Sweet Dreams: Professionals help families get more sleep
Volume
25
/ Issue 29
Cover Design Credit:
Scott Southwick
In the second part of our winter Wellness special issues, we examine the many ways that our community grapples with what we can control and what we can’t — from vaccinations to the influence our microbiomes have on our health — plus, more local residents offer resolutions on promoting their own health and that of our community.
arts
Taj Mahal returns to Asheville with his trio
“We play all over the South, and it’s just different,” Taj Mahal says. “People have manners. Folks come to dance; they come to have a nice time.”Nickole Brown, Jessica Jacobs and Melissa Crowe launch poetry collections
“If I can write something that creates that kind of connection, it’s not just me navel-gazing," says Brown.Smart Bets: Laura Esther Wolfson
The Russian translator presents her literary debut in conversation with Elizabeth Kostova at Malaprop's on Feb. 12.Smart Bets: QuickChester
The Asheville band releases its debut album on Feb. 10 at The Grey Eagle.Renaissance Comedy Weekend brings nationally touring acts to Asheville
There will be three comics each night, plus an emcee. The Saturday closer, Michael Palascak, a finalist on “Last Comic Standing,” has performed on every late-night show.Smart Bets: Mountain Soul Party
The fourth annual celebration of local soul and rock takes place Feb. 10 at Ambrose West.Theater review: ‘Bop And Evey’ at HART
The show is a lean, tension-filled piece that gives both actors a chance to run the emotional gamut.Smart Bets: Satsang
The Montana folk-hop trio plays Asheville Music Hall on Feb. 8.food
Carolina Beer Guy: Asheville beer pioneer Jonas Rembert finds new life in Taiwan
The co-founder of Green Man and French Broad has taught English abroad for nearly 12 years and recently published a memoir.Carolina Beer Guy: Guidon Brewing opens in Hendersonville
Connie and Mike Baer opened the brewery Jan. 16 with a porter, stout, pale ale, IPA and a cream ale.Asheville podcasts tell local food and farm stories
A handful of Asheville-based podcasts showcase the area's chefs, farmers and food culture.Small bites: Edible adventures for Valentine’s Day
Love is in the air and on the menu at many local restaurants, bars and breweries in and around Asheville.living
Resolutions: This year Marit Weikel is doing yoga with cats
This year, Mission Weight Management counselor Marit Weikel is building on good habits she's already established, infusing them with new and exciting challenges.Resolutions: Combat obesity, curb stress, says Karla Furnari
Athlete and Buncombe County Special Olympics coordinator Karla Furnari says she's trying to get into bed by 10 p.m. every night in 2019.Resolutions: Mental and physical health are strongly linked, says Rhonda Cox
Rhonda Cox blows off steam at a mixed martial arts class. She says her boss at Vaya Health inspired her to make time for wellness in her schedule.Local practitioners embrace the gut microbiome
“We’re just learning that the microbiome has a central role in many of our chronic degenerative diseases, autoimmune conditions and mental illnesses,” says Asheville-area functional medicine practitioner Dr. Cynthia Libert.…Resolutions: First things first, says Jennifer Teague
"Can you do something to take care of yourself emotionally, spiritually or mentally each day?" asks Jennifer Teague, executive director of the Council on Aging of Buncombe County.Resolutions: Keep moving, advises Dr. Jeff Heck
MAHEC CEO Dr. Jeff Heck says exercise is the best medicine.Resolutions: Mental health is key, says Jan Calder
Jan Calder, chief health and wellness officer at the Asheville YWCA, plans to take a new boxing class this year and try spin bikes. She advises setting health goals with…Sleep consultants share advice for getting infants and toddlers to bed
Sleepless nights are expected when it comes to newborns. But for some parents, the endless evening hours can sometimes stretch long beyond a child's early days.movies
Screen scene: Local film news
Local filmmaker Jill Boniske launches a Kickstarter campaign for her new documentary, Pack Library kicks off its “Janeane Garofathon” and more.news
Asheville Archives: High schools students participate in World War II efforts
Asheville and Buncombe County high school students got actively involved in various war-time efforts upon America's entry into World War II.Resolutions: Climate change is also a health issue, says Josh Dorfman
Collider CEO Josh Dorfman is using meditation, laughter and a personal writing practice to keep a sense of perspective as he battles climate change.Rise in immunization exemptions threatens community health, doctors say
North Carolina allows two types of immunization exemptions. Medical exemptions, which must be documented by a physician licensed in the state, are rare. Most of those granted in Buncombe County…Mental health document allows patients to retain choice during crisis
A document that allows mental health patients to request personalized treatment from providers during times of crisis is beginning to gain popularity among those wishing to take charge of their…Dogwood Alliance boosts diverse voices for forest preservation
“People have a lot of unexpected, surprising, beautiful and heartwarming stories that happen in the forest,” says Dogwood Alliance marketing director Amanda Rodriguez. “It’s not just about acres and clean…Resolutions: Steve Mohrman says manage stress and anxiety
"Stress manifests in the body in very negative ways, and right now there’s a generalized anxiety about what’s going on in the world," says massage therapist Steve Mohrman.Biz Briefs: State of Our Workforce results anticipate local hiring boom
Nearly 67 percent of surveyed businesses expected to grow their workforce over the next three years, representing up to 26,700 new jobs for the region. The manufacturing and hospitality industries…Citizens’ Climate Lobby asks BCTDA for legislative support
Jim Tolbert of the Citizen's Climate Lobby encouraged members of the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority to support the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, a bill that aims to…Just Economics boosts Buncombe’s living wage rate
In early January, Just Economics raised its living wage rate for Buncombe County by 65 cents, to $12.15 per hour for workers with employer-provided health insurance and $13.65 for those…City OKs extra funds for outside attorneys as legal limbo continues
At Asheville City Council’s Jan. 22 meeting, Mayor Esther Manheimer said the city would re-advertise its vacant city attorney position — after she and her colleagues unanimously approved an additional…News briefs: HCA completes acquisition of Mission Health; Dogwood Trust established
As a result of the HCA acquisition of Mission Health, proceeds of the sale created the Dogwood Health Trust, a nonprofit foundation whose purpose is "to dramatically improve the health and…City gives $975,000 grant back to TDA
Plans for the Beaucatcher Greenway are on hold, and the city released a $975,000 grant awarded by the Tourism Product Development Fund of the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority to…Campbell lays out Asheville to-dos at her first CIBO breakfast
Since leaving her previous role as Charlotte’s assistant city manager to take the Asheville job in December, Campbell said, she has focused on meeting as many community stakeholders as possible.…opinion
Letter: City should act to save urban trees
"Eight percent of our urban forest — all the trees in Asheville — were lost in the past 10 years."Letter: ‘Opportunity Zones’ highlight need to defend neighborhoods
"Crucially, there is no requirement that projects financed this way demonstrate any benefit to their host neighborhood, either before, during or after they are completed."Letter: ‘Heel Thyself’ by going barefoot
"But it does seem odd to me that with all the various foot problems suffered by people in our modern society, the obvious solution is not special devices to fix…Let’s join forces to create a truly healthy community
"The only way we can ensure that everyone has the opportunity to achieve optimal health is to work together with a shared and well-coordinated commitment to improving our community’s health."Letter: Mission’s sale — one of the greatest local political cons
"In scope, it compares with the ill-advised, Democratically led, but bipartisan-supported effort [circa 2005] to steal Asheville’s water system."Letter: Mission Health deal reveals community lesson
"The we-know-what-is-best bubble forms when officials lose touch with their own institution’s stated goals and with the community’s pulse."30 years and growing: Local news is here to stay
While Xpress can’t replace the volume of the coverage a fully resourced Citizen Times and other daily newspapers provided this community for over a century, we will continue to highlight…