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February 27-March 5, 2019 Vol. 20 Iss. 40

Animal shelter planning to start in Jackson Page 12 Judge Letts to retire four months after re-election Page 14

CONTENTS On the Cover: In its role as government watchdog, The Smoky Mountain News submitted public record requests to county and municipal governments in our four-county coverage area asking for the minutes of all closed meetings held in 2018. While the governmental bodies responded with differing degrees of compliance, detail and responsiveness, the ultimate goal was to hold government accountable and keep the public’s business in the open. (Page 3) Holly Kays photo

News Sign up for Waynesville Citizens Police Academy ................................................10 Shining Rock board fires head of school ..................................................................11 Animal shelter planning to start in Jackson ..............................................................12 I-40 slide cleanup causes weeklong closure ..........................................................13 Judge Letts to retire four months after election ......................................................14 Haywood GOP welcomes anti-Muslim speaker ....................................................16

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CORRECTION A story about Nantahala Health Trust published in the Feb. 20 issue of Smoky Mountain News contained an incorrect detail. Jane Kimsey is the former chairman of the Angel Medical Center board of directors.

February 27-March 5, 2019

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Behind closed doors: Public records laws have exceptions W

OUT IN THE OPEN

Learn more The laws governing closed and open sessions of public bodies like cities, counties, school boards and universities are complex, ever-changing and oft subject to judicial clarification.

Luckily for elected officials, the University of North Carolina’s School of Government produces a robust, influential and highly useful blog called Coates’ Canons, covering almost any state or local government topic imaginable. Prolific author and UNC-SOG instructor Frayda Bluestein penned a quick reference guide specifically pertaining to closed session law. Check it out at https://canons.sog.unc.edu/quick-reference-guide-for-closed-session-meetings.

All other topics must be discussed in open session, so once a board enters closed session it must discuss only those topics announced in the open session.

Only members of the board — as well as ex-officio board members — may attend the closed session, but the board may invite persons who will be helpful to the discussions, like the board attorney, county or town manager, or other administrators.

Boards may also choose to exclude those attorneys, managers and administrators, but they may not, however, exclude some members of the public but not others.

N.C. law allows boards to take action on some of the closed session topics in closed session, but for others, clear direction demands any action to be taken must be taken in open session, although public bodies are allowed to reach a consensus in closed session before returning to open session for a formal vote.

Minutes must be taken in closed session meetings, giving a general account of what’s transpired and must be understandable to someone who was not at the meeting; if no staff member is present to take them, a board member must record them.

Law allows for public bodies to retain the closed session meeting minutes for as

long as necessary if their release might “frustrate” the reason for which the closed session was called, but usually, they’re released once the closed-session issue has been resolved.

There’s no legal time limit for the release of resolved minutes, and it’s not usually a high priority for local governments busy with dozens of other more practical, day-today concerns. Most will review a batch of minutes every few months to ensure privileged information isn’t revealed.

“Last month or the month before Candy [Way, clerk to the Board of Haywood County Commissioners] sat with the board and went through the closed session minutes and decided to release them, and I think we probably did some in November as well, to clear out the backlog before the new board came in,” Morehead said.

Last fall, The Smoky Mountain News requested a year’s worth of closed session minutes from all municipal and county governments in our four-county coverage area.

Those public bodies responded in a variety of ways, with differing degrees of compliance, detail and responsiveness. Each was rated on a scale of one to three stars. Read on to find out who’s doing what, and when, behind closed doors.

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Smoky Mountain News

The economic development exemption — called “business location and development” — occurs when a board wishes to discuss a particular industry or business that wants to locate or expand within the jurisdiction of that public body. General discussion of economic development strategy is not permitted in closed sessions. Boards may not take action in closed session using the economic development exemption.

The exception for real property acquisition is just that — acquisition, not disposition. It allows the public body to consider a strategic position for negotiating, including price or other material terms of a contract. Easements, leases and other deals involving less-than-full ownership may also be discussed.

Personnel issues also warrant an exemption. During closed sessions on this topic, public bodies can establish boundaries for any employment contract including compensation or other terms. The body may also discuss an employee’s qualifications, performance or even character, but may not use closed session for similar discussions about independent contractors, like the town attorney.

“The statute allows you to talk about performance, qualifications, all those things.

And if you’ve got a problem with an employee, like their performance isn’t what you’d like it to be, you can talk about that without dragging them through the muck and the mire,” said Morehead.

The body also may not discuss employees generally — such as pay raise policies — but only specifically. Any action taken regarding the appointment, discharge or removal of personnel must be taken in open session.

The investigations exemption is rather narrow and only allows public bodies to plan, conduct or receive reports concerning an investigation into alleged criminal conduct.

The last two exemptions, school violence response plans and anti-terror response plans, are relatively self-evident and permit plans that might otherwise need to be revealed in open session to be concealed in the interest of public safety.

The one other exemption — rare, but real — is to allow closed sessions for the purpose of selecting honorees and award winners, or other such symbolic gestures like naming a facility after a long-time employee. This exemption is most often used by school boards or universities, which under the law are also public bodies like cities and counties.

February 27-March 5, 2019

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER oe to those public bodies that fail to comply with North Carolina’s sunshine laws; transparency underpins American democracy to the extent that there’s a whole chapter of complicated regulations in the N.C. General Statutes that define public records, public meetings, the availability of both and the very real penalties for violations.

Some things, though, are better left in the dark. At least, for a little while.

Ten separate topics are subject to exemption from the state’s sunshine laws under NCGS 143-318.11, but only nine of them are common, including attorney-client communications, confidential information, economic development, real property acquisition, employment contracts, some personnel matters, investigations, school violence response plans and anti-terror response plans.

When topics like those need to be discussed, public bodies are permitted by statute to go into what’s called “closed session,” during any official meeting. To do so, a motion must be made in open session to go into closed session, and that motion must be passed by a majority of the board members. Within the motion must be stated the reason for the closed session.

Confidential information refers to things like medical records, credentialing information for licensed professionals, health care contracts, student records, records of public assistance, criminal investigations and tax returns.

Closed sessions held for attorney-client communications require the presence of an attorney and do not cover non-legal discussions, such as business advice. Not every board communication with an attorney can be held in closed session.

“Litigation, especially in the public sector, it can get really messy,” said Bryant Morehead, Haywood County’s manager for the last five months. “It largely involves services we provide to the community in some respect, so keeping it private like you would if it was in the private sector, that allows us to be in a better position to win, if it has to go to court, or if there’s ways to talk to our attorney about going to mediation or solving the problem without going through the courts.”

Luckily, according to Morehead, closed sessions for litigation are held less frequently than those for a more enticing prospect.

“Most of the time, in my experience here, we’ve gone into closed session for economic development things that aren’t public yet,” he said.

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Closed sessions easily accessible in Jackson

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER f all the local governments in The Smoky Mountain News’ coverage area, Jackson County has some of the most complete closed session minutes and arguably the easiest system for obtaining them.

That’s due both to detailed note-taking from Clerk to the Board Angie Winchester and a 2015 resolution commissioners adopted directing staff to periodically review old closed session minutes and open any minutes “for which purpose of the Closed Session would no longer be frustrated by keeping them closed.”

Since the resolution passed — unanimously, on March 5, 2015 — staff has made it a habit to go through the minutes every six months or so. Due to the resolution, a vote from the board is not necessary to open new minutes — they’re open as soon as staff clear them.

“If you go too far between them, it’s just a big task,” said County Attorney Heather Baker, who works with Winchester when it’s time to decide what’s ready for release. “With us doing it every six months, we can take a half a day to devote to it and just get it done.”

All closed session minutes since November 2014 are included in a black threering binder located in Winchester’s office.

Discussions still requiring privacy are blocked out in black, but basic information such as the date, location and general purpose of the meeting — as well as a list of those present for the discussion — is available to view. The minutes do not include the times of convening or adjournment.

Baker replied in less than two hours to an initial email Nov. 28 requesting any opened closed session minutes from 2018 and sent the documents about two weeks later, several weeks ahead of the requested deadline of Jan. 4.

Winchester keeps a color-coded list of every closed session held since 2014. Each discussion — some dates have multiple discussions, because sometimes commissioners have more than one closed session topic per occasion — is marked green, meaning that it’s either been released or is a personnel discussion that will never be released, or yellow, meaning that it’s still closed but will continue to be reviewed.

Smoky Mountain News

February 27-March 5, 2019

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TRANSPARENCY RATING

Jackson County Detail of minutes Swiftness of reply Compliance Often, it takes a couple years for minutes to be opened, something that may occur once public inspection would no longer “frustrate the purpose of a closed session.” Of the 21 closed sessions held in 2018 that will be opened at some point — another 33 discussions labeled as personnel or school safety will never be public — only four have yet been opened.

However, all minutes from 2015 are now open — again, with the exception of personnel discussions that are always closed — and only three of 44 discussions from 2016 remain closed. For 2017, eight of 48 closed session discussions remain closed.

Of the four opened minutes from 2018, three are about the Dillsboro water park — a 7-acre county-owned tract that commissioners wanted to turn into a rafting destination, first through a partnership with the Nantahala Outdoor Center and then with local businessman Kelly Custer. Both deals ultimately fell through.

In the first 2018 discussion, on Feb. 5, Economic Development Director Rich Price told commissioners that personal issues in Custer’s life were causing the project to drag out, and commissioners agreed to request an extension from the Golden LEAF Foundation on grant funds awarded for the project, as well as to ask Custer’s attorney for a letter detailing where his situation stood.

In next discussion, on Feb. 19, County Manager Don Adams told the board that he’d sat down with Custer, who said that his personal issues were still in flux and could leave him unable to secure the loans he needed to move forward. As a result, commissioners directed staff to start preparing an agreement to terminate the contract with Custer and to present that document for a board vote.

OUT IN THE OPEN Commissioners discussed the issue in closed session a final time, on March 5.

Adams told the board that the termination agreement was ready for approval by the board and that, while he had talked with someone else interested in developing the property, they were “some time away from” having a formal proposal ready.

Commissioners then came out of closed session, voting unanimously in an open meeting to end the agreement with Custer.

The only other opened discussion from 2018 concerned a real estate conversation on Aug. 6, when Adams presented the former

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Vaya Health Building as a possible location for the Health Department while that building is renovated. The department did ultimately move into that space.

The minutes are quite detailed, with each discussion summarized over multiple paragraphs to include information presented by staff and any questions from commissioners.

A similar level of detail exists in minutes for the county’s open session meetings.

“You’re supposed to be able to read it and get a good idea of what happened at the meeting,” said Baker. “There’s a legal standard of what the minutes should reflect and I think she (Winchester) does a good job of meeting that.

I don’t think those requirements are any different in closed session than in open session.”

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Ridenour, “all that would do is embarrass somebody about something that was discussed in private.”

That’s not to say that the town never includes property owners’ names in its closed session minutes. In an 18-minute closed session held June 28, the minutes state that Ridenour told the board a recent storm had destroyed a billboard, that the advertising company told the property owner it doesn’t want to put up another sign, and that the town should be prepared to hear complaints from the property owner.

If reconstructed, he told the board, the billboard would need to comply with town standards, so he believed the property owner might fight the ordinance. Both the property owner and the advertising company are named in the minutes.

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All closed session minutes appeared to comply with laws regulating when public bodies may go into closed session, with one exception. On Oct. 25, the board held a closed session to consult with its attorney, but during that meeting the members did not talk about anything that could not have been discussed in open session. At the time, the town defended its decision to hold the conversation in closed session, with Ridenour stating that “I don’t think we’ve broken any laws” and Dowling also contending the meeting complied with closed session regulations.

However, N.C. Press Association attorney Amanda Martin said that she thought “much of what happened should have been done in open session.”

In a follow-up discussion about closed session practices this week, Ridenour acknowledged that after convening the closed session they “got in there and realized there was no closed session” material to be discussed. The town did open the minutes at its very next meeting, but it did so at the request of The Sylva Herald, not of its own initiative.

While the minutes themselves raised some concerns, the town was quick to respond to a request to obtain them.

Dowling replied within 15 minutes to an initial email Nov. 28 requesting any opened minutes from 2018, and the board unanimously approved the release at its next meeting Dec. 13. The minutes were emailed the following day.

February 27-March 5, 2019

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER f the nine closed-session discussions Sylva commissioners held last year, only three — all attorney-client privilege conversations related to an ongoing court case — are still sealed.

However, in some cases the opened minutes give little information as to what was actually discussed in the meeting.

For instance, on Jan. 11, 2018, the board went into closed session to consult with its attorney and to prevent the premature disclosure of an award, both permitted reasons to hold a closed session under state law.

However, the notes on that session are exceedingly brief. The minutes state only that “The board reviewed properties of concern and discussed with (Town Attorney Eric) Ridenour the options to have the property abated. They also discussed the annual Citizen of the Year Award. No action was taken during this meeting.”

The minutes do not state which properties were discussed, what was concerning about them or who was considered for the awards. However, it’s safe to assume some discussion was involved, because the meeting convened at 5:48 p.m. and adjourned at 6:20 p.m. — the board had more than half an hour to talk.

Minutes for a July 26 closed session are similar, stating only that “Mayor (Lynda) Sossamon discussed two properties that have received abatement complaints about trash and waste. No action was taken during the meeting.” Again, there is no detail as to which properties are involved, what commissioners thought about the issue or what advice staff provided. And again, it’s safe to assume that there was some complexity to the conversation, which began at 9:10 a.m. and concluded at 9:51 a.m. to last 41 minutes.

Town Manager Paige Dowling said that such scant notetaking is not unusual during discussions when no action is taken and believes that Sylva’s closed session minutes comply with state law.

“There aren’t rules about how detailed minutes have to be, whether it’s regular session or closed session,” she said, “so as long as the minutes are touching on what was discussed and it creates a record of it, I think that covers what went on in the meeting, and when action wasn’t taken a lot of times there’s not much to reflect on.”

State law mandates that public bodies keep “full and accurate minutes of all official meetings, including any closed sessions” such that “a person not in attendance would have a reasonable understanding of what transpired. Such accounts may be a written narrative, or video or audio recordings.”

As to the exclusion of names or locations for the properties under discussion, said

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Swain uses closed meetings for contract talks

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR wain County commissioners typically hold two meetings per month, and it’s not unusual for them to have a closed session on the agenda.

A review of county meeting agendas show that the commissioners entered into 13 closed sessions during 2018, and most of them were in reference to contract negotiations. The Smoky Mountain News submitted a public records request to Swain County Clerk Cindi Woodward on Nov. 28 and the full request was completed and returned by Jan 15.

The first response to the request on Jan. 10 included only a list of the commissioners’ closed sessions from 2018, who made the motion to go into closed session and for what purpose. A clarification was needed to be able to get the actual minutes from the meetings.

Even then, only minutes from four of the 13 closed sessions held were disclosed.

Woodward said the others — which included more contract negotiations, personnel matters and attorney-client privilege — were issues that had not been resolved yet.

Open meeting laws in North Carolina do allow government bodies to enter into a closed session meeting to negotiate “the price and other material terms of a contract or proposed contract for the acquisition of real property by purchase, option, exchange or lease; or (ii) the amount of compensation and other material terms of an employment contract or proposed employment contract.”

However, just because the law allows governments to hold these types of conversations behind closed doors doesn’t mean it’s a requirement. The spirit of the law is to prevent sensitive information from being released that could hinder the government’s

Smoky Mountain News

February 27-March 5, 2019

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ability to get the best deal on a contract or a piece of property. Swain County Manager Kevin King said most property acquisition issues need to remain confidential until a deal is reached.

“Usually with any sort of contract with individuals on land transactions, if someone knew the county was looking for a piece of property, the property in question could double (in price),” King said. “So negotiations and working through that we try to keep the details confidential until a deal is made and then it should be open.”

OUT IN THE OPEN On Aug. 23, the board went into a closed meeting to discuss several contracts — one for a health department nurse who would be a “non county employee,” a lease agreement for the former Bryson City police department building on Main Street (property that is owned by the county), a contract with the chamber of commerce regarding employees and a contract with Enterprise Fleet Services for vehicles.

While a lease isn’t the same as a purchase, King said this instance was different because the lease in question was a 10-year lease with an option for two 10-year renewals. Anything over 10 years, King said, can be considered a purchase. After advertising for potential tenants for the building, the county received three proposals and chose Ann Marie Owle who has plans to open a restaurant there.

Compared to closed minutes released from other governments, Swain’s don’t include much detail — just who made the motion to go into the closed meeting and a bullet point list of the items discussed. Macon County, for example, indicates the time commissioners

Bryson City tackles personnel issues in closed meetings

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR ersonnel issues have been the only reason why Bryson City Aldermen have held closed meetings in 2018.

The board meets about twice a month for a regular board meeting and a work session, but has only gone into closed session six times. However, since all six meetings were regarding personnel issues, the minutes don’t reflect much detail about the conversation.

The first two closed meetings of the year were held Jan. 8 and Jan. 11, and aldermen were discussing possible candidates for the vacant town manager position. The minutes only state who made the motion to go into closed session and to come back into open session. No action was taken after the Jan. 8 meeting, but aldermen came out of the Jan. 11 closed session and Alderman

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Heidi Ramsey-Woodward motioned to hire Regina Mathis as the new town manager with a starting salary of $68,000 with a potential increase of $5,000 after a sixmonth performance evaluation. The motion passed.

On March 19, the board went into closed session to discuss a personnel policy regarding political activity “as it relates to a town employee running for sheriff.”

The issue at hand was Bryson City police officer Rocky Sampson running for sheriff on the Democratic ticket. The current town policy forced him to be on unpaid leave during the entire election.

North Carolina’s law regarding open meetings does allow governing bodies to go into closed session to discuss personnel issues, but points out that they can’t go into closed session to discuss policy issues.

Based on the decision made when the

TRANSPARENCY RATING

Swain County Detail of minutes Swiftness of reply Compliance enter and exit a closed session so the public knows how long the discussion lasted.

One concern when looking at Swain’s closed meetings is that on occasion the board is taking official votes during the closed sessions instead of adjourning the closed session and returning to an open meeting before making a decision.

During a July 12 closed session, Swain commissioners went into a closed session to discuss contracts and personnel. The bullet point list of items discussed included the lease of the police department building, revaluation project proposal from Eagleview, Swain County Schools contract for Cope Architect to perform high school expansion project, Graham County contract to have court in Swain and a health department contract for new CAP provider.

Commissioners also discussed child support enforcement performance issues.

Commissioner Danny Burns motioned to approve a contract with Eagleview for revaluation, Commissioner Ben Bushyhead seconded and it passed unanimously before commissioners came back into an open session.

During a closed session Aug. 23, minutes state that Burns made a motion to pursue a lease agreement for the police department building in the amount of $22,320 per floor for a 10-year term, but doesn’t specify if anyone

TRANSPARENCY RATING

Bryson City Detail of minutes Swiftness of reply Compliance aldermen came out of the closed session, it appears the town aldermen may have violated the law by discussing policy changes behind closed doors, and also by not releasing the minutes surrounding that discussion.

According to the closed session minutes released, Woodward made a motion to make two changes to the personnel policy related to political activity once the board returned to open session. The policy, which previously required town employees running for public office to be placed on unpaid leave, was changed to only apply to partisan offices 30 days before a primary election. If an employee is successful in a primary election, the leave without pay

seconded or if the motion was approved. The board then voted to come out of closed session and Chairman Phil Carson relayed that the board agreed to pursue the lease agreement.

While laws in other states require that boards take all votes in public session, King said North Carolina law doesn’t specify. The law only states that issues involving economic development incentives have to be made in open session.

“You can make a vote in closed session as long as you come out and explain to the public what you made the decision on,” he said.

“That’s normally not our process though, normally we don’t try to vote in closed session but I think on that occasion there was no one at the meeting afterward to report to.”

Overall, Swain County administration is cooperative with providing public documents

“If someone knew the county was looking for a piece of property, the property in question could double (in price).”

— Kevin King, Swain County manager

when requested, but could do more to be transparent when compared to other counties. For example, when Macon County sends out the meeting agenda to the media it includes all backup documentation and the drafted minutes from the previous meeting.

Swain County simply sends out a basic agenda without much detail. Commissioner meeting minutes are also incomplete on the county website — minutes from August through December are missing from 2018. must be extended until the day after the general election.

The July 23 closed session was a discussion of an employee’s performance and an improvement plan to monitor the employee’s performance. No action was taken. On Oct. 1, it appears the same employee’s performance was discussed as well as a followup on the improvement plan and a plan for a possible replacement if needed.

Lastly, the board talked about police department personnel during a Dec. 3 closed meeting that included a discussion about the structure of positions and continued shortage of patrolmen due to military leave and light duty. No action was taken.

The town of Bryson City was cooperative and provided the closed session minutes within a few days of the request. Overall, the town could be more transparent with providing minutes to the public. Agendas sent out to the media don’t include drafted minutes from the last meeting or any backup documentation. The town’s website also doesn’t provide any town meeting minutes for the public to view.

Closed meetings the norm in Macon Franklin business rarely out of public view A

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BY J ESSI STONE 13, commissioners came back to public N EWS E DITOR session to discuss the details of a settlevast majority of Macon County Board ment. Commissioners approved a $50,000 of Commissioners meetings end with settlement to Craig Stahl for unpaid wages a closed session. In fact, commissionassociated with caring for a K-9 after ers spent more than 400 minutes — over hours. The K-9 handler issue was discussed seven hours — conducting business once again during a Nov. 13 closed session. behind closed doors in 2018.

Minutes state that Sheriff Robbie Holland Out of a total of 19 meetings commisdiscussed cost estimates for settlements sioners held in 2018, the board entered and it was discussed at length, but the into a closed meeting 13 times. Many of amounts were not reported in the minutes. those meetings were cited as being closed The board agreed to reach an agreement in to protect “attorney-client privilege,” December. which is allowable under North Carolina’s During a Nov. 13 closed session meetopen meetings law. ing for attorney-client privilege, commisAfter reviewing Macon County’s 2018 sioners talked about a settlement for agendas and minutes, many of the issues Macon County Health employee Lisa being discussed in closed meetings were Marling, who was allegedly unjustly fired eventually made public once the issue was without due cause from her job. Once they resolved. For example, commissioners held returned to open session, the board voted several private meetings to discuss and/or to approve $4,331 paid to Marling from to negotiate settlement agreements with the contingency fund. county employees.

Another attorney-client privilege disClosed session minutes released from cussion was had Sept. 25 specifically relata Jan. 9 meeting ed to a personnel show that commisTRANSPARENCY RATING matter involving sioners discussed a the county Health Fair Labor Department and a Standards Act and settlement agreeN.C. Wage and ment with employDetail of minutes Hour Act claim ee Alyssa Roseman. against the county Macon County did Swiftness of reply by a K-9 officer not provide closed Compliance with the sheriff ’s session minutes department and the from Sept. 25 even possibility of havthough the board’s ing to settle with three other officers who open minutes from that meeting — a joint also had K-9 responsibilities. meeting with Highlands and Franklin County Attorney Chester Jones also boards held in Highlands — state the reported to the board about ongoing disboard came out of closed session and voted cussions with the N.C. Department of 4-0 to approve the settlement. No details Transportation regarding right-of-way and or amount information were documented. utility easement conditions at the county According to Mike Decker, human senior center on Wayah Street. No action resources director and deputy clerk to the was taken after the January meeting. board, the remaining closed session minIn February, commissioners returned to utes — from May 8, May 15, June 12, July public session following a 20-minute 10, Aug. 14, Sept. 11 and Dec. 11 — couldclosed session and explained the outcome n’t be released because the issues being of a case involving former Board of discussed have not yet been resolved.

Elections Director Kim Bishop. Bishop Those issues have to do with real estate pled guilty to embezzling about $68,000 acquisition and attorney-client privilege. from the county, which spurred a civil Overall, the county’s closed session minaction against the former employee. The utes show the county is following proper county received a restitution judgment of protocol and provide adequate details, $68,705, which would take 114 years to including the time commissioners enter recoup if Bishop pays only the minimum into a closed session and when they come $50 a month required. The board then out — a helpful piece of information voted to approve a consent judgment that telling the public how long the issue was would allow the county to recoup the full being discussed. amount by filing a claim to the N.C. The Smoky Mountain News sent the Association of County Commissioners Risk request for all closed session minutes to Management Pool.

Macon County on Nov. 28 and the request Jones also explained that the DOT wasn’t fulfilled until Monday, Feb. 25. The agreed to pay the county $313,750 and delay was due to Decker being unexpecteddeed over the former Franklin Chamber of ly out of the office for medical reasons. To Commerce property on Wayah Street to the the county’s credit, the staff is usually county in exchange for right-of-ways and quick to respond to requests for public easements needed for a roundabout project documents and even has in-house video going in that area. The county is interested recordings of the commissioner meetings in using that property for much-needed that can be watched online. Macon County additional parking for the senior center. also provides its meeting agendas, minThe agreement was passed unanimously. utes, handouts and video links on its webAfter a 45-minute closed session March site at www.maconnc.org.

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Macon County

Franklin Mayor Bob Scott, a former journalist and open government proponent, says there has to be a compelling reason for the town council to go into closed meetings. Donated photo

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Town of Franklin Detail of minutes Swiftness of reply Compliance

Smoky Mountain News

sons, Scott says it’s important to know the language says “may” and not “shall.” There have been several issues where the town council could have gone into closed session to discuss something, but Scott and the board tends to keep it open. As for personnel matters, Scott said those should be handled by the manager and human resources staff and not by the board unless it’s a position hired by the board like the town manager or town attorney.

“I’ve learned over the years as a newspaper reporter that if you want to create suspicion the best way to do it is to close the door,” he said. “I feel very strongly and I think council agrees, so we look for ways not to go into closed session.”

New councilmembers often attend ethics training after being elected, which educates them about the state’s open meeting and open records laws.

SMN sent the request for closed session minutes to the town on Nov. 28 and received a response by Dec. 4. Overall the town of Franklin is very transparent. Their agendas are sent out to the media and include all backup documentation and the drafted minutes from the last meeting. Those minutes and documents are also available on the town’s website.

February 27-March 5, 2019

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR f all the town and county governments in The Smoky Mountain News coverage area, the Franklin Town Council had the fewest closed meetings in 2018.

Last year the town board only went into closed session three times — and those three times were to discuss potential economic development incentives for a business project looking to expand in Franklin. However, the board hasn’t made a decision on the issue and the closed session minutes haven’t yet been released, according to Town Attorney John Henning Jr. “Because this matter has not been concluded, and the nature of the incentives requires that the Town keep the specifics of the matters under consideration confidential until it is permitted by law and regulation to reveal them, they fall within the provision of G.S. § 143-318.10(e), pursuant to which they ‘may be withheld from public inspection so long as public inspection would frustrate the purpose of [the] closed session,’” Henning wrote in his response to SMN. Franklin Mayor Bob Scott, a former newspaper reporter and photographer, takes great pride in keeping the town’s business in the public eye and having a transparent local government.

“I think it’s because we don’t have anything to hide,” Scott said when asked why the town board doesn’t go into many closed sessions. “We feel the public has a right to know and unless there is a compelling reason to do so, there’s no reason to go behind closed doors to conduct the public’s business.”

While the law does allow governing bodies to go into closed sessions for certain rea-

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Development, personnel drive Haywood closed sessions

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER s the largest local government unit in The Smoky Mountain News’ four-county coverage area, Haywood County sees more action — in public, and in private — than probably any other government out there.

And as such, it enters into closed session at the end of almost every meeting.

Commissioners meet twice each month, meaning there are around 24 meetings a year.

“We’ve gone into closed session quite often, and the good news is most of it’s been about economic development, and we’re getting some looks,” said County Manager Bryant Morehead. “The partnership with the Buncombe Chamber (of Commerce) is really working.”

Near the end of 2017, the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce entered into a partnership with the Buncombe Chamber with the hope of working together to bring economic development to the region.

One of the nine common exceptions to the state’s open meetings laws allows for the discussion of business location or development in closed session.

“Economic development tends to drive it more than other things, and litigation — thank goodness that’s not often,” said Morehead.

When companies seek to locate, relocate or create a facility in a county, those companies may be competing against others for a site, and are certainly competing against their rivals — all good reasons for secrecy.

Additionally, if a company or industry needs to buy a parcel — or parcels — of land, confidentiality helps them avoid people driving up the prices of their land in anticipation of development; during the land acquisition for Orlando, Florida’s Disney Land, Walt Disney used dozens of straw buyers and shell corporations, so owners wouldn’t try to gouge him.

“Most of the time, we operate under a nondisclosure agreement with a company looking to come here. Often, we call them ‘Company X’

Smoky Mountain News

February 27-March 5, 2019

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OUT IN THE OPEN Those six closed sessions were all called under the attorney-client exemption, but they were all related to the troubled Jonathan Creek project.

Just before the recession, Haywood County purchased a large tract of farmland off U.S. 276 in the Jonathan Creek area.

Originally intended as a recreational complex, the tract languished unused through the Great Recession.

Once economic recovery began, the recreational complex ship had sailed, as several neighboring counties had already constructed their own. When supermarket giant Publix

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or ‘Project X,’” said Morehead. “In many cases, I don’t even know the company. The less people that know, the better off everyone is.”

Of the 15 sets of closed session minutes released to SMN, two were for the review and release of closed session minutes, six were personnel issues, and seven were related to economic development, although six of them only tangentially.

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announced plans to build a store in Waynesville, a deal was struck to remove excess soils from the Russ Avenue site and bring them to the Jonathan Creek tract to raise parts of the parcel out of the floodway, resulting in more usable land.

The problem was, the soil testing that took place on the Russ Avenue dirt was insufficient, and the dirt didn’t compact properly once out on the Jonathan Creek parcel.

That resulted in six closed sessions that included discussions by commissioners with then-attorney Chip Killian about what to do, how, and when. First, the county asked for a $19,000 payment, which the site developer MAB American rejected. Discussions continued for weeks over the situation.

Morehead himself owes his presence here in Haywood County — at least in part — to discussions conducted in closed session. On March 19, 2018, the county went into closed session at the behest of Interim County Manager Joel Mashburn. Mashburn had taken the job the previous fall, after the surprise resignation of then-County Manager Ira Dove in late 2017.

“Mr. Mashburn stated to the board that he would like for them to start the process for

the search for a new county manager,” notes from the meeting indicate. “He explained that even though Haywood County is small, there are complicated issues and more than he can do working part time. He said that it is not fair to the county, and the time that is needed is more than he can commit to.”

Mashburn suggested commissioners meet with David Nicholson, a retired county manager who worked as a liaison to the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, for advice and assistance in locating a suitable candidate.

In another closed session for personnel on June 27, the board — joined by thenCommissioner Bill Upton by phone — selected five candidates to interview.

Five subsequent closed sessions gave commissioners the opportunity to do just that; commissioners narrowed it down to three applicants for the July 25 closed session, then two candidates by July 30, and then a final interview with one candidate — presumably, Morehead — on Aug. 6.

On Aug. 13, commissioners went into closed session and agreed on Morehead. On Aug. 20, in closed session, the board unanimously agreed to offer Morehead $145,000 for four years, with a renewal year tacked on at the end. When contacted by phone during the meeting, Morehead accepted the offer.

The board then returned to open session

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Haywood County Detail of minutes Swiftness of reply Compliance — as it should have — and made a motion to approve the appointment of Morehead contingent on successful contract negotiations.

At the time, then-commissioner Mike Sorrells told SMN that for him and his fellow commissioners, “ … there was only one choice, and after the interviews, and the second interview continued to lead us that way, we knew we had somebody that’s really interested in Haywood County and wants to be here.”

Morehead began work less than two months later, on Oct. 1.

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER aywood County’s five local governments more or less fall into two tiers — there’s the county and there’s Waynesville, and then there’s everybody else.

That doesn’t mean there’s nothing going on in Clyde, Canton and Maggie Valley, but it does mean there’s nothing much going on in the county’s smallest towns, at least in regard to holding closed sessions.

With fewer employees, less land and in some cases less demand, personnel issues and confidential economic development opportunities occur less frequently, resulting in fewer closed sessions.

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Waynesville closed sessions boring, but by the book

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Town of Waynesville Detail of minutes Swiftness of reply Compliance

Town of Canton Detail of minutes Swiftness of reply Compliance

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Town of Clyde Detail of minutes Swiftness of reply

Canton, the biggest of Haywood’s small towns, had only two sets of closed session minutes to release for all of 2018.

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Town of Maggie Valley Detail of minutes Swiftness of reply

In 2018, just two closed sessions were conducted in the town of Clyde, but one of them appears to have missed the mark, legally speaking.

On Aug. 17, the board entered into closed session “to consider the qualifications of individuals seeking public office for the board vacancy.”

The board then returned from closed session to open session and appointed John Hemmingway fill an open seat.

Although that part of the process was conducted properly, G.S. 143-318.11(a) 6 explicitly states that “A public body may not consider the qualifications, competence, performance, character, fitness, appointment, or removal of a member of the public body or another body and may not consider or fill a vacancy among its own membership except in an open meeting.”

The Town of Maggie Valley — Haywood’s smallest by population — released three sets of closed session minutes for 2018, two of which were related to economic development, and were extraordinarily detailed, compared to other governments in Haywood County. The third was to evaluate the performance of longtime Town Manager Nathan Clark. All three sessions were properly called.

Canton, the biggest of Haywood’s small towns, had only two sets of closed session

Compliance minutes to release for all of 2018; as in Maggie Valley with Clark, both were related to personnel.

The first, on Jan. 11, 2018, was to discuss the imminent retirement of thenpolice chief Bryan Whitner, who retired in March of that year. Town Manager Jason Burrell was directed to implement an application process, narrow the applicants to three or four, and then present his recommendation to the board.

Canton hired its new police chief, Shawn Gaddis, in late March.

The other closed session, held March 8, was to discuss Burrell himself; when Burrell was hired to replace then-manager Seth Hendler-Voss in 2017, Mayor Mike Ray asked Burrell to commit to moving to Canton.

Burrell lives not far to the east, and said that he’d made some offers on some homes in Canton, but “had not yet been successful in purchasing a home inside city limits,” according to minutes released by the Town of Canton.

The board of aldermen, led by Alderman Ralph Hamlett, decided to give Burrell more time in a difficult real estate market to find suitable housing.

www.smokymountainnews.com

Smoky Mountain News

fectly appropriate and legal exemption to sunshine laws.

Cannon said the town had no obligation to build a 35,000-gallon tank, at a cost of $400,000. The board of aldermen then directed Town Manager Rob Hites to procure price quotes for a smaller, 10,000-gallon tank and report back to the board.

The second topic, that of real property acquisition, was a proposal presented by First Baptist Church to sell or lease the parking lot adjacent to 33 South Main Street to the Town of Waynesville. Notes on the closed session indicate that the church has allowed the town to use the lot during the week, for free, for many years.

The church told Hites that they would lease the lot at a market rate, and Hites told the board that of the three parking lots the town currently leases — including the one in Hazelwood — the town pays between $8.50 and $10.67 per space, per month.

The board then instructed Hites to “hold off ” on negotiations until the church made an offer to the town.

Boring, sure — but by the book, the lot of it. The closed session took about an hour to complete.

TRANSPARENCY RATING

February 27-March 5, 2019

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER he Town of Waynesville Board of Aldermen meets every two weeks, or about 24 times a year, depending on the calendar.

“I have always been very circumspect in having closed sessions,” said Mayor Gavin Brown back in November, when The Smoky Mountain News made the document request.

Brown’s statement was accurate; in 2018, aldermen went into closed session just six times. Three of those closed sessions were for attorney-client conversations only, and one was for real property acquisition.

Another was for two purposes — the rare “award” exemption, as well as attorney-client conversations. Those two topics both needed to be included in the motion to enter closed session, and they were; the town could not, for example, enter into closed session to discuss granting an award and then begin discussions with the town attorney on legal issues.

The final closed session, held May 8, 2018, was another dual-purpose closed session for attorney-client conversations, as well as land acquisition. Again, both topics were correctly included in the motion to enter closed session, per state law.

Those closed session minutes were released to SMN in less than a week. Present were the town attorney — a requirement of the attorney-client exemption — and the town manager.

The detailed notes taken during the closed session indicate that Town Attorney Bill Cannon gave the board his opinion on whether or not the town had a legal obligation to rebuild a failing water tank — a per-

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Small-town closed sessions few, far between

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news

Citizens Police Academy still seeking applicants

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER ot long after retired U.S. Air Force officer and former teacher Mary Ford moved to Waynesville with her husband, she decided to enroll in something called the Waynesville Civilian Police Academy. The next year, she found herself in charge.

“We wanted to do something for the community,” Ford said. “Law enforcement, teaching, the fire department — those are the ones, probably, that need more help than anybody.”

Since 2011 Ford’s been helping run the free eight-week course designed to give citizens a peek behind the curtain at the Waynesville Police Department.

The concept of citizen police academies was introduced in England in 1977; the first U.S. version began in Orlando, Florida, in 1985.

Waynesville was somewhat of an early adopter, beginning in 1997. After a short interregnum, classes resumed in Waynesville in 2010. Except for a break in 2012, the CPA has been going strong under Ford’s leadership and has graduated 94 students.

“The sole purpose of this class is to get the community aware of what really goes on in the department, to build a bridge between the

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department and the community,” she said.

Although the class isn’t designed to produce police officers, it definitely gives participants a taste of what life in law enforcement might be like by covering a variety of relevant topics taught by department personnel.

One of them is patrol, from the perspective from the officer on the street.

“Most people are interested in the stories, on what’s happening out there,” said Ford.

Dispatch and 911 operations — “the ears before the eyes arrive,” according to Ford — are also discussed, as are school resource officers.

“A lot of people think that our school resource officers are there to keep the bad guys out,” said Ford. “No. They are they’re working with the kids, trying to keep the kids out of trouble.”

Among the most popular topics with students, though, are the ones they think they know from popular television shows dealing with criminal investigations and forensics.

“They talk about how those are set up, how they progress,” said Ford. “We spend most of that night talking about drugs, because that’s the biggest concern.”

The department’s specialty units are also profiled, including the award-

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Learn more The Waynesville Citizens Police Academy is an eight-week course offered once each year that covers a variety of topics related to policing. The CPA is open to adults 21 and over who are interested in learning more about local law enforcement and meets Thursday evenings for about three hours; many students end up volunteering for the department upon graduation. Space is limited and applicants must pass a background check, but the course itself is free. The deadline to apply for this year’s class is Friday, March 8. For more information, visit www.waynesvillenc.gov/civilian-police-academy-1.

Classes may be as large as 25, or as small as seven; right now, the CPA is offered only once a year, but there are thoughts of offering a condensed two-day version or a session in the summer when seasonal residents can attend. As of press time, there was still plenty of space available, but the deadline to apply is Friday, March 8.

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winning special response team. The department’s K-9 unit also makes an appearance.

On the administrative side, there’s a class session on internal investigations as well as mutual aid. “Mutual aid includes chiefs from other areas, and talks about how all the agencies work together, because people don’t realize that they do work together,� said Ford.

After graduation, some, but not all of the students may be considered for volunteer positions with the department. Those volunteers aren’t policing, per se, but when they’re not acting as an extra set of eyes, they’re performing other important tasks. “They work festivals, direct traffic,� she said. “The half marathon, we covered probably 70 percent of the intersections. We were even cooking burgers at the recovery station. We do block parties, parades, you name it.�

Others help with administrative tasks at the department. “It’s grown a lot since I started,� Ford said. “We have about 20 volunteers. When I started we probably had five. Each year we look to kind of grow.�

member of the Peace Corps Togo for one and one-half years, and a member of the Peace Corps Guinea for two years. He served as a wilderness therapy guide for two summers and attended the Aspiring Principals Institute held by WRESA [Western Region Education Service Alliance] in Enka, the AP summer Nanthan Duncun Institute in Asheville, and Expeditionary Learning Institutes in Boston and Richmond.

Duncan’s ousting means the school will begin its search for its third head of school in less than four years.

In late 2017, the school’s first director, Ben Butler, unexpectedly resigned in an unusual 6 p.m. Sunday evening special called meeting that did not meet the 48hour requirement for public meeting notice.

Months later, a Smoky Mountain News reporter was kicked out of a community meet-and-greet for new director candidates.

Once that search process concluded, Duncan was eventually named as head of school by Eason and the board on Jan 23.

The email sent by Eason says that SRCA Director of Instruction Joshua Morgan will serve as interim head of school and that a new search by SRCA’s consulting firm, Leaders Building Leaders, would begin.

February 27-March 5, 2019

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER arely a year after he was hired, Nathan Duncan is out at Shining Rock Classical Academy. “Effective today (February 21, 2019) SRCA board has decided to terminate Mr. Duncan as head of school for SRCA,� reads an email sent by SRCA Board Chair Anna Eason to parents of students at the school. “The board feels this is in the best interest of the school at this point in time.�

The Waynesville charter school, which is publicly funded, has seen academic performance decline each school year since it opened in 2015. Last year, SRCA fell below the award-winning Haywood County public school system’s average ranking, and this year while also being ranked the lowest-performing school in the county, SRCA slid below the state average.

When reached for comment, Eason wouldn’t elaborate on the reason for the firing and instead repeated language used in the email. “We ask for your patience, understanding and trust during this time of transition,� said Eason in the email. “In everyone’s best interest and the good of SRCA, we also urge that you not engage in or foster unfounded speculation or rumor.�

With a master’s in educational leadership from Queens University and a master’s in International Relations from Boston University, Duncan served as the founder, academic director and head of school for the Academy at Trails Carolina in Hendersonville for five years, as a principal intern for two years, as American and World History teacher for three years, a

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Animal shelter planning to start in Jackson County County faces full plate of capital projects

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER ackson County is facing a plethora of capital projects over the next several years, and a new animal shelter will be one of them following a consensus that emerged from a four-hour budget planning meeting Feb. 21.

Commissioners directed County Manager Don Adams to look at hiring an architect to come up with a design and estimated cost for the facility, to be located on the grounds of the Green Energy Park in Dillsboro. The design would be one of the first steps toward realizing a recently unveiled $12 million master plan that would deliver an innovation center, event space, improved traffic circulation, a walking path and a dog park in addition to the animal shelter.

The existing animal shelter, located on Airport Road in Cullowhee, has long been in sorry shape and in need of replacement, but doing so has proven difficult. In 2016 commissioners created a task force to evaluate the needs and come up with a design, but the resulting $6 million proposal gave the board a case of sticker shock, and those plans never moved forward. The Green

Smoky Mountain News

February 27-March 5, 2019

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could be difficult to build anything that Energy Park master plan used $3 million as meets the need and complies with legal the placeholder cost for the shelter, and for requirements for much less than $3 million some commissioners even that number but assured them that the facility should seemed high. come in well under the $6 million proposed “I’m going to have a problem myself if we start talking about $3 million to build an animal shelter,” said Commissioner Boyce Deitz.

“I feel like we need to be very good stewards of animals and be respectful of animals, but I also don’t believe they hold a Jackson County’s 40-year-old higher place animal shelter building is in sore than humans, need of replacement. SMN photo so to balance that I think I’m on the in 2016. same page as Commissioner Deitz,” added “I’m pretty positive we’re not going to Commissioner Gayle Woody. “I want somebe at $6 million, but honestly the $3 million thing that is as cost-effective as possible but or the $2-3 million, somewhere in there — I not anything extravagant.” don’t know where it will be until we go Adams cautioned commissioners that it through this process,” said Adams.

McMahan, meanwhile, wondered whether the county should abandon the Airport Road facility completely.

“What if we use it like an intake facility?” he asked. It could prove useful to process animals when they’re initially brought in and to do the required quarantines and evaluations before putting them up for adoption, McMahan said.

While the design process for the animal shelter begins, the county will also be able to start on phase one of the Green Energy Park plan, which involves moving the staffed recycling center from its current location at the top of the 19-acre property, also relocating the kilns from their existing spot.

The master plan calls for moving the recycling center down to a to-be-constructed pull-off along Haywood Road, something that would require building a 50-to-60-foot retaining wall. However, commissioners expressed interest in looking for a different location, citing the expense of building such a high retaining wall and a preference for putting the recycling center where the noise of trucks coming too and from it wouldn’t interfere with activities at the revamped Green Energy Park campus above.

“We might could buy a piece of property out there cheaper than we can pay to have that other done back in that hole,” said Deitz. “Even if it cost the same amount we’d still be better off.”

The other commissioners seemed to agree with that point.

The Green Energy Park project will be an expensive and long-term endeavor, but

it’s far from being the only big-ticket item on the county’s to-do list. Construction will begin this year to renovate the old health department building, a project that’s expected to cost $8.4 million total, and next year the county plans to renovate the Jackson County Justice Center to improve court facilities there, a $1.5 million undertaking.

When it comes to recreation projects, the county wants to install a pocket park in Whittier, expand greenways, revamp the Fairview recreation complex and consider whether to pursue public parks in Dillsboro and Cullowhee. The county’s Conservation, Parks and Recreation Fund has $1.6 million available for to fund projects between 2019 and 2021, Adams told commissioners.

In addition to these county initiatives, commissioners must consider a hefty list of asks from Jackson County Schools.

School officials presented the list at a joint meeting with commissioners Feb. 20, estimated to carry a total price tag of $20.8 million.

Of those projects, about $15 million’s worth are tagged as long-term projects that the school system hopes to knock out in five to 10 years, but the remaining dollars are requested as soon as possible. The school system wants $2.5 million for security upgrades, implementing single-entry points and enclosed courtyards at its schools, and $250,000 to improve accessibility at the — Smoky Mountain High School baseball field. It also requests that the county continue its $1.3 million capital funding level from 2018-19 for items such as maintenance and technology.

There’s a possibility that an indoor pool could be added to the list of capital needs, though any construction money spent on that project wouldn’t be needed until years in the future and following a referendum vote. Commissioner Ron Mau said that he’d like to ask voters on the 2020 ballot whether they would support a bond to fund J construction of a pool, with the understanding that their taxes may have to go up as well to pay for its operation. Mau said that he doesn’t necessarily want a pool, but he does want a vote.

“I’m for the opportunity to let the people have their voice heard and let them J decide,” he said. “Because that’s been the issue — give us the opportunity.”

Mau would also like to see the board investigate the possibility of building an N indoor shooting range at the old Pepsi plant in Whittier to replace the environmentally problematic one at Southwestern Community College.

Commissioners will continue to discuss the budget at work sessions throughout the coming months, with Adams expected to deliver a recommended budget at a regular meeting slated for 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 21.

Subsequent work sessions may be held May 27-29, with a public hearing June 5 and final adoption scheduled for Tuesday, June 18.

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A Shot Above photo

I-40 slide cleanup causes closure

February 27-March 5, 2019

Cleaning a rockslide on Interstate 40 near the Tennessee State lane will require the N.C. Department of Transportation to keep the interstate closed about one week for the safety of contract workers and those who would be driving in the area.

A slide at mile marker 7.5 closed I-40 at the state line for westbound traffic and exit 20 for eastbound traffic on Friday night Feb. 22. Debris was still falling Saturday morning as Geotechnical experts surveyed the mountainside. Engineers determined that work is required to stabilize the 500-foot wide area, which is near Hurricane Creek.

NCDOT has awarded an emergency contract to Harrison Construction as part of another contract to improve I-40 later this spring. Crews will be on location Saturday afternoon. In order to safely execute that contract, traffic will be limited to one lane in each direction — on the eastbound side of a concrete median — for an additional six to eight weeks.

“For everybody’s safety — drivers, workers, contractors — we need to keep the road closed for about a week,” Division 14 Engineer Brian Burch said. “At that point, we anticipate having enough material down the mountain that we can restore one lane of traffic in each direction.”

Preliminary plans include removing approximately 27,000 cubic yards of dirt, rock and other debris, followed by the installation of preventative measures such as a netting or catchment fence. GeoTechnical experts will help develop the detailed plans.

Drivers need to allow extra travel time. The detour route utilizes a combination of I-40, I-240, I-26, and I-81 through Asheville and Johnson City. The distance from Asheville to the I-40/I-81 junction in Tennessee is about 50 miles longer than driving through the Pigeon River Gorge.

Slide shifts traffic on U.S. 74 Smoky Mountain News

A slide on the westbound side of U.S. 74 on Sunday morning in Jackson County temporarily diverted traffic just west of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

A pile of trees, rocks and mud slid down the hill into the drainage ditch with several trees crossing both lanes of traffic about 7:30 a.m.

N.C. Department of Transportation and local emergency emergency officials began flagging traffic by utilizing one westbound lane near mile marker 91. Traffic began flowing in one lane each direction on at noon which significantly reduced traffic delays.

Crews worked to get both lanes cleared in time for Monday traffic.

Approximately 23,000 vehicles travel that section of U.S. 74 per day.

Geotechnical experts from NCDOT assessed the area Sunday morning and are developing a plan for long-term repairs. A tree-cutting crew felled trees Sunday morning in order to allow for the slide repairs.

“The Geotechnical evaluation and the plan they develop will determine how long we need to keep that one lane closed,” Division 14 Maintenance Engineer Wesley Grindstaff said. “And once we know that, we’ll be able to award a contract to get that work completed.”

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news

Judge Letts to retire Superior Court will see vacancy four months after Election Day

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER mid widespread speculation about plans to run for principal chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Superior Court Judge Bradley Letts has announced plans to retire from his position — but not to run for tribal office. Letts said he has ruled out that possibility.

“Though it is a difficult decision to leave the bench, particularly after recently being re-elected, I have decided to retire,” Letts said in a statement released Tuesday morning, Feb. 26. “My plans are to enjoy family and friends, and continue my involvement in civic and community boards.”

According to the statement, his retirement will be effective Thursday, Feb. 28, less than four months after winning a new eight-year term on the bench against challenger Mark Melrose. In the November contest, Letts, 51 at the time of the election, defeated Melrose with 54.6 percent of the vote to Melrose’s 45.4 percent following a hotly contested campaign.

Melrose offered sharp criticism of Letts’ decision to retire so soon after the election,

Smoky Mountain News

February 27-March 5, 2019

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saying that Letts has “made a mockery of the political process and betrayed the people who supported him.”

“This is a common political scheme where somebody runs for re-election, doesn’t serve out their term and resigns so the governor can make an appointment,” said Melrose.

“Typically that successor is somebody who’s already been discussed between the one who’s resigning and the one who does the appointing.”

Gov. Roy Cooper will select a replacement for Letts, but that person will serve only until the General Election in 2020, when voters will select someone to begin a new eight-year term. Melrose said that he needs time to consider whether he will run in that election but would not rule it out offhand.

Haywood County Bar Association President Danya Vanhook said that she expects the seat to remain empty for about a month before Cooper makes his pick, with a new judge on the bench by April 1. Over the 10 days following Letts’ retirement, would-be judges will send their cover letters and résumés on to Raleigh. Traditionally, the governor has invited the top two candidates to talk with him further before making his selection.

Letts has led the Superior Court of District 30B ever since 2009, when thenGovernor Bev Perdue appointed him to fill

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from then-Gov. Jim Hunt, winning re-election in 2002 and 2006.

“I am eternally indebted to the citizens of Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties for their support and confidence reposed in me over these past two decades,” Letts said in his statement. “I am humbled and honored to have served as a judge in these counties working with the caring, competent and committed people in the court system and the law enforcement community who work tirelessly daily to improve justice in our communities.”

Letts’ flagship initiative toward that end was a pretrial release program aimed at allowing people facing charges for low-level, nonviolent offenses to continue to work while awaiting trial rather than staying in jail due to an inability to post bond.

The program is still in the early Bradley Letts has served as Superior Court Judge of stages of implementation and District 30B since 2009. Donated photo will now fall to his successor to carry on. the seat of retiring judge Marlene Hyatt, who “I think Judge Letts has done an amazing still had nearly two years left in her term. job as a judge and trying to be innovative, but Letts ran unopposed for an eight-year term in at the same time understand the role of the 2010. Previously to his Superior Court legal system in our changing world,” said Zeb appointment, Letts served as a district judge Smathers, a local attorney who beginning in 2000 following an appointment also serves as mayor of Canton

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“I am humbled and honored to have served as a judge in these counties working with the caring, competent and committed people in the court system and the law enforcement community who work tirelessly daily to improve justice in our communities.”

— Judge Bradley Letts

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Vanhook credited Letts with vastly improving courthouse security in Haywood and Jackson counties, and with increasing the court’s efficiency by instituting one week of administrative court each month. During administrative court, judges and attorneys deal with pleas and other administrative matters that don’t require a jury, reducing the strain on jury members and allowing cases to be resolved more quickly.

“He’s done a lot and he will be missed, but I do believe his legacy will carry on,” Vanhook said.

Letts is a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and rumors had been circulating for some time that he was planning to run for principal chief in this year’s election. When asked Tuesday, Feb. 19, whether there was any truth to those rumors, Letts said he would make a decision by the end of the week. On Tuesday, Feb. 26, he released the statement announcing his retirement without mention of any plans for candidacy.

However, he was unambiguous when asked about those plans in a follow-up email. The Smoky Mountain News asked whether he had any plans to run for tribal office, and Letts said that he did not. SMN then followed up to ask whether he had completely ruled out such a candidacy, to which Letts said that yes, he had.

Melrose said that he doesn’t necessarily believe that statement.

“I don’t think you can believe what he says about it,” said Melrose. “He said he’s going to serve his term and you couldn’t believe that.”

Filing for tribal elections begins Friday, March 1, and continues through March 15.

All 12 Tribal Council seats, as well as the principal chief and vice chief offices, are up for election. It’s bound to be a contentious race, the first chief election following the controversial impeachment of former Principal Chief Patrick Lambert. While filing has not yet begun, three candidates have already announced their plans to run for chief.

Incumbent Richard Sneed will be seeking his first elected term as principal chief, running against former Councilmember Teresa McCoy and Yellowhill resident Missy Crowe.

SCC to hold two job fair events After multiple years of breaking attendance records, Southwestern Community College’s Job Fair will be expanding to a two-day event for the first time this spring.

Healthcare providers will be featured on March 5, and a general job fair for local and regional employers will follow on March 6. Both job fairs will run from 1-4 p.m. in the Burrell Building on SCC’s Jackson Campus.

Anyone in the community looking for a new career is welcome to join SCC students at the job fairs. To help attendees get the most out of their job fair experience, Career Services encourages anyone thinking about participating to take advantage of free online services they offer, such as the Job Board. Waldroup also encourages attendees to take advantage of “Big Interview,” offered by Career Services.

To register for either of the spring job fairs as an employer or an attendee, visit www.southwesterncc.edu/career-services.

For more information on the job fairs, Job Board or Big Interview, contact Michael Despeaux at 828.339.4212 or Jodie Waldroup at 828.339.4424.

Smoky Mountain News

Offering • Massage • Yoga • Nails Acupuncture • Ayurveda • Skin Care

HCC offers continued education Haywood Community College’s workforce continuing education department is offering a wide variety of courses for the month of March.

Notary Public will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 2. Cost is $75 plus required textbook. This course covers the qualifications, procedures and certification for becoming a notary.

Defensive Driving will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. Monday. An additional course will be offered 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 16. This course keeps all drivers safe on the road.

OBD II Auto Safety Inspection will be held Tuesday, March 5 and Thursday, March 7.

Cost is $75. OBD II Emissions/OBD will be held Tuesday, March 19 and Thursday, March 21. Cost is $75. These courses are designed to prepare auto technicians and service personnel as OBD emission inspectors for motor vehicles.

For a complete list of classes offered, call 828.627.4669 or email Regina Massie at rgmassie@haywood.edu.

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and is a past president of the Haywood County Bar Association. “I think the thing that I will remember and I appreciate the most is how he treated my clients, no matter who they were or what their situation was.

Especially with my criminal clients, they always appreciated that.”

828.944.0288 | MaggieValleyWellness.com 461 MOODY FARM ROAD, MAGGIE VALLEY

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news

Hometown hate: Haywood Republicans welcome anti-Muslim speaker

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER ided by the left and abetted by the media, violent jihadists are slowly but surely infiltrating our government, our schools and our society in furtherance of their nefarious goal of turning the United States into a Sharia-ruled Islamic caliphate — and only a small group of patriotic conservatives, like the Haywood County Republican Party, can stop them.

At least that’s what security consultant and law enforcement trainer — and former member of Southern Poverty Law Centerlabeled hate group Understanding the Threat — Chris Gaubatz told a packed room in Waynesville Feb. 19.

“They’re suit-wearing jihadis, and they work with our legislators on Capitol Hill,” Gaubatz said, as about 80 people who braved torrential rains and booming peals of thunder looked on with rapt attention. “If we don’t get the next six years right, we lose our country.”

Gaubatz came to these conclusions after undergoing what he said was a “fake conversion” to Islam in a northern Virginia Mosque sometime around 2008 and securing an internship with the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, at the behest of his father, a retired U.S. Air Force special investigator.

Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., CAIR is a nonpartisan nonprofit that styles itself as an Islamic advocacy group seeking to promote understanding and protect the civil rights of American Muslims.

The conclusions Gaubatz came to during his six months undercover at CAIR are strikingly different from the group’s professed mission and are detailed in his 2009 book, Muslim Mafia: Inside the Secret Underworld That’s Conspiring to Islamize America.

Former North Carolina Republican Congresswoman Sue Myrick wrote the forward to the book, which was also endorsed by then-congressmen Paul Broun (RGeorgia), Trent Franks (R-Arizona) and John

Smoky Mountain News

February 27-March 5, 2019

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Shadegg (R-Arizona).

Upon publication, the Charlotte Observer said the book — which was renounced on the floor of the House by the first Muslim elected to Congress, Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minnesota) — “portrays the Council on American-Islamic Relations as a subversive organization allied with international terrorists.”

During his speech to the Haywood GOP, Gaubatz said that while eavesdropping on a 1993 Philadelphia meeting of 22 members of terrorist organization Hamas, the FBI took note of a man named Nihad Awad.

Along with another man at the meeting, Awad went on to found CAIR in 1994.

“That’s not my words, that’s not my opinion,” Gaubatz said. “The FBI entered those notes into evidence in the largest terrorist financing trial ever successfully prosecuted in U.S. history, the U.S. vs. Holy Land Foundation trial.”

The Holy Land Foundation, purportedly an Islamic charity, was designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. in 2001. After the trial 2009, its founders were given decades in prison for sending Hamas $12 million.

Groups like Hamas, Gaubatz said, wage jihad only to implement Islamic law, known as Sharia. Tying Awad and CAIR to HLF and Hamas, Gaubatz continued, means that Awad and people like him have duped U.S. leaders into toppling secular regimes like those of Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi, inadvertently furthering jihadi goals in the Middle East.

Those goals, according to Gaubatz, involve the inevitable conversion of the U.S. legal system to Sharia law.

“No,” said Robert McKee, government affairs director for CAIR, in an interview after Gaubatz’s appearance in Haywood County. “[American] Muslims are civic leaders, engaged in reaching out to their elected officials to make sure that our communities are being served as well as any other communities.”

McKee said Gaubatz is “anti-Muslim” and a part of something CAIR calls the “U.S.

publically that Chris is a great man, he’s been a great asset for this team, a great friend and a great colleague, he will be greatly missed,” reads a statement from Guandolo on the SPLC’s website.

“Any time you have someone promoting divisive hate targeting a U.S. minority to law enforcement officers, it jeopardizes that community’s safety and well-being,” McKee said. “U.S. Islamophobia Network groups are paid to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars with the singular purpose of making American Muslims politically radioactive, untouchable and unwelcome in the United States. Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, anti-black racism — these are serious issues that need to be Chris Gaubatz (left) speaks to a group of addressed.

Haywood Republicans Feb. 19. Cory Vaillancourt photo Inviting the proponents of hatred and divisiveness into our communities is not the solution.”

Among the claims made by Gaubatz during his speech was that Christian values?” and “Should your tax dol- Muslims have a religious duty to lie in furtherance of jihad, and that any Muslim who lars pay for Pro-Islamic lessons?” says they don’t support jihad in pursuit of The Southern Poverty Law Center calls Sharia is doing just that; in July 2017, the David Horowitz Freedom Center a hate Gaubatz tweeted that “there is no such thing group. Visa and Mastercard no longer as radical Islam, only Islam” and accompaprocess donations for the DHFC, as of 2018. nied the tweet with the hashtag Another SPLC-named hate group, Understanding the Threat, was until recently #IslamIsTheProblem.

“Criminal violent extremism has no place headed by Gaubatz and former FBI agent in Islam,” McKee said. “Islam is as moderate John Guandolo, who resigned from the and peaceful as any other Abrahamic faith. bureau after engaging in an intimate relaAny criminal or violent extremist that claims tionship with a government witness in the to represent Islam is actually espousing corruption trial of former Louisiana views and beliefs that are counter to the Congressman William Jefferson. teachings of Islam.”

Gaubatz left UTT sometime in April As to claims that CAIR is in any way affil2018, with warm wishes from Guandolo. iated with Hamas or the Muslim “Chris has resigned from UTT and is Brotherhood — which has been labeled a moving on, is discerning other decisions in terrorist organization by several his life, major life decisions about the road countries, but not the U.S. — he’s going to take, and I just want to say Islamophobia Network.”

That network, according to McKee, is a group of at least 30 well-funded organizations with agendas similar to Gaubatz’s, including The Clarion Project, The Middle East Forum and the David Horowitz Freedom Center.

Perhaps by chance, The Smoky Mountain News received a direct-mail solicitation from the David Horowitz Freedom Center days before Gaubatz’s appearance in Waynesville. In requesting a donation, the letter asked such questions as, “Should our schools teach anti-Christian messages to children?” and “Do you agree that we must stop the war against God and our Judeo-

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McKee was unequivocal in his denial. “If there was a shred of truth to that, the FBI long ago would have raided our offices and shut us down. Statements like that undermine our federal law enforcement’s ability to ensure that we do not have groups openly affiliating with terrorists overseas,� he said. “It’s laughable. Let’s think about that statement: Gaubatz is saying somehow an American Muslim organization is openly working with terrorists overseas and yet somehow the Trump administration isn’t coming down on them. It’s ludicrous.�

Nonetheless, both CAIR and Gaubatz said that CAIR regularly follows Gaubatz’s activity. “If by following him you mean Google alerts on known anti-Muslim hate groups and speakers, yeah,� McKee said.

Gaubatz remarked during the speech that everywhere he goes, CAIR sends press releases to local media in hopes of generating enough controversy to shut him down.

The Smoky Mountain News received no such release, and a report in the Waynesville Mountaineer on Feb. 22 said that Mountaineer staff hadn’t received one, either.

CAIR did, however, issue a press release on its website a few days before Gaubatz spoke in Waynesville, urging Republican Party leaders in North Carolina and across the nation “to disassociate the GOP from all forms of bigotry, including the kind of Islamophobia spewed by Mr. Gaubatz.�

McKee said the Haywood GOP didn’t respond to CAIR’s press release. “They didn’t, and it’s a shame that they didn’t, because they had a real opportunity to communicate to the county and the state’s Muslim residents that they’re a party that welcomes supporters of all faiths,� he said.

When asked for comment on CAIR’s request to disassociate from or repudiate Gaubatz’s anti-Islamic statements, Asheville Republican Congressman Mark Meadows failed to respond. Likewise, North Carolina Republican Party Executive Director Dallas Woodhouse also failed to respond. “Gaubatz’s message primarily resonates within the Republican Party, and it’s a shame because we really envision a ‘bigtent’ GOP as welcoming to all Americans,� said McKee, also noting that to his knowledge, Gaubatz had never spoken to a Democratic group. “Between 15 and 22 percent of Muslims identify as Republicans. I want to make sure Republicans are vying for their votes, not tossing them aside.�

Robert McKee’s been with CAIR for eight years, and like Gaubatz is himself a convert to Islam, except for real. “I always jokingly say, it’s a very common Irish-Scottish Muslim name,� he laughed.

He also happened to be an intern at CAIR at the same time as Gaubatz. “I thought he was another sincere convert trying to get some experience on Capitol Hill, and do some good for the community. It’s a shame what he really was,� said McKee. “I felt really sad that his father twisted his worldview into hating Muslims instead of being an ally.�

MyHarrisRegional.com

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Smoky Mountain News February 27-March 5, 2019

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Health

Smoky Mountain News

HRMC employees make a difference Haywood Regional Medical Center celebrates their employees every quarter with a program called “iamthedifference” aimed at recognizing employees who go above and beyond their job description to care for patients and the community.

Anyone can nominate an employee for the award and there are three departmental categories we chose a winner from: allied/administrative, clinical and physician practices.

Those that send nominations in have to include specific examples of how the nominee goes above and beyond his/her job description. All nominees are recognized in their individual departments and receive a pin to wear until the ceremony. Quarterly winners receive a check for $500 and a pin, and also become eligible for an annual prize of $1,000.

The quarter four 2018 winners were: Levi Henson, CNA at HRMC, Jean Migliarani, medical assistant at Haywood Surgical Associates, and Carmen Schultz, pharmacy technician at HRMC. Henson was nominated for his never ending compassion he shows to our patients.

Migliarani is a kind-hearted and uplifting employee at Haywood Surgical. She is the first to have holiday spirit, and even spends her own money for flowers and décor in the office.

Schultz once went above and beyond for a 6-year-old boy who had an emergency appendectomy. Post-operative all the boy wanted was a purple popsicle. Carmen went beyond her call-of-duty to drive to Food Lion and get this little boy the popsicles he wanted.

Local clinicians awarded PTSD grant The Evergreen Foundation has recently awarded a grant to the 30th Judicial District Domestic Violence-Sexual Assault Alliance to assist with a special project intended to help bring a potentially groundbreaking treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder to the region.

The Pearl Foundation Project has been created to train and equip a team of mental health professionals to be able to make available a cutting edge, experimental treatment for PTSD in a local clinic setting by fall/winter 2019. The Evergreen grant totals $9,000 and will be targeted for assisting with training costs beginning with a weeklong training from March 3-10 in Asheville.

The WNC team currently consists of a physician, a psychiatrist, a clinical psychologist and three experienced, licensed therapists.

PTSD can be a crippling mental illness that overwhelms the normal biological information-processing systems and as a result, memories can be improperly stored that can lead to flashbacks, nightmares, extreme anxiety, intrusive memories, guilt and sadness and social isolation. Current treatments for PTSD are 50 percent effective, according to Raymond Turpin, the director of the Pearl Foundation Project and the former director of Haywood-Jackson Psychological Services. A new experimental treatment was recently designated a “breakthrough treatment” by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is expected to be an approved prescription treatment by 2021. A special USFDA program will allow a small number of select, well-trained teams to begin providing this treatment while it is still moving through the lengthy regulatory approval process. Research results have demonstrated what appear to be

long-lasting positive changes in a large majority of participants, Turpin said.

Free vein seminar at HRMC Haywood Regional Medical Center is holding a free tired leg/ varicose vein educational program at 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, at the Vein Center led

by Dr. Al Mina and Dr Joshua Rudd. Interested community members are asked to register for this session by calling 828.452.8346. Space limited – RSVP required.

The event is aimed at educating anyone in the community who may be suffering from aching, cramping or burning pain in the legs, varicose veins, restless legs, discoloration or skin changes in the legs, numbness or tingling in the legs and pain in their legs after activities such as grocery shopping or a short walk up the stairs.

The treatment for this disorder is a minimallyinvasive procedure called endovenous thermal ablation. It is done under local anesthetic and is covered by most insurance carriers, including Medicare. Patients walk out of the vein center and most can return to their normal activities the same day.

Evergreen to host grant workshops The Evergreen Foundation will be hosting information sessions in each of the seven western counties for organizations interested in submitting a grant proposal through May 31.

Informational sessions will be held 10 a.m.

Friday, March 8, at Macon County Library in Franklin, noon at Marianna Black Library in Bryson

City, 1:30 p.m. at Jackson County Public Library in Sylva and at 3 p.m. at Haywood County Public Library in Waynesville.

On Wednesday, March 13, there will be a meeting at 10 a.m. at Moss Library in Hayesville, 11:30 a.m. at Cherokee Public Library in Murphy and at 1:30 p.m. at Graham County Library in Robbinsville.

The Evergreen Foundation’s focus is on improving the lives of individuals who have behavioral health, intellectual/developmental disabilities, or substance use issues. Grant priorities include proposals focusing on infrastructure of the private provider network; start up and/or new service provision; public awareness/education; and advocacy on behalf of consumers and the provider network. To register for a session or to obtain additional information, email Denise Coleman at dcoleman@evergreennc.org or call 828.421.7483 and leave a voicemail. www.evergreenfoundationnc.org.

Hospital offers yoga for cancer care When battling cancer, the worst part is not just the symptoms of the disease itself, but the discomfort and debilitating fatigue brought on from cancer treatments.

Many cancer patients are finding that yoga, which is really about attention based, gentle, whole-body exercises and mindful breathing, can provide an extra layer of emotional and physical care during and after treatments. There is evidence that people who practice yoga for cancer increase their body’s natural defenses for healthy living, develop coping skills to balance emotions, and often have a more full relationship to themselves that transcends into other aspects compas-

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sionate living.

A complimentary yoga class for cancer patients is offered from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. every Friday at the Haywood Breast Center (second floor of the Outpatient Care Center). This class is mostly chair based. Registration is not required and classes are free. The class is taught by Kim Mulholland, Mindful Yoga for Cancer Duke Integrative Medicine trainer.

For more information, call Kim at 828.452.8691 or visit www.myhaywoodregional.com/yogaforcancer.

Cullowhee clinic adds staff Dr. Todd Davis, a family practice physician, is seeing patients at Harris Family Care-Cullowhee, a full-time primary care clinic in the Health and Human Sciences Building on the West Campus of Western Carolina University.

The clinic is part of a partnership between WCU and Harris Regional Hospital, a Duke LifePoint hospital, and is open to the community at-large, accepting walk-in visits and scheduled appointments for yearly preventive care check-ups, vaccinations, sports physicals and routine visits.

The clinic also allows WCU nurse practitioner students and students in related fields to receive education and training in an on-site clinical environment. Through an initiative called The Ascent Partnership, WCU works with Harris and Swain County hospitals to train the next generation of health care workers, support athletics and the arts in communities in the region, create opportunities for community engagement on wellness, and expand local availability of needed health care services.

WCU’s Health and Human Sciences Building is located at 3971 Little Savannah Road, Cullowhee.

To make an appointment, call 828.631.8800.

Jackson Health to be reaccredited The Jackson County Department of Public Health was recently recommended to be re-accredited with honors from the North Carolina Division of Public Health and the North Carolina Association of Local Health Directors.

This process is a mandatory, standards-based systems for gauging the capacity of a local health department’s ability to perform at a prescribed, basic level of quality the three core functions of assessment, assurance, and policy development and the ten essential services as detailed in the National Public Health Performance Standards Program.

A new designation, Reaccredited with Honors, was initiated in fall 2017 to recognize local health departments that surpass the requirements.

“We are delighted to have received this recommendation,” said Health Services Manager and Co-Agency Accreditation Coordinator Anna Lippard. “This news validates all the hard work and effort that the staff of the Health Department puts forth every day.”

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Opinion

Smoky Mountain News

Open government is part of who we are hen our local boards hold official meetings, they often end with a closed or “executive” session. The North Carolina Open Meetings law allows elected officials to deliberate secretly on a just few specific subjects, which are clearly outlined in the law.

The Open Meetings Law was enacted to ensure that elected officials are conducting the public’s business in public. It was not — as some elected leaders seem to think — enacted to provide a smokescreen so that unpopular and controversial subjects could be discussed without the public or the press being able to find out what their leaders are doing.

In today’s Smoky Mountain News, you’ll find a series of stories examining the 2018 closed session minutes of all the county and municipal boards in our coverage area of Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties. We decided to embark on this examination for several reasons, but in a nutshell our purpose was pretty straighforward: to let the sunshine in, to gather information and let citizens decide how

W

The American people are not stupid To the Editor I am not stupid and neither are most people I know. However, numerous politicians, pundits and officials seem to think we are.

The Green New Deal created and detailed by a New York district Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a congresswomen in office a little over one month, is an attempt to fundamentally change our culture, economy and way of life in the name of the supposedly deteriorating environment due to carbon emissions. The plan calls for ending use of oil and natural gas for any applications and to substitute solar and wind power, converting all transportation, businesses, homes and buildings to meet those requirements.

As a bonus, the Green New Deal allows government to fund and control health, education, industry and welfare for those unable or unwilling to work with a 70 percent tax rate collected by the federal government from those workers willing to work.

Ordinarily such nonsense would be the laughing stock, but not so now. At OcasioCortez’s announcement Democrats lined up behind her grinning and nodding their heads, “yes.” Any time in Congress or anywhere spent debating this baloney is what is stupid, not those of us who see this as balderdash.

It is also not stupid to support a border wall to stop millions of migrants marching thousands of miles to bust over our border into our country. These migrants are illegals seeking unlawful entry into our country utilizing a bogus statement of asylum. Criticizers of

well their elected leaders are doing in their efforts to conduct the public’s business in public.

A portion of this law requires boards to keep “full and accurate minutes of all official meetings, including any closed sessions.” Obviously, words like “full and accurate” provide fertile ground for debate, but we think the intent of the law is pretty clear.

The statute also requires boards to release those minutes upon request by the public after the reason for the closed session has been settled. In other words, if the closed session was held so elected leaders could discuss a Editor buyout clause for a fired town or county manager, then once the figure has been determined and the issue finalized, the details should be available for public examination.

We certainly aren’t fishing for any kind of “gotcha” story.

But we did want to find out how these meetings were conducted, who kept minutes that were made it easy for the public to know what went on, and how often boards decided to deliberate behind closed doors.

We’ll rely on experts on the law to help us interpret how our local leaders are doing. It’s been my experience while covering Western North Carolina for the last 27 years that

Scott McLeod

Whereas the public bodies that administer the legislative, policymaking, quasi-judicial, administrative, and advisory functions of North Carolina and its political subdivisions exist solely to conduct the people’s business, it is the public policy of North Carolina that the hearings, deliberations, and actions of these bodies be conducted openly.

— NC General Statute 143-318.9

a border wall say we are a country of immigrants. That is true; however, immigrants who came to this country in the early 1900s who helped build this country came in legally, were vetted and turned away if unhealthy or with no local support. Since then immigrants have waited in line for years to enter legally.

What we have today is an invasion of lawless individuals including those who are criminals, drug carriers and human traffickers.

Stupid is to deny this condition is a national emergency and to limit any and every method — walls, drones, electronics, troops and border patrol — to curb this assault and criminal elements. Politicians are forewarned that the American people are not stupid.

Carol Adams Glenville

Thanks for exploration of homelessness issue To the Editor Cory Vaillancourt created a powerful, informative and moving piece of journalism (“Face to face: local homeless remain elusive”) which touched me as a former features journalist, columnist and creative writing teacher.

Diving into this elusive fringe, often forgotten sub-society living in our midst, Cory put flesh on the bones and brought to life issues that must be dealt with.

Thank you for superlative news reporting and for piercing this dark blot on society and offering hope for future success in conquering the mountain of problems.

Carol McCrite Whittier

our elected leaders for the most part share a viewpoint similar to that of the journalists who cover them: they want to conduct as much of the public’s business in public as they are able. Over that time we’ve reported on some who have brazenly broken the law for the wrong reasons, but not that often.

There are times when reporters for the local newspapers are the only people who sit through entire public meetings, often waiting until elected leaders return from closed sessions before calling it a night. That’s our job, and so digging into those closed session minutes every so often should also be a part of our job. That’s another reason we decided to take on this project.

Look around this region and you’ll see good local newspapers and reporters like our cohorts at the Sylva Herald and The Mountaineer also taking their job seriously, digging into stories and subject matter that only local newspapers cover.

It’s in our DNA, it’s what we do.

And we believe local matters, whether it’s the farmer’s market, the brewery, the plumber or the tire store. Local businesses make this a special place to live, and so supporting them is important. Locally owned newspapers and local public service journalism also help make our communities better places to live. Our plan is to keep providing it for many years to come.

(Scott McLeod can be reached at info@smokymountainnews.com)

LETTERS The socialist are coming!

To the Editor The socialists are coming, the socialists are coming! Hide your cows and pickup trucks!

The green new deal promises to end life as we know it. Karl Marx is on the 2020 ballot!

OK, that was a little over the top, but not by much. If you listen to Fox News and President Trump you would think that the party that brought you Social Security, Medicare, child labor laws and food stamps is about to endorse a Venezuela style government. It is not. Many candidates are having an honest debate about how to invigorate the middle class, provide affordable health care, and the help the working poor share in the prosperity currently enjoyed by “people of wealth.”

This country was founded on capitalist principles, but as they say, moderation in all things. Pure capitalism, an oligarchy, is where a few wealthy businessmen control all the levers of power. Think Russia. Pure socialism or communism is where the government controls all the levers of power. Think China. Both countries are dictatorships, supported by wealthy elites, who brutality suppress democratic ideals.

As a democracy the United States has always looked for ways to improve the living standards of the majority of our citizens:

Social Security, to help the elderly; Medicare to help the sick; child labor laws to protect the children; food stamps to help the hungry. All these social programs are now woven into the fabric of our lives. But the world is changing and we face new challenges to our way of life.

How do we provide quality health care to all our citizens? How do we prepare for the changes to our climate? How do we prepare for a world where more and more work is done by robots? How do we close the wealth gap to stabilize our economy? All these ques-

tion and many more must be answered. All will require programs agreed to by a democratic society.

Calling anyone who is trying to answer these question a “socialist” is a way to ignore the questions. It sounds to me like those now in power like things just the way they are, and calling people names is a good way to change the subject.

Louis Vitale Franklin

Susanna Barbee

B

find us at: facebook.com/smnews

BLUE ROOSTER SOUTHERN GRILL 207 Paragon Parkway, Clyde, Lakeside Plaza at the old Wal-Mart. 828.456.1997.

Open Monday through Friday. Friendly and fun family atmosphere. Local, handmade Southern cuisine. Fresh-cut salads; slowsimmered soups; flame grilled burgers and steaks, and homemade signature desserts.

Blue-plates and local fresh vegetables daily.

Brown bagging is permitted. Private parties, catering, and take-out available. Call-ahead seating available.

BOOJUM BREWING COMPANY 50 N Main Street, Waynesville.

828.246.0350. Taproom Open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday & Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Gem Bar Open Tuesday through Sunday 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. Enjoy lunch, dinner or drinks at Boojum’s Downtown Waynesville restaurant & bar. Choose from 16 taps of our fresh, delicious & ever rotating Boojum Beer plus cider, wine & craft cocktails. The taproom features seasonal pub faire including tasty

burgers, sandwiches, shareables and daily specials that pair perfectly with our beer.

Cozy up inside or take in the mountain air on our back deck.”

BOURBON BARREL BEEF & ALE 454 Hazelwood Ave., Waynesville, 828.452.9191. Lunch daily 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; dinner nightly at 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday. Wine Down Wednesday’s: ½ off wine by the bottle. We specialize in handcut, all natural steaks from local farms, incredible burgers, and other classic american comfort foods that are made using only the finest local and sustainable ingredients available.

CHEF’S TABLE 30 Church St., Waynesville.

828.452.6210. From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Tuesday through Saturday dinner starting at 5 p.m. “Best of” Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator Magazine. Set in a distinguished atmosphere with an exceptional menu. Extensive selection of wine and beer.

Reservations honored.

CHURCH STREET DEPOT 34 Church Street, downtown Waynesville.

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

LUNCH DAILY 11:30 A.M.-2:30 P.M. DINNER NIGHTLY AT 5 P.M. TUESDAY-SATURDAY Voted Best Steak in Waynesville

Wine Down Wednesdays 1/2 off bottle of wine

Classic local American comfort foods, craft beers, along with small batch bourbons & whiskey.

Vegetarian options available

Smoky Mountain News

career educators, I spent only a short time in the sector, but even my relatively brief stint taught me a lot.

Teaching is one of the most challenging jobs in the world. Every day I had 105 seventh-graders staring at me, waiting for me to teach them something and let me tell you, the BS radar on adolescents is on point. They could tell in a heartbeat if their teachers didn’t know the content or didn’t have a clear agenda. I learned quickly that if I didn’t plan, the students would plan for me and believe me, no teacher wants a bunch of hormonal, bored seventh-graders planning a 55-minute class. With that being said, teaching is both very rewarding but also very exhausting.

Having worked in marketing and journalism now for six years, I feel a bit detached from the world of education and the wonderful community that is Haywood County Schools.

But while I’m no longer connected as a teacher, I am connected as a parent. My two little boys both attend Junaluska Elementary. Over the past three years, they’ve dealt with the death of their beloved grandmother and the divorce of their parents. Their sweet, little school has been a village for them. The teachers, support staff and administrators at Junaluska have truly been an extended family when they needed one the most. And I will forever be grateful for that.

Last weekend, I attended the 2019 Mardi Gras Ball. My boyfriend is the vice president of the foundation and one of my colleagues here at the paper is the president. The two of them, along with the rest of the board, do a phenomenal job running this incredible foundation and raising significant amounts of money for students and staff of Haywood County Schools.

Budget-wise, small town school systems simply can’t compete with larger systems.

While our school system may not have as much funding as systems like Buncombe or Charlotte-Mecklenburg, we have one of the strongest foundations in the state of North Carolina, which picks up the slack in the form of grants, teacher gift cards, student scholarships and more.

Whether it’s memories from my parents’ time as educators, reflections from my own days at the chalkboard or gratitude toward Junaluska Elementary, public education has meant and means very much to me, and I am ever so thankful to be part of a wonderful school system such as the one we have here in Haywood County.

(Susanna Barbee is a writer, editor and digital media specialist for The Smoky Mountain News, Smoky Mountain Living, and Mountain South Media. susanna.b@smokymountainnews.com)

Taste the Mountains is an ever-evolving paid section of places to dine in Western North Carolina. If you would like to be included in the listing please contact our advertising department at 828.452.4251

February 27-March 5, 2019

oth my parents were teachers. My earliest memories are of my dad sitting at our dining room table grading papers or writing grants. Once I started school, my afternoon routine was to hang out in the media center at my mom’s school, munching on snacks from the vending machine, while she wrapped up for the day.

Mom was a high school business teacher and then a long-time librarian with Buncombe Columnist County Schools while Dad worked first in Buncombe County then with Asheville City Schools as a classroom teacher and ISS coordinator, back when ISS was a new, innovative program meant to instruct and remediate.

Fast-forward many years when I was deciding where to attend college and what discipline to major in. I was offered the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Scholarship by N.C. State University, and even though I wasn’t positive if I actually wanted to be a teacher, I accepted the scholarship.

As a Fellow, we could major in affiliated fields. My focus was school psychology. I earned my undergrad degree at N.C. State in psychology, then later earned master’s and specialist degrees in school psychology from Appalachian State University.

After several years as a school psychologist, I realized I’d rather be in the trenches of a classroom, so I obtained the necessary licensures to teach middle and high school English/Language Arts. I was hired at Waynesville Middle School where I spent the rest of my career as an educator.

I worked as a classroom teacher, reading teacher, instructional coach and lead teacher. I knew Waynesville Middle intimately and loved both the staff and students. I sometimes hear chatter in the community about the school being “too big” or “too wild” but that’s just not true. It does feel large and probably a little scary to parents who are accustomed to smaller, warmand-fuzzy elementary schools, but WMS is a great school and I loved working there.

While I enjoyed my time in the classroom, I ultimately felt teaching wasn’t really for me. I adored the students and the content, but as opposed to teaching kids how to explore literature and write, I wanted to be writing myself, which took me on another adventure to obtain a journalism degree and begin a career in writing and online content creation.

Unlike my parents who were traditional

tasteTHE mountains opinion

Great schools, staff are community assets

Closed Sunday & Monday 454 Hazelwood Avenue • Waynesville Call 828.452.9191 for reservations 21

tasteTHE mountains

Sunday: 12pm-6pm Tue-Thurs 3pm-8pm Fri-Sat: 12pm-9pm Monday: Closed AT BEARWATERS BREWING

101 PARK ST. CANTON 828.492.1422

PIGEONRIVERGRILLE.COM

Wine • Port • Champagne Cigars • Gifts

828-452-6000

20 Church Street Downtown Waynesville

classicwineseller.com MONDAY - SATURDAY

CITY LIGHTS CAFE Spring Street in downtown Sylva.

828.587.2233. Open Monday-Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tasty, healthy and quick. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, espresso, beer and wine. Come taste the savory and sweet crepes, grilled paninis, fresh, organic salads, soups and more.

Outside patio seating. Free Wi-Fi, pet-friendly.

Live music and lots of events. Check the web calendar at citylightscafe.com.

THE CLASSIC WINESELLER 20 Church Street, Waynesville.

828.452.6000. Underground retail wine and craft beer shop, restaurant, and intimate live music venue. Kitchen opens at 4 p.m.

Wednesday through Saturday serving freshly prepared small plates, tapas, charcuterie, desserts.

COUNTRY VITTLES: FAMILY STYLE RESTAURANT 3589 Soco Rd, Maggie Valley.

828.926.1820 Winter hours: Wednesday through Sunday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Family Style at Country Vittles is not a buffet.

Instead our waitresses will bring your food piping hot from the kitchen right to your table and as many refills as you want. So if you have a big appetite, but sure to ask your waitress about our family style service.

FERRARA PIZZA & PASTA 243 Paragon Parkway, Clyde.

828.476.5058. Open Monday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday 12 to 8 p.m. Real New Yorkers. Real Italians. Real Pizza. A full

service authentic Italian pizzeria and restaurant from New York to the Blue Ridge. Dine in, take out, and delivery. Check out our daily lunch specials plus customer appreciation nights on Monday and Tuesday 5 to 9 p.m. with large cheese pizzas for $9.95.

FIREFLY TAPS & GRILL 128 N. Main St., Waynesville 828.454.5400. Simple, delicious food. A must experience in WNC. Located in downtown Waynesville with an atmosphere that will warm your heart and your belly! Local and regional beers on tap. Full bar, vegetarian options, kids menu, and more.

Reservations accepted. Daily specials. Live music every Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m.

Open Mon.-Sat. 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Sunday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

FROGS LEAP PUBLIC HOUSE 44 Church St., Downtown Waynesville 828.456.1930 Serving dinner 5 to 9 p.m.

Tuesday through Thursday. 5 to 9:30 p.m.

Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday. Frogs Leap is a farm to table restaurant focused on local, sustainable, natural and organic products prepared in modern regional dishes. Seasonal menu focuses on Southern comfort foods with upscale flavors.

Reservations accepted. www.frogsleappublichouse.com.

HARMON’S DEN BISTRO 250 Pigeon St., Waynesville 828.456.6322. Harmon’s Den is located in

the Fangmeyer Theater at HART. Open 5:30-9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday (Bistro closes at 7:30 p.m. on nights when there is a show in the Fangmeyer Theater) with Sunday brunch at 11 a.m. that includes breakfast and lunch items.

Harmon’s Den offers a complete menu with cocktails, wine list, and area beers on tap.

Enjoy casual dining with the guarantee of making it to the performance in time, then rub shoulders with the cast afterward with post-show food and beverage service.

Reservations recommended. www.harmonsden.harttheatre.org HAZELWOOD FARMACY & SODA FOUNTAIN 429 Hazelwood Avenue, Waynesville.

828.246.6996. Open six days a week, closed Wednesday. 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Breakfast until noon, old-fashioned luncheonette and diner comfort food. Historic full service soda fountain.

JOEY’S PANCAKE HOUSE 4309 Soco Rd Maggie Valley.

828.926.0212. Open seven days a week! 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. Joey’s is a family-friendly restaurant that has been serving breakfast to locals and visitors of Western North Carolina for decades. Featuring a large variety of tempting pancakes, golden waffles, country style cured ham and seasonal specials spiked with flavor, Joey’s is sure to please all appetites. Join us for what has become a tradition in these parts, breakfast at Joey’s.

February 27-March 5, 2019

10:00AM - 6:00PM

MAGGIE VALLEY RESTAURANT Daily Specials: Soups, Sandwiches & Southern Dishes

828-246-6996 429 Hazelwood Ave Waynesville

Smoky Mountain News

Monday, Tuesday Wednesday Thursday, Friday Saturday, Sunday

7:30am-8 pm Closed 7:30am-8 pm 8 am-8 pm

WAYNESVILLE’S BEST BURGERS

Featured Dishes: Fresh Fried Chicken, Rainbow Trout, Country Ham, Pork-chops & more

Breakfast : Omelets, Pancakes, Biscuits & Gravy!

Breakfast served all day!

NEW WINTER HOURS CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION

Mon/Wed/Thurs 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Friday/Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Closed Tuesday

Sunday 12-9 p.m.

Sandwiches • Burgers • Wraps 32 Felmet Street

2804 SOCO RD. • MAGGIE VALLEY 828.926.0425 • Facebook.com/carversmvr Instagram- @carvers_mvr

(828) 246-0927

WEDNESDAY 5-9 P.M.

THURSDAY 5-9 P.M.

SUNDAY 11 A.M-3 P.M.

Rib buffet, fried chicken, vegetables, and a twenty-three item salad bar!

Piano Man & Angie

Buffet Brunch

$11.95

Country Buffet

$11.95

featuring turkey and dressing

$12.95

MON.-SAT. 11 A.M.-8 P.M.

34 CHURCH ST. WAYNESVILLE 828.246.6505 22

twitter.com/ChurchStDepot

facebook.com/ChurchStreetDepot

Whatever the Occasion, Let Us Do the Cooking!

828.926.0201 At the Maggie Valley Inn • 70 Soco Road, Maggie Valley

Meetings, Events, Parties & More Sun.–Thurs. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Fri. & Sat. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

1941 Champion Dr. • Canton 828−646−3750 895 Russ Ave. • Waynesville 828−452−5822

tasteTHE mountains KANINI’S 1196 N. Main St., Waynesville.

828.452.5187. Lunch Monday-Saturday from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., eat in or carry out. Closed Sunday. A made-from-scratch kitchen using fresh ingredients and supporting the local food and local farm-to-table program. Offering a variety of meals to go from frozen meals to be stored and cooked later to “Dinners to Go” that are made fresh and ready to enjoyed that day. We also specialize in catering any event from from corporate lunches to weddings. Menus created to fit your special event. kaninis.com MAD BATTER FOOD & FILM 617 W. Main Street Downtown Sylva.

828.586.3555. Open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. with Sunday Brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Handtossed pizza, house-ground burgers, steak sandwiches & fresh salmon all from scratch.

Casual family friendly atmosphere. Craft beer and interesting wine. Free movies Thursday through Saturday. Visit madbatterfoodfilm.com for this week’s shows & events.

specials including soups, sandwiches and southern dishes along with featured dishes such as fresh fried chicken, rainbow trout, country ham, pork chops and more. Breakfast all day including omelets, pancakes, biscuits & gravy. facebook.com/carversmvr; instagram @carvers_mvr.

MOUNTAIN PERKS ESPRESSO BAR & CAFÉ 9 Depot St., Bryson City. 828.488.9561.

Open Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. With music at the Depot.

Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Life is too short for bad coffee. We feature wonderful breakfast and lunch selections. Bagels, wraps, soups, sandwiches, salads and quiche with a variety of specialty coffees, teas and smoothies.

Various desserts.

MAGGIE VALLEY CLUB 1819 Country Club Dr., Maggie Valley.

828.926.1616. maggievalleyclub.com/dine.

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

PIGEON RIVER GRILLE 101 Park St., Canton.

828.492.1422. Open Tuesday through Thursday 3 to 8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday noon to 9 p.m.; Sunday noon to 6 p.m. Southerninspired restaurant serving simply prepared, fresh food sourced from top purveyors.

Located riverside at Bearwaters Brewing, enjoy daily specials, sandwiches, wings, fish and chips, flatbreads, soups, salads, and more. Be sure to save room for a slice of the delicious house made cake. Relaxing inside/outside dining and spacious gathering areas for large groups.

MAGGIE VALLEY RESTAURANT 2804 Soco Road, Maggie Valley.

828.926.0425. 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Daily

RENDEZVOUS RESTAURANT AND BAR Maggie Valley Inn and Conference Center 70 Soco Road, Maggie Valley

Featuring Dr. Shane Schoepfer “Ocean Warming, Geochemistry, and Earth’s Greatest Mass Extinction”

February 27th @ 6 PM

MadBatterFoodFilm.com

Downtown Sylva • 828.586.3555

SAGEBRUSH STEAKHOUSE 1941 Champion Drive, Canton 828.646.3750 895 Russ Ave., Waynesville 828.452.5822. Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Carry out available. Sagebrush features hand carved steaks, chicken and award winning BBQ ribs. We have fresh salads, seasonal vegetables and scrumptious deserts. Extensive selection of local craft beers and a full bar. Catering special events is one of our specialties.

SPEEDY’S PIZZA 285 Main Street, Sylva. 828.586.3800.

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

Located across from the Fire Station.

TAP ROOM BAR & GRILL 176 Country Club Drive, Waynesville.

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

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

VITO’S PIZZA 607 Highlands Rd., Franklin. 828.369.9890.

Established here in in 1998. Come to Franklin and enjoy our laid back place, a place you can sit back, relax and enjoy our 62” HDTV. Our Pizza dough, sauce, meatballs, and sausage are all made from scratch

by Vito. The recipes have been in the family for 50 years (don’t ask for the recipes cuz’ you won’t get it!) Each Pizza is hand tossed and made with TLC. You’re welcome to watch your pizza being created.

WAYNESVILLE PIZZA COMPANY 32 Felmet Street, Waynesville.

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

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration!

Saturday, March 16 & Sunday, March 17 Includes : Corned Beef and Cabbage : Shepherd's Pie : Guinness Beer Cheese Soup : Irish Nachos : Pistachio Dessert : Green Beer : 50¢ Wings On Saturday : and Fun Festivities Both Days!

Real New Yorkers.

Real Italians. Real Pizza.

Dine-In ~ Take Out ~ Delivery

Join Us for Weekly

PASTA NIGHT!

Open Sunday-Thursday 11:30 to 8 • Friday and Saturday 11:30 to 9 • Closed Wednesday

828.454.5400 | 128 N. Main | Downtown Waynesville | FireflyTapsAndGrill.com

Wednesdays 3-9 p.m.

Rush Morgan 3 E JACKSON ST. • SYLVA, NC

www.CityLightsCafe.com

243 Paragon Parkway | Clyde

828-476-5058 172 Sylva Plaza | Sylva

828-492-0641 All location hours: Mon-Sat 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Closed Sundays

207 Paragon Parkway, Clyde

828-456-1997 blueroostersoutherngrill.com Monday-Friday Open at 11am

Real Local Families, Real Local Farms, Real Local Food

Smoky Mountain News

1295 incudes choice of salad, garlic rolls, choice of pasta and dessert.

$

APPÉTIT Y’AL N L BO

March 1 7pm

February 27-March 5, 2019

Science Café

828.926.0201 Home of the Maggie Valley Pizzeria. We deliver after 4 p.m. daily to all of Maggie Valley, J-Creek area, and Lake Junaluska. Monday through Wednesday: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. country buffet and salad bar from 5 to 9 p.m. $11.95 with Steve Whiddon on piano. Friday and Saturday: 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday 11:30 to 8 p.m. 11:30 to 3 p.m. family style, fried chicken, ham, fried fish, salad bar, along with all the fixings, $11.95. Check out our events and menu at rendezvousmaggievalley.com

LOVE OUR LOCALS IN FEBRUARY!

Buy one dinner, get one 1/2 off!

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A&E

Smoky Mountain News

Devil on my shoulder

SMN: What are you discovering these days about the guitar?

SD: Like a lot of people, the first bunch of years on guitar were about chops. I learned scales. I practiced my ass off. I learned how to play fast and loud and rock out. Then at some point — for a lot of us — there’s a shift and you start almost peeling back those chops. I started finding more ways to play outside of scales, to play more melodically, to simplify, to

“That live album is just three guys, no extra layers, nothing to hide behind — just our songs, one take of us playing everything, and improvisation that only happened in that one moment.”

— Silas Durocher

The Get Right Band (from left) is Jesse Gentry (bass) and J.C. Mears (drums) and Silas Durocher (singer/guitarist).

With new live album, The Get Right Band to play Boojum

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER he hardest balance for a rock band is to straddle the line between honest emotions in your lyrics and also simply being able to get people to groove along to what beats and tones swirl around the wordplay.

It’s the idea of presenting your sincere, personal mission, while at the same time being able to radiate those deeply-held sentiments amid a room full of friends and strangers alike, all there for a gathering of joyous, vibrating souls — a melodic trojan horse, if you will.

Hailing from the same city of its latest release, “Live in Asheville,” The Get Right Band seamlessly finds that balance between creating meaningful art and being able to heat up a stage. Constructed in the classic power rock trio formation, the group has proven itself over the better part of the last decade to be one of the hardest working acts in the region.

The music of The Get Right Band is constantly being peeled back — as if it were one season culminating into the next — to where all

T

gy and showing us a lot of love, we just get blasted with their positive energy — it’s palpable. We feed off that energy and give it back through our performance and it just becomes a positive feedback loop. That live album is just three guys, no extra layers, nothing to hide behind — just our songs, one take of us playing everything, and improvisation that only happened in that one moment.

that’s left to be exposed is the one thing that’s the catalyst for the sonic prowess and improvisational beauty of the trio — their hearts.

Smoky Mountain News: How much has the original intent of the group remained or stayed the same since the inception of the band?

Silas Durocher (singer/guitarist): A lot has definitely changed for us since we formed the band in 2011. I think when we first started, we were really focused on the party — getting everyone dancing, having fun, letting loose.

That’s still part of who we are, but I also think we’ve matured since then. The world has gotten a little heavier and more serious — or maybe we’ve just become more aware of the heavy, serious stuff — and that has affected our songwriting and performances. We’re a psychedelic indie-rock power trio. There are still elements of funk and reggae in our music for sure, but I think we’ve honed in on more of a psychedelic rock sound, at least for now — who knows where the muse will lead us next?

SMN: With the release of the live album, why was that the platform you wanted to showcase the band in this time around?

SD: Obviously, the major difference between a live album and studio album is the presence of an audience. When we play in front of an audience, especially one that is high ener-

Want to go?

Asheville-based roots/jam group The Get Right Band will perform at 9 p.m. Saturday, March 2, in The Gem downstairs taproom at Boojum Brewing in Waynesville.

For more information, visit www.boojumbrewing.com or www.thegetrightband.com.

say something and express something with each note — to not worry as much about speed and blasting people in the face with sound. Guitarists like Ernest Ranglin and Oliver Wood became big influences on me.

And then tone became a major obsession. So, I think a lot more about what I want to express, what emotions and ideas are appropriate for the song, and then about what tones evoke that most effectively, and in the most interesting way.

SMN: In an uncertain era of the music industry, what is it that keeps The Get Right Band together and inspired to push ahead?

SD: Music is our career, but we’d be obsessing about it even if it was just a hobby. There’s so much in the business of it that can side track you. The business changes constantly — a lot of people don’t give you the time of day or are incredibly flaky, there isn’t much money in it except for the people at the very top, touring can be difficult and exhausting. We have to think about those things because it’s our job, but we don’t focus too hard on them. We focus on how much fun it is to play a new song in front of our fans and get a great response. We focus on how much we like and respect each other as people and as musicians. We focus on our fans telling us that a certain song moved them or got them through a hard time or made them laugh or cry. That stuff goes a long way to keeping our spirits floating above all that crap in the music business.

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

Charles Bukowski.

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Smoky Mountain News

Acclaimed Americana/country act The Darren In a recent New York Times Nicholson Band will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, article, “What Charles March 9, at The Strand at 38 Main in Bukowski’s Glamorous Waynesville.

Displays of Alcoholism Left Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host Out,” the piece analyzed and Bohemian Jean (pop/rock) at 7 p.m. Friday, deconstructed the legendary March 1. (albeit infamous) poet/writer, ultimately putting a spotlight The “German Friendship Dinner” will be held on someone greatly idolized, from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 7, at the but also just as greatly detested Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville. for his behavior and antics.

Author and Vietnam veteran Tom Baker will give Bukowski, just like Jack a reading and book signing of his latest work Kerouac and Hunter S. The Hawk and The Dove at 5 p.m. Thursday, Thompson, are the pillars of March 7, at the Macon County Public Library in my foundation as a writer.

Franklin.

And, in essence, the pillars of the life I’ve created and lifestyle experience to write about, so I took off and I’ve continued to immerse myself in. explored the depths of America. I ran Kerouac put me on the road ‘round-naround this country in a reckless abandon. I ’round America all through my 20s (and ran around the hearts and minds of countevery single day since then, too) in search of less femme fatales, too. endless adventure, new friendships and devI spent years saying “yes” to any and astating love: lost, found, lost again. everything: alcohol, women, drugs, and so Thompson pushed me to track down truth, to seek out and provoke chaos in the name of forth. I figured, just like my literary heroes, “How can you write about life, love, sorrow the written word and midnight shenanigans. and salvation if you never leave your house, And Bukowski inspired me to dig deep and truly stare at that face in the mirror, that your town and your comfort zone?”

That mindset and ultimate path has put every single detail of your life, no matter me on this trajectory I currently float along. how mundane or dark, is worthy of being And I made that choice to do so years ago. written down, picked apart and sent out for Sure, I steer away from liquor for the most public consumption. part. And I don’t do drugs anymore (except When I was young, I really had no life

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February 27-March 5, 2019

Some people never go crazy, what truly horrible lives they must lead

GUESS GUESS WHAT!?

WHAT!?

WE WEJUST JUSTINSTALLED INSTALLEDAN AN

arts & entertainment

This must be the place

the occasional joint).

But, that mindset has remained. So much so, I’ve spent the last year picking up the pieces of my existence in the aftermath of a terrible breakup and just how self-destructive I’ve been in my time on this planet.

In my pursuit of the written word, I’ve passed up stable career opportunities to keep the dream of being a writer alive. I’ve pushed aside a new house, new car, white picket fence and all that jazz for a small one-bedroom apartment with just enough room for what little possessions I do own (mostly books, vinyl records, concert posters, hot sauce collection, a big bed and cold beer in the fridge).

And I’ve destroyed relationships and lost incredible women, and because I had blinders on with only one goal in mind: to keep writing. I remember one ex saying to me: “When is this writing phase going to end?”

One said: “Is this all really worth it?”

Another said: “Why don’t you get a regular job like everybody else?” One really hit deep when she said: “You keep this up, you will end up like your heroes — all alone and dead of a broken heart.”

It’s true: Bukowski, Kerouac and Thompson all ended in incredibly sad ways.

Bukowski died somewhat financially stable, but more so a rotgut being who ruined his body and mind in such terrible ways.

Kerouac bled to death in his bathroom when he hemorrhaged after decades of alcohol abuse. Thompson shot himself when his body started to fail him, his family right in the next room.

Heck, even Ernest Hemingway found himself in the same fate as Thompson, where Thompson idolized Hemingway as I now idolize Thompson. It isn’t about glorifying these people, because I don’t. I adore the work, but what they don’t tell you is about all the demons that come with your own pursuit of similar work, similar career paths and dreams. It’s all one thing, really.

All of what I’m saying can easily be applied to the music industry. I mean, how many “Behind the Music” stories can be told — of excess and falls from grace — before people who want to be rock stars finally avoid all the damn stereotypes of “sex, drugs and rock-n-roll, baby.”

I think part of it all is the Peter Pan mentality of artists: “never grow up, never grow old.” As Tom Petty sang: “Well I don’t know what I’ve been told?You never slow down, you never grow old/I’m tired of screwing up, I’m tired of goin’ down/I’m tired of myself, I’m tired of this town/Oh my my, oh hell yes/Honey put on that party dress/Buy me a drink, sing me a song/Take me as I come ‘cause I can’t stay long.”

Again, this article hits home, in so many damn ways. I’m far from perfect, and my journey will always be a work in progress.

I’ve identified my flaws, and I’m trying to make positive change.

It ain’t easy, and sometimes I say screw it and run through the town — any damn town — with two huge red paint buckets, ready to throw it all around in all that is “irresponsible enlightenment.” I’m still here.

And I’m still learning to be a better person each day I arise into the unknown.

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

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February 27-March 5, 2019

arts & entertainment

On the beat WCU traditional music series The First Thursday Old-Time and Bluegrass Series at Western Carolina University will continue with the Berea College Bluegrass Ensemble on Thursday, March 7, in Cullowhee.

The group’s 7 p.m. performance and the open jam session that follows will be held at the headquarters for Homebase College Ministry, located on the east side of the WCU campus at 83 Central Drive.

Berea College (Kentucky) students have been performing in the ensemble for 17 years. During their time at the liberal arts work college, members of the band show off their singing and picking skills in exchange for course credit and the opportunity to make lifelong friends and share their music with audiences around the world. Their concerts are a blend of traditional bluegrass and mountain music with contemporary influences.

Over the years, the group has toured throughout the eastern U.S. and internationally in Ireland, Japan and Denmark.

Current student members are Seth Lewis, banjo; Hannah From, guitar; Jessie Lawson, bass; Nathan Jose, guitar; and Cora Allison, fiddle. Al White, a Berea fac-

ulty member, directs the group and performs on mandolin.

The First Thursday concerts and jam sessions will continue through the spring, with programs from 7 to 9 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month.

The concerts and jam sessions are free and open to the public. Pickers and singers of all ages and experience levels are invited to take part in the jam sessions, which also are open to those who just want to listen.

For more information, call the Mountain Heritage Center at 828.227.7129 or visit mhc.wcu.edu.

Want to learn piano?

The next session of the “Mind the Music” piano lesson series will begin Monday, March 4, at the First United Methodist Church in Waynesville.

There are spaces open for new students wishing to learn to read music and play the piano in a relaxed atmosphere.

This session will run for six weeks, with one group or private lesson per student a week.

Cost for the six lessons is $72.

Register by Feb. 28. For more information and/or to signup, contact the Haywood County Arts Council at 828.452.0593.

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IBMA winner to play Waynesville

Acclaimed Americana/country act The Darren Nicholson Band will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 9, at The Strand at 38 Main in Waynesville.

Nicholson is a Grammy Award nominee and a recipient of numerous International Bluegrass Music Association’s Awards. He

has appeared on WSM’s Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium, CMT, GAC and many of the world’s most famous venues.

Currently, he records and tours as a full-time, founding member of Balsam Range.

Tickets are $10 per person. www.38main.com.

On the beat (singer-songwriter) 7:30 p.m. March 3, Tuesday Bluegrass Sessions w/The Darren Nicholson Band 7:30 p.m. March 5, Rebecca Loebe (singer-songwriter) 7 p.m. March 6 and David Jacobs-Strain & Bob Beach w/Kaia Kater (Americana/blues) 8:30 p.m.

March 6. www.isisasheville.com.

• Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host Geoff McBride (singer-songwriter) March 1 and Colby Deitz (Americana/indie) March 15. All shows are free and open to the public. www.balsamfallsbrewing.com.

• The Jackson County Public Library (Sylva) will host The Darren Nicholson Band (Americana/country) 7 p.m. March 8. Free and open to the public. 828.586.2016 or www.fontanalib.org.

• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host an acoustic jam with Main St. NoTones from 6 to 9 p.m. Feb. 28 and March 7. Free and open to the public. www.blueridgebeerhub.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host an open mic night at 6:30 p.m. every Thursday and DysFUNKshun March 2. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. For more information and a complete schedule of events, click on www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Boojum Brewing Company (Waynesville) will host a bluegrass open mic every Wednesday, an all-genres open mic every Thursday and The Get Right Band (rock/soul) 9 p.m. March 2. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.boojumbrewing.com.

ALSO:

• City Lights Cafe (Sylva) will host Rush Morgan (singer-songwriter) March 1. All shows are free and begin at 7 p.m. www.citylightscafe.com or 828.587.2233.

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host Bohemian Jean (pop/rock) March 1 and Alma Russ (Americana/old-time) March 9. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. www.froglevelbrewing.com.

• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will have an Open Mic night Feb. 27 and March 6, and a jazz night with the Kittle/Collings Duo Feb. 28 and March 7. All events are free and begin at 8 p.m. www.innovationbrewing.com.

• Isis Music Hall (West Asheville) will host Alias Patrick Kelly (indie/Americana) 7 p.m.

Feb. 27, Chris Jamison’s Ghost (Americana/folk) 7 p.m. Feb. 28, Richard Shindell (acoustic) 8:30 p.m. Feb. 28, Matt Watroba (acoustic/folk) 7 p.m. March 1, Empire Strikes Brass (funk) 9 p.m. March 1, Donna Hopkins Band (Americana/blues) 6 p.m. March 3, John Gorka & Kristen Maxwell

• Mad Anthony’s Taproom & Restaurant (Waynesville) will host Alma Russ March 1 (old-time/folk) and Joey Fortner & The Universal Sound (Americana/folk) March 8.

All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m.

• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host the “Stone Soup” open mic night every Tuesday. All shows are free and begin at 7 p.m. www.mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.

• Pub 319 (Waynesville) will host an open mic night from 8 to 11 p.m. every Wednesday.

Free and open to the public. www.pub319socialhouse.com.

• Salty Dog’s (Maggie Valley) will have Karaoke with Jason Wyatt at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays, Mile High (classic rock) 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays, and a Trivia w/Kelsey Jo 8 p.m. Thursdays.

• Satulah Mountain Brewing (Highlands) will host “Hoppy Hour” and an open mic at 6 p.m. on Thursdays and live music on Friday evenings. 828.482.9794 or www.satulahmountainbrewing.com.

• The Strand at 38 Main (Waynesville) will host an “Open Mic” night from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturdays and The Darren Nicholson Band (Americana/country) 8 p.m. March 9.

828.283.0079 or www.38main.com.

• The Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will host an “Open Mic Night” on Mondays, karaoke on Thursdays and live music regularly on Fridays and Saturdays . All events at 10 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

828.456.4750.

smokymountainnews.com

Smoky Mountain News

• Innovation Station (Dillsboro) will host The Tina Collins Duo March 2, Fuzzy Peppers March 8 and Frank & Allie (Americana/folk) March 9. All events are free and begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.innovation-brewing.com.

• The Macon County Public Library (Franklin) will host the “Sounds Like Fun: Cabin Fever Community Choir Series” from 1:15 to 2:45 p.m. March 9, 16 and 23. Learn by ear. No music to read. RSVP at sandidonns@gmail.com.

February 27-March 5, 2019

• Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host Dirty Dave & Dusty John 8 p.m. March 2. Free and open to the public. www.curraheebrew.com.

arts & entertainment

• Andrews Brewing Company (Andrews) will host the “Lounge Series” at its Calaboose location with Wyatt Espalin (singer-songwriter) March 1 and Andrew Chastain (singer-songwriter) March 2. All shows are free and begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.andrewsbrewing.com.

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arts & entertainment

On the street

Stuart Auditorium, 1913.

Waynesville historic speaker series

Smoky Mountain News

February 27-March 5, 2019

Presented by The Town of Waynesville Historic Preservation Commission, the 4th annual “Haywood Ramblings” will once again take place this spring.

A speaker series on the historic resources and rich cultural heritage of Waynesville and Haywood County, the events will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month in the courtroom of The Historic Courthouse in downtown Waynesville.

The speakers are as follows: • March 7: Lost Structures of Waynesville,” presented by Alex McKay. Take an in-depth look at the great commercial buildings, hotels and mansions of Waynesville that have been lost. McKay will tell the stories of their construction and

28

their demise, including the Red Wing building, the old brick courthouse and more.

• April 4: “Haywood County’s MasonDixon Line,” presented by Patrick Womack.

Hear stories of the early settlers of the Hyatt and Plott Creek valleys. Womack will share accounts from his ancestors, including the Oxners, McClures and Winchesters. Find out why many claimed that the creeks were separated by a “Mason-Dixon” line.

• May 2: “The History of Lake Junaluska,” presented by Nancy Watkins.

Learn about the fascinating history of Lake Junaluska, including the early decision to locate the Assembly in Haywood County, and its considerable influence on the local economy, tourism and culture.

In case of snow, the event will be automatically rescheduled for the second Thursday of the month. For more information, call 828.456.8647.

The Western Carolina University Concert Choir. t

WCU celebrates Women’s History Month A series of Tuesday events to highlight March as Women’s History Month will be held at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, featuring a three-part PBS documentary, choral concert, panel discussion and literary celebration. A collaboration between WCU’s School of Music and English Department, all three events are free and open to the public.

The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in commemorating March as Women’s History Month in recognition of women’s contributions to the nation. A corresponding event is International Women’s Day, this year on Friday, March 8.

• March 5: “Women Composers: A Choral Celebration” begins at 7:30 p.m. in the performance hall of the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center, followed by a screening of part one of the PBS documentary “Makers: Women Who Make

• “Do personality traits shape a person’s political outlook?’” will be the topic for the Franklin Open Forum at 7 p.m. Monday, March 4, at the Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Pub in downtown Franklin. The forum is a moderated discussion group. Those interested in an open exchange of ideas (dialog, not debate) are invited to attend. 828.371.1020.

ALSO:

• Western Carolina University’s Mountain Heritage Center is currently hosting an exhibit to commemorate World War I and the

l t

America” at 8:30 p.m.

The concert, performed by WCU’s Concert Choir and University Chorus, will feature works by Rosephanye Powell, Carol Hall, Alice Parker, Susan LaBarr and Carly Simon, among others. Of note, the choir will perform a song by Haywood County composer Margaret Stringfield that was published in 1939. Stringfield, who died in 1958, taught music in Waynesville for 20 years.

• March 19: Part two of the PBS documentary will be shown at 4:30 p.m. in Classroom 130 of the Bardo Center. “Women Writers: A Literary Celebration,” an “open mic night” featuring the writings of women authors and poets, will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Star Atrium of the center.

• March 26: The conclusion of “Makers: Women Who Make America” will be shown at T 4 p.m. in the recital hall of the Coulter Building, b followed by a 5:30 p.m. panel discussion of women faculty on “Sharing Our Stories.”

For more information, contact Allison Thorp, WCU’s director of choral activities, at athorp@wcu.edu or 828.227.3259. f

w centennial of the end of hostilities in the M “war to end all wars.” It features wartime R images and artifacts, as well as examples of propaganda used to build support for the war effort. 828.227.7129.

• The High Mountain Squares will host their “Rock Around the Clock Dance” from 6:15 to 8:45 p.m. Friday, March 1, at the Robert C Carpenter Community Building in Franklin. Randy Ramsey will be the caller.

Dance is Western Style Square Dancing, main/stream and plus levels. Everyone is welcome.

On the table arts & entertainment

Folkmoot’s ‘Saturday Markets’ return Patrick Parton photo

We are pleased to announce the opening of our third location in Haywood County at 33 Bennett Street in Waynesville. We are located just off Brown Ave below Hazelwood Tire and beside Pioneer Supply. Thanks to our customers, we are the largest self storage provider in Haywood County.

The second “Saturday Markets” will continue from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, March 9, inside the Folkmoot Friendship Center cafeteria in Waynesville.

A gathering place for friends of all ages, markets feature vendors, live music, ballroom dance lessons for $5, and a homemade meal for $10. Beer and wine are available for purchase and tables will be set up for participants to play board and card games that they bring from home.

There is no entry fee for second “Saturday Markets.” For more information or to become a vendor, call the Folkmoot office at 828.452.2997.

Bratwurst, beer dinner at Folkmoot

Mardi Gras at Harmons’ Den

• There will be a “Chili Cookoff” hosted by the Haywood Waterways Association from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 9, at Elevated Mountain Distilling in Maggie Valley. Entry fee is $35. Pre-sale chili eater tickets are $15 or $20 at the door. Live music by Bona Fide. caitlinw.hwa@gmail.com or call 828.476.4667.

33 Bennett Street, Waynesville 7066 Old Clyde Road, Canton • 565 Jones Cove Road, Clyde

828-648-0147 • HAYWOODSECURE.COM

ALSO:

• A free wine tasting will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. March 2 and 9 at Papou’s Wine Shop in Sylva. www.papouswineshop.com or 828.631.3075.

• Free cooking demonstrations will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturdays at Country Traditions in Dillsboro. Watch the demonstrations, eat samples and taste house wines for $3 a glass. All recipes posted online. www.countrytraditionsnc.com.

Smoky Mountain News

The bistro at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville, Harmons’ Den will be open for a special Mardi Gras buffet at 6:30 p.m. on “Fat Tuesday” March 5.

The menu includes: red beans and rice, citrus marinated shrimp, chicken and sausage gumbo, Cajun Maque Choux, muffuletta, okra Creole, and king cake.

The bistro has been closed for the winter with dining on special holidays only. The Mardi Gras party is $35 per person inclusive.

Reservations must be made by March 1 by calling the HART box office at 828.456.6322. www.harttheatre.org.

• The “Pint & Pollinator Tour” is a partnership between Waynesville businesses Leap Frog Tours and Spriggly’s Beescaping. This new and educational experience will run every from 1 to 4 p.m. every Friday in February and March. The journey includes stops at the Asheville Museum of Science, Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center and Whistle Hop Brewing Company. The tour is open to all ages and is family friendly, with tickets at $85 per adult and $75 per child. For further details and to reserve your tickets, please visit www.leapfrogtours.com and click on “tours,” or call 828.246.6777.

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February 27-March 5, 2019

Mouth-watering sausage, language lessons, polka music and German beer are on tap for Folkmoot’s “German Friendship Dinner,” which will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 7, at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville.

Local families with German heritage will be preparing a dinner featuring bratwurst, potato pancakes, red cabbage

and Black Forest chocolate cake for dessert.

German-style beer will be made available

by BearWaters Brewing Company. Dinner will be served in the Folkmoot cafeteria, followed by music by Mountain Top Polka Band and a German language lesson in the Queen Auditorium.

Tickets for this event are $18 for adult $10 for students and can be purchased at www.folkmoot.org or by calling 828.452.2997. Limited seating is available.

Advance purchase is advised. Parking is available in the back of the Folkmoot building.

We offer the same Clean, Safe and Secure facility as our sites in Canton and Clyde.

29

Smoky Mountain News

February 27-March 5, 2019

arts & entertainment

On the wall ‘Adult Hand Built Clay’ series The Haywood County Arts Council will host an “Adult Hand Built Clay” series with Amy Dapore of Our Summerhouse Pottery from 12:30 to 3 p.m. March 5, 12, 18, 16 and April 2, 16 at HCAC’s Gallery & Gifts showroom in downtown Waynesville.

A perfect class for those adults wanting to see what clay is all about. Ideal for beginners and above. Come and be as creative as you like — any project can be fine-tuned to meet your artistic taste.

Example projects: bowls, plates, mugs, succulent planters, and more. This is a handbuilding class (not potter’s wheel) where you will learn construction techniques to make your projects successful.

Class size is limited to six students; first come, first served. Those students currently enrolled have preference in enrolling in the next session of classes. One make-up class per session is included in the tuition, and expires after the next consecutive session.

All supplies and firing fees are included in the tuition. Deposits will be returned only if cancellation is made prior to two weeks before the beginning of the class, and after that date if seat is filled.

Reservations must be made through the Our Summerhouse Pottery website: www.oursummerhousepottery.com.

‘Young at Art’ student exhibition The Haywood County Arts Council is proud to present its 2019 student art exhibition, “Young at Art,” which will be displayed at HCAC’s Gallery & Gifts showroom in downtown Waynesville.

The display features works by art students at Bethel Middle School, Canton Middle School, Waynesville Middle School and Tuscola High School. The exhibit will run March 1-30.

Over 50 two-dimensional and threedimensional art works are included in this exhibition. The public is invited to view the

HCC Professional Crafts faculty exhibition, talk

W

A work by HCC P professional crafts clay instructor Emily Reason. l

In need of craft therapy?

Beginning in March, the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva will be starting craft therapy. This get-together will be the first Tuesday of each month from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. It will take place in the Atrium at the library.

Craft therapy is an evening of up-cycle crafting at the library. Drop in for the whole session or as long as you would like. Each month will have a different theme the library will supply tools and materials that you may need to create something within that theme.

Feel free to bring any supplies or tools that you may want to use or a half completed project of any kind. They are also accepting donation of crafting supplies or tools at the Jackson County Public Library Reference Desk. Library staff see this as an evening of crafting, fun, fellowship, and community.

They are stockpiling supplies at the library.

What they need: paint brushes, small storage containers, vinyl table cloths, wiredifferent gauges and uses, clay pots/ceramics, and needles. They do not need any more yarn. If you have anything craft/art related to donate, bring it by the library or call them at 828.586.2016.

Anyone who would like to be part of a newsletter about craft therapy, email Danielle Duffy at dduffy@fontanalib.org. For more information, call the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva at 828.586.2016. This program is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Jackson County Public Library.

The Jackson County Public Library is a member of Fontana Regional Library (www.fontanalib.org).

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art work and then vote for their favorite art piece. A special “Student Artist’s Reception” will be held at 5:30 p.m. Friday, March 22, at the Gallery & Gifts showroom.

The winner of the “The People’s Choice Award” will be announced at the reception.

Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday, Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday. They’re closed on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Trailer Center

financing available, ask for details

HaywoodBuilders.com 828-456-6051 | 100 Charles St. | Waynesville

Haywood Community College is currently hosting a Professional Crafts Faculty Exhibition in the Mary Cornwell Gallery on campus in Clyde.

Through April, the public is invited to view the exhibition 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.

There will be a talk with the artists at 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 27. All of the faculty members are working craft artists and this exhibition offers a rare occasion to see their work on display together.

The HCC professional crafts program offers options in clay, fiber, jewelry and wood. These programs provide both handson, intensive study and business training.

Focusing on all aspects of becoming an inde-

p p

pendent craft professional, students sharpen their technical and artistic skills in their cho- P sen medium while creating a marketable line of production work, plan a studio and become familiar with the craft market.

Mandatory coursework includes photography of finished pieces for gaining entrance R into craft shows, creating a business plan, f and designing and building a studio tailored to fit production needs.

For more information about the Professional Crafts programs of study, please visit creativearts.haywood.edu, email hccadvising@haywood.edu, or call 828.627.2821. For more information about the Professional Crafts Faculty Exhibition, call 828.565.4240 or email clschulte@haywood.edu.

HCAC oil painting class The Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) will host local artist Sun Sohovich, who will offer an art class entitled “Blue Ridge Mountain” from 1 to 3 p.m. Monday, March 4, at the HCAC Gallery & Gifts in Waynesville.

Class participants will paint Blue Ridge Mountain on 8x10 linen panel and all supplies are provided. This class is $40 for HCAC members or $45 for non-members. Class size is limited to 10 and space will fill up quickly. Call HCAC at 828.452.0593 to reserve your spot.

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On the wall

On the stage

“The story of Appalachia is often told by outsiders and obscures key parts of our history, particularly the central role of women in the development of Appalachian communities,” Kessler said. “The LIVLAB/Appalachian Women’s Museum project will reflect the stories of women who have shaped this region as told and collected from those who live here.”

Carvell said countless oral histories are passed along by the women of the mountains. “Our origins, lineage, accomplishments and humor are retold at every gathering, whether in mourning or teaching or celebration or blended together in union,” she said. “Women have carried these intangible lines for generations. What better way to make these voices stronger than by bringing them together in a shared story of identity.”

The meetings are free and open to the public. Childcare will be provided and food will be served. The library is located at 320 Keener Street in Sylva.

For more information, contact Kennedy at jmkennedy@wcu.edu.

• The Western Carolina University Fine Art Museum at Bardo Arts Center is pleased to present the School of Art and Design Faculty Biennial Exhibition 2019, which will be on display through May 3. All WCU Fine Art Museum exhibitions and receptions are free and open to the public. Visit arts.wcu.edu/biennial or call 828.227.3591.

• The Western Carolina University (Cullowhee) Campus Theme, the “Defining America” exhibit brings together artists with different perspectives on the concept of “America.” The exhibition will be on view through May 3 at the Bardo Arts Center. Regular museum hours at the BAC are Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursdays until 7 p.m. Call 828.227.ARTS or visit bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.

• There will be a S.T.I.R. event from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, at Gallery 1 on Main Street in Sylva. There will be 25 artisans on display. Refreshments, door prizes, networking, and more. The event will be co-hosted by the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce.

828.586.2155.

ALSO:

• A “Beginner Step-By-Step” painting class will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursdays at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville. Cost is $25 with all supplies provided. For more information on paint dates and/or to RSVP, contact Robin Arramae at 828.400.9560 or paintnitewaynesville@gmail.com.

• Mad Batter Food & Film (Sylva) will host a free movie night at 7:30 p.m. every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. www.madbatterfoodandfilm.com.

• The Brasstown Woodturners Guild will meet at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 2, at the Hayesville High School in Hayesville. The high school is located just off of School Road. Drive around the back of the school to the wood shop where the meeting will be held. Visitors are always welcome. The club meets in Hayesville the first Saturday of every month. The presenter this month is Joe Waldrop who will be demonstrating how he turns a natural edge bowl. If there are any questions, please contact John Van Camp at 706.896.9428 or Don Marks at 828.524.6282.

Bolshoi Ballet on the big screen The Western Carolina University “Sunday Cinema Series” will present “The Sleeping Beauty” at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 10, at the Bardo Arts Center in Cullowhee.

This is a pre-recorded, encore screening from the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow, presented in HD on the big screen in the Bardo Arts Center Performance Hall. Make an afternoon out of it and take a trip to the WCU Fine Art Museum beforehand, which is open one hour prior to the screening.

Concessions will available for purchase and can be taken in the BAC Performance Hall to enjoy during the screening.

A resplendent fairytale ballet, “The Sleeping Beauty” features scores of magical characters including fairies, the Little Red Riding Hood, Puss in Boots, and a beautiful

young Princess Aurora performed by Olga Smirnova, a “truly extraordinary talent” (The Telegraph). The Sleeping Beauty is the second part to Tchaikovsky’s ballet trilogy, which also includes Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. The classic story follows a princess who has been cursed; on her 16 birthday she will prick her finger on a spindle and die.

This is the sixth screening in the new Bardo Arts Center “Sunday Cinema Series.”

Be transported to world-famous venues and see critically acclaimed actors and productions in high-definition on the big screen in the Bardo Arts Center Performance Hall.

To purchase tickets and for more information, visit arts.wcu.edu/sleepingbeauty or call 828.227.ARTS.

Open call for kid actors

2 p.m. March 3 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.

Mark Rothko is in his New York studio in 1958-59, having been commissioned to paint a group of murals for the expensive and exclusive Four Seasons Restaurant. He gives orders to his assistant, Ken, as he mixes the paints, makes the frames, and paints the canvases. Ken, however, brashly questions Rothko’s theories of art and his consenting to work on such a commercial project.

Directed by Jeff Messer and featuring Dakota Mann and Marc Cameron.

Contains adult language. Holdover dates are March 8-9.

For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit www.harttheatre.org.

The Haywood Arts Regional Theater in Waynesville will hold auditions for children’s roles for its summer production of “OLIVER!” at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 3.

Roles open include the title role for a boy between 8 and 12 years old, the Artful Dodger, a boy 10 to 16 years old, and numerous roles for girls and boys of various ages for other characters. Anyone auditioning should come prepared to sing and read from the script.

The show will take place the four weekends in July and will begin rehearsals in mid-May. HART’s summer musical is its biggest production of the year. Most adult roles have been cast but anyone interested in being considered for the adult cast or wishing to get involved backstage are also encouraged to attend.

Is it art if it’s commerical?

A production of “Red” by John Logan will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. March 1-2 and

Smoky Mountain News

• There will several local artisans on display at the Waynesville and Canton libraries through March. Artists at the Waynesville Library will include Patty Johnson Coulter (painter), Linda Blount (painter), Jason Woodard (painter) and Mollie HarringtonWeaver (painter). Artists at the Canton Library will include Russell Wyatt (photographer) and Ashley Calhoun (painter). www.haywoodarts.org.

• Haywood Community College (Clyde) Continuing Education Creative Arts will host “Introduction to Bladesmithing” March 1819, as well as the “Smoky Mountain Hammer-In” March 21-24. Visit creativearts.haywood.edu or call 828.565.4240.

A scene from ‘The Sleeping Beauty.’

February 27-March 5, 2019

In partnership with the Appalachian Women’s Museum and the Jackson County Public Library, Western Carolina University’s LIVLAB Artist Collective will be hosting two town hall meetings to gather local stories of women who have built, nurtured and sustained local communities and the region.

Those stories will be incorporated into the making of a new public artwork in Dillsboro at the Appalachian Women’s Museum. Located at the Monteith Farmstead, the museum is dedicated to preserving the stories of ordinary women leading extraordinary lives.

The meetings are set for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 1, and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 2. Both will be held in the Community Room of the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva.

The LIVLAB Artist Collective is made up of WCU assistant professor of sculpture Morgan Kennedy, regional artist Shanna Carvell, master of fine arts students Raymond Baccari and Mo Kessler, and WCU fine arts alumnus Todd Martin.

arts & entertainment

Collective plans artwork in Dillsboro, sets town hall meetings

• There is free comedy improv class from 7 to 9 p.m. every Tuesday in Maggie Valley.

No experience necessary, just come to watch or join in the fun. Improv teacher Wayne Porter studied at Sak Comedy Lab in Orlando, Florida, and performed improvisation with several groups. Join Improv WNC on Facebook or just call 828.316.8761 to RSVP for directions.

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ALSO:

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Smoky Mountain News February 27-March 5, 2019

arts & entertainment

Books

Smoky Mountain News

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Yiddish noir novel hits the mark o, how many Yiddish authors do you know? If you’re like me your answer would be none. That is until I happened upon Jacob Dinezon’s (1855-1919) novel The Dark Young Man (first published in 1877), translated by Tina Lunson and adapted and edited by Scott Hilton Davis and newly released by Jewish Storytelling Press in February.

If you’re a fan of Appalachian noir novels (the names Ron Rash, David Joy, Wayne Caldwell, Pam Writer Duncan, Wiley Cash and Charles Frazier come to mind), then Dinezon’s novel of Yiddish noir should be right up your alley.

Set in the city of Mohilev of the former Russian Empire in the 1840s, the opening paragraph sets the tone and stage for what is to unravel in the following 260 pages: “The hour is late, and all is quiet and dark in the streets. Shops are closed and lamps extinguished, except here and there, where a sliver of light slips through a crack in a shutter or escapes from a small attic window as someone for whom the day is too short struggles to earn a bit of bread, or sits beside a sick patient who hopes to see another sunrise.”

What we have here in The Dark Young Man is a Yiddish Romeo & Juliet. Only in this case, the story’s Tybalt (Meyshe Shneyur) doesn’t die early in the telling, but pervades the dark intricacies of the plotline until the very end as a nemisis and foil for the book’s main male character Yosef, who is a kind, intellegent, well-meaning naive. His female compliment, the lovely young Roza, who is a little more savvy in perceiving personalities, is however chained to middle class Jewish custom and cultural mores of the shtetl towns typical of Eastern Europe at the time.

While the Yiddish and Hebrew words and

Thomas Crowe

S

names can be a challenge for an English-only reader like myself, Scott Davis has done a remarkable job of keeping this book current to its original time frame and culture, while — as Ezra Pound was fond of saying — at the same time making it modern. It rolls along like a Stephen King novel with the dark flares of Cormac McCarthy.

Poetry book from Swain teacher Swain-High English and creative-writing teacher Benjamin Cutler’s first full-length book of poetry, The Geese Who Might be Gods, will be published by Main Street Rag Publishing Company in May 2019.

Cutler’s poems have been nominated for the prestigious Pushcart Prize and have appeared in numerous literary magazines.

Poet Pat Riviere-Seel, author of the collections Nothing Below but Air and The Serial Killer’s Daughter, says of Cutler’s book: “At the heart of this collection are relationships in all their complexity — family, friends, students, and the natural world, especially our relationships with the nonhuman creatures. One poem concludes that a turkey vulture is ‘…not so different / from the rest of us / with your belly full of dead things / and your endless hungry search.’ These poems may be an ‘endless hungry search,’ but the reader will come away sated.”

As the story opens we find our Romeo, Yosef, spotting a beautiful girl (Roza) at a family gathering. They talk shyly, but Roza is immediately smitten. But, alas, her father has promised her hand in marriage to another older man. Yosef, meanwhile, is not as quick on the draw and takes probably too much time to realize and declare his love for Roza.

And by then the conflict and the drama is already building with the jealous and greedy dark young man Meyshe Shneyur behind the scenes calling the shots and orchestrating his evil deeds. The family plot thickens as Meyshe fixates on his rise to financial power within the family and with most of his hostilities focused on bringing down his rival for the families inheritance, Yosef.

Midway through the book we get the Shakespearian parallel of Yosef and Roza in their “balcony scene,” exchanging proclamations of love as Yosef prepares to leave — not for Mantua as in Shakespeare’s version — but to St. Petersburg where he has a job waiting

The book can be pre-ordered now on Main Street Rag’s online bookstore at an early-buyer’s discounted price of $8.50. Visit www.mainstreetragbookstore.com.

Vietnam veteran to give talk Author and Vietnam veteran Tom Baker will give a reading and book signing of his latest work The Hawk and The Dove at 5 p.m.

Thursday, March 7, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.

Baker is a U.S. Army combat veteran from the Vietnam War. He was a grunt with the 101st Airborne Division in Nam, a parachute rigger, and he spent most of 1968 and early 1969 as a door-gunner for the 1st of the 9th 1st Cav. Baker has also been a forester and logger in Western North Carolina for over 40 years.

Baker is co-founder and president of the Jackson County Veterans Support Organization. He is married to Marsha Lee Baker, Western Carolina University Professor Emeritus and advocate for

for him that will give him the money he feels he needs to marry Roza and provide for their future home and family.

“Roza fell on his shoulder and wept bitterly. ‘Dear Yosef, do you know how many tears and sighs you’ve cost me? Oh, God, what is love? Is it really a flower that only grows on tears and pain? No, Yosef, I can’t let you go.

But I know we live in a time when one must be strong. We must put on a smiling face even if our heart is breaking. Go, dear Yosef, if you must, and come back to your Roza.”

What follows are love letters back and forth from Yosef and Roza that are being intercepted by Meyshe Shneyur and his henchmen as a ploy to destroy the bond between the two young lovers. “My thoughts leave me no rest. I must write again today even though I just sent you a long letter and have not heard anything back from you,” writes Yosef.

And after a long polemic on how Jewish writers are ignored and marginalized by Gentiles, the plot thickens further. Without adding a spoiler here to let you know what transpires in the final 50 pages or so — or whether or not it has a happy or a sad endng — I will simply encourage you to read this book, which is described on its back cover saying “A tale of suspense, betrayal, love, and death, Dinezon’s The Dark Young Man is a startling fictional account of mid-nineteenth century Jewish life, cullture, and religion by a beloved author and masterful storyteller.”

And I can tell you it is all of these and more.

You can find the book online or through the publisher at www.jewishstorytellerpress.com or through your local bookstore. Kudos to Scott Davis and Jewish Storyteller Press for bringing this beloved book back into our midst.

Thomas Crowe is a regular contributor to Smoky Mountain News. He is the author of The Watcher (Like Sweet Bells Jangled) an historical novel. He lives in Jackson County and can be reached at newnativepress@hotmail.com

peace and nonviolence.

The event is sponsored by Books Unlimited in Franklin.

‘The Hanging of Bayless Henderson’ Folklorist/storyteller Gary Carden will tell the story of “The Hanging of Bayless Henderson”at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 2, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.

Convicted of murdering N.S. Jarrett, Bayless Henderson was hung in Webster on June 6, 1873. Carden will tell the story and share the details of this unique piece of Jackson County history.

This is a ticketed event and seats are limited. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased through City Lights Bookstore by calling 828.586.9499 or coming by the store at 3 East Jackson Street in Sylva.

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Outdoors

Smoky Mountain News

Statewide wildfire response drill comes to Haywood

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER n the midst of an exceptionally warm, dry winter, a wildfire erupted on Mount Lyn Lowry. About 170 acres when first reported to 911 at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 18, within two days the fire had destroyed roughly 60 homes and ballooned to an estimated 2,500 acres — and growing.

“We’re planning for this drought condition to continue, the low humidity to continue,” said Karyn Yaussy, public information officer for the incident. “The temperature is going to be 80 degrees today, which is incredibly warm for this time of year. Fifteen percent humidity is not helping us at all and there is no rain in sight.”

I

PREPARING FOR THE WORST As Yaussy uttered those words inside The Terrace at Lake Junaluska, it was 30-something degrees and rainy outdoors — in what has in many places been the wettest year on record, rain seems to be the rule rather than the exception. There was no wildfire, in Haywood County or anywhere remotely nearby. The scenario was made up, an exercise for the 100 or so emergency management professionals that came to Lake Junaluska last week to train.

But that’s a reality that could easily change, as anybody who lived through the legendary Radios remain 2016 wildfire season knows. In October and at the ready. November of that year, Holly Kays photo extremely dry conditions resulted in tens of thousands of acres burning all across Western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. The season culminated with a deadly firestorm that escaped the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to engulf much of Gatlinburg, killing 14 people.

“We’re not going to use that word,” Zach

The green team strategizes in the command room. Holly Kays photo Koonce, operations manager for Haywood County Emergency Services, said of the name “Gatlinburg.” “We don’t want to refer to that or anything, but we definitely want to plan to prevent anything of that nature happening.”

Working with Haywood County Emergency Services Director Greg Shuping, Koonce helped plan the fourth installment in what is now the annual N.C. All-Hazard Incident Management Team Academy. The four-day training focused on an extended disaster simulation that challenged participants to manage personnel, order up supplies and decide on strategies to respond to the disaster. It was funded through a $45,000 grant from N.C. Emergency Management, funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security — the county didn’t pay anything to host the drill or put its people through the training.

It’s the fourth year running the training has been offered — Shuping’s office spearheaded its inaugural year, also held in Haywood County — but previously the simulations have focused on hurricane and landslide scenarios. This year, Haywood County took its second turn hosting and decided to try out a wildfire scenario.

“In our world, we’re used to the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service managing their own fires, and we just kind of come help them and represent the local government we work for,” said Shuping, “but thanks to the 2016 fires, we learned from those bigger fires in Western North Carolina that we have to take a more aggressive role in working with the Forest

Service and the National Park Service to make this thing the most efficient and safe operation that it can be.”

planning section chief, among others.

“It’s a pressure cooker in those rooms,” said Koonce. “These guys are working 12 to 18 hours a day to order up these resources.

For this they’re working 8 to 5, but typically if NTO THE PRESSURE COOKER you’re deployed as an incident manager you work 12-hour shifts, but you end up working Participants arrived at Lake Junaluska 18 hours. It’s very mentally taxing, it’s fastSunday evening and Monday morning, Feb. paced, because the conditions are always con17-18, with most of Monday devoted to classstantly changing.” room-style learning and the exercise truly getAs an incident manager, you might have ting started Tuesday morning. They were the plan of attack for the next shift typed out divided into three teams — a green team, a and ready to go — but then the wind changes, or the forecast shifts, or those reinforcements you thought were almost there get delayed. Or maybe the power goes out, or the fire starts threatening headquarters, or the press wants an interview.

The scenario attempted to mimic those real-life unforeseeables. Participants had to deal with a simulated power outage, an hour or so when lights went off and devices without battery power were rendered useless. Local media representatives were invited out to take press releases from the scenario’s public information officers and then pepper those PIOs with questions during a mock press conParticipants examine the chain of command. Holly Kays photo ference.

It was clear that participants took the training quite seriously. The red team and a black team — each of which fire at Mount Lyn Lowry, the burned-up was charged with managing the exact same homes, the scorching forecast — it was all incident. Teams were a mishmash of people from different counties and different agencies, made up. But the mock press conference certainly didn’t feel like a mock. It felt real, with including the Forest Service and Park Service.

Roles were assigned according to an organiza- the questions and the answers both within a couple degrees of the urgency tional chart with positions including incident they’d take on in a real emergency. commander, safety officer, logistics chief and

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F

Education program earns regional recognition outdoors

Muddy Sneakers, an outdoor science education program based in Brevard, recently won two awards in a Blue Ridge Outdoors voting contest.

In January, the program took top honors in the Educational Outdoor Recreation Program and won the award for Best Summer Camp/Program. The awards recognize the top organizations, businesses and experiences in the Southeast.

Muddy Sneakers has grown this school year to serve more than 2,800 students at 43 schools across 17 counties in Western North Carolina and the Piedmont. This includes providing curriculum-aligned programming to five new schools in three new counties this spring semester — Madison, Anson and Guilford. Muddy Sneakers partners with schools to supplement fifth-grade science instruction with hands-on outdoor learning expeditions on nearby protected lands.

In addition, Camp Muddy Sneakers is gearing up for its sixth summer with adventures for kids ages 4 to 14 — an expanded age range — at a soon-to-beannounced location. The day camp aims to help kids connect with nature through meaningful and fun outdoor experiences in a small-group format that encourages kids to follow their imagination and curiosity as they learn about and explore this region’s biologically rich ecosystems. www.muddysneakers.org.

Kids from FernLeaf Community Charter School in Fletcher explore the outdoors with Muddy Sneakers. Donated photo

Grief Support Luncheon Held monthly on the first Friday at 12 pm.

RSVP to 452-5039

INVALUABLE REALISM

Grief 101 Red team members cluster to discuss strategy. Holly Kays photo we don’t normally deal with on a regular basis,” said Hardee. “We’re trying to shore up our response so when we go back home we can better serve our community.”

Graduates of the academy will leave not only with an improved ability to serve their own community in case of a wildfire but with enhanced skills to assist other communities should such an incident arise.

That, combined with improved relationships between employees at the various agencies that would partner to fight such a fire will hopefully mean that the next time sparks fly in WNC, first responders will be

even better prepared to meet the challenge.

Already, said Shuping, skills gained from the last three years of the academy were evident as he watched participants perform.

“Thank goodness, there’s not as many of these large-scale disasters to make you proficient without setting up an exercise like this that’s focused on those kinds of skill sets,” said Shuping. “The first year we did it, it was great but it was kind of rocky.

Some tough lessons were learned that first year, and now I’m seeing that those lessons are being learned.”

An 8-week series designed to promote healthy grieving.

Smoky Mountain News

Most of the four-day drill took place in those windowless rooms, but not all of it.

Teams visited the supposed ignition site, met with local government employees to learn how to access GIS information, evacuate the town and handle financials, and scoped out sites under consideration as possible staging areas for the response.

“That kind of stuff is just so invaluable, and that’s the realism we put into it here in Haywood for this statewide team that really made it worthwhile to them, so that’s the biggest thing I’m proud of,” said Shuping.

Participant Greg Hardee, a member of the Greenville Fire and Rescue Squad in Pitt County, backed that up.

“This is building some capabilities that

February 27-March 5, 2019

“This is really tough terrain for firefighters,” said Tom Hegley, public information officer for the black team. “The number one focus is going to be on saving lives. That’s why we need people to heed the advice and warnings and get out of the area now. Don’t wait till they see the fire coming over the ridge or coming over the line toward them.

Get out of the area now.”

In the command rooms, teams were hustling, clustered around tables bearing all manner of documents, laptops and charts, examining the blown-up tables and maps pinned to the wall and gesturing intensely as they discussed what should be done and how it should be accomplished.

Call 452-5039 for info 43 Bowman Dr, Waynesville All services are free.

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outdoors

Stock the Pigeon The Cataloochee Chapter of Trout Unlimited will hold its first trout stocking event of the year at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 6, on the West Fork of the Pigeon River.

Volunteers are invited to bring a clean 5-gallon bucket and a friend to help stock around 1,500 pounds of fish from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

Waders are also recommended. The job will take about three hours to complete, with at least 25 volunteers needed.

It’s the Wildlife Commission’s responsibility to stock the river, but having a volunteer force to help allows the fish to be dispersed more evenly along the river, resulting in a more enjoyable fishing experience.

The group will meet at a parking lot that’s past Lake Logan and before Sunburst Campground off of N.C. 215, across from the shooting range.

Volunteers are encouraged to bring a rod

for fishing afterward. tucataloochee427@gmail.com.

Explore the Smokies

Stocked trout waters to close temporarily

Friends of the Smokies has announced the 2019 schedule for a monthly hiking series that explores the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with expert guides at the helm.

This year’s Classic Hikes of the Smokies series will kick off Tuesday, Big Creek. Jon Reynolds photo March 13, with an easy 4.3-mile hike on Big Creek Trail that includes stops at Midnight Hole and Mouse Creek Falls.

Maggie Valley resident Jack Case will lead the excursion and share his knowledge of the park’s history.

Hikes are held on the second Tuesday of each month with the exception of the June event, an overnight experience in Gatlinburg June 25-26. Planned outings include: a 7.4-mile hike at Porters Creek April 9, a 9.4-mile hike through Cataloochee Valley May 14, a 7.4-mile hike of the Noland Divide July 9, a 7.4mile hike on the A.T. including Sweat Heifer and Kephart Prong Aug. 13, a 13.1mile hike of the Trillium Gap Trail Sept.

10, a 9.4-mile hike of the Hyatt Ridge Loop Oct. 8, a 12-mile hike of Thomas Divide and Indian Creek Nov. 12 and a 4.5-mile hike of Goldmine Loop Dec. 10.

Hikes cost $20 for Friends of the Smokies members and $35 for non-members, with one-year membership included. The entire series is available for a discounted registration fee of $160. Sign up for individual hikes at hike.friendsofthesmokies.org or mail a check for the whole season to Friends of the Smokies, P.O. Box 3179, Asheville, N.C. 28802.

Proceeds fund the Trails Forever program, which rehabilitates priority trails within the park. Past projects include the Forney Ridge, Rainbow Falls, Chimney Tops and Alum Cave trails.

Sponsored by Smoky Mountain Living, Equilibar and HomeTrust Bank.

Hatchery Supported Trout Waters in North Carolina will be closed to anglers from half an hour after sunset Thursday, Feb. 28, until 7 a.m. Saturday, April 6.

During this period, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will stock the waters with fish in preparation for opening day. About 930,000 trout will be released, of which 96 percent average 10 inches in length and 4 percent exceed 14 inches.

Hatcher Supported Trout Waters are marked with green-and-white signs.

Wildlife Commission staff will continue to stock these areas at frequent intervals during spring and summer. www.ncwildlife.org/learning/species/f ish/trout/trout-fishing.

Brevard to host cycling event

February 27-March 5, 2019

Brevard has been chosen to host the sixth annual Cycle North Carolina weekend “Mountain Ride,” planned for Aug. 3-4.

The ride typically brings more than 400 cyclists to participate in a fully supported weekend of summer cycling along the region’s scenic back roads. Bryson City, Lake Lure and Tryon have been past hosts, and this will be Brevard’s second time hosting.

The routes pass through attractions and small towns like Rosman, Lake Toxaway, Bold Rock Hard Cider Facility, Connestee Falls and more, with rest stops set up every 10 to 20 miles so riders can get off their bikes and explore while quenching thirst and hunger. Indoor and outdoor camping areas with amenities are available at Brevard College. www.ncsports.org/event/cyclenc_mountain_ride.

28 Walnut St. Waynesville

828.456.3021

HaywoodChamber.com

Business of The Month: Birchwood Hall Southern Kitchen

Smoky Mountain News

To support the local farmers by providing the highest quality lunch and dinner services to the town of Waynesville and to all those who visit our town recreationally or seasonally. To provide a healthy work environment for our employees.

111 N Main Street, Waynesville • 828.246.6111 • birchwoodhall.com

Stephen McNeil, Chef Nicholas Peek (Owner), Christopher Supik (General Manager), CeCe Hipps

PLAQUE PROVIDED BY

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Prepare to paddle camp Learn the secrets behind the French Broad Paddle Trail during a paddle camping workshop 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 7, at The Wedge at Foundation in Asheville.

For a sneak peak, it helps to know that the canoe or kayak does most of the heavy lifting — meaning that, unlike the careful weight management necessary for backpacking, you can bring whatever you want. Whether you’re looking to camp one night or 14, the event hosts will have the answers to get you started.

Organized by Headwaters Outfitters, the French Broad Riverkeeper and MountainTrue. The event includes a raffle to win a free camping weekend. Anna Alsobrook, 828.258.8737 or anna@mountaintrue.org.

New relay planned for Western NC A relay race set to debut this year will offer teams of four the challenge of traveling from Asheville to Cherokee over the course of a single day — Saturday, Nov. 2.

The route will begin at White Duck Taco in the River Arts District, with the 64mile distance divided into 12 legs ranging from 2.7 to 8 miles, winding through the valleys and breathtaking ridges of the Great Smoky Mountains. A post-race party and awards ceremony will await runners across the finish line at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort.

Unlike most relay events in the region that use relay teams of six or 12, this race will host smaller teams of four. This means fewer expenses as well as the ability to use a

standard car or SUV for team travel. No overnight legs are required.

“We want to create a relay experience that is less time consuming, less complicated and less expensive than some of the longer events in the area. This will be a memorable adventure for everyone who participates,” said Greg Duff of Glory Hound Events, the owner and creator of the Land and Sky Relay.

In addition to the typical gender-based categories, there will be organizational categories such as first responders, education, government, medical, running clubs and stores, military and more, encouraging friends and peers from area businesses and organizations to compete and run against each other.

Visit www.gloryhoundevents.com/ event/land-and-sky-relay to find out more.

The inaugural event is capped at 250 teams.

Smokies records highest-ever visitation The Great Smoky Mountains National Park set a new visitation record for 2018, welcoming 11.4 million visitors to its 816 square miles last year.

The figure represents a 0.7 percent increase over 2017, with the National Park Service crediting the increase to the November opening of a new section of the Foothills Parkway between Walland and Wears Valley in Tennessee. In just two months, nearly 200,000 people visited the area.

“The new section of the Foothills

Parkway is a spectacular scenic driving destination and we’re pleased that so many people have already enjoyed it,” said Smokies Superintendent Cassius Cash. “We hope that people take the time to explore it across the seasons.”

Parkwide, visitation remained relatively stable compared to 2017, which was also a record-setting year with 11.3 million visitors.

Last year, park officials credited the Aug. 21, 2017, solar eclipse with spurring a visitation increase — more than 47,000 people visited the park on that day alone, with many visi-

tors exploring the area for multiple days on their trip to view the eclipse. Visitation topped 10 million for the first time in 2014.

The Smokies saw its highest visitation last year in July, followed by June, with October in third place. June, September, November and December all experienced their highest visitation ever. While the 400,000 nights visitors spent camping in the park was 3 percent lower than the 2017 figure, it was within the five-year average.

Full visitation statistics are available at irma.nps.gov/stats.

Coyote mating season is underway, and the N.C. Veterinary Medical Association recommends that pet owners be extra cautious during this time.

According to a press release from the organization, male coyotes become increasingly aggressive, territorial and hungry during the mating season, posing a serious risk to dogs and other small pets that may become a coyote’s prey or unwanted mating partner. Mating season extends from January through March.

Coyotes are native to the prairies and grasslands of the Great Plains but have expanded eastward as the result of landscape changes and the elimination of wolves. They are an invasive species in North Carolina, and hunters are permitted to hunt them year-round with no bag limit. www.ncwildlife.org/coyote.

A pavement preservation project is underway on Little River Road in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, expected to result in weekday, single-lane closures and traffic delays there for much of the year.

Work will continue through June 14 and resume again from Aug. 19 to Sept.

20, with single-lane closures permitted from 7 a.m. Mondays through noon on Fridays. Flaggers will be present, and parking areas and pull-offs will be closed intermittently in the area. No lane closures will be allowed during peak summer months, weekends or holidays, including the weeks surrounding Easter, April 12 to 26.

The work includes a thin pavement overlay applied to the entire 16.5-mile roadway from Sugarlands Visitor Center to the Townsend Wye, along with associated pull-offs, parking lots and the 1.5mile Elkmont Road. The project is funded through $6.5 million the Federal Highway Administration awarded to GC Works, Inc. The park is also overseeing tree removal work along various roadways in the park, including Little River Road between Sugarlands Visitor Center and Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area, Elkmont Road, Cherokee Orchard Road, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail and the Gatlinburg Bypass. Motorists should expect delays due to single-lane closures associated with this work through April.

Road closure information is updated at www.nps.gov/grsm and SmokiesRoadsNPS on Twitter. find us at: facebook.com/smnews

Diane E. Sherrill, Attorney

February 27-March 5, 2019

Coyote mating season in progress

Road work underway in the Smokies

outdoors

The newly completed section of the Foothills Parkway helped 2018 become a record-setting visitation year for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. NPS photo

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ecoEXPLORE participants investigate the outdoors.

Donated photo

Arboretum to expand environmental education A $1 million grant will allow the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville to expand its innovative K-12 science education programs to all 100 North Carolina counties.

The money comes from the N.C. GlaxoSmithKline Foundation through a grant to the N.C. Arboretum Society and will support five years of program expansion. The funds will expand three projectbased outdoor education programs — Project OWL, an environmental education certification program for pre-service and

active K-5 teachers; Project EXPLORE, a teacher coaching program for K-12 teachers; and ecoEXPLORE, an out-of-school citizen science program for K-8 students.

The arboretum has already rolled out one or more of these programs in 23 counties and will work with school systems, county library systems, local and state parks, environmental education centers, colleges and universities, government agencies and other partners to continue expanding.

Wander through the wildflowers Search for early spring wildflowers with botany expert Adam Bigelow during a workshop Saturday, March 9, with Alarka Expeditions.

Bigelow heads up Bigelow Botanical Excursions and is perhaps the region’s most dynamic interpreter of all things plant-related. The day will include plenty of time in the woods searching for the most delicately ardent emergences of Southern Appalachian plants. $55. Register at www.alarkaexpeditions.com.

Farmers market workshop offered

mobile technology to help you get a lot less mobile.

Log on. Plan a trip.

And start kicking back.

A workshop tailored for managers, board members and vendors of farmers markets will be offered Tuesday, March 14, in Salisbury located in Rowan County.

Topics will include market promotions, licensing, regulations and customer services. The state is home to more than 250 farmers markets, and the workshop — organized by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services — will allow them to learn from experts and from each other. $20 covers materials and lunch. Register

by March 7 with Kevin Hardison, 919.707.3123 or kevin.hardison@ncarg.gov.

WNC Calendar COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS • A workshop for first-time home buyers is set for 5:45 p.m on Feb. 28 at Blue Ridge Premier Reality Office.

Presenters: Tulea Price, mortgage loan originator from United Community Bank; and Renee Corbin, real estate broker from Blue Ridge Premier Realty. Reserve your space: 586.1601 or rpcorbin44@gmail.com.

• Volunteers will be available to assist with federal and state income tax preparation and filing through April 12: From 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays at the Jackson County Department of Aging and from 2:30-6:45 p.m. by appointment on Tuesdays at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. Outside of appointments, help is available on first-come, first-serve basis. Library appointments: 586.2016. Info: 293.0074 or 586.4944.

• Marianna Black Library will host employment assistance services from 1:30-4 p.m. on Friday, March 1, in Bryson City.

• Penland School of Craft will hold its annual Community Open House from 1-5 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, in Bakersville. Hands-on activities in a variety of crafts. Info and directions: penland.org or 765.2359.

• The Cullowhee Planning Council meets at 5:30 p.m. on March 4 at the WCU Ramsey Center Hospitality Room in Cullowhee. Purpose: Unified Development Ordinance Adoption and Special Use Permit Request – Project Speedwell.

• Southwestern Community College will hold its annual job fair from 1-4 p.m. on March 5-6 in the Burrell Building on SCC’s Jackson Campus. Healthcare providers will be featured on March 5; a general job fair featuring local and regional employers is on March 6. www.southwesterncc.edu/career-services, 339.4212 or 339.4424.

• The Evergreen Foundation will host information for organizations interested in submitting a grant proposal on March 8 at the following times and locations: 10 a.m. at Macon County Public Library in Franklin; noon at Marianna Black Library in Bryson City; 1:30 p.m. at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva; and 3 p.m. at the Haywood County Public Library in Waynesville.

• Cashiers Area Chamber is seeking feedback to improve visitors’ experiences to the area. Take the survey at: tinyurl.com/y6w4uqyo.

• Registration is underway for Marriage Enrichment Retreats that will be offered three more times over the next year at Lake Junaluska. Led by Ned Martin, an expert in marriage counseling. Price is $699 per couple. Dates are March 10-12, Aug. 18-20 of 2019 and Sept. 29-Oct. 1 in 2019. Registration and info: www.lakejunaluska.com/marriage or 800.222.4930.

BUSINESS & EDUCATION • Creston Lynch, associate director of university life at George Mason University, will speak on the topic “Black Migration: What Will Be Your Journey” at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 27, in the UC Multipurpose Room in Cullowhee. Part of Western Carolina University’s observation of Black History Month. 227.2683 or cholder@wcu.edu.

• Haywood Community College Small Business Center is hosting a “Business of Organic Production” webinar series through March 6. Remaining topics are “Using Budgets and Financial Planning” from 6-7:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 27; are “Marketing Your Organic Products: Be Creative and Find Your Best Markets” from 6-7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5; and “Social Media and the Organic Market” from 6-7:15 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6. For info or to register: SBC.Haywood.edu or 627.4512.

All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted.

• Haywood Community College will hold its Career Fair Open House from 1-4 p.m. on Feb. 28 at the college’s library in Clyde. Multiple industry professionals and university admissions counselors will attend. 627.3613 or jhilbert@haywood.edu.

• Admissions of art, literature and performance/video are being accepted for Southwestern Community College’s inaugural Cultural Fusion Festival, which is Wednesday, March 27, on SCC’s Jackson Campus in Sylva. Theme is “How We All Got Here.” Deadline for submissions is March 1. Info: 339.4226 or s_cain@southwesterncc.edu.

• Registration is underway for a two-part workshop titled: “Business Plan Bootcamp – Get Focused and Plan” from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Friday, March 1, at Haywood Community College’s Public Services Training Facility in Clyde. Offered by the college’s Small Business Center. For info or to register: SBC.Haywood.edu or 627.4512.

• A Six Sigma Whitebelt training will be offered from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on Friday, March 1, at Western Carolina University’s Biltmore Park in Asheville. Offered by WCU’s Office of Professional Growth and Enrichment; instructor is Dr. Todd Creasy, DM, MBA, MSc. Learn how to apply the five-step methodology of Six Sigma in product, process or service industries. Early bird registration: $249. After Feb. 1, cost is $279. For info and to register: pdp.wcu.edu or 227.7397.

• Haywood Ramblings will feature a presentation entitled “Lost Structures of Waynesville” presented by Alex McKay from 4-5 p.m. on Thursday, March 7, in the courtroom of the Historic Courthouse on 215 North Main Street in Waynesville. 456.8647.

• Registration is underway for a seminar entitled “How To Write a Business Plan” that will be offered by Haywood Community College’s Small Business Center from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5, at HCC’s Regional High Technology Center in Waynesville. Part of the “Are You Ready to Start a Business series. Room 3021. Register or get more info: SBC.Haywood.edu or 627.4512.

• Registration is underway for a seminar entitled “Basics of Bookkeeping” that will be offered by Haywood Community College’s Small Business Center from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 12, at HCC’s Regional High Technology Center in Waynesville. Part of the “Are You Ready to Start a Business series. Room 3021. Register or get more info: SBC.Haywood.edu or 627.4512.

• Registration is underway for a seminar entitled “Your Small Business Taxes” that will be offered by Haywood Community College’s Small Business Center from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 14, at HCC’s Regional High Technology Center in Waynesville. Part of the “Are You Ready to Start a Business series. Room 3021.

Register or get more info: SBC.Haywood.edu or 627.4512.

• A workshop for managers, board members and vendors of farmers markets will be offered on Tuesday, March 14, in Salisbury (Rowan County). $20 registration covers materials and lunch. Register by March 7: kevin.hardison@ncarg.gov or 919.707.3123.

• The UNC Asheville Visiting Writers Series will host a Southern Appalachian Studies Conference Keynote Discussion featuring Wiley Cash, Ron Rash and Lee Smith at 4 p.m. on March 16 at Lipinsky Auditorium in Asheville. English.unca.edu.

• Registration is underway for a “Lean Thinking” work-

Smoky Mountain News

shop, which is offered by Western Carolina University’s Office of Professional Growth and Enrichment from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Friday, March 29, at WCU Biltmore Park in Asheville. Early bird registration is $249 before Feb. 28. After, it’s $279. For info or to register: pdp.wcu.edu or 227.7397.

• Registration is underway for the Western Carolina University’s Office of Professional Growth and Enrichment’s “Creativity in the Digital Age” workshop, which is set for 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, March 30, at WCU’s Biltmore Park instructional site in Asheville. Registration: $39. For info or to register: conferences.wcu.edu or 227.7397.

• Registration is underway for a seminar entitled “Marketing Your Business” that will be offered by Haywood Community College’s Small Business Center from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2, at HCC’s Regional High Technology Center in Waynesville. Part of the “Are You Ready to Start a Business series. Room 3021. Register or get more info: SBC.Haywood.edu or 627.4512.

• Registration is underway for a Retirement Planning course that will be offered from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on April 2, 4 and 9 at Western Carolina University Biltmore Park in Asheville. Registration fee: $79. Pdp.wcu.edu or 227.7397.

• Registration is underway for a seminar entitled “How To Find Your Customers” that will be offered by Haywood Community College’s Small Business Center from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16, at HCC’s Regional High Technology Center in Waynesville. Part of the “Are You Ready to Start a Business series. Room 3021. Register or get more info: SBC.Haywood.edu or 627.4512.

• Registration is underway for a seminar entitled “Financing Your Business” that will be offered by Haywood Community College’s Small Business Center from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23, at HCC’s Regional High Technology Center in Waynesville. Part of the “Are You Ready to Start a Business series. Room 3021. Register or get more info: SBC.Haywood.edu or 627.4512.

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Visit www.smokymountainnews.com and click on Calendar for: ■ Complete listings of local music scene ■ Regional festivals ■ Art gallery events and openings ■ Complete listings of recreational offerings at regional health and fitness centers ■ Civic and social club gatherings • A Luck of the Irish Fundraiser is set for Saturday, March 16, at Bear Waters Brewery in Canton. 452.2997.

• Tickets are on sale now for the “Wet Your Whiskers” fundraiser for Feline Urgent Rescue of WNC. Scheduled for 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 13 at the Fangmeyer Theatre at HART in Waynesville. Wine/craft beer tasting. Tickets: $35. Sponsorships: $125. Cat photo contest. Info: www.furofwnc.org, www.facebook.com/furofwnc, 844.888.CATS (2287) or furofwnc1@gmail.com.

VOLUNTEERS & VENDORS • REACH of Haywood County will hold a volunteer training day from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 9, at the REACH office, 627 N. Main Street in Waynesville.

REACH provides services for survivors/victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and elder abuse.

456.7898.

• Haywood Hospice is seeking volunteers to help with reception duties, grief groups, working directly with patients, running errand and other support. A training session is set for at 9 a.m. on March 25. Info: 452.5039.

• Vendor and artisan applications are being accepted for the 22nd Annual Greening Up the Mountains Festival, which is April 27 in Sylva. www.greeningupthemountains.com.

HEALTH MATTERS FUNDRAISERS AND BENEFITS • A Buti Yoga Fundraiser for Folkmoot is scheduled for Friday, March 1, in Waynesville. With Waynesville Yoga.

452.2997.

• Tickets are on sale now for the third annual Mardi Gras Dinner Party Fundraiser for REACH, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5, at Root & Barrel in Franklin. Mardi Gras attire, jazz band, New Orleans food and drink, king and queen crowning. 369.5544 or reach@reachofmaconcounty.org.

• A Chili Cookoff will be held from 6-9 p.m. on March 9 at Elevated Mountain Distilling Co. in Maggie Valley. $35 entry fee for chili cookers; $15 for pre-sale chili eaters; $20 for day of chili eating. Ages 12-under free.

Fundraiser for Haywood Waterways Association.

Crowdrise.com/hwachilicookoff.

• American Legion Riders will present the eighth-annual “As Bare as You Dare … Bikers in Boxers” event at noon on March 9, a 20-minute ride is through downtown Waynesville. Proceeds go to Mountain Projects to help elderly with heating costs. $20 per rider; $10 per passenger.

Chili cook-off is the same day, $15 per entry. Info: Search “As Bare as You Dare” on Facebook or call 246.3842.

• Registration is underway for “Bowl for Kids’ Sake,” which will have two sessions from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, at Sky Lanes in Asheville. $50 per person or $300 per team. Proceeds go to Haywood County Big Brothers Big Sisters. Pirate theme. Info: 273.3601.

• “Nourishing You” – an introductory “Yoga for Cancer” class, is offered from 1:30-2:30 p.m. on Fridays at the Haywood Breast Center in Waynesville. Taught by Kim Mulholland, Mindful Yoga for Cancer Duke Integrative Medicine Trainer. Info: 452.8691 or MyHaywoodRegional.com/YogaforCancer.

• Southwestern Community College’s Therapeutic Massage program is offering sessions through its student-run clinic to the public throughout the spring semester. Massages range from 30-75 minutes and cost between $10-30. Appointments: http://tinyurl.com/ycl4pmu9 or 339.4313.

• A Medicare 101 program is set for 1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 28, in the Waynesville Library Auditorium. Learn about different plans and how to choose the right one for you. 356.2833.

• “Breastfeeding A-Z” class will be offered from 7-9 p.m. on April 11, July 18, Sept. 12 and Nov. 14 at Haywood Regional Medical Center in Waynesville.

Focusing on techniques for proper latching and comfortable positions for a baby and mom to get started.

Pre-registration required: MyHaywoodRegional.com/ParentClasses or 452.8440.

• The Blood Connection will hold a blood drive from 1-7 p.m. on March 3 at Walmart in Sylva. www.thebloodconnection.org.

• A “Preparation for Childbirth” class will be offered from 7-9 p.m. on Thursdays from March 7-28, June 627, Aug. 8-29 and Oct. 3-24 at Haywood Regional

wnc calendar

Medical Center in Waynesville. Pre-registration required: MyHaywoodRegional.com/ParentClasses or 452.8440.

• Registration is underway for a Community Mediation Training offered by Mountain Mediation Services from March 19-21 in Webster. Tuition: $250. Deadline: March 13. Info: 341.5717. www.mountainmediation.org, info@mountainmediation.org or 631.5252.

• “Your Amazing Newborn” class will be offered from 7-9 p.m. on April 4, July 11, Sept. 5 and Nov. 7 at Haywood Regional Medical Center in Waynesville.

Focusing on abilities, behavior, appearance and reflexes of your new baby. Pre-registration required: MyHaywoodRegional.com/ParentClasses or 452.8440.

RECREATION AND FITNESS • Registration is underway for a St. Patrick’s Day Golf Tournament that will be hosted by Lake Junaluska Golf Course at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 17. Three-person scramble format. $30 per person, includes green fee and cart fee. Register: 456.5777or ctcarswell@lakejunaluska.com.

• Tai Chi & QiGong classes are being offered at 7 p.m. on Mondays at Angie’s Dance Academy in Clyde.

450.3741 or paul@pcasper.net.

February 27-March 5, 2019

• A Tai Chi for Arthritis, Level 1, class is being offered at 11:30 p.m. on Thursdays at Angie’s Dance Academy in Clyde. 450.3741 or paul@pcasper.net.

• “Do personality traits shape a person’s political outlook?” will be the topic for the Franklin Open Forum, which is at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 4, at Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Pub in Franklin. Moderated discussion group, dialog not debate. 371.1020.

• ZUMBA is offered at First United Methodist Church in Waynesville on Thursdays at 6 p.m. with Patti Burke. Check Facebook page Patti Burke Zumba Students for additional information such as holiday or weather related cancelations. $5 per class.

• There will be several ballroom and Latin dance classes offered on Sundays and Mondays at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville. Classes for beginners, intermediate and all levels. $10 per class. For more information, click on www.froglevelbrewing.com.

• Waynesville’s Base Camp Summer Camp will offer a variety of options for kids this year, and mandatory parent meetings are set for 6 p.m. on March 5 and March 7. Camp options include Outdoor Play, Discover Camp, Explore Camp, Creative Boot Camp and STEM Camp.

• The Jackson County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing at 5 p.m. on March 7 at the Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library in Cashiers. Purpose: To receive public input regarding the Cashiers Small Area Plan final draft. Copies available at jacksonnc.org/planning.

• The Haywood County Arts Council will hold a JAM (Junior Appalachian Musicians) for fourth through sixth graders from 3:30-5 p.m. on Tuesdays from January through May at Shining Rock Classical Academy. Cost: $85. 452.0593 or bmk.morgan@yahoo.com.

AUTHORS AND BOOKS • Author and Vietnam veteran Tom Baker will give a reading and book signing of his latest work The Hawk and The Dove at 5 p.m. Thursday, March 7, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.

• ZUMBA! Class with Monica Green, are offered from 67 p.m. on Monday & Wednesday, at the Canton Armory. $5 per class. 648.2363 or parks@cantonnc.com.

• The Haywood Arts Regional Theater in Waynesville will hold auditions for children’s roles for its summer production of “OLIVER!” at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 3.

• Waynesville Recreation Center is offering Base Camp nights from 5:30-7:15 p.m. on Thursdays in February in Waynesville. Ages kindergarten through sixth grade experience crafts, activities and environmental education. $20 for the month. 456.2030.

• Tai Chi for Beginners is offered at 1:30 p.m. on Thursdays at Angie’s Dance Academy in Clyde.

450.3741 or paul@pcasper.net.

• The Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department is now offering pickleball on four indoor courts from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays, at the Waynesville Recreation Center. Equipment provided; free for members or daily admission for nonmembers.

456.2030 or dhummel@waynesvillenc.gov.

League golf team forming at Lake Junaluska Golf Course for ages 17-under. Season runs from March 1July 31. Registration fee: $190. Includes team practice sessions, matches, merchandise. Register: pgajrleague.com/sign-up. Info: www.lakejunaluska.com/golf, 456.5777 or ctcarswell@lakejunaluska.com.

• The Jackson County Board of Commissioners will hold a work session at 1 p.m. on March 7 at the Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library in Cashiers.

Purpose: Discuss various county topics.

• Folklorist/storyteller Gary Carden will tell the story of “The Hanging of Bayless Henderson”at 3 p.m.

Saturday, March 2, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.

SPIRITUAL Smoky Mountain News

POLITICAL • The Jackson County Planning Department will hold a public hearing of the US 441 Gateway District Community Planning Council at 6 p.m. on Feb. 28, at the Qualla Community Center for the purpose of Unified Development Ordinance Adoption. Opportunity to give public a chance to share opinions.

• A Tai Chi for Arthritis, Level 2, class is being offered at 12:30 p.m. on Thursdays at Angie’s Dance Academy in Clyde. 450.3741 or paul@pcasper.net.

• Registration is underway for Guided Personal

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Retreats, which will be offered March 18-20, July 2224, Sept. 16-18 and Oct. 21-23 at Lake Junaluska.

Lakejunaluska.com/retreats or 800.222.4930.

• Waynesville Book Club at 5:30 p.m. on the first Monday of each month at Waynesville Library Meet to discuss books, which are chosen by each member (taking turns) and provided by the library. New members are welcome. For more information, 356.2507.

SENIOR ACTIVITIES • Registration is underway through March 9 for the Smoky Mountain Senior Games presented by the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Center and the Cherokee Bird Town Gym. Games are April 1-May 3.

Cost: $15 per person plus additional fees for some events. For ages 50-up. Info: 586.5494.

KIDS & FAMILIES • Entries for Jackson County’s ninth annual Health Snack Master Competition are due by Friday, March 1, to school cafeteria managers. For students in Jackson County Public Schools. Group and individual categories. Info: 586.2311, ext. 1936.

• Registration is now open for a new PGA Junior

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• A Lego club will meet at 4 p.m. every fourth Thursday of the month, at Marianna Black Library in Bryson City. Library provides Legos and Duplos for ages 3 and up. Free. 488.3030.

Registration is underway for Lake Junaluska’s Winter Youth Retreats, which are held from December through February in Haywood County for middle school and high school youth groups. Two-night events start at $186 per person; three-night events start at $249 per person. To register or view schedule, including speakers, band and entertainers: www.lakejunaluska.com/winteryouth. Register: 800.222.4930.

• Registration is underway for Discovery Camp with weekly camps available June 10-Aug. 16 at the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville. Open to pre-K through rising eighth graders. Register: www.ncarboretum.org/education-programs/discovery-camp.

ONGOING KIDS ACTIVITIES AND CLUBS • A “Youth Art Class” will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon every Saturday at the Appalachian Art Farm on 22 Morris Street in Sylva. All ages welcome. $10 includes instruction, materials and snack. For more information, email appalachianartfarm@gmail.com or find them on Facebook.

• The Canton Library offers a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics) program each month. At 4 p.m. on third Tuesday. Children ages 612 are welcome to attend. Please call 648-2924 for more information.

• “Art Beats for Kids” will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. on Thursdays at the Charles Heath Gallery in Bryson City.

A new project every week. $20 per child, with includes lesson, materials and snack. To register, call 828.538.2054.

• A program called “Imagine,” an art program for children 8-12 meets at 2 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Jackson County Public Library. Program contains art, writing, and drama. 586.2016.

• Rompin’ Stompin’, an hourlong storytime with music, movement and books, is held at 11 a.m. on Fridays at the Canton Library. For ages zero to six.

648.2924.

• Crafternoons are at 2:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month at Hudson Library in Highlands.

• Library Olympics will be held at 2 p.m. on Fridays at Jackson County Public Library. Children age 5 and up get active through relay races, bingo, mini golf.

586.2016.

• Family Story Time is held on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. at the Canton Public Library. Ages 0-6. Stories, songs, dance and crafting. 648.2924.

• Storytimes are held at 10 and 10:40 a.m. every Thursday at Hudson Library in Highlands.

• After-School Art Adventure will be on from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. on Tuesdays at The Bascom in Highlands.

For ages 5 to 10, Art Adventure is a class that explores the creative process of drawing, painting, printmaking, clay, sculpture, fiber art, and crafts by utilizing a variety of media. The students will investigate some of the most popular techniques and theories in art history and will be exposed to contemporary as well as folk art traditions. Tuition is $40 for a fourclass package. www.thebascom.org.

• Wednesdays in the Stacks, “WITS”, a new program for children in grades 3-6, on the third Wednesdays of the month from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Macon County Library. WITS will include lots of fun games, prizes, and hands-on activities. This club replaces book club previous held on the third Thursdays of the month. 526.3600.

• Fun Friday, everything science, is held at 4 p.m. on Fridays at Jackson County Public Library. 586.2016.

• Teen Coffeehouse is at 4:30 p.m. on the first, third, and fourth Tuesday at Jackson County Public Library.

Spend time with other teens talking and sharing. 12 and up. 586.2016.

• Rock and Read is at 11 a.m. on Tuesdays at Jackson County Public Library. 586-2016.

• WNC Martial Arts will hold karate classes from 67:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at the Old Armory in Waynesville. For more info, contact Margaret Williams at 301.0649 or mvwilliams39@gmail.com.

• Story time and kids can make their own piece of art from 10 a.m.-noon every Saturday during the Family

Puzzles can be found on page 46 These are only the answers.

Art event sponsored by the Jackson County Arts Council at the Jackson County Farmers Market located at the Community Table, downtown Sylva. On the first Saturday of each month, there is a scavenger hunt with prizes. 399.0290 or www.jacksoncountyfarmermarket.org.

month, call for details. Club is based on a book series about historical women. Club members read and do activities. Free. 586.9499.

• Michael’s Kids Club will be held for ages 3-and-up from 10 a.m.-noon on Saturdays at Michael’s in Waynesville. $2 per child for 30 minutes of creative crafts. 452.7680.

• Culture Club on the second Wednesday of the month, 1 to 2 p.m. for K-6 graders. Guest speakers, books, photos, crafts and food from different countries and cultures. Macon County Public Library. 524.3600.

• A Lowe’s Build and Grow session for ages 3-and-up is scheduled from 10-11 a.m. on Saturdays at the Sylva (586.1170) and Waynesville (456.9999) Lowe’s stores. Free.

• Children’s craft time, fourth Wednesday, 3:45 p.m. at Cashiers Community Library. 743.0215

• Art Adventure classes are taught for ages 5-10 from 3:30-4:45 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Bascom in Highlands. Theme: metal. Instructor: Bonnie Abbott. $20 per month. 787.2865.

• Free, weekly, after-school enrichment classes are offered by the Bascom and MCAA from 3-5 p.m. on Thursdays at Macon Middle School through a grant from the Jim McRae Endowment for the Visual Arts. To register, contact Bonnie Abbott at 743.0200.

•A Lego club will meet at 4 p.m. every fourth Thursday of the month, at Marianna Black Library in Bryson City. Library provides Legos and Duplos for ages 3 and up. Free. 488.3030.

•A community breastfeeding information and support group meets from 10:30 am.-noon on the first Saturday of each month in the main lobby of the Smoky Mountain OB/GYN Office in Sylva. Free; refreshments provided. For information, contact Brandi Nations (770.519.2903), Stephanie Faulkner (506.1185 or www.birthnaturalwnc), or Teresa Bryant (587-8223).

• Macon County 4-H Needlers club, a group of youth learning the art and expression of knitting and crochet crafts, meets on the second Tuesday of each month.

For information, call 349.2046.

• A Franklin Kids’ Creation Station is held from 10 a.m.-noon on Saturdays at uptown Gallery in Franklin.

Snacks provided. $20 tuition. 743.0200.

• SafeKids USA Blue Dragon Tae Kwon Do School offers defense training with after-school classes Monday through Friday and Saturday mornings.

627.3949 or www.bluedragontkd.net.

• A Lego Club meets on the third Tuesday of each month from 3:30-5 p.m. at Waynesville Library.

452.5169.

• A Lego Club meets the fourth Thursday of the month at 4:30 p.m. at Jackson County Public Library. 5862016.

• A Lego Club meet the second Wednesday of the month at 5 p.m. at Cashiers Community Library.

743.0215.

• A Lego Club meets at 4 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of the month at Marianna Black Library in Bryson City.

Legos and Duplos provided for ages three and up.

488.3030.

• Teen time 3:30-4:30 p.m. Thursdays at Waynesville Library. A program for teens and tweens held each week. Each week is different, snacks provided. 356.2511.

• The American Girls Club meets at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. The club meets one Saturday a

KIDS FILMS • “Ralph Breaks the Internet”, will be shown at 6:30 p.m. on March 1 & 9 and 7 p.m. March 9 at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva. Free. 586.3555.

“Captain Marvel”, will be shown on March 7 at The Strain on Main in Waynesville. See website for times & tickets. 283.0079.

• The Highlands Biological Foundation will offer a series of nature-themed films and documentaries shown at 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursday of March in Highlands. For info on each show, call 526.2221.

• A family movie will be shown at 10:30 a.m. every Friday at Hudson Library in Highlands.

KIDS STORY TIMES HAYWOOD

MUSIC

C U LT U R E

ADVENTURE

FOOD+DRINK

• Mother Goose Time, a story time for babies and toddlers (5 months to 2 years) and their parents/caregivers, is held at 11 a.m. on Tuesdays at the Waynesville Library. 452.5169 • Family Story Time, 11 a.m. Wednesdays at the Waynesville Public Library. Stories, songs, crafts.

452.5169.

• Movers and Shakers story time is at 11 a.m. every Thursday at the Waynesville Library. For all ages.

Movement, books, songs and more. 452.5169.

• Family storytime with crafts, second Saturday of the month at 10:30 a.m. at the Waynesville library. 4525169.

• Family story time for ages zero to six years old is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. each Tuesday at the Canton Library. 648.2924.

JACKSON

Smoky Mountain News

• A Lego Club meets the fourth Thursday of the month at 4 p.m.- 5:30 p.m. at the Macon County Public Library. 526.3600.

• The Wee Naturalist program, which is for children ages 2-5 (with a parent or guardian), is held from 1011:30 a.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays at the North Carolina Arboretum. Age-appropriate activities such as nature walks, garden exploration, stories, crafts and visits from classroom animals $7 cost per child; $3 more for each additional child in a family. Register at: www.ncarboretum.org/education-programs/youthfamily-programs/wee-naturalist

February 27-March 5, 2019

• Science Club is held at 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month for grades K-6 at the Macon County Public Library. 524.3600.

wnc calendar

• Art classes are available for kids 10 and older from 4:15-5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Bascom in Highlands. $15 per class. 787.2865 or www.thebascom.org.

• Crazy 8 Math Adventure Club on Tuesdays 3:30 p.m.

- 4:15 p.m. for grades K-2 at the Macon County Public Library. 524.3600.

• Baby Storytime is at 11 a.m. on Thursdays at the Jackson County Public Library. Songs, fingerplays and stories for infants through toddlers. 586.2016 • Kid’s story time Saturdays, 11 a.m., all ages at City Lights in Sylva 586.9449.

• Kids story time, Fridays 11 a.m., Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. at Jackson County Public Library. Story time includes books, puppets, finger plays, songs and crafts. 586.2016.

• Pre-school story time, second Wednesday, 11 a.m. at Cashiers Community Library. 743.0215.

• Rock and Read storytime, 11 a.m. on Tuesdays at the Jackson County Public Library. 586.2016

SWAIN • Preschool Story time, Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m., Marianna Black Library. After a book or two is read,

MAGAZINE READ, SUBSCRIBE & LEARN MORE

smliv.com

41

wnc calendar

the children participate in games, songs, finger plays, puppet play and make a craft to take home.

488.3030.

MACON • Paws 4 Reading, a family story time, will be held from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. second Thursday of the month at Macon County Public Library. Children can read to a therapy dog. (grades K-6). 524.3600.

• Toddlers Rock, Mondays, 10 a.m., Macon Public Library. Music, movement and instruments (Designed for children 0-24 months, but all ages are welcome).

• Family Story Time is held at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.

524.3600.

• Family Story Time for ages 0 to 7 years is held at 10 a.m. on Thursdays at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. 524.3600.

• Paws 4 Reading, a family story time, will be held from 3:30-5:30 p.m. every Tuesday at Hudson Library in Highlands. Children (grades K-6) practice early reading skills by reading to a canine companion. Info: www.fontanalib.org, www.readingpaws.org or 526.3031.

A&E FOOD & DRINK

February 27-March 5, 2019

The bistro at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville, Harmons’ Den will be open for a special Mardi Gras buffet at 6:30 p.m. on “Fat Tuesday” March 5. $35 per person inclusive. Reservations must be made by March 1 by calling the HART box office at 456.6322.

Additional information is available online at www.harttheatre.org.

• A German Friendship Dinner will be held on Thursday, March 7, at Folkmoot in Waynesville.

452.2997.

• Leap Frog Tours and Spriggly’s Beescaping will offer the “Pint & Pollinator Tour” from 1-4 p.m. every Friday in February and March. $75 Tour starts at Asheville Museum of Science and ends at Whistle Stop Brewing Company. Cost: $85 for adults; $75 for children.

Tickets include educational talks, seed bombs, museum admission, one drink and transportation.

Leapfrogtours.com or 246.6777.

ON STAGE & IN CONCERT

Smoky Mountain News

• Mad Batter Food & Film host free live music on every 2nd and 4th Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Located in beautiful downtown Sylva. 586.3555.

• A production of “Red” by John Logan will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. March 1-2 and 2 p.m. March 3 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.

Holdover dates are March 8-9. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, click on www.harttheatre.org.

• The Highlands Performing Arts Center will present “Live via Satellite” the MET Opera’s production of “La Fille Du Régiment” at 12:55 p.m. Saturday, March 2. www.highlandspac.org • American singer-songwriter Will Johnson will be featured as part of the UNC Asheville Visiting Writers Series at 7 p.m. on March 5, at UNC Asheville.

English.unca.edu.

• The Darren Nicholson Band will perform bluegrass from 8-11 a.m. on March 9 at The Strand in Waynesville. 38main.com.

42

• The Western Carolina University “Sunday Cinema

Series” will present “The Sleeping Beauty” at 3 p.m.

Sunday, March 10, at the Bardo Arts Center in Cullowhee. arts.wcu.edu/sleepingbeauty or call 227.ARTS. • Highlands Performing Arts Center will have dinner theater performances scheduled on March 21-23 and 28-30; and the full-length play “Calendar Girls” by Tim Firth, set for May 23-26 and May 31-June 2.

Highlandscashiersplayers.org.

• Darren Nicholson & Marc Pruett will perform on Thursday, March 21, at Folkmoot in Waynesville.

452.2997.

• Southern Storytellers Series will feature Bob Plott on Thursday, March 28, at Folkmoot in Waynesville.

452.2997.

crafting at the library. Drop in for the whole session or as long as you would like. Each month will have a different theme the library will supply tools and materials that you may need to create something within that theme. If you have anything craft/art related to donate, please bring it by the library or call them at 586.2016, dduffy@fontanalib.org and www.fontanalib.org.

• One Heart Singing’s winter term is through April 10 at 89 Sierra Lane in Franklin. No audition or need to read music. Try two sessions before committing. Meets from 6:30-8 p.m. on Wednesdays. Info: 524.3691 or 360.1920.

ART SHOWINGS AND GALLERIES

CLASSES AND PROGRAMS • A variety of dance classes ranging from foxtrot and waltz to rumba and cha cha – as well as East Coast Swing and Salsa – are taught at multiple times and days weekly at Folkmoot Center and Waynesville Wellness. $10 per activity per person. No partner or experience necessary. For dates and times, and to RSVP, 316.1344 or dancetonightwaynesville@gmail.com.

• Watercolor classes are set for 1:30 p.m. every third Saturday at the Creative Thought Center on Pigeon Street in Waynesville. Cost: $25 or $20 if you bring your own equipment. theHouseArtist@gmail.com.

• The Jackson County Public Library is holding Craft Therapy from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month. An evening of up-cycle crafting.

586.2016 or dduffy@fontanalib.org.

• The Dave Drake Studio Barn offers a variety of ceramic and raku classes by appointment as well as weekly drawing, writers and community knitters groups. Info: 787.2865.

• Second Saturday Markets take place from 6-8 p.m. at Folkmoot in Waynesville. A gathering place for friends of all ages, markets feature vendors, live music, ballroom dance lessons for $5, and a homemade meal for $10. Beer and wine are available for purchase and tables will be set up for participants to play board and card games that they bring from home. Info: 452.2997 or info@folkmoot.org.

• There will be a S.T.I.R. event from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 28, at Gallery 1 on Main Street in Sylva.

There will be 25 artisans on display. Refreshments, door prizes, networking, and more. The event will be co-hosted by the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce. RSVP by Monday, Feb. 25, by calling 586.2155.

• Haywood Community College is currently hosting a Professional Crafts Faculty Exhibition in the Mary Cornwell Gallery on campus in Clyde. Through April, the public is invited to view the exhibition 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. There will be a talk with the artists at 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 27. 565.4240 or clschulte@haywood.edu.

• The exhibit “Outspoken: Paintings by America Meredith” will be on display through May 3 at the Fine Art Museum Gallery B in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University. The WCU Fine Art Museum is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday. Free parking is available on site. www.facebook.com/americameredithart.

• The Western Carolina University Fine Art Museum at Bardo Arts Center is pleased to present the School of Art and Design Faculty Biennial Exhibition 2019, on display through May 3. All WCU Fine Art Museum exhibitions and receptions are free and open to the public.

For further information, visit arts.wcu.edu/biennial or 227.3591.

• Paint & Pour night by Appalachian Art Farm will be hosted by Mad Batter Food & Film in downtown Sylva at 6:30 p.m. on March 5. Price for all supplies & class is $25. RSVP via Facebook. 586.3555.

• The Western Carolina University Fine Art Museum at Bardo Arts Center will have a yearlong exhibition on “Defining America” through May 3 in Cullowhee. Info: 227.ARTS or bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.

• “Needmore: A River Community in the 1920s” will be the top of for the March 7 meeting of the Swain County Genealogical and Historical Society. Meeting is at 6:30 p.m. on March 7 at the Swain County Regional Business Education and Training Center, 45 East Ridge Drive in Bryson City. www.swaingenealogy.com.

• The Haywood County Arts Council and Haywood County Public Library are presenting works from the following artists at the following locations through March: Russell Wyatt and Ashley Calhoun at the Canton Library and Patty Coulter, Linda Blount, Jason Woodard and Molly Harrington-Weaver at the Waynesville Library.

• The Cherokee Community Chorus will start rehearsals for its next presentation from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, March 7, at the Cherokee Baptist Church.

Loosely titled: “Little Bit of This and Little Bit of That.”

Info: 788.1196, 497.5350 or 497.3671.

• Cabin Fever Community Choir Series is set for 1:152:45 p.m. on Saturdays, March 9-23, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. Learn by ear, no music to read. Songs of Earth, Air, Water and Fire. https://youtu.be/EwhyXaOPX5I. RSVP: SandiDonnS@gmail.com.

• DIY @ The Library will present a “Make Your Own Butter!” program from 2-3 p.m. on Thursday, March 14, in the Waynesville Library Auditorium. Registration required; adults only: 356.2507 or Kathleen.olsen@haywoodcountync.gov.

• Beginning in March, the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva will be starting craft therapy. This get-together will be the first Tuesday of each month from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. It will take place in the Atrium at the library. Craft therapy is an evening of up-cycle

• Through April 26, Western Carolina University’s Mountain Heritage Center is hosting an exhibit to commemorate World War I and the centennial of the end of hostilities. “I Want You! How World War I Transformed Western North Carolina” is on display in the museum’s first floor gallery in Cullowhee.

227.7129.

• Entries are being accepted for The Bascom’s 2019 Member Show: “Rhythm Systems: Nature and Geometry.” Exhibition will be on display from June 15July 21. www.thebascom.org or 787.2878.

on non-holiday Saturdays through the end of the season. Cost: $10 for two runs or $20 for unlimited pass.

Lift ticket or season pass required. Register: www.nastar.com.

• Science Café will be hosted by Mad Batter Food & Film in downtown Sylva at 6 p.m. on Feb. 27. Come learn about ocean warming & Earth’s Greatest Mass Extinction. 586.3555.

• Learn how to safely roll a kayak at 7:30-8:45 p.m. on Feb. 27 at the Waynesville Recreation Center. Free for members; daily fee charged to nonmembers. tommac207@bellsouth.net.

• Cataloochee Ski Area will offer a reduced rate for military personnel and their families from Thursday through Friday, Feb. 28-March 1, in Maggie Valley. www.cataloochee.com.

• Learn how to safely store your food in the backcountry with a workshop from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 28, at REI in Asheville. $15 for members; $35 for nonmembers. Register: www.rei.com/events.

• The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will close approximately 1,000 miles of hatchery supported trout waters to fishing 30 minutes after sunset on Feb. 28 through 7 a.m. on April 6. www.ncwildlife.org/enews.

• Registration is underway for a winter-plant identification workshop that will be held on Saturday, Feb. 29, at Macon County’s Serpentine Barrens. Cost: $65 (includes lunch). www.alarkaexpeditions.com.

• “Welcome to the Anthropocene” will be the topic of Western Carolina University’s next Global Spotlight Series program, set for 4-5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6, in Room 101 of the Forsyth Building.

227.3336 or michelsen@wcu.edu.

• A paddle camping workshop is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, March 7, at The Wedge at Foundation in Asheville. Learn secrets behind the French Broad Paddle Trail. Info: 258.8737 or anna@mountaintrue.org.

• Botany Expert Adam Bigelow will lead a workshop searching for early spring wildflowers through Alarka Expeditions on Saturday, March 9. Cost: $55. Register: www.alarkaexpeditions.com.

• Friends of the Smokies will hold their first in the Classic Hikes of the Smokies Series on Tuesday, March 13, on Big Creek Trail. $20 for current members; $35 for new and renewing members.

FriendsOfTheSmokies.org.

FARM AND GARDEN • The Smoky Mountain Beekeepers Association will host a daylong course in beekeeping for beginners from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, at the Swain County Extension/SCC Swain Center at 60 Almond Road in Bryson city. Preregistration: $25. At the door: $30. Info: 736.1340 or tribalmedic129@gmail.com.

• Orders are being accepted through March 8 for the Macon County 4-H club’s annual plant sale. Order forms: https://tinyurl.com/y4pjakzy. Info: 349.2046.

• The annual Haywood County Extension Master Gardener plant sale has been extended to March 11.

Order forms available at the Cooperative Extension Office on Raccoon Road in Waynesville, call 456.3575 or write: mgarticles@charter.net.

HIKING CLUBS • Carolina Mountain Club will have an eight-mile hike with a 1,100-foot ascent on March 3 on Boogerman Trail. Info and reservations: 243.3630 or rhysko@yahoo.com.

Outdoors

• A recreational racing program for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities will run from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

• Carolina Mountain Club will have a 10.4-mile hike with a 3,400-foot ascent on Wednesday, March 13, to Cold Mountain from Camp Daniel Boone. Info and reservations: 684.8656, 606.7297 or bjdworley@gmail.com.

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48 SECURITY CAMERAS AND MANAGEMENT ON SITE

44

EMPLOYMENT FTCC Fayetteville Technical Community College is now accepting applications for the following positions: Paralegal/Executive Secretary For detailed information and to apply, please visit our employment portal: https://faytechcc.peopleadmin.com Human Resources Office Phone: 910.678.7342 Internet: http://www.faytechcc.edu An Equal Opportunity Employer

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February 27-March 5, 2019

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WNC MarketPlace February 27-March 5, 2019 www.smokymountainnews.com 46

SUPER

CROSSWORD

“SO THERE!” ACROSS 1 Mrs., in Munich 5 Spa offering 12 Tartan wearer 16 Second afterthought in a letter, for short 19 Work for 20 Barber’s tool 21 Made cloth 22 Arena cry 23 Ghost of a bricklayer?

26 A bit more than zero 27 Kitchen range brand 28 “-- never fly” 29 Toronto’s prov.

30 Fall bloomer 32 Passport stamp 35 Put herbs and spices on a James Bond actor?

38 Greek vowels 42 Mr., in Mysore 43 Ideal 44 Deicing stuff 45 Stable baby 47 JFK’s veep 50 Suffix with final or novel 51 Comfort given by the last Stuart monarch?

56 Sponge (up) 59 Yeats’ “-- and the Swan” 60 Tyne of TV 61 108-card party game 62 Gray shade 64 Weaken 65 609-homer Sammy 68 Lovers’ deity 70 Person hugging, say 72 Has an affinity for people who are calming influences?

76 Food, archaically

77 “-- it a pity?”

78 “Cheerio!”

79 “Norma --” (1979 film) 80 Pencil wood 81 Lilt syllable 83 Backpack fill 85 Fine spray 87 Naval acad. grad 88 More rational hunch?

93 Decide on, with “for” 95 See 64-Down 96 Henchman helping Hook 97 Blogger Klein 98 Grassland 102 Certain hosp. test 105 Most meager 107 Hasty, sloppy application of talc?

111 Arduous walk 112 Taunting remarks 113 Eternally, to bards 114 Post-op areas, often 116 Qdoba dip 120 Year, to Pedro 121 Stupefying someone with liquor away from a horse-racing venue?

126 Sea, to Pierre 127 Gloomy 128 Entered furtively 129 Ohio or New York county 130 ‘Zine team 131 Modern “Seize the day!,” for short 132 Gives a nod 133 Performs like Kanye West DOWN 1 Cheese that crumbles 2 Chicago mayor -Emanuel

3 Territory 4 Like surprise guests 5 “Siesta Key” channel 6 Shapiro of radio 7 “Yes, yes!,” to Pedro 8 “24: Legacy” actor Jimmy 9 Saunters 10 Actress Sarah Michelle -11 Poetic “prior to” 12 Football player Lynn 13 Sam’s Club alternative 14 -- -lacto-vegetarian 15 Lessees 16 For the time being 17 Chain of bakery-cafes 18 Singer Crow 24 Finger part 25 Bovine noise 31 Sulky mood 33 Den fixture 34 After a while 36 Grain tower 37 Sheriff Taylor’s kid 38 Atty.’s name follower 39 He co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates 40 Sominex and Nytol, e.g.

41 Light shoe 46 Grassland 48 Pink wine 49 Mo. #1 52 Suez Crisis figure 53 Tons 54 Serum injector 55 Winter drink 56 Really big 57 Collect-call connectors 58 In itself 62 Dojo mat 63 Gray shade 64 With 95-Across, wide keyboard key

66 67 69 71 73 74 75 82 84 86 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 98 99 100 101 103 104 106 108 109 110 115 117 118 119 122 123 124 125

Fess (up to) Brief quarrel River romper Ton Singer Sumac Forest vine Does some harping?

Polish, e.g.

Stubborn equine Rink athlete Move slightly Attracted Mo. #9 Bosc, e.g.

Rebellion figure Turner Seine feeder Study of poetic rhythm Minecraft, e.g.

Wrecked Shady spots Impressive sight Mandates Some lizards Repose -- -Canada (oil biggie) Bruins great Bobby Russian money Not masked Turkish money Cut, as hair Many years Egg -- yung Simile center Grab a chair Put- -- (deceptions)

ANSWERS ON PAGE 40

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The naturalist’s corner

Trail cam pic of a cougar in Tennessee in 2015 (perfect setting to catch one - deer feeder in the foreground). Tennessee Wildlife Resources photo

BY DON H ENDERSHOT

The St. Croix chronicles t. Croix’s adolescent hormones were coursing through his lean muscular body when the urge to leave the Black Hills of South Dakota became too strong to ignore. He set out, on foot, on an easterly trek in the fall of 2009 with no particular destination in mind.

St. Croix crossed Minnesota into Wisconsin, then likely dipped south through northern Illinois and northern Indiana, skirting Lake Michigan before reaching Michigan’s Upper Peninsula by 2010. St. Croix eschewed human habitation and seemed perfectly content to live off the bounties of the wildlands he preferred. He seemed to be particularly adept at killing white-tailed deer and other game animals for sustenance.

Our sojourner left Michigan’s Upper Peninsula for the wilds of Canada. Ontario seemed to appeal to our wandering young man because he kinda fell off the map. But St. Croix reappeared in New York State in 2011. Perhaps he had a hankering to see the Atlantic, because he kept trekking eastward.

By late spring 2011, our intrepid traveler was in Connecticut. But, alas, this is where things went awry.

S

Perhaps St. Croix was focused on a white-tailed deer, or perhaps there was inclement weather, or maybe it was a lapse in judgment; but for whatever reason, on June 11, 2011 St. Croix was struck and killed by a vehicle on Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford, Connecticut. St. Croix had traveled nearly 1,700 miles over two years, begging the question – why?

Well it seems St. Croix was looking for love. If you haven’t guessed we’re talking about a cougar, but not just any cougar – the first documented cougar in the eastern United States since 1938. St. Croix got his name because his first “confirmed” sighting was from St. Croix County in Wisconsin.

And the story of this odyssey and how it was ferreted out by biologists and/or scientists is a very interesting read. You can find it here: https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyw088.

Some amazing outtakes from the article include: “We detected this dispersing individual at 5 locations along its route (Minnesota, 3 times in Wisconsin and New York) with DNA from fecal or hair samples, and with multiple photographs from citizen-run camera traps (3 in Wisconsin and 1 in Michigan). The > 1522 mi straight-line dis-

tance (Black Hills of South Dakota to Connecticut) traveled by the cougar is the longest dispersal documented for the species. We propose a likely route of > 1678 mi over 2 years based on topography and our confirmed records … [I converted kilometers to miles in these quotes.]

“The documentation of such a rare biological event not only shows the great dispersal potential for male cougars but also highlights our ability to detect these movements with verifiable voucher DNA and photographic records. Evidence collected for this one animal, and complete absence of verifiable data from most anecdotal reports of cougars in the east, further confirms the lack of a breeding population in the region.”

Yes, the great Catamount Controversy is far from being settled. And I am not about to tell you that your granddad, or your cousin or you, in fact, have not seen a cougar in the Southern Appalachians.

Cougar sightings have been documented in western Tennessee in 2015 and 2016 — although they have apparently disappeared as quickly as they appeared.

The fact researchers could track St. Croix’s travels and document his birth place make me confident that if there were a breeding population of cougars anywhere in the East their story would be chronicled just as St. Croix’s was.

(Don Hendershot is a naturalist and a writer who lives in Haywood County. He can be reached at ddihen1@bellsouth.net)

February 27-March 5, 2019 Smoky Mountain News 47

48

Smoky Mountain News February 27-March 5, 2019