Down by the River: The highs and lows of relaunching the RAD
Volume
31
/ Issue 16
Cover Design Credit:
Scott SouthwickCover Photography Credit:
Cindy Kunst
Though much of the River Arts District was destroyed by Tropical Storm Helene, the recent success of RADFest 1.0 has many artists hopeful that the district can bounce back. Multiple initiatives are underway to assist those district makers who’ve lost everything. And the creative community continues to support one another amid ongoing cleanup efforts. On this week’s cover, starting left, Philip DeAngelo, Mark Harmon, Andrea Kulish and Jeffrey Burroughs.
arts
Theaters help each other in Helene’s aftermath
Hendersonville Theatre and HART donate proceeds from recent productions to aid organizations and struggling theaters.Unstoppable: Remarkable tenacity in the artists
"Providing resources to help artists stabilize is critical to reviving the cultural heart of our community," Stephanie Moore, executive director of Center for Craft,Debut memoir explores the intractability of memory
Like any exquisitely crafted narrative, local author Rachel M. Hanson's debut memoir, The End of Tennessee, encapsulates the story’s fundamental ache within the book's opening lines.Smart Bets: Arts Rising!
The new initiative from the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts offers deeply discounted tickets to designated performances plus discounted classes and pop-up galleries featuring local artists.RAD members embrace the highs and lows of a long recovery
Though much of the River Arts District was destroyed by Tropical Storm Helene, the recent success of RADFest 1.0 has many artists hopeful that the district can bounce back.Unstoppable: Second act
"WNC theaters were finally getting close to pre-COVID attendance, and Helene set us all the way back," says Rose Pillmore, board member of Asheville Theater AllianceUnstoppable: Creative expression post-Helene
"Our staff stepped up in incredible ways, making home visits to artists and delivering essential supplies where needed," says Debbie Harris, co-executive director of Open Hearts Art Center.Smart Bets: Marshall Handmade Market
With Marshall High Studios being renovated following flooding from Tropical Storm Helene, the beloved holiday arts market moves to a new venue.Smart Bets: Vintage Market Days
This year's Mistletoe Market will feature three days of holiday shopping with a portion of ticket sales benefiting storm recovery efforts.Smart Bets: ReClaim the R.A.D.
Opening Nov. 23, the fundraising show and sale features works of art created on pieces of flood debris.Smart Bets: Off Book: The Improvised Musical
Musical comedy duo Jess McKenna and Zach Reino will turn their popular podcast into a live, improvised musical production at The Orange Peel.The Snozzberries reconfigures canceled gala event Psychedelic Circus
With its original venue destroyed by flooding, the band reimagined the immersive multimedia experience for a new location.Smart Bets: Handel’s Messiah
The first post-Helene production from Asheville Symphony and the Asheville Symphony Chorus offers a pay-what-you-can performance.Unstoppable: An ecosystem of literacy access
"The majority of local students, no matter their race, background and socioeconomic status, were not reading on grade level prior to the storm, and they just lost another month-plus of…food
Make a bountiful, affordable post-Helene Thanksgiving dinner
A comforting Thanksgiving feast can be made with limited water, a couple of pots and pans and a few common items from the pantry and fridge.Unstoppable: Advocating for food security
"With the storm’s impact, we anticipate a significant rise in food insecurity as more families and individuals turn to us and other community resources in the coming months," says Micah…What’s new in food: Foothills Meats prepares to open Skillet in landmark Black Mountain building
Skillet will open in late November with an affordable comfort food menu from former Cultura and Funkatorium chef Eric Morris. Also in this week's food news: a farewell part for…living
Unstoppable: ‘We want to spread joy’
"For us personally, it was so heartening to hear from so many families who were worried about the safety of the Nature Center animals post-Helene," says Kate Frost, executive director…news
Couple finds a new life purpose in disaster aid
"There is so much destruction and so much need that it is very easy to get overwhelmed," says Courtney Crouse , co-founder of Hell or High Water. "Making a difference…Grassroots recovery teams anticipate future needs for WNC
All say they plan to stick around to help for as long as it takes the region to recover. And they stress that recovery will come in phases, requiring them…Green roundup: Storm delays Woodfin’s Riverside Park improvements
Despite minimal damage from Tropical Storm Helene, improvements to Woodfin's Riverside Park and a manufactured whitewater Taylor's Wave are delayed while waiting for water levels to fall.Waterway protectors reflect on Helene, look to the future
Erica Shanks was in Milwaukee, Wis., for a water and climate conference Sept. 26, but all she could think about was the weather back home. She needed to get home.Local entrepreneurs invite business owners to brainstorming sessions
Resilience Roundtable: WNC Business Pivot Chats is a new online monthly discussion initiated by local entrepreneurs Alyssa Phillips Downey and Nicole McConville.Unstoppable: A special place
"We are dedicated to providing key resources so that Pisgah remains the beloved place that it is for WNC residents and all who pass through these mountains," says Marielle DeJong,…Nonprofit groups address fundraising, volunteer challenges in wake of Helene
Many local nonprofits are facing challenges as money and volunteer hours pour into groups with a more direct role in storm recovery efforts. These groups are trying to address the…Unstoppable: Efforts to end homelessness
"In the aftermath of Helene, Homeward Bound of WNC shifted to immediately address the safety of all our staff and the clients we serve through our homeless and housing services…Winning Hendersonville, Black Mountain candidates discuss post-Helene challenges
Candidates elected to council seats in Hendersonville and Black Mountain Nov. 5 know that Helene recovery will be a priority during their terms.Lead detected in seven schools after Asheville water didn’t undergo mitigation process for several weeks
Chandler and Dr. Jennifer Mullendore, medical director for Buncombe County’s Department of Health & Human Services, repeatedly stressed that students were not exposed to lead in drinking water.Council approves $16 million for Helene recovery
The city is expecting all costs to be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).Buncombe air quality post-Helene has not been affected greatly by dust, but smoke risk rises, agency says
“What we’re particularly concerned about is the fine particles from open burning that we expect we’re going to see more of,” AB Air Quality Agency Director Ashley Featherstone said.Asheville City school board delays decision on staff bonuses for post-Helene volunteer work
Unsure of exactly how much it would cost, the Asheville City Board of Education voted 7-0 Nov. 12 to table a decision on bonus payment for nearly 200 district staff…Aftermath of Helene making Western NC survivors sick
All Western North Carolina residents will have to look out for additional public health issues as the region continues to recover from Helene.opinion
Letter: Hot showers and clean clothes are human rights
"Why can’t we make this a permanent fixture? The dignity of a hot shower and clean clothes was made evident in the wake of Hurricane Helene."Letter: Our hero
"It turns out it was Steve Shoaf, Asheville’s director of water resources from 2009-15, who recognized the need following the 2004 flood (among others) and advanced the idea before his…Letter: Where will all the dead trees go?
"One way or another, how we handle this mess will have big impacts on our natural environment."Letter: Separate valid political speech from antisemitism
"It is beyond time to separate out legitimate criticism of the U.S.’s and Israel’s actions from real 'antisemitic' behavior and speech expressed predominantly by white supremacists."Bearing false fixes