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Haywood mulls rules on outdoor shooting ranges

Food Safety in the Home. Don’t get sick from SALMONELLA

How do you know you have it?

Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most recover without treatment. However, in some persons, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized.

What causes it?

■ Eating raw or undercooked eggs, poultry or meat. Not washing produce before consumption.

■ Drinking raw milk.

■ Drinking water than has not been tested or treated.

■ Not washing hands after handling reptiles like lizards, turtles and snakes.

■ Not washing hands after handling live chickens or ducks.

■ Coming in contact with feces of animals and not washing hands before eating.

: www.cdc.gov/salmonella/general/additional.html

Moratorium proposed as stopgap while ordinance gets crafted

BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFFWRITER

Outdoor shooting ranges could soon be under the microscope in Haywood County.

County commissioners have signaled tentative support for rules on where outdoor shooting ranges should be allowed and what safety precautions should be required.

“This is not a gun rights issue, it is a public safety issue. I don’t think anyone would want an outdoor range next to a school, for example. That is not reasonable,” Commissioner Mark Swanger said.

Commissioner Kevin Ensley said the proximity of an outdoor shooting range to a church is another concern that should be addressed in an ordinance.

“These little country churches out in rural areas, you could have a shooting range right next to you shooting while you are trying to worship on Sunday morning,” Ensley said. “There is nothing to stop them.”

Ensley said there should also be safeguards in place to ensure outdoor shooting ranges are properly constructed to contain lead contamination and stray bullets.

It would take time to craft an ordinance on outdoor shooting ranges, to vet it with the public and to get it passed, however.

In the meantime, commissioners are considering a moratorium as a stopgap measure. A moratorium would prevent an outdoor shooting range from cropping up while the county develops an ordinance.

“The purpose of a moratorium is to thoughtfully and reasonably assess what

should be done regarding public safety for an outdoor firing range,” Swanger said.

County commissioners held a public hearing Monday on whether to impose a 60-day moratorium on outdoor shooting ranges.

One speaker questioned why the county would waste time talking about it when there’s no indication that an outdoor shooting range is actually on the horizon anywhere in the county.

“We have a moratorium to write an ordinance to regulate something that has not even been proposed,” said Paul Yeager. “It looks like a solution in search of a problem. We are spending all this time on something that has not yet been proposed.”

But once a shooting range has actually been proposed, it would be too late, explained Commissioner Kirk Kirkpatrick. Any ordinance written after the fact wouldn’t retroactively apply, he said.

“Once someone makes an application, that application would be grandfathered in, and there wouldn’t be anything you could do,” Kirkpatrick said. “You are in a Catch 22. If you don’t talk about it, and someone makes an application, it is too late to do something about it.”

Turnout was much sparser than expected at this week’s public hearing on the moratorium — given the dual hot-button issues of guns and limits on private property.

Fewer than a dozen people were at the hearing in opposition to the shooting range moratorium, and of the paltry showing, only a few actually spoke.

“I am totally against this moratorium,” said Andrew Jackson, who cited the importance of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

But those who spoke in favor of an outdoor shooting range moratorium said they weren’t trying to take anyone’s guns away.

“This is not about Constitutional rights,” said Vicki Rogers. “It is about safety.”

Lisa Nelson, a retired teacher who spoke at the hearing, said communities need to be protected from an outdoor shooting range that’s too close to homes or schools.

“This is not something against hunters and gun rights,” Nelson said. “We speak without malice, without anger.”

Supporters of an outdoor shooting range moratorium hailed entirely from the Francis Farm community, a rural pastoral enclave on the outskirts of Waynesville.

The community learned six weeks ago that one of their neighbors planned to build a massive indoor shooting range and gun store in their midst.

Residents of the Francis Farm area quickly mobilized against it, appearing before commissioners twice in January to ask them to protect the peaceful character of their community from such an intrusion.

Commissioners sympathized, but were unwilling to take up the issue of indoor gun ranges absent a larger dialogue on countywide land-use planning.

However, commissioners said the inherent safety risks of an outdoor shooting range — which Francis Farm residents fear might also be in the cards — warranted consideration.

Jule Morrow, the man who plans to build an indoor shooting and gun store in the Francis Farm community, countered the rumor that he is planning an outdoor range.

Morrow said he only intends to build an indoor one.

“I do not know how I can say it any simpler or any clearer,” Morrow said at the public hearing this week.

On the subject of outdoor shooting ranges, Morrow actually came down in favor of an ordinance.

“The county needs to get on this. Sooner or later there will be some commercial outdoor ranges that come to our area,” Morrow said.

Morrow itemized four specific regulations he believes should be included in an outdoor shooting range ordinance: a backstop to contain bullets and lead contamina-

tion, deflectors or baffles along the sides of the firing line, video surveillance and a range manager on duty whenever shooting is going on.

A nearby resident said there’s no guarantee other than Morrow’s word that he won’t build an outdoor range at some point, however.

“He says he is not going to build an outdoor range, but what would stop him in the future from doing such a thing?” asked Ron Sikula. “The possibility of an outdoor range in that area is very dangerous because of the flight of the bullets.”

Josie Rathbone, another nearby resident, agreed.

“I am here as a parent. I don’t want to have my child outside wondering where a stray bullet is going to go,” Rathbone said.

The Francis Farm site is a mile from a school and youth ball fields, well within range of a stray bullet from a high-caliber weapon, she said.

County commissioners didn’t vote on whether to enact a moratorium this week, instead deferring a vote until their meeting two weeks from now, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 15. There will be another opportunity for public comment at that meeting before they vote.

While commissioners seem likely to go forward with a moratorium, the real work is yet to come in the crafting of an outdoor shooting range ordinance.

The county will only have a 60-day window to develop an ordinance. By state statute, a moratorium is limited to 60 days. A public hearing would be held on the language of an ordinance before it is adopted.

Commissioners emphasized that any ordinance would not apply to individuals, hunting clubs or just a group of guys getting together to shoot on their property.

“What we are talking about is a commercial, outdoor shooting range — if someone pays a fee to come shoot,”

Commissioner Kevin Ensley said.

Commissioner Mike Sorrells said he’s gotten a lot of calls from people asking that very question.

“They were concerned about being able to go out in your own backyard and on your own property and shoot your own gun. When I explained it, everybody seemed supportive of what we were trying to do,” Sorrells said.

Deputies intervene during tense moment at shooting range hearing

BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFFWRITER

Apublic hearing on an outdoor shooting range moratorium in Haywood County got off to a dicey start this week.

A man speaking out of turn from the audience refused to pipe down and had to be removed from the meeting by deputies following a brief standoff.

The man tried to pose questions to a speaker at the microphone, but was told by Commissioner Mark Swanger that back-andforth between the audience and the public hearing speakers wasn’t allowed.

The man shot back defiantly that he could ask questions if he wanted to.

“You work for me. You work for me,” he said loudly, pointing to the commissioners.

By now, two deputies in the meeting had begun to walk toward the man. It was somewhat awkward for them to maneuver down the long rows of courtroom benches to where he was sitting, but after sidestepping around other audience members, they sidled in and flanked him on both sides.

The deputies asked him to leave the room, but he refused to go.

“I’m not leaving. You work for me. You work for me, too,” he said to the deputies.

“Sir, please stand up, sir,” the deputies

Deputies escorted Doug Knight from a public hearing on an outdoor shooting range moratorium in Haywood County for interjecting in the proceedings from the audience and refusing to simmer down.

repeated.

“I’m not going nowhere,” said the man, later identified as Doug Knight.

The deputies kept repeating their instructions to Knight to stand up and come with them.

“It’s going to take more than two of you,” Knight said, with his arms folded across his chest, refusing to budge.

Knight told them they’d have to carry him out, and they’d better call in more help to do that. Indeed, Knight is a large man, and extracting him by force from the hemmed-in row of benches would have been tricky.

The deputies kept asking, however, and Knight finally acquiesced, though he protested vocally on his way down the aisle that it wasn’t fair to be denied his chance to speak at the hearing.

Several minutes later, one of the deputies came back in and walked up to the commissioners’ table at the front of the room. He leaned in and spoke quietly to Commissioner Mark Swanger. After listening a moment, Swanger announced to the audience that the man was going to come back in if that was OK with everyone, now that he understood the ground rules for the hearing.

When Knight took his turn at the podium to speak, he was humble about the disruption he caused.

“Let me apologize to everybody for my outburst. I didn’t meant for it to be an outburst but I apologize for it,” Knight said. Knight said he was in favor of an outdoor shooting range because it would contribute to the economy and jobs.

Central supporters appeal for solution instead of closing

BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFFWRITER

Many of the speakers at a public hearing on whether to close Central Elementary School in Waynesville urged Haywood County School board members to think outside the box and find another way to solve the budget shortfall.

“The focus of this discussion needs to change from, ‘We can’t afford it, we don’t have the money, we can’t do it, there’s no way,” said Mark Melrose, an attorney and parent of a Central student. “The focus should be ‘How are we going to keep this school open and operating in this community for another 75 years?’”

Melrose urged the school board not to be defeatist and take the easy way out.

“We need to change the way we are looking at this to ‘we can afford it, we can do it, let’s figure out a way to make it happen.’ This is not a devastating crisis that can’t be solved,” Melrose said.

That sentiment was echoed — no less eloquently — by some of Central’s students.

“There is something we can do to save the school, and if we find that thing, we can do that and not have to close,” said student Alex Castro.

A few speakers expressed dismay that they weren’t told of the possibility sooner. An inner circle of school administration officials have been talking about the idea of closing Central for at least four months, but it was kept quiet. The public wasn’t made aware until three weeks ago, and by then, the school board was on the fast track to a decision. A final vote is supposed to happen Monday, Feb 8.

“This thing that was dropped in our laps,” Melrose said.

“We have only had about two weeks to process this, and it didn’t give us enough time to do our research. Why is this thing on a crash schedule where we don’t have time to be ready? There is no deadline except the deadline you folks make.”

Chris Williamson, the PTA president of Central, begged the school board to be open-minded.

“I have heard the decision has already been made and that we are just here for formalities,” Williamson said. “I hope that’s not true. I ask you to really search your hearts and consider our kids.”

Surely the school board could find other cuts, “instead of disbanding an entire school and throwing parents, students and teachers into chaos,” said Stanley Branch, a parent.

Several speakers echoed the call to make cuts elsewhere.

“Have we explored every opportunity

S EE S UPPORTERS, PAGE 8

From the heart

Parents, teachers and students plead to save Central Elementary from closing

BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFFWRITER

Around 300 supporters of Central Elementary School in Waynesville packed into the school cafeteria last Wednesday evening and made a heartwrenching appeal to the Haywood County School Board not to close the school.

Dozens of children, parents and teachers spoke during the emotional public hearing.

“I love this school because it is welcoming and feels like home. It is a place I look forward to going to and learning and growing,” said Landry Wilson, an 11-year-old student at Central. “Generations and generations have gone to this school. The loss of this school would leave a big gaping hole in the community.”

Many in the audience sobbed as students talked about losing the place that’s been the center of their universe, for as long as they can remember.

“If the school closes down, that’s like memories going away. All my memories are here. I spent 180 days times six here. I am not really good with math, but that’s a lot,” said fifth-grader Alex Castro.

Even school board members blinked back tears as children stood before them, begging them not to close the school they love and turn their world upside down.

“I ask you to make this answer with your heart and not with your head,” said Sandy Clontz, a teacher at Central.

But for school board members weighing

Central student Zachary Smith asked why they couldn’t just find some money somewhere.

“If every store in North Carolina just gave, like, 20 percent, we could still have our school,” Smith said.

Clontz recounted how one student came up to her the week before and handed her an envelope to pass along to the principal.

“She said ‘Can you please give this to Mrs. Yates? We opened up that envelope and inside it was $42 with a note that said ‘Please use this to help keep our school open,’” Clontz recounted. “They know it takes money, but they don’t really understand. That $42 — to her it was $500,000 that she gave.”

Parents also urged the school board to look beyond the numbers.

“Please don’t close Central just for financial reasons,” said Angela Benson, a parent of a Central student. “It is affecting so many children.”

Many speakers touched on the close-knit, nurturing environment Central is known for.

“I can stand up here and name every single kid in this school because I love them,” said Joanna Pace, a Central teacher battling through tears as she spoke.

“We are family here,” said Chris Williamson, Central’s PTA president.

Central is one of the smallest elementary schools in the county, with a student body of 230 students. Its small size has become a liability and made it a target for closure, but it’s also its greatest strength.

“Central is a small school and an old school. That is why I love this school so much,” said Sarah Elizabeth Super, a student at Central. “Central is such a big part of me being who I am.”

the decision, there’s more at play than the raw emotions displayed at last week’s hearing.

Haywood County Schools is facing a $2.4 million budget shortfall, brought on by the trifecta of a declining student body, state budget cuts to classroom education and charter school competition.

There are nine elementary schools in the Haywood County school system, and many are far below their maximum capacity. The school system simply has more school buildings than they really need to accommodate the student population.

“We are maintaining and operating schools that are significantly below capacity. This is a costly and ineffective use of taxpayer dollars,” School Board Chairman Chuck Francis said at the outset of the public hearing, explaining the unpleasant reality behind it all.

Closing Central would save $500,000 a year. But students couldn’t fathom why a little thing like money should rob them of their school.

Posters ringed the cafeteria during the public hearing asking for donations, some with handmade envelopes stapled to them asking people to “Put coins here” to help save Central.

“I don’t want to move. I don’t want to lose my friends. Why do we have to suffer for it?”

Elementary student

Emily Chin, now a high school student, took a turn at the mic during the hearing to speak up for the younger students at Central.

“What would happen if this school did close down? Would it ruin their lives? They would lose all their friends. They would have to go to another school where they don’t know anyone,” Chin said.

The majority of Central’s 230 students would be divvied up between nearby Hazelwood and Junaluska elementary schools. Both are within a 2-mile radius, but to students who would be uprooted from Central, the other schools may as well be on another planet.

“I don’t want to move. I don’t want to lose my friends. Why do we have to suffer for it?” asked Central student Zachary Smith.

Several parents said the one-on-one attention teachers are able to give students at Central thanks to its smaller environment was absolutely critical to their kids’ success.

‘Save Our School’ crowd marches in support of Central Elementary

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFFWRITER

Waynesville’s youngest public demonstrators — along with their parents and teachers — took to the streets last week to show their love for Central Elementary School, a Waynesville institution that could shut down to as a result of a massive budget shortfall facing the school system.

Bearing homemade signs and wearing printed T-shirts with slogans like “SOS — Save our School!” and “I Y Central,” the crew stretched along an entire city block as they walked through downtown from Central to the Haywood County Historic Courthouse, cheering and chanting the entire way as passing cars honked beeps of encouragement.

“We all have grown up here, and it’s our favorite school,” explained 9-year-old Ava Quigley, a third-grader. “We don’t want to switch schools.”

If the school closed, some of her friends would go to nearby Hazelwood Elementary School and others would go to Junaluska Elementary School. It would be sad for them to have to split up, and besides, she really likes the teachers at Central now.

“These kids mean more to me than you can even know,” said Joanna Pace, a kindergarten teacher who’s in her seventh year at Central. “It would break my heart to see a family separated in so many ways.”

“The thought of splitting up and not going to Central anymore is really sad,” agreed fourth-grade teacher Darsey Fox, also in her seventh year at the school.

For fifth-grader Jacob Rhineheart, closing the school that both he and his parents attended — with his sister slated to continue the family tradition next year — would be devastating.

“I’ve been crying for the past three days now,” Rhineheart said. “I’ve been there so

Central Parent Travis Mehaffey said teachers spent their own time over the summer coaching his child to get him caught up so he could move up to the next grade.

“The programs they have here are more individualized,” Mehaffey said. “Closing down a school that is helping kids, I don’t see it as being a real feasible option.”

Central parent Duska Roberts shared a similar story of teachers rallying around her child to get her on track.

“At a bigger school she could have fallen through the cracks. And that’s what worries me,” Roberts said.

The school board plans to vote on whether to close Central at its next school board meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8, at the Education Center in Clyde, located beside

long and I love that school.”

For Central parents, the concern goes beyond pure emotion. Bryan Crowe, whose third-grader did a year at Hazelwood before coming to Central, said his child thrived in the smaller environment Central offered.

“It just doesn’t compare to the kind of attention he gets at Central,” he said.

“Central’s just small enough for the students,” agreed Elizabeth Webb, mother of a pre-K student at Central. “They need smaller schools sometimes.”

The walk drew from a wider base than just those directly involved with the school. N.C.

More online

For a photo gallery of the public hearing and rally on closing Central Elementary School, go to www.smokymountainnews.com.

Senate candidate Jane Hipps, D-Waynesville, was there, as were two teachers who traveled all the way from Macon County to carry a sign in support of the school.

Upon arrival to the courthouse, the chanting grew louder, more cohesive, with mantras shifting between “Save Our School” to “CES Is The Best” to a robust “We are Central, couldn’t be prouder, if you can’t hear us, shout it louder.” Clapping, cheers, flashes of cameras and poses for selfies ensued as the sun set over downtown Waynesville.

The coming darkness served as a signal to wrap it up, the group of Central supporters backtracking to prepare for the next part of the evening — a public hearing where they’d be tasked with convincing the school board to keep their school open.

“I will do anything to save this school,” Pace said.

Past coverage

To catch up on our in-depth coverage of this issue to date, see “Special Coverage” at www.smokymountainnews.com.

Haywood Central High School.

The words of so many in the community who have spoken up in recent weeks will no doubt weigh heavily on board members’ minds, no matter how they ultimately vote.

“It takes a village to raise a child. You are looking at a village right here,” said Tammy Laudermilk, grandparent of a child at Central.

“You can’t put money on what we have in this school. You can’t put money on love.”

Clockwise from top: One of the Williams twins raises a sign in support of Central.

Elizabeth Conard had hoped her daughter (pictured), now in pre-school, would follow in brother Jacob Rhineheart’s footsteps as a Central student. Michael Crowe shouts his love for Central for all to hear.

Kindergarten teacher Joanna Pace tells the Haywood County School board what a special place Central Elementary has held in her heart for the seven years she’s taught there.

Becky Johnson photo

Central on the chopping block: who’s to blame?

BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFFWRITER

Central Elementary School has become a rallying cry for advocates of public education across the state.

The possible school closure in this small mountain town is a self-fulfilling prophecy of state Republican policies that have undermined traditional public school systems in recent years, according to some.

“The possibility of this school closing isn’t an accident. It is a choice. The people in Raleigh have made a choice to underfund education,” said Dan Kowal, a teacher in Macon County. “If this can happen here, it can happen anywhere.”

The issue has been closely followed throughout the region, drawing several speakers from other counties to sound the alarm at a public hearing last week on Central’s fate.

“It is part of the larger story of what is happening to public education in North Carolina,” said John deVille, a teacher in Macon County.

As public school funding has been funneled to charter schools, online schools and private schools through vouchers, public schools have been squeezed, putting them on the very trajectory now playing out in Haywood, they said.

“It is the state politicians who have been cutting the budget and then leave it up to y’all to be the face of those ugly cuts,” Kowal said.

Kowal said it was “immoral” of state Republican lawmakers to pass out tax cuts for the wealthy and special interests while schools are struggling.

“They are stealing from our children and taking money from our schools to give tax cuts to people who are already wildly successful. They are stealing from our children to give money to their campaign contributions,” Kowal said. “The only way to change this is for us to work together.”

Jane Hipps, a Waynesville Democrat and retired educator running for the N.C. Senate, said a change is needed in Raleigh to save public schools.

“I think we are being looked at across the state at how are we going to handle this. Are we going to fold in and let them make us fold this school?” Hipps asked. “Let’s show the folks in Raleigh we have some backbone and we can keep our schools open.”

Jan Blount, another speaker who touched on the larger politics at play behind Central’s closing, said the so-called school choice movement is distorted.

“Our state legislators have decided to give us school choice. That sounds great to parents — we get school choice,” Blount said.

But when the finite pool of education dollars is eroded by subsidies for private schools, it limits choice on the other end.

“So all those people who get to take their kids to private school, that’s hunky dory. But what about your choice?

“Which school do you want to go to?” Blount asked, turning to a table of students beside the microphone.

“Central!” they shouted.

DeVille said that charter schools like the new Shining Rock Classical Academy might provide a choice for some — but not to all.

“There’s an unspoken class barrier to going to Shining Rock. We are creating a caste system in North Carolina with our charter schools,” deVille said.

Meanwhile, public schools attended by the vast majority of students suffer, he said.

A couple of speakers made a trip from neighboring counties simply to offer their condolences.

“I felt like I had to come out here and show support,” said Pam Baldwin, superintendent of Asheville City Schools. “Each and every one of you and these families and these students are going to be in my prayers.”

Baldwin said that Haywood isn’t alone in the tough decision it faces.

“I’ve sat where y’all have sat. Our county

“I think we are being looked at across the state at how are we going to handle this. Are we going to fold in and let them make us fold this school?”

— Jane Hipps

might be looking at the same thing in the future if things continue in the way that they are,” Baldwin said. “I am seeing it get chipped away slowly and steadily by the decisions being made at the state level and those decisions at the state level come back to haunt these guys.”

Many parents shared that sentiment.

“I am concerned the consideration of closing down Central is an indication that educa-

tion is heading in the wrong direction,” said Anna Catherine Super, a parent at Central.

A career public school educator from Black Mountain urged Haywood school leaders to keep fighting.

“I believe that a school is the heart and soul of a community. Everything in a community rotates like a wheel around what happens in a school. Closing this school is going to break a terribly important hub,” said Norm Bossert, the principal at Black Mountain Elementary.

Public schools have a spirit that goes beyond the education of children.

“It was relationships, the people we knew, the people we embraced, the troubles they had, the triumphs they share,” Bossert said.

There’s nothing worth fighting as hard for.

“If you lock arms and walk together and take the fight to Raleigh that needs to happen, then by God you can save this school because this community lives in its children, and their children, and their children,” he said.

out there for stones that need to be unturned?” said Bobby Justice, a retired financial analyst.

Since closing Central saves only $500,000, while the budget shortfall is $2.4 million, how will it help?

“You close Central and you still got a big budget problem,” Justice said. “Central is almost like a scapegoat and a smoke screen.”

School officials have actually devised a plan to make system-wide cuts to solve the full $2.4 million shortfall without closing Central, but the widespread cuts could be lessened if Central was sacrificed.

Some claimed the rationale behind Central’s closing — to save $500,000 a year — is a fallacy in the first place.

The school system is funded based on student head count. If Central is disbanded,

some students may exit the public school system altogether.

A student raised this point at the public hearing, questioning whether Central’s students will remain in the public school system or go elsewhere.

“It could also be Shining Rock or an online charter school or homeschool,” said Sarah Elizabeth Super.

Since state funding is based on a “so much money per student policy,” the net gain from closing Central won’t be as much as presumed if some students leave the public schools and those dollars are lost, Super said.

The bitter taste left by Central closing could prompt some to make that choice.

“We have supported Haywood County Schools. Now Haywood County is not supporting us. Why should we choose Haywood County Schools?” asked Stanley Branch, a parent.

“The focus should be ‘How are we going to keep this school open and operating in this community for another 75 years?’”

—

Mark Melrose, parent of a Central Elementary student

Melrose questioned why the county commissioners couldn’t be asked to provide more local funding to bridge the gap and keep Central open, even if that means a local property tax increase.

“The commissioners will give the money if you stand up and tell them you are not going to take anything less than the half a million it takes to keep this thing open,” Melrose said.

Haywood County Commissioner Mark Swanger said in a later interview that the school system has not asked the county for

more money. School officials met with Swanger and Commissioner Kirk Kirkpatrick to brief them on the situation, but they did not suggest that the county should step in with more money to fix the shortfall brought on by cuts from the state. Haywood County funds the school system at one of the highest rates in the state already, Swanger said.

That’s won’t stop Central supporters from trying, however.

“What we can do is hope for miracles,” Landry Wilson, an 11-year-old at Central, said at the hearing.

Tourism board contemplates firing web manager

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFFWRITER

Every month, the Jackson County Tourism Development Authority shells out $2,650 to keep its website updated, get it to show up prominently in search results and analyze digital traffic.

Lately, TDA board members have been feeling they’re not getting quite enough bang for their buck on the task from the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina-based Brandon Agency, so last week the board voted unanimously to put out a call for proposals from other — hopefully more local — companies.

“Since the reason we’re looking the website is because of performance, it would probably be challenging for Brandon to take that role on again,” said Chairman Robert Jumper. “We really would hope if we move that website portion out to another agency they would be better able to focus on some of the other things we’d enjoy them doing.”

Things like growing the monthly visitation and adding new features — a sign-up box for a monthly e-newsletter, a blog, easier access for board members to update information like listings for lodging and events.

For the TDA board, stubbornly unmoving visitation numbers are a big part of the motivation for switching companies. Traffic to the website, www.mountainloversnc.com, has been holding steady around 1,500 per month, but there hasn’t been much growth.

In fact, Brandon representative Barry Sanders came under fire from the board when he came by in September to report on the agency’s marketing plan. In addition to website management, the company holds a $1,750-per-month contract as the TDA’s ad agency. Sanders’ report included an update

For the TDA board, stubbornly unmoving visitation numbers are a big part of the motivation for switching companies.

on website traffic, and board members were not happy with the numbers.

“We paid a lot of money for that website,” TDA member Alex Bell told Sanders in September. “I thought if you broke that out on a monthly basis and divided it out, that’s quite a lot per visit.”

To be fair, Bell’s comment had stemmed from Sanders’ initial report that the site had gotten just 310 visits in the month of August, which Sanders later realized was incorrect — the monthly total had actually been 1,233. However, the criticism held. Even with 1,233 visits, the monthly cost of Brandon’s website management contract

would make each visit worth $2.15.

“I’m concerned about our website, to be honest with you,” board member Clifford Meads said during a follow-up discussion at the TDA’s October meeting. A thirdparty analysis should be done, Jumper agreed at the time, giving the board a better understanding of what the numbers are and whether they’re good or bad.

That’s what the TDA voted to do last week. In addition to publishing a request for proposals for a new website manager, the board voted to hire Chicago-based Sprout Social to deliver a monthly report breaking down “digital guests” to the website and social media accounts by metrics such as age, gender and location. The company will charge a fee of $100 per month, a price tag that TDA Director Nick Breedlove called “a nominal fee of great value.”

Nick Breedlove

“With a volunteer board who has personal corporate focuses elsewhere, we can’t just rely on our occasional look at what’s going on and say, ‘That looks bad or that looks good,’” Jumper said. “We need to have some justification to say whether it’s indeed bad or good.”

In addition, Breedlove said, having the digital visitation information at its fingertips will give the TDA a better understanding of where guests are coming from and how to better target the marketing. The sample report Sprout provided to the TDA already turned up some surprises, such as the fact that more visitors to the Facebook page came from Charlotte than any other city. Breedlove said he wasn’t expecting to see that.

“With that data we can better target our message to that demographic and find where we’re falling short in reaching other demographics,” Breedlove said.

But for now, the TDA will be paying a net lower amount for its online needs, as Breedlove will be taking $900 worth from Brandon’s $2,650 monthly contract onto his own workload. That line item goes to website analytics, breaking down website traffic and showing how different visitors find it.

Turns out, that’s information that Breedlove can compile himself in an amount of time worth much less than $900. Having just taken on the role of TDA director with the start of the new year, Breedlove has been busy asking questions and making plans to figure out how the TDA can do a better job of promoting the county and making the same number of dollars do more work.

According to Jumper, rethinking the website will be an important part of that.

“The goal is to get more visitors to Jackson County,” Jumper said, “and we need to have a better functioning site to do that.”

Tempers flare over idea of renaming Waynesville thoroughfare for MLK

BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFFWRITER

Members of the African American community in Waynesville hope to rename a major street for Martin Luther King Jr., not only to honor his legacy but also to serve as symbol of acceptance and inclusion for the historically shunned black community.

“Change a street name and you change the way people think about their city. It is where ideology meets asphalt,” Phillip Gibbs said. “Now I know we will have push back on this. Some people just do not like change. But what you got to understand is that we need change in Waynesville.”

Gibbs shared the idea at a Waynesville town board meeting last week accompanied by a dozen supporters in the audience, both black and white.

But a few opponents of the name change were there, too.

“We have always welcomed our African American people. I have lived there all my life and we’ve never had a problem, but we are having a problem now,” said Myrtle Fitzgerald Noland, a white member from the audience and a lifelong resident of Pigeon Street. “If things are not broke don’t fix it, and things aren’t broke out that way.”

Myrtle Fitzgerald Noland spoke at a Waynesville town meeting opposing an idea brought forward by members of the African American community to rename Pigeon Street as Martin Luther King Boulevard. Becky Johnson photo

Mayor Gavin Brown, who normally encourages impromptu public participation at town meetings, initially called on audience members wanting to weigh in. But each time someone from the audience spoke, someone on the other side of the issue raised their

hand wanting time to rebut it.

As the discussion grew more agitated, Brown suspended the back-and-forth and asked the audience to save their opinions until a more formal public debate could be scheduled.

As residents of Waynesville’s African American community filed out of the meeting, an altercation broke out in the back of the room.

It’s unclear who said what first, but a white man in the audience who’d also risen to leave began shouting at a black man walking past him.

“This is my town, this is my town, too,” shouted Michael Noland, a white man in the audience.

Jody Lee, a black man who’d been muttering something as he walked by, wheeled toward Noland. Tempers visibly rose in both men as they faced each other, and more words began to fly but were cut short by the booming voice of Mayor Gavin Brown coming from the front of the room.

“No sir, I won’t have that in my meeting!” Brown bellowed, jumping from his chair and leaping out from behind the aldermen’s dais.

“I won’t have that! No sir!”

Town Public Services Director David Foster, who was seated in the audience, had leapt up as well and reached the two men before Brown could. Foster took Noland by the shoulders, moved him to the front of the room and sat him down in a chair.

Meanwhile, Lee’s friends had surrounded him and moved him on out the door.

By now, a town police officer who was on the far side of the room, had made his way to the center of the commotion and escorted the group of African American residents into the lobby.

Within a few minutes, Noland emerged from the meeting room

Banking...

into the lobby where the white and black audience members at odds just a few moments earlier were now mingling and making small talk. Even Noland and Lee ended up loitering and chatting with each other for several minutes before calling it a night.

WHO’SHISTORY?

Before discussion was cut-off, both sides in the debate voiced their support or opposition for renaming Pigeon Street.

The white residents of Pigeon Street said it would be a blow to heritage to rob the community of its historical street name.

“Pigeon Street to me has been known as Pigeon Street ever since I can remember and I can remember way back,” said Myrtle Fitzgerald Noland, 79.

While street names indeed commemorate a community’s identity, the identity it reflects can be one-sided.

“If the community is not willing to do something as simple as renaming a street, what does it say about the willingness to deal with the larger issue? It would help diversify us.”

— Phillip Gibbs

Given the vice-grip of white supremacy in the South historically, streets names are steeped in white heritage. They are named for white civic leaders, white families, white founders and white politicians.

But influential African Americans were rarely if ever commemorated in street names.

The renaming of streets for Martin Luther King aims to correct that imbalance. Gibbs said African Americans in Waynesville aren’t represented in the “public space,” and that signals exclusion.

“If the community is not willing to do something as simple as renaming a street, what does it say about the willingness to deal with the larger issue? It would help diversify us,” Gibbs said.

Mack Noland, an audience member opposed to the name change, instead suggested renaming a neighborhood street in the historically black community.

“This action is pretty much just from the black community. I think Hillside would be a much better street for a designation,” Noland said, citing the street long known as the center of Waynesville’s historic black neighborhood.

That’s part of the problem, as Walter Bryson sees it.

“The only thing Waynesville has wanted us to do as African Americans is stay in our community and not go anywhere,” said Bryson, an African American resident. “What is it anyone would have against a street being named after Martin Luther King?”

While renaming a street in honor of Martin Luther King is a common trend in

larger Southern cities, MLK boulevards are a rarity in the Appalachians. Asheville is home to the only MLK street name in Western North Carolina.

The black population is so minute in small mountain towns, they lack the political voice or clout to effect a street name change. In Haywood County — which is more than 92 percent white — only 1.2 percent of the population is black, according to census data. Opponents questioned why it was warranted or justified given the small population of African Americans.

“There is not a black that lives on Pigeon Street,” Fitzgerald said.

Gibbs pointed out that Pigeon Street is the primary thoroughfare running past the historically black community, however, and is home to a former African American school and Waynesville’s largest black church.

Fitzgerald brought up the personal headache residents of Pigeon Street would have to go through if the street name was changed.

“It is quite an ordeal when you start changing addresses, driver licenses, Social Security cards, all that stuff,” said Fitzgerald. “I am too old to fool with this stuff but I am going to fool with it because I am going to stand for my rights, too.”

Gibbs countered that the same arguments have played out in other cities where a street has been renamed for Martin Luther King.

“You are going to have some people say that this change would cause too many problems, that property values will go down, or some reason they don’t want to,” Gibbs said. “I know it will be problem for changing the addresses and the 911 calls and that kind of thing. But this is not the first time this has happened nor will it be the last. Overtime, things smooth out.”

Brown asked Gibbs whether other streets beside Pigeon had been considered.

“Other people have asked me that question and I said ‘You give me a street you think is better suited’ and nobody came up with anything,” Gibbs said.

Myrtle Fitzgerald said how about changing the name of Main Street or Hazelwood Avenue instead.

“I would like to honor George Washington but they won’t change Waynesville to do that for me,” she said.

Town Manager Marcy Onieal said the discussion would obviously need to bring in more stakeholders than just the town board.

“This is not the only place the conversation needs to be had,” Onieal said. “Mr. Gibbs came here first because the town would obviously have to be one of the key players in getting the conversation started.”

“I hope we don’t just start it but eventually I think it would be good for Waynesville,” Gibbs said. “I am certain when Martin Luther King started on his journey his odds were much greater.”

Town Planner Elizabeth Teague volunteered to do the legwork of researching what a street name change entails and what the formal process is.

“I would love an opportunity to study this and contact DOT and perhaps the other groups you have been talking about and come back with a full report,” Teague said.

Own a Small Business? Consider These Retirement Plans

For a variety of reasons, many people, particularly those in the baby boom generation, are considering retiring later than they might have originally planned. If you’re in this group, you’ll want to take full advantage of those extra working years by contributing as much as you can to a retirement plan that can help you build resources, defer taxes and, ultimately, maximize income. And if you own a small business, you’ve got some attractive plans from which to choose. Let’s look at two of these retirement plans — the “owner-only” 401(k) and the defined benefit plan.

If you have no employees other than your spouse or a partner, you can establish an “owner-only” 401(k), also known as an individual 401(k). This plan offers many of the same advantages of a traditional 401(k): a range of investment options, tax-deductible contributions and the opportunity for tax-deferred earnings growth. You may even be able to choose a Roth option for your 401(k), which allows you to make after-tax contributions that have the opportunity to grow tax free.

Your owner-only 401(k) contributions consist of two parts: salary deferral and profit sharing. In 2011, you can defer up to $16,500 of income, or $22,000 if you’re 50 or older. The amount of your profit-sharing contribution is based on your earnings. The sum of your employer contribution and your salary deferral contributions can’t exceed $49,000 in 2011 (or $54,500 if you’re 50 or older). Keep in mind that if your spouse is employed by your business, you each can contribute the maximum amount allowed.

You’ve got considerable flexibility in funding your owner-only 401(k). Both the salary deferral and the

profit-sharing contributions are discretionary, so you can change them at any time based on your business’s profitability.

Now, let’s move on to the defined benefit plan, which might be appropriate for you if you are highly compensated and have no other employees. By establishing a defined benefit plan, you’ll be providing yourself with a monthly payment (or “benefit”) for life, beginning at the retirement age specified by your plan. In 2011, the yearly benefit limit is $195,000.

The amount you can contribute to your defined benefit plan each year is based on several variables, including your current age, your compensation level and your retirement age. But you’ll certainly be able to contribute large amounts: A defined benefit plan is the only retirement account that allows contributions in excess of the limits placed on 401(k)s and other defined contribution plans. Generally speaking, the closer you get to retirement, the larger your maximum yearly contributions will be. (This is because you’ll have fewer years left in which to fund your defined benefit.) And since your defined benefit contributions are tax-deductible, you are, in effect, getting a big boost from the government to fund a generous retirement plan.

Here’s one more benefit to owner-only 401(k) and defined benefit plans: You can contribute to both of them at the same time. But before you choose either or both of them, consult with your tax and financial advisors. After all, you work hard to help provide for a comfortable retirement tomorrow — so you’ll want a retirement plan working hard for you today.

WCU faculty members discuss Koch funds

BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFFWRITER

Western Carolina University Chancellor David Belcher had a heart-to-heart with university faculty last week about the controversy over a politically charged financial gift to WCU from the conservative Koch Foundation.

The majority of WCU faculty opposes the $2 million gift that will establish and fund a Center for the Study of Free Enterprise, a socio-political economic theory steeped in Libertarian ideology. Belcher went against faculty in December and approved the gift and the center’s creation.

In a conversation with WCU’s faculty senate last week, Belcher admitted the university went through a “bit of a rough patch” over the issue and offered what amounted to an apology.

“When you are criticized you should reflect on the criticism,” Belcher said to about 50 faculty in attendance at the senate meeting. “I have been trying to figure out how I could have done things differently. I realized it would have helped if I had given details about how I made the decision.”

Belcher also agreed in hindsight that the decision-making process was rushed. Faculty only had a short input window — three weeks from the time they first learned of it to digest, consider and formulate their views on the Koch-funded free enterprise center.

“In hindsight, it occurs to me that the faculty needed more time to grapple with this and discuss it,” Belcher said. “I feel like if we had taken an approach like that it would have allayed concerns in some quarters that we were rushing toward a foregone conclusion.”

Provost Allison Shelter-Morrison also said she would go about the process differently if she could do it over.

“There have been many teachable moments for me over the past few months,” she said. “I believe I also did not communicate effectively, and for that I apologize.”

The candid discussion between Belcher and faculty last week underscored the healthy, strong relationship that he has cultivated — one that has not existed under previous chancellors.

Belcher told faculty that he respected their views and wanted to foster a collaborative environment where they felt comfortable disagreeing with him.

“I realize some of you disagree with me and that’s OK. It is OK for you to disagree with me on it,” Belcher said.

Still, faculty members were troubled that university leaders, including the board of trustees, didn’t heed faculty concerns.

“That makes we wonder about process and voice,” said Dr. Patricia Bricker from the School of Teaching and Learning.

Belcher engaged in an open-ended discussion with faculty as he walked through each of the concerns that had been raised in point-

by-point fashion.

Faculty concerns have centered on whether the free enterprise center would be a veiled advocacy arm for the political ideology of the conservative Koch Foundation. The wealthy Koch brothers fund a vast national network of ideological think tanks and political action groups — a network that has increasingly come to include economic research centers embedded on university campuses.

“To be vulnerable to billionaires to say in your marketplace of ideas I am going to buy 10 shelves full to put my material on, it undermines the fundamental integrity of education,” said Dr. David McCord, chair of the faculty senate.

Belcher said it’s a slippery slope if the university starts to pick and choose who it will and won’t take gifts from, however.

“I squirm a bit about starting to pass litmus tests on who we take money from,” Belcher said.

But Dr. David Henderson from the philosophy department said the question isn’t whether to draw a line at all, but rather where to draw it.

“Surely there are some we would not want to take money from,” Henderson said. “What standards should we have or not have about

“It appears to me from everything I read, which is a lot, that the Koch’s fundamental mission is to prepare and train a pipeline of extremely narrow-minded, free enterprise students.”

— Dr. David McCord, chair of the faculty senate

who we take money from?”

Belcher said the problem is ensuring that individual subjective biases aren’t part of that litmus test, alluding to whether liberal faculty members are opposed to a conservative donor.

“I am not saying that’s what happened, but if it is a ‘You have to think the way I do’ sort of thing, that would be a problem,” Belcher said.

Faculty also fear the university could be co-opted by outside entities trying to advance their own interests rather than support the university’s mission.

“It appears to me from everything I read, which is a lot, that the Koch’s fundamental mission is to prepare and train a pipeline of extremely narrow-minded, free enterprise students,” McCord said.

Another concern for some faculty was the investment the university must put up to land the Koch gift. While WCU is not putting up hard cold cash of its own, it is devoting three professor positions to the Center for Free Enterprise.

“The only real skin in the game the university has are three faculty lines that already existed,” Belcher said.

But if the university has three tenured faculty positions to devote to a field or major, is economics the place it wants to put them — let alone under one particular economic theory, faculty countered.

“The center has a very narrow focus on one part of the field of knowledge. Is that a wise use of our university resources?” asked Dr. Bill Yang, an engineering professor.

Belcher said the free enterprise center will actually have a broader economic focus than just free enterprise.

In that case, Yang suggested, perhaps it should have a name that reflects that broader focus.

“What is the potential of changing the center’s name to the center for the study of economics?” Yang asked.

Belcher said it was too late for that, as the name has already been sealed.

Faculty wondered how WCU would ensure a diversity of views on the economic department for the three professors being hired under the banner of the free enterprise center. Particularly when Dr. Ed Lopez, the

Coming next week

WCU administration is making good on its promise to give concerned faculty a voice in the oversight of the Koch-funded Center for the Study of Free Enterprise.

Provost Alison Morrison-Shetlar has commissioned a faculty task force to develop ground rules for the free enterprise center, including the structure, composition and charge of an advisory and oversight board.

Next week, The Smoky Mountain News will explore the task force’s role and whether it goes far enough to quell faculty concerns.

free enterprise economist on WCU’s faculty who invented the center, put out three professor job ads back in October, citing the free enterprise center in the job description.

Belcher said those job ads should not have gone out when they did, since the free enterprise center hadn’t even been approved by administration at that point.

“That was a mistake. You can’t talk about a center that doesn’t exist,” Belcher said.

“I am still trying to figure out how we would end up with more than one particular type of economics being taught,” said Dr. Kae Livsey from the nursing school. “How do you ensure multiple perspectives are being examined?”

Belcher said that same question could be asked any time a campus department hires a new professor.

“Are we hiring somebody who thinks like me or are we hiring someone with a diametrically different perspective?” Belcher said.

Dr. David McCord, chair of the faculty senate, said it was admirable for the chancellor to parley with the faculty on such a difficult issue. He said the faculty respects and appreciates that.

However, McCord told Belcher that it doesn’t mean faculty members have come around to his way of thinking.

“We are not supposed to always agree or we are redundant and useless,” McCord said. “I am still opposed to this.”

Interim manager starts work in Waynesville

BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFFWRITER

The new interim town manager of Waynesville has pledged to sustain the town’s momentum and not let it idle or backslide during the months-long transition to come.

Mike Morgan spent his first day on the job as interim manager Monday. In a meeting with department heads, Morgan gave them the green light to carry on with initiatives set in motion.

“My job is to coordinate,” Morgan said. “I don’t propose to know what’s good, bad, needs to be fixed, doesn’t need to be fixed. I’ve just fallen off the turnip truck.”

Don’t be fooled though. Morgan’s been around the block plenty of times on that turnip truck before falling off here in Waynesville.

A local government junkie, Morgan is now on his fifth interim manager gig since retiring after serving 18 years as the Weaverville town manager in late 2010.

Along with four interim manager jobs in four years, he’s taught local government courses to graduate students in WCU’s public affairs program. There’s one message he tries to impress on all his students.

“There are very few jobs where the things you do today will have a long-range positive effect on communities 40, 50, 60 years from now,” Morgan said.

Morgan comes on board at the beginning of budget season, and that’s priority one.

Town managers are often a critical voice in separating the wheat from the chaff when winnowing down the budget wish list.

Morgan said he will rely on department heads to help make those calls collectively — but said the buck ultimately stops with aldermen. As elected officials, they’re the ones the public looks to and should have the final say on anything and everything, Morgan said.

Although Morgan won’t launch any new initiatives or projects during his six-month stint in Waynesville, he doesn’t intended to park the town in neutral either. That’s good news for projects on the cusp of taking off — like building a new greenway leg or making over the public parking lot in Hazelwood’s business district. And it’s good news for those eager to see a solution to long-festering problems — like eradicating squatters from town parks or making the permit process more streamlined.

The Waynesville town board voted unanimously last week to hire Morgan as the interim manager until a permanent town manager is chosen, a process likely to take six months.

Morgan is taking over for outgoing town manager Marcy Onieal, who was abruptly fired after the majority on the town board shifted in last fall’s election.

Morgan has held interim stints in Sylva, Marshall, Asheville and Weaverville.

Steam engine project still on track

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR

Great Smoky Mountain Railroad officials say they will make their deadline for getting a steam engine back up and running in Bryson City.

PRINTING

Offset,

The project has been in the works for many years, and the steam engine should be ready to roll by July, according to GSMR Marketing Manager Sarah Pressley. GSMR has been documenting progress on the restoration project on a blog since March 2014.

“The return and restoration of engine #1702 has always been the desire since the engine was put out of service in 2005 due to a mechanical issue,” Pressley said. “Structurally the #1702 engine is generally in fair condition. The primary focus of the restoration has centered on the firebox and boiler rebuild, repairs, along with removing the rust resulting from its dormant state.”

People in the community have been curious as to when they will finally see the newly restored steam engine since Swain County completed construction on a turntable back in September.

20 percent in addition to the trickle down effect it will have on local businesses and accommodations in Bryson City.

“The return of the steam engine will bring an influx of new and returning passengers to our area,” Pressley said.

In exchange for the $700,000 contribution to the project, the county placed several stipulations on the railroad — they had to create six new full-time jobs to be maintained for 15 years, promise that 50 percent of the steam engine trips would run from Bryson City for 15 years and complete the project within 36 months of the agreement. If the railroad fails to meet any of those terms, it will be required to pay back at least a portion of the grant.

Even though the 36 months is quickly running out, Pressley said the project is still within the timeframe.

“Operating from the finalized agreement, the deadline has not been missed,” she said. “GSMR is in close communication with the Swain County board and they are satisfied with our progress and time frame.”

Pressley said a team of three full-time shop workers was hired with skills ranging

Great Smoky Mountain Railroad is working on restoring a steam engine to use for excursions in Bryson City. The project is expected to be completed by July. Donated photo

Believing the return of a steam engine would increase tourism dollars for the county, Swain County commissioners pledged to assist the railroad with the project in 2012. The county took out a $700,000 low-interest loan to pay for the construction of a turntable located on Mitchell Street between the railroad tracks and the county administrative building.

Commissioner David Monteith was standing outside the county building Tuesday morning watching work being done at the turntable site. He is fairly confident the railroad will complete the project by summertime.

“I’m all for it and I think it will be a great attraction for tourists this summer,” he said.

The county plans to pay off the loan over 15 years using room tax revenue, which has been on the rise in the last few years. The county increased the room tax from 3 percent to 4 percent in early 2012 — setting the stage for an annual increase of $110,000 a year in revenue plus the additional revenue the steam engine will bring in once its up and running.

The railroad estimates the steam engine scenic routes will increase daily ridership by

from welding to manufacturing to do the restoration on the steam engine. After a full body sand blast, more than 1,000 staybolts were removed and are in the process of being replaced. Several other pieces and parts have been removed, re-welded, or entirely reconstructed depending on the need.

“Outside contractor, Robert Franzen, president and owner of Steam Services of America, was selected to oversee the boiler rebuild. Under his guidance other outside contract workers are working along with the GSMR staff to tediously attend to the boiler,” Pressley said.

The tender and #1702 cab have been relocated inside the restoration shop and are in repair. The tender, which holds the fuel and water used to power the engine, has undergone months of needle scaling work to remove old epoxy and oil. The cab will be fully repaired with new flooring, windows, and seating.

“It is a large capital project,” Pressley said. “The funds are being supplied through Swain County and GMSR. By projects end, GSMR’s provision of funds will exceed that of the grants.”

Franklin town board plans for 2016 projects

BY J ESSI STONE

N EWS E DITOR

With a few fresh faces, the Franklin Board of Aldermen met last Saturday morning to make plans and set priorities for 2016.

Based on the board’s discussions, it appears aldermen want to focus on providing residents and tourists with an aesthetically appealing town with plenty of opportunities to get outside and enjoy it.

LITTERING

Mayor Bob Scott said littering was one of the top complaints he receives from constituents and asked board members for possible solutions.

As a lawyer, Alderman Joe Collins said he spends a lot of time in the courthouse where he sees people washing windows as part of their court-mandated community service. He suggested talking to court officials to see if those people could do litter pick up around town as community service.

“On a regular basis we could use that manpower for litter pick up,” he said.

As a proactive measure to prevent trash from piling up, new Alderman Brandon McMahan suggested a series of public service announcements and an education campaign. He said billboards and signs informing people that they can be fined for littering could help cut down on the problem. He said there could be a hotline number for people to call when they see someone littering.

PARKINGANDSPEEDING

Speeding on Main Street has been an annoyance for Mayor Scott for the last year.

He has placed “Slow down” warning signs along the street to keep people from going over 20 miles her hour, but he doesn’t think it’s doing much good.

Collins said it sounded more like a police enforcement issue as opposed to a town board policy.

“Why should police be resistant to enforcing the speed limit on Main Street?” he asked.

Franklin Police Chief David Adams said officers have been monitoring the speed of vehicles on Main Street and found most vehicles are travelling 25 mph even though it may seem like they are going 35 to 40 mph.

“We’ve written a few tickets but most are warnings,” he said.

The board also discussed ideas for more downtown parking, including constructing a parking garage, but the price would probably be out of reach for the town. Collins said a parking garage could equal out to about $10,000 per parking space needed.

“One of my biggest pet peeves is business owners and employees parking on Main Street,” Scott said.

If business owners and employees would park off Main Street, Scott said residents and tourists would have more room to park.

Alderwoman Barbara McRae said needing more public parking is a good problem to have in Franklin because it meant more people were coming to town. However, she doesn’t think it’s a real problem at this point in time. She suggested the town put up signs to better direct people to public parking areas aside from the downtown street parking.

McMahan told the board about a “Walk Your City” program and smartphone application that can help make the town more pedes-

trian friendly while also directing tourists to specific attractions and businesses in town.

“There’s a lot of case studies on the website about how it’s been implemented,” he said. “It’s a great possibility for Franklin and a pretty low-cost option.”

BEAUTIFICATIONPROJECTS

While the town has put a lot of effort into beatification projects downtown, there’s always more that can be done.

Collins said one of his main goals is to spruce up the town square where so many events are held. He would like to see a more permanent stage structure instead of the temporary tent that is there now.

“Do we want to explore anything different on the square other than that funeral tent?” he asked. “It’s all we have downtown as far as communal space.”

Alderwoman Patti Abel agreed the tent was an eyesore on the otherwise beautiful downtown.

Collins said he would also like to see the town finally do something with the Whitmire property. The town purchased the 13 acres on the outskirts of downtown in 2005 for more than $1.5 million with plans to build a new municipal complex but later opted to renovate an existing building on Main Street. The town still owns the property but hasn’t come up with a plan of how it can be used.

Scott has said he’d like to see the property turned into a greenway or park for the town, but Collins is more in favor of selling the valuable property so it can be developed. The property was appraised at $2.15 million in 2008, but Collins said the town has no idea how much it’s worth today.

“I don’t think we should save it for a rainy day,” he said.

If the property is worth a good chunk of money and doesn’t fit the town’s needs, Collins suggested selling it and getting it back on the tax rolls.

Scott said he spoke to someone at the Highlands Biological Station who said a group of

university students would volunteer to do a biological inventory of the property in the spring.

McRae said that was probably a good place to start. If some kind of rare species or something else significant is found on the property, the town may want to keep it.

DOWNTOWNEVENTS

Franklin is known for many of its popular downtown festivals, including Fourth of July, Pumpkin Fest, Veterans Day and Winter Wonderland. While the town sponsors those four events, downtown merchants and other groups also put on downtown events throughout the year like the Taste of Scotland and the New Year’s Ruby Drop.

But town board members say there can always be more festivals to bring people downtown. Town Manager Summer Woodard said the Franklin Garden Club was talking about doing a flower festival sometime in June while the downtown merchants plan to continue with the second annual Appalachian Heritage Festival. The merchants organized the inaugural event downtown last July to replace the 12th Franklin Folk Festival when the Folk Heritage Association of Macon County decided to take a year off.

McRae told the board that the association planned to have the Folk Festival this summer at the Cowee School because it’s more manageable for the volunteer organizers.

“Volunteers ran out of steam I think — it’s exhausting,” she said. “But merchants picked it back up and did something similar on Main Street.”

Abel suggested bringing more to downtown by offering an outside family movie night. She said the embankment behind town hall would make a perfect natural amphitheater and an ideal place to show a movie on a pop-up screen.

“I’m not saying the town should fund it, but we could help partner on it,” she said.

The board members will keep all these proposed ideas in mind as they head into this year’s budget season.

SCC plans the future Master plan calls for $34 million of construction in Jackson, Swain

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFFWRITER

What’s the best way to spend $55 million? As far as the leadership at Southwestern Community College is concerned, the answer is simple — build, build, build until the lengthy checklist returned from its recently completed master plan is all done.

There’s a lot to do, according to the assessment recently done on facilities in Jackson and Swain counties. The price tag for the projects identified in the plan sits at about $34 million, with the list from the 2013 master plan for Macon County bringing the grand total to $55 million.

“The price tag on the long range plan is pretty high,” said Terry Bell, chairman of SCC’s board of trustees.

Most significantly, the plan calls for a new $16.3 million health science building on the Jackson campus.

“Health-related fields is a very in-demand profession, so we could actually expand our offerings and the number of individuals that we serve if we have that demand,” Bell said. “We have that demand. We know it exists.”

The health building is far from being the only future expenditure the plan outlines, however.

On the Jackson campus, the 30-year-old Balsam Center is due for renovation, with more space for science classrooms envisioned as programs currently housed in Balsam move to the desired health sciences building. The campus needs a new, more centrally located library, with the existing library renovated to make way for more continuing education space. There’s not enough space for faculty offices. The maintenance department needs a new building. The campus should have better signage and outdoor gathering spaces for students. Over in Swain County, the college operates out of a building originally constructed in 1950. Before even thinking about expanding program space there, the college would need to launch a massive overhaul to bring the building up to code.

Those line items don’t even touch the todo list for the Macon campus, determined in a separate master plan completed in 2013. Going forward, the challenge will be to

Bond support widespread

figure out what gets priority, what’s sent to the backburner, and how to pay for it all.

“Nothing is written in stone,” said SCC President Don Tomas when presenting the plan to Jackson commissioners in January. “A master plan is nothing more than a road map to the future.”

A road map that, at this point, is full of still-hidden twists and turns. The biggest of those? The March 15 referendum vote on whether to approve a statewide bond for $2 billion in spending for secondary education, park, agricultural and infrastructure projects. If passed, SCC would nab $7.1 million to put toward its master plan projects.

“We have to wait to see in hopes that the bond will pass, at which point in time, should the bond pass, we would get down to the nitty-gritty” of prioritizing the projects, Tomas said.

For new construction, the bond would require one county dollar for every three dollars in bond funding, with no match required for renovations. That would go a long way toward getting the college started on implementing the plan, but it wouldn’t fund all or even most of the needs and wants listed. And it’s not the only variable in the equation. Capital projects for community colleges are funded by the counties, and there are three of those in SCC’s service area — implementation will depend on the ability and willingness of Swain, Jackson and Macon counties to fund the projects.

COMBININGFORCES?

and execute, so it could be a long time before some of the more expensive undertakings outlined in the plan — specifically, the health sciences building — come to fruition.

“We need to act sooner rather than later, but can we do that project with the other projects Jackson County has facing us?” Jones asked, ticking off upcoming needs like new roofs for the public schools, a new animal shelter and a new health department. “Some of those projects are going to have to wait a few years.”

under the county’s health department, so would it make sense to house those two buildings on the same site? And if that were the case, would adding SCC into the mix just make things too complicated?

“Those balls that are up in the air, they’re all going to have to land in the next couple months because we have to do the next fiscal year budget,” Jones said.

SCC’s proposed health building. Donated graphic

It could take decades to work through the list.

“This list of projects that was given to SCC is a true wish list,” said Mark Jones, a member of SCC’s board of trustees appointed by Jackson County Public Schools, who is also a Jackson County commissioner. “It’s a five, 15, 20-year wish list.”

The unfortunate truth, Jones said, is that big projects take big chunks of time to fund

In a meeting this week, leaders spanning the spectrum of government, education and infrastructure in Jackson County voiced support for a March 15 referendum question that would approve a $2 billion bond for infrastructure, college, university, agriculture and state park projects.

“We (North Carolina) will not have any more debt — as strange as it sounds — than we do today because we’re paying things off so quickly,” said David Belcher, chancellor of Western

That’s an undeniable reality, so college leaders are already kicking around ways to think outside of the box and get stuff done sooner.

One possibility under discussion is combining the college’s need for a health sciences building with the county’s need for a new health department building.

“You’d have one location and you wouldn’t be duplicating resources unnecessarily,” Tomas said. “It gives students a great learning opportunity because clinical spots and sites sometimes are getting fewer and there needs to be those opportunities for students to gain those clinical experiences.”

“I don’t know if it’s truly feasible to have the Health Department and SCC in one building or not, but it’s a neat concept,” Jones said. “It seems like it could work.”

It’s something to look into, but there are a lot of what-ifs. Including, for the county, whether partnering with SCC would really be the best combination project to pursue. Another task on the county’s docket is building a new animal shelter. Animal control is

Carolina University. “So in my mind it’s a win-win situation.”

If the bond passed, WCU would receive $110 million for a new natural sciences building, the largest single project included in the entire bond package. In addition, Southwestern Community College would get $7.1 million for capital projects, and the Tuckaseigee Water and Sewer Authority would have access to a $312.5 million statewide pool of grant funding to help with water and sewer infrastructure projects, much of it to be awarded to rural counties like Jackson.

“I highly endorse this and encourage everybody to help us

With old debt being retired and capital requests pouring in from all sides, commissioners have been discussing the possibility of taking out a loan to get the projects done sooner rather than later. But that’s just in the discussion stage right now.

“Knowing how much money we have available, I can see SCC getting a million and a half for SCC projects for the upcoming budget year,” Jones estimated, though cautioning that he’s just one commissioner out of five.

GOINGFORWARD

The other two counties in SCC’s service area are also in line for capital funding. The master plan for Macon County calls for significant expansion of the Public Safety Training complex, which currently occupies a rather small footprint in a 30-year-old building.

“We’ve had a request to expand that program, but we can’t expand that program due to the constraints of the space that we’re in,” Bell said.

The Swain Center building, originally built in 1950, has

pass this,” said Commissioner Charles Elders, the only Republican on the county board.

County commissioners will likely pass a resolution supporting the bond this week and are encouraging other governing boards in the county to sign on. Aside from the sheer value of the capital projects, said Chairman Brian McMahan, a Democrat, the bond would prop up the county through the ripple effects of increased employment and spending.

“The domino effect just multiplies, and I think it’s critical,” McMahan said.

What’s on the list

A master plan to guide the future of Southwestern Community College’s Jackson and Swain campuses was recently completed by Charlotte-based LS3P, with a plan finished in 2013 still in place to map the future for Macon County.

Needs identified by the most recent plan include:

■ New health sciences building, $16.3 million. A state-of-the-art building of 40,000 to 60,000 square feet that resembles an actual hospital setting would support SCC’s growing health-related offerings.

■ Balsam Center renovation, $5 million. Address infrastructure issues and add science classrooms in space freed up by health sciences building.

■ New library, $4.7 million. Relocating the library to an Oaks Hall addition would make the facility more central to campus. The concept involves a 5,300-square-foot lower floor and 11,000-square-foot upper floor.

■ Holt Library renovation, $1 million. Renovate as a continuing education facility with offices, classrooms and a dedicated parking area.

■ Oaks Hall renovation, $1.8 million. Address infrastructure issues.

■ Oaks Hall addition, $1 million. Add 24 faculty offices, new toilets, a workroom and three meeting rooms totaling 6,000 square feet.

■ New maintenance building, $700,000. Replace existing 5,000 square feet of maintenance space with a new, 7,500-square-foot building.

■ Firing range, $140,000. Add 400 square feet of restroom and locker room space.

■ Summit building renovation, $482,000. Expand welding labs and program areas after moving shipping and receiving to a new maintenance building. Replace heat pump and improve size and accessibility of restrooms.

■ Signage, $250,000. Identify campus entrances and improve on-campus navigation.

■ Swain Center infrastructure repairs, $2.2 million. Bring building up to code, which will involve improving accessibility, the mechanical system, roofing and electrical services.

■ Total: $33.6 million

■ Total with projects from 2013 Macon County master plan: $55 million

“numerous issues” and would require a great deal of investment to get it up to code, the master plan said, let alone make actual improvements.

Going forward, SCC will have to prioritize its requests, and while the plan does break the lengthy Jackson list into stages — the health sciences building and Balsam Center projects together; the new library and renovations of Oaks Hall and Holt Library together; and the new maintenance building and renovations of the firing range and Summit building together — the prioritization process can’t begin in earnest until the bond vote has been taken.

“There’s a lot of unknown factors yet,” Bell said.

Conditions improving at Sequoyah golf course

Cherokee’s golf course is on the way back to its former glory.

Donated photo

Profitable operation still elusive

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFFWRITER

The new management at Sequoyah National Golf Club in Cherokee had hoped to start turning a profit within a year of taking the helm in the fall of 2014 — and while the course is still operating at a loss, the light at the end of the tunnel is drawing near, manager Kenny Cashwell said. “We’re ultimately weather-dependent on where we wind up this fiscal year, but we’re on pace to have potentially the best year ever,” Cashwell said.

Finances for the course, which is owned and subsidized by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, are “significantly better” than they were in 2014, Cashwell said, and the course is once more earning rave reviews from customers. Since Atlanta-based Sequoia Golf Management took over a little more than a year ago, all reviews logged on TripAdvisor have given the Cherokee golf course a five-star rating, with customers using phrases like “a must play,” “stunning” and “an engineering marvel” in their reviews. The course had deteriorated significantly in the months before Sequoia took it over, Cashwell said. Tribal Council fired the previous management — Troon Golf — in 2014 after concluding that the course should have made more progress toward becoming profitable since it opened in 2009. The tribe created the course as an amenity for tribal members and a draw for tourists to complement the casino, but councilmembers were growing tired of propping it up with tribal funds. Though current information about the course’s tribal subsidy was not available as of press time, originally the tribe had been keeping it afloat with an annual contribution of $1.2 million and a $500,000 line of credit. When asked why it’s taken longer than

anticipated to get the course operating at a profit, Cashwell responded that “the biggest factor has got to be the fact our reputation struggled based on the summer of 2014.”

The course was in terrible condition when Sequoia took it over, Cashwell said, with brown grass, non-existent tee boxes and weeds ruling the day. TripAdvisor reviews from that time period back up his assessment.

“Don’t waste your money as this course is at least two years away from being playable,” a reviewer wrote in October 2014.

“55 dollars worth of rip off!!!!” declared an August 2014 review.

Tribal Council fired the previous management — Troon Golf — in 2014 after concluding that the course should have made more progress toward becoming profitable since it opened in 2009.

It’s taking some time to win those customers back, Cashwell said, with the peak visitation of 17,000 in 2013 falling to 15,000 for 2015. But the course is looking good, and the reputation will come with time, he believes.

“We have grass,” Cashwell said. “We have grass everywhere, which is what we want.”

An expanded shop inside Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort has also helped things. The larger store includes space for customers to try out putters and clubs before purchase.

“Things are going well,” Cashwell said. “The golf course is back in fantastic condition.”

Let’s ease off the throttle on Central closing

Ihave hesitated to make a comment about this issue, because I know personally most of the people who will be involved in making a decision about closing Central Elementary School, and I do not wish to offend or unfairly criticize any of those who bear the heavy burden of making a decision in this matter. But I was the principal at Central Elementary School for 17 genuinely wonderful years until I retired in 2008, and I have an emotional connection to this school and the families Central has served so well for so many years. I do feel a need, therefore, to offer a few thoughts about the possible closing of Central Elementary.

First of all, I understand and respect the Haywood County School Board’s decision to consider closing Central Elementary, and I fully understand the challenges that exist in this day and time regarding public education in general and educational funding in particular. I think it is an undeniable reality that our legislators have taken many shortsighted and ill-conceived actions when it comes to our public schools in North Carolina. No matter how many excuses or rationalizations they may offer, no legislator can deny the fact that North Carolina teachers today are paid less than teachers in roughly 42 other states, and that per-pupil funding now lags behind almost every other state in the Southeast (and the Southeast, of course, lags behind the national average on teacher pay and per-pupil funding).

Over the last five or six years the legislature has placed local school systems in increasingly dire straits when it comes to meeting the financial burdens of operating those systems, and the legislators who have supported these actions offer nothing other than excuses and political “spin”

Lopez’s role in Koch gift, center is fair game

To the Editor:

I would like the economics professors who wrote a letter in last week’s Smoky Mountain News (www.smokymountainnews.com/opinion/item/17086) to please explain with some specifics how Western Carolina University Professor Ed Lopez has been “subjected to unjustified criticism.” In the guest column I wrote I used the professor’s own writings to discuss the situation, using direct quotes from those writings. If you feel I mischaracterized the professor’s position I would be happy to engage you on specifics.

You write that “misguided, misinformed, and in some cases ideologically biased voices have been raised against Professor Lopez and his initiatives.” The sentence is a bit of an unspecific ad hominem, which quite frankly could be turned around in at least a couple of your cases. I wonder, is it ideological to point out that Dr. Lopez is a frequent speaker for groups funded by both the Kochs and Art Pope, both of whom fully acknowledge their ideological and political goals.

The fields of Public Choice Theory and Austrian economics are largely ideological by their own definition and assertion (would you like some von Mises quotes to back that up?).

The proposed Center would seem to have a focus on branches of economics that are far

for what they have done and why they have done it. So, I do not criticize our local school board for considering every possible cost-saving measure available to them in the face of state-induced shortfalls. But in the case of Central Elementary, I do wish the process leading to this recent announcement had been more transparent and timely. This news has hit most people like a sledgehammer blow.

Furthermore, I do not understand why the final decision has to be made within the very narrow timeframe for public input established by the school board. Would it be asking too much to request that they table action on this very weighty decision for one additional month until parents and other advocates for Central have a reasonable amount of time to recover from the shock of the announcement, gather more information, and perhaps present additional viable options for the school board to consider?

Schools close all the time in our state and nation. That is a fact of life. Adequate funding for schools is becoming more and more problematic, as well. Haywood County has also seen the closing of community schools during my lifetime here. So, closing Central Elementary would not set a precedent, and closing Central might be one of the undeniably “best” — or “less evil” — solutions available to help offset the budget deficit our school board faces.

But I don’t think everything meaningful and/or worth-

from mainstream. That hardly seems like a prescription for benefiting our students (“our” as in products of North Carolina and our public university system).

Within your own department I would contrast the proposal with Dr. Ha’s record, which gives an exemplary example of practical and useful research focused on the local and regional economy. Perhaps a Center for Mountain Economies focused on the challenges we face in Western North Carolina would be more suitable for the area.

As colleagues of Dr. Lopez, it is perhaps expected and understandable that you would come to his defense. Unfortunately, your letter doesn’t provide much of a defense.

Furthermore, to suggest that the criticisms leveled at the proposal are “not only unjust but detrimental to the people of North Carolina, the stature of the UNC system, its commitment to academic freedom, and in the final analysis, counter-productive” is little more than emotionally charged language that at the least can be disposed of as high dudgeon and at its worst betrays a failure to understand the basic democratic process or the purpose and place of a publicly funded university.

In addition to my earlier comment, let me further note that in my guest column (www.smokymountainnews.com/archives/item /17008) I specifically exempted Dr. Lopez’s teaching or selection of content from criticism — criticism of the subject matter is not criticism of the teacher.

while has been said or done at this point in time. I realize, as well, that plans must be made for the next school year before June or July rolls around, and that transitioning to a new organizational structure is complex and time consuming. That said, however, public school systems have to deal with uncertainty literally every year as they await notification from the state regarding teacher allotment, budgetary allocations, enrollment, etc. So, our administrators are experienced in dealing with making necessary adjustments under less than optimal conditions. Would it, therefore, create an unreasonable or onerous burden on the Haywood County School System to delay for one month a final decision regarding the future of Central Elementary School?

Fortunately, I do not share the responsibility for making this final decision with my friends and former colleagues who serve on the Haywood County School Board. I do not envy them at all, but I respect them for their committed service to Haywood County’s children and their families. I am confident, furthermore, that in the end they will act in what they truly believe is the best possible manner for the overall operation and well being of all Haywood County schools. But I think it would demonstrate a commendable level of respect and consideration on their part to allow the families who will be directly impacted by this decision the benefit of having one additional month to digest the information they recently received, and to allow them to pursue what, if any, other alternatives to closing Central Elementary might be available to them and the School Board.

(John Sanderson is a retired principal. He can be reached at john_sanderson@bellsouth.net.)

Further, I think it is rather hard to argue that The Smoky Mountain News’ coverage has focused on Dr. Lopez’s character or teaching. The reporting has been straightforward in looking at the grant and the circumstances surrounding its offer.

Dr. Lopez’s behavior, his teaching, and his character are not at issue. And they should not be without demonstration that he acted outside the norms, procedures and processes of the institution in pursuing the grant.

Parenthetically, it is worth noting that the premise of much of Dr. Lopez’s writing is that individuals act out of self-interest and that institutions can be manipulated by small and/or powerful groups in ways that enhance self-interest over institutional purpose. Dr. Lopez correctly uses the example of sugar subsidies as a flawed policy, but why not subsidies from billionaires to move public institutions in preferred directions? Could that not speak to a flawed or perhaps undemocratic policy?

Mark Jamison Cullowhee

We believe war is never the answer

To the Editor:

Any who frequent Main Street Waynesville on Wednesday afternoons will know that a group calling ourselves Neighbors for Peace, have been vigiling in front of the courthouse

LOOKINGFOROPINIONS

The Smoky Mountain News encourages readers to express their opinions through letters to the editor or guest columns. All viewpoints are welcome. Send to Scott McLeod at info@smokymountainnews.com., fax to 828.452.3585, or mail to PO Box 629, Waynesville, NC, 28786.

every week since before Shock and Awe — soon to be 13 years. Among the signs we hold are: “We Are All Prisoners of War,” “War Is Not the Answer,” and “War Is Costly; Peace Is Priceless.”

In support of the last of these, here are some of the costs of war recently compiled by fellow peace activist Curt Torell of Carrboro:

• Costs to military personnel — Of the 2.5 million U.S. troops deployed in our “wars on terror,” over 50 percent suffer chronic pain, 20 percent wrestle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and/or depression, and 20 percent have sustained traumatic brain injury. These have led to a suicide rate of one active service member and 22 veterans every day. More than 6,800 American troops and 6,780 private contractors have died, and 970,000 new disability claims are pending before the VA. • Costs to our present and future well-

GOP policies to blame for Central closing Happiness now, not in the ever after

BY J IMMY ROGERS G UEST COLUMNIST

If Central Elementary in Waynesville is forced to close because of budget cuts and losing enrollment to charter schools, Haywood County will know who to thank — politicians like Rep. Michele Presnell, R-Burnsville, who have voted time and time again for budgets that shortchange our public schools in order to keep tax breaks for folks at the top.

Over the past few years, Presnell and her GOP allies in Raleigh have pushed through legislation that expanded funding for charter schools while doing little to nothing for public schools. Their budgets have eliminated thousands of teacher and teacher assistant positions across the state, and cut funding for textbooks and other classroom supplies.

When you adjust for inflation, North Carolina’s education investment has dropped by $815 per student since the Great Recession began in 2008.

All the while, politicians have been burdening our public schools with unfunded mandates that leave our teachers increasingly over-worked and under-paid.

What effect has all this had here at home? Haywood County schools have lost over $2 million in state and local funding — some of that to charter schools — over the past year, and enrollment has fallen off a cliff.

Students are flocking to charter schools that aren’t as accountable as public schools and don’t have to provide the same services like bus transportation or reduced lunch for low-income students.

According to multiple reports, North Carolina charter schools are also more segregated than traditional public schools.

Central Elementary isn’t a failing school. In fact, our district is one of the best in the state (15th rated). If the school closes, it will be because politicians who do not value education have siphoned off funding and enrollment and given it to unaccountable charter schools.

These politicians would rather help line the pockets of special interests than reinvest in our children’s education.

Our public schools provide more jobs than anyone else in the county, but state budget cuts have forced them to cut hundreds of positions over the past few years. That means fewer jobs for the people who need them and fewer educational opportunities for the students who need them most.

We are losing teachers to South Carolina and other surrounding states because those states are making a better investment in education and student spending.

For example, South Carolina’s average teacher salary is nearly $8,000 higher than ours. When it comes to student spending, South Carolina spends $800 more per student than we do. Our teachers and students deserve more than just empty rhetoric — they deserve the resources and the support they need.

Education is one of the most important factors behind economic growth and development. When a business decides to relocate, one of the main things they look at is the quality of schools. As our quality of education declines, businesses will go elsewhere — and our job market and property values will suffer.

Small towns have a hard enough time as it is, and the politicians in Raleigh are only making things worse by refusing to invest in public education.

Here in Western North Carolina, we know our kids will only have a fair shot to compete for good jobs if they have a good education.

But Republicans like Pat McCrory and Michele Presnell think it’s more important to cut taxes for corporations and people at the top than to adequately and responsibly fund our public schools. If Michele Presnell won’t stand up for us in Raleigh, who will?

JimmyRogerslivesinClydeandisamemberofthe HaywoodCountySchoolsBoardofEducation.

There was a time in my life where I thought being wild would lead to a sense of freedom and purpose. I assumed that spontaneous trips, living alone, drinking good wine, writing long, dark journal entries and dabbling in debauchery would quench an underlying thirst for adventure.

How wrong I was.

Those experiences only led to regrets, guilt, broken hearts, loss

and an overwhelming sense of melancholy. Instead of spiraling down a deep hole, I veered my path but still struggled to find my medicine.

I’m not sure why I have always been so restless, but it’s a constant battle within me to be happy in the here and now. For so long I have felt that something — what I don’t know — is dangling right there in my peripheral vision. So close, yet not. Like a mirage.

I would reach particular life milestones thinking with each one I would feel satiated, that I would feel a sense of peace: graduating college, graduating graduate school, getting married, having our first son, having our second son, becoming a professional writer.

With each of these I waited for the feeling that all was well, that I had achieved what I’d longed for since that fleeting moment when our thoughts change from whimsical to aspirational.

LETTERS, FROMPREVIOUSPAGE

being — While Congress cuts programs for basic human needs, our costs of post-9/11 wars — including future veteran care — stand at $4.4 trillion. We’ve spent $7.6 trillion on defense and homeland security. Yet spending those same dollars on peaceful industry — education, health care, infrastructure, and renewable energy — could produce many more and better paying jobs.

• Costs to our security and image — These wars have created more enemies and extended the battlefield worldwide to places like Paris and San Bernadino. ISIS is using our bombing to recruit, while our employment of torture and drones tarnishes our moral credibility.

• Costs to our planet — The Pentagon is the largest institutional

And while each life event brought a sense of accomplishment and joy, each also warranted significant responsibility, energy and worry.

Up until last year, I was searching frantically for something or someone to bring a feeling of contentment.

I’m not sure why I have always been so restless, but it’s a constant battle within me to be happy in the here and now.

People would look at me and say, “Wow, what a life you’ve built.” And I would say, “Yea, I guess so,” with a polite smile and indifferent nonchalance. In hindsight, that may have been offensive to these kind souls who were offering me a compliment.

Then something happened.

Standing alone in my kitchen on the first day of this year, I heard a voice or a loud thought, something. And it said to me: “This is it. This is your place of self-actualization. Don’t you see? You have a beautiful life. Don’t let it pass you by.”

For so long I stood outside myself recognizing that I had a good life but internally, I felt an anxious expectancy, a longing for something more. Then I finally realized that “something more” was already here. I was standing in the way of seeing it.

The other night I took my 7-yearold snowboarding at Cataloochee. I was once an avid snowboarder but stopped when I got married and had children. I have lamented that fact a lot, annoyed that I let go of a hobby and sport that meant a lot to me and brought so much enjoyment.

But as I flew down the hill on

Saturday night, a little rusty but still pretty good, I realized that during my absence from the slopes, I had been building my life. I had been nurturing a marriage and navigating my way to a career that I love. During that time, I became a mother, which I have discovered is incredible and frightening at the same time. Being a mother feels like my heart is walking around outside of my body exposed to the world’s anger, menace and strife, yet I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

An absence from snowboarding was not for naught. It was an unconscious choice to put other people and new experiences before a personal pleasure. And for that, I am proud. I don’t want to be a professional snowboarder or travel the globe alone with a diary or write for a major publication. Always hoping or waiting for more or something different is a terrible way to live.

I’m done living that way.

There are birds singing, children laughing, rich coffee brewing and great music playing. There are words to be written, prayers to be said and relationships to be cherished. These are the things that sustain us indefinitely.

What a beautiful life. Don’t let it pass you by.

(Susanna Barbee is a local mom, writer and educator. Find more on herblog,www.zealousmom.com. Reach her at susanna.barbee@gmail.com.)

consumer of oil and biggest producer of toxic waste, dumping more pesticides, defoliants, solvents, petroleum, lead, mercury, and depleted uranium than the five biggest American chemical corporations combined.

These costs are the consequence of an addiction that is out of control. Breaking free of any addiction is not easy. War profiteers will need to shift into new industries. Youth will need to find other challenges. Politicians will need to find constructive ways to look strong and win votes. But people do overcome addictions every day.

To “break clean” from the war addiction, Mr. Torell suggests the following:

(1) Acknowledge war as an addiction. (2) Call upon a “higher power” to form a “coalition of

the willing” to renounce war and promote human rights. (3) Admit the error of using war as a tool of foreign policy that has harmed millions, and make amends to those who have suffered. (4) Learn new ways of dealing with nations that abuse human rights, such as committing to a new code of international conduct, and working through the UN and International Court, rather than acting unilaterally to advance our own interests. (6) Halt the sale and stockpiling of weapons while finding new avenues for economic growth that promote life and do not destroy our planet.

If the costs of this addiction disturb you, join us in front of the courthouse on Wednesdays, 4-5 p.m., as we seek to proclaim that “War Is Not the Answer.”

Doug Wingeier, Waynesville

Taste the Mountains is an ever-evolving paid section of places to dine in Western North Carolina. If you would like to be included in the listing please contact our advertising department at 828.452.4251

APPLE ANDY'S RESTAURANT

3483 Soco Road, Maggie Valley located in Market Square. 828.944.0626. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Wednesday and Thursday. Serving the freshest homemade sandwiches, wraps, and entrees such as country fried steak and grilled flounder. Full salad bar and made from scratch sides like potato salad, pinto beans and macaroni and cheese. www.appleandys.com

APPLE CREEK CAFE

111 N. Main St., Waynesville.

828.456.9888. Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to midnight. Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Home to an extensive build your own sandwich menu as well as specialty salads, soups burgers and more. With local ingredients and made-from-scratch recipes using a variety of good-for-you ingredients Apple Creek Cafe is sure to become your favorite spot.

BLUE ROOSTER SOUTHERN GRILL

207 Paragon Parkway, Clyde, Lakeside Plaza

at the old Wal-Mart. 828.456.1997. Open Monday through Friday. Friendly and fun family atmosphere. Local, handmade Southern cuisine. Fresh-cut salads; slow-simmered soups; flame grilled burgers and steaks, and homemade signature desserts. Blue-plates and local fresh vegetables daily. Brown bagging is permitted. Private parties, catering, and take-out available. Call-ahead seating available.

BOGART’S

303 S. Main St., Waynesville. 828.452.1313

Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Carry out available. Located in downtown Waynesville, Bogart’s has been long-time noted for great steaks, soups, and salads. Casual family atmosphere in a rustic old-time setting with a menu noted for its practical value. Live Bluegrass/String Band music every Thursday. Walking distance of Waynesville’s unique shops and seasonal festival activities and within one mile of Waynesville Country Club.

BOURBON BARREL BEEF & ALE

454 Hazelwood Ave., Waynesville, 828.452.9191. Lunch served 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dinner nightly from 4 p.m. Closed on Sunday. We specialize in hand-cut, all natural steaks, fresh fish, and other classic American comfort foods that are made using only the finest local and sustainable ingredients available. We also feature a great selection of craft beers from local artisan brewers, and of course an extensive selection of small

tasteTHE mountains

batch bourbons and whiskey. The Barrel is a friendly and casual neighborhood dining experience where our guests enjoy a great meal without breaking the bank.

BREAKING BREAD CAFÉ

6147 Hwy 276 S. Bethel (at the Mobil Gas Station) 828.648.3838 Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Chef owned and operated. Our salads are made in house using local seasonal vegetables. Fresh roasted ham, turkey and roast beef used in our hoagies. We hand make our own eggplant and chicken parmesan, pork meatballs and hamburgers. We use 1st quality fresh not preprepared products to make sure you get the best food for a reasonable price. We make vegetarian, gluten free and sugar free items. Call or go to Facebook (Breaking Bread Café NC) to find out what our specials are.

BRYSON CITY CORK & BEAN

A MOUNTAIN SOCIAL HOUSE

16 Everett St.,Bryson City. 828.488.1934

Open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday brunch 9 a.m. to 3p.m., Full Menu 3 to 9 p.m. Serving fresh and delicious weekday morning lite fare, lunch, dinner, and brunch. Freshly prepared menu offerings range from house-made soups & salads, lite fare & tapas, crepes, specialty sandwiches and burgers. Be sure not to miss the bold flavors and creative combinations that make up the daily Chef Supper Specials starting at 5pm every day. Followed by a tempting selection of desserts prepared daily by our chefs and other local bakers. Enjoy

craft beers on tap, as well as our full bar and eclectic wine list.

CATALOOCHEE RANCH

119 Ranch Dr., Maggie Valley. 828.926.1401. It’s winter, but we still serve three meals a day on Friday, Saturday and long holiday weekends. Join us for Breakfast from 8 to 9:30 a.m.; Lunch from 12 to 2 p.m.; and Dinner buffet from 6 to 7:30 p.m., with entrees that include pot roast, Virginia ham and herb-baked chicken, complemented by seasonal vegetables, homemade breads, jellies and desserts. We also offer a fine selection of wine and beer. And a roaring fire in the fireplace. So come enjoy mile-high mountaintop dining with a spectacular view.

CHEF’S TABLE

30 Church St., Waynesville. 828.452.6210. From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday dinner starting at 5 p.m. “Best of” Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator Magazine. Set in a distinguished atmosphere with an exceptional menu. Extensive selection of wine and beer. Reservations honored.

CHURCH STREET DEPOT

34 Church Street, downtown Waynesville. 828.246.6505. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Mouthwatering all beef burgers and dogs, hand-dipped, hand-spun real ice cream shakes and floats, fresh handcut fries. Locally sourced beef. Indoor and outdoor dining. facebook.com/ChurchStreetDepot, twitter.com/ChurchStDepot.

We will be serving 5 ridiculously delicious, one of a kind courses. Each course will be paired with one of our very own creatively inspired Tipping Point Brews, two of which have heretofore never been released!

Valentine’s Sweetheart Dinner

• FEB. 12:Andrew Rickman

• FEB. 13:Ashli Rose

• FEB. 14:Steve Whiddon “Piano Man”

1st Course: A trip to the Salad Bar

2nd Course: Choice of Entrée:

• Fresh Cut Salmon topped with crab alfredo served with mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables

• Chicken parmesan served with steamed vegetables

• Fresh cut angus ribeye with mushroom wine sauce served with baked potato and fresh steamed vegetable

3rd Course: Oreo Cheesecake Parfait

tasteTHE mountains

CITY BAKERY

18 N. Main St. Waynesville 828.452.3881.

Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Join us in our historic location for scratch made soups and daily specials. Breakfast is made to order daily: Gourmet cheddar & scallion biscuits served with bacon, sausage and eggs; smoked trout bagel plate; quiche and fresh fruit parfait. We bake a wide variety of breads daily, specializing in traditional french breads. All of our breads are hand shaped. Lunch: Fresh salads, panini sandwiches. Enjoy outdoor dinning on the deck. Private room available for meetings.

CITY LIGHTS CAFE

desserts. Enjoy live music every Friday and Saturday night at 7pm. www.classicwineseller.com. Also on facebook and twitter.

CORK & CLEAVER

176 Country Club Drive, Waynesville. 828.456.3551. Reservations recommended. 4:30-9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday Sunday brunch 11 a.m. to 2 pm. Tucked away inside Waynesville Inn, Cork & Cleaver has an approachable menu designed around locally sourced, sustainable, farm-to-table ingredients. Chef Ed Kaminski prepares American cuisine from local, organic vegetables grown in Western North Carolina. Full bar and wine cellar. www.thewaynesvilleinn.com.

Spring Street in downtown Sylva. 828.587.2233. Open Monday-Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tasty, healthy and quick. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, espresso, beer and wine. Come taste the savory and sweet crepes, grilled paninis, fresh, organic salads, soups and more. Outside patio seating. Free Wi-Fi, pet-friendly. Live music and lots of events. Check the web calendar at citylightscafe.com.

THE CLASSIC WINESELLER

20 Church Street, Waynesville. 828.452.6000. Underground retail wine and craft beer shop, restaurant, and intimate live music venue. Kitchen opens at 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday serving freshly prepared small plates, tapas, charcuterie,

COUNTRY VITTLES: FAMILY STYLE RESTAURANT

3589 Soco Rd, Maggie Valley. 828.926.1820 Open Wednesday and Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; closed Monday and Tuesday. Family Style at Country Vittles is not a buffet. Instead our waitresses will bring your food piping hot from the kitchen right to your table and as many refills as you want. So if you have a big appetite, but sure to ask your waitress about our family style service.

FILLING STATION DELI

145 Everett St., Bryson City, 828.488.1919

Open Monday through Wednesday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sundays (in October) 11

FEBRUARY 7TH

a.m. to 4 p.m. Locals always know best, and this is one place they know well. From the high-quality hot pressed sandwiches and the huge portions of hand-cut fries to the specialty frozen sandwiches and homemade Southern desserts, you will not leave this top-rated deli hungry.

FROGS LEAP PUBLIC HOUSE

44 Church St. Downtown Waynesville 828.456.1930 Serving lunch 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; Dinner 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday. Frogs Leap is a farm to table restaurant focused on local, sustainable, natural and organic products prepared in modern regional dishes. Seasonal menu focuses on Southern comfort foods with upscale flavors. www.frogsleappublichouse.com.

J. ARTHUR’S RESTAURANT AT MAGGIE VALLEY

U.S. 19 in Maggie Valley. 828.926.1817

Winter hours: Thursday through Dunday 12 to 4 p.m. for lunch and 4 p.m. to closing for dinner. Daily luncheon special at $6.99. Worldfamous prime rib, steaks, fresh seafood, gorgonzola cheese and salads. All ABC permits and open year-round. Children always welcome. Take-out menu. Excellent service and hospitality. Reservations appreciated.

JOEY'S PANCAKE HOUSE

4309 Soco Rd Maggie Valley.

828.926.0212. Winter hours: Friday-Monday

7 a.m. to 12 p.m. Joey’s is a family style restaurant that has been serving breakfast to the locals and visitors of Western North Carolina since 1966. Featuring a large variety of tempting pancakes, golden waffles, country style cured ham and seasonal specials spiked with flavor, Joey's is sure to please all appetites. Join us for what has become a tradition in these parts, breakfast at Joey’s.

JUKEBOX JUNCTION

U.S. 276 and N.C. 110 intersection, Bethel. 828.648.4193. 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday; Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Serving breakfast, lunch, nd dinner. The restaurant has a 1950s & 60s theme decorated with memorabilia from that era.

THE LUNCHBOX CAFE

100 Spicewood Dr., Clyde, 828.246.6296

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Serving up scrumptious breakfast, lunch and dinner all made with care in a welcoming environment. Subs, salads, sandwiches and more.

MAD BATTER FOOD & FILM

tasteTHE mountains

617 W. Main Street Downtown Sylva. 828.586.3555. Open Monday through Wednesday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Handtossed pizza, steak sandwiches, wraps, salads and desserts. All made from scratch. Beer and wine. Free movies with showtimes at 6:30 and 9 p.m. with a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. Visit madbatterfoodandfilm.com for this week’s shows.

MAGGIE VALLEY CLUB

1819 Country Club Dr., Maggie Valley. 828.926.1616. maggievalleyclub.com/dine. Open seasonally for lunch and dinner. Fine and casual fireside dining in welcoming atmosphere. Full bar. Reservations accepted.

MOUNTAIN PERKS ESPRESSO BAR & CAFÉ

9 Depot St., Bryson City. 828.488.9561

Open Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. With music at the Depot. Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Life is too short for bad coffee. We feature wonderful breakfast and lunch selections. Bagels, wraps, soups, sandwiches, salads and quiche with a variety of specialty coffees, teas and smoothies. Various desserts.

ORGANIC BEANS COFFEE COMPANY

1110 Soco Road, Maggie Valley.

828.668.2326. Open 7 days a week 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Happily committed to brewing and serving innovative, uniquely delicious coffees — and making the world a better place. 100% of our coffee is Fair Trade, Shade Grown, and Organic, all slow-roasted to bring out every note of indigenous flavor. Bakery offerings include cakes, muffins, cookies and more. Each one is made from scratch in Asheville using only the freshest, all natural ingredients available. We are proud to offer gluten-free and vegan options.

PAPERTOWN GRILL

153 Main St., Canton. 828.648.1455 Open 7 days a week 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Serving the local community with great, scratch-made country cooking. Breakfast is served all day. Daily specials including Monday meatloaf, chicken and dumplings on Thursdays and Friday fish.

PASQUALE’S

1863 South Main Street, Waynesville. Off exit 98, 828.454.5002. Open for lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Sunday. Classic Italian dishes, exceptional steaks and

seafood (available in full and lighter sizes), thin crust pizza, homemade soups, salads hand tossed at your table. Fine wine and beer selection. Casual atmosphere, dine indoors, outside on the patio or at the bar. Reservations appreciated.

RENDEZVOUS RESTAURANT AND BAR

Maggie Valley Inn and Conference Center

828.926.0201 Open Monday-Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m and Sunday 7:30 a.m to 9 p.m. Full service restaurant serving steaks, prime rib, seafood and dinner specials.

ROB’S HOT DOG SHACK

42 Montgomery St., Waynesville 828.707.7033. Open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Rob’s serves gourmet hot dogs and has homemade side items. Outdoor and indoor dining, café style restaurant. Locally owned and operated. Family oriented business.

SMOKY MOUNTAIN SUB SHOP

29 Miller Street Waynesville 828.456.3400

Open from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. A Waynesville tradition, the Smoky Mountain Sub Shop has been serving great food for over 20 years. Come in and enjoy the relaxed, casual atmosphere. Sub breads are baked fresh every morning in Waynesville. Using only the freshest ingredients in homemade soups, salads and sandwiches. Come in and see for yourself why Smoky Mountain Sub Shop was voted # 1 in Haywood County. Locally owned and operated.

SPEEDY’S PIZZA

285 Main Street, Sylva. 828.586.3800

Open seven days a week. Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday 3 p.m.-11 p.m., Sunday 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Family-owned for 30 years. Serving hand-tossed pizza made to order, pasta, subs, gourmet salads, calzones and seafood. Also serving excellent prime rib on Thursdays. Dine in or take out available. Located across from the Fire Station.

TWIN MAPLES FARMHOUSE

63 North Hill Street, Waynesville. 828.452.7837. Open for Sunday brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Located just two blocks from downtown Waynesville, Twin Maples is available for weddings, receptions, family reunions, birthday parties, showers, luncheons, corporate meetings and retreats.

The ingredients of the good life

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER

Ricardo Fernandez is a renowned chef, master gardener and also a former national diving champion, but there’s one thing he can’t do.

“I’ve tried to get my hair to grow back, but it doesn’t work,” he laughed.

At 62, Fernandez has been a resident of Haywood County for about 25 of those years. In Western North Carolina culinary circles, he is well known for launching one of the first farm-to-table restaurants in the region, with that love for food, friends and fresh produce still in the forefront of his life these days.

“It’s not just about cooking,” he said. “It’s about a social interaction, about sharing and offering something to everyone there.”

Founder of the Mountain Cooking Club, Fernandez hosts an array of monthly classes at the Fines Creek Community Center in rural Haywood County. Consisting of around 250 members, each class attracts upwards of 40 folks from all walks of life and culinary interests.

“You have foodies who write everything down, you have other ones who just want to see how everything is done,” he said. “And you have others who don’t even know how to cook an egg or some who bring a friend for the social aspect of the event.”

Food has been at the center of Fernandez’s life since he was a child in Argentina. He was raised in Buenos Aires, the son of an Italian and Spanish household, one where food was the common connection between friends, family and strangers alike. His family came to the country from Europe as part of the migration during the troubles of World War II.

“Since day one, there’s been a spoon in my mouth,”

Fernandez said. “I was always around family and food. That’s the lifestyle of Italians, where food is one of the most important things in our community.”

And though he had an early appreciation for food, Fernandez’s first love was being in the pool. A competitive high diver, he was the Argentinean national diving champion at age 20, which eventually led to him coming to the United States in 1972.

Once in America, Fernandez’s competitive swimming career transitioned into teaching and coaching, bouncing from

Founder of the Mountain Cooking Club in Fines Creek, Chef Ricardo Fernandez is credited as being one of the pioneers in the farm-to-table movement in Western North Carolina. He’s currently putting together his second culinary tour of his native Argentina, which will run Oct. 19-Nov. 2. Garret K. Woodward photo

New Jersey to California to Florida. He worked with worldclass athletes alongside his own aquatic dreams. But, due to a freak accident, everything changed.

“I flew off my roof taking down Christmas lights,” Fernandez said. “I landed on my back on the hard concrete. I don’t know how I didn’t kill myself in that fall. It was the end of my sports career.”

And though it was the culmination of his diving years, Fernandez and his wife, Suzanne, decided to take their love of food to the next level. They launched an import/export company in Florida, one that cornered the market in terms of fresh produce from Argentina, Chile and Brazil. The business garnered 30 distributors nationwide, with Fernandez becoming the largest importer of Argentinean wines.

“Then we would set up fine dining events and tastings around the United States,” he said. “It was a gradual change, a change that led to us becoming fully involved in the culinary industry.”

Want to go?

Chef Ricardo Fernandez will be hosting a Mountain Cooking Club “Serving Up Love” class from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Fines Creek Community Kitchen in Clyde. Fernandez was the former co-owner/head chef of Lomo Grill. The classes celebrate local ingredients and seasonal fare. His classes combine his native Argentine cuisine with influences from Spain and Italy, the home of his parents. The menu for this class will include a three-course dining

Towards the early 1990s, Fernandez and his wife found themselves in Western North Carolina. Initially, they were looking to open up a bed and breakfast somewhere in or around Waynesville. And though they did do plenty of work and events for their friends at the nearby Windsong Mountain Inn, the couple still was unable to find the exact property they were looking for.

But, on a trek through downtown Waynesville, they came across an unoccupied building at the corner of Church and Montgomery streets. Formerly a dry cleaner, the location had potential. They decided to open a restaurant. But not just your “same ole, same ole” spot, they were looking to do something completely different, something folks around these parts had never seen before — a farm-to-table fine dining establishment.

“What we were doing was unheard of at the time — we were a UFO that landed,” Fernandez chuckled. “It was Italian and Mediterranean, with many dishes never introduced in this area until we opened. We used the freshest ingredients possible — grass-fed beef and local produce based on the seasons.”

“I want to share my knowledge. I have no problem sharing my recipes. It’s about fun. Consume, eat, and play with what’s available locally.”

— Chef Ricardo Fernandez

Opened in 1994, Lomo Grill because a haven for curious foodies and fine dining enthusiasts in Southern Appalachia. Nowadays, the farm-to-table concept is a main ingredient for culinary survival, with many chefs and restaurant owners around here pointing to Fernandez and his wife as the first to take the step into the future of food in Western North Carolina.

Lomo then hatched a bakery downstairs to complement the already buzzing restaurant above. Both businesses enjoyed many years of success, but Fernandez knew it was time to move on. The couple sold Lomo (now Frogs Leap Public House) in 2010, and also the bakery (which became the shortlived Nico’s Café, and currently is the Montgomery Street Market operated by Frogs Leap).

Fernandez took to his 35-acre Wildcat Ridge Farm in Fines Creek, where he and Suzanne began growing thousands of award-winning orchids, flowers they used for catering gigs or sold to wedding planners. But, that dream was derailed when two hurricanes swept through in recent years, completely tearing apart of the property.

To learn more about the monthly cooking events or the upcoming culinary trip to Argentina and Patagonia on Oct. 19Nov. 2, call 828.246.7465 or email chefricardos@gmail.com. F

experience: Thai shrimp and chicken soup, crispy chicken thighs with salsa Verde, and rum walnut Bundt cake. Class fee is $65 plus a $1 Mountain Cooking Club 2016 membership fee (for those who didn’t attend the January class). To reserve your space, please mail a check (payable to Ricardo Fernandez) to Suzanne Fernandez at 3553 Panther Creek Road, Clyde, North Carolina 28721. Reservations confirmed upon receipt of payment.

This must be the place

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

It’s a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

Suicide. The one societal topic that makes everyone squirm, conjuring traumatic memories as we think back on those familiar faces no longer with us, but dearly missed.

This past Jan. 30 marked four years since a close friend of mine took his own life. Patrick Gallagher, or “Pat” to all who knew and loved him. He was 42 years old when he left this earth. His passing shocked an entire community, with the waves of turbulent emotion still ripping through our hearts and minds this many years later.

HOT PICKS

1

Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will have a 10th anniversary party with Humps & The Blackouts (psychobilly) at 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6.

2

The documentary “Art and Craft” will be screened alongside a Q&A with Mark Landis at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, in the University Center at Western Carolina University.

3

Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host Ol’ Dirty Bathtub (Americana/bluegrass) at 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6.

4

Acclaimed doo-wop act The Original Drifters will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Eaglenest in Maggie Valley.

It was the winter of 20112012. I was 26 and struggling to find footing as a writer. And by my side were a wide array of peers in the small Upstate New York city of Plattsburgh. We were (still are) a wild bunch of North Country folks. Artists. Servers. Musicians. Students. Each of us trying to make our way along the journey that is life. So much love and live music, with enough great times to fill the cup of your soul with laughter for a lifetime.

5

The Cut Cocktail Lounge (Sylva) will host a Mardi Gras Masquerade on Tuesday, Feb. 9.

ing board games while hearty conversation about nothing and everything swirled around the room.

family members of mine who have tried (and thankfully failed) at trying to take their life. In high school, one of my best friends swallowed a whole bottle of pills in hopes of never waking up again. Luckily, he was rushed to the hospital in time, to which he called me from the psychiatric ward wanting to let me know he was going to be OK and seek treatment for his depression.

All of these people I love, looking for a way out, an exit strategy when the going gets

stress, utterly blindsided by the trials and tribulations of what they see is an inescapable reality.

Two nights ago, I received a message around midnight. It was a good friend of mine. The last person I expected to say, “I’m about to call the suicide prevention hotline. I can’t do it anymore.” I begged her to relax, and to call me immediately.

It was the winter of the “Sunday Potlucks” and all of those crazy and mischievous evenings at our homes and apartments around the city. We all looked forward to those Sundays, to break up the monotony of the workweek, to cap another zany weekend in Platts Vegas, or simply to pass the time in the midst of another long winter on the frozen Canadian border.

And I remember the last Sunday we all met up. It was another cold January evening. I remember everyone was there, except for Pat. I asked his roommate why he wasn’t in attendance. She said he had a tough weekend, having to put his beloved dog down amid recent worries about his health and future. I remember how I wished he was there with us, eating and drinking, and play-

All of the love and camaraderie that night was shattered immediately the next morning. I received a phone call from my ex-girlfriend, a mutual friend of Pat’s who was also part of the potluck posse. She was bawling her eyes out. I could barely understand her.

“He’s gone. He’s gone,” she kept shouting. Who was gone? “Pat,” she hysterically shouted before hanging up the phone.

Standing there at Pat’s wake, all of us shook our heads. How could this have happened? How did we not see it coming? The truth is, many-a-times you can’t see it coming before it’s too late. Sometimes the happiest people in your life can also be harboring the saddest of souls within. When someone is truly hurting inside, they either don’t want to burden others with their problems or, if anything, don’t think it could ever get to that point of, well, no return.

In my life, I’ve dealt with a lot of incidents of suicide. There have been immediate

“Sometimes the happiest people in your life can also be harboring the saddest of souls within.”

tough. And throughout these trying moments, I’ve made it my personal mission to always be there for anyone who may just need someone to bounce their deepest thoughts and fears off of in search for truth and understanding.

And since Pat disappeared from our daily lives, I’ve tried even harder to make sure tragedies like that never happen again. All of you out there need to be acutely aware if something rubs you oddly about a friend, family member or the person down the hall from you at your office. Even the strongest person can falter and find themselves on their knees in the presence of unwanted

Not to be deterred, they shifted their focus to peonies and fig trees, a move that has resulted in hundreds of the plants dotting the landscape.

And yet, Fernandez never stopped being in the kitchen. He would host dinners and workshops at the farm or for friends who would find themselves at Wildcat Ridge. He enjoyed sharing his food and wine wisdom, something that led to the creation of the Mountain Cooking Club.

“I’m at a time in my life where my ego is really low. I’m pretty centered,” he said. “Suzanne and I have a great life, and I want to share it. I want to share my knowledge. I have no problem sharing my recipes. It’s

She was crying, sitting on some porch hours away from Haywood County. Money troubles. Life troubles. All of the above. Slowly and steadily, I talked her down, making sure she knew just how loved she is, how talented she is, how bright her future is shaping up to be. A half-hour later, her mind was finally roped back down to earth. She wished me goodnight.

“The sun will rise tomorrow,” I told her. “The sun will rise tomorrow.”

I awoke the next morning to a text message from her.

“I’m OK today. Thanks for talking to me last night,” it read.

I didn’t have to be to work for another 15 minutes. I rolled back over onto my back and stared at the ceiling. I looked up and out the nearby window. Another sunny day in Southern Appalachia. Another chance to find yourself in this haphazard world. I thought of Pat. I missed him, but I knew he was still out there, somewhere in the cosmos. I smiled. Another day. The sun will rise again. Tomorrow.

Life is beautiful, grasp for it, y’all.

about fun. Consume, eat, and play with what’s available locally. We change clothes for each season, just like your body wants different foods each season.”

In what some might see as a full circle moment for Fernandez, he recently led his first culinary tour of Argentina last year. With 20 people in the group, he showcased the incredible food, wine and culture of his homeland. The trip was such a success that Fernandez already has another lined up for October. This second go-around will focus on wineries and also include a journey to southern Patagonia.

“Life is good,” he said. “It’s a passion of food, passion of wine, and passion of people.”

On the beat

Open call for Mountain Community Chorus

Auditions for the Mountain Community Chorus 42nd annual Christmas season concert will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8, in the Clegg Recital Hall at Young Harris College in Young Harris, Georgia.

The audition will be followed by the first rehearsal of the 13-week season in preparation for the concerts on April 29 and May 1. All rehearsals are held at Young Harris College on Monday evenings at 7 p.m. Persons who have a heart and voice for fine choral music, from classical to pop, secular to sacred, are invited to join. Tenors, especially, are in demand.

The membership fee for each season is $20 to cover the purchase of music to be sung by the chorus.

www.mountaincommunitychorus.org or 706.897.4267.

Balsam Mountain Inn welcomes Hipkens

The “Songwriters in the Round” series will continue with a “Valentine’s Songwriter” evening featuring Nashville act Henry Hipkens at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Balsam Mountain Inn.

Hipkens’ songs have been recorded or performed by Ricky Skaggs, Pam Tillis, Tim O’Brien, Maura O’Connell, Claire Lynch, Robin and Linda Williams, Maryann Price and Trout Fishing in America. He performs regularly at the Bluebird Café in Nashville, and has two albums of his own.

$49, which includes a buffet dinner. 828.456.9498 or www.balsammountaininn.net.

Little Anthony & The Imperials to play Franklin

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee

Little Anthony & The Imperials will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.

The group was one of the finest vocal groups to emerge from the talent-rich New York scene of the 1950s. Moreover, they enjoyed unusual longevity for an act of that type, having hits in the 1950s doo-wop and 1960s/1970s soul. "Tears on My Pillow," their first single as the Imperials, was released to worldwide acclaim. This classic vocal-group ballad was one of the biggest hits of 1958, reaching No. 2 on the R&B chart and No. 4 on the pop chart.

Tickets start at $27.

www.greatmountainmusic.com or 866.273.4615.

ORIGINAL DRIFTERSBRINGDOO-WOPCLASSICSTO FRANKLIN

Acclaimed doo-wop act The Original Drifters will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at Eaglenest in Maggie Valley. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $25. 828.926.5000 or www.maggievalleyeaglenest.com. Donated photo

Pam Tillis to perform at WCU

Country music star Pam Tillis will be a featured performer at a Galaxy of Stars Series performance at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14, in the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center at Western Carolina University.

Tillis has been a force in country music since her first single recording hit the charts and has racked up 14 top five hits including six songs that hit No. 1, and has sold more than 6 million records. She was one of the first women in Nashville to produce her own album, and was awarded the coveted Female Vocalist of the Year award by the Country Music Association in 1994.

Tickets are $21 for adults, $16 for WCU faculty/staff, and $7 for students/children. For tickets, click on bardoartscenter.wcu.edu or 828.227.2479.

• The Canton Armory will host “Winter Pickin’ in the Armory” at 7 p.m. every first and third Friday of the month. The event includes mountain music, vintage country, clogging and dancing. www.cantonnc.com.

• The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will have Bob Zullo (pop/jazz) Feb. 5, Joe Cruz (pop/piano) Feb. 6 and Kevin Lorenz (pop/jazz) Feb. 12. All shows are free and begin at 7 p.m. There will also be a special Valentine’s Day dinner with The Blue Ribbon Healers (Americana) at 7 p.m. Feb. 13. Tickets are $10 per person. 828.452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com.

• The Cut Cocktail Lounge (Sylva) will host a Mardi Gras Masquerade on Feb. 9. 828.631.4795.

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will have Chris Minick (singer-songwriter) Feb. 4, Karaoke Feb. 3 and 10, and Ol’ Dirty Bathtub (Americana/bluegrass) 4 p.m. Feb. 6. All shows are free and at 7 p.m. unless otherwise listed. 828.454.5664 or www.froglevelbrewing.com.

• Heinzelmannchen Brewery (Sylva) will have Henry Wong (singer-songwriter) at 6 p.m. Feb. 11. www.yourgnometownbrewery.com.

• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will have an Open Mic night Feb. 3 and 10, and a jazz night with the Kittle/Collings Duo Feb. 4 and 11. There will also be performances by Zachary Joseph & The Society Feb. 6 and Megan Saunders & The Driftless Feb. 13. All events begin at 8 p.m. www.innovation-brewing.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host The Remnants (Americana) at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13. www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• No Name Sports Pub (Sylva) will host Humps & The Blackouts (psychobilly) Feb. 5, Red Honey (surf/rock) Feb. 6, Carson McHone Band & Jeremy Pinnell Feb. 12, and Darrin & The Buttered Toast (soul/funk) Feb. 13. Shows are free and begin at 9 p.m. www.nonamesportspub.com.

• The Oconaluftee Visitor Center (Cherokee) will host a back porch old-time music jam

from 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 6. All are welcome to come play or simply sit and listen.

• Sagebrush Steakhouse (Canton) will host Southbound (rock) Feb. 9 and Mile High Band (rock) Feb. 16. All shows begin at 7 p.m. 828.646.3750.

• Salty Dog’s (Maggie Valley) will have Karaoke with Jason Wyatt on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with Mile High (rock) on Wednesdays. 8 p.m.

• Satulah Mountain Brewing (Highlands) will host “Hoppy Hour” and an open mic with Jimandi at 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays, “Funky Friday” with Bud Davis at 7 p.m. on Fridays and Isaish Breedlove (Americana) at 7 p.m. on Saturdays. 828.482.9794 or www.satulahmountainbrewing.com.

• Tipping Point Brewing (Waynesville) will host Ashli Rose (singer-songwriter) Feb. 5, Trippin’ Hardie Feb. 12 and an “AntiValentine’s Day Party” with ‘Round the Fire (Grateful Dead tribute) at 7 p.m. Feb. 13. All shows are free and at 9 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.tippingpointtavern.com.

• Tuck’s Tap & Grille (Cullowhee) will have College Night with DJ Flash at 10 p.m. Feb. 4, Georgia Tumagne 9 p.m. Feb. 6, College Night with DJ Alex Prince 10 p.m. Feb. 11 and Lord Nelson 9 p.m. Feb. 13. 828.293.4688.

• The Ugly Dog Pub (Highlands) will have Nitrograss (bluegrass) at 7:30 p.m. every Wednesday, Stolen Hearts Feb. 6 and The Freeway Revival (rock/jam) Feb. 13. All shows begin at 9:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 828.526.8364 or www.theuglydogpub.com.

• Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will have a 10th anniversary party with Humps & The Blackouts (psychobilly) Feb. 6 and 20 Watt Tombstone (blues/rock) Feb. 12. All shows begin at 9 p.m.

• Western Carolina University (Cullowhee) will host a faculty recital (bassoon/tuba) at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9 in the Coulter Building. There will also be a Wind Ensemble Concert at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Bardo Arts Center. www.wcu.edu.

WINNINGNAP

‘Cat on a Ledge’ by acclaimed Waynesville painter Jenny Buckner was recently named an “Honorable Mention for Artistic Excellence 2015” by Southwest Art, a renowned publication within the industry. www.southwestart.com.

Pottery classes at Folkmoot Center

There will be beginner pottery classes at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville. The classes will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 10, 17 and 24, and March 2, 9, and 16.

• The documentary “Art and Craft” will be screened at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, in the University Center at Western Carolina University. The film details how one of the most prolific art forgers in United States history, Mark Landis, was finally exposed. Landis will be present to do a Q&A and talk about the film. www.artandcraftfilm.com.

• The Macon County Art Association monthly meeting will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8 at the Uptown Gallery in Franklin. Painter Nick DePaolo will be giving a demonstration and talking about how to paint like watercolor using acrylics. 828.369.0356 or pm14034@yahoo.com.

• The “MAKE!: Paint Edition” will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, in the Fine Arts Museum at Western Carolina University. The event will give participants the opportunity to paint their own pieces of art with assistance from members of the WCU art department. Refreshments and live music will also be provided. $15 per person, $25 for two.

• Learn to sew with the Sew Easy Girls and the Community Association (ECA) group from noon to 3 p.m. every first Monday of the month at the Jackson County Cooperative Extension Office in Sylva. 828.586.4009.

• An “Artist Talk” by ceramicist Garth Johnson will be held at 6 p.m. Feb. 8 in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University. The 50-minute multimedia lecture will examine a new generation of ceramic artists.

• The Macon County Anime Club will meet from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, at the

Winter term pottery will be taught by artist and entrepreneur Cory Plott of Plottware, specializing in durable artisan pottery. Plott will focus on beginning handbuilding techniques in this session. There is a 15-person limit to this course.   $100, which includes materials. 828.452.2997 or info@folkmoot.org.

Macon County Public Library. Anime Club is open to from six graders through college age. Members share a love of everything Japanese. 828.524.3600.

• The live screening of the National Theatre of London’s production “Coriolanus” Live Via Satellite at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Highlands Performing Arts Center. The show is Shakespeare’s searing tragedy of political manipulation and revenge, with a successful Roman general seeking political leadership. Tickets are available online at www.highlandspac.org or at the door or by calling 828.526.9047. Adults are $22 for adults, $19 for PAC members, and students are free.

• A community art group meets at 10 a.m. every Wednesday at the Hudson Library in Highlands. 828.526.3031.

• The films “Bridge of Spies” (Feb. 5-6) and “Spectre-007” (Feb. 11-13) at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva. Screenings are 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. with a special 2 p.m. matinee on Saturdays. Free. www.madbatterfoodandfilm.com.

• Oscar-nominated animated shorts will be shown at 7 p.m. Feb. 3-5, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Feb. 6 and 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Feb. 7 at The Strand at 38 Main in Waynesville. Oscarnominated live action shorts will be shown at 7 p.m. Feb. 9-12, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Feb. 13 and 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Feb. 14. There will also be a free screening of the Disney classic “Beauty and the Beast” at noon and 2 p.m. Feb. 6 and 13. www.38main.com.

On the street

All aboard the wine and cheese train

The Rail Line Wine Experience “MacNeill Uncorked” will be held from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in the Bryson City Train Depot.

The event is a specialty train experience featuring wines selected by French Broad Vignerons to pair with your meal. Full service all-adult first class ride in the MacNeill car. A narrator will be onboard to discuss the six wines selected to accompany an exclusive

sampling of local cheeses, a freshly made entree and a chef-selected dessert. All passengers receive souvenir stemless wine glass and tote bag. The Cottage Craftsman, located across from the depot will have all of the sampled wines available for purchase. Age 21 and over only.

Tickets are $109 per person. www.gsmr.com or www.greatsmokies.com.

Clean Slate Coalition

Valentine’s Ball

The Clean Slate Coalition, a local nonprofit organization providing transitional housing for women, will host a Valentine’s Ball from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Quality Inn in Sylva.

The coalition offers women leaving rehabilitation facilities, jails, prisons, and other difficult environments, a chance to begin life anew. The program offers a safe, home-like environment, connections to mental health services, medical care, education, and other resources for up to eight women at a time in a Sylva location. While the focus is on serving Western North Carolina, women come to the facility from many locations and backgrounds.

Clean Slate also provides job skills training through its small business venture called Clean Slate Enterprise. In this project, residents prepare, package and market non-toxic cleaning supplies and offer cleaning and custodial services to businesses and homes in the area.

The ball will feature heavy hors d’oeuvres, ballroom dancing and lessons, a raffle/auction event, special presentations and wine tasting. Tickets are $35 per person. Attendees who pre-

fer to spend the night at the hotel can reserve rooms for only $65 plus tax. Further, youth and several adults from Cullowhee United Methodist Church will offer babysitting in the gym at First United Methodist Church in Sylva in exchange for a donation to raise support their upcoming mission trips. Babysitting services will run from 6:45 to 11:15 p.m. www.cleanslatecoalition.org or 828.586.3939 or info@cleanslatecoalition.org.

Foxtrot, line and tango lessons

The Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department will offer foxtrot, line and tango dance lessons beginning the week of Feb. 8 at the Waynesville Recreation Center.

The Foxtrot Session (level 1) will be offered at 7:30 pm on Feb. 8, 15 and 22, and March 7, 14 and 21. Line Dancing Session will be offered at 7 p.m. on Feb. 9, 16 and 23, and March 8, 22 and 29. The Tango Session (level 2) will be offered at 7 p.m. on Feb. 11, 18 and 25, and March 10, 17 and 24.

The cost of six classes in a specific session is $60 per person to be paid at the first class. Each class is one hour in duration. If you are a new student, you will need to come 15 minutes early the night of your first class to register. 828.456.2030 or tplowman@waynesvillenc.gov.

Learn about Scottish heritage

Danny Williamson of the Franklin Scottish Tartan’s Museum will host a presentation at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, at Southwestern Community College in Franklin.

“I’m always excited to do these presentations, the attendees will gain a new perspective on factual historical clothing that is relevant to Scottish culture,” said Williamson, the museum’s curator.

Williamson will give a presentation on Scottish dress from the medieval period to the 18th century. The Scottish Tartans Museum is currently the only Scottish museum in the United States and is the only Scottish museum dedicated to the history of Tartan and Highland dress in the world. Free.

828.306.7017.

Outhouse Race returns to Sapphire

The 10th annual Outhouse Race will be held at noon Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Sapphire Valley Ski Area.

This event kicks off with the display of all the racing outhouses. The parade of all participants follows, with the race following the parade at 2 p.m. Over a dozen outhouses take part in this crazy, full of fun, wild and wacky elimination race. It’s expected that a record number of entries will be on hand for this year’s event. Live music and food will also be onsite. The race raises money for local charities and nonprofits.

Want to enter? Do you need an outhouse to rent for the race? Call 828.743.6159.

Craft beer release, dinner at Tipping Point

There will a “Beer Dinner Extravaganza” held from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, at Tipping Point Brewing in Waynesville.

The five-course special menu will be prepared by acclaimed Executive Chef Doug Weaver, co-owner of The Sweet Onion in Waynesville. Each course will be paired with a craft beer from the brewery, which will include two new releases. Limited tickets are $50 per person ($62.50 altogether including tax and tip). There will also be live music. 828.246.9230 or www.tippingpointtavern.com.

ALSO:

• A “Wine Dine Valentine” will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, at the Grandview Lodge in Waynesville. The dining experience will include an appetizer, main plate, dessert and wine pairings. The meal will be prepared by acclaimed Chef Sandra Stefani. $50 per person, which includes tax and gratuities. For reservations, call 828.246.2409. www.grandviewlodgenc.com.

• The High Mountain Squares will host their “Sweetheart Dance” from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5, at the Macon County Community Building in Franklin. Western Style Square Dancing, mainstream and plus levels. All skill levels welcomed.

828.371.4946 or 828.342.1560 or 828.332.0001 or www.highmountainsquares.com.

• A “Wine Tasting & Food Pairing” with importer Marco Laico, president/founder of Vino Vino, will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, at The Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. Italian wines paired with Italian dishes. $24.99 per person. For reservations, call 828.452.6000.

• The Andrews Brewing Company will have a Corn Hole Tournament at 3 p.m. Feb. 6 ($10 entry fee, winner takes all) and a 3rd anniversary party at 3 p.m. Feb. 13. www.andrewsbrewing.com.

• A “Valentine Day Dance Party” for couples and singles alike will be held from 9 to 11 p.m. Feb. 14 at The Cut Cocktail Lounge in Sylva. 503.329.5816.

• A “Valentine Dinner” will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Feb. 14 at The Sneak-E-Squirrel Brewing in Sylva. 828.586.6440.

• A free wine tasting will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Feb. 6 and 13 at Bosu’s Wine Shop in Waynesville. www.waynesvillewine.com or 828.452.0120.

• A wine tasting will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 3 and 10 at The Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. Free with dinner ($15 minimum). 828.452.6000.

• There will be a “Tasty Tuesday: Winter Seasonals” at 7 p.m. Feb. 9 and 16 at Mad Anthony’s Bottle Shop & Beer Garden.

Tracy Morgan to play Harrah’s

Legendary Saturday Night Live actor and comedian Tracy Morgan will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday Feb. 13, at Harrah’s Cherokee. After a triumphant return to the Hollywood stage at this year's Emmy Awards and a visit to his old stomping grounds at SNL, audiences can look forward to the entertainer doing what he does best: bringing bags loads of funny and making people laugh.

Starring for seven seasons on NBC's Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning "30 Rock," Morgan appeared opposite Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin as “Tracy Jordan,” the unpredictable star of Lemon’s (Fey) hit variety show, “TGS with Tracy Jordan.” In 2009 Morgan received his first Emmy Nomination for this role, in the Supporting Actor category; he has also been nominated multiple times for a Supporting Actor NAACP Image Award.

Morgan has successfully turned his love for standup comedy tour into a couple of TV specials. His first, an HBO Special titled “Black Blue” and the second, a Comedy

Comedian Tracy Morgan will hit the stage in Cherokee on Feb. 13.

Central Special, titled “Tracy Morgan: Bona Fide,” which brought Comedy Central one of its largest viewership for a standup special in 2014. He also headlined the famed “New York Comedy Festival” which featured acclaimed comedians including Bill Maher, Andy Samberg, and Patton Oswalt, among others.

To round out his list of achievements, Morgan released his first book entitled I Am The New Black, a compilation of studied anecdotes and some of the more serious moments that shaped him and his career. Tickets start at $19.50. www.harrahscherokee.com.

‘The Fox’ held over at HART

Based on a novella by D.H. Lawrence, Allan Miller’s drama “The Fox” will be held over at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7, at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.

On a small farm, two women are struggling to make their own living but the hens have stopped laying and a fox is raiding the hen house. Enter an engaging and capable but mysterious young man, willing to stay on as a hired hand. Who is this mysterious man who eventually dominates life on the farm?

Tickets are $10 for adults, $6 for students.

The musical cabaret “Miscast” will hit the HART stage starting Feb. 12. www.harttheater.org.

Bachelors Ball for Belles at Laurel Ridge

The Women of Waynesville (WOW) will host their first fundraising event of 2016, with the inaugural Bachelors Ball for Belles taking place at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at Laurel Ridge Country Club.

Ten local bachelors and 10 amazing date-night gift packages will be auctioned off to the highest bidder while guests also enjoy a hot Italian dinner, dancing, DJ and cash bar. A few of the sought after auction items including a week’s getaway to a condo in Florida, an all expenses paid three-night getaway to Harrah’s Cherokee Casino & Resort and a free night’s stay at the Oak Hill on Love Lane Bed & Breakfast.

Since the creation of WOW in January 2012, the organization has raised more than $34,000 for local nonprofits and women and children in need in the community. All the while, sustaining themselves on membership dues alone. The Women of Waynesville is a registered nonprofit 501c3 that runs 100 percent on volunteers, from its founding members, to active board and volunteers. The money raised by WOW since 2012 has spread amongst this entire community stretching its impact to organizations such as REACH, KARE, Haywood Healthcare Foundation, Meals on Wheels, Big Brother Big Sisters, Heating Assistance, and many more.

Tickets cost $50 per person which includes an evening of dinner, music, dancing, cash bar, large ticket auction items and of course, the bachelors auction. Groups of six or more will receive free champagne.

Tickets are $50 for the full evening or $25 for those who want to show up at 7:45 p.m. to partake in the auction. Purchase

your tickets to the Bachelors Ball for Belles online at the WOW website or by calling Nikki White at 828.545.6879. WOW accepts checks, credit cards and cash. For more information about the Women of Waynesville, click on www.womenofwaynesville.com.

New twist on ‘Macbeth’

A modern day take on a Shakespeare classic, “Macbeth is the New Black” will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17-20 in the Hoey Auditorium at Western Carolina University.

This updating of “Macbeth” comes from original material by Linda Parsons Marion. In a women’s juvenile detention center in Tennessee, the inmates are staging a production of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy. What’s happening in the detention center begins to mirror the secrecy and violence in the play, and the results are vicious.

Tickets are $16 for adults, $11 for senior citizens, faculty and staff, and $10 for students ($7 in advance).

828.227.2479 or bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.

• An “Appalachian Dance” class for kids will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Feb. 9, 16 and 23, and March 1 at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville. Classes feature flat-foot dancing, buck dancing, clogging and square dance styles unique to the Haywood County mountains. For teenagers grade 7-12. $40 per person for four classes. 828.452.2997 and info@folkmoot.org.

Florence King took no prisoners

During a recent discussion in the AP Literature class I teach, I mentioned that the actor Alan Rickman had died the previous day. The young lady seated directly in front of me said, “You’re kidding.” When I assured her I had seen the news on the Internet that morning, her eyes welled up and glittered with tears.

“I loved Alan Rickman,” she said, and other students in the class, most of whom had heard the news, agreed with her. Rickman was a popular actor, famed for his appearances in “Die Hard” and in the Harry Potter series.

Though I felt little attachment to Mr. Rickman — I did enjoy his performances as Hans Gruber in “Die Hard” and as Harry in “Love, Actually” — I understood my poor student’s shock and tears. I experienced the same grief on Jan. 8, when I discovered that writer Florence King had died two days earlier.

Miss King — I can address her in no other way — was described by one of her close friends as a “gin-swilling” and “chain-smoking” curmudgeon who was a conservative, a royalist, a bisexual in the early part of her life, and a self-proclaimed “old maid” in her later years.

And I was in love with her. At least with her writing. Over the past three years, we corresponded twice, and though I knew from the notes she wrote to me that she was in ill health, her death at 80 nonetheless left me shocked and saddened.

Why?

Because her writing voice, her point of view, and her caustic reviews and essays made her one of the important writers of our time. Like the liberal Christopher Hitchens, who could so effectively attack George Bush while at the same time protesting abortion, Miss King belonged to a party of one: herself. During the last 20 years of her life, she wrote for National Review, a conservative magazine,

but she called her own shots.

Though perhaps best known for Southern Ladies and Gentlemen and Confessions of a

Pin Collection; Deja Reviews: Florence King All Over Again; and Stet, Damnit: The Misanthrope’s Corner. I treasure these books for several reasons.

First, there is the style and the quality of the writing. Miss King was famed for her meticulous attention to detail in her diction, grammar, and syntax, and woe to the editor who dared challenge so much as the placement of a comma in her work. In her essay “A Nation of Friendly Misanthropes” from With Charity Toward None, Miss King wrote:

“The fun of writing is in the rewriting. I like to prune every unnecessary word from a piece, to polish and sharpen sentences and arrange them in seamless sequence so that the reader’s eye travels effortlessly from left to right in unbroken rhythm as if set on optical cruise control.”

Miss King sums up her work habits well. Her words and sentences are always crisp, controlled, and concise. We see the results of her care for her prose in such bon mots as these:

als she attended. O Death, where is thy sting? Search me. I grew up looking at so many corpses that I still feel a faint touch of surprise whenever I see people move.”

Miss King’s tart observations — her refusal to mince words or to write politically correct prose — also attracted my admiration. Unlike me, Miss King never suffered fools, gladly or otherwise. And like Christopher Hitchens — though the two of them never met, they corresponded, and each admired the other for writing from the heart and the gut — Miss King attacked on a broad front with a mordant wit. Consider these two passages:

“Feminists will not be satisfied until every abortion is performed by a gay black doctor under an endangered tree on a reservation for handicapped Indians.”

“Any hope that America would finally grow up vanished with the rise of fundamentalist Christianity. Fundamentalism, with its bornagain regression, its pink-and-gold concept of heaven, its literal-mindedness, its rambunctious good cheer ... its anti-intellectualism ... its puerile hymns ... and its faith-healing ... are made to order for King Kid America.”

Finally, Miss King won my heart for bringing me laughter. A friend once asked an actor on his deathbed if dying was difficult. “No,” the actor replied. “Dying is easy. Comedy is hard.” No doubt, but Miss King makes comedy look easy. I can open any of her books and within minutes I am smiling. Yes, she’s a curmudgeon, but one possessed by a humor pointed as a stiletto and sharp as a whetted blade. Of her wit, she once wrote:

Failed Southern Lady, Miss King won my heart with her collections of reviews and essays. The titles of her books that sit on my shelves should tell you a bit about her take on politics and life: Reflections In A Jaundiced Eye; With Charity Toward None: A Fond Look at Misanthropy; Withering Slights: The Ben

Howell to present debut novel

“There is much to be said for post-menopausal celibacy. Sex is rough on loners because you have to have somebody else around, but now I don’t. No more diets to stay slim and desirable: I’ve had sex and I’ve had food, and I’d rather eat.”

“To make sure I learned the etiquette of grieving, Granny took me with her to the many funer-

“The witty woman is a tragic figure in American life. Wit destroys eroticism and eroticism destroys wit, so women must choose between taking lovers and taking no prisoners.”

Miss King chose to take no prisoners. R.I.P.

(Jeff Minck is a writer and teacher. He can be reached at minick0301@gmail.com.)

Never say never

Sylva cyclo-crosser takes top honors in national competition

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFFWRITER

As national champion Karen Tripp likes to say, cyclo-cross is a sport that you win by seconds. And that’s just how the Sylva resident conquered nationals in Asheville this year. By seconds — 34 of them.

“I think my mind and my focus was there,” Tripp said. “They all have to come together just right, because not every race is like that.”

As the 56-year-old sat spring-loaded at the starting line, she was thinking of just one thing — reaching the steep ramp ahead before the rest of her competitors. The whistle blew, she pushed down on the pedals, and she got to that ramp first.

“That was it — I was all alone,” she said. “It felt really wild.”

With each obstacle and each turn of the course, seconds piled onto her lead, spitting her at the finish more than half a minute ahead of her closest competitor — 8 roughterrain miles, done in 41 minutes, 37 seconds. Tripp got the top spot on the podium, earning herself the winner’s stars-and-stripes jersey as the champion for the women’s 55-59 age category.

She’d been training toward that moment for years by the time her race at the 2015 USA Cycling Cyclo-Cross Nationals came around on Jan. 7. Meeting the goal felt “great,” she said. “It felt really good.”

DEFININGCYCLO-CROSS

Not that everyone knows just what Tripp is talking about when she starts discussing cyclo-cross. It’s a lot more popular in New England, where she and her husband Jeff lived before moving to Sylva three years ago.

Overall, the sport is still gaining traction in the United States. The inaugural cyclo-cross national championship in Europe, where the sport originated, took place in France in 1902, compared to the first such contest in the United States, in 1963.

Cyclo-cross can be a hard thing to define. It’s kind of like road-biking and kind of like mountain-biking. There’s some running involved, and also some lifting. A typical course will include a combination of road, grass, trail and obstacles like ramps and bridges. It’s usually between 1 or 2 miles long, with races comprised of multiple laps through the same course.

Because the season runs from September to February, weather is almost like another competitor.

“Rain, sleet, snow — that’s what cyclocross is,” Tripp said. “This year for the North Carolina cyclo-cross series, I think I have never raced in so many muddy races as I have this past year. It’s been crazy, crazy muddy, but it’s fun.”

On the downside, a muddy course means there’s going to be a lot of cleanup involved —

In

of both people and bikes — afterward. But mud also evens the playing field.

“Everybody has to ride the mud. Everybody has to conquer it,” Tripp said. “A lot of people become intimidated, and the ones that don’t become intimidated tend to do better on races like that.”

Keeping a level head — looking fear in the face and maintaining confidence in spite of it — has been integral to Tripp’s success.

“You’ve got to stay relaxed and you have to stay focused,” she said. “Once you start losing focus, everything falls apart.”

GETTINGREADYTORACE

Training, of course, is the way to keep that confidence afloat. Part of the FinKraft Cycling Team, Tripp works with a coach out of New Jersey to set her workouts. Roger Aspholm, originally from Finland, keeps up with Tripp through software that lets her log metrics like heart rate and wattage as she trains. That allows him to adjust her training schedule and make recommendations for improvement.

a friend and soon show herself to be determined to win. She attributes that competitive spirit, at least in part, to growing up in a family with four brothers, three of them older.

“They wanted to go out and play baseball, and I wanted to go out and play baseball,” she recalled, so she learned the importance of keeping up at an early age.

But the sport isn’t just about competition. Tripp finds purpose, as well, in her place amid the growing community of cyclo-crossing women. She loves to see girls young enough to be her daughter — granddaughter, even — racing alongside her. And she loves to show by example that age is just a number, not a mandate to start slowing down.

“A lot of women get to a certain age and say, ‘I can’t do that.’ Never say you can’t,” she said.

For instance, last year she started mountain biking for the first time when Aspholm decided the sport would build her confidence on technical sections of cyclo-cross courses. She even competed in the USA Cycling Marathon Mountain Bike Nationals in Georgia last year. That course was “totally outside my comfort zone,” she said, but “it helped huge with my racing.”

“You can’t just slam on the brakes, so you better just realize and trust that you can do it,” she said.

For the most part, though, training consists of short intervals on a road bike. Tripp’s favorite place to train is out in the Burningtown area of Macon County, because aside from being beautiful, there’s not much traffic there and there are fewer dead-end roads than in Sylva.

COMMUNITYANDCOMPETITION

Tripp’s a competitive sort, the kind of person who will start a casual game of darts with

In fact, Tripp was already well into her 40s before she took up cyclo-cross for the first time. She was more into running and road biking back then, and when she started hearing about the sport it sounded like a good mix between the two. After she gave it a go, the same fate befell her as followed many an experimentation with cyclo-cross.

“A lot of people, once they try it, they get bitten by the bug,” she said. “There’s just something about it.”

It’s heart-pumping, it’s challenging, it’s adrenaline-inducing. It’s varied, as no two courses are ever the same. But the whole experience and the community that surrounds it are draws as well. Especially at the more casual races, people will show up to race in costume — panda bears, Vikings, muddy brides — and spectators will station themselves at key points to heckle. With good-natured intent, of course.

“People will heckle you and say some cruel things, maybe, like, ‘Come on, old lady, you can get up there,’ but it’s fun,” Tripp said. “It’s all in fun.”

Sometimes they’ll do donut or waffle races, where competitors are handed the item in question as they’re running up a steep hill.

“It’s a great family,” she said.

And while winning is, let’s face

Cullowhee students get creekside dose of science and math

A section of Cullowhee Creek in Jackson County will turn into a laboratory — with elementary school students as its researchers — through a project called “Watershed Moments: Exploring Science and Math in Cullowhee Creek.”

Slated to start in March, students at Cullowhee Valley School will get hands-on education in the biology, physics and chemistry of streams and rivers. Students in the afterschool program for fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grades will participate in data collection and analysis, introducing them to scientific inquiry and fostering a holistic understanding of the importance of watersheds.

“It will be an excellent opportunity for students to engage with scientists and professionals, see the connection of STEM fields in their lives, and gain confidence in their abilities to collect and present data,” said Karen Kandl, associate director of the Highlands Biological Station.

The program is a partnership between the Highlands Biological Station, Highlands Biological Foundation, Cullowhee Valley School and Western Carolina University’s biology department and School of Teaching and Learning.

The program is possible through a threeyear, $159,000 grant from the Student Science Enrichment Program of the Burroughs-Wellcome Fund, headquartered at

Sixth-graders from Cullowhee Valley School measure the characteristics of Jackson County’s Caney Fork in 2013. Donated photo

Research Triangle Park. In addition to purchasing equipment and materials, the grant will provide stipends for internships, teacher involvement and related project costs. Participants will gather annually at Highlands Biological Station to assess their progress and share their results with the community.

828.526.2602 or kkandl@email.wcu.edu.

Performance to support enviro organization

Musicians and poets will lend their talents to raise money for The Canary Coalition during a concert 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, at the Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva.

Performers will include Ian Moore, Ubuntu Choir, Thomas Rain Crowe, Dave and Ella Waldrop and many more. The Canary Coalition is a grassroots organization that started in 1999, advocating for policies and awareness regarding air quality, climate change, energy, transportation and environmental policy. 828.631.3447 or info@canarycoalition.org.

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it, pretty awesome, the feeling of crossing the finish line in any capacity is reward in itself.

“Even though you come in last, what does it matter? They did it, they accomplished it.”

“Anybody that gets to the line, no matter where they finish, you’ve gotta be proud of yourself for completing it,” Tripp said.

Tripp doesn’t plan to slow down any time soon; in fact, she’s looking to compete at the Marathon Mountain Bike Nationals this summer. For inspiration, she looks to the pair of ladies who completed the 2016 cyclocrossnationals in the 75 and over category — and for purpose, she looks to the other end of the age spectrum, the pre-teens of 9 and 10 entering the junior categories.

“It’s amazing,” she said. “That’s why I say I hope I can inspire some of those younger girls. Age doesn’t matter — it’s never too late to start something.”

Happy ending for man stranded at Mount Pisgah

Crews park their vehicles alongside the snowy road to attempt a ground rescue.

‘Mating and dating’ in the Animal Kingdom

Celebrate Valentine’s Day nature-style with a program on courtship in the animal kingdom, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, at the Highlands Nature Center.

“Mating and Dating in the Animal Kingdom: A Gameshow Mash-up” will provide plenty of adult-only hilarity delving into the seductive world of animal courtship — a world where roses and chocolates don’t stand a chance against the fantastic and sometimes sleazy romantic gestures of the animal world.

Couples will compete in a gameshow-like format testing knowledge, trivia and acting abilities — but singles are welcome, too. Just bring a friend to make the teams even. Drinks, desserts and prizes for the top couple will be offered.

$10. RSVP to 828.526.2623.

Deep snow in the mountains last week stranded a transmission tower repairman near the summit of Mount Pisgah Jan. 25, launching a massive and technical high-altitude snow rescue operation.

A cable car used to winch supplies up Mount Pisgah to the transmission tower on its summit stopped working while the man was using it, and he was left 400 feet down a steep slope in more than 2 feet of snow. The man called his employer, who contacted 911 at 2:40 p.m.

Cold temperatures and heavy snow on the mountain made access to the area treacherous. The man was ultimately rescued by a special response unit that rapelled from a helicopter and hoisted him back up.

However, a ground rescue operation was

Tired

A subset of the massive number of people assisting in the rescue pause for a photo. Donated photo

attempted before the chopper got called in. Crews from Haywood County Search and Rescue, Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, Haywood County Emergency Management, Lake Logan Fire Department and Cruso Fire Department all responded to the initial call, joined by technical mountain rescue teams from Henderson, Buncombe, Avery and Mitchell counties — about 30 people total.

Simply getting to Mount Pisgah’s base was the first challenge.

The N.C. Department of Transportation brought in plows to clear the way up U.S. 276 and along the Blue Ridge Parkway to the parking area at the Mount Pisgah Trailhead, but the going was slow. As concern grew that the stranded man would grow hypothermic, another call went out

— to the N.C. Helo-Acquatic Rescue Team, known as NCHART. The crew is part of N.C. Emergency Management, a combination of rescue technicians and helicopter pilots who train together monthly for all types of high-stakes rescues.

The Charlotte-based crew got to the site 3.5 hours later, hoisting the stranded man by about 9 p.m. and flying him to the Asheville Airport, where medical teams determined him to be in good condition and not in need of further treatment.

“It takes remarkable effort and skill to execute a strategic rescue mission in harsh winter conditions,” said N.C. Emergency Management Director Mike Sprayberry.

A total of 56 people participated in the rescue.

Algal invader found in Jackson County

A nuisance algae capable of harming stream habitats has come to Jackson County, and water users will have to help out to keep it from spreading.

Didymo, also called rock snot, can produce thick algal mats along stream bottoms, sometimes becoming so hefty they alter stream habitats and make fishing difficult. It’s now been found in the Tuckasegee River.

The algae spreads easily, but water users can help contain it by:

■ Removing any visible mud, plants or animal matter from equipment before transporting it.

■ Draining water from equipment before transport.

■ Cleaning and drying anything that comes into contact with water.

This is the fourth time in a little over a year that a nuisance aquatic species has been discovered in Western North Carolina, coming on the heels of the December 2014 discovery of gill lice in the Cullasaja River in Macon County and the August 2015 discovery of another gill lice species in three water bodies in Haywood and Watauga counties. In July 2015, whirling disease was confirmed for the first time in the state, found on rainbow trout in the Watauga River near Foscoe.

“It is important that we all work to help prevent the introduction and spread of these nuisance organisms by being good stewards of our state’s aquatic resources that we all care for and enjoy,” said Jacob Rash, coldwater research coordinator for the Wildlife Resources Commission.

www.ncwildlife.org/fishing/whirlingdisease/anglergearcare.aspx.

Help count the birds

Bird-lovers are wanted to participate in this year’s Great Backyard Bird Count Feb. 12-15.

The count is an annual effort to help researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society learn more about bird populations. Participants are asked to count birds for as little as 15 minutes — or as long as desired — on one or more days before reporting sightings at www.birdcount.org.

Last year, more than 140,000 participants submitted observations, creating the largest instantaneous snapshot of global bird populations ever recorded.

Timeless Love

A large selection of Clocks and Jewelry to choose from

Dive into Lake J — for a good cause

Waders, dashers and jumpers are gearing up for a chilly plunge into Lake Junaluska this Saturday, Feb. 6, for the annual Polar Plunge for Haywood Waterways environmental education.

Not brave enough to take the plunge? You can participate vicariously by donating to your favorite plunger. Peruse a list with their photos at www.crowdrise.com/4thannualpolarplunge.

The plunge, organized by Haywood Waterways Association, invites all willing to brave the cold — from a full-body immersion to a frosty dip of a toe — to take the plunge into Lake Junaluska in support of youth environmental education efforts. Costumes are encouraged, with prizes given for creativity and for the top fundraisers.

Proceeds will fund education programs including Kids on the Creek, a hands-on learning experience that’s gotten nearly

Rock Climbing 101

12,000 Haywood County eighth-graders out exploring their waterways since its inception 18 years ago.

The event will get started at 11:30 a.m. All participants will receive a free T-shirt and chili lunch.

828.476.4667 or www.haywoodwaterways.org.

Participants will leave with all the info they’ll need start rock climbing at a class offered at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, at REI in Asheville.

The class will give an overview of the different types of climbing, the gear necessary for each and steps to get started. No “on-the-wall” component will be offered. Free, with space limited. www.rei.com/learn.html.

Get paid to spend summertime in the backcountry

A crew working on trails, campsites, visitor education and data-taking in the backcountry is looking for members.

The Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards — SAWS — will hire positions for sites in five states ranging from Georgia to Virginia. Summertime crews of six will complete three weeks of orientation and hands-on training before heading out for nine weeks of multi-day backcountry field projects, each lasting up to 10 days at a time.

The season goes from May 16 to Aug. 6, and the position pays $10.10 per hour. www.trailcrews.org/jobs.

An angler’s reflection on Hazel Creek

An evening of fishing stories from one of the Smoky Mountains’ veteran anglers is on tap for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, at the Rendezvous Restaurant in Maggie Valley.

Steve Claxton, a lifelong resident of the Smokies, has spent more than 4,000 days and nights fishing and camping around the rich waters of Hazel Creek, for 22 years operating the outfitter service Smoky Mountain Adventures.

Claxton and his wife Becky — who serves as the camp’s CEO — will share their

stories about a place that should be on every angler’s bucket list.

Offered in conjunction with Trout Unlimited Cataloochee’s monthly meeting. Arrive at 5:30 p.m. to eat dinner. tucataloochee427@gmail.com.

Paddle for waterways education

A stand up paddleboard race for the brave-hearted will take place atop a chilly Lake Junaluska at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 6.

Proceeds from the race will go to Haywood Waterways Association for youth environmental education, and is being put on by Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department.

It’s the same day as the annual Polar Plunge, which will immediately follow the paddle board race.

Equipment will be provided and a variety of gift certificates awarded as prizes. $20, cash only. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. 828.456.2030 or tpetrea@waynesvillenc.gov.

COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Superbowl 50 between the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos will be shown at The Strand on 38 Main St. in Waynesville on February 7 at 6:30, with pregame at 4:30 p.m. FREE. 283-0079.

• “Mating and Dating in the Animal Kingdom: A Gameshow Mash-Up” will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 11 at Highlands Nature Center. Valentine’s Day theme; couples will compete. Desserts and drinks available as well as a prize for the top couple. Registration required: 526.2623.

• Help with income tax preparation for seniors over age 60 will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center through March by Bruce Johnson, registered tax return preparer, in exchange for donation to the Senior Resource Center. By appointment only 828.356.2800.

• Free tax preparation will be available from Feb. 1April 15 at the Jackson County Public Library and Jackson County Senior Center in Sylva. Library hours are 3-6:45 p.m. on Tuesdays or by appointment (586.2016). Senior Center hours are from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays on a first-come, first-serve basis. No charge.

• High Mountain Squares will host their “Sweetheart Dance” from 6:30-9 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 5, at the Macon County Community Building in Franklin. Ace McGee from Anderson, S.C. will be the caller. Westernstyle square dancing, mainstream plus levels. 371.4946, 342.1560, 332.0001 or www.highmountainsquares.com.

• The monthly meeting of the Beaverdam Community Center is at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 8, in Canton. Guest speaker is Steve Kelly, chief of the Canton Fire Dept. 648.0552 or judysellars1067@att.net.

• Heating assistance is available for those who qualify through the Jackson County Department of Social Services, which has almost $90,000 in LIEAP funding. Applications will be taken daily between 8 a.m.-4 p.m. through March 31 at Jackson County Department of Social Services in Sylva. 586.5546.

B USINESS & E DUCATION

• Haywood Chamber of Commerce’s Issues & Eggs program, featuring Kelly Wessel and Laura Haight from BizSafe, is from 8-9 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 3, at Laurel Ridge Country Club in Waynesville. $13 for members; $15 for nonmembers.

• “Fighting Back against Fraud and Cybercrime,” a free seminar cosponsored by Haywood Community College’s Small Business Center and the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce, is scheduled for 9:30-11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 3, at the Laurel Ridge Country Club in Waynesville. Presenters are Kelly Wessel, a forensic accountant and fraud investigator, and Laura Haight, a former IT executive for the nation’s largest newspaper company. For info or to register, visit SBC.Haywood.edu or call 627.4512.

• Bryson City Downtown Merchants Association will meet from 8-9 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 4, at the Swain Chamber Office in Bryson City.

• A free Introduction to Excel class will be offered at 5:45 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 8, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. Instructor is retired Western Carolina University professor Roger Bacon, who will be assisted by his wife Lisa Bacon and library staffer Laura Chapman. Register: 586.2016. Co-sponsored by Friends of the Jackson County Public Library.

• A free intermediate Excel class will be offered at 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 10, at the Jackson County

All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted.

Public Library in Sylva. Instructor is retired Western Carolina University professor Roger Bacon, who will be assisted by his wife Lisa Bacon and library staffer Laura Chapman. Register: 586.2016. Co-sponsored by Friends of the Jackson County Public Library.

• Western Carolina University will host a “Global Spotlight on the Syrian Refugee Crisis” presentation from 4-5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 10, in the multipurpose room of A.K. Hinds University Center in Cullowhee. Free; open to the public. Presenters include Todd Collins, David Dorondo, Cyndy Caravelis Hughes and Zachary Gochenour. Sponored by WCU’s Political Science and Public Affairs Department, History Department, International Studies Program and Free Enterprise Speaker Series. 227.3336 or michelsen@email.wcu.edu.

FUNDRAISERSAND B ENEFITS

• A community benefit for The Canary Coalition, featuring live local music and poetry, will be held from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 4, at The Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva. Free. To become a sponsor, send a donation to P.O. Box 653, Sylva, NC 28779 or donate on location at the event. Donations also accepted via paypal through www.canarycoalition.org.

• The Women of Waynesville (WOW) will host their first fundraising event of 2016, with the inaugural Bachelors Ball for Belles taking place at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at Laurel Ridge Country Club. Tickets cost $50 per person which includes an evening of dinner, music, dancing, cash bar, large ticket auction items and of course, the bachelors auction. Groups of six or more will receive free champagne. Tickets online at the WOW website or by calling Nikki White at 545.6879. For more information about the Women of Waynesville, click on www.womenofwaynesville.com.

• Valentine Cards are available through Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation in Waynesville. if purchased by Feb. 11. With a donation of at least $10, Sarge’s will send the person of your choice a Sarge’s Valentine’s Day Card. www.sargeanimals.org/valentines-day-cards, 246.9050.

• The second annual Love Heals Valentines Ball to benefit Clean Slate Coalition is schedule for 7-11 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Quality Inn in Sylva. Silent auction of local art, raffle, ballroom dance instruction, photo booth, heavy hors d’oeuvres and desserts. Sponsored by Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and the Evergreen Foundation. Tickets are $35 per person and can be purchased at the door. 586.3939 or cleanslatenc@gmail.com.

VOLUNTEERS

• Phone Assurance Volunteers are needed to make daily or weekly wellness check-in calls for the Haywood County Senior Resource Center. 356.2816.

VENDORS

• Vendor applications are being accepted for WinterFest Smoky Style, which is Feb. 26-28 at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. Weekend rental fee is $100. seaycharlesl@yahoo.com. Sponsored in part by Haywood County Tourism Development Authority.

• Greening Up the Mountains Festival is seeking artists, mountain crafters, environmental and food vendors to apply for booths in the upcoming 19th annual event, which is April 23 in Sylva. www.greeningupthemoun-

tains.com, 586.2719 or at Sylva’s Town Hall. Info: 631.4587.

• The town of Dillsboro will be hosting three arts and craft shows open to vendors from the surrounding region. The first event is Saturday, June 18 — The 2nd annual “Front Street Arts & Crafts Show.” Application due April. Vendors may apply for these shows by downloading an application from the town’s website, www.visitdillsboro.org or directly from www.visitdillsboro.org/specialevents.html. For more information, call Connie Hogan at 586.3511.

H EALTH MATTERS

• A free weekly grief support group is open to the public from 12:30-2 p.m. on Thursdays at SECU Hospice House in Franklin. Hosted by Four Seasons Compassion for Life Bereavement Team. 692.6178 or mlee@fourseasonscfl.org.

• Free childbirth and breastfeeding classes will be available starting Feb. 2 at Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva. The series “Understanding Birth” will be offered from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesdays, through Feb. 16, or at a Saturday session from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on March 12. “Understanding Breastfeeding” is offered from 6-9 p.m. on Tuesday, March 1. It’s the first-round of classes; future classes will be offered bimonthly on an ongoing basis. Register or get more info: 586.7907.

• Harris Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine will offer a free educational event on Total Shoulder Replacement at noon on Friday, Feb. 5, in the Harris Regional Hospital Boardroom in Sylva. Orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Douglas Gates will present the session; lunch will be served. Register: 631.8894.

• A nationwide program to help young people in a mental health crisis, Youth Mental Health First Aid, is an eight-hour training course that will be held from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 5, at Southwestern Child Development in Waynesville. For info or to register, contact Michelle Tyler at 225.2785, ext. 5125 or michelle.tyler@smokymountaincenter.com. www.smokymountaincenter.com.

• A workshop entitled “Fats: The Good, The Bad and the Healthy” on healthy eating will be presented from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 8, at the Waynesville Recreation Center. 550.1640. Taught by Sara Lewis, a certified health and wellness coach. $15 for members; $20 for nonmembers. Register: 550.1640.

• A monthly grief processing support group will meet from 4-5:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at the Homestead Hospice and Palliative Care in Clyde. 452.5039.

• A Men’s Night Out will take place at 6:30 p.m. on the topic of “Blood Pressure” on the third floor of the hospital.

on the first Wednesday of each month at The Meditation Center at 894 E. Main St. in Sylva. www.meditatewnc.org or 356.1105.

• A free, weekly grief support group will meet from 12:30-2 p.m. on Thursdays at the SECU Hospice House in Franklin. 692.6178 or mlee@fourseasonscfl.org.

R ECREATIONAND FITNESS

• Foxtrot, line and tango dance lessons will be offered in six-class series that will start the week of Feb. 8 at the Waynesville Recreation Center. Each set of classes costs $60 per person and can be paid at the first class. Foxtrot is at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 8, 15 and 22 and March 7, 14 and 21. Line dancing is at 7 p.m. on Feb. 9, 16 and 23 and March 8, 22 and 29. Tango (level 2) is at 7 p.m. on Feb. 11, 18, 25 and March 10, 17 and 24. 456.2030 or tplowman@waynesvillenc.gov.

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

■ Complete listings of local music scene

■ Regional festivals

■ Art gallery events and openings

■ Complete listings of recreational offerings at regional health and fitness centers

■ Civic and social club gatherings

• Registration is underway for a women’s volleyball league through the Jackson County Recreation Department. $175 per team. Deadline is Feb. 19; league starts in March. 293.3053.

• Cardio Lunch class will meet from noon-1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Waynesville Recreation Center. For ages 16 and above. Cost is regular admission fee to the rec center or free for members. 456.2030 or tplowman@waynesvillenc.gov.

• Flexible Fitness class will meet from 4:30-5:15 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays at the Waynesville Recreation Center. For ages 16 and above. Cost is regular admission fee to the rec center or free for members. 456.2030 or tplowman@waynesvillenc.gov.

• Pump It Up class will meet from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays at the Waynesville Recreation Center. For ages 16 and above. Cost is regular admission fee to the rec center or free for members. 456.2030 or tplowman@waynesvillenc.gov.

• A Ski Lake Junaluska youth event is scheduled for Jan. 29-31, Feb. 5-7, Feb. 12-15 and Feb. 19-21 with skiing at Cataloochee Ski Area and Wolf Ridge Ski Area. Worship, ski and fellowship. One, two and three-night packages available. For info, contact Jennifer Martin at jmartin@lakejunaluska.com or 454.6716. www.lakejunaluska.com/ski.

• The Canton Armory is open to the public for walking from 8-10 a.m. on Monday through Friday unless the facility is booked. 648.2363.

• Pickle ball is offered from 8 a.m.-noon on Mondays through Fridays at the Waynesville Recreation Center. 456.2030 or www.waynesvillnc.gov.

P OLITICAL

• A Macon County GOP Candidates Forum is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6, in the Robert C. Carpenter Community Building in Franklin. Opportunity for voters to meet and talk to candidates running for county and state offices.

• The Swain County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 11, at the Swain County., to receive comments from the public regarding proposed Tobacco-Free Ordinance for the Swain County Recreation Department. Open to the public.

• Golden Elephant Award Banquet is scheduled by the 11th District Republican Party to start at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 13, in the Virginia Boone Center at the Western North Carolina Ag Center Complex in Fletcher –near the Asheville Airport. Two tickets are $300 for patrons and $150 for sponsors. Ticket prices are $50 per person or $80 per couple. RSVP to goldenelephantbanquet@gmail.com.

AUTHORSAND B OOKS

• George Singleton will present his new collection of stories at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. 586.9499.

• Greensboro author Ross Howell Jr. will discuss his debut book Forsaken at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. 586.9499.

• The 2016 journal poetry and art contests open March 1 and close May 15. A separate contest is held for best cover art. Additional information at Main Street Rag Publishing Company’s website: www.mainstreetrag.com.

• “Stories of Mountain Folk” will be made available online by Catch the Spirit of Appalachia starting in January at www.storiesofmountainfolk.com. Archived programs are available at www.wcu.edu/hunterlibrary/collections/digital-collections.asp.

• Banned Book Club meets from 10 a.m.-noon on Saturdays at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville. For those who enjoy literature and intellectual conversation. 456.6000, blueridgebooks@ymail.com or www.blueridgebooksnc.com.

• Waynesville Book Club on Mondays at 5:30 p.m. at Waynesville Library Meet to discuss books, which are chosen by each member (taking turns) and provided by the library. New members are welcome. For more information, 356.2507.

• Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville now has a used book section and is accepting books in exchange for credit on other used books, and a free book is available from the giveaway cart for anyone who buys three or more.

S ENIORACTIVITIES

• Learn how to make your own “Indian Cheese Paneer” at 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, at the Haywood Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. Co-sponsored by the Canton Public Library. To register, call 828.356.2800.

• A Silver Sneakers Cardio Fit class will meet from 10-11 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the

Waynesville Recreation Center. For ages 60 and above. Cost is regular admission fee to the rec center or free for members. 456.2030 or tplowman@waynesvillenc.gov.

• A weekly manipulation card game group is forming through the Haywood County Senior Resource Center. If interested, contact Michelle Claytor at mclaytor@mountainprojects.org or 356.2813.

• Senior croquet for ages 55 and older is offered from 9-11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Vance Street Park in front of Waynesville Recreation Center. Free. For info, contact Donald Hummel at 456.2030 or dhummel@waynesvillenc.gov.

• A Hand & Foot card game is held at 10 a.m. on Mondays at Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 356.2813.

• Senior Sale Day is on the third Friday of every month at the Friends of the Library Used Bookstore. Patrons 60 and older get 20 percent off all purchases. Proceeds benefit the Sylva Library.

• Pinochie game is played at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays at Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 356.2813.

• Hearts is played at 12 p.m. on Wednesdays at Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 356.2813.

• Mah Jongg is played at 1 p.m. on Wednesdays at Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 356.2813.

K IDS & FAMILIES

• A program called “Imagine”, an art program for children 8-12 meets at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Jackson County Public Library. Program contains art, writing, and drama. 586.2016.

• Signups for the 2016 little league baseball and

softball seasons will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Feb. 6 and Feb. 13 at the Cullowhee Recreation Department. For boys and girls, ages 5-18. $55 signup fee; $5 discount for additional siblings. Bring child’s birth certificate. Jacksoncountynclittleleague@gmail.com or 227.0061.

• The second annual Harry Potter Book Night will be celebrated at 6 p.m. on Feb. 4 at Macon County Public Library in Franklin. Games, activities, magic tricks, light refreshments and a costume contest. 524.3600.

• Anime Club meets from 4-6 p.m. on Feb. 4 in the Macon County Public Library Program Room in Franklin. Valentine’s theme. Open to sixth grade through college age. 524.3600.

• “Once Upon A Wish,” an interactive musical fairytale, will be presented by Overlook Theater Company at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 6 and 7, the Smoky Mountan Center for the Performing Arts. Guests will participate in a live, interactive stage show with princesses and heros that will celebrate dreams and inspire wishes. Light refreshments will be served and guests are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite character. $15. Tickets at the door. 866.273.4615.

• Advanced registration is underway for the ninth annual Father-Daughter dance that will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 20, at First United Methodist Church in Sylva. Advance fee is $30 per couple plus $5 for each additional daughter; price at the door is $35 per couple plus $5 for each additional daughter. Forms and payments due by Feb. 12: FUMC, P.O. Box 296, Sylva, NC 28779, or pick forms up at the church office, or online at www.firstumcsylva.org.

• Storytimes are held at 10 and 10:40 a.m. every Thursday at Hudson Library in Highlands.

• The Appalachian Toymaker & Storyteller will be making wooden toys and telling tales on select dates and times at The Storytelling Center of the Southern Appalachian. www.psalmsofthesouth.com or 488.5705.

pared by acclaimed Executive Chef Doug Weaver, coowner of The Sweet Onion in Waynesville. Each course will be paired with a craft beer from the brewery, which will include two new releases. Limited tickets are $50 per person ($62.50 altogether including tax and tip). Live music. 246.9230 or www.tippingpointtavern.com.

• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will have an Open Mic night Feb. 3, and a jazz night with the Kittle/Collings Duo Feb. 4. All events begin at 8 p.m. www.innovation-brewing.com.

• Sagebrush Steakhouse (Canton) will host Southbound (rock) Feb. 9. All shows begin at 7 p.m. 646.3750.

• A “Wine Tasting & Food Pairing” with importer Marco Laico, president/founder of Vino Vino, will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, at The Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. Italian wines paired with Italian dishes. $24.99 per person. For reservations, call 828.452.6000.

• The Andrews Brewing Company will have a Corn Hole Tournament at 3 p.m. Feb. 6 ($10 entry fee, winner takes all) and a 3rd anniversary party at 3 p.m. Feb. 13. www.andrewsbrewing.com.

• A “Valentine Day Dance Party” for couples and singles alike will be held from 9 to 11 p.m. Feb. 14 at The Cut Cocktail Lounge in Sylva. 503.329.5816.

• The Rail Line Wine Experience “MacNeill Uncorked” will be held from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in the Bryson City Train Depot. Age 21 and over only. Tickets are $109 per person. www.gsmr.com or www.greatsmokies.com.

• A “Valentine Dinner” will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Feb. 14 at The Sneak-E-Squirrel Brewing in Sylva. 828.586.6440.

• “Brown Bag at the Depot” – an opportunity to gather with neighbors – is at noon every Friday at Sylva’s newest park at the corner of Spring and Mill Street along Railroad Ave. For info, contact Paige Dowling at townmanager@townofsylva.org.

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• Mountain Cooking Club will have a “Serving Up Love” class from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6, at Fines Creek Community Kitchen in Clyde. Chef Ricardo Fernandez, former owner/head chef of Lomo Grill, will teach the class featuring local, seasonal ingredients. Class fee is $65 plus $1 for membership dues (unless you attended January’s class). Reserve a space by sending a check to Suzanne Fernandez, 3553 Panther Creek Rd., Clyde, NC 28721. 246.7465.

• Reservations are being accepted for a Wine-DineValentine event experience that will be offered on Saturday, Feb. 13, at Grandview Lodge. $50 per person plus tax and gratuities, includes choice of appetizer, main plate and sweets with wine. Reservations available from 5-9 p.m. 246.2409.

• The “Songwriters in the Round” series will continue with a “Valentine’s Songwriter” evening featuring Nashville act Henry Hipkens at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Balsam Mountain Inn. Tickets are $49, which includes a buffet dinner. 456.9498 or www.balsammountaininn.net.

• The Cut Cocktail Lounge (Sylva) will host a Mardi Gras Masquerade on Feb. 9. 631.4795.

• “Beer Dinner Extravaganza” held from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, at Tipping Point Brewing in Waynesville. The five-course special menu will be pre-

• Graceann’s Amazing Breakfast is 8-10 a.m. every Tuesday in the Sapphire Room at the Sapphire Valley Community Center. $8.50 for adults; $5 for children. Includes coffee and orange juice. 743.7663.

• There will be a free tasting and cooking demonstration from 5-7 p.m. every Saturday at Country Traditions in Dillsboro. Try a wide variety of wines while a gourmet chef prepares delicious treats that are available for purchase. Free. www.dillsborowineandgourmet.net.

• “Wine on Wednesday” is set for 6-8 p.m. at the Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. Free wine tasting with dinner ($15 minimum) or $6 per person. 452.6000.

• A game day will occur from 2 to 9 p.m. every third Saturday of the month at Papou’s Wine Shop & Bar in Sylva. Bring dice, cards or board games. 586.6300.

• A wine tasting will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. every Saturday at Papou’s Wine Shop & Bar in Sylva. 586.6300.

• A free wine tasting will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Feb. 6 and 13 at Bosu’s Wine Shop in Waynesville. www.waynesvillewine.com or 828.452.0120.

• There will be a “Tasty Tuesday: Winter Seasonals” at 7 p.m. Feb. 9 and 16 at Mad Anthony’s Bottle Shop & Beer Garden.

ON STAGE & I N CONCERT

• Last Minute Productions will present speaker Teja Arboleda at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3, in the UC Theater at Western Carolina University. www.wcu.edu.

• Productive Paranoia will perform at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 4, as part of the First Thursday Old-

Time and Bluegrass Series in the ground-floor auditorium of the H.F. Robinson Administration Building at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. An 8 p.m. jam session will follow. Free; open to the public.

• The Galumpha Acrobatic Dance Trio performs as part of The Galaxy of Stars Series at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 5, at Western Carolina University’s John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center in Cullowhee. Tickets: $21 for adults; $16 for WCU faculty and staff; $7 for students and children. Tickets available by calling 227.2479 or online at bardoartscenter.edu.

• HART Studio’s production of “The Fox” by Allan Miller, based on a novella by D.H. Lawrence, has been extended for performances at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 5, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 7. 456.6322.

• National Theatre of London’s production of Shakespeare’s “Coriolanus” will be screened live via satellite at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Highlands Performing Arts Center in Highlands. Tickets: $22 adults; $19 members; free for students. Available at highlandspac.org, at the door or 526.9047.

• Renowned bluegrass/gospel group Balsam Range will continue their 6th annual “Winter Concert Series” with Grammy nominated guests Ricky Ickes & Trey Hensley at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Colonial Theatre in Canton. Balsam Range will be joined by Bryan Sutton on March 5 and The Studio Dream Team on April 2. 235.2760.

• Country star Jennifer Nettles will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at Harrah’s Cherokee. www.harrahscherokee.com.

• The Magnetic Theatre in Asheville is seeking one-act plays, actors and directors for “Brief Encounters 2016.” Deadline for submissions is Feb. 7. ldv@themagnetictheatre.org. Open-call auditions are in March. www.themagnetictheatre.org. Directors can write ss@themagnetictheatre.org.

• Western Carolina University (Cullowhee) will host a faculty recital (bassoon/tuba) at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9 in the Coulter Building. There will also be a Wind Ensemble Concert at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Bardo Arts Center. www.wcu.edu.

• Country singer/songwriter Jeremy Pinnell will perform at 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 12, with Carson McHone at No Name Sports Pub in Sylva. 586.2750.

• Tickets are on sale now for the Original Drifters Valentine’s Weekend Show, which is at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 13, at Eaglenest Entertainment in Maggie Valley. Tickets start at $25. Box office hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Monday through Friday. 926.5000 or www.maggievalleyeaglenest.com.

• Legendary Saturday Night Live actor and comedian Tracy Morgan will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday Feb. 13, at Harrah’s Cherokee. Tickets start at $19.50. www.harrahscherokee.com.

• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Little Anthony & The Imperials will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. Tickets start at $27. www.greatmountainmusic.com or 866.273.4615.

• Country music star Pam Tillis be a featured performer at a Galaxy of Stars Series performance at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14, in the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center at Western Carolina University. Tickets are $21 for adults, $16 for WCU faculty/staff, and $7 for students/children. For tickets, bardoartscenter.wcu.edu or 227.2479.

• A modern day take on a Shakespeare classic, “Macbeth is the New Black” will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17-20 in the Hoey Auditorium at Western Carolina University. Tickets are $16 for adults, $11 for senior citizens, faculty and staff, and $10 for students ($7 in advance). 227.2479 or bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.

• Tickets are on sale now for WCU radio re-creation group’s presentation of “Blackbeard’s Ghost and the

Queen Ann’s Revenge.” Tickets: $10 each. Eighth in a series of academic-based entertainment productions mounted in collaboration with three departments and two colleges at WCU. Show will be presented at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 17, in the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. All proceeds from the event go to student scholarship funds in the participating departments. 227.3851.

• The Canton Armory will host “Winter Pickin’ in the Armory” at 7 p.m. every first and third Friday of the month. The event includes mountain music, vintage country, clogging and dancing. www.cantonnc.com.

• Bogart’s Live Bluegrass/String Band is at 6:30 p.m. every Thursday at 303 S. Main Street in Waynesville. 452.1313.

• Papertown Country Music & Dance Parlor is from 7-

10 p.m. on Saturdays at 61-1/2 Main Street in Canton. $8. 736.8925.

• Music and Clogging is held from 8-10:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays at the Stomping Ground at 3116 Soco Road in Maggie Valley. 926.1288.

CLASSESAND PROGRAMS

• Registration is underway for a bladesmith symposium that’s scheduled for March 18-20 at the Haywood Community College campus in Clyde. Knifemaking demonstrations, hands-on blade forging, knife show, auction and more. Fee is $75 for the weekend. 400.7815.

• Swain County Genealogical & Historical Society meets at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 4, at 200 Main Street in Bryson City. Refreshments served. Paige

Tester will present “WNC People & Families in the Civil War.”

• Auditions for Mountain Community Chorus, which represents North Georgia, Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee, are scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 8, at Clegg Recital Hall at Young Harris College (Ga.). Anyone who loves to sing is welcome to try out. www.mountaincommunitychorus.org. 706.897.4267.

• Macon County Art Association’s monthly meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Feb. 8 at Uptown Gallery in Franklin. Nick DePaolo will give a demonstration about how to paint like watercolor using acrylics. 369.0356 or pm14034@yahoo.com.

• Teen Appalachian Dance Class 101 will be offered beginning Feb. 9 at Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville. Classes are for teens in seventh through

12th grades and will be held from 6-7 p.m. on Feb. 9, 16, 23 and March 1. $40 for the four classes. Kim Ross of J. Creek Cloggers is instructor. 452.2997 or info@folkmoot.org.

• A presentation about Scottish dress from the medieval period to the 18th century will be offered at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 10, at Southwestern Community College’s Macon Campus in Franklin. Featured speaker is Danny Williamson of the Franklin Scottish Tartan’s Museum. 306.7017.

• Beginning pottery classes will be taught from 6-8 p.m. starting Feb. 10 at Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville. Classes also meet Feb. 17, 24 and March 2, 9 and 16. $100 class fee includes material. Artist and entrepreneur Cory Plott of Plottware will serve as instructor. Register: 452.2997 or info@folkmoot.org.

• The Sew Easy Girls meet from noon-3 p.m. on the first Monday of every month at the Jackson County Cooperative Extension Office’s conference room. Learn how to sew. 586.4009.

• The “MAKE!: Paint Edition” will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, in the Fine Arts Museum at Western Carolina University. The event will give participants the opportunity to paint their own pieces of art with assistance from members of the WCU art department. Refreshments and live music will also be provided. $15 per person, $25 for two.

• A Community Art Group meets at 10 a.m. every Wednesday at Hudson Library in Highlands. 526.3031.

• A writer’s group meets at 1 p.m. every Thursday at Hudson Library in Highlands. 526.3031.

• Free one-on-one technology help is offered every Tuesday and Thursday morning at Hudson Library in Highlands. Call 526.3031 to make an appointment.

• Tickets are on sale for “Art and Craft,” the Southern Circuit’s fourth feature, which will be shown at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 9, in the Western Carolina University Center theater in Cullowhee. The documentary details how one of the most prolific art forgers in U.S. history was finally exposed. www.artandcraftfilm. Tickets available at www.bardoartscenter.wcu.edu or 227.2479.

ARTSHOWINGSAND GALLERIES

• An “Artist Talk” by ceramicist Garth Johnson will be held at 6 p.m. Feb. 8 in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University. The 50-minute multimedia lecture will examine a new generation of ceramic artists.

• An exhibition of photography and a sculpture installation are on display simultaneously with a clothing drive through March 18 at the Fine Art Museum at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. All three are part of a collaboration between the museum and WCU’s Office of Service Learning with local community groups Mountain Projects and Sylva Linings Thrift Store.

Sculptures by Jarod Charzewski; photography by Pedro Lobo. Museum is open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on weekdays with extended hours to 7 p.m. on Thursdays. Admission and parking are free. Fineartmuseum.wcu.edu or 227.3591.

The exhibit runs through May 20 at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. The display is in the Mountain Heritage Center’s second-floor gallery in Hunter Library.

The gallery is open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday. 227.7129.

• Haywood County Arts Council will host artists from the Haywood Art Studio Tour at the Gallery & Gifts Space in Waynesville. www.HaywoodArts.org.

• The Mountain Heritage Center is hosting the exhibit “Collecting for the Community,” an exploration of the diversity and variety to be found in Western North Carolina. Visiting hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, with extended hours until 7 p.m. on Thursdays.

FILM & S CREEN

• A new movie with Bill Nighy and Imelda Staunton will be shown at 2 and 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 3, in the Macon County Public Library Meeting Room in Franklin. U.K. gay activists work to help miners during their 1984 strike. R; 1:09. 524.3600.

• A classic movie with James Cagney and Priscilla Lane will be shown at 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 5, in the Macon County Public Library Meeting Room in Franklin.

Three World War I veterans attempt to make a living in prohibitionist America. 1:46. 524.3600.

• The films “Bridge of Spies” (Feb. 5-6) and “Spectre007” (Feb. 11-13) at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva. Screenings are 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. with a special 2 p.m. matinee on Saturdays. Free. www.madbatterfoodandfilm.com.

• Oscar-nominated animated shorts will be shown at 7 p.m. Feb. 3-5, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Feb. 6 and 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Feb. 7 at The Strand at 38 Main in Waynesville. Oscar-nominated live action shorts will be shown at 7 p.m. Feb. 9-12, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Feb. 13 and 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Feb. 14.

• “Art and Craft,” the fourth feature in the annual Southern Circuit film series, will be shown at 7 p.m. on

Tuesday, Feb. 9, in the A.K. Hinds University Center theater at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. The documentary details how one of the most prolific art forgers in U.S. history, Mark Landis, was finally exposed. http://ace.wcu.edu, faortizpeneda@email.wcu.edu or 227.2612.

• Adult movie time, 6:30 p.m. Mondays at Jackson County Public Library. Call for title of movie. 586.2016.

Outdoors

• A paddle board race to benefit the Polar Plunge will be held by Haywood Water Ways starting at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6, at Lake Junaluska. $20 per participant; registration until 10:30 a.m. Cash only; paddle boards provided. Register in advance: 456.2030 or tpetrea@waynesvillenc.gov.

• A course aimed at preparing anyone hoping to thruhike the Appalachian Trail will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 7, at Black Dome Mountain Sports in Asheville. Free. 357.6542 or cdecamara@appalachiantrail.org.

• Trout Unlimited Cataloochee’s upcoming meeting will feature longtime guide Steve Claxton of Smoky Mountain Adventures on Feb. 9 at Rendezvous Restaurant in Maggie Valley. Dinner is from 5:30-6 p.m.; Claxton’s presentation starts at 6:30 p.m. Public welcome.

• A special presentation of “Calendars and Leap Year” will be offered starting at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 12, at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute in Rosman. Campus tour, trip to the exhibit gallery and – weatherpermitting – a night-sky observation. Reservations required by 3 p.m. on event date. $20 per adult; $15 for seniors/military. Children 10 and under are admitted free. www.pari.edu or 862.5554. Info: schappell@pari.edu.

• Franklin Bird Club will have a trip to Lake Junaluska to look for wintering water birds and other species on Feb. 13. Led by John and Cathy Sill. Meet at 8 a.m. at Bi-Lo parking lot to carpool. 524.5234.

• Franklin Bird Club will have a meeting entitled “Nightwatchers: Looking at Owls in Western North Carolina” at 7 p.m. on Feb. 15 at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. Presented by John Sill. 524.5234.

• “Wild Survival” exhibit featuring the return of North America’s wolves and peregrine falcons will be on display through May 8 at the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville. Open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. inside the Baker Exhibit Center. Free; non-member guests are required to pay $12 parking fee. www.ncarboretum.org.

• Guided tours of WATR Discovery Trails at Monteith Farmstead Park in Dillsboro can be scheduled by calling 488.8418. For youth or adult/civic groups.

FARMAND GARDEN

• Applications are being accepted through Feb. 9 for participation in the Jackson-Swain Master Gardener program. Classes are held every Wednesday afternoon for 10-11 weeks, tentatively starting Feb. 17. 488.3848, 586.4009 or www.ncstategardening.org/extension_master_gardener.

• Registration is underway for the 13th annual Business of Farming Conference, presented by Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project. The event is from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Feb. 20 at UNC Asheville. $70 per person before Feb. 1; $90 after. asapconnections.org or 236.1282.

• The Macon County Poultry Club of Franklin meets at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at the Cooperative Extension Office on Thomas Heights Rd,. Open to the public. 369.3916.

COMPETITIVE E DGE

The 10th annual Outhouse Race will be held at noon Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Sapphire Valley Ski Area. The race raises money for local charities and nonprofits. 743.6159.

• Friends of the Lake 5K Road Race & Walk will be held Saturday, March 26. www.lakejunaluska.com.

H IKING CLUBS

• Carolina Mountain Club will have an eight-mile hike with a 1,750-foot elevation gain on Feb. 7. For more information, contact leader Stuart English at 883.2447, 684.4870 or stuengo@comporium.net.

• Carolina Mountain Club will hold a 7.5-mile hike with a 1,600-foot ascent on Feb. 10. For more information, contact leaders Ken and Carol Deal at 274.7070 or cnkdeal@charter.net.

• Carolina Mountain Club will have 7.8-mile hike with a 1,250-foot elevation gain on Feb. 13 from Bent Creek to Biltmore Lake. For info, contact leader Paul Benson at 273.2098 or pdbenson@charter.net.

• Friends of the Smokies hikes are offered on the second Tuesday of each month. www.friendsofthesmokies.org/hikes.html.

• Nantahala Hiking Club based in Macon County holds weekly Saturday hikes in the Nantahala National Forest and beyond. www.nantahalahikingclub.org

MarketPlace information:

The Smoky Mountain News Marketplace has a distribution of 16,000 every week to over 500 locations across in Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties along with the Qualla Boundary and west Buncombe County. For a link to our MarketPlace Web site, which also contains a link to all of our MarketPlace display advertisers’ Web sites, visit www.smokymountainnews.com.

Rates:

■ Free — Lost or found pet ads.

■ $5 — Residential yard sale ads,

■ $5 — Non-business items that sell for less than $150.

■ $15 — Classified ads that are 50 words or less; each additional line is $2. If your ad is 10 words or less, it will be displayed with a larger type.

■ $3 — Border around ad and $5 — Picture with ad or colored background.

■ $50 — Non-business items, 25 words or less. 3 month or till sold.

■ $300 — Statewide classifieds run in 117 participating newspapers with 1.6 million circulation. Up to 25 words.

■ All classified ads must be pre-paid.

Classified Advertising:

Scott Collier, phone 828.452.4251; fax 828.452.3585 classads@smokymountainnews.com

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Your classified ad could be reaching over 1.6 Million Homes across North Carolina! Place your ad with The Smoky Mountain News on the NC Statewide Classified Ad Network- 118 NC newspapers for a low cost of $330 for 25-word ad to appear in each paper! Additional words are $10 each. The whole state at your fingertips! It's a smart advertising buy! Call Scott Collier at 828.452.4251 or for more information visit the N.C. Press Association's website at www.ncpress.com

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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 the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18 This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All dwellings advertised on an equal opportunity basis.

HOMES FOR SALE

A Full Service Realtor, Locally Owned and Operated mcgovernpropertymgt@gmail.com McGovern Property Management 828.283.2112.

OLD BARN, HOUSE, OR Other Building to Salvage, or Tear Down, for Lumber/Building Materials; Terms Negotiable. Licensed & Insured. Call or Text John 828.380.1232 or email: john@ashevillepropertyservices. com YOUR AD COULD REACH 1.6 MILLION HOMES ACROSS NC! Your classified ad could be reaching over 1.6 Million Homes across North Carolina! Place your ad with The Smoky Mountain News on the NC Statewide Classified Ad Network- 118 NC newspapers for a low cost of $330 for 25-word ad to appear in each paper! Additional words are $10 each. The whole state at your fingertips! It's a smart advertising buy! Call Scott Collier at 828.452.4251 or for more information visit the N.C. Press Association's website at www.ncpress.com

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Haywood County Real Estate Agents

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Lifestyle Properties — vistasofwestfield.com

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Great Smokys Realty

• Margie MacDonald - margie@4smokys.com

Beverly Hanks & Associates beverly-hanks.com

• Michelle McElroy - MichelleMcElroy@beverly-hanks.com

• Marilynn Obrig - MarilynnObrig@beverly-hanks.com

• Mike Stamey - MikeStamey@beverly-hanks.com

• Ellen Sither - EllenSither@beverly-hanks.com

• Brooke Parrott - BrookeParrott@beverly-hanks.com

• Randy Flanigan - RandyFlanigan@beverly-hanks.com

• Pamela Williams - PamelaWilliams@beverly-hanks.com

• Ann Eavenson - AnnEavenson@beverly-hanks.com

Emerson Group

• George Escaravage — gke333@gmail.com

ERA Sunburst Realty — sunburstrealty.com

• Amy Spivey — sunburstrealty.com

Haywood Properties — haywoodproperties.com

• Steve Cox — info@haywoodproperties.com

Keller Williams Realty kellerwilliamswaynesville.com

• Sam Hopkins — samhopkins.kwrealty.com

Lakeshore Realty

• Phyllis Robinson - lakeshore@lakejunaluska.com

Mountain Home Properties mountaindream.com

• Sammie Powell — smokiesproperty.com

McGovern Real Estate & Property Management

• Bruce McGovern — shamrock13.com

Realty World Heritage Realty realtyworldheritage.com

• Carolyn Lauter realtyworldheritage.com/realestate/viewagent/7766

• Martha Sawyer realtyworldheritage.com/realestate/viewagent/7769

RE/MAX — Mountain Realty remax-waynesvillenc.com | remax-maggievalleync.com

• Brian K. Noland — brianknoland.com

• Mieko Thomson — ncsmokies.com

• The Morris Team — maggievalleyproperty.com

• The Real Team — the-real-team.com

• Ron Breese — ronbreese.com

• Dan Womack — womackdan@aol.com

• Catherine Proben — cp@catherineproben.com

The Seller’s Agency — listwithphil.com

• Phil Ferguson — philferguson@bellsouth.net

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Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.

Answers on Page 42

The naturalist’s corner

BY DON H ENDERSHOT

Don’t fall for that 5-planet crap

It’s been awhile since The Naturalist’s Corner’s chief investigative journalist, Kuteeng Satire, has been called upon to help us clarify any natural history phenomenon that might be accessible to most of our fellow travelers here on Spaceship Earth.

But this notion that five — count ‘em 5, planets could all be lining up in our sky at the same time, not only lining up but visible to the naked eye —seemed to cry out for further sleuthing.

In case no one has heard, this is an election year here in the good ole US of A and who could be better qualified to inform us about this breaking story than those who want us to elect them to lead our nation? So we sent Kuteeng Satire to interview three of the leading Republican Primary candidates to see if they thought this story had any merit and what it might mean.

K.S. – Mr. Trump, have you heard that many scientists insist that five planets — Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Mars and Jupiter — will be visible from Earth in the pre-dawn sky until sometime in late February?

D.T. – Hey Kut, how ya doing? What kinda name is that, Kuteeng? Just wondering, ya know – doesn’t sound too American. Now Donald, that’s an American name, right? That’s a great name, right? We need names like Donald to make America great again. This idea that planets are just somehow gonna line themselves up without anybody directing the show — like there’s some kinda force out there that I can’t control — well, lemme tell ya that’s just some BS started by those commie Chinese in order to make us non-competitive when it comes to space and other complicated stuff like that. Stuff that only someone as smart as me could see through and build a big wall around. Nope, no way, ain’t no planets gonna line up without The Donald says so.

K.S. – Mr. Cruz, do you think there is any validity to the claim made by a majority of American scientist that five planets will all be viewable by the naked eye for the next few weeks?

T.C. – I think that you have touched on an alarming perception in modern-day America; the idea that science and/or scientists have any real notion of how our universe works is, well, blasphemy. The only person that knows when and if planets will

line up is God. In fact, if planets do line up, it will be because God lined them up – kinda like the way He’s lining voters up behind me as we speak. But I have it on authority, and trust me, I have a personal pipeline, that there is no alignment of planets scheduled. In fact, I have a bill before Congress asking that satellites be deployed above earth so we

B.C. – Are you the devil?

K.S. – What?

B.C. – You’re the adversary aren’t you? You’re the one who encouraged Darwin to come up with all that evolution mumbojumbo aren’t you?

K.S. – Uh, I’m a reporter

Five planest line up in the predawn sky for the first time since 2005. creative commons photo

can monitor this planet 24/7 and show that things like moon landings, global warming and planetary alignment are just scare tactics initiated by people who refuse to admit that I am the only one clearly ordained by God to lead this country in the direction of His manly directives.

K.S. – Dr. Carson, uh, Dr. Carson, over here.

B.C. – Sure you are. Just so you know, I have five blackbelts, four of which I earned at West Point before I had to go undercover and pretend to be a brain surgeon. Now back off before you wind up being buried in a pyramid full of grain.

Well, K.S. called in and said he would be taking a little R&R but if you want to see what all the hubbub is about take a look at the predawn sky for the next few weeks where you can watch the celestial dance. For more info visit http://earthsky.org/sciencewire/when-will-all-five-visible-planetsappear-simultaneously.