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

Nov. 2-8, 2016 Vol. 18 Iss. 23

Impeachment rumors catalyze conflict in Cherokee Page 10 Forest fires ignite the Nantahala as drought worsens Page 42

CONTENTS

STAFF

On the Cover: Maintaining historic cemeteries in the area is a big responsibility for local governments, nonprofits and churches. Some cemetery caretakers in the region are having a difficult time coming up with the money needed for upkeep as the demand for traditional burial services decreases. (Page 8)

News Charges filed against escaped inmate ........................................................................4 Tax collector arrested for missing court date .............................................................. 4 Early voting trends indicate substantial turnout ..........................................................6 Maggie Valley seeks input on pedestrian, bicycle plan ............................................7 Impeachment rumors catalyze conflict in Tribal Council ......................................10 Cherokee chief justice suspended ..............................................................................12 Designer selected for $17 million health building ..................................................14 Public art committee to be formed in Sylva ..............................................................15 Finance reports released for candidates ..................................................................17 Swain applies to obtain federal building ....................................................................18 Health news ........................................................................................................................23

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When the dust settles, we’ll keep moving forward ................................................24

A&E A conversation with Chris Robinson ..........................................................................28

November 2-8, 2016

CLASSIFIEDS: NEWS EDITOR: WRITING:

Scott McLeod. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . info@smokymountainnews.com Greg Boothroyd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . greg@smokymountainnews.com Micah McClure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . micah@smokymountainnews.com Travis Bumgardner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . travis@smokymountainnews.com Emily Moss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . emily@smokymountainnews.com Whitney Burton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . whitney@smokymountainnews.com Amanda Bradley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jc-ads@smokymountainnews.com Hylah Birenbaum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . hylah@smliv.com Scott Collier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . classads@smokymountainnews.com Jessi Stone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jessi@smokymountainnews.com Becky Johnson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . becky@smokymountainnews.com Cory Vaillancourt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . cory@smokymountainnews.com Holly Kays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . holly@smokymountainnews.com Garret K. Woodward. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . garret@smokymountainnews.com Amanda Singletary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . smnbooks@smokymountainnews.com Scott Collier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . classads@smokymountainnews.com Jeff Minick (writing), Chris Cox (writing), George Ellison (writing), Gary Carden (writing), Don Hendershot (writing), Susanna Barbee (writing).

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Forest fires ignite the Nantahala as drought worsens ..........................................42

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Charges filed against escaped inmate Off-duty Sylva cop identified in assisting detention officer

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR obert Edward Branning of Canton — the escaped inmate who was shot on Main Street in downtown Waynesville two weeks ago — has now been charged with multiple felonies.

According to court records, 27-year-old Branning has been charged with first-degree kidnapping, felony larceny of a motor vehicle, assault with a deadly weapon, felony flee to elude with a motor vehicle, felony assault with a deadly weapon on a government official and felony possession of a firearm by a felon.

The charges stem from incidents that occurred on Friday, Oct. 21, when a Haywood County detention officer, whose name still hasn’t been released by the sheriff ’s office, was transporting Branning and a second inmate, Joshua Phillips, to the Buncombe County Jail.

According to the sheriff ’s office, an altercation broke out between the two inmates in the back of the van to the point where the officer had to pull the van over on Interstate 40 near exit 31 in Canton to resolve the issue.

As the van stopped, Phillips escaped from the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot but was quickly apprehended. As this was hap-

November 2-8, 2016

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BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR aywood County Tax Collector Mike Matthews was arrested last Wednesday night after failing to appear in court Oct. 20 to face charges for driving without a license and insurance.

According to the arrest report from Maggie Valley Police Department, Officer Matthew Boger noticed Matthews had several outstanding processes for failure to appear for several traffic-related charges. He went to Matthews’ residence in Maggie Valley around 8 p.m. Oct. 26 and spoke to him about the situation.

“I allowed him to call a bondsman to meet us at HCDEC (Haywood County Detention Center) and arrange child care for his child that was present at the residence,” 4 Boger reported.

Smoky Mountain News

“At the time of his escape, the defendant was being transported to Buncombe County for housing due to his gang-related behavioral issues, which caused safety concerns at the Haywood County Detention Center.”

— State order of safekeeping

The 6-year-old boy and Lau’s gun — a Kel-Tec semi-automatic pistol — were still inside the vehicle when Branning took off with it. Court documents state Branning unlawfully restrained the child in the Jeep

Tax collector arrested for missing court date Charges stem from driving without license, insurance

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and dropped him off a few miles away in an unsafe location.

Branning was able to elude police for about 45 minutes before officers spotted the Jeep again in Bethel. Near the Waynesville town limits, the Waynesville Police Department used stop sticks to flatten the front tires of the Jeep but it didn’t stop him from making it to downtown Waynesville.

Branning reportedly ran into several other vehicles that were parked on the street before exiting the Jeep and trying to escape on foot. He then got back in the Jeep and a sheriff ’s deputy rammed the Jeep with his car

from behind. Branning then got out of the car brandishing Lau’s pistol, which is when sheriff ’s detective M.J. Reagan fired.

Branning sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was taken to Mission Hospital to receive treatment. He is still in stable condition. The state filed for an order of safekeeping asking that Branning be kept somewhere other than the Haywood County Detention Center when he is released from the hospital. In addition to Branning likely still needing extensive medical care after his release, the order states that he had gang affiliations with other inmates in Haywood County.

“At the time of his escape, the defendant was being transported to Buncombe County for housing due to his gang-related behavioral issues, which caused safety concerns at the Haywood County Detention Center,” the order stated.

Branning also had several other charges pending for assaulting a detention officer, illegally possessing a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon and possessing a stolen firearm. Phillips had an indictment for assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill.

No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident on Main Street though the sidewalks were packed full of tourists enjoying peak leaf season. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the incident, which is routine in officer-related shootings. Reagan is on administrative duty while the investigation is under way.

the charges on Aug. 19 and waived his right to counsel. The case was continued twice — on Sept. 23 and then to Oct. 20 — but Matthews didn’t show up to court on Oct. 20. His new court date is now scheduled for Nov. 17.

Before running for the county office in 2014, Matthews’ only political experience was a brief stint on the Maggie Valley Board of Aldermen. He was appointed to fill a twoyear unexpired term and then lost the seat when he ran in 2013.

Haywood County is the only county left in the state in which the tax collector is an elected official instead of a county employee.

Matthews ran on the Republican ticket for tax collector in 2014 and was successful in narrowly defeating longtime tax collector David Francis. Given Matthews’ lack of experience and his lack of campaigning efforts, his victory came as a surprise to many — including Matthews himself. His annual salary is $55,000.

As an elected official responsible for collecting revenue for the county, a tax collector has to secure a personal liability bond before he or she can be sworn in. That process was a little tricky for Matthews. At least one national bonding company denied his application, which led to a delay in his swearingin ceremony. The broker wouldn’t give details about why he didn’t qualify — only stating it was “due to items that became

apparent during our underwriting.”

Matthews has never owned property of his own, according to county real estate records. But he has failed to pay his vehicle property taxes on time more than once, accruing late fees. The county garnished his wages at one point to collect past-due personal property taxes on a mobile home he owned during his college days.

Matthews’ credit check as part of his bond application likely turned up a pending civil lawsuit against him by a credit card company for over $3,000 owed on furniture purchased from Rooms To Go — $1,000 of which is late fees and interest. While the credit card lists his grandmother’s name as a co-signor, the civil suit names only Matthews.

Matthews did eventually get bonded and sworn into office Dec. 8. Commissioners chose to set his bond at $410,000 — four times the bond required of the outgoing tax collector David Francis, which was only $100,000. A higher bond means the county is better protected against losses in the event of performance issues or malfeasance.

Matthews couldn’t be reached for comment on his cell phone, by email or at the tax collector’s office before press time. He did tell The Mountaineer newspaper that the revoked license was simply a mix up with the insurance company when he switched providers in March 2016.

pening, a bystander — now identified as Judie Lau, an off-duty police officer with the Sylva Police Department — pulled over to assist the detention officer. Lau had another female passenger in the vehicle and the passenger’s 6-year-old nephew in the backseat.

Branning then fled from the van and, according to court documents, assaulted Lau with a deadly weapon by carjacking her Jeep and dragging her about 1,000 feet and then attempting to knock her off the vehicle by swerving toward a tree.

Boger transported Matthews to the jail without incident where he was processed and then released after posting a $1,500 bond.

The original charges that led to Matthews’ arrest date back to May 29 when he was pulled over by a Maggie Valley officer for driving with a revoked license and no liability insurance.

According to the incident report, Matthews said he was unaware that his insurance had Mike Matthews lapsed and his license was suspended.

He was given an Aug. 19 court date but before he could make it to court, he was pulled over again Aug. 14 by a N.C. Highway Patrol officer and charged again for knowingly driving with a suspended license and no insurance and also transporting a 13year-old who wasn’t wearing a seatbelt.

Matthews then appeared in court for all

Robert Edward Branning

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Senator Davis Returns Experience, Proven Leadership and a Vision for WNC to Raleigh in 2017-2018.

Senator Davis will: •Vote for the 4th time to raise Teacher Pay; 15% in next session •Fight for additional Tax Relief with cuts in: -Personal Income Taxes -Small business Taxes -Reduce Sales Taxes -Maintain Reduction in Highest Taxes in South East -Maintain Most Competitive Tax Structure in the South East

•Vote to Reduce Regulations on Small Business •Fight for WNC's Fair Shake in State Funding •Has a voice at the table to fight for Transportation and Infrastructure in WNC •Maintain the Fastest Growing State Economy in US; 441,000 jobs added since 2011 •Health Care:

- Champion solutions for the significant challenges that face Education, Public Safety and Public Health because of opioid

November 2-8, 2016

- Convene Stakeholders and Experts to combat the growing problems with the abuse of prescription opioids.

abuse in North Carolina

•Exercise Powerful Influence as Co-Chair of the Appropriation on General Government and Information Technology •Co-Chair of the Committee on State and Local Government Smoky Mountain News

•Member of numerous other Committees including Finance, Health Care, Transportation.

Return Senator Jim Davis to Raleigh. He is our Voice, Experienced and Proved Leader, a Man of Integrity, and Hard Worker for WNC Paid for by the Macon County GOP 5

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November 2-8, 2016

Facts about Local and Organic

Local food is not necessarily organic and organic food is not necessarily local.

Your local produce or meat/chicken/pork may be from an area near you but that does not necessarily mean it is certified organic. Many farms/ranches may be use organic methods/practices but may not be USDA certified organic.

Local

Smoky Mountain News

Local is a geographic destination that might be quite vague or very specific depending on who's asked. For some, local is their county or neighborhood and others consider local to be within their state, region or a certain mileage from the home (e.g. within 100 miles of their home). Being locally grown has nothing to do with food safety or nutrition.

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Organic Organic does have a specific meaning and is an agricultural certification established by the USDA's National Organic Program. Use of the organic label means farmers/ranchers follow specific guidelines about how crops are raised and how animals are cared for and fed. Organic has nothing to do with food safety or nutrition.

Early voting continues through Saturday Local trends indicate substantial turnout

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER oters in North Carolina hoping to visit the polls before the Election Day rush have just a few more days to do so, but they should be able to look forward to a short, smooth trip — especially in Haywood County.

Chief Election Judge Carroll Holder said that so far, One Stop voting was “going great” and that the crowds were “phenomenal.”

The county’s been averaging close to 900 voters per day, according to Holder. The first few days, a 20-minute wait was common, but with plenty of staffers and plenty of voting machines, lines at polling sites usually aren’t long and move quickly.

Holder also said that he hadn’t yet run in to any technical, mechanical or logistical issues, although some voters have apparently complained about sensitive touch screens misinterpreting their votes.

As far as best times to vote, Holder couldn’t say.

“It’s been erratic,” he said. “There’s really no way to tell.”

Even if there is a line out the door at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center — like there was at times during the first few days of One Stop voting — Haywood County voters can also vote at the Canton Public Library or the Clyde Municipal Building, both of which have seen fewer votes cast than the county office.

Haywood County as a whole, however, still appears to be on pace to surpass turnout in the 2012 Presidential Election.

With 71.5 hours of early voting complete in the county (as of 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 31) there were 12,709 votes cast, or about 178 each hour.

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By the numbers One Stop totals by county and party affiliation through close of business Monday, Oct. 31.

Haywood County Democrats ........................................5,608 Republicans......................................3,883 Unaffiliated ......................................3,194 Libertarian.............................................24

Jackson County Democrats ........................................3,268 Republicans......................................1,875 Unaffiliated ......................................2,231 Libertarian.............................................29

Macon County Democrats ........................................2,243 Republicans......................................3,265 Unaffiliated ......................................2,146 Libertarian.............................................12

Swain County Democrats ........................................1,096 Republicans.........................................633 Unaffiliated .........................................698 Libertarian...............................................8

All data courtesy respective county boards of elections.

With 37.5 hours remaining and if turnout doesn’t diminish, there could end up being more than 19,000 early voters all in all, which suggests a total turnout near 35,000 — well above the roughly 28,000 that voted in the Obama/Romney contest in 2012.

Early voting ends at all locations at 1 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 5. For more information on voting in North Carolina, visit www.ncsbe.gov.

Youth ministry presents WCU wraps up free talent show enterprise series Long’s Chapel Youth Ministry presents its fourth annual Talent Show from 7 to 8 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 5 at Tuscola Auditorium.

Contestants will be competing before a panel of judges for a grand prize of a $500 Strains of Music gift certificate. All proceeds go to benefit the youth of Long's Chapel UMC’s summer missions trips, and tickets can be purchased at the door of Tuscola’s auditorium or from the church office located off of Old Clyde Road.

Tickets are $10 per person or $35 for a family of four or more. Drinks and baked good items will also be available.

828.456.3993.

Western Carolina University’s Free Enterprise Speaker Series looks at international justice and the role of free markets as a global imperative at 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7, in the Blue Ridge Conference Room.

“Global Justice and Global Freedom” will be presented by Fernando R. Teson, the Tobias Simon Eminent Scholar at Florida State University. It is the third and final presentation of the Free Enterprise Speaker Series for the semester, with a book forum and a question-and-answer period included. The event is open to the public and free of charge.

828.227.3383 or ejlopez@wcu.edu.

Maggie Valley seeks input on pedestrian, bicycle plan

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gered traffic flow could make things much safer and much more visually interesting.

Bowen called these enhancements “nodes of interest” that convey a sense of place and make one feel as though they’ve “arrived” at a destination, in turn triggering an accompanying subconscious notion that encourages slowing down.

Walking tour/public input session Join Maggie Valley Town Manager Nathan Clark and Maggie Valley Town Planner Andrew Bowen on a short walking tour of Soco Road, where they’ll explain the possibilities, answer questions and record your input on a questionnaire.

The tour begins at Maggie Valley Town Hall and is followed by a short PowerPoint presentation.

• When: 5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 3.

• Where: 3987 Soco Road, Maggie Valley • Info: 828.926.0866

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Cory Vaillancourt photo

turning lane would then, in places, become floral beds, butterfly waypoints, or the allimportant “pedestrian refuge islands.”

These islands would be just that — a small landing spot shielded by landscaped beds where pedestrians could pause while crossing the street, in effect halving the time it takes to cross safely.

Two-thirds of crosswalks in Maggie Valley do not offer such protection, including the one between popular retail strip development Market Square and Guayabitos Mexican Restaurant, which is the town’s most heavily used.

Barbara Tyson, owner of Aunt Bee’s Blessing Shop in Market Square, says the improvements are definitely needed. She doesn’t see any negatives for the business community.

“Safety is of the utmost import,” she said.

Scott Nielsen owns the Cabbage Rose jewelry and gift shop right next to Guayabitos, and was optimistic about the proposals.

“I’m a business owner and want to know what they’re planning to do in the valley,” Nielsen said. “Anything that will promote tourism and slow people down, I’m for that.”

ness owners will see an even busier, more beautiful business district.

Aldermen are expected to approve the $100,000 plan — which has languished since last fall — in November or December, at which time work would begin.

Town Manager Rob Hites said he expects the project to take about three months total, with a “mothballing” of the Parking lot and soon-to-be-demolished insurance building project to occur in downtown Hazelwood. Cory Vaillancourt photo around Thanksgiving. Demolition visual public relations; pieces on display in of the buildings will be undertaken first, but Waynesville have become popular, well- asphalt companies will probably be closed for known and readily identifiable on social the winter by the time the town’s site work is complete, so gravel will be in place until they media and in tourist media.

Brown’s only complaints about the plan reopen in the spring, meaning the lot will are the absence of public restrooms and a immediately offer space for more vehicles.

The town expects to lease the lot for $850 dearth of readily-accessible trash cans.

But if the plan moves forward, it’s likely per month for 25 years, with a 9 percent Brown and other Hazelwood Avenue busi- increase every five years.

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Smoky Mountain News

same block as a monogram store, a resale furniture store, a restaurant, a pharmacy, a soap shop, a homebrew supply store, a gun store and a photography studio.

To the delight of Hazelwood business owners, the Town of Waynesville has finally begun to take up the task of expanding and beautifying the lot.

“It’s way overdue,” said Cecil Brown, owner of Haywood Gun and Tactical at 495 Hazelwood Road.

Brown said he too gets occasional complaints from customers who’ve had trouble finding parking; he has a few spots next door to his building, but welcomes the expansion anyway.

The plan is to demolish two buildings on the site — the Olde Time Insurance building off Hazelwood Avenue and Bill’s Barber Shop on Brown Avenue — and then pave, stripe and light the new area, increasing the lot’s capacity to 90 cars.

An area measuring 20 by 35 feet will also be set aside for public art, giving downtown Hazelwood the opportunity to conduct some

Maggie Valley Town Planner Andrew Bowen (left) walks with local business owners while discussing the town’s Pedestrian Safety Action Plan.

November 2-8, 2016

These nodes include sidewalk benches with pergolas or other overhead shading and illuminated pedestrian beacons and signage, but the most significant changes could occur on the roadway itself.

A complete restriping of Soco Road would add 4-foot bike lanes on both sides of the road and shrink all four travel lanes as well as the center turning lane. That center

Revamped Hazelwood parking lot may revitalize downtown

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER ard-luck Hazelwood may be creating a more lucrative future not by building, but by tearing down.

After suffering through years of decline — including the loss of major industries and the collapse of the city’s finances that resulted in its absorption by Waynesville — Hazelwood has seen a small strip of businesses along the 400 block of Hazelwood Avenue flourish as they simultaneously preserve the identity of the tiny downtown core.

Crucial to that core is the 31-space parking lot located right in the heart of it, where businesses like Smoky Mountain Coffee Roasters draw everyone from neighborhood regulars to out-of-state tourists.

Cyndi Messer, an assistant manager at the popular coffee shop, said that customers sometimes complain about finding parking, and that she herself has occasional trouble parking for work.

There are just seven on-street parking spaces in front of her shop, which sits in the

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BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER afety and aesthetic improvements are coming to the Soco Road corridor in Maggie Valley, and town officials are looking for input to determine their scope.

Longstanding trepidation about pedestrian safety along the busy artery has grown in recent years to include concern for bicyclists.

Although there were no accidents in town involving bicyclists or pedestrians from 2007 through 2013 according to data from state Department of Transportation, the town’s Pedestrian Safety Action Plan (PSAP) wants to identify areas where safety and looks can be improved. The PSAP is the offspring of Maggie Valley’s much-maligned master plan.

Of “paramount” importance, the plan says, is getting traffic to slow down — something residents and business owners have long desired.

“It’s about establishing a culture,” said Maggie Valley Town Planner Andrew Bowen.

He wants to create an environment where the 3,000 cars that travel Soco Road each day can peacefully coexist with walkers and bikers.

Currently, from U.S. 276 to Fie Top Road, Soco Road is 64 feet wide, curb to curb, with travel lanes as wide as those on Interstate 40.

Drivers equate size with safety and often exceed posted speed limits.

The plan supposes it takes 16 to 18 seconds for someone on foot to cross Soco Road, during which time a vehicle being driven at 45 miles per hour will travel more than 1,000 feet, leaving little margin for error.

Proposed streetscaping features and rejig-

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A dying tradition Graveyards threatened by cremations and costs

Smoky Mountain News

November 2-8, 2016

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR Some of Western North Carolina’s greatest historical assets are in cemeteries.

They serve as the final resting place to founding families, Civil War soldiers, decorated military officers, Pulitzer Prize winners, and other historic figures that helped shape this region over two centuries. Maintaining these cemeteries — some of which date back to the early 1800s — is becoming a bigger burden for the few who still see the value in preserving a part of the past.

Whether it’s a church, a nonprofit organization or a local government that has taken on the role of caregiver, costs for upkeep are increasing and the number of people buying cemetery plots continues to decline.

According to a report from the National Funeral Directors Association, cremation rates surpassed burial rates in 2015 and projections show cremation services will make up 71 percent of funeral services by 2030.

With more people choosing cremation over burial, caretakers have less money available from plot sales to put toward cemetery maintenance costs.

More people are choosing cremation over burial for a number of reasons — cremation is less expensive and it gives families the flexibly of being able to scatter the ashes, keep the remains or find other ways to honor their loved ones. It’s a trend professionals in the industry are seeing nationwide and it’s one they suspect will continue into the future.

Jennifer Greeley Jacobson of Wells Funeral Home with locations in Waynesville and Canton said about 40 percent of the families her business serves choose cremation services over a traditional cemetery burial.

“With our cremation we’ve seen a 1 to 2 percent increase every year, and that’s been the trend for 10 for 15 years,” she said.

Ann Melton, a local historian and author of a book chronicling the history of Green Hill Cemetery in Waynesville, said she’s not surprised by the latest statistics.

Her own research has shown much of the same. In fact, research shows that more than 80 percent of Americans were affiliated with a religion (mostly Christian denominations) in the 1970s, but today only 30 percent of people are affiliated with a certain religion. She said the lack of participation in the church has also contributed to deteriorating cemeteries.

“Times are changing. All these small churches are dying off because that’s not where young people want to go,” Melton said. “People in these small churches are getting older and it’s usually the people within the church that take care of the cemetery, so the cemeteries are growing up 8 … it’s just sad.”

FUNDS DRYING UP Richard Jones has been a member of the Franklin Cemetery Association since 1972.

The association was created in 1925 with the mission of maintaining Woodlawn Cemetery and many of the current association members are second-generation stakeholders with a vested interest in preserving the cemetery for future generations.

Jones took over the responsibility from his uncle when his health began to fail, but now he wonders who will step up to keep it going for another 40 years. The association relies on revenue from selling plots to help with the maintenance costs, but changes in the industry are making it more difficult to keep up.

“The big problem is the customs for burial now have changed dramatically,” Jones said. “More and more people are electing to have their remains burned instead of put in a grave in the ground — that and the income just is not hardly coming at all.”

The association currently has about $200,000 in perpetual care funds set up in a trust, but it can only access the interest accumulated each year to spend on maintenance costs.

“The total income from those funds is less than a third of what we need to generally maintain the cemetery,” Jones said.

Jones said plots are still available, though the cost has significantly increased over the last 30 years. The association sells individual plots for $625 each or a group of four plots together for $2,500, but he remembers when a four-grave lot only cost $800 to $1,000 in the 1970s.

“The big problem is the customs for burial now have changed dramatically. More and more people are electing to have their remains burned instead of put in a grave in the ground.”

— Richard Jones, Franklin Cemetery Association

The nonprofit association isn’t subject to income tax but does have to pay local taxes and must pay people to do the maintenance work. With limited funding, Jones said the association had to reduce how often the cemetery was mowed, but that led to a number of complaints from families visiting the grounds.

“Maintenance has not been as regular as we would have liked it, but it’s still in good shape,” Jones said.

The cemetery association is looking at several options — either find new members

Woodlawn Cemetery in Franklin. Jessi Stone photo

Green Hill Cemetery in Waynesville. Jessi Stone photo

to serve on the association board or dissolve the association and hand the cemetery over to another nonprofit group, church or government entity. The association has approached the Macon County Board of Commissioners and the town of Franklin to see if either governmental body would be willing to take over the cemetery.

“As it presently stands, the board of trustees is very concerned about the well being and the continued maintenance of the cemetery and we have made a few advances to other individuals about taking over the project,” Jones wrote in a letter to commissioners. “We want to ensure, if at all possible, that it will continue to be operated for the benefit of the public in general and, in particularly, the families of those individuals who have been buried there since the cemetery was founded in 1922.”

Even though the cemetery is in good condition at the moment, Jones said county commissioners and the Franklin Board of Aldermen were not interested in taking over ownership of Woodlawn Cemetery.

“We were hopeful the town or the county would take it over, but neither of them felt this was a good move for them,” he said.

Now the association is in discussions with privately owned funeral homes to see if one of them can take over ownership of the cemetery. If any nonprofit, church or busi-

ness is interested in helping, write to the Franklin Cemetery Association, 61 E. Main St., Franklin, NC, 28734.

OWNING A CEMETERY Managing a cemetery is something Jonathan Yates never expected to be doing with his life, but when the town of Waynesville restructured its departments a few years ago, the horticulturist found himself in charge of the town’s outdoor division, which includes the town’s parks and Green Hill Cemetery.

The founding date of Green Hill Cemetery is unknown, but Melton said the first mention of it was in an 1826 deed whereby Thomas Love conveyed 8 acres of a graveyard to the Trustees of Green Hill Academy. Her best assumption is the cemetery was a family graveyard for the Love family before it was given to the trustees.

The town now owns and maintains Green Hill. Yates said it costs the town about $190,230 a year from the general fund to maintain about 25.5 acres of the cemetery — that includes everything from mowing, employee salaries and benefits, supplies, utilities, and contracted labor.

“It’s a big responsibility. And it’s not just maintenance — we also still sell gravesites,” Yates said.

“For years, no one knew it was there, so it was an incredible discovery,” she said. “It was important to both the town of Clyde and the Haywood County TDA that this sacred place be well attended to and provided the appropriate markings and dedication that those buried there deserved.”

The town applied for TDA partnership funding and the committee granted them $4,067 to be used for the preservation and dedication of the cemetery — $2,567 of those funds will be used for tourism-related expenditures and $1,500 for promotional.

The town is currently working on the plans for this project.

While cemeteries in Western North Carolina may not be home to any major celebrities, Green Hill is home to many historical figures, including Waynesville’s founder Col. James Robert Lowe. Not far from Lowe’s grave lies William Holland Parris Cemetery in Dillsboro.

Thomas, the first and only white chief of the L. Wray Dillard photo Cherokee Indians and founder of Thomas’ Legion — the only North Carolina Legion during the Civil War. Other notable gravesites include Pulitzer Prize winner Carolyn Miller and William Greer, a driver for five presidents and who was driving the Historic percentages of cremation and burial rates and future projections car when John F. Kennedy was shot.

The town of Waynesville has recently 2005 2010 2015 2017 2020 2030 been holding Living History Walks at the Cremation ...............32.3..............40.4..............48.5..............51.6 ...............56 ...............71.1 cemetery to raise awareness about the Burial.......................61.4..............53.3..............45.4..............42.3 ...............38 ...............23.2 importance of preserving the site. The walking tour features town leaders dressed as the SOURCE: National Funeral Directors Association late historic figures and re-enactments of the famous or storied people buried there.

Melton said the walking tours were well original members having passed away. references to our heritage,” Jorstad said. “We attended and she hopes to do more in 2017.

Walter Wilson, the son of an original board saw this as an opportunity to share our member, has been acting with several indiunique history through these special places.” The Living History Walks and other heritage tourism-related efforts could be one viable viduals to maintain the cemetery.

The TDA began mentioning Haywood’s “It’s flown under the radar for many historic cemeteries — Green Hill, Bethel and way to increase awareness of historic cemeteries and create an additional revenue years — the town didn’t know about it until Locust Field — in promotional material and stream to help preserve them. a few months ago,” said Town Clerk Debbie on its website a few years ago during the Melton has also been leading the charge to Coffey. “The town has requested a survey be Halloween season to highlight the heritage get Green Hill on the National Register of done by Burns Land Surveying to find out tourism niche available. Jorstad said the Historic Places, but it’s been a tedious process. what portion we own.”

TDA encourages tourists visiting the ceme“It’s really hard to get a cemetery on the The town is also working to re-establish a teries to do so with respect. national registry,” she said. board of trustees to oversee the cemetery and “There’s two ways to do it come up with a plan for future maintenance.

“People in these small churches are — either you have someone The town’s ordinance also requires an annual getting older and it’s usually the peo- very famous buried there or financial statement be provided to the board you have tombstones or of aldermen. This has not been provided to ple within the church that take care what they call funeral art.” the town for some time. At this time the town Green Hill does happen does not budget general funds for support of of the cemetery, so the cemeteries to have some recognized the cemetery, but does distribute allocations are growing up … it’s just sad.” funeral art. Melton says the from The N.C. Community Foundation Parris cemetery contains eight Cemetery Fund to Jackson Savings Bank.

— Ann Melton, Waynesville historian and author ornamental tombstones that were sculpted by W.O. ERITAGE TOURISM Wolfe — father of Asheville author Thomas “We do not promote the cemeteries as Wolfe. Since a cemetery in Hendersonville some type of terrifying Halloween attraction There’s something mysterious yet beauwas placed on the national registry for havbecause they are not — they are historical tiful about cemeteries that attract droves of ing one W.O. Wolfe headstone, Melton feels points of significance and the final resting people whether they’re photographing the hopeful Green Hill can make it too. place for many, so they are to be treated as unique headstones or searching for longEven though Green Hill is already well such,” she said. lost ancestors. maintained by the town, Melton hopes a And if a cemetery can be considered a Anna Smathers Jorstad, communications national registry designation would help tourism-related attraction then it can potenmanager for the Haywood County Tourism tially be eligible to receive grant funding from more people understand what a valuable Development Authority, said the TDA the TDA’s room tax revenue. The TDA recent- asset the cemetery is to the community. receives plenty of calls and inquiries “The majority of people in Waynesville ly granted funding to the town of Clyde for a throughout the year about cemeteries from don’t know what’s up there and what an special project at Pleasant Hill Cemetery. history buffs, Civil War enthusiasts and peoamazing place it is,” she said. “It would just Within the past year, Jorstad said a separate ple trying to trace their ancestry. be such an honor and maybe the people of cemetery was discovered marking the final “One of the many draws to Haywood County is its deep-rooted history and several resting place for a group of slaves that lived in Haywood County will realize what a treasure it is.”

Haywood County. of the cemeteries offer significant historical 9

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By the numbers

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Smoky Mountain News

Plots at Green Hill run much higher than those at Woodlawn Cemetery in Franklin. A traditional burial plot is $1,500 each but the town also offers space in the urn garden for $1,000 for cremations only.

There are also columbarium niche units for cremations only.

When the town collects $1,500 for a plot, $1,000 of it goes into a perpetual care fund and $500 goes into the town’s general fund.

For the in-ground space in the urn garden, the town puts $600 toward the perpetual care fund, $200 in the general fund and $200 goes to pay for a flat granite stone marker.

“We have several options for people but a lot more folks seem to be going with cremation than in the past,” Yates said. “I think a lot of it comes down to money because of the high cost of burial.”

The town of Canton has owned and maintained Locust Field Cemetery for at least 50 years. The cemetery — located across from the Canton Public Library — was established in 1803 when Locust Field Baptist Church was first built and encompasses about 4.5 acres. Just like Green Hill, Locust Field is a point of interest on the North Carolina Civil War Trail.

The cemetery and church served as a campground and rallying point throughout the Civil War for Confederate soldiers. After the confederacy lost control at the battle of Cumberland Gap in September 1863, hundreds of soldiers that were part of 62nd NC Infantry escaped and set up refuge at Locust Fields. During the winter of 1864-65, the cemetery became a Confederate encampment again for Col. James Robert Love II — grandson of Waynesville’s founder Col. James Robert Love — and six companies of Thomas’ Legion. These soldiers took part in some of the last fights of the war in spring of 1865. Dozens of Confederate soldiers are buried in Locust Field.

Maintenance expenses — mostly mowing and weed eating — cost the town about $10,000 a year out of the general fund.

While the cemetery is no longer active, meaning plots are no longer being sold, Canton Town Manager Seth Hendler-Voss said there is still a value to keeping it maintained with taxpayer dollars.

“For many municipalities, cemeteries act as parks for exercising and cultural sites for education,” he said. “Cemeteries also serve as arboretums or tree preserves of sorts.”

While Canton and Waynesville have been in the cemetery business for a while, the town of Dillsboro only recently discovered that it owns the original one-acre tract that was the beginning of the historic Parris Cemetery.

As the town planning board was recently reviewing and updating all the town’s ordinances, members came upon an ordinance passed in the early 1980s that established a cemetery board of trustees for Parris Cemetery. They also discovered a deed at the courthouse dating back to 1940 in which the town was given the land. While the town owns the original cemetery land, the new section of the cemetery is privately owned by Ronnie Riddle.

Over time, the board of trustees for the cemetery has become inactive, with all the

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Impeachment rumors catalyze conflict in Tribal Council

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER ension has been high in Cherokee tribal government lately, and when rumors emerged last week that some members of Tribal Council were planning to get Principal Chief Patrick Lambert impeached, it didn’t take long for the gossip to get a public airing.

When Tribal Council’s Oct. 18 meeting opened, Councilmember Teresa McCoy, of Big Cove, raised her hand to kick off the reports from councilmembers that typically begin each session.

“Mr. Chairman, are we impeaching somebody today?” McCoy asked immediately.

“No,” replied Council Chairman Bill Taylor, of Wolfetown.

“Are we impeaching somebody next council?” countered McCoy. “I haven’t seen a resolution,” Taylor said.

“I just want council to know there are rumors out there in the community and I’ve been bombarded by questions,” McCoy replied. “The chairman said we are not impeaching somebody. We’re going to hold him to his word.”

As the 12 members of council each delivered their respective reports, McCoy’s line of questioning found company in comments from some of her colleagues.

“I was put into office to do a job, and one thing we’re here to do is to look out for enrolled members, and if somebody is messing up it’s worthy of impeachment, but as of now I’ve seen nothing to impeach anybody on,” said Councilmember Bo Crowe, of Wolfetown. “I’d like to just move forward on what needs to be done.”

Councilmember Richard French, of Big Cove, echoed that sentiment — council should be spending its time working for tribal members, not squabbling over personal issues, he said.

“We’ve already been in here one year.

What can we go back and say we really accomplished in one year?” he asked. “We’ve

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November 2-8, 2016

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Principal Chief Patrick Lambert confronts the impeachment rumors that had been circulating on the Qualla Boundary before Tribal Council Oct. 18. EBCI Councilhouse image got one more year to do something. Whether we get reelected or not we still have a job to do in this next year because that’s what we was elected to do.”

Those councilmembers who addressed the issue seemed to agree they’d started hearing rumors the previous day, on Monday, Oct. 17. It’s unclear where the impeachment conversation originated, but a post to the Facebook page Cherokee Rants and Raves at 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16, matches the timeline.

The post, which is written anonymously, alleged that some members of council planned to initiate impeachment at Tuesday’s meeting as retaliation for recent events that they saw as threatening their power. The post gained significant traction, garnering 65 shares and reposts to other Cherokee community Facebook pages.

ONGOING TENSION There has certainly been some shaking up in tribal government recently, with the executive and legislative branches sparring over various issues since the current crop of lead-

ers took office in October 2015.

In July, Tribal Council decided in a narrow vote — taken after Councilmember Travis Smith introduced a verbal resolution on the floor in response to concerns that Vice Chief Richie Sneed had brought up that morning — to launch an investigation into Lambert’s hiring and firing practices. The vote also ordered Lambert to cease all hiring and firing until the investigation could be completed.

Some members felt Lambert had been abusing his power by firing people for personal reasons and hiring new positions without proper approval.

Lambert responded that, aside from his having done nothing wrong, Council was outside its scope of power to interfere with his personnel decisions. Managing the day-today of tribal government is the domain of the executive branch, and so Lambert asked for a written version of the verbal resolution so he could veto it. Council refused, responding that launching investigations is within the body’s power and not subject to veto. Then, on Oct. 13, Lambert issued an executive order announcing that he would resume hiring and

firing as usual.

“The action was outside the scope of legislative branch authority,” the order says of council’s vote. “By Executive Order I am reasserting my authority over the day-to-day operations and administration of this Tribe and tribal programs. These duties and separation of power between the two branches of Government are clearly spelled out in our Code and in the Cherokee Charter and Governing Document.”

Besides, Lambert maintained, he has done only what was within the power of his office to do. While he has replaced Hicks’ hires with his own appointments, those were all appointed positions in which it’s understood that the person holding the job is a political appointee serving at the pleasure of the principal chief. There have been no multitudes of wrongfully fired or transferred rankand-file employees, he said, though some people who were merely coasting under the Hicks administration — not showing up to work, taking two-hour lunch breaks, and generally showing lackluster work ethic — may have found themselves fired.

In Lambert’s eyes, the 12-year Hicks administration served to cover a substantial amount of corruption and mismanagement.

“If there’s been crimes committed, I’m not one to help cover them up, keep them hidden,” he told Council at the Oct. 18 meeting.

Back in April, Lambert issued a preliminary report on a forensic audit into tribal spending over the past 12 years, which revealed many red flags, including thousands of dollars and cash advances to “parties unknown,” and thousands more spent at clothing stores such as Banana Republic, Victoria’s Secret and Joseph A. Bank, and for limousine rentals, Dollywood tickets and trips to golf courses in Georgia and Puerto Rico.

He turned the information over the FBI, and on Oct. 1 officials at the Qualla Housing Authority were informed that they were under federal investigation for “possible criminal conduct related to certain loans and loan applications, among other matters,” according to a letter that the U.S. Department of Justice sent to the program’s director, Charlene Owle.

The Qualla Housing Authority falls outside of the oversight of the executive branch and is overseen by a board whose membership includes six members of Tribal Council — Chairman Bill Taylor, of

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RESPONSE FROM THE CHIEF

A PERSPECTIVE FROM HISTORY

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Lambert wasn’t the only one to express frustration with tribal government’s lack of forward motion that day. Crowe, French and Councilmember Tommye Saunooke, of Painttown, made comments to that effect as well, and tribal member Mary Wachacha took the podium to deliver 11 minutes’ worth of commentary on just what she thinks about the state of the current tribal council.

“This is supposed to be government. You are here to support the legislative branch,” she said. “Instead, Tribal Council is trying to micromanage the tribe. You’re sticking your noses where you don’t have any right to stick them.”

Wachacha, whose career included 40 years of working for three different federal agencies, told council that she’d seen a fair number of U.S. presidents come and go dur-

November 2-8, 2016

While the word “impeachment” was used frequently during the Oct. 18 meeting, it was always uttered by somebody opposed to the idea. Nobody spoke up in favor it. And while the rumor appeared to be widespread — none of the councilmembers pronounced it to be false — nobody claimed to know where it had started or whether there was any truth to it.

However, it’s no secret that a divide exists between Lambert’s administration and a bloc of councilmembers that has consistently opposed his actions.

Lambert addressed the issue head-on.

“Those are dangerous rumors to start,” he said. “It’s not about because it upsets me or anything like that, because it really didn’t. I know what I’ve done. I know there’s no justification for anything like that. The point that does bother me is the impact this has on the tribe as a whole, the impact this has on tribal government.”

Instead of dealing with real issues, making real progress, he said, tribal government is stuck in a rut full of infighting. Lambert placed the blame for that reality fully at the feet of the councilmembers who have opposed him — he’s been more than willing to communicate and talk about differences, he said, but they have not taken him up on that willingness.

“I’ve said a dozen times, if you want to know something all you have to do is ask me,” he said.

ing her years with the government, and it was expected that each new administration would bring with it a change of direction and change of leadership.

“Sometimes we’d get a president and they’d say, ‘We’re going to go to the right,’ and we’d start marching and working that way, and then somebody new would be elected and their appointees would come in and say, ‘Now we’re going to the left,’” she said.

“You have to follow the administration.”

The same goes for tribal government, Wachacha said. It used to be that the only political appointee that a new chief would make was the chief ’s advisor position, but when Joyce Dugan was elected principal chief in 1995, she asked all top-level managers to resign from their positions, introducing a wider array of politically appointed professional staff into the tribal workforce, Wachacha told council. Since then, chiefs have hired their own top-level staff. Early in the administration of former Principal Chief Michell Hicks, Wachacha said, council approved a resolution Hicks submitted asking for sole hiring and firing authority.

“Principal Chief Patrick Lambert, as far as I can see, is only doing what you gave the former principal chief and the tribal executive branch the right and power to do, so why should Principal Chief Patrick Lambert be held to a higher standard?” Wachacha asked.

Wachacha recounted instances of seeing tribal employees ordering a McDonald’s breakfast at 9:30 a.m. on a weekday or lingering over a two-hour lunch. It’s no surprise, she said, that cleaning up the tribal government would include some changes to personnel.

“Working for the tribe should be a privilege and not a guarantee of a job,” she said.

“Supervisors should not ignore those employees who are not doing their jobs, who are not arriving on time and are leaving before quitting time.”

Lambert won the election by more than 70 percent, Wachacha pointed, out, indicating that tribal members wanted the status quo shaken up.

“I’m glad to hear that the Principal Chief lifted the freeze on the hiring and firing because we have a lot of people out there who need work and are looking for jobs,” Wachacha said.

In a follow-up interview, McCoy agreed with that statement.

“I’m glad they’re going to get to go to work now,” she said of the newly hired employees.

“And certain members of Tribal Council because of the move and the amendment (to investigate and freeze hiring and firing) had held that process up. I just wish our chief had done it sooner.”

Though basic human resources functions have resumed, council’s investigation into Lambert’s hiring and firing practices is still active. Taylor told council that the investigation is being handled by the tribe’s Office of Internal Audit.

Smith, who had initiated the original move to investigate, maintains that the outcome will be revealing.

“We’re not the ones to boast and brag or use scare tactics to get what we need,” he told The Smoky Mountain News. “The facts will be told once all is complete.”

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Wolfetown; Councilmember Alan “B” Ensley, of Yellowhill; Councilmember Adam Wachacha, of Snowbird; Councilmember Albert Rose, of Birdtown; Councilmember Richard French, of Big Cove; and Councilmember Marie Junaluska, of Painttown. Taylor, Ensley and Wachacha have been on the board since 2009; Junaluska and French took their seats more recently, in 2015.

Some tribal members — including the author of the Rants and Raves post — believe that backroom impeachment discussions have resulted from the fear some tribal leaders have about the investigation’s outcome.

“The old political ruling class are going to do whatever they need to make sure they don’t go to jail,” the post reads.

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Cherokee chief justice suspended Boyum argues that suspension violated the law

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER he afternoon of Sept. 27 took an unusual turn in the Cherokee Justice Center when Human Resources Employment Manager Patricia Watkins and a pair of Cherokee Indian Police Department officers arrived to escort Chief Justice Bill Boyum off the premises.

Boyum’s keys, phone and computer access were removed, and Watkins informed him he was being put on paid suspension.

Court employees had made allegations of harassment and a hostile working environment, according to a Sept. 27 letter from Watkins to Boyum, and he would be placed on a 30-day suspension with pay while an independent third party investigated the case.

Results of the investigation have not been made public, though sources inside tribal government said the allegations included demeaning speech to female courthouse employees and threatening behavior.

But when Boyum came before Tribal Council in October, it wasn’t to discuss the particulars of what he had or had not done wrong. Rather, he took issue with the process and brought with him a resolution that, if passed, would reinstate him as chief justice.

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BOYUM’S ARGUMENT

Smoky Mountain News

In the resolution, Boyum contends that Chief Lambert, through the actions of Human Resources, violated the law.

“We must enforce obedience under the charter,” Boyum wrote, “by restoring the Chief Justice to exactly the same position he was before the unlawful action.”

Furthermore, Boyum wrote, “to avoid the obvious appearance of impropriety and because of the clear conflict of interest,” “all investigative materials (must) immediately be collected from the Ethics Committee, HR or anyone who has them and be destroyed.”

Lambert’s supposed conflict of interest, Boyum wrote, stems from his personal feelings toward Boyum and the fact that Watkins is Lambert’s sister.

Meanwhile, Lambert’s chief of staff Sage Dunston said that the chief ’s office had not had any communication with HR about Boyum’s employment. Lambert was out of town when the harassment reports came to light and Boyum was suspended, Dunston said, and though Lambert appoints the secretary of HR, Watkins’ position is not politically appointed.

In his comments to Tribal Council, 12 Boyum contended that he, as a judge, is

Chief Justice Bill Boyum (left) waits as EBCI Attorney General Danny Davis gives council his opinion on the issue. EBCI Councilhouse image

Debating the third branch This isn’t the first time that Cherokee’s executive and judicial branches have found themselves at odds. In January, Chief Justice Bill Boyum and Principal Chief Patrick Lambert sparred over the court system’s place in the budget. Lambert’s proposed budget had moved Boyum’s position to fall within the chief’s budget, which Boyum said would create a conflict.

“If I report to the chief, he is essentially my client and then I can’t hear any case because the EBCI is involved in nearly every case,” Boyum had said. “It essentially takes me out of the picture. Maybe that’s what someone wants.”

Lambert, meanwhile, made it clear that he resented the comment — there was “no ill intent intended” he said, and Boyum fell under the same place on the organizational chart as he had before. The change was merely for consistency’s sake.

Nevertheless, it’s true enough to say that elected officials have differing opinions regarding the place of the judicial branch in tribal government. The tribe’s Charter and Governing Document — analogous to the Constitution in U.S. government — outlines only two branches of government, executive and legislative. However, a section of the Cherokee Code added in 2000 established the judiciary as a separate branch.

Because the Charter and Government Document overrides the code, some say that the judicial branch is not a true third branch, while others say that a separate judicial branch is clearly outlined in the code and necessary for a functional government.

exempt from the personnel policy that governs other tribal employees. He can be impeached, and there’s a procedure for that, but he can’t be hired, fired or disciplined like other tribal employees.

As outlined in the Cherokee Code, the chief justice is appointed to a six-year term by the Principal Chief and confirmed by Tribal Council. Boyum became Chief Justice in 2006, when he was appointed by former Principal Chief Michell Hicks, and began a second term in 2012.

“They used the personnel policy in a proactive way to investigate me unlawfully.

That’s what it comes down to,” Boyum told Tribal Council. “If you want an independent court system, you need to fix that. If you don’t want to have an independent court system, you won’t have a government.”

According to the Cherokee Code, judges and justices can be impeached only by the ethics commission, which is made up of the

chair and vice chair of Tribal Council, the Principal Chief, the Vice Chief and the chair of the Community Club Council. Boyum argued that tribal government had violated the law by suspending him absent an action of the Ethics Commission.

“This is not about what happened or what is going on in the office,” he said. “This is a legal question as to whether or not this follows the law. That’s what this is about — whether I am exempt from the personnel policy.”

NEXT STEPS Danny Davis, attorney general for the tribe and a former district court judge in Western North Carolina, disagreed with Boyum’s assessment of how the law was followed. Boyum may not fall under the personnel policy as a whole, he said, but he does fall under the anti-harassment policy.

“Everyone, elected officials, are subject to the anti-harassment policy,” Davis said. “Are

there gray areas here? You betcha. But the situation here called for a little different interpretation.”

The tribe’s anti-harassment policy casts a wide net, stating that it covers “everyone in the workplace, including elected officials, deputy officers, managers, supervisors, coworkers, non-employee visitors and vendors.”

“The process was followed, the investigation was completed, it was forwarded to who we thought the proper folks were,” Davis said.

It’s true, Davis said, that only the ethics commission has the power to permanently remove a judge through impeachment.

Human Resources did not remove Boyum — it suspended him until the Ethics Commission could make a final decision.

Tribal Council then cleared the councilhouse chambers to discuss the issue further during an hour-long closed session meeting.

When open session resumed, the discussion had turned to what the next step should be. “(Tribal Council Attorney Carolyn West) is partially right when she says this should have gone to the court system at some point in time. It should have gone to the court system first,” Boyum said. “They didn’t do that.

That’s the problem. Now you can’t use the court system. It’s too late because the court system’s in the middle of it now.”

West, meanwhile, still recommended that council look to the courts for a resolution.

“The issue before you is asking Tribal Council to interpret the code and different sections of the code, and the Eastern Band gave that authority to the judicial branch,” she said.

“Therefore it’s my opinion that the proper venue for this issue is before the courts.”

“I think we have two choices here,” said Councilmember Teresa McCoy, of Big Cove.

“We can allow Mr. Boyum to withdraw and go the court route, or we can kill the legislation.”

“There is no court route to go,” Boyum replied. “You’ve not waived sovereign immunity. It will take six months to do this. It will ruin your court system.”

It was the suggestion of Councilmember Alan “B” Ensley, of Yellowhill, that wound up prevailing.

“We’ve had a good discussion on this, and I’m going to move to table at this time for further review,” Ensley said. “That would give time for the ethics committee or whatever to conduct their investigation.”

Of the 12 coucilmembers, nine voted in favor of Ensley’s move and two opposed it.

Councilmember Tommye Saunooke, of Painttown, abstained from voting. Though Chairman Bill Taylor, of Wolfetown, and Vice Chair Brandon Jones, of Snowbird, sit on the Ethics Commission that will ultimately decide Boyum’s fate, they both participated in the vote.

That was on Oct. 18, but thus far no final decision has been made about Boyum’s employment. His original 30-day suspension ended Oct. 27 but was extended until the ethics committee could review the issue, according to EBCI Communications Director Chris McCoy.

WCU offering workshops for nonprofit professionals

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Western Carolina University’s Office of Continuing and Professional Education is sponsoring a pair of workshops in Asheville to benefit area nonprofit professionals.

Both workshops will be held at WCU’s instructional site at Biltmore Park Town Square. The first workshop, a grant-writing certificate program, will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. beginning Wednesday, Nov. 2, and continuing through Friday, Nov. 4.

A second workshop focused on “Understanding Nonprofit Financial Statements and Annual Tax Compliance” will be offered from 9 a.m. to noon Friday, Nov. 18.

828.227.7397 or visit pdp.wcu.edu.

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Meadows’ office offering inauguration tickets Congressman Mark Meadows’, R-Cashiers, office has set up a webpage to help constituents request tickets for the 2017 Presidential Inauguration, which will be held Jan. 20, 2017.

Tickets are available through each congressional office and are given on a first come, first serve basis.

Tickets will be available for request through Dec. 16.

Submitting a request does not mean you are guaranteed a ticket.

For more information, call 202.225.6401.

Weigh in on Haywood library’s future

SCC to host Veterans Day celebration

@Smoky MtnNews

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Smoky Mountain News

Southwestern Community College will host a Veterans Day celebration at noon on Thursday, Nov. 10, in Myers Auditorium.

Tom Baker, Vietnam veteran and president of Jackson County Veterans Support Organization, will be the keynote speaker. The William E. Dillard American Legion Post 104 Color Guard will present and retire colors.

828.399.4000, or visit southwesterncc.edu.

November 2-8, 2016

Public input is being requested for Haywood County Public Library’s future.

The library is in the process of creating a longrange plan for the county system and will hold the following public focus group sessions: 6 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 10, at the Waynesville Library; 3 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 15, at the Maggie Valley Library; and 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, at the Canton Library.

All are invited to share their ideas on how the library can better serve the community. Light refreshments will be served.

828.356.2504 or http://haywoodlibrary.libguides.com/strategicplan.

13

news

Designer selected for $17 million health building SCC trustees opt to engage S.C. firm for three capital projects

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER outhwestern Community College is gearing up to start work on a $17 million health sciences building, with its trustees last week spending hours listening to pitches from four different companies before selecting the firm LS3P to design the project.

“They had their total team there, and you could see that the total team was involved in the project,” said Gary Shields, an SCC trustee and Macon County commissioner.

The presentation made it clear that the SCC project would be a priority, Shields said, and he was also impressed by the experience they brought to the table. LS3P has worked on a variety of health education buildings, including the Health Sciences Building at Central Carolina Technical College and the MAHEC Center for Health and Aging at Western Carolina University.

“The working relationship that some of the trustees have had with them, particularly on our future capital needs project (impressed me),” agreed Mark Jones, an SCC trustee and a Jackson County commissioner.

“What also struck me was their experience with other facilities in health sciences building construction — they have extensive experience there.”

Jones also appreciated that LS3P offered a specific goal for completion — June 2019.

“I don’t remember any of the other companies giving that timeline,” Jones said.

November 2-8, 2016

S

Based in Charleston, South Carolina, LS3P has eight offices in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. The company has a history with SCC, having collaborated with Charlotte-based ColeJenest & Stone in 2015 to produce a master plan for future capital projects on SCC’s Jackson and Swain campuses. The final master plan listed a new health sciences building as SCC’s most pressing capital need, accounting for nearly half of the $34 million of work recommended.

“This will allow a significant enrollment into the nursing career as well as provide a state-of-the-art education for those nurses,” Jones said. “The nurses that come out of SCC already have a reputation of being some of the best in their industry. This will just take it to another level.”

The existing health building at SCC was built when the college had just four programs in that field, but now there are 14. SCC determined that, with more space, it could accept 100 more health sciences students each year without hiring more instructors, meaning better career opportunities for residents and a better-trained local workforce.

The building would be partially funded through the N.C. Connect Bond, which North Carolina voters passed in a referendum vote this spring. The $2 billion bond included $7.1 million in funding for capital projects at SCC, and much of that money will go to the health sciences project. The bond requires that the county kick in at least a quarter of the project cost to unlock bond funds. Jackson County would plan to pay for its portion through a new revenue stream created this year when voters approved an additional quarter-cent sales tax.

Revenue from the tax will fund capital projects at SCC and in Jackson County Schools.

Smoky Mountain News

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Trustees listen to a pitch from Asheville-based Clark Nexsen during a special-called meeting Oct. 20. Nexsen was selected as a backup designer for the health sciences project, but trustees selected South Carolina based LS3P as their top pick. Holly Kays photo

“What also struck me was their experience with other facilities in health sciences building construction — they have extensive experience there.”

— Mark Jones, SCC trustee

The new health sciences building isn’t the only capital project that SCC has in its sights.

Trustees also selected LS3P as its top pick for two other pressing projects — constructing a new maintenance building and renovating the Summit Building. The new maintenance building is estimated at $700,000 and the Summit renovation is estimated at $482,000.

According to Scott Baker, vice president of LS3P, the health sciences and maintenance projects will be designed simultaneously. The maintenance building would be constructed before the Summit renovations begin, allowing warehouse storage to be moved out of Summit while that renovation project took place.

Though SCC’s board of trustees has declared LS3P its top pick for all three projects, it’s not a done deal yet. Because bond money is involved, the project must receive approval from the state before an official contract can be signed and work can begin.

“It’s such an exciting time for Southwestern Community College and the communities we serve,” said Terry Bell, chairman of the Board of Trustees. “Once all these construction projects are completed, we’ll be in an even better position to serve the people of Jackson, Macon, Swain counties and the Qualla Boundary.”

Public art committee to be formed in Sylva

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Sylva hopes to one day have public art as iconic as this piece in downtown Waynesville. File photo

Be an art advocate Sylva is currently looking for volunteers to serve on its soon-to-be-created Public Art Committee, which will work to complete public art projects in town. Three of the five members must reside in town limits, and the remaining two must live in Jackson County.

Applications are available at town hall or online at http://bit.ly/2f6d1b7.

Submit applications to Town Manager Paige Dowling, townmanager@townofsylva.org.

J I M D AV I S ENERGIZING THE OVERSEAS ECONOMY

Working hard to outsource our jobs to Mexico, India and China. Giving tax breaks to companies that are shipping jobs overseas.

BAI MUM

Raleigh Jim voted to give tax breaks to companies shipping your jobs overseas.

He even gave our tax dollars to companies forcing North Carolina workers to train their foreign replacements.

DAVIS RAISED TAXES ON...

AMMO [HB 97, Conf. Rpt., 9/16/15]

COMPUTERS & SCHOOL SUPPLIES [HB 97, Conf. Rpt., 9/16/15] [HB 998, Conf. Rpt., 7/17/13]

APPLIANCES [HB 97, Conf. Rpt., 9/16/15]

COLLEGE SAVINGS [HB 998, Conf. Rpt., 7/17/13]

TELEVISIONS CABLE & SATELLITE [HB 97, Conf. Rpt., 9/16/15]

NEWBORNS & CHILD CARE [HB97, Section 12E.12.[a], Signed 9/18/15] [HB 998, Conf Rpt, 7/17/13]

AND STILL TAXING

Smoky Mountain News

“Art to one fellow may not be art to the fellow that’s paying the bill,” Hensley said.

“People are having a hard time with their taxes as high as they are and we said we had to raise them. Then to come back to the public and say, ‘We raised it so high and we’re going to put part of it into putting art downtown’ — if people want art, let them furnish it.”

Just two weeks before, Hensley said, commissioners had voted to let the police department gather public donations to buy a K-9 dog. If the town doesn’t have enough money to buy its police department what it needs, how can it turn around and say it’s got $5,000 to spend on public art?

But, Nestler countered, if the committee doesn’t have any funding, how could it be expected to get anything done? Most grants

require matching funds of some sort to unlock any grant dollars awarded. The town’s Main Street Association already has a design committee whose function is similar — though much broader than — what a public art committee would be charged with.

However, the design committee has scant membership compared to the MSA’s other committees and has barely met this year.

“One of the reasons we don’t have interest in the design committee is because you come up every year with these great goals and you can’t get anywhere with it if you don’t have money,” Nestler said.

However, money can come from sources other than town revenues. That’s how Waynesville, whose Public Art Commission has created the most art-heavy downtown west of Asheville, has approached the question.

“Art is very subjective and a lot of people don’t want their tax dollars going for public art when they feel like it could be going for another service or a different area,” explained Amie Owens, Waynesville’s town clerk.

“That’s why the Public Art Commission determined from the very beginning that no public funds would go for any of those art pieces.”

Formed in 2006, the Waynesville PAC has a decade of history and a highly visible record of its work scattered throughout the downtown. From the painted metal “Wildflowers of the Smokies” piece by local artist Grace Cathey to the bronze sculpture of three children chasing tadpools in Frog Level to the giant sculpture of mountain musicians playing washtub bass and banjo on Main Street, Waynesville’s public art has contributed to the unique sense of place that visitors and residents alike feel when roaming its streets. But the art has been purchased through grants matched with dollars from fundraising efforts like silent auctions and barbecue dinners and festivals.

The PAC does fill out an application for town funding each year, as do many other nonprofits, and for each of the past two years the organization has received $5,000.

However, that money has gone to expenses like signage, insurance for the art pieces, and maintenance — never purchase costs.

It’s worked out well, Owens said.

Fundraising efforts have been successful and the results have created an identity for Waynesville that instills pride in its residents.

Take, for instance, that landmark sculpture of washtub bass and banjo players on the corner of Main and Miller streets.

“It’s become one of the premier identifiers for Waynesville,” Owens said. “You could show that picture and people in the surrounding area and people who come to visit know exactly what you’re talking about.”

As far as Sylva’s public art program is concerned, nothing is set in stone yet. On their Nov. 3 meeting, commissioners will likely approve a special revenue fund that would allow people to make donations earmarked for public art. They’re currently taking applications for committee members and will officially create the committee sometime before the end of the year, likely appointing members in January.

November 2-8, 2016

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER he Sylva town board has its sights set on making public art a hallmark of the downtown experience, and last week town commissioners sat down to hash out the particulars of what it might take to launch a robust public art program.

“Aesthetics is part of our economic development. It’s our responsibility to make the town look as good as it can so our overall economic picture becomes brighter,” said Commissioner Greg McPherson, who has advocated for aesthetic improvements to town since his candidacy in 2015.

McPherson brought a draft outline to the Oct. 27 meeting showing what an aesthetics committee focused on public art might look like. The five-member committee — composed of three Sylva residents and two Jackson County residents — would meet six times per year and work to “energize Sylva’s landscape with murals, sculpture and other artwork that reflects the community, landscape and heritage of its citizens,” the draft document reads.

Board members seemed to generally agree that public art would be a boon to the town and supported the creation of a committee dedicated to making that happen. However, they disagreed on one key issue: how the committee’s endeavors would be funded. Some commissioners feel that it is the town’s duty to fund efforts like public art, arguing they serve to spur the downtown economy. Others believe that any public art projects should be funded through donations only, with no public dollars involved. And some find themselves in the middle.

“I’m supportive of having an art committee. I’m a little bit cautious I guess about the funding of it,” said Commissioner Mary Gelbaugh. “I feel like we’ve had a hard time recently supporting our needs.”

This year, commissioners voted to increase the property tax rate from 30 cents to 42.5 cents per $100 of property value, a decision spurred by a rising cost of doing business and a countywide property revaluation that resulted in a decreased total value for town property. Even with the hefty rate hike, the budget was still bare bones enough that some necessary items — such as saving to pay out postretirement benefits for employees — could not be funded at the recommended level.

“I want art, but I want to make sure we’re very careful with how we budget for that want,” Gelbaugh said.

“I look at it a little differently,” replied Commissioner David Nestler. “I don’t see art as a want. I see it more as a need. If we’re going to remain attractive as a destination and attractive as a good place to live, I think art is a necessity. It’s a quality of life thing, just like public parks. You can say those are wants, but really they are a need.”

The amount he and McPherson hope to

see the town kick in each year — a little over $5,000 — accounts for just 0.15 percent of the entire town budget. That’s a small investment that will provide a big return, Nestler said.

But, Gelbaugh countered, does the current budget even address all of the town’s existing commitments?

“That’s what my concern is because I’m for art too, but we are already into this budget,” concurred Commissioner Barbara Hamilton.

Commissioner Harold Hensley, meanwhile, made it clear that he objected to taxpayer funding of the art commission, period.

news

Commissioners debate funding mechanism for program

RALEIGH SENATOR

www.JaneHippsForSenate.com PAID FOR BY FRIENDS FOR JANE HIPPS

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news

Long’s Chapel Youth Ministry presents its

WHERE JOBS TURN INTO CAREERS.

4th Annual Talent Show

Youth Fundraiser

All proceeds go to benefit the youth of Long's Chapel UMC summer missions

Saturday November 5th at Tuscola Auditorium | 7-8pm

$10 per person or $35 for a family of four or more Tickets can be purchased at the door of Tuscola’s auditorium or from the church office

Visit HarrahsCherokeeJobs.com or call 828.497.8778 for a complete listing of jobs.

Elementary students to Senior adults will bring laughs, talent, & incredible surprises!

Contact Shawn or Lindsey FOR MORE INFO

Smoky Mountain News

November 2-8, 2016

If you have already submitted your application, it will be considered active for 6 months from the date of application. To qualify, applicants must be 21 years or older (18-21 years eligible for non-gaming positions), must successfully pass an RIAH hair/drug test and undergo an investigation by Tribal Gaming Commission. Preference for Tribal members. This property is owned by the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians, managed by Caesars Entertainment. The Talent Acquisition Department accepts applications Mon. - Thur. from 8am - 4:30pm. Call 828.497.8778, or send resume to the Talent Acquisition Department, 777 Casino Drive, Cherokee, NC 28719 or fax resume to 828.497.8540.

828-456-3993 Long’s Chapel United Methodist Church 828-456-3993 175 Old Clyde Rd., Waynesville www.LongsChapel.com

General Election November 8th!

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SELLERS District Court Judge

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I have that. My entire career has been spent in the courtroom from now serving as the people of western North Carolina's district court judge, to being a former prosecutor, defense attorney and a civil litigator. I have presided in my judicial capacity in each of our western counties. I appreciate everyone's support and look forward to continuing to serve our people throughout western North Carolina as your district court judge.

www.keepjudgesellers.com Ad paid for by the Committee to Elect Tessa Shelton Sellers 16

State candidates reveal fundraising totals

filed three 48-hour notices, disclosing a $1,000 donation from the N.C. Association of Health Underwriters, $1,000 from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and $1,000 from Lowe’s home improvement stores. Her Q3 disclosure hadn’t yet been posted to the state’s website as of press time, but her Q2 disclosure listed more than $42,000 on hand at the end of Q2.

Presnell’s opponent, Rhonda Cole Schandevel, D-Canton, lists six 48-hour notices, including $1,000 from the Drive Committee, another $1,000 from Now or

Never NC — bringing their total to $1,938 this cycle — and $1,000 from the Sierra Club. She also received two in-kind contributions from the North Carolina Democratic Party in the amount of $8,111 each.

Her Q3 disclosure shows $33,177 on hand at the start of the period, $104,789 raised from individuals and $192,626 raised from political parties and PACs like Emily’s List, the N.C. Association of Educators, and the United Steelworkers. Overall, Schandevel raised $279,416 during the third quarter and $397,942 during this cycle.

Like Hipps and Schandevel, Rep. Joe Sam Queen, D-Waynesville, lists contributions of $1,000 from the Drive Committee and the Sierra Club, but also says he’s received $1,000 from the N.C. Hospital Association and a $2,316 in-kind contribution from the North Carolina Democratic Party, elevating their support for Queen this cycle to more than $44,500.

His Q3 disclosure hadn’t yet been posted to the state’s website as of press time, nor had his opponent Mike Clampitt’s, although Clampitt’s second quarter disclosure listed just $1,890 raised during the entire election cycle up to June 30, whereas Queen’s disclosure listed more than $28,000 on hand at the end of Q2. Clampitt recorded no 48-hour notices during the third quarter.

The Smoky Mountain News will post more financial disclosures on www.smokymountainnews.com as they become available.

Macon to spend $25,000 on bulletproof vests

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“How we kept from being shot was hiding behind trees as we surrounded his house,” Holland said. “All of those bullets would have penetrated the vests if they’d hit an officer.”

The sheriff ’s office had $14,000 allocated this year for bulletproof vests that officers wear underneath their uniforms while on duty. Holland asked for the commissioners’ permission to spend $25,000 more for heavy-duty bulletproof vests. Deputies would keep the vests in their patrol car and wear them over their uniforms if they are responding to a gun-related call.

Certain weapons that deputies can come into contact with on a regular basis, including a hunting rifle, can still penetrate the lightweight vests deputies wear every day.

Holland said the heavy-duty vests he was requesting — weighing 68 pounds each and made of steel — would prevent any gun from penetrating the skin.

“I’ve made it a policy of ours not to ask for money midstride, but it’s not something

we need to wait until July next year,” Holland said.

With fuel costs coming in way under budget and an expected savings with a new food service contract in the works, Holland said he thought the $25,000 could come out of his existing budget.

Commission Chairman Kevin Corbin said he didn’t need the board’s approval if the money was coming out of his budget allocations for 2016-17. Worst-case scenario, he said Holland might have to come ask the board for additional funding if his budget won’t cover the entire $25,000.

County Finance Director Lori Hall said she would feel more comfortable if commissioners took $25,000 out of the contingency fund to pay for the vests. If Holland is able to cover the expense out of his existing budget, the money can be put back into the contingency fund.

Commissioners unanimously approved $25,000 to purchase 60 bulletproof vests to assign to his 58 officers.

STILL TAXING MOUNTAIN FAMILIES

MOVIE TIX & STATE PARK ADMISSION [HB 998, Conf. Rpt., 7/17/13; HB97, Section 14.11.[f]; Signed 9/18/15]

SMALL BUSINESS [HB 998, Conf Rpt., 7/17/13]

LICENSES, TITLE,TAG & REGISTRATION [HB 97, Section 29.30.[g]; Section 29.30.[a1]; Section 29.30.[c]; Section 29.30.[f]; Section 29.30.[l];Signed 9/18/15]

FARM EQUIPMENT [HB 97, Section 29.30.[o]; Signed 9/18/15

MOVING VANS, SEMIS, & TRAILERS [HB 97, Section 29.30.[l]; Section 29.30.[o]; Signed 9/18/15]

YARD CARE [HB 97, Conf. Rpt., 9/16/15]

AND STILL TAXING

Smoky Mountain News

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR n the last five years Macon County Sheriff ’s Office has responded to 627 calls where guns were involved, and 137 of those have occurred in just the last 10 months.

“And there’s even more calls where we don’t know they have a gun until we get there,” said Sheriff Robert Holland.

Just hours before Holland came before the county commissioners Oct. 11 to request the purchase of 60 new bulletproof vests, deputies responded to a gun-related call where a father and adult son got into an altercation and the father shot his son.

Last year deputies responded to a hostage situation where a man had 24 firearms, and 12 of them were sitting in windows aimed at law enforcement as they negotiated with the man. A few years ago, the department responded to a situation where a man shot at deputies more than 30 times with multiple weapons.

J I M D AV I S

November 2-8, 2016

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER Third-quarter campaign finance disclosures from state candidates were due by Oct. 31, and as the state board of elections slowly posts them online, they’re also slowly revealing who’s giving, and who’s getting.

The state’s Q3 reporting period runs from July 1 through Oct. 22 and thus covers all contributions and expenditures made during that period. From Oct. 23 through Election Day, candidates must furthermore report all contributions over $1,000 with what is known as a “48-hour notice” form, because such forms must be filed within 48 hours of receipt of the donation.

As of press time Tuesday, Nov. 1, Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, had filed only two 48hour notices. Both were donations from the North Carolina Republican Senatorial Committee; one was for $8,811, and the other was an in-kind donation of $10,143, bringing the NCRSC’s total contributions to Davis this cycle to $74,772.

Davis started the period with $7,535 on hand; he raised $26,700 from individuals and $76,313 from political parties and PACs like Duke Energy, Petroleum and Convenience Marketers, and the N.C. Home Builders Association. During Q3, Davis raised just over $103,000, bringing his total this election to $130,650.

His opponent, Jane Hipps, DWaynesville, filed just one 48-hour notice, which listed a $13,059 in-kind contribution from the N.C. Democratic Party Senate Caucus. That donation pushes NCDSC’s

total contributions to Hipps above $102,000.

Her disclosure indicated that she started the period with $144,386 on hand and during Q3 raised $70,707 from individuals and $99,442 from political parties and PACs like the Sierra Club, the Police Benevolent Association and a Teamsters PAC called Drive Committee, giving her $210,149 this period and $398,965 for the election as a whole.

Rep. Michele Presnell, R-Burnsville, has

news

Hipps, Schandevel sitting pretty

RALEIGH SENATOR

www.JaneHippsForSenate.com PAID FOR BY FRIENDS FOR JANE HIPPS

17

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Swain applies to obtain federal building

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR everal Swain County administrative offices could be relocating to the federal building in downtown Bryson City if the county is approved for a historic monument designation through the National Park Service.

Commissioners approved a historic monument application to the federal government, hoping to obtain the building at no cost in exchange for preserving its historic integrity. The inch-thick application also had to include a preservation plan.

“We had to be specific on what we’re going to do with it,” said County Manager Kevin King. “We have to keep the building as is on the exterior and we’ll only make minor modifications inside.”

It could be another two months before the county knows whether the application is approved and another year to officially acquire the building. An approval would mean some major moves for the county administration, school administrative and the Bryson City Police Department.

King said partnering with other governmental agencies in the community made for a stronger application and a higher chance of getting the historic monument grant. If the county acquires the building, the plan is for the county administrative offices to relo-

November 2-8, 2016

S

along with a commercial business,” King said.

King said the county would cover the minor renovations to the third floor while the school system and the police department would be responsible for renovations needed on their respective floors. The three entities would also split utility costs.

If the county obtains the buildSwain County commissioners ing, renovation have applied for a historic work would have preservation grant that would to begin within 36 allow the county to obtain the months, but King former federal court building in said the building Bryson City. Jessi Stone photo is in fairly good shape for its age.

The boilers were replaced within the last 10 floor. years and the roof is about eight years old.

King also said the application includes “An engineering analysis shows it’s old plans for a restaurant to locate on the left but it’s still workable — the bones are side of the bottom floor where the post good,” he said. office used to be. The county would put out Commission Chairman Phil Carson said a request for proposals for restaurants to moving county offices to the federal building lease the space. would allow the court system to have more “This will be a great collaboration space in the administrative building on between three entities in the community cate to the third floor, Swain County Schools administration to take over the second floor and the Bryson City Police Department would occupy the right wing of the bottom

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18

Mitchell Street. Currently, the administrative building has two small courtrooms that are often used at the same time, which leads to a lot of congestion.

Commissioner Danny Burns said the state court system was putting pressure on Swain County to have more room to operate the court system — making this project a win-win for all parties involved.

“We have to meet the state’s requests,” he said.

While it appears completely empty, the federal building does have a few current tenants, including the Cooperative Extension office and the Soil and Water Conservation District. They will have to begin looking for new office space when their leases are up if the county’s application is approved.

The federal government finally closed the building at the end of 2013 as a cost-saving measure. It was the farthest west federal court facility in operation, but now all federal legal matters have been shipped to Asheville. Commissioner David Monteith said Swain County has been eying the building since discussions of the closure started in 2012 but it all depended on the price tag.

“Now we have a chance to get it for free,” he said. “The court system wants more room and everyone is paying for their portion of the building so the cost is very little — it’s a win-win situation.”

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Steep slope ordinance returns to planning board

J

J I M D AV I S STILL TAXING MOUNTAIN FAMILIES

CARS, TRUCKS & AUTO REPAIRS [HB 97, Section 29.30.[l]; Signed 9/18/15] [HB 97, Conf. Rpt., 9/16/15]

GASOLINE [SB 20, 3rd Reading, 2/12/15]

TAXIS & UBERS [HB 97, Section 29.30.[l]; Signed 9/18/15]

MORTGAGES & RENOVATIONS [HB 998, Conf. Rpt., 7/17/13; SB 20, Signed, 3/31/15] [HB 97, Conf. Rpt., 9/16/15]

HEALTHCARE [HB 998, Conf. Rpt., 7/17/13]

November 2-8, 2016

ELECTRICITY [HB 998, Conf. Rpt., 7/17/13]

CARS FOR VETERANS [HB97, Section 29.30.[l]; Signed 9/18/15]

FURNITURE [HB 97, Conf. Rpt., 9/16/15]

Smoky Mountain News

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER ackson County may have thought it was finished talking about its steep slope ordinance for a while when a much-debated revision to the document passed in 2015, but the planning board is gearing up to address yet another facet of the ordinance — which ridges in the county should fall under the definition of “protected mountain ridge.”

According to the ordinance, a protected mountain ridge must be at least 2,500 feet in elevation with a 400-foot drop to the adjacent valley floor. On these ridges, buildings can’t be more than 20 feet higher than the ridge’s uppermost point.

That might sound like a clear definition, but in practice it’s quite muddy, said Planning Director Mike Poston.

For instance, the ordinance doesn’t include a definition of “ridgeline.” A ridge can traverse multiple properties, so should the highest point be judged within the confines of the property in question, or should it traverse multiple properties? Should it encompass the entire landform?

It gets even more dicey when you start trying to decide what a “valley” is.

“You hear the definition of ‘valley’ as where two slopes meet. Then you hear other definitions that throw in either ‘dry bed’ or ‘dry riverbed.’ Then you have the geological definition that refers to a depression in the earth,” Kevin Jamison, the county’s GIS director, told the planning board.

Going forward, Poston said, the board will need to have some long, thoughtful discussions as to how those issues should be resolved.

“I don’t know that I would try to guess a timeframe,” he said. “I think it’s probably more important to be really thoughtful about the process and consider how we’re approaching, how we’re defining it and of course the impacts that go along with that.”

The steep slope ordinance — including the part currently under discussion — has been in effect since 2007. But as the economy recovers from its 2008 crash, building has started to pick back up. The planning and

RALEIGH SENATOR

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Which ridge?

making it easier for prospective builders to figure out what they can build, and where.

But creating such a map, the planning board learned this month, will be no easy task.

There’s no simple way to highlight protected ridges using current GIS software, Jamison told the planning board. Even identifying ridges requires tricking the model, turning the elevations upside-down to identify streambeds, which when you turn the model right-side up turn out to be ridgelines. But figuring out which of those ridgelines are protected will involve a manual, ridge-by-ridge assessment. That will prove a massive undertaking for the GIS department, so it’s imperative that the planning board has a firm consensus on what the definitions should be before GIS starts the mapping process.

“What we want to avoid is sending them (GIS) down a path and then our Jackson County has a map (pictured) discussion takes a left or right showing ridges that are protected and they have to adjust or start under a 1984 ordinance that supports over again,” Poston told the planning board. state law on the topic. However, it It’s possible that the discushopes to have one reflecting the sion will take turns of all direcmore restrictive regulations tions before it’s over. In 1983, of the 2007 steep the state passed its Mountain slope ordinance. Ridge Protection Act, which defined a protected ridge as one Jackson County graphic that’s at least 3,000 feet in elevation and 500 feet above the adjacent valley floor. That statute doesn’t include a definition of adjacent valley floor, though, and according to County Attorney Heather Baker’s research, that’s because the discussions surrounding those definitions proved so contentious.

“There was so much discussion they didn’t even get to the definition of adjacent valley floor,” she said. “They had so much of a difficult decision on the definition of ridges and what the definition of crest meant that the committee eventually committed the task of making these definitions to the mapmakers.”

There is a map that goes along with the state’s definition of “protected ridgetop” but it’s just a map, no data set attached. feet below the ridgeline. In Jackson County, That means that GIS can’t simply adapt the nearly every ridge meets the 2,500-foot eleva- state’s maps to Jackson’s own, more restriction requirement once you get outside the val- tive, ordinance.

“It was passed to be more restrictive, and leys in the Whittier, Sylva and Cullowhee areas.

So, in identifying protected ridges the real now we’re left to enforce it and having a hard time doing that,” Baker explained. question is how you define a 400-foot drop.

Essential to enforcing that ordinance will The planning department wound up be creating a map that graphically explains approving the Solitude plan.

“When there’s not a definite definition, where its restrictions apply. Such a product we go with the least restrictive application, so will make the permitting process more easily that’s what led staff to make that determina- navigable for developers and relieve Poston’s tion,” Poston said. “But it did bring up the department of handling questions about the conversation that we need to look at defini- ordinance’s applicability on a case-by-case tions and identifying these ridges and map- basis. The planning board has some highping them to be able to use during these stakes wordsmithing ahead of it before that will be possible. processes moving forward.”

“If we don’t move forward and we don’t The goal, eventually, will be to produce a map that clearly shows which ridges in get that map, we’ll be stuck in a very tough Jackson County are classified as protected, spot to enforce this ordinance,” Poston said. code enforcement departments have found that they need more specific language to adequately carry out the ordinance’s intent.

“We’re starting to see more development,” Poston said. “We had a case where we had a development out in Cullowhee that had some proposed houses on a ridge, so that started the discussion about is that a protected ridge or not a protected ridge.”

The development in question was the Solitude Development, which the planning board approved in August. The site plan calls for 38 single-family homes on 10.2 acres within a larger property of 21.5 acres, located along Old Cullowhee Road with an entrance on Ed Norton Road.

In that instance, Poston said, the property had multiple valley floors, some representing a 400-plus-foot drop and others less than 400

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Agreement reached in Harris Hospital value dispute Final value is $23.7 million

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER fter months of back-and-forth, Harris Regional Hospital and Jackson County have reached an agreement on the hospital’s tax value.

The county had originally pegged the value at $42.3 million, with the hospital countering it should actually be valued — and taxed — at $13 million. An inspection of the building revealing outdated systems and poorly configured spaces led the county’s Board of Equalization Review to lower the value to $27.2 million, but that was still too high for the hospital.

Rather than appeal the case to the N.C. Property Tax Commission in Raleigh, though, the hospital reached an agreement with Jackson County to lower the value

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slightly to $23.7 million.

“Kind of like trading cars, we were back and forth, back and forth, until we got to a number that both parties could agree on,” said Jackson County Tax Administrator Bobby McMahan. “I felt that accuracy-wise it ($27.2 million) was a little bit better but 24 was acceptable. We would have had to defend this at the state level and it would have been a very costly adventure had we pursued that.”

Arguing the case in Raleigh would have required the county to hire an appraiser and attorneys who specialize in this type of case, and those bills would have been expensive.

Add in travel time to Raleigh — no telling how many trips — and the cost of defending the $27.2 million value would have added up quickly.

“It was going to cost them too,” McMahan said. “They

F

Value of a hospital

November 2-8, 2016

While the county originally appraised Harris Regional Hospital at $42.3 million, the hospital’s owner Duke LifePoint argued it was actually worth $13 million.

A final value, $23.7 million, has been reached. SMN photo

Friday, November 11th 2016

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County original Harris appealed Adjusted Final

Total value $42.3 million $13 million $27.2 million $23.7 million

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Annual county taxes $156,400 $48,100 $100,600 $87,900

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The appraisal process for Harris Regional Hospital has gone through many iterations, from the county’s original appraisal to Harris’ appealed value to the Jackson County Board of Equalization and Review’s adjusted value to, ultimately, the final agreed-upon value.

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Raleigh Jim took campaign contributions from Duke Energy and gave tax breaks to country clubs and millionaires buying private jets and yachts.

November 2-8, 2016

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were going to have to go through the same things we were. The appraisal, the attorneys. It would be costly for both sides.”

The new value will dictate’s the hospital’s property tax bill until the next county valuation, set for 2021. The $23.7 million valuation will mean the hospital pays the county $63,500 less over five years and the town $73,500 less over five years than it would have if the $27.2 million value had held.

Though the building was first constructed in 1952, the property has only been generating taxes since 2015. Before that, Harris operated as a nonprofit, but Duke LifePoint purchased the hospital — as well as Swain Community Hospital and Haywood Regional Medical Center — in 2014, to run as a for-profit business. McMahan said the original $42.3 million value was definitely too high, but it’s easy to overlook things when you’re giving a property that large and complex its first evaluation with tax consequences.

“We appreciate the county working through this matter with us and are very pleased to have reached a resolution,” Duke LifePoint said in a statement.

If the case had gone to the Property Tax Commission, it could have taken months or even — at the outside — years for it to be settled. This spring Duke LifePoint said it would not pay any taxes until the final value was determined, so local governments would have been missing out on tax revenues while the dispute played out.

“We’re glad to know that we’ll receive a tax payment for the hospital in this year’s budget because we had built our budget under the assumption that an agreement might not be reached this year,” said Paige Dowling, town manager for Sylva.

The hospital is a significant part of Sylva’s property tax base, with the original $42.3 million value putting it at 8 percent of the town’s total property value. When town leaders found out that they’d be unlikely to see tax revenues from the hospital this year, some of them were visibly upset, and the hole in the budget meant that the town had to short-change several line items. In particular, it cut its contributions to post-retirement benefits and separation allowance for police officers — decisions that could come back to bite later when employees retire and there’s not enough money to cover the town’s obligations to them.

With an agreement reached, Duke LifePoint will have to pay its taxes by Jan. 5, 2017. “It will be very important financially for the town to fund that at the recommended level,” Dowling said.

Duke LifePoint has also disputed the value that Haywood County assigned Haywood Regional Medical Center.

However, Haywood and Duke LifePoint were unable to reach an agreement, and Duke LifePoint has appealed the value to the N.C. Property Tax Commission. A hearing date has not been set.

21

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STAND WITH US Re-Elect Commissioners

Vicki Greene & Mark Jones

Smoky Mountain News

November 2-8, 2016

Help us Keep Jackson County Moving Forward

by Re-Electing Vicki Greene & Mark Jones -The Elected Democratic Leadership of Jackson County

Pictured left to right: Clerk of Court Ann Melton, District 4 Commissioner Mark Jones, Sheriff Chip Hall, District 3 Commissioner Vicki Greene, Commissioner Chairman Brian McMahan, Register of Deeds Joe Hamilton, District 2 Commissioner Boyce Deitz 22

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Health

Smoky Mountain News

23

Harris offers free Lunch & Learn event

Swain Family Care hired new PA

New pediatrician joins Haywood Regional

Harris Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine will offer a free educational event on total shoulder replacement, scopes and injuries at noon on Friday, Nov. 4, in the Harris Regional Hospital boardroom on the second floor of the hospital.

Orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Douglas Gates will present the session. Lunch will be served. Call 828.631.8894 to register.

Swain Family Care recently hired certified physician assistant Angela Struna who began seeing patients this month.

She joins Dr. Tammy Johnston, Dr. David Johnston, pediatrician Brooke Budde, and certified physician assistant Vicki McCormack.

Struna has 22 years of combined active duty service with the U.S. military as a member of the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Air Force Reserves, and Wyoming Air National Guard. She most recently practiced as a physician assistant in urgent care and family medicine in Cheyenne, Wyoming while serving as a physician assistant in the Wyoming Air National Guard.

828.488.4205.

New pediatrician Dr. Anna Mooney has joined Mountain Pediatric Group, a Haywood Regional Medical Center affiliate.

Mooney received her medical degree from the University of South Carolina-School of Medicine and her post-graduate training was at the Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, where she completed a pediatrics residency.

She has a particular interest in developmental pediatrics, including the treatment of children with ADHD.

Seasonal stress seminar offered in Swain Senior Life Solutions at Swain Community Hospital will offer a free community seminar titled ‘Surviving and Thriving During the Holiday Season’ at noon Thursday, Nov. 17, at the Senior Life Solutions office located on the campus of Swain Community Hospital, 45 Plateau St., Bryson City.

The session will be led by licensed clinical social worker John Stoeckel.

828.488.4044.

Mountain Projects offers Marketplace assistance The fourth year of Marketplace Open Enrollment started Nov. 1 and lasts until Jan. 31, 2017, and Mountain Projects is helping people find affordable insurance plans, get enrolled, reenroll, or even apply for an exemption from the fine for not having health insurance.

In 2017 the fine for not having health insurance will be $695 or 2.5 percent of your income, whichever is higher.

To schedule a free local in-person appointment with a Certified Marketplace Navigator (enrollment assister) at Mountain Projects, Inc., call 828.452.1447.

Flu vaccines offered at Macon county Macon County Public Health will offer seasonal quadrivalentinfluenza vaccine, which provides protection against four strains of flu, including H1N1.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older get a yearly flu vaccine. The CDC also recommends that children under 9 years of age who haven’t been vaccinated against the flu in the past may need two doses of flu vaccine.

The cost for regular flu vaccine is $30 and insurance will be filed, so clients should bring their insurance cards with them. Some children and other special populations, including those on Medicaid or those with inadequate health insurance, may qualify for free vaccine.

Flu shot appointments can be made at Macon County Health Department on Lakeside Drive in Franklin by calling 828.349.2081.

Birthing center construction resumes The final phase of construction on Harris Regional Hospital’s labor and delivery and mother/baby unit is underway, marking the completion of a project that began three years ago with an outpouring of funding support from the community.

During the last stage of the renovation, the post-surgical, pediatric, and part of the mother/baby units occupying 3 East will move to the second floor to the area known as 2 East. The labor and delivery unit is self-contained and will remain open during construction.

Construction is expected to continue through early 2017.

• A free acupuncture clinic for Haywood County veterans will be held at 10 a.m. Nov. 12 and at 7:15 p.m. Nov. 16 at Waynesville Wellness, located at 1384 Sulphur Springs Rd. Treatments help with PTSD, insomnia, anxiety, depression and more. project5pp.strikingly.com/hiw or 828.356.5577.

ALSO:

• Great Beginnings, pediatric and orthodontic dental specialists, have opened a new location at 37 Crestview Heights in Sylva.

828.386.9333.

• Waynesville Family Practice is now offering same day appointments with the expansion of their team to include three new providers.

Appointments can be made by calling 828.456.3511. The practice is located at 1272 East Street in Waynesville.

• Haywood Community College’s Workforce Continuing Education Department will offer a Medication Aide class from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Nov. 18-20. Fee for the course is $80.

828.565.4145 or sfischer@haywood.edu.

Harris purchases five new ambulances Tennyson recognized as public health all-star Macon County Public Health’s own Sarah Tennyson was awarded the extreme honor of being recognized as North Carolina’s Public Health All-Star.

Through her dedication and extraordinary leadership efforts, and the effective use of best practices, the regional initiative MountainWise is known both nationally and internationally as a premier program. During Tennyson’s tenure, she has gone out of her way to ensure grant funding is maximized and impacts are significant for the entire region.

Angel Medical is a top Critical Access Hospital Angel Medical Center in Franklin is now one of the nation’s Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals — a ranking reserved for less than ten percent of all Critical Access Hospitals in the nation.

The designation is identified through the Hospital Strength Index, the industry standard for assessing — and benchmarking — rural and Critical Access Hospital performance. The index measures 70 objective standards including quality, outcomes, affordability, population risk, efficiency, and patient satisfaction.

Harris hires cardiologist Harris Regional Hospital, a Duke LifePoint hospital, has hired board certified cardiologist Dr. Francis Nullet to the medical staff.

Nullet has practiced cardiology for more than 30 years, most recently at Piedmont Heart Institute, a large cardiology practice headquartered in Atlanta. He will be available to inpatients at Harris Regional Hospital beginning Dec. 1 and will join the hospital’s newly-established outpatient practice Harris Cardiology, which is set to open in January 2017.

Through its longstanding partnership with Jackson County, Harris Regional Hospital has purchased five new ambulances to serve the county Emergency Medical Services, which have been operated by the hospital as Harris EMS for the past 20 years.

The new ambulances replace five units that have reached the end of their service. Harris EMS has a total of seven ambulances stationed at three bases located throughout the county on Old Settlement Road, on Hampton Road in the Qualla Community, and at the hospital. The ambulances will be on the road in early 2017.

Haywood Regional hires new OB-GYN Haywood Regional Medical Center recently hired Dr. David Kirk to join Haywood Women’s Medical Center.

Kirk is board certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology with Haywood Women’s Medical Center. He received his medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine and completed his Internship and Residency at the University of Tennessee in Memphis. Haywood Women’s Medical Center also features Dr. Robin Matthews, a board certified physician who specializes in gynecology.

Kirk is accepting new patients. 828.452.5042.

‘Dinner with a Doc’ to discuss lung cancer Dr. Scott Skibo, a physician with Pulmonary Specialists of WNC, will present “Winning the War on Lung Cancer: The Present and the Future” at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, at the Haywood Regional Medical Center Café.

Skibo will speak while patrons enjoy a healthy meal and he will answer questions following the seminar. To attend this complimentary dinner, reservations can be made by calling 800.424.DOCS (3627) to RSVP in advance.

The “Dinner with the Doc” series will resume in February 2017.

Opinion When the dust settles, we’ll keep moving forward I 24

Smoky Mountain News

Scott McLeod

feel strongly about politics. I hope — with all the hope I can muster — that Donald Trump loses this election. I have major differences with his positions regarding taxes, immigration, public schools, foreign policy and a host of other issues. I think he has stoked some of the most vile tendencies in human nature — racism, sexism, bigotry, and xenophobia, to name a few.

Thankfully, few Americans embrace those characteristics, but some who do have been emboldened by his success.

Should the GOP hopeful win, however, he will be President Trump. He will be my president, the president of Editor the United States. I won’t question his legitimacy to hold the office, won’t whine about a rigged system or voter fraud. I won’t embrace any cock-eyed conspiracy theory or rant that some kind of New World Order is actually in control, that the politicians are mere puppets whose strings are being pulled by some behind-thescenes business cabal. I won’t support those who think a Trump win is akin to a call for armed insurrection.

All of that thinking is pure bull, no matter your politics.

Which is why some of the talk going around about what may happen post-election needs to just end.

The truth is that my day-to-day life won’t really change very much no matter what happens in D.C. or who wins the White House. Nope, I’ll get up and make espresso in the morning and feed my dog before heading to work. I’ll go on with my life and career, keep espousing ideas and opinions about what this

region and this country ought to do. I’ll moan while I write that check to pay my taxes, scream when my health insurance premiums keep rising, and worry about the country we are leaving my children.

And I’ll still believe that America is this unique, fantastic place where we are so free that our human frailties are displayed for all to see. And this election, more so than any I remember, has put a microscope on those frailties. Our messy electoral process stands in stark contrast to the lofty ideals upon which this country was founded.

For all the talk we hear today about the founders and what they would think of this or that, the truth is that they participated in a pretty aggressive brand of bare-knuckle politics.

Some of their disagreements ended in bloody, deadly duels.

Eighteenth century American politics was not the warm fuzzy place portrayed in elementary school social studies books.

National Public Radio host Ari Shapiro was in Western North Carolina a couple of weeks ago covering the presidential campaign. He’s one of the country’s top political reporters and agreed to an interview with The Smoky Mountain News.

Here’s my favorite quote from that story:

“The truth is our country is less divided than our politics. If you take three of the most controversial issues in America — abortion, immigration, guns — you can create policy positions on those issues that more than 50 percent of Americans will agree with. But, our political leaders don’t have incentives to reach those positions — partly due to gerrymandering, partly due to other issues that encourage people to appeal to the base elements in their own party, rather than the consensus build-

ing in the middle of the American people. And that’s also because more members of Congress than ever are elected from solid red or solid blue districts. There are fewer swing districts than ever before. And that means, if you reach a compromise with the other party, you’re less at risk of being defeated by someone from the other party, and more at risk of being defeated by someone more extreme than you in your own party — there is this disincentive rather than an incentive to compromise if you want to keep your job.”

I believe that’s a pretty apt description of the state of politics in this country. Our current system thrives on division instead of compromise. Throw in the Internet and social media and cable television, and the mix gets even more volatile.

When the election is over, however, we must try and come together, solve problems, back off the hate. I’m not talking joining hands and singing “Kumbaya,” but fully accepting that this country, what it stands for and what we and our parents and our grandparents have built, will outlast any controversial campaign. Most of my neighbors and the people I know are honorable, truthful, and respectful. I can work with them to build a better community.

It’s not very common in our instant gratification society to think long term, beyond this very odd moment in our history, but it’s the only way this great idea of America will survive: you vote your choice, I’ll vote mine, and when it’s over, let’s let the dust settle, help pick each other off the mat, and keep moving forward. It’s what we’ve done for the last 228 years.

(Reach Scott McLeod at info@smokymountainnews.com)

Comey’s threat to democracy is unprecedented s a retired FBI Agent, I write to express my view of your recent actions regarding the so-called email scandal involving Hillary Clinton.

First, I served the FBI honorably for 32 years, two of which were in FBI headquarters as National Coordinator of Organized Crime related Public Corruption investigations. I testified before Congress and made innumerable decisions that affected investigations in many U.S. cities and states. These were high-profile corruption cases involving officeholders of both parties. As election cycles occur annually, I was acutely aware of the FBI’s solemn responsibility to conduct fair and responsible investigations that did not cross a line that could be perceived as interference in our American voting system.

In fact, the Department of Justice (DOJ) policy of non-interference was viewed as sacrosanct.

It is my view that you violated that longstanding policy. I do not know if that was your intent, but it was certainly the result, and it may have an effect on this year’s presidential election. I never thought I would hear those words — that the FBI would likely determine

A

the winner of the election for the most powerful position in the world.

Worse yet, your action was not based on probable cause or even reasonable suspicion.

You acknowledge the FBI has no idea of the significance of these newly discovered emails, have not reviewed them, and have made no allegation of wrongdoing. To compound the problem, you Guest Columnist then wrote a vague letter to Congress which may turn this election on its head. This letter was so vague that anyone could “fill in the blanks” with any number of fake assertions, misrepresentations, or conspiracy theories.

This recent event follows the July decision to not recommend charges in this matter.

Then, again contrary to policy and practice, you editorialized in a most unprofessional manner. This is something I have never seen an FBI Director or official do, and I have worked for and met almost every FBI Director, including J. Edgar Hoover, except you. Your job in this instance was to investigate and report the facts to the DOJ, make a recommendation, if

Mark Swanger Jr.

Editor’s note: This is a letter former FBI agent Mark Swanger Jr. sent to current FBI Director James Comey. Swanger is the current chairman of the Haywood County Commissioners.

appropriate, and go on about your business — not to publicly criticize and scorn someone who you announced should not be charged with a crime. A public flogging is not the job of you or the FBI. I point out that these actions were taken over the objections of your superior, the Attorney General. I don’t know how things in the Bureau work now, but when I was serving there was no tolerance for violations of policies and directives of such magnitude. What would you do if a special agent in charge of a field division ignored your directive and became politically involved as you have? I think I know the answer, and so do you. No one is above the law.

Trust in the FBI and our national institutions are under attack, and some even believe we are at a constitutional crossroads. Your actions exacerbate that belief. Your conduct may someday be viewed as the catalyst that resulted in the decline of a great American institution into just another politically motivated organization. We cannot allow that to happen to the FBI. Too much depends on our reputation of being honest, fair, neutral and non-partisan. Please correct this mistake, or history will likely view it as a corrupt abuse of power and a preemptive coup d’état on your part.

mobile technology to help you get a lot less mobile.

Log on. Plan a trip.

And start kicking back.

My Halloween failings follow me into adulthood I Chris Cox

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

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

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

APPLE ANDY'S RESTAURANT 3483 Soco Road, Maggie Valley located in Market Square. 828.944.0626. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Wednesday and Thursday. Serving the freshest homemade sandwiches, wraps, and entrees such as country fried steak and grilled flounder. Full salad bar and made from scratch sides like potato salad, pinto beans and macaroni and cheese. www.appleandys.com BLOSSOM ON MAIN 128 N. Main Street, Waynesville.

828.454.5400. Open for lunch and dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through

Sunday. Mild, medium, to hot and spicy, our food is cooked to your like-able temperature. Forget the myth that all Thai food is spicy. Traditional Thai food is known to be quite healthy, making use of natural and fresh ingredients, paired with lots of spices, herbs, and vegetables. Vegetarians and health conscious individuals will not be disappointed as fresh vegetables and tofu are available in most of our menu as well as wines and saki chosen to compliment the unique flavors of Thai cuisine.

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

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

Blue-plates and local fresh vegetables daily.

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

BOGART’S 303 S. Main St., Waynesville.

828.452.1313. Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Carry out available. Located in downtown Waynesville, Bogart’s has been long-time noted for great steaks, soups, and salads. Casual family atmosphere in a rustic old-time setting with a menu noted for its practical value. Live Bluegrass/String Band music every Thursday. Walking distance of Waynesville’s

We’ll feed your spirit, too.

Cataloochee Ranch 119 Ranch Drive, Maggie Valley, NC 28751 | CataloocheeRanch.com | (828)926-1401

APPÉTIT Y’AL N L BO

Smoky Mountain News

my own, even if my own mother was not exactly a crafty soccer mom. I rummaged through all of the closets in the house and came up with my costume, an incoherent, random mixture of things: a camouflage shirt, corduroy pants, gym shoes, and a train engineer’s hat. When I met my friends — Spiderman, Wonder Woman, the Fonz, Frankenstein, and Joe Namath — for trick or treating, they looked at me, understandably befuddled.

“Who are you supposed to be?” said Joe Namath.

“Multiple personalities?” I said weakly.

My only consolation was that I was growing up too fast and it would soon all be over.

At least, that is what all of the grown-ups said, every single one of them, dispensing this wisdom at regular intervals, and then pausing over a cigarette or a cup of coffee to peer at some distant vision of themselves in the past, when they were green as new grass and whimsical as colts and every day was completely different and distinct from every other day. Before male pattern baldness and skin tags and halitosis and tax deadlines, the real horror show.

In that particular context, adulthood didn’t seem much to envy, but at least it had one compelling advantage: I would no longer have to dress up. In those days, no grownups wore costumes, not even the theater moms. Of course, I could not comprehend the myriad wonders of the future. Who could? No one would have been able to convince me then that someday people would be able to watch movies on phones that they could carry around in their pockets. Or that grown-ups would dress up with their children for Halloween.

One thing that has not changed is that I am still no good at it. Last year, every other member of my family looked fantastic. I wore a black wig, a big black fedora, and big black boots. I looked like a cross between Slash, the guitar player from Guns N’ Roses, and the Undertaker, a professional wrestler.

This year, my wife had the bright idea that we would dress up as stereotypes. She would be the typical Hillary Clinton voter and I would be the typical Donald Trump voter. Her costume was magnificent, while I ended up looking like a guy auditioning for a community theater play someone wrote based on the show Duck Dynasty. She had strangers asking to take her picture. I had kids hiding behind their mothers, pointing and trembling.

Next year, it’s back to Batman, I guess.

Unless I can convince my wife to play Madeline Usher and help me come up with a Roderick that does not look like a cross between Keith Richards and Newt Gingrich.

The neighborhood kids might never recover from seeing that.

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

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

November 2-8, 2016

am old enough and comfortable enough with my shortcomings to just admit it: I am not very good at Halloween. I never really have been. In my youth, other kids my age would imagine and then design — or have their crafty soccer mothers design — elaborate costumes with imaginative accessories. Little Evel Knievels and their little red-whiteand-blue outfits with the stars and stripes and big collars, or litColumnist tle Calamity Janes with their cowboy hats, flannel shirts, boots and spurs, threatening the residents of our neighborhoods with their cap pistols until the neighbors turned over their caramel apples or at least a cupful of miniature Snickers.

Then there were the “theater mothers” who had attended some liberal arts school — you know, the types who were always trying to get a local book club or a yoga class up on its feet, the types who were said to cook some meals without meat. The children of these mothers had clearly spent hours in make-up until they were no longer recognizable. They looked like extras from a zombie movie, some impaled with daggers, some with an eyeball hanging out of its socket.

A few years later when I was in college, one of my classmates dressed up as Roderick and Madeline, the doomed siblings from Edgar Allan Poe’s classic story, “The Fall of the House of Usher.” She had made a bust of Roderick’s head out of plaster and who knows what else, and then fabricated the actual house with a fissure down the middle, symbolizing the decay of both the house and the family. Lady Madeline’s head emerged through the roof of one side of the house, while Roderick’s was somehow attached to the other side, so that the twins could glance at one another with a mixture of profound dread and pity.

Theater mom, I thought to myself.

I was dressed as an accountant. Khakis, a blue shirt and red tie, and the only blazer I owned, navy with big gold buttons embossed with little anchors. I wore sensible shoes. I parted my hair on the side and popped a calculator in my front pocket.

Accountant.

I hadn’t done any better as a child. Every year, it was the same routine. I would think about my costume for several days before Halloween, and then wind up going to the dime store at the last minute to buy a cheap plastic Batman mask and a crappy blue plastic cape.

A couple of years were even worse. One year, I waited too late and all that was left was a lame Casper mask and some plastic vampire teeth. I figured I could do better on

tasteTHEmountains

207 Paragon Parkway, Clyde

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

Real Local Families, Real Local Farms, Real Local Food 25

tasteTHEmountains Proudly Supporting Our Community ——————————————————————

Thursday, Nov. 17

10% OF SALES at the Waynesville Location will be donated to Providing Opportunities for Foster Children of Haywood County ——————————————————————

895 Russ Ave. • Waynesville

828-452-5822

November 2-8, 2016

Sunday–Thursday 11 a.m.–10 p.m Friday & Saturday 11 a.m.–11 p.m.

unique shops and seasonal festival activities and within one mile of Waynesville Country Club.

BOURBON BARREL BEEF & ALE 454 Hazelwood Ave., Waynesville, 828.452.9191. Lunch served 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dinner nightly from 5 p.m. Closed on Sunday. We specialize in hand-cut, all natural steaks, fresh fish, and other classic American comfort foods that are made using only the finest local and sustainable ingredients available. We also feature a great selection of craft beers from local artisan brewers, and of course an extensive selection of small batch bourbons and whiskey. The Barrel is a friendly and casual neighborhood dining experience where our guests enjoy a great meal without breaking the bank.

BREAKING BREAD CAFÉ 6147 Hwy 276 S. Bethel (at the Mobil Gas Station) 828.648.3838 Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Chef owned and operated. Our salads are made in house using local seasonal vegetables. Fresh roasted ham, turkey and roast beef used in our hoagies. We hand make our own eggplant and chicken parmesan, pork meatballs and hamburgers. We use 1st quality fresh not preprepared products to make sure you get the best food for a reasonable price. We make vegetarian, gluten free and sugar free items.

Call or go to Facebook (Breaking Bread Café NC) to find out what our specials are.

CATALOOCHEE RANCH 119 Ranch Dr., Maggie Valley.

828.926.1401. Family-style breakfast seven days a week, from 8 am to 9:30 am – with eggs, bacon, sausage, grits and oatmeal, fresh fruit, sometimes French toast or pancakes, and always all-you-can-eat. Lunch every day from 12:00 till 2 pm. Evening cookouts on the terrace on weekends and Wednesdays, featuring steaks, ribs, chicken, and pork chops, to name a few. Bountiful family-style dinners on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, with entrees that include prime rib, baked ham and herb-baked chicken, complemented by seasonal vegetables, homemade breads, jellies and desserts. We also offer a fine selection of wine and beer.

The evening social hour starts at 6 pm, and dinner is served starting at 7 pm. So join us for mile-high mountaintop dining with a spectacular view. Please call for reservations.

CHURCH STREET DEPOT 34 Church Street, downtown Waynesville.

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

CITY LIGHTS CAFE Spring Street in downtown Sylva.

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

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

Outside patio seating. Free Wi-Fi, pet-friendly. Live music and lots of events. Check the web calendar at citylightscafe.com.

THE CLASSIC WINESELLER 20 Church Street, Waynesville.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Smoky Mountain News

CHEF’S TABLE 30 Church St., Waynesville. 828.452.6210.

From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through

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

Let us Cater Your Holiday Parties,

Large or Small 26

WaynesvilleCatering.com 828-452-7837

on Southern comfort foods with upscale flavors. www.frogsleappublichouse.com.

GUADALUPE CAFÉ 606 W. Main Street, Sylva. 828.586.9877.

Open 7 days a week at 5 p.m. Located in the historic Hooper’s Drugstore, Guadalupe Café is a chef-owned and operated restaurant serving Caribbean inspired fare complimented by a quirky selection of wines and microbrews. Supporting local farmers of organic produce, livestock, hand-crafted cheese, and using sustainably harvested seafood.

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

Open nightly for dinner at 4 p.m.; Friday through Sunday 12 to 4 p.m. for lunch. Daily luncheon special at $6.99. World-famous prime rib, steaks, fresh seafood, gorgonzola cheese and salads. All ABC permits and open year-round. Children always welcome.

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

JOEY'S PANCAKE HOUSE 4309 Soco Rd Maggie Valley. 828.926.0212.

Open daily 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., closed Thursdays. Joey’s is a family style restaurant that has been serving breakfast to the locals and visitors of Western North Carolina since 1966. Featuring a large variety of tempting pancakes, golden waffles, country style cured ham and seasonal specials spiked with flavor, Joey's is sure to please all appetites. Join us for what has become a tradition in these parts, breakfast at Joey’s.

JUKEBOX JUNCTION U.S. 276 and N.C. 110 intersection, Bethel.

828.648.4193. 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday; Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Serving breakfast, lunch, nd dinner. The restaurant has a 1950s & 60s theme decorated with memorabilia from that era.

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

828.586.3555. Open Monday through Wednesday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Handtossed pizza, steak sandwiches, wraps, salads and desserts. All made from scratch.

Beer and wine. Free movies with showtimes at 6:30 and 9 p.m. with a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. Visit madbatterfoodandfilm.com for this week’s shows.

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

828.926.1616. maggievalleyclub.com/dine.

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

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

Open Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. With music at the Depot. Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Life is too short for bad coffee. We feature wonderful breakfast and lunch selections.

Bagels, wraps, soups, sandwiches, salads and quiche with a variety of specialty coffees, teas and smoothies. Various desserts.

PAPERTOWN GRILL 153 Main St., Canton. 828.648.1455 Open 7 days a week 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Serving the local community with great, scratch-made country cooking. Breakfast is served all day. Daily specials including Monday meatloaf, chicken and dumplings on Thursdays and Friday fish.

PASQUALE’S 1863 South Main Street, Waynesville. Off exit 98, 828.454.5002. Open for lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Sunday.

Classic Italian dishes, exceptional steaks and seafood (available in full and lighter sizes), thin crust pizza, homemade soups, salads hand tossed at your table. Fine wine and beer selection. Casual atmosphere, dine indoors, outside on the patio or at the bar. Reservations appreciated.

SMOKY MOUNTAIN SUB SHOP 29 Miller Street Waynesville 828.456.3400.

Open from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. A Waynesville tradition, the Smoky Mountain Sub Shop has been serving great food for over 20 years. Come in and enjoy the relaxed, casual atmosphere. Sub breads are baked fresh every morning in Waynesville.

Using only the freshest ingredients in homemade soups, salads and sandwiches. Come in and see for yourself why Smoky Mountain Sub Shop was voted # 1 in Haywood County.

Locally owned and operated.

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

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

Located across from the Fire Station.

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

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

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

THE HEALTHY WAY 284 A North Haywood Street, Waynesville.

828.246.9691. Open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Monday through Friday. Welcome to the healthy way! Shake it to lose it!! Protein shakes, protein bars, teas and much more.

Our shakes and protein bars are meal replacements.

SAGEBRUSH STEAKHOUSE 1941 Champion Drive. Canton 828.646.3750 Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Carry out available.

Sagebrush features hand carved steaks, chicken and award winning BBQ ribs. We have fresh salads, seasonal vegetables and scrumptious deserts. Extensive selection of local craft beers and a full bar. Catering special events is one of our specialties.

TRAILHEAD CAFE & BAKERY 18 N Main Street, Waynesville.

828.452.3881 Open 7 days a week Monday-Saturday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. You will find a delicious selection of pastries & donuts, breakfast & lunch along with a fresh coffee & barista selection. Happy Trails!

SMOKEY SHADOWS LODGE 323 Smoky Shadows Lane, Maggie Valley 828.926.0001. Check Facebook page for hours, which vary. Call early when serving because restaurant fills up fast. Remember when families joined each other at the table for a delicious homemade meal and shared stories about their day? That time is now at Smokey Shadows. The menus are customizable for your special event. Group of eight or more can schedule their own dinner.

WAYNESVILLE PIZZA COMPANY 32 Felmet Street, Waynesville.

828.246.0927. Open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; noon to 9 p.m. on Sunday.

Opened in May 2016, The Waynesville Pizza Company has earned a reputation for having the best hand-tossed pizza in the area. Featuring a custom bar with more than 20 beers and a rustic, family friendly dining room. Menu includes salads, burgers, wraps, hot and cold sandwiches, gourmet pizza, homemade desserts, and a loaded salad bar. The Cuban sandwich is considered by most to be the best in town.

Nov. 24 | 4 p.m.

Thanksgiving Pies and Desserts Breakfast - Lunch - Coffee - Donuts & More Monday - Saturday 7-4 | Sunday 9-3 18 N Main St. in the heart of Waynesville

828-452-3881

FAMILY-STYLE THANKSGIVING DINNER Turkey & Gravy • Mashed Potatoes • Apple Raisin Dressing Squash Casserole • Country-Style Green Beans • Fresh Cranberry Sauce Tossed Salad • Assorted Desserts • Tea & Lemonade

$25.95/person (BYOB) Limited Seating so RSVP Now

Monday-Saturday 8-3 & Sunday 9-3 6147 Highway 276 S. Bethel (at the Mobil Gas Station) breakingbreadcafenc.com • 828.648.3838

WAYNESVILLE’S BEST BURGERS

Mon.-Thurs.

11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Fri. & Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Closed Tues.

Sun. 12-9 p.m.

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

Open for Breakfast MON.-SAT. 8 A.M.

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

34 CHURCH ST. WAYNESVILLE 828.246.6505 Mtwitter.com/ChurchStDepot C facebook.com/ChurchStreetDepot

128 N. Main St., Waynesville Hot Appetizers Cold Beer | Warm Sake

3 E JACKSON ST. • SYLVA, NC

www.CityLightsCafe.com

MEDITERRANEAN

ITALIAN CUISINE

BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT in or near Waynesville.

Great food, great service & you can never go wrong with “Deb’s Pick”!

1863 S. Main Street • Waynesville 828.454.5002 Hwy. 19/23 Exit 98 LUNCH & DINNER TUES. - SUN.

www.pasqualesnc.com

Come Try Thai Today

WINE • BEER • SAKE

Smoky Mountain News

SALTY DOG'S SEAFOOD & GRILL 3567 Soco Road, Maggie Valley.

828.926.9105. Open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. Full service bar and restaurant located in the center of Maggie Valley.

Featuring daily $6 lunch specials and daily dinner specials such as $1 Taco Tuesdays and 45¢ Wednesday Wings. Backyard Bar is open every weekend thru October. Join us for every NFL game.

VITO’S PIZZA 607 Highlands Rd., Franklin.

828.369.9890. Established here in in 1998. Come to Franklin and enjoy our laid back place, a place you can sit back, relax and enjoy our 62” HDTV. Our Pizza dough, sauce, meatballs, and sausage are all made from scratch by Vito. The recipes have been in the family for 50 years (don't ask for the recipes cuz’ you won't get it!)

Café Deli & So Much More

November 2-8, 2016

RENDEZVOUS RESTAURANT AND BAR Maggie Valley Inn and Conference Center 828.926.0201 Open Monday-Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m and Sunday 7:30 a.m to 9 p.m. Full service restaurant serving steaks, prime rib, seafood and dinner specials.

Ask us about our 10% Discount for Waynesville Locals

Open Daily 11:30-9:00 (828) 454-5400

BlossomOnMain.com

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Smoky Mountain News

years touring, and now that we have our rhythm section down, I think we feel we did build a table, and now we need to get the tablecloth, the candles and the chairs. With this new record, we kind of discussed it being a little more laid back, acoustic and earthy.

But, it’s funny, because I think the more earthy we go, the more outer space we get. And I’m always writing or working on some song. If you stop paying your due respect to the muse, the muse will leave you, and you’ll have nothing to say.

SMN: It’s like that Steve Prefontaine quote, “To give less than your best, is to sacrifice the gift.”

CR: I totally hear you. At the end of the day, I don’t take it lightly. And what I mean by that is, I respect and I understand and listen. I like songThe Chris Robinson Brotherhood will play Nov. 9 in Asheville. The band is fronted by Chris Robinson (far right), writing and it’s important to me. Being a musician, being former lead singer of The Black Crowes. Jay Blakesberg photo part of this tradition, is a deep humbling experience because of the people who have moved me in great times of joy, and in great times of pain. That continues to be part of my life, which is besides making music, I also continue to be inspired by it.

If you lived here, you’d be home by now A conversation with Chris Robinson

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER Life is good.

That’s the vibe one gets when chatting with Chris Robinson these days. Former lead singer for legendary rock-n-rock act The Black Crowes, Robinson has spent the better part of the last five years dusting off his feathers as he takes flight into the heavens above with his popular melodic odyssey — The Chris Robinson Brotherhood.

With the CRB, the ensemble takes a more scenic route than one might expect. Instead of three-minute cut and dry rock selections‚ there are elongated ballads and progressive rock melodies‚ where stretching into double digit minutes isn’t uncommon. There’s a healthy mix of late 1970s Grateful Deadinspired numbers‚ but also a few other ingredients along the lines of The Band and The Flying Burrito Brothers (both of which were musical crossroads that defied and defined the eras they resided in).

And yet, at the center of it all remains Robinson, a musician who continues to aim

his eyes forward, only to occasionally peek over his shoulder at the professional chaos and rock star shenanigans that became more of an albatross than an ideal path (creatively and personally) before he pulled the plug on commercial success in hopes of regaining the most important voice he knows — his own.

Smoky Mountain News: What does the landscape of CRB look like these days?

Chris Robinson: We’ve had a good strong chi and a steady crop of potential. We love what we’re doing and it’s fertile, creative ground for us to express ourselves. To be part of our lives and the lives of others — it’s a harmonic resonance in a place of chaos. I mean, you’re back hurts, too, don’t get me wrong. It ain’t all peaches and cream. It’s hard work, but it’s nice to have the freedom in our lives to do what we want and not have some sort of corporate deity having reigns put on us.

SMN: It feels like you’re in a place where folks are either on the CRB train or their not, and you’ll keep doing what you’re doing, regardless.

CR: I’m the luckiest person in the world to have had any commercial success early. But, yeah, you’re right, I didn’t set out in my life to build a wooden ship. We’re at the end of five

SMN: And with The Black Crowes, the band did slowly shift more towards to the jam scene as it went along. But now, with CRB, it seems you have been completely embraced by that scene…

CR: For me, it was about more music. I could see as I was getting older, I didn’t feel like that person I was in my 20s, or even in my 30s, with what I wanted to do with my music.

You know, one of the main things that inspired me about the Grateful Dead was the ability to exist outside the mainstream. They were like a tribe that had good relationships with the conquering people. But, they made their own decisions and did it their own way.

It was a place they invented — in the physical world and in their minds. Their music and message was a way to get away from those depressing things, and for me back then it was living in big suburban Atlanta.

SMN: One of the great things with CRB is that it has really increased the spotlight on guitarist Neal Casal, an incredible performer who is really getting some overdue accolades lately…

CR: We’ve been friends for a long time. We jammed together. He was in a band that opened for the Crowes, and we have a lot of mutual friends in New York and Los Angeles. I don’t think when we started this we thought we’d have all these songs and playing hundreds of shows in five years [Laughs]. If you’re a musician or an artist, when something comes that works, and is available and good, you just recognize it and you don’t even think about it. We started out with four songs. That first day we worked incredibly well together.

I’m a little more all over the place, where Neal’s editorial skills rounds in everything.

SMN: This is a whole new chapter in your career with CRB. What’s this journey been like?

CR: We work hard. And it’s different, going from a big band grossing a lot of money to something really small. But, it’s our family business, part of that makes it even more enjoyable. It’s always been a bumpy ride here

“We love what we’re doing and it’s fertile, creative ground for us to express ourselves. To be part of our lives and the lives of others — it’s a harmonic resonance in a place of chaos.”

— Chris Robinson

and there, but we’ve always had the power to say “no,” where nobody can say “yes” for me. I feel I’m really in a place where I’m being taken care of, surrounded by people I can trust, who are nurturing — it’s fulfilling. No ego trips or money trips or anything, I mean we don’t make anything. Hopefully, one day we’ll all be successful enough to hate each other over money. [Laughs]. Now, it’s about this music that we love.

SMN: What has a life immersed in music taught you about what it means to be a human being?

CR: To me, it has taught me about being full circle. It reinvigorates my initial belief that we’re all part of the same sort of cosmic consciousness. We’re all part of this living organism that is the surrounding universe. Even on a rainy night in Davenport, Iowa, with not many people there at the show, you can have your own moment of sweet bliss.

Want to go?

The Chris Robinson Brotherhood will perform at 9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, at The Orange Peel in Asheville. The band is currently touring their latest album “Anyway You Love, We Know How You Feel” and companion EP “If You Lived Here, You Would Be Home By Now.” Tickets are $20 in advance, $22 day of show. www.theorangepeel.net or www.chrisrobinsonbrotherhood.com.

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

Race day registration Race Day Entry Fee: starts at 9 A.M. $50 Individual EVENT SHIRTS ARE LIMITED $75 2-Person Team 877 Ulco Drive Franklin, NC 828.421.7637

Smoky Mountain News

HOT PICKS 2016 1 2 3 Conquer The Mountain Half Marathon November 5, 2017 | 10am 4 RAFFLE PRIZES, 50/50 CASH 5 & A GREAT POST RACE MEAL

November 2-8, 2016

Why don’t you go get your crazy pills?

I remember that being said to me by other students when I was in elementary and middle school. They were referring to the Ritalin that I was prescribed to take, and were directing that sentiment towards me when I acted perhaps a little too hyper or antsy in the classroom.

It all started around fifth grade. Well, actually, it started right at the beginning, of my life at least. I came out of the womb ready and roaring to take on the world. I was easily distracted, and also easily immersed in whatever it was that piqued my interest — history, music, interesting strangers, dogs of any sort. I even had one of those leashes (or was it called a chest harness?) when I was a toddler in the 1980s because the second my mother wasn’t looking I’d take off to destinations Elementary school era Garret K. Woodward. unknown, usually to the back of a department store or somewhere near a busy road.

But, as I entered grade school, it appeared my antics weren’t going to be tolerated, at least not in the eyes of the nuns and educators who wouldn’t let The 10th annual Highlands Food & Wine me interrupt their old style Festival will take place Nov. 10-13 at venues French Catholic elementary around the community. institution. I’d interrupt lesson The Heritage Arts Holiday Festival will be from plans with random queries or 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, at answer a question without raisSouthwestern Community College in Bryson City. ing my hand and being called on — “I just have to get it out,” The Eritrea Friendship Dinner celebrating East I would (truthfully) tell my parAfrican culture will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, ents (I still tell them this). And Nov. 5, at the Folkmoot Friendship soon came the ultimatum — Center in Waynesville. either get Garret on Ritalin or he will be kicked out of St. Americana/folk act The Colby Deitz Band will Mary’s Academy for disruptive host its album release party for “Revival” on behavior.

Saturday, Nov. 5, at Mad Batter Food & Film I soon had to see a psychiain Sylva. trist — at age 11. Sitting there Newton Smith will read from his Camino de on the hard as a board couch Santiago poetry collection at 6:30 p.m. Friday, in her fancy office, I noticed all Nov. 4, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. these seemingly important degrees on the wall behind her desk. I noticed how tightly Regardless of her assessment, I (like pulled back her hair was, and how there countless other kids of my generation) was didn’t seem to be a single speck of dust in put on Ritalin. I hated it right from the the entire room (I finger tested the surfaces). After our first session, she looked me get-go. I hated that I had to stand in line with other pill kids at lunchtime and be dead in the eyes and said, “You know, handed a small tablet in my hands like a you’re a really intelligent kid, Garret. There scene out of the film “One Flew Over The really isn’t anything wrong with you. You Cuckoo’s Nest.” I also hated the fact my just have no creative or constructive outlets peers who didn’t have to stand in line with to plug into.”

arts & entertainment

This must be the place

and calling in life, whether you like it or not. me always seemed to know where I was For a kid that couldn’t sit still for one single going (the nurse’s office) when my class solitary moment in the classroom, I can headed to lunch. plop down and write for hours at a time, “There he goes, Garret, getting his crazy completely immersed and focused, only to pills. Make sure to take two this time,” come up for air (or the occasional beverage) they’d snicker and howl. And that ridicule every once in awhile. lasted all through middle school, onward The point of this column isn’t to tell into high school. It only ceased when I finalsome sob story, nor is it to garner some kind ly put my foot down. I didn’t want to be on of sympathy. What it goes to show is the pills. I didn’t want to be a zombie sitting mere fact we are all a little “out of it,” espethere in the classroom, unresponsive and as bland as a whiteout blizzard. I wanted to be me, hell or high “I came out of the womb ready water, and I didn’t care how much effort or focus I’d need to and roaring to take on the world. I put forth to do so in a producwas easily distracted, and also tive manner.

When my mother saw firsteasily immersed in whatever it was hand just how distraught and serious I was about stopping that piqued my interest — history, my medication, she asked me music, interesting strangers, dogs if it was what I really wanted. I nodded yes. OK, she said. And of any sort.”

I never stood in line or was handed another tablet of cially in this world of modern technology Ritalin again. By that time, I had found my and instant gratification. And to also encour“outlet,” which became running, a sport I excelled at in high school and in college, all age folks that there really isn’t anything wrong with you (or your thoughts, feelings of which opened the doors of friendship and actions), you just haven’t found your and acceptance by those who once taunted outlet, that one thing that truly captures not me. Such is life, eh? only your attention but also you as a whole At 31, I still think back (often) to those — the singular beautiful creature that is you innumerable times I had to stand in line (and only you). and enter my impending time-release stagLife is beautiful, grasp for it, y’all. nation of thoughts and actions. And in the (To reach Garret K. Woodward, message 15 or so years since I last was given a pill, him at garret@smokymountainnews.com.)

I’ve discovered writing — my true passion

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arts & entertainment

On the beat musicians are invited to participate.

Hailing from Upstate South Carolina, the group specializes in harddriving old-time dance tunes, original compositions, singer-songwriter numbers from performers such as Gillian Welch and the Wailin’ Jennys and traditional gospel songs.

Sponsored by Members of the Battleaxe Band are Nancy Hamilton, (from left) WCU’s Mountain Brooke Lauer, Amy Buckingham and Lucy Allen. Heritage Center, the First Thursday concerts and jam sessions will continue through next spring, with programs from 7 to 9 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month. The concert scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 1, will The 2016-17 First Thursday Old-Time feature Don Pedi and Bruce Greene, and and Bluegrass Concert and Jam Series at performers in early 2017 will include BlueWestern Carolina University will get under- Eyed Girl and Ol’ Dirty Bathtub. way Thursday, Nov. 3, with a concert feaThe events are free and open to the turing the Battleaxe Band. public. Pickers and singers of all ages and The group’s 7 p.m. performance of experience levels are invited to take part in string band music will be held in the the jam sessions, which also are open to ground-floor auditorium of H.F. Robinson those who just want to listen. For more Administration Building. It will be followed information, call the Mountain Heritage by an 8 p.m. jam session in which local Center at 828.227.7129.

November 2-8, 2016

WCU welcomes Battleaxe Band

Jazz star at WCU Acclaimed singer-songwriter and jazz cellist Shana Tucker will perform a concert of music she calls “ChamberSoul” at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 11, in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University.

Tucker credits her genre-bending “ChamberSoul” journey to the influences of her jazz and classical roots interwoven with 1980s and ’90s pop music, movie soundtracks and world music. She has opened for internationally acclaimed artists including Norah Jones, Lisa Fischer, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Javon Jackson, the Blind Boys of Alabama and Indigo Girls.

Touted by JazzTimes Magazine as “a jazz talent...whose imprint and vitality has already been quite visible in North Carolina,” Tucker performs in a style and sound described as a mash-up of Dianne Reeves, Joni Mitchell, and Tracy Chapman, with an efficient complexity that is reminiscent of Bill Withers. She termed the phrase “chamber soul” to best describe what the listener should expect when experiencing her music.

Tucker is a beneficiary of public school arts education, honing cello talents that resulted in a scholarship to Howard University in Washington, D.C., where she was first introduced to jazz and a wealth of essential musical resources in faculty, peers, visiting artists and the community at-large.

She completed her cello studies at the City University of New York-Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music before moving to North Carolina to raise her son.

In 2009, she returned to her music, establishing a network of musicians and a name for herself in the Triangle area of North Carolina.

Her debut solo recording, “SHiNE,”” and a subsequent interview on NPR grabbed the ear of Cirque de Soleil’s talent recruiter, who invited her to Las Vegas to join the worldclass theatrical production company as cellist and mezzo-soprano for “KÀ,” the group’s

Shana Tucker will play WCU on Nov. 11.

Chris Charles photo

unprecedented, gravity-defying production at the MGM Grand Hotel.

Tickets are $24 for adults/seniors, $20 for WCU faculty/staff, and $8 for students/children. For further information or to purchase tickets, visit the Bardo Arts Center box office Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., or one hour prior to each ticketed performance.

Tickets and information can also be found online at bardoartscenter.wcu.edu or by calling the box office at 828.227.2479.

Smoky Mountain News

3 Doors Down concert, ride

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The 3 Doors Down 13th annual “The Better Life Foundation Concert” will be held on Saturday, Nov. 12, at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort.

The weekend consists of a motorcycle ride, silent auction, custombuilt motorcycle rafThree Doors Down. fle and concert. The Better Life Foundation (TBLF) has raised and donated over $3,000,000 to reputable children’s charities, veteran’s organizations, local municipalities and faith-based groups to achieve its goals of helping communities and children in need. Tickets start at $19.99 and a limited VIP offering including a “Meet & Greet,” photo with 3 Doors Down, open bar, hors devours and more will be available for $249.99. TBLF concert is sponsored by Paul Benton. For more information on the foundation, visit www.thebetterlifefoundation.org For tickets, visit www.harrahscherokee.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

On the beat

The Western Carolina University Percussion Ensemble will present a free concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, in the Coulter Building recital hall.

This year’s group includes 11 WCU music majors who study with Mario Gaetano, professor in WCU’s School of Music.

The student musicians are Daniel Myers, Jayna Stachurski, Travis Moore, Levi Marenda, Dylan Teabo, Zach Shatley, Logan Jayne, Aaron Brown, Dalton Pope, Casey Case and Christian Bruce.

The program will feature the following works: “Two Ritimacas” by Cuban composer Amadeo Roldan; “Symphony for Six” by Robert Russell and “Portico” by Thomas Gauger, both of which are works by American composers that have become important staples of the percussion ensemble repertoire; and “Marimba Spiritual” by Japanese composer Minoru Miki, a concerto-type piece for solo marimba and three percussionists, with • BearWaters Brewing Company (Waynesville) will host live music at 6 p.m. Nov. 3 and 10. www.bwbrewing.com.

• Derailed Bar & Lounge (Bryson City) will have music at 7 p.m. on Saturdays.

828.488.8898.

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host Bradley Carter 7 p.m. Nov. 12. All shows are free and begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 828.454.5664 or www.froglevelbrewing.com.

• Heinzelmannchen Brewery (Sylva) will host Jeff Scroggins & Edith Wallace (bluegrass/singer-songwriter) at 7 p.m. Nov. 3. $15 at the door, cash only. www.yourgnometownbrewery.com.

• Marianna Black Library (Bryson City) will host a community music jam from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3. Anyone with a guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, dulcimer, anything unplugged, are invited to join. Singers are also welcomed to join in or you can just stop by and listen. Free. 828.488.3030.

• No Name Sports Pub (Sylva) will host Porch 40 (jam/rock) Nov. 4, Bender Kills (rock) Nov. 5, Husky Burnette (blues/rock) Nov. 9, Kiel

Popular Americana/folk act The Colby Deitz Band will host its album release party for “Revival” on Saturday, Nov. 5, at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva.

Local rockers The Log Noggins will be opening the show at 9 p.m. General admission is $5 per person and VIP admission is $15 per person. VIP guests will have the ability to purchase merchandise and the album before anyone else, and will also have an hour before doors open to meet the band for a Q&A. For tickets, visit colbydeitzbandalbumrelease.eventbrite.com.

Grove (folk/rock) Nov. 11 and Deadwood Drifters (gypsy/punk) Nov. 12. All shows are free and begin at 9:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.nonamesportspub.com.

• Oconaluftee Visitors Center (Cherokee) will have an old-time music jam from 1 to 3 p.m.

Nov. 5. All skill levels welcomed.

• Sapphire Mountain Brewing Company (Sapphire) will host a jazz brunch with Tyler Kittle & Friends from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Sundays. 828.743.0220.

• Satulah Mountain Brewing (Highlands) will host “Hoppy Hour” and an open mic with Jimandi at 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays, “Funky Friday” with Bud Davis at 7 p.m. on Fridays and Isaish Breedlove (Americana) at 7 p.m. on Saturdays. 828.482.9794 or www.satulahmountainbrewing.com.

ALSO:

• The Stompin’ Ground (Maggie Valley) is now open for live mountain music and clogging at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

828.926.1288.

• The Ugly Dog Pub (Highlands) will host a weekly Appalachian music night from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Wednesdays with Nitrograss.

828.526.8364 or www.theuglydogpub.com.

• Western Carolina University (Cullowhee) will host the Trumpet Studio Recital #2 Nov. 2, a Percussion Ensemble Nov. 3, Trumpet Studio Recital #3 Nov. 9 and Assembly Quartet Nov. 15. All events start at 7:30 p.m. and are in the Recital Hall of the Coulter Building. There will also be a “First Thursday Concert” at 7 p.m.

Nov. 3 with a jam session from 8 to 9 p.m. in the auditorium at the Mountain Heritage Center. All events are free. www.wcu.edu.

Smoky Mountain News

• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will have an Open Mic night Nov. 2 and 9, a jazz night with the Kittle/Collings Duo Nov. 3 and 10, Shotgun Gypsies Nov. 5 and Brushfire Stankgrass (Americana/bluegrass) Nov. 12. All events begin at 8 p.m. www.innovation-brewing.com.

Deitz album release party

November 2-8, 2016

• The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host Angela Easterling (singer-songwriter) Nov. 4, Joe Cruz (piano/pop) Nov. 5 and 12, and Kevin Lorenz (jazz/Latin) Nov. 11.

828.452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com.

Gaetano performing the solo marimba part accompanied by three students.

The program also will include a marimba duet, “Wooden Music” by Rich O’Meara, performed by Marenda and Myers.

For more information, contact Gaetano at 828.227.3263.

arts & entertainment

WCU Percussion Ensemble

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On the beat arts & entertainment

Haywood Community Band season finale

November 2-8, 2016

y k n u F & n Fu Smoky Mountain News

Clocks by

Just Arrived !

Affairs of the Heart

————————————————————————————— 120 N. Main St. • Waynesville, NC • 828.452.0526

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The season ending concert by the Haywood Community Band will be at 4 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 6, at the First United Methodist Church in downtown Waynesville.

N The band will perform music selections that highlight the 2016 season of monthly concerts in the Maggie Valley Pavilion as well as two new pieces. The program has a N variety of musical styles including a performance of the Navy hymn, “Eternal Father Strong to Save,” arranged for concert band and the church’s magnificent Casavant pipe

organ played by Mary Thomas. The tune, known as “Melita,” was written by John B. Dykes in 1861 with words by William Whiting, both Englishmen. It has since been used by British and American armed services and calls for protection “for those in peril on the sea.” The original hymn and the title “Melita” refer to the shipwreck involving Paul near Malta, found in the book of Acts.

With donations received at the concerts, the Haywood Community Band has helped to further the education of local students by granting scholarship funds to school musicians to attend summer band camps. To date, thousands of dollars in scholarships have been awarded to Haywood County young people. The band also receives, reconditions, and loans woodwind and brass instruments to local music students.

Founded in 2002 by Bob Hill when an announcement in the Mountaineer brought together seven volunteers, the concert band now has more than 40 members and is under the experienced leadership of Mary Thomas, Sarah Cifani, and Pat Stone, all of whom taught music in public school systems before their retirements to Haywood County.

All of the conductors and many of the band members also play in additional ensembles, orchestras, and bands in Western Carolina.

For those interested in picking up their instrument and enjoying the companionship of music performance, call band president Rhonda Wilson Kram at 828.456.4880. The first rehearsal of the 2017 season will be on Thursday, March 2, at Grace Church in the Mountains on Haywood Street in Waynesville.

The band is supported in part by the Haywood County Arts Council and the North Carolina Arts Council, a state agency.

On the beat

Renowned folk artists, bluegrass legends and gospel icons are all part of the 10th annual Highlands Food & Wine Festival musical additions. The festival, taking place from Thursday, Nov. 10, to Sunday, Nov. 13, will feature a variety of performances throughout the weekend.

With the city surrounded by the Nantahala National Forest, visitors of Highlands Food & Wine Festival will be able to enjoy tunes while experiencing the premier culinary destination of the Southeast this fall.

New signature events, along special wine dinners offered by Highlands’ award-winning restaurants, will create a great weekend experience. Tickets for the festival are on sale now.

• Headlining musical talent will include Bruce Hornsby at the recently announced exclusive dining event, “Rockwood Rocks!” held at the private estate, Rockwood Lodge, where Hornsby will perform an evening of solo piano with selections spanning his twoand-a-half decade recording career. Rockwood Rocks will be an intimate dining experience curated by renowned chefs from across the Southeast in addition to local talent Chris Huerta, executive chef of Madison’s at the Old Edwards Inn & Spa. A portion of this event’s proceeds will benefit the The Food Pantry of Highlands, which provides food and personal

Happy Feet for Every Season!

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items to local families in need.

• Nashville-based music group The Lone Bellow will perform at the Friday Truckin’ event, featuring a selection of the Southeast’s most beloved food trucks including Canyon Kitchen, Root Down and Farm to Fender.

• Rhiannon Giddens of Grammy Award

Bruce Hornsby.

winning group The Carolina Chocolate Drops is set to perform at this year’s Main Event on Saturday, Nov. 13. The Main Event, held in a picturesque location right off of Main St, will include an oyster roast, local beer and tastings from local and regional chefs.

• Also new to this year’s festival is a

Sunday Gospel Brunch at which five-time Grammy award- winning gospel group Blind Boys of Alabama will perform. A team of praised regional and local chefs will prepare comforting brunchinspired tastes while guests enjoy the live gospel performance and inspired cocktails.

“We are thrilled to launch the new programming for this year’s festival, and look forward to what its offering brings to our community,” said Highlands Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bob Kieltyka.

“These musical acts are the first of many new and exciting additions to this year’s culinary weekend, that has been, and continues to be, anchored by the incredible local restaurants and chefs we are lucky to call our own.”

The complete festival schedule and chef lineup will be announced at a later date. To purchase tickets and to see updates to the festival, visit www.highlandsfoodandwine.com and on social media at @highlandsfoodandwine.

November 2-8, 2016

Gel Nails & Spa Pedicures

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arts & entertainment

Food & Wine Festival features Hornsby, Giddens

16 years experience Owner: Medea Sharp

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Final roller derby bout

Wrapping up their fifth season, the Smoky Mountain Roller Girls will be hosting their final double header of the year on Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Swain County Recreation Center located on Deep Creek Road in Bryson City.

The double header will feature the Lil’ Nemisisters Junior Derby team taking on the Mad Divas from Asheville. The Smoky Mountain Roller Girls will take on the Bradentucky Bombers who are traveling up from Florida.

First bout starts at 4:30 p.m. with your hometown team Smoky Mountain Roller Girls taking the track at 6 p.m. Big Daddy Voodoo will take the mic as the announcer for the evening’s events and the Swain High School Marching Band will provide half time entertainment.

Proceeds from the bout will benefit

Swain High School Marching Band that is trying to raise money to travel to Hawaii to perform at the 75th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor. The Smoky Mountain Roller Girls have a tradition of donating proceeds from their ticket sales to local charities since their debut sold out bout in 2012.

Tickets are $5 ahead of time. They can be purchased at Bryson City Bicycles, Donno’s Higher Ground Tattoos or from a roller girl or $7 at the door. You can also order tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com. Children under 5 are always free.

Nantahala Brewing Company will be hosting an after party beginning at 8 p.m. following the bout. Smoky Mountain Roller Girl’s Mel-O-Demon, a fan favorite, will be retiring after this bout. Fans are invited to join in the retirement party following the double header.

Eritrea Friendship Dinner at Folkmoot

• The “Cruise the Smokies” Fall Rod Run will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 4-5 at the Acquoni Expo Center in Cherokee. Over 300 of the nation’s fantastic classic cars and trucks will be on display. Admission is $5.

Children under age 10 are free. www.cherokeerodders.com or 828.497.2603.

Join Folkmoot for an international evening of dance and cuisine from Eritrea.

Summer staff members Metkel and Michael Tecle will be joined by their family in preparing and sharing East African culture from 6 to • A wine tasting will be held from 2 to 5 p.m.

Nov. 5 and 12 at Papou’s Wine Shop in Sylva.

8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Folkmoot $5 per person. www.papouswineshop.com or Friendship Center in Waynesville.

828.586.6300.

The Tecle family will prepare a delicious meal with three kinds of meats and vegetables. Enjoy homemade Eritrean coffee and tea • A free wine tasting will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Nov. 5 and 12 at Bosu’s Wine Shop in with fresh Eritrean bread and participate in Waynesville. www.waynesvillewine.com or learning a traditional dance.

828.452.0120.

Tickets can be purchased in advance, $20 for adults, $10 for kids, at www.folkmoot.org or by calling 828.452.2997. Tickets will also be • The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host a wine tasting on Wednesdays and a available at the door, $28 for adult, $10 for kids. craft beer tasting on Thursdays. Both events run from 4 to 8 p.m. There will also be tapas from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.

• The second annual Cherokee Memorial VFW www.classicwineseller.com.

Post 8013 Veterans appreciation dinner will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Yellow Hill Activity Center • Free cooking demonstrations will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturdays at Country in Cherokee. Free to all Traditions in Dillsboro. Watch the demonstraveterans, sponsors, and tions, eat samples and taste house wines for their families. Menu is $3 a glass. All recipes posted online. pancakes, sausage, juice, and more. For more www.countrytraditionsnc.com. information, call Steve Brown 828.497.2515 or email cdrpost8013@vfwnc.com.

• The High Mountain Squares will host their “Patriotic Dance” from 6:15 to 8:45 p.m.

• The Swain County Genealogical and Historical Friday, Nov. 4, at the Macon County Society will have a pictorial history of area Community Building in Franklin. Dr. Jim places as Mary Wachacha presents “Looking Duncan from Otto will be the caller. Western Back in Time at Swain County Through Style Square Dancing, main/stream and plus Historical Postcards” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, levels. New dancers lessons will begin in Nov. 3, at the Swain County Regional January. Everyone is welcome. For informaBusiness Education and Training Center in tion, call 828.283.1171, 828.342.1560, Bryson City. Conversation and refreshments 828.332.0001 or will follow the presentation. This is open to www.highmountainsquares.com. the public and there is no admission charge.

ALSO:

Your town is my town.

Smoky Mountain News

November 2-8, 2016

arts & entertainment

On the street

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Santa Claus and other Christmas activities will be held Nov. 5 to Dec. 17 at the Swain County Heritage Museum in Bryson City. • Letters to Santa: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Drop a line to Santa. All materials provided. • Santa at the Museum: 1 to 4 p.m. Enjoy a free photo opportunity with jolly St. Nick on the porch of the cabin located in the museum. Cookies and cocoa served in the lobby.

Santa will be there from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 26

and at the Christmas Parade on Dec. 3. • Christmas Past — Mountain Traditions: 5 to 7 p.m. This brand new program is designed with the whole family in mind. Held at the cabin in the museum, the event offers a fun, educational lecture on the Christmas meal, the felling and decorating of the tree, traditional toys and gifts, and more. Kids get to decorate the cabin tree with traditional Appalachian decorations, as well as making their own popcorn, cranberry, or paper string to take home for their tree. Cookies and cocoa provided in the visitor center lobby.

800.867.9246.

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Smoky Mountain News

Christmas in Bryson City

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November 2-8, 2016

perspectives and educate others on what Eight years ago, a group of locals came together to tackle world issues through com- their religion says about stewardship of the earth,� Stith said. “Several of the past confermunity-level involvement. That was the ences have included workshops where we try start of the Interfaith Peace Conference, an to give people tools to be used in their home event that works in partnership with communities. We hope they get inspired to Christians, Jews, Muslims and other relikeep working on these issues and being gious traditions to advance the work of recpeacemakers.� onciliation and peace.

The conference will feature noteworthy This year, the Interfaith Peace speakers such as Dr. Norman Wirzba, Conference, Nov. 10-13 at Lake Junaluska, Professor of Theology, Ecology, and Agrarian will focus on the Climate Crisis and Peace. “We were inspired by Dr. Wright Spears who thought that the church, of all places, would be the place to emphasize peacemaking because of the Bible quote ‘blessed are the peacemakers’,� said Frank Stith, who lives at Lake Junaluska. “He just felt that the church wasn’t speaking out strongly enough in trying to create peace. That was the impetus behind starting the conference.�

Since its inception, the Interfaith Peace Conference has covered Peace for the World’s Children, The Bluegrass and mountain music legend David Holt will Transformative Power of perform during the Interfaith Peace Conference at Nonviolence, and Economic Lake Junaluska Nov. 10-13.

Justice for All God’s People.

It’s had noteworthy speakers Studies at Duke Divinity School and such as Dr. Marian Wright Edelman, the Jacqueline Patterson, Director of the NAACP founder of the Children’s Defense Fund and Leymah Gbowee, a Nobel Peace Prize Winner. Environmental and Climate Justice Program.

All are invited to attend the conference.

The theme idea comes from a statement Attendees can expect lectures, workshops,

by Ban Yi-Moon, the Secretary General of interfaith worship and a concert by fourthe United Nations, in which he claimed clitime Grammy Award winner, David Holt. mate change was the biggest threat to peace.

Meal and lodging packages are available Stith said he believes that bringing at Lake Junaluska. For more information, together different religious traditions can visit www.lakejunaluska.com/peace or call have an impact on this issue.

800.222.4930. Registration is open and there “We’ve asked each of the speakers to talk is a special discount for students. about climate change from their own faith

arts & entertainment

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arts & entertainment November 2-8, 2016

Should You Retire in “Stages”?

If you have a medical appointment this week, you might want to wish your nurse a happy National Nurses Week. This annual event is designed to celebrate the important role nurses play in health care. Of course, while nurses and doctors can help you in many ways, you can do a lot of good for yourself by adopting healthy living habits, such as eating right, exercising frequently, and so on. But you can also do much to help your financial health.

• Diversify. Rebalancing is important. But a balanced portfolio should also be a diversified portfolio. If you only owned one type of financial asset, such as U.S. growth stocks, you could take a big hit during a market downturn. But different types of financial assets don’t always move in the same direction at the same time, so by owning a wide variety of investments – U.S. stocks, international stocks, government securities, corporate bonds, real estate, certificates of deposit (CDs) and so on – you may help reduce the efHere are a few suggestions: fects of market volatility on your portfolio. Keep • Stay invested. During times of market in mind, though, that diversification by itself volatility, it can be temping to head to the invest- can’t guarantee profits or protect against loss. ment “sidelines” until things “cool off.” Going to • Maintain realistic expectations. If you exthe sidelines can mean a few different things – pect the financial markets to always move upyou could simply not invest anything for a while, ward, you will be disappointed many times. or you could move a substantial portion of your Market downturns are a normal part of the inportfolio to “cash” instruments, which are safe vestment process, and they will always be with in the sense of preserving your principal but us. Once you accept this reality, you will be less offer almost nothing in the way of return or prolikely to make questionable decisions, such as tecting against inflation. If you’re not investing abandoning a long-term strategy. If you’ve deduring a market downturn, or if you’ve moved signed an appropriate strategy, possibly with the heavily into cash, you might well miss out on the help of a financial professional, you can stick beginning of the next market rally. with it through all market environments.

• Rebalance your portfolio. It’s a good idea By following the suggestions mentioned to periodically rebalance your portfolio to make above – staying invested, rebalancing your portsure it still reflects your goals and your comfort folio as needed, diversifying your holdings and level with risk. Over time, and without any efmaintaining realistic expectations, you can go a fort on your part, your portfolio can become unlong way toward maintaining the fitness of your balanced. For example, following a long “bull” financial situation. market, the value of your stocks could have risen to the point where they make up a greater T his article was written by Edward Jones percentage of your portfolio than you had infor use by your local Edward Jones tended. When that happens, you may need to Financial Advisor. rebalance by adding bonds and other fixed-income vehicles.

On the wall

JCAC receives grant funding The Jackson County Arts Council has received four grants from the North Carolina Arts Council to fund various programs for the Jackson County community and schools this fiscal year.

• The arts council received two Arts in Education grants. A cARTwheels grant for $7,000 which is sponsoring a production of “Jackie Robinson: A Game Apart” for the Jackson County Schools on Oct. 26. The other Arts in Education grant for $7,500 will sponsor the Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) program. This is an after school program held at Cullowhee Valley School and is open to students in the Jackson County School system.

• The arts council also received two Arts in Communities grants. The Grassroots Arts Program which provided $15,564 to help sponsor other local organizations in the community who provide arts programs and events in Jackson County. The organizations that received sponsorship this year through the grant are: Western Carolina Community Chorus, Western Carolina Civic Orchestra, CuRve, Blue Ridge Early College, Jackson County Visual Arts Association, Cullowhee Mountain Arts, Sylva Baptist Church after school art programs, Jackson County Farmer’s Market Art in the Park, Junior Appalachian Musicians, WNC Pottery

Benefit

Festival, Mountain Heritage Day artists, Jackson County Senior Center art programs, ColorFest in Dillsboro, Catch the Spirit of Appalachia and WCU Art Education Club.

• The Regional Artist Project grant for $2,500 was also received to award individual artists for artistic projects. This grant is available for individual artists from Macon, Graham, Haywood, Clay, Cherokee and Jackson Counties who apply for the award. This grant is matched by contributions from each county who is part of the consortium.

• The Jackson County Commissioners also provided $10,000 in grant funding to the arts council to sponsor arts programming and workshops for the Jackson County community. All arts events and programs by the arts council are offered free of charge to the community. The arts council will be presenting Artists Talks on the second Monday of each month in the Community Room of the Jackson County Library Complex as well as concerts and art/theater workshops throughout the year.

The JCAC thanks the North Carolina Arts Council and the Jackson County Commissioners for their support and for keeping art alive in Jackson County. To learn more about the JCAC, visit www.jacksoncountyarts.org, email info@jacksoncountyarts.org or call 828.507.9820.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 5TH @ 6:30

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On the wall

f • The Western North Carolina Woodturners Club, Inc. will be meeting at 6 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 10, at the Blue Ridge School in Glenville. The school is located on Bobcat Drive. Drive to the back of the school to the woodworking shop. Visitors are always welcome. The club meets the first Thursday of every month March through November.

ALSO:

The Western North Carolina Pottery Festival is Nov. 5 in Dillsboro.

Dillsboro festival celebrates pottery The Western North Carolina Pottery Festival will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 5, in downtown Dillsboro.

More than 40 highly skilled ceramic artists will be throwing pots and demonstrating their techniques from booths located along Front Street. Regarded as one of the finest events of its kind in the Southeast, the festival remains true to its original mission of allowing the public to

interact with potters and learn more about their craft.

All festival attendees receive a ticket for a daylong raffle, while a silent auction benefits a local charity that provides meals to needy families. The annual WNC Clay Olympics competition runs from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, outside Treehouse Pottery in downtown Dillsboro. www.wncpotteryfestival.com.

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• The Adult Coloring Group will meet at 2 p.m. on Fridays in the Living Room of the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. An afternoon of creativity and camaraderie. Supplies are provided, or bring your own. Beginners are welcome as well as those who already enjoy this new trend. kmoe@fontanalib.org or 828.524.3600.

• “Stitch,” the community gathering of those interested in crochet, knit and needlepoint, meet at 2:30 p.m. every first Sunday of the month at the Canton Public Library. All ages and skill levels welcome. www.haywoodlibrary.org.

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• The “Photography of Bayard Wootten” exhibit will be on display through Nov. 23 in the Mountain Heritage Center at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. Wootten was a female pioneer in the field of photography from the early 1900s to 1950s, when men dominated the field. All 35 photographs in this exhibition are of North Carolina subjects, which are on loan through from North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives at UNC-Chapel Hill.

November 2-8, 2016

A G U A R A N T E E D G R E AT N I G H T O U T

• A showcase on the life and times of Horace Kephart will be on display through March 31 in the Mountain Heritage Center at Western Carolina University. In 1904, a 42-year-old librarian named Horace Kephart came to Western North Carolina looking for a fresh start in the southern Appalachian wilderness. Over the next 27 years, his numerous articles and books captured a disappearing culture, provided practical advice for generations of outdoor enthusiasts, and spearheaded the movement to establish the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Mountain Heritage Center’s Kephart Collection is composed of 127 objects, including Kephart’s tent, sleeping bag, backpack and the writing desk. 828.227.7129.

• Paint Nite Waynesville will be held at 7 p.m. on Fridays at the Mad Anthony’s Bottle Shop & Beer Garden. $20 per person. Group rates available. Sign up at Mad Anthony’s or call host Robin Smathers at 828.400.9560. paintnitewaynesville@gmail.com.

arts & entertainment

• The Blacksmith & Fine Craft Auction will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 5 at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown. Proceeds benefit the craft programs at the school Admission is free. 800.FOLK.SCH.

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arts & entertainment

On the wall School of Art and Design open house Western Carolina University’s School of Art and Design will host prospective students for an open house event from noon to 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, in Cullowhee.

Offering open studios, a museum exhibition, hands-on activities, prizes and refreshments, the event is designed for area high school students and their families. It is open to school groups beginning at 10 a.m.

The School of Art and Design offers academic programs in art education, graphic design, interior design and studio art. The school is part of WCU’s College of Fine and Performing Arts.

For more information about the open house, including parking and directions, contact Erin Tapley, professor of art education, at etapley@wcu.edu.

‘Fall Flavors of Sylva’ The Cullowhee Mountain Arts fundraiser, “Fall Flavors of Sylva,” will be held from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13, at Mad

Batter Food & Film in Sylva.

Join the CMA for a cornucopia of local tastes and talents. Culinary tastes, live auction, craft beer and wine tasting, living statues, door prizes and drawings, concert with original music by Eric Hendrix and Todd Davis. Vendors include Heinzelmannchen Brewery, The Sneak E Squirrel, Country Vintners Wine, Lulu’s on Main, Guadalupe Cafe, Baxley’s Chocolate, and City Lights Cafe.

Tickets are $25 online or $35 at the door. www.madbatterfoodfilm.com or 828.342.6913.

Heritage festival in Swain The Heritage Arts Holiday Festival will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 12 at Southwestern Community College in Bryson City.

This event will feature many vendors offering jewelry, woodwork, painting, beadwork, knitting, quilts, pottery from the Heritage Arts ceramics program and more.

Free. www.greatsmokies.com.

Smoky Mountain News

November 2-8, 2016

Waynesville’s Art After Dark

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Art After Dark will continue from 6 to 9 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 4, in downtown Waynesville.

Enjoy a stroll through working studios and galleries on Main Street and Depot Street. Festive Art After Dark flags denote participating galleries, including the Haywood County Arts Council Gallery and Gifts, Burr Studio, Earthworks Gallery, The Jeweler’s Workbench, Studio SG, Twigs & Leaves Gallery, TPennington Art Gallery, Cedar Hill Studios, Moose Crossing Burl Wood Gallery, and the Village Framer.

Twigs & Leaves Gallery will host a live demonstration with clay artist Kaaren Stoner, with painter Carl Simoson at The Village Framer. www.downtownwaynesville.com or www.waynesvillegalleryassociation.com.

with PARI telescopes.

The Morse presentation is part of PARI’s monthly Evening at PARI series and will feature a talk by Phil Archer, the Betsy Main Babcock Director of Program and Interpretation at the Reynolda House Museum of American Art in Winston-Salem.

The Reynolda House has scheduled an exhibition of Morse’s art and science that will begin Feb. 17 and conclude June 4.

“This presentation was scheduled to coincide with our pulsar art exhibit because they proThe Pisgah vide some provocative Astronomical corollaries,” said Christi Research Institute Whitworth, PARI direc(pictured) will be the tor of learning experisite of a presentation ences. “The Morse presof the art of Samuel entation delves into how F. B . Morse. visual information was relayed in the past and invites a conversation about how technology has made the world smaller. More recently, astronomers have learned to interpret pulsations and light across the spectrum, helping to make the universe smaller and more understandable. The Evening at PARI proThe Pisgah Astronomical Research gram and the art exhibit provide some fasciInstitute’s (PARI) initiative to probe the con- nating parallels involving communication nections between art and science will contin- across distances with both art and science.” ue at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, with a public The program will take place regardless of presentation of the art of Samuel F. B. Morse, the weather so attendees are encouraged to widely known as the inventor of the telegraph dress appropriately and wear comfortable but lesser known as an acclaimed artist. walking shoes. Each participant will also have While on the PARI campus, program the opportunity to have a photo taken with a attendees will also be able to explore “Pulsar PARI telescope and will receive a subscription Journey,” a limited-engagement art exhibit to the PARI newsletter. featuring the work of French artist Amélie Reservations are required and will be Beaudroit, who has created 11 works depict- accepted until 3 p.m. the day of the event. ing the stellar stages of a pulsar. The Evening at PARI programs cost $20 per adult evening’s activities include a campus tour of and $15 for seniors/military. Children 10 and the historic former NASA facility including under are admitted free. Register and pay exhibits of Space Shuttle Artifacts, mete- online at www.pari.edu or call 828.862.5554. orites and minerals. Weather permitting, For additional information, contact Sarah visitors will be able to view the night sky Chappell at schappell@pari.edu.

The art of Samuel Morse

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The stage production of “Fiddler On The Roof” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 4-5 and 11-12 at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.

Set in the little village of Anatevka, the story centers on Tevye, a poor dairyman, and his five daughters. With the help of a colorful and tight-knit Jewish community, Tevye tries to protect his daughters and instill them with traditional values in the face of changing social mores and the growing anti-Semitism of Czarist Russia.

Tickets are $12 for students, $17 for adults. www.greatmountainmusic.com or 828.524.1598.

The Highlands Performing Arts Center will offer two “Live via Satellite” performances.

• 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5: from the National Theatre of London, a comedy by Richard Bean, “One Man, Two Guvnors.”

Fired from his skiffle band, Francis Henshall becomes minder to Roscoe Crabbe, a small time East End hood, now in Brighton to collect £6,000 from his fiancée’s dad. But Roscoe is really his sister Rachel posing as her own dead brother, who’s been killed by her boyfriend Stanley Stubbers. Holed up at The Cricketers’ Arms, the permanently ravenous Francis spots the chance of an extra meal ticket and takes a second job with one Stanley Stubbers, who is hiding from the police and waiting to be reunited with Rachel. To prevent discovery, Francis must keep his two guvnors apart.

• 12:55 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6: the Bolshoi Ballet will perform “The Bright Stream.”

During harvest festival at a collective farm, a visiting dance troupe reunites a ballerina with her childhood friend Zina. In order to teach her unfaithful husband a lesson, Zina, the ballerina and the ballerina’s husband decide to swap roles for the evening.

Tickets are available for both screenings online at www.highlandspac.org, at the door or by calling 828.526.9047.

The nonprofit artistic organization Catch the Spirit of Appalachia will present their holiday performance, “A Celebration of the Written Word,” from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, at the Jackson County Public Library’s Community Room in Sylva.

The fast-moving performance consists of short readings from regional authors, interspersed with song. The authors will have their books and be available for autographing after the performance. A reception will follow downstairs in the atrium.

All writers will have their books available for purchase once the performance draws to an end, a great opportunity to fulfill your Christmas lists with personally autographed books written by Western North Carolina writers.

Catch the Spirit of Appalachia’s Board of Directors will provide hors d’oeuvres in the Atrium after the performance, and also have on hand CSA’s two new books: Catch the TASTE of Appalachia Cookbook, and Spending Time in the environs of the Great Smoky Mountains, a perpetual calendar.

The event is co-sponsored by the Jackson County Public Library. For more information, call 828.631.4587 or visit www.spiritofappalachia.org.

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‘Catch the Spirit of Appalachia’

November 2-8, 2016

‘Live via Satellite’ comedy, ballet

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Books

Smoky Mountain News

Searching for the meaning in a grueling trek R Gary Carden

ecently, I attended “Coffee With the Poets” at City Lights Bookstore and heard the poet, Newton Smith, read and discuss his new collection, Camino Poems: Reflections on the Way. Smith told his audience that he and his wife, June, had completed the famous 500-mile pilgrimage which runs from the village of St. Jean-PedPort in France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

The journey is a daunting one since the trail (known as “The Way”) consists of an ancient, rock-strewn path that runs Writer through a network of small villages and towns. The landscape varies from sheep pastures to rugged mountain scenery.

Walking is tricky, and Newton notes that he and his fellow pilgrims soon develop a variety of aches and pains.

Pilgrims who choose to make this journey traditionally carry a journal in which they record their thoughts and observations. Each time that they pass through a village that has been designated as part of “The Way,” an official provides a stamp for the pilgrim’s journal, thereby verifying the pilgrim’s progress on his journey. Upon completing the entire journey, each participant will receive an official document which acknowledges his success.

Before setting forth on “The Way,” Newton decided to mark the completion of each day on the Camino by writing a poem. The result is a “poetic journal” which is decorated with the unique stamps. In addition, June Smith’s photographs give the poems a physical reality. In a sense, the combination of the poem, photo and stamp suggest a kind of “stations of the cross” or a kind of “pilgrim’s progress.”

Many of the poems are inspired by the scenery and the natural world. “Blue Butterfly” presents a vivid image of vibrant color, reminding Smith of other images. In some of the villages, the travelers listen to colorful folktales and stories of young men betrayed by deceitful women and chickens rising from a dinner table with their life (and feathers) restored. Some of the poems celebrate a sudden, mysterious sense of joy and well-being that causes the pilgrim to pause and sink to the roadside, content and at peace.

Is there a magic gift that the Camino provides for those who come here with a hopeful heart?

At the heart of Camino Poems is a mystery. Why are these people here? When Newton looks around him, he realizes that these pilgrims are much like Chaucer’s 29 travelers. They are teachers, newlyweds, students, doctors and nuns Newton Smith. and they also yearn to go on a pilgrimages.

Why? No doubt, many are suffering from grief or heart-felt longing. They are hoping to find the courage to deal with problems that seem insurmountable.

The Camino is filled with hopeful souls, and Newton finds in himself a growing sense of community. He and his wife forge new friendships, eating, talking, sharing. Is this it, then? Did these kindred souls come here to suffer sprains and bruises together and thereby acknowledge their common bond?

There are other Camino trails out there. Recently, I read Wild, in which a young woman undertakes a pilgrimage alone and finds that the ordeal of surviving (finding food, water, shelter) greatly simplifies her life.

Out in the wilderness, searching for shelter and keeping a watchful eye out for danger (wolves and men), she soon recognizes what is important in her personal life.

There have been several movies about the Camino, but somehow, they fail to capture the “mystery” or solve it.

No doubt, Newt would agree that it may be impossible to use art and artifice to find what is hidden at the heart of “The Way.” It may be that one of Newton Smith’s poems is an apt conclusion to this review. In the poem, “No When, No Where,” Newton concludes: The Way is nowhere to be found.

To Look for it is to lose it.

It is the sun on your face.

It is here, where the rocks meet your feet.

Camino de Santiago poems

Newton Smith will read from his new poetry collection at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.

Camino Poems: Reflections on the Way is a collection of poems written as he walked the 500 mile Camino de Santiago Frances in September and October 2014. At the top of each poem is written where the poem had been started or written making this collection a poetic travelogue. Ron Rash said of Camino Poems, “In this superb collection, Newt Smith’s spiritual journey is rendered with such attentiveness and fidelity that we become his fellow travelers. We too share the pain and effort but above all the wonder, and are reminded that in matters of the spirit the journey and destination can be one.”

Poetry has been an essential part of Smith’s life for more than 50 years. He has published widely in literary magazines beginning in the 1970s, including Southern Poetry Review, Carolina Quarterly, Ann Arbor Review and others. His most recent poetry publications are in the Asheville Poetry Review, Rivendale, Main Street Rag, Pisgah Review, and Jonah. During his 2014 pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago he wrote a poem everyday reflecting on the physical body, nature, and the spiritual as he walked along “The Way.” To reserve copies, call City Lights Bookstore at 828.586.9499.

Ellison release natural history essays Beloved longtime natural history writer George Ellison has released his latest book, Literary Excursions in the Southern Highlands.

The essay collections focuses on the abundant wonders of the Southern Highlands in a series of humorous, scientific and literary pieces, with illustrations by artist Elizabeth Ellison. George lives in the mountains of Western North Carolina, in the shadow of the Great Smokies. Atop being a longtime contributor to The Smoky Mountain News and the Asheville Citizen-Times, he also conducts annual natural and human history workshops around the region.

George will be presenting his collection at 1 p.m. Nov. 8 at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville, 7 p.m. Nov. 17 in the Mountain Heritage Center at Western Carolina University, 10 a.m. Nov. 20 at the Marianna Black Library in Bryson City, and Dec. 7 at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. www.arcadiapublishing.com.

• Marty Keener Cherrix and Amy Cherrix of Two Hoots Press will host a presentation of John Parris at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. They will have a discussion on Parris and celebrate the reissue of Roaming the Mountains. Two Hoots Press came to be when the mother-daughter team discovered that books by Parris were out of print. Marty and Amy are now committed to ensuring classics of mountain life, folklore, and natural history is not forgotten. To reserve copies of Roaming the Mountains, call City Lights Bookstore at 828.586.9499.

• There will be a reception for the North Carolina Folklore Journal at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. The reception will celebrate those honored with the Brown-Hudson Folklore award at last year’s Folklore Society meeting. Last year’s recipients were Tom Belt, Ted Coyle, Bill Crawford and Roger Howell. The Goings family and The Mountain Heritage center will also be celebrated for winning the Community Traditions Award. To reserve copies of the North Carolina Folklore Journal, call City Lights Bookstore at 828.586.9499.

ALSO:

• There will be a celebration of the newly discovered Wilma Dykeman memoir at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. There will also be a reception and comments. Speakers will include Jim Stokely III, Dykeman’s son, who will talk about discovering the manuscript. Author Pam Duncan will talk about Dykeman as the emergent writer. Mae Miller Claxton, professor, will talk about Dykeman amongst Appalachian writers. Kim Hall, professor will talk about local water and environmental issues. Kathryn Stripling Byer, former NC Poet Laureate will talk about the early civil rights movement. The memoir, Family of Earth, is about Dykeman’s childhood. To reserve copies, call City Lights Bookstore at 828.586.9499.

Over 30 authors in three days Fontana Regional Library will be hosting their third annual “Read Local Book Fair,” an event that gives residents the chance to meet and support local authors.

This year, the event will be held in three locations with three different sets of authors: at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5; at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12; and at the Marianna Black Library in Bryson City from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19. Authors will have copies of their works available for purchase, just in time for the holiday season.

The three parallel events will each feature a different slate of authors, with those from Macon County appearing in Franklin, those from Jackson County appearing in Sylva, and Swain County authors in Bryson City. At each event, authors will be available to the public, where they can meet and chat with readers and autograph books. City Lights Bookstore in Sylva and Books Unlimited in Franklin will be on hand to sell books. Part of the idea behind the fair is to support the local economy of books and authors.

For more information about Fontana Regional Library or the Read Local Book Fair, visit www.fontanalib.org.

November 2-8, 2016

Smoky Mountain News

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Outdoors

Smoky Mountain News

Battle of the blaze Forest fires ignite the Nantahala as drought worsens

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER antahala District Ranger Mike Wilkins was headed to church Sunday morning, Oct. 23, when he got the call. A forest fire had ignited the Dicks Creek area of the Nantahala National Forest, near Sylva. Fire Management Officer Greg Brooks was already on the scene, and the response had to start ASAP. “I was walking out the door, literally on the porch,” Wilkins said. He turned himself around, changed out of his Sunday best and drove out to meet Brooks, sizing up the challenge set before them.

It hadn’t rained in weeks, and the mountains had sunk into drought. The fire blazed atop a ridge top guarded by rugged terrain — steep slopes and jungles of laurel and rhododendron often forced crews to crawl rather than walk.

Calls went out, and crews poured in. The N.C. Forest Service. The Bureau of Land Management out of Lakeview, Oregon. A plethora of local agencies that would eventually include Jackson County Emergency Management, Jackson County Fire Marshal, Jackson County Sheriff ’s Office, Qualla Fire Department, Sylva Fire Department, Cullowhee Fire Department and Savannah Fire Department. Even a few contract crews.

By Monday, the blaze had grown to somewhere between 200 and 250 acres, but it continued to swell. Tuesday, the number was 374, about half on private land and half on national forest land. But that’s where it stopped.

Now, the fire is 80 percent contained with crews sticking around to make sure it doesn’t reignite and put out any spot fires that may flare up.

“To me, coming in from Arkansas, I was really impressed by the personnel,” said Deanna Younger, a public information officer for the Forest Service who specializes managing communications for larger incidents. She’s

N

A crew of firefighters marches to battle the Jones Gap Fire near Highlands (top). Crews run hose lines to contain the Dicks Creek Fire near Sylva, which burned 374 acres (bottom two photos). Deanna Younger/ USFS photos

typically stationed in Arkansas’ Washita National Forest.

“It’s a seamless operation,” Younger added. “Everyone works so well together. That was a huge contribution to success.”

BACK TO NORMALCY

By Thursday afternoon, the flames and the billowing smoke that had choked the valley where Sylva lies had mostly vanished. Driving

Fire restrictions in place Historically high fire danger with little chance of rain in the forecast has prompted the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests to implement fire restrictions.

Until further notice, building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or stove fire is not allowed in the national forest.

Violating the rules could result in a maximum penalty of $5,000 and six months in prison. In addition, people found to have caused a forest fire could find themselves responsible for firefighting costs, which can run into the hundreds of thousands.

During the fire ban, fires are allowed only in the metal fire rings

along Dicks Creek Road, the cool October air was mostly clear, though the scent of campfire still lingered. On the east side of the road, much of the ground was blackened, white ash sprinkling it while the curled leaves of desperately dry rhododendrons hung above. Newly fallen leaves drifted down to the charred forest floor, offering the possibility of a flare-up should any embers remain. Here and there, a larger tree with a slash of black through its base was tied with a bright orange ribbon,

and grills provided in national forest campgrounds where a fee is paid. Charcoal fires are not allowed. However, portable lanterns, stoves and heating equipment that use gas or pressurized liquid fuel are allowed.

While fire restrictions apply only to the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests, anyone using fire in Western North Carolina — for anything from a bonfire to a cigarette — should use extreme caution while dry conditions persist.

■ If at all possible, refrain from burning debris until conditions moisten.

■ Start campfires only inside existing fire rings with a 10-foot radius free of flammable materials. Ensure that all flames and

indicating that it was destined for a chainsaw.

Trees like that are hazards, in danger of falling at any time as their burned-up roots come loose in the soil. You can hear them, during a fire, crashing to the ground as their structures fail.

Luckily, no buildings were among the fire’s casualties, though the blaze at times came frighteningly close. Just feet from the whitepainted walls of Dicks Creek Baptist Church, the mosaic of a

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embers are completely out before leaving the site.

■ Do not burn on dry, windy days.

■ Always have a phone, hose, bucket, steel rake and shovel on hand before burning.

■ When burning vegetation, place it in a cleared area contained in a screened receptacle away from overhead branches and wires.

When burning agricultural residue, ensure large fields are separated into small plots.

■ Stay with any fire until it is completely out, embers and all. Do not use any flammable liquids to speed burning.

■ Burn debris only with a proper permit from the N.C. Forest Service.

A helicopter drops water on the Jones Gap Fire to reduce its intensity.

No-fly zone for drones

impact the fire might have on her grandson’s wedding plans. They’d been planning to get married at Waller’s home the next week.

“The bride is in Florida, and she kept saying, I’m going to be a charred bride,” Waller said.

The odds of that now seem low.

Waller’s looking forward to a beautiful wedding.

A HARD JOB TO DO

Smoky Mountain News

By Monday the Forest Service had downgraded the Dicks Creek Fire to a patrol and monitor status, with crews hanging around to check on the affected area, make sure no new flames crop up.

But it took a lot of work to get to that point — 76 people were involved in firefighting and containment efforts. The first crews arrived Sunday, soon after the blaze was discovered.

“I think really the unsung heroes have been the helicopter pilots and the dozer operators,” Younger said. “They’ve just gone in places that are unimaginable. Dozer operators, they’ve gone in places you wouldn’t even want to walk.”

One of the most common techniques for controlling a wildfire is building containment lines — lines around the wildfire where fuels are cleared out to prevent the fire from traveling any further.

But the terrain of the Dicks Creek area is rough and rugged. There were some places bulldozers couldn’t reach, meaning crews had to clear away trees and brush by hand.

“This is our third day on the fire — Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday — this is our fourth day,” said Randall Fortney of the N.C. Forest Service’s Bridge Crew, displaying just how easy it is to lose track of time when you’re working such long, intense hours.

Crews typically arrive to headquarters at 8 a.m., where they receive their orders for the day, grab a hearty sack lunch and leave to carry out their orders.

They’re there all day, sometimes through dark, filling their hours with the hard, manual labor necessary to control a wildfire. When they finally return to headquarters about 6 p.m., there’s food waiting — usually ordered from some local business — and they grab a plate, a seat on the ground and wolf it down.

Fighting a fire can produce an appetite to rival that of an Olympic swimmer.

“We got out here Monday and it was real smoky,” Fortney said. “We didn’t have a lot of people here to help us at first, but as soon as people started getting here it went really good. It’s just really dry. Everything up there was really dry. That just lets you know the fire season is going to be pretty crazy.”

He’s right about that. So far, five fires — including the Dicks Creek Fire — are active in the Nantahala National Forest.

All of Western North Carolina is in drought, with the drought classified as extreme in Cherokee County, Clay County and the southern portions of Macon, Jackson and Transylvania counties. The remainder of the region is in severe drought.

“We’re getting close to historic extreme fire conditions for the fall fire season,” Brooks said.

So far, burning has mostly just been sweeping through the understory rather than torching the trees themselves.

Understory fires are easier to handle than blazes that jump from treetop to treetop, but Brooks emphasized that the dry weather and the heat and the wind have led to some “extreme fire behavior.”

Nevertheless, it’s unlikely that the fires will result in large swaths of newly open land. For the most part, Wilkins said, things in the burn area will return to normal when growing season returns — though people should keep their eyes peeled for holes created by burned-out tree stumps when recreating.

“Come springtime and leaves come up,” Brooks said, “It will look like a regular forested hillside to most people.”

Fire season is just beginning, but already five fires are lighting up the Nantahala National Forest. About 130 people are busy battling the blazes, with crews coming from as far as Alaska to help with the firefighting efforts.

“Of the crews we have on these fires already, we have some of them designated each day for initial attack,” said Deanna Younger, public information officer for the U.S. Forest Service. “If there are new starts, it’s already planned these people will go address the new starts. That’s all included in the briefing each morning.”

The fires range in size from 11 to 374 acres, with the affected areas totaling 743 acres. Rather than running separate operations for each blaze, firefighting efforts in the Nantahala are now being handled jointly, with all resources shared between the five operations.

Three helicopters are at work dropping water, and crews from across the country have gathered to help.

Crews from California, New Mexico, Michigan, Minnesota, Florida, Alaska and Oregon representing the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs and U.S. Forest Service have joined local agencies and crews from the U.S. Forest Service and the N.C. Forest Service.

“We’re getting a pretty good handle on most of them,” Younger said. “They’re not contained. We’re basically just strengthening lines.”

So far, the fires appear to be sticking mostly to the forest floor and understory, with few to no torching trees or high flames, Younger said.

The causes of the fires are under investigation. As of Wednesday, Oct. 26, the Forest Service had spent $220,000 on firefighting efforts at Dicks Creek, with figures for firefighting efforts since then not yet available. No structures have been damaged or are in immediate danger.

■ Boteler Peak Fire. The fire started Tuesday, Oct. 25, on remote Boteler Peak east of Murphy, with the acreage increasing from 2 acres Oct. 29 to 40 acres Oct. 30 to 225 acres Oct. 31. As of Monday, steep terrain and lack of access had relegated crews to fighting the fire through air attacks only, the two helicopters assigned to the fire dumping water on the flames. There was lightning in the area recently that could have started the fire, or it could have been caused by a careless camper.

■ Jones Gap Fire. The fire, which is expected to grow to about 100 acres, started Saturday, Oct. 29, near the Bartram Trail northwest of Highlands. Helicopters were used to reduce fire intensity, allowing hand crews and a dozer to quickly construct containment lines around the fire, though a continuous cliff line that runs through the area creates a challenge. The U.S. Forest Service is in unified command with the N.C. Forest Service. The Cliffside Day Use Area between Highlands and Franklin is closed to allow helicopters to dip water from the lake.

The Bartram Trail is also closed from Hickory Knoll Road to N.C. 106 due to fire activity.

■ Moses Creek Fire. The 33-acre fire started Friday, Oct. 28, on Sheep Mountain northeast of Cullowhee.

Containment lines were widened using burnout operations, and crews are continuing to patrol the area for smoking vegetation near the fire lines.

■ Grape Cove Fire. The 11-acre fire started Wednesday, Oct. 26, near Grape Cove Branch west of Franklin. Smoke was highly visible Saturday as burnout operations were conducted, with crews now patrolling, monitoring and securing containment lines. T ■ Dicks Creek Fire. The fire, which burned 374 acres, started Oct. 23 northwest of Sylva. It is now 80 percent contained with patrol and monitoring continuing along containment lines.

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November 2-8, 2016

fall forest floor turned to black, the char climbing the slope until it disappeared over the ridge. The same was true for the neighboring homes — flames had come way too close for comfort to log cabin walls.

The flames closest to the structures hadn’t actually been part of the wildfire itself, however. They were part of a backburn, a technique firefighters use to deprive the wildfire of fuel for its forward march. The approach involves clearing away brush and then lighting a low-impact fire that’s herded toward the bigger wildfire.

“It will go toward the other fire and then when the two meet the big fire sort of sucks the little fire into it and it stops right there,” Younger said. “It’s really amazing how the logistics of fire work.”

The fire under control, some semblance of normalcy had returned to the community along Dicks Creek Road by Thursday afternoon. Homeowners who had left for a night or two to escape the smoke were back in their houses.

Marjorie Waller, who lives in the area, stopped to chat while out walking her dog Sophie. In her 30 years living there, she said, she’d never seen anything like the fire that came so near to her neighborhood.

“That morning I got up and looked out my back window and I thought, ‘Who in the world would start a fire this time of morning?’” Waller said. “I heard a big truck because I heard the beepbeep backing up and I guess that must have been one of the fire trucks or somebody going up, checking things, but I didn’t know that. And later I looked down and the whole side below you had a big puff, so we knew then when you started smelling smoke.”

The smoke was terrible, Waller said, the nearness of the fire downright spooky. But the firefighters seemed confident enough that they’d be able to stop it, and she was able to keep calm.

Mostly, she was worried about the

Deanna Younger/USFS photo

outdoors

Drone use has been increasing in popularity recently, but the hobby is illegal where firefighting efforts are underway.

“If we see a drone we got to shut down,” said Mike Wilkins, district ranger for the Nantahala Ranger District. “It’s not only impeding our operations, it’s keeping us from protecting life and property.”

The law requires that drone operators maintain a visual line of sight with their aircraft, and the heavy smoke emanating from wildfires makes this impossible. In addition, collisions between drones and helicopters are dangerous — they can result in death for the helicopter operator. Therefore, aircraft are required to land when a drone is spotted in the area, and such delays can prove disastrous for firefighting efforts.

Five fires burn the Nantahala

outdoors November 2-8, 2016

New district ranger named for Pisgah The Pisgah Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest has a new district ranger following the arrival of Dave Casey, who most recently served as district ranger of the Bankhead Ranger District in Alabama.

“Dave has an excellent record with partnerships and collaborative experience and a tremendous background in natural resource management,” said Allen Nicholas, forest supervisor of the National Forests in North Carolina.

“He also has lived and worked in Western North Dave Casey.

Carolina previously so understands the forests and communities we serve.”

Before moving to Alabama, Casey spent seven years as a silviculturist and timber management administrator on the Cheoah and Tusquitee ranger districts in the Nantahala National Forest. He started his forestry career in the Grandfather Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest and has also worked in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest in Virginia.

Originally from Nashville, Casey holds a master’s degree in forestry from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

The district ranger position was last held

by Derek Ibarguen, who left this summer for a job as deputy forest supervisor in Wyoming’s Bridger-Teton National Forest.

Casey is moving to the Brevard area with his wife and three children.

Explore the top of the Smokies A 12.8-mile hike will pay off with views from the Smokies’ highest elevations on Saturday, Nov. 12.

Starting from Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the hike will explore the Appalachian Trail to its turn-around point at the Silers Bald shelter. Breathtaking views, grassy balds and species such as red spruce, Fraser fir and American beech will populate the route.

The hike, organized by the Great Smoky Mountains Association, will be led by Fran Samson. It’s part of GSMA’s Hike 100 series of monthly excursions planned this year to support the park’s Hike 100 Challenge in celebration of the National Park Service’s centennial. The yearlong challenge to hike 100 miles of trail in the park ends Dec. 6. $10 for members and free for Hemlock members. Memberships start at $15. Space is limited with registration online at www.smokiesinformation.org/info/hike-100-with-GSMA.

A hiker takes in the view on a hike from Silers Bald to Clingmans Dome on the Appalachian Trail.

Hoyer/NPS photo

Read a book and walk a path with new Story Walk A new way to get families and children literate and physically active and will be unveiled at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 4, at the Parker Meadows Recreation Park in Franklin.

The Story Walk, the second that the childhood literacy group Read2Me has installed in the community, places a children’s story along a popular walking route. The idea is to build children’s interest in reading while also encouraging physical activity. Stories are interchangeable, giving variety to the experience over time. Read2Me aims to install two additional Story Walks before July 2017.

Light refreshments will be served, with the Macon County Public Library leading a walk through the Story Walk, which features the book Pond Babies.

828.524.3600.

Tour Lake J by paddle A paddle tour of Lake Junaluska will explore the history and ecosystems contained in the Haywood County landmark, 1-3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7.

The lake was created with the 1913 damming of Richland Creek, and today much of Haywood County’s water passes

over the Lake Junaluska dam on its way to the Pigeon River.

Part of Haywood Waterways Association’s “Get to Know Your Watershed” series of outdoor excursions, the tour is sponsored by HWA, Lake Junaluska Assembly and the Waynesville Recreation Center. The Rec Center will furnish boats, paddles and PFDs, but guests

are welcome to bring their own equipment as well. Minors must be accompanied by an adult.

Free for HWA members and $5 for nonmembers, with memberships starting at $25. Space is limited. RSVP by Nov. 3 to Christine O’Brien, christine.haywoodwaterways@gmail.com or 828.476.4667.

Smoky Mountain News

HUNTING & OUTDOOR GEAR FIREARMS | ARCHERY

44

Registration Strongly Encouraged

email: kmgould@haywood.edu

828.627.4512

472 E. Main St., Sylva 828.339.3300 Mon. - Sat. 10- 6

outdoors

A young volunteer learns how stocking is done. Donated photo

Stock the Pigeon Trout fans are invited to help the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and Trout Unlimited Cataloochee chapter stock the West Fork of the Pigeon River, 10:30 a.m.

Thursday, Nov. 10.

Volunteers are invited to bring a clean 5gallon bucket, trash bags and friends to help stock at least 1,200 pounds of fish.

Waders are also recommended. The job will take about three hours to complete.

It’s the N.C. Wildlife Resources

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

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

Ron Gaddy, tucataloochee427@gmail.com.

Farmers markets head into winter

Drought disaster declared in WNC

November 2-8, 2016

With weather cooling off and the growing season over, most farmers markets are now done for the year — except for two.

■ The Jackson County Farmers Market will be held 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays at the Community Table building on Central Street in Sylva until outdoor hours resume at Bridge Park in March. The market will be held weekly through Dec. 17 and then be held one weekend each in January and February.

■ The Haywood Historic Farmers Market will switch to winter hours, 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays, until the market closes for the year when November ends. The market will resume in the spring.

Jackson County has joined five other Western North Carolina counties in receiving designation as a primary natural disaster area due to agricultural losses from drought.

Jackson, Macon, Cherokee, Clay, Graham and Transylvania counties all fall into the designation, with Swain likely to follow.

Farmers and ranchers in these counties and counties adjacent to them may qualify for disaster assistance, including low-interest emergency loans. Producers in eligible counties have eight months from the date disaster is declared to apply for a loan to help cover part of their actual losses. Other programs are available as well.

Contact your local Farm Service Agency for details.

A plan to conduct forest management activities in the Tusquitee Ranger District of the Nantahala National Forest — methods may include commercial timber sale, road reconstruction, site preparation for forest regeneration, timber stand improvement, prescribed burning and habitat improvement activities — is open for public comment through Nov. 19.

Called the Long Buck Project, the area in question is in the western end of Cherokee County, primarily to the north of Appalachia

Lake and Hiawassee Lake and east of Schulers Creek. It will aim to re-establish communities of plants that reflect the natural range of historic variation, maintain a healthy forest and benefit wildlife and fisheries.

Comments — especially those that offer specific feedback as to the scope of the proposed action and supporting reasoning — will be accepted through Nov. 19.

Email comments to comments-southernnorth-carolina-nantahalatusquitee@fs.fed.us or send to Angela Gee, District Ranger, Tusquitee Ranger District, Nantahala National Forest, 123 Woodland Drive, Murphy, N.C. 28906.

828.837.5152.

Smoky Mountain News

Forest management activities proposed

45

outdoors

Diane E. Sherrill, Attorney 369-29

Is a Will Enough?

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Nov. 16 & Dec. 7 11:30 AM

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828.586.4051

Volunteers clean up Allens Creek. HWA photo

Volunteers remove a ton of garbage from Haywood creeks

nctrustlawyer.com

28 Maple St. • Sylva

More than a ton of trash vanished from Richland and Allens creeks following a volunteer cleanup effort this fall.

The annual Big Sweep event, organized Sept. 17 by Haywood Waterways Association, drew 22 volunteers who removed 2,145 pounds of trash from lower Allens Creek and from Richland Creek

between Russ Avenue and Lake Junaluska.

Unusual items removed included a swimming pool slide, TV, kitchen sink and several shopping carts.

The event was funded through grants from the Tennessee Valley Authority Reservoir & Community Clean-Ups Program and the Town of Waynesville.

November 2-8, 2016

Guide the future of Waynesville Parks A public meeting to help form the next decade of the Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department will be held 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, at the Waynesville Recreation Center using a drop-in format that allows people to come and go throughout.

The meeting will specifically concern Vance Street Park and the Recreation Park, with input sought as to what users would like to see happen in those two parks. The Rec Department is in the process of creating a master plan for its facilities extending 10 years into the future.

Rhett Langston, 828.456.2030 or rlangston@waynesvillenc.gov.

Competition raises $220,000 to support military members

Smoky Mountain News

Meet Our Providers

Mountain Pediatrics pr ovides compassionate provides and superior health care to children and adolescents.

For Appointments, Call: 828.452.8878 Walk-In Appointments Available 24 Falcon Crest Lane Clyde, NC 28721

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46

mountainpediatric.com

A weekend of outdoor competition raised $220,000 in support of military members and their families at Mountain Falls Luxury Motorcoach Resort and Burlingame Country Club Lake Toxaway last month.

The Skinner Round-Up presented by Cessna included everything from a shooting

competition to a golf tournament and hoedown bash, with all proceeds going to Hope for Warriors, a national nonprofit dedicated to restoring a sense of self, family and hope for service members, veterans and military families.

The event has been held for 10 years in Daytona Beach, Florida and came to North Carolina this year for the first time.

A long list of sponsors and celebrities in attendance came together to make the event successful. www.HopeForTheWarriors.org.

Conquer a half marathon A half marathon designed to honor the military while raising money to assist pregnant women will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, starting from the Tassee Shelter on the Little Tennessee Greenway in Franklin.

The Conquer the Mountain Half Marathon, now in its fifth year, will include raffle prizes, a 50/50 drawing and a post-race meal. Proceeds will go to Smoky Mountain Pregnancy Care Center, and for $10 people can honor a soldier by having the soldier’s name and rank displayed along the race route.

A portion of the $10 will be donated to Veterans Memorial Park. $50 for individuals and $75 for two-person teams. Register at www.active.com or day-of beginning at 9 a.m. The race start is located at 877 Ulco Drive. bringingit2life@gmail.com or 828.421.7637.

WNC Calendar COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS • A public meeting to discuss the Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department’s Comprehensive Master Plan will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 3, at the Waynesville Recreation Center. Drop-in format.

456.2030 or rlangston@waynesvillenc.gov.

• The 2nd annual Cherokee Memorial VFW Post 8013 Veterans appreciation dinner will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Yellow Hill Activity Center in Cherokee. Free to all veterans, sponsors, and their families. Menu is pancakes, sausage, juice, and more.

For more information, call Steve Brown 497.2515 or email cdrpost8013@vfwnc.com.

• The Read Local Book Fair will be held from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. More than 30 local authors will attend the event. http://fontanalib.org/bookfair.

• The “Cruise the Smokies” Fall Rod Run will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 4-5 at the Acquoni Expo Center in Cherokee. Over 300 of the nation’s fantastic classic cars and trucks will be on display. Admission is $5. Children under age 10 are free. www.cherokeerodders.com or 828.497.2603.

• Sweet Fellowship Baptist Church is holding an indoor yard sale from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5, in Clyde. Craft supplies, clothes, household and more.

• The Haywood County Home Fire Preparedness Campaign will install smoke alarms from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Nov. 5. Presented by the Haywood County Fire Marshal and the American Red Cross. 452.6717, ext. 2, or firemarshal@haywoodnc.net.

All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted.

• “Daylight S’mores’ing Time” event will be offered from 5-7 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6, at the Cullowhee Recreation Center. Clocks fall back by one hour at 2 a.m. that morning. $2 covers s’mores. Register by Nov. 5: 293.3053.

• A Community Relief Medic class will be offered through Landmark Learning on Nov. 7-8 in Flat Rock.

Designed for community members preparing for disaster and groups preparing for mission trips. 293.5384 or main@landmarklearning.edu.

• A new program linking veterans with businesses that offer them discounts will hold a kickoff event from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Nov. 10 at the Haywood County Register of Deeds office in Waynesville. www.haywooddeeds.com.

• Public input will be accepted for the Haywood County Public Library’s strategic plan at the three following dates/times/locations: 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10, at the Waynesville Library; 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at the Maggie Valley Library and at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at the Canton Library. 356.2504.

• Mike Wolf, Frank Fritz and their team are excited to return to North Carolina. They plan to film episodes of the hit series AMERICAN PICKERS throughout the region this fall. If you or someone you know has a large, private collection or accumulation of antiques that the pickers can spend the better part of the day looking through, send us your name, phone number, location and description of the collection with photos to: americanpickers@cineflix.com or call 855.old.rust.

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Smoky Mountain News

• Cruise in Maggie Valley event is held from 1-5 p.m. every Sunday at 2771 Soco Road. Vendors: $10 per space. Cruising@MaggieValleyAntiques.com.

• Coloring Club will be hosted on the second Wednesday of the month at 4 p.m. at Canton Library.

Color pencils and color pages supplied. For ages 8 to 108. 648.2924.

• Beginners Chess Club is held on Fridays at 4 p.m. at the Canton Public Library. Ages 8-108 invited to participate. 648.2924.

• Oconaluftee Indian Village is now opened for the 2016 season through Nov. 12, located next to the Oconaluftee Visitors Center in Cherokee. Witness the challenges of Cherokee life at a time of rapid cultural change. Tour guides help you explore the historic events and figures of the 1760’s. Visitors can interact with villagers as they participate in their daily activities. The village also hosts live reenactments, interactive demonstrations, and hands-on Cherokee pottery for kids classes. The village is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. www.visitcherokeenc.com.

• Qualla Boundary Historical Society meets at 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Everyone is welcome.

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Visit www.smokymountainnews.com and click on Calendar for: ■ Complete listings of local music scene ■ Regional festivals ■ Art gallery events and openings ■ Complete listings of recreational offerings at regional health and fitness centers ■ Civic and social club gatherings Nov. 2-4, at Western Carolina University’s instructional site at Biltmore Park Town Square in Asheville.

227.7397 or pdp.wcu.edu.

• Intermediate Excel classes will be offered at 5:55 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 7 at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva.. Taught by retired WCU professor Roger Bacon.

• Western Carolina University’s School of Art and Design will host prospective students for an open house event from noon to 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, in Cullowhee. etapley@wcu.edu.

• Hunter Safety courses will be offered by Haywood Community College and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission from 6-9 p.m. on Nov. 14-15 at HCC’s Campus, Building 3300, Room 3322, in Clyde. Pre-registration required: www.ncwildlife.org.

• The Haywood Community College Small Business Center will hold a seminar entitled “High Impact Organizational Communication” from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10, in Room 1510 at HCC’s Campus in Clyde. Part of the seminar series: “Building a HighPerformance Nonprofit.” Register or get more info: SBC.Haywood.edu or 627.4512.

• A grant-writing certificate workshop will be offered from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. from Wednesday through Friday,

• One-on-one computer lessons are offered weekly at the Waynesville and Canton branches of the Haywood

BUSINESS & EDUCATION

wnc calendar

County Public Library. Lesson slots are available from 10 a.m.-noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Canton and from 3-5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Waynesville Library. Sign up at the front desk of either library or call 356.2507 for the Waynesville Library or 648.2924 for the Canton Library.

FUNDRAISERS AND BENEFITS • Folkmoot will host an international evening of dance and cuisine from Eritrea from 6-8 p.m. on Nov. 5 in Waynesville. $20 adults; $10 kids. Folkmoot.org or 452.2997. At the door, adult tickets are $28. info@folkmoot.org.

• The Blacksmith & Fine Craft Auction will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 5 at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown. Proceeds benefit the craft programs at the school Admission is free. 800.FOLK.SCH. • The 25th annual Haywood County Motorcycle Parade and Toy Run will be held on Nov. 12 to raise money for children of Haywood County. Food and DJ music.

246.9886.

• Haywood Christian Academy’s 10th annual charity event is being held Saturday, Nov. 12, 6 pm to 10 pm.

The money raised will go directly to supporting HCA student, Emily May Serafim, who is fighting a rare cancer. Event will be filled with fun, food, fellowship, live DJ, dancing and is being held at Cabin Among The Oaks in Canton. Tickets for the event are $30 and can be purchased online at: https://haywoodchristianacademy.churchcenteronline.com/registrations/eve nts/44478.

HEALTH MATTERS

November 2-8, 2016

• Assistance with Marketplace Open Enrollment is available through Mountain Projects. Enrollment through the Affordable Care Act opens Nov. 1 and lasts until Jan. 31. 452.1447 or 800.627.1548.

•The Jackson County Public Library will be hosting a Philosophy Lecture Series that continues at 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov 8, in Sylva.

The lectures will cover Ancient Metaphysics (Thales, Heraclitus, Parmenides, and Plato — and some Aristotle if there’s time) and also Modern Metaphysics (Descartes, Locke, Hume, Kant). 586.2016. www.fontanalib.org.

• The “Eat Smart, Move More, Maintain, Don’t Gain!

Holiday Challenge” will start with a kickoff event from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 2, at the Macon Extension Center.

• The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 7:30 a.m.-noon on Nov. 5 at Crabtree United Methodist Church in Clyde. 800.RED.CROSS or www.redcrossblood.org.

• The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from noon-6 p.m. on Nov. 2 and from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Nov. 3 at Western Carolina University’s Hinds University Center in Cullowhee. 800.RED.CROSS or www.redcrossblood.org.

• A Physician 411 Lunch & Learn program on Shoulder Education: Replacements, Scopes and Injuries will be offered from noon-1 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 4, at Harris Regional Hospital’s Boardroom in Sylva. Presented by Dr. Douglas Gates, a physician with Harris Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine. RSVP: 631.8894.

• A workshop on messages hidden in dreams will be offered by Rebecca E.S. Cleland from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5, at Jubilee in Asheville. Pre-register: www.wisedreams.info/workshops. Entry fee is $25. www.wisedreams.info.

• The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Nov. 10 at Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva. 800.RED.CROSS or www.redcrossblood.org.

• A lunch-and-learn program entitled “Winning the

November 3rd 4:00-7:00 pm

DROP-IN MEETING PUBLIC at the Waynesville Rec Center Smoky Mountain News

for Waynesville Parks & Recreation Master Plan

Final Public Meeting for 2016 Comprehensive Master Plan this meeting will focus on Vance St. Park & Recreation Park

This is your last chance to give us input!

Remember, this is a 10 year plan.

550 Vance Street in Waynesville. For more information please call 456-2030 or email rlangston@waynesvillenc.gov

WAYNESVILLE

RECREATION CENTER 550 Vance St. • Waynesville • 828.456.2030

48

www.townofwaynesville.org

War on Lung Cancer: The Present and the Future” will be offered at 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 14, at the Haywood Regional Medical Center Café in Clyde.

Featured speaker is Dr. Scott Skibo, a physician with Pulmonary Specialists of WNC. Reservations required: 800.424.DOCS.

RECREATION AND FITNESS • Waynesville Wellness offers a wide variety of classes on a weekly basis. Fitness Challenge eligible. http://waynesvillewellness.com/classes or 283.0173.

• Indoor soccer is available during Futsal Open Gym nights, 6:30-9 p.m., on Fridays, Nov. 4 and 18 at the Recreation Center in Cullowhee. www.smokiesinformation.org/info/branch-out-programs-fall.

• The High Mountain Squares will host a Patriotic Dance from 6:15-8:45 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 4, at the Macon County Community Building in Franklin. Jim Duncan from Otto is the caller. Western-style square dancing, mainstream and levels. 283.1171, 342.1560, 332.0001 or www.highmountainsquares.com.

• Wrapping up their fifth season, the Smoky Mountain Roller Girls will be hosting their final double header of the year on Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Swain County Recreation Center located on Deep Creek Road in Bryson City. First bout starts at 4:30 p.m. with your hometown team Smoky Mountain Roller Girls taking the track at 6 p.m.

• Adult pick-up basketball is from 6-9 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 9, at the Cullowhee Recreation Center. $1.

THE SPIRITUAL SIDE • The Interfaith Peace Conference is scheduled for Thursday through Sunday, Nov. 10-13, at the Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center. The conference seeks to work in partnership with Christians,

Jews, Muslims and members of other religious traditions to advance the work of reconciliation and peace.

Featured speakers include: Dr. Norman Wirzba, Professor of Theology, Ecology, and Agrarian Studies at Duke Divinity School and Jacqueline Patterson, Director of the NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program. www.LakeJunaluska.com/peace or 800.222.4930.

AUTHORS AND BOOKS • There will be a reception for the North Carolina Folklore Journal at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. Reserve copies available by calling 586.9499.

• Newton Smith will read from his new poetry collection at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. Reserve copies available by calling 586.9499.

• Marty Keener Cherrix and Amy Cherrix of Two Hoots Press will host a presentation of John Parris at 3 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 5, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.

Reserve copies available by calling 586.9499.

• There will be a celebration of the newly discovered Wilma Dykeman memoir at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. Reserve copies available by calling 586.9499.

• George Ellison will present “Literary Excursions in the Southern Highlands” at 1 p.m. on Nov. 8 at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville.

• George Ellison will present “Literary Excursions in the Southern Highlands” at 2 p.m. on Nov. 12 at the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville.

• A “Surviving the Holidays” seminar will be offered at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 13, at First Baptist Church of Bryson City. $5 donation includes a copy of “Surviving the Holidays” book. Register or volunteer: 488.2679.

• Professional storyteller and author Donald Davis will tell stories and sign copies of his newest book, “Cripple Joe: Stories From My Daddy” at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 15 at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville.

SENIOR ACTIVITIES • A class on how to make an essential oil diffuser will be offered at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 2, at the Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. Led by Carolyn Burton.

• Senior Life Solutions at Swain Community Hospital will offer a free community seminar titled ‘Surviving and Thriving During the Holiday Season’ that will cover topics that span from seasonal depression to holiday stressors and how to avoid them. The session will begin at noon Thursday, November 17th at the Senior Life Solutions office located on the campus of Swain Community Hospital, 45 Plateau St. Light refreshments will be served.

KIDS & FAMILIES • Read2Me will offer its second Story Walk featuring the book “Pond Babies” at 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 4, on the Greenway. The story is placed along the popular walking route as a way to inspire parents, teachers and caregivers to take young children outdoors for a fun, physical, learning activity.

• Santa Claus and other Christmas activities will be held Nov. 5 to Dec. 17 at the Swain County Heritage Museum in Bryson City. 800.867.9246.

• Letters to Santa: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Drop a line to Santa. All materials provided.

• Christmas Past – Mountain Traditions: 5 to 7 p.m.

This brand new program is designed with the whole family in mind. Held at the cabin in the museum, the event offers a fun, educational lecture on the Christmas meal, the felling and decorating of the tree, traditional toys and gifts, and more. Kids get to decorate the cabin tree with traditional Appalachian decorations, as well as making their own popcorn, cranberry, or paper string to take home for their tree.

Cookies and cocoa provided in the visitor center lobby.800.867.9246.

• Sing and Sign story time is at 1 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 7, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.

KIDS MOVIES

A&E FESTIVALS AND SPECIAL EVENTS • The Western North Carolina Pottery Festival will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, in downtown Dillsboro. All festival attendees receive a ticket for a daylong raffle, while a silent auction benefits a local charity that provides meals to needy families. The annual WNC Clay Olympics competition runs from 1 to

• The Heritage Arts Holiday Festival will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 12 at Southwestern Community College in Bryson City. This event will feature many vendors offering jewelry, woodwork, painting, beadwork, knitting, quilts, lots of the pottery from the Heritage Arts ceramics program and more. Free. www.greatsmokies.com.

ON STAGE & IN CONCERT • The First Thursday Old-Time and Bluegrass Concert and Jam Series will feature Battleaxe Band at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 3, on the ground-floor auditorium of H.F. Robinson Administration Building at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. 227.7129.

• Western Carolina University (Cullowhee) will host a Percussion Ensemble Nov. 3, Trumpet Studio Recital #3 Nov. 9 and Assembly Quartet Nov. 15. All events start at 7:30 p.m. and are in the Recital Hall of the Coulter Building. There will also be a “First Thursday Concert” at 7 p.m. Nov. 3 with a jam session from 8 to 9 p.m. in the auditorium at the Mountain Heritage Center. All events are free. www.wcu.edu.

• Catch the Spirit of Appalachia will present its holiday performance: “A Celebration of the Written Word” from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 3, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. Readers include 93year-old Ruth Pangle Crawford of Webster and Franklin writers Nita Owenby and Roy Owenby.

• The stage production of “Fiddler On The Roof” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 4-5 and 11-12 at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.

Set in the little village of Anatevka, the story centers on Tevye, a poor dairyman, and his five daughters.

With the help of a colorful and tight-knit Jewish community, Tevye tries to protect his daughters and instill them with traditional values in the face of changing social mores and the growing anti-Semitism of Czarist Russia. Tickets are $12 for students, $17 for adults. www.greatmountainmusic.com or 828.524.1598.

• Popular Americana/folk act The Colby Deitz Band will host their album release party for “Revival” on Saturday, Nov. 5, at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva.

Local rockers The Log Noggins will be opening the show at 9 p.m. General admission is $5 per person and VIP admission is $15 per person. colbydeitzbandalbumrelease.eventbrite.com.

• “One Man, Two Guvnors” will be shown live via satellite from the National Theatre of London at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Highlands Performing Arts Center. Tickets: highlandspac.org, 526.9047 or at the door.

• “The Bright Stream” will be shown live via satellite from the Bolshoi Ballet at 12:55 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6, at the Highlands Performing Arts Center. Tickets: highlandspac.org, 526.9047 or at the door.

• The Haywood Community Band will hold its final concert of the season at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6, at First United Methodist Church in Waynesville.

Donations support the band’s efforts to provide scholarship funding for local students. The band also receives, reconditions and loans woodwind and brass instruments to local music students.

• Acclaimed singer-songwriter and jazz cellist Shana Tucker will perform a concert of music she calls “ChamberSoul” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University.

Tickets are $24 for adults/seniors, $20 for WCU faculty/staff, and $8 for students/children. bardoartscenter.wcu.edu or 227.2479.

Smoky Mountain News

• A family movie will be shown at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8, at Marianna Black Library in Bryson City. Movie is about a Native American warrior who is kidnapped from his home but battles to return to his tribe. Info, including movie title: 488.3030.

• Renowned folk artists, bluegrass legends and gospel icons are all part of the 10th annual Highlands Food & Wine Festival musical additions. The festival, taking place from Thursday, Nov. 10, to Sunday, Nov. 13, will feature a variety of performances throughout the weekend. www.highlandsfoodandwine.com.

November 2-8, 2016

• Santa at the Museum: 1 to 4 p.m. Enjoy a free photo opportunity with jolly St. Nick on the porch of the cabin located in the museum. Cookies and cocoa served in the lobby. Santa will be there from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 26 and at the Christmas Parade on Dec. 3.

3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, outside Treehouse Pottery in downtown Dillsboro. www.wncpotteryfestival.com.

wnc calendar

• A program on how to get your book published is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 14, at the Waynesville Library. Presented by Christine Simolke, author of “Children of Italy.” Sign-up required: 356.2507 or kolsen@haywoodnc.net.

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wnc calendar

• The 3 Doors Down 13th annual “The Better Life Foundation Concertâ€? will be held on Saturday, Nov. 12, at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. Standing room only tickets available for $35. The weekend consists of a motorcycle ride, silent auction, custom-built motorcycle raffle and concert. The Better Life Foundation (TBLF) has raised and donated over $3,000,000 to reputable children’s charities, veteran’s organizations, local municipalities and faith-based groups to achieve its goals of helping communities and children in need. www.thebetterlifefoundation.org For tickets, click on www.harrahscherokee.com or www.ticketmaster.com. • Bret Michaels performing at Harrah’s on Nov. 19 at 7:20 pm in Cherokee. Tickets available for $35 for standing room only. www.harrahscherokee.com.

display through Nov. 23 in the Mountain Heritage Center at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee.

Visit www.smokymountainnews.com and click on Calendar for: â– Complete listings of local music scene â– Regional festivals â– Art gallery events and openings â– Complete listings of recreational offerings at regional health and fitness centers â– Civic and social club gatherings Sylva. Fire Cider is a warming, energizing, spicy and tangy tonic aimed at warding off illnesses like colds and flu. $5. Registration required: 586.4009.

CLASSES AND PROGRAMS • Submissions are now being accepted for the 2017 edition of Milestone, the biennial art and literary review published by Southwestern Community College. Firstand second-place cash prizes will be awarded in three categories: Poetry, Prose (short story or nonfiction works) and Visual Arts, including photography. In addition, one cash prize will be awarded for Cover Art. Open to residents of Jackson, Macon, Swain counties and the Qualla Boundary – as well as SCC students and alumni. Info and submissions (by Dec. 5): tknott@southwesterncc.edu or bkeeling@southwesterncc.edu. Info: 339.4314 or 339.4325. • A Table Loom Weaving crafts workshop is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 3, in Room 150 of the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. Free for students; preregistration required: Tcbowers1@catamount.wcu.edu. $20 for all others: hensley@wcu.edu.

November 2-8, 2016

• A wood-carving class will be offered by Dogwood Crafters Co-op from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 3-4, at the Dillsboro Masonic Lodge. $15.

Register: 586.2435 or junettapell@hotmail.com. • The Swain County Genealogical and Historical Society’s upcoming meeting will feature a pictorial history of area places as Mary Wachacha presents “Looking Back in Time at Swain County Through Historical Postcardsâ€? at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 3 at new location: Swain County Regional Business Education and Training Center in Bryson City. • The Blacksmith & Fine Craft Auction will be held from 1-4 p.m. Nov. 5 at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown. Proceeds benefit the craft programs at the school Admission is free. 800.FOLK.SCH. • A calligraphy workshop will be offered by Dogwood Crafters Co-op from 10 a.m.-noon on Nov. 8 at the Dillsboro Masonic Lodge. $15. Register: 586.2435 or junettapell@hotmail.com.

Smoky Mountain News

• A home remedies class on making Fire Cider will be offered by Kerri Rayburn from 6-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10, at the Jackson County Extension Office in

ART SHOWINGS AND GALLERIES • “Purpose Bound,â€? an exhibition of photos by David Pickett, will be on display through Nov. 4, in the Blowers Gallery in UNC Asheville’s Ramsey Library.

Some photos were taken at UNCA and in downtown Asheville. • The Fine Art Museum at Western Carolina University is hosting the exhibit “The Language of Weaving: Contemporary Maya Textilesâ€? at the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center in Cullowhee. Exhibit runs through Nov. 11. Fineartmuseum.wcu.edu. • A three-month ceramics exhibit at the Western Carolina University Fine Art Museum is currently in Cullowhee. Fineartmuseum.wcu.edu or 227.3591. • “Contemporary Clay,â€? curated by Heather Mae Erickson, is an exhibition that examines the evolving, expanded field of clay and ceramics. It will run through Dec. 16 in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University. www.wcu.edu. • The exhibit “Emissaries of Peace: 1762 Cherokee & British Delegationsâ€? features Cherokee clothing, feather capes, beads, and other artifacts. It is currently on display at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian and also available for travel. www.cherokeemuseum.org or bduncan@cherokeemuseum.org. • Artist Melba Cooper will be exhibiting her stunning series of paintings, “POLLINATION,â€? at Cullowhee Mountain Arts’ (CMA) Studio in downtown Sylva. www.cullowheemountainarts.org/up-in-the-studioevents or 342.6913. • A showcase on the life and times of Horace Kephart will be on display through March 31 in the Mountain Heritage Center at Western Carolina University. The Mountain Heritage Center’s Kephart Collection is composed of 127 objects, including Kephart’s tent, sleeping bag, backpack and the writing desk. The exhibit will display many of these objects in a campsite setting. 227.7129. • The “Photography of Bayard Woottenâ€? exhibit is on

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• As part of the Arts Council’s Integrated Arts initiative, a sampling of works by renowned Macon County sculptor Nelson Nichols (www.nicholssculpture.com) will be displayed at this event. Executed in stone, bronze, and wood, Nichols’ sculptural body of work reflects his unique style, Spiritual Expressionism, encompassing anatomical/figurative pieces in classical realism, a series of abstract interpretations, a series illustrating universal/spiritual concepts, and an environmentally inspired series including sculptures of endangered/threatened species. Admission is by donation; $7 is suggested. arts4all@dnet.net or 524.ARTS (2787).

Outdoors • The Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians will host its inaugural Smoky Mountains Hook & Hackle fly-tier’s weekend event on Nov. 4-5 at the Birdtown Complex east of Bryson City. Forms available from fearnofish@gmail.com or at the museum. • A Backyard Bird Photography class will be offered from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Nov. 5 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. Registration required: www.ncwildlife.org/pisgah. 877.4423. • An Introduction to Tenkara (Japaneses fly fishing) class will be offered from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Nov. 5 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard.

Registration required: www.ncwildlife.org/pisgah.

877.4423. • A Nature Nuts: Tracking program will be offered from 9-11 a.m. on Nov. 7 and 17 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. Registration required: www.ncwildlife.org/pisgah. 877.4423. • An Eco Explorers: Turkey program will be offered from 1-3 p.m. on Nov. 7 and 17 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. Registration required: www.ncwildlife.org/pisgah. 877.4423. • A paddle tour of Lake Junaluska will be offered to the public from 1-3 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 7. Sponsored by Haywood Waterways Association, Lake Junaluska Assembly and the Waynesville Recreation Center. Free for members; $5 donation for nonmembers. RSVP by Thursday, Nov. 3, to Christine.haywoodwaterways@gmail.com or 476.4667.

• An On the Water: Tuckasegee River program will be offered to ages 12-up from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Nov. 10 through the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. Registration required: www.ncwildlife.org/pisgah. 877.4423. • The Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute’s (PARI) initiative to probe the connections between art and science will continue at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, with a public presentation of the art of Samuel F. B. Morse, widely known as the inventor of the telegraph but lesser known as an acclaimed artist. Reservations are required and will be accepted until 3 p.m. the day of the event. Evening at PARI programs cost $20 per adult and $15 for seniors/military. Children 10 and under are admitted free. Register and pay online at www.pari.edu or call 862.5554. For additional information, contact Sarah Chappell at schappell@pari.edu. • A Fly Rod Building class will be presented by Tommy Thomas, former president of the National Chapter of Trout Unlimited, from 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from through Dec. 15 at Haywood Community College. Register: 565.4240.

COMPETITIVE EDGE • The Conquer the Mountain Half Marathon will be held Saturday, Nov. 5, from the Tassee Shelter of the Little Tennessee Greenway in Franklin. A portion of the proceeds will go toward the Smoky Mountain Pregnancy Care Center to fund medical needs at SMPCC clinics and other needs to allow the organization to carry out its mission. $45 or $60 for a two-person team. David Linn, 828.421.7637 or briningit2life@gmail.com.

HIKING CLUBS • Carolina Mountain Club will have a 7.5-mile hike with a 1,200-foot ascent on Nov. 9 at Chasteen Creek Falls. For reservations and info, contact leader Danny Bernstein at 450.0747 or danny@hikertohiker.com. • A 12.8-mile hike will be offered by the Great Smoky Mountains Association on Saturday, Nov. 12, starting at Clingmans Dome. $10 for members; free for Hemlock members. Register: www.smokiesinformation.org/info/hike-100-with-GSMA. • Carolina Mountain Club will hold a seven-mile hike with a 1,200-foot ascent on Nov. 16 at Panthertown Valley Loop East. For info or to sign up, contact leader Steve Pierce at 724.4999 or stevepierce50@gmail.com.

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• New artist and medium will be featured every month at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 356.2800.

• Trout fans are invited to help the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and Trout Unlimited Cataloochee chapter stock the West Fork of the Pigeon River at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10. Meet at a parking lot past Lake Logan before Sunburst Campground off N.C. 215 across from the shooting range. Tucataloochee427@gmail.com.

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• An exhibition entitled “This is a Photograph: Exploring Contemporary Applications of Photographic Chemistryâ€? is on display at Penland School of Crafts near Spruce Pine. 765.6211 or penland.org/gallery.

• Hartwell Carson, “Riverkeeperâ€? of the French Broad River for 11 years, will be featured presenter at the Trout Unlimited Cataloochee meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 8 at Rendezvous Restaurant in Maggie Valley.

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November 2-8, 2016

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PUBLISHER’S NOTICE All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention, to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18 This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All dwellings advertised on equal opportunity basis.

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Super

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CROSSWORD

that includes managers 75 Move beyond 77 Prepared ACROSS 78 Razor brand 1 Like humans 80 Subs in offices 7 Turn about 84 Give a coif to 13 Bundt holder 85 Comic actress 20 Extreme folly Charlotte 21 86-Across in eastern 86 San Rafael, vis-a-vis Kansas Marin 22 Constructed in 88 Invest (with) advance 91 Furnace fuel 23 Site of many a yoga 92 Different: Prefix class 93 Slap cuffs on 25 Fiji’s part of the world 26 Like some braking sys- 96 Actor/singer Jerry 99 Enchilada kin tems 101 Gumbo, e.g.

27 Freezing cold 29 One adding seasonings 102 Proton’s place 106 Drillmaster’s syllable 30 Gentle — lamb 108 Rent payer 31 Mumbai, vis-a-vis 109 Hogs’ pens India 33 “Blow” co-star Johnny 110 Simple exercise to work the abs 37 Bicolor whale 115 Coifs 39 Reprieve 117 Card that’s an apt 40 Clearasil competitor alternate title for this puz41 Selfishness zle 43 Forget to include 119 “Swing Time” co-star 45 Papyrus plants, e.g.

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6 Enzyme-filled cell 71 Patella site organelle 72 Like the social class BETWEEN THE EXTREMES

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brand) 65 Snarly dogs 66 Adopt- — (kennel program) 67 Fix, as a dog 69 Balm plant 73 French for “nothing” 74 Biotech material 75 Says “I told you so!”

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answers on page 50

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Witch-hazel has adapted as a late flowering plant Editor’s note: this article first appeared in a November 2003 edition of The Smoky Mountain News.

I

George Ellison

f you take a walk along a woodland edge within the next few weeks, there’s every chance you’ll discover witch-hazel in full bloom. It sometimes flowers by early September and will persist into late December or early January during warm winters. But from early October into early November is the time to catch witch-hazel in its prime.

Witch-hazel is renowned as a utilitarian plant, especially as an astrinColumnist gent or as the forked branch of choice for those dowsing for water. But before we consider its utilitarian possibilities, let’s first take a look at its natural history.

Flowers are designed to attract pollinators. Somehow witch-hazel has “discovered” that a late flowering period provides a niche in which the competition with other plants for certain pollinators is at a minimum.

In The Natural History of Wild Shrubs and Vines (1989), Donald Stokes observes that, “A question for which I have not been

BACK THEN able to find an answer is, ‘Who pollinates the flowers?’ It blooms when very few insects are out collecting food. I have watched the flowers when they are in bloom and the only visitors I have seen are ants.”

I don’t know the answer to that question either, but you can easily observe that during warm intervals (when insects would be out and about) witch-hazel’s yellow tassels are unfurled, thereby allowing access to the floral cup. During cold snaps, the tassels curl tightly over the cup to protect the plant’s sexual parts.

Note that last year’s fruits are ripening just as this year’s flowers appear. These grayish-brown, hairy capsules are tiny cannons that eject their black seeds with such force they can land up to 30 feet away from the parent shrub or tree. If you hear a mysterious crackling in the leaf litter, it’s probably the result of a witch hazel seed bombardment.

What’s in a name? One source suggests that witch-hazel’s seed propulsion tactics “suggested witchcraft to those who first observed the phenomenon.” Another source suggests that the plant’s leaves often display cone-shaped insect galls that resemble “the hat of a witch.” And yet another source observes that “the name refers not to magic and witchcraft but to an old English word

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took a forked branch (of witch-hazel), one whose points grew north and south so that they had the influence of the sun at its rising and setting, and you carried it with a point in each hand, the stem pointing forward.

Any downward tug of the stem was caused by the flow of hidden water.”

Witch-hazel leaf extract is widely used

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Witch-hazel. Donated photo

today as an astringent for toning skin.

Virtually all of the facial cleansers in your local pharmacy will feature this extract.

Herbal Medicine Past and Present (vol. 2, 1989) by John K. Crellin and Jane Philpot, provides the following background: “The basis of witch-hazel’s reputation has long rested on the astringency due to hydrolysable tannins.

Distilled witch-hazel contains no tannins but a small amount of volatile oil. Alcohol is usually added, which provides a sense of astringency when applied to the skin; this, plus a characteristically pleasant taste and odor, probably accounts for the considerable reputation of distilled witch-hazel for bruises and cuts … Recent concern has been expressed over the presence of a safrole (a carcinogen), but this is irrelevant because of the small quantity present. Furthermore, preparations of witchhazel are employed externally, including for hemorrhoids.

(George Ellison is a naturalist and writer.

He can be reached at info@georgeellison.com.)

November 2-8, 2016

vs

meaning ‘to bend.’” Take your pick.

I’m inclined to go along with the last suggestion since witch-hazel has traditionally been utilized in water-witchery; that is, the locating of water by the use of a forked branch that bends over its objective. In A Natural History of Trees (1950), Donald Culross Peattie provides some details: “You

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November 2-8, 2016

NOVEMBER VEMBER 4, 5, 11, 12

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