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April 2-8, 2014 Vol. 15 Iss. 44 Western North Carolina’s Source for Weekly News, Entertainment, Arts, and Outdoor Information www.smokymountainnews.com

Waynesville skate park bans BMX bikes Page 5 Summer ozone levels getting better Page 32

GROWING

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BRAND

Haywood gets back to its roots to attract visitors

CONTENTS

STAFF

On the Cover When tourists visit, they expect an authentic Appalachian experience. They want the food, music, art, heritage and outdoor offerings of the mountains.

With a new marketing campaign — Homegrown in Haywood — local tourism leaders intend to deliver. (Page 6)

News Signs point the way in Bryson City; Sylva, not yet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 BMX bikes barred from Waynesville skate park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 In the wake of federal cuts, Macon supplements housing program . . . . . . 9 Franklin residents bring alternative gazebo plans to the table . . . . . . . . . . 11 After more than a year of searching, Canton has a town manager . . . . . . 13 Evergreen paper mill gets some help with natural gas upgrades . . . . . . . 14 Sales of local hospitals still months away . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Waynesville town leaders envision the future . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Supporters still hoping occupancy tax gets green light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Officials look to place Millennial Campus under endowment fund . . . . . . 19

Opinion Support fair trade but beware free trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

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CONTACT WAYNESVILLE | 34 Church Street, Waynesville, NC 28786 P: 828.452.4251 | F: 828.452.3585 SYLVA | 629 West Main Street, Sylva, NC 28779 828.631.4829 | F: 828.631.0789

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INFO & BILLING | P.O. Box 629, Waynesville, NC 28786

A&E Melange of the Mountains culinary festival returns to Haywood . . . . . . . . 24

Outdoors

April 2-8, 2014

Ozone outlook positive for North Carolina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Rotary Club of Bryson City

Spring Color Fun Run 5k walk / Run Saturday, April 12th 4pm Swain Co. Rec. Park - Morgan Pavilion Smoky Mountain News

30 Recreation Park Dr., Bryson City $30 for adults pre-registered /$35 day of $15 kids 13 and under Team Rate (10 or more) $25 adults $10 kids 13 and under

Music • Food • Prizes wear white and we’ll provide the color!

All proceeds fund Rotary Club Projects www.runbr y soncit y.com

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The DOT has specific rules regarding a sign’s reflectivity, distance from other signs and amount of text. Roberson now has to look at the committee’s suggestions and determine how best to make them jive with DOT requirements.

For the Bryson City project, planners simply took the signs already in existence — identifying schools, the hospital, visitor center, county buildings, and other landmarks — and combined that information into a more

BY HOLLY KAYS uniform system. Sylva is taking a different STAFF WRITER approach, focusing on directions to activities, lenty of green is popping up in Bryson such as shopping or dining, in an effort to be City, but it’s not all due to the growing more tourism-centric. season. Green wayfinding signs now “It’s a promotional tool,” Roberson said. scattered throughout town point to land“It makes it easier for them to be directed to marks ranging from the Road to Nowhere to the location. If they get there, it’s more likely the Swain County Courthouse. It’s the culmi- they will see things along the way and connation of a year-long project to make in-town tribute to the local economy.” navigation easier and streets more attractive.

For Walker, the main point is to gather “One of the biggest things is it gets rid of navigational information that had been scatthe clutter,” said Brad tered across multiple Walker, chairman of signs at multiple Wayfinding signs are up in the Swain County locations into one, Bryson City, with the smaller Tourism cohesive system. The signs they’re meant to Development Bryson City signs replace scheduled to Authority. “You had don’t include cateall these signs pointdisappear over the gories such as shoping different direcping or dining, focusnext month. Donated photo tions, different sizes, ing instead on specifand it didn’t look ic places. good. This is one way “It reduces the to improve the look clutter,” Walker said. of the city.”

“There’s more clarity It’s not an to it.” improvement that Bryson City curcomes cheaply, rently boasts 25 dark though. The TDA green signs on decoprovided $17,500 to rative poles. For now, design, produce and they appear amid the install the 25 signs, tangle of blue, green relying heavily on and brown signs help from volunteers already in existence, and collaboration from the Swain County but over the next month the TDA and chamChamber of Commerce and N.C. ber of commerce will work with DOT to get Department of Transportation. It took 10 rid of the extras. months to take the idea, which the group Sylva, however, is still some distance away HandMade in America suggested after its from seeing a wayfinding system on its streets.

2011 community assessment of Bryson City, First, it will take some time to turn the commitfrom concept to reality. The process required tee’s suggestions into a plan that meets DOT permission from the town and from the regulations. For example, the DOT allows only DOT, designing the signs, planning their three lines of text on each sign, and many of locations and then actually ordering and the committee’s 16 planned signs exceed that installing the finished products. The project quota. That means the information will either still isn’t fully completed — over the next have to be broken up into more signs or some month the DOT will remove the now-superlocations will have to be taken out. fluous montage of green, blue and brown Then, there’s the cost. A 2010 proposal signs from city streetsides. the town received pegged signs at $450 each, “It takes quite a bit of time,” Walker said. with $6,500 for production and design and That’s something that Paige Roberson, $1,800 for a sign plan. Those numbers are Sylva town manager, has also discovered. likely different four years later, but with just The town has been working on its own $4,780 left in the grant, Roberson said, wayfinding signs since 2011, when it installation might be a piecemeal project. received a $9,000-grant for that purpose “I think it would be better to do in phasfrom Jackson County. The town formed a es than a large amount of money all at once,” wayfinding planning committee, which used Roberson said. a good chunk of the grant to identify where The end result, she hopes, will be a navigasigns were needed and what should go on tion system that helps tourists while supportthem. The project is still a work in progress. ing locally-owned businesses that can’t pay the “Our next step is identifying locations,” high fees required for highway advertising.

Roberson said. “The committee suggested Meanwhile, Bryson City’s wayfinding signs several locations where they would like signs are entering their inaugural tourist season. to go, but I need help boiling that down with “They’re very nice,” Walker said. “I’m the DOT as to where a sign can actually go.” happy with them.”

Bryson City and Sylva aim to make in-town navigation easier

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Trick bikes fall from grace at Waynesville’s skate park

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For skateboarders, the bike ban isn’t cause for celebration. They didn’t mind sharing the park, according to Jared Lee, a professional skateboarder in Waynesville.

“I see the town’s concerns with the pegs damaging the concrete. That is something you don’t want to ignore. But banning bikes, I consciously don’t feel right about that,” Lee said. “They just want to do what they love.”

A wholesale ban on all bikes goes overboard, he said, suggesting simply banning steel pegs.

But that would be too hard to monitor and enforce, according to Waynesville Recreation Director Rhett Langston. The

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IN A PERFECT WORLD

April 2-8, 2014

NICE THOUGHTS

ferent ski slopes.

While the Waynesville skate park is a proving ground for skateboarders and trick bikers from the mountain region and beyond, it is also giving rise to local kids picking up a new form of recreation.

Some youth have taken up the sport of BMX biking since the park came on line, town would need constant supervision to spending money on equipment for the newmake sure the bikes using the park don’t have found hobby — only to see it taken away. pegs.

Langston said he wasn’t “It would be really hard for aware of the side effects bikes the town officers to go out there with pegs could have for a skate and inspect the bikes and say park until recently.

‘Hey, do you have pegs? You have “We were basically blindto take them off if you do,’” sided. We didn’t realize it was admitted Green. “It would be a going to tear anything up,” lot more of a hassle.”

Langston said.

Lee conceded that point as Langston was first alerted to well. the concrete nicks by the main“It is easier to regulate no tenance director for the bikes than check what kind of peg Waynesville Parks and Rec each person has on their bikes,” Department. Langston didn’t the skater agreed. know what was causing it, so he But the town wouldn’t have to sent pictures of the nicked be the one doing the monitoring, spots to the firm that built the Lee said. The users of the park park for the town. would self-police. It is a tight-knit Artisan, skate park builders community, and he believes the from Kitty Hawk, N.C., quickly other skaters and bikers would replied that it was the telltale exert social pressure on anyone signs of bike pegs. that showed up with pegs.

Green questioned whether “All of us skaters would the pegs are really causing the enforce that,” Lee said. “This is damage, however. All skate our park, it is the only one we are parks get wear and tear, and ever going to get. We want to take besides, it’s patchable, he said. care of it.”

“I think it is blown out of Langston isn’t so sure selfproportion,” Green said. “I policing or enforcement through don’t think they cause the dampeer pressure is a viable solution. age people say.”

“It is a nice thought in a perWaynesville Mayor Gavin fect world, but that isn’t going to Brown asked if there was anothwork,” Langston said. er explanation for the concrete Skateparks in other parts of damage. Brown didn’t want to the country, however, have sucblame bikes if they weren’t in cessfully banned pegs rather than fact the cause. all bikes.

As a consolation, Onieal “There are plenty of alterna- BMX bikes such as this one, photographed in Fall of 2013, have been tives to work around the pegs banned from the new Waynesville skate park, causing a stir among explained that a lot of skate issue other than banning bikes,” skaters and bikers alike, who claim the measure is knee-jerk. Becky parks struggle with the bike conundrum. said Voss, a former Western Johnson photo “This is a problem for skate Carolina University student who parks, period,” Onieal said. worked at Motion Makers Bike Lee said he personally spoke up for allowThe skate parks in Asheville and Shop in Sylva while in school. ing bikes and making the skate park multi- Hendersonville ban BMX bikes. One in does not.

TIGHT KNIT BUNCH use.In some urban areas, bikers and skaters Cherokee There are a few other drawbacks to are distinct groups and prone to tension. bikes at the park, Langston said. While OF WHIRLING DERVISHES Those lines don’t appear to exist in bikes are clearly in the minority of users, fears of collisions are heightened by bikes.

For a novice to such circles, the scene at Waynesville.

“Around here it’s always been really Bikes were also running over landscaping the skate park seems like a haphazard freearound the park and keeping grass from for-all of close encounters and near misses, a good,” Green said.

Lee hopes the bike ban won’t create ill taking seed. whizzing pack of whirling dervishes running will.

And it also opened a can of worms for amuck.

“The skate park, so far, has run so smooth- other types of bikes, from scooters to little But in fact, there are strict rules of etiquette that govern the park. The flow of skate- ly and calmly, and now I feel like there will be kids on bikes with training wheels.

Alderman Gary Caldwell, a tireless chamboards and bikes over the ramps and bowls is upset people and there will be a lot of quarrelpion of the skate park for 15 years, said the a lot more organized than it looks, which is ing over it,” Lee said.

Word of Waynesville’s skate park spread town can’t risk a handful of bikers damaging one reason there’s so many “near misses” and rapidly after it opened last fall. A loose-knit the skate park for its intended use. very few, if any, hits.

“It was built generally for a skate park,” But it can be nerve-racking to spectators, community of skaters and bikers stretches especially when little kids are out in the mid- across the region, and they intersect as they Caldwell said.

But Lee said he wishes the town consulted dle of it all. And the risk of a collision seems hop around to skate parks.

It’s common to travel two or three hours those who use the skate park. even scarier when bikes are in the mix.

“Why not ask the people using it what is “You got 4-year-old little girls on roller to ride different parks, much like a paddler skates right up there with 25-year-olds doing ventures to different rivers and skiers to dif- the best solution?” Lee said.

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BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER he Waynesville skate park became an instant rock star after its debut last fall, gaining repute as a wildly popular concrete playground for all things on wheels gliding, sliding and flying over the ramps and rails all hours of the day.

But the town last week decided to sideline some of the park’s biggest fans. BMX bikers have been banned by the town due to nicks in the concrete. When the town leaders discussed the issue at a meeting last week, Town Manager Marcy Onieal braced them for backlash.

“If we make a change there will certainly be some disappointment,” said Onieal. “But we obviously have a huge investment in this, and to have this kind of damage a few months in is a little discouraging.”

After mulling over photos of the nicks, town leaders reluctantly signed off on the BMX bike ban at the skate park, which cost $445,000 to build.

But bikers who used the park say the ban is an overkill, and some skateboarders have spoken out in the bikers’ defense as well.

The culprit isn’t the bikes themselves. The nicks are caused by 7-inch steel pegs that protrude from the wheels. Bikers stand on the pegs for advanced tricks or balance their bike on rails and ledges using the peg as a fulcrum.

But only a small minority of BMX bikers actually use pegs.

“I have never ridden pegs in my life,” said Matt Green, a 25-year-old trick biker who lives in Bryson City but frequents the skate park in Waynesville. “Most people around here don’t use pegs, and those that do use plastic pegs.”

The carte blanche ban on bikes is unfairly punishing everyone, bikers claim.

“This is a huge loss for cyclists in Western North Carolina,” said Evan Voss, a designer at Cane Creek Cycling Components in Asheville.

“Pegs are easily removable from bikes. It’s kind of absurd to ban a bike because of an element that is removable.”

national competition tricks on bikes, and they are going like this,” Alderman LeRoy Roberson said, sliding his hands past each other in the air. “It seems like it makes it more dangerous.”

Although plenty of skate parks ban bikes, Waynesville tried to be inclusive, largely on the good word of the skateboard community.

During planning stages for the park, skaters vouched for the bikers and said they should be allowed.

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Growing a brand New marketing plan offers the authentic

BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER ynn Collins has honed the art of eavesdropping. It began innocently enough, unavoidable even, since nothing but a cubicle separates her from the foot traffic of downtown Waynesville.

But her accidental eavesdropping soon became intentional. From her desk at the back of the busy visitor center on Main Street, Collins keeps one ear tuned in to the tourists who pour through the door. It became her secret weapon in the fiercely competitive game of landing the almighty tourist dollar in the mountains: what’s driving them to come here, and what are they looking for when they get here?

“We listened to what people were saying, and the things they are asking for are the things we actually have to sell,” Collins said.

“They want to go to the farmers markets.

They want to experience our music and dance. They want to learn about the cultural arts and heritage when they come here.”

Collins had her own living tourism laboratory to carry out a never-ending thesis, and it eventually gave rise to a brand-new marketing campaign unveiled last year. The Homegrown in Haywood campaign brings together the five crown jewels of what tourists to the mountains want, and incidentally, what Haywood as to offer — food, music, art, heritage and outdoors.

Now, Haywood tourism leaders must rally those on the front lines of the travel industry to buy into the theme.

Haywood’s official marketing mantra can play up the image of authentic Appalachia ‘til the cows come home. But those actually plying the tourism trade day in and day out need to echo the brand for it to really take hold.

The tourism industry is far from self-actualizing. Buying into an identity landed on the “wish list” during a strategic vision workshop held by the tourism board last week.

“I wish there was one tourism brand for the whole county,” said Ashley Rice, marketing manager with the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority, when the group was asked to shout out their “wishes.”

“And that everyone would buy into it,” Collins added.

Brands only work if they are reinforced at every turn, until they seep into the collective consciousness.

“Make it a bandwagon, not just one tooting the horn,” said Tina Masciarelli, the manager of the Buy Haywood initiative, which promotes agritourism and local farm products.

“This is the future of tourism,” she said.

“This train is moving and I invite you to get 6 on the bus.”

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April 2-8, 2014

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Carving out a tourism business takes a certain entrepreneurial spirit in the first place, and that seems to go hand-in-hand with a fierce independent streak.

“Being a marketing silo is economic suicide,” Masciarelli cautioned.

But it can be hard for tourism purveyors juggling the day-to-day and to see the longterm payoff.

“Whether you think it is a great campaign or a bad one, there is a lot of energy in it and we’d be crazy not to get on board. This is a big opportunity and we should embrace it,” said Mike Eveland, manager of the Rendezvous Restaurant and the Maggie Valley Inn. Eveland was pumped up about the new campaign after a Homegrown in Haywood workshop in February. But fewer than 20 people in the tourism industry made the effort to come and hear about the new marketing brand and how they could tap into it.

“I feel there is a real need to get out there and spread this word. There is a tremendous need for everyone in our community to know this,” said Sue Knapko, a vacation rental property owner in Maggie Valley.

Knapko, like Eveland, was inspired by the potential of Homegrown in Haywood after The new tourism marketing mantra in Haywood County plays up the idea of authentic mountain experiences, sitting through the workshop like the downtown Waynesville street dances. Margaret Hester photo in February.

Knapko said the Homegrown “roadshow” needs to be taken to “Whether they are taking the agritourism brochure and the masses. She suggested the Maggie Valley Chamber of Commerce act as a liaison to get visiting the farms, or going on the music trail or going on the crash course in front of the business community in the town. the quilt trail, we are getting these people all over the But the executive director of the Maggie county and seeing parts of the county they would not chamber, Teresa Smith, hesitated. She said she doesn’t know if the business owners — let otherwise see.” alone the front-line tourism workers — would come. Still, Smith admitted business — Lynn Collins, Haywood County Tourism Development Authority director owners should be more proactive.

“Business owners need to step up,” she It could be a tough sell, but not because that people like to do on vacation,” Aumen said. the brand isn’t spot on. Peddling Haywood as said. “The music, the arts, the heritage, outSmith said the Maggie chamber is continan authentic mountain destination is gen- doors and food. That’s what people are look- ually reaching out to business owners, but the uine. It is an image the county’s tourism ing for.” spark doesn’t always catch. industry easily delivers on.

“Does it get to the front-line people? I “We have so may authentic aspects of our don’t know. But I have provided the tools,” HE BIG BUY IN Smith said. “If you give someone a hammer community. We aren’t in a dark room saying ‘Let’s remake ourselves. They’ll never know Theoretically, the tent of Homegrown in and nails and say, ‘Here are the tools to fix the this isn’t who we really are,’” Masciarelli said. Haywood is plenty big enough for everyone hole in your wall’ and they let them lay there, “This is who we are. We need to market that to fit under. Tapping into the broad spectrum you have to pick them up and use them.” authenticity.” of heritage, arts, culture, music and food Smith said some people in the tourism Haywood’s lucky in that sense. So many shouldn’t be too much of a stretch, if any. industry ask “What has the TDA done for places have to resort to gimmicks and “It is getting those wheels to turn and fig- me?” veneers. ure out how that brand relates to them,” said They want to see the fingerprints of the Over the past 50 years, Alice Aumen, the Anna Smathers, communications director for tourism development authority on individual owner of the three-generation family-run the tourism development authority. customers walking in their door, or some Cataloochee Ranch, has seen a revolving door The challenge is more endemic: how can you kind of tracking device that would trace that of marketing campaigns in the mountain organize the scattered mom-and-pop motels, customer’s travel decision to a single act of tourism industry. None are perfect, but shops and eateries that make up Haywood’s the tourism authority.

Homegrown in Haywood is the best she’s seen. tourism landscape? Thinking and acting coheBut it’s not that easy to quantify.

“Haywood has everything — everything sively doesn’t always come naturally to them.

“People don’t realize they are responsible

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A new paradigm

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RANK-AND-FILE Arts, culture, music and food — with a distinctly mountain flare — appeal to today’s tourists, who crave the unique. Becky Johnson photo

“Haywood has everything — everything that people like to do on vacation. The music, the arts, the heritage, outdoors and food. That’s what people are looking for.”

— Alice Aumen, owner, Cataloochee Ranch

Presenting Haywood as that authentic Appalachian destination takes everyone working together.

Artists can tell people visiting their gallery about the pick-your-own farm up the road.

Waitresses can tell diners about where they could see elk the next morning. Hotel front desk clerks can tell guests about live music happening that night.

“Visitors will say, ‘OK, we drove the Parkway. Now what is there to do?’” said Rice.

The bartenders, the cashiers, the front desk clerks, phone receptionists — these are

the people tourists interact with and so they have to walk the walk as well.

But turning the rank-and-file workers in the tourism industry into ambassadors is a challenge.

“Training for the front line is something we have talked about for years,” Collins said.

“Unfortunately we have not cracked the nut on that yet, but we will continue to try. We will strive to get those folks educated on it.”

Masciarelli said frontline tourism workers need to have their “A-game” on every time they interact with travelers.

“We want folks to come here and have such a good experience they go back and tell everybody,” she said. “From that first phone call asking if there is a room available to the dining experience on the last night.”

Right now, that’s not happening, Masciarelli said. And bad customer service on the front lines is costing the county tourists.

Homegrown in Haywood is not only about getting new visitors to come, but about keeping past visitors coming back.

“From the first time they walk in the door, start looking at them as a return visitor,”

Smoky Mountain News

for their own destiny,” Collins said.

Collins said some tourism businesses are stuck in the past, during the glory days of Ghost Town in the Sky amusement park, which brought thousands to their doorstep without having to try very hard. Now, without a single cash cow pulling in the tourists, the industry must get creative, must diversify and must figure out a way to package what it has.

“Everyone needs to be motivated to market everything we have. We can’t do it alone.

It is a community effort,” Seymour said.

April 2-8, 2014

Waynesville, use Lake Junaluska — but Haywood? Who’s heard of that?

To prove the point, tourism leaders would point out that no one knows what county Myrtle Beach is in, or what county Orlando is in.

But the new slogan clearly put that thinking to rest. Sure, Haywood might not have name recognition — at least not yet. But, one day it could if the campaign works. Start using the name Haywood, and people will learn it.

Still, some are reluctant to let go of their old identity.

Maggie Valley has been hanging its hat on the same tourism pitch for decades: the idea of Maggie as a hub for exploring the mountains.

“We are the middle of a spoked wheel,” Smith said.

The concept has a downside, however. It plays up all the things that Maggie is close to and near to — rather than what Maggie itself has to offer.

Maggie tourism players aren’t the only ones with a lingering affinity for this marketing strategy, however.

Ken Stahl, a Haywood tourism board member, is still nostalgic about the slogan used in the 1990s: “in the center of it all.”

“It seems like we changed just for the sake of changing,” Stahl said.

Although Homegrown in Haywood is fresh off the shelf, some tourism players said they wished they could have “in the center of it all” back again. But it’s got a big flaw.

“Everybody could be in the center of it all,” Rice said.

“People want to know what they are going to experience first, what exciting things are there for them to do. Then they drill down and see here you are and what you are close to.”

Touting Haywood as a conveniently located base camp in the mountains might help the hotels and vacation rentals land the all-important “heads in beds,” but how is it helping the rest of the tourism industry?

“You don’t want them to plan their trip around what’s around you,” said Seymour.

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BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER or decades, mountain tourism strategists have concocted catchy ways to state the obvious: come visit us because we are in the mountains.

It was so predictable. And there were only so many ways you could say it.

With everyone using variations of the same theme, it did little to set anyone apart.

“Everywhere in Western North Carolina has mountains,” said Ashley Rice, marketing manager for Haywood Tourism Development Authority.

The tourism industry was being vague by design. Keep it simple and you can appeal to anyone.

Or, appeal to no one.

“I think for a long time we were trying to be all things to all people and we sat down and said we really need to narrow our focus and we need to sell exactly what it is we have to offer,” said Lynn Collins, director of the tourism development authority.

Giving Haywood a unique brand and making it a destination unto itself is a huge turning point in how the county markets itself to tourists.

For the past two decades at least, Haywood hitched its tourism wagon to simply being in the Smoky Mountains.

The slogan “Gateway to the Smokies” reigned in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

But Haywood’s tourism industry has long lived in the shadows of the Tennessee side of the Smokies, and the second-fiddle status was infuriating. The rivalry over which state can lay claim to the Smokies as being in “their own backyard” made Haywood rethink its Smokies pitch.

In 2005, the slogan was changed to “Where the Sun Rises on the Smokies.” It was supposed to show tourists Haywood was on the east side of the Smokies, and serve up a subtle snub to their Tennessee counterparts.

But in hindsight, even those who picked it admit it wasn’t that great.

Within a few years, the itch to change the slogan came back. This time, the tourism authority didn’t want to rest

solely on its laurels of being near the Smokies.

“We are all in the mountains and we all have hiking and we all have fishing, but what’s the one thing we have that no one else has. We want to be the one everyone else is trying to be like,” said Becky Seymour, the video marketing specialist with the tourism development authority.

And just flashing pretty pictures of mountains in travel ads was becoming passé.

“You can get caught in the past very quickly,” said Mike Eveland, manager of the Rendezvous Restaurant and Maggie Valley Inn. “We may want to send the same message as we did 20 years ago, but tastes have evolved.”

The tourism authority turned to its long-time marketing firm to come up with a new brand and slogan.

“We told them we wanted a brand that encompassed everything Haywood County has to offer, everything that is already here, but packaged together,” Rice said.

And by everything, they did mean everything. Music, arts, heritage, food and outdoors rolled up in one big ball of wax.

It was a pretty tall order.

The marketing firm brought a few logos and slogans to the table but were sent back to the drawing board for another crack. They came back with more ideas, and Collins knew the perfect one when she saw it.

The logo has six layers of images that unfold one inside the other. An apple, a painter’s pallet, a fish, an instrument, a bottle, a quilting needle — standing for food, arts, music, heritage and outdoors.

“I think Homegrown in Haywood says what we are about,” said Alice Aumen, owner of Cataloochee Ranch and supporter of the Homegrown campaign. “We are changing the emphasis to show how rich it is here, how rich we are in so many aspects.”

The Homegrown in Haywood slogan goes against another long-held paradigm. Using the word “Haywood” in marketing materials was a no-no in the past. Use Maggie Valley, use

S EE TOURISM, PAGE 8 7

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TOURISM, CONTINUED FROM 7 Knapko said.

Talking up the galleries with handmade crafts, restaurants with local artisan dishes, venues to hear mountain music or cultural heritage sites to visit will put guests on notice that there’s more here than they can possibly soak up in a single trip.

“They say, ‘I am going back next year because I only saw three things and I want to see the other 50,’” Masciarelli explained.

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The Sun family strolling the streets of downtown Waynesville recently was the perfect case in point. A doctor in WinstonSalem, Yun Sun was cruising the internet for a nearby vacation spot to take the family during his son’s spring break week.

He turned to Trip Advisor, and found rave reviews of Waynesville. And who posts on Trip Advisor? Tourists who have been here.

“Everybody talked about if you come here you want to go to Waynesville,” Sun said. “It is so unique and so fun.”

He also liked showing his two kids what an authentic town looks like.

“The small, tiny town is just very personal,” he said. “They should shoot a movie here.”

The tourism development authority has been doing what it can to help all the players that collectively make up the tourism landscape in Haywood County tap into the Homegrown network.

A new calendar of events on the county’s

EN TAR Y

tourist web site compiles all the festivals, concerts and happenings in the county on any given weekend, so theoretically restaurants and hotels could print these out and post them on a bulletin board.

But the tourism authority isn’t omniscient, Rice said.

“We want to be aware of anything going on in the community,” she said, explaining that they have put out a plea to people to call in with any tidbits.

The tourism authority has also started producing a series of short travel videos around the county, showcasing everything from local breweries to rural legends.

And they’ve rolled out a series of sample travel itineraries on their web site — a quick and easy way for tourism businesses to become travel guides on the fly.

“We are trying to give them enough tools so if they don’t have enough time to do it on their own they have access to the information, they can pull it off the website,” Collins said.

It also helps push visitors around the county.

“Whether they are taking the agritourism brochure and visiting the farms, or going on the music trail or going on the quilt trail, we are getting these people all over the county and seeing parts of the county they would not otherwise see,” Collins said.

CONNECTING THE DOTS Homegrown in Haywood is already helping tourism entities see each other as allies 234-69

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The Yun Sun family from Winston-Salem sought out Waynesville to show their kids what small-town America is like. Friendly front-line staff in the tourism industry, like this server at the Pisgah Inn, are key to the area’s tourism image and success. Becky Johnson photo

“It makes you feel good at the end of the day to walk away with an authentic experience,” said Smathers.

For Melinda Messer, the manager of the Shelton House in Waynesville, sharing Appalachian heritage with travelers is nothing new.

“We have been celebrating, preserving and promoting local history and heritage arts and crafts for more than 30 years,” Messer said.

But the collection of quilts, antique farm implements and folk art housed in the N.C. Museum of Handicrafts is often overlooked by the greater “We want folks to come here tourism community. and have such a good “I think this Homegrown in Haywood is exciting,” said Messer. “We experience they go back and are thrilled that under its auspices we will be developing new relationships tell everybody. From that first and partnerships with other tourism phone call asking if there is a vendors who are also homegrown.”

That could be one of the biggest room available to the dining strengths of Homegrown in Haywood: getting those in the tourism business to experience on the last night.” get outside their own box.

— Tina Masciarelli, manager “It’s all about connecting,” Knapko of the Buy Haywood initiative said. “We need to support each other. It benefits all of Haywood.” working toward a common goal.

Rice witnessed this after one of the “It will help all of us to connect,” said Homegrown workshops.

Evelyn Coltman, who’s worked with a myriad “There were people exchanging business of heritage tourism initiatives over the years. cards saying, ‘I am a restaurant, you are lodgBut those initiatives — Cold Mountain ing, let’s do packages,’” she recalled.

History Tours, the restored Francis Mill, the Rice suggested accommodations partner Shelton House museum, the quilt trail — with concert venues to offer ticket deals. Or don’t get touted like they should by mer- partnering with golf courses, spas, fishing chants and hotel owners. outfitters to come up with “girl’s getaways” or Homegrown in Haywood could move “man-cations.” those attractions into the limelight.

Festivals, music venues, restaurants, “The value they bring is the packaging, shops, attractions, farms, museums, art galbeing able to pump this out the door in a way leries, Civil War reenactment groups, fly fishpeople can understand it,” said Dick ing outfitters — they can all find a way to Coltman, president of the Bethel Rural plug in.

Community Organization.

“I feel a stronger industry partnership,” Besides, it’s what today’s tourists are look- Rice said. “Now, people realize, ‘We fit into ing for. this. They are advertising for us.’”

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The Pretty for Prom project is collecting used prom dresses for use by high school girls who may not have the means to purchase new dresses.

The project is co-sponsored by Angie Franklin-State Farm Insurance and Women of Waynesville, WOW, a local civic group that promotes women’s issues.

“Many of our young ladies dream of going to their high school prom, and

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Macon Program for Progress has long had a waiting list for housing, but that list has barely been open since the recession hit.

The list closed for the first time in 2008, reopening for only a short period before closing again.

“We are approved up to 224 units within Macon County but have never had the funds to support that,” Sutton said.

Money’s always the problem, both for governments and for individuals, and it’s an issue likely to plague MPP and the people who use it for some time, Sutton said.

“Until there is a significant uptick in the economy, that need will exist,” Sutton said. because of situations they have no control over, there may not be money for a gown and accessories,” said Joy Johnson, a WOW member and creator of Pretty for Prom.

The campaign has already received 17 gowns, ranging from size 2 to size 20. The goal is to have close to 100 gowns and accessories like shoes and pocketbooks donated

by April 30. Pretty for Prom is asking for clean and gently used gowns, cocktail or party dresses and accessories. All items can be dropped off at Angie Franklin State Farm Insurance located at 1908 South Main St. in Waynesville.

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‘Pretty for Prom’ collecting used dresses

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BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER he federal sequester came back to haunt Macon County last month when commissioners voted to spend $13,000 to keep the county’s housing assistance program up and running. Commissioners had given Macon Program for Progress $12,000 at the beginning of the fiscal year to make up for the 30 percent reduction in administrative funds that the federal sequester caused.

“We had to give them $12,000 to get them through, and it was assumed that money would come in for the rest of the year, but it didn’t,” said Commissioner Ronnie Beale.

In a 4-1 vote, commissioners decided to appropriate $13,000 dollars more, money that will come from the general budget as contingency spending. Though Section 8 Housing is a federal program from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Beale explained, local government has a responsibility to ensure that disruptions at the federal level don’t impact people who depend on its services.

“The sequester really put the counties in a bind, but the service has got to continue,” Beale said.

Commissioner Paul Higdon, who provided the sole nay vote, disagrees. He voted for the initial $12,000 but did not support the additional $13,000.

“I don’t think the county and the local taxpayers should pick up programs the federal government chooses not to fund,” he said, “regardless of how good the program is.”

MPP, however, provides a service that’s been in heightened demand ever since the economy went south in 2008. The program

manages about 150 housing units, which it rents out at a subsidized rate to people with qualifying incomes. It takes two people to oversee and administer the program, a cost of about $65,000, compared to the $650,000 MPP manages in housing payments. Though the sequester did not impact housing money, it did slice into the administrative side.

“It’s very important we maintain the administrative part of it,” Beale said.

And while housing dollars remain untouched, that’s not to say that what is there is sufficient to meet the need. Macon Program for Progress has long had a waiting list for housing, but that list has barely been open since the recession hit.

“We closed our waiting list for the second time in 2012 for the fear we were giving folks false hope, having them fill out an application when we have a waiting list that will be sufficient to fill our housing for the foreseeable future,” said Macon Program for Progress executive director Charles Sutton.

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Macon commissioners spend $13K to supplement federal cut to housing program

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incorporated into his design. host such a meeting. Members of “This adds a little local flavor Venture Local intend to take the and a little local heritage,” he input and plans offered up at the said, pointing out that the forum to the board of aldermen columns in his plans are a nod to for consideration. the columns that once stood as Franklin Mayor Bob Scott part of Dixie Hall, a Civil War-era isn’t sure how the aldermen will structure removed long ago to react to the community input. make way for the Macon County “If I had an idea I’d tell you,” Courthouse. “I’m saying, here we Scott said. But said he’s glad to are about 150 years since the see community members take Civil War. Don’t you think it’s the initiative in searching out time to pay a little homage to alternative gazebo designs. He them?” views the Venture Local forum as Richard Clark, of the Clark akin to the town hall forum he and Co. landscape and architechoped to host before some on the tural firm, offered up the only board of aldermen nixed such plan from a professional designpossibilities. er. The plan focused on the use of “This is exactly the type of space — featuring both a small thing I was hoping to do before I and large stage, more than a hungot shut down on it,” the mayor dred seats and a dance floor — said, adding that extra-governAngelo Ramos explains his design for a revamped gazebo in Franklin. mental meetings could prove to and left the overall gazebo design Jeremy Morrison photo open for input. be “more inclusive.” “Democracy “I can plug in any architecturcan be dangerous, it can be ugly, al styles,” Clark said. “I’ve got all this on ing the gazebo’s current sound quality. but it can also get things done.”

“From a personal standpoint, I perform AutoCAD if we want to play with things, add Angela Moore, a member of Venture there with a band, a loud band, and the Local, said the gazebo issue is but a beginsome things in.”

Others attended the forum sans plans, but acoustics are not great,” said Adam Kinsey, of ning. She hopes to continue the public forum with input. They suggested simplicity and fru- the local band Unaware Wolves. concept in an effort to provide the town a The forum was hosted jointly by Venture venue for an open exchange of ideas. gality. Several spoke in support of maintaining a local flavor in the design. Others focused Local Franklin and the League of Women “As long as there’s issues that people want to on details such as stage lighting and improv- Voters after the town aldermen declined to discuss, we want to keep it going,” Moore said.

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BY J EREMY MORRISON N EWS EDITOR hen Franklin town leaders meet in April, they will be digesting a number of alternative plans for revamping the downtown gazebo, the beloved but dated focal point of the town square on Main Street.

The designs and ideas for a gazebo facelift will be presented to the board of aldermen by a group of downtown merchants lobbying for a larger voice in town conversations.

Earlier this year, the group of downtown business owners let aldermen know they were not pleased with the first draft of a gazebo design being considered. So the town scrapped it, opening the door for individuals to offer alternative plans.

A grassroots community meeting was held March 31 to discuss concepts for the gazebo, which serves as a town stage during everything from political rallies to the Friday night Pickin’ on the Square music series.

Attendees had plenty of ideas about the future of the gazebo. Some had brought architectural plans, renderings and models for consideration.

“I got this idea when I did the set design for ‘Annie,’” Angelo Ramos explained, as he showed off his three-dimensional gazebo model.

Jerry Baird sat with his alternative plans near the back of the meeting room, explaining to attendees the significance of details

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The Haywood County Special Olympics needs volunteers to chair the training, competition, athlete recruitment, family, finance, fundraising, public relations and volunteer committees.

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April 2-8, 2014

town. And to our former glory? No, I think As Canton’s town manager, Hendler-Voss we’re just opening the door to tomorrow.” will supervise all service delivery operations Alderman Zeb Smathers was the lone vote of the town. His staff will include 68 full-time cast against the hiring. employees, with a $7 million operating budg“I voted ‘no’ because I am a representative et. His key initiatives coming into the posiof the people of Canton and they told me they tion include development along Champion wanted someone with preexisting town manDrive, enhancing downtown beautification ager or assistant town manager experience,” and advancing recreation services. he said. “With that said, I sincerely believe “My goal in this position is simple — that Seth is a very energetic and passionate work as hard as I can and do everything I can person to move the town forward, and I truly look forward to start working with him.”

When asked about the lack of specific town managing experience, Hendler-Voss Seth Hendler-Voss (right), the new pointed out Canton town manager, talks with a his extensive local resident at a recent town board work with the meeting. Garret K. Woodward photo city of Asheville and years of work“My goal in this position is simple — work as ing with town managers hard as I can and do everything I can to support around the the board and support you, the community, in region.

“I would making Canton the best town it can be.” ask that everybody — Seth Hendler-Voss hold on to asking that [experience] question until I have a year at to support the board and support you, the the job,” he said. “The board elected me community, in making Canton the best town based on my prior experience and manageit can be,” Hendler-Voss said. ment skills that will translate well into town Hendler-Voss also noted another goal of management.” his was to build the level of trust between Hendler-Voss, 35, will begin his position town employees, and between the communiApril 14. As the park planning/development ty. He said he aims to help make the town manager for the city of Asheville, he oversaw organization the most effective it can be and a staff of 45 within the 870-acre park system. also be able to attract the best possible He also has served as the principal landscape employees in the county. architect for the city of Atlanta and was a “I want to engage employees, get them streetscape designer in the private sector. He involved in the decision process, find out holds a degree in Landscape Architecture what excites them, find out what gives them from Penn State University and a Masters of pause, and have an appreciation and respect Public Affairs from Western Carolina for what they do,” Hendler-Voss said. “The University. He will relocate to Canton with his most important asset in a town manager is to wife Amanda, 36, and two sons, Myles, 7, and be resourceful, and to find where the best Simon, 1. Amanda is also the pastor at the answers lie. I look forward to working with Land of the Sky United Church of Christ in everyone — I want to get out of the gates Asheville. fast.”

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BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER anton Mayor Mike Ray was happy to see it come to an end. Finally, a decision has been made.

“We’ve gone through 80 applications and have worked hard to make a decision for our city, our employees and our residents,” Ray said.

The hiring process for the new town manager of Canton began over a year ago, when former town manager Al Matthews put in his notice that he would retire at the end of 2013.

It was a lengthy process — one reopened last August — that ultimately resulted in a trio of finalists.

The town board of aldermen ended up selecting Seth Hendler-Voss on a 3-1 vote during its March 27 meeting. Hendler-Voss currently serves as the park planning/development manager of the city of Asheville.

“The town of Canton typifies the enduring spirit of small town America,” the newly selected town manager said. “The community’s profound sense of pride, rich history and the central role it plays in the Haywood County economy attracted me to this opportunity. I’m truly honored to be joining the team, and I look forward to rolling up my sleeves with the staff and energized board and getting to work.”

Ray and members of the board echoed similar sentiments.

“We are thrilled to have Seth join the Canton community and lead the organization to new heights,” the mayor said. “The town of Canton has an abundance of assets that we intend to nurture and leverage to generate new growth and vibrancy for our community.

Seth brings the planning, management and people skills to help us achieve this goal.”

Alderwoman Carole Edwards referred to the hiring of a new town manager as a “very thoughtful process.”

“We didn’t make this decision hastily, we gave it great thought and great consideration,” she said. “Personally, for me it’s an opportunity for us to move our town forward, grow our town and bring it back somewhat to its former glory.”

Alderman Dr. Ralph Hamlett said that the selection of Hendler-Voss amounted to making good on a campaign promise.

“When I ran for this position, I ran on positive change, I ran because I wanted to do what was right for my town and for all of you,” the alderman said. “And tonight I look at you [Hendler-Voss], and I know that I’m living that promise that I made, that the choice we made guarantees a positive change for our

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Canton paper mill takes on $50 million air emission

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER vergreen Packaging paper mill in Canton is embarking on a $50 million natural gas conversion of its coal-fired boilers to comply with new federal air pollution limits.

Evergreen has earmarked $1 million to start the engineering process, signaling a commitment to keep the paper mill — and the 1,100 jobs it provides — in Western North Carolina. To meet new air standards, the mill is switching from coal to natural gas.

The staggering cost includes upgrades of the natural gas line running from Asheville, which doesn’t currently have enough capacity.

But the company won’t be paying for those upgrades alone. Word came last week that a $2.1 million grant came through from the North Carolina Department of Commerce to help with the gas line upgrade.

Haywood County applied for the utility grant on Evergreen’s behalf, and will kick in the $700,000 match required to unlock those state funds.

“We’ve done our part here in the county,” said Mark Swanger, chairman of Haywood’s board of commissioners.

The grant tipped the scales for Evergreen to begin engineering work.

“I think that this gives Evergreen the confidence that we can move the project forward,” said Michael Ferguson, manager of manufacturing excellence for Evergreen. “It’s still a $50 million project. It’s still a very large investment, but the county as well as the state has stepped up. I think that’s a positive thing.”

Evergreen is hoping for more help from the state, however. Evergreen is requesting $12 million in additional grant money to proceed with the project, which will likely take another three years or so to complete.

“That’s not a done deal at all, but we are

Smoky Mountain News

April 2-8, 2014

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Evergreen Packaging employs 1,100 people who make an average of $78,300 in salary and benefits. The company is the largest manufacturer west of Charlotte.

Holly Kays photo

“It’s still a very large investment, but the county as well as the state has stepped up. I think that’s a positive thing.”

— Michael Ferguson, manager of manufacturing excellence for Evergreen

asking to get that,” Ferguson said.

The legislature isn’t likely to shell out $12 million, however, according to Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin. But he supports the company’s request for taxpayer help to complete the upgrades and will do what he can.

“Ask Evergreen how much taxes they pay every year,” he said. “Corporate income tax, income tax, how much they pay to the community. Take a quarter of a billion dollars out of the community and see what happens.”

Local decisions make lending...

Evergreen is indeed a significant player in Western North Carolina’s economy. The mill employs 1,100 people who make an average of $78,300 in salary and benefits. The company is the largest manufacturer west of Charlotte. Every year, they turn out 550,000 tons of paper, primarily carton board.

But all that paper requires a lot of energy to make, and all energy generation has environmental consequences. Evergreen has seven industrial boilers, and five burn coal.

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Compared to most other fuels, coal has higher emissions for many of the toxic pollutants the EPA set out to address in its 2012 boiler regulations.

To meet the new emissions standard, Evergreen will replace two of its coal burners with natural gas burners and modify two more to run on natural gas. Natural gas is a cleaner-burning fuel, so converting would allow Evergreen to meet the new standards.

The project goes beyond converting its own boilers, however. Evergreen faces a natural gas supply problem. The existing natural gas lines can’t transport the volume of natural gas the mill needs, so the lines must be upgraded as part of the project.

That’s good news to government leaders in Haywood County because improved natural gas availability could lure other businesses into the county.

“It will make us more competitive for other potential startups, because natural gas is such a valuable commodity,” Swanger said. “Economic development also means retaining the businesses you already have, and if you’re looking at over 1,000 jobs that are good-paying jobs with good benefits, to not have that in Haywood County would be an economic calamity.”

But upgrading a gas line is a lot of work, and Evergreen is under the gun to get it done before the 2019 federal compliance deadline for the new air regulations.

Evergreen is looking ahead and hoping to get an extension should the work not be done in time. U.S. Congressman Mark Meadows, R-Cashiers, is trying to get the EPA to extend its deadline.

“What we want is a partnership with the federal government,” Davis said.

Regardless of that outcome, completing the upgrades will be a long process, and one that includes plenty of uncertainty.

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owned by the hospital, which will also come under Duke LifePoint as part of the sale.

Yet another player in the sale is Carolinas HealthCare, a hospital management company with a long-term contract to oversee MedWest. That contract is being severed.

“There’s a lot I can’t tell you because I still have confidentiality requirements to meet,” Jaberg said. “There is a lot going on and there is not a quiet moment in the hospital.”

But the patient experience and quality of care is still the top priority.

Jaberg’s message to hospital staff: “Let me take care of this stuff, and let them take care of patients.”

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Western Carolina University will throw open its doors to prospective students and their families and friends as the university holds Open House at noon Saturday, April 5.

The event was added to the university’s spring schedule after an Open House scheduled for February was canceled due to inclement weather.

The schedule starts with an academic and student services information fair from noon to 1:30 p.m. around the concourse of WCU’s Ramsey Regional Activity Center. Following a welcome session in the Ramsey Center main arena from 1:30 to 2 p.m., prospective students will have a chance to engage in academic sessions led by WCU faculty members from 2:15 to 3 p.m. Visitors can choose among several options for the 3 to 5 p.m. period, including tours of campus and residence

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Haywood Regional Medical Center is hosting a series of community meetings aimed at better serving patients’ health care needs and expectations.

“I continue to be interested in knowing how our community thinks we are doing, because this is their community hospital,” said Haywood Regional CEO Janie Sinacore-Jaberg.

The meetings are a follow-up to a similar series held last spring. Feedback from those meetings will be recapped, as well as new initiatives and services at the hospital, and an update on the sale of the hospital.

“It’s a very exciting time for our community hospital,” said Jaberg.

The meetings include: • Wednesday, April 2, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the auditorium of Haywood Community College.

• Tuesday, April 8, from noon to 1 p.m. in the classrooms at the MedWest Haywood Health & Fitness Center.

• Thursday, May 1, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the town hall in Maggie Valley.

• Monday, May 5 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Colonial Theatre Annex in Canton.

BUSINESS

April 2-8, 2014

BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER he sale of the hospitals in Haywood, Jackson and Swain counties to Duke LifePoint has entered the final stages but is still several weeks, and possibly even a few months away.

“We are moving through due diligence right now,” said Janie Sinacore-Jaberg, CEO of Haywood Regional Medical Center. “As much as I would like to give you a time frame, I have learned not to give timelines because they always change.”

Initial estimates pegged the transaction wrapping up by the end of March. But logistics are still being negotiated.

The acquisitions are still in process, assured Diane Huggins, vice president of communications with LifePoint, but she deferred to the local hospitals for any other details.

There are many moving parts to the sale.

For starters, the MedWest partnership forged four years ago between Haywood Regional and WestCare, which includes the hospitals in Jackson and Swain counties, will dissolve.

Sorting out the assets and finances that were mingled under MedWest — known as “truing up” in the accounting world — is bound to be complex.

The sale of Haywood Regional was forged as a separate transaction from Duke LifePoint’s deal with WestCare, but they are contingent on each other.

“We must close both of these deals at the same time and that adds a whole ‘nother flavor to things,” Jaberg said.

Another factor is the physician practices

This is the time to start your own

Community meetings planned

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Many moving parts to hospital sale

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Vision quest Waynesville officials attempt glimpse into future

Left to right: Waynesville aldermen LeRoy Roberson, Gary Caldwell, Julia Freeman and Wells Greely brainstorm about the town’s future. Jeremy Morrison photo

BY J EREMY MORRISON N EWS EDITOR fter a full day of brainstorming, the Waynesville Board of Aldermen had thrown a lot of meat onto the table.

Ideas, concerns and potential opportunities were written down on giant pieces of paper and tacked up on the walls, canvassing a good portion of the meeting room overlooking Lake Junaluska.

Town officials gathered for their lateMarch retreat with the mission of “crafting a vision” for the future, but there seemed to be a consensus from the session’s onset that Waynesville wasn’t looking too shabby to begin with. Mayor Gavin Brown said he felt that most residents and visitors perceived the town to be “comfortable,” “enjoyable,” “clean” and “safe.”

“It’s all these things you want to see in that Norman Rockwell painting of Waynesville,” the mayor said.

David Long, a facilitator hired by the town to conduct the retreat, agreed — “If anything, I think you’re held up as a model of the ways things should be” — and explained that the purpose of the visioning session was to prepare for the future, to keep a good thing going and make it better. He cautioned against expecting epiphanies.

“I don’t think anything’s going to come out of today where you’re going to say, ‘I never realized that, I’m stunned,’” he said.

“It’s not going to be like that.”

Past town retreats have been much more straightforward. Last year, officials spent the day discussing the possibilities of a Lake Junaluska merger and the town’s information technology needs. In 2008, the board focused on specific issues, including watershed conservation, liquor by the drink and the skateboard park. This year’s getaway was 16 looser, less tangible and more abstract.

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April 2-8, 2014

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Leaders were asked to consider the town’s strengths and weaknesses, its needs and opportunities. They were led through a series of exercises involving note cards and graphs. They were asked not to “overthink it” or “over-analyze it,” but to “just kind of go with your gut.”

“It’s not a science,” Long told them.

“It’s just a way of figuring out what’s on your mind.”

Issues on the minds of town leaders were many. They ranged from how to encourage and guide future growth to drawing in visitors during the off-season. There were discussions about fostering a walkable and bikeable community, about the possibilities of bottling local water, about expanding the Downtown Waynesville Association and downtown-specific taxing district boundaries to include Hazlewood, Frog Level and South Main Street.

Just before lunch, the group’s sprawling list was pared down to a suite of themes, which was promptly mapped out and posted on the wall. Priority areas identified by Waynesville’s leaders were the economy; infrastructure needs; maintaining quality of life; promoting the area; protecting and promoting the natural environment; planning and vision; mobility and traffic and finances.

Looking over their initial lists posted along the wall, Mayor Brown suggested filing everything under one umbrella.

“Our focus appears to be the economy,” he said. “All 43 items up there, I could probably just put under the economy.”

Throughout the day, economics did weave in and out of most every conversation.

So did other issues. There was natural overlap between identified themes like infrastructure, planning and the environment.

There were discussions about how to

square wants for a walkable community with the possibility of easing development requirements, such as mandating sidewalks, to encourage growth.

Officials considered assessing critical infrastructure needs and exploring the merits of bond referendums to fund such needs.

They talked about ensuring efficiency in delivered services addressing social issues.

The mayor asked if perhaps there was a need to launch a town-specific economic development arm. He wondered if the town should be actively seeking out and luring businesses to the area.

“I guess I’m asking a question more than creating a bullet point,” Brown told the aldermen. “Does the town need an economic development department? Is that what I’m hearing?”

Town Manager Marcy Onieal informed the group that prospective business opportunities do come around — “they knock on planning’s door all the time” — but that there were currently no resources specifically directed toward economic development efforts.

“Sure the town could do it,” said Alderman LeRoy Roberson, “but I don’t think you’d be as effective as if you partnered with the chamber or the TDA or even the county.”

Alderman Gary Caldwell agreed. He described the new merger of the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce and the county’s Economic Development Commission as “a test.”

“I feel like, at this point, we need to give them that chance to see how it flows, to see where it goes,” Caldwell said.

After aldermen dove into the possibility of expanding the current downtown boundaries that allow for a dedicated source of funding for the town’s core area — such a move would require property owners in areas like Frog Level to pay an additional tax

“Our focus appears to be the economy. All 43 items up there, I could probably just put under the economy.”

— Gavin Brown, Waynesville mayor

— they began wondering if such an initiative would sink or float.

“There could potentially be a lot of pushback from the business owners and property owners,” said Alderman Wells Greeley.

“There could be,” agreed Onieal. “We haven’t had that formal conversation, yet.”

The town leaders also talked about acquiring easements for Richland Creek greenway connections and making more of an effort capitalize on local recreational opportunities. They considered taking a look at staff training and drawing up a policy procedure for outside funding requests.

They discussed weighing the need for jobs against environmental concerns — “that is just not acceptable anymore” — with

the consensus being new endeavors would need to be clean and sustainable.

“It’s not about the environment versus jobs anymore,” the mayor said. “They go hand-inhand. We don’t think that way anymore.

There may have been a time that we did.”

When discussing the town’s financial condition, the town manager noted that the most recent housing evaluations — the basis for the town’s property tax revenue — had reversed a trend.

“In essence, the natural growth the town has relied on has come to a screeching halt over the last few years,” Onieal said. “So, it’s caught up with us.”

She said that there may come a time when the town will need to consider cutting services or raising property taxes. The mayor conceded the reality — “Do I want to raise taxes? No. Am I going to raise taxes? Well, I shrug my shoulders.” — but said he’s hopeful growth will relieve any need to hike taxes.

“My hope and prayer is that we can grow our way out of this,” Brown said. “Let’s see if we can’t tough this out a little bit longer.”

Among the group’s chief concerns was the merger with Lake Junaluska. It made the top of the list during the retreat’s initial brainstorming session.

At one point, Lake Junaluska Executive Director Jack Ewing dropped in on the retreat. He expressed his support for the merger.

“I just want you to know, that is an important issue to us — not just a good option, it is the option, the best option for us,” Ewing told town officials.

Waynesville leaders also pondered the town’s identity. They asked themselves if the area needed to be better defined.

Onieal asked if the town had considered hammering out a brand — “or a catchphrase” — and Alderman Well Greely relayed how some of his Asheville friends “think we live in the middle of the Congo.”

Offering an outsider’s perspective, the facilitator noted that the area may be getting overlooked when the outside world thinks of Western North Carolina.

“I’m thinking, Waynesville is sort of the crown jewel,” said Long. “It doesn’t get mentioned, but it should.”

“Maybe we want to be mysterious,” said the mayor. “I say that jokingly, but not really.”

Earlier, Brown had shared his concern that the town’s future growth might come with unwanted consequences. He urged the board to be wary of the area becoming “gentrified.”

“As our communities change, you hope you don’t have gentrification, or stratification,” the mayor said, “with the very rich people sitting up on the top of a mountain kind of sneering at the lowly people down in town.”

As the day’s visioning session wrapped, Long’s prediction appeared accurate. There were no a-ha moments, just plenty of threads to follow into the future. The leaders agreed to go out together for the occasional beer or dinner — in groups small enough to bypass open-meeting rules — and continue talking and charting a course.

“We don’t have all the answers, but I still think we’re the best town in North Carolina,” Brown said before the group adjourned.

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Occupancy tax supporters hold out hope

April 2-8, 2014

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to go before a committee and testify that all the local delegation is on board with that, and right now that is not the case,” Davis explained. “It is useless to go forward with that unless we have the whole delegation.”

N.C. Rep. Joe Sam Queen, D-Waynesville, is squarely on board, but he only represents half of Haywood. The other half is represented by Presnell, so it needs her blessing, too.

While it’s not a black-and-white rule written in the General Assembly playbook, it’s an unspoken code of engagement the legislature goes by.

Davis said he has Michele Presnell been beaten up by some members of his own party in Haywood for supporting the room tax hike, since it defies the Republican anti-tax platform.

“I am not a fan of big taxes, but I am certainly not a fan of state government telling local government what to do,” Davis said.

The room tax hike is supported unanimously by the elected leaders of all four towns and the county except one, and to go against that majority would be denying local government a semblance of self-determination, Davis said.

“I am a champion of local government,” he said, adding that if constituents aren’t happy, they can take it up with their local

“I heard the arguments then, but as a board member I am not doing my job if I don’t see to it that the tourism authority has the money to implement initiatives to increase tourism.”

— James Carver, Maggie Valley restaurant owner and member of the tourism board

leaders on the ballot in the next election.

Davis initially supported the bill last year, but temporarily withdrew support when opposition mounted from the ranks of Maggie Valley lodging owners and general anti-tax advocates.

But after sizing up public sentiment, Davis ultimately concluded the vast majority of local leaders are behind the tax increase and restored his support.

‘DISAPPOINTING’ TURN OF EVENTS The fate of the room tax hike is “disappointing,” said Ken Stahl, member of the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority.

The tourism board discussed the dwindling prospects of the room tax hike at a meeting last week. The tax increase would address

an Achilles’ Heel for Haywood’s tourism landscape: according to the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority, there are not enough tourism-related attractions.

“We are stuck, we are trying to move forward,” said Mike Sorrells, a convenience store and restaurant owner in Jonathan Creek who also sits on the tourism board. “There is a lot of opportunity to turn the corner and move forward, but we could be sitting here 10 years from now saying we need to be doing this.”

The tourism authority hoped to create a grant fund to build new attractions or expand existing ones.

“This is specific to bricks and mortar. This is not more money for web sites,” said Mike Eveland, a tourism board member from Maggie Valley and hotel general manager. “It is something structurally that you can see. It will be there.”

What those attractions might be is anyone’s guess. A tournament

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BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER tourism tax increase in Haywood County has virtually no hope of advancing in the N.C. General Assembly this year, but some of its supporters seem reluctant to fold.

Town and county leaders have implored state legislators to green light a tourism tax increase since this time last year. Hiking the tax on overnight lodging from 4 cents to 6 cents would bring in half a million extra dollars a year for tourism coffers and would be earmarked for building or expanding tourism attractions.

But objectors fought it and it lost traction in Raleigh. Local leaders have held out hope the proposal would get a second wind when the legislature reconvenes in the spring, however.

“I am hoping this will surface with some projects that will help our communities and also our tourists,” Canton Mayor Mike Ray said this week at a quarterly meeting of town boards and county commissioners.

But that’s highly unlikely, if not downright impossible, according to N.C. Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin.

“That is probably not going to happen unless we get everybody on board,” Davis said.

Davis said he is willing to the carry the ball in the Senate, but it would also have to pass the House. And there, N.C. Rep. Michele Presnell, R-Burnsville, has refused to back it.

“Unfortunately, with a local bill you have

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Also, as a state entity, the university would have more permits and regulations to abide by than the endowment would.

In August 2012, WCU’s Millennial Initiative Select Committee — a body appointed by Belcher — recommended leasing the land to the endowment fund. The committee’s report noted that WCU should “be mindful of the fact that any engagement with public-private partners has to be both nimble and quick, as the pace of private development exceeds that of the regular course of business in the academic world.”

fight each other. You have to be unified.”

Stahl said the power struggle over how to spend tourism tax dollars and who stands to gain isn’t unique to Haywood. He pointed to the tug-of-war between Cashiers and Sylva over tourism dollars in Jackson County a couple of years ago.

“It is all about control of money,” Stahl said.

James Carver, a long-time Maggie restaurant owner and member of the tourism board, said the hue and cry today is the same tune, just a different verse. Fears the room tax would backfire by deterring tourists from coming have been around for 30 years, since the first room tax was put in place.

“I heard the arguments then, but as a board member I am not doing my job if I don’t see to it that the tourism authority has the money to implement initiatives to increase tourism,” Carver said, questioning the motives of those against the tax. “It is selfish and people should get out of the way.”

But Maggie motel owner Tammy Wight said she fears county taxpayers would be left holding the bag if whatever attraction was built with tourism dollars couldn’t support itself over the long run.

“I am probably the only one here in opposition to this,” Wight admitted at the tourism board meeting.

Smoky Mountain News

sports complex? A civic center? A water park?

Lots of small grants for various venues, or one big-ticket project?

“People would be more comfortable with it if they knew what the project was,” said Teresa Smith, director of the Maggie Valley Chamber of Commerce.

“But you can’t decide on a project until you know if the money is going to be there,” asserted Lyndon Lowe, owner of Twinbrook Cottages in Maggie Valley.

A faction of lodging owners in Maggie Valley have been credited with bending Presnell’s ear and turning her against the idea of the tax, driven by deep-seated turf battles and a long-standing paranoia that Maggie won’t get its due.

“Some people in Maggie are concerned Maggie isn’t going to get their share,” said Lowe. “But others in Maggie say Maggie needs the county as a whole working together because Maggie alone doesn’t have enough money to do projects alone.”

Sorrells agreed. They have to stop worrying someone else will get a bigger piece of the pie and join forces. He feels the decades-old dichotomy of Maggie as a tourist town and Waynesville as a factory town is over.

“It’s not like that now,” Sorrells said.

“Each individual place can’t stand alone and

Such a public-private campus is not unique to Cullowhee — both North Carolina State University and UNCCharlotte have them.

April 2-8, 2014

BY J EREMY MORRISON N EWS EDITOR estern Carolina University is expected to get the go-ahead this month to place development of the Millennial Campus under the control of WCU’s endowment fund.

University officials believe the endowment fund would serve as a better vehicle to foster the public-private initiatives envisioned for Millennial Campus, according to the proposal.

The UNC system Board of Governors is scheduled to vote on the matter during its April meeting.

WCU Chancellor David Belcher recently told his Board of Trustees that the proposal’s chances look good.

“I’ve gotten no negative pushback on that whatsoever,” Belcher said during a trustees meeting in March.

The WCU trustees endorsed a proposal in late 2012 to lease the 344-acre tract to its endowment fund for 99 years for the amount of $1. The move was in line with the Millennial Initiative the university had initiated a few years prior.

“As we begin to enter into agreements with partners in the Millennial Initiative, this would provide us with the speed and flexibility we need to meet the expectations of potential partners who would like to develop projects with us,” Joan McNeill, former chair of the university’s Board of Trustees, said at the time.

The Millennial Initiative is WCU’s strategic effort to connect the worlds of education and business, of public and private. Faculty and students would theoretically learn through hands-on experience with research firms, health care clinics and start-up companies.

Such a public-private campus is not unique to Cullowhee — both North Carolina State University and UNC-Charlotte have them. This type of model was authorized when the N.C. General Assembly passed the Millennial Campus Act in 2000.

WCU would also not be the only university to lease tracts to an endowment fund.

The arrangement shelters the activity conducted on such campuses from the public eye, offering businesses the privacy desired.

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WCU fine-tunes its course for Millennial Campus

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Opinion

Smoky Mountain News

Support fair trade but beware free trade

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There are reasons for Presnell’s opposition

To the Editor: I find it noteworthy that in the March 26 column on Rep. Michele Presnell’s opposition to the proposed 50 percent increase in the room tax there is no clear indication that the writer had attempted to go into depth with Rep. Presnell, R-Burnsville, herself concerning the reasons why she says the bill is “still controversial.” If in fact such an attempt was made, her answer for some reason best known to the editor was not shared with his readers, which would seem to constitute a disservice to them, even in an opinion piece.

It may be that the reason Rep. Presnell opposes the increase has to do with the knowledge that tax increases often have the opposite of their intended effect — in this case by encouraging people to find better deals elsewhere or to stay in places where the room tax rate is the same but where there are more

by Public Citizen has revealed the following about NAFTA: • Rather than creating jobs, thousands of U.S. manufacturing jobs have been exported to places like Mexico, Haiti, China and Vietnam.

• U.S. trade deficits have increased six-fold, to $177 billion in 2013.

• Foreign competition has exerted a downward pressure on wages for U.S. workers, contributing significantly to our growing income inequality. Two out of every three displaced factory workers who were rehired in 2012 took a pay cut of more than 20 percent, competing for non-offshore-able, low-skill jobs in secColumnist tors such as hospitality and food service.

• Many of our environmental and health laws have been challenged in foreign tribunals, resulting in more than $360 million in compensation to investors being assessed against NAFTA governments (federal and state), and toxics bans, land-use, water and forestry rules being voided. Other NAFTA claims currently under dispute threaten medicine patent policies, a fracking moratorium, and a renewable energy program.

• The average annual U.S. agricultural trade deficit with Mexico and Canada in NAFTA’s first 20 years was $975 million, almost three times the pre-NAFTA level. U.S. food exports to these two countries have fallen while food imports have doubled. At the same time, U.S. food prices have risen 67 percent.

• Such reductions in consumer goods prices that have taken place have been more than offset by wage losses. The 63 percent of U.S. workers without college degrees have lost 12.2 percent of their wages, after accounting for cheaper consumer goods — $3,300 per year for those with a median annual wage of $27,500.

• The massive increase in exports of subsidized U.S. corn (i.e., not free trade, in spite of the treaty) destroyed the livelihoods of a million Mexican farmers and another 1.4 million workers whose income depended on agriculture. The resulting desperate migration of people displaced from Mexico’s rural economy has depressed wages in border factories and doubled Mexican immigration to the U.S. Thus, immigration issues in

Doug Wingeier

or some years now I have been promoting fair trade products as a means of helping organic farmers and cooperatives in the Third World get just prices and living wages, improve living standards, educate their children, build stable communities, and protect the environment from toxic chemicals destructive use of land and water.

My wife and I use fair trade coffee, tea, cocoa, and chocolate from farmers in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, and Palestinian olive oil — all organic, high quality, and reasonably priced. I sell it at cost, and have encouraged its use at church functions. My interest in this has grown out of visits to coffee farms in Nicaragua, Colombia and Chiapas, Mexico, where I have seen first-hand the struggles of farmers who operate at the mercy of the fluctuating world market with prices set in New York, unpredictable weather patterns, an invasive and destructive rust, and exploitative middlemen called coyotes who buy cheap at the peak of the season from small farmers with no storage facilities.

I encourage you to join me in bringing your purchasing and dietary practices into conformity with the values of compassion and justice for the “least of these.”

However, sometimes folks less familiar with these practices refer to this activity of mine as promoting “free trade” rather than “fair trade.” There is a world of difference, however. Free trade refers to the policy of large multinational corporations, giant agribusinesses and First World governments like ours to enter into treaties that pave the way for free-for-all competition by reducing tariff barriers, opening up markets, eliminating protections for laborers and the environment, and compromising the intellectual property rights of indigenous peoples.

Exhibit A for this policy is NAFTA, the North America Free Trade Agreement between the U.S., Canada and Mexico, pushed through by President Clinton 20 years ago. It has been followed by CAFTA-DR (pact with Central American countries and the Dominican Republic) and bilateral trade agreements with Colombia, Korea, Chile and Peru, among others.

Supporters of these “free trade” treaties argue that they promote economic development, create jobs, provide us with cheaper consumer goods, establish a U.S. trade surplus, and reduce barriers to building a world community. After 20 years, however, we have seen the results to be just the opposite. A recent study

local attractions. It could be that she is aware of the tendency of our local governments to be rather vague and general about what they intend to spend the money on. It might be that she — and a substantial number of her constituents — have concerns about the fairness of imposing a tax that burdens one sector of the local economy but not others. All these reasons may be in play, but we do not know, because either she wasn’t asked or her answer was not shared with us.

I also find it noteworthy that in the same column, when writing of the recent Haywood County GOP resolution opposing the room tax increase, the editor neglected to mention that the vote of delegates from all parts of the county in favor of the resolution was overwhelming. This fact seriously calls into question Commissioner Ensley’s claim that a “small faction” has taken over the county party. This sort of spin is typical — if illogical, given the nature of majority rule — when one’s own faction has been defeated, and that decisively.

our country are directly traceable to our trade policies.

• More than half the Mexican population falls below the poverty line, contradicting predictions that NAFTA would bring prosperity to Mexicans. A minimum wage worker in Mexico can buy 38 percent fewer consumer goods, which cost seven times as much as before NAFTA. To sum this all up, the reality is that the grand promises of NAFTA have failed, the opposite has happened and millions of people in all three countries have been severely harmed — by loss of land and jobs, environmental devastation, lowered living standards, family dislocation and separation and increased poverty fostering a bulging rich-poor gap.

Now, the Obama administration is promoting a new trade and investment pact patterned after NAFTA, called the TransPacific Partnership (TPP), which is currently being negotiated among 11 countries that border the Pacific or the South China Sea — Peru, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, along with the NAFTA three — but, significantly, not China. Like NAFTA, this pact is being negotiated behind closed doors by government officials with transnational corporations like Monsanto, Wal-Mart, Goldman Sachs, Halliburton and Phillip Morris, but without citizen groups, workers’ representatives, or elected legislators.

The announced aim of TPP is to promote development, create jobs and lift living standards for all. But, following the NAFTA pattern, the results will very likely look very different.

Despite campaign promises to create transparency, the Obama administration has refused to tell us what is in the “classified” treaty texts. And now, they are seeking “fast track” approval, which would bypass Congress and short-change the legislative process so the president could sign the TPP before Congress could review it or make changes to protect the rights of ordinary people like us. The U.S. Constitution gives Congress the authority to review and approve treaties; it’s their job to make sure trade deals work for everyone.

Individually, we can practice consumer habits that support fair trade. Collectively, we can demand that our representatives reject free trade. Fair Trade? Yes! Free Trade? No! (Doug Wingeier is a retired seminary professor and minister. He can be reached at dcwing@main.nc.us.)

It is also worth noting that Mrs. Presnell’s brief is to represent all her constituents — those who do not serve on elected or appointed boards as well as those who do. These boards (whose political composition is not nearly so bipartisan as Mr. Ensley’s statement would make it appear, by the way) are not supposed to constitute some sort of impermeable barrier between the citizens of the county and their representatives in Raleigh, nor is their opinion necessarily worthy of being given greater weight than that of those citizens whose money they propose to tax and then spend.

Samuel Edwards Canton

Has Rep. Presnell lost her memory?

To the Editor: In a recent article about the sad state of North Carolina teacher salaries, Rep. Michele

Presnell was quoted as follows: “We cannot help education until we get a handle on Medicaid. Obamacare has thrown all these additional people in there. That is the problem with giving educators more of a raise.”

Is something wrong with Rep. Presnell’s memory? Last year she voted for Senate Bill 4, No N.C. Exchange/No Medicaid Expansion.

This bill became state law March 6, 2013.

Medicaid expansion would have changed the Medicaid eligibility rules, allowing very lowincome adults to use Medicaid for their health care. The federal government would have paid 100 percent of Medicaid costs for the first three years, then no less than 90 percent for subsequent years.

However, this did not happen in North Carolina because of Senate Bill 4. All who receive Medicaid in North Carolina are subject to the strict Medicaid eligibility rules set by state lawmakers long before the Affordable Care Act. The reason the state doesn’t have money to give our teachers a

F

Create Eden, drop animal products

A TASTE OF NEW ORLEANS 67 Branner Ave., Waynesville, 828.246.0885. 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., 7 days a week. Curtis Henry opened A Taste of New Orleans to cater to the locals and become the place that’s always open that you can rely on for different, flavorful dishes every day. Serving Cajun, French and Creole Cuisine in a lovingly restored space, Curtis looks forward to serving you up a delicious dish soon.

AMMONS DRIVE-IN RESTAURANT & DAIRY BAR 1451 Dellwwod Rd., Waynesville.

828.926.0734. Open 7 days a week 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Celebrating over 25 years.

Enjoy world famous hot dogs as well as burgers, seafood, hushpuppies, hot wings and chicken. Be sure to save room for dessert. The cobbler, pie and cake selections are sure to satisfy any sweet tooth.

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

BOURBON BARREL BEEF & ALE 454 Hazelwood Ave., Waynesville, 828.452.9191. Dinner nightly from 4 p.m.

Closed on Sunday. We specialize in handcut, all natural steaks, fresh fish, and other classic American comfort foods that are made using only the finest local and sustainable ingredients available. We also feature a great selection of craft beers from local artisan brewers, and of course an extensive selection of small batch bourbons and whiskey. The Barrel is a friendly and casual neighborhood dining experience where our guests enjoy a great meal without breaking the bank.

BREAKING BREAD CAFÉ 6147 Hwy 276 S. Bethel (at the Mobil Gas Station) 828.648.3838 Monday Through Friday a.m to 5 p.m. (takeout only 5 to 6 p.m.) Closed Saturday and Sunday. Deli and so much more. We roast our own ham, turkey and roast beef, just like you get on Thanksgiving. Come try our new burger menu with topping choices from around the world. Enjoy our daily baked goods: cinnamon & sticky buns, cakes, pies and cookies.

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Vouchers won’t help low-income families To the Editor: Recently, I became curious about the N.C. Opportunity Scholarships (a new name for vouchers) that are being billed as a way for families in poverty to have more choices for their child’s education by allowing them to choose private schools.

I am perplexed as to how these vouchers of $4,200 a year could possibly benefit families that are truly low-income. Most private schools charge between $18,000 to $20,000 a year. In addition, the private schools do not provide transportation, a serious barrier for most low-income families. Likewise, the private schools charge large fees for after-school care and do not provide subsidized lunches.

These Opportunity Scholarships are really designed for the middle class that have the resources to bridge the gap between the $4,200 voucher and the true costs of a private school education. In 2015, the vouchers will be available to middle-income families.

Opportunity Scholarships would not really make a private school education any more accessible for children from lowresource families. The claim that these vouchers are designed to benefit children in poverty just doesn’t make sense. Maybe Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, can explain this.

Clayton Ramsey Franklin

Café

‘Final Rites’ F M THE IRST

URDER

MYSTERY OF THE SEASON

Deli & So Much More

3 course dinner with wine

Saturday, Apr. 12 • 6 pm

6147 Hwy 276 S. • Bethel

$45/PERSON + TAX & GRATUITY

(at the Mobil Gas Station)

94 East St. • Waynesville

bbcafenc.com • 828.648.3838

828-452-7837 www.herrenhouse.com Serving Lunch Wed-Fri 11:30-2 & Sunday Brunch 11-2

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Mon.-Fri. 8-5 • Closed: Sat. & Sun.

APPÉTIT Y’AL N L BO

828-456-1997 blueroostersoutherngrill.com

— Real Local People, Real Local Food — 207 Paragon Parkway, Clyde, North Carolina Monday-Friday Open at 11am

Smoky Mountain News

To the Editor: TV host Glenn Beck and other stalwarts of the Christian right have attacked the recent blockbuster “Noah”as being “pro-animal” and unfaithful to the Bible. Well, yes and no. The film is pro-animal and faithful to the Bible, at least to the Book of Genesis, our only source for the story of Noah.

After all, Genesis 1:29 admonishes, “Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree that has seed-yielding fruit — to you it shall be for food.” It is only after the flood, with fruits and vegetables no longer abundant, that humans get permission to eat animal flesh. Even then, the Bible stipulates that only select animals may be taken and always with reverence and minimal cruelty. This is certainly a far cry from today’s factory farm and slaughterhouse practices.

Regardless of how we may feel about “Noah’s” interpretation of the Bible, each of us can recreate the recommended diet of the Garden of Eden in our home by dropping

To the Editor: It should be reassuring that so many groups are concerned about “voter integrity” on Election Day, making certain that a voter’s physical address squares with the voting rolls. No problem there.

However, the opportunities for voter challenges have been significantly increased under the new N.C. voter laws: in addition to the two poll observers from each political party to monitor polling places, we now learn the chair of each political party in a county may designate 10 additional at-large “observers” who reside in the county, and may attend any voting place in that county.

Also under the new laws: any registered voter of the same county has the “right” to challenge the right to vote of any registered voter on the day of a primary or election.

Election Day challenges are no longer limited to voters who reside in the same precinct.

This hardly “restores confidence” in elections and paves the way for burdensome delays and more confusion at polling places.

A well-organized minority can easily intimidate voters under the guise of voter integrity.

Are we creating more observers than actual voters at polling places?

Roger Turner Sylva

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

Blue-plates and local fresh vegetables daily.

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

April 2-8, 2014

To the Editor: We must speak out against this proposed room tax increase.

The county leaders may want it, but the citizens of this county do not want another tax increase. Our tax-and-spend county commissioners and their band of socialists want to increase the TDA tax from 4 to 6 percent.

That’s a 50 percent increase in their taxes.

We the people do not want any more tax increases.

Rep. Michele Presnell, R-Burnsville, is the hardest working and most conservative representative we have ever had. She works for the people, not the county leaders who have already put us in debt to the tune of $68,713,290 and climbing, not to mention some $10 million in special revenue funds.

When will the county leaders start to listen to their constituents the way Ms. Presnell listens to hers? We the people put Ms. Presnell in office to stop people like our socialist county leaders, and I applaud her for her hard work and perseverance!

And I can assure you, Ms. Presnell will get my vote again.

Eddie Cabe Canton

Voting challenges may overwhelm system

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

68585

Rep. Presnell will get my vote again

tasteTHEmountains

animal products from our menu.

Weston Madrigal Waynesville

opinion

long overdue pay raise is because Republican lawmakers and the governor chose to give big tax cuts to corporations and wealthy individuals while cutting education funding.

Rep. Presnell voted for this also.

Any legislator using Medicaid costs as an excuse not to reward our teachers either has convenient amnesia or thinks we are all so stupid we would forget what happened last year.

Carole Larivee Waynesville

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tasteTHEmountains

WE’RE BACK

TO OUR REGULAR

BUSINESS HOURS! MON-FRI: 7AM-5PM SAT: 8AM 5PM SUN : 8AM-3PM

CATALOOCHEE RANCH 119 Ranch Dr., Maggie Valley.

828.926.1401. Mile-high mountaintop dining with a spectacular view. Join us for plentiful buffet-style dinners on Fridays and Saturdays, and long winter holiday weekends.

Dinner is served from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in winter and includes pot roast, Virginia ham or herb-baked chicken, complemented with an assortment of seasonal vegetables, homemade breads, jellies and desserts. We also offer a fine selection of wine and beer. Lunch is served on the same days from 12 to 2 p.m.

CITY BAKERY 18 N. Main St. Waynesville 828.452.3881.

Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Join us in our historic location for scratch made soups and daily specials.

Breakfast is made to order daily: Gourmet cheddar & scallion biscuits served with bacon, sausage and eggs; smoked trout bagel plate; quiche and fresh fruit parfait. We bake a wide variety of breads daily, specializing in traditional french breads. All of our breads are hand shaped. Lunch: Fresh salads, panini sandwiches. Enjoy outdoor dinning on the deck. Private room available for meetings.

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.

BRYSON CITY CORK & BEAN A MOUNTAIN SOCIAL HOUSE 16 Everett St.,Bryson City. 828.488.1934.

Open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday brunch 9 a.m. to 3p.m., Full Menu 3 to 9 p.m. Serving fresh and delicious weekday morning lite fare, lunch, dinner, and brunch. Freshly prepared menu offerings range from house-made soups & salads, lite fare & tapas, crepes, specialty sandwiches and burgers. Be sure not to miss the bold flavors and creative combinations that make up the daily Chef Supper Specials starting at 5pm every day.

Followed by a tempting selection of desserts prepared daily by our chefs and other local bakers. Enjoy craft beers on tap, as well as our full bar and eclectic wine list.

CORK & CLEAVER 176 Country Club Drive, Waynesville.

828.456.7179. Reservations recommended.

4:30-9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Tucked away inside Waynesville Inn, Cork & Cleaver has an approachable menu designed around locally sourced, sustainable, farm-to-table ingredients. Executive Chef Corey Green prepares innovative and unique Southern fare from local, organic vegetables grown in Western North Carolina. Full bar and wine cellar. www.waynesvilleinn.com.

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

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

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 FROGS LEAP PUBLIC HOUSE 44 Church St. Downtown Waynesville 828.456.1930 Serving lunch 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; Dinner 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday. Frogs Leap is a farm to table restaurant focused on local, sustainable, natural and organic products prepared in modern regional dishes. Seasonal menu focuses on Southern comfort foods with upscale flavors. www.frogsleappublichouse.com.

HERREN HOUSE 94 East St., Waynesville 828.452.7837.

Lunch: Wednesday - Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday Brunch 11 a. m. to 2 p.m.

Enjoy fresh local products, created daily. Join us in our beautiful patio garden. We are your local neighborhood host for special events: business party’s, luncheons, weddings, showers and more. Private parties & catering are available 7 days a week by reservation only.

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

Lunch Sunday noon to 2:30 p.m., dinner nightly starting at 4:30 p.m. World-famous prime rib, steaks, fresh seafood, gorgonzola cheese and salads. All ABC permits and open year-round. Children always welcome.

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April 2-8, 2014

STARTING AT THE END OF APRIL THOUGH SUMMER WE WILL HAVE LIVE MUSIC AND CRAWFISH BOIL IN THE PARKING LOT

Smoky Mountain News

Restaurant Now Open

Lunch is Back!

11:30 A.M.-2:30 P.M. MONDAY-SATURDAY

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

Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. • Dinner Nightly at 4 p.m. • CLOSED ON SUNDAY 454 HAZELWOOD AVENUE • WAYNESVILLE Call 828-452-9191 for reservations

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tasteTHEmountains 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 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Serving breakfast, lunch, nd dinner. The restaurant has a 1950s & 60s theme decorated with memorabilia from that era.

MAD BATTER BAKERY & CAFÉ Located on the WCU Campus in Cullowhee.

828.293.3096. Open Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Earth-friendly foods at people-friendly prices.

Daily specials, wraps, salads, pastries, breads, soups and more. Unique fare, friendly service, casual atmosphere and wireless Internet. Organic ingredients, local produce, gourmet fair trade and organic coffees.

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

828.926.1616. maggievalleyclub.com/dine.

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

MOONSHINE GRILL 2550 Soco Road, Maggie Valley loacted in the Smoky Falls Lodge. 828.926.7440.

Open Thursday through Saturday, 4:30 to 9 p.m. Cooking up mouth-watering, wood-fired Angus steaks, prime rib and scrumptious fresh seafood dishes. The wood-fired grill gives amazing flavor to every meal that

comes off of it. Enjoy creative dishes made using moonshine. Stop by and simmer for a while and soak up the atmosphere. The best kept secret in Maggie Valley. themoonshinegrill.com

full and lighter sizes), thin crust pizza, homemade soups, salads hand tossed at your table. Fine wine and beer selection. Casual atmosphere, dine indoor, outside on the patio or at the bar. Reservations appreciated.

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.

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.

ORGANIC BEANS COFFEE COMPANY 1110 Soco Road, Maggie Valley.

828.668.2326. Open 7 days a week 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Happily committed to brewing and serving innovative, uniquely delicious coffees — and making the world a better place.

100% of our coffee is Fair Trade, Shade Grown, and Organic, all slow-roasted to bring out every note of indigenous flavor. Bakery offerings include cakes, muffins, cookies and more. Each one is made from scratch in Asheville using only the freshest, all natural ingredients available. We are proud to offer gluten-free and vegan options.

PASQUALE’S 1863 South Main Street, Waynesville. Off exit 98, 828.454.5002. Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Classic Italian dishes, exceptional steaks and seafood (available in

RENDEZVOUS RESTAURANT AND BAR Maggie Valley Inn and Conference Center 828.926.0201 Bar open Monday thru Saturday; dining room open Tuesday thru Saturday at 5 p.m. Full service restaurant serving steaks, prime rib, seafood and dinner specials.

TAP ROOM SPORTS BAR & GRILL 176 Country Club Dr. Waynesville 828.456.5988. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Enjoy soups, sandwiches, salads and hearty appetizers along with a full bar menu in our casual, smoke-free neighborhood grill.

THE WINE BAR 20 Church Street, downtown Waynesville.

828.452.6000. Underground cellar for wine and beer, served by the glass all day. Cheese and tapas served Wednesday through Saturday 4 p.m.-9 p.m. or later. info@classicwineseller.com. Also on facebook and twitter.

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ITALIAN

MEDITERRANEAN

STEAKS • PIZZA CHICKEN • SEAFOOD SANDWICHES OPEN FOR LUNCH & DINNER 7 DAYS A WEEK 1863 S. MAIN ST. WAYNESVILLE 828.454.5002 HWY. 19/23 EXIT 98 UPCOMING EVENTS

FRIDAY, APRIL 4:

Smoke Rise

SATURDAY, APRIL 5:

Joe Lasher Jr. Band

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83 Asheville Hwy. Sylva Music Starts @ 9 • 631.0554

Burgers to Salads Southern Favorites & Classics

Live Music:

-Local beers now on draft-

CROON & CADENCE

Live Music on the Patio Tues.-Fri. Call to see who’s playing.

FRIDAY, APRIL 11 • 7-10

117 Main Street, Canton NC

1110 SOCO RD, MAGGIE VALLEY

(828) 668-BEAN

828.492.0618 • SidsOnMain.com

7 AM – 7 PM EVERY DAY

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ORGANICBEANSCOFFEE.COM

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Join us for delicious specialty items such as Chocolate French Toast, Tuscan Omelette and Avacado Turkey Eggs Benedict and our signature hasbrown casserole.

Check our facebook page for daily deals!

Soco Rd. Maggie Valley

NC Brews & Breweries Presentation with Tasting

by Innovation & Heinzelmannchen

(828) 926-0212 Open 7-12 Everyday

FRI. APRIL 4TH AT 6PM

DREW CAMPBELL Art Opening

except Thursday ~ Reservations accepted ~

SAT. APRIL 5TH AT 7PM

SARAH MORGANMaster Dulcimer

Smoky Mountain News

THURS. APRIL 3RD AT 6PM BOOKS, BITES & BREWS FREE

Serving Lunch & Dinner

MON.-THURS. 11 A.M.-9 P.M. • FRI. & SAT. 11 A.M.-10 P.M. SUNDAY BRUNCH 11 A.M. TO 2:30 P.M.

Saturday, April 5th

April 2-8, 2014

We will be re-opening on

S PRING S TREET, D OWNTOWN S YLVA CREPES, PANINIS, SOUPS, SALADS, GOURMET PASTAS WINE & BEER

CityLightsCafe.com

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A&E

Smoky Mountain News

Mélange of the Mountains returns to Haywood County

The Mélange of the Mountains culinary celebration will run from April 10-13 around Haywood County.

The kickoff gala will be from 5 to 7 p.m.

Thursday, April 10, at Laurel Ridge Country Club in Waynesville. Alongside the food and dessert contest categories, the gala will also include an inaugural beer competition.

Patrons are able to taste and sip all of the dishes and beverages presented. Participants include Balsam Mountain Inn, Bear Waters Brewery, Bourbon Barrel Beef and Ale, Bridget’s Bistro, City Bakery, The Classic Wineseller, Copper Pot and Wooden Spoon, Frankie’s Italian Trattoria, Frog Level Brewery, Haywood Smokehouse, J. Arthurs, Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center, Laurel Ridge Country Club, Moonshine Grill, Organic Coffee Beans Co., Sunburst Market, Sweet Onion and Tipping Point Tavern.

Tickets for the culinary gala are $35 for chamber members and $40 for non-members. VIP tickets are $60. www.haywoodchamber.com or 828.456.3021 or mtinsley@haywoodchamber.com.

Event Schedule

• The DuPont Brothers will perform from 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, April 10, at The Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. Vermont folk/rock and Americana music. Small plate and tapas-style fare. 828.452.6000.

• Main Street businesses will be open late, until at least 8 p.m., Friday, April 11, in downtown Waynesville. Participants include Affairs of the Heart, Cheddar Box, Christmas is…Everyday, Earthworks Gallery, Fifi’s, Gallery 86 (Haywood County Arts Council), Moose Crossing, Olde Brick House, Pheasant Hill, Pink Regalia, Sunburst Market, The Jeweler’s Workbench, The Karma Café, The Classic Wineseller and Twigs and Leaves Gallery. www.haywoodchamber.com.

S EE MÉLANGE, PAGE 27

rant. The friend also began slowly teaching Miller the art of cooking while on the job.

“I needed money, and I was starving to death down there,” Miller chuckled.

Woodward photo “Working in that kitchen was an opportunity to feed myself — that’s where it all started.”

Upon graduation, with his marine biology degree in hand, Miller was making great pay in the culinary industry. So, he decided to give it a couple more years in the kitchen. Those years passed, and he gave it a few more, which in turn became his lifelong pursuit.

“I was going to work at the restaurant a little while longer and pay off my student bills, then go into my field,” he said. “But, I was making twice the amount in the kitchen as I was being offered in [marine biology]. Where I was was really growing at that time, and I ended up opening seven restaurants all over.”

Now, years later, Miller still wakes up every day and loves his job.

The hours and pace are fast, something that appealed to him as a young adult. These days though, he enjoys being able to be a big fish running a smaller restaurant.

“When I was younger, it was about the thrill of filling volumes, where you’d be cooking for 700 people at night and 1,100 during the day — it was an adrenaline rush,” he said. “But, I’ve been fortunate to work myself into smaller and smaller places where I can solely concentrate on the food.”

Moonshine Grill, within the Smoky Falls Lodge in Maggie Valley. Garret K.

‘Shining up

classic dishes

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER The ocean is a long way from Rick Miller’s kitchen. The kitchen is a long way from where his journey began.

“Back then I wanted to be a marine biologist,” the 61-year-old smiled. “And I can still give all the Latin names to the fish.”

Head chef at the Moonshine Grill, within the Smoky Falls Lodge in Maggie Valley, Miller has spent a lifetime working in kitchens, managing and owning restaurants, and, quite simply, creating meals that fill the belly and warm the soul.

“We try to keep one foot in the Rick Miller mainstream, but we put little twists on everything we do,” he said. “I just want people to enjoy our product, have a great experience, and have a reason to come back.”

Miller opened Moonshine Grill in April 2011 with lodge owner Eric Freyeisen. The establishment specializes in hearty dishes cooked in a 72-inch wood-fire grill, fueled by hickory wood. Entrees range from hand-cut steaks (sliced on the premise), pasta and pork chops to elaborate appetizers and sweettooth desserts. Most of the plates feature a key ingredient: moonshine.

“When we started this, we wanted to tie into the history and popularity of moonshine in this area,” Miller said. “Popcorn Sutton is a big name here, and I remember seeing people walk around with their ‘headache pills,’ which was the berries they’d eat from the moonshine jar.”

HEADING SOUTH Growing up in Yorktown Heights in Upstate New York, Miller was surrounded by a family that grew their own vegetables and caught their own fish. There were a lot of cooks in the kitchen, with Miller enjoying the fruits of their culinary labors.

Eventually, Miller decided to enroll at the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, where he’d major in marine biology.

That’s when he realized he couldn’t cook as well as he was used to eating back home.

“My relatives could all cook, and there was a shock of going to college and eating cafeteria food,” Miller said.

Soon, a friend offered him a gig as a dishwasher at a local restau-

MAGGIE MEETS MÉLANGE

With the annual Mélange of the Mountains culinary celebration overtaking Haywood County next week, from April 10 to 13, Miller looks forward to throwing his hat in the ring. He hopes to put the Moonshine Grill on the map and in the bellies of local residents and visitors alike.

“We really enjoy what we do. We wish the word got out there a little bit more. It’s been a constant battle — people just don’t realize what we’re doing here,” he said. “The hardest thing for us is drawing people in from Waynesville, and that’s a problem Maggie Valley is facing, too. We’re looking at Mélange as a way to get “We try to keep one our name out there, let foot in the mainstream, people taste our moonshine pasta, pork loin but we put little twists cheese spread and frozen key lime mousse.” on everything we do.”

Miller noted some — Rick Miller, Moonshine Grill long-term goals at the head chef restaurant. Possibilities include a brewpub, moonshine micro-distillery and maybe the option to franchise the business into something that the rest of Southern Appalachia can enjoy eating as much as Miller enjoys preparing it.

“Any position someone works in, whether you’re a construction worker or a CEO of an electronics company, you have to have a passion for your job to start with, and if you don’t, the product won’t be good,” the cook said. “Satisfaction for me is putting out a good product, something that people will remember and enjoy — that’s what it’s all about.”

try music and sprinklings of other kinds of genres that I’m inspired by. Hopefully, what forms is a modern-classic vibe.

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

Kacey Musgraves.

Donated photo

HOT PICKS 1 2 3 4 5

April 2-8, 2014 Smoky Mountain News

Kacey Musgraves makes me feel like a teenage boy.

Shouts of joy escape my lungs when I find out she’s performing nearby. All my Country star Kacey Musgraves performs at 8 p.m. friends grow weary over my Wednesday, April 9, in the Ramsey Regional constant babbling about Activity Center at WCU. her. If there were a life-size The Mélange of the Mountains culinary celebration poster available, I’d probagala will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 10, at bly buy one — her music is Laurel Ridge Country Club in Waynesville. just that good.

Musgraves has won over Legendary drummer Jeff Sipe will join the fans and critics alike with Spontaneous CombustJam at 8 p.m. Monday, her sharp-as-nails stage presApril 7, at Bear Waters Brewing in Waynesville. ence and poignant lyrical Art After Dark downtown gallery stroll returns at 6 content, hearkening back to p.m. Friday, April 4, in Waynesville. an era dominated by Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette.

Her tone is a concoction of Smoke Rise (April 4) and the Joe Lasher Jr. Band Kitty Wells heartache, Dolly (April 5) will perform at 9 p.m. at O’Malley’s Pub Parton determination, and and Grill in Sylva. the hard knock wisdom and snark of James McMurtry.

Smoky Mountain News: What inspires Musgrave entered the spotlight as a comyour songwriting? petitor on the singing program “Nashville Kacey Musgraves: Everything inspires my Star” in 2007. She has since risen to the top songwriting. Living life and messing up, and of the Nashville scene, co-writing Miranda seeing other people live life and mess up.

Lambert’s 2013 hit “Mama’s Broken Heart,” Conversations, relationships, signs, colors, and winning two Grammy Awards this year emotions — all of it. for Best Country Album (“Same Trailer Different Park”) and Best County Song SMN: Being labeled a “country singer” (“Merry Go ‘Round”). This summer, she’ll be can sometimes pigeonhole an artist. How do opening for Katy Perry on the pop singer’s you avoid that, and how would you describe Prismatic World Tour. your music?

It’s not so much that Musgraves is doing KM: I am undeniably and proudly a something new, she’s holding on to something time-tested and aged to perfection. She country music singer. But above all, I want to make good music, no matter the genre. I represents gritty sincerity and a keen sense would describe my music as a conglomeraof vulnerability, something missing all too tion of the roots of simple, traditional counoften from modern country music.

SMN: Your melodies conjure the golden age of country, an age many today feel is long gone, and, at the same time, greatly missed. What are your hopes for your impact on modern country music?

SMN: What’s the future hold for you?

KM: I hope to have a long, happy career How are you handling the attention and in music and always make sure that my lyrics award nominations? are of the utmost importance. Also, I want to KM: People ask me all the time about the always have the future and where I respect of people want to be. All I who aren’t only can say is that I “Everything inspires my looking for the “in” want to be happy songwriting. Living life thing of the and continue being moment. a songwriter. I’m and messing up, and learning how to be SMN: What do present and thankseeing other people live you say to people ful in this current life and mess up. that say “real” counmoment, and that’s try music is dead, really all I can do.

Conversations, and that what’s on relationships, signs, colors, the radio today isn’t Editor’s Note: country, but pop Kacey Musgraves emotions — all of it.” music? will perform at 8 KM: There’s a lot p.m. Wednesday, — Kacey Musgraves of great music being April 9, in the made out there that Ramsey Regional hasn’t been heard yet, so seek it out yourself. Activity Center at Western Carolina The radio doesn’t always represent every University. Arena seats are $15 for WCU stugenre in its entirety. dents and $20 for the general public. Floor seats are $20 for WCU students and $25 for SMN: Listening to your music, I definitethe general public. Day-of-show tickets are ly feel you’re taking a different path than $20 for arena, $25 for floor. other female country singers, a path I www.ramsey.wcu.edu or 828.227.7677.

arts & entertainment

This must be the place

haven’t heard from others in years.

KM: I’m a songwriter, and I just write about the things that inspire me, which is a very wide variety of things. People want to talk about parts of my songs like they’re wild ideas, but really I’m just being a songwriter.

25

Smoky Mountain News

April 2-8, 2014

arts & entertainment

On the beat

26

Workshop on Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina A workshop focusing on regional points of musical interest, entitled “Why and How to Connect to the Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina” will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, April 10, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva.

The foundation for the Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina project is a guidebook of the same name that was released

by UNC Press last April. Written by folklorist Fred Fussell, the book highlights 60 venues throughout A workshop on how to connect the dots of the Blue 29 counties in Western North Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina will be held in Carolina, giving historical backSylva on April 10. These “dots” include legendary ground and musician profiles. banjoist Raymond Fairchild and his Maggie Valley A new website for the project, Opry House. Garret K. Woodward photo a program of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership and the North Carolina Arts also throughout the region.

Cost for the workshop is $10, which Council, will be launched the same week as the workshop. Participants will learn how to includes afternoon refreshments. Fussell’s submit music festivals and events for promo- book is available online at www.blueridgetion on the site and will receive a toolkit to heritage.com 828-298-5330, ext.

303 or facilitate the marketing of traditional mountain music; not only in their local area, but amy@blueridgeheritage.com.

• The Sultans of Swing and Brother Sun will be performing at The Strand at 38 Main in Waynesville. Sultans of Swing hit the stage April 3, with Brother Sun performing April 10.

Both shows are $15 and begin at 7:45 p.m.

828.283.0079 or www.38main.com.

• Smoke Rise and the Joe Lasher Jr. Band will perform at O’Malley’s Pub and Grill in Sylva.

Smoke Rise will play April 4, with the Joe Lasher Jr. Band April 5. 828.631.0554.

• Sheila Gordon, The DuPont Brothers and Rockwell Scott will perform at The Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. Gordon will play April 4, with The DuPont Brothers on April 10 and Scott on April 13. $10 minimum purchase. 828.452.6000.

ALSO:

• Lorin Walker Madsen, PMA, Travers Bros., Tony Poole, East Coast Dirt Band, Rolling Nowhere, Natty Love Joys and Chris Blaylock will be performing at No Name Sports Pub in Sylva. Madsen plays April 3, with PMA April 4, Travers Bros. April 5, Poole April 6, East Coast Dirt Band April 10, Rolling Nowhere April 11, Natty Love Joys April 12 and Blaylock April 13.

All shows are free and begin at 9 p.m.

828.586.2750 or www.nonamesportspub.com.

• South of the Tracks will perform at 7:30 p.m. April 11 at Frog Level Brewing Company

in Waynesville. Free. 828.454.5664 or www.froglevelbrewing.com.

• The Winter Pickin’ in the Armory will be at 7 p.m. Friday, April 4, at the Canton Armory.

The “pickin’” is every first and third Friday of the month. www.cantonnc.com.

• Appalachian singer/songwriter Sarah Morgan will play at 7 p.m., April 5 at City Lights Café in Sylva. 828.587.2233 or www.citylightscafe.com.

• Mangus Colorado, The DuPont Brothers and The Grove Band will perform at Nantahala Brewing Company in Bryson City. Mangus Colorado plays April 5, with The DuPont Brothers April 11 and The Grove Band April 12. All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m.

828.488.2337 or www.nantahalabrewing.com.

• Cutthroat Shamrock will perform at 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 4, at Tipping Point Brewing in Waynesville. Free. 828.246.9230 or www.tippingpointtavern.com.

• The Caribbean Cowboys and The Spontaneous Combustion Jam will perform at Bear Waters Brewing Company in Waynesville. The Caribbean Cowboys will play at 7 p.m., April 4 with The Spontaneous Combustion Jam from 8 p.m. to midnight every Monday. All players welcome. Free.

828.246.0602 or www.bwbrewing.com.

On the beat

Country star Kacey Musgraves will perform at 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, in the Ramsey Regional Activity Center at Western Carolina University.

Arena seats are $15 for WCU students and $20 for the general public. Floor seats are $20 for WCU students and $25 for the general public. Day-of-show tickets are $20 for arena, $25 for floor. Rayland Baxter opens. www.ramsey.wcu.edu or 828.227.7677.

institution that became WCU. The SMBQ is the quintet-in-residence at WCU. The program, titled, “Hodgepodge,” will feature works by Arthur Frackenpohl (Quintet No. 2), the world premiere of “Ovates and Coilltich” by Robert Kehrberg, “Roaring ’20s”

by Bill Holcombe, “Brass Quintet” by Alexey Posin, “Adios Nonino” by Astor Piazzolla and “Fly Me to the Moon,” arranged by Jack Gale.

Free.

828.227.7242.

A GREAT NIGHT OUT!

arts & entertainment

Musgraves brings hit country to WCU

Student Honors Recital in Waynesville

The 16th annual Student Honors Recital will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 6, at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville. A reception follows with punch and cookies, hosted by the Piano Committee of the Arts Council.

Students performing are Tanner Clark, Elijah Ensley, Jesse Lloyd, Austin Lloyd, Mieky McBride, Alley Preda, Andrew Summers, Caroline Vargas, Ally Vickery, Elizabeth Vickery, Wesley Walker, Emily Yang and Thomas Yang.

The event is presented by the Haywood County Arts Council.

Free, but donations accepted. www.haywoodarts.org

The Smoky Mountain Brass Quintet will give its spring 2014 recital at 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 8, in the Coulter Building at Western Carolina University.

The performance will help commemorate the 125th anniversary of the founding of the

MÉLANGE, CONTINUED FROM 24

makers. Sunburst Beef, Corvus Olive Oil and Bruschetta, Dark Cove Goat Cheeses, Hi-Wire Brewing Craft Beers and Addison Farms Vineyard Wines. $10 per person.

828.452.3848.

• The Murder Mystery Dinner & Wine will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 12, in Bridget’s Bistro at the Herren House in Waynesville.

Three-course dinner and wine with murder mystery. $45 per person. 828.452.7837.

• Joe Cruz will perform from 7 to 10 p.m.

Saturday, April 12, at The Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. Best of the Beatles and Elton John will be played. Small plate and tapas-style fare. 828.452.6000.

• Sunday Gospel Brunch with Rockell Scott will be from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, April 13, at The Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. Delicious brunch menu alongside gospel tunes sung by the jazz and gospel performer. $18.99 per person.

828.452.6000.

FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 9PM VISIT TICKETMASTER.COM OR CALL 1-800-745-3000 TO PURCHASE TICKETS.

Smoky Mountain News

• Ben Wilson will preform from 7 to 10 p.m.

Friday, April 11, at The Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. Music from the 60s, 70s, and 80s, in addition to original tunes. Small plate and tapas-style fare. 828.452.6000.

• Croon N Cadence will perform from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, April 11, at the Organic Coffee Beans Co. in Maggie Valley. 828.668.2326.

• Balsam Mountain Roots: Local Flavor dinner will be April 11-12 at the Balsam Mountain Inn. $90 per couple. Reservations recommended. 828.456.9498.

• A Taste of Spring dinner will be April 11-12 at Frankie’s Italian Trattoria in Maggie Valley.

Four-course wine paired dinner. Reservations required, 828.926.6216 • Sunburst Market Medley will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 12, in Waynesville. Beer and wine tasting. Array of samples and flavors while mixing and mingling with the

The Western Carolina University Low Tech Ensemble will perform a concert of gamelan music at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 10, in the recital hall of the Coulter Building on the WCU campus.

Although some form of gamelan music can be heard in many regions of Indonesia, selections for this concert will be traditional music in the style of Central Java. Most of the instruments are made of iron and are metallophones (sarons, slenthem, gender), racked gongs (bonangs and kenongs) or hanging gongs (gong ageng, kempuls).

Free.

828.227.7242.

April 2-8, 2014

Recital celebrates 125 years of the arts

Low Tech Ensemble presents gamelan music

Subject to change or cancellation. Must be 21 or older to enter casino floor and to gamble, and must present a valid state or federal photo ID upon request. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700. An Enterprise of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation. ©2014, Caesars License Company, LLC.

27

On the street arts & entertainment

WCU to host International Festival

Smoky Mountain News

April 2-8, 2014

230-45

28

CALL NOW!

Authorized Agents Floyd & Susan Rogers

828-452-2243 susanr@haywoodins.com

The 35th annual International Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, on the lawn of A.K. Hinds University Center at Western Carolina University.

The campus will be transformed into a small global village as the university holds an annual celebration of the diverse cultures and traditions of its international student population. The festival will open with a flag procession by international students, followed by remarks from Alison Morrison-Shetlar, provost at WCU. International Festival activities will include a demonstration of Japanese signing in remembrance of the devastation caused by the Japanese earthquake and tsunami in Donated photo 2011 and performances by local Cherokee flutist Matthew Tonni; the WCU Gamelan Ensemble, led by Will Peebles; traditional Saudi Arabian dancers; world folk music by Whimzik (Glenn Kastrinos and Kjelsty Hanson); the WCU Inspirational Choir; and the WCU Straight-Ahead Jazz Septet.

In addition, a team of international students will take on a WCU intramural team in a pre-festival soccer match beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, at the Catamount Athletic Complex.

Free.

828.227.7494 or dnmoore@wcu.edu.

Green Thumb Day Festival in Whittier

Art After Dark returns to Waynesville

The 12th Annual Green Thumb Day Festival will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, April 12, in downtown Whittier.

Local artists, crafters, planters and farmers will be on hand. Live music will be provided by Keep on Pickin’, Joshua Grant, and the Mountain Strings Dulcimer Club. The event will feature wagon rides and other children’s activities.

Vendor spaces are still available for $15.

Entry to the festival is free.

828.497.2393.

Art After Dark continues from 6 to 9 p.m.

Friday, April 4, in downtown Waynesville.

Stroll through working studios and galleries on Main Street and Depot Street. Festive Art After Dark flags denote participating galleries, such as Haywood County Arts Council’s Gallery 86, Earthworks, Jeweler’s Workbench, Twigs and Leaves Gallery, TPennington Art Gallery, The Mahogany House, Grace Cathey Sculpture Garden and Gallery, Cedar Hill Studios and the Village Framer. www.downtownwaynesville.com.

• A Beginners Meditation Class for seniors will be held every Thursday for six weeks at 3:45 p.m., starting April 3 at the Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. Beginners can later transfer to the more advanced class, held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursdays. The class emphasizes daily exercise, both mental and physical. 828.452.2370 or slohmeyer@Hotmail.com or 828.400.3679.

steins along with samples of craft beer from Innovation Brewing and Heinzelmannchen Brewery. www.itsbynature.com or www.mountainlovers.com.

ALSO:

• Local Beer! Local Cheese! will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. April 10 at City Lights Café in Sylva. The café will host Looking Glass Creamery, Innovation Brewing and Heinzelmannchen Brewery. 828.587.2233 or www.citylightscafe.com or www.mountainlovers.com.

• Handcrafted Beer, Handcrafted Vessels will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., April 11 at It’s By Nature Gallery in Sylva. The gallery will feature a collection of handcrafted mugs and

• Tartan Day, a nationally recognized day commemorating the signing of the “Treaty of Arbroath” for Scottish Independence in 1320, will be celebrated from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 5 at the Scottish Tartan Museum in Franklin. 929.524.3935 or 828.524.7472 or www.franklin-chamber.com.

• “Books, Bites & Brews,” a brews and breweries presentation, will be at 6 p.m., April 3 at City Lights Café in Sylva. N.C. 828.587.2233 or www.citylightscafe.com.

• The Dixie Beard & Moustache Society will hold their monthly meeting at 5 p.m.

Saturday, April 5, at Bear Waters Brewing in Waynesville. All facial hair types and beard lovers welcomed. Free. www.dixiebeardmoustachesociety.com.

On the wall

ALSO:

• A call for vendors and artists has been announced by the Whole Bloomin’ Thing spring festival in the historic Frog Level district of Waynesville. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 10.

828.550.6390 or 407.484.9576.

• The Dillsboro Fine Arts & Crafts Fair is currently seeking artists for Colorfest, which will be held Saturday, Oct. 4. 828.506.8331 or www.visitdillsboro.org.

• The Appalachian Lifestyle Celebration is currently seeking artists and vendors. The event will be held Saturday, June 14 in

Waynesville. The festival focuses on the historic and sacred trades of Southern Appalachian. Storytellers, artists, crafters, musicians, etc. are sought. Applications deadline is April 18. 828.456.3517 or www.downtownwaynesville.com.

• “Come Paint with Charles Kidz Program” will be held at 5 p.m. April 3, April 10 and April 15 at the Charles Heath Gallery in Bryson City. Refreshments served as you paint. All materials provided. $18 per child.

828.538.2054.

The Fine Art Museum at Western Carolina University will present the spring exhibition “Remote Sites of War” April 10 through May 30 in Cullowhee.

The showcase features more than 110 works by North Carolina-based artists Todd Drake, Skip Rohde and Christopher Sims.

“Remote Sites of War” offers a first-person worldview of war that is quietly revealing and poses as many questions for people to consider as it does answers.

All three artists will be present for the April 10 opening of the show and will be either speaking with or conducting workshops with students and faculty from the art, English, history, political science, and religion and philosophy departments as well as the Honors College.

Drake creates works of art aimed at a better understanding between people in the U.S. and other parts of the world. Rohde spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy before going back to school and receiving an art degree. His work, guided by his interest in the “consequences of war,” landed him several assignments in Iraq and Afghanistan working as a consultant for the U.S. Department of State to help the Afghan people. Sims teaches at Duke University’s Center for Documentary Studies and spent seven years as photo archivist at

Embossing/stamping, Swedish weaving classes in Dillsboro A variety of art education classes will be offered in Dillsboro during the month of April. The classes, offered by Dogwood Crafters, will be held at the Masonic Lodge.

An “Embossing and Stamping” workshop will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday, April 11. Participants will learn skills in embossing and stamping greeting cards and make a note pad cover for a 3”x5” pad. Linda Parrish will be instructor for the class. Cost for the class is $8. Register by April 7.

Swedish weaving, embroidery done on monk’s cloth with yarn, will be taught from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 15.

Crafter Harriet McKenna learned this type of surface embroidery as a child and will be leading the workshop. Participants in this class will learn the stitches used in Swedish weaving while working on a table runner.

Register by April 11.

For class registration, call 828.586.2435 or email junettapell@hotmail.com.

Five models will be showcasing Head-to-toe looks from business casual to professional dress. $25 Lunch Chamber Members $30 Lunch Non-members

Makeover demonstration featuring Clinique products

Your New Look Spring Fashion Show

RSVP at:

Laurel Ridge County Club

Haywoodchamber.com

April 15th 11:30

or 828-456-3021

• The film “12 Years a Slave” will be screened at 7:45 p.m. April 4 and 5, and 7:45 p.m. April 5 at The Strand at 38 Main in Waynesville. “In A World” will also be screened at the same times, April 11 and 12.

Tickets are $6 per person, $4 for children.

828.283.0079 or www.38main.com.

• A Catch the Spirit of Appalachia art workshop will be held at 2 p.m., April 5 at the Nature’s Home Preserve in Tuckasegee.

Workshop covers pastel painting, media applications, color combining and composition. Cost is $36, which covers materials.

828.231.6965 or www.mountainlovers.com.

and presenting day to night options as well as accessories to jazz up your look.

Smoky Mountain News

• The inaugural “Invitational Artists” exhibit will run April 3 through 26 at Gallery 86 in Waynesville. An artist reception will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, April 4 at the gallery, which is part of the Haywood County Arts Council.

The exhibit will feature works by Gretchen Clasby, Jesse Clay, Dominick DePaolo, Jon Houglum, James Lyle and Carolyn Taylor. The exhibit and reception are both free. www.haywoodarts.org.

culminates with a look at the impact of Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

Founded at Duke University in 1986 by Orrin H. Pilkey, the James B. Duke Professor Emeritus of the Earth Sciences at Duke, PSDS relocated to WCU in 2006 under the guidance of Young, a former student under Pilkey. The program has become an internationally known advocate for responsible coastal management policies that consider and balance economic and environmental interests.

Free.

828.227.7519.

the U.S. Holocaust Museum.

Free.

828.227.3591 or fineartmuseum.wcu.edu.

April 2-8, 2014

Western Carolina University’s Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines will screen the film “Shored Up” at 4 p.m.

Sunday, April 6, at the theater of A.K. Hinds University Center in Cullowhee.

The documentary examines the ways that different communities are trying to deal with coastal erosion, storms and rising sea levels. Director Ben Kalina will be on hand to discuss the film.

Also participating in the event is Rob Young, director of the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines, who is among the policy and environmental experts that appear in the documentary. A discussion and reception will follow the screening.

At the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, “Shored Up” received the Hilton Worldwide LightStay Sustainability Fund and Award for a completed feature-length documentary film about environmental sustainability. It also has been an official selection at the Montclair Film Festival, Doxa documentary festival, Filmfest DC and the San Francisco Green Film Festival.

Kalina’s documentary includes interviews with scientists, politicians, residents and a wide range of experts on issues of coastal management. Filmed over three years along the North Carolina Outer Banks and Long Beach Island, N.J., the motion picture

‘Remote Sites of War’ exhibition at WCU

arts & entertainment

Shorelines program to screen ‘Shored Up’

The Mountaineer Quarterly Sponsor Clothing & makeup provided by

29

Books Disappearances, nightmares and a sense of terror S 30

Smoky Mountain News

Eventually, Emily and Buck are found and rushed to safety. However, Carla is the first of a series of victims who disappear: Ty Burnette, who runs a tourist attraction called Wild Rivers Ranch disappears, leaving nothing behind but his Stetson; a Pueblo woman living near Las Tables, two campers and a jog-

Gary Carden

ome 30 years ago, a science-fiction writer named Whitney Striber wrote a novel called Wolfen, and it frightened me badly. The basic premise was that humanity had no purpose other than to provide a dependable food source for a terrifying species called “wolfen” that lived in colonies beneath the earth and only surfaced to feed. For thousands of years, these reptilian wolves lived silently in the sewers of major cities.

They could move with Writer astonishing speed and only “harvested” human victims who were never missed. It made a decent movie, too.

Well, Daryl Wayland Nash, a writer from Greenville, S.C., has brought new blood to the idea of silent predators who watch us from the darkness. Like H. P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu or the Morlocks in H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine, Nash has created an ancient race that has always been with us and which he finds immortalized in the world’s art and religion.

They are alive in the dragons and supernatural beings that are depicted in totems and Native American art. The trouble is, we no longer believe or perhaps we have forgotten.

Nash’s predators sleep in deep caves like locusts, waiting for a signal to awake and swarm.

Lived begins abruptly on a remote road somewhere in New Mexico with an unconscious woman, Carla Wilson, struggles in the clutches of something that is ... well, indescribable. The creature (sometimes called a “coco”) is large, has eyes like an owl, and possesses a large number of appendages, some of which are folded like wings against its body. It has injected Carla with some kind of venom that leaves her immobilized. Nearby, Carla’s 8-year-old daughter Emily appears traumatized by what has happened, and Buck, the dog, stands between the attacker and the child.

Lived by Daryl Wayland Nash. Create Space, 2014.

109 pages. ger — all vanished leaving nothing but slight evidence of a struggle and a small splash of blood.

Don Marseilles, the sheriff of Taos, suddenly finds himself in the midst of a media blitz. He fields questions about rampaging bears and serial killers while the search continues. When he visits Carla’s daughter who still cannot speak, her grandmother gives him some crayon drawings, one of which is a

grotesque creature with great, black eyes that clutches her mother. When he decides to go public with the drawings, he finds himself answering questions about “The Taos Hum,” a low-frequency sound that can only be heard by a small number of local residents. It has been present since 1993, but suddenly, it has stopped. Is the hum connected to the disappearance?

Meanwhile, several hundred miles away, Dr. Gabriel Peppard, professor of archaeology at the University of Arizona, wakes from a recurring nightmare. He is tormented by dreams of an ancient race called the Solutreans who migrated from Siberia to North America some 15,000 years ago, bringing with them a distinctive culture that predates Native Americans.

It turns out that Peppard is a seer and his dreams are precognitive. He knows that the Solutreans were fleeing a devastating evil that threatened to destroy them. However, ironically, they unwittingly brought this ancient evil with them, and it sleeps now in nests and hives near Taos “waiting to be born.”

Thanks to Sheriff Marseilles’ son, Josh, who is a devoted fan of the internet, the world of archaeological research and the disappearance of an increasing number of people living near Taos come together. Josh finds Dr. Peppard’s blog and reads his theories regarding the Solutreans. The boy contacts Dr. Peppard and he arranges to come to Taos, noting that he can assist Marseilles in locating the missing people (Dr. Peppard has seen the location in his nightmares.) and find a way to stop “the pursuers.”

Marseilles and Peppard make an unlikely team, but they become friends and, by the end of the book, they are making plans to socialize and possibly visit Ty Burnette’s Wild River Ranch.

Lived is a kind of novella, I suppose, since it is too long to be a short story and too short to be a novel. Quite frankly, it seems to beg to be developed into an epic struggle between

Friends of Library to hold Spring Fling Half-Price Sale

sale.

All proceeds from the Friends of the Library Used Book Store go to support the Jackson County Public Library.

The annual Spring Fling Half-Price Sale will run from April 5-12 at the Friends of the Library Used Book Store in Sylva.

For one week only everything in the store will be at half price.

The store has a large selection of general fiction, Christian fiction, mystery, romance, classic literature, large print books, cookbooks, children’s books, textbooks, reference books, computer manuals, books on gardening, home improvement, crafts, sports, science, self-help, religion and many other subjects. A large number of books are in excellent, like-new condition. Magazines, audio books, music CD’s, VHS tapes and DVDs are all included in the

N.C. poet laureate offers poetry contest to Jackson students The inaugural Greening Up the Mountains poetry contest is open to all Jackson County students, kindergarten through 12th grade.

The contest celebrates mountains and people’s connection to them.

The poetry contest is being sponsored by NC Poet Laureate Emerita Kathryn Byer and City Lights Bookstore.

The categories for students are kindergarten through fourth

good and evil. If Lived has a significant flaw, it is simply that it tells us too little (although what it tells us is fascinating.)

As much as I liked Lived, I was disappointed in the little book’s abrupt conclusion. In short order, all of the missing people are found and restored to their loved ones. There is not a single fatality, and I was disappointed!

I yearned for a trip into the hive and perhaps a few partially devoured victims with a great, echoing storage room filled with benumbed victims hanging in transparent bags. (I thought surely that Arnold Lindworm, the Iraq veteran with PTSD, would make an admirable sacrificial victim).

Like my peers who were raised on a steady diet of alien invasions, I recall “Them” in which doomed James Whitmore finds himself surrounded by a nest of gigantic ants. I would have appreciated an autopsy, too, one of those scenes in which the “beast” is found to have two hearts the ability “resurrect” itself.

Perhaps Daryl Wayland Nash will do a sequel, or an “amended version.”

In reading Lived, I decided to doublecheck Wikipedia to see if, perchance, there is such a thing as the “Taos Hum.” Yes, there is, and there are possibly a hundred other locales through the world where the same phenomenon is present. I assume that the fact that the Taos hum suddenly stopped heralds the “hatching” of the “pursuers.”

In addition, Wikipedia assured me that the Soluterans are not the product of author Nash’s imagination. The readers of Lived might wish to go online and read the Soluteran Theory. Sounds like it came straight from Art Bell’s old radio show.

When I contacted Daryl Wayland Nash recently, he asked me if I had discovered the reason for the title, Lived. No, I must admit that I haven’t the vaguest idea. Perhaps other readers will figure it out. Incidentally, this book is beautifully packaged, an impressive example of what “self-publishing can accomplish.

(Gary Carden is a writer and storyteller who lives in Sylva. He can be reached at gcarden498@aol.com.)

grade, fifth through eighth grade, and ninth through 12th grade.

Three winners, in addition to honorable mentions, will be chosen in each category. Poems should be no longer than 40 lines and can be much shorter. Deadline for submission is April 1st.

Poems should be submitted to City Lights Bookstore, either in person, by mail or by email at more@citylightsnc.com. Please include “Poetry Contest” in the subject line. Teachers may submit poems written by their students; students or family members may also submit work. Please include the name and age category of the poet with all submissions. All poems will be judged anonymously.

The winners in each category will receive gift certificates to City Lights Bookstore and will be invited to read at Greening up the Mountains on April 28. Winners will be announced by April 20.

828.586.9499 or ksbyer@aol.com.

Books examines how non-believers view Christians

Thompson to present new work in Waynesville

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Music provided by: The Twisted Trail Band

April 2-8, 2014

Writer George Thompson will read from his new book God is Not Fair, at 3 p.m.

Saturday, April 5, at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville.

Thompson, a graduate of Pfeiffer University and Duke Divinity School, served as a United Methodist pastor for 35 years in rural, small town, campus communities, and urban centers of western North Carolina.

From 1987 to 1992 he was senior pastor of First United Methodist Church in Waynesville. During that time he was chairman of the Board of Directors for REACH of Haywood County, was active in the revitalization of Haywood Christian Ministries, and helped implement a “sister cities” relationship with the Town of Waynesville and Mtskheta in the Republic of Georgia, USSR. During that time he was a contributing editor for Pulpit Digest. He has served as trustee chair of Pfeiffer University and superintendent of 87 churches in the former Charlotte District.

Currently he lives in Waynesville, teaches a third-grade Sunday school class, is an Ally with Circles of Hope, a member of the Lake Junaluska Peace Conference Planning Committee, active in the Waynesville Rotary, and is also a writer, teacher, speaker, community volunteer, husband and grandfather.

In his new book, Thompson asserts that “fairness” is not an expectation of the faithful within Judeo-Christian scriptures.

828.456.6000 or www.blueridgebooksnc.com.

Wild Caught

books

Sylva native John Stiles has published a book, All the Damn Christians: A Glimpse into the Mirror of Hypocrisy.

In his book, Stiles presents a researchbased look at non-Christian’s perceptions of the church. His title, All the Damn Christians, comes directly from a study respondent who wrote:“I would have a much higher regard for the religion itself if it weren’t for all the damn Christians.” In the book, Stiles shares candid insights as to why the world rejects the faith and illustrates how Christians can turn hypocrisy into opportunity.

Stiles spends most of his time traveling the globe as an international speaker and as U.S. Director for Hannam University in South Korea. He is a graduate of Montreat College, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and the University of Southern Mississippi.

He is available to speak locally about the book. To schedule a free speaking engagement or interactive seminar for a church or group contact him at jstiles101@hotmail.com. All the Damn Christians: A Glimpse into the Mirror of Hypocrisy is available from online retailers, including Amazon.

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Outdoors

Smoky Mountain News

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER armer weather is on its way, but along with the sunny afternoons comes the return of ozone season. A bad forecast can cancel high elevations hiking trips and outdoor playdates, but North Carolina has been seeing a decrease in those high-risk days. In fact, summer 2013 was the lowest season on record, following a downward trend in ozone that’s held steady since 1999.

“In the environmental arena, you don’t always see those kinds of results, so it’s very rewarding for those of us who have worked on these issues to see those results,” said Bill Eaker, environmental planner for the Land of Sky Regional Council. “But we still have a lot to do.”

Last year’s reduction in bad ozone days is the result of actual improvements but is also weatherrelated. That summer was the third wettest in the past 119 years, and meaning less sunlight and less opportunity for the toxic compound to form.

Only one monitor statewide in the WinstonSalem area spiked above the Environmental Protection Agency’s standard for ozone, and only once. The year before, there were spikes on 16 days around the state.

“If we get back to a more typical summer this year, we will likely see the number of exceedances go up, but over time we’ve seen that nice downward trend,” said Sheila Holman, director of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources Division of Air Quality.

But 2013’s low values weren’t all a trick of the weather. Air quality in North Carolina has been steadily improving over the past couple of decades.

The state has completely met standards for fine particles, lead, nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide.

As far as ozone, everywhere save the Charlotte area is currently in compliance with federal ozone standards.

The federal standard, 75 parts per billion, is based on an average of high ozone days over three years.

Some parts of the state are well below that level of 75 ppb, with monitors in WNC recording the lowest levels.

Swain County was the winner, recording 58 ppb of ozone in 2013. Haywood comes in at 69 ppb.

Both Haywood and Swain have come down 4 to 6 parts per billion since the 2007-2009 average — a reduction of 7 to 10 percent in just five years.

“This is the first time in my 21 years with the division that I’ve seen values that low, so we are improving,” Holman said, one of several speakers at the Ozone Season Kickoff press conference last week hosted by Land of the Sky Regional Council, which brings air quality experts together each spring to discuss trends, regulations and innovations.

W

WHAT’S GOING RIGHT? A lot of the credit for the improving ozone situation goes to the Clean Smokestack Act, a state law passed in 2002. The act placed a cap on certain emissions, requiring factories and power plants to meet new, tougher standards by 2009.

By 2010, Duke Energy and Progress Energy coalfired power plants had reduced their emissions of nitrogen oxide — a key ingredient in ozone — from 245,000 tons to 47,180 tons, comfortably below the

Lookin’ good up there Ozone outlook positive for North Carolina 2009 cap of 56,000 tons. Likewise, the companies’ sulfur dioxide emissions plummeted from 489,000 tons in 1998 to 116,500 in 2010, meeting both the 2009 and 2013 caps of 250,000 and 130,000 tons, respectively.

“All of our coal-fired power plants obviously have put on state-of-the-art controls.

The question becomes where do we go for additional reductions?” Holman said.

“That’s where I want to underscore the importance of the volunteer programs, the outreach programs that our partners have been working on for years. That, I think, is going to be the key to our success.”

there’s a big difference between those two numbers. At 70 ppb, not much would have to change. Only the major metropolitan areas of the state exceed that level now.

But if the EPA lowers the threshold to 65 ppb, the three counties in the eightcounty mountain region that have ozone monitors would be out of compliance, along with much of the eastern part of the state.

And at 60 ppb, only one of the state’s 30 counties with ozone monitors would be in compliance — Swain County, which now records 58 ppb.

Haywood’s average of 69 ppb is higher

CHANGES ON THE HORIZON

Though individual years vary, ozone exceedances have been decreasing over the past couple decades.

Because the reductions will have to keep coming. The first ozone standard came on in 1997, and North Carolina met that. The second came in 2008, and all but two of the state’s 31 monitors have met them.

Now, the EPA is looking to revise the ozone standard yet again.

“Probably in late 2015 we’ll see a new revised ozone standard,” Holman said.

Right now, the standard sits at 75 parts per billion, compared to the 35 ppb that the EPA considers “natural background,” the ozone that would be in the atmosphere regardless of humans. The new allowable ozone level will likely sit between 60 and 70 ppb, Holman said.

As far as North Carolina is concerned,

than Swain’s, due in part to its high-elevation monitors, where ozone tends to collect. Swain’s monitor is at a lower elevation.

If the state didn’t meet the new EPA limit, it would go on a monitored improvement plan.

“If you’re nonattainment, it triggers requirements that you have to meet in order to continue to reduce your concentration,” explained Paul Muller, regional supervisor for the Department of Air Quality.

Individual states must have plans in place for how to handle

F

What is ozone?

There’s the good ozone we all know about: the ozone layer high in the atmosphere that protects Earth from harmful ultraviolent rays.

But ground ozone, is a different story. High ozone levels can cause symptoms such as coughing, throat irritation and chest pain. It can worsen bronchitis, asthma and emphysema, and lung scarring can occur from repeated exposure.

Plants also suffer. High ozone can cause tan flecks, red spots and stipples between the veins of the leaves, and it can keep plants from producing as much seed or fruit as they otherwise would.

Without any help from humans, ozone would naturally make up about 35 parts per billion of the air, but emissions from vehicles and industry cause ozone levels to shoot far above that.

The compound — three oxygen atoms bound together — forms when nitrogen oxide and volatile organic compounds react in the presence of sunlight, making ozone mostly a summertime issue. In recent decades, state and federal organizations have been trying to reduce emissions of ozone ingredients.

Get educated about veggie gardening outdoors

If you fancy yourself a gardener — or a gardener wannabe — consider attending a class on home vegetable gardening, offered through N.C. Cooperative Extension in Macon County.

The class will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, April 14. at the Macon Cooperative Extension Center. Learn how to establish and maintain a vegetable garden, with instruction about garden sites, soil tests and fertilizer; spacing between plants and rows; varieties, disease and insects; weed control and when to harvest. Register at 828.349.2046.

Reap the fruits of the backyard

Nitrogen oxide emissions have decreased dramatically since the Clean Smokestacks Act passed in 2002. areas that don’t meet the ozone standards, and the EPA has to approve their approach.

That’s where environment often intersects with industry.

“Typically what we’ve seen in areas like Charlotte that’s been non-attaining for a while is we see smaller projects going in that are below the thresholds, but we don’t see many bigger projects going in,” Holman said. “So it does have economic repercussions.”

CHALLENGES TO REDUCING

MOVEMENT IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY

Smoky Mountain News

And when it comes to fuel-efficient vehicles, the auto industry is giving consumers some help. With each passing year, vehicles become cleaner, burning less fuel and emitting less pollution.

That’s partly due to consumer demand driven by a desire for cheaper per-mile transportation and for alternatives to gasoline-powered cars.

It’s also partly a result of heightening standards for the auto industry. Between 2017 and 2025, new regulations will be phased in for new cars and trucks.

The requirements are expected to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxide — the two ingredients for ozone — by 80 percent compared to today’s average.

“As the fleets turn over, we’ll continue to see emissions decline,” Holman said.

But will they decline enough to keep up with the standard? That will depend on what threshold the EPA decides on, on what kind of emission reduction technology becomes available — and how cheaply — and on how much individuals buy in to create a cumulative reduction.

The variables are many, but North Carolina’s outlook for air quality in general and ozone in particular seems positive, Holman said. And that’s a trend she’s optimistic will continue.

“There’s lots happening,” Holman said, “And that I think will help keep North Carolina’s trend going downwards.”

April 2-8, 2014

Ozone levels aren’t solely a product of industry, though, and they’re not solely local. In the coming years, environmental agencies will have to work together to manage air pollution that travels across state lines.

That’s a necessity especially pertinent to the highest-elevation areas of the Smokies, where ozone follows a different pattern than in valleys and urban areas. The Division of Air Quality is still trying to determine the best way to deal with mountain ozone, because spikes in ozone there point to air transport rather than to local pollution sources.

“Part of our challenge is trying to understand what air is impacting those mountain sites,” Holman said.

The Smokies get wafting ozone from sources such as coal-fired power plants in Tennessee and traffic in Atlanta. After cleaning up its own emissions through the Clean Smokestacks Act, the state of North Carolina sued in federal court to force coalfired plants in neighboring states to install modern pollution controls, successfully proving that the mountains of WNC were suffering from air pollution due to laxer controls on some coal plants to the west.

Statewide, local leadership will have to address ozone ingredients produced through vehicle emissions. The greater Asheville area is going through a growth spurt, and more people means more of everything else, too.

“We’re going to have a lot of growth, and that’s a good thing,” Eaker said. “It will help our economies. But we’re going to have a lot

more people, a lot more vehicles, a lot more homes to heat, so we have to work with these people to reduce our emissions sources.”

That’s where Holman’s call for help from volunteer groups and organizations will come into play. Even simple lifestyle choices like reducing vehicle use by carpooling, telecommuting, combining errands, walking or biking to work and reducing idling can help reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.

Keeping engines tuned up and buying fuelefficient vehicles are other ways to contribute.

Learn how to grow fruit trees successfully at a fruit tree workshop coming up in Jackson and Swain counties through the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service. It will cover site selection; the differences between dwarf, semidwarf and seedling trees; proper soil conditions; pollination requirements; differences in cultivars; chilling requirements; fertility need; tree spacing and general pruning principles.

Common disease and insect problems — and controls for them — will also be discussed.

Held from 6 to 8:30 Students learn how to prune p.m. Monday, April 7, at fruit trees during a master the Swain Extension Center gardener class. Donated photo in Bryson City and repeated from 2 to 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 9, at Jackson County Extension Center in Sylva.

Register by email to christine_bredenkamp@ncsu.edu or call Sylva, 828.586.4009, or Bryson City, 828.488.3848.

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outdoors

Past Awards 2012

Not your cookie-cutter newspaper…

First Place First Place First Place First Place First Place First Place Second Place

General News Reporting News Feature Writing Education Reporting Investigative Reporting Sports News Reporting General Excellence for Websites Education Reporting

2011 First Place First Place First Place Second Place Second Place Third Place Third Place Third Place Third Place Third Place

Education Reporting Investigative Reporting Appearance and Design General Excellence General Excellence for Websites News Feature Writing Education Reporting News Enterprise Reporting Headline Writing News Coverage

Smoky Mountain News

April 2-8, 2014

2010

…not your average staff 2013 NC Press Association News, Editorial and Photojournalism Contest

Congratulations to our award-winning staff!

FIRST PLACE Andrew Kasper

News Enterprise Reporting

SECOND PLACE News Enterprise Reporting Becky Johnson SECOND PLACE News Feature Writing Garret K. Woodward SECOND PLACE Profile Feature Garret K. Woodward SECOND PLACE Special Section Garret K. Woodward, Travis Bumgardner, Micah McClure THIRD PLACE Education Reporting Caitlin Bowling, Becky Johnson, Andrew Kasper THIRD PLACE General News Reporting Becky Johnson THIRD PLACE Investigative Reporting Becky Johnson, Andrew Kasper THIRD PLACE General Excellence for Websites Travis Bumgardner THIRD PLACE Best Niche Publication Garret K. Woodward, Travis Bumgardner, Micah McClure, Emily Moss

Media and the Law Award Andrew Kasper

COVERING HAYWOOD, JACKSON, MACON & SWAIN COUNTIES

828.452.4251

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First Place General News Reporting First Place Education Reporting First Place Investigative Reporting Second Place Feature Writing Second Place News Enterprise Reporting Second Place Editorials Second Place Serious Columns Second Place News Coverage Third Place News Feature Third Place A&E Reporting Third Place Sports Feature Writing Third Place General Excellence for Websites Media and Law Award Duke Divinity Award

2009 First Place Second Place Second Place Third Place

News Enterprise Reporting Community Service Investigative Reporting Appearance and Design

2008 First Place First Place Second Place Third place

Community Service News Enterprise Reporting General News Reporting Investigative

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Community Service News Enterprise Reporting Profile Writing

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General News Reporting Sports Columns Investigative Reporting News Enterprise Reporting Criticism

2005 First Place Second Place Third Place

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2004 First Place First Place Second Place Second Place Second Place Third Place

General News Reporting Investigative Reporting Investigative Reporting Sports News Reporting Lighter Columns Serious Columns

outdoors

Climb Newton Bald and catch the season’s first wildflowers on the next Classic Hike of the Smokies. Amanda Chrouser photo

Smokies ‘Classic Hikes’ ventures to Newton Bald Catch the first wildflowers of spring and learn about cultural heritage in the Smokies during a guided hike to Newton Bald in Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Tuesday, April 8.

It is part of the Classic Hikes of the Smokies series organized by Friends of the Smokies and sponsored by Mast General Store. The strenuous 10.5 mile hike has a total elevation gain of 2,800 feet. Renowned author and hiking expert Danny Bernstein will lead the excursion.

The Classic Hikes series highlights a

park program that Friends of the Smokies has supported. In April, participants will learn how donations made to Friends of the Smokies benefit efforts to protect the park’s rich cultural heritage, including a visit to historic Mingus Mill. $10 for Friends of the Smokies members and $35 for nonmembers, which includes membership. Members who bring a friend hike for free. All donations benefit the Smokies Trails Forever program.

828.452.0720 or outreach.nc@friendsofthesmokies.org.

Learn how land management affects bird populations at a special meeting of the Franklin Bird Club at 2 p.m. April 5 at the Macon Heritage Center at Historic Cowee School.

“Impact of Land Management Practices on Birds in Macon County,” geared toward local landowners, conservation groups and land use planners, will be presented by Paige Barlow, a graduate student at the University of Georgia. Paige has spent the last several years studying how development and forest cover affect bird populations in Macon County. She also conducted a study with Macon County landowners to investigate ways to manage forests for multiple objectives, including bird conservation.

Appalachian Trail volunteers needed

Learn more.

Summer & Fall Registration March 24-April 25 By appointment Summer semester begins May 27.

Call: 828-627-4500

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Smoky Mountain News

Learn the basics of trail construction and environmental stewardships by volunteering with an Appalachian Trail Conservancy trail crew. Project locations range from Maine to Georgia and everywhere in-between, and no experience is necessary. Work lasts from April through October, with ATC providing food, tools and equipment. Volunteers will help relocate and reconstruct trails, build shelters and construct bridges along the Appalachian Trail.

Locally, the Smokies Wilderness Elite Appalachian Trail Crew (S.W.E.A.T.) covers the highest elevations in the backcountry of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Sixday sessions run June 7 through August 26.

The Rocky Top Trail Crew works the Smokies, too, ranging between Fontana

Haywood County Ranger NC Forest Service

April 2-8, 2014

Managing land with birds in mind

Dwayne Vigil

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outdoors April 2-8, 2014

Sea-level rise documentary features WCU prof Learn how communities are dealing with coastal erosion, storms and rising sea levels with a screening of the critically acclaimed documentary “Shored Up” at Western Carolina University as part of its Robert Young Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines.

Rob Young, director of the WCU Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines, is one of the policy and environmental experts who appears in the documentary.

A discussion and reception will follow the screening, which will take place at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 6, in the theater of A.K. Hinds University Center on the WCU campus. Young and Director Ben Kalina will be on hand to discuss the film.

Free. Call 828.227.7519.

Engage in a day-long celebration of science and nature The Mountain Science Expo will feature science programs and exhibits designed to interest kids and adults from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 5, at the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville.

There will be myriad hands-on exhibits and booths, including the Balsam Mountain Trust WNC Nature Center, the N.C. BioNetwork, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Bricks 4 Kidz and more. The expo’s theme is exploring how science, technology, engineering, art and math are part of our everyday lives.

Science fair exhibits from students in 16 mountain schools will be on display. There will also be a butterfly bioblitz, a presentation from Tom Heck about his rocket

Smoky Mountain News

launcher and “shover” craft and naturalist programs with live animals, including birds

of prey, reptiles and mammals. www.ncarboretum.org

Cradle of Forestry to debut old-time skills and new ecology exhibits Cultural heritage demonstrations will kick-off the new season for The Cradle of Forestry in America on Saturday, April 12, along with a debut of new exhibits.

David and Diane Burnette of Haywood County will be plowing the Cradle’s vegetable garden with their Percheron draft horses. Other living history interpreters stationed at historic buildings will showcase woodcarving, candle-making and other old-time skills.

Keep an eye out for several new exhibits. Changing Climate, Changing Forests explains what climate change means for forests, and Fire in the Forest traces fire’s use as a tool, from American Indians to today’s land managers. An art exhibit, Painting Western North Carolina by the Mixed Nuts plein aire artists, will be displayed through the end of May along the Cradle’s Gallery in the Woods.

The Cradle of Forestry is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through fall, with living history demonstrations and special events happening regularly. $5 for adults and free for children 16 and under.

Located on U.S. 276 four miles south of the Blue Ridge Parkway. www.cradleofforestry.com.

Mountain Dell Equestrian

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We can’t wait to meet you!

Meet our students and horses Learn about our lessons and programs Demonstrations by students & local equine groups Pony Rides for kids under 12 offered between demonstrations Door Prizes including Mountain Dell Gift Certificates, Horse Jewelry, Mountain Dell Shirts & more

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The Mountain Science Expo will feature plenty of kid-friendly activity. Donated photo

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Women’s flyfishing weekend

Hatchery-supported waters open April 5 Anglers can hook into the 1,000 miles of hatchery-supported trout waters in North Carolina’s 25 western counties starting 7 a.m. on April 5. The season runs through Feb. 28, 2015.

The North Carolina Wildlife

outdoors

Women of all skill levels are invited to a women-only weekend of flyfishing from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, offered April 4-6 at Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education and Davidson River Campground in Transylvania County.

The weekend will include five skill-building sessions. Participants will search for aquatic organisms in stream ecology, learn to tie flies to mimic their finds, and get an education in waders, wading shoes, vests and other fishing tackle. Plenty of other aspects of flyfishing will be covered, too.

Pre-registration is required and limited to 25 participants 18 and older. The $125 fee covers instruction, equipment, weekend camping and lunch and snacks on Saturday. bb.gillen@ncwildlife.org or 919.218.3638.

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Bookstore

Weekly Storytime (Saturdays at 11 a.m.) will rejoin the Glorious Jackson County Farmers’ Market as they move back outdoors WCU’S SPRING LITERARY FESTIVAL CONTINUES THROUGH APR. 4TH 3 EAST JACKSON STREET • SYLVA

828/586-9499 • citylightsnc.com

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Commission marks its hatchery-supported trout waters with green-and-white signs, stocking them from March until August.

Nearly 907,000 trout will be stocked, with 96 percent averaging 10 inches in length and the other fish exceeding 14 inches. Anglers can harvest a maximum seven trout daily, with no minimum size limits or bait restrictions. Remember, though to respect private property rights when heading out to hook a trophy.

“Opportunities to fish on many of these

hatchery-supported trout streams are only available through the support and generosity of landowners,” said David Deaton, fish production supervisor for the Wildlife Commission. “It’s important for anglers to respect the property that they’re fishing on and remember that landowners can take away access if they feel their property is being misused.”

For a complete list of numbers and species stocked in each county, visit www.ncwildlife.org/troutfishing.

We’ve Moved! 142 N. Main St. OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK! MONDAY-SATURDAY 10-6 • SUNDAYS 1-5

Mostly Local, Always Sustainable invited to a cookout afterwards at Cliffside Lake.

828.526.2112 or 828.421.0535.

Come clean up the Cullasaja River Gorge in Macon County on Saturday, April 12, with the annual Gorge Clean-Up sponsored by The Highlands Chamber of Commerce, the Franklin Chamber of Commerce and Venture Local.

Volunteers will meet at Pine Grove Baptist Church at 9 a.m. on Highlands Road and divvy up into groups to tackle different sections of the gorge. Or meet at the Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center at 8:30 a.m.

Volunteers will receive T-shirts and will be

Join the hundreds to clean the Tuck Help clean up the Tuckasegee with Western Carolina University’s 30th annual Tuckasegee River Cleanup Saturday, April 12, hosted by Base Camp Cullowhee. Every year, about 800 people volunteer to clean 27 miles of river.

Volunteers will be issued life jackets, paddles and transportation to the river, where partici-

pants will receive trash bags and listen to a talk on safety. Anticipate two to three hours of work.

Volunteers can board a raft or work along the river banks. Eat lunch before you come, and wear shoes that will stay on in the water. After the cleanup, volunteers will be treated to a free cookout, live entertainment and the chance to win prizes from local businesses on the University Center lawn.

Registration will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the A.K. Hinds University Center lawn, with the first 600 participants receiving a free T-shirt.

828.227.3625 or jwbennett@wcu.edu. www.basecamp.wcu.edu.

SATURDAY APRIL 5TH • 3-6 P.M. Come help us officially christen the new and improved Back Room of Sunburst Market. we will be joined by Sunburst Trout Farms, Hickory Nut Gap Farms, Lusty Monk Mustard, and Tryon Distributing with Wine pairings.

April 2-8, 2014

Keep it clean in Highlands

828.452.3848

www.sunburstmarket.com

The fourth annual Valley of the Lilies Half Marathon and 5K race are expected to draw an estimated 300 runners and walkers to Western Carolina University in Cullowhee on Saturday, April 5.

The half marathon will begin at 8 a.m. and take runners on a scenic 13.1-mile journey across the WCU campus and along country roads beside the Tuckaseigee River.

The 5K (3.1-mile) race for runners and walkers begins at 8:15 a.m.

Although online registration for the races was set to end April 1, on-site race day registration will be available from 6:30 until 7:30 a.m. April 5 at WCU’s Campus

www.facebook.com/sunburstmarket

ter.

For more information go to www.halfmarathon.wcu.edu, or email valleyofthelilies@wcu.edu.

Get doused in colors in Clyde Elementary 5K

Recreation Center. Fees will be $80 for the half marathon and $30 for the 5K. Packet pickup for pre-registered runners and walkers will be held at the recreation center from 4 to 8 p.m., on both April 3 and 4. Race day packet pickup will take place from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. at the recreation cen-

Help Clyde Elementary purchase some much-needed books while enjoying some colorful fun at the Clyde Elementary 5K Color Run on Saturday, April 12, held at the campus.

Participants will get splashed with paint thrown from the side at various points in the race. There’s opportunity to run, walk, volunteer, enlist participants and advertise.

Register at www.imathlete.com by searching “Clyde Color Run.” Lisa Cook, 828.627.2206.

Nutrition Facts serving size : ab out 50 p ag es Am ount per Serving Calories 0 % Daily Value * Tot al Fat 0g

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Smoky Mountain News

Athletes to converge in Cullowhee for Valley of the Lilies races

* Percent Weekly values b ased on Hayw ood, Jackson, M acon, Sw ain and Buncom b e d iet s.

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WNC Calendar

Smoky Mountain News

COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS • Community meeting, 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 2, Haywood Community College Auditorium. Hosted by MedWest Haywood.

• Western Carolina University Open House, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 5, starting at the concourse of WCU’s Ramsey Regional Activity Center. Register at openhouse.wcu.edu or by calling the Office of Undergraduate Admission, 227.7317 or toll-free 877.928.4968.

• Dixie Beard & Moustache Society monthly meeting, 5 p.m. Saturday, April 5, Bear Waters Brewing , Waynesville. All facial hair types and beard lovers welcomed. www.dixiebeardmoustachesociety.com.

• Indoor Flea Market, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 5, Haywood County Fairgrounds, Highway 209 North, Lake Junaluska. Booth info, 400.1529.

• Volunteers needed to help with Special Olympics Haywood County. First committee meeting is 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 8, Waynesville Recreation Center. Tim Petrea, 456.2030, or recprogramspecialist@townofwaynesville.org.

• Community meeting, noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, MedWest Haywood Health & Fitness Center classrooms.

• Franklin Open Forum, 6:30 Wednesday, April 9, Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Pub, 58 Stewart St., downtown Franklin. Topic is: “Of Putin, lost planes and political trust.” Moderated discussion group, dialog not debate. 371.1020.

• Beaverdam Community Center monthly meeting, 7 p.m. Monday, April 14, featuring Heidi Dinkleberg who will talk about hops culture and beer production.

648.0552.

• Smoky Mountain Model Railroaders work session, 7 to 9 p.m. every Tuesday and public viewing session from 2 to 4 p.m. the second Sunday of the month, 130 Frazier St., in the Industrial Park near Bearwaters Brewery, Waynesville.

The group runs Lionel-type 3rail O gauge trains. http://smokymountainmodelrailroaders.wordpress.com.

• P.A.W.S. Adoption Days first Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the front lawn at Charleston Station, Bryson City.

BUSINESS & EDUCATION • Computer class: photo editing with GIMP, 5:45 p.m.

Wednesday, April 2, computer lab, Jackson County Public Library, 586.2016.

• Small business seminar: Identifying and Creating Opportunities for the Artisan Business Owner, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 3, Haywood Community College.

Register at tbrown@haywood.edu or 627.4512, www.SBC.Haywood.edu.

• Haywood Chamber Ribbon Cutting Celebration, 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 8, Sun Country Tanning Salon, 13 Forga Plaza Loop, Waynesville. 452.0554.

• Haywood Community College is now registering students for summer and fall semesters 2014. Registration period by appointment only with adviser, through April 25. HCC closed on Friday, April 18 in observance of Good Friday. Summer semester begins May 27.

Complete schedule of classes at www.haywood.edu.

627.4500.

• Southwestern Community College cosmetology students are offering haircuts, manicures and nail tech services from 8 to 11 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis, on Tuesdays through Thursdays at SCC’s Jackson Campus in Sylva. 339.4238, southwesterncc.edu or rmccall@southwesterncc.edu.

All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted.

FUNDRAISERS AND BENEFITS • Waynesville Lions annual Spaghetti Dinner, 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 3, Christian Growth Center, First United Methodist Church, Waynesville. $8, adults; $4, children.

• Booth space available for WNC’s 24th annual Largest Indoor Yard Sale, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 12, Ramsey Center, Western Carolina University. Sponsored by the Jackson County Arts Council. $35 for one space, $30 for two or more. Each space comes with one table and two chairs. This is the 24th annual fundraiser for the Jackson County Arts Council. Free admission. Sylvia Smythe, 507.9531, www.jacksoncountyarts.org.

• “Caring For Kids Yoga Class,” Mondays, by Feel Well Yoga at UUFF, 89 Sierra Dr., Franklin. 100 percent of all first-time participant donations and 10 percent of all ongoing collections go to KIDS Place. Space limited.

941.894.2898.

VOLUNTEERING • Haywood County Meals on Wheels needs drivers for these routes: Fridays – Route #4 – Allens Creek; Thursdays and/or Fridays – Route #9 – Beaverdam; Fridays – Route #19 – Cruso; Fridays – Route #21 – Saunook. Immediate need of drivers in the Cruso area.

Jeanne Naber, 356.2442.

• Angel Medical Center Auxiliary’s Thrift Shop needs volunteers for six-hour shifts. The Thrift Shop is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Jennifer Hollifield, director of volunteer services, 349.6688.

• The Haywood Jackson Volunteer Center has many new openings for volunteers throughout the region. Call John at 356.2833.

• Community Care Clinic of Franklin needs volunteers for a variety of tasks including nursing/clinical, clerical and administrative and communications and marketing. The clinic will provide volunteer orientation and training for all individuals. 349.2085.

• Catman2 Shelter needs volunteers for morning feeding and general shelter chores, especially from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. 293.0892 or hsims@catman2.org.

• The Volunteer Water Inventory Network (VWIN) is looking for people to work one to two hours every second weekend of the month at Hyatt Creek, Raccoon Creek and Jonathan Creek. Supplies provided. Volunteers pick up empty bottles, collect water samples, and return full bottles. 926.1308 or haywoodwaterways.org. Early evenings are the best time to call.

• Agencies throughout Haywood County seek volunteers for many different jobs, including helping with Haywood Christian Ministries, REACH hotline and thrift shop, the Elk Bugle Corps for the National Park and many more.

356.2833.

• The Bascom in Highlands seeks volunteers to help at arts center. Volunteer opportunities include office, gallery docent, benefit events, hospitality, flowers, installation, studio, library, landscaping, parking, recycling and building. 526.4949, mshambaugh@thebascom.org or www.thebascom.org/volunteer.

• The Haywood County Historical and Genealogical Society maintains a museum located in the historical courthouse in room 308. The HCHGS is seeking articles and objects of historical value to Haywood County that anyone would like to share. 456.3923.

• Haywood Volunteer Center needs respite work, domestic violence hotline volunteers, meal delivery drivers, mediators, craft instruction, house building, foster grandparenting and office work. 356.2833

BLOOD DRIVES Haywood • MedWest Haywood Blood Drive, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Friday, April 11, 75 Leroy George Road, Clyde.

800.RED.CROSS.

HEALTH MATTERS • Swain Medical Center open house, 4 to 6 p.m.

Wednesday, April 2, 45 Plateau St., Bryson City. New, extended clinic hours will be 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and Thursday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. 488.4205.

• Free Lunch and Learn on rotator cuff issues, noon to 1 p.m. Friday, April 4, board room, Harris Regional Hospital, Sylva, with Dr. Martin Senicki. Reservation required, 586.7677 and leave a message.

• The Governor’s Institute on Substance Abuse daylong training session on integrated care and recovery, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, April 7, Western Carolina University, Room 204, Health and Human Sciences Building. Free.

Deadline to register is Thursday, April 3. Register at 919.256.7419, or http://integratedcareandrecovery.eventzilla.net/.

SENIOR ACTIVITIES • Learn Calligraphy, 10 a.m. to noon Monday, April 7 and 14, Haywood County Senior Center, 81 Elmwood Way, Waynesville. $10 for materials. 452.2370, haywoodconnections.org.

KIDS & FAMILIES • New outdoor recreation program for boys and girls in third through sixth grade, 4:30 to 7:45 p.m. Thursdays.

Meet at the Waynesville Recreation Center and then travel to a hiking trail. Location determined day of event. $5 per person for members of the Waynesville Recreation Center or $8 for non-members. 456.2030 or email recprogramspecialist@townofwaynesville.org.

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 ages 6 to 12, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 12 to Aug. 8, Cullowhee United Methodist Church. One-time registration fee of $75 (or $10 per week if less than 8 weeks). $650 for the summer, $95 per week, or $25 per day.

Full payment for registered dates due before June 12.

293.9215, www.cullowheeumc.org/summer-camp2014/.

• Highlands Nature Center Day Camps now taking registrations for five different camps. “WOW! – a World of Wonder” (ages 4-6), “Amazing Animals” (ages 7-10), “NatureWorks” (ages 8-11), “Mountain Explorers” (ages 10-13), and “Junior Ecologists” (ages 11-14). Most camps offered more than once during the summer; sessions run from Tuesday to Friday each week. 526.2623 or, visit summer camps webpage at www.highlandsbiological.org.

• Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department Summer Camp for kids pre-K to 7th grade, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday – Friday, June 23-Aug. 15. Deadline to register is May 19. 456.2030 or email recprogramspecialist@townofwaynesville.org • Haywood County Arts Council Jam Camp, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, July 8 – Friday, July 11, Canton Middle School, 60 Penland St., Canton. Classes in mountain instruments, mountain dance (clogging, buckdance, flat-footing and square dance) and mountain songs and storytelling. $75. For students in grades 4th through 8th. Limited financial assistance and loaner instruments available on a first-come, first-served basis. Register at Haywood County Arts Council, 452.0593, Monday – Saturday, from April 15 to June 22.

Literary (children) • Homework Help, 3 p.m. Wednesday April 2, Jackson County Public Library, 586.2016.

• Peeps Diorama Contest, April 7-17, Marianna Black Library, Bryson City. Create a diorama using peeps that represents a book of your choice. Open to children ages 4 to 16. Entry deadline, Wednesday, April 16th.

488.3030.

• Homework Help, 3 p.m. Thursday April 3, Jackson County Public Library, 586.2016.

• Register for Spring Youth Tennis Lessons in Jackson County. Lessons run Tuesdays and Saturdays, April 29May 24, at Mark Watson Park, Sylva. $40. Register at Jackson County Recreation Center. No phone registration.

• Children’s Story time: The Great Monster Hunt, 11 a.m. Friday, April 4, Jackson County Public Library, 586.2016.

• Buckle Up, Baby! a free car seat safety clinic, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 5, Franklin Fun Factory, Franklin, and the Hudson Library, Highlands. Brittney at brittney051888@yahoo.com or 508.3003.

• Spring Break Camp, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. April 2125, Waynesville Parks and Recreation. For children in kindergarten through sixth grade. Limited space.

Registration deadline, 5 p.m. Monday, April 7. $90.

456.2030 or email recprogramspecialist@townofwaynesville.org.

• Family Night: Monster Movie Night, 6 p.m. Thursday, April 3, Jackson County Public Library, 586.2016.

• Children’s Story time: Friendly Monsters, 3:30 p.m.

Friday, April 4, Jackson County Public Library, 586.2016.

• Family Story time: Chickens, 10 a.m.; Toddlers Rock, 4 p.m. Monday, April 7, Macon County Public Library, Franklin.

• Family Story time: Chickens, 10 a.m.; Adventure Club: Tie-Dye Journals, 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, Macon County Public Library.

• Culture Club: Mexico, 1 p.m.; Mary Ann’s Book Club, 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, Macon County Public Library, Franklin.

• Free homework help, 3 to 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday, Library Room, The Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. Kindergarten to college. No sign-up is necessary.

Tutor will be library staffer David Clager. 586.2016.

• Lego Club, all ages 4 p.m.; Woodsmith Poetry (meeting room), 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 10, Macon County Public Library.

Summer Camps

• Children’s Story time: It’s a Frog Thing, 2 p.m.

Saturday, April 5, Jackson County Public Library, 586.2016.

• Summer Day Camp for elementary school children,

• Children’s Story time: Rotary Readers, 11 a.m.

Monday, April 7, Jackson County Public Library, 586.2016.

• Children’s Story time: I’m a Frog, 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 8, Jackson County Public Library, 586.2016.

• Homework Help, 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, Jackson County Public Library, 586.2016.

• Lego Club, 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, Jackson County Public Library, 586.2016.

• Candidates forum for Macon County County Commission candidates, noon, April 10, Tartan Hall, First Presbyterian Church, Franklin. Sponsored by League of Women Voters of Macon County.

• McKinney for Commissioner Fundraiser with Croon and Cadence, 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, April 11, Organic Beans, 1110 Soco Road, Maggie Valley.

wnc calendar

• Homework Help, 3 p.m. Monday, April 7, Jackson County Public Library, 586.2016.

7 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, Organic Beans, 1110 Soco Road, Maggie Valley.

• District Attorney candidate Jim Moore will hold a meet and greet from 4-6 p.m. Saturday, April 12, at the Bethea Welcome Center at Lake Junaluska.

• Homework Help, 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, Jackson County Public Library, 586.2016.

• Write On! 8-12 year old writing group, 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 9, Jackson County Public Library, 586.2016.

ECA EVENTS • Extension and Community Association (ECA) groups meet throughout the county at various locations and times each month. NC Cooperative Extension Office, 586.4009.

• 9:30 a.m. Thursday, April 3 – Pillow Cases, Potpourri ECA, Conference Room of Community Service Center, Sylva.

• Noon Thursday, April 10 – Container Gardens, Lunch and Learn ECA, Conference Room of Community Service Center, Sylva.

• 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 15 – Craft, Cane Creek ECA, location to be announced.

• 10 a.m. Thursday, April 17 - ECA Craft Club Workshop – Cornshuck Doll, Conference Room of Community Service Center, Sylva. Call Extension Office to register.

• 1 p.m. Monday, April 21 – Sew Easy Girls ECA, Conference Room of Community Service Center, Sylva.

Dems • The Macon County Democratic Party Convention of 2014, 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 5, Macon County Courthouse, upstairs in the big courtroom. “Meet ‘N Greet” Democratic candidates.

• Young Democrats of Jackson County Q&A session with NC District 50 candidates Ron Robinson and Jane Hipps, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, Jackson County Democratic Headquarters, 500 Mill St., Sylva.

GOP • Haywood County Republican Party Executive Committee meeting, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 10, Haywood County Republican headquarters, 303 N. Haywood St., Waynesville. 506.0939.

Others • Meet and Greet law enforcement candidates, 6 p.m.

April 8, Macon County Courthouse 4th Floor Courtroom, Franklin. Sponsored by Lodge 81 Fraternal Order of Police, Macon and Jackson County.

• Occupy/WNC General Assembly, 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 8, Room 246 Jackson County Justice Center, Sylva. Lucy Christopher, 743.9747, https://movetoamend.org/NC-sylva.

• Haywood County Libertarian Party monthly meeting,

• Breakfast with the Easter Bunny, 8:30 to 10 a.m.

Saturday, April 12, Jackson County Senior Center, Sylva. $5, children 10 and under eat for free.

• Easter Egg Hunt, noon Saturday, April 12, Jackson County Recreation Park in Cullowhee.

• Heritage-themed vendors wanted for the 4th annual Appalachian Lifestyle Celebration, Saturday, June 14, Main Street, downtown Waynesville. Exhibit space for vendors demonstrating and selling handmade Appalachian art and crafts. Downtown Waynesville Association, 456.3517 or www.downtownwaynesville.com. Applications accepted until April 18.

• Vendors, demonstrators, crafters and environmental groups are wanted for the 17th annual Greening Up the Mountains festival, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 26, downtown Sylva. Applications accepted through April 15. Space is limited. Reduced application fee for early registrations. Applications at www.greeningupthemountains.com, Signature Brew Coffee Company or Sylva Town Hall. 226.8652, greeningupthemountains@gmail.com • One Woman Appalachia, with standup comedian Marilyn McMinn-McCredie , 2 p.m. Saturday, April 5, auditorium of the Haywood County Public Library, 678 Haywood St., Waynesville. Linda Arnold, 456.5311 or at stanandlinda@charter.net.

• Tartan Day, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 5, Scottish Tartan Museum, Franklin. Nationally recognized day to commemorate the signing of the “Treaty of Arbroath” for Scottish Independence in 1320. 929.524.3935 or 524.7472 or www.franklin-chamber.com.

• Haywood County Arts Council’s 16th annual Student Honors Recital 3 p.m. Sunday, April 6, Performing Arts Center, 250 Pigeon St. Waynesville. Free, but donations appreciated. www.haywoodarts.org.

• Western Carolina University 35th annual International Festival, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 9, lawn of A.K. Hinds University Center. Festival opens with a flag procession by international students. 227.7494, dnmoore@wcu.edu, www.wcu.edu.

• Photowalk at Lake Junaluska, 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 12, Lake Junaluska. Meet at tennis courts parking lot. Bring a camera. Led by professional photographers. Registration required at 356.2507.

Smoky Mountain News

• Democratic Party Primary Candidate Forum, 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 14, 4th floor courtroom of the Macon County Courthouse, 5 West Main Street, Franklin, featuring candidates for the office of Macon County Register of Deeds, Todd Raby (incumbent) and Nicki Tallent, and the Democratic candidates for the District 50 N.C. Senate seat, Jane Hipps and Ron Robinson. Sponsored by Macon County Democratic Men’s Club. Dan Kowal at sanmardan@yahoo.com.

FESTIVALS, SPECIAL & SEASONAL EVENTS

April 2-8, 2014

POLITICAL GROUP EVENTS & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

A&E

CLASSES, PROGRAMS & DEMONSTRATIONS • “The Cardboard Bernini” a film deals with the transitory nature of art and life, 4 to 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 4, CLE Lecture Hall, The Bascom, Highlands. www.TheBascom.org, 526.4949.

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wnc calendar

• “Iron pour,” an artistic activity in which iron is heated, melted and poured into molds to create sculpture, 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 5, Jackson County Green Energy Park, Dillsboro. Hosted by WCU’s Fine Art Museum. 227.2550.

• Free workshop for artists, “Basic Kiln Maintenance,” 6-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, SCC Swain Center. Led

by Doug Hubbs, potter and Heritage Arts instructor.

Reservations, Jeff Marley, 366.2005 or j_marley@southwesterncc.edu.

• Free workshop, “Social Media for Artists” 6 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, May 5, room 114 of the SCC Swain Center. Led by Elise Delfield, potter and Heritage Arts instructor. Reservations, Jeff Marley, 366.2005 or j_marley@southwesterncc.edu.

• Western North Carolina Woodturners Club, 6 p.m.

Thursday, April 10, Blue Ridge School, 95 Bobcat Drive, Cashiers. Drive to the back of the school to the woodworking shop.

• Catch the Spirit of Appalachia art workshop, 2 p.m.

April 5, Nature’s Home Preserve, Tuckasegee. Covers pastel painting, media applications, color combining and composition. Cost is $36. 231.6965 or www.mountainlovers.com.

• Call to artists for the Whole bloomin’ Thing Spring Festival, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 10, Historic Frog Level, Waynesville. Wanted: local growers, nature related artists and crafters, health and wellness professionals and alternative energy and eco-friendly vendors. Scott Siewert, 550.6390 or Teri Siewert, 407.484.9576.

• Call to artists, heritage-themed vendors for Appalachian Lifestyle Celebration Saturday, June 14, downtown Waynesville. Celebration of traditional mountain craft, food and entertainment. Applications accepted until April 18. Downtown Waynesville Association, 456.3517, www.downtownwaynesville.com.

April 2-8, 2014

• Dillsboro Fine Arts & Crafts Fair seeks artists and artisans for the sixth annual COLORFEST, set for Saturday, Oct. 4. Cash prizes. www.visitdillsboro.org, 506.8331, or stop by the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce • Poster contest for professional and amateur artists in Jackson and Macon counties in honor of the 20th anniversary of the Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library. Deadline, Wednesday, April 23. Mail drawings to Friends of the Library, Attn: Graceann Smith, P.O. Box 2628, Cashiers, NC 28717, or take them to the library, 249 Frank Allen Road in Cashiers. Digital entries to gws39@hotmail.com, 743.8871.

• Call to artists to apply for entry in the 6th annual 2014 Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival, Oct. 10-12, Cashiers Valley. www.visitcashiersvalley.com or e-mail info@visitcashiersvalley.com or 743.8428.

LITERARY (ADULTS) Smoky Mountain News

• WCU LitFest author event: Jill McCorkle reading, 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 2, Jackson County Public Library, 586.2016.

• “Books, Bites & Brews,” 6 p.m. Thursday, April 3, City Lights Café, Sylva. 587.2233 or www.citylightscafe.com.

• 12th annual Spring Literary Festival through April 4, A.L. Hinds University Center, unless otherwise noted, Western Carolina University, featuring established and emerging authors of poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction will discuss and read from their works. Free.

Schedule of speakers at www.litfestival.org, 227.3926.

• Spring Fling Half-Price Used Book Sale, April 5-12, Friends of the Jackson County Public Library Book Store, 536 W. Main St., Sylva. Books, magazines, audio books, music CDs, VHS tapes and DVDs included.

Proceeds support the Jackson County Public Library.

ON STAGE & IN CONCERT

40 • “Tarzan,” Disney’s Broadway musical, 7:30 p.m. April

3-5, and 2:30 p.m. April 6, Franklin High School Fine Arts Center. Tickets available at Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce.

• Tony-Award-winning musical “Les Miserables,” under the direction of Broadway star Terrence Mann, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 3, through Saturday, April 5, and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 6, John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center, Western Carolina University. $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and WCU faculty and staff; and $7 (in advance) and $10 (day of show) for students. 227.2479, bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.

• Fleetwood Mac Tribute, with Sheila Gordon, keyboard, vocals, 7 p.m. Friday, April 4, Classic Wineseller, 20 Church St., Waynesville. 452.6000, www.classicwineseller.com.

• Smoke Rise, Friday, April 4, O’Malley’s Pub and Grill, Sylva. 631.0554.

• Joe Lasher Jr. Band, Saturday, April 5, O’Malley’s Pub and Grill, Sylva. 631.0554.

• Mangus Colorado, 8 p.m. April 5, Nantahala Brewing Company, Bryson City, 488.2337

• Bidding, Broadway, Beverages and Baguettes” silent auction fundraiser, 5 to 7:25 p.m. Friday, April 4, preceding the performance of “Les Miserables,” lobby of the Bardo Arts Center. Proceeds go to student scholarships and programs in WCU’s College of Fine and Performing Arts. friendsofthearts.wcu.edu.

• Beatles and Elton John Tribute, with Joe Cruz, keyboard, vocals, 7 p.m. Saturday, April 5, Classic Wineseller, 20 Church St., Waynesville. 452.6000, www.classicwineseller.com.

• Marilyn McMinn-McCredie, 2 p.m. Saturday, April 5, auditorium of the Haywood County Library, Waynesville.

McMinn-McCredie is a storyteller, singer and mountain dulcimer player. Sponsored by Friends of the Library, Haywood County, 456.5311 or stanandlinda@charter.net.

• “Local Beer! Local Cheese!” 5 to 9 p.m. April 10, City Lights Café, Sylva. The café will host Looking Glass Creamery, Innovation Brewing and Heinzelmannchen Brewery. 587.2233 or www.citylightscafe.com or www.mountainlovers.com.

• Classics for the Park Matinee Soiree, pre-party 12:30 p.m.; West Side Story matinee 2 p.m., Sunday, April 6, Highlands Playhouse. Tickets $50, 526.2695.

• Smoky Mountain Brass Quintet, quintet-in-residence at Western Carolina University, spring 2014 recital, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, recital hall of the Coulter Building on the WCU campus. School of Music, 227.7242. Free.

• Western Carolina University Low Tech Ensemble gamelan music, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 10, recital hall of the Coulter Building, WCU campus. Free. School of Music, 227.7242.

• Western Carolina Civic Orchestra final performance of the academic year, 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 14, recital hall of the Coulter Building, Western Carolina University. School of Music, 227.7242.

• The hour-long radio show Stories of Mountain Folk airs at 9 a.m. every Saturday on its home station, WRGC Jackson County Radio, 540 AM on the dial, broadcasting out of Sylva. Stories of Mountain Folk is an ongoing all-sound oral history program produced by Catch the Spirit of Appalachia (CSA), a western North Carolina not-for-profit, for local radio and online distribution.

NIGHT LIFE • Lorin Walker Madsen, 9 p.m. Thursday, April 3, No Name Sports Pub, 1070 Skyland Drive, Sylva.

586.2750. www.LorinWalkerMadsen.com.

• Sultans of Swing, 7:45 p.m. April 3, The Strand, 38 Main St., Waynesville. $15. 283.0079 or www.38main.com.

• PMA, Travers Bros., Tony Poole, East Coast Dirt Band, Rolling Nowhere, Natty Love Joys and Chris Blaylock, 9 p.m. No Name Sports Pub in Sylva. Madsen plays April 3, with PMA, April 4; Travers Bros., April 5; Poole, April 6; East Coast Dirt Band, April 10; Rolling Nowhere, April 11; Natty Love Joys, April 12; and Blaylock, April 13. Free. 586.2750 or www.nonamesportspub.com.

• Cutthroat Shamrock, 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 4, Tipping Point Brewing, Waynesville. Free. 246.9230, www.tippingpointtavern.com.

• Caribbean Cowboys, 7 p.m. Friday, April 4, Bear Waters Brewing Company, Waynesville, 246.0602 or www.bwbrewing.com.

• Spontaneous Combustion Jam, 8 p.m. Mondays, Bear Waters Brewing Company in Waynesville. 246.0602 or www.bwbrewing.com.

• “Winter Pickin’ in the Armory” 7 p.m. Friday, April 4, Canton Armory. www.cantonnc.com.

• Appalachian singer/songwriter Sarah Morgan, 7 p.m.

April 5, City Lights Café, Sylva. 587.2233 or www.citylightscafe.com.

• Brother Sun, 7:45 p.m. April 10, The Strand, 38 Main St., Waynesville. $15. 283.0079 or www.38main.com.

• Folk/rock/Americana with The Dupont Brothers, 7 p.m. Thursday, April 10, Classic Wineseller, 20 Church St., Waynesville. 452.6000, www.classicwineseller.com.

• Songs from the 60s-80s with Ben Wilson, guitar, vocals, 7 p.m. Friday, April 11, Classic Wineseller, 20 Church St., Waynesville. 452.6000, www.classicwineseller.com.

• South of the Tracks, 7:30 p.m. April 11, Frog Level Brewing Company, Waynesville. Free. 454.5664 or www.froglevelbrewing.com.

• The Dupont Brothers, 8 p.m. April 11, Nantahala Brewing Company, Bryson City, 488.2337 or www.nantahalabrewing.com.

• Beatles and Elton John Tribute, with Joe Cruz, keyboard, vocals, 7 p.m. Saturday, April 12, Classic Wineseller, 20 Church St., Waynesville. 452.6000, www.classicwineseller.com.

• The Grove Band, 8 p.m. April 12, Nantahala Brewing Company, Bryson City, 488.2337 or www.nantahalabrewing.com.

• Gospel Sunday Brunch with Rockell Scott, vocals, piano, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, April 13, Classic Wineseller, 20 Church St., Waynesville. 452.6000, www.classicwineseller.com.

MUSIC JAMS • Music Jam every Thursday night from 6 to 8 p.m. at Frog Level Brewery on Commerce St.in Waynesville.

First and third Thursday are mostly Celtic; second and fourth are mostly Old Time; fifth Thursday anything goes. All acoustic instruments are welcome.

Newcomers welcome. Contact besscrider@gmail.com or aviancm@gmail.com.

• Community music jam, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 2, auditorium, Marianna Black Library, downtown Bryson City. Anyone with a guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, dulcimer - anything unplugged - is welcome, and singers and listeners, too. Facilitated by Larry Barnett, of Grandpa’s Music in Bryson City. 488.3030.

• Back Porch Old-Time Music, 1 to 3 p.m. April 5 and 19, Porch of the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

FOOD & DRINK • Melange of the Mountains Culinary Gala, 5 to 7 p.m.

Thursday, April 10, Laurel Ridge Country Club. $35 for Chamber Members and $40 for non-members. VIP upgraded tickets, $60. Ticket availability is limited. www.haywoodchamber.com, 456.3021 • 15th annual Taste of Chocolate, 6 to 9 p.m.

Saturday, April 19, Maggie Valley Club. $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Proceeds help organizations in Haywood County. John, 356.2833.

• Mountain Cooking Club with Chef Ricardo Fernandez, former co-owner and head chef of Lomo Grill, class 0405, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 5, and class 0419, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 19, Fines Creek Community Kitchen, 192 Fines Creek Road, $50 per person (credit card payment required at booking), 627.6751 or chefricardos@gmail.com.

• Cellar Club, 7 to 9 p.m. first Tuesday of the month, Papou’s Wine Shop, Sylva. Membership prices, $50 per person, $75 per couple. Wine tastings, food pairings.

586.6300, papouswineshop@frontier.com.

• Gathering Table, 5 to 7 p.m. Thursdays, at The Community Center, Route 64, Cashiers. Provides fresh, nutritious dinners to all members of the community regardless of ability to pay. Volunteers always needed and donations gratefully accepted. 743.9880.

ART/GALLERY EVENTS & OPENINGS • “Invitational Artists” exhibit, April 3-26 at Gallery 86, downtown Waynesville. Artist reception, 6 to 9 p.m.

Friday, April 4. Featured artists are Gretchen Clasby, Jesse Clay, Dominick DePaolo, Jon Houglum, James Lyle and Carolyn Taylor. www.haywoodarts.org.

• Out of the Ordinary, an exhibition of everyday objects, opens Saturday, April 5, The Bascom, Highlands.

Features art by well-known artists from New York, Miami, Los Angeles and Georgia (Atlanta and Athens). www.TheBascom.org, 526.4949.

• “Remote Sites of War,” featuring more than 110 works by North Carolina-based artists Todd Drake, Skip Rohde and Christopher Sims, April 10 – May 30, Fine Art Museum at Western Carolina University. Museum hours, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays, and Fridays; and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays. Free.

227.3591 or fineartmuseum.wcu.edu.

FILM & SCREEN • Movie night, 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 7, Jackson County Public Library, 586.2016.

• Free screening of The New Public with filmmaker Jyllian Gunther, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, University Center Theater at WCU. Part of Southern Circuit Indy Film Series.

• “12 Years a Slave,” 7:45 p.m. April 4 and 5 and 7:45 p.m. April 5, The Strand, 38 Main, Waynesville. “In A World” 7:45 p.m. April 11-12. Tickets are $6 per person, $4 for children. 283.0079 or www.38main.com.

Outdoors OUTINGS, HIKES & FIELDTRIPS • Franklin Bird Club walk Wednesday, April 2, along the Greenway. Led by Karen Lawrence.

Meet at 8 a.m. at Salali Lane.

• Women-only fly-fishing weekend, April 4-6, Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education and Davidson River Campground, Transylvania County. Open to women of all skill levels who want to learn more about fly fishing. $125. Offered through the Wildlife Commission’s Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) program. To register or get more information, contact BOW Coordinator BB Gillen at 919.218.3638 or email bb.gillen@ncwildlife.org.

• Special Franklin Bird Club meeting, 2 p.m. Saturday, April 5, Macon Heritage Center, Historic Cowee School.

Topic is: Impact of Land Management Practices on Birds in Macon County by Paige Barlow, Ph.D. candidate, University of Georgia.

• Franklin Bird Club walk, Wednesday, April 9, along the Greenway. Led Paula Gorgoglione.

Meet at 8 a.m. at Salali Lane.

• Cullasaja Gorge Clean-up, 9 a.m. Saturday, April 12, meet at Pine Grove Baptist Church.

Get a T-shirt and enjoy a cookout afterwards at Cliffside Lake. Volunteers needed. Call Jennifer Cunningham, 526.2112 • Wildflower walks, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Friday in April. Meet and register at Cashiers/Glenville Recreation Center.

Sponsored by the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department. 631.2020.

• French Broad River Trips, 5-Day Trip: May 17-21 (Headwaters Outfitters to Asheville Outdoor Center); 4-Day Trip: July 12-15 (Asheville Outdoor Center to Paint Rock, Tenn.); 2-Day Trips: May 17-18 (Headwaters Outfitters to Riverbend Campsite); and July 12-13 (Asheville Outdoor Center to Marshall).

Contact WNCA Assistant French Broad Riverkeeper Kirby Callaway, 258.8737, ext. 212.

Registration at http://wnca.org/paddle/frenchbroad-float-trips/.

• Sons of the American Legion turkey shoot, 9 a.m. Saturdays through April, 171 Legion Drive, Waynesville. Cost is $2. Refreshments provided. Bring your own gun; a few house guns are available.

PROGRAMS & WORKSHOPS

• Bethel Middle School Science Fair and Community Night, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 10, 630 Sonoma Road, Waynesville. Highlights educational, cultural and financial impact of science, hands-on STEM activities, and Haywood Waterways.

• Haywood Waterways Frog Level Storm Drain Stenciling , 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 12, Panacea Coffee Company, Frog Level, Waynesville. Stenciling supplies, gloves, trash bags, pick-up sticks, and refreshments provided.

• Haywood Waterways stream clean-up, 1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 12, Canton Recreation Park. Meet in the parking lot by the Canton Recreation Park baseball field.

• “Forever Wild: Celebrating America’s Wilderness,” 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 2, Macon County Public Library website.

• Statewide star viewing party, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, April 4, University of North Carolina Asheville’s main quad. Free. Presented by UNC Asheville Department of Physics and the Astronomy Club of Asheville as part of the North Carolina Science Festival. ncsciencefestival.org, astroasheville.org or 251.6442.

• Solar observing event, 11 a.m. Friday, April 11, UNC Asheville’s main quad. In celebration of North Carolina Science Festival. ncsciencefestival.org, astroasheville.org or 251.6442.

COMPETITIVE EDGE • Clyde Elementary Color Run, 7:45 a.m.

Saturday, April 12, Clyde Elementary School, 4182 Old Clyde Road, Clyde. $15 for students, $25 adults, $75 for family of four or more.

Proceeds used to buy much needed books.

Register at imathlete.com or call 627.2206.

• Western Carolina University’s 4th annual Valley of the Lilies Half Marathon and 5K, Saturday, April 5, WCU. www.halfmarathon.wcu.edu or contact race directors Shauna Sage or James Scifers at ValleyoftheLilies@wcu.edu.

• Nantahala Hilly Half Marathon / 5k trail run, 9 a.m. Saturday, April 5, Nantahala Outdoor Center. www.noc.com/noccom/festivals-aevents/nantahala-hilly-half-marathon-a-5k.

FARM & GARDEN • Macon County Beekeepers Association, 7 p.m. Thursday, April 3, Cooperative Extension Office, Thomas Heights Road. Panel discussion. Public welcome.

• Growing in the Mountains series: How to establish and maintain blueberries and grapevines, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 3, Room 234 Jackson Extension Center, 538 Scotts Creek Road, Sylva. Sponsored by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service.

586.4009, Sylva; 488.3848, Bryson City or email christine_bredenkamp@ncsu.edu.

• Growing in the Mountain Series: Managing Your Home Orchard, (Fruit Tree Workshop), 6 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, April 7, Swain Extension Center, 60 Almond School Road; 2 to 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 9, Jackson Extension Center, 538 Scotts Creek Road, Sylva., 586.4009 in Sylva or 488.3848 in Bryson City or e-mail christine_bredenkamp@ncsu.edu • Macon County Farm Safety Day, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, Macon County Fairgrounds, Wayne Proffitt Agricultural Center, 1436 Georgia Road, Franklin. Register at 524.6147.

• The Cullowhee Community Garden is taking applications for plot adoptions for the 2014 gardening season. The garden is an all-organic, donation-based community garden at South Painter Road in Cullowhee. Space, tools, materials, and equipment provided. More information at the Jackson County Department of Public Health, 586.8994 or thecullowheecommunitygarden@gmail.com.

• Volunteer workdays at The Cullowhee Community Garden, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Wednesday afternoon and Saturday morning.

More information at thecullowheecommunitygarden@gmail.com or 586.8994.

• The Master Gardeners of Haywood County present their biennial garden tour: “Forests, Flowers & Food,” 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or

Your Local Big Green Egg Dealer

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HIKING CLUBS • Carolina Mountain Club hosts more than 150 hikes a year, including options for full days on weekends, full days on Wednesdays and half days on Sundays. Non-members contact event leaders. www.carolinamountainclub.org

234-65

ON DELLWOOD RD. (HWY. 19) AT 20 SWANGER LANE WAYNESVILLE/MAGGIE VALLEY 828.926.8778

• High Country Hikers, based in Hendersonville, plans hikes Mondays and Thursdays weekly. Participants should bring a travel donation and gear mentioned on their website: main.nc.us/highcountryhikers.

808.2165 • Nantahala Hiking Club based in Macon County holds weekly Saturday hikes in the Nantahala National Forest and beyond. www.nantahalahikingclub.org • Mountain High Hikers, based in Young Harris, Ga., leads several hikes per week.

Guests should contact hike leader. www.mountainhighhikers.org.

• Smoky Mountain Hiking Club, located in East Tennessee, makes weekly hikes in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park as well as surrounding areas. www.smhclub.org.

• Benton MacKaye Trail Association incorporates outings for hikes, trail maintenance and other work trips. No experience is necessary to participate. www.bmta.org.

• Diamond Brand’s Women’s Hiking Group meets on the third Saturday of every month.

For more information, e-mail awilliams@diamondbrand.com or call 684.6262.

BIKE RIDES • A weekly bike ride in Waynesville meets Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. at Rolls Rite Bicycles on the Old Asheville Highway. Beginner to intermediate rides led by Bicycle Haywood advocacy group. Eight- to 12-mile rides.

276.6080 or gr8smokieszeke@gmail.com.

234-63

234-61

• A weekly bike ride meets in Bryson City on Wednesdays around 6 p.m. Depart from the East Swain Elementary school in Whittier on U.S.19 off exit 69 from U.S. 23-74. All levels.

800.232.7238.

• A weekly bike ride in Sylva meets Tuesday at 6 p.m., departing from Motion Makers bike shop for a tough 25-mile ride up to the Balsam Post office via back roads and back into Sylva. 586.6925.

• A weekly bike ride in Franklin meets Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., departing from Smoky Mountain Bicycles at 179 Highlands Road. Geared for all levels. 369.2881 or www.maconcountycycling.blogspot.com.

• A weekly bike ride in Franklin meets Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. at Macon Middle School on Wells Grove Road. Ladies and beginners’ ride.

369.2881 or www.maconcountycycling.blogspot.com.

• A weekly bike ride in Franklin meets Saturdays at 8 a.m., departing from South Macon Elementary School. 369.2881, www.maconcountycycling.blogspot.com.

• A weekly bike ride in Franklin meets Sundays at 9:30 a.m., departing from the Franklin Health and Fitness Center. 369.2881, www.maconcountycycling.blogspot.com.

Full Service Property Management 828-456-6111 www.selecthomeswnc.com Residential and Commercial Long-Term Rentals 233-32

MOUNTAIN REALTY

Mieko Thomson

Smoky Mountain News

• Bike clinics, 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, April 12, Clyde Elementary School, Clyde. For ages 15 and up. Teenagers must be accompanied by an adult. Must pre-register, 452.6789.

• Invasive Species Awareness Day, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, April 7, Tassee Picnic Shelter at the Little Tennessee River Greenway at the corner of Wells Grove and Ulco Drive, Franklin, in celebration of North Carolina Invasive Plant Awareness Week. Rain date, Wednesday, April 9. 507.1188, shimes@ltlt.org, http://click.icptrack.com/icp/

shine, Saturday, June 21. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased in advance by calling 456.3575. Or reserve your tickets for “will call” on the day of the tour by emailing mgtour2014@charter.net. Garden Tour proceeds fund education-related horticultural projects in Haywood County.

April 2-8, 2014

• Free CPR & First Aid classes, 10 a.m. to noon CPR; 1 to 4 p.m. First Aid, Saturday, April 5, Marianna Black Library, downtown Bryson City, corner of Academy and Rector. Certified

By American Heart Association. 603.733.6636.

• Documentary “Shored Up,” that examines how different communities are dealing with coastal erosion, storms and rising sea levels, 4 p.m. Sunday, April 6, theater of A.K. Hinds University Center at WCU. Sponsored by Western Carolina University’s Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines. 227.7519.

wnc calendar

• Nantahala Hiking Club, 2 p.m. Saturday, April 5, Appalachian Trail to Wesser Firetower.

Meet at Bi-Lo parking lot in Franklin at 2 p.m.

Leader Mary Stone, 369.7352, for reservations.

No pets.

Thomson ROKER/R /REALTOR EALTOR®® BBROKER

Cell (828) 226-2298 Cell

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41

INSIDE

Now Hiring jobs.bayada.com

828.452.0010 ARTS AND CRAFTS

MarketPlace information: The Smoky Mountain News Marketplace has a distribution of 16,000 every week to over 500 locations across in Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties along with the Qualla Boundary and west Buncombe County. For a link to our MarketPlace Web site, which also contains a link to all of our MarketPlace display advertisers’ Web sites, visit www.smokymountainnews.com.

ALLISON CREEK Iron Works & Woodworking. Crafting custom metal & woodwork in rustic, country & lodge designs with reclaimed woods! Design & consultation, Barry Downs 828.524.5763, Franklin NC

ANOUNCEMENTS

Rates: ■ Free — Residential yard sale ads, lost or found pet ads.

■ Free — Non-business items that sell for less than $150.

■ $12 — Classified ads that are 50 words or less; each additional line is $2.

■ $12 — If your ad is 10 words or less, it will be displayed with a larger type.

■ $3 — Border around ad and $5 — Picture with ad.

■ $50 — Non-business items, 25 words or less. 3 month or till sold.

■ $300 — Statewide classifieds run in 117 participating newspapers with 1.6 million circulation. Up to 25 words.

■ All classified ads must be pre-paid.

ESTATE/TAG SALE Thur. 2-7pm, Fri. & Sat. 10-4pm.

Located at 10 Commerce Street, Waynesville. Lots of Pottery, Mid-Century Furniture, Antiques & Much More!

AUCTION CARWILE AUCTIONS, INC.Saturday, April 5, Concord, Va. Sport Fishermans Dream! Boats, Sporting Goods, Country Store Collectables! Estate Antiques!

Farm Equipment! www.CarwileAuctions.com 434.547.9100 (VAAR392) FLEET UPDATE AUCTION Friday April 11th, 10am. Justice Family Farms, 9988 Hwy 521, Greeleyville, SC 29056. Bid Online @ equipmentfacts.com. 20+ Truck Tractors. 20+ Hopper Bottom Trailers. 10% Admin Fee Added. World Net Auctions. SCAL#3965F. 843.426.4255

CONCERNED CITIZEN OPPORTUNITY! TUESDAY APRIL 8, 6:00 p.m. Will be the First in a Series of Conversations to Meet Primary Candidates & Discuss Local & Western North Carolina Issues and Challenges.

Classified Advertising: Scott Collier, phone 828.452.4251; fax 828.452.3585 | classads@smokymountainnews.com

Hosted By Dodie’s Auction - 482 W. Main St. Sylva.

2nd Conversation - Tues., April 15, 6:00 p.m.

3rd Conversation - Tues., April 22, 6:00 p.m.

4th Conversation - Tues., April 29, 6:00 p.m.

Held at Sagebrush Coffee House, Main St., Downtown Bryson City (Next to Blue Mtn. Gallery)

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At Dodie’s 482 W. Main Street - Downtown Sylva Telephone: 828.226.3921 / 828.735.4790 Friday April 4, Noon - 7 p.m.

Sat. April 5, Noon - 6 p.m. Auction 6 p.m. Til Sun. April 6, 2 p.m. - 6 p.m.

AUCTION HARPER’S AUCTION COMPANY Friday April 4th @ 6 p.m.

Great Deals Up for Grabs: Recliners, Queen Size Bed, Rugs, Crosley Radio/Phonograph, Pearls, Twin Beds, Tow Bar, Century Boxing Bag, Gemstone Slabs, Glassware, New Merchandise (Hot Wheels, Barbies) and Lots More...

47 Macon Center Dr, Franklin, NC 828.369.6999, Debra Harper NCAL# 9659 NCFL# 9671

harpersauctioncompany.com OAK ISLAND AUCTION Beautiful 3BD/2BA Cottage on ICW with lift. 2502 E. Yacht Drive.

Online Only. Open House: 3/23 and 4/6. www.swicegoodauctions.com 336.751.4444. NC8805/ NCFL8790 ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AUCTIONSaturday, April 5 at 10am. 300 Rampart Street, Charlotte, NC. Selling Out Large Industrial/Commercial Electrical Company, Lifts, Specialized Tools & Inventory.

704.791.8825. NCAF5479 www.ClassicAuctions.com

BUILDING MATERIALS HAYWOOD BUILDERS Garage Doors, New Installations Service & Repairs, 828.456.6051 100 Charles St. Waynesville Employee Owned.

PAINTING JAMISON CUSTOM PAINTING & PRESSURE WASHING Interior, exterior, all your pressure washing needs and more.

Specialize in Removal of Carpenter Bees - Cedar or Log Homes or Painted or Siding!

Call Now for a Free Estimate at 828.508.9727

Auctioneer: Dodie Allen Blaschik, NCAL# 3410 Refreshments Available - Cash/Personal Check Only (No Credit or Debit Cart) (Lay-Away Possible)

CONSTRUCTION/ REMODELING

The Sale with the Woman’s Touch! www.dodiesales.com

SULLIVAN HARDWOOD FLOORS Installation- Finish - Refinish 828.399.1847.

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DAVE’S CUSTOM HOMES OF WNC, INC Free Estimates & Competitive rates. References avail. upon request. Specializing in: Log Homes, remodeling, decks, new construction, repairs & additions.

Owner/Builder: Dave Donaldson.

Licensed/Insured. 828.631.0747 or 828.508.0316

AUTO PARTS DDI BUMPERS ETC. Quality on the Spot Repair & Painting. Don Hendershot 858.646.0871 cell 828.452.4569 office.

CARS - DOMESTIC DONATE YOUR CAR, Truck or Boat to Heritage for the Blind. Free 3 Day Vacation, Tax Deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care Of. 800.337.9038.

TOP CASH FOR CARS, Call Now For An Instant Offer. Top Dollar Paid, Any Car/Truck, Any Condition. Running or Not. Free Pick-up/Tow. 1.800.761.9396 SAPA

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

ACCOUNTING/PAYROLL ASSISTANT (Wesser Campus, Bryson City, NC) One year payroll experience. ADP PayeX and ezLaborManager experience preferred. Minimum high school graduate or equivalency.

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience is preferred. For this and many more open positions at the Nantahala Outdoor Center, go to: NOCcareers.com AIRLINE CAREERS BEGIN HERE Get FAA Approved Maintenance Training Financial Aid For Qualified Students - Housing Available Job Placement Assistance. Call Aviation Institute Of Maintenance 1.866.724.5403 WWW.FIXJETS.COM. SAPA ATTN: DRIVERS $$$ Get Loaded $$$ Exp Pays - up to 50 cpm. New KWs. CDL-A Req. 877.258.8782. ad-drivers.com CAMP COOK: Summer Camp in Balsam is looking for an independent and capable cook to prep meals over the summer (May 14th - Aug. 15th).

Must plan and prepare food for groups up to 100. If interested please email resume to: jonterry@soarnc.org or fax to: 828.456.3449. No Calls Please.

CAN YOU DIG IT? Bulldozers, Backhoes and Excavators. 3 Week Hands On Training Provided. Become Nationally Certified. Lifetime Job Placement Assistance. GI Benefits Eligible.

1.866.362.6497

DRIVERS: DEDICATED. REGIONAL. Home Weekly/Bi-Weekly Guaranteed. Start up to $.44 cpm. Great Benefits + Bonuses. 90% No Touch Freight/70% Drop & Hook.

877.704.3773.

FLEET EXPANSION. Openings Solo/Team Drivers: Home Weekly. Vacation, 7 pd. Holidays, BC/BS, 401k Company Match, Great Equipment, East Coast Runs, Paid orientation. 1.800.Drive-CT or apply www.cargotransporters.com HIGH-TECH CAREER With U.S. Navy. Elite tech training w/great pay, benefits, vacation, $ for school. HS grads ages 17-34.

Call Mon-Fri 800.662.7419 HIGHLANDS-CASHIERS HOSPITAL Positions now available: Phlebotomist, Patient Account Representative, C.N.A.’s, C.N.A./ Unit Clerk, and Medical Records Manager.

Benefits available the first of the month following 60 days of full-time employment. PreEmployment screening required.

Call Human Resources.

828.526.1376, or apply online at: www.highlandscashiershospital. org NEED MEDICAL OFFICE TRAINEES! Become a Medical Office Assistant at CTI! NO EXPERIENCED NEEDED! Online Training gets you job ready!

HS Diploma/GED & Computer needed. Careertechnical.edu/nc.

1.888.512.7122 NEW PAY-FOR-EXPERIENCE Program pays up to $0.41/mile.

Class-A Professional Drivers Call 866.291.2631 for more details or visit SuperServiceLLC.com NURSING CAREERS Begin here - Get trained in months, not years. Small classes, no waiting list. Financial aid for qualified students. Apply now! Centura College Norfolk 888.893.3477

VAIL A BEAUTIFUL BLACK LONG-HAIRED KITTY, NOT TOO HAPPY TO BE IN A CAGE. SET HER FREE IN YOUR HOME AND SHE'LL LOVE YOU FOREVER!

COMPANY DRIVERS Owner Operators. Regional, Dedicated, OTR. Home weekly, Great Pay, Excellent Benefits. Paid Vacation. CDL-A & 1 year OTR exp. req. 1.888.293.3232. www.epestransport.com DRIVERS- REGIONAL Class A CDL - NEW PAY PACKAGE! Home every 5 to 7 Days.

1.800.444.0585 Press 2 for Recruiting or Online applications: https://intelliapp2.driverapponline. com/c/howell

HEAD START PRESCHOOL Assistant Teacher - Jackson County - Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education is required for this position, must also have the ability to assume responsibilities of the classroom when the teacher is absent, work well with parents, community partners and co-workers, and have good judgment/problem solving skills. Basic computer skills are required. Two years classroom experience is preferred. This is a 10 month position with full time benefits that includes, health insurance, dental, vision, short term/long term disability, life insurance, and retirement.

Head Start Preschool Teacher Jackson County - A BS or Birth–K Degree in Early Childhood Education is mandatory for this position. Also required for this position are: computer skills, responsible for classroom paperwork, good judgment/problem solving skills and time management skills. Candidate must have the ability to work with a diverse population and community partners. Two years classroom experience is preferred. This is a 10 month position with full time benefits that includes health insurance, dental, vision, short term/long term disability, and life insurance.

Applications will be taken at Mountain Projects, 2251 Old Balsam Rd, Waynesville, NC or 25 Schulman St, Sylva, NC or you may go to our website www.mountainprojects.org and fill out an application.

Pre-Employment drug testing is required. EOE/AA. REGIONAL DRIVERS! Get Home EVERY Week + Excellent Benefits. CDL-A required.

888.362.8608. Students check out the new pay increase! Apply @ AverittCareers.com. Equal Opportunity Employer. Females, minorities, protected veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

RETIRED COUPLE SEEKING Caretaker/Handyman Position in exchange for lodging and small salary. Located in Waynesville/ Clyde/Canton area. For more info call 828.369.6958, 828.371.9923.

TANKER & FLATBED COMPANY. Drivers/Independent Contractors!

Immediate Placement Available.

Best Opportunities in the Trucking Business. Call Today 800.277.0212 or www.driveforprime.com THE PATH TO YOUR Dream job begins with a college degree. Education Quarters offers a free college matching service.

CALL 1.800.893.6014

An EcoWater Water System can remove Bad Taste & Odors Iron/Rust Sediment/ Silt Bacterias Harmful Chlorine Balance pH

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Share your life story, family history, photos, music, hobbies, recipes, family folk tales, family secrets & more!

Be your own story teller & share your life story with a skilled consultant.

(828) 550-8801

Ann knows real estate!

Ann Eavenson CRS, GRI, E-PRO

ann@mainstreetrealty.net

506-0542 CELL 234-16

101 South Main St. Waynesville

MainStreet Realty

(828) 452-2227

smokymountainnews.com

BLUE A PUREBRED WEIMARANER, VERY HANDSOME AND WITH A GENTLE, LOVING SPIRIT. HE IS A VERY YOUTHFUL 9 YEARS OLD AND DESERVES TO SPEND HIS SENIOR YEARS IN A WARM, LOVING HOME.

OPEN DECK High Mileage Expedited Fleet.

Clean, predictable freight. Heavy Haul and Specialized also available. Company Trailers AT NO COST. Details at www.dailyrecruiting.com or 1.800.669.6414

Cleaner, Clearer and Healthier water at every tap in your home

EMPLOYMENT

April 2-8, 2014

GREAT BUSINESS Opportunity in Elon, North Carolina. Restaurant and Lounge within walking distance of campus. For more information email: BilllBrght@yahoo.com or call 336.524.4505.

$$$ GET LOADED $$$ Exp Pays - up to 50 cpm New KW’s CDL-A Required. 1.866.717.9899. www.ad-drivers.com SAPA

EMPLOYMENT

WNC MarketPlace

ALL THINGS BASEMENTY! Basement Systems Inc. Call us for all of your basement needs! Waterproofing, Finishing, Structural Repairs, Humidity and Mold Control.

FREE ESTIMATES! Call 1.800.698.9217

EMPLOYMENT

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find us at: facebook.com/smnews

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WNC MarketPlace

EMPLOYMENT

FINANCIAL

WELDING CAREERS Hands-on training for career opportunities in shipbuilding, automotive, manufacturing & more. Financial aid for qualified students.

Job placement assistance. Call Tidewater Tech Norfolk 888.205.1735

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Injury Lawsuit Dragging? Need fast $500-$500,000? Rates as low as 1/2% month. Call Now! 1.800.568.8321. www.lawcapital.com Not valid in North Carolina SAPA

FURNITURE

BEWARE OF LOAN FRAUD. Please check with the Better Business Bureau or Consumer Protection Agency before sending any money to any loan company.

SAPA

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS Offering 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments, Starting at $400 Section 8 Accepted - Handicapped Accessible Units When Available

OFFICE HOURS: Tues. & Wed. 10:00am - 5:00pm & Thurs. 10:00am- 12:00pm 168 E. Nicol Arms Road Sylva, NC 28779

Phone# 1.828.586.3346 TDD# 1.800.725.2962 Equal Housing Opportunity

HAYWOOD BEDDING, INC. The best bedding at the best price!

533 Hazelwood Ave. Waynesville 828.456.4240

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231-29

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Conveniently located off 19/23 by Thad Woods Auction

44

Puzzles can be found on page 49.

These are only the answers.

COMM. PROP. FOR RENT

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1 Month Free with 12 Month Rental. Maggie Valley, Hwy. 19, 1106 Soco Rd. For more information call Torry

& H O O

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TO ADVERTISE IN THE NEXT ISSUE 828.452.4251 | ads@smokymountainnews.com 45

Super

CROSSWORD

Smoky Mountain News

April 2-8, 2014

COMPONENTS IN COMMON

46

ACROSS 1 Precede all others 10 At the apex 15 Family of the 27th U.S. president 20 In a harshly insulting way, say 21 Opening installment of a series 22 Nebraska’s most populous city 23 Arrangement of a troop in war 25 Football great Grier 26 Have - (dine) 27 Celtic speaker 28 Cock-a- - (hybrid dog) 29 Rations (out) 30 Young guy 31 “- all good!”

33 It might be repaired in a hangar 36 Fey of “30 Rock” 38 Hollywood’s Hathaway 39 - out an existence 40 “Come Back, Little Sheba” playwright William 41 Puck-pushing squad 46 Roast VIPs 48 “Just - you know ...”

49 Prior to 50 Prefix with marathon 53 Everything 54 Re 56 White-as-a-ghost look 59 Granters of three wishes 64 Molokai necklaces 66 It may have a helipad on its roof 69 Foist (upon)

71 - nous (between us) 72 Vitamin B3 73 Café or bistro, often 78 “Take - your leader” 79 Short line holding a fishhook 80 “The Bronze Bow” author Elizabeth George 81 Appear on the horizon 83 Fish with bobbing bait 84 Occupy, as a table 86 Vegas action 87 Set - (aspire to something) 89 Ziti and rotini 93 Bird on a dollar bill 98 Maui, e.g.

99 Bleating female 102 Little - (“Hairspray” girl) 103 Throw out 104 Place for Broadway performers 107 Perch in church 108 Experiment site 111 Terre -, Indiana 112 Cry in Köln 113 Out there 115 Met offering 117 Prefix with venous 118 Theme of this puzzle 122 Upper sky 123 Old skating star Sonja 124 Phrase on an invoice 125 Climbs 126 Pledge 127 Events for bargain hunters DOWN 1 Plotting band 2 He defeated McCain 3 Toned down

4 This, to José 5 Pervade 6 “- got your number” 7 Match arbiter 8 Walks through mud 9 Fashionable Banks 10 Iridescent 11 Rebellion figure Turner 12 Linda in 1998 news 13 Peter of “Becket” 14 Tree with small acorns 15 Singer Mel 16 Like some singlecelled organisms 17 Dirty trick 18 Risky thing to live on 19 Gives assent 24 Signified 31 Mag for an entrepreneur 32 Become fond of 34 Stephen of “Blackthorn” 35 - -do-well 36 Much-used article 37 Sorority letter 38 “For” vote 41 Stressful type?

42 Big name in camping gear 43 Oval 44 Greek god of love 45 Person cogitating 47 Bruno - (shoe brand) 51 Arcing throw 52 Capote, to his friends 55 Silverstein of kid-lit 56 1492 vessel 57 Flower-petal perfume 58 Western film actor Lash 60 Mild Dutch cheese

61 “Good boy, Rover” 62 Primary 63 Dishonorable 65 Spirit 67 Pre-euro Spanish coin 68 See 105-Down 70 Dip for chips 74 Q-U string 75 Green org.

76 Baldwin of “30 Rock” 77 Write music 82 Ginnie and Fannie 85 “So it is” 86 “That’s show -!”

88 Ozone, e.g.

89 More meaty 90 1979 Caine/Ustinov film 91 Private eyes 92 Tall myrtle-family shrub 94 “Mamma -!”

95 Employee hirer, e.g.

96 Atoll features 97 This instant 100 Furies 101 Avoid 105 With 68-Down, really yells at 106 “To - own self be true” 107 - ballerina 108 Netman Ivan 109 Have a spat 110 GIs’ places 114 Absent 115 Possesses 116 Gyro bread 119 Actress Long 120 Craggy peak 121 Certain cabinet dept.

answers on page 44

MUSIC LESSONS PIANO LESSONS In Sylva and Waynesville from Instructor with Master’s in Music Education. All Ages. For more Call 704.245.2302 or contact: sfhall@gmail.com

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PEDDLERS SQUARE FLEA MARKET Space Available, Indoor Heat & Air, Year Round, 12x12 $100 per Month Great Smoky Mountain Expressway Waynesville, NC. Call Terry for more info 828.276.6377.

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ENTERTAINMENT SCOTTISH TARTANS MUSEUM 86 East Main St., Franklin, 828.584.7472. www.scottishtartans.org. Matthew A.C. Newsome, GTS, FSA, SCOT., Curator & General Manager, Ronan B. MacGregor, Business Assistant.

SERVICES

FLEA MARKETS

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 44

Blue-headed vireo. wiki media commons photo

The naturalist’s corner

BY DON H ENDERSHOT

Believe it or not, spring is around the corner

D

espite last week’s chill and blustery snow, we are in the throes of spring migration. Actually, migration never stops. There is a bird somewhere on its way to somewhere else every month of the year.

Purple martins have reached Florida by January. In June around the Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge you might find red knots headed north and least sandpipers headed south.

Here in North America, we generally think of migration in terms of spring and fall. If you ask birders when spring migration is, the most common answer is probably from the beginning of April through May. That is because for most birders, spring migration means returning neotropical passerines (song birds) — those beautiful arboreal acrobats with the big voices. The woods and fields that have been quiet and cold all winter will awaken — color and music will return.

But in truth, waterfowl and shorebirds — wind birds, given that name by Peter Matthiessen — “The restlessness of shore-

birds, their kinship with the distance and swift seasons, the wistful signal of their voices down the long coastlines of the world make them, for me, the most affecting of wild creatures. I think of them as birds of wind, as ‘wind birds.’” — have been making their way northward for a month or so.

Purple martins have been back in the States since January, and some have already made it as far north as Iowa and Oregon. A couple of weeks ago I was at Lake Junaluska, and there were red-breasted mergansers there in full breeding plumage, and males were displaying, trying to impress the ladies.

Today (3/30) at Lake Junaluska I saw a common loon in breeding plumage. There were also a number of northbound bluewinged teal, northern shovelers, buffleheads, redheads and lesser scaup. All the nesting swallows around the lake — barn, tree, northern rough-winged and purple martins are back as well. I saw a post on Carolina Birds FaceBook page from Dwayne Martin, a ranger with Catawba County Parks, noting 50 or more common loons (most in breeding plumage) at Lake Hickory, plus a couple of dozen red-necked grebes.

Today was also a day for a little serendipitous birding. We experienced a power out-

age a little after noon, so my wife and I decided to go for a short walk. We were making our way along a dim trail that was grown over with smilax. We were going single file, and I was looking back to see how Denise was navigating the briars when she pointed ahead of us and asked, “What’s that little bird?” I turned to see a junco-sized bird flitting about in a rhododendron. I immediately assumed it was one of the ubiquitous dark-eyed juncos that spend the winter in the neighborhood, but when it moved out, into better lighting, I could see wing bars. A little closer look revealed my FOY (first of the year) blue-headed vireo.

I have also seen online posts from the Carolinas (many with photos) noting

migrants like northern parula, black and white warbler, gray catbird and blue-gray gnatcatcher. Numbers are not big and there are no fallouts yet (except for waterfowl), but it won’t be long. April is upon us and in a couple of weeks those numbers will start climbing. By the end of the month we’ll be up to our binoculars in migrants.

And for something that will make you go hmmm, Martin has documented an ovenbird (seemingly healthy) that has spent the winter at Riverbend Park in Conover. He has photos of the little warbler under the birdfeeders in the snow, apparently eating seeds.

(Don Hendershot is a writer and naturalist. He can be reached a ddihen1@bellsouth.net.)

April 2-8, 2014

A

bi-monthly magazine that covers the southern Appalachian mountains and celebrates the area’s environmental riches, its people, culture, music, art, crafts and special places. Each issue relies on regional writers and photographers to bring the Appalachians to life.

In this issue:

PLUS ADVENTURE, CUISINE, READING, MUSIC, ARTS & MORE

SUBSCRIBE:

Smoky Mountain News

Communities gather ‘round the block Communal relationships in nature NC Arboretum embraces ancient art of bonsai A good neighbor always waves hello

www.smliv.com OR 234-47

866.452.2251

47

&

April 2-8, 2014

APRIL L 4 AT AT 7:30 PM M

Kevin Costner &

Modern West

Southern Fried Chicks

Smoky Mountain News

UPCOMING SHOWS:

Taste T aste off Home Cooking Cookin School MA MAY Y3

Moscow Mosco w Ballet MA MAY Y9

Mercy Me Mercy MAY MA Y 17

Loretta Lynn Lynn JUNE 6

1028 G Georgia eorgia Rd Rd • Franklin, Franklin, NC • Local Local 828.524.1598 828.524.1598 • Toll Toll ol o Free Free 866.273.4615 48

GreatMountainMusic.com G reatMountainMusic.com