Astro Record Store opens its doors in Waynesville Page 22
On the Cover:
Eric Spirtas (center), owner of the former mill site in Canton, leads Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers (left) and NCDEQ Secretary Reid Wilson on a tour of the now-closed facility. The three men led a tour throughout the old mill property, during which they discussed what may lie ahead. (Page 11) Cory Vaillancourt photo
News
Moe Davis enters NC-11 congressional race............................................................4 KARE calls attention to child abuse in the community............................................5
May Day mayday: translating Democratic enthusiasm into election wins..........6 Eastern Band votes to allow for homegrown cannabis, again..............................8 Carden cements legacy with historic library donation............................................12 Bartram Academy to resume five-day schedule......................................................15 Free lunch eligibility trending downward in Macon................................................16 Community briefs..............................................................................................................18
Opinion
Managing the visitor experience is no easy task......................................................20 Letters to the editor..........................................................................................................20
A&E
Astro Record Store opens in Waynesville................................................................22
Whole Bloomin’ Thing Festival comes to Haywood County................................28
Outdoors
WCU softball bat boy defies odds, cheers on Catamounts................................30 The Joyful Botanist: Here grow pinkshells, far from the seashore......................35
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You need a sweet treat but don't want to add too many calories or carbohydrates/sugar to your meals ...what can you do?
Here are 10 ideas to satisfy that craving without going overboard and that contain nutrients that will contribute to health more so than just having candy or a pastry:
• Wash and freeze seedless grapes.
• Enjoy a serving of raisins or prunes.
• Have plain Greek yogurt with a drizzle of honey.
• Have a small scoop of cottage cheese with some fresh or canned fruit.
• Sip on hot or iced herbal tea sweetened with honey or a non-caloric sweetener.
• Pour yourself a small bowl of cereal and have it dry as a snack or with milk or soy milk. (Pick one with less than 5 grams of added sugar
• Have some fresh blueberries, strawberries, raspberries or blackberries.
peanut or almond butter.
• Take a whole ripe banana, coat it with peanut or almond butter and then roll it in grated coconut. Cut into pieces and freeze for a snack.
• Make trail mix with raisins, cereal and pretzels and divide up into ½ cup servings.
Retired Air Force Col. Moe Davis is stepping back into familiar turf — running for Congress in North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District.
“I just keep looking at what Chuck Edwards is not doing for the district,” Davis told The Smoky Mountain News May 5. “People here are hurting, particularly after Helene, and they deserve somebody that’s going to work for them, rather than for the billionaire out-of-state donors that own Chuck Edwards.”
A Shelby native, Davis graduated from Appalachian State University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice before earning his J.D. from North Carolina Central University School of Law. Davis went on to serve as a lawyer in the U.S. Air Force for 25 years, working as chief prosecutor for the Guantanamo Bay military commissions in 2005. In 2007, he resigned in protest over political interference and the use of evidence obtained through torture and became a prominent critic of detainee policies. Davis also worked for the Congressional Research Service and as a professor at Howard University School of Law. Recently, he’s served as co-host of American Muckrakers podcast “Muck You” alongside David Wheeler.
In 2020, Davis ran as a Democrat for North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District, a seat previously held by Mark Meadows. After defeating Primary Election challengers Gina Collias, Phillip Price, Michael O’Shea and Steve Woodsmall without a runoff, Davis lost to Republican Madison Cawthorn in the General Election by just over 12 points.
Despite his lack of experience, Cawthorn wasn’t just a candidate — he was a phenomenon, energizing the right and drawing close to President Donald Trump until Trump’s defeat in the same election that propelled Cawthorn to Congress.
During Cawthorn’s term, Davis helped found a super pac, firemadison.com, which dogged the freshman congressman throughout his brief tenure and contributed to his downfall by releasing damaging information along with tawdry photos and videos of Cawthorn. In 2022, Cawthorn narrowly lost his reelection bid to then-Sen. Chuck Edwards in the Republican Primary Election. Edwards went on to defeat Buncombe County Commissioner Jasmine Beach-Ferrara in the General Election, and he also defeated Buncombe Rep. Caleb Rudow in 2024.
In a March 13 town hall, Edwards faced fierce opposition. During his speech to delegates at the NC-11 GOP convention on April 26, Edwards touted his proximity to Trump
only putting nine players on the field instead of 11 and see how that works.”
Edwards has increasingly come under scrutiny for his performance while in office, most notably in failing to acquire the $60 billion North Carolina says it needs to recover from Hurricane Helene. A bill Edwards claims he authored last December will instead deliver between $9 billion and $17 billion; however, a Smoky Mountain News investigation in March revealed that most local governments hadn’t yet received any money from the federal government six months after the storm.
As a veteran, Davis is particularly troubled by issues affecting the Veterans Administration. In late March, VA Secretary Doug Collins was greeted by demonstrators while visiting the Charles George Medical Center in Asheville — known as one of the finest such facilities in the country.
“I get my health care at the VA,” Davis said. “The administration wants to cut 20% of the VA staff in order to make the VA more effective and efficient. But if you believe that, go down to your local high school and tell your football coach you want to make the team more effective and efficient by
“I think a lot of folks, whether it’s themselves or their family or their neighbors, are starting to feel the pain of potentially losing their Medicaid coverage, getting rid of Head Start, getting rid of Meals on Wheels, cutting staff at the VA. There’s nothing good for Western North Carolina in the agenda that Chuck Edwards is committed to.”
Davis thinks he may be able to make some inroads with veterans upset with their treatment under Trump, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Collins.
“Yeah, I think so. I mean, I think veterans as a whole are not stupid people. They’re people that committed to serve the country and I think they can see what’s happening. Cutting staff and funding at the VA, it’s not good for veterans,” Davis said. “I think veterans in this district, while they may tend to lean conservative, they’re also practical and realistic, and I think we can win some of those folks who in the past might have gone the other way by focusing on the reality of what Chuck Edwards and the Republicans want to do to veterans.”
“People
are, I think, energized, and that’s what I’m seeing. I’ve been out to a couple of the Democratic county conventions and turnout has been recordsetting. I think people are focused and willing to put their money and their effort behind trying to do what we
can to preserve democracy and look after people.”
During his last campaign, Davis raised nearly $2.5 million. He thinks it will take at least $3 million to run a competitive race this time around, but he’s not overly concerned with economic instability affecting donors, noting that ActBlue just had its largest fundraising quarter ever.
“People are, I think, energized, and that’s what I’m seeing. I’ve been out to a couple of the Democratic county conventions and turnout has been record-setting,” he said. “I think people are focused and willing to put their money and their effort behind trying to do what we can to preserve democracy and look after people.”
If the money comes, Davis may have a few other factors trending in his favor that could make the race closer than his 2020 bid. The president’s party typically loses seats during mid-term elections, Cook’s Political Report pegs the district at R+5, davesredistricting.org says the district performed at 53.8% for Republicans from 2016 to 2022 and the regular protests against Trump and Edwards in towns large and small across the rural 11th suggest a level of engagement that hasn’t been present in the past.
Compared to previous Democratic congressional candidates in the 11th District, Davis performed best in rural counties.
On X, Davis said he’s still “getting the pieces in place and will make it official soon.”
Candidate filing for the 2026 General Election begins at noon on Dec. 1 and ends at noon on Dec. 19. The 2026 Primary Election is set for March 3, 2026.
Retired Air Force Col. Moe Davis tells The Smoky Mountain News he’ll run for the 11th Congressional District seat currently held by Rep. Chuck Edwards in 2026. From Facebook
Moe Davis
Moe Davis
KARE calls attention to child abuse in the community
BY KYLE P ERROTTI N EWS E DITOR
Members of the community, including numerous people from several law enforcement agencies, gathered on the lawn in front of Haywood County’s historic courthouse last Wednesday for an event to highlight a growing problem in our community — child abuse.
The event, put on by Kids Advocacy Resource Effort (KARE), featured several speakers, who all read from a list of 383 cases the nonprofit handled last year. However, instead of using the children’s names attached to each case, the 11 speakers referred to each simply as either John Doe or Jane Doe, followed by their age.
According to KARE’s website, the organization is a nationally accredited child advocacy center dedicated to supporting children and families affected by child abuse, neglect or exploitation.
“We accomplish this through comprehensive services including outreach, advocacy, specialized interventions, and a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach,” the website says.
“All our services are provided at no cost to ensure accessibility and to minimize further trauma to survivors and their families,” it adds. “By offering a wide range of support in a single location, we aim to foster a safe and nurturing environment for all those we serve.”
District Attorney Ashley Welch’s office handles criminal child abuse cases. At the event, she discussed how important these cases are and how important community awareness around this issue is.
“We appreciate the efforts of KARE House in bringing awareness to victims of child abuse,” Welch said. “No one, particularly our most vulnerable, should be subjected to others’ exploitation. This office will continue to vigorously prosecute perpetrators.”
KARE’s assistant director, Abby Bearden, said that the community awareness event was modeled after something a child advocacy center in Dallas has done in the past.
“This was meant to be impactful, meant to help our community understand that child abuse and neglect happen no matter where you are,” Bearden said. “There are children who experience the unthinkable, so we wanted people to understand this is something that is real and deserves real attention.”
Bearden also noted that the problem of child abuse in the community appears to be getting worse. While she said there are usually about 250 cases each year, last year’s 383 cases serve as a stark sign that this problem is likely growing.
Members of the community turned out to raise awareness surrounding the increase in child abuse cases
Quintin Ellison photo
Following the event, Haywood County Sheriff Bill Wilke offered a statement reaffirming his office’s commitment to not only the issue, but also KARE.
“On behalf of the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, I want to express how proud we are to stand alongside the KARE House in their tireless efforts to bring awareness to child abuse in Haywood County,” Wilke said. “Protecting our most vulnerable is one of our highest priorities, and we are grateful for the work KARE does every day to support children and families in crisis. Together, we are committed to building safer, stronger communities and putting an end to child abuse.”
“We are already on track to see similar numbers this year,” she said. “We can play the blame game with whatever we want; there are all kinds of reasons the number can be higher. But it’s higher.”
Ultimately, Bearden said she hopes last week’s community awareness event hit its mark, revealing for folks the severity of the issue to hopefully inspire action.
“What we really hoped to do is help people understand we exist,” she said. “I feel like a lot of people don’t necessarily know about KARE and the work that we do.”
KARE’s services are free of charge, and Bearden said all barriers are removed so any child can have a safe place to share their story. For more information, visit karehouse.org.
May Day mayday
Translating Democratic enthusiasm into election wins
BY P OLITICS
about what that means for rural Southern Appalachia.
“We’re an economy run on tourism, and if people don’t have that disposable income, they aren’t going to show up
Prior to its appropriation by communist regimes, International Workers Day — May Day — was first commemorated in honor of Chicago workers killed while striking for an eight-hour workday. This past May Day, concerned citizens from across the United States and across Western North Carolina used the opportunity to spotlight issues important to working Americans, to continue the seemingly endless protests against the Trump Administration and to recruit candidates who can win.
“Everybody’s pretty annoyed about how expensive groceries are,” said Garrett Lagan, chair of the Swain County Democratic party.
Lagan and a few dozen others gathered May 1 at the courthouse in Bryson City, passing around a petition of support for the Economic Security Act, filed in the North Carolina General Assembly on March 6. Among other proworker measures, the bill would phase in a $22 hourly minimum wage, end the tipped minimum wage and legalize public employee unions.
Rising costs and sagging wages have left workers with the short end of the economic stick, so to speak, and with the
But it wasn’t just workers’ issues that brought a few dozen people out to the Swain County rally; demonstrations that began the day Trump was sworn in have endured in cities large and small, across the nation — many on a regular basis.
“Nothing motivates people to get involved like seeing things that they love and care about attacked,” said Lagan, a therapist by trade. “They are seeing a lot of things that they love and care about, things that they believe already made Swain County great, get attacked. So they’re coming
there chose Trump in all three of his runs for president, the first two by more than 58% and the last by more than 61%. Public demonstrations in Swain County were rare or nonexistent during Trump’s first term, just as they were in Macon County, where voters chose Trump by just over 68% all three times.
“They’re saying that they need to cut $880 billion out of Medicaid and Social Security,” said Lisa Walker at a rally in Franklin earlier on May 1. “That impacts 14,000 Social Security recipients [in Macon County]. My husband and I are retired, and our 401ks have taken a hit. Prices have gone up, and they’re threatening to cut Social Security. Any one of those factors is a concern. When you put them all together, it’s incredibly disturbing.”
Franklin saw a large crowd of demonstrators across from Big Bear Park on May 1, not much smaller than during the national series of “hands off” rallies on April 5. At the same time, over in Jackson County, an even larger gathering on Sylva’s Mill Street drew honks and waves from what seemed to be thousands of cars, right around rush hour.
“We’re here answering a national call to go to the streets, to say what we believe, which is that the Trump administration is calling for things that are so radical that they are hurting people,” said F
Franklin’s May Day rally on
1 was held near Big Bear Park and drew a large crowd of demonstrators. Bob Scott photo
Jackson County resident Betsy Swift. “A theory proposed by people who studied authoritarian regimes says that three-and-ahalf percent of the population coming out consistently is what it takes to turn things around.”
With Swift was another Jackson County resident, Joan Parks, who said she’d been making calls to voters to try to get their attention.
While the rallies have certainly succeeded in generating awareness, real change doesn’t come from people standing on the side of the road, waving signs — it comes from legislators passing laws and making policy. With municipal elections looming in some towns and others looking forward to the 2026 midterm elections, all the awareness in the world won’t help Democrats if they can’t recruit candidates to run.
“I’m trying to recruit people right now, so if anyone reads this article and wants to talk with me further about running, that’s one reason I’m out in all these counties right now and addressing all of the conventions,” said Adam Tebrugge, a Jackson County resident who ran for state Senate in 2024. “I’m looking for folks that might want to step up.”
Tebrugge was at the Franklin rally with Walker and said he’d been to a similar event in Hayesville earlier that day, where more than 100 people — one-third the population of town — turned out in heavy rain. Located in Clay County, Hayesville isn’t exactly a liberal stronghold either. Like other WNC counties, Clay voted for Trump three times with support over 74% each time.
until July for municipals and December for state and federal offices, no one has yet announced a run for the General Assembly.
another run against popular Republican incumbent Sen. Kevin Corbin (R-Macon) quoted the titular character in Herman Melville’s 1853 short story “Bartleby, the scrivener” by saying simply, “I’d prefer not
A small but enthusiastic crowd gathered in Bryson City on May 1, pushing for more
Cory Vaillancourt photo
Eastern Band votes to allow for home-grown cannabis, again
BY KYLE P ERROTTI
N EWS E DITOR
Members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians who live on tribal land and possess a medical marijuana card will now be able to grow their own cannabis.
After months of hammering out the details, the decision was made by Tribal Council during its May 1 meeting. Following the vote, there was some light applause, although for many, the move was overdue, considering the tribe had originally allowed for medical card holders to grow their own plants initially. However, once the tribe passed its adult-use ordinance in June of last year — nine months after enrolled members overwhelmingly voted in favor of adult recreational possession and use — they decided to not include a provision for medical card holders to grow their own, even if they had been up to that point.
The Eastern Band initially showed interest in marijuana legalization in 2015, when Tribal Council unanimously approved a feasibility study that sought to determine whether medicinal or recreational cannabis use, as well as industrial hemp, would benefit the tribe. They began growing hemp, and before long, psychoactive cannabis.
In 2021, the Eastern Band approved the use of medicinal cannabis and started accepting applications for medical marijuana cards in July 2023. Individuals with a host of conditions, from cancer to anxiety to Crohn’s Disease, qualify to obtain a card, which in 2023, meant they could grow their own plants.
One month before the medicinal cards were issued, on Sept. 7, 2023, EBCI voters overwhelmingly approved the legalization of adult-use recreational marijuana. On April 20, 2024, a sort of holiday for pot smokers,
the dispensary opened its doors to people with medical cards. On July 4, 2024, sales opened up to everyone over 21 who was an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians or any other federally recognized tribe. In September of last year, the dispensary opened up to sell products to anyone over the age of 21 with a valid ID.
AMENDING THE ORDINANCE
The proposed change in the current ordinance was authored by EBCI member James Bradley, who stood in front of Tribal Council a few months in a row to make his case.
During the March 6 meeting, he said enrolled members who qualify should be able to grow their own “medicine” in the “safety and privacy” of their own homes. Some people take pride in growing their medicine, Bradley said, not unlike those who brew their own beer or grown their own food.
“The goal of this is to be selfsufficient and grow my own medicine,” he said.
During that meeting, multiple enrolled members also voiced their support for Bradley’s ordinance change, including one woman who is a cancer survivor.
“I tell you, if it wasn’t for being a marijuana user, I probably wouldn’t be here right now,” she said, adding that it helped her with her appetite during a time when she was battling nausea and losing weight.
in March.
Another element addressed in the ordinance change that garnered more discussion was the number of plants allowed. During the March meeting, the ordinance change, as proposed, stipulated that a person could have 12 plants with six flowering at any given time, in addition to 16 ounces of “usable” cannabis. Because cannabis plants are typically on a three to fourth month growing cycle, it’s advisable to rotate plants’ cycles to ensure they flower at different times, thus securing steady production of usable flowers.
During the April 3 Tribal Council meeting, it was revealed that the amendment had been changed to say that a patient could have eight plants with four flowering at a time.
At that April meeting, Bradley reiterated how disappointed he was when the adult use ordinance didn’t include a provision for home-grow.
“This is something we had for three years … and people participated in and then we lost those rights,” he said.
and locked in a manner that they’re inaccessible to any minors in the homes.
“A person who cultivates marijuana pursuant to this section must take reasonable precautions to ensure the marijuana plants are secure from unauthorized access or access by a person under 21 years of age. For purposes of illustration and not limitation, cultivating marijuana in an enclosed, locked space that persons under 21 years of age do not possess a key constitutes reasonable precautions,” the ordinance now reads.
James Bradley, an enrolled member of the Eastern band of Cherokee Indians seen here addressing Tribal Council, authored the ordinance amendment that allows for medical card holders to grow their own cannabis. From Facebook
The amendment stipulates that patients growing cannabis at home must provide proof that the plants are out of plain view
“This could be as simple as checking a box and then submitting a photo of the enclosed area you are going to be cultivating your plants in,” Bradley told Tribal Council
However, some remained steadfast against any forms of cannabis use. Also during that meeting, Regina Ledford Rosario, a retired police officer of 28 years who is known for her child advocacy, discussed her opposition to not only Bradley’s proposal to again allow medicinal card holders to grow their own plants, but the previous vote to legalize adult recreational use.
“I just don’t agree with any of it, because you’re not looking out for our children,” she said.
However, Tribal Council Rep. Perry Shell voiced his overwhelming support, citing how cannabis helped him during his own battle with cancer.
“It’s medicine,” he said.
Similarly, Beloved Woman Myrtle Driver, who has long been a proponent of legalized cannabis on the Qualla Boundary, echoed Shell’s sentiments.
“I call it medicine from the Earth,” she said.
On May 1, Bradley again appeared before Tribal Council. This time, everyone seemed to agree on the language, and after a brief discussion, the amendment was passed, meaning medical card holders can again grow their own plants.
The vote to approve was 9-3 with Vice Chairman David Wolfe, Rep. Michael Stamper and Brown all voting against the amendment.
WINNING SOME, LOSING SOME
While Bradley and others were thrilled that the ability for enrolled members to grow their own plants was again established, his original amendment also included a provision that would allow for people to participate in the industry the tribe has developed — that part of the amendment ultimately didn’t make the final cut.
During the March meeting, Bradley claimed that demand could be outstripping the supply at the F
Tribal Council voted to approve an amendment allowing some enrolled members to grow their own cannabis at home. Stock photo
United Way of Haywood receives $25,000 grant to expand post-Helene efforts
Duke Energy Foundation has awarded United Way of Haywood County a $25,000 grant to expand its post-Helene efforts in Western North Carolina. The funding is part of $500,000 in new grants from Duke Energy Foundation awarded to 20 nonprofits supporting long-term recovery efforts in Western North Carolina.
dispensary, arguing that the Cooper Creek farm where the cannabis plants are cultivated may not be big enough. It isn’t known publicly whether this is true or not.
Bradley’s amendment would have allowed for enrolled members to gain licensure through the tribe’s cannabis control board, under which they would be subject to the same testing and requirements as plants and products currently sold at the dispensary. Bradley said to deny tribal members the opportunity to benefit economically from the cannabis industry would be not only
Thanks to the generosity of Duke Energy Foundation, the United Way of Haywood County has been able to help families with furniture, household goods and a washer and dryer when they return to their restored homes.
“In the face of Helene’s historic damage, we have been in awe of the resilience and teamwork of our mountain communities,” said Kendal Bowman, Duke Energy’s North Carolina president. “As we work to restrengthen the electric grid in Western North Carolina, we will continue joining together with nonprofit partners to help build back our communities piece by piece.”
For more information on Duke Energy Foundation and its initiatives, visit duke-energy.com/foundation.
sure that such a step would be in the tribe’s best interest at the time, referencing pushback from federal lawmakers on the initial passage of the ordinance to allow for adult recreational use, especially from Sen. Thom Tillis.
“[Tillis] wrote a very direct letter to every legal agency in the United States around this operation, so there’s a lot of eyes on us making sure that we’re doing things with the testing and keeping things safe … We need to keep these things in mind and protect our community and our sovereignty,” Hicks said.
The tribe’s dispensary has been opened for over a year now. File photo
“It seems to me more production is needed so it would make sense that any enrolled members with the means to do so should be able to go to the CCB and apply for those licenses,” he said.
While some Tribal Council representatives seemed open to or even outright supportive of that change to the amendment, some folks, including members of the cannabis control board, seemed hesitant. Principal Chief Michel Hicks said he wasn’t
Bucky Brown brought up his opposition to the enrolled members’ participation in the commercial side of the cannabis venture, saying he both didn’t think it could be as wellregulated and that the tribe itself could see less revenue from the dispensary.
“We’ve got too much invested in it,” he said.
Ultimately, the section allowing such economic involvement was killed at that April meeting and wasn’t even discussed last week.
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Mill site master plan coming within six months
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Reid Wilson visited Canton last week, meeting with local officials and new mill site owner Eric Spirtas, who gave tantalizing tidbits of what’s in store for the 185-acre parcel and promised a bold master plan within six months.
“The idea of this, just in a real nutshell, is there are projects all through the Carolinas that have taken a dilapidated mill and made it a destination,” said Spirtas, owner of St. Louis-based Spirtas Worldwide, the company that purchased the mill last fall.
master planning. I am not master planning. There’s my plan and the town’s plan, and mine doesn’t count,” he said. “I am going to have the town standing over with people that are benefactors.”
Wilson, who had previously served as the head of the state’s Department of Natural and Cultural Resources under thenGov. Roy Cooper, has been to Canton a number of times, including a 2023 visit to Chestnut Mountain where he talked about integrating outdoor recreation into the future of the mill site.
“Our governor, Josh Stein, from day one has said helping Western North Carolina
on recovering after a flood, and put it into the redevelopment of this river, everything else will follow,” he said. “People will develop here.”
Working with a developable space that’s at least three times the size of the city itself, Spirtas has plenty of options.
“I say it will be walkable. It’ll be enjoyable,” he said. “People from Asheville want to come here and spend the evening and the afternoon and walk and visit and spend money in Canton.”
Spirtas pegged remediation and development costs towards the low end of the nine-figure ballpark but said that global
plan includes economic development, environmental stability and mitigation components across residential, commercial and industrial sectors. Spirtas continues to treat Canton’s wastewater at his own cost, and conversations are ongoing about Canton paying fair and reasonable rates moving forward.
During a May 2 gathering at the old Champion Paper administration building, Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers lauded the ambitious nature of Spirtas’ vision.
“This is not the milltown miracle. This the milltown moonshot,” Smathers said. “Why shouldn’t we be bold? There was a time in this country we were drawn to those types of projects. We let politics and pettiness bring us down.”
The master plan, however, doesn’t just represent Spirtas’ hopes for the parcel. Throughout his time getting to know Canton and Western North Carolina, Spirtas has maintained that robust input from town and county leaders, along with the general public, will shape the final product.
“We are going to work together to do the
agency will play a critical role in helping to ensure Spirtas’ cleanup of preexisting environmental issues on the site is performed safely and correctly.
“I think you rightly recognize that outdoor recreation is a huge part of what Canton is, and to connect that with this redevelopment and environmental cleanup is just a wonderful marriage of different parts of what Canton can be,” Wilson told Spirtas. “Our job at the Department of Environmental Quality is to make sure we’re working with the partners, that everything is done in an environmentally responsible manner, that all the rules are followed, the permits work.”
Spirtas proposes a 10-to-15 acre reservoir to mitigate future flooding that would also serve as an attraction of sorts — possibly with a deck overlook and some sort of performing arts venue.
“If we can take the money that was — is — spent every year or every multiple years
everybody’s plans,” Spirtas said. “If it doesn’t affect their direct day-to-day plan, it affects their mindset. And so this too shall pass. We’re working through this this month or this year. We got a year’s worth of demolition and our machines, they run on American parts and we use American gas in [them] right now.”
Smathers was enthusiastic about what he calls “the hometown of tomorrow.”
“We have to build a place where our kids and grandchildren have the opportunity if they choose to come back here and have a job and go to church and play on the ball fields, do what so many in this room have been doing for years,” he said. “We have to build something that gives them the opportunity to still call Canton home but do it in a way that embraces new technology, new ideas, brings new people, but also honors our past. I believe you can bring in new ideas, new people, new money, but not necessarily change who you are.”
New mill site owner Eric Spirtas (right) speaks to NCDEQ Secretary Reid Wilson diuring a meeting at the former Champion Papers administration building on May 2. Cory Vaillancourt photo
‘Paradise will be some kind of library’
Carden cements legacy with historic library donation
BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF W RITER
Gary Carden has accomplished a great deal in his life. But by his own estimation, none of it compares to his most recent endeavor — donating a treasure trove of books to the Jackson County Public Library that took him a lifetime to collect.
“They’re not gonna remember me because I wrote plays and they’re not gonna remember me for the books I wrote. I won’t be remembered for any of that. I want to be remembered for leaving those books to the library. That’s the most important thing I did,” said Carden. “That’s the best thing I ever did in my whole life.”
According to Jackson County Librarian Tracy Fitzmaurice, Carden donated a couple thousand books to the library on a wide range of topics.
“Some authors leave their stuff to university libraries, but for Gary to leave it in the public arena, it’s just more accessible. People are more likely to come here. We see the whole spectrum of the community.”
Tracy Fitzmaurice, Jackson County librarian
“The highlight, from the library’s perspective, is Gary had a pretty wide array of writings about indigenous folks across the nation,” Fitzmaurice said. “He also had a lot of folklore, some of them probably out of print, and very good histories from different cultures of folklore and myth that will be very popular with patrons and very useful.”
Some of the rarer items will be kept in the library as reference materials, and others will be available for normal circulation.
“Those are some that we’re really, really excited about,” said Fitzmaurice. “A lot of North Carolina history, folklore, all those things that Gary called upon in his writing over the years.”
al hundred and I stayed locked up in the back bedroom with them,” said Carden. “I had a lousy childhood because I was raised by my grandparents.”
Born in Sylva in 1935, Carden’s father was murdered at a gas station he ran in Moody Bottom just a year later. His mother, herself a child of severe physical abuse, left town when Carden was just two years old.
“The nicest way I can say it is, when I grew up in this house with my grandparents and uncles, I always felt like I was visiting,” said Carden, who still lives in that same house. Though now, instead of grandparents and uncles, the walls are covered in floor to ceiling bookshelves and the place is populated with an array of painting canvases and friendly cats.
derful.”
After high school, Carden received a scholarship to attend Western Carolina University as a day student, and eventually got a job in the cafeteria to earn enough money to stay on campus. At WCU he worked for the newspaper and got involved in theater and after playing the lead in “The Glass Menagerie,” he was hooked. There was no looking back.
But Carden credits his prolific, cross-genre career, to some extent, to his upbringing.
“Those of us who did not have a mother and father, we are fantastic teachers,” Carden said. “But you will always have the sneaking suspicion that you are worthless. You only win to have to win again, and again, for the rest of your life.
Carden has had a long and storied career in the arts, teaching literature and drama, winning the Appalachian Writers Association Book of the Year award for a 1999 collection of stories called “Mason Jars in the Flood,” and writing and producing multiple plays, one of which became a feature film on PBS.
In 2006, Carden was the recipient of the Brown-Hudson Award from the North Carolina Folklore Society, and in 2012, he was given the North Carolina Award for Literature. He holds an honorary doctorate from Western Carolina University for his work in storytelling and folklore.
The idea for the book donation was first sparked more than 50 years ago when Carden was working at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, and where his best friend worked as the librarian.
“I’ve always loved libraries; I’ve always been crazy about them,” Carden said. “I stayed in the library with him most of the time that I was there.”
But Carden’s love of books goes back even further to a time when there was little else to turn to. Little else to comfort him.
“I was obsessed, as a child, with funny books. I had sever-
His father’s parents adopted Carden and in a house that never quite felt like home, he found refuge in books, radio and his own imagination.
“I read constantly,” said Carden. “There came a time in my life when, instead of Superman and Batman and Submariner, I had King Arthur. You know, you graduated to folklore. And I just got worse, got more addicted.”
Carden’s grandparents looked at his love of books and his vivid imagination with fear and concern and sometimes even disgust, constantly telling him he was “queer” and “not too bright.”
“That’s the way they raised me, and that’s what they thought of me,” Carden said. “But I did have books, and I love books, and I love the library.”
Some of Carden’s brightest early memories are of afternoons spent in the library, a slice of his life that he says set him up for success in his future career.
“All of it came from the library,” said Carden. “I read everything I could get and listened to radio drama and I became a schoolteacher and I became a playwright and I wrote plays and they were produced, and all that was won-
You’ll always have to prove to yourself that you’re important. For what it’s worth, your life made you a storyteller.”
For Carden, passing along a carefully curated set of thousands of books to the public library is just one more win in a long string of wins. A way of cementing his legacy and giving back to his community in a way that may be more concrete than any of his other accolades or accomplishments.
“Some authors leave their stuff to university libraries, but for Gary to leave it in the public arena, it’s just more accessible. People are more likely to come here,” said Fitzmaurice.
“We see the whole spectrum of the community.”
Most of Carden’s collection will be displayed in a barrister case alongside several of his awards, storytelling posters and playbills that are already exhibited in the library. And for this Jackson County native, this Appalachian great, this literary stalwart, there couldn’t be a better place to know he will rest in perpetuity.
“One of my favorite writers was a librarian in Argentina,” said Carden. “His name is Jorge Luis Borges. I’ve never forgotten this, he said, ‘I’ve always felt that paradise was some kind of library.’”
Gary Carden. File photo
Bartram Academy to resume five-day schedule
BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF W RITER
At its April 28 meeting, the Macon County Board of Education approved a request from Bartram Academy Principal Brian Moffitt to return the school to a five day per week schedule in preparation for its integration into the new Franklin High School.
“I’m asking that the board reconsider that for us, returning to a five-day schedule so that we can really start to prepare for our transition to Franklin High School in the fall of 2027,” Moffitt said in a presentation to the board.
Bartram Academy is Macon County’s alternative high school. Previously known as Union Academy, the school rebranded before the start of the 2023-24 school year in part of an effort to make a deeper, positive transformation at the school.
The new name honored the legacy of naturalist and explorer William Bartram, whose contributions to the fields of botany, exploration and environmental conservation aligned with the school’s mission to inspire, explore, innovate and lead.
lot of different responses, and it has worked very well for us,” said Moffitt. “But it was borne out of the necessity that we only had two core teachers to teach all of the high school core classes.”
While the school still isn’t fully staffed, administration aims to reduce the number of changes to the school between now and its integration into Franklin High School.
“We didn’t want to wait until that time [fall 2027] to make a change, going from our schedule as different as it is, more like a community college schedule, adapting to work with Franklin’s four-period schedule. So, this gets us back to a little more normalcy,” said Moffitt.
The school will still be able to have five periods of 75-minute classes, including its advisory homeroom that it has with students every day. This period is a time for working on social emotional skills, career development and preparing for life after high school.
“It also gives us the opportunity for maintaining flexibility for students coming that may be behind or lacking credits; it still gives us the opportunity to offer all classes that we possibly can for our students,” said Moffitt.
Transitioning back to a five-day schedule this year will allow the school two full years before it makes its next transition into the new high school.
“Our team felt that we were at a point where Union Academy needed a fresh start,” said Moffitt at the time. “We want to shed any negative connotations that may be attached to our school and begin a new adventure. Just as William Bartram’s exploration through Macon County shaped the world of science and discovery in our area, we want to encourage our students to be curious and to explore the world around them.”
At that time, the school had only two core subject teachers.
“We have two big vacancies; we are without an English teacher, and we are without a math teacher,” Moffitt told the board at the time. “I could say that in a different way; we’re without a math department and we are without an English department.”
Transitioning back to a five-day schedule this year will allow the school two full years before it makes its next transition into the new high school.
In part to address those shortfalls, the board allowed the school to transition to a four-day schedule like many public schools used during the return to in-person classes during the pandemic.
“You guys graciously approved for us two years ago our amended schedule, very different in the world of education, it has elicited a
Early in 2023, the school system began looking at the possibility of consolidation of the alternative high school and Franklin High School to put it in a better position to win the Needs Based Public School Capital Fund grant in order to construct a new high school. One of the qualifiers for that grant was consolidation of two schools.
Administration and the school board posited that the move would not only increase the county’s chances of winning a grant for a new high school, but it would also benefit the students of the alternative high school who would have access to more resources through FHS.
In January of last year the Department of Public Instruction announced Macon County was the recipient of the $62 million grant to build a new high school. Since then, construction on the project has begun and plans are in place for the school to open for the 2027-28 school year.
File photo
Free lunch eligibility trending downward in Macon
its free meal program for more than two more years.
“The generosity of the commissioners is wonderful, but I’m not sure we’ll be able to count on that every year,” said
There are currently nine schools in Macon County that offer free lunches in low-income areas. File photo
schools that adopt CEP are reimbursed using a formula based on the percentage of students categorically eligible for free meals based on their participation in other programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Family (TANF) or Medicaid benefits, as well as children who are certified for free meals without an application because they are homeless, migrant, enrolled in Head Start or in foster care.
Any district, group of schools in a district or individual school with 25% or more students participating in these programs qualify for CEP.
Once a certain school qualifies for the CEP program, thereby allowing all students at the school to access free breakfast and lunch, that school remains in the program and can continue offering no cost meals for a five-year period, after which the school is reassessed.
Schools in Macon County currently operate under CEP based on data from the 2022-23 school year.
“Our identified student percentage for that year was 53.45%, which means that we’ve been feeding kids for free at those nine schools and 85.5% of those meals are reimbursed for free,” said School Nutrition Director David Lightner.
The nutrition department has been trying to add Highlands School and Franklin High School to the CEP program, which means rerunning the data.
“When we look at the 2024-25 school year, our identified student percentage has dropped to 37.43%, which means only 55.89% of meals would be reimbursed at the free rate,” said Lightner.
Macon County Schools will therefore not be able to add FHS or Highlands School to the CEP schools for the coming year and will continue to operate based on the 2022-23 data.
The CEP program allows schools to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students without collecting household applications for free and reduced lunch. Instead,
APRIL RENEWALS
“The data has been trending downwards since I started eight years ago, so I’m just going to put this out there that we’ve got two more years that we can use our current data,” said Lightner. “We’re looking at the likely possibility of losing several of our CEP
schools at the end of two years.”
In the meantime, the school system has asked commissioners to fund Franklin High and Highlands School for the upcoming year to cover the cost of free meals, as it did last year. This year, it will require $250,000 to cover the gap in students at the two schools.
Macon County Schools does not currently qualify for district-wide CEP according to the 2025 Annual Notification of Schools Eligibility Report.
The county already has high participation in school nutrition.
“Lunch participation is 88%, which is kind of unheard of, and breakfast is at 60% which is pretty high for breakfast,” said Lightner. “So, to look at increasing that any further is kind of an unrealistic expectation with participation already being that high.”
The funding request from the commission is slightly higher this year than it was last year because of a drop in free and reduced lunch applications, which allow individual families or students to qualify for free or reduced lunch and breakfast regardless of a school’s CEP status.
With fewer families filling out those forms at FHS and Highlands, fewer meals will now be reimbursed at the higher free rate from USDA, and more need to be covered by the commission.
Governor announces grants distributed to WNC businesses
Gov. Josh Stein announced that the Dogwood Health Trust, the Duke Endowment and the State of North Carolina have distributed $55 million to 2,812 small businesses through the Western North Carolina Small Business Initiative. These grants are supporting Western North Carolina businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene and bolstering regional economic recovery. More than 7,300 businesses applied.
“These grants will go a long way in helping Western North Carolina’s beloved small business owners keep their doors open after Helene,” said Stein. “But the volume of unfunded applications makes it crystal clear — more help is desperately needed. I’m ready to work with the legislature to deliver support for small businesses that power our mountain economy.”
“The Dogwood Health Trust is proud of this partnership’s work to support small business owners in western North Carolina,” said Dogwood President and CEO Dr. Susan Mims. “The Dogwood Health Trust created the Western North Carolina Small Business Initiative last fall as part of our larger Helene relief efforts. These businesses are vital to the health of our communities, and we must continue to support them.”
The Western North Carolina Small Business Initiative, initiated by the Dogwood Health Trust and then expanded by the State of North Carolina and the Duke Endowment, awarded grants of up to $50,000 to small business with an annual revenue of up to $2.5 mil-
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reimburses school nutrition programs for each meal provided to students — both paid and free meals. For the 2024-25 school year, the reimbursement rate for free students was $4.54, and $0.53 for full paid students. The USDA’s intent is for school nutrition programs to serve meals to paying students at a rate as close to the free reimbursement rate as possible.
At its April 28 meeting, the school board discussed ways to encourage families to fill out the free and reduced lunch forms, possibly by making them mandatory. However, administration said that most years, those applications aren’t ready in time from the state to be able to send out at the beginning of the year, and that after parents have gone through the process of filling out the packet of forms that are required of them at the beginning of the years, they are less likely to complete individuals forms that come home throughout the year.
“But again, that is only a short term solution, trying to get more applications,” said Lightner. “Either way, our CEP data has gone down every single year. We’re faced with the fact that several schools are going to have to go back to the traditional free and reduced applications unless the state and federal government comes up with a solution.”
lion. Earlier this week, Governor Stein announced the new $55 million Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program, which directs up to $1 million in grants to local governments to rebuild public infrastructure like sewers and sidewalks, which small businesses rely upon to attract business. Stein’s second Hurricane Helene relief budget proposal will include increased support for small businesses in Western North Carolina.
United Way of Haywood County receives grant
Duke Energy Foundation has awarded United Way of Haywood County a $25,000 grant to expand its post-Helene efforts in western North Carolina. The funding is part of $500,000 in new grants from Duke Energy Foundation awarded to 20 nonprofits supporting long-term recovery efforts in western North Carolina.
Thanks to the generosity of Duke Energy Foundation, the United Way of Haywood County has been able to help families with furniture, household goods and a washer and dryer when they return to their restored homes.
“In the face of Helene’s historic damage, we have been in awe of the resilience and teamwork of our mountain communities,” said Kendal Bowman, Duke Energy’s North Carolina president. “As we work to restrengthen the electric grid in Western North Carolina, we will continue joining together with nonprofit partners to help build back our communities piece by piece.”
For more information on Duke Energy Foundation and its initiatives, visit duke-energy.com/foundation.
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Vecinos Community Health Hub cuts the ribbon in Franklin
The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Vecinos Community Health Hub, an SECU campus, took place on May 6. Led by Vecinos Chief Executive Officer Marianne Martinez, the event celebrated the opening of the new, 16,500-square-foot bilingual medical facility in Franklin.
The Vecinos Community Health Hub opened to patients on May 1 at 19 Smoky Mountain Drive off of U.S. 441. The Hub co-locates free, bilingual medical, dental and social health services to uninsured and underinsured residents of Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties.
The Hub is a centralized location for several nonprofit organizations that provide care to low-income patients and increase health equity in Western North Carolina. These include the Blue Ridge Free Dental Clinic, 30th Judicial District Domestic Violence-Sexual Assault Alliance, Centro Comunitario of Macon County and Pisgah Legal Services.
The opening of the Vecinos Community Health Hub is a pivotal milestone in providing comprehensive healthcare to rural North Carolinians, including migrant farmworker communities.
“We are thrilled to see the Vecinos Community Health Hub come to life,” said Vecinos CEO Marianne Martinez. “The dedication of our staff, partners and volunteers has positioned us for
Tipton-Haynes hosts inaugural gala
Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site will be hosting its inaugural gala and benefit dinner at 6 p.m. Friday, May 23 in Johnson City, Tennessee.
Tipton-Haynes started this Gala in hopes to support the new extensions of the visitor center that are to be finished in May. Unfortunately, with the termination of the Federal AmeriCorps Program, Tipton-Haynes lost two of its AmeriCorps Service members. Tipton-Haynes is reallocating the use of the proceeds to help fund positions for these two members to remain until they can find another position elsewhere.
Reservations are required for this Gala. Tickets are $50 per person. For the purchase of your tickets please follow the link square.link/u/HoqYB5Ut, call 423.926.3631 or email the site at tiptonhaynes@outlook.com. Reservations end May 10.
HRMC earns an ‘A’ hospital safety grade
Haywood Regional Medical Center (HRMC) has been awarded an “A” hospital safety grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit watchdog
a future where healthcare is more accessible to everyone. After 20 years of serving Macon County through Vecinos’ mobile clinics, we are eager to serve many more residents in need of comprehensive healthcare.”
The Vecinos Community Health Hub is supported by the generosity of key partners and donors. In 2024, Vecinos received a $1.6 million grant from the State Employees Credit Union (SECU) Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization funded by SECU members and committed to fostering community development throughout North Carolina. Additional funding was provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Community Facility Healthcare Grant and the Appalachian Regional Commission Grant.
New and existing patients can make an appointment at the Vecinos Community Health Hub by calling Vecinos at 828.293.2274 or by messaging Vecinos on WhatsApp at 828.200.6469.
To qualify for Vecinos services, patients must meet three eligibility requirements: 1) Have a family household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, 2) Be uninsured, underinsured or lack reasonable access to healthcare, and 3) Be at least 18 years old. To learn more, visit vecinos.org/services.
that sets standards for excellence in patient care. This national distinction celebrates HRMC’s achievements in protecting patients from preventable harm and medical errors.
“This ‘A’ Safety Grade is a direct reflection of the hard work, vigilance, and dedication of our team,” said LaCrystal Gordon, chief nursing officer for HRMC. “Our staff continuously evaluates and improves the way we care for patients, always keeping safety at the forefront. I’m incredibly proud of our entire hospital family for earning this recognition and for the compassionate, high-quality care they provide every day.”
To see HRMC’s full grade details and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit hospitalsafetygrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on social media.
WNC Civil War Roundtable to discuss augmented reality
The Western North Carolina Civil War Round Table continues its 2025 series of programs at 7 p.m. on May 12 with a presentation by Paul Quigley. His topic will be on augmented reality and its possible use in interpreting the Civil War. The program will take place at the Haywood County
“This exhibit features musicians from Haywood County and the events they would have played for such as corn shuckins’, barn dances, competitions, and early radio shows. We also feature some of the older dance teams such as Champion YMCA and Soco Gap Cloggers as well as more recent dance teams. Ballad singers and songwriters from the county are also included.”
The exhibit is rich with photographs of musicians, dancers and singers.
Area families have donated archives, recordings, and musical instruments to round out the exhibit. The museum is owned by the Haywood County Historical and Genealogical Society and is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Friday and Saturday through October.
To celebrate the new exhibit, the museum will be having an open house on Saturday, May 10, with free tours, refreshments and live music.
Haywood County Public Library hosts food drive
Haywood County’s public library announced its third annual food drive, taking place May 12-23.
Anyone wishing to donate can drop off their indate, unopened canned, boxed or bagged nonperishable food items at any Haywood County Public Library branch. All food will be distributed through Haywood Christian Ministry.
Anyone with questions can send an email to zachary.jones@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2502.
‘Spaghetti Disco Dinner’
Public Library in Waynesville. It is free and open to the public.
Quigley will discuss a project based at Virginia Tech’s Center for Civil War Studies that uses augmented reality to present diverse aspects of Civil War era history to the public. The idea is to use mobile devices through which visitors will learn about less familiar Civil War topics: interconnections between the environment and military affairs; the war’s transformative impact on African Americans and other civilians and the benefits of reading wartime documents with a historian’s eye.
Meetings are free and open to the public. More information about programs and field trips with the Roundtable can be found at wnccwrt.com.
Museum holds open house, unveils new exhibit
A new exhibit has opened at The Museum of Haywood County History at the Shook-Smathers House in Clyde focusing on the traditional Appalachian music heritage of the county.
“Our Scots-Irish and English ancestors gave us a rich heritage of ballad singing, dancing and folk music,” said June Smathers-Jolley, who has been working on the exhibit since January.
Women of Waynesville (WOW) will host a Spaghetti Disco dinner from 5:30-7 p.m. Friday, May 16, at the VFW located at 216 Miller St. in Waynesville.
For a cost of $15, diners will have the choice of pepperoni pizza bake or spaghetti and meatballs (gluten free spaghetti will be available) and bread and dessert will be included. Meals can be preordered at tinyurl.com/2tcsywaj or purchased on the day of the event.
People can eat on-site or take a plate to go. Bottled water will be available, and other beverages (non-alcoholic and alcoholic) will be available via a cash bar.
All are welcome. This event is being held in a non-smoking, family friendly venue. Disco music will be spinning, so everyone is encouraged to dress in their best boogie attire and join in on the dance floor.
All proceeds will benefit WOW, which is an allvolunteer organization in its 13th year, supporting the needs of women and children in Haywood County. This year alone, WOW has provided more than $8,600 in fundraiser dollars and donated more than $30,000 in volunteer hours supporting other local organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, Haywood County Schools Foundation, Haywood Pathways Center, KARE, Mountain Projects and REACH.
For more information about WOW, visit womenofwaynesville.org or follow WOW on Facebook at facebook.com/womenofwaynesville.
Vecinos has officially opened its new community health hub in Macon County. File photo
Managing the visitor experience is no easy task
I’m sitting alone in the cockpit of the boat anchored at Cape Lookout National Seashore off the coast of North Carolina in the early morning, and I’m about to write a column about tourism. Sipping my coffee, though, I’m distracted as a cool May breeze rattles the halyards.
A huge loggerhead turtle keeps surfacing around the boat, the massive snout poking above the water as she (I imagine here to nest) exhales and then gulps for air while likely feeding in these pristine waters. I can’t concentrate while imagining her journey of a thousand miles back to this nesting site, and her size — these turtles can reach 300 pounds — means she must be 30 or more years old. Her presence and the occasional sightings as she surfaces remind me of why Lori and I take such immense pleasure in travel, discovering new places and soaking up the experiences in places we’ve been to before (like Cape Lookout).
This is National Travel and Tourism Week, and since we’re traveling along the coast in our little sail-boat, that subject has been front and center. We’ve been to New Bern, Ocracoke, Oriental and now Cape Lookout, the conditions — strong winds, cool temps — perfect, just what those in charge of tourism would order up if they were able.
The challenge for those in charge of tourism is not easy. If you live in one of the most beauti-ful places on the earth — like we in Western North Carolina — then you have to walk a fine line between commodification of the place you love and the desire to attract and accom-modate those who come to see it.
We met the mayor of Oriental, a small coastal town known
Standing up for our country
To The Editor:
On April 5 over 1,000 American citizens showed up at the Haywood County historic courthouse to stand up for democracy and our Constitution. We were not “bussed” in and we most certainly weren’t paid to be there. Some folks would like you to believe that all the citi-zens that were there were not locals — hate to be the bearer of bad news, many were Haywood County natives. The demographics were across the board — young, old, in-between, male, female, retirees, workers, member of the LBGQ+, Democrats, Republicans and Independents — a cross-section of our county peacefully standing sideby-side.
This peaceful and diverse group had one thing in common, the saving of democracy, our Constitution, our country. We are tired of waking up each day and looking to see what rights are being taken away or being threatened. The SAVE Act will disenfranchise many female voters simply because they changed their name when they got married; the executive branch is looking into being able to
as the sailing capital of the state, while listening to some live music at our favorite marina. The town is growing, facing the challenges of gentrification. She jokingly said it was her goal to keep more people from moving to the town. A joke, but I get it.
We are traveling with our great friends, the Valentes, who live in Summit County, Colorado, the center of that state’s ski industry. Among their friends, they say the same sentiment often crops up: how to maintain the charm and culture you’ve grown to love while still accommodating those who choose to visit, spend their money with local businesses, and then perhaps dream themselves of moving there when the time is right.
Over the last 50 years, I’ve witnessed the great cities of Europe — Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Madrid and others — become so overrun by tourists from around the world that their citizens sometimes protest against measures aimed at increasing or accommodating tourism.
I’ve never had a head-in-the-sand attitude toward visitors, tourism and growth. I know why people love places like Waynesville, Sylva and Bryson City, so I’d be a hypocrite for advocating for stopping tourism promotions. Quite the opposite — and this is more difficult — is to stay involved and knowledgeable about what is going on in these sectors and
LETTERS
deport American citizens to the hellhole in El Salvador with no due process; legal immigrants are being deported without due process and without having a criminal record; a tariff on pharmaceuticals was just announced — will we be able to afford our medication; and, the list goes on and on.
Some folks claim that DOGE has found fraud, waste and abuse and has saved money. But, is anyone talking about the weekly golf trips to Florida that are costing tax payers over $3 million each or a birthday parade that is estimated to cost $100 million?
As long as democracy and our Constitution are under attack, you will continue to see us peacefully standing up for our country.
Mary Ford, Major, USAF (retired) Waynesville
We are watching futures be ruined
To The Editor:
Taking the long view of life, I love my God, my country, my family and friends, and really,
Haywood TDA open house May 8
The Haywood County Tourism Development Authority will host an open house Thursday, May 8, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Haywood County Visitor Center, 91 N. Lakeshore Drive, in celebration of National Travel and Tourism Week.
Residents, tourism partners, business owners and anyone interested in local tourism are invited to attend. The event includes snacks, drinks, door prizes, goodie bags and photo opportunities. Prizes include more than $1,250 in local gift certificates and a chance to win a free quarter-page ad in the 2026 Haywood Visitors Guide, valued at $700.
“This is a great opportunity for the community to see what we do, ask questions and learn how tourism directly benefits the people and places of Haywood County,” said Executive Director Corrina Ruffieux.
The event is drop-in and open to the public.
trying to get involved and play a part so tourism happens right, so the benefits outweigh the negatives. We have appointed boards managing tourism in all our Western North Carolina counties, and those folks make important decisions. Their meetings are public, and citizens are welcome to attend. Meanwhile, the turtle is finished with her early morning antics. Time to pull anchor and move on. There’s plenty more to discover.
(Scott McLeod can be reached at info@smokymountainnews.com.)
just people in general. Like many of us, I go to bed at night and pray that God help our country to find its way in this current climate of division and fear and anxiety.
We are watching, if we’re paying attention, the dismantling of our government and the ruin of our financial resources. We’re seeing the most precious and most delicate
Editor Scott McLeod
aspects of our futures and the futures of our children thrust into the hands of those who are woefully unfit to make decisions at that level, unwise, unthoughtful and impulsive in the conduct of the business of government. The lives of helpless people are being torn apart by those to whom the exercise of power is the ultimate pleasure instead of the ultimate responsibility. Petty considerations of political revenge are not appropriate in an elected leader, the amassing of wealth is a sure indication of corruption and the sudden donning of the cloak of Christianity does not hide ones’ true self, least of all from the God who made us.
All of us who vote have a stake in this current government. Whether we voted for it or not, it’s what we have now and we’re in this together. Together we always have the ability to reach across the divide in our politics, love each other and exercise patience, forgiveness and understanding. I believe that the threats that we face are surmountable if we are truly allied in our approach to them. Race-baiting, hatred of those we do not know, dependence on the “social networks” as a substitute for relationship building on a personal level, guns at every level of development, seem to me to be the marks of a desperate and anxious population. We each have within our power to be kind, to offer friendship and to try to heal ourselves, an effort that will most surely be blessed with a measure of peace.
Susan Clark Franklin
The benefits of 19th century living
To The Editor:
Donald Trump has adjusted his spiel from “I’ll reduce the price of eggs, bacon and lettuce on DAY ONE!!!” to “We’ll need to take our medicine.” That’s a stunning switcheroo since I was gearing up for a cheaper BLT on day one! But now I’m on medication to cure me of my chronic spending habit for cheap foreign goods at Walmart, Target and Costco. And my medi-
cine now tastes like crap because I can’t get it laced with food dye and flavoring anymore, since RFK Jr. has outlawed all the good stuff. And he’s against any vaccines for this condition, too.
The worst of it is most everything else will be more expensive rather than less expensive in the foreseeable future at least until they bring back the cookware, toy, shirt, pants, shoes, socks, underwear, and hat factories like they had cranking out this stuff here in the 18th and 19th centuries when our country was great. They really knew how to make that stuff then, not to mention carriages and buggy whips.
We will also have to find the workers who enjoyed working in the sweat shops that made this stuff at minimum wage. Otherwise, it will cost a lot more. The only way to keep prices down will be through automation. That won’t be good news for our workforce except for those in the automation industry. Oh well. Maybe I should just relax and rely on my investments while I wait for our country to get back to the 19th century living that Trump calls The Gilded Age. Uh-oh, looks like the jury’s out on that one, too.
Glenn Duerr Haywood County
Surprised at writer’s naivete
To The Editor:
I am really surprised at the innocence of the letter writer in the issue of April 23-29.
FYI, I am a Caucasian, or perhaps I should say "white" for the writer's benefit. Every black or Amerindian or Hispanic, among others, wishes very much that he or she would only be judged by their knowledge, education or experience, but, as every one of the individuals from those groups know full well, they have to be better than white applicants in order to obtain a position. For you not to know that is disgraceful.
Clark Pearson Sylva
Full circle
Astro Record Store opens in Waynesville
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD ARTS & E NTERTAINMENT E DITOR
One recent afternoon, while wandering the Historic Frog Level District in Waynesville, the sounds of hard rock act AC/DC drifted out the front door of 24 Commerce St. The retro sign on the window states Astro Record Store. The friendly face behind the counter is Kevin “Lippy” Mawby. “There’s enjoyment and there’s convenience,” Mawby said. “As things become more and more convenient, I think people look for ways to invest their time and find enjoyment.”
One of those ways is collecting and listening to vinyl records. Once disregarded as dusty, scratched relics of a bygone era in the music industry, the tangible, yet incredibly intrinsic product that is an actual record has roared back to life over the last decade.
“The thing about these records — Led Zeppelin, Queen, Steely Dan, Fleetwood Mac — they’re all supremely wellrecorded,” Mawby said. “And you absorb those records — you listen instead of just hearing.”
Stacked neatly in bright yellow storage crates, Mawby estimates there’s roughly 10,000 records in his shop — rock to pop, jazz to country, new and old, freshly-pressed and vintage finds. To note, Astro Record Store will hold its “Grand Opening” on Saturday, May 10, during the Whole Bloomin’ Thing festival in Frog Level.
“It’s crazy, it’s fantastic,” Mawby said about the opening. “It’s like putting on an old pair of pants, you know? I’m real comfortable in this thing.”
Originally from London, England, Mawby came of age in the vibrant British punk rock scene in the late 1970s. In 1981, at just 19 years old, Mawby come to the United States to seek his fortune.
“I was a little lost and trying to figure it all out,” Mawby chuckled.
Mawby found his way to New Orleans, Louisiana. And it was there when he got his first big break, becoming a roadie for NOLA-based punk/new wave act Red Rockers, whose song “China” was a radio hit in 1983. Through that, Mawby got to see America.
When he wasn’t on the road and on tour with Red Rockers, Mawby found work at Record Ron’s, a legendary business in NOLA.
“I’d always been a record collector, but I never thought of doing that for a living,” Mawby said. “And then I got a job [at Record Ron’s].”
By 1991, Mawby opened his own record store in the French Quarter of NOLA. Dubbed “Magic Bus,” the shop was inside an old school bus.
“I got to listen to music all day and expand my knowledge,”
Mawby said. “So, I used my knowledge to expand the store, and the store to expand my knowledge.”
Mawby had Magic Bus for many years, only to be displaced from NOLA when Hurricane Katrina unleashed its wrath in 2005. Unable to return for a period of time, Mawby bounced from a shelter in rural Louisiana to a friend’s house (also a record dealer) in Austin, Texas. He then found work at a local Head Start program.
But Mawby never stopped being part of the vinyl record scene. He was still searching, purchasing, trading and selling countless records online and at swap-meets around Texas and beyond. Eventually, he opened the first Astro Record Store in Bastrop, not far from Austin.
“It’s not really about shopping,” Mawby said of the allure of record stores. “It’s about collecting and finding things. You don’t go into a lot of stores and don’t know what you want, but you know you want something — you get that experience in this store.”
While in Bastrop, Mawby met his now fiancé. With family ties to Western North Carolina, the couple found a deep love for the landscape, culture and people of Southern Appalachia. Thus, last year, they took the leap and bought a house in Waynesville. From there? Mawby started to host pop-up record sales in Frog Level Brewing Company on Commerce Street. Thereafter, the opportunity emerged to take over a vacant space a couple doors down, with the idea of another Astro Record Store quickly coming to fruition.
“There’s a huge need for a record shop,” Mawby said. “This is a little part of society that becomes kind of a town square. This is where we do our socializing, our expression.”
So, why are vinyl records back on top? Well, the return to popularity for records resides in several reasons. For one, it’s a piece of art you can listen to, display and collect. Two, the depth of sound captured in the grooves supersedes anything digital or otherwise. Three, it’s become a much-needed new avenue of revenue for current artists who can’t count on streaming services for financial stability. Another reason? Well, for music freaks like myself, there’s something sonically sacred and spiritually cleansing when you drop the needle down and immerse yourself in a record — especially in a modern, fast-paced world of distraction, this society where sitting still and actually listening comes at a premium.
“This place is about the pleasure I get from it, and the pleasure I give to other people,” Mawby said. “There’s not as many jobs that are as satisfying as this.”
Leaning against one of the yellow record bins, Mawby scans the 1910 shotgun-style building. Thousands of records are sitting patiently, each awaiting the day they get flipped, picked up and taken back home to once again shift the course of your day, your life.
“The secret to happiness is finding it in what you already have,” Mawby said. “And, if you’re going to listen to music, do it in a way that you enjoy doing it.”
Want to go?
The
Kevin “Lippy” Mawby, owner of Astro Record Store, recently launched in the Frog Level neighborhood of Waynesville. Garret K. Woodward photos
This must be the place
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD
‘You
can capture every instant, live your life like it’s a stage’
Wednesday. Late morning. Another bluebird sky day here in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Warm rays of sunshine greeted my face when I stepped off the porch of my humble abode apartment in downtown Waynesville. Put the truck in drive and begin the day.
To preface, as per usual, I’m not really sure where this week’s column is headed in real time, all while my fingers are currently rolling across the keyboard. The slight rush of caffeine pushing through my veins while I sit in Panacea Coffee Company. The sounds of indie-rockers Blitzen Trapper echoing through my headphones.
And I felt an urge to just simply type and see if anything sticks to the walls of my mind, perhaps even circle back to the original point by the time you get to the last line on this page. The urge, you see, came while I put the truck in drive and merged onto a bustling Walnut Street, eventually towards our newsroom on Montgomery.
With all four windows of my quad-cab truck rolled down, I cruised down Walnut to Russ Avenue, the incessant construction of the two bridges ever-present (especially the noise when I try to sleep in). Motor over to the Starbucks drive-thru for a much-needed cappuccino. When I was handed the drink, I immediately noticed the barista scribbled “You Rock” on the cardboard cup. I smiled.
Onto Dellwood City Road. Drift by the Waynesville Elks Lodge and the new townhouses being built in haste next door, quickly casting a shadow over the nearby baseball field in dire need of repairs since being taken out by floodwaters due to Hurricane Helene last fall.
Drift by Charlie’s Corner, which is showing more activity in its renovation since it also was devastated and shut-down by Helene. It was my go-to spot to snag some cold domestic beers on my way home from work. Drift over the newly-reopened Frog Level bridge on Depot Street. The bridge remains old and tired, but the construction folks did a bang-up job is being able to keep it steady and usable until a more-permanent solution is found (or much-needed funds acquired).
Drift by the once-inhabited buildings on Depot. Before Helene, these places brought so much life to the historic district. Now? It’s a ghost town mostly along this section of Depot. The front door of what used to be Cultivate Flower Shop still smeared with mud, the smell of which forever burned in the brains of all of us. To that, the former owners of Cultivate recently moved back to New York, the demise of their business a big
soul when I first drove into town. All people and things familiar to me were (and remain) about 1,100 miles due north in Upstate New York. When I moved to Western North Carolina in 2012, I’d been to Asheville before, but I came to Waynesville sight unseen.
It’s truth. I jumped on this gig with the newspaper out of desperation for a full-time position and a deep need for creative fulfillment. Heck, I slept under my news desk that whole first week on the job until I was able to get my first paycheck and put down rent on an apartment. Luckily, these many years and countless stories later, I remain as curious and passionate about my work as ever.
And I remember those days. Back in 2012. Even then, Waynesville was a pretty quiet town. I remember folks saying how much the town has changed. And yet, I see so much change since I’ve been here, too. That’s just the ebb and flow of time and place, you know? Sheesh, I remember when the only place you get a cold beer and watch football on Sunday was Bogart’s Steakhouse. Now? Options galore.
factor. We miss them and wish them well. Push up the hill on Depot. Wave to the owners of Singletree Heritage Kitchen at the intersection of Depot and Branner Avenue. Those folks are such a welcomed addition to our community. Greet them hello in passing out as they work on their garden before the lunch rush arrives like clockwork. A quick flashback in my memory when that building was a repair shop years ago, where I’d get my oil changed in the same spot as where the dining room is currently located.
Turn right onto Branner, up another hill and a left on Miller Street. Another right onto Montgomery. Roll up to the newspaper office like a bat out of hell, a slight cloud of dust enveloping the pickup truck when I throw the vehicle into park and grab for my workbag. Mosey on into the newsroom. Check my messages. Print out some interview transcripts to prepare for writing my articles and meeting deadlines.
Say hello to some of my co-workers. Enjoyable small chat about the weather and upcoming plans for the weekend. Wander back to my desk, this job as a journalist that I’ve been doing for 18 years professionally, 13 of which here at The Smoky Mountain News. Back to the truck with the windows rolled down. Sunshine. Pedal down. Cruise Main Street. By beloved establishments I’ve supported for years: Boojum Brewing, Mast General Store, Haywood County Arts Council. By other buildings that once-housed spots dearly missed: Tipping Point Brewing, Earthworks Gallery, City Bakery, The Strand Theater. By spots somewhat new-to-town, but have quickly become pillars of Waynesville: Orchard Coffee, Axe & Awl Leatherworks.
Thirteen years and counting calling Waynesville home. I didn’t know a single
No matter, for what truly means something is the continued magnet that Waynesville will always be when it comes to hardworking folks of pure intent who find themselves drawn to this region from origin points unknown. I myself was one of the pieces of shiny metal (probably a pinball in my restless nature) that was pulled in by the magnetic forces of good people and a genuine sense of community.
Life is beautiful, grasp for it, y’all.
HOT PICKS
1
As part of the “Cowee School Concert Series,” Americana/ bluegrass ensemble Aubrey Eisenman & The Clydes will perform at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at the Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center in Franklin.
2
Americana/bluegrass act the Darren Nicholson Band will hit the stage for an intimate performance at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, May 11, at the Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley.
3
The 22nd annual Whole Bloomin’ Thing Festival will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 10, in the Historic Frog Level District of Waynesville.
4
“Mother’s Day Gemboree” will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 9-10 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 11 at the Macon County Community Building in Franklin.
5
A stage production of “Junie B. Jones Kids!” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. May 9, 16 and 2 p.m. May 10-11, 17-18 at Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.
Wine and words at 5 Walnut in Asheville. Garret K. Woodward photo
On the beat
Bluegrass legend returns to Cataloochee Ranch
• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host Doug & Lisa May 31. All shows begin at 5 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.246.9320 / blueridgebeerhub.com.
• Cataloochee Ranch (Maggie Valley) will host Darren Nicholson Band (Americana/bluegrass) 11:30 a.m. May 11 and Marc & Anita Pruett (Americana/bluegrass) May 14. All shows begin at 5 p.m. unless otherwise noted. For tickets and reservations, visit cataloocheeranch.com/ranch-events/live-music.
]• Concerts On The Creek (Sylva) will host Shane Meade & The Sound (rock/soul) May 23 and Natti Love Joys (reggae/roots) May 30. All shows begin at 7 p.m. Everyone is encouraged to bring a chair or blanket. These events are free, but donations are encouraged. 828.586.2155 / mountainlovers.com/concerts-on-the-creek.
• Farm At Old Edwards (Highlands) will host the “Orchard Sessions” with Matt Rogers (singer-songwriter) May 21. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Admission is $50 per person, with discounts rates available for hotel guests and members. 866.526.8008 / oldedwardshospitality.com/orchardsessions.
• First United Methodist Church (Franklin) will host the Brasstown Ringers Handbell Choir, Mountain Voices Community Chorus and Pinnacle Brass 7 p.m. May 9. The event is a benefit for FUMC Hurricane Helene relief fund.
• Folkmoot Friendship Center (Waynesville) will host Las Montanitas (Latin/world) May 22. Tickets are “pay what you can” ($25, $15, $5). 828.452.2997 / folkmoot.org.
• Friday Night Live Concert Series (Highlands) will host Doug Ramsey (singer-songwriter) May 16 and Foxfire Boys (Americana/bluegrass) May 23. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. highlandschamber.org.
• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host “Jazz On The Level” 5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Adi The Monk May 7, Smashing Mouths (rock/pop) May 9, Stomper Kitty May 10, Adrianne Blanks & The Oracles May 11,
Americana/bluegrass act the Darren Nicholson Band will hit the stage for an intimate performance at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, May 11, at the Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley.
A Grammy-nominee and winner of 13 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) awards, Nicholson has taken his own brand of mountain music around the world.
A regular for years on the Grand Ole Opry and a founding member of acclaimed bluegrass group Balsam Range, Nicholson now spends his time recording, writing new songs and performing as a solo act.
For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit cataloocheeranch.com/ranchevents/live-music.
Eirann’s Call May 15, Krave Amiko May 16, Asheville Junction 3 p.m. May 17 and Justin Moyar (singer-songwriter) 3 p.m. May 18. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.454.5664 / froglevelbrewing.com.
• Harmony Hall (Franklin) will host Ron Carter (organist) 4 p.m. May 10. Free and open to the public. Donations accepted. 828.524.ARTS / arts4all@dnet.net.
• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee) will host The Temptations and The Four Tops (Motown/soul) 9 p.m. May 9. For tickets, visit caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.
• Highlander Mountain House (Highlands) will host “Blues & Brews” 6-9 p.m. Thursdays ($5 cover), Zorki (singer-songwriter) 1-3 p.m. Saturdays, “Bluegrass Brunch” 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sundays (free) and the “Salon Series” with Thomas Johnson (Americana/indie-folk) 8:30 p.m. May 8 (admission is $28.52 per person, tax included). 828.526.2590 / highlandermountainhouse.com.
• Highlands Performing Arts Center will host Steep Canyon Rangers (Americana/bluegrass) 4 p.m. May 11. Tickets are $50 per person with seating upgrades available. 828.526.9047 / highlandsperformingarts.com.
• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will host “Monday Night Trivia” every week, “Open Mic with Phil” on Wednesdays, Quentin LaChance (singersongwriter) May 10 and Shane Meade (indie/soul) May 17. All shows and events begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.586.9678/ innovation-brewing.com.
• John C. Campbell Folk School (Brasstown) will host a “Community Jam” 7 p.m. on Thursdays (at the nearby Crown Restaurant) and semi-regular live music throughout the week on its campus. folkschool.org.
• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Cody Marlowe (rock/soul) May 10, Lewendahl (R&B/soul) May 16 and Blue Jazz (blues/jazz) May 17. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public.
828.349.2337 / lazyhikerbrewing.com.
• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host “Music Bingo” 6:30 p.m. Mondays, Cody Marlowe (rock/soul) May 9 and Blue Jazz (blues/jazz) May 16. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. 828.349.2337 / lazyhikerbrewing.com.
• Listening Room (Franklin) will host Rod MacDonald (singer-songwriter) 2:30 p.m. June 7. Suggested donation $20. Located at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
• Macon County Public Library (Franklin) will host The Vagabonds (Americana) at 2 p.m. the first and third Monday and a “Song Circle” open jam from 3-6 p.m. the first Tuesday each month. Free and open to the public. 828.524.3600 or fontanalib.org.
• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host “Open Mic Night” with Frank Lee every Thursday, Scott James Stambaugh (singersongwriter) May 9, Mountain Gypsy (Americana) May 16, Bird In Hand (Americana/indie) May 17 and Singin’ & Sippin’ (Americana) 5 p.m. May 18. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 / mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.
• Otto Community Center (Otto) will host James Thompson (Americana) 5 p.m. May 16. Bring a beverage and snack of your choice. Free and open to the public. 770.335.0967 / go2ottonc.com.
• Peacock Performing Arts Center (Hayesville) will host “Peacock Rhythm & Arts Festival” May 24 (starting at noon). All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. For tickets, 828.389.ARTS / thepeacocknc.org.
• Saturdays On Pine Concert Series (Highlands) will host Nashville Jukebox May 10 and Gotcha Groove May 17. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. highlandschamber.org.
• Scotsman (Waynesville) will host Bobby G (Americana/acoustic) May 8, Celtic Road Jam (Celtic/world) 4 p.m. May 10, Shane Meade (indie/soul) May 15, Celtic Road Jam
(Celtic/world) 4 p.m. May 17 and Fancy & The Gentlemen (rock) May 17. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.6292 / scotsmanpublic.com.
• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host Brothers Of The Heart (country/gospel) 7 p.m. May 19. Tickets start at $33 with seating upgrades available. 866.273.4615 / smokymountainarts.com.
• Trailborn (Highlands) will host its “Carolina Concert Series” with Juan (singer-songwriter) May 8 and Melissa McKinney (Americana/soul) May 15. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.482.1581 or trailborn.com/highlands.
• Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host Mountain Gypsy (Americana) May 8 (free), Caribbean Cowboys (rock/oldies) May 9, Tricia Ann Band (country/rock) May 10, “Line Dancing Lessons” 7 p.m. May 14 (free), “Karaoke Night with Lori” May 15 (free), Topper May 16 and Rock Holler May 17. All shows are $5 at the door unless otherwise noted and begin at 8 p.m. 828.538.2488 / unpluggedpub.com.
• Valley Cigar & Wine Co. (Waynesville) will host Rich Manz Trio (acoustic/oldies) 3:30 p.m. May 10 and Pat Sheridan & Friends (Americana/country) 2 p.m. May 17. Free and open to the public. 828.944.0686 / valleycigarandwineco.com.
• Vineyard At High Holly (Scaly Mountain) will host Tim Austin (singer-songwriter) May 11. All shows begin at 2 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.482.5573 / thevineyardathighholly.com.
• Yonder Community Market (Franklin) will host Will Kimbrough (singer-songwriter) 4 p.m. May 25. Family/dog friendly. 828.200.2169 / eatrealfoodinc.com.
• Find more at smokymountainnews.com/arts
Haywood Community Band launches 2025 season
The Haywood Community Band (HCB) will kick off its 2025 season with a special concert, a “Celebration of Song and Dance,” at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 18, at the Calvary Road Baptist Church in Maggie Valley.
“Calvary Road’s facility is the perfect location to address our increased band membership and growing audience,” said HCB Treasurer Paul Draper. “The facility has the stage and sound technology required, lots of seating and parking, and ensures that we can perform rain or shine.” All shows are free and open to the public. For more information and/or a full schedule of upcoming HCB performances, visit haywoodcommunityband.com.
Darren Nicholson will play Maggie Valley May 11.
File photo
Americana, bluegrass at Cowee School
Eisenman & The Clydes will perform at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at the Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center in Franklin.
vocals, John Duncan (fiddle), Justin Eisenman (guitar/vocals) and James Kylen (drums). Since their 2018 signing to Mountain Fever/Travianna Records, they have had two singles on the Grassicana Charts for almost a year. As well, their album “Bowerbird” was on Roots Music “Top 50 Albums” for 2019.
Admission is $15 for adults, $7.50 for kids ages 16 and under. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit coweeschool.org/music or call 828.369.4080.
On the stage
HART presents ‘Junie B. Jones Kids!’
The world premiere of “Junie B. Jones Kids!,” a brandnew adaptation of the beloved children’s book series, will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. May 9, 16 and 2 p.m. May 10-11, 17-18 at Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.
The production is brought to life through a partnership with Musical Theatre International (MTI). As part of MTI’s exclusive pilot program, HART is the first theatre in the country to debut this kidfriendly musical — and local audiences will be the very first to experience it. Featuring a cast of young performers ages 6 to 12, “Junie B. Jones Kids!” is a quickpaced, heartwarming production that invites audiences into the colorful world of Junie B., a spirited first-grader navigating school, friendships and the little surprises of growing up.
Packed with catchy songs, big laughs and plenty of heart, this 30-minute musical is designed with families in mind — ideal for kids, grandkids or anyone who’s young at heart.
• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee) will host semi-regular comedians on the weekends. For tickets, visit caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.
• Highlands Performing Arts Center (Highlands) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. mountaintheatre.com / 828.526.9047.
This production marks the HART directorial debut of Annie Dragoo, a recent Western North Carolina transplant and Tony-nominated educator, bringing her nationally recognized talent and passion for youth theatre to the HART stage.
Opening Mother’s Day weekend, moms will receive free concessions at the May 11 performance. Tickets are $15 for adults, $7 for students.
For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit harttheatre.org or call the box office at 828.456.6322.
• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. smokymountainarts.com / 866.273.4615.
• Peacock Performing Arts Center (Hayesville) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. thepeacocknc.org / 828.389.ARTS.
Aubrey Eisenman & The Clydes will play Franklin May 10. File photo
On the wall
A special gem show will be in Franklin May 9-11. File photo
Haywood Arts ‘Quilted Expressions’
The Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) will present “Quilted Expressions: A Celebration of Block-Based
‘Mother’s Day Gemboree’
The “Mother’s Day Gemboree” will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 9-10 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 11 at the Macon County Community Building in Franklin. Rough and cut gems, minerals, fine jewelry, supplies, beads, door prizes, dealers, exhibits, demonstrations and more.
Sponsored by the Franklin Chamber of Commerce and the Macon County Gem & Mineral Society. For more information, visit franklin-chamber.com.
• “Spring Craft & More Fling” will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at the Great Smoky Mountains Event Park in Bryson City. Local crafters, antique sellers and more. 828.488.3848.
• “Historic Places Art Contest” is now underway through May 20 for area students. In honor of “National Historic Preservation Month,” the contest invites students to create a visual representation of a historic structure or place that is meaningful in your community. Submissions must be turned in by 4 p.m. May 20 at the Jackson County Planning Department in Sylva. For more information, call Ashley Clapsaddle at 828.631.2283 or email ashleyclapsaddle@jacksonnc.org.
• WNC Paint Events will host painting ses-
On the table
sions throughout the region on select dates. For more information and/or to sign up, visit wncpaint.events.
• Marianna Black Library (Bryson City) will host “ArtWorks” at 1 p.m. every second Thursday of the month. Come create your own masterpiece. The materials for art works are supplied and participants are welcome to bring ideas and supplies to share with each other. Ages 16 and up. Space limited to 10 participants. Free and open to the public. 828.488.3030 / vroberson@fontanalib.org.
• CRE828 (Waynesville) will offer a selection of art classes and workshops at its studio located at 1283 Asheville Road. Workshops will include art journaling, watercoloring, mixed media, acrylic painting and more. 828.283.0523 / cre828.com.
Do
you like strawberries?
Art,” an innovative exhibit that reimagines the traditional quilt, through June 2 at HCAC’s Haywood Handmade Gallery in downtown Waynesville.
This unique showcase challenges conventional ideas of quilting and expands the definition of what a quilt can be. Artists working in all mediums have been invited to create pieces inspired by the structure and tradition of quilts, with each artwork limited to a maximum size of 12-by-12 inches.
From textiles and mixed media to painting and sculpture, the exhibit highlights the beauty of block-based design across various artistic disciplines.
“This show is an exploration of pattern, form, and storytelling,” says HCAC Executive Director Tonya Harwood “Quilting has long been a symbol of community, craftsmanship and creativity. This exhibit honors that tradition while pushing boundaries in exciting new ways.”
“Quilted Expressions” is part of HCAC’s ongoing mission to celebrate artistic innovation and support both emerging and established artists. The Haywood Handmade Gallery, run entirely by dedicated volunteers, is a cornerstone of Waynesville’s growing arts scene.
The exhibit is free and open to the public. For more information, visit haywoodarts.org or email director@haywoodarts.org.
A work from Christine Schlageter. Donated photo
• Gallery Zella (Bryson City) will be hosting an array of artist receptions, exhibits and showcases. 517.881.0959 / galleryzella.com.
• Waynesville Photography Club meets at 7 p.m. every third Monday each month on the second floor of the Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center in Clyde. The club is a nonprofit organization that exists for the enjoyment of photography and the improvement of one’s skills. The club welcomes photographers of all skill levels to share ideas and images at the monthly meetings. waynesvillephotoclub@charter.net.
• Haywood County Arts Council (Waynesville) will offer a wide range of classes, events and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. 828.452.0593 / haywoodarts.org.
The 23rd annual Strawberry Jam festival will be held May 17-18 at Darnell Farms in Bryson City.
The Darnell family celebrates their locally grown strawberry crop. Enjoy live music, local food, fresh fruits/vegetables, craft vendors, plow demonstrations, children’s play area, hayrides, fishing, camping and much more. For more information, visit darnellfarms.com or call 828.488.2376.
The Strawberry Jam festival returns May 17-18. File photo
• Jackson County Green Energy Park (Dillsboro) will be offering a slew of classes, events and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. 828.631.0271 / jcgep.org.
• Southwestern Community College Swain Arts Center (Bryson City) will host an array of workshops for adults and kids. 828.339.4000 / southwesterncc.edu/scclocations/swain-center.
• Dogwood Crafters in Dillsboro will offer a selection of upcoming art classes and workshops. 828.586.2248 / dogwoodcrafters.com.
• Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host semi-regular arts and crafts workshops. 828.369.4080 / coweeschool.org.
• Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will have its wine bar open 4-8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. 828.452.6000 / classicwineseller.com.
• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host semiregular taptakeovers from local and regional breweries on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.246.9320 / blueridgebeerhub.com.
• “Flights & Bites” will be held starting at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays at Bosu’s Wine Shop in downtown Waynesville. 828.452.0120 / waynesvillewine.com.
• “Take A Flight” with four new wines every Friday and Saturdays at the Bryson City Wine Market. Select from a gourmet selection of charcuterie to enjoy with your wines. Educational classes and other events are also available. 828.538.0420.
• “Uncorked: Wine & Rail Pairing Experience” will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on select dates at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City. Full service all-adult first class car. Wine pairings with a meal, and more. There will also be a special “Beer Train” on select dates. 800.872.4681 / gsmr.com.
Blow the tannery whistle
BY GARY CARDEN · S PECIAL TO SMN
The brief history of the Sylva Collegiate Institute
Back in the 1940s, while World War II was still raging in Europe and the Philippines, Charlie Kilpatrick and I used to entertain ourselves by prowling through the kudzu thickets near his house.
On the knoll where the water tower is now, we used to come across concrete footings and buried bricks which we believed were the debris of either a secret outpost of the Nazis or “The sons of Nippon” that we knew about from the latest film down at the Ritz and we would crawl through the kudzu and the briars with our Daisy air rifles pretending to be Jimmy Cagney and Brian Donlevy on a secret mission. Of course, we knew that this was really the site of the Sylva Collegiate Institute, which was some kind of school, but when you are James Cagney and armed with a Daisy, there is nothing very interesting about that.
But now, 80 years later, I find myself fascinated by what used to be known as College Hill because there was a college located there. With the help of Jason Brady, who is now in charge of special collections at Western Carolina University’s Hunter Library, I have been able to conjure up a vital picture of a part of Sylva’s history — a time when 250 students came and went on the streets of our town, moving from their classes to their rooms.
Many were day students who traveled to the Sylva Collegiate Institute each day. Jason provided me school catalogs that listed the names of students who traveled from communities like Bushnell, Proctor and Japan — communities that were later erased by Fontana Lake.
SCI opened its doors in 1898. It operated “independently” until 1900. In the beginning, the school’s financial support was derived from a number of local citizens who felt the need for better educational advantages.
Basically, that means that a significant
number of the community felt that the existing school system was incapable of providing an education that would qualify its students to attend college.
Specifically, that meant that colleges were rejecting the majority of students who graduated from the local school system. “Institutes” were established to respond to this need.
Mission, they automatically became “Baptist schools.”
Acceptance of funding from the Baptist Home Mission Society was such that each school’s curriculum had an emphasis on religion. Although other fields were taught, most students at SCI were pre-ministerial students. The Society’s funding enabled the Sylva institute to construct a five-room brick building and a girl’s dorm with thirteen rooms. All of the classes were conducted in the five-room brick building.
In the beginning, the majority of male students lived in Sylva or commuted from nearby communities. By 1905, SCI’s enrollment was 195 students. The school very
For
Training at Institutes was comparable to a modern high school education, and their mission was to bridge the gap between public schools and the colleges. The major emphasis in most of these institutions was on agriculture, business, music and stewardship. In 1900, the Baptist Home Mission Society launched its program of aid to mountain schools in North Carolina. As a result, the Sylva Collegiate Institute was one of eight schools that received benefits from this appropriation. There were institutes in Haywood, Fruitland in Henderson County and one short-lived institute in Murphy. Mars Hill College began operation as Mars Hill Institute. When all of these schools accepted support from the Baptist Home
had for future growth were dashed by three events.
First, North Carolina Public Schools began a program to establish a high school system with levels or grades. Previously, this had been the primary purpose of SCI. Students were not likely to pay for a high school education when it could be acquired at no cost in the public schools.
Then, when the great Depression struck the school system, enrollments dropped in all of the institutes.
Finally, the Baptist Home Mission Society withdrew their funds. The withdrawal of these funds brought on the collapse of the Institute, although the Board of Trustees and several prominent citizens attempted to keep the doors open for a short time.
Additional “financial problems” brought about the permanent closing of the school. During the annual meeting in June 1931, the Home Mission Board “dissociated itself” as the operating agents of the mountain schools. SCI ceased to be an educational institution. All of the buildings were torn down shortly afterwards.
As a teenager, I talked to several Sylva residents of SCI who had pleasant memories of the school. Velt Wilson, the owner of Velt’s Café, showed me his yearbook and the Special Collections Section at WCU has a fascination collection of photographs of the SCI buildings. I noted that a number of the photographs belonged to familiar names: Rachael Phillips, Doris Beck and Willa Scruggs.
nearly operated at no expense to the students since all charges were at a minimum due to the generous support of the Baptist Home Missions. According to a pamphlet, The Mountain School Work of the Home Mission Board by J. W. O’Hara, SCI increased its facilities to include an administrative building, two dormitories and a cottage. However, in 1924 the cottage burned shortly its construction and one student lost his life.
At that time the Institute employed ten teachers with an enrollment of 229 students. It is interesting to note that in its prospering years, SCI exceeded Western Carolina Teachers College and had plans to become a junior college. Any plans that the Institute
Brady, Director of Special Collections brought all of this material together. I am fascinated by the fact that Sylva “almost” became a college town. Had it survived I wonder what effect it would have had on Western Carolina Teachers College, now Western Carolina University, and the growth of community colleges in this region.
(Gary Carden is one of Southern Appalachia’s most revered literary figures and has won a number of significant awards for his books and plays over the years, including the Book of the Year Award from the Appalachian Writers Association in 2001, the Brown Hudson Award for Folklore in 2006 and the North Carolina Arts Council Award for Literature in 2012. His most recent book, “Stories I lived to tell,” is available at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva, or online through uncpress.org.)
a young Carden and friends, kudzu fields offered endless opportunities for imagination. File photo
On the street
Ready for PlottFest?
The annual PlottFest celebration will take place from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 17, Maggie Valley Festival Grounds.
A weekend event celebrating the history and heritage of the Plott Hound, the official state dog of North Carolina — a breed originated by the Plott family that gained worldwide notoriety in the Great Smokies.
Join Plott Hound owners and enthusiasts from across the nation as they come together to commemorate the breed with an officially sanctioned UKC Bench show and various
The 22nd annual Whole Bloomin’ Thing Festival will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 10, in the Historic Frog Level District of Waynesville.
Children’s activities, local growers and artisans/crafters, flowering baskets, herbs, outdoor decor, live music and more. Businesses in the district will also be open, including a coffee cafe, brewery and more.
The event is free and open to the public. Rain or shine. For more information, visit wholebloominthing.com.
other competition events.
As well, there will be live music, historical programs, art vendors, food trucks and more onsite.
Admission is $15 for adults, free for kids age 12 and under. For more information, call 704.450.4157 or visit bobplott.net/plottfest.
ALSO:
• “Historic Homes Tour” will take place on Sunday, May 18, in Waynesville and surrounding areas. Presented by the Historic Shelton House. For more information, visit sheltonhouse.org.
Pigeon Community ‘Storytellers Series’
The Pigeon Community Multicultural Development Center in Waynesville has recently announced its 2025 “Pigeon Community Conversations with Storytellers Series.”
This curated series will showcase awardwinning storytellers from Western North Carolina’s African American, Latino and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian communities.
Through live storytelling, readings, music and focused questions, the “Pigeon Community Conversations with Storytellers Series” examines the purpose and power of storytelling in underrepresented communities.
Types of storytelling to be explored are written, traditional, musical and spoken word poetry, which will reflect Western North Carolina’s diversity of talent. The series is appropriate for all community members. Everyone is welcome to attend.
PCMDC Program Director Tausha Forney will lead this series. The conversations are casual and will allow for audience participation. The events will be held at 6 p.m. at the PCMDC.
• May 8: LaKisha Blount explores the essence of her experiences and generational stories of Black mountain life in Appalachia through her figurative oil paintings. Using bold colors, gritty textures of layered paint
• “Railfest” will be held May 16-18 at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City. Watch the return of steam engine #1702, as well as historic programs, live music, vendors and more. 800.872.4681 / gsmr.com.
and intricate markings, Blount aims to capture the raw emotion and beauty of everyday life.
• June 12: Joseph Drew Lanham is an American author, poet, wildlife biologist and 2022 MacArthur Fellowship-winner for his work “combining conservation science with personal, historical and cultural narratives of nature.”
• July 10: Kelle Jolly is an “AffrilachianGeorgia-lina-Peach,” embracing a rich blend of cultural influences. Through the art of storytelling and her mastery of the ukulele, she joyfully expresses her folk traditions.
• Aug. 14: Roy Harris belongs to three storytelling organizations: the Asheville Storytelling Circle (of which he is a former president), the North Carolina Association of Black Storytellers and, more recently, the National Association of Black Storytellers.
• Sept. 11: Glenis Redmond is the First Poet Laureate of Greenville, South Carolina, and is a Kennedy Center Teaching Artist.
Tickets are $10 for community members, $7 for seniors (ages 65 and over) and $5 for students. Children 12 and under may attend free of charge.
Tickets may be purchased in advance and can be purchased at the door of each performance. Reduced price $50/$40/$30 series passes are also available. Refreshments are available for purchase. Please contact Tausha Forney for information about individual event sponsorships.
For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit pcmdc.org.
Whole Bloomin’ Thing returns to Waynesville May 10. File photo
Plott Hound. File photo
Vincent van Gogh from a female perspective
Iwas gifted the book “The Secret Life of Sunflowers” (by Marta Molnar, 2022, 399 pages) and told I would like it. Usually, this kind of gift ends up not being what it was purported to be by the gift-giver. However, there are exceptions, and this was one of them. In a book that is really two books with alternating chapters and totally different time frames and characters, it is a bit of a bipolar read. But there are connections that one can follow if reading the complete book as designed.
On the other hand, one could, as I did, read each story separately and get two good reads for the price of one. The storyline that captivated my interest the most was the story of Vincent van Gogh and his brother Theo as told from the perspective of Theo’s wife Johanna Bonger. Done with what was obviously meticulous research, Marta Molnar has created a wonderfully written biographical map of the brothers van Gogh from a female’s intimate first-person perspective.
The story begins with Johanna’s romantic encounter with Theo and his persistent flirtations that she initially resists, not wanting to commit to anything permanent, but rather seeking to live an independent life of her own. But as things often happen, the aggressor often wins out and in this case Theo’s love for Johanna wins out and they are married. Almost from the get-go after the wedding, Vincent becomes a major player in the story’s narrative — with all his trials and tribulations many of us know about having read the myriad biographies of this famous artist. But Vincent’s life, here, is couched in the perspective of the young Johanna and the life she is leading with Theo, whose main focus is on being promoter and caretaker for his brother. Through all of this familiar history, Molnar gives us exquisite dialogue between the three main characters that is so well done as to come off almost visually as a painting itself, with Molnar creating pictures for us readers coming out of the mouths of her characters.
In “The Secret Life of Sunflowers,” starting in 1887, we travel from Amsterdam in the Netherlands, to Paris (1988, 89, 90,), then back to Amsterdam (1890) where Theo sets up a gallery of Vincent’s paintings for sale with the idea of supporting Vincent so
that he can continue painting. As Molnar writes and Johanna ponders, “The paintings on the walls reminded me daily why Theo believed in Vincent. Winter might have ruled outside, but our home was bathed in summer. The pale pink of almond blossoms were joined by the robust blue of irises, and
ly, and in all the prolific activity and trauma of the times.
But as we know, all good things must come to an end and Vincent dies at an early age and without the kind of artistic recognition both he and Theo were predicting. With Vincent’s death, Theo goes into a deep depression which finds him, eventually, in a mental hospital followed by an early death. This leaves Johanna, not only a grieving widow, but the sole heir of Vincent’s collection of well over a hundred paintings and a box of hundreds of letters written to Theo in Vincent’s hand. The rest of the story is Johanna’s journey to becoming an art dealer herself, and the primary promoter of Vincent’s paintings. After inquiring with some of the most notable art dealers and gallery owners in Paris, London and the U.S., and getting nothing but rejections, she returns to Amsterdam in a last-ditch effort to sell Vincent’s work.
the indomitable yellow of sunflowers. At times, I felt as if the colors were singing together and calling me to dance. I swore the miracle of Vincent’s painting would not remain forever locked away in our apartment.”
We get all the drama of those years and journeys back and forth from the Netherlands and Paris, including Vincent’s bipolar mental issues and relative poverty, as well as a glimpse of the Paris arts scene during that time period including many nowfamous names in the visual arts world, including Monet, Holst, Gauguin, Degas, Renoir, Cezanne, etc. In what becomes a love story, Johanna has fallen madly in love with her husband, Theo, and is fully ensconced in his life and work promoting his brother’s work; and we, as readers, are there in Paris and the Netherlands with them, romantical-
City Lights welcomes Bowles, Winchester
“Clouds covered the sky, the sun unable to break through to warm the air. I did not take that as an omen. It was just Dutch winter. But I was shivering by the time I reached Arti et Amicitiae’s white neo-classical building on Gracht Ronkin,” she writes.
With determination and a little “help from above,” she gains an audience with the owner of the gallery and convinces him to take on Vincent’s work. And the rest, as we say, is history.
This is the end of the Van Gogh sections of “The Secret Life of Sunflowers” Meanwhile, one hundred and thirty-five years later, the story in Molnar’s “2nd book” takes place in New York with the story of Emsley Wilson and the discovery of Johanna’s diary recounting her romantic history of the Impressionist arts movement of the 19th century. But the review of “book 2” is for another time, yet one that is also welltold from Marta Molnar’s talented pen.
(Thomas Crowe is a regular contribuor to Smoky Mountain News and Smoky Mountain Living and is the author of the award-winning memoir “Zoro’s Field: My Life in the Appalachian Woods.”)
Melanie Sue Bowles will join Renea Winchester for a conversation about their books, publishing and Bowles’ work at the Proud Spirit Horse Sanctuary at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. Bowles, founder of the nearly 35-year-old sanctuary, is an award-winning author of three nonfiction books and a contributor to equestrian magazines. Winchester, an Appalachian native, is the author of several
works, including the SIBAnominated “Farming, Friends & Fried Bologna Sandwiches,” and has received multiple literary awards. Free and open to the public. 828.586.9499 / citylightsnc.com.
Writer
Thomas Crowe
WCU softball
bat boy defies odds, cheers on Catamounts
BY CAM ADAMS
S PECIAL TO SMN
Drake Barlow walks up to home plate with the most swagger out of anyone on game days. He sports a sick pair of shades, some Catamount gear and a toothy grin that coaches across the Southern Conference have come to know.
When the pregame meeting is over, Barlow walks back to the Western Carolina University softball dugout — and brings it. Barlow is the team’s honorary bat boy, sports fiend and biggest fan all in one, but most importantly, he’s a fighter.
The 13-year-old has sustained 22 open heart surgeries, a stroke at 21 days old and a heart transplant as a result of multiple congenital heart defects. However, Barlow still gives family friend and WCU softball player Tate Stewman and her teammates all he has on game days.
“This little guy, he’s had it harder than anyone can imagine … It’s a gift to do (what we do) every single day,” Stewman said.
“Understanding the gift that we have is so, so special, but getting to, in some form, let him live that with us is more than I could ever ask and more than this little dude could ever ask.
“You can’t be around him and not be happier just to be in his presence, so it’s pretty awesome.”
Thanksgiving and Christmas together.
“The Lord just put it on our heart to love these people,” Guindy said. “My family needed Drake and Jill, and they needed us. Something bigger than us put us together.”
Blood relation doesn’t make a difference to the Stewmans and Barlows. They’re family nonetheless.
“Drake and I are both only children, so technically Drake’s not my brother, and I’m not his sister, but this is my little brother,” Tate said.
“Yeah,” Drake said in agreement.
KNOWING HIS WAY AROUND THE DIAMOND
As long as Drake could remember, he’s always been into sports. The 13-year-old watches them constantly, and he could tell you every school’s mascot — so much so that he learned his ABCs with mascots.
His bedroom in Loudon, Tennessee, is adorned with University of TennesseeKnoxville orange and white with tons of Volunteer memorabilia. However, as soon as Tate committed to play at WCU, Drake went all in on the Catamounts, even when they play his beloved Vols.
“Any other time they play, I like them,” Drake said, “We play them? No. Go Cats! Go Cats!”
A NEW HEART AND NEW FRIENDS
Barlow wasn’t given much of a chance when he was born. He wasn’t eligible for a heart transplant at first, so his parents, Jill and Eric Barlow, were told to love on him while they could because doctors thought he wouldn’t live much longer.
But after years of open-heart surgeries and being in and out of the hospital, Drake finally got the green light for a transplant. Unfortunately, Eric’s time with his son was cut
Stewmans got to know Drake over the phone and sent him a Pillow Pet, cards and cookies among other gifts.
“She started sending Drake all this stuff, and I called Whitney. I said ‘Whitney, is this lady OK? Is she normal?’ and she started dying laughing,” Jill said. “She said, ‘Oh yes, Jill. We know how you are. The Stewmans, you will love them. They are good people.’”
Their love for Drake grew quickly, but it skyrocketed when they met him and his whimsical personality.
“One summer, I had a tournament in Nashville, Tennessee. At the time, that’s
“Understanding the gift that we have is so, so special, but getting to, in some form, let him live that with us is more than I could ever ask and more than this little dude could ever ask.”
— Tate Stewman, WCU softball player
WCU softball coach Jim Clift first met Drake at a recruiting event in Chattanooga, Tennessee where he got a glimpse into the sports fanatic’s charm. About halfway through the day, Clift saw Drake chatting it up with about every coach there and riding in the golf cart with them, too.
That charisma is why Drake is somewhat of a celebrity in the college softball scene. Guindy said Drake is a first-name basis with just about every major college softball coach, including Tennessee’s Karen Weekly.
“He’s very magnetic, and pretty soon, he’s your best friend,” Clift said. “It was kind of cool to see him out there. It’s really fun to have him be a part of our family, and that’s the way we look at it. We may call him an honorary bat boy, but he’s family, and that’s not honorary. That’s just part of the family.”
short three months before his procedure, dying in a tragic accident on the highway while changing a stranger’s tire.
Drake received his new heart on April 28, 2019, and that week, the Stewman family came into his life. While scrolling on Facebook, Guindy Stewman, Tate’s mom, came across Drake’s story, and it immediately captured her heart.
Guindy soon discovered she had a mutual friend with Jill: her first cousin, Whitney (Davis), and she reached out to her to get in touch with the Barlows. Eventually, the
where he and his mom were staying, and Jill invited us to come and meet him,” Tate said. “We just kind of fell in love with him at first sight, and we’ve been stuck together ever since.”
Drake soon found himself in softball dugouts often with Tate, joining her for her travel ball games in high school as the team’s bat boy. As the families grew closer together, the more Tate saw her partner in crime.
Today, the Stewmans usually have Drake over for about three days each week in their hometown of Sylva, and they also spend
Drake walks up with Clift to home plate for pregame meetings when he’s in town and flexes his sports knowledge. He often tells the opposing coach he knows their mascot and the umpire he saw them on TV the other night.
“It’s always great because he kind of ends up being our ambassador. I look at him more like the mayor of the softball program,” Clift said. “There’s a little bit of some strategy there because he softens up the other coach and he softens up those umpires.”
Drake is well known across the rest of campus, too, as he’s known to mingle with Catamount baseball, basketball and football players.
But Drake’s favorite spot in F
Drake celebrated his six-year heart transplant anniversary at the April 26 softball game at WCU. Donated photo
HCC to hold plant and craft sale
Haywood Community College in Clyde has organized a sale from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, May 9, on its campus. Specific varieties include but are not limited to cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, annuals, succulents, hanging baskets and much more. Students and instructors from the Professional Crafts program will simultaneously be holding their annual Spring craft sale.
The sale will feature student work in four mediums: fiber, metals, ceramics and wood. This student-led sale is a valuable opportunity for students to practice the marketing and sales skills they learn in the Professional Craft Program and a positive way to engage with community members about their craft. Proceeds from each sale will benefit their respective club or student group. Cash, checks and card methods of payment will be accepted.
Cullowhee is easily around the home softball dugout. That’s where he’s cheering on WCU, making up crazy handshakes to do with the players before the game and throwing them up in the air after they hit a home run, Drake’s favorite.
He’s also a big fan of the dugout snacks and the team meetings.
“He’s a little ball of energy,” Tate said. “We like to call him our Sour Patch Kid because you never know what you’re going to get from him. Some days he comes in, he’s letting everybody have it, and some days, he’s giving everybody a hug and just hanging out.”
come the 13-year-old with open arms; they look out for him, too. They know where he can and can’t be, so he won’t get hit with a foul ball. They know what foods he can and can’t have.
Clift even knows Drake’s favorite snack to munch on on game days: olives.
“Coach Clift gets them just for him,” Tate said.
Tate and Drake’s folks at home are the ones that make it all possible, though, despite the drive. The two-and-a-half-hour distance between Loudon and Sylva is nothing in comparison to the joy it brings Drake.
HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS
After spending game after game in the dugout with Tate, now a WCU junior, over the years, Drake’s favorite sport has slowly become softball after it was football for the longest time.
He loves hearing the ding of the bat, checking in on scores across the country and watching warmups before games.
His favorite part of the sport, though? The people, and it’s been the people within the WCU softball program who have embraced Drake the past few seasons. Every year since Drake has been a part of the program, the softball team celebrates the anniversary of his heart transplant.
It did so again this year before its April 26 doubleheader against Furman University, as the team released balloons for Drake’s dad and the young man who died and gave Drake his heart.
Not only do the players on the team wel-
“I can’t handle disappointing him, so it may make for a long day, but it is so worth it when it does,” Guindy said. “I’m not going to disappoint him because he’s had a hard enough life, and he looks forward to it so very much, so whatever it takes.”
WCU has meant a lot to the young Catamount. For the last few years, it’s been a place where the sports lover has celebrated Catamount wins, a place he’s built a strong reputation for being the biggest fan on campus and a place where he’s won the hearts of many.
But most importantly for Drake, Cullowhee has become a home away from home — and yet another family that cherishes him.
“They just loved him,” Tate said. “I felt like no one ever had any questions. If Drake was here, he was just loved from the get-go. I mean, he’s nothing but loved here, and I feel like that’s how we all feel here. It’s a pretty awesome thing to be a part of, and I’m just really grateful that he gets to experience it, too.”
Drake Barlow at a recent WCU softball game. Donated photo
Troxler encourages horse owners to vaccinate against mosquito-borne diseases and rabies
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler is encouraging equine owners to have their animals vaccinated against Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis and West Nile Virus.
“Mosquito-breeding season in North Carolina lasts from spring until the first frost and horses are at risk if not properly vaccinated,” Troxler said. “EEE is fatal 90% of the time in horses and WNV has a fatality rate of 30%. However, both diseases are preventable by vaccination.”
State Veterinarian Dr. Mike Martin recommends that equine owners talk to their veterinarians about an effective vaccination protocol to protect horses from mosquito-borne diseases. The combination vaccination initially requires multiple injections for horses, mules and donkeys that have no prior vaccination history.
Haywood County offers warning amid tick season
Spring and summer mean more time outdoors, but they also mean tick season. Ticks can carry serious diseases like Lyme disease, so take these steps to protect yourself and your loved ones. Haywood County Environmental Health offers these simple tips:
• Dress Smart: Wear long sleeves, long pants and closed-toe shoes. Tuck pants into socks to keep ticks from crawling up your legs.
• Use Repellent: Apply EPA-registered insect repellents that contain DEET, picaridin or permethrin (on clothing only).
• Stay on Trails:
Join Franklin Bird club for Macon County walks
Mosquitoes can breed in any puddle that lasts for more than four days, so removing any source of standing water can reduce the chance of exposing animals to WNV or EEE. Keeping horses in stalls at night, using insect screens and fans, and turning off lights after dusk can also help reduce exposure to mosquitoes. Insect repellants can be effective if used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Symptoms of EEE include impaired vision, aimless wandering, head pressing, circling, inability to swallow, irregular staggering gait, paralysis, convulsions and death. Once a horse has been bitten by an infected mosquito, it may take three to 10 days for symptoms to appear.
Symptoms of WNV include fever, weakness or paralysis of hind limbs, impaired vision, head pressing, seizures and aimless wandering.
People, horses and birds can become infected from a bite by a mosquito carrying these diseases, but there is no evidence that horses can transmit these viruses to other horses, birds or people through direct contact.
Avoid tall grass, brush and wooded areas where ticks thrive. Stick to the center of hiking trails.
• Check Yourself and Pets: After being outdoors, do a full-body tick check. Don’t forget behind the knees, underarms and scalp. Check pets, too.
• Shower Soon: Showering within two hours of coming inside can help remove ticks and reduce your risk of infection.
• Remove Ticks Promptly: Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick close to the skin and pull upward steadily. Clean the bite area with alcohol or soap and water.
• Stay safe, stay vigilant and enjoy the outdoors responsibly. For more information, visit cdc.gov/ticks.
The Franklin Bird Club leads walks along the Greenway on Wednesday mornings at 8 a.m. through September. Walks start at alternating locations: Macon County Public Library, Big Bear Park and Salali Lane.
The public is welcome. All walks are weather dependent. Additional information, including directions to each location and a bird club check list can be found at littletennessee.org/franklin-bird-club.
Schedule and meeting places for upcoming walks:
• May 14: Meet at Big Bear parking lot
• May 21: Meet at Salali Lane parking lot
• May 28: Meet at the Macon County Library parking lot
Haywood Master Gardeners host plant clinic
Do you have a gardening question? NC State Extension Master Gardener volunteers are available to answer your questions about lawns, vegetables, flowers, trees and ornamental plants; disease, insect, weed or wildlife problems; soils (including soil test results) and fertilizers; freeze and frost damage; and cultural and chemical solutions to pest problems. Email haywoodemgv@gmail.com with a detailed description of the problem, plant or insect. Send clear digital photos if possible.
Questions can also be answered by calling 828.456.3575 and describing a home gardening issue to the receptionist. Either way, an Extension Master Gardener volunteer from Haywood County will get back to you within a few days with research-based information.
Experts will be on hand to answer questions.
The Joyful Botanist
BY ADAM B IGELOW
Here grow pinkshells, far from the seashore
If you are driving or walking in the woods in the higher elevations of Western North Carolina at this time of year, you may be treated to the most beautiful explosion of deeply pink azalea flowers blooming in profusion all throughout the woods. And it’s not just any old azalea, but it’s a special and rare species that are often be taken for granted.
eries, including the wonderful Carolina Native Nursery in Burnsville, which grows all of the native rhododendrons and azaleas found in the Southeast. And they grow them from seed; not by cloning cuttings. I think that’s pretty special. You too can have a pinkshell azalea growing in your yard, no matter what elevation you are at in the mountains.
With an abundance of cultivated varieties of hybrid azaleas from other parts of the world that are used in most horticultural landscapes, the specialness and rareness of azaleas that are native to the Southern Appalachians can often go overlooked. I wonder how many visitors and residents of the Highlands Plateau know how incredible it is to have an abundance of pink blooms in those woods this time of year.
I know how special it is, because these pink blooms are the beautiful flowers of the pinkshell azalea (Rhododendron vaseyi), and they can only be found growing in the wild in the mountains of North Carolina and nowhere else in the world. Pinkshell azaleas are what we call a “narrow endemic” meaning that it only lives in a small geographical area. In this case, the small area is above 4,000 ft in elevation in North Carolina, and there’s not much above 4,000 ft here in Southern Appalachia. In fact, the natural range of this species includes only 11 of 100 counties in this state.
Luckily, the pinkshell azalea is being propagated and sold by native plant nurs-
The large and beautiful pink blooms emerge before the plant’s leaves do, which gives a very stark look with seemingly dead twigs supporting big pink profusions of flowers. The appearance of the flowers is magical. The long and extended pistil and five to seven stamens stick out from the pink petals and nectar source in the center of the flower. This helps to ensure crosspollination as the pollinating insects encounter the stigma of the pistil first, depositing any pollen they had picked up from the previous flower visit. The insects then encounter the stamens and pick up more pollen before getting their sweet nectar reward for all of their joyful work. What insects are involved in pollinating pinkshell azaleas? Many large and smaller native bees are drawn to the sweet nectar azaleas produce, but they are not very efficient pollinators of the flowers. Even the largest bees are too small to encounter both the anthers to pick up pollen, and the pistils to deposit it. Butterflies, however, are large and don’t land when they are sipping nectar. They hover as they stick their long “tongue” called a proboscis way down to the nectaries to sip the sweetness.
As they maintain their hovering flight, the butterfly’s wings inadvertently smack into the stamens and pistil, picking up and depositing pollen as they go, and they are very efficient at doing so. It is butterfly wing pollination that is responsible for the diversity and spread of these beautiful pink blooms. Keep your eyes peeled as you’re driving or walking at the higher elevations, and you just might see some pinkshells for yourself. No beach trip is required.
(The Joyful Botanist leads weekly wildflower walks most Fridays and offers consultations and private group tours through Bigelow’s Botanical Excursions. bigelownc@gmail.com.)
Pink azaleas are among many folks’ favorite native plants in Western North Carolina. Adam Bigelow photo
rate card for
Lake Junaluska Golf Course offers seasonal discount
Full-time residents of Haywood, Jackson and Buncombe counties can save money playing golf at Lake Junaluska Golf Course with a seasonal rate discount card.
With the purchase of a $50 discount
card, residents can save $9 on 18-holes of golf with a cart, $4.50 on nine-holes of golf with a cart and $5 off each nine-hole round walking the course. The discount is good from May 1 through Oct. 31.
Cards must be purchased in person at the Lake Junaluska Golf Course with a valid ID that shows proof of residency. The card is valid only for the individual whose name is printed on it. For more information, call the Lake Junaluska Golf Course at 828.456.5777.
DEQ selects Cherokee project to receive funds to enhance electric-grid resiliency
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) State Energy Office has selected seven projects to receive more than $20 million to improve North Carolina’s electric grid. The selected projects will update grid infrastructure to increase load capacity and resilience against severe weather, resulting in a more affordable and reliable electricity supply for North Carolinians.
Duke Energy’s Cherokee Area Resiliency and Environmental Safety (CAR-ES) project will transform the grid in two disadvantaged communities in the Cherokee area. CAR-ES aims to harden the grid and improve its ability to self-optimize and automate processes to reduce outage times and improve resilience.
Authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these funds are provided by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants Program. Over the next three years, the state anticipates receiving annual funding to improve the grid.
This program will help achieve the state’s goal of delivering reliable electricity at an affordable cost to residents.
Jackson County Rec hosts youth
‘Archery 101’ course
Kids ages 10-14 in Jackson County will have the chance to learn the ins and out of archery. The course will be held from 2-5 p.m. May 17 at the Cashiers/Glenville Recreation Center. The fee for the course is $20. Course is limited to eight participants. Register online at jcprd.recdesk.com/communi-
The Lake Junaluska Golf Course is offering a seasonal discount
full-time residents of Buncombe, Haywood and Jackson counties. Donated photo
File photo
File photo
MarketPlace information:
The Smoky Mountain News Marketplace has a distribution of 16,000 copies across 500 locations in Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties, including the Qualla Boundary and west Buncombe County. Visit www.wncmarketplace.com to place your ad!
Rates:
• $15 — Classified ads that are 25 words, 25¢ per word after.
• Free — Lost or found pet ads.
• $6 — Residential yard sale ads.*
• $1 — Yard Sale Rain Insurance Yard sale rained out? Call us by 10a.m. Monday for your ad to run again FREE
• $375 — Statewide classifieds run in 170 participating newspapers with 1.1+ million circulation. (Limit 25 words or less)
• Boost Online — Have your ad featured at top of category online $4
• Boost in Print
• Add Photo $6
• Bold ad $2
• Yellow, Green, Pink or Blue Highlight $4
• Border $4
Note: Highlighted ads automatically generate a border so if you’re placing an ad online and select a highlight color, the “add border” feature will not be available on the screen.
Note: Yard sale ads require an address. This location will be displayed on a map on www.wncmarketplace.com
Notice is hereby given that a divorce action has Caiazzo against Luis Haywood County Superi-
Co-Administrator 359 Saddlebrook Lane Clyde
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
Case No.25E000279-430
Nancy Holland Garrison
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION Case No.24E001717430
Brayden Joseph Beaver Jul 16 2025
Jul 30 2025
Jul 23 2025
Fiduciary Po Box 1231 Montreat, NC 28757
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION Case No.25E000011-430
Fiduciary 449 Little East Fork Rd Canton, NC 28716
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION Case No.25E000124-430
Edna Jill B. Stroupe to the undersigned on or Jul 30 2025
persons indebted to said
HEARING AIDS!!
re-
dien hearing aids priced
Pets
Miscellaneous
GET A BREAK ON YOUR
PUPPIES!! Asheville Humane Society has puppies available for adoption; all 2-6 months old and cute as can be! Fee includes vaccinations and spay/neuter. (828) 761-2001 adoptions@ ashevillehumane.org
and secure a generous
BLACK CAT — CUDDLES Sweet, silly, shy boy; 5 years old. Loves to sunbathe or sit on couch with you. Asheville Humane Society (828) 761-2001 adoptions@ashevillehumane.org
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VIAGRA AND CIALIS USERS!native to high drugstore
24/7 LOCKSMITH are there when you need
ANSWERS ON PAGE 34
SUDOKU
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