that we weren’t coming across as the ADA [Americans with Disabilities Act] police. It’s not that at all. No one has to have it all figured out. There’s no gotchas. I understand we live in the mountains. There are a lot of buildings that were built a very long time ago. We’re not asking anyone to be perfect and fix everything just right.

We want to be a resource for businesses that want to be more accessible. It is a privilege for me to get to do this kind of work, and I enjoy it a whole lot, and I would really love to be able to help more businesses make simple adjustments that would make it easier for everyone to visit them.

But if there are things that are unavoidable and you can’t modify or change, you also want people to know that. Because if not, they’re coming to your door and they’re trying to get in. They want to patronize your business, but now they haven’t even been able to make it past the threshold. When we can even avoid that, the information of being inaccessible is still valuable to people.

As an example, Biscuit Head has three locations. Someone from out of town might have heard of Biscuit Head and wants to go there. Maybe one of the locations doesn’t work for them. But the other two locations score a 5 out of 5 on accessibility. So it can be helpful for someone trying to get to a specific place to know the difference between accessibility at different locations so they can choose the one that works best for them.

What have been some of your biggest successes so far?

I’ve gotten some really, really wonderful emails from people in the community who have been like, “Thank you so much. This information is really helpful. I’ve been able to get out with my friends again.” That’s been really great.

Also being able to have conversations with a lot of business owners in the community has been really awesome. All of the conversations that we’ve had have been really open. We’ve also had a lot of questions about how they can get help with making some adjustments. The biggest win overall has probably been getting to see how many people in this city really do value accessibility and inclusivity.

What’s next for Accessible Towns?

We’re working on adding more experiences and attractions to the website. Things like breakout rooms, ax throwing, driving the Blue Ridge Parkway. Our other goal is building and branching into other cities. Savannah [Ga.] is another city that we are working behind the scenes to get onto the map. We’re looking at cities that are a similar size and vibe as Asheville. You know, the kind of cities that foster tourism and are looking for visitors and people.

Learn more at avl.mx/f7n. X

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‘Pee-ah-weeeee!’

BY JOHN DELUCA

Two days after Christmas, a few of my friends and I silently stood along a farm road southeast of downtown Asheville. With binoculars around our necks, we were waiting and watching for a special bird to soar across the sky or make an unusual sound. You could feel the anticipation in the air.

For many years, I’ve participated in the annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC). Whether in the wet Northwest, the arid Southwest or here in North Carolina, I’ve enjoyed the common culture of the CBC. It brings much joy to spend a holiday with an eager group of fellow bird nerds, be they friends or strangers. From children to elders and from all walks of life, thousands of us trek across forests, fields and wetlands in a semiorganized pursuit to see, hear and count every bird that we detect on a single winter day.

Launched by the National Audubon Society in 1900, the international gathering now hosts more than 2,600 “count circles” across the Western Hemisphere. The goal is simple: In a single day, track as many bird species as you can find within an assigned 15-mile diameter.

Blue Ridge Audubon (BRA) launched its CBC count circle in 1974. In recent years, the count has attracted around three dozen annual volunteers, and we narrowly broke a record this year with a grand total of 38.

John Koon , a volunteer who serves as our local CBC organizer, dispatched team assignments and coverage areas across 12 sectors. I was teamed up with Luke Cannon , Aaron Guillote and Lauren Shepard . Our area was Fairview. Not long after we arrived at our destination, we heard a bird call that seemed inconceivable for this time of year. “Pee-ah-weeeee!”

Was it possible an eastern wood-pewee, a bird that typically flies south for the winter, remained in our region?

“Let’s go see what we can find,” I said to the group. And we headed to the call.

‘TALENTED SONGSTER’

“Well, well — a European starling,” I stated.

THE REGION

I spotted the bird at the top of a towering tree.

“Are you sure?” Shepard asked. “It sounded just like a pewee!”

As if on cue, the starling proudly puffed out its throat and sang the song of the pewee, one of many tropical migratory flycatchers that breeds or migrates through Western North Carolina.

“What a talented songster,” Cannon said.

Starlings can imitate other species just as well as bona fide mimids (of the taxonomic family, Mimidae, regionally represented by the famous northern mockingbird and the lesser-known, but nearly

as ubiquitous, brown thrasher). Blue jays and other corvids (of the Corvidae family) also perform excellent imitations, often of hawks. All of these species can trick a birder. They require you to listen keenly to the nuances of sounds in our environment and to understand and think critically about the behavior of birds. I love that about these imitators — they keep you on your toes.

Sometimes these birds can even clue us in to conservation opportunities. For example, we heard the same pewee-imitating starling soon mimic an eastern meadowlark, which is a “common species in steep decline,” according to Partners in Flight, the foremost collaborative conservation group for birds of North America.

Eastern meadowlarks have declined by more than 70% in the past 60 years, according to allaboutbirds.org, a user-friendly and authoritative website hosted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The social behavior of starlings is just as fascinating as their vocal repertoire. The other week, I witnessed a murmuration of thousands of starlings. The black, stubby-tailed, pointy-billed songbirds swarmed in unison like a dark school of fish in the sky — ever-changing in size and shape as they quickly morphed from one magnificent form to the next. In an inky-black flash, the hoard of aerial acrobats dropped like a massive lead balloon.

Our native birds unfortunately have not adapted and evolved to coexist with European starlings. This makes life more difficult for cavity-nesting birds such as the great crested flycatcher, cousin of the eastern wood-pewee and one of more than 20 local species that exclusively nest and roost in the holes of snags (e.g., dead, standing trees). Our native cavity-nesters just can’t compete with a mob of European starlings, which violently skewer or toss out others’ eggs and nestlings.

Upon hearing our star of a starling imitate a meadowlark, I remarked, “Interesting! Let’s bookmark this area for future exploration. It would be good to know if we’ve still got meadowlarks in this area.” NO

As we continued our count, Cannon told the group, “I’m not

UNIQUE TRAITS: A male purple finch can be distinguished from the similar house finch by its colorful plumage, looking as though it were dipped in raspberry juice. It also has a more triangular bill and has less streaking on its underparts than the house finch.

so much a lister as I am excited to watch bird behavior.”

“I’m a sucker for warblers and plovers,” Shepard added. “I can’t photograph them enough.”

“I love it all,” said Aaron. Everyone finds joy in birding in their own way. For me, it’s always changing. Lately, it’s the experience of having birds bring me back to the present moment — to really be where my feet are as I connect with the ancient, astonishing, colorful, complex beauty of these creatures.

Later that day, Koon discussed the changes that Tropical Storm Helene brought to the local bird populations. “Places like the Swannanoa Valley have seen an explosion of song sparrows and American goldfinches, likely because seed-producing vegetation has taken off,” he said. “Woodpeckers are doing better, too, benefiting from the creation of snags [standing dead trees].”

Koon has since compiled and submitted all this year’s data, which can be found at christmasbirdcount.org. According to the data, there were several notable birds missing, including the wood duck, gadwall and yellow-rumped warbler. Meanwhile, notable finds included the vesper sparrow and red crossbill.

As for our little team in the Fairview-area sector, we enjoyed some wonderful highlights, including a raspberry-colored resident — the male purple finch — and

a group of buffleheads that just arrived from latitudes far north.

Additional common but gorgeous birds that we spotted included dozens of cedar waxwings drunk on fermented fruit and looking quite dapper in their tan plumage, black-and-white masquerade masks, scarlet dots on their wings, and silver and yellow tails. (A fascinating fact about the cedar waxwing is that the color of tail tips varies from yellow to deep orange, depending on the color of the fruit that they eat.)

If all this talk of fabulous birds has you inspired to volunteer with the CBC in 2026, follow Koon’s advice: Check christmasbirdcount. org to find a circle near you and the contact information of your local coordinators.

“The CBC welcomes all people, including brand-new birders,” he notes. “We’re very happy to pair up new folks with more experienced birders. It’s a great way to get to know the birding community and a real gateway drug to birding in your local area.”

In addition to the Buncombe CBC circle, there are other circles within a short distance of Asheville, including Haywood, Henderson, Rutherford, Transylvania and Yancey counties.

The annual count, Koon says, is a great way to identify longterm bird trends. “You can see how birds are affected locally through land management and land use, for

example, and how they’re affected nationally — for example, by widespread use of pesticides like DDT or climate change.”

He adds that state and federal agencies use CBC results to inform species assessments and to dictate land-use policy. “It’s a really great way for the average Joe who doesn’t have a Ph.D. in ornithology to contribute to valuable science. Our Buncombe circle has been going strong since 1974.”

Another option for joining in on the birding fun is to attend a free outing with Blue Ridge Audubon. I’ll be leading a bird walk at Beaver Lake on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 9 a.m. Check out the website of Blue Ridge Audubon for a calendar of other bird outings throughout the year.

Editor’s note: “Naturally Curious with John DeLuca” is a new environmental series. DeLuca is an ecologist and conservation professional and the founder of Resilient Earth Alliance. For the next several months, DeLuca is focusing exclusively on birding in Western North Carolina. But the series will evolve and include other outdoor topics in future issues.

Thur., Feb. 19th or March 19th 11am - 1pm

Photo by Lauren Shepard

Best practice makes perfect

Spotlighting WNC educators

BY CHRISTOPHER ARBOR

Editor’s note: Throughout 2025, Xpress readers got to know Christopher Arbor as the writer of “A Year in Beer,” a weekly series that talked about beer and local breweries but was really aimed at lifting up and strengthening Asheville’s community spirit. But Arbor isn’t just a beer lover and community builder — he’s also a teacher with more than two decades of classroom experience. This year, his new monthly series, “Best Practice Makes Perfect,” connects with Western North Carolina educators to explore methods and philosophies that are making a difference.

This series was born in the back of a pickup truck. Way back in the summer of 2006, with only a couple years of teaching under my belt, I was bouncing along gravel roads, circling through the Indigenous villages around Otavalo, Ecuador,

while Katie Chamblee — founder of the Village Education Project — stood above me, yelling through a megaphone, “¡Escuela mañana!” — school tomorrow!

Chamblee founded the nonprofit the summer after her freshman year of college to bring volunteers like me to assist the area’s Kichwa kids in passing their high school entrance exams.

The next morning at sunrise, the other volunteers and I were dropped off at one-room, cinderblock schoolhouses where long lines of brighteyed, rosy-cheeked students eagerly awaited entry. We seated the first 20, told the next 10 they could stand at the back and apologized to the next 10, for there was no more room. Lo siento.

For two short weeks, my fellow gringos and I overcame cultural and language barriers as we connected with our students, while continually having to turn kids away because

there just wasn’t enough room in the schoolhouse.

As is so often the case with volunteer work, I was more affected than effective. I’d traveled 3,000 miles to educate these students, but it was they who lit a fire in me — a fire that has burned ever brighter during my 20 years of teaching.

HUNGRY TO LEARN

What I remember most is their eagerness. The movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off would have made no sense to them. They wanted to be in school. They lined up early every morning and begged to stay late. When we’d go outside to play soccer for recess, they pulled me back inside for more math, and that earnest desire to learn led to remarkable results.

Those students were deeply motivated because they saw the value of their education and because they understood something fundamental: Built into the very concept of education is the idea of better. Knowledge is better than ignorance. Proficiency is better than incompetence. Truth is better than lies. Curiosity is better than apathy.

I could go on …

And I will! Education is built on the belief that possibility is better than

SCHOOL OF THOUGHT: In his new monthly series, writer and educator Christopher Arbor, pictured, highlights the work, philosophies and methods of Western North Carolina teachers. Photo courtesy of Arbor

limitation. Health is better than illness. Compassion is better than contempt. Hope is better than despair. In a world of werewolves, education is a silver bullet.

In the United States, for example, college graduates live 11 years longer than high school dropouts and earn $1.2 million more dollars over their lifetimes. They’re less likely to get depressed or get divorced, less likely to be unemployed or incarcerated. They’re less likely to smoke or be obese.

And education doesn’t just shift individual trajectories. Countries with educated populations have faster economic growth and less crime. They achieve population stability and break intergenerational poverty cycles. The evidence is overwhelming: Education isn’t just good for individuals — it’s the single most powerful investment a society can make in its collective future.

In recent years, however, education has faced unprecedented challenges. Students around the world fell behind during the pandemic. Here in Western North Carolina, they faced further disruption due to Tropical Storm Helene and its aftermath.

Even when back in the swing of things, teachers have faced book bans, increased pressure for test performance and the difficulties of helicopter parents, bulldozer parents or parents too busy to be involved.

HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

Has technology delivered on its promise? Hardly. Teachers are bombarded with fad educational platforms that promise to enhance learning by gamifying it — platforms with ridiculous names like Pobble, Zearn, Wixie, Buncee, Blooket, Ziplet and Zigzagoon. All right, that last one is actually a Pokémon, but you get my drift.

Moreover, teachers must contend with the ubiquity of personal digital devices loaded with apps specifically designed to distract their students — to steal their focus, sleep, self-worth, motivation and overall well-being. And, my goodness, don’t get me started on the complexity of generative AI.

In some parts of the country, educators are leaving the profession in record numbers, worn down by low pay and low support, paired with high expectations and, sometimes, high students.

Meanwhile, as the obstacles grow, our president is working to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. If you’re not concerned about the future, you aren’t paying attention. That’s the truth, but it’s not the whole truth. The other side of the equation is that if you’re not hopeful about the future, you haven’t met the teachers that I have.

While the headlines scream about crises and cuts, boots-on-the-ground educators are still doing extraordinary work. Not extraordinary in the sense of superhuman or unreplicable. Extraordinary in the sense of deeply effective, profoundly human and rooted in what research tells us actually works.

Across WNC, in public, private and charter schools, in elementary classrooms and on college campuses, on Little League teams and at summer camps, educators are educating. They’re genuinely affecting the trajectory of local students’ lives for the better.

They’re building relationships, cultivating motivation and providing the perfect pairing of high expectations with high support. They’re using time-tested techniques, and they’re innovating. Crucially, they’re focused on practices not products. And their efforts are worthy of our attention.

With this monthly series, I’m going to introduce you to some of these educators. Each article will show you a specific piece of their pedagogy — something concrete, something replicable. Each will connect that practice to research that explains why it works. And each will remind you of something you probably already know but maybe need to hear again: Good teaching doesn’t just change the world. It improves it.

This is a series about how

If you know a particularly talented and passionate teacher whose work deserves some attention, please drop me a line at BestPracticeMakesPerfect@ gmail.com. X

Fashionistas

Clothing store owners discuss anticipated trends for 2026

SECONDHAND: “At one time, secondhand wasn’t cool," says Lori Dawson, owner of Mine & Yours Asheville Resale, which is celebrating its 25th year in business. “Kids didn’t want to talk about where their clothes came from if they were secondhand. And then it became the norm — suddenly, everybody was shopping secondhand.”

BY CALEB JOHNSON

cjohnson@mountainx.com

Lori Dawson made 53 cents in sales when she opened Mine & Yours Asheville Resale in 2001.

Things eventually picked up. And now, a quarter-century later, the shop owner remains in business. “I’ve watched people come in with kids, and now those kids have kids,” she says.

Dawson is one of several entrepreneurs in the resale fashion industry that Xpress caught up with to discuss anticipated trends of 2026, how the local economy is faring and the environmental benefits of thrifting.

CALL IT WHATEVER YOU WANT

When Mine & Yours opened 25 years ago, the idea of shopping secondhand carried a very different connotation.

“At one time, secondhand wasn’t cool,” Dawson says. “Kids didn’t want to talk about where their

clothes came from if they were secondhand. And then it became the norm — suddenly, everybody was shopping secondhand.”

Mine & Yours sells items on behalf of consignors. Unlike thrift stores, which resell items and keep the profits, Dawson’s store offers a minimum 40 % payout to sellers when their items are purchased (with higher splits for furniture, high-end clothing and local art).

“It doesn’t bother me if someone considers this a thrift store,” Dawson says. “It’s all secondhand — thrift, consignment, resale. It’s about repurposing things, recycling items.”

To date, Mine & Yours has represented more than 11,000 consignors, each with an account that tracks earnings as items sell. Those funds can be cashed out or spent in-store, where consignors receive a higher percentage. If an item doesn’t sell, it’s donated to local charities.

Dawson says clothing remains the backbone of the store’s inventory. She keeps an eye on current trends and recognizable brands. While locals are her primary client base,

tourism plays a significant role in the fall. “October is usually our busiest month,” she says. “2023 was the best year I ever had.”

That momentum, however, was disrupted in 2024 and 2025. In May 2024, a car crashed through her New Leicester Highway storefront, forcing Mine & Yours to close for two months. Then came Helene. “I’ve still not fully recovered,” Dawson says. “But we’re still here.”

For 2026, Dawson plans to expand the store’s local artist section, rethink the layout and continue refining inventory. She notes that her store aims to collect trendy brands such as Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters to appeal to her customer base.

“You have to make improvements,” she says. “You have to stay on your game and grow with what’s current.”

‘MUSICIANS UNDERSTAND VINTAGE’

At Posies for Lulu Vintage, looking ahead in fashion means integrating the past.

Owner Raina Lee Scott has been collecting vintage clothing since the 1980s and first got into selling online in 2009. She opened her brick-andmortar shop in downtown Asheville in spring 2019 — a few months before the COVID-19 shutdown — testing the resilience of a business rooted in history.

“I always collected more designer, vintage and higher-end,” Scott says. “I wanted to see if Asheville wanted that.” Demand was immediate. “As soon as I opened the doors, it was gangbusters.”

According to Scott, Etsy defines vintage clothing as material that is 20 years old or older. At her shop on Rankin Avenue, however, she leans into garments that date further back — typically from the 1920s through the 1980s.

Each item is researched, dated and curated. “It’s not just used clothes,” she says. “It’s specifically sought-after pieces that are true vintage in excellent condition.” Pieces including Chanel and Jean Paul Gaultier are what Scott calls “museum quality.”

Scott lost nearly 1,000 garments during Helene when her riverside storage unit flooded. Because of the financial hit, she had to cut staff and reduce her buying. “I’ve been running my whole shop myself,” she says. “I missed about five months. Everything was cutting it so close.”

Scott adds that sales did not return to pre-Helene numbers until the 2025 holiday shopping season. However, events and tours such as Billy Strings’ February residency brought an uptick in business. “That really helped my shop,” Scott says. In general, she notes, musicians and members of touring bands often visit her store when they are in town. “Musicians understand vintage.”

Currently, Scott is seeing continued demand for fashion from the 1960s and ’70s — think Twiggy silhouettes, hippie-era pieces, tapestry coats and fur collars. The era, she notes, offers variety and cultural resonance. Meanwhile, she tracks runway trends from Paris and New York fashion weeks to anticipate future trends in vintage styles.

For 2026, Scott is resisting rigid plans. “The hurricane taught me to go with the flow,” she says. “When I need to hire or open more hours, I will. But until then, it’s day by day.”

She also says the community’s recent challenges have refocused her sense of purpose. “[The storm] reminded me I only have so long,” she says. “Now it’s not ‘I have to go to work.’ It’s ‘I get to do this.’”

Photo by Caleb Johnson

SHARED SENSE OF FASHION

Rather than encourage shoppers to constantly consume and discard clothing, The Closetorium on Sweeten Creek Road presents a different approach: sharing apparel.

A gardener by trade, owner Morgan Dugan describes the nonprofit shop as a “fashion library,” a model she hopes points toward the future. For $33 a month, members gain access to a rotating, community-curated wardrobe, with up to 10 items checked out at a time for a $1 withdrawal fee per piece.

The Closetorium opened on May 1. Since then, it has grown to 137 members — nearly halfway to the roughly 300 needed to sustain the organization. That number, Dugan says, represents more than financial stability.

“Being a nonprofit, our mission isn’t to provide clothes,” she says. “It’s to provide a solution to an environmental problem.” The fashion industry, she adds, is the third-most polluting industry.

The model intentionally loosens the grip of trend-driven consumption — members return items when they’re ready. “I don’t want people

to be stressed,” Dugan says. “People get tired of an article on average after seven wears.” Her hope, she adds, is to “shift our relationship with clothes from this need to buy and possess to something more freeing.”

The Closetorium’s storefront also reflects Asheville’s recent past. Dugan came across the Sweeten Creek build-

ing while volunteering in the aftermath of Helene. During the storm, floodwaters climbed 7 feet inside the space. “Everything was literally covered in mud,” she remembers.

As the Closetorium approaches its first full year, Dugan’s focus is on scaling up. Her main challenges so far? “Pet hair and wrinkles,” she says. “I’m raising funds to install a washer and dryer — I got quoted $3,000. That would be huge.”

Still maintaining a physically demanding day job, Dugan hopes to increase margins in 2026 to invest in labor, laying the groundwork for future expansion beyond Asheville. X

SHARING IS CARING: Morgan Dugan, owner of The Closetorium on Sweeten Creek Road, presents a different approach to fashion: sharing apparel. Photo by Caleb Johnson

JAN. 28 - FEB. 5, 2025

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

 Online-only events

 More info, page 48

WELLNESS

50+ Yoga

For individuals aged 50 and above, focusing on gentle movements and flexibility, taught by Barbara.

WE (1/28, 2/4), FR (1/30), MO (2/2), noon, Weaverville Yoga, 3-B Florida Avenue

Anahata Yoga

A heart-centered yoga practice focusing on the Anahata chakra, led by Barbara.

WE (1/28, 2/4), FR (1/30), SA (1/31), MO (2/2), 10:30am, Weaverville Yoga, 3-B Florida Avenue

Tai Chi Fan

This Tai Chi Fan class includes a short Flying Rainbow Single Fan form, partner work, and Flying Rainbow Double Fan form.

WE (1/28, 2/4), 1pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave

Community Yoga w/ Carrie

A free hour of yoga, meditation and mindfulness with local yoga instructor.

WE (1/28), 10:30am, AmeriHealth Caritas

NC Wellness and Opportunity Center, 216 Asheland Ave

Chinese Tea and Tai Chi Foundations

This is a class for all ages and all levels. No experience is needed.

SA (1/31), 10:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave

SharQui Bellydance Fitness

A bellydance fitness class suitable for all levels, led by instructor Kim Reigle.

WE (1/28, 2/4), noon, SA (1/31), 10am, World Dance Asheville, 1269 Tunnel Rd

Candlelight Flow Yoga

Unwind in our all-levels Candlelight Flow Yoga class.

SU (2/1), 5pm, Happy Body Pilates, 25 Reed St., Suite 210

Hatha Yoga

Suitable for all levels.

MO (2/2), 9am

Yin Yang Qigong

Together, we will balance the Yin and Yang within to effortlessly smooth out internal and external physical, emotional and mental disharmonies.

MO (2/2), 10am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave

Kinēsa Mat Class

Kinēsa focuses on retraining the brain and calming the nervous system to release habitual patterns of posture, movement, and body mechanics.

TU (2/3), 8:30am, Happy Body Pilates, 25 Reed St., Suite 210

Meditative Morning

The first Tuesday morning of every month will be reserved for Meditative Mornings, a pause for quiet time in our gardens and on our trails.

TU (2/3), 8am, NC Arboretum, 20 Frederick Law Olmsted Way

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Qigong for Health and Resilience

Practice a variety of simple yet powerful standing movements that can be as deep and challenging as you wish.

TU (2/3), 9am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave

Small Group Circuit Training Class

A circuit training group workout class aimed at increasing your general fitness and conditioning. Class is capped at 4 people, held at our private fitness studio in

West Asheville.

TH (2/5), 9am, Jungle Gym Asheville, 30 Davenport Rd

SUPPORT GROUPS

Carolina Resource Center for Eating Disorders Support Group

This support group is peer-led and facilitated by licensed therapists & dietitians specializing in eating disorders. Regiser at avl.mx/es6.

WE (1/28, 2/4), 6pm, Online

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

TH (1/29, 2/5), 4:30pm, Asheville 12-Step Recovery Club, 1 Kenilworth Knolls Unit 4

Staying Grounded in Shaky Times

A spiritual practice, support, and discussion group for seekers. It will explore a variety of spiritual practices including meditation, breath-work, meditative

movement and more.

WE (1/28, 2/4), 2pm, AmeriHealth Caritas NC Wellness and Opportunity Center, 216 Asheland Ave

Magnetic Minds: Depression & Bipolar Support Group

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

SA (1/31), 2pm, First Congregational Church of Christ of Asheville, 20 Oak Street

Solutions Group Daily living sober meeting. For more information, visit avl.mx/f91.

SU (2/1), 12:30pm, Online

Sunrise AA Meeting Daily virtual Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. For more information, visit avl.mx/f91.

SU (2/1), 7am, Online

Families Anonymous Support group for those affected by someone else’s addiction. We support each other with support

of program.

TU (2/3), 6pm, Love & Respect, 350 Chadwick Ave Suite 300 Parkinson’s Support Group Mary Donnelly will talk about caregivers support. She is a professional dementia consultant and a former caregiver for her mother.

TU (2/3), 10am, Groce United Methodist Church, 954 Tunnel Rd The Men’s Nest Make meaningful human connections to strengthen your social

WAYNESVILLE IMPROV: Hart Theatre hosts two comedy shows from Parking Space Comedy, a Waynesville-based improv troupe, on Friday, Jan. 30, and Saturday, Jan. 31, at 7:30 p.m. on both nights. Attendees should expect quick wit and nonstop laughs, with every show fueled by audience energy. Photo courtesy of Hart Theatre

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

health, cultivate compassion, and learn to use your power to give and receive authentic support.

TU (2/3), 5:15pm, SeekHealing, 50 S. French Broad Ave

WNC Prostate Support Group

A forum for men, caregivers, family members, partners and supporters to attend no matter their current situation with prostate cancer. This month’s speaker, Dr. Carl Klutke, Mission Urology & Boston Scientific, specializes in ED & incontinence.

TU (2/3), 6:30pm, First Baptist Church of Asheville, 5 Oak St

Stroke Support Group w/Stronger Together Wellness

Stronger Together Wellness empowers stroke survivors and their caregivers through shared experiences, fostering a vibrant community that inspires healing, resilience, and hope on the journey to recovery.

TH (2/5), 3pm, AmeriHealth Caritas NC Wellness and Opportunity Center, 216 Asheland Ave

DANCE

Latin Night Wednesday w/DJ MTN VIBEZ

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

WE (1/28, 2/4), 8pm, One World Brewing West, 520 Haywood Rd

Nia Dance Class Nia brings the body, mind, emotions, and spirit to optimal health through music, movement, and self expression.

TH (1/29, 2/5), TU (2/3), 10:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave

We Line Dance

Instructor Brenda Mills leads an all-inclusive exercise class using line dancing to get your body moving.

TH (1/29, 2/5), 6:15pm, Stephens-Lee Rec Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave

Fundamentals of Bellydance

Explore the fundamentals of bellydance, focusing on internal movement, isolations, smooth travel, hip articulation, and fluidity.

WE (1/28), 5:30pm, The Well, 3 Louisiana Avenue

Bellydance Drills

A class focusing on bellydance drills suitable for all levels, led by Olivia Blahowsky. SU (2/1), 4pm, World Dance Asheville, 1269 Tunnel Rd

ART

Highwater: Ceramics from the Gail & Brian McCarthy Collection

Highwater features ceramics from the collection of Gail & Brian McCarthy, celebrating the 45-year legacy of Highwater Clays as a pillar of the ceramics community in WNC and beyond. Gallery open Wednesday through Sunday, 11am. Exhibition through April 26, 2026.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square Look Homeward, Angel: Letterio Calapai’s Wood Engravings of the Asheville-Inspired Novel

This exhibition presents a folio of prints by Letterio Calapai illustrating “Look Homeward, Angel” (1929)—Thomas Wolfe’s semi-autobiographical novel set in a fictionalized Asheville. Gallery open Wednesday

through Sunday, 11am. Exhibition through Feb. 22, 2026.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

Modern Bestiary: Creatures from the Collection

This exhibition explores the artistic legacy of the medieval bestiary through a selection of animals and fantastic beasts from the Museum’s Collection. Gallery open Wednesday through Sunday, 11am. Exhibition through March 15, 2026. Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

Trolls: A Field Study

An interactive exhibition featuring twelve troll sculptures exploring human life, crafted from materials like fallen branches and wooden pallets. Open daily, 8am. NC Arboretum, 20 Frederick Law Olmsted Way

Women of the Pacific Northwest

This exhibition celebrates the voices, visions and material mastery of female artists working today, with roots from this rich and progressive region. Gallery open Wednesday through Sunday, 11am.

Don’t forget to socialize

Adam Lewis is the clinical director at All Souls Counseling Center. “I have been with All Souls Counseling Center since 2023 and am committed to our mission of providing mental health services to those that are uninsured or underinsured,” he says.

Xpress: What’s your approach for managing screen time and technology to support optimal health?

Lewis: Like many people, I try to limit my screen time as a part of my self-care habits. Mindfulness skills have helped me to work to just be aware of that urge to pick up my devices to scroll and instead recognize what’s actually going on. I’m usually bored or avoiding something that, if I can get it done in that moment, I’ll likely feel a lot better.

Can you share one or two food items or simple dishes that are your personal go-tos for maintaining a healthy diet?

One of my healthy comfort dishes is roasted sweet potato. Depending on the time of year, I add toppings that I enjoy including black beans, queso fresco and spinach. It doesn’t take much time to prep and is filling and delicious.

What is one wellness habit readers should consider adding to their daily or weekly routines in 2026?

My wellness plan lately is all about connection, so I’d recommend addressing your social needs (whatever that means to you) by having intentional social experiences at least once weekly. That might look like meeting up for coffee, joining a hiking club or heading to a social support group like Seek Healing. X

PRO TIP

ADAM LEWIS

Exhibition through May 17, 2026.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

Public Tour: Featured Exhibition

A guided tour of the museum’s current featured exhibition.

SA (1/31), 2pm, Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

Public Tour: Discovering Art in Asheville

An interactive tour exploring the Museum’s history and Collection.

SU (2/1), 3pm, Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

COMMUNITY

MUSIC

Cool Jazz Concert

Two nights of unforgettable performances from international jazz artists. It will feature the Ben Rosenblum Trio on the first night and the Walter Smith Trio on the second night.

TH (1/29), 7:30pm, SU (2/1), 2pm, Hart Theatre, 250 Pigeon Street

The Ocean Blue w/Brian Tighe of the Hang Ups

The Ocean Blue’s self-titled debut on the famed Sire Records label launched many of their most beloved bands in the U.S., including the Smiths, Echo & the Bunnymen, and the Pretenders.

TH (1/29), 8pm, Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, 18 Biltmore Ave

Womansong Presents: The Echo Mountain Session

Womansong, Asheville’s longest-running women’s chorus, announces the release of a new recording project, The Echo Mountain Session. The four tracks include original songs by local songwriters, Andrea Rosal and Sue Ford.

FR (1/30), 6:30pm, The Mule, 131 Sweeten Creek Road St. 10

Winter Sound Music Festival

A full day of incredible live music, all to benefit the Arts Council of Henderson County.

SA (1/31), 1pm, Oklawaha Brewing Co., 147 1st Ave E

Juan Holladay Singer-songwriter Juan Holladay nature of art is candid and personal, reflecting heavy collaboration with Asheville’s creative community. He has recently performed at LEAF Global Arts and The Orange Peel.

SU (2/1), 5pm, St. Matthias Church, 1 Dundee St

COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS

Why It’s Important to Keep Up-To-Date

This talk breaks down why real-time book-keeping matters, how it can reduce stress and improve decision-making, and why waiting until tax season is costing many small businesses more than they realize.

WE (1/28), 5:30pm, Green Man Brewing, 27 Buxton Ave

Agribusiness Series: Liabilty in Agri-Tourism

Robert Andrew Branan will offer his perspective on legal risks in agritourism, with an overview of liability law in general (including injury, zoning and neighbor complaints), the role of insurance and business entity organization, and statutory law whose purpose is to exempt agritourism operations from liability lawsuits. Register at avl.mx/fa5.

TH (1/29), 5:30pm

Fermentation Class for Beginners

A 2 hour beginner class on fermentation where you will learn all about how to ferment foods, enjoy tasting different fermented foods and go home with your own jar of personally flavored sauerkraut.

SA (1/31), 10am, WNC Foodworks Training Room, 570 Brevard Rd, Ste 9

Streambank Repair

Certification Workshop

Attendees will learn how to protect and improve the natural environment of streams by stabilizing the stream bank and other eroding areas.

TH (2/5), 9am, The Mule, 131 Sweeten Creek Road St. 10

LITERARY

Poetry Open Mic

Asheville’s longest-running open mic, welcoming all forms of creative expression. Sign-up at 8 p.m. for a 5 or 10-minute spot.

WE (1/28, 2/4), 8:30pm, Sovereign Kava, 268 Biltmore Ave

Flooded Poetry

Mondays

Poetry-specific open mic, starring you plus weekly featured readers, every Monday. MO (2/2), 6:30pm, Flood Gallery, 802 Fairview Rd, Ste1200 Love Stories w/Five WNC Storytellers

This event features traditional and personal tales of love by five WNC storytellers. Touching, funny, tragic? It’ll explore love in all its gloriously complicated facets.

TH (2/5), 7pm, Weaverville Community Center, 60 Lakeshore Drive, Weaverville

THEATER & FILM

Jeeves In Bloom

The peaceful English countryside may never be the same after Bertie Wooster and his unflappable valet, Jeeves, pay a visit. What starts as a plan to pair tongue-tied, amphibian-loving Augustus Fink-Nottle and fanciful, poetry-loving Madeline Basset quickly goes awry. See p48

WE (1/28), TH (1/29),

FR (1/30), SA (1/31), 7:30pm, NC Stage Co., 15 Stage Lane

Monthly Film Night: Enlightenment Guaranteed Enlightenment Guaranteed is a movie directed by German filmmaker Dorris Dorrie, focusing on two mismatched brothers who embark on a retreat at a Zen monastery in Japan. WE (1/28), 6pm, The Lodge at Quietude, 1130 Montreat Rd

Parking Space Improv Featuring Hart’s premiere improv troupe, this fast-pace, unscripted shows bring quick wit, clever games and audience-fueled to every performance. FR (1/30), SA (1/31) , 7:30pm, Hart Theatre, 250 Pigeon St Becoming Punxsutawney Phil: A Groundhog Day Screening & Discussion Led by Julie Benesh, this unique afternoon will combine a screen -

ing of the 1993 classic film “Groundhog Day” with an in-depth discussion exploring its philosophical and transformative themes.

SU (2/1), 1:30pm, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W State Street Grand Kyiv Ballet Presents: Giselle Giselle is a classical ballet known for its stunning choreography and beautiful music, and is a true masterpiece of the

ballet repertoire. WE (2/4), 7pm, Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, 18 Biltmore Ave

MEETINGS & PROGRAMS

Social Seniors

A social gathering for seniors to engage in various activities and connect with peers.

WE (1/28, 2/4), TH (1/29, 2/5), FR (1/30),

MO (2/2), TU (2/3), 9am, Grove Street Community Center, 36 Grove S Free Business Networking Meet local business owners and make connections that actually turn into business. The goal is to meet great people, share what you do, and leave with new connections and real opportunities. WE (1/28), 5:30pm, MudPuppies Sports Bar & Grill, 5 Andrew Way

Personalized, precision medicine with an Integrative approach. Offering Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, Weight loss, Medical aesthetics, Genomic based nutrition, Gynecology, Gut health, and more.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

SoulCollage, Stars & Sounds Social

Michelle Parkerson and David Heiss will lead an easy, playful SoulCollage activity followed by an astrology report, an engaging community conversation and a powerful Gong Sound Journey.

TH (1/29), 1pm, The Lodge at Quietude, 1130 Montreat Rd

Authentic Relating Date Night For Singles: Ditch The Small Talk

This event is designed to help you move past surface-level conversations and create authentic, meaningful connections, both in the moment and long after.

TH (1/29), 6:45pm, The Well, 3 Louisiana Avenue

French Broad River & Hot Springs w/Anna Alsobrook

Learn more about the French Broad River as it flows through Hot Springs. Find out about history of the watershed, ways to recreate on your local stretch of river and how to get involved with clean up work.

TH (1/29), 7pm, Hot Springs Library, 64 S Spring St

Pedestrian Plan

Community Meeting

Buncombe County is creating its first Pedestrian Plan to guide future infrastructure improvements that will make walking and mobility aid use (for pedestrian travel) easier and safer in unincorporated areas.

TH (1/29), 4:30pm, Enka-Candler Public Library, 1404 Sand Hill Rd

History Bites: Henderson County Education History Initiative w/ Rick Wood

Historic Johnson Farm is excited to bring back its winter lecture series, “History Bites.”

These informational talks delve into local history, culture, and other interesting information.

FR (1/30), 11am, Historic Johnson Farm, 3346 Haywood Rd

SNAP & Food Bank Changes in WNC Affecting Many Older Adults

A timely and critical panel discussion on senior food insecurity in Buncombe County and WNC. This program, sponsored by AARP in conjunction with UNCA/OLLI, is free and open to the

public.  FR (1/30), 2pm, Reuter Center, 300 Campus View Road

A Path to Healing

Jonathan Van Valin is a revered spiritual guide and healer whose work is shaped by his profound Near-Death Experience (NDE) and his ongoing, tangible communion with the Divine.

SU (2/1), 12:45pm, Community Commons at CSL Asheville, 3 Science of Mind Way

Atheists of WNC

This little Atheist group invites anyone who doesn’t believe in religions to come chat with like-minded people. Find out more at avl.mx/f8c.

SU (2/1), 10am, EarthFare - Westgate, 66 Westgate Pkw Jazz is for Everyone: Free to Be, The Rise of the Artist Jazz Is for Everyone is a series of five one-hour sessions exploring jazz music. It will feature guided listening, live music demonstrations, stories that connect the music to people, places and intent.

BECOME A NEW CLIENT

SU (2/1), 3pm, Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, 18 Biltmore Ave

Sunday Celebration

An uplifting Science of Mind Celebration.

SU (2/1), 11am, Center for Spiritual Living Asheville, 2 Science of Mind Way

Study Hall: Training w/Intention

This is your chance to listen and learn from local experts and scholars. This event will bring specialists from a wide variety of fields to the distillery to speak on what they know best.

TU (2/3), 6:30pm, Oak and Grist Distilling Co., 1556 Grovestone Rd Tarot Club

Each month, we’ll study a new method, approach, or way to work with the cards while engaging in personal journeywork.

TU (2/3), 7pm, The Well, 3 Louisiana Avenue

Charter School Community Forum

Explore the free alternative options offered by five different public charter schools and see what makes them different from traditional public schools. WE (2/4), 5:30pm,

Email a therapist who’s accepting new clients, or complete our online form to be matched with the right therapist by our clinical director.

We offer sex-positive, queer-affirming, feminist, and trauma-informed psychotherapy. We provide relationship therapy for individuals, couples, polycules, families, and besties.

INSURANCE WE ACCEPT

We accept most BCBS, Aetna, Medcost, and Ambetter insurance plans. Some of our therapists also accept United. Please reach out for more information.

Locations : Downtown Asheville, Fairview, and online via telehealth.

Photo by Ariel Shumaker

Dr. Wesley Grant Sr.

Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St

Witnessing Life: Enhancing Spiritual Connection

Experience a shift in perspective as you deepen your spiritual awareness and learn to witness life with presence, curiosity, and compassion.

WE (2/4), 1pm, Community Commons at CSL Asheville, 3 Science of Mind Way

WNC Sierra Club: Geology of WNC, Past & Present

Geologist Richard Wiener will talk about the topography, bedrock geology, and evolution of our beautiful and intriguing slice of Earth in WNC.

WE (2/4), 7pm, Reuter Center, 300 Campus View Road

GAMES & CLUBS

Asheville Board Game Club Meetup

Play a wide variety of games—strategy, party, cooperative, and more—and we’re always happy to teach, so no experience needed!

WE (1/28, 2/4), 5:30pm, Well Played Board Game Café, 162 Coxe Ave, 101

Board Game Night

Open, casual game night—come and go as you please. An assortment of board games available to play.

WE (1/28, 2/4), 5pm, Hi-Wire RAD Beer Garden, 284 Lyman St

Homeschooler’s Hangout

Games help develop cognitive skills, including decision-making, problem-solving, and logical analysis. In older adults, playing games has been shown to lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

TH (1/29, 2/5), 11am, Well Played Board Game Café, 162 Coxe Ave, 101

Yahtzee Tournament

Let the fun and good times roll with this board game tournament series. Winner gains bragging rights.

WE (1/28), 1pm, Harvest House Community Center, 205 Kenilworth Rd

Mario Kart Tournament

There will be fun prizes, themed drink specials, and a lot of gaming.

SA (1/31), 1pm, The Mule, 131 Sweeten Creek Road St. 10

Adult Community Basketball

Come shoot some hoops or play a pick up game with friends.

SU (2/1), 1pm, Dr.

Wesley Grant Sr.

Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St

Hooping Around Community Basketball

Come show your skills, play a pick-up game, and get a good sweat in during our Community Basketball.

SU (2/1), 1:15pm, Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Rd

Southside After Praise

After church, enjoy an afternoon playing spades or dominoes.

SU (2/1), 1:30pm, Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St

Weekly Sunday Scrabble

If you like Wordle, Boggle, Words with Friends or Scrabble online, this club may be a good fit for you. All of the games are provided.

SU (2/1), 1:30pm, Stephens-Lee Rec Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave

Monday Night Music Video Bingo

Come out for Monday night music video bingo with Jason. MO (2/2), 6pm, Mills River Brewing Co., 336 Banner Farm Rd, Mills River

Pool Night

Pool night, every Monday night with a $5 buy in. Must be signed up by 7 p.m.

MO (2/2), 6:30pm, Eda’s Hide-a-Way, 1098 New Stock Rd, Weaverville

Game Designers of NC Meetup Come play-test the next generation of games.

TU (2/3), 6pm, Well Played Board Game Café, 162 Coxe Ave, 101

Magic: The Gathering

Whether you’ve been playing for years or are just starting your journey, this is your chance to battle, brew, and build community.

TU (2/3), 6pm, Well Played Board Game Café, 162 Coxe Ave, 101

KID-FRIENDLY PROGRAMS

Baby Story Time

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

TH (1/29, 2/5), 10:30am, Oakley/South Asheville Library, 749 Fairview Rd

LOCAL MARKETS

RAD Farmers Market

A year-round weekly market featuring local fruits vegetables,

meats, bread, honey, eggs, pastries, flowers, crafts and more.

SNAP, Double SNAP, & Farmers Market

Prescriptions accepted here.

WE (1/28, 2/4), 3pm, New Belgium Brewing Asheville, 21 Craven St

Weaverville Tailgate Market

This market features a selection of fresh, locally grown produce, grass fed beef, pork, chicken, eggs, cheese, baked goods, artisan bread, eclectic handmade goodies, garden and landscaping plants.

WE (1/28, 2/4), 3pm, 60 Lake Shore Dr

Winter Book Sale

This book sale will feature thousands of fiction and non-fiction books, new best sellers, and rare or antique items -- not to mention DVDS and puzzles at bargain prices -- in every genre and for every age group.

FR (1/30), 11am, Oakley/South Asheville Library, 749 Fairview Rd

Junk-O-Rama Vintage Market

Featuring vintage clothes, jewelry, local art & more.

SU (2/1), noon, Fleetwood’s, 496 Haywood Rd

WNC Farmers Market

This year-round market features locally grown produce, fruits and vegetables, mountain crafts, plants, shops, arts and crafts, sourwood honey, and other farm fresh items. Open daily, 8am. 570 Brevard Rd

FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration

Rescheduled due to impending snowstorm, this afternoon will feature music, renowned keynote speaker, Dr. Robert Adams, Jr., and a delicious community dinner.

SA (1/31), 3pm, Tryon Fine Arts Center, 34 Melrose Ave, Tryon

Resister Drag Bingo Benefiting Rainbow Road

This is a fun bingo game with 2 hilarious hosts and it’s all to benefit Rainbow Railroad.

SA (1/31), 5:30pm, The Mule, 131 Sweeten Creek Road St. 10 Asheville-Buncombe County Senior Games: Registration Opens Register to participate in over 120 sports and arts events for anyone aged 50 and over. It will feature tennis, pickleball, swimming, track and field, archery, dance, poetry, sculpture and more. Register at avl.mx/far.

MO (2/2), 9am, Online

The Big Asheville Science Salon Cultivate curiosity and build community by sharing the coolest, grooviest, and fascinating-ist scientific discoveries.

WE (2/4), 5pm, The Mule, 131 Sweeten Creek Road St. 10

Evergreen Middle School Open House Come explore Evergreen Community Charter School’s Middle School that serves 6th-8th graders.

TH (2/5), 5:30pm, Evergreen Community Charter School, 50 Bell Rd

BENEFITS & VOLUNTEERING

Dine w/Divas Drag Dinner Show

Asheville’s only drag celebrity impersonator dinner show is back—and it’s serving legendary music icons with a side of sequins. This all-star evening pairs jaw-dropping drag performances with a decadent catered dinner by Celine and Company, all while benefiting Beloved Asheville.

FR (1/30), 7pm, Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Hwy #200

Tarot Club

• The Well, 3 Louisiana Ave, Asheville

• Feb. 3 | 7 p.m.

Attendees will study a new method, approach or way to work with their cards while engaging in personal journey work. This meetup is part learning and part self-exploration.

Support for mothers

WNC nonprofits work to fill gaps in maternal health care

BY KATRINA DONHAM

In recent years, calls for stronger support for new parents — especially new mothers — have grown on social media and in Congress. The 2025 “State of Maternal Health Report,” released in September, found that mothers are being let down at every stage of pregnancy, including the postpartum “fourth trimester.”

More than three in five women say they struggle to access medical care, and the challenges are even more prevalent among Black and Hispanic women, according to the report.

At the same time, insurance premiums continue to rise, while proven maternal-health supports — like doulas, therapists and midwives — remain uncovered or undercovered, leaving many mothers frustrated, anxious, depressed or in pain.

The good news? Some local organizations, including MAHEC, Sistas Caring 4 Sistas (SC4S) and Flow of Life, are working hard to fill the gaps for comprehensive maternal health care in Western North Carolina.

MAHEC STEPS IN

“In seven of the 16 counties, there are no practicing OB-GYNs, and there were six hospital labor and delivery closures in less than five years,” explains Dr. Dolly Pressley Byrd , certified nurse midwife and chair of MAHEC’s OB-GYN department

And the area’s mountainous terrain, she adds, coupled with high financial need for many residents, makes transportation to and from appointments a real challenge for some new or expecting mothers. In response, MAHEC has expanded into some of WNC’s most rural areas.

“We have women that travel two, two and a half hours, just to get prenatal care from here,” Pressley Byrd says. “Our OB satellite offices are way more rural, where there is a maternity desert. We have branches in Franklin, Cullowhee and Brevard.”

She notes that MAHEC’s full-spectrum obstetrical and gynecological services include — but are not limited to — prenatal and postpartum care, pelvic floor physical therapy,

Series

BIRTHING CHOICES: Recognizing the local need for holistic maternal health care options, Flow of Life owners Roxy Robbins, left, and Sue Ann Fisher have made it part of their mission to provide a shared space for practitioners whose work has proved to improve birth outcomes. Photo courtesy of Flow of Life

substance use disorder treatment for pregnant and parenting people, lactation support and doula services. These services, she emphasizes, are available to women at little to no cost, plus MAHEC accepts Medicaid and Medicare and offers sliding scale options for the uninsured and underinsured.

Recently, MAHEC rolled out a helpful new tool on its website called FindMyCareMapWNC. The interactive map allows patients and providers to search by county for care options beyond MAHEC’s offerings, including prenatal yoga, childbirth education and substance abuse disorder clinics.

For pregnant women looking for support in a group setting, MAHEC offers Centering Pregnancy — a program created by Amanda Murphy, certified nurse midwife — that allows expectant parents who are due around the same time to meet with each other and discuss topics related to pregnancy, birth, postpartum and parenthood.

For after a baby’s arrival, MAHEC offers Centering Parenting, a small

support group that provides space for new parents to commiserate with each other and ask questions of health care providers in a safe and supportive setting.

“We have a very special population at MAHEC OB-GYN. [Our patients] have a lot of barriers,” Murphy says. “We feel very passionately about caring for them because there’s a reciprocity there. They care for us, too.”

To learn more about MAHEC’s OB-GYN services, go to avl.mx/f93.

MEETING MOTHERS WHERE THEY ARE

In 2016, MAHEC received a grant to support improved services to women of color in WNC. In order to form stronger bonds with the minority community, Murphy and another health care professional began eating their lunch once a week at a picnic table at Pisgah View Apartments, an Asheville public housing complex. Eventually, residents took note and started ask-

ing who they were and why they were there.

Murphy and her colleague introduced themselves and their purpose, and began listening to their often-traumatic birth stories, building trust and recognizing the disparity in quality maternal care for women of color. These conversations morphed into strategy and ultimately birthed SC4S, a collective of four doulas that has now grown to 20.

A referral-based service, SC4S is led by women of color and focuses on “birth justice,” training Black women to be doulas. The nonprofit relies totally on grant funding to operate, working closely with MAHEC and local government agencies to pair high-need minority women with high-trained doulas.

SC4S is unique in that it brings services directly to the client — whether that be in their home, at a doctor’s appointment or at a hospital — in order to be by their side every step of the way during pregnancy and through the first year of baby’s life.

SC4S Executive Director Sheneika Smith explains that the nonprofit’s approach to childbirth education is holistic and embedded in its services. Through prenatal engagement with mothers, SC4S doulas provide evidence-based information and can help translate information from doctors.

“A lot of our moms are busy. They’re pregnant and still working or pregnant and caring for their household, whether that is children or aging parents. They don’t have time to designate for childbirth education classes,” says Smith, who also serves on Asheville City Council.

“So, for our doula services, we come in-home and have that face-to-face, one-on-one conversation about all the things their body is going through, and we make sure that the mom feels emotionally supported.”

SC4S also touches on social determinants of health. “Our doulas look into what’s going on in the household,” Smith says. “We ask the traditional questions about transportation, housing, etc., but we also ask about the quality of these things, too.”

In some cases, SC4S doulas provide much more than physical and/ or emotional care to pregnant or new mothers. “There have been instances where our doulas have to be in the grit of the matter … where we’ve had to change from being in a supportive role to being advocates for mom and baby,” Smith explains.

To find out more about SC4S’s offerings, visit avl.mx/f94.

MAKING HOLISTIC CARE ACCESSIBLE

Flow of Life owners Sue Ann Fisher and Roxy Robbins recently opened a new office off Patton Avenue — a maternal health hub that includes a midwife, a pelvic floor therapist and a licensed counselor. Recognizing the need for accessible, holistic maternal health care, Fisher and Robbins have made it part of their mission to provide a shared space for practitioners whose work has proven to improve birth outcomes.

“Being a mother, especially today, is not very sustainable,” says Fisher. “There’s not a built-in systemic support system for pregnant or postpartum women.”

Robbins adds, “It’s important for us to acknowledge that when a baby is born, a mother is born. The U.S. is severely on the end of one of the highest maternal mortality rates — most of which are correlated to complications, such as postpartum preeclampsia.”

Fisher notes that Flow of Life founded a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Perinatal Health Connect, as part of its commitment to making its services affordable for WNC residents: “We know that all of these modalities — pelvic floor physical

therapy, bodywork, chiropractic services and prenatal and postnatal yoga — improve pregnancy and birth outcomes. And, we know they are not covered by insurance” she says.

Flow of Life offers prenatal and postnatal yoga, childbirth education, bodywork, doula services and doula and prenatal yoga teacher training. Perinatal Health Connect allows Flow of Life to offer many of these services at equitable rates with sliding scale pricing available.

“[Having payment options] is really important to us and really important to this community,” says Fisher. We want to make our services more accessible for all community members — not just for those who are privileged.”

To address transportation challenges for pregnant and postpartum mothers, Fisher and Robbins also offer prenatal and postnatal yoga classes via Zoom and online, on-demand childbirth education videos.

“We have such an amazing community — even putting together this new office, some past clients came to help paint or donate items,” says Fisher. “We know that we have made an impact on a lot of lives — and, they’ve made an impact on our lives, too.”

To learn more about Flow of Life’s services, visit avl.mx/f95. X

PRO TIP

Eat with the seasons

Lex Keklak of Asheville Community Acupuncture, also teaches at Hot Yoga Asheville and owns Stab Acupuncture. “I’m constantly inspired by my patients, my students and fellow health care practitioners,” she says. Xpress: What’s your approach for managing screen time and technology to support optimal health?

Keklak: Just say no! I’ve beaten myself up for years for not maintaining a social media presence as a means of advertising, and I’ve finally decided that I should listen to the advice I give my patients. I’d rather spend my time connecting in more human ways. Read Stolen Focus by Johann Hari

Can you share one or two food items or simple dishes that are your personal go-tos for maintaining a healthy diet? My diet advice is always to eat with the seasons. Try to incorporate all five colors and all five flavors into every meal. What is one wellness habit readers should consider adding to their daily or weekly routines in 2026?

Stop thinking the latest wellness trend is going to “fix” you.

A. You are not broken.

B. There is no one-size-fits-all. What helped your friend may harm you. Be discerning and consult a health care practitioner. X

LEX KEKLAK

BY TROY JACKSON

troyjackson@authentichealth.com

We spend our lives trying to stay strong — in body, mind and spirit. But as we age, there’s one kind of strength we rarely think about until it’s too late: the strength of our bones.

Did you know that half of U.S. adults over the age of 50 have low bone density and are at increased risk of a fracture?

Did you also know that a woman’s risk of breaking a hip is higher than her risk of breast cancer?

Osteoporosis is a medical condition defined by brittle bones that are at high risk of breaking, especially after a fall. Although osteoporosis can happen in both men and women, women are four times more likely than men to have it. Osteoporosis is a silent disease, happening under the radar without our knowing it, with many men and women being diagnosed at the time of their first fracture.

Stay strong

Current medical guidelines recommend osteoporosis screening using a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) machine for all women older than 65 and only men at increased risk of osteoporosis.

However, I think these guidelines miss the mark. By delaying screening until a person is 65, they deny men and women the opportunity to identify bone loss early, when prevention is still possible. According to 2018 data from the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 50% of women and 40% of men have low bone density before age 65; and 13% of women will have already

before it becomes a problem and that optimizing bone health adds healthy, functional years to our lives.

I personally think all adults should have a baseline DEXA scan at least once in their 40s or 50s. It’s quick, affordable and provides powerful data about your bone health. By repeating the scan every few years, you can make sure that your bones remain strong for a lifetime.

PEAK BONE AGE

The best way to prevent osteoporosis is to start in childhood. While this doesn’t help most adult readers, this concept is incredibly important for parents, grandparents, educators and even children reading this article.

During the teenage years, bones accrue 40%-60% of one’s total adult bone mass. During this time, bones reach their strongest and densest point. This is referred to as a person’s peak bone age and is considered the most important modifiable risk factor

Most people, especially women, diagnosed with osteoporosis at age 65, never achieved peak bone maturity during this critical time in childhood. Therefore, prevention starts with our children and should be maintained and monitored throughout our lifetime.

STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE

The great news is that osteoporosis is largely preventable. Our daily health choices, such as proper nutrition, exercise, low alcohol consumption, good sleep and controlling stress, all exert powerful, lifelong effects on bone density and quality. But there are a few bone-specific lifestyle strategies that I

Physical activity of any kind is clearly beneficial in most facets of our health across our lifespan. Putting mechanical stress on your bones at any age will promote bone growth, and the muscle strength gained from this improves balance and stability as well as reduces the risk of falling. For our children, free play outside, organized sports and in-school physical education classes provide the critical bone-enhancing stimulus during their

FREEDOM: “Strong bones aren’t just about avoiding fractures; they’re about preserving your freedom to move, explore and live fully at every age," writes Dr. Troy Jackson. Photo courtesy of Jackson

For teenagers and adults, I also recommend strength training with weights or resistance bands at least twice per week. Other forms of exercise that help with bone growth include those that require jumping, stair climbing, jogging, hiking and dancing. For the elderly, tai chi, Pilates and yoga are very beneficial strategies to reduce the risk of falls.

One caveat: Certain exercises, though great for our cardiovascular system, do not put enough force on the bones. For those who enjoy competitive swimming or long-distance cycling/running, you will want to consider layering in strength training to make sure your bones are getting enough mechanical load.

Osteogenic loading

Osteogenic loading is a specialized exercise therapy that allows participants to exert a large amount of force on their bones, similar to strength training, with much less effort. I find this form of therapy particularly helpful for those with physical limitations to strength training. Of note, osteogenic loading does not build muscle and therefore should not be considered a full replacement for strength training. OsteoStrong North Asheville and StrengthX in Black Mountain both offer this type of service.

Nutrients

Our bones are living structures that need a constant supply of nutrients to maintain strength and flexibility. Key bone nutrients include calcium,

vitamin D, vitamin K, magnesium and protein. Having a well-rounded diet of green leafy vegetables, certain dairy products and either plant-based or animal-based protein sources should supply most of these nutrients in healthy amounts. You can always get your vitamin D and magnesium levels checked to determine the need for additional supplementation.

Protein is more than just for muscle — it provides the scaffolding that gives bones their strength. To prevent osteoporosis, we have to consume enough protein to build bone (and muscles, tendons, ligaments), not just to maintain them. Unfortunately, most women underconsume protein across their lifetime, hampering their ability to build bone strength. I recommend getting at least 100 grams of protein per day, divided over three to four meals. I also recommend having a good source of collagen throughout the week, whether it be bone broth, gelatin, tinned fish with edible bones or a collagen powder.

Managing hormones

Hormones, especially estradiol, play a very important role in bone health across a woman’s lifespan. Maintaining proper hormonal signals for teenage women is critical for healthy bones later in life, as estradiol provides a

potent stimulus for bone formation. Women with irregular periods related to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), heavy overtraining or disordered eat ing all create disruptions in proper estradiol cycling, which increases the risk of low-bone density later in life. If you are a teenager having irregular periods, I recommend discussing this with your doctor to identify potential reasons and solutions.

On the other side of the spectrum, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) during the menopause transition is also highly beneficial for bone protec tion and is approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) in the prevention of osteoporosis. Data shows that HRT contributes to a 33% reduction in vertebral fractures and near 30% reduction in hip fractures in women, especially when started early in their menopause transition.

Strong bones aren’t just about avoid ing fractures; they’re about preserving your freedom to move, explore and live fully at every age. Osteoporosis may be silent, but prevention is loud: It happens in your kitchen, your workouts and your everyday choices. By taking steps now to protect your bones, you’re investing in a lifetime of functional health and vitality. X

STAND UP TO YOUR SCIATIC PAIN

Sciatica describes nerve pain that originates in the lower back, radiates deep into the buttock, and travels down the leg. Better known as a literal “PAIN IN THE BUTT.” All jokes aside, we understand how painful and debilitating sciatic pain can be. You’ve tried the stretches. You’ve tried ice and heat. You’ve tried inversion tables and chiropractic. You’ve even tried dietary changes with little to no relief! You

feel like you’ve already tried everything, but you haven’t tried South Slope.

At South Slope Acupuncture & Wellness, we offer a PROVEN SOLUTION to address your Sciatic Pain.

We skillfully use noninvasive therapies like Frequency Specific MicroCurrent and other nonpharmaceutical, non-opioid, nonsteroid treatments, for amplified

and lasting results to relieve you of your sciatica and back pain.

Our providers have been helping the Asheville community using cutting-edge and innovative integrative medicine for over ten years.

Specializing in chronic pain cases, specifically those that have been deemed ‘hopeless’ or ‘untreatable,’ they consistently generate unparalleled results.

Give the gift of Wellness!

What was once a missing link in healthcare is now easily accessible to the residents of Asheville.

If you’ve missed too many outings because of pain or passed on shopping or golf dates with friends because you’re afraid you can’t keep up, it is time to call South Slope Acupuncture & Wellness.

They are waiting for your call.

HOMEMADE LIVING

BY ASHLEY ENGLISH

Sickness season is fully upon us. From flu to strep to the common cold and beyond, myriad illnesses are present right now in Western North Carolina (and nationwide). While prevention is, of course, the best practice, we sometimes succumb, no matter how cautious and conscientious we may be.

When that happens, comfort measures go far in supporting our journey back to wellness. To that end, here are three remedies I created and employ in my own home when sickness finds us.

I began using powdered mustard baths in my early 20s, when I worked at a medley of natural foods stores in Washington, D.C. At each, I came across a packaged mustard bath blend formulated by renowned acupuncturist, osteopath and homeopathist Dr. Shyam Singha. Not only was it effective, but it was also highly invigorating and deeply aromatic.

Used for centuries by the ancient Greeks and Romans, as well as Native Americans and practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine, mustard baths are helpful for dealing with colds, stress, sore muscles, fever and congestion. That owes to the combined abilities of the powdered herbs and essential oils (a more modern addition) to stimulate sweat glands and increase circulation, helping the body eliminate substances that are causing it distress or discomfort.

Few things are harder to bear than a persistent cough keeping you or your loved ones up at night. If you find yourself in this situation, consider my DIY cough syrup as a remedy. The herbs in my recipe include fennel seed, slippery elm bark, wild cherry bark, cinnamon and orange peel.

Together, they provide a mucilaginous coating for the throat, as well as offering antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. The mixture is nestled in a honey base, rife with its own matrix of nutrients, antioxidants and throat-soothing qualities. Finally, my soothing throat tea offers a similar demulcent herbal reprieve. It works to mitigate irritation of the mucous membranes in the mouth by creating a protective film (slime for the win!). Slippery elm, marshmallow and licorice all possess soothing, mucilaginous qual-

WELLNESS

Sweat it out

Relieve winter maladies with DIY remedies

ities. Additionally, cinnamon and wild cherry are naturally antibacterial, while orange, lemon and honey impart flavor and sweetness, all delivered in the form of a comforting mug of hot tea.

As usual, I source the herbs recommended here locally at French Broad Food Co-op, The Herbiary and the bulk sections of other area natural foods stores.

MUSTARD BATH

Makes: Enough for 4 baths

Frequency of use: Use once daily at the first sign of cold or flu, pain or other malady.

Storage: Store in a lidded container in a cool, dry area. Use within one year.

You will need:

• 1 cup baking soda

• ¼ cup mustard powder

• 6 drops wintergreen essential oil

• 6 drops rosemary essential oil

• 6 drops eucalyptus essential oil

• One 10-ounce glass container

To prepare:

1. Using a whisk, combine all ingredients together in the container.

2. When ready to use, add around 4 tablespoons of the powder to a running bath. Swish the water around with your hands to disperse it. Soak for as long as you are comfortable, topping off with warmer water as needed.

COUGH SYRUP

Makes: About 2 cups

Frequency of use:

• Ages 12-adult: 2 teaspoons every two hours as needed, up to four times a day

• Ages 4-12: 1 teaspoon every two hours, up to four times a day

• Ages 4 and younger: Ask your physician

Storage: Store in refrigerator. Use within three months.

You will need:

• 2 cups cold water

• 4 tablespoons fennel seed

• 2 tablespoons slippery elm bark

• 2 tablespoons wild cherry bark

• 1 cinnamon stick

• Peel from 1 orange (preferably organic)

HEALING BLEND: A mustard bath’s mix of powdered herbs and essential oils is helpful for dealing with colds, stress, sore muscles, fever and congestion. Photo by Glenn English

• 1 cup raw honey

• One 16-ounce glass container

To prepare:

1. Place the water, fennel seed, slippery elm bark, wild cherry bark, cinnamon stick and orange peel in a medium pan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the temperature to low, cover with a lid and simmer gently for 30 minutes or until the liquid reduces by about half.

2. Remove the pot from the heat. Strain the solids using a fine-mesh sieve and discard or compost.

3. Place the liquid in a mixing bowl and add the honey. Whisk to fully combine.

4. Transfer the syrup to a 16-ounce glass container. Cool to room temperature, then cap tightly and refrigerate.

THROAT SOOTHER TEA

Makes: ½ cup loose tea, 4 cups prepared

You will need:

• 4 cups boiling water (1 cup for an individual serving)

• 3 tablespoons slippery elm bark

• 3 tablespoons marshmallow root

• 1 tablespoon licorice root

• 1 2-inch cinnamon stick, broken into pieces

• 1 teaspoon wild cherry bark

• 1 teaspoon dried orange peel

• Honey and lemon wedges, to serve (optional, but recommended)

To prepare:

1. Place the herbs and the orange peel in a mixing bowl. Stir with a spoon to combine.

2. For a full teapot, place the tea blend in a ceramic or heatproof glass teapot or container. Pour 4 cups of boiling water over the herbs. Cover with a lid and steep for 15-20 minutes. For an individual cup of tea, place 2 tablespoons of tea blend in a teacup and add 1 cup of boiling water. Strain the tea through a fine-mesh sieve. Compost the solids. Alternatively, place the herbs in a mesh tea infuser. Serve as is, or with honey and lemon.

3. If not using all of the tea right away, store in an airtight container at room temperature out of direct sunlight. Use within 3 to 4 months. X

WITH ERIC BROWN

BY ERIC BROWN

January, otherwise known as “nobody’s favorite month,” is a time for reflection, a time for making new plans and a time for setting new goals. Then comes mid-February, and we blow off all said resolutions.

Except this group! That’s right. For the latest Best Medicine — and in conjunction with Xpress’ Wellness Issue — I’ve gathered the most motivated, steadfast and dedicated folks I know to discuss plans for a healthy 2026 — or at least talk about making healthier choices. (Or just lie about our intentions this year.)

I’ll be honest: I’m not going to be following up with them about any of this after our conversation goes to print.

Regardless, please welcome Marlene Thompson, Cagney Larkin and Sevynn Shaughnessy

Eric: Asheville is no stranger to spas, sound baths, meditation centers, yoga studios — the list goes on. But we could always use more. I hear city officials are working to attract more of the self-care industry to downtown. Based on my sources (unreliable at best, fictitious at worst), the goal is 80% self-care industry, 20% restaurants and 100% chill. What is a self-care business you’d like to see open?

Screaming into a pillow is a great way to regulate your stress

TEARS OR LAUGHTER (AND IMMENSE RAGE): As part of Xpress’ Wellness Issue, Eric Brown, top left, and his latest cohort of comedians discuss their physical, mental and emotional well-beings. Also featured, starting clockwise top right, Marlene Thompson, Sevynn Shaughnessy and Cagney Larkin. Photo of Brown by Cindy Kunst; all other photos courtesy of the comedians

Eric: We’ve had a salt cave downtown for years now, and I say it’s high time we get a pepper cave. Have I been to the salt cave? No. Do I even know what it is? Honestly, not really. Regardless, that still doesn’t dissuade me from having a pepper cave. I say we open it across the street from the salt cave so you could have access to both, and maybe just for fun, we could have a paprika cave, or at the very least a garlic salt cave around the corner. Again, I don’t know what these caves would be, but I don’t need to. That’s for someone else to figure out. I’m just the ideas guy.

Eric: It’s no secret that we’ve been through a lot in the last couple of years. What do you like to do in town to reduce stress and improve your health?

Marlene: See above — i.e., my rage room answer. But if I’m not raging at the state of this country, I’m on a stage. I’m an actor and improviser, and nothing makes me feel more grounded, real and connected than when I’m playing with friends. It still gives me a childlike sense of creative wonder, even though I’m turning 40 this February. I don’t know where I’d be without an outlet to be funny.

Cagney: Pillow Screamrz. Could be shortened to PLLWSCRMRZ to be

Sevynn: Adult ball pit. Give me a full Olympic-sized swimming pool filled with colorful plastic balls. I need sections deep enough that I can stand upright and be fully submerged, surrounded and supported on all sides. I need a hot tub where warm orbs are constantly bubbling up beneath you. And most of all, I need fountains spewing rainbow streams of joy across the room. Once I have all this, I will find peace.

hip. A place where you can just shove your face into a pillow and scream.

Marlene: You could always go to a rage room. I’d like to see more of them. Let’s line a block. In my opinion, there’s too much calm and relaxation. You can’t start a revolution from a spa that reeks of essential oils. I know rage is a scary emotion for some, but it doesn’t have to be. Anger can propel you into action if you go about it in a healthy way. This country could use more anger and action to fight for the rights of marginalized folks.

Cagney: Personally, I like to scream into my pillow. I usually take it down to Pritchard Park during the drum circle on Friday nights. I’m the guy face down in the middle of the park screaming into a pillow. The drums drown out the noise. It’s very relaxing and does wonders for my skin.

Sevynn: There is nothing like a good bubble bath to keep my nerves in check. Unfortunately, I live in an apartment with no bathtub. So my nerves are very unchecked.

Eric: Everyone in the world could benefit from therapy. And now that the practical answer is out of the way, I’d recommend pining away for better times as if you were in a Tennessee Williams play. Look out the window while it’s raining, probably with your hand against the glass, and give a long monologue about how the world keeps turning.

It keeps turning, but it’s turning away from you, but you’ll show them all. One day you’ll be on top, and who will be laughing then? By this point in the monologue, your cat or dog will probably need something, and you’ll have to stop. Hope that helps!

Eric: Times are tough, and money is thin. Now me, I can’t afford a gym membership, either financially or emotionally. So what are some ways to stay fit on the cheap?

Cagney: I usually scream into my pillow. You can burn about 10 calories an hour doing that. It’s also a great diaphragm exercise.

Marlene: Dancing with friends is my favorite way to keep fit in both mind and body. Unfortunately, I broke my ankle in three places (what’s called a trimalleolar fracture) on New Year’s Eve. Running is another option. Both involve upbeat music. Granted, both require a healed, healthy ankle.

Eric: I’m currently still on the same exercise program I’ve been on my entire life. I call it the “Work a back-breaking physical job 10 hours

a day” system. I find it keeps me trim, motivated and in varying levels of pain. If you’re really trying to get swole, you can pick up a second job and maximize your gains. The added bonus of this, besides the new muscles/pain, is the additional money you’ll make. With this extra income, you’ll probably only need to have three roommates to afford an apartment in Asheville. And you won’t even notice those roommates because you’ll never be home. You’ll be at work bulking up. It’s a flawless plan!

Sevynn: I like to go bird-watching. You might think that wouldn’t be a very physically demanding activity, but you’d be surprised. If you really want to get a good idea of how a bird lives, you have to watch it day and night. You have to be there when it’s hunting for worms and when it’s feeding those worms to its children. You have to be ready when it flies away to chase it down. And most importantly, you have to be there when it calls out for love, so you can be ready to answer. And when you are there at the chapel, on the happiest day of your life, marrying a bird, you’ll find that you are the healthiest you’ve ever been. X

On love and loss

BY MATT SALERNO

For Michael Hettich, poetry is spiritual.

This is evident while visiting his home in Black Mountain, which is reminiscent of a monastery lined with art and stacked with books. Outside, his gardens fade into the forest, and the place exudes an air of peace and quiet reflection.

A similar pensive tone is present in his recent collection, A Sharper Silence, wherein he grieves the passing of his wife, Colleen Ahern-Hettich, who died last January from lung cancer. The couple, married for 44 years, have two surviving children and two grandchildren.

“One of the things about having a writing practice is that when you need it, it’s a resource and recourse giving you some way to hold on and keep going,” Hettich says.

The collection, which is organized in six sections, spans Michael and Colleen’s decadeslong relationship, creating an intimate picture of a shared life. The book’s six sections also suggest the six stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance and meaning.

“I’m always trying to find the center of the book and a way I can have an implied arc,” Hettich says.

FALL LEAVES IN WINTER

As with his previous publications, A Sharper Silence uses Hettich’s narrative

Local poet explores the transformative power of grief in his latest collection

ON GRIEF: In his recent collection, A Sharper Silence, poet Michael Hettich reflects on his 44-year marriage to his wife, Colleen Ahern-Hettich, who died last year. The collection creates an intimate picture of a shared life and explores the ways grief transforms us. Author photo courtesy of Hettich

style, images and scenes to drop readers into the middle of a moment.

The opening poems reflect the early stages of grief, anger and denial, where the unfairness of a terminal diagnosis looms large.

“At first, you think, ‘I don’t want to go forward. I don’t want to be unfaithful to the person who I lost by

Palimpsest

by Michael Hettich

A sapling in a copse of larger trees at the edge of a mid-winter, snow-dusted field holds its withered, desiccated leaves to the thin light and the wind, though those leaves are skeletons, x-rays of lost hands, their translucent flesh tattered and fallen away— the light of stained glass on a cold Sunday morning, an ancient parchment we squint to read, whose language we can’t know. The tree won’t let go— as though its leaves might never die if they could be held until spring. And how many days in your own life will quicken and wake you?

How many days will you hold what you’ve loved in yourself and lost while you loved it? Maybe that’s why we walk out on half-frozen lakes when dusk holds still, before giving way to darkness. That’s how we make ourselves lighter than air for just a few moments, to make it to the other side.

going on with my life,’” Hettich reflects in conversation.

Such conflict is examined through an extended metaphor in the poem “Palimpsest.” Set during a winter hike, it contemplates a single tree that refuses to release its leaves long after the fall season.

The poem’s imagery, Hettich notes, is layered and multifaceted in its association with Colleen. “How do I carry her with me in a way that allows me to go forward instead of being stuck in a grieving place?” he asks in discussing the piece.

But just as a tree will inevitably shed its leaves and provide nutrients to the soil around it, experiencing the loss of a loved one can also bring about growth and renewal. And as the collection progresses, memories transform into a salve that heals some of Hettich’s emotional wounds.

One such poem, “The Lucky Man,” signals a shift in the collection’s tone.

This piece recounts an early date Michael and Colleen had while in college. In it, he marvels at the memory of her strength, writing, “she caught two trout with flies she’d tied herself, then gutted/ the fish in one gesture and cooked them with garlic.”

Such a poem, Hettich says, is a memory, “but it’s also something in the soul, that’s in the being, that is healing.”

Reflecting on joyous outings such as this, Hettich continues, moves people from a place of grief and allows them to celebrate a life. Such movement is the fulcrum on which A Sharper Silence turns.

EPIC IN NATURE

Meanwhile, the book’s final section contains three poems epic in length, including “A Strange Sort of Wonder.”

The piece recalls the final months of Colleen’s life, which coincided with Tropical Storm Helene. In it, Hettich relives the difficulties of draining liquid from Colleen’s lungs without clean water, as well as the compounding threats that lack of electricity and access to health care posed to his dying wife.

In the poem, Hettich writes, “[we] marveled at how quickly/ so much we had taken for granted, and loved/ without thinking about it, was gone.”

But the writing goes beyond their experiences of the storm. After escaping the devastation, Colleen’s chemotherapy treatments resume. A scene in the poem includes a memorable interaction Hettich and his wife had with a receptionist.

“She’d lost everything, or almost everything,/ when her apartment flooded,” Hettich writes. “It had all washed away./ She’d managed to pack her car with her most/ precious possessions—heirlooms and photos of her family. Then her car had been stolen.”

As the poem continues, Michael and Colleen offer their condolences to the woman. The receptionist’s response — “I feel lucky” — embodies the emotional journey of the collection: learning to be grateful for what one has instead of grieving what was lost.

“There were so many beautiful things that happened to us in this really difficult time,” Michael says. “To be fair to the relationship, you have to go forward; otherwise, you’re compromising what was beautiful in your relationship.”

Near the end of the conversation inside his Black Mountain home, Hettich reflects on the transformative power of loss.

“Deep grief reminds you of the suffering that is going on around you all the time,” he says. “It reminds you to be a little bit compassionate, a little bit generous, a little bit open-hearted.”

This is what A Sharper Silence does so well. It connects readers who have experienced loss or grief with the search for meaning. X

Let music replace online scrolling

Britt Klach, an instructor at Hot Yoga Asheville, has taught with the organization since 2022. Music, she notes, is the portal to her creativity and inspiration, creating unique cues to “blend breath and beath to unlock a new sense of self.”

Xpress: What’s your approach for managing screen time and technology to support optimal health?

Klach: My love language is music. Every song I share carries a memory, a mood, a moment. And while the world scrolls, I drift through a deep echo trail on Spotify, following sound after sound into new musical worlds. The result: carefully curated playlists.

Can you share one or two food items or simple dishes that are your personal go-tos for maintaining a healthy diet?

One of my go-to recipes for healthy living is kitchari: a traditional, nourishing Ayurvedic dish. It’s made from split mung beans and rice, cooked with ghee and warming spices. It’s easy to digest, supports gut healing and detoxing, and balances all the doshas. What is one wellness habit readers should consider adding to their daily or weekly routines in 2026?

Try adding bee’s breath into your morning or evening ritual. Brahmari Pranayama is a calming breath work practice where you exhale with a soft hum, creating vibrations that relax your nervous system, ease anxiety and bring your mind back into focus. X

A gentle revival for people who are exhausted with life, seeking inspiration, in a season of transition or who just want to have a blast!

Bring a project. Bring an idea. Bring nothing at all.

THE VIBE

• SUBSTANCE FREE, INSPIRATION FORWARD

• LIGHT ON SCREENS, RICH ON PRESENCE

• SLOW MORNINGS, SOFT LANDINGS

• OPEN ENOUGH TO BE FREE WHAT WE’LL DO

DAILY PRACTICES

• YOGA

• MEDITATION

• BREATHWORK

• CREATIVITY WORSHOPS

• LIVE MUSIC & JAM SESSIONS NOURISHMENT

• CLEAN CUISINE

• FRESH JUICE & SMOOTIES

• FAMILY STYLE MEALS

CAMP EXPERIENCES

• NATURE TIME

• CULINARY ARTS

• GROUP ART & CREATIVE PLAY

• CAMPFIRES

• HOT TUB SOAKS

• MOVIE NIGHTS

• REST

idea

BRITT KLACH

Bright bites

Citrus recipes to chase away the winter blues

BY ASHLEY ENGLISH

Though we have passed the winter solstice and are trending toward greater cumulative daylight hours, it still very much looks and feels like the dark depths of winter outside. So, let’s make our own sunshine with citrus!

Citrus comes into peak ripeness during the cooler months. Regionally grown oranges, lemons, grapefruit and more can be found at the WNC Farmers Market and area grocery stores.

Tucking a bit of homemade lemon curd into a trifle, slathering it on pancakes or even adding it to tiramisu will go far toward brightening up your day. The same goes for my orange marmalade recipe, whether you’re putting a generous dollop atop buttery toast or dressing up a chocolate ganache tart.

LEMON CURD

Yield: About 3 half-pints.

You will need:

• 6 large lemons

• 4 eggs

• 2 cups sugar

• 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled

To prepare:

1. Wash and dry the lemons, then zest them, taking care to avoid removing any pith along with the zest. Set the zest aside.

2. Juice the lemons and strain the juice over a fine-mesh sieve to

remove any membranes or seeds. Set the juice aside.

3. Crack the eggs into a medium metal bowl and whisk lightly to incorporate the whites into the yolks.

4. Fill a medium saucepan with about 2 inches of water and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Put the metal bowl filled with eggs on top of the saucepan to form a double boiler.

5. Add the sugar, butter, lemon juice and zest. Whisk gently until the sugar dissolves and the butter melts.

6. Switch over to a wooden spoon or rubber spatula. Stir the mixture continuously until it thickens to the consistency of cream and coats the back of the spoon — about 8-10 minutes. Important: Do not allow the curd to boil. Avoid becoming distracted! Do not stop stirring during this time, as doing so could cause the eggs to curdle. A candy thermometer can be a helpful tool in gauging doneness; 170 degrees F is the target temperature. Don’t be concerned if the curd seems runny; it will thicken as it cools.

7. Remove the curd from the heat. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a mixing bowl. (This removes the peel, as well as any cooked bits of egg.)

8. Once strained, pour the curd evenly into 3 half-pint jars. Leave until cooled to room temperature. Cover the jars securely with lids. Place in the refrigerator and use within 10 days or store in the freezer for up to six months.

ORANGE MARMALADE

Yield: About 2 pint or 4 halfpint jars.

You will need:

• 2 pounds oranges (such as Navel, Valencia or Seville, if you can find them)

• 2 lemons

• 3 cups water

• 3 cups sugar

To prepare:

1. Quarter the oranges, then separate the peel from the flesh.

2. Chop the flesh into small pieces, trying to retain as much of the juice it gives up as possible. Set

HOMEMADE LIVING

aside. Remove any seeds as you see them, placing them into a muslin tea bag or a square piece of cheesecloth. (The seeds contain a good deal of pectin and will aid in thickening the marmalade.)

3. Slice the peel into long, thin strips, then cut the strips into smaller, 1/2-inch pieces.

4. Repeat this process with the lemons.

5. Put the muslin bag (or bundled, tied piece of cheesecloth) containing all the seeds, along with the fruit flesh, sliced peels and water into a large, heavy stainless-steel soup pot or stockpot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil for 5 minutes, then cover and remove from the heat. Allow to cool at room temperature overnight or for at least 8 hours.

6. Place two small plates in the freezer. These will be used later to test for gelling. Fill a canner or large stockpot with water, place 2 pint jars or 4 half-pint jars inside and set over medium-high heat until it just reaches the boiling point.

7. Meanwhile, remove the lid from the pot containing the fruit and place the pot over medium-high heat. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low and cook for 10 minutes. Remove the bag containing the seeds from the pot.

8. Add the sugar. Stir to fully combine, then cook uncovered over low heat for about 25 minutes, until the mixture begins to thicken.

9. Test for gelling. Remove a plate from the freezer and spoon about 1 teaspoon of marmalade onto it. Place the plate back in the freezer and wait 2 minutes. Remove from the freezer and push the edge of the marmalade with your fingertip. If the marmalade has gelled properly, the surface will wrinkle a bit. If it fails to wrinkle or is obviously still runny, boil the marmalade for several minutes longer, then repeat the gel test.

10. Using a jar lifter, remove the hot jars from the canner and place them on a kitchen cloth on the counter, emptying the water inside the jars back into the pot.

11. With the help of a canning funnel, pack the marmalade

TASTE OF SUNSHINE: In the heart of Western North Carolina’s coldest months, lemons, oranges and other regionally grown citrus fruits are bountiful at the WNC Farmers Market and local grocers. Photo by Glenn English

into the jars, reserving 1/4inch headspace.

12. Use a spatula or wooden chopstick to remove any trapped air bubbles around the interior circumference of the jars. Recheck the headspace and add or remove marmalade as necessary. Wipe the rims clean with a damp cloth. Place on the lids and screw on the bands until just fingertip-tight.

13. Again using a jar lifter, slowly place the filled jars in the canner. Be sure that the jars are covered by at least 1 inch of water. Bring to a boil, then process for 15 minutes, starting the timer once the water is at a full, rolling boil. Adjust time for altitude as necessary.

14. Carefully remove the jars from the canner, using either the canning rack handles or a jar lifter. Set the hot jars on a dry kitchen cloth. Listen and watch for jars to seal. Remove the screw bands, dry and store them, then leave the jars to cool on the kitchen counter until fully at room temperature. Label and date the jars, then store them in a cool, dry area, such as a pantry or cabinet. Consume ideally within one year.

Bonus: For an extra citrus hit, visit avl.mx/fa0 for my rosemary lemon bars recipe.  X

Listen here

Three River Arts District (RAD) businesses that were significantly impacted by flooding from Tropical Storm Helene are joining forces for a new endeavor. Joyful Noise Listening Lounge and Kitchen brings together partners from Hi-Wire Brewing, Vivian restaurant and Summit Coffee for what a press release calls “an intentional listening lounge where impeccable sound takes center stage, paired with thoughtful food, drink and hospitality.”

The business is slated to open this spring at 37 Paynes Way in the Wedge Studios, the former home of Bottle Riot Wine Bar and, before that, the longtime studio of the late metal artist John Payne. The space will operate as Summit Coffee by day and Joyful Noise by night, “creating a seamless transition from morning coffeehouse to evening listening lounge.”

While Hi-Wire’s RAD Beer Garden reopened in May after an eight-month closure after flooding from Helene, Vivian’s and Summit’s Foundation location have remained shuttered. In conjunction with Hi-Wire co-owner Chris Frosaker’s love of high-end audio, Joyful Noise offers a place for these food and beverage veterans to return to the district they love.

“The RAD has been a huge part of Summit Coffee’s story, and losing our space there was incredibly hard,” says JT LaBruyere, owner of Summit Coffee’s Asheville locations, in the press release. “Being able to return through this partnership with Joyful Noise feels like coming home. We’re excited to once again serve coffee in a neighborhood that means so much to us and to be part of a space that celebrates resilience, creativity and community.”

Adds Josiah McGaughey, former Vivian co-owner, who’ll be leading the business’s small-plates food menu: “The River Arts District has always been a place where creativity and craft live side by side, and it means a great deal to be cooking here again. Joyful Noise gives me the opportunity to bring together flavors and techniques I love in a way that feels approachable and communal. It’s about food that’s thoughtful but unpretentious — meant to be shared, enjoyed slowly and experienced alongside great music.”

To learn more, visit avl.mx/faq.

Hi-Wire, Vivian and Summit Coffee make Joyful Noise

SOUND ON: From left, Josiah McGaughey, JT LaBruyere and Chris Frosaker have combined forces for Joyful Noise Listening Lounge and Kitchen, slated to open this spring in the River Arts District. Photo courtesy of Joyful Noise

Asheville James Beard Award semifinalists

Four members of Western North Carolina’s culinary community have been named semifinalists for the James Beard Foundation’s 2026 national restaurant and chef awards.

Molly and Meherwan Irani , founders of Chai Pani and Botiwalla, are among the 20 semifinalists in the Outstanding Restaurateur category. Chefs Matt Dawes of The Bull & Beggar and Taylor Montgomery of Montgomery Sky Farm in Leicester were named in the Best Chef: Southeast category.

Finalists will be announced on Tuesday, March 31. Awards will

be presented on Monday, June 15, in Chicago.

To learn more, visit avl.mx/fay.

Asheville Truffle

Experience goes big

The Asheville Truffle Experience will present a weekend of truffle-centric activities, Friday-Sunday, Feb. 6-8.

The annual celebration of the prized edible mushroom kicks off Feb. 6, 5-7 p.m., at The Market Place with an event featuring truffled appetizers and festive beverages. The party offers an opportunity to mingle and share stories with fellow

truffle aficionados of different experience levels.

On Saturday, Feb. 7, at 10 a.m., a tour of Warren Wilson College’s truffle orchard offers a chance to see a truffle dog in action and, according to a press release, observe “the various stages of an orchard which has recently achieved productivity after long, eager years of watching and waiting.” Other Feb. 7 events include truffle tea and scones at noon, a hands-on session in cooking with truffles at 4 p.m. and a viewing of a truffle-themed film while sipping truffle beer at 7 p.m.

The weekend concludes Feb. 8, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., with a wild truffle hunt led by Luke Gilbert and Natalie Dechiara of Western North Carolina-

based foraging company Wild Goods, along with their prize-winning Lagotto Romagnolo truffle dogs. After the hunt, chef and Asheville Truffle Experience director Susi Gott Séguret will welcome attendees into her home for truffle tastings and a commemorative take-home glass.

Tickets range from $50-$200 for individual events, or $700 for a full weekend pass.

To learn more, visit avl.mx/ei5.

Free garden and orchard design workshop

On Friday, Jan. 30, at 1 p.m., Bountiful Cities offers a free workshop on mapping out orchards and garden spaces. Led by local farmer, environmental educator and food security activist Kelly Applegate, the event will double as an information-sharing opportunity and a chance to develop a tangible plan for one’s yard and community spaces.

“With a rapidly shifting climate, access to foods in our yards and communities is essential to our emergency preparedness plans,” the event description says. “Together we will map out orchards and garden spaces with long-term community resilience in mind.”

To learn more, visit avl.mx/fae.

10 Things I Hate About You at Beradu

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, Black Mountain restaurant Beradu presents a screening of the 1999 film 10 Things I Hate About You, along with a five-course, Asian-inspired supper featuring dishes named after quotes from the movie.

Menu items include “Likes: Thai food, feminist prose and angry girl

music of the indie rock persuasion” (green papaya salad) and “Hates him with the fire of a thousand suns” (spicy beef bulgogi).

The event takes place Saturday, Feb. 14, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $65 per person. Optional cocktail ($25) or nonalcoholic beverage pairings ($18) for each course are also available.

To learn more, visit avl.mx/faf.

Holtzman leaving Equal Plates Project

Four years after becoming executive director for local food insecurity nonprofit Equal Plates Project, Madi Holtzman has announced her decision to step down.

“I made this decision after careful contemplation of where Equal Plates stands in its development and its potential for scaling its impact,” Holtzman says in a statement. “While I have been honored to lead the organization to this point, I believe it is now best served by a leader who can step in to deepen its impact and fully realize that potential. I remain deeply committed to Equal Plates and its mission and will support a smooth and successful transition.”

Equal Plates Project’s board of directors has engaged a search consultant to help in identifying the next executive director. In the interim, the nonprofit remains on track to move into its new kitchen at Haw Creek Commons in February.

“Madi has done an outstanding job guiding Equal Plates through some challenging times,” said Aaron Grier, chair of the board of directors, in a statement. “We are incredibly grateful for her efforts in transforming Equal Plates from a concept into a thriving reality.”

To learn more, visit avl.mx/fai.

— Edwin Arnaudin  X

by Edwin Arnaudin | earnaudin@mountainx.com

Jeeves in Bloom

The Jeeves productions at N.C. Stage Company are synonymous with joy and have the power to transform even the most stubborn folks into lifelong theater lovers.

Directed by Angie Flynn-McIver, Jeeves in Bloom, the latest adaptation of P. G. Wodehouse’s stories by playwright Margaret Raether, centers on Bertram “Bertie” Wooster (Scott Treadway) and his talented valet, Jeeves (Simon Boughey), paying a visit to the peaceful English countryside. But what begins as a plan to pair awkward, amphibian-loving Augustus “Gussie” Fink-Nottle (Charlie Flynn-McIver) and poetry-loving Madeline Basset (Trinity Smith Keel) quickly goes awry in comic fashion. In no time, Madeline has her sights set on an uninterested Bertie, who also finds himself reluctantly attempting a burglary and evading attacks from a homicidal French chef. As usual, only Jeeves can save the day.

Scott Treadway in 2020’s Jeeves Saves the Day. Photo courtesy of N.C. Stage Company

Performances run WednesdaySunday, Jan. 28-Feb. 22. Tickets are $10-$48.

To learn more, visit avl.mx/fat. X

Arts for All Kids silent auction

Students learn at a Creative Arts Summer Camp. Photo courtesy of the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts

Through its Arts for All Kids program, the Wortham Center for the Arts removes financial barriers so children can access the transformative power of the performing arts. Key to funding the scholarships that make up this initiative is its annual silent auction, which is live through Friday, Feb. 6.

Items available to bid on this year include works by local artists, bourbon tastings, fine wines, meals at local restaurants, a downtown Asheville getaway at the Renaissance Hotel and a

two-night stay in Cambridge, England. The goal is to raise $20,000 through the silent auction, which will allow over 1,600 students to attend schoolday performances and summer camps.

“When you bid, you’re doing more than winning a great item — you’re investing in a child’s future,” organizers say in a press release. “Every dollar brings us closer to opening doors for the next generation of artists and audiences.”

To learn more, visit avl.mx/fau. X

The West End Theory

Aiming to help elevate DJs and producers in the Asheville area, local artist Mateo Malone (aka Taeo) is launching The West End Theory, a new weekly series at One World West. Each Sunday night, a showcase of local performers will take to the stage to share their musical skills.

“In recent years, there hasn’t been a local spotlight on hip-hop. While this event isn’t only going to highlight hip-hop artists, it will pay homage to what that culture has inspired and the music that came before and what has come since its birth,” Malone says.

“We want this to be a space where anyone can come in and be sure to have an amazing time — whether it’s on a dance floor, conversing with another music lover or sharing passion about your favorite artist.”

The series debuts Feb. 1 at 7 p.m., with performances by Ben Hovey (aka Hoveykraft), Taeo and special guests. Local Mediterranean pop-up kitchen Tony’s will have food available to purchase each week, and Malone plans

on weaving in curated art shows and vinyl pop-ups as the series evolves.

Free to attend.

To learn more, visit avl.mx/fav. X

The Wood Brothers

Gearing up to celebrate a quarter-century as a band, The Wood Brothers continue to craft innovative, original roots rock music and deliver engaging live performances that keep loyal fans coming back for more. Composed of siblings Oliver Wood (guitar/vocals) and Chris Wood (bass/vocals) plus the multi-instrumentalist genius known as Jano Rix (percussion/vocals), the trio also happen to love Asheville and keep

the city in regular rotation on its frequent tours.

The group’s latest shows in support of their ninth studio album, Puff Of Smoke, take place Friday-Saturday, Jan. 30-31 at The Orange Peel — the only stop on their winter 2026 tour with consecutive nights at the same venue. Each evening kicks off at 8 p.m., with a set by Greensboro native Ric Robertson. Tickets are $41 per night.

To learn more, visit avl.mx/fas. X

Mon. - Sat.: 10am - 7pm • Sun.: 12pm - 6pm

Photo of The Wood Brothers by Laura Partain

Photo of Taeo courtesy of the artist

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28

12 BONES BREWING

SMOKEHOUSE & BREWING

Trivia Night w/King Trivia, 7pm

BRYSON GYM AT WARREN WILSON COLLEGE

Mary Kay & the Moonlighters (blues, jazz, swing), 8pm

EULOGY

Agriculture w/Knoll & Secret Shame (metal), 8pm

FRENCH BROAD

RIVER BREWERY

Saylor Brothers Jamgrass Wednesdays, 6:30pm

GALACTIC PIZZA

Trivia Night, 6:30pm

HI-WIRE BREWING -

BILTMORE VILLAGE

Weekly Trivia, 7pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Old-time Jam, 5pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.

Wednesday Bluegrass Jam w/Finklestein

Three, 6:30pm

PISGAH BREWING

CO. Phantom Clutch (indie), 6pm

SHAKEY'S

SSIN w/DJ Ragga

Massive, 10pm

SLY GROG LOUNGE

Weird Wednesday Open Jam, 8pm

TAPROOM AT HIGHLAND BREWING

CO.

THE ORANGE PEEL

The Floozies & Too Many Zooz (electronic, funk), 8pm

TURGUA BREWING

CO.

Lightning Round Trivia w/ Marty, 6pm

TWIN LEAF BREWERY

Open Mic Night, 6:30pm

VOWL BAR AT DSSOLVR

Group Therapy w/ Neptune Spins, 9pm

THURSDAY, JANUARY 29

185 KING STREET

Free State of Mind, Pisgah Plow Boys, & Twilight Grove (Appalachian, swing), 6pm

EDA'S HIDE-A-WAY

Bless Your Heart Trivia w/Harmon, 7pm

FLEETWOOD’S Alla Prima, The Rossevelt Room & Saturdaze (folk, garage-rock, psych), 9pm

FLOOD GALLERY

True Home Open Mic, 6pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY

Jerry's Dead Thursdays, 6pm

GREEN MAN BREWING

Thursday Night Trivia, 7pm

HI-WIRE BREWINGBILTMORE VILLAGE

Family Feud Style Trivia, 7pm

HI-WIRE SOUTH SLOPE

CLUBLAND

ATHENS-BASED ACOUSTIC DUO: On Sunday, Feb. 1, fiddler Jason Cade and multi-instrumentalist Rob McMaken, performing as Hog-eyed Man, play at Cork & Keg, starting at 4 p.m. Listeners can expect pre-radio, old-time music that honors past masters while pushing traditions forward. Photo courtesy of Jason Thrasher For questions about free listings, call 828-251-1333, opt. 4.

Well-Crafted Music Series: Sally Jaye (folk), 6pm

THE GREY EAGLE

The Cody Sisters (bluegrass, folk), 8pm

THE ODD Terraoke Karaoke Takeover, 9pm

South Slope’s Open Mic Night, 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Bluegrass Jam w/ Darren Nicholson & Shawn Lane, 7pm

MILLS RIVER BREWING CO.

Will Hartz (Rock & Roll, soul), 6pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.

• Jason Merrit (country, Irish folk), 6pm

• Thursday Karaoke, 9:30pm

ONE WORLD

BREWING WEST

Fee Fi Phaux Fish (Phish tribute), 8pm

PISGAH BREWING CO.

Different Light (blues, jazz, rock), 7pm

SHAKEY'S Karaoke w/DJ Franco Nino, 9pm

STATIC AGE LOFT

Auto-tune Karaoke w/ Who Gave This B*tch a Mic, 10pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS

No Grave, Internal Fixation, Sanguine Bond, Owe You Nothing & Shot w/ a Gun (hardcore, metal), 8pm

THE GREY EAGLE Nefesh Mountain (prog-Americana), 8pm

THE ORANGE PEEL Sheng Wang (comedy), 6pm

THIRD ROOM

Chiaroscuro Dance Variety Show Presents: Lights & Shadows (multi-genre), 8:30pm

TWIN LEAF BREWERY Trivia Night, 6:30pm

URBAN ORCHARD

CIDER CO. Wayward Trivia, 6:30pm

VOWL BAR AT DSSOLVR

Hot Couch Karaoke w/ DJ BridalPartiBucardi, 8pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Lenny Pettinelli & Friends (funk), 7:30pm

FRIDAY, JANUARY 30

185 KING STREET Lucille Klement (altrock), 8pm

27 CLUB Devine, 13 Shots, Lodis & Trailer (metal, rock’n’roll, 9pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL True Loves w/Lando Moss (funk & soul), 9pm

CORK & KEG Jackomo (Cajun, country), 8pm

EDA'S HIDE-A-WAY

Double Love & the Trouble (soul), 8pm

ELEVATED KAVA LOUNGE DOWNTOWN Open Mic Night, 8pm

EULOGY Ordinary Boys (The Smiths & Morrissey tribute) & New Dawn Fades (Joy Division & New Order tribute), 7pm

FITZ AND THE WOLFE Dirty Bird 828 (funkrock), 8pm FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY • Solvivor (rock’n'roll, Southern-rock), 6pm • Mountain Medicine (folk), 6pm

GINGER'S REVENGE Stephen Evans (folkrock), 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Cactus Kate & the Pricks (Americana, country), 8pm

LOBSTER TRAP

Dinah's Daydream (Gypsy, jazz), 6:30pm

MAD CO. BREW HOUSE

Wayne Buckner (Americana, country, Southern-rock), 6pm

NOBLE CIDER & MEAD TAPROOM AND PRODUCTION FACILITY

Crisp Comedy w/ Jason Reel, 7pm

OKLAWAHA

BREWING CO.

81 Drifters (bluegrass, western, swing), 8pm

ONE WORLD

BREWING WEST

My Magnificent Nemesis W/Rachel Waterhouse & The Floral Hygienists (indie-pop, neo-soul, rock), 8pm

PISGAH BREWING CO.

The Horse You Rode In On (funk), 6pm

PRITCHARD PARK

DOWNTOWN

The Friday Drum Circle, 6pm

SHAKEY'S

2000s Karaoke w/DJ Franco Nino, 10pm

SHAMROCK IRONS

Creative Differences (Americana,folk), 8pm

SIERRA NEVADA

BREWING CO.

Somewhat Petty (Tom Petty tribute), 6pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS

Hana Eid, Headringer, Max Langlinais & Hook of Moon (folk, indie-rock, noise-pop), 8pm

TAPROOM AT HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Bill’s Garage (folkrock, psych), 6pm

THE CROW & QUILL

Queen Bee & the Honeylovers (latin jazz), 8pm

THE ODD

Dark Omen: 90’s Cool Goth Night, 8:30pm

THE ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

• Gill Francis (Americana, folk, pop), 6pm

• Brother Fat (blues, rock, funk), 10pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

The Wood Brothers w/Ric Robertson (Americana, country), 8pm

VOWL BAR AT DSSOLVR

Journey Into Neon Dreams w/HACKETT + Interstellar Noise (multi-genre), 8pm

SATURDAY, JANUARY 31

185 KING STREET

Random Animals (indie-soul), 8pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

Beach Floyd: The Ultimate Pink Floyd Experience, 9pm

BURGER BAR

The Best Worst Karaoke, 8pm

EDA'S HIDE-A-WAY

Old Chevrolette Set (country), 9pm

EULOGY

Modelface Comedy

Presents: Corey Ryan Forrester, 7pm

FLEETWOOD’S Academy Order, Saint Cure, DJ Raut & DJ

Ordo Amoris (deathrock, goth), 8:30pm

FRENCH BROAD

RIVER BREWERY

Adam Ezra Group (folk), 8pm

GREEN MAN

BREWING

The Z-Man Experience (rock, Ska), 3pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

• Nobody’s Darling String Band (bluegrass, blues, swing), 4pm

• 65 North Pickers (bluegrass), 8:30pm

MILLS RIVER

BREWING CO.

The Zack Salts Band (Southern-rock), 6:30pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

Strictly Liquid Album Release Show w/ Special Guests (blues, psych-rock), 9pm

PISGAH BREWING CO.

North State Grass (bluegrass), 6:30pm

SHAMROCK IRONS

Moonbeatz (Americana, folk), 8pm

SHILOH & GAINES

Free Flow Band (funk), 9pm

STATIC AGE

RECORDS

Cave Deco, New Romantics & Socialist Anxiety (egg-punk, noise, rock), 8pm

TAPROOM AT HIGHLAND BREWING

CO.

Mana Meter (multigenre), 6pm

THE GREY EAGLE

Dolly’s 80th Birthday Bash (country), 8pm

THE ODD Party Foul Drag, 8pm

THE ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

Starsteer & Safety Coffin (rock), 10pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

The Wood Brothers (blues, folk, jazz), 8pm

THE PALM ROOM AT FITZ AND THE WOLFE

Virginia and the Slims (jazz), 9pm

THE TIKI EASY BAR

Asheville Dub Club, 9pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK

MOUNTAIN

The Close (alt-country, Americana, folk), 7:30pm

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1

185 KING STREET

Open Electric Jam w/ The King Street House Band, 5pm

BURIAL SOUTH SLOPE

Mourning Mass, 2pm

CORK & KEG BAR

Hog-Eyed Man (oldtime), 4pm

EDA'S HIDE-A-WAY

Open Mic Night, 6pm

FRENCH BROAD

RIVER BREWERY

Reggae Sunday w/ Chalwa (reggae), 3pm

GINGER'S REVENGE

Jazz Jam Sundays, 2:30pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

• Bluegrass Brunch w/ The Bluegrass Brunch Boys (bluegrass), 12pm

• Traditional Irish Music Session, 3:30pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

Suns of Stars Sunday Residency (bluegrass), 2pm

PISGAH BREWING CO.

Sunday Jam: Spiro & Friends, 6:30pm

RIVER ARTS DISTRICT BREWING CO.

RAD Comedy w/Kenny Stempien, 7pm

THE GREY EAGLE

Friendship w/ Natalie Jane Hill (indie), 8pm

THE ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Shakedown Sunday's, 8pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

Josh Ritter (Americana), 8pm

VOWL BAR AT DSSOLVR

Freshen Up Open Mic Comedy, 7pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN

Chlo! & the Cardinals (alt-country, Americana), 3pm

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2

DIATRIBE BREWING

Big Brain Trivia, 7pm

DIRTY JACK'S Traditional Old Time Jam, 5:30pm

HI-WIRE RAD BEER GARDEN

RAD Music Bingo, 7pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

Mashup Mondays w/ JLloyd (funk, jazz, soul), 8pm

ONE WORLD BREWING

Open Mic Downtown, 7:30pm

RIVER ARTS DISTRICT BREWING CO. Trivia w/Billy, 7pm

STATIC AGE LOFT

The Hot Seat w/C.J. Green & Cam (Comedy), 7pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS

Mtn. Dewbie, Tracheal Shave & Falling Behind (hardcore, screamo), 8pm

TAPROOM AT HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Trivia Night W/Two Bald Guys & A Mic, 6pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN

Local Live Presents: Mark Moore & Hunter Begley (multi-genre), 7pm

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3

185 KING STREET

Travis Book Band w/ Jeff Sipe, Daniel Seriff, & Derrick Gardner (Americana, country), 6:30pm

ARCHETYPE

BREWING

Trivia Tuesdays, 6:30pm

BURGER BAR

C U Next Tuesday Trivia, 9pm

DIATRIBE BREWING Irish Session, 4pm

ELUVIUM BREWING

Not Rocket Science Trivia, 6pm

FRENCH BROAD

RIVER BREWERY

Robert’s Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm

HI-WIRE RAD BEER

GARDEN

RAD Weekly Trivia, 7pm

HI-WIRE SOUTH

SLOPE

Trivia Tuesdays w/ Not Rocket Science, 7pm

MILLS RIVER

BREWING CO.

Tuesday Night Trivia, 6pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.

Team Trivia, 7pm

ONE WORLD

BREWING WEST

Tuesday Residency w/ Songs From The Road Band (Americana, bluegrass, folk), 7pm

REVIVAL

Bravo Reality Trivia Night (edm, hyperpop, k-pop), 7pm

SHAKEY'S Booty Tuesday in The Office, 10pm

SHILOH & GAINES Music Bingo, 7pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA Open Jam, 8pm

SWEETEN CREEK

BREWING

All Arts Open Mic, 6pm

THE ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

• Early Tuesday Jam, 7pm

• Uncle Lenny's Krazy Karaoke, 10pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

The Wombats (indie, pop rock), 8pm THIRD ROOM Open Decks, 8pm

TURGUA BREWING CO.

Old-time Jam (jazz), 5:30pm

WAGBAR

Trivia Tuesdays, 6pm

WHITE HORSE

BLACK MOUNTAIN

Nothin' But the Blues Jam w/Bill Mattocks & Ruthie Hunter, 7:30pm

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4

12 BONES BREWING SMOKEHOUSE & BREWING

Trivia Night w/King Trivia, 7pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Taper’s Choice w/ Rich Ruth (alt-indie, jam), 8pm

EULOGY

Night Moves w/ Johnny Delaware (indie-rock), 7pm

FRENCH BROAD

RIVER BREWERY

Saylor Brothers Jamgrass Wednesdays, 6:30pm

GALACTIC PIZZA Trivia Night, 6:30pm

HI-WIRE BREWINGBILTMORE VILLAGE Weekly Trivia, 7pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Old-time Jam, 5pm

PISGAH BREWING

CO.

Beer & Loathing (honky-tonk), 6pm

SHAKEY'S SSIN w/DJ Ragga Massive, 10pm

SLY GROG LOUNGE

Weird Wednesday Open Jam, 8pm

TAPROOM AT HIGHLAND BREWING

CO. Matt Smith’s Well-Crafted Music Series w/Jon Stickley, Lyndsay Pruett & Christian Ferri (multigenre), 6pm

THE ODD

Terraoke Karaoke Takeover, 9pm

THE ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Alien Funk Academy (hard-rock, funk), 9pm

TURGUA BREWING CO.

Lightning Round Trivia w/Marty, 6pm

TWIN LEAF BREWERY

Open Mic Night, 6:30pm

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Candi Jenkins (country, roots), 8pm

EDA'S HIDE-A-WAY

Bless Your Heart Trivia w/Harmon, 7pm

EULOGY

Matt Pryor (Emo), 7pm

FLOOD GALLERY

True Home Open Mic, 6pm

FRENCH BROAD

RIVER BREWERY

Jerry's Dead Thursdays, 6pm

GREEN MAN

BREWING

Thursday Night Trivia, 7pm

HI-WIRE BREWING -

BILTMORE VILLAGE

Family Feud Style Trivia, 7pm

HI-WIRE SOUTH

SLOPE

South Slope’s Open Mic Night, 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Bluegrass Jam, 7pm

LEVELLER BREWING CO.

Traditional Irish Session, 6pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.

Thursday Karaoke, 9:30pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

Fee Fi Phaux Fish (Phish tribute), 8pm

PISGAH BREWING

CO.

Rockabilly Roy & the Kopy Kats, 7pm

SHAKEY'S Karaoke w/DJ Franco Nino, 9pm

STATIC AGE LOFT

Auto-tune Karaoke w/ Who Gave This B*tch a Mic, 10pm

THE GREY EAGLE

Vanessa Collier (R&B, soul), 8pm THE ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Tand (rock’n’roll), 9pm

THE ORANGE PEEL The Movement w/ Tropidelic (reggae), 7:30pm

TURGUA BREWING CO.

Alien Music Club Jazz Jam, 5:30pm

TWIN LEAF BREWERY Trivia Night, 6:30pm

URBAN ORCHARD CIDER CO. Wayward Trivia, 6:30pm

VOWL BAR AT DSSOLVR Hot Couch Karaoke w/ DJ BridalPartiBucardi, 8pm

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY BY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): In 1953, Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay of Nepal became the first climbers to trek to the summit of Mount Everest. They both said later that the climb down was as important and challenging as the ascent. The lesson: Achievement doesn’t end when you reach the peak. Aries, you may be nearing or have just passed a high point of effort or recognition. Soon you will need to manage the descent with aplomb. Don’t rush! Tread carefully as you complete your victory. It’s not as glamorous as the push upward, but it’s equally vital to the legacy of the climb.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Aurora borealis occurs when highly charged particles from the Sun strike molecules high in the Earth’s atmosphere, causing them to glow. The display that looks like gorgeous magic is actually our planet’s invisible magnetic shield and upper atmosphere lighting up under the pressure of an intense solar storm. Dear Taurus, I think your life has a metaphorical resemblance. The strength you've been quietly maintaining without much fanfare has become vividly apparent because it’s being activated. The protection you've been offering and the boundaries you've been holding are more visible than usual. This is good news! Your shields are working.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “Nothing in excess” was the maxim inscribed on the ancient Temple of Apollo at Delphi. “Moderation is a chief moral virtue,” proclaimed the philosopher Aristotle. But I don’t recommend those approaches for you right now, Gemini. A sounder principle is “More is better” or “Almost too much is just the right amount.” You have a holy duty to cultivate lavishness and splendor. I hope you will stir up as many joyous liberations and fun exploits as possible.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): When sea otters sleep, they sometimes hold each other’s paws to keep from drifting apart. This simple, instinctive act ensures they remain safe and connected. I suggest making their bond your power symbol for now, Cancer. You’ll be wise to formulate a strong intention about which people, values, and projects you want to be tethered to. And if sea otters holding hands sounds too sentimental or cutesy to be a power symbol, you need to rethink your understanding of power. For you right now, it’s potency personified.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): To be healthy, we all need to continually be in the process of letting go. It’s always a favorable phase to shed aspects of our old selves to make room for what comes next. The challenge for you Leos is to keep showing up with your special brightness even as parts of you die away to feed new growth. So here are my questions: What old versions of your generosity or courage are ready to compost? What fiercer, wilder, more sustainable expression of your leonine nature wants to emerge? The coming weeks will be an excellent time to stop performing the hero you used to be and become the hero you are destined to become.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The Haudenosaunee people practice "seventh-generation thinking”: making decisions based on their impact seven generations into the future. You would be wise to incorporate the spirit of their visionary approach, Virgo. Here’s the problem: You're so skilled at fixing what needs urgent attention that you sometimes neglect what’s even more important in the long run. So I will ask you to contemplate what choices you could you make now that will be blessings to your future self. This might involve ripening an immature skill, shedding a boring obligation that drains you, or delivering honest words that don’t come easily. Rather than obsessing on the crisis of the moment, send a sweet boost to the life you want to be living three years from now.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Are you open to the idea that new wisdom doesn’t always demand

ROB

BREZSNY

struggle and strain? In the days ahead, I invite you to move as if the world is deeply in love with you; as if every element, every coincidence, every kind pair of eyes is cheering you forward. Imagine that generous souls everywhere want to help you be and reveal your best self. Trust that unseen allies are rearranging the flow of fate to help you grow into the beautiful original you were born to be. Do you dare to be so confident that life loves you?

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Psychologist James Pennebaker did studies showing that people who write about traumatic experiences for just 15 minutes a day show improved immune function, fewer doctor visits, and better emotional health. But here's a key detail: The benefits don't come from the trauma itself or from "processing feelings." They come from constructing a narrative: making meaning, finding patterns, and creating coherence. The healing isn't in the wound. It's in the story you shape from the wound's raw material. You Scorpios excel at this alchemical work. One of your superpowers is to take what's dark, buried, or painful and transform it through the piercing attention of your intelligence and imagination. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to do this.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In Jewish mysticism, *tikkun olam* means "repair of the world.” This is the idea that we're all responsible for healing what's broken. But the teaching also says you're not required to complete the work; you're only asked to not abandon it. This is your message right now, Sagittarius: You don't have to save everyone. You don't have to heal everything, and you don't even have to finish the projects you've started. But you can't abandon them entirely, either. Keep showing up. Do what you can today. That's enough. The work will continue whether or not you complete it. Your part is to not walk away from your own brokenness and the world’s. Stay engaged.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The Talmud teaches that "every blade of grass has an angel bending over it, whispering, 'Grow, grow.'" I sense that you are now receiving the extra intense influence of your own guardian angels, Capricorn. They aren’t demanding or threatening, just encouraging. Please tune into their helpful ministrations. Don’t get distracted by harsher voices, like your internalized critic, the pressure of impossible standards, or the ghost of adversaries who didn't believe in you. Here’s your assignment: Create time and space to hear and fully register the supportive counsel. It's saying: *Grow. You're allowed to grow. You don't have to earn it. Just grow.*

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In ecology, there's a concept called "keystone species.” This refers to organisms that have a huge effect on their environment relative to their abundance. Remove them, and the whole ecosystem shifts. I bring this up, Aquarius, because I believe you are currently functioning as a keystone species in your social ecosystem. You may not even be fully aware of how much your presence influences others. And here's the challenge: You shouldn’t let your impact weigh on your conscience. You don’t have to sacrifice yourself as you carry out your service. Instead, ask how you can contribute to the common good while also thriving yourself. Ensuring your well-being isn't selfish; it’s essential to the gifts you provide and the duties you perform.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): I foresee a dose of real magic becoming available to you: equivalent to an enchanted potion, a handful of charmed seeds, or a supernatural spell. But owning the magic and knowing how to use it are two different matters. There’s no promise you will instantly grasp its secrets. To give yourself the best shot, follow a few rules: 1. Keep it quiet. Only share news of your lucky charm with those who truly need to hear about it. 2. Before using it to make wholesale transformations, test it gently in a situation where the stakes are low. 3. Whatever you do, make sure your magic leaves no bruises behind.

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ACROSS

1 Whom you might say “hey” to every day

5 Collect

10 Indicator of an important email

14 One of many in a Swiss Army knife

15 “Name your ___”

16 Predator in a pod

17 Salad topping that’s actually from America and is rarely consumed in its namesake land

20 Wheelchair access paths

21 Spanish “Listen up!”

22 “Shucks, you’re too kind”

23 As a P.S.

25 Sharp quality

27 “Out of Africa” author actually named Karen Christentze von Blixen-Finecke

30 Knee parts, for short

32 Wee winter workers

33 It keeps the rain away

36 Shout at a Real Madrid game

37 Kosher barbecue option

39 Kenan’s partner in comedy

40 Where Noah’s Ark landed

42 Grant

44 Observance celebrating a decision actually made on July 2 … the date when John Adams predicted it would be celebrated

48 “Scream” queen Campbell

49 Jockey’s handful

50 Humans : Homo :: bees : ___

51 Frees (of)

53 Includes online, in a way

54 Blueprint

55 Some high-level H.S. classes

56 Aids for minors buying liquor … or a hint to 17-, 27and 44-Across

59 ___ Faire

61 Shrub that sounds regretful

62 Telethon contributions

63 Ironman race, familiarly

64 Kind of oil in some edibles

65 “How ___ It End?” (Taylor Swift song)

66 Lunch lady’s hair holder

67 Fancy handbag inits.

DOWN

1 Recipe directive

2 Speck

3 Travel without an itinerary, say

4 “Count me out”

5 Org. for therapists

6 Silly character on the “Sesame Street” segment “Elmo’s World”

7 “S.N.L.” alum Bryant

8 Free copy of a film sent to awards show voters

Perceive

Pimples

Fury 18 Cuba, por ejemplo 19 Looks weighed down

Pesky biter, informally

Patterns

Unwise 28 Procedure with frozen eggs, for short

“Really, we’re still doing this?!”

Convenient spot for a pint

Orthodontists’ offerings

“That’s very kind of you” 11 Class where you learn how to get a tan?

Tricksy schemes

Cooked rice, in Korean cuisine

Ballpoint brand

into

Cops near Alcatraz, for short

“Hey! Over here!”

Rainbow’s shape

___ Stroker, Tony Awardwinning