Mountain Xpress 02.11.26 by Mountain Xpress

Commission

SPIRIT OF ‘76

Communities across Western North Carolina are planning a yearlong commemoration of the nation’s 250th anniversary. Led by volunteer committees, the effort will include local history programs, commemorative tree plantings and public events, with towns and counties across the region preparing their own semiquincentennial celebrations.

Yonder

MANAGING EDITOR: Thomas Calder

EDITOR: Gina Smith

OPINION EDITOR: Tracy Rose

STAFF REPORTERS: Thomas Calder, Brionna Dallara, Justin McGuire, 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

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Drivers’ behavior at heart of crashes

The recent story about the tragic loss of local cyclists from a truck crossing the center line and crashing into a group of cyclists on N.C. 251 made me sad [“Asheville Cyclists, Mourning a Fatal Crash, Push for Federal Bill to Improve Road Safety,” Jan. 20, Blue Ridge Public Radio via Xpress]. I support the efforts by The White Line nonprofit to get federal legislation enacted that would require manufacturers to update automatic emergency braking vehicle software to detect cyclists and hopefully other road users.

However, the real cause of the problem of vehicles hitting road cyclists and other nonmotorized road users is drivers. Drivers have gotten more aggressive, distracted and impatient with any other road users other than cars moving at or beyond the speed limit in recent decades. This is a behavior problem that is difficult to change. Traffic enforcement is essentially nonexistent. Speeding and impaired (including drowsy driving and prescription and nonprescription drug use) have become the norm.

Other countries have created safer roads for nonvehicle users, but the effort in the U.S. is minimal.

As a cyclist of more than 40 years, I have given up road cycling for safety reasons. Trails and gravel roads are where I ride now. It’s a sad reality that I have had to accept.

— Glenn Taylor Arden

Preserve and protect The Enchanted Forest

I’ve just come back from a walk with my dogs in the UNC Asheville South Campus woods, which have

been the subject of much recent attention. It’s something I’ve done just about every day for years. I tell my wife it’s for the dogs, but it’s really for me.

I’ve come to know this tract as The Enchanted Forest, named by my daughters and their friends long ago. A vibrant habitat in the heart of Asheville. A place to ponder, to wander, to see bears and woodpeckers, owls and bees as they go about the business of staying alive in the middle of a city. One hundred years ago, this area was part of a dairy farm with a smattering of pine trees and oaks. Some of those trees still stand despite the best efforts of Helene and bulldozers.

The university used to care for this property. Brush was cut periodically along trails. A ropes course

was built. Classes were held. The trails are still shown on a map called “Trails for Everyone” on UNCA’s website. I interpret “everyone” literally to include the student and faculty populations, as well as the greater community. So I continue to walk for hundreds of miles each year through this forest, to marvel at the remarkable resilience of flora and fauna surrounded by so much pavement and so many buildings. To envision this special place cut down and coming to that same end makes my heart sick.

I have twice invited the chancellor to walk with me and my dogs some morning to see the forest from inside, once in person and again in writing. I have not had a reply. The offer still stands.

I take exception, though, to some of the disingenuous comments quoted in “The Debate Rages On: Chancellor Shares Vision for Millennial Campus Amid ‘Save the Woods’ Debate,” by Justin McGuire, Feb. 4, [Xpress]: “They’re not angry with me. They’re angry with the position I hold.”

Word of the week

Make no mistake. The community is angry with the chancellor. And with the board of trustees, and governors and the development commission for even considering the destruction of these woods.

“We care deeply about environmental stewardship.”

UNCA does not own this land. It is a steward of land that is ultimately owned by the state of North Carolina and held for its citizens in public trust. Stewardship means the responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care. UNCA needs to act like a steward and protect these woods, not turn them over to a developer for 30 pieces of silver.

“I was taken aback by the notion that there were multitudes of people using this property. Students don’t even know where it is.”

Please. Has the chancellor seen anyone clamoring this past year for a new soccer stadium or shops? No. Did she not listen to the 20 people who spoke up at her “listening session” last year? Did she not see the demonstrators and “Save The Woods” banners along Weaver Boulevard last fall? (Someone was aware because the roadway up to her residence was barricaded.) Does she not understand that 16,500 people have signed a petition opposing plans to develop these woods? Did she not see the 200 students who walked out last month?

Did she not see or hear, or does she just not care? If that is the case, I call upon those on the boards of trustees and governors and the development commission with better vision and a clear understanding of what environmental stewardship means to find a new way forward for UNCA. Preserve and protect The Enchanted Forest. It is irreplaceable. The chancellor is not.

— Michael Breck Asheville

Butler balances vision with action

I have known Blake Butler for over a decade. We worked closely together during the effort to make North Carolina the first state in the nation to pass legislation for industrial hemp. Throughout that process, Blake was one of the key leaders who helped turn what once seemed unlikely into reality.

Blake leads with creativity, integrity and purpose. He is thoughtful and inclusive, brings people together and demonstrates a tireless commitment to the communities he serves. His ability to balance vision with practical action is rare.

CARTOON BY RANDY MOLTON

It is with full confidence and enthusiasm that I endorse Blake Butler for Asheville City Council.

— Timothy Samson (formerly Sadler) Asheville

Make sure your vote counts March 3

Historically, the turnout for primary elections is low, especially in a nonpresidential year. Here are six reasons why you should vote in the 2026 primary election:

• Primaries give voters an early voice in choosing who will appear on the general election ballot.

• Primary elections help shape the choices voters will see later in the election year.

• Your participation helps ensure elections reflect the will of the people.

• Turnout is often lowest in primaries, making each vote especially meaningful.

• Many local offices are decided in primaries, where participation is crucial.

• Voting in every election strengthens democracy.

Having convinced you to vote, here are critical details about the primary in North Carolina:

• A valid ID is needed to vote in every election.

• The voter registration deadline ended Feb. 6, but you can do same-day registration during the early-voting period that runs Feb. 12-Feb. 28.

• Even if you are already registered, make checking your voter registration as part of your plan.

• During early voting, you may vote at any of the sites in your county; sites may have changed since the last election. On election day, you must vote at your assigned polling place.

• Absentee ballot requests must be submitted to the Board of Elections by 5 p.m. on Feb. 17 and must be received by 7:30 p.m. on March 3, election day. Be sure to follow all of the instructions.

• March 3 is your last chance to vote; if you are in line at 7:30 p.m., you must be allowed to vote.

Too much to remember? Just got to [avl.mx/fc8], the League of Women Voters’ one-stop for all the information you need to vote wherever you live.

Vote and make sure your vote counts!

— Suzanne Fisher President, League of Women Voters Asheville-Buncombe County Black Mountain X

CARTOON BY BRENT BROWN

Spirit of ’76

Western North Carolina gears Up for 250th U.S. birthday celebration

BY JUSTIN M c GUIRE

jmcguire@mountainx.com

Get ready to party like it’s 1776.

Volunteers in Buncombe County and other Western North Carolina communities are gearing up for a full year of events to mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, officially called the semiquincentennial. Organizers say the commemorations will be as much about reflection and civic engagement as fireworks and hot dogs.

The America250 NC Buncombe County Committee — known locally as Buncombe250 — was formed in spring 2025 to connect residents with statewide resources and encourage local participation in the year’s events. The all-volunteer group operates under the umbrella of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources’ (DNCR) America 250 NC initiative and received a $10,000 state grant to support early planning, outreach and public listening sessions.

“I love learning about the places where history happened, about our history, our founding documents and how North Carolina was a part of that,” says Glenn Stach, a nationally known preservation landscape architect who serves as director of Buncombe250. “Being a small part in promoting those places, helping people engage with them and connect with that history is what excites me about this year.”

Rather than centering the commemoration on a single marquee event, Buncombe250 is taking a decentralized, grassroots approach, he explains. The committee has been authorized to distribute the official America 250

NC logo, or “mark,” to organizations, municipalities and community groups planning their own commemorative programs. Those groups are encouraged to list their events on the state’s master America250 calendar, creating a statewide picture of how communities are marking the anniversary.

TREES OF LIBERTY

One of the committee’s flagship initiatives, Stach says, is the Beyond the Liberty Tree program, a commemorative tree-planting effort that blends history, art and environmental stewardship. The goal is to see at least 100 commemorative trees planted across North Carolina — one in every county — with Buncombe County artists designing a single plaque that will be replicated at each site. For every commemorative tree planted statewide, the program encourages donations to reforestation partners in WNC, with an ambitious goal of planting 250 additional trees regionally for each one placed elsewhere.

Originally slated for spring plantings, the Liberty Tree program has been extended through Sept. 30 after interest from groups unable to meet early deadlines. Proceeds from the initiative will help fund additional outreach and educational efforts throughout the year.

As part of the program, the Ashevillebased Ruth Davidson Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is working with the Edward Buncombe DAR chapter and the Blue Ridge and Felix Walker Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) chapters on an effort to plant a commemorative

1776 in the mountains

On July 4, 1776, the area that would become Buncombe County had no permanent settlements.

UNC Asheville history professor Ellen Holmes Pearson describes the region as “truly wilderness,” noting that no white settlers lived here at the time and that Cherokee towns lay beyond the county’s boundaries, mainly to the west and southwest. Dense forests, rugged mountains and abundant wildlife — including deer, squirrels and bobcats — defined the landscape.

STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER: The Black Mountain-based Blue Ridge Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution provided the color guard when Henderson County dedicated a marker to Revolutionary War patriots last July 4. Photo courtesy of Blue Ridge Chapter

tree in Pack Square Plaza accompanied by a locally designed metal plaque.

The organizations have applied to the Buncombe250 committee, which is reviewing applications.

Although the Cherokee did not maintain permanent settlements in what is now Buncombe County, Pearson says the area was part of their territory. It functioned as a travel corridor, hunting ground and seasonal camping area, especially along the French Broad River and other waterways. Other Indigenous groups, such as the Catawba, recognized Cherokee control of the land and sought permission to use it.

In 1776, the mountains were claimed by the colony of North Carolina, whose western boundary extended far

beyond the Blue Ridge Mountains into what is now Tennessee. Traders and surveyors passed through, but settlement remained limited. British officials attempted to restrict westward expansion through the Proclamation Line of 1763, which barred white settlement west of a designated boundary in an effort to reduce conflict with Indigenous nations.

The earliest permanent white settlers arrived in the area in 1784, just after the end of the Revolutionary War. Pearson says independence accelerated settlement and hardened attitudes toward Indigenous peoples. During the war, most Cherokee communities

“We’re historical organizations, and this is a meaningful way to connect history with the community,” says Becky Wood, president of the Ruth Davidson Chapter. “I think this concept is going

sided with Great Britain, and after the war, white Americans increasingly treated western lands as their own.

White settlers farmed fertile river valleys, raised crops such as corn and tobacco, traded livestock along routes like the Drovers Road and, in many cases, brought enslaved people with them. While the region never developed plantation agriculture on a large scale, slavery was part of its early history.

Pearson said it is essential that modern commemorations reflect the area’s deeper history.

“This was not land just for the taking,” she said. “We do live on Cherokee land.” X

to be well accepted because it’s about conservation and renewal, especially after all the trees we’ve lost in Western North Carolina because of [Tropical Storm] Helene.”

If approved, Wood says, the groups hope to hold a Memorial Day weekend dedication featuring a SAR color guard in Revolutionary War attire displaying historic American flags.

EXPLORE AND EXPERIENCE

The Buncombe250 committee’s other plans fall into two broad categories: Explore Buncombe250 and Experience Buncombe250, Stach says.

Explore Buncombe250 focuses on highlighting the places where local and state history happened. Buncombe County libraries will serve as the backbone of this effort, joined by museums and state historic sites such as downtown Asheville’s Thomas Wolfe Memorial and the Zebulon B. Vance Birthplace in Weaverville. These locations will host traveling exhibits, educational activity bags, story centers and other materials developed by DNCR, offering residents and visitors hands-on ways to engage with North Carolina’s role in the nation’s founding.

Experience Buncombe250, meanwhile, encourages community-led events throughout the year, especially around key dates. While Saturday, July 4, will remain a focal point — anchored by existing fireworks displays and parades across the county — the committee is also promoting Sunday, July 5, as part of the state’s Great American Picnic, a neighbor-focused gathering meant to encourage conversation and connection. Other highlighted dates include Arbor Day tree plantings, a National Day of Prayer or Reflection in May, Constitution Day in September, a National Day of Service on Friday, Sept. 11, and Veterans Day observances in November. Faith communities, service organizations, schools, tourism partners and civic groups are all encouraged to participate.

OTHER COMMUNITIES PLAN

Semiquincentennial plans are also underway in Henderson County, which similarly received a $10,000 grant from the state’s America250 program to help fund festivities.

“The goal is to start building excitement now and lead up to July 4, 2026,” says Mike Morgan, the county’s chief communications officer. “We want to reflect on our history, celebrate our present and look toward the future.”

The county’s 250 committee, approved by the Henderson County Board of Commissioners, includes Morgan and 12 other members from county and city government, the downtown association, local media and historical groups. Morgan expects that number to grow to 15–20 volunteers as the planning continues.

Plans include social media campaigns, as well as videos and stories highlighting local history. The centerpiece event will be on July 4 on Main Street in Hendersonville, beginning with the city parade at 10:30 a.m., followed by a family-friendly festival from 5-9 p.m.

Attendees can enjoy live performances by the Junior Appalachian Musicians of Henderson County (JAM Kids), the Blake Ellege Band and other local musicians. A special ceremony around 6 p.m. will include speeches by local leaders, veteran recognition and historical presentations. Food trucks, a Kid Zone and an additional stage near the visitor center will round out the celebration. The evening will end with downtown Hendersonville’s annual fireworks display at around 9:30 p.m.

“I just love this country, and I think this is a chance for our community to really share in that pride,” Morgan says. “There’s a lot to celebrate — freedom, resilience and all the generations that came before us.”

Transylvania, Haywood, Jackson, Madison and Polk counties also have formed 250 committees.

“Brevard will be hosting a much more extensive celebration on the Fourth of July with a street festival, music

and other fun, family-oriented events throughout the afternoon, culminating in the fireworks display,” says Mayor Maureen Copelof. The Transylvania County 250 Celebration Committee and economic development group Heart of Brevard are working together on the details, she says.

Adds Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers: “Our celebration of the USA’s 250th anniversary will be woven into Canton’s activities throughout the year. We’ll honor our history but also the unity and cooperation our community has shown through the crises of the past five years, which has been bipartisan, sincere and authentic.”

MANY AMERICAN STORIES

For Stach, the semiquincentennial commemoration is the culmination of years of planning and a lifelong passion for history.

Stach has been involved with the America250 effort since 2018, helping to launch the federal commission. Over the past eight years, he has watched the national and state efforts take shape, lending his expertise in historic and cultural landscapes along the way. Professionally, he oversees preservation projects across the country, from the

Biltmore Estate to urban parks such as Central Park, applying standards shaped decades ago during the bicentennial in 1976 — an event that inspired him as a Boy Scout visiting the Liberty Bell.

“That’s what pulled me into this work,” Stach recalls. “The bicentennial shaped how we care for the places where history happened. Being part of America250 lets me help guide the next chapter.”

With the United States badly divided along political lines in 2026, he knows WNC residents will have different attitudes toward celebrating the country’s 250th birthday.

“Some people will want to celebrate. Others will want to reflect or be more introspective,” he says.

Compared with the bicentennial in 1976, today’s conversations about history are broader and more complex, incorporating voices and experiences once overlooked, such as those of African Americans and Indigenous people. Buncombe250 also plans to promote oral history projects that invite residents to share their own American stories.

“There isn’t one definition of patriotism, and there isn’t one American story — there are many,” Stach says.

For more information, visit Buncombe250 at avl.mx/fb6 or America250 at avl.mx/fb7. X

Commission

updates on winter storms, Code Purple

“We’ve sheltered large numbers of our unhoused community with very limited resources,” Lacy Hoyle, the Community Development Homelessness Program manager, told the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners Feb. 3 in an update about winter weather. “I’ve been very impressed and very grateful with what we’ve been able to do with the resources that we have.”

From Nov. 1 through April 30, a Code Purple designation activates additional shelter space in the community when the temperature is below freezing. Hoyle told commissioners there were 11 Code Purple days from Jan. 1-19 and 500 beds used (not unique visitors) during that time.

This year, Code Purple shelters include 20 beds for couples and people with pets at Homeward Bound’s AHOPE Day Center, 16 beds for men at The Salvation Army and 35 beds for women and women with children at Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry’s Transformation Village. Although Transformation Village has the most beds available, it is the least utilized due to the large number of unhoused men in the community, Hoyle said.

There have been an average of 45 people per night using Code Purple beds, primarily men. “There’s not currently enough capacity for men, couples and people with pets,” Hoyle told Xpress. “The shelters that serve [those groups] have been going over capacity, and we need more beds for those folks.”

Code Purple’s budget for the 2025-26 season is $303,000, and funding is a per diem rate based on bed utilization, Hoyle said. The City of Asheville is the lead agency for Code Purple and

Nightly Winter Shelter and maintains contracts with providers.

Following the two weekends of ice and snow storms, Safe Shelter operated overflow capacity shelters. First Presbyterian Church activated 20 beds; Trinity United Methodist Church activated 50 beds.

“These Code Purple providers, most of them have exceeded their bed capacity on a regular basis, particularly as we’ve gone into January — and that does include our overflow capacity as well,” Hoyle told commissioners.

The City of Asheville has also offered additional Nightly Winter Shelter capacity since Nov. 1, Hoyle continued. Unlike Code Purple shelters, Nightly Winter Shelters “are open every night regardless of whether Code Purple parameters are met,” Hoyle said.

Nightly Winter Shelter is funded by $250,000 in Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Relief money from Tropical Storm Helene. There are 40 beds for men at a Salvation Army location and 10 beds for women at Safe Shelter’s location.

“These shelters have also been exceeding their bed capacity, even on nights when Code Purple is not called,” Hoyle said.

There have been 745 beds used (not unique visitors), or about 68 people per night, with the overages primarily at the men’s facility. Nightly Winter Shelter will be active through Tuesday, March 30.

“We are seeing a huge level of need this year — I think more than any of us were anticipating,” Hoyle told commissioners.

Commissioner Drew Ball asked if there was a concern about Code Purple funding running out due to high usage. Hoyle said providers are being careful

WINTER SHELTER: Recent numbers for Code Purple and Nightly Winter Shelter use has shown a growing need of beds for the county’s unhoused, said Lacy Hoyle, the Community Development Homelessness Program manager, during the Feb. 3 Buncombe County Board of Commissioners meeting. Screen grab via Buncombe County YouTube

with their funding. “I think the larger issue has been staffing,” she explained, noting that it has been difficult for some staff and volunteers to get to the shelters in the winter weather.

Commissioner Al Whitesides said he was glad to provide shelter beds during emergencies but added that the community needs to address the root causes of homelessness. “Are we spending our tax dollars wisely?” he asked.

Commission Chair Amanda Edwards concurred that it would be helpful to have an update on homelessness issues in Buncombe County, including additional sheltering plans, in the coming weeks.

Winter storm recap

Ryan Cole, emergency services assistant director, provided an update on the county’s responses to winter storms. He commended the 105 shelter staff, including nurses, social workers and Buncombe County Sheriff’s deputies, who worked during the weekend storms. “Everybody came in prepared to work for 72 hours,” he said.

Approximately 17,000 households lost power during the storms, Cole said. The

county established three shelters at Erwin High School, Reuters Family YMCA and Hearts with Hands. The majority of the guests preemptively came to the shelters, anticipating power outages, rather than coming during the storm. However, the National Guard was on hand to transport people if needed, Cole said.

The Emergency Operations Center has suggested improvements for additional storms, Cole continued. There are hazard mitigation grant requests for generators for each of the high schools, 40 weather stations for the ridges and the valleys, and heavy equipment for tree removal, Cole said.

In other news

• The Commission approved a resolution to authorize Buncombe County to participate in the N.C. Commercial Property Assessed Capital Expenditure Program (C-PACE). C-PACE is a state-sponsored program to finance sustainable improvements to commercial property through placement of a lien. Project types can include energy efficiency, resiliency projects, clean energy and water conservation. Learn more about C-PACE at avl.mx/fc2.

• The Commission approved two resolutions authorizing the county manager to submit applications to the N.C. Department of Commerce Rural Division’s Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program. The project supports the Swannanoa Sidewalks project to repair sidewalks in Beacon Village, which were damaged by Helene.

• Commissioner Whitesides read a proclamation to designate February 2026 as Black Legacy Month alongside Noreal Armstrong, director of Access & Human Affairs, and Sean Palmer, executive director of YMI Cultural Center.

This story was supported by the Fund for Investigative Reporting and Editing.

— Jessica Wakeman

Poetry Contest

Xpress announces its 2026 poetry contest in celebration of April as National Poetry Month.

Are you a poet living in Western North Carolina? If so, consider submitting an original, previously unpublished work. This year’s theme, voted on by our readers, is food as community. Food is life. Food is memory. Food is connection. We’re calling on all writers to submit to this year’s Xpress Poetry Contest with food in mind. Maybe it’s a poem about your favorite Southern dish. Perhaps it’s poem inspired by a vivid memory of a meal shared with neighbors in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene. Or possibly it’s a poem that captures the way a specific scent takes you to back in time. However you relate to food, share it with us through your poetry. As always, the focus should tie to life in Western North Carolina. So if you’ve got a killer poem about your love for fresh Maine lobster or your favorite Chicago deep dish, save those for another time.

Important information

All submissions are final. Meaning we will not review revised submissions. All poems should be no longer than one typed page in a 12-point font. (Any poems that go beyond the page count will be disqualified.) Again, only previously unpublished poems will be considered. No A.I. generated poems are allowed. And while we love to hear from our younger poets, we ask children under 18 to submit their work to our annual Kids Issues. The contest is currently open for submissions and will close at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4. Email your poem in the body of the message to tcalder@mountainx.com. Embedded links or attached documents will not be read. The subject line should read “Xpress 2026 Poetry Contest.” Include the author’s name and contact information in the email. Only one submission per person. There is no cost to enter.

A winning poem will be determined by local poet Nancy Dillingham, author of several poetry and short story collections, as well as a memoir. The winner will be published online and in print in our April 29 issue. The contest is not open to Xpress employees or their families, or freelance contributors.

Contact Thomas Calder at tcalder@mountainx.com with any questions

VGUIDE OTER 2026

Par t 1of 2

North Carolina voters will head to the polls this month to help shape the 2026 midterm elections. Winners of the March 3 primary will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot for offices ranging from local races to U.S. Congress. Whether you plan to vote early, by mail or on Election Day, here’s a guide to what you need to know.

Key dates to remember

• Thursday, Feb. 12:

Early voting starts

• Tuesday, Feb. 17 (5 p.m.):

Last day to request an absentee ballot

• Saturday, Feb. 28: Early voting ends

• Tuesday, March 3:

Primary Election Day; deadline to return an absentee ballot

Registering to vote

Still time to register: If you missed the Feb. 6 deadline to register to vote, you can still register and vote on the same day during early voting (Feb. 12–28). You’ll need an acceptable photo ID.

Registration status: Voters can check their registration status, sample ballot and assigned Election Day polling place using the state’s voter search tool at buncombenc.gov/vote.

Three ways to vote

1. EARLY VOTING (THURSDAY, FEB. 12–SATURDAY, FEB. 28)

Any registered voter can vote early at any early voting location in the county.

What to know before you vote

Hours:

• Monday–Friday: 8 a.m.–7:30 p.m.

• Saturday, Feb. 21–Sunday, Feb. 22: 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

• Saturday, Feb. 28 (last day): 8 a.m.–3 p.m.

• No early voting Saturday, Feb. 14–Sunday, Feb. 15

2. ABSENTEE VOTING BY

MAIL

Any registered voter may vote by mail — no special reason required.

• Request deadline: Tuesday, Feb. 17, 5 p.m.

• Return deadline: Tuesday, March 3, 7:30 p.m. (must be received by then) Voters must include a copy of an acceptable photo ID when returning their absentee ballot. Ballots can be returned by mail, at the elections office or at an early voting site (not on Election Day).

3. ELECTION DAY VOTING (TUESDAY, MARCH 3)

On Primary Election Day, polls are open 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Anyone in line by 7:30 p.m. will be allowed to vote. Voters must go to their assigned

polling place, which can be found through the voter search tool.

Voter ID requirements

North Carolina law requires voters to show photo ID when voting in person or returning an absentee ballot. Free voter photo IDs are available at Buncombe County Election Services, 35 Woodfin St., Asheville, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Accessibility and curbside voting

Curbside voting is available for voters who cannot enter a polling place due to age or disability. This option is offered during early voting and on Election Day at all locations. For full details, sample ballots or election updates, visit buncombenc. gov/vote.

This story was supported by the Fund for Investigative Reporting and Editing.

— Justin McGuire X

Early voting locations

• Black Mountain Library — 105 N. Dougherty St.

• East Asheville Library — 3 Avon Road

• Enka-Candler Library — 1404 Sand Hill Road

• Fairview Library — 1 Taylor Road

• Leicester Community Center — 2979 New Leicester Highway

• North Asheville Library — 1030 Merrimon Ave.

• South Buncombe Library — 260 Overlook Road

• Upper Hominy Fire Station — 1795 Pisgah Highway

• Weaverville Community Center — 60 Lakeshore Drive

• Wesley Grant Southside Center — 285 Livingston St

• West Asheville Library — 942 Haywood Road

A real-time wait map will be available during early voting to help voters avoid long lines.

Buncombe County Board of Commissioners

District 2

Unlike the Asheville City Council primary, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, District 2 race is less involved — at least in terms of overall candidates. Greg Parks is running uncontested on the Republican ticket. Come November, he will face either Lonnie Israel or Terry Threadwell, the two Democrats running in the primary. Both candidates offer their responses here.

For the March 3 primary, incumbent Al Whitesides is running uncontested in District 3. Democrat Anna Stearns and Republican Rob Stetson are running uncontested in District 1.

The Xpress Voter Guide is supported by the Fund for Investigative Reporting and Editing.

— Thomas Calder X

THE QUESTIONS

What makes you the best candidate to represent District 2?

LONNIE ISRAEL TERRY

Website: LonnieIsraelforBuncombe.com

Occupation: Retired

Previous candidacy or ofﬁces held: None

Key endorsements: None

Amount of money raised: Did not respond

Top three donors: Did not respond

I have considerable business experience by coowning Jesse Israel and Sons Garden Center for 38 years. Because of my expertise in finance and management, I am fully capable of making Buncombe County a better place to start and operate small businesses and bring in goodpaying jobs. Currently, I serve as treasurer on Upper Hominy Fire Department’s board of directors. My dedicated community service will continue by supporting our firefighters and first responders.

Website: terrythreadwell forbuncombe. com

Occupation: Professor

Previous candidacy or ofﬁces held: None

Key endorsements: Did not respond

Amount of money raised: $0

Top three donors: 0

I bring a combination of lived experience, public service and practical leadership. I’ve spent my life working alongside working families, faith communities, educators and local organizations — listening ﬁrst, then acting. I understand how policy decisions land on real households because I’ve worked directly with people navigating housing costs, wages, health care and recovery after disaster.

District 2 needs a commissioner who shows up, asks hard questions and follows through. I bring a steady, ethical approach to leadership — focused on fairness, transparency, and longterm community well-being rather than short-term political wins.

Affordable housing remains an ongoing concern for residents. What leadership and expertise do you bring to the Commission that make you an ideal candidate to address the problem?

Kids Issues! Kids 2026

In 2025, commissioners voted to delay the anticipated 2025 property reappraisal until this year. Do you plan to promote any changes to existing taxes? If so, what is your proposal?

If elected, I will review the zoning and development ordinances to bring them into alignment with the 2043 comprehensive plan goals. I support the goals of the county’s affordable housing committee and will continue to assess how best to meet our housing needs while also conserving our natural resources and outdoor spaces that improve our quality of life.

Recently, I have had many conversations with our residents regarding property taxes. Although mixed, the majority were favorable to keep the tax rate stable. Additionally, they said Helene brought unprecedented challenges to many of our residents. Consequently, many here will struggle to pay their taxes. My proposal is to continue to listen to their many concerns. If elected, I will organize community meetings on the county’s budget to promote transparency.

Affordable housing is not a single-solution problem — it requires coordination, persistence and accountability. I bring experience working across sectors and advocating for people who are too often priced out or ignored. On the commission, I will prioritize:

• Expanding workforce and middle-income housing, not just luxury development.

• Supporting nonproﬁt and community-based housing partners.

• Using county-owned land creatively and responsibly.

• Ensuring incentives actually produce affordable units, not just promises. Most importantly, I will insist on measurable outcomes. Housing policy should be judged by how many people it actually helps — not by how many plans we write.

I believe tax policy must be fair, predictable and sensitive to residents on ﬁxed or modest incomes. Any changes following reappraisal must include strong protections against displacement, especially for seniors and long-term residents. I am open to:

• Targeted relief mechanisms for those facing sharp increases.

• Reviewing exemptions and deferrals to ensure they are accessible and effective.

• Evaluating whether the overall tax structure remains aligned with our community’s ability to pay. My guiding principle is simple: Reappraisal should not become a quiet eviction tool.

What are your top budget priorities?

What steps will you take to engage with your constituents?

We have signiﬁcant Helene recovery needs: debris removal, economic recovery, health and social services, housing, infrastructure, natural and cultural resources, disaster preparedness and food insecurity.

Budget decisions need to be tied back to the county’s Helene recovery plan and to the ﬁve-year strategic plan. My top budget priorities are the public school system, public safety and human services.

• Organizing community meetings for conservation or discussing public safety.

• Utilizing digital and social media, including Facebook and Instagram.

• Sending regular email updates and press releases.

• Meeting with local business organizations, clubs, Helene volunteer groups and community centers to listen to their concerns.

• Most important of all is to converse with many constituents of diverse opinions to ﬁnd what we do agree on. If elected commissioner, I will be prepared to communicate transparency with all residents.

My top priorities are:

• Affordable housing and homelessness prevention.

• Infrastructure and disaster resilience, especially in vulnerable communities.

• Public health and mental health services.

• Education, workforce development and livingwage jobs. Every budget is a moral document. I will advocate for spending that strengthens communities, prevents crises before they escalate and delivers real value to taxpayers.

Engagement must be ongoing, not just during the election season. I commit to:

• Regular community listening sessions throughout District 2.

• Clear, plain-language updates on county decisions.

• Being accessible — by email, phone and in person.

• Working with neighborhood groups, faith communities and local organizations. Representation means staying connected, especially when conversations are uncomfortable or complex. I will treat constituents as partners, not spectators.

Asheville City Council

If you are the type of person who gets easily overwhelmed when presented with too many options, now would be a good time to take a deep breath.

This year’s Asheville City Council primary race involves 20 candidates. Only six will move forward from the March 3 primary to the Nov. 3 general election.

Candidates include the three incumbents seeking reelection: Antanette Mosley, Sheneika Smith and Maggie Ullman. The race also features former Council member Keith Young and current Buncombe County Commissioner Drew Ball.

The remaining candidates bring a wide range of personal and professional experience — from architects to artists to service industry workers and nonprofit executives.

All candidates were invited to participate in Xpress’ Primary Voter Guide. Included are the responses from 16 of the 20 residents running. Candidates Tyler Ladd, Angel Gonzales, Shaunda Jackson and Tiffany DeBellott did not respond. — Thomas Calder X

THE QUESTIONS

There are 19 other residents running for three open seats. Why should voters select you?

Website: Ball4yall.com

Occupation: Southeast campaigns director with Natural Resources Defense Council

Previous candidacy or ofﬁces held: Current Buncombe County commissioner

Key endorsements: State Sen. Julie Mayﬁeld, state Reps. Brian Turner and Eric Ager. County Commissioners Al Whitesides, Parker Sloan, Martin Moore, Terri Wells and Chair Amanda Edwards. [For additional endorsements see avl.mx/fcb.]

Amount of money raised: Over $17,000

Top three donors: Rich Wasch, Mack Pearsall, Nancy McFarlane

Asheville needs collaborative leadership focused on solutions. I’ve helped lead Buncombe County through disaster recovery, tough budgets and long-term planning, while staying accessible and accountable. I’m running to bring that experience to City Council. My vision is an affordable, resilient, welcoming Asheville that works for the people who actually live here. I’m focused on making people’s lives better. The fact we have so many dedicated people stepping up to serve speaks to the character of our community.

Website: jeffreyforasheville.com

Occupation: Jeweler, designer and smallbusiness owner

Previous candidacy or ofﬁces held: First-time candidate for City Council

Key endorsements: To be announced

Amount of money raised: $13,219.84

Top three donors: We’ve raised this money with the support of 81 individual contributors.

I bring lived experience working at the intersection of housing, small business, arts and disaster recovery. Before and after Hurricane Helene, I’ve worked daily alongside artists, business owners, residents, nonproﬁts and city partners in the River Arts District, serving as president of RAD Artists and chair of the Economy Recovery Board. I’m a bridge builder focused on collaboration and followthrough, helping move Asheville from planning to action and delivering results people can feel.

Affordable housing remains an ongoing concern for residents. What leadership and expertise do you bring to Council that make you an ideal candidate to address the problem?

Housing affordability has been at the center of my work, including serving on the county’s affordable housing subcommittee. Asheville’s costs are rising faster than wages and the state average, which is pushing people out. At the same time, thousands of residents with housing vouchers still can’t ﬁnd homes. Those are policy failures, and I bring hands-on experience, partnerships and a track record of moving policy to increase supply and keep Asheville livable for residents.

Homelessness is an issue, both for those experiencing it and some homeowners and businesses that have expressed concerns over open drug use, trespassing, discarded syringes and ﬁres near encampments. How do you serve the needs of all community members as it relates to homelessness?

What role should Council play if federal agents are deployed to Asheville?

The city faces a $30 million gap in its budget for ﬁscal year 2026-27. What is your proposal to address the issue?

Homelessness is driven by a number of causes and fueled by rising rents and a lack of housing. Public safety, human dignity, collaboration and compassion must go together to address the issue. As a volunteer firefighter, I’ve seen the impacts firsthand. We need prevention, supportive housing, emergency rental assistance, community paramedics and nonprofit partnerships. We can address real safety concerns without criminalizing poverty or trauma. Preventing homelessness is our best solution.

Local government’s role is to keep our community safe and informed. If federal agents come to Asheville, Council must protect civil rights, ensure people know their rights and push back against fear-based enforcement. Families deserve safety, not terror. While we can’t control federal actions, we can choose transparency, dignity, due process and community trust by supporting clear communication and standing with our neighbors to state clearly that fear will not deﬁne our community. In Asheville, we show up for our neighbors.

I’ve had to balance large, complex budgets as a county commissioner and nonprofit director. Budgets are moral documents, and we can close this gap without abandoning our values. That means seeking long-term solutions, shifting recurring costs to stable funding. The city should invest in energy efficiency, seek operational savings and pursue smart consolidation where appropriate. I would work closely with City Manager DK Wesley and Council to stabilize finances and honor our commitments, while investing in critical infrastructure and protecting core services our community relies upon.

I’ve worked directly with housing instability through recovery efforts, small-business displacement and the creative economy, and I continue to listen and learn from people affected by it every day. I see how rising housing costs impact workers, artists and service employees in real time. I support deeply affordable and workforce housing, missing-middle options and preservation of existing units, with a focus on implementation, partnerships and alignment with infrastructure, transit and climate realities.

Homelessness requires compassion and structure at the same time. Expanding shelter and beds helps address immediate needs, but it does not solve root causes. Long-term solutions require housing stability, prevention and supportive services, alongside clear expectations for public space. I support housing-ﬁrst approaches paired with mental health care and substance-use treatment. City Council’s role is coordination, funding and accountability so responses are humane, effective and sustainable for everyone.

City Council should protect public safety, civil rights and access to services. That means limiting cooperation beyond what is legally required, ensuring city services are accessible to all residents and communicating rights clearly. Council should also support trusted community organizations providing legal aid and rapid response. Public safety depends on trust. Fearbased enforcement undermines community stability and emergency response.

We must prioritize essential services, housing stability, infrastructure reliability and disaster resilience while improving accountability. I support closing gaps through smarter phasing, reducing preventable future costs, pursuing external funding and scrutinizing programs without clear outcomes. Austerity alone won’t solve this. The goal is a disciplined budget that protects working residents and avoids pushing today’s costs into tomorrow’s crises.

Website: votescottburroughs.com

Occupation: Architect

Previous candidacy or ofﬁces held: None

Key endorsements: My wife and my two little boys

Amount of money raised: $4,000

Top three donors: Myself, my father and my mother.

Website: blakeforasheville.com

Occupation: Public relations consultant

Previous candidacy or ofﬁces held: None

Key endorsements: None

Amount of money raised: $9,700

Top three donors: Field Coxe, Laurel York, Megan Shook

Website: ferrellforavl.com

Occupation: Engineering manager

Previous candidacy or ofﬁces held: None

Key endorsements: None

Amount of money raised: Just under $1,000

Top three donors: Rae Krantz, David Kleinschmidt, myself.

Website: nina4avl.com

Occupation: Entrepreneur and hospitality worker

Previous candidacy or ofﬁces held: None

Key endorsements: None at this time. Amount of money raised: Around $700 from individual contributions

Top three donors: Did not answer

As an architect with over 15 years’ experience, I have the professional, pragmatic and proactive leadership that we need to shepherd our city through the tough rebuilding challenges ahead. I have lived and worked globally, making a career out of turning “No, we can’t” into “Yes, we did.” I want to work together creatively to ﬁnd the paths to abundance. All together now!

This is a critical time and election for Asheville’s future. I offer new leadership focused on practical solutions with better accountability, communication and coordination for our city. I concentrate on solutions not sides and working hard to engage voters that traditionally do not participate in local elections. I will get things done without the drama to move Asheville forward together.

No one else running understands the full process of design, zoning, budgeting, construction and operations of housing. As a member of the American Institute of Architects and Urban Land Institute, I have deep knowledge of what works. I know the challenges tenants and owners face to provide and afford housing. Through practicing all over the country, I understand the changes we need to bring our zoning up to meet the challenge of the moment and build our future.

Everyone needs to be protected and respected. I support housing-ﬁrst approaches that protect our most vulnerable. We also cannot allow those experiencing mental crises and drug-addicted individuals to threaten the safety of our children and trash our environment. Law enforcement and emergency responses alone cannot be expected to solve a housing and health crisis. We all go through hard times. Let’s build the connections and our communities that get us through.

The City Council needs to follow the Constitution and start preparing for this possibility now by supporting our local law enforcement, educating everyone about our rights as citizens and residents, and engaging with our local immigrant community. As we have seen elsewhere, our local law enforcement are the glue that will hold our community together if outside forces sow chaos on our streets. ¡Todos juntos ahora!

We must audit our existing unoccupied inventory to analyze what policies and strategies have been effective for housing in the past. I grew up in construction and real estate and have seen our housing market adapt over the last 50-plus years. I am an advocate for more density and less sprawl and want to bring more practical thinking to the mix. We must concentrate on the role “competitive wages” play in relation to affordable housing solutions.

I want to implement a new approach with the homeless using focus deterrence to concentrate on the mentally ill segment of our homeless population. The nonproﬁt organizations and law enforcement that currently interact with the homeless can help us identify this high-risk population. This is the area to coordinate with the county, since they have funds to direct toward mental illness. We should also be proactive in forming more public-private partnerships to address this ongoing problem.

I want to write a detailed crisis communication plan that triggers responses and actions from every level of government and informs all citizens if ICE comes to Asheville. It is important that Council provides steady uniﬁed leadership in a case of federal oversight. Asheville depends on it.

I’m running on a platform for my neighbors, prioritizing affordability and ensuring Helene’s recovery isn’t co-opted by tourism or developers. Many candidates want change because they see the affordability crisis, but we must work speciﬁcally to keep wealth in Asheville rather than letting it ﬂow to Wall Street. I’m focused on protecting our local economy from outside interests and ensuring our recovery serves the people who actually live and work here.

We’ve all seen friends and coworkers priced out. We must name the problem: Asheville, like so many other cities, has become an investment vehicle for the wealthy to proﬁt off our basic need for housing. To ﬁx this, we must remove predatory speculation from the equation, the developers, the banks and the investors. Tools like co-ops and community land trusts work, but we need the political will to prioritize residents over outside investors.

This question conﬂates two distinct issues: addiction and homelessness. Homelessness is a direct result of our housing crisis. I’ve watched neighbors move from apartments to tents because they can’t move away and can’t afford to live here. Fixing the housing crisis stops this cycle and returns people to stability. Addiction is a medical disease within a chronically underfunded health care system. We must address both with evidence-based strategies rather than treating them as a single nuisance.

I currently spend most of my free time building community defense networks in the face of ICE and a fascist government. The city shouldn’t lead defense efforts because city records are subject to public disclosure and those records become a map for ICE via public records requests. Real defense must stay in the community to remain safe from surveillance. City Council’s job is to legally noncooperate and protect our privacy.

There are many qualiﬁed candidates, and I respect anyone willing to serve. Voters should choose me because I bring lived experience, professional experience and deep roots in Asheville. I’m a second-generation native raising my children here, juggling multiple jobs, running a small business and living the impacts of City Hall decisions. I center accountability, accessibility and investment in people — not prestige projects or outside interests.

I bring lived experience, practical problemsolving and follow-through. As the daughter of homeowners and an aspiring homeowner, I’ve seen how housing stability builds generational security and how affordability barriers persist. I support data-driven, legally sound solutions like missing-middle and workforce housing, strategic use of city-owned land and antidisplacement protections. My focus is collaboration, feasibility and policies that work in real life.

Homelessness must be addressed with compassion, prevention and accountability. Unmanaged encampments raise real safety concerns, while homelessness itself is driven by economic instability, housing costs and gaps in behavioral health care. The solution is prevention and housing ﬁrst: affordable housing, rental assistance, case management and coordinated outreach paired with clear rules, sanitation response and public safety. Data-driven solutions reduce harm for everyone.

Council should protect civil liberties, ensure transparency and limit local cooperation to what is legally required. While the city doesn’t control federal agencies, it can set clear policies, require reporting, educate the public and ensure city resources aren’t used beyond the law. Council must prioritize dignity, public safety and access to services — keeping Asheville focused on humanity, accountability and residents’ rights.

The city needs to turn its wealth of land and building resources into assets. Land leases and public-private partnerships can be used to address community needs while getting maintenance and costs off the city’s books. We can have a scarcity mindset and cut programs we all rely on, or we can look through the lens of abundance and empower the business and cultural community to help.

By July 1, the city will be charged with raising taxes, cutting services and programs, and raising fees to make up for this $30 million shortfall. I want to install long-term financial planning and a new era of fiscal discipline so Asheville will not face this situation again. There has been a trend in Council satisfying ongoing expectations with temporary funds, hoping that a future Council would figure it out. This needs to stop immediately.

I’m not a city councilor yet. I won’t be elected in time to affect change, navigate or negotiate this budget; I’ll just be inheriting the result. Shortterm: Increase peak parking for tourists while maintaining current rates for locals. A property tax hike is simply unavoidable right now. Long-term: We must add density to increase our revenue per acre and also make sure the TDA pays their share, because we can’t subsidize tourism while residents struggle.

This is an alignment and accountability problem, not just spending or revenue. We must reduce duplication between city and county services, rebid contracts when appropriate and prioritize local providers. Tourism strains city services, so we must push for TDA reform and greater ﬂexibility to fund public safety and infrastructure. Budget decisions should be transparent, outcome-driven and protect working residents from paying more for less.

Asheville City Council

Continued

THE QUESTIONS

There are 19 other residents running for three open seats. Why should voters select you?

Website: votejessmclean.com

Occupation: Co-executive director, Read to Succeed Asheville/ Buncombe

Previous candidacy or ofﬁces held: N/A

Key endorsements: Nerd Nite Asheville

Amount of money raised: $3,050.50

Top three donors: Jess Young McLean, Grifﬁn Greenberg, Jamie Brown

I’m Asheville-raised and deeply invested in this city’s future. For more than five years, my nonprofit leadership has kept me deeply embedded in our community, working alongside families facing barriers in education, housing, health care, food access, transit and wages. I bring real experience in education, budgeting, finance and recovery work after Helene, and I lead with accountability, transparency and a commitment to systemic change that improves everyday life for Asheville residents.

ANTANETTE MOSLEY DAVID MORITZ

Website: MosleyForAvl.com

Occupation: Vice mayor of Asheville; attorney

Previous candidacy or ofﬁces held: Appointed to Asheville City Council in 2020; elected in 2022; currently vice mayor

Key endorsements: Endorsements for this cycle are still pending.

Amount of money raised: $4,573 as ofJan. 29 (early cycle)

Top three donors: Elect David King Candidate Committee ($900); David Singleton ($500); Dana Stonestreet ($500)

I am running because Asheville needs steady, rooted leadership during a moment of real strain. I come from a multigenerational Asheville family, and I know this city not as an idea but as home. As vice mayor, I have helped guide Asheville through a period of crisis, approved thousands of new homes and focused on the unglamorous work that keeps a city functioning. I bring experience, institutional memory and a deep commitment to keeping Asheville livable for the people who already call it home.

Website: davidforavl.com

Occupation: Real estate builder

Previous candidacy or ofﬁces held: N/A

Key endorsements: Public safety commission

Amount of money raised: Self-funding

Top three donors: All my own funds

Affordable housing remains an ongoing concern for residents. What leadership and expertise do you bring to Council that make you an ideal candidate to address the problem?

I bring lived experience and professional expertise to Asheville’s housing challenges, with a clear understanding that housing insecurity is created by systems designed to keep people poor and excluded from opportunity. I’ve worked alongside families facing displacement and poverty, and I bring strong budgeting and policy analysis skills, experience partnering across sectors and a focus on housing-ﬁrst strategies. We need deeply affordable housing, smart land use and equitable protections that keep longtime residents in Asheville.

I’ve spent years working daily in a local housing neighborhood, Pisgah View Apartments, seeing both the real impacts on public safety and the humanity of people living outside. Homelessness is a systems failure, not a personal one. Serving everyone means housing-ﬁrst solutions, coordinated mental health and substance-use care, harm reduction and prevention. When we reduce risk, invest in services, build our own empathy and treat people with dignity, neighborhoods become safer and healthier for all.

As chair of City Council’s Housing and Community Development Committee, I focus on housing every week. Before serving on Council, I worked at a nonproﬁt that developed affordable homes, so I understand both policy and what it takes to deliver real units. During my time on Council, we have approved thousands of new homes and expanded local investment in affordability. I bring experience, institutional knowledge and a commitment to grow without displacement so longtime residents can stay.

Addressing homelessness requires both compassion and structure. What works is treating housing as the foundation, paired with outreach and services that meet people where they are. Teams like REST have shown that coordinated, relationship-based engagement can reduce harm and connect people to care. At the same time, residents and businesses deserve clean, safe and orderly public spaces. My approach is to expand supportive housing, strengthen outreach and align enforcement with pathways to stability so we are helping people while also restoring safety and trust in our neighborhoods.

Voters should choose me because Asheville needs pragmatic, professional leadership. I bring 30 years of engineering, business and real estate experience, which are skills directly relevant to managing a city facing major infrastructure, housing, safety and budget challenges. I’ve built complex projects, including infrastructure, run a successful local real estate business and understand how systems work in the real world. Council should be a sounding board, not a rubber stamp, and I will bring accountability, discipline and commonsense problem-solving to City Hall.

I bring 25 years of real estate experience, an MBA in ﬁnance and real estate, and 12 years building housing and redevelopment projects here in Asheville. I understand how to deliver housing that ﬁts existing infrastructure and strengthens neighborhoods. Asheville must focus on building where services already exist, streamline processes and avoid policies that push development outside the city. My background allows me to evaluate projects clearly, protect taxpayers and support practical solutions that actually increase housing supply while protecting existing residents.

Visible homelessness is a concern for people and businesses, and there is a sense that the city lacks control. We can address it with compassion but also accountability. We should expand shelter capacity and services tied to treatment and stabilization while improving coordination with county partners and providers. This requires clear performance metrics. We need measurable outcomes, real partnerships and solutions that reduce harm for everyone.

What role should Council play if federal agents are deployed to Asheville?

The city faces a $30 million gap in its budget for ﬁscal year 2026-27. What is your proposal to address this?

If federal agents are deployed to Asheville, City Council must act with courage to protect community trust and uphold constitutional rights. Council should work alongside immigrant communities, faith and nonproﬁt partners, businesses, families and city staff to protect community members. We should refuse voluntary cooperation with civil immigration enforcement, support “know your rights” outreach, including access to signage, and uphold Fourth Amendment protections.

It would be irresponsible to propose cuts without fully reviewing city data and forecasts. What I bring to the table is deep budgeting experience and an additive mindset focused on long-term stability, not short-term scarcity. I’ve grown operating revenue in my career by building partnerships, streamlining operations, diversifying funding and investing strategically. Strong budgets aren’t about shrinking our city — they’re about making smart, sustainable investments in people, infrastructure and services that deliver lasting returns for Asheville.

Council’s role is to ensure local public safety, protect residents’ rights and coordinate with law enforcement transparently if federal agents are present. Local police do not enforce federal immigration laws and should focus on community trust and safety, not actions that deter people from reporting crimes. The city stands committed to peace, due process and the rule of law, and will work with partners to keep Asheville safe and inclusive.

North Carolina law requires cities to adopt balanced budgets, so this situation is not a true deﬁcit in the way people experience one at home. What Asheville faces is a real gap between growing needs and limited resources, and that calls for disciplined choices. My priority is protecting core services people rely on every day, like water, roads, public safety and housing stability. We should scrutinize programs that are duplicative or not delivering results before asking residents to pay more. Every dollar should be tied to outcomes that make Asheville more livable and resilient.

My focus as a City Council member isn’t national politics. It’s ensuring Asheville remains a community where people feel safe, respected and treated fairly, no matter the circumstance. If federal agents were ever deployed to Asheville, Council’s role is to ensure their actions are lawful, transparent and coordinated with local authorities. Our priority must be keeping the city informed and safe while protecting residents’ rights.

This budget gap is due to past decisions that have not enhanced our revenue generation, so it’s going to be a long-term solution. We’ve hollowed out our city by pushing projects and businesses out to the county. So while our service needs have increased, our revenue hasn’t caught up to our needs. We need to partner with people who want to build our city in places with infrastructure and near transit and amenities. This will both create a more vibrant city as well as a funded one.

2026 ELECTION VOTER GUIDE

Website: N/A

Occupation: Service writer

Previous candidacy or ofﬁces held: Did not respond

Key endorsements: Did not respond

Amount of money raised: Have not raised any funds yet

Top three donors: I do not have any donors

Not only am I a third-generation Ashevillean, I’ll bring a more commonsense approach to decisions made by Council. To do that, I bring a blue-collar worker’s mentality when it’s time to vote. I also share the same voice that some people want to share but can’t or don’t have the opportunity to do so.

Website: N/A

Occupation: Self-employed

Previous candidacy or ofﬁces held: Incumbent; ﬁrst elected in 2017, currently serving.

Key endorsements: N/A

Amount of money raised: $0 (selffunded / no fundraising to date)

Top three donors: N/A

Website: CJforthepeople.com

Occupation: Speech therapist

Previous candidacy or ofﬁces held: N/A

Key endorsements: N/A

Amount of money raised: $0

Top three donors: N/A

Website: N/A

Occupation: Retired from a public trust position in the federal government

Previous candidacy or ofﬁces held: N/A

Key endorsements: None

Amount of money raised: None

Top three donors: N/A

First, I want to acknowledge and celebrate the fact that 19 residents have stepped forward to participate in this election. Voters should select me because I bring continuity, experience and a proven record of good judgment at a time when Asheville continues to navigate complex challenges. I honor voters’ desire for new ideas and emerging leadership. That momentum is part of a healthy civic process. Therefore, if I’m not your ﬁrst or second choice, I ask to be considered your third; bringing a demonstrated ability to manage complex challenges in service of our city. [For full response, see avl.mx/fcb.]

Being raised by parents that worked hard and built their home to having my own family and having to depend on low-income housing, I share a real sense of what a lot of people in Asheville are experiencing.

I deal with the homeless on occasions and a lot of today’s homeless have more of a substance abuse and/or mental issues, so we would need to take a different approach to this issue.

Since 2018, I have served on the City’s Housing and Community Development Committee. I’ve helped review housing policy, oversee HUD-funded investments and advance strategies that support a range of housing options, from supportive services to small-scale, neighborhood-compatible housing that expands access without destabilizing communities. By supporting incremental solutions that ﬁt within existing neighborhoods while increasing housing choice, and by pairing policy with thoughtful implementation, I work to ensure housing strategies address immediate needs and remain effective over time. [For full response, see avl.mx/fcb.]

Serving the whole community requires responding with an approach that addresses immediate safety and health concerns with the same urgency as investing in pathways out of homelessness. That means supporting coordinated outreach, treatment and recovery options, and housing solutions that reduce the conditions that compromise our collective quality of life, public safety and health. My conviction is to hold two responsibilities at the same time: caring for people experiencing homelessness and maintaining safe and accessible community spaces. Again, sustainable solutions require services, treatment and housing; not tolerance of unsafe conditions. [For full response, see avl.mx/fcb.]

My greatest strength are my principles. I’m committed to improving the quality of life of the most residents of Asheville as possible. This includes addressing the housing and cost-of-living crises, ecological development, improved public transportation and strengthening communities. I believe that Asheville residents need to unite to ensure we all have the ability to live a digniﬁed life.

• I’m a service-disabled Air Force veteran and former federal contracting ofﬁcer with a ﬁrm approach to oversight and waste.

• My background is in audits, accountability and outcome-based budgeting.

• I’m not backed by insiders; I’m focused solely on competence, fairness and results.

• My priority is making housing truly obtainable for working people.

• “Service is a duty, not a performance.”

Meet with the mayor and county commissioners and go over our legalities.

Expose and be transparent about where we are having these shortfalls and ﬁnd a way to ﬁx them.

Council should follow the leadership of those most impacted and avoid inflammatory statements or performative actions that escalate tension or prolong federal presence. Our first responsibility is to receive guidance from communities most affected because they bear the lived consequences of state violence. Effective leadership in these moments means affirming the rule of law while demanding clear jurisdictional boundaries and keeping the focus on public safety. In light of the horrors and long-term harm experienced in Minneapolis, Council should maintain a posture of restraint and prioritize the protection of civil rights. [For full response, see avl.mx/fcb.]

Our current budget challenges are serious but not unexpected. The city continues to recover from the most severe tropical storm in recent history, and the pressures of poststorm repair, rising operational costs and slower-than-expected revenue growth are compounding. Recovery from climate-related disruption requires multiyear budget planning, not the normal year-to-year ﬁxes.

I’m devoted to assisting those in need. Housing is a human right. A huge part of the housing crisis is the need for quality, high-paying employment to make housing more affordable. Increasing the housing options by building new housing, regulating the use of homes as short-term rentals and limiting the ability of investors to purchase multiple homes reduces costs. Community land trusts and housing co-ops can make housing more affordable.

Homelessness is a nationwide, systemic issue. Everyone deserves to live a digniﬁed life. Providing permanent housing without preconditions is the ﬁrst step to end homelessness. There must be alternatives; keeping people housed is cheaper and more humane than chronic emergency service use. Increased housing costs, wage disparities and inadequate access to health care all contribute to homelessness. Solutions to this issue require transparency, creativity and unity among Asheville residents to improve the lives of our neighbors.

The safety of Asheville city residents is the highest priority; any policies contrary to the safety of our community members must be opposed. Council must not use city resources to support the political motivations of the federal executive, especially when it threatens the dignity and safety of our locals. Our Fourth Amendment rights protect us from unreasonable search and seizure, require warrants and grant us reasonable expectation of privacy.

The approach should include equity, democratic participation and people over proﬁts. Advocate for state-level authorization to enact a mansion tax with revenue dedicated to affordable housing and public services, short-term rental fees and regulations, corporate surcharges and progressive business fees with sliding scale (higher for larger corporations). Reduce expenses: reduce contracted services and employ in-house, cut topheavy administration and managerial salaries, reallocate police spending to community-led programs. Engage the public when making cuts.

• I serve in the NC-501 Asheville–Buncombe Continuum of Care, where housing, services and data must align.

• My Point-in-Time count work shows where our data is strong and where real gaps exist. (PIT is a one-night and one-day snapshot used to guide funding and strategy.)

• I support adopting the Missing Middle Housing Study to expand attainable options.

• Housing is a sanctuary, and families need stability to build real lives.

• “Housing is the foundation of opportunity.”

• Compassion without accountability fails; accountability without compassion hardens.

• People do better when they have a safe, steady foundation beneath them.

• I support housing, treatment access and behavioral health partnerships paired with clear expectations for public safety.

• Open drug use, trespassing and ﬁre risks require coordinated outreach and consistent enforcement.

• Obtainable housing reduces crisis cycles and stabilizes neighborhoods.

• “Stability is the starting point for progress.”

• Council’s responsibility is governance, not political theater.

• The response must be calm, lawful and grounded in the limits of municipal authority.

• The charter requires coordination with the city manager and legal counsel.

• Clear communication protects residents and prevents misuse of city resources.

• Values should be upheld without obstruction or performance.

• “Clear leadership keeps our city safe.”

• Independent auditors found no evidence of fraud or missing funds; the gap is attributed to inﬂation, rising workforce costs and deferred infrastructure investments.

• A structural deﬁcit was created when one-time fund balance was used for recurring raises; the costs repeat every year, but the money didn’t.

• My proposal: Protect core services (housing stability, youth protection, public safety).

• Reduce or renegotiate programs without measurable results.

• Align pay with recurring revenue and rebuild reserves to restore long-term stability.

• “Discipline honors the public trust.”

Asheville City Council

Continued

THE QUESTIONS

There are 19 other residents running for three open seats. Why should voters select you?

Website: maggie4avl.com

Occupation: Climate advocate

Previous candidacy or ofﬁces held: Elected to City Council in 2022

Key endorsements: State Sen. Julie Mayﬁeld, state Rep. Brian Turner, Commissioner Parker Sloan

Amount of money raised: $19,299

Top three donors: Mack Pearsall, Rich Wasch, Cary Flitter

Because our recovery will beneﬁt from the experienced, grounded leadership and willingness to challenge systems that I bring. I’ve spent my career working inside complex systems — city government, federal funding, climate policy — and delivering results people can feel. As sustainability director and now on Council, I’ve led on reducing costs and climate impacts, effective nonpartisan advocacy for hurricane recovery dollars, ﬁghting for housing affordability and expanding public safety. Also, I’m accessible, I show up, and I’m steady.

Website: wheatleyforavl.com

Occupation: Small-business owner, commercial general contractor

Previous candidacy or ofﬁces held: Previously on the A-B Tech Construction Industry Advisory Board, A-B Tech Foundation Board, Asheville City Planning and Zoning Commission, and Asheville Multimodal Transportation Committee

Key endorsements: None

Amount of money raised: <$5,000

Top three donors: Self

I have been an Asheville resident for 17 years and have experienced multiple cycles of city growth and shifting government initiatives. I am a U.S. Air Force veteran, an alum of A-B Tech and Western Carolina University, and a father of two children educated in Asheville public schools. As a Cherokee citizen, I am both indigenously connected and deeply rooted in the Asheville community.

Website: keithforavl.com

Occupation: Public policy analyst/deputy clerk of superior court

Previous candidacy or ofﬁces held: Asheville City Council

Key endorsements: N/A

Amount of money raised: N/A

Top three donors: Dwight Mullen, Cecil Bothwell, Marie Reed

Affordable housing remains an ongoing concern for residents. What leadership and expertise do you bring to Council that make you an ideal candidate to address the problem?

Effective leadership rooted in compassion, curiosity and a willingness to collaborate, combined with expertise in strategic planning, including championing the $20 million affordable housing bond and making zoning changes a top Council priority. I collaborate with colleagues and community partners and advocate strongly to modernize our zoning to allow townhomes, duplexes and small multifamily homes, to increase housing options downtown and to establish antidisplacement programs to support people staying in their homes.

Safety comes ﬁrst. Most unhoused people have lived through repeated system failures and are highly vulnerable. Until state and federal policies resolve our nationwide systemic inequality, unaffordability and health care crises, our city bears a responsibility to humanely meet immediate needs and also ensure public safety. I advocate for more investment in our Continuum of Care model, which is proven to prevent and reduce homelessness, support people with complex needs and reduce public safety impacts.

I hold a master’s degree in economic development and am a licensed general contractor with more than 1,000 apartment units delivered across the Southeast and over 1 million square feet of construction completed. Managing complex projects requires experience and resilience in balancing competing priorities — skills shaped by my lived experience. During my service on Asheville’s Planning and Zoning Commission, I authored the two most comprehensive prohousing UDO amendments adopted by the city.

Addressing homelessness requires balancing compassion with effective policy. While community health services fall under Buncombe County, I would advocate for expanded investment in temporary housing as a health service, increased mental health crisis support and assistance during critical transitional life events. Evidence shows that an abundant housing supply — especially multifamily housing — reduces homelessness. City Council should focus on removing barriers to housing near transit corridors and essential service providers.

Voters should select me because I lead policy and then I implement it. In ﬁve years on Council, I led some of the city’s most consequential policies in recent decades, including living-wage increases for city workers, ban the box hiring reform, major infrastructure investments, Asheville’s reparations framework, creation of the Department of Equity and Inclusion and the Human Relations Commission, and minority- and women-owned business contracting reforms. You get measurable outcomes, not noise.

I served on Housing and Community Development and led the voter-approved 2016 bond that dedicated $25 million to affordable housing, the largest such commitment in Asheville history. I bring an implementation plan that increases supply and protects residents by legalizing missing-middle housing, using predictable approvals when standards are met, speeding up permitting with public service targets and expanding permanent affordability through public land, community land trusts and shared equity tools to prevent displacement. The goal is a real pipeline, not headlines.

Homelessness requires housing, health care and accountability together. I will align outreach, shelter and behavioral health so people move into stable housing, tracked by placements and retention. At the same time, residents and businesses deserve safe public spaces. We will respond to ﬁres, discarded syringes, trespassing and open drug use with humane, lawful enforcement tied directly to service offers and real housing options, so the results are fewer people outside and fewer incidents.

What role should Council play if federal agents are deployed to Asheville?

The city faces a $30 million gap in its budget for ﬁscal year 2026-27. What is your proposal to address the issue?

My role is to support frontline organizers and immigrant communities directly impacted by federal enforcement actions. I will listen to what the organizers and advocates within the affected communities say they need to increase their safety and protect their rights. As a Council, I will advocate that we work collaboratively and transparently to craft meaningful, responsive policy. We are stronger together.

Helene and inflation, on the heels of COVID, have converged to create one of the toughest budget environments in decades. I propose that we ensure that our budget clearly reflects our values. My focus is protecting core services so that people are not left behind — transit, housing investments, flood-ready infrastructure — while pushing for multiyear strategies instead of short-term fixes for our affordability, climate and homelessness crises. I will protect livability — especially safety and housing— for lower-income residents.

The safety and security of our residents is a top priority. As a contractor and working-class tradesman, I work with community members on a daily basis who have concerns about federal agents, and I understand how disruptive the mere threat of federal agents can be on the daily lives of our residents. If federal agents are deployed to Asheville, communication within our communities and between our staff and the federal agents will be key. It is our responsibility to ensure our residents are safe and cared for in a way that aligns with our community values.

A major budget challenge is the rapidly rising cost of government services. The top 100 city staff earners account for more than $12.4 million annually — equal to the combined pay of 267 lower-paid employees. This income disparity mirrors broader societal inequities, leaving many blue-collar workers below a living wage while top earners receive more than double it. When salaries expand into pensions and health care, government costs demand scrutiny before imposing a proposed 30% property tax increase.

Council should protect rights and due process and set clear limits on city involvement. The standard is simple, lawful action, proper warrants and strong privacy protections. I support requiring judicial warrants for access to city facilities and records, strengthening data sharing rules so city systems are not used for unlawful targeting and supporting know your rights and legal support partnerships. The city should coordinate with county and the sheriff where state law governs detention and jail procedures.

Start with core infrastructure and public safety systems, because recovery depends on delivery. Protect the city’s credit rating at all costs and rebuild a healthy fund balance, because that lowers borrowing costs and saves millions over the life of infrastructure bonds. Be honest about one-time funding and short-term ﬁxes that cannot be sustained. Reset to recurring revenues with disciplined budgeting, clear performance targets and public dashboards, and align contracts and programs so taxpayers get one coordinated system, while protecting worker pay and essential services.

KYLE TURNER

Asheville City Council

Asheville is not facing a lack of compassion or ideas. We are facing a failure to execute plans while ensuring accountability along the way.

I’m running for City Council to improve how decisions are made, how public dollars are managed, and how recovery reaches our people.

WHAT I BRING

• Retired federal civil servant and veteran

• Experience in budget oversight, procurement, and compliance

• Nonprofit grant writer and housing advocate

• A history of turning complex systems into workable outcomes

WHAT CITY COUNCIL CAN DO AND WHAT I WILL FOCUS ON

• Responsible recovery: ensure federal and state funds are compliant, transparent, and effective — with clear eligibility standards, timelines, and a real duty to assist

• Economic stability: reduce delays and clarify processes for residents, nonprofits, and small businesses

• Housing First, done right: expand supply through missing-middle housing, infill, and appropriate corridor density

WHY I’M RUNNING

It’s time for a change, and I believe voters now have meaningful choices. This race includes candidates with the experience, collaborative mindset, and practical knowledge of how City Council needs to work as a team to move Asheville forward. Ultimately, that decision rests with the voters — and I trust voters to elect leaders prepared to deliver the best results for our community.

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 25

 More info, page 26

WELLNESS

50+ Yoga

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

WE (2/11, 2/18), FR (2/13), MO (2/16), noon, Weaverville Yoga, 3-B Florida Avenue

Anahata Yoga

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

WE (2/11, 2/18), FR (2/13), SA (2/14), MO (2/16), 10:30am, Weaverville Yoga, 3-B Florida Avenue

Tai Chi Fan

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

WE (2/11, 2/18), 1pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave

Community Yoga w/ Carrie

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

WE (2/11), 10:30am, AmeriHealth Caritas NC Wellness and Opportunity Center, 216 Asheland Ave

Shamanic Journey Circle

Explore your consciousness and meet your guides in the lower world, upper world, and

middle worlds.

WE (2/11), 6:30pm, The Well, 3 Louisiana Avenue

Tai Chi for Arthritis & Falls Prevention w/ Jay Lohr

His class will follow a gentle set of forms taken from Sun Style 73.

TH (2/12), 10am, The Lodge at Quietude, 1130 Montreat Rd

Candlelight Flow Yoga

Unwind in our all-levels

Candlelight Flow Yoga class.

SU (2/15), 5pm, Happy Body Pilates, 25 Reed St., Suite 210

The Dharma & Meditation in Difficult Times

The Dharma and meditation practices help us realize the Truth of the way things are and can act as reliable mainstays that guide our lives through difficult times, personally and collectively.

MO (2/16), 6:30pm, The Lodge at Quietude, 1130 Montreat Rd

Hatha Yoga

Suitable for all levels. MO (2/16), 9am

Metal Yoga w/Quantum Mystic

This class will take you on a journey through the abyss. Where metal heads and misfits alike get to transform.

MO (2/16), 6:30pm, Eulogy, 10 Buxton Ave

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

SPIRITUALS AND JAZZ REIMAGINED: Mars Landing Arts Center in Mars Hill hosts an eclectic performance of spirituals and classic jazz on Saturday, Feb. 14, starting at 7 p.m. This program will feature New York bassist Hilliard Greene and prolific local pianist Michael Jefry Stevens for a program of spirituals, followed by a set of the artists’ original compositions mixed with reimagined jazz standards. Photo courtesy of Mars Landing Arts Center

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 (2/16), 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 (2/17), 8:30am, Happy Body Pilates, 25 Reed St., Suite 210

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 (2/17), 9am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave

History of Buddishm & the Lists, Lists, Lists w/ David Dixon Dixon will provide

an exploration of the origins of Buddhism and the many lists that guide Buddhist philosophy. Open to the public, no registration required.

WE (2/18), 6:30pm, The Lodge at Quietude, 1130 Montreat Rd

Qi Gong w/Francesco Garripoli

Practice qi gong with a true master of the art in an easy going and approachable class that teaches an extensive experience.

WE (2/18), 3:30am, Moonrise Studio, 55 & 1/2 Broadway

Quantum Energy Healing & Transformation: Group Session w/Meg

A group session focusing on connecting in the quantum field to release limitations, clear trauma imprints, and embody more light.

TH (2/19), 7pm, The Well, 3 Louisiana Avenue

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 (2/11, 2/18), 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 (2/12, 2/19), 4:30pm, Asheville 12-Step Recovery Club, 1 Kenilworth Knolls Unit 4

Staying Grounded in Shaky Times

It will explore a variety of spiritual practices including meditation, breath-work, meditative movement and more.

WE (2/11, 2/18),

2pm, AmeriHealth Caritas NC Wellness and Opportunity Center, 216 Asheland Ave

Caregiver Support Group w/Stronger Together Wellness Stronger Together Wellness empowers caregivers through shared experiences, fostering a vibrant community that inspires healing, resilience, and hope on the journey to recovery.

TH (2/12), 3pm, AmeriHealth Caritas NC Wellness and Opportunity Center, 216 Asheland Ave

Dementia Partners Support Group

This community group offers support to those with dementia or those supporting loved ones with dementia. This group meets on the second and fourth Thursday of every month.

TH (2/12), 6pm, Ferguson Family YMCA, 31 Westridge Market Pl

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 (2/14), 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 (2/15), 12:30pm, Online

Sunrise AA Meeting

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

SU (2/15), 7am, Online

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

TU (2/17), 6pm, Love & Respect, 350 Chadwick Ave Suite 300

The Men’s Nest

Make meaningful human connections to strengthen your social health, cultivate compassion, and learn to use your power to give and receive authentic support.

TU (2/17), 5:15pm, SeekHealing, 50 S. French Broad Ave

Winter Women Meeting Monthly meeting for mature women to discuss and study Celtic Spirituality.

TH (2/19), noon, First Congregational Church of Christ of Asheville, 20 Oak Street

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. Open dance is from 9 p.m. to midnight. WE (2/11, 2/18), 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 (2/12, 2/19), TU (2/17), 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 (2/12, 2/19), 6:15pm, Stephens-Lee Rec Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave

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. Exhibition through May 17, 2026.

Asheville Art Museum, 2

S Pack Square

Pink Dog Mardi Gras: Lovers, Sinners & Misfits

Twenty-eight artists present works encompassing a multi-faceted interpretation of the holiday: the European influence of masquerade, the exuberance of New Orleans’ renowned parades, elaborate parties and unique Cajun and African American traditions. Gallery open Monday through Saturday, 10am, and Sunday, noon. Exhibition runs through March 28.

Pink Dog Creative, 348 Depot St

Curves Ahead: Contemporary Art Exhibition

Discover Curves Ahead, a contemporary craft exhibition showcasing regional artists whose work explores form, movement, and organic shape across multiple media. Gallery open daily, 10am. Exhibition through March, 22 Focus Gallery at Folk Art Center, Milepost 382 Blue Ridge Pkwy

Dialogue: Lindenfeld & Lindenfeld

This exhibition celebrates the works of mother-daughter artists, Lore Kadden Lindenfeld and Naomi Lindenfeld. It features clay and mixed media work of Naomi Lindenfeld as she responded to a selection of her mother Lore’s innovative textiles. Gallery open Tuesday through Saturday, 11am. Exhibition through May 9.

Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center, 120 College St

Slow Art Friday

Experience how close looking can foster relaxation and connection.

FR (2/13), noon, Asheville Art Museum, 2

S Pack Square

Public Tour: Featured Exhibition

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

SA (2/14), 2pm, Asheville Art Museum, 2

S Pack Square

Second Saturday Art Stroll

A monthly Second Saturday Art Stroll featuring live music, clay demonstrations, and refreshments.

SA (2/14), 11am, Odyssey Gallery of Ceramic Arts, 238 Clingman Ave

Public Tour: Discovering Art in Asheville

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

SU (2/15), 3pm, Asheville Art Museum, 2

S Pack Square

COMMUNITY MUSIC

Kanola Band

From early jazz and second-line brass to funk, soul, gospel, and rhythm & blues, their repertoire spans over a century of New Orleans music across genres and across decades.

SA (2/14), 6pm, Folkmoot Center, 112 Virginia Ave

Solas

With fiery instrumentals, rich vocals, and adventurous musicality, their high-energy performance promises a powerful celebration of Irish music—past, present, and future.

SA (2/14), 8pm, Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, 18 Biltmore Ave

Spirituals & Jazz w/ Hilliard Greene & Michael Jefry Stevens

Spirituals and classic jazz will fill an evening of eclectic performance when New York bassist Hilliard Greene and prolific local pianist Michael Jefry Stevens for a set of original compositions mixed with re-imagined standards.

SA (2/14), 7pm, Mars Landing Art Center, 37 Library St

Zoe & Cloyd Annual Valentine’s Concert

This Valentine’s concert offers couples and music lovers alike an intimate evening of exceptional artistry.

SA (2/14), 7:30pm, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W State Street

COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS

Welcome to Bridge Bridge lessons for beginners and those who want to review the basics. Register at the website or by emailing mailto:abrclubmanager@ gmail.com.

WE (2/11), 10am, Asheville Bridge Room at Beth Israel Synagoue, 229 Murdock Ave

Blue Zones: A Weekly Cooking & Learning Series

Explore the world’s Blue Zones—remarkable regions where people live well into their 90s and beyond. We’ll uncover their eating

habits and learn how to prepare delicious, affordable meals everyone can enjoy.

TH (2/12), 5:30pm, NC

Cooperative Extension Madison County Center, 258 Carolina Lane

Valentine’s Themed Charcuterie Workshop

Craft your very own heart-shaped charcuterie board — just in time for the sweetest day of the year.

TH (2/12), 6:30pm, Asheville Charcuterie Co., 25 Page Ave, Ste 102

Watercolor Collage

Blind Tiger

Miranda supplies all materials and leads playful, easy-to-follow techniques for creating bold, expressive abstract landscapes—no experience needed.

TH (2/12), 5pm, Blind Tiger Asheville, 173 E Chestnut St

Crafting Love From

Within: Jewelry Making & Self Love Workshop

Celebrate Valentine’s

Day by treating yourself to a heart centered workshop that blends together craft time, intention, and meditation, all in the name of Self Love.

FR (2/13), 3:30pm, Retro Coffee, 2619 Sweeten Creek Rd

Valentine’s Burlesque Class

Treat yourself to an unforgettable evening of sparkle, sass, and sophistication this Valentine’s season. Learn timeless burlesque choreography designed to make you feel incredible in your own skin—no dance

experience necessary.

FR (2/13), 7:30pm, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W State Street

Galentine’s Polymer Clay Earrings Workshop w/Cristy Leonard

Participants will learn polymer clay techniques to design and create their own unique pair of earrings—perfect for wearing yourself or gifting to that special friend who deserves to be celebrated.

SA (2/14), 10am, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W State Street

We Love Our Public Lands

An evening with the National Parks Conservation Alliance.

TH (2/19), 5:30pm, 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 (2/11, 2/18), 8:30pm, Sovereign Kava, 268 Biltmore Ave Library Tour

We’ll take you behind the scenes at the library, highlighting things you may or may not know and sharing tips for making the most of your library.

WE (2/11), 3:30pm, Transylvania County Library, Brevard, 212 S Gaston Street

Going to Water: A Writer’s Search for the Cherokee Literary Form w/Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle

She will discuss how Cherokee writers and artists are using Cherokee cultural knowledge and the seven core Cherokee values to inform artistic choices, such as structure, style, and narrative.

TH (2/12), 6pm, UNC Asheville, 1 University Hts

Alison Lyn Miller Presents Rough House: A Father, A Son & The Pursuit of Pro Wrestling Glory w/Robert Alan Grand Rich with drama, humor, and heart, Rough House is a ringside seat to a coming-of-age story that reveals the escapism, self-actualization, performance, and violence inherent in one of America’s most dismissed pastimes.

SA (2/14), 3pm, City Lights Bookstore, 3 E Jackson St

Second Saturday Storytime & Craft

Enjoy stories, songs, movement and more as we celebrate and promote early and emergent literacy.

SA (2/14), 11am, Transylvania County Library, Brevard, 212 S Gaston Street

Flooded Poetry

Mondays Poetry-specific open mic, starring you plus weekly featured readers, every Monday.

MO (2/16), 6:30pm, Flood Gallery, 802 Fairview Rd, Ste 1200

Asheville StorySLAM: Love Hurts

Prepare a five-minute story about a love that made you go OUCH. The agony of deferred love, the misery of good love gone bad, or the

anguish of unrequited love. Situationships, friend break-ups, bad romances.

TH (2/19), 7:30pm, The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave

World Affairs Book Club

Where passionate readers and engaged citizens delve into thought-provoking books.

TH (2/19), 10am, Transylvania County Library, Brevard, 212 S Gaston Street

THEATER & FILM

Rouge: A Cirque & Dance Cabaret

Rouge features daring aerial acts, thrilling acrobatics and poetic dance that cannot be missed.

TH (2/12), 8pm, Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, 18 Biltmore Ave

Jeeves In Bloom

The peaceful English countryside may never be the same after Bertie Wooster and his unflappable valet, Jeeves, pay a visit.

WE (2/11, 18), TH (2/12), FR (2/13), SA (2/14), 8pm, SU (2/15), 2pm, NC Stage Co, 15 Stage Lane

Jonathan Larson Presents: RENT

Jonathan Larson’s Pulitzer Prize–winning musical follows a year in the life of young artists and friends struggling to create and survive in New York City under the shadow of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

TH (2/12, 19), FR (2/13), 8pm, SA (2/14), SU (2/15), 2:30pm, Asheville Community Theater, 35 E Walnut St

Branden Jacobs

Jenkins: Appropriate Every estranged member of the Lafayette clan has descended upon the crumbling Arkansas homestead to settle the accounts of the newly-dead patriarch.

FR (2/13), SA (2/14), TH (2/19), 7:30pm, SU (2/15), 2:30pm, Asheville Community Theater, 35 E Walnut St

Story Parlor Presents: Save Me The Waltz Through performance art, music and storytelling, the Cafe String Quartet and storyteller Melody trace the life of the woman who was much more than just a “muse.

SA (2/14), 7:30pm, Story Parlor, 227 Haywood Rd

MEETINGS & PROGRAMS

Social Seniors

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

Open Monday through Friday, 9am, Grove Street Community Center, 36 Grove S

IBN Biz Lunch: Brevard/ Pisgah Forest Attendees can promote their business, products, and services, and meet

new referral contacts. Optional food and drinks available for purchase.

TH (2/12), noon, Hawg Wild Smokehouse & Taproom, 91 Pisgah Hwy

Knit Night

A laid back night of knitting, cocktails, food, and community, in partnership with Black Mountain Yarn Shop. All experience levels welcome.

TH (2/12), 6:30pm, Oak and Grist Distilling Co., 1556 Grovestone Rd

Soup, Support & Art for Mental Health

NAMI & Jewish Family Services join AmeriHealth Caritas for an evening of mental wellness, soul soothing soup, and art.

TH (2/12), 5pm, AmeriHealth Caritas NC Wellness and Opportunity Center, 216 Asheland Ave

History Bites

This session will feature Martha Todd, District 1 Vice-Director for the daughters of the American Revolution and Treasurer of the Abraham Kuykendall Chapter of the DAR.

FR (2/13), 11am, Historic Johnson Farm, 3346 Haywood Rd

Tarot Readings

Receive a 10-minute reading designed to help you release the energy

of 2025 and gain a sneak peek into your unique 2026 journey. Leave feeling clearer, inspired, and more connected to your intuition.

FR (2/13), 1pm, Asheville Salt Cave, 16 N Liberty St

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 (2/15), 10am, EarthFare - Westgate, 66 Westgate Pkw

Sunday Celebration

An uplifting Science of Mind Celebration.

SU (2/15), 11am, Center for Spiritual Living Asheville, 2 Science of Mind Way

Black Asheville Town Hall: City Council (Cohort A)

The Black Town Hall Series is a four-night public forum created to foster direct, accountable dialogue between candidates for elected office and the communities they seek to represent. Night One will feature City Council candidates from Cohort A.

MO (2/16), 7pm, YMI Cultural Center, 39 S Market Street

Black Asheville Town Hall: City Council (Cohort B)

The Black Town Hall Series is a four-night public forum created to foster direct, accountable dialogue between candidates for elected office and the communities they seek to represent. Night Two will feature City Council candidates from Cohort B. TU (2/17), 7pm, YMI Cultural Center, 39 S Market Street

Emberlight: An Exploration of Conscious Living w/Courtney Smith

A new WNC nonprofit offering compassionate, community-based support for individuals and families navigating aging, serious illness, and endof-life. The session will explore what Emberlight offers, including education, caregiver support, non-medical end-of-life care and more.

TU (2/17), 1:30pm, The Lodge at Quietude, 1130 Montreat Rd

Meet Up: PROpel Asheville PROpel AVL is a program of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce serving young professionals ages 21 to 40.

TU (2/17), 5:30pm, Ginger’s Revenge, 829 Riverside Dr, Ste 100

Black Asheville Town Hall: Congress

This evening will feature candidates running for U.S. Congress, offering voters the opportunity to hear directly from those seeking to represent WNC at the federal level.

WE (2/18), 7pm, YMI Cultural Center, 39 S Market Street

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 (2/18), 5:30pm, Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St

Meet Up: She Owns

It AVL

Each month, She Owns It AVL brings together women who are ready to grow, connect, and be inspired—in life, money, mindset.

WE (2/18), 6pm, Ginger’s Revenge, 829 Riverside Dr #100

Tech/Ish: AI <3 Humans

Through experiences and discussion, we’ll consider the possibilities and limitations of forming a bond with personified AI.

WE (2/18), 6pm, Blind Tiger Asheville, 173 E Chestnut St

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 (2/11, 2/18), 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 (2/11, 2/18), 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.

TH (2/12, 2/19), 11am, Well Played Board Game Café, 162 Coxe Ave, 101

Craft & Chill

Whether you’re painting, sketching, knitting, or working on something totally random, this is your weekly excuse to create in good company.

TH (2/12), 5pm, Plant Bar, 919 Haywood Rd

Adult Community Basketball

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

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

Southside After Praise After church, enjoy an afternoon playing spades or dominoes.

SU (2/15), 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 (2/15), 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 (2/16), 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 (2/16), 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 (2/17), 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 (2/17), 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.

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

Come

TH (2/12, 2/19), 10:30am, Oakley/South Asheville Library, 749 Fairview Rd

What’s Shaking Music Presents: Family Love Fest

This special show planned for Pre-K and cool kids of all ages will feature special love songs by special guests. There will also be drums for everyone, a dance party, poems, sing-alongs, and drinks and food.

SA (2/14), 3pm, The Mule, 131 Sweeten Creek Road St. 10

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 (2/11, 2/18), 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.

Valentine’s Day Pop-Up

A Valentine’s pop-up with coffee, books and more.

SA (2/14), 2pm, River Arts District Brewing Co., 13 Mystery St, Junk-O-Rama Vintage Market

Full bad, vintage clothes, jewelry, local art & more.

SU (2/15), 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.

WNC Farmers Market, 570 Brevard Rd

FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS

An Evening of Greek, Armenian & Balkan Dance for Peace & Healing

This special event will feature traditional circle dances offer an experience of community, celebration, connection and joy. It will also include an evening of two one-hour dance sessions with a break in between, and will be accompanied by beautiful live music from Kostantis Kourmadias.

Valentines-themed cocktails and more.

TH (2/12), 6pm, Marquee Asheville, 36 Foundy St

Share the Love w/Root Cause Farm

Guests will enjoy soulful live music from Asheville’s Nikki Talley & Jason Sharp and expertly crafted spirits from Cultivated Cocktails.

FR (2/13), 5pm, Cultivated Cocktails, 161 Charlotte Hwy A

XOXO: A Galentine’s Slumber Party

XOXO is an all-inclusive experience that’ll bring you back to the days of jumping on beds, blasting the Spice Girls, and writing your crushes’ names in your cootie catcher – but now with a hint of glam that we just couldn’t achieve with flat-ironed bangs.

FR (2/13), 7pm, The Mule, 131 Sweeten Creek Road St. 10

Friendly Speed Dating

Engage in friendly, fun conversation with new or old pals this Valentine’s day. Answer prompts provided by your host and get to know some new folks.

SA (2/14), 7pm, Elevated Kava West, 747 Haywood Rd

Valentine’s Day Party & Mixer

are hosting a laid-back, afternoon record show bringing regional vinyl shops and independent dealers. It’s a rare chance for local vinyl lovers to dig through crates, enjoy great brews, good food and live music. See p26 SU (2/15), noon, Frog Level Brewing, 56 Commerce St

Annual Marshall Gras Crawl

A Mardi Gras celebration featuring live music and a festive walking parade in the Marshall community. The parade will begin at Star Taco, starting at 6 p.m., and community members are encouraged to don their best purple, green, and gold attire as well as masks, beads and more.

TU (2/17), 5pm, Star Taco Patio, 18 N Main St

BENEFITS & VOLUNTEERING

Benefit Show for The Intersection Street Paper

WE (2/11, 2/18), 3pm, 60 Lake Shore Dr Folk Saints Dulce de Leche Pop-Up

Meet the makers, sample their dreamy dulce de leche, and grab a jar to take home. While you’re here, you can also enjoy a scoop of Chocotorta Ice Cream or a Bubble Tea from Pop. SA (2/14), 2:30pm, The Hop Ice Cream, 640 Merrimon Ave

Strings & Things Local Craft Market

Spend your Valentine’s Day browsing local makers, artists and creatives while spreading love. SA (2/14), 11am, The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave

TH (2/12), 6:30pm, Asheville Jewish Community Center, 236 Charlotte St

Asheville Backcountry Film Festival

Asheville screening of the 21st Annual Backcountry Film Festival, celebrating human-powered adventure, winter storytelling, and public lands advocacy.

TH (2/12), 6pm, Hatch Innovation Hub, 45 S French Broad Ave

Love Marquee

Guests can look forward to an evening filled with festive experiences, including: A DJ Set by Ganymede, a special appearance by Street Creatures, sweet treats and indulgent bites,

Looking to meet new people this Valentine’s Day? This is a fun, in-person singles mixer features chill vibes, great conversations, and maybe even a spark or two.

SA (2/14), 7pm, Urban Orchard Cider Co., 24 Buxton Ave

King Cake Ice Cream Release

This special release takes place during the Asheville Mardi Gras Parade. There will be dairy and vegan versions for everyone to enjoy. SU (2/15), noon, The Hop Ice Cream, 640 Merrimon Ave

Yonder Mountain Record Show Frog Level Brewing Co. and Astro Record Store

The Intersection is published by the Asheville Poverty Initiative and it gives opportunity for homeless/houseless individuals to obtain more of a voice by contributing to the content and to vend the newspapers and make some money. It will feature performances from Indelible Sauce, The Build, Eaze Dogg, Rough Inbetweeners and The Orb Weavers. FR (2/13), 6:30pm, Sly Grog Lounge, 271 Haywood St Share the Love Fundraiser for Root Cause Farm Celebrate Valentine’s Day weekend with live music by Nikki Talley & Jason Sharp, craft cocktails and mocktails and a warm community vibe, all while supporting Root Cause Farm’s mission to grow and share free organic produce with neighbors in need. See p25 FR (2/13), 5pm, Cultivated Cocktails, 161 Charlotte Hwy A

ARTS & CULTURE

Star chef Katie Button to appear in new CBS food competition series

Katie Button, co-founder of Cúrate, is one of 16 top chefs chosen for CBS’ new food competition series “America’s Culinary Cup.” The show premieres with a 90-minute episode Wednesday, March 4, 9:30-11 p.m.

A five-time James Beard Foundation Award nominee, Button will vie for a $1 million prize against six Michelin-starred chefs, two Bocuse d’Or medalists, two James Beard Award winners and 13 fellow James Beard Award nominees. Hosted by food expert Padma Lakshmi, “America’s Culinary Cup” features a series of intense challenges that, according to a press release, are “based on the show’s 10 culinary commandments, testing skill, creativity, technique and consistency.” Chefs Michael Cimarusti and Wylie Dufresne serve as judges.

“Going head to head with some of America’s best chefs was, handsdown, one of the most challenging, humbling, stressful and deeply rewarding experiences of my life,” Button says on her Facebook page. “Make no mistake: These chefs showed up and brought their best. It’s an experience I’ll absolutely carry with me for a very, very long time.”

To learn more, visit avl.mx/fbu.

Highland Brewing welcomes Year of the Fire Horse

The Year of the Fire Horse approaches, and Highland Brewing Co. is planning a series of events to honor the Lunar New Year, SaturdaySunday, Feb. 21-22.

The weekend kicks off Feb. 21, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., with a family-friendly celebration in the taproom and Event Center. In addition to live dragon dance performances by Dragon Phoenix and a variety of dishes available for purchase from local food vendors, Fire Horse Chocolate Porter — this year’s annual collaboration with fellow Asian-owned brewery, Lucky Envelope Brewing of Seattle — will debut along with three other limited-edition Lunar New Year beers: Luck red ale, Good Fortune rice lager and Joy wheat ale with lemongrass and ginger. Free to attend.

That evening, 6-9 p.m., disc golf players are invited to compete in a nine-hole tournament on Highland’s course, featuring glowing discs and illuminated baskets. Entry is $35 per player and includes one glow-in-the-

dark Year of the Horse disc and one drink ticket. Prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers.

A dim sum brunch with chef J Chong planned for Feb. 22 is sold out.

“Highland Brewing’s annual celebration honors Lunar New Year traditions and the family heritage of brewery founder Oscar Wong and President/CEO Leah Wong Ashburn,” the brewery team says in a press release. “The Year of the Horse symbolizes energy, speed and good fortune, perfect for a weekend of cultural experiences, community connection and exceptional beer.”

To learn more, visit avl.mx/fbv.

Share the Love with Root Cause Farm

Fairview-based nonprofit Root Cause Farm presents its Share the Love event on Friday, Feb. 13, 5-8 p.m. at Cultivated Cocktails, 161 Charlotte Highway, Fairview, featuring live music from local duo Nikki Talley and Jason Sharp. Cultivated Cocktails will donate 10% of the evening’s proceeds to the farm’s dedicated efforts to provide local families with free organic produce.

“Our work feeds more than bodies — it nourishes hope, knowledge and

the roots of a stronger, more resilient food system here at home,” says Nicole Coston, Root Cause Farm executive director, in a press release. “Guests will [also] be able to support Root Cause in our Fund a Foot initiative — an opportunity to sponsor garden beds and stand alongside families for an entire growing season.”

Free to attend.

To learn more, visit avl.mx/fbw.

Gourmand regroups in North Asheville

After plans to open Gourmand in the River Arts District were thwarted by the destruction of their building by Tropical Storm Helene, owners Katie Grabach and Peyton Barrell have found a new location for their fast-casual take on French cuisine in North Asheville on Broadway.

Slated for a late summer or early fall opening, Gourmand’s Rotisserie centers on rotisserie chicken complemented by high-quality sides, salads, sandwiches and rotating specials. The new space (the specific location is yet to be announced) features an outdoor area overlooking the Reed Creek Greenway. In addition to counter-service dining, Grabach and Barrell plan to reintro-

duce elements of the retail shop and wine bar they previously operated downtown at the S&W Market.

“After everything the community has been through, especially restaurants and the people who keep them running, having the chance to bring our concept back to Asheville is incredibly meaningful for us,” Grabach says in a press release.

To learn more, visit avl.mx/fc3.

New Orleans Jazz Dinner at Jargon

West Asheville restaurant Jargon offers its annual New Orleans Jazz Dinner, Monday-Tuesday, Feb. 16-17. Instead of its regular menu, offerings will celebrate the Cajun and Creole culinary traditions of Louisiana through such dishes as Creole brined half chicken, crawfish cornbread pot pie, mushroom gumbo and VietCajun rabbit rolls.

In addition, local band Les Chats Violets, featuring members of Empire Strikes Brass, will perform New Orleans jazz in the heated and covered courtyard.

To learn more, visit avl.mx/fbx.

— Edwin Arnaudin X

CHOPPIN’ IT UP: Cúrate co-founder Katie Button, back row, center, competes on CBS’ new culinary competition series “America’s Culinary Cup.” Photo by Heidi Rubin

Valenween

Did you know that the state of North Carolina still classes period products as luxury items, resulting in additional taxes for these vital supplies?

In an effort to lower barriers to having conversations about menstruation and period poverty, Asheville Period Pantry hosts its second yearly Valenween donation drive and fundraiser on Sunday, Feb. 15, 5-8 p.m., at Zillicoah Beer Co. Described by organizer Jeannie Regan as “a Valentine’s and Halloween mashup with a cheesy horror/vampire theme,” the event is open to all ages and has a requested dress code of “bloody heartbreaker.”

“Period poverty adversely affects students and hourly wage workers,” Regan says. “Lack of access to period products means resorting to unsanitary solutions or skipping school/work altogether. Missing a week of school

a month is a significant learning loss that leads to poor education outcomes and limits future opportunities.”

Admission is free with a donation of an unopened, new box of period supplies, or $5 otherwise.

To learn more, visit avl.mx/fc0. X

Say She She

Named in honor of the chorus to Nile Rodgers & Chic’s 1978 hit “Le Freak” (“C’est chi-chi!: It’s Chic!”), New York City-based discodelic soul band Say She She lives up to those iconic roots with its own fresh take on dance music. In addition to their engaging grooves, Nya Gazelle Brown, Sabrina Cunningham and Piya Malik deliver three-part harmonies while, according to a press release, delivering a three-part call to

action: “Move your body, expand your mind and recognize your strength.”

Say She She heads to The Grey Eagle on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 8 p.m.

Kicking off the night is Los Angelesbased singer-songwriter Katzù Oso, whose work blends Latin pop, acoustic ballads and ambitious instrumentation. Tickets are $28 advance and $32 day of show. A VIP cocktail hour option is also available for $103.

To learn more, visit avl.mx/fc1. X

The Poetry & Paint Experience

Created by Herman “Bes” Bright and Donnie Destro, The Poetry & Paint Experience offers a night of innovative and interactive performance that combines improv poetry with live painting.

“Each performance is a unique journey where words and visuals come together to create an immersive and inspiring atmosphere,” the organizers say on their Instagram page. “Our mission is to leave the audience feeling creative, inspired and connected to the beauty of spontaneous art.”

New “episodes” take place on the second Friday of each month at Pink Dog Creative. The next event, titled “Oh What a Feeling,” is slated for Friday, Feb. 13, 6-9 p.m., and features poet Tony Robles. Tickets are $15 advance and $20 day of show. Complimentary refreshments will be provided.

To learn more, visit avl.mx/fc4. X

Yonder Mountain Record Show

Any time is a good time to grow one’s vinyl record collection, but the winter months feel especially apt. That’s the ethos behind the inaugural Yonder Mountain Record Show, hosted by Astro Record Store and Frog Level Brewing Co. in downtown Waynesville.

The event takes place Sunday, Feb. 15, noon-3 p.m., inside the brewery. According to Cynthia Eck, whose husband Kevin “Lippy” Mawby owns Astro, regional vinyl shops — including Papertown Records in Canton and Sylva’s In Your Ear Music Emporium — and independent dealers will be in

attendance. Frog Level will be programming live music throughout the afternoon.

“This is a first-of-its-kind event for Waynesville and a rare chance for local vinyl lovers to dig through crates close to home, especially during what’s typically the offseason for record shows,” Eck says. “It’s designed to be relaxed, accessible and community-focused rather than a high-pressure buying event.” Free to attend — and free to vend with advance registration through Saturday, Feb. 14.

To learn more, visit avl.mx/fc5. X

Photo courtesy of Astro Record Store

Photo of The Poetry & Paint Experience co-creators Donnie Destro, left, and Herman “Bes" Bright courtesy of the artists

Photo by Molly Milroy

Photo of Say She She by Alyssa Boni

CLUBLAND

BILLY STRINGS FAN MEETUP AND PREPARTY: On Friday, Feb. 13, Jack of the Wood Pub and Asheville’s Shady Grove String Band hosts a welcome party for all the Billy Strings fans coming into town, starting at 4 p.m. The bluegrass show will also serve as a preparty before the sold-out Billy Strings performance downtown. Photo courtesy of Shady Grove String Band

For questions about free listings, call 828-251-1333, opt. 4.

PISGAH BREWING

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11

12 BONES BREWING

SMOKEHOUSE & BREWING

Trivia Night w/King Trivia, 7pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

Larry Keel Experience (bluegrass, jazz, rock), 11pm

FITZ AND THE WOLFE

Redbud Bluegrass (jam grass), 6pm

FRENCH BROAD

RIVER BREWERY

Saylor Brothers Jamgrass Wednesdays, 6:30pm

GALACTIC PIZZA Trivia Night, 6:30pm

HARRAH'S CHEROKEE

CENTER ASHEVILLE

Billy Strings (bluegrass, psych), 7:30pm

HI-WIRE BREWING -

BILTMORE VILLAGE

Weekly Trivia, 7pm

HOTEL EVE JAZZ CLUB

Danny Iannucci Trio (jazz), 7pm

JACK OF THE WOOD

PUB

• Old-time Jam, 5pm

• Cast Iron Bluegrass:

Billy Strings After-party (bluegrass), 10pm

ONE WORLD

BREWING

• Eternally Grateful:

Billy Strings Pre-Party (Americana), 4pm

• North State Grass:

Billy Strings After-Party (bluegrass), 11pm

CO.

Alma Russ Trio (country), 6pm

PULP

Standup

Comedy Picture Show: Valentine’s Edition, 7:30pm

SHAKEY'S SSIN w/DJ Ragga Massive, 10pm

SLY GROG LOUNGE

Weird Wednesday Open Jam, 8pm

TAPROOM AT HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Matt Smith’s WellCrafted Music Series w/ Ed Jurdi & Zach Smith (multi-genre), 6pm

THE GREY EAGLE

Amelia Day (folk, pop, rock), 8pm

THE ODD

Terraoke Karaoke Takeover, 9pm

THE ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

• Alvitas Way (reggae), 5pm

• Ranford Almond (altcountry, folk), 10pm

THE PALM ROOM AT FITZ AND THE WOLFE

Chisholm String Unit (bluegrass), 10pm

THIRD ROOM

Songs From The Road Band (bluegrass), 11pm

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

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Irish Session, 5pm

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12

185 KING STREET

Honky Tonk Thursday w/Hearts Gone South (country), 6pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

Red Clay Revival & Tanasi w/Isaac Hadden (bluegrass, folk-rock), 8pm

EDA'S HIDE-A-WAY Bless Your Heart Trivia w/Harmon, 7pm

EULOGY

Nathanael Jordan 'Shine' Album Release w/Tombstone Poetry & Truth Club (indie rock), 8pm

FITZ AND THE WOLFE

• McFalls & Free (bluegrass), 6pm

• Rudy’s Bluegrass Revue, 8:30pm

FLEETWOOD’S Dueling Duets & Claire Whall (country, blues), 8pm

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

South Slope’s Open Mic Night, 6pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS

Venus & the Flytraps, massie99, Seven and a Half Giraffe & Balloon Stampede (Indie-pop, punk), 8:45pm

THE CROW & QUILL Otis Trick & the Books (rock'n'roll), 8pm

THE GREY EAGLE Train Songz w/Asheville Mountain Boys (bluegrass), 8pm

THE MULE Love Notes: Live Latin Jazz & Valentine’s Crafts (jazz), 6pm

THE ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Big Fur (country, Southern Rock), 9pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

Sold Out: Rory Scovel (Comedy), 7pm

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

HOTEL EVE JAZZ CLUB

Quinn Sternberg’s Mind Beach (jazz), 7pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Bluegrass Jam, 7pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Thursday Karaoke, 9:30pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

Fee Fi Phaux Fish (Phish tribute), 8pm

PISGAH BREWING CO.

Mike Rhodes Fellowship (rock), 7pm

SHAKEY'S Karaoke w/DJ Franco Nino, 9pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA Django Jazz Jam, 7pm

STATIC AGE LOFT Auto-tune Karaoke w/ Who Gave This B*tch a Mic, 10pm

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13

185 KING STREET

High Flying Criminals (funk, soul), 8pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

Hustle Souls w/J Lloyd, Kyle Snuffe, Cactus Kate & The Pricks (Americana, soul), 11pm

BARLEY’S

Vince Herman, Silas Herman & Friends (Americana, bluegrass, folk), 9pm

CORK & KEG BAR

Bayou Diesel (Cajun, zydeco), 8pm

ELEVATED

KAVA LOUNGE

DOWNTOWN

Open Mic Night, 8pm

EULOGY

Yates! w/Mind Splitter, Zuvluguu, Name Drop, Bplems & Joule Lion (electronic, dubstep, synth), 8pm

FITZ AND THE WOLFE

• Tanner Burch & the Hill Hippies (country), 6pm

• Bryce Hensley (country), 9pm

FLEETWOOD’S

Thelma & The Sleaze, Cam Girl, Puppy and the Dogs (Southernrock), 9pm

FRENCH BROAD

RIVER BREWERY

Eric Neumann (multigenre), 7:30pm

GINGER'S REVENGE

George Trouble (country, folk, punk), 6pm

HARRAH'S CHEROKEE

CENTER ASHEVILLE

Billy Strings (bluegrass, psych), 7:30pm

JACK OF THE WOOD

PUB

• Shady Grove String Band: Billy Strings Fan Meet-Up & Pre-Party (bluegrass), 4pm

• Rudy’s Bluegrass

Revue Billy Strings After Party (Americana, bluegrass), 10pm

LOBSTER TRAP

Dinah's Daydream (Gypsy, jazz),

6:30pm

MAD CO. BREW

HOUSE

Tim Husk (folk), 6pm

OKLAWAHA

BREWING CO.

Phuncle Sam (funk), 8pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

• Songs From The Road Band: Billy Strings PreParty (bluegrass), 3pm

• Breakfast For Dinner (pop, soul), 8pm

ONE WORLD BREWING

• Rossdafareye (Appalachian, space funk), 3pm

• Osprey Orchestra: Billy Strings After Party (bluegrass, rock), 11pm

PISGAH BREWING CO.

15 Steps (Jeff Austin tribute), 3pm

PRITCHARD PARK

DOWNTOWN

The Friday Drum Circle, 6pm

REVIVAL

Kyle Tuttle Band (indie-folk, bluegrass), 10:30pm

RIVER ARTS DISTRICT

BREWING CO.

Shed Bugs (blues, rock), 6pm

SHAKEY'S 2000s Karaoke w/DJ

Franco Nino, 10pm

SHAMROCK IRONS

Brian Ashley Jones & Melanie Jean (country, soul), 8pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS

Valentine's Day Rave w/BUGGY (acid-house, techno), 8pm

SWEETEN CREEK BREWING

Johnny Humphries (bluegrass), 6pm

TAPROOM AT HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Elizabeth & her Band (Americana, roots), 6pm

THE CROW & QUILL

Adrianne Blanks & the Oracles (jazz), 8:30pm

THE GREY EAGLE

American Aquarium w/ River Shook (countryrock), 7pm

THE ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Radish (bluegrass), 10pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

Sold Out: Shadowgrass (bluegrass), 11pm

THE PALM ROOM AT FITZ AND THE WOLFE

Martha Spencer & the Wonderland Country Band (country), 10pm

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14

185 KING STREET

The Voodoo Valentine’s Day Ball w/ the Wobblers (jazz, soul), 8pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

• Letdown. (electronic, emo, pop-punk), 8pm

• Suns of Stars (bluegrass), 11pm

BURGER BAR

The Best Worst Karaoke, 8pm

BARLEY’S

Vince Herman, Silas Herman & Friends (Americana, bluegrass, folk), 9pm

CORK & KEG BAR

Soul Blue Rocks, 8pm

EDA’S HIDE-A-WAY

Andy & Mandy’s Heartbreak Happy Hour, 8pm

FITZ AND THE WOLFE

A.P. Rogers (country), 6pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY

Asheville BMFS Preparty w/Shed Bugs, Clouds of Delusion & Jacoozy (multi-genre), 1pm

GINGER'S REVENGE

The Honey Collective (jazz, pop, rock), 4pm

GREEN MAN BREWING

The Z-Man Experience (rock, Ska), 3pm

HARRAH'S CHEROKEE

CENTER ASHEVILLE

Billy Strings (bluegrass, psych), 7:30pm

HI-WIRE BREWING -

BILTMORE VILLAGE

My Bloody Valentine's Day Emo Prom, 7pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

• Nobody’s Darling String Band (bluegrass, blues, swing), 4pm

• Florencia & the Feeling (funk, pop, soul), 9:30pm

OKLAWAHA

BREWING CO.

Mattocks Johnson Band (blues, rock), 8pm

ONE WORLD

BREWING WEST

The Stolen Faces:

Billy Strings Pre-Party (Grateful Dead tribute), 4pm

ONE WORLD

BREWING

Gabriel Van & Friends:

Billy Strings After-Party (bluegrass, indie, rock), 11pm

PISGAH BREWING CO.

Jerry’s Dead Valentine’s Day: A Billy Strings After-Party, 8pm

REVIVAL

Kanika Moore & The Brown Eyed Bois (funk, psych-soul), 11pm

RIVER ARTS DISTRICT

BREWING CO.

Hot & Horny Comedy: Valentine's Day Edition, 9pm

SHAMROCK IRONS

• Swampalachia (Appalachian, Cajun), 3pm

• Mary Kay Williams Trio (blues, jazz), 8pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS

Sister Wife Sex Strike, Frog Legs, Clover-Lynn and the Hellfires (folkpunk), 8pm

TAPROOM AT HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Bayou Diesel (Cajun, zydeco), 5pm

THE CROW & QUILL Hearts Gone South (country), 8pm

THE GREY EAGLE Heartbeats Dance Party/DJ Marley, 8pm THE ODD Party Foul Drag, 8pm THE ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

• Mama Said String Band (bluegrass), 5pm

• Coyote Rodeo (bluegrass, jamgrass), 10pm

THE PALM ROOM AT FITZ AND THE WOLFE North State Grass (jamgrass), 10pm

THIRD ROOM Sicard Hollow (bluegrass), 11pm

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15

185 KING STREET

Open Electric Jam w/ The King Street House Band, 5pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

Diggin' Dirt w/ Buddhagraph Spaceship (funk-soul), 8pm

BURIAL SOUTH SLOPE Mourning Mass, 2pm

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, 12pm

• Traditional Irish Music Session, 3:30pm

NIGHTSHADE

Mardi Gras Celebration, 12pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Suns of Stars Sunday Residency (bluegrass), 2pm

PISGAH BREWING CO.

Sunday Jam: Spiro & Friends (multi-genre), 6:30pm

RIVER ARTS DISTRICT BREWING CO.

RAD Comedy w/Sasha Srbulj, 7pm

SHAMROCK IRONS

Big Fur (roots, Southern Rock), 1pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS Valgur, ASTORIA & Cold Choir (avant-pop), 8pm

TAPROOM AT HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Brown Mountain Lightning Bugs (Appalachian, folk, psych), 2pm

THE GREY EAGLE

• Burlesque Brunch, noon

• Say She She (disco, punk), 8pm

THE ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Shakedown Sunday's, 8pm

THE ORANGE PEEL Heated RivalRave, 8pm VOWL BAR AT DSSOLVR Freshen Up Open Mic Comedy, 7pm

WELL PLAYED BOARD GAME CAFÉ Sunday Morning Trivia Brunch, 10:30am

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16

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

TAPROOM AT

HIGHLAND BREWING

CO.

Trivia Night W/Two

Bald Guys & A Mic, 6pm

THE GREY EAGLE

Dolly's 80th Birthday Bash, 8pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

Joey Valence & Brae (alt hip-hop), 7pm

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17

185 KING STREET

John Trufant w/Jeff Sipe & Kevin Sanders (Americana, blues), 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

MAD CO. BREW HOUSE

Marshall Gras w.Riyen Roots (blues, roots, soul), 6pm

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

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 GREY EAGLE Fat Tuesday Celebration w/Tuesday Night Funk Jam House Band & Firecracker Jazz Band, 8pm

THE ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

• Early Tuesday Jam, 7pm

• Uncle Lenny's Krazy Karaoke, 10pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

INZO (electronic), 7pm

THIRD ROOM

Open Decks, 8pm

TOWN PUMP TAVERN

Danny Iannucci's Chew

Toy Trio (jazz), 8pm

WAGBAR Trivia Tuesdays, 6pm

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18

12 BONES BREWING SMOKEHOUSE & BREWING

Trivia Night w/King Trivia, 7pm

EULOGY

Saxsquatch (funk, jazz), 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

HOTEL EVE JAZZ

CLUB

Lenny Pettinelli & Members of Empire Strikes Brass (jazz), 7pm

JACK OF THE WOOD

PUB

Old-time Jam, 5pm

PISGAH BREWING

CO.

The Everydays (acoustic), 6pm

PULP

Pleasantly Wild w/ Shankai & The Goonie Tunez (pop, rock), 7pm

SHAKEY'S SSIN w/DJ Ragga Massive, 10pm

SLY GROG LOUNGE

Weird Wednesday Open Jam, 8pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS

Falling Behind, Surface Breach & KILLEDINKOMBAT (hardcore, punk), 8pm

THE GREY EAGLE

Golden Folk Sessions, 7pm

THE ODD Terraoke Karaoke Takeover, 9pm

THE ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL Hoto (blues, jazz, psych), 10pm

TURGUA BREWING

CO.

Lightning Round Trivia w/ Marty, 6pm

TWIN LEAF BREWERY Open Mic Night, 6:30pm

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19

CROW & QUILL Lock, Stock & Teardrops (Dancehall, Honky Tonk), 8pm

EDA'S HIDE-A-WAY

Bless Your Heart Trivia w/Harmon, 7pm

FILO POST 70 Albi (acoustic, Americana), 6pm

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

HOTEL EVE JAZZ

CLUB

Ben Colvin Quartet (soul, jazz, funk), 7pm

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.

5J Barrow (blues, country), 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

Corpse Dust, Access to God & Formless (Industrial, noise), 8pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

Zoso (Led Zeppelin tribute), 7pm

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 ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): "The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them," wrote Ernest Hemingway. This Valentine season, I propose you experiment with his approach. Take a smart risk with people who have shown glimmers of reliability but whom you haven't fully welcomed. Don’t indulge in reckless credulity, just courageous and discerning openness. Be vulnerable enough to discover what further connection might bloom if you lead with faith rather than suspicion. Your willingness to believe in someone's better nature may help bring it forth.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus singer Barbra Streisand addressed her legendary perfectionism. She said that truly interesting intimacy became available for her only after she showed her dear allies her full array of selves, not just her shiny, polished side. In alignment with astrological omens, I encourage you to experiment with the daring art of unfinished revelation. Let the people you care for witness you in the midst of becoming. Share your uncertainties, your half-formed thoughts, and your works in progress. Surprise! Your flaws may prove as endearing as your achievements.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Author Anaïs Nin wrote, "Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born." I believe this understanding of camaraderie should be at the heart of most Geminis’ destinies. It’s your birthright and your potential superpower to seek connections with people who inspire you to think thoughts and feel feelings you would never summon by yourself. You have an uncanny knack for finding allies and colleagues who help you unveil and express more of your total self. Now is a good time to tap further into these blessings.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Poet David Whyte said that "heartbreak is unpreventable.” It’s “the natural outcome of caring for people and things over which we have no control." But here's the redemptive twist: Your capacity to feel heartbreak proves you have loved well. Your shaky aches are emblems of your courageous readiness to risk closeness and be deeply affected. So let’s celebrate your tender heart not despite its vulnerability but because of it. You should brandish your sensitivity as a superpower.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Choreographer Twyla Tharp said she fell in love with her husband partly because "he was the only person who didn't seem impressed by me." I will extrapolate from that to draw this conclusion: Our most valuable allies might show their most rigorous respect by seeing us clearly. This Valentine season, Leo, I invite you to test the hypothesis that being thoroughly known and understood is more crucial than being regularly praised and flattered. Enrich your connections with the perceptive souls who love you not for your highlight reel but for your raw, genuine self.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The famously kind and caring author Anne Lamott confessed, "I thought such awful thoughts that I cannot even say them out loud because they would make Jesus want to drink gin straight out of the cat dish." That’s a liberating insight. She revealed that even kind, caring people like her harbor messy internal chaos. This Valentine season, Virgo, I dare you to share a few of your less-than-noble thoughts with soulful characters whom you trust will love you no matter what. Let them see that your goodness coexists with your salty imperfections. Maybe you could even playfully highlight the rough and rugged parts of you for their entertainment value. What’s the goal? To deepen spirited togetherness.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): How do we eagerly and daringly merge our fortunes with another person while maintaining our sovereign selfhood? How do we cultivate interesting togetherness without suppressing or diluting our idiosyncratic beauty? In some respects, this is a heroic experi-

ment that seems almost impossible. In other respects, it’s the best work on the planet for anyone who’s brave enough to attempt it. Luckily for you Libras, this is potentially one of your superpowers. And now is an excellent time to take your efforts to the next level of heartful grittiness.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Here’s a quote by the character Carrie Bradshaw from the TV show *Sex and the City*: “The most exciting, challenging, and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone to love the you that you love, that's fabulous." I invite you to make this a prime meditation, Scorpio. To begin, get extra inspired by your own mysterious beauty: captivated by your own depths, fascinated by your mysterious contradictions, and delighted by your urge for continual transformation. The next step is to identify allies and potential allies who appreciate the strange magnificence you treasure in yourself. Who devoutly wants you to fulfill your genuine, idiosyncratic soul’s code? Spend the coming weeks enriching your connections with these people.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): This Valentine season, I propose that you infuse your intimate life with a fun dose of playful curiosity. Visualize your beloved allies, both current and potential, as unfolding mysteries rather than solved puzzles. Ask them provocative questions you’ve never thought to ask before. Wonder aloud about their simmering dreams and evolving philosophies. (Brezsny’s Togetherness Rule #1: Iwhen you think you've figured someone out completely, the relationship withers.) In fact, let’s make this one of your assignments for the next five months: Heighten and nurture your nosiness about the beautiful people you love. Treat each conversation as an expedition into unexplored territory. (Brezsny’s Togetherness Rule #2: A great way to stoke their passion for you and your passion for them is to believe there’s always more to discover about each other.)

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Ecologists studying symbiosis know that successful partnerships aren't always between similar organisms. Some bonds link the fortunes of radically different creatures, like clownfish and sea anemones or oxpeckers and buffalo. Each supplies resources or protection the other lacks, often assuring they live more successfully together than they would on their own. This is useful information for you right now. At least one of the allies you need looks nothing like you. Their genius is orthogonal to yours, or they have skills you don’t. The blend may not be comfortable, but I bet it’s the precise intelligence you need to achieve what you can’t accomplish alone.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Poet Mary Oliver asked her readers, "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" This Valentine season, I propose a collaborative version of this prod: Ask those you care for to help you answer Oliver’s question, and offer to help them answer it for themselves. Now is an excellent time to act on the truth that vibrant intimacy involves the two of you inspiring each other to fulfill your highest callings. Do whatever it takes to make both of you braver and bolder as you learn more about who you are meant to be.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Can you care for stressed people without making it your duty to rescue them? Can you offer support without being taken advantage of? I hope so, Pisces. Life is inviting you to be more skilled about expressing your love without compromising your own interests. How? First, offer affection without signing up for endless service. Second, don’t let your empathy blur into entanglement. Third, monitor your urge to care so it doesn’t weaken your sovereignty. Your gift for soothing others' struggles evokes my deep respect, but it’s most effective when it’s subtle and relaxed. Give people room to carry out their own necessary work.

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FULL TIME NON-EXEMPT ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT This position requires

the ability to multi-task in an accurate and timely manner with management, coworkers and consumers on a daily basis. The Administrative Assistant provides support to staff as needs arise, answers incoming calls and greets visitors to the Asheville office. Duties will encompass data input, filing, assisting with events, ordering supplies, writing news articles along with staff assembling and emailing quarterly newsletter. The Administrative Assistant works as a team player to achieve the stated goals and objective of DisAbility Partners. Email Eva Reynolds at ereynolds@ disabilitypartners.org for job description and application. No phone calls please.

FULL TIME NON-EXEMPT YOUTH COORDINATOR

DisAbility Partners Youth Coordinator recruits, educates, empowers and serves youth with disabilities regarding disability-related issues, resources, advocacy, peer support and transitioning into adulthood. The Youth Coordinator is responsible for developing and implementing youth programs and services, youth outreach activities and events, delivering independent living services to youth, helping youth develop and implement independent living transition plans. Conduct public education regarding disability issues, independent living services and Disability Partners. Email: Eva Reynolds at ereynolds@ disabilitypartners.org for job description and application. No phone calls please.

FULL-TIME NON-EXEMPT

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ACROSS

1 Actress Pinkett Smith of “Girls Trip”

5 Gets better

“Great” animals

Super-cool 15 Subject of 2001 bankruptcy headlines 16 “That’s crazy!,” on the internet 17 Wing woman? 19 Not right 20 Second-mostcommon surname in Korea, after Kim

Right away 22 Sports center 23 They have pH’s below 7 25 Cover girl? 28 Kind of makeup you’re born with? 30 XXX counterpart 31 Org. with a 3-1-1 rule 32 Gave a meal 33 W-9 fig. 34 San Francisco or San Antonio 35 Homecoming queen?

Unhealthy haze 40 Mathematician Terence

41 Musical genre that’s the subject of the 2007 book “Everybody Hurts” 42 Game of pursuit 43 On behalf of

Places for pampering pups

Sister-in-law?

Witherspoon who played 48-Across

“We need to talk”

Smurf elder

Miss, e.g.

Grads, now

Potatoes, in Indian cooking

Text sent upon arrival

Rapper

Elliott

Course list?

Circadian dysrhythmia, less fancily

By the item

Enjoy a home-cooked meal, say

“Oh no!,” in comics

Hot stuff 57 Cat lady? 60 Uno más dos

With all judges present

Day for hunting

“The