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On the Cover:

Women climbing the corporate ladder or owning their own business is nothing new, and in fact North Carolina is among the nation’s leaders in this area. Still, those we interviewed for our annual series on women in business illustrate their inspiring success stories and the unique challenges they face as they move toward an era where the playing field is more level than ever before. (Page 4) Cover photo by Jessi Stone

Farmer’s daughter finds life purpose in family business ..........................................4

Stepping out on faith at Sylva’s Sassy Frass ............................................................6

Finding femininity in the family business ......................................................................6

Cherokee vet clinic offers joy and challenges ..........................................................10

Kathryn Greeley designs your dreams ......................................................................12

Earthworks at crossroads of art and community ....................................................13

Miss Diva has passion for fashion ..............................................................................14

Edwards reflects on culture changes in workplace..............................................15

Paige Dowling: Sylva’s homegrown talent ................................................................16

News

Commissioner candidates look toward Macon’s future

Will Presnell survive Schandevel challenge?

Tools of the trade: Preppers prepare for disaster

Pay increases coming for some in Haywood schools

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WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2016

Farmer’s daughter finds life purpose in family business

BY J ESSI STONE

N EWS E DITOR

It may be mostly men tending to the crops these days at Darnell Farms, but it’s Afton Roberts who has turned the farm into a thriving agri-tourism business in Swain County.

Of course locals and visitors stop by for the fresh and homegrown produce — strawberries and apples are their mainstay — but they stay for the hospitality, hayrides, history lessons and the entire family farm experience.

“I have a woman’s eye for this stuff,” Roberts said, pointing toward the colorful fall decorations and carefully placed apples and pumpkins. “I have to keep things looking good and focus on the retail side of things just as much as the commercial side.”

FREE-RANGECHILDREN

As the daughter of Jeff Darnell, who has operated Darnell Farms along the Tuckasegee River since 1981, Roberts and her brother Nat grew up on the farm. With plenty of room to roam and always dirty from head to toe, Roberts likes to say they were “free-range children.”

She admits it wasn’t a childhood she always appreciated when growing up, especially when most of her friends were at the pool enjoying summer vacations while she was at the family farm. But now that she’s grown and has a stake in the business, she’s thankful for everything it has taught her.

“We were born into it and we’re very proud. We call it our oasis. Maybe I wouldn’t have said that when I was 15,” Roberts joked. “But it taught us good work ethic and we’ve dedicated ourselves to making sure people enjoy themselves when they come here.”

EARNINGRESPECT

Even at the young age of 24, Roberts is not hesitant to do things her way on the farm or give orders when needed. She exudes confidence and feels at ease with anyone she comes into contact with, which she chalks up to a good upbringing. Her father strongly believes that women need to have a strong presence in the farming industry to keep it going.

“He’s always preached women need to run the agriculture business and not in a housewives kind of way — men know a good deal but women know good quality,” Roberts said. “He says the good old boy industry needs to be taken over by women to keep it going.”

Of course that’s easier said than done. It’s still a maledominated field and Roberts still works hard to earn respect from the older generation of growers and buyers.

“Respect is a hard thing to earn. I still have people that have a hard time when I talk to them about pricing and they say, ‘you don’t know what you’re talking about,’” she said. “People don’t want to take direction from a woman — that happens everywhere — but I think it’s more than me being a woman. It’s my age too. It’s hard for some people to respect young people in agriculture and the change that comes with progress.”

Darnell Farms

2300 Governors Island Rd., Bryson City 828.488.2376

Visit www.facebook.com/darnellfarm for upcoming events at the farm.

The farm produces nearly 100 acres of strawberries, onions, tomatoes, sweet corn, peppers, blackberries and more.

ROADLESSTRAVELED

While Roberts has settled into her lead role on the farm, it hasn’t always been the path she thought her life would take. She also didn’t think she’d be one to get married when she was 18 and have two kids so young, but if she’s learned anything on the farm, it’s that sometimes life has other plans.

“I tried to break away from the farm at one time, but I realized I was good at it. I love it and I have a passion for it just like my dad,” she said.

And now she and her husband Patrick Roberts, who also works on the farm, can pass along that upbringing to their girls in hopes they’ll want to take over the business someday. But even if they don’t, just knowing they’ll have a deeper appreciation for farming and being good stewards of the land is enough satisfaction for them.

Even though she loves the work, managing a farm isn’t easy. It’s more of a way of life than it is a job. Roberts works many 14-hour days and probably hasn’t had a day off in a month. She wishes she had more quality time to spend with her kids and husband, but the good still outweighs the bad.

“My kids are watching me be a part of something and hopefully they see I’m trying to make something work for their future and I want them to be a part of it,” she said.

Even on the tough days, Roberts knows she’s exactly where she’s supposed to be.

to do and I have a lot of room to grow,” she said. “I don’t have a college education, but I have used this farm to culture and educate me. It’s pushed me farther than any kind of curriculum could have.”

When asked which woman in history inspires her the most, Roberts was quick to say Sacagawea — a Shoshone interpreter who helped Lewis and Clark on their expedition out West after the Louisiana Purchase.

“She was a leader. Every time I think about her being so young and with a baby on her back — it reminds me of me,” Roberts said. “But it also reminds me to not let anyone tell you you can’t do anything — you lead the pack.”

Roberts also gives credit to her mother, who died of cancer several years ago, and a former boss at Brio Tuscan Grille in Cherokee, for teaching her important life lessons.

“My boss in Cherokee was an amazing woman. She only stood five-feet tall, but she was full of confidence,” Roberts recalled. “She didn’t take no for an answer and I respected her and others who don’t let themselves be overpowered because they don’t look the part.”

PRESERVINGPASTAND PRESENT

Roberts feels like the progress being made in the industry and at Darnell Farms has been nothing but positive. She says she has a knack for merchandising and knowing what people want to experience and buy when they come to the

farm. Special events and attractions like weddings, concerts, outdoor movies, corn mazes, the annual Strawberry Jam Festival and more keep the business thriving throughout the year.

“We’re more and more influenced by tourism here and we’re entertainers just as much as we are farmers,” Roberts said. “We like to see people have a good time — so much so that we used to not even charge for hayrides.”

Roberts goes out of her way to make sure her guests walk away with a good experience. Nothing pleases her more than positive reviews and shared pictures on the Darnell Farms facebook page or a comment from visitors about how great the farm looks.

She also believes in taking care of her employees and thanking them for a job well done to let them know they are appreciated. For her, praise is just as important as constructive criticism.

“Women are better at that,” she said. “People say women are too sensitive or insult you by saying you act like a woman, but being sensitive doesn’t mean you’re being a baby — it just means I care.”

It’s that type of pride and appreciation that she hopes to pass down to her two daughters Heidi, 4, and Alexis, 6. As second-generation free-range children, Roberts’ daughters have taken to farm life quite well. They love giving visitors tours of the farm and retelling the history stories they’ve heard their mom, brother and grandfather tell hundreds of times.

While Roberts is looking toward the future, she has an immense respect and appreciation for her family’s roots and her hometown’s heritage. She said the

old-time mountain women have endless knowledge and wisdom to pass along to those who will listen. They knew how to grow, how to preserve and how to live off the land.

“People have the idea that we’re back-

woods and uncultured, but really people from this area were smart survivalists — especially women,” Roberts said. “They overcame a lot and saved everything. They were true conservationists and we can learn a lot from them.”

Stepping out on faith at Sylva’s Sassy Frass

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER

Originally from Jackson, Tennessee. Tammy Fuller moved to Sylva seven years ago. Four years after that she opened Sassy Frass Consignment on West Main Street, which will celebrate its third anniversary on Halloween.

But while looking back over the successful beginnings of her first business venture ever, Fuller still remembers why she gave up the security of a steady income for the crapshoot that owning a small business can often be.

“The Lord,” she said. “Back in Jackson (Tennessee) I used to be in pharmaceutical sales. It was hard to find a job here in Sylva, and I’ve always loved interior design, and loved decorating.”

Fuller admits to being frugal with her money, so she’d go thrift shopping or consignment shopping, and quickly realized that Sylva didn’t have anything similar to offer.

“I felt the Lord was nudging me to go out and step out on faith,” she said.

She reluctantly accepted the nudge, but not without reservations.

“Really to be honest with you, I didn’t want to do it, and I thought really hard on it because my husband was in his own business as well, and that’d be both of us stepping out on faith,” she said. “I was used to a paycheck, so it was totally a step of faith, but once I said yes, it was crazy.”

It was crazy, she said, in that people were already clamoring to help stock her store before she even had a store to stock.

“Before I even had this building, Miss Judy Shuler from Kim Preston Real Estate called me and said, ‘I’ve got a whole house of furniture for you.’ I was like, ‘I don’t even have a building — I don’t have anything! What am I going to do?’ and she said, ‘I don’t know, you just need to say yes and take it.’”

Take it Fuller did, and with that opened the only furniture consignment store in the area. There’s a children’s consignment store in Franklin, Fuller said, but the next closest place to shop for similar items is in Waynesville.

Her store is an eclectic-yet-sensible mix of mostly bedroom, living room and dining room furniture that Fuller herself curates, thus imparting a touch of her own personal style to the collection.

“Me personally, I’m more of a French provincial, vintage type girl. But I’ve got a little bit of variety in the store here — I’ve got a few new pieces, but most of it is going to be old antiques, and that’s what I like to do,” she said. “My house is filled with different parts from the 1800s to today. I might have a new piece or two, but I like to mix all those years to bring it all together.”

Common housewares are also well represented; china sets, lamps and all manner of artwork are displayed neatly throughout the two-floor establishment.

Fuller used to create and construct her own pieces, but now mostly relies on her 700-plus roster of consigners to bring her old, new or interesting items.

“We’ve got so many consigners, I have to take only so many appointments per day, and we’re booked for months,” said Fuller.

Additionally, some furniture vendors bring her new

furnishings — especially couches, about which Fuller says she is “picky” about accepting on consignment — and almost 30 different booth vendors round out the 12,000square-foot building with funky, eccentric and traditional items of their own.

“That’s all individual people that come in and do their own thing,” she said. “We try to get a variety of all of it.”

Word of Fuller’s business has spread beyond just Sylva, but she’s not planning on moving anywhere else, any time soon.

“I love Sylva. I could branch out to other places, but that was my thing — I would shop in other places, but they didn’t have one here,” she said.

And why would she need to move? Much like other Sylva businesses experiencing a recent surge in visitors, Fuller doesn’t need to expand as long as customers keep coming to her.

“We have an incredible business and that’s nothing but the hand of the Lord in it,” said Fuller. “We have peo-

ple driving in from like three hours, it’s crazy. It’s crazy to hear that they literally just come to shop at Sassy Frass.”

her are still nowhere near their male counterparts in terms of both representation, and revenues. According to the National Association of Women Business Owners, women-owned firms make up just 31 percent of all privately held businesses and account for only 12 percent of revenues.

While Fuller doesn’t think she’s had a harder time as a small part of that 31 percent, she still falls back on her faith to help her make it through the challenges any business owner faces.

“I’ve never done this before, so I don’t know if it’s any different for a man than for a woman,” she said. “But I can tell you, it hasn’t been easy the whole entire time — it’s definitely been a journey with the Lord. It’s been valleys and it’s been mountaintops. I’ve had some really, really low times when I’ve cried out to the Lord begging for His help, and then I’ve had some mountaintop experiences where there’s nothing better.”

Her advice for like-minded women who may also be thinking about stepping out on faith is just as sage.

“If the Lord is telling you to do it, then of course he’s going to make the way, and that’s the way I feel about this business,” said Fuller. “When I first started, I had some people saying, ‘I don’t know that you’re going to make it,’ and others saying ‘Oh, you’ll do great,’ and I’m like, ‘Which one’s it going to be?’”

“But I really feel like if the Lord directs me and He’s telling me ‘This is what you need to do,’ I feel like this is His business and this is His place. So what I do is I just say, ‘Lord, it’s yours. If you want me to continue and to prosper, that’s great. And if you want to shut the doors, it’s your place to shut it down. We have that kind of relationship, so I would tell any woman if she’s feeling that this is what she wants to do and this is in her heart and this is what she feels like the Lord’s prompting her to do, I would say ‘Go, be bold, and be brave, and take that step of faith.’”

After graduation from Harvard Divinity School in 2008, Stephany knew she wanted to come home to her community to give back. Pink Regalia was founded in the summer of 2010 to care for the needs of postbreast surgery women. It was Stephany’s mission to create a space that was positive, empowering and met real needs of the women that graced her door. With the same mission Pink Regalia has grown it’s customer base to include ALL women not just those who have undergone breast surgery and has grown to two locations. Stephany is always looking for new products to better serve the women in her community. Stop by just to find out what their tagline “An Enlightening Bra Shopping Experience.” Is all about! You may see Stephany or one of her two amazing Fitters: Crystal-in Waynesville or Kimberly- in Asheville. Regardless, Stephany’s mission of making a difference and giving back is coming true with each bra fit.

Marilynn Obrig, a 28-year South Florida Real Estate veteran, has earned a reputation as one of the most trusted and respected professionals in the business. Her hard work ethic and negotiating skills enabled her to cement her position with a repeat high-profile clientele that relies on marketing talent, confidentiality and attention to detail.

In 2007, Marilynn and her husband chose Waynesville for retirement. After two years of "settling in" and volunteer work, Marilynn felt the desire to get back in the Real Estate business. Perceiving a need for specialized marketing for high-end homes, she targeted that market, and now shares her luxury marketing experience with her clients in North Carolina. Marilynn joined Beverly-Hanks in 2009 and retained her Florida real estate license to broaden her marketing base. Marilynn’s primary career focus is to help her buyers and sellers achieve their goals with a caring, “win-win” approach, and a sense of humor.

Marilynn was honored to serve REACH of Haywood County Board of Directors as the Fundraising/Special Events Chair from 2012 to 2016. In 2014, Marilynn led a committee to form the Friends of REACH, an Auxiliary which provides volunteers for fundraisers, the Within Reach Thrift Store, Crisis Hotline and Emergency Shelter, supporting survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

BOOKS UNLIMITED

Books Unlimited opened in December, 1983 beside the Macon Co Court House. Later, it moved to Westgate Plaza. In 1997 we moved to our current location on Main St. in downtown Franklin. Books Unlimited is a full service independent book store. We have new and used books, maps, calendars, and offer out of print searches. I managed Books Unlimited for 13 years, and then purchased it in June, 2003.

Books Unlimited featured a unique children’s section. Due to my lack of restraint when I order children’s books, we quickly ran out of space. In July, 2016, we opened Unlimited Books for Kids. It is located at 70 E. Main St., just two doors down from Books Unlimited. This is a wonderful change! We have more space, a window to decorate, and a store dedicated to children from ages 0 to 12. Not just limited to books, we offer games, toys, greeting cards, and a chalkboard to display your artwork. We will create a Mommy-to-Be Registry where you can place all the books you’d like your child to read, including out of print titles.

Check out our website to learn more about upcoming story times, puppet shows, ghost walks, and more fun surprises! Feel free to call us to receive information on upcoming events.

E.

Kim’s Pharmacy

Maybe it’s the flowers on the counter, the warm and inviting atmosphere, the great selection of women’s product, or the softer touch in helping each and every customer. Whatever your age, size, gender or skill level Bryson City Bicycles will genuinely help you with your cycling needs. Bryson City Bicycles is a four-time national award winning bike shop recognized for exceptional customer service, product knowledge and mechanical expertise.

was established in February 2008 by Kim Ferguson, a graduate of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Pharmacy.

After completing her degree in 1990, Kim returned to her hometown to serve her community as a pharmacist. She is a lifelong resident of Waynesville and has deep roots in the community. Kim is also actively involved with Altrusa of Waynesville, DSS Christmas and Foster Child Program, and Relay for life.

Kim’s Pharmacy is proud to have been selected favorite pharmacy by the readers of The Mountaineer 6 years running and is grateful to the residents of Haywood County for patronizing an independent pharmacy in this age of big box chain stores. Kim’s Pharmacy is honored to have been selected 2013 Business of the Year by the Haywood Chamber of Commerce. As the only compounding pharmacy west of Asheville, the pharmacy’s patients range from newborns to geriatrics and everything in between. It does a lot of compounding for vets in the area, and the animal patients range from cats, to dogs, to horses and squirrels.

“We take care of the whole family,” said Kim.

Finding femininity in the family business

BY J ESSI STONE

N EWS E DITOR

Amanda James Shaw never expected she’d be back in her hometown of Franklin running the family business, especially a power tool business.

As she sits in her office with the scent of essential oils drifting through the air — tucked away from the noisy showroom and the sounds of power tools being repaired in the maintenance garage — Amanda tells the story of how she found herself in charge of Macon Rental Company.

Her parents, Tom and Betsy James, started the small power tool rental business in 1979. Though Amanda grew up around the business — mostly sweeping floors and other light work around the shop — she definitely didn’t know how to start a chainsaw. Today she can tell which one is best for your needs and she can also show you how to operate it.

“I grew up around the equipment, but yeah, I couldn’t tell you how to use the log splitter by any means,” Amanda said. “None of it was second nature to me but you learn and adapt.”

She graduated from Franklin High School and earned a business degree at Brevard College. During college she worked for a company that ended up sending her to Charlotte to work after

graduation. While working in a large corporate setting in the big city, she met her husband Chris Shaw, who is originally from England. They found themselves at a major crossroads in dealing with immigration and marriage — do we stay in Charlotte or move to United Kingdom?

“Dad suggested moving back here to take over the business. It’s the last thing we thought we would do — my husband is an engineer — but we both really like it,” Amanda said.

The couple has been running the business for the last nine years now. Amanda’s business background and Chris’ engineer thinking have proved useful in their new endeavor. Amanda isn’t just behinds the scenes doing the books either — she’s on the sales floor selling equipment, helping customers and supporting her seven employees. The only thing she stays out of is the repair work — she leaves that for the experts.

“Running a small business in general has tons of challenges — you want what’s best for the business and your employees and balancing all that is a huge challenge,” she said.

And then there’s the added challenges of being a woman and trying to manage a business that has historically been managed by men. Nothing says masculinity like heavy-duty machinery.

“When you work in a masculine environment, you feel the need to know how to talk shop — it’s a challenge but a rewarding challenge to learn about all the equipment,” Amanda said. “It also gives me an identify I felt I had lost here in the beginning and that was a worry I had, but now I’m the Macon County rental tool girl and that’s kind of exciting.”

So aside from the typical business-minded qualities, what makes women good leaders in business? Amanda said women have the innate desire to be people pleasers, which makes women great at customer service and dealing with their employees.

“Women are also born multi-taskers — to our detriment sometimes — but it’s a good thing in business,” she said.

Continuing the legacy of the 40-year-old familyrun business is a responsibility that Amanda and Chris are taking seriously. Not only do they want to see it succeed, but they want to continue the legacy of great customer service as well. Continuing that success through the

through the worst of it and business continues to pick up.

Amanda also took on another job during the recession for extra money but has stayed with it for six years because of the more feminine outlet it gives her in a life surrounded by power tools and men. As an independent stylist with the direct sales company Stella & Dot, Amanda gets to make some money on the side and exercise her love of fashion and accessorizing.

recession was their biggest challenge to date.

“My dad mostly did rentals and had some small equipment for sale, but when the economy took a downturn and people weren’t building as much, we had to look at ways to increase income,” Amanda said. “The way to do that is with repairs, sales and services.”

Macon Rental Company always had a mechanic shop associated with their business but decided to bring in a full-time mechanics team under the same roof to work more tool repairs. They’ve made it

“The economy wasn’t great but also I started to feel like I was losing my femininity here and I needed something else to do,” she said. “In corporate business I was wearing a suit and heels every day, but here I could wear shorts and tennis shoes and then eventually I stopped wearing jewelry and then wouldn’t even put on lip gloss — and I’m not saying that’s all women but that’s just me. I kind of felt like I was losing myself in a very masculine environment.”

After seeing Stella & Dot CEO Jessica Herrin speak on “The Today Show” about how she was helping women, Amanda felt inspired to join. Now she has a team of 15 stylists working under here and is one of the top 400 salespeople in the company. She even went to speak at a conference in Washington, D.C., last week about her experience.

“It’s been extremely successful for me and it’s given me a girly outlet,” she said.

Standards of care

Rural animal care offers constant joy, constant challenge for vet clinic

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFFWRITER

It’s not unusual to hear a visiting veterinarian term Cherokee Animal Care Clinic an emergency day clinic, Dr. Robbie McLeod says as she takes a standing lunch break accompanied by a stethoscope, paperwork and a wiggly puppy in for its shots.

Right on the edge of the Qualla Boundary, the Whittier clinic is really the only game in town for veterinary care without going to Sylva or Bryson City.

“You never know what’s going to come through the door,” McLeod says.

“Oh, that’s a dog attack, speaking of which,” says practice manager Kristee Kaye, as if on cue.

Kaye walks out to the waiting room and comes back bearing a chubby Chihuahua that’s sporting a muzzle and a festering wound that immediately fills the

room with a putrid odor. The attack had happened Monday or Tuesday, Kaye says, relaying the owner’s account — one or two days ago. The Chihuahua bit his owner afterward, explaining the muzzle.

“Oh! This is rotten, rotten, rotten,” exclaims McLeod, inspecting the wound.

“This is not Monday or Tuesday.”

Last Monday or Tuesday, maybe — you don’t get that much necrosis or pus in the space of two days, she observes.

“If this were July,” McLeod says, “there would be maggots in it.”

A HARDJOB

Walk-ins like this are part of the reason that filling the veterinary void in the Cherokee area is such a hard job. In a rural region where dogs are often left to run free and the closest emergency vet clinic is half an hour away, the sprinkle of dog attacks and hit-by-cars and gunshot wounds is constant amid an already overbooked schedule of booster shots and sick animals. The “lunch” part of lunch break is usually a 10-minute affair, often done while standing, the rest of the time put to

use catching up on backlog from the morning.

“This is a highly emotional job,” McLeod said. “It’s not all puppies. There’s sad news and emergencies and death and dying and blood and puss and people. It wears you out. I think we’re all exhausted by the end of the day. I think most people don’t realize how hard of a job it is.”

They start at 8 a.m. each morning and, ideally, finish by 5 p.m. each evening, but things rarely wrap up that early. McLeod’s rule is that if the client can get a hold of her before she leaves the office, she’ll stay and wait.

“There have been nights when emergency surgeries have happened that we’ve been here at 1, 2, 3 in the morning,” Kaye said.

“Last Friday we were here till 8 or 9 o’clock,” McLeod added. A cat was crashing, and a client brought in a goat that had been attacked by wild dogs. If she hadn’t stayed, the owner would have had to search for an emergency clinic open during the weekend, with the added challenge that goats are considered a large animal, and fewer vets work on those.

“We try not to turn people away,” she said.

There’s no denying that being a vet is hard work. But McLeod can’t imagine doing anything else. She’s been in practice for 18 years, starting out in the Raleigh area after graduating from N.C. State University’s veterinary school and then moving back toward family roots in Western North Carolina. She started work at Country Lane Animal Hospital in Clyde, where she’s still a part owner, but then an opportunity presented itself in Cherokee.

McLeod had worked some at Cherokee Animal Care years before, when the then-owner was dealing with medical issues and needed someone to fill in — she’d grown to love the community. Then that doctor sold the practice to another doctor, who eventually closed it.

The closure coincided with Kaye’s desire for a change of pace. For years, she’d run a showhorse farm in Cullowhee, where she raised national champion equines. McLeod was the vet.

“We just became really close friends and this opportunity presented itself,” Kaye said. “We decided to take a jump, and I’m very proud of it.”

Things started slowly when they opened in 2009 — they’d be excited to see 10 people in a day. These days.

Things stay busy, and both McLeod and Kaye say that having a solid team in place is the key to making it work.

A NEWLYFEMALEFIELD

Looking through the list of employees who work with McLeod and Kaye, one pattern is apparent. With the exception of one part-time vets, every single employee is female.

And, McLeod said, that’s not surprising.

“Women are coming to dominate the veterinary industry,” she said. “All aspects of the veterinary industry are transitioning toward female domination.”

Nationwide, 55.5 percent of vets in private practice are female, while 44.8 percent are male, according to 2015 statistics from the American Veterinary Medicine Association. In public and corporate employment, 52.2 percent are female and 47.8 percent are male.

The ratio is likely to shift even more heavily toward women in the future. In 1970, only 11 percent of students enrolling in U.S. veterinary medical colleges were female, with the balance reaching 50-50 in the mid-1980s. As of 2013, however, enrollment was 78.6 percent female and 21.4 percent male, according to data from the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges.

McLeod has a pretty good idea as to why that is.

“I think women are willing more to work in what they love, even if they’re going to exist in a lower income level, as long as they’re able to provide for themselves and their families,” she said. “Men are driven by love for their careers but they’re also financially driven and they want higher salaries. That’s my personal opinion.”

The other factor in that conversation, she said, is that men are often the primary breadwinner in the family, so they may feel more responsibility to gravitate toward the higher-paying job.

There’s no arguing, however, that veterinary work pays a good bit less than other jobs requiring the same amount of education. It takes eight years to become either a veterinarian or a medical doctor, but treating humans pays about three times as much as treating animals.

“You really have to love it to do it, because you don’t get in this for the money,” McLeod said. “You can’t do it for the money because you can be comfortable, but you’re not going to be rich.”

within the client’s financial budget,” McLeod said. “I’ve been in clinics that basically if you don’t give them a blank check to run every test, they’re like, well, you probably just need to put your animal to sleep.”

Part of McLeod’s job is guiding patients through that maze of decisions. Which tests are absolutely necessary? How much will to cost to heal the animal? Is the outcome guaranteed? What will the ongoing cost of medication be? In vet school, professors drilled in terms such as “minimum database” and “standards of care,” but in rural practice those words acquire different definitions.

“Sometimes ‘standard of care’ is what the owner can afford,” McLeod said.

“We have a Plan A and a Plan B and sometimes a Plan C, and estimates for them,” Kaye added. “We give them options.”

Sometimes, no option is feasible. Then the animal might have to get put to sleep. Or, it might be added to the ranks of the many “rescue animals” attending the clinic. Like Picasso, for example, the purring black cat whose nose is crooked due to the multiple facial surgeries he underwent to recover from an accident.

NAVIGATINGFINANCES

At Cherokee Animal Clinic, most of the clientele is far from rich. McLeod’s seen the other side of the coin, working in Raleigh where it wasn’t uncommon for peo-

ple to be pulling down $250,000 per year, but the less affluent landscape of Western North Carolina makes practicing here an inherently different experience.

“We have to figure out, what are the minimum diagnostics we can do to try to help this animal and also stay

“We all have our own rescue animals,” McLeod said. It’s hard to watch, sometimes — the pain and the loss and the death, all placed in the context of long days and chaotic unpredictability. And McLeod admits that she’ll often think about her career path and if it ever could have gone another way. But she grew up watching Jack Hannah and Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, dreaming of swimming with dolphins and petting lions, and when she tries to think about what other course she could have taken, she comes up empty.

“I can’t think of anything else I could have ever done,” she said.

Health. Wellness. Relief.

Dr. Tara Hogan, D.C. has been in practice as a chiropractor since May 2011

“Most days I feel like I have the best career in the world. I just love being able to help people in our community enjoy a better quality of life.

“My advice to women just starting out in business is to stick with what you are truly inspired by and passionate about. Don't settle. You must know what you want and make it work. Believe in yourself. We all can accomplish so much more than we sometimes think is possible, especially when we prepare. The more we prepare, the luckier we get!”

In health & happiness, —

Dr. Tara

Tara Hogan, D.C.

Designing your dreams

When women take over the reins: Three generations of the Alexander family at Cataloochee Ranch.

“Women run this place,” says Mary Coker, the current manager of Maggie Valley’s venerable Cataloochee Ranch. And she should know. When Mary’s grandparents, Tom and Judy Alexander, opened the first Cataloochee Ranch in 1933, it was her grandmother, affectionately known to both family and guests as “Miss Judy,” who took on the responsibility of creating the Ranch’s now-legendary tradition of hospitality. By the time of Tom Alexander’s death in 1972, the second generation of Alexander women and their husbands had assumed the day-to-day management of the Ranch. Today, under Mary’s third-generation management, her mother Judy “Juju” Coker still greets guests every day at breakfast, her aunt Alice Aumen is there to greet them at dinnertime, and both help out with

other duties on a regular basis.

Meanwhile, Mary’s sister Judy B. Sutton manages the barn and pitches in wherever else she’s needed.

Although her duties had been taken over by her daughters (and ultimately by her granddaughters), Miss Judy continued

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER

The “wow” effect.

“When we reveal a project to a client and they have that ‘wow’ expression on their face — that’s what we’re aiming for,” said Kathryn Greeley.

As head interior designer for the Waynesville business of her namesake, Greeley looks at every client as a clean slate to not only create, but also tailor a project to the exact needs and traits of the individual.

part of her 35-year career.

“It’s about creating a space rather than just filling a room,” she said. “Whether it is a single room or an entire house, you need to understand your client. We have an extensive interview process to find the best ways to meet their needs, and we work side-by-side with them throughout the entire process.”

And in her time, Greeley’s built a quality, word-of-mouth company, one where she’s now designing spaces for children and grandchildren of former clients.

to be a gracious hostess at the Ranch until her death in 1997.

And, for the women of her family, she left some enduring footsteps to follow.

Cataloochee Ranch

“I’ve never wanted my design products to look like they were just rooms out of a furniture store,” she said. “Whether they’re commercial or residential, I want each project to reflect the client’s lifestyle, passions and travels. I don’t want any two of my projects to every just be alike, just like each client is different from the next.”

Born and raised in Bryson City, Greeley was an only child, something she says provoked an imaginative mindset and personality at an early age that still holds true today. After she received her undergraduate and graduate degrees in interior design from Western Carolina University, Greeley kicked off her career with short stints in Sylva and Lake Junaluska. Eventually, she found herself on Haywood Street, where she has remained for the better

“It’s about sharing knowledge and nurturing those passions, something I enjoy being an independent woman who was raised a mountain girl.”

— Kathryn Greeley

“It makes me feel old,” she smiled and chuckled. “But, I’ve always felt the best source for a client is a good client, someone you can get to know and create a lifelong relationship with.”

So, what does being in business for 35 years mean?

“Thirty-five years means a lot of hard work and perseverance,” Greeley said. “I think as a woman — or anyone running a small business — you have to push ahead. It’s been a rollercoaster, where in my time I’ve

Crossroads of art and community

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER

It’s a constant flow.

“All day people are coming in and out of the gallery, to wander the shop or simply to say hello,” said Elisa Holder. “It’s exciting to see what each day will bring, because each day is different — it’s never boring.”

As the owner of Earthworks Gallery on Main Street in Waynesville, Holder stands at the helm of a beloved downtown business celebrating 25 years in operation. But, beyond the mere fact it’s one of the longest running spots on Main Street, what is just as important is the social haven the space has provided to the community for the last quarter century.

“Our goal has always been to provide a place for people to breath, relax and hangout,” Holder said. “This one time, a little girl stood in the open doorway, she held her arms out, closed her eyes and inhaled, yelling down the street, ‘Mom, you got to come in here, it feels safe.’”

And that’s the main ingredient with Earthworks, which is creating a two-way street of conversation that is often lost or forgotten in a fast-paced modern world.

It’s about grabbing a cup of coffee across the street and heading for the gallery, to stand and chat at the counter with faces you’re always happy to see, faces that show no judgment, rather they offer compassion and support for those who have reciprocated the same to them.

“What’s wild is seeing the kids and grandkids of the customers that come in here — we’ve seen all of them grow up,”

Holder said. “We’ll have people just randomly call us all the time, just to see how we’re doing and how life is.”

Holder herself grew up in Thickety, just outside of Canton. After graduating from Pisgah High School, she raised a family with her late husband who worked for the mill. They relocated to Alabama for work, where Holder attended the University of North Alabama in Florence. After several years of wandering the Muscle Shoals area, Holder returned to Haywood County in 2004.

“I missed the mountains and I wanted to come home,” she said.

Behind the counter since then, Holder eventually took over the business from the gallery’s founder, Suzy Johnson. Within the gallery, there are 36 local and

“You’ve just got to have faith and hang on with everything you’ve got. There is a freedom to owning a small business, but that also comes with a lot of responsibility.”

seen recessions, interest rates at 18 percent, interest rates at zero, and so you change with the times, but also stay steady to your philosophy and ethics.”

As a pillar of the Haywood County business sector, Greeley enjoys mentoring young women in the pursuit of their dreams. It’s a personal duty she takes seriously, and also encourages other to follow suit.

“The community here has been very supportive of women in business,” she said. “There are all kinds of networking opportunities, with many of us mentoring these up-and-coming women. It’s

regional artists represented, with mediums ranging from photography to pottery, mixed media to painting, and beyond.

“We look for artists that are stewards of the earth, and all of our artists are completely different,” Holder said. “But all are representative of the landscape, the people and culture of Western North Carolina.”

In terms of being a small business owner, Holder will be the first to point out that “you need nerves of steel to do this.”

“This is an up and down game,” she said. “We’re a very seasonal economy, and you’ve just got to have faith and hang on with everything you’ve got. There is a free-

WILD MARKET OPENED ON MAY 28, 2016

Owner Leslie Larsen has been active in the natural health industry for over 10 years now. She is currently on the board of directors for the Southeast Natural Products Association and a national educator for Terry Naturally.

Offering organic, fair trade coffee roasted from Cherokee, fresh baked gluten free items from Asheville and honey from Haywood County.

dom to owning a small business, but that also comes with a lot of responsibility.”

As she sits behind the counter at Earthworks again once recent morning, Holder’s face lights up when another familiar figure saunters in, coffee and conversation in hand. The same goes for those strangers yet to become quick acquaintances in the subsequent interaction. It’s that sense of community through art that keeps Holder coming back to the shop, turning the key and unlocking another day of creativity and friendship.

“We’ve all got to support each other,” she said.

about sharing knowledge and nurturing those passions, something I enjoy being an independent woman who was raised a mountain girl.”

And though she recently turned 65, Greeley feels like she’s just getting started. In 2011, she released her book, The Collected Tabletop, which has spurred her interested in a sequel. Until then, she continues to head out into the world each day, excited as day one to create and inspire, where her motto “collected, not decorated” holds true.

“The creative mind never rests,” she said.

Leslie and Sam are looking forward to seeing Wild Market continue to grow as a community resource for natural health education, products and services in Haywood County.

When asked what advice she would give to women just starting out in business, Leslie said, “Believe in yourself. There will never be a perfect time. If you have a dream or passion in your heart, then believe in yourself and take the leap. JUMP! Build your wings on the way down … you will soar!”

Passion for fashion

Miss Diva moves to Main Street

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR

Sarah Miller has a glowing personality and limitless energy when it comes to pursuing her passion.

Her business — Diva’s on Main in downtown Franklin — is a seamless extension of her individuality and drive. Gorgeous formal gowns are arranged by color and hang flawlessly from high ceilings in the historic building and classic jewelry adorns the display cases on each side of the boutique.

Miller greets everyone with a welcoming smile as they come in off the street and has a way of making them feel right at home. It’s not unusual for her to offer you a refreshing drink or to have fresh out-of-the-oven baked cookies waiting on the table for you. She’s usually wearing something eye-catching from her own collection and her hair and makeup are always on point. It’s OK to call her a girly girl — she’s the first to admit it.

It’s that girly eye that makes her so good at her job. Having the ability to make her customers feel immediately comfortable and relaxed is important when you’re dressing them for one of the most important days of their lives.

Whether it’s a homecoming dance, high school prom or a wedding, Miller — affectionately known as Miss Diva — prides herself in putting women in the perfect dress. And whether you’re a size 00 or a 26, you’ll get the same quality of care at Diva’s.

“God’s given me the gift of merchandising and the ability to make people feel good about themselves,”

Miller said. “I give my girls a lot of attention. I see their body style and I know exactly what to put on them.”

If her customers feel good, she feels good.

“If you feel pretty and it’s a nice experience, you feel good about yourself,” she added.

Miller just moved her formal wear boutique to downtown Franklin in June, but she has been in the business more than 40 years. She gives a lot of credit for her success to her husband and business partner of 42 years — Rick Miller. They started out in the formal wear business at 24 years old in their home state of California, but it wasn’t long before they moved south to take over a large formal apparel sales territory based in Atlanta.

“We were one of the largest retailers in Atlanta — we had 52 employees and a huge showroom in the ‘80s and ‘90s,” Miller said. “We always traveled the road in a motorhome to show our merchandise.”

But something started to change at the turn of the century — the internet began to pick up steam and buying online would forever change how people purchased formal wear. Who needed a salesman or woman when they could find what they wanted online by themselves?

“After 2005 when the internet got so powerful, we saw our industry changing,” she said. “We got out of the business and decided to go into our passion — we basically reinvented the wheel.”

The Millers moved to Franklin and opened Cowboys

“God’s given me the gift of merchandising and the ability to make people feel good about themselves. I give my girls a lot of attention. I see their body style and I know exactly what to put on them.”

— Sarah Miller, Diva’s on Main

and Diva’s on Highlands Road to continue to provide their expertise in sports and formal wear sales. They’ve built up quite a reputation for what seems like a smalltown operation. However, the one-of-a-kind gowns they carry are far from small town. Miller handpicks her dresses and only buys the best quality collections.

“Knowledge is power in our business, and I work hard to know my fabrics, cuts and quality,” Miller said.

The Millers make presentations all over the region and cater to 19 high schools for their formal wear needs. Sarah said she goes out of her way to offer dresses for all types of young women with pricing ranging from affordable to top of the line. And her repeat customers know they can trust Miss Diva’s judgment because for her it’s about more than making money.

“I love what I do and if you love it, you never work a day in your life,” Miller said.

And she must mean it because she never takes a day off. The store is open seven days a week and she will come in early or stay late to accommodate her customers’ needs. It takes a major obstacle to knock her down — and even then she’s quick to bounce back.

Resilience and perseverance are two qualities that come to mind when Miller thinks about the challenges that come with being a female business owner. While she loves her job, health problems over the last five years have prevented her from being at the top of her game. Extreme weight gain and scoliosis took a heavy toll on her and confined her to work from a wheelchair.

Being in a wheelchair made it difficult for her to give customers the attention they need and give her employees — Diva dolls — the proper training needed before prom season.

If you see Miss Diva today though, you’d never know what she went through. After losing 150 pounds, having knee and hip surgery and getting out of the wheelchair, there’s no stopping her now.

“It was hard. People look down on you if you’re in a wheelchair and look down on you if you’re overweight,” Miller said. “But I got myself together and now I can run up and down the stairs at the store and I can better train my staff — everything is back to normal.”

The hardest part of her recovery after surgery was not being at the store. Not even her doctor to keep her off her feet for long before she was back at work. When asked when she sleeps, she said, “When Mr. Miller makes me.”

“I thoroughly enjoy the interactions I have with people,” she said. “The biggest struggle I have is if I’m not busy and if I’m not helping and enjoying people.”

A different world

Edwards reflects on culture changes spanning 30 years in the workplace

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFFWRITER

Iperceptions that accompanied it.

“Quite frankly, I felt like I had to overachieve sometimes to keep that place at the table and was very willing to do that,” Edwards said. “That’s my personality.”

Still, it could be galling when she’d tell people she worked for the company president only to have them assume it was an administrative position.

CHALLENGES: The greatest challenge I have faced in real estate is the same challenge faced by all working mothers — finding the balance between family, career and community obligations. Otherwise, I don’t believe there are barriers for women in real estate. In fact, many of Haywood County’s top brokers and my role models and mentors have been women.

n Western North Carolina’s travel and tourism community, it’s not too unusual to find women at the helm. But when Stephanie Edwards, executive director of the Cashiers Chamber of Commerce, launched her career about 30 years ago, she was most definitely the minority.

Stephanie Edwards spent more than two decades in high-level travel and tourism positions before taking the executive director job at the Cashiers Chamber of Commerce four years ago. Donated photo

“There were many times in the jobs that I held when I was the only female in the room,” said Edwards, 57. “We’ve made great strides since then and I feel like the progress that has been made has opened doors for those who have followed behind.”

Before arriving in Cashiers four years ago, Edwards had built a career in travel and tourism that began with more than a decade of work with state and federal chambers of commerce on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. From there she joined AAA’s national headquarters, filling executive roles that required her to interact with the board of directors, manage international contracts with reciprocal clubs around the world, and manage the national office’s communications. Partway into her tenure there, AAA transferred her and 800 other people to a new national headquarters in Orlando.

Throughout those years, she said, she was “very aware” of her gender and the

“I had a master’s degree. I had worked in significant positions. But because I was a female, they did not assume I was the chief of staff,” she said. “They assumed I was entry-level.”

The culture has come a long way since then, though, and so has Edwards — when the job opening came up in Cashiers, where she’s vacationed since childhood, she had no qualms about applying. The position was a great fit coming at the perfect time, and she was in need of a respite from the busy corporate cultures of D.C. and Orlando.

“Every day is different, and I’m challenged by that,” Edwards said. “I love the opportunity to serve my community and in particular to help support small businessmen and women who work so hard to be successful.”

And, while gender had been such an upfront, elephant-in-the-room kind of issue for so much of Edwards’ career, it’s really not any longer. Both men and women sit at the head of chambers of commerce across the western region, and Edwards says she hasn’t detected bias since coming to Cashiers.

In fact, these days she’s an advocate for expanding learning and professional opportunities to capable people of both genders, rather than focusing on women specifically.

“I think we should look for talent, encourage talent, encourage education for both men and women in all walks of life,” she said. “That’s probably easier to say now because we have made advancement.”

Now, Edwards experiences being a women in the business world as simply being a person in the business world.

“There are both men and women at the table who are equally qualified and most importantly work very effectively together,” she said. “At the end of the day, that’s what it’s about.”

“I think we should look for talent, encourage talent, encourage education for both men and women in all walks of life.”

— Stephanie Edwards, Cashiers Chamber of Commerce executive director

FAVORITE THING: I enjoy the opportunity to act as an ambassador for Haywood County. As a deeply rooted native, I’m honored to educate visitors on why they should choose to make their home here. I also love closing the deal. It is deeply satisfying to sit with a client at the settlement table when all the hard work and challenges are in the rear view mirror and know that you’ve helped someone accomplish their goal.

ADVICE TO YOUNG WOMEN: HGTV makes it look too easy! Know that a successful career in real estate requires a personal and financial investment. It is a rewarding career but transactions are complicated and filled with highs and lows. And remember that our homes are the greatest financial investment in our lives. Assisting others in the sale or purchase of a home is a responsibility that should be taken very seriously.

Sylva’s homegrown talent

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER

Nestled betwixt the Great Balsam and Plott Balsam ranges not far from Western Carolina University in Jackson County, the town of Sylva is in the midst of a transformation.

A recent story in the Washington Post called Sylva an “Asheville alternative for the crowd-weary” and in turn generated scads of anecdotes from business owners about people flocking to the town of 2,600, including a curious Morgan Freeman, who apparently strolled up and down Main Street a few days ago.

And Freeman’s not the only one — the Jackson County Tourism Development Authority said in June that occupancy taxes were up almost 10 percent over the previous year and were the highest recorded in the past four years.

Accordingly, high-minded civic initiatives such as a comprehensive economic development plan, a watershed plan, creekside cleanup and public art are currently making the rounds in Sylva, even as more practical acquisitions — including a garbage truck and backhoe — take place.

Helping to orchestrate it all is Sylva’s homegrown town manager, Paige Dowling.

Born and raised in Sylva, Dowling graduated from Smoky Mountain High School and N.C. State, where she majored in economics.

“I enjoyed business, and thought I’d go to law school,” she said, quickly pointing out that she never really wanted to be a practicing attorney but thought she’d be involved somehow in policy.

Dowling interned for three sessions in the North Carolina General Assembly and went on to earn a Master of Public Affairs from Western Carolina University, where she fell under the tutelage of a somewhat legendary Western North Carolina political figure.

“I learned so much from him,” Dowling said of Mike Morgan.

Morgan served as the town manager of Weaverville for 18 years, retiring in 2010 – sort of. His time as Waynesville’s interim town manager in 2016 was his fifth interim gig, on top of being an adjunct faculty member in WCU’s MPA program.

Dowling learned budgeting from Morgan before graduating with her MPA in 2012; in Sept. 2011, she became Sylva’s Main Street Director and began working on community development projects until April 2012, when she became Sylva’s assistant town manager with the understanding that when the interim town manager left, the job was hers.

That interim town manager was Mike Morgan.

“It’s a great profession. Every day is different, every day I work with different people, and I love working at something I’m passionate about in my hometown.”

— Paige Dowling, Sylva town manager

Dowling earned the unique opportunity to not only study under Morgan, but also work under him in the real world, where she gained the type of insight only a grizzled veteran can provide.

And Dowling would need that insight — when she became Sylva’s town manager in June 2012, she was just 25 years old.

Being in charge of a $3.5 million budget at the age of 25 is rare, and even more so in municipal government. Although there are younger managers in several local municipalities — Seth Hendler-Voss in Canton and Nathan Clark in Maggie Valley — when Dowling ascended to the post, she was the youngest in the state, possibly ever.

“When you’re in one of your first full-time roles you’re going to be nervous,” she said, “but I had wonderful department heads and staff. I’ve been very fortunate. I had help and everyone wanted me to succeed. They

couldn’t have been more helpful.”

According a 2005 report prepared for the North Carolina Association of City & County Management, Dowling is unique in that her profession is “less attractive to young professionals” due to Generations X and Y placing more emphasis on work-life balance, whereas those of the baby boomer generation “are more willing to sacrifice personal interests and family for professional advancement and place the needs of the job before other competing interests.”

Adding to the unique nature of Dowling’s position, she’s a woman in an overwhelmingly male-dominated industry. Dowling said she thinks the stat is around 13 percent – that is, 87 percent of town or county managers are men.

Navigating the political climate as a woman in Sylva, however, hasn’t been excessively challenging for Dowling. In fact, two of four town board members are female, as is Mayor Lynda Sossamon.

Regardless, Dowling said her sex — as well as her age — has never been an impediment to fulfilling her duties.

“I don’t think I’ve had a hard time in that regard at all,” she said. “I don’t even think of that as a factor.”

Dowling loves her job helping to orchestrate the transformation of the community she was raised in, just a few miles from her alma mater, with a solid foundation laid by her former professor. But she can’t explain why there aren’t more women in positions like hers.

“I don’t know why that is,” she said. “It’s a great profession. Every day is different, every day I work with different people, and I love working at something I’m passionate about in my hometown.”

ANNIE KIM MASSAGE SPECIALIZING

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1370 Soco Road • Maggie Valley (310) 897-4610

“I

I love finding people somewhere to live,” Rogers said.

Since becoming the owner of Select Homes in 2010, Rogers has steadily grown the business, more than doubling the number of rental properties that Select Homes manages. “Two hundred and seventy five, as of today.”

-

I love helping people achieve their dreams, and it's that passion that led me to real estate. My clients admire my persistence and open communication. If there is a problem in your contract, I will go above and beyond to fix it and make the contract work for you. And I'll keep you informed about your transaction at every step.

My years of real estate experience have given me a wide variety of knowledge about all aspects of real estate transactions. I get most excited about finding the best opportunities for home buyers and helping my sellers sell their homes in a timely fashion. From consultation to closing, my hands-on approach, professional attitude, excellent communication, and strong negotiation skills will help you achieve your goals for selling or buying a home.

I began my real estate career on an agent team at Beverly-Hanks & Associates in 2005 and obtained my license in 2006. In 2009, I took an opportunity to work in another firm and was successful in helping many homebuyers and sellers while there. During that time, I also served on the Haywood County Foundation Board from 2013–2015, and was the Local MLS Director in 2015. As of July 2016, I am excited to return to Beverly-Hanks & Associates in the Downtown Waynesville office to help people with their mid-range and luxury homes.

I appreciate the opportunity to work with you and show you how important you are to me. Contact me today!

I am a native of Western North Carolina, so I'm passionate about assisting you in finding your perfect home in the beautiful mountains around Haywood County. I live in Waynesville, NC with my husband Joe, who also has his real estate license. Together we have three children— Abigail, Alexandra, and Adam—all of whom play soccer. When I am not selling real estate, you can find me taking a run around the lake, playing with my two labrador retrievers, or enjoying a nice dinner or movie with my family.

Candidates focus on Macon’s future

BY J ESSI STONE

N EWS E DITOR

Macon County residents will more than likely recognize the names of the four commissioner candidates who will appear on their Nov. 8 ballots.

District 3 Commissioner Paul Higdon is running for a second term after unseating Democrat Bobby Kuppers during the 2012 commissioner race. Higdon is often the voice of dissent on the board when it comes to spending money. While some would say he hasn’t accomplished much during his first term, Higdon said his opposition to certain projects has at least created more discussion.

“I think my questioning viewpoints have been healthy for the board and the decisions being made,” he said. “It made them have a deeper and more thoughtful conversation about issues.”

Now that he has the first-term learning curve behind him and he’s not worried about running for a third term in 2020, he says he will be more aggressive in his fight to get some things changed. A couple of his goals include getting a convention center built, permitting fees reduced and getting rid of the gun-free zones on county property so law-abiding citizens can protect themselves.

Kuppers is running again in hopes of reclaiming his seat on the board. As a teacher at Franklin High School, he has a big heart for public education. If elected, he wants to focus on being a more involved commissioner and a voice for his constituents. He’s unsure of his chances given the last election when Higdon won with 57 percent of the vote.

“I think it will come down to turnout and how satisfied people are with the status quo — maybe there’s some buyer’s remorse out there,” Kuppers said.

Retired educator Charlie Leatherman, who also served previous terms as a commissioner, is running for another chance to serve District 2 — the only difference is this time he’s running as a Democrat instead of a Republican. He said party affiliation had no place in county government.

“I’m neither,” he said. “I’m an independent thinker not controlled by political handlers. What’s good for a Democrat will be good for a Republican and vice versa — we’re all just people.”

The only new name on the ballot this year will be Karl Gillespie, running as a Republican

for District 2 commissioner. He’s no stranger to the community though — he has served on the planning board, Southwestern Community College Board of Trustees and owns a local business in Franklin.

Get to know the candidates

Karl Gillespie (Republican running for District 2)

• Hometown: Fifth-generation Franklin native

• Age: 54

The District 2 seat is open this year as Commissioner Kevin Corbin is vacating his seat to run for state representative. The outcome of this election could significantly change the dynamic on the board. If Kuppers is able to beat out Higdon and Leatherman wins the District 2 seat, the board would then have three retired educators, including sitting commissioner Gary Shields. With public education funding being a hot topic lately, three educators on the board could make a huge difference when it comes to local funding decisions.

EDUCATION

Education funding has been a major talking point in Macon County and the rest of the region during this election cycle. Commissioners have recently been faced with the cost of renovating and repairing school facilities, complaints about the amount of state funding for operational costs, controversy over money going to charter schools and lottery revenue not coming to the local school systems as promised.

This issue has become more complex as public education advocates have argued the state is cutting local funding while state legislators say they’ve increased public education funding since the Republicans took over the majority in 2013. The real answer is yes — the dollar amount in the state budget for public education has increased — but local school districts are receiving more operating funds because the money is going to teacher raises, charter schools and private school vouchers.

No matter who they side with on the issue, all four candidates are products of the Macon County public school system and say providing adequate education funding is a top priority for them.

Bobby Kuppers

Kuppers said funding public education has always been a team effort of the federal, state and local government. While the local government has done a great job of providing bricks and mortar, he said the state hasn’t been pulling its weight lately.

“It appears the state is not necessarily providing the funds it did in the past, which has

• Background: Worked for Global Communications 17 years before he moved back to Franklin in 1999 to start his own business — National Communications, Inc.

• Political experience: None

• Why are you running? “I see running for county commissioner as serving the same purpose as other boards I serve on — and that’s to give back to the county that has been good to be me and my family for many years.”

Charlie Leatherman (Democrat running for District 2)

• Hometown: Macon County native

• Age: 65

• Background: He has operated an independent tax business since 1996 after retiring from the Macon County School system where he taught math and gifted education.

• Political experience: Served two terms as commissioner until 2008, including two years as vice chairman and two years as chairman.

• Why are you running? “It’s a combination of different reasons, like being a part of something that’s positive for the county. And I’ll be about 70 at the end of the term if I get elected, so one last time I’d like to serve again if the people want me.”

put us in an uncomfortable position,” he said. “The county can’t be expected to pick up all the cuts from the state.”

If state funding continues to decrease for traditional public schools, Kuppers said commissioners would need to figure out what the county could afford to keep a high standard of education.

As an educator at Franklin High School, Kuppers said he wants to be part of the early planning process for constructing a new high school complex.

“I have a unique viewpoint on what public education should and could do — I’ve been on both the supply and user end.

“I think eventually we’ll need it and this is the time to start talking about it and laying out plans,” he said. “We need to ask ourselves what a 21st-century high school looks like. It’s not too early to start asking even if construction and financing are years away.

Paul Higdon

Higdon says there’s no doubt the county had lived up to its statutory obligation to fund the school system’s brick and mortar needs and gone above and beyond its duty by providing additional operational costs when needed, especially since Macon County is

Paul Higdon (Republican running for District 3)

• Hometown: Fifth-generation Macon County native

• Age: 66

• Background: He served in the U.S. Army for two years and the graduated from the University of Arkansas Little Rock with a degree in environmental health. He currently operates a small business — Sewer Solutions, Inc.

• Political experience: He is currently serving his first term as a Macon County commissioner.

• Why are you running? “I got into politics because I wanted to have a voice. As the owner of two small businesses, I wanted a voice in how we spend our hard-earned tax dollars.”

Bobby Kuppers

(Democrat running for District 3)

• Hometown: Family moved to Franklin in 1960 when he was 5 years old

• Age: 62

• Background: Served in the U.S. Navy for 25 years before moving back to Franklin to become a high school teacher and coach in 2000. He teaches civics and government and used to coach football.

• Political experience: Served as a Macon County Commissioner for District 3 from 2008-2012.

• Why are you running? “The first time I ran in 2008 I was teaching an AP government class and I was always talking to them about the importance of getting involved in your community. So when a commissioner seat came open my students said ‘why don’t you run?’ so I did. This time I got a call from the chairman of my party and he asked me if I’d be willing to run again and I said yes.”

home to two K-12 schools that cost more to operate. Right now, public education funding makes up 20 percent of the county’s $48 million annual budget.

“You hear that the state is cutting education funding and that’s a convoluted issue, but the numbers I got from DPI (The N.C. Department of Public Instruction) show that the legislature has dedicated more money to education. Locally, I think we’ve done an excellent job in education. We’ve built new schools and renovated others. We’ve spent $50 million since 2008 in upgrading and building school infrastructure and we still owe $35 million.”

Higdon was hesitant to answer the hypothetical question of whether the county would or should step up to fill the funding gap if the state allocations don’t keep up.

“I’m hopeful that we’re never faced with that choice,” he said. “I would say yes the county would step up, but to what level? We have other programs we have to fund — education is only one function of local government. It would be incumbent upon the school board to make sure education dollars are spent wisely.”

Higdon does believe in taking care of the infrastructure investments by staying on top of repairs, but he isn’t convinced at this point that a new high school is needed. He said he wouldn’t propose a major funding increase or a tax increase to pay for a new school without deep conversations and input from the public. A new high school complex could cost upwards of $60 million.

“We’re certainly not going to let education suffer but before we write a blank check we would have to research it,” Higdon said. “In these economic times we’re having now it may be something to look at long term but not right now.”

Charlie Leatherman

Most commissioners agree that state law requires the county to only be responsible for brick and mortar while the state is responsible for operational costs, but Leatherman says the statutes aren’t as clearcut as that. One part of the law does say counties are responsible for capital projects while another part of the law says the counties should provide adequate funding when added with state funding.

“The state has been bypassing funding procedures and formulas for local education agencies and just saying ‘this is what we can afford and here’s your cut,’” Leatherman said. “I think the county is responsible for making up the difference.”

However, he knows raising taxes is always a last resort for commissioners.

“It’s extremely unpopular to raise taxes for school expenses,” he said.

Leatherman was on the board when commissioners voted in a 2-percent supplement for teachers and he gave his supplement to the Macon County Academic Foundation. If reelected, he said he would give away a portion of his commissioner stipend as well — 15 percent to the academic foundation, 15 percent to Macon Citizens Habilities and 15 percent to Macon County Emergency Services.

“It can be spent any way they want to,” he said. “I know it’s not a lot of money but I still want to give it.”

As a retired educator, Leatherman also wants to begin discussions about building a new high school or doing major renovations to the existing building.

“That’s something that Macon County needs to be prepared for,” he said.

Karl Gillespie

Gillespie said education and economic development were his biggest priorities and are tied closely together. He wants Macon County to support high education standards and low classroom sizes.

“Because of my business background, one thing that means a lot to me and what I’m most familiar with is economic development and the foundation in which economic development sits is education,” he said. “We need to provide a K-12 and college education system K-12 to make sure that our workforce is well trained from top to bottom.”

In addition to working closely with state legislators to make sure they’re meeting their public school funding responsibilities,

Gillespie said he wants to find out how much money it takes to educate a child in Macon County. If the state isn’t providing that amount, he would be in favor of making up the difference on a local level.

“At the end of the day Macon County children are the responsibility of Macon County,” he said. “I think there’s other money available where taxes wouldn’t need to be raised to fund it.”

ECONOMICDEVELOPMENT

Improving the economy is still something residents and business leaders are concerned about. Before the recession, Macon County’s economy relied on the construction industry — mainly due to the demand for second homes in the mountains — but now that is shifting.

Construction and real estate are still an important economic drivers that benefit many other related service businesses, but commissioner candidates seem to all understand the importance of Macon County’s tourism industry while still finding opportunities to diversify.

Commissioners are also limited in what they can do to improve the economy. They can’t create private sector jobs but they can change location regulations in a way that makes it easier for businesses to get started and expand.

Bobby Kuppers

To improve economic development, Kuppers said Macon County needed to decide its identity and work toward specific goals.

“I don’t accept that we’re just a retirement community. Macon County is a prime location for small business, outdoor recreation and tourism,” he said. “Whatever we as a community define us to be, we need to focus on it.”

As far as infrastructure, Kuppers said Macon has fairly good roads and an airport, but it’s missing high-speed internet capability to offer the school system and students trying to do homework at home. More entrepreneurs could also start businesses and parttime residents could move here full-time if they had a reliable connection at their mountain homes.

“We have to be willing to invest in our community if we expect businesses to come in and invest in us,” he said.

Kuppers said the county has done a good job offering what incentives it can to help businesses expand in Macon County, but he said more could be done by visiting with business owners and listening to their needs and concerns.

He said one great thing the county did was saving the old Cowee School and turning it into a heritage center and small business incubator for local artists. There are five small businesses running out of the building right now.

“Those are the kinds of partnerships we need to be looking for,” he said.

Paul Higdon

Higdon said he has continued to push for a thorough review of all county regulations

and processes to look for ways to make the county’s policies more business friendly. For example, he suggested decreasing the county health department’s environmental service fees and monitoring it to see if it spurs any growth. The idea didn’t catch on, but Higdon said the other commissioners did seem interested in another idea he has to build a county convention center that could host large

The District 2 seat is open this year as Commissioner Kevin Corbin is vacating his seat to run for state representative. The outcome of this election could significantly change the dynamic on the board.

groups for conferences and events.

“If we had a venue to attract these trade shows it would be great for small businesses and would benefit tourism and the board was receptive to it,” he said. “We can take some of that $20 million we have in our fund balance to invest in stimulating the economy.”

Charlie Leatherman

Leatherman said the commissioners’ hands are tied when it comes to creating jobs and offering incentives since the gutted Rural Center no longer has the financial resources it once had for struggling local governments.

He also said the Macon County Economic Development Council missed its chance to save existing jobs in the county. In the last few years, Macon has lost several big industries, including Caterpillar.

“The EDC should have been asking years ago how to keep the jobs we have here,” he said.

Leatherman said the construction industry and second-home market are slowly recovering in Macon County, but that the

county had little to offer to get manufacturers to relocate to the area.

“The thing we need to focus on is making it attractive to the people who live here to improve tourism businesses,” he said.

Karl Gillespie

Gillespie said the local government’s role in economic development is to foster an environment where private industry can thrive.

“I don’t think county government should be in business, but we should create a pathway to let free markets take place,” he said. “I think we’ve done a pretty good job but there’s always more we can do to further enhance our ability to attract folks.”

Gillespie said he knows that regulations are necessary but thinks they should be closely reviewed to ensure they’re serving their purpose and not hindering growth. He said his service on the county planning board has given him a well-rounded education on the county’s ordinances and regulations. He was part of the planning board’s efforts to review several ordinances to make processes easier for those applying for permits.

“We made them extremely user-friendly without compromising the meaning of the ordinance,” he said.

As for the future of Macon’s economy, Gillespie referred to what his grandmother told him years ago — “If you want to live in Macon County, you need to be in a service business.” He still thinks that rings true and that Macon offers great opportunity for small businesses, which is why he wants to be heavily involved in the county’s efforts to bring better high-speed internet to the area.

BUDGETINGANDTAXES

The budgeting process in Macon County has been fairly mundane as far as the public’s concern. The commissioners passed a revenue-neutral budget this year for without increasing the property tax rate for residents. After a revaluation process in 2014, Macon County went from having the lowest tax rate in the state — 28 cents per $100 of valuation — to the third lowest tax rate of 35 cents.

SMN candidate forum Oct. 20

Join the Smoky Mountain News Editorial Staff next Thursday, Oct. 20, at the Folkmoot Friendship Center, 122 Virginia Avenue in Waynesville, for a Haywood County Commission candidates forum. Scheduled to appear are all four commission candidates — Robin Greene Black, Steve Brown, Kevin Ensley and Brandon Rogers.

Admission is free; a reception will take place from 6 to 7 p.m., allowing candidates to mingle with voters, who will also have the opportunity to tour the Folkmoot building and enjoy light snacks.

At 7 p.m. any candidate on a Haywood County ballot in the upcoming election (except county commission candidates) may address the audience. State legislative candidates will have five minutes and others will have up to two minutes.

At approximately 7:30 p.m., moderator and Smoky Mountain News Staff Writer Cory Vaillancourt will begin the forum,

The county has conservatively budgeted for sales tax revenue increases and has a healthy fund balance of about $20 million. While some candidates think that fund balance is too high, others say it’s necessary for emergency situations.

Bobby Kuppers

Kuppers said the county has done an amazing job at keeping the tax rate down, especially during the recession years when he served on the board.

“I think it’s remarkable what we’ve done, but we need to make sure we’re doing all the things we need to do with that tax rate,” he said.

For example, the library recently announced it was cutting back its hours to make up a budget shortfall of $8,000. Kuppers said the county could look at providing more funding for the library to stay open as much as possible.

“I spent lot of time on the budget during my first term — it’s the biggest job we did — and now I’m in a much better position than the first time I ran,” he said. “I know if you’re going to raise property tax, you need to have a good reason and raise it for that reason.”

Paul Higdon

Higdon says the county is in good fiscal shape and attributes a lot of that to County Manager Derek Roland. Roland was hired shortly after Higdon took office almost four years ago. While Roland was young and inexperienced at the time, Higdon said he fought to get Roland hired and now considers it one of his greatest accomplishments during his first term.

“He’s been reviewing all the policies we’ve had in place for years and he’s saved us money on risk pool insurance, a phone system and found significant health insurance savings,” Higdon said.

Higdon does have a point of contention about the county’s $20 million fund balance

Haywood Candidate Forum

• Who: Candidates for state offices and county commission.

• Where: Folkmoot Friendship Center auditorium, 122 Virginia Ave.

• When: Reception at 6 p.m., forum begins at 7 p.m.

which is expected to take 100 minutes.

The questions all revolve around a simple concept: the past, present and future of Haywood County.

Residents of Haywood County will have the opportunity to submit questions in advance of the debate. The Smoky Mountain News editorial staff will accept submissions via email, Facebook, fax, letter, phone or Twitter until Wednesday, Oct. 19.

and thinks that some of the money could be utilized for county needs.

“The state recommends keeping a month’s worth of expenses in reserves,” he said.

He suggested dropping the property tax rate a few cents to eat up some of that funding, but that didn’t go over well with the rest of the board members.

Charlie Leatherman

Leatherman has been the only candidate to say he wants to reduce the budget, but hasn’t specifically said where he would cut. He did say he wouldn’t cut education, sheriff’s office or emergency services — three departments that take up a huge percentage of the county budget.

“When I left as chairman the tax rate was 24.5 cents — the lowest in the state,” he said. “I know we have to raise a certain amount of money to operate on but I would like to see the rate reduced somewhat.”

Karl Gillespie

Gillespie said he wants to continue having government transparency when it comes to spending taxpayer dollars. He said current commissioners have made some very difficult and sound fiscal decisions in recent years, including the large investment into the Parker Meadows sports complex.

“It’s very easy to look back and say it was the right decision because it’s been very successful — sales tax numbers paint a clear picture of that and I think it will continue to grow,” he said. “I think there are other opportunities similar to Parker Meadows we can look at in the future.”

When it comes to the county’s $20 million fund balance, Gillespie said he doesn’t know what the magic number is or how much is too much for a reserve fund. However, he said having a healthy fund balance does have some value when the county goes to borrow money and in cases of emergency.

Class on Essential Oils Emotional Aromatherapy

October 26 • 5:30 pm

2 drops in you palms and inhale confidence, courage & belief.

GRAND OPENING DAY

Ingles Markets on Brevard Rd. Asheville Thursday, October 10th - 6:00am

Help us welcome our newest store and experience the "Ingles Advantage"! Many of our local vendors will be there throughout the day with samples:

8 -11am - New Sprout Organic Farms (Black Mountain)

12-3pm - Postre Caramel Sauce (Woodfin)

Ally's Bars (Mills River)

Harvest Farm (Marion)

Hickory Nut Gap Meats (Fairview)

City Bakery (Asheville)

4 - 8pm - Munki Foods (Asheville)

Firewalker Hot Sauce (Asheville)

Sunburst Trout (Waynesville)

Annie's Breads (Asheville)

Will Presnell survive Schandevel challenge?

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER

Rhonda Cole Schandevel is a survivor.

“I hate it. I miss him terribly,” she said, a limpid pool of tears welling up in her eyes. “Sure, I’m sad that my husband died, but I’m very proud that I’ve been able to raise my son in a state that valued public education and valued the working class. Those are values our legislature does not hold today, especially my opponent.”

Schandevel’s statement at once reveals who she is, and why she’s running for the North Carolina House District 118 seat now occupied by Republican Rep. Michelle Presnell, R-Burnsville.

Schandevel has a small-town upbringing similar to many in that district; her mom worked at a small business in downtown Canton for 30 years, and her father retired from the paper mill there. She married her Pisgah High School sweetheart and attended Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, where she trained to become a dental hygienist.

But like many in that district, she’s faced significant challenges that have not only failed to dissuade her, but have left her

Q & A with Rhonda Cole Schandevel

Smoky Mountain News: Let’s start with your opponent. She says teacher pay has increased. You say it hasn’t. Let’s get to the bottom of this right now. Why is there a disagreement on what should be a simple “yes” or “no” question?

Rhonda Cole Schandevel: There are more children in the system, and we are divvying up a little more money, but you have to think about the cost of living increases, but definitely not enough.

SMN: So slightly bigger pie but more slices?

RCS: Exactly. When you walk into classrooms and you talk to teachers, they’re not making more. They’re barely getting by. Some of them — especially teachers who aren’t married and don’t have that other income — they’re having to work extra jobs. Here they are professionals, they’ve got a degree. Their salaries are being compared to the median income of North Carolinians. They’re professionals, and I say all the time we need to be paying them and treating them like the professionals they are.

SMN: Another thing your opponent said recently was that the school board — on which you serve — stopped taping meetings because they got caught with their hands in the cookie jar regarding the closing of

with a considerable understanding of adversity. After giving birth to a disabled son, she was shocked when her husband was diagnosed with cancer; he passed away a short time later.

“Those things made me who I am,” she said. “Because of these things, I was not only able to survive, but to thrive. And I am so thankful for that.”

Alone, afraid and the parent of a special needs teen is not what Schandevel thought she would be at age 36, but like many in her district — which sprawls from Yancey County westward through Madison and on into parts of Haywood County — Schandevel was able to rely on her small-town blue-collar upbringing for support.

“We were raised in a good home, with loving parents who would do anything for us,” she said. “And when I say anything, I mean things that really mattered. They really impressed on us the importance of being integrated in the community, and giving back. It was a good Christian home.”

Now remarried and working at Smoky Mountain Dentistry, Schandevel has served on the Haywood County School Board since 2012; although it hasn’t been controversyfree, the board has watched its state rankings climb steadily and considerably over the past decade into the top 10 percent of school districts across the state.

This year, Schandevel’s given up her

Central Elementary. Chairman Chuck Francis took responsibility and said it was his decision to stop taping committee meetings, but also said that any board member could have voiced concerns and he would have put his decision to a vote. No one objected, not even you. Do you regret not objecting at the time, even though the decision was reversed a few days later?

RCS: I didn’t know that was coming. I didn’t know that he had made that decision (to stop taping committee meetings), so rather than jump at something like my opponent has done many times, I had to absorb that. And I will say quickly, it was definitely questioned afterwards.

SMN: That was kind of a black mark in this campaign season that got a lot of static. So the question that comes out of that, do you feel like it’s OK to blindly follow your leadership and what they do or that you should always always be checking these people and questioning them?

RCS: Oh absolutely. You’ve got to follow your heart and your head, but the thing I want to stress is you always have to gather the facts and not make a hasty decision on anything.

SMN: High speed internet –— every candidate says we need it, no one says how we get it.

RCS: Joe Sam [Queen, D-Waynesville] has talked a lot about introducing a bill to have smart meters. Yancey County is good – they

opportunity to seek reelection to that seat for the opportunity to run against Presnell, who has faced criticism locally for a host of recent actions.

She has been criticized for misleading constituents about education funding. She criticized the Haywood County School Board

for its handling of budget issues. She blocked a merger of Lake Junaluska and Waynesville, neither of which are in her district. She defied leaders in Haywood County by quashing a requested room tax increase. She ridiculed vehicular emissions testing.

She voted for the controversial antiwhistleblower “ag-gag” bill in June 2015, and then received just one individual campaign contribution in the second quarter of 2016 — $2,500 from Republican megadonor and chicken processing magnate Ronald M. Cameron, CEO of Montaire Inc., which operates three plants in North Carolina.

She referred to N.C.’s now-overturned

voter ID law as “common sense” even after the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit said that it purposely targets AfricanAmericans with “almost surgical precision.”

As unpopular as she may be in some circles, Presnell — who did not return repeated calls and emails requesting an interview for this story — can’t be counted out just yet; she’s an experienced campaigner and has traditionally enjoyed the support of the state GOP establishment, especially late in the game.

But as with almost every other legislative race this year, there is the still-unmeasurable Trump factor — will he or won’t he motivate people to get to the polls? And if he does, are they Clinton voters or Trump voters?

Presnell had better hope they’re Trump voters; closely aligned with Trump, she spoke at his Asheville rally Sept. 12 and at VP nominee Michael Pence’s rally Oct. 10.

Presnell has beat both of her previous General Election opponents 51.3 to 48.7 percent, despite huge differences in turnout from 2012 — a Presidential Election year — to 2014.

Those numbers suggest ideological stability in a fairly Republican district; however, if just 500 or so Presnell voters change their minds about her on Tuesday, Nov. 8 — another Presidential Election year — Schandevel will again have proven herself to be a survivor.

“We are all better when we work together. This mentality of thinking just about yourself, that’s not how I was raised.”

— Rhonda Cole Schandevel

got a grant, I don’t remember exactly when. But Madison County, only 40 percent do, and the people who do, it’s spotty. And I know parts of Haywood County don’t. I think the smart meters is a start. And we have to start somewhere. But that is a priority. That’s how we’re going to grow our economy, bring jobs in here, people who went to start businesses from their homes.

SMN: That being said, is that the best way to create high-paying

jobs in this region?

RCS: Education. Having a well-trained workforce. And that starts with vocational education, which they’ve been cutting in our high schools. Those kind of jobs are going to be where it’s at; we have to make sure that we have a well-trained workforce.

SMN: Following up on that, the 2010 census says that 20 percent of Haywood County is 18 years and younger. So how do we attract those 18-year-olds to remain in Haywood County or bring their degrees and their skills back?

RCS: Good schools, good health care — those kind of quality-of-life issues. Given the recreation that’s available to our younger families, our mountains have to stay gorgeous, like they are. Our water has to be drinkable, our trout streams …

SMN: Your opponent says that emissions testing on cars is “a sham.” Do you think it’s a sham?

RCS: No.

SMN: But those earning median incomes in your district can’t afford the $700 of emissions-related repairs on a car that some have to have to pass the test.

RCS: What would put more money in people’s pockets is if we didn’t have the fees on car repairs.

SMN: The sales tax?

RCS: They kind of hijacked the middle class when they said that our taxes are lower but then they raise fees on things that affect the middle class. So things like that would put more money in our pocket. That would make it more affordable to have those repairs on their cars.

SMN: Then here’s another good individualism-versus-collectivism question: Do you think that an individual should have to comply with those regulations when they don’t really benefit from them directly?

RCS: Eventually it’s going to benefit them. We are all better when we work together. This mentality of thinking just about yourself, that’s not how I was raised. And I don’t disagree – I respect and understand people who think like that, but that doesn’t get us anywhere. I know that I would not be the person I am if I had that kind of attitude.

SMN: Most of your donors,and donations, what are they like?

RCS: Over 900 individual contributions, and my total contributions have been over $150,000, with an average contribution of about $166.

SMN: If I recall correctly, your opponent had very few contributions, but very big contributions, including one from the “chicken man.”

RCS: As soon as she signed that ag-gag bill, he donated.

SMN: Your opponent said mountain folk know which bathroom to use. Do they?

RCS: I don’t want a man in a woman’s bathroom.

SMN: So HB2 – has it been good for North Carolina?

RCS: No.

SMN: Would you vote to repeal it if you had the opportunity?

RCS: There are provisions in this law that if Canie [her son] needs to go to the bathroom, I can take him to the bathroom. Now let me back up. When this law was first introduced and they voted on it, they did not get any input from any of the disability organizations in North Carolina. So the way it was written, because Canie is a male, I would have to take him to a man’s bathroom. What does that do to me?

So then they came back with technical corrections and did consult with some advocacy organizations in North Carolina and they changed it to say that I am able to take Canie into the women’s restroom. Caregivers or guardians.

However, if it’s me that needs to go to the restroom, I’m supposed to leave him

SMN: Classically, there are two ways to motivate people — fear and encouragement. So if she is trying to scare people into voting for her and you’re trying to encourage people to vote for you, what’s the best way to do that?

RCS: I have grown up in this community. I know what it’s like to be a working middle class mother, part of that as a single mother. So I know what it’s like to feel like you’re not being represented, to see our public education system take hit after hit after hit. I never saw myself going beyond local politics. But when I saw what was being done to public education — some of them had already taken place when I was elected in 2012 — but it just got worse and worse and worse. And when I saw that and people started asking me, different organizations started asking me, and my husband finally said, “You’ve got to do this.”

To make a long story short, we worked everything out, and the dentist I work with has been super flexible, because the middle class of North Carolina just can’t quit their job and go to Raleigh for $13,500 a year. We as the majority, the middle class of

“I’m basing my campaign on facts — what [Michelle Presnell] has done to education, small businesses, to the working middle class. I am not trying to scare people into voting for me, like I think she has done in the past. And I believe

that the voters of this district are too smart for that.”

— Rhonda Cole Schandevel

outside. There’s no way in — and I’ll make this nice — there’s no way on God’s green earth that I’m going to leave my child outside of the restroom. I want to protect all children, including and especially my own.

SMN: You’ve been critical of your opponent’s support for Duke Energy.

RCS: She gave Duke Energy — it was called the 2013 something reform act — she gave them 95 percent of everything they asked for. To me, what it has done is added money that us the taxpayers are having to pay to clean up their mess.

SMN: Your opponent — or rather, her party — has a history of savvy mailings. What do you expect from her?

RCS: I expect she’s going to hit me on social issues.

SMN: Do you think this district is conservative enough to care about that?

RCS: I have said this all along — I’m basing my campaign on facts — what she has done to education, small businesses, to the working middle class. I am not trying to scare people into voting for me, like I think she has done in the past. And I believe that the voters of this district are too smart for that.

North Carolina are not being represented by our General Assembly.

I’m tickled that they’re wealthy and/or retired, but they’re not representative of who the majority of North Carolina is. So I’m very thankful that my life is at this point. People have made it so that I can do this.

SMN: Just $13,500 a year, and it’s more than a full-time job. For that amount of money it is cost prohibitive for the majority of working people, so you end up with wealthy retirees and attorneys. Would you support a pay increase for legislators?

RCS: Possibly, only because I think that it should be a sacrifice for people who are in our General Assembly, but I think possibly I would because that would allow for more representation from the middle class. And the further west you live from Raleigh, the more of an investment and sacrifice it is.

SMN: Last question, hardest question. Tell me something nice about Michelle Presnell.

RCS: She seems sweet. I really don’t know her personally. Although I passionately disagree with her and what she has done to our great state, particularly what she has done to people like me, the working middle class, I appreciate her sacrifice and her service.

APPLIANCES

CARS FOR VETERANS

Pushing free speech

Liberty group protests campus speech restrictions; WCU says its policies are reasonable

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFFWRITER

It was a sunny Constitution Day at Western Carolina University, and the colors shone brightly on the giant beach ball — dubbed the “free speech ball” — that the campus chapter of Young Americans for Liberty rolled from spot to spot.

“Hey guys, we’re fixing to go mobile,” said chapter president Garrett Smith, preparing to push the ball away from the fountain area where it had so far been waiting for students to come cover its plastic with Sharpied words.

“Share any opinion, especially the unpopular ones,” Aaron Littlefield, state YAL chair and a WCU alum, called out to passerby.

Plenty of students holding plenty of views heeded the call. Markings quickly gathered, messages ranging from friendly advice — “Smile, you’re not dead yet” and “Treat others the way you want to be treated” — to political — “Natives need more of a voice in America,” “Build that wall Trump 2016” or “F*** Trump 2016” — and everything in between.

“They’re just hyping up freedom of speech, and I was like, I can always get behind that,” said Kurt Fisher, a junior natural resources management student, of his reasons for signing the ball.

“The First Amendment — it shall not be infringed, you know?” said junior political science major Sarah Jimison. “We’re pretty much the only country in the world that has complete free speech, no matter what.”

In addition to markers, Littlefield and Smith offered the chance to sign a petition.

“I endorse the ‘Chicago Principles’ which ensure all members of the University community have the broadest possible latitude to speak, write, listen, challenge and learn and make clear it is not the proper role of the University to shield individuals from ideas and opinions they find unwelcome, disagreeable or even deeply offensive,” the petition read.

“Chicago Principles” refers to a set of ideals put forth by the University of Chicago concluding that “the University is committed to the principle that it may not restrict debate or deliberation because the ideas put forth are thought to be offensive, unwise,

immoral or wrong-headed. It is for the members of the University community to make those judgments for themselves.”

DISPUTEDPOLICIES

According to Young Americans for Liberty, Western — though more hospitable to free speech than many other institutions — has policies on the books that limit freedom of speech and assembly more than

should be allowed under the U.S. Constitution.

The petition garnered more than 200 signatures, about 2 percent of the student population.

“We just want to make sure rules aren’t on the books that can be abused by administration,” Littlefield said. “Administration changes. Sometimes they can be trusted, sometimes they can’t be, and we would just rather err on the side

In particular, Smith and Littlefield take issue with policies that require “outdoor assemblies” to take place at least 50 feet from buildings and require student groups to notify the university 48 hours in advance of any assemblies or public addresses so that “safety measures may be provided if necessary.”

They say that these measures effectively create “free speech zones,” because on a campus filled with academic buildings and offices and residence halls, drawing a 50-foot bubble around every facility leaves little space where the policy would permit gatherings.

Littlefield also worries that the 48-hour rule could prevent “spontaneous speech,” as current events sometimes prompt a desire for immediate response or demonstration.

So, to protest the policies — especially the 50-foot rule — the YAL folks rolled their “free speech ball” around to various areas of campus, including to spots within 50 feet of a building. The idea is that, if officials tried to stop them they could talk about whether university policy should trump Constitutional rights, while if the activity was allowed they could build a case that the policy should be repealed due to nonenforcement.

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The event at Western wasn’t an isolated incident. YAL has conducted 418 similar events across the country.

“Many college students are unaware that their campus has restrictive speech codes, but are appalled when they learn that their university has such codes,” said Alexander Staudt, director of free speech for YAL.

The reception at Western was “friendly and welcoming” from both students and faculty, Littlefield said, and no pushback from administration. However, that hasn’t been the case everywhere. A similar demonstration at the University of North Carolina Asheville resulted in two faculty members informing the group that if it wasn’t a student group —YAL’s Asheville chapter is not officially recognized as a student group — it must have asked permission 48 hours beforehand to demonstrate anywhere besides a designated free speech zone, Littlefield said. According to Staudt, the most egregious example of free speech infringement that YAL chapters have experienced came at Arkansas Tech University, where campus security told students they had to move to a free speech zone across campus because “the school’s policies trump the constitution.”

FACILITATINGDIALOGUE

But how restrictive are Western’s rules, really?

According to Kevin Koett, dean of students, there’s not much to protest.

“I think there are some colleges and universities that have concerns and need to be challenged on some of the policies they have,” Koett said, “but I would absolutely say Western is not one of those — and I do not say that lightly.”

Western is the seventh institution where

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Developing diversity

Diversity officer discusses differences, exploration and the

lost art of respectful debate

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFFWRITER

When Ricardo Nazario-Colon first stepped onto Western Carolina University’s campus to interview for the new chief diversity officer position, one thing stuck out to him above all else.

“Western, by the basic standard of higher education, is doing a good job,” Nazario-Colon said of diversity issues. “But they want to do better, and everybody that I met with really was asking, ‘What can we do? We’re not satisfied with some of the things that we are doing. We need to do better.’ And that — that was half the battle in my mind.”

After a yearlong search process, Nazario-Colon was offered the job, and he’s been working since June to get his new office up and running.

“We’re going to look at things systemically, policy-wise. We’re going to look at things from a human concern, from a student concern, trying to see what our students need to be successful,” he said.

Nazario-Colon has “four imperatives” he’ll be pushing in that regard during his time at WCU: navigating community, the LGBTQ experience, the veteran experience and the total college experience.

“All of these things focus on creating a campus that is friendly, safe and enriching for every member of our community,” he said. “It is going to take time.”

ENSURINGTHEFUTUREOFFREESPEECH

Central to those goals will be an aim that might sound simplistic if it weren’t often so difficult — teaching students how to have respectful, intelligent discussions with their peers about contentious issues. That’s more than just a wishful aspiration, Nazario-Colon said — the future of free speech itself is at stake.

“We have to think about, are we at a point in history where we’re rethinking, reimagining what free speech is going to be?” he said. “Can free speech survive in this current generation? Are we seeing signs that perhaps free speech will go away, and that’s a

S PEECH, CONTINUEDFROM 25

Koett has worked, and from his perspective, “Western does more than any other institution that I’ve worked at to promote freedom of speech.”

He’s worked at institutions where the designated free speech zones were tiny, institutions where you couldn’t hand out fliers promoting a protest or dialogue of any kind unless you were in a free speech zone, private universities that would say people didn’t have freedom of speech rights on campus.

“I think they’re reasonable,” Koett said of Western’s policies. “I think they allow students the autonomy they need and deserve to express their free speech rights, but I think they also allow the reasonable level of accommodation the university needs to have classes, to manage the daily functions of the university.”

There needs to be some buffer around buildings, Koett said, simply from a safety point of view — in the event of an emergency, the exit to the building needs to be clear, not blocked by a cluster of demonstra-

generational thing, it’s a sensitivity thing, it’s a new way of being. We’re going to work through that.”

Social media bears a significant portion of the responsibility for this new environment, Nazario-Colon said. As well as creating opportunities to connect with people, social media can also create echo chambers — communities of people who think like you and vote like you and reinforce your existing views. If you don’t like the opinions somebody’s posting, you can just unfollow them, and — boom! — that disagreeable perspective is gone. You don’t even have to have a conversation about it.

In order to increase students’ comfort with discussing contentious ideas in a constructive way, “we’re not going to shy away from controversy,” Nazario-Colon said. He’s supporting the university inviting “controversial speakers,” and has also started programs such as the Brown Bag Lunch Series, which invites students to bring their lunch and participate in discussions on “unique topics that are helpful in the realm of diversity.”

Nazario-Colon said he also supports student-generated conversations and demonstrations, such as the Black Lives Matter and College Republicans chalkings that filled campus with colorful messages last spring.

“Personally I think that we have to allow room for those things to happen,” he said.

That assertion came with a caution, however. In Nazario-Colon’s view, each person has a limit as to how much they can listen to, how much they can read, before they become angry or afraid.

“As a university, what do we have in place to support individuals who reached their limit, who no longer can go by and read another chalking on the ground that impacts them in a particular way?” he asked.

That brings up the concept of “safe spaces,” an idea which has occupied national headlines this year especially after John Ellison, dean of students for the University of Chicago, sent a letter to students stating that the school did not support “so-called trigger warnings” or “condone the creation of intellectual safe spaces where individuals can retreat from ideas and perspectives at odds with their own.”

“I think that nowadays, if you are controversial and folks don’t like it, they really don’t want to be around you rather than challenge you,” Nazario-Colon said. “One of the things that we’re missing more and more in society is the opportunity to be able to debate and have differences of opinion.”

“I think that sometimes when we don’t have the words to articulate what we feel, what we want to get across, we resort to using words of convenience that express hatred and negative emotions,” he added. “Perhaps we need people to read more than 140 characters.”

tors. And besides, students and faculty need to be able to easily get to their classes and appointments without having to push through to the door.

“It falls into not blocking pedestrian traffic,” Koett said.

The 48-hour rule, he said, also makes sense. He said it doesn’t prevent spontaneous speech but does require students

Proponents of safe spaces say they’re necessary respites for students whose core identities are consistently attacked, while opponents say they serve only to mollycoddle young adults from the real world rather than teaching them how to live in it.

Nazario-Colon said he doesn’t foresee the designation of permanent, physical safe spaces on WCU’s campus but also sees value in the general idea, which he says is often misunderstood.

F“Safe spaces are not blankets with big pillows and pacifiers,” he said. “Safe spaces are places to debrief.”

speech or tries to squelch student demonstration, he said. In the weeks following the free speech ball, two other issue-driven student demonstrations were held. On Sept. 23, a Black Lives Matter rally was held to protest the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, an African-American, by police in Charlotte — Koett said that “hundreds of students sat in silent protest and then afterward there was a

“I think there are some colleges and universities that have concerns and need to be challenged on some of the policies they have, but I would absolutely say Western is not one of those — and I do not say that lightly.”

— Kevin Koett, WCU dean of students

ty reacted by hosting a dinner to which leaders of both sides were invited to talk about their perspectives and concerns face-to-face, in a civil manner. Koett said he’s planning a similar dinner this fall.

The policies don’t necessarily need to be changed, Koett said, but there will always be room for improvement in helping students to more effectively and productively exercise their free speech rights.

“Where we’re at right now is trying to facilitate some dialogue and some conversation about what’s next,” he said. “How can we implement some things that are going to make Western a better institution?”

YAL, however, holds to its view that policies need to be changed, and any limits on when and where speech may occur — as long as it’s not directly threatening speech — should go.

organizing an “assembly” or “public address” to let the university know so that any staffing, equipment or other preparations can be put in place beforehand.

It would be difficult to make the case that the university shies away from controversial

good dialogue.” Three days later, a Blue Lives Matter event was held, which drew about 100 people to cook out together, sharing food and dialogue.

This spring, following a pair of dueling political-racial demonstrations, the universi-

“If a limitation on our First Amendment rights violates the Constitution, I do not believe it makes sense,” Staudt said. “At WCU the school places limitations on where students may peaceably assemble, a right guaranteed to us by our founding fathers.”

So, for instance, after a controversial speaker the university might provide a forum for students to unpack their thoughts and feelings about what they heard. That’s perhaps not so different from what everyday people need from everyday life, he said.

“In life we have safe spaces all the time,” he said. “We call it our friends. We call it our spouses.”

DRIVENBYCURIOSITY

Nazario-Colon, whose heritage is Puerto Rican and hometown is the South Bronx of New York City, has certainly had plenty of unsafe spaces in his life. The Puerto Rican graduation rate at his high school was one of the worst in NYC, and to the people back home it was a big deal that he’d managed not only to graduate high school but to earn a master’s degree and launch a career.

“I never really thought about me being special,” he said, “but the fact that I’ve been able to carve out a professional career says a lot to people in my community, and I never really thought that until a high school student gave me a note and said, ‘I am so proud of you. None of the people that I grew up with have ever done what you’ve done.’”

After graduating high school, Nazario-Colon served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1984 to 1992, in 1992 earning his bachelor’s degree in Latin American studies and Spanish literature from the University of Kentucky — that’s where his interest in diversity work began. As a student there, Nazario-Colon worked in the university’s cultural center, where he had access to a range of books and ideas and concepts that were new to him.

“There are other ways of looking at it, and it’s OK to question what you learned,” he said of his takeaway from the experience. “That has to be an essential part of the educational process.”

For that reason, he believes that universities should focus not only on churning out welltrained workers but on developing “human beings who are more enriched by what they’ve learned about the world.”

“If you go to college and you look very similar to who you were at 17 or 18 when you first arrived here, I believe we’ve failed as an institution,” he said. “We’ve missed the mark on enriching your life.”

After the University of Kentucky, NazarioColon went to Pace University, where in 1996 he earned a master’s degree in secondary education with an emphasis in Spanish. Since then, he’s held a variety of diversity-related positions, most recently as the director of student activities, inclusion and leadership at Morehead State University in Kentucky. He’s currently working on his doctorate in education at the University of Kentucky.

A curious person by nature — “I walk into random buildings just to see what’s in there. I just want to know” — Nazario-Colon is excited that it’s now his job to help WCU students navigate the big, wide world that they’re just beginning to explore.

“We have a world to introduce them to, and I take that responsibility very seriously,” he said. “It starts here on campus by creating communities, creating opportunities for them to get out of their comfort zones and for them to learn something other than what they’re used to.”

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Pay increases coming for some in Haywood schools

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER

Some employees in the Haywood County school system will see more money in their paychecks this month, thanks to state legislators. Teachers, however, aren’t among them.

Associate Superintendent of Haywood County Schools Dr. Bill Nolte said that the state had given a half-percent base pay increase to most employees, and also gave around $77,000 to distribute as “merit pay increases” to qualifying employees.

The state allowed the school district to decide how to divvy up the merit pay cash; a committee chaired by Canton Middle School Principal Todd Barbee that consisted of everyone from janitors to cafeteria workers to administrators decided that full-time employees with good evaluations would receive around $400; full-timers with average evaluations would receive around $200; part-time employees with good evaluations are in line for a roughly $200 payment, and part-timers with an average evaluation about $100.

But again, none of that money can be used to fatten the wallets of teachers, who have been leaving Haywood County for higher-paying gigs elsewhere and on average spend about $500 a year of their own money each year to ensure students are prepared to learn on day one.

Teachers in the Haywood County school system receive supplement pay, which amounts to anywhere from 2 to 5 percent of their base salary.

That supplement pay comes from Haywood County Commissioners, who Nolte said have been “very good” to the district, providing an amount that pushes Haywood County into the top 25 percent of all North Carolina districts.

But that supplement pay in Haywood County has remained flat as neighboring counties — especially to the east — have raised theirs, making Haywood County less competitive in the labor market.

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While not exactly an exodus, recent reports indicate that Haywood County has had trouble retaining the talented teachers that have helped Haywood County Schools climb into the top ten percent in the state.

The issue has even crept into the county commissioner’s race; with two seats open — incumbent Kevin Ensley seeks to retain his while Chairman Mark Swanger is retiring — the board could see a drastic makeover come January.

But all four candidates have expressed some degree of sympathy for increasing teacher supplement pay. Brandon Rogers said he supports it “absolutely,” as does Robin Black. Steve Brown isn’t in favor of a line item increase, but is in favor of finding better ways to keep experienced educators in the Haywood County system, and Ensley suggested waiting on the findings of a school board panel before taking any action. That panel is currently being convened by Superintendent Dr. Anne Garrett.

Tools of the trade:

Preppers prepare for disaster

Bulk foods like rice sit in front of maps, guides and how-to books at Carolina Readiness Supply. Cory Vaillancourt photo

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER

Close your eyes and imagine this: It’s another picture-perfect Western North Carolina Wednesday morning with Chamber of Commerce weather and nary a cloud in the sky.

You walk to the newspaper box, grab your copy of the local rag, and then stroll casually down the street to the neighborhood grits n’ eggs joint.

Effortlessly running your plastic through a Square and incurring a $3.14 debit against your FDIC-insured electronic checking account, your eyes briefly meet the flatscreen mounted up on the wall; it’s the weather reporter, forecasting chilly rain and freezing temps tonight.

Dragging out the clunky wooden chair from beneath a nearby table, you sit, and gingerly place your lips on a thick white ceramic mug filled to the brim with imported organic fair-trade coffee, almost too hot to drink.

Captivated by its aroma and also perhaps by the eclectic worldbeat slowly dripping from the restaurant’s wireless stereo speakers, you spread the newspaper wide, and begin to dig in.

Maybe you saw the flash, and maybe you didn’t, but for some reason your eyes dart from the paper to a customer at the counter attempting to purchase a vegan white-chocolate chip cookie and chai latte; she can’t seem to get her credit card to scan at the register.

Then, in an instant, the weather reporter is gone. The music is silent. The lights are off. The refrigerators and central heating fans slowly lament the loss of electricity with an oddly whirring deceleration that leaves naught but silence.

rote become stinging reminders of the strange new normal.

Compulsory smart-phone checking, for example. And fumbling for keyfobs that no longer fob.

Walking home, you check your wallet. You’ve got 36 greenbacks, a fistful of credit, and a debit card with enough cash in your account to last several months.

Walking in, you eye your now-useless refrigerator, and then your pantry. Maybe a week’s worth of food. Maybe.

Walking out, you get in your car. It won’t start. It has electronic components in it that no longer work.

Still not knowing why or how or really even when whatever it was that happened happened, you do know that something is dreadfully amiss, and will be, for some time to come.

SOMESAYTHEENDISNEAR

That chaos — whether caused by an EMP, civil unrest, an alien invasion, a cyber attack or even a comet that falls from the sky — is the reason why preppers prep.

“People need to prepare food and supplies in the event of an emergency,” said Jan Sterrett, who with her husband Bill owns Carolina Readiness Supply in Waynesville.

Prepping is almost a form of insurance against catastrophes both real and imagined — hoping for the best yet preparing for the worst is the prevailing attitude in the prepper community.

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AHN Prepper Fair

The Appalachian Homesteaders’ Network will host a Prepper Fair from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15, at 3301 Alarka Road in Bryson City. Vendors include Back Alley Arms, Carolina Readiness Supply, Old Grouch Military Surplus and Practical Preppers. Sponsored by CADD Graphics, K & B Meat Processing, and the Western Rifle Shooters Association. Meet like-minded people, attend how-to demonstrations and eat free BBQ while it lasts. In the event of rain, the event will take place in the Alarka firehouse.

She looks at her phone, and you yours. It’s blank. Black. Won’t even turn on.

Other customers do likewise in the silence, and then look up — dumfounded.

None of you know that someone — perhaps a hostile nation like Iran or North Korea, or perhaps a non-state actor — just lobbed a small nuclear device from international waters into the upper atmosphere over the continental United States.

No one has died — yet — because the nuclear explosion took place too far from the ground. Sure, the fallout will come, but the desired result of the blast was neither carnage nor cancer — it was chaos.

That chaos stems from the weapon’s electromagnetic pulse — a disturbance in electromagnetic energy that will cook any unshielded electronics, rendering them useless.

As you stumble forth from the darkened eatery into the sunshiney streets now devoid of neon distractions, actions that were once

Becoming part of that community involves a strange sort of penance; acknowledging one’s own unpreparedness is the first step, and realizing that in disaster situations like the EMP scenario discussed earlier, credit cards are completely incapable of providing food, water or shelter is the next.

But not everyone is prepared; normalcy bias — an “it can’t happen here” mentality — prevents most people from even considering scenarios where the constructs of modern society have been reduced to smoking ruin.

“They’re naive,” Sterrett said. “They’re not in reality. When you have college students who don’t know who the vice president is but think Sharia law is a good idea, it’s pure stupidity.”

The Sterretts started their emergency preparedness store almost seven years ago, because, as Jan says, they “saw where the country was going” and decided they needed to act.

The products on the store’s shelves attempt to answer the question posed in the store’s motto — “Will you be ready when the lights go out?”

Cast iron cookware, oil lamps, grain mills, solar ovens, seeds and water purifiers are only the beginning. Sterrett says her top sellers are prepackaged foods and lighting supplies. How-to books also move quickly, because skills acquisition is another important part of the journey.

Canning, cooking, sewing and even starting a decent fire are lost arts not regularly passed down from generation to generation as in days past.

“We’re just trying to tell folks to go back to

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Early Voting Starts October 20th

what their parents and grandparents did, whatever the emergency may be — snowstorms, ice storms, financial collapse, you name it,” Sterrett said.

A practitioner of such lost arts, Sterrett and store staff regularly hold instructional sessions on a number of practical topics — everything from canning meat and making cheese to blacksmithing and land navigation.

Another lost art practiced in the prepper community is good old social interaction. Humans are gregarious apes that need it at a very primal level — even more so when such Armageddonesque circumstances demand cooperation and collectivism; obviously, it would be handy to know someone with medical training, but on a more practical level, if someone needs to trade surplus walnuts for a new pair of eyeglasses, who do they contact and how?

“It’s a network,” Sterrett said. “These are absolutely fantastic Christian people. These are people who have their eyes and ears open, and remember history.”

But the pages of history are filled with maybes and almosts; circling back to “it can’t happen here” carries with it the supposition that if society in fact does not collapse into chaos, all of those supplies and all of the hours spent acquiring those skills and integrating oneself into the prepper community by attending will have been for naught.

Sterrett says that’s not true.

“I’ll give you a good example,” she said. “I know a lady who lost her husband and her

job in the same two-month period. She lived on her food supply for six months before she found another job. Had she not had that, her whole situation would have been changed drastically.”

THEENDISHERE

Back at home, you exit the 2,000-pound lawn ornament formerly known as your car and head back inside your now-darkened home.

That picture-perfect Western North Carolina Wednesday morning is rapidly giving way to the darkness of uncertainty; night is coming, and with it the first tiny drops of the freezing rain forecasted earlier in the day.

You grab your hand-powered flashlight and head into the basement; although the food in your fridge will only be good for another day or two, the several dozen cans of beans, meats, squash and preserves sitting on your shelves will last much longer.

place your lips on a thick white ceramic mug filled to the brim with imported organic fair-trade coffee, almost too hot to drink.

Suddenly, your emergency radio crackles to life; shielded in a Faraday cage to protect it from just such an event, it sat unused for years until this very moment.

It’s a fellow prepper you met at a how-to seminar, sending out a message to let others in the community know that she and her family are safe, and have plenty of food and supplies. Others you’ve met along your journey respond in a similar manner.

“We’re just trying to tell folks to go back to what their parents and grandparents did, whatever the emergency may be — snowstorms, ice storms, financial collapse, you name it.”

— Jan Sterrett, Carolina Readiness Supply

Still recognizing that something is dreadfully amiss and will be for some time to come, you again bring the thick white ceramic mug to your lips while attempting to read that newspaper you were looking earlier.

Prepackaged meals — called MREs, for “Meals Ready to Eat” — add even more security to your situation, as do the collection of 5-gallon bottles of drinking water you’ve assembled.

Starting a fire in the backyard by striking flint on steel, you pour some of the water into a large black pot that hangs above the flames. As steam begins to stream from it, you pour out a few cups of the boiling water into a large pot, and moments later gingerly

Things could honestly be worse right now; sitting with a full belly by the warmth of the fire sipping coffee is probably not what the majority of your friends and neighbors are doing at the moment.

But you are; you have the tools of the trade, and the skills and knowledge to use them to keep yourself alive, because you were prepared. You’re a prepper.

WCU political debate series continues Oct. 12, 27

The Western Carolina University Political Debate Series will continue in October with sessions featuring candidates for two state legislative seats representing Western North Carolina.

The series resumes Wednesday, Oct. 12, with a debate by the candidates in the N.C. House of Representatives District 119 race, incumbent Joe Sam Queen (D-Haywood) and Mike Clampitt (R-Swain).

The series will conclude Thursday, Oct. 27, with the contenders for the N.C. Senate District 50 seat, incumbent Jim Davis (R-Macon) and opponent Jane Hipps (D-Haywood).

All debates are held in Room 204 of the Health and Human Sciences Building on WCU’s West Campus. Each debate will begin at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast live online by WLOS-TV on www.wlos.com. The events are open to the public free of charge. Doors open at 6:15 p.m.

Breast cancer seminar offered Oct. 13

Dr. Allison Johnson, a physician with Haywood Surgical Associates, will be presenting the Dinner with the Doc seminar “Breast Cancer: Where Are We Now and What’s Next?” at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at the Haywood Regional Medical Center.

Johnson and Breast Care Nurse Navigator Johanna Dewees will speak while patrons enjoy a healthy meal. Afterward, they will circulate to visit with guests and answer questions.

To attend this complimentary dinner, reservations are required — call 800.424.3627 to RSVP.

Frog Level to host Habitat mixer

Haywood Habitat for Humanity will hold its annual House Mixer from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at Frog Level Brewing Company, 56 Commerce St., Waynesville.

Tickets are $35 a person and include heavy hor d’oeuvres, a beverage ticket and a live and silent auction. Proceeds go toward Habitat for Humanity.

828.452.7960 or haywoodhabitat.org.

Macon Makers hold inaugural meeting

If you like to build robots, make costumes, or create things in general, you’re invited to the “Macon Makers Group” inaugural meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18 at The Rathskeller in downtown Franklin. Share your ideas with like-minded people. Bring something for show and tell. Call Jonathan at 828.421.8623 for more information.

Verges to speak at Lake Junaluska

Dr. Lisa Verges, a geriatric psychiatrist, spiritual director, superb presenter and genuinely likeable and compassionate human being, will review the book When Breath Becomes Air

Verges works at MemoryCare, a nonprofit clinic in Asheville and Waynesville, providing treatment for individuals with dementia and guidance for their families. She is also a spiritual director for those who seek meaning amidst the struggles of life. The book she will review, When Breath Becomes Air, by Paul Kalanithi, is a true story by a physician who faced one of the greatest struggles and challenges life can present.

Playground party to feature music, food

The public is invited to see the new additions to the public playground at Clyde Central United Methodist Church from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16, at 410 Charles St., in Clyde.

There will be live music by a mountain string band featuring local musicians and 90-year old church member, Sandford Shahan. Hotdogs with all the trimmings, homemade ice cream and more are free to everyone. Music will be provided by The Sea Notes. 828.627.2287 or pastordan@clydecentralumc.org.

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FBI investigating tribal housing authority

Possible criminal conduct includes mail, wire and federal program fraud

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFFWRITER

Atribal authority tasked with helping tribal members find housing is under investigation by the FBI for “possible criminal conduct related to certain loans and loan applications, among other matters,” according to a letter from the U.S. Department of Justice dated Oct. 4 and delivered to the program’s director, Charlene Owle.

The Qualla Housing Authority, which is largely supported by federal funds, is being investigated for federal program fraud, mail fraud and wire fraud, the letter said, adding that any attempt to destroy, hide or falsify documentation that might be requested to aid the investigation could result in further federal charges.

Principal Chief Patrick Lambert addressed the issue Oct. 10 in Annual Council, averring that his office would do all it could to comply with the investigation and asking Tribal Council — a subset of its members form the Qualla Housing board — to do the same.

“My office is taking the investigation

conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office and the IRS very serious,” Lambert said. “Cherokee families deserve a government that is open, honest and aboveboard.”

The Qualla Housing Authority is a separate entity from Tribal Housing and Community Development, which handles tribal funds and

falls under the chief’s purview.

Qualla Housing, meanwhile, handles nontribal funds — including federal funds — and is governed by an independent board composed primarily of Tribal Council members, said Chris McCoy, Cherokee’s communications director. It is considered a political subdivision of the tribe

Current board members are Chairman Bill Taylor, of Wolfetown; Councilmember Alan “B” Ensley, of Yellowhill; Councilmember Adam Wachacha, of

Snowbird; Councilmember Albert Rose, of Birdtown; Councilmember Richard French, of Big Cove; and Councilmember Marie Junaluska, of Painttown, McCoy said. Taylor, Ensley and Wachacha have been on the board since 2009; Junaluska and French took their seats more recently, in 2015.

News of the investigation arrived last week in the midst of the annual, weeklong Cherokee Indian Fair, with this week starting off busy enough with Cherokee Annual

findings of a forensic audit he’d launched shortly after taking office in October 2015, following a 12-year administration from former Principal Chief Michell Hicks.

The preliminary audit showed thousands of dollars and cash advances to “parties unknown,” Lambert told Tribal Council in April, with thousands of tribal dollars spent at clothing stores such as Banana Republic, Victoria’s Secret and Joseph A. Bank, and many more in payments for limousine rentals and Dollywood tickets and trips to golf courses in Georgia and Puerto Rico.

—

Patrick Lambert, Principal Chief

Council held Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 1011. Tribal leaders are just beginning to process what’s happening and gather the documents federal agents might request going forward.

“It’s fresh, McCoy said. “Last week we had our fair week and it popped up and we haven’t had time to sit down and talk about the details.”

It’s possible that Qualla Housing won’t be the only tribal entity to come under investigation before all is said and done. In April, Lambert reported the preliminary

“There are other audits being completed,” McCoy said. “I can’t speak to those. This is the audit that’s back and the FBI evidently has not taken kindly to what they’ve seen.”

It’s not clear whether news of the federal investigation has spurred any personnel changes at Qualla Housing Authority. McCoy said he did not have access to that information, as Qualla Housing operates independently from executive oversight, and a phone call requesting comment from the organization was not immediately returned.

The tribe has not been notified of any timeline for the investigation, McCoy said. Shelley Lynch, spokesperson for the FBI, said the FBI could neither confirm or deny existence of an investigation, or answer questions about a potential timeline.

Sorting out my aversion to Donald Trump

Cruel. That was it, that’s the word that defines why I think Donald Trump is unfit to be president. Obviously, some others have already come to that conclusion.

Like many Americans, I have spent too much of the time I have left on this earth cringing while listening to what Trump has said since he started seeking the highest office in the land, wondering how he has gotten this far.

At the same time, though, I have tried to work out why it is that I would vote for Hillary Clinton over Trump, why I have a much deeper aversion to this GOP nominee than I have had for any other major party nominee in my lifetime, an aversion that is many times stronger than what Clinton incites.

Let’s be frank: both of this election’s candidates have issues with truth and honesty. Period. We can argue about the different degrees of dishonesty each candidate possesses, something that happens during typical presidential elections. But these two candidates possess historically low likeability ratings, one of the reasons this is not a typical election.

Let’s be honest about another trait of both candidates: they are smart and have been successful in the U.S. system, a system that has been described as “rigged” by both sides but for different reasons — Trump supporters say the political system is rigged for Clinton, while her supporters say the tax code is rigged for the rich like Trump.

Clinton’s career as a lawyer, as first lady, a senator, secretary

Local dogs need our help, not Korean dogs

To the Editor

I was astonished by your recent article about the HSUS bringing dogs from Korea to Western North Carolina. I have been involved in area shelters, rescue and transport since I moved here in 2000. I have never, in any place that I have ever lived, seen so many stray and unwanted dogs, not to mention the dogs that are tied out to barrels or live their lives in a pen day in and day out. I do not believe we need to import dogs to our local counties.

Does the Humane Society of the U.S. really need to go half way around the world to extricate 500 dogs? What was the cost to transport, shelter and medicate these dogs? Not to mention the time factor and man power used for flying that many dogs to our country that euthanizes 5 million or more every year! What that money could have done on a more local level …. I’m sure that the recently flooded areas in West Virginia and Texas could benefit from some of that.

The article states that the effort was brought about in part to bring the public’s awareness to the dog meat trade. As a dog lover and a vegetarian, I find the thought of eating a dog repulsive. But I find equally detestable the plight of chickens, cows and pigs in the factory farms in this country.

of state, and the first woman to become a major party presidential nominee — rising from very modest middle-class beginnings — is astounding, the quintessential American success story. I run a very small business and have worked hard to find a measure of business success, so Trump’s accomplishments in myriad dealings and the fortune he has amassed is something that I know from my own experience is very, very difficult to achieve. Definitely requires a savvy most of us don’t possess, and in making himself rich has become somewhat of an iconic cultural figure.

But the dividing line for me, the reason I find Trump an inferior candidate and human being, is his cruelty. This is not my description but one I found while reading as much background on the candidates as I could find. It was from a May 2016 article in the National Review, probably the most respected conservative magazine in the United States.

The magazine was founded by the revered William F. Buckley Jr., who by my estimation was one of the most brilliant social critics of this century, a man who took very seriously his role as one of the guiding lights of modern conservatism. Since its founding in 1955, the magazine has been the standard bearer of conservative thought and has influenced many of this country’s leading politicians, those on the left and the right.

So that’s where I went to try and put a finger on why I am repulsed by Trump but merely disappointed with many of Clinton’s actions.

Look, I won’t plagiarize. Monah Charen nailed it in the National Review, so I’ll let her end this column for me:

Itwasn’tjustDonaldTrump’sbetrayal{ofhiswifeIvanka}

Chickens live out their life in a cage the size of a shoe box and pigs are in crates that they cannot even turn around in and forced to stand on their tiny legs supporting a very unnatural over-fattened body to bring cheap eggs and bacon to grocery stores. I think the Koreans could call us on that!

I’m sure the people involved feel good about the dogs they “rescued,” but I venture to guess that there are 500 dogs in the U.S. that will not find homes because of it (some of them right here at home).

Jane Finneran Cullowhee

Volunteer for school science laboratory

To the Editor:

Have you ever seen the light in a student’s eyes when they learn a new concept? I have and its magic!

I have taught science in the past. However, I don’t think it matters. If you get an experienced science teacher to assist, they will know how to teach the laboratory and more importantly they will know the curriculum for that grade.

My own experience was with Mark Ethridge teaching fifth-grade science at Central Elementary School. Mr. Ethridge was knowledgeable, knew the curriculum and had

thatcaughtmyeye,norjustthetawdriness—itwasthecruelty. That’sthepartoftheTrumprisethatisquiteshocking. Mostpoliticians,foraslongasIcanremember,havebeenat considerablepainstopresentthemselvesasnicer,nobler,and moreempatheticthantheyreallyare.Sincemanyofthem(not all)areselfishegotists,thisrequiressomeskill.Nowcomes Trumpunblushinglyparadinghisviciousness—by,forexample,mockingahandicappedman,toyingwithwhitesupremacism,orencouragingpoliticalviolence—andstillgainingthe loyaltyofapluralityofRepublicans.

…Trumpseemstosufferfromnarcissisticpersonalitydisorder,aninsecuritysoconsumingandcripplingthathehas devotedhislifetoself-aggrandizement.Thisisfarbeyondthe pufferythatmostsalesmenindulgetosomedegree.Itstrays wellintothebizarre.Askedwhoheconsultsonforeignpolicy Trumpsaid“I’mspeakingwithmyself,numberone,becauseI haveaverygoodbrainandI’vesaidalotofthings.”What grownmansaysthingslikethatandcontinuestobetakenseriously?HowcanhebeleadingtheracefortheRepublicannomination?

Peoplewithsevereegoweaknessaretobepitied—butalso feared.EverythingTrumpsaysanddoesisaformofself-medicationforadamagedsoul.Hisneedtodisparageothers,to glorifyhimself,andtobethe“strongman”couldleadtodisastrousjudgmentsbythemaninchargeofthenuclearcodes.

Here’s the link to the entire article for those interested in reading more: www.nationalreview.com/article/433064/donald-trump-character-not-fit-be-president

(ReachScottMcLeodatinfo@smokymountainnews.com.)

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.

a great flair for presenting science concepts with samples.

So, if you are possibly interested in volunteering to help with science lab in the public schools, I invite you to call me (828.246.0657) for help in getting started. The schools badly need volunteers and you’ll get a kick out of helping.

Hugh J. Burford Waynesville

Tax facts instead of Sen. Jim Davis’ spin

To the Editor:

Your income went down, but your N.C. income tax went up. Is this possible? You bet. If you do your own taxes, read the What’s New

section at the beginning of the instructions and you will find out why. Ever since Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, and the Republican majority passed HB-998 in July of 2013, your tax benefits (that still exist in most other states) have been disappearing.

Do you work hard for each dollar you earn? No longer can you claim a tax credit for earned income.

Are you retired? Gone is the $2,000 or $4,000 (married) deduction from your taxable income. Nor is there any longer a deduction for being blind or over 65.

Do you have to put your children in daycare so that you can work a job to make ends meet? That credit has also vanished.

Are you hoping that your children can afford a college education? It just got harder with the elimination of the College Savings Program deduction by the N.C. legislature. And the list goes on.

Sure, Davis likes to tout the increased standard deduction, but when you figure in the vanished personal exemptions and missing credits, you don’t come out a winner.

And the flat rate tax ushered in by HB 998? Those of us with $30,000 of taxable income went from a 6 percent rate to a 5.75 percent rate, a $75 benefit. However, those with $200,000 of taxable income saw their rate drop from 7.75 percent to 5.75 percent,

It’s called The Open Door, so come on in

Lately I’ve been hanging out at The Open Door in Frog Level and I have to admit, it’s my new favorite joint in town. After my mom passed, I began to feel overstimulated in traditional settings like ballgames, street festivals, and even crowded restaurants. All the noise, clanging, and happy sounds were so discordant with my melancholy; I would leave feeling exhausted and agitated.

It’s getting better, but I have to admit I’m still craving alone time, small settings, or crowds where I am completely anonymous. Just another strange thing about grief, I guess.

I’ve wanted to volunteer at The Open Door for years but never have. Early last month, something kept calling me there and so since then, I’ve volunteered and stopped by a number of times. My sister, mom, and I watched a million Hallmark Christmas movies about a lonely girl working in a soup kitchen around the holidays who then falls in love with a handsome volunteer or passerby.

I think these cheesy movies glamorized soup kitchens in my mind, so I’m not sure what I expected the first time I visited The Open Door, but I realized within seconds the reality of a soup kitchen is much different than that of a Hollywood movie.

During my first visit, I worked with a group of ladies from Long’s Chapel to prepare the food. These ladies are all around my mom’s age, so it was very enjoyable to be around them. There’s something similar about all Southern ladies of that generation. They have an air of class and dignity about them, and they float around the kitchen with a grace and ease I can only aspire to.

We got there around 8:30 a.m. and worked nonstop to prepare the meal. This was my first surprise. I assumed the cooks dumped cans in pots and maybe baked a chicken, but wow, how wrong I was.

To begin with, the group volunteering comes in each

LETTERS, CONTINUEDFROM PAGE 35

putting $4,000 right into their wallets.

And the sales tax additions are too numerous to mention in a single letter, but it is obvious to all of us that they hit the lower income group the hardest, that group carrying the wealthy on their backs.

Sen. Davis’ negative tax changes are bad enough, but the spin that appears in our mailboxes is even worse.

Jane Hipps, through her long career in public service, has shown that she cares, and will work for, our quality of life. We will all be better off when she goes to Raleigh as Sen. Hipps.

Doug Woodward Franklin

Negative flyers are a waste of money

To the Editor:

With the advent of the election season, my mailbox and my sensitivities are being assailed by political pronouncements and advertisements infinitum. If I don’t want to see and hear them on the television, I can

morning not even knowing what they are preparing. They look around the kitchen and assess what’s available and then develop a plan.

As one of the ladies said, “It’s amazing how God always provides. We always figure out something.”

In Western North Carolina, there’s constant talk about farm-to-table restaurants, but I’ve never heard much discussion about farm-to-table soup kitchens. It sounds like an oxymoron, but boxes of fresh, local produce are routinely being delivered to The Open Door, as are baked goods and items from local bakeries; therefore, much of the food served is extraordinarily fresh and healthy.

Crates of garden-fresh lettuce, tomatoes, green peppers, onions, and other vegetables take up a significant portion of the kitchen floor. During my first experience volunteering, a few of the ladies made a big pasta salad from scratch using pasta, a variety of vegetables, and their own creative marinade.

We also had fresh turkey and other high-quality lunch meat along with deli cheese and baked breads. We cut fresh tomatoes and lettuce to serve with the sandwiches. For lunch, guests enjoyed a deli sandwich, pasta salad, and baked beans. When we sat down and ate, I commented that my sandwich and side dishes tasted as fresh as those in my favorite restaurants.

I volunteered with the same group during my second visit. That day, there was some chicken and other vegetables, so these talented women made from-scratch chicken pot-pie with a homemade crust. I’m here to tell you, the food at The Open Door can be very scrumptious.

This made me realize that even though the guests at The Open Door have troubled lives, some completely immersed in poverty or lost to addiction, they still need healthy food and crave tasty dishes. It makes me happy to know our community comes together in a number of ways to ensure this happens.

I also noticed that a couple of folks from Frog Level businesses stop in for lunch. One gentleman from Giles Chemical said he loves the food at The Open Door. He can walk over,

just cut it off or at least curtail my viewing. Unfortunately, I also get multiple flyers in my mailbox touting the virtues of certain candidates and listing the negative aspects (usually spurious) of their opponents. Thus it is with the flyers that I receive on a regular basis from the North Carolina Republican Party espousing the virtues of Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, and denigrating both Jane Hipps and Hillary Clinton.

These flyers are reminiscent of the ones that were sent out when Davis first ran for the North Carolina Senate, only at that time they were mailed by Real Jobs North Carolina. The money for these mailings came from Art Pope of the Pope Foundation and Glen Raven Mills. You might note that Art Pope pumped millions of dollars into the North Carolina elections that year to get both Davis and Pat McCrory, as well as others elected. Mr. Pope was well rewarded by being named the Director of the State Budget by Gov. McCrory.

You might also wish to note that Glen Raven Mills was the last holdout to unionization in the textile industry in North Carolina. When the workers finally formed a union, the company promptly shut their manufacturing doors in the state and moved

grab some great food, and hang out with Open Door guests. A little birdie told me that he gives a donation each month in appreciation for the food.

It made me wonder why other people don’t do the same. The guests at The Open Door could certainly benefit from observing active, productive members of our community, and who doesn’t want an eclectic mix at the table?

I’ve walked into Panacea Coffee and Frog Level Brewing hundreds of times during my time in Waynesville without a second thought to The Open Door. I find it interesting that mere walls separate those who can afford cappuccinos and craft beer from those who are thankful for nickels and dimes found among the railroad tracks.

I know the crew at The Open Door would welcome anyone who wanted to stop by to eat or just hang out for a while. If for some reason you can’t, you can support this special place in other ways. They’re always thankful for canned goods and foods that guests can eat when they have nothing else and no access to electricity. Some of these foods include canned meats, beans, peanut butter, crackers, and granola bars.

There’s also a benefit concert by the award-winning band Mountain Faith. In fact, they recently won the ‘Emerging Artist of the Year’ award at the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) awards. The concert is Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. at Haywood Community College. Tickets are very inexpensive and all proceeds go to The Open Door.

I’ve developed relationships with several guests at The Open Door, including a five-month old baby and her greatgrandmother, and if I can attend a fun concert to help individuals like this, I’m all in.

Nothing is as it seems in the movies. With every passing year of life, I learn this more and more. But sometimes things are more beautiful here in the real world. They may be utterly raw and heartbreaking and possibly never lead to a happyever-after, but if there’s love and hope and sincerity involved, a special kind of beautiful evolves that no movie script could ever mimic.

(SusannaBarbeeatsusanna.barbee@gmail.com.)

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.

the operation to China. I do believe they maintain corporate headquarters in North Carolina in order to benefit from the favorable corporate tax laws that are supported by Gov. McCrory, Davis, and the Republican-controlled legislature.

Several weeks ago I wrote a letter to the North Carolina Republican Party (1506 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, N.C., 27605) requesting that I be removed from their mailing list. I explained that my wife is a registered Democrat, and that I, though registered as non-affiliated, would vote for Davis under no circumstances. I believe that my exact wording was that I wouldn’t vote for Mr. Davis if they paid me, which they apparently

were attempting to do considering all of the flyers and the cost of the postage of the same that was wasted by sending this material to our household.

In fact, I believe I described Mr. Davis in terms that cannot be printed in your paper. The mailings continue to arrive. Does the North Carolina Republican Party not read it’s mail, or is it too ignorant to understand the meaning of the word no? It may very well be the latter considering the Republican Party doubling down on House Bill 2 rather than listening to the people and the businesses in the North Carolina.

I am now beginning to receive flyers for the reelection of Sen. Richard Burr sent by One Nation (P.O. Box 34424, Washington, D.C. 20043), whoever that is. At least his flyers, so far, have not gone negative, but I don’t need these either.

Luther Jones Sylva

Sen. Jim Davis, corporate lapdog

To the Editor:

From my mailbox recently I

‘And you may ask yourself, how did I get here?’

There were left hooks and right uppercuts. The crowd couldn’t look away as they cringed with each blast and low blow. There was cheering and there were muttered remarks of disgust under the tongues in this presence of this public spectacle. It wasn’t a heavyweight match. It was the second presidential debate in the 2016 election this past Monday evening.

Garret K. Woodward

to decide whether to paint your house something resembling a pink flamingo on acid or that color on the walls of a rave club when they break open Day-Glo bottles and go all Jackson Pollack underneath the black lights. My advice? Take a deep breath and exhale slowly. The world outside your door isn’t going to burst into flames the morning after Election Day.

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

AMMONS DRIVE-IN

RESTAURANT & DAIRY BAR

Sunday. Mild, medium, to hot and spicy, our food is cooked to your like-able temperature. Forget the myth that all Thai food is spicy. Traditional Thai food is known to be quite healthy, making use of natural and fresh ingredients, paired with lots of spices, herbs, and vegetables. Vegetarians and health conscious individuals will not be disappointed as fresh vegetables and tofu are available in most of our menu as well as wines and saki chosen to compliment the unique flavors of Thai cuisine.

BLUE ROOSTER SOUTHERN GRILL

Staff Writer

Sitting in the back corner of Mad Anthony’s in Waynesville, I was surrounded by a handful of folks, all us wondering aloud, “Are they ever going to actually discuss the real issues?” Each question posed by the moderators quickly deflected before Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump turned to each other in a battle of skeletons in the closet, rather than diving into the topics that matter to the American public.

So, as the Talking Heads eloquently sang, “And you may ask yourself, well, how did I get here?” It seems whether you’re a Democrat, Republican, Independent or undecided, we’re all asking ourselves that same question.

Remember back in the 2000 election when, in essence, you really couldn’t tell George W. Bush and Al Gore apart? There were slight differences, but both were pretty much the same boring ol’ politician, as if you were standing there in the paint section of you local hardware store, trying to decide whether to paint your house “Rookwood Dark Brown” or “Fairfax Brown” (hint: they are identical).

And now? It’s like standing there trying

pulled a large political mailer from State Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, attacking Jane Hipps and touting his NRA credentials, and I thought to myself, “what is this guy talking about and who, exactly, does he work for?”

In terms of “standing at the edge of the cliff,” it seems we’ve been doing that for asl long as I can remember, and probably as far back as you can remember, too. One honest truth about Americans is our innate ability to always figure out how to balance our country out at the last possible second. We tend to squeak out some odd sense of clarity and purpose when the going gets tough, sometimes too tough, where international allies and enemies peer over at us through binoculars and say dumbfounded, “How do they do it?”

Sit down and think hard over what you want as a voting public. And I’m not just talking about the presidency. I’m talking about your congressional and state candidates who are also on the ballot. What about those county commissioners or school board folks, too? They are the foundation that is meant to balance out everything up the ladder.

Don’t forget that. Remember, we’re all in this together. One big family of 319 million people. Like most families, we don’t all get along. But, at some point, we all sit down at the table together and try to make nice. And with the holiday season right around the corner, my hopes are to see y’all across from me, to the left of me, and to the right.

“Same as it ever was, same as it ever was...”

(Garret K. Woodward can be reached at garret@smokymountainnews.com.)

First, no one elected to the North Carolina General Assembly has power to affect the 2nd Amendment. That’s federal. Second, the 50th Senate District represents seven counties in North Carolina that are generally poor, in need of help with schools, keeping water clean and creating jobs. If Jim Davis thinks the NRA, a powerful corporate entity, will help our small little corner of the state with education, clean water and jobs, then great. But that’s not going to happen. Jim Davis is the dishonest politician here. He’s opened the door to fracking in our state, imposed new taxes on things people need (including ammo), and has positioned himself as the lapdog of corporate special interest. He doesn’t know, nor does he care about, the families of Western North Carolina. And he is either confused about who he works for, or worse, knows exactly who he works for and isn’t saying. Dan Headrick Waynesville

1451 Dellwwod Rd., Waynesville. 828.926.0734. Open 7 days a week 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Celebrating over 25 years. Enjoy world famous hot dogs as well as burgers, seafood, hushpuppies, hot wings and chicken. Be sure to save room for dessert. The cobbler, pie and cake selections are sure to satisfy any sweet tooth.

APPLE ANDY'S RESTAURANT

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

BLOSSOM ON MAIN

128 N. Main Street, Waynesville. 828.454.5400. Open for lunch and dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through

207 Paragon Parkway, Clyde, Lakeside Plaza at the old Wal-Mart. 828.456.1997

Open Monday through Friday. Friendly and fun family atmosphere. Local, handmade Southern cuisine. Fresh-cut salads; 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.

BOGART’S

303 S. Main St., Waynesville. 828.452.1313. Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Carry out available. Located in downtown Waynesville, Bogart’s has been long-time noted for great steaks, soups, and salads. Casual family atmosphere in a rustic old-time setting with a menu noted for its practical value. Live Bluegrass/String Band music every Thursday. Walking distance of Waynesville’s

tasteTHE mountains

unique shops and

BOURBON BARREL BEEF & ALE 454 Hazelwood Ave., Waynesville, 828.452.9191. Lunch served 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dinner nightly from 5 p.m. Closed on Sunday. We specialize in hand-cut, all natural steaks, fresh fish, and other classic American comfort foods that are made using only the finest local and sustainable ingredients available. We also feature a great selection of craft beers from local artisan brewers, and of course an extensive selection of small batch bourbons and whiskey. The Barrel is a friendly and casual neighborhood dining experience where our guests enjoy a great meal without breaking the bank.

BREAKING BREAD CAFÉ

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

BRYSON CITY CORK & BEAN

A MOUNTAIN SOCIAL HOUSE

16 Everett St.,Bryson City. 828.488.1934

eggs, bacon, sausage, grits and oatmeal, fresh fruit, sometimes French toast or pancakes, and always all-you-can-eat. Lunch every day from 12:00 till 2 pm. Evening cookouts on the terrace on weekends and Wednesdays, 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 herb-baked 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 6 pm, and dinner is served starting at 7 pm. 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.

CHURCH STREET DEPOT

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

CITY LIGHTS CAFE

COUNTRY VITTLES: FAMILY STYLE RESTAURANT

3589 Soco Rd, Maggie Valley.

828.926.1820 Open everyday but Tuesday 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Family Style at Country Vittles is not a buffet. Instead our waitresses will bring your food piping hot from the kitchen right to your table and as many refills as you want. So if you have a big appetite, but sure to ask your waitress about our family style service.

FROGS LEAP PUBLIC HOUSE

44 Church St., Downtown Waynesville

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

JOEY'S PANCAKE HOUSE

4309 Soco Rd Maggie Valley. 828.926.0212 Open daily 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., closed Thursdays. Joey’s is a family style restaurant that has been serving breakfast to the locals and visitors of Western North Carolina since 1966. Featuring a large variety of tempting pancakes, golden waffles, country style cured ham and seasonal specials spiked with flavor, Joey's is sure to please all appetites. Join us for what has become a tradition in these parts, breakfast at Joey’s.

JUKEBOX JUNCTION

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

CATALOOCHEE RANCH

119 Ranch Dr., Maggie Valley. 828.926.1401. Family-style breakfast seven days a week, from 8 am to 9:30 am – with

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

THE CLASSIC WINESELLER

20 Church Street, Waynesville. 828.452.6000. Underground retail wine and craft beer shop, restaurant, and intimate live music venue. Kitchen opens at 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday serving freshly prepared small plates, tapas, charcuterie, desserts. Enjoy live music every Friday and Saturday night at 7pm. www.classicwineseller.com. Also on facebook and twitter.

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

MAD BATTER FOOD & FILM

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

MAGGIE VALLEY CLUB

1819 Country Club Dr., Maggie Valley. 828.926.1616. maggievalleyclub.com/dine.

tasteTHE mountains

Open seasonally for lunch and dinner. Fine and casual fireside dining in welcoming atmosphere. Full bar. Reservations accepted.

MOUNTAIN PERKS ESPRESSO BAR & CAFÉ

9 Depot St., Bryson City. 828.488.9561

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

PASQUALE’S

1863 South Main Street, Waynesville. Off exit 98, 828.454.5002. Open for lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Sunday. Classic Italian dishes, exceptional steaks and seafood (available in full and lighter sizes), thin crust pizza, homemade soups, salads hand tossed at your table. Fine wine and beer selection. Casual atmosphere, dine indoors, outside on the patio or at the bar. Reservations appreciated.

PATIO BISTRO

30 Church Street, Waynesville. 828.454.0070. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Breakfast bagels and sandwiches, gourmet coffee, deli sandwiches for lunch with homemade soups, quiches, and desserts. Wide selection of wine and beer. Outdoor and indoor dining.

RENDEZVOUS RESTAURANT AND BAR

Maggie Valley Inn and Conference Center

828.926.0201 Open Monday-Thursday

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

SAGEBRUSH STEAKHOUSE

1941 Champion Drive. Canton

828.646.3750 Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Carry out available. Sagebrush features hand carved steaks, chicken and award winning BBQ ribs. We have fresh salads, seasonal vegetables and scrumptious deserts. Extensive selection of local craft beers and a full bar. Catering special events is one of our specialties.

SALTY DOG'S SEAFOOD & GRILL

3567 Soco Road, Maggie Valley.

828.926.9105. Open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. Full service bar and restaurant located in the center of Maggie Valley. Featuring daily $6 lunch specials and daily dinner specials such as $1 Taco Tuesdays and 45¢ Wednesday Wings. Backyard Bar is open every weekend thru October. Join us for every NFL game.

SMOKEY SHADOWS LODGE

323 Smoky Shadows Lane, Maggie Valley 828.926.0001. Check Facebook page for hours, which vary. Call early when serving because restaurant fills up fast. Remember when families joined each other at the table for a delicious homemade meal and shared stories about their day? That time is now at Smokey Shadows. The menus are customizable for your special event. Group of eight or more can schedule their own dinner.

SMOKY MOUNTAIN SUB SHOP

29 Miller Street Waynesville 828.456.3400

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

SPEEDY’S PIZZA

285 Main Street, Sylva. 828.586.3800

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

TAP ROOM BAR & GRILL

176 Country Club Drive, Waynesville.

828.456.3551. Open seven days a week serving lunch and dinner. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Tucked away inside Waynesville Inn, the Tap Room Bar & Grill has an approachable menu designed around locally sourced, sustainable, farm-to-table ingredients. Full bar and wine cellar. www.thewaynesvilleinn.com.

THE HEALTHY WAY

284 A North Haywood Street, Waynesville.

828.246.9691. Open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Monday through Friday. Welcome to the healthy way! Shake it to lose it!! Protein shakes, protein bars, teas and much more. Our shakes and protein bars are meal replacements.

TRAILHEAD CAFE & BAKERY

18 N Main Street, Waynesville.

828.452.3881 Open 7 days a week Monday-Saturday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. You will find a delicious selection of pastries & donuts, breakfast & lunch along with a fresh coffee & barista selection. Happy Trails!

VITO’S PIZZA

607 Highlands Rd., Franklin.

828.369.9890. Established here in in 1998. Come to Franklin and enjoy our laid back place, a place you can sit back, relax and enjoy our 62” HDTV. Our Pizza dough, sauce, meatballs, and sausage are all made from scratch by Vito. The recipes have been in the family for 50 years (don't ask for the recipes cuz’ you won't get it!)

WAYNESVILLE PIZZA COMPANY

32 Felmet Street, Waynesville.

828.246.0927. Open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; noon to 9 p.m. on Sunday. Opened in May 2016, The Waynesville Pizza Company has earned a reputation for having the best hand-tossed pizza in the area. Featuring a custom bar with more than 20 beers and a rustic, family friendly dining room. Menu includes salads, burgers, wraps, hot and cold sandwiches, gourmet pizza, homemade desserts, and a loaded salad bar. The Cuban sandwich is considered by most to be the best in town.

After the dust settles

A conversation with Tim Reynolds

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER

It is the rhythm of life.

When you hear the guitar mastery of Tim Reynolds, you’re listening to the joyous and violent sounds of the cosmos. Each note an ocean wave crashing onto the shore, each note a break of sunlight through the dark clouds of the night.

A longtime and beloved maestro of the six-string guitar, Reynolds grew up in the Midwest, always in pursuit of the unknown horizon. After thousands of miles of touring as a young gun, Reynolds wandered into Charlottesville, Virginia, a place that he planted deep roots in for years after. And it was that time in Charlottesville, where he crossed paths with a young bartender who moonlighted as a singer-songwriter. That bartender was Dave Matthews.

And in the decades since their first encounter, the duo have collaborated on numerous albums, with “Live at Luther College” becoming an acoustic cornerstone of the modern rock era. Throughout their time together, Reynolds also became a frequent sideman who orbited around the juggernaut — onstage and in the studio — that is the Dave Matthews Band, with Reynolds becoming a fulltime member in 2008.

Calling from his home on the Outer Banks as Hurricane Matthew began approaching the Eastern Seaboard, Reynolds spoke of his deep and intricate love with improvisation, what it means to be a performer in “the moment,” and why he and Matthews have such an magnetic chemistry that has not only endured the test of time, but also blossomed into one of the great musical partnerships.

of what you can do with space. There are certain types of things you listen to because it’s satisfying or it makes you feel good and it’s something that you know. Then there are things that spark some kind of question. And to me, there are just so many approaches. Right now, I’m also working on this solo acoustic record that is orchestral in nature, and listening to these string quartets is showing just how many ways that can work or be applied to this record. And I’m sure I’ll never figure it out, but that’s why I keep going, to keep posing questions and finding answers.

SMN: When you’re in “the moment” onstage and everything is clicking, where do you go in your head in the depths of improvisation?

TR: There’s a statement I read from Kurt Cobain where he said at “that point” you’re almost in this meditative state, like there’s nothing going on inside of your brain because everything is going on outside. You’re aware of everything at once. And that can change in a

“There are certain types of things you listen to because it’s satisfying or it makes you feel good and it’s something that you know. Then there are things that spark some kind of question.”

— Tim Reynolds

microsecond and, just like meditation, it can seem longer because it is such a profound moment in time. You obviously have some kind of conscious connection to where you’re at, but, when you’re in “that moment,” it’s almost the least thing going on because you’re body is just taking in all of this energy.

Want to go?

Acclaimed guitarist and Dave Matthews Band member Tim Reynolds will perform with his power rock/blues trio TR3 at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at Highland Brewing Company in Asheville. Tickets are $15 in advance, $17 day of show. www.highlandbrewing.com.

Smoky Mountain News: You’re turning 60 years old. Has your mindset or outlook on life changed at all with that number on the horizon?

Tim Reynolds: Well, I know that number is looming out there on the horizon, but I don’t think about those numbers anymore because I realized a long time ago that all I want to do is play music until I die. Of course, over your whole life, you might think about that differently, but I feel like the older I get, the less I know about anything, and that makes it easier. [Laughs]. I mean, you know stuff and, hopefully, some of those things are about yourself.

SMN: What’s your approach toward music — live or in the studio — these days?

TR: It kind of keeps evolving. What I do mostly is listen to music, and trying to find things that go in you and make things come out of you that aren’t the same as always. You try to listen to different things to get inspiration. Like now, I’m checking out all these string quartets of the 20th century. As far as improvising, they can give you a whole different view

SMN: What is it about that chemistry between you and Dave [Matthews]?

TR: There’s really no explaining it. We get along. There’s a camaraderie, where there’s no expectation to do something a certain way. Let’s play it and see what happens. There’s the song chords and structure, but there’s always a lot of room to go off and explore. We’ve done these songs forever, we know what they’re supposed to sound like, which makes it fun to go off and do something different.

SMN: What has a life immersed in music taught you about what it means to be a human being?

TR: Like the Dalai Lama says — and this is how I feel, too — is that there are more good people than bad people in the world, because if there wasn’t, we’d all be dead. They’d outnumber us and kill us all. In this day and age, to be able to be flexible and don’t adhere to any dogma, whatever it is — religion or politics. Be free in your mind and

decisions.

This must be the place

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

What the hell, I figured.

Sometime around midnight, and somewhere around my third beer, I decided to send her a message. Cruising the ole Facebook stream, I saw something recently posted by her, or “Ms. D” for the sake of this column. Even though she would “like” things of mine on Facebook, and vice versa, I actually hadn’t spoken to her since our last week of college in 2007.

So, what the hell, eh? I don’t see any boyfriend, husband or significant other in any of her pictures. No harm, no foul. I wondered what she was up to these days. Is she happy, with life and all that entails? I hit “send” and she responded. Small chat led to a hearty round of “21 questions,” which then dove down below the surface to deeper levels of introspective and retrospective thoughts.

HOT PICKS

1

“Octoberfest” will be held all day on Saturday, Oct. 15, at Mad Anthony’s in Waynesville.

2

The Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will host The Johnny Monster Band (rock/blues) at 9:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14.

3

The 26th annual Chili Cook Off and Car Show will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad Depot in Bryson City.

4

The Swain Arts Center will present classic rockers The Freestylers in concert at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, in Bryson City. The evening will also feature the opening of the George Evans Photography Exhibit in the lobby.

5

We’re both 31. No kids. Never been married. Both constantly being berated by our families about not having kids or getting married. Both wondering what else there is out there in the great cosmic abyss besides domestication and building a robust 401K.

The Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville will end its 2016 season with “The Mystery of Irma Vep.” The production will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21-22, 27-29 and at 2 p.m. Oct. 23 and 30.

probably thought I took a wrong turn somewhere up in rural Vermont.

But, I stuck it out, and I thrived. Running track for QU and also becoming a founding member of an upstanding fraternity on campus, I traded the shagginess for a shaved face, the tie-dyes for a full suit, strolling the college with a new sense of purpose, one of ambition and clarity that still holds true as I explore Southern Appalachia.

common than previously thought, or known. We were on the same path, and yet our crossing of it could be chalked up to two ships passing in the night.

Just thinking about how we weren’t closer back then is so fascinating to us, especially since now we are constantly talking to each other, about nothing and everything, all the usual “under the sun” topics that plague the human condition. The last week or so has been quite cathartic since I was three beers deep and felt adventurous enough to shoot off a seemingly out-of-nowhere message to a face and a name I once knew, and was intrigued to know more.

“It’s been nice to have this person out there in the abyss to bounce things off of, especially one that’s a direct link to a chapter of my life that set the course for where I stand today.”

Talking with Ms. D, we compared mental notes, as well as sharing old photos from long lost nights spent trying to act cool, trying to show we could hold our own in terms of booze consumption, and, perhaps, trying to finally pick up that person you’ve had a secret crush on since that “History of American Business” class during sophomore year.

Though I knew Ms. D most of my time at QU, I was closer with our mutual friends. I remember her always being around, and I do remember interactions with her, but it was mostly due to being acquaintances with the same faces. And it’s funny, looking back on that, seeing as we have so much more in

In essence, we’re (all of us) all in the same boat, we just sometimes forget that seeing as our eyes are always aimed outward into the darkness and not back at those also onboard with whatever tomorrow brings.

I remember that kid — me — who took off from a Canadian border cow town in Upstate New York. I remember long lost nights spent trying to act cool, trying to show we could hold our own in terms of booze consumption, and, perhaps, trying to finally pick up that person you’ve had a secret crush on. I remember it all, with the slightest grin emerging across my lips, my feet hoisted up onto the windowsill underneath the Western North Carolina twilight, as I lean further back into my chair and shake my head in awe. I remember. Do you?

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

You know the drill. That right there was enough of common foundation of current affairs to keep the conversation ball rolling of daily back and forth text messages of long and drawn out statements throughout the early mornings and late evenings when our respective worlds are quiet, but our minds racing.

She’s in Pennsylvania. I’m in North Carolina. And it has been nice to have this person out there in the abyss to bounce things off of, especially one that’s a direct link to a chapter of my life that set the course for where I stand today. It’s been quite the trip down “Memory Lane” rehashing old war

stories of raging college parties, people we used to be friends with, folks we’re still in contact with — the “Did you know?” and “Remember that?” which always seems to trigger and dust off such wild, vivid images in my subconscious. I remember that kid — me — who took off from a Canadian border cow town in Upstate New York for the high-class academic digs of Quinnipiac University, a stone’s throw from the elite and style of Yale University and greater New Haven, Connecticut. Rolling up on “Moving Day” in my parent’s minivan, packed to the gills with trash bags of clothes and CDs. Add to that my shaggy look and large tie-dyed shirt collection, and those well-kempt freshman from Long Island and suburban Boston

On the beat

Stecoah holds ‘Harvest Festival’

The Claire Lynch Band will headline the Harvest Festival Oct. 15 in Robbinsville.

The 20th annual Harvest Festival will take place Oct 14-16 at the Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center in Robbinsville.

The school buildings and 10-acre grounds make the perfect canvas for this three-day event beginning with a free Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. with a campfire, marshmallow roast and storytelling. The grounds are filled with the sounds of mountain music and dancing from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

furniture artisans. The Country Fair features competition and exhibits of jams, jellies, pies, cakes, quilts, needlework and much more. Saturday admission is just $3 for adults and free for kids grades K-12 and younger.

Get in the tub for a good cause

The “Community Give Back” fundraiser for The Community Table will be Oct. 13-15 at Soul Infusion Tea House & Bistro in Sylva.

Live music includes Trippin Hardy (7 p.m.) and Mother of Dimension (9 p.m.) Thursday, Oct. 13, and Tyler Kittle & Co. (jazz/gypsy) at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14. Headliners will be Americana/bluegrass act Ol’ Dirty Bathtub, who will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15. Arrows of Aela will open the show at 6 p.m. The Saturday event will begin with an apple pressing from 2 to 6 p.m., with live music and activities thereafter. Local artists will be selling their wares through the three days. A raffle and silent auction will also be held Saturday.

Local artists offer their handmade crafts and foods for sale, and demonstrations of corn-grinding, apple cider pressing, rail splitting add to the excitement. Vendors include glass, wood, textile, jewelry and up-cycled

Classic rock show, photo exhibit

The Swain Arts Center will present classic rockers The Freestylers in concert at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, in Bryson City. The evening will also feature the opening of the George Evans Photography Exhibit in the lobby of the center.

The Claire Lynch Band will also perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. An acclaimed bluegrass act, Lynch has won the International Bluegrass Music Association award for “Female Vocalist of the Year” three times. Tickets for Lynch are $25 per person, $10 for children grades K-12. Sunday will feature performances by gospel groups from 2 to 4 p.m. www.stecoahvalleycenter.com or 828.479.3364.

Evans was born in Midwest City, Oklahoma, and lived for many years in the Atlanta area. He received an advanced degree in applied mathematics from Georgia Tech. He has pursued outdoor photography as a hobby for over 40 years. Evans recently became one of the artisans of the Stecoah Gallery. An avid back-packer and outdoorsman, his artistic interests are centered on the beautiful landscapes, waterfalls, and wildflowers of Graham County, which has been his home for the past 10 years.

Ten percent of photography sales will be donated to the Partners of Joyce KilmerSlickrock Wilderness, Inc., a nonprofit organization founded in cooperation with the United States Forest Service.

This program received support from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

$3 entry free per day, with children 12 and under admitted in with a nonperishable item to donate to The Community Table. All proceeds go to benefit the Community & Whee Gardens and The Community Table, with overflow to ARF and Catman2.

For more information, contact Rachel Lackey, director of the Swain Arts Center, at 828.488.7843 or rlackey@swainmail.org.

STYX to rock Harrah’s

Legendary rock group STYX will be performing at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at Harrah’s Cherokee Event Center. Tommy Shaw, James “JY” Young, Lawrence Gowan, Todd Sucherman and Ricky Phillips have had more live performances since 1999 than all of the combined previous years of STYX. With two Super Bowl appearances, Pollstar Box Office chart-topping tours with Def Leppard, Journey, Boston, REO Speedwagon and Bad Company, and two more studio albums, STYX continues to rule the stage. Their hits include “Lady,” “Come Sail Away,” and “Mr. Roboto,” among others. Tickets available at www.harrahscherokee.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

• Andrews Brewing Company will host Andrew Chastain Oct. 14, Music Express Oct. 15, 12th Fret Oct. 21 and Megan Saunders & The Driftless Oct. 22. All shows are free and begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.andrewsbrewing.com.

• BearWaters Brewing Company (Waynesville) will host live music at 6 p.m. Oct. 13 and 20. www.bwbrewing.com.

• CJ’s Grille (Bryson City) will host Nashville recording artist Tayler Abbott Oct. 15 and karaoke night Oct. 22. All events are at 8 p.m. 828.488.9880.

• The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host Joe Cruz (piano/pop) Oct. 14, 20 and 22, Tina & Her Pony (Americana) Oct. 15 and James Hammel (singer-songwriter) Oct. 21. All shows are free and begin at 7 p.m. 828.452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com.

• Derailed Bar & Lounge (Bryson City) will have music at 7 p.m. on Saturdays. 828.488.8898.

• The “Friday Night Live” concert series at the Town Square in Highlands will host Southern Highlands (bluegrass) Oct. 14. Shows are free and begin at 6 p.m. www.highlandschamber.org.

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host Todd Hoke (singer-songwriter) Oct. 14, The Tyler Kittle Jazz Trio Oct. 15, Scoundrel Lounge 8 p.m. Oct. 22. All shows are free and begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 828.454.5664 or www.froglevelbrewing.com.

• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will have an Open Mic night Oct. 12 and 19, and a jazz night with the Kittle/Collings Duo Oct. 13 and 20, Laurel Lee & The Escapees Oct. 15 and PMA (reggae/rock) Oct. 22. All events are free and begin at 8 p.m. www.innovation-brewing.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host David Beam Oct. 21 and Wade Hayes Oct. 22. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• The Music in the Mountains (Bryson City) concert series will host Somebody’s Child (Americana) Oct. 15 and Blue Eyed Girl (roots/acoustic) Oct. 22. All shows begin at 6:30 p.m. www.greatsmokies.com.

• Nantahala Brewing Company (Bryson City) will host Fireside Collective Oct. 21. All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m. www.nantahalabrewing.com.

• No Name Sports Pub (Sylva) will host Randal Olinger (blues/rock) Oct. 12, Big Al Hall (Americana) Oct. 14, The Johnny Monster Band (rock/blues) Oct. 15, The Drunken Cuddle (punk/outlaw) Oct. 19, The

Driftless (Americana/rock) Oct. 21 and Dead Farmer (roots/rock) Oct. 22. All shows are free and begin at 9:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.nonamesportspub.com.

• The Oconaluftee Visitor Center (Cherokee) will host a back porch old-time music jam from 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 15. All are welcome to come play or simply sit and listen to sounds of Southern Appalachia.

• The “Pickin’ On The Square” (Franklin) concert series will continue with gospel music Oct. 15. The show is free and begins at 7:30 p.m. A community jam begins at 6:30 p.m. www.franklinnc.com or 828.524.2516.

ALSO:

• The Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Pub (Franklin) will host Fred Kopp (singer-songwriter) Oct. 14, Philip John Brooks (singersongwriter) Oct. 15 and Rachel Stewart (singersongwriter) Oct. 21. All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m. www.rathskellerfranklin.com.

• Sapphire Mountain Brewing Company (Sapphire) will host a jazz brunch with Tyler Kittle & Friends from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Sundays. 828.743.0220.

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

• Soul Infusion Tea House & Bistro (Sylva) will host Trippin Hardy (7 p.m.) and Mother of Dimension (9 p.m.) Oct. 13, Tyler Kittle & Co. (jazz/gypsy) 7 p.m. Oct. 14, Arrows of Aela (6 p.m.) and Ol’ Dirty Bathtub (7 p.m.) Oct. 15. All shows are free. 828.586.1717 or www.soulinfusion.com.

• The Stompin’ Ground (Maggie Valley) is now open for live mountain music and clogging at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. 828.926.1288.

• The Ugly Dog Pub (Highlands) will host a weekly Appalachian music night from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Wednesdays with Nitrograss. 828.526.8364 or www.theuglydogpub.com.

• The Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will host The Johnny Monster Band (rock/blues) Oct. 14, Christy’s Shawn Oct. 15, Husky Burnette (rockabilly) Oct. 21 and Partin’ Ways Oct. 22. All shows begin at 9 p.m. 828.456.4750.

• Western Carolina University (Cullowhee) will host the Symphony Band at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13 in the Bardo Arts Center. Free. www.wcu.edu.

CANDIDATE FORUM

Thursday, October 20th

at the Sam Love Queen Auditorium in the Folkmoot Friendship Center, 112 Virginia Avenue, Waynesville

RECEPTION

6-7 p.m.

Mingle with candidates.

Tours of the renovated Folkmoot Friendship Center by Folkmoot board members & staff.

Light hors d'oeuvres.

Moderated by Cory Vaillancourt, The Smoky Mountain News

FORUM

7-9 p.m.

Candidates for the General Assembly have been invited to speak for five minutes.

County Commissioner candidate forum begins after legislative candidates speak. Commissioners will answer questions developed by The Smoky Mountain News staff & questions submitted via social media. Haywood County School Board hopefuls and candidates running for every office on the Haywood County ballot have been invited to attend the reception and forum so attendees will have the chance to meet those candidates.

Sponsored by The Smoky Mountain News in cooperation with Folkmoot USA.

MCBRIDERETURNSTO HARRAH’S

Country star Martina McBride will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at Harrah’s Cherokee. Her latest album, ‘Wreckless,’ debuted at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums Chart in April. For more information on tickets, visit www.harrahscherokee.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

Gospel music in Franklin

The Collingsworth Family, an award-winning contemporary gospel group that hails from Ohio and has performed all over the world, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.

Founded by husband and wife, Phil and Kim Collingsworth, The Collingsworth Family began as a duo in the mid-’80s before evolving into a family affair. In 2000, after performing and holding positions in numer-

ous Christian organizations around the country, the couple made the transition to a fulltime concert ministry and began recording professionally. They also made regular appearances at Gaither Homecoming concerts. As their ministry grew, so did their family. By the end of the decade they were joined by daughters Brooklyn, Courtney, and Olivia, and son Philip.

Tickets start at $20 each. To purchase tickets, or to find out more information about this or any other show at the theatre, visit www.greatmountainmusic.com or call 866.273.4615.

Inspirations are ‘Singing in the Smokies’

Acclaimed gospel group The Inspirations will host the ‘Singing in the Smokies’ fall color festival on Oct. 13-15 at Inspiration Park in Bryson City.

Thursday performances will include The Inspirations, Chuck Wagon Gang and The Troy Burns Family. Friday will be The Inspirations, The Kingsmen, The Troy Burns Family and Ila Knight. Saturday is The Inspirations, The McKameys, The Troy Burns Family and The Plath Family.

Tickets are $20 per night, with children 12 and under admitted free.

www.theinspirations.com.

On the street

Library hosts philosophy lecture series

The Jackson County Public Library will be hosting a Philosophy Lecture Series starting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, in Sylva.

The first lecture will be General Introduction to Philosophy. The following three lectures are Ancient Metaphysics (Thales, Heraclitus, Parmenides, and Plato — and some Aristotle if there’s time), Medieval Metaphysics (Augustine, Aquinas, Scotus), and Modern Metaphysics (Descartes, Locke, Hume, Kant). The series will continue on Oct. 25, Nov. 1 and Nov. 8. It will be led by Western Carolina University Professor John August. August is a process ontologist that is dedi-

• The “Roktoberfest Release Party” will be held from noon to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at Heinzelmannchen Brewery in Sylva. Brats, kraut, chocolate stout cake. Live music from 6 to 8 p.m. by Henry Wong (guitar/mandolin). Suggested donation of $10, which goes to benefit The Community Table.

• “Octoberfest” will be held all day on Saturday, Oct. 15, at Mad Anthony’s Bottle Shop & Beer Garden in Waynesville. Live music will be provided from 8 to 11 p.m. by Trippin Hardie. There will also be a “tap takeover” by Currahee Brewing Company in Franklin. German food specials, swag giveaways, stein relay, pumpkin smashing, and more.

• The Friends of the Rickman Store will open their doors at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, for a special celebration of the autumn colors and the life of founding member Beth

Bryson City Chili Cook Off

The 26th annual Chili Cook Off and Car Show will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad Depot in Bryson City.

Sample chili ranging from mild to wild and in red, white, and vegetarian recipes. Enjoy a festival atmosphere with decorated booths, live music, handcrafted arts and homemade desserts.

Trophies awarded for first, second and third place, People’s Choice and Showmanship. Cash prizes will also be awarded in each category. To enter, applications must be submitted to the Swain County Chamber of Commerce. The event is free to wander. $5 for a chili-sampling bracelet. For more information, email chamber@greatsmokies.com.

cated to the cultivation of the appreciation for time and its role in the development of mind and body. He is a Ph.D. candidate at the philosophy department at SIUC, where he contributes to the academy through his attempt to make subjective experience objective. In the role of a process ontologist, he is primarily concerned with the realization of healthy communities. August’s recent inquiries have included investigations into the origin of dignity, the origin of the desire to create borders, and the effects of interpreting divine objects as personal within the Brahminical devotionalist traditions.

For more information, call the library at 828.586.2016. This free event is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Jackson County Public Library. www.fontanalib.org.

Moberg who passed away last fall. Visitors will enjoy the first chili and cornbread of the season and will gather at 1 p.m. to plant a flowering dogwood in her memory. The historic Rickman Store is located on 259 Cowee Creek Road in Franklin. It was purchased by Mainspring Conservation Trust, former Land Trust for the Little Tennessee, in 2007 and is open to the community and visitors to the region every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 828.369.5595.

• The “Ghosts of Franklin” presentation will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. Jim Rose and his southern states paranormal research group, co-hosted by Franklin historian Gregg Clark, will be presenting evidence and photo documentation of hauntings in multiple locations in Franklin. www.fontanalib.org.

• The Darnell Farms Corn Maze will be open

PumpkinFest rolls into Franklin

The 20th Annual PumpkinFest will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, in downtown Franklin.

During this event you can take part in some traditional and some very non-traditional fall festivities. Bring your pumpkin or purchase one downtown (limited supply) and sign up early for the World Famous Pumpkin Roll. The “roll” takes place from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with signup running from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The winner receives a cash prize. Other highlights of the day include a screaming contest, costume parade/contest, pumpkin pie eating contest, along with arts and crafts, food vendors, and live entertainment for all ages.

PumpkinFest is made possible by the Franklin Main Street Program, Town of Franklin, Franklin TDA and Macon County TDC.

www.townofranklinnc.com or 828.524.2516.

through Nov. 1 on U.S. 19 at the Tuckasegee River Bridge in Bryson City. Besides the maze, there will also be a pumpkin patch, picnic area, farm fresh products, hayrides, and other activities. 828.488.2376.

• A couples ballroom dance class will be held at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 18, 25 and Nov. 1 at the Qualla Community Building, located at 184 Shoal Creek Loop in Whittier. Cost is $10 per person, per class. All proceeds will go to the Qualla Community Club (a nonprofit organization) for maintaining the Qualla Community Building. If you have any questions, please call 828.497.9456.

• A wine tasting will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Oct. 15 and 22 at Papou’s Wine Shop in Sylva. $5 per person. www.papouswineshop.com or 828.586.6300.

• A free wine tasting will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Oct. 15 and 22 at Bosu’s Wine Shop in Waynesville. www.waynesvillewine.com or 828.452.0120.

• The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host a wine tasting on Wednesdays and a craft beer tasting on Thursdays. Both events run from 4 to 8 p.m. www.classicwineseller.com.

• Free cooking demonstrations will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturdays at Country Traditions in Dillsboro. Watch the demonstrations, eat samples and taste house wines for $3 a glass. All recipes posted online. www.countrytraditionsnc.com.

• The “Punkin’ Chunkin’” will be held on Saturday, Oct. 15, at 96 Trillium Way in Clyde. Pumpkin flinging begins at 4 p.m. with a potluck supper at 6 p.m. and a bonfire at 7 p.m. They anticipate a full moon. BYOB and bring food to share. All are welcome. 828.226.7992 and jowatercgirl@yahoo.com.

On the street Lake Toxaway Skinner Round-Up

The Skinner Round-Up presented by Cessna is back in 2016 to benefit Hope For The Warriors, a national nonprofit focused on restoring self, family and hope for post9/11 service members, veterans and military families. The two-day event will take place near Lake Toxaway in the mountains of North Carolina on Oct. 20-21.

Hosted by 1995 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion Mike Skinner and his wife, Angie, the event will feature its traditional Hoedown Bash and golf tournament, along with some new additions-the Gunslingers 30 Shot Competition and the Skinner Corral of HOPE.

Countless sponsors have joined the effort to make the 2016 Skinner Round-Up presented by Cessna possible, including Mountain Falls Luxury Motorcoach Resort and Burlingame Country Club who have graciously offered to host this year's event.

With a NASCAR driver autograph session and championship race truck display, hayrides, food trucks, beverage tastings, and motorcoach display, the Skinner Corral of HOPE presented by Liberty Coach is free and open to the public 12 p.m. through 6 p.m. on Thursday.

Later that night, Mountain Falls Luxury Motorcoach Resort will host the traditional Skinner Hoedown Bash presented by Cessna. Featuring live musical entertainment from Nashville singer—songwriters D Vincent Williams, Dillon Dixon and Billy Austin, chuck wagon grub stations, and a poker room along with various games of chance and raffles, the Hoedown Bash will raise money for Hope For The Warriors through silent and live auctions before a Hope For The Warriors' Warrior Wish is granted. Taking place at the Mountain Falls Resort Clubhouse from 6:30 p.m. through midnight, individual tickets are still available for $75 with all proceeds benefitting Hope For The Warriors.

On Friday, the action will move to Burlingame Country Club for the Skinner Round-Up Golf Classic presented by E-Z-GO. The 18-hole scramble will pair golfers with a variety of celebrities and U.S. military service members for the tournament.

For schedule details, to purchase tickets or register for events, visit www.mikeskinner.com/roundup. Additionally, fans at home can get involved and show their support for Hope For The Warriors through the silent auction, which will feature online bidding. Bidding is currently open, with all items available at www.501auctions.com/skinnerroundup.

On the street

Paul Adams and Mount Le Conte

“Paul Adams and the First Permanent Camp on Mount Le Conte” will be the Jackson County Genealogical Society’s program at 7 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva.

The presenter will be author and University of Tennessee professor, Ken Wise, who is also co-director of the Great Smoky Mountain Regional Project. His books include Terra Incognita: An Annotated Bibliography of the Great Smoky Mountains, 15441934 (co-editor), Hiking Trails of the Great Smoky Mountains, and A Natural History of Mount Le Conte Wise will describe Paul Adams, his appointment as custodian of Mount Le Conte in 1925, and how he began the Basin Spring camp, now known as LeConte Lodge.

All JCGS events are free of charge and the public is welcome. For more information, find them on Facebook or call 828.631.2646.

WCU professor receives Cherokee honor

Brett Riggs, Sequoyah Distinguished Professor of Cherokee Studies at Western Carolina University, has received the 2016 Cherokee National Worcester Award for his efforts to preserve Cherokee culture.

It is the highest honor the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma presents to nonCherokees for their dedication to tribal history, heritage and sovereignty. The award was recently presented by Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker during the 64th annual Cherokee National Holiday Awards dinner in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

The Cherokee Nation is one of three federally recognized Cherokee tribes in the U.S. The other two are the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of Western North Carolina and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians of Oklahoma.

“Dr. Riggs is a fitting and deserving honoree for the Cherokee Nation’s Samuel Worcester medal because he has devoted so much of his time, research and expertise on the unique history of our tribal government in America, first in our homelands in the Southeast and the eventual removal to modern-day Oklahoma,” said Baker. “His admirable work as an academic historian has enriched our ability and capacity to know more about the past and where Cherokee people came from originally. He has dedicated his life to protecting Cherokee Nation’s rich story and this is a small way to say ‘thank you.’”

Riggs has been instrumental in documenting removal-era roads, trails and Cherokee home sites that provide the basis for the expansion of the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail in southwestern North Carolina. He also is continuing to work toward interpretive development and mark-

Participating in the presentation of the Cherokee National Worcester Award during the 64th annual Cherokee National Holiday Awards in Tahlequah, Oklahoma are (from left) Miss Cherokee Sky Wildcat, Deputy Chief S. Joe Crittenden, award recipient Brett Riggs, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation Bill John Baker and Junior Miss Cherokee Lauryn McCoy.

ing of the historic landscape in the region.

“I feel deeply honored to receive this recognition from the Cherokee Nation,” Riggs said. “Native peoples sometimes take a dim view of archaeology, my chosen profession, and if my work helps connect Cherokee people with their personal and community histories, then I think I’m addressing one the most pressing mandates of our discipline. I’m grateful to the people of the Cherokee Nation, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians for allowing me to work with them in illuminating the Cherokee experience, and I hope to continue these cooperative efforts in the spirit of Rev. Samuel Worcester.”

Previously a research archaeologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,

Riggs joined the WCU faculty in 2015. He has worked continually with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians on various projects throughout the years.

As cited in presentation of the award, he assisted in the creation and completion of a project to showcase interpretive sites related to the history of the Cherokee Trail of Tears, a project of the North Carolina Chapter of the Trail of Tears Association. The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership provided a grant for the creation of a website, www.nctrailoftears.org, and a printed guide and map. Both describe the 16 wayside exhibits erected by the chapter in recent years to interpret the history of Cherokee removal in the 1830s at significant sites.

On the wall

WCU entertainment lighting expo

The Western Carolina University School of Stage and Screen will co-host an entertainment technology conference and expo Friday, Oct. 14, with a focus on film and theater lighting techniques.

The school is partnering with Barbizon Lighting Company, a professional lighting systems and rigging equipment business, to offer the free event for registered participants from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in A.K. Hinds University Center.

“This expo will be of interest to professionals and students who work in theater, TV, video and film,” said Arledge Armenaki, WCU associate professor of cinematography in the Film and Television Production Program, School of Stage and Screen. “Vendors will have displays and demonstrate products and company representatives will explain cutting edge technology and practical applications.”

• Understanding the Alphabet Soup of LEDs.

“It’s important to Barbizon that we are able to share knowledge with our clients and friends, and that our clients are able to see the gear that is available for them to use

Learn to braid rugs

Create a piece of American folk art at the next workshop sponsored by Dogwood Crafters. Rug braiding, developed in the early 19th century as a way to use woolen scraps for floor coverings, will be taught in a two-day workshop on Oct. 19 and 26 in the Dillsboro Masonic Lodge.

Renowned rug maker, Dianne Ellis will lead participants in creating a beautiful braided project. Ellis, a long-time member of Dogwood Crafters, has taught at John C. Campbell Folk School, at the UNC-A Senior Program, and for numerous local organizations.

The class will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. each day. Cost is $10. Register by Oct. 13 by calling 828.586.2435 or emailing junejpell@frontier.com.

headed the movement to establish the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Mountain Heritage Center’s Kephart Collection is composed of 127 objects, including Kephart’s tent, sleeping bag, backpack and the writing desk. 828.227.7129.

• A pumpkin blown glass class will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at the Jackson County Green Energy Park in Dillsboro. Classes are 30 minutes. Cost is $40. 828.631.0271 or www.jcgep.org.

• There is a call for crafters to sell their wares during the craft fair on Oct. 22 at the Bethel United Methodist Church. $10 per table. Contact Pat Taylor at 929.235.9360.

The conference will include three educational workshops:

• Lighting Green Screens (Chroma key) for Better On-Screen Results.

• Color Theory and Gobo (pattern projection) Application.

in their applications,” said Esthere Strom, Barbizon sales manager for Charlotte and Atlanta. “Most of the industry shows take place on the other side of the Mississippi, so we feel it’s up to us to bring this equipment to our customers, rather than expect you to go to the other side of the country.”

For information about registration, call the WCU School of Stage and Screen at 828.227.7491 or email charsales@barbizon.com.

ALSO:

• A showcase on the life and times of Horace Kephart will be on display through March 31 in the Mountain Heritage Center at Western Carolina University. In 1904, a 42-year-old librarian named Horace Kephart came to Western North Carolina looking for a fresh start in the southern Appalachian wilderness. Over the next 27 years, his numerous articles and books captured a disappearing culture, provided practical advice for generations of outdoor enthusiasts, and spear-

• The Groovy Movie Club will screen the action/adventure/comedy set in modern-day New Zealand “Hunt for the Wilderpeople” at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16, in Waynesville at Buffy Queen’s home in Dellwood. It's the story of a young, abandoned, hip-hop city kid who discovers courage and a family to love him in the wilds of the New Zealand mountains, reminiscent of the Smokies. Send an email to johnbuckleyx@gmail.com to RSVP and get more directions/details. Prior to the screening, a potluck of healthy, organic if possible, dishes is shared among the attendees. After the film concludes, an open discussion of the film’s relevant themes and concerns ensues. Free.

• Paint Nite Waynesville will be held at 7 p.m. on Fridays at the Mad Anthony’s Bottle Shop & Beer Garden. Grab a pint of craft beer and get creative. $20 per person. Group rates available. Sign up at Mad Anthony’s or call host Robin Smathers at 828.400.9560. paintnitewaynesville@gmail.com.

• The Michael Moore political commentary film “Where To Invade Next” will be screened at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17 at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva. Free. Reservations recommended. 828.586.3555.

• The Fall Colors Fine Art Show will be held at 10 a.m. Oct. 15-16 at the Highlands Civic Center. www.highlandschamber.org.

• The Cherokee County Mountain Crafters Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 15-16 at the Murphy High School Gym. The countywide festival will feature local artisans, craftsmen, musicians, dancers, storytellers, quilters and food vendors. Call 828.837.1146 for further information. Admission is free.

• The next meeting of the Western North Carolina Woodturners Club, Inc. will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at the Blue Ridge School in Glenville. The school is located on Bobcat Drive. Drive to the back of the school to the woodworking shop. Visitors are always welcome. The club meets the first Thursday

of every month March through November.

• There will a “Pumpkin Centerpiece” class from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, at the Jackson County Extension Center in Sylva. Please bring 12 canning jar rings and a glue gun and glue if you have them. Wide mouth size rings work the best and the rustier the jar rings the better. The cost of the class is $5. Please register with the Jackson County Extension Center by calling 828.586.4009.

ALSO:

• The “Photography of Bayard Wootten” exhibit will be on display through Nov. 23 in the Mountain Heritage Center at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. Wootten was a female pioneer in the field of photography from the early 1900s to 1950s, when men dominated the field. All 35 photographs in this exhibition are of North Carolina subjects, which are on loan through from North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives at UNC-Chapel Hill.

• Laurey-Faye Dean will be the featured artist with a live demonstration and discussion at “The Potter’s Wheel” series from noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 22 at The Wild Fern in Bryson City.

• The Leaf Lookers Gemboree will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 14-16 at the Macon County Community Building in

In need of some artistic solitude?

The Cullowhee Mountain Arts “Autumn Color Retreat Workshop” with artist Lisa Pressmanwill be held Oct. 2429 in Lake Logan.

Situated in approximately 300 acres of pristine beauty, the retreat center offers charming and comfortable cabins nestled among winding hiking and walking trails surrounding the 85-acre lake.

CMA sets up an airy and light filled studio and provides quiet and private writing spaces for both visual artists and writers. Supplementary yoga, mindfulness sessions, an evening fire circle, and massages by appointment are offered to

Franklin. Gem show with dealers from all across the southeast offering fine jewelry, beads, rough and cut stones. 828.524.3161.

• “Art Beats for Kids” will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. Oct. 13 and 20 at the Charles Heath Gallery in Bryson City. A new project every week. $20 per child, with includes lesson, materials and snack. 828.538.2054.

• The Adult Coloring Group will meet at 2 p.m. on Fridays in the Living Room of the Macon

enrich your retreat experience. Each cabin has a lovely view of the lake, private rooms with baths, with linens and coffee makers provided. The dining hall — with its large fireplaces, couches and chairs — provides a relaxing place to enjoy a cup of tea or coffee any time of the day. Three delicious meals are chef-prepared, using local veggies in season added to the menu. As a practicing artist myself, they understand the necessity of unfettered time and space to do your “sacred” work — to use your talents and give your gifts back to the world. Writers are free to come at a nonworkshop price of $795 — including lodging, meals, workspace, yoga, mindfulness and interaction with visual artists.

For more information or to register, visit www.cullowheemountainarts.org.

County Public Library in Franklin. An afternoon of creativity and camaraderie. Supplies are provided, or bring your own. Beginners are welcome as well as those who already enjoy this new trend. kmoe@fontanalib.org or 828.524.3600.

• “Stitch,” the gathering of those interested in crochet, knit and needlepoint, meet at 2:30 p.m. every first Sunday of the month at the Canton Public Library. All ages and skill levels welcome. www.haywoodlibrary.org.

New Haywood dance initiative

It has been over 10 years since the Haywood County Arts Council brought the Atlanta Ballet to Haywood County to showcase classical dance, but this tradition will soon be renewed. The council is creating an annual dance artist residency to serve as a new platform for professional classical and contemporary dance.

Called “Dance AR Ī S” (pronounced “arise”), which stands for Artist Residency in the Smokies, the residency will include performances as well as classes and outreach activities to schools and underserved communities in the region. To give a taste of what is to come in 2017, they invite the community to attend this year’s inaugural fundraising performance, and to take advantage of the workshops and master classes that will be offered by the artists.

The council will offer “Spark: An Evening to Benefit Dance ARĪS” at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, in the Fangmeyer Theater at Haywood Arts Regional Theatre (HART) in Waynesville. There will also be a pre-show gala catered by Harmon’s Den. The performance showcases three distinct dance styles rarely featured in combination: ballet, contemporary modern, and classical Indian dance. Tickets will be $25 for the performance alone, $60 for the gala and performance package, and a $10 discount on all tickets for students 18 and under (or with valid ID). On Saturday, Oct. 22, the dancers will offer a variety of workshops and master classes at Folkmoot’s Friendship Center.

or reside in Haywood County. Kendall Teague, Sky Byrd and River Byrd will perform classical and contemporary ballet pieces like those some may remember from the Atlanta Ballet. Erin Owen and Kendall Teague will perform contemporary modern dance works by world-renowned choreographer Doug Varone. Aparna Keshaviah and Nisha Pai will present a modernization of Bharatanatyam — a south Indian classical

‘Spark: An Evening to Benefit Dance ARĪS’ will be held on Oct. 21 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.

dance style with theatrical roots over 2,000 years old. Each of the featured dancers were influenced by artists who visited their home towns when they were young, and through this performance, they hope to help build a program that will inspire a new generation of artists.

ALSO:

• A production of Neil Simon’s “The Sunshine Boys” will hit the stage Thursdays through Sundays from Oct. 1323 at the Highlands Performing Arts Center. The plot concerns the once successful vaudeville comedy team of Al Lewis and Willie Clark, who quarreled after 41 years of success and broke up the act. Now 11 years later, CBS-TV wants to reunite the old guys for a special on the history of comedy, but with their arguments about the performance, it seems unlikely that the TV reunion will take place. For show times and tickets, contact the box office at 828.526.8084. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can also click on www.highlandscashiersplayers.org.

• “The Pirate of Bully Bay” will hit the stage at 9 a.m. Oct. 14 in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University. Prepare “ye mateys” for our most fun antibullying, swashbuckling adventure ever. Join Captain Catherine, the kindest pirate of the high seas, as she meets the bully Black 'Stache and must overcome his mean ways. This interactive adventure teaches your young crew the tools they need to stop a bully through clever rhymes

and memorable characters. Best for grades pre-K to fifth grade.

• The Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville will have a holiday offering this season of a show built around its new “Kids At HART” program. “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” features roles for adults and lots of young people. The show is being directed by Shelia Sumpter and will have performances at 2 p.m. Dec. 1011 and 17-18. Auditions will be held at 2 p.m. Oct. 22 at the theater. This is a community theater production with no compensated roles and rehearsals will be scheduled around the conflicts of the cast members. Those auditioning will simply be asked to read from the script.

• The Highlands Performing Arts Center will be screening the “Live Via Satellite Series” again this year: The MET Opera live from New York City, the Bolshoi Ballet live from Moscow and the National Theatre of London, all shown on our large theater screen. The National Theatre of London will present an encore performance of their production of “A View From the Bridge” at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15. Tickets are available online: www.highlandspac.org or by calling 828.526.9047.

This year’s artists are all professional or pre-professional dancers, and most are from

Halloween at HART

The Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville will end its 2016 season with a Halloween treat, “The Mystery of Irma Vep.” The production will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21-22, 27-29 and at 2 p.m. Oct. 23 and 30.

Appearing Off-Broadway to raves, this definitive spoof of Gothic melodramas is a quick-change marathon in which two actors play all the roles. A sympathetic werewolf, a vampire and an Egyptian princess brought to life when her tomb is opened make this a comedy that has everything. It opened originally in Greenwich Village and ran for two years developing a cult following. The comedy was revived in 1999 in New York and received rave reviews and awards. The New York Times called it “the funniest two hours on a New York stage.”

The plot involves a trip to Egypt, resurrecting the mummy of an Egyptian princess,

For details and updates and tickets, visit www.haywoodarts.org/dance.

a curse, werewolves, vampires, and family disputes, all played out by two actors portraying eight characters. There will be as much happening off stage as on in this quick-change romp that requires elaborate Victorian costumes. The show is the brainchild of Charles Ludlam who helped found the Ridiculous Theater Company in the 1960’s. Ludlam was one of the original actors in “Vep” but died a year into the run in 1987. By the early 1990s “The Mystery of Irma Vep” was the most produced play in the United States. It helped inspire a range of other quick-change shows including “Greater Tuna” and “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged.”

Patrons can also plan to dine at Harmons’ Den Bistro in the Fangmeyer Theater prior to the performance on HART’s Performing Arts Center stage. To make reservations for tickets and for the bistro, call the HART Box Office at 828.456.6322 or visit www.harttheatre.org.

Presidential power grows at an alarming rate

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

This January either Hilary Clinton or Donald Trump will stand before the American people and swear to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

of “screwing up America” by violating their presidential oaths are Andrew Jackson,

In 9 Presidents Who Screwed Up America And Four Who Tried Save Her (Regnery History, 2016, $29.99, 320 pages), historian and writer Brion McClanahan evaluates the presidency and those who have served in that office. He employs, however, a different standard than that used by many other historians. Most of us have surely read those polls where academics rank the presidents by their accomplishments and failures. In 9 Presidents, McClanahan instead judges our chief executives by how well they upheld their oath to preserve and protect the Constitution.

Their record in this regard is unimpressive, even abysmal. For the past 175 years, and particularly in the last century, we have witnessed the office of the president accruing powers granted it by neither the Constitution nor the Congress. We have raised that executive office far beyond what the Founders of this country intended, to the neglect of other political offices.

(If you doubt me, let me ask a few questions. Can you name the mayor of your city? Your state senators and representatives? Your representatives and senators in Congress? Do you know their politics and where they stand on the issues pertinent to our times? These are the politicians who should be fixing our roads, improving our schools, and listening to our concerns, yet I suspect many of us — and I do mean me as well — are ignorant here).

The nine presidents McClanahan accuses

Book review on Kalanithi

Constitution. That alone places him among the ranks of the worst presidents in American history” — can be applied to these other men as well. Our history books may rate these men as great in their accomplishments, but in terms of the Constitution they violated the oath taken at their inaugurations, expanding the powers of the presidency beyond constitutional boundaries. In that sense, they were guilty of “high crimes and misdemeanors.”

McClanahan’s four presidents who tried to save America, that is, who tried to operate by the Constitution, were Thomas Jefferson, John Tyler, Grover Cleveland, and Calvin Coolidge. These men made the effort to “reduce the presidency to its rightful place as a co-equal rather than a dominant branch in relation to the legislature” (page 207).

tutional boundaries of their office. For example, our presidents since the days of Ronald Reagan — Bush I, Clinton, Bush II, Obama — have all seized extraordinary powers and abused their office. As McClanahan tells us, the president is not our “chief legislator,” but exists primarily to execute or veto laws passed by Congress.

Yet we regard this chief executive more and more as a maker of laws. And though the president is head of our armed forces, our Constitution does not give that person or his administration the power to wage war. That is the job of the Congress. Yet the last time the Congress officially declared war was against Japan on December 8, 1941.

In his chapter “Barack Obama,” in which he excoriates all four as of these past presidents for “twenty-eight consecutive years of unconstitutional executive usurpation of power,” McClanahan ends with these words: “The British taxpayer spends around $50 million annually to support the entire royal family. With an annual budget that exceeds $1 billion for expenses, including travel, the American president supplanted the British monarch in everything but title long ago.”

This is the office that in January 2017 either Hilary Clinton or Donald Trump will occupy, an office bringing to the new president unprecedented wealth and power.

Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Barack Obama.

McClanahan’s assessment of Richard Nixon — his “six years in office can best be described as an unbridled romp over the

Because I knew so little about Tyler, McClanahan’s chapter on him was particularly instructive, revealing the trials he faced when as vice president he was elevated to the office of president on the death of President William Henry Harrison.

Regarding the presidency and the Constitution since the time of Theodore Roosevelt, McClanahan notes that with the exception of Calvin Coolidge, all of our chief executives have frequently violated the consti-

9 Presidents Who Screwed Up America is a vivid, well-written reminder of the damage the last century has done to our Constitution and our republic. Judging from the titles to his other books, which I have not read, Brion McClanahan would likely be considered a conservative. But in this case his politics matter less than his cause. Whether we are liberals, progressives, or conservatives, we need to be wary about the men and women who govern our lives. And in the case of the president, we need to be ever vigilant, for we have inched closer and closer toward tyranny.

I have not heard the term imperial presidency since the days of Richard Nixon. Now seems the time to dust off that old title and decide whether we want to live in a republic or under an emperor.

(Jeff Minick is a writer and teacher. Minick0301@gmail.com.)

Dr. Lisa Verges will host a book review at 10 a.m. Oct. 19 in the Harrell Center at Lake Junaluska. Verges, a geriatric psychiatrist and spiritual director, will review the book When Breath Becomes Air . Verges works at MemoryCare, a nonprofit clinic in Asheville and Waynesville, providing treatment for individuals with dementia and guidance for their families. She is also a spiritual director for those who seek meaning amidst the struggles of life. When Breath Becomes Air , by Paul Kalanithi, is a true story by a physician who faced one of the greatest struggles and challenges life can present. A gifted writer and a person of strength and insight, his story is a gripping one.

Folk School welcomes Keller, Gratton

The N.C. Writers Network West will sponsor The Literary Hour, a program of poetry and prose reading featuring Mary Michelle Keller and Lucy Cole Gratton at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown.

Keller has lived in Town County 20 years. Her poem, “As The Deer,” published in the anthology, Echoes Across the Blue Ridge , was inspired by an old hymn by the same name that she plays on the dulcimer. She enjoys words; moving them around on paper until a poem, short story or essay emerges.

Gratton is a retired CPA who has lived in the Murphy area over 20 years. She received her BA in mathematics from Agnes Scott College, her MEd in secondary math from the University of Florida and her accounting hours from Florida Atlantic University. She is a Cherokee County representative for NCWN and a member of NetWest. She coordinates the program at John Campbell Folk School for NetWest and serves as moderator. Her poems include various topics but predominantly center around her concern for the environments and her home in the woods of Lake Apalachia.

ALSO: SHOP - DONATE - VOLUNTEER

• The Friends of the Library Fall Book Clearance will be Oct 13-15 at the Albert Carlton Cashiers Community Library during library hours. “The Friends are grateful for the generosity of the community,” said FOTL President Bonnie Zacher. “They have contributed so many books, DVDs and CDs that we are once again bursting at the seams. We have over 4,000 books to offer. We have a lot of children’s books as well as health, self-help, history and travel.” The clearance is the main way the Friends raise money to support the library.

• RF Wilson will speak at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at City Lights Bookstore. He will present the two books in his Rick Ryder Mystery series, Killer Weed and the recent Deadly Dancing . The one-armed Ryder, a recovering alcoholic and lawyer working as an investigator for the Mountain Center for the Defense of the Environment in Asheville, finds himself an object of suspicion as he tracks down corruption and faces down danger. 828.586.9499.

Franklin poetry night

An open-mic poetry event for adults will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, at The Rathskeller CoffeeHaus & Pub in Franklin. All area poets and lovers of poetry are invited to read or recite their original works, as well as share their favorite works by other poets in the Rathskeller’s relaxed, intimate atmosphere. No pre-registration is needed; participants will be given stage time on a first-come basis. This event is produced by the Arts Council of Macon County, supported in part by the Grassroots Arts Program of the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources. arts4all@dnet.net or 828.524.ARTS.

Congressman sits down with wilderness supporters

Wilderness advocates make their case in two-hour back-and-forth

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFFWRITER

Congressman Mark Meadows (RCashiers) and a room of 30 wilderness supporters spent two hours discussing everything from ecology to U.S. Forest Service road budgets last week at the Haywood County Historic Courthouse with the goal of better understanding each other’s views on the purpose of wilderness designation.

“I will read everything you send me. I’m going to ask you questions,” Meadows promised as he closed out the meeting. “I’m trying to be as informed as I can.”

The meeting was organized after wilderness advocates criticized Meadows for turning them away from a listening session he’d organized with county leaders across the district Aug. 30. Held in Franklin, the meeting drew a crowd of passionate wilderness supporters in addition to the invited participants, but the uninvited wilderness folks were told the meeting wasn’t open to the general public — though media representatives were allowed to sit in and report on what took place and some pro-wilderness people involved with the forest plan revision were among the invited guests. The closed door drew anger from many in the wilderness community, who felt that, because six of the seven westernmost counties had passed resolutions asking for zero additional wilderness, Meadows would be getting a one-sided story.

In response, Meadows swiftly set up the Oct. 4 meeting, to which he invited the group who’d been denied entrance to the Franklin

meeting, as well as an array of pro-wilderness experts who have been active in the planning process for the Pisgah-Nantahala National Forest plan revision, which has sparked the wilderness-related discussion. The finished plan, expected by the end of 2017, will include recommendations for additional congressionally designated wilderness, which would then require an act of Congress to create.

“You’ve got two opposing views,” Meadows said of the wilderness question. “I do believe that there’s a sweet spot on some, and so having your input is critical.”

OPPOSINGVIEWS

The wilderness discussion is complex and multi-faceted, but at a basic level people who oppose additional wilderness believe that wilderness designation unduly limits management options, prevents creation of the young forest habitat that many species need and limits recreation access to just a select group of forest users. Pro-wilderness folks, meanwhile, say that it’s critical to set aside areas in which man will not interfere so that ecosystems can operate naturally, air and water can remain clean and humans can experience restorative solitude.

The split is wide.

“We have worked like crazy to build a common agenda,” said Alan Nicholas, supervisor for North Carolina’s national forests.

Nevertheless, the process has remained polarized, and some meeting attendees expressed frustration with that reality.

“It would be great if at some point we could have our discussions based on actual facts of what wilderness permits and what wilderness does not permit rather than setting up this either/or,” said David Reid of The Sierra Club’s North Carolina Chapter.

there are other ways to achieve that same goal that don’t come with all the regulations attached to a bona fide wilderness designation.

“If you talk to people in Panthertown Valley (in Jackson County), they’re wanting to be able to do mountain biking there, and the same group would say ‘We want it to be wilderness’ because their idea is that would be protection of that particular habitat,” Meadows said.

However, mountain biking is not allowed in wilderness areas.

“I think the real ambiguity is not on the definition of wilderness. It is on the Forest Service’s implementation and on a Wilderness Study Area and what will be allowed and what will not be allowed,” Meadows said. “I’d love to see what’s the perception.”

Because only Congress can designate wilderness, the Forest Service must decide how to manage recommended wilderness areas until Congress makes a decision.

“The intent of the Wilderness Act back in 1964 was to recognize and protect areas not only for the protection of those areas but for a certain kind of experience that the authors of the Wilderness Act saw as integral to the American identity,” responded Josh Kelly, public lands biologist for MountainTrue. “It’s clear that the Wilderness Act does not permit bicycles. It does not permit mechanical equipment.”

Meanwhile, Buzz Williams of The Chattooga Conservancy confronted Meadows about legislation he’d recently introduced in Congress that would open up Wilderness Study Areas — areas identified decades ago as places that might qualify as wilderness, pending study, but had never been decided upon either way — to a variety of uses, including mountain biking. Did Meadows even really want to hear what the pro-wilderness crowd thought, Williams asked, or was it just a show?

“Why have you already made up your mind?” Williams asked. “You’ve already introduced legislation to turn those Wilderness Study Areas back to multiple use, which would destroy them. So I wonder why are we even here?”

“I introduced two pieces of legislation to get the discussion going, which is what needs to happen,” Meadows responded. “When we look at Wilderness Study Areas, Buzz, the question is how long are we going to study?”

More to the point, Meadows said, it’s important that everyone at the table define what they’re trying to accomplish when designating wilderness and think about whether

“I think that we should not think of wilderness as something to be used,” said Olga Pader, an avid hiker and past president of the Nantahala Hiking Club. “I think we should think of wilderness as the earth’s right to be.”

“Let me take that view. So your idea of wilderness is that no people should be there?” asked Meadows.

“No, no. We are visitors. We cannot remain,” Pader responded.

Another way to think about it, added Reid, is that wilderness is a place where nature, not human enjoyment, is the priority.

“If we are starting as a species even through our hiking to love a place to death, I should be willing to temporarily give up my access to that area to protect the higher good,” he said. “Protection of the resource comes first.”

THETRIALSOFNEGOTIATION

Hiker Katey Schiltz took issue with the prolonged discussion of wilderness’ definition.

“I’m a little bit concerned about starting the conversation with the idea that a lot of the experts in this room don’t know what wilderness means,” she said. “I would really like it if we could start with solving some problems rather than making it appear as though people who care about this topic don’t agree with each other.”

“The question is not as much trying to creation division as it is trying to create a definition to say if this is the definition of wilderness, is there another definition of other areas that are special and need to be protected but don’t necessarily need a wilderness designation,” Meadows said.

Maybe, said Brent Martin, regional director for The Wilderness Society’s office based in Sylva, but wilderness definitely has its place, and resolutions that many Western North Carolina counties have passed in blanket opposition to any new wilderness designation aren’t helping either.

“What we came out of after almost three years meeting with the mountain biking community trying to hash these things out was they agreed to support 900 acres of wilderness where there are no

Don’t miss this

■ A work day on the Highlands Plateau Greenway will be conducted 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 15, meeting at the upper parking lot of the Highlands Recreation Park. Tools and safety equipment will be provided. RSVP to Ran Shaffner, highlandsgreenway@nctv.com or 828.482.1451.

■ “Birding in Tallahassee,” presented by longtime birders Jim and Ellen Shelton of Macon County, will tell about all the best birding areas

mountain biking trails,” Martin said. “I think those county resolutions make it even more difficult for the Forest Service to negotiate.”

The Wilderness Society was one of the diverse groups that was part of the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Partnership, a group formed to talk about differing priorities for the new forest plan before the Forest Service even started the process. In 2015, as disagreements became heated in the Forest Service’s initial planning meetings, the Forest Service spurred the creation of the Stakeholders Forum for the Pisgah and Nantahala Forest Plan Revision, which includes about 30 members representing a range of interests.

“A lot of us in the Forum have embraced the full range of multiple uses for the forest, but there is a segment who totally opposes any consideration of wilderness,” said Hugh Irwin, land conservation planner for The

“I think that we should not think of wilderness as something to be used. I think we should think of wilderness as the earth’s right to be.”

around Tallahassee, Florida at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.

■ A class on dehydrating foods for long-term storage will be offered 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Oct. 21, at the Waynesville Public Library. Food safety, equipment, samples and recipes will be covered. Free through Haywood County Cooperative Extension, with class size limited. Sign up at 828.356.2507.

POLITICALCAPITAL

But in all seriousness, attendees told Meadows, the Pisgah-Nantahala could indeed stand to have some additional wilderness. Across the United States, about 5 percent of the landmass — entire landmass, not just federal land — is designated wilderness. Across the Pisgah-Nantahala National Forest, about 6.6 percent of the land is wilderness.

“In the West, some forests have very high representations of wilderness, over 20 percent,” Irwin said. “The Nantahala-Pisgah is very low and we don’t have full representation of different ecosystems.”

However, wilderness is simply more abundant in the West, with 95 percent of the acres in the National Wilderness Preservation System lying west of the Mississippi River. Still, meeting attendees said, the numbers indicate that the forest could stand for some additional designation, though in the end it’s not really about the numbers.

“It’s not about the percentage. It’s about the places,” Kelly said.

Take the 100-mile challenge

A statewide challenge to knock out 100 miles of hiking, walking, running, paddling, skating, horseback riding or rolling a wheelchair in North Carolina aims to get people enjoying N.C. natural beauty and improving their health.

The 100-Mile Challenge comes from North Carolina State Parks and Governor Pat McCrory, with a new website launched to sign up participants and help them track their miles. At www.nc100miles.org, users can earn digital badges along the way to their 100 miles by exploring state parks, participating in events and reaching mileage milestones.

“Nothing compares to North Carolina's natural beauty, state parks and hiking trails," McCrory said. "I am proud that together, our

Feed and fertilizer producers to vote on assessment

A referendum vote for growers and producers of fertilizer and feed in Jackson and Swain counties on Thursday, Nov. 1, will determine whether a self-assessment program that benefits agriculture research and education should continue.

The Jackson and Swain County Nickels for Know-How Referendum will have polling

state passed the Connect N.C. bond package this year that will invest in our parks for future generations.”

The challenge is part of the Hike NC! Program with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, a series of more than 60 hikes that launched this fall.

www.gohikenc.com or www.nc100miles.org.

places at the Jackson and Swain County extension offices. A two-thirds favorable vote will allow the program, which has been in place since 1948, to continue.

Growers pay an assessment of 15 cents per 100 pounds of feed and fertilizer produced in North Carolina, producing about $1.4 million annually for allocation to support agricultural research and extension projects at N.C. State University benefiting agriculture in North Carolina.

The program requires a new referendum every six years.

828.586.4009 or 828.488.3848.

— Olga Pader

Wilderness Society and member of the forum.

“Why do you think that is?” asked Meadows.

“I think it’s both a philosophical problem that the stakeholder forum has but also a fundamental misunderstanding of how multiple uses should play out in the national forest,” Irwin responded.

Perhaps the fundamental misunderstanding has to do with each side’s perceptions of the other side’s goals, Meadows said.

“There’s one group who believes that the other side will harvest timber on everything and the other side believes they’ll preserve everything,” he said. “From a stakeholder’s perspective, is that a factor or not?”

“If you’re asking me why we haven’t been able to get across the hump and figure out that we don’t disagree about those other areas, you’re asking the wrong man,” replied Sam Evans of the Southern Environmental Law Center, who is a member of the forum.

“If we don’t err to the side of capturing the right areas, 15 to 20 years from now those areas will be in a less situation to be untrammeled,” added Bill Van Horne, president of the Appalachian Trail Community Committee in Franklin.

As the meeting drew to an end, attendees wanted to know where Meadows fell on the issue. In a September interview with The Smoky Mountain News, Meadows said that he didn’t “plan to introduce a resolution that would support additional wilderness based on the input I have right now.”

“Are you willing to go to bat for these areas if they’re controversial?” Evans asked. “We’re trying to get to a place as stakeholders working together where there’s mutual support, where we’re seeing support for things getting across the finish line for our friends and our colleagues. I think we can get there. Your bill (allowing multiple-use in wilderness study areas) isn’t making it any easier for us.”

“We have to have these kinds of discussions in order to come up with anything that matters,” Meadows replied. “I’m willing to invest political capital on both ends of the spectrum.”

A draft forest plan is expected by spring 2017, with a final version approved by the end of 2017.

Explore the Bartram Trail

A 6-mile hike passing waterfalls, autumn leaves and mountain views will explore the Bartram Trail Saturday, Oct. 22, with a carpool leaving from Franklin at 10 a.m.

The hike, rated as moderate to strenuous, climbs 900 feet to William’s Puplit, starting at Wallace Branch.

Organized by the Nantahala Hiking Club. Visitors welcome, but no dogs. RSVP to Mary Stone, 828.369.7352.

See fall from a fire tower

A hike to stellar views and autumn colors will be offered 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 14, near the Pisgah Inn on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Guided by a Parkway ranger, the 2-mile roundtrip hike, which is classified as easy to moderate, will end at Fryingpan Fire Tower, which hikers can climb for an eagle-eye view. Free, with no RSVP required. The Fryingpan Trail pullout is located at milepost 409.6, 1 mile south of the Pisgah Inn. Hikers should bring sturdy shoes, water and clothing for changeable weather.

828.298.5330, ext. 304.

Partake in the Pumpkin Pursuit

Paddlers

Pumpkins, costumes, beer and music will provide ample opportunity for family-friendly leaf season festivities noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at Nantahala Outdoor Center.

The highlight of the day will be the Great Pumpkin Pursuit, a free-for-all dash through Nantahala Falls during which paddling participants collect as many numbered pumpkins as possible before racing back to the finish. That event will begin at 2:30 p.m., but in the hours beforehand attendees will partake in pumpkin decorating at noon and a costume contest at 1:30 p.m. The latter part of the day will feature a campfire, cornhole tournament and live music from Somebody’s Child.

NOC is located along U.S. 74, about 14 miles from Bryson City. www.noc.com/events/noctoberfest.

Run the Jackson greenway

A 3K walk and run will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, along the Jackson County Greenway in Cullowhee. The race will start and end at the new Greenway Bridge off of Old Cullowhee Road, with day-of sign-ups starting at 9:30 a.m. Early sign-up is available at the Jackson County Senior Center. $15, and $12 Senior Center participants. Organized by Jackson County Parks and Recreation. 828.293.3053. www.rec.jacksonnc.org.

New, free maps show the Smokies in greater detail

New U.S. Topo maps are out, and the quadrangles covering the Great Smoky Mountains National Park now display trails, campgrounds, visitor centers, boundaries and other visitor information for the first time.

“Across the country, visitors to national parks will benefit from these new features on maps, but it’s especially fitting that the nation’s most visited national park — the Great Smoky Mountains National Park — is the inaugural park for the joint pilot project between the U.S. Geological Survey and

the National Park Service," said Kari Craun, Director of the USGS National Geospatial Technical Operations Center.

The 2016 maps covering the park show six trailhead symbols, two picnic areas, several trail systems and a road that were absent from the 2013 maps. The new maps also include expanded road data, wetlands layers and incorporation of high-resolution streams and rivers.

The USGS is also working to add Appalachian Trail segments to its maps, with the goal of eventually including all National Scenic Trails.

The nationwide U.S. Topo map improvement program is nearing the end of its third three-year cycle. The new maps are available for free download from http://on.doi.gov/1bbgE1J.

Learn about life on the Purchase

The past, present and future of Purchase Knob, a view-heavy area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Haywood County, will be discussed in a presentation at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, at the Bethea Welcome Center at Lake Junaluska.

Pat Maier of the Park Service will give the talk, covering scientific studies that have occurred on the site and plans for future projects. Once privately owned by Kathryn McNeil and Voit Gilmore, the 535-acre site was donated to the park in 2000 and now includes a scientific research learning center featuring classrooms, laboratories, administrative offices and housing for visiting scientists.

Part of the Tuscola Garden Club’s monthly meeting. 828.246.0437.

An Elk Bugle Corps members gives

URBAN SOIL

A $3,500 grant from the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority will help enrich the elk viewing experience in the Cataloochee area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The money, awarded to Friends of the Smokies, will fund training, uniforms and materials for the volunteer Elk Bugle Corps and Bike Patrol.

Dig into old-time cooking

The Elk Bugle Corps makes more than 45,000 contacts annually. The uniforms will allow visitors to more easily identify where to go for elk-related information, while volunteer training will allow Corps members to help with traffic control and visitor safety during high visitation periods.

To give to Elk Bugle Corps, visit www.friendsofthesmokies.org/donate.

The author of a slew of books detailing the secrets of old-timey cooking will be signing them 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Great Smoky Mountains Association visitor center in downtown Bryson City.

Barbara Swell learned her culinary secrets from her grandmother, who taught her to make pies and biscuits standing elbow-to-elbow at a big white enameled drain board-sided sink. Her book titles include A Garden Supper Tonight and Log Cabin Cooking

The book signing will coincide with Bryson City’s famed chili cook-off. www.smokiesinfo.org or 888.898.9102, ext. 222 or 254.

Western Carolina University has decreased its energy use by 30 percent in the past 14 years. Allen Newland photo

Western Carolina recognized for energy savings

Western Carolina University was among the 18 public colleges and universities recently honored by the state for leadership in reducing their energy consumption.

Western achieved a 30-percent reduction in energy use since a 2002 state law requiring energy reduction at universities was enacted.

In 2007, a separate law required community colleges to report their use and cost data to the N.C. Utility Savings Initiative, though no reduction requirement was established.

“This just shows the great efficiencies

Honor a leafy legacy

that can be achieved when you’re committed to a goal,” said Ted Bush, director of the Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service. “By reducing the amount of energy used, our universities and community colleges are also helping the environment by emitting far less air pollution, and reducing their operational costs, which benefits taxpayers.”

The awards were given by the USI and the N.C. Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service.

An exhibit honoring Haywood Community College’s legacy as one of the most beautifully landscaped areas in Haywood County will be on display through Nov. 19, with a special reception held 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, at HCC’s Creative Arts Building.

The exhibit, “Forest, Farm + Garden, 1966-2016” features new photography from Benjamin Porter alongside historic plans, photography and maps from founding director John Palmer’s records, celebrating the first 50 years of the Campus Arboretum of HCC and documenting the site’s transformation from open pastureland to the lush, shaded campus of today.

Nominate the green-minded for recognition

Nominees are sought for the 2016 MountainTrue Awards, which seek to honor the people, businesses and organizations that have furthered the organization’s goal of environmental protection over the past year.

Categories include:

■ Esther Cunningham Award, honoring a MountainTrue member who has demonstrated outstanding community service in conserving Western North Carolina’s natural resources.

■ Green Business Award, which honors a business that has exhibited leadership in implementing green practices, encouraging other businesses to do the same, and/or being an environmental advocate.

■ Volunteer of the Year, which honors a person who has committed to MountainTrue

through volunteering, program work or other MountainTrue activities.

■ Partner of the Year, which honors a group that has been a staunch partner with MountainTrue throughout the year.

■ WNC Elected Official of the Year, which honors someone in elected office at any level who has engaged in a particular conservation action of singular importance or demonstrated consistent commitment to conservation over time.

Submit nominations at http://bit.ly/2dKJOyQ by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12. Awards will be presented at MountainTrue’s fall gathering, 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, at New Belgium Brewery’s Brewhouse in Asheville. Susan Bean, susan@mountaintrue.org.

COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

• The Friends of Panthertown Information Session & Social Event is scheduled for 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 12, at the Jackson County Public Library Complex Auditorium in Sylva. www.panthertown.org or 269.4453.

• From 4-7 p.m. on Oct. 12, Domino’s Pizza in Sylva and Cherokee will team with four area fire departments to deliver randomly selected orders via fire truck as part of Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 9-15). For info about activities that week, call 587.8227.

• Friends of the Cashiers Library will hold their fall book clearance from Oct. 13-15. Preview night is from 5-7 p.m.

• The “Ghosts of Franklin” presentation will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. Jim Rose and his southern states paranormal research group, co-hosted by Franklin historian Gregg Clark, will be presenting evidence and photo documentation of hauntings in multiple locations in Franklin. www.fontanalib.org.

• Mike Wolf, Frank Fritz and their team are excited to return to North Carolina. They plan to film episodes of the hit series AMERICAN PICKERS throughout the region this fall. If you or someone you know has a large, private collection or accumulation of antiques that the pickers can spend the better part of the day looking through, send us your name, phone number, location and description of the collection with photos to: americanpickers@cineflix.com or call 855.old.rust.

• The Darnell Farms Corn Maze will be open through Nov. 1 on U.S. 19 at the Tuckasegee River Bridge in Bryson City. Besides the maze, there will also be a pumpkin patch, picnic area, farm fresh products, hayrides, and other activities. 488.2376.

• Coloring Club will be hosted on the second Wednesday of the month at 4 p.m. at Canton Library. Color pencils and color pages supplied. For ages 8 to 108. 648.2924.

B USINESS & E DUCATION

• “Paul Adams and the First Permanent Camp on Mount Le Conte” will be the Jackson County Genealogical Society’s program at 7 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. Wise will describe Paul Adams, his appointment as custodian of Mount Le Conte in 1925, and how he began the Basin Spring camp, now known as LeConte Lodge. 631.2646.

• Hunter Safety courses will be offered by Haywood Community College and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission from 6-9 p.m. on Oct. 17-18 and Nov. 1415 at HCC’s Campus, Building 3300, Room 3322, in Clyde. Pre-registration required: www.ncwildlife.org.

• The Small Business Center at Haywood Community College will offer a seminar entitled “How to Price Your Product or Service” from 6-9 p.m. on Oct. 18, in Clyde. Part of the Business Startup Series. 627.4512 or SBC.Haywood.edu.

• An HR Summit will be presented by Southwestern Community College’s Small Business Center for 9 a.m.5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18, at the college’s Jackson Campus. Laws, benefits, hiring, management, communication and ways of expressing appreciation will be covered. Registration required: www.southwesterncc.edu/sbc. Info: 339.4211 or t_henry@southwesterncc.edu.

All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted.

• A class on Twitter will be offered at 5:55 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at the Jackson County Public Library. Register or get more info: 586.2016.

• A Self-Assessment and Career Exploration Workshop is scheduled for 10 a.m.-noon on Tuesday, Oct. 25, at Waynesville Library. Sign-up required: 356.2507.

• One-on-one computer lessons are offered weekly at the Waynesville and Canton branches of the Haywood County Public Library. Lesson slots are available from 10 a.m.-noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Canton and from 3-5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Waynesville Library. Sign up at the front desk of either library or call 356.2507 for the Waynesville Library or 648.2924 for the Canton Library.

FUNDRAISERSAND B ENEFITS

• Soul Infusion Tea House & Bistro is having a Community Give Back Event from Oct. 13-15 in Sylva. Trippin Hardy (7-9 p.m.) and Mother of Dimension (9-11 p.m.) perform on Oct. 13; Tyler Kittle and Co. (7-9 p.m.) perform on Oct. 14 and Arrows of Aela (6-7 p.m.) and Ol’ Dirty Bathtub (7-9 p.m.) perform on Oct. 15. Local artists sell wares, raffle and silent auction. Proceeds benefit the Community-Whee Gardens and the Community Table; overflow to ARF and Catman2. $3 gate entry daily; children under 12 can bring non-perishable item to donate to Community Table. 586.1717 or www.soulinfusion.com.

• Haywood Habitat for Humanity will hold a house mixer from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Oct. 13 at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville. $35 per person includes heavy hor d’oeuvres and beverage ticket; proceeds benefit Haywood Habitat for Humanity. Live and silent auction. 452.7960 or haywoodhabitat.org.

• A Pokémon Go Top Collectors Contest is scheduled for 10 a.m.-noon on Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Canary Coalition’s location at 1286 West Main Street in Sylva. Fundraiser for Canary Coalition, a grassroots clean air movement. Yard sale runs concurrently from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. 631.3447 or info@canarycoalition.org.

• Friends of the Greenway will have a garage/trunk sale as a fundraiser from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Big Bear Park Shelter. Donate items by Oct. 10 at FROG Quarters. 369.8488.

• The Skinner Round-Up presented by Cessna is back in 2016 to benefit Hope For The Warriors, a national nonprofit focused on restoring self, family and hope for post-9/11 service members, veterans and military families, will take place near Lake Toxaway in the mountains of North Carolina on Oct. 20-21. For schedule details, to purchase tickets or register for events, please visit www.mikeskinner.com/roundup. Additionally, fans at home can get involved and show their support for Hope For The Warriors through the silent auction, which will feature online bidding. Bidding is currently open, with all items available at www.501auctions.com/skinnerroundup.

• “Spark: An Evening to Benefit Dance ARTS” will feature three distinct dance styles on Friday, Oct. 21, at the Fangmeyer Theater at Haywood Arts Regional Theatre (HART) in Waynesville. $60 for gala and performance; $25 for performance alone. Dancers will offer workshops and master classes on Oct. 22 at Folkmoot’s Friendship Center. HaywoodArts.org/dance.

• A Philosophy Lecture Series will start at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18, at the Jackson County Public Library. The first lecture is on “General Introduction to Philosophy.” Lecture series will continue on Tuesdays through Nov. 8. Series will be led by WCU professor John August. 586.2016

• Haywood County Tourism Development Authority is now offering smaller, single replicas quilt trail blocks

for purchase. A portion of the cost of each block will go to the Friends of the Haywood County Animal Shelter to construct a new, much needed animal shelter. The 16x16 inch blocks will feature either a cat or dog will be available in four background colors — blue, purple, brown, and green. 944.0761 or stop by 1110 Soco Road in Maggie Valley.

H EALTH MATTERS

• A Dinner with the Doc presentation on “Breast Cancer – Where Are We Now and What’s Next?” will be offered at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 13, at the Haywood Regional Medical Center Café in Clyde. Presented by Dr. Allison Johnson, a physician with Haywood Surgical Associates. Reservations required: 800.424.DOCS.

• A support group for those affected by essential tremor meets at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 16, at Mission Community Church in Sylva. 631.5543 or tkubit@frontier.com.

• A “Clearer Skin from the Inside Out” program will be presented by Dr. Linda Sparks, N.D., at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18, at the Waynesville Library. Discussion will center on how to heal chronic skin issues that are resistant to conventional treatment. 356.2507.

• Dr. Lisa Verges, geriatric psychiatrist, will review the book “When Breath Becomes Air” by Paul Kalanithi at 10 a.m. on Oct. 19 in the Harrell Center at Lake Junaluska.

• A program on “How to get a good night’s sleep … naturally!” is set for 3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 20, at the Waynesville Library. Leading the conversation will be Dodi Christiano, local licensed professional counselor.

• A Tuesdays to Thrive program will focus on nutrition at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 25 at the HHS Building on Western Carolina University’s Campus in Cullowhee. Light refreshments. Register: 844.414.DOCS.

• Participants are being sought for a clinical trial for those overweight with knee pain. Directed by Dr. Kate Queen of Mountain Medical Associates. wecan@wfu.edu or 558.0208.

• A support group for anyone with Multiple Sclerosis, family and friends meets at 2 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month in the Heritage Room at the Jackson County Senior Center in Sylva. Sponsored by Greater Carolinas Chapter of National MS Society. Info: 293.2503. Offered in cooperation with the Southwestern Commission Agency on Aging.

• A monthly grief support group sponsored by The Meditation Center meets at 7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at The Meditation Center at 894 East Main Street in Sylva. Info: www.meditatewnc.org or 356.1105.

• Inner Guidance from an Open Heart will meet from 68 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at The Meditation Center at 894 East Main Street in Sylva. Info: www.meditate-wnc.org or 356.1105.

• Dogwood Insight Center presents health talks at 6:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month.

• Free childbirth and breastfeeding classes are available at Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva. Classes are offered bimonthly on an ongoing basis. Register or get more info: 586.7907.

• Angel Medical Center’s diabetes support group meets at 4 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month in the AMC dining room. 369.4166.

• A free weekly grief support group is open to the public from 12:30-2 p.m. on Thursdays at SECU Hospice House in Franklin. Hosted by Four Seasons Compassion for Life Bereavement Team. 692.6178 or mlee@fourseasonscfl.org.

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

■ Complete listings of local music scene

■ Regional festivals

■ Art gallery events and openings

■ Complete listings of recreational offerings at regional health and fitness centers

■ Civic and social club gatherings

• A monthly grief processing support group will meet from 4-5:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at the Homestead Hospice and Palliative Care in Clyde. 452.5039.

• A Men’s Night Out will take place at 6:30 p.m. on the third floor of the hospital.

on the first Wednesday of each month at The Meditation Center at 894 E. Main St. in Sylva. www.meditatewnc.org or 356.1105.

• A free, weekly grief support group will meet from 12:30-2 p.m. on Thursdays at the SECU Hospice House in Franklin. 692.6178 or mlee@fourseasonscfl.org.

• “ECA on the Move!” – a walking program organized by Jackson County Extension and Community Association – meets from 9-10 a.m. on Mondays through Thursdays. It’s an effort to meet the American Heart Association’s recommendation of 10,000 steps per day. 586.4009.

• A Tuesday Meditation Group meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Franklin.

R ECREATIONAND FITNESS

• Waynesville Wellness offers a wide variety of classes on a weekly basis. Fitness Challenge eligible. http://waynesvillewellness.com/classes or 283.0173.

• Indoor soccer is available during Futsal Open Gym nights, 6:30-9 p.m., on Fridays, Oct. 14-21 and Nov. 4 and 18 at the Recreation Center in Cullowhee. www.smokiesinformation.org/info/branch-out-programs-fall.

• A couples ballroom dance class will be held at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 18, 25 and Nov. 1 at the Qualla Community Building, located at 184 Shoal Creek Loop in Whittier. Cost is $10 per person, per class. All proceeds will go to the Qualla Community Club (a nonprofit organization) for maintaining the Qualla Community Building. If you have any questions, please call 497.9456.

• The Greenway 3K Walk-Run is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22, at the new Greenway Bridge off Old Cullowhee Road. Register at the Jackson County Senior Center: $12 for senior center participants; $15 for all others.

• Bubble Soccer Night is from 6-9 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 26, at the Recreation Center in Cullowhee. $5 for unlimited play. Must be 18 or older.

• The Wednesday Croquet Group meets from 10 a.m.noon at the Vance Street Park across from the shelter. For senior players ages 55 or older. 456.2030 or dhummel@waynesvillenc.gov.

• Pickleball is from 1-3 p.m. on Tuesdays through Thursdays at First Methodist Church in Sylva. $1 each time you play; equipment provided. 293.3053.

P OLITICAL

• A candidate forum featuring state-level candidates running for the Senate District 50 (Jim Davis and Jane

Hipps) and House District 119 seats (Joe Sam Queen and Mike Clampitt) is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Oct. 13 at the Chief Joyce Dugan Cultural Arts Center at Cherokee Middle School in Cherokee. 226.0506 or allen@allenlomax.com.

• The Michael Moore political commentary film “Where To Invade Next” will be screened at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17 at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva. Free. Reservations recommended. 828.586.3555.

• The Jackson County Democratic Party will hold its monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18, at Party headquarters at 500 Mill Street in Sylva. www.jacksondems.com.

• The Swain County Democratic Party will hold its monthly meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18, at party headquarters (122 Everett Street) in Bryson City. 736.7169.

• Macon County Commission candidates Karl Gillespie, Charlie Leatherman, Paul Higdon and Bobby Kuppers will participate in a forum at noon on Oct. 20 at Tartan Hall. Organized by the League of Women Voters.

• A lunch-and-discussion group will be held by the League of Women Voters at noon on the second Thursday of each month at Tartan Hall of the First Presbyterian Church in Franklin. RSVP for lunch: lwvmacon@wild-dog-mountain.info or 524.8369.

• Highlands Mayor Patrick Taylor has coffee and an open public discussion with Highlands residents from 11 a.m.-noon on the last Friday of each month at Hudson Library in Highlands. www.fontanalib.org or 526.3031.

AUTHORSAND B OOKS

• Cookbook author Barbara Swell will sign books during Bryson City’s chili cook-off on Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Great Smoky Mountains Association’s visitor center location. 888.898.9102, ext. 222 or 254. SmokiesInformation.org.

• RF Wilson will visit City Lights Bookstore on Saturday, October 15th at 3 p.m. He will present the two books in his Rick Ryder Mystery series, Killer Weed and the recent Deadly Dancing. The one-armed Ryder, a recovering alcoholic and lawyer working as an investigator for the Mountain Center for the Defense of the Environment in Asheville, finds himself an object of suspicion as he tracks down corruption and faces down danger. 586.9499.

• John Campbell Folk School will host “The Literary Hour” – an hour of poetry and prose reading – at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 20, at Keith House on the JCFS campus in Brasstown. Reading will feature poets and writers Mary Michelle Keller and Lucy Cole Gratton.

• The Theme Team Book Club will be presented by the Waynesville Library from 2-4 p.m. on the first Friday of each month. Pick any book from a chosen them; each participant gets a chance to discuss his/her book. Sign-up required: 356.2507 or kolsen@haywoodnc.net.

• Cookin’ the Books will be held at noon on the last Wednesday of the month at the Waynesville Public Library. A book club focused on cookbooks. All members choose a recipe from the book and bring it to share. The group will discuss the good and bad aspects of the chosen cookbook. 356.2507.

• Banned Book Club meets from 10 a.m.-noon on Saturdays at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville. For those who enjoy literature and intellectual conversation. 456.6000, blueridgebooks@ymail.com or www.blueridgebooksnc.com.

• Waynesville Book Club on Mondays at 5:30 p.m. at Waynesville Library

Meet to discuss books, which are chosen by each member (taking turns) and provided by the library. New members are welcome. For more information, 356.2507.

• Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville has a used book section and is accepting books in exchange for credit on other used books, and a free book is available from the giveaway cart for anyone who buys three or more.

S ENIORACTIVITIES

• A horseback riding trip will be offered by the Jackson County Senior Center on Tuesday, Oct. 25, at the Nantahala Horseback Riding Stables. $20 per Senior Center participant; $25 for non-participants. Pre-registration required by Oct. 21: 586.5494 or drop by the lobby of the senior Center.

• The Mexican Train Dominoes Group seeks new players to join games at 1:30 p.m. each Tuesday at the Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 926.6567.

• Eat Smart, Move More North Carolina – an effort to help area residents commit to a healthier lifestyle, will meet from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville.

• Haywood County Senior Resource Center is looking into starting a weekly Euchre Card Group. If interested, contact Michelle Claytor at mclaytor@mountainprojects.org or 356.2800.

• A Silver Sneakers Cardio Fit class will meet from 10-11 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Waynesville Recreation Center. For ages 60 and above. Cost is regular admission fee to the rec center or free for members. 456.2030 or tplowman@waynesvillenc.gov.

• Book Club is held at 2 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 356.2800

• Senior croquet for ages 55 and older is offered from 9-11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Vance Street Park in front of Waynesville Recreation Center. Free. For info, contact Donald Hummel at 456.2030 or dhummel@waynesvillenc.gov.

• A Hand & Foot card game is held at 1 p.m. on Mondays at Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 356.2800.

• Senior Sale Day is on the third Friday of every month at the Friends of the Library Used Bookstore. Patrons 60 and older get 20 percent off all purchases. Proceeds benefit the Sylva Library.

• Pinochle game is played at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays at Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 356.2813.

• Hearts is played at 12 p.m. on Wednesdays at Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 356.2813.

• Mah Jongg is played at 1 p.m. on Wednesdays at Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 356.2813.

K IDS & FAMILIES

• Registration is underway for the Haywood County Youth Recreation Basketball League. Age groups range from 5-6 to 11-12. Age cut-off is Aug. 31. Games start Dec. 17. Registration is $60 per child and $55 per sibling through Oct. 14. Late fee of $10 after Oct. 14. Register anytime at the HCRP office in Waynesville. 452.6789 or drtaylor@haywoodnc.net.

• Registration is open through Oct. 14 for “Mini Movers” program through the Jackson County Recreation Center in Cullowhee. Meets from 10-11 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting Oct. 18.

• Registration is open through Oct. 14 for tennis lessons for ages 5-13 at Mark Watson Park in Sylva. $45. Classes start Oct. 26 and are held Wednesdays and Saturdays.

• A Tuesday Library Club for ages 5-12 meets at 4 p.m. each Tuesday (except for the fifth Tuesday on months that occurs) at the Canton Library. Hands-on activities like exercise, cooking, LEGOs, science experi-

ments and crafts. 648.2924 or kpunch@haywoodnc.net.

• A youth photography program will be offered for ages 12-16 on Tuesday afternoons in September and October at The Bascom in Highlands. Private lessons are also available. For complete listings of dates, times and topics, or to register, click on www.thebascom.org or call 526.4949.

• “Art Beats for Kids” will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. on Thursdays at the Charles Heath Gallery in Bryson City. A new project every week. $20 per child, with includes lesson, materials and snack. To register, call 828.538.2054.

• A Junior Ranger: River Ramble ranger-guided program is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Thursdays through Sept. 27 at the Oconaluftee River Trailhead.

• A “Junior Ranger: Smoky Mountain Elk” ranger-guided program will be offered at 5:30 p.m. on Sundays through Oct. 23 at the Palmer House at Cataloochee Valley.

• A “Junior Ranger: Porch Program” is offered at 1 p.m. every Friday through Oct. 28 at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center Porch near Cherokee.

K IDSMOVIES

• A children’s animated movie about a vampire family will be shown at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29. Rated PG; 89 minutes.

• A family movie will be shown at 10:30 a.m. every Friday at Hudson Library in Highlands.

• Family story time for ages zero to six years old is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. each Tuesday at the Canton Library. 648.2924.

• Gorgeous Gorges Colors festival is from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Oct. 15 at Gorges State Park in Sapphire. Live bluegrass, local vendors and educational events on geology, black bears, fungi and astronomy. 966.9099, ej.dwigans@ncaparks.gov or www.ncparks.gov/gorges-state-park/events-and-programs.

• The 20th Annual PumpkinFest will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, in downtown Franklin. During this event you can take part in some traditional and some very non-traditional fall festivities. Bring your pumpkin or purchase one downtown (limited supply) and sign up early for the World Famous Pumpkin Roll. The “roll” takes place from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with signup running from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. www.townofranklinnc.com or 524.2516.

F OOD & D RINK

• Heinzelmännchen Brewery will have its Roktoberfest Release Party from noon-9 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22, in Sylva. Brats, kraut, live music and black forest chocolate cake for a suggested donation of $10. Proceeds benefit Community Table, which provides nutritious meals to neighbors in need.

• MountainTrue will hold its annual Fall Gathering from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 26, at New Belgium Brewery’s Brewhouse in Asheville. Live music from the Midnight Plowboys.

ON STAGE & I N CONCERT

• Western Carolina University (Cullowhee) will host the Symphony Band at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13 in the Bardo Arts Center. Free. www.wcu.edu.

• “The Sunshine Boys,” a play by Neil Simon, will be on stage Thursdays through Sundays, Oct. 13-23, at the Highlands Performing Arts Center. Directed by Lance Trudel. 526.8084 or highlandscashiersplayers.org.

A&E

FESTIVALSAND S PECIAL EVENTS

• The 20th annual Harvest Festival will take place Oct 14-16 at the Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center in Robbinsville. Saturday admission is just $3 for adults and free for kids grades K-12 and younger. The Claire Lynch Band will also perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. An acclaimed bluegrass act, Lynch has won the International Bluegrass Music Association award for “Female Vocalist of the Year” three times. Tickets for Lynch are $25 per person, $10 for children grades K-12. Sunday will feature performances by gospel groups from 2 to 4 p.m. www.stecoahvalleycenter.com or 479.3364.

• The annual “Octoberfest” will be held Oct. 10-15 in downtown Sylva.

Enjoy “Octoberfest” related food, drink and merchandise. Purchase a $25 ticket at a participating merchant, show your receipt at another participating merchant and receive 10 percent off your purchase. Alcohol excluded and other restrictions may apply. www.mountainlovers.com.

• The 26th annual Chili Cook Off and Car Show will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad Depot in Bryson City. Trophies awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, People’s Choice and Showmanship. Cash prizes will also be awarded in each category. To enter, applications must be submitted to the Swain County Chamber of Commerce. The event is free to wander. $5 for a chili sampling bracelet. For more information, email chamber@greatsmokies.com.

• The Cherokee County Mountain Crafters Festival is from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1516, at the Murphy Middle and High School gyms. Food, crafts, music, dance, pet adoptions, raffles and more.

• “The Pirate of Bully Bay” will hit the stage at 9 a.m. Oct. 14 in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University. Prepare “ye mateys” for our most fun antibullying, swashbuckling adventure ever. Join Captain Catherine, the kindest pirate of the high seas, as she meets the bully Black ‘Stache and must overcome his mean ways. This interactive adventure teaches your young crew the tools they need to stop a bully through clever rhymes and memorable characters. Best for grades pre-K to 5th grade.

• The Collingsworth Family, an award-winning contemporary gospel group that hails from Ohio and has performed all over the world, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.

Tickets start at $20 each. www.greatmountainmusic.com or 866.273.4615.

• The National Theatre of London’s encore performance of “A View From the Bridge” will be screened live at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Highlands Performing Arts Center in Highlands. Tickets: highlandspac.org or 526.9047.

• Legendary rock group STYX will be performing at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at Harrah’s Cherokee Event Center. www.harrahscherokee.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

• Auditions for HART’s holiday production of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” will be held at 2 p.m. on Oct. 22. Performances are Dec. 10-11 and 17-18. www.harttheatre.org.

• The vampire comedy “The Mystery of Irma Vep” will be presented on Oct. 21-23 and Oct. 27-30 at HART Theatre in Waynesville. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 21-22 and 27-29 and at 7:30 p.m. on Sundays, Oct. 23 and 30. Reservations: 456.6322 or www.harttheatre.org.

• Country star Martina McBride will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at Harrah’s Cherokee. Her lat-

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est album, “Wreckless,” debuted at number two on Billboard’s Top Country Albums Chart in April. For more information on tickets, click on www.harrahscherokee.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

• The Fall Colors Fine Art Show will be held at 10 a.m. Oct. 15-16 at the Highlands Civic Center. www.highlandschamber.org.

• The “Macon Makers Group” is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18, at The Rathskeller in Franklin. Bring something for show and tell. 421.8623.

• Second City will perform for the annual Homecoming Comedy Show at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 26, at Western Carolina University’s Bardo Arts Center in Cullowhee. Part of the 2016-17 Arts and Cultural Events Series. Free for students; $20 for all others. Preregistration required for students: tcbowers1@catamount.wcu.edu. For others: hensley@wcu.edu.

OUTDOORMUSIC

• The “Friday Night Live” concert series at the Town Square in Highlands will host Southern Highlands (bluegrass) Oct. 14. Both shows are free and begin at 6 p.m. www.highlandschamber.org.

• The “Pickin’ On The Square” (Franklin) concert series will continue with gospel music on Oct. 15. All shows are free and begin at 7:30 p.m. A community jam begins at 6:30 p.m. www.franklinnc.com or 828.524.2516.

• The Music in the Mountains (Bryson City) concert series will host Somebody’s Child (Americana) Oct. 15 and Blue Eyed Girl (roots/acoustic) Oct. 22. All shows begin at 6:30 p.m. www.greatsmokies.com.

• The Oconaluftee Visitor Center (Cherokee) will host a back porch old-time music jam from 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 15 and Nov. 19. All are welcome to come play or simply sit and listen to sounds of Southern Appalachia.

• Acclaimed gospel group The Inspirations will host the ‘Singing in the Smokies’ fall color festival on Oct. 13-15 at Inspiration Park in Bryson City. Tickets are $20 per night, with children 12 and under admitted free. www.theinspirations.com.

CLASSESAND PROGRAMS

• The Leaf Lookers Gemboree will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 14-16 at the Macon County Community Building in Franklin. Gem show with dealers from all across the southeast offering fine jewelry, beads, rough and cut stones. 828.524.3161.

• A Rug Braiding class will be offered from 9:30 a.m.noon on Wednesdays, Oct. 19 and 26, at the Dillsboro Masonic Lodge. $10. Taught by Dianne Ellis, longtime member of Dogwood Crafters. Register by Oct. 13: 586.2435 or junejpell@frontier.com.

• A pumpkin blown glass class will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 at the Jackson County Green Energy Park in Dillsboro. Classes are 30 minutes. Cost is $40. 631.0271 or www.jcgep.org.

• Reservations are being accepted from crafters to sell crafts at the Bethel United Methodist Church’s Craft Fair, which is Oct. 22. Reserve a space for $10 per table. 235.9360.

• The Cullowhee Mountain Arts “Autumn Color Retreat Workshop” with artist Lisa Pressmanwill be held Oct. 24-29 in Lake Logan. Writers are free to come at a non-workshop price of $795 — including lodging, meals, workspace, yoga, mindfulness and interaction with visual artists. www.cullowheemountainarts.org.

• Doreyl Ammons Cain will offer an Outside Fall Landscape Pastel Painting class from 1:30-4:30 p.m. on Oct. 27 at the Sylva Senior Center. 293.2239.

ARTSHOWINGSAND GALLERIES

• The Fine Art Museum at Western Carolina University is hosting the exhibit “The Language of Weaving: Contemporary Maya Textiles” at the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center in Cullowhee. Exhibit runs through Nov. 11. Fineartmuseum.wcu.edu.

• A three-month ceramics exhibit at the Western Carolina University Fine Art Museum is currently in Cullowhee. Fineartmuseum.wcu.edu or 227.3591.

• Submissions are now being accepted for the 2017 edition of Milestone, the biennial art and literary review published by Southwestern Community College. First- and second-place cash prizes will be awarded in three categories: Poetry, Prose (short story or nonfiction works) and Visual Arts, including photography. In addition, one cash prize will be awarded for Cover Art. Open to residents of Jackson, Macon, Swain counties and the Qualla Boundary – as well as SCC students and alumni. Info and submissions (by Dec. 5): tknott@southwesterncc.edu or bkeeling@southwesterncc.edu. Info: 339.4314 or 339.4325.

• The 26th annual Quilt Show will be presented by the High Country Quilt Guild from Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 13-15, at the First Baptist Church of Maggie Valley. Show is open from noon-4 p.m. on Thursday and from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

• Doreyl Ammons Cain will offer an Outside Birds in Fall Landscape Pastel Painting class from 2-5 p.m. on Oct. 14 at the Stecoah Valley Center. 293.2239.

• The Western Carolina University School of Stage and Screen will co-host an entertainment technology conference and expo Friday, Oct. 14, with a focus on film and theater lighting techniques.

For information about registration, call the WCU School of Stage and Screen at 227.7491 or email charsales@barbizon.com.

• Applications are being accepted through Oct. 15 to be part of a monthly gallery exhibit and/or retail gift space through the Haywood County Arts Council Gallery & Gifts. Applications available at: http://haywoodarts.org/call-for-artists/. Submit applications to gallerygifts@haywoodarts.org.

• “Contemporary Clay,” curated by Heather Mae Erickson, is an exhibition that examines the evolving, expanded field of clay and ceramics. It will run through Dec. 16 in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University. www.wcu.edu.

• The Haywood Art Show will be exhibited through Oct. 30 at the Haywood County Arts Council’s Gallery & Gifts in downtown Waynesville. The Studio Tour will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 28-29 around the county. www.haywoodarts.org.

• The Freestylers (variety) will perform at the opening of the George Evans Photography Exhibit at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22, at the Swain Arts Center. 488.7843 or rlackey@swainmail.org.

• Laurey-Faye Dean will be the featured artist with a live demonstration and discussion at “The Potter’s Wheel” series from noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 22 at The Wild Fern in Bryson City.

• The exhibit “Emissaries of Peace: 1762 Cherokee & British Delegations” features Cherokee clothing, feather capes, beads, and other artifacts. It is currently on display at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian and also available for travel. www.cherokeemuseum.org or bduncan@cherokeemuseum.org.

• Downtown Waynesville is home to a new gallery and working artists’ studio at 163 South Main Street. Celebrated contemporary plein air painter, Jo Ridge Kelley, and precious metal jewelry artist, Keri Kelley Hollifield, have combined their talents in one historic and creative space.

• Artist Melba Cooper will be exhibiting her stunning series of paintings, “POLLINATION,” at Cullowhee Mountain Arts’ (CMA) Studio in downtown Sylva. www.cullowheemountainarts.org/up-in-the-studioevents or 342.6913.

• A showcase on the life and times of Horace Kephart will be on display through March 31 in the Mountain Heritage Center at Western Carolina University. The Mountain Heritage Center’s Kephart Collection is composed of 127 objects, including Kephart’s tent, sleeping bag, backpack and the writing desk. The exhibit will display many of these objects in a campsite setting. 227.7129.

• The “Photography of Bayard Wootten” exhibit is on display through Nov. 23 in the Mountain Heritage Center at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee.

• New artist and medium will be featured every month at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 356.2800.

FILM & S CREEN

• “Hunt for the Wilderpeople,” an action/adventure/comedy set in New Zealand, will be screened by the Groovy Movie Club at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 16, at Buffy Queen’s home in Waynesville. RSVP and get directions/details: johnbuckleyx@gmail.com.

• Adult movie time, 6:30 p.m. Mondays at Jackson County Public Library. Call for title of movie. 586.2016.

Outdoors

• A seminar on lure techniques is offered at 7 p.m. every Tuesday at Dream Catchers Fishing Supply at 21 Steeple Road in Sylva. 443.890.5014.

• Comments are now being accepted through Oct. 14 by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission on proposed elk depredation rule changes. The proposed amendment requires landowners who take a depredating elk without a Commission-issued depredation permit to report the take to the Commission within 24 hours of the kill. Proposed amendment is available at www.ncwildlife.org/Proposed-Regulations. Send comments to: regulations@nc-wildlife.org or Kate Pipkin, N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, 1701 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1701.

• A Back-country Cooking program will be offered from 6-8 p.m. on Oct. 13 at the Recreation Center in Cullowhee. $5. Register by Oct. 12: 293.3053 (Cullowhee) or 631.2020 (Cashiers).

• A formerly secret 12-meter satellite dish will be on display at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 14, at Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute in Rosman. The satellite was used in the Cold War. Reservations required. $20 per adult or $15 for seniors/military. Children 10under are admitted free. www.pari.edu or 862.5554. Info: schappell@pari.edu.

• A “Fishing the Dry Fly” program will be offered to participants 12 and older from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Oct. 14 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/EducationCenters/Pisgah/ EventRegistration.aspx or 877.4423.

• A two-hour stroll through Bradleytown will show participants how the area transformed from a forested haven to a barren wasteland and back again, beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturdays, Oct. 15 and 29. Led by park volunteer Dick Sellers. 497.1905.

• A celebration of fall and the life of volunteer Beth Moberg at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Rickman Store six miles north of Franklin. Chili and cornbread. Dogwood dedication.

• An “Outdoor Smart Phone Photography” class will

cover the basics of photographing wildlife and their habitats using a mobile device from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Oct. 15 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. Open to ages 12-up. Register: www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/EducationCenters/Pisgah /EventRegistration.aspx. Info: 877.4423 or Jennifer.rowe@ncwildlife.org.

• A Fly Rod Building class will be presented by Tommy Thomas, former president of the National Chapter of Trout Unlimited, from 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from Oct. 18-Dec. 15 at Haywood Community College. Register: 565.4240.

• A presentation entitled “Purchase Knob – Past, Present and Future” will be offered to the Tuscola Garden Club at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18, at the Bethea Welcome Center at Lake Junaluska. Purchase Knob, a 535-acre site, was donated to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2000 and is now a scientific research learning center. 246.0437.

• Franklin Bird Club will have a bird walk along the greenway at 8 a.m. on Oct. 19 in Franklin. Meet at Macon County Public Library parking area. 524.5234 or https://franklinbirdclub.com.

• Franklin Bird Club will have a bird walk along the greenway at 8 a.m. on Oct. 26 in Franklin. Meet at Salali Lane. 524.5234 or https://franklinbirdclub.com.

• “Looking for the ‘Good Ol’ Days,’” a ranger-guided program, is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sundays through Oct. 23, at the Mountain Farm Museum at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee.

• A “Beyond BOW: Introduction to Fly Fishing” class will be offered to women 18-up from Oct. 21-23 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. $125 per person includes equipment, materials and meals. Register: 919.218.3638. www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/EducationCenters/Pisgah /EventRegistration.aspx or 877.4423.

• An outdoor drama entitled “The Legend of Tommy Hodges” is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Oct. 21-22, at the Cradle of Forestry in Pisgah Forest. 877.3130. www.cradleofforestry.com.

• “Porch Talk – Salamanders of the Smokies” – a ranger-guided program – is offered at 2 p.m. on Mondays through Oct. 24 at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center Porch near Cherokee.

• A ranger-guided Smokemont History Walk is offered at 11 a.m. on Tuesdays through Oct. 25, near Cherokee.

• A “Logging in the Smokies” ranger-guided program is offered at 1 p.m. on Wednesdays through Oct. 26 at the Smokemont Nature Trail in the Smokemont Campground.

• The Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians has moved to Bryson City and is open from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Monday through Saturday. FlyFishingMuseum.org.

FARMAND GARDEN

• A program on dehydrating foods for storage is scheduled for 10 a.m.-noon on Friday, Oct. 21, at the Waynesville Library. Presented by Julie Sawyer, Haywood County extension agent. Sign-up required: 356.2507.

• The Haywood County Plant Clinic is now open at the Haywood County Extension Center in Waynesville. Master Gardeners will answer questions about lawns, vegetables, flowers, trees, ornamental plans, disease, insects and more. 456.3575.

• Local farmers can stop by the Cooperative Extension Office on Acquoni Road from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every fourth Friday to learn about USDA Farm Service Agency programs in the 2014 Farm Bill. Info: 488.2684, ext. 2 (Wednesday through Friday) or 524.3175, ext. 2 (Monday through Wednesday).

Saturday, Oct. 15 • 7 p.m. • General Admission: $10

Hundreds of talented artisans from throughout the Southeast present a varied collection of arts,

Mac Arnold must have known at an early age that his music career would read like a “Who’s who” of Blues/R&B Legends. His high school band “J Floyd & The Shamrocks” were often joined by none other than Macon, Georgia native, James Brown on piano. After deciding to pursue a professional music career, he joined the Charles Miller group until 1965 when he made the move to Chicago to work with recording artist/saxophonist A.C. Reed.

Mac now resides in Pelzer, SC, where at the age of ten he got his first taste of the blues when he learned to play his brother Leroy’s home-made guitar. Going back to his roots, Mac is serving up a mess of Blues with his own band, “Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues”. The band consists of Austin Brashier on lead guitar and vocals, Max Hightower on keyboards, harmonica, rhythm guitar, bass and vocals, Scotty Hawkins on drums, and Mac Arnold on Slide and Rhythm Gas Can Guitars, vocals and bass.

• The Macon County Poultry Club of Franklin meets at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at the Cooperative Extension Office on Thomas Heights Rd, Open to the public. 369.3916.

COMPETITIVE E DGE

• The Pumpkin Run 5K will provide a mid-fall run at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, on the Little Tennessee Greenway in Franklin. Held in conjunction with the same-day PumpkinFest downtown, the run will benefit the Macon/Jackson County Habitat for Humanity. $20 online registration, with day-of registration beginning at 8 a.m. www.active.come.

• The Conquer the Mountain Half Marathon will be held Saturday, Nov. 5, from the Tassee Shelter of the Little Tennessee Greenway in Franklin. A portion of the proceeds will go toward the Smoky Mountain Pregnancy Care Center to fund medical needs at SMPCC clinics and other needs to allow the organization to carry out its mission. $45 or $60 for a two-person team. David Linn, 421.7637 or briningit2life@gmail.com.

H IKING CLUBS

• Blue Ridge Parkway rangers will lead a two-mile roundtrip hike to Fryingpan Fire Tower at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 14. Meet at the Fryingpan Trail pullout at mile post 409.6, one mile south of the Pisgah Inn. 298.5330, ext. 304.

• A high elevation hike on the Appalachian Trail will be offered from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15. Eight miles. Led by Liz Dominque, a professional naturalist. $20 for members of the Great Smoky Mountains Association; $35 for new members. http://smokiesinformation.org/info/membership-benefits.

• A hike from Bradleytown to Campground will be led by rangers at 9 a.m. on Oct. 15 and 29, at the Smokemont Baptist Church. Easy two-hour stroll.

• The Nantahala Hiking Club will take a very strenuous 15-mile hike with an elevation change of 3,300 ft. on Saturday, Oct. 15, to Cheoah Bald on the Appalachian Trail, beginning at the Nantahala Outdoor Center and returning down the Bartram Trail to Ledbetter Creek Parking on US 19/74. Call leader Don O’Neal, 586.5723, for reservations.

• The Nantahala Hiking Club will take a two-mile easy hike, with an elevation change of 630 ft., on Saturday, Oct. 15, on Rufus Morgan Trail to a waterfall named for the founder of the Nantahala Hiking Club. Meet at Westgate Plaza in Franklin at 10:00 am, drive 24 miles round trip. Call leader Katharine Brown, 421.4178, for reservations. Visitors, children and friendly dogs are welcome.

• Carolina Mountain Club will have a nine-mile hike with a 1,800-foot ascent at 8 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 16, from Heintooga Road to Fork Ridge Overlook. For reservations and info, contact leader Danny Bernstein at 450.0747 or danny@hikertohiker.com.

■

• Carolina Mountain Club will have a 5.5 mile hike with a 400-foot ascent on Oct. 16 from Waterrock Knob to Soco Gap. For info and reservations, contact Marcia Bromberg at 505.0471 or mwbromberg@yahoo.com.

• Carolina Mountain Club will have a 10-mile hike with a 1,800-foot ascent on Oct. 19 from Daniel Ridge to Caney Bottom and Cove Creek Falls Loop. For info or to sign up, contact leader Stuart English at 384.4870 or stuengo@comporium.net.

• The Nantahala Hiking Club will take a six-mile, moderate-to-strenuous hike, with an elevation change of 900 feet on Saturday, Oct. 22, to William’s Pulpit on the Bartram Trail, beginning at Wallace Branch. Reservations: Mary Stone, 369.7352.

• The Nantahala Hiking Club will take a three-mile moderate hike, with an elevation change of 200 feet on Sunday, Oct. 23, to High Falls on the Thompson River. Reservations: 954.632.7270.

• Hike of the Week is at 10 a.m. every Friday at varying locations along the parkway. Led by National Park Service rangers. www.nps.gov/blri or 298.5330, ext. 304.

Ongoing

P OLITICALCORNER

Democratic party

• Macon County Democratic Party Headquarters, 251 Sloan Road in Franklin, is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. 369.8561.

• Haywood County Democratic executive committee meets at 5 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at Democratic Headquarters, 286 Haywood Square, Waynesville. www.haywooddemocrats.org.

• Haywood County Democratic Party headquarters, 286 Haywood Square, Waynesville, is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. 452.9607, haywooddemocrats.org.

• Jackson County Democratic Party meets the third Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at party Headquarters, 500 Mill St., Sylva. Becky Kornegay, 2933999.

• Jackson County Democratic Party executive committee members meet at 6:30 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at Democratic Headquarters, 500 Mill St., Sylva. jacksondems.com.

• Jackson County Democratic Women meet at 6 p.m. the third Thursday of every month at Democratic Headquarters 500 Mill St., Sylva. jacksondems.com.

GOP

• Jackson County Republican headquarters at Laurel Terrace on U.S. 64 East in Cashiers and at 58 Sunrise Park retail complexes in Sylva. 743.6491 or jacksonctygop@yahoo.com, www.jacksoncountygop.com.

• The North Jackson County GOP monthly meetings are held at 6:30 p.m., the fourth Monday of each month, at the Sylva headquarters, 58 D Sunrise Park, Sylva. Ralph Slaughter, Jackson County GOP Chair at 743.6491 or www.jacksoncountygop.com.

• The South Jackson County GOP monthly meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month at the GOP headquarters office at Laurel Terrace on N.C. 64 east in Cashiers. Ralph Slaughter, Jackson County GOP Chair at 743.6491 or www.jacksoncountygop.com.

• The Haywood Republicans meet at 6:30 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at the GOP headquarters, 303 N. Haywood St., Waynesville. 246.7921. www.haywoodncgop.org.

Other political groups

• Occupy/WNC General Assembly meets from 7-8:30 p.m. every second and fourth Tuesday at Sneak E Squirrel Community Room in Sylva. 743-9747.

• The Haywood County NAACP meets at 2 p.m. on the fourth Saturday of each month. Location varies around the county for each meeting. Call for info. forwardtogetherhaywood@gmail.com or 400.5475.

• The Jackson County NAACP meets at 10:45 a.m. on the second Saturday each month at Liberty Baptist Church in Sylva.

• A TEA Party group meets at 2 p.m. the third Saturday of each month at the 441 Diner in Otto.

• The Libertarian Party of Haywood County meets at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at the Waynesville Recreation Center. Dunlapdisputeresolution.com.

• The Jackson County Patriots, a grassroots group of citizens promoting Constitutional government, free markets and responsible personal liberty, will meet at 5 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at Tuck’s Restaurant in Cullowhee. For info, contact Ginny Jahrmarkt at Box547@aol.com.

• Waynesville Aldermen meeting at 6:30 p.m. second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Town Hall. 456.3515.

B USINESS & E DUCATION

• Free GED test-preparation classes offered by Southwestern Community College, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 5:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays, SCC Swain Center, Room 101. Instruction in other college and career readiness activities including computer skills, resume writing, filling out job applications, job searches, college entrance exam prep, college applications, financial aid and more. 366.2000 or stop by the Swain Center.

• Guidance on looking for a job or gaining basic job skills will be available from 1-4 p.m. each Wednesday at the Macon County Public Library. One-on-one help from a Southwestern Community College employability instructor. 524.3600.

• Tech-savvy questions will be answered from 10 a.m.8 p.m. every Tuesday in the month of January at the Jackson County Library. 586.2016.

• Entrepreneurship training available online through HCC Small Business Center through a partnership with Hewlett Packard and the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship. Access courses at www.ncsbc.net, call 627.4512 or kgould@haywood.edu. Information about upcoming workshops is available on the HCC Small Business Center website at SBC.Haywood.edu.

• Human Resource Development class, SCC Swain Center. Get help with resume writing, job searches, online job applications completions, and much more. SCC Swain Center, Jennifer Ashlock, 366.2000 or Yvonne Price, 366.2002.

• Southwestern Community College offers "Employability" labs 8 a.m. to noon Mondays and Wednesday, room 104, Oaks Hall, Southwestern Community College, Jackson Campus; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, and 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Room 104, SCC Macon Annex; 8 a.m. to noon Mondays and Wednesdays, SCC Swain Center; and 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays, Cherokee Vocational Center, Cherokee.

• One-on-One Computer Support Program available at the Jackson County Public Library. Individual appointments are set up by the Adult Services Department, 586.2016 for more information.

• Spanish Club Round Table Discussions, noon to 1 p.m. Thursdays, gazebo at the Macon Campus of Southwestern Community College.

• Entrepreneur Skills Network business skills meetings, 6 to 7:30 p.m. every Monday in the Jackson County Justice and Administration Building, Sylva. Experienced and startup entrepreneurs are welcome. 586.5466 or esn4meetings@gmail.com.

• Ready to Read, adult literacy program to help those who are illiterate or need to improve/strengthen their reading skills, 10 a.m. to noon, Tuesdays and Thursdays, Genealogy Study Room on the second floor of Jackson County Public Library. 586.2016.

MarketPlace information:

The Smoky Mountain News Marketplace has a distribution of 16,000 every week to over 500 locations across in Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties along with the Qualla Boundary and west Buncombe County. For a link to our MarketPlace Web site, which also contains a link to all of our MarketPlace display advertisers’ Web sites, visit www.smokymountainnews.com.

Rates:

■ Free — Lost or found pet ads.

■ $5 — Residential yard sale ads,

■ $5 — Non-business items that sell for less than $150.

■ $15 — Classified ads that are 50 words or less; each additional line is $2. If your ad is 10 words or less, it will be displayed with a larger type.

■ $3 — Border around ad and $5 — Picture with ad or colored background.

■ $50 — Non-business items, 25 words or less. 3 month or till sold.

■ $300 — Statewide classifieds run in 117 participating newspapers with 1.6 million circulation. Up to 25 words.

■ All classified ads must be pre-paid.

Classified Advertising:

Scott Collier, phone 828.452.4251; fax 828.452.3585 classads@smokymountainnews.com

AUCTION

142+/-ACRES LAND AUCTION Carteret County, NC, Excellent Cropland, Mini-Farms, HorseFarms. Large Country Estates & Development Potential - Newport Loop Road, Friday OCTOBER 14 at 2:00PM Live On-Site, www.HouseAuctionCompany.com 252.729.1162 NCAL#7889 ABSOLUTE AUCTION

Tues. Nov. 15, 16 @ 8am - Lumberton, NC (35) Dump Trucks (36) Road Tractors Day Cabs 100 Const Items - 10% BP - www.meekinsauction.com NCLN 858 HOME IMPROVEMENT AUCTION

Saturday, October 22 @ 10am 201 S. Central Ave. Locust, NC Cabinet Sets, Doors, Carpet, Tile, Hardwood, Bath Vanities, Windows, Lighting, Patio Sets, Trim, Appliances, Name Brand Tools. NC Sales Tax applies. www.ClassicAuctions.com 704.507.1449 NCAF5479 JOB COMPLETION AND FLEET REDUCTION AUCTION -

BUILDING MATERIALS

HAYWOOD BUILDERS

Garage Doors, New Installations Service & Repairs, 828.456.6051 100 Charles St. Waynesville Employee Owned.

CONSTRUCTION/ REMODELING

ACORN STAIRLIFTS.

The Affordable Solution to your stairs! **Limited time -$250 Off Your Stairlift Purchase!** Buy Direct & Save. Please call 1.800.291.2712 for FREE DVD and brochure.

ALL THINGS BASEMENTY! Basement Systems Inc. Call us for all of your basement needs! Waterproofing, Finishing, Structural Repairs, Humidity and Mold Control. FREE ESTIMATES! Call 1.800.698.9217

-

CARS/TRUCKS WANTED!!! Top Dollar! Free Towing From Home, Office or body Shop. All Makes/Models 2000-2016. Same Day Pick-Up Available! Call Now: 1.800.761.9396 SAPA

HIGH RISK DRIVER? Had a DUI? Stop paying too much for R-22, FR-44, or similar HighRisk Car Insurance! Call our FREE hotline today & SAVE money! 888.591.1852

STOP PAYING FOR Expensive Auto Repairs! Get discounted warranty coverage from the wholesale

Saturday, Oct. 22nd. 279 Crescent Rd., Blairsville, GA 30512. Farm Tractors & Equipment, Construction Equipment, Trucks, Trailers & Support Equipment. Information or Consign: 864.940.4800 or 706.781.4808. www.joeymartinauctioneers.com. GA2627 AUCTION -

Central NC Home on secluded 5+/Acre Farm. 10+/- minutes to I85/40. Building used as warehouse w/apartment, Hillsborough, NC Bid Now - October 27th United Country-Rogers Auctioneers, Inc. www.RogersAuction.com 919.545.0412 NCFL7360

BATHTUB REFINISHINGRenew or change the color of your bathtub, tile or sink. Fiberglass repair specialists! 5 year warranty. Locally owned since 1989. CarolinasTubDoctor.com. 888.988.4430.

DAVE’S CUSTOM HOMES OF WNC, IFree 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

SAFE STEP WALK-IN TUB. Alert for Seniors. Bathroom falls can be fatal. Approved by Arthritis Foundation. Therapeutic Jets. Less Than 4 Inch Step-In. Wide Door. Anti-Slip Floors. American Made. Installation Included. Call 800.807.7219 for $750 Off.

MOTORCYCLES

YOUR AD COULD REACH 1.6 MILLION HOMES ACROSS NC! Your classified ad could be reaching over 1.6 Million Homes across North Carolina! Place your ad with The Smoky Mountain News on the NC Statewide Classified Ad Network- 118 NC newspapers for a low cost of $375 for 25-word ad to appear in each paper! Additional words are $10 each. The whole state at your fingertips! It's a smart advertising buy! For more information visit the N.C. Press Association's website at: ncpress.com

CRAZY BOB’S BIKER STUFF Jackets, Chaps, Vests, Helmets, Rain Gear, Saddlebags, Sissy Bar Bags, Tool Bags, Stickers, Patches. We also got you covered with 50 Sizes of Tarps: Heavy Duty Silver, Brown & Green, Blue & Silver, Blue & Camo. 1880 Dellwood Rd., Waynesville 828.926.1177

CKC Registered, Uncommon Black or Chocolate Partis. Standard Size, Shots, Dewormed, Optional Microchipping, Well Socialized. Ready to Adopt by Oct. 22. $1,500 Call for more information

828.506.5623

HAYWOOD SPAY/NEUTER

828.452.1329

Prevent Unwanted Litters!

The Heat Is On!

Spay/Neuter For Haywood Pets As Low As $10. Operation Pit is in Effect!

Free Spay/Neuter, Microchip & Vaccines For Haywood Pitbull Types & Mixes! Hours:

Tuesday-Friday, 12 Noon - 6 pm

182 Richland Street, Waynesville

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

ATTENTION FACEBOOK & TWITTER

Users! Earn 3K+ per month for just using what you already use for free! For details follow this link: tinyurl.com/MoneyOnSocialMedia SAPA

BECOME A PUBLISHED AUTHOR!

Publications sold at all major secular & specialty Christian bookstores. CALL Christian Faith Publishing Now for your FREE author submission kit. 1.800.914.0159

$500 - $1000 DAILY

Returning Phone Calls! No Selling. No Explaining! Not MLM! Call 1.866.854.1068 SAPA

EMPLOYMENT

AIRLINE MECHANIC TRAINING –

Get FAA Technician certification. Approved for military benefits. Financial Aid if qualified. Job placement assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance 866.724.5403. SAPA

EMPLOYMENT

PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS

Meridian is seeking Peer Support Specialists to work within a number of recovery oriented programs within our agency. Being a Peer Support Specialist provides an opportunity for individuals to transform their own personal lived experience with mental health and/or addiction challenges into a tool for inspiring hope for recovery in others.Applicants must demonstrate maturity in their own recovery process, have a HS Diploma or GED, valid driver’s license, reliable transportation and have moderate computer skills.If you are seeking some basic information about the role of Peer Support Specialists within the public behavioral health system, please go toNC Peer Support Specialist Certification Site: http://pss.unc.edu/ You do not have to be a certified peer support specialist prior to employment.For further information about these positions, visit the employment section of our website at: www.meridianbhs.org If interested, apply by completing the mini application and submitting your resume.

TRAIN AT HOME

ROSEMARY - ONE OF A LITTER OF SIAMESE MIX KITTENS, ABOUT THREE MONTHS OLD. SHE IS THE ONLY FEMALE, AND THE ONLY ONE WITH TABBY MARKINGS. AND ROSEMARY HAS A BOB TAIL, MAKING HER EXTRA SPECIAL. ALL THEY ARE SHY BUT ARE QUICKLY LEARNING THAT PEOPLE ARE GOOD, ESPECIALLY WHEN PETTING AND FEEDING ARE INVOLVED!

RED AND HER SISTER, WILLOW, - ARE 7 MONTH OLD HUSKY/ROTTWEILER MIX GIRLS. THEY ARE IN THE GOOFY STAGE OF ADOLESCENCE, A LITTLE CLUMSY AND AWKWARD, BUT ALSO CUTE AND FUNNY. THEY ARE GOING TO BE BEAUTIFUL ADULT DOGS.

For A New Career As An Accounting Assistant! Call for more Info about our Online Training Program! Learn to process Payroll, Invoices & more! Job placement assistance when completed! HS Diploma/GED required. 1.888.407.7063

WEATHERIZATION SPECIALIST

Mountain Projects Inc. is currently accepting applications for a full-time Weatherization Specialist in Haywood County. Must have experience with weatherization rehab, general carpentry, plumbing and Electrical experience in construction industry is needed. Please apply at MPI 2251 Old Balsam Rd Waynesville, NC 28786 or www.mountainprojects.org

EOE/AA

CONSTRUCTION SUPERVISOR

Mountain Projects, Inc. is currently accepting application for a full-time Construction Supervisor in Haywood County. Must have experience in construction as a General Contractor. Building code, carpentry and weatherization Knowledge of Electrical & Plumbing. Applicants must have valid driver’s licenses an ability to work with diverse populations. Please apply at Mountain Projects, Inc. 2251 Old Balsam Rd, Waynesville, NC 28786 or www.mountainprojects.org EOE/AA

FTCC

Fayetteville Technical Community College is now accepting applications for the following positions: Coordinator for Military Business Center Deadline: Oct. 17 For detailed information and to apply, please visit our employment portal: https://faytechcc.peopleadmin.com

Human Resources Office Phone: 910.678.7342 Internet: http://www.faytechcc.edu

An Equal Opportunity Employer

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS RAILROAD IN BRYSON CITY

Is currently hiring! We currently have vacancies for Retail Sales Associate, First Class Server, Line Cook, Parking Attendant, Property Maintenance Worker, Reservationist, & Special Event Staff for the POLAR EXPRESS. Earn train passes, retail & food discounts, passes to area attractions and more! Full Job Descriptions and Applications are Available at: www.gsmr.com/jobs You may also get an application from the Bryson City Depot.

CDL

A or B DRIVERS

Needed to transfer vehicles from area customers to various locations throughout U.S.-Noforced dispatch- We specialize in connecting the dots and reducing deadhead. Safety Incentives! Call 1.800.504.3783 or apply at: www.mamotransportation.com/driv eaway-jobs-transport-driverswanted/.

EMPLOYMENT

DELIVERY/STOCKROOM

ASSOCIATE- PART-TIME: Individual needed to work 20 hours per week in Thrift Store. Valid Driver’s License with No Points required. Must be able to support or lift a minimum of 50 pounds. Applications available at Pathways Thrift Store, 3740 US 74E, Unit #10 Sylva, NC 28779. Call Shirley at 828.631.5533 for more info.

HIGH-TECH CAREER

With U.S. Navy. Elite tech training w/great pay, benefits, vacation, $ for school. HS grads ages 17-34. Call Mon.-Fri. 800.662.7419

B.H. GRANING LANDSCAPES, INC

Now hiring for the position of crew member - the grass is growing and so is our businesscome join our team. Full-time year round work, competitive wages, good work environment. Please call 828.586.8303 for more info or email resume to: roger.murajda@bhlandscapes. com

MEDICAL BILLING & CODING

Training! Become a Medical Office Specialist now! NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED! Online Training can get you job ready! 1.888.512.7122 HS Diploma/GED & computer needed. careertechnical.edu/nc

CNA’S NEEDED

Canton Area. Monday - Friday 8a.m. - 4p.m. and Monday - Fri. 4p.m. - 8p.m. In-Home Care. Sign-On Bonus. For more info 828.524.6444

ADVERTISE YOUR Job Opening, Event, Items For Sale, Auction etc. in this newspaper plus 100 other newspapers across the state for only $375. For more information, contact the classified department of this newspaper or call NCPS 919.516.8018, email: ads@ncpress.com

ENTRY LEVEL

Heavy Equipment Operator Career. Get Trained - Get Certified - Get Hired! Bulldozers, Backhoes & Excavators. Immediate Lifetime Job Placement. VA Benefits. 1.866.362.6497

WE’RE LOOKING FOR A CARRIER

To do a low mileage Waynesville area route. Must be able to pick up newspapers by 9:00 a.m. every Wednesday, to deliver throughout the area. Must have sufficient & insured vehicle to carry bulk newspapers and a valid NCDL. Please call Scott Collier - 828.452.4251 for more info and to set up an interview.

LAWN & GARDEN

BORING/CARPENTER BEE TRAPS No Chemicals, Poisons or Anything to Harm the Environment. Handmade in Haywood County. 1 for $20, 2 or More for $15 each. 828.593.8321

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

SAWMILLS

From only $4397.00- Make & Save Money with your own bandmill- Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship! FREE Info/DVD: www.NorwoodSawmills.com. 1.800.578.1363 Ext.300N

HOMES FOR SALE

BRUCE MCGOVERN

A Full Service Realtor, Locally Owned and Operated mcgovernpropertymgt@gmail.com McGovern Property Management 828.283.2112.

RUTHERFORDTON, NC.

Log on to: mywesternnchome. vpweb.com. See my beautiful home in western NC. a few miles from the Tryon Equestrian Ctr. priced for quick sale, asking $350K due to spouse death

REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCEMENT

NEAR TRYON, NC EQUESTRIAN Center, 7.84 acres of pasture, creek frontage, partially fenced $59,900. Also Mtn View acreage w/paved access starting at $24,900. 828.286.1666

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino. For More Information Please Call 828.506.0578

OUR HUNTERS WILL PAY

Top $$$ To hunt your land. Call for a Free Base Camp Leasing info packet & Quote. 1.866.309.1507 www.BaseCampLeasing.com

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

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

HOMES FOR SALE

BRUCE MCGOVERN

A Full Service Realtor, Locally Owned and Operated mcgovernpropertymgt@gmail.com McGovern Property Management 828.283.2112.

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Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.

Answers on Page 68

The naturalist’s corner

BY DON H ENDERSHOT

You’re

going the wrong way – not

When you’re out chasing fall migrants and you either have a good internal compass or you’re somewhere it’s pretty easy to orient yourself to the cardinal directions, like the Blue Ridge Parkway, it’s not unusual to find mixed flocks of migrants moving in what appears, intuitively, to be a “wrong” direction. You may find groups of birds moving north, or east, or west rather than the general southwest route we expect here in the mountains of Western North Carolina. These early morning flights — usually just after sunrise — are called “redetermined” flights.

Researchers from Cornell University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Mount Holyoke College and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology looked at this phenomenon in 2010 and published a report November 2014 in the “Auk.” The group tried to coordinate multiple sources in their data gathering. They relied upon direct observations, Doppler weather radar, acoustic recordings and information from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

They looked at coastal as well as inland migration. They noted that this morning redetermined flight was directly related to nocturnal migration and that it represented an extension of the previous night’s migration.

One of the primary reasons for these redetermined flights appears to be to compensate for wind drift. This seems to be more prevalent along the coast where southeasterly winds tend to push birds out over the open water. While the vast majority of migration takes place inland, the largest morning flights were noted along the coast.

Researchers observed, “Given the potential dangers of being swept out to sea during their next night of migration, it would make sense for birds that find themselves somewhat near the coast at dawn to move farther inland, independent of any calculated deviation from an intended migratory course.”

Topography and appropriate stopover habitat also play a part in redetermined flights. The report pointed out a site in Greenwich, Connecticut where the early morning flight was directed in a northnorthwesterly direction – clearly no shortcut to Central America. But it appears this redetermined flight funnels migrants through a

Blackpoll warbler fall plumage. This little warbler migrates more than 1,500 miles one-way. creative commons photo

valley in a ridge, which in turn makes their normal southwesterly route more accessible — like it might be easier and faster to get to Brevard from Waynesville by going east to Asheville along I-40 then taking I-26 south and ultimately southwest on U.S. 280 rather than just going south-southwest along U.S. 276, up and over the Blue Ridge Parkway. Suitable stopover habitat is critical. Just as armies march, birds fly on their stomachs. Migration is hard work, and while most migrants have certainly worked to build up fat reserves before migration, there’s still the day-to-day refueling and rest requirements. Migrating birds use suitable stopover habitat the way we use service station and rest areas — places to refuel and rest.

But there have to be other factors too.

Studies of morning flights in the

Appalachians show that even in areas where suitable habitat tends to spread in all directions and on nights where wind drift wasn’t an issue, redetermined flights still occurred, albeit mostly in the direction of migration. While researchers don’t have a clear answer why — given the benefits of nocturnal migration — birds would wait till morning to reorient. But there are clues; recent studies seem to point to sunrise and sunset as times providing the primary signals birds use to orient themselves during migration. So just like you like to check your map or GPS one last time before getting some needed rest, birds may use the early morning to be sure they’re on course before they pack it in for the day.

Don Hendershot is a writer and naturalist. He can be reached a ddihen1@bellsouth.net.