The N.C. Arboretum has teamed up with researchers from Western Carolina University, the nonprofit EcoForesters and others to restore woodlands devastated by Tropical Storm Helene with native trees such as white oak and shortleaf pine. By combining conservation efforts with public education, the ambitious recovery project could become a model for revitalizing storm-damaged forests across Appalachia.
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It’s Democrats’ turn to do their job
[Regarding “Federal Shutdowns Affect Local Families,” Oct. 29, Xpress:]
As your representative in Congress, it’s my job to understand what’s happening in our community and advocate for your interests in Washington, D.C. — that’s why I voted over a month ago to fully fund WIC and SNAP, and to keep our government open through the House-passed continuing resolution.
This continuing resolution was not a partisan power grab; it was a clean, bipartisan spending bill that maintained the same spending levels that Democrats agreed to in March and during President Biden’s administration. Yet, Democrats have now voted 14 times to keep our government closed and deny people in NC-11 and beyond the critical resources they need.
I will continue to fight for the people of Western North Carolina here in Congress to ensure access to critical government resources and to provide what our region needs to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Helene. I did my job by voting to keep the government open — it’s now time for Senate Democrats to do theirs and put the American people first.
— U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards Flat Rock
Our community must look for health care solutions
The questions started appearing on Facebook just before Halloween. My West Asheville neighbor posted that he and his family (husband, wife and two school-age children) were going to see their Affordable Care Act marketplace premiums triple. Another single mother of a teenager in our neighborhood asked what would happen if she simply didn’t
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enroll in health care because of the huge increases.
For me, these aren’t just budget numbers: They are personal. My own daughter, now thriving, benefited from lifesaving health care she needed as a child because of a congenital heart defect. I know firsthand that access to health coverage isn’t a luxury — it is the difference between life and death for our most vulnerable neighbors and children.
These West Asheville residents are just a few of the almost 1 million people in North Carolina who get their health care from the ACA marketplace who have less than two months to figure out how and if they will have health care for themselves and their loved ones in 2026. (Based on statewide figures from 2025, approximately 975,110 people were enrolled in ACA marketplace plans across North Carolina.) These are working people; these are our families.
Medicaid provides over 3 million people in North Carolina their health care. A significant percentage of those people are working. Their employers don’t provide health care and don’t pay their employees enough to qualify for the ACA, so they get their health care from Medicaid. According to a 2020 study by the Government Accountability Office,
Word of the week
abscission
(n.) 1. the act or process of cutting off; removal; 2. the natural separation of flowers, fruit or leaves from plants at a special separation layer
We sought a word associated with trees, since this week’s cover story concerns The N.C. Arboretum’s future plans, post-Helene. We’re not sure anyone will ever sneak this one into a conversation, but if you do — let us know! X
McDonald’s was among the top employers of individuals on Medicaid, alongside other large companies like Walmart, Amazon and Dollar General.
All of these workers are at risk of losing their health care because of the $1 trillion in proposed cuts in the recently enacted federal budget, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates will lead to 11.8 million people losing Medicaid coverage nationwide. North Carolina would see about a $23 billion decrease in spending for these programs from the federal government over 10 years.
The proposed cut isn’t just a simple reduction; it’s implemented through several restrictive mechanisms that create red tape and paperwork burdens designed to reduce enrollment and shift costs to states.
Then there are the trickle-down effects, which are particularly devastating for our rural neighbors. Angel Medical Center in Franklin and Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine are at risk of closing. This is happening because when more people become uninsured, hospitals lose Medicaid revenue and see dramatically increased uncompensated care costs. This means those residents will have to travel over 30 minutes to get emergency care — a delay that tragically means worse outcomes for heart attacks, strokes and trauma. Also, the closure of these facilities would adversely affect those local rural employment numbers and the overall stability of the communities.
Editor’s Note
For our fall Nonprofit issue, we invited local nonprofit leaders to reflect on the successes and challenges of operating a 501(c)(3) in Western North Carolina. See their stories throughout this issue under the “Whatever It Takes” heading. X
As a resilient, proactive community, we need to look for solutions, whether it is hard lobbying of federal representatives or creating state or local solutions. West Asheville changed the future of the Malvern Hills pool by one person, Brooke Heaton, climbing on a table and making the case for the pool’s importance to the community.
On Wednesday, Nov. 19, local and state leaders will be answering questions about health care and how it will affect our community and possible solutions. Representatives from Pisgah Legal Services, Buncombe County Public Health, Council on Aging of Buncombe County, MAHEC and state Sen. Julie Mayfield will be represented and ready to help our community.
It will be 5:30-7:30 p.m. (program starts at 6 p.m.) at One World Brewing, 520 Haywood Road, West Asheville. — Kathy Kyle Democratic Party Precinct 26.1 chair Asheville
Editor’s note: A longer version of this letter will appear at mountainx.com.
Don’t go right or left — go deeper
I’m overwhelmed with all the thoughtful people in Asheville and the world proclaiming their longing for peace, justice and kindness. There are people revealing the awesome wonders and universal achievements of humankind that include the longing for freedom and democracy.
In September, I shared a threatening situation I had on Pack Square, and now I’d like to balance that anecdote. [“A Healthy Democracy Requires Respectful Dialogue,” Sept. 24, Xpress]. Yes, I get negative oppositions, but most people, even those who don’t agree with the local Veterans for Peace and other groups, are respectful with our efforts to inform the public on peace, justice and democracy. We demonstrate in the streets because we do not have big dollars to offset the commercialization and propaganda that bombard us every day based on government biased or misleading information.
Here’s a thought for the younger generations: Don’t underestimate the power of the democratic vote. Refuse to let your life pass without giving it everything you have.
What I loved and learned comes from the democratic freedom of speech, checks and balances on government power, and the religious call of compassion, forgiveness and love. Perhaps a mere dream, but it is worth the effort to work for it.
— Ed Sacco Asheville Editor’s note: The writer can be reached at esacco189@gmail.com. A longer version of this letter will appear at mountainx.com. X
CARTOON BY RANDY MOLTON
CARTOON BY BRENT BROWN
Should weed be legalized?
Editor’s note: In this column, we aim to highlight contrasting views on local issues from two writers who come from different perspectives — and to encourage thoughtful discussion from our readers across the political spectrum.This time, we asked our columnists for their takes on the following questions: Should the recreational sale and use of weed should be legalized in North Carolina as it is in 24 other states? What about medical marijuana? On a related topic, Asheville seems to be a CBD sales hotspot. Should anything change about people’s access to CBD products, or is everything working fine as is? Here are their responses:
ON THE LEFT
Bill Branyon: There are few issues that cause more polarization between the left and right than marijuana. This generates mountainous amounts of misinformation. This may include my “I Beg To Differ” partner, Carl Mumpower. In the Asheville Daily Planet, he explained a Gallup poll finding that liberals are “six times more likely to smoke weed than conservatives” because “when your life constructs are grounded in fantasies, you need a little something extra to help you cope with relentless brushes with reality.” Brilliantly clever and cuttingly eloquent, Carl. Seriously. And, saving the liberal-fantasy claims for another discussion, you may be right about the potent delusional power of the whimsical weed.
Its delusional aspects may derive in part from what psychologists call the “divergent” or creative thinking it inspires in some people. On the other hand, I’ve often heard tokers jovially face the harshest of realities when high. My first high was in 1978 at age 23, and it felt as if the entire, metaphorical right side of my brain was liberated. I immediately began processing and writing about huge swaths of tough memories and vast accumulations of harsh facts that I’d apparently repressed till then.
My other experience that supports Carl’s delusion conclusions includes hearing my fellow tokers sometimes erupt into deep, racking, extended coughs and then adamantly claim that marijuana has no bad effect on their lungs. They said this about very hot smoke that research shows contains more than 100 compounds that pose health threats.
Yet, after extensively delving into recent studies for and against marijuana legalization for this article, I realized that I didn’t trust either anti- or pro-pot contentions. I believe this is the second-worst side effect of marijuana: All information about it is highly suspect because the enigmatic herb is so polarizing. Thus, I only trust my experience and that of my more objective friends.
During my toking years, none of my pot pals slouched into amotivational syndrome, ballooned into munchie-motivated obesity or suffered the severe vomiting of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome that some studies claim as likely. Not that these effects don’t occur in some people, but just not in people I’ve known. And all my friends
BILL BRANYON
have completely stopped using without much trouble.
I stopped using in 1995. I concluded I didn’t like the way the hot smoke was affecting my lungs or sometimes making my heart beat too fast or too irregularly. Thus, dear Asheville and federal law enforcement officers, please don’t try to impose on me or my friends what I believe is marijuana’s worst side effect: being incarcerated in America’s horrifically harrowing and incredibly corrupting jails and prisons. Therefore, yes, I believe we should legalize or at least decriminalize marijuana, as well as allow Asheville’s many CBD shops to remain open. However, if we do, we should set up many more police roadblocks to stop people if they’re driving stoned, as well as if they’re driving drunk or on whatever other mind-bending drug they’re taking.
If we don’t at least decriminalize marijuana, we’ll continue to be guided by immensely distorted, extreme opinions. The main distortion I hear these days is that pot should not be legalized because it’s so much stronger than it used to be. However, if it were legalized, its strength would be scientifically determined, so you’d know exactly how strong the pot you’re imbibing is. You’d know whether you were going to be thoroughly baked by dank Maui Wowie or only mildly body-buzzed by cannabis indica. You’d at least somewhat know what to expect from this wondrous, dangerous, strangest of plants called the devil’s lettuce, the wisdom weed and my favorite nickname, Mary Jane. X
Art by Brian Vasilik
ON THE RIGHT
Carl Mumpower: For all intents and purposes, marijuana is already legal. Though our political bureaucracy hasn’t yet put it on the books, failure to enforce existing law has become de facto legislation.
Have you noticed all those fancy cannabis dispensaries popping up? They aren’t paying the rent with incense, gummies and E-Z Widers.
Those doors are propped open with “It’s not really butter” marijuana products called delta-8, delta-9 and otherwise.
Through a chemistry sleight of hand, these merchants and their counterparts in convenience stores and head shops are giving local weed purveyors a run for their money.
The high may not be quite as animated as top-drawer dope, but it’s easier to get, reasonably priced and punches the “good enough” button for Asheville enthusiasts.
Why? Probably for the same reason beer is good enough when you don’t have liquor.
As for the core of the question, my answer would be a strong “no” to the legalization of pot and a lukewarm maybe to medical marijuana. Though there are good arguments supporting plant medicine, the latter attracts more scam artists than a Nigerian phone bank.
Keeping it illegal doesn’t mean we have to throw people in jail. There are lots of ways to create consequences. And when did education, morality and the idea you don’t have to get high to get by become obsolete?
May I count the ways on that “no”?
• It may not be physically addictive for most people, but it’s very psychologically addictive for about everyone.
• Weed scrambles developing brains and dulls older ones.
• It stimulates a comfort life script over a growth life script.
• Weed’s a costly indulgence whose chief gift is time out from our demons — think taking painkillers to cure cancer.
• It attacks your health — big time.
• THC concentrations have gone from the 3% I smoked a handful of times in Vietnam (I found “grass” made me happy, hungry and another “h” word) to the 15%plus in today’s street weed, double that in vapes and 90%-plus in wax.
• Every moment we run from reality by getting high lets reality get ahead.
• States where marijuana is legal struggle mightily to regulate it; find the percentage of illegal weed actually increases; and must deal with the high social
Art by Brian Vasilik
costs of easy weed access among their residents.
• For those who skip GMO corn at their grocers, take note that GMO Mary Jane was first crafted out of the same logic button in 2019. Firing up some Monsanto is just over the horizon.
• Routine use makes a lot of people just plain old nutty. Life in the 21st century is becoming increasingly complex and confusing. Time out may be popular, but it’s not smart for the same reason driving fast in fog isn’t smart. The world preys on the foggy and fuzzy.
The much-marketed lie that marijuana is an innocent drug is one of the greatest social cons of our time. There are no innocent intoxicants, and P.T. Barnum would applaud the success of those who’ve so successfully turned so many of us into easy marks.
Life is hard, and with dependability, most everything that’s good is also hard. Weed is supereasy. That tells us more than we’re hearing.
“If you have a ‘SCIENCE IS REAL’ sign in your yard and you’re in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana, you should do some reading. The evidence emphatically disfavors legalization. … The underlying menace is potency. Today’s marijuana is not the Woodstock weed of bygone years (1% to 3% THC). [Today it’s] above 17%, and concentrates … can approach 99%.”
— John Hagen, “Follow the Science: Don’t Legalize Pot” X
Have a comment, question or a local topic you’d like our columnists to debate? Email letters@ mountainx.com with the subject line: Local debate. X
CARL MUMPOWER
Solid timber
How The N.C. Arboretum plans to rebuild Helene-damaged forests
BY JUSTIN M c GUIRE
jmcguire@mountainx.com
After losing 10,000 trees to Tropical Storm Helene, The N.C. Arboretum is plotting an ambitious long-term recovery while also creating a blueprint for rebuilding storm-damaged forests across Appalachia.
Crews and students will begin planting thousands of native trees at the 434-acre botanical garden early next year, marking the start of a decadeslong project to restore the property’s damaged woodlands. The replanting will follow months of research and planning led by Western Carolina University faculty, local nonprofit EcoForesters, arboretum staff and others.
“Forestry is a real specialized science, so we wanted to make sure that we were talking to people that knew this best,” says Drake Fowler, the arboretum’s executive director. “We haven’t had a knee-jerk reaction to this. We want to do this right and thoughtfully.”
The first phase of the recovery, completed this summer, produced a paper co-written by WCU management professors Ed Wright and Hollye Moss, along with Fowler. The study lays out a detailed plan to restore the arboretum’s damaged forests. Using drone footage, satellite imagery and on-the-ground surveys, researchers mapped out eight key areas over 80 acres in need of recovery and designed a step-by-step reforestation plan focused on native species, erosion control and biodiversity.
“Over time, we came up with factors to consider in each zone,” explains Wright, former director of WCU’s Corporation for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. “Drake and his team put
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BRANCH MANAGERS: Mac Franklin, director of horticulture at The N.C. Arboretum, inspects trees toppled by Tropical Storm Helene. Recovery study project manager Ed Wright, a Western Carolina University professor, is in the background. Photo courtesy of WCU
together long-term goals, and we went through an evaluation process where everyone scored how each site lent itself to those goals. It was a fairly laborious process.”
EcoForesters, an Asheville-based nonprofit dedicated to conserving and restoring Appalachian forests, is taking the lead on the next steps. The organization is conducting a full forest assessment and helping arboretum officials figure out the best way to bring the damaged 80-acre area back to life. They’ll work closely with staff and N.C. State University landscape students to prioritize native trees, manage invasive
species and weave the plans into trails and educational programs.
The results will guide where and how replanting occurs starting in 2026. The plan emphasizes white oak, shortleaf pine and other native trees that once thrived in the region. Some areas may be set aside for special research, such as testing blight-resistant American chestnuts in partnership with the Woodfinbased American Chestnut Foundation.
GOODWILL AND COOPERATION
For WCU’s Wright, the arboretum is more than a research site. A longtime
Key recommendations from N.C. Arboretum reforestation plan:
• Plant local trees like shortleaf pine, white oak and chestnut to support wildlife and withstand storms.
• Customize each area of the arboretum for beauty, habitat, erosion control or learning opportunities.
• Engage the community through volunteer planting and educational programs.
• Protect young trees with active management to ensure seedlings survive and thrive.
• Use science to guide restoration with drones, satellite images, soil maps and expert advice for smarter, more effective recovery.
Source: A Case Study: Planning for the Reforestation of Damaged Areas at the North Carolina Arboretum due to Hurricane Helene X
member, he often brings his grandchildren to explore the popular public gardens and trails. So when he learned the N.C. Collaboratory, part of the UNC system, was offering grants to faculty to assist with Helene recovery efforts, he applied immediately.
The grant secured, work began in January with a small core team: arboretum staff, EcoForesters volunteers, student interns and the WCU duo. Drone footage and satellite images revealed the full scale of the disaster. “One of the student interns had been flying a drone over the 400-plus acres there,” says Wright, who served as project manager. “We could zoom in and just see where the trail erosion was worse, where the tree damage was heaviest.”
From there, the team got down to the tough questions: Which areas need immediate attention? Which should be allowed to regenerate naturally? And how could the arboretum use the storm damage as an opportunity to plan for the long term, not just mop up the mess?
“The work is going to be continuing decades into the future,” Wright explains. “This was just creating an initial plan and process for going forward.” Wright is now working on getting the paper that outlined that plan ready to submit to academic journals. “We developed a process that any damaged area in Appalachia could use for deciding how to recover and replant. The paper is meant as a road map for longterm recovery and for other public green spaces to follow.”
Even amid the chaos of disaster recovery, Wright was impressed by the collaboration around the project. “There were numerous groups working on the recovery. We had FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] there. We had different contractors. We had the [U.S.] Army Corps of Engineers. UNC Asheville sent over a portable sawmill. There were volunteers, and there was no one person in charge of everything, just goodwill and cooperation. It was a really interesting thing to observe.”
BENEFITS OF A YOUNG FOREST
Since its founding in 2015, EcoForesters has mostly worked on private, rural tracts, helping landowners restore Appalachian forests through long-term stewardship and sustainable management.
Then Helene hit, and the group’s mission suddenly shifted from secluded tracts to one of the region’s most visible urban-adjacent green spaces.
“It’s not every day we hear from a client that says, ‘Hey, over 10,000 trees are on the ground.’ So it was kind of insane,’” says Lang Hornthal, executive director of EcoForesters.
The nonprofit became involved in the arboretum’s recovery efforts through a personal connection: Hornthal and Fowler have children in the same school. “Drake knew of my work at EcoForesters, and he recognized the need to restore and reforest this incredible site. He also saw the educational opportunity, and because education is a big part of what we do, it was very logical that we came together.”
EcoForesters joined the recovery team, helping set priorities for reforesting and restoring the site while also considering public engagement and education. Drawing on its expertise in Southern Appalachian forests, the group provided guidance on what species and conditions historically belonged on the land and how losing so many trees — and the sudden sunlight that resulted — might affect natural regeneration.
“Prior to Helene, our forests were mostly middle-aged or older,” Hornthal explains. “We had very little young forest. Now we’ve got some young forest, and wildlife will benefit. Diversity equals resiliency — species, structure, age — and this disturbance has given the forest a jump-start. It’s rare to be at the ground floor of something like this.”
With the initial plan completed, EcoForesters has turned its attention to developing a long-term stewardship plan for the arboretum. Over the coming months, foresters with the group will walk the botanical garden’s 434 acres, working with staff to craft a strategy that balances forest management goals with educational and conservation objectives, aiming to complete it by Arbor Day.
While the arboretum staff will take the lead in implementing the stewardship plan, EcoForesters will be available as a resource, Hornthal says, offering guidance and support as needed.
Beyond restoring the forest, the project serves as a public education tool and a model for future efforts throughout the region. “We’ve got a highly engaged audience now,” Hornthal says. “The arboretum is a perfect partner to show how forests recover, how people can help and why forests matter.”
‘NATURE IS RESILIENT’
Despite the storm’s impact, the arboretum is fully operational, Fowler says. Trails are open, programs are running and the gardens are looking good. Visitors can look forward to the popular annual Winter Lights show and the North American premiere of Thomas Dambo’s Trolls: A Field Study, whose educational signs were crafted from timber milled from downed trees on-site. The exhibit runs Saturday, Nov. 15, through Tuesday, Feb. 17. Six trolls will be featured at Winter Lights from Saturday, Nov. 15, through Sunday, Jan. 4.
For Fowler, the rebuilding process is also a chance to strengthen the arboretum’s educational mission. The goal is to help visitors meet each plant by name and understand its role in the ecosystem, he says. Plans are underway to expand the native azalea collection and conserve rare plants, ensuring that future visitors can experience them firsthand.
“When I first took a walk on our trails [after Helene], I was disoriented because I was so used to walking under a canopy of trees, and instead I was walking in the sunlight,” he recalls. “It’s a different feel, but the trails are open. I think the public is going to find it interesting to watch us, in a very public way, work on reforesting these areas with our tree planting. It’s a great time for people to come out and see what we’re doing.”
Looking ahead, he remains optimistic. “Nature is resilient. Humans can help restore a healthy forest, and if we do it right, we’ll create a space that thrives for generations.” X
WHATEVER IT TAKES
Supporting more than 850 at-risk youths
Elizabeth Bragg is the administrator of Helping At Risk Kids (HARK), which serves Buncombe County’s children and youths who are in court-ordered protective custody, aging out of the foster care system and those without stable housing.
Xpress: What is your organization’s most urgent need, and how can community members provide assistance, financially or otherwise?
Bragg: HARK’s most urgent need is funding to provide temporary housing and emergency assistance for families still struggling with the aftereffects of Hurricane Helene. We also support students experiencing housing instability, children in foster and kinship care, and youths aging out of care. Community members can help by donating funds or becoming a monthly donor to provide ongoing, reliable support. Learn more at hark-bc.org.
What is a recent accomplishment within your organization that you’d like more community members to know about? How, if at all, will this achievement impact local residents?
HARK’s Angels Winter Coat Drive sold out in just 48 hours, ensuring that more than 150 children will have warm coats this winter. This year alone, HARK is on track to support over 850 at-risk youths, providing essentials like beds and computers as well as enrichment opportunities such as summer camps and class trips. These efforts bring stability, dignity and hope to some of the most vulnerable children in Buncombe County.
Are there any upcoming initiatives within your organization that you can tell our readers about and how they can get involved?
HARK is seeking to grow our partnerships with local businesses, restaurants and corporate donors to increase visibility and funding for youths in need. Community partners help us expand access to vital resources, and their generosity is recognized across HARK’s platforms. With 80% of every dollar going directly to children, maintaining this steady flow of community support is essential to our mission.
Have federal cuts impacted your organization? If so, in what ways have they affected your operations?
While HARK does not receive direct federal funding, reductions in public assistance have significantly increased the demand for our services. Partner agencies now rely on HARK to fill urgent gaps: covering school needs, transportation and temporary housing to prevent family displacement. Individual and corporate contributions, especially recurring monthly donations, are critical to helping us meet these growing needs and keep Buncombe County’s children and families healthy and supported. X
ELIZABETH BRAGG
Filling the SNAP gap
BY GINA SMITH
gsmith@mountainx.com
With the federal government shutdown continuing, the status of the nation’s SNAP benefits remains uncertain. In response, Western North Carolina counties and municipalities, nonprofits and businesses are rallying to find creative ways to meet the needs of food-insecure residents.
A program of the U.S. government, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) provides monthly payments — averaging over $170 per person per month in Buncombe County — to help low-income residents buy food. Due to the government shutdown, SNAP was suspended on Nov. 1.
After North Carolina joined 24 other states in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture to address the withholding of the critical funding, the government agreed to tap $4.65 billion in contingency funds. SNAP recipients will now receive 50% of their food benefits for November, with payments scheduled to be disbursed the week of Nov. 10.
In Buncombe County alone, more than 16,000 households, including working families, children and seniors, rely on SNAP to buy groceries, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. With benefits delayed, more than 60% of recipients had $25 or less remaining in their SNAP accounts at the start of November, and more than 30% had less than $1 available for food purchases.
While local governments look for collaborative ways to support residents through the crisis (read more at avl.mx/f6r), WNC’s food security nonprofits are ramping up services to meet surging need. Likewise, area businesses and community members are finding innovative ways to keep residents from going hungry.
Though this is not a comprehensive list, Xpress has gathered updates from a few of WNC’s food-relief nonprofits, along with a handful of the many grassroots food-access initiatives local businesses have created to help fill the SNAP gap.
NONPROFITS
MANNA FoodBank: At an Oct. 30 press conference held by Buncombe County, Micah Chrisman, MANNA FoodBank’s director of marketing and communications,said the organization has seen a nearly 45% increase in need in the year since Tropical Storm Helene. The nonprofit distributes food through partner pantries in 16 WNC counties. In
With
federal food benefits in limbo, local nonprofits and businesses are stepping up
response to this month’s SNAP crisis, MANNA has launched a virtual food drive at avl.mx/f6s. Those in need can call or text MANNA’s Food Helpline at 828290-9749 Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., or visit avl.mx/ejb.
Bounty & Soul: A Black Mountainbased nonprofit that describes itself as “working at the intersection of food, farms and health,” Bounty & Soul is looking for new partnerships to help increase the amount of free food it can distribute through its 10 weekly Produce to the People markets. To donate or view the times and locations of its community markets, visit avl.mx/f6t
Equal Plates Project: Equal Plates Project uses the harvests of local farms to prepare and distribute scratch-made meals to WNC residents at shelters, low-income senior housing facilities and organizations such as United Way of WNC and Colaborativa la Milpa. The nonprofit has launched a donation drive in order to bump up its production to feed folks through the SNAP crisis. To learn more about where to find meals or to donate, visit avl.mx/f6u.
BeLoved Asheville: The nonprofit, known for its heroic efforts to help the WNC community after Tropical Storm Helene, debuted its EAT Card initiative in late October in response to SNAP uncertainty. BeLoved is distributing gift cards for local businesses at WNC schools and community organizations. It also maintains numerous street pantries in the area stocked with food items and, through its new Eat Menu effort, is enlisting local restaurants to add dishes
to their menus for SNAP recipients that will be paid for by BeLoved. Learn more at avl.mx/f6v.
Food Connection: Distributing from its food truck (known as “Fran”), Food Connection offers free, hot meals Tuesday-Saturday through its Mobile Meals program at sites across Buncombe County. Through its new Chefs Care initiative, the nonprofit invites WNC chefs to prepare meals to be shared with local families. See the Mobile Meals schedule and learn about Chefs Care at avl.mx/f6w.
YMCA free Mobile Food Markets: YMCA of Western North Carolina brings its free food markets to libraries, community centers, parks and other public spaces around WNC each month. Learn more and see the November market schedule at avl.mx/dyc.
12 Baskets Café: A program of Asheville Poverty Initiative (API), 12 Basket Café sources surplus food from local businesses to offer free, sit-down hot lunches with table service — open to all community members — every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday in its Haywood Road dining room. API Executive Director Ben Williamson announced on social media that 12 Baskets is seeking additional donations and volunteers to help it feed the community this month. “We did this after Helene a year ago,” he said. “We had an incredible challenge and we took advantage of that opportunity and we became stronger, we became a little closer and a little tighter knit. And I think this is another opportunity that is similar.” Learn more at avl.mx/dwr.
Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP): Focused on supporting WNC farmers and promoting local food, ASAP has announced that through a generous private donation, SNAP recipients can receive $40 in tokens per household each week for the month of November to spend on products at the Asheville City Market, hosted 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays on North Market Street downtown. Visit avl.mx/bfk for more information.
RESTAURANTS
Blue Mountain Pizza: The pizzeria at 55 N. Main St., Weaverville, announced plans on social media to offer a limited number of reduced-cost, takeout meals for those affected by the SNAP delay. Special menu choices are: spaghetti dinner for two or four with garlic knots and salad; a medium cheese pizza; veggie, chicken or cheese quesadillas; and salads. To access the deal, call the restaurant at 828-658-8778 and mention the “SNAP special.” SNAP card or app must be shown at pickup.
Sand Hill Kitchen: The restaurant at 491 Sardis Road in West Asheville is resuming its COVID-era practice of providing free bagged lunches for kids. Call ahead at 828-633-6868 to give staff a heads up, if possible. Donations to support the effort are accepted in person or by Venmo at @SHK-AVL.
Mattie Lou’s Café and Bakery: “Food is not earned; food is something every human on earth should have access to,” reads a recent post on the North Asheville bakery’s Instagram page. The business, at 840 N. Merrimon Ave., is offering a limited number of free breakfast sandwiches and breakfast tacos each day to those whose SNAP benefits are delayed. To request a free sandwich, those in need should ask staff if “a Mattie’s special is available.”
The Local Joint: The popular Fairview café, located inside the Eblen Short Stop at 1185 Charlotte Highway, is providing free meals for those needing food this month and inviting community members to donate to support the effort. The restaurant said on social media that it can offer one free meal for every $10 donated. Information about free meals and donating is on the menu, or call 828-338-0469.
Davis Country Store and Café: Families on SNAP can head to the Davis Country Store and Café at 75 E. Main St. in Old Fort, where their kids can eat for free this month. The offer applies only to those ages 17 and younger for items on the kids menu during breakfast, lunch and dinner. Families must show proof of receiving SNAP benefits. X
COMMUNITY SUPPORT: MANNA FoodBank volunteers, at left, distribute food at a local market. The organization is among local nonprofits working to increase capacity this month to meet urgent need caused by delayed distribution of SNAP benefits. Photo courtesy of MANNA FoodBank
WHATEVER IT TAKES
‘When survivors are safe, our whole community is safe’
Sara Vogel is executive director of REACH of Haywood County, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse and human trafficking.
Xpress: What is your organization’s most urgent need, and how can community members provide assistance, financially or otherwise?
Vogel: Here at REACH, housing is the heartbeat of everything we do — and right now, it’s also our biggest challenge. Our shelter has just five rooms and 15 beds, and finding safe, affordable housing for survivors after 90 days is nearly impossible. When someone is deciding to leave abuse, their first question is “Where will I live?” You can help answer that. Through Mountain Xpress’ season of giving, every dollar donated to REACH will be matched up to $60,000 — doubling your impact and helping us create safe homes, stability and hope for families in Haywood County. What is a recent accomplishment within your organization that you’d like more community members to know about? How, if at all, will this achievement impact local residents?
We’re proud to partner with Western Carolina University’s engineering students to design an expansion of our emergency shelter — an effort that will directly increase safety across Haywood County. Every new room means more families protected from harm and more survivors given the chance to rebuild their lives. When survivors are safe, our whole community is safe, and we are changing the trajectory for the children of our community to be healthy and safe. Are there any upcoming initiatives within your organization that you can tell our readers about, and how they can get involved?
Next year, REACH of Haywood County celebrates 40 years of helping survivors find safety, healing and hope. As we look ahead, we’re expanding our shelter, growing our thrift store and seeking to buy property to build long-term stability for our main office and our thrift store. We’re looking for landlords, businesses and community partners to join us in partnership, donations and volunteering their time and expertise. Email me at sarav@reachofhaywood.org to connect. Have federal cuts impacted your organization? If so, in what ways have they affected your operations?
Federal cuts to programs for women and children and growing government instability have made funding for survivors increasingly uncertain. National leadership has shown little support for victims of abuse, so REACH is focusing on building funding locally. We’re building stronger relationships with local foundations, donors and partners while expanding our social enterprises for steady, independent revenue. We refuse funding that limits who we serve. At REACH, we help all people find safety, stability and hope. X
Local Cloth is a nonprofit rooted in creativity, connection, and community. We bring together artists, farmers, educators, and fiber enthusiasts to support Western NC’s regional fiber economy. Explore workshops, events, interest groups, and our Retail Shop celebrating local fiber practices.
every step of the way. •
SARA VOGEL
The results are in
Weaverville and Woodfin election winners promote future growth and transparency
BY THOMAS CALDER
tcalder@mountainx.com
Buncombe County’s municipal elections may not have garnered the same attention as, say, New York City’s mayoral race, but the local contests did result in several first-time candidates winning seats and a few established leaders retaining their posts. Results reported by the state Board of Elections are considered unofficial until county election officials meet to certify the results on Friday, Nov. 14.
‘MORE THAN JUST A VICTORY’
In Weaverville, Dee Lawrence won the mayoral race against former Town Council member Andrew Nagle Current Mayor Patrick Fitzsimmons did not seek reelection.
Lawrence, who was first elected to Town Council in 2023, will have to resign his current post before being sworn in as mayor. (Council will then appoint someone to the vacancy for the remainder of the term.) The mayor-elect notes that his campaign focused on Weaverville’s new strategic plan, which includes eight policy goals: sustainable growth and development; emergency preparedness and community resilience; downtown vibrancy and economic growth; public safety; infrastructure and environmental resilience; community vitality through parks, recreation and special events; and organizational culture.
“I believe the content of this plan resonated with the voters in a big way, especially since there was an opportunity for them to help prioritize the issues they found important,“ Lawrence says. He adds that he is pleased with the overall results of the election. “There is a great deal of experience and service in this team, and we will be positioned to address the issues confronting a small town in a positive way.”
Weaverville residents also voted on three open seats for Town Council. The top voter-getters, Jennifer Young, Phil Barnett and Mark Endries, respectively, are all new to the role.
“Being an unaffiliated candidate receiving the most votes is unprecedented, proving that nonpartisan elections are not about politics but
RESULTS Election 2025
ELECTED: Weaverville and Woodfin residents voted Nov. 4 in a series of contests. The winning candidates, pictured from top left, are Dee Lawrence (Weaverville mayor); Jennifer Young, Phil Barnett and Mark Endries (Weaverville Town Council) and Philip Cohen (Woodfin Town Council). Bottom row, from left, are winners Chip Parton III and Dan Bowers (Woodfin Town Council); and Larry Hopkins, Gordon Maybury and Carter James (Woodfin Water and Sewer District). All photos courtesy of the elected officials
about people,” says Young, a retired registered nurse and a native of the area. Her mother, Kathy Young, previously served on Town Council for 12 years.
“By choosing me to represent Weaverville, the citizens have a liaison between the town and AdventHealth, ensuring that the infrastructure will be in place when the hospital doors open in two years,” Young says. “I will strategically guide our town to become a health care community, advocating for 126 additional beds identified in the most recent certificate of need issued Oct. 15, allowing AdventHealth to qualify as a trauma center.”
Barnett, who earned the second-highest number of votes, says he will continuously seek community input over the next four years. “Town Council seats are ‘walk-the-halls’ jobs that require a meaningful increase in citizen engagement, more listening rather than talking and applying citizen input within the frameworks of our new strategic plans,” he says.
“My hopes are high, and my intent is real that we help guide Weaverville to the very best community outcomes voters expect, preserving our smalltown Main Street demeanor while accommodating the future growth that is inevitable.”
Endries, who serves as vice chair on the Weaverville Planning Board, notes all of this year’s winners are
dedicated community members. “What’s remarkable about this election is that every successful candidate has a substantial history of service to the town,” he says. “This includes significant contributions through volunteering and active participation on various town boards and committees. This is more than just a victory; it is a strong mandate from the Weaverville community affirming that prior experience matters. It shows that Weaverville voters recognize the efforts we’ve already made and are confident that we will carry that shared commitment to service and progress onto the Town Council.”
ON BOTH SIDES OF THE RIVER
Meanwhile, the Town of Woodfin also had three open seats for its Town Council, as well as the Woodfin Sanitary Water and Sewer District. Philip Cohen retained his seat on Council and is joined by two newcomers, Chip Parton III and Dan Bowers. Meanwhile, Larry Hopkins and Gordon Maybury were reinstated as trustees of the water and sewer district. Carter James won the third open seat.
“I joined Woodfin’s Town Council in February 2024 because the mayor and Council members had initiated a new era of governance that emphasized transparency, accountability,
communication with residents and proactive initiatives,” says Cohen, the race’s top vote-getter. “I wanted to be part of that effort, and I am elated that voters have asked me to continue working ... to improve Woodfin’s community, livability and economy for all of our residents, both high and low and red and blue.”
Though new to Council, Parton, who came in second by a single vote, is a familiar face for many in Woodfin. A plumber and community organizer, he led a multiyear effort to de-annex Woodfin’s westside from the town due to grievances regarding town services.
“This is a monumental day for my neighborhood, this community and our town,” Parton says of his win. “As a candidate who encouraged communication from our neighbors — even giving hundreds my personal number — I have full trust in this town to let me know if I ever stray from my commitment to facilitate the best, most modern Woodfin possible. I appreciate all Woodfin residents on both sides of the river who have put their trust in me to represent them and will strive to live up to your expectations.”
Like Parton, James is also new to his role as trustee to the Woodfin Sanitary Water and Sewer District. “I will prioritize a long-term vision for our water system, ensuring comprehensive future planning and a consistent focus on green initiatives,” he says. “My measure of success will be defined by community engagement, the successful implementation of our long-term infrastructure upgrades and ensuring our systems are resilient and prepared to meet the demands of the next 20 to 30 years.”
Hopkins, who was reinstated by voters, says, “The progressive moves we have made on the Woodfin water board will position our water facility to provide the best quality water that our customers deserve.”
Bowers and Maybury were unavailable for comment about their respective wins. X
NEWLY
Who’s in charge?
Residents concerned over federal ICE agents seek answers from local officials
BY BRIONNA DALLARA
bdallara@mountainx.com
Raven Owens held a hand-painted sign at the Oct. 18 No Kings rally. Her message did not mince words. One side declared: “No ICE, No KKK, No Fascist USA.” The other side read: “No Secret Police.”
Owens was among the estimated 8,000 people who marched through downtown Asheville during last month’s protest against the Trump administration. Like so many others who attended the gathering, her primary concern was the ongoing deployment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents throughout cities and towns across the country.
“We now have basically a militia of mercenary-type people that are in plain clothes and masked and with no badges, and they’re just snatching people off the streets,” Owens told Xpress during the rally. “At this point, no one is safe.”
Since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term in January, immigration enforcement has intensified. On Sept. 8, the U.S. Supreme Court lifted an injunction in the Norm v. Vasquez Perdomo case in Los Angeles, allowing ICE agents to consider factors such as race and language as reasonable suspicion to detain and interrogate someone.
According to an Oct. 16 article by ProPublica, more than 170 U.S. citizens have been held by immigration agents. About two dozen of these detained citizens state they were held for more than a day, including George Retes, a 25-year-old U.S.
Army veteran, who is suing the federal government. The Department of Homeland Security asserts on its website that Retes was violent toward law enforcement and refused to comply.
Meanwhile, according to an Oct. 6 report from PBS News, ICE is currently airing ads in more than
a dozen cities, including Chicago, Seattle and Atlanta, as part of its “$30 billion initiative to hire 10,000 more deportation officers by the end of the year to supercharge deportations.”
At the local No Kings event, speaker Claudia Jimenez, a minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, spoke to the crowd about people she knew who did not attend the protest out of concern for their safety.
“They were afraid because of their identity,” Jimenez told the audience. “They were afraid because of their skin color. They were afraid because of their immigration status.”
Jimenez encouraged the audience to speak out for the most vulnerable members of the community.
“We refuse to look the other way as mothers, fathers, children are dragged away in unmarked vans by masked and armed cowards to inhumane facilities and deportation,” she said.
For many within the community, the Oct. 18 rally was a response to
ongoing concerns over the lack of due process and transparency when it comes to immigration enforcement. But for some of the president’s supporters, including Merry Guy, the chair of the Republican 11th Congressional District Committee, the deployment of ICE agents across the country is part of Trump’s campaign promise.
“This is what we voted for,” she says. “We wanted to round up the criminal elements and encourage as many undocumented immigrants as possible to self-deport,” Guy says.
“Do I like due process? Yes. Do I think we have room to improve in our legal system? Yes. But for immigration, we do have some very clear processes.”
What exactly that process is — especially as it relates to how local and federal agents are or are not communicating with each other — remains a concern for some local opponents
SIGN OF THE TIMES: Raven Owens, pictured, was among the estimated 8,000 demonstrators at the Oct. 18 Asheville No Kings rally. Photo by Brionna Dallara
of the president, both as it relates to public safety and the Constitution.
THE ROLE OF LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
On Aug. 21, armed officers working with ICE detained 46-year-old Jediael Amaya Sanchez outside the Buncombe County Courthouse and placed him in an unmarked vehicle, according to an Aug. 23 report by the Citizen Times Xpress reached out to the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Ga., where it is believed Amaya Sanchez is still being held, but did not receive a response by deadline.
Both the Asheville Police Department (APD) and the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) say there was no communication between their departments and the federal agency before the arrest.
Amaya Sanchez’s detention raised red flags for resident David Mittler, who has been studying APD for several months to understand the protocol between its department and federal agents.
Draped with an American flag over his shoulders, Mittler stood before Asheville City Council at its Oct. 14
“We refuse to look the other way as mothers, fathers, children are dragged away in unmarked vans by masked and armed cowards to inhumane facilities and deportation.”
— The Rev. Claudia Jimenez, minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congressional of Asheville
meeting to reiterate his concerns. He was one of three residents who spoke out against ICE that evening.
“We cannot allow illegal, unconstitutional abduction, and that’s what it is,” Mittler said during public comment.
In conversation with Xpress , Mittler noted that one of his many concerns is public safety. If federal vehicles are unmarked and agents do not have proper identification, what is stopping an individual from impersonating an ICE agent in an effort to kidnap a resident?
When Xpress reached out to APD with Mittler’s concerns about impersonators as well as a lack of communication between federal and local agents, Rick Rice, the department’s public information officer (PIO), responded by email. “If anyone believes they are witnessing an
You have the right to remain silent
In November 2024, House Bill 10 passed into law, requiring sheriff’s offices to hold an individual charged with certain crimes for up to 48 hours if ICE issues a detainer. In July, House Bill 318 followed. The law expands the list of crimes that trigger an immigration status inquiry and requirement to honor a detainer request. Additionally, the law requires sheriff’s offices to notify ICE at least two hours before an individual’s release, following the 48-hour extended detainment.
Since January, Jacob Oakes, an immigration attorney for Pisgah Legal Services, says the nonprofit has seen a significant increase in calls for immigration assistance and advice.
“Unfortunately, there’s more need than there are attorneys, whether that’s in the nonprofit sector or even in the private sector,” Oakes says. But thanks to donations, he adds, the nonprofit recently hired a fourth immigration attorney.
Interactions between individuals and law enforcement agents vary depending on the situation, Oakes notes. Here, Oakes offers an overview of potential scenarios and the rights that individuals have.
IN A VEHICLE
All people, regardless of immigration status, have constitutional rights, including the right to remain silent.
“Whether you are a U.S. citizen or you have a green card, whether you have DACA or some other temporary permission to remain in the United States, or you don’t have documentation at all, you have the right to remain silent,” Oakes says.
In the case of being questioned by ICE about immigration status while in a vehicle, an officer may question the driver as well as the passengers. A driver is required to show ID when stopped in a vehicle, regardless of their right to remain silent. The officer may ask everybody in the car about their legal status, but passengers have the right to remain silent.
If an individual is identified as a noncitizen and can’t provide proof of lawful status, then that person may be detained by ICE.
IN YOUR HOME
Law enforcement agents can gain access to a person’s home under several circumstances.
• Consent: If you voluntarily give a law enforcement agent permission to enter your home.
abduction, we request that they call 911,” Rice wrote.
Meanwhile, according to City Attorney Brad Branham, Mittler’s requests at Council go beyond the purview of locally elected officials. Because the city does not operate a jail, Branham says, APD officers do not interact with ICE detainers. These responsibilities fall to the Sheriff’s Office.
According to Matthew Marshall, director of public information at BCSO, the Sheriff’s Office is responsible for security at the county courthouse. Additionally, Marshall writes in an email to Xpress, Sheriff Quentin Miller is seeking to improve communication between his officers and ICE agents.
In the aftermath of Amaya Sanchez’s Aug. 21 arrest, Marshall writes, there was concern over the
• Exigent circumstance: If there is an immediate need to protect the life of the homeowner or others inside the property, or if a crime is being committed.
• Plain view doctrine: If an officer sees evidence of a crime in plain view.
• Judicial warrant: A valid warrant signed by a judge. An administrative immigration warrant is insufficient to gain access to a home or other private space. According to Oakes, individuals have the right to review a warrant prior to allowing law enforcement inside their home.
IN PUBLIC SPACES
In North Carolina, if individuals are out in public and questioned about their legal status, they have the right to remain silent and do not have to show identification when asked. If students are at a university with an international visa, they are allowed to remain in the U.S. through the duration of their status, so long as they don’t violate the terms of their status.
However, Oakes still notes the student may remain silent during encounters and exercise their right to speak with an attorney. X
possibility of “blue on blue” violence, especially when “no prior notice” from federal agents was given to BCSO. Externally, Marshall adds, “the sheriff had concerns of overall community safety.”
Currently, ICE is communicating with BCSO regarding its “detainer and warrants with detainees in jail,” Marshall writes. “The sheriff is seeking that same notice for any apprehension at or near the courthouse to promote safe apprehension techniques.”
Guy, the Republican chair, was unaware of the August detention. She says immigration enforcement needs to be done humanely. She also believes if ICE agents were asked to show their face and badge by local law enforcement, the federal agents would comply. Furthermore, she believes that just as state troopers operate in unmarked cars, there are times when immigration enforcement should be undercover.
“I hate that we’re in this situation, but I have to say ICE needs to do what they need to do to: A) catch the criminals, and B) keep themselves safe.”
Xpress reached out to Rep. Chuck Edwards through multiple emails and phone calls. He did not respond to our request for comment.
LESSONS FROM A LOCAL NURSE
The local government’s limited authority is a source of stress for Anthony Mejia, whose parents immigrated from Mexico in the 1990s. Like Mittler, Mejia, who started the Asheville Civil Protection Restoration project in May, frequently speaks at Council meetings, inquiring how local officials will respond to ICE.
“[Council’s] policies and decision-making is what most affects our daily lives,” Mejia says. “And not just their decision-making, but their lack of decision-making.”
Mejia, who is a veteran, says his parents went through the Department of Homeland Security’s Parole in Place program, which allows family of service members to apply for resident status without having to leave the U.S. for processing. It took nearly three years for his family’s case to be reviewed. Once approved, family members received work visas and later became permanent residents.
“In any other era, I would say that’s a sure done deal — that they’re residents,” Mejia says. “In all honesty, it’s not really been the case with the way our immigration system works. But now, more than ever, the dangers are a lot more present.”
Mejia’s concerns are shared by many across the region. In Buncombe, Haywood, Transylvania and Cherokee counties, Latinos
make up roughly 7% of the total population, according to Lennin Caro, director of the Camino Research Institute, who presented at the Sept. 24 Leadership Asheville forum on immigration. Between 2021-2024, the institute conducted an annual North Carolina Latino Strengths and Needs Assessment, which Caro referenced throughout his talk.
According to Caro, over a third of the region’s Latino immigrant population is under the age of 18, and 65% of undocumented respondents said they are the primary caregiver of their children. Roughly 17%, he continued, are in the “in-between zone,” having either temporary protected status (TPS) or are Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients.
While surveying for the report, Caro said many Latino residents recalled a period from the mid-2000s to the early 2010s marked by workplace raids and police checkpoints at schools and in front of mobile home communities across the state. This crackdown on immigration began after the State of North Carolina entered into the 287(g) program, which authorizes partnerships between ICE and local law enforcement (see sidelight for more details). Mecklenburg County became the first county in the state to sign on in 2006.
What we’re seeing today, Caro said, is the Band-Aid being ripped off those wounds.
“Even as a kid, you knew that if Mom and Dad don’t come home today, the police probably picked them up, so go call Grandma to try and figure out what to do then,” Mejia says, reflecting on his youth in L.A.
These same worries that Mejia experienced in the early 2000s and what North Carolinians felt in the 2010s have resurfaced for many in the community over the previous 11 months.
Back at the Oct. 18 No Kings rally, Molly Zenker, a registered nurse and Mission Nurses United representative, spoke in support of the region’s immigrant population.
“The current administration wants us to live in fear, to stay divided, to hate those that don’t fit in a mythical standard of what is ‘normal.’ If there is anyone fit to tell you … that no one is ‘normal’ — it’s a nurse,” she said. “We care for people when they are at their most desperate, most vulnerable … no matter what language they speak, what country they happened to have been born in or what religion they follow. A nurse works to build that person up. Personally, I think our government could learn something from us.” X
At a crossroads Commission recommends shift in city bus service
BY DANIELLE AROSTEGUI
The Multimodal Transportation Commission (MMTC) met on Oct. 30 for the first time since Tropical Storm Helene to provide feedback on the direction of the Asheville Rides Transit (ART) bus system.
The question under consideration was where ART should fall on the spectrum between a bus system that prioritizes ridership — more frequent buses on limited routes — versus one that emphasizes coverage — less frequent buses on more widespread routes.
The question of how to balance ridership and coverage given existing resources is at the heart of the ART Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA) currently being conducted by consultant Jarrett Walker & Associates on behalf of the City of Asheville. The COA launched in March with the goal of improving public transit service and aligning resources with community needs.
Phase 1 of the COA focused on analyzing the existing system using ridership and demographic data, as well as a public survey to better understand who was being served by the current system and what participants’ priorities are. In Phase 2, which is ongoing, the consultant developed two hypothetical bus networks — a Ridership Concept and a Coverage Concept — to illustrate the trade-offs between these two goals and seek input on which concept is preferred.
RIDERSHIP VS. COVERAGE
Jessica Morris, assistant director of Asheville’s Transportation Department, presented information on the two concepts during the meeting.
Both the ridership and coverage concepts provide the same amount of service as the existing system, but they allocate this service very differently. For example, under the Ridership Concept, there would be far fewer bus routes than currently exist, but buses would come much faster — every 15 minutes in most cases. Under the Coverage Concept, most existing routes would be preserved, but buses would only arrive every 30 minutes or every 40-60 minutes, depending on the route. There would be no 15-minute buses under the Coverage Concept.
EN ROUTE: On Oct. 30, the Multimodal Transportation Commission met for the first time since Tropical Storm Helene to provide feedback on the direction of the Asheville Rides Transit bus system. Photo by Thomas Calder
How do these compare to the existing ART system? According to the ART Concepts Report, the existing system devotes about 50% of its resources toward ridership goals and 50% toward coverage goals. Similarly, the Coverage Concept also puts 50% of its resources toward ridership and 50% toward coverage goals, but it improves the connections between routes. By contrast, the Ridership Concept puts about 90% of its resources toward ridership goals and 10% toward coverage goals.
In their report, the consultants stressed that these two concepts are not the only two choices available but are rather intended to represent a spectrum of possibilities given ART’s current budget.
FEWER BUS ROUTES, MORE FREQUENT BUSES?
After receiving a presentation on the two concepts, a majority of MMTC members expressed interest in moving incrementally toward a more ridership-focused model. Key arguments in favor of this approach included making the system more useful to more people as well as
aligning the system with recent zoning changes made by City Council to encourage greater density along the city’s transit corridors, such as removing parking mandates and making it easier to build new housing.
However, several members expressed concern about how changes in coverage might affect low-income community members who rely on public transit to reach their jobs. Morris acknowledged that changes in the system would necessarily lead to trade-offs: “If Council decides to make a baby step towards ridership, that automatically equals a cut somewhere.”
Commission Chair Jack Igelman said, “Obviously, equity is going to be important. But something else to consider is that a service is not useful if it’s not safe or frequent. There’s an equity cost to waiting 90 minutes for a bus, too. That’s time that people could be working or engaging with their families.”
Multiple members further stressed a need for an overall increase in resources for transit, as well as complementary pedestrian facilities.
Ultimately, the MMTC agreed to recommend that City Council seek a
hybrid system that leans toward ridership and to seek additional funding sources to expand the transit system and safe streets. The vote was unanimous with one abstention.
The question of how to proceed will move to City Council, which is slated to consider which concept to lean toward on Tuesday, Nov. 18. From there, consultants will prepare a draft network based on Council’s recommendation. There will be additional opportunities for input and refinement at that point before the plan is finalized.
NEW MEMBERS AND MORE
The Oct. 30 meeting saw two new members join the MMTC: Micah McLain from West Asheville and Josh Jones from downtown Asheville. Members were also chosen to join two new working groups. McLain and Randy Warren will join the Traffic Calming Study, while Jones and Joseph Chesler will join the Smith Mill Creek Greenway project. In addition, members of the public spoke in support of the Rhododendron Greenway Connector. X
WHATEVER IT TAKES
Breaking down perceived barriers
Laura Kirby is executive director of Haywood Street Congregation, a nonprofit organization that focuses on providing services and building community, particularly for individuals experiencing homelessness or poverty.
Xpress: What is your organization’s most urgent need and how can community members provide assistance, financially or otherwise?
Kirby: We are in the process of expanding our medical respite program from 12 to 25 beds, which involves significantly renovating the part of our building where Haywood Street Respite has been located since 2014. In addition to financial support helping us to raise the last $150,000 needed for construction, community members can help by signing up to provide dinner for our Friends in Respite’s temporary location.
What is a recent accomplishment within your organization that you’d like more community members to know about? How, if at all, will this achievement impact local residents?
We are just about to complete our first deeply affordable apartment community in the West End Clingman Avenue neighborhood (WECAN). It is called the Lady Gloria Ridge Community and will provide homes for 41 individuals and families with incomes ranging from 30% to 80% of the area median income.
Are there any upcoming initiatives within your organization that you can tell our readers about and how they can get involved?
We host a free community lunch each Wednesday called the Downtown Welcome Table — and everyone is invited! The meal is not just for folks who don’t know where their next meal is coming from. The intention is for people with all kinds of different life experiences to sit down and share a meal together, knowing that this simple act can help break down barriers that often divide the so-called “haves” from the “have-nots.” Have federal cuts impacted your organization? If so, in what ways have they affected your operations?
Although it is a state, not federal, budget cut, the discontinuation of the North Carolina Healthy Opportunities Pilot (NC HOP) is threatening Respite’s future. NC HOP provided funding for nonmedical interventions, including post-hospitalization care for medically vulnerable homeless adults, that could improve health outcomes for Medicaid recipients. When we started down the expansion path we were counting on NC HOP to provide sustaining funding for Respite. A new source of operating support must be identified. X
LAURA KIRBY
County approves revised 2030 Strategic Plan after Helene delays
Buncombe County was nearly ready to adopt its 2030 Strategic Plan when Tropical Storm Helene struck last year, forcing officials to pause and rethink priorities in the wake of the storm’s widespread damage. Starting in March, staff gathered community feedback and revised the plan to reflect both recovery needs and longterm goals.
At its Nov. 4 meeting, the Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted the plan, setting a course for the county government through the end of the decade.
“This strategic plan is a robust and ambitious yet attainable and actionable plan,” said Rafael Baptista, strategy and innovation director, who presented the plan to the board. “It represents seven focus areas — six of them community-facing — with 17 objectives and 58 goals.”
The plan’s community-facing priorities include:
• Growth and development: Expanding affordable housing and preserving existing homes.
• Economic development: Supporting business growth and high-wage jobs.
• Education: Increasing early childhood and adult learning access.
• Community health: Expanding physical and mental health care.
• Public safety: Strengthening prevention and emergency response.
• Energy and environment: Protecting resources and preparing for disasters.
More than 100 county staff and subject-matter experts contributed to the plan’s development, alongside three rounds of community engagement that produced thousands of public
comments. The plan includes a commitment to update the public through a new online dashboard and to link future county budgets to the plan’s goals beginning in fiscal year 2027.
Commissioner Parker Sloan voiced support for the plan but urged continued attention to unmet community needs. “Dozens of residents submitted written comments during this process, raising deeply personal and urgent concerns about homelessness, mental health, elder care, food access and disaster recovery,” Sloan said. “Feedback can’t just be a checkbox. It must shape the work.”
The plan takes effect Jan. 1.
County addresses SNAP pause
Commissioners also received an update on the county’s efforts to support residents affected by the federal government shutdown and delays in SNAP benefits. Nathan Greene, the county’s emergency preparedness coordinator, has been tapped to lead a team that will coordinate resources, maintain critical services and communicate with the public.
Greene said the county has opened donation and distribution sites at all 12 libraries, Health and Human Services offices, and the Register of Deeds office, collecting roughly 2,300 pounds of food daily — enough for nearly 2,000 meals. Four additional community centers recently joined the network. Call centers have been expanded to handle more than 100 daily inquiries, connecting residents directly to food resources.
Sixteen partner organizations are participating in the Feeding
In other news
• Commissioners approved a pair of contracts aimed at enhancing local recreation. The county approved a nearly $3.86 million deal with AstroTurf LLC to turf and light three additional fields at the Buncombe County Sports Park, expanding playtime by up to 800 hours annually and improving accessibility and safety for athletes. Meanwhile, redevelopment of Charles D. Owen Park in Swannanoa took a step forward with a $448,980 contract awarded to Chicago-based Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects for design and engineering services. The project, part of the county’s ongoing Helene recovery efforts, will focus on stabilizing riverbanks, rebuilding park infrastructure and engaging the community in shaping the park’s future.
Collaborative to coordinate logistics and assess community needs, he said. County employees are contributing volunteer hours to support food distribution, mirroring the coordinated response used following Helene.
Officials have also established a referral pathway through the One Buncombe hotline, Greene continued, providing real-time information on available assistance.
Additionally, the county is keeping an eye on demand, shifting staff where needed and working with community partners to make sure people can still get food, nutrition and other essential support while federal programs are on hold, he said.
• Commissioners voted unanimously to approve $1.1 million for two conservation easement projects, protecting land at Haw Creek Headwaters and Warren Wilson College. The Haw Creek Headwaters easement covers 63 acres of ridgeline visible from the Blue Ridge Parkway and Mountains-to-Sea Trail, including hiking trails and six streams, while limiting future development. The Warren Wilson College project secures four separate easements totaling 600 acres of farmland and forest, with one homesite allowed per easement and continued agricultural and timber operations. Funding comes from the county’s open space bond, with transaction costs covered by the annual conservation easement fund.
— Justin McGuire X
THINKING STRATEGICALLY: Rafael Baptista, strategy and innovation director for Buncombe County, presented the 2030 Strategic Plan to commissioners on Nov. 4. Screen grab courtesy of Buncombe County
Basic training
Nonprofit hosts boot camp for young aspiring politicians
BY BRIONNA DALLARA
bdallara@mountainx.com
Instead of pushups, situps and sprints, participants at Asheville Young Professionals’ (AYPROS) 828 Lead civic boot camp were drilled on campaign strategies, stump speeches and the functions of state and local governments.
Soren Pedersen, the secretary of the Buncombe Young Democrats and a frequent public commenter at Asheville City Council meetings, was among the 27 participants at the three-day event, which took place last month. Pedersen said he wanted to gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to lead a municipality.
“When I go to a City Council meeting ... [and] say you should provide people with living wages, that’s one thing,” he told Xpress. “But then, how does it work as a representative? How do you get to that level? And what was your involvement beforehand?”
In a survey by AYPROS, more than half the participants who attended the boot camp noted interest in running for office within the next two to six years. But like Pedersen, many weren’t sure how to get started or where to begin.
The boot camp offered a series of workshops exploring civic roles, campaign building and the day-today realities for elected officials. Buncombe County Commissioner Martin Moore, Commission Chair Amanda Edwards, Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer, Council members Bo Hess and Maggie Ullman, Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers and
state Reps. Julie Mayfield and Lindsey Prather all participated in the series. They were joined by nonprofit leaders as well as members of the city’s boards and commissions. The event also featured a video message from Gov. Josh Stein
Serving the community in an elected position is not easy work, Hess said, and sometimes the hardest part is getting out of your head and starting.
“Don’t believe the voice in your head that says, ‘Who are you to do it?’” Hess said. “In fact, who are you not to step up? Who are you not to lend your voice and your actions to making a world where it’s more beautiful and more inclusive and stronger than ever before?”
Connecting with other young professionals
Asheville Young Professionals (AYPROS) was established in 2023 to attract and retain young leaders in the region through networking events, volunteer opportunities and advocacy work.
AYPROS hosts monthly lunch-andlearns as well as regular nature walks and volunteer days to encourage relationships among young professionals and organizations in the community.
AYPROS also hosts a recurring Pub Club for professionals to mingle at different local bars and restaurants on the fourth Tuesday of each month.
More recently, AYPROS has partnered with several other nonprofits through its Get on Board internship program, which places accepted AYPROS applicants in local nonprofit board internships.
“By providing hands-on experience in nonprofit governance, AYPROS hopes to create a generation of young leaders who are committed to improving their communities through effective nonprofit management,” the organization’s website states. Learn more at ashevilleyoungprofessionals.org X
BUILD YOUR NETWORK
De’Quan McBride relocated to Asheville last year and enlisted in civic boot camp, in part, to connect with and build community among his new neighbors. No stranger to civic engagement, McBride has previously served on multiple nonprofit boards in the Charlotte and Greensboro areas.
McBride attended last month’s seminar, looking to discuss the timing of politics. How soon is too soon to run for office in a new town? What are the downsides of entering a race prematurely? What should someone do before deciding to run?
Council member Ullman said community involvement is an essential first step. “Going from zero to 60 is a stark jump. But a lot of times, people are already volunteering in their community with nonprofits they care about or are leaders in their professional world or something,” Ullman said.
Before her initial 2022 campaign for Council, Ullman had over a decade of experience serving on city boards and commissions. She said joining a resident-led group that advises city policy, combined with her nonprofit work, helped establish her credentials and name recognition.
“So when I decided to run for office, it wasn’t like I dramatically changed the lifestyle, going from only work to all civic stuff,” Ullman said.
“It’s just that the purpose of my civic engagement started to take a different shape.”
For 20-year-old Lauren Holding, a junior at Warren Wilson College majoring in environmental studies, the thought of joining a board had not crossed their mind before attending the boot camp.
“It added in perspective that you don’t have to run for certain things or local politics to make your voice heard,” Holding said.
MONEY ISN’T EVERYTHING
For participants like Nina Ireland, who came to the workshop with a strong background in civic leadership, community engagement wasn’t a top concern. Instead, she brought questions about the economics of running for office.
“Learning about the pay structure for local, state and senate representatives was eye-opening,” she said. “It helped me understand the financial realities of public service and gave me a new respect for those who manage to balance full-time jobs while serving their communities.”
According to Buncombe County’s positions and pay dashboard and the City of Asheville’s employee salary data table, elected officials earn the following annual salaries:
• Buncombe County Board of Commissioners: $28,916
• Buncombe County Board of Commission Chair: $37,650
• Buncombe County Board of Commissioners Vice Chair: $32,548.
• Asheville Mayor: $29,124.53.
• Asheville Vice Mayor: $24,591.32
• Asheville City Council member: $22,053.72.
State legislators earn around $15,000 per year, according to Chris Cooper, professor of political science and public affairs at Western Carolina University, who presented on a panel at the boot camp.
Before a paycheck can be deposited, however, a campaign must be won. In Xpress‘ 2024 Election Guide, the six candidates running for City Council reported spending as little as $2,400 to as much as $84,526 on their campaigns. That year’s three winners — Bo Hess, Kim Roney and Sage Turner — all spent less than $20,000. For some participants, the finances don’t add up. Pedersen, for example,
DEEPER CONNECTIONS: Nearly 30 young professionals, including De’Quan McBride, center, participated in a recent three-day civic boot camp where they connected with local politicians and learned how to deepen their civic engagement. Photo by Brionna Dallara
said when he considers his current student debt, the salary Council members earn and the amount a candidate must raise, it’s unlikely he’d run for office any time soon.
Hess stressed that a successful campaign isn’t exclusively about dollars and cents, though there is a time commitment. Instead of spending money on flyers and commercials, Hess, who is a licensed social worker, said he “went out and connected with the community.” His campaign’s motto was “hustle, hustle, hustle.”
Hess believes his campaign’s success stemmed from going door to door whenever he could, often squeezing in a few knocks during his lunch breaks.
Ullman, who is running for reelection in 2026, said she will be knocking on doors come spring.
“There’s nothing that can replace listening to someone one-on-one on their doorstep when they’re telling you what’s important to them,” she said.
TELL YOUR STORY
Participants at the boot camp also learned about the importance of
crafting a compelling narrative as a way to connect with voters. They also drafted a short stump speech to highlight their top priorities.
For Holding, these exercises felt intimidating at first. But she found her rhythm once she started discussing issues she’s passionate about, such as helping her neighbors in Swannanoa and advocating for clean water access.
“I am not a huge fan of public speaking, but then that ended up being one of the most rewarding pieces,” she said.
During the three-day gathering, Holding also got to know her elected officials on a more personal level. She and two other participants, Terrance McKnight and Matt Giangrosso, have since signed on to work with Council member Ullman on her 2026 campaign.
“I’m grateful that people of all ages — including energized folks from 828 Lead — are jumping in to help with the campaign,” Ullman told Xpress after the boot camp. “Honestly, we’re the ones benefiting from their energy and ideas, and I think they’ll pick up hands-on experience with talking with voters and organizing volunteers and events.” X
On the right track
Laura Rice takes the helm as Ecusta Trail’s first executive director
BY JUSTIN M c GUIRE
jmcguire@mountainx.com
Sixteen years after Friends of the Ecusta Trail began as an all-volunteer effort, the nonprofit has entered a new phase. In September, Western North Carolina native Laura Rice became its first executive director, tasked with guiding the growth of a greenway that will connect Hendersonville and Brevard along an abandoned railroad line.
The Ecusta Trail officially opened in July with a 6-mile paved stretch from Main Street in Hendersonville to the Horse Shoe community in Henderson County. Plans call for extending the trail about 13 more miles southwest to the City of Brevard in Transylvania County by the end of 2027. A combination of local, state and federal funding is paying for much of the project.
“Until now, Friends of the Ecusta Trail has been run by volunteers, including the board, all unpaid,” Rice says. “That’s a huge testament to their dedication. But with more moving parts and with more coordination needed — between Henderson County, the City of Brevard and other partners — there’s a growing need for someone to oversee and direct things. That’s where I come in.”
Rice and the board are still defining the exact scope of her role, but they envision creating a centralized hub for administrative tasks, communication and planning. For now, that “hub” exists mostly in meetings at local businesses near the trail or with project supporters, because the nonprofit does not yet have a dedicated office space. Establishing permanent headquarters is a goal for the future, Rice notes, but not an immediate priority.
Born in Transylvania County and raised in Henderson County, Rice earned a degree in recreation and sports management from Mars Hill University — where she also competed on the mountain biking team — and a master’s in parks and recreation management from N.C. State. She led Henderson County’s youth soccer program, earning State Director of the Year honors in 2016. Later, she worked with the Blue Ridge Humane Society, USA Cycling and Ventures Endurance, where she helped manage major cycling events across the country.
Xpress spoke with Rice about her plans for the trail, what success looks like and how the nonprofit will manage the next phases of the regional corridor.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Xpress: Given that we’re only a year removed from Helene and many nonprofits are still focused on disaster recovery, do you anticipate challenges finding funding?
Rice: Yes and no. I grew up here and lived through the hurricane, and it’s hard not to see how much still needs to be done. We want to support the organizations doing that work, but there are also a lot of people who are really excited about the trail and eager to support it.
It’s always competitive in the nonprofit world, especially with limited donor resources, but we have strong support. People are excited and willing to help both through donations and word of mouth, which we’re really grateful for.
Are you going to be involved in administering federal and state grants?
I would say yes. We still have — I believe — two or three grants that we’re administering as matches for the remainder of the construction projects, both in Henderson County and the City of Brevard. We also have the capital campaign, co-organized by Conserving
Carolina [the nonprofit that holds legal title to the rail corridor], to help with construction costs and amenities. Our big focuses right now are finishing the remainder of the trail, ensuring those grant dollars go where they need to and funding amenities — like signage, benches, trash cans, wayfinding — everything that makes a complete trail after the pavement is down.
Are you concerned that, with changing federal priorities and cuts to nonprofit grants, projects like this might not get the same level of funding in the future?
Yes, it definitely seems to be trending that way. The remainder of the Ecusta Trail project seems pretty secure based on everything we’ve been told, so we’re staying optimistic.
However, I do worry about future projects. The transformation happening in Henderson County alone is incredible, and it’s disappointing to think other communities might not get that same support. Without that funding, this trail wouldn’t have happened.
Do you expect to have more paid employees in the future?
I hope so. That’s part of our growth planning — looking at how we scale and what our needs are. Right now, trail maintenance is covered through a position funded by Henderson County. They are out there regularly mowing, blowing leaves, picking up trash, etc. But as the trail grows, we might need to offer additional support. I do anticipate growth.
The first section of the trail opened in July. What are your impressions so far?
People were on the trail even before it officially opened. It’s been really embraced by the community. There’s been a bit of a learning curve with new trail crossings, but people are getting used to them and being more cautious. It’s been great seeing all the different uses — people walking, biking, Rollerblading, pushing strollers. We just have to be mindful of the wide range of users — cyclists, walkers, kids — and ensure everyone is respectful and aware of each other. People want to enjoy the trail, but you’re never out there com-
WHEELS GO ROUND: The first section of the Ecusta Trail, which opened in July in Henderson County, has become a popular destination for cyclists. Photo by Justin McGuire. Inset photo of Laura Rice courtesy of Friends of the Ecusta Trail
pletely alone. It’s important to call out when passing, adjust your speed based on the area and be patient. That’s just part of using a multiuse trail.
You’re a cyclist yourself. Have you been riding the trail much?
Yes and no. I enjoy it when I can, but I ride at a slow pace when I’m on it. I’m not doing high-speed or training rides. As someone who’s probably annoyed people with my cycling in the past, I try to be mindful. The trail’s purpose is recreational, not competitive. It’s about being a respectful user. I’m really excited that it’ll eventually connect to Transylvania County. That’ll open up new routes, but again, patience and courtesy are key.
How do you see the trail contributing to economic development in Henderson and Transylvania counties?
Along the trail’s path, we’re seeing businesses thrive, like Lennox Station [which includes Trailside Brewing Co., Venture Ecusta Bike Rentals and Ecusta Market and Cafe] and Sideways Farm Brewery in Etowah. I think we’ll see little community gathering hubs that wouldn’t exist without the trail. They’ll uplift the local community and serve visitors. I’ve met people from Greenville and Asheville who are coming down just for the trail, then visiting Main Street. That’s the best-case scenario: a trail that benefits locals and boosts tourism and the economy. Each community along the trail will develop its own vibe, which is going to be really cool to see.
Are you working to build relationships with businesses along the trail?
Yes. It’s been pretty easy in Henderson County because the trail is already open. As we expand and as I get more settled in this role, I definitely want to be available to talk with business owners, share resources, connect them with local economic development groups, etc. There are also national case studies we can learn from. If someone owns property and wonders what to do with it, chances are someone else has done it before, and they can learn from that. Relationship building is a big part of what I’m excited to do.
Do you see the Ecusta Trail as part of a larger regional outdoor recreation network?
It’s probably a little early to say, but Henderson County TDA [Tourism Development Authority] has already done amazing work promoting the trail. As more trails are developed and, especially, connected, I think that’ll be the key to marketing the region as a
destination. We’ll see how it all plays out. But this trail is beautiful, long and relatively flat, which makes it very attractive. It’ll be one more reason for people to visit our area.
There’s been talk of eventually connecting this trail with others in Buncombe County or even South Carolina. Is that still on your radar?
Absolutely. That’s part of The Hellbender [WNC Trail Network] greenway plan. Best case, that’s what we’d love to see. Even shorter term, we’re hoping to connect the Ecusta Trail with the Oklawaha Greenway. The City of Hendersonville is exploring ways to make that connection and then expand further once the Saluda Grade Trail is completed. We’re definitely supportive and optimistic that it’ll happen.
What is the timeline for completing the trail?
Both parts of Phase 2 — 5 miles in western Henderson County and 8 miles in Transylvania County — are in the design stage right now. We’ve been told they expect to be done by the end of 2027. That includes design, bidding and construction.
I’m cautiously optimistic. Construction projects rarely go exactly to plan, but that’s the timeline we’ve been given.
Could the 5 miles in Henderson County open before the Transylvania section?
Yes, that’s probably how it’ll go. Even though it’s all part of Phase 2, they’ll go out to bid separately. So we’ll either get the Henderson section first or the Transylvania one. The City of Brevard and Henderson County have joked about racing to the county line. There’s even been talk of a golden spike when they meet.
Looking ahead, what does success look like to you over the next five years?
I see it as an established trail with its own culture and sense of place, so when you’re on the Ecusta Trail, you know where you are and feel like you’re part of something that connects the two communities while also remembering the history and what the rail line meant to the region.
By that time — five years from now — we’ll have all the amenities, educational signage, art installations, pollinator gardens and other features. There will be well-run and exciting businesses nearby, making it a fun, comfortable place to be. Whether you want to walk a couple of miles or ride your bike for 20, there really will be something for everybody. X
Your
Playing with fire
BY HANNAH EPPERSON
hreppers@gmail.com
“You want to hear that story again?” It’s a question Asheville resident Steve Woody is known to raise when it comes to a tale he has regaled listeners with for decades. A story of whiskey, fire and a pact that three men made in 1901 — an account, as Woody tells it, that the trio agreed to keep secret until only one surviving member remained.
Woody’s grandfather — also named Steve Woody, and affectionately referred to as “Uncle Steve” by friends and neighbors — turned out to be the last man standing.
CHEESE AND WHISKEY
Uncle Steve was one of the pioneering citizens of Cataloochee Valley, an isolated mountain farming community located within what is now Great Smoky Mountains National Park. He moved to the area in the early 1860s at the age of 10, accompanying his father and four siblings. Schools were established in Cataloochee almost as soon as the valley was settled, according to a report by Ed Trout, former chief historian for Great Smoky Mountains National Park. But education was spotty and poorly funded. In 1880, nearly half of school-age residents in Cataloochee were illiterate.
Though remote, by the early 1900s, the Cataloochee community was booming with more than a thousand residents, and the current school building was simply too small to accommodate all the students. In 1901, three members of the school committee for Cataloochee — Hiram Caldwell , George Caldwell and Uncle Steve — made the long trip by horseback to Waynesville to petition the Haywood County school board for funds to replace it.
“They presented their case in a gentlemanly manner. The commissioners replied, ‘Ah, you fellows over there don’t pay enough tax. We can’t build you another school. You will just have to make out best you can,’” wrote Hattie Caldwell Davis in her book, Reflections of Cataloochee Valley and its Vanished People in the Great Smoky Mountains
“You know, they were back there in the mountains, and they didn’t count anyway. You know politics,” says Woody. “So the story is that they got some cheese and crackers and
The
1901 burning of the Cataloochee schoolhouse
some bonded whiskey, and they rode up to Cove Creek Gap and got off to let the horses rest. They had a couple of drinks and decided what to do.”
STRIKE A MATCH
The three men returned to the schoolhouse that night, according to Woody’s story.
“They took out all the desks, and they put the books on the desks, and they put the blackboards on top of that, and the little coats and hats that had been left,” Woody says. “And they put a match to the school. They shook hands, and they said nobody says a thing until two of us are gone.”
With the schoolhouse destroyed, the school board was compelled to pay for a new building. The new schoolhouse was 24 by 48 feet and boasted not one but two rooms. How the schoolhouse burned down — and how all the furniture and supplies escaped the flames — remained a mystery for years.
Uncle Steve and a few other residents remained in Cataloochee
Valley after the federal government purchased the land for the creation of the national park in the 1930s.
“He was one of the last to say, ‘I’m not leaving,’” Woody says. “He was up in his 80s, and he just wasn’t going to leave. He had built that house and built that farm, and that was home.”
Uncle Steve was still living in Cataloochee when he finally shared the story of the Beech Grove School with his son, Jonathan Woody
“In the ’30s, my daddy was living in Atlanta — that’s where I was born — and he’d come back up about every month just to check on Grandaddy,” Woody says. “I can picture them sitting on the front porch, probably having a drink, and Grandaddy said, ‘Well, so-and-so died, and I need to tell you a story.’”
And so the truth was finally revealed.
“Daddy thought it was wonderful,” Woody says.
THE STORY LIVES ON
In 1941, the Asheville CitizenTimes ran a long profile on Uncle
Steve and the disappearing way of life he’d led in Cataloochee. Though he didn’t mention the school’s backstory, he did boast about the tworoom schoolhouse.
“And we had a good school in here, too,” he told reporter James A. Best. “It had two big rooms, and we had two teachers and about 50 pupils. We have only one teacher now and just 11 children at the school. It won’t be long before there won’t be any. The government lets us live on our land — they lease it to us each here — and when we die, it won’t be leased anymore.”
The story even made its way into Wayne Caldwell’s historical fiction novel about Cataloochee, Requiem by Fire.
The Beech Grove School housed its last students in the 1950s. Though slightly damaged by Tropical Storm Helene, the hard-won structure still stands in Cataloochee Valley. And when the descendants of the Cataloochee residents gather in the valley once a year for a special community reunion, Steve Woody still tells his grandfather’s story. X
PICTURE DAY: Students pose outside the Beech Grove School in 1918. The structure, built in 1901, operated until the 1950s. It still stands to this day. Photo courtesy of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
WHATEVER IT TAKES
Helping older adults of all faiths
Michael Barnett is executive director of Jewish Family Services of WNC (JFS), an inclusive, welcoming space that provides a broad range of clinical and social support services to adults of all faiths — with special emphasis on the needs of older adults and other underserved community members.
Xpress : What is your organization’s most urgent need, and how can community members provide assistance, financially or otherwise?
Barnett: Our greatest need is financial support to meet the growing demand for mental health counseling, food assistance and senior services for people of all faiths. Grants and donations allow us to reduce counseling fees so no one is turned away due to cost. Community members can help by contributing financially, donating grocery gift cards or volunteering to ensure vulnerable neighbors receive vital care and support.
What is a recent accomplishment within your organization that you’d like more community members to know about? How, if at all, will this achievement impact local residents?
JFS launched a new Senior Care Management program to help older adults of all faiths age safely and independently. We also assisted more than 2,500 residents through mental health counseling, food support and emergency services. With grant funding reducing therapy costs, more individuals can access care regardless of income — strengthening emotional well-being and stability across our community.
Are there any upcoming initiatives within your organization that you can tell our readers about and how they can get involved?
We are expanding our mental health counseling and senior services to meet rising needs among people of all faiths. Grants help lower the cost of therapy so families can receive compassionate care during times of crisis. Community members can make a direct impact by donating, volunteering or helping connect others to our life-changing services. X
MICHAEL BARNETT
As the Y turns
New CEO shares vision for YMCA of Western North Carolina’s future
BY JUSTIN M c GUIRE
Tim Blenco has spent the past 16 years shaping the YMCA of Western North Carolina, first as executive director of the Corpening Memorial Y in Marion and later as chief operating officer overseeing the region. On Monday, Dec. 1, he will step into the role of president and CEO, succeeding Paul Vest, who led the nonprofit for nearly 30 years. During his tenure as COO, which began in 2015, Blenco has overseen the opening and expansion of several key facilities, including YMCA Camp Watia in Swain County, the Ferguson Family YMCA in Candler and the Black Mountain YMCA. He also helped expand after-school programming, develop health initiatives and strengthen partnerships with local governments and nonprofits.
“We have a very strong Y right now, and we’re committed to building com-
munity and continuing to meet the needs of Western North Carolina — whether that’s through child care programs, older adult programs or both,” Blenco says. “That is always at the core of what we do.”
The YMCA of WNC operates seven branches in three counties and serves more than 100,000 members and program participants annually, offering fitness and wellness programs, child care, camps and services for older adults.
Xpress talked to Blenco about what’s ahead for the organization, including renovating aging facilities, adding new programs, partnering with local groups and more.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Xpress: What are your priorities for the organization over the next few years?
Blenco: One of our biggest organizational priorities is addressing our aging facilities. We’re excited about the future and what those improvements will mean for the communities we serve. The two highest priorities for us are Hendersonville and downtown Asheville. Those are two of our anchor facilities but also two of our oldest.
Right now, we’re making repairs and upgrades that will help extend the life of those facilities. In Hendersonville, we just completed major locker room renovations. Our early design work focuses on leveraging the existing pool tank, basketball gym and locker rooms, and then building new structures around that. We also want to take a comprehensive, community-led approach to redesigning that facility as we move forward — and the same goes for downtown Asheville.
Nonprofit Feature
During Helene, we saw the important role the Y can play in a natural disaster. At the Reuter Y [in South Asheville], we provided charging stations, showers and other support, and the Marion Y served as a Red Cross shelter. So, in conversations with city leaders, we’re exploring what it would look like for both Hendersonville and Asheville Ys to serve as resiliency centers in future disasters.
What lasting effects did Tropical Storm Helene have on your facilities and programs, and how has the Y supported the region’s recovery?
We learned a lot from Helene about our level of disaster preparedness. We had a strong disaster response plan, but it relied heavily on communication, and we realized there were basic things we’d taken for granted.
We did have some facility damage at the Black Mountain Y, but thankfully, we were able to come back even stronger. The original design of that facility helped us a lot. The floodwater and mud stayed out of our pool, which was a huge relief. Some drains on the pool deck really saved us from major damage.
Our child care programs were shut down for about a month, which was difficult. FEMA was able to assist where they could, and local donors really helped us cover what was left. We were out of pocket a lot, but community support helped us weather the storm and come back better.
We’ve also seen a major increase in community need, particularly for our food access programs, where demand has gone up by as much as 200% compared to before the storm. And that was even before SNAP benefits changed. So as we continue to meet community needs, we’ll rely on donor support to help us keep showing up.
THE Y FACTOR: Tim Blenco takes over as CEO of the YMCA of Western North Carolina next month after 10 years as the nonprofit’s chief operating officer. “There’s a lot to be excited about, both in the work we’re doing now and what’s ahead,” he says. Photo courtesy of YMCA of WNC
Right now, our advocacy focus is at the state level. We’re pushing for the rural floor for child care providers in North Carolina. That would make a big difference. Currently, we receive significantly less money from the state for subsidized child care in McDowell County than we do in Buncombe County. That makes it challenging for all child care providers in rural areas — both early childhood and school-age — to sustain programs.
Western North Carolina’s population has been growing rapidly. Are there parts of the region that you think are underserved by the Y or areas that might see new facilities in the future?
Absolutely. Our board loves to dream about what the future looks like.
Many nonprofits are feeling the effects of federal funding reductions this year. How has the YMCA been impacted by those changes?
Right now, as I mentioned earlier, our focus is on our two anchor facilities — downtown Asheville and Hendersonville. Beyond that, we’ve seen population growth moving north. Our Woodfin and Black Mountain facilities are both overcrowded, so we’re very open to discussions about future facility needs as the region continues to grow.
In April 2021, COVID-related financial difficulties led the Y to close its Fletcher branch in Henderson County. Are you confident that your current branches are on solid footing, or could more closures be possible down the road?
So far, so good — we’re keeping our fingers crossed. We do a lot of advocacy work. Funding for our 21st Century program [aimed at addressing academic and enrichment needs of middle schoolers in Buncombe County] was embargoed for a while, but those funds were eventually released. We continue to work with partners and officials to emphasize how crucial funding for out-of-school-time programs is.
Right now, every one of our seven YMCAs in Western North Carolina is thriving. Our membership is stron-
NOV. 12 - NOV. 20, 2025
For a full list of community calendar guidelines, please visit mountainx.com/calendar. For questions about free listings, call 828-251-1333, opt. 4. For questions about paid calendar listings, please call 828-251-1333, opt. 1.
Online-only events
More info, page 50
WELLNESS
Community Yoga & Mindfulness w/ Inspired Change Yoga
Free monthly event with Inspired Change Yoga that will lead you into a morning of breathwork, meditation and yoga.
WE (11/12), 10:30am, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave
Gentle Tai Chi for Balance
This class works on improving our balance through exercises that help you to think with your feet while strengthening your balance muscles.
WE (11/12), 11:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109
Tai Chi Fan
The Fan forms include movements from Yang, Chen and Sun styles of Tai Chi.
WE (11/12), 1pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109
Chen Tai Chi
It is considered a very high level of Tai Chi.
TH (11/13), MO (11/17), 1pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109
Imagine the soothing tones of Himalayan singing bowls washing over you, calming your mind, and rejuvenating your spirit.
SA (11/15), 11am, Somatic Sounds, 157 S Lexington Ave B1
It's a Yoga Party
Nancy Gannon will demonstrate easy yoga postures that will help children to be more flexible and calm.
SA (11/15), noon, Sassafras on Sutton, 108 Sutton Ave, Black Mountain
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
BEETLEJUICE, BEETLEJUICE, BEETLEJUICE!: Hart Theatre kicks off its newest production, Beetlejuice Jr., on Friday, Nov. 14, starting at 7:30 p.m. Inspired by the hit Broadway musical based on the Tim Burton film, this production follows an unusual teen who befriends a mischievous demon. Photo courtesy of Hart Theatre
Barn Yoga Community Yoga class with Fairview-based yogi Mary Beth, who teaches a gentle and vinyasa flow.
SU (11/16), 10am, Hickory Nut Gap Farm, 57 Sugar Hollow Rd, Fairview
Sunday Morning Meditation Group
The Sunday Morning Meditation Group will gather for a combination of silent sitting and walking meditation.
SU (11/16), 10am, The Lodge at Quietude, 1130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain
Sunday Sound Baths
These sound experiences weave reiki and sound for nervous system regulation and energetic balance.
SU (11/16), noon, Ritual Skin and Wellness, 802 Fairview Rd building 3000 Ste 11
Dr. Grant Gym Rats
A fun and active P.E. program specifically for homeschooled students that offers a variety
of physical activities, games, and sports.
MO (11/17), 11:45am, Dr Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St
Chair Aerobics Workout
A well rounded workout that helps reduce the risk of falling, alleviates joint pain, increases flexibility and range of motion.
TU (11/18), noon, Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Rd
Training w/Tre for Teens
This teen exercise program will help you begin your fitness journey.
TU (11/18), 6:15pm, Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave
Intro to the Fitness Center
Tour the Stephens-Lee fitness center and learn how to use each machine and receive lots of encouragement to keep you on track.
TH (11/20), 1pm, Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave
SUPPORT GROUPS
Virtual Listening Circle
This free virtual listening circle offers a judgement-free, trauma-informed spaced to gather, reset and reflect-together Register at avl.mx/f29.
WE (11/12, 19), noon, Online
Disordered Eating & Eating Disorders
This support group is peer-led and facilitated by licensed therapists & dietitians specializing in eating disorders. Register at avl.mx/es6. WE (11/12, 19), 6pm, Online
Caregiver Support Group w/Stronger Together Wellness
Empowering stroke survivors and their caregivers through shared experiences, a vibrant community that inspires healing, resilience, and
WHATEVER IT TAKES
‘Public
• Clothing
• Management of chronic diseases
• Sick visits
• Minor injuries
• Lab services
• Pharmacy services
•
• HVAC
• Weatherproofing
• Accessibility modifications like wheelchair ramps
We serve neighbors living in the Swannanoa Valley from the VA Hospital east to the Buncombe/McDowell county line.
Copland Rudolph is the executive director of Asheville City Schools Foundation (ACSF), an education nonprofit dedicated to helping students thrive.
Xpress: What is your organization’s most urgent need, and how can community members provide assistance, financially or otherwise?
Rudolph: The attacks on public education impact all of us. Public schools are the foundation of our democracy and the one place where children from every background come together to learn and grow into engaged citizens. Vote for leaders who vote to fully fund our public schools, respect educators and refuse to use our tax dollars for private schools — 93% of which engage in exclusionary practices and have no accountability measures to taxpayers.
What is a recent accomplishment within your organization that you’d like more community members to know about? How, if at all, will this achievement impact local residents?
ACSF provides pre-K-12 grade funding and programming. Our In Real Life program enters year 16 of providing fully accessible after-school experiences for middle schoolers to live a curious life. Our high school programs provide four years of leadership development and have young people presenting at national and statewide conferences on creating a culture of belonging at school. From our mayor to our sheriff, Asheville City Schools delivers leaders today and tomorrow for Asheville.
Are there any upcoming initiatives within your organization that you can tell our readers about and how they can get involved?
On Thursday, Feb. 26, ACSF will be hosting our first EDTalks — a TEDx-style event where eight Asheville City Schools educators and several incredible high school students will take the stage to explore the theme “Education is freedom.” Please join us at A-B Tech at 7 p.m. to show our public school educators the respect and appreciation they deserve. Tickets will be on sale on Monday, Jan. 26, at acsf.org. Have federal cuts impacted your organization? If so, in what ways have they affected your operations?
When federal cuts happen in tandem with North Carolina legislators refusing to pass a state budget, our schools are impacted, and our foundation must respond to needs beyond our capacity. For the first time in our 38-year history, we are receiving emergency assistance requests from teachers who can no longer survive in Asheville on a teacher’s salary. North Carolina is 48th in funding effort, and our county’s funding effort is not where it should be. X
Whether you’re exploring sobriety, new to recovery, or have been on this path for a while, you are welcome here.
TH (11/13), 6:30pm, American Legion Post #2, 851 Haywood Rd
Staying Grounded in Shaky Times
It will explore a variety of spiritual practices including meditation, breathwork, meditative movement and more.
MO (11/17), 2pm, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave
Reconnecting Through Hard Times
In this 1-hour virtual training you’ll gain an understanding of how hard times affect us all, and what to do or say for others when it matters most. Register at avl.mx/f0s
TH (11/20), noon, 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.
A group collective that gathers to talk about encounters with visual, tactile, sensational, or fringe experiences with life and the interaction of energy.
TH (11/20), 6pm, 12 Baskets Cafe, 610 Haywood Rd
TEAM Fertility Monthly Community Night
These monthly gatherings offering education, healing modalities, and a chance to connect with others walking a similar path on a Fertility Journey.
Featuring beginner and advanced classes that’s open to everyone. This event is hosted by Kristey.
WE (11/12, 19), 6pm, Eda’s Hide-a-Way, 1098 New Stock Rd, Weaverville Live Band Latin Night Wednesday w/LA Sonora Carolina
A high-energy salsa orchestra bringing salsa dura classics. Dance lesson start at 8:30 p.m.
and dance social is for all ages.
WE (11/12), 8pm, One World Brewing West, 520 Haywood Rd
Open-Level Adult Ballet Class (Ages 16+)
Whether you’re a first-timer or returning to the barre, this class offers physical and emotional benefits through timeless technique.
WE (11/12, 19), 6:30pm, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W State St, Black Mountain
BMCA Dance: Kids in Motion 2
This class focuses on growing the foundations needed for many dance techniques, including contemporary, ballet, jazz, and lyrical.
TH (11/13, 19), 3:45pm, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W State St, Black Mountain
We Line Dance
Brenda Mills leads an all-inclusive exercise class using line dancing to get your body moving.
TH (11/13), 6:15pm, Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave
BMCA Dance: Contemporary 3 (Ages 13 - 16)
This class fuses contemporary, modern, lyrical, and jazz styles for diverse dance knowledge. Designed for experienced teens to refine artistry, technique, and performance.
TH (11/13, 19), 6:45pm, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W State St, Black Mountain
Bilingual Family Zumba
Get ready to dance, laugh, and get active to an easy-to-follow workout that is perfect for all ages and fitness levels.
SU (11/16), 11:15am, Asheville YMCA, 30 Woodfin St
Monday Night Contra Dance
Contra dancing is a fun, social dance for everyone. Follow a lesson at 7 p.m. and then dance to a live band and caller at 7:30 p.m.
MO (11/17), 7:30pm, A-B Tech, 340 Victoria Rd
Open-Level Adult Contemporary Dance (Ages 16+)
Rediscover your love of movement in this drop-in Adult Contemporary class. Blend modern, lyrical, and jazz elements in a supportive, body-positive environment.
WE (11/19), 5:30pm, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W State St, Black Mountain
Latin Night Wednesday w/DJ Mtn Vibez
A Latin dance social featuring salsa, bachata, merengue, cumbia, and reggaeton with dance lessons for all skill levels.
WE (11/19), 8pm, One World Brewing West, 520 Haywood Rd
ART
Artful Living: The Spirit of the Craftsman Style
Through clay, canvas, wood, and metal, Artful Living explores the soul of the Craftsman ethos—simplicity, utility, and harmony with the natural world.
Gallery open Monday through Sunday, 10am. Exhibition through Dec. 31. Grovewood Gallery, 111 Grovewood Rd
Opening Reception: Peace Passion & Perseverance
This exhibition invites artists to reflect on the pursuit of inner peace through passion and determination. Through their artwork, they will share a visual expression of growth, healing, and purpose.
FR (11/14), 5pm, Red House Gallery, 101 Cherry St, Black Mountain
Temple of Seaweed Presents: Watermark Exhibition
Featuring the photographs of 21 photographers, this exhibition gathers an impressive visual record of loss, resilience, and community.
SA (11/15), 1pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain
Urban Landscape
Conspiracy
A group show of three artists depicting urban-landscapes. Come see how shadows and unusual vantage points can bring a composition to life.
SA (11/15), 5pm, Little Animals Space, 31 Carolina Ln, Asgeville Raw & Unfiltered Exhibition
This exhibition features 25 local artists showing multiple perspectives and styles. It will feature art medias such as stained glass, painting, drawing, photography, collage, printmaking, ceramic, quilt making and more. Gallery open daily, noon. Exhibition through Dec. 6.
Flood Gallery, 802 Fairview Rd Ste 1200
Michelle Hamilton: Rising from the River Hamilton's work is a joyful exploration of encaustics, mixed media, and resin, where bold colors and layered textures converge to create harmonious
compositions. Gallery open Monday through Friday, 10am. Exhibition through Nov. 26.
Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W State St, Black Mountain
North Carolina Glass
2025
A landmark exhibition that will spotlight the work of both established and emerging artists pushing the boundaries of glass as a contemporary art form. Gallery open Tuesday through Friday, 10am. Exhibition through Dec. 12
WCU Bardo Arts Center, 199 Centennial Dr, Cullowhee
Points in Space: Performance
This exhibition will feature visual and timebased artworks that echo BMC’s innovative spirit from 1933 to 1957. BMC was a nexus of avant-garde activity, fostering innovation through collaboration and experiential learning. Gallery open Tuesday through Saturday, 11am. Exhibition through Jan. 10, 2026.
Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center, 120 College St
Bachelor of Fine Art Portfolio Exhibition
2025
This exhibition highlights their comprehensive course of study at WCU’s School of Art & Design and serves as a preface to their forthcoming careers as professional artists. Gallery open Tuesday through Friday, 10am. Exhibition through Dec. 5.
WCU Bardo Arts Center, 199 Centennial Dr, Cullowhee
Lasting Legacies:
Architecture in Asheville by Richard Sharp Smith, Albert Heath Carrier & Douglas D. Ellington
Lasting Legacies
shines a spotlight on the contributions of two of the city’s most prominent architectural firms to Asheville’s built environment and artistic spirit in the early decades of the 20th century. Gallery open Wednesday through Sunday, 11am. Exhibition through Jan. 18, 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
COMMUNITY MUSIC
Chopin: Master of the Modern Piano Award-winning pianist William Yang, 2025 National Chopin Competition winner, performs an intimate all-Chopin recital with the Chopin Foundation.
despair.
SU (11/16), 3pm, Sink Building, 130 Eagles Reach Dr, Flat Rock
Tom Eure & Amelia Osborne
fight against injustice.
MO (11/17), 7:30pm, The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave
Sandbox Percussion
the instructor you will have time to complete your masterpiece.
a piece of bass wood.
TH (11/13), 4pm, Trackside Studios, 375 Depot St
onto the silver, and repeat until your piece is complete.
Watercolor Collage
SA (11/15), 11am, Ignite Jewelry Studios, 84 Walnut St Unit A
52 local nonprofits need your help! Over $280,000 in matching donations GIVELOCALGUIDE.ORG
TH (11/13), 7:30pm, Parker Concert Hall at Brevard Music Center, 349 Andante Ln, Brevard
Deep River Plays The Eagles’ Greatest Hits Come celebrate Deep River’s 33rd year of making music with a special show featuring the greatest hits of one of America’s legendary bands
SA (11/15), 7:30pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain
Four Seasons Chamber Orchestra Fall Concert 2025: Dreams & Visions
The concert features an ethereal and emotive selection of musical compositions with themes along French Impressionism, contrasts of darkness and light, hope and
Tom Eure and Amelia Osborne are a lively Carolina folk pair from the Charlotte area who offer a melding of Celtic, Appalachian and spiritual influences.
SU (11/16), 4pm, Parish Hall of St John in the Wilderness, 1905 Greenville Hwy, Flat Rock
Wes Collins Band Come for a haunting melody and some intricate fingerpicking and stay for the wit and deep literary intelligence.
SU (11/16), 5:30pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain
Celebrating the Life of Hazel Dickens: Curated by Melissa McKinney Hazel Dickens was a prolific Songwriter from West Virginia. Local musician Melissa McKinney, also from WV, curated this show to honor women who have and who continue to use their voice to
Sandbox Percussion is a quartet that shares meaningful musical experiences with communities worldwide through performance, collaboration, and education.
WE (11/19), 7pm, Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center, 120 College St
UNCA Jazz Night w/ Dr. William Bares
A night of incredible jazz with pianist, composer, scholar and educator William Bares, a professor or music and co-director of jazz studies at UNC Asheville.
WE (11/19), 7pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd, Black Mountain
COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS
Simply Charmed: Drop In Workshop
Choose from more than 60 styles of metal stamps and a variety of jewelers hammers to complete your charm. After a quick demo by
WE (11/12, 19), TU (11/18), 11am, Ignite Jewelry Studios, 84 Walnut St Unit A Change Your Palate Cooking Demo
This free lunchtime food demonstration is open to all but tailored towards those with type 2 diabetes or hypertension and/or their caretakers.
WE (11/12), noon, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave
QuickBooks Online: Bookkeeping for Your Small Business Participants will learn account set up and customization, invoicing, bill entry and reconciliation, monthly reports, financial reviews, and tips for audit-ready books.
TH (11/13), 10am, A-B Tech Small Business Center, 1465 Sand Hill Rd, Candler
Pyrography Art Class
This workshop will teach you the basic safety and techniques to begin your journey with pyrography. After some practice, you will create a piece of art on
Blind Tiger
An evening of watercolor and collage. Miranda will bring all of the supplies and share her techniques for creating abstract landscapes.
TH (11/13), 5pm, Blind Tiger Asheville, 173 East Chestnut St
Watercolor Workshop: Holiday cards
All supplies needed for the class will be provided by the instructor, including high quality paint, brushes and paper.
FR (11/14), 9am, Red House Gallery & Studios, 101 Cherry St, Black Mountain
Ornament Making Workshop
One ticket per artist will get that artist five ornaments or small gifts which we will glaze later at the studio for you with colors of your choice.
SA (11/15), 10am, St George’s Episcopal Church, 1 School Rd
Enamel a Silver Charm
You’ll sift the enamel onto the silver charm then fire it in a kiln to flow the glass enamel
There’s a Place (setting) For You In this 3 hour class you’ll be be given all of the instruction and materials to create your own 3 piece bespoke placesetting.
SU (11/16), 10am, AVL Clay Community Ceramics Studio, 4 Mulvaney St Home Remedies Workshop
Learn to create poultices, healing salves, herbal-infused honeys, herbal syrups, tinctures and more, utilizing ingredients that you may have at home.
SU (11/16), 1pm, Orenda Farms, 15 Cane Creek Ln, Fairview Y12SR: Yoga & 12 Step Recovery Open to anyone, especially those impacted by substance use and behavioral health concerns.
MO (11/17), 4:30pm, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave
Therapeutic Recreation Adaptive Archery Lessons are offered at a slower pace during a
three-week non competitive introductory archery program for persons with different abilities.
MO (11/17), 6pm, Tempie Avery Montford Community Center, 34 Pearson Ave
Tax Planning for Your Small Business
This workshop will teach you ways to eliminate unwelcome surprises by knowing what your tax bill is likely to be and help you identify ways to create a budget ahead of time.
TU (11/18), 6pm, A-B Tech Madison and NCWorks Career Center, 4646 US Hwy 25/70, Marshall
Access to Capital
Whether you’re a start-up or interested in growing your business, this workshop is here to guide you through the process to secure a business loan. Register at avl.mx/f6x.
TH (11/20), 11am, Online
LITERARY
Poetry Open Mic
This open mic welcomes any form of artistic expression
from poetry to improv theatre to music to dance.
WE (11/12, 19), 8:30pm, Sovereign Kava, 268 Biltmore Ave
Reading Party
Spend the evening sipping from a bookthemed drink menu, curling up with your story, and connecting with fellow readers at your own pace.
MO (11/17), 6pm, Peri Social House, 406 W State St, Black Mountain
Flooded Poetry
Mondays
Poetry-specific open mic, starring you plus weekly featured readers.
MO (11/17), 6:30pm, Flood Gallery, 802 Fairview Rd Ste 1200
Asheville StorySLAM: Cheat
Prepare a five-minute story about deceit. Pulling a fast one or being played for a fool. Counting cards, forbidden flings, tax evasion, and adventures in plagiarism.
TH (11/20), 7:30pm, The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave
THEATER & FILM
Kids Movie Night
A free kid's movie night every Monday and Thursday. TH (11/13, 20), MO (11/17), 5:30pm, Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co., 675 Merrimon Ave
When We Were Queen: Murielle Elizéon & Shana Tucker
A powerful multidisciplinary performance presented as a diptych. TH (11/13), 7pm, Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center, 120 College St
Wuthering Heights:
The Musical
This story revolves around the passionate and tumultuous romance between Heathcliff, an enigmatic outsider, and Catherine Earnshaw, a spirited and headstrong young woman.
TH (11/13), FR (11/14), SA (11/15), SU (11/17), 7:30pm, Bebe Theater, 20 Commerce St
Foreign Film Fridays: Ciao Professore!
An error puts a strict teacher, Paolo Villaggio, from northern Italy with street-smart third graders to the south.
Light refreshments available. FR (11/14), 7pm, Flood Gallery, 802 Fairview Rd Ste 1200 Mitch Emoff: Reconstitution Leaders of different high school student groups are assigned to re-enact the framer’s debate at the Constitutional Convention, while several key founding fathers inhabit students’ bodies to finish the job they started. See p50 FR (11/14), SA (11/15), SU (11/16), 2pm, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 West State St, Black Mountain
The Thanksgiving Play Good intentions collide with absurd assumptions as a troupe of terminally woke teaching artists scrambles to create a pageant that somehow manages to celebrate both Turkey Day and Native American Heritage Month.
FR (11/14), SA (11/15), TH (11/20), 7:30pm, SU (11/16), 2:30pm, Attic Salt Theatre, The Mills at Riverside, 2002 Riverside Dr, Ste 42-O Let It Be Art! Ronald Rand portrays legendary theater visionary Harold Clur-
man which aims to uplifts, awakens, and re-affirms the goodness and humanity in us all.
SU (11/16), 12:15pm, Community Commons at CSL Asheville, 3 Science of Mind Way
The Spiritual Journey of an American Jewish Woman
This musical was conceived in the midst of Hurricane Helene as a collaboration by Asheville and Nashville musicians promoting a message of peace, hope, and a search for meaning in life.
SU (11/16), 3pm, Jewish Community Center, 236 Charlotte St
Misfit Improv Comedy Show
A night of improvised scenes, songs, games, and non-stop laughter based on audience suggestions.
SU (11/16), 6pm, NC Stage Co., 15 Stage Ln Horror Movies
Every Sunday will feature Cagney’s cult classics but you’ll never know what will be showed until the lights go dark.
Take a midday break and unwind with classic public-domain films in the cozy, living-room style basement of the Local Collective. MO (11/17), noon, The Local Collective, 52 S Main St, Weaverville Film Screening: The Last Letter Writer David Raymond and Trong Nguyen have made a film about a day in the life of a public letter writer in Ho Chi Minh City. TH (11/20), 5pm, Little Animals Space, 31 Carolina Ln
MEETINGS & PROGRAMS
The In's & Out's of Having a NC Food Business
Whether you are farm hoping to expand your products or an established business wanting to add new products or maybe a food truck, this program might be for you.
WE (11/12), 9am, A-B Tech Small Business Center, 1465 Sand Hill Rd, Candler
12/31/2025
WHATEVER IT TAKES
‘A milestone powered by community action’
Alicia Heacock and Meagan Lyon Leimena are the co-executive directors of Babies Need Bottoms, a nonprofit that aims to to improve the lives of babies, toddlers and parents in Western North Carolina through diaper distribution, community awareness and partnerships.
Xpress: What is your organization’s most urgent need, and how can community members provide assistance, financially or otherwise?
Heacock and Lyon Leimena: Since 2017, Babies Need Bottoms has supported WNC families with essential diapering and hygiene supplies. With WIC and SNAP disrupted by the government shutdown, demand is surging. Our most needed items are infant formula, preemie diapers and size 7 diapers. Families rely on our partners, and our partners rely on us. You can help by donating funds, hosting a diaper drive or volunteering. Every action you take helps babies in WNC stay clean, dry and healthy.
What is a recent accomplishment within your organization that you’d like more community members to know about? How, if at all, will this achievement impact local residents?
Babies Need Bottoms recently distributed our 2.5 millionth diaper across WNC — a milestone powered by community action. In response to Hurricane Helene, we launched new initiatives to meet urgent needs: the Newest Neighbors Diaper Drive for preemie and newborn diapers, a Formula Fund for infant nutrition and New Baby/New Mom Kits to support families from Day 1. These efforts ensure that every baby — and every caregiver — has a stronger start, thanks to our neighbors who choose to show up.
Are there any upcoming initiatives within your organization that you can tell our readers about and how they can get involved?
Diaper need doesn’t pause — and neither do we. Every day, babies in WNC need clean diapers. Every day, parents need formula to nourish their children. We can all step up to help.
Whether you donate, volunteer or follow and share our organization, your action builds a healthier tomorrow for babies and caregivers across our community. Have federal cuts impacted your organization? If so, in what ways have they affected your operations?
Yes, federal policy changes and the government shutdown are straining WIC and SNAP access, leaving more families without essentials. As a result, Babies Need Bottoms is seeing a sharp rise in emergency requests for diapers, wipes and infant formula. Our shelves are under pressure, and our partners are relying on us more than ever. Community support is critical to help us meet this growing need and ensure babies across WNC stay clean, dry and healthy. X
Alicia Heacock, left, and Meagan Lyon Leimena, co-executive directors of Babies Need Bottoms. Photo by Katie Richard
Men's Garden Club of Asheville
Master Gardener Phil Roudebush is our guest speaker for this program featuring gardening myths and misconceptions.
WE (11/12), 11:30am, East Asheville Library, 902 Tunnel Rd
Southside Cyber Wednesday
Dive into the exciting world of e-sports and gaming with two powerful PlayStation 5 consoles.
WE (11/12, 19), 6pm, Dr Wesley Grant Sr.
Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St
IBN Biz Lunch:
Brevard/Pisgah
Incredible Towns of WNC invites you to WNC's largest free and independent Business Networking group.
A mentor group that offers an opportunity for young men ages 14-19 to engage in open discussion regarding the problems they encounter and more.
TH (11/13), 6pm, Dr Wesley Grant Sr.
Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St
Tarot w/Cats
This 1-hour workshop will include a brief history of the tarot, and how to incorporate a one- and three-card pull for daily guidance.
FR (11/14), 5:30pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd
Awaken: A Morning Ritual for the Senses
Ease into your Sunday with a sensory journey designed to awaken presence, play, and possibility.
SU (11/16), 10am, The Restoration Hotel Asheville, 68 Patton Ave
Coloring w/Cats
Take 50 minutes for yourself and cuddle with the panthers, meet other cat-lovers, and color a beautiful picture of a cat from our adult coloring books.
SU (11/16), 2pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd
Monday Marketing
Meetup
A collaborative marketing meetup where entrepreneurs and creatives share what they're working on, exchange ideas, and support each other's next steps.
MO (11/17), 1pm, The Local Collective, 52 S Main St, Weaverville
UNC Asheville's Undergraduate Research & Creative Activity Fall Sympo-
sium A semi-annual event that showcases capstone projects and other scholarship of students across disciplines.
TU (11/18), 8am, UNCA, 1 University Heights
Treks Hiking Club for Adults 50+
A low-impact hiking club offering leisurely-paced hikes for active adults 50 or better. Bring lunch, water, good walking shoes, and dress for the weather.
TU (11/18), 9:30am, Murphy-Oakley Community Center, 749 Fairview Rd
Lunch N' Learn: Are Your Affairs in Order?
Award winning, retired attorney provides free advice on how to prepare for the future and leave a legacy.
TU (11/18), 11:30am, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave
IBN Biz Lunch: Arden
All are invited to attend and promote their business, products, and services, and meet new referral contacts.
TU (11/18), noon, Wild Wing Cafe South, 65 Long Shoals Rd, Arden Self Defense w/Freya Self defense to empower women, girls, and all marginalized genders with practical self defense skills.
TU (11/18), 5:30pm, All Bodies Movement and Wellness, 211 Merrimon Ave
We Are The Ones
This is a space for real talk, deep connection, and conscious spiritual practice. When we gather with intention and love, anything is possible.
WE (11/19), 3:30pm, Community Commons at CSL Asheville, 3 Science of Mind Way
Tarot Community Circle
Each week we will cover different topics, so every class will provide new information. Bring a deck based on the system of the Rider Waite Smith tarot.
WE (11/19), 6pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd
NSA-WNC Meeting
Professional keynote speakers, coaches, trainers, facilitators, and consultants who cover a broad range of topics, skills and knowledge.
Put your skills to the test at Grove Street's famous annual pie contest where judges grade on overall taste, texture, and originality.
TH (11/20), 2pm, Grove St Community Center, 36 Grove St
GAMES & CLUBS
Mothership: Sci-fi
Horror RPG
Explore derelict spacecraft, unravel ancient mysteries, and confront grotesque alien entities.
SA (11/15), 12:30pm, Dr Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St
Bid Whist
Make bids, call trumps, and win the tricks every Saturday with your community.
SA (11/15), 1pm, Dr Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St
Community Bingo
Play everyone’s favorite game for free in the historic Stephens-Lee building. Small prizes awarded to winner of each game.
SA (11/15), 1pm, Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave 828 Golf Sim Saturdays
Every Saturday in November, 828 Golf
Sim will be on the brew deck with free to play golf simulator.
SA (11/15), 4pm, Green Man Brewery, 27 Buxton Ave
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 (11/16), 1:30pm, Stephens Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave
Collage Club
Show up around 6 with some supplies, and we’ll drink beer and make some collages. All levels and skill sets welcome.
MO (11/17), 6pm, Leveller Brewing Co., 25 N Main St, Weaverville Ping Pong Tournament
Come by and shoot your shot against some of the best ping pong players in town. Free to enter and $50 bar tab to the winner.
MO (11/17), 6pm, Sovereign Kava, 268 Biltmore Ave
Pool Night Pool night, every Monday night with a $5 buy in. Must be signed up by 7 p.m.
MO (11/17), 6:30pm, Eda’s Hide-a-Way, 1098 New Stock Rd, Weaverville
Puzzle Power Double Hour
Work individually or in small groups to complete a tricky puzzle within a timed challenge of two hours while socializing and completing the bigger picture.
TU (11/18), 1pm, Tempie Avery Montford Community Center, 34 Pearson Ave
Music Bingo w/ Spencer
Bring your friends to Taproom Tuesdays featuring Music Bingo with Spencer and rotating food trucks.
TU (11/18), 6pm, Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Hwy, Ste 200
Asheville Board Game Club Meet-Up
Featuring a wide variety of tabletop games—from light party games to deep strategy favorites.
WE (11/19), 5:30pm, Well Played, 162 Coxe Ave, Ste 101
Music Bingo w/DJ Spence
Featuring a music bingo night hosted by DJ Spence with special prizes to win.
WE (11/19), 6pm, Green Man Brewery, 27 Buxton Ave
Senior Games Track & Field Club
Practice sprints, starts, and jumps or just get some exercise around the city’s brand new track.
TH (11/20), 1pm, Memorial Stadium, 32 Buchanan Pl
KID-FRIENDLY PROGRAMS
Family Story Time
A fun and interactive story time designed for children ages 18 months to 3 years.
WE (11/12, 19), 10:30am, Black Mountain Library, Black Mountain
Black Cat Tales: Story Time w/Cats
Foster a love of reading in your kiddos while also socializing the cats in the lounge.
WE (11/12, 19), TH (11/13), FR (11/14), 4pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd
Baby Storytime
A lively language enrichment story time designed for children ages 4 to 18 months.
TH (11/13, 20), 10:30am, Black Mountain Library, Black Mountain
Kids & Teens Xing Yi Learn complete systems of Xing Yi, Baguazhang, and Taiji, including weapons and sparring as optional classes.
TH (11/13), 4pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave
Coloring w/Cats: Kiddie Edition
An artistic session with coloring books and markers for children ages 13 and under to relax by coloring as they pet cats to reduce stress and anxiety.
Lunch & Learn
KNOWLEDGE IS ON THE MENU
THURSDAY, NOV. 20TH • 11AM-1PM
Reimagining retirement has never been easier. Come enjoy a presentation about Givens Gerber Park: a more affordable rental retirement option (55+) and enjoy lunch on us. Monthly fees are all-inclusive based on income. RSVP required.
SA (11/15), 1pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd
Growing in Motion
A joyful and engaging movement class designed for toddlers ages 2-5 and their caregivers.
MO (11/17), 10am, Dr Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St
Kids Cooking Class
A kids’ cooking class where the focus is on easy, fun, and collaborative recipes that your child can learn and become more independent in the kitchen.
MO (11/17), 5:30pm, Burton Street Community Center, 134 Burton St
Tiny Tykes Discovery
Time: Oh the Places
We Will Go Offering a variety of activities during playtime for toddlers to explore different aspects of learning while having fun.
TU (11/18), 10am, Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave
Tiny Tykes Play Dates
Open play for toddlers to explore bikes, balls, inflatables, and climbing structures.
WE (11/19), 10am, Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave
Little Monkeys
A mix of fun games and activities for little adventurers who love to climb and scramble their way around the house.
TH (11/20), 10am, Tempie Avery Montford Community Center, 34 Pearson Ave
LOCAL MARKETS
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. Open year-round.
WE (11/12, 19), 3pm, 60 Lake Shore Dr Weaverville
East Asheville Tailgate Market
Featuring over 25 vendors selling meat, seafood, produce, flow-
ers, bread, eggs, baked goods, fruit, herbs, sweet treats, tamales, and more. Every Friday through Nov. 21. FR (11/14), 3pm, Groce
United Methodist Church, 954 Tunnel Rd
North Asheville
Tailgate Market
Browse from over 70 vendors that will be offering sustainably produced produce, meats, eggs, cheeses, breads, honey, plants, prepared foods, crafts and more.
SA (11/15), 8am, 275 Edgewood Rd
Asheville City Market
A producer-only market featuring local food products, including fresh produce, meat, cheese, bread, pastries, and other artisan products. Every Saturday through December.
SA (11/15), 9am, 52 N Market St
Black Mountain Tailgate Market
A seasonal community event featuring organic and sustainably grown produce, plants, cut flowers, herbs, local raised meats, seafood, breads, pastries, cheeses, eggs and locally handcrafted items. Every Saturday
through Nov. 22.
SA (11/15), 9am, 130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain Holiday Bulb Market
This market will feature several different types of big amaryllis bulbs, two kinds of paperwhite bulbs, potted plants, assorted greens, holiday bouquets and more.
SA (11/15), 9am, Bloom WNC Flower Farm, 806 North Fork Rd
Swannanoa Farmers Market
This market will feature farm-fresh produce, local honey, eggs, baked goods, and delicious eats. You'll also find handmade jewelry, artwork, fiber crafts, wooden utensils, yard art, apothecary essentials, and more.
This year-round market features locally grown produce, fruits and vegetables, mountain crafts, plants, shops, arts and crafts, sourwood honey, and other farm fresh items. Open daily, 8am.
570 Brevard Rd
Honky Tonk Flea
Discover unique antique treasures, vintage gems, and handmade goods while listening to the best honky tonk vinyls.
SU (11/16), 11am, Eda's Hide-a-Way, 1098 New Stock Rd, Weaverville
FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS
NC Medicinal Herb Grower & Buyer Event
The not-to-miss event for medicinal herb growers wanting to connect to potential buyers. It's also an opportunity for growers to share product samples of available herbs and planting stock.
TH (11/13), 2pm, Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center, 455 Research Dr, Mills River
5th Annual Holiday Craft Fair w/The Get Right Band
Check out an array of local vendors, all from WNC. Support local this holiday season and keep small businesses strong in our community while you listening to music from The Get Right Band.
SA (11/15), noon, Pisgah Brewing Co., 2948 US Hwy 70 W, Black Mountain
2025 National Gingerbread House Competition: Child/ Youth Registration
Whether you're craving a festive challenge, looking to bake your creative ideas into reality, or joining the ginger-crew, this is your opportunity.
SA (11/15), 1pm, The Omni Grove Park Inn, 290 Macon Ave
7th Annual Vessels of Merriment
Vessels of Merriment celebrates ceramic vessels designed for sipping, serving, and savoring beloved libations. Each piece reflects the passion, skill, and heart of the artists who bring them to life.
SA (11/15), 2pm, Grovewood Gallery, 111 Grovewood Rd
Light Room Grand Opening
An afternoon of art, music, and community. Tour the space, meet local artists, and enjoy light refreshments.
An Evening of Ghosthorse Stories & Songs w/Ashley Heath & Dave Quinn
Celebrate the life and legacy of J.R. Ghosthorse with Ashley Heath and Dave Quinn. It will be an evening of song and story.
WE (11/19), 6pm, Pisgah Brewing Co., 2948 US Hwy 70 W, Black Mountain
16th Annual Handmade Holiday Sale
This event features high-quality, handmade gifts created by students, staff, and alumni. Items for sale include artwork, ceramics, wearable accessories, woodwork, and a variety of other handmade craft items.
TH (11/20), 10am, WCU Bardo Arts Center, 199 Centennial Dr, Cullowhee
BENEFITS & VOLUNTEERING
Oakley Community Closet
A cost-free opportunity to donated shop clothes, shoes, and toys.
WE (11/12), 1pm, Murphy-Oakley Community Center, 749 Fairview Rd
Blackhawk Bolt 5k & 1 Mile Fun Run
The 4th annual Blackhawk Bolt 5k & 1 Mile Run Run is a unique road-to-trail race taking place fully on the campus of North Buncombe High School to benefit the NBHS PTSO.
SA (11/15), 10am, North Buncombe High School, 890 Clarks Chapel Rd, Weaverville Pedal Stroke 2025
This year’s event will bring bands Several Dudes, Karma Dogs, and Mission Accomplished to the stage for an evening of music and FUNdraising for the United Stroke Alliance and Asheville on Bikes.
SU (11/16), 5:30pm, The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave
Low-Cost Community Neuter Clinic
Please schedule and pay for your appointment prior to showing up. Appointments and additional services can be scheduled at avl.mx/dlq.
TH (11/20), 9am, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd
The Pollinators Foundation for Wellness & Social Healing cultivates joy, resilience, and compassionate connection through art, movement, and community care.
Founded in 2022 by Marga Fripp and Geanina Fripp Emerson, we believe healing is a human right Together, we’re ending the stigma around mental health and creating inclusive spaces for healing.
Our Approach
We offer compassionate, affordable, trauma-informed healing arts for anyone facing stress, illness, grief, or mental-health challenges.
All are welcome. No one is turned away for financial hardship.
We support individuals, families, caregivers, and elders across WNC — anyone seeking healing, connection, or renewal. Through local partnerships, we bring accessible programs to vulnerable and underserved communities. Who We Serve
The Healing Hive
Our creative studio and plant sanctuary at Folkmoot in Waynesville blends art, movement, and nature-based healing. Plant donations from local growers help us keep pollinating beauty and connection in the community.
Wellness Services
• Mindful Movement Qigong
• Healing Arts Workshops
• Nature-Based Healing
• Compassion Circles
• Mental Health Awareness
• Educational Programs
• Private Art Therapy
• Qigong & Creative Retreats for Children, Adults & Groups
Join the Healing Movement
Volunteer, Donate, or Sponsor a program to expand access to healing arts, end the stigma around mental health, and nurture a community where everyone belongs.
Time for reflection
BY FORREST RIVERS
Dear Readers,
My name is Forrest. And I have lived in Western North Carolina for a decade now. My personal journey on the path of conscious living began in 2013 on an inspiring trip to Maui, Hawaii. On that enchanted island, I experienced a transcendental moment that awakened my consciousness. While standing on a majestic cliff overlooking the crystal blue ocean, I became aware of my connection (or of our connection) to a greater presence that is everywhere and in everything.
When I returned home from that trip, I sought to integrate this spiritual experience in my life through attending weekly meditations at a unique Buddhist center in Nashville, Tenn., where I was living at the time. Despite my experience in Maui, I still felt hopelessly confused as to what my direction was in life. All I knew was that my abuse of alcohol was no longer serving me. And so, I went in search of a refuge, a community, to help ease my inner discomfort and heal the shame I had been quietly suffering through. What I found in these soulful Sunday evening dharma sessions was a practice to live more fully in the present moment and to surrender to life’s ebbs and flows. That practice was mediation. And as I soon discovered it, this practice began to radically transform my life for the better.
Through meditation, I quit drinking, and I began to feel a deeper con-
nection to myself, nature and others. Only one year later, I moved away from Nashville to these glorious mountains to directly experience the sacredness of a land which the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) have called “the great blue hills of God.”
While hiking in the healing forests of Western North Carolina, I soon realized that my life’s purpose was to help guide other people to live more connected and peaceful lives through the vehicles of mindfulness meditation and nature.
And so, I enrolled and completed training to become a certified meditation teacher. Soon after, I began hosting weekly meditation gatherings at multiple colleges (including at Western Carolina University, where I currently teach full time under my birth name), and I began delivering talks and workshops at spiritual centers on a range of spiritual themes.
In the process, I also rediscovered a childhood passion of mine: writing. Since that fateful day on the tropical cliffs of Hawaii, I have
gone on to author two self-help books (with a third soon on the way) and I have been a regular contributor to several well-known online mindfulness/yoga journals. I have also been invited as a guest on many conscious living podcasts and radio shows. The No. 1 thing that I have taken away from my own spiritual journey is that the seeds of compassion, peace and wisdom live inside each one of us. And these seeds are just waiting to sprout through the nourishing waters of our own loving awareness.
WHAT TO EXPECT EACH MONTH
Each month in this column, we will explore a mindfulness-related theme that is set against the backdrop of these beautiful mountains and community that we call home. Together, we will delve deeply into some of the following topics:
• How to find purpose in our lives and why it’s important to do so.
• The importance of slowing down the fast pace of our lives.
• How we can tap into our innate creativity and why it matters to do so.
• How to build conscious communities.
• How to deepen our connection with nature through meditation and prayer.
I will also interview and incorporate responses from you, the reader, into these articles to give a distinct voice to our shared experience as Western North Carolinians. Of course, this column will also provide practical tips and advice on how to live more consciously and with greater awareness. Additionally, at the end of each article, I will leave you with a question to contemplate that will set the stage for the next month’s theme.
Please, always feel free to send me an email with your reflections to our monthly contemplative question. And if you desire, please also provide me with your written consent to use your reflection(s) in any future articles. As a vehicle of self-expression and soulful sharing, this column is as much yours as it is mine!
MINDFULNESS AND CONSCIOUS LIVING
Before we set off on this journey, I would like to clarify the meaning of a few phrases central to this column: “mindfulness” and “conscious living.”
According to the mindfulness website mindful.org, mindfulness can be defined as follows:
“Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and aware of your current experience — without overreacting or getting lost in thoughts.”
And conscious living, according to the late and great spiritual teacher Ram Dass, can be described as the following:
“Conscious living is about living with awareness, presence and compassion. And it is about recognizing
the interconnectedness of all things and moving beyond ego-identification to a place of love and service. It involves cultivating a sense of being ‘right here, right now,’ observing one’s thoughts and emotions without judgment, and using life’s experiences, even challenges, as opportunities for personal growth and awakening.”
As you can see, there is quite a bit of overlap between these two concepts. As we become more mindful through practices such as meditation, we will naturally learn to live more consciously. And as we live more consciously, mindfulness will become our way of life. Learning to live more mindfully and consciously may well be our path to creating a more harmonious world.
MONTHLY CONTEMPLATIVE QUESTION
Where do you find meaning and purpose in your life living in Western North Carolina?
Feel free to email your responses to me via email: Forrestrivers4@ gmail.com.
Peace and love, Forrest X
17 years helping patients eliminate chronic pain through specialized massage therapy. Certified specialist in Graston techniques, cupping & deep tissue work for chronic pain and injury.
Therapeutic Cupping & Bodywork
Personalized Pain Relief Protocols
ARTS & CULTURE
Back to the future
Different Strokes! Performing Arts Collective explores Black Asheville in the 1950s
BY ANABEL SHENK
In the world of theater, the show must go on. But in the wake of Tropical Storm Helene, not all the stage lights immediately shined.
That was the case for Different Strokes! Performing Arts Collective. Its latest production, Juked, which runs through Sunday, Nov. 23, at the Tina McGuire Theatre, was postponed for nearly a year due to the storm.
Written by Mildred Inez Lewis, Juked is a retelling of Sophocles’ Electra, the ancient Greek tragedy about royalty, justice, family loyalty and revenge. Unlike the original play, Lewis’ version is set in Asheville in the 1950s.
death and their mother’s betrayal. The story follows these characters, who seek to break the cyclical nature of violence, which, as Lewis presents in the work, has a tendency to hold families and communities together in complex and dark ways. Through the siblings’ interactions, Juked meditates on themes of grief, vengeance and ultimately redemption.
“As a teenager reading Electra in school, I would never have imagined someone who looked like me as a character in that story,” Hickling Beckman says. “With Juked, Mildred bridges ancient Greek drama and Black storytelling traditions — ultimately pointing out how art is a medium based on perspective.
“The play emphasizes the possibility of rebuilding, healing and finding joy even in the aftermath of profound loss, which is a powerful and universal message,” Hickling Beckman continues.
“The title Juked reflects both the setting and the spirit of the story,” says Stephanie Hickling Beckman, Different Strokes’ founder and managing artistic director. “It reflects the play’s setting in drink house culture, the influence of blues and jazz, and also the sense of being deceived — of being ‘juked.’”
Hickling Beckman, along with Aaron Snook, co-founder of The American Myth Center, selected Lewis’ play as part of the two organizations’ collaborative program, A Different Myth, which seeks to spotlight emerging Black playwrights whose works “explore diverse perspectives and reinterpret traditional narratives about Black joy,” Hickling Beckman says.
And while joy finds its way across the stage, the production’s Helenerelated delays mark the latest in a series of financial difficulties the nonprofit theater company has faced over the last five years — from COVID-related shutdowns to the Trump administration’s cancellation of National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grants.
“Despite ongoing challenges, the company remains resilient and poised for growth,” Hickling Beckman says.
FOSTERING EMPATHY
At the heart of the play are the three Memnon siblings — Lectra (played by Kirby Gibson), Orestes (Zay Hickling Beckman), and Themis (Sha’Air Hawkins) — navigating their father’s
A year after Helene, the production’s theme of resiliency will likely strike a chord with some local audiences. But the play also raises questions about the city’s past, which Hickling Beckman says is an essential role of the arts.
“Theater, especially, can be a catalyst for social change and transformation,” she says. “It helps us understand history, confront injustice and imagine a better future — all while fostering empathy.”
CENTERING MARGINALIZED VOICES
The production of Juked also marks an important moment for Different Strokes. Hickling Beckman established the nonprofit in 2010. Since that time, the company has been a cultural force in Asheville’s arts community, known for staging provocative and socially conscious works.
Like many small theaters, it has weathered an array of challenges in recent years. Just as it was recovering from audience decline and staff burnout due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Helene hit, intensifying these setbacks.
“We adapted,” says Beckman. “We produced an online presentation called “Ti[r]ed” — Black Women in January, and it drew an audience of more than 200 people.”
But even as it rebuilds its support structure, the organization faces more
Sculpture by Scott Strader
financial strain, particularly in the wake of federal cuts to arts funding. Recent reductions to the NEA, as well as proposed restrictions on projects promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, have hit small nonprofit theaters like Different Strokes especially hard.
“Not only have the number and amount of grants been reduced in
recent months, but in compliance with restrictions enacted by the new administration, their proposed 2026 budget includes language that would eliminate funding for projects that promote racial diversity, equity and inclusion, and critical race theory, all of which directly impact our mission,” Hickling Beckman says.
Centering Black, queer and other marginalized voices is key to Different Strokes’ mission and focus.
“This work is more important than ever, but it requires sustained support,” Hickling Beckman says.
Amid these challenges, Hickling Beckman is also shifting her role within the organization. After 15 years as its full-time artistic leader, she plans to step back from daily operations. Longtime collaborator Rodney Smith will become production manager, overseeing logistics and staff, while Hickling Beckman will remain focused on community outreach and engagement.
“This transition will allow me to deepen the culture and promise of Different Strokes,” she says.
WAYS TO HELP
Hickling Beckman describes Asheville’s current art scene as “a surge of communal energy and healing-centered expression.” In the months after Helene, she notes, local artists across disciplines came together to collaborate and rebuild.
Different Strokes joined forces with Asheville Community Theatre earlier this year to present The Narrative, a series of staged readings spotlighting Black playwrights.
Currently, Hickling Beckman says, the nonprofit is seeking to grow its list of financial contributions as well as local volunteers and advocates.
“Bring us your money, your gifts and your talent,” she says. “We are looking for ushers, folks to help with load-ins and load-outs, and folks who are particularly skilled at grant writing, fundraising, carpentry, and scenic and lighting design.”
All contributions, she notes, are essential for continuing the nonprofit’s mission.
For more information on Juked, including showtimes and tickets, visit avl.mx/f6m. X
– Michele Bryan
MIDCENTURY: Actors, starting left, Kirby Gibson, Donna Marie, Chesney Goodson and Sha’Air Hawkins, star in Juked, the latest production by Different Strokes! Performing Arts Collective. The story is set in 1950s Asheville.
Photo by Rodney Smith
The big picture
Music journalist Bill Kopp’s new book explores the past, present and persistence of the concept album
BY CHRISTOPHER ARBOR
yearinbeerasheville@gmail.com
In his latest book, What’s the Big Idea?, Asheville music journalist Bill Kopp explores one of music’s most daring endeavors: the concept album.
For more than three decades, Kopp has chronicled music for publications across the country, including Goldmine, Spin, Blurt and Mountain Xpress. In 2009, he launched his online magazine Musoscribe. In Big Idea, Kopp pairs his encyclopedic music knowledge with interviews from dozens of artists, including Pete Townshend, the Avett Brothers — even William Shatner
In an era often understood as postalbum, Kopp argues that the concept album remains one of music’s most challenging and lofty forms. Spanning nearly six decades and across numerous genres, the book delves into some of the wildest stories you’ve never heard — including how one musician was paid with a limousine.
Xpress recently spoke with Kopp about the origins and process of writing What’s the Big Idea? and why the concept album continues to matter in a world seemingly dominated by singles, streams and TikToks.
Xpress: In What’s the Big Idea?, you write that there’s only one unifying quality to concept albums: ambition. I want to hear about your ambition. What drove you to take up the charge and explore the very concept of concept albums?
Kopp: I’ve been a serious fan of music since I was very young. What really inspired me was when artists would swing for the fences — when they tried to do something ambitious. There’s nothing wrong with a 2 1/2-minute pop single; those can distill the best qualities of music into a tight little format. But when artists tried to tackle bigger ideas, I just found that inspiring. Even when it didn’t quite work, those albums were still interesting. You get points, at least with me, for trying.
You really aimed for diversity with the albums you tackled, highlighting
artists ranging from Jethro Tull to The Drive-By Truckers, and spanning the years from 1967 to 2024. How did you decide what to include?
Some people think the era of the concept album ran from the late ’60s to the mid-’70s. I don’t buy that. The idea existed earlier — Frank Sinatra was doing it — and there are concept albums still being made today. I wanted to cast a wider net and show that there are vital and worthy examples throughout modern music. Genrewise, it’s the same thing. It’s not just progressive rock or rock operas. There are pop, hip-hop and Americana concept albums. My selections were driven by those two ideas: that they span time and genre. There are plenty I would have loved to include, and if there’s a second volume, I’ve already got a list.
With each album you feature, you dig past what a casual fan can find online by conducting substantial interviews with the creators. I’m curious about that process. Was it hard to book interviews with some of these musicians?
I’ll give the example of Pete Townshend. It took a long time to get Pete, and it wasn’t because I had to convince him or his people — it was because he was busy. He was on the road with The Who, doing this and that, working on something to do with the Broadway version of Tommy. If I had contacted Pete to talk about Tommy or Quadrophenia, I’m sure the answer would have been no — he’s spoken once or twice on those topics over the years. The album I chose to speak to him about [Psychoderelict] is a favorite of mine that’s unjustly maligned. It didn’t sell well or get good reviews, and it’s so much better than that reputation suggests. When he heard someone wanted to talk about that record, I think he said, “OK, this I’ll do.”
My favorite chapter was about Rick Wakeman’s The Six Wives of Henry VIII. It’s such a wonderful and weird concept — each of the six tracks modeled after one of Henry VIII’s wives — and the backstory is even
CONCEPT PIECE: The latest book from Asheville music writer Bill Kopp examines concept albums by a range of artists across multiple genres. Images courtesy of the author
more wonderful and weird. Do you have a favorite chapter?
[Wakeman] is a bit of a raconteur — a natural storyteller, though not a lyricist. My favorite probably varies day to day, but I will tell you my wife’s favorite is Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds. That’s a great story: how it came to be, getting Richard Burton involved, all of that. He was a great interview, one of the first I did for the book. I’m not sure I could pick a single favorite.
Who do you see as your audience — music aficionados or general readers?
I’m hoping both. Someone might pick it up because they already love an album and want to know more. Others might just be interested in the creative process itself, which is fascinating no matter the medium. There are some obscure artists in there, but also plenty that are well known. I’d like to think it’s for readers across that whole spectrum.
Pivoting a bit, I’ve often heard people bemoan the “death of the album,” that “kids these days” only listen to singles or — worse yet — that they only listen to clips of songs, not even the whole tune. What do you think? What place does the concept album have in a world of shrinking attention spans?
That idea reminds me of Flo and Eddie. They used to play a record on their radio show, let it run through the opening lick, first verse and chorus, then lift the needle and say, “OK,
the rest of it’s pretty much like that.” It was irreverent but funny. You can get the gist of a song that way, but I’d argue you miss what the artist intended. If an artist goes to the trouble of creating a unified work — a concept album or even just a well-sequenced record — it’s designed to be heard as a whole. Sequencing really matters; musicians spend a lot of time deciding what order the songs go in. You shortchange yourself if you only listen to a piece of it.
That said, people have always done that. When I started buying music, I was buying singles. There’s room for all of it. People still go to plays even though there are movies, still read books even though there’s the internet. Even if popular music moves back toward the single, there’s still a place for albums — maybe not for everyone, but for a significant subset.
Some people say that the 2020s don’t have a defining sound. What do you think?
I don’t think you can identify a creative movement when you’re in the middle of it. The ’60s didn’t feel like “the ’60s” until later. I think 10 or 20 years from now, people will be nostalgic for the 2020s. We’ll look back and find things that were special but overlooked. The good thing about music today is that anyone can make an album. The bad thing is that anyone can make an album. The signal-to-noise ratio is high, but I believe there’s just as much great music being made now as at any other time. You just have to look for it. X
WHATEVER IT TAKES
Help LEAF spread the word
Erinn Hartley is the executive director of LEAF, an arts nonprofit that works to connect cultures and creative communities.
Xpress: What is your organization’s most urgent need, and how can community members provide assistance, financially or otherwise?
Hartley: Financial need! LEAF’s mission will stay alive. But like many organizations in WNC, LEAF struggles to secure recovery funding, as the arts are often not prioritized, festival events have been less attended since COVID, and we had to cancel LEAF Festival in October 2024 due to Hurricane Helene. That was a big hit to our annual revenue, which funds LEAF’s mission throughout the year — supporting local artists, local youth organizations and schools, and local communities with cultural connections and community building through global arts. Please share your story of LEAF. Help us spread the word on how LEAF has impacted you and your community, and why global understanding through arts education and experiences is so valuable, now more than ever. What is a recent accomplishment within your organization that you’d like more community members to know about? How, if at all, will this achievement impact local residents?
We had an amazing October LEAF Festival. What’s lesser known is that the revenue of our LEAF Festival and LEAF Retreat (in May) helps fund our bigger work: global arts education in Asheville, Buncombe County and WNC (LEAF Schools & Streets) and in 10 countries around the world (LEAF International). For example, with LEAF Schools & Streets, we brought 21 artists into residencies in local schools and community organizations, teaching 800 local students, who then performed onstage at LEAF. Are there any upcoming initiatives within your organization that you can tell our readers about and how they can get involved?
A LEAF membership drive. Become a LEAF member or increase your membership level. Or sponsor LEAF global events, become a donor or connect us with private donors and foundations — these are all ways to show LEAF some love and support sustainability.
If you buy the LEAF book and upgrade to family membership or more, you’ll get special LEAF pajamas or a LEAF blanket, plus an invite to our LEAF pajama party.
For our Keep LEAF Alive fundraiser, we are also planning an online auction and some special events, so stay tuned.
Have federal cuts impacted your organization? If so, in what ways have they affected your operations?
Yes. Federal funding for the arts and education is drying up. We expect that our grant support will be very limited over the next few years. This will directly impact and limit our LEAF Schools & Streets programming to our local youth. X
ERINN HARTLEY
Going underground
root vegetables are perfect for pickling and snack chips
BY ASHLEY ENGLISH
As the growing season in Western North Carolina winds down for the year, root vegetables emerge as the stalwarts of fresh produce available during the colder months. Grouped into three categories — taproots, tubers and bulbs — these crops thrive and sustain long after the summer harvest has passed.
From beets to carrots, turnips to parsnips and celeriac to fennel, plus tuberous roots including potatoes and yams, root crops offer color, crunch and a wide array of nutrients when the literal pickings are slim — not to mention longevity and storage staying power.
Here I share three ways to preserve these cold weather workhorses, no root cellar required. For a snack that satisfies a savory, crispy craving, enjoy them as roasted root veggie chips.
My pickled beets are fabulous minced and incorporated into deviled eggs or mixed with thinly sliced fennel bulb and a blue cheese and olive oil dressing for a heavenly wintertime salad. Lastly, carrot and fennel quick pickle is the vinegary perk-up required to carry you through when the mercury dips.
Roasted root veggie chips
Makes: 2 to 3 cups
You will need:
• 1 medium beet (any color)
• 1 medium carrot
• 1 sweet potato
• 1 taro root, parsnip or celeriac root
• Coconut or olive oil cooking spray
• Sea salt
To prepare:
• Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F. Trim and peel the vegetables and set aside scraps for composting. Using a mandoline, slice the vegetables as thin as possible — ⅛ inch thick or less is ideal.
• Lightly spray two rimmed baking sheets with oil. Place the sliced vegetables in a single layer on the sheets. Give a second light spray of oil over the vegetables.
• Place the baking sheets in the oven and bake for one hour, flipping the vegetable slices over halfway through the cooking time.
• Remove the pan from the oven. Transfer the chips to a large bowl. Sprinkle with the salt and toss gently using clean hands. Allow the chips to cool completely, then store in a lidded container at room temperature and consume within one week.
Pickled beets
Makes: About 4 pints
You will need:
• 2 ½ pounds beets
• 2 cups apple cider vinegar
HOMEMADE LIVING
of a canning funnel, pack the beet wedges and onion slices into the jars, topped off by the brine, reserving ½-inch headspace.
• Use a spatula or wooden chopstick to remove any trapped air bubbles around the interior circumference of the jars. Wipe the rims clean with a damp cloth. Place on the lids and screw bands, tightening only until fingertip-tight.
• Again using a jar lifter, slowly place the filled jars into the canner. Be sure that the jars are covered by at least 1 inch of water. Bring to a boil, and then process for 25-30 minutes, starting the timer once the water is at a full, rolling boil. Adjust for altitude as needed.
• Carefully remove the jars from the canner, using either the canning rack handles or a jar lifter. Set the hot jars onto a dry kitchen cloth. Listen and watch for jars to seal, remove the screw bands and dry and store them, and then leave the jars to cool on the kitchen counter until fully at room temperature. Label and date, then store in a cool, dry area, such as a pantry or cabinet. Consume ideally within one year.
Carrot and fennel quick pickle
Makes: 2 pints
You will need:
• 1 cup water
• ½ cup honey
• 2 teaspoons pickling salt
• 2 tablespoons pickling spice blend
• 1 medium onion, peeled and sliced
To prepare:
• Cut off the stem and root end of the beets, if needed. Steam the beets in a steamer basket on the stovetop until tender and easily pierced with a fork, about 15-20 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside briefly to cool. Once they can be handled, cut the beets into wedges.
• Fill a canner or large stockpot with water, place four or five pint jars inside and set over medium-high heat. Bring just to the boiling point.
• Bring the vinegar, water, honey, salt and pickling spice to a full, rolling boil in a medium pot. Remove the pot from heat. Transfer the brine to a pourable, spouted container, such as a heatproof measuring cup, if desired.
• Using a jar lifter, remove the hot jars from the canner and place on a kitchen cloth on the counter. With the help
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon pickling or kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 garlic cloves
• 2 teaspoons fennel seeds
• 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
• 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
• 1 teaspoon whole brown mustard seeds
• ¾ pounds carrots, cut into 2-inch spears
• 1 fennel bulb, cut into 2-inch spears (reserve fronds)
To prepare:
• Combine the water, vinegar, salt, sugar, garlic, fennel seeds, coriander seeds, peppercorns and mustard seeds in a medium saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer for five minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat, cover with a lid and set aside for 20 minutes.
• Divide the carrot spears, fennel spears and fennel fronds between two pint jars. Pour the spiced brine evenly over the vegetables, being careful to place one garlic clove into each jar along with the brine.
• Cover the jars with lids and place in the refrigerator. Allow to infuse for at least 24 hours before serving, keeping in mind that the longer they infuse, the more developed the brine’s flavor will become and the more intensely it will then transfer to the vegetables. X
PURPLE HAZE: Western North Carolina’s rainbow of fall and winter root vegetables, like these purple carrots, turnips and beets, make nutritious and tasty snack chips and pickles. Photo by Glenn English
What’s old (fashioned) is new again
BY AUDREY AND BILL KOPP
Local bar owners reflect on the adaptability and enduring popularity of the classic cocktail audreybill@liquornerds.com
One of the most popular cocktails is also one of the oldest. With recipes published as early as the 1880s, the old-fashioned is a drink that remains a favorite among liquor enthusiasts. Made with just a few readily available ingredients, the cocktail is far more than the sum of its parts, elegant in its simplicity.
It’s also the signature drink at Liondog Lounge, a relative newcomer on the Western North Carolina bar landscape.
A NEW, OLD-FASHIONED BAR
Lara and Dustin Barden opened Liondog in summer 2024 at 7 Florida Ave. in downtown Weaverville, just a few steps from the town’s primary thoroughfare, North Main Street. “We’re in the middle of three breweries,” Lara says. “There’s not another bar nearby, unless it’s inside a restaurant.”
With its muted tones, dim lighting, comfortable seating and quiet, calm character, Liondog Lounge has a relaxed yet sophisticated vibe. The Bardens made a point of installing sound baffles in the ceiling to keep noise levels down, giving the neighborhood bar a living-room feel.
Liondog offers a wide assortment of cocktails, but the old-fashioned holds a special place of honor. Lara was a bartender at Hoppy Trees, the bar that was there before Liondog. “It was focused more on serving spritz and Camparibased drinks,” she says. “It was great, but people wanted more options. And we’re delivering on that.”
The bar takes a classic — one might even say old-fashioned — approach to its cocktails menu, focusing on enduring drink styles that have outlasted trends and fads. “What we wanted to create was a real throwback to those classics,” Dustin says.
That means an emphasis on whiskeys. “We know that Western North Carolina is pretty much bourbon country, so we’ve made sure to focus on having a really good collection,” Lara says. “We have about 43 different bourbons.” In addition to its spirits, the bar menu also features beers, wines and nonalcoholic options.
The Bardens consider the old-fashioned the bar’s signature cocktail. “It’s the most popular cocktail interna-
v E rything in M od E ration
tionally, and it’s definitely Liondog’s most popular,” Dustin says. As the bar approached the milestone of its one-year anniversary in early July, he notes, he went through his records to calculate how many old-fashioneds had been served — it was over 1,000.
VARIATIONS ON A THEME
In a lively 2013 New York Times feature (reprinted in The New York Times’ Essential Book of Cocktails), Rosie Schaap informs readers that the old-fashioned is one of the oldest cocktails on record. “No cocktail (and this includes the martini) gets people as worked up about methodology,” she writes.
But there’s more than one way to make the classic drink. Deceptively simple, a quality old-fashioned typically includes only four ingredients: the base liquor (usually — but not always — bourbon), sugar, water and bitters. But within that somewhat strict recipe, there’s room for variation and experimentation.
In our home mixology adventures, we’ve found that quite a few liquors lend themselves to the old-fashioned approach. We’ve made delightful old-fashioned variations using cognac, genever, Irish whiskey and even tequila
or mezcal. And while sugar syrup is the preferred sweetener for most of those, the Mexican liquors are best served with the addition of agave syrup.
The original old-fashioned was made with plain sugar, dissolved in the glass by stirring. “That’s how it was done up until the early 1900s,” Dustin says. “A lot of places still do it that way; some people like how the cocktail ‘evolves’ as you drink it.”
But the Bardens come down firmly on the side of syrup. “I think the drink should be correct when you start and when you’re done,” Dustin says.
A good rule when making a mixed drink is that the base liquor should
taste good on its own; if it doesn’t, it’s unlikely to lend itself well as an ingredient in a quality cocktail. Even with a wide array of bourbons at their disposal, Liondog’s proprietors choose a modestly priced brand to concoct what they believe is the ideal old-fashioned — J.T.S. Brown, a bottled-in-bond product from Heaven Hill Distillery in Louisville, Ky.
“Bottled-in-bond” is a U.S. legal designation based on an 1897 law aimed at establishing quality control standards for spirits. To qualify as bottled-inbond, a spirit must be the product of a single distiller at a single distillery, from a single season’s yield, aged for a minimum of four years in a federally bonded warehouse. Bottled-in-bond spirits must also be exactly 100 proof (50% alcohol).
Using J.T.S. Brown as Liondog’s well brand is “on the higher end of what one would normally find” among bars, says Dustin. “It’s a really good price point.” Claiming the same mash bill as Heaven Hill’s astronomically priced Heritage Collection 17 Year, J.T.S. Brown was characterized in a 2023 review on amongstthewhiskey.com as a “bottom shelf beauty.”
Our own choice for an affordable bourbon is 1792 Small Batch, coming in at 93.7 proof. When we’re up for a fancier old-fashioned, we go for one of Smooth Ambler’s Cask Strength bourbons, bottled at around 124 proof.
Fad drinks will come and go — remember the Cosmopolitan? But classics like the old-fashioned will always have a place in the hearts and gullets of discerning drinkers. Quoting Johnny Mercer’s 1942 ballad “I’m Old Fashioned” (a love song that also works as a subtle ode to the drink), Schaap reminds us that “after all, this year’s fancies … are passing fancies.” X
Old-fashioned deluxe
Inspired by and adapted from David A. Embury’s The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks, 1942
This recipe for one takes a slight bit more effort than throwing the ingredients into a glass and giving them a stir. But the resulting cocktail is worth the effort.
• ½ ounce rich simple syrup (2:1 sugar to water)
• 2 ounces bourbon (of your choice)
• 3 dashes Angostura bitters
• ice
Add 1 ounce of the bourbon to an old-fashioned glass or tumbler. Add two ice cubes and stir. Add sugar syrup, bitters and two more ice cubes; stir. Add remaining bourbon, two more ice cubes; stir still more until condensation forms on the outside of the glass. Do not garnish. Do enjoy. X
PURE AND SIMPLE: At their downtown Weaverville bar, Liondog Lounge, Lara and Dustin Barden make classic cocktails the new old-fashioned way.
Photo by Bill Kopp
Blue ribbons and third places
Balancing competition and community at Diatribe Brewing Co.
BY CHRISTOPHER ARBOR
On Jan. 1, Christopher Arbor and his friends pledged to visit one Asheville brewery each week for all of 2025 in the order that they opened, then share the experience with Mountain Xpress readers. To read about their trip to Salt Face Mule Brewing Co., visit avl.mx/f6p.
In our world of deep divisions, competition can often seem like the opposite of community. However, Diatribe Brewing Co.’s co-owners, Dave Byer and Betty Dunajski, prove that when done right, healthy competition can be yet another tool for bringing people together.
Diatribe is no stranger to blue ribbons. The Haywood Road brewery has been open less than two years, but it’s already racked up an impressive string of accolades. Locally, Byer
has been tapped as Best Brewmaster in Mountain Xpress’s Best of WNC awards. More broadly, Diatribe has earned over two dozen medals, including a gold at the World Beer Cup and a silver at the Great American Beer Festival this year.
The brewery even entered the 2025 Australian International Beer Awards, where all three of its entries received medals — two golds and a silver.
When I asked what sets Diatribe’s beer apart, Byer didn’t talk about flashy ingredients or experimental styles. “The secret, if there is one,” he says, “is that we’re never satisfied. We’re always asking how we can make things better.”
Both Byer and Dunajski are trained beer judges, and Byer is a judge for the Great American Beer Festival. “Being so focused on the sensory helps translate to brewing improvements,” Byer explains.
While Diatribe has won first place plenty of times, Byer says the business is most focused on being what sociologists call a third place — a public space distinct from home (the first place) and work (the second place) where people can connect without an agenda.
“I walk to work and see our friends, regulars and neighbors along the way,” he says. “West Asheville still supports local, and I think people appreciate businesses that are connected to our neighborhood.”
This notion of the third place was especially true after Tropical Storm Helene, when the brewery reopened not as a business first, but as a community hub. “We weren’t sure what to do,” Byer recalls. “But people started
poking their heads in, asking if we’d be opening. It became a collective effort — gathering supplies, raising donations and just being a place for smiles and hugs.”
Medals may hang on the walls, but it’s the community in the air that’s really special. Cheers to Diatribe and its “winner-shares-all” mentality.
Come join us on another adventure. We gather at 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays. You can email me at yearinbeerasheville@ gmail.com or just show up.
• Nov. 12: Ginger’s Revenge
• Nov. 19: Chemist Spirits
• Nov. 26: The Wedge at Foundation (Our final stop for the Year in Beer! Come join us.) X
COMMUNITY ON TAP: Diatribe Brewing Co. co-owner and taproom manager Betty Dunajski, pictured, and husband Dave Byer are proud of the role their brewery played as a West Asheville community hub in the weeks after Tropical Storm Helene. Photo by Christopher Arbor
Star status
Luminosa earns Michelin Green Star
Asheville-based Italian American restaurant Luminosa has earned a Michelin Green Star for sustainability. The honor was announced Nov. 3 at the Peace Center in Greenville, S.C., during the inaugural Michelin Guide American South ceremony.
“Three new restaurants have newly captured the Inspectors’ attention for their inspiring visions,” Michelin North America Inc. says in a press release. “[A] t Luminosa, their commitment to sourcing local produce and supporting local farmers is their core ethos as they work hard to utilize all trim from their kitchen in sustainable ways.”
Inspectors also gave 50 restaurants the Bib Gourmand distinction, which “recognizes eateries for great food at a great value.” Luminosa received this honor as well, along with fellow local establishments Little Chango and Mother.
In addition, 12 Asheville restaurants were named to Michelin’s Recommended list: Addissae Ethiopian Restaurant, All Day Darling, Cúrate Bar de Tapas, Golden Hour, Good Hot Fish, Leo’s House of Thirst, Soprana, Sunny Point Café, Table, Tall John’s, The Admiral and Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse.
To learn more, visit avl.mx/f6n.
Community Harvest Celebration in Old Fort
Foothills Watershed in Old Fort hosts a Community Harvest Celebration on Friday, Nov. 14, 5-9 p.m. Described in a press release as “a vibrant celebration of Appalachian resilience and heritage,” the evening is hosted in partnership with Song to Seed, an initiative co-led by Mitchell County resident William Ritter, that “practices, celebrates and advocates for traditional Appalachian seed saving and folk music.”
Ritter will steer the event, and attendees should expect a mix of traditional music, storytelling and seed-sharing. Seed packets will be available to share or take home, and while all are invited to contribute packets, it is not required. Free to attend.
To learn more, visit avl.mx/5p6.
Stu Helm, Brü team up to benefit Meals on Wheels
Local food blogger and tour guide Stu Helm is partnering with Brü for a monthly initiative called Stü Chü at Brü. According to Helm’s Substack, he collaborated with restaurant co-owner Justin Neuroth to create the Smüben, a combination smashburger and Reuben.
The sandwich is made with a grilled bun, house-made pastrami, special sauce, Fairview-based Terra Monga Farms beef, Asheville-based Queeney Kimchi sauerkraut and American cheese.
“Why? Well, for fünsies, of course, and as an excüse to üse a ridicüloüs amoünt of ümlaüts,” Helm says in the post. “But also and most importantly, because a portion of the sale of each Smüben will be donated to Meals on Wheels of Buncombe County.”
Each Smüben costs $20 (plus tax) and comes with a service of handcut Idaho potatoes, twice fried and finished in beef tallow. It will be on the menu until Nov. 30.
To learn more, visit avl.mx/f6k.
Eggs Rancheros Kitchen opens
On Nov. 1, Eggs Rancheros Kitchen opened at 224 Biltmore Ave. The restaurant serves an array of breakfast and brunch items, including pancakes, omelets and, yes, eggs rancheros.
To learn more, visit avl.mx/f6j.
November events at Golden Hour
On Saturday, Nov. 15, beginning at 5 p.m., Golden Hour’s Guest Chef Series spotlights the talents of local chef Payton Barrell from Gourmand. In the event, Barrell will team up with chef Kevin Chrisman to present a one-off, à la carte menu.
Then on Thursday, Nov. 27, 1-6 p.m., the restaurant hosts a Thanksgiving buffet. According to a press release, offerings include
Reservations are encouraged for both events.
To learn more, visit avl.mx/f6l.
— Edwin Arnaudin
X
“all the favorites, plus a few Golden Hour twists. From smoked turkey and leek dressing to pumpkin cheesecake and sweet potato doughnuts, each dish celebrates comfort with a touch of woodfire flavor.” The buffet costs $65 per person and $40 per child younger than 12, excluding tax, gratuity and drinks.
LUMINOSITY: Downtown restaurant Luminosa was awarded a Michelin Green Star at the Michelin Guide’s inaugural American South ceremony on Nov. 3.
Photo by Andrew Cebulka
SMART BETS
by Edwin Arnaudin
Madelyn Ilana Tellabration! 2025
For her third album, Seeker, Asheville-based singer-songwriter and violinist Madelyn Ilana recruited a who’s who of local and regional musicians to help see her latest vision through. Chris Rosser, Charles Furtado, Jahidi Vibes, Eylem Basaldi and Paloma Devi appear on the record, which Ilana describes as “an anthology of spiritual exploration, catharsis, longing and devotion, inspired by contemplative practice, time in nature and a lifelong relationship with sound as medicine.” The original songs combine dream-folk, art-pop and poetic storytelling with improvisational violin soundscapes and spoken word.
“I’ve been based in Asheville for almost a decade now, working at the intersection of music, healing arts and community ritual,” she says. “So this album feels like both a personal milestone and a love letter to this creative community that’s shaped me.”
Ilana celebrates the album’s release on Friday, Nov. 21, at 7 p.m., at AyurPrana Listening Room. She’ll be joined by a
full backing band featuring all of the aforementioned collaborators and a few special guests. Tickets are $21.49.
To learn more, visit avl.mx/f6o. X
Presented by the Asheville Storytelling Circle, the annual Tellabration! event began in 1996 and has remained strong — even taking place in a limited capacity in 2020 to meet state-mandated regulations stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Each year, the offering exemplifies the nonprofit’s mission to “affirm our various cultures, nourish the development of emerging and established artists and promote excellence in the oral traditions.”
Co-hosted by the Southern Highlands Craft Guild, the 29th anniversary celebration takes place Sunday, Nov. 23, at 2 p.m., at the Folk Art Center. The featured performer is Madison County native Josh Goforth, an accomplished storyteller and old-time, bluegrass and swing musician. Additional participating artists include Asheville Storytelling Circle members Donna Marie Todd,
To learn more, visit avl.mx/f6q. X
Reconstitution
Civics meets the supernatural in Reconstitution, a new play by local playwright/producer Mitch Emoff. Set on the final day of school, the imaginative tale centers on a history teacher’s experimental lesson that zaps four high school students into the spirits of America’s Founding Fathers, forcing them to debate — and potentially rewrite — the Constitution.
Embodying Benjamin Franklin, Patrick Henry, James Madison and George Washington, the transformed students get into fiery discussions over
freedom of religion, the right to bear arms, the three-fifths compromise and freedom of speech, discovering that these issues are as potent today as they were in 1787.
Directed by Lucy O’Brien, Reconstitution stars eight area high school theater students. Its world premiere is this week at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts with performnces FridaySaturday, Nov. 14-15, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 16, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students ages 11-17.
To learn more, visit avl.mx/agv X
Dada Maheshvarananda and Nancy Reeder, and the event will be emceed by Zane Chait. Tickets are $15.
Photo of Madelyn Ilana by Lorraine Sovern
Photo of Josh Goforth courtesy of Asheville Storytelling Circle
David Mulder’s Bear Bones w/Lee Kram & Garrett Andrews (Grateful Dead & JGB tribute), 6pm
SHAKEY’S
SSIN w/DJ Ragga Massive, 10pm
SLY GROG LOUNGE
Weird Wednesday Open Jam, 7pm
THE GREY EAGLE
Jordan Tice & Joseph Terrell (folk, rock, jazz), 8pm
THE JOINT NEXT
DOOR
Rod Sphere (soul, rock, reggae), 6pm
THE MULE Jazz Trio & Wine Wednesdays, 6pm
THE ODD
M.D.C, On the Block & Halogi (punk, rock’n’roll, metal), 8pm
THE ORANGE PEEL
Tape B w/ Super Future & ASHEZ (dubstep, edm, hip-hop), 8pm
URBAN ORCHARD Wayward Trivia, 6:30pm
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6
CROW & QUILL
Russ Wilson & The Kings of Jazz (jazz, swing), 8pm
EDA’S HIDE-A-WAY
Bless Your Heart Trivia w/Harmon, 7pm
EULOGY
Beach Fossils (dreampop, alt-indie), 8pm
FITZ AND THE WOLFE
Meschiya Lake’s Paradigm Shifters (country), 7pm
FLEETWOOD’S
Soul Shrapnel, Ton of a B!tch & Call the Next Witness (punk), 9pm
FLOOD GALLERY
True Home Open Mic, 6pm
FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY
Jerry’s Dead Thursdays (Grateful Dead & JGB tribute), 6pm
GREEN MAN BREWERY
Thursday Night Trivia, 7pm
HI-WIRE BREWING
South Slope Open Mic w/Stephen Evans, 5:30pm
JACK OF THE WOOD PUB
Bluegrass Jam w/Drew Matulich, 7pm
LEVELLER BREWING CO.
Old Time Jam, 6pm
NEW BELGIUM BREWING CO.
Daniel Shearin (acoustic), 3pm
CLUBLAND
NASHVILLE’S TRIBUTE TO THE DEAD: On Saturday, Nov. 15, One World West hosts Nashville-based band The Stolen Faces, starting at 9 p.m. The band is known for deftly capturing the spirit of the Grateful Dead while covering the band’s expansive catalog. Photo courtesy of Kristen Drum
NIGHTSHADE
Cayla Clark’s Smoke Show, 7pm
OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.
David Clare Duo (folk, pop), 7pm
ONE WORLD BREWING
Jeff Martyn (acoustic), 7pm
ONE WORLD BREWING WEST
Fee Fi Phaux Fish (Phish tribute), 8pm
PISGAH BREWING CO.
Rick Hornyak & The Highway Companions (Americana, rock), 7pm
SHAKEY’S Karaoke w/DJ Franco Nino, 9pm
STATIC AGE LOFT
Auto-Tune Karaoke w/ Who Gave This B*tch A Mic, 10pm
STATIC AGE RECORDS
Peter the Poet, Sxvxnt, C-Shreve the Professor, Kuh-Leeb & WizeDev (hip-hop, soul, R&B), 9pm
THE GREY EAGLE
Dirty French Broads (Americana, bluegrass), 8pm
THE JOINT NEXT DOOR
Crimson Moon (rock), 7pm
THE ODD City Mouse, Warmones & Codapen (pop, punk), 8pm
THE ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC
HALL
Florencia & the Feeling (pop-funk), 9pm
THE ORANGE PEEL
Little Stranger w/JARV & Damn Skippy (hiphop, indie), 8pm
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7
ASHEVILLE MUSIC
HALL
Sold Out: Madilyn Mei w/Amelia Day (indiefolk, pop), 8pm
CORK & KEG
One Leg Up w/D’Jango Jazz (gypsy-jazz), 8pm
CROW & QUILL
Las Montañitas (psych, Latin), 8pm
EULOGY
Dance Underground w/ In Pain Sight (electronic, dance, house), 9pm
FITZ AND THE WOLFE 90’s Country Dance Party, 7:30pm
Militarie Gun w/Liquid Mike & Public Opinion (hardcore, pop, punk), 8pm
FOOTHILLS GRANGE Trivia Night, 6:30pm
FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY Saylor Brothers Jamgrass Wednesdays, 6:30pm
GALACTIC PIZZA
Fast Eddie’s Trivia, 6:30pm
HIGHLAND BREWING CO.
Well-Crafted Music Series: The Nature Boys, 6pm
JACK OF THE WOOD PUB
Old Time Jam, 5pm
LEVELLER BREWING CO.
Folk Club: Folk Music Showcase, 6pm
PISGAH BREWING
CO.
Innocent Mischief (folk), 6pm
SHAKEY’S
SSIN w/DJ Ragga Massive, 10pm
SLY GROG LOUNGE
Weird Wednesday Open Jam, 7pm
THE MULE
Jazz Trio & Wine Wednesdays, 6pm
THE ODD
Terraoke Karaoke Takeover, 9pm
THE ORANGE PEEL
Durand Jones & the Indications (R&B, soul, funk), 8pm
URBAN ORCHARD Wayward Trivia, 6:30pm
WHITE HORSE BLACK
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13
ANTIDOTE COCKTAIL
LOUNGE AT CHEMIST
Antidote Comedy w/ Trey Galyon, 7pm
CROW & QUILL
Drayton & The Dreamboats (jazz, rock’n’roll), 8:30pm
EDA’S HIDE-A-WAY
Bless Your Heart Trivia w/Harmon, 7pm
EULOGY
Sydney Sprague w/Gabrielle Grace & Superflower (alt-pop, indie-rock), 8pm
FITZ AND THE WOLFE
Fancy the 45s (honkytonk, swing, jazz), 7pm
FLEETWOOD’S
Step Mom, Paper Pills & Puppy & the Dogs (punk, indie), 9pm
FLOOD GALLERY
True Home Open Mic, 6pm
FRENCH BROAD
RIVER BREWERY
Jerry’s Dead Thursdays (Grateful Dead & JGB tribute), 6pm
HI-WIRE BREWING
South Slope Open Mic w/Stephen Evans, 5:30pm
HIGHLAND BREWING CO.
Vaden Landers (country), 6pm
JACK OF THE WOOD PUB
Bluegrass Jam w/Drew Matulich, 7pm
OKLAWAHA
BREWING CO.
Andrew Thelston & Izzi
Hughes (multi-genre), 6pm
PISGAH BREWING CO.
The Late Shifters (Southern-rock, Americana), 7pm
SHAKEY’S
Karaoke w/DJ Franco Nino, 9pm
SIERRA NEVADA
BREWING CO.
The Altons & thee Sinseers (R&B, soul, indie), 6pm
SLY GROG LOUNGE
Dauzat St. Marie (Americana), 7pm
SOVEREIGN KAVA
Django Jazz Jam, 7pm
STATIC AGE LOFT
Auto-Tune Karaoke w/ Who Gave This B*tch A Mic, 10pm
THE JOINT NEXT DOOR
All Female Singer-Songwriter Night, 7pm
THE ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL
Ajeva (funk, rock), 9pm
THE ORANGE PEEL
I Don’t Know How But They Found Me (alt-indie), 8pm
MOUNTAIN
• Irish Session, 5pm
• Open Mic Night, 7pm
FREEWILL ASTROLOGY BY ROB BREZSNY
ARIES (March 21-April 19): The Akan concept of *Sankofa* is represented by a bird looking backward while moving forward. The message is "Go back and get it." You must retrieve wisdom from the past to move into the future. Forgetting where you came from doesn't liberate you; it orphans you. I encourage you to make *Sankofa* a prime meditation, Aries. The shape of your becoming must include the shape of your origin. You can't transcend what you haven't integrated. So look back, retrieve what you left behind, and bring it forward.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to engage in STRATEGIC FORGETTING. It’s the art of deliberately unlearning what you were taught about who you should be, what you should want, and how you should spend your precious life. Fact: Fanatical brand loyalty to yourself can be an act of self-sabotage. I suggest you fire yourself from your own expectations. Clock out from the job of being who you were yesterday. It’s liberation time!
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): We should all risk asking supposedly wrong questions. Doing so reminds us that truth and discovery often hide in the compost pile of our mistaken notions. A wrong question can help us shed tired assumptions, expose invisible taboos, and lure new insights out of hiding. By leaning into the awkward, we invite surprise, which may be a rich source of genuine learning. With that in mind, I invite you to ask the following: Why not? What if I fail spectacularly? What would I do if I weren't afraid of looking dumb? How can I make this weirder? What if the opposite were true? What if I said yes? What if I said no? What if this is all simpler than I'm making it? What if it's stranger than I can imagine?
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Cancerian novelist Octavia Butler said her stories were fueled by two obsessions: “Where will we be going?” and “How will we get there?” One critic praised this approach, saying she paid “serious attention to the way human beings actually work together and against each other." Other critics praised her "clear-headed and brutally unsentimental" explorations of "far-reaching issues of race, sex, power." She was a gritty visionary whose imagination was expansive and attention to detail meticulous. Let's make her your inspirational role model. Your future self is now leaning toward you, whispering previews and hints about paths still half-formed. You're being invited to be both a dreamer and builder, both a seer and strategist. Where are you going, and how will you get there?
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The Tagalog language includes the word *kilig*. It refers to the butterfly-in-the-stomach flutter when something momentous, romantic, or cute happens. I suspect *kilig* will be a featured experience for you in the coming weeks—if you make room for it. Please don’t fill up every minute with mundane tasks and relentless worrying. Meditate on the truth that you deserve an influx of such blessings and must expand your consciousness to welcome their full arrival.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Your liver performs countless functions, including storing vitamins, synthesizing proteins, regulating blood sugar, filtering 1.5 quarts of blood per minute, and detoxifying metabolic wastes. It can regenerate itself from as little as 25 percent of its original tissue. It’s your internal resurrection machine: proof that some damage is reversible, and some second chances come built-in. Many cultures have regarded the liver not just as an organ, but as the seat of the soul and the source of passions. Some practice ritual purification ceremonies that honor the liver’s pivotal role. In accordance with astrological omens, Virgo, I invite you to celebrate this central repository of your life energy. Regard it as an inspiring symbol of your ability to revitalize yourself.
pupil is an absence, a portal where light enters you and becomes sight. Do you understand how amazing this is? You have two voids in your face through which the world pours itself into your nervous system. These crucial features are literally made of nothing. The voidness is key to your love of life. Everything I just said reframes emptiness not as loss or deficiency, but as a functioning joy. Without the pupils’ hollowness, there is no color, no shape, no sunrise, no art. Likewise in emotional life, our ability to be delighted depends on vulnerability. To feel wonder and curiosity is to let the world enter us, just as light enters the eye.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Your dreams speak in images, not ideas. They bypass your rational defenses and tell the truth slantwise because the truth straight-on may be too bright to bear. The source of dreams, your unconscious, is fluent in a language that your waking mind may not be entirely adept in understanding: symbol, metaphor, and emotional logic. It tries to tell you things your conscious self refuses to hear. Are you listening? Or are you too busy being reasonable? The coming weeks will be a crucial time to tune in to messages from deep within you.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The tour guide at the museum was describing the leisure habits of ancient Romans. "Each day's work was often completed by noon," he said. "For the remainder of the day, they indulged in amusement and pleasure. Over half of the calendar consisted of holidays." As I heard this cheerful news, my attention gravitated to you, Sagittarius. You probably can’t permanently arrange your schedule to be like the Romans’. But you’ll be wise to do so during the coming days. Do you dare to give yourself such abundant comfort and delight? Might you be bold enough to rebel against the daily drudgery to honor your soul’s and body’s cravings for relief and release?
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The Zulu greeting *Sawubona* means "I see you." Not just "hello," but "I acknowledge your existence, your dignity, and your humanity." The response is *Ngikhona*: "I am here." In this exchange, people receive a respectful appreciation of the fact that they contain deeper truths below the surface level of their personality. This is the opposite of the Western world's default state of mutual invisibility. What if you greeted everyone like this, Capricorn—with an intention to bestow honor and recognition? I recommend that you try this experiment. It will spur others to treat you even better than they already do.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Bear with me while I propose an outlandish-sounding theory: that you have enough of everything. Not eventually, not after the next achievement, but right now: You have all you need. What if enoughness is not a quantity but a quality of attention? What if enoughness isn’t a perk you have to earn but a treasure you simply claim? In this way of thinking, you consider the possibility that the finish line keeps moving because you keep moving it. And now you will decide to stop doing that. You resolve to believe that this breath, this moment, and this gloriously imperfect life are enough, and the voice telling you it’s not enough is selling something you don't need.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The Inuit people have dozens of words for snow. The Scots have over 100 words for rain. Sanskrit is renowned for its detailed and nuanced vocabulary relating to love, tenderness, and spiritual bliss. According to some estimates, there are 96 different terms for various expressions of love, including the romantic and sensual kind, as well as compassion, friendship, devotion, and transcendence. I invite you to take an inventory of all the kinds of affection and care you experience. Now is an excellent phase to expand your understanding of these mysteries—and increase your capacity for giving and receiving them.
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Greenways Happen
ACROSS
1 Petri dish growth medium
5 Turns red, say
9 Michael of “Superbad”
13 Overhaul
14 European capital with canals
16 “Will Ruby go to prom with me?”
18 Helpful skill for guessers
19 “Black-eyed” or “sugar snap” legume
20 Take in
22 Requires
24 “Despicable Me” protagonist
26 Appliance that may have different floor settings, for short
27 Country between the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf
28 Comics dog with a big red tongue
30 Singer with the 2011 #1 hit “Set Fire to the Rain”
32 I repeat: “Will Ruby go to prom with me?”
35 Fashion designer Spade
36 Pequod captain
37 Third time’s the charm: “Will Ruby go to prom with me?”
42 Decrease in intensity
44 Swiss Army knives have many of these
45 Encourage, with “on”
46 N, E, W or S
47 Group that may have an organizational meeting in Sept.
48 Author of “L’Île Mystérieuse”
49 Solfège start
52 Hairy Halloween costume
54 “___ to Joy”
55 Provider of the answers at 16-, 32and 37-Across
59 Completely immersed
60 Double Stuf cookie
61 Eye problem
62 A 2-1 record has one
63 “Hey! Over here!”
DOWN
1 It shares a 27-mile border with 27-Across
2 Erupting hot springs
3 “New and improved” and “For a limited time only”
4 Kanga’s kid in “Winniethe-Pooh”
5 Truth’s alternative
6 Where volleyball and racquetball were invented, in brief
7 Demonym suffix
8 Elm and Maple are common ones: Abbr.
9 Grouch
10 East Coast counterpart to Dreyer’s in the freezer aisle
11 Trampled
12 Lacking principles
21 More than 2,000 years ago, for short
23 23andMe mailing
24 Martini or Negroni spirit
25 “I can ___”
28 Something you can be under when in court
29 Go extinct 30 Somewhat
31 Ariana ___, Best Supporting Actress winner for 2021’s “West Side Story”
