Help sought in mapping historic settlements When the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was created in the 1930s and 1940s, hundreds of families were forced to leave their homes and farms to make way for the new park. An extensive research project is now underway to map and characterize the home sites of the people who once lived in the Swain County section of the park. A presentation by Don Casada and Wendy Trehern Meyers on the project will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, at the Marianna Black Library in Bryson City. This presentation is an overview of their research and will be of interest to anyone concerned with local history or genealogy. The researchers are also looking for descendents of the original settlers, along with pictures and stories to help
contribute to the body of knowledge. 828.488.3030.
Rooted in the Mountains symposium comes to WCU The third annual Rooted in the Mountains symposium at Western Carolina University will be held from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, at A.K. Hinds University Center. Rooted in the Mountains is designed to raise awareness of the intersection of health, language, environmental and indigenous issues with the stewardship of Appalachia and its resources. Organizers encourage those interested in the effects of continued destruction of mountain landscapes and learning more about the native ways of understanding these issues to attend. Presentations include movies, speakers, discussions and concerts, with topics ranging from the human connection to the land to Cherokee language. Several programs this year have a focus on Cherokee issues. Early registration is available through Sept. 28 for $75 and then increases to $125. Registration is available online. rootedinthemtns.wcu.edu or 828.227.3926.
September 19-25, 2012
and Country Road Farms Nursery & Garden Center in Sylva, Ray’s Florist & Greenhouse in Dillsboro and Tuckasegee Trading Co. in Cullowhee. In addition, bulbs will be available at Cullowhee lily information booths at WCU An effort to re-establish the Cullowhee on Mountain Heritage Day on Saturday, lily on the Western Carolina University Sept. 29; before the Homecoming football campus gets under way this fall with a game Saturday, Oct. 6, and before the footfundraising drive, a bulb sale and ceremoniball game against Appalachian State al planting in the Centennial Garden. Saturday, Oct. 27. A white flower with six petals formally Supporters of the Cullowhee lily initiacalled the tive who give a Zephyranthes atam$50 donation asco, the Cullowhee toward plantlily once common at ing and mainWestern Carolina taining a lily now grows in only a bed on camfew spots on campus and suppus. Some speculate porting the the water-loving WCU Alumni plant began to disScholarship appear from the Fund will be Cullowhee region honored as when the low valley charter memwetlands were bers of the drained first for Western Carolina Univeristy Chancellor David O. Cullowhee Lily farm use then later Belcher, Frances Owl-Smith and Susan Belcher Society. Those during (from left) Showing a limited edition framed print of who donate construction. The $250 will the Cullowhee lily. WCU photo receive a proliferation of aggressive kudzu framed limited along the river banks may have been anothedition and numbered photo of the er factor in the disappearance of the nonCullowhee lily printed on canvas and signed competitive lily. by Chancellor David O. Belcher. The first bulbs to be planted on campus The Cullowhee lily committee will also will be in the Centennial Garden, located sell, while supplies last, a package of the near the curve in the road above the Central hard-to-come-by bulbs for $10 to those Plaza fountain. A ceremonial planting will interested in planting the Cullowhee lily, be held Homecoming weekend at the garwith proceeds supporting ongoing care for den at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6. the plants at WCU and the WCU The bulbs will be sold Sept. 29-Oct. 31 828.227.7335 or magill@wcu.edu or at businesses including Bryson Farm Supply give.wcu.edu.
Haywood Master Gardeners to give grants The Haywood County Master Gardener Volunteer Association is accepting applications for grants for horticultural projects in Haywood County. The deadline for submissions is Monday, Oct. 1. The grant money must be used for research or educational purposes in the area of environment, gardening or horticulture. Beautification projects will not qualify. For example, in previous years, several local schools have requested and received grants for greenhouses and gardens to teach students how to propagate and care for plants. Applications for grants more than $200 should be accompanied by a detailed budget and timeline. Each application must have a Master Gardener sponsor, who will review the application and budget, oversee funding and report to the MGVA on the progress of the project. 828.456.3575.
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s Rocky Top Trail Crew is looking for volunteers to help reconstruct a remote section of the Appalachian Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park from Sept. 30 to Oct. 7. Food, gear and equipment will be provided in exchange for labor. The crew will spend eight days living in the backcountry building steps, turnpike and trail structures to protect and harden one of the most damaged sections of the trail. Paid crew leaders will work alongside volunteers and teach them the latest techniques in trail construction. Partners from the Backcountry Horsemen of America will
also provide assistance to the crew by packing up food and tools for a week of hard work. The Rocky Top Crew is supported by the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club, the National Park Service, the ATC, Mountain Khakis and the North Carolina Recreation Trails Program grant. The 70 miles of the A.T. through Great Smoky Mountains National Park crosses the Trail’s highest point and traverses the most diverse ecosystem and the largest roadless area along the Trail. 828.254.3708 or appalachiantrail.org/crews.
Professional Development Breakfast Oct. 9 • 8 a.m. • The Gateway Club “The Engagement of WCU College of Business in the Economic Development of our Region,” presented by Darrell Parker, Dean of the Western Carolina University College of Business.
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED HAYWOOD-NC.COM 828.456.3021 • KGOULD@HAYWOOD-NC.COM.
Smoky Mountain News
Take a volunteer vacation along the A.T.
outdoors
Help bring back the Cullowhee lily by planting bulbs
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