Opinion

Budget passage critical for Western Carolina

You often hear that North Carolina’s public universities are the “crown jewel” of the state. While this is indeed true, the deadlock in Raleigh over funding for a new budget continues to hamstring our state’s public institutions. Some of the most urgent needs can be found at Western Carolina University, where the lack of funding is beginning to negatively affect students and faculty.

Western Carolina is absolutely crucial to the health and vitality of Western North Carolina. Its students go on to become effective leaders in business and government, and members of the university’s faculty are nationally recognized experts in their respective fields.

The budget deadlock’s negative impacts on daily life in Cullowhee largely concern campus infrastructure, tuition and faculty salaries. Without the $16.5 million in capital funds included in the yet-to-be-enacted budget, WCU is unable to repair its century-old and failing steam plant, which is one harsh winter or mechanical failure away from a complete campus shutdown. We saw this scenario nearly unfold in 2016, and recent winter weather reminds us of how important the steam plant is to campus. Four years after this near miss, the steam plant is living on borrowed time.

While the steam plant is Western Carolina’s most critical need, the fight over the budget affects the university in other ways. The opening of the Tom Apodaca Science Building will be delayed if operations and maintenance funding continues to be tied up into the next legislative session. Although Moody’s recently reaffirmed WCU’s credit rating as Aa3, with a stable outlook, a lingering budget impasse has the potential to negatively affect the institution’s rating later this year, which could limit the ability to finance planned projects.

Western Carolina, along with two other institutions in the UNC System, has seen sustained growth due in part to the NC Promise tuition plan, which was passed by the General Assembly in 2016 and implemented during the fall of 2018. Since the effective date of our current budget on July 1, 2018, WCU has added 1,133 new students with a population that currently exceeds 12,100. Additional growth is expected in fall 2020.

The lower NC Promise tuition generates a $4 million funding shortfall for WCU, which is supposed to be covered Bill Roper Kelli R. Brown

by NC Promise buy-down funding for fall 2018 and 2019. If the budget impasse continues, we will be unable to account for that shortfall and forced to limit enrollment growth potentially as early as fall 2020 and extending into fall 2021.

Without resources to provide competitive compensation, our ability to attract talent and, more importantly, retain key faculty and staff is threatened. We have already lost faculty to other states, and we may lose more. Experienced professors with years of service are earning lower salaries than some new faculty at other institutions who have only recently emerged from their doctoral programs. The lack of competitive salaries will be felt in the faculty-to-student teaching ratios, which are critical to provide high-quality education with a high level of faculty engagement.

If North Carolina wants to support Catamount country and keep it thriving, the new budget needs to be enacted immediately.

Our concern is not a partisan one. It is, pure and simple, a desire to see our state’s institutions fully supported and fully funded. At Western Carolina, the need for an enacted budget is as critical as it has ever been. We urge leaders in Raleigh to find a solution as quickly as possible for the good of this proud university and for the people of the state.

(Dr. Bill Roper is interim president of the University of North Carolina System. Dr. Kelli R. Brown is chancellor of Western Carolina University.)

There is no defense for hypocrisy

One of the defenses I have heard most often offered for support for Mr. Trump is his defense of unborn life, a term that seems oxymoronic or possibly contradictory but can at least be appreciated when offered with sincere spiritual commitment.

The contradiction, I sense, attaches less to the term itself than in its rather narrow application. This, combined with a worshipful elevation of Mr. Trump to a pedestal his life and words almost certainly don’t support and which seems almost blasphemous when accompanied by tortured explications of scripture and motivated reasoning that stands in for solid theology.

One might think there is but only one sin described in the Bible or at the very least that that one sin is worse than all of the others combined. But even a cursory examination of scripture finds far more attention paid to the treatment of the stranger or alien, the importance of truth, kindness, mercy, and charity than reference, even tangentially, to unborn life.

The New Testament, particularly and especially, would seem to harbor the solid principle that the ends cannot justify the means; a poisonous tree does not bear good fruit; that all sins are equally troubling to God

save for blasphemy against the Holy Spirit which is unredeemable; and that we are all God’s children with one nation or people or race not having a step up or special seat but all with equal access to salvation and Grace. And of course, while cautioned to love our neighbors we are warned about the perils of usurping God’s judgement. The prescription offered in Micah 6:8 seems a succinct prelude to the gospel message to come: He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

But putting all of that aside, if one really can, the question persists: Has Mr. Trump really promoted life both of the unborn and those already here?

I suppose an answer, although in reality quite narrow in scope, is that the appointment of federal judges who would overturn Roe v. Wade is sufficient proof. Never mind that those same judges hold theories of Guest Columnist Mark Jamison

jurisprudence that promote wealth and property over life unless we are discussing the life imbued in the corporate structure.

I would submit though that cutting programs that provide access to healthcare for the poor and uninsured including those carrying the unborn is not supporting life. Cutting programs that support nutrition, an essential element in a healthy pregnancy and a necessity for the development of children, does not support life nor does it speak to Christian values of mercy and charity. And if one argues that charity is not the place of government, then doesn’t that undermine the argument that government ought to be righteous with respect to other elements espoused in our faith?

Some of those wishing to enter our country are surely pregnant. Is their treatment consistent with the precepts of protecting the unborn? But then I might ask if God considers anyone illegal solely on account of their place of birth? Does the separation of families fulfill any commandment? For those who would argue that “those folks” (which fundamentally ignores the injunction that we are all one under Christ) ought to wait in line, I can only wonder if Jesus designated where the line formed or if “Come to me” was sufficient. Are those who are refugees as a result of our country’s meddling and hubris owed consideration or recompense for our geopolitical sins?

But, when I see a multitude of those who preach a perverse prosperity gospel arrayed in their expensive finery and hovering around the seat of power as so many sycophants seeking earthly riches while praying as the hypocrites who sought notice of men, I am reminded more of the descriptions in Revelations foretelling the Beast than anything holy. In at least some of Mr. Trump’s followers I see a cult-like mob who behave with an almost rabid contempt for their neighbors. We arrive back at the healthy, spiritually prosperous, even blessed tree, the one that yields good fruit. If you believe in the sanctity of life then act like it, not with lip service to one narrow aspect but thoroughly and fully, just as we are encouraged to submit our souls. Violating several commandments while questioningly serving one does not seem like sufficient justification for the prevarication, the lack of humility, the insults, or the policies that harm so many.

(Mark Jamison retired as postmaster in Webster and lives in Jackson County. markijamison01@gmail.com)

I’m a child of the 1980s. With side ponytails on full hairsprayed display, my big sister and I kept busy making mixed tapes, riding banana seat bicycles and collecting plastic charms for our charm necklaces. We stayed up late watching “Dirty Dancing” and “Indiana Jones,” swooning over Patrick Swayze and Harrison Ford. We heated our food in BPA-laden plastic, drank from hoses and ran around our neighborhood for hours before returning home happy and spent and ready to hurriedly eat dinner so we could be in front of the TV by 8 p.m. to watch “Who’s the Boss” or “Growing Pains.”

Our cats were not spayed or neutered, so we learned how to comfort mama cat during labor, make kitten beds out of Avon boxes and feed them with medicine droppers. We had one cumbersome computer in our musty downstairs den. I’m not sure how or why it got there. The few times I tried to boot it up resulted in staring at a black screen with green letters for a painful amount of time with no reward. Exciting sources of technology were a Nintendo gaming system (the original), VHS player and a couple of Sony Walkmans.

Club sports were rare. If you weren’t good enough to make the school team, you just worked harder to make it the next year. We were baton twirlers and dancers, and my dear sweet mother entered us into a slew of beauty pageants. My sis and I complained endlessly about the itchy dresses and pain of eyeliner application, but we made the best of it by making friends on the circuit and becoming experts at sleeping with curlers in our hair.

Kids today don’t have the luxury of scarcity like we had in the 80s and before. When I was little, we made our own fun. I learned patience by waiting my turn for the one landline or surviving hours of commercials. I learned about failure when I didn’t make a team, win a contest or get accepted into a club. I learned courage when other kids were cruel and I had to say something straight to their faces. I couldn’t hide behind a text or comment on a Snapchat feed. I learned how to entertain myself because if I annoyed my mom too much, she’d have me cleaning or raking leaves. So you better believe I was playing outside— not realizing I was getting exercise and appreciating nature. I learned about conflict resolution in the backseat of a car. With no Blu-ray player, we girls had to read, color or argue. But if we argued we got in trouble, so we figured out how to get along.

Now, I’m a mom trying to raise two boys Columnist Susanna Shetley

in an overstimulating universe. The outside world is relentlessly trying to suffocate them. They have to work harder than ever to keep out all the noise. And at the same time, anything and everything is completely accessible. It’s a tricky catch 22 and a toxic mix not offered to generations before them. Their young, impressionable minds are doing their best to navigate the input.

My older child recently performed in HART Theatre’s rendition of “Mary Poppins Jr.” For over two months, he spent hours upon hours with other kids practicing, rehearsing, bonding and experiencing the magic of the theatre. No tablets, no phones. Just human beings using sheer creativity and talent to collectively produce something powerful and captivating.

Watching these kids showed me that today’s young people have the capacity to lean into the scarcity and be very content doing so. It’s not that they’re incapable; it’s that the world is constantly shutting them down. The adults in their lives have to be intentional in creating opportunities. Unlike when we were kids, synthetic distractions are pelting their attention spans and manhandling their character.

I sometimes wish the internet, smartphones and apps didn’t exist. But at the same time, I’m grateful for amenities such as online banking, Google Maps, a camera in my back pocket or a text from a loved one during a bad day.

As a mother, I feel it’s my responsibility to not only monitor my children’s exposure to technology but also model appropriate behaviors and coping strategies. This is easier said than done because let’s be honest, it’s simpler for me to get things accomplished when the boys are on a screen than it is to create a craft project or go on a nature walk. But, which one reaps the most long-term benefits? I think it’s obvious and that’s what keeps me pushing forward.

I don’t want my kids growing up without patience, courage, perseverance or problem-solving skills. I want them to reflect upon their childhood years with fondness and vivid images, not vague memories of watching Disney+ or playing on tablets.

Perhaps most importantly, if we’re ever going to see a pendulum shift in our society in regard to kindness, generosity and awareness, it starts with the youngest generations. If you have children in your lives, take away some of that noise. Help them be curious and thirsty for adventure. Encourage them to try new things even if they fail. Let them be bored and irritated by not getting their way. These are the ways to raise future leaders and change makers. And it takes all of us to make it happen.

(Susanna Shetley is an editor, writer and digital media specialist for SMN, SML and Mountain South Media. susanna.b@smokymountainnews.com) opinion

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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

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; slow-simmered 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."

CHEF’S TABLE 30 Church St., Waynesville. 828.452.6210. From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday dinner starting at 5 p.m. “Best of” Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator Magazine. Set in a distinguished atmosphere with an exceptional menu. Extensive selection of wine and beer. Reservations honored.

CITY 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.

COUNTRY VITTLES: FAMILY STYLE RESTAURANT 3589 Soco Rd, Maggie Valley. 828.926.1820 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; closed Tuesdays. 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.; closed Sunday. 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.

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. 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.

MAD BATTER KITCHEN 617 W. Main St, Downtown Sylva. 828.586.3555. In collaboration with Lazy Hiker Brewing Co. Open 7 days a week; Saturday & Sunday Brunch until 2 p.m. Hand-tossed pizza, local grass-fed beef and rice bowls. Scratch-made and beer inspired menu with lots of vegetarian, vegan & gluten free options. Free live music and movies. Visit madbatterkitchen.net for this week’s events.

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.

MAGGIE VALLEY RESTAURANT 2804 Soco Road, Maggie Valley. 828.926.0425. 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Daily 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.

SOUTH PHILLY ITALIAN PASTA & SUBS 2768 Asheville Hwy., Canton. 828.593.3580. Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday noon to 6 p.m. Pick-up or carryout only. Call in orders. Pasta and subs. Large portions!

WATAMI SUSHI AND NOODLES RESTAURANT 33 S. Main Street, Waynesville. 828.231.3476. Open 7 days a week serving lunch and dinner. 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 4:30 p.m.-9 p.m. on Monday-Thursday; 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 11:30 a.m.- 9 p.m. Sunday. Healthy, fresh, delicious and high-quality Asian food such as Sushi and Sashimi, Hibachi and Teriyaki, Pad Thai, Wok Lo Men and Thai Coconut Noodle Soup. Sushi, Hibachi and Teriyaki lunch specials every day. Gluten free options available. Full sushi bar and new chocolate wine bar. New party room available for weddings, birthdays or special occasions. Live bluegrass Sundays from 6-9 p.m. with Sons of Ralph. Reservations and online ordering available. www.watamisushinoodles.com

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.

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Discovering the past through the present

Works of late Cherokee artist part of massive collection

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD S TAFF WRITER W hen Dr. Michael Abram thinks of the late Cherokee artist John Daniel “Dee” Smith Sr., he can’t help but smile reminiscing about his old comrade.

“We were really good friends and I miss him. We used to sit talk about Cherokee art and history for hours,” Abram said. “He would paint on anything. Artists just have that urge to create with anything around them. Anything is art, and Dee saw that.”

Meandering around an exhibit of Smith’s works within the Qualla Arts & Crafts Mutual (located on the Qualla Boundary of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians), Abram points out the intricate details of the pieces — ranging from watercolors to acrylic paintings to detailed imagery on animal bone.

“Dee’s paintings are beautiful, but it’s the miniatures that are super detailed,” Abram said, pointing to a small painting on a piece of deer antler. “He told me he would take one single strand of hair from a paintbrush, dip it in paint and then draw the scene one line at a time.”

Alongside the pieces depicting Smith’s extensive artistic career and talents, there’s also a section of the exhibit dedicated to the Trail of Tears, which was the tragic removal of native tribes in the 1830s from ancestral homelands to west of the Mississippi River, many of which not surviving the arduous journey.

A portion of Smith’s artwork focuses on the Trail of Tears, with Abram also adding the entire 1835 Henderson Roll underneath of the paintings. A census of the Cherokee Nation taken by the United States government, the roll itemizes the families, land and skillsets of those ripped from their homes and sent west, with the exhibit displaying those families torn from Western North Carolina.

“The few Cherokee that remained here [in Western North Carolina] avoided removal by hiding out and laying as low as you can to maybe be overlooked in these mountains,” Abram said.

Originally from Indiana, Abram has been collecting Cherokee artwork since he was a kid, initially being gifted a small pine needle basket from a Cherokee acquaintance who lived in Western North Carolina.

“What has always fascinated me about the Dr. Michael Abram

Want to go?

An exhibit honoring Cherokee artist John Daniel (Dee) Smith Sr. is currently being showcased at the Qualla Arts & Crafts Mutual, located at 645 Tsali Boulevard in Cherokee.

The exhibit is a collection of Smith’s watercolors and paintings, which is curated by Dr. R. Michael Abram. The gallery showing will run through March 31.

For more information, call 828.497.3103.

Cherokee is that it’s an ancient culture that is right here and alive today, where you can interact and talk with these incredible people — learning about their history, beliefs and values,” Abram said.

From there, Abram relocated to the Great Smoky Mountains in 1989, a place where he and his wife continue to acquire Cherokee artwork in large quantities. The couple travel the country constantly, hosting gallery showcases of the Cherokee artwork and elaborate academic presentations on the vibrant history of the tribe.

“You are discovering the past through the present,” Abram said. “You’re not simply looking at an antique. This is one of the few real portals you can find anywhere where you’re interacting with an ancient culture.”

At age 74, Abram estimates the number of items in the collection hovers somewhere in the tens of thousands, so many pieces that he’s “never seen the whole collection at one time,” with the artwork in several storage facilities.

“Anybody can collect art, but you’ve got to know the background of the culture and the history of the people whose art you’re collecting,” Abram said. “It’s a respect thing — in order to interpret it, you’ve got to see it through the eyes of their culture.”

Known as the Cherokee Heritage Museum & Galleries Permanent Collection, Abram is currently in the process of hopefully finding a physical location for the works in the coming years (part of the collection was located in Summit Village from 1983 to 2010).

For now, Abrams walks around the Dee Smith and Trail of Tears exhibit proudly, ready and willing to share his knowledge with any and all who walk through the front door. He’s not only keeping the memory his late friend alive, he’s also keenly aware of the importance of making sure these pieces see the light of day, that the Cherokee history will never be covered up by the sands of time.

“If this collection didn’t exist, we would be missing a timeline,” Abram said. “We’ve collected long enough that we’re now into generations of families, where some of these artists have passed on, but we have their pieces preserved.”

Part of the Dee Smith collection currently on display at the Qualla Arts & Crafts Mutual.

The ruins of The Basement East.

Ode to Nashville, ode to rebuilding

Being the nighthawk that I am, it was around 3 a.m. on March 3 when I found myself listening to some music and scrolling through Instagram. Suddenly, I kept coming across images of a massive storm in Nashville and of a pile of rubble that was once The Basement East music venue in the city.

I couldn’t comprehend what I was reading and seeing when reports started flooding social media about this F3 tornado ravaging through East Nashville — epicenter to not only the music and art community of the metropolis, but also home to countless musicians who I call dear friends.

It startled me to realize how many cronies of mine were playing that stage at The Basement East less than an hour before the tornado tore off the roof and collapsed the walls. Thankfully, the dozens of beloved musicians and hundreds of patrons had already left and the venue had just closed. But, the same couldn’t be said for those who fell victim to this horrendous force of nature. By morning, the internet was filled with images of East Nashville, reminiscent of some war zone with smashed homes, infrastructure hanging everywhere and folks walking around in some sort of daze. By that afternoon, you started to see everyone coming together — to pick up the pieces, but, more importantly, to pick up each other. This past Saturday, I received a text from my friend, Allen Thompson, a prolific figure in the East Nashville scene. He’s a musician who’s literally played with every known (and unknown) singer and picker in Music City over the last decade or so in his wide array of bands and projects. In essence, he’s a salt-ofthe-earth artist and human being.

Anyhow, Allen and his girlfriend, Paige, were rolling through Asheville last Saturday. It was a trip planned weeks ago. But, leaving Nashville to decompress and get some perspective took a different tone with recent events. Meeting at Green Man Brewing in the South Slope neighborhood, it was craft ales held high in the unseasonably warm afternoon sunshine.

After some small talk and pleasantries, I had to ask, “So, how are y’all doing after last HOT PICKS 1 Rising Americana/indie act EmiSunshine & The Rain will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at The Strand at 38 Main in Waynesville. 2 Celtic/folk act Bean Sidhe will perform at 7 p.m. Friday, March 13, at the Smoky Mountain Community Theatre in Bryson City. 3 Americana/bluegrass group Ol’ Dirty Bathtub will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 19, in the Community Room of the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. 4 Boojum Brewing Company (Waynesville) will host Gold Rose (Americana/indie) during its “St. Patrick’s Day Celebration” at 9 p.m. Saturday, March 14. 5 Nantahala Brewing (Sylva) will host Humps & The Blackouts at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 13.

week?” The conversation slid into a somber tone when the couple spoke of how their neighborhood and scene — their home — will never be the same after the chaos and destruction cast upon East Nashville.

Less than an hour before The Basement East was blown to pieces, Allen was onstage singing. Like any normal night in Music City, he and his friends were playing together and having a good ole time, celebrating a life of long-held dreams chased after with a reckless abandon in the bright lights of Nashville and beyond.

And then he spoke of how the city has come together so quickly to rebuild and start from scratch. The attitude seems to be the residents and natives alike setting up the new foundation before any outside interest can get ahead of them in a place where land is at a premium and the future uncertain — especially for hardscrabble musicians and generational families slowly being squeezed out.

Eventually, the mood of the conversation transitioned into one of gratitude and recollection. We began swapping stories of rollicking times in Nashville, many of which with mutual friends, the same folks who connected the dots that led to he and I becoming friends. Amongst the banter, I thought of my first time coming into Nashville.

It was June 2009 and I was 24 years old. Leaving the Wakarusa Music Festival in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, my photographer and I headed towards Knoxville and Asheville to possibly catch Phish on tour before hightailing it back to the North Country of Upstate New York via Interstate 81.

I remember sitting in some dive bar near Broadway in Nashville and thinking to myself, “I want to live here someday.” Low and behold, just a few years later, I found myself calling the South home, but in the mountains of Western North Carolina — all within orbiting distance of Nashville.

Amid my almost eight years living and writing in Southern Appalachia, I make a trek to Nashville every few months — to see friends, catch shows or simply jump into the melodic madness in whatever direction it takes me in this mecca for music freaks like myself.

I think of fleeting nights running around East Nashville, beers and chatter in Five Points somewhere, perhaps a burger at 3 a.m. at Dino’s, waking up in some guest room or couch just around the corner from The Nashville Biscuit House filled with endless cups of coffee and a greasy spoon breakfast. All of that live music, all of those memories, tucked away on the shelves of my memory. And I think of all my Nashville friends (and their friends, too) trying to rebuild their lives and careers as we speak. My heart goes out to them, so does my continued support of their dreams in the face of this new obstacle. Nashville will rebuild, just as any headstrong community of movers and shakers will do.

It’s a sentiment found on a mural on the side of The Basement East, a part of the wall that miraculously didn’t collapse. It simply states, “I Believe in Nashville.” And I do — we all do.

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

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Gold Rose plays Boojum Brewing

Asheville-based Americana/rock act Gold Rose will perform during the “St. Patrick’s Day Celebration” at 9 p.m. Saturday, March 14, in The Gem downstairs taproom at Boojum Brewing in Waynesville.

Gold Rose.

This alt-country trio consists of singersongwriter/guitarist Kevin Fuller, bassist Ryan Kijanka and drummer Ryan Sargent. The band meshes crunchy guitar noise with folk, country and Americana stories.

The concert will be a special album release party for Gold Rose’s new record “Dust.” For more information, visit www.facebook.com/goldrosetheband.

Mad Anthony’s St. Paddy’s

There will be a St. Patrick’s Day celebration concert with Bona Fide at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, at Mad Anthony’s Taproom & Restaurant in Waynesville.

The show will also be a fundraiser that day to benefit Helping Hands of Haywood. There will be a raffle drawing after the performance at 9 p.m. Tickets are already on sale and you do not have to be present to win.

The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, call 828.246.9249.

Smoky Mountain News 26 Sylva gets in the tub

Jackson County Americana/bluegrass group Ol’ Dirty Bathtub will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 19, in the Community Room of the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva.

“We’ve always had energy when playing on someone’s porch, but on several occa

Ol’ Dirty Bathtub.

sions lately we have been able to replicate it live,” said ODB guitarist Jerad Davis. “And that’s what makes this fun — people dancing, rooms getting hot, creating an atmosphere that is as fun for those listening as it is for us onstage. That’s why we do it. And that fuels the passion and creativity.”

The show is free and open to the public. The band’s new album “Pack Mule” is now available for purchase. www.facebook.com/oldirtybathtub.

EmiSunshine & The Rain.

Rising Americana/indie act EmiSunshine & The Rain will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at The Strand at 38 Main in Waynesville.

EmiSunshine is 15 years old, but she has attracted national attention since the age of 9. Rolling Stone once named her among the “10 New Country Artists You Need to Know.”

Her new album, “Family Wars,” which was produced by four-time Grammy-winner Tony Brown in Nashville, has received excellent reviews for its thought-provoking songs about abusive relationships, mass violence, political corruption, and freedom in America.

Recently, EmiSunshine received The ASCAP Foundation Desmond Child Anthem Award in New York City. The award, which was established by ASCAP Board member and Grammy award-winning songwriter-producer Desmond Child, recognizes talented young musical artists. The show is all ages. Tickets are $20 and can be reserved at www.38main.com or by calling 828.283.0079.

Highlands welcomes Drew Holcomb

Popular Americana/indie act Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors will perform at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 9, at Kelsey-Hutchinson Park in Highlands.

Drawing influence from Tom Petty and Bob Dylan, Holcomb has found his place in

today’s landscape of singer/songwriter Americana. He and his band have developed their sound through extensive touring, performing alongside Amos Lee, Willie Nelson, John Hiatt, Needtobreathe, Ben Rector, Don Henley, and many more.

Tickets are $60 per person, with VIP packages available. This event is presented by the Highlands Food & Wine Festival. www.highlandsfestivals.com.

Celtic concert in Bryson City

Celtic/folk act Bean Sidhe will perform at 7 p.m. Friday, March 13, at the Smoky Mountain Community Theatre in Bryson City.

A four-member group, the act plays traditional Celtic tunes and ballads using acoustic instruments covering a broad range of folk music from Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. It’s an attempt to keep alive the musical heritage that influenced much of contemporary music, especially bluegrass and country.

Tickets are $10 and are available at the door.

• Andrews Brewing Company (Andrews) will host the “Lounge Series” at its Calaboose location with Kevin Smith March 12, Rags & Riches March 14, Wyatt Espalin 4 p.m. March 15, Scott Stambaugh March 19, A. Lee Edwards March 20, Eduardo March 21 and Woolybooger 4 p.m. March 22. All shows are free and begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.andrewsbrewing.com. ALSO:

• BearWaters Brewing (Canton) will host Aubrey Eisenman & The Clydes 6:30 p.m. March 14 and Darren Nicholson Band 7 p.m. March 20. www.bwbrewing.com or 828.237.4200.

• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host an acoustic jam with Main St. NoTones from 6 to 9 p.m. March 12 and 19. Free and open to the public. www.blueridgebeerhub.com.

• Boojum Brewing Company (Waynesville) will host a bluegrass open mic every Wednesday, an all-genres open mic every Thursday, Gold Rose (Americana/indie) “St. Patrick’s Day Celebration” March 14 and the “Boojum 5th Anniversary Party” with The Brothers Gillespie (rock/indie) 8 p.m. March 21. All shows begin at 9 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.boojumbrewing.com.

• Elevated Mountain Distilling Company (Maggie Valley) will host AcousticEnvy March 14. All shows begin at 7 p.m. 828.944.0766 or www.elevatedmountain.com.

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host The Valley Authority March 14 and Chris Campbell 4 p.m. March 15. 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 March 11 and 18, and a jazz night with the Kittle/Collings Duo March 13 and 20. All events are free and begin at 8 Bean Sidhe.

• Nantahala Brewing (Sylva) will host Humps & The Blackouts March 13 and Chris Pressley w/Arnold Hill March 14. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. www.nantahalabrewing.com.

• Orchard Coffee (Waynesville) will host Chris Staples 7:30 p.m. March 21. 828.246.9264 or www.orchardcoffeeroasters.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. evenings. 828.482.9794 or www.satulahmountainbrewing.com.

• Snowbird Mountains Brewing (Andrews) will host a St. Patrick’s Day Party 2 p.m. March 14. Free and open to the public. 678.410.3035 or www.snowbirdmountainsbrewery.com.

• The Strand at 38 Main (Waynesville) will host an “Open Mic” night from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturdays, The Moon and You 7:30 p.m. March 13 and EmiSunshine 7:30 p.m. March 14. 828.283.0079 or www.38main.com. arts & entertainment

• The Ugly Dog Pub (Cashiers) will host Bluegrass Thursdays w/Benny Queen at 6:30 p.m. 828.743.3000.

p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.innovation-brewing.com.

• Innovation Station (Dillsboro) will host Liz & AJ Nance (Americana/folk) March 21. All events are free and begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.innovation-brewing.com.

• Isis Music Hall (West Asheville) will host Arkansauce (bluegrass/Americana) 8:30 p.m. March 11, A Tale of Two (Americana/blues) 7 p.m. March 12, Art Wavey & Foxy Moron w/Shabudikah (indie/soul) 8:30 p.m. March 12, Cheley Tackett w/Grits & Soul (Americana/folk) 7 p.m. March 12, The Fritz w/STIG (funk/jam) 9 p.m. March 13, The High Lonesome Dreamers (Americana/country) 7 p.m. March 14, The Artimus Pyle Band (southern rock) 9 p.m. March 14, Giri & Uma Peters (bluegrass/blues) 6 p.m. March 15, Pierre Bensusan (world/acoustic) 7:30 p.m. March 15, Tuesday Bluegrass Sessions w/Cane Mill Road 7:30 p.m. March 17, Fwuit! (pop/rock) 7 p.m. March 18 and The Poetry Brothel (Americana/folk) 8:30 p.m. March 18. www.isisasheville.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host an open mic night at 6:30 p.m. every Thursday, Scrawny Johnny March 13, Mama Danger March 14 and Gopher Broke 8 p.m. March 17. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host Sirsy March 20 and Buffalo Wabs & The Price Hill Hustle March 21. All shows are at 8 p.m. www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Legends Sports Grill (Maggie Valley) will host music semi-regularly on weekends. 828.926.9464 or www.facebook.com/legendssportsgrillmaggievalley.

• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host the “Stone Soup” open mic night every Tuesday, Heidi Holton (blues/folk) March 13 and Wyatt Espalin March 14. All shows are • Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Pub (Franklin) will host Dan Collins March 14, Mike Chaet March 20 and Gary Carter March 21. Shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. www.rathskellerfranklin.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 • The Ugly Dog Pub (Highlands) will host Bluegrass w/Nitrograss W ednesdays at 7 p.m. 828.526.8364.

• The Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will host an “Open Mic Night” on Mondays, karaoke on Thursdays and semi-regular music on Fridays and Saturdays. All events at 9:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 828.456.4750.

• Whiteside Brewing (Cashiers) will host semi-regular music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.743.6000 or www.whitesidebrewing.com.

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March 11-17, 2020 The Shelton House.

Volunteers needed at Shelton House

The historic Shelton House in Waynesville is currently in need of volunteers for an array of upcoming events.

Alongside help for events and gatherings, the organization is also seeking a docent, gift shop attendee, data entry person, landscaper, handyperson, and other positions.

Upcoming main events include the Blue Ridge Heritage Festival June 19-21, Shelton House Halloween “Haunting on the Hill” Oct. 27-31 and Shelton House “Tinsel Trail & Appalachian Christmas.”

For more information, visit www.sheltonhouse.org or call 828.452.1551.

Open call for Greening Up

There is an open call currently underway for artisans, vendors and environmentally-themed booths at the 23rd annual Greening Up the Mountains, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 25, in downtown Sylva.

Celebrating the new spring in the mountains, the festival has become a beloved regional event. The festival typically enjoys crowds upwards 12,000 attendees and has 175 vendor booth spaces. In addition to a variety of arts, crafts, and food vendors, attendees can enjoy a 5K run, youth talent contest, beverage arts featuring local craft breweries and live music throughout the day. Applications can be downloaded at www.greeningupthemountains.com and will be accepted through March 15.

For more information, email greeningupthemountains@gmail.com.

• The Smoky Mountain Model Railroad Club will host an open house from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 15, at 13 Caboose Way (off Panther Creek Road) in Clyde. Come see one of the largest operating Ogauge model train layouts in the area and talk trains with the conductor. Suggested donation of $6 for admission. ALSO:

The Jackson County Public Library Recipe Swap is a quarterly event consisting of a recipe gathering, the making of a cookbook, and finally a potluck dinner using the recipes gathered.

If anyone has a recipe they would like to participate with, please email the recipe to Danielle Duffy at dduffy@fontanalib.org or bring your recipe to the Reference Desk on the second floor of the library in Sylva. The deadline for the Spring 2020 Cookbook recipe submission is March 17.

Once the library has all of the recipes, the Spring 2020 cookbook will be put together. Each participant will receive a copy of the cookbook. At 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, each participant will bring their dish and everyone will share food, fellowship, stories, and community.

For more information, call the Jackson County Public Library at 828.586.2016. This

cookbook 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).

Bosu’s tastings, small plates

Bosu’s Wine Shop in Waynesville will host an array of wine tastings and small plates throughout the week.

• Mondays: Free tastings and discounts on select styles of wine that changes weekly. • Thursdays: Five for $5 wine tasting, with small plates available for purchase from Chef Bryan’s gourmet cuisine in The Secret Wine Bar.

• Wednesday-Saturday: The Secret Wine Bar will be open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Fridays: The Secret Wine Bar will be open for drinks and small plates from 5 to 9 p.m.

• Saturdays: Champagne cocktails from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Secret Wine Bar will be open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will also be a free wine tasting from 1 to 5 p.m.

Dog friendly patio and front garden open, weather permitting. For more information and/or to RSVP for ticketed events, call 828.452.0120 or email info@waynesvillewine.com.

• A free wine tasting will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. March 12 and 19, and 2 to 5 p.m. March 14 and 21 at The Wine Bar & Cellar in Sylva. 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. ALSO:

Quality Trailers, Quality Prices

On the wall Sylva Art + Design Committee event

The Sylva Art + Design Committee is pleased to announce a unique pop-up gallery event that will feature the artistic creations of children ages 5-18 in the Western North Carolina region.

“Nature Through A Child’s Eye” will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 4, at Viva Arts Studio in downtown Sylva.

The event will focus on environmentally themed artwork created by the youth of our community in order to highlight a uniquely honest perspective on a global topic.

The show will aim to encompass the use of all art mediums including ceramics, painting, sculpture, drawing, and multimedia so long as dimensions do not exceed 12x12 inches. All submissions will be available for purchase and can be picked up after the completion of the exhibition.

Contrary to previous events, the totality of funds raised (100 percent donation) throughout the duration of the show will be equally distributed between SADC and the Sylva Community Garden in order to further the betterment of the community through arts, education, and environmental awareness.

This project is supported by the NC Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources. Viva Arts Studio is located on 456 West Main Street in downtown Sylva.

For further information about the event or to apply for your child to be an exhibiting artist, contact the Sylva Art + Design Committee at sylvaartdesign@gmail.com or Viva Arts Studio at vivaartsstudio@gmail.com.

You can also follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sylvapublicart or on Instagram @sylvaarts.

Creating Community Workshop

The next Creating Community Workshop will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 14, in the Atrium of the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva.

Come and enjoy making Zentangle magic. Master this absorbing and creative art form. No drawing experience is required. The Zentangle Method is an easy-tolearn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. They call these patterns tangles. You create tangles with combinations of dots, lines, simple curves, S-curves and orbs.

These simple shapes are the “Elemental Strokes” in all Zentangle art. These patterns are drawn on small pieces of paper called “tiles.” They call them tiles because you can assemble them into mosaics.

Instructor Helen Vance has worked in landscaping, graphic design and marketing, and dabbled in various textile arts. She particularly enjoys traditional rug hooking and is a dedicated reader.

This program is free of charge. The workshop is limited to 10 participants. Call the library to register.

For more information, please call the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva at 828.586.2016. This event 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).

arts & entertainment ‘Luck of the Art’

Celebrate St Patrick’s Day early from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 14, on Main Street in Waynesville.

The Galleries of Haywood County have enlisted shops and restaurants to offer “Lucky Specials” and “Wee Irish” treats — look for the flags and balloons to locate participating merchants.

Find and meet Waynesville’s Leprechaun and his lady to collect a green necklace. And enter to win the “Rainbow’s End Pot of Gold” with a 50/50 drawing to be held at 4 p.m.

Prizes will be awarded up to $500 each (as the pot allows), as well as special gifts from participating merchants. Just $5/ticket or $10 for three tickets, on sale until 3 p.m. that day. Each entry also gets a golden coin necklace.

Purchase tickets at these Galleries of Haywood County on Main Street: Cedar Hill Studio, Haywood Arts Council, Jeweler’s Workbench, Metzger’s Burl Wood Gallery, T Pennington Art Gallery, and Twigs and Leaves Gallery.

Participants for the drawing must be 18 to win, but do not need to present to win. Winners will be posted in the galleries and online at www.haywoodarts.org/gallerieshc. Proceeds from the drawing will go to support more Galleries of Haywood County community events.

HCAC ArtShare

This year marks the eighth year of the ArtShare exhibit at the Haywood County Arts Council in Waynesville. ArtShare runs through March 28.

ArtShare is a showing of fine works of art which have been donated to or consigned with the HCAC. ArtShare was born out of a desire to allow collectors to be able to pass on art for someone else to enjoy.

If you have questions, call the HCAC at 828.452.0593. For more information, visit www.haywoodarts.org.

Innovation ‘Pottery & Pints’

There will be a special “Pottery & Pints: Free Play” class held by Viva Arts Studios from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 12, at the Innovation Station in Dillsboro. Cost is $30 per person.

For more information and/or to register for the workshop, go to Facebook, search “Viva Arts Studio” and click on the “Events” tab for the ticket link.

The Viva Arts Studio in Sylva offers weekly and monthly pottery and painting classes alongside other artisan mediums.

www.vivaartsschool.com or 828.506.6067.

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HCC Professional Crafts clay exhibition Haywood Community College’s latest showcase “HCC Clay in Retrospect,” an exhibition featuring the work of 20 artists from the college’s 46 years of clay programming, is now on display at the school in Clyde.

These artists represent the rich history of craftspeople who have studied professional crafts clay at HCC.

Gary Clontz founded the college’s clay program in 1974 and together with his colleagues, expanded the program to include areas of study in fiber, jewelry and wood. Now in its 44th year, Haywood Community College’s Professional Crafts Program is the only one of its kind in the country.

“HCC Clay in Retrospect” runs now through April 22 and is located on the second floor of the Creative Arts Building on the HCC campus. The public is invited to a closing reception from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, with a gallery talk beginning at 4:30 p.m.

For more information, call 828.627.4671 or email eareason@haywood.edu.

• The next meeting of the Western North Carolina Woodturners Club Inc. will be at 10 a.m. Saturday March 14, at The Bascom in Highlands. Visitors are always welcome. The club meets in Highlands the second Saturday of every month between March and November.

• Stonehouse Pottery (Waynesville) will be doing an Open Studio Tour and Sale the first Sunday of each month to help support our local nonprofits. Each month highlights a different artist and that artist chooses his or her nonprofit. Stonehouse Pottery and the artist then give a portion of the proceeds as a donation to that nonprofit. Haywood County Arts Council will be the April beneficiary. ALSO:

• The Weekly Open Studio art classes will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Haywood County Arts Council in Waynesville, Instructor will be Betina Morgan. Open to all artists, at any stage of development, and in the medium of your choice. Cost is $25 per class. There will also be a Youth Art Class from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. on Wednesdays. Cost is $15 per class. Contact Morgan at 828.550.6190 or email bmk.morgan@yahoo.com.

• The Museum of the Cherokee Indian’s exhibit, “People of the Clay: Contemporary Cherokee Potters,” features more than 60 potters from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Cherokee Nation, and more than one hundred works from 1900 to the present. The exhibit will run through April.

• A “Beginner Step-By-Step” adult painting class will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville. There is also a class at 6:30 p.m. on the last Wednesday of the month at Balsam Fall Brewing in Sylva. 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 wncpaintevents@gmail.com.

WCU Fine Art Museum exhibitions

The Western Carolina University Fine Art Museum at Bardo Arts Center is pleased to present a range of photography, glasswork, and vitreography on display from now through May 1.

• “Time and Again: Glass Works by Kit Paulson and SaraBeth Post”

Funded in part by the Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass, the exhibition brings together two Penland-based artists whose works explore ideas about time, history, memory, and the antique.

In many of their works, objects from the past are remade and reimagined in glass, creating a bridge between past and present. • “Curious Terrain: WNC From the Air” This new exhibition features aerial photographs that explore the relationship between humans and the WNC landscape. Taken by Alex S. MacLean, a renowned artist and pilot with over 45 years of experience photographing the land from the bird’s eye perspective of an airplane, these newly commissioned images focus on the seven westernmost counties of North Carolina.

MacLean’s striking images capture the unique qualities of the region’s built environment while also raising broader questions about humanity’s impact on the land through agriculture, energy, industry, and housing.

“The Curious Terrain: WNC From the Air” reception will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. March 19, with a gallery talk from Alex S. MacLean at 5:45 p.m. This exhibition is supported by a grant from The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina. • “Claire Van Vliet: Stone and Sky” This new exhibition highlights landscape prints by Claire Van Vliet, a renowned printmaker and book artist. Between 1993 and 2010, Van Vliet completed several residencies at Harvey Littleton Studios in Spruce Pine, where she experimented with the medium of vitreography, a form of printmaking that uses a glass plate to produce a printed image.

Fascinated by rocks of all kinds, Van Vliet produced detailed images of rock formations from around the world, including Wind Cave in New Mexico, Kilclooney More in Ireland, and the Moeraki Coast in New Zealand.

This exhibition brings together a selection of these vitreographs, drawn from the WCU Fine Art Museum’s Permanent Collection, and provides a glimpse into the artist’s creative process.

The exhibition includes a rare opportunity to view one of the original glass plates used in the vitreograph printing process.

The museum exhibitions and receptions are free and open to the public with free parking on site. Regular hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursdays until 7 p.m.

For information, visit arts.wcu.edu/museum or call 828.227.ARTS.

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The Highlands Performing Arts Center will broadcast “Live via Satellite” the MET Opera’s production of “Der Fliegende Holländer (The Flying Dutchman)” by Wagner at 12:55 p.m. Saturday, March 14.

Sir Bryn Terfel returns to the Met for the first time since 2012, as the mysterious seafarer searching for salvation. Director François Girard, whose mesmerizing production of Parsifal recently wowed Met audiences, returns to stage Wagner’s eerie early masterwork.

Tickets available www.highlandspac.org, www.highlandsperformingarts.com or at the door.

Haywood Arts Regional Theatre.

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HART presents ‘Slow Food’

The Haywood Arts Regional Theatre winter Studio Season continues with the comedy “Slow Food” by Wendy MacLeod, which will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. March 13-14, 20-21 and 2 p.m. March 22 at the theatre in Waynesville.

The setting, a Greek restaurant in Palm Springs, on a Sunday night. A couple celebrating their anniversary have found the only place still serving, and they are starving after flying from the east coast. What they don’t realize is that they have entered a kind of twilight zone — where an overly accommodating waiter never seems to be willing to actually take their order.

To make a reservation, call the HART Box Office at 828.456.6322 anytime and simply leave your name, the number of tickets you need and the performance you wish to attend. Seating is general admission, but reservations are recommended.

For more information, visit www.harttheatre.org. Harmons Den will also be open for dining before all performances and the menu is on the HART website.

• KIDS at HART, the youth drama program at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville, will present “Mary Poppins Jr.” at 2 p.m. March 14-15. Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for students. Reservations may be made by calling 828.456.6322 or visiting www.harttheatre.org. ALSO: