Smoky Mountain News | January 3, 2024

Cultivating dreams: Waynesville garden shop opens Page 28

On the Cover:

As we roll into 2024 and a presidential election year, there’s plenty that can be learned from the last several years’ voter registration numbers. While those numbers in the west are trending more conservative, state Democrats hold out hope for the state and even this region. (Page 10)

News

NC attorney general candidates speak out on Canton mill issues ......................5 Engineering and athletics team up for head impact research at WCU..............6 Athletics upgrades on the way at WCU........................................................................7 Baby with rare genetic disorder passes away close to Christmas......................8

Conviction overturned in Cherokee cyberattack case............................................12 Deitz leaves behind a legacy in WNC........................................................................15 Community briefs................................................................................................................17

Opinion

We’re the lucky ones; we live here..............................................................................18 Leaning into the momentum of a new year................................................................19

A&E

New database contributes to study of George Masa’s photography..............20 ‘Spark of the Eagle Dancer’ extended........................................................................24

Outdoors

Cultivating dreams: Garden shop opens in Waynesville......................................28 Notes from a plant nerd: In the pines..........................................................................34

&

Jessica Murray.

Jack Snyder. . .

D IGITAL MARKETING S PECIALIST Stefanee Sherman. .

ADVERTISING SALES: Susanna Shetley. .

Amanda Bradley.

Sophia Burleigh. . . . .

C LASSIFIEDS: Scott Collier.

N EWS E DITOR: Kyle Perrotti. .

WRITING: Holly Kays.

Hannah McLeod.

Cory Vaillancourt.

Garret K. Woodward.

ACCOUNTING & O FFICE MANAGER: Jamie Cogdill.

D ISTRIBUTION: Scott Collier. .

jessica.m@smokymountainnews.com

jack.s@smokymountainnews.com

stefanee@mtnsouthmedia.com

susanna.b@smokymountainnews.com

amanda.b@smokymountainnews.com

sophia.b@smokymountainnews.com

classads@smokymountainnews.com

kyle.p@smokymountainnews.com

holly@smokymountainnews.com

hannah@smokymountainnews.com

cory@smokymountainnews.com

garret@smokymountainnews.com

smnbooks@smokymountainnews.com

classads@smokymountainnews.com

C ONTRIBUTING: Jeff Minick (writing), Chris Cox (writing), Don Hendershot (writing), Thomas Crowe (writing)

CONTACT

WAYNESVILLE | 144 Montgomery, Waynesville, NC 28786

SYLVA | 629 West Main Street, Sylva, NC 28779

P: 828.452.4251 | F: 828.452.3585

I NFO & B ILLING | P.O. Box 629, Waynesville,

Catering is Our Passion!

We Can Cater Everything from an Intimate Get-Together to a Large, Formal Gathering & Everything In-Between!

828-452-7837

294 N. Haywood Street Waynesville

Ingles Nutrition N THE BONUS OF BEANS

written by Ingles Dietitian Leah

One of my resolutions for 2024 is to try and incorporat into our weekly meals. This would be canned or dried be beans, chickpeas, kidney beans, black beans, lima bean count as both a vegetable and a source of protein. Thes

Y Yoou can buy dried beans and soak and then cook them o

People all over the world regularly eat beans.

te more beans eans like soy s etc. which se are very or buy canned canned beans This is a very

• in the UK you might enjoy “beans on toast” which are canned beans in a tomato sauce base, heated and spread on toast. vegetables.

with bacon and onions are the perfect dish for a cold day.

• in India you might have a curry dish with kidney beans over rice.

• in parts of Africa you might be served a bean dish with a tomato

• in Greece and other Mediterranean countries hummus, made from chickpeas, is used as a dip.

• in Caribbean countries you might often be served black beans and rice along with fried or roasted plantains with salsa and lime. How about you? What are some ways that you currently enjoy eating beans?

Leah McGrath, RDN, LDN

Ingles Market Corporate Dietitian

@InglesDietitian

Ingles

Leah McGrath - Dietitian

your health

Leading N.C. attorney general candidates speak out on Canton mill issues

BY C ORY VAILLANCOURT

P OLITICS E DITOR

Two congressmen, both hoping to become North Carolina’s next attorney general, with be faced with a host of official duties if elected. Paramount among them — at least for many Haywood County residents — is holding Pactiv Evergreen accountable for issues related to the closing of the company’s paper mill in Canton.

“The job of the attorney general is to have people’s backs when they’re mistreated, especially when they’re mistreated by large corporations,” said Rep. Jeff Jackson (DMecklenburg). “I think we’ve got a classic example of that happening right now in Canton.”

On March 6, 2023, Pactiv Evergreen announced it would close its 115-year-old paper mill in Canton. Current Attorney General Josh Stein, a Democrat running for governor, became involved almost immediately, telling The Smoky Mountain News on March 8, 2023 that his office would do everything it could to ensure that the mill complies with any legal obligations that may arise from the closure.

Stein subsequently visited Canton at least twice, reiterating his commitment to accountability.

But Stein won’t be around past 2024 to finish what he started as attorney general, so local leaders are looking for reassurances

that the next attorney general, whoever they may be, will keep pressure on the company to do what’s required.

“I have some differences with the incumbent attorney general [but] perhaps not in this area,” said Rep. Dan Bishop (RMecklenburg). “The attorney general’s job is not a policy job. You have a constitutional obligation to enforce the law faithfully and execute the laws.”

The biggest legal issue, as far as state taxpayers are concerned, is a Job Maintenance and Capital Development grant passed under the administration of Republican Gov. Pat McCrory back in 2014. The grant provided $12 million to Pactiv Evergreen over 10 years to convert its coal-fired boilers to natural gas, but the company had to abide by several conditions to remain in compliance.

One of them was that Pactiv had to invest at least $51 million on improvements. An October 2022 report on the grant program says that the $12 million has been fully disbursed and that the company had actually spent more than $56 million.

Another condition of the agreement required Pactiv to maintain 800 full-time jobs through Dec. 31, 2024, but Pactiv slashed nearly all of its workforce by June of 2023. Stein and Gov. Roy Cooper almost immediately cried foul, telling Pactiv they wanted the $12 million back.

Without knowing the particulars of the

terms of the position that you enforce the law.”

Stein hasn’t yet filed any legal challenges to the JMAC agreement regarding Pactiv’s compliance, but there’s speculation that the $12 million may be being used as a bargaining chip to extract concessions from Pactiv — for control of the 185-acre site, for extending the company’s operation of the wastewater treatment plant that cleans Canton’s sewage or for something else altogether.

Jackson, however, has a different thought on what’s really happening.

“Every lawyer that works for every agency and state government has answers to the attorney general.”

— Dan Bishop

“What I’ve heard is that Pactiv may be dragging its feet on doing the right thing here, because they’re hoping the next attorney general will go easier on them,” he said. “I think it’s important that they hear from me that I have no intention of doing that. They owe the people of Canton a fair resolution to this, and that should happen now.”

The JMAC agreement may be the biggest Pactiv-related issue for the state, but locally, probably the biggest issue for Canton’s future is what kind of dirty secrets will be found on the mill site itself.

agreement, Bishop said he’d pursue action if warranted.

“So can [the incentives] be clawed back? It depends on the contract that you entered into.

But it’s a pretty straightforward legal question, and you ought to vigorously enforce the law,” he said. “There should be no difference between me and the incumbent attorney general in

Pactiv’s Canton mill predates the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by more than six decades and the modern N.C. Department of Environmental Quality by more than a century, but over the past three years alone, the company has logged roughly two dozen notices of environmental violations, including as it was being shut down.

“There are serious environmental issues. DEQ believes Pactiv was dumping chemicals improperly in a way that violates their permit,” Jackson said. “I think the secretary [Elizabeth Biser, head of North Carolina’s DEQ] has been there twice in the last few months. Now we’re talking cleanup. That means Pactiv can’t be allowed to just say ‘good luck, we’re gone.’”

Bishop said that if elected, he’d rely on the authority of the attorney general’s office to hold Pactiv accountable when warranted.

“Every lawyer that works for every agency and state government has answers to the attorney general. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality is the agency responsible for any potential environmental contamination at a site, any violation of discharge,” Bishop said. “The attorney general’s office is responsible for the tactics of litigation. Assuming there’s something to be rectified — again, I can’t speak to the specifics of the situation until I would have an occasion to review whatever facts [are] before the DEQ — but I will be actively involved in those decisions and will be vigorous about faithfully executing the laws.”

Engineering and athletics team up with Penn State on head impact research at WCU

Clayton Bardall, a graduate student in Western Carolina University’s Engineering Technology program and tight end for WCU’s football team, recently combined his two passions — football and engineering — on a project that will have a major impact on athletes for generations to come.

In the spring of 2021, Bardall approached Martin Tanaka, professor in WCU’s College of Engineering and Technology, about a project to use instrumented mouthguards to record head impacts with the hope of making contact sports safer.

Understanding these types of head impacts over time is something very important to Cumming, Georgia, native Bardall, as he suffered a concussion in the spring of 2021 during practice.

“I began experiencing symptoms and went under the concussion protocol,” Bardall said. “Having firsthand experience, I wanted to get a better understanding of head impacts and what effects they have on the brain, whether it be side, behind or front impact.”

Bardall earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from WCU and due to COVID-19 rules was allowed an additional year of eligibility and was able to continue playing football while earning a master’s degree.

“As soon as I stepped on campus, I knew WCU was the right fit for me,” Bardall said. “I broke my ankle my senior year of high school, first football game of the season. I

“(They) wore the custom mouthguards with inertial measurement units during practices and games,” Bardell said. “Each IMU contains a triaxial accelerometer and triaxial gyroscope that measures linear and angular accelerations of the skull.”

The players were tested to establish a cognitive function baseline at the beginning of the study. Following a severe head impact, participants were tested again to see if there was a change in cognitive function. Cognitive performance scores were provided in the following areas – verbal memory, reaction time, visual motor speed, visual memory and impulse control.

“I believe that the data that has been collected will be put to good use,” said Steven Honbarger, director of sports medicine at WCU. “It can be used as another tool to help us understand contacts and collision in the sport and how those impacts can lead to mild traumatic brain injuries and concussions. It will also alert our sports medicine staff to check on those student-athletes that have sustained high force contacts and collision for other trauma that may occur.”

was a redshirt freshman and with the COVID eligibility year, I have been able to not only continue my education but continue playing football.”

As Tanaka was working to bring the project with Bardall together, he attended an engineering conference in Columbus, Ohio, where he sought out his colleague, Reuben Kraft from Penn State University, who specializes in injury biomechanics.

“I knew that Reuben was the right person to talk to and since I was going to the ASME national conference, there was a good chance that I would see him there,” Tanaka said.

Kraft was very interested in working with Bardall and Tanaka on the research, as Penn State had just received grant funding from the Chuck Noll Foundation for Brain Injury Research.

The project is a collaboration, with WCU collecting head impact data during football games and practices. Penn State researchers use the head movement data and finite element analysis to calculate the strain in each tissue element.

“Brain tissue strain depends upon the direction of impact, existence of twisting movements, the geometry of the brain and material properties of the tissue,” Tanaka said. “The goal of this research is to develop a better understanding of the connection between brain tissue strain caused by head impacts and cognitive function. It is a great collaborative project between WCU’s engineering program, WCU athletics and Penn State.”

Ten mouthguards were custom made for WCU players. Bardall took the impressions himself and the molds were sent off to Prevent Biometrics to create custom mouthguards.

Tanaka met Kyle Pifer, WCU’s deputy athletic director, this fall on a chance meeting in Sylva. He shared with Pifer the project details and praised the support that the project has received from WCU Athletics and sports medicine. Pifer was excited about the project and invited Tanaka to present it to the senior athletic staff.

“Eventually this research will have a much larger reach, including youth, high school, more collegiate and professional sports to compare where these concussions are occurring,” Pifer said. “Getting to do this hands-on research within our own team gives us a better understanding of head impacts so we can better protect our stuent-athletes.”

While data was specifically recorded for football players in this study, many other sports such as rugby, boxing, hockey, martial arts, rodeo, lacrosse and wrestling have the potential for brain injuries during normal sporting activity and would benefit from this research.

During WCU’s fall 2023 football season, more than 1,500 head impacts were recorded in 10 players. Three of these impacts had an acceleration of more than 30Gs and were considered severe, but none resulted in a diagnosed concussion.

“Even at this level, cognitive impairment was observed with players exhibiting decreased verbal memory, slower reaction time, reduced visual motor speed, decreased visual memory and/or reduced impulse control,” Bardall said.

Now that the football season is over and data is collected, Bardall will spend his time analyzing the data, interpreting the findings and writing his thesis. With help from Tanaka and Kraft, he plans to graduate with his master’s degree in May.

“We are honored to have worked handin-hand with Clayton Bardall on this project,” said WCU head football coach Kerwin Bell. “Hopefully, the research gathered will assist in making a positive impact on the future health of student-athletes.”

Athletics upgrades on the way at WCU

University to ask legislature for help with $130 million to-do list

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF W RITER

Western Carolina University is gearing up to take its first bite out of an estimated $130 million in needed upgrades to its athletic facilities, with the Board of Trustees recently hiring a construction manager to oversee the first chunk of projects, worth at least $30 million.

The entire to-do list includes replacing or renovating Jordan-Phillips Field House and Camp Gym, components of Whitmire Stadium, portions of the Ramsey Center and components of softball and baseball facilities. But WCU doesn’t expect to get the funding to do it all at once.

“We’ll plan the entire list in small components or ‘pieces’ so we can ‘bite off’ pieces as funding comes available,” said Mike Byers, WCU’s vice chancellor for administration and finance.

The planned upgrades come as WCU celebrates a banner year for athletics. Its women’s soccer team won the Southern Conference championship, the football team finished with a 7-4 record and men’s basketball is amid a standout season.

Pending the UNC Board of Governor’s adoption of the new tuition and fee rates Trustees approved during their Dec. 15 meeting, WCU will be able to issue at least $30 million in debt in fall 2024. That debt would be funded by an increase in student fees. Back in 2021, when trustees were planning the two-step fee hike needed to do the project, they had discussed each student contributing $249 per year toward the price tag. But now the university is asking for authority to raise the fee up to $273 per student.

“We won’t know what’s needed until we issue the debt,” Byers said. “But it will only be what’s required to cover the ‘mortgage payment.’ The reason we raised the maximum to $273 is the dramatic increase in interest rates. Hopefully, rates will allow us to stay under the authorized amount.”

However, students won’t see their fees increase by the full $273 over the two-year period from 202324 to 2024-25. Because some older debt is being retired during this same timeframe, the net increase per student would be $177, not $273.

Western Carolina University plans to replace or renovate the Jordan-Phillips Field House and components of Whitemire Stadium and the Ramsey Center, among other projects. File photo

which aims to raise $75 million total, has already surpassed the $47 million mark, of which more than $15 million is earmarked for athletics. That’s much different than the typical distribution of gifts, weighted mainly toward academic pursuits.

“All of the Division of Advancement staff know that in our menu, our very first thing we discuss is athletics facilities,” Raynor told trustees. “And you’ll see some of that work with about a third of the work of the development staff going to athletics facilities. This is very different than any prior year.”

The university is hoping to raise a matching $30 million in philanthropic donations, bringing the total for the first phase of upgrades to $60 million.

WCU is also hoping to get help from the N.C. General Assembly. In the legislative agenda trustees approved Dec. 15, athletics facilities were the third priority listed, after employee salaries and increased funding for the Moore Building renovation to address inflation. In that document, these athletics facilities are deemed to be in “end-of-life” condition.

State budget policy does not allow universities to use general operating appropriations for athletics facilities, so WCU can’t use any money the state has already given it to support this project. However, legislators could choose to make an appropriation specific to that purpose. During its Dec. 15 meeting, trustees approved the hire of Vannoy and Sons Construction as construction manager for the project. McMillan Pazden Smith has already been chosen as the designer.

“It’s our practice to get on board as soon as possible after we engage the designer on a project, to get the construction manager on board, because that gives you two entities to reconcile estimates along the way as you’re designing,” Byers told trustees. “It’s better for us when we have both of them working together rather than designing the project and then bringing the construction manager on board.”

The construction manager was chosen based on qualifications rather than through a hard bid process.

The university is hoping to raise a matching $30 million in philanthropic donations, bringing the total for the first phase of upgrades to $60 million. A report Vice Chancellor for Advancement Jamie Raynor delivered to trustees Dec. 14 indicated that the university is well on its way to that goal. The division’s “Fill the Western Sky” fundraising campaign,

Motley named CFO of Haywood Regional Medical Center

Haywood Regional Medical Center has named Amanda Pruitt Motley as its new chief financial officer, effective Jan. 8, 2024. With more than 12 years’ experience in private and healthcare finance, Motley joins Haywood Regional from Highpoint Health System in Tennessee, where she previously served as interim market CFO.

During her time as interim market CFO at Highpoint Health System, Motley oversaw forecasting, financial reporting and compliance for a 227-bed, three-hospital system. Prior to her role as

“Student fees and alumni investments are not sufficient to address the $130 million in critical facilities improvement needs and identified accessibility improvements for players, students and attendees,” the document says. “Current student fees are expected to support $30 million in health and safety updates as well as structural facility improvements, but that is a small portion of the overall need.”

interim CFO, Motley served as CFO for Riverview Medical Center and Trousdale Medical Center, directing the executive leadership of finance, supply chain and revenue departments for two critical access facilities. Motley has served in several capacities across Lifepoint Health including roles as a financial analyst, director of finance and controller before her promotion to chief financial officer.

Motley has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s in account-

Pruitt

“This isn’t really one project. It’s a bunch of pieces and phasing, and when funding comes available having somebody who can be nimble is important with that respect,” Byers said. “Along the way they’ll get their subs to provide information, and before we go out and issue debt for the project, we’ll actually have a guaranteed maximum price.”

The scope of the initial project will depend on how much fundraising has been done by the time debt is issued, with work to be phased around WCU’s athletic calendars. The first portion of the project will likely take 24-30 months to complete, Byers said.

ancy from Averett University in Danville, Virginia.

“I knew when I met the team at Haywood that this was where I needed and wanted to be,” Motley said. “The employees at the facility and senior leadership are dedicated to ensuring the delivery of quality care. I am honored to be a part of this team and look forward to continuing the great work that has been happening this year. I am excited to be in Western North Carolina and look forward to becoming part of the Haywood community.”

A courageous tale comes to an end

Baby with rare genetic disorder passes away close to Christmas

BY KYLE P ERROTTI

N EWS E DITOR

Most people don’t contribute to the world over a lifetime what Charlotte Joy Norris did in just two short years. Born with a rare genetic disorder, it was assumed her life would be cut way short, but she underwent an experimental therapy that not only prolonged her life, but it also paved the way for further research into treating the disorder.

Her parents, Kyle Norris and Kelsea McColley, were thrilled when they found out Kelsea was pregnant. Both are Tuscola High School graduates. Kyle served in the Marine Corps from 2007 to 2015; Kelsea got her degree in psychology and is working on a master’s degree. But while other young couples may be mapping out the future, passionately pursuing careers and growing a family, Kyle and Kelsea were almost entirely focused on caring for their daughter for two years.

Charlotte was born on Oct. 29, 2021. For the first few months, everything seemed normal, but one day, Kyle and Kelsea began noticing abnormal behavior, and a visit to the doctor revealed that her liver and spleen seemed enlarged. A follow-up appointment revealed that she had a high white blood cell count. They thought perhaps she had cancer,

but genome testing revealed she had ASMD. Kyle and Kelsea were told their daughter had a year at the most to live.

The specific diagnosis is Neimann-Pick disease type A, the most severe.

There are enzymes known as lysosomes in cells that process lipids, including one called sphingomyelin. Those enzymes are called acid sphingomyelin, or ASM. In rare cases, both parents carry a genetic abnormality that can be passed onto a child and cause any number of unique complications. For Charlotte, that has led to a complete deficiency of ASM in her cells, which is why the condition is also known as ASMD. The buildup of lipids in those cells can cause organs to become distended, including the liver, kidneys, spleen and lungs. Eventually, a vital organ fails.

About a year and a half ago, the FDA approved the use of Xenpozyme from Genzyme for both adult and pediatric patients with ASMD. After first trying another experimental compound in September, Charlotte began receiving that therapy last December. A press release from the FDA noted that Xenpozyme received  fast-track,  breakthrough therapy and priority review designations. It also received orphan drug  designation, which provides incentives to assist and

and they told us that was probably normal.”

But eventually, a complication arose, and she developed pneumonia.

“She looked fine,” Kyle said, “but in those final days she was breathing less.” They knew the time was quickly coming when they would have to say goodbye. When it arrived, Charlotte had been unconscious for a week. They brought in a music therapist to play some Christmas songs, something Kyle said meant a lot to the family, and probably Charlotte.

“Charlotte always responded well to music,” he said. “She used to love it when I’d sing to her.”

Charlotte passed away on Sunday, Dec. 17, at 12:46 a.m. Up to that point, family members took turns holding her for the last time. She died in her mother’s arms.

While the grieving process will be long and may perhaps never end, Kyle said there’s also been plenty to be thankful for. His and Kelsea’s lives have revolved around Charlotte, but they’ve had plenty of help from family and friends. Kelsea’s mother, Melanie Hollifield, her grandma, Joyce McColley, and her sister, Cam Hollifield, have given up a tremendous amount of their own time to shoulder some of the caregiving burden. In addition, Kelsea’s grandma has helped alleviate the financial burden by paying for their lodging on trips to Chapel Hill.

encourage the development of drugs for rare diseases.

The treatment was designed to not only prolong Charlotte’s life, but to also improve its quality. It worked well until last year

“We really have big hopes that maybe we can help other families down the road.”

— Kyle Norris

around September, when she began suffering allergic reactions. At first, she began to show some light discoloration on her face. Before long, she suffered a reaction bad enough that it required an epi pen. On the doctor’s recommendation, they discontinued the infusions. At that point, it was only a matter of time before she developed a fatal illness or suffered organ failure.

As predicted, in early December, she got sick. Initially, Kyle and Kelsea didn’t think it was too bad.

“We knew she was sick, but she wasn’t screaming and crying like before if it was bad,” Kyle said. “She just slept a lot more,

“Our families have been everything,” Kelsea said in an interview early last year. “Literally, we couldn’t do this without them.” Kyle said his 12-year-old son, Carson, has also shown tremendous maturity in taking care of Charlotte and pitching in wherever he can. Although they try to let Carson enjoy the things a kid his age normally would, there’s still added responsibility. Norris said there were times his son was up with his sister late into the night but would still set his own alarm and was up to catch the bus for school the next morning. Carson had always looked forward to being an older brother, and the two had a special relationship. Kyle said he was proud of how much maturity his young son showed throughout his younger sister’s short life.

“She never even talked, but they had a special bond,” he said. “Toward the end, it got where she wouldn’t even smile for us, but he could always get her to smile.”

There are parents who lose children, sometimes in a sudden traumatic incident, sometimes over the course of a long illness, like was the case with Charlotte. Kyle said that he and Kelsea felt as though they, in a sense, mourned for her from the time they received the terminal diagnosis. “Perpetual grief,” he called it.

And now, Kyle said he is beginning to feel at peace in a sense, considering his daughter is no longer in pain, but he and Kelsea are also trying to consider how to get through the day-to-day without their daughter.

“It’s going to be a new normal for us,” he said. “It’s hard to get up in the morning, because the first thing we would do is see Charlotte and give her her medicine and spend some time with her. The morning hours were some of our best hours because she would be more alert.”

Something that has proven cathartic has

Charlotte Joy was a happy child, but fate dealt her a seemingly cruel hand. Although she initially responded well to her treatment, she was eventually taken off the infusions and became

been the process of creating a hand-woven basket called a burial vessel in which Charlotte will return to the earth. Working with Moss and Thistle out of Rutherford County, Kyle and Kelsea put in a sort of sweat equity and have worked with the company to help create the vessel, from harvesting the willow by hand to helping weave it.

“The vessel is so beautiful, and I don’t think they’ve actually done one for a child before,” Kyle said.

“Exerting the energy to harvest the willow to create something for Charlotte, and it was a lot of work, was important,” he added.

The family is holding a private funeral Friday, Jan. 5, and afterward, from 4-7 p.m. there will be a celebration of life at Wells Event and Reception Center in Waynesville. Special speakers will begin taking at 5 p.m. Finger food and refreshments will be served. Kyle said any and all are welcome, considering how many strangers’ lives Charlotte touched with her courageous story. Guests are encouraged to wear pink, along with pastels, to honor Charlotte’s memory.

Whatever grief Charlotte’s family feels, they can take some degree of solace in knowing that her life served to develop research that will one day save many lives. There are other kids out fighting the same fight she had, and what she went through moves the ball forward, pushes the research closer to the point that treatment will improve and maybe even yield a cure.

“We really have big hopes that maybe we can help other families down the road,” Kyle said. “Her doing the experimental

treatments is now setting protocols for future children. I was already getting calls that other children are getting diagnosed, and they’re following Charlotte’s case. So now, any child that comes along, they’re going to be taking the same course of action Charlotte did because they felt like that was the best. And there might be somebody who will come along later that improves that even more, but Charlotte has definitely set up a precedent. We take a lot from that. Yeah. We want you know she’s going to live on through these other kids. And hopefully, one day, I really believe that in my lifetime we’ll be able to celebrate a cure.”

Kyle and Kelsea are still dealing with expenses, including funeral costs. To donate, visit their GoFundMe at gofund.me/0cc186d7.

ELEVATE YOUR BASIC FOOT SOAK WITH COMFORTING NECK WRAP, OUR SIGNATURE EPSOM SALLTTBLEND, SUGAR SCRUB AND MASSAGE, COMPLETE WITH HOT STONES AND WARM TOWELS.

10% OFF THIS MONTH OR 15% OFF WHEN BOOKED WITH A MASSAGE OR F FAACIAL

Registration trends show deepening dissatisfaction with major parties

BY C ORY VAILLANCOURT P OLITICS E DITOR

As North Carolina prepares for federal, state and local elections in 2024, emerging trends in partisan registration that began in late 2017 have proven persistent, with likely electoral consequences for both major parties.

“I think it makes it more difficult for both groups, both Republicans and Democrats,” said Michele Woodhouse, chair of the North Carolina Republican Party’s 11th Congressional District. “We both face the same exact problem.”

From Jan. 1, 2016, through Dec. 30, 2023, the number of registered Democrats in the state has decreased by nearly 217,000 to 2.4 million, an 8.2% decline. Over that same period, Republican registrations statewide have grown by more than 260,000, good for a 13.3% increase to 2.2 million.

But the biggest increase doesn’t belong to a political party at all.

Unaffiliated voter registrations have swelled to 2.7 million since 2016, adding 885,105 voters, good for a 48.7% increase.

The revelation won’t come as a surprise to everyone, as stories in The Smoky Mountain News from 2020 and 2022 have already documented the rise of unaffiliated voters — at the expense of Democrats and Republicans.

“The reason why we’ve got more unaffiliated in rural areas to me is the fact that rural people are inherently fed up with the politics that we have,” said Anderson Clayton, chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party. “I think that they’re really tired of people that are not actually there to get something done.”

voters surpassed Democrats to become the state’s largest voting bloc.

As of Jan. 1, 2024, that bloc has continued to grow, now representing 34.3% of all North Carolina voters. Democrats rank a distant second with 32.7%, while Republicans remain the smallest major party in the state, with 30.0%.

Woodhouse has her own ideas about why Democrats are leaving the party.

She also acknowledges a fissure in her own party, at least nationally.

“We have our own demons. We’re looking at people like Thom Tillis and Ronna McDaniel and Mitt Romney that have long abandoned the Republican Party platform and principles,” Woodhouse said. “We see fiscal irresponsibility, Medicare expansion, casinos — issues that Republicans for decades stood up against. I think that voters have left their parties because their parties have left their platforms.”

Libertarians have seen their numbers nearly double over that same period, from 27,862 in 2016 to 50,078 by the end of 2023, however, they still make up just .68% of all voters in the state.

Two other minor parties with ballot access, the Green Party and the upstart No Labels Party, together represent about one-tenth of 1% of North Carolina voters, with 1,795 and 5,475 registrants, respectively.

During the period from Jan. 1, 2016, through Jan. 1, 2018, Democrats and Republicans both logged registration increases, 0.6% and 5.3%, respectively. But over that time, unaffiliated voters grew by 15.2%.

Since then, the trend has become even more striking. In each subsequent two-year period through Jan. 1, 2024, Democrats have noted modest losses and Republicans have measured modest gains while unaffiliated registrations grew substantially.

Numbers in North Carolina’s seven western counties (Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain) show more fluidity and more drastic change than state numbers do.

On average, Democratic registrations were down 31.2% from 2016 through 2024, far outpacing the statewide decline of 8.2% over the same period. Republican registrations grew by 29.4%, much greater than statewide growth of 13.3%. Unaffiliated registration growth of 34.8% in the west didn’t come close to the statewide total of 48.7%, but it was still substantial.

The seven western counties also buck state trends in another significant way — Republicans hold a slim advantage over unaffiliated voters, 59,646 to 57,481. Democratic registrations remain far behind, with 34,175. Republicans hold majorities in Cherokee, Clay, Graham and Macon counties. Unaffiliated voters hold majorities in Haywood, Jackson and Swain counties.

Between Sept. 2, 2017, and Sept. 9, 2017, the number of unaffiliated voters finally surpassed registered Republicans to become the second-largest group of voters in North Carolina, according to the State Board of Elections, which posts weekly registration totals dating back to 2004 on its website. During the week of March 12, 2022, unaffiliated

“Typical Southern Democrats — pro-Second Amendment, pro-life, faith-based Southern Democrats — they look at their Democratic Party and it’s unrecognizable to them. Unrecognizable because it’s abortion on demand, a complete abandonment of faith, a complete abandonment of Israel, boys playing girls’ sports,” she said. “On all of these things the Democratic Party has gone so far left that people in their party have said, ‘this is crazy,’ and they are moving to unaffiliated.”

Democrats hold majorities in zero of the seven western counties.

“There’s not just one reason why this is happening,” Clayton said. “I know that people would like to paint the picture that Western North Carolina is getting redder. In my opinion, Western North Carolina is getting a little bit smarter — Democrats are registering as unaffiliated because you’ve got a semi-closed primary in North Carolina, where an unaffiliated can vote in Republican primaries. When the only people around you getting elected or running for office are Republicans, you want to make sure the lesser of those two evils of Republicans get elected.”

The race to the bottom, for Democrats at least, is most evident in rural Cherokee County, which saw 49% of its Democratic registrants disappear between 2016 and 2024. Graham County, also rural, saw Democrat losses of 48%. Jackson County fared best, losing only 16% of its Democrats over that same time. Republicans, on the other hand, saw their greatest gains in Clay County, with a 41% increase. Haywood, the largest of the seven western counties, was second with a 33% increase. Swain County’s 21% increase was the smallest recorded in those counties.

Clayton won election to her post in February 2023, and has made no secret of her desire to target rural voters. Now, there’s increasing pressure on the F

country’s youngest state party chair to deliver on unaffiliated voters as well.

“We’re including unaffiliated in our targets this year,” she said. “I want to make sure they’re one of the first doors that we knock because oftentimes, they haven’t gotten their doors knocked by Democrats, because Democrats have only been trying to get Democrats out to vote. We’ve got to go get disaffected Democrats, and also unaffiliated Democrats in there, too.”

Democrats because they already own the urban areas,” Woodhouse said. “When we look at the 100 counties across the state, 10 are gonna go blue, no matter what. Republicans could truly run Jesus walking on the water and we’re not going to win a municipal race in Durham County. It’s just not going to happen. Democrats face that same struggle in rural counties. If they’re purposeful in their strategy, it isn’t about making Clay County Democrat, it’s about peeling away 3% to 4% of unaffiliated vot-

Partisan trends in voter registration, at least in the seven westernmost North Carolina counties, couldn’t be clearer. SMN

With just over 10 months until the 2024 General Election, Clayton and North Carolina Democrats have precious little time to prove that the strategy — a good one, according to Woodhouse — can produce results.

“I think it’s a smart decision for

ers, to get them to vote Democrat, because they’re not going to change Clay County. But if they get 3% in Clay and 3% in Haywood in 3%, Macon and 3% in Jackson and 3% in Henderson, is that enough to change the dynamics of the entire 11th Congressional District?”

Some minority voters gain ground, others don’t

It’s no secret that North Carolina is growing, but as its population grows, the composition of its electorate is changing as well. Over the past eight years, racial data on registered voters collected by the North Carolina State Board of Elections shows one group growing faster than every other.

The Office of State Budget and Management says that North Carolina is one of the five fastest growing states in the country over the past two years. In 2016, North Carolina’s population was estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau to be 10.16 million people, but current estimates put it near 11 million, an increase of roughly 850,000.

That lines up pretty closely with the increase of 957,627 registered voters in the state from Jan. 1, 2016 through Jan. 1, 2024. Overall, the number of registered voters has increased 14.9% during that time to 7.4 million.

The number of White voters during that time grew by 5.8% to 4.8 million, outpacing nearly every other racial group reported by NCSBE. Registration among Blacks, the state’s second largest racial group, increased by 2.5% to 1.5 million. American Indians saw registration growth of 3.2% to 54,000.

Hispanics, however, have seen their numbers more than double since 2016, from 130,747 to 284,777 — an increase of 117.8%.

Although women are traditionally viewed as a “minority” group due to disparities in pay and access to power in boardrooms and legislative bodies, they actually comprise a slight majority of the population both in the United States and in North Carolina.

Among registered voters in North Carolina, women hold a substantial majority; currently, 3.7 million voters self-identify as women, good for 49.9% of all N.C. voters.

Men, on the other hand, make up 42.4%, with 3.1 million registered.

An estimated 7.7% of applicants declined to identify their gender, as demographic information is an optional category on the voter registration form and doesn’t need to be filled out in order to register.

Expansive mountain top setting. Drive through the ly crafted log home with overlooking the WNC mo by gorgeous landscaping

estate perfectly-positioned e grand gate at the entrance breathtaking 360 degree m ountains. This 18+ acre estate g and natural woods. The ma

lers pantry and but y. . The lo

ower level is perfect for visiti

d in a peaceful e to a stunningmountain views e is surrounded ain entrance of ing guests with

bath and a loft area for a

bathandaloftareafora

apeace

The outdoor area provid pavilion with an outdoor

peacees year kitchen

Conviction overturned in cyberattack case

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF W RITER

The Cherokee Supreme Court has vacated the conviction of a man who was prosecuted for his alleged role in a cyberattack that crippled the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ computer network in December 2019.

“After careful review, we hold that under the Cherokee Code, evidence of an unauthorized login, without more, is insufficient to convict for the misuse of Tribal property,” the opinion reads. “Because the Tribe failed

supervisor told him he was being placed on paid administrative leave pending investigation into prior employment infractions, according to the facts laid out in the Supreme Court opinion. Afterward, his credentials, account information, employee badge and laptops were taken from him. However, Long did not turn his cell phone SIM card in until 9 a.m., telling his supervisor that he’d left it at home that day and had to go retrieve it.

“The Tribe provided no evidence that Defendant obtained information, downloaded data, changed settings, or installed or ran software.”

to provide evidence of appropriation of Tribal property for Defendant’s own use or use of another, as required by the Cherokee Code, we vacate Defendant’s conviction.”

Up until the cyberattack, Benjamin Cody Long, 36, was employed as lead systems administrator for the tribe’s Office of Information and Technology. But shortly after 8 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019, his

As lead systems administrator, Long had access to multiple high-level accounts. A review of records tracking logins to Microsoft Windows accounts on the tribal network showed that one login had occurred to Long’s Domain Administrator

Account after he was placed on administrative leave but before his account was disabled around 8:30 a.m. that day.

new, safe network took weeks.

Bigelow

On Saturday, Dec. 7, the ransomware attack unfolded, shutting down tribal network services and preventing the tribe from accessing documents and data. The process of decrypting computers, recovering infected documents and migrating everything to a

On March 2, 2020, Long was charged with seven counts of misusing tribal money or property for offenses alleged to have occurred Dec. 5, Dec. 6 and Dec. 7. All charges but one, a single count of misusing tribal property, were eventually dismissed, and a trial was held to determine Long’s culpability of the remaining charge. Long was convicted by jury and sentenced to 454 days’ imprisonment, with credit for 454 days already F

WINTER HOURSCasuall, , Relaxing Atmosp ofliffe e fromfamiliestogolfgroups t 5pm. pm8am11-y day a here toladies ect for all walks o W who lunch. We e pride o gardens and suppor , of lif from families to golf groups urselves on using fresh ingredients ting local farmers. The dettaailsare p to ladies from our rioritty y

served. But he appealed the conviction, alleging, among other arguments, that the prosecution didn’t produce the evidence needed to prove he had committed a crime.

The court agreed.

In order to convict Long for the crime, the court’s opinion reads, the prosecution would have to prove several elements, including that he appropriated tribal property for his own use or that of another. The Supreme Court disagreed with the tribe’s argument that simply logging into the network without permission amounted to an “appropriation” of tribal property and ruled that because the statute laying out the appropriation crime defines it as appropriation of tribal property “to his own use or that of another,” proving guilt must include proving to what use the property in question was put. The prosecution failed to do that.

“Taken in the light most favorable to the Tribe, the evidence shows that Defendant logged into his administrator-enabled account after he was placed on leave and was instructed not to access network resources,” the opinion reads. “The Tribe provided no evidence that Defendant obtained information, downloaded data, changed settings, or installed or ran software: the evidence showed no conduct beyond simply logging into the account without permission. Further, there was no evidence of the use to which Defendant put Tribal property.”

However, the court said, the case is a difficult one in part because it deals with “the translation of legal concepts traditionally concerned with money or physical property to the context of digital access.”

“If the Tribal Council wishes to directly address misconduct involving computer crimes, we respectfully suggest it adopt a computer crime code provision as have other jurisdictions,” reads a footnote in the opinion.

That said, the decision does not mean that the tribal law Long was accused of violating can never apply to computer crimes.

“Had the Tribe provided evidence of Defendant’s intent while accessing the network or that he had installed software, accessed files, or otherwise actually made use of his access, that evidence may have been sufficient to show that Defendant’s appropriation of Tribal property was ‘to his own use or use of another,’” the opinion reads. “In this case, the Tribe simply failed to carry its burden on that element.”

Long said he’s thankful to his friends, family and legal team for seeing him through.

“I’d like to give thanks to my attorneys Brent B. Smith, Robert Osley Saunooke, Andrew Banzhoff for believing me and being advocates,” he said. “Clark Walton from Reliance Forensics. My friends Kristy Maney Herron, Steven Smith, Mike Pellicone, Justin Reed. Also, Sasha Jumper. Most importantly I’d like to thank my Parents and my kids, who not only had to share the burden of this nightmare, but believed in me and went through this ordeal as well.”

EBCI Attorney General Michael McConnell declined to comment on this story.

New Parks and Rec Director for Jackson

BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF W RITER

There is a new director at the head of the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department, after commissioners made their selection official late last month.

Jackson County commissioners finished off their Dec. 19 meeting with a closed session, after which Chairman Mark Letson announced he was seeking a motion to approve candidate Michael Hopkins as the new Parks and Recreation Director. Hopkins was approved unanimously.

Hopkins grew up participating in recreation department programs and has now been working for Jackson County for 25 years. He began working with parks and rec part time during his college years doing maintenance work for various fields and parks. Soon after he began work as the Youth Athletics Director.

The county is currently in the process of constructing a new aquatics center in Cullowhee. The indoor pool project is costing the county over $20 million.

“I’m also looking forward to the opening of the new indoor aquatics facility as well as new park projects in the Cashiers and Whittier areas,” said Hopkins. “The next 10 years as we look to develop a new master plan for the recreation department it is exciting to see how much more we are going to grow.”

The biggest challenge facing the Parks and Recreation Department, according to Hopkins, will be keeping up with the growing demands in the industry, as well as overall growth in the area.

Jackson to move school board race to November

BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF W RITER

The race for Board of Education in Jackson County is one step closer to being moved to November elections after county commissioners signed a resolution in support of the change.

At its Dec. 19 meeting, the county commission unanimously passed a resolution in support of changing the election schedule. The race for Jackson County Board of Education is unique in that, until now, it has been decided during the Primary Election, despite being non-partisan. The resolution will be forwarded to Jackson County’s representatives in the General Assembly who will have to pass a local bill in order to make the change.

General Election in November. It also requests that the Board of Education elections remain nonpartisan, which is significant in the face of the recent push to have more school boards elected on a partisan basis.

In 2015, out of 115 school districts in North Carolina, 17 of them had boards elected on a partisan basis. Now, that number has grown to more than 50. County commissioners in Macon County recently put forth a resolution in support of changing its school board to a partisan-elected body, but after push back from school board members and the public, the resolution did not pass.

Since then, he has worked as the Cashiers Community Center director, assistant director for the entire department, and now, director.

“I have been able to see and work in many different areas during my time and those experiences have helped me to grow as a professional,” said Hopkins. “I’m looking forward to working with a talented group of co-workers.”

“In our field of work, we tend to work while others play and spend a lot of time with one another, it’s like we are an extended family,” Hopkins said.

“This is a good problem to have as we want to be able to add or make available programs, parks and open spaces to all areas of the county,” said Hopkins.

On the more personal side, the new director said he knows he has a challenge ahead of him in filling the shoes of previous department head Rusty Ellis. While Ellis has worked as parks and recreation director for more than 10 years, he has been with the department in other capacities for even longer.

“We have had tremendous leadership and I just hope to do half as well as them,” Hopkins said.

The resolution states that moving the election to November will provide voters with more opportunity to research and gain knowledge of the candidates to be better informed before voting. It also points out that historically in Jackson County, voter turnout is significantly higher in the General Election than the Primary Election, so holding the election in November would allow for more representation from the public at large.

In the 2022 election cycle, the last with a school board race in Jackson, there were 7,246 ballots cast in the Primary Election versus 15,094 in the November General Election.

“Election clarity and transparency are of the utmost importance to ensure voters the most opportunity and information for their decision,” the resolution reads.

The resolution requests that the North Carolina General Assembly establish the date of the Board of Education elections be at the

There was some discussion during the commissioners’ December work session about whether moving the school board election to November would warrant making the race a partisan one.

“I think keeping it non-partisan is probably the best thing because then you could get a better group [of candidates],” Letson said at the time.

The resolution passed unanimously. If the local bill passes without issue, the change is requested to take effect in the next election cycle for school board members in 2024.

There are two seats up for election on the Jackson County Board of Education in the coming year, currently held by Wes Jamison and Elizabeth Cooper, board chair. Only Jamison has filed for reelection. Because the Board of Education is non-partisan, there will be no primary contest.

Jamison will face Clint Irons in the general election to represent district three on the school board. In district one, former County Commissioner Gayle Woody will face off against Rainy Brake.

Mountain Projects helps local family during increasingly common struggle

BY B ILL G RAHAM C ONTRIBUTING W RITER

Donna Milsaps, of Jackson County, has encountered struggles that are hard to comprehend for some, but all too familiar for many in the mountains.

After each of her adult children developed substance abuse issues, Donna, 58, and her second husband Ronnie took full custody of six grandchildren, ranging in age from 4 to 13.

The Milsaps didn’t feel like they had a choice. Aside from the normal wide-ranging needs of young children, it’s no mystery that kids who experience the trauma of addicted parents suffer long-term effects, and it’s true that they’re three times more likely to develop addictions of their own later in life.

But even in Jackson County, where 55% of survey respondents say their lives are negatively influenced by substance abuse, these issues can come as a shock when they hit close to home.

“We didn’t expect our lives to be like this,” said Donna. “Our family went to church and our kids were well cared for in our home. I don’t know what we could’ve done differently to make things better. Now we’re just concentrating on these grandchildren, and we’re doing everything we can.”

Recent statistics show that 170,000 North Carolina chil-

dren under age 18 — 7% of the total under-18 population — live in grandparent-headed households. In Jackson County that number is 642, or 9%.

2023 was difficult for the Millsaps, but they are thankful to be together.

“The children call us Mama and Daddy,” Donna said.

Donna is partially disabled and stays home with the kids while Ronnie works for the Swain Transit system, but his recent cancer diagnosis further clouded their picture. They’re behind on mortgage payments and “every bill has become a negotiation,” she said.

Fortunately, their bank has been supportive, and the family has reached out to Mountain Projects and the Jackson County Department of Social Services for help. Mountain Projects has helped with physical needs, including beds for all the kids (which brought them to tears), shoes and tires for the family car. The Healthy Opportunities Pilot program, administered by Mountain Projects, will provide food boxes and other services for the children.

“We are so appreciative,” said Donna. “We’ve never needed help and we’ve never asked for help; we tend to keep to ourselves. We just ran out of options.”

“Someone said to me ‘you can’t save the world, honey,’” she continued. “But we are focused on improving the lives of these children. They are our family, and we are doing our best to provide them with what they need to grow up strong.”

Mountain Projects raises emergency funds to support situations like the Milsaps are experiencing. As the staff works with families, its programs can help to develop long-term solutions.

If anyone would like to help the Milsaps and other families experiencing difficult circumstances and serious emergencies, they can contribute to the emergency fund. For questions, call either 828.452.1447 for the Waynesville office or 828.586.2345 for the Sylva office.

Deitz leaves behind a legacy in WNC

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF W RITER

Boyce Deitz’s influence on Swain County athletics was rich and storied, but the program to which he dedicated two decades of his life summarized the news of his passing in just four words.

“Our hearts are broken,” read the Dec. 30 Facebook post from Swain High School Athletics, announcing Deitz’s passing earlier that day.

Deitz, 74, was a legendary football coach turned public servant, and he had a reputation as a man of integrity who was a mentor and friend to many.

A Jackson County native, Deitz was an outstanding left guard for the Sylva-Webster football team in the mid-1960s. He served as head football coach in Swain County 1977-1997 and took over the Smoky Mountain High School program in Jackson County 1997-2000. During that time, he compiled an astounding 218-72-2 record, with his record at Swain County High School alone sitting at 201-58-1. Deitz led his teams to three 1A football championships and one 2A state championship. He was chosen as the 1979 Coach of the Year, and the football field at Swain County was named in his honor.

stewardship of county tax dollars and respect for those he governed.

“I spent my whole life coaching and teaching, and people tell me you can’t do something, and someway when someone tells you it absolutely can’t be done there’s probably a way to do it,” Deitz said. He spoke during a 2016 board discussion about remodeling the Justice Center, but the sentiment echoed throughout his life.

News of Deitz’s passing elicited condolences and warm remembrances from across the region. In a statement, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Principal Chief Michell Hicks said Deitz “leaves behind an indelible legacy marked by his mentorship and guidance” of student-athletes across the region, including tribal members, and that his work under Schuler had “profound impacts for our tribe.” The Jackson County Democrats wrote that Jackson County and WNC “lost a giant” with Deitz’s death, calling him “a leader of young men for generations, advocate for the citizens of his community and an example of leadership for us all.” Swain County High School Athletics remembered him as a “coach, mentor, advisor, patriarch and friend” who was a “larger than life legend that shaped the lives of countless young people.”

These accomplishments earned him a place in history. In February 2023, he was inducted into the N.C. High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame, following previous inductions into the Western North Carolina, Swain County and Jackson County athletic halls of fame.

However, his accomplishments weren’t limited to athletics. Dedicated to his family, he was a husband, father and grandfather to six grandchildren. Dietz’ civic career began when one of his former football players, Heath Shuler, went on to become a U.S. Congressman. Shuler hired Deitz as his field representative, a role he filled from 20072013. During that time, Deitz was instrumental in the construction of the Western N.C. Regional Livestock Center in Canton, which opened in 2011.

After Shuler left office, Deitz continued his political career by running as a Democrat to represent District 3 on the Jackson County Board of Commissioners. He easily won the 2014 election, earning nearly 55% of the vote to beat out incumbent Doug Cody. He was re-elected in 2018 before suffering a narrow loss to John Smith in 2022.

During his time on the board, Deitz was known for his thoughtful questions, careful

In a Facebook post, Travis Hyatt, a former Swain County Board of Education members and current assistant football coach at Swain High School, said that throughout his life he experienced Deitz as a tough coach, valued mentor and close friend.

“Coach Deitz was a man of integrity and turned many boys from Swain County into the honest and hardworking men they are today,” Hyatt wrote, “and I can say without a doubt that he played a huge part in me becoming the man I am today. Playing football for him as a coach was not for the faint of heart. He set high standards, meant what he said and said what he meant, and held every single player on his team accountable for their actions. He earned respect by living by the lessons he preached.”

A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 4, on the Boyce Deitz Field at Swain County Memorial Stadium in Bryson City, followed by a reception at the Swain County Gymnasium. Former players and people who coached with Deitz are asked to meet at the field house gate before 1 p.m. to walk out on the field before the family.

An obituary will be posted at appalachianfuneralservices.com/obituaries/boycedeitz when available.

Community Almanac

Consider becoming a Big Brother

January is National Mentoring Month, a great start to 2024 and an opportunity to give a young person a great start in life. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina, part of the nation’s largest youth mentoring organization (BBBS of America), needs more mentors for its growing list of local children and youth who need a nudge from a caring adult outside of their families. “National Mentoring Month provides a wonderful opportunity to think of and thank the mentors in your life and to consider becoming a mentor yourself,” said BBBSWNC Executive Vice President Jamye Davis. “Being a ‘Big’ is a rewarding way to give back to your community, support and inspire a young person, and have fun while doing it.”

More than 200 potential Little Brothers and Little Sisters in 18 mountain counties are waiting for an adult with similar interests to make a difference in their lives. BBBSWNC especially needs men — and men of color — to mentor boys who are eager to do things like hike, go for pizza and just generally hang out with an adult who is up for fun. Bigs are good listeners who often help their Littles through difficult situations.

Newly matched, Little Brother Kayden and Big Brother Taylor are looking forward to visiting game shops, playing board games and discovering active activities. Donated photo

Each of the 18 counties that BBBSWNC serves has a professional program coordinator who, working with the family, matches the child with a carefully vetted adult who shares their interests. “Bigs” are asked to show up regularly for their Littles with an attitude that helps the child explore possibilities and realize their potential.

School-based Bigs meet their Littles at school for an hour each week to work on homework, engage in an activity and have some fun. Community-based Bigs are asked to take their Little out twice a month for an engaging activity that the young person might not experience otherwise. High school students can also become Bigs for middle and elementary school kids in their communities. BBBSWNC is also recruiting kids to be Littles. The agency, based in Asheville, works with families to find the right fit for their kids. Bigs receive regular support from BBBS’s trained staff, many of whom are experienced in education, social work and children’s mental health. BBBSWNC plans or suggests many of the activities that matches do. Bigs don’t have to be perfect — just dependable. Being a mentor doesn’t take a lot of time, but it makes a big difference in a child’s life. To learn more about becoming a Big Brother or a Big Sister in the region, go to bbbswnc.org.

Haywood Habitat for Humanity accepting homeowner applications

Haywood Habitat for Humanity is seeking qualified homeowners for homes located in Haywood County. Applicants must attend one mandatory information session prior to application. Information sessions are scheduled at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10, at Waynesville First United Methodist Church, Wednesday Jan. 11 at The Pigeon Community Multicultural Development Center and at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, at Longs Chapel Church.

The home ownership program is not a giveaway program. Houses are sold at the organization’s cost with an affordable mortgage. Families are required to invest 300-400 hours of volunteer “sweat equity” into the construction of their home (depending on family size), and complete homebuyer education classes.

All applicants must be residents of North Carolina for a minimum of 12 months and living in Haywood County at the time of application. Applicants must exhibit need for affordable housing, ability to pay a monthly mortgage payment and be willingness to partner with Haywood Habitat in the building and homeowner education process. For more information visit haywoodhabitat.org or call 828.452.7960.

Nonprofit fuels household stability and quality of life

Anyone looking to sell an old vehicle may want to consider donating it to Working Wheels, a local nonprofit that can help a family move toward a better life.

The concept of Working Wheels is to provide affordable, reliable transportation options to working families and watch their life begin to change.

Working Wheels partners with 17 local social service agencies that identify individuals who are facing a transportation barrier and are working to improve their lives.

The clients of Working Wheels consist of the essential workers of the regional economy. Program participants must be employed and most have children to support.

The program provides two options for its clients — The Vehicle Repair Program which provides discounted repairs for people who can’t afford to fix a vehicle they already own, and The Vehicle Purchase Program, which provides reliable vehicles at an affordable price.

Even if there is no spare vehicle to donate, there is still a way to help. People should consider making a gift to the Working Wheels Accelerator Fund, which supports the expansion and growth of the program so Working Wheels can meet the growing demand for services.

Donations of any kind are needed. Visit workingwheelswnc.org/donate or call 828.633.6888, ext. 8 to make a contribution. Checks can also be mailed to 76 Weaverville Road, Asheville, NC 28804.

For more information, email info@workingwheelswnc.org or visit workingwheelswnc.org.

Smoke Stack Café and Catering opens

Smoke Stack Café and Catering recently joined the membership of the Franklin Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon cutting celebration. Smoke Stack is in the location of the former 4L Market at 61 South Patton Ave. in Franklin and is owned by Philip Lowe and Roland Mock.

According to a press release, Smoke Stack Café and Catering “brings the sizzle and excitement to your dining experience.”

“Get ready to indulge in smoky delights that will make your taste buds do a happy dance, from tender bites to veggie treats,” the release reads. “Whether you’re hanging out in their dining room or having them cater your next shindig, they are here to serve up unforgettable moments and keep the good times rolling.”

The restaurant’s hours are Monday and Tuesday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Wednesday through Friday 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday.

Catering is available for any occasion, either at the restaurant in its private party room or at any location.

Working Wheels, based in Asheville and serving Buncombe and surrounding counties, is seeing a higher demand than ever before, and its growth has Executive Director Jamie Beasley feeling the pressure.

For more information, call 828.369.0001 or visit smokestack-cafe.com.

Swain Genealogical and Historical Society to explore Chambers family history

At 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 4, in Bryson City, Frank March and Henry Chambers will present “The Lamon Chambers Map” at this year’s first Swain County Genealogical and Historical Society meeting. In the early 1800s, the Phillip Chambers family and its descendants were among the early settlers of what is now the Chambers Creek area of the Northshore of Fontana Lake in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A more recent descendant of that family, Lamon Chambers, took on the role of family genealogist and in 1991

We’re the lucky ones; we live here

As I think ahead to 2024, I can’t help but feel so lucky to live here, in these mountains.

My wife, Lori, and I both have family members — parents, siblings — who live in eastern North Carolina. Because of that, we’ve plowed a gulch down Interstate 40, making that drive countless times in the 31 years we’ve called Waynesville, Haywood County and Western North Carolina home.

Perhaps you’ve made that drive often, and maybe you have had this same experience: each time I’m headed westward toward home and get past the exit to Marion and the mountains spring into view, a feeling of exhilaration sweeps over me. Home is right there, in those mountains where we raised our children. I can’t wait to start that climb up and over the Eastern continental divide to where rivers and creeks flow clear and they flow west, into the Tennessee River and on to the muddy Mississippi before making their way past New Orleans and into the Gulf of Mexico.

On Jan. 1, 2024 — yesterday as I write this — Lori and I took a short hike, almost two hours. We walked out our front door, down the steps, turned left and started up the mountain that rises behind our home. It’s a strenuous climb, but soon we’re right at 4,000 in elevation and are probably a half mile — as the crow flies — from our house. There are sweeping views to the east and west from atop the mountain. Living on a mountain can be tough in the winter, but there are payoffs: it’s often as much as 8 degrees cooler in the summer than it is in downtown Waynesville, and we can take a hike without getting in the car.

I feel damn lucky to be able to do that. It’s why I live here. But it’s not just the weather, the beauty and the awesome people and friends we’ve made over the years. There’s also the places and establishments that have become like old friends. I’ll throw my list of those out there, and I encourage any of our readers send me their faves or to add to this list.

• Shining Rock Wilderness Area/Sam’s Knob — it’s been

Editors help us with perspective

To the Editor:

Newspaper editors and owners have an important role in our local communities and for us readers. Facts must be accurate. Good reporters help us pull it together as factually as can be said. Biases should be expressed separately in opinion statements.

As editors, it’s a big job to ensure that news need is fairly expressed. But what about social media? One thing I’ve noticed is there apparently is less parental civic training for youth these days — parents seem to be too involved with professional activities (or selfishly gaining all the income in any way possible). If only we would think about how to help the world in our little ways instead of gathering everything just for ourselves ... and caring for neighbors, wouldn’t it be more helpful for the world’s peace?

I really got a better understanding of other cultures, like Chinese, in my three months there, or Costa Ricans in several class trips

one of our family’s go to hiking and camping spots for years. It’s just a stunning area with lots of different vantage points, open fields and forests, a creek to wade in on hot days and even a waterfall if you hike toward Graveyard Fields.

• Downtown Waynesville, Canton, Sylva, Franklin and Bryson City — All these towns have a quaintness and picture-perfect main streets and business districts. I can go into detail about each of them, but I’ll leave it at that: I love our downtowns.

• WNCW and Blue Ridge Public Radio — Somehow, we have both of these stations in Western North Carolina. During the holidays I was reminded of this as Martin Anderson of WNCW was playing from the top 100 list of 2023 albums, a feature I look forward to every year. I wanted to just keep driving my truck and listening. WNCW may be the best public radio station in the country, or at least it has the best music. Blue Ridge Public Radio also punches above its weight with news coverage of the region.

• Tuckasegee River — The beauty of the stretch of the Tuck flowing through Webster has taken my breath away on many occasions, especially when a line of fly-fishing anglers can be seen casting.

• Blue Ridge Books/City Lights Bookstore and all the other bookstores in the region — I don’t read as much as I’d like, but bookstores — like newspapers — remain comforting to me, warm and inviting. We have two of the best.

• Blue Ridge Beer Hub — Great selection of beer and brewing supplies, but it also has one of the friendliest pub atmospheres I’ve ever encountered. That’s due in large part to its owner, bartenders and the regulars. Cheers to all of them. One of my favorite places.

LETTERS

there, and learned that we have much in common with those in other countries. And closer home, how some amongst us are struggling to live. This helps me understand how privileged I’ve been since I was born and living nearly all my life here in Western North Carolina.

And it is the good editors that help us stay together instead of warring as some seem to think is the life to be lived. You help us keep a balance.

J. Dan Pittillo Sylva

What libraries do is so important

To the Editor:

Libraries are an important part of any community. In addition to books, they provide numerous other resources such as access to computers and Wi-Fi, puzzles, newspapers, and programs for the public. Library staff are

• Innovation Brewing/Cosmic Carryout — OK, so I like craft beer. Innovation has reliably some of the best brews in the region. And I love the atmosphere and the clunky wooden tables and chairs at the original Sylva location. By my estimation, (and I’m sure I’m not alone,) Cosmic’s Bronco Burger is a food-truck classic.

• Bent Creek mountain biking trails — We live in a mountain biking Mecca, but Bent Creek has become our go to for fun, just-technical-enough trails and surprisingly uncrowded riding. Of course, Tsali is also a jewel, it’s just further for us.

• Ten Acre Garden — One of the most comforting ways I know of to spend a Saturday afternoon with friends is at this place. Picnic tables, homemade pizzas, bring your own beverage, music, kids screaming and running around and mountain views any way you turn.

• Rocks — Why do I love living here? Because my property grows rocks. I’ve done a good measure of landscaping around our home from rocks that I’ve put in piles over the years around our 1.5-acre property. I’ve invited friends who needed rocks to come get some. And each year it seems there are plenty more. Unexplainable that the rocks just never get depleted. Perhaps a geologist will enlighten me.

I started this with no idea how far it would go, so let me end with these additions to the list: Deep Creek in Swain County, LeConte Lodge in the Smokies, the back porch of Frog Level Brewing and Panacea Coffee, Lake Junaluska’s walking path, the Jackson County Courthouse, HART Theater, Asheville Greenway, the original Wedge Brewery in Asheville, Barley’s Pizza, road bike riding in Bethel, spring wildflowers, rime-covered mountaintops, big snowfalls … I could go on and on.

As we kick off the new year, I’ll just say it again: I feel lucky to live here.

(Scott McLeod can be reached at info@smokymountainnews.com.)

always ready to assist with homework and help with computer literacy. Their unbiased collection of information and access to such information is important to the communities they serve.

The libraries within Macon County, for example, currently provide a very diverse collection of books and other media in order to include everyone’s interests in our community. Our librarians ensure equal and equitable access to the materials and programs at each location. The cooperation that occurs with the agreement between Macon County and the Fontana Regional Library (FRL) system ensures patrons of all backgrounds, education, socio-economic status, sexuality, color, etc., enjoy the freedom to read whatever they wish.

Sometimes, that information may offend another person, and it should! I would be surprised if there was not something within a library to offend every person in this country. Topics that may be “sexually explicit” or discuss the “occult” or even “health and wellness” are and should be available to everyone who wants to read about such things. It is a parent’s responsibility, obviously, to go with

their child to the library and help them decide what is appropriate for their child’s age. This does not mean access should be limited for everyone else.

Libraries, especially those in Macon County, are community hubs. People gather in these places to socialize, educate themselves, homeschool their children, and many other things. Access to these places and the information, and resources they contain are extremely important in a democracy, and necessary to the literacy and education of those living in rural areas.

The three libraries within Macon County are the heart of our community. It would be a disaster if we lost them due to restricted funding or a reduction in resources and staff simply because a few well-intentioned, but misguided folks want to “protect the children” out of fear. With the FRL agreement currently under review, I feel I must ask the “etiquette teachers,” Christian Nationalists, and conspiracy theorists, “What, exactly, are you afraid of?”

Jennifer Germain, M.S. US Army Veteran Franklin

love the energy surrounding a new year. Why are beginnings so enchanting?

Leaning into the momentum of a new year I

I decided to do something a little different this year.

Perhaps it’s the hope and anticipation of the unknown or maybe an open opportunity to shed old habits, behaviors and beliefs that are no longer serving us. We can do that at any time during the year, but there is a different momentum when the calendar turns to Jan. 1.

Last year was a pivotal year for me personally, but unlike other “pivotal” years which involved significant life events, last year was simply a year of reckoning with myself, the year I came to terms with my past and with old wounds and outdated systems of behavior that were pulling me down more than building me up.

Throughout 2023, I did a lot of inner work through reading, journaling, meditation, acupuncture, yoga and allowing myself to feel hard feelings that maybe I’d been suppressing. It felt like weeds cleared from my mind, heart and soul, helping me see my choice patterns and other people’s actions more clearly. I’m less offended, more grounded, more compassionate, I can see now that everyone is just doing the best they can with the emotional and mental resources they have access to at any given time.  As I look to 2024, I feel energized. I feel better equipped to embrace the beauty and joys of life without letting stress or change derail me. I think about the book I read last year by Oprah Winfrey and Arthur C. Brooks called “Build the Life You Want.” The book is full of rich, helpful information but essentially highlights the four big pillars of happiness which are friends, family, work and faith. Some of my goals for 2024 include strengthening these pillars with intentional action.

Speaker and writer Brendon Burchard recently said, “Do not move on to 2024 without letting go of something significant from 2023 — an old idea, label, habit, fear, concern of ego. Let go in order to free up space for something new and extraordinary to enter.” This thought really resonated with me. A lot of people choose a word for the year and even though by the middle of February most of us forget all about the word, I still love the idea. With Burcahrd’s advice in mind and in an attempt to maintain the New Year energy during all of 2024,

My word for 2024 is “alignment” because this word encompasses so much of what I’m trying to accomplish in my life. To be in true alignment is the process of aligning my thoughts, words, and actions with my highest self. With alignment at the core, I’m focusing on a word of the month as well in order to drill down when it comes to actionable steps. I can get easily distracted so it’s helpful for me to create short-term benchmarks along with my more grandiose dreams and goals.

For January, my word is release. Yes, I plan to declutter a number of rooms, closets, cabinets, and drawers in my house this month, but the concept of “release” runs much deeper. I also want to release limiting beliefs, fears, doubts, and anxieties that are constricting me from leaning into the highest version of myself.

Abraham Hicks said, “There is only a stream of well-being that flows. You can allow it or resist it, but it flows just the same.” In January and throughout all of 2024, my goal is to let the stream of wellbeing flow and not get in its way through mortal tactics like worrying, overthinking, doubting or controlling.

Lastly, I believe that when we put something out into the universe, whether it’s through writing or speaking, it gives it energy and also lets the universe know exactly what we want. I encourage you to do the same, even if you simply speak it aloud to yourself in the mirror.

Sometimes beginnings are hard because they come after a hard loss or a traumatic ending. Believe me, I’m very aware of how new beginnings can be the sunshine to darkness. There is a poem called “Aristotle” by Billy Collins where he explores the beginning, middle and endings of all things. With the New Year on our minds and hearts, I want to conclude with a section of that poem.

This is the beginning. Almost anything can happen. This is where you find the creation of light, a fish wriggling onto land, the first word of Paradise Lost on an empty page.

Think of an egg, the letter A, a woman ironing on a bare stage as the heavy curtain rises. This is the very beginning.

(Susanna Shetley is a writer, editor and digital media specialist with The Smoky Mountain News. susanna.b@smokymountainnews.com.)

An artist’s legacy

New database contributes to study of George Masa’s photography

BY F RANCES F IGART C ONTRIBUTING W RITER

Angelyn Whitmeyer might be the last person you would expect to contribute to ongoing research surrounding a Japanese photographer who found inspiration in the Great Smoky Mountains. And yet, the world is coming to know more about some sophisticated early images and an unlikely champion of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park through Whitmeyer’s new George Masa Photo Database.

As a kid growing up in Columbus, Ohio, Whitmeyer doesn’t recall ever visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Nor did she have a strong background in photography.

“Taking photographs was not something we did very often in my family,” she said. “I distinctly remember my conservative use of film after receiving a small camera in 1970. Should I use black-and-white, or would color be better? Processing the film was another expense I had to consider.”

Whitmeyer earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Kent State University and started her career teaching first and second grade in southeastern Ohio. She transitioned to computer programming, became a certified public accountant, and moved to Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1979. A photographer friend showed her how to process black-and-white photos in the darkroom, creating a negative and a print. She purchased a 35-millimeter camera to photograph scenes found along her travels to audit credit unions throughout North Carolina, remaining ever parsimonious in her use of film.

“When I moved to WNC in 2004, I was delighted with all the flowering native plants,” she said. “With some hesitation, I decided to purchase a digital camera. Wow! I could take lots of photos and not worry about the cost of the film, developing or making prints.”

After several years of photographing native plants in all seasons, Whitmeyer created a website to assist people with plant identification. From there, she became interested in women photographers from the beginning of photography in 1839 through the 1950s and taught a series of courses on the topic at Asheville’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. The research piqued her interest in early photographers of Western North Carolina.

“I came up with a list of potential photographers to research, then looked on the internet for books about the person and for photographic archives of their work,” she said. “George Masa’s name appeared on the initial list of photographers. The two sources of information about him were William A. Hart Jr.’s essay ‘George Masa: The Best Mountaineer’ and Paul Bonesteel’s film ‘The Mystery of George Masa.’”

Born in Japan, Masa came to the United States in 1906. His background and first nine years in the U.S. have been shrouded in mystery, but those familiar with him know that he came to Asheville in 1915 to work at the Grove Park Inn. Photography eventually became Masa’s vocation, but his avocation was hiking in the mountains of Western North Carolina — and in the Smokies in particular. Eventually, he would help bring attention to the Great Smoky Mountains as an ideal location for a new national park.

“He was an artist who composed and captured scenes of the Smokies with the same focus and intensity that is employed by master painters,” said Bill Hart, whose writing inspired a renewed interest in Masa. “He was especially attentive to the effects of light and shadow as well as to cloud formations, often waiting hours for the ideal combination of light, shadow and cloud effects.”

This must be the place

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

‘Olden

times and ancient rhymes, of love and dreams to share’ (Part Two)

Somewhere between the treadmill and the free weights of the complimentary fitness center, my mind started thinking on all the different hotels and cities I’ve found myself in this past year. This go-round it was the Cambria in Columbia, South Carolina.

It’s Dec. 30 and the nose of my truck will be aimed towards Charleston later this afternoon for New Year’s Eve shenanigans via the live music spectacles of Hiss Golden Messenger and Futurebirds. Onward to the Holy City. Onward to 2024. Onward to a brand-new wall calendar and a clean slate for things to come.

The mood swirling around my girlfriend, Sarah, and I is much more upbeat and festive than that of last week, spending the week of Christmas back in her hometown of Goldsboro, North Carolina, for the funeral of her father following a courageous bout with cancer.

For obvious reasons, Sarah has been a shell of her usual perky, ray-of-sunshine self. Although she’s pretty much been on her own most of her life (including childhood), it never gets easier to bury loved ones, especially when you share the same blood and certain physical characteristics.

But, nonetheless, we left Goldsboro immediately following the funeral services on Dec. 23, exactly a week ago. Instead of getting another hotel room in town, Sarah wanted to put the town and what it represents to her, for good or ill, in the rearview mirror of the pickup as quickly as possible.

About five or so hours later, sometime around 11 p.m., the Tacoma pulled up to our humble abode of an apartment in downtown Waynesville. Sarah was still snoozing in the passenger’s seat when I nudged her awake. Slightly disoriented from the drive, she emerged from the vehicle and headed inside. We’ll grab the luggage in the morning.

Heading for the bedroom, she got under the covers. I stayed up like the nighthawk I’ve always been and listened to some music in front room. In the midnight hour, it dawned on me that it was now Christmas Eve. With all of this culmination of her father’s sickness and passing, the two of us had pretty much forgotten we were in the midst of the holiday season.

Sadness overhead like some black cloud following the current endeavors of life. But, as per usual, gratitude remains. Hold tightly to cherished memories with beloved faces either six feet above or below the ground. Remember those moments that carry you forward — that Adirondack mountaintop, the beach in St. Augustine or the filet mignon on

the outskirts of New Orleans.

By this time next month, it’ll be a year since Sarah first walked into my field-ofvision. A whirlwind of people, places and things, all while this singular figure remains by my side, come hell or high water. It was a cold January night when we went on that first date, an even colder temperature within the beating chest muscle with dead end pursuits of femme fatales in valiant attempts fallen short.

Six dates in the first week of meeting, with the seventh day being a Saturday when my best buddy was rolling into town for one night only. A couple weeks thereafter, I found myself rolling down to New Orleans to rendezvous with Sarah for Mardi Gras — bright lights and rollickin’ noise, spilled drinks in gusto and quiet late-night walks back arm-anarm to the hotel in the Tremé neighborhood.

From there, it’s been wanderings and ponderings from coast-to-coast. Saint Augustine. Dallas. Las Vegas. Whitefish. Denver.

HOT PICKS

1

The Abby Bryant Duo (Americana/indie) will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5, at The Scotsman Public House in Waynesville.

2

Singer-songwriter Wyatt Espalin will hit the stage at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, at Mountain Layers Brewing in Bryson City.

3

Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host its weekly “Tuesday Jazz Series” at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 9.

4

Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host Tricia Ann Band (country/ rock) 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5.

5

Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host The Log Noggins (southern rock) 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12.

the written word. The intent today was the same it was back then, a 21-year-old college junior typing away wildly in the attic room of a shabby old house shared with four other students on the edge of campus, just outside of New Haven, Connecticut.

Lexington. Missoula. Indianapolis. WinstonSalem. Nashville. Savannah. Montgomery. Raleigh. Cheyenne. Jackson Hole. As of last count on this day before the final day of 2023 — 25 states traveled together and a quick trip to Canada amid the splendor of the Old City that is Montreal, Quebec.

It’s all been a whirlwind of tens of thousands of miles trekked and hundreds of thousands of words written. It’s all a blur of laughter and tears, sunrises and sunsets, empty glasses and glasses refilled once again. It’s reconnecting with old friends and sparking the fire of new ones over happenstance interactions, the pure wonder of standing somewhere, anywhere and finding solidarity in a stranger.

And, throughout this organized chaos and madness of mind and body, what remains are the words, sentences, paragraphs and pages of whatever emerges from my fingertips onto the blank page before me, usually during my third sip of my second cup of coffee, tucked away in some corner of a neighborhood coffee shop, eager to clear my head of the restless nature of self that continues forward.

Sliding into 18 years doing this gig that is

And I think of the Long Island Sound and how the waves crashed along the shoreline of Hammonassett Beach State Park about a half-hour or so down Interstate 95 from that shabby old house with those roommates, some not heard from since graduation, others still messaging hello and asking what’s new from time-to-time.

Recently, I found myself at the Grove Park Inn overlooking downtown Asheville. It was the Christmas Day buffet. Sitting at the table with my best buddy and his family, Sarah and I gazed out the big dining room windows onto the picturesque property. It was foggy out, a slight drizzle and the kind of cold that gets in your bones.

After our meal, we wandered over toward the numerous entries for the annual gingerbread completion. Incredibly intricate designs of all themes, shapes and sizes. But, as we waited for the elevator down to another floor of entries, I noticed a rocking chair, desk and typewriter roped out for safekeeping. A small sign stated the items were used by famed American novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald, who used to frequent the inn and the city.

I thought of Fitzgerald and his seminal 1925 novel “The Great Gatsby.” Faces and places he wrote about, many similar scenes to my travels in the northeast and greater New England during college, those early days of scribbling in notebooks at 24-hour Greek diners about nothing and everything.

I think of today and where I stand, how it’s all some crazy dream we dream, eh? And I think of the last line in “The Great Gatsby,” too: “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” Life is beautiful, grasp for it, y’all.

CONTINUED FROM 20

Whitmeyer was particularly intrigued by some color postcards made from Masa’s photographs at Chimney Rock and included in Hart’s essay, but she soon found it impossible to purchase or share them with class participants. The lack of available prints for purchase, along with the fact that the postcards did not have any signed reference to Masa, reinforced what she’d learned from Hart’s essay, Bonesteel’s film and notes on items found on Pack Library’s special collections digital site — much of Masa’s work, like that of many of the early women photographers, had been “lost” or destroyed.

Whitmeyer began to cross-reference the postcards with pages from the Pack Library site and prints in their collection. She studied Masa negatives at the Ewart M. Ball Collection at University of North Carolina Asheville’s Ramsey Library special collections and made connections between them and the Pack information. Organizing this data and making detailed observations as she compared images, Whitmeyer decided to create a database of all the George Masa images she could find.

Announced in November, the database of 4,000 data points includes the Pack Library collection, which has digitized a substantial number of prints found by Jami Daniels in the Daniels Graphics Miller Printing Collection; the Ball

Collection at Ramsey Library; the Highlands Historical Society collection; and the collections at Western Carolina University and the Great Smoky Mountains Association, which were donated by Libby Kephart Hargrave. Bill and Alice Hart graciously permitted access to their personal assemblage of Masa and Western North Carolina ephemera, allowing Whitmeyer to document subsequent uses of Masa’s photos in publications such as brochures and booklets. The result is nearly 1,800 unique images and 2,200 subsequent uses of those photos in various publications from the 1920s until today.

“Angelyn’s database is a labor of love — and dedication,” said Janet McCue, who coauthored “Back of Beyond: A Horace Kephart Biography” (GSMA 2019) with the late George Ellison and is now collaborating with Bonesteel on a new biography of George Masa to be published by the Great Smoky Mountains Association this fall. “For a researcher, it’s the best source for discovering which archive holds a copy of any particular Masa photo.”

Bonesteel said Whitmeyer’s database represents an immense tool for understanding the breadth of Masa’s work.

“His thousands of photos just exploded across the region after his death — with many gone forever — but her

work dissecting Masa’s records has allowed her to make sense of the chaos, categorizing and organizing the ones we have — and even the ones we don’t,” Bonesteel said.

The next in a short line of scholars before her, Whitmeyer has been bitten by the “Masa bug” and contributed skills she has honed throughout her life to do this important work. Her “accounting” has brought together the known Masa photos into one database and clarified the scope of lost images as well.

“No one has ever compiled all of this information into one source before,” said McCue. “What’s even better is that she’s still discovering more.”

Whitmeyer hopes people will “look in the attic, in the box in the closet or in an old scrapbook and find those photographs taken by George Masa that the rest of us have yet to see.”

(Frances Figart (rhymes with “tiger”) is the editor of “Smokies Life” and the Creative Services Director for the 29,000-member Great Smoky Mountains Association, an educational nonprofit partner of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. GSMA provided this piece as part of its “Word from the Smokies” series of columns. Reach Figart at frances@gsmassoc.org.)

Bryant to make Scotsman debut

Presented by Adamas Entertainment, the Abby Bryant Duo (Americana/indie) will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5, at The Scotsman Public House in Waynesville.

A music minister’s daughter turned fierce front woman, Ashevillebased Abby Bryant has cemented her presence as a standout in Americana and soul with her band’s debut album “Not Your Little Girl.”

The 13-track LP features Bryant’s raw vocal talent supported by the confident and dynamic backing group, The Echoes, and establishes a strong foundation for the band in the world of vintage-inspired Americana and soul rock.

The show is free and open to the public. For more information, call 828.246.6292 or go to scotsmanpublic.com.

• Angry Elk Brewing (Whittier) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. All shows are free and open to the public. 828.497.1015 or facebook.com/angryelkbrewingco.

ALSO:

• Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host an open mic from 8-10 p.m. every Thursday. Free and open to the public. 828.631.1987 or balsamfallsbrewing.com.

• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host a semi-regular acoustic jam with the Main Street NoTones from 7-9 p.m. every first and third Thursday of the month. Free and open to the public. For more information, go to blueridgebeerhub.com.

• Boojum Brewing (Waynesville) will host music bingo 7 p.m. Mondays, karaoke at 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, trivia at 7 p.m. and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 9 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 828.246.0350 or boojumbrewing.com.

• Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to coweeschool.org/music.

• Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host “Music Bingo” 7 p.m. Thursdays and semiregular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 7 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.634.0078 or curraheebrew.com.

Abby Bryant will play Waynesville Jan. 5. File photo

Wyatt Espalin will play Bryson City Jan. 6. File photo

• Farm At Old Edwards (Highlands) will host the “Fireside at the Farm” sessions on select weekends. For more information, go to oldedwardshospitality.com.

Americana, indie at Mountain Layers

Singer-songwriter Wyatt Espalin will hit the stage at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, at Mountain Layers Brewing in Bryson City.

Born and raised in Hiawassee, Georgia, Espalin has been entertaining audiences since he was eight years old. A blend of Americana, bluegrass and indieroots music, he’s a beloved fixture on the Southern Appalachian live music circuit.

Free and open to the public. For more information, call 828.538.0115 or go to mtnlayersbeer.com. To learn more about Espalin, go to wyattespalinmusic.com.

• Folkmoot Friendship Center (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. For a full schedule of events and/or to purchase tickets, go to folkmoot.org.

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host its weekly “Tuesday Jazz Series” at 5:30 p.m. and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.454.5664 or froglevelbrewing.com.

• Frog Quarters (Franklin) will host live music from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Free and open to the public. Located at 573 East Main Street. littletennessee.org or 828.369.8488.

• Happ’s Place (Glenville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. happsplace.com or 828.742.5700.

• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee) will host Styx (classic rock) 9 p.m. Jan. 19. For a full schedule of events and/or to buy tickets, caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.

• Highlander Mountain House (Highlands) will host a Sunday Bluegrass Residency noon to

‘Spark of the Eagle Dancer’ extended

Western Carolina University is delighted to announce its recent exhibition “Spark of the Eagle Dancer: The Collecting Legacy of Lambert Wilson” will now be extended through June 28 in the Fine Art Museum at WCU in Cullowhee. It is the museum’s hope that with the exhibition remaining open, it will give people in and around Western North Carolina and beyond the opportunity to experience one of the Fine Art Museum’s most visited exhibitions and allow people to be inspired by Wilson’s collection.

In conjunction with the exhibition extension, the museum will also host a new program series titled Spark Talks that invites the WNC community to learn from exhibiting artists about their artwork, process, and the relationships they formed with Lambert Wilson. Dates will be announced shortly regarding this programming.

The exhibit features works of contemporary Native American art from the collection of one of Western North Carolina’s most notable art enthusiasts, the late Lambert Wilson.

He devoted his life to supporting and encouraging Native artists, amassed an extensive collection of objects during his lifetime, focusing primarily on artists of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Cherokee Nation and sovereign nations of the Southwest.

This exhibition brings together a selection of baskets, pottery, carving, painting, photography and more that tell the story of the relationships Wilson built and the impact that he made by dedicating himself to this remarkable collection.

“Spark of the Eagle Dancer” gives visitors a glimpse into this vast collection built over 47 years and features work by 83 artists of various tribal affiliations.

To learn more about the exhibition and reception, please go to arts.wcu.edu/spark. The Fine Art Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday.

‘The Struggle Within Us’ by Bob Proctor (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma). Tim Burleson, Frontier Photography

• Gallery Zella (Bryson City) will be hosting an array of artist receptions, exhibits and showcases. The gallery is open from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. For more information, go to galleryzella.com or call 517.881.0959.

ALSO:

• Waynesville Photography Club meets at 7 p.m. every third Monday each month on the second floor of the Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center in Clyde. The club is a nonprofit organization that exists for the enjoyment of photography and the improvement of one’s skills. They welcome photographers of all skill levels to share ideas and images at the monthly meetings. For more information, email waynesvillephotoclub@charter.net or follow them on Facebook: Waynesville Photography Club.

• Haywood County Arts Council (Waynesville) will offer a wide-range of classes, events and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. The HCAC gallery is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. For more information and a full schedule, go to haywoodarts.org.

• Southwestern Community College Swain Arts Center (Bryson City) will host an array of workshops for adults and kids. For more information on the upcoming classes and/or to sign-up, go to southwesterncc.edu/scclocations/swain-center.

• Dogwood Crafters in Dillsboro will offer a selection of upcoming art classes and workshops. For more information and a full schedule of activities, go to dogwoodcrafters.com/classes.html or call 828.586.2248.

• Jackson County Green Energy Park (Dillsboro) will be offering a slew of classes, events and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. For more information and a full schedule, go to jcgep.org.

On the beat

2:30 p.m. and Tyler Ramsey (singer-songwriter) Jan 25 (admission is $25 per person). For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to highlandermountainhouse.com.

• Highlands Performing Arts Center will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. For tickets, go to highlandsperformingarts.com.

• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will host “Trivia Night w/Kirk” from 7-9 p.m. every Monday and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. innovation-brewing.com.

• Innovation Station (Dillsboro) will host “Music Bingo” on Wednesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All events begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. innovation-brewing.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Karaoke on the second/fourth Friday of the month and The Log Noggins (southern rock) Jan. 13. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host “Music Bingo” 6:30 p.m. Mondays and The Log Noggins (southern rock) Jan. 12. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Lineside at Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to froglevelbrewing.com.

• Meadowlark Motel (Maggie Valley) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to meadowlarkmotel.com or call 828.926.1717.

• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host an “Open Mic w/Frank Lee” Wednesdays, Shane Meade (indie/soul) Jan. 5, Wyatt Espalin (singer-songwriter) Jan. 6, Scott James Stambaugh (singer-songwriter) Jan. 12 and Zip Robertson (singer-song-

On the table

• “Flights & Bites” will be held starting at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays at Bosu’s Wine Shop in downtown Waynesville. For more information on upcoming events, wine tastings and special dinners, go to waynesvillewine.com.

• “Take A Flight” with four new wines every Friday and Saturdays at the Bryson City Wine Market. Select from a gourmet selection of charcuterie to enjoy with your wines.

writer) Jan. 13. All shows begin at 6 p.m unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 or mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.

• Nantahala Brewing Outpost (Sylva) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.641.9797 or nantahalabrewing.com.

• Quirky Birds Treehouse & Bistro (Dillsboro) will host Open Mic Night at 7 p.m. Tuesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.586.1717 or facebook.com/quirkybirdstreehouse.

ALSO:

• Salty Dog’s Seafood & Grill (Maggie Valley) will host “Karaoke w/Russell” every Monday and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.926.9105.

• The Scotsman (Waynesville) will host a “Celtic Jam” 2-5 p.m., Abby Bryant Duo (indie/soul) Jan. 5 and Spiro Funk Apocalypse (rock/funk) Jan. 12. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.6292 or scotsmanpublic.com.

• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to smokymountainarts.com or 866.273.4615.

• The Ugly Dog Pub (Cashiers) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. 828.743.3000 or theuglydogpub.com.

• The Ugly Dog Pub (Highlands) will host “Bluegrass Wednesday” at 6:30 p.m. each week. 828.526.8364 or theuglydogpub.com.

• Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host TNT Jan. 4, Tricia Ann Band (country/rock) Jan. 5 (free), Carolina Freighshakers (classic rock/country) Jan. 6, Karaoke w/Lori Jan. 11(free), Jon Cox Band (country/rock) Jan. 12 and Rock Holler Jan. 13 . All shows are $5 at the door and begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 828.538.2488.

Educational classes and other events are also available. For more information, call 828.538.0420.

• “Uncorked: Wine & Rail Pairing Experience” will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on select dates at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City. Full service all-adult first class car. Wine pairings with a meal, and more. There will also be a special “Beer Train” on select dates. For more information and/or to register, call 800.872.4681 or go to gsmr.com.

Fun with weird data, poetry, and history

Suppose, like some of us, you find yourself needing a quick word fix. You’ve got the jones for something to read, but you’re so short on time that even a short story seems as problematical an undertaking as “War and Peace.” You want a dash of amusement, a dollop of entertainment, and you want it now.

Here are four books guaranteed to satisfy that craving.

First up is Gideon Haigh’s “The Uncyclopedia” (Hyperion, 2004, 176 pages). Billed as “Everything You Never Knew What You Wanted to Know,” this collection of information and facts contains such lists as “Turkish Flirtation Phrases,” “Newspaper Slogans,” and “Norse Gods.”

with the works of poets from Chaucer to Hart Crane, introducing each with brief biographical remarks and some astute comments about their work.

Some of these verses are pages long, but we needn’t sit down for the entire feast if we’re only in the mood for a snack. In my

intense and more humorous, there’s always my copy of “The 2,548 Best Things Anybody Ever Said” (Touchstone, Reprint Edition, 2003, 671 pages). Robert Byrne produced four different collections, all titled “The 637 Best Things Anybody Ever Said,” and in this volume he brings all four books together. If you’re looking for wisdom from writers and philosophers like Aristotle, then a more standard compilation like “Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations” is what you want. But if you’re after some smiles, Byrne is ready to provide them.

Murphy, NC, poet Mary Ricketson will present her ninth collection of poetry, Stutters: A Book of Hope

One of my favorites is “Fifteen Creatures in Space.” The first entry in this category is Yorick, a monkey launched into space by the United States in 1951. “Accompanied by eleven mice, Yorick attained an altitude of 45 miles.” I did have one question: why not twelve mice? Would that additional mouse bring the total to an unlucky 13 in this early company of astronauts?

“The American Patriot’s Almanac” (Thomas Nelson, 2013, 592 pages) offers day-by-day readings on American history and culture. William Bennett and John Cribb clearly intended their book to be read daily, but I’ve never done well with such ephemerides of literature, religion, or any other such manual. After a week or two of dutiful usage, I forget to return to my guide book. In the case of “The American Patriot’s Almanac,” I instead pick up my copy every once in a while, open it at random, and read a few entries.

Today I’m making an exception. It’s December 27 as I write these words, and so I turn to that date in the “Almanac” and read the short history of the North Platte Canteen. In the very first days of our entry into World War II, the citizens of North Platte, Nebraska decided as a community to give gifts, food, and their best wishes to the troops passing through their town aboard trains, all on their way to war. For the next five years, even well after the war had officially ended, families, churches, schools, businesses, and clubs greeted and fed over six million GIs. Their commitment and generosity of spirit make for an amazing story, and Bennett and Cribb have done us all a great service by including this slice of history in their book.

Harold Bloom’s “The Best Poems of the English Language (Harper Perennial, 2007, 972 pages) is another hefty collection of quick entertainments. The prolific Bloom, a professor and one of America’s all-time great critics of literature, stuffed this anthology

case, Tennyson’s “Ulysses” provides the perfect example of taking only what is desired from a poem.

Tennyson’s reflections on the aged Ulysses and his desire for one last great adventure appeal to an old guy like me, but usually I read only the ending lines when in want of some inspiration:

Though much is taken, much abides; and though We are not now that strength which in olden days Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are; One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield. The iron in those words stiffens the spine, renews the will, and gladdens the heart.

Here are just a few of his selections:

Robert Orben: “Old people shouldn’t eat health foods. They need all the preservatives they can get.”

Lewis Grizzard: “I grew up in a very large family in a very small house. I never slept alone until after I was married.”

George Orwell: “There are some things only intellectuals are crazy enough to believe.”

Unknown: “Like all selfmade men he worships his creator.”

A small caveat: Some of the quotations are either paraphrased or merely attributed. That George Orwell remark about the intelligentsia, for example, is usually cited as “There are some ideas so absurd that only an intellectual could believe them,” and even then there is debate over whether he actually wrote or spoke those words.

At any rate, if you’re after a bit of distraction or a quick pick-me-up, look no further. You’ll find escape and inspiration in these books and others like them.

And while you’re at it, don’t forget to have some fun with them.

Saturday, January 6 at 3 p.m.

828/586-9499

When looking for something a little less

(Jeff Minick reviews books and has written four of his own: two novels, “Amanda Bell” and “Dust On Their Wings,” and two works of nonfiction, “Learning As I Go” and “Movies Make the Man.” minick0301@gmail.com.)

Cultivating dreams

Garden shop opens in Waynesville

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

ARTS & E NTERTAINMENT E DITOR

Just about a year ago, Spencer Tetrault was cruising along Depot Street in Waynesville when he noticed a “For Lease” sign in the window of an empty building. He immediately called his friend, Blake Yoder, and asked if he wanted to start a business.

“It was a coin toss away from it being a record store,” Yoder chuckled. “But, none of us have the time to go hunt estate sales and flea markets for albums, so it was decided to make it a garden store.”

Cultivate Garden Shop is what came to fruition. Beyond a wide array of plant varieties and specialized tools, there’s a slew of curated products from soil and seeds to interior wares and more. In the back of the space is a taproom with a rotating selection of craft ales. The taproom doubles as the Baby Bird wine bar.

“We have offerings ranging anywhere from the first-time apartment gardener who wants to grow herbs on their patio all the way to the market gardener,” Yoder said. “And, if you don’t garden, you can just come in and have a drink — sit down in a nice place and meet some nice people.”

Launched at the Whole Bloomin’ Thing

really exciting to be part of this groundswell of new spots emerging, this renaissance of the area.”

At the helm for the day-to-day operations are Yoder and his wife, Amanda, with Tetrault and his wife, Courtney, also co-owners. To note, the Tetraults also own the highly popular Axe & Awl Leatherworks just up the hill on

“In some ways, I think it’s meaningful that we opened in Frog Level. It feels really exciting to be part of this groundswell of new spots emerging, this renaissance of the area.”

— Blake Yoder, Cultivate Garden Shop co-owner

Spring Festival in Frog Level last May, the store has already become a beloved addition to the historic district, a section of town quickly filling up with new businesses as of late.

“In some ways, I think it’s meaningful that we opened in Frog Level,” Yoder said. “It feels

Depot Street. The Yoders run Gooseneck Farm and Coda Wood Studio.

“There’s just a big interest in gardening, plants and raising your own food here in Haywood County and Western North Carolina,” Blake said. “And we want this store to be able to meet the needs of people looking

to do just that — this is a playfully elegant space and we want it to be more of an elevated experience when you walk in.”

For the Yoders, Amanda was raised in Raleigh, with Blake hailing from Charleston, South Carolina. Each grew up around gardening and farming, only to cross paths later in life while living and working in New York City.

“Amanda and I have always had a little bit of an affinity toward gardening,” Blake said.

“And having lived in a city for a number of years, there’s not really any space to do that, but people are very crafty in figuring out ways to grow plants and raise vegetables in an urban setting.”

Eventually, the young couple realized the city life wasn’t for them anymore. With a keen interest in homesteading and a deep urge to be closer to family below the Mason-Dixon Line, the Yoders discovered Waynesville and relocated three years ago — Blake now working remote as a software engineer, Amanda a professional furniture maker in Asheville’s River Arts District.

And in their spare time, the F

Yoders finally made a longtime dream a reality by starting Gooseneck Farm, an agricultural endeavor that initially was meant to be for personal consumption, only to manifest itself into a business found at local farmers markets.

“We were growing produce mostly for ourselves, but then we had excess and would give it away to friends,” Blake said. “With learning how to homestead, everything has been trial and error. What works? What doesn’t? And we took all of that knowledge and data and applied it to the garden store.”

When asked just what it is about gardening and homesteading that truly appeals to him, Blake took a moment to pause and reflect on the question, a slight grin rolling across his face.

“My nine-to-five [job] is a digital disembodied experience. Gardening is an embodied experience towards something that’s real, physical and exists versus this sort of amorphous abstract idea of something,” Blake said. “Putting your fingers into the dirt and growing something is this checkand-balance in your life, to be aware of the here and now of what it means to be human.”

Blake admits that “it’s definitely a balancing act” for he and Amanda to hold down

Want to go?

The Cultivate Garden Shop is located at 250 Depot Street in the Historic Frog Level istrict in Waynesville.

Hours of operation for Cultivate are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Baby Bird, the wine bar inside of Cultivate, is open from 7-10:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays.

For more information, click on cultivategardenshop.com or email hello@cultivategardenshop.com.

full-time jobs while co-managing a small business. But through all the blood, sweat and tears of creating something from nothing, the Yoders and Tetraults know that Cultivate is something worthwhile — this friendly, warm space that’s part garden shop, part community social hub.

“It’s great to see that we hit the vision we wanted to, that people are showing up and really engaging in what we set out to do,” Blake said. “We want to add a new color to the tapestry of Frog Level and Waynesville — we’re proud of this business and proud to be part of this community.”

The Cultivate Garden Shop features a large selection of plants, soils, seeds and specialized tools. Donated photo

Workday planned at Jackson greenway

Help remove invasive plants on the Jackson County Greenway 1-4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12 in Cullowhee.

MountainTrue and Mainspring Conservation Trust are partnering on this event. Volunteers will pull up roots and use hand tools to remove invasive shrubs like Chinese privet and multiflora rose, and then treating the stumps to restore native habitat. For more information, or to register, visit mountaintrue.org/event.

Signups start soon for Arboretum youth programs

Registration opens soon for several upcoming outdoor education opportunities at the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville.

• Wee Naturalists, a program that lets kids ages 2-5 delight in short nature walks, stories, crafts and possibly animal visits from the Arboretum’s classroom critters, opens for registration at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 4. Spring and winter sessions are available, with morning and afternoon options each session. Cost is $100.

• Outdoor Adventure Kids, or OAK, is a safety-first approach to explore the natural world with other kids ages 6-13 that opens for registration at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 4.

Five-week winter and spring sessions are available, offered Fridays 12:30-4:30 p.m. Cost is $260 per session.

• Registration opens at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9, for spring field trips that blend outdoor education with inquiry-based STEM education. Field trips are offered Tuesday through Thursday each week Feb. 27 through May 16, except for April 1-5.

• Kids in kindergarten through eighth grade can apply for need-based scholarships to attend Discovery Camp this summer or spring break Jan. 12-31. During Discovery Camp, kids spend a week exploring the great outdoors in the Arboretum’s 434-acre campus. Scholarship awards are based on household size and annual income.

Learn more at ncarboretum.org/education-programs. Members receive a 10% discount on all classes and registrations.

Regional leaders discuss strategies for the Blue Ridge Parkway corridor

More than 130 leaders from North Carolina and Virginia gathered to discuss a strategic action plan for the entire Blue Ridge Parkway corridor during the Blue Ridge Rising Two-State Summit Dec. 5-6 in Blowing Rock.

“The Blue Ridge Rising Summit marks a historic milestone, bringing together 29 counties from North Carolina and Virginia with a shared dedication to shaping a brighter future for the communities along the Blue Ridge Parkway,” said Kim Davis, Executive Director of Friends of Southwest Virginia.

The event, hosted by the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation working with Destination by Design, highlighted six key focus areas determined by participants in a series of 30 listening sessions hosted earlier this year. A range of speakers and panelists highlighted the top action strategies. These strategies include developing a unified regional voice, creating curated travel itineraries to highlight regional offerings, advancing connector trails and greenways, protecting the viewsheds that attract Parkway visitors, bolstering workforce development in hospitality and natural

George Ivey, N.C. Development Director for the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, addresses the audience at the Blue Ridge Rising Summit.

resources, promoting safe bicycling adventures and identifying dark sky areas for stargazing along the 469-mile route.

The Blue Ridge Rising action plan will be finalized early

MountainTrue recognizes all-star volunteers

MountainTrue has recognized the members and volunteers who gave the most to the waters, forests and communities of Western North Carolina and North Georgia this year during a ceremony held in Asheville.

• The Esther Cunningham Award, named for the founder of MountainTrue’s predecessor organization, Western North Carolina Alliance, went to Jane Laping, who founded the faith-based program Creation Care Alliance in 2012 and has served on the Steering Team ever since. Laping filled in as interim coordinator for CCA this year while Director Sarah Ogletree was on maternity leave. She has volunteered in various roles with the national ecojustice network Presbyterians for Earth Care, and in 2007 wrote “Earth Care Congregations,” a certification program for Presbyterian churches. There are now more than 300 certified Earth Care congregations in the United States. Currently, Laping is working with the Plastic Free WNC Coalition.

• Jonathan Micancin, an assistant professor of biology at Young Harris College, was named Volunteer of the Year for the Western Region. Since coming to Young Harris in 2019, he has led MountainTrue’s Corn Creek Riparian Restoration Project, organizing volunteer workdays to remove invasive plants and plant native ones along the stream. Last fall, he started working with the college to replace its landscaping with native trees and shrubs. He has involved his students in all these efforts as well as in studying the behavioral ecology, evolution and conservation of cryptic amphibians. They discovered the decline of southern cricket frogs in the Southeast, extended the known range of Collinses’ mountain chorus frog in Georgia, and are currently studying rare and imperiled Appalachian salamanders.

• Elizabeth (Beth) Porter was named Volunteer of the Year for the Central Region. Since moving to the Asheville area 10 years ago from her hometown in northeastern Florida, she has been an active volunteer on the French Broad, with an affinity for river cleanups and all the interesting things and people to be found on the river. Porter is currently in her second year teaching sustainability and environmental policy in the Department of Business Administration at Mars Hill University.

Additional Volunteer of the Year awards went to Marta Toran, who teaches at Appalachian State University and represents the High Country Region and Michael Cheng, a Broad River enthusiast representing the southern region.

Tie flies like a pro

A three-week fly-tying course will teach participants to tie flies from the Southern Appalachians, 6-8 p.m. Mondays Jan. 15-29 at the Folkmoot Center in Waynesville.

Ray Sugg will teach the class, with all equipment and supplies provided as part of the $15 registration fee. Open to all ages, but limited to 15 participants. Sign up at bit.ly/haywoodrec.

this year, and the Foundation and its partners will implement the first projects soon thereafter. The Foundation is organizing the effort, which is funded mainly through the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

Hike with CMC

Take a winter walk on the Mountains-toSea Trail Sunday, Jan. 7, in Asheville with the Carolina Mountain Club.

This 14-mile hike includes 2,050 feet of ascent and is billed as the group’s “newest annual tradition” and “a great winter workout hike.” The route starts at the French Broad Overlook near the N.C. Arboretum and hikes over the rolling Biltmore section of the MST to end up at the Folk Art Center — with a much-anticipated stop for lunch and a warmup at the Fresh Market.

The group will meet at the Folk Art Center at 9 a.m. to shuttle to the trailhead.

To reserve a spot, contact Les Love at 828.230.1861 or lesrlove55@gmail.com.

Highlands Greenway celebrates productive 2023

During 2023, volunteers with the Highlands Plateau Greenway contributed 640 hours to create new trails and maintain the existing ones that connect the Highlands community, participating in more than 23 workdays over the past year.

The organization’s Trail Worker of the Year award was given to Mike King, who won it for the second year in a row, and to Trail Boss Jim Chance. New signage has been installed along the greenway, and a new map is available at the Highlands Visitor Center as well as on display at KelseyHutchinson Park.

During 2024, the Highlands Plateau Greenway aims to continue maintaining trails, engage in thoughtful expansion planning and recruit new volunteers. Volunteer workdays are held on the third Saturday of each month. To receive notifications and participate, contact highlandsgreenway@gmail.com.

Park Service to focus study on Indian Reorganization Period

The National Park Service has announced its intention to collaborate with Native American tribes across the country on a theme study focusing on the Indian Reorganization Period.

grateful that the National Park Service will work closely on this study with Native communities to ensure that their stories, perspectives and Indigenous Knowledge are a key part of this work.”

While injustices and the continued implementation of assimilation policies persisted in many Indigenous communities, during the Indian Reorganization Period (1934 -1950) the country saw a greater

Theme studies provide national historic context for specific topics in American history or pre-history, as well as evaluation guidance and a list of properties for study as possible future National Historic Landmarks. The Indian Reorganization Period theme study will build on the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative and other U.S. Department of the Interior efforts to ensure that Native American history is recognized as American history.

“Native American history is American history, and it should be told by Indigenous peoples. The stories we share inform not just our present but the future world we will pass on to the next generation of leaders. They help define us,” said Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, a Pueblo of Laguna tribal member, in remarks at the 2023 White House Tribal Nations Summit. “I am

appreciation for American Indian culture, more concern given to American Indian selfdetermination and self-government, and movement beginning to develop more economic opportunity on Tribal lands.

“We will work together with tribes through rigorous study and collaborative work in interpreting and preserving important chapters in American history, uplifting valuable perspective and strengthening the National Park Service’s role as America’s storyteller,” NPS Director Chuck Sams said.

The National Park Foundation is contributing to the launch of the study, which will be prepared with the guidance and expertise of external partners, including tribal leaders, academics and other experts in the field. Early work for the study will kick off in the new year and NPS will begin outreach to tribes in the coming months.

Drought maps are published every Thursday. U.S. Drought Monitor of N.C. map

Drought shrinks following Christmas rain

While some may have preferred a white Christmas, the rain that covered the region instead has proven the better Christmas gift for a region in continued drought.

According to the most recent drought map based on data through 8 a.m. Dec. 26, the area in severe drought has shrunk from 21 western counties to just five — Macon, Swain, Clay, Graham and Cherokee counties. Moderate drought still covers an additional 31 counties, including Haywood, Jackson, Buncombe, Henderson and Transylvania counties, with another 31 counties rated abnormally dry.

Two-day totals for Dec. 25-26 were 2.68 inches in Asheville, 1.44 inches in Cullowhee, 4.8 inches in Highlands and 1.65 inches in Oconaluftee.

Jan 6 Wofford – 4 pm

Jan 16 Samford – 6 pm

Jan 24 UNCG – 7 pm

Jan 7 Montreat – 2 pm

Jan 11 Furman – 7 pm

Jan 13 Wofford – 2 pm

EcoForesters recognizes stewards of the land

The nonprofit EcoForesters has crowned its winners for the people who made a difference in forest stewardship and education during 2023.

The Root Cause Award went to the staff of Bent Creek Experimental Forest in Buncombe County for decades of efforts to promote good forestry. The original mission of Bent Creek was to restore lands from past mismanagement and promote ecologically sound forestry. Their research provides scientific advice on how to manage Southern Appalachian forests successfully and beneficially.

Yancey County residents Russ and Stacy Oates were named EcoForesters of the Year for their active stewardship efforts on their family land, planting more than 500 saplings with the EcoForesters crew to encourage a diverse and robust forest composition.

EcoForesters is a non-profit forest management group in Asheville whose mission is to conserve and restore Appalachian forests through education and stewardship.

Learn how to prepare for backcountry emergencies

Cullowhee-based Landmark Learning is now enrolling for a variety of wilderness medicine certification courses planned for the winter months.

• The Wilderness First Responder certification is designed to provide the tools to make critical medical and evacuation decisions in remote locations. The course will be held in Cullowhee Jan. 6-14, Feb. 17-25 and March 2-10. A recertification course will be held in Cullowhee Feb. 23-25.

• The Wilderness First Aid course is a fast-paced, hands-on training designed to meet the needs of people working in remote locations. It will be held in Arden March 2-3.

• The Wilderness Upgrade for Medical Professionals course uses case studies and practical scenarios to teach medical professionals how to improvise equipment, deal with challenging environments and confidently make difficult medical decisions in remote environments. It will be held in Cullowhee Feb. 5-9.

Learn more or register at landmarklearning.org/course.

Public hearing planned for proposed wildlife rules

A public hearing on proposed changes to N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission rules for the 2024-2025 season will be held at 7 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 11, at the Haywood Community College Auditorium in Clyde.

The hearing is one of four planned across the state, with the two other in-person hearings slated for Jan. 9 in Asheboro and Jan. 17 in New Bern. A virtual hearing will be held Thursday, Jan. 18, with all four hearings starting at 7 p.m.

Written comments can be submitted as well and will be accepted through Tuesday, Jan. 30.

Following the hearings, the Wildlife

Commission will consider public input and vote to accept, reject or modify proposals, with adopted rules filed with the Rules Review Commission for approval. If the RRC receives 10 or more letters pertaining to a specific rule, implementation of that rule will be delayed pending legislative review.

An array of rules is proposed for adoption this year, including a proposal that would significantly expand the bear hunting season in the mountains. For more about proposals impacting the western region, visit smokymountainnews.com/outdoors/item/36971expanded-bear-season-proposed-for-wnc.

Read the regulations, submit comments or register for the virtual hearing at ncwildlife.org/proposed-regulations.

In the pines

INotes from a Plant Nerd

BY ADAM B IGELOW

n the Cherokee cosmology, evergreen trees were given their ability to hold onto their leaves all winter as a reward for staying up all night long for seven days, keeping the sacred fire lit. Of the many species of trees given this task, only those few that did not nod off during their watch were made evergreen. To this day the needle-like leaves of Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana), red spruce (Picea rubens), Fraser fir (Abies fraseri), holly (Ilex spp.), hemlock (Tsuga spp.), laurels (Rhododendron spp. and Kalmia latifolia) and pines (Pinus spp.) remain on the trees throughout the winter, standing like champions holding up their shiny green trophies for all to see.

Of the eight species of pine that are native to North Carolina, five of them can be found growing in the mountain counties. Those are the Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana), white pine (Pinus strobus), pitch pine (Pinus rigida), shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata), and my favorite, the Table Mountain pine (Pinus pungens). This leaves only the pond pine (Pinus serotina), loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) and longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) for the rest of the state.

has needle bundles that come in either two or three needles per fascicle and will have both numbers on the same tree. Needles of pitch pine come in bundles of three per fascicle, and the needles twist as they grow, making this tree very distinctive. Pitch pine also exhibits an interesting trait in which clusters of needles will grow right off of the trunk, and not just on branches. This is called epicormic growth, and that word can be applied to leaf growth like in pitch pine, and also to plants that flower directly on the trunk, like redbud (Cercis canadensis).

Even though longleaf pine is found in fewer than half the counties in N.C., many people believe that this is the state tree of N.C. This is because it is named in the state toast, “Here’s to the land of the longleaf pine …” and is the namesake of the Order of the Longleaf Pine, the highest honor North Carolina’s governor can bestow. It turns out that our state tree is the pine tree, and since there are eight species that are native to the state, the 1963 legislature decided not to choose just one species, but rather to select the whole genus. If there was to be a species that represented all of N.C. it would have to be the shortleaf pine (Pinus echinate), which is documented as growing in 83 of the 100 N.C. counties.

A cluster of pine needles is called a fascicle in botanical terminology. Different species of pine trees can be told apart, in part by the number and arrangement of needle leaves in a fascicle. If you were in 4-H as a child, you might remember their great mnemonic for remembering the difference between white pine and Virginia pine. There are five letters in the word “white,” just as there are 5 needles per fascicle on white pines. Whereas the Virginia pine has two needles, and when you hold up two fingers, they form the “V” that begins the word Virginia.

When you have three needles in some or all of the fascicles, that’s when other clues and features need to come into play, including the needles’ relative length and whether they are twisted or straight on an axis. Shortleaf pine

The Table Mountain pine can also have two or three needles per fascicle. What sets this species apart from the other pines found in the mountains is its cones. The pinecones of the Table Mountain pine are heavy and densely sealed shut with wax. They are also barbed with long, stiff, pointed spines that would make these cones dangerous were they to fall off the tree and hit you in the head as you passed under. The seeds contained within these spiky cones are protected from birds and others who would eat them both by spines and waxy sealant.

Table Mountain pine is also called “the lonesome pine” and was venerated in old western movies and country songs. My two favorite trees in the world are a pair of lonesome pines on the outcropping called Tranquility Point on Little Green Mountain in Panthertown Valley. Unlike most of their species, which tend to grow singly as tall scraggly trees, these two grow side by side and have been continuously pruned and stunted by strong winds on the outcropping, creating a pair of natural bonsais. Neither tree is more than 10 feet tall, and both stretch about 40 feet wide. Pinus pungens was also my nickname in horticulture school, because I was tall like a pine tree, and often pungent. Hey, pungent means sharp and to the point, right? (Adam Bigelow lives in Cullowhee. He leads weekly wildflower walks most Fridays and offers consultations and private group tours through Bigelow’s Botanical Excursions. bigelownc@gmail.com.)

WNC Calendar

COMMUNITY EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

• The Jackson County Farmers Market meets every Saturday November through March 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and April through October 9 a.m. to noon at Bridge Park in Sylva, 110 Railroad St. Special events listed on Facebook and Instagram.

• The Jackson Arts Market takes place from 1-5 p.m. every Saturday at 533 West Main St. in Sylva with live music and an array of local artists.

• Cowee School Farmer’s Market is held Wednesdays from 3-6 p.m., at 51 Cowee School Drive in Franklin. The market has produce, plant starts, eggs, baked goods, flowers, food trucks and music. For more information or for an application, visit www.coweeschool.org or call 828.369.4080.

B USINESS & E DUCATION

• Cataloochee Ski area will offer two field trips on snowmaking Tuesday, Jan. 23, and Tuesday, Feb. 13. The program is designed to offer STEM, science and math principles within a two-hour period and will include a lecture, guided tour and visual experience looking at the world of snowmaking. The program is open to six adults and 12 youth, with online registration required by Saturday, Dec. 23. There is no cost, but the field trip does not include a lift ticket. Learn more or register at cataloochee.com/programs/adult.

H EALTH AND WELLNESS

• There will be a four-week series on the Pelvic Floor beginning at 5:30 p.m. Mondays, Jan. 22 through Feb. 12, at Heavily Meditated Wellness, 483 Main St. in Canton. Mats are provided; wear warm, comfortable clothing. Class limited to eight attendees. Cost is $60 for the 4-week series. Walk-ins $20, class recordings included in fees. For more information, or to register, call Annallys at 505.438.9109.

• There will be a four-week series on the Pelvic Floor beginning at 1 p.m. Wednesdays, Jan. 24 through Feb. 14, at the Folkmoot Center, 112 Virginia Ave in Waynesville. Bring a mat; wear warm comfortable clothing. Cost is $60 for the 4-week series. Walk-ins $20, class recordings included in fees. For more information, or to register, call Annallys at 505.438.9109.

• The Pollinators Foundation offers weekly Mindful Movement Qigong classes for all ages to reduce stress and improve health and well-being. Classes take place 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Folkmoot Center in Waynesville. For more information visit thepollinatorsfoundation.org or contact Marga Fripp at margacfripp@gmail.com 828.4224.1398.

• The Pollinators Foundation and The Share Project host weekly Happy Hour Walks 5-6:15 p.m. on Tuesdays at Lake Junaluska. The group meets at the Labyrinth. For more information visit thepollinatorsfoundation.org or contact Marga Fripp at margacfripp@gmail.com 828.4224.1398.

• Mountain Area pregnancy Services and the WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor work together to provide a casual support group for prenatal and breastfeeding individuals from 1-2 p.m. on Tuesdays at Mountain Area Pregnancy Services, 177 N Main St. Waynesville. All are welcome, registration is recommended. For more information, please call 828.558.4550.

S UPPORT G ROUPS

• The National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI, offers a monthly support group at 6:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at Clyde Central United

n All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted.

n To have your item listed email to calendar@smokymountainnews.com

Methodist Church. For more information visit NAMIHaywood.com or NAMI.org.

• The National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI, offers a monthly support group from5:30-6:30 p.m. on the first and third Thursday of each month. For more information visit NAMIHaywood.com or NAMI.org.

• Highlands Mountain View Group holds open A.A. meetings in at the First Presbyterian Church, 471 Main St., at 5:30 p.m. on Monday and at noon on Wednesday and Friday. The Cashiers Valley Group holds open meetings at the Albert Carlton Cashiers Community Library at 7 p.m. Tuesday, 5 p.m. Friday and Sunday, and at 9 a.m. Saturday. Zoom meetings are available at noon on Monday, at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays (ID# 921 817 2966, password CVG2020). For more information, please visit www.aawnc80.org or to speak with a member of AA 24/7 at 828.349.4357.

CLUBS AND M EETINGS

• The Western Carolina Cribbage Club meets every Monday at 6 p.m. An eclectic group of young and old, male and female. The group supplies boards, cards, pegs and are always willing to help those still learning the finer points of the game. For more information contact kei3ph@bellsouth.net.

• Chess 101 takes place 3:30-4:30 p.m. every Friday at the Canton Branch of the Haywood County Library. For more information, email Ashlyn Godleski at ashlyn.godleski@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2567.

• The Canton Branch of the Haywood County Public Library Creative Writing Group meets 10:30 a.m. to noon on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. For more information, email Jennifer at jennifer.stuart@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2561.

• Knit Night takes place at 5:30-7:30 p.m. every second Tuesday of the month at The Stecoah Valley Center. The event is free and open to the public. RSVP is recommended: 828.479.3364 or amber@stecoahvalleycenter.com.

• Sylva Writers Group meets Wednesday mornings at City Lights Books. If interested contact sylvawriters@gmail.com.

• A Novel Escape Book Club takes place at 6:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month at the Novel Escape Bookstore (60 E Main St, Franklin). Every other month one book is selected for discussion. On alternate months the meeting is round-table discussion in which participants share what they’ve read lately. For more information call the bookstore at 828.369.9059 or visit anovelescapefranklin.wordpress.com.

K IDS AND FAMILIES

• The Jackson County Public Library in Sylva will host a kids’ program about moon exploration on Wednesdays at 3 p.m. Randi Neff will lead these activities focused on NASA’s Artemis program, with aims to one day establish a base on the Moon. Co-sponsored by Friends of the Jackson County Public Library. For more information call 828.586.2016.

• Creative Writing Club will take place at 3:30 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of every month at the Macon County Public Library. The writing club is intended for ages 8-12. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.

• Move and Groove Storytime takes place 10:30-11 a.m. every Thursday, at the Canton branch of the Haywood County Public Library. Exciting, interactive music and movement story time ideal for children 2-6 years old. For more information contact Ashlyn at ashlyn.godleski@haywoodcountync.gov or at 828.356.2567.

• Mother Goose Storytime takes place 10:30-11 a.m. every Wednesday, at the Waynesville branch of the Haywood County Public Library. Ideal for children from birth to 2 years old. For more information, contact Lisa at lisa.hartzell@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2511.

• Wiggle Worms Storytime takes place 10:30-11 a.m. every Tuesday, at the Waynesville branch of the Haywood County Public Library. Ideal for children 2-6 years old. For more information contact Lisa at lisa.hartzell@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2511.

• Storytime takes place at 10 a.m. every Tuesday at the Macon County Library. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.

• Toddler’s Rock takes place at 10 a.m. every Monday at the Macon County Library. Get ready to rock with songs, books, rhymes and playing with instruments. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.

• Culture Talk takes place at 2 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month at the Macon County Public Library. Travel the world from inside your library. This event features guest speakers and food sampling from the location being discussed. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.

• Art afternoon takes place at 3:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month at the Macon County Public Library. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.

A&E

• There will be a lunchtime contra dance from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3, at Bridge Park in Sylva. No partner or experience required. All are welcome.

• There will be a lunchtime contra dance from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10, at Bridge Park in Sylva. No partner or experience required. All are welcome.

• Trivia Night is hosted 6:30-8:30 p.m. every Thursday evening at the Meadowlark Motel in Maggie Valley. For more information visit meadowlarkmotel.com.

• Paint and Sip at Waynesville Art School will be held every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 7-9:30 p.m. To learn more and register call 828.246.9869 or visit PaintAndSipWaynesville.com/upcoming-events. Registration is required, $45.

• Mountain Makers Craft Market will be held from noon to 4 p.m. the first Sunday of each month at 308 North Haywood St. in downtown Waynesville. Over two dozen artisans selling handmade and vintage goods. Special events will be held when scheduled. mountainmakersmarket.com.

• Smoky Mountain Event Center presents Bingo Night with doors opening at 4:30 p.m. and games starting at 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday and fourth Monday of the month. For more information visit smokymountaineventcenter.com.

F OOD AND D RINK

Visit www.smokymountainnews.com and click on Calendar for:

n Complete listings of local music scene

n Regional festivals

n Art gallery events and openings

n Complete listings of recreational offerings at health and fitness centers

n Civic and social club gatherings

• Roll Up Herbal Bar, a mobile cocktail bar, will be stationed at Frog Level Brewing for Cocktail Mondays every Monday in January, serving non-alcoholic beverages from 2-8 p.m.

• “Flights & Bites” will be held starting at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays at Bosu’s Wine Shop in downtown Waynesville. For more information on upcoming events, wine tastings and special dinners, click on waynesvillewine.com.

• A free wine tasting will be held from 6-8 p.m. every Thursday and 2-5 p.m. every Saturday at The Wine Bar & Cellar in Sylva. 828.631.3075.

• Take a trip around the world with four different wines every Friday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Bryson City Wine Market. Pick from artisan Charcuterie Foods to enjoy with wines. 828.538.0420

• Cooking classes take place at the McKinley Edwards Inn from 6-8:30 p.m. on Thursday nights. To reserve your spot call 828.488.9626.

CLASSES AND PROGRAMS

• Chess 101 takes place from 3:30-4:30 p.m. every Friday in the Canton Branch of the Haywood County Public Library. No registration required, for more information call 828.648.2924.

• Wired Wednesday, one-on-one technology help is available at 3-5 p.m. every Wednesday at the Canton Branch of the Haywood County Library. For more information or to register, call 828.648.2924.

• Uptown Gallery, 30 East Main St. Franklin, will be offering Children’s Art Classes Wednesdays afternoons. Adult workshops in watercolor, acrylic paint pouring, encaustic and glass fusing are also offered. Free painting is available 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Monday in the classroom. A membership meeting takes place on the second Sunday of the month at 3 p.m. All are welcome. Call 828.349.4607 for more information.

Outdoors

• A turkey shoot will be held 9 a.m. Saturdays at the American Legion in Waynesville, continuing weekly through mid-April 2024. Breakfast food will be available for sale, with cash prizes offered. The event is weather-dependent. The American Legion is located on 171 Legion Drive in Waynesville.

• A presentation by Will Harlan on local biodiversity, global biodiversity and the connections between concurrent extinction and climate crises will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3, at the University of North Carolina Asheville’s Reuter Center in Asheville or via Zoom. The program is offered free by the WNC Sierra Club. Register to join in on Zoom at wncsierraclub.org.

• Homeschool students can visit Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley at discounted rates during Homeschool Days, offered 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays from Jan. 9 through the end of the season. Rates are $34 for lift pass only, $53 for lift pass and rental, and $69 for pass, rental and lesson. For more information visit cataloochee.com.

Market PLACE WNC

MarketPlace information:

The Smoky Mountain News Marketplace has a distribution of 16,000 copies across 500 locations in Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties, including the Qualla Boundary and west Buncombe County. Visit www.wncmarketplace.com to place your ad!

Rates:

• $15 — Classified ads that are 25 words, 25¢ per word after.

• Free — Lost or found pet ads.

• $6 — Residential yard sale ads.*

• $1 — Yard Sale Rain Insurance Yard sale rained out? Call us by 10a.m. Monday for your ad to run again FREE

• $375 — Statewide classifieds run in 170 participating newspapers with 1.1+ million circulation. (Limit 25 words or less)

• Boost Online — Have your ad featured at top of category online $4

• Boost in Print

• Add Photo $6

• Bold ad $2

• Yellow, Green, Pink or Blue Highlight $4

• Border $4

Note: Highlighted ads automatically generate a border so if you’re placing an ad online and select a highlight color, the “add border” feature will not be available on the screen.

Note: Yard sale ads require an address. This location will be displayed on a map on www.wncmarketplace.com

p: 828.452.4251 · f:828.452.3585 classads@smokymountainnews.com www.wncmarketplace.com

Legals

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE DISTRICT COURT DIVISION COUNTY OF SWAIN FILE NO. 18 CVD 114

APRIL L. BLANTON

Plaintiff vs.

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF ESAU MARTINEZ PROCESS BY PUBLICATION

Defendant

TO: ESAU MARTINEZ 84 Jujon Drive Maggie Valley, NC 28751

Take notice that a pleading seeking relief above-entitled action. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows:

The Plaintiff, APRIL L. BLANTON is seeking to Modify Custody of the above named, ESAU MARTINEZ, biological father pursuant to the Order entered on the 15 th day of June, 2018 concerning the parties’ minor child, CAMILLA AUDRI MARTINEZ-FISHER, born January 17, 2015.

You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than JANUARY 30, 2024 being forty (40) days after the date of thetice, and upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the court for the relief sought.

This 15th day of December, 2023.

DONALD N. PATTEN, PLLC

Attorney for Plaintiff 46 South Main Street Waynesville, NC 28786

828-452-1454

By: Donald N. Patten

NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION

Case No.23 E 789

Samuel Anderson, havingistrator of the Estate of Margaret Hood Anderson of Haywood County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before Apr 03 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment.

Samuel Anderson, Administrator 8150 Shore Dr Apt 312, Norfolk, VA 23518

NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION

Case No.2023 E 000766

Cynthia R. Rickman,

authorized by the laws of North Carolina to receive and administer all the assets belonging to the Estate of Sandra Kay Rhinehart of Haywood County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before Mar 7, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment.

authorized by the laws of North Carolina to

all the assets belonging to the estate 92 Sellers Rd Clyde, NC 28721

Announcements

GOT AN UNWANTED CAR? DONATE IT TO PATRIOTIC HEARTS. Fast free pick up. All 50 States. Patriotic Hearts’ programs help veterans own business. Call 24/7: 844-875-6782.

Business Opportunities

NEW AUTHORS WANTED! Page Publishing will help you self-publish your own book. FREE author submission kit! Limited offer! Why wait? Call now: 833-403-2202

Home Goods

PREPARE FOR POWER OUTAGES TODAY With a GENERAC home standby generator $0 Money Down + Low Monthly Payment Options. Request a FREE Quote – Call now before the next power outage: 1-844-938-0700

Land For Sale

RV/TINY HOME LOTS FOR SALE Tiny Home Lots for sale. $25k-$45k/ ea. Each lot comes with water, power, and septic run to each lot. Located in Franklin, NC. Go to our

web site for directions and more info. www. TinyMountainEstates. com (828) 200-0161 TinyMountainEstates@ gmail.com

Medical

DIAGNOSED WITH LUNG CANCER? You may qualify for a substantial cash award - even with smoking history. NO obligation! We’ve recovered millions. Let us help!! Call 24/7, 1-866-553-5089

ATTENTION: VIAGRA & CIALIS USERS! A cheaper alternative to high drugstore prices! 50 Pill Special - Only $99! 100% guaranteed. CALL NOW: 888-531-1192

HEARING AIDS!!

High-quality rechargeable, powerful Audien hearing aids priced 90% less than competitors. Tiny and NEARLY INVISIBLE! 45-day money back guarantee! 833-601-0491

ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. FREE information kit. Call 866579-0885

DENTAL INSURANCE

From Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 350 plus procedures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-844-496-8601 www. dental50plus.com/ncpress #6258

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise ‘any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination’. Familial status includes children under 18 living with parents or legal guardians and pregnant women. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate in violation of this law. All dwellings advertised on equal opportunity basis.

Rentals

TIMESHARE CANCELLATION EXPERTS. Wesley Financial Group, LLC Over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt and fees cancelled in 2019. Get free informational package and learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. Call 844-213-6711

Automotive

FREE AUTO INSUR-

ANCE QUOTES For uninsured and insured drivers. Let us show you how much you can save! Call 855-569-1909

Classes/ Instruction

GRANTHAM UNIVERSITY - Online Degree Pro-

grams. Masters - Bachelors - Associates. Flexible schedules. Affordable tuition. Engineering, Business, Health & Science. MILITARY FRIENDLY! To learn more, call: 888494-3350. (Mon-Fri)

ONLINE PHARMACY TECHNICIAN TRAINING New Students Only. Call & Press 1. Financial Aid Available for those who qualify. 100% Online Courses. Call 844-9634157

Entertainment

DISH TV

$64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 1/21/24. Call 1-866-5661815

DIRECTV SATELLITE

TV Service Starting at $64.99/mo For 24 mos, Free Installation! 165+ Channels Available. Call Now For The Most Sports & Entertainment On TV! 855-401-8842.

FOR HIGH SPEED SATELLITE INTERNET Shop w/ A Viasat Expert. New Customer Deals In Your Area. Nationwide Service. New Service For 2023. 855-822-5911

Home Improvement

WATER DAMAGE TO YOUR HOME? Call for a quote for professional cleanup & maintain the value of your home! Set an appt. today! Call 833664-1530 (AAN CAN)

BCI - WALK-IN TUBS.

ANSWERS ON PAGE 34

BCI Walk In Tubs are now on SALE! Be one of the

$1,500! CALL 844-5140123 for a free in-home consultation.

DON’T PAY FOR COVERED Home Repairs

Again! American Residential Warranty covers ALL MAJOR SYSTEMS AND APPLIANCES. 30 DAY RISK FREE/ $100OFF POPULAR PLANS Call 877-707-5518 Monday-Friday 8:30am to 8:00pm EST

SECURE YOUR HOME

With Vivint Smart Home technology. Call 855-6215855 to learn how you can get a professionally installed security system with $0 activation.

REPLACEMENT WINDOWS. $279 INSTALLED any size. Labor and window included. 5 window minimum. Lifetime warranty. Maintenance Free. Free Estimate. HATTERAS WINDOWS Hatteraswindowsanddoors@gmail. com 252-256-8531.

REPLACE YOUR ROOF

With the best looking and longest lasting material – steel from Erie Metal Roofs! Three styles and multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer - $500 Discount + Additional 10% off install (for military, health workers & 1st responders.) Call Erie Metal Roofs: 1-855-5851815

ELIMINATE GUTTER CLEANING FOREVER!

LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-877-649-1190

Legal, Financial and Tax

SAVE YOUR HOME! Are you behind paying your MORTGAGE? Denied aened with FORECLOSURE? Call the Homeowner’s Relief Line now for Help! 855-721-3269

SUDOKU

Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

BEHIND ON YOUR MORTGAGE PAYMENTS? Threatened with foreclosure? Denied

us help! Call the Homeowner Relief Line to speak with a mortgage specialist. 855-721-3269

SAVE BIG ON HOME INSURANCE! Compare 20 A-rated insurance companies. Get a quote within minutes. Average savings of $444/year! Call 855391-2786! (M-F 8am-8pm Central)

$10K+ IN DEBT? Be debt free in 24-48 months. Pay a fraction of your debt. Call National Debt Relief 844-977-3935.