The Lake Logan Conference Center, a private Episcopal retreat center located off N.C. 215 in Haywood County, is giving the public more access to its outdoor recreational opportunities by offering day and annual passes for swimming, fishing and boating. (Page 34) Holly Kays photo
News
Welch seeks second term as 30th Judicial DA ........................................................3 Candidates sign up to run for office ..............................................................................4 Haywood grants incentives to Canton paper mill ....................................................5 Dr. Garrett leaves a legacy of learning ..........................................................................6 Legislators respond to mental health shortfalls ..........................................................8 Cherokee leaders to pursue fair elections ................................................................10 Miller admonished before Haywood commissioners ............................................13
SCC lead cleanup cost reaches $500,000 ............................................................14
Swain settlement money part of Trump’s budget ..................................................15 TWSA ponders fee shift in Jackson ............................................................................16 Community News ..............................................................................................................19
Opinion NRA controls our politicians with blood money ......................................................20
A&E
Sip, savor, jam at Highlands’ ‘Root Bound’ ..............................................................24
Back Then
Colorful reminders of long-ago homesteads..............................................................47
C ONTRIBUTING: Jeff Minick (writing), Chris Cox (writing), George Ellison (writing), Gary Carden (writing), Don Hendershot (writing), Susanna Barbee (writing).
SYLVA | 629 West Main Street, Sylva, NC 28779 P: 828.631.4829 | F: 828.631.0789 I NFO &
S UBSCRIPTIONS
Welch seeks second term as 30th Judicial DA
BY J ESSI STONE
Ashley Welch, the first female District Attorney for the 30th Judicial District, is seeking a second term — and is so far unopposed for the seat.
It’s been a challenging first term for Welch, but she’s proud of the team of prosecutors she’s built and the work they’ve all done for the seven-county district. Despite the long hours to meet the demands of such a spread-out and busy district, Welch said she couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
“We’ve gotten an enormous amount done but there’s still a lot to do. There are a lot of cases that originated during my first term and I want to see them through,” she said. “I believe in this job — it’s who I am and I can’t imagine not running again.”
After serving as an assistant district attorney in the 30th Judicial since 2005 under former DA Mike Bonfoey, Welch decided to run for DA on the Republican ticket when Bonfoey announced his retirement in 2013.
She won the 2014 election with more than 60 percent of the vote against Democratic opponent and fellow ADA Jim Moore. She ran on a commitment to prosecute violent offenders and those who prey on children — a goal she says her team has made a top priority.
“We’ve been trying those cases aggressively when we have good proof,” Welch said. “We want cases tried as much as possible and we’ve had more cases tried than ever before. You only plea out if doing so is what’s right, and we’re always going to do what’s right.”
The office experienced some turnover and redistribution of staff throughout the district when Welch took the helm at the beginning of 2015, which is a fairly common occurrence with a change in administration. Welch said meeting the high volume demand of the district’s court dockets with a bare bones staff was one of the biggest challenges she had in her first term.
She set out to hire two more experienced prosecutors to join the team, immediately recruiting Christopher Hess from Buncombe County and Eric Bellas from Burke County with 14 years and 16 years of experience, respectively. Hess has since moved on to take a full-time position with the U.S Attorney’s Office, but Bellas is serving as the chief ADA for the five most western counties while Jeff Jones serves as the chief ADA for Jackson and Haywood counties.
She also succeeded in lobbying the General Assembly for funding for two more full-time positions in the district last year — Stephanie Lepre was hired in June and Patrick Collins was hired in October to both serve as full-time ADAs for Haywood.
Welch said she plans to ask for two more new positions in 2018.
“I needed six more based on a recent work study. I asked for six more and I got two, which I am incredibly grateful for, and I think I’m going to get two more,” she said.
“I need more trial attorneys — one over
in Jackson and Haywood and one out here more west.”
Haywood County is the largest county in the district and has the busiest docket, which means constituents have come to expect the 30th Judicial DA to be based in Haywood. However, Welch made her home office at the Macon County Courthouse since she lives in Franklin.
“People say traditionally the elected DA has always been in Haywood, but that is not accurate — DAs tend to have a main office where they reside. When Marcus Buchanan was DA, his office was in Jackson because that’s where he lived. Macon County is my home,” Welch said.
Logistically, Welch said her office in Franklin is centrally located within the district — she’s 45 minutes away from Waynesville and can also get to Murphy within an hour. If her office was in Waynesville, it would take her two hours to get to the other end of the district.
Welch said the change in her office location does not hinder her ability to do the job efficiently. Maybe 30 years ago, a DA wasn’t accessible after they left the office for the day, but with today’s technology, Welch said she’s available 24 hours a day.
“I haven’t found it to be a hindrance. I can only be in one place at one time. I also have five ADAs in Haywood, which is more than my predecessor had,” she said. “Sometimes I’m in Haywood every day for weeks and sometimes I’m only there once a week depending on when I’m needed.”
There are a lot of cases that originated during my first term and I want to see them through. I believe in this job — it’s who I am and I can’t imagine not running again.”
— Ashley Welch, District Attorney
As someone who feels comfortable in the courtroom, Welch also made a campaign promise to not be the average administrative DA. She said she would continue to personally prosecute the most important cases in the district.
Since being elected, Welch said she’s prosecuted a number of high-profile cases, including getting a conviction of Louis Gomez, an employee of The Brian Center in Waynesville who was found guilty of sexually assaulting patients in his care.
She also did a lot of prep work on the case against Robert Branning, the escaped convict who led law enforcement on a highspeed chase around Haywood County before being shot and apprehended in downtown Waynesville. Unexpectedly, Branning pled guilty at the last minute and it didn’t go to trial.
Welch also spent a lot of time on the case against Tony Alan Coleman, a 52-year-old Waynesville man who ended up pleading guilty to felony child abuse and the murder of his 17-month-old grandson Kyler Presnell. He was sentenced to a maximum term of 25 years in prison and will serve at least 20 years before he is eligible for release.
When Welch took office, she said there were 14 first-degree murders pending in Swain County, which means a lot of resources had to be shuffled farther west. Several of those cases are still working their way through the court system but every one that’s been tried so far has resulted in a conviction.
“I’ve had my hands in every homicide in terms of making sure we’re handling it correctly,” she said. “I am in court more than a lot of DAs. When you’re dealing with seven counties it’s difficult to do. I’m on the phone and on the computer until 10 p.m. at night because of stuff that piles up during the day while I’m in court.”
If elected to a second term, Welch said she would continue to serve the district with the same top priorities in mind — aggressively going after violent criminals and child offenders. Welch said she would also continue to combat the opioid epidemic inside and outside the courtroom. The DA’s goal is to prosecute drug dealers while trying to get drug users the treatment they need instead
of contributing to overcrowding in the jails.
“We’re starting a pilot program in Haywood to help get people addicted to opioids the help they desperately need,” she said.
The LEAD drug diversion program will be collaboration between the DA’s Office, the Haywood Sheriff’s Office and other local law enforcement to redirect people from jail to treatment. Welch said the details of how the program will work are still being ironed out, but she is hopeful it will make a vast improvement in the local justice system.
“You’re going to prison if you’re dealing or selling drugs, but with everyday addicts what you see is people convicted and they might get probation. If they break probation it can be revoked and they’ll get a six-month jail sentence, but a drug addiction is not fixed in six months,” Welch said about the difficulties of trying to prosecute drug charges. “We can’t arrest our way out of this problem.”
Welch grew up in Henderson County and graduated from East Henderson High School. She attended the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and received her law degree from William and Mary School of Law in 2003.
Welch drove to Raleigh last Friday to officially file the paperwork required to run for a second term. At this point, Welch doesn’t have a challenger, but candidates have until Feb. 28 to sign up to run.
Candidates sign up to run for office
STAFF R EPORTS
With the sign-up period now underway, candidate are throwing their name in the hat to run for various local and state offices.
The candidate sign-up period started Monday, Feb. 12, and ends Wednesday, Feb. 28. Until it’s over, there will be plenty of uncertainty and speculation regarding who might run in the May 8 Primary Election.
JACKSON COUNTY
There hasn’t been much action in the Jackson County Board of Elections office over the past week, with only one new candidate joining the six already signed up to run for nine open offices.
Incumbent school board member Margaret McRae has signed up for re-election to her seat, joining incumbent chairman Ken Henke on the ballot. Nobody has yet signed up to run for the seat now held by Ali Laird-Large.
Of the remaining six open offices, all are partisan elections and all the candidates signed up thus far are Democrats.
The 2018 elections will determine three of five seats on the Jackson County Board of Commissioners, as well as the sheriff, register of deeds, clerk of superior court and a handful of regional offices.
Only one of three incumbent commissioners — Charles Elder — has said he plans to sign up for election, but incumbent Chairman Brian McMahan said he intends to seek re-election. Commissioner Boyce Deitz said he is still deciding. However, one challenger has thrown her hat in the ring — Democrat Gayle Woody will run for the seat
currently held by Elders, a Republican.
Sheriff Chip Hall, a Democrat, will seek re-election, as will Joe Hamilton, a Democrat and incumbent register of deeds.
While Elizabeth Melton has filed for reelection as the Jackson County Clerk of Superior Court, she will see a Primary Election challenge from her fellow Democrat Kim Coggins Poteet.
HAYWOOD COUNTY
In Haywood County, five candidates have signed up to run for three open seats on the board of commissioners. Incumbents Mike Sorrells and Kirk Kirkpatrick, both Waynesville Democrats, are running to reclaim their seats and will be challenged by Waynesville Democrats Danny Davis and Steven Pless, and Canton Republican Thomas Long. Incumbent Bill Upton will not seek re-election.
Hunter Plemmons, who was recently appointed to the position of Clerk of Superior Court to replace June Ray, is the only one signed up so far to run for the seat.
Haywood County Register of Deeds Sherri Rogers, D-Waynesville, will be running for another term, but doesn’t have a challenger yet.
Haywood County Sheriff Greg Christopher, D-Clyde, has signed up to run for a second term.
Haywood County Tax Collector Mike Matthews hasn’t officially filed the paperwork, but indicated he did plan to run for another term. If he does sign up to run, he will face challengers Greg West, DWaynesville, and Andrew “Tubby” Ferguson, R-Waynesville.
State races
U.S. House of Representatives District 11
• Phillip Price, D-Nebo
• Scott Donaldson, D-Hendersonville
• (i) Mark Meadows, R-Asheville
NC House of Representatives District 118
• (i) Michele Presnell, R-Burnsville
• Rhonda Schandevel,D-Canton
NC House of Representatives District 119
• Joe Sam Queen, D-Waynesville
• Mike Clampitt, R-Bryson City
NC House of Representatives District 120
• Kevin Corbin, R-Franklin
MACON COUNTY
All three county commissioner incumbents in Macon — Robbie Beale, D-Franklin, Gary Shields, R-Franklin, and Jim Tate, RHighlands, — have all signed up to run for another four-year term on the board. As of Tuesday at press time, no challengers had signed up to run against them.
Sheriff Robert Holland, R-Franklin, has signed up to run and will be challenged by Bryan Carpenter. Carpenter petitioned to run as an unaffiliated candidate, which means he must obtain signatures from 4 percent — or 1,018 registered voters in Macon — to be
able to run against the sitting sheriff. Incumbents for Register of Deeds Todd Raby and Clerk of Court Vic Perry don’t yet have any challengers.
Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, also signed up to run for a fourth term and is so far unopposed.
SWAIN COUNTY
Democratic incumbent commissioners Danny Burns and Ben Bushyhead are up for re-election but neither had filed to run again as of Feb. 20.
Democrat Commissioner Roger Parsons, who was appointed last year to fill the vacancy left after the passing of Commissioner David Monteith, will officially run to fill the remainder of Monteith’s four-year term.
Republican Kevin Seagle, who works in the Swain County building inspections department, and Democrat Holly Bowick have also signed up to run for commissioner. Commission Chairman Phil Carson has signed up to run for another term as chairman and didn’t have any challengers as of Feb. 20.
Swain’s incumbent Republican Sheriff Curtis Cochran will have competition this year. Democrat Rocky Sampson has signed up to run against him.
Two Democrats — Misti Watson Jones and Deborah Smith — are running for clerk of court and Democrat Diana Williamson Kirkland is running for register of deeds.
Evergreen gets economic incentives from Haywood
BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER
Although recent economic development efforts by Haywood County, including a highly anticipated partnership with the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, focus on drawing new business to the area, Haywood County Commissioner and Economic Development Council Board Member Mike Sorrells says devoting effort to retention and expansion of existing businesses is just as important.
“We’ve made a huge effort not only in trying to create and bring in new jobs, but also in maintaining our existing jobs — that’s one of the legs that we work on, and this is a huge undertaking we’ve been working on for years.”
Sorrells’ comments came after Haywood commissioners voted unanimously Feb. 19 to approve economic grant incentives for Evergreen Packaging, one of the county’s largest employers.
In 2014, Evergreen entered into an agreement with the North Carolina Department of Commerce whereby Evergreen would invest $50 million into pollution control at its Canton facility.
Evergreen’s initial investment of more than $17 million for boiler upgrades has resulted in additional personal property taxes for Evergreen of about $102,000, but the county’s incentives will grant back half of that, or about $51,000 from now until the end of 2024.
According to county documents, additional investments by Evergreen that are only now becoming taxable will also be eligible for the same grants, once the public hearing process on those investments is complete.
Quality Trailers, Quality Prices
In North Carolina, public bodies can’t make outright payments to businesses, as is possible in some other states. Instead, local governments can rebate a portion of taxes paid by the business — meaning that even under the most generous incentives packages, governments always see a revenue increase as a result of the investment.
In 2014, Evergreen entered into an agreement with the North Carolina Department of Commerce whereby Evergreen would invest $50 million into pollution control at its Canton facility.
According to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, total wages paid in the manufacturing sector in Haywood County for the third quarter of 2017 surged to $33.06 million, a huge jump from the previous quarter’s $29.89 million and the fourth-highest total since January 2014.
Over those 15 quarters, total wages ranged from a low of just under $28 million to a high of $33.69 million, while the historical average over that same duration is $30.75 million.
“This solidifies the jobs that Haywood County depends on, and Evergreen is one of the highest paying jobs that we have in this county,” Sorrells said. “It helps keep their presence in this county strong.”
SUPERMARKET MYTHS & MISUNDERSTANDINGS
MYTH:The numerical code on the
FACT: The sticker you see on produce often has a PLU code. This stands for Price Look Up and it is a 4 or 5 digit code that enables the retailer to link a produce item with a price to make it easier for the cashier at check out. PLU codes are a voluntary system that growers can use, this means that you may not see a PLU code on all items. The only acceptable prefix to the 4 digit code is a "9" which identifies organically grown items since organic items are often more expensive. There is no prefix to identify genetically engineered items (GMO).
Pollution-reducing investments made by Evergreen Packaging in Canton will earn them a small tax break. File photo
Making the Grade Garrett leaves a legacy of learning
BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER
As someone who’s spent 13 years as a school superintendent and four decades as a teacher and administrator fostering the personal achievement and enrichment of others — all in Haywood County — it’s finally time for Dr. Anne Garrett to focus on her own goals and dreams.
“I think 40 years is a long time to do this, and it was just a good time for me. I think our school system is in really great shape. We’ve got good academics and a sound budget right now, we’re not having to close any schools or do anything negative,” Garrett said. “I think it’s just a good time to make that transition.”
It’s rare in this day and age to see someone remain with the same employer for so long, and when Garrett finally does retire on March 1, she’ll take all that knowledge and experience with her.
But it’s what she’ll leave behind — a highperforming district on solid ground academically and financially — that will cement her legacy as a towering figure in many Western North Carolina communities.
Growing up in Maggie Valley, Garrett always wanted to be an educator, something she attributed to the teachers she’d had as a
child. She graduated from Western Carolina University with a bachelor’s degree in middle grades education and then went right to work at Bethel Junior High in 1978 teaching prealgebra, language arts and reading. She was promoted to lead teacher and then jumped over to North Canton Elementary School, where she served as assistant principal briefly before becoming principal at the now-shuttered Morningstar Elementary School.
“I had 150 students a day. I had five classes. You could go all the way up to 30 students, and we went to the max,” Garrett said. “But back then, you had like 10,000 students in your school system instead of the 7,000 we do now.”
A lot has changed since then, she said, but those changes have been mostly for the better.
“The biggest change has been accountability, not only for students but for administrators too. Even when I first started teaching we were still accountable, we would do the California Achievement Test, but yet you looked at those scores and you never truly analyzed them to see how you could help the child the next year, or how the next teacher could help that child. We didn’t disaggregate the way that we do today.”
Eight years after she was first hired, Garrett began serving in the central office of
weren’t quite as rosy as they were today; HCS was a middling operation, ranked 40th in the state — a far cry from the back-to-back top 10 percent finishes HCS has notched the past two years.
“I can honestly say that we are really meeting the needs of each child, because we honestly analyze those test scores,” Garrett said, reflecting on the differences in accountability students face today. “We do benchmark testing, we do so many different types of assessments today that we never did in the past.”
Garrett’s long career has given her hardearned insight into the processes of the past, and the prognosis for the future.
“I see even more accountability coming up,” she said. “With parents given a choice, we have to be very, very competitive with private schools and Christian academies. We did not have those choices back when I started teaching, so in the future I think it’s going to go entirely in that direction.”
Last November, Garrett’s retirement announcement came as a surprise to many. Since then, she’s been feted in various quarters of the community she’s called home while her remaining days and hours as the leader of HCS ticked down.
“I’ve just been fortunate to have been part of Haywood County,” she said. “I’ve been fortunate to live here, and work here, and I’m just so appreciative of our outstanding community support, our parents, our students, our teachers — everyone has just been very involved in the education of their child.”
Garrett was recognized by HCS Board Chairman Chuck Francis at her final regular board meeting Feb. 12; he said he wanted to recount all the awards she’d received but wouldn’t, because it would take all night.
Haywood County Schools as a supervisor of cultural arts, elementary curriculum, and math as well as director of federal programs.
In 1993 she returned to her roots at Jonathan Valley Elementary School where she served until becoming principal of Junaluska Elementary School in 1996. The next year,
During her long career, Garrett has been named Haywood County’s teacher of the year, principal of the year, administrator of the year and person of the year, North Carolina’s superintendent of the year, outstanding educator by the American Business Women’s Association, a WCU Peak Performer and also received the United Way’s prestigious Gold Award, among many others.
A shortlist of her accomplishments show those honors to be more than warranted; Garrett helped HCS land a $1 million grant that would be used to establish the Haywood Early College, increased SAT scores by creating a prep course and saw four new elementary schools containing 34 classrooms built.
“I’ve been fortunate to live here, and work here, and I’m just so appreciative of our outstanding community support, our parents, our students, our teachers — everyone has just been very involved in the education of their child.”
— Dr. Anne Garrett, Haywood County Schools superintendent
she moved back to the central office to accept the job of associate superintendent.
After serving in that role for seven years, she was promoted to superintendent, earning along the way her master’s degree and doctorate, all from WCU.
When she took the job though, things
She also weathered what she called two of the “most challenging obstacles” of her career, the controversial closing of and ensuing lawsuit over Central Elementary School in 2016 and HCS’ $2.4 million budget deficit in 2017.
In light of it all, it’s no surprise that Garrett was awarded the highest honor any North Carolina governor can bestow and any North Carolinian can receive during a retirement celebration Feb. 15 — the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.
Presented by Francis, who through his
Dr. Anne Garrett addresses the HCS Board during her final regular meeting as superintendent. Cory Vaillancourt photo
service on the school board has worked with Garrett for 18 years, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine is given to those with a record of exemplary service to the state.
Since 1963, it’s been given to more than 15,000 people, including the likes of Michael Jordan and Maya Angelou as well as fellow Maggie Valley institution Brenda O’Keefe, owner of the former Joey’s Pancake House.
All those accolades set quite a bar for the next superintendent, who should be in place by the start of the next school year. In the meantime, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Bill Nolte has been named interim and is a leading candidate to succeed Garrett.
Whoever ends up with the job would do well to note some of the qualities and practices Garrett said helped her throughout her own career.
Garrett: class size reprieve ‘happy news’
BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER
School administrators around the state have been crying foul since late 2017 over the way the North Carolina General Assembly implemented a new smaller class size requirement that was essentially an unfunded mandate.
“With what the state gave us, we would have had to hire 14 new positions and then with that said, they were not going to do any of the enrichment teachers such as your art, music and physical education. Those could not be used out of your state allotment so we would have had to pick up 18 of those [teaching positions],” said Dr. Anne Garrett, superintendent of Haywood County Schools.
Legislators apparently heard the complaints. House Bill 90 was filed this year and had strong bipartisan support through its ratification Feb. 13, including from Western North Carolina representatives Mike Clampitt, R-Bryson City, Kevin Corbin, R-Franklin, and Michele Presnell, R-Burnsville.
The bill was sent to the Senate Committee on Rules and Operations that March and passed the Senate in June after a flurry of changes and versions.
Gov. Roy Cooper said he wouldn’t veto the bill, which phases in K-3 class size changes over four years, despite the fact that HB90 isn’t a standalone school bill and includes both a settlement of the partisan fight over the newly constituted State Board of Elections and Ethic Enforcement as well as a change in administration of the $58 million Atlantic Coast Pipeline fund.
but Garrett has no plans to slow down any time soon; instead, she plans to channel that intensity into another, more personal arena.
“I’m really excited about this,” she said. “This is a new adventure for me, to write children’s books.”
The greatest local impact of HB90, though, doesn’t have to do with elections or pipelines — it comes down to dollars and cents.
“So that would have been total for Haywood County $1.6 million that would have been taken out of our fund balance, which would have meant that we would have done nothing else for the whole rest of the year,” Garrett said. “And we could do it for one year, but the second year it would become very difficult to maintain.”
Impacts around the region would show consequences similar to those in Haywood County; last spring, Macon County Schools Superintendent Chris Baldwin told The Smoky Mountain News that the district’s elementary schools were already nearing capacity, and that seven new teachers would be needed to comply with the reduced class sizes. In Swain County, Superintendent Sam Pattillo said they’d struggle to comply.
As ratified, HB90 stipulates that the 2018-19 school year will still require an average K-3 class of no more than 20 students until the second month of the school year – to accommodate transfer students and families who move — at which time the student limit becomes 23, thanks to HB13, sponsored by Franklin Republican Rep. Kevin Corbin in January, 2017.
The more recent changes made by HB90 preserve HB13’s temporary reprieve and say that for the 2019-20 school year, that initial limit becomes 19 students and similarly rises to 22 two months after school starts. During the 2020-21 school year, those numbers become 18 and 21, respectively.
Perhaps the most interesting and insightful, however, is the third book — a book only Garrett could write.
“I think just being able work with different groups of people, and good communications with all the different parties involved, with your board members, with your community, but most importantly with your employees. I have lots and lots of roundtable meetings. That kind of keeps me in touch with different groups of people,” she said.
“I do it I think three times a year, and I mean with every single division. I meet with maintenance, meet with your bus drivers. It keeps me even-keel, where I know what’s going on and they can ask me anything,” she said. “It’s not a gripe session, it’s just where we share things. I tried to be visible in the schools, and school activities and community activities as well.”
A life filled with professional achievement and activity may be hard to walk away from,
Well, not exactly. Garrett’s already had 11 books published, beginning more than 30 years ago.
“The first one we ever did [in 1987] I coauthored with Dale Messer, and we did like a sponge activity book, you know when you have like five minutes left at the end of the day, the end of the period, what do you do with 23 students?”
Through the 1990s and early part of the 21st century, her publishing grew from simple activity books to more prescient issues like keeping schools safe, and bullying.
Although it’s been a while since she’s come out with a new one, a press release from HCS says she’s currently under contract to write three more.
“One will be on bullying, and one just on character education, so those are upcoming,” she said.
“The one that’s going to be a real stretch for me to do is on of the lighter side of education,” she laughed. “It puts a little bit of humor into situations that we’ve dealt with over the years, not mentioning names or anything like that, but just purely a typical day at school.”
As someone who has always been focused on long term goals — like she was when she became superintendent and set her sights on a top-10 state ranking — Garrett admits she may have some initial difficulty figuring out what else to do with herself, but it’s clear that the legacy of learning she leaves behind will follow her though the rest of her days, no matter where she spends them.
“Oh gosh I have no idea,” she laughed. “I’ve always just loved coming to work. We’ll probably take a little vacation because we haven’t gone on many, but then when we come back, I have some opportunities so I’m just going to see what I want to do. And then I’ve got to finish those books, of course.”
Above: Dr. Anne Garrett (center) looks on as HCS Board Chair Chuck Francis (left) presents her with The Order of the Long Leaf Pine. Cory Vaillancourt photo Below: Garrett began teaching in Haywood County in 1978. Donated photo
Legislators respond to mental health shortfalls
BY
As The Smoky Mountain News wraps up an ongoing series on the state of mental health in North Carolina, state lawmakers were asked to weigh in on funding cuts and their thoughts on what the General Assembly can do to improve the flailing system.
Two freshman representatives — Mike Clampitt, R-Bryson City, and Kevin Corbin, R-Franklin — both said their first term in office has included an eye-opening education when it comes to the many complex issues surrounding behavioral health and substance use funding.
ment for services to providers in their region. Vaya Health is the MCO responsible for managing behavioral health care in the 23 WNC counties, but the agency has had to deal with $14 million in state funding cuts over the last two years. Local providers like Meridian Behavioral Health Services and Appalachian Community Services are bearing the brunt of these cuts and are in the midst of making tough decisions regarding which programs and services they can continue to provide to people who are covered by Medicaid, are uninsured or underinsured.
“It’s complicated. I’m not going to sit here as a freshman legislator claiming to have all the answers,” Corbin said, adding that what he does know is that real solutions aren’t going to come unless society as a whole changes the way it thinks about mental health and drug addiction.
“With the stigma of mental health and substance abuse, as a society we don’t look at it as we should — as an illness that needs to be treated,” he said.
As he makes the rounds in the district, Clampitt said he too is becoming more aware of the ripple effect the mental health and substance abuse crisis is having on communities.
“I’ve found out recently we have a contagious disease spreading in Western North Carolina because of drug use — hepatitis — so we’re working on getting a needle exchange program started for Swain,” Clampitt said. “This is a national health crisis across the board. We have generations involved with opioids and we can’t legislate our way or incarcerate our way out of it.”
While a majority of legislators recognize there is a problem, there is some disagreement over the best course of action. Meanwhile, local behavioral health providers in the region are making deep cuts to services to combat the funding cuts filtering down from the General Assembly.
TRICKLEDOWNCUTS
The Republican-majority state legislature in 2012 changed the way mental health services are provided. Instead of having a local organization in each county to directly receive state funding to provide services, seven regional Management Care Organizations throughout the state now hold contracts with the state government to manage state funding allocated for mental health and addiction services.
These “middleman” type agencies then assess and approve funding or reimburse-
Providers want to know why a middleman organization — that doesn’t provide any services — eats into the limited pot of money to pay for administrative costs before it’s filtered down to the actual therapists and social workers providing treatment programs.
According to Vaya’s proposed 2017 budget, the MCO’s personnel costs account for over $41 million of its total $408 million in expenditures. About $36 million of the personnel costs are for salaries and benefits. Vaya representatives said they are also preparing for another $400,000 in cuts in the 2018-19 state budget — that’s in addition to about $31 million in non-Medicaid dollars cut from Vaya’s funding between 2009 and 2015.
The MCO system was put in place to have more efficient state oversight, but Corbin and Clampitt wonder if the regional middleman approach is the most effective way to distribute funds for mental health.
“It’s a valid point with Vaya if we have a mental health crisis and funds are being used for overhead,” Clampitt said. “Money would be better spent going directly to providers instead of another layer of administration. We need money going to the recipients as much as possible.”
With several oversight agencies at the state level to provide checks and balances, Clampitt said perhaps it’s time for the state to re-evaluate how that regional approach is working.
“We have to start looking to do business in a more efficient manner than we have in the past,” he said.
As the conversation about mental health continues in Raleigh when legislators reconvene in May, Corbin said these are questions he plans to ask and hopefully find answers.
“Whatever funding for mental health we have needs to go to treatment,” he said. “I’m not in favor of more cuts to mental health. I know throwing money at it won’t work, but I want to make sure what money we spend ends up treating patients.”
UNINTENDEDCOSTS
As conservatives, both Corbin and Clampitt aren’t for throwing money at a problem but agree more emphasis needs to be placed on early intervention and prevention programs, which are much less costly than crisis intervention and treatment programs.
Corbin said it’s important for people to
understand that the taxpayers end up bearing the cost of these problems one way or another — whether it’s at the state level or the local level. Taxpayers will shoulder the cost of drug-related crime and an increased need for law enforcement officers, expanding jails to incarcerate people suffering from a mental health or addiction crisis or hiring more social workers to keep up with the increased number of children in the foster care system because one or both of their parents are either in jail, in rehab or dead due to a mental health issue or an addiction. The public also ends up footing the bill when people without insurance go to the emergency room during a mental health or addiction crisis — it increases hospital costs and insurance costs.
“People who are suffering are not getting the treatment they need, but we’re paying for these things now just in different way — the cost of ER visits are passed on to insurance holders and hospitals,” Corbin said. “When people don’t get treatment for mental health or addiction, they’re not being active members of the workforce like I believe most people want to be.”
The most effective treatment for an opioid addiction includes therapy and a long-term, medication-assisted program supervised by a medical professional. That treatment can take years and comes at a high cost for those who don’t qualify for Medicaid or have private insurance.
CHIPPINGAWAYATIT
The Legislature has made some strides to get a handle on the opioid epidemic plaguing the entire country. Corbin was a cosponsor of the N.C. STOP Act passed last summer and went into effect Jan. 1, 2018. The new law places limits on the quantity of opioids being prescribed in hopes of reduc-
ing the oversupply of painkillers leading to addiction and overdoses.
Locally, Clampitt said he supports the implementation of the LEAD program — a collaborative effort between law enforcement agencies and the District Attorney’s Office to redirect people suffering from opioid addiction from jail into a treatment facility.
“Treatment is a better avenue than doing jail time,” he said. “It costs $100 a day for someone to be incarcerated — that money can be better spent in a better direction.”
Corbin said increasing access to mental health and addiction services should be a top priority.
When someone is diagnosed with cancer, there are enough hospitals and providers available to treat them, he said. However, there aren’t enough facilities and physicians available close by when someone is diagnosed with a mental illness or is fighting an addiction.
Patients often end up at the ER and have to wait days for space to open up in a mental health or rehabilitation facility. Corbin said many people end up leaving the hospital after they’ve detoxed for a few days and then return to the same behavior that landed them there in the first place.
“In this day and age, it’s not hard to get medical treatment whether you have insurance or not — you’re going to get treated one way or another — but with someone suffering from mental health with the same level of crisis, they just put a Band-Aid on it and send them home,” Corbin said.
Clampitt agreed that the lack of facilities, especially in WNC, is a huge issue he hopes to make a priority in Raleigh.
“Hopefully we can take a look in the next budget and make some — not concessions but considerations,” he said.
Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, did not return a phone call for comment by press time Tuesday.
Kevin Corbin
Mike Clampitt
NARCAN nasal spray has been made more readily available to law enforcement and emergency responders to fight the opioid epidemic.
Nonprofits offer support, funding to mental health
BY J ESSI STONE
N EWS E DITOR
The mental health system in North Carolina can use all the help it can get as it struggles with cuts in state funding, an increase in the demand of services and a shortage of local rural providers.
There are a number of nonprofits and community groups that have stepped up to help, whether by offering a network of support to people who suffer from mental illness or by providing grants that enable behavioral health providers to increase access to services or start a new program.
NAMI APPALACHIAN SOUTH
NAMI Appalachian South, a regional chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is a nonprofit supported by gifts, memberships and grants from Macon County Community Funding Pool, the Evergreen Foundation, the N.C. Community Foundation and a gift from the Neidig Family Charitable Fund.
Franklin is the home base of this organization that doesn’t have an office or any paid staff — it runs on volunteers, most of which also live with some kind of mental illness.
NAMI Appalachian South offers a weekly support group for people suffering from a number of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, schizophrenia and substance use disorder.
“It’s a place people can come and feel safe to talk about their mental illness and how it affects them,” said one of NAMI’s leaders who wished to remain anonymous. “It’s also for family members who need support in how to handle loved ones with mental illness. We also talk about recovery for those who are further along in the process and what’s worked for us and what hasn’t worked for us.”
Volunteers with the organization also started a support group for female inmates at the detention center since so many inmates suffer from mental illness. Many times it’s the mental illness and its effects that land them in jail.
“Often times their crime was committed while they were having some kind of an episode,” the NAMI volunteer said. “People need treatment more than being incarcerated.”
More recently, the small NAMI chapter out of Franklin began sending volunteers to Western Carolina University once a month to offer a support group for students.
The local NAMI chapter, which is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year, would like to do so much more in the region, but resources and volunteers are limited.
Right now the group is focused on offering a 10-week peer-to-peer course starting March 1. If contacted, NAMI volunteers are also available to come give an “In Our Own Voices” presentation to local organizations,
nonprofits or churches. A speaker with firsthand experience with mental illness comes to share their story with others as a way to educate the public but also as a step in their own recovery process.
NAMI Appalachian South relies on volunteers and donations to operate. If you’re interested in donating, volunteering or scheduling a presentation for your church or civic group, contact NAMI at 828.369.7385.
THE EVERGREEN FOUNDATION
The Evergreen Foundation has been providing grant funding for mental health, developmental disabilities and substance use needs in the seven most western counties since it was formed in 1977.
As a private nonprofit, the foundation’s grant funds each year are based on what its investments brought in for the year. Executive Director Denise Coleman said the foundation owns 23 properties in the seven western counties and the rent from those properties goes toward the annual grant funding.
“In the last few years, we’ve provided about $650,000 a year for the seven counties,” Coleman said.
This available funding provides local agencies a better shot at receiving grant funding as state and federal grant funding has become more limited and therefore more competitive.
“It’s very nice our seven counties aren’t competing with the rest of the state for these types of funds,” Coleman said.
Each year, providers in the seven counties are invited to submit proposals to the Evergreen Foundation board to be evaluated. While the top priorities for funding lately have been centered around substance use and the opioid epidemic, Coleman said the foundation lets the providers lead the way when it comes to deciding how to best address these problems.
“County commissioners have asked me, ‘how do we know what the needs are?’ and I tell them the providers let us know,” she said.
The Evergreen Foundation does place a priority on preventative programs because that type of funding is also hard to come by. Many other organizations choose to fund programs that have a clearly defined success rate, but prevention is key when trying to improve the behavioral health system since preventative services are more cost effective than treatment programs.
“Most grant organizations and foundations don’t do a lot with prevention because it’s not quantifiable all the time,” Coleman said.
Evergreen has awarded funds to Meridian Behavioral Health Services’ early substance use recovery program and has assisted Appalachian Community Services for several years in funding assessment and treatment programs inside the detention centers. Meridian recently received funding
Evergreen Foundation provided $118,000 toward an expansion project at The Balsam Center in Waynesville.
Peer-to-Peer recovery class
The 10-week Peer-to-Peer recovery education class for adults with the challenge of mental illness will be offered in Franklin starting March 7 by National Alliance on Mental Illness.
This curriculum covers the major mental illnesses such as depression, bipolar disorder, substance use disorder, PTSD and others. Treatments, coping strategies, stress reduction, and relapse prevention are some of the topics addressed in this safe confidential environment.
No fee. Preregistration required. Class size limited. To register call Ann at 828.369.7385.
Weekly recovery group
NAMI Appalachian South hold a weekly support group for people with mental illness from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays at the First United Methodist Church in Franklin.
For more information, visit www.nami.org or www.nami-maconnc.org.
to get a similar program started at the Haywood County Detention Center.
The foundation has given funds to Mountain Projects that was used to purchase and distribute naloxone, a nasal spray that can be administered to reverse a drug overdose and save someone’s life. Evergreen has also given funds for agencies to provide safe places for addicts to throw away their used needles, which pose health risks to the entire community if not disposed of properly.
Evergreen has assisted the NC Aids Project in expanding in to Western North Carolina by opening an office in Macon County, helped start a new parent education program in Graham County and a project in Swain County to offer adolescent support for mental health and drug abuse.
Most recently, Evergreen helped fund an expansion project at Appalachian Community Services’ Balsam Center in Waynesville. The expansion and renovation will allow the center to become a 24/7 urgent care for people experiencing a mental health crisis or those seeking help for substance use.
Before Coleman joined the Evergreen Foundation three years ago, she was a behavioral health provider so she has a very good understanding of the challenges they face and the programs needed to help communities deal with mental health and substance use issues. While Evergreen’s goal is to fund projects that an agency can sustain for years to come without further assistance, that’s becoming harder with funding cuts from the state. Providers have less certainty about whether their funding will be there the following year.
“It’s a real challenge — providers don’t know if it will be there in another three years so we want to help them sustain the programs,” she said. “And with the substance use issues with the opioids, so many people are needing services than ever before.”
Coleman said the foundation usually receives requests for three times the amount of funding available, which means not everyone gets what they ask for, but Coleman works with agencies to scale back some requests so the board can at least award partial funding.
There are four opportunities a year for agencies to apply for funding from Evergreen — applications are due in May for the first round of funding, which is the best shot at getting a larger sum of money. With an entire year’s worth of investment money available, Coleman said the board awards about 75 percent of the funds for projects slated to start July 1. The board reviews other requests in September and December — usually for smaller capital improvement projects.
“We have good agencies that are good stewards of the money we award,” Coleman said. “And Evergreen has good relationships with the different agencies, which is really important in WNC since we’re so spaced out geographically.”
For more information, visit www.evergreenfoundationnc.org.
In pursuit of fair elections
Cherokee leaders chart path forward following discovery of elections failures
BY HOLLY KAYS STAFFWRITER
Atwo-hour work session last week on alleged ballot tampering and security lapses during Cherokee’s 2017 elections yielded arguably more questions than answers.
Questions such as — why have known shortcomings in the elections process been allowed to persist for years without being resolved? Why has the tribe, a billion-dollar corporation, continued to contract with an elections company that uses 30-year-old machines and paper ballots housed in easyto-access plastic bins? Why hasn’t the elections office been rekeyed, despite the fact that an unknown number of people have keys to the office where blank ballots and other sensitive items are stored?
And, what does this all mean for Cherokee’s upcoming alcohol referendum? Given the audit results, would the outcome of such a referendum, slated to take place in three to four months, be trustworthy? Should the referendum be delayed until elections issues are dealt with?
Denise Ballard, president of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Board of Elections, presented the 24-page audit from Arizonabased Veriti Consulting to Tribal Council Feb. 16, going page-by-page through findings that concluded ballot tampering had likely occurred in Birdtown between the General Election and the Sept. 13 recount and includ-
ed 20 recommendations to improve elections procedures in the future.
In her comments to Council, Ballard stressed the need to invest in improved elections security and the importance of working to find and prosecute anybody responsible for ballot tampering.
“The board is more than willing to take a polygraph test, whatever you want this board to do we’re happy to do,” Ballard said.
Cherokee law delegates the responsibility for such investigations to the elections board, though any funding required to carry out an investigation would have to come from Tribal Council.
QUESTIONABLE
ELECTIONSPRACTICES
Ballard endured close questioning from members of both Tribal Council and the community at large who were alarmed by the audit findings and by the apparently lax elections procedures they revealed.
According to the audit and discussion at the meeting, the elections board has no written policies and procedures outside of the ordinance that creates it. Similarly, poll workers receive only one half-day training with no written materials provided. There are no security cameras inside the election board office, and records for registered voters are not always accurate, an allegedly substantial portion of registered voters registered in the wrong community or registered without a voting card. And the paper ballots, which are stored in plastic bins that the audit revealed are quite easy to break into — and were stored in a Bureau of Indian Affairs vault that was often left unlocked — are counted using machines from the 1980s.
“I think we need to take this very seriously,
company that Cherokee hires to provide voting machines and other elections-related materials and services.
“They did not do their job,” said Councilmember Perry Shell, of Big Cove. “They were part of this as well.”
That understood, Shell said, the tribe should still do everything it can to catch the “sorry low-down rat” that tampered with the ballots.
The audit reported that a review of the ballots for Birdtown showed that, while the machine count election night recorded 193 ballots in which voters had marked only one Tribal Council candidate instead of the maximum two candidates, the count Veriti took to verify the Sept. 13 recount results found only 27 undervoted ballots — the implication, the report said, would be that somebody had accessed the ballots between the election and the recount, adding votes to ballots that had marked only one candidate.
Get the background
For a more detailed look at the findings in the Veriti Consulting report, read the story at www.smokymountainnews.com/news/ item/24227.
because at this point this has become a huge trust factor for a lot of people,” said Councilmember Jeremy Wilson, of Wolfetown.
“We have a really big election — the chief election, council election — coming up.”
Chairman Adam Wachacha, a former Sergeant First Class in the U.S Army, expressed particular surprise with the apparent lack of security surrounding storage of the ballots, recalling how in the service any sensitive items always had 24/7 security coverage with anybody accessing them required to sign a log stating the date and time of access.
“Being a former service member, that’s one of the things you push out in third world countries — it’s free elections, free elections. You want to make sure everything is safe to the fullest extent,” he said. “We want to make sure that here in this community that the elections are conducted fairly and properly and with the utmost security for the public’s peace of mind.”
Wachacha went on to say that Tribal Council would be happy to fund any needed security changes to ensure secure elections going forward.
“We can talk about recommendations all day long, but after studying this we do have to do something to secure these elections,” agreed Councilmember Tommye Saunooke, of Painttown.
Several councilmembers seemed to feel that “doing something” might include giving the boot to Automated Elections Services, the
However, according to Ballard the information contained in Veriti’s report was not flawless. The audit stated that each voting location had two election workers and AES staff on site, and that there were times when a single poll worker might be left alone at an election site. It also stated that some voters were being allowed to register to vote the day of the election and that the elections board stored unvoted ballots on “open shelving” in an office that was known to have an indeterminate number of keys.
Ballard told Tribal Council that all of the above statements were incorrect — each polling location had substantially more poll workers than Veriti stated, with none ever left to man the polls alone; voters were never allowed to register the day of the election; and unvoted ballots were stored in a file cabinet, not on open shelving, she said.
UNRESOLVEDCONTROVERSY
The runoff election and the recount and even the election itself — which came in the wake of a tumultuous two years that culminated with the controversial impeachment of former Principal Chief Patrick Lambert — have been the subjects of anger and division between many tribal members, and those cracks showed during the Feb. 16 work session.
Some community members criticized how Ballard had handled the situation and expressed doubt that ballot tampering had even occurred.
“Every person that won the election, regardless of if they gained or lost, their ballots were certified. Everybody but mine,” said Ashley Sessions. “It was stated that the ballots were not reliable. However, the exact same ballots were reliable for Councilmember Boyd Owle, and he gained 31 votes, so I would like to know why.”
“Well Boyd was going to be the clear winner anyway,” Ballard said. “That’s all I have to say about that. I don’t know about if your votes were on (the same ballots with) his. I don’t know about that.”
In the initial count, Sessions had come in third place to second-place Albert Rose, an
Election signs pepper the roundabout at Acquoni Road in Cherokee during the 2017 Tribal Council election season. Holly Kays photo
Maggie opening for ABC board
The Maggie Valley Board of Aldermen is now accepting applications for a vacancy on the Maggie Valley ABC Board.
The board generally meets once a month. Applicants must live within the service area to apply. The term will end January 2019. Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. March 2.
Visit www.maggievalleync.gov for an application.
Arrest made in SunTrust Bank robbery
Waynesville Police Officers responded to the SunTrust Bank in downtown on Feb. 13 when it was reported a robbery had just occurred. A suspect description was quickly broadcast to all local agencies in an effort to locate and identify the female suspect, with no immediate results.
During the course of the investigation, surveillance photos from SunTrust Bank were released to the public asking for assistance in identifying the female suspect. Investigators received numerous tips from concerned citizens; tips that ultimately led to the arrest of Jennifer R. Bryant. Bryant was taken into custody in Canton Feb. 16 and was charged with common law robbery in connection to the SunTrust Bank incident.
The Waynesville Police Department would also like to express their sincere appreciation to the many citizens of Waynesville and Haywood County for taking the time to contact us with information during this investigation. “Once again, we have proven that working together in a community effort makes Waynesville a safer place,” said Investigator Chris Chandler.
WCU to hold Open House event
Western Carolina University will throw open its doors for prospective students as the university holds Open House on Saturday, Feb. 24, for prospective students.
The day’s activities will begin with an information fair from 8:15 to 10 a.m. on the concourse of WCU’s Ramsey Regional Activity Center. Following a welcome session in the main arena of the Ramsey Center from 10 to 10:30 a.m., prospective students will have a chance to engage in academic sessions led by WCU faculty members from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m.
Afternoon activities will include general tours of campus, an opportunity to visit a WCU residence hall and a variety of information sessions addressing topics such as paying for college.
Preregistration is available by going to openhouse.wcu.edu or by calling the Office of Undergraduate Admission at 828.227.7317.
Wild game dinner at HCC
The Wildlife Club at Haywood Community College will host the Twelfth Annual Wild Game Dinner at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23, at the Haywood County Fairgrounds.
The Wild Game Dinner is a fundraiser for students — funds generated during the event will provide the financial assistance needed to attend the Annual Southeastern Wildlife Conclave, support a wildlife student scholarship, and provide additional opportunities for students to learn from and network with natural resource professionals at state, regional and national meetings.
The event will feature door prize drawings, a silent auction and a live auction. The grand prize drawing will be a lifetime hunting/fishing license. There will also be live music and a game and non-game calling competition. Bring your favorite wild game dish, vegetables and/or dessert. Bread and drinks will be provided. Admission is $10 ($5 if you bring a dish). Children under 12 eat free.
Cherokee Cultural tour at WCU
Members of the Western Carolina University community and local residents will have an opportunity to learn about various aspects of Cherokee culture as the Cherokee Cultural Tour is offered from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27, in the Grandroom of WCU’s A.K. Hinds University Center.
The tour will include 20 stations highlighting Cherokee creative expression; Cherokee language, philosophy and worldview; tribal sovereignty and selfdetermination; and cultural competency.
The tour is one of the culminating events for WCU’s 2017-18 interdisciplinary learning theme “Cherokee: Community. Culture. Connections.”
Hospital holds Cashiers meeting
Harris Regional Hospital will hold a community forum from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27, at the Albert CarltonCashiers Community Library located at 249 Frank Allen Road.
The forum is the second in a series of community sessions that began in November. The primary purpose of the forum is for residents to share their perspectives on how healthcare is consumed in small mountain communities like Cashiers, Glenville, Tuckasegee, and Sapphire, located in Jackson County where Harris Regional Hospital is geographically positioned as a hub to serve the region. The forum is open to anyone. For information call 828.586.7100.
incumbent, but following the recount she gained 29 votes to edge Rose by five votes — Rose gained 12 votes in the recount. The unprecedented swing prompted the elections board to recount all races, with Owle ultimately becoming the candidate to gain the most votes in the recount, his total increasing by 30. However, Owle was far-and-away the first-place Birdtown candidate in both the original and recount results.
Birdtown was not the only community to experience larger-than-normal swings in the recount results, but the discrepancies in Birdtown were by far the largest. The elections board ended up voting unanimously to hold a runoff election between Sessions and Rose, a decision that Sessions challenged in court. Sessions argued that the elections board hadn’t come to any findings of fact in its hearing to support the conclusion that the recount results were unreliable, thus triggering a runoff. However, Sessions lost the case, and when the runoff was held she managed to pull in only 41.3 percent of the vote.
Sessions still believes that she should be sitting in the seat Rose now holds.
“I don’t think anybody tampered with this election,” she told Council. “I think all of these documents from this company (Veriti) — at the beginning of it they said they gathered their information from what they were told. Albert (Rose), you lost. The people who supported you didn’t like it, and that’s what happened. You had an appointed chief supporting you. You had an appointed judge that you voted for who should have recused herself who ruled for you.”
According to the report, Veriti interviewed various elections officials but also toured pertinent locations, reviewed the ballots in their storage bins and looked at several other data sources.
Birdtown community member Becky Walker also questioned the runoff.
“She (Sessions) asked you specifically, ‘If everyone else’s recount stands, will mine?’ And you said to her, ‘Yes,’” Walker said.
“Well, and then when we started looking at discrepancies and listing everything that happened,” Ballard said. “I spoke for myself. I can’t speak for the entire board.”
“And I think that was really dangerous,” Walker said.
“We didn’t know what the outcome of the recount would be,” Ballard replied. “I assumed it would be just a regular recount. Obviously it wasn’t.”
Both Sessions and Ballard spoke to the implications this controversy has caused for them personally.
“I’m getting talked about now like I went in and tampered with ballots,” said Sessions. “I don’t even know where they keep the ballots. If you want to polygraph me, call me. I don’t have anything to lie about.”
Elections board member Shirley Reagan later spoke up to say that nobody is pointing the finger at Sessions for ballot tampering.
“I’m not accusing anybody of wrongdoing, but I think someone did,” Reagan said.
“My personal opinion is Ashley (Sessions) didn’t have anything to do with it and she was just as surprised as we were.”
Ballard, meanwhile, told Tribal Council that she’s upset about the way people in the community have treated her in this situation.
“I’ve been accused and talked about. ‘Don’t take it personal’ — well, it’s been personal, and I don’t appreciate it,” she said. “I go to sleep every night just fine. I did what I thought was right.”
NEEDFORCHANGE
Regardless of whether ballot tampering occurred, some said, the real takeaway is that the elections board has systematically failed to make the changes necessary in order to guarantee Cherokee’s elections are fair and correct — and that has to change.
“Did the election board not say they got some audits in the last previous years about what they should be doing to correct matters, make these fair and impartial elections? Did they do them? No. We wouldn’t be here today if they did them,” said Johnny McCoy, of Big Cove. “What you need to do is make sure we have justice in Cherokee. It starts from the top down. Y’all got elected to come here and do fairness and justice and equality and look after the future of this tribe. Yet here we are at rigged elections, bought elections, paid-for elections. It’s been around a long time. I’ve watched a lot of elections, but this is a sorry, railroaded deal here.”
“I agree with Johnny. I did get railroaded, almost,” said Rose, turning the implication of McCoy’s words on their head. “It’s easy for you to walk up there every day and say stuff like that.”
“I can come back up there if you want me to,” said McCoy, causing Wachacha to bang his gavel.
Mary Crowe, of Yellowhill, spoke at length about the various audits and recommendations that have been handed to the elections board over the years and culminated by pointing to poll workers’ decision to handle a shortage of early voting ballots by marking out absentee ballots as substitute early ballots. When election discrepancies were first discovered, Ballard had said they’d happened
because the machine failed to read the marked-out absentee ballots.
“If anyone is responsible for tampering with ballots, it is your election board,” she said.
Lisa Montelongo, of Yellowhill, questioned recordkeeping practices within the elections office, saying that there are many people — including her sister — who are enrolled members but don’t live on the Qualla Boundary and never registered to vote there. Yet, she claimed, somehow they appear on the voting rolls.
“We seen that registration form that had a little piece of paper on it that said ‘moved from this community to this community,’ and the question was, well, did you inform this enrolled member that she was registered to vote, and when you moved her did you send her a letter informing her that she was registered in the wrong community?” Montelongo asked.
“We don’t know,” Ballard replied.
“Again, we’re going back to ‘I don’t know,’” Montelongo said, later bringing her comments back around to the alcohol referendum.
“For you guys to even talk about a referendum on alcohol, you’re pretty bold,” she said. “You’re pretty bold. Because what you’re doing is illegal here. You yourself said this board doesn’t have policies and procedures they actually follow.”
Regardless of what happens with the alcohol referendum or anything else, all those in attendance at the Feb. 16 meeting seemed to agree that Tribal Council and the elections board have their work cut out for them.
“You guys are going to have to work,” Walker said. “You have to work and you have to clean up what you aren’t even part of, some of you.”
Wilson, one of the new councilmembers, agreed with that statement.
“If we need additional work sessions, I think we need to talk about this very seriously,” he said. “A lot of people are going to be hesitant to vote now.”
“It seems like our voting process is broken,” Owle said.
A photo from the Veriti report shows an investigator demonstrating how easily some of the “secure” ballot boxes can be accessed. Donated photo
Miller admonished before Haywood commissioners
BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER
Local government watchdog Monroe Miller is well known to many in county government circles; he attends most Haywood County Board of Commissioners meetings and publishes his opinions — usually meticulously researched — on his blog, Haywood County Toeprints.
Essential components of Miller’s work come from the routine open records requests he often makes, but a recent uptick in the volume of his requests, the tone of those requests and what he calls “obstruction” on behalf of the county have turned what is usually a peaceable dialogue into a war of words with Haywood County Program Administrator David Francis, a frequent target of Miller’s ire.
Miller’s right to request public documents from a public body such as the Board of Commissioners isn’t at issue, but who decides how much is too much may soon be.
UNEXPECTEDFIREWORKS
Shortly into the New Year, Miller began making document requests from the county, alleging irregularities in the county’s development of a long-vacant parcel of countyowned land known as the Jonathan Creek site.
At least, that’s what it’s known as to the public; Miller calls it the “James Weaver ‘Kirk’ Kirkpatrick III Super Duper Sports Complex,” referring to the chairman of the Haywood Board of Commissioners and the property’s previously-intended use as a sports facility.
Since then, Miller’s requests have become voluminous and his correspondence with county officials — particularly Interim County Manager Joel Mashburn — lengthy and difficult to follow.
Miller’s persisted, and said through a number of emails that he hasn’t been given everything he’s asked for despite numbering his requests, which at last count were approaching 30.
On Feb. 19, Miller signed up to speak during the customary public comment portion of the Haywood County Board of
Commissioners meeting.
Soft-spoken and businesslike, Miller detailed his concerns to commissioners, saying that he’s “been met with resistance and downright obstruction in obtaining direct
Kirkpatrick then called Francis to the podium to issue a statement regarding Miller’s requests.
“Since the beginning of this year we, the county, have received over 60 emails from Mr. Miller,” said Francis. “We’re at day 50 on the calendar.”
records” and asked for intervention on his behalf.
Later, during the constituent concerns portion of the meeting, Kirkpatrick addressed Miller.
“The only thing that I see from you is that you’re trying to find something wrong, and that’s what you’re continually trying to do,” Kirkpatrick said. “Unfortunately what’s happening now is it involves time, so much time for our county employees to respond and try to do it right to make sure that you get the information.”
The documents, Francis said, had all been provided.
“Mr. Mashburn and I got everything he wanted together and ready,” Francis said. “He came one morning and sat here for three-and-a-half hours while he reviewed these documents.”
Francis added that Mashburn, who earns $60 per hour as the county conducts its search for a permanent manager, “has bent over backwards, for Mr. Miller” only to be ridiculed by Miller in emails as “gatekeeper Mashburn.”
That’s when Francis launched into an impassioned monologue on Miller that provided the five most unusual minutes of any commission meeting in recent memory.
“He likes to poke fun at people, to belittle them from behind the computer whenever he can, because he’s a bigger man behind the computer than he is any other place,” Francis told commissioners. “He’s belittled everybody, almost everybody in this room at one time or another. He’s a shameful human being to deal with.”
Francis also decried Miller’s insinuations that he is somehow involved in something untoward regarding the Jonathan Creek project.
“He’s gone around, he’s basically accused me of doing something wrong and I can assure you I would never do anything wrong,” he said, turning his back on commissioners and facing Miller, who was still seated in the gallery. “Sir, you’re wrong. You’re very wrong.”
Returning his attention to commissioners, Francis said that Miller doesn’t under-
stand government, and doesn’t understand business, and then hearkening back to Kirkpatrick’s initial remarks said that he estimates the county has spent more than $700 of staff time so far in attempting to comply with Miller’s requests on this issue alone.
Francis said in his 20 years in local government, he’s never spent so much time dealing with just one person.
“As obsessed as he is with me, I should have got a Valentine from him last week.”
UNEXPECTEDQUESTIONS
Miller doesn’t issue comment to local media outlets, and again declined to answer questions for the purposes of this story.
However, his requests raise a host of questions over reasonable public access to government records.
While not a journalist per se, Miller often functions like one, and while no one is questioning his right and the right of anyone to inspect government documents, the question of how often they can be requested, how many can be requested, how quickly those requests must be fulfilled and how much it should cost him have important implications for journalists and the public as well.
“One of the problems we’ve had here is that he’s asking for information and he wants explanations, he wants to discuss things,” said longtime County Attorney Chip Killian. “He’s not many times asking for documents, and all the statutes speak to is the production and viewing of documents. We made every effort to provide the documents he’s asked for.”
“By the statute,” Francis said, “we provide documents. We don’t have to answer every little question that comes across. This has just become a big paper chase for Mr. Miller. I guess he gets excited over that.”
Kirkpatrick got in the last word of the evening, but probably not the last word on where Miller’s requests go from here.
“Mr. Miller, we will continue to provide you with documents, just as we would provide anyone here, anyone in the in the county with documents,” he said. “That’s all we’re going to do, what the law requires us to do.”
Monroe Miller is
SCC lead cleanup cost reaches $500,000
BY HOLLY KAYS STAFFWRITER
Jackson County will spend an additional $254,000 to clean up lead contamination and plan for sound abatement at the Southwestern Community College shooting range following a unanimous vote from county commissioners Feb. 19.
The expenditure will bring the total cost of cleaning up an estimated 60 tons of lead bullets and associated lead contamination at the range to $500,000 since the issue was first addressed in 2014.
While commissioners voted unanimously to approve the funding, it wasn’t without some consternation at the mounting costs of cleanup — and at the fact that Jackson County must bear the cost alone. Law enforcement agencies throughout the region use the range for training and certification purposes, but state law prohibits SCC from charging first responders in North Carolina to use it.
“We’re providing a service. These other counties aren’t having to pay any of it, are they? And they’re using ours,” said Commissioner Boyce Deitz during a Feb. 13 work session.
Deitz acknowledged that commissioners’ hands were tied — the cleanup measures are mandated by the state, which
also prohibits SCC from charging for use — but made it clear he felt the situation was unfair to Jackson County.
After SCC realized that the accumulation of 30 years of lead bullets could be problematic, it began working with the state and environmental consulting firm ECS Carolinas to create a treatment plan. The soil was tested, and more than 350 tons of contaminated soil was removed, treated and sent to a landfill.
Monitoring wells were installed on the property with the plan of later capping the site and installing best management practices to prevent more lead from migrating off the range.
that SCC should excavate, treat and remove yet another round of soil — about 300 tons — before capping the site. DEQ has already approved a work plan from ECS.
Southwestern Community College shooting range.
After excavating the soil, testing showed that the exposed dirt had lead levels that were less than those in the excavated soil, but still elevated. However, the monitoring wells did not detect any lead levels above state standards in the groundwater. The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality decided
Improvements planned for Monteith Gap
BY HOLLY KAYS STAFFWRITER
The N.C. Department of Transportation is planning a $1.7 million improvement project on Monteith Gap Road in Cullowhee following passage of an endorsement resolution from the Jackson County Commissioners.
The project will be done in conjunction with a bridge replacement at Cullowhee Creek and funded through a pot of money designated for low-cost projects likely to have a high impact on the area. The area where Monteith Gap Road is located, connecting to Ledbetter and South Painter roads, has been a frequent topic of discussion in commissioner chambers lately, as an increase in student housing developments in recent years has ratcheted up the traffic levels on
these narrow, rural roads. The 2016 hit-and-run death of pedestrian Daniel Brown on Ledbetter Road accelerated the search for solutions.
Plans call for widening the road and adding sidewalks and bike lanes to accommodate the increasing non-vehicular traffic between student apartments and the nearby Western Carolina University campus. The project would also include improving the road’s intersections with Ledbetter and South Painter.
Construction of sidewalks, however, is contingent on funding from the county. DOT will build them if the county agrees to pay 30 percent of the cost of construction materials. For the 1,400 linear feet of sidewalk planned, that 30 percent share would likely be between $8,500 and $10,000.
SCC will simultaneously engage the firm Amec Foster Wheeler to design best management practices to prevent lead contamination going forward. Amec Foster Wheeler will also complete recommendations for sound mitigation at the range — commissioners have been receiving complaints from area residents fed up with the constant shooting and want to look into options for reducing the noise level.
The county will pay ECS $40,000 for project management, testing and consulting; Amec Foster Wheeler $55,000; and expects to pay about $160,000 for soil mitigation, though that job will have to go through a bidding process.
“We feel we can do all of this within this next two or three months to be able to bring some options to you (regarding sound abatement) for next year’s budget,” said SCC President Don Tomas during the Feb. 19 commissioner meeting.
“You won’t be able to build sidewalks any cheaper,” Planning Director Mike Poston said during a Feb. 13 work session.
Passing the resolution doesn’t lock the county into paying for sidewalks — it simply shows that the board of commissioners as a whole supports the effort to improve Monteith Gap Road. However, comments commissioners made during the work session indicated they would be favorable to funding sidewalks and see the road project as fitting into a longer-term vision for the area.
“If you go back to the presentation by CuRvE (Cullowhee Revitalization Endeavor) and think about what potential could happen on the river there just below Cullowhee Dam in that area, it’s always been projected to have the greenway go under that new bridge and go across the Tuck and go in and tie in,” said Commission Chairman Brian McMahan.
“It’s all going to be tied together, and I think there’s great benefit in the future.”
Swain settlement money part of Trump’s budget
BY J ESSI STONE
N EWS E DITOR
President Donald Trump’s proposed budget calls on Congress to fund the overdue remaining balance of $39.2 million owed to Swain County from the North Shore Road settlement agreement made with the federal government back in 2010.
Generations of Swain County commissioners and their counterparts in Raleigh and Washington, D.C., have tried for years to get the federal government to follow through with its promise, but progress has been slow moving and the funding has been held up by what U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows, R-Asheville, and other congressmen have called “bureaucratic red tape.”
“The federal government has a responsibility to fulfill its financial obligations to Swain County,” said Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C. “This request demonstrates a commitment to make good on the promise to repay Swain County for the damage caused when the federal government flooded its communities.”
Swain County relinquished part of its public land to the federal government back in the 1930s and ‘40s in order to assist with building projects that were part of World War II, including the creation of the Fontana Lake reservoir that flooded the only accessible road to areas that many Swain County residents called home.
The federal government promised to build a new road that would provide a route to those old family homesteads and cemeteries, but it was never completed due to the high cost of the project — now referred to as the “Road to Nowhere.”
The government’s failure to live up to its promise has bred distrust and resentment in the community for those founding families who lost their family land and heritage. Commissioners fought for the road to be rebuilt for years before agreeing to take the cash settlement.
Swain County received the first settlement installment of $12.8 million in 2010 but then didn’t receive another dime last year only after Swain commissioners filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Interior for breach of contract. A federal court dismissed
the lawsuit last May and the county refiled the claim, but commissioners began to see a light at the end of the tunnel when the federal agency released a $4 million payment to the county in September.
“Just six months ago, Secretary Zinke announced the release of $4 million toward the unpaid settlement — a major step forward,” Meadows wrote in a press release.
“Since I arrived in Congress in 2013, my office has been working with the Department of Interior to see to it that the residents of Swain County receive the money they should have been paid long ago. Fortunately, President Trump’s administration has shown a tremendous willingness to make this situation right.”
The President’s budget requests $20 million for fiscal year 2019 and the remaining $15.2 million for fiscal year 2020, but his first proposed budget is nowhere close to being approved without major compromises.
Trump’s budget blueprint also includes $18 billion over two years for building a southern border wall and $716 billion in defense spending. Meanwhile, Trump’s proposal would slash funding to the State Department, EPA, transportation and the Small Business Administration.
Still, Meadows called upon Congress to follow Trump’s lead and authorize the funds to bring a swift end to a longstanding problem.
“Once again, President Trump’s administration has showed an unparalleled commitment to keeping promises — fighting for the forgotten man — and righting the wrongs of past administrations,” he said.
N.C. Rep. Mike Clampitt, R-Bryson City, also issued a press release expressing his gratitude to the President for including the settlement funds in his budget blueprint.
“This truly has taken on the momentum that I had hoped for to benefit Swain County,” Clampitt said. “I could not be more grateful, nor could I ask for better partners in this matter than the entire leadership of Swain County, as well as Congressman Mark Meadows, Senators Richard Burr and Thom Tillis, and Secretary Zinke. Now we have the weight of the Presidency behind this. Momentum is clearly on the side of Swain County in this matter.”
TWSA ponders fee shift
Changes to water/sewer tap-on fees could impact Sylva economy
Creekside Oyster House & Grill owner George Neslen hopes to expand to a new location but says up-front sewer and water fees of nearly $50,000 could make that impossible. Holly Kays photo
BY HOLLY KAYS STAFFWRITER
Jackson County’s controversially high water and sewer fees could remain unchanged following implementation of a 2017 state law that was designed to ensure that these fees are calculated fairly and consistently.
The law, which will go into effect in July, requires North Carolina water and sewer utilities that charge upfront fees for new users to hire an independent engineering or financial consultant. The consultant must then determine, using criteria outlined in the law, the maximum fee that utility should be able to charge. Utilities can set their fees anywhere between $0 and the maximum. During a Feb. 13 work session, board members for the Tuckaseigee Water and Sewer Authority heard the preliminary results of the study completed by Asheville-based WR-Martin, formerly called Martin-McGill.
“Your fees right now are less than what these are,” Steven Miller, senior consultant for WR-Martin, told the board of his calculations. “If you follow the system buy-in approach, you can continue charging the fees you’ve been charging in the past. What you cannot do is charge anything that’s higher than what’s here.”
CALCULATINGTHEMAX
The law gives utilities a choice of three ways to calculate maximum fees — the system buy-in approach, the incremental approach or a hybrid between the two. The system buy-in approach calculates the value of the existing infrastructure and from there determines how much each new user should have to pay to
Dividing the total value by the number of “user equivalents” then yielded the maximum upfront fee — called a system development fee under the new law, rather than an impact fee — TWSA could charge.
Miller performed separate calculations for the southern system, which serves the Cashiers area, and the northern system, which serves the lower-elevation portions of the county.
He determined that the highest system development fee TWSA could charge northern system users under the system buy-in approach would be $3,965 for water and $5,942 for sewer. Both maximums are based on 5/8-inch meters. For the southern system, the maximum charge to connect a residential sewer user would be $10,853, with connections for non-residential customers based on projected peak flow. The southern system does not provide water connections.
The incremental method — which would involve determining costs of needed capital projects over the next 20 years and dividing those by the number of “user equivalents” — yielded slightly different results, with a maximum charge of $2,235 for northern water users and $11,063 for southern sewer users. However, the method was unable to generate a fee for northern sewer.
Miller emphasized that the maximum fees are just that — legal maximums. In some cases, they turned out almost ridiculously high, such as in the results for southern sewer users.
of limbo when he’d really like to be actively pursuing the expansion.
And by the way, he said, couldn’t he just be allowed to rent the allocation? TWSA has an allocation rental policy that allows existing users looking to expand their capacity to pay a monthly fee rather than an upfront sum, but Neslen said he was told that policy wouldn’t apply to him because he’s planning to build a new building rather than increase capacity at an existing building. However, he said, the property in question does have an existing building with water and sewer access, and it’s zoned commercially — even though he wouldn’t be operating out of the building that contains the taps, he asked, isn’t that still enough for him to fall under the rental policy?
“I think it’s a good opportunity not just for me but for this town and community,” he said. “There’s very few developable properties left in this small town, and I think it would be a shame for us not to try to develop that further.”
Later in the discussion, Harbaugh said that the discussion of rental allocation was “premature” and that he would need to receive Neslen’s application before determining whether the rental policy could apply. Neslen said he had all the information needed for Harbaugh to make that decision but hadn’t officially applied to avoid incurring fees before he was sure he’d be able to proceed. Neslen received substantial support in his request from other community members,
“buy into” — essentially, become a shareholder in — the system. The incremental approach relies on the utility’s 20-year capital improvement plan and calculates, based on best guesses of which projects will be completed in that time and how much they will cost, how much new users must pay to provide for needed expansions in that timeframe.
Board members could choose to set maximum fees based on any of the three choices, but during the Feb. 13 meeting some apparent advantages emerged in using the system buy-in approach. The law provides more leeway for how the fees can be spent when calculated that way, and estimates of current assets based on audited financial information are a lot more reliable than estimates of how much a project planned for 15 years down the road might actually cost, or whether said project will truly be completed in 15 years rather than in 20 or 25.
To arrive at his estimates for the system buy-in method, Miller calculated the depreciated value of everything that goes into TWSA’s water and sewer systems, subtracting out grants and outstanding debt principal. Items catalogued include computer equipment, furniture and fixtures, land, lines, vehicles, buildings, treatment plants and more. Miller then calculated the number of “user equivalents” — a residential user counts as one “user equivalent,” and he used the average consumption of residential users in the system to determine how many gallons per day one “user equivalent” is worth. Commercial users were then converted into a number of “user equivalents” based on how many multiples of that average consumption figure they used.
“Nobody is going to charge a fee that high for system development, but according to calculations that’s your ceiling you’ve got to work with,” he said.
So, as TWSA moves forward with its planning for the 2018-19 budget, the question is this: will up-front fees rise, decrease or stay the same?
IMPEDIMENTTOEXPANSION
George Neslen has owned Creekside Oyster House & Grill for about two-and-ahalf years, growing the nearly five-year-old business to the point that it’s running out of parking and seating at its current location along Skyland Drive. He’s looking to expand and has been eying a now-vacant Main Street Sylva location owned by resident Jean Ensley, who would very much like to sell it to him.
The obstacle? Impact fees. Paying water and sewer impact fees plus costs for meter and tap installation would cost Neslen $48,265.
“That number is what I’m worried about. I think it will hinder this project to the point I might not be able to achieve it,” Neslen told the TWSA board during public comment Feb. 13. “I would really like to stay in this town and this community. This is where I was born and raised, opened my business — it’s where I’m raising my family, and I fear that these tap-on fees are creating an environment that is not helpful or encouraging to businesses or the expansion of our economy.”
Neslen told the board that he had found himself in a tricky place — he wants to expand, and he wants to expand in Sylva, but nearly $50,000 in tap-on fees is a deal-breaker. However, if the upfront fee structure is set to change come July, that puts him in a kind
This is where I was born and raised, opened my business — it’s where I’m raising my family, and I fear that these tap-on fees are creating an environment that is not helpful or encouraging to businesses or the expansion of our economy.”
— George Neslen, Creekside Oyster House & Grill
including a letter on Town of Sylva letterhead signed by Mayor Lynda Sossamon and written following a Feb. 8 board discussion spurred by public comment from Neslen.
“We are concerned that TWSA’s high impact fees are hindering our community’s growth,” Sossamon said, reading her letter to the TWSA board Feb. 13. “The food and beverage industry continuously express this concern. We do not want the impact fee cost to be so steep that it deters economic development. As the state is reviewing the rate cap, we would like the TWSA Board to consider reducing the impact fees or creating policies that make it easier to open and expand a business in our community.”
Jason Queen, owner of O’Malley’s Pub and Grill, also spoke up in support of Neslen, admonishing
TWSA board members that high tap-on fees have the potential to create far-reaching, negative effects.
“Not only does it not provide incentive for people to come in, it almost provides incentive for people to move elsewhere,” Queen said. “When I’m looking at $50,000 and I’m looking at expanding my business, I’m not expanding to this community. I’m going to take my profitable business, business partners, and relocate them to a different area.”
Cliff Faull, a Sylva resident since 1980, concurred with that sentiment when he spoke to the board on behalf of the property owner Ensley.
“This is a local resident’s small business trying to start up a new building, and this is a situation that just isn’t right,” he said.
Local attorney Eric Ridenour also had some strong words for the TWSA board, calling its high impact fees a “deal-killer” for local business and criticizing TWSA for continuing to charge these high fees when it’s been running at a substantial surplus recently, last year ending up with an extra $600,000. Chairman Mike Fitzgerald commented later in the meeting that TWSA had also been running at a deficit for years before that, so Ridenour’s depiction of the organization as raking in money year after year wasn’t quite accurate.
“This community is basically being held hostage by TWSA,” Ridenour said. “It is, and I’m not being dramatic. It is a deal-killer for anyone trying to locate here.”
BEGINNINGOFAPROCESS
Neslen is far from being the first business owner to blame difficulty starting or expanding a business on hefty impact fees. It’s been an ongoing argument in Sylva during recent years.
TWSA tap-on fees are often thousands of dollars higher than those of neighboring utility systems in Haywood and Macon counties, and during the Feb. 13 meeting Miller said that the statewide average tap-on fee for residential users is $1,000 for water and $1,500
for sewer. Harbaugh, meanwhile, said that the most recent UNC School of Government data puts those averages at $1,389 and $1,945, respectively.
TWSA’s numbers are $1,400 for residential water and $2,200 for residential sewer.
Impact fee opponents say that the fees hinder economic development and prompt prospective business owners to look to adjoining counties, where fees are nowhere near as high. Impact fee supporters, meanwhile, point out that getting rid of or reducing impact fees would require raising rates on existing users — it wouldn’t be fair, they say, for the senior citizen on a fixed income to suddenly be paying more so that a restaurateur could more cheaply open a for-profit business. And it also wouldn’t be fair, they add, for a restaurateur who paid his impact fee 10 years ago to see his rates rise so a competitor could enter the field more easily.
It’s an issue that has sharply divided the TWSA board and many in the business community, with TWSA board member David Nestler, who also sits on the Sylva town board, arguably the most outspoken proponent of abolishing impact fees. He’s also the only one on the TWSA board who has openly supported that solution, with most other board members saying that they believe the impact fees, while they have their drawbacks, need to stay.
“Fifty thousand dollars I think is too high, but regardless of whether or not you think it’s too high, I think it’s unfair to ask for that up front,” Nestler said Feb. 13 in relation to Neslen’s situation.
The board had begun the process of investigating alternatives to impact fees before the 2017 state law, known as HB 436, passed.
“We had to slam on the brakes to wait and see what would happen with all the fees in general, but this is really what we’ve been talking about,” Mike Byers, a TWSA board member and Western Carolina University’s vice chancellor for administration and finance. “We’ve been working on alternatives to the lump sum impact fee. That’s work we’ll have to reconstruct when we see where this
new legislation is going to make us land.”
TWSA board member Tracy Rodes, who is also the mayor of Webster, cautioned the board to avoid tackling that question before the time is right, as so much is in flux now with implementation of the 2017 state law.
“We have the decision to make about the impact fees and all that too, and I wonder if we’re not just getting a little jumbled,” Rodes said.
“Another option is because we’re doing all
this with HB 436, do we put all impact fees on hold until we get those questions answered?” suggested TWSA board member Ron Mau, who is a Jackson County commissioner.
“He (Miller) showed us our maximum and we’re already in the ballpark,” Fitzgerald, who is the mayor of Dillsboro, pointed out.
“That doesn’t mean we have to go with that,” Nestler said.
Before TWSA can consider what its new upfront fees should be, the board will have to finalize the supporting analysis produced by WR-Martin. This involves ensuring that the calculations took into account all the things that should have been taken into account and that the resulting ceilings and “user equivalent” units are correctly determined.
“Once the System Development Fee Supporting Analysis goes through the public comment period, public hearings and the consultant makes final revisions to the SDF Supporting Analysis, the hard work of setting SDFs below those ceilings begins,” Harbaugh said in a follow-up email.
During its Feb. 20 meeting, which occurred after press time, the board is expected to approve release of the draft analysis for public comment, with a public hearing planned for Monday, April 17. At that point, the consultant would make any necessary changes to the document based on public input and present the final version to the board during its May 8 work session for approval during the May 15 meeting. New system development fees would be incorporated into the overall budget, which is slated for adoption June 19.
Sylva resident Cliff Faull tells TWSA board members why he believes impact fees are too high. Holly Kays photo
Community Almanac
HEMC supports Mountain Projects
Haywood Electric Membership Corporation donated $10,000 to Mountain Projects to support its renovation efforts for a new Central Services Facility (Old Health Department) on Asheville Road. The waiting area of the facility will be named in honor of HEMC.
For decades Mountain Projects and Haywood EMC have partnered in helping the citizens of Haywood and Jackson counties with energy audits, water heater wraps, CFL light bulbs, low flow faucet and shower aerators, and insulation.
Mountain Projects plans to finish renovations and move into the new facility at 2177 Asheville Road in May 2018.
REACH abuse training
Ken Thomas with HEMC presents Mountain Projects Director Patsy Davis and Board Chairman Gavin Brown with a check for $10,000.
REACH of Haywood County, the domestic violence/sexual assault/ elder abuse intervention and prevention agency, will offer a training sequel to their SRO basics given in November. This session will focus on elder abuse and teen dating violence and is offered to employees and/or volunteers of other non-profits, agencies, schools and faith-based organizations.
The training will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23, at the Haywood County Health and Human Services facility, 157 Paragon Parkway, Clyde. There is no charge to attend, but seating is limited to 45 participants. Contact REACH to register at 828.456.7898 or bqreach@aol.com by Feb. 21.
Macon nonprofit funding opportunity
Macon County nonprofit organizations have until Feb. 23 to apply for county funds allocated in the county’s current fiscal year budget, through the Macon County Community Funding Pool.
Application forms and instructions are available at www.maconnc.org, or may be picked up at the Macon County Public Library on Siler Farm Road in Franklin, the Hudson Library on Main Street in Highlands, and the Nantahala Public Library on Nantahala School Road. First-time applicants must contact Karen Wallace at 828.524.3600 or Bobbie Contino at 828.524.0956 to discuss their proposal.
Volunteers help end world hunger
Rise Against Hunger, Junaluska Elementary School, and local churches and agencies are joining forces in the fight against hunger.
More than 230 third through fifth-grade students, teachers, and local community volunteers will package meals for the world’s hungry on Friday, March 23. Rise Against Hunger meal packaging events are a volunteerbased program that coordinates the streamlined packaging of highly nutritious dehydrated meals comprised of rice, soy, vegetables and 22 essential vitamins and minerals.
School Counselor Joy Sollie has organized this event to be a final act during Random Act of Kindness Week at Junaluska Elementary.
“Our goal is to help students believe that they can make a difference with the hopes of empowering them. The idea is that when a young child has an experience where they feel the power and ability to affect change in someone else’s life they will be less likely to allow themselves to fall into the poverty mindset,” she said.
If you are interested in helping offset the cost of each meal, contact Sollie at 828.456.2407 or email jsollie@haywood.k12.nc.us.
Nutrition resources available for seniors
Mountain Projects, Inc. operates three Senior Nutrition sites in Haywood County that offer a nutritionally balanced lunch Monday through Friday for only a small donation.
Senior citizens 60 and older are invited to engage in different activities, including health screenings and promotions, creative arts, exercise, special events, guest speakers and games. The centers also have computers and offer field trips for shopping and out to eat. There are three center locations: Old Armory, 44 Boundary St., Waynesville; Maggie Valley Town Hall, 3987 Soco Rd.; and the Canton Senior Center at 1 Pigeon St., beside the Canton pool.
For more information, call Darlene at 828.356.2838.
A way out of poverty
Circles of Hope of Jackson County, a member of Mountain Projects’ family of services, and Evergreen Foundation have partnered to help individuals and families gain hope and the skills to help themselves out of poverty.
Experiential learning and mentors provide long term support for helping single parents and individuals lift themselves out of the darkness of depression and into the light of hope. People who remain active over 16 months experience as much as an 80 percent improvement in income. Their sense of hope improves as they are trained together and offer support to one another.
To learn more, visit www.EvergreenFoundation.org or mountainprojects.org.
Interfaith Peace Conference to tackle polarization
All are invited to join an interfaith dialogue about polarization and peace during the Interfaith Peace Conference March 1-4 at Lake Junaluska.
The conference theme is “Meeting the Other: Can We Talk?” and it will address how to communicate with civility and respect while upholding core values and religious traditions.
The conference will bring together representatives from the three Abrahamic faiths — Christianity, Judaism and Islam — to promote peace. This year’s keynote speakers will reflect on what each of their faith traditions has to say about peace, especially in regards to polarizing beliefs.
Registration is open to the public. Register at 800.222.4930 or www.lakejunaluska.com/peace.
Evergreen grant to support foster care youth
Youth Villages recently received a $30,000 grant from the Evergreen Foundation in Waynesville to support Youth Villages’ YVLifeSet program in Western North Carolina, which supports young people ages 17-22 who are leaving foster care.
In 2016, Youth Villages launched YVLifeSet to help youth make a successful transition to adulthood. The program has been proven to decrease instances of homelessness, incomplete education, a cycle of unemployment, early parenthood, health issues, substance abuse and sometimes incarceration.
YVLifeSet is committed to ensuring every young person in the state who ages out of foster care will have access to this outcome- based program by 2020.
Macon New Beginnings helps homeless
In 2017, Macon New Beginnings served 230 men and women and 94 children through its prevention and crisis shelter programs, which is a 15-percent increase over 2016. It also served 2,156 meals through its Thursday night hot meal program, Serving Spoon. Volunteers gave over $39,850 worth of their time and answered over 1,167 phone calls.
If anyone is interested in helping the homeless, nearly homeless and less fortunate, call 828.202.3103, visit www.maconnewbeginnings.org or like the nonprofit on Facebook.
Free microchips for pets
Haywood Spay/Neuter is starting the New Year with free microchips for those pets going through their low cost spay/neuter service thanks to a grant from Bissell Pet Foundation.
Last year Haywood Spay/Neuter provided 1,588 surgeries for residents including 95 through its Operation Pit program and 626 free roaming cats under its TrapNeuter-Return program. Since the TNR program was established in 2009, about 6,000 free roaming cats were fixed, greatly lowering the number of strays turned into the county shelter.
• The Eleventh Annual Father Daughter Dance will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, in the Christian Life Center at First United Methodist Church in Sylva. Register at www.sylvafumc.org/news or at 77 Jackson St., Sylva. 828.586.1640.
• Do you need a ride?
ALSO:
Consider Haywood Public Transit. With no age or income restrictions everyone who lives in Haywood County is eligible to use HPT services. Drivers will come to your home and take you to the front door of your destination. To find out more about the services, call 828.565.0362.
• FUR of WNC is actively seeking unwanted Christmas gifts to resale at the Big Red Barn Trading Post to help FUR’s mission of caring for abandoned, displaced and rescued cats. To arrange to drop off your tax-deductible donation, contact Maggie Hickle at 843.422.2704 or email thefurstore@hotmail.com
• Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation will hold its annual meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, at the Shelton House barn, 49 Shelton St., in Waynesville. Social activities start with refreshments at 5:30 p.m. and the meeting at 6 p.m. The meeting will include the election of Sarge’s board members to new terms.
• The Canton Senior Center is continuing to fundraise for center operations by selling hot dogs, nachos, drinks, and popcorn at Canton’s Picking in the Armory starting at 5 p.m. on Friday nights through April 6. For more information, call 828.648.8173.
NRA controls our politicians with blood money
Cars don’t kill. Drivers do.
Remember that? No one does, because although Detroit dragged its feet over the cost of making autos safer, it couldn’t pretend that it wasn’t possible or wouldn’t matter. Thanks to seat belts, air bags and other improvements we now take for granted, along with stricter enforcement of traffic laws, the highway death toll per capita has been cut nearly in half since 1960. That’s with more than three times as many vehicles on the road.
The fight against natural killers has also seen impossible dreams come true. Smallpox, which once claimed 400,000 lives a year in Europe alone, no longer exists except in tightly guarded laboratories. Polio is nearly gone. America no longer suffers epidemics of typhoid, yellow fever and diphtheria. New infections and deaths from AIDS have dropped dramatically.
But, while our children and their parents no longer live in dread of the next summer’s polio outbreak, a new mortal danger stalks them. Our schools, which ought to be the safest places, have become magnets for twisted souls hellishly bent on as much death, injury and grief as possible. What better place than a school, with so many concentrated victims? What better means than a rapid-fire weapon designed to cause as much battlefield carnage as possible?
The Valentine’s Day massacre that took 17 lives at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida was the seventh mass killing at a campus. The first was at the University of Texas in 1966. Columbine High School in Colorado came in 1999, an Amish school in Pennsylvania in 2006, then others in quick succession.
Rapid-fire weapons have figured in most of the massacres, including Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut, Virginia Tech University, an Orlando nightclub, a Las Vegas outdoor concert, a church In Charleston, South Carolina, a restaurant in Killeen, Texas, and an office building in San Bernardino, California. According to the Washington Post, 1,077 people have died in America’s mass shootings — including 176 children and teenagers — at the hands of 153 people armed with 292 weapons, nearly all capable of rapid fire. Such events,
once rare in the United States and still rare almost everywhere else in the developed world, are now commonplace here. Each seems to inspire another.
“Public mass shootings,” remarked the Post, “account for a tiny fraction of the country’s gun deaths, but they are uniquely terrifying because they occur without warning in the most mundane places. Most of the victims are chosen not for what they have done but simply for where they happen to be.”
We know what could be done, not just about mass killings but about gun murders, accidents and suicides in general. Follow medicine’s successful model. First, stop the spread. Prohibit assault weapons like the AR-15 and buy up those in private hands, as Australia did following its last mass killing 22 years ago. Require universal background checks — no more “gun show loophole.’’ Ban high-capacity magazines. Raise the age of legal possession to 21. Enforce the law about reporting mental illness to the national background check registry. Require manufacturers to child-proof their products.
We know also why nothing is being done. Polls consistently report overwhelming support, even among gun owners, for reasonable measures, but public opinion is lost on the Congress and most legislatures in that regard. Nothing matters but the votes and money that the fanatic leadership of the National Rifle Association can deploy for or against them. Nothing matters, really, except their re-election — no matter how many lives they might save with just a little courage on their part. To them, their offices are worth more than our children.
The NRA spent big and scored big in the 2016 election. North Carolina take note. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the gun lobby invested $30.3 million in Donald Trump’s election and another $20 million on six highprofile Senate races, losing only one. Our Republican Sen. Richard Burr, was helped to re-election with $6.3 million.
Among senators, he and fellow Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, ($4.5 million in 2014) rank second and fourth in NRA assistance. How can they be proud? The gun lobby funded one of every nine TV ads in North Carolina in 2016, according to the Center for Public Integrity.
And how did Trump and the NRA claque in Congress respond to the fresh horror in Florida? By casting it as a mental health issue. In part, it is — begging the assault weapon factor — but since they brought it up, let’s look at their record on that. One of the first things they did, a year ago, was to repeal an Obama administration rule that would have made it easier to keep guns out of the hands of the mentally ill. Burr, Tillis and Rep. Mark Meadows, R-Asheville, all voted for that.
Oh yes, they also expressed their grief, their prayers and their condolences — worthless platitudes that heap insults on the injuries. Rep. David Price, a Democrat from Raleigh, called Tillis to account on that by citing four issues that are gathering mold in Congress for lack of Republican support. One would ban bump stocks. Another would lift an effective ban on research into gun violence by the Centers for Disease Research. The new HHS secretary, Alex Azar, told a House subcommittee he’ll go ahead without a law. But there needs to be one to back him up.
A bipartisan bill to ban bump stocks was filed after the Las Vegas massacre. It hasn’t moved either.
To control gun violence, we’ll have to control the NRA’s politicians. Or vote them all out.
We’re suffering not just indifference to the lives of our children but to the soul of our country — in thrall to a ruthless lobby serving an industry that depends on selling ever more guns to people who already have more than enough. American lives aren’t worth a penny to them.
But they should be worth something to people like Burr and Tillis, more than even the NRA’s money.
It’s blood money, senators. How can you live with yourselves? What do you plan to say if the unthinkable happens here?
(Martin A. Dyckman is a retired journalist who lives in Western North Carolina. dyckmanm@bellsouth.net)
Public broadcasting cuts would not serve WNC well
The Trump administration in midFebruary unveiled its proposed federal budget for 2019. The proposal calls for the total elimination of federal appropriations for public broadcasting. The present level of funding to public broadcasting ($445 million) represents a microscopic portion of federal spending, but the impact this proposed cut will have on public broadcasting will be anything but small, particularly for public radio and the countless communities served by it. Federal budgets may seem abstract and not immediately relevant to us, but as the old saying goes, “All politics is local.” With respect to this, it is important for us in Western North
Carolina consider the impact that a defunded public radio could have for our region.
I have been studying public radio in various ways for 20 years, and I have lived in Western North Carolina for the past 16. In that time, I have followed closely the welfare of public radio in our region, most specifically WCQSFM, now commonly referred to as Blue Ridge Public Radio. BPR
has grown to feature thoughtful, in-depth stories that focus on issues important to our communities here in the far western counties. Additionally, BPR has featured the expert analysis of The Smoky Mountain News’ Cory Vaillancourt, offering insight regarding our local governments and local community affairs. BPR also is in the process of hiring a fulltime reporter to further improve their coverage of the far western counties. In short, Blue Ridge Public Radio has emerged as an invaluable resource to our region.
The administration’s stated rationale for eliminating funding for public broadcasting is that federal appropriations make up only a
small portion of the revenue flowing into public broadcasting, most of the money coming in the form of private donations. In my assessment, this reveals a profound misunderstanding of the history and intent behind the creation of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in 1967. Part of the text of that bill reads as follows:
“… (this legislation) furthers the general welfare to encourage public telecommunications services which will be responsive to the interests of people both in particular localities and throughout the United States, which will constitute an expression of diversity and
Guest Columnist
Martin Dyckman
Guest Columnist
Peter Nieckarz
Voters need to realize what Trump really is
To the Editor:
Try as hard and I can, I just can’t make myself believe someone would write such as editorial “Trumps detractors are the hypocrites.” Maybe she can’t understand what she reads or why bother to even read what else is out there. It is much less stressful to get her education from FOX News. Why go any place else because all other news is “Fake News” anyway.
Or would her knowledge have come from the “swamp” her hero promised to drain? After all, when any swamp is drained the frogs have to go somewhere. Maybe one of them dropped by her place.
I would go farther, but if she hasn’t caught on by now to what Trump really is there is no hope. Why waste the time?
Tom Boyd Ironduff
excellence, and which will constitute a source of alternative telecommunications services for all the citizens of the nation; it is in the public interest to encourage the development of programming that involves creative risks and that addresses the needs of unserved and underserved audiences ….”
The question of whether or not public stations could raise enough money on their own to remain on the air was never a concern. Congress was not trying subsidize failing organizations. The intent behind federal support for public broadcasting was to create a segment of the media that was insulated from the pressures of a commercial market. Federal legislation clearly defines the role of broadcasting to be one of community service to all populations, offering a diverse marketplace of ideas. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting was established in reaction to a demonstrable lack of diversity and choice on the existing commercial airwaves. In other words, a radio station that sees mere audience size as means to ensure private funding will be forced to make programming choices focused on garnering large audiences and will lead to a narrowing-down of the content and ideas heard on the airwaves.
NPR and many of its member stations probably would survive without CPB funding. However, studies I have conducted suggest that pushing public radio further toward reliance on “listener sensitive income” (money raised from commercial underwriting and listener donations) would almost surely have an adverse impact on its content, forcing stations to make programming decisions in a way more akin to that of commercial broadcasting.
Scholars of the media have noted that rural areas are left underserved by commercial media outlets, therefore public radio plays an especially important role in communities like ours. A 2014 report from the Pew Research Center concluded that, given current economic realities, commercial media has a decidedly national and international focus, forsaking media service focusing on local communities. This presents a scenario where public media is the best chance for meaningful local media service in rural areas.
It has been heartening to see Blue Ridge Public Radio make such a strong commitment to our communities. Federal funding has helped to make that happen. The 2019 budget negotiation process is just starting. We shall see if our congressional representatives (Rep. Mark Meadows, Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis) are equally committed to the far western counties.
(Peter Nieckarz Jr. is an associate professor of sociology at Western Carolina University. He specializes in social movement and mass media.)
We can change, as the past has shown us
My grandfather loved guns. He had a magnificent collection, including a dazzling array of pistols, shotguns, and rifles, some very old and exotic. These he kept locked in a gun cabinet that was strictly off limits not just to children, but to anyone. Most days, he wore a pistol strapped to his side just like Wyatt Earp, though his was more likely to be used to shoot a copperhead or water moccasin than some rounder in a saloon.
from forgetfulness and into another reality. Suspicion turned into psychosis. Skepticism turned into paranoia.
We knew that we had to talk about his guns. Would he actually shoot someone? By then, he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, so we knew it was only going to get worse. He would have days that were more or less lucid, and other days when he just could not dial in reality. Those were the days that scared us the most.
I have been thinking a lot about my grandpa after the latest mass shooting in Florida that left 17 people dead, wondering what he would think about it all, what he would think about what the NRA has become and of the irony in its focus on gun safety back in those days. These days, it is a powerful political lobby dedicated to the prevention of even the most basic safety measures such as background checks and a ban on semi-automatic guns.
When I was 10 or 11, he decided I was old enough to learn about guns, so he taught me how to shoot a pistol. The very first and most important lesson was about safety. I should always assume any gun was loaded, but never leave a gun loaded. I should never point a gun at anyone, loaded or not. He taught me how to grip it, how to stand, how much pressure to put on the trigger, how to absorb the kickback. Then he set up a target on the dirt bank across the road, and we took turns firing off rounds to see how close I could come to the bulls-eye. I remember the smell of the gunpowder, acrid and hot, the ringing in my ears after each shot, and the thrill of having something so powerful in my hands. I remember how proud he was when I hit the target, the way he called me “ChrisTOE-fer” when he was feeling playful, which was not all that often.
A year or so later, he taught me how to shoot a rifle and a shotgun. I got a double barrel shotgun for Christmas that year and took an NRA gun safety class as a condition of getting my own gun, which I had to promise never to load in the house.
He taught me how to hunt rabbits, squirrels, and pheasants, how to lead them in the sights of the gun so as not to miss behind every time. When I killed my first rabbit, he showed me how to skin it. After I went hunting with him five or six times, he said I had learned enough to go out on my own, which was one of the proudest memories of my childhood. I never felt more grown up than the first time I took my shotgun out into the woods to hunt rabbits and squirrels all by myself, so fully alert to every noise, so careful to remember all of his rules, tips, and advice.
In those days, a whole bunch of guys at my school had gun racks in their trucks, and a lot of them had training very similar to mine. Hunting was — and still is — a part of the culture. I remember several fist-fights and a lot of bullying, but nobody ever brought a rifle into the school and shot a bunch of people.
It was a different time and place, different in so many ways. Most people, including a lot of my classmates, smoked cigarettes — my school had a smoking area where people could go smoke between classes — and almost nobody wore a seat belt. Gay people kept quiet about it and went out of town on the weekends.
When I went off to college, I lost interest in hunting and in guns in general. I sold my shotgun to fund a trip to the beach with some buddies, and I have not been hunting since. My grandfather never lost interest in his guns. Many years later, when he began to get more forgetful and confused, we wrote it off as a natural part of the aging process. He’d forget where he put his keys, or why he had come into the kitchen, or when was the last time he mowed the yard. Harmless. Almost cute.
One day, he became convinced that a man he knew had stolen his banjo. He went to the sheriff’s office to swear out a warrant. But the man had been dead for a few years, and his banjo was safe at home. Just like that, he had slipped over
Guns have always been part of American culture, but like my grandfather, America has gotten sick and lost touch with reality. I have seen a lot of people pining for those days of relative innocence and sanity, people who seem to have forgotten the cultural battles that were fought — and won — to protect people from the lies of the tobacco lobby. We held tobacco companies responsible, and the culture changed when nobody thought it could. Now, there are no smoking areas in our schools, a tiny fraction of the population smokes, and the difference in tobacco-related deaths and health problems is staggeringly better. We passed seatbelt laws because too many people were dying because they would not buckle up. Again, hundreds of thousands of lives saved, and the culture changed.
Even lawn darts were banned because they were dangerous. There were other games people could play that wouldn’t kill them. Case closed.
Now, we live in a country in which mass shootings are a regular occurrence. We know this. It has become depressingly, agonizingly predictable. We know politicians will offer “thoughts and prayers” for the victims and their families. We know they will do nothing else. It is a cycle of tragedy, grief, frustration, and repeat. “Thoughts and prayers” is now just a sad punchline, a placeholder, a platitude. Without a commitment to repent of our sins — the sins of neglect, the sins of complicity, the sins of a “me-first culture” that prizes guns above the lives of its children — those prayers ring hollow. We are told that nothing can be done. That the problem is people, not guns. That the Second Amendment must not be infringed. Yes, something can be done. Yes, we have a gun problem. Yes, we can preserve the right to bear arms without permitting any gun that can fire off 45-60 rounds in less than a minute into the hands of mentally ill teenagers. Or into anyone’s hands.
People pine for saner times. I do, too. Did you know that Ronald Reagan, the patron saint of the right wing, supported a ban on assault weapons in 1994, as well as the Brady Bill, with a whole slew of restrictions on gun ownership? Today, he would be branded as weak and a sell-out.
Above all, we need to realize that our country is sick with this violence and quit whining and insisting that our right to own any weapon of our choosing is sacrosanct. There is no valid reason that any citizen needs to own or possess semi-automatic weapons. You don’t need one to hunt rabbits, you don’t need one to protect your family, and you don’t need one for target practice. They were made to kill people, and they need to be banned. We ought to begin a buyback program tomorrow, and the week after that, we ought to make it a felony if anyone is caught with one. You can get by just fine with a revolver, a shotgun, and a bolt action rifle, just as my gun-loving grandfather did for his entire life.
That is not all that needs to be done, and it will not solve the problem or change the culture overnight. But it is a good first step. It is sane. It’s common sense. The culture can change. We’ve seen it happen before. When you are remembering the good old days, remember that part of it as well. (Chris Cox is a writer and teacher. jchriscox@live.com)
Columnist
Chris Cox
tasteTHE mountains
CITY LIGHTS CAFE
Spring Street in downtown Sylva. 828.587.2233. Open Monday-Saturday
BOURBON BARREL BEEF & ALE
454 Hazelwood Ave., Waynesville, 828.452.9191. Lunch daily 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; dinner nightly at 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday. Wine Down Wednesday’s: ½ off wine by the bottle. We specialize in handcut, all natural steaks from local farms, incredible burgers, and other classic american comfort foods that are made using only the finest local and sustainable ingredients available.
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 8:00 to 9:30am; Lunch from 12 to 2:00pm; and Dinner featuring entrees such as prime rib, Virginia ham and lime-marinated chicken, complemented by seasonal vegetables, homemade breads, jellies and desserts. And a roaring fire in the fireplace. We also offer a fine selection of wine and craft beer. Come enjoy mile-high mountaintop dining with a spectacular view. Reservations are required. For more details, please call 828.926.1401.
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 hand-cut fries. Locally sourced beef. Indoor and outdoor dining. facebook.com/ChurchStreetDepot, twitter.com/ChurchStDepot.
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, desserts. Enjoy live music every Friday and Saturday night at 7pm. www.classicwineseller.com. Also on facebook and twitter.
COUNTRY VITTLES: FAMILY STYLE RESTAURANT
3589 Soco Rd, Maggie Valley.
828.926.1820 Winter hours: Wednesday through Sunday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. 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.
DELLWOOD FARMHOUSE RESTAURANT
651 Dellwood Rd., Waynesville.
828.944.0010. Warm, inviting restaurant serving delicious, freshly-made Southern comfort foods. Cozy atmosphere; spacious to accommodate large parties. Big Farmhouse Breakfast and other morning menu items served 8 a.m. to noon. Lunch/dinner menu offered 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Come see us. You’ll be glad you did! Closed Wednesdays.
EVERETT HOTEL & BISTRO
16 Everett St.,Bryson City. 828.488.1934
Open daily for dinner at 4:30 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday Brunch from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; dinner from 4:30-9:30 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. 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.
FERRARA PIZZA & PASTA
243 Paragon Parkway, Clyde. 828.476.5058. Open Monday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday 12 to 8 p.m. Real New Yorkers. Real Italians. Real Pizza. A full service authentic Italian pizzeria and restaurant from New York to the Blue Ridge. Dine in, take out, and delivery. Check out our daily lunch specials plus customer appreciation nights on Monday and Tuesday 5 to 9 p.m. with large cheese pizzas for $9.95.
FRANKIE’S ITALIAN TRATTORIA
1037 Soco Rd. Maggie Valley. 828.926.6216 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Father and son team Frank and Louis Perrone cook up dinners steeped in Italian tradition. With recipies passed down from generations gone by, the Perrones have brought a bit of Italy to Maggie Valley.
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
Open for dinner at 4:30 to 9 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. World-famous 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.
JUKEBOX JUNCTION
U.S. 276 and N.C. 110 intersection, Bethel. 828.648.4193. 7 a.m. to 8 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.
MAD BATTER FOOD & FILM
617 W. Main Street Downtown Sylva. 828.586.3555. Open Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and
Saturday 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Sunday brunch 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Handtossed pizza, steak sandwiches, wraps, salads and desserts. All made from scratch. Beer and wine. Free movies Thursday trought Saturday. Visit madbatterfoodfilm.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.
MAGGIE VALLEY RESTAURANT
2804 Soco Road, Maggie Valley. 828.926.0425. 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Daily specials including soups, sandwiches and southern dishes along with featured dishes such as fresh fried chicken, rainbow trout, country ham, pork chops and more. Breakfast all day including omelets, pancakes, biscuits & gravy. facebook.com/carversmvr; instagram @carvers_mvr.
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.
NEWFOUND LODGE RESTAURANT
1303 Tsali Blvd, Cherokee (Located on 441 North at entrance to GSMNP).
828.497.4590. Open 7 a.m. daily. Established in 1946 and serving breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. Family style dining for adults and children.
PATIO BISTRO
30 Church Street, Waynesville.
828.454.0070. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Breakfast bagels and sandwiches, gourmet coffee, deli sandwiches for lunch with homemade soups, quiches, and desserts. Wide selection of wine and beer. Outdoor and indoor dining.
PIGEON RIVER GRILLE
101 Park St., Canton.
828.492.1422. Open Tuesday through Thursday 3 to 8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday noon to 9 p.m.; Sunday noon to 6 p.m. Southern-
tasteTHE mountains
inspired restaurant serving simply prepared, fresh food sourced from top purveyors. Located riverside at Bearwaters Brewing, enjoy daily specials, sandwiches, wings, fish and chips, flatbreads, soups, salads, and more. Be sure to save room for a slice of the delicious house made cake. Relaxing inside/outside dining and spacious gathering areas for large groups.
RENDEZVOUS RESTAURANT AND BAR
Maggie Valley Inn and Conference Center 70 Soco Road, Maggie Valley 828.926.0201
Home of the Maggie Valley Pizzeria. We deliver after 4 p.m. daily to all of Maggie Valley, J-Creek area, and Lake Junaluska. Monday through Wednesday: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. country buffet and salad bar from 5 to 9 p.m. $11.95 with Steve Whiddon on piano. Friday and Saturday: 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday 11:30 to 8 p.m. 11:30 to 3 p.m. family style, fried chicken, ham, fried fish, salad bar, along with all the fixings, $11.95. Check out our events and menu at rendezvousmaggievalley.com
SAGEBRUSH STEAKHOUSE
1941 Champion Drive, Canton
828.646.3750 895 Russ Ave., Waynesville
828.452.5822. Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Carry out available. Sagebrush features hand carved steaks, chicken and award winning BBQ ribs. We have fresh salads, seasonal vegetables and scrumptious deserts. Extensive selection of local craft beers and a full bar. Catering special events is one of our specialties.
SALTY DOG’S SEAFOOD & GRILL
3567 Soco Road, Maggie Valley.
828.926.9105. Open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. Full service bar and restaurant located in the center of Maggie Valley. Featuring daily $6 lunch specials and daily dinner specials such as $1 Taco Tuesdays and 45¢ Wednesday Wings. Backyard Bar is open every weekend thru October. Join us for every NFL game.
SMOKEY SHADOWS LODGE
323 Smoky Shadows Lane, Maggie Valley
828.926.0001. Check Facebook page for hours, which vary. Call early when serving because restaurant fills up fast. Remember when families joined each other at the table for a delicious homemade meal and shared stories about their day? That time is now at
Smokey Shadows. The menus are customizable for your special event. Group of eight or more can schedule their own dinner.
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.
TAP ROOM BAR & GRILL
176 Country Club Drive, Waynesville. 828.456.3551. Open seven days a week serving lunch and dinner. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tucked away inside Waynesville Inn, the Tap Room Bar & Grill has an approachable menu designed around locally sourced, sustainable, farm-to-table ingredients. Full bar and wine cellar. www.thewaynesvilleinn.com.
TRAILHEAD CAFE & BAKERY
18 N Main Street, Waynesville.
828.452.3881 Open 7 days a week. You will find a delicious selection of pastries & donuts, breakfast & lunch along with a fresh coffee & barista selection. Happy Trails!
VITO’S PIZZA
607 Highlands Rd., Franklin.
828.369.9890. Established here in in 1998. Come to Franklin and enjoy our laid back place, a place you can sit back, relax and enjoy our 62” HDTV. Our Pizza dough, sauce, meatballs, and sausage are all made from scratch by Vito. The recipes have been in the family for 50 years (don’t ask for the recipes cuz’ you won’t get it!) Each Pizza is hand tossed and made with TLC. You’re welcome to watch your pizza being created.
WAYNESVILLE PIZZA COMPANY
32 Felmet Street, Waynesville. 828.246.0927. Open Monday through Friday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 10 p.m.; Sunday noon to 9 p.m.; closed Tuesdays. Opened in May 2016, The Waynesville Pizza Company has earned a reputation for having the best hand-tossed pizza in the area. Featuring a custom bar with more than 20 beers and a rustic, family friendly dining room. Menu includes salads, burgers, wraps, hot and cold sandwiches, gourmet pizza, homemade desserts, and a loaded salad bar. The Cuban sandwich is considered by most to be the best in town.
Events begin at 7:15pm unless otherwise noted. Dinner and Music reservations at 828-452-6000.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23
Tina and Her Pony ukulele, cello, banjo, vocals. Folk-Americana, Originals.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24
Joe Cruz piano, vocals. Beatles, Elton John, James Taylor + More.
FRIDAY, MARCH 2
Daniel Shearin guitar, vocals. Americana, Originals.
SATURDAY, MARCH 3
Joe Cruz piano, vocals. Beatles, Elton John, James Taylor + More.
FRIDAY, MARCH 9
‘Round the Fire guitar, harmonica, bass, percussion, vocals. Rock, Folk-Americana, Originals.
SATURDAY, MARCH 10
Joe Cruz piano, vocals. Beatles, Elton John, James Taylor + More.
On your plate, on the plateau Spring vegetable chow chow
Chef Ken Naron of Canyon Kitchen
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER
Though the culinary and agricultural history of Southern Appalachia is as vast and robust as the tall and rigorous mountains that make up this region, the intense worldwide focus and adoration for the ingredients, recipes and folks who stir it all together is more of a 21st century phenomenon.
The culinary story of this area has always been here. And it has always been told. But, it’s only in the modern era do we find so many ears finally listening, so many mouths eating in gusto the rich flavors, intricate styles and unique attitudes that waft from each dish presented before you.
Beyond the bright lights of Asheville — with a multitude of exquisite restaurants where you find yourself using them as directional markers toward the next “must try” spot — you head west on N.C. 280, ultimately up into the rugged hills of Jackson County along the U.S. 64 roadside.
And just outside of the Cashiers crossroads, tucked into the Lonesome Valley property, is the culinary delights of the Canyon Kitchen. Bridging farm-to-table ingredients and cosmopolitan flair, Chef Ken Naron and his team are the torchbearers of a culinary revolution that continues to captivate the appetites of Western North Carolina.
Smoky Mountain News: In terms of the foodie scene, there has been a huge explosion in interest and focus on southern cuisine and culinary culture. Why is that, and what do you attribute that to?
Ken Naron: We have the greatest food in the world here in the south. Our food culture is so ethnically diverse in the south. Think about all the different people that have come into America in the southern region. These different cultures have brought their food and traditions with them and have shared them. Our learning and sharing things with each other makes for some really delicious food.
“Our goal is to represent the region in the best possible way by honoring traditions and creating new ones.”
— Chef Ken Naron
SMN: What ingredients do you find the most enjoyable to use that hail from the native soils of Western North Carolina and greater Southern Appalachia?
KN: Ramps. I love ramps. We don’t have them in [my native] Louisiana and it’s one of my favorite ingredients here. Candy roaster squash is another ingredient that’s great. They can be used in so many ways. The heirloom corns that grow around here are amazing. I’m
Sip, savor, jam at ‘Root Bound’
Highlands’ popular celebration of Appalachian food, music and culture, “Root Bound” will return Feb. 23-25 at participating locations.
• A James Beard “Best Chef Southeast” semifinalist, Chef John Fleer will host Friday’s opening night dinner with live music at The Farm at Old Edwards.
• Throughout Saturday, there will be several interactive workshops, from mixology to songwriting, and much more.
astonished that the different varieties growing here have been here for as long as they have. It says a lot about the region and the people in it.
SMN: What about ingredients folks might not be aware of, in name and in possibilities, that are from this region?
KN: When I moved here, I noticed two greens growing that I didn’t see on any menus. First, was Dandelion greens. The Italian name is “puntarelle.” We used to get them from our farmers out west. They’re bitter, but very edible. I like to marinate them with some lemon zest and olive oil, and flash them on the grill, just enough to wilt them. You can chop them up, add them to grains, grits, sweet corn, pretty much anywhere you want to add a bitter element. The second was goose foot (aka: lambs quarters/wild spinach). This is another green that’s edible and everywhere during the spring. It has a pretty mild spinach flavor, but a little different than the stuff grown commercially. I like to add them to salad greens or sautéed real quick with bacon and onions.
SMN: Canyon Kitchen. What’s the philosophy with your restaurant?
KN: Our philosophy is to use the best ingredients and products from our region to create a unique experience that can’t be duplicated anywhere else. Our goal is to represent the region in the best possible way by honoring traditions and creating new ones. We grow lettuces, corn, radishes, carrots, beets, beans, peas, herbs, shallots. I know we’re not the only restaurant that grows its own produce, but we also turn all our vegetable waste into compost to use in our garden. We’re huge believers in seed-to-stem cooking. We make a lot of our own pickles, vinegars, jams and jellies. When we produce an ingredient, we look at it and figure out a unique way to use it or turn it into another product. We diversify our pantry as much as we can with
• Also on Saturday, there will be a keynote “Appalachian Chat” with James Beard awarded author Ronni Lundy and New York Times bestselling author Sharyn McCrumb, with the luncheon by Chef Ken Naron of Canyon Kitchen and Old Edwards’ Executive Chef Chris Huerta.
• The popular artisans and farmers market will once again be set up during Saturday’s lunch at The Bascom.
• Saturday night’s multi-chef dinner at The Farm breaks out even more culinary talent with live food stations by Chefs John Fleer of Rhubarb, Ian Boden of The Shack, Annie Pettry of
By Chef Ken Naron
• 6 cups white vinegar
• 3 cups gran sugar
• 2 tablespoons fennel seed
• 2 tablespoons yellow mustard seed
• 2 tablespoons coriander seed
• 5 medium carrots peeled & bias cut
• 3-4 bushels small green asparagus cut into circles
• 2 medium golden beet cut into quarters thin blanched
• 1 large watermelon radish small diced/ blanched
• 4 sweet onions small diced
• 1 cup Lima beans cooked/drained
• 2-3 pounds pole beans bias cut & blanched
Bring the vinegar, sugar and spices to a boil and cook for five minutes. Add all the vegetables and cook until tender with a crunch. Add to sterilized mason jars, put lid on until finger tight or process in a water bath until sealed. Let cool to room temperature and put up. I like to let it sit at least a month before I eat it, if l can wait that long.
what we have available. Our flavor combinations and nuances are what separates us.
SMN: When you’re in midst of a dinner rush, with everything and everyone in overdrive, where do you go in your mind?
KN: In the heat of it all, is when my thoughts seem to be the most clear. It’s almost like being in love — heart is racing, eyes widening, blood pumping, senses heightened. It’s all very crazy, and very fun. Professionally speaking, it’s a sense of accomplishment. When you’re busy and feeding a lot of guests, it means that you’re doing something right. My thoughts are that every plate has to be excellent in taste and presentation. You eat with your eyes. It has to look good, but, more importantly, it has to taste good.
Editor’s Note: Canyon Kitchen is open Wednesday-Sunday from May through October. If you would like to know more about the Canyon Kitchen in Lonesome Valley and/or to make a reservation, click on www.lonesomevalley.com.
Decca, Denny Trantham of US Foods, John Stehling of Early Girl Eatery, Aaron Deal of River and Rails Restaurant, Ashley Capps of Buxton Hall Barbecue, and Chef Chris Huerta.
• Saturday evening, Highlands Performing Arts Center will sponsor and host Grammy-winning bluegrass band The SteelDrivers.
• The event will culminate in a “Sunday Bluegrass Gospel Brunch” featuring popular Early Girl Eatery Chef John Stehling with crowd-favorite Denny Trantham.
For more information on purchasing passes and a full list of events, visit www.rootboundhighlands.com or call 828.787.2635.
This must be the place
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD
‘It’s herd behavior, it’s evolution, baby’
Cape Cod.
Well, to be more specific, the small seaside town of Chatham, Massachusetts, on the southeastern coast of Cape Cod. April 20, 1999. My family and I emerged from our old Nissan Quest minivan to check into our bed and breakfast for spring break.
At 14 years old, my worries and cares were minimal, mostly thinking about a girl I liked in eighth grade or how long my batteries were good for in my handheld CD player, the headphones seemingly never leaving my ears (Sugar Ray’s “14:59” and Lit’s “A Place In The Sun” were the melodic obsessions at the time).
HOT PICKS
1
Rock/funk act Porch 40 will hit the stage at 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva.
2
The “Haywood Ramblings” speaker series will return with the “History of Cataloochee Valley” at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 1, at the Town Hall Board Room in Waynesville.
3
Honky-tonk/rock act Lorin Walker Madsen & The Hustlers will perform at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23, at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville, and 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, at The Water’n Hole Bar & Grill in Waynesville.
4
Western Carolina University will host Sarah Elizabeth Burkey & Susan Pepper (oldtime/bluegrass) at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 1, at the Mountain Heritage Center in Cullowhee.
5
Swain County Genealogical and Historical Society will present “The Life and Times of D. K. Collins” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 1, at the Swain County Regional Business Education & Training Center in Bryson City.
But, something out of the corner of my eye in the lobby provoked me to take them off my head. It was the nearby television. On the screen were kids my age running away from a school that resembled mine back in Upstate New York. The news ticker on the bottom of the screen said something about a shooting in a high school, some place I’d never heard of called Columbine, Colorado. Twelve students and one teacher were shot down in cold blood (and 21 wounded) by Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold before they took their own lives on that fateful morning. I remember that day vividly. And I also distinctly remember the days and weeks following Columbine, where the entire world tried to make sense of what had happened, how the term “mass shooting” now entered our daily psyche, with one question posed that still lingers above our society today — why?
As we approached the new millennium, fingers were pointed at the shooters parents (or lack thereof), rock-n-roll (more specifically Marilyn Manson), video games, and so on,
their once-safe school, kids being pulled out of broken windows in a desperate attempt to stay alive.
But, I never forgot those images of Columbine, or where I was when I first saw the carnage. I also never forgot where I was when the mass shootings happened at Virginia Tech (in my living room at college in Connecticut), the Aurora movie theater (sleeping in my truck at a lonely rest area in Virginia en route to my job interview at The Smoky Mountain News) and Sandy Hook Elementary School (sipping a beer at the former Tipping Point in Waynesville).
What’s funny is — not “haha,” but “WTF” — is that I don’t remember where I was or what I was doing when the recent shootings happened at the Umpqua Community College (9 dead), San Bernardino (14 dead), Orlando nightclub (49 dead), Las Vegas strip (58 dead) and Sutherland Springs Church (26 dead). The Stoneman Douglas High School mass shooting (17 dead) happened just last week and I can’t even remember where I was when that happened.
Is it that I simply don’t care anymore? No, that’s not it. Is it that every time something tragic like a mass shooting happens, something just as crazy and tragic happens the following day to overshadow the previous day’s news in our 24/7 mainstream media cycle? Well, that’s partly it, at least in my perspective as a journalist and millennial. There’s definitely a lot of political qualms/backdoor deals, societal helplessness, overmedicated folks and “What can one person really do?”
that ironically plays into it.
What’s weird is reading Wikipedia’s take on mass shootings in the United States. Oddly on point, I guess you could say, where the suggested psychological “causes” of mass shootings are all listed. But, one “cause” really stuck out for me, “the widespread chronic gap between people’s expectations for themselves and their actual achievement, and individualistic culture.” What a “cause,” eh? Love, it all comes down to giving and receiving love, making an honest connection with another human being, taking the time to find someone’s weakness and helping them heal before it’s too late.
Mass shootings aren’t something new, nor is public outcry to do something about it. The usual “cause and effect” of a mass shooting and how society deals with it is a broken record at this point. Mass shootings will always linger in society as long as the human condition exists. Before 2007, the “Top Three” mass shootings in America were in 1991 (23 dead), 1984 (21 dead) and 1966 (17 dead). But, as of today, the “Top 5” mass shootings all occurred in the last decade or so. For a large majority of Americans, the frustration isn’t to take the guns away, but to just to do something — one single thing — at the hands of our elected officials that maybe could curb these events from happening in such consistency, which is something to works towards as a people looking for real, tangible solutions, regardless of political party or personal feelings towards the Second Amendment.
I hold out hope, I truly do.
with no real answers beyond the mere fact these were jaded, tortured souls that wanted to inflict pain in the hearts and minds of their peers and community at-large.
Heck, for a short period, Eric Harris lived in my hometown of Plattsburgh, New York, before moving to Colorado. And the kids, teachers and parents in my school district had that same conversation that probably occurred in every academic institution across the country. Could a mass shooting happen here? What would we do if it happened here? Wasn’t that kid in sixth period gym class saying something last week about killing some people?
With time, and like clockwork, nothing did happen — at our school, in our Congress — and we went along with our lives, slowly forgetting the horror and bloodshed we witnessed on live national television, the images of bloodied students running away from
Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold.
‘Songs & Stories of the American West’
The Macon County Public Library will present an evening of “Songs and Stories of the American West” with the western troubadours Kerry Grombacher & Aspen Black at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, at the library in Franklin.
The duo will also perform at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva.
Two nationally-touring professional singer-songwriters team up for a concert that is top-notch, culturally educational, and fun for all ages.
Black (a horse trainer and former rodeo cowgirl) and Grombacher (M.A. in
WCU ‘From the New World’ concert
Western Carolina University student musicians will join members of the Asheville Symphony Orchestra for a performance celebrating the American musical spirit, titled “From the New World,” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, in Cullowhee.
The concert at the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center is part of the ongoing Artist-in-Residence Program, a partnership between the WCU School of Music and the Asheville Symphony Orchestra that brings professional musicians together with student musicians for a collaborative orchestral experience.
The program will feature symphonic masterworks played by the orchestra, opening with “Fanfare and Dance,” an overture composed by Frazier. WCU faculty member Andrew Adams will be the featured piano soloist in George Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm” variations.
The program continues with “Appalachian Spring (Ballet for Martha)” by Aaron Copland and concludes with “Largo and Finale from Symphony No. 9 in E
American Cultural Studies and Ethnomusicology) weave tales that range from Billy the Kid, Buffalo Bill, and truths of the “Cormac McCarthy Universe,” to behind the scenes of the rodeo, a rancher forced off his generational land, the mythical city of El Dorado, and more.
The duo has performed concerts at places like the Historic Homestake Opera House in Lead, South Dakota, ArtCore WY, The Sagebrush Opry, the main stages of The Traditional Country Music Association Festival in Le Mars, Iowa, and the Western Music Association Convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in addition to numerous libraries, festivals, and other musical venues.
Both programs are free and open to the public.
minor, Op. 95: From the New World,” by Antonin Dvorak.
Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for faculty and staff, and $5 for students and children and can be purchased at bardoartscenter.wcu.edu or by calling the box office at 828.227.2479.
For more information about the Artistin-Residence Program, contact the School of Music at 828.227.7242.
WCU Clarinet Studio performance
Western Carolina University’s Clarinet Studio will present a recital at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25, in the recital hall of the Coulter Building on the WCU campus.
Under the direction of Shannon Thompson, professor in the WCU School of Music, the performance will feature a student-led quartet and solo musicians, with compositions by Mozart, Hindemith, Bernstein and Brahms.
The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the WCU School of Music at 828.227.7242.
WCU traditional music series
The 2017-18 First Thursday OldTime and Bluegrass Series at Western Carolina University continues with a concert featuring the mountain ballads of Sarah Elizabeth Burkey and Susan Pepper on Thursday, March 1.
Their performance at 7 p.m. in the ground-floor auditorium of H.F. Robinson Administration Building will be followed by an 8 p.m. jam session in which local musicians are invited to participate.
“A remarkable pairing of two incredible musicians, both Burkey and Pepper have delved into the deep roots of mountain song,” said Peter Koch, education associate at WCU’s Mountain Heritage Center, which sponsors the series.
“Performing a special set in time for Women’s History Month, their songs reflect the vital presence of women in Appalachian life and the tradition of women being important keepers and innovators of folk balladry in the mountains.”
Hailing from Kentucky, Burkey is a storyteller as well as singer. She has been featured on 17 albums and has performed in 19 countries. Ohio-born singer and multiinstrumentalist Pepper released an album, “Hollerin’ Girl,” in 2015 and is also a producer.
feature Charleston Township.
The First Thursday concerts and jam sessions will continue through spring, with programs from 7 to 9 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month. The program on April 5 will
The concerts and jam sessions are free and open to the public. Pickers and singers of all ages and experience levels are invited to take part in the jam sessions, which also are open to those who just want to listen.
For more information, call the Mountain Heritage Center at 828.227.7129.
Popular rock/funk act Porch 40 will hit the stage at 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, at Mad Batter
Susan Pepper.
On the beat
• Andrews Brewing Company (Andrews) will host the “Lounge Series” with George Ausman (singer-songwriter) Feb. 24 and Wyatt Espalin (singer-songwriter) March 3. All shows are free and begin at 5 p.m. www.andrewsbrewing.com.
• Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host 1898 (Americana) Feb. 23, Amy Andrews (singersongwriter) March 2 and Nick Prestia (singer-songwriter) March 9. All shows begin at 8 p.m. www.facebook.com/balsamfallsbrewing.
• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host an acoustic jam with Main St. NoTones from 6 to 9 p.m. Feb. 22 and March 1. Free and open to the public. www.blueridgebeerhub.com.
• The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host Tiny & Her Pony (Americana) Feb. 23, Joe Cruz (piano/pop) Feb. 24 and March 3, and Daniel Shearin (guitar/vocals) March 2. All shows are free and begin at 7 p.m. 828.452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com.
• Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host Twelfth Fret (Americana/folk) Feb. 24, Boot Scootin’ 6 p.m. Feb. 27 and Redleg Huskey (Americana) March 10. All shows are free and begin at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.curraheebrew.com.
• The Cut Cocktail Lounge (Sylva) will host Bird In Hand (Americana/folk) 8 p.m. Feb. 23 and DJ Gemini Moon Feb. 24. All shows are free and open to the public.
• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host Loren Walker Madison & The Hustlers (Americana) Feb. 23, So What? Feb. 24 and Keil Nathan Smith Band March 10. All shows are free and begin at 7 p.m. www.froglevelbrewing.com.
• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will have an Open Mic night Feb. 21 and 28, and a jazz night with the Kittle/Collings Duo Feb. 22 and March 1. All events are free and begin at 8 p.m. www.innovation-brewing.com.
• Isis Music Hall (Asheville) will host Robinson Treachers & Sarah Tucker 7 p.m. Feb. 22, Abbie Gardner 7 p.m. Feb. 23, Tombstone Highway 9 p.m. Feb. 23, Laura Cortese & The Dance Cards 7 p.m. Feb. 24, Aubrey Logan (jazz/soul) 9 p.m. Feb. 24, Russ Wilson & The Wrong Crowd 5:30 p.m. Feb. 25, Danika & The Jeb 7 p.m. Feb. 28, AmiciMusic 7 p.m. March 1 and Molly Tuttle 8:30 p.m. March 1. For more information about the performances and/or to purchase tickets, click on www.isisasheville.com.
• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Social Insecurity (Americana) Feb. 23, The Chris Cooper Project (funk/fusion) Feb. 24, Dirty Dave Patterson (singer-songwriter)
March 2 and Twist of Fate (hard rock) March 3. All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m. There will also be an open mic night at 6:30 p.m. every Thursday. www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.
• Nantahala Brewing (Bryson City) will host Rick Rushing & The Blues Strangers (blues/rock) at 8 p.m. March 17. All shows are free and open to the public. www.nantahalabrewing.com.
• The Oconaluftee Visitor Center (Cherokee) will host a back porch old-time music jam from 1 to 3 p.m. March 17. All are welcome to come play or simply sit and listen to sounds of Southern Appalachia.
• Pub 319 (Waynesville) will host an open mic night from 8 to 11 p.m. on Wednesday with Mike Farrington of Post Hole Diggers. Free and open to the public.
• Salty Dog’s (Maggie Valley) will have Karaoke with Jason Wyatt at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays, Mile High (classic rock) 8 p.m. Wednesdays, and an Open Jam with Rick 8 p.m. Thursdays.
• Satulah Mountain Brewing (Highlands) will host “Hoppy Hour” and an open mic at 6 p.m. on Thursdays and live music on Friday evenings. 828.482.9794 or www.satulahmountainbrewing.com.
• Soul Infusion Tea House & Bistro (Sylva) will host Travis Lundsford & Jonathan Breedlove (Americana) Feb. 23, PMA (reggae/rock) March 17 and Kevin Fuller (singersongwriter) March 24. Both shows begin at 7 p.m. 828.586.1717 or www.soulinfusion.com.
• The Strand at 38 Main (Waynesville) will host an “Open Mic” night from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturdays. 828.283.0079 or www.38main.com.
• The Ugly Dog Pub (Cashiers) will host The Kind Thieves (Americana/jam) March 2 and Say What? (funk) March 9. All shows begin at 9 p.m.
• The Ugly Dog Pub (Highlands) will host High-5 (rock/Americana) Feb. 24 and The Kind Thieves (Americana/jam) March 3. All shows begin at 9:30 p.m.
• Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will host Lorin Walker Madsen (honky-tonk/rock) Feb. 24, The Talent March 2, Grandpa’s Cough Medicine (Americana) March 9 and John The Revelator (rock/blues) March 10. All shows begin at 9:30 p.m.
• Western Carolina University will host Sarah Elizabeth Burkey & Susan Pepper (oldtime/bluegrass) at 7 p.m. March 1 in the Mountain Heritage Center. The open jam will start at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.227.7129.
Utah rock rolls into Haywood
Salt Lake City-based honky-tonk/rock act Lorin Walker Madsen & The Hustlers will be performing at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23, at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville.
The band will also play at 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, at The Water’n Hole Bar & Grill in Waynesville. Opening act will be Abraham & The Old Gods.
Blending a road-tough attitude into his own brand of high desert honky punk — gritty vocals and honest lyrics laid over his take on traditional and outlaw country music, Madsen lives for playing music on the road.
For more information, visit www.lorinwalkermadsenmusic.com.
Lorin Walker Madsen & The Hustlers.
On the street
WCU ‘Cherokee Cultural Tour’
Members of the Western Carolina University community and local residents will have an opportunity to learn about various aspects of Cherokee culture as the “Cherokee Cultural Tour” will be offered from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27, in the Grandroom of WCU’s A.K. Hinds University Center.
The tour will include 20 stations highlighting Cherokee creative expression; Cherokee language, philosophy and worldview; tribal sovereignty and self-determination; and cultural competency.
Participations will have a chance to hear
musical performances, take part in traditional dances, learn about media representations of native peoples, and meet representatives from tribal government, the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, the Trail of Tears Association and other organizations.
Cherokee performers at the event will include the Warriors of AniKituhwa dance group, the rapper Banished DG and students from Cherokee Central Schools.
The tour is one of the culminating events for WCU’s 2017-18 interdisciplinary learning theme “Cherokee: Community. Culture. Connections.”
For more information, contact Jennifer Cooper in WCU’s Center for Service Learning at jacooper@wcu.edu.
Women of Waynesville open house
Women of Waynesville (WOW) will hold an open house event from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 1, at Room 1902 on South Main Street in Waynesville.
The open house is an opportunity for women in Haywood County to find out more about the organization and become members. WOW is an all-volunteer organization that supports the needs of women and children in Haywood County. The meet and greet will include wine, food, an icebreaker scavenger hunt, and a presentation from WOW President Jessi Stone. All are welcome. For more information, visit www.womenofwaynesville.org, follow WOW on Facebook or call 828.550.9978.
‘Life and Times of D.K. Collins’
Mary Wachacha will be presenting “The Life and Times of D. K. Collins” at the next meeting of the Swain County Genealogical and Historical Society at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 1, at the Swain County Regional Business Education & Training Center in Bryson City.
D.K. Collins (1844-1924) was known as a businessman in Bryson City. But, he was a man of many talents who served in the Confederate Army, was the permanent chairman of the Democrat Party in Swain County and served at least one term as mayor. He grew up in Smokemont and in addition to his store in Bryson City, he also had a business in Yellow Hill.
‘American Pickers’ return to WNC
Mike Wolfe, Frank Fritz, and their team are excited to return to Western North Carolina to film more episodes of the popular television show “American Pickers.”
The show is a documentary series that explores the fascinating world of antique “picking” on the History channel. The hit show follows Wolfe and Fritz, two of the most skilled pickers in the business, as they hunt for America’s most valuable antiques. They are always excited to find sizeable, unique collections or accumulations and learn the interesting stories behind them.
As they hit the back roads from coast to coast, the Pickers are on a mission to recycle
and rescue forgotten relics. Along the way, the Pickers want to meet characters with remarkable and exceptional items. The pair hopes to give historically significant objects a new lease on life, while learning a thing or two about America’s past along the way. The Pickers are looking for leads and would love to explore your hidden treasure. If you or someone you know has a large, private collection or accumulation of antiques that the Pickers can spend the better part of the day looking through, send us your name, phone number, location and description of the collection with photos to: americanpickers@cineflix.com or call 855-OLD-RUST.
Wachacha will be presenting the research that she has gathered that tells D.K.’s life story, especially his life on the Cherokee Reservation.
Wachacha continues to research the history and people who lived in this area in the 1700s and 1800s. Her roots are deeply embedded in the area and her family has been in Cherokee long before any of us can remember. In 2013, she retired after 40 years of work with the federal government having served as Division Director of Indian Health Services at IHS headquarters. She has traveled extensively with her work as well as for pleasure.
Written directions are on the Swain County Genealogy website www.swaingenealogy.com. Conversation and refreshments will follow the presentation. This is free and open to the public.
• The Cut Cocktail Lounge (Sylva) will host the Edward Gorey Birthday Celebration Feb. 22.
• Line Dance Lessons will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. every other Tuesday in Waynesville. Cost is $10 per class and will feature modern/traditional line dancing. Call 828.734.0873 or email kimcampbellross@gmail.com for more information.
• “Laughing Balsam Sangha,” a meeting for Mindfullness in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, meets will meet from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Mondays at 318 Skyland Drive in Sylva. Included are sitting and walking meditation, and Dharma discussion. Free admission. For more information, call 828.335.8210, and “Like” them on Facebook.
• There will be a free wine tasting from 1 to 5 p.m. Feb. 24 and March 3 at Bosu’s Wine Shop in Waynesville. www.waynesvillewine.com or 828.452.0120.
• A free wine tasting will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Feb. 24 and March 3 at Papou’s Wine Shop in Sylva. www.papouswineshop.com or 828.631.3075.
• Free cooking demonstrations will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturdays at Country Traditions in Dillsboro. Watch the demonstrations, eat samples and taste house wines for $3 a glass. All recipes posted online. www.countrytraditionsnc.com.
Frank Fritz and Mike Wolfe.
On the wall
New WCU art installation
The Western Carolina University Fine Art Museum at Bardo Arts Center will present “LINING: SHEATHING” through May 4, with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. April 19 in Cullowhee.
“LINING: SHEATHING” is a large-scale installation about the tactile and protective qualities of textiles by collaborators Denise Bookwalter and Lee Emma Running. This installation was developed in residencies at Penland School of Crafts, Constellation Studios, and Small Craft Advisory Press.
The focal point of the installation is a room-size tent suspended beneath a skylight. The tent is made from large printed and dyed textile panels which create a space that viewers can enter. Viewers are invited to try on one of the handmade garments and view the series of eight queen bed sized woodblock prints on handmade paper. The artists have been working together for five years, creating installations and artist books that include printed fabric, handmade paper, woodblock prints, custom garments and embroidery.
in Iowa and Denise Bookwalter is an Associate Professor of Art at Florida State University.
The WCU Fine Art Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday. Museum exhibitions and receptions are free and open to the public.
Open year-round, the WCU Fine Art Museum at Bardo Arts Center features a
In addition to the installation and exhibition inside the WCU Fine Art Museum, Bookwalter and Running have also created a three-story site-specific window installation in the Star Atrium at Bardo Arts Center. The installation is particularly engaging when viewed during the afternoon as sunlight filters through the windows at Bardo Arts Center creating a dynamic array of shadows throughout the space. Lee Running is a visual artist from Grinell College
WCU undergraduate art exhibit
The 50th annual “Juried Undergraduate Exhibit” will run Feb. 27 through March 30 in the Contemporary Gallery at Western Carolina University.
A highlight of each spring season, the exhibition is the longest running exhibition
{Celebrating the Southern Appalachians}
growing permanent collection and exhibitions highlighting regional, national, and international artists. The museum facilitates scholarly research and provides life-long learning opportunities for individuals of all ages by collecting, interpreting, and showcasing cross-cultural innovation in contemporary art.
For more information, jilljacobs@wcu.edu or 828.227.2505.
tradition at Western Carolina University.
Dr. Beth Hinderliter, associate professor of cross disciplinary studies at James Madison University, serves as juror for this display of creative expression in a variety of media by undergraduates at Western Carolina University.
A reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 22. www.wcu.edu.
Smoky Mountain Living celebrates the mountain region’s culture, music, art, and special places. We tell our stories for those who are lucky enough to live here and those who want to stay in touch with the place they love.
Subscribe or learn more at smliv.com
Do you like Legos?
The next Lego Club meeting will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, at Marianna Black Library in Bryson City.
The library provides Legos and Duplos for ages 3 and up. The only thing area children need to bring is their imagination. This program provides an excellent opportunity for children to learn how to develop fine motor skills. It also develops problem-solving skills, organization, planning through construction, and improves creativity.
All area children are invited join in and let your creativity shine. The Marianna Black Library is also requesting that you consider donating your gently used Legos and Duplos to the library, to help expand the Lego Club.
For more information, call the library at 828.488.3030. The Marianna Black Library, a member of the Fontana Regional Library, is located in downtown Bryson City at the corner of Academy and Rector.
Interested in leatherwork?
The monthly Creating Community Workshop will focus on leatherwork at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, in the Atrium of the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva.
Derek Morrow of Morrow Leatherworks will be leading the workshop. Participants will learn how to make a small, leather clutch.
All supplies will be provided, but some hand strength is necessary for leather working. The workshop is limited to 10 participants. Call the library to register.
Morrow is a self-taught leatherworker that has been working at his craft for many years. He has a whimsical, upcycled style and creates leather goods ranging from full hip bags down to knife sheaths and wallets.
The event is free and open to the public.
For more information, call the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva at 828.586.2016. This event is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Jackson County Public Library. The Jackson County Public Library is a member of Fontana Regional Library (www.fontanalib.org).
Franklin mixed media showcase
Crissy Stewart’s mixed media art will be on display during the month of February in the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.
Stewart is a Western North Carolina based visual/mixed media artist. Her work has been included in exhibitions at several gallery spaces in Asheville, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva, at the Brooklyn Art Library; and in Swannanoa at ArtSpace Charter School.
• The Penland School of Crafts Community Open House will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 3. This is an afternoon of fun and education for all ages with handson activities in most of Penland’s teaching studios. No admission is charged. For complete information visit www.penland.org.
ALSO:
• Gallery 1 Sylva will celebrate the work and collection of co-founder Dr. Perry Kelly with a show of his personal work at the Jackson County Public Library Rotunda and his art collection at the gallery. All work is for sale. Admission is free. Children are welcome. Gallery 1 has regular winter hours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday and Friday, and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. art@gallery1sylva.com.
• Mad Batter Food & Film (Sylva) will host a free movie night at 7:30 p.m. every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. For the full schedule of screenings, visit www.madbatterfoodandfilm.com.
• The Waynesville Fiber Friends will meet from 10 a.m. to noon on the second
Stewart earned a BFA in painting from Western Carolina University in 1995. Since then she has primarily worked as a social worker, but has continued to make art. Stewart’s art practice is developed within an interdisciplinary framework that explores the cultural and personal resources of information through familiar artifacts, language and imagery.
Saturday of the month at the Panacea Coffee House in Waynesville. All crafters and beginners interested in learning are invited. You can keep up with them through their Facebook group or by calling 828.276.6226 for more information.
• “Paint Nite Waynesville” will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursdays (Feb. 22, March 8) at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville. Sign up for either event on the Paint Night Waynesville Facebook page or call Robin Arramae at 828.400.9560. paintnitewaynesville@gmail.com.
• There will be a “Thursday Painters Open Studio” from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. at the Franklin Uptown Gallery. Bring a bag lunch, project and supplies. Free to the public. Membership not required. For information, call 828.349.4607.
• A “Youth Art Class” will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon every Saturday at the Appalachian Art Farm on 22 Morris Street in Sylva. All ages welcome. $10 includes instruction, materials and snack. Email appalachianartfarm@gmail.com or find them on Facebook.
On the stage
WCU welcomes ‘TAO: Drum Heart’
HART winter season continues
One of the bright spots of the winter is the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre Studio Season.
Each year, HART in Waynesville presents a festival of plays in its intimate 60-seat Feichter Studio. The space is located backstage in the Performing Arts Center at the Shelton House and for many this is where the region’s most exciting theatre happens.
Shows include: “Women and War” (Feb. 23-March 4), “Mass Appeal” (March 23-April 1) and “In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play” (April 6-15).
Tickets are only $10 with general admission seating, but reservations are recommended as many shows regularly sell out. Another cautionary note, don’t arrive late. Once the show begins, no one can be admitted.
A complete schedule is available on the HART website at www.harttheatre.org. Season tickets are also available for the winter season. Most shows traditionally run two weekends, but reservations are only taken one week at a time due to possible weather cancellations. Those attending can also dine at
‘James and the Giant Peach’ at SMCPA
The Overlook Theater Company will present a stage production of “James and the Giant Peach: A Magical Puppet Adventure” at 7 p.m. March 2-3 at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.
James is a lonely 4-year-old boy who found himself orphaned when his parents were killed by a wild rhinoceros. He is forced to live with two horrible, nasty aunts named Spiker and Sponge. They live in a ramshackle house on the top of a hill in England and James is never allowed to go out and make friends. For four years, James is forced into hard labor, fed improperly, and made to sleep on bare floorboards in the attic.
One summer afternoon after a particularly upsetting altercation with his aunts, James meets a mysterious old man who gives him a magical gift that he says will bring James hap-
A stage performance by “TAO: Drum Heart” will take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University.
“TAO: Drum Heart” is the latest production from TAO, internationally-acclaimed percussion artists. TAO’s modern, high-energy performances showcasing the ancient art of Japanese drumming have transfixed audiences worldwide. Combining highly physical, large-scale drumming with contemporary costumes, precise choreography, and innovative visuals, the performers of “TAO: Drum Heart” create an energetic and unforgettable production.
Tickets are $15 per person for groups over 20, $20 seniors/WCU faculty and staff, and $25 for adults.
For more information, visit bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.
To make reservations or for more information, call the HART box office at 828.456.6322. HART is located at 250 Pigeon Street in downtown Waynesville.
piness and great adventures. On the way home, he accidentally spills some of his gift onto a barren peach tree and a giant peach grows until it nearly reaches the size of a house.
The next day, James’ aunts sell tickets to neighbors and tourists to see the giant peach while he watches from the window of the room where he has been locked away. When night comes, James is forced to collect trash left by the crowd, which gives him a chance to take a closer look at the giant peach.
He finds a tunnel that leads to a secret room inside the peach seed where he finds a group of human-sized talking bugs. These bugs become his companions and the group embarks on an amazing adventure. The peach breaks loose and they travel through the town, over cliffs, and into the sea before they eventually end up in New York City.
Tickets are $12. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit www.greatmountainmusic.com or call 866.273.4615.
FEBRUARY SCHEDULE
Harmons’ Den Bistro at HART prior to the show.
The cast of ‘Women and War.’
KITCHEN 743
A strange mix of books crosses my desk
The first weeks of 2018 have seen some offbeat books shamble across my desk and into my fingers.
First up is John Buchan’s Mr. Standfast, also known as Mr. Steadfast. Buchan, a Scottish novelist and politician who served as Governor General of Canada from 1935 to 1940, is best remembered for his suspense novel The Thirty-Nine Steps, a grandfather in the genre of intrigue.
Alfred Hitchcock later made Buchan’s tale of a manhunt, a precursor to “The Bourne Identity,” into a film.
Having taught and enjoyed The ThirtyNine Steps, and having never heard of Mr. Standfast — or Steadfast, for that matter — I was excited to discover the book. Though I have yet to begin reading it, I have examined it and am puzzled by its outer apparel — or rather, its lack of apparel. Here is a novel measuring 8.5 inches by 11 inches, the size of a standard sheet of typing paper. Strange in itself, but open the book and inside you will find no publisher’s name, no claim to rights, no introduction to the work, no blurb, no mini-biography of the writer, nothing except a tiny note at the end of the book stating “Made in USA, Middletown, De. 27 February 2017.” I have never encountered a book so devoid of signs of publication, an anonymity which delights rather than annoys because Buchan himself so often writing of spies and nameless secret agents.
Where Were We? The Conversation Continues (St. Augustine’s Press, 408 pages, 2017) is also an exotic volume, but for entirely different reasons. Here American essayist and short-story writer Joseph Epstein and English writer and man of letters Frederic Raphael give us the correspondence they exchanged via email from January 2014 to January 2015. The book is unusual for its excellent prose. Any number of friends could produce, quite easily, 400 pages of correspondence within a year. What sets this exchange between Epstein and Raphael apart from such ordinary email exchanges is the high quality of the writing and the insights of the authors. An example: I open the book at random — I am just past page 100 — and find Epstein describing Sid
City Lights open
Caesar, star of Show of Shows in television’s Paleolithic Era:
“In the middle of the show, Caesar would come out from behind the curtain, usually dressed in his costume from the last skit, to announce, with a stammer, that “We’ll t-t-take a c-c-commercial break and be r-r-right back,” though he never stammered during any of his many skits … At
writer. Most likely, such a literary approach would appear only in correspondence in which the writers were thinking of publication.
And Epstein and Raphael were thinking precisely that. After all, a first volume of their correspondence, Distant Intimacy, has already appeared. But here is where another strange quality enters. Much as I treasure Epstein’s work — he is to me, as to many, our premier living essayist — I wondered who will read these letters. Many of the
some point, he went into psychotherapy, conquered his drinking problem, lost his stammer, became whippet thin — and promptly ceased to be the least amusing.”
Such writing with its attention to detail — that means of reproducing Sid Caesar’s stammer would occur to very few correspondents — and the swift pronouncement of judgment on Sid Caesar’s career are marks of a veteran
celebrities mentioned by the writers will be unknown to younger readers, and the sophistication of the writing will put off a general audience. Moreover, as Epstein himself points out, a great number of people no longer read books, not just books like Where Were We? but books themselves.
“My point here,” Epstein writes, “is to wonder if you and I, who are pleased to read and write books and hope to do more of it before departing the planet, aren’t the literary equivalent of blacksmiths during the early decades of the twentieth century, when the automobile was coming into vogue in a big-time way, banging away on our anvils.”
Joe, I think you just nailed it.
Nevertheless, if you are looking for the quirky, for wit, and for occasional snark, you
will find it in spades in Where Were We?
Finally, Andrew Klavan’s True Crime (Crown Publishers, 1995, 308 pages) was my popcorn book of the last week, a snack to be munched solely for the pleasure of the moment. I read — or rather, raced through — True Crime as an escape from weightier reading, winter weather, and a round of intense work. I was familiar with Klavan by way of his online essays, and so decided to give True Crime a shot when I stumbled across it on the library shelves. Here he takes us via journalist Steve Everett into the life of Frank Beachum, a man facing execution for murder despite his claims of innocence. His own life falling apart because of his infidelity to his wife, Everett finds himself forced to take on Beachum’s cause as his own after he begins to believe in the man’s innocence. Meanwhile, he wages a war of words with an editor of the paper, the district attorney, and a dozen cops.
What I particularly liked about this fastpaced story of a race against time were the characters, who despite all their human failings still battle to do the right thing. Everett, for example, is a big-mouth and a jerk who really doesn’t love much of anyone other than his little boy, yet he helps Beachum because “I had to try because … I had to. That was it. Those are the rules; I don’t make them. Once you know, you can’t stop knowing, and you have to try. Those are the rules.” Another character, Angela Russel, a black woman living in the projects, eventually lends Everett a hand in his quest for justice, fighting, like Everett, against her own prejudices to do the right thing.
Rarely have I read a novel in which I so disliked the characters, but admired so heartily what they did.
Another lesson learned.
(Jeff Minick is a writer and teacher. minick0301@gmail.com)
mic The NetWest program of the North Carolina Writers Network will host an open mic night at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. Folks are encouraged to bring their poetry or short pieces to share. Sign-ups begin at 6:45 p.m. for 10-minute reading session. The North Carolina Writers’ Network connects, promotes, and serves the writers of this state. They provide education in the craft and business of writing, opportunities for recognition and critique of literary work, resources for writers at all stages of development, support for and advocacy of the literary heritage of North Carolina, and a community for those who write. 828.586.9499 or www.ncwriters.org.
Writer Jeff Minick
Opening the gates
Lake Logan opens up to public recreation
BY HOLLY KAYS STAFFWRITER
Lake Logan is a familiar fixture of any cruise along Haywood County’s stretch of N.C. 215, an 80-acre expanse of water that creates a wide-angle view of sudden contrast to the forested tunnel forming most of the road’s winding path toward the Blue Ridge Parkway.
But for years, it’s been a well-known fact that the inviting-looking lake is off-limits to locals looking to spend a day swimming, fishing or boating.
That’s not true anymore.
“I wanted to dispel that myth, but also do it in a way that allows us to preserve the retreat atmosphere, because we do have retreat groups here who are looking for solitude and privacy and that kind of thing,” said Lauri SoJourner, executive director of the Lake Logan Conference Center since June 2017. “But we want to be a resource for the folks who live in Haywood County.”
SoJourner, previously the director of the Gravatt Camp and Conference Center in Aiken, South Carolina — like Lake Logan, it’s an Episcopal retreat center — said she and her husband have long had a love for the mountains of Western North Carolina, with a long-term plan to retire there one day. Then the job at Lake Logan opened up, and SoJourner, 44, saw a chance to execute their plan two decades early.
“It’s amazing,” she said. “We just love the place.”
Partnerships sought
The couple lives on the property, enjoying easy access to the lake and the trails, as well as fresh eggs from the chickens they keep. And now SoJourner is working to expand access to that beauty for folks who may never attend a retreat or conference there.
MORETHANALAKE
In September, Lake Logan began offering day passes and season passes to anyone who might want to come explore the property — boat in the lake, fish the waters, hike the woods. Now getting the feet of her first full year on the job good and wet, SoJourner is looking to get the word out about Lake Logan’s renewed accessibility. It seems to be working.
“We’ve gotten a lot of questions, and people are definitely interested,” she said.
So far, about five families have purchased a season pass, with plenty more taking advantage of the day pass option.
While visitors and pass holders are required to call first to ensure that the property is available on the day requested — Lake Logan hosts a variety of retreats and events, some of which require guests to have exclusive use of the property — the pass still opens up an array of recreation options on the 300-acre property.
Lake Logan offers a limited number of passes for anglers — “We want it to be good fishing,” SoJourner explained — as well as swimming and boating. However, boaters are
required to use Lake Logan’s boats rather than bringing their own in. That’s because the lake is also the retreat center’s water source, so it’s important that managers be sure that nobody brings a boat that could leak gas or oil.
“We tried that (allowing outside boats), and it was just too much of an issue to say,
‘You can bring that boat, but you can’t bring that boat,’” said Della Swanger, guest services manager at Lake Logan. “We just needed a bottom line rule.”
Lauri SoJourner,
A tree-lined gravel road winds past Lake Logan’s historic cabins.
The cemetery on Lake Logan holds graves from the late 1800s through the present day.
A boat house on Lake Logan’s shore. Holly Kays photos
Lifeguarding course offered in Waynesville
An American Red Cross lifeguarding course will be offered at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, at the Waynesville Recreation Center. Book work for the certification will be done online and skill sessions will be conducted in the rec center pool. Successful candidates must pass a swim pretest on the first day, which requires swimming 300 yards continuously, treading water for two
minutes using legs only and a timed brick dive. They will then be given a link to access the online portion of the course. After passing the line portion and exam, candidates will return to the rec center to complete the final skills session.
Become a stream monitor
Minimum age is 15 years. $200 course cost. Luke Kinsland, 828.456.2030 or lkinsland@waynesvillenc.gov.
A pair of volunteer training sessions for stream monitors through the Stream Monitoring Information Exchange will be offered next month, giving volunteers the skills they’ll need to participate in long-term monitoring projects at sites in Haywood, Madison, Buncombe, Yancey, Henderson and Mitchell counties.
Get a pass
WELCOMINGTHECOMMUNITY
n 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 17, at Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock n 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 24, at UNC-Asheville
RSVP to the March 24 training at 828.357.7411 or equilabstaff@gmail.com; RSVP to the March 17 training at mountaintrue.org/event/__trashed-2.
Lake Logan is now offering day and annual membership passes for families and
Swim/boat/picnic/hike: $5 per person day pass with $10 boat fee; $75 annual membership; $125 family membership
While Lake Logan is certainly housed on one of Haywood County’s most beautiful places, its primary mission isn’t recreation — Lake Logan is an Episcopal retreat center whose stated mission is “to serve Christ by welcoming all generations to experience restoration and reconciliation with God, one another and all creation.”
The course covers basic stream ecology, methods for reporting local water quality programs, identification of aquatic insects and stream sampling skills. It includes classroom and outdoor portions, so participants should come prepared to get wet.
Help protect the Tuck
Fish/swim/boat/picnic/hike: $35 full-day shore/river fishing or $45 full-day boat fishing, with half-day rates available; $150 annual membership; $250 family member-
In SoJourner’s view, inviting the public in to hike, boat and fish the property is completely consistent with that mission.
Lifeguards may be reserved in advance
Fishing passes are limited in order to ensure quality fishing for all anglers. Use is dependent on Lake Logan’s camp and retreat schedule — visitors, including membership holders, must call ahead to ensure the property is available on the day requested. No outside boats allowed. Dogs are welcome but owners must maintain control of pets — several friendly dogs, cats and chickens live on the property.
More information available at www.lakelogan.org/day-pass. 828.646.0095 or info@lakelogan.org.
The sparkling lake spreading out from N.C. 215 is no secret, but the Lake Logan property is more than just a lake. The mostly gravel roads winding through the retreat center are peppered with historic cabins sitting peacefully between solitary lakeshore and sweeping forest, and a spur jutting uphill from the cabin-lined road on the lake’s south side ends where the Gazebo Trail begins.
The trail, which is about 2.5 miles round trip, follows an old logging road uphill to pass through a variety of ecosystems before its terminus at one of the most beautiful views on the property, overlooking Lake Logan, the West Fork Pigeon River and the Balsam Mountains. The Cold Mountain Game Lands, managed by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, abut the trail.
On the drive back down to the main road, visitors will circle through a wellmaintained cemetery holding graves dating from the late 1800s to the present day. And, in future years, they may also have the option of hitting up a second trail on the property. Trail construction ranks high on SoJourner’s list of priorities, but she doesn’t have any specific plans as of yet.
“The old logging roads are there already, so it’s just a matter of marking and finding the time to do that,” she said.
“It fits with our mission, because we are welcoming all people. That’s Lake Logan’s mission, and it’s the Episcopal church’s mission as well,” SoJourner said. “Obviously giving them opportunities to interact with creation, interact with the land, and our thought is a lot of families are going to take advantage of this, so it’s getting them to interact with each other as well. We hope people will see God in that.”
SoJourner is working to open Lake Logan in other ways, as well. She’s put together a full program schedule for 2018, with offerings designed to appeal to the community at large. Lake Logan is planning a beer tour weekend March 9 to 11 in partnership with Leap Frog Tours, Waterfall Week July 15 to 19 with guided hikes to hidden waterfalls, artists in residence Oct. 2 to 4 and the second annual Cold Mountain Music Festival June 8 to 9.
“Some of these are experimental, so we’ll see what is the best fit for here and for this community,” SoJourner said.
She’s also hoping to increase partnerships with schools and environmental education organizations. A group from Brevard was out earlier this month to get some hands-on science experience, and a group of students from Haywood Community College is currently using the property as a laboratory to create a wildlife management plan.
“I’d love to do more partnerships like that, with both colleges and high schools, middle schools and elementary schools,” she said.
Overall, SoJourner wants to see Lake Logan become a welcoming and well-known fixture in the community — and to that end, she’s its ambassador.
“I want to really be seen as part of the Haywood County community,” she said.
“We are different than Lake Junaluska in that we are going to be a little more private than that, but I’d like for people to think of us as a resource, and a place in this community that they can use.”
After training, volunteers will work in small groups with leaders to sample at least two sites per season. Each site must be sampled once in the spring and once in the fall, about two or three hours per site. Volunteers must be 17 or older, but no experience is necessary.
The March 17 training is geared toward Henderson County volunteers, with the March 24 training aimed toward volunteers in Haywood, Madison, Buncombe, Mitchell and Yancey counties.
Free, with RSVP required and a materials donation of $15 to $20 requested for the March 24 training.
A meeting to determine the future for the Watershed Association of the Tuckaseigee River will be held 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 1, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Sylva. WATR’s longtime executive director Roger Clapp retired at the end of 2017, and a new director is needed. The meeting will be an overall chance to regroup and thoughtfully cocreate WATR’s future, goals and optimal structure. Participants will discuss WATR’s longterm vision, the potential of partner projects with key area organizations and the need to fill executive director and board member positions.
WATR is a public nonprofit that works to provide protection, education and monitoring surrounding the Tuckasegee River watershed. info@WATRnc.org.
Freedom in a can
A North Carolina couple that left their full-time jobs five years ago for a lifestyle of sustainability and adventure will share what they’ve learned along the way during a program at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, in the A.K. Hinds University Center theater at Western Carolina University.
Hike the Smokies
Shari Galiardi, formerly director of service learning at Appalachian State University, and Dave “Hutch” Hutchinson, formerly the university’s coordinator of outdoor programs, left their three-bedroom, 2.5bath house
in 2012 in favor of life on the road inside their 72-square-foot 1957 “canned ham” trailer with its solar-powered electrical system.
Outdoor enthusiasts and advocates for sustainability, the two have traveled more than 75,000 miles across the United States, passing through 49 states and more than 60 national parks and monuments, as well as four other countries.
In addition to the 7 p.m. presentation, members of the university community will be able to tour the “can” from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Central Plaza area.
Free. Sponsored by the WCU student programming organization Last Minute Productions as part of the university’s Outdoor Adventure Speaker Series. www.freedominacan.com.
The 2018 Classic Hikes of the Smokies schedule includes nine excursions along the most beautiful trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Friends of the Smokies will kick off its annual hiking series Tuesday, March 13, when Classic Hikes of the Smokies returns for its eighth year.
The series offers monthly guided day
hikes of various lengths and difficulties to raise money for the Trails Forever endowment, which funds highly skilled crews to rebuild some of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s most iconic trails. Hikes fea-
Spend happy hour with hikers
ture mountain vistas, historic structures, wildflowers, waterfalls and the chance to see firsthand the impact of restoration work done by the Trails Forever crew.
The March 13 hike will explore the Deep Creek area of the park near Bryson City, with hike leader Gracia Slater taking participants on an easy 5.5-mile loop that includes stops at three waterfalls. Slater is a two-time member of the Smokies 900-mile club and a dedicated trail caretaker.
The 2018 schedule will include an overnight in Townsend, Tennessee, exploring Cades Cove June 11-12. Otherwise, hikes are held on the second Tuesday of each month.
Hikes are $20 for Friends of the Smokies members and $35 for new or renewing members; hikers can register for the full nine-hike experience, including the all-inclusive overnight, for a discounted rate of $160. Sign up for individual hikes at www.hike.friendsofthesmokies.org or mail a check for the full series before March 1 to Friends of the Smokies, P.O. Box 3179, Asheville, N.C. 28802.
Sponsored by Smoky Mountain Living, Leap Frog Tours, Diamond Brand Outdoors, Mission Health, Equilibar, HomeTrust Bank and Smoky Park Supper Club.
The Nantahala Hiking Club will host a hiker happy hour 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23, at the Lazy Hiker Brewing Company in Franklin. The event will be a chance for trail-lovers to mingle, with a raffle held and a slide show of recent NHC activities presented. A food truck will be available and live music will begin at 8 p.m. for those who wish to stay.
Sponsored by Franklin’s Appalachian Trail Community Supporters. Bill and Sharon Van Horn, 828.369.2983.
Get ready for hiking season
Three seasoned hikers will give their diverse takes on hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway during a program at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 1, at the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center in Asheville.
Randy Fluharty, president of the Carolina Mountain Club, and Steve Metcalf, board president of the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, will discuss upcoming group hikes and their work to maintain the Parkway’s trails. A Parkway ranger will round out the program with a talk on hiking safety. Free. Sponsored by the Blue Ridge Parkway, Blue Ridge National Heritage Area and Eastern National. Amy Hollifield, 828.298.5330, ext. 301, or amy@blueridgeheritage.com.
$60/bring your own
$70/gun + ammo provided *class also includes lunch
Dave Hutchinson and Shari Galiardi.
Donated photo
Donated photo
Shiitake workshop offered
A class on growing shiitake mushrooms will be offered 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27, at the Macon County Environmental Resource Center.
The day will begin with a classroom session, explaining how shiitake growing works. Participants will then create their own shiitake logs by drilling them and inoculating them with mushroom spores. Most of the program will be outdoors, so participants should dress for the weather.
Participants should bring two hardwood logs — 4 to 6 inches in diameter and 3 to 4 feet long — to the workshop. $10 materials fee, with pre-registration required at the Macon County Cooperative Extension Center on Thomas Heights Road. 828.349.2046.
Earth Month is coming
A month-long endeavor to celebrate Earth Day is coming as the result of 20 local organizations teaming up in a collective effort titled WNC for the Planet.
Events and volunteer days will take place starting in March, with a complete — and growing — calendar online at www.wncfortheplanet.org/events/category/public-event. Events will be offered across Western North Carolina, from the Highlands of Roan to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
“Earth Day might fall on April 22, but our fellow environmental nonprofits operate as if every day is Earth Day. Because of this, we’ve decided to focus on a monthlong endeavor to encourage businesses and individuals alike to give back to our planet,” says Anna Zanetti, North Carolina Director of Friends of the Smokies.
WNC for the Planet’s Earth Month will culminate with a weekend of celebrations, including Kids Fest with RiverLink Saturday, April 21, and MountainTrue’s annual Earth Day Vigil with faith groups and a tree planting led by GreenWorks, both on Sunday, April 22.
Organizations involved include the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Asheville GreenW8orks, Bee City USA, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, Carolina Mountain Club, Conserving Carolina, Energy Savers Network, Everybody’s Environment, Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Friends of the Oklawaha Greenway, Green Opportunities, the Hemlock Restoration Initiative, MountainTrue, National Parks Conservation Association, Organic Growers School, Riverlink, the local Sierra Club group, the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, Warren Wilson College and the University of North Carolina Asheville.
Participation is open to additional organizations. Contact WNCforthePlanet@gmail.com. www.WNCforthePlanet.org.
Cold Mountain management plan seeks comment
A draft management plan for the Cold Mountain Game Lands in Haywood County is now available, with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission accepting comments through March 15.
The Cold Mountain plan is one of five draft plans recently released for game lands across the state. The drafts were conducted following a series of public meetings to gather input.
Peek behind the scenes on the Parkway
A showcase of upcoming activities and projects on the Blue Ridge Parkway will be offered 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, at the Folk Art Center on milepost 382, near Asheville.
“We’re excited to welcome park neighbors, visitors and all those who love this place to spend time learning about how our management decisions today translate into projects that protect our resources and enhance visitor experiences for years to come,” said J.D. Lee, incoming Parkway superintendent. “This is the
Experience ‘Grandma Gatewood’ walk
Actress Anne VanCuren will transform into the first woman to complete the Appalachian Trail during a dramatic reenactment at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 4, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva.
“Grandma Gatewood,” as she was known, walked the A.T. solo in 1955. During the one-hour monologue, listeners will discover what set Granny’s 2,000-mile journey in motion.
Organized by the Great Smoky Mountains Association. $20 for members; $35 non-member fee includes a Buckeyelevel membership. Sign up at http://bit.ly/2o2CBke.
The draft plan for the 3,631-acre game land is online at www.ncwildlife.org/portals/0/hunting/gameland-plans/coldmountain-glmp-draft.pdf.
Email comments to gamelandplan@ncwildlife.org, with the game land name in the subject line and the individual tract within the body of the email.
www.ncwildlife.org/gamelands.
first event of its kind for us, and we see it as an important outreach opportunity and model for building meaningful relationships with park stewards.”
Parkway staff will provide a behind-thescenes look into and answer questions about projects and operations set to affect the Parkway this year. More than 20 initiatives will be featured, organized into information stations. Representatives from Parkway partner groups like the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area will also be available to discuss the role each group plays. www.nps.gov/blr.
A view from the game lands. Donated photo
COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
• Submissions are being accepted through March 1 for the eighth annual Healthy Snack Master Competition. Presented by the Jackson County School Health Advisory Council and the Healthy for Life Action Team of the Healthy Carolinas Partnership. All individuals and groups in K-12 enrolled in Jackson County Public Schools can present an original recipe to their school’s cafeteria manager. Flyers with more info and entry forms are available from K-12 teachers. 586.2311, ext. 1936.
• Nominations are being accepted for the Haywood Community College Outstanding Alumni of the Year Award. Deadline is Thursday, March 29. Recipient will be recognized at May graduation ceremonies on May 11. Info and nomination forms: 565.4165 or trobertson@haywood.edu.
• Volunteers will be available to assist with federal and state income tax preparation and filing from through April 13 in Jackson County. The service is available from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays on a firstcome, first-serve basis at the Jackson county Senior Center in Sylva. It’s also available from 3-6:45 p.m. on Tuesdays by appointment (586.2016) at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. Info: 293.0074, 586.4944 or 586.2016. For tax prep sites in other counties: www.aarp.org.
• The popular “Haywood Ramblings” series presented by the Town of Waynesville Historic Preservation Commission will return in the Town Hall Board Room on Main Street. “History of Cataloochee Valley,” presented by Patrick Womack. Thursday, March 1. “Prominent Waynesville Families,” presented by Sarah Sloan Kreutziger. Thursday, April 5. “History of Main Street, Waynesville,” presented by Alex McKay. Thursday, May 3. All events are from 4 to 5 p.m. In case of snow, the event will be automatically rescheduled for the second Thursday of the month.
• “American Pickers Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz return to Western North Carolina to film more episodes of the popular television show.” The Pickers are looking for leads and would love to explore your hidden treasure. If you or someone you know has a large, private collection or accumulation of antiques that the Pickers can spend the better part of the day looking through, send us your name, phone number, location and description of the collection with photos to: americanpickers@cineflix.com or call 855-OLD-RUST.
• The Town of Waynesville is accepting applications from nonprofit organizations for consideration of special appropriations in the upcoming fiscal year 2018-19 budget. Applications available at www.waynesvillenc.gov/government or at the municipal building. Applications due by March 31. Info: 452.2491 or aowens@waynesvillenc.gov.
B USINESS & E DUCATION
• The Haywood County Human Resource Association (HCHRA) will host an Employer’s Summit to address Haywood County’s opioid crisis in the workplace from 9 a.m.-1:15 p.m. on Feb. 22 at Haywood Community College’s Regional High Tech Center in Clyde. RSVP by Feb. 15: mstines@haywood.edu.
• Beverly-Hanks & Associates will celebrate the grand opening of a new office from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22, at 62 N. Main St. in Weaverville. 251.1800.
• Concealed carry handgun is offered every other Saturday 8:30am-5pm starting February 24th at Mountain Range indoor shooting range. Lunch provided. Class $60. 452.7870 or mountainrangenc@yahoo.com.
All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted.
• The fourth annual Appalachian Farm School, organized by Southwestern Community College’s Small Business Center and its partners, will be held from 6-9 p.m. on Tuesdays through Feb. 27 in the Burrell Building on SCC’s Jackson Campus in Sylva. Designed for anyone in the agriculture business. Topics include business planning, farm evaluation, goal setting and more. Registration required: www.southwesterncc.edu/sbc. Info: t_henry@southwesterncc.edu or 339.4426.
• Southwestern Community College’s annual job fair is scheduled for 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22, in the Burrell Building on the college’s Jackson Campus. More than 100 employers expected. Recruiters interested in attending: 339.4424 or j_waldroup@southwesterncc.edu.
• The Free Enterprise Speaker Series returns to Western Carolina University with a discussion on net neutrality and consequences of pending legislation from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21, at the A.K. Hinds University Center theater. Free to public. apsmith@wcu.edu.
• Cashiers Area Chamber will hold a business showcase and networking reception from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22, at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Cashiers/Sapphire Valley. RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/ya5qzr5s.
• Western Carolina University will host an open house with activities through out the day for prospective students as the university on Saturday, Feb. 24 and March 24. www.openhouse.wcu.edu or 227.7317.
• The Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department will hold an American Red Cross Lifeguarding Course at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 28. $200. Must be at least 15. Info: 456.2030 or lkinsland@waynesvillenc.gov.
• “The Life and Times of D.K. Collins” will be presented by Mary Wachacha at 6:30 p.m. on March 1 at the Swain County Genealogical and Historical Society meeting at the Swain County Regional Business Education and Training Center, 45 East ridge Drive in Bryson City. Collins was a Bryson City businessman, Confederate Army veteran and chairman of the Democrat Party in Swain County. www.swaingenealogy.com.
• The Waynesville Civilian Police Academy will hold classes from 6:30-9 p.m. on eight consecutive Thursdays from March 1 through April 19 at the Waynesville Police offices on South Main Street. Academy gives citizens the opportunity to become more familiar with a wide range of police department activities. Apply: wpdcpa@outlook.com or 456.5363.
• A groundbreaking ceremony for Western Carolina University’s new science building is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Friday, March 2, in the courtyard of Hunter Library in Cullowhee. RSVP: wcuevents@wcu.edu by Feb. 26.
FUNDRAISERSAND B ENEFITS
• Donations are being accepted for the Southwestern Community College Foundation’s Student Emergency Fund through a fundraiser by Matt Kirby, college liaison for the Jackson County Early College, who’s competing the Georgia Death Race (70 miles) on March 31. Student Emergency Fund helps deserving SCC students who encounter financial emergencies that might otherwise keep them from attending and completing classes. Info: @KirbyRunsLong. Make donations: www.southwesterncc.edu/Foundation and follow listed directions. Assistance: k_posey@southwesterncc.edu or 339.4227.
• The Wildlife Club at Haywood Community College will host its 12th annual Wild Game Dinner at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 23, at the Haywood County Fairgrounds in Waynesville. Fundraiser for students. Bring your favorite wild game dish, vegetables and/or dessert. Admission: $10 (or $5 if you bring a dish). Children under 12 eat free. Info: 627.4560 or srabby@haywood.edu.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters will receive 20 percent of all sales from 5-8 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 26, at the Waynesville McDonald’s. 356.2148 or search for Big Brothers Big Sister of Haywood County on Facebook.
• The Canton Senior Center holds a fundraiser for operation by selling concessions during Canton’s Picking in the Armory starting at 5 p.m. on March 2, 16 and 23, and April 6. 648.8173.
• Registration is underway for the “Casino Royale” Autism Awareness Golf Tournament, which is set for 9:30 a.m. on Monday, April 9, at Maggie Valley Club. $400 per foursome; single-player tickets are $100. All proceeds benefit Richie’s Alliance for Autism. Sign up: www.richiesallieance.org/event/autism-awareness-golftournament or 412.2408.
• Sign-ups are underway for the Big Brothers Big Sisters annual “Bowl for Kids Sake” fundraiser, which is from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, March 10, at Sky Lanes in west Asheville. 273.3601.
• Tickets are on sale now for the Richie’s Alliance for Autism’s “Taste” event at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 11, featuring the region’s top culinary talent, awardwinning wines and local craft beer. Proceeds benefit Richie’s Alliance for Autism. Silent auction, live band and dancing. VIP tickets are $100; General admission ($45) starts at 5:30 p.m. Tickets: www.richiesalliance.org/event/taste.
VOLUNTEERS & VENDORS
• There will be an open house for the Women of Waynesville (WOW) from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 1, at Room 1902 on South Main Street in Waynesville. WOW is an all-volunteer organization that supports the needs of women and children in Haywood County. The meet and greet will also include wine, food, scavenger hunt, conversation, and other activities. All are welcome. For more information, click on www.womenofwaynesville.org or call 550.9978.
• A training opportunity for volunteers interested in “adopting a monitoring plot” inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be offered from 9:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 3, at Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee. For info or to register: Jessica_stump@partner.nps.gov or 497.1945. Info: www.usanpn.org.
• Senior Companion volunteers are being sought to serve with the Land of the Sky Senior Companion Program in Henderson, Buncombe, Transylvania and Madison Counties. Serve older adults who want to remain living independently at home in those counties.
• The Shelton House is accepting applications for crafters until March 15, 2018, with selections made by March 23, 2018. Annual Crafter Showcase Program will run April through October and will feature local crafters who will display and sell their crafts to the community. 452.1551 or info@sheltonhouse.org.
• Registration is underway for vendors who’d like to participate in the Blue Ridge Wedding Pop Up Show and Bridal Marketplace, which will be held from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, March 10, at the Cross Street Center in Spruce Pine. Features wedding vendors who specialize in helping brides plan their perfect day. To reserve space, vendors can call 765.9033.
• There is an open call currently underway for artisans, vendors and environmentally-themed booths at the 21st
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
annual Greening Up the Mountains, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 28, in downtown Sylva. Applications can be downloaded at www.greeningupthemountains.com and will be accepted through April 1. For more information, call 554.1035 or email greeningupthemountains@gmail.com.
H EALTH MATTERS
• A grief support group, GriefShare, will be held from 67:30 p.m. on Wednesdays from through May 23 at First Alliance Church in Franklin. Topics include grief’s challenges, guilt, anger, relationships with others, being stuck and what to live for now. $15 cost covers materials; scholarships available. Register: www.franklincma.com. Info: 369.7977, 200.5166, scott@franklincma.com or www.griefshare.org.
• The American Red Cross will have a blood drive from 1:30-6 p.m. on Feb. 22 at Evergreen Packaging, 34 Park Street in Canton. Redcrossblood.org or 800.733.2767.
• REACH of Haywood County, the domestic violence/sexual assault/elder abuse intervention and prevention agency, will have a training session focusing on elder abuse and teen dating violence from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Feb. 23 at the Haywood County Health and Human Services facility, 157 Paragon Parkway in Clyde. Elder abuse training is from 9:30-11:30 a.m., and teen dating violence will be discussed from 11:30-12:30 p.m. Reservations: 456.7898 or bqreach@aol.com.
• The American Red Cross will have a blood drive from noon-4:30 p.m. on Feb. 26 at the Masonic Lodge of Waynesville at 435 E. Marshall Street. Redcrossblood.org or 800.733.2767.
• National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, spearheaded by the National Eating Disorders Association, is Monday through Sunday, Feb. 26-March 4. Full schedule: www.thecenternc.org/events. Info on eating disorders: nationaleatingdisorders.org.
• Harris Regional Hospital will hold a community forum from 5:30-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 27, at the Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library in Cashiers. Opportunity for residents to share their perspective on how healthcare is consumed in small mountain communities. 586.7100.
• The American Red Cross will have a blood drive from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on Feb. 27 at Haywood County Health and Human Services, 157 Paragon Parkway in Clyde. Redcrossblood.org or 800.733.2767.
• Southwestern Community College’s therapeutic massage program is offering a massage learning clinic on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursday through early May in room 135B of Founders Hall on the Jackson Campus in Sylva. 50-minute Swedish massages ($20) and chair massages ($1 per minute). Appointments: 339.4313.
• The American Red Cross will have a blood drive from 2-6:30 p.m. on Feb. 28 at Maggie Valley Nursing and Rehab, 75 Fisher Loop in Maggie Valley. Redcrossblood.org or 800.733.2767.
• Classes to help you take control of your diabetes will
be offered from 10 a.m.-noon on Wednesdays through Feb. 28 at the Canton Library, 11 Pennsylvania Ave., in Canton. Family members, caregivers and friends also welcome to attend. Register at the Senior Resource Center or call 356.2800.
• A “Project 24” program for anyone diagnosed with pre-diabetes – or who knows they’re at risk – is offered at 5:30 p.m. at Haywood County Health and Human Services. 24 one-hour classes. First class was Jan. 22. Info and to register: 356.2272.
• The Center for Disordered Eating will host the 11th annual HEAL Conference from 8:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m. on Friday, March 2, at Ambrose West, 312 Haywood Road in Asheville. Conference topics, speakers, schedule and registration info available at www.thecenternc.org.
• Preregistration is underway for the 10-week Peer-toPeer recovery education class that will be offered by the National Alliance on Mental Illness starting March 7 in Franklin. Preregistration required: 369.7385.
R ECREATIONAND FITNESS
• The Maggie Valley Wellness Center is offering two yoga classes from 9-9:55 a.m. on Wednesdays through March: Gentle Flow with Candra and Gentle Vin Yin with Jamie. 944.0288 or maggievalleywellness.com.
• Line dance lessons will be offered from 7-8 p.m. every other Tuesday in Waynesville. $10 per class. Modern/traditional line dancing. 734.0873 or kimcampbellross@gmail.com.
• Registration is underway for a “Deconstructing Cravings” Workshop with Sara Lewis at Waynesville Yoga Center. Understand the source of cravings and how to reduce them. Workshop is from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24. $35. Register: 246.6570 or WaynesvilleYogaCenter.com.
• Registration is underway for “Spa Weekend,” which is Feb. 16-18 at the Lake Logan Conference Center in Canton. Food, time with friends, massage, mani or pedi, facial, guided yoga and other classes. $320. Stay one night or two. Register: lakelogan.org/events.
• A wide variety of yoga classes are offered daily through the Waynesville Yoga Center. For updated, current listings, visit: http://waynesvilleyogacenter.com/class-schedule.
• Registration is underway for a TaijiFit program, which will be presented by International Tai Chi Champion David-Dorian Ross from March 3-4 at the Haywood Regional Health and Fitness Center in Clyde. TaijiFit makes Tai Chi, yoga and meditation more accessible. Info: 904.377.1527 or mattjeffsdpt@outlook.com.
S PIRITUAL
• Registration is underway for the Interfaith Peace Conference, which is Thursday through Sunday, March 1-4, in Lake Junaluska. Topic centers around communi-
cating with civility and respect while upholding core values and religious traditions. Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders will offer lectures, worship, music, prayer and meditation. $150 per person. $60 for students. $10 for CEU credits. www.lakejunaluska.com/peace or 800.222.4930.
P OLITICAL
• Rep. Mike Clampitt (R-Bryson City) will hold a town hall from 4-6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 23, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva.
• The Jackson County Republican Party meets at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 26, at Ryan’s Restaurant. Info: 743.6491.
• The Macon County Republican Party Annual Convention and Precinct Meetings are scheduled for Saturday, March 3, at the Carpenter Community Building at 1288 Georgia Road in Franklin. maconrepublicans@gmail.com.
AUTHORSAND B OOKS
• The “Coffee with the Poet” series gathers at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva the third Thursday of each month and is co-sponsored by the North Carolina Writers Network. 586.9499.
• Canton Book Club meets at 3:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month, at the Canton Library. 648.2924.
• Cookin’ the Books will be held at noon on the last Wednesday of the month at the Waynesville Public Library. A book club focused on cookbooks. All members choose a recipe from the book and bring it to share. The group will discuss the good and bad aspects of the chosen cookbook. 356.2507.
K IDS & FAMILIES
• The 11th annual Father-Daughter Dance is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24, at First United Methodist Church in Sylva. Advanced registration: $30 per couple; $5 for each additional daughter. At the door: $40 per couple and $5 for each additional daughter. Registration and payment: www.sylvafumc.org/news. Info: 586.1640.
• The “Makin’ Bots” will hold an afternoon of family fun called “Power-Up Game Night” from 1-5 p.m. on Feb. 25 at Rathskeller in Franklin. Classic board games as well as chess and cards. Minimum of $5 donation.
• Camp Hobbit Hill is currently offering an essay contest to future campers. Winners of the essay contest have a chance to win a free session of camp. Camp Hobbit Hill is a girls overnight camp, with a focus on horsemanship and arts, located in Alexander. The essay must answer one of the following questions (200-250 words), be written by the potential camper, and be submitted to camp@CampHobbitHill.com no
Puzzles can be found on page 46. These are only the answers.
later than March 1. Please explain what leadership and community mean to you or How could attending and experiencing camp help you become more actively involved in your community or Tell us how you can be a good role model to other students in school (300 words or less). Further instructions will be available at www.camphobbithill.com. Contestants may enter all sections of the contest, but are only entitled to win one 1st prize. All entries must include name, age, parental contact and return email.
• A “Youth Art Class” will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon every Saturday at the Appalachian Art Farm on 22 Morris Street in Sylva. All ages welcome. $10 includes instruction, materials and snack. For more information, email appalachianartfarm@gmail.com or find them on Facebook.
ONGOINGKIDSACTIVITIES ANDCLUBS
• The Canton Library offers a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics) program each month. At 4 p.m. on third Tuesday. Children ages 6-12 are welcome to attend. Please call 648-2924 for more information.
• “Art Beats for Kids” will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. on Thursdays at the Charles Heath Gallery in Bryson City. A new project every week. $20 per child, with includes lesson, materials and snack. To register, call 828.538.2054.
• A program called “Imagine,” an art program for children 8-12 meets at 2 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Jackson County Public Library. Program contains art, writing, and drama. 586.2016.
• Rompin’ Stompin’, an hourlong storytime with music, movement and books, is held at 11 a.m. on Fridays at the Canton Library. For ages zero to six. 648.2924.
• Crafternoons are at 2:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month at Hudson Library in Highlands.
• Library Olympics will be held at 2 p.m. on Fridays at Jackson County Public Library. Children age 5 and up get active through relay races, bingo, mini golf. 586.2016.
• Family Story Time is held on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. at the Canton Public Library. Ages 0-6. Stories, songs, dance and crafting. 648.2924.
• Storytimes are held at 10 and 10:40 a.m. every Thursday at Hudson Library in Highlands.
• After-School Art Adventure will be on from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. on Tuesdays at The Bascom in Highlands. For ages 5 to 10, Art Adventure is a class that explores the creative process of drawing, painting, printmaking, clay, sculpture, fiber art, and crafts by utilizing a variety of media. The students will investigate some of the most popular techniques and theories in art history and will be exposed to contemporary as well as folk art traditions. Tuition is $40 for a four-class package. www.thebascom.org.
• Wednesdays in the Stacks, “WITS”, a new program for children in grades 3-6, on the third Wednesdays of the month from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Macon County Library. WITS will include lots of fun games, prizes, and hands-on activities. This club replaces book club previous held on the third Thursdays of the month. 526.3600.
• Fun Friday, everything science, is held at 4 p.m. on Fridays at Jackson County Public Library. 586.2016.
• Teen Coffeehouse is at 4:30 p.m. on the first, third, and fourth Tuesday at Jackson County Public Library. Spend time with other teens talking and sharing. 12 and up. 586.2016.
• Rock and Read is at 11 a.m. on Tuesdays at Jackson County Public Library. 586-2016.
• WNC Martial Arts will hold karate classes from 67:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at the Old Armory in Waynesville. For more info, contact Margaret Williams at 301.0649 or mvwilliams39@gmail.com.
• Story time and kids can make their own piece of art from 10 a.m.-noon every Saturday during the Family Art event sponsored by the Jackson County Arts Council at the Jackson County Farmers Market located at the Community Table, downtown Sylva. On the first Saturday of each month, there is a scavenger hunt with prizes. 399.0290 or www.jacksoncountyfarmermarket.org.
• Michael’s Kids Club will be held for ages 3-and-up from 10 a.m.-noon on Saturdays at Michael’s in Waynesville. $2 per child for 30 minutes of creative crafts. 452.7680.
• A Lowe’s Build and Grow session for ages 3-and-up is scheduled from 10-11 a.m. on Saturdays at the Sylva (586.1170) and Waynesville (456.9999) Lowe’s stores. Free.
• Art classes are available for kids 10 and older from 4:15-5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Bascom in Highlands. $15 per class. 787.2865 or www.thebascom.org.
• Art Adventure classes are taught for ages 5-10 from 3:30-4:45 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Bascom in Highlands. Theme: metal. Instructor: Bonnie Abbott. $20 per month. 787.2865.
• Free, weekly, after-school enrichment classes are offered by the Bascom and MCAA from 3-5 p.m. on Thursdays at Macon Middle School through a grant from the Jim McRae Endowment for the Visual Arts. To register, contact Bonnie Abbott at 743.0200.
•A Lego club will meet at 4 p.m. every fourth Thursday of the month, at Marianna Black Library in Bryson City. Library provides Legos and Duplos for ages 3 and up. Free. 488.3030.
•A community breastfeeding information and support group meets from 10:30 am.-noon on the first Saturday of each month in the main lobby of the Smoky
Mountain OB/GYN Office in Sylva. Free; refreshments provided. For information, contact Brandi Nations (770.519.2903), Stephanie Faulkner (506.1185 or www.birthnaturalwnc), or Teresa Bryant (587-8223).
• Science Club is held at 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month for grades K-6 at the Macon County Public Library. 524.3600.
• Macon County 4-H Needlers club, a group of youth learning the art and expression of knitting and crochet crafts, meets on the second Tuesday of each month. For information, call 349.2046.
• A Franklin Kids’ Creation Station is held from 10 a.m.-noon on Saturdays at uptown Gallery in Franklin. Snacks provided. $20 tuition. 743.0200.
• SafeKids USA Blue Dragon Tae Kwon Do School offers defense training with after-school classes Monday through Friday and Saturday mornings. 627.3949 or www.bluedragontkd.net.
• A Lego Club meets on the third Tuesday of each month from 3:30-5 p.m. at Waynesville Library. 452.5169.
• A Lego Club meets the fourth Thursday of the month at 4 p.m.- 5:30 p.m. at the Macon County Public Library. 526.3600.
• A Lego Club meets the fourth Thursday of the month at 4:30 p.m. at Jackson County Public Library. 5862016.
• A Lego Club meet the second Wednesday of the month at 5 p.m. at Cashiers Community Library. 743.0215.
• A Lego Club meets at 4 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of the month at Marianna Black Library in Bryson City. Legos and Duplos provided for ages three and up. 488.3030.
• Teen time 3:30-4:30 p.m. Thursdays at Waynesville Library. A program for teens and tweens held each week. Each week is different, snacks provided. 356.2511.
• The American Girls Club meets at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. The club meets one Saturday a month, call for details. Club is based on a book series about historical women. Club members read and do activities. Free. 586.9499.
• Crazy 8 Math Adventure Club on Tuesdays 3:30 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. for grades K-2 at the Macon County Public Library. 524.3600.
• Culture Club on the second Wednesday of the month, 1 to 2 p.m. for K-6 graders. Guest speakers, books, photos, crafts and food from different countries and cultures. Macon County Public Library. 524.3600.
• Children’s craft time, fourth Wednesday, 3:45 p.m. at Cashiers Community Library. 743.0215
• The Wee Naturalist program, which is for children ages 2-5 (with a parent or guardian), is held from 1011:30 a.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays at the North Carolina Arboretum. Age-appropriate activities such as nature walks, garden exploration, stories, crafts and visits from classroom animals $7 cost per child; $3 more for each additional child in a family. Register at: www.ncarboretum.org/education-programs/youthfamily-programs/wee-naturalist
K IDSFILMS
• “Wonder” will be shown at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 23 at the Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva. Free, call 586.3555 for reservations.
• An animated children’s movie featuring talking vehicles will be shown at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24, at Macon County Public Library in Franklin. Rated G. Runtime: 1:42. Info, including movie title: 524.3600.
• The Highlands Biological Foundation will offer a series of nature-themed films and documentaries shown at 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursday of January, February and March in Highlands. For info on each show, call 526.2221.
• A family movie will be shown at 10:30 a.m. every Friday at Hudson Library in Highlands.
A&E
FESTIVALSAND S PECIAL EVENTS
• Highlands’ popular celebration of Appalachian food, music and culture, “Root Bound,” will return Feb 2325 at participating locations. All-access passes are now available for purchase. Space at this sellout event is limited. Be sure to book early. For more information visit www.rootboundhighlands.com or call 787.2635 to purchase passes.
• 21st annual Greening Up the Mountains is scheduled for 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, April 28. www.greeningupthemountains.com. 554.1035 or greeningupthemountains@gmail.com.
F OOD & D RINK
• Firefly Taps & Grill, formally Blossoms on Main will be providing special during the month of February for locals as part of the “February is Love the Locals” month. They will offer southern food and comfort food, but also vegetarian and vegan items, as well as a few items from their Thai menu.
ON STAGE & I N CONCERT
• First Thursday Old-Time and Bluegrass Series at Western Carolina University continues through spring, with programs from 7 to 9 p.m. For more information, call the Mountain Heritage Center at 227.7129.
• A “Songs and Stories of the American West” concert will be presented at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22 at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. Featuring the Western Troubadours – Kerry Gromacher and Aspen Black. 524.3600.
• The Jackson County Public Library will be hosting Western Troubadours Kerry Grombacher and Aspen Black on Thursday February 22nd at 6:30 PM in the Community Room. This concert is free of charge. Kerry Grombacher’s and Aspen Black’s songs draw vivid portraits and tell fascinating stories that are set in the Western landscape, where they’ve worked and traveled with cowboys.
• Western Carolina University student musicians will join members of the Asheville Symphony Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22, at the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center in Cullowhee. Performance will be entitled “From the New World.” $15 for adults; $10 for faculty and staff; $5 for students and children. Tickets: bardoartscenter.wcu.edu or 227.2479. Info: 227.7242.
• Western Carolina University’s Clarinet Studio will present a recital at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 25, in the recital hall of the Coulter Building on the WCU campus. https://tinyurl.com/yd3uz4e5.
• HART in Waynesville presents a festival of plays in its intimate 60-seat Feichter Studio. Shows include: “Women and War” (Feb. 23-March 4), “Mass Appeal” (March 23-April 1) and “In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play” (April 6-15). Tickets are only $10 with general admission seating, but reservations are recommended as many shows regularly sell out. Season tickets are also available for the winter season. A complete schedule is available on the HART website at www.harttheatre.org.
• A stage performance by “TAO: Drum Heart” will take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University. Tickets are $15 per person for groups over 20, $20 seniors/WCU facul-
ty and staff, and $25 for adults. bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.
• The Cherokee Cultural Tour will be offered from 4-6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 27, in the Grandroom of Western Carolina University’s A.K. Hinds University Center in Cullowhee. 20 stations highlighting Cherokee creative expression; Rap and dance performances. jacooper@wcu.edu.
• Western Carolina University will host Sarah Elizabeth Burkey & Susan Pepper (old-time/bluegrass) at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 1, at the Mountain Heritage Center in Cullowhee.
• Actress Anne VanCuren will portray “Grandma Gatewood” – the first woman to complete the Appalachian Trail – during a dramatic reenactment at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 4, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. $20 for members of the Great Smoky Mountains Association; $35 for new members. Sign up: http://bit.ly/2o2CBke.
CLASSESAND PROGRAMS
• The Gem and Mineral Society of Franklin meets at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22, at the Robert C. Carpenter Community Building in Franklin. Topics: stone cooker/stone stabilization and active shooter response.
• A “Painting Techniques Class” with Sharon Bunting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24, at Claymates at 31 Front Street in Dillsboro. Cost: $25; includes materials. Info: 631.3133.
Monthly Creating Community Workshop will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 24th in the Atrium of the Jackson County Public Library. This program is free of charge. Derek Morrow of Morrow Leatherworks will be leading the workshop. Participants will learn how to make a small, leather clutch. All supplies will be provided, but some hand strength is necessary for leather working. The workshop is limited to 10 participants. Please call 586.2016 to register.
• An indoor flea market will take place every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in February and March at Friends Of The Greenway Quarters at 573 East Main St. in Franklin. Registration fee will go to FROG.
• The Penland School of Crafts Community Open House is set for 1-5 p.m. on Saturday, March 3, in Penland. Education for all ages; hands-on activities. Penland.org.
• Registration is underway for a Beginning Bladesmithing class that will be offered from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, March 3-4, at Jackson County Green Energy Park in Dillsboro. Cost: $300; materials included. Preregistration required: 631.0271 or www.JCGEP.org.
• Registration is underway for a Viking Axe Making Class, which is scheduled for 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on March 17-18 at Jackson County Green Energy Park in Dillsboro. Cost: $380 (materials included). With Brock Martin from WarFire Forge. Register: 631.0271. Info: www.JCGEP.org.
• Registration is underway for a “Blacksmithing Fundamentals Class” that will be led by Brock Martin of WarFire Forge from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on March 31-April 1 at Jackson County Green Energy Park in Dillsboro. Cost: $275; materials included. Preregistration required: 631.0271. Info: www.JCGEP.org.
• Registration is underway for an “Intermediate Bladesmithing Class” that will be led by Brock Martin of WarFire Forge from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on April 7-8 at Jackson County Green Energy Park in Dillsboro. Cost: $340; materials included. Preregistration required: 631.0271. Info: www.JCGEP.org.
of co-founder Dr. Perry Kelly with a show of his personal work at the Jackson County Public Library Rotunda and his art collection at the gallery. All work is for sale. Admission is free. Children are welcome. Gallery 1 has regular winter hours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday and Friday, and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. art@gallery1sylva.com.
• Crissy Stewart’s mixed media art will be on display during the month of February in the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.
• The 50th annual “Juried Undergraduate Exhibit” will run Feb. 27 through March 30 in the Contemporary Gallery at Western Carolina University. Dr. Beth Hinderliter, Associate Professor of Cross Disciplinary Studies at James Madison University, serves as juror for this display of creative expression in a variety of media by undergraduates at Western Carolina University. A reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 22. www.wcu.edu.
• The Western Carolina University Fine Art Museum at Bardo Arts Center is pleased to present, “LINING: SHEATHING” through May 4, with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. April 19 in Cullowhee. “LINING: SHEATHING” is a large-scale installation about the tactile and protective qualities of textiles by collaborators Denise Bookwalter and Lee Emma Running. The WCU Fine Art Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday. Museum exhibitions and receptions are free and open to the public. jilljacobs@wcu.edu or 828.227.2505.
• The Franklin Uptown Gallery has opened for the 2018 Season. The artist exchange exhibit will feature artwork created by members of the Valley River Arts Guide from Murphy. 349.4607.
• Linda Dickinson’s display of black-and-white photography is being displayed at the Canton Public Library Meeting Room in Canton. Show is entitled “Waynesville and Environs, a Black & White Perspective.” 648.2924.
• New artist and medium will be featured every month at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 356.2800.
FILM & S CREEN
• “The Shape of Water” will be showing at 7 p.m. on on Feb. 21-22. Visit www.38main.com for tickets.
• “The Florida Project” will be shown at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 22 at the Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva. Free, call 586.3555 for reservations.
• “Darkest Hour” will be showing at 7 p.m. on on Feb. 23, 1 p.m., 4 p.m. & 7 p.m., on Feb. 25-25, 7 p.m. on Feb.26-March 1. Visit www.38main.com for tickets.
• Free movies are shown every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva. Madbatterfoodfilm.com.
Outdoors
• North Carolina couple Shari Galiardi and Dave “Hutch” Hutchison will present “Freedom in a Can: Finding Sustainability in 72 Square Feet.” They will share what they’ve discovered during their journeys in a free program beginning at 7 p.m. in the theater of A.K. Hinds University Center at Western Carolina University campus on Thursday, Feb. 22. An open house will be held from noon until 1:30 p.m. to allow members of the university community to tour the “can,” which will be parked in the Central Plaza area. www.freedominacan.com Or 227.3751.
• Comments on the future of the larger Waterrock Knob and Plott Balsam region are be accepted until Feb. 25 at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/waterrockknobvisionplan or through mail to: ATTN: Suzette Molling, 199 Hemphill Knob Road, Asheville, NC 28803.
• The National Park Service will host the Blue Ridge Parkway Season Preview from 4-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 28, at the Folk Art Center, Milepost 382 on the parkway. Behind-the-scenes look into projects and operations. www.nps.gov/blri.
• Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee River (WATR) will hold a public meeting from 6-8 p.m. on March 1 at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Sylva. Discuss and shape WATR’s 2018 organization goals and longer-term plan.
• Registration is underway for a “Mountains-to-Sea Trail” conference, which will be March 23-25 in Elkin. Trail and town excursions; dinner Friday is included. $75; members only. Memberships are $35. RSVP by March 16: http://conta.cc/2ne6UnK.
• Registration is underway for the eighth annual Three River Fly Fishing Festival, which is April 26-28 in Highlands. Fishing competition open to men and women of all skill levels. $500 per team or $450 for those who register before March 15. Includes opening night reception at Wolfgang’s Restaurant, Friday happy hour after closing night dinner and a gift bag. All funds raised benefit the town’s scholarship fund. Register: hilary@highlandhiker.com.
• RSVP’s are being accepted for a pair of volunteer training sessions for stream monitors through the Stream Monitoring Information Exchange. Sessions are from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, March 17, at Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock and Saturday, March 24, at UNC Asheville. Materials donation of $1520. RSVP required: mountaintrue.org/event/__trashed2 (for March 17) and 357.7411 or equilabstaff@gmail.com (for March 24).
COMPETITIVE E DGE
• The largest recreational ski race program in the world, NASTAR Public Racing is happening through the end of February from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sundays at Cataloochee Ski Area. Competitive, easily accessible racing program that allows racers of all ages and abilities to compare themselves with each other, regardless of when and where they race, using a racer handicap system. $10 for two runs or $20 for unlimited runs. Register: nastar.com or at the ski resort’s ticket center on the lodge’s lower level.
• The Cataloochee Thursday Night Race League is open to skiers and snowboarders 18 years or older from 78:30 p.m. through Feb. 22. Individuals race against the clock on a modified GS or slalom course for the better of two runs. The top three challengers in men’s and women’s age divisions will win prizes. Helmets and goggles required. $15 to race or $35 for race entry and night lift ticket. https://tinyurl.com/y9ys99hu.
• The Nantahala Racing Club will start spring paddling season with its annual Glacier Breaker event, Feb. 24-25, at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. Slalom race starts at noon on Feb. 24; downriver classic starts at 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 25. Registration: $30; $10 discount for preregistration through Feb. 22 at paddleguru.com/races/GlacierBreaker2018.
• Registration is underway for the Assault on BlackRock, a seven-mile trail race that will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 17, from the Pinnacle Park parking lot in Sylva. Preregistration: $25 at Ultrasignup.com. Fee is $30 on race day. More info, including registration form and course map, at Assault on BlackRock Facebook page. Info: 506.2802 or barwatt@hotmail.com.
for the 5K on race day. http://halfmarathon.wcu.edu or valleyofthelilies@wcu.edu.
Registration for the annual Greening Up the Mountains Festival 5K is now open. The race will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 28 at Mark Watson Park in Sylva, North Carolina. Registrants who enter before April 20th will receive a t-shirt. All proceeds from the race support the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department. www.greeningupthemountains.com Registration ends on April 25. jeniferpressley@jackonnc.org.
FARMAND GARDEN
• A seminar on how to establish and maintain strawberry, blackberry and raspberry patch will be offered by the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22, at the Jackson Extension Center in Sylva. Info and to register: 586.4009 (Sylva), 488.3848 (Bryson City) or clbreden@ncsu.edu.
• A class on “Growing Shiitake Mushrooms” will be presented from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 27, at the Macon County Environmental Resource Center. $10 materials fee. Preregistration required: 349.2046.
H IKING CLUBS
• Carolina Mountain Club will have an 11.7-mile hike with a 3,000-foot ascent on Feb. 21 at Round Top Ridge. Info and reservations: 273.2098 or PDBenson@charter.net.
• The Nantahala Hiking Club will have its spring “HHH” from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 23, at Lazy Hiker Brewing Company. Raffle and slideshow of recent club activities. Food truck and live music starts at 8 p.m. Info: 369.1983.
• The Nantahala Hiking Club will have a five-mile hike with a 300-foot elevation change on Saturday, Feb. 24, at Panthertown Valley. www.nantahalahikingclub.org.
• Carolina Mountain Club will have a 7.5-mile hike with a 1,400-foot ascent on Saturday, Feb. 24, at Coffee Pot Mountain Loop. Info and reservations: 460.7066 or barbc129@gmail.com.
• Carolina Mountain Club will have a seven-mile hike with a 1,050-foot ascent on Feb. 28 on Moore Cove Figure 8-Loop. Info and reservations: 692.0116, 696.6296 or bbente@bellsouth.net.
• “Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway and Beyond” will be presented at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 1, at the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center at Milepost 384 on the parkway. Randy Fluharty, president of the Carolina Mountain Club, and Steve Metcalf, board president of the Friends of Mountains-to-Sea Trail, will discuss upcoming group hikes and their work on maintaining parkway trails. Info: 298.5330, ext. 301, or amy@blueridgeheritage.com.
OUTDOORCLUBS
• The Jackson County Poultry Club will hold its regular meeting on the third Thursday of each month at the Jackson County Cooperative Extension Office. The club is for adults and children and includes a monthly meeting with a program and a support network for those raising birds. For info, call 586.4009 or write heather_gordon@ncsu.edu.
• An RV camping club, the Vagabonds, camps one weekend per month from April through November. All ages welcome. No dues or structured activities. For details, write lilnau@aol.com or call 369.6669.
• Gallery 1 Sylva will celebrate the work and collection
• The Jackson County Small Area Plan process is underway at the direction of the Cashiers Planning Council, which will offer an update in a meeting at 5 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 26, at the Cashiers Glenville Recreation Center. www.cashiersareachamber.com.
• Registration is underway for the eighth annual “Valley of the Lilies” Half Marathon and 5K, which is Saturday, April 7, at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. $40 for the half marathon and $20 for the 5K through March 9; $80 for half marathon and $30
• Cold Mountain Photographic Society is a camera/photography club for amateurs and professionals who want to learn about and share their knowledge of photography with others. Must be 18 or older to join. Meetings are held at 7 p.m. the second Monday of each month in the conference room of Haywood Regional Health and Fitness Center, 262 Leroy George Drive in Clyde. More information at www.cmpsnc.org or info@cmpsnc.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
AUCTION
ABSOLUTE AUCTION -
New tools Saturday @ 10am 300 Rampart Street, Charlotte, NC.Over 400 Pallets of New Tools/Industrial Supplies.Dewalt, Makita, Ridgid, SnapOn, Ingersoll, Machine Shop Tooling. 704.791.8825 ncaf5479 www.ClassicAuctions.com
COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS & LOTS
CONSTRUCTION/ REMODELING
ACORN STAIRLIFTS.
The affordable solution to your stairs! **Limited time -$250 Off Your Stairlift Purchase!** Buy Direct & SAVE. Please call 1.855.808.9573 for FREE DVD and brochure.
ALL THINGS BASEMENTY!
Basement Systems Inc.Call us for all of your basement needs! Waterproofing, Finishing, Structural Repairs, Humidity and Mold Control FREE ESTIMATES!Call 1.800.698.9217 SAPA
CALL EMPIRE TODAY
To schedule a Free in-home estimate on Carpeting & Flooring. Call Today! 1.855.929.7756
In Norwood, NC, Online Auction w/ Bid Center, Begins Closing 3/1 at 3pm, Bid Center at Norwood Town Hall, www.ironhorseauction.com, Phone# 704.997.2248, NCAL 3936
SOLD!ADVERTISE YOUR AUCTION
In over 100 newspapers across the state for only $375. Call Wendi Ray at NC Press Services, 919.516.8009
DAVE’S CUSTOM HOMES OF WNC, Free Estimates & Competitive rates. References avail. upon request. Specializing in: Log Homes, remodeling, decks, new construction, repairs & additions.
Owner/Builder: Dave Donaldson. Licensed/Insured. 828.631.0747 or 828.508.0316
REQUEST FOR AUDIT PROPOSALS Mountain Projects, Inc. is seeking Proposals for Audit Services for the Fiscal Years of 2018, 2019, 2020 with an Option to Agree to Two Additional Years. Fiscal Year end is June 30. Due Date for Proposals Will be April 5. 2018 at 4:00 p.m. For Additional Information Call the CFO at 828.452.1447 Ext. 104. STOP STRUGGLING ON THE STAIRS Give your life a lift with an ACORN STAIRLIFT!Call now for $250 OFF your stairlift purchase and FREE DVD & brochure!1.855.808.9573 SAPA
SAFE STEP WALK-IN TUB Alert for Seniors. Bathroom falls can be fatal. Approved by Arthritis Foundation. Therapeutic Jets. Less Than 4 Inch Step-In. Wide Door. Anti-Slip Floors. American Made. Installation Included. Call for more information 800.807.7219 and for $750 Off.
CARS -
A-1DONATE YOUR CAR For Breast Cancer!HelpUnitedBreast Foundation Education, Prevention, & Support Programs. FastFree Pickup -24 Hr
DONATE YOUR CAR
To Charity. Receive maximum value of write off for your taxes. Running or not! All conditions accepted. Free pickup. Call for details. 855.972.0354
GOT AN OLDER CAR, VAN OR SUV? Do the humane thing. Donate it to the Humane Society. Call 1.855.617.2024 SAPA
PAYING TOO MUCH FOR
Car Insurance?Not sure?Want better coverage?Call now for a free quote and learn more today!
888.203.1373
SAPA
AUTHORS
Page Publishing will help you self-publish your own book. FREE author submission kit! Limited offer! Why wait? Call now: 844.660.6943
EMPLOYMENT
EARN $500 A DAY: Lincoln Heritage Life Insurance Wants Insurance Agents • Leads, No Cold Calls • Commissions Paid Daily • Agency Training • Life License Required. Call 1.888.713.6020
SALES MANAGER
Sell Remaining Lots Inventory and Spec Homes in New, Fully Amenitized 2nd Homes Gated-Communities Along the Nantahala and by Queens Lake in Topton. Social Media Marketing Knowledge Desirable. Resume, Salary History and Cover Letter to: info@mystic-lands.com
EMPLOYMENT
FTCC -
Fayetteville Technical Community College is now accepting applications for the following positions: Drama/Theatre Instructor (10month), Digital Media Instructor (10-month), & PC Support & Services/Database Management Instructor (10-month). For detailed information and to apply, please visit our employment portal at: https://faytechcc.peopleadmin.com
Human Resources Office Phone: 910.678.7342 Internet: http://www.faytechcc.edu
An Equal Opportunity Employer SAPA
FRONT DESK/OFFICE
MANAGER
Full Time or Part Time: Maggie Valley Cabin Resort Seeks a Versatile, Energetic & Experienced Front Desk Employee. Customer Service & Computer Exp. Req. Weekends, Nights & Holidays a Must! For more information Call 828.926.1388
FTCC
Fayetteville Technical Community College is now accepting applications for the following positions: Senior Network Communications Technician & Industry Training Instructor. For detailed information and to apply, please visit our employment portal at: https://faytechcc.peopleadmin.com/ Human Resources Office Phone: 910.678.7342 Internet: http://www.faytechcc.edu
An Equal Opportunity Employer SAPA
ALDER - A HANDSOME TREEING WALKER COONHOUND ABOUT NINE MONTHS OLD. HE'S A SWEET BOY, AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FAMILY COMPANION DOGGY. HE HAS SOME SOCIAL SKILLS, BUT WOULD ENJOY LEARNING MORE. A FAMILY WITH KIDS TO PLAY WITH WOULD BE IDEAL FOR THIS PLAYFUL BOY.
MISS EMRIDGE - A TUXEDO SHORT-HAIRED KITTY ABOUT TWO YEARS OLD. SHE IS SUPER SWEET AND LOVES ATTENTION FROM HER HUMAN FRIENDS. SHE HAS AN EASY-GOING PERSONALITY AND IS CONTENT TO CHILL IN HER CUSHY BED UNTIL DINNER TIME OR THERE'S PETTING TO BE HAD.
LOCAL DRIVERS WANTED!
Be your own boss. Flexible hours. Unlimited earning potential. Mustbe 21 with valid U.S. drivers license, insurance & reliable vehicle. Call855.750.9313
DRIVE WITH UBER.
No experience is required, but you'll need a Smartphone. It's fun and easy. For more information, call: 1.800.655.7452
Find your next hire in over 100 newspapers across the state for only $375. Call Wendi Ray at NC Press Services for more info 919.516.8009.
HOME WORKERS!!
Easy Legitimate Work, Great Pay! Assemble Products At Home And Other Mystery Shopping Opportunities Galore - No Experience Needed. For More Details, Send $2.00 With A Self-Addressed, Stamped Envelope to: Publishers Market Source, P.O. Box 1122, Merrillville, IN 46411
GOT YOUR EARS ON?
Find your next driver by advertising statewide in over 100 newspapers for only $375. Call Wendi Ray at NC Press Services for more info 919.516.8009.
CAVALIER ARMS APARTMENTS
BROWN TRUCKINGIs looking for COMPANY DRIVERS and OWNER OPERATORS. Brown requires: CDL-A, 2 years of tractor trailer experience OTR or Regional in the last 3 years, good MVR and PSP. Apply: driveforbrown.com. Contact Brandon 919.291.7416.
LOTS SALES AND NEW HOMES CONSTRUCTION & MANAGEMENT COMPANY
Self-Starter or Existing Company. Sales Experience & Home-Construction Knowledge for Final Development Phase in Fully Amenitized 2nd Homes Gated-Communities in Nantahala. Sell Remaining Inventory and Launch HomesConstruction & Management Company to Assist Owners in Turnkey Homes Building: From Vision to Completion, Rental and Maintenance. Unique Long-Term Opportunity. Social Media Marketing Knowledge Desirable. Resume, Salary History (Terms If Applies) & Cover Letter to: info@mystic-lands.com
1/2
Are you behind paying your Mortgage? Denied a Loan Modification? Is the bank threatening foreclosure? CALL Homeowner's Relief Line! FREE CONSULATION! 855.995.4199 LEASE TO OWN
HOMES FOR SALE
HOME FOR SALE:
3/BR, 2.5/BA Home Includes 1/BR, 1/BA Cottage. 2 Miles From Downtown Highlands. By Owner - 803.315.0715
A Full Service Realtor, Locally Owned and Operated mcgovernpropertymgt@gmail.com McGovern Property Management 828.283.2112.
SINGLE FAMILY RANCH HOME
F.S.B.O. - 57 Pasco Loop, Waynesville, NC. Less than 2yrs. old, 1400 sq. ft., 2/BR 2/BA, Vaulted Ceilings, Open Floor Plan, Lamenant/Carpet Floors, SS Appliances, 12’x12’ Outside Bldng., Mtn. Views. A Must See, Perfect Move-In Ready Home, Furniture Negotiable, 3 Miles from Maggie Valley, No City Taxes - $229,900. For more information call 919.356.6560
VACATION RENTALS
BEACH VACATION SPECIAL
Ocean Isle Beach, N.C. Mention ad to receive an extra $25 off all vacation rentals. Near Myrtle Beach/Wilmington. Golf, fishing. Family beach 800.622.3224 www.cookerealty.com
FINANCIAL
BEWARE OF LOAN FRAUD.
Please check with the Better Business Bureau or Consumer Protection Agency before sending any money to any loan company. SAPA
HAVE 10K IN DEBT?
National Debt Relief is rated APlus with the BBB. You could be debt free in 24-48 months. Call 1.844.240.0122 now for a free debt evaluation.
SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY?
Up to $2,671/mo. (Based on your paid-in amount.) FREE evaluation! Call Bill Gordon & Associates.
1.800.371.1734. Mail: 2420 N St NW, Washington DC. Office: Broward Co. FL., member TX/NM Bar.
UNABLE TO WORK
Due to injury or illness? Call Bill Gordon & Assoc., Social Security Disability Attorneys! FREE Evaluation. Local Attorneys Nationwide
1.800.371.1734 [Mail: 2420 N St NW, Washington DC. Office: Broward Co. FL (TX/NM Bar.)]
FURNITURE
COMPARE QUALITY & PRICE
Shop Tupelo’s, 828.926.8778.
HAYWOOD BEDDING, INC.
The best bedding at the best price! 533 Hazelwood Ave. Waynesville 828.456.4240
11-HP GENERATOR
New, Never Been Used Homelite #LR5500, 5 Gallon Gas Tank, 5500 Watts, HD 220/115 Cord. $475/Firm. For more info call Richard at 828.316.9557
BORING/CARPENTER BEE TRAPS No Chemicals, Poisons or Anything to Harm the Environment. Handmade in Haywood County. 1 for $20, 2 or More for $15 each. 828.593.8321
CHAMPION SUPPLY
Janitorial supplies. Professional cleaning products, vacuums, janitorial paper products, swimming pool chemicals, environmentally friendly chemicals, indoor & outdoor light bulbs, odor elimination products, equipment repair including household vacuums. Free delivery across WNC. www.championsupply.com 800.222.0581, 828.225.1075.
Hearing Aids. 100% Risk-Free! 45Day Home Trial. Comfort Fit. Crisp Clear Sound. If you decide to keep it, PAY ONLY $299 per aid. FREE Shipping. Call Hearing Help Express 1.866.744.6150 SAPA
LUNGCANCER?
And Age 60+?You And Your Family May Be Entitled To Significant Cash Award.Call866.590.3140 for Information. No Risk. No Money Out Of Pocket.
OXYGENAnytime. Anywhere. No tanks to refill. No deliveries. The All-New Inogen One G4 is only 2.8 pounds! FAA approved! FREE info kit. Call855.969.8854 SAPA
MEDICARE DOESN’T COVER
All of your medical expenses.A Medicare Supplemental Plan can help cover costs that Medicare does not.Get a free quote today by calling now. 1.877.212.8839
STRUGGLING WITH DRUGS Or Alcohol? Addicted to Pills? Talk to someone who cares. Call The Addiction Hope & Help Line for a free assessment. 800.511.6075
MEDICAL
UNABLE TO WORK
Due to injury or illness? Call Bill Gordon & Assoc., Social Security Disability Attorneys! FREE Evaluation. Local Attorneys Nationwide 1.800.371.1734 (TX/NM Bar.)]
SERIOUSLY INJURED
In an Auto Accident? Let us fight for you! We have recovered millions for clients! Call today for a FREE consultation! 855.324.5256
PET SUPPLIES & SERVICES
HAPPY JACK® XYLECIDE®
Is a Fungicidal Shampoo to treat Ringworm & Allergies. For Dogs & Horses. At Tractor Supply, or: fleabeacon.com
Prevent Unwanted Litters! The Heat Is On!
Spay/Neuter For Haywood Pets As Low As $10. Operation Pit is in Effect! Free Spay/Neuter, Microchip & Vaccines For Haywood Pitbull Types & Mixes!
Hours:
Tuesday-Friday, 11:00 am - 5:00 pm 182 Richland Street, Waynesville
WEEKLY SUDOKU
TV INTERNET PHONE $29.99 each! No one beats our prices! Bundle and save huge now! We are your local installers! Call now offer ends soon. 1.888.858.0262
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 40
Colorful reminders of long-ago homesteads
Achimney standing all alone where a fire burned a house down long ago … a crumbling stone wall overgrown with tangles of vines … a flattened area on a slope above a creek or abandoned roadbed … all are likely locations for a dwelling or outbuilding of some sort.
Among the most reliable indicators for abandoned places were early spring-flowering plants that were propagated by the earliest settlers and their descendents: Vinca major (large-leaved) and Vinca minor (small-leaved), also called periwinkle, were planted in yards, gardens, and cemeteries as groundcover.
Forsythia — still called “yaller-bells” by some old-timers — has prospered both with and without human care. Different species and varieties have interbred to such an extent through the years that it’s virtually impossible, for me at least, to tell one from the other with certainty. This, however, doesn’t particularly bother me as I can thoroughly enjoy a stand of forsythia without knowing its taxonomic status.
Mountain folks were — and still are — fond of daffodils. There is, after all, almost nothing more attractive in early spring than a stand of daffodils waving in a gentle breeze. But as with forsythia, distinguishing species and subspecies is tricky. It seems that every plant book has a different “tem-
BACK THEN
plate” for distinguishing between daffodils and closely related species like narcissus, jonquil, or buttercup.
To my way of thinking, all of them can be correctly called daffodils. Those with dark, rounded leaves I designate as jonquils. Those with flattened leaves I think of as narcissi (the plural of narcissus). But if it’s a great big butter-yellow daffodil-like plant with flattened leaves, I also think of that as a buttercup. If these categories don’t suit you, feel free to devise your
The genus Narcissus — to which all of the above belong — is a member of the Amaryllis family. The word narcissus is derived from the Greek word “narke,” meaning numbness or stupor. Some attribute the naming of the flower to its narcotic fragrance while others contend that it is associated with the poisonous nature of the leaves and bulbs, a defense against grazing animals and underground rodents.
Those with children herbage-devouring
pets need to be reminded of just how potent these poisons can be. According to the volume Common Poisonous Plants and Mushrooms of North America (Timber Press, 1991) by Nancy J. Turner and Adam F. Szczawinski, “The entire plant, particularly
hours.”
Most Narcissus species are natives of southern France, Spain, northern Africa and the surrounding Mediterranean areas. But various species of Narcissus have been cultivated for hundreds, even thousands, of years, so that they reached the northern European mainland and the British Isles early on.
the bulbs, contain toxic alkaloids … and a glycoside. These cause dizziness, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes diarrhea. Trembling, convulsions, and death may occur if large quantities are consumed, but usually recovery occurs within a few
The ScotchIrish and other nationalities that peopled the southern mountains of eastern North America brought these lovely flowers with them as reminders of their homelands and their relatives left so far behind.
Along with periwinkle, forsythia, and numerous other plants, daffodils now serve as mute reminders of home sites occupied not so long ago but now abandoned.
(George Ellison is a naturalist and writer. He can be reached at info@georgeellison.com.)
