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On the Cover:
Amid a recent flurry of southern-based reality television shows, Haywood County’s “Hillbilly Blood” is climbing up in the ratings, but the popularity isn’t without its critics. Garret K. Woodward photo (Page 8)
News
Haywood lodging tax bill dies on the table.
Re-landscaping of Haywood courthouse lawn nears completion.
MedWest hospitals look for possible buyer.
Leaders must craft maintenance, marketing plan for Camp Hope.
Jackson County continues search for tourism slogan.
Number of homeless children in Haywood on the rise.
Cherokee welfare office finds footing after split from Swain. .
Commissioners force school board’s hand in political back and forth. . . . 21
A&E
Staind frontman finds his country roots.
Outdoors
Small, native trout make big comeback in WNC.
Back Then
Plants hitch a ride to the sun.
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C ONTRIBUTING: Jeff Minick (writing), Chris Cox (writing), George Ellison (writing), Gary Carden (writing), Don Hendershot (writing), Dylan Brown (intern)
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I NFO
S UBSCRIPTIONS
Haywood room tax hike deep-sixed
BY CAITLIN BOWLING STAFF WRITER
Even though an “overwhelming majority” of community leaders in Haywood County support a lodging tax increase, a state bill that would have done just that died in the state legislature last week.
N.C. Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, initially introduced the bill at the behest of county leaders, but his support quickly waned after a faction of motel owners in Maggie Valley and an anti-tax contingency mounted opposition. As the Senator representing Haywood, the bill could not advance without Davis’ backing.
The bill would have allowed the county to raise its lodging tax from 4 cents to 6 cents. Money generated by the overnight room tax is pumped back in to tourism marketing and initiatives. The increase would have brought in an extra $450,000 and gone to projects aimed at bringing more tourists and their wallets to Haywood County.
A bill must pass either the state Senate or House by May 16 — known as “the crossover deadline” — to stay alive. Davis parked the bill in neutral, however, and did not attempt to advance it, so it languished and died.
County and tourism leaders publicly broached the idea of upping the lodging tax in February and moved quickly to draft a bill and get it introduced in March.
There was one thing missing, according to Davis — a clear majority opinion. Davis had no scientific method for figuring out what constituted a majority, such as a survey, vote or poll. But Davis said in the past he would know a consensus when he saw it.
However, last week Davis offered a new reason for not carrying the torch. As a whole, the bill appeared to have majority support, Davis concluded.
“An overwhelming majority of people …
were all in support of this,” Davis said.
All except in Maggie Valley, however, and on that basis Davis let the bill die. Some Maggie motel owners mounted vocal opposition to the bill, although other Maggie motel owners supported it. Both sides claimed the majority were on their side, but there was enough opposition in Davis’ view to warrant killing the bill.
In addition, the Maggie town board was split 2-to-2 over the matter. Aldermen Phillip Wight and Mike Matthews voted to oppose the bill.
When a vocal group of Maggie lodging owners and residents objecting to the bill met with Davis at the Haywood County Republican Headquarters, a few attacked him for even introducing the bill.
However, Davis said he was simply doing his job as a representative and assured attendees that the bill wouldn’t go anywhere until there was consensus.
Other than the two Maggie aldermen, no other public officials disapproved of the lodging tax bill. The TDA executive board, the county commissioners, the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce, the Maggie Valley Chamber of Commerce and all the other town boards voted in favor of it.
Davis tasked the town and county leaders to get the Maggie hold-outs on board in order to see the bill advanced.
That would mean concessions favoring Maggie — such as more control over the money raised by the tax and guarantees that a portion was spent in Maggie — that the rest of the county wasn’t willing to make, however.
Wight and Matthews, the two Maggie aldermen against the tax, aren’t against it due to general anti-tax sentiments.
“In all my comments, I always said, ‘As presented, I did not agree with the bill,’” Wight said.
Their issues was how the money would be allocated geographically in the county, for what projects, and who would decide that.
However, tourism leaders said that getting permission from the state to raise the
lodging tax via the bill was step one. Once the bill passed, then county officials and tourism leaders would sit down to work out all the minutiae.
Because if the bill did not pass, time would have been wasted figuring out how to appropriate extra money that was never to come in, according to tourism officials.
ONTHEBACKBURNER
The matter is not completely dead. Tourism leaders will just have to wait until 2015 before trying again.
“That gives them an opportunity to get everybody on board,” Davis said.
It is not clear if they will, however. The TDA board will have to decide where to go from here.
“We have not discussed it at this point,” said TDA Executive Director Lynn Collins. “We will just have to see what happens in the future.”
Money brought in by the room tax increase would have been earmarked solely for tourism-related capital projects.
Tournament-caliber sports complexes, civic center venues and grants to help private tourist attractions have been cited as examples of projects the money could go toward.
The funds could be spent on anything that helps attract more tourists, according to tourism leaders. It just all depends on how creative people are in their funding proposals.
Alice Aumen, chairwoman of the TDA board, said some could not see past the ball fields and sports complex to the greater possibilities for the tax revenue, which made them leery of it.
“It’s a vision problem,” Aumen said.
Meanwhile, other counties, including Swain and Buncombe, already have a portion of their lodging tax set aside for tourism-related capital projects.
Swain County increased its lodging tax from 3 cents to 4 cents. Money from the additional cent helped create a whitewater paddling freestyle wave on the Nantahala River, restoration of the historic courthouse into a heritage museum and could help pay for the restoration of a steam engine to run along the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad line.
Swain County increased its lodging tax from 3 cents to 4 cents. Money from the additional cent helped create a whitewater paddling freestyle wave on the Nantahala River, restoration of the historic courthouse into a heritage museum and could help pay for the restoration of a steam engine to run along the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad line.
Without the 2-cent tax increase, the county doesn’t have a pot of money to fund things
“They are probably going to miss out,” said Maggie Mayor Ron DeSimone, who supported the bill.
The vagueness of the term “tourism-related capital project” worried some lodging owners. Critics wanted more clarity on what money could pay for.
Courthouse lawn to get spruced up in time for tourists
The Haywood County historic courthouse in Waynesville will be completely re-landscaped by the end of this week, just in time for the official launch of the summer tourist season marked by Memorial Day weekend.
The county cut down all the large sugar maple trees from the courthouse lawn over the winter, and it has been barren ever since. The new landscape design calls for smaller trees and fewer of them.
The new trees will be planted in the nick of time for the first downtown street
Aumen feared that without money to pay for attractions that could draw in more tourists, Haywood County will be left behind compared to destinations like Asheville or Cherokee.
“We’ve got all these 800-pound gorillas on all sides of us,” she said.
Aumen wants to continue pushing for the tax increase.
“We are certainly going to persevere with this because it is the only chance that Haywood County has to be competitive,” she said.
festival of the year this Saturday, although the lawn itself will take longer to restore.
Last week, county maintenance employees planted six Kousa Dogwood trees along the Depot Street side of the courthouse and a sugar maple on the right side of the historic courthouse, between it and the new justice center.
The remaining plantings — two Yoshino Cherries, a Serbian spruce and a few shrubs —should be delivered by Wednesday (May 22 and promptly put in the ground.
“We will be ready to go,” said Dale Burris, county facilities and maintenance director. “It’s a simple fact of digging a hole and putting it in correctly.”
— By Caitlin Bowling
Jim Davis
Caitlin Bowling photo
Hospital for sale?
All options on the table as MedWest hospitals contemplate future
BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFFWRITER
Financial challenges faced by rural hospitals show no sign of a turnaround, prompting MedWest hospital leaders to consider what was once a last resort.
MedWest hospitals are entertaining the idea of selling or merging with a larger hospital system that would bring a cash infusion to the table.
The 14-member MedWest board voted unanimously last week to “to explore alignment with a capital partner.”
A MedWest statement cautioned it is only in fact-finding mode, and that it will be several months before a decision, if any, is made.
“We are interested in learning. That’s why you do a deliberate thoughtful process,” said Mark Clasby, the chair of the MedWest board and Haywood County economic development director.
The hospitals in Haywood, Jackson and Swain counties joined together under the MedWest banner three years ago. The collaborative arrangement stops short of an actual merger, however.
At the same time, MedWest hired Carolinas Healthcare to serve as a hospital management company. But that arrangement likewise stops short of an actual merger.
Carolinas brought many assets to the table: management oversight, collective buying power, and health care industry know-how, given its vast network of 33 hospitals.
But it did not bring cash to the table, and cash is what the hospitals need now.
The only way to get cash realistically is to give up ownership of the hospital. Larger healthcare entities won’t inject capital into smaller hospitals simply in exchange for a management contract.
While management companies can get a bonus for their services if the hospital they oversee performs well, there’s no prospect for longrange returns on a capital investment, and thus no incentive to put up capital to improve the hospital’s long-range outlook.
Mission Hospital system in Asheville has put money and capital into many of the smaller hospitals that have merged with Mission in recent years, from Spruce Pine to Franklin to Brevard — but only under an outright merger or ownership stake.
MedWest has put out a call for any interested hospital system to submit a proposal. There will likely be plenty to pick from.
Neither the entities nor their offers will be shared publicly, unless one is chosen.
There are several guiding principles MedWest leaders will use to size up proposals.
Some of those include:
• Secure the MedWest hospitals’ long-term stability and financial viability.
• Make needed investments in facilities, technology and personnel.
• Continue to develop quality medical staffs with strong ties to the community.
• Elevate and promote the quality of local healthcare services.
Exploring a merger or ownership transfer of MedWest follows a two-month strategic study of MedWest’s future outlook. The hospital consulting firm Stroudwater Associates was hired for $45,000 in part to help MedWest leaders analyze their business outlook and market position.
The process comes at a time of uncertainty for the MedWest partnership as a whole. Last summer, the hospitals in Jackson and Swain counties formally declared that they want out of the MedWest partnership.
But MedWest is presenting a united front as it seeks proposals from prospective “capital partners.”
“MedWest is going to go out and seek capital partners for the entire system. There needs to be a capital infusion into the entire system,” said Kirk Kirkpatrick, a Waynesville attorney, county commissioner and member of the MedWest-Haywood board.
The offers coming in would likely be better for the whole system than for the hospitals individually.
“Together we are stronger,” Clasby said.
But it is likely the proposals coming in could include a suite of options: a proposal for all of MedWest, as well as proposals for the component hospitals.
The call to dissolve MedWest originated within Jackson’s medical community, citing cultural differences with Haywood’s medical community, a perceived underdog status, fear that local health care services would be siphoned away by Haywood, and an eroding bottom line.
But to dissolve MedWest, at least some of the Haywood appointments to the MedWest board would have to agree — and Haywood may not be too eager to let Jackson and Swain hospitals out of the partnership.
Hospital leaders and physicians in Haywood have repeatedly said that the three hospitals are stronger as a team. But the hospitals have been hesitant to give up their autonomy and, as a result, resisted the idea of combining functions to save money. Thus, all of the financial benefits from the partnership have not been realized.
If the financial woes of the MedWest hospitals weren’t so glaring, the dissention within the system might subside. Or not. That will hinge on what the incoming proposals look like.
The health care landscape nationwide has been in a state of flux as hospitals everywhere face rising costs and shrinking payments. There has been a near constant shuffling of the deck as hospitals move in and out of mergers and acquisitions. Small, rural hospitals in particular have scurried to the gates of bigger ones, seeking a safe harbor from the financially trying times.
Clasby said the MedWest leaders will have to weigh the best course of action to ensure quality, community-driven health care is around for decades to come.
“We want our community hospitals to be strong for the future and continue to serve our patients,” Clasby said.
WNC duo star on reality TV show
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER
Lights, camera …
Haywood County?
During the past two years, a local reality show has become a phenomenon that’s being broadcast into homes across the country and beyond. The program is “Hillbilly Blood: A Hardscrabble Life,” and it features Western North Carolina outdoor survival experts Spencer Bolejack and Eugene Runkis.
“There’s a lot of perplexity in ‘Hillbilly Blood,’” Bolejack said. “On one hand, it can be silly and entertaining, and on the other is a lot of valid information on how to survive and thrive in the outdoors.”
With the second season currently hitting the airwaves, the premise of the program follows Bolejack, 36, and Runkis, 44, around the woods of Haywood County, where they cross paths with skilled craftsman and figure out planned scenarios or get out of surprising situations.
“We concentrate on community, fellowship with neighbors, helping people out when you’re supposed to, which are all Southern Appalachian values,” Runkis said. “Spencer and I come up with and build ideas, figure out storylines and invite guests into the show.”
Each episode features another member of the local community, ranging from a blacksmith to moonshiner to sawmill operator. One day, they’re making a canoe out of a burned out log; the next, they’re creating electricity with firewood or finding the ideal method to distill moonshine.
“With this show, we want people to see that hillbillies are intelligent people and not necessarily stupid, grass-chewing people,” Runkis said. “If somebody calls me a hillbilly, I look at it as a badge of honor because they’re telling me I’m intelligent.”
TAKINGTHEOUTDOORSONLINE
The show all started two years ago when the duo, who didn’t know each other previously, were approached by the television channel 3net, which is a 3D station owned by the Discovery Channel.
“When we first did this, there was no other 3D show like ours,” Runkis said. “It’s a run and gun camera operation where you get 3D moments like when I’m chopping wood and a chip flies ‘out of the screen.’”
After a successful first season, the program moved up the ladder to the Destination America channel. As the notoriety and success began to snowball, so did the exposure with episodes now airing on the Discovery Channel to a lot of viewer curiosity.
“Honestly, I think the show is happening
on some deep level that people are able to perceive, where once they get past the humor you can get into things about community friendship and start to see lessons within lessons,” Bolejack said.
Before they became television stars, both men had found Internet success during the past several years by posting survival videos on YouTube to millions of views and thousands of subscribers.
Bolejack (under the online handle “WindRider707”) would post clips of his martial arts and outdoor skills, while Runkis (“TrapperJackSurvival”) uploaded dozens of videos showcasing his survival techniques.
Through his videos and Land of the Sky Wilderness School summer camps he conducts throughout the region, Bolejack, a resident of Bethel, was soon contacted by the television network about doing a series. It would be another year of talks before Runkis, hailing from Little Canada in Jackson County, was brought in as the last piece of the puzzle.
“The network found my videos, liked what I was saying and contacted me to see if I wanted to do a series,” Runkis chuckled. “I really didn’t know what to think about the whole thing. But, I stuck my neck out and told them I’d participate.”
With the plans in motion, Runkis had one last obstacle to overcome, which was to demonstrate to Superfine Films — the Manhattan-based production company behind the show — just how good his outdoor skills really were. For his presentation, Runkis made a shotgun out of part of a princess tree. He hollowed out a branch, stuffed it with gunpowder and shells, and lit the fuse to a successful blast. With that, Superfine had found their perfect co-star for Bolejack.
“I was a Boy Scout and an only child, so being the only child in a family that doesn’t buy a lot of things, you get outside and do things,” he said. “My father would always take me into the mountains. It was hard for me to stay focused in the classroom because I liked being outdoors too much.”
Those academic hardships put Bolejack at odds with the school. He was soon placed into an outdoor survival program aimed at reaching troubled youth, helping them find their inner potential on missions and treks in the great outdoors.
“A kid with ADHD, they have this big turbine in their mind and not enough water to run it, so they create their own information, and that’s what causes problems,” he said.
martial arts and being in the wilderness,” he said. “It’s about being aware, being humble. You can get knocked down in martial arts as easy as you can in the woods.”
HEADING SOUTH
Runkis got his first taste of the outdoors growing up on his grandfather’s 80-acre property in the isolated forests of the Upper Peninsula in Michigan. He joined the Boy Scouts and ran around the woods, learning the proper techniques in trapping and orienteering, all the while harboring an ever-growing appreciation for nature.
“We all participate in nature, the trees and all of the animals participate in it,” he said. “Everything has its place, and by just making use of everything you can find out there, wild plants and animals, you help the natural cogs of the machine function.”
Stars of the reality show Hillbilly Blood on the Discovery Channel, Spencer Bolejack (left) and Eugene Runkis (right) take viewers on adventures throughout Haywood County. Focusing on their extensive outdoor survival skills, the duo poses scenarios around the region and how to successfully navigate the situations. Garret K. Woodward photo
“But outside, the turbine starts to run correctly, and they quickly realize their value as a human being.”
INTOTHEWILD
An 11th generation North Carolinian, Bolejack was raised on a tobacco farm, the family business, in Pilot Mountain. After the farm went under, he and his parents relocated to the forest outside of Asheville, where they lived off the land and enjoyed the fruits of not only their labor, but also of the natural beauty encapsulating them.
After graduating from UNC-Asheville, Bolejack went into teaching, only to be let go a few years later due to budget constraints. While he was teaching, he held martial arts seminars and started up Land of the Sky. With his layoff came the opportunity to find a way to make his hobbies into a career. The classes grew in popularity, with Bolejack teaching anyone interested in learning the discipline, patience and humility of truly being one with your surroundings.
“There are a lot of similarities between
As a teenager, Runkis relocated to Florida, where he began to apprentice as a carpenter. He built restaurants, churches and homes around the South, eventually finding his way to Western North Carolina, a place where he had family and soon came to adore after several trips to the area. After 14 years in Jackson County, he had grown as attached to the forest as a mature tree tucked away in the deep wilderness of Southern Appalachia.
“I was learning a lot about bush craft, where I was building log cabins using all the traditional pioneer methods, woodworking, splitting logs, healing logs,” he said. “I learned it all, and I enjoyed it as much back then as I do today. It’s a big part of what I teach.” In 2008, he launched his “TrapperJackSurvival” channel (after a wilderness mentor in Michigan named Jack) channel on YouTube to great fanfare. The initial intent of the videos was to promote an outfitter store he had hoped to open in Florida. The store never really got off the ground, but the videos kept being made. It was an outlet that would soon prove worthwhile once television came knocking on his door.
“I’m always discovering something new,” he said. “The more you use the techniques, the more you learn from it.”
ROLLCAMERA
Throughout each of the 12 episodes of season two, Bolejack and Runkis bring on one person whose background provides the storyline of the program. Owner of Cheyenne’s Corner (located in the Bethel Grocery), Cheyenne Keener specializes in hunting and fishing supplies. Hillbilly Blood used his shop on a couple of episodes, where Keener
became a character that helped the duo find what they needed for their next quest.
“I was pretty surprised that they wanted to a film a show here,” Keener laughed. “But, it all went pretty great, and I’ve made a lot of good friends with members of the production company over the two seasons.”
And though the series is meant to be educational entertainment, something to be taken with a grain of salt and hearty laugh, controversy has risen with local residents and viewers alike pointing out the falsity of the show, where at some plot points it seems that southern “hillbilly” stereotypes may be perpetuated.
“Everybody is going to have their own opinion, and there’s never going to be a time where everybody is in agreement,” Keener said. “It was something fun to do, and Spencer and Eugene never set out to do something that would offend people.”
“Everything that we show is almost always something we’ve done in real life,” Bolejack added. “In one episode, we were ‘lost in the woods,’ and I don’t feel disingenuous because it was staged. I lived in the woods for a very long time, and guided wilderness tours for most of my life. I’ve been in those situations, wandering through swamps, lost, hungry, scared, so to make a show about it doesn’t feel false to me at all.”
Brought on for three episodes, Caleb Burress was not only a character but also found work as a member of the build crew. Burress and his father were brought on as blacksmiths. Bolejack and Runkis came to fix a pigpen when their tomahawk broke, and the blacksmiths had to make another one to
be able to complete the project.
“We had already slaughtered the pigs, so the production company had to rent a couple from Asheville,” Caleb smiled.
No stranger to the spotlight, Caleb had done a lot of community theatre and productions for his blacksmithing during the years. When brought on the show, he had to play coy, as if everything was a surprise. His band Soldier’s Heart, a Haywood County-based “down home porch and soul” group, performed for the season two finale.
“I acted like I showed up, was a character on the show, then built part of the stage as a member of the crew, then got up there and played on it,” he said. “If you’re looking for truth in television, you’re barking up the wrong tree.”
David Burnette, a skilled craftsman in many different trades known for his work at Cradle of Forestry, was incorporated into the program with his old-time functioning sawmill in Canton. Bolejack and Runkis had recovered a valuable white oak log submerged in a nearby lake. They came to Burnette to get the log cut and see what it was worth.
While the log was getting cut, the belt on the machine snapped and the duo came to the rescue by rigging a toe strap in place of the belt, thus kicking the saw back into gear.
“Hollywood puts its spin on it to get people to watch. If it was something that was going to make fun of mountain people, I wouldn’t have done it,” Burnette said.
So why does the viewing public have such a fascination with Hillbilly Blood?
“My daddy always said some people today forgot how to live, people have lost
their way and are searching for something,” Burnette said. “People living here in the mountains could have lived anywhere, but we stayed here and are happy with what we have, and a lot of people don’t seem to understand that mindset.”
ONWARDANDUPWARD
With season two expected to wrap up onair in the coming weeks, plans are already in
the works for the production to return to Haywood County for season three filming this summer.
“I do take it in stride, and I don’t take it to seriously,” Bolejack said. “There’s both criticism and praise for our characters, and I’m just me and try to stay removed from that to stay sane.”
Runkis looks forward to “upping the ante” in story concepts and characters involved. He’s excited about doing bigger builds and being able to share even more special experiences one can cross paths with in these majestic mountains.
“This place is a gem and people here live by older values,” he said. “The communities here are like they were a hundred years ago — nothing changes, nothing goes unused, and nothing gets wasted.”
Though the show is scripted, and many of the scenarios staged in order to move the filming process and viewer interest along, what remains at the end of the day are real life people with intricate skills and talents, living in Southern Appalachian communities as unique as the characters themselves.
“It’s about using what’s around you and learning to become humble about it; it’s about feeling alive while building and creating,” he said. “We’re not guaranteed a lot of things we take for granted, and when you learn to build a fire yourself, when you learn the plants around you, then you learn to appreciate nature more, and that’s empowering.”
Editor’s Note: Superfine Films was contacted by The Smoky Mountain News for comments on this story but had not responded by presstime.
Spencer Bolejack working on a raised garden bed on his property in Bethel. Garret K. Woodward
Camp Hope saved With lawsuit in the rearview, Canton plans to step up its game for public recreation
BY CAITLIN BOWLING STAFFWRITER
Canton leaders are already asking how they can do better making Camp Hope available to the public after a lawsuit threatened to seize the 100-acre forested tract and rustic camp quarters away from the town.
Camp Hope was deeded to the town by the paper company Champion International years ago on the condition it be used for recreation by Haywood County residents and those in surrounding counties.
The deed explicitly stated that the town
“We don’t want to get in the same boat again,” said Canton Alderman Patrick Willis. “We may have to look at some of the policies we have with the (property).”
The Prelazes have reversion rights to Camp Hope, meaning if the town did indeed break the conditions of the deed, the couple is next in line to get ownership of the property.
During the weeklong trial, defense attorneys and witnesses for the town of Canton contended that Camp Hope has always been open for use by county residents, even when Wellsprings camp was in session.
“The town of Canton has kept it open
could not operate a summer camp on the property that primarily benefitted people from regions other than Western North Carolina.
Last year, John and Deborah Prelaz filed a lawsuit arguing that the town violated that condition by leasing part of the property to Wellsprings Adventure Camp, a private weight-loss summer camp whose clientele came mostly from out-of-town. The Prelaz’s claimed the town should lose the property since it wasn’t being made available in a meaningful way for local recreation use.
A jury ruled last week in favor of the town, however, allowing Canton to keep the property. But town leaders are worried that if things stay the same that the Prelazes could file another lawsuit in the future.
property was largely by a select few who were in the know.
For the most part, the larger public had no idea that Camp Hope was akin to a public park and open to all for recreation.
After the trial, some of the jury members, all of who live in Haywood County, admitted that they never knew about Camp Hope or simply assumed the property was private.
“I have been here almost 18 years and have never heard of Camp Hope,” said Barry Dossenko, a Waynesville resident.
Dossenko said he had passed the property
LESSONLEARNED
People who grew up going to Camp Hope with family members or clubs have always know its open. However, people new to the area or with no direct connection to Camp Hope had no reason to know about it.
Willis said he would like the town to promote the property as a public recreation site rather than waiting for people to find out about its availability on their own.
“I don’t think we have been proactive,” Willis said. “It sort of was always there. The situation didn’t come up until these folks filed a lawsuit.”
Fellow Alderman Jimmy Flynn agreed that the town needed to do something to rectify the fact that some of the region’s resident were unaware of Camp Hope. But added that the current town leaders just continued what had always been done by their predecessors.
“I don’t think the town board or the town people ever felt like they violated that lease. We did what was traditionally done up there,” Flynn said.
— has kept Camp Hope open,” said Waynesville Attorney Burton Smith, who represented Canton in the trial. “There is not a witness who has come forward … who would say Camp Hope property has been restricted,” he added later.
Part of the problem is that no one kept track of who used the property other than Wellsprings.
“Hundreds probably, who knows?” Smith said. “We know hundreds have used it.”
Witnesses testified that weddings, family reunions and picnics have been held at Camp Hope by the general public during the years. But there is no official count or record of how many gatherings were in fact held there.
Others talked about walking or fishing on the property. But recreational use of the
multiple times, but it didn’t seem accessible.
“I would not have felt likely to pull in there,” he said.
In exchange for use of the camp quarters during summer months, Wellsprings acted as an overseer, from upkeep to maintenance. The town also off-loaded the job of booking events at Camp Hope. The property is in the rural community of Cruso, a good 15 to 20 minute drive from Canton, so it was easier and cheaper for the town to just have Wellsprings manage the property.
After the trial ended last Thursday afternoon, jurors advised Canton’s Mayor Mike Rey, who was in the courtroom, that the town needs to do more going forward to let people know about Camp Hope.
“I think everybody needs to step up,” Dossenko said.
When Canton first received Camp Hope from Champion International in 1992, the town quickly leased it to Boy Scouts of America. The Boy Scouts handled maintenance and upkeep of the grounds, cabins and dining hall, as well as booked a smattering of family reunions, weddings and picnics held at the site, similar to the town’s agreement with Wellsprings. The town saw it as a win-win — Canton’s end of the bargain was upheld without burdening its finances.
When the Boy Scouts left, Wellsprings moved in and took over care of the property, investing about $500,000 on maintenance and improvements. Once the lawsuit was brought by the Prelazes however, Wellsprings pulled out. It couldn’t risk the possibility of the property being seized, leaving them with nowhere to put on their
Canton Mayor Mike Ray choked up as he thanked jurors for allowing the town to keep Camp Hope last Thursday afternoon in the Haywood County justice center.
Memorial Day ceremony planned in Waynesville
Haywood County veterans, family members and friends can commemorate Memorial Day with a ceremony at 10 a.m. May 27 at the historic courthouse in Waynesville.
Salem Wyatt, a Haywood County native and U.S. Army veteran who served in Vietnam and Germany, will be the keynote speaker. Wyatt’s military honors include the Silver and Bronze Stars, the Army Commendation Medal with first OLC, the Air Medal, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, and several others. 828.452.6634.
Day of Caring provides for neighbors in need
More than 200 volunteers from Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, tribal employees and the community traveled to 11 sites across Cherokee to assist their neighbors in need through painting, landscaping and construction on May 16.
The daylong event, which started in 2005, builds on the Cherokee ga-du-gi tradition of community service. Each community club within the 10 communities on the Qualla Boundary nominates a beneficiary of the community endeavor.
“We have grown from having just a few hammers, nails, and 2x4s to completing fullon home renovations with handicap ramps, landscaping and deck building,” said Janna Hyatt, Harrah’s Cherokee community relations specialist. 828.497.8853 or www.harrahscherokee.com.
summer camp, so they ended their agreement with the town and went elsewhere.
That forced the Canton to take a more active role in the operation of Camp Hope, even expending some of its own money to keep the place from becoming run down.
“They’ve been really good in terms of maintenance and upkeep, and we are definitely going to have to look at that now that they’re gone,” Willis said.
The town is working on its budget for next year and will need to make room for the added costs of Camp Hope maintenance or find a way to raise money to help offset expenses.
Willis said the town will need to consider implementing rental rates. Currently, people who want to host larger events, like a family reunion, can use Camp Hope’s facilities for free as long as they schedule it through the town.
There is still a chance that Wellsprings could return to Camp Hope next year. The town and Wellsprings both wanted to see how the trial played out before making any commitments.
Though if the company does resume its use of Camp Hope, Canton leaders will still take a more hands-on approach, said Alderman Ed Underwood.
“I would guarantee you if they did, there would be more cooperation between them and us,” Underwood said. “We will make sure we are more involved with it than we have in the past. We have learned our lesson.”
The town board’s next meeting is May 28, and it will talk about what to do next.
“I really think it is too soon to say what we are going to do,” Flynn said. “I would be in favor of spending money and promoting Camp Hope.”
DUELINGATTORNEYS
The Prelazes have 30 days from the end of the trial to file an appeal, but it is unclear whether they will.
“We have got to think about that,” said Mark Kurdy, the Asheville attorney who represented the couple.
During the trial, Kurdy argued that the town did not do all it could to ensure that Camp Hope was run primarily for the benefit of residents in Haywood and the surrounding counties.
Kurdy produced a list of campers who attended Wellsprings from 2005 to 2011. Only 23 of the 978 campers came from Haywood County or one of its surrounding counties.
The attorney claimed that Canton leaders knew how few area kids attended the camp but neglected to act on the information or adequately advertise the property’s availability.
“Some of the things that were done by the fathers of the town of Canton needed to be better,” Kurdy said. “They were not the best they could be.”
Kurdy also stated that the town did not stand by the terms of the deed because it did not offer any programs; it relied on Wellsprings to fulfill that part of the agreement.
“Canton has not held any programs at Camp Hope,” Kurdy said. “The only one the town of Canton has ever held is the one three weeks ago to drum up support,” he said, referencing a recent “Save Camp Hope” event.
Meanwhile, Smith argued that the Prelaz couple was simply greedy, trying to gain ownership of Camp Hope for their own private use.
“This is a financially interested pair of parties who are trying to acquire Camp Hope for, what they said in their letter, personal recreational use,” he said.
The couple had tried to purchase the land from the town before but Canton leaders refused their offer.
“It is a question of maintaining heritage,” Smith said. “The use of it, the access to it is priceless.”
Jackson ‘Up to Good’ as it ‘Play(s) On’ with tourism branding messages
BY ANDREW KASPER STAFFWRITER
What’s it going to be for Jackson County — Just Do It; Got Milk?; A Little Dab’ll Do Ya?
That is the $50,000 question as tourism leaders edge closer to an official marketing message and tourism brand used to lure visitors and their wallets to vacation in Jackson.
The county Tourism Development Board hired a branding firm out of Virginia for $50,000 to guide them on the path to making Jackson a branded county. The company, BCF, with their own slogan “Boom Your Brand,” presented six options last week to tourism board members who then whittled that number down to three. Eventually one will be chosen, but it won’t be easy if last week’s meeting was any indication.
While there was a semblance of consensus, opinions were largely split over what two- to four-word phrase best conveys what the county is about.
At one point, tourism board chairman Clifford Meads spoke of his fondness for one of the slogans, “Base Camp for Life,” but expressed his puzzlement with another one that made the final selection, “Play On.” Those two along with “Up to Good” rounded out the top three.
“I can see how ‘Base Camp for Life’ would be a very good and effective brand,” said Meads, who is also the general manager of the High Hampton Inn and Country Club in Cashiers. “But I can’t figure out how ‘Play on’ would be a brand.”
“Base Camp for Life” was also recommended by Art Webb, the president and CEO of BCF. It makes Jackson County out to be the place from where you begin your journey for life, and hopefully come back during the years, Webb said. He admitted that the tagline wasn’t his or his advertising agents’ words. It was actually a recommendation they heard during one of the many
What they suggested
The Jackson County Tourism Development Board mulled over possible slogans for a tourism marketing brand last week. A final choice will be made this week.
Finalists
• Up to Good
• Base Camp for Life
• Play On
Semifinalists
• Eastern Mountain Time
• Calm. Cool. Connected.
• Be your Mountain Self
What you suggested
The Smoky Mountain News asked its readers for a few branding suggestions for Jackson County. Here’s their submissions.
• Our Good Nature Shows!
• A Tapestry of Adventures
• We are the Mountains
• A Place for You
interviews the company conducted with tourists who frequent the area. Nonetheless, it stuck.
Webb’s other recommendation was “Up to Good,” which plays on the wholesomeness and elevation gain tourists may seek out when coming to the mountains.
“‘Base Camp for Life’ is the idea to beat and honestly, my folks didn’t come up with it,” Webb said.
But others weren’t so hot about vacationing at a base camp and the militaristic or primitive connotations it might send to potential visitors.
Merrily Teasley, owner of the Balsam Mountain Inn, thought it sounded “too
army,” yet liked the notion of “Play On.”
And, considering a majority of vacations are planned by women, Teasley thought it was best to avoid a brand they might confuse with scaling Mount Everest.
“They’re coming to stay a night at my inn — not go backpacking,” Teasley said. “It has to grab (the woman’s) attention first, or it will never get discussed.”
However, Robert Williams, owner of the Dillsboro Chocolate Factory, said that’s not necessarily true in his household. He said the idea of a base camp resonates with him, which in turn means it may resonate with his wife if some sort of deal is struck that meets his need to choose a destination based on the activities there and her desire to have a nice place to stay.
“I know how my own household works,” Williams said. “If I accommodate my wife’s needs in terms of lodging, she’s happy,” leaving him to go out and play.
The urge to “Play on” had several followers in the group, including Julie Spiro, the executive director of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce. She said the slogan was versatile and could be used to describe all sorts of activities in the area — from romping in the stream to playing golf to listening to live banjo music to playing slots at the casino in Cherokee.
“‘Play
‘rock on, man.’ It has a young vibrancy and hipness to it.” Webb said. “Play on and on, and don’t ever stop.”
But with so many slogans, taglines and brands being deployed by the numerous vacation destinations in Western North Carolina, there is bound to be some overlap.
A similar phrase “Base Camp in the Smokies” has been used by Bryson City in promotional material; a billboard for Cherokee uses “play” as its message to passersby; and a variation of “Eastern Mountain Time” was previously used by the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, and thus did not make the final round. Neither did “Calm. Cool. Collected.” Or “Be Your Mountain Self,” also on the list presented to the tourism board.
Meads questioned if “Calm. Cool. Connected” might send the wrong message as well, overlapping words with a very different genre of marketing.
“Would the word ‘connected’ get confused with iPods?” he said.
Yet, Webb said even if there is overlap in the actual words, the delivery of the message is important in bringing it to life and making it distinct.
on’ has a little bit of a feeling of ‘rock on, man.’ It has a young vibrancy and hipness to it. Play on and on, and don’t ever stop.”
“I loved ‘Play On,’” Spiro said. “‘Play On’ I think works from kids to older adults, there’s all kind of things to do.”
— Art Webb, BCF CEO
Her sentiments were backed by Vince Williams, a 22-year-old Western Carolina University student with an internship with the Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce, which caught the ear of Webb.
Webb said that phrase does have a youthfulness to it that works for old people who come to Jackson County to feel young and young people who go to Jackson to play. He added that it’d be wise for the group to listen to the opinion of youngest person in the room because making inroads with his demographic will ensure a customer base for years to come.
“‘Play on’ has a little bit of a feeling of
The three selections will be developed into mock advertisements and fleshed out more thoroughly for a follow-up meeting of the tourism board at noon Wednesday (May 22) where a finalist will be zeroed in on. County commissioners are expected to attend as well.
The $50,000 contract with BCF only covers the price for developing the county’s brand and creating a concept video. The board did not solicit presentations from other agencies before awarding the contract. However, Webb is already offering to continue to work with the tourism board through the marketing stage after a brand is selected. That stage would include developing actual print and television advertisement campaign and deciding how and where to deploy the ads.
“We’re giving birth to a child and we want to be the guys that help bring this child, to life,” Webb said.
Social workers say student homelessness on the rise
BY CAITLIN BOWLING STAFFWRITER
The number of homeless school children in Haywood County has risen by nearly 20 percent this year compared to last.
The county uses the definition of homelessness contained in the McKinney-Vento Act — any individual who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. That could mean that the children are staying with a relative temporarily, in a hotel, sleeping in a car or at a shelter.
Last year, the number of homeless children in the Haywood County school system topped out at 201. But this year, “We already have 240; we have seven I found out about in the last few days,” said social worker Michelle Mull at a Board of Education meeting earlier this month. “We will probably reach close to 300 by the end (of the school year).”
While some are homeless because of financial problems, many are affected by physical abuse and substance abuse. Mull and three other social workers spend their days in the schools concerned about the children’s lives outside of the class and how they might help.
Mull painted a wretched picture. Imagine, she said, you are in eighth grade and had a great day at school. The classmate you like smiled at you, and you can’t wait to tell your mom. But when you get home, your mother is crying, Mull said. Then you hear the sound of your stepdad’s truck. Your mom hands you dinner and tells you to go eat in your room.
You hear your stepdad and mom fighting, so you hide in your closet. Then you hear glass breaking and a thud.
“You know that is your mama’s head
Four social workers split their time among Haywood County’s 16 schools, helping homeless kids balance the stresses of school and home. Caitlin Bowling photo
going against the wall,” Mull said.
When you hear another noise, you start praying it’s not your stepdad coming for you.
The footsteps are getting closer and closer. The door to your closet opens, and it’s your mom who is bleeding and has a black eye. She tells you, “You have one minute to put whatever you can in your backpack, and we are leaving.”
In all the panic, you grab your cell phone or a stuffed animal, but you forget your homework. The next day when the teacher asks you for assignment, you make up an excuse.
“If [students] are homeless, they don’t care about their eighth grade test.”
— Michelle Mull, social worker
“You are too ashamed to say you slept in your car last night,” Mull said.
Homeless students spend the day worrying about where they will stay that night or what they will eat. Schoolwork is an afterthought.
“If they are homeless, they don’t care about their eighth grade test,” Mull said.
The Haywood County school board members agreed with Mull’s assessment. If they found themselves in a similar situation as a child, school would be their last worry.
Chuck Francis, chairman of the Board of Education, applauded the social workers’ efforts to help the homeless school children and bring awareness to the issue.
“I can’t imagine the day-to-day stress you face,” Francis said.
Free health fair and sports physicals
MedWest Sports Medicine is offering Haywood County student athletes free sports physicals Thursday, May 30, at the MedWest Health & Fitness Center on the campus of MedWest-Haywood.
MedWest-Haywood will also offer free health screenings for families of student athletes during the physicals, including blood pressure checks, swallowing, voice, and speech language screenings and body mass index calculations.
The schedule is as follows:
• 5:45 p.m. for Canton Middle School and Bethel Middle School students.
• 6:30 p.m. for Pisgah High School students.
• 7:15 p.m. for Waynesville Middle School and Haywood Christian Academy.
• 8 p.m. for Tuscola High School students.
Carolina West Sports Medicine recently provided free sports physicals to 1,000 local student athletes in a similar event for students in Jackson, Swain and Macon counties. 828.452.8077.
Students draft business plan for health clinic
A 100-page business plan created by Western Carolina University seniors are helping guide development of a self-sustain-
ing primary care health clinic in the university’s Health and Human Sciences Building.
The team explored the needs of the WCU School of Nursing, such as opportunities for hands-on student training, as well as available services and needs of five regional public health departments and MedWestHarris hospital.
In addition, the students interviewed staff at regional medical and health practices to gain an understanding of how patients are processed and how patient billing works.
“The students have learned how to do research, conduct a business situational analysis, derive appropriate strategies and write a business plan to attract investors,” said Ed Wright, associate professor of global management and strategy in the College of Business.
828.227.3603 or ewwright@wcu.edu.
State to celebrate
‘Click It’ anniversary
Haywood County will host the 20th anniversary celebration of the “Click It or Ticket” program at 2 p.m. May 29 at Haywood Community College.
Haywood County was a pilot for the state’s “Click It or Ticket” program in 1993. The program was aimed to increase seat belt and child safety use rates through stepped-up enforcement of the state’s seat belt law. The anniversary event will bring awareness to seat belt use and recognize the campaign’s success.
828.452.6666, ext. 2906.
INVENTORY CLEARANCE
Cherokee-run welfare office provides easier access to aid
BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFFWRITER
From the outside, Sandy Cloer’s office doesn’t look like much — not even a real office, in fact.
The three double-wide trailers strung endto-end and plopped at the back of a barren parking lot hardly seem cut from the same cloth as Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Resort just a few miles away, dripping with glitz and glam and money.
But both, in fact, tell the same story — the story of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians taking ownership for its own people. While the casino has lifted the economy of Cherokee as a whole, Cloer’s humble quarters in the tribe’s new welfare office marks yet another step on the trajectory of self-determination.
This year, the tribe took over federal welfare assistance for tribal members. Before, tribal members had to apply for assistance through social service agencies in neighboring counties. Now, needy tribal members can apply for help directly through their own triberun program.
“A lot of elders in the tribe don’t want to go off the reservation for services. They just don’t. It is a cultural thing. A lot of folks are too proud to do that,” Cloer said.
The tribe believes it can do a better job reaching its own tribal members in need. Indeed, the number of enrolled members tapping the federal assistance has tripled now that it is operated by the tribe and housed in an office on the reservation.
In December, the month before the tribe took over the program, only 12 enrolled members received assistance. This month, there were 35.
Federal welfare dollars usually flow from the federal government to the state and then to counties. The reservation spans parts of five counties. So the tribe’s share of dollars — about $800,000 — was divvied up to the different counties that claim a portion of the reservation.
But some in Cherokee believe tribal members weren’t getting their fair share of assistance.
“It was not coming to the reservation,” said Cherokee Tribal Court Justice Bill Boyum. Reasons were varied.
For starters, some tribal members simply didn’t know about the financial assistance. The outreach by county social service agencies on the reservation was “inadequate” in Boyum’s book.
“Nobody really knew about it,” Boyum said. But there were also cultural barriers.
“People are more comfortable going in to an office in Cherokee rather than over to Bryson City,” said Boyum.
Whether tribal members were getting their fair share of welfare assistance is unclear. Before the tribe took over the operations, the state was unable to provide hard numbers of
The
“A lot of elders in the tribe don’t want to go off the reservation for services. They just don’t. It is a cultural thing. A lot of folks are too proud to do that.”
— Sandy Cloer
even boxes of food, they can hand out. There’s also the classic welfare payments. Those who simply don’t make enough to get by can apply for a monthly living stipend. The catch these days is that it’s temporary, however. Welfare assistance is capped at a maximum of five years over someone’s lifetime. The limited duration is supposed to keep generation after generation from living on handouts and instead help them get into the workforce through job training. They also get basic life-skills coaching, including household budgeting.
Known these days as Work First instead of welfare, anyone receiving assistance also has to prove they are looking for a job. The requirements often deter applicants who simply don’t want to jump through those hoops, Cloer said.
GRANDPARENTSRAISING
GRANDCHILDREN
One of the biggest needs in Cherokee is assistance for grandparents or other relatives struggling to raise children who aren’t their own.
“That was one of the things we wanted to target because we felt like that was a huge need,” Cloer said. Parents off-load their children with a relative for a number of reasons. The most common: the parents are teens, are using drugs, are in jail or are still in school. It poses a financial burden on whoever takes them in.
“You can spend $50 a month on diapers,” Cloer said.
exactly how much of the money earmarked for the reservation was actually going to enrolled members.
Regardless, the biggest barrier had nothing to do with the neighboring counties themselves.
Most tribal members simply didn’t qualify for federal welfare assistance because they didn’t meet the poverty criteria, according to Shelia Sutton, interim director of Swain DSS.
Tribal members get a cut of casino profits. It currently amounts to about $8,000 a year. That small amount was enough to push tribal members above the income threshold to qualify for assistance.
As a result, neighboring counties often didn’t spend the entire pot designated for tribal members on tribal members — simply because they weren’t eligible. And if it wasn’t all used, the county social services departments could put it toward other things.
Now that the tribe is running its own program, however, it has flexibility to craft its own income criteria.
“The biggest benefit for the tribe taking over is the tribe can set its own eligibility requirements,” Boyum said. “The tribe has made a larger population eligible.”
Only 60 out of more than 300 federally recognized tribes run their own federal welfare programs.
More tribes are interested in going that route, however.
“There is flexibility to design your own program that makes sense for your community,” said Felicia Gaither, director of the federal program for tribes. “There is a benefit to serving the community where the tribal leadership understands what the challenges may be.”
A SAFETYNET
What was once known as simply “welfare” has many different names and many different funding pieces these days. There’s money to help grandparents or relatives raising children who aren’t their own. There’s help for the struggling, minimum-wage work class that has no cushion to absorb life’s curve balls.
“So many people live from paycheck to paycheck and one setback can throw them off,” Boyum said.
Say your car breaks down and you don’t have the money to fix it, but without your car you lose your job. The assistance can help with one-time car repairs.
“Hopefully we can help people get over the hump,” Cloer said.
Or perhaps they lack the upfront deposit for utility hookups.
“They have enough money to get by but not for a deposit,” Boyum said.
Another part of the program is crisis and emergency assistance. Cloer has a stash of grocery store gift cards and gas gift cards, and
But there is a barrier keeping many grandparents from tapping the monetary assistance. If they apply for help, it automatically triggers a child support case against the child’s parents, Cloer said.
Grandparents are often reluctant to apply if it means their own son or daughter will be handed a child support bill.
The grandparents also fear the parents will just show up and take their grandchild back rather than pay the child support.
“A lot of times the grandparents don’t want the children to be taken back because they know they aren’t going to be cared for,” Cloer said. “It’s an emotional issue.”
At the same time, it’s only fair that the parent should be pitching in financially for the cost of feeding and clothing their children left in a relative’s care.
“If parents were paying child support, the grandparents wouldn’t need assistance,” Cloer said. “If the daughter or son doesn’t have any money, then why aren’t they working? The fact they don’t have a job or aren’t doing anything right now, that’s just not good enough.”
Cloer isn’t Cherokee herself. But she has worked intimately with the tribe for 17 years in child support before overseeing the new tribal welfare program.
Cloer has seen the benefits of the tribe taking ownership of social services once before — namely in the child support arena. Collecting child support used to be state-run operation. Cloer was based out of an office in nearby
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians are moving more social service functions under the umbrella of the tribe instead of relying on neighboring counties to serve tribal members applying for various assistance programs. Staffers go review client applications and cases in a team meeting. Becky Johnson photo
Bryson City, even though she oversaw child support collection on the reservation.
Then the tribe took over its own child support in 2010. Since then, collections have risen from $2.4 million a year to $3 million a year.
“Mainly we think it has been the accessibility of being here on the reservation. A lot of enrolled members don’t like to travel off the reservation for services,” Cloer said.
The tribe actually has the highest child support collection rate in the state — thanks in large part to the ability to garnish the annual casino dividends of tribal members who owe child support.
Building a brand new social welfare department wasn’t easy. It took a year of planning and training to get the tribally-run program off the ground.
“We had to put policies and procedures in place, had to hire staff, had to have a building to put people in,” said Cloer.
The welfare assistance office has three employees in Cherokee, and a fourth stationed in Snowbird, a satellite area of the reservation in rural Graham County.
BUDGETTRAILS
When the tribe took over its own welfare program, money that was once funneled to the state and then to counties to serve tribal members started going directly to the tribe instead.
The federal government subtracted Cherokee’s share from what it gave the state.
The state then lopped Cherokee’s share off the top of its overall welfare budget, reducing the amount for every county in the state by a
The tribe opened an office on the reservation this year to administer the federal program known as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, today’s version of what was once known as welfare. Becky
little, according to Ricky Diaz, spokesperson for the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
Presumably, the counties neighboring Cherokee won’t have as many people to serve now that tribal members can go through their own tribal program.
But instead of selectively cutting the welfare budget for those counties, the state spread the cuts across all 100 counties.
In the scheme of things, Cherokee’s share of welfare dollars is only a small slice of the state’s total allocation. Cherokee accounts for
less than 0.3 percent — or one-third of one percent — of the state’s federal welfare dollars. The state gets $304 million from the federal government. Of that, $804,000 was deemed Cherokee’s share.
It was certainly easier to lop that $804,000 off the top of the state’s whole budget instead of taking it solely away from the counties in and around Cherokee itself.
But simplicity alone wasn’t the reason for the state’s approach. Technically, tribal members could still go through neighboring counties to apply for assistance.
“In fact we still have them coming here for Work First stuff,” said Shelia Sutton, interim director of Swain DSS. “We can’t deny or discourage anybody from applying. If they prefer to come here, we will process their application.”
But that also gives rise to another hidden problem.
“We have a lot of communication that has to go on to make sure people don’t double dip,” Sutton said.
When an enrolled member applies through the Swain welfare office, Sutton said they call the tribe’s office to make sure the applicant hasn’t gone there as well.
“It is going to hinge on a lot of communications that we don’t overspend our dollars,” Sutton said.
The tribe’s share of welfare funding — $804,000 — was apparently calculated at the state level.
“Our figures came from what the state submitted on what they would have spent on Native families in those service areas,” said Felicia Gaither, director of the federal program for tribes.
But the state Department of Health and Human Services was unable to quantify how much assistance went to tribal members over the course of a year before the tribe took over the program.
But from the tribe’s perspective, they feel like enrolled members have more at their disposal now that the dollars are in their control. Regardless, Cloer has no doubt it will all be used.
“We are worried about running out at the rate we are going right now,” Cloer said.
Johnson photo
The sticky wicket of downtown sandwich boards
BY CAITLIN BOWLING STAFFWRITER
Signs are businesses’ equivalent to nuclear weapons.
“Everybody wants them, but you have to agree to live with them,” said Waynesville Town Planner Paul Benson. “I think what we need is a consensus on what is a reasonable approach.”
The Waynesville planning board Monday night held a public hearing to gauge Main Street, Frog Level and Hazelwood business owners’ opinions of portable business signs, those folding sandwich boards put out on sidewalks to lure passersby into restaurants and shops.
The two-side, collapsible signs can be seen outside a number of businesses, such as Main Street Perks, Tipping Point Brewing and Bourbon Barrel Beef and Ale. They are also illegal under current town zoning standards.
But Waynesville building inspectors have a difficult time enforcing the code. Every once in a while, they will crack down on the signs. For a while, they will disappear, but the signs always come back.
“These sign boards crop up consistently,” said Building Inspector Jason Rogers. “It’s really hard to enforce.”
While making the sandwich boards legal in the three main small business areas — Main Street, Frog Level and Hazelwood —
Sandwich boards, which often list daily food specials, are technically illegal in Waynesville, but enforcement of the building code is difficult.
“For us, it adds a little bit of character to Main Street for these restaurants to show their specials. We have eaten at just about every restaurant downtown just because what’s on that sign.”
— John Keith, Twigs and Leaves owner
would make life easier for the inspectors and make some merchants happy, the town planning board also doesn’t want the quaint downtown streetscape to become littered with signage.
“If we open this Pandora’s box and we’ve got every business down Main Street putting a sign out, then it becomes an issue. It would certainly restrict walking,” said Jon Feichter, a planning board member and downtown business owner himself.
However, Benson countered that there would not likely be a huge influx of new signs since the town hasn’t really been enforcing the sandwich board ban anyway.
“I have a feeling all the ones who want to do it are already doing it,” Benson said.
The signs by restaurants often display menu offerings and specials for curious passersby.
“For us, it adds a little bit of character to Main Street for these restaurants to show their specials,” said John Keith, who co-owns Twig and Leaves with his wife. “We have eaten at just about every restaurant downtown just because what’s on that sign.”
But if the signs were officially deemed legal, more could start using them.
Some shops use sandwich boards to direct people to a business off the beaten path.
Sunburst Trout has a storefront on Montgomery Street, a
block off Main. Unless someone is in the know or stumbles upon it, the shop could be passed over, so Katie Eason Hughes, who manages it, has taken to carrying a sandwich board up to Main Street and setting in the sidewalk at the corner of Main and Miller streets to direct people down to Sunburst Trout.
“I had no clue you were back here until I saw the sign,” Hughes said relying what she hears a number of customers tell her.
She asked the board to consider businesses like hers that would be lost without some kind of way-finding sign.
Richard Miller, owner of the Wine Cellar, expressed a similar sentiment about businesses on Depot and Church streets, which run perpendicular to Main.
“They need signs to draw people around the corner,” said Miller, who had a hanging sign installed above The Kitchen Shop on the corner of Main and Church street informing people about his business. “It makes a difference for people who look and say ‘What’s down there?’”
One possible solution would be installing a public pole on street corners with signs for businesses just off the main streets. It would help prevent the sidewalk from becoming cluttered with rogue sandwich board signs. It would also keep another business owner from putting a sign for their store in front of someone else’s shop.
“I wouldn’t want a bunch of signs in front of my storefront that I have no control over,” Keith said.
As for the businesses along Main Street, Hazelwood Avenue and Commerce Street, the town would need to put some restrictions in place — the planning board is just not sure exactly what though.
If portable signs are allowed, leaders will need to set regulations to keep in compliance with ADA requirements. Sidewalks must have an unobstructed, four-foot path, and entrances and exits must be kept clear.
“I think we have to be really strict about not blocking that sidewalk,” said Buffy Phillips, head of the Downtown Waynesville Association.
The planning board also debated whether to allow businesses with permanent, freestanding signs to have a sandwich board as well. Anthony Wayne’s on Church Street, for example, has a permanent sign already posted outside its building. Depending on what is passed, the regulations could prohibit the restaurant from posting a temporary sign with its specials, which could cause the owners to cry foul.
“Essentially we are saying everybody but you. They are going to feel slighted,” Feichter said.
The portable signs are meant to be nonpermanent fixtures.
“We want it to be something that is truly temporary,” Benson said.
At the end of the meeting, the planning board instructed Benson to look into what other towns’ sign policies are, with an eye toward size, material and placement restrictions.
“We have got to study it,” said Planning Board member Marty Prevost.
June 8th
CLASSROOM AT THE FUN FACTORY
Speak up if you want high-speed internet in Jackson
BY ANDREW KASPER & B ECKY JOHNSON STAFFWRITERS
Jackson County wants to bring high-speed Internet service to a greater number of residents, but doing so means convincing an Internet service provider there’s enough potential customers to make it worth their while.
To that end, the county is partnering with the N.C. Commerce Department to conduct a survey that will gauge demand.
“We want to better assess the demand for internet services across Jackson County — folks that are served, that are not served and are underserved,” County Manager Chuck Wooten said.
Thousands of people in Jackson County don’t have high-speed internet. Jackson’s population is spread out. The cost of bringing high-speed internet to rural areas, especially mountainous ones, can be prohibitive, especially if the market outlook is unknown.
The survey hopes to solve that by showing internet service providers that there is in fact a large untapped demand.
“It has proven beneficial to get demand numbers so we can tell providers what’s out there,” Wooten said.
Once the survey results are in, another way to attract a company will be for the county to offer incentives, such use of its existing infrastructure, like towers to place high-speed wireless antennae’s on at a reduced rate, or lowered fees. Conover will work as a liaison between the providers and the county during that process. He said if Internet is thought of as a public service, like education, it makes sense to work alongside private businesses that provide it.
“The whole idea for me is to lower the barriers for market entry,” Conover said “It’s kind of like a private-public partnership.”
“It has proven beneficial to get demand numbers so we can tell providers what’s out there.”
—
The county will be working with the assistance of the N.C. BroadBand, a division of the Department of Commerce. One goal is simply to figure out what type of Internet service is out there — fast, slow or nonexistent — and if people actually be willing to pay for additional services, said Keith Conover, the agency’s technical assistance director for the western region.
The surveys will be available online in coming weeks. Realizing the flaw in conducting a survey to gauge lack of Internet service in an online format, Conover said there will most likely be other outlets for participating, such as hard-copy surveys at local libraries or gas stations. The results, Conover said, will dictate what size and type of companies will show interest in expanding its reaches in Jackson County — from AT&T on down.
“If we get quite a few people with a lack of service reporting — then we might get a big provider moving into area,” Conover said. “If the need isn’t so large then maybe a smaller provider could move in.”
The ABC’s of parenting
Chuck Wooten, Jackson County Manager
Although the region, including Jackson County, is served by main track of high speed Internet fibers called the middle mile, what most residents lack is a way to tap into the superhighway. High-speed DSL or cable are only available in the county’s more densely populated areas.
One promising option would be highspeed wireless. Towers can beam high-speed internet using wireless signals through the air, reaching potential customers more cheaply than the incremental build-out of land-based infrastructure.
“Quite frankly the mountains are the biggest asset and liability,” Conover said. As it stands, the Internet service landscape in Jackson County is a hodge-podge at best, with six providers offering Internet in various forms and a few more eyeing forays into the county.
One company contemplating a highspeed wireless investment into the county has attempted to gauge demand itself. Vistanet put out a call through local newspapers asking residents interested in Internet service to let them know. The company’s plan was to build where the need was greatest. The response was supposedly good.
Stay tuned for the web link where the survey will be posted.
The Jackson County Family Resource Center is offering a free five-session seminar for parents of children ages 5 to 8.
The program runs from 6 to 8 p.m. every Thursday, May 30 to June 27. The seminar will focus on establishing discipline through family rules, rewards and alternatives to spanking and yelling, how to express anger and stress in healthy ways and problem solving. All participants who complete the program will receive a $25 gift card and will be eligible for door prizes. A free dinner will be served prior to each class at 5:30 p.m. Child care provided. Space is limited. Register. 828.586.2845.
Filling the flood plain under debate in Macon
Macon County officials are considering ordinance changes that would allow property owners and developers to bring fill material into the floodplain, a practice currently prohibited for safety reasons. LTLT photo
BY ANDREW KASPER STAFFWRITER
Macon County is weighing whether to relax its existing rules that ban fill dirt in the flood plain.
The county’s planning board is split on the issue and struggling to find mutual ground to stand on.
The five-year-old law is one of the stricter flood plain ordinances in the state. It prohibits any imported dirt from being brought in to flood plains. It was enacted following severe flooding in 2004, when two 500-year floods were witnessed along tributaries of the Little Tennessee River. The law follows the logic that the flood plain is a natural reservoir for surging storm waters. Macon County is known for its wide Little Tennessee River valley and several major creek bottoms.
Filling in the flood plain for development or construction like putting your thumb over the nozzle of a garden hose spout — the water is constricted and flows faster.
“It’s a public safety issue in our eyes,” said Bob Wright, who was chairman of the county’s Watershed Council when the law was written.
Wright said mountain areas are better served by stricter flood laws than the rest of the state due to their topography. When rain falls on mountainsides it is soon channeled into the valleys making the area more prone to flash floods. The part of the ordinance now under fire — the “no fill” clause, as its been dubbed — applies to the county’s 100-year flood plain, the buffer around rivers that supposedly floods every 100 years.
However, that has not been the case. Macon County has had about 10 of these 100year floods in the past 230 years or so.
“Memories are short,” Wright said. “When you talk about the 100-year flood, people say ‘what are we going to worry about something that happens every 100 years for?’”
Some have seen the inflexible law as bur-
displaced by the fill dirt on one side of the river must go somewhere, most likely spilling onto someone else’s property downstream.
“It’s like putting a brick in a bucket of water,” said Planning Board Member Susan Ervin. “That water will be displaced and where it will go is to downstream properties.”
The planning board is entering its final stretch of discussion on the issue, with a recommendation for commissioners coming by the end of May or June.
But since commissioners directed the board to take up the issue months ago, the talks have garnered formidable attention from a slew stakeholders who are against any changes. From environmental advocates to safety experts to farmers, the split planning board has gotten an earful about reasons not to change the law.
One board member said he was swayed against amending the ordinance when a county farmer spoke before the board on the value of farmland, often found in the rich soil deposits left in the floodplain. Lewis Penland said the county’s river fertile farmland takes centuries to develop into grow-able conditions but all that progress can be covered in a matter of one construction project.
didn’t understand the urgency to open up the flood plain for construction. Similarly, agriculture in Macon County is a $40 million per year industry, Penland said, and a change to the law could threaten the future of that industry and the county’s food supply. He said his family also has a farm in the area.
“What’s the next generation going to use to feed themselves?” Penland said. “You need a doctor or lawyer once or twice in your life, but you need a farmer three times a day.”
With strong opinions on both sides of the issue, County Planner Matt Mason is hoping some sort of compromise could be reached, allowing a certain amount of filling in the flood plain but with limitations on its purpose and extent. Any final decisions will be made by county commissioners.
Mason has his eye on a bill that recently passed the N.C. Senate that would nullify any local environmental regulations that are more strict than the state’s.
Strictly from a public safety standpoint, it may be best not to touch the law, Mason said, but he wants someone who is looking to build a modest house to have the ability to put fill underneath it.
densome to property owners who want to build up the ground’s elevation in flood plains. They argue a little fill dirt may not have much of a noticeable effect on water flows.
The issue first surfaced when a representative from Wells Grove Baptist Church asked if the church could use some fill dirt to expand its parking lot into the flood plain. Then, county commissioners briefly entered into panic at another meeting this spring when they feared the law would inhibit their plans to develop a $1.2 million baseball complex in the flood plain.
Planning Board Member Bill Frutal said the law is also having an undesired effect on property owners who want to build a house in the flood plain, perhaps for a view of the nearby river, yet are constrained by the law in their homebuilding options.
Frutal, who is also a general contractor, said fill dirt would permit homeowners to compact an earth foundation underneath to elevate their house and keep it drier and allow them to avoid the alternative.
“You could build a house like you see at the beach where you build it on stilts,” Frutal said.
Although Frutal said he can understand the safety concerns voiced by opponents of the changes, he believes it’s a basic property rights issue. He also said concerns about drastically changing the natural flows of county waterways are a bit overblown. The cost of extensive fill in the flood plain is a naturally a limiting factor, so he doesn’t think a change to the law will open the floodgates.
“I don’t think you’d have a bunch of people go willy nilly filling in the flood plain,” Frutal said. “It’s your property; you should be able to be able to fill.”
However, for another longtime planning board member, the issue is also a matter of property rights, but the rights of the property owners downstream. Water in the floodplain
“When you fill it up, pave it and put a Walmart on top of it, it’s done,” Penland said. “It seems we’re so short-sighted in our thinking.”
Also, as a commercial realtor, Penland said there is a 15- to 20-year supply of commercial real estate in Macon County, so he
Something in the middle may be in store, he hopes.
“I could, personally, see both sides of the argument,” Mason said. “And when you sit down and compromise, you usually have the best product.”
Maggie logjam shows no sign of breaking ‘til fall election
BY CAITLIN BOWLING STAFFWRITER
The Maggie Valley Board of Aldermen have been mired in gridlock for nearly nine months.
With only four town board members at the moment — instead of the typical five — stalemates have ruled the day. From major issues to petty ones, the board has been marked by tie votes and split opinions. Infighting has become the typical interaction at meetings these days.
“It’s an embarrassment,” said Alderwoman Saralyn Price.
People she encounters constantly ask what the town leaders are arguing about this week.
“Everybody in that room is for Maggie Valley. If we could just agree to disagree, it would be wonderful,” Price said.
And although the board members claim they want to work better together, the two sides — Mayor Ron DeSimone and Price on one, and Aldermen Mike Matthews and Phillip Wight on the other — they instead are staring down the barrel of their most critical decision yet.
It’s budget time, and the two sides have markedly different ideas about the town budget.
The town ended up in this predicament after Former Alderman Phil Aldridge moved away in August, leaving an empty seat on the board.
Typically, the remaining board members would appoint someone to fill the empty seat until the next town election rolls around. But the town board found themselves divided into twos and unable to reach an agreement even on who to appoint.
Now, Maggie Valley voters will decide who to elect as the fifth alderman this November — at last giving the advantage to one side or the other.
Meanwhile, without a fifth alderman to cast the deciding vote, the board has struggled to compromise. Members have gotten into arguments, claiming the other side is lying or trying to hide something.
“They didn’t have to compromise before,” DeSimone said, referring to the majority they had when Aldridge was still on the board. “Now, they have to compromise. They just usually won’t.”
The most contentious issue so far has been a proposed lodging tax increase.
With only four people on the board, the aldermen could end up at a major impasse when it comes time to vote on the budget.
“I am certainly willing to talk about this budget,” DeSimone said. But “Wight has indicated to the town manager on numerous occasions that he doesn’t think a budget would be passed.”
In an interview, Wight said he hopes the board members can come together on the budget.
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“We made some good decisions last year and cut costs,” Wight said.
RED-LININGTHEBUDGET
Town Manager Tim Barth presented the budget at the town board meeting earlier this month.
There are few changes compared to the prior year. The tax rate will remain the same, and departments will only see a nominal allocation increase, according to the draft budget.
The notable differences include a recommended 3 percent cost of living increase for town employees, the purchase of three new vehicles, and additional money for overtime worked by police officers and the police DARE program.
Price commended Barth for the budget.
over time,” said Maggie Police Chief Scott Sutton.
If the town does not replace any of the police cars, Sutton said he will need to increase his maintanence budget.
“The money I have requested will not cover that,” Sutton said.
Years ago when she first started working as a police officer in Maggie, Alderwoman Price said the department had two old cars with more than 200,000 miles that often needed repair.
“They didn’t have to compromise before. Now, they have to compromise. They just usually won’t.”
— Ron DeSimone, referring to the lack of majority on the board
“They have balanced the budget without raising taxes, and they have been reasonable doing it,” Price said. “I think it’s a very good budget.”
The mayor also indicated that he was fine with the proposed budget as presented.
“I don’t really have any issues with it,” DeSimone said.
However, Matthews and Wight handed out a list of changes they would like to see.
“We all need to sit down in a workshop and hash it out. I want to get as much bang for our buck,” Matthews said. “The police department has the largest budget so that is the one we have to look at first.”
The budget for the Maggie police department came under scrutiny last year as well, with some members of the public complaining that the police force is over-sized for such a small town.
Some wiggle room in the police budget this year is the purchase of two new cop cars, according to Matthews and Wight.
Last year, Wight argued in favor of postponing the purchase of two new police vehicles for another year, and the other board members agreed. However, now, he wants to delay the purchase again, saying that the town should work on paying off debt it already owes rather than taking on more.
“If we pay some more debt off, we can maintain the level of government service we have right now without raising taxes,” Wight said, asking the police department to “sacrifice another year.”
The proposed budget doesn’t call for a tax increase or a reduction in services. However, delaying the new vehicle purchases will cause the police department’s car maintenance budget to go up. This fiscal year, the department has already spent between $4,500 and $5,000 on maintenance of the two vehicles — a cost that will only increase as the vehicles grow one year older.
“It’s definitely an issue when you start tampering with a vehicle rotation. The purpose of the vehicle rotation is to save money
“We were paying more for repairs in a year than we did for a new car,” she said, adding that the practice of rotating two cars out every year kept the town from overspending on maintenance. “That plan was put into place for a reason.” If the town waits another year, there’s a chance it will have to play catch up and shell out more in a single year rather than spreading out the cost. According to the budget, Maggie would pay $14,000 a year for four years to pay the cars off.
Matthews said he plans to talk to department heads, including Police Chief Scott Sutton, before the town’s budget hearing in late June to see where the budget might be cut further.
“I would love to see if we can cut it 10 percent [from the police budget], but if we can’t, we can’t,” Matthews said, adding that postponing the police car purchases could count toward the 10 percent. Matthews did not know where specifically the cuts could come from.
As a former police chief who had to craft the department’s budget, Price said such a cut would hinder its ability to adequately perform its job.
“I don’t know how they think they can cut it 10 percent,” Price said. “They are not going to be able to function as they normally would.”
While Matthew’s and Wight’s changes would take money away from the police department, it would allocate $5,000 to pay for more decorative winter lighting.
“They need to buy their holiday lights,” quipped Sutton.
Matthews’ and Wight’s list also included making the compensation for aldermen and the mayor equal. Right now, Maggie’s mayor earns $6,600 a year while the aldermen receive $4,200 a year.
DeSimone said he believed the point was only added to the list to take a jab at him.
“That is a bit vindictive,” DeSimone said. “It is not a serious negotiating point.”
The stipend paid to mayors is almost always more than the stipend town board members receive.
Price backed the mayor, saying he works harder and takes on more responsibilities.
“I am not for that,” Price said. “The mayor, he spends a lot of his time working on town business.”
Haywood commissioners win political game with school board
Haywood County commissioners drew a line in the sand. The Haywood County School Board decided not to cross it. In a nutshell, that’s what happened.
But what was interesting was the spoken and unspoken back and forth between the two elected bodies about taxes and spending in this era of tight budgets and tax-hike phobia.
As most who follow politics in North Carolina know, school boards have no taxing authority. The school board develops a budget, but then has to pass it on to the county with their hands out, hoping commissioners come up with the money to pay for everything. County commissioners decide how much “local” money — basically property tax and sales tax monies — it will then provide to the school system.
The process can be messy, and in some years it becomes difficult for the two elected bodies — not Haywood in particular, but for school and county boards in every North Carolina county — to remain cordial with each other. Whether it’s replacing leaking roofs, approving supplements for teachers, funding non-revenue sports programs, or just providing money for locally paid teachers, there is often fundamental disagreement. Right now, Macon County is looking at reducing its teacher numbers in order to make up for state revenue losses, and it doesn’t look like commissioners there can come up with the money to offset those salaries.
When there’s disagreement, part of the political game comes down to who the voting public supports. If you win the public relations game, then usually you get what you want.
Haywood school leaders wanted an extra $500,000 for school resource officers and guidance counselors in elementary
What are they thinking down in Raleigh?
To the Editor:
I continue to be mystified by the behavior of Art Pope’s legislature in Raleigh. While ranting against Washington mandates and interference in state and local affairs, they are aggressively using those same tactics. They have legislated a seizure of the Asheville water system, which the citizens of Asheville have improved and maintained. It will be turned over to a regional board with appointed members that do not represent the customer base of water users. There has been no documented benefit to either the city or the county. There will be no compensation to the city for an asset valued in the hundreds of millions. Imagine that the government took over your land or business that you had grown and invested in and didn’t pay you for it. Because of the way you vote? Even Carl Mumpower, conservative columnist of The Ashville Citizen-Times, characterized this as “theft.” Similar seizures are being legislated for the city built and operated airports in Asheville and Charlotte.
In the course of authorizing fracking in North Carolina (a silly piece of legislation since it is decades from being an issue here) they have prohibited local governments from restricting or prohibiting deployment of this problematic technology in their jurisdictions.
schools. Seems lots of school systems are seeking more law enforcement personnel since the Connecticut school shooting.
I’m not of the opinion that armed officers in schools will solve the school safety problems. I tend to agree with Haywood Commissioner Kirk Kirkpatrick, who has been making this point since the additional school resource officers were first discussed in Haywood.
Editor Scott McLeod
“You have a much better chance of your child being killed or harmed on the way to school,” Kirkpatrick said.
As a father of children who attend pubic schools, I would definitely argue that there is a definite shortage of guidance counselors. From the elementary school on up, there just aren’t enough of these positions to meet the need. These are some of the most over-worked people in the public school system, and they could do much more if there weren’t so few of them forced to work all the time under a “finger in the dyke” scenario.
In this case, when the $500,000 request came to Haywood commissioners, they threw it back at the school board with this addendum: take a formal vote, which will let us know that you support the spending increase even if it means raising property taxes. A tax hike, commissioners said, is the only way to fund the request.
That’s a highly unusual political move. As noted earlier, school board members don’t have taxing authority. In this case, however, Haywood commissioners had found a way to
LOOKINGFOROPINIONS
The Smoky Mountain News encourages readers to express their opinions through letters to the editor or guest columns. All viewpoints are welcome. Send to Scott McLeod at info@smokymountainnews.com., fax to 828.452.3585, or mail to PO Box 629, Waynesville, NC, 28786.
In education, they mandated a salary increase (modest) for teachers, while pulling back the funding to support that raise. Macon County has “reverted” more than $3.2 million since 2010. This from an already inadequate and shrinking commitment by the state to public education.
While I can understand their cutting back unemployment benefits and not expanding health benefits for the poor as being ideologically consistent with their Tea Party agenda, the fact that they are sending over $6 billion of tax dollars paid by North Carolina citizens to other states is a bit bizarre and fiscally irresponsible. Florida figured it out; it would seem that North Carolina could have too.
As a former resident of South Carolina, I watched as this philosophy took over and made that state a serious contender in the “Race to the Bottom” with Mississippi and Alabama. It is unfortunate that North
pin a proposed tax hike squarely on the shoulders of a board that can’t tax.
I understand the county’s reasoning here, but I don’t agree with it. The county board has two former school board members — Mark Swanger and Mike Sorrells — along with the former schools superintendent, Bill Upton. It’s safe to say they understand the inner workings of the school system. The school board, by a 6-to-2 vote, backed down. We’ll never now if the county would have approved a tax hike even if the school board had endorsed it, but that doesn’t matter now.
School board members Rhonda Schandevel and Jimmy Rogers did not back down. They were the two in the 6-2 vote who supported the original budget request. I appreciate their courage, and the fact that they at least stood up for what they believed.
School board members have a responsibility to be prudent about spending. However, in North Carolina school boards can’t raise revenues and therefore can create a spending plan based — within reason — on what students need. It takes some of the politics out of the decision-making. Taking all the politics out of the process is impossible, especially since they are elected. The rest of the school board could have joined Schandevel and Rogers and said just that: “This is our proposal, and we stand by it. It’s up to commissioners to decide if a tax increase is necessary.”
Commissioners, for better or worse, ended up on the winning side of this game of political brinksmanship. Touche´. (ScottMcLeodcanbereachedatinfo@smokymountainnews.com.)
Carolina has chosen to join in that competition. Surely, we can do better!
John Gladden Franklin
We must leave better world for our children
To the Editor:
New York City has been attacked twice in the past decade — first by Al Qaeda and then by Hurricane Sandy. In response to the first, our nation spent billions invading Iraq and Afghanistan, creating a secret, invasive internal security empire and launching a worldwide war on terror. In response to the second, we are cleaning up the mess and compensating the victims, but doing little if anything to address the cause — climate change.
Many flatly deny its existence and blithely continue a fossil fuel-dependent lifestyle as though nothing is wrong. Our government subsidizes the tax-evading oil companies despite their obscene profits and CEO salaries. Many advocate the pollution-causing, healththreatening practice of fracking, and want to lay the risky Keystone XL pipeline to bring oil from the dirty tar sands of Alberta.
We have just passed the 400 mark in CO2 parts per million, when 350 is the safe upper limit that will preserve the temperature range that allows human civilization to survive. If we don’t reverse this soon, the world we leave to
our grandchildren will be characterized by violent storms, food scarcity, both drought and floods, human trafficking, homelessness, extinction of species, a growing rich-poor gap, spiking energy prices, and armed conflict over water and arable land. We’re seeing clear signs of these already.
Old Noah built an ark to save the species and the few humans who would listen. To follow his example, as a nation we must reduce our fossil fuel consumption, invest in renewable energy production, and make dirty energy expensive and clean energy cheap. As individuals, we must cut our carbon footprint. As a society, we must turn away from planetthreatening actions and choose the common good and a hopeful future over individual ease and inevitable disaster.
“Those who have ears to hear, let them hear.”
Doug Wingeier Waynesville
Correction
AletterfromJaneHarrisonintheMay8 editionofSMN,“Meadowsinthewrongon backgroundchecks,”waseditedincorrectly.It waswrittenasanopenlettertoSen.Richard Burr,R-N.C.,andnottoRep.MarkMeadows, R-Cashiers.Theletterreferredtotheguncontrol debate in the Senate and said Sen. Burr wasonthewrongsideofthebackground checksissue.Weregrettheerror.
5/31The
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tasteTHE mountains
Taste the Mountains is an ever-evolving paid section of places to dine in Western North Carolina. If you would like to be included in the listing please contact our advertising department at 828.452.4251
ANTHONY WAYNE’S
of small batch bourbons and whiskey. The Barrel is a friendly and casual neighborhood dining experience where our guests enjoy a great meal without breaking the bank.
HERREN HOUSE
94 East St., Waynesville 828.452.7837
sandwiches. Enjoy outdoor dinning on the deck. Private room available for meetings.
CITY LIGHTS CAFE
37 Church St, Waynesville. 828.456.6789
Open for lunch Monday-Friday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; open for dinner Thursday-Saturday 5 to 9 p.m.; and Sunday brunch 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Exceptional, new-American cuisine, offering several gluten free items.
BLUE RIDGE BBQ COMPANY
180 N. Main St., Waynesville. 828.452.7524. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. TuesdayThursday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Blue Ridge BBQ is a family owned and operated restaurant. The BBQ is slow hardwood smoked, marinated in its own juices, and seasoned with mountain recipes. All menu items made from scratch daily. Featuring homemade cornbread salad, fresh collard greens, or cornbread and milk at your request. Old-fashioned homemade banana pudding and fruit cobbler of the season. Catering, take-out, eat-in. blueridgebbq@gmail.com.
BLUE ROOSTER SOUTHERN GRILL
207 Paragon Parkway, Clyde, Lakeside Plaza at the old Wal-Mart. 828.456.1997
Monday-Friday 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friendly and fun family atmosphere. Local, handmade Southern cuisine. Fresh-cut salads; slowsimmered soups; flame grilled burgers and steaks, and homemade signature desserts. Blue-plates and local fresh vegetables daily. Brown bagging is permitted. Private parties, catering, and take-out available. Call-ahead seating available.
BOURBON BARREL BEEF & ALE
454 Hazelwood Ave., Waynesville, 828.452.9191. Now open for lunch 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dinner nightly from 4 p.m. Closed on Sunday. We specialize in hand-cut, all natural steaks, fresh fish, and other classic American comfort foods that are made using only the finest local and sustainable ingredients available. We also feature a great selection of craft beers from local artisan brewers, and of course an extensive selection
Lunch: Wednesday - Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday Brunch 11 a. m. to 2 p.m. Enjoy fresh local products, created daily. Join us in our beautiful patio garden. We are your local neighborhood host for special events: business party’s, luncheons, weddings, showers and more. Private parties & catering are available 7 days a week by reservation only.
CATALOOCHEE RANCH
119 Ranch Dr., Maggie Valley. 828.926.1401 . Family-style breakfast seven days a week, from 8 to 9:30 am – with eggs, bacon, sausage, grits and oatmeal, fresh fruit, sometimes French toast or pancakes, and always all-you-can-eat. Lunch every day from 11:30 till 2. Evening cookouts on the terrace on weekends and Wednesdays (weather permitting), featuring steaks, ribs, chicken, and pork chops, to name a few. Bountiful family-style dinners on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, with entrees that include prime rib, baked ham and herbbaked chicken, complemented by seasonal vegetables, homemade breads, jellies and desserts. We also offer a fine selection of wine and beer. The evening social hour starts at 6pm, and dinner is served starting at 7pm. So join us for mile-high mountaintop dining with a spectacular view. Please call for reservations.
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.
CITY BAKERY
18 N. Main St. Waynesville 828.452.3881. Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Join us in our historic location for scratch made soups and daily specials. Breakfast is made to order daily: Gourmet cheddar & scallion biscuits served with bacon, sausage and eggs; smoked salmon bagel plate; quiche and fresh fruit parfait. We bake a wide variety of breads daily, specializing in traditional french breads. All of our breads are hand shaped. Lunch: Fresh salads, panni
Spring Street in downtown Sylva. 828.587.2233. Open Monday-Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tasty, healthy and quick. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, espresso, beer and wine. Come taste the savory and sweet crepes, grilled paninis, fresh, organic salads, soups and more. Outside patio seating. Free Wi-Fi, pet-friendly. Live music and lots of events. Check the web calendar at citylightscafe.com.
CORK & CLEAVER
176 Country Club Drive, Waynesville. 828.456.7179. Reservations recommended. 4:30-9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Tucked away inside Waynesville Inn, Cork & Cleaver has an approachable menu designed around locally sourced, sustainable, farm-to-table ingredients. Executive Chef Corey Green prepares innovative and unique Southern fare from local, organic vegetables grown in Western North Carolina. Full bar and wine cellar. www.waynesvilleinn.com.
CORNERSTONE CAFÉ
1092 N. Main Street, Waynesville. 828.452.4252. Open Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fresh meats purchased daily, great homemade breakfast, burgers made to order. Comfortable and friendly atmosphere, with curb service available. Make lunch easy and call ahead for to go orders.
FRANKIE’S
ITALIAN TRATTORIA
1037 Soco Rd. Maggie Valley. 828.926.6216 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday-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. frankiestrattoria.com
FRYDAY’S & SUNDAES
24 & 26 Fry St., Bryson City (Next To The Train Depot). 828.488.5379. Spring hours: 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wed., Thur. & Sun. 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fri & Sat. Fryday’s is known for its Traditional English Beer Battered Fish & Chips, but also has burgers, deep fried dogs, gyro, shrimp, bangers, Chip Butty, chicken, sandwiches & a great kids menu. Price friendly, $3-$10, Everything available to go or call ahead takeout. Sundaes has 24 rotating flavors of Hershey's Ice Cream making them into floats, splits,
tasteTHE mountains
sundaes, shakes. Private seating inside & out for both locations right across from the train station & pet friendly.
FROGS LEAP PUBLIC HOUSE
44 Church St. Downtown Waynesville
828.456.1930 Serving lunch and dinner
from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, Sunday lunch and dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., closed Mondays. 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. Come for the restaurant’s 4 @ 4 when you can choose a center and three sides at special prices. Offered WedFri. from 4 to 6. frogsleappublichouse.org.
J. ARTHUR’S RESTAURANT AT MAGGIE VALLEY
U.S. 19 in Maggie Valley. 828.926.1817. Lunch Sunday noon to 2:30 p.m., dinner nightly starting at 4:30 p.m. 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 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Serving breakfast, lunch, nd dinner. The restaurant has a 1950s & 60s theme decorated with memorabilia from that era.
MAD BATTER BAKERY & CAFÉ
Located on the WCU Campus in Cullowhee. 828.293.3096. Open Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Earth-friendly foods at people-friendly prices. Daily specials, wraps, salads, pastries, breads, soups and more. Unique fare, friendly service, casual atmosphere and wireless Internet. Organic ingredients, local produce, gourmet fair trade and organic coffees.
MAGGIE VALLEY CLUB
1819 Country Club Dr., Maggie Valley. 828.926.1616. maggievalleyclub.com/dine. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Fine and casual fireside dining in welcoming atmosphere. Full bar. Reservations accepted.
MOUNTAIN PERKS ESPRESSO BAR & CAFÉ
9 Depot St., Bryson City. 828.488.9561
Open Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. With music at the Depot. Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Life is too short for bad coffee. We feature wonderful breakfast and lunch selections. Bagels, wraps, soups, sandwiches, salads and quiche with a variety of specialty coffees, teas and smoothies. Various desserts.
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.
OLD STONE INN
109 Dolan Road, off Love Lane.
828.456.3333. Classic fireside dining in an historic mountain lodge with cozy, intimate
bar. Dinner served nightly except Sunday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Signature dinner choices include our 8oz. filet of beef in a brandied peppercorn sauce and a garlic and herb crusted lamb rack. Carefully selected fine wines and beers plus full bar available. Open year round. Call for reservations.
PASQUALE’S
1863 South Main Street, Waynesville. Off exit 98, 828.454.5002. Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Classic Italian dishes, exceptional steaks and seafood (available in full and lighter sizes), thin crust pizza, homemade soups, salads hand tossed at your table. Fine wine and beer selection. Casual atmosphere, dine indoor, outside on the patio or at the bar. Reservations appreciated.
RENDEZVOUS RESTAURANT AND BAR
Maggie Valley Inn and Conference Center
828.926.0201 Bar open Monday thru Saturday; dining room open Tuesday thru Saturday at 5 p.m. Full service restaurant serving steaks, prime rib, seafood and dinner specials. Live music Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
SOUL INFUSION TEA HOUSE & BISTRO
628 E. Main St. (between Sylva Tire & UPS). 828.586.1717. Tuesday-Friday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday noon -until. Scrumptious, natural, fresh soups, salads, sandwiches, wraps and desserts. 60+ teas served hot or cold, black, chai, herbal. Seasonal and rotating draft beers, good selection of wine. Home-Grown Music Network Venue with live music most weekends. Pet friendly and kid ready.
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 SPORTS BAR & GRILL
176 Country Club Dr. Waynesville
828.456.5988. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Enjoy soups, sandwiches, salads and hearty appetizers along with a full bar menu in our casual, smoke-free neighborhood grill.
THE WINE BAR
20 Church Street, downtown Waynesville. 828.452.6000. Underground cellar for wine and beer, served by the glass all day. Cheese and tapas served Wednesday through Saturday 4 p.m.-9 p.m. or later. info@classicwineseller.com. Also on facebook and twitter.
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
your pizza being created.
A LIL’ BIT COUNTRY, A LIL’ BIT ROCK-N-ROLL
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER
Aaron
Lewis has always seemed to be on the outside.
Founder and lead singer of hard rock group Staind, Lewis found great success during the last decade with his soulful, heartwrenching lyrics soaked in razor-sharp guitar chords. Yet, whenever someone tried to categorize the sound, it never seemed to fit anywhere — too hard for mainstream listeners, too mainstream for rock elitists. And thus lies the constant state of affairs for Lewis.
But, it doesn’t phase his intent. Lewis has always written and played the music he felt comfortable with during any phase of his career. It’s about being true to yourself, and not getting up onstage and pretending to be something you don’t recognize in the mirror. In recent years, Lewis has wandered into the storied realm of country music. Growing up in rural Vermont, he found himself immersed by the mystical woods of the Green Mountains. As he moved along in his rock-nroll endeavors, those ideals of living a just, peaceful life bubbled up within his songs. During his downtime from Staind, he began piecing together what would become his debut solo album, “Town Line,” which was released in 2011 to many raised eyebrows in the music industry.
And with his critically acclaimed follow-up record, last fall’s “The Road,” Lewis keeps
pushing the boundaries of his own creativity. For him, it doesn’t matter if people are apprehensive to his music, what matters most is that the melodies are pure and come from an honest place within his soul.
Catching up with The Smoky Mountain News while on a beach in Key West, Fla., Lewis is gearing up for his upcoming tour. While his life straddles the line between rock and county music, at the end of the day it has been, and always will be, about a man simply sitting down with his acoustic guitar and letting the words flow.
Smoky Mountain News: They say the older you get, the more you drift back to the music of your youth. What was country music’s role in your childhood?
Aaron Lewis: It was the majority of the music that I heard. While we lived in Vermont the first eight years of my life, my grandfather was pretty much my babysitter. He was a die-hard fan of early country music. It was on from when we got up in the morning until we went to bed at night. It was the music of my childhood.
SMN: What is it about that music that appeals to you?
AL: It’s got heart. There’s a lot of emotion to it; it tells a story.
SMN: There seems to be a lot of similarities in your approach to rock as in country, where it’s just you and your acoustic guitar.
Want to go?
Country/rock star Aaron Lewis will be performing at 9 p.m. Friday, May 24, at Harrah’s Cherokee Event Center. Tickets are $25 per person. The show is age 21 and older. www.harrahcherokee.com or www.aaronlewismusic.com.
AL: Yeah, that’s right. It’s on an acoustic guitar, and that’s where 99 percent of what I do starts from. I’m not trying to invent the wheel, you know? I’m just doing what I’ve always done, but just am coloring it differently in doing country.
SMN: What’s the process? Lyrics first or melody?
AL: It just comes natural to me. During sound check, I’ll just start jamming, next thing you know the band kicks in, next thing you know lyrics start coming out. I wish I could say I feel like it’s harder, but it’s not difficult for me when the creative juices are flowing.
SMN: How are you able to function in a modern music industry where you aim to remain successful, but consumers aren’t buying records anymore and selling a million albums is a rarity?
AL: It’s a conundrum. It’s something that we all have to deal with. I think it’s probably a little bit easier for a band like Staind that has had that opportunity to sell all of those records and get exposed to all those people. For new and up-and-comers, you really need every last thing to line up perfectly. Just as an example, my hit “Country Boy,” millions of people have listened to it on YouTube, but mainstream radio won’t play it. I can’t say [that social media] has been hurtful to the success.
SMN: How do you stay relevant in the spotlight?
AL: Never being any sort of fad. Just writing good music, where at the end of a day recording you feel good about it. I’m very lucky for the fan base I have.
SMN: What’s it been like to be in country circles compared to rock circles?
AL: Ah hell, I fit better in here than I did in there. But, I haven’t been allowed in to the point where I am opening for large tours or big artists. I’m still the guy that can sell a few thousands tickets for a show. The country industry still really hasn’t acknowledged my existence. I just fit into the whole thing. I live out in the sticks where I have chickens, goats and a garden. I hunt; I fish, and I grew up doing that, trapping with my grandfather. I’m more country than most in the country industry.
SMN: Well, it’s what you’ve always done, which is you’re going to do what you’re going to do.
AL: Creatively, I’m going to do what I’m going to do. The last Staind record took six months to do, where my last solo record literally took 30 hours from the start of recording to the whole thing being done. I found myself in the studio with Staind coming up with lyrics for a country song. I wrote all those Staind songs on an acoustic guitar, just like I did with my country songs. One is on one end of the musical spectrum, and one is on the other.
SMN: Do you feel you’re where you’re supposed to be creatively?
AL: Yes, I do. I’m doing a whole bunch of touring and then hopefully head back into the studio for my next album. Then, head back into the studio for the next Staind record. I’m in a comfortable environment right now, and I consider myself pretty lucky.
I’m not trying to invent the wheel, you know? I’m just doing what I’ve always done, but just am coloring it differently in doing country.”
— Aaron Lewis
Cashiers festival creates ultimate trifecta May 25
Blues, Brew and BBQ will be filling bellies at the Village Green in Cashiers from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 25.
The festival mixes together local barbeque, craft beers and music from Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’Blues. A blues legend in his own right, Arnold has performed with the likes of Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Otis Redding, James Brown and B.B. King. Blues and soul rock group The Lauren Mitchell Band will be opening the show. On the Side BBQ and the Cashiers Farmers Market will provide all food, while The Ugly Dog Pub provides the beer selection, as well as wine. Additionally, a moonshine margarita bar will be set up by Troy & Sons distillery of Asheville.
Bring lawn chairs or blankets. Personal coolers are not permitted.
A pre-festival poker run with a 130mile scenic loop to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project begins at 10:30 a.m., registration at 9 a.m. 704.458.7686 or www.visitcashiersvalley.com.
Shady Ladies quilt show to make a splash at Lake Logan
The Shady Ladies quilt league will unveil their latest artistic creations during their annual quilt challenge showcase running May 31 through June 2 at the Lake Logan Episcopal Center in Haywood County.
Earth, wind, fire and water were the building blocks of this year’s challenge, with the theme being “It’s elemental.”
Learn to quilt with a Shady Lady
“Learning to Quilt” with Linda Nichols will be held weekly from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, June 5–July 24, on the Sylva campus of Southwestern Community College. With over 30 years’ experience in quilting and teaching, Nichols is a sought-after expert in the art. She has shown quilts on a national level, has won several blue ribbons, and a Best of Show — and is a member of four different quilt guilds!
“In the fall, we each drew one of the four elements out of a bag. Right away, you began to think about it and pretty soon it became an obsession,” said quilter Lynne Rose. “The elements stimulated incredible inspirations, including aboriginal mythology, global climate change, a trip around the world to Singapore, the four seasons, leaves in autumn, migrating geese, an
For Nichols, quilt-making is a way of life — it’s a way to have fun, a way to meet people, and a way to pass along a rich heritage art. $80. 828.339.4426.
Champagne brunch to benefit animal rescue
A benefit for PAWS will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, June 2, at the Fryemont Inn in Bryson City. The event will feature a gourmet five course champagne brunch.
The Shady Ladies will be displaying their quilt art from May 31 to June 2 at the Lake Logan Episcopal Center. From left to right: Jane Cole, Dot Burford, Linda Nichols, Veronica Von Zwehl, Chris Regina, Linda Hoffmeister and Lynne Rose. Donated photo
archaeological dig, and Hurricane Sandy.”
Many of the Shady Ladies creations will be available for purchase. The event will also include a boutique stocked with small quilts and quilt-related items.
The quilt show will be open Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. A $5 admission charge will be donated to Lake Logan’s Summer Camp Program. Lake Logan’s Dining Hall is open for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visitors can purchase chances to win a quilt, with all proceeds going to Haywood County charities. www.lakelogan.org or 828.456.8885.
PAWS (Placing Animals Within Society/PAWS Animal Shelter) was started in 1990 to help the plight of homeless animals in Swain County. They are only animal welfare option in the county since there is no county animal control.
Tickets are $25 per person with all proceeds going directly to PAWS. Tickets for the brunch can be purchased at the Fryemont Inn or PAWS Thrift Store. Tickets sales will end May 23 or when the event sells out, whichever comes first.
www.pawsanimalshelter.com or www.fryemontinn.com.
Blues guitarist Mac Arnold. Donated photo
Want to learn how to carve leather?
Artisan in the Mountains will host a leather carving demonstration featuring local artist Martin Carter from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 25, at 99 Depot Street in Clyde.
Carter was first introduced to the art of hand carved leather when he took a course in high school. After 20 years in heavy industry construction, he became well known for his talents as an artist blacksmith. Following a decade of working with metal, Carter rediscovered his interest in leather carving. With the use of tools on vegetable tanned leather, his work is based on traditional western designs as well as art nouveau and designs from nature. He also insists on using eco-friendly dyes and acrylic paints to finish.
The event is free and open to the public.
828.565.0501 or artisaninthemountains@gmail.com.
Online historic photo archive flourishes
Western Carolina University has joined forces with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for the latest addition to its digital photograph collections, housed at Hunter Library on campus.
“Picturing Appalachia” is a collection of more than 1,000 early 20th-century photographs that provides a glimpse into the life, culture and natural landscape of the Southern Appalachians. Functioning as an open-access database and interactive, educational web-based resource, the images are part of a growing online archive resulting from the library’s digital initiatives program.
The “Picturing Appalachia” project was made possible through an award from the State Library of North Carolina. The digital collection has grown in large part through partnerships with entities including the WCU Mountain Heritage Center, John C. Campbell Folk School, Southern Highland Craft Guild, Museum of the Cherokee Indian, Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual and the N.C. Office of Archives and History. www.wcu.edu/library/DigitalCollections or 828.227.2499 or fariello@wcu.edu.
Basket weaver demo at Mud Dabbers
Basket weaver Sandra Bowling will be giving a craft demonstration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 25, at Mud Dabbers in Balsam.
Reception to be held for glass artisans
There will be public reception featuring the glass artwork of Shane Fero and Tadashi Torii from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 28, at the Jackson County Green Energy Park in Dillsboro.
The two noted artists have been teaching and demonstrating their skills at the park as part of the growing partnership between Western Carolina University and the Green Energy Park. Both artists taught a 40-hour mini-semester class in their respective disciplines for a select group of WCU students.
The reception is free and open to the public.
www.JCGEP.org.
The event is part of an ongoing series of artists at Mud Dabbers Pottery who have offered free public demonstrations every Saturday this May.
All demonstrations are free, family friendly and open to the public.
828.456.1916 or www.facebook.com/muddabbersbalsam.com.
Student art on display in Highlands
Ceramic works from students at Highlands High School will be on display through July 14 at The Bascom in Highlands.
The pieces come from The Bascom’s outreach program, where it partners with the school to provide classes in ceramics. Available to students in grades nine through 12 the school, this hands-on course teaches far more than simply ceramics. Last August, each student made 10 bowls to donate to the Empty Bowls project to help raise funds for local food pantries.
www.TheBascom.org or 828.526.4949.
Exhibit puts spotlight on Appalachia crafts
Showcasing local crafts and techniques, Appalachia, the newest exhibit from the Haywood County Arts Council, will run from May 30 through June 29, at Gallery 86 in Waynesville. An artist reception will be held at the gallery from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 7.
The display focuses on the numerous genres of intricate local crafts and techniques. With the sheer importance of the arts and crafts movement amid the rich history of Southern Appalachia, the exhibit will highlight several local artists and how their work ultimately impacts the heritage of the region.
828.452.0593 or www.haywoodarts.org.
Putting a twist on movie and Broadway classics
The Georgia Symphony Orchestra will present their “Symphonic Spectacular” at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 25, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. The event includes music from the movies, Broadway and popular classics. The GSO is constantly redefining what a modern orchestra can be. Their 21st Century orchestra focuses on innovative programming, education and community engagement.
Tickets are $22 or $26 per person.
866.273.4615 or www.greatmountainmusic.com.
Artist Martin Carter will be holding a leather carving demonstration in Clyde on May 25.
“Aidan’s Walk” by Patti Best will be one of the featured artists at Haywood County Art Council’s latest exhibit, “Appalachia.” Donated photo
birthday with a bang
A day of craft beer and music will be had at BearWaters Brewing Company as they celebrate their first anniversary on Saturday, May 25, in Waynesville.
An outdoor stage will offer live music all day, starting with the Caribbean Cowboys at 1 p.m. and Love Chunk Funk Band at 4 p.m. The main event will be an appearance by The Sauce Boss at 7 p.m. An acclaimed Florida blues guitarist, the “boss” not only plays live, but also cooks while onstage, resulting in his specialty gumbo he serves to the audience.
The event is free and open to the public, with craft beer and food available onsite for purchase. A free shuttle service will also be available. 828.246.0602 or www.bwbrewing.com.
The Sauce Boss will be performing at BearWaters Brewing Company in Waynesville on May 25. Eric IIasenko photo
Karen “Sugar” Barnes and Dave Magill will be performing in Waynesville on May 24.
Blues/folk rolls through Waynesville
Karen “Sugar” Barnes and Dave Magill will be playing from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, May 24, at The Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. Barnes is the daughter of lap-steel player, Three-Finger Dean Young. It was Young who first introduced her to a harmony guitar and from that point, Barnes focused on learning music and theater. She has been a
Songwriter brings soul to the stage in Sylva
Singer/songwriter Angela-Faye Martin will be performing at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 25, at City Lights Café in Sylva.
From deep in the mountains of North Carolina, Martin recently put out her latest album, “Anniversary.” Recorded at Sound of Music Studios in Virginia during the summer of 2012, the record includes 11 original songs, written and performed by Martin.
“‘Anniversary’ is the product of two years of writing and a widespread search for the right producer and studio to bring these songs to their full creative potential,” Martin said. “These are hymns of grief, full-on rockspells against enemies of mother nature and what some would consider love songs.”
featured musician at MerleFest and many local festivals.
Magill began his musical career playing folk music in Boston coffeehouses. He traveled the southwest performing classical and contemporary country music on bass, guitar and piano.
There is a $10 minimum purchase per person. www.classicwineseller.com or 828.452.6000.
Craft beer and food tasting in Haywood
The “Biergarten in the Garden” craft beer and food tasting will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 23, at The Herren House in Waynesville. The event is co-hosted by The Herren House and The Classic Wineseller. There will be five foods paired with five specially selected beers. Live music will be provided by Michael Pilgrim.
Tickets are $19.99 per person.
828.452.7837.
Angela-Faye Martin and Lu Kane will be performing at City Lights Café in Sylva on May 25.
Martin will be joined onstage by Lu Kane of Bleedstone. The event is free and open to the public.
828.587.2233 or www.citylightscafe.com or www.angelafaye.com.
Ring of Fire opens at HART
The Broadway musical “Ring of Fire,” honoring the work of Johnny Cash, will open at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.
Named after one of Cash’s most popular songs, the production celebrates the storied career of the country star, with an array of musicians and actors showcasing the timeless beauty of the “Man in Black.” Ring of Fire does not dramatize Cash himself, but his presence is felt.
“By the end of the show, the audience will feel that they have spent the evening in the presence of an extraordinary and real man. In many ways, Johnny Cash wrote and sang about the lives we lead, regardless of where we lead them,” said the creator of Ring of Fire, Richard Maltby.
HART’s production is being directed by
Waynesville gets festive at block party
A “Block Party” will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 25, in downtown Waynesville.
Main Street will be blocked to traffic to make way for strolling pedestrians, sidewalk dining, music and dancing.
The 96.5 House Band will be on center stage near Pheasant Hill. On the north end, Josh Field’s Band will perform near Tipping Point Tavern, with Soldier’s Heart on the south end near Earthworks Gallery.
Some restaurants will expand into the street with tables and chairs. Many downtown shops and galleries will remain open late.
An hour of “Kids on Main” activities will begin early at 6 p.m. for young families to come eat and play before bedtime. Children’s activities include art, games, cupcake decorating, cookie decorating, color/decorating birds, colored pencil mas-
“Ring of Fire,” a Johnny Cash tribute, hits the stage at HART starting May 23. Donated photo
Mark Jones with music direction by Kelli Brown Mullinix. The show features a talented cast of musicians and vocalists, including Mandy Wildman, Matthew Curry (who performed Cash’s music last fall in Haywood’s Got Talent), Ed Mathis, Dominic Aquilino and Clara Burrus. The five member back-up band includes two members from the local group “Sons of Ralph.”
There will be a special preview performance on Thursday, May 23, as a fundraiser to benefit REACH, with admission being $20 per person.
The musical will run at 7:30 p.m. May 24-25, 31, June 1, 7-8, 14-15 and 3 p.m. June 2, 9, 16. Tickets are $24 for adults, $22 for seniors and $12 ($8 on Sundays) for students/teachers.
828.456.6322 or www.harttheatre.com.
terpieces, chalk art, and more. Face painting and Mr. Tom the Balloon Man will also be on-site. Hot dog dinners will be served by the Waynesville Police Department. 828.456.3517 or info@downtownwaynesville.com or www.haywood-nc.com.
Rally rides into Maggie Valley
The Maggie Valley Spring Rally will run from May 24-26 at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds.
The Memorial Day Weekend event will be filled with live music, bike shows, games, food vendors, rides and area motorcycle tours. The Hog Village will be hosting BBQ cooking onsite. Various artists and craftsmen will be exhibiting, demonstrating and selling their works.
Admission is free with paid parking. www.maggievalleyrallys.com or 336.643.1367.
A Memorial Day ceremony and picnic will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 27, at the Canton Recreation Park.
Bring your lawn chairs and spend the day enjoying local music and entertainment. Entertainment includes the Gray Wolf Band, Leslie Hipps, and the Green Valley Cloggers.
The event is free and open to the public. www.cantonnc.com.
Teens have a wild ride ahead this summ
er in Macon
A “Teen Summer Events Preview Fair” will run from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, at the Macon County Library in Franklin.
If you are a rising sixth to 12th grader, you will have a chance to hear more about upcoming events by visiting tables with different themes, including Wilderness Survival, Gem-Mining, Shark Week, Anime Club and more. You might find yourself inside a giant bubble, at target practice with potatoes, throwing a fish into a chum bucket or using a blow dryer to create epic melted crayon art. Signups will be available onsite for those looking to join the summer programs.
828.524.3600 or eagee@fontanalib.org.
Art comes into full bloom in Cashiers
The 5th Annual Spring Cashiers Arts & Crafts Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 25-26 at the Cashiers Village Green.
The juried event will be showcasing some of the finest artisans of the Southeast. More than 60 exhibitors will be present, with art mediums including clay, wood, fibers, metal, glass, watercolor, oils, photography, jewelry, clothing, furniture, quilts, pottery and home décor.
The event is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Cashiers Valley. artsandcrafts@cashiersrotary.org
Community kicks up its heels in Waynesville
A community dance will start at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 26, at The Gateway Club in Waynesville.
Dancing will include circle and square dances, as well as contra dances. All dances will be taught and walked through before dancing. No previous experience is necessary, and no partner is required.
Stephanie Volcannon will call the dance to the live music of Out of the Woodwork, a band made up of local musicians. Anyone who plays an instrument is encouraged to sit in with the band, to jam and learn how to play music for dancing.
828.586.5478 or www.dancewnc.com.
on May 24-25
Celebrate Appalachian heritage in Swain
The Swain County Heritage Festival will be May 24-25 at Riverfront Park in Bryson City.
The festival will feature an array of free music, including gospel, country and bluegrass. Friday performers are Shining Pathway, One Step Closer, Brian Birchfield and The Barnes Family. On Saturday, the lineup consists of The Ross Brothers, The Tanglewood Stompers, The James Shuler Pickers, The Grace Christian Academy Choir, and Appalachian Fire. In addition to the concerts, Saturday’s events will include performances by The J Creek Cloggers and the Southern Appalachian Cloggers.
Dozens of crafters and vendors will be on hand to sell their products, with plenty of activities for children.
At 9:30 a.m. Saturday, the Memorial to Veterans and Wall of History outside the Swain County Administration Building will be dedicated with a special ceremony. It is a project of the Swain County Heritage Board.
The festival is sponsored by the Partnership for the Future of Bryson City-Swain County Tourism Committee. The event is free and open to the public. partnership@zitomedia.net.
The Swain County Heritage Festival will be
in downtown Bryson City. Donated photo
A fast look at a few worthwhile tomes
Here they are, books yammering for review: a hillock of books on the floor by the desk; more books stacked on the desk itself, squeezed between a basket of spectacles and a coffee cup filled with pens and pencils, the cup itself bearing Jefferson’s remark, “I cannot live without books;” two more books for review keeping company in the trunk of my car; a lone rider of a book on the arm of the sofa by the porch door. Books all dressed up with nowhere to go; books seeking companions like those forlorn scribblers on dating sites; books buried beneath other books, all pouting for attention: well, you get the picture. It’s time to give some of them, if not a kiss and a squeeze, at least a nod of the head.
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source of great strength. By refusing to open ourselves to a given situation, by erecting barriers to protect ourselves from pain or attack, whether in love or work, old friendships or new relationships, we often find ourselves standing on the outside looking in, alienated by our very failure to engage the situation.
Like so many self-help books, Daringly Greatly is a compendium of personal stories, squibs from music, books, and art, and bits of psychology. Brown, formally trained as a social worker, here brings together her research and a sharp eye for human foibles, and gives us a book well worth reading.
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their various demands. After a good bit of such bellyaching, it becomes apparent that Tomsky should have sought employment which kept him away from contact with carping customers.
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Brene Brown’s Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead (ISBN 978-159240733-0, $26) contains one good idea (one good idea incorporated even in a small way into our lives is easily worth the cost of a modest restaurant meal for two).
Brown’s central thesis is that vulnerability, which we often view as weakness, is in a fact a
Author to discuss healing tonal music in Sylva
Writer Dielle Ciesco will present her new work, The Unknown Mother: A Magical Walk with the Goddess of Sound , at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 25, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.
Ciesco will be reading selections from her book and perform tonal music for healing and inspiration. In her novel, the reader will find that it isn’t everyday that one meets a goddess, let alone a Matrika or a being that presides over the sounds of language. It is said such deities can bring us complete liberation. Will that prove true for a struggling vocalist named Wrenne when a mysterious woman appears and offers to help her find her true voice?
Jacob Tomsky’s Heads in Beds: A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles, and So-Called Hospitality (ISBN 978-0-385-53563-2, $25.95) is a humorous, bittersweet book by a talented young writer recounting his days in the “hospitality” industry. Having worked in numerous positions, everything from a parking lot attendant to a desk clerk, Tomsky gives his readers a behind-the-scenes look at the daily operations of the hotel trade. He describes bullying managers, inept service staff and ridiculous rules. About a third of the way through this book, some readers may come to feel, as did this reviewer, that Tomsky had selected the wrong trade for his livelihood. He whines about his life, solves many of his complaints and problems by drinking too much after work, and criticizes patrons for
Given the election of a new pope, George Weigel’s Evangelical Catholicism: Deep Reform in the 21st-Century Church (ISBN 978-0-465-02768-2, $27.99) is a timely read both for Catholics and for those interested in Catholic issues. Weigel, who wrote a major biography of Pope John Paul II and has since written extensively about Church matters, discusses here various matters facing the Church, ranging from the sexual abuse scandals to the need for reform in Church government, from lay participation to liturgical structures. Unlike some authors who write of more of problems than possible solutions, Weigel boldly offers extensive, specific proposals that should strike most readers as both wise and practical. The chapter titles — “Reform of the Liturgy,” “Reform of the Episcopate,” “Reform of the Church’s Intellectual Life,” and so on — effectively sum up the book’s intent.
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Vex, Hex, Smash, Smooch: Let Your Verbs Power Your Writing (ISBN 978-0-393-08116-9, $26.95) follows up Constance Hale’s previous book on grammar, syntax, and writing, Sin And Syntax. Hale is a pleasure to read, and in
With more than 18 years experience as a performer, teacher and healing facilitator, Ciesco blends her experiences in vocal toning, sacred sound, meditation, Toltec & Bon shamanism, multidimensional music, Reiki Tummo and teaching to assist clients in discovering a deeper connection to their inner truth and wisdom. 828.586.9499.
Waynesville author releases debut children’s book
Vex, Hex, Smash, Smooch, she offers help and advice that should prove useful to writers at all levels. Her book stresses the importance of verbs — Hale is as sweet on verbs as a bee on honey — but it offers much more. Here readers will find a concise, short, entertaining history of language, anecdotes on language and scores of examples from different writers. Most of all, Hale gives the reader a minor dissertation on literary style. Like Sin and Syntax, this newest book is one which writers and readers can return to again and again for both pleasure and profit.
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“You may not be interested in war,” Trotsky once said, “but war is very much interested in you.” We Americans, I suspect, are beginning to feel the same way about terrorism. We have grown weary since 9/11 — one of the greatest of American strengths, and one of our greatest weaknesses, is our impatience — and we are tired of fighting a war against terrorists. For a reminder of what we are up against, readers may want to look at an older book,
Serge Trifkovic’s The Sword of the Prophet. In this volume, Trifkovic gives us a readable account of the history, theology, and impact of Islam. He argues that aggressive Islamism is, and will remain, a great danger to the West and its values for a longtime to come.
Good reading!
(Jeff Minick is teacher and writer. He can be reached at minick0301@gmail.com.)
The party will include a book signing, coffee, desserts and live entertainment from His & Hers.
Tanner Turbeyfill and the Moon Rocks is a story about a young boy who has always wanted his own moon rocks. One night, while documenting a full moon from his tree house observatory, Tanner notices the moon starting to brighten into a blue color. What will this mysterious light do? The book was illustrated by Josh Crawford, who is the graphic designer for MedWest.
Browning grew up in Haywood County and is a recent college grad, with course work in children’s literature. In 2014, Anna’s second book, A Special Family , will be published. This book is being illustrated by local artist Gwen Clifford. In addition to being a children’s author, Anna works as an administrative support associate at WCU. www.anna-browning.com.
Writer Anna Browning will celebrate the release of her first picture book, Tanner Turbeyfill and the Moon Rocks , from 4 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 1, at The Vine on 188 Depot Street in Waynesville.
Writer Jeff Minick
Bringing back the brookie
Successful restoration paints bright future for native trout
BY ANDREW KASPER STAFFWRITER
In the early 1900s, Florence Cope Bush, author of Dorie: Woman of the Mountains, described native brook trout as being so numerous that it was near impossible for her mother to dip a wash pan in a mountain stream without it filling with their small, brown and orange speckled bodies. Bush’s mother grew up on land that was taken to form the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but her experience with the fish is common to the region.
Decades later, they had all but disappeared. Populations were decimated due to years of extensive logging and habitat loss to non-native brown and the rainbow trout, which were introduced by the government and which eventually muscled out the mountain brook trout.
“They were so plentiful at one time — they were almost a nuisance,” said Swain County native Jim Casada. “You couldn’t even get clean water to wash dishes.”
Casada’s father lived to be 101 years old, and he too told his son about the bygone grandeur of the once prominent and celebrated mountain fish, known colloquially as “the specks” or “speckled” trout for their bright red dots. His tales include a story about a 27inch speckled trout reeled in out of the large Tuckasegee River that had spots as big as dimes.
Although the biggest one Casada has seen in his life was just 12 inches, and that was more than 30 years ago, he still has fond memories of the fish. Most of those memories revolve around eating the fish, since at one time they were a staple of the mountain diet.
And the mountain people, according to Casada, even resisted eating the new species of trout introduced to the local streams because of their affinity for the specks. The non-native brown trout were referred to as dough-bellies for their drab, white underside in comparison to the bright orange one of the speckled trout. Although Casada is a renowned fisherman and outdoors author, and well versed in the art of catch and release, he learned from his mother to appreciate the rich taste of speckled trout.
“I love to eat speckled trout, dressed up in his corn bread dinner jacket, deep fried so you can eat the bones,” Casada said. “My momma had a different idea of catch and release; she believed in release to grease.”
But now the fish are scarce in larger rivers and instead found predominantly in the upper reaches of high-elevation, cool-water streams that appear as sliver-skinny blue lines on a topographic map. Many speckled trout live in starvation conditions because of the scarcity of food. As a result, they grow disproportionately large heads for their four- and five-inch-bodies. If a speckled trout reaches double-digit inches it is a trophy, comparable to a 30-inch brown trout.
But that doesn’t stop fisherman from trekking long distances in the backcountry and employing unorthodox tactics to evade detection by the skittish fish in the hopes of landing a piece of Appalachian heritage on the line. Although the speckled trout inhabit just a
fraction of their previous range, successful reintroduction efforts by the park made it home to some of the largest native brook trout streams in the country. The park now allows anglers to fish for the native trout.
Ian Rutter, a biologist and fishing guide along with his wife Charity on the Tennessee side of the park, specializes in taking fisherman to the park’s best native brook trout streams. Unlike stocked trout, the speckled are wily, free and some of the most difficult fish to catch. Rutter said although they are small, an
around have come to the Rutters to try a hand at the Southern Appalachian brook trout — some more successfully than others. To catch a brookie, fishermen may need to bushwhack off trail, wear drab colors, hide behind boulders while casting a line, and tiptoe through a stream to avoid rippling the water or making loud sounds. The reward for all that effort is a very small fish.
However, as Ian points out, they’re also the most colorful trout and one of the most special species in the park.
“Brook trout are generally not known
mountain waters at tolerable temperature levels for the brook trout. In addition, loads of non-native trout competed for territory and food.
However, since the mid-1970s, the park stopped its practice of stocking nonnative fish and began rehabilitating the native brook trout populations.
Meanwhile, the end of logging operations in the park in the 1930s means trees along many waterways in the area have regenerated and shade the water beneath.
“The state of the brook trout is the best it’s has been since the logging era,” Ian said.
He can already see a generational divide. While he once had to painstakingly seek out brook trout fishing holes, his daughter is experiencing an entirely different Great Smoky Mountains National Park in regards to brook trout.
“For her it’s, ‘you just go up to Tremont walk a little bit and, oh yeah,
“I love to eat speckled trout, dressed up in his corn bread dinner jacket, deep fried so you can eat the bones.”
eight-inch brook has a vertical leap of 56 inches, or seven times its body length, which would be the equivalent of basketball star Lebron James jumping nearly 47 feet.
The couple has seen the specks swim up waterfalls, attempt to eat a salamander, and spook at a shadow or a splash of water.
“They’re born nervous and only the paranoid survive,” Charity said.
From a champion saltwater fisherman to the chief executive officer of outdoor apparel company Orvis, people from all
for being big fish, and that’s generally not the point when it comes down to it,” Ian said.
As early as next year, the park will open its largest section of exclusive brook trout stream yet for fishing, Lynn Camp Prong. The 8.5-mile stretch is an important mile-marker for the species as they slowly regain territory following more than a century-long upstream struggle to survive. Logging once deposited copious amounts of silt into mountain streams, disrupted the fish’s egg nests and stripped away the shade canopy that kept
they’re everywhere,’” Ian said.
But the restoration has not been an easy task and, as Ian explained, you can’t just get on the phone and call the nearest fishery for an order of native brook trout.
In fact, the Southern Appalachian variety of the brook trout, which is the kind found naturally in the park and much of Western North Carolina, is more genetically distinct from its northern brook trout counterparts than a rainbow trout is a from a cutthroat.
Restoration efforts are labor intensive and involve
— Jim Casada, Swain County fisherman NPS photo
The Naturalist’s Corner
BY D ON H ENDERSHOT
A record-breaking weekend of birding
Last week, we set the stage for the 29th annual Great Smoky Mountains Birding Expedition (GSMBE) – see (http://www.smokymountainnews.com/ou tdoors/item/10324-a-record-breakingweekend-part-one.)
The group starts at 9 a.m. at George and Elizabeth Ellison’s office/studio in downtown Bryson City. I know, birders out there are rolling their eyes — to start a count at 9 a.m. is like missing half the day, but there are caveats. The count officially starts at midnight Saturday morning, and participants are encouraged to check out their immediate surroundings before making it to George and Elizabeth’s.
An early start at the historic Fryemont Inn by some of the group got the 29th annual GSMBE off to a rolling start. One species — summer tanager — was a firstever record for the GSMBE. The group turned up a lot of other good birds at Fryemont like blackpoll warbler and wormeating warbler, which meant we didn’t have to beat the bushes for these later.
using chemical treatments to kill all the trout species in a particular stretch of water or sending electricity into the stream, causing the invasive fish to surface so they can be caught and moved elsewhere.
The mountain brook trout must be transported from a nearby stream, often with the help of workers hauling buckets of water with the fish on their backs. They take the trout to a special water truck that drives to the next stream to hand off the trout to the next groups of bucket-haulers who will bring the fish to their new home.
And there is even enough variety among speckled trout in different stream systems that it has posed problems for the restoration efforts. In one instance, the brook trout from two different waterways — Bunches Creek near Cherokee, and Upper Little River — didn’t mate when intermingled during a restoration project.
“There are many learning curves,” said Steve Moore, supervisory fishery biologist for the park. “But we’ve learned from past mistakes.”
In 1976, Moore was introduced to brook trout restoration in the park while working on his graduate research project. Since then, he has seen more than 27 miles of stream rehabilitated for brook trout, bringing the total to more than 120 miles of exclusive speckled trout streams in the park. Another 14 miles of the park’s 550 miles of fish inhabited streams have been identified as suitable for further restoration work, but funding can
The river behind George and Elizabeth’s quickly produced tree swallow, barn swallow, northern rough-winged swallow, cliff swallow (which have recently taken up residence under the nearby bridges) and purple martin. Northern waterthrush, Baltimore and orchard orioles, yellow warbler, yellowthroated warbler and spotted sandpiper were some other species picked up along the river.
A vacant lot across the street from the Swain County Administration Building provided more hints that it was going to be a special count. We were watching Savannah sparrows when a swamp sparrow caught Pyeritz’s eye — we moved closer, trying to get a cleaner look when a least sandpiper appeared in a large puddle in the middle of the lot, next behind the puddle, an Empidonax flycatcher flitted in the weeds. There are five Empidonax flycatchers (Acadian, least, alder, willow and yellowbellied) that migrate through and/or nest in the region. And they are very difficult to differentiate between by sight. Willow was our best guess because of habitat — brushy with water nearby. We played the willow song (once) and instantly received affirmation via a throaty, buzzing “fffiittzzz-beww.”
A quick turn across the street and we
limit what projects can be done.
To be eligible for restoration, stream segments need a downstream barrier, such as a waterfall, to prevent the persistent rainbow trout from returning after being removed. Using electro-fishing methods, it can take biologists up to seven years of repeated
shocking and removal of invasive species before they are eradicated from a section of the stream. Chemical methods that kill all the trout in the section of water so scientists can start from scratch re-stocking brook trout can reduce that timeframe to a couple of weeks.
were greeted by another brand new record for the GSMBE. We found a Henslow’s sparrow foraging in a garden along with a bunch of Savannahs. Next hard-fought victory for us was a female Cape May warbler. There are a pair of Norway spruces near the river that have often produced Cape Mays for us in the past (spruces of any type are Cape May magnets during migration). There was no song coming from the spruces, but we weren’t giving up that easily. After a few minutes of watching intently, we saw a small bird flitting between the tops of the spruces — a female Cape May.
We tallied species after lunch at Collins
golden-crowned kinglet, brown creeper, dark-eyed junco, chestnut-sided warbler, Canada warbler, black-throated blue warbler, winter wren, hairy woodpecker and veery.
With those under our belt, we headed down to Kituwah and some lowland birding. Rain was sneaking into the picture, but birds were still coming. We quickly added blue grosbeak, great blue heron, green heron and blue-gray gnatcatcher — then the rain came. And it was a rain that wasn’t going away.
Creek Picnic Area in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and we were up to 86 species. The “record” juices began to flow. We looked at the list to see what we had and what we needed knowing we still had the Parkway and Kituwah in front of us. Because of the time — after 1:30 p.m. — we decided to head straight for Heintooga Road to see what high elevation species we could find. They were waiting for us when we got there. We quickly recorded
Either way, the presence and continued stocking of rainbow trout outside the parks means there will always be immigration across its borders via streams that don’t have a natural obstruction.
We hadn’t made it to the wetlands or searched the fields for bobolinks — what to do? Well, we split up, and the dedicated — or is that foolhardy — group hit the soggy fields in the rain. Now hard-core birders are known to do some foolish things, but in this crew were newbie-birders Ben and Vashti Colvin who appeared to enjoy the whole soggy business. And it was a good turn list-wise as we added five species to the list — bobolink, blue-winged teal, common (Wilson’s) snipe, eastern kingbird and northern (yellow-shafted) flicker.
While it was a soggy ending to a great day of birding, it didn’t dampen any spirits as we were on the verge of establishing a new record for the GSMBE. The old record of 110 was set on the 20th Anniversary count and that record was broken Sunday, May 19. But it seems we are better birders than we are counters. The official list is making its way around now for scrutiny. We have somewhere between 115 and 117 total species for the count. We are trying to sort it out so we will know which bird was 111.
successfully mixed with the brown and rainbow throughout that watershed. They also have strongholds in streams outside the park alongside non-native trout.
Several theories have been offered for the expansion of territory. Moore said the several seasons of drought might have favored the brook trout over the non-natives. Rainbow trout prefer faster-moving waters. Moore said the park is monitoring the speckled trout’s progress to see if the recent wet season might have allowed the rainbow trout to push them back out again.
“You’re never going to get rid of all the rainbow trout,” Moore said. “With stocking outside park boundaries, they’re going to move in.”
It also seems as if brook trout have decided to move out. In the past five years, they have led their own charge to re-establish themselves in their historic streambeds. In Cataloochee Valley, the diminutive fish have
But Moore’s bigger concern is that the fish’s recent success could be bittersweet due to a more troubling trend of acid deposition in the mountain streams from polluted rain. The rainbow trout, especially, are more sensitive to acidic waters than the brook trout.
Yet, so far, the brook trout’s future remains mysteriously bright.
“They have expanded their range,” Moore said. “But right now we don’t have all the answers.”
This chestnut-sided warbler greeted us at Heintooga Road.
Ed Kelley photo
Trout Umlitied photos
Environmental forums start up
A forum on community and environmental change will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 25, at the Rickman Store in Macon County.
Brian Burke, an environmental anthropologist with the University of Georgia’s Coweeta Listening Project, will facilitate the May 25 discussion and help Friends of the Rickman Store plan for the remainder of the series. The historic Rickman Store is located in the heart of the Cowee-West
learning and calls for action. The series will be held each month until November.
828.369.5595.
Plant a row for the needy
United Christian Ministries of Jackson County is asking gardeners to plant an extra row in their plots this year to help feed the hungry.
Rather than relying on donations of canned food, the organizations has been reaching out to local gardeners to help supplement the diets of residents in need with healthy, homegrown vegetables and fruits. In 2012, the ministry was able to help more than 9,500 Jackson County residents and give away more than 100,00 pounds of food.
Mill’s Historic District on Cowee Creek Road, seven miles north of Franklin. It is the first event in a new discussion and action series and includes, hands-on
The need for food is especially great in the summer when the children who benefit from the free and reduced school lunch program are not in class. The United Christian Ministries is asking that as gardeners’ harvests come in that they bring donations to the organization’s house at 191 Skyland Drive in Sylva. The hours of operation and any additional information is available by phone.
828.586.8228
A group of hikers trek through Cataloochee Ranch, where the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy completed its first conservation easement project. Donated photo
Hit Mast General to help conservation
The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy will get a boost on Saturday, June 1, when Mast General Store locations in Waynesville and Asheville donate a percentage of the day’s sales to the organization.
In turn, that money will go to support the organization’s land and water conservation work in Western North Carolina.
At Mast in Waynesville, the conservan-
cy’s volunteers will be on-site to greet visitors and provide information about the group’s work. The land trust has preserved tracts at areas such as Mt. Mitchell State Park, Cold Mountain in the Shining Rock Wilderness, Snowball Mountain near the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Highlands of Roan, famous for rhododendron gardens and high grassy balds.
Recently, the group purchased a 601acre tract less than a mile from the Appalachian Trail that was at one time under contract for development.
Forest service seeks input on forest management
The next round of public meetings on the revised Nantahala and Pisgah national forests management plans will take place May 23 and May 30.
The first will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on May 23 in the Tartan Hall of the First Presbyterian Church in Franklin. The second will be from 6 to 9 p.m. on May 30 at the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville. Participants are encouraged to arrive early.
The revised plans will help the forest service develop guidelines to manage the two forests for next 15 years or so and create a roadmap for dealing with varying and sometimes conflicting uses in the forests. At the meeting, forest service officials will discuss several topic areas such as outdoor recreation, access, wildlife habitats, wilderness areas and more.
www.fs.usda.gov/goto/nfsnc/nprevision.
Tribe to celebrate conservation tract
An event in celebration of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians reclaiming ownership of a tract of land that overlooks the Cowee Mound will take place at 11 a.m. on May 31 north of Franklin.
The festivities will mark the close of a Land Trust for the Little Tennessee project that began in 2005. The Wilderness Society was also instrumental in securing funding through a federal conservation program to aid in the reclamation project.
At the Hall Mountain Tract, the tribe plans to create a scenic hiking trail system to exhibit the natural resources traditionally used by the Cherokee and serve as an educational resource for the public, regional schools and youth organizations.
The public is invited to the celebration program that will begin. Lunch will be served at noon and the event will be held at 7339 Bryson City Road, about 7.5 miles north of Franklin. In case of rain, the event will be moved to Cowee School. Registration requested.
828.524.2711, ext. 305.
Conservationists earns recognition
Fred Stanback, a conservationist and philanthropist, has been awarded the first National Parks Conservation Association’s Sequoia Award. The new award aims to honor individuals who have enhanced the advocacy organization’s efforts to protect the National Park System or individual national parks. Stanback has contributed to numerous causes in the Appalachian region and in Western North Carolina.
In 1995, Stanback and his wife, Alice, established the Stanback Internship Program at Duke University. The program enables students to intern at conservation organizations throughout the summer months. Stanback also serves on the president’s council of the Southern Environmental Law Center, as well as the national council of the Sierra Club Foundation.
Hall Mountain from Cowee Mound. LTLT photo
Going toe to toe with Mother Nature
It is said that humans are fickle creatures, and if that is true, then the weather must be at least part human. For as of late, it never seems to cooperate.
The air is warm, and the sun is out during the week as people sit inside working, but come the weekend, when many finally have a chance to get outside, rain starts pouring down. And if you are like me, you prefer to stay in your warm, dry house and only leave when absolutely necessary.
This week, I made plans to go birding — a difficult task during inclement weather. Like us humans, birds hunker down, making them considerably harder to spot.
I had set my alarm for dark and early Saturday morning only to get a phone call from the woman leading the trip, saying the sopping weather forced them to cancel the outing. I proceeded to shake my
A fledgling IN THE woods
By Caitlin Bowling
fist angrily at Mother Nature, asking why she has doused the area with rain for what seems like every weekend so far this year.
But as I stood pondering the rain, I was reminded of one of my college literature courses. We read Dubliners by James Joyce, The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and similarly depressing books and short stories. They depicted a harsh, uncaring world — a vision of life that is not untrue (but a vision I would like to think of as overly pessimistic).
In that same class, we read the short story “To Build a Fire” by Jack London, somewhat of a “What not to do in the wilderness of Alaska” tale. In it, a man and his dog are separated from the rest of their camp. The hour is growing late and the weather colder. When he can’t find his comrades, the man plants himself under a tree for shelter and builds a fire for warmth.
In the end, the fire melts the snow on
More recycling bins for WCU
Western Carolina University received 75 new recycling bins through the Alcoa Foundation Recycling Bin Grant Program and have begun placing them around campus. WCU was one of 35 colleges and universities that received the donation of recycling bins in an effort to help schools boost recycling. WCU’s recycling rates have increased 55 percent since 2009, according to the university’s energy manager. The additional recycling bins enabled WCU to expand its recycling program to athletic facilities and other areas where students had reported a need.
lbishop@wcu.edu or 828.227.3562.
Western Carolina University energy manager Lauren Bishop and students, including Matt Stenger (left) and Charlie Howard, placed dozens of new recycling bins on campus. WCU photo
the tree branches, and a water-snow mix falls down, dousing the fire and causing the man to freeze to death. With his master dead, the dog trotted off down the trail, knowing exactly where to find the man’s companions.
As humans, we tend to personify everything. We put feelings and personalities onto animals. We have even thrust human traits onto the weather, referring to the controlling forces as Mother Nature and Jack Frost. When the weather is nice, we thank Mother Nature for her kindness, and when it’s poor, we wonder what humanity did to force her to lash out at us with wind, water or wintery weather.
London, whose stories are set in what most people would deem severe climates, reminds us that nature doesn’t have an agenda. Nature harbors neither good nor bad feelings toward us. It is neutral and without regard.
A harsh winter storm did not trap the man in London’s tale because it was taking a stance on his life choices. The weather in Alaska is naturally cold and snowy; such storms are a normal occurrence. It is people who disregard the weather and forget that nature has no regard for anyone or anything.
So next Saturday, if I should once again find myself standing in my house staring at the rain, I will shake my fist at the clouds and ask Mother Nature why she wants to ruin my weekends. Why break a habit?
An ongoing project along the Little Tennessee River is collecting data on bird species like the
Calling on volunteers for bird monitoring
Volunteers are needed to assist in a breeding bird monitoring and education program throughout the spring and early summer at two sites along the Little Tennessee River.
From May to August, Southern Appalachian Raptor Research is conducting eight monitoring samples at the Tessentee Bottomland Preserve and the Cowee Mound property. The first workday was May 18, but volunteers can sign up for any of the 15 future survey dates, and no experience is necessary. The second of the 16 sampling dates is May 23 at Tessentee.
The project is designed to monitor productivity, survivorship, and population trends of birds and provide other information relating to the ecology, conservation of their populations. The Land Trust for the Little Tennessee and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians are also partners in the project. A calendar of sampling dates and further information can be found online or by calling www.bigbaldbanding.org/calendar or bigbaldbanding@gmail.com or 828.736.1217.
Canada Warbler. Donated photo
Max Patch restored, off-roaders pay
The off-roaders responsible for causing damage to the popular Pisgah National Forest hiking spot Max Patch have reached a plea deal with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Eleven people paid $407 each as part of the plea bargain for the vandalism. Nathaniel Clark of Canton and Dustin Morgan of Clyde were among the 11 who were charged. Most received citations for illegally driving off-road and in a biologically sensitive area and destruction of government property. Three more are expected to appear in court soon.
Max Patch is located in northern Haywood County along the Tennessee state line in the Harmon Den area. At 4,629 feet, the bald offers 360-degree vistas, making it a popular spot for picnics, day hikes, kite flying, star gazing and sunset viewing. The Appalachian Trail also crosses Max Patch.
Restoration work on Max Patch, to undo the damage caused by the off-road vehicles, has also come to a close. Dozens of volunteers and U.S. Forest Service staff worked throughout the winter and spring to finish up the task and return the popular site to its former condition. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Carolina Mountain Club and Appalachian 4x4 Club helped to make the repairs.
Learn the secrets behind the landscape of the Smokies on a geology field trip along Newfound Gap Road and up to Clingman’s Dome. Friends of the Smokies photo
Geology field trip through the Smokies
What causes a landslide? How did the glaciers influence the region’s spruce and fir forests? Answers to these questions and more will be provided Thursday, May 30, on a Friends of the Smokies geology field trip through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Local geologist and former researcher Steve Yurkovich will lead the trip and cover the basics of the park’s geology. The group will carpool and head out from the Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee at 10 a.m. and make various stops along Newfound Gap Road, including a visit to Clingmans Dome for a 1.2-mile walk to the observation tower.
A donation of $10 for current members of Friends of the Smokies and $35 for nonmembers is requested. Non-members receive a complimentary membership to Friends of the Smokies in return.
Waterfall
www.outreach.nc@friendsofthesmok-
Visitors need to plan ahead to see fireflies
The Elkmont synchronous firefly viewing will take place June 6-13 in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Every year, thousands of visitors gather near the Elkmont Campground to observe a firefly species that flashes synchronously. The occasion became so popular that in 2005, the park began closing the Elkmont entrance road each evening and operating a mandatory shuttle bus system. Last year, a mandatory reservation system was implemented, which can be accessed online.
Visitors also must receive a parking pass to leave their car at the Sugarlands Visitor Center before taking the shuttle.
Reservations went on sale in late April but some were held until closer to the event. The cost for the shuttle is $1 and the parking pass is $1.50.
www.Recreation.gov or 877.444.6777.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park visitors arrive for the last year’s Elkmont Firefly Viewing Event.
trail looking for sweat donations
Volunteers are needed in Panthertown Valley during Memorial Day weekend on Saturday, May 25, to help complete a new section of the Wilderness Falls Trail.
The work will entail re-routing the popular trail to make for safer and easier access to the waterfall below. There will be no more than five miles of hiking, and the work will be completed by 2:30 p.m.
REI Asheville is providing giveaways for those who show up, plus each volunteer gets entered into a drawing to win camping gear. All ages and skill levels are welcome. Volunteers will meet at 9:30 a.m. at the western entrance to Panthertown Valley at the Salt Rock Gap trailhead, located at the end of Breedlove Road in Cashiers.
www.panthertown.org or friends@panthertown.org or 828.269.4453.
Agility-based bike trials coming to NOC
A group of cycling enthusiasts who perform gravity-defying maneuvers on terrain most bikers wouldn’t even consider attempting will take part in the Nantahala Bike Trials Invitational beginning at 10 a.m. on June 1 at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Wesser.
Sponsored by the NOC, the Nantahala Bike Trials Invitational is the second of four southeastern Bike Trials events scheduled for 2013.
Bike Trials events are conducted over a course consisting of several sections of natural or man-made obstacles including rocks,
water, walls, or even scaffolding. Riders strive to negotiate each section within a designated amount of time without touching the ground with any part of their body.
Event Director Doug White describes Bike Trials as, “fairly brutal sport.”
Riders will be split into four classes based on experience and self-assessed skill level: Beginner, Sport, Expert and Pro.
The Nantahala Bike Trials Invitational is open to all ages and ability-levels.
Competitor registration is $20 and will take place from 8 to 9:45 a.m. prior to competition. There is no charge for spectators.
The trials will be followed by an awards ceremony and live music at NOC’s newest restaurant, Big Wesser BBQ and Brew. noc.com/bike-trials.
WNC Calendar
B USINESS & E DUCATION
• Haywood County Chamber of Commerce Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, 11 a.m. Thursday, May 23, Cook’s Abbey Carpet and Flooring, 168 S. Main St., Waynesville. 456.3021
• Young Professionals of Haywood volunteer opportunity, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 23, Haywood Habitat for Humanity House that Love Built event, Winchester Creek Country Club, 566 Walker Road, Waynesville. 456.3021
• Free 90-minute computer class: How to sell items on Craigslist, 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, Jackson County Public Library, Sylva. Space limited. Register at 586.2016.
• Free seminar, SBA Doing Business with the Government, 10 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, May 29, room 102C, Burrell Building, Southwestern Community College, Jackson Campus. Register at 339.4211 or t_henry@southwesterncc.edu.
• Free seminar, The Basics of Bookkeeping, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 30, room 117, Founder’s Hall, Southwestern Community College, Jackson Campus. Register at 339.4211 or t_henry@southwesterncc.edu.
• Free seminar, How to Write a Business Plan, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 6, room 117, Founder’s Hall, Southwestern Community College, Jackson Campus. 339.4211, t_henry@southwesterncc.edu.
• Issues & Eggs, 8 a.m. Wednesday, June 5, Gateway Club, Church St., Waynesville. Speaker is Stephen King, director of the Haywood County Recycling and Solid Waste Management.
• Foundations in a Day, three one-day workshops for entrepreneurs, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, June 7, Sylva; Thursday, June 13, Bryson City; and Thursday, June 20, Hayesville. Presented by Mountain BizWorks. Ashley Epling, 253.2834 x 27 or ashley@mountainbizworks.org. www.mountainbizworks.org.
COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
• Relay for Life of Franklin is selling Luminaries during May, buy one, get one free, in honor of mothers or someone else. $10 buys two. Kerri Nye, luminary chairperson, peewee9653@gmail.com.
• Pesticide Disposal Collection Day, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Haywood County Cooperative Extension Center, Raccoon Road, Waynesville. Bring insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, etc. in original clearly marked containers. Free. Haywood County Extension office, 456.3575.
• Spring rabies clinics, 5 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 22, Hazelwood Elementary School; Thursday, May 23, Riverbend Elementary School; and Friday, May 24, Bethel Middle School. $9 per vaccine. Haywood County Animal Services, 456.5338 or the county Environmental Health Department, 452.6682. www.epi.state.nc.us/epi/rabies/ or www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies/.
• Free dinner for Franklin cancer survivors, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 23, Iotla (pronounced eye-oh-la) Baptist Church, Iotla Baptist Church Road, Franklin. RSVP to Shauna Maxson, 369.4216 or 332.0075.
• Special preview performance of Ring of Fire, The Music of Johnny Cash, Thursday, May 23, HART Theater, 250 Pigeon St., Waynesville. Benefit for REACH of Haywood. Tickets are $20. Available at REACH, 1085 N. Main St., Waynesville, Within REACH Resale Store, 456 Hazelwood Ave., Waynesville, Blue Ridge Books, 152 S. Main St., Waynesville, and Select Homes, 56 Montgomery St, Waynesville. Sponsored by The Creative Thought Center. REACH, 456.7898.
• Good Neighbors, Good Stewards: Community and Environmental Change in Macon County, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday May 25, historic Rickman Store, CoweeWest Mill’s Historic District, 259 Cowee Creek Road, seven miles north of Franklin by Hwy NC 28. Parking available at Cowee School. 369.5595.
• Smoky Mountain Chapter of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association meeting, noon, Saturday May 25, Ryan’s Steakhouse, 374 Walmart Plaza, Sylva. Chapter serves Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain, and Graham Counties. Ed Fox, 456.5251, Haywood County; Betty Brintnall, 586.9292, Jackson County; and Luci Swanson, 369.8922, Macon County.
• Memorial Day Ceremony, 10 a.m. Monday, May 27, Historic Courthouse, Waynesville. Haywood County Veterans Office, 452.6634.
• Birthday Fiesta for Tye/Cornhole Tournament to Benefit Tye Blanton Foundation, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, June 1, Los Amigos Restaurante, 366 Russ Ave., Waynesville. Kids’ activities. Bring a gift for NICU babies. Tournament: $40/team. 734.6692, http://on.fb.me/12z46yX.
• Foster Pet Adoption, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 1, Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation’s Adoption Center, 256 Industrial Park Drive, Waynesville. Photos of pets available for adoption at www.sargeandfriends.org or www.petfinder.com. 246.9050.
• 26th annual National Cancer Survivors Day Ice Cream Social, 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 1, Angel Medical Center Cafeteria, Franklin. Music by C-Square Plays for You. Sponsored by Macon Cancer Center/21st Century Oncology.
• 26th annual National Cancer Survivors Day, 1 to 3 p.m., Sunday, June 2, Waynesville Inn Golf Resort & Spa, 176 Country Club Drive, Waynesville. Crafts, food, and music by Bobby & Blue Ridge Tradition. Sponsored by Haywood Cancer Center/21st Century Oncology.
• Five-course champagne brunch to benefit PAWS, noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, June 2, historic Fryemont Inn, Bryson City. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased at Fryemont Inn, PAWS Thrift Store or by mailing a check to PAWS, P. O. Box, 1814, Bryson City Seating limited; ticket sales end May 23.
• Sarge’s Foster Pet Adoption, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 25, PetSmart, 321 Town Center Loop, Waynesville. Photos of pets available for adoption can be seen at www.sargeandfriends.org. 246.9050.
• Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation Adoptions, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 25, Waynesville Industrial Park, off Old Asheville Highway. Pet photos available online at www.sargeandfriends.org or www.petfinder.com or 246.9050.
• Tickets on sale for The Mountain Challenge, a charity exhibition match between retired professional tennis players Andy Roddick and Jim Courier, Saturday, July 27, Cedar Creek Racquet Club, Cashiers. Includes a Mountain Dinner Gala and a Saturday morning VIP breakfast with Roddick and Courier. Reserved seat tickets $100. Details at Cashiers.com.
B LOOD D RIVES
Jackson
• Southwestern Community College Blood Drive, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, May 23, Burrell Building, 447 College Drive, Sylva. Amanda Pressley, 339.4305.
• Landmark Realty Group Blood Drive, 11:30 a.m. to 4
p.m. Thursday, May 30, 49 Frank Allen Road, Cashiers. Alan Rhew, 743.0510.
Haywood
• Senior Resource Center Blood Drive, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 22, 81 Elmwood Way, Waynesville. Suzanne Hendrix, 356.2816. Macon
• Franklin Community Blood Drive, 12:30 to 5 p.m. Thursday, May 23, First United Methodist ChurchFranklin, 69 Iotla St., Franklin. 369.9559.
• Junaluskee Lodge #145 Blood Drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, May 24, Church St., Franklin. Scott Montieth, 421.3026.
H EALTH MATTERS
• Health Screening, 7:15 a.m. Wednesday, May 22, Jane Woodruff Clinic. Must register, 526.1435, www.highlandscashiershospital.org.
• Ladies Night Out program, Osteoporosis, 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 28, Angel Medical Center cafeteria, Franklin. Guest speaker, Dr. Ladson GaddyDubac, Angel OB/GYN. Dawn Wilde Burgess, 349.2426.
THE S PIRITUAL S IDE
• Creation Calls Concert, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 22, Cashiers United Methodist Church, featuring Christian praise and worship music and world class nature photography. Pastor Randy Harry of Cashiers United Methodist Church will provide scriptures and inspirational comments. John Edwards, 743.9648.
• Fashion Show and Luncheon to benefit United Christian Ministries of Jackson County, noon Saturday, May 25, Sylva First Methodist Church. Tickets are $14 and are available at Krismart.
S ENIOR ACTIVITIES
• Parkinson/MS monthly meeting, Wednesday, May 22, Senior Resource Center, 81 Elmwood Way, Waynesville. 452.2370.
• Seniors trip to the Andrew Johnson House and Farmer’s Daughter Restaurant, Friday, May 24, Greeneville, Tn. Leave Waynesville Recreation Center at 8 a.m., return by 5 p.m. Johnson was the 17th President of the United States. $20 per person for members of the Waynesville Recreation Center; $24 per person for nonmembers. Price is for transportation only and does not include lunch. Bring lunch money.456.2030 or email recprogramsupervisor@townofwaynesville.org.
K IDS & FAMILIES
• Free pre-participation sports physicals for Haywood County student athletes, Thursday, May 30, MedWest Health & Fitness Center, MedWest-Haywood. Times: 5:45 p.m. Canton and Bethel Middle School students; 6:30 p.m. Pisgah High School students; 7:15 p.m. Waynesville Middle School and Haywood Christian Academy, and 8 p.m. Tuscola High School students. MedWest Sports Medicine Hotline, 452.8077.
• Kids Fishing Days, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 1, Cliffside Lake, Highlands; 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 1, Cheoah Lake, Graham County; 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 8, Max Patch, Haywood County. Kids fish for free. Must be accompanied by an adult. Registration, 8 a.m. 524.6441 ext. 424.
Day Camps
• Elementary School Summer Day Camp, ages 6 to 12, Cullowhee United Methodist, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 3 to Aug. 2. 293.9215 or visit http://www.cullowheeumc.org/summer-camp-2013/.
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
• Preschool Summer Day Camp Cullowhee United Methodist Church, ages 3 - not yet attended kindergarten, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 3 through Aug. 2. 293.9215 or visit http://www.cullowheeumc.org/summer-camp-2013/.
• Summer Nature Day Camps at the Highlands Nature Center, Tuesday through Friday, June through August. 526.2623 or www.highlandsbiological.org.
• Cullowhee Mountain Arts is offering five-day and twoday art camps for children, Around the World in a Week, June through July. Details at www.cullowheemountainarts.org/youth.
• Summer Day Camp, Southwestern Child Development and Hazelwood Early Education and Preschool, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Fridays, June 3 through Aug. 28. Ages 5 to 9. $500 per month. Subsidy accepted. 456.2458.
• North Carolina Arboretum’s 2013 Discovery Camp, pre-kindergarten through high school. Scholarships available. 665.2492 or visit www.ncarboretum.org.
• Day Camps at Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, 227.7108 or www.wcu.edu/academics/edoutreach/conted/camps-and-programs-for-kids/index.as
• 22nd annual Crossfire Basketball Camp 1 to 4:30 p.m. July 1-5, at the Waynesville Recreation Center. Details at 456.2030 or email recathletics@townofwaynesville.org.
• TetraBrazil Soccer Camp 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m., July 8-12, Waynesville Recreation Center. Sign up by May 24 and receive a free jersey. Camp is for advance players only who play at the Academy, Challenge or Classic level. Details at 456.2030 or email recathletics@townofwaynesville.org.
• British Soccer Camp, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. July 22-26, Vance Street Park, Waynesville. Register by Friday, June 7 and receive a free soccer jersey. Details at www.challengersports.com or call 456.2030 or email recathletics@townofwaynesville.org.
• Basketball Camp, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 15-18, Waynesville Recreation Center. Offered by Kevin Cantwell, current head coach at Carolina Day School and former assistant coach at Georgia Tech. $135 per camper. Each camper responsible for bringing his or her own lunch and snack. Checks payable to Kevin Cantwell. 770.490.6580 or email academy7@live.com.
Arts
• Kids can make their own piece of art from 10 a.m. to noon every Saturday during the Family Art at the Jackson County Farmers Market at the Community Table, downtown Sylva. 631.3033 or jacksoncountyfarmermarket.com.
• Suzuki Flute at The Music Village is accepting new students ages 4 to adult. Beginning through advanced students are welcome. 293.5600 or www.themusicvillage-nc.com.
• The Uptown Gallery in Franklin offers monthly art workshops for children. Children must be at least eight years old. Pre-registration is required. 349.4607 or caauptowngallery@frontier.com.
• Kids Creation Stations, 10 a.m. to noon, Saturdays, The Bascom in Highland. Ages 5 to 9, $5 per class. 787.2897.
• After School Art Adventure, 4:15 to 5:30 p.m., Tuesdays, The Bascom in Highland. Ages 5 to 9, $5 per class. Follows Macon public school schedule. 787.2897.
• After School Advanced Art Adventure, 4:15 to 5:30 p.m., Tuesdays, The Bascom in Highland. Middle and high school age students. $5 per class. Follows Macon public school schedule. 787.2897.
• Kid’s sewing/needlecraft class 10 a.m. to noon, Saturdays, Studio 598, 598 W. Main St., Sylva. 587.7899.
Science & Nature
• Self-guided tours of American Chestnuts, 11 a.m. Wednesdays, Cataloochee Guest Ranch. $15, includes tour, lunch. Reservations, 926.1401.
• Great Smoky Mountains National star gazing event, 8:30 p.m. Friday, May 31, Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center at Purchase Knob. Led by the Astronomy Club of Asheville. Wear warm clothes. Rain or shine. Reservations required. Call 926.6251 or reservations and directions. GPS or an internet map service not recommended.
• Nature Center Summer Day Camps at the Highlands Nature Center. Filling up fast. Find complete schedules, costs, and other information, at www.highlandsbiological.org or call 526.2623.
Literary (children)
• Teen Summer Events preview fair, 3:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, meeting room, Macon County Library, Franklin. For rising sixth through 12th grade students. eagee@fontanalib.org, Ellen, 524.3600.
• Volunteers needed (college-age students or older) three afternoons a week assisting the Teen Program leader at Macon County Public Library, Franklin. eagee@fontanalib.org, Ellen, 524.3600.
• Paws to Read, 3:30 p.m. Thursday, May 23, Jackson County Public Library, 586.2016.
• Sign-up for Summer Reading Program, all day, Tuesday, May 28, Jackson County Public Library, Sylva, 586.2016.
• Jackson County Public Library closed for Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, 586.2016
• Rompin’ Stompin’ music and movement story time, 10 a.m. Thursdays, Canton branch of the Haywood County Public Library. 648.2924.
• Book Babies, story time for children four years old and younger, 10:30 a.m., Mondays, Blue Ridge Books, Waynesville.
• A Book Trade/Exchange, 2 to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays at Brain Gym at 81 Elmwood Way in Waynesville. An ongoing event. 452.2370.
• WCU is collecting old books for local children. Please drop donations at Reynolds Residence Hall or Scott Hall on the campus of WCU. 227.4642 or jgbowen1@catamount.wcu.edu.
• A Haywood county non-fiction book club meets the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at various locations. 456.8428
• Book Babies story time at Blue Ridge Books meets Mondays at 10:30 a.m. for children 3 years old and younger. 456.6000.
• Adventures in Reading is held at noon and 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Includes story, a snack and craft. Swain County Family Resource Center. 488.7505.
• Mondays With Miss Lisa are held at 3:30 p.m. at the Canton Public Library. For ages 5-9. Special guests and crafts. Adult accompaniment required. 452.5169.
• Family Story Time, 11:15 a.m. Tuesdays, Canton Public Library and at 11 a.m. Wednesdays, Waynesville Public Library. For families with multiple siblings. Stories and crafts. 452.5169.
• Baby Rhyme Time is held at 9:30 a.m. Mondays at the Waynesville Public Library. Ages birth-12 months. 15 minutes of story time with songs and books. 452.5169.
• Ready 4 Learning is held at 11 a.m. on Wednesdays at the Waynesville Public Library. For ages 4-5, focuses on kindergarten readiness. 452.5169.
• Movers and Shakers is held at 11 a.m. on Thursdays at the Waynesville Public Library. For ages 2-3. Movement, books, songs and more. 452.5169.
• Story Time (birth – age 5) is held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Fridays at the Jackson County Library in Sylva. The time begins with a reading in Spanish by a volunteer followed by a story and activity. The pre-literacy skill focus for this group is vocabulary development. 586.2016.
• The American Girls Club meets at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. The club is based on a book series about historical women. Club members read and do activities. Free. 586.9499.
• Family Story Time for ages 18 months to 5 years is held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. 526.3600.
• Book Talk for grades 3-5 is held Wednesdays from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. 526.3600.
• Pre-School Story Time (ages 3-5) is held from 10:40 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursdays at the Hudson Library in Highlands. 526.3031.
• The Marianna Black Library Preschool Story time (ages 3-5) is at 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays.
• Dial-A-Story is available to all ages through the Marianna Black Library in Bryson City. Hear Miss Christine tell stories (a new one each week) just by calling 488.9412.
F OOD & D RINK
• Gathering Table, 5 to 7 p.m. Thursdays, at The Community Center, route 64, Cashiers. Provides fresh, nutritious dinners to all members of the community regardless of ability to pay. Volunteers always needed and donations gratefully accepted. 743.9880.
ECA EVENTS
• Extension and Community Association (ECA) groups meet throughout the county at various locations and times each month. NC Cooperative Extension Office, 586.4009. New members welcome any time.
• 9:30 a.m. Thursday, June 6 – Berry Health, Potpourri ECA, Conference Room of Community Service Center, Sylva.
• Noon, Thursday, June 13 – How to Use Herbs in Cooking, Lunch and Learn ECA, Conference Room of Community Service Center, Sylva.
• 1 p.m. Monday, June 17 – Cherokee Items for Kids, Sew Easy Girls ECA, Conference Room of Community Service Center, Sylva.
• 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 18 – Picnic, Cane Creek ECA, location to be announced. 586.4009.
• 10 a.m. Thursday, June 20 – ECA Craft Club Workshop: Stamped Cards, Conference Room of Community Service Center, Sylva. Register by June 14, at 586.4009.
P OLITICAL G ROUP EVENTS & LOCAL G OVERNMENT
• Jackson County Democratic Executive Committee monthly meeting, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 23, Jackson
County Democratic Headquarters, 500
Tuesday May 28th , North and South Jackson County Republican Monthly Meeting
• The Haywood County Democratic executive committee meets at 6:30 p.m. the fourth Monday of each month at Democratic Headquarters, 286 Haywood Square, Waynesville. Beginning June 6, executive committee officers will meet at 5 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at the same location. No meeting Monday, May 27 because of Memorial Day. Next executive committee meeting will be Monday, June 24. www.haywooddemocrats.org.
GOP
• North and South Jackson County Republicans will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 28, at Ryan’s, Sylva. Come early to eat. Meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Ralph Slaughter, chair, 743.6391, email jacksonctygop@yahoo.com, www.jacksoncountygop.com.
S UPPORT G ROUPS
Jackson
• MedWest-Harris WNC Breast Cancer Support Group, 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 28, Harris Medical Park conference room, 98 Doctors Dr., Sylva. Mary E. Mahon, RN, 631.8100.
• Look Good, Feel Better, 10 a.m. to noon, Monday, June 3, Harris Medical Park conference room, 98 Doctors Dr., Sylva. Mary E. Mahon, RN, 631.8100.
A&E
FESTIVALS, S PECIAL & S EASONAL EVENTS
• 19th annual Swain County Heritage Festival, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., May 24-25, Bryson City’s Riverfront Park. Lots of free music, including gospel, country and blue grass, cloggers, crafters, vendors, children’s activities and food. Bring lawn chairs.
• Memorial Weekend Party, May 24-27, Fontana Village Resort. Live music, swing dance lessons and more. http://www.fontanavillage.com/, 498.2211.
• Maggie Valley Spring Rally and Military Appreciation weekend, May 25 through 26, Maggie Valley Festival Grounds, Maggie Valley. Motorcycle shows, tours. Free admission with paid parking.
• Craft Fair to fund renovations of the Pisgah High School Cafeteria, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 25, Pisgah Cafeteria, 1 Black Bear Drive, Canton. Rachael Lauziere, 648.2709.
• Blues, Brew and BBQ Festival, rain or shine, 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 25, the village green, Cashiers. Family-friendly event featuring Mac Arnold and Plate Full O’ Blues. Bring lawn chairs, blankets. Pre-festival poker run to benefit Wounded Warrior Project starts at 10:30 a.m. with registration at 9 a.m. VisitCashiersValley.com or call 704.458.7686.
• Block Party, 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 25, downtown Waynesville. Three bands, outdoor eating, late shopping and children’s activities, which begin at 6 p.m. 456.3517, info@downtownwaynesville.com.
• Canton Spring Fair, opens 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 29 through Friday, May 31; and 1 p.m. Saturday, June 1 and Sunday, June 2, downtown Canton, Part St., in the former Plus Cleaners Parking Lot. $20 for unlimited rides.
• The Haywood Chamber of Commerce is accepting applications for artists and crafters – as well as craft demonstrators – for the 25th annual Haywood County Apple Harvest Festival, scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5
p.m. Saturday, Oct.19 on Historic Main Street downtown Waynesville. Applications at HaywoodAppleFest.com, 456.3021.
• The Storytelling Center of the Southern Appalachians, 7:30 p.m. May 21-23, downtown Bryson City. 488.5705, www.psalmsofthesouth.com.
• Great Decisions 2013 Edition Discussion Group, 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. Thursdays through May 23, auditorium Haywood County Public Library, Waynesville. $20, cost of Great Decisions, 2013 Edition. Leader, David E. McCracken, National Associate with the FPA. 550.5980 or dem32415@aol.com or www.fpa.org.
• Jan Wyatt Symposium, The Cherokee: Ancient Trails, Talking Leaves, Broken Treaties, 9:30 a.m. Thursday, May 23, High Hampton Inn. Presenters include Tom Belt, Robert Conley, Eddie Swimmer, Ben Steere, Anna Fariello, and Davy Arch. $50 dollar per person, includes luncheon of traditional Cherokee recipes served outdoors on the grounds of High Hampton Inn. Reservations, 743.7710.
• Bingo, 5:45 p.m. Thursdays, starting May 30 through Sept. 5, Pavilion next to Maggie Valley Town Hall. Cash prizes.
• Hunger Games Fan Tours - Walking Tours June 8, July 6, Aug.17, & Aug. 31, DuPont State Forest (between Hendersonville and Brevard). $59 per person. www.hungergamesfantours.com.
LITERARY (ADULTS)
• Dielle Ciesco, author of The Unknown Mother: A Magical Walk with the Goddess of Sound, will read from her book and perform tonal music for healing and inspiration, 3 p.m. Saturday, May 25, City Lights Bookstore, Sylva. 586.9499.
• Save the Library meeting, 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 28, Fines Creek Gym, with Sharon Woodrow, executive director of the Haywood County Library System, to discuss how budget issues may affect local libraries. Karen Hammett, 627.1113, Susan Livengood, 627.1912.
• Book release party for local children’s author Anna Browning, 4 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 1, The Vine, 188 Depot St., Waynesville. Browning’s first book is a 32page hardcover book titled Tanner Turbeyfill and the Moon Rocks, available on Amazon.com and BN.com. Illustrated by 2005 Tuscola High School graduate Josh Crawford. www.diamonddmtpublishing.com, www.anna-browning.com, 342.4355.
• Squire Summer Writing Residency, July 11–14, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee. Poetry with Kathryn Stripling Byer, fiction with Elizabeth Lutyens, and creative nonfiction with Catherine Reid. www.ncwriters.org.
ON STAGE & I N CONCERT
• Love, Loss and What I Wore, by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron, May 23-26, May 30-June 2, Martin Lipscomb Performing Arts Center, 507 Chestnut St., Highlands. Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m., Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. Directed by Ronnie Spilton. Tickets, $20. 526.8084.
• Aaron Lewis, Friday, May 24, Harrah’s Cherokee. www.aaronlewismusic.com.
• Perfect Wedding, 7:30 p.m. May 24-27, 31, and June 1-2, Smoky Mountain Community Theatre. 488.8227, smctheatre.com.
• Ring Of Fire, Celebrating the music of Johnny Cash, 7:30 p.m. May 24-25, 31, and June 1, 7-8, 14-15; 3 p.m. Sunday, May 25, June 2, 9 and 16, HART Theater, Performing Arts Center at the Shelton House, 250 Pigeon St., Waynesville. Tickets, $24 for adults, $22 for seniors, and $12 for students/teachers. Special $6 discount tickets for students and teachers for Thursday and Sunday performances. 456.6322, www.harttheatre.com.
• Angela-Faye Martin & Friends, 7 p.m., Saturday, May 25, City Lights Café, Sylva.
• Divergent concert, 7 p.m. Tuesday May 28, Jackson County Public Library, Sylva, 586.2016.
• Concerts on the Creek, Rye Holler Boys, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, May 31, Scott Creek, Bridge Park Pavilion, downtown Sylva. Family friendly and free. 800.962.1911, www.mountainlovers.com.
• Smoky Mountain Brass Band last concert of the season, 5 p.m. Sunday, June 2, Hazelwood Baptist Church, Waynesville. Free. http://www.smbrass.com.
• Dwight Yoakam, 9 p.m. Friday, June 14, Harrah’s Cherokee Event Center, 777 Casino Drive, Cherokee. www.ticketmaster.com.
• Grace Noon Concert Series, noon, third Thursdays of the month through June 20, Grace Church in the Mountains, 394 Haywood St., downtown Waynesville. Featuring the Signature Winds. 456.6029.
• Season tickets on sale for An Appalachian Evening Concert Series at historic Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center. Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, June 29 through Aug. 31. General seating $120 adults, $40 students (K-12); season reserved seats are $50 rows A through E and $25 all others. www.StecoahValleyCenter.com, 479.3364.
• The hour-long radio show Stories of Mountain Folk airs at 9 a.m. every Saturday on its home station, WRGC Jackson County Radio, 540 AM on the dial, broadcasting out of Sylva. Stories of Mountain Folk is an ongoing allsound oral history program produced by Catch the Spirit of Appalachia (CSA), a western North Carolina not-forprofit, for local radio and online distribution.
ART/GALLERY EVENTS & OPENINGS
• Friends of the Macon County Library, 2 p.m. Sunday, June 2, with public reception for Cherokee artist Joel Queen and the formal presentation of a pottery piece he designed and created for the library. 524.3600, www.joelqueengallery.com.
• Appalachia Beginning, a celebration of the many forms and techniques of art in Appalachia region of North Carolina, through Saturday, June 29, Gallery 86, 86 N. Main St., Waynesville. www.haywoodarts.org.
• Original Art Sale & Benefit for Friends of the Smokies and Friends of the Lake, 3 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 31, Lambuth Inn, Lake Junaluska. 734.1307, on.fb.me/154F5kP.
• Ceramics exhibition by students from Highlands High School, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and noon to 5 p.m., Sunday, through July 14, The Bascom, Highlands. www.TheBascom.org, 526.4949.
• Photographer Barbara Sammons’ Dusty Roads and More, a collection of 18 photographs of old cars and tractors, wildlife and scenography, through July 31, Canton Branch Library, 11 Pennsylvania Avenue, Canton. Barbara Sammons, 707.4420. www.barbarasammons.com.
• Norma Bradley (fiber) and Rebecca Kempson (mixed media), through June 30, Folk Art Center Focus Gallery, milepost 382 Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville. 298.7928, www.craftguild.org.
• Fifth annual Spring Cashiers Arts & Crafts Fair, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 25-26, Cashiers Village Green. Spring juried event. Artisans interested in participating in this show email artsandcrafts@cashiersrotary.org.
• Cullowhee Artists’ Studio Tour, 1 to 4 p.m. May 2526, starting at Caney Fork General Store, highway 107 between Sylva and Cashiers. wingedgriffinstudios@hotmail.com.
• HomeSchool/Afterschool Creativity Classes, (for children ages six to 12): 1 to 2 p.m. and 4 to 5 p.m., Wednesdays, Claymates, 460 Hazelwood Ave., Waynesville, 256.9595; Thursdays, Claymates, 31 Front St., Dillsboro, 631.3133. $10 per child if prepaid. www.claymatespottery.com/
• Regional fine artists are invited to show and demonstrate their art form at ColorFest, Art & Taste of Appalachia in fall 2013. The selected artists’ artwork will be displayed in Dillsboro from Sept. 5 until the culminating art festival on Oct. 5 and on colorfestartblog.com. Applications available at spiritofappalachia.org or 293.2239 for more information.
CLASSES, PROGRAMS & D EMONSTRATIONS
• Leather carving demonstration featuring local artist Martin Carter, 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 25, 99 Depot St., Clyde. Sponsored by Artisan in the Mountains.
• Western North Carolina Carvers monthly meeting, 1:30 to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 26, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Road, Asheville. Bruce Dalzell, 665.8273.
• Smoky Mountain Home and Garden 101, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursdays, May 30 through June 27, Cecil Groves Center, Macon Campus, Southwestern Community College, Franklin. Learn to bring nature indoors to beautify a home at little or no cost. $40 class fee + $35 material fee paid to instructor, Linda Joyner. Register with Jenny Williams, 339.4497.
• 11th annual Quilt Art Show, May 31-June 2, Lake Logan Episcopal Center, featuring more than 100 handmade quilts by the Shady Ladies quilting group. $5 admission with all proceeds going to Lake Logan’s summer camp program. Raffle tickets $1 each or 6 for $5 to win Dresden Plate quilt.
• Cherokee Gourd Artists Gathering, May 30 through June 2, Cherokee Indian Fairgrounds. Collectors and exhibiting artists come together for a weekend of live demonstrations, classes, competitions and a spectacular art market. http://visitcherokeenc.com/event/gourd-artist-gathering/.
• Quilt Art exhibition by the Shady Ladies, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 2, Lake Logan Episcopal Center in southern Haywood County. $5 admission charge will be donated to Lake Logan’s Summer Camp Program. Purchase chances to win a quilt, Dresden Plate Special, with all proceeds going to Haywood County charities. Jane Cole, 456.8885. For directions, www.lakelogan.org.
• Southwestern Community College is offering several pottery classes this summer at the Swain Center, 60 Almond School Road, Bryson City. For a complete schedule, visit www.southwesterncc.edu/finearts or call 366.2000.
FILM & S CREEN
• New movie in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 22, Macon County Public Library, Franklin. Rated R for language. 524.3600, mentalhealthamerica.net.
• Classic movie starring Debbie Reynolds, 2 p.m. Friday, May 24, Macon County Public Library, Franklin. 524.3600.
• Free classic movie starring Don Ameche, 1 p.m. Friday, May 24, Marianna Black Library, Bryson City. 488.3030.
• Free movie, noon Saturday, May 25, Jackson County Public Library, Sylva, 586.2016.
• Free family movie, 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 28, Marianna Black Library, Bryson City, featuring Chicken Little. 488.3030.
• Movie night, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday May 29, Jackson County Public Library, 586.2016.
DANCE
• Pisgah Promenaders Memorial Day square dance, 6:45 to 8:45 p.m. Saturday, May 25, Old Armory Recreation Center, 44 Boundary St., Waynesville. 586.8416 Jackson County, or 452.1971 Haywood County.
• Waynesville Community Dance, 2 p.m. Sunday, May 26, Gateway Club Ballroom, 37 Church St., Waynesville. $5. Stephanie Volcannon caller; live music by Out of the Woodwork. www.dancewnc.com.
• Ballroom dance class, 6 to 7 p.m. Mondays through June 17, Breese Gym, Western Carolina University. $59 ($49 for WCU students, faculty and staff). Register at learn.wcu.edu and select the “conferences and community classes” tab or call Office of Continuing Education, 227.7397.
M USIC JAMS
Haywood County
• Music, 7 to 10 p.m. every Saturday night, old Fines Creek School, Fines Creek. Different bands throughout the month. Concessions available. $7, adults, free for children 12 and under. 736.8952.
• Music Jam every Thursday night from 6 to 8 p.m. at Frog Level Brewery on Commerce St.in Waynesville. First and third Thursday are mostly Celtic; second and fourth are mostly Old Time; fifth Thursday anything goes. All acoustic instruments are welcome. Newcomers welcome. Contact besscrider@gmail.com or aviancm@gmail.com.
• Live music on the patio from 6 to 10 p.m. every Friday at the Tiki House Seafood & Oyster Bar in Maggie Valley. Karaoke continues from 10 p.m. to close. Saturdays feature live bands and a dance floor from 9:30 p.m. to close, and Dave plays saxophone on the patio Sunday afternoons.
Macon County
• Pickin’ On The Square, 6:30 p.m., open mic, 7:30 p.m. main entertainment, every Saturday throughout the summer, Franklin. Bring a chair. 524.2516.
Swain County
• Community music jam from 6 to 7 p.m. each first and third Thursday of the month at the Bryson City library in downtown Bryson City. 488.3030.
• Music in the Mountains from 6:30 to 8 p.m. every Saturday in downtown Bryson City.
Jackson County
• Music Jam at 2 p.m. Saturdays at the historic Rickman General Store in Macon County, located in the Cowed Community on Cowed Creek Road just off N.C. 28. 369.5595.
Outdoors
OUTINGS, H IKES & FIELDTRIPS
• Franklin Bird Club weekly bird walk, 8 a.m. Wednesday, May 22, along the Greenway. Led by Paula Gorgoglione. Meet at Salali Lane. Park off Fox Ridge Road. 524.5234.
• Highlands Plateau Audubon Society bird walk, 7:30 a.m. Saturday, May 25, Highlands. Led by Brock Hutchins, assisted by Michelle Styring and Pat Strickland. Meet at the parking lot behind Highlands Town Hall.
• Franklin Bird Club walk, 8 a.m. Friday, May 2, Gibson Bottoms. Led by Jason Love. Meet at the entrance to Gibson Bottoms on Rain Ridge Road, off Sanderstown Road about five miles north of Franklin off Highway 28. Collaboration with Franklin Bird Club, Coweeta Listening Project, and Little Tennessee Land Trust. 524.5234 to sign up.
• Nantahala Hiking Club, 6.5-mile moderate hike, 9 a.m. Saturday, May 25, Little Cataloochee. Meet at Waynesville Ingles. Keith Patton, 456.8895. No pets.
• Nantahala Hiking Club 2-mile moderate hike, 10 a.m. Saturday, May 25, Whiteside Mountain Loop Trail. Meet at Bi-Lo in Franklin. Joyce Jacques, 410.852.7510. No pets.
• Highlands Plateau Audubon bird walk, 7:30 a.m. Saturday, May 25, Highlands. Meet at 7:30 a.m. in the parking lot behind Highlands Town Hall. Led by Brock Hutchins.
• Highlands Plateau Audubon beginners’ bird walk, 7:30 a.m. Saturday, June 1. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at Highlands Town Hall Parking. Destination is Edwin and Kaye Poole’s home in Highlands.
• Fly Fishing Skills: On the Water, 9 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, May 28, Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education, U.S. 276 south of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Transylvania County. Practice fly-fishing skills under the supervision and experienced eyes of our fly-fishing instructors. Bring non-slip wading shoes or waders. Equipment and materials provided. Limit 6 participants. Ages 12 and up. 877.4423.
• Synchronous Fireflies Fundraiser, 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, May 31, and Saturday, June 1, Norton Creek Sanctuary near Gatlinburg. $75 per person. Space limited. 865.430.4756, www.dlia.org.
School, in honor of Terry Stamey. $100 per boat. Details, Bryan Yates, 506.2034.
• Ruby Run, 8 a.m. Saturday, June 1, Franklin High School parking lot, 100 Panther Drive, Franklin. Sponsored by Franklin Daybreak Rotary. Proceeds to support several local charities. Register online at www.active.com.
• National Trails Day hike, 10 a.m. Saturday, June 1, Wayah Bald to Wine Springs Bald, three miles round trip. Joint hike between Nantahala Hiking Club and Bartram Trail Society. Dan Pittilio will lead the hike. Jim Kautz, jrkautz@frontier.com, 524.6593 or Bill Van Horn, 369.1983.
• Kids Fishing Days, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 1, Cliffside Lake, Highlands; 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 1, Cheoah Lake, Graham County; 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 8, Max Patch, Haywood County. Kids fish for free. Must be accompanied by an adult. Registration, 8 a.m. 524.6441 ext. 424.
• Donate food and raft for free, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, June 2, Dillsboro River Co., 10 Macktown Road, Dillsboro, and Smoky Mountain River Adventures, 5303 U.S. highway 74 E., Whittier. Bring ten non-perishable food items to either rafting company. Collected food goes to United Christian Ministries of Jackson County.
PROGRAMS & WORKSHOPS
• Close-Up Outdoor Photography, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 22, Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education, U.S. 276 south of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Transylvania County. For advanced beginner, focuses on equipment and techniques. Wear sturdy shoes and bring a camera capable of manual control and extra camera batteries. Ages 14 and up. 877.4423.
• Nature Nuts: Snakes, 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 22; Saturday, June 1; Wednesday, June 12; and Saturday, June 28, Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education, U.S. 276 south of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Transylvania County. Ages 4 to 7. Story time, crafts and a hike. 877.4423
• Plan Revision Meetings for the Nantahala and Pisgah national forests, 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, May 23, Tartan Hall, First Presbyterian Church, 26 Church St., Franklin, and Thursday, May 30, NC Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville. Arrive at 5:30 p.m. to review materials before meeting. www.fs.usda.gov/goto/nfsnc/nprevision.
• Cross Training for Outdoor Fitness, 8 p.m. Thursday, May 23, REI Nature Gym, Asheville. Free. Registration required, www.rei.com/event/48557/session/71489.
• Fly Fishing Skills: Wild Trout, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, May 24, Looking Glass Creek, Pisgah National Forest. Practice fly-fishing under the supervision and experienced eyes of our fly-fishing instructors. Equipment and materials provided. Bring non-slip wading shoes or waders. Ages 12 and up. 877.4423.
• Memorial Day Weekend Trail Work, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, May 25, Panthertown Valley. Meet at Salt Rock Gap trailhead in Cashiers. http://panthertown.org/2013/05/17/memorialday-weekend-trail-work-in-panthertown-saturday-may-25/
• Great Smoky Mountains Field School classes, Early Summer Wildflowers and Ferns, with George Ellison, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 1, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. $49. www.outreach.utk.edu/smoky/, 865.974.1000.
• Eco Explorers: Raising Trout, 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 1, and Friday, June 28, Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education, U.S. 276 south of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Transylvania County. Learn about the Bobby N. Setzer trout hatchery operations, participate in an outdoor activity that simulates trout life, and feed the fish. Ages 8-13.
• Nature Photography Exhibit: Our Spectacular Southern Appalachians, June 1-July 29, Cradle of Forestry, Pisgah National Forest on NC highway 276, 14 miles north of Brevard, and four miles south of the Blue Ridge Parkway at MP 412. 877.3130, www.cradleofforestry.com.
• Volunteers needed for National Trails Day and Appalachian Trail Work Day, Saturday, June 1, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Help clean and replace water bars, rehabilitate steps and turnpikes, and generally trail tread maintenance on sections of the Appalachian Trail between Icewater Springs Shelter and Silers Bald, Davenport Gap going south and NE from Low Gap. Barbecue picnic at Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area afterward. http://www.friendsofthesmokies.org/events.ht ml or Holly Scott, 865.932.4794.
• Elkmont Firefly Viewing, Thursday, June 6 through Thursday, June 13, Elkmont Campground, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Parking pass required. $1.50 each. Purchase at www.Recreation.gov, or 877.444.6777.
• Free boating safety course, 6 to 9:30 p.m. June 10-11, room 309, Haywood Community College, Clyde. Sponsored by Haywood Community College’s Natural Resources Division and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Participants must attend two consecutive evenings to receive their certification. No age limits. Pre-registration required at www.ncwildlife.org.
• Self-guided tours of American Chestnuts, 11 a.m. Wednesdays, Cataloochee Guest Ranch. $15, includes tour with lunch afterward. Reservations, 926.1401.
• Mingus Mill Demonstration, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily, one-half mile north of the Oconaluftee Visitor Center on US 441 (Newfound Gap Road), Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
• Mountain Farm Museum, dawn to dusk, daily, adjacent to Oconaluftee Visitor Center.
COMPETITIVE E DGE
• Benefit Bass tournament, 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 25, Lake Chatuge on May 25th. Two fishermen per boat; five fish limit; artificial bait only. Proceeds go to two $1,000 scholarships for two seniors at Pisgah High
• Mountain Lakes 5K race and walk, 8:30 a.m. Saturday, June 1, Highlands. Race-day registration, 7:30 a.m. lobby at recreation park. Proceeds to benefit Wheelchairs for Bolivia Project. $25 with t-shirt for adults ($15 without shirt) and $15 with shirt for students. Registration forms at front desk of Highlands Recreation Park and on line at www.mountaintoprotary.net. Skip Taylor, 526.4280, Victoria Ingate, 421.2548.
• Cherokee Memorial Holiday Trout Fishing Tournament May 31-June 2, $11 entry fee and $10,000 in tagged fish in the rivers on the Cherokee Reservation (excluding the 2.2 miles of catch and release waters). Registration necessary to redeem cash prize. www.fishcherokee.com/tagged.html. 497.1826.
• Fourth annual Blue Ridge Breakaway, Saturday, Aug. 17, Haywood County. Pre-register online at www.BlueridgeBreakaway.com.
B IKE R IDES
• A beginner’s group mountain bike ride meets the first and third Sunday of each month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Rice Pinnacle Trailhead in Bent Creek. Easy, social ride. Helmets required. Ride leader is Rick Schrader, 665.0015, rschrader56@hotmail.com. Ride canceled in case of rain.
• A weekly bike ride in Waynesville meets Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. at Rolls Rite Bicycles on the Old Asheville Highway. Beginner to intermediate rides led by Bicycle Haywood advocacy group. 8 to 12-mile rides. 276.6080
• A weekly bike ride meets in Bryson City on Wednesdays around 6 p.m. Depart from the East Swain Elementary school in Whittier on U.S.19 off exit 69 from U.S. 23-74. All levels. 800.232.7238.
• A weekly bike ride in Sylva meets Tuesday at 6 p.m., departing from Motion Makers bike shop for a tough 25-mile ride up to the Balsam Post office via back roads and back into Sylva. 586.6925.
• A weekly bike ride in Franklin meets Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., departing from Smoky Mountain Bicycles at 179 Highlands Road. Geared for all levels. 369.2881 or www.maconcountycycling.blogspot.com.
• A weekly bike ride in Franklin meets Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. at Macon Middle School on Wells Grove Road. Ladies and Beginners’ ride. 369.2881 or www.maconcountycycling.blogspot.com.
• A weekly bike ride in Franklin meets Saturdays at 8 a.m., departing from South Macon Elementary School 369.2881, www.maconcountycycling.blogspot.com.
• A weekly bike ride in Franklin meets Sundays at 9:30 a.m., departing from the Franklin Health and Fitness Center. 369.2881, www.maconcountycycling.blogspot.com.
• Nantahala Area SORBA sponsors weekly and biweekly group rides at Tsali. The weekly ride meets at 6 p.m. every Wednesday in the Tsali parking lot. The biweekly ride meets at 6 p.m. the second and fourth Friday of each month, in the Tsali parking lot but is for women only. Both rides are social and open to riders of all skill and fitness levels. 506.0856 for updates and/or cancellations.
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 — Residential yard sale ads, lost or found pet ads.
■ Free — Non-business items that sell for less than $150.
■ $12 — Classified ads that are 50 words or less; each additional line is $2.
■ $12 — 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.
■ $35 — 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
CLASSES
LEARN THE ART OF FLY FISHING
Jonathan Creek School of Fly Fishing. Fly Fishing - Fly Tying. Private Instruction! www.JonathanCreekSchool ofFlyFishing.com
ARTS & CRAFTS
ALLISON CREEK
Iron Works & Woodworking. Crafting custom metal & woodwork in rustic, country & lodge designs with reclaimed woods! Design & consultation, Barry Downs 828.524.5763, Franklin NC
AUCTION
HUGE ANTIQUE AUCTION
Friday May 24th, @ 4:30 pm
Selling over 800 lots!
Huge selection of quality furniture, primitives, Rugs, glassware, used furniture, antiques, collectibles, household & more!! Running two auctioneers at once!! View pictures and details at: www.boatwrightauction.com
ABSOLUTE AUCTIONThursday, May 30 at 10am. 107 N. Elm Street, Cherryville, NC. Complete Liquidation of Bridgeboro Marine. Approximately 20 Boat Motors, thousands of Parts & Accessories. 704.791.8825. ncaf5479. www.ClassicAuctions.com
ABSOLUTE AUCTION,
42 properties in Carroll and Patrick Counties, Virginia. 5 Homes, farm with home and out buildings, land tracts great for hunting and recreation and lots. River and creek frontage, secondary home sites, recreational property and a wonderful small family farm. June 6 at 6 pm auction held at the Meadows of Dan Fire Department. See web site for more detailed information www.woltz.com, or call Woltz & Associates, Inc (VA#321) Real Estate Brokers & Auctioneers. Roanoke, VA 800.551.3588.
AUCTION
GRANITE AUCTION
Tuesday May 28th, at 6:00 pm
Selling over 300 Granite Pieces
All kinds!!All sizes!! Perfect for countertops, furniture, cutting boards, etc. Selling on-site at: 5447 Hwy 107 North, Glenville, NC. View pictures and details at: www.boatwrightauction.com
Boatwright Auction
34 Tarheel Trail, Franklin NC 28734, 828.524.2499 NCAL Firm 9231
GUNS, TURF, FARM & SNOW
Removal Equipment; Trucks; Trailers; Tractors; Tools. Lynchburg, VA ABSOLUTE AUCTION Fri, June 7th, 10am. Terms, photos online: www.countsauction.com 800.780.2991 VAAF93
GOING, GOING, GONE!
Promote your auction with a classified ad published in 100 North Carolina newspapers with over 1.3 million circulation. A 25word ad is only $330. For more information, call NCPS at 919.789.2083 or visit www.ncpsads.com.
REAL ESTATE AUCTIONSat. June 1 Noon, 101 Woodland
Dr. Newport, NC 28570. 2.49 Ac in 2 lots sold as whole. 2BR/1BA
Home, 600 sq.ft. shop, 20 min to Beach. Carolina Auction & Appraisal NCAL8138. 252.342.7325. www.ccreaa.com
BUILDING MATERIALS
HAYWOOD BUILDERS Garage Doors, New Installations Service & Repairs, 828.456.6051
100 Charles
DAVE’S CUSTOM HOMES OF WNC, INC 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 SULLIVAN HARDWOOD FLOORS Installation- Finish - Refinish 828.399.1847.
CARS -
DONATE YOUR CAR -
Fast Free Towing 24 hr. ResponseTax Deduction UNITED BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION Providing Free Mammograms & Breast Cancer Info888.759.9782. SAPA
DONATE YOUR CARFast Free Towing. 24 hr. Response. Tax Deduction. United Breast Cancer Foundation, Providing Free Mammograms & Breast Cancer Info 855.733.5472
DONATE YOUR CAR, Truck or Boat to Heritage for the Blind. Free 3 Day Vacation, Tax Deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care Of. 800.337.9038.
GOT A JUNK CAR?
Getit towed FREE today! Getpaid today!Fair Market price. ALL Makes-ALL Models! Fully Licensed Tow Drivers. Call NOW! Get $1,000 worth of FREE Gift Vouchers. 1.888.870.0422 Visit TODAY: www.JunkYourCarToday.com SAPA
CARS -
GOT A JUNK CAR?
Getit towed FREE today! Getpaid today!Fair Market price. ALL Makes-ALL Models! Fully Licensed Tow Drivers. Call NOW! Get $1,000 worth of FREE Gift Vouchers.
SAVE $$$ ON Auto Insurance from the major names you know and trust. No forms. No hassle. No obligation. Call Ready For My Quote now! CALL 1.855.834.5740.
TOP CASH FOR CARS, Call Now For An Instant Offer. Top Dollar Paid, Any Car/Truck, Any Condition. Running or Not. Free Pick-up/Tow. Call Now 1.800.761.9396 for more info. SAPA
SAVE $$$ ON Auto Insurance from the major names you know and trust. No forms. No hassle. No obligation. Call Ready For My Quote now! CALL 1.855.834.5740.
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
FROM ZERO TO $700,000
Within 28 Days? Revolutionary System Creating Thousands on DAILY Basis For Ordinary People. FREE Video! www.grentall.com
1.204.334.0409 SAPA
EMPLOYMENT
ADMINSTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Training Program! Become a Certified Microsoft Office Professional! No Experienced Needed! Online training gets you job ready! HS Diploma/GED & PC/Internet needed. 1.888.926.6057.
AIRLINES ARE HIRING -
Train for hands-on Aviation Maintenance Career. FAA approved program. Financial Aid if Qualified - Housing available. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance. 1.866.724.5403. SAPA
DRIVERS- CDL-A $5,000 SIGN-ON
Bonus For exp'd solo OTR drivers & O/O's.Tuition reimbursement also available! New Student Pay & Lease Program. USA TRUCK. Call Now 877.521.5775 or go to: www.GoUSATruck.com
Train in advance structures and become certified to work on aircraft. Financial aid for those who qualify. Call aviation institute of maintenance 877.205.1779. WWW.FIXJETS.COM SAPA
DRIVERS...APPLY NOW,
13 Drivers Needed! Top 5% Pay & Benefits. Class A CDL Required. 877.258.8782 or go to: www.ad-drivers.com
MEDICAL CAREERS BEGIN HERETrain ONLINE for Allied Health and Medical Management. Job placement assistance. Computer and Financial Aid if qualified. SCHEV authorized. Call 1.800.494.2785 or visit www.CenturaOnline.com SAPA
EMPLOYMENT
MAPLE TREE VETERINARY
Hospital is looking for an experienced Technician. Please send resume and references to: kbirthright@mapletreevet.com
DRIVERS:
Run FB with WTI. Be home weekends. Start up to 28% plus fuel bonus. New equipment. BCBS. Experience needed. LP available. Call 877.693.1305.
ENTRY-LEVEL AND SKILLED
Offshore And Inland Workers Needed. Cooks Galleyhands Deckhands. Excellent Pay And Overtime. Start New With This GREAT Opportunity Call 1.850.424.2600
SAPA
FOLKMOOT STAFFING
30th Folkmoot Festival seeks guides, bus drivers, cafeteria staff, housekeeping staff, sound techs, and interns for marketing/event management. Volunteers welcome! Must be available days, evenings, weekends, July 15 - 29, 2013. For applications call 828.452.2997 or email: dgarrett@folkmoot.com
HOST HOME PROVIDER NEEDED!
Are you able to provide a loving home? We are currently searching for dynamic folks to support individuals within a home environment. Training provided. Call 828.586.2002 or email: cfortune@rescare.com for more information.
HEAVY EQUIPMENT
Operator Career! 3 Week Hands On Training School. Bulldozers, Backhoes, Excavators. National Certifications. Lifetime Job Placement Assistance. VA Benefits Eligible. 1.866.362.6497
NOW HIRING!
National Companies need workers immediately to assemble products at home. Electronics, CD stands, hair barrettes & many more. Easy work, no selling, any hours. $500/week potential. Info
1.985.646.1700 DEPT NC - 4152
(Not valid in Louisiana) SAPA
Pet Adoption
GEORGE - A tan and white, 9 month old Beagle/Feist mix. He is sweet, energetic and loving.
877.ARF.JCNC.
ROXIE - A five month old, black Lab mix pup. She is a very sweet girl. 877.ARF.JCNC.
CADY - A lively, little Beagle mix. Just under 1 year old. Mostly housebroken.
1.877.ARF.JCNC.
ARABELLA - A 2-3 year old Catahoula/Feist. She weighs 2530 lbs. She is grey and white. Arabella needs tender, loving care. Call 1.877.ARF.JCNC.
PANTUFLE - A handsome male, young dog. He is most likely a Retriever mix. He is very good with dogs and people and is learning cats. He will make a lovely family pet. Having beautiful leash manners and
being housebroken, he will be ready to go as soon as he is neutered. Call 828.399.0125.
1.877.ARF.JCNC.
SHADOW - A male, blond, Pomeranian/Chihuahua mix. He is about two years old. Shadow will make a loving housedog. He will need a fenced yard, however. Working on house breaking, he is good with cats and dogs. Call 828.226.7766.
RASCAL - A cute Terrier/Corgi mix who is just 3 years old. He is housebroken, current on all shots, not a lapdog, but is a good porch dog to alert when visitors arrive. Call 1.877.ARF.JCNC.
ARF’S next low-cost spay/neuter trip will be June 10th. Register and pre-pay at ARF’s adoption site on Saturdays from 1-3.
ARF (HUMANE SOCIETY OF JACKSON COUNTY)
Holds rescued pet adoptions Saturdays from 1:00 - 3:00 (weather permitting) at 50 Railroad Avenue in Sylva. Animals are spayed/neutered and current on shots. Most cats $60, most dogs $70. Preview available pets at www.a-r-f.org, or call foster home.
GRETTA - Shepherd Mix dog –tan/buff & white, I am about 8 years old, well behaved in the house, and one of the sweetest animals you’ll ever meet! I can spend all day sitting on the couch with you, or run and play in the backyard. I’m still quite active for my age and still curious about the world, and enjoy going for walks. I also get along well with children. My one downfall is that I’m afraid of pretty much all other dogs will bark and growl at them. I just need a wonderful forever home where I am the only dog! Animal Compassion Network 828.274.3647 or animalcompassionnetwork.org;
GRETTA'S ADOPTION FEE IS BEING SUBSIDIZED BY A GENEROUS DONOR AT A MUCH REDUCED COST.
JACK - Beagle Mix dog – brown & white, I am 4 years old, and I’m a very well behaved boy who is perfectly housetrained and never destroys anything. I’m very friendly with every person
EMPLOYMENT
NC PRE-K ASSISTANT
TEACHERHaywood County - An Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education is mandatory for this position, must also have the ability to assume responsibilities of teacher when absent, work well with parents, co-workers and diverse families, have good judgment/problem solving skills and record keeping skills and 1-2 years experience in Pre-K classroom. Basic computer skills preferred.This is a 10 months position with full time benefits.Applications will be taken at Mountain Projects, Inc., 2251 Old Balsam Rd, Waynesville 28786 or 25 Schulman St, Sylva 28779.Pre-employment drug testing required.EOE/AA.
HEAD START ASSISTANT
EMPLOYMENT
TANKER & FLATBED COMPANY. Drivers/Independent Contractors! Immediate Placement Available. Best opportunities in the Trucking Business. Call Today. 800.277.0212 or go to: www.primeinc.com
TRUCK DRIVERS WANTEDBest Pay and Home Time! Apply Online Today over 750 Companies! One Application, Hundreds of Offers! HammerLaneJobs.com SAPA
DRIVERS:
Home Weekends. Pay up to .40 cpm Trucks equipped with APU’s. 70% Drop & Hook. CDL-A 6mos. Exp. 888.406.9046.
FINANCIAL
LAWN & GARDEN
HEMLOCK HEALERS, INC.
Dedicated to Saving Our Hemlocks. Owner/Operator Frank Varvoutis, NC Pesticide Applicator’s License #22864. 48 Spruce St. Maggie Valley, NC 828.734.7819 828.926.7883, Email: hemlockhealers@yahoo.com
PETS
HAYWOOD SPAY/NEUTER 828.452.1329
BANK LAKE PROPERTY
Liquidation! Smoky Mountains Tennessee 1-8 Acres Starting $12,900 w/boat slip access! Last Absolute Public Sale! Preview 5/25-5/26, Sale 6/1-6/2. Map/ pricing 1.800.574.2055 ext. 108.
BANK OWNED
Lake Property Liquidation! Smoky Mountain Tennessee 1 Acre to 8 Acres. Starting at $12,900 with boat slip/marina/ramp access! ABSOLUTE SALE! FINAL WEEKEND! 5/25-5/26, SALE 6/1-6/2. Call for map/pricing! 1.800.574.2055 extension 101. SAPA
and dog I meet, and my ideal forever home would have a canine companion. I love stuffed animals and am good at entertaining myself with them when alone. I’ve been known to bark at cats from afar, but have never actually met one close up. $125 adoption fee, Animal Compassion Network 828.274.3647 or animalcompassionnetwork.org.
OAKEY - Domestic Shorthair cat – black, I was born in February 2012, so I still have a great mix of kitten-y playfulness and energy, but also some maturity to balance it out. I’m a very cute and loving fellow. $100 adoption fee, Animal Compassion Network 828.274.3647 or animalcompassionnetwork.org.
NEED A NEW HOME
For your pet? Animal Comp Net provides a re-homing service! that includes neutering, microchipping, and food – all FREE to you! You'll bring your pet to our adoption events and we'll find them a loving home!
ANIMAL COMPASSION NETWORK
Pet Adoption Events - Every Saturday from 11a.m. to 3p.m. at Pet Harmony, Animal Compassion Network's new pet store for rescued pets. Dozens of ACN dogs, puppies, kittens and cats will be ready to find their permanent homes. The store also offers quality pet supplies where all proceeds save more homeless animals. Come see us at 803 Fairview St. (behind Province 620 off Hendersonville Rd), visit www.animalcompassionnetwork.org, or call 828.274.DOGS.
TEACHER - Jackson County - An Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education is mandatory for this position, must also have the ability to assume responsibilities of teacher when absent, work well with other staff members and have good judgment/problem solving skills.Basic computer skills and 2 yrs. experience in Pre-K classroom child care preferred. This is a 9 month position with fulltime benefits. Pre-employment drug testing required.EOE/AA.
OWNER OPERATOR SOLO'S
To run I95 Corridor. Percentage pay + 100% FSC & authorized tolls paid. No New York City. Call Now 800.695.9643
PAID IN ADVANCE!
Make up to $1000 as week mailing brochures fro home! Helping home workers since 2001! Genuine opportunity! NO Experience Required. Start immediately! www.TheMailingHub.com SAPA
$$$ ACCESS LAWSUIT CASH NOW!! Injury Lawsuit Dragging? Need $500-$500,000++ within 48/hours? Low rates. Apply Now By Phone! 1.800.568.8321. wwwlawcapital.com Not Valid in CO or NC. SAPA
BEWARE OF LOAN FRAUD. Please check with the Better Business Bureau or Consumer Protection Agency before sending money to a loan company. SAPA
ENGLISH 2-PIECE OFFICE DESK Mahogany - Mini - 36” wide. Secret Drawers - $8,500. Call for more information 828.627.2342
HAYWOOD BEDDING, INC. The best bedding at the best price! 533 Hazelwood Ave. Waynesville 828.456.4240
RED OAK LUMBER AVAILABLE
12 Boards, 11 ft. x 14 inches x 5/4. $125. Old Chestnut Boards Available $500. For more info 828.627.2342
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:
Monday-Thursday, 12 Noon - 5pm 182 Richland Street, Waynesville
LOST BROWN AND WHITE
Jack Russell, at Ingles in Hazlewood Friendly, answers to Crook. Please call 828.452.5728 with any information.
REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCEMENT
20 ACRES FREE!
Buy 40 - Get 60 Acres. $0-Down $198/mo. Money Back Guarantee. NO CREDIT CHECKS Beautiful Views. Roads/Surveyed. Near El Paso. Texas. 1.800.843.7537 www.SunsetRanches.com SAPA
EVER CONSIDER A Reverse Mortgage? At least 62 years old? Stay in your home & increase cash flow! Safe & Effective! Call Now for your FREE DVD! Call Now 888.418.0117. SAPA GREAT CASH OPPORTUNITY 150 RV sites, 60,000sf indoor storage 50 acres, city water, sewer, Heber Springs Arkansas on Little River www.heberspringsrvpark.com FOR INFO CALL 1.501.250.3231 SAPA
MOBILE HOMES FOR SALE
MOBILE HOMES WITH ACREAGE. Ready to move in. Seller Financing with approved credit. Lots of room for the price. 3Br 2Ba. No renters. Call Now 336.790.0162. LandHomesExpress.com
HOMES FOR SALE
BRUCE MCGOVERN A Full Service Realtor shamrock13@charter.net McGovern Property Management 828.283.2112.
perfect fit for you!
Crystal - A very pretty mixed breed dog. She has a gorgeous, shiny, soft, wavy black coat. Crystal is sweet, well-behaved, quiet and loves people.
Mr. Bigles - A nice looking tabby and white 1 year old male cat looking for a new home. Check him out -- he might be the
Haywood County Real Estate Agents
HOMES FOR SALE
HAYWOOD COUNTY AREA
VACATION RENTALS
NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS
MEDICAL
ATTENTION SLEEP APNEA
Sufferers with Medicare. Get CPAP
CASKETS BELOW WHOLESALE.
Beverly Hanks & Associates — beverly-hanks.com
• Michelle McElroy — beverly-hanks.com
• Marilynn Obrig — beverly-hanks.com
• Mike Stamey — beverly-hanks.com
• Ellen Sither — esither@beverly-hanks.com
• Jerry Smith — beverly-hanks.com
• Billie Green — bgreen@beverly-hanks.com
• Pam Braun — pambraun@beverly-hanks.com
ERA Sunburst Realty — sunburstrealty.com
Haywood Properties — haywoodproperties.com
• Steve Cox — info@haywoodproperties.com
Keller Williams Realty kellerwilliamswaynesville.com
Brick Ranch on 2.33 acres, 1,600 sq. ft., 3/BR 2/BA, L.R., Open Kitchen/Dinning Area, Fireplace, Full Drive-in Basement, Large Deck, Heat Pump & Ceiling Electric, 4-Star A/C, Up to Date & Move In Ready! Detached 25 x 30 Dble Garage with Power & Water, Garden Area. $235,500. Call 828.627.6167
COMM. PROP. FOR RENT
SPACE FOR RENT
West Sylva Shopping Area - Next to Harold’s Supermarket. High traffic location. Building #26, 770 sq. ft. Call for more info 828.421.5685.
ROOMS FOR RENT
MAGGIE VALLEY AREA
All Utilities Included and Fully Furnished. $150 wkly, No Pets. Beautiful Creek Setting in Quiet Area. References Required. For more info call 828.926.4343.
Head to the mountains! Book your vacation today; even the family pet is welcome! Nightly, Weekly & Monthly.rentals. Foscoe Rentals 1.800.723.7341 or go to: www.foscoerentals.com SAPA
STORAGE SPACE FOR RENT
GREAT SMOKIES STORAGE
Conveniently located off 19/23 by Thad Woods Auction. Available for lease now: 10’x10’ units for $55, 20’x20’ units for $160. Get one month FREE with 12 month contract. Call 828.507.8828 or 828.506.4112 for more info.
MEDICAL
DO YOU KNOW YOUR Testosterone Levels? Call Now 888.414.0692 and ask about our test kits and get a FREE Trial of Progene All-Natural Testosterone Supplement. SAPA
NICOL ARMS APARTMENTS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
Offering 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments, Starting at $400
Section 8 Accepted - Handicapped Accessible Units When Available
Replacement Supplies at little or NO COST, plus FREE home delivery! Best of all, prevent red skin sores and bacterial infection! Call 1.888.470.8261.
SAPA
CANADA DRUG CENTER
Is your choice for safe and affordable medications. Our licensed Canadian mail order pharmacy will provide you with savings of up to 90 percent on all your medication needs. Call Today 877.644.3199 for $25.00 off your first prescription and free shipping. SAPA
FEELING OLDER?
Men lose the ability to produce testosterone as they age. Call 888.414.0692 for a FREE trial of Progene- All Natural Testosterone Supplement. SAPA
MEDICAL ALERT FOR SENIORS24/7 monitoring. FREE Equipment. FREE Shipping. Nationwide Service. $29.95/Month CALL Medical Guardian Today 855.899.5309.
VIAGRA 100mg & CIALIS 20mg! 40 Pills + 4 FREE for only $99. #1 Male Enhancement, Discreet Shipping. Save $500! Buy The Blue Pill! Now 1.800.491.8751 SAPA
100 PERCENT GUARANTEED
Omaha Steaks - SAVE 69 Percent on The Grilling Collection. NOW ONLY $49.99 Plus 2 FREE GIFTS & right-to-the-door delivery in a reusable cooler, ORDER Today. 1. 855.300.2911 Use Code:48332VDN www.OmahaSteaks.com/mbdad12 SAPA
Drive a little, Save a lot on premium showroom model wood and metal caskets. $395 & Up. 1.877.427.0220
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.
WANTED TO BUY
CASH FOR
Unexpired Diabetic Test Strips! Free Shipping, Friendly Service, BEST prices and 24 hour payment! Call Mandy at 1.855.578.7477, or visit www.TestStripSearch.com Espanol 1.888.440.4001 SAPA
PERSONAL
A MARRIED COUPLE
Seeks To Adopt. Full-time mom & Devoted dad. Financial security. Expenses paid. Let’s help each other. Melissa & Dennis. 1.888.293.2890 (Rep. by Adam Sklar, Esq. Bar #0150789). SAPA
WHITE MALE, NON-DRINKER, Looking for a live-in girlfriend for companionship & light housework. Any age, kids okay. 2/BR in a nice neighborhood. For more info call Donnie at 706.335.6496 or write to PO Box 411, ILA, GA 30647.
| ads@smokymountainnews.com
ARE YOU PREGNANT?
A childless married couple (in our 30’s) seeks to adopt. Will be hands-on mom/devoted dad. Financial security. Expenses paid. Nicole & Frank. 1.888.969.6134
A UNIQUE ADOPTIONS,
Let Us Help! Personalized adoption plans. Financial assistance, housing, relocation and more. Giving the gift of life? You deserve the best. Call us first!
1.888.637.8200. 24 hour HOTLINE. SAPA
MEET SINGLES RIGHT NOW!
No paid operators, just real people like you. Browse greetings, exchange messages and connect live. Try it free. Call now
1.888.909.9978. SAPA
SCHOOLS/ INSTRUCTION
ATTEND COLLEGE ONLINE
From home. Medical, Business, Criminal Justice, Hospitality. Job placement assistance. Computer and Financial aid if qualified. SCHEV authorized. Call Now 888.899.6918, or go to: www.CenturaOnline.com
MEDICAL OFFICE TRAINEES!
Become a Medical Office Assistant! NO EXPERIENCED NEEDED! Online Training gets you job ready! HS Diploma/GED & Computer needed. Careertechnical.edu/nc. 1.888.512.7122
ENTERTAINMENT
SCOTTISH TARTANS MUSEUM
86 East Main St., Franklin, 828.584.7472. www.scottishtar-
tans.org. Matthew A.C. Newsome, GTS, FSA, SCOT., Curator & General Manager, Ronan B. MacGregor, Business Assistant.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
LEARN THE ART OF FLY FISHING Jonathan Creek School of Fly Fishing. Fly Fishing - Fly Tying. Private Instruction! www.JonathanCreekSchool ofFlyFishing.com
STEEL BUILDINGS
STEEL BUILDINGS
For Garages, Shops, Barns, Homes. SAVE THOUSANDS on Clearance buildings. 20x24, 25x32, 30x40, 35x56. LOW Monthly Payments. Call Now, 1.800.991.9251 Ashley.
SERVICES
* REDUCE YOUR CABLE BILL! *
Get a 4-Room All Digital Satellite system installed for FREE and programming starting at $19.99/mo. FREE HD/DVR upgrade for new callers, SO CALL NOW. 1.800.935.9195. SAPA
HIGHSPEED INTERNET
Everywhere By Satellite! Speeds up to 12mbps! (200x faster than dial-up.) Starting at $49.95/mo. CALL NOW & GO FAST!
1.855.872.9207. SAPA
WEEKLY SUDOKU
SERVICES
YOUR LIFESTYLE ASSISTANT
Concierge & Home Care Services. Housekeeping, airport/hospital transportation, grocery shopping, non-medical senior care, pet sitting. Complimentary In-home Consultation. 828.550.2171
MY COMPUTER WORKS:
Computer problems? Viruses, spyware, email, printer issues, bad internet connections - FIX IT NOW!
Professional, U.S.-based technicians. $25 off service. Call for immediate help. 1.888.582.8147 SAPA
SAVE ON
Cable TV-Internet-Digital PhoneSatellite. You`ve Got A Choice!
Options from ALL major service providers. Call us to learn more! CALL Today. 877.856.9137.
DISH NETWORK.
Starting at $19.99/month (for 12 mos.) & High Speed Internet starting at $14.95/month (where available.) SAVE! Ask About SAME DAY Installation! CALL Now!
1.888.709.1546. SAPA
YARD SALES
SHADY GROVE METHODIST
Church on Hwy 276 is hosting a benefit yard sale on May 25th from 7 - 2 pm. Yard supplies, linens, dishes, something for everyone! All proceeds benefit HCC Scholarship Fund. Hope to see you there.
LOVE IS ALL AROUND ACROSS
1 Stick with it
8 Wife of Cronus
12 “Man - Mancha”
16 JFK’s successor
19 Not too much
20 A very long time
21 Brushing and flossing
23 1985 Larry McMurtry novel
25 Cockney, e.g.
26 Inferior newspaper
27 Municipality
28 Exude vitality
29 Sitting atop
33 Certs piece, e.g.
34 Regard
35 Plane’s path
36 Songsmith Berlin
38 Like traditional keyboards
40 Neuters
41 Film director Kotcheff
43 Suffix with pent-
44 “Je -” (French for “I am”)
45 Double-curve shape
46 Starts seeing things out of balance
52 “- Got Nobody” (standard song)
54 Baseball’s Blue Jays, on scoreboards
55 Job to do
56 Novelist Brown
57 Birthplace of GM
60 Infuse with gas
62 Not spicy
63 Train puller
65 1981 hit for Earth, Wind & Fire
69 “... with - -foot pole!”
70 Voting slip
72 Picked by 70-Across 73 “Lord, is -?”
74 Points where rays meet 77 Jr.’s jr.
78 Mack vehicle
79 It vibrates in the direction of its propagation
83 AOL or MSN
86 She’s a Brit. royal 87 French sea 88 Infuriation 89 Cut’s partner 91 Emanates 94 Meryl Streep’s alma mater
96 Rips to bits
98 French for “bridge” 99 Toupees, e.g. 100 Certain citrus orchard
102 Cheap town bar 105 Spanish pot 106 Make out 107 County in northwest Florida
108 Gunpowder or firework 113 In error
114 Chimps, e.g.
115 Yellow avenue in Monopoly 116 Hive buzzer
Bird’s refuge
Jet-set jets, once
Bridge part
Chum
“Turn to Stone” rock
Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.
Answers on Page 42
- Tin Tin 4 With severity 5 “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,!” 6 Catchphrase 7 Pro8 Split again 9 Noisy
“In the same place”
Nominal promotion of
Cruise ship
Beam intensely
“As - often the case
Artist Ernst
Shylock’s offering
“Okey- -”
“Stupid me!”
- Cruces
Sgt.’s underling
103-Down accrual: Abbr.
Bk. number 112 Prior to, in sonnets
Abi-monthly magazine that covers the southern Appalachian mountains and celebrates the area’s environmental riches, its people, culture, music, art, crafts and special places. Each issue relies on regionalwriters and photographers to bring the Appalachians to life.
In this issue:
On the trail of Cherokee’s marker trees The last scream of the Virginia Creeper Winding along the Blue Ridge Parkway Postcards’ role in attracting early tourists
Abook I read about the Suwannee River featured numerous photographs of trees overhanging the waterway festooned with Spanish moss. Spanish moss isn’t, by the way, a true moss at all but a vascular plant that reproduces via tiny flowers. But it is an epiphytic plant; that is, a plant which grows upon another plant or object for support.
All of the Spanish moss in the book’s photos set me to thinking about epiphytes and the fact that we have a modest array of them here in Western North Carolina. Most of our lichens, for instance, are epiphytic upon rocks or trees.
The most conspicuous lichen perhaps is old man’s beard (also misnamed “Usnea moss”), which dangles from the branches of trees in miniature gray-green Spanish mosslike banners. Numerous bird species — especially ruby-throated hummingbirds, blue-gray gnatcatchers, and northern parula warblers — use the plant to line, waterproof, camouflage and decorate their nests.
The true mosses found here that are epiphytic on logs, rocks, trees, roofs, etc. are
BACK THEN
legion. One of the most common and easily distinguished is called “fern moss” as it closely resembles a tiny fern.
Ferns are the showiest and most dramatic “air plants” encountered in WNC. The most interesting, for me, is walking fern, which appears on rocks or walls (especially limestone) and has the capacity to root from the tips of its leaves so that, through time, the plant literally traverses or “walks” across its stony domain.
But resurrection fern comes closest to epitomizing the showy, luxuriant, way-upin-the-air growth forms we tend to think of when the terms epiphyte, air plant, passenger plant or perching plan are utilized. It does, after all, flourish in the true tropics where perching orchids, bromeliads and other exotic flora find their homes in the tops of trees.
In WNC, resurrection fern is fairly common, growing on moss-covered rocks and old shingled roofs, as well as upon the trunks and outstretched branches of oaks, elms and other tree species. It has the peculiar habit of curling up into a ball when dry so as to conserve energy. They are then revived and unfurl at once during rainy periods. I’ve observed it through binoculars as high as 50 feet or so above the ground.
Plants hitch a ride to the sun
One of my favorite natural history books is Plantwatching: How Plants Live, Feel, and Work (London: McMillan, 1988) by Malcolm Wilkins, a botanist at Glasgow
Old man’s beard resembles but is distinct from Spanish moss.
canopy,” he observed. “The main problem for epiphytic plants is to obtain an adequate supply of mineral nutrients, and these appear to be collected from trickling rain water, the ion content of which is no doubt enriched by the leakage of ions from the dead and dying cells of the host tree’s bark.”
University. Therein, Wilkins presented a clear account of just why some plants are epiphytes and how they manage to pull it off so far above the mineral-giving soil.
“Epiphytes, then, do little more than ‘hitch a ride’ on the host plant, and their principal gain is simply a more favorable position, higher in the sun-lit layers of the
Maintaining a place in the sun has always been tricky business.
George Ellison wrote the biographical introductions for the reissues of two Appalachian classics: Horace Kephart’s Our Southern Highlanders and James Mooney’s History, Myths, and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees. In June 2005, a selection of his Back Then columns was published by The History Press in Charleston as Mountain Passages: Natural and Cultural History of Western North Carolina and the Great Smoky Mountains. Readers can contact him at P.O. Box 1262, Bryson City, N.C., 28713, or at info@georgeellison.com.
