Smoky Mountain News | November 1, 2023

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Western North Carolina’s Source for Weekly News, Entertainment, Arts, and Outdoor Information

November 1-7, 2023 Vol. 25 Iss. 23

Much ado about flushing in Waynesville Page 4 Canton’s newest gem continues to shine Page 30

CONTENTS On the Cover: As the lawsuit from a man shot by Cherokee Indian Police Department officers begins to develop, an interesting question has emerged. Should the officers and the department be protected by their claim of sovereign immunity? What about qualified immunity for the officers? The Smoky Mountain News digs into the details. (Page 6) Library of Congress photo

News Sewage plant claims heat up Waynesville election ..................................................4 Team Waynesville supporter appears to violate federal law....................................5 Jackson County manager steps down ........................................................................11 Jackson will grant Summit loan request......................................................................12 Women’s History Trail takes steps to complete sculpture project ....................14 New ‘innovation hub’ headquartered at WCU..........................................................16 Education briefs..................................................................................................................19

Opinion Does anyone really like Daylight Savings Time? ......................................................20 Frightening implications of latest Leandro do-over..................................................21

A&E Time of the rambler: A conversation with Vincent Neil Emerson ........................22 Franklin library to show Carden film ............................................................................26

Outdoors

Smoky Mountain News

November 1-7, 2023

Trail network matures at Canton’s Chestnut Mountain ..........................................30 Notes from a Plant Nerd: Going to seed....................................................................34

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news

Sewage plant claims heat up Waynesville election

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS EDITOR espite largely refusing to show up for forums or interviews, a slate of farright candidates has tried multiple times to spread misinformation in the leadup to Waynesville’s November election — both on the internet and in printed campaign materials — but their most recent attempt to do so, concerning waste water treatment plant funding, doesn’t appear to hold water either.

“State of NC Rep. Mark Pless just disclosed the current Town of Waynesville City Council never even tried to get funding for the new sewer system from the state and they could have easily asked for the entire 25 million! Instead they decided to borrow the 25 million and force the citizens of the town to pay it back by raising sewer bills!” wrote candidate Stephanie Sutton in an Oct. 22 Facebook post.

Sutton, who said she was present at the Jan. 6 insurrection in Washington, D.C. and still owes back taxes to Haywood County, claims that the town “either dropped the ball or intentionally failed” to request funding for the town’s new wastewater treatment plant.

Admittedly, Waynesville’s Town Council does have a strained relationship with Pless (RHaywood), largely over Pless’ repeatRep. Mark Pless.

File photo ed and unsuccessful attempts to make the town’s elections partisan.

But the idea that the town wouldn’t even bother to ask for $25 million from the General Assembly — which wouldn’t have to be paid back, ever — is false, according to Town Council member Anthony Sutton [no relation to Stephanie].

“I believe that’s nonsense,” said Anthony Sutton, who is running for reelection.

“Regardless of political affiliation or personal feelings, I will ask anyone for help for our constituents.”

Anthony Sutton says that on Feb. 22, 2023, he drove to Raleigh to have dinner with Pless, where he asked Pless for sewer plant funding and also for a new fire station and ATVs for the fire department.

“He said that he would work on it, and it should be easy to get things for the fire department because of the assistance Waynesville provided to the county and the Town of Canton during the flood in 2021,” Sutton said.

Council Member Julia Freeman said she called Pless’ office about two issues sometime late in 2022.

“I left a message at Pless’ office about assistance with the fire station and the sewer plant,” Freeman said, adding that Pless 4 never called her back.

Smoky Mountain News

November 1-7, 2023

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Members of Waynesville’s Town Council discuss issues during a recent retreat. Cory Vaillancourt photo

Mayor Gary Caldwell told The Smoky Mountain News that he first spoke with Pless about wastewater treatment plant funding at a newly elected officials event in the Terrace Hotel at Lake Junaluska on Dec. 12, 2020.

Caldwell said he recalls the conversation specifically because he also asked for $500,000 to strengthen the bridge that leads to the treatment plant site so that construction vehicles could utilize it. The town did not end up getting the funding and will use an old farm road to access the site.

At the event with Caldwell was Town Manager Rob Hites. An email sent by Hites to Feichter and Freeman on Oct. 23, 2023, contains Hites’ recollection.

“During the breakfast we spoke directly with Rep. Pless and requested help with funding the wastewater treatment plant,” Hites wrote. “While our conversation was oral, we sat with other Town officials that would corroborate our conversation. Mr. Pless would recognize this conversation since I have spoken of it several times in direct conversations with him.”

Due to the personal nature of the conversations, they weren’t documented. Stephanie Sutton’s assumption that the town was malicious or incompetent in seeking wastewater treatment funding, just like Team Waynesville’s Anthony Sutton. assumptions on File photo crime, development and governmental transparency, holds little credibility.

On March 15, 2022, Pless sent an email from Raleigh to Hites and Nick Scheuer, Canton’s town manager. The topic line of the email reads, “waste water funding sources.”

“I have found a few sources for funding,” Pless wrote. “I have no idea yet what was appropriated and what is left yet. I will try to find out.”

The email goes on to cite a section from the Current Operations Appropriations Act of 2021 that lists State Fiscal Recovery Fund allocations to the Department of Environmental Quality for water and sewer infrastructure projects.

But that was in March 2022. Two months later, Pless introduced his first attempt to force Waynesville, along with other Haywood County municipalities and the school board, to conduct partisan elections.

Every member of the Town Council was vehemently opposed to the move and told Pless so.

“I think that’s where the relationship first went sour,” Anthony Sutton said.

Two members of Town Council, Chuck Dickson and Jon Feichter, say they had no contact with Pless about the issue, mostly because their colleagues had.

“I’m just really disheartened that Pless has spread this information in an attempt to influence the election,” Dickson said.

Feichter offered more pointed commentary on Stephanie Sutton’s allegation.

“If this weren’t so serious, the claim that the Town Council elected to forego grants in favor of taking out a loan to fund the wastewater treatment plant rehab would be laughable, because nothing could be farther from the truth,” Feichter said. “The fact is, the Council — both collectively and individually — and our staff have worked tirelessly to find grants since we formally began this process 6+ years ago, and those efforts most certainly included requests to our legislators, including Rep. Pless beginning in December 2020.” less told The Smoky Mountain News on Oct. 31 that the claims made by Caldwell, Hites, Feichter, Freeman and Anthony Sutton — claims they’d verbally spoken to him about wastewater treatment plant funding — weren’t true at all.

Regarding the email he sent to Scheuer and Hites about funding sources, Pless said he was merely alerting the town to the presence of the funds, and that the town never actually asked him to pursue those funds.

But Hites wrote Pless back an hour after

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receiving Pless’ email, thanking Pless and raising the issue that of the more than $1.4 billion mentioned in Pless’ email, most of it would go to communities declared to be “at risk,” by the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources. At the time, Waynesville was not deemed an at-risk community.

Getting Waynesville added to the “atrisk” list would open up opportunities for wastewater treatment plant funding that the town didn’t have access to.

Two hours later, Hites again emailed Pless, saying that the town’s engineer had heard that DENR was adding communities to the at-risk list.

“If we can get on that list we would be eligible for up to $15 million in grants,” Hites wrote, in what sounds an awful lot like an ask.

Around 40 minutes later, Pless responded only with, “Anything I can do to encourage them to add Waynesville?”

The email exchange adds credence to the recollections of town officials and strongly suggests that even if Pless wasn’t asked for wastewater treatment plant funding multiple times over multiple years, he was actively seeking and had indeed found a few potential funding sources.

Pless says that’s not true, and that he was using all his legislative mojo to take care of other requests anyway.

“If you go back to the budget for Tropical Storm Fred, I got almost $10 million for Canton for some projects. I had Hot Springs ask for money.

And I had the chairman and the towns in Madison County asked for money, so I turned in what I was asked to provide,” he Mayor Gary Caldwell. said. “And then File photo this time, I did the exact same thing.

Madison County called me and said, ‘Hey, we didn’t have enough.’ And then Zeb [Smathers, mayor of Canton], of course I had been talking to Zeb on the $38 million [in sewer funding the town received this year]. That was a huge lift.”

Pless has made no secret of his willingness to punish municipalities that disagree with his initiatives, but said that even if all incumbent members of the Waynesville Town Council were reelected on Nov. 7, he’d still entertain funding requests.

“Oh absolutely,” he said. “I don’t turn down any requests.”

Anthony Sutton said he’d worked on getting Waynesville added to the list of at-risk communities for more than a year, undercutting Stephanie Sutton’s false claim that the town had intentionally or inadvertently dropped the ball on wastewater treatment plant funding. The town was added to the list earlier this year, opening up grant funding opportunities.

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falling within the property lines of the Postal Service that are not physically distinguishable from adjacent municipal or other public sidewalks.”

The walkway where Morgan was approaching Postal Service customers is physically distinguishable from the sidewalks along South Haywood Street because it’s separated from the public sidewalk by a grassy, landscaped median approximately 8 feet wide.

The CFR provision also does not apply to “any paved areas adjacent to such sidewalks

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that are not physically distinguishable from such sidewalks.”

Again, the walkway used by Postal Service customers is distinguishable from the public sidewalk not only by the presence of the landscaped median, but also by the fact that it’s several feet higher than the streetside public sidewalk and requires stairs to access from street level.

However, video of the incident captured

by SMN shows that Morgan isn’t even standing on a sidewalk or walkway — she’s standing in the mulched landscaping bed directly adjacent to the Postal Service building.

When confronted, Morgan denied wrongdoing.

Phillip Boganburger, a North Carolinabased spokesperson for the Postal Service, refused to answer questions about the incident, including whether Morgan had “permission” to campaign at the post office as some have alleged. Instead, Boganburger simply restated Postal Service policy.

“Political campaigning is prohibited on postal property,” he wrote. “We ask anyone engaging in these activities to comply with federal law and postal policy regarding political campaigning.”

November 1-7, 2023

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS E DITOR ith early voting underway and municipal election races heating up, a supporter of the far-right nativist faction running for various Town of Waynesville offices has been handing out campaign literature at Waynesville’s downtown post office, in apparent violation of federal law.

On the afternoon of Thursday, Oct. 26, The Smoky Mountain News received multiple complaints about electioneering at the post office on South Haywood Street. Upon further investigation on Oct. 27, SMN encountered Sherry Morgan, of Waynesville, handing out campaign literature for Team Waynesville.

The literature, featuring council candidates Tre Sherry Morgan Franklin, Peggy distributes Hannah and campaign literature Stephanie at the Waynesville Sutton, as well Post office on the as mayoral canafternoon of Oct. 27. didate Joey Cory Vaillancourt photo Reece, contains multiple false claims, as outlined in a previous story.

But this time, it’s not about the veracity of their claims — it’s about where, exactly, their supporters disseminate them.

The U.S. Postal Service’s website outlines a strict policy against certain activities taking place on its property, and indeed, all federal property.

“Soliciting alms and contributions, campaigning for election to any public office, collecting private debts, commercial soliciting and vending, displaying or distributing commercial advertising, and collecting signatures on petitions, polls, or surveys (except as otherwise authorized by Postal Service regulations) are prohibited on Postal Service property,” reads the policy.

Furthermore, the Code of Federal Regulations outlines conduct on Postal Service property, which applies to “all real property under the charge and control of the Postal Service, to all tenant agencies, and to all persons entering in or on such property.”

Haywood County GIS records show the 2-acre parcel is owned by the United States of America.

The CFR section dealing with the ban on campaigning does not apply to “sidewalks along the street frontage of postal property

news

Team Waynesville supporter appears to violate federal law

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news

Police shooting case could test limits of sovereign immunity

Jason Harley Kloepfer’s case is being handed by the U.S. District Court in Asheville. . Carol Highsmith/Library of Congress photo

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER s police shooting victim Jason Harley Kloepfer’s sprawling federal lawsuit makes its way through court, where he’s seeking millions of dollars in damages, some attorneys are speculating that it has the potential to spur a firstof-its-kind ruling on the limits of sovereign immunity, a defense that often protects Native American tribes from lawsuits.

“I’ve told a lot of people, in my opinion, this is a case of first impression,” said Waynesville attorney David Wijewickrama. “I don’t think this has ever been decided before. If it has, I’ll be the first to tell you I don’t know about it. And I also believe if it had, somebody would be screaming it from a mountaintop.”

Wijewickrama, whose decades of practice in Western North Carolina include serving as legal counsel for various government agencies and practicing in Cherokee Tribal Court, is not involved in the Kloepfer case. But he is not the only attorney intrigued by the case’s implications.

“It does seem that not just the facts, but also just the whole situation make this pretty unique,” said Monte Mills, Charles I. Stone Professor of Law and director of the Native American Law Center at the University of Washington.

The situation in question stems from a 911 call placed at 11 p.m. Dec. 12, 2022, in which Kloepfer’s neighbor on a rural road in Cherokee County said she heard Kloepfer make threats against the neighborhood and was concerned that he had hurt his wife. Deputies responded to a darkened house, and nobody answered their knocks. Citing a potential hostage situation, the Cherokee County Sheriff ’s Office requested assistance from the Cherokee Indian Police Department’s SWAT team, which arrived in the early morning hours. Shortly before 5 a.m., the SWAT team had surrounded Kloepfer’s home. An officer identified in the lawsuit as CCSO Sergeant Dennis Dore commanded him to come out of the trailer with his hands up. Despite an initial statement to the contrary from CCSO, home security video Kloepfer released in January shows him complying with these instructions. Nevertheless, three CIPD officers let forth

Smoky Mountain News

November 1-7, 2023

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a volley of bullets that severely injured Kloepfer and barely missed his wife, Alison Mahler. Afterward, he was charged with a pair of misdemeanors that were later dismissed.

In June, Kloepfer filed a federal lawsuit naming 31 defendants in both tribal and county government and alleging 25 causes of action. The suit claims that Kloepfer’s rights, including his constitutional rights, were trampled in a variety of ways.

Kloepfer and his wife Alison Mahler smile in a photo taken in 2019. Jason Harley Kloepfer/Facebook photo

come.

Sovereign immunity is a legal doctrine that applies to tribes in a similar way that it applies to the governments of other nations, such as the United States, protecting them from suit.

“The idea behind sovereign immunity is that governments can’t be sued unless they consent to suit,” Mills explained.

Nevertheless, lawsuits against the United States government are common. That’s because Congress has waived federal sovereign immunity in many circumstances through laws such as the Federal Tort Claims Act, the Tucker Act and the Administrative Procedure Act. Native American tribes — such as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians — do not typically have similar laws on the books. This means most lawsuits against tribal governments are finished before they start.

Sovereign immunity is a legal doctrine that applies to tribes in a similar way that it applies to the governments of other nations, such as the United States, protecting them from suit.

POSSIBLE PRECEDENT The lawsuit is complex and the situation messy, but when it comes to the allegations against the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and defendants associated with it, the role of tribal sovereignty could be key to determining the out-

But Kloepfer’s case is different from many would-be suits against tribal governments. The shooting took place miles away from tribal land. Tribal police were there at the behest of the county sheriff, not in relation to a case originating on tribal land. Neither Kloepfer nor Mahler are tribal members.

“Tribal immunity is probably at its strongest when it’s on tribal property and it’s a tribal governmental entity dealing with a member of the tribe,” said Raleigh attorney Ellis Boyle, who is representing Kloepfer. “That’s where it’s the strongest. And the further you get away from that, the less

S EE SOVEREIGN, PAGE 8

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SOVEREIGN, CONTINUED FROM 6 applicable it is.”

There is some case law to support Boyle’s stance that the officers involved in the shooting and SWAT response can be held liable for their actions, but it’s limited. Perhaps the most direct precedent is the 2017 U.S. Supreme Court case Lewis v. Clarke. That case was initiated after a limousine driven by William Clarke, an employee of the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, hit another car, driven by Brian and Michelle Lewis, from behind as it drove down Interstate 95 in Connecticut. Clarke was on the job at the time, transporting patrons from the Mohegan Sun Casino to their homes, but the crash took place off of tribal lands.

When the Lewises sued him, Clarke argued that sovereign immunity should protect him, as he was acting within the scope of his job as a tribal employee when the crash occurred. But the Supreme Court ruled unanimously, with Justice Neil Gorsuch abstaining, that Clarke could be held accountable because he, not the tribe, is “the real party of interest.”

“This action arises from a tort committed

by Clarke on a Connecticut interstate and is simply a suit against Clarke to re-cover for his personal actions,” reads the majority opinion authored by Justice Sonia Sotomayor. “Clarke, not the Gaming Authority, is the real party in interest.”

The court held that a defendant in an official-capacity action, in which relief is

sought “only nominally” against the official but more so against that official’s office, “may” assert sovereign immunity. Clarke’s case did not involve claims against him in his official capacity, so the court did not rule on how a sovereign immunity claim would play out in the face of such claims.

Qualified immunity is a legal doctrine that protects state and local officials — including law enforcement officers — from being held personally liable for their actions on the job unless they violate a “clearly established constitutional right.”

W. Ellis Boyle File photo Kloepfer’s suit, meanwhile, brings claims against the sovereign itself — the EBCI — and against its employees in both their official and individual capacities.

Boyle also referenced case law from other U.S. Circuit Courts that could prove persuasive in deciding the case, though only precedent from the Supreme Court and from the

Smoky Mountain News

“In my opinion they can be sued,” said Wijewickrama. “In my opinion, I don’t think sovereign immunity is a viable defense off the reservation. I think it’s an absolute defense on the reservation, but I don’t think it’s a viable defense off the reservation. I think qualified immunity may be an off-thereservation defense if it is determined that they were acting as law enforcement officers.”

Qualified immunity is a legal doctrine that protects state and local officials — including law enforcement officers — from being held personally liable for their actions

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Julia Boyd Freeman “Committed to community, dedicated to progress” I will continue to support viable and sustainable growth while preserving our small town heritage and building a stronger town.

I will continue to make decisions in the best interest of the town, its citizens and the environment.

I will continue to work at finding positive solutions to issues facing Waynesville while promoting the best long-term interest of the town and its taxpayers.

“The complexity of criminal jurisdiction and authority in Indian Country requires interagency at least awareness, if not cooperation, ideally,” said Mills. “In any situation, it’s going to be complex depending on who’s involved, what the crime is, what law enforcement agency responds. When you get into these questions of allegations of wrong behavior or actual wrongdoing, then who’s responsible for that really becomes tricky, separate and apart from the questions of sovereign immunity.”

Even without sovereign immunity in the mix, suing police for their actions on the job isn’t easy — qualified

Steven Schweinsha aupt, MD

Council Member, Town of Waynesville

8

on the job unless they violate a “clearly established constitutional right.”

Jurisdiction is always messy when it comes to what federal law refers to as “Indian Country.” In a case such as Lewis v.

Clarke, it’s a mess that forced the Lewis family to go all the way to the Supreme Court in seeking restitution for a serious car crash.

For tribal members seeking justice for family members victimized by non-Indians, it’s a mess that too often allows serial abusers to walk free.

Circuit Court where the case originates can be considered binding.

“I think it’s an underdeveloped area of the law, especially in this geographic location,” he said. “I think you find more cases about tribal immunity in the west … There’s not a lot that I found in our area of the Fourth Circuit. There’s simply not a lot of Indian reservations here. So it just doesn’t come up as much.”

For his part, Wijewickrama believes the suit is valid.

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QUESTIONS OF AUTHORITY In response to Kloepfer’s lawsuit, defendants affiliated with the Cherokee County Sheriff ’s Office filed motions to dismiss.

However, EBCI-associated defendants did not.

In two separate filings, the three officers who fired their weapons and the remaining EBCI defendants instead filed answers to the complaint.

While the tribe didn’t concede anything or preclude any avenues for defense by doing so, Boyle said, he found it “interesting” that they’d chosen that avenue. Wijewickrama went a step further, calling it “very strange.”

“Usually, if there’s an assertion of immunity, it’s the first assertion that a party would make in a lawsuit,” said Mills.

In their filed answers to the complaint, both the shooters and the remaining EBCI defendants mentioned sovereign immunity as a defense. However, in neither filing was it the first defense. The EBCI listed sovereign immunity in its third of four listed defenses, in the same paragraph as governmental, qualified and public official immunity — sovereign immunity is second in that list of four immunities — and the shooters listed it second of 10 affirmative defenses, behind qualified/public official immunity.

— David Wijewickrama

S EE SOVEREIGN, PAGE 10

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This choice could be related to questions about under whose authority the tribal officers were acting that night.

Before the SWAT team headed out to Kloepfer’s home during the early morning hours of Dec. 13, 2022, the two agencies signed a mutual assistance agreement. The agreement, provided to The Smoky Mountain News in response to a public records request, states that the tribal officers “shall have the same jurisdiction, power, rights, privileges and immunities as the officers of this agency [CCSO] in addition to those he/she normally possesses.” The document includes a space to cite the state statute under which the agreement falls, but the statute number is left blank.

However, it was likely intended to name NCGS 160A-288, which allows the head of any law enforcement agency to temporarily assist another agency if the head of that agency requests help in writing. The Dec. 13 agreement contains language mirroring that statute.

Katherine Soniat

November 1-7, 2023

“In my opinion they can be sued ... I don’t think sovereign immunity is a viable defense off the reservation. I think it’s an absolute defense on the reservation.”

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immunity is also a difficult hurdle to jump. “[Sovereign immunity] is just a different vein of the same challenge that folks face when dealing with law enforcement agencies from any government,” Mills said.

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SOVEREIGN, CONTINUED FROM 9 However, the statute does not appear to apply to tribal law enforcement. It specifically defines “law enforcement agency” to mean a county police department, municipal police department or sheriff ’s office. Tribal police are not mentioned.

“In my mind, they are excluded,” said Wijewickrama, though noting this is ultimately an interpretation that a judge must make.

“That has not been interpreted,” he added.

Further, it’s not clear that the agreement was done properly from the tribal perspective.

Though the tribe’s response denies it, Kloepfer’s lawsuit claims the agreement was invalid under tribal law, which vests authority to enter into mutual aid agreements specifically with the chief of police. The agreement was signed not by Police Chief Carla Neadeau but rather by her husband, Lt. Det. Roger Neadeau Jr. The tribal officers’ authority could also be recognized had they been cross-sworn into the CCSO or deputized by the sheriff, Wijewickrama said, but thus far no evidence has been presented showing that either of those things happened.

“The other question I have is, if the officers

Kloepfer and Mahler have not lived on their property in Cherokee County since the shooting last year. Holly Kays photo

were in their individual capacity and not acting as law enforcement, did they have immunities?” he said. “Do they have access to qualified immunity? Or sovereign immunity? I don’t know. If they don’t, does it then become negligent training, negligent supervision, negligent management on behalf of the tribe letting these officers go on? I don’t know.

Nobody’s ever answered that question. And if

“Any number of variables could occur. But if it goes up on appeal to the Fourth Circuit, and the Fourth Circuit makes rulings, then yes, we’ll probably set some precedential binding authority in this circuit.”

November 1-7, 2023

— Ellis Boyle, attorney representing Kloepfer

it is, then is the tribe liable for their conduct?

If the tribe is unable to do that, is anybody liable for their conduct except for the actual individuals?”

There are “half a dozen legal issues at play here,” he said, making it a fascinating case from a legal perspective, with the outcome utterly uncertain.

“All this texture goes into the blender,” he said. “Juries decide credibility. Juries decide issues of fact.”

WEIGHING THE RISK Often, claims of excessive force and other complaints against police officers settle before they arrive before a jury. If the tribe feels that it’s in danger of setting an unfavorable prece-

dent on the bounds of sovereign immunity, it may be inclined to settle, Mills said.

“Particularly when you get in front of a court, the court can interpret where it [sovereign immunity] applies, what its scope is, and that presents some real risk, especially where there are some cases where there is a really sympathetic fact pattern that if immunity applies, there’s going to be no remedy,” he said. “And so tribal governments are often in the situation of trying to consider risk of asserting immunity or addressing these situations through other approaches.”

For instance, agreeing to a settlement that avoids setting a precedent.

But the question of whether this case settles or goes before a jury is not up to the defendants. It’s up to Kloepfer, who can choose either to accept an offer or to say no and wait for a jury to decide. There’s never any telling what a jury may do, especially considering that, unlike in state court, federal court does not have a set-in-stone cap on damages.

Once a jury makes its decision, there’s always the possibility of appeal.

“Any number of variables could occur,” said Boyle. “But if it goes up on appeal to the Fourth Circuit, and the Fourth Circuit makes rulings, then yes, we’ll probably set some precedential binding authority in this circuit.”

Attorney Adam Peoples, who is representing the three CIPD officers who fired at Kloepfer, declined to comment. Attorneys representing the remaining EBCI defendants did not reply to a request for comment. A State Bureau of Investigation probe into the shooting is still ongoing.

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BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER fter more than seven years as county manager, Don Adams will leave the post by the end of the year.

In a press release the county said that Jackson County Board of Commissioners and County Manager Don Adams amicably came to an agreement to end Adams’ employment with Jackson County effective Dec. 31, 2023. Mr. Adams began serving as manager in August of 2016.

“It has been my honor to serve the citizens of Jackson County,” said Adams. “It has been my privilege to work with excellent employees and elected leadership within the county.”

Adams cited personal reasons as the basis for his departure, including his health.

In 2020, Adams experienced a cardiac event and had to have triple bypass surgery.

“Due to personal reasons, including health and other personal issues, I believe it is in the best interest of the county and for me to step away and retire,” said Adams.

“This will allow for other leadership to take my place.”

The decision came during the Oct. 24 commissioner meeting, which was the continuation of an Oct. 17 meeting that had been recessed. During the meeting commissioners went into closed session for almost half an hour, after which they came back into open session and made an amendment to the agenda — “county manager contract.”

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Jackson County manager steps down A

Don Adams. File photo

November 1-7, 2023

well,” Letson said. “The Board of Commissioners greatly appreciates his service to our community, and we believe the agreement reached reflects our positive opinion of Mr. Adams. We wish him the best. As mutually agreed, it is in the best interest for Jackson County to move forward with transitioning to new leadership. We look forward to working towards accomplishing this task.

Transitioning to new leadership will assist the board in achieving other positive goals and objectives within our community.”

Prior to starting his post in Jackson County, Adams worked as manager of Alleghany County for almost 20 years. When he was hired in Jackson County he replaced the retiring Chuck Wooten.

“Due to personal reasons, including health and other personal issues, I believe it is in the best interest of the county and for me to step away and retire. This will allow for other leadership to take my place.”

— Don Adams

“I am extremely appreciative of the Board of Commissioners for moving forward with this agreement that is in the best interest of the county’s operations and its citizens,” Adams said. “Jackson County is my home and a wonderful place to live. I plan on remaining in the county during my retirement.”

Haywood flooding debris removal meeting coming up The Emergency Watershed Protection Debris Removal Program meeting is to discuss cleaning the waterways that were impacted by Tropical Storm Fred.

Contracts have been awarded and the work should begin in the next few weeks. This is the community’s chance to ask questions and learn a bit more about the process. Experts will be available to answer questions. Residents’ participation will make a difference.

The event will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 7, at the Crestview Baptist Church in Canton.

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“[This is] an agreement for mutual termination of contract and waiver of employee rights for Mr. Adams’ contract,” said Chairman Mark Letson after resuming open session.

In a statement, Letson applauded Adams’ work with the county.

“Mr. Adams has served Jackson County

• PALLIATIVE CARE • HOSPICE CARE • GRIEF SERVICES 11

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Jackson will grant Summit loan request

BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER he Jackson County Board of Commissioners decided it intends to grant the loan request from Summit Charter School in the amount of $2.5 million.

“Summit is grateful for this opportunity to partner with the Jackson County Board of Commissioners to positively impact the education of 303 Summit students and support our incredibly dedicated teachers and staff,” the school said in a statement.

During an Oct. 24 meeting of the county commissioners, County Manager Don Adams presented a draft letter of intent which, once signed by the board, allows county staff to move forward with the planning and execution of the loan. The county plans to have the money to Summit Charter School by the first of the new year.

“The purpose of the short-term loan request is to bridge cash flow needs during construction as we raise funds and collect pledges toward our total fundraising goal of $6.5 million to fully fund Summit’s facility expansion,” said Head of School Kurt Pusch in a statement following the decision.

Pusch had come before the Board of Commissioners during an Oct. 10 work session to formally request the loan.

Commission Chairman Mark Letson recused himself from the discussion because he also

Smoky Mountain News

November 1-7, 2023

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serves on Summit’s Board of Trustees.

Summit broke ground on phase II of its high school expansion in August. The whole project will cost the school an estimated $6.5 million. Fundraising efforts for the expansion have been led by the Summit Charter School Foundation, a 501(c)3 that raises private funding for the school. The foundation has raised $4.8 million toward the total goal, with $2.8 million of that money in hand and the remainder in pledges that are committed over the next several years.

According to the agreement between the school and the county, the loan will be paid back over 36 months. The interest rate will be based upon the actual return on investments that Jackson County is receiving for its cash investments, which currently sits at about 5.5%. Summit Charter School will be responsible for all costs associated with the loan, which the school will have to formally commit to.

The letter of intent says “Jackson County requests that Summit Charter School commit to these costs in writing.”

“We would require something in writing from Summit Charter School basically committing to these costs,” said Adams.

The letter that was voted on during the Oct. 24 meeting is not a formal action and all tasks laid out in the letter must be completed before the Jackson County Board of Commissioners takes any final action.

DON NA ATE

SHO OP NTEER VOLUN

their own money for capital projects.

Charter schools have always received state and local funding, as per pupil funding from state and local sources follows each student who enrolls in a charter school.

The new legislation now allows counties to “provide funds to charter schools by direct appropriation” for the purposes of acquiring real property; acquisition, construction, reconstruction, enlargement, renovation or The Historic Jackson replacement of buildings County Courthouse. and other structures; and File photo acquisition or replacement of furniture and furnishings, instructional apparatus, technology, data processing equipment, business machines and similar items.

“With the Board of Commissioners approval of a letter of intent to move forward with Summit’s bridge loan request, Before the General Assembly passed new Summit will now work with Jackson County staff to finalize the terms of a loan agreelegislation this year that drastically changed the laws affecting charter schools, they could ment,” the school said in a statement.

“Before a loan is executed, the terms must not make requests for capital funding from still be approved by the Jackson County local board of commissioners. While capital Board of Commissioners, the Summit funding for public k-12 schools comes from Charter School Foundation Board, and the local tax dollars, as well as occasional state grants, charter schools were required to raise Summit Charter School Trustee Board.”

The loan would be secured with a deed of trust and a promissory note put on the school property, which will be released when the loan is repaid in full.

At the recommendation of the county manager, money for the loan will come from the general fund, rather than sales tax funds, in order to keep it set aside for public school funding.

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VOTE V OTE ANTTHONY SUTTON N for Waynesville’s a Town o n Council on November N 7tth!

The Waynes a ville Town Council since 2019 The Chair of the French Broad River MPO (Metr t opolitan Planning Organizattion) The Prioritization Subcommittee Biltmore Farms where I am the Director of Inforrmation Systems

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Guide Waynes a ville towards being a community that can prosper os and thrive for everyone Ensure that police and fire departments have the e equipment and too ools necessary to serve their citizens Support small local businesses and restaurants who w help keep Waynes a ville a desired place to visit and call home Look to keep Waynes a ville a town that can grow while keeping ee with its cultural roots Represent all people regardless of race, religion, gender g , or sexual orientation

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Women’s History Trail takes steps to complete sculpture project

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BY THERESA RAMSEY FHAMC TREASURER /WHT LEADERSHIP TEAM he Folk Heritage Association of Macon County (FHAMC) held a groundbreaking ceremony on Oct. 27 after completing a five-year grassroots campaign to raise funds for its Women’s History Trail sculpture.

The statue will represent three Macon County women — a Cherokee woman, Naka Rebecca Morris; an African American slave, Salley; and a pioneer woman, Timoxena Siler Sloan, whose lives and cultures intersected.

These women are all connected by a specific piece of property that was on the Little Tennessee River across from the Nikwasi (Noquisiyi) Mound. This statue — titled Sowing the Seeds of the Future — was created by nationally renowned figurative sculptor Wesley Wofford.

“It represents these historical women but also symbolizes each group of women and their cultural contributions,” said Wofford.

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leaders who have paved the way.

Anne Hyder thanked the Horton, town employees and town council for partnering on this project with FHAMC. FHAMC’s goal, said Hyder, is to provide living history experiences to educate, demonstrate and preserve the heritage of Macon County, and she expressed appreciation for all the work that has been done so far, thanking those donors who have helped make this dream a reality.

Greeble focused on the WHT Walk in Her Steps Trail which officially opened five years ago making it the first walking trail in the state that honors women’s historic contributions.

“This sculpture of these three diverse women, plus two young children, will become the trailhead of our project and will be one of 16 current stops on the WHT,” she said.

“May the lives and interactions between the ladies in this sculpture grouping be an inspiration to our community members and guests to treat each other with kindness and mutual respect and to strive to work together for the good of all,” Suminski said.

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The FHAMC/WHT Leadership Team and Town of Franklin representatives, held a groundbreaking event on Oct. 27 to officially mark the beginning of installation work at the sculpture site located near the bridges on Franklin’s East Main Street. Donated photo Although the sculpture itself has been fully funded, FHAMC is still seeking donations as it works with the Town of Franklin to finalize installation and site prep to complete the project.

Representatives at the groundbreaking ceremony included WHT leadership team members who also serve on the FHAMC board of directors: Marty Greeble, Mary Polanski, Anne Hyder, Theresa Ramsey and Claire Suminski. Franklin officials attending were Mayor Jack Horton, Alderwoman Rita Salain, Town Manager Amie Owens, Town Planner Justin Setser and Macon County Commissioner Gary Shields.

To kick off the groundbreaking ceremony, Horton welcomed all to the site and future home of “Sowing the Seeds of the Future,” and Shields gave tribute to the late Barbara McRae and other strong women

Ramsey discussed the importance of Macon County’s heritage.

“The Sowing the Seeds of the Future sculpture will forever stand on this site as a reminder that our roots do run deep as we link our past to our future and strive to keep our heritage alive,” she said.

Polanski closed the groundbreaking event by sharing words about Barbara McRae, WHT’s visionary and founder.

“The Women’s History Trail sprang from her vision to share the history of important strong women from our past who stepped up to significant challenges,” she said. “And so today, we are here to break ground at this site, continue our work, and help create a beautiful park for the sculpture.”

Visit folkheritageassociation.org to find out more information or how to get involved.

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Smoky Mountain News

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New ‘innovation hub’ headquartered at WCU

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER estern Carolina University has been chosen as one of four universities leading an effort to bolster research innovation in North Carolina.

“I think it’s an incredible opportunity that the university is really, really excited to be a part of,” said WCU Economic Development Director Rich Price. “I think it further illustrates our commitment to the economic wellbeing of this region but allows us to partner at a statewide level.”

The opportunity comes from an organization called NCInnovation, which received $500,000 over the next two years in the recently passed state budget. An unpaid, 13-member board will oversee the organization, with each house of the General Assembly appointing four of those members. The organization aims to help more university researchers turn their ideas into commercial products — especially researchers at rural schools.

Founded as a nonprofit in 2022, NCInnovation is the result of years of conversations with state business leaders about investments other states are making in innovation. The group commissioned research to investigate the situation in North Carolina and found that, even though the state’s universities have some of the country’s highest research and development expenditures, their

while UNC Asheville got 0.11%.

NCInnovation aims to change the equation.

Compared to other states’ efforts to fund innovation, NCInnovation is unique in three ways, Ryan said. First, it focuses entirely on

WCU currently enrolls 11,628 students.

Allen Newland/A Shot Above photo

of a story elsewhere in the state,” said Pat Ryan, spokesperson for NCInnovation.

The Research Triangle accounted for a full 87% of university research and development expenditures in 2020, the data showed.

WCU received only .069% of that funding,

the university system, of which North Carolina has one of the nation’s best.

Second, it concentrates on universities located outside of urban centers. And finally, rather than relying on an ongoing funding commitment from the state, it will put the

$500,000 into an endowment fund, fueling the organization’s efforts in perpetuity.

“The idea is that NCInnovation will be able to operate forever if it just uses the interest returns on that endowment instead of the endowment itself,” Ryan said.

Interest from the endowment will be used for two main purposes. It will provide grants to university researchers, and it will offer them wraparound support services, including business mentorship and legal services for intellectual property and patenting. It will also cover a portion of salaries and administrative costs, but the $25 million in private contributions NCInnovation raised will cover many of those expenses.

“A lot of academic researchers are brilliant, but probably not a lot of them have started a company,” Ryan said. “That’s just a very different skillset.”

Along with WCU, East Carolina University, University of North Carolina Charlotte and North Carolina A&T will serve as the four regional hubs for NCInnovation.

WCU’s expansion of applied engineering, connection to industry, economic development partnerships and “general culture of entrepreneurialism” made it the best choice for the western region, Ryan said.

Price said the program could do exciting things for WCU faculty who often have trouble finding the funding

F

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November 1-7, 2023

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output was lacking, as measured by creation of new businesses and licensing agreements from the final products of that research.

“The data shows that the Research Triangle is doing just fine in terms of commercializing research, but it’s a lot different

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region, will be headquartered at WCU, likely leading to strong connections with researchers there. However, she’ll also be working with university researchers throughout the region west of Interstate 77.

Coneybeer’s job will be to build a network in the western region that helps NCInnovation make grant decisions and form its understanding of the state’s research portfolio and connects industry, researchers and finance to spur economic growth.

Right now, the effort is just beginning.

Regional innovation directors like Coneybeer are spending time in the field, getting familiar with the state’s applied research portfolio and current opportunities. The General Assembly is finalizing its eight appointments to the NCInnovation Board of Directors, and NCInnovation is making the transition from advocacy to operational mode. The first call for grant applications will likely go out in mid-2024.

The program’s impact is expected to stretch far beyond campus boundaries.

Research that leads to patents and successful commercial products can create real economic impact, providing jobs for the people who make, market and sell that product.

From that standpoint, NCInnovation also functions as a rural economic development program, Ryan said.

“We think it’s a very exciting time not only from the university’s perspective in this but for all of Western North Carolina to really be able to compete and hopefully develop new products and create lots of new jobs,” Price added.

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they need to fully develop their ideas and find it challenging to balance a heavy teaching load with research.

“There is a lot of research that happens on this campus, a lot of great ideas, a lot of innovation,” Price said. “The challenge oftentimes, and particularly in a university like WCU, is that if we have faculty and students who are doing research, they’re having to sort of nickel and dime their way through.

They’re having to try to write a grant for $5,00 here or $50,000 there, and oftentimes ideas will end up partially developed and then they simply can’t go any further because there’s not enough funding or there are not enough resources to help move that into a fully realized new and innovative product that can be commercialized.”

Price wants to see grant funds from the endowment provide reliable funding for key projects, and he also hopes that some of the money can be used to free up more research time for faculty members.

“Some of these funds can potentially be used to not only buy down some of that teaching load but also then help us with replacing those with adjunct instructors or new faculty in order to create an environment that is more conducive to research and product development,” he said.

NCInnovation is now in the process of onboarding its newly hired slate of regional directors — one for the west, one for the east, one for the piedmont and one for the Charlotte area. Meagan Coneybeer, regional innovation network director for the western

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Education Moses family endows scholarship for BLET students at SCC Back when George Moses first became Macon County’s Sheriff in the 1970s, the entire department consisted of two full-time deputies and one part-timer.

That small crew also covered the jail, which included just six cells and was located at the courthouse at the time. Even then, Sheriff Moses

2024.

For more information and to learn more about other ways to support students at Southwestern, contact Brett Woods, director of the SCC Foundation, at 828.339.4241 or b_woods@southwesterncc.edu.

HCC hosts open house for industry careers

HCC is offering the opportunity for potential students and community members to tour classrooms and meet with instructors that are part of the industrial systems technology program, computer-Integrated machining program, and construction skills and technology programs.

Students in those programs learn everything from servicing and repairing a wide range of equipment to technical Former Macon County Sheriff George Moses and his wife, Margaret, skills like print endowed a new scholarship fund for Basic Law Enforcement Training through reading, electricity the Southwestern Community College Foundation. Pictured behind the couple and welding, in addition to comare, from left: Dr. Thom Brooks, Curtis Dowdle and Brett Woods. puter-related skills in those recognized the need to have high-quality law fields. enforcement training nearby.

Registration is now open for the spring and Now that the Macon County Sheriff’s Office summer 2024 terms. includes a roster of 59 sworn full-time deputies, The event will take place from 5-8 p.m. on the former sheriff — along with Margaret, his Wednesday, Nov. 8, at the High-Tech Center locatwife of more than 70 years — has endowed a ed at 112 Industrial Park Drive in Waynesville. scholarship to make it easier for future generations to enter the field through Southwestern Community College’s Basic Law Enforcement Training program.

The former sheriff and Mrs. Moses formally signed off on the fund that has since been named the “The George Moses Family Endowed Scholarship” earlier this fall. One factor in the Sky Sampson, director of Western Carolina Moses’ decision to support Southwestern’s proUniversity’s Cherokee Center and alumna, has gram is his longtime friendship with Curtis accepted the position of Secretary of Education for Dowdle, who oversees SCC’s public safety trainthe Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. ing.

Sampson assumed her role Oct. 23.

A lifelong Franklin resident, Dowdle got his Sampson, an enrolled member of the EBCI, start in law enforcement when Moses was sheriff. earned her bachelor’s degree in communication “He was always like a dad to us,” Dowdle with a concentration in public relations from WCU recalled. “He’d bring us in if we did something in 2010 before going on to receive her master’s wrong and explain to us how he wanted us to degree in human environmental sciences at the police. I always drive cautiously, and I always University of Alabama in 2014. She has served as wave at people because he had always taught me program manager for the Cherokee Youth Council to communicate with the public and acknowledge of the Cherokee Boys Club since May 2011. people when we were in that patrol car. He also As director of the Cherokee Center, Sampson taught me to be fair, and to have empathy. Those served as a liaison between WCU and the Eastern were some of the lifelong lessons that I’ve carried Band of Cherokee Indians. She is excited to see with me.” the partnership between WCU and the EBCI conThe scholarship will be awarded annually to a tinue to flourish. deserving recruit at SCC starting in the spring of The WCU Cherokee Center was founded in

WCU alumna appointed EBCI Secretary of Education

Smoky Mountain News

1975 as a hub for professors to teach college-level courses across the street from what was then Cherokee High School. As the years went by, those professors were no longer needed because the teachers could become certified to teach the courses themselves.

The Cherokee Center evolved to become the headquarters for all outreach and involvement in the Cherokee community. Current services offered include guiding students through the application process, transcript requests, scholarships, internship placement and high school recruitment.

Scholarships available to SCC Con Ed students The N.C. State Employees’ Credit Union Foundation recently gave Southwestern Community College $18,000 to financially assist students who enroll in Workforce Continuing Education programs.

Thirty different students will receive $500 scholarships to enroll in short-term workforce programs that lead to a state or industry-recognized credential such as Basic Law Enforcement, Emergency Medical Technician, Real Estate, Phlebotomy or Nurse Aide.

The funding is through the SECU’s Bridge to Career scholarship program.

To qualify for the funding, students must be

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North Carolina residents who are unemployed — or underemployed — adults, military veterans or members of the National Guard.

The funds can be used to offset the costs of registration fees, required books, uniforms, instructional materials, transportation, childcare and credentialing.

Upon receiving the award, recipients are tracked to determine the number of credentials earned, entry into employment and enrollment in further education.

To inquire about these scholarship opportunities, contact Latresa Shuler, SCC’s Coordinator of Workforce Continuing Education, at 828.339.4425 or ldowns@southwesterncc.edu.

Jackson schools psychologist receives statewide award Kieran Foxx has been named the 2023 School Practitioner of the Year by the North Carolina School Psychology Association.

Foxx is a school psychologist for Pre-K, Cullowhee Valley School, Fairview School and Smoky Mountain High School Intensive Needs. She was selected out of seven finalists from across the state. Foxx was nominated for this award by Kelly Doppke, Director of Student Support Services.

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Opinion

Smoky Mountain News

Does anyone really like Daylight Savings Time?

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I’ll be supporting Waynesville incumbents To the Editor: Regarding the Oct. 25 article, “The heart and soul of Waynesville is on the ballot,” I was born in Hazelwood, am a lifelong resident of Haywood County and owned a small business on Main Street for many years. I served 16 years as alderman for the town of Waynesville. I know firsthand the challenges that a small town faces as it balances services, growth, safety and living wages for town employees.

I approve of the choices that the mayor and alderman have made to steer Waynesville through the pandemic and to keep Waynesville thriving and strong. We have all driven through small towns that are ghost towns — no tourism, no thriving businesses, young people fleeing for better opportunities. For many years, my hometown of Hazelwood was just that.

It was a perfect example of a town council that refused to grow the tax base and make tough decisions — resulting in waste that actually cost taxpayers: 20% of the water purchased by the town was lost to leaks in the infrastructure. It wasn’t until the merger with Waynesville that Hazelwood was able to thrive — thanks to Waynesville’s strong tax base.

The Town of Waynesville’s budget is available online and budget meetings and hearings

hanging on just barely, but with what quality of life?

Speaking of quality of life, you know what I like? I like getting home from work and still having time to go for a walk around the lake, throw the ball with the dog in the backyard, enjoy a cocktail on the deck while watching the hummingbirds swooping around like Jedi masters, and then making a leisurely dinner listening to music on the stereo.

And there is STILL enough daylight to finish dinner and go back out again to watch the lightning bugs start decorating the dusk.

But when the daylight savings Columnist hammer falls this Sunday, all of that is just gone. Now we’re peeling onions in the dark. Now we’re putting on a sweatshirt and some thick socks. Now we’re pulling the puzzles out of the top of the closet and looking up a chili recipe for tomorrow night’s dinner.

Now we’ve had dinner and it is jet black outside. Only seven more hours until bedtime.

For most of us, there are some compensations. I like to watch movies, read, and listen to music, and with so much time now available indoors, there is more opportunity for all of that.

You may come home one night and decide to watch the entire Godfather trilogy back-to-back, and now you have time.

Or you could read a short novel. Or knit a sweater. Or paint your bedroom. Or find the source of that annoying little rattle

Chris Cox

guess they must exist, these people who actually like setting their clocks back an hour for daylight saving time, these fans of all things dismal and dark.

I don’t think I’ve ever met one, but I imagine these are the same people who drive 50 miles per hour in the passing lane with cars lined up two miles behind them.

These are the same people who trap mice on sticky mats and then kill them with a big black shoe. These are the same people who need to see a manager in random places around town about twice a month.

That’s them. For the rest of us, the hour of rolling the clocks back is waiting out there like a hammer, waiting to crush our resolve to remain hopeful against the encroaching winter gloom. Waiting to crush it like a walnut.

The hummingbirds have long since packed their postage stamp-sized suitcases and hightailed it to Mexico or Costa Rica, except for the confused ones that wind up in Florida. I haven’t had the heart to bring in the feeders. That feels like defeat, even though the sight of the feeders out there on the deck, still half full of sugar water but abandoned like a defunct theme park, is profoundly sad.

It is also undeniable that my fuchsias are failing. Every spring, I buy three hanging baskets of fuchsias, the only flower I know how to keep alive for more than two weeks.

For whatever reason, fuchsias and I understand each other. I give them a glass of water when they’re thirsty, and the blossoms burst out in every direction like brilliant red and purple popcorn. That’s our agreement, good for about six or seven months. Good until about now, that is, when they are

LETTERS are open to the public. Every detail of every purchase the town makes is available online. I will be casting my vote on Nov. 7 for the incumbents who understand this and seek to unite residents around a common vision — a strong, thriving Waynesville.

LeRoy Roberson, O.D. Haywood County

Military leaders need to speak up To the Editor: It isn’t often that I feel vindicated, but my hat is off to Max Boot at The Washington Post for declaring that “Trump’s generals have one last duty to perform, they must tell American voters what they saw first-hand: their former boss is unfit to serve as commander-in-chief.”

Boot was referring to retired Marine Gen. John Kelly, Trump’s longest serving chief of staff, former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, and former national security advisor H.R. McMaster. I would add a fourth, recently retired Gen. Mark Milley, former Chair of the Joint Chiefs.

Max Boot believes the generals have an obligation to tell voters about “the unique threat Trump poses to American democracy” and that they should launch an “Unfit to Serve” tour, “revealing the horrors they witnessed.”

in the bathroom.

You could call it the season of projects!

For my daughter, it is the season of conflicts. She hates the oppressive darkness and the cold weather, but she loves the holidays with every particle of her sweet sentimental soul. She likes to start working on her Christmas wish list shortly after Labor Day and has already started bugging me about getting tickets for Christmas at the Biltmore.

For my wife, there is no such ambivalence. Her feelings on this time of year can be summed up in a single word: bleak.

Her range of emotions will vacillate between periods of profound dread and fits of uncontrollable sobbing.

Do you know that feeling you get on a bitter winter morning when you go out to start your car but you can’t find your scraper, so you have to sit there shivering for a few minutes waiting for the car to warm up enough to defrost the windshield so that you can see to drive, even though it doesn’t ever seem to warm up very well UNTIL you are driving?

That’s how my wife feels more or less constantly from midOctober until mid-April. If I foolishly suggested that it might be best to look upon this time of year as a season for projects, she might punch me in the throat.

A few nights ago, she said this: “You need to start working with me to form a plan for us to live half the year in Costa Rica. If you love me, you will help me find a way.”

Maybe the hummingbirds have it right. And there’s no daylight saving time there either.

(Chris Cox is a writer and teacher who lives in Haywood County. jchriscox@live.com.)

I couldn’t agree more. I’m retired Navy myself so I fully understand and appreciate the reluctance of military affiliated personnel to involve themselves in politics.

However, these are unprecedented times. We have a twice impeached former president presently awaiting four criminal trials totaling 91 charges across four states plus an assortment of civil trials pending. Donald Trump poses a severe risk to national security and he is clearly unfit, unqualified and an undeniable threat to our democratic form of government, our way of life.

Donald Trump has shown only distain for our armed forces for as long as we’ve known him, particularly for those killed, wounded or captured, referring to them publicly as “losers” and “suckers.”

Gen. Kelly described Trump as having “nothing but contempt for our democratic institutions.” Is this the kind of president we want in the White House? I think not.

I agree with Max Boot, unequivocally, the

generals must speak up and tell Americans the truth about former President Trump. Our past presidents must speak up as well. Present and former members of the United States

Congress must speak up.

And, most importantly, veterans and veterans organizations, all veterans who are serving and who have served this nation in uniform, must speak up; we must not allow this misfit to denigrate and malign and slander our soldiers, sailors and airmen who daily put their lives and limbs on the line to keep our country free. None of us has the privilege of remaining silent any longer.

David L. Snell Franklin

Frightening implications of latest Leandro do-over

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B k online Book li at: t

MassageW Waynesville.com m 828.456.3585 Haywood Square | 288 N. Haywood St. | Waynesville

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Smoky Mountain News

competent and well-trained teachers and principals and equitable access to resources.

Unfortunately, despite the duo of definitive rulings, for many years, politicians and judges of both parties beat around the bush in the Leandro case — not directly challenging the essence of the rulings, but never getting down to the business of actually enforcing them.

The result: Hundreds of thousands of children have passed through their K-12 years while being deprived of the educational opportunities to which they were constitutionally entitled.

Eventually and thankfully, the incessant failure to produce a meaningful remedy in the case drove the plaintiffs to demand action and bring the issue to a head. Last November, the state Supreme Court belatedly did its duty by heeding those demands and setting in motion a process that would end up producing a judicial directive to lawmakers to cough up the necessary funds.

Amazingly, however, even this dramatic step produced no action. In moves that would have made mid-20th century integration resisters proud, GOP lawmakers basically told the court to pound sand, and then, after helping to elect a new conservative majority to the high court, sought a do-over.

Their argument: As stated repeatedly in court filings and public statements,“budgeting is the legislature’s exclusive prerogative.”

All of which brings us to the current remarkable state of affairs. As NC Newsline’s Greg Childress recently reported, the case will again soon come before the state Supreme Court after the Republican majority — which includes the son of Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger and a former GOP senator who served under him and voted for budgets at the heart of the dispute — granted discretionary review.

The arguments before the court will likely delve into a host of legal issues and minutiae — most notably, questions related to the trial court’s jurisdiction in the case. But as is plainly obvious to anyone paying attention, what will soon be decided in the case is the fundamental question of whether the North Carolina courts can — as occurred on many other states — order the legislature to comply with the state constitution, when to do so requires spending public funds.

The bottom line: It seems almost unimaginable that any high court majority — even a group of rubber stampers like North Carolina’s current crew — would bless such an outrageous claim of unfettered legislative power and, in so doing, eviscerate 30 years’ of precedent and its own constitutional authority. But if it does, and it just might, our state will soon enter a new and very dangerous era — one that could easily give rise to some truly frightening scenarios.

(Rob Schofield is the editor of NC Newsline and has nearly four decades of experience as a journalist, commentator and lawyer. rschofield@ncnewsline.com.)

send d resumes to

massagew waynesville@att.net

November 1-7, 2023

BY ROB SCHOFIELD G UEST COLUMNIST magine the following scenario: In a fit of misguided “get tough on crime” paranoia, state lawmakers enact a broadbased scheme to “stop coddling criminals.”

Topping their list of priorities is a plan to make state prisons — which a popular conservative commentator has derided as “country clubs” — vastly tougher by cutting corrections funding by 50%. Lacking adequate resources, the prison system resorts to crowding six inmates in each 10-by-12-foot cell and confines them there 23 hours per day. Inmates are simply left to sleep on the floor. Hundreds die.

Or how about this one?

A cadre of white supremacists manages to assume control of the General Assembly.

Driven by a viral internet conspiracy theory alleging that the state’s immigrant population has become the vanguard for a nefarious plot to “invade” the U.S., the legislature enacts a budget that ends state funding of public services — schools, public health, police, firefighting — in census blocks in which “nonnative-born” residents make up 60% or more of the population. Chaos quickly ensues.

Thankfully, virtually all North Carolinians can agree that in the 21st century, such outrageous scenarios remain — even in the darkest fantasies of fanatical neo-fascist hate groups — unimaginable. While it’s true that a noisy segment of the modern political right seems disturbingly smitten with autocratic Trump pals like Russia’s Putin and Hungary’s Orban, one has to believe that the idea of American elected officials using their power of the purse to inflict such horrors would never come to pass.

However, if such situations strike you as ones that the state courts would surely declare unconstitutional and order the legislature to remedy immediately, you might want to try telling that to state Republican legislative leaders.

As recent developments in the longstanding Leandro school funding case have made clear yet again, it’s the legislature’s basic position that the courts can’t make them fund anything.

Seriously. After 30 years of repeated and detailed findings that the state is failing to provide students with the education to which they’re constitutionally entitled, the response of GOP legislative leaders is “so what — you can’t make us.”

The Leandro case stretches back to the early 1990s when a collection of school districts in five low-wealth counties — Cumberland, Hoke, Robeson, Vance and Halifax — sued the state, claiming that children were not receiving the same level of educational opportunities as students in wealthier counties.

In 1997, the state Supreme Court issued a ruling, later reconfirmed in 2004, in which it held that every child in the state has a right to a “sound basic education” that includes

NOW W HIRING!

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22

A&E

Smoky Mountain News

Time of the rambler A conversation with Vincent Neil Emerson

Vincent Neil Emerson will play Asheville Nov. 7. Thomas Crabtree photo

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD ARTS & E NTERTAINMENT E DITOR pon first listen to Vincent Neil Emerson, one immediately feels this deep sense of familiarity and timelessness, this poignancy of sound and tone that echoes out in search of connection with fellow human beings — all together on this chaotic, hurtling rock through space and time. “[Being] an outsider in the communities we live in or our own families — that’s something I dealt with growing up and as an adult in the music scene,” the 31-year-old singersongwriter said. “We spend all this time trying to find acceptance and validation. What am I doing with my life? Where’s this going?

Why am I here? What’s the point of everything? I just want to let those people know that I felt the same way. And I still feel that way sometimes — so, it’s okay, you know?”

A rapidly rising force of lyrical aptitude and searing melodic intent in the whirlwind realms of Americana, alt-country and outlaw music, Emerson hails from Texas, a place where his name is starting to be whispered in the same breath as other Lone Star icons — Willie Nelson, James McMurtry, Hayes Carll, Robert Earl Keen, Lyle Lovett.

“Texas does have a rich history and songwriting tradition,” Emerson said. “I don’t think it’s any coincidence that Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell and Steve Earle all come from Texas — I don’t know if

U

it’s something in the water or if it’s cultural.”

With his latest album, “The Golden Crystal Kingdom” (out Nov. 10), Emerson tapped legendary musician/producer Shooter Jennings to get behind the studio console — ultimately capturing a record of sheer depth and raw talent, one which may just break Emerson into the national spotlight.

“You know, it was nice to make a friend like [Shooter] — a real person in your corner,” Emerson said. “[The album title] is an amalgamation of these places I’ve played over the years, my tribute to all the honky-tonks and dance halls — it’s just gratitude towards all the hard work to get to this point.”

Glancing back at the road to the here and now, that gratitude within Emerson comes from a hardscrabble existence as a kid and adolescent — raised by a single mother, losing his father to suicide, periods of homelessness throughout his youth and young adulthood.

“I’m just trying to figure everything out for myself. I’ve been through a lot of things in my life and I’ve learned a lot of hard lessons,” Emerson said. “And I still deal with those issues. They have lingering effects. But, I’m lucky as hell right now. I have a wife that loves me and a beautiful child back at home and a lot of people that care about me.”

Reflecting on his humble beginnings, Emerson was in high school when he started to write poetry, short stories and the like. At 17, he acquired his first guitar, the sounds of

Bob Dylan endlessly radiating from his stereo speakers and headphones.

“So, I learned a couple [guitar] chords and wrote a song immediately. I don’t think I even learned how to play anybody else’s songs — I tried to write my own right off the bat,” Emerson said. “And I got dragged a couple of times to open mics. I was encouraged by people to get onstage. I got a good reaction from the crowds and that felt good, so I [thought] maybe I could get more shows [booked] — I just wanted to play.”

Emerson also pays homage to his ChoctawApache heritage, which shines brightly in his words and melodies, most notably the recent video for his new single “Little Wolf ’s Invincible Yellow Medicine Paint.”

“I’ve always been proud of where we come

Want to go?

Americana/alt-country singer-songwriter Vincent Neil Emerson will hit the stage at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, at The Grey Eagle in Asheville.

Doors at 7 p.m. Valley James will open the show. Tickets are $17. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to thegreyeagle.com/calendar.

To learn more about Vincent Neil Emerson, go to vincentneilemerson.com.

from and who I am. But, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned more about where I come from and I think that’s so important,” Emerson said. “And it’s been really cool to meet so many other indigenous artists and creative people — [it’s] a strong community.”

And as the venues get larger and the crowds get bigger, Emerson takes it all in stride. It doesn’t matter what the future holds or what expectations may be placed on him by others — what matters most is being able to do what you love and constantly honing your craft.

“I try not to worry about it too much because it’s really irrelevant to what I’m to do anyway. I’m just trying to make music, write songs and keep moving forward,” Emerson said. “And I’m grateful for all of these things that are happening now. If there’s ‘hype,’ that dies down — I’m still going to be doing what I do, regardless.”

When asked about the role of the troubadour in the 21st century, this era of incessant white noise and meaningless distraction, Emerson paused for several moments before responding.

“We’re trying to make a place for someone to feel comfortable, where they can come get away from the world and we’ll do some music,” Emerson said. “Music is a powerful thing. It [has] a lot of healing powers and its good therapy for everybody — what we’re trying to cultivate is community and a safe place to be.”

HOT PICKS

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

‘Goodnight stars, goodnight air, goodnight noises everywhere’

1

The 18th annual WNC Pottery Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, in Bridge Park in Sylva.

2 3

Rising singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Alma Russ will hit the stage at 8 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 2, at The Scotsman Public House in Waynesville.

Regional rock/jam group Arnold Hill will perform at 9 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 4, at The Gem downstairs taproom at Boojum Brewing in Waynesville.

4

A cherished gathering of locals and visitors alike, “Art After Dark” will take place from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, in downtown Waynesville.

5

into more comfortable shoes and sandals.

Wander down to the beach, only to saunter along it until we reached The Palm Room, a storied dive bar nearby. Pop in for some cold suds and shuffleboard. Pet the local dogs roaming the establishment. Small talk with the bartender. Look around and be appreciative of the moment at-hand with your lady.

Wine i Port Beer Cigars Champagne Gifts Areas Best Wine Selection

RETAIL WIINE NE TA ASTINGS STINGS & WIINE NE DIINNERS NNERS DOWNTOWN WAYNE Y SVILLE

EVENTS

Celtic Sunday ys

November 1-7, 2023

W/The Carter Giegerich Trio - 2-55 pm Incredible Celtic Folk - Every Sunday Relaxation along with your Guinness! n

TRIVIA TUESDA AY YS

Wrightsville Beach. Garret K. Woodward photo

Every Tuesday 7:30pm-9:30ppm

tion for what life actual is — this internal ticking clock with whatever is left of what you were given at birth.

With a tear in her eye, Sarah said goodbye for now to her dad. Hug her stepmom goodbye, too. Hop into the pickup truck, put the vehicle in drive and head down the gravel driveway, back out onto the country roads to somewhere, anywhere. Back to Haywood County, eventually.

At the juncture for I-40 West/East, I yanked the steering wheel east. I don’t have to be in office until Tuesday when we put out the newspaper. Screw it, let’s go to Wrightsville Beach for the night.

Decompress from life, if but for a moment.

Cruise in underneath a bright yellow moon sprinkling diamonds into the black ocean from the universe above.

Find a hotel room on the beach. Change

Shoes in-hand on the walk back down the beach to the hotel. Darkness and solitude. Two souls vibrating in the beauty of the moon and crashing waves of water and sand. Stories swapped about respective childhood memories of ocean trips and beach vacations — Sarah down here in Wrightsville, myself way up the Maine Coast in New Harbor.

Open the balcony door and listen to the waves. A peaceful sleep amid restless times.

Awaken into a new day of purpose and possibility. Pour the coffee from the small Keurig in the hotel room and happily await the sunrise. Silhouettes of human beings up and down the beach in the early morning haze. Remember to yourself to not forget this moment and to also chase after the sunrise more often moving forward.

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

FREE TO PLAY Gift Certificate prizes for 1st & 2nd place teams

Th Thursday d November b r 2nd Alma Russ Country - Appalachian Folk • 8pm-10pm

Friday November 3rd Adamas Presents Ginny McAfee & Rory Kelly Rock - Blues - Alternative • 8pm - 11pm 1

Smoky Mountain News

It was at 7:27 a.m. Monday when the red ball of fire broke the horizon line at Wrightsville Beach. I was handed a cup of coffee from my girlfriend as we sat on the balcony of our hotel room. Sip the warm liquid and watch the sun illuminate the ocean and earth.

Sitting there, gazing out into the great, watery abyss of physical vastness and spiritual mystery, I had a hard time trying to remember the last time I purposely got up to see the sunrise. Sure, sunsets are something we all see often. But, in terms of the start of the actual day, I don’t really find myself getting up at this hour if I don’t have to.

In the hour leading up to sunrise, I awoke to the sounds of the crashing waves on the beach below the balcony. The hotel room was dark and it took me a moment to realize where I was — that dreamlike state before the realization of who you are and where you are comes into focus.

Leaving the balcony door open, the undulating waves were cacophonous in their natural rhythm nurtured by the moon and cascading winds. Waking up to that sound is something that lies at the core of each of us, this eternal, radiating chime of water and sand coming together at the deepest levels of our conscious and subconscious selves.

A few sips into the sunrise coffee, Sarah and I both commented how nice it was to be at the beach. It’s something we each yearn for, but somehow only turn into a reality a couple times a year. Even though we didn’t have to check out and head for home for several hours, plans were already made for another rendezvous soon with water and sand.

Wrightsville Beach was a last-minute jaunt. It was decided in the late afternoon while Sarah and I were leaving her father’s house in the rural depths of Grantham, North Carolina. He’s currently in hospice care for an unrelenting battle with terminal brain cancer. After a few unsuccessful surgeries over the past year or so, the focus now remains on quality of life.

He’s too weak for another go-round with chemotherapy, so it’s a lot of rest in the hospital bed situated in the living room of the cabin he shares with Sarah’s stepmother. A quaint, cozy structure surrounded by cornfields and meandering country roads to somewhere, anywhere.

Sarah was mostly raised by her grandparents and grew up just down the road from the cabin in a farmhouse. With her father’s declining health and the farmhouse now on the market, Sarah and I have made several trips to Grantham in recent months — to visit her family and check on her dad, to see if there’s any movement on the farmhouse.

A place you never thought about or were aware of is now placed squarely in your field of vision and collective memory. Never heard of Grantham before I met Sarah, much less wander down to this part of the state, a seemingly empty space east of Interstate 95, west of the Atlantic Ocean — cotton fields, abandoned buildings, heat, humidity, forgotten and swallowed up by the sands of time and progress elsewhere.

Beyond her father’s demise, Sarah is still grieving the loss of her mother and grandmother last year. It’s a lot to take in and absorb, even from my position on the sidelines. But, I try to be there the best I can, even if it just means holding the steering wheel steady on the long drive from Waynesville to Wayne County.

Walking into the cabin, her father was laying in the hospital bed. There was a delicious looking sandwich in front of him. My mind immediately drifted to a famous saying by the late Warren Zevon who, nearing the end of his life, had this to say about death: “Enjoy every sandwich.”

Standing next to him, Sarah and I made small talk and helped him with his lunch.

His hair has grown back significantly since stopping chemo. So, too, had the growth on the side of his head. His spirits remain high amid such dire health. All at once, the scene before us was inspiring and sorrowful, terrifying and surreal in its nature of apprecia-

A film about one of Western North Carolina’s most revered literary figures, Gary Carden, will be screened at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.

arts & entertainment

This must be the place

ScotsmanPublic.ccom • 37 CHURCH STREET • DOWNTOWN WAYNESVILLEE @th @thescotsmanwaynesville t ille M-Th:4PM-12AM Fri-Sat:12PM-12AM Sun:11 1 AM-12AM

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arts & entertainment

On the beat

Arnold Hill rolls into Boojum

Alma Russ will play Waynesville Nov. 2. File photo

Regional rock/jam group Arnold Hill will perform at 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, at The Gem downstairs taproom at Boojum Brewing in Waynesville.

With its recent debut album, “Back to Life,” Arnold Hill sets to change the tone and tempo of what folks might expect on a given night onstage at their nearby bars and breweries in our mountain communities.

Formed in 2011, the Jackson County

band is named after a road in Sylva where the musicians lived and practiced. In method, Arnold Hill adheres to the playful nature and creative possibilities that reside in the rock quartet.

For more information on the group, go to arnoldhillband.com. You can purchase/stream “Back to Life” on all online streaming services.

The show is free and open to the public.

828.246.0350 or boojumbrewing.com.

November 1-7, 2023

Americana, folk at Scotsman Rising singer-songwriter and multiinstrumentalist Alma Russ will hit the stage at 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2, at The Scotsman Public House in Waynesville.

Based out of Western North Carolina and with her unique brand of “patchwork music” (country, folk and Appalachian styles pieced together), Russ enjoys playing guitar, banjo and fiddle.

Russ was also a contestant on “American Idol” Season 16. Her most recent album, “Fool’s Gold,” was recorded in an abandoned church in the West Texas desert while Russ was on a national tour.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information on Russ, go to almarussofficial.com.

828.246.6292 or scotsmanpublic.com.

Ajeva makes Waynesville debut

Smoky Mountain News

Presented by Adamas Entertainment and Frog Level Brewing, rising Florida jam/rock act Ajeva and Ashevillebased rock band Buddhagraph Spaceship will play at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10 at The Lineside, the new indoor music venue at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville.

Formed in 2013, Ajeva features Reed Skahill (vocals), Taylor Gilchrist (bass), Mike Nivens (guitar) and Lyndon Thacker (keys). The ensemble has carved out a sound of its own with epic melodies and distinctive vocals, pairing perfectly with its deep grooves. For more information, go to ajevamusic.com.

Buddhagraph Spaceship integrates elements of rock, funk, Americana and jazz fusion through technical improvisation to create a dynamic sound. Guided by melodies and driven by complex rhythms, the group creates unique soundscapes both familiar and raw. For more information, go to buddahgraphspaceship.com.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the show kicking off at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door (cash/cards accepted).

For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to froglevelbrewing.com, go to the “Events” tab and scroll to 24 the concert date.

Arnold Hill will play Waynesville Nov. 4. Garret K. Woodward photo

Ajeva will play Waynesville Nov. 10. Donated photo

On the beat • Altered Frequencies (Franklin) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.342.8014 or alteredfrequencies.net.

• Angry Elk Brewing (Whittier) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows are free and open to the public.

828.497.1015 or facebook.com/angryelkbrewingco.

• Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host an open mic from 8-10 p.m. every Thursday. Free and open to the public.

828.631.1987 or balsamfallsbrewing.com.

• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host a semi-regular acoustic jam with the Main Street NoTones from 7-9 p.m. every first and third Thursday of the month. Free and open to the public. For more information, go to blueridgebeerhub.com.

• Boojum Brewing (Waynesville) will host music bingo 7 p.m.

Mondays, karaoke at 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, trivia at 7 p.m., Arnold Hill (rock/jam) Nov. 4 and Nick Mac & The Noise (rock) Nov. 11. All shows begin at 9 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

828.246.0350 or boojumbrewing.com.

• Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to coweeschool.org/music.

• Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host “Music Bingo” 7 p.m.

Thursdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 7 p.m. Free and open to the public.

828.634.0078 or curraheebrew.com.

• Farm At Old Edwards (Highlands) will host the “Fireside at the Farm” sessions on select weekends. For more information, go to oldedwardshospitality.com.

• Frog Quarters (Franklin) will host live music from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Free and open to the public. Located at 573 East Main S. littletennessee.org or 828.369.8488.

• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. For a full schedule of events and/or to buy tickets, caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.

• Highlander Mountain House (Highlands) will host a Sunday Bluegrass Residency noon to 2:30 p.m., T. Hardy Morris (indie/folk) Nov. 10 and Shannon Whitworth & Woody Platt (Americana/folk) Nov. 11. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to highlandermountainhouse.com.

• Highlands Performing Arts Center will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. For tickets, go to highlandsperformingarts.com.

• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will host “Trivia Night w/Kirk” from 7-9 p.m. every Monday, Open Mic Night every Wednesday and

• Innovation Station (Dillsboro) will host “Music Bingo” on Wednesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All events begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. innovation-brewing.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host “Music Bingo” 6 p.m.

Tuesdays, trivia 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Open Mic 6:30 p.m.

Thursdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host trivia 6:30 p.m.

Wednesdays, an Old Time Jam 6:30 p.m.

Thursdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com.

ALSO:

• Lineside at Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host Ajeva (rock/jam) & Buddhagraph Spaceship (rock/jam) Nov. 10.

Admission is $10 in advance, $12 at the door. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to froglevelbrewing.com.

• Meadowlark Motel (Maggie Valley) will host Trivia Thursdays 6:30 p.m., Adrianne Blanks & The Oracles Nov. 3, Bridget Gossett & Lee Kram (Americana/folk) Nov. 4, The Holland Brothers (Americana) Nov. 10 and Simple Folk Trio (Americana/folk) Nov. 11. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to meadowlarkmotel.com or 828.926.1717.

• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host an “Open Mic w/Frank Lee” Wednesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 or mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.

• Nantahala Brewing Outpost (Sylva) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.641.9797 or nantahalabrewing.com.

• Quirky Birds Treehouse & Bistro (Dillsboro) will host Open Mic Night at 7 p.m. Tuesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.586.1717 or facebook.com/quirkybirdstreehouse.

• Salty Dog’s Seafood & Grill (Maggie Valley) will host “Karaoke w/Russell” every Monday and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.926.9105.

• Santé Wine Bar (Sylva) will host Keturah & Bradford (Americana) Nov. 5 and Taylor Knighton (singer-songwriter) Nov. 12. All shows begin at 3 p.m. Free and open to the public.

828.631.3075 or facebook.com/thewinebarandcellar.

• The Scotsman (Waynesville) will host a “Celtic Jam” 2-5 p.m.

Sundays, Alma Russ (Americana/folk) Nov. 2, Ginny McAfee & Rory Kelly (Americana/blues) Nov. 3, Very Jerry Band (Grateful Dead Tribute) Nov. 10 and Celtic Road Jam 4 p.m. Nov. 11. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.6292 or scotsmanpublic.com.

• SlopeSide Tavern (Sapphire) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.743.8655 or slopesidetavern.com.

Meade returns to Frog Level Popular Florida-based indie/soul singer Shane Meade will perform at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5, at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 828.454.5664 or go to froglevelbrewing.com.

• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to smokymountainarts.com or 828.524.1598.

• Stecoah Valley Center (Robbinsville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, call 828.479.3364 or go to stecoahvalleycenter.com.

• The Ugly Dog Pub (Highlands) will host “Bluegrass Wednesday” at 6:30 p.m. each week. 828.526.8364 or theuglydogpub.com.

• Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 828.538.2488.

• Valley Cigar & Wine Co. (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.944.0686 or valleycigarandwineco.com.

• Valley Tavern (Maggie Valley) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

Free and open to the public. 828.926.7440 or valley-tavern.com.

Smoky Mountain News

• Happ’s Place (Glenville) will host Doug Ramsey (singer-songwriter) Nov. 3, A Fiddler & A Picker (Americana) Nov. 4, Joe Owens (singer-songwriter) Nov. 10 and Macon County Line Nov. 11. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. happsplace.com or 828.742.5700.

Shane Meade will play Waynesville Nov. 5.

November 1-7, 2023

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host its weekly “Tuesday Jazz Series” at 5:30 p.m., Doug & Lisa (Americana) 5:30 p.m. Nov. 1, Seth & Sara (Americana) 6 p.m. Nov. 3, Blended Hemp (Americana) 6 p.m. Nov. 4, Shane Meade (indie/soul) 3 p.m. Nov. 5, David Potter (singer-songwriter) 6 p.m. Nov. 10 and Ajeva (rock/jam) with Buddhagraph Spaceship (rock/jam) at The Lineside ($10 advance/$12 at the door) 6:30 p.m. Nov. 10. Free and open to the public.

828.454.5664 or froglevelbrewing.com.

semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. innovation-brewing.com.

• Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 9:30 p.m. 828.456.4750 or facebook.com/waternhole.bar.

• Yonder Community Market (Franklin) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to eatrealfoodinc.com.

25

arts & entertainment

On the wall

Franklin library to show Carden film A film about one of Western North Carolina’s most revered literary figures, Gary Carden, will be screened at 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 8, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.

“I think anybody that visits with Gary Carden finds out really quickly that he’s just engaging and fun to talk to,” said Neal Hutcheson, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker. “I wanted to celebrate Gary in the way that we’re doing Saturday. I wanted him to see it. He’s well-known of course, but I wanted to expand the awareness of who he is and what he’s done.”

More than a quarter-century in the making, “Storyteller” is the brainchild of Hutcheson, who is also the author of “ The Moonshiner Popcorn Sutton” and producer of other wellknown Appalachian titles like 2002’s “This is the Last Dam Run of Likker I’ll Ever Make” (also about Sutton) and 2004’s “Mountain Talk.”

Following the screening, 88-year-old Carden will be onhand for a special Q&A session. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call the library at 828.524.3600.

November 1-7, 2023

Gary Carden is a beloved WNC figure. Garret K. Woodward photo

• “Spark of the Eagle Dancer: The Collecting Legacy of Lambert Wilson” will be showcased through Dec. 8 in the Fine Art Museum at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee.

The exhibit features over 140 works of contemporary Native American art from the collection of one of Western North Carolina’s most notable art enthusiasts, the late Lambert Wilson. To learn more about the exhibition, please go to arts.wcu.edu/spark.

The Fine Art Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday.

Smoky Mountain News

• “What’s New?” exhibit will showcase new works by members of the Haywood County Arts Council through Nov. 13 at the HCAC in Waynesville. The presentation will focus on

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new techniques, materials and themes from local and regional artisans. Free and open to the public. haywoodarts.org.

• Gallery Zella (Bryson City) will be hosting an array of artist receptions, exhibits and showcases. The gallery is open from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. For more information, go to galleryzella.com or call 517.881.0959.

ALSO:

• Waynesville Photography Club meets at 7 p.m. every third Monday each month on the second floor of the Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center in Clyde. The club is a nonprofit organization that exists for

the enjoyment of photography and the improvement of one’s skills. They welcome photographers of all skill levels to share ideas and images at the monthly meetings.

For more information, email waynesvillephotoclub@charter.net or follow them on Facebook: Waynesville Photography Club.

• Haywood County Arts Council (Waynesville) will offer a wide range of classes, events and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. The HCAC gallery is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. For more information and a full schedule, go to haywoodarts.org.

• Jackson County Green Energy Park

(Dillsboro) will be offering a slew of classes, events and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. For more information and a full schedule, go to jcgep.org.

• Southwestern Community College Swain Arts Center (Bryson City) will host an array of workshops for adults and kids. For more information on the upcoming classes and/or to sign-up, go to southwesterncc.edu/scclocations/swain-center.

• Dogwood Crafters in Dillsboro will offer a selection of upcoming art classes and workshops. For more information and a full schedule of activities, go to dogwoodcrafters.com/classes.html or call 828.586.2248.

On the table arts & entertainment

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad.

File photo

• “Flights & Bites” will be held starting at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays at Bosu’s Wine Shop in downtown Waynesville. For more information on upcoming events, wine tastings and special dinners, go to waynesvillewine.com.

ALSO:

• “Uncorked: Wine & Rail Pairing Experience” will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on select dates at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City. Full service all-adult first class car. Wine pairings with a meal, and more. There will also be a special “Beer Train” on select dates. For more information and/or to register, call 800.872.4681 or go to gsmr.com.

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On the stage • “The Wizard of Oz” will hit the stage at 7 p.m. Nov. 3-4, 10-11 at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. Follow the yellow brick road in this delightful stage adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s beloved tale, featuring the iconic musical score and characters from the classic MGM film. The show is a full two-act production presented by the Overlook Theatre Company. Tickets are $18 for adults, $13 for students. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to smokymountainarts.com or 828.524.1598.

ALSO:

• “Polar Express” train ride will resume rides on select dates from the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad depot in downtown Bryson City. For a complete listing of departure dates and times, call 800.872.4681 or go to gsmr.com.

• The Veterans Day Parade & Ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, on Main Street in Franklin. The parade will leave from the Franklin Town Hall.

The Veterans Ceremony will follow in the Gazebo on the Town Square. Lineup begins at 10 a.m. For more information, call the Franklin Town Hall at 828.524.2516 or email events@franklinnc.com.

File photo

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Smoky Mountain News

On the street

November 1-7, 2023

• “Take A Flight” with four new wines every Friday and Saturdays at the Bryson City Wine Market. Select from a gourmet selection of charcuterie to enjoy with your wines.

Educational classes and other events are also available. For more information, call 828.538.0420.

NOW I S T H E T I M E T O BECOM E A PA S SHOL DE ER!

ALSO:

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arts & entertainment

On the wall

WNC Pottery Festival The 18th annual WNC Pottery Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, in Bridge Park in Sylva.

The event showcases the work of more than 40 master potters from an array of states. A variety of clay art styles will be presented with over 40 master potters. The event is juried, and the lineup of potters are some of the finest in their craft.

The event has been named one of the “Top 20” events in the Southeast for November.

Admission is $5. Children under 12 are free. For more information, go to wncpotteryfestival.com.

Timothy Sullivan is an acclaimed artisan potter.

November 1-7, 2023

File photo

AART RT RT A TER AFTER AF DDARK ARK

Smoky Mountain News

Friiday No ovember 3 5:3 30-8:30 PM Artisst Meet and Greet with h November Feattured Artist

Jefffrey Stoner

WHERE ART RT D ANCES W ITH N AT AT URE

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98 N. MAIN ST. • WAYNESVILLE NC • MON-SA AT : 10-5:3 30 SUN: 1-4 828.456.1940 • W W W.T WIG SAN DLEAVE S.COM

Teresa Pennington is a featured artisan at ‘Art After Dark.’ File photo

Waynesville art walk, live music A cherished gathering of locals and visitors alike, “Art After Dark” will take place from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, in downtown Waynesville.

Each first Friday of the month (May-December), Main Street transforms into an evening of art, live music, finger foods, beverages and shopping as artisan studios and galleries keep their doors open later for residents and visitors alike.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, go to downtownwaynesville.com.

On the shelf

Jeff Minick

Bob Raczka’s “You Are a Story” (Neal Porter Books, 2023, 32 pages) is a wonderful book for the six and under gang. Brimming with lots of colorful illustrations by Kristen and Kevin Howdeshell, “You Are a Story” offers kids observations like “You are a body of water,” “You are a friend,” and “You are a mystery,” and then briefly explains what these mean. In the last three pages, Racska writes “You are a story,” and then adds:

“You are the author of your life. Every day is a blank page waiting for you to fill it. Make your story funny. Make it interesting. Make it an adventure. Tell your story to others. Then listen to theirs.”

Soniat poetry reading Katherine Soniat will present her eighth collection of poetry, “Polishing the Glass Storm,” at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.

With “Polishing the Glass Storm,” Soniat constructs a riveting sequence of verse that explores how archetype can expand both personal vision and narrative perspective as we hone our experiences into an understanding of shared commonality.

To reserve copies of “Polishing the Glass Storm,” please call the bookstore at 828.586.9499.

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Smoky Mountain News

Good advice for a five-year-old. Good advice for the rest of us as well.

In Erica Root’s “Close to You from Far Away” (Running Press Kids, 2023, 40 pages) Gigi’s family moves to a different city, but Gigi really doesn’t want to leave Grandma.

The transition is tough for the little girl, but whenever they talk on the phone Grandma always says, “Don’t worry, Gigi, it’s okay. I’m close to you from far away.” Finally, Gigi understands the meaning of those words, and even offers up that mantra to Grandma at the end of the book.

An addendum to this story floored me.

Root includes two pages of instructions for children on how to write and address a postcard along with four cards. Writing letters, much less postcards, is a lost art these days,

but as a grandfather I can tell you from experience that when grandkids get a card or a box in the mail, it’s like a little visit from Santa Claus, and the same holds true for Grandpa.

“Close to you from Far Away” reminds all of us that it’s the heart, not the distance from loved ones, that counts the most.

Finally, “Boy Dad” (Harper Collins, 2023, 40 pages), written by Sean Williams and illustrated by Jay Davis, depicts a boy and his father engaged in various activities. Dad teaches his son all sorts of lessons, from handling tools to flying kites and building forts. He also shows him what it means to be a gentleman, with advice like “Respect is key,” “Be polite,” and “Always keep your word.”

Here is a book desperately needed in our culture.

In addition to his children’s books, Williams, a father of three, is the founder and CEO of The Dad Gang, a “social community of dads on a mission to redefine, revolutionize, and reshape the image of Black fatherhood.” In “Good Dad,” Williams is carrying out that mission, but “Boy Dad” offers encouragement and guidance to all fathers, making it a great gift for Father’s Day and other events.

None of these books, and the thousands of others like them, take more than 15 minutes to read aloud to a child. That quarter hour gives you respite from the hurricane of life, advances the education of a kid, and if you’re paying attention, can often teach you a thing or two as well.

And if you don’t have a child? No matter.

I read all three of these books silently and to myself in my public library, and the antitoxin of simplicity and innocence still worked.

It’s good medicine all the way around.

(Jeff Minick reviews books and has written four of his own: two novels, “Amanda Bell” and “Dust On Their Wings,” and two works of nonfiction, “Learning As I Go” and “Movies Make the Man.” minick0301@gmail.com.)

November 1-7, 2023

“Gloom, Despair and Agony on Me” was a song and a skit on television’s “Hee-Haw Show.” Sometimes the tune to that little ditty comes to mind when I read the online news. Every morning brings some new disaster, wars, riots, plagues and threats galore. A close friend of mine — and I suspect he is in good company — believes that our country isn’t going to hell in the proverbial handbag, no, we’re making that trip in a Camaro ZL1 with the pedal pressed to the metal.

Closer to home, for nearly everyone I know stress is their middle name. They beat their brains out working, raising kids, and all the while dealing with those Writer mosquitos of daily life — hanging out for an hour on the phone with their insurance company, running to the pharmacy to pick up the medicine for Susie’s infected knee, or suddenly remembering they forgot to call Mom on her birthday.

In the last 70 years, this stress has birthed an entire industry of life coaches, gurus, and other philosophers who advance all sorts of ideas for relieving stress, many of them quite good. Take a walk. Enjoy the sunset from your back deck. Fuss with the weeds and flowers in your garden. Meditate.

Here’s my own antidote for some quick R&R when you’re suffering from tension or anxiety, at least for those fortunate enough to have at hand a small child. Read that kid a book. It’s good for them, but it can be therapeutic for you. Let me explain.

To make this temporary vacation from the trials of life work requires some preparation. You need to have the child beside you, preferably seated on a sofa, or if unlike me you are still reasonably limber, perhaps sprawled together on the floor. You’ll also require a book with age appropriate language and lots of colorful pictures. Finally, you must throw yourself into the story, reading with enthusiasm and pausing to take questions from your little listener or to point out some of the entertainments in the illustrations. Inserting yourself into the story right away steals you away from your own thoughts and gives you a breather from worry.

In addition, these books may remind you of the sunny side of life temporarily hidden by your trials and distress. Here are three books that can act like winds brushing away those clouds.

arts & entertainment

Take a breather, read a book to a child

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Outdoors

To the top

Chestnut Mountain’s trail hub offers a variety of options. Holly Kays photo

mid-grade hike. From the parking lot, it’s a roundtrip of about 3 miles.

“The shortest route if you went to the top and then hiked back out is probably over 5 miles,” Scheuer said, “and so having something that’s accessible and a destination was important to have on the mountain, and I think this serves that well.”

Both the map and signage throughout the park make it clear which kinds of users are allowed on which trails. That, said Scheuer, is key to ensuring that users of all types have a quality experience. The strategy seems to be working.

“You feel it when you’re in the park,” he said. “The interactions that I have when I’m here riding with hikers is always very positive.”

After Sunburst opens, construction will start on an advanced bike trail. Then, the trailbuilding phase will be done.

GRANT-FUNDED

Trail network matures at Canton’s Chestnut Mountain

BY HOLLY KAYS OUTDOORS E DITOR n a sunny clearing 350 feet above U.S. 23, the choose-yourown-adventure portion of Canton’s Chestnut Mountain Nature Park begins.

After walking uphill 0.8 miles from the parking lot, the wooden path opens up toward the clearing, where a pair of wooden arches — one marking the entrance to the Berm Park Skills Course and the second to the park’s backcountry trail network — waits alongside a large map. Colorful squiggles denote the ever-growing roster of trails and represent an ongoing challenge to the town employees tasked with maintaining the map.

“We’re on our fifth or sixth iteration of that map station,” said Town Manager Nick Scheuer, “because every time we add a new trail, we have to update the maps.”

I

NEW TRAILS When Chestnut Mountain opened to the public in April 2022, its only trails were the short circuits at Berm Park and the ascent and descent trails connecting them to the parking lot, less than 2 miles total.

Now, the park features about 17 miles of trail, split about evenly between hikers and bikers.

“We’re seeing a lot of growth now because Berm Park was very much a really cool, novelty thing to come see, but if you’re trying to ride for fitness or exercise, or you’re a mountain biker that’s used to riding in Western North Carolina, you want more mileage,” said Scheuer. “And now we have that.”

Mountain bike trails are concentrated in the western half of the park, with the 1.8-mile Ladybird Trail serving as a spine to which the other bike trails connect as they loop around.

This descent-only trail is rated intermediate, filled with berms and opportunities to pump and jump down the mountain to its terminus at the entrance to Berm Park. It’s named in honor of a dog who used to come each day with one of the trail builders. She was “the best greeter,” Scheuer said, but got sick as the trail got finished, ultimately passing away.

Ladybird Trail came online in November 2022, the same month as a 1.7-mile upper portion of Papertown Express that’s open to hikers and uphill bikers. This summer, Chestnut

Mountain opened the 1-mile Champion Trail, rated doubleblack for expert riders, as well as Wildcat, a 1.1-mile intermediate trail. October saw the arrival of Union, a 1-mile intermediate/advanced bike trail linking Ladybird and Champion. A half-mile, beginner-friendly bike trail called Sunburst is expected to open in the next week.

While the trails are rated for specific difficulty levels, they’re built to be progressive — riders can often choose to avoid the more intimidating obstacles until they’re ready to face them. Even on expert-rated Champion, said Scheuer, “as long as you have braking control, you can ride this trail.”

Opportunities for hikers have been increasing too, mainly on the east side of the park. In addition to the 4-mile Papertown Express, which is open to hikers and uphill bikers throughout its length, Chestnut Mountain now offers two hiker-only trails. The 2.6-mile Old Timer Trail circles the northeastern boundary of the park, while 1.5-mile Dutch Cove Trail connects with Upper Papertown Express to explore the northern boundary at the center of the property.

There’s also Turnpike, another shared-use trail that’s a halfmile lollipop from the junction of Middle Papertown Express and Old Timer. At its heart is Turnpike Landing, where a pair of treehouse-inspired pavilions, swings and a stand of regal old oak trees offers a rewarding endpoint for families in search of a

Race Chestnut Mountain Run the trails of Chestnut Mountain Nature Park during the Chestnut Chase, a 10K race slated for 9 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 12 in Canton.

The course begins with a rough 600-foot gain in the first 2 miles up Papertown Express, followed by rolling hills through the brand new Old Timer trail. Amazing fall views will greet runners as they scream through the downhill return to the finish line.

There will be one aid station at the intersection of the lollipop course, which runners will pass at miles 1.5 and 4.6. Water, light snacks and backcountry medical support provided, with BearWaters Brewing Company offering post-race refreshments.

Registration is $30 at ultrasignup.com and closes at midnight Nov. 11. Leashed dogs are welcome. Proceeds will support the Chestnut Mountain Foundation and North Carolina Mountain Trail Runners.

The trail system is nearly complete, but the to-do list is not.

Over the coming weeks, a project adding a picnic pavilion and restrooms will go out to bid. Meanwhile, Haywood Waterways Association is leading a stream restoration on Hominy Creek, including invasive species removal, regrading the bank to a more natural slope and installing stream structures to promote native aquatic species.

Also on the agenda is turning the field next to the parking lot into a kid’s bicycle playground.

“It will have rocks to ride over and wood features for kids to learn how to ride on,” Scheuer said. “So there’s be progressive features all the way around this oval loop.”

A treehouse-like pavilion waits at Turnpike Landing. Holly Kays photo

The field will also house a concessions area. The town plans to build a wooden platform to get the base elevation out of the floodplain and to install shipping containers that can be leased out to businesses that would complement the park next door — an outfitter, a coffee shop or a taproom, perhaps.

Remarkably, the concession area is the only project within Chestnut Mountain that is currently unfunded. Most costs have been covered through grant funding, provided by the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, Recreational Trails Program, Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and Land and Water Fund, with Haywood County Tourism Development Authority also contributing.

Such grants typically require matching funds from the recipient, but Canton was able to use the value of the land, which the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy gifted to the town after buying it for $3 million, to satisfy the match. While the town has funded a few necessary connections and the exit trail, about 90% of the project was grantfunded, Scheuer said, with $750,000 spent so far.

Meanwhile, Asheville YouTuber Seth Alvo financed Berm Park using contributions from his subscribers — at just the right time to keep the project alive.

F

outdoors Updated drought maps are released every Thursday.

Town Manager Nick Scheuer (left) and Parks and Recreation Director Sam Dunbar stand at by the Dutch Cove trail. Holly Kays photo “That timing was around when Tropical Storm Fred came, so there was a significant period of time before we got the PARTF and RTP grants were it was really just very difficult to justify building something like this when we’ve got $18 million worth of facility damage and everything else,” Scheuer said, “so having him [Alvo] crowdfund Berm Park and activating the park and getting it off the ground was just amazing timing.”

BACK TO LIFE

Hike Sams Knob in the Pisgah National Forest Saturday, Nov. 4.

Organized by Jackson County Parks and Recreation, the group will meet at 9 a.m. at

Much of the western region is now in drought, with severe drought entering the state for the first time since November 2022. This is now the third consecutive fall in which parts of Western North Carolina have reached the “severe drought” designation.

According to the most recent drought map from the N.C. Drought Management Advisory Council, released Oct. 26 based on data gathered through Oct. 24, 70 of North Carolina’s 100 counties are in drought or abnormally dry.

The four counties in severe drought are Transylvania, Rutherford, Polk and Cleveland counties. The 23 counties in moderate drought include Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Buncombe and Henderson. The only counties not experiencing dry conditions are in the eastern part of the state, where two tropical storms kept them wetter than usual over the past two months — though even here soils and ditches are drying out with little rain falling in October.

According to National Weather Service data, as of Oct. 26 Waynesville had received only 1.37 inches of rain in October, well below the normal level of 2.64 inches. Cullowhee has been even drier, logging .99 inches compared to a normal 3.01 inches. Things are dry atop the plateau as well, with Highlands totaling 1.15 inches of rain so far this month, more than 4 inches below the normal 5.67 inches. The forecast remains dry.

75 CAMERAS ON SITE • INDOOR & OUTDOOR UNITS AVAIL A ABLE

Care for Chestnut Mountain The Town of Canton is in the early stages of organizing a Friends of Chestnut Mountain group to provide volunteer maintenance for the trails. Anybody interested in participating is encouraged to contact Parks and Recreation Director Sam Dunbar at sdunbar@cantonnc.com.

the Cullowhee Recreation Center for transport to the trailhead in Haywood County.

The hike is about 2.5 miles long and will take an estimated 2.5 hours. Open to ages 8 and up.

Cost is $7. Register at jcprd.recdesk.com.

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Smoky Mountain News

Stand atop Sams Knob

Severe drought arrives in the mountains

November 1-7, 2023

The end of construction will signal the beginning of Chestnut Mountain’s larger legacy.

The park could connect to multiple new trails projects in the area. As part of a planned modernization of U.S. 19-23, which runs right past Chestnut Mountain, the N.C. Department of Transportation wants to build a shared-use path from downtown Canton to the Buncombe County line, which would allow visitors to park in Canton and ride a mile down the road to explore Chestnut Mountain.

On the other side of the ridge, the new Pisgah View State Park is now under development, expected to open in 2025. Driving between the two parks takes about 20 minutes, but their property lines are separated by only about a mile of privately held ridgeline that’s rugged and forested, Scheuer said.

“Even if they were to develop those properties, that area is just not going to be utilized most likely,” he said. “So I think there’s an opportunity to make a connection there, which would be pretty unbelievable.”

Such a connection could spur development of backcountry campsites. Campsites are allowed under the park’s master plan, but the town is considering various logistical factors before it decides to build them.

However, Canton is committed to being a good steward of the property and amenities it already has.

Right now, Canton Parks and Recreation Director Sam Dunbar is doing much of the legwork to maintain the property, along

with crews from Elevated Trail Design, which the town has under contract to perform six days of trail maintenance each month. But in the future, Scheuer would like to see a Friends of Chestnut Mountain group form, providing volunteer labor to keep the park in top form.

“The property was so manipulated and has so much invasive species, and so many drainage and water issues that we could be working for a long time to restore and heal the property,” said Scheuer.

Before its rebirth as a nature park, the 450-acre property almost became a speedway, and later, an indoor ski resort. The land was heavily disturbed at various points in its history, and the scars are obvious when walking the property. While some areas feature impressive hardwood stands, others are covered with skinny young trees, vines and a variety of invasive plants.

For Canton, that history sets up a winwin future. The property was far from pristine when it came to town ownership, so cutting new trails — especially trails that use the existing network of logging roads — wasn’t a problem from the conservation perspective. And with a new owner like Canton, which has a built-in incentive to keep the land healthy, the area’s ecology is likely to improve over time.

“The conservation-recreation story is a really cool one,” said Scheuer, “Both of those can work together really well, if done correctly. That’s something that I’m excited to see is just this thing come back to life.”

U.S. Drought Monitor of N.C. map

476.8999 MaggieValleySelfStorage.com • 828.4 1106 SOCO R D • MAGGIE VALLEY Y, N C 28751 Y, 31

Smoky Mountain News

November 1-7, 2023

outdoors

Laurel Falls closure planned for construction of trail, improvements The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is moving ahead with significant changes to the Laurel Falls Trail intended to improve visitor experience at the popular site, with an 18month closure to start next year.

The park completed an Environmental Assessment and approved the proposed Laurel Falls Trail Management Plan. Based on the EA analysis and public comments, the park decided to give park managers the option to resurface and widen the trail, build a new viewing platform, install new signs at the trailhead and along the trail, build a wider bridge at the upper falls, expand and approve designated parking spaces and offer a shuttle service and timed-entry parking reservation system for the trailhead.

Construction will start in 2024, and the park expects the trail to be closed for at least 18 months while this takes place. Parking tag revenue will fund some of the construction work near the trailhead and parking lots. A timeline for implementation of timed-entry parking reservations is not yet available.

In 2020, more than 375,000 visitors hiked the 1.3-mile trail, which leads to a scenic waterfall near the Gatlinburg entrance. To view documents associated with the project, visit parkplanning.nps.gov/laurelfalls.

Visitors crowd the viewing area at Laurel Falls. NPS photo

Wildfire burns near Andrews

Migrant bird outing

A fire ignited by lightning Oct. 23 near Andrews has grown to 61 acres with 0% containment as of Sunday, Oct. 29, due to rugged terrain and limited accessibility.

In the first four days since the fire started atop Collett Ridge, it backed down the ridge to the north. Since then it has also moved northwest onto a spur ridge and experienced slight growth to the west toward flat Branch and Collett Creek.

As of Oct. 29, fire behavior was minimal, but due to dry fuels on the forest floor, smoke continued to be produced and was visible from U.S. 74. Fire crews have continued to build handlines to aid in fire containment. Though helicopters dropped water on the blaze during the early days of the firefighting effort, no aerial support is currently needed.

There are no closures associated with the fire, but people should avoid the area so that fire crews can work safely.

No structures have been lost or threatened, and no firefighters have been injured. As of Oct. 29, 54 firefighters were on scene.

The U.S. Forest Service and the North Carolina Forest Service are managing the fire under unified command.

Check out the many migrating birds that make Haywood County their winter home at 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, at Lake Junaluska.

Led by an expert birder, this outing is offered through Haywood County Parks and Recreation. Loaner binoculars are available and cost is $10. Sign up at haywoodcountync.gov/recreation.

Prescribed burns planned in Cherokee National Forest Residents in the furthest west counties may see smoke over the coming months as the Cherokee National Forest carries out prescribed burns on an estimated 18,500 acres in Monroe and Polk counties, Tennessee, which abut Graham and Cherokee counties in North Carolina.

The planned burns include areas in the Tellico and Ocoee ranger districts of the national

Parkway section closed after visitors feed bear

Eight miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway near Craggy Gardens is closed after multiple visitors were reported feeding and attempting to hold a young bear in recent weeks at Lane Pinnacle Overlook.

“We are closing this section of the road 32 temporarily for the safety of both the bear and

Learn about a fiber arts legend Experience the legacy of Lucy Morgan, one of the few Craft Revival leaders born and raised in Western North Carolina, with a presentation from Foxfire Museum 6-8 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 9.

Morgan, who lived 1889-1981, developed and taught fiber arts as a cottage industry and established national and international connections. Foxfire will discuss her influence on the trades, crafts and livelihoods of rural, and later urban, societies. Fiber arts will be available for sale.

Free and offered by the Nantahala Hiking Club.

Tendrils of smoke rise through trees on Collett Ridge. USFS photo

forest and will be conducted when weather and fuel conditions are favorable to do so safely. This window is expected to occur between now and the end of February.

Prescribed fires are implemented in accordance with a written burn plan that prescribes specific weather and smoke dispersion conditions before crews proceed. Crews are responsible for igniting vegetation, monitoring the behavior, and spread of fire, smoke, and ensuring fire is held by control features. Prescribed fire is used in the Cherokee National Forest for several reasons, including to reduce fire hazard, improve habitat, and to help manage for desirable vegetation.

park visitors,” said Superintendent Tracy Swartout. “When people intentionally attract bears with trash and food it can lead to very dangerous situations. In this instance we want to give the bear a chance to lose interest in the area before the situation escalates and visitors or the bear are harmed.”

The closed section extends from milepost 367.6 near the Craggy Gardens Picnic Area to milepost 375.6 at Ox Creek Road. The closure went into effect today and will remain in place

Jog before turkey Make room for Thanksgiving dinner with one of two 5Ks offered at 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 23.

• In Cashiers, The Village Green’s annual Gobble on the Green event will include the 5K as well as the Junior Warrior Course at 9:30 a.m., a scavenger hunt obstacle course for children in various age groups.

For the 5K, awards will be given for best overall time for male and female runners, and age-level awards will be given to first place in six different age groups. Local businesses are offering door prizes based on bib numbers.

Participants must be present to win. All Junior Warrior contestants will receive prizes.

Sign up for the 5K by Nov. 8 to receive a tuntil further notice. Park visitors can access the Craggy Gardens recreational area via N.C. 80 from the north. However, until the road reopens, the visitor center at milepost 364.5 will remain closed.

Fall is a critical time of year for bears.

Between September and November, they may forage for food up to 20 hours a day as they attempt to put on weight for the winter and hibernation. During this time bears actively seek out natural foods but will also take

shirt. Early packet pickup and check-in will be offered 3-6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22 at The Village Green’s Lewis Hall. Registration is $35 at runsignup.com/gobbleonthegreen. No registration is required for the free Junior Warrior event.

• In Waynesville, the third annual Waynesville Sunrise Rotary Turkey Trot 5K will circle Lake Junaluska. The race is capped at 500 participants, with drinks and snacks offered afterward prior to the awards ceremony.

Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome to participate.

Cost is $35 for adults and $20 for youth 12 and under, with online registration available through Monday, Nov. 20. Proceeds support local community development projects and service work. Sign up at gloryhoundevents.com.

advantage of human foods when presented with the opportunity. Bears that lose their fear of humans and associate them with food rewards may become aggressive, creating a dangerous situation for bears and humans alike.

To prevent conflicts and protect bears, follow bear safety tips at bearwise.org. Report Blue Ridge Parkway bear encounters by calling 828.298.2491 or stopping by the nearest visitor center.

Franklin brownfield cleanup gets grant funding

volunteers will also receive T-shirts.

After two hours of shoreline cleaning, volunteers will meet back at the pavilion for prizes at 11:30 a.m.

Prizes will be given for Most Trash Collected by a Group, Most Creative Trash Photo and Most Unique Trash Item Found.

Organized by MountainTrue. Sign up at mountaintrue.org/event/lake-chatuge-2023.

Clean up Lake Chatuge The 13th annual Lake Chatuge Shoreline Cleanup will be held, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 4, at the Towns County Swim Beach Pavilion in Georgia.

Volunteers will be assigned cleanup locations and given bags, gloves and safety information, along with coffee and grab-and-go-breakfast. The first 30

outdoors

Mainspring Conservation Trust has received $175,000 to clean up and restore a brownfield site near Nikwasi Mound in Franklin. The money will help Mainspring remediate petroleum-contaminated soils on a vacant gravel lot in downtown Franklin.

“This area is in the heart of the ancient Cherokee townsite of Nikwasi and the modern-day river district of Franklin,” said Mainspring Executive Director Jordan Smith. “Eliminating the source of contamination to both the groundwater under the site and the surface waters of the Little Tennessee River will set the stage for the development of additional greenspace and enhance access to adjacent public art displays designed to welcome visitors and tell the story of Southern Appalachia.”

The grant is the largest of three announced this week from the N.C. Department of Justice Environmental Enhancement Grant Program. The grant program stems from a 2000 agreement between the N.C. Attorney General’s Office and Smithfield Foods under which Smithfield provides $2 million annually for distribution to environmental projects across the state. Including the 2023 grants, the Attorney General’s office has awarded nearly $43 million to more than 228 projects in the state.

“It is important to preserve North Carolina’s history and places of cultural significance,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “I’m grateful that this grant will help restore land and water that carries so much meaning for the Cherokee and for our state.”

A mound of trash gathered during a previous cleanup awaits pickup. NPS photo

Pick up Fontana Go on foot or by boat to pitch in on the sixth annual Fontana Lakeshore cleanup, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 3-5.

Volunteers can meet at the Fontana Village Marina in Fontana Dam or Fontana Lake Estates in Bryson City. Gear, lunch and boats will be provided.

Led by Brandon Jones, harbor master at the Fontana Village Marina, the event is one of the most extensive cleanups on national park

lands, as Fontana Lake covers about 11,700 acres and has 240 miles of shoreline. Over the last five years, the event has helped remove 200,000 pounds of garbage from the lake and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park shoreline. Jones won the 2023 Governor’s Conservation Achievement Award as the Public Lands Conservationist of the Year for his efforts.

Registration required by contacting Jones at 828.498.2017 or brandon.jones@fontanavillage.com.

Find out about Fred cleanup efforts Pitch in with Panthertown Friends of Panthertown will host a trail workday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, meeting at the Cold Mountain Gap Trailhead.

No previous trail work experience is necessary. As the leaves start to fall, beautiful views will be visible along the trail as the crew gets to work.

Sign up at panthertown.org/contact. Learn more at panthertown.org/volunteer.

A group of volunteers stands ready to stock. Trout Unlimited photo

Learn about efforts to clean up waterways impacted by Tropical Storm Fred with a meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, at Crestview Baptist Church in Bethel.

The evening will feature a meeting of the Emergency Watershed Protection Debris Removal Program. Contracts have been awarded in the cleanup and work should start in the next few weeks. This meeting is the community’s chance to ask questions and learn more about the process — experts will be available to answer questions.

For more information, contact Dillon Huffman at dillon.huffman@haywoodcountync.gov.

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Volunteers are wanted to help the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission stock trout into the West Fork Pigeon River in Haywood County beginning at 10:45 a.m.

Monday, Nov. 6.

The group will meet at the upper Delayed Harvest parking area across N.C.

Go fly fishing Hone your fly fishing skills with an expert angler at 8-10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, in Waynesville.

Reid will lead this excursion on Richland

215 from the gun range, below Sunburst Campground. Volunteers should bring a clean 5-gallon bucket and a friend or two.

Waders are recommended but not required.

The NCWRC will bring at least 1,200 pounds of fish. The goal is to help disperse them throughout the Delayed Harvest section to allow for a better fishing experience.

The stocking will take about three hours, with at least 25 volunteers needed. tucataloochee427@gmail.com.

Creek, offering an opportunity for practice and instruction to blossoming anglers. Cost is $10, and a fishing license is required. Participants should bring their own rod and flies, but waders are not needed.

Register at haywoodcountync.gov/recreation.

Smoky Mountain News

Help fill the West Fork with trout

November 1-7, 2023

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Affair ff rss of the He eart —————— —————————— ——— 120 N N. Main St. • Waynesville 828.452.05 828 452 0526 • affairsoftheheartnc.com ff i fth h t m

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outdoors

Notes from a Plant Nerd

BY ADAM B IGELOW

Going to seed ant to hear a corny joke about an oak tree? That was it.

Why is it that in modern usage, seeds have mostly negative connotations in sayings and phrases? If something is seedy, as in “That’s a seedy operation,” it is sordid and disreputable, shabby and squalid or unwell, according to a quick dictionary search. And the phrase “gone to seed” means that something has become much less attractive, healthy or efficient, as in “This country has gone to seed.”

But these usages couldn’t be farther from the truth. A seed is a living being, filled with all the potential of the mature plant that produced it. The full genetic expression of the plant to come is contained within each seed produced. And in most cases, the energy required to begin its growth is in there too.

All seeds contain the first new leaf, or cotyledon, and the first new root, called the radicle. In all seeds, except those produced by members of the orchid family (Orchidaceae), there is a store of energy called the endosperm that helps get the newly emerging root and leaves growing and on their way until the cotyledons can begin photosynthesizing to produce their own food energy. The first to emerge from the germinated seed is the root, so remember that to ensure good growth, the first thing one needs to do is get radical.

Orchids are different, however. Their tiny, dust mite-sized seeds do not contain an endosperm and are reliant on landing in soil that contains an associated fungi that coevolved to wrap around the seed and begin feeding it energy. The seedling orchid then thanks the fungi by sharing some of its sugar and carbohydrates produced by photosynthesis once its leaves begin production.

Fall is a great time to both collect and sow seeds of native wildflowers. Most seeds of native plants require a stratification, or dormancy period of prolonged cold weather and soil temps followed by warming, to germinate. While this can certainly be mimicked in a refrigerator, I find that the best germination happens when we allow nature to do the work. After all, she had it all figured out long before we ever invented a refrigerator.

Sowing seeds in fall allows them to live in the soil, or in potting mix in containers, all

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winter long. In springtime they will get the signals of lengthening daylight and warming soil and air they need to trigger growth.

Planting seeds for a wildflower garden or meadow in the fall mimics the way nature does it and leads to greater success. It’s also a great time to relocate plants.

Transplanting wildflowers, shrubs and trees in the fall allows their roots to get settled and begin growing while the plants are dormant, so they don’t have to spend any energy doing above-ground work. That can wait until spring.

The seed pods of the meadow beauty plant resemble clay pots. Adam Bigelow photo Ethically collecting seeds from native plants is a fun and economical way of getting more native plants growing in your garden and meadows. I recommend using a 10% rule of not collecting more than 10% of the seeds per plant, and not more than 10% of the seeds in a group of plants. This ensures that plenty of seeds remain to sow new plants and to feed the wildlife that depend on them.

And as to that corny joke, I started this story with, did you know that the U.S. is the only country I know of that calls the corn plant corn? Most other languages and countries refer to it as maize (Zea mays). Turns out that the word “corn” is the Old English word for “seed.” And since the nuts from oak trees (Quercus spp.) contain only one seed, they are “A Corn” — a seed. Isn’t that amazing?

(Adam Bigelow lives in Cullowhee. He leads weekly wildflower walks most Fridays and offers consultations and private group tours through Bigelow’s Botanical Excursions. bigelownc@gmail.com.)

WNC Calendar COMMUNITY EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS • The Jackson County Farmers Market meets every Saturday November through March 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and April through October 9 a.m. to noon at Bridge Park in Sylva, 110 Railroad St. Special events listed on Facebook and Instagram.

• The Jackson Arts Market takes place from 1-5 p.m. every Saturday at 533 West Main St. in Sylva with live music and an array of local artists.

• Cowee School Farmer’s Market is held Wednesdays from 3-6 p.m., at 51 Cowee School Drive in Franklin.

The market has produce, plant starts, eggs, baked goods, flowers, food trucks and music. For more information or for an application, visit www.coweeschool.org or call 828.369.4080.

BUSINESS & EDUCATION • Jackson County Public School is hosting national speaker, Officer Jermaine Galloway 6-7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5, at the auditorium at Smoky Mountain High School. He will speak to the community about substance abuse among youth.

FUNDRAISERS AND BENEFITS • With Heart Projects will host BBQ & Bluegrass 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, at Clyde First Baptist. There will be live music, food and drinks, raffle prizes and more.

Cost is $10 per adult plate and kids eat free. For more information email withheartsprojects@gmail.com.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS • The Pollinators Foundation offers weekly Mindful Movement Qigong classes for all ages to reduce stress and improve health and well-being. Classes take place 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Folkmoot Center in Waynesville. For more information visit thepollinatorsfoundation.org or contact Marga Fripp at margacfripp@gmail.com 828.4224.1398.

• The Pollinators Foundation and The Share Project host weekly Happy Hour Walks 5-6:15 p.m. on Tuesdays at Lake Junaluska. The group meets at the Labyrinth. For more information visit thepollinatorsfoundation.org or contact Marga Fripp at margacfripp@gmail.com 828.4224.1398.

• Mountain Area pregnancy Services and the WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor work together to provide a casual support group for prenatal and breastfeeding individuals from 1-2 p.m. on Tuesdays at Mountain Area Pregnancy Services, 177 N Main St. Waynesville, NC. All are welcome, registration is recommended. For more information, please call 828.558.4550.

CLUBS AND MEETINGS • The Western Carolina Cribbage Club meets every Monday at 6 p.m. An eclectic group of young and old, male and female. The group supplies boards, cards, pegs and are always willing to help those still learning the finer points of the game. Contact kei3ph@bellsouth.net for more information.

• Chess 101 takes place 3:30-4:30 p.m. every Friday at the Canton Branch of the Haywood County Library. For more information, email Ashlyn Godleski at ashlyn.godleski@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2567.

• The Canton Branch of the Haywood County Public Library Creative Writing Group meets 10:30 a.m. to noon on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. For more information, email Jennifer at

Smoky Mountain News

n All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted. n To have your item listed email to calendar@smokymountainnews.com jennifer.stuart@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2561.

• Knit Night takes place at 5:30-7:30 p.m. every second Tuesday of the month at The Stecoah Valley Center. The event is free and open to the public. RSVP is recommended: 828.479.3364 or amber@stecoahvalleycenter.com.

• Sylva Writers Group meets Wednesday mornings at City Lights Books. If interested contact sylvawriters@gmail.com.

• A Novel Escape Book Club takes place at 6:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month at the Novel Escape Bookstore (60 E Main St, Franklin). Every other month one book is selected for discussion. On alternate months the meeting is round-table discussion in which participants share what they’ve read lately. For more information call the bookstore at 828.369.9059 or visit anovelescapefranklin.wordpress.com.

KIDS AND FAMILIES • The Arts Council of Macon County and the Macon County Library are partnering to offer Cherokee Dance with Bill Dyar at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, at the Macon County Library. For more information call 828.524.3600 or visit fontanalib.org.

• Creative Writing Club will take place at 3:30 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of every month at the Macon County Public Library. The writing club is intended for ages 8-12. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.

• Move and Groove Storytime takes place 10:30-11 a.m. every Thursday, at the Canton branch of the Haywood County Public Library. Exciting, interactive music and movement story time ideal for children 2-6 years old.

For more information contact Ashlyn at ashlyn.godleski@haywoodcountync.gov or at 828.356.2567.

• Storytime takes place at 10 a.m. every Tuesday at the Macon County Library. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.

• Toddler’s Rock takes place at 10 a.m. every Monday at the Macon County Library. Get ready to rock with songs, books, rhymes and playing with instruments. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.

• Culture Talk takes place at 2 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month at the Macon County Public Library. Travel the world from inside your library. This event features guest speakers and food sampling from the location being discussed. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.

• Art afternoon takes place at 3:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month at the Macon County Public Library. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.

A&E

• Foxfire Museum will host a presentation on Lucy Morgan, one of the few Craft Revival leaders born and raised in Western North Carolina, from 6-8 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 9. Free and offered by the Nantahala Hiking Club.

• The Pollinators Foundations will host an expressive

arts playshop, “Tree of Gratitude” 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15, at the Folkmoot Friendship Center. For more information visit thepollinatorsfoundation.org or contact Marga Fripp at margacfripp@gmail.com 828.424.1398.

• A Holiday Bazar will take place 3-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17, on the outside field at the Folkmoot Center in Waynesville. For more information visit folkmoot.org or 828.452.2997.

• The Pollinators Foundations will host an expressive arts playshop, “Prayer Flags for the Soul” 5-7 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 29, at the Folkmoot Friendship Center.

For more information visit thepollinatorsfoundation.org or contact Marga Fripp at margacfripp@gmail.com 828.424.1398.

• Trivia Night is hosted 6:30-8:30 p.m. every Thursday evening at the Meadowlark Motel in Maggie Valley. For more information visit meadowlarkmotel.com.

• Paint and Sip at Waynesville Art School will be held every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 7-9:30 p.m.

To learn more and register call 828.246.9869 or visit PaintAndSipWaynesville.com/upcoming-events.

Registration is required, $45.

• Mountain Makers Craft Market will be held from noon to 4 p.m. the first Sunday of each month at 308 North Haywood St. in downtown Waynesville. Over two dozen artisans selling handmade and vintage goods. Special events will be held when scheduled. mountainmakersmarket.com.

• Smoky Mountain Event Center presents Bingo Night with doors opening at 4:30 p.m. and games starting at 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday and fourth Monday of the month. For more information visit smokymountaineventcenter.com.

FOOD AND DRINK • “Flights & Bites” will be held starting at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays at Bosu’s Wine Shop in downtown Waynesville. For more information on upcoming events, wine tastings and special dinners, click on waynesvillewine.com.

• A free wine tasting will be held from 6-8 p.m. every Thursday and 2-5 p.m. every Saturday at The Wine Bar & Cellar in Sylva. 828.631.3075.

• Take a trip around the world with four different wines every Friday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday 11a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Bryson City Wine Market. Pick from artisan Charcuterie Foods to enjoy with wines. 828.538.0420 • Cooking classes take place at the McKinley Edwards Inn from 6-8:30 p.m. on Thursday nights. To reserve your spot call 828.488.9626.

CLASSES AND PROGRAMS • A glassblowing class to make Christmas ornaments will take place starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, at the Green Energy Park in Jackson County. To register for a class, contact GEP at 828.631.0271.

• Chess 101 takes place from 3:30-4:30 p.m. every Friday in the Canton Branch of the Haywood County Public Library. No registration required, for more information call 828.648.2924.

• Wired Wednesday, one-on-one technology help is available at 3-5 p.m. every Wednesday at the Canton Branch of the Haywood County Library. For more information or to register, call 828.648.2924.

• Uptown Gallery, 30 East Main St. Franklin, will be offering Children’s Art Classes Wednesdays afternoons.

Adult workshops in watercolor, acrylic paint pouring, encaustic and glass fusing are also offered. Free painting is available 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Monday in the classroom. A membership meeting takes place on the

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Visit www.smokymountainnews.com and click on Calendar for: n Complete listings of local music scene n Regional festivals n Art gallery events and openings n Complete listings of recreational offerings at health and fitness centers n Civic and social club gatherings second Sunday of the month at 3 p.m. All are welcome.

Call 828.349.4607 for more information.

ART SHOWINGS AND GALLERIES • “Thursday Painters” group will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursdays at The Uptown Gallery in Franklin. Free and open to the public. All skill levels and mediums are welcome. Participants are responsible for their own project and a bag lunch. 828.349.4607 or pm14034@yahoo.com.

Outdoors

• The next meeting of the WNC Sierra Club will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1, at the University of North Carolina Asheville’s Reuter Center. There will be a presentation on the historic threats facing the French Broad River and an ongoing effort to secure the designation of Wild and Scenic River for the North Fork. Free.

For more information contact Judy Mattox at judymattox15@gmail.com or 828.683.2176.

• Western Carolina University Sequoyah Distinguished Professor of Cherokee Studies Brett Riggs will lead a hike through Panthertown Valley from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4. Hikers will learn about Cherokee history and culture. Learn more or RSVP at panthertown.org/events.

• A gathering of women who love the outdoors will take place Saturday, Nov. 4, at Vogel State Park in Georgia.

Breakfast and registration begin at 8 a.m. and programming at 8:45. Registration required at womenstrailsummit.com.

• Hike Sams Knob in the Pisgah National Forest Saturday, Nov. 4. Organized by Jackson County Pakrrs and Recreation, the group will meet at 9 a.m. at the Cullowhee Recreation Center for transport to the trailhead in Haywood County. Cost is $7. Register at jcprd.recdesk.com.

• Experience the hemlock trees growing at the historic Cradle of Forestry in America during a hike starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 4. To reserve a spot, contact outreach@savehemlocksnc.org or 828.252.4783.

• The Panther Top Tower in the Nantahala National Forest near Murphy will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 4-5, offering spectacular views of fall colors in the surrounding mountains.

• There will be a fly fishing class 8-10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, on Richland Creek in Waynesville. Cost is $10, fishing license required, bring your own rod and flies, waders not needed. For more information contact Betty Green at betty.green@haywoodcountync.gov or visit haywoodcountync.gov/recreation or call 828.452.6789.

• A public information drop-in session on the future of DuPont State Recreation Forest is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 4, at the Transylvania County Parks and Recreation Gym in Brevard.

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Brian B NOLAND 828 734 5201 828.734.5201

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November 1-7, 2023

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37

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Smoky Mountain News November 1-7, 2023