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March 14-20, 2018 Vol. 19 Iss. 42

Business relocation project leaves contractors unpaid Page 4 Franklin A.T. season launches with hiker meal Page 34

CONTENTS On the Cover: In the wake of the latest mass shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, legislators, educators and law enforcement officials are looking to address student safety by utilizing a volunteer force of former military police and law enforcement officers to guard schools. (Page 6)

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Two Republicans vying for Haywood tax collector ..................................................3 Relocation project leaves contractors unpaid ............................................................4 Drug crisis unit vote delayed in Cherokee ..................................................................8 Beloved Man leaves behind lasting legacy ................................................................8 State, local boards of elections still in limbo ..............................................................9 No decision on Duke Energy rate hike for WNC ..................................................10 Small increase in Haywood schools budget ............................................................11 Maker space movement comes to Haywood County ..........................................12 Sylva’s Creekside Oyster House to expand ............................................................14 Parking decks planned for WCU ................................................................................16

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CORRECTION

Smoky Mountain News

March 14-20, 2018

A March 7 story in The Smoky Mountain News incorrectly stated that Jack S. Parton was running as a candidate for Swain County commissioner due to an error from the board of elections. John S. Parton is the candidate running for commissioner.

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Passion, politics intertwine for Haywood tax collector candidates

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his relationship with commissioners. “I don’t know that some of us will ever be friends, and that’s fine with me and I’m sure it’s fine with them as well, but it seems like we’re able to work together now. You’re always going to have somebody, regardless of what you do, it’s never going to be good and it’s never going to be right regardless of what it is, but I’ve had some of them reach out to me and actually acknowledge the fact that we’re doing a good job. I mean, you can’t hide it with the numbers.”

for the new year, meaning that the total delinquent balance can climb rapidly, and as it ages become practically uncollectible.

“Since our current collection rates are quite a bit higher than what they have been, that means we’re not rolling over that much money into delinquency,” he said.

Matthews credits his performance to the philosophy he brought to office when he defeated longtime tax collector David Francis at the polls in 2014 by slightly more than 1 percent of the vote.

Haywood County Tax Collector Mike Matthews (left) will face a fellow Republican in the May 8 Primary Election. Andrew ‘Tubby’ Ferguson (right) says there’s room for improvement in the county tax collector’s office. Donated photos “We do a lot of forced collections. That’s one of the biggest things we do on a daily basis. We do attachments, we get garnishments, we do foreclosures. We do it as a last resort but we still do that,” he said. “Our goal is before that happens that we can reach out to you and at that point work something out.

In some cases, it doesn’t work out, but I guess that’s just human nature.”

One of the things he’s tried not to do is displace anyone in the process — something he says he’s been successful in; the county has also not incurred any additional properties as a result of foreclosure sales.

“When foreclosure proceedings are initiated, the opening bid comes from the tax office,” he said. “I make the opening bid on it.

If nobody is there to outbid me, then we [Haywood County] take in the property.”

The county also thus takes in the liability, the upkeep, the cost of the legal work to initiate the proceedings, and as owner of the property, doesn’t pay property taxes on its own property.

REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER Matthews, a Republican, will face a contested primary May 8 to keep his job.

“I’ve always had a lot of interest in politics

business functions, which is a little bit different from a lot of other county jobs,” he said.

“This is a business administration function of public administration.”

Ferguson thinks he brings the most knowledge, the best education, and the strongest work ethic of the three candidates currently seeking the position — Democrat Greg West will face the winner of the Matthews/Ferguson contest in November.

But for now, he points to some specific reasons that should be him, and not Matthews.

“The public can judge what Mike Matthews’ tenure has been as far as performance,” Ferguson said. “I know Mike definitely has some accolades of his own, and kudos to him for those. We are collecting at a higher rate than ever before, but if you dive into the population data, we’re not at the top. For me that leaves us room for improvement.”

And that nickname?

“I’ve always been kind of a chubby fella,” he laughed when asked about the moniker he earned in the fourth grade. “And there’s a lot of people, even now, that probably couldn’t tell you what my first name is. They know Tub, and they know Tub’s a good guy. Plus, ‘Tubby for tax collector’ had too good of a ring not to use it.”

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Smoky Mountain News

The county’s fiscal year begins each July 1, so FY 2017-18 is currently in its ninth month.

As of Feb. 28, the unaudited year-to-date collections percentage of all ad valorem taxes assessed for this fiscal year was 93.96, indeed the highest since at least 2008 and ninetenths of a percentage greater than at this time last year.

With almost four months left to reach a theoretical 100 percent collection rate, that projects to a very high year-end collections rate.

“Prior to me taking office, it’s always been near 96 [percent]. In my three years we’ve been at 97,” Matthews said. “We’re projecting now to be in the mid-to-high 98, possibly 99 percent, and our delinquent balance has dropped dramatically. We’ve dropped $1 million off the delinquent balance that we carry every year.”

Over that same period beginning in 2008, the total delinquent balance of property taxes owed to the county has dropped from slightly over $3 million to slightly under $2 million.

One bad year of collections doesn’t just affect that year’s collections; when ad valorem taxes are billed every year it is naturally expected that a certain percentage of people will fall into delinquency at some point. When those delinquencies carry over from year-toyear, they add to that pre-existing expectation

March 14-20, 2018

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER utside the Haywood County Justice Center in downtown Waynesville, Haywood County Tax Collector Mike Matthews stands with a slim manila folder in his hands while an attorney nearby reads off a boilerplate legal notice required when the county offers a foreclosed property at auction.

There were no takers that day, but Matthews thinks someone will eventually come forward and buy the $30,000 property for around $8,000, the cost of the legal work associated with the parcel that’s been more than $600 behind in property taxes for some time now.

Foreclosure sales are an important part of Matthews’ job, but not the most important; the speedy and efficient collection of property taxes, the county’s single largest source of revenue, is vital to county operations.

Since his first election to the office in 2014, Matthews has faced intense scrutiny from Haywood County Commissioners and a vigorous debate over the very nature of his job — it’s the only elected tax collector position in North Carolina’s 100 counties — that resulted in headline-grabbing high drama last year.

As Matthews collects the rest of his belongings and heads toward his office in the Historic Haywood Courthouse, he starts to talk about his recent decision to run for reelection, something even Matthews had his doubts about following contentious public hearings that questioned both his work performance and his personal life.

“One of the things people say to me most is, ‘why are you doing this? Why are you putting yourself through this again?’”

Later, in his office, Matthews revealed the reason he’s decided to run for re-election as the state’s only elected county tax collector.

“When I started, I felt like we could treat citizens and taxpayers a little better, with respect, compassion and appreciation, while leaving the county in a better position financially than we were,” he said. “Since I’ve started, even with all the opposition that we’ve had, our numbers are better than they’ve ever been, and we’ve been able to do this while treating everybody with respect and treating everybody with compassion and working with people.”

In February 2016, county commissioners led by then-chair Mark Swanger passed unanimously a resolution asking the North Carolina General Assembly to make Matthews’ position an appointed, rather than elected one.

Support from Haywood’s legislative delegation was lukewarm at best, and although it ultimately went nowhere, it must’ve made for some awkward workplace encounters thereafter — something Matthews said is now in the past.

“I think we’ve come a long way,” he said of

and local government,” said Andrew “Tubby” Ferguson. “My mom works for the county, and my great uncle Carlyle Ferguson was a county commissioner for a while. I know how important it is to me to serve.”

Just 28 years old, Ferguson is an eighth-generation Haywood County resident with roots in the area dating back to 1807. He graduated from N.C. State with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and currently works at the family business, Haywood Pharmacy.

Although his title there is assistant manager, Ferguson is quick to point out that he’s not a pharmacist, and instead handles many of the business functions at the shop.

It’s the conservative Republican’s first time running for anything, except when he was elected to the board of the largest student booster club on N.C. State’s campus.

“This office is unique in that it has a lot of

news

Relocation project leaves contractors unpaid Contractors, business owner disagree about blame

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER onths after work wrapped up to relocate Caney Fork General Store in Jackson County, multiple subcontractors who worked on the project remain unpaid, resulting in two claims filed against the business.

“I would imagine there are still liens to come, rightfully so,” said business owner Mickey Luker. “I think there are five vendors that have not been completely made whole.”

Subcontractors have not been getting paid as they should — that’s not in dispute. But whose fault that is depends on who you ask.

Blitz Estridge, of Blitz Estridge Electric, places the blame squarely at Luker’s feet, a position he made quite public when he attended the Feb. 19 Jackson County Mickey Luker Commissioners meeting bearing a sign that said on three lines “Mickey Luker/Quit blaming DOT/Pay your subs,” with a row of dollar signs underneath.

Estridge held the sign high from the back of the room, well within view of Luker, who is a county commissioner.

“I think this was an intentional act by him (Luker),” said Estridge. “He just built a store that really he can’t afford. It’s upsetting for me as a business owner. This was a big job for us, and we’re kind of struggling because of it.”

According to a lien filed Jan. 8, Estridge’s company worked on the project from July 31, 2017, through Oct. 10 of that year, doing a variety of electrical work for the four businesses — Bailey’s Outdoor Supply, Gracie’s Deli, Caney Fork General Store and a beauty salon — housed in Luker’s store. He was due a total $45,369.27 for the work. Estridge said that to date he’s received only about $3,200, paid roughly a month ago.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR PAYMENT The relocation project stemmed from the N.C. Department of Transportation’s work to widen N.C. 107 in the Caney Fork area. Work began on the 3.8-mile section February 2017 and is scheduled to wrap up April 2020. The DOT acquired the property housing Caney Fork General Store as right-of-way in connection with the project but agreed to relocate Luker’s business under a program in which the state pays a variety of expenses including moving costs, direct property losses as a result of moving, cost of searching for a replacement location and cost to re-establish the business.

According to Sophia Campbell, public records manager for the DOT, the total amount paid for relocation was $533,856.13; Luker also received $757,800 for the property DOT acquired as right-of-way.

“This has been paid out as each move and/or re-establishment expense has been requested by the owner (Caney Fork General),” she wrote in an email, referring to relocation payments.

So far, everything but $7,745 has been paid out, according to Campbell. The DOT is currently holding two movement payment checks totaling $4,510 for Luker to pick up, and the remaining $3,235 is waiting for Luker’s signature, she said.

According to Luker, however, that entire $533,000 did not pass through his hands.

Luker said that the money he received had nothing to do with paying subcontractors — that responsibility lies with an Atlanta-based

Blitz Estridge holds up a sign expressing his plight during a Feb. 19 Jackson County Commissioners meeting. Holly Kays photo

“The General Store/ Mickey Luker would be responsible for paying subcontractors involved in the relocation.”

— Sophia Campbell, DOT public records manager

company called THC, he said.

“DOT’s been great. It’s been the third-party company (THC) that’s representing the DOT that’s been the complete failure,” he said.

According to Luker, THC was irresponsible in the way it did its job, and the relocation money ran out before all the subcontractors had been paid. Luker added that he hasn’t

been treated completely fairly either, believing that the property DOT acquired for the road project is worth significantly more than $757,000. He said he plans to file a suit seeking more money for the property.

His attorney J.K. Coward said that he could not comment on the particulars of the case but said Luker hasn’t done anything wrong.

“I don’t think there’s any real bad guys here,” he said. “I think there’s a real bad program that was administered real poorly.”

Estridge is quite clear that his agreement to do electrical work for the relocation was with Luker, not with THC. Brian Green, the THC representative who was involved with the project, wasn’t on the job directing workers what to do and where to go, Estridge said.

That was Luker.

A public records request to the DOT asking who was responsible

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Smoky Mountain News

March 14-20, 2018

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Estridge isn’t the only one to have filed a claim against Luker. A suit filed Feb. 8 in Wayne County claims that Luker and Caney Fork General Store owe Tillman’s Restaurant Equipment and Supplies $39,689.09.

According to the lawsuit, Tillman’s had done a total $94,989.09 of work, of which only $55,000 was paid. As of press time, no response to the suit had been filed.

Luker doesn’t deny that these businesses have been wronged but says he’s not the one who wronged them.

“It’s very frustrating,” he said. “It’s government at its top speed.”

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The original Caney Fork General Store (above) was moved to a location across the road as the result of a road widening project on N.C. 107. File photo

PROGRESS TOWARD A SETTLEMENT

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A Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RD or RDN) is a licensed title. Educational and Training background of Dietitians: Minimum of an undergraduate degree with specified coursework that includes biochemistry, anatomy and physiology, organic chemistry, food science and advanced nutrition.

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How to find a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.

-Your local hospital or health department will typically have RDNs on staff.

-Search www.eatright.org to find dietitians according to your zip code.

Smoky Mountain News

Luker said he didn’t know why the DOT was taking that position regarding THC’s rate but remained adamant that it hadn’t been his responsibility to pay the subcontractors.

However, he said, the way the legal process works they will all get paid in the end. He and Coward are working toward a final settlement, Luker said, and any outstanding debt will be paid when that process is complete.

“Whenever the settlement is done they will get paid,” Luker said. “It is not as timely as they or us or anybody would have wished or hoped for, but between Blitz and I individually or Blitz and I as a company there’s not a contract. There’s not a memorandum of understanding. There’s not anything that he and I have contractually together that says, ‘You’re going to do this amount of work for this.’”

According to Luker, that agreement was between Estridge and THC. Estridge contests that statement. He said his agreement was with Luker but said he couldn’t produce it as of press time, as he’d already given the document to his lawyer.

“This is just a common occurrence with him (Luker) doing stuff like this,” Estridge said.

A records search at the Jackson County Courthouse turned up two previous actions filed against Luker and Caney Fork General Store. In 2013, a magistrate ordered Luker to pay $5,000 owed to Haywood Oil Company, Inc., and in 2017 Superior Court Judge Bradley Letts ordered him to pay $39,581.34 owed to The H.T. Hackney Company as the result of a suit filed in 2015.

According to Luker, however, that’s not sufficient to prop up Estridge’s claim that failure to pay contractors is a common occurrence.

“I would say out of six years in business, on liens like that, that’s not a pattern,” Luker said. “That’s just normal business.”

Then why, Estridge asked, hasn’t he been paid?

“Mickey (Luker) is blaming Brian Green, and he’s blaming the state, and he’s just trying to get out of this without paying his subs,” he said.

Luker, meanwhile, recalled the many hours he’s spent in large group meetings with DOT officials, THC representatives and various attorneys, all trying to navigate the situation.

“It’s confusing, and trust me we spent hours, days and months on this,” he said. “It’s very confusing. It’s very stressful. Would I ever do it again? Hell no. There is no way. I was painted a beautiful, beautiful picture by them (DOT) about how they needed to do this and they wanted to at least have one convenience store on that section of road and made all these promises that have truly not been fulfilled.”

March 14-20, 2018

for paying subcontractors backed up Estridge’s version of the story.

“The General Store/Mickey Luker would be responsible for paying subcontractors involved in the relocation,” Campbell wrote in response to the request. “The Dept. of Transportation would pay a third party if the owner/relocatee signed a waiver to do so.”

David Uchiyama, communications officer for DOT’s western region, added that the third party option involves the DOT paying subcontractors directly — in neither case would THC be responsible for paying them.

Uchiyama said that THC was a consulting company the DOT hired to handle all aspects of relocation for the project, from moving signs to moving businesses to relocating residents. But THC did not handle subcontractor payments, he said.

When reached for comment, Green said that he couldn’t speak on the matter, as DOT is THC’s client, and DOT wished for all communications to go through its staff.

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Officials considering armed volunteers for schools

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER olumbine, Sandy Hook, Stoneman Douglas — those names ring out like the bullets that once flew through their hallways, stark reminders of a perplexing and tragic problem that simply hasn’t gone away.

In the only nation where school shootings occur regularly, gun control has been historically pushed as one possible solution, albeit one with questionable results.

Now, in the wake of the 148th school shooting this decade, legislators, educators and law enforcement officials are addressing the other side of the issue with a renewed push that could put more guns in schools across the country, and across North Carolina.

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MORE OR LESS

Smoky Mountain News

March 14-20, 2018

The shooting at Parkland, Florida’s, Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School that left 17 dead was carried out by 19-yearold former student who showed up on campus with a semi-automatic rifle and began firing at former classmates and teachers Feb. 14.

Outraged survivors began speaking out immediately, both on- and off-camera, calling for tougher gun laws, and calling out the National Rifle Association for opposing such measures.

For the most part, they’ve argued that the saturation of firearms in American society is to blame, and that the answer to the problem is to ban or restrict firearms as much as possible.

The NRA, on the other hand, asserts that gun-free zones or a gun-free society make ordinary citizens sitting ducks, because criminals will always be able to acquire firearms.

Both sides got what they wanted, kind of, when Republican Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed a gun control bill just 23 days after the shooting.

The students got a three-day waiting period for gun purchasers, an increase in the minimum purchasing age from 18 to 21 and a ban on the sale of so-called bump stocks, which allow for rapid manual trigger manipulation.

It’s hard to see how any of those measures might prevent another incident like the one in Parkland; that same trigger effect can also be achieved with the use of a household rubber band, a three-day wait ultimately means little to those bent on committing a crime, and a minimum purchasing age didn’t stop the killers at Columbine or Sandy Hook.

The NRA, however, thinks that more guns in schools may be the answer; the same piece of Florida legislation containing the purchasing restrictions also calls for the creation of a voluntary program in which some properly 6 trained school employees could be armed.

A state law on the books since 2013 may put more guns in North Carolina’s schools.

Cory Vaillancourt photo

“Being combat personnel who have been shot at, it’s a horrible thought to have to take a life, and if you don’t know what that’s like, it’s harder to make that judgment.

I want [a volunteer SRO] to be someone who has had to face down taking a life.”

— Mark Michaux, Navy veteran

North Carolina, however, has had such legislation on the books for about five years, and a recent press conference by a small-town sheriff in the central part of the state may signal a coming push for its implementation.

TOOLS IN THE TOOLBOX On Feb. 28, Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page held a press conference with the county manager, the county superintendent of schools, sheriffs from adjoining counties, other police chiefs in his jurisdiction, town managers from towns in his county, the speaker of the N.C. House and the N.C. Senate president pro tem.

“I’m tired of seeing all the violence and school shootings in this country,” Page said.

At the conference, Page announced his intention to create a “voluntary school safety resource officer program” in accordance with a statute that’s been on the books since 2013.

Specifically, the N.C. law enables sheriffs

to provide to schools “nonsalaried special deputies.” These deputies must have experience as a sworn law enforcement officer or as a military police officer with at least two years of service, and an honorable discharge if no longer in the military.

They would report to and work under the direction of the sheriff, and although they wouldn’t need to meet the physical standards set forth by the N.C. Sheriffs Education and Training Standards Commission, they would still need a physical and would need to be current on all educational and firearms training required by the Commission.

Along with their firearms, these volunteers would carry the power of arrest while on duty, and would be immune from liability “for any good-faith action taken by them in the performance of their duties with regard to the volunteer school safety resource officer program,” according to N.C. General Statute 162-26.

Sheriff Page said he hadn’t yet worked out

who would pay for it all, but costs were expected to be minimal, especially with no forthcoming payroll costs — ammunition for training, uniforms, perhaps body armor.

“Is this program the total solution? No,” he said, describing it as “a tool in the toolbox” that includes more counselors and psychologists and a full-time, paid school resource officer in every school.

In early March, Asheville Republican Congressman Mark Meadows introduced a supplemental appropriations bill that would give the nation’s 98,000 schools an additional $1.5 billion to hire more SROs. But Page’s toolbox probably doesn’t include arming North Carolina public school teachers; an Elon University poll conducted Feb. 28-March 5 asked almost 400 educators, “Should teachers be allowed to carry guns in schools?”

Their answer — 78 percent of them, anyway — was no. North Carolina Association of Educators President Mark Jewell said Feb. 28 that even the thought was “outrageous,” and State Schools Superintendent Mark Johnson told the Charlotte Observer two days earlier that he opposed forcing on teachers “another massive responsibility.”

“Teachers want to teach, children want to learn,” Page said, calling schools “soft targets” while invoking Stoneman, Sandy Hook and Columbine. “Now, in 2018, we can’t wait for another tragic event and the loss of even one child’s life.”

Page hopes his proposal, which is the first of its kind in N.C., will serve as a “model and template” for the state and the country, if it gains approval from The Rockingham County Board of Education.

LOCAL REACTION The amount of homegrown buy-in Page seems to have underscores the collaborative nature of school safety.

Haywood County Sheriff Greg Christopher, who is on the North Carolina Sheriffs Association’s Legislative Committee, said the topic will be a central focus at the March 26 NCSA spring conference. He wanted to reserve his comments regarding the creation of a volunteer program in Haywood County until after he’d met with all county law enforcement department heads as well as school administrators to review procedures that are currently in place.

Haywood County Board of Education Member Bobby Rogers — one of nine on the board — confirmed that meetings would soon occur.

“It is our greatest desire to protect the students, teachers and staff of Haywood County Schools. Efforts are underway to bring administration, the sheriff and the police chiefs together to discuss school safety and options for continual improvement,” he said, adding that every district would have to figure out what’s best for them.

Like Page, Christopher is likely to see substantial support for the idea during his listening tour. Bryson City Republican Rep. Mike Clampitt is already enthusiastic about the possibility.

“I would support that continually and wholeheartedly,” said

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School-sanctioned speech event part of national movement

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER ight about the time this newspaper hits the stands on Wednesday, March 14, students at Haywood County’s two public high schools, Tuscola and Pisgah, will be hitting the bricks as part of a national school walkout to protest gun violence in schools.

While some students across the country may face repercussions like being charged with tardiness or an unexcused absence, Interim Haywood County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Bill Nolte told Haywood Board of Education Members March 12 that HCS was prepared to deal with the situation in a different way.

“We thought it was best, rather than an uncontrolled walkout, to help them organize a way to express their feelings,” Nolte said.

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Members of the Haywood County Board of Education, including Chairman Chuck Francis (center), say school safety is a top priority. Cory Vaillancourt photo

“It is our greatest desire to protect the students, teachers and staff of Haywood County Schools. Efforts are underway to bring administration, the sheriff, and the police chiefs together to discuss school safety and options for continual improvement.”

— Bobby Rogers, Haywood County Board of Education member

The walkout is seen as a response to the recent deaths of 17 students and teachers during a Feb. 14 shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Accordingly, the Wednesday walkouts are to last 17 minutes, and begin at 10 a.m. local time.

Far from an act of defiance, the walkouts at Pisgah and Tuscola came about as the result of conversations between administrators and students.

“I began communicating with our principals, in particular our high school principals on the 23rd [of February] and they begin shortly thereafter meeting with some of their student leadership,” Nolte said.

Some students indicated a desire to participate in the national event.

“They’re like us,” said Nolte. “We have freedom of speech rights and they wanted to talk about the people who passed away, and express their feelings about what we should do to improve the school safety sit-

“We thought this was a way to get in front of this potential situation and to help our students with something that’s very disconcerting to them.”

— Dr. Bill Nolte, Haywood County Schools interim superintendent

called it a “closed campus” situation and said that members of media were not especially welcome, but he has made arrangements to provide access to administrators and some students — pending parental permission — immediately following the walkouts.

Look for more on this developing story in next week’s Smoky Mountain News, on stands Wednesday, March 21.

Smoky Mountain News

“As a veteran this sounds like a viable option,” Clark said. “However, the only way I would support this option is if Sheriff Christopher and our other local police chiefs are a hundred percent for this option, for an additional layer of protection for our children.”

The rest of the board did not return emails seeking comment, but Navy veteran and Lake Logan resident Mark Michaux was happy to share his perspective.

Michaux served as a forward observer on the USS Missouri during the first Gulf War and although he wouldn’t be eligible to participate in the volunteer program since he wasn’t a military policeman, he still thinks it’s a good idea.

“I just can’t see the sense in these schools not being hardened,” said Michaux. “We protect our banks and our politicians, why the heck don’t we protect our kids?”

Michaux said he’d even volunteer if the program is ever implemented and then expanded to include veterans like him.

“My thinking is, being combat personnel who have been shot at, it’s a horrible thought to have to take a life, and if you don’t know what that’s like, it’s harder to make that judgment,” he said. “I want [volunteer SROs] to be someone who has had to face down taking a life.”

Far more than just an armed guard, though, vets in schools bring other benefits serving as yet another positive role model within easy reach of students, according to Michaux.

“It gives kids sense of hope, a sense of safety and a knowledge that someone who’s been through the fire cares about them, and wants them to succeed.”

uation in the country.”

That left only two options, according to Nolte. “One is, we can do nothing and let our students walk out and not have a very organized thing, or, we could help them organize.”

Nolte stressed repeatedly that HCS was merely facilitating student expression and that HCS was in no way taking sides in a national conversation about school shootings that involves not only the perspectives of educators, but also of law enforcement officers, mental health professionals and legislators on a local, state, and national level.

“We thought this was a way to get in front of this potential situation and to help our students with something that’s very disconcerting to them,” he said. “We want you to know that it’s in no way intended on our part to be part of a political position, left or right, right or left. It’s an opportunity to give our kids a forum in a safe way, in an organized way and in a scheduled way.”

Nolte also told the board that the walkouts were not a community event; he

March 14-20, 2018

Clampitt, who met with Swain County administrators about school safety a few weeks ago. “I think it would make a grand difference, a school system in North Carolina having access to individuals that could be depended upon.”

Seasoned Haywood County School Board Chairman Chuck Francis is cautious from a practical standpoint, as well as a philosophical standpoint.

“My initial reaction is that we really need to proceed with caution and be very deliberate in anything that we do — not to kick the can down the road, but to make sure that we’re not going to create another issue in trying to solve the issue,” Francis said March 12.

That same night, Francis’ board approved the fiscal year 2018-19 budget, which includes funding for an additional SRO, bringing the total to five to the total tune of more than $220,000.

But, that’s five for 15 schools.

“My own personal view would be to discuss it as a group and as a board. I’ve wrestled with this, and I see both sides of the issue,” Francis said. “By creating a gun-free zone you’ve made an easy target, but I also see the fact that if you have everybody armed that’s not trained properly, you could create a lot of issues with collateral injuries and possibly fatalities.”

Recently appointed school board member David Burnette said he would take the idea as a possible solution “to discuss with other school board members, school administration and law enforcement,” and elected member of the board Ronnie Clark, said that as to school safety, he believes in being proactive in general.

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High school students in Haywood will walk out Wednesday

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BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER lans to build a crisis stabilization unit in Cherokee for people battling addictions stalled this month when Tribal Council, for the second month running, voted to delay approval of the $31.5 million expenditure.

As designed, the crisis unit would hold about 18 people, with the potential to double that capacity should more beds be needed. It would be a safe and comfortable place for people to recover from addiction withdrawals, with secure corridors to ensure that patients who are in law enforcement custody would not need officers to accompany them except when actually leaving or entering the building.

It’s a sorely needed resource, Casey Cooper, CEO of the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority, told Tribal Council during its March 1 meeting.

“Now these patients are staying anywhere from two days to two months and sometimes even longer than two months in these little emergency rooms that are specifically designed to prevent suicide,” he said. “They are essentially incarcerated in our emergency room.”

In addition to the crisis room, the build-

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March 14-20, 2018

million is a lot of money and that Tribal Council’s job is to think carefully about such expenditures. However, he reminded Council, the funding request was the result of the hospital carrying out what Council had previously directed it to do.

“Let me be really, really clear about this,” he said. “We are pursuing this because there was a time when this was a priority of Tribal Council. We were given a directive to do this.”

Tribal Council approved a $1.7 million design phase for the project in October 2016.

However, only five of the 12 who were on Tribal Council at that time were re-elected in 2017.

Cooper cautioned Tribal Council that delaying the vote would not be a neutral decision. Depending on the length of the delay, he said, the architects and designers might move on to other projects, forcing the tribe to begin a new contract with somebody else — something that would increase the cost. He also pointed out that construction costs are rising by the month.

“There will certainly be an escalation in the project cost as we see the economy revving the way that it is,” he said.

Multiple councilmembers asked about the possibility of the hospital sharing the cost with the tribe.

“I can’t tell you we can afford to finance the debt if you wanted the hospital to do this without tribal support,” Cooper said.

It remains to be seen when, and if, Council will approve funding for the project.

Before discussing it again, the body plans to hold a work session during which it will take a close look at proposed projects and develop a five-to-10-year plan to execute them.

“Council, we have a lot of work to do,” said Chairman Adam Wachacha, of Snowbird. “There’s some decisions that will have to be made here in the near future.”

another of the greatest generation but I have lost a friend.”

Growing up on the Qualla Boundary, Wolfe is from the Big Cove community where his family farmed a 500-acre piece of property. He attended the federally run Cherokee Boarding School where he was taught English and punished for using his native language.

Wolfe enlisted in the U.S. Navy when he was 18 — just two years after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Stationed on the Queen Mary in the Atlantic, Wolfe watched from the ship as the infamous D-Day invasion unfolded before him. He was later aboard the USS Missouri on his way to Pearl Harbor when Japan signed its official declaration of peace there, ending the war.

Tribal Council named Wolfe a Beloved Man in 2013. It was the first time a Cherokee man had been given the title since the early 1800s, and it was a role he took seriously.

“A beloved man is a man who looks after the community — wherever he’s needed, he should be there,” Wolfe said during a 2016 interview with The Smoky Mountain News.

Just last summer, Wolfe’s life of service to country and Cherokee culture earned him the state of North Carolina’s highest award, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. Wolfe has received multiple honors and recognitions

over the years for his cultural contributions, winning the North Carolina Folk Heritage Award in 2003 and the Brown-Hudson Folklore Award from the N.C. Folklore Society in 2010.

The Museum of the Cherokee Indian will

honor Wolfe’s memory by holding a World Storytelling Day at 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 20. Community members will gather to share “stories, laughter and tales” and a video of Wolfe sharing his stories will be shown.

Drug crisis unit vote delayed in Cherokee Council to consider priorities for capital construction

Beloved Man leaves behind lasting legacy

eremiah “Jerry” Wolfe, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ Beloved Man, passed away Monday at the age of 93.

Wolfe was a respected figure in the Cherokee Nation and was a regular fixture at important community events. For the last 18 years, he was a regular storyteller at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian.

Principal Chief Richard Sneed acknowledged Wolfe’s many contributions to the community in a post on his Facebook page.

“Beyond all his public service he and his late wife Juanita raised a family and built a home and served faithfully in the church.

For me, he was a friend and fellow veteran who was always quick with a smile and laugh, generous with his knowledge of our people and encouraging to me,” Sneed wrote. “Our people have lost a connection to 8 our traditions and the country has lost

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Smoky Mountain News

ing would also contain some administrative offices and an entire floor devoted to Analenisgi Behavioral Health, a program that works to turn addicts into productive members of society and has been located in temporary space since its creation in 2015. While these services would technically be located in the old hospital, in truth the building will be mostly new upon completion — plans call for demolishing three-quarters of the existing building.

Cooper said the renovated building would not be as costly per square foot as the new hospital building, as the priorities for the crisis unit would be different than those of the main hospital building.

“The number one priority is safety,” he said. “The number two priority was that it flow and be seamless with the existing building, and number three is that to the extent it was affordable we didn’t want it to be so stark that it appeared these patients were any less worthy than anyone else in the community.”

Tribal Council members all agreed on the virtues of the plan and the need to build a quality crisis care center, expressing deep concern for the addiction issues plaguing friends and family.

“There’s a difference between spending and investing,” said Councilmember Jeremy Wilson, of Wolfetown. “I think this is more than just spending for a building. This is investing in our community and its members who deal with these issues.”

However, for the second month running, Council wound up delaying a vote.

“I don’t think we’ve got that kind of money, people,” said Councilmember Tommye Saunooke, of Painttown. “Where is it coming from? I need to know that.”

Cooper said the project would likely cost $35-36 million, with $31.5 million requested from Tribal Council and the remainder coming from the hospital’s cash reserves.

“This is a scenario where we would recommend some type of debt financing for this project,” said Secretary of Finance Cory Blankenship.

However, he cautioned, Tribal Council should step back and take a hard look at its spending priorities over the next several years.

“There’s nearly half a billion dollars in potential projects for the next five years that have been proposed with a resolution attached, or they’re major infrastructure projects,” Blankenship said.

The majority of those projects, Blankenship said, are not revenue-generating projects.

“There’s a trend in all of those, and the trend is that almost none of them have any funding attached,” added Principal Chief Richard Sneed.

What Tribal Council needs to do, Sneed said, is to step back and prioritize which projects it wants to do and when it wants to do them.

“We have very healthy resources and we’re very blessed with the financial resources we have as a tribe, but they have a limit, and there’s only so much we can do within a certain timeframe,” Blankenship said. “We can see the need within the community, but what is the schedule and what is the priority as to how we’re going to make those investments?”

Cooper said that he understands $31.5

Swain County board can’t hear candidate challenge

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WHAT’S BEING CHALLENGED?

IMPACT ON SWAIN’S CANDIDATE CHALLENGE Other than missing a state appointment, the Swain County Board of Elections wasn’t being particularly impacted by the governor’s legal battles until a resident recently filed a challenge against Sheriff Curtis Cochran.

Cochran, who has served as sheriff in Swain County since 2006, filed to run for another term in February, but Jerry Lowery

Swain County Sheriff Curtis Cochran and his attorney David Sawyer discuss Jerry Lowery’s candidate challenge with the two members of the board of elections. Jessi Stone photo “But the three-judge panel’s order did not void any other parts of the law. As such, all other provisions of Session Law 2017-6, including the changes to the structure and appointment of county boards of elections, remain in effect, and lobbying compliance is now merged with the elections and ethics divisions of the State Board,” said Gannon.

But Cooper isn’t giving up on the challenge yet — on March 6, his legal counsel asked the Supreme Court to review the lower court’s order and strike down Session Law 2017-6 in its entirety.

RESOLUTION COULD BE COMING The N.C. General Assembly is considering House Bill 90, which could become law by March 16 if Cooper doesn’t veto.

The legislation would create a nine-member state elections board that would include four members from each political party and one member who is not affiliated with either of those parties. Gannon said Cooper would select the ninth member from a list of two

Smoky Mountain News

The Session Law merged the former State Board of Elections, the former N.C. State Ethics Commission and the Lobbying Compliance Division of the N.C. Secretary of State’s office under one quasi-judicial and regulatory agency by creating the N.C. Bipartisan State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement.

Before the new law was passed, the governor had the authority to make the appointments to the state board of elections.

However, the new law requires the new joint board to be made up of four Republicans and four Democrats. Cooper would have to appoint the members from a list of six nominees submitted by both party chairs.

On Jan. 26, 2018, the N.C. Supreme Court held that provisions of that law regarding membership and appointment of the State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement, when taken in context with other provisions of the legislation, violated the separation of powers clause under the N.C. Constitution.

The Supreme Court returned the case to the three-judge panel to issue an order consistent with its decision.

“The panel ordered that G.S. § 163A-2,

March 14-20, 2018

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR ov. Roy Cooper’s legal battle challenging the Session Law 2017-6 — passed by a Republican-majority legislature — is having local ramifications for small communities like Swain County.

While the legal challenge has been working its way through the courts, the state board of elections hasn’t been seated and state appointments to local boards of elections haven’t been filled. For many counties, the empty seat hasn’t stopped the local boards from conducting business, but 25 smaller counties that have threemember boards have been left with two members.

Under the law, two members doesn’t constitute a quorum, which means small boards of elections like the one in Swain County can’t conduct business or make any rulings. A judges’ panel had issued a temporary order last year allowing those boards with only two members to continue to operate, but it was recently revoked.

which deals with membership and appointment of the state board, is void and therefore permanently enjoined. As such, there is currently no mechanism in state law to appoint members to the State Board, which has been vacant since June 2017,” said N.C. BOE spokesperson Patrick Gannon.

On March 5, about the same time the Swain County Board of Elections was preparing to hear a candidate challenge against Sheriff Curtis Cochran, a three-judge panel of Wake County Superior Court judges entered a final order in Cooper v. Berger, the governor’s challenge to new board of elections law.

It revoked the temporary order, meaning the Swain board’s actions at the March 5 meeting were nullified.

claims he doesn’t qualify to run because he was dishonorably discharged from his military service. Lowery’s challenge asserts that a dishonorable discharge is equivalent to being convicted of a felony, and as stated in the law, Cochran will have the burden of proof.

Swain Board of Elections held a preliminary hearing March 5 where Cochran was asked to provide his military discharge paperwork. He said he didn’t have it in his possession, but his attorney David Sawyer said the document had been requested from the federal government and will hopefully be expedited.

Following the three-judge panel decision stating that two-member boards can’t conduct business, the Swain board of elections could not proceed with a hearing scheduled for March 12 to hear evidence on the candidate challenge. Normally, the challenger could ask the state board to hear the case but there’s no state board at the moment either.

The only recourse left is for Lowery to hire his own attorney to petition the Wake County Superior Court to hear the challenge.

“So far, Wake County Superior Court has been very helpful in hearing cases that cannot be heard by elections boards,” Gannon said.

Lowery said he’s waiting to see if the issue is resolved in the coming weeks so that a new Swain County Board of Elections can be appointed to hear his challenge. If not, he already has a lawyer and said he’s prepared to take it to Wake County to force Cochran to produce his military documents.

“I’ll take it as far as I can take it — he’s either got to produce it or get out,” he said.

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State, local boards of elections still in limbo

nominees selected by the other eight state board members and he would also have the authority to remove members at his discretion.

With a May 8 primary approaching, it’s important to have a state board and local boards to handle election matters according to the law, but right now the two-member county boards have their hands tied.

“Despite the legal uncertainty, the state board office and county board offices continue to perform tasks necessary to administer elections, including the May 8 primary elections,” Gannon said. “Until a state board is seated and able to appoint county board members, and unless other relief is granted by the courts, county boards with fewer than three members cannot meet as of March 5.”

Based on Cooper’s most recent motion, the courts could decide to issue another temporary order to allow the two-member boards to conduct business, but Gannon said it all depends on how quickly the Supreme Court can address Cooper’s motion.

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No decision on Duke Energy rate hike for WNC Only eastern customers impacted

by Feb. 23 ruling

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR he North Carolina Public Utilities Commission has not yet ruled on a rate increase request for Duke Energy customers in Western North Carolina despite conflicting reports.

Several media outlets, including The Smoky Mountain News’ story two weeks ago, mistakenly reported the utilities commission reached a decision on the rate hike increase.

However, that Feb. 23 ruling was for a separate request from Duke Energy Progress and will only impact customers in the eastern part of the state as well as Asheville.

The decision on Duke Energy Carolinas’ request for a rate increase impacting WNC customers is still forthcoming. As part of the process, a public hearing was held in Franklin in January — a dozen local Duke customers gave testimony regarding the proposed rate increase and none of them were in favor.

Then, the utilities commission began hearing expert witnesses March 5 in Raleigh and is likely to take several weeks before a

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March 14-20, 2018

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decision is announced. No other public testimony will be heard.

In its request, Duke Energy Carolinas asked to increase its rates and charges to produce additional overall annual North Carolina retail revenues of about $611 million. For an existing residential customer who uses 1,000 kilowatt-hours of power monthly, Duke’s proposed rates would increase the monthly bill from $103.96 to $122.68 — an 18 percent increase.

The proposed increase also includes an increase to the basic customer charge from $11.13 to $19.50 for most residential accounts. The basic customer charge would increase from $16.45 to $22.50 for most small general service customers, from $20.32 to $30 for medium general service customers, and from $154.85 to $204 for large general service customers.

Duke Energy stated the increase in revenue would be used to modernize its electric system; generate cleaner power through renewable resources; manage and close its coal ash basins; respond to major storms like Hurricane Matthew and to continually improve service to its customers.

Duke’s application states that about $135 million of the requested $611 million is intended to recover ash basin closure compliance costs incurred since Jan. 1, 2015, following the Dan River coal ash spill. Duke also seeks to recover $201 million toward

ongoing ash basin closure compliance costs.

Customers who spoke out against the increase during the public hearing in Franklin were adamantly opposed to Duke increasing customer rates to pay for the mess it created with the coal ash basins.

Knowing the environmental risks involved with operating its 14 coal ash basins, customers say Duke and its shareholders are responsible for paying for all costs related to the clean up.

About $135 million of the requested $611 million is intended to recover ash basin closure compliance costs incurred since Jan. 1, 2015, following the Dan River coal ash spill.

If the decision regarding Duke Energy’s rate increase request for eastern Carolina customers is any indication, customers won’t have to bear the cost of Duke’s coal ash problems. Duke Energy Progress was asking for an additional $419.5 million in revenue, which would have increased the basic monthly customer charge for residential customers from $11.13 to $19.50.

However, the commission approved only an increase in the basic customer charge to $14 and also imposed a $30 million management penalty on Duke based on its determination that the company’s handling of coal ash “placed its consumers at risk of inadequate or unreasonably expensive service.”

While the utilities commissioner granted about half of Duke’s request, some consumers say it’s not good enough — Duke asks for what many consider an outrageous increase of 14 percent knowing the company will be satisfied to get a portion of it.

“History would indicate that the Commission will reach a compromise. Duke Energy asks for X, the Commission will divide that approximately in half and that is what citizens and businesses will be left with. Is that fair? Is that just? Is that taking the citizens of North Carolina into account?

Or is that giving Duke Energy a slap on the wrist and a pat on the back at the same time? There are people within Duke Energy who need to be held accountable for this,” Valerie Thomas wrote to the commission.

Backlash against the corporation continued earlier this week when the salary of Duke CEO Lynn Good made headlines.

Good’s income doubled in the last two years from $10.8 million in 2015 to $21.4 million in 2017 — about $1.3 million represents her salary while the rest of the increase came from her stock awards.

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Haywood teacher supplement pay

Help needed at Haywood GOP Convention of the convention, which will be held March 24 at The Colonial Theatre and Annex.

The reception, which costs $20 a person, will be held at 1 p.m. to meet and mingle with fellow conservatives. Tickets available in advance by calling 828.506.0205 or paid at the door. All Republican candidates, including Congressman Mark Meadows are invited to speak beginning at 2 p.m.

Arrive early to register between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 and attend your precinct meeting.

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SUN., MARCH 25: PALM SUNDAY Held at Long’s Chapel during all worship services Worship Service Times: 8:20, 9:40, 11:00, 11:05

WED., MARCH 28: SEDER MEAL 5:15 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at Long’s Chapel.

Adults $10; children and youth eat free in the youth area. Register by Wed., March 21 by texting SEDER18 to 828.604.6247 or calling the church office at 828.456.3993.

THUR., MARCH 29: MAUNDY THURSDAY 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary at Long’s Chapel (childcare provided for ages 4 and under)

FRI., MARCH 30: GOOD FRIDAY WORSHIP SERVICE 6:30 p.m. in the Venue at Long’s Chapel (childcare provided for ages 4 and under)

SUN., APRIL 1 EASTER SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE 10:25 a.m. at Stuart Auditorium at Lake Junaluska (childcare provided for ages 4 and under) Smoky Mountain News

The Haywood County Republican Party is looking for volunteers to assist with the annual convention.

An orientation and walk through for new volunteers will be held Tuesday, March 20, at the Canton Colonial Annex, 53 Park St., Canton.

The Haywood County Republican Executive Committee meeting will take place at 5 p.m. to fill vacancies on the board. When the committee meeting is over, Haywood County Republican Party Convention volunteers will get oriented and learn about ways to help out on the day

HOLY WEEK 2018

March 14-20, 2018

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER aywood County’s high-performing public schools will see a small budget increase for the FY 2018-19 school year, but at the same time takes care of some critical needs, including teacher supplement pay that helps attract and retain the best instructors.

“I feel like this year’s budget addresses several issues that we as a YEARS OF EXPERIENCE SUPPLEMENT board have tackled,” Current rate said Chuck Francis, 0-19 4.5 percent chairman of the 20-24 4.75 percent Haywood County 25+ 5 percent School Board. “One of New rate the items in the budget 0-4 4.5 percent I’m really pleased about 5-9 5 percent is we did fund the addi10-14 5.5 percent tional school resource 15-19 6 percent officer out of our local 20-24 6.5 percent budget,” Francis said.

25+ 7 percent “That will make Canton Middle School and Bethel Middle School each have their own, with surrounding counties, “particularly to instead of splitting an SRO. That makes five our east.” total.”

One of the few knocks on the new budget Of the $17.7 million budget’s 37 separate is the continuing appropriation of fund balprogram areas, school building administra- ance to cover gaps in funding. tion saw the largest percentage increase of “No board really likes use fund balance to any program area, almost 22 percent — balance the budget,” Francis said of the $1.32 largely due to decreased state funding. School million appropriated this year, up from $1.11 building administration, however, accounts last year. “However, if you look at where our for just 2.5 percent of the budget in any given fund balance is, it will easily handle that and year. has for the last few years. Therefore there’s The largest single segment of the local been a trend that we have used fund balance current expense budget is non-instructional but it has not become an issue.”

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Small increase in Haywood schools budget

support, which makes up 42 percent of the budget and increased 1.81 percent this year, thanks to insurance cost increases and the hiring of several skilled trade positions.

The budget for classroom teachers, which typically makes up about 11 percent of the total budget, is also up by almost 4 percent most because of increased insurance, Social Security and retirement costs.

That figure doesn’t include a revamped teacher supplement structure, according to HCS’ Finance Officer Angie Gardener.

Instead of a three-tier system that tops out at 5 percent of annual pay, the new system is graduated on a five-year basis and tops out at 7 percent; Interim Superintendent of Haywood Schools Bill Nolte said the change would help Haywood remain competitive

www.LongsChapel.com 175 Old Clyde Rd., Waynesville 828.456.3993

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Maker space movement comes to Haywood

Opportunities for entrepreneurs in advanced manufacturing will soon arrive on Industrial Park Drive. Cory Vaillancourt photo

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER he type of traditional manufacturing that put many small towns on the map and provided a decent living to generations of Americans is long gone; it’s been in decline sine the 1970s and will never fully disappear, but the massive economic benefits of large-scale industrial production for the most part have.

“Traditional manufacturing in North Carolina is somewhat of a pejorative anymore,” said Doug Long, dean of business and industry at Haywood Community College.

“So many people have seen their families, their towns devastated by traditional manufacturing.”

Long’s referring to the long-shuttered plants and superfluous smokestacks that still dot much of the Midwest, the Rust Belt and Appalachia but no longer provide employment in the symbiotic company towns that sprung up around them.

Haywood County is no exception, but is exceptional in that the enduring legacy of traditional manufacturing has made it the perfect place to embrace advanced manufacturing.

“Advanced manufacturing could be anything from the type of equipment that you’re using, all the way through the materials,” said Doug Burchfield, HCC’s dean of workforce continuing education. “You’ve got somebody like GE Aviation using a lot of ceramics. There are some other companies in this area that are using proprietary materials like titanium aluminide. Those are some compounds you don’t commonly see, but the ability now with 3-D printing to do metal printing is huge.”

It’s exactly this type of manufacturing that can help small communities ameliorate some

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March 14-20, 2018

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“We’re not trying to tell Appalachia what it needs to do. Instead, we’re asking Appalachia to come and show us its ingenuity and apply it.”

— Doug Long, Haywood Community College dean of business and industry

of the losses experienced when large local plants closed. But that type of manufacturing is not likely to take place in drafty Dickensian factories — the democratization of resources through technology incubators and so-called “maker spaces” means that entrepreneurs and small businesses will lead the charge, and soon, some of them will have come through HCC’s “Project AMI.”

MANUFACTURING REIMAGINED Project AMI (Advanced Manufacturing Incubator) sprung to life when Haywood Community College recently received a $100,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission to purchase equipment for an AMI. “The idea was that we are going to start an incubator, or a ‘maker space’ is what they call it,” Long said. “With that in mind, we’re trying to support our students who wish to be entrepreneurial but don’t have the means to access that themselves.”

Industrial machinery — and a safe, practical space in which to

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Despite threats to funding, ARC soldiers on

There are 29 North Carolina counties (in pink, above) served by the Appalachian Regional Commission.

Cory Vaillancourt photo illustration, ARC map

the available equipment,” reads the report.

Last fall, executive director of the Sylvabased Southwestern Planning and Economic Development Commission Sarah Thompson told The Smoky Mountain News that ARC grants help rural communities that don’t have the tax base to provide funding for things like the Stecoah Gymnasium Strategic Redevelopment Study and Swain County Hospital’s digital mammography unit — both of which were paid for at least in part by the ARC, like HCC’s Project AMI. “That’s when these federal programs come in to help keep those jobs in our region,” Thompson said.

Data from the report says that in 2017, the ARC helped create or retain more than 21,000 jobs and created or strengthened 2,500 businesses.

in a modular, scalable manner, meaning it won’t take up the whole facility right away.

Its proximity to the SBC, however, is another bonus for entrepreneurs who already have the production figured out, but not the business model.

“We provide technical assistance and support to businesses,” Gould said. “Basically by getting them the resources they need to launch or grow a business.”

“By working with the Small Business Center, we have our folks who are on the front end of what businesses want to get started,” Long said. “So that’s going to help us generate what the need is for other equipment, and other training.”

The goal of the 18-month grant, which was awarded in late September 2017, is to spawn six small businesses and improve six existing businesses; the grant’s effective date was Jan. 1, 2018, and Long said he hopes Project AMI will be up and running by Jan. 1, 2019.

“This has the potential to be the change for Appalachia that Appalachia has been desperately wanting and needing. And the difference in this case is simple,” Long said.

“We’re not trying to tell Appalachia what it needs to do. Instead, we’re asking Appalachia to come and show us its ingenuity and apply it. We’re not telling them what they should be doing.”

For a long time, Appalachians — and many Americans — were told that a bache-

lor’s degree was the only reliable ticket out of generational poverty. Today, investments by the ARC and HCC show a renewed focus on skills and trades as economic development assets.

“Several years ago, the statistic was that about 28 percent of the student body in North Carolina’s community college system already had a bachelor’s degree, which means that they’re coming back here for a skill set because they need to be able to live off of what they’re able to do,” Long said. “I know so many people with bachelor’s and master’s degrees and doctorates who are carrying trays for a living and not applying what they’ve learned. Industry is saying that the bachelor’s degree is not the end-all be-all.”

Project AMI, it’s hoped, will also help attract students to HCC, which was opened in 1965, ironically, as the Haywood Industrial Education Center.

“It’s great from a marketing perspective,” said Jessy Duque, director of marketing and communications at HCC. “It really puts the college out there. It shows the community that we are here for the community and to serve the community and its needs. Aside from the students that we have here, we’re always thinking, ‘How are we serving the needs of the community, whether it’s this year, five years down the road, or 10 years down the road?’ I think with this project, we’re really looking at a long-term benefit.”

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In the ARC’s 2017 progress and accountability report, released Sept. 30, 2017, the group claims to have reduced the number of “high-poverty” counties in the region from 295 in 1960 to 87 in 2015.

That same report outlines the ARC’s goals, one of which happens to be fostering entrepreneurship skills and local business incubation.

“Haywood Community College is cultivating a maker space environment through a new advanced manufacturing business incubator. Local residents, students, and entrepreneurs can receive high-quality training and access to light and advanced manufacturing equipment used by small and medium-sized employers. This access will help users to improve employability through skill development and allow for the testing of entrepreneurial designs using

March 14-20, 2018

operate it — is expensive, but Project AMI will provide both. Burchfield said available equipment will consist of a couple of lathes, a mill, welding gear, woodworking tools and 3-D printers, for starters.

A recent external feasibility study commissioned by HCC suggested that the combination of local economic development data and existing resources at HCC would make the Small Business Center on Industrial Park Drive the perfect location for such a maker space.

“It’s a good footprint as a starting point for AMI. It is warehouse space, with a loading dock,” said Katy Gould, director of the HCC Small Business Center.

Existing tenants in the building — Absolutely Yummy Catering, ALP Systems, Asheville Honey Company, Austin Medical, Telemetrics, Waynesville Soda Jerks and the Western Economic Development Organization — have known since shortly after HCC took possession of the building in 2016 that the clock was ticking, according to Karen Denny, vice president of business operations at HCC. “We renewed their leases so they would all expire at the same time, on Sept. 30, 2018,” Denny said, noting that when HCC inherited the tenants, their individual leases were set to expire anywhere from January 2017 through September 2017 before being renewed by HCC. All in all, there’s about 17,000 square feet of space; Project AMI is intended to be built

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The $100,000 grant to Haywood Community College from the Appalachian Regional Commission wasn’t the first made by the ARC in the area, but since the election of President Donald Trump in late 2016, there’s been an ongoing fear that any grant from ARC could be the last grant from ARC. For more than 50 years, the ARC — a federal-state partnership that funds economic development and infrastructure projects — has served parts of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

That region is home to more than 25 million people in 420 counties, many of which are economically distressed, and many of which benefitted from the ARC’s largest federal appropriation ever for fiscal year 2017.

But that appropriation was made under the Obama administration; in President Trump’s first budget, presented last spring, Trump proposed gutting the expansive federal program, prompting fierce opposition from Senator Mitch McConnell, R-KY, and fellow Kentuckian, Congressman Hal Rogers; Kentucky is one of the largest yearly recipients of ARC grants.

This year, Trump has again proposed defunding the ARC; puzzlingly, he also announced he’ll nominate a former McConnell staffer to serve as the ARC’s next leader.

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TWSA struggles with open meetings laws

hen the Tuckaseigee Water and Sewer Authority held its annual meeting Tuesday, March 6, no members of the media were present.

That’s because none of them were notified that the meeting was to take place.

According to Executive Director Dan Harbaugh, the notice was not sent to TWSA’s media list because the computer of TWSA’s finance officer, who typically sends out the notices, crashed the Wednesday before the meeting. She had to use a temporary computer instead and inadvertently neglected to send out the notice.

“This problem with the media notices is not something that was deliberate,” Harbaugh said.

The annual meeting was included on TWSA’s approved calendar of meetings, which includes 12 monthly work sessions, 12 monthly business meetings and one annual meeting. This makes it what state statute calls a “regular meeting,” meaning that no notice is required.

However, state law requires that the calendar of regular meetings be kept on file with the clerk and posted on the entity’s website, if it has one. While the TWSA site lists the schedule for monthly work sessions and business meetings, it did not mention the March 6 meeting, as required by law. Harbaugh has since uploaded a copy of TWSA’s meeting calendar to the site, located under the “Documents” heading in the “Forms and Documents” category.

While government entities are not required to send notices for regular meetings, many public bodies in this region elect to do so. In Jackson County, entities from the Jackson County Planning Board to the Town of Webster to the Town of Sylva mail out dates for regular meetings, typically with agendas attached, to those who have asked to receive such notices.

TWSA also sends out meeting notices with agendas, though it is not always consistent about sending these notices out to the complete list.

North Carolina law does not outline any penalties for open meetings violations, but a person could file a lawsuit asking the court to declare that the meeting was illegal.

According to agenda provided March 9, the March 6 meeting began with a social hour at 5 p.m., with the regular meeting starting at 6 p.m. Buddy Parton was sworn in as the new representative from Dillsboro, taking over from former Chairman Mike Fitzgerald. Harbaugh gave a report of TWSA’s activities from the past year, and the local governments that appoint TWSA’s board had a chance to ask questions. Tracy Rodes was sworn in as the new TWSA chairperson, and Brenda Oliver 14 was re-elected as vice chair, Harbaugh said.

Sylva’s Creekside Oyster House to expand

Smoky Mountain News

March 14-20, 2018

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Owner George Neslen plans to build a new location for Creekside Oyster House and Grill.

Holly Kays photo

Resolution of impact fee disagreement makes project possible

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER ylva’s Creekside Oyster House and Grill will soon upgrade to a new building following the Tuckseigee Water and Sewer Authority’s decision to allow the owner an alternative to paying a large, upfront impact fee.

“That was a big hurdle,” owner George Neslen said of the fee issue, “and now that I’ve worked that out I’m continuing work toward the project, and hopefully I’ll be able to get it started before the end of the summer.”

Neslen’s plans to expand his business came into the public eye last month, when he told the Sylva Board of Commissioners that TWSA would require him to pay nearly $50,000 in upfront water and sewer impact fees before he could start construction on the 150-seat restaurant. Such a fee would be a deal-breaker, Neslen said, forcing him to either keep his business small or move it to a different county.

Sylva board members then approached TWSA during its Feb. 13 work session, presenting a letter on Neslen’s behalf during a public comment session that drew multiple other speakers, all expressing their belief that high impact fees were strangling Sylva’s economy.

Neslen agreed with that stance but also asked the board why his business couldn’t qualify for the allocation rental option.

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TWSA allows users at existing taps to pay a smaller, monthly impact fee rather than forking over a lump sum impact fee payment.

While such fees must be paid in perpetuity, rather than stopping at a certain dollar amount as would be the case with an upfront fee, they are much lower and easier for a small business to budget. Neslen plans to build new, but the property in question has an existing building with a tap installed — why wouldn’t that qualify him for the rental option, he asked?

According to TWSA Executive Director Dan Harbaugh, the rental option hadn’t been discussed with TWSA before Neslen approached the town board and drove the issue to public discussion. After the Feb. 13 meeting, he said, Neslen met with TWSA staff, and during that meeting they identified a way to use the allocation housed at the existing buildings on the property as the basis for allowing allocation rental.

“When the restaurant owner (Neslen) ran to the Town of Sylva raising his concerns over ‘impact fees’ he hadn’t provided TWSA staff the information necessary to fully review the matter and advise him on all options,” Harbaugh said in an email. “He heard how much the impact fees would be for a new 150seat full-service restaurant and stopped the conversation there. The option of a rental wasn’t discussed with TWSA staff to the point where it was or wasn’t verified as an option for him. His incomplete information on the matter led to the public outcry regarding this.”

Neslen remembers things differently.

“He (Harbaugh) said I ended the conversation there, but it took me a long time to even get somebody on the phone to speak

with me, and then they just said, ‘Here’s a form. This is it. It’s a new building. You have to pay this sum.’ It was approximately $50,000,” Neslen said. “Because there was already water and sewer there I asked about that (allocation rental) and I was told no. Yes, I ended the conversation there, and I went to the town and asked them to help support me, and they all did. And then they (TWSA) were much more willing to sit down at the table and work something out.”

Under the rental policy, Neslen said, he will pay a $175 application fee plus a couple thousand dollars to install a larger meter. In addition to his monthly fee for water and sewer use, he will also pay a monthly fee in lieu of an upfront impact fee payment but doesn’t yet know how much that will be. He has to turn in the application before being given a number, he said, and he hasn’t done that yet because once the application is turned in the clock starts ticking to either start using the allocation or pay a monthly fee to keep it available. Neslen said he’ll turn in the application once he’s chosen a contractor.

The goal is to start construction this summer and have the new restaurant done by the end of the year.

While Neslen’s situation has been resolved, some believe that a more permanent policy change should be enacted to address future, similar situations that may arise.

“I did get my individual situation to where I think it’s going to work for me, and it will technically fall under that rental policy, but I think they should offer that for new construction anyway,” Neslen said. “High impact fees are a hindrance on our local economy.”

Last month, TWSA’s policy committee discussed a potential change that would expand the rental option to include new construction.

According to David Nestler, a Sylva commissioner who is on the TWSA board and its policy committee, most committee members don’t support such a change. The full board will have the opportunity to consider it during TWSA’s next meeting, 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 20.

“There’s three members of that committee. I’m one of them. I was the only one who voted to make that change,” Nestler said during a March 8 Sylva town meeting. “The other two members voted not to recommend that policy be changed.”

Impact fees have been a frequent topic of discussion over the last several years, with many holding them responsible for preventing growth in Jackson County. Others, however, point out that water/sewer system funding has to come from somewhere, and that if impact fees were to disappear rates on existing users would have to rise significantly.

A 2017 state law required all water and sewer utilities charging up-front fees to go through a prescribed process to evaluate the maximum such fee they can legally charge.

TWSA received a preliminary report on its results last month and learned that its current fees are substantially lower than what would become the legal maximum, should the results of that preliminary report be adopted. A public hearing on the report will be held Tuesday, April 17.

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Groundbreaking for Pathways shelter

WCU offers mentoring workshop To help employers understand how to leverage the skills and experiences of a diverse workforce, Western Carolina University will offer “Experience is a Terrible Thing to Waste: Mentoring Today’s

9 Awesome Participating Businesses: Currahee Brewing Co., Freedom Taxi, Lazy Hiker Brewing Co., Mixers Bar & Nightclub, Motor Co. Grill, Mulligans Bar & Grille, Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Pub, Rock House Lodge, and Root + Barrel Kitchen

Franklin resident Tamara Zwinak is collecting signatures in hopes of appearing on the November ballot. Donated photo people will support her candidacy, at least in principle.

“Signing is not an expression of support for the candidate, but support for democracy,” she said. “Even if you don’t win there is a benefit to democracy by running or even trying to run.”

If Zwinak doesn’t meet her goal, she said she’d instead mount a write-in campaign.

“People are really sick and tired of all this partisan politics,” she said. “We have to have a vibrant, at least two-party system to keep our democracy healthy.”

Workforce” from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, March 15, at the university’s instructional site at Biltmore Park.

Through attending the workshop, participants will gain a greater appreciation for the value of mentoring as a business strategy, as well as how to tailor mentoring strategies to fit differing generational values and expectations.

The cost to attend the workshop is $99.

Upon successful completion of the training, attendees may receive four Society for Human Resources professional development credits.

To register, visit pdp.wcu.edu and click on “Mentoring Today’s Workforce” or contact Jill Thompson, WCU associate director of professional development, at 828.227.3070.

Church offering pancake breakfast Maggie Valley United Methodist Church will hold its ninth annual pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 24, at the fellowship hall. Tickets cost $8 for adults and $3 for children.

For more information, call 828.926.9794.

*Catch the Shamrock Shuttle around town from 8 p.m.-11p.m. *Food & drink specials *Exciting raffle prize, valued at $160 *Starting March 13, visit the Rathskeller to purchase your $5 Trail Bundle For additional info, check out the St. Patrick's Day Beer Trail event on Facebook.

“SITTING UP ON COLD CONCRETE WHILE HOLDING YOUR KNEES TO YOUR CHEST AND SHIVERING IS NOT SLEEP.” Homeless in Haywood: A community conversation Cory Vaillancourt, Smoky Mountain News

9:30 a.m. · Sunday, March 18 CANTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 190 MAIN STREET · CANTON Free and open to the public

Smoky Mountain News

A groundbreaking ceremony for the Mom and Kids dorm at Haywood Pathways Center will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. Thursday, March 15, at the Pathways campus, 179 Hemlock Street, Waynesville.

The new two-story dormitory will feature 10 family rooms, a trauma-informed playroom, multipurpose room, communal living space with kitchenette and laundry facilities on each floor, 24/7 security and full-time professional case management.

For more information, email deb@haywoodpathways.org.

Saturday, March 17, 4:30 p.m. - 11 p.m.

Downtown Franklin-Start and Stop Anywhere on the Trail Must purchase a $5 Trail Bundle to participate

March 14-20, 2018

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER he five men — three Democrats, a Republican and a Libertarian — hoping to unseat Asheville Republican Congressman Mark Meadows in November will now be joined by one woman, if she can get the signatures she needs to make the ballot.

Franklin resident Tamara Zwinak says her family has roots in the area dating back to 1723, although she grew up in California spent her career as a licensed clinical social worker in the corrections industry.

“My entire life has been devoted to public service,” Zwinak said.

Zwinak’s run for a county legislative position once before, during the 1990s in New York as a member of the Green Party, with which she’s no longer affiliated.

In fact, she’s no longer affiliated with any party, and is attempting to qualify for the November elections as an unaffiliated candidate.

That’s probably the best place for Zwinak.

“I’m fiscally conservative, and I used to be very socially liberal, but I’m not so much anymore,” she said, elaborating on her support of the old HB2 and her opposition to the Affordable Care Act, which lies in contrast to her support for universal health coverage.

As an unaffiliated candidate, Zwinak will have to collect exactly 8,013 valid signatures

by May 7 to appear on the ballot.

If she does, she’ll face the winner of the Republican Primary — Meadows has token opposition from Buncombe County Republican Chuck Archerd — and the win-

ner of the Democratic Primary between Scott Donaldson, D-Hendersonville, Phillip Price, D-Nebo and Steve Woodsmall, DPisgah Forest. Clifton Burton, L-Sylva, has no primary opponent.

Like Archerd, Zwinak said part of the reason she was running was in case Meadows takes a position in the Trump administration; rumors briefly circulated about the possibility are just that, for now, but it theoretically remains a possibility.

Zwinak wants to keep her campaign costs under $5,000 and said she’ll rely on volunteers to help gather signatures, and thinks

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Unaffiliated candidate mounts congressional bid

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Parking decks planned for Western Carolina First could be complete

by August 2019

This parking lot, known as the North Baseball Lot, is WCU’s preferred site to construct its first parking deck. WCU photo

“This baseball site really jumped off the page at us. It was not a hard decision.”

— Mike Byers

“This baseball site really jumped off the page at us,” he said. “It was not a hard decision.”

The site sits right at the entrance of campus, primarily serving commuters. Due to the frequency with which each population comes and goes, each commuter parking space typically serves four to five commuters, while each resident parking spot serves just one person, Byers said. The

North Baseball site also sits at a lower grade, meaning that a multi-level parking deck wouldn’t obstruct the view as much as it might if built elsewhere. The location would make it convenient to serve events at the Liston B. Ramsey Regional Activity Center.

Construction on that site would also be much cheaper, per space, than the other available options.

The site currently contains 400 parking

spaces, with the parking deck adding 600 spaces for a total of 1,000. On a campus of 6,000 parking spaces, that would increase the inventory by 10 percent. While the Camp site would add 850 spaces, the cost would be much higher.

Preliminary estimates put the cost of building on the North Baseball site at $13.8 million — $13,800 per space — while the Camp site would cost

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March 14-20, 2018

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER Parking decks could come to Western Carolina University sooner rather than later following the Board of Trustees’ unanimous vote to designate three existing parking lots as sites for future parking deck construction.

The university’s master plan already designates the parking lot and Cordelia Camp Gymnasium for future parking deck construction, but a recent evaluation of other existing parking lots revealed that might not be the best or only option available, WCU’s Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance Mike Byers said during a March 1 Board of Trustees committee meeting. In addition, he said, the university could well need more than one parking deck in the future.

The three parking lots now joining the Camp Lot, officially Lots 4A and 4B, as future parking decks in the university master plan are Lot 8A, known as North Baseball Parking Lot; Lot 21, known as the former band practice field; and Lot 37, the fourtiered commuter lot across from Hunter Library.

The North Baseball lot will likely be the first one to be crowned with a parking deck, Byers told the trustees.

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March 14-20, 2018 Smoky Mountain News

$25.4 million, or $17,200 per space. North Baseball also wins compared to the band and four-tiered sites, which would clock in at an estimated $17,900 and $19,700 per space, respectively.

WCU had expected to pay about $26 million for a parking deck, Byers said, so pursuing the North Baseball option could allow it to consider building two parking decks serving two different parts of campus.

“We might start with North Baseball and very rapidly move to that second site,” Byers said.

The second site would likely be the former band practice field, located along Memorial Drive across from the campus bookstore and Reid Gym. That facility would likely serve fewer commuters and more residents and university employees than would the North Baseball site. It would cost an estimated $12 million to build a 670-space deck there, adding 485 parking spots to the existing inventory.

“I could see many people desiring parking here because it’s a very close walk to many destinations in the core of campus,” Byers said.

The other potential parking deck sites are still viable options, he said. The Camp Lot still has its perks, and while the fourtiered lot is less ideal, it’s in an area of campus that is in “desperate need of redevelopment.”

“Infrastructure is sometimes something you don’t think about until you don’t have it, so this is great planning ahead,” commented Trustee Tim Haskett.

While the additional parking would be a welcome change for everyone using the campus on a regular basis, the construction process could result in some growing pains.

Byers said the plan would be to get construction done as quickly as possible to lessen the inconvenience.

The project would begin “the second after December commencement,” Byers said, with contractors doubling down on construction efforts to “build like crazy” throughout the spring semester, finishing the deck in time for the new school year in August. During the springtime construction, Byers said, the university might consider leasing a parking lot off-campus to set up a park-and-ride situation.

WCU is aiming to start the project this December, but depending how long it takes to get the design work done and approve a contractor, it may have to wait until December 2019, said Bill Studenc, WCU’s communications director. Because the university typically has a small drop in population from fall to spring, springtime would be the preferred semester to be down one parking lot.

The parking deck would still need to go through a series of approvals before truly getting the green light. Trustees must approve the facility’s design, as well as the choice of contractor. Then the University of North Carolina Board of Governors would need to authorize the final debt issuance.

WCU would pay the debt service using revenue from parking fees.

“This would be a project that pays for itself,” Byers said.

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Smoky Mountain News March 14-20, 2018

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Health

Smoky Mountain News

HRMC offers free heart screenings Nurses from Haywood Regional Medical Center, a Duke LifePoint hospital, held pop-up heart screenings at Food Lion and other locations in February in observance of National Heart Month.

Donated photo

Parents invited to medicine abuse meeting The Coalition for a Safe & Drug Free Swain County is sponsoring a Medicine Abuse Project meeting for adults from 7 to 8:15 p.m. Tuesday, March 20, at the United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall on Main Street in Bryson City.

Refreshments will be served at 6:45 p.m. and childcare is available for ages 1-5 — call 828.488.4455 to register by March 16.

Parents are invited to come learn about how to protect their children from the prescription drug epidemic.

For more information, visit www.medicineabuseproject.com.

Healthy Living Festival returns The ninth Annual Healthy Living Festival will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 24, at the Cullowhee Rec Center.

This year’s festival includes about 50 vendors that will provide information to encourage participants to live well and be healthy. A variety of free health screenings, wellness information, interactive booths, giveaways, and door prizes will be available. The festival is a free event open to the public.

Festival participants will notice an increase in children’s activities — Blue Ridge Health will be offering free pediatric vision and hearing screenings, and children will have opportunities to engage in physical activity.

Safe Kids Jackson County will be partnering with community agencies to host a medicine drop

event. Western Carolina Digestive Consultants will be hosting the 12 foot long interactive Strollin’ Colon exhibit, informing the public and answering questions about digestive and colon health. www.healthylivingfestival.weebly.com.

Waynesville Yoga offers workshops Waynesville Yoga Center will offer a number of workshops in March.

Learn about ways to relieve knee pain from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 17.

Fats: The Good, the Bad and the Healthy will be offered from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 24.

The workshop will explore the difference between Omega 3 vs. Omega 6 fatty acids and look at the latest science behind fat and health.

A Women’s Circle in Conversation: Awareness with Katie Schomberg will be offered from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 31. This workshop is an opportunity for growth, for connection, for loving yourself.

Space is limited: call 828.246.6570 or visit www.waynesvilleyogacenter.com to register.

Teen tobacco use increasing According to the 2016 U.S. Surgeon General’s Report, e-cigarette use among youth and young adults has become a public health concern.

Electronic-cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, are battery-powered devices that heat a liquid into an aerosol that the user inhales. The liquid is usually made of nicotine from tobacco, flavoring, and other additives. These devices can also be used to

deliver marijuana and other drugs.

In Western North Carolina, 27 percent of high school and 10.4 percent of middle school students report using non-cigarette products such as e-cigarettes, cigars, and hookahs. E-cigarettes have been marketed to youth by promoting flavors and using media channels and approaches that have been used in the past for marketing conventional tobacco products to youth and young adults.

Research shows that e-cigarettes are not harmless, as many contain highly addictive nicotine. Even when e-cigarettes do not contain nicotine, the liquids inside can include solvents, flavorants, and toxicants. Aerosol created by e-cigarettes also contains harmful ingredients that are potentially harmful to the public’s health.

Parents, teachers, health care providers, and others who influence youth and young adults can advise and inform them of the dangers of nicotine; discourage youth tobacco use in any form, including e-cigarettes; and set a positive example by being tobacco-free themselves For more information and to speak to a Tobacco Treatment Specialist, contact Janelle Messer at 828.587.8238 or janellemesser@jacksonnc.org.

Jackson Health collecting survey data The School Health Advisory Council of Jackson County Public Schools will be surveying youth in sixth to 12th grades to better understand health issues among adolescents in the community.

Surveys will be available for review at the Board of Education and the front office of each school from March 12-16. Surveys will be distributed to students March 19-29. The results of the survey will be used to guide future programming for students. The surveys are completely anonymous, unable to be tracked back to the submitter, and school administrators will not see individual responses. Questions and comments based on the review can be sent to Superintendent, Dr. Kim Elliott, at 828.586.2311.

Free varicose vein program Haywood Regional Medical Center is holding a free tired leg/ varicose vein educational program at 5 p.m. Thursday, March 29, at the Vein Center at Haywood Regional Medical Center on the second floor 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.

Health series at the library The Jackson County Public Library is presenting a brand new monthly health series Mind and Body: Health, Nutrition, and You. This is a partnership JCPL is doing with Western Carolina University, Mountain Projects, Appalachian

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• Maggie Valley Wellness Center will be offering two yoga classes in March — 55am Gentle Flow with Candra from 9 to 9:55 a.m.

Wednesdays and Gentle Vin Yin with Jamie from 9 to 9:55 a.m. Fridays.

• The Haywood Health Authority Board meeting will be held at 4 p.m.

Thursday, March 22, in the second floor classroom at Haywood Regional Medical Center.

ALSO:

• Macon County Public Health offers nutrition counseling and diabetes education. Services are covered by many private insurances including Medicare/Medicaid. All insurance accepted and income based sliding scale fee available to Macon County residents. Call April Innis at 828.349.2455 for more information.

• See “If the Shoe Fits” at the upcoming March 27 Ladies Night Out and Men’s Night Out combined program on proper footwear.

Steve Crocker will be guest speaking. Socks will also be available to purchase. The program will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the cafeteria at Angel Medical Center.

Community Services, Vaya Health, SAND, and Cherokee Mental Health.

The monthly topics are as follows: n “Diabetes and Disease Prevention, Heal What Ails You” at 6:30 p.m. April 24 n “PTSD: Invisible Wounds, Visible Healing” at 6:30 p.m. May 1 n “Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention” at 6:30 p.m. May 15 n “Drug Abuse, Addiction, and the Opioid Crisis” at 6:30 p.m. June 12 n “Brain Health, a Look at Alzheimer's and Dementia” at 6:30 p.m. July 10 n “End of Life Care and Planning” at 6:30 p.m.

Aug. 14 All of these events will be conducted by local experts in each specific health field. This series is free and open to anyone.

For more information, call 828.586.2016.

Red Cross needs donations The American Red Cross will be holding the following blood drives: n 2 to 6 p.m. March 19 at Jonathan Valley Elementary School, 410 Hall Dr., Waynesville. n 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. March 21 at Southwestern Community College - Burrell Building, 447 College Dr., Webster. n 2 to 6 p.m. March 26 Haywood at Center Pigeon Fire Dept., 2412 Pisgah Dr., Canton. n 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 27 at Harris Regional Hospital, 68 Hospital Dr., Sylva. n 8:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. March 28 at Swain County High School, 1415 Fontana Rd., Bryson City.

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Opinion

Smoky Mountain News

Too often, we ignore the calls for help oing nothing to enhance school safety is not an option.

Thoughtful gun control measures would be helpful and are one tool to help get there, but there are other — perhaps more beneficial — avenues we as a society should pursue.

At a Haywood Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting last week, Waynesville Police Lt. Tyler Trantham’s topic was how to plan for live shooter situations in businesses, churches and schools. It was the second part of his presentation, the first having come on Feb. 7 — exactly one week before the school massacre in Parkland, Florida, on Valentine’s Day. Editor His talk was sobering. Since the Parkland shooting, Waynesville police had been alerted several times about students whose behavior worried friends, teachers, or parents. Police responded and tried to get help for these kids. Although we’ll never know what would have happened had these tips not been relayed to authorities, that intervention may have prevented another unthinkable act.

Think about that for a moment: the unfortunate, gutwrenching truth is that what happened in Parkland or Columbine or at any other mass shooting could happen right here. Our cover story from two weeks ago noted that police across Western North Carolina have responded to several threats to schools since the Parkland shooting.

The Florida legislature got to work on gun control meas-

Scott McLeod

D

ures. They passed a bill that raised the age for rifle purchases to 21, enacted a three-day waiting period, and outlawed bump stocks (the mechanisms that turn semi-automatic rifles into machine guns).

Those measures won’t pass in North Carolina or in Congress. Too bad, really.

So, what can we do? In my estimation, the best long-term answer is more psychologists and counselors and social workers in our public school system. Lt. Trantham said during his talk that kids today don’t cope with problems very well.

Statistics back him up.

In a recent story by our News Editor Jessi Stone on mental health services for youth in our region (www.smokymountainnews.com/news/item/21227), she cited a report by the Association for Psychological Science: … the rate of depression and suicide among youth ages 13-18 increased between 2010-15. The research is based on two nationwide surveys and national statistics on suicide deaths … Between 2009-10 and 2015, 33 percent more adolescents exhibited high levels of depressive symptoms; 12 percent more reported at least one suicide-related outcome, and 31 percent more died by suicide.

According to the study, adolescents who spent more time on social media and electronic devices were more likely to report mental health issues.

So, we know adolescents are more depressed than ever, and those who engage in a lot of social media use are worse off than their peers. And it is adolescents or those just a few years

The U.S. has become an oligarchy he didn’t care enough about the country he might at least care more for his reputation. I checked the box asking for a reply. Back came a form notice, probably triggered by my zip code, saying the senator doesn’t respond to messages from outside South Carolina. That implies he doesn’t read them either.

Do you suppose the Koch Brothers or Wayne Lapierre would get the same answer?

To be fair, many if not most members of Congress have the same policy.

Constituent mail alone is a full-time job.

But if they’re not interested in Guest Columnist public opinion from people who can’t vote for them, they shouldn’t be soliciting and accepting campaign money from them either — as just about all of them do.

Nothing about our country is as inconsistent with its ideals as the reality that such outsider money usually has more to do with who’s in Congress — and who’s not — than the votes of the people they claim to actually represent. In a better world, it would be illegal.

It’s often said that all politics is local, and it does happen from time to time that voters give the heave-ho to someone

Martin Dyckman

Do politicians read their mail? It depends.

A recent New Yorker article on Christopher Steele, the British espionage expert, scored a direct hit on Lindsey Graham, the senior senator from our neighboring state to the south. Steele, you may recall, put his livelihood and perhaps his life at risk in helping to alert our intelligence agencies to Russia’s covert — and continuing — subversion of our election process. Among other things, Steele wrote the memo that raised the question of whether the Kremlin has seriously compromising information regarding Donald Trump’s personal conduct during a visit to Moscow.

Steele deserves the gratitude and respect of every patriotic American. What did he get from Graham? A cheap attack, in the form of a criminal referral to the Justice Department, which the magazine article properly described as a political stunt by Graham and Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa.

It went hand in glove with the seamy campaign by Devin Nunes, R-California, chair of the House Intelligence Committee, to disparage the entire special counsel’s investigation of Trump’s romance with the Kremlin and the flourishing crop of crimes being laid at the president’s doorstep if not to the Great Pretender himself.

Graham does neither the country nor himself any good by covering for Trump in the face of such serious questions.

I sent him an e-mail through his website, remarking that if

older that are committing these shootings.

And yet our schools are woefully under-staffed with counselors and psychologists. Stone’s article revealed that regional mental health providers are trying to adequately perform their jobs as funding is getting drastically chopped. And, according to the state Parent Teachers Association, our public schools have one school counselor for every 375 students when the recommended ratio is one for every 250; one school psychologist for every 2,100 students when the recommended ratio is one for every 700; and we have one school social worker for every 1,719 students when the recommended ratio is one for every 250.

These professionals — if staffed at adequate levels — would almost certainly have been able to see problems in some of these kids years before they committed these terrible deeds.

And the truth is that many other children suffering from problems that lead them to lives of drug use, domestic violence, crime, and long-term mental health problems would be identified earlier and provided treatment, intervention, counseling or medication that might have changed their lives and made them productive members of our society.

I support gun control measures like those passed in Florida, laws that are smart and modest and should be easy to support.

More important for the long-term health of our country, though, is putting up the money to address the psychological and behavioral problems children are dealing with in this fastchanging world. Each of these adolescent shooters is crying out for help, and the truth is that in too many cases we are ignoring their calls.

(Scott McLeod can be reached at info@smokymountainnews.com) who seems to be neglecting the grassroots. It’s what helped Kay Hagan defeat North Carolina Sen. Elizabeth Dole in 2008. However, outside money fueled both campaigns, as it did again in Hagan’s loss to Thom Tillis, an NRA favorite, six years later. To understand most election results, and why Congress most often acts as it does, follow the money.

That’s what two professors did in a study they published in the journal of the American Political Science Association four years ago. They tracked the outcome of 1,779 policy issues on which it was clear what the public and the special interests thought. When those viewpoints did not coincide, the public rarely won. “(T)he preferences of the average American appear to have only a miniscule, near-zero, statistically non-significant impact upon public policy,” they wrote. “… If policymaking is dominated by powerful business organizations and a small number of affluent Americans, then America’s claims to being a democratic society are seriously threatened.”

The term that best fits what our country has become is “oligarchy,” or if you prefer, “oligarchic republic.” Webster’s defines oligarchy simply as “government by the few.”

That’s why Lindsey Graham doesn’t answer mail from North Carolina. We need to fix that. Electing Bernie Sanders would have gone a long way to fixing it, but we got Donald Trump instead. Next time, we must do better. Time is running out.

Martin A. Dyckman is a retired journalist who lives in Western North Carolina. dyckmanm@bellsouth.net)

LOOKING FOR OPINIONS: The Smoky Mountain News encourages readers to express their opinions through letters to the editor or guest columns. All viewpoints are welcome. Send to Scott McLeod at info@smokymountainnews.com., fax to 828.452.3585, or mail to PO Box 629, Waynesville, NC, 28786.

Susanna Barbee

R

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Smoky Mountain News

Avenue, and for our dance attire like leotards and ballet shoes, we went to a store called A Dancer’s Place on Patton Avenue.

So, while I have some memories of “going to town,” they pale in comparison to those of my parents and grandparents.

I’m 38 years old, and I feel like my generation was on the cusp of Main Street America. When I was little, interstates were being built at warp speed and many downtowns deteriorated, though it was a slow death we didn’t realize immediately. First one business closing, then another, then another, until all of a sudden, an eerie ghost town of locked doors and boarded-up windows remained.

America began as a collection of Main Streets surrounded by farms and open acreage, connected by two-lane highways.

Every downtown had its own vibe, personality and history.

I’ve always been a person who embraces the unique. When given the choice, I shop and dine small and local as opposed to visiting chain stores, outlets or malls. I can feel the decades of memories and experiences in the old buildings, and I love it.

Think about being downstairs in Mast General in Waynesville and hearing those floors creak above. That sound is the past saying hello and thank you for coming. Or eating a sandwich in Trailhead Bakery knowing a slew of locals will forever remember that space as Whitman’s Bakery.

I feel like there’s been a resurgence of “local love” over the past decade and it makes me happy. We’ll never go back to a time when all shopping, dining and entertaining happens on Main Street, but many towns across America are working hard to revitalize their downtowns, wanting so badly to keep the heart beating.

One of my favorite things to do is frolic in a downtown area. Whether it’s towns I know intimately like Waynesville or Asheville or somewhere new like Forest City, I love to explore, learn and honor what once was.

As a mom, I want to teach my children that the past, present and future are all tied together, an altruistic circle of then, now and what will be. I want my boys to grow up and be men that bypass a fast food joint for a bakery located in an old downtown bank or ignore a chain restaurant to eat at an independent place that serves local eggs and jam.

So, whether we’re writing stories or living them, we’ve got to pump life into our small towns.

As author Robert Cormier said, “All the stories I’ll ever need are right here on Main Street.”

That’s something we should all remember.

(Susanna Barbee is a writer and digital media specialist for Smoky Mountain News and Mountain South Media. susanna@mtnsouthmedia.com)

March 14-20, 2018

ecently, I spent time in the tri-cities of Rutherford County, N.C. Spindale, Forest City and Rutherfordton make up this trifecta of small towns nestled in the foothills.

Our first stop was Copper Penny restaurant in Forest City. While we were waiting on the rest of our group, I noticed the hardwood floors and tin ceiling and felt a familiar pang of nostalgia, a longing for something I never had and that’s now impossible to experience.

Columnist Growing up, both my mom and dad talked about “going to town.” They typically went on Saturdays, to see a film, shop at a department store or eat at a diner. They would even get gussied up, my grandparents wearing their nicest coats and hats and my mom wearing frilly socks and Mary Janes.

Back then, going to town was something special.

While at lunch on Saturday, I looked out the window at the passersby on the streets of Forest City. The parking spots cut diagonally, a 35-year-old pharmacy across the street and an antique town clock attached to the side of a building. I later learned the clock has been restored multiple times because it means so much to the hearts of Rutherford County.

Also across the street was a department store called Graham Cash. I don’t think its façade has changed since its inception over 50 years ago. We decided to venture into this relic. It’s a two-story space with high ceilings, built-in shelving and checkout registers on the upper and lower levels, although the one on the lower level looked to be shut down. The inventory was minimal, especially downstairs.

As my eyes scanned the place, I could easily imagine the store during its heyday, both floors bustling with shoppers, two registers an absolute necessity. I thought of department store scenes from “Miracle on 34th Street” and other classic movies. I thought of my mom holding my grandmother’s hand as they shopped for Sunday dresses.

I love these thoughts.

But, as the story goes, box stores and malls stole the allure and demand from independent department stores. I’m impressed Graham Cash still exists at all.

My mother worked at Weaverville Primary School located in downtown Weaverville. After school, my friends and I would walk to the old drug store and spin on the stools after buying a snack. Growing up, we also shopped in downtown Asheville.

For shoes, my mom would take my sister and me to Tops for Shoes on Lexington

Sunday, April 1

opinion

Maintaining a nostalgia for unique main streets

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

tasteTHEmountains

Real New Yorkers.

Real Italians. Real Pizza.

Dine-In ~ Take Out ~ Delivery

An Authentic Italian Pizzeria & Restaurant from New York to the Blue Ridge.

Just to serve you!

243 Paragon Parkway | Clyde Monday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Open Sundays Noon to 8p.m.

828-476-5058 NEW LOCATION OPEN!

Monday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m • Closed Sundays

499 Champion Drive | Canton

10% March 14-20, 2018

Present this coupon and recieve:

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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 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.

CATALOOCHEE RANCH 119 Ranch Dr., Maggie Valley.

828.926.1401. It’s winter, but we still serve three meals a day on Friday, Saturday and long holiday weekends. Join us for Breakfast from 8:00 to 9:30am; Lunch from 12 to 2:00pm; and Dinner featuring entrees such as prime rib, Virginia ham and lime-marinated chicken, complemented by seasonal vegetables, homemade breads, jellies and desserts. And a roaring fire in the fireplace.

We also offer a fine selection of wine and craft beer. Come enjoy mile-high mountain-

top dining with a spectacular view.

Reservations are required. For more details, please call 828.926.1401.

CHURCH STREET DEPOT 34 Church Street, downtown Waynesville.

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

CITY LIGHTS CAFE Spring Street in downtown Sylva.

828.587.2233. Open Monday-Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tasty, healthy and quick. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, espresso, beer and wine.

Come taste the savory and sweet crepes, grilled paninis, fresh, organic salads, soups and more. Outside patio seating. Free Wi-Fi, pet-friendly. Live music and lots of events.

Check the web calendar at citylightscafe.com.

THE CLASSIC WINESELLER 20 Church Street, Waynesville.

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

Wednesday through Saturday serving freshly prepared small plates, tapas, charcuterie, desserts. Enjoy live music every Friday and Saturday night at 7pm. www.classicwineseller.com. Also on facebook and twitter.

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

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

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

Smoky Mountain News

DELLWOOD FARMHOUSE RESTAURANT 651 Dellwood Rd., Waynesville.

828.944.0010. Warm, inviting restaurant serving delicious, freshly-made Southern comfort foods. Cozy atmosphere; spacious to accommodate large parties. Big Farmhouse Breakfast and other morning menu items served 8 a.m. to noon. Lunch/dinner menu offered 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Come see us.

You’ll be glad you did! Closed Wednesdays.

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.

FRANKIE’S ITALIAN TRATTORIA 1037 Soco Rd. Maggie Valley.

828.926.6216 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

1196 N Main St Waynesville NC 828.452.5187 Kaninis.com Serving lunch Monday-Saturday 10:30-2:30

Breakfast : Omelets, Pancakes, Biscuits & Gravy!

New Hours: Open Friday, Saturday & Sunday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Breakfast served all day!

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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.

Spend St. Patrick's Day at Firefly Taps & Grill!

All day Saturday, March 17 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

128 N Main St. | Waynesville fireflytapsandgrill.com 828.454.5400

Shepherd's pie, fish and crisps, corned beef and cabbage soup, green beer & pistachio cake.

Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Saturday 12 p.m.-10 p.m.

Closed Tues.

Sun. 12-9 p.m.

Sandwiches • Burgers • Wraps 32 Felmet Street (828) 246-0927

MAGGIE VALLEY RESTAURANT

tasteTHEmountains Monday-Saturday. Father and son team Frank and Louis Perrone cook up dinners steeped in Italian tradition. With recipies passed down from generations gone by, the Perrones have brought a bit of Italy to Maggie Valley. frankiestrattoria.com

J. ARTHUR’S RESTAURANT AT MAGGIE VALLEY U.S. 19 in Maggie Valley. 828.926.1817.

Open for dinner at 4:30 to 9 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. World-famous prime rib, steaks, fresh seafood, gorgonzola cheese and salads. All ABC permits and open year-round. Children always welcome.

Take-out menu. Excellent service and hospitality. Reservations appreciated.

JUKEBOX JUNCTION U.S. 276 and N.C. 110 intersection, Bethel. 828.648.4193. 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Monday through Saturday; Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Serving breakfast, lunch, nd dinner. The restaurant has a 1950s & 60s theme decorated with memorabilia from that era.

MAD BATTER FOOD & FILM 617 W. Main Street Downtown Sylva.

828.586.3555. Open Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Sunday brunch 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Handtossed pizza, steak sandwiches, wraps, salads and desserts. All made from scratch.

Beer and wine. Free movies Thursday trought Saturday. Visit madbatterfoodfilm.com for this week’s shows.

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.

PATIO BISTRO 30 Church Street, Waynesville.

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

PIGEON RIVER GRILLE 101 Park St., Canton.

828.492.1422. Open Tuesday through

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 Fest Enjoy Reuben Paninis, Irish Stew, Chocolate Stout Cupcakes, Beer Cheese & Pretzels, $6 Flights of local Beer and $2 off all growler fills!

LIVE MUSIC AT 7 P.M.

3 E JACKSON ST. • SYLVA, NC

www.CityLightsCafe.com

ST. PATRICK’S DAY BENEFIT

Daily Specials: Soups, Sandwiches & Southern Dishes

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

Breakfast : Omelets, Pancakes, Biscuits & Gravy!

New Hours: Open Friday, Saturday & Sunday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Breakfast served all day!

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

Retail Restaurant LIVE Music

for The Canary Coalition and Mountain Stream TV

March 17 • 6:30-8:30 p.m.

LIVE MUSIC WITH

Ol’ Dirty Bathtub 2 VIDEO-DOCUMENTARIES:

Stop the Fracking ACP; Appalachia Rising

Events begin at 7:15pm unless otherwise noted. Dinner and Music reservations at 828-452-6000.

FRIDAY, MARCH 16 James Hammel guitar, vocals. Jazz, Pop, Originals.

SATURDAY, MARCH 17 Joe Cruz piano, vocals. Beatles, Elton John, James Taylor + More.

828.586.3555 Downtown Sylva MadBatterFoodFilm.com

dellwood

FRIDAY, MARCH 23 SATURDAY, MARCH 24 Retail OPEN, 10am-6pm.

Restaurant CLOSED

FarmHouSe

FRIDAY, MARCH 30 SATURDAY, MARCH 31 Retail OPEN, 10am-6pm.

Restaurant CLOSED

Homemade daily SpecialS

FRIDAY, APRIL 6 Joe Cruz piano, vocals. Beatles, Elton John, James Taylor + More.

reSTauranT

monday - chicken pot pie Tuesday - meatloaf Thursday - chicken & dumplings Friday - Fried Fish oked ite sm mesqu w/ 2 r e platt BBQ 9 $9.4 sides

Breakfast Served daily 8am-12pm (Sat. 7am-12pm) lunch & dinner Served daily 11am-8pm cloSed WedneSday 2651 dellwood rd.

Waynesville 828.944.0010 now Hiring experienced cooks!

SATURDAY, APRIL 7 “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?”

Music from the award-winning film featuring Dulci Ellenberger (guitar, vocals) and Kevin Williams (piano, vocals).

828-452-6000 • classicwineseller.com 20 Church Street, Waynesville, NC

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

Smoky Mountain News

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.

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

Sat. March 17 ALL DAY, ALL NIGHT th

March 14-20, 2018

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.

Thursday 3 to 8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday noon to 9 p.m.; Sunday noon to 6 p.m.

Southern-inspired 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.

AT BEARWATERS BREWING

101 PARK ST. CANTON 828.492.1422

PIGEONRIVERGRILLE.COM

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A&E

Smoky Mountain News

New pictorial book on Cherokee released

mages of America: Cherokee, Anna Fariello’s new pictorial history book, will be presented during a special event at 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 16, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. The book is part of a popular series that highlights cities and towns throughout the country.

Fariello’s long career has focused on preservation and working with historic photographs.

“I was particularly interested in images that had not been published previously, those that might reveal new information to members of the Eastern Band and their neighbors,” Fariello wrote, “and to credit those organizations who diligently save and share their collections.”

The book acknowledges those institutions and organizations that have saved — and continue to preserve — historic photographs. Images of America: Cherokee includes photographs from formal collections held by Cherokee’s key cultural partners — Cherokee Historical Association, Museum of the Cherokee Indian, and Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual — as well as collections by regional and national institutions, including the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Hunter Library Special Collections at Western Carolina University, State Archives of North Carolina, and Smithsonian Institution.

Fariello worked with individual collectors as well, giving particular recognition to Georgia native, Andy Lett, who loaned a substantial part of his vast collection to the project. Fariello worked with local people to help identify locations in the photos. Beloved Man Jerry Wolfe provided stories and details beyond what was shown in the pictures.

The town of Cherokee is in an area traditionally known as Yellowhill. Today, Yellowhill is one of six townships represented on Tribal Council.

The town took its formal name when a US Post Office was established there in 1883. In the book’s introduction, Fariello described Cherokee as a 21st-century town that sparkles with modern architecture and numerous tourist attractions. Beneath its progressive exterior is the original homeland of the Cherokee people.

The book includes 200 photographs from the 20th century with most dating from the 1930s to the 1960s. “In organizing this book,” Fariello wrote, “it was my purpose to collect photographs near and far from Cherokee and bring them ‘home.’”

The book’s seven chapters cover the landscape, family, work and school life, as well as craftwork and community traditions. The last two chapters are devoted to organizations that Fariello calls “keepers of culture.” Readers can look to some of their favorite heritage destinations to see how they’ve changed over the years.

Cherokee includes early views of the Oconaluftee Indian Village, Unto These Hills, Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual, and the Museum of the Cherokee Indian.

There are also photographs of other destinations, many of which are now gone, including Frontier Land, The Cherokees, Water

I

‘Mothers and Daughters,’ photograph in the collection of Andy Lett.

Author Anna Fariello. Chris Aluka Berry photo

“I was particularly interested in images that might reveal new information to members of the Eastern Band and their neighbors.”

— Anna Fariello

Wheel Craft Shop, and the Boundary Tree Enterprise. The last photograph in the book is of the Old Mill, a gristmill that dated to 1886.

With its prominent water wheel, the mill sat along old Highway 107 for many years until, tragically, it burned in 2017. Fariello concluded, “Old photographs, like this one, are important as they capture the fading presence of old buildings and the changing personality of a community’s cultural landscape.”

Fariello’s work with historic photographs began at the start of her undergraduate years with her first university job, working as a student archivist in a slide library. In those days, she says, “’slides’ were two-inch pieces of transparent film, not the ephemeral light images projected via today’s Powerpoint. Working with slides meant masking film with reflective tape and mounting them into glass housings.”

After earning multiple degrees, Fariello worked at two state universities and several museums, before coming to Western Carolina University in 2004 to develop an online archive for Hunter Library. For over a decade, as an associate professor, she assembled photographic collections focused on the region’s material culture including collections related to heritage crafts, Cherokee traditions, and the history of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Fariello is the author of three books on Cherokee arts and crafts, writer of numerous book chapters and articles, curator of over 40 exhibitions, and speaker on topics related to the region's rich culture. She is a recipient of a 2010 Brown Hudson Award from the North Carolina Folklore Society, a 2013 Guardians of Culture award from the Association of Tribal Archives and Museums, and a 2016

On the cover: A game of stickball is played at the Cherokee Indian Fair in 1948 or 1949 and photographed by Bill Baker. (Courtesy of the State Archives of North Carolina)

Preservation Excellence award from the North Carolina Preservation Consortium.

Images of America: Cherokee is published

by Arcadia Press and is available at City Lights in Sylva and Catching Light in Cullowhee. The March 16 reception and book signing begins is free and open to the public. City Lights is located at 3 East Jackson Street, in Sylva. For more information, contact the bookstore at 828.586.9499.

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

Scott Low.

‘Let the freaks take back the night…’

Americana/blues musician and storyteller Scott Ainslie will perform at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 17, at the Boone-Withers House in Waynesville.

TUESDAY 9-10 AM: Restorative Yoga w/ Jay • 10:30-11:30: Flow + Myofascial Release w/ Jay • 2 – 3: Tai Chi* w/ Bill • 5:30-6:15: Barre Above* w/ Jay • 6:307:30: Fluid Unwind w/ Jay WEDNESDAY 9-10 AM: Flow + Deep Stretch w/ Sara • 10:3011:30: Gentle Yin Yoga w/ Sara • 5:45-6:45: Mixed Level Flow Yoga w/ Maura • 6-7: Hot Stone Restorative w/ Amber • 7-8: Intro to Flow + Restorative w/ Maura THURSDAY 9-10: Restorative (Chair) Yoga w/ Jay •10:3011:30: Flow Yoga on the Wheel w/ Jay • 2- 3: Qi gong w/ Bill • 5:30-6:15: Barre Above* w/ Jay • 6:30-7:30 PM: Yoga Basics w/ Amber• 6:30-7:30 PM: Candlelight Flow w/ Kendall FRIDAY 9-10: Hot Stone Restorative w/ Amber • 10:30 – 11:30: Gentle Yin Yoga w/ Sara • 12- 1: Barre + Flow w/ Jay SATURDAY 9-10: Mixed Level Flow Yoga w/ Michael or Candra • 10:30-11:30: Beginner Flow Yoga w/ Maura SUNDAY 11:30-12:30: Mixed Level Flow Yoga w/ Kendall • 4-5: Beginner Flow w/ Maura

CALL OR REGISTER ONLINE AT WaynesvilleYogaCenter.com

Want to go?

Singer-songwriter Scott Low and Isaiah Breedlove will perform at 9 p.m. Friday, March 16, at The Cut Cocktail Lounge in Sylva. The duo will also hit the stage at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 31, at Nantahala Brewing in Bryson City.

Both shows are free and open to the public. For more information on Low and his new album, click on www.scottlowsongs.com. For more on the Hatch Farm, click on www.facebook.com/hatchfarm. arms of song or print or paint. Plant that art in the ground.

SMN: What’s the role of the singer-songwriter in our modern world, and why is that role vital in the grand scheme of things?

SL: Say something. This machine (aka: guitar) can kill Fascists or whatever you want it to. We don’t have to agree with each other all the time, but we need to respect and be compassionate to our neighbor. Writing with purpose and delivering with style and grace.

It sounds so cliché, but we have the power to alter perspectives and get people to actually listen again. Framing it with three simple chords on a reasonable stage to a receptive audience, the power of what we have penned can really hit listeners in the heart. The listening crowd can be a unicorn to find sometimes, but it’s hard to find any room where one person didn’t gain one thing from our songs. Be creative and write with direction.

Say something. Do something. Don’t just be a singer-songwriter — be an artist. Don’t let the overproduced, plain bread radio waves discourage you. Go listen to Nick Drake or Elliot Smith and understand the simple can be just as powerful as full KISS makeup and pyrotechnics. This machine can create love and understanding.

274 S. MAIN ST. WAYNESVILLE

828.246.6570

CASUAL FINE DINING WITH LIVE MUSIC COVERED PATIO LATE NIGHT MENU

KITCHEN 743 TUESDAY THRU SUNDAY FROM 5PM UNTIL...

SATURDAY & SUNDAY BRUNCH FROM 10AM TO 2PM

Smoky Mountain News

The further you meander down the road of life, the more you come to realize just how hapThe African Friendship Dinner will be held hazardly bumpy and ever-rolling from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 16, at the the trek actually is — and Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville. remains so — when push comes to shove.

Nantahala Brewing (Bryson City) will host Rick For singer-songwriter Scott Rushing & The Blues Strangers (blues/rock) at Low, the endless miles of hard 8 p.m. Saturday, March 17. pavement and even harder stages earned along the open road of Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will host Modern America have proved one thing, Strangers (rock/pop) during the “St. Patrick’s one crucial spark of thought — Day Celebration” at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 17. there has got to be another way.

Americana/bluegrass group Ol’ Dirty Bathtub Based out of the deep woods will perform at 9 p.m. Saturday, March 17, in surrounding Clayton, Georgia, The Gem at Boojum Brewing in Waynesville.

Low and his wife recently launched the Hatch Camp & Art in the childlike wonder of your heart and soul.

Farm. Part artistic sanctuary, part idealistic Smoky Mountain News: What’s the idea vision for a better world, it’s a property and a lifestyle very much influenced by his young behind the Hatch Camp & Art Farm? And why is it important that a place like that son and the recent birth of his daughter.

Creative minds and the curious alike con- exists?

Scott Low: We found a great little mountinually flock to the farm, seemingly from tain holler with frontage on trout water and every direction. The result of which is a safe plenty of room to plant some art in the and supportive place where folks can create without fear of judgment, where no idea is to ground. I want a place that can breed happiness. Fly fishing, family, farming, music, and crazy to, well, be hatched. art that can shape our property into a haven And with his latest album, “Burning Tires, Smoking Gun” (out June 15 on 10 Foot for and epicenter of conservation of our American folk traditions and resources.

Woody Records), Low himself is going through a personal rebirth, a transition from People get the chance to leave the fast pace device driven social hustle and bustle. Come his summer to autumn years once his 40th and find some quiet or a concert of amazing birthday came and went on the calendar. southeast music makers. My family and I are While most may cringe at the notion of a just getting started, but the visions of guidbirthday milestone worth noting beyond 30, Low gets it, understanding why gettin’ older is ing folks fly fishing with farm to table food then concerts and art shows should bring a privilege — one that yields its wisdom the more you embrace the changing seasons with- some great shots of culture to the arm of

MONDAY 9-10 AM: Slow Flow Yoga w/ Sara • 10:30-11:30: Gentle Yin Yoga w/ Sara • 5:45-6:45: Mixed Level Flow Yoga w/ Candra • 6-7: Yoga Basics w/ Sara • 7- 8: Buti Yoga w/ Jay

March 14-20, 2018

HOT PICKS 1 2 3 4 5

MARCH SCHEDULE arts & entertainment

This must be the place

Rabun County and the surrounding areas.

Visions of kids, veterans, female fly fishing camps and retreats. Looking to add a sculpture garden through the camp. Disc Golf?

Fresh and dried herbs and flowers? Melons and pumpkins? Tree house cabins with heated lodging? Frontier cast iron wood fired kitchen? I feel like myself and all of us need this.

SMN: The tide is turning when you look at the scene in Nashville. What does that say about where we are, and where we’re headed, in the music industry?

SL: The music industry is facing huge challenges of not only the vast archives of great songs already created, but the streaming services that have killed our profits. Thus, raising concert ticket prices and increasing many new releases of do-ityourself independent albums — some great, some haphazard. So many artists have begun speaking through their music about the injustices surrounding us. We as artists have the power to help swing social movement or at least adjust some perspective.

But, it still is our art, and must be diligently created with originality and respect for the traditions and songs that have come before.

I urge all my creative friends to bear your

743 HAYWOOD RD • WEST ASHEVILLE

ISISASHEVILLE.COM 828.575.2737

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arts & entertainment

On the beat Scott Ainslie.

A four-piece combo of journeyman musicians, the band takes its varied influences and form them into a “jangle pop juggernaut.” They often draw comparisons to The Beatles, Barenaked Ladies, REM, Elvis Costello, Violent Femmes, and The Kinks. Catchy songs, vocal harmonies and just the right amount of edge make these guys a fun night, whether they’re playing originals or quirky covers.

The show is free and open to the public. www.modernstrangers.com or www.innovation-brewing.com.

Rock, reggae at Soul Infusion

Smoky Mountain News

March 14-20, 2018

Waynesville gets the blues Acclaimed Americana/blues musician and storyteller Scott Ainslie will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 17, at the BooneWithers House in Waynesville.

Ainslie has spent the past 50 years diving deep into America’s traditional music, on both sides of the color line. From traditional southern old-time fiddle and banjo music to ragtime and Delta blues, he brings a remarkable depth of musical skill, sympathy, and an understanding of its history to the stage.

Tickets are $18. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit www.boonewithershouse.com. For more about Ainslie, visit www.cattailmusic.com.

Karaoke at HART As a part of the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre “Winter Studio Season,” the theater has opened up its bistro Harmons’ Den for karaoke performance on Saturday nights.

The theater began offering karaoke in January and it has proven so popular that HART has decided to continue to offer karaoke on Saturdays beginning at 8 p.m. throughout the year. It is also open mic night.

On nights when there’s a theater performance in the Fangmeyer Theater, karaoke begins after the show is over. You don’t have to sing to enjoy being a part of the fun, and the theater atmosphere inspires a variety of musical styles, from pop to jazz to country to Broadway. www.harttheatre.org.

Modern Strangers to rock Innovation

Asheville-based rock/pop act Modern Strangers will perform during a special “St. Patrick’s Day Celebration” at 8 p.m.

Saturday, March 17, at Innovation Brewing 26 in Sylva.

Jackson County rock/reggae act Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 17, at Soul Infusion Tea House & Bistro in Sylva.

PMA. “Our music is full of inspiration from these mountains. Water, mountain landscapes, nature, trails. They all take part in the inspiration process for us. We are proud to call Sylva home and our sound could not be what it is without this town,” said guitarist Miller Watson. “It’s also really cool to see the similarities in bluegrass music and reggae and how they took shape from the development of African banjo. It’s also nice to bring a touch of reggae to these mountains.” www.facebook.com/pmamusic.

Ol’ Dirty Bathtub.

Boojum gets in the tub Popular Americana/bluegrass group Ol’ Dirty Bathtub will perform at 9 p.m.

Saturday, March 17, in The Gem at Boojum Brewing in Waynesville. The event is free and open to the public. www.facebook.com/oldirtybathtub.

Bean Sidhe.

Celtic Concert in Bryson City The Smoky Mountain Community Theatre will be presenting its 10th annual “Celtic Concert” with Bean Sidhe at 7 p.m.

Friday, March 16, in Bryson City.

Bean Sidhe (pronounced “Banshee”) plays traditional Celtic tunes and ballads using acoustic instruments covering a broad range of folk music from Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales.

They were organized in 1998 and is the only Celtic band in Western North Carolina that has continued to play together for that long. Bean Sidhe was started out of a desire to study and explore the uplifting traditional music that came to America with our

ancestors. It’s an attempt to keep alive the musical heritage that influenced much of our contemporary music, especially bluegrass and country.

The four members of Bean Sidhe play a variety of instruments: Amanda Burts of Brasstown plays accordion and recorder; Karin Lyle of Waynesville plays harp and violin; David Russell of Waynesville plays guitar, bouzouki, tenor banjo, and mandolin; and Ralph Wright-Murphy of Bryson City provides the vocal and plays bohdran and guitar.

Tickets are $8 each. For information, call 828.736.3921 or 828.488.8227.

One-woman show at Sylva library The Jackson County Public Library will host singer-songwriter Susan Pepper at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 22, in the Community Room at the library in Sylva.

In this one-woman show, Pepper will present songs and stories from ballad singers in Western North Carolina with an emphasis on older women singers from whom she learned directly. Funny songs, love songs as well as hymns have been important to this region for centuries.

Pepper will share a variety of these old songs and perform on old time banjo, guitar and dulcimer. Slides of some scenery and singers she learned from will accompany her live music and storytelling.

Pepper began her research of mountain music in western North Carolina in 2005. She is interested in the significance of this mainly oral tradition in the lives of singers and how they maintained their singing even as their communities changed. She has a solo album “Hollerin’ Girl” and produced an album of ballad field recordings, “On the Threshold of a Dream.” Pepper has a Master’s Degree in Appalachian Studies and performs and teaches this music locally as well as regionally.

This program is free and open to the public. The event is co-sponsored by the Friends

Susan Pepper.

of the Jackson County Public Library. For more information, call the library at 828.586.2016. The Jackson County Public Library is a member of Fontana Regional Library (www.fontanalib.org).

On the beat arts & entertainment

Harrah’s welcomes Alice Cooper Rock legend Alice Cooper will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 17, at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort.

The godfather of modern shock rock, Cooper paved the way for future rock acts like KISS and Marilyn Manson. His countless hits include “School’s Out,” “No More Mr. Nice Guy” and “I’m Eighteen.”

For ticket information, call 800.745.3000 or visit www.harrahscherokee.com.

The late Ricky Nelson.

A celebration of the late, iconic singer, “Ricky Nelson Remembered” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 16, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.

Nelson was an American rock star, musician, singer-songwriter, and actor. For more than two decades, he was idolized for his performances of popular songs such as, “Hello Mary Lou (Goodbye Heart),” “Bye Bye Love,” “Dreamlover,” “Travelin Man” and “I Will Follow You.” In December 1985, Nelson and his band left for a three-stop tour of the Southern United States. Nelson dreaded flying but

To showcase the new piano they recently purchased, the Jackson County Arts Council will be hosting a “Piano Party” at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, March 20, in the Community Room of the Jackson County Library Complex in Sylva.

Six local pianists representing several different genres of music will be playing the newly installed baby grand piano. These musicians will not only demonstrate the beautiful sound of the instrument, but they will also share their exceptional talent.

The pianists are: Brian McMahan, pianist at Balsam Baptist Church, and chair of the Jackson County Commissioners; Barbara Dooley, retired piano instructor at Western Carolina University, past accompanist to Community Chorus; Lyn Burkett, assistant professor of music at WCU and church musician; Mickey McMahan, played bluegrass gospel with Mountain Faith as well as his church; Linda Stewart, pianist, First Baptist Church; and Iva Veazey, piano teacher and performer.

The event is free and open to the public.

Light refreshments will be served following the concert. 828.507.9820 or email info@jacksoncountyarts.org.

LOOKS LIKE YOUR CAREER

COULD USE A LITTLE CHANGE OF PACE.

Smoky Mountain News

Jackson County piano showcase

refused to travel by bus, so the group departed out of Guntersville, Alabama, headed for Dallas, Texas.

Tragically, on New Year’s Eve, the plane crashed northeast of Dallas in De Kalb, Texas.

Seven of the nine passengers, including legendary Nelson, were killed.

Nelson left behind four children. His twin sons, Matthew and Gunnar Nelson, have created a unique multi-media event where they perform some of Ricky Nelson’s hits and share never before seen video footage of their family.

Tickets are $25. To purchase tickets or to find out more information about this or any other show at the center, visit www.greatmountainmusic.com or call 866.273.4615.

March 14-20, 2018

Tribute to Ricky Nelson

Change your career. Change your life: HarrahsCherokeeJobs.com Select positions eligible for hiring bonus. Restrictions apply. Please see Talent Acquisition department for details. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older and have a valid photo ID. An Enterprise of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos value diversity and inclusion, and are equal opportunity employers. ©2018, Caesars License Company, LLC.

27

arts & entertainment

On the beat • Andrews Brewing Company (Andrews) will host the “Lounge Series” with 12th Fret (folk/acoustic) March 17, Blue Revue March 23, Andrew Chastain (singer-songwriter) March 24, Tom Edwards March 30 and Bill Vespian March 31. All shows are free and begin at 5 p.m. www.andrewsbrewing.com.

March 14-20, 2018 Smoky Mountain News

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host The Edwards Brothers March 16 and a “St. Patrick’s Day” celebrating w/Gopher Broke March 17. There will also be an open mic night at 6:30 p.m. every Thursday. www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host Frank Lee (Americana/folk) March 16, Trippin’ Hardie (Americana) March 24 and Alma Russ (Americana/folk) March 30. All shows begin at 8 p.m. www.facebook.com/balsamfallsbrewing.

• Nantahala Brewing (Bryson City) will host Rick Rushing & The Blues Strangers (blues/rock) at 8 p.m. March 17. All shows are free and open to the public. www.nantahalabrewing.com.

• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host an acoustic jam with Main St. NoTones from 6 to 9 p.m. March 15 and 22.

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

• The Oconaluftee Visitor Center (Cherokee) will host a back porch old-time music jam from 1 to 3 p.m. March 17. All are welcome to come play or simply sit and listen to sounds of Southern Appalachia.

• The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host James Hammel (singer-songwriter) March 16 and Joe Cruz (piano/pop) March 17. All shows are free and begin at 7 p.m.

828.452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com.

• Pub 319 (Waynesville) will host an open mic night from 8 to 11 p.m. on Wednesday with Mike Farrington of Post Hole Diggers.

Free and open to the public.

• Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host Brady Clampitt (singersongwriter) March 17 and James Poe (singersongwriter) March 24.

All shows are free and begin at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.curraheebrew.com.

ALSO:

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performances and/or to purchase tickets, visit www.isisasheville.com.

• The Cut Cocktail Lounge (Sylva) will host The Phantom Playboys (rockabilly) March 31. All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m.

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host Todd Hoke (singer-songwriter) March 24 and Darren Nicholson (bluegrass) March 30. All shows are free and begin at 7 p.m. www.froglevelbrewing.com.

• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will have an Open Mic night March 14 and 21, and a jazz night with the Kittle/Collings Duo March 15 and 22. Modern Strangers (rock/pop) will perform during the “St. Patrick’s Day Celebration” March 17. All events are free and begin at 8 p.m. www.innovation-brewing.com.

• Isis Music Hall (West Asheville) will host Brian Dunne Trio 7 p.m. March 14, Sammy Miller & The Congregation 8:30 p.m. March 14, Michael Braunfield & Sherman Ewing 7 p.m. March 15, Ms. Adventure 8:30 p.m.

March 15, Andrea Beaton & Troy MacGillivra 7 p.m. March 16, Alexa Rose 7 p.m. March 17, Asheville Vaudeville 9 p.m.

March 17, James Ruff 5:30 p.m. March 18, Tall Tales 7:30 p.m. March 18, Tuesday Bluegrass Sessions 7:30 p.m. March 20, Laura Rabell & Gracie Lane 7 p.m. March 21 and Random Rab & Push/Pull 9 p.m.

March 21. For more information about the

• 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 an Open Jam with Rick 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.

• Soul Infusion Tea House & Bistro (Sylva) will host PMA (reggae/rock) March 17 and Kevin Fuller (singer-songwriter) March 24.

Both shows begin at 7 p.m. 828.586.1717 or www.soulinfusion.com.

• The Strand at 38 Main (Waynesville) will host an “Open Mic” night from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturdays. 828.283.0079 or www.38main.com.

• The Ugly Dog Pub (Cashiers) will host Lovely Budz (reggae/rock) March 16, The Maggie Valley Band (Americana) March 23 and Siamese Sound Club (R&B/soul) March 30. All shows begin at 9 p.m.

• The Ugly Dog Pub (Highlands) will host NW Izzard (blues/soul) March 24 and Shane Meade & The Sound (Americana/rock) March 31. All shows begin at 9:30 p.m.

• Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will host Andrew Rickman & The No Pressure Band (rock/acoustic) March 16, a St. Patrick’s Day celebration with Tonology (rock/acoustic) March 17, DJ Kountry March 23, The Cannonball Jars (Americana) March 24, Chicken Coop Willeye (Americana/bluegrass) March 30 and Modern Strangers (rock) March 31. All shows begin at 9:30 p.m.

On the street

Community Benefit for Canary Coalition

Sarge’s annual meeting The Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation will hold its annual meeting at 6 p.m.

Wednesday, March 14, at the Shelton House barn on 49 Shelton Street in Waynesville.

Social activities start with refreshments at 5:30 p.m. with the meeting to follow.

Attendees will hear an update from board vice president Jed Lambert on Sarge’s 2017 progress in saving dogs and cats in Haywood County, as well as a report on Sarge’s financials and a preview of events planned for 2018.

be treated to live music from local, progressive-bluegrass group Ol’ Dirty Bathtub.

Admission is free to the event. There will be a silent auction to benefit The Canary Coalition. Mad Batter menu items will be available as usual.

The Canary Coalition has been fighting to preserve the environment, since 1999, focusing on issues related to air quality, climate change, energy production and transportation.

For more information about The Canary Coalition visit www.canarycoalition.org, call 828.631.3447 or email info@canarycoalition.org.

The guest speaker will be Doyle Teague, Haywood County director of animal services, who has been instrumental increasing the save rate of animals in the county shelter and helping the county shelter achieve “no kill status,” with a 91 percent live release rate.

Teague will give an update on the new Haywood County Animal Shelter, nearing completion. The meeting will include the election of Sarge’s board members to new terms.

828.246.9050 or visit www.sargeanimals.org. Like Sarge’s on Facebook to see all the happy pet adoption news.

• The High Mountain Squares will host their “Leprechaun & Gold Dance” from 6:15 to 8:45 p.m. Friday, March 16, at the Carpenter Community Building in Franklin. Western Style Square Dancing, main/stream and plus levels. Everyone is welcome. For information, call 828.342.1560 or 828.332.0001 or www.highmountainsquares.com.

ALSO:

• There will be a free wine tasting from 1 to 5 p.m. March 17 and 24 at Bosu’s Wine Shop in Waynesville. www.waynesvillewine.com or 828.452.0120.

• A free wine tasting will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. March 17 and 24 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.

Join us Easter weekend for the

Friends of the Lake 5K Run, Walk & Fun Run

Save $5 when you register before March 16 for the Friends of the Lake 5K!

Register now for just $25 All profits from this event go to the annual maintenance and improvement of the recreation areas at Lake Junaluska which annually cost over $250,000.

All ages welcome.

Smoky Mountain News

There will be a fundraising event for The Canary Coalition at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 17, at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva.

The program will begin with an introduction by Avram Friedman, the executive director of the grassroots environmental organization. Then, two documentaries will be screened, “Stop the Fracking ACP” and “Appalachia Rising.”

In between the films, the audience will

for the WCU campus and the surrounding communities.

Tickets for this event are $15 for adult, $10 for students, $40 for families of two adults and two children and can be purchased at www.folkmoot.org or by calling 828.452.2997. Limited seating is available so advance purchase is advised. Parking is available in the back of the Folkmoot building for special events.

Folkmoot’s year-round programming initiatives have been made possible by Haywood Regional Medical Center, the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina and the Cherokee Preservation Foundation.

Folkmoot is a nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating many cultures in one community. 828.452.2997 or info@folkmoot.org.

• “Laughing Balsam Sangha,” a meeting for Mindfullness in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, meets will meet from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Mondays at 318 Skyland Drive in Sylva. Included are sitting and walking meditation, and Dharma discussion. Free admission. For more information, call 828.335.8210, and “Like” them on Facebook.

March 14-20, 2018

In partnership with Western Carolina University (WCU), Folkmoot is proud to host an African Friendship Dinner from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 16, at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville.

WCU’s Organization of African Students will assist with hands-on cultural sharing and activities from the African countries of Nigeria, Liberia, Congo, Zambia, Kenya, Togo, South Sudan, Ghana and Ethiopia.

Food, music and dance for the evening will be presented by the students, faculty and members of their families. BearWaters Brewing will be on hand with beer.

The organization of African Students at WCU is an association dedicated to the promotion of cultural, historical, political and economic awareness of the African continent its people. It also serves as a resource

The popular “Haywood Ramblings” series presented by the Town of Waynesville Historic Preservation Commission will return.

The speaker series will focus on the historic resources and rich heritage of Waynesville and Haywood County. Each event runs from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Town Hall Board Room on Main Street and is free to the public.

• “Prominent Waynesville Families,” presented by Sarah Sloan Kreutziger.

Thursday, April 5.

• “History of Main Street, Waynesville,” presented by Alex McKay. Thursday, May 3.

In case of snow, the event will be automatically rescheduled for the second Thursday of the month.

• Line Dance Lessons will be held on Tuesdays in Waynesville. Times are 7 to 8 p.m. every other Tuesday. Cost is $10 per class and will feature modern/traditional line dancing. 828.734.0873 or kimcampbellross@gmail.com for more information.

arts & entertainment

African culture at Folkmoot

Haywood history speaker series

Visit lakejunaluska.com/run to get registered!

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arts & entertainment

On the wall Shelton House ‘Crafter Showcase Program’ The Shelton House in Waynesville has already made plans for its 2018 season, which promises to be filled with events and opportunities for crafters and the community alike.

The second annual “Crafter Showcase Program” will run April through October and will feature local crafters who will display and sell their crafts to the community.

The Shelton House will be accepting applications for crafters until March 15, with selections made by March 23. www.sheltonhouse.org.

Want to make Viking axes?

March 14-20, 2018

The “Viking Axe Making Class” with Brock Martin of WarFire Forge will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 17-18 at the Jackson County Green Energy Park in Dillsboro.

This course is designed to introduce students to axe making using hand tools while learning the metallurgy behind producing a quality tool/weapon. No prior experience required.

Students must wear closed toe shoes (preferably leather), long pants, and cotton clothing, and should bring a lunch. Cost is $380, materials included. To register, call 828.631.0271 or visit www.jcgep.org.

‘Great Smoky Mountain Hammer-In’ Haywood Community College and the American Bladesmith Society will present the

10th annual “Great Smoky Mountain Hammer-In” March 23-25 on the HCC campus in Clyde.

The event will include knife-making demonstrations, hands-on blade forging, knife show, auction, Battle of the Bladesmith (the original Forged in Fire) and much more.

This year, they will have three former Forged in Fire contestants in the Battle.

Saturday afternoon is open free to the public. Beginning with a knife show from 12:30 till 2 p.m. At 2 p.m. the Battle of the Bladesmith begins. In this event, four bladesmiths will have three hours to make a knife.

At the end, the audience will determine the which smith made the best knife. At 5 p.m. these knifes and other items made during the weekend will be auctioned off to raise money to help cover the cost of the event.

The registration fee is $75. For more information, call 828.400.7815.

New Franklin art exhibit

Uptown Gallery March workshops The Uptown Gallery will offer a handful of upcoming classes at its location on 30 Main Street, in Franklin.

• Easter Egg Gourds Workshop: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 17. Cost is $14 for members and $18 nonmembers and includes all materials.

• Wine Glass Painting with Alcohol Ink: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. March 20. Cost is $20 members and $30 non-members and includes all materials.

• Paint Pouring Workshop: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 24. Fluid acrylic paints will be poured directly onto surfaces. Cost is $25 and includes all materials.

For more information and/or to signup, call 828.349.4607.

An art show by Gosia Babcock, “Bold Menagerie” will be on display in the Macon County Public Library Meeting Room during the month of March.

“My love of painting started early in life. Born in Poland, I was raised on a farm, where I took pleasure in caring for the animals. When I was 10, my family moved to America,” Babcock said. “I began painting, and it became my ‘happy place.’ When I painted, I could escape for hours as I found ways to communicate non-verbally. When I painted animals, I could feel them, and give them life. I took comfort in the beauty

of nature that surrounded me.”

Babcock went on to add, “As I have gotten older, I have continued to use painting as my place to relax and lose myself. It is my therapy. Being semi-retired has given me even more opportunities to discover the wealth of subjects and materials available. I love expressing myself on canvas and look forward to sharing my vision of God’s creations including animals, people, scenery and even breathe energy into inanimate objects.”

For more information, contact the artist at gojo818@yahoo.com.

Diane E. Sherrill, Attorney

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Smoky Mountain News

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On the stage

Each year, HART in Waynesville presents a festival of plays in its intimate 60seat Feichter Studio. The space is located backstage in the Performing Arts Center at the Shelton House and for many this is where the region’s most exciting theater happens.

Shows include: “Mass Appeal” (March 23-April 1) and “In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play” (April 6-15).

Tickets are only $10 with general admission seating, but reservations are recommended. Another cautionary note, don’t arrive late. Once the show begins, no one can be admitted.

A complete schedule is available on the HART website at www.harttheatre.org.

Season tickets are also available for the winter season. Most shows traditionally run two weekends, but reservations are only taken one week at a time due to possible weather cancellations. Those attending

can also dine at Harmons’ Den Bistro at HART prior to the show.

To make reservations or for more information call the HART box office at 828.456.6322. HART is located at 250 Pigeon St., in downtown Waynesville.

• KIDS at HART will perform “Madagascar Jr. — A Musical Adventure” at 2 p.m.

March 17-18 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville. Direct by Shelia Sumpter. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit www.harttheatre.org.

ALSO:

• The Highlands Performing Arts Center will screen the MET Opera’s production of Puccini’s “La Bohème” at 12:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 17. Beverly Wichman will lead a pre-opera discussion beginning at noon.Tickets are available online at www.highlandspac.org, at the door or by calling 828.526.9047.

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On the wall

• Gallery 1 Sylva will celebrate the work and collection of co-founder Dr. Perry Kelly with a show of his personal work at the Jackson County Public Library Rotunda and his art collection at the gallery. All work is for sale. Admission is free. Children are welcome. Gallery 1 has regular winter hours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday and Friday, and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. art@gallery1sylva.com.

ALSO:

• 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 Waynesville Fiber Friends will meet from 10 a.m. to noon on the second Saturday of the month at the Panacea Coffee House in Waynesville. All crafters and beginners interested in learning are invited. You can keep

• “Paint Nite Waynesville” will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursdays (March 22, April 5 and 19) at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville.

Sign up for either event on the Paint Night Waynesville Facebook page or call Robin Arramae at 828.400.9560. paintnitewaynesville@gmail.com.

• There will be a “Thursday Painters Open Studio” from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. at the Franklin Uptown Gallery. Bring a bag lunch, project and supplies. Free to the public. Membership not required. For information, call 828.349.4607.

• 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.

• Free classes and open studio times are being offered at The Uptown Gallery in Franklin. Join others at a painting open studio session from 6:30 to 9 p.m. every Tuesday or from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Thursday. Bring your own materials and join an ongoing drawing course led by gallery artists from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Friday.

For information on days open, hours and additional art classes and workshops, contact the gallery on 30 East Main St., at 828.349.4607.

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• The Uptown Gallery will hold an “Easter Egg Gourds Workshop” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Saturday, March 17, in Franklin. Cost is $14 for members and $18 nonmembers and includes all materials. For additional information, contact the gallery on 30 East Main St., at 828.349.4607.

up with them through their Facebook group or by calling 828.276.6226.

March 14-20, 2018

• In support of Youth Art Month, the Uptown Gallery in Franklin will be showing artwork from the students of Trimont Christian Academy, taught by art teacher Nicole Bradford. The reception will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, March 16, at the gallery.

Open to the public. 828.349.4607.

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On the wall

Smoky Mountain News

“

March 14-20, 2018

arts & entertainment

WCU undergraduate art exhibit

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“I chose to work with Catherine Proben because I trusted that she had my best interests at heart. She was professional, knowledgeable, and added a personal touch to the entire process. She always was available by phone or text to inform me of the progress of the sale of my home.

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of Cross Disciplinary Studies at James Madison University, serves as juror for this display of creative expression in a variety of media by undergraduates at Western Carolina University.

A reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m.

Thursday, March 22. www.wcu.edu.

‘Luck of the Art’

art for over 20 years. They retired to Waynesville and built a house here in 2013.

The couple have both been active members of Haywood County Arts Council for the last five years, with Patty joining the HCAC Board of Directors in January 2018.

For more information, call 828.452.0593, email info@haywoodarts.org or visit www.haywoodarts.org.

In a theme similar to “Art After Dark,” art galleries and business in downtown Waynesville will host “Luck of the Art” all day Saturday, March 17.

There will be live music at select venues throughout the day, a magician (12:30 to 2:30 p.m.), street dance (3 p.m.), face painting, and much more.

For the month of March, join the galleries in collecting slightly used and new art supplies for kids K-12 of Haywood County Schools. So many teachers and kids could really use our help.

If you’d like to participate, decorate a drop box to be placed somewhere in your store and place the fundraiser sign on your door. At the conclusion of the drive, drop off all your donations at Burl Wood Studios.

For more information and a complete list of events, visit www.downtownwaynesville.com.

- Dr. Sherry Manburg, Waynesville, NC (Seller)

HCAC local artist demo

Catherine Proben 74 N. Main St.,Waynesville

828-734-9157

cproben@beverly-hanks.com

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The 50th annual “Juried Undergraduate Exhibit” will run through March 30 in the Contemporary Gallery at Western Carolina University.

A highlight of each spring season, the exhibition is the longest running exhibition tradition at Western Carolina University.

Dr. Beth Hinderliter, Associate Professor

As part of Winter Arts Smokies Style in downtown Waynesville, the Haywood County Arts Council will welcome colored pencil artist Patty Coulter to host a demonstration from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 17, in HCAC Gallery & Gifts in Waynesville.

Coulter, received her BED majoring in Art and her Masters in Art Education from the University of Georgia. She and her husband, Chris, and son Chad, stayed in the Athens, Georgia. area where she taught High school

Haywood Arts Council ‘Watercolor & Wax’

The Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) is excited to announce that the “Watercolor & Wax” exhibit will run through April 28.

The exhibit features eight local artists, including Barbara Brook, Melba Cooper, Mary Decker, Joan Doyle, Jo Ridge Kelley, Chelsea Summers, Ann Vasilik and Maureen Simon.

The exhibit will include two- and threedimensional works of art. The juxtaposition of these two very different mediums will capture imaginations in multiple ways, with works ranging from the ethereal to the corporeal.

Leigh Forrester, HCAC interim executive director explains, “Like all of our exhibits, this s one will feature several of our most talented t local artists, but this show promises a great deal of variety in style and content as well.”

Visit the Haywood County Arts Council at C 86 North Main St., in Waynesville to view the variety of art for sale. For more information about the HCAC, visit www.haywoodarts.org.

J

Books

Smoky Mountain News

Books that help bridge the political divide

Jeff Minick

Time for spring-cleaning.

The basement apartment in which I live could use a deep cleaning: dusting, washing, vacuuming. It’s tidy enough — chaos and I were never friends — but stacks of papers need sorting, bookcases beg to see their occupants removed and the shelves rubbed down with a mixture of Writer Pine-Sol and water, and the dusty, spiderwebbed eaves cry out for an invasion from the shop-vac and dust mop.

And then there are the loose books, volumes whose home is elsewhere. They lie sprawled across my reading desk, temporary guests with whom I have so far established only a casual acquaintanceship. Several of these are visiting from the public library, and though I had intended to hear what they had to say, they are now due back home.

Let’s look at three of these visitors.

First up is Scalia Speaks: Reflections on Law, Faith, and Life Well Lived (Crown Forum, 2017, 420 pages). Antonin Scalia, a Supreme Court justice at the time of his death in 2016, was noted for his lucid prose, his strict interpretation of the Constitution, and his humor.

In this collection, which ranges from graduation addresses to some of his dissents on Supreme Court rulings, we can see that Scalia’s reputation in all three areas is well deserved.

All Americans should read Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s “Foreword” to Scalia Speaks.

Ginsburg and Scalia were at the opposite ends of the political spectrum, yet they became not only colleagues on the bench of the Supreme Court but good friends as well. They debated various points of law, they disagreed on major issues, but at the end of the day they treated each other amicably and treasured their relationship.

Justice Ginsburg’s brief account of her friendship with her conservative colleague shines a light on how the relationship between the left and right of our country might be

ALSO:

repaired and enhanced if we would learn to listen to one another, to debate a topic, and to agree to disagree, all the while keeping, as did Justices Ginsberg and Scalia, our sense of humor.

Similar in theme to Justice Ginsberg’s remarks is Republican Like Me: How I Left the Liberal Bubble and Learned to Love the Right (HarperCollins, 2017, 295 pages). Author Ken Stern, former CEO of National Public Radio, a liberal and a homeowner living in a neighborhood where no one he knew was a Republican, much less conservatives, watched with grave concern the gulf growing between left and right in our country. Fed up with the stereotypes of Republicans offered up by his co-workers and neighbors, and as a man of the left, Stern decided to explore the other side of the political and cultural fence.

Given our present debate about gun control, I wish Americans, of whatever political persuasion, would read the opening chapter of Republican Like Me, “The Fellowship of the Pig.” (The “Pig” refers to a hunt, not to a human being.) Here Stern discusses firearms and gun control after setting out to explore our gun culture. He cites a number of statistics regarding guns and violence — we learn, for instance, that murder rates by guns has dropped by half since 1980 — and he shows us a common ground may exist between gun owners and those opposed to firearms, if both sides would catch their collective breath and just listen to each other.

Like Justice Ginsburg’s thoughts on her deceased friend, Republican Like Me is a call for debate and civility rather than the contempt and insults that today comprise our political dialogue.

James Lee Burke’s Robicheaux (Simon &

Schuster, 2018, 445 pages) continues the saga of detective Dave Robicheaux. Unlike Scalia Speaks and Republican Like Me, I did read Robicheaux in its entirety, though probably too fast. In this complicated story are all the elements that make Burke’s Robicheaux a beloved character: grand descriptions of Louisiana from its bayous to New Orleans, a love for the innocent and a disgust for those who hurt them, a hatred of war, criminals, and violence, an idealization of women, sympathy for the Left and a strong distaste for the Right, a contempt for the rich. Here, too, we watch Robicheaux, a veteran still traumatized by his time in Vietnam, a police officer wounded by all the bodies and blood he has seen, a widower, struggle with alcoholism and his personal demons as he battles murderers, drug dealers, psychopaths, and bureaucrats.

In his powers of description, Burke is one of our finest writers. He brings to life the landscape and weather of Louisiana.

That said, Burke sometimes casts his characters too strongly in black and white. The character running for Senate, for example, is a populist, cast as evil for his ambitions and an act of wanton murder in the past, yet we never really grasp why his political views themselves are evil, unless we are supposed to be appalled by his cynicism and hypocrisy, character traits not unknown among politicians. Near the end of the novel, this same man calls to his side an elderly race-baiting minister and declares himself a friend and ally of this racist. Other than to make the character more contemptuous, Burke give us no real explanation as to why a candidate for the Senate would make such a gesture in which he has everything to lose and nothing to gain.

There. Three books back to the library on time.

But, that desk still needs tidying up.

• The Haywood County Public Library Staff would like to invite the public to a reception welcoming our new Library Director Kathy Vossler. The reception will be held upstairs at the Waynesville Library from 5 to 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, March 21. Light refreshments will be provided by the Library Foundation.

Journalist releases debut novel

Set amid the windswept prairies of Wyoming and rounded mountains of southwest Virginia, Shadows of Flowers is a debut novel about love, loss and the power of place from award-winning Smoky Mountain News journalist Holly Kays.

Kays will host a reading at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 15, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the reading.

It follows the story of Virginia native Dana Stullman, whose world turns upside down when her boyfriend dies in a car accident. At 22, she finds herself

moving across the country to escape reminders of the tragedy and the life that preceded it. Becoming lonelier than she could have imagined, Dana finds solace in an unexpected friendship, but her life remains paralyzed until a crisis in the wind-swept Wyoming wilderness forces her to confront the past and choose her path into the future.

Originally from Williamsport, Maryland, she is a graduate of Virginia Tech’s creative writing program and began her reporting career at small newspapers in Idaho and Wyoming. This is her first book.

Shadows of Flowers retails for $12 and is available online at www.paypal.me/hollykays for a $16 payment that includes shipping. www.facebook.com/shadowsofflowers.

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Blue Ridge Books ‘March Madness’ Blue Ridge Books and the Mountain Writers of North Carolina group invite you to join them for their March Madness of book signings with local authors. The events will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. every Saturday in March at Blue Ridge Books in its new location at 428 Hazelwood Avenue in Waynesville.

Mountain Writers of North Carolina is an informal group of creative writers. Monthly programs feature editors, publishers, and authors. Other times members read their own work. Membership is open to anyone interested in honing their writing skills, regardless of experience. Meetings are free and open to the public. Meetings are held at 1 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month at Trailhead Cafe & Bakery in Waynesville.

The featured genres include fiction, memoir, humor, self-help, poetry and thrillers. All of the authors live in our local area. The Mountain Writers held their meetings at Blue Ridge Books’ previous location and the book store is happy to be able to continue to promote the work of the group and their authors by co-sponsoring this series of events.

Schedule of events: n Saturday, March 17 Polly Davis — Stumbling Towards Enlightenment: A Wife’s Thirty-Year Journey With Her Green Beret Tom Davis — The Most Fun I Ever Had With My Clothes On: A March from Private to Colonel n Saturday, March 24 Jacqui Letran — 5 Simple Questions to Reclaim Your Happiness, I would, but my DAMN MIND won’t let me!, Unleash Your Inner Super Powers Letran is a multi-award winning author and Mindset mentor who’s passionate about helping struggling teens transform into happy, confident, and successful young adults. The “Words of Wisdom for Teens” series help teens to take control of their lives by teaching them how to take control of their thoughts, feelings, and actions. A must-read for any teens looking to create a positive and powerful mindset needed to be happy and successful. n Saturday, March 31 Darryl Bollinger — The Medicine Game, A Case of Revenge, The Pill Game, The Care Card, Satan Shoal, The Cure Bollinger is an award-winning author of six medical thrillers. In The Cure, when the FDA denies approval for a new flu vaccine, Dr. Eric Carter desperately searches for a way to save the drug and the company.

Little does he know, others are crafting a man-made virus. When the virus appears, Cater must race to find a solution before it’s too late.

828.456.6000 or www.blueridgebooksnc.com.

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Outdoors

Smoky Mountain News

Trail town chow down Franklin A.T. season launches with hiker meal

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER hen Sharon Van Horn organized the first-ever Thru-Hiker Chow Down in Franklin, she and her husband Bill were pretty fresh off the trail themselves.

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The Van Horns started hiking the 2,000plus-mile Appalachian Trail piecemeal in 2005, getting more serious about it in 2010 and completing two 300-mile sections per year thereafter until their 2013 finish. During that time, they became well acquainted with

the ways of hikers, from Georgia up to Maine.

“The hikers have their own sort of communication, and you know when a town is hikerfriendly and when it’s not,” said Sharon.

“When we’re planning there are certain towns you want to stop in because you want to enjoy the fact that they appreciate hikers. You know that if you go there, they’re going to help you out if you need help.”

Sometimes help comes in the form of a ride to town, a cold soda or a free dinner. It might be a place to shower, or the courtesy of tolerating the well-known hiker smelliness before that shower has been procured.

Whatever the gesture, however small, hikers know how to appreciate a little kindness.

Franklin’s already a pretty friendly town for A.T. hikers, and in 2010 it became the very first trail town to achieve the new Appalachian Trail Community designation from the A.T. Conservancy. Now, 45 trail towns are part of the Appalachian Trail Community program, meaning that they provide special events and promotions to be good friends and neighbors to the trail.

Hikers and their dogs enjoy the sunshine outside the Lazy Hiker during a previous Chow Down. Donated photo

A table full of thru-hikers smiles during the inaugural Chow Down in 2015. Donated photo

Join the Chow Down Community members are welcome to join Appalachian Trail thru-hikers for an outdoor lunch noon to 3 p.m.

Saturday, March 24, at the Lazy Hiker Brewing Company in Franklin.

The Nantahala Hiking Club is providing food for hikers, and non-hikers can choose from a variety of food truck and beer options for purchase.

“It’s kind of a good way to get a better feel for the town, get a better feel for a hiker’s perspective on the town,” said Alex Carrion, taproom manager for the Lazy Hiker. “To meet people and talk about the one thing they have in common — our trail town.”

ORGANIZING THE CHOW DOWN There’s always room for improvement, and to Sharon the Thru-Hiker Chow Down, launched in 2014, seemed like the perfect way to further foster community between hikers and residents. The idea also spoke to another, more basic need.

“They need calories,” Sharon said. “When you’re backpacking, you’re burning about 6,000 calories a day, and there’s no way you can take in enough. That’s why the hikers lose a good bit of weight.”

The Chow Down seeks to counteract that, serving up four to five large crockpots of chili to be smothered over nearly 150 hot dogs, consumed in a bun alongside chips and a plethora of homemade desserts — all on the grassy lawn of Lazy Hiker Brewing Company, which offers plenty of beverages to complement the meal.

Organizing the event is an undertaking, a year-round cycle of planning with most of the work piling up into the month or so before the planned date.

Bill always applies for a grant from North Carolina’s A.T. license plate proceeds to fund the event, but those funds aren’t

Walking with spring The Macon County Public Library’s annual schedule of movies and programs showcasing the beauty of the Appalachian Trail and Western North Carolina will kick off Wednesday, March 21, when “Walking with Spring” starts for 2018. n 6 p.m. and 2 p.m., Wednesday-Thursday, March 21-22: Showings of “myATstory,” short films of inspiration from the Appalachian Trail, will tell the stories of five inspiring hikers and the ways the A.T. changed their lives forever. Former hikers will be on hand for postfilm discussion. n 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 28: Section hiker Bill Van Horn will present “Walking Home,” a program about section hiking with his wife Sharon from Springer Mountain, Georgia, home to Franklin. n 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 4: Veterinarian Elizabeth DeWandeler will present “Hiking with Dogs,” discussing safety, etiquette and gear. n 6 p.m. Thursday, April 5: Author Philip Lee Williams will present his epic poem “The Flower Seeker,” about the life of acclaimed 18th-century botanist William Bartram.

Williams is the author of 14 published books. n 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 11: Author Doug Woodward will present his book You Took the Kids Where? Adventuring while Your Children Are Young, which de-emphasizes pursuit of wealth and power to make wilderness experiences possible for children from a young age. n 2 p.m. Thursday, April 12: The Sam Henegar documentary “Appalachian Trail: An American Legacy” will follow the story of two key volunteers with opposing viewpoints — Benton MacKaye and Myron Avery — who helped build and shape the A.T., and the A.T.’s turbulent journey to its most recent transition in 2005. n 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 18: Author Marci Spencer will present her book Nantahala National Forest: A History, giving a slide presentation on the history of areas to explore in Macon County with a Q&A afterward.

All programs are free. 828.524.3600 or www.fontanalib.org.

disbursed until April or May — just after the event, which this year is March 24 — and must be spent by the end of the year. So, Sharon puts them on WalMart gift cards, which can then be used to buy all the necessary supplies as the day draws nearer. She’s already done some pre-planning with folks at the Lazy Hiker and this week will head to the Nantahala Hiking Club clubhouse to inventory leftover dry goods from last year.

That still leaves plenty to do — shopping, chili-making, flyer distribution, volunteer wrangling — but this year Sharon will have some extra help. NHC member Debi Gedling has stepped up to be the Chow Down apprentice, allowing the Van Horns some flexibility should a long-desired spring trip to New Zealand come to fruition.

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Elite paddling competition coming to NOC

SHARING STORIES

The Thru-Hiker Chow Down is far from being the only event planned to celebrate Appalachian Trail season in Franklin. A variety of businesses and organizations will be hosting events through April 28 to celebrate the A.T. and culture of adventure. n Saturday, March 31: The Nantahala Hiking Club will again host Easter on the Trail, distributing goodies to hikers along the A.T. the Saturday before Easter. Volunteer by calling 828.369.8915. n Saturday, April 7: Currahee Brewing will host a Hiker Bash. 828.634.0078. n Saturday, April 14: The Franklin A.T. 110 HikerFest will feature live music and bonfires at Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Pub and Gooder Grove Hostel. A live band will play at Rathskeller starting at 5 p.m. followed by a bonfire and music at Gooder Grove at 8 p.m., with the Funky Frogtown Sundown Light Hiker Parade at 7 p.m. 828.369.6796. n Saturday, April 21: The Lazy Hiker Brewing Company will host an outdoor music jam starting at 7:30 p.m. 828.349.2337. n Saturday, April 28: Outdoor 76 will celebrate spring and hiking trails during Beer, Bluegrass and BBQ, with live music beginning at 11 a.m. Food and beer purchases will benefit Mainspring Conservation Trust.

828.349.7676.

One of the year’s most challenging trail races will return at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 17, in Sylva, when the Assault on Blackrock steps off again.

Runners make a strenuous journey to the top of Blackrock and back down again, a 7-mile distance featuring 2,770 feet of elevation gain. Now in its eighth year, the race will start from Sylva’s Pinnacle Park at the end of Fisher Creek Road. The turnaround point is 5,810-foot Blackrock, which features a 360-view of the mountains and valleys of Western North Carolina. $25 advance registration; $30 on race day. All proceeds will go to Jackson County’s “Shop with a Cop” program, which provides Christmas for kids who might not otherwise have one.

Register at www.ultrasignup.com.

Brian Barwatt, 828.506.2802.

The third annual Go Tell it on the Mountain 5K Run and 1-Mile Walk will offer a serious challenge for runners and walkers while raising money for a good cause Saturday, March 31, in Otto.

The course includes a 390-foot elevation change, with registration starting at 9 a.m., the walk at 9:30 a.m. and the run at 10 a.m. The event will also include a chili lunch and raffle.

Proceeds will mainly benefit The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation with a portion going to Otto Community Development. Cystic fibrosis is a progressive genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections and severely limits the ability to breathe over time.

Fees through March 20 are $30 to run and $20 to walk, increasing to $35 and $25 on race day. Sign up at www.active.com or email bringittolife@gmail.com.

Teresa Young, 828.342.5047.

Leave No Trace workshop offered A certification workshop in Leave No Trace ethics will be offered 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 24, at Headwaters Outfitters Outdoor Adventures in Transylvania County.

Certified Leave No Trace Trainers Jayne Fought and Danielle Mathews of Brevard will lead the Leave No Trace Awareness Workshop, teaching the seven principles of Leave No Trace with an emphasis on skills and techniques essential to upholding Leave No Trace standards through experiential training and learning. $12 and open to ages 12 and up, with students under 16 to be accompanied by an adult.

Space limited. Sign up at 828.877.3106 or info@headwatersoutfitters.com.

it, and of all the ways that hikers and community members can benefit from each other’s presence.

“We love hikers. We love being out hiking with them, or just interacting with them,” said Sharon. “It’s just like a microcosm of society. There’s so many different people that hike the trail, and it’s always good to get out and hike with them and share their stories.”

Community offers hikers services Franklin offers thru-hikers much more than a spot to do some laundry and grocery shopping.

From breakfast to bootlaces, Macon County has hikers covered. n The First Baptist Church of Franklin offers a free all-you-can eat hiker breakfast at 7:15 a.m., daily March 14 through April 14. Van pickup is available, and volunteers will take a picture of each hiker to be mailed to a loved one with a note written by the hiker. 828.369.9559. n Macon County Transit will pick up hikers three times a day from Winding Stair Gap and Rock Gap for a ride into Franklin, Monday through Friday, for a $3 fare. The shuttle runs through May 25. n Franklin’s two outfitters, Three Eagles Outfitters and Outdoor 76, will offer a variety of services. n Veterinarian Elizabeth DeWandeler will attend various A.T. events to offer complimentary exams for thru-hiking dogs.

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Smoky Mountain News

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March 14-20, 2018

The Lazy Hiker has been another strong supporter of the Chow Down, and of NHC endeavors in general. The event has been held at the brewery every year since its inception — even in 2014, before the Lazy Hiker had started brewing operations.

“We’re just really excited to partner with the hiking club on this,” said Alex Carrion, taproom manager. “It’s become an annual event. We’re excited to embrace the hiking culture Franklin has to offer.”

This year, the brewery is kicking its support up a notch with the release of A.T. 110, a limited-batch saison created to celebrate Franklin’s special place along the Appalachian Trail and to support the efforts of the Nantahala Hiking Club.

The beer uses local honey and apples, as well as chestnuts and strawberries, in a ruby-colored saison that pays homage to Franklin’s title of Gem Capital of the World.

The number 110 refers to the length of the hike from the A.T.’s start on Springer Mountain, Georgia, to the trailhead nearest Franklin at Winding Stair Gap — 110 miles.

“We wanted to do something that would speak to the local area, speak to the feel that we have a brewery as well as the Nantahala Hiking Club and all that they’re about,” said Graham Norris, head brewer. “Saisons are known for using local ingredients, what was available on the farm, that kind of thing, so it was kind of a natural fit for that style of beer.”

The recipe uses 10 ingredients, underscoring the importance of the 110-mile mark.

The Lazy Hiker will release the beer during the Chow Down March 24, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Nantahala Hiking Club.

For both the Lazy Hiker and NHC, however, awareness is the bigger payoff — awareness of the trail, of the people who use

Celebrate the A.T. all spring long

Run for cystic fibrosis research outdoors

Elite slalom paddlers will strive for precision and speed on the legendary Nantahala Falls course during the Nantahala Racing Club Whitewater U.S. Open March 23-25 at the Nantahala Outdoor Center near Bryson City.

The event will begin Friday, March 23, with open practice 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. and demo runs beginning at 5:30 p.m., and competition starting Saturday, March 24. On the slalom side, the schedule for both Saturday and Sunday will be first runs starting at 11 a.m. and second runs beginning at 1:30 p.m. The awards ceremony will be at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, March 25. For wildwater, the sprint will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 24 and the classic at 11:45 a.m. Sunday, March 25, with awards at 1 p.m. $25 for wildwater and $55 for the slalom. Spectators are invited to watch from the U.S. Forest Service walkway along the Nantahala Falls, which affords excellent views of both races. www.paddleguru.com/races/usopenslalomdownriver2018

Join the Assault on Blackrock

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in downtown Knoxville. n Session two: “The Wildflowers of Greenbrier” with Joel and Kathy Zachry, Saturday, April 21. n Session three: “Historic Cataloochee Valley A new “Spirit of the Smokies” certificate and Smoky Mountain Elk” with Esther Blakely, program is now available from the University Saturday, May 19. of Tennessee’s Smoky Mountain Field School n Session four: “Black Bears: Their Nature for adults who love the Great Smoky and Habitat” with Kim DeLozier, Saturday, Mountains National Park and desire a deeper June 9. connection to this landscape. n Session five: “Basic Hiking Skills and The program consists of eight sessions Backpacking with Confidence” with Joey Holt and Liz Domingue, Saturday, July 28. n Session six: “Backcountry First Aid and Survival Skills” with Dwight McCarter, Saturday, Sept.

29. n Session seven: “Elkmont Transition and Change” with Arthur “Butch” McDade, Saturday, Nov. 3.

Cataloochee Valley. Esther Blakely photo n Session eight: “The Future of Great Smoky Mountains National Park: How You Can Get spread from April to November that explore Involved with Great Smoky Mountains” with everything from geology to wildflowers to first park staff, 6 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, aid. All classes take place 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in at the University of Tennessee Conference the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Center in downtown Knoxville. Includes a cerunless otherwise noted. tificate completion celebration. n Session one: “The Geological and Registration is $449 per adult, with a disEcological Foundation and Culture and History counted rate of $849 available for two adults. of Great Smoky Mountains National Park” with Register at http://bit.ly/2CTSnT2 or call Don Byerly, Ph.D, Charles Maynard and park 865.974.1051 to receive the discounted rate. staff, 6 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 11, at Space limited. the University of Tennessee Conference Center

Work crews return to Elkmont lift the structures from their infrastructure Rehabilitation work in the Elkmont area so foundations and chimneys can be preof the Great Smoky Mountains National served in place. Crews have already salPark has started up again, with work crews vaged usable items from the structures for beginning to remove 10 structures March 12. use in other historic park structures.

The removal of these structures, located This fall, park staff will begin a separate near the former Wonderland Hotel, will mark the end of major demolition work that began there in 2010 following a 2009 Memorandum of Agreement between the National Park Service, Tennessee State Historic Office and Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. The agreement desigThe Sneed cabin in Daisy Town is one of nates 19 of the 74 those slated for preservation. NPS photo remaining Elkmont structures for preservaproject to stabilize four structures in Daisy tion and 55 for demolition.

Town — the Sneed, Smith, Higdon and Demolition should be done by April 30, Swan cabins. Workers will repoint masonry with the administrative road running features, replace rotted wood, paint and through the area closed to pedestrians durmake needed repairs to windows, doors and ing the demolition to accommodate heavy roofs. equipment. The contractor Street Legal will

Become a better turkey hunter A free turkey hunting seminar designed for novice and expert hunters alike will be offered 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 21, at the Haywood Community College auditorium.

The seminar will cover biology, hunting methods, calling, decoys, firearms, ammo tips, camouflage, turkey processing and cooking techniques.

Offered through a partnership of HCC’s Arts, Sciences and Natural Resources Department, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and the N.C. Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation.

Pre-registration required at www.ncwildlife.org.

March 14-20, 2018

outdoors

Connect to the spirit of the Smokies

Be safe on the farm

Smoky Mountain News

A daylong event covering the basics of farm safety will be offered starting 9:30 a.m. Friday, March 23, at the Macon County Fairgrounds.

Farm Safety Day will discuss safety practices related to tractor roll-over, PTO safety, ATVs, hunting, livestock handling, facilities, small power equipment and the environment. Participants will rotate through various stations as instructors demonstrate the dangers posed and safety measures to consider before, during and after each activity. During lunch, accident survivors will share their stories and encourage participants not to follow in their footsteps.

Free. Lunch provided. Register with Joe Deal, 828.349.2046.

Solar project finished in the Smokies

Half Marathon & 4-Miler

36

5.5.18

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SPONSORED IN PART BY HCTDA www.VisitNCSmokies.com

Completion of a solar energy project in the Cades Cove area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will result in an annual reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 23 tons and a $14,000 savings in annual fuel costs.

The newly installed solar array includes 80 panels that provide a silent energy source to serve the small visitor center, bookstore and restroom facility in the Cable Mill area. The panels are located behind the restroom in an area that receives maximum exposure from morning and afternoon sun.

A low berm planted with native vegetation circles the array to minimize its visual effect on the area’s historic landscape and natural beauty.

“This is a great step in making our park operations more environmentally friendly,” said Park Superintendent Cassius Cash. “The solar panels will provide a great, natural source of energy for the Cable Mill Area that enables us to provide a better visitor experience and to be better stewards of the park.”

The project was funded by the Southeast Region of the National Park Service, with work completed by Solar Power Integrators, a veteran-owned company. www.nps.gov/subjects/sustainability/beenergy-smart.htm.

Scholarships available for outdoor camp outdoors

More than $25,000 in scholarships is available for kids interested in attending Youth for Christ Outdoor Mission Camp in Maggie Valley this summer.

The camp offers a variety of options for kids interested in the great outdoors. In addition to traditional wilderness camps — Wilderness 101 includes backpacking, rock climbing and whitewater paddling — OMC will hold camps focused on art and photography, survival and skillsbased interests such as water sports. Camp Ability reaches out to students with disabilities, La Adventura targets Spanish-speaking youth, and kids who excel as leaders might try Wilderness Instruction for Leadership Development, or WILD. The money was raised through an auction held last year in Waynesville. Joe Sam Queen lent his auctioneering skills and generous donations from artists, businesses and private donors made the $25,000 scholarship pot possible.

Scholarships are available on a first-come, first-served basis for those who couldn’t otherwise afford to come to camp. Applications are online at www.outdoormissioncamp.org. Those who can’t pay the application fee can request assistance at 828.926.3253.

Mingle with mosses

MARCH 20-24

LECONTE CENTER, PIGEON FORGE

March 14-20, 2018

Mosses, hornworts and liverworts will take center stage during a field day with botanical wizard Ed Schwartzman Saturday, March 17, at Alarka Institute in Cowee Valley.

Schwartzman will take the group outside to learn how to identify these bryophytes, drawing on a professional expertise that includes botany, bryology, herpetology and forest and wetland ecology. Schwartzman owns and operates Joe Pye Ecological Consulting in Asheville and was a botanist for the N.C. Natural Heritage Program for 10 years. $65 includes microscopes and materials, vegetarian lunch and afternoon happy hour.

Space limited. Register at www.paypal.me/cedartree.

Researchers welcome public to conference More than 500 quilts on display and 60 onsite vendors

Free Admission ————————————————————————

No Parking Fee

Classes offered by internationally-recognized quilting instructors Silent auction supporting the families affected by the Great Smoky Mountains wildfire

Smoky Mountain News

Researchers examining everything from fungi to flowers will present their work during the annual Great Smoky Mountains Science Colloquium, coming 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, March 22, at The Park Vista in Gatlinburg.

Topics to be presented include “Fungi — After the Fire,” “Spatial structure of Trillium catesbaei Populations,” “Impacts of Fire on Salamander Populations” and “Black Bears.”

The event is hosted by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Discover Life in America. Scientists consider the park to be one of North America’s most biodiverse places, and DLIA aims to catalogue all 60,000 to 80,000 species thought to live there. Thus far the project has helped add more than 9,196 species to the park’s records, 986 of which were new to science.

Free, with no registration required.

865.430.4757 or www.dlia.org.

Visit mountainquiltfest.com for more information 37

outdoors

Mingus Mill. Tom Haxby photo

Mill volunteers needed Volunteers are wanted to lead informational tours of historic Mingus Mill in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with a training planned for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Friday, March 23, at the Oconaluftee Administration Building near Cherokee.

The mill, built in 1886, is located half a mile north of the Oconaluftee Visitor Center.

It gives visitors a look into the inner workings of a mill that custom-ground everything from corn to wheat to rye. The intricacy of the turbine-driven mill provided local

patrons with cornmeal and flour in a fraction of the time possible at other types of mills.

Volunteers work alongside Great Smoky Mountains Association employees to educate visitors about Mingus Mill as well as the general role of milling in the Smokies.

They are asked to fill at least one shift per week, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., during the peak season from April through November.

Register for the training with Park Resource Education Ranger Florie Takaki, 828.497.1906 or florie_takaki@nps.gov.

Find the flowers

Smoky Mountain News

March 14-20, 2018

A search for early wildflowers will embark 10 a.m. Sunday, March 18, on the Balsam Mountain Preserve, in a hunt led by the Balsam Mountain Trust.

The event will wrap up around 1 p.m. as guests hunt for new blooms, wildflowers and other signs of spring.

Free, with donations appreciated. RSVP by March 15 to Rose Wall at education@bmtrust.org or 828.631.1061.

Ogle at orchids

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N.C. Arboretum photo

The Asheville Orchid Festival will return for its 20th year March 24-25 at the N.C. Arboretum, bringing a conglomeration of world-class orchid growers and breeders together with regional orchid societies.

The Arboretum’s Education Center will be a riot of color as orchid growers exhibit their blooms in the annual show, with hundreds of them presented in carefully crafted displays. Orchids will be available for purchase. $5 per person for main orchid exhibit; free for children 12 and under. Standard $14 parking fee applies. Display runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

Get started with fruit trees A workshop on managing a home fruit orchard will be offered during three upcoming dates in Jackson and Swain counties: n 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 22, at the Swain County Extension Center in Bryson City. n 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 27, at the Jackson County Extension Center in Sylva. n 10:15 a.m. to noon Tuesday, April 3, at the Albert Carlton Cashiers Library in Cashiers.

The program will cover site selection; the differences between dwarf, semi-dwarf and seedling trees; proper soil conditions; pollination requirements; differences in cultivars; chilling requirements; fertility needs; tree spacing and general pruning principles, as well as insect and disease control.

Free. Offered by Jackson/Swain County Cooperative Extension. Register with Christine Bredenkamp, 828.586.4009 or clbreden@ncsu.edu.

WNC Calendar COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS • A groundbreaking event for Haywood Pathways’ Mom & Kids Dorm is scheduled for 4-5 p.m. on March 15, at 179 Hemlock Street in Waynesville.

HaywoodPathwaysCenter.org.

Deb@HaywoodPathways.org, 246.0332.

• A National History Day competition is scheduled for noon-5 p.m. on March 17, at Western Carolina University. jswigger@wcu.edu or hrsachs@wcu.edu.

• A reception to honor new Haywood County Public Library director Kathy Vossler is scheduled for 5-5:45 p.m. on March 21, at the Waynesville Library.

• A “Poor People’s Campaign” will be presented from 35 p.m. on March 24 at the Community Table in Sylva.

Afternoon of listening and empowerment.

• The 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War will be commemorated with a ceremony at 9 a.m. on March 29, in front of the Haywood County Courthouse.

• Nominations are being accepted for the Haywood Community College Outstanding Alumni of the Year Award. Deadline is March 29. Recipient will be recognized at May graduation ceremonies on May 11. Info and nomination forms: 565.4165 or trobertson@haywood.edu.

• Volunteers will be available to assist with federal and state income tax preparation and filing from through April 13 in Jackson County 293.0074, 586.4944 or 586.2016. For tax prep sites in other counties: www.aarp.org.

• The popular “Haywood Ramblings” series presented by the Town of Waynesville Historic Preservation Commission will return in the Town Hall Board Room on Main Street.. “Prominent Waynesville Families,” presented by Sarah Sloan Kreutziger. April 5. “History of Main Street, Waynesville,” presented by Alex McKay. May 3. All events are from 4 to 5 p.m. In case of snow, the event will be automatically rescheduled for the second Thursday of the month.

• “American Pickers Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz return to Western North Carolina to film more episodes of the popular television show.” The Pickers are looking for leads and would love to explore your hidden treasure. If you or someone you know has a large, private collection or accumulation of antiques that the Pickers can spend the better part of the day looking through, send us your name, phone number, location and description of the collection with photos to: americanpickers@cineflix.com or call 855-OLD-RUST. • The Town of Waynesville is accepting applications from nonprofit organizations for consideration of special appropriations in the upcoming fiscal year 2018-19 budget. Applications available at www.waynesvillenc.gov/government or at the municipal building. Applications due by March 31. 452.2491 or aowens@waynesvillenc.gov.

BUSINESS & EDUCATION • Evening classes for anyone wanting to obtain a high school equivalency diploma are offered from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays at Haywood Community College in Clyde. 627.4648.

• Western Carolina University’s Mountain Heritage Center will sponsor a series of free “Historic Walking Tours” to emphasize odd or little-known facts about the university’s history at 3 p.m. on March 17, and March 25 (for local residents) and at 3 p.m. on March 16 & 19 (for WCU students). 227.7129 or 227.3741.

• Research and creative work by Western Carolina University’s undergraduate and graduate students will

All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted. be showcased during the annual “Research and Scholarship Celebration” on March 21-22, in the Ramsey Regional Activity Center in Cullowhee. Opens with remarks by Brandon Schwab, WCU associate provost for academic affairs, at 4 p.m.

• The Franklin Chamber will hold its Chamber Mingle from 5-6:30 p.m. on March 27, at 98 Hyatt Road.

Financial Services advisors will be available to show how they can assist with financial planning. Network and mingle with other businessmen and businesswomen. RSVP: 524.3161.

• An American Red Cross Lifeguarding course will be offered at 4 p.m. on March 28, at the Waynesville Recreation Center. A blended course with bookwork done online and skills sessions at the rec center’s pool. Cost is $200 upon completion. Must be 15 or older. 456.2030 or lkinsland@waynesvillenc.gov.

• Western Carolina University will host an open house with activities through out the day for prospective students as the university on March 24. www.openhouse.wcu.edu or 227.7317.

FUNDRAISERS AND BENEFITS • Folkmoot will host an African Friendship Dinner from 6-8 p.m. on March 16, at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville. In partnership with Western Carolina University. Cultural sharing, activities and food from Nigeria, Liberia, Zambia, Kenya, Togo, South Sudan, Ghana and Ethiopia. Tickets: $15 for adults; $10 for students; $40 for families of two adults and two children. www.folkmoot.org, 452.2997 or info@folkmoot.org.

• Mad Batter Food and Film will hold a fundraiser for The Canary Coalition from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on March 17, in Sylva. Two short documentaries and a performance by “Ol Dirty Bathtub” (progressive bluegrass). www.canarycoalition.org, 631.3447 or info@canarycoalition.org.

• In a theme similar to “Art After Dark,” art galleries and business in downtown Waynesville will host “Luck of the Art” all day March 17.

There will be live music at select venues throughout the day, a magician (12:30 to 2:30 p.m.), street dance (3 p.m.), face painting, and much more.

For the month of March, join the galleries in collecting slightly used and new art supplies for kids K-12 of Haywood County Schools. So many teachers and kids could really use our help. If you’d like to participate, decorate a drop box to be placed somewhere in your store and place the fund raiser sign on your door. At the conclusion of the drive, drop off all your donations at Burl Wood Studios.

For more information and a complete list of events, click on www.downtownwaynesville.com.

• Donations are being accepted to help Junaluska Elementary School as it partners with “Rise Against Hunger” to package meals for the world’s hungry at 8:30 a.m. on March 23. 456.2407 or jsollie@haywood.k12.nc.us.

• Voices in the Laurel will host its third annual Bingo Night fundraiser at 6 p.m. on March 23, at the Haywood County Fairgrounds. Performance by the Treble Makers, Concert and Chamber Choirs. $20 includes admission, 20 games of bingo, coffee, dessert and a chance to win door prize. www.voicesinthelaurel.org, 564.3310 or find Voices in the Laurel on Facebook.

• The annual Casino Night fundraiser for the Haywood

Smoky Mountain News

Healthcare Foundation will be held from 6 to 11 p.m. on March 24, at Laurel Ridge Country Club. Casino Night features table-style casino games — including craps, black jack, poker and roulette — with all the fun but none of the risk. The evening will feature music, dancing, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and prizes for top players. All proceeds from the event will support the launch of a youth outdoor recreation program called Base Camp on the Go. Base Camp on the Go will offer free two-hour, outdoor-themed camp experiences at mobile locations around the county five days a week in summer, with additional outreach programming throughout the year.

452-8343 or haywoodhealthcarefoundation.org. Tickets are $100 each and include $5,000 worth of chips for playing.

• Donations are being accepted for the Southwestern Community College Foundation’s Student Emergency Fund through a fundraiser by Matt Kirby, college liaison for the Jackson County Early College, who’s competing the Georgia Death Race (70 miles) on March 31.

Student Emergency Fund helps deserving SCC students who encounter financial emergencies that might otherwise keep them from attending and completing classes.

Info: @KirbyRunsLong. Make donations: www.southwesterncc.edu/Foundation and follow listed directions.

Assistance: k_posey@southwesterncc.edu or 339.4227.

• The Canton Senior Center holds a fundraiser for operation by selling concessions during Canton’s Picking in the Armory starting at 5 p.m. on March 16 and 23, and April 6. 648.8173.

• Maggie Valley United Methodist Church will hold its ninth annual pancake breakfast from 8 a.m.-noon on March 24, at the fellowship hall. $8 for adults; $3 for children. 926.9794.

• Tickets are on sale now for a fundraising gala to support Western Carolina University’s University Participant Program. The event is set for April 7, at Laurel Ridge Country Club in Waynesville. $50 for students; $100 for all others. Program addresses the need for inclusive services beyond high school for individuals with disabilities. For info or tickets: 575.6495 or upgala2018@gmail.com.

• Registration is underway for the “Casino Royale” Autism Awareness Golf Tournament, which is set for 9:30 a.m. on April 9, at Maggie Valley Club. $400 per foursome; single-player tickets are $100. All proceeds benefit Richie’s Alliance for Autism. Sign up: www.richiesallieance.org/event/autism-awareness-golftournament or 421.2408.

• Entries are being accepted for the Feline Urgent Rescue’s second-annual Cat Photo Contest. $15 per photo. Deadline is April 7. Categories: Diva cat, funniest cat, cutest cat, laziest cat, “Cat-i-tude” and “Cats and Friends.” Instructions: www.furofwnc.org. Info: 844.888.CATS (2287), furofwnc1@gmail.com or www.facebook.com/furofwnc.

• Tickets are on sale now for the Richie’s Alliance for Autism’s “Taste” event at 4:30 p.m. on April 11, featuring the region’s top culinary talent, award-winning wines and local craft beer. Proceeds benefit Richie’s Alliance for Autism. Silent auction, live band and dancing. VIP tickets are $100; General admission ($45) starts at 5:30 p.m. Tickets: www.richiesalliance.org/event/taste.

VOLUNTEERS & VENDORS • Sign-ups are underway for participants and volunteers for “Walk MS: Fletcher,” a fundraising walk for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The event is set for April 15 at Bill Moore Park. Info or sign up: walkMS.org, 855.372.1331 or fundraisingsupport@nmss.org.

• Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation will hold its annual meeting at 6 p.m. on March 14, at the Shelton House

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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 barn, 49 Shelton St., in Waynesville. 246.9050 or www.sargeanimals.org.

• There is an open call currently underway for artisans, vendors and environmentally-themed booths at the 21st annual Greening Up the Mountains, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 28, in downtown Sylva.

Applications can be downloaded at www.greeningupthemountains.com and will be accepted through April 1.

For more information, call 554.1035 or email greeningupthemountains@gmail.com.

HEALTH MATTERS • The American Red Cross will have a blood drive from 2-6 p.m. on March 19 at Jonathan Valley Elementary School in Waynesville. Redcrossblood.org or 800.733.2767.

• The Coalition for a Safe & Drug-Free Swain County will host the Medicine Abuse Project on March 20, at the Bryson City Methodist Church. 863.698.4417 or medicineabuseproject.org.

• The Medicine Abuse Project will address the national prescription drug epidemic from 7-8:15 p.m. on March 20, in the fellowship hall of the United Methodist Church in Bryson City. Childcare available for ages 1-5 with registration by March 16: 488.4455.

• The American Red Cross will have a blood drive from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on March 21 in the Burrell Building at Southwestern Community College’s Jackson Campus in Sylva. Redcrossblood.org or 800.733.2767.

• A grief support group, GriefShare, will be held from 67:30 p.m. on Wednesdays through May 23 at First Alliance Church in Franklin. Topics include grief’s challenges, guilt, anger, relationships with others, being stuck and what to live for now. $15 cost covers materials; scholarships available. Register: www.franklincma.com. Info: 369.7977, 200.5166, scott@franklincma.com or www.griefshare.org.

• The Haywood Health Authority Board meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. on March 22, in the second floor classroom at Haywood Regional Medical Center in Clyde.

• Registration is underway for a program entitled: “Fats: The Good, the Bad and the Healthy” that will be held from 2-4 p.m. on March 24, at the Waynesville Yoga Center. Learn practical tools and tips to eat for optimum health and weight. Cost: $35 in advance or $40 on the event day. 246.6570 or WaynesvilleYogaCenter.com.

• The ninth annual Healthy Living Festival is scheduled for 9 a.m.-noon on March 24, at the Cullowhee Recreation Center. www.healthylivingfestival.weebly.com or 587.8238.

• An interactive “Strollin’ Colon” will be on display from 9 a.m.-noon on March 24, at the Cullowhee Recreation Center. In observance of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. 12-foot long, 10-feet high, 10-feet wide inflatable colon that teaches visitors about colon health and reducing the risk of cancer. 587.8238 or janellemesser@jacksonnc.org.

wnc calendar

• Nutrition counseling and diabetes education are offered through Macon County Public Health in Franklin. 349.2455.

• A combined “Ladies Night Out” and “Men’s Night Out” will be held at 5:30 p.m. on March 27 in the cafeteria of Angel Medical Center in Franklin. Program will be entitled “If the Shoe Fits” by guest speaker Steve Crocker.

• The American Red Cross will have a blood drive from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on March 27 at Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva. Redcrossblood.org or 800.733.2767.

• The American Red Cross will have a blood drive from 8:45 a.m.-2:15 p.m. on March 28 at Swain County High School in Bryson City. Redcrossblood.org or 800.733.2767.

• A Women’s Circle in Conversation: Awareness will be offered from 2-5 p.m. on March 31, at Waynesville Yoga Center in Waynesville. Opportunity for growth, connection and loving yourself. $44 in advance or $49 day of. Register: 246.6570 or WaynesvilleYogaCenter.com.

• Southwestern Community College’s therapeutic massage program is offering a massage learning clinic on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursday through early May in room 135B of Founders Hall on the Jackson Campus in Sylva. 50-minute Swedish massages ($20) and chair massages ($1 per minute). Appointments: 339.4313.

RECREATION AND FITNESS • Pickleball is offered from 9 a.m.-noon on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at the Old Armory in Waynesville. 456.2030 or dhummel@waynesvillenc.gov.

• The Safekids USA/Blue Dragon Taekwondo School is offering self-defense classes from 9-10 a.m. on Saturdays. $5 per class. For females 14-older. Classes are at 93 Jones Cove Road in Clyde.

• A “Knee Pain Clinic” will be offered from 2-3:30 p.m. on March 17, at Waynesville Yoga Center. $30 in advance or $35 day of. Register: 246.6570 or WaynesvilleYogaCenter.com.

• The Maggie Valley Wellness Center is offering two yoga classes from 9-9:55 a.m. on Wednesdays through March: Gentle Flow with Candra and Gentle Vin Yin with Jamie. 944.0288 or maggievalleywellness.com.

• Line dance lessons will be offered from 7-8 p.m. every other Tuesday in Waynesville. $10 per class.

Modern/traditional line dancing. 734.0873 or kimcampbellross@gmail.com.

monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. on March 20, at party headquarters at 500 Mill Street in Sylva.

Jacksondems.com.

• The Haywood County Republicans will host their convention on March 24, at Canton Colonial Annex, 53 Park Street in Canton. Paid reception ($20) is at 1 p.m.; convention starts at 2 p.m. www.HaywoodCountyRepublicanParty.com.

• The Haywood County Republic Party will hold its precinct meeting and convention on March 24, at the Canton Colonial Theater Annex. Registration is at 11:30 a.m.; precinct meetings start at 12:30 p.m.; reception event is at 1 p.m. and convention starts at 2 p.m.

• A candidates forum is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on March 27, in the Jackson County Public Library Community Room, 310 Keener St., in Sylva. Featuring three individuals who’ve filed to run to represent District 11 in the U.S. House of Representatives (Robert Woodsmall, Phillip Price, David Scott Donaldson).

POLITICAL • The Swain County Democrat Whittier/Cherokee monthly precinct meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on March 15 at the Chestnut Tree Inn, 37 Tsalagi Road, in Bryson City. Guest speaker is candidate Joe Sam Queen. 488.1118.

• The Jackson County Republican Party’s Precinct Meetings/Convention is set for 5 p.m. on March 16, in the Heritage Room at the Dept. of Aging Center, 100 County Services Park, in Sylva. Buffet dinner will be served. 743.6491 or check Facebook.

• The Haywood County Republicans will hold a convention volunteers orientation and walk-through starting at 5 p.m. on March 20, at Canton Colonial Annex, 53 Park Street in Canton. www.HaywoodCountyRepublicanParty.com.

• The Jackson County Democratic Party will hold its

AUTHORS AND BOOKS • Holly Kays will hold a reading from her new novel “Shadows of Flowers” at 6:30 p.m. on March 15, in the Community Room of the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. 586.2016.

• Author Anna Fariello will sign and discuss her new pictorial history book “Images of America: Cherokee” at 6:30 p.m. on March 16, at City Lights in Sylva. Book includes 200 photos from the 20th century; mostly 1930s-1960s. 586.9499.

• Author Minrose Gwin will read from and discuss her new novel “Promise” at 1 p.m. on March 16, in the Queen Auditorium at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville. $20 per person. Novel is about race and relationships in the South. Tickets available at Blue Ridge Books. Each ticket includes admission, dessert,

beverage and a $10 coupon toward purchase of the book.

• Blue Ridge Books and the Mountain Writers of North Carolina group invite you to join them for their March Madness of book signings with local authors. The events will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. every Saturday in March at Blue Ridge Books in its new location at 428 Hazelwood Avenue in Waynesville. March 17, Polly Davis, “Stumbling Towards Enlightenment: A Wife’s Thirty-Year Journey With Her Green Beret” & Tom Davis, “The Most Fun I Ever Had With My Clothes On: A March from Private to Colonel”. March 24, Jacqui Letran, “5 Simple Questions to Reclaim Your Happiness, I would, but my DAMN MIND won’t let me!, Unleash Your Inner Super Powers” and March 31, Darryl Bollinger, “The Medicine Game, A Case of Revenge, The Pill Game, The Care Card, Satan Shoal, The Cure”. 456.6000 or www.blueridgebooksnc.com.

Mountain Writers of North Carolina meetings are held at 1 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month at Trailhead Cafe & Bakery in Waynesville.

SENIOR ACTIVITIES • The Waynesville Recreation Center will offer additional courts for pickleball for seniors from 7 a.m.-noon on Mondays through Fridays. For ages 60-up. Free for members; $3 for nonmembers. 456.2030 or dhummel@waynesvillenc.gov.

• The Mexican Train Dominoes Group seeks new players to join games at 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville.

356.2800.

• A Silver Sneakers Cardio Fit class will meet from 1011 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Haywood County Senior Recreation Center. For ages 60 and above. Cost is regular admission fee to the rec center or free for members at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 356.2800.

Smoky Mountain News

March 14-20, 2018

• The High Mountain Squares will host their “Leprechaun and Gold Dance” from 6:15-8:45 p.m. on March 16, at the Robert C. Carpenter Community Building in Franklin. Western-style square dancing,

mainstream and levels. 342.1560, 332.0001, 706.746.5426 or www.highmountainsquares.com.

40

Puzzles can be found on page 46.

These are only the answers.

• Book Club is held at 2 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 356.2800

• A Parkinson’s Support Group is held at 2 p.m. on the last Wednesdays of each month at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville.

356.2800.

KIDS & FAMILIES • Jackson County Public Schools will hold a “Student Forum for School Safety” at 6 p.m. on March 14, in the Smoky Mountain High School Auditorium in Sylva.

Dr. Kim Elliott, superintendent, and the Board of Education will be present. cfields@jcpsmail.org or 586.2311.

• The Crazy 8s Math Adventure Club for Grades K-2 will meet from 4-4:45 p.m. on March 15, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. Lazer Maze; first 16 attendees receive a toy laser. 524.3600.

• A “Super Hero Stem Night” featuring STEM activities will be held from 5:30-6:15 p.m. on March 15 at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts. LEGO Batman movie will be shown at 6:15. Minimum donation of $5 per person.

• Registration deadline is 5:30 p.m. on March 15, for a Smart Start Baseball program being offered through the Waynesville Recreation Center this spring. $50 registration fee. Develop motor skills such as hitting, throwing, catching and running. 456.2030 or dhummel@waynesvillenc.gov.

• An “Eco Explorers: Fly Tying” program will be offered for ages 8-13 from 1-3 p.m. on March 16 and March 26 at the Pisgah Wildlife Education Center in Brevard.

Registration required: https://tinyurl.com/yb28fpz8.

Info: https://tinyurl.com/bo4zckn.

• “The Greatest Showman” will be shown at 7 p.m. on March 14 and 15 at The Strand on Main in Waynesville. See www.38main.cc for ticket prices.

A&E FESTIVALS AND SPECIAL EVENTS

• 21st annual Greening Up the Mountains is scheduled for 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, April 28. www.greeningupthemountains.com. 554.1035 or greeningupthemountains@gmail.com.

EASTER • Lake Junaluska will host a children’s Easter Egg Hunt at 11:30 a.m. on March 31 near Stuart Auditorium. Easter Bunny will be available for photos.

• An Easter Sunrise Service is scheduled for 6:30 a.m. on April 1 in the Maggie Valley Pavilion next to Town

• Lake Junaluska will host an Easter Sunday Lunch Buffet from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on April 1 at The Terrace. Reservations required: 454.6662. $29.95 for adults; $13 for ages 4-11; free for ages 3-under. www.lakejunaluska.com/events/worship/easter.

ON STAGE & IN CONCERT • The 10th annual Celtic Concert will be held at 7 p.m. on March 16, at the Smoky Mountain Community Theatre in Bryson City. With Bean Sidhe. Tickets: $8.

Info: 736.3921 or 488.8227.

• A celebration of the late, iconic singer, “Ricky Nelson Remembered” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. on March 16, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.

• Rock legend Alice Cooper will perform at 7:30 p.m. on March 17, at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort.

Tickets: 800.745.3000 or www.harrahscherokee.com.

• Rock/pop act Modern Strangers will perform during a special “St. Patrick’s Day Celebration” at 8 p.m.

March 17, at Innovation Brewing in Sylva.

• KIDS at HART will perform “Madagascar Jr. — A Musical Adventure” at 2 p.m. March 17-18 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville. Direct

by Shelia Sumpter. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, click on www.harttheatre.org.

• Acclaimed Americana/blues musician and storyteller Scott Ainslie will perform at 7:30 p.m. March 17, at the Boone-Withers House in Waynesville.

Tickets are $18. www.boonewithershouse.com. www.cattailmusic.com.

• The Highlands Performing Arts Center will screen the MET Opera’s production of Puccini’s “La Bohème” at 12:30 p.m. March 17. Beverly Wichman will lead a pre-opera discussion beginning at noon. www.highlandspac.org or 526.9047.

• The Jackson County Public Library will host singersongwriter Susan Pepper at 6:30 p.m. March 22, in the Community Room at the library in Sylva.

In this one woman show, Pepper will present songs and stories from ballad singers in Western North Carolina with an emphasis on older women singers from whom she learned directly. Funny songs, love songs as well as hymns have been important to this region for centuries. 586.2016 or www.fontanalib.org.

• HART in Waynesville presents a festival of plays in its intimate 60-seat Feichter Studio. Shows include: “”Mass Appeal” (March 23-April 1) and “In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play” (April 6-15).

Tickets are only $10 with general admission seating, but reservations are recommended as many shows regularly sell out. Season tickets are also available for the winter season. A complete schedule is available on the HART website at www.harttheatre.org.

• As a part of the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre “Winter Studio Season,” the theater has opened up its bistro Harmons’ Den for karaoke performance on Saturday nights. It is also open mic night. On nights when there’s a theater performance in the Fangmeyer Theater, karaoke begins after the show is over. www.harttheatre.org.

Smoky Mountain News

• The 10th annual “Great Smoky Mountain HammerIn” is scheduled for March 23-25 at Haywood Community College in Clyde. Sponsored by HCC and the American Bladesmith Society. Activities include: Knife-making demonstrations, hands-on blade forging, knife show, auction and “Battle of the Bladesmith.” Registration fee: $75. Info: 400.7815.

• Lake Junaluska will host a sunrise service at 7 a.m. on Easter April 1, at the amphitheater near the Lake Junaluska cross. www.lakejunaluska.com/events/worship/easter.

March 14-20, 2018

KIDS FILMS • “Justice League” will be shown at 6:30 p.m. & 8:45 p.m. on March 16 at the Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva. Free. 586.2016.

• First United Methodist Church of Sylva will hold its Easter Sunrise Service at 8 a.m. on April 1, in front of the church. 586.2358.

wnc calendar

• A Canasta card game is set for 1 p.m. on Mondays at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 356.2800.

Hall on Soco Road with a pancake breakfast to follow.

Sponsored by the Maggie Valley Civic Association.

CLASSES AND PROGRAMS • Diane E. Sherrill, a Southwestern Community College graduate and local attorney, will present an estate-planning seminar entitled “Is a Will Enough?”

41

wnc calendar

at 11:30 a.m. on March 14, in Room 102D of the Burrell Building on SCC’s Jackson Campus. For info and to RSVP: 586.4051.

• Colored pencil artist Patty Coulter will offer a demonstration from 4-7 p.m. on March 17, at Haywood County Arts Council’s Gallery & Gifts in Waynesville.

452.0593, info@haywoodarts.org or www.haywoodarts.org.

• To showcase a newly purchased piano, the Jackson County Arts Council will host a “Piano Party” at 6 p.m. on March 20, in the community room of the Jackson County Library Complex in Sylva. Six local pianists, representing several different genres of music, will play the baby grand. 507.9820 or info@jacksoncountyarts.org.

• The Haywood County Historical and Genealogical Society will hold a Genealogy Workshop from 10-11:30 a.m. on March 24, at the Waynesville Library. Learn how to research ancestors through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) and the Family Search at the Family History Center.

• An indoor flea market will take place every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday in March at Friends Of The Greenway Quarters at 573 East Main St. in Franklin. Registration fee will go to FROG. • The Old Armory will host an indoor flea market from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, March 17, in Waynesville.

This event will be held every third Saturday. Booths are $10 each for selling items. 456.9207.

• The Uptown Gallery will hold an “Easter Egg Gourds Workshop” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 17, in Franklin. Cost is $14 for members and $18 nonmembers and includes all materials. For additional information, contact the gallery on 30 East Main Street at 349.4607.

March 14-20, 2018

• Registration is underway for a Viking Axe Making Class, which is scheduled for 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on March 17-18 at Jackson County Green Energy Park in Dillsboro. Cost: $380 (materials included). With Brock Martin from WarFire Forge. Register: 631.0271. Info: www.JCGEP.org.

• The Uptown Gallery will hold an “Wine Glass Painting with Alcohol Ink” from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. March 20, in Franklin. Cost is $20for members and $30 nonmembers and includes all materials. For additional information, contact the gallery on 30 East Main Street at 349.4607.

• Registration is underway for a “Blacksmithing Fundamentals Class” that will be led by Brock Martin of WarFire Forge from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on March 31-April 1 at Jackson County Green Energy Park in Dillsboro.

Cost: $275; materials included. Preregistration required: 631.0271. Info: www.JCGEP.org.

Smoky Mountain News

• Rock the Paint with Zoller Hardware and Hurricane Creek is from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on March 31, at Cashiers Commons, Highway 107 North, in Cashiers.

42

• Registration is underway for an “Intermediate Bladesmithing Class” that will be led by Brock Martin of WarFire Forge from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on April 7-8 at Jackson County Green Energy Park in Dillsboro. Cost: $340; materials included. Preregistration required: 631.0271. Info: www.JCGEP.org.

ART SHOWINGS AND GALLERIES • An art show entitled “Bold Menagerie” featuring the paintings of Gosia Babcock will be on display throughout March in the Macon County Public Library Meeting Room in Franklin. Gojo818@yahoo.com.

• Gallery 1 Sylva will celebrate the work and collection of co-founder Dr. Perry Kelly with a show of his personal work at the Jackson County Public Library Rotunda and his art collection at the gallery. All work is for sale. Admission is free. Children are welcome. Gallery 1 has regular winter hours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Wednesday and Friday, and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday.

art@gallery1sylva.com.

• The 50th annual “Juried Undergraduate Exhibit” will run through March 30 in the Contemporary Gallery at Western Carolina University. Dr. Beth Hinderliter, Associate Professor of Cross Disciplinary Studies at James Madison University, serves as juror for this display of creative expression in a variety of media by undergraduates at Western Carolina University. A reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 22. www.wcu.edu.

• The Western Carolina University Fine Art Museum at Bardo Arts Center is pleased to present, “LINING: SHEATHING” through May 4, with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. April 19 in Cullowhee. “LINING: SHEATHING” is a large-scale installation about the tactile and protective qualities of textiles by collaborators Denise Bookwalter and Lee Emma Running. The WCU Fine Art Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday. Museum exhibitions and receptions are free and open to the public. jilljacobs@wcu.edu or 828.227.2505.

• The Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) is excited to announce that the “Watercolor & Wax” exhibit will run through April 28. The exhibit features eight local artists, including Barbara Brook, Melba Cooper, Mary Decker, Joan Doyle, Jo Ridge Kelley, Chelsea Summers, Ann Vasilik and Maureen Simon. Visit the Haywood County Arts Council at 86 North Main Street in Waynesville to view the variety of art for sale. www.haywoodarts.org.

• The Franklin Uptown Gallery has opened for the 2018 Season. The artist exchange exhibit will feature artwork created by members of the Valley River Arts Guide from Murphy. 349.4607.

• Linda Dickinson’s display of black-and-white photography is being displayed at the Canton Public Library Meeting Room in Canton. Show is entitled “Waynesville and Environs, a Black & White Perspective.” 648.2924.

FILM & SCREEN • “The Shape of Water” will be shown at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 15 at the Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva. Free. 586.2016.

• “Tomb Raider” will be shown at 7 p.m. on March 16, 1 p.m., 4 p.m., and 7 p.m. on March 17-18 & March 25-26and 7 p.m. on March 19-23 & March 26-29 at The Strand on Main in Waynesville. See www.38main.cc for ticket prices.

• Macon County Public Library will screen “myATstory” – short films of inspiration from the Appalachian Trail – at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 21, and at 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 22, in Franklin. 524.3600.

• “Ready Player One” will be shown at 7 p.m. on March 30 & April 2-5 and 1 p.m., 4 p.m., and 7 p.m. on March 31-April 1 at The Strand on Main in Waynesville.

See www.38main.cc for ticket prices.

Outdoors • An Introduction to Fly Fishing class will be offered for ages 12-up from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on March 27 at the Pisgah Wildlife Education Center in Brevard.

Registration required: https://tinyurl.com/yb28fpz8.

Info: https://tinyurl.com/bo4zckn.

• An easy cycling ride aiming to help people ease into a healthier lifestyle through cycling is offered Thursday in the Canton area, typically covering 8-10 miles. Road bikes are preferred and helmets are required. Nobody will be left behind. A partnership of Bicycle Haywood N.C., the Blue Ridge Bike Club and MountainWise. For specific start times and locations: mttrantham@hotmail.com.

• Volunteers are being sought to help clean up land that will soon become part of the Little Tennessee River Greenway in Franklin. Cleanup is set for 9 a.m.-noon on March 15. To join, write ddesmond@mainspringconserves.org.

• A Birding Hike will be offered for ages 12-up from 9 a.m.-noon on March 23 at the Pisgah Wildlife Education Center in Brevard. Registration required: https://tinyurl.com/yb28fpz8. Info: https://tinyurl.com/bo4zckn.

• An “On the Water: Little River” program will be offered to ages 12-up from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on March 15 at the Little River in Dupont State Recreational Forest. Practice fly fishing skills and get tips.

Registration required: https://tinyurl.com/yb28fpz8.

Info: https://tinyurl.com/bo4zckn.

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park is recruiting volunteers to provide informational tours of historic Mingus Mill. A mandatory training for new volunteers is scheduled for 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on March 23, at the Oconaluftee Administration Building near Cherokee.

Info: 497.1906 or florie_takaki@nps.gov.

• A panel of experts will discuss the future of the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests from 6-7:30 p.m. on March 15 at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. Panelists include Josh Kelly (MountainTrue), Tommy Cabe (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians), Andrea Leslie (N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission); and Bill Kane (N.C. Wildlife Federation).

Mountaintrue.org.

• Registration is underway for a “Leave No Trace Awareness Workshop” that will be led by certified trainers Jayne Fought and Danielle Matthews from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on March 24, at Headway Outfitters Outdoor Adventures in Rosman. Reservations required: 877.3106 or info@headwatersoutfitters.com.

• Volunteers are being sought to staff Clingmans Dome Information Center in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Training will be required. A training session is set for 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on March 16 at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cullowhee.

497.1906 or florie_takaki@nps.gov.

• The eighth annual Kudzu Root Camp is March 16-18 in Sylva. Hands-on training on how to eat the vine that ate the South as well as exploring other uses – such as medicine and fiber for basketry. Kudzuculture.net or kudzuculture@gmail.com.

• The Highlands Plateau Greenway will conduct its monthly work day from 9 a.m.-noon on March 17. highlandsgreenway@nctv.com or 342.8980.

• A botanical field day with botanist Ed Schwartzman will focus on mosses, hornworts and liverworts on March 17, at Alarka Institute in Cowee Valley. $65 fee includes microscopes, materials, vegetarian lunch and afternoon happy hour. www.paypal.me/cedartree.

• RSVP’s are being accepted for a pair of volunteer training sessions for stream monitors through the Stream Monitoring Information Exchange. Sessions are from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on March 17, at Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock and March 24, at UNC Asheville. Materials donation of $15-20. RSVP required: mountaintrue.org/event/__trashed-2 (for March 17) and 357.7411 or equilabstaff@gmail.com (for March 24).

• Jackson County Outdoor Recreation will offer at Big Bend Falls Trail Hike from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on March 17.

12-mile round trip; 1,056-foot elevation gain. For ages 8-up. Fee: $5. 293.3053 or rec.jacksonnc.org.

• Balsam Mountain Trust will have an “Early Wildflower Hunt” from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on March 18.

RSVP: 631.1061 or education@bmtrust.org.

• A “Fly-Tying for the Beginner” class will be offered for ages 12-up on March 19 at the Pisgah Wildlife Education Center in Brevard. Registration required: https://tinyurl.com/yb28fpz8.

• A “Fire Making and Shelter Building” program – part of the “Outdoor Skills Series” – will be offered for ages 12-up on March 19 at the Pisgah Wildlife Education Center in Brevard. Registration required: https://tinyurl.com/yb28fpz8. Info: https://tinyurl.com/bo4zckn.

• A “Tackle Rigging for Fly Fishing” program will be offered to ages 12-up from 9 a.m.-noon on March 20 at the Pisgah Wildlife Education Center in Brevard.

Registration required: https://tinyurl.com/yb28fpz8.

Info: https://tinyurl.com/bo4zckn.

• A Turkey Hunting Seminar will be offered from 6-9 p.m. on March 21, at the Haywood Community College auditorium. Preregistration required: www.ncwildlife.org.

• A “Casting for Beginners: Level I” program will be offered for ages 12-up from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on March 21 at the Pisgah Wildlife Education Center in Brevard.

Registration required: https://tinyurl.com/yb28fpz8.

Info: https://tinyurl.com/bo4zckn.

• A six-week course about the Spring Wildflowers of Southern Appalachian will be offered by Adam Bigelow from March 18-April 22. Guided tours. Class meets from noon-3 p.m. on Sundays and 9 a.m.-noon on Mondays. $160 per person. Single-day walks available at $45 per person. Info and to register: bigelownc@gmail.com or www.facebook.com/BigelowsBotanicalExcursions.

• A “Thru-Hiker Chow Down” will be hosted by the Nantahala Hiking Club from noon-3 p.m. on March 24 at the Lazy Hiker Brewing Company in Franklin. Chili dog lunch with home-baked goods and fresh fruit for thru-hikers. 369.1983, lazyhikerbrewing.com or search for Lazy Hiker Brewing on Facebook.

• A “Reading the Water” program will be offered to ages 12-up from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on March 28 at the Pisgah Wildlife Education Center in Brevard.

Registration required: https://tinyurl.com/yb28fpz8.

Info: https://tinyurl.com/bo4zckn.

• Nantahala Hiking Club will present “Easter on the Trail” on March 31. 369.8915 or visit the club’s Facebook page.

• A Spay/Neuter Clinic is offered from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Tuesdays through Fridays at 182 Richland Street in Waynesville. As low as $10. 452.1329.

• A weekly nighttime mountain bike ride is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Mondays from the Ledford Branch Trailhead at Bent Creek in Asheville. Organized by Motion Makers Bicycles. 633.2227.

• A 25-mile cycling ride covering the back roads from Sylva to Balsam leaves at 6 p.m. Tuesdays from Motion Makers Bicycle Shop in Sylva. The route includes 1,600 feet of elevation gain. Organized by Motion Makers, 586.6925.

COMPETITIVE EDGE • Registration is underway for the Assault on BlackRock, a seven-mile trail race that will be held at 9 a.m. on March 17, from the Pinnacle Park parking lot in Sylva. Preregistration: $25 at Ultrasignup.com. Fee is $30 on race day. More info, including registration form and course map, at Assault on BlackRock Facebook page. Info: 506.2802 or barwatt@hotmail.com.

• Friends of the Lake 5K is at 9 a.m. on March 31 at Lake Junaluska. Registration: $25 (by March 16); otherwise $30. Student rate is $15 (ages 18-younger). www.lakejunaluska.com/events/worship/easter.

• The third-annual Go Tell It On the Mountain 5-K run and 1-mile walk is set for March 31, in Otto.

Registration at 9 a.m. $30 for runners before March 20 or $35 on race day. $20 for walkers before March 20 or $25 on race day. Proceeds go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. bringittolife@gmail.com or 342.5047.

• Registration is underway for the eighth annual “Valley of the Lilies” Half Marathon and 5K, which is April 7, at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. $40 for the half marathon and $20 for the 5K through March 9; $80 for half marathon and $30 for the 5K on race day. http://halfmarathon.wcu.edu or valleyofthelilies@wcu.edu.

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WNC MarketPlace

CARS -

CARS -

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www.smokymountainnews.com

March 14-20, 2018

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EMPLOYMENT

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SAPA

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50 Duckett Cove Road, Waynesville, NC 28786

Equal Housing Opportunity

——————————————

EMPLOYMENT

FTCC Fayetteville Technical Community College is now accepting applications for the following positions: Welding-Pipe Fitting Instructor & Industry Training Instructor. 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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Phone# 1.828.456.6776 TDD# 1.800.725.2962

ASHEVILLE, NC 28804

44

EMPLOYMENT

INVESTMENTS LOOKING FOR A 75K LOAN For 1 Year with a Return of 8%.

Funds Will Be Used to Open a Pizzeria Restaurant in WNC. Serious Inquires Only Please Call 623.297.1320, or Email:

mtrancynger@gmail.com

REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCEMENT PUBLISHER’S NOTICE All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention, to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18 This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All dwellings advertised on equal opportunity basis.

NICOL ARMS APARTMENTS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS We Are Offering 2 Bedroom Apartments, Starting From $465.00 Section 8 Accepted - Handicapped Accessible Units When Available

OFFICE HOURS: Monday, Wednesday & Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm 168E Nicol Arms Road Sylva, NC 28779

Phone# 1.828.586.3346 TDD# 1.800.735.2962 Equal Housing Opportunity

Michelle McElroy RESIDENTIAL BROKER ASSOCIATE E-PRO, CNHS, RCC, SFR

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74 North Main St. • Waynesville 828.452.5809

REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCEMENT

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HOME IMPROVEMENT AUCTION Saturday, March 17th @ 10am.

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VACATION RENTALS

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828.452.5809

beverly-hanks.com

WANTED TO BUY

Beverly Hanks & Associates SFR, ECO, GREEN

- WANTED TO BUY 828.421.1616

LAWN AND GARDEN HEMLOCK HEALERS, INC. Dedicated to Saving Our Hemlocks. Owner/Operator Frank Varvoutis, NC Pesticide Applicator’s License #22864. 48 Spruce St. Maggie Valley, NC 828.734.7819 828.926.7883, Email: hemlockhealers@yahoo.com

PERSONAL

147 WALNUT STREET • WAYNESVILLE

• • • •

beverly-hanks.com Ann Eavenson - anneavenson@beverly-hanks.com George Escaravage - gescar@beverly-hanks.com Billie Green - bgreen@beverly-hanks.com Michelle McElroy michellemcelroy@beverly-hanks.com Marilynn Obrig - mobrig@beverly-hanks.com Steve Mauldin - smauldin@beverly-hanks.com Brian K. Noland - brianknoland.com Anne Page - apage@beverly-hanks.com Brooke Parrott - bparrott@beverly-hanks.com Jerry Powell - jpowell@beverly-hanks.com Catherine Proben - cproben@beverly-hanks.com Ellen Sither - ellensither@beverly-hanks.com Mike Stamey - mikestamey@beverly-hanks.com

828.734.2146

• • • • • • • • •

bparrott@beverly-hanks.com

ERA Sunburst Realty

Visit beverly-hanks.com/agents/bparrott

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RE/MAX Executive

• • • • •

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U.S./ Foreign Coins! Call Dan

Haywood County Real Estate Agents

remax-waynesvillenc.com remax-maggievalleync.com Holly Fletcher - hollyfletcher1975@gmail.com The Real Team - TheRealTeamNC.com Ron Breese - ronbreese.com Landen Stevenson - Landen@landenstevenson.com Dan Womack - womackdan@aol.com

Rob Roland Realty

smokymountainnews.com

BEACH VACATION SPECIAL Ocean Isle Beach, N.C. Mention ad to receive an extra $25 off all vacation rentals. Near Myrtle Beach/Wilmington. Golf, fishing.

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828.734.4864

March 14-20, 2018

STORAGE SPACE FOR RENT

BORING/CARPENTER BEE TRAPS No Chemicals, Poisons or Anything to Harm the Environment.

Handmade in Haywood County. 1 for $20, 2 or More for $15 each.

828.593.8321

Steve Mauldin

WNC MarketPlace

LEASE TO OWN 1/2 Acre Lots with Mobile Homes & Empty 1/2 Acre + Lots!

Located Next to Cherokee Indian Reservation, 2.5 Miles from Harrah’s Cherokee Casino.

For More Information Please Call 828.506.0578

FOR SALE 11-HP GENERATOR New, Never Been Used Homelite #LR5500, 5 Gallon Gas Tank, 5500 Watts, HD 220/115 Cord. $475/Firm. For more info call Richard at 828.316.9557

• Rob Roland - rroland33@gmail.com

find us at: facebook.com/smnews

TO ADVERTISE IN THE NEXT ISSUE 828.452.4251 | ads@smokymountainnews.com 45

CROSSWORD

www.smokymountainnews.com

March 14-20, 2018

WNC MarketPlace

Super

46

DRESSING ROOM DELAY ACROSS 1 Bible book between Zephaniah and Zechariah 7 Largest New Deal agcy.

10 “The Wizard —” 14 In the slightest 19 Radiant 20 Vacillating response 22 Olive-green bird 23 Start of a riddle 26 iPod model 27 Musician Brian 28 From Jan. 1 until today 29 Disagreeing (with) 30 Tomorrow, to Jose 33 Essen article 35 Santa — winds 36 Riddle, part 2 45 Former WB rival 46 Classical music record label 47 Coup d’— 48 Rises rapidly 49 Overjoy 51 Grafton’s “— for Evidence” 53 By way of 55 Impel 56 Riddle, part 3 63 Within: Prefix 64 Weapon 65 Special span 66 Lang. of the U.S.A. 67 IRA options 68 Riddle, part 4 73 “... Mac — PC?” 76 Buddhist discipline 77 Letter after pi 78 Pass along, as an email: Abbr.

79 Male deer 80 Riddle, part 5 87 Minestrone, e.g.

88 Moo — pork 89 Pewter metal 90 Reformer Sinclair 91 Wide open, as a mouth 93 Wide-mouthed fish 96 Lassos 100 Co. name ender, often 101 End of the riddle 105 Imitate a wolf 106 “— -haw!”

107 Morally base 108 Lipstick messes 112 “Evil Woman” gp.

114 Riddle-me- — 115 Actress Rowlands 119 Riddle’s answer 125 Lopez of pop music 126 More smart 127 Straight, as an arm or leg 128 Praise 129 Trig calculation 130 Gridiron pts.

131 When wages are given

11 New Deal prez 12 Add- — (extras) 13 Wildlife park 14 Incarnations of deities 15 Jazz great Puente 16 Very dry 17 Advance, as money 18 Captains’ journals 21 More fitting 24 “For want of —, the shoe was lost” 25 Half of Mork’s signoff 31 Poker stakes 32 Feel likewise 34 Insect snare 35 Be part of, as a film 36 Montreal’s province 37 Elevated region 38 Puts into law 39 Tobaccoless smoke 40 Sitarist Shankar 41 Like a child 42 Toad feature 43 Jason’s ship 44 Reverse of NNW 50 Boxing ref’s ruling 52 Be sure the job is done 54 Docket DOWN 57 Spoils 1 Goldie of “Foul Play” 58 “— longa, vita bre2 Turkish chief vis” 3 Campbell of country 59 Big maker of SUVs 4 Full chromosome set 60 Mr. Capote, to pals 5 Car-towing org.

61 Tartan cap 6 Gigantic 62 Neither Rep. nor 7 One of the Judds Dem. 8 Shar- — (dog breed) 68 “I’m talkin’ to you!”

9 “With God — wit69 Munic. law ness” 70 “Quiet down!”

10 Phrase on a thin 71 Little newt coin 72 “So adorable!”

73 Ear malady 74 Kid-lit “pest” 75 Part of NSA 76 With 109-Down, one of five famed comedic brothers 79 Big name in fuel additives 80 For takeout 81 Red Scare gp.

82 “Hot dog!”

83 Oahu feast 84 Sorvino of Hollywood 85 Monogram, e.g.: Abbr.

86 Japanese fish dish 87 Used a bench 92 Involve in conflict 94 Pig’s place 95 Honey 97 Loving ones 98 Drowsy 99 Made sense 102 Part of 44-Down 103 Trojan beauty 104 Move past carefully 108 Place 109 See 76-Down 110 Send forth 111 Latin “year” 113 “Think nothing — ” 116 One- — jack 117 “99 Luftballons” group 118 J.D. holder 120 NFL players who pass 121 Mentalist Geller 122 Swimming star Thorpe 123 Blushing hue 124 — big way

answers on page 40

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WEEKLY SUDOKU Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.

Answers on Page 40

The naturalist’s corner

BY DON H ENDERSHOT

Fingers still crossed tatus of the Lake Junaluska eagles remains a mystery, but I still have my fingers crossed for a successful nesting venture. There was some disturbance near the nest a week or so ago — tree trimming on adjacent property — and for a day or two it seemed the eagles were MIA. But they have been seen recently, foraging on the lake and perched at the nest. In fact, I received a Facebook message from one of the eagles’ Lake Junaluska neighbors noting, just before dark yesterday, they had seen both eagles return to the nest and, “After each was in the nest for awhile, they both came out and sat upon limbs — one on one side of the nest and the other on the other side of the nest.”

So, it’s evident the birds are still attending the nest. Trying to establish any kind of definitive timeline from accounts and the occasional peak at the nest is, at best, iffy, but I think there could be chicks in the nest — and if that is the case they should be showing themselves soon.

It was believed back around midFebruary that the pair was incubating.

When I wrote about them in mid-February, I

S

quoted Bryan Tompkins of US Fish & Wildlife, who noted, “We have visited the nest several times and believe the female to still be sitting on eggs. It is getting close to hatch though and could happen anytime in the next few weeks (if it hasn’t already). The nests are fairly deep so it will be a while before chicks are visible.”

That was basically a month ago, and it could have been a week or two more before any eggs hatched — say the end of February.

It could easily be another five to six weeks after that before the chicks would be large enough and adventurous enough to poke their heads above the rim of the nest. So my fingers will remain crossed until, at least, the first week of April.

Of course, as much as I hate to think about it, there is always the chance for nest failure. It’s not uncommon for young, inexperienced raptors to have failed nests and then, as they get older, they become more successful. I don’t have any clue how old and/or experienced this pair of eagles is, so nest failure is always a possibility.

But I’m definitely still in the wait and see camp. Hopefully we will get to watch the young eaglets begin to venture out of the nest. They will often flap from one side of

One of the Lake Junaluska eagles dining on yellow perch .

Don Hendershot photo

the nest to the other and then begin to “limb hop” as they learn to get their wings under them. Parents sometimes coax this kind of exercise by flying above the nest with food and calling to the eaglets, encouraging them to climb out of the nest.

But the parents’ work is not done even after the eaglets fledge. Parents generally continue to feed their young for another month or so after they fledge. I’m still keeping my fingers crossed and keeping this scenario in my head and looking forward to

much more exciting “eagle watching” at the lake.

But another reminder that this is a critical time for the eagles and giving the birds their space is imperative for nest success. To see places you can view the nest from a safe distance visit http://www.smokymountainnews.com/archives/item/24239-the-eagleshave-landed.

(Don Hendershot is a naturalist and a writer who lives in Haywood County. He can be reached at ddihen1@bellsouth.net)

March 14-20, 2018

Thursday March 22nd 5:30-7:30pm Laurel Ridge Country Club Smoky Mountain News 47

48

Smoky Mountain News March 14-20, 2018