You need a sweet treat but don't want to add too many calories or carbohydrates/sugar to your meals ...what can you do?
Here are 10 ideas to satisfy that craving without going overboard and that contain nutrients that will contribute to health more so than just having candy or a pastry:
• Wash and freeze seedless grapes.
• Enjoy a serving of raisins or prunes.
• Have plain Greek yogurt with a drizzle of honey.
• Have a small scoop of cottage cheese with some fresh or canned fruit.
• Sip on hot or iced herbal tea sweetened with honey or a non-caloric sweetener.
• Pour yourself a small bowl of cereal and have it dry as a snack or with milk or soy milk. (Pick one with less than 5 grams of added sugar
• Have some fresh blueberries, strawberries, raspberries or blackberries.
peanut or almond butter.
• Take a whole ripe banana, coat it with peanut or almond butter and then roll it in grated coconut. Cut into pieces and freeze for a snack.
• Make trail mix with raisins, cereal and pretzels and divide up into ½ cup servings.
Retired Air Force Col. Moe Davis is stepping back into familiar turf — running for Congress in North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District.
“I just keep looking at what Chuck Edwards is not doing for the district,” Davis told The Smoky Mountain News May 5. “People here are hurting, particularly after Helene, and they deserve somebody that’s going to work for them, rather than for the billionaire out-of-state donors that own Chuck Edwards.”
A Shelby native, Davis graduated from Appalachian State University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice before earning his J.D. from North Carolina Central University School of Law. Davis went on to serve as a lawyer in the U.S. Air Force for 25 years, working as chief prosecutor for the Guantanamo Bay military commissions in 2005. In 2007, he resigned in protest over political interference and the use of evidence obtained through torture and became a prominent critic of detainee policies. Davis also worked for the Congressional Research Service and as a professor at Howard University School of Law. Recently, he’s served as co-host of American Muckrakers podcast “Muck You” alongside David Wheeler.
In 2020, Davis ran as a Democrat for North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District, a seat previously held by Mark Meadows. After defeating Primary Election challengers Gina Collias, Phillip Price, Michael O’Shea and Steve Woodsmall without a runoff, Davis lost to Republican Madison Cawthorn in the General Election by just over 12 points.
Despite his lack of experience, Cawthorn wasn’t just a candidate — he was a phenomenon, energizing the right and drawing close to President Donald Trump until Trump’s defeat in the same election that propelled Cawthorn to Congress.
During Cawthorn’s term, Davis helped found a super pac, firemadison.com, which dogged the freshman congressman throughout his brief tenure and contributed to his downfall by releasing damaging information along with tawdry photos and videos of Cawthorn. In 2022, Cawthorn narrowly lost his reelection bid to then-Sen. Chuck Edwards in the Republican Primary Election. Edwards went on to defeat Buncombe County Commissioner Jasmine Beach-Ferrara in the General Election, and he also defeated Buncombe Rep. Caleb Rudow in 2024.
In a March 13 town hall, Edwards faced fierce opposition. During his speech to delegates at the NC-11 GOP convention on April 26, Edwards touted his proximity to Trump
only putting nine players on the field instead of 11 and see how that works.”
Edwards has increasingly come under scrutiny for his performance while in office, most notably in failing to acquire the $60 billion North Carolina says it needs to recover from Hurricane Helene. A bill Edwards claims he authored last December will instead deliver between $9 billion and $17 billion; however, a Smoky Mountain News investigation in March revealed that most local governments hadn’t yet received any money from the federal government six months after the storm.
As a veteran, Davis is particularly troubled by issues affecting the Veterans Administration. In late March, VA Secretary Doug Collins was greeted by demonstrators while visiting the Charles George Medical Center in Asheville — known as one of the finest such facilities in the country.
“I get my health care at the VA,” Davis said. “The administration wants to cut 20% of the VA staff in order to make the VA more effective and efficient. But if you believe that, go down to your local high school and tell your football coach you want to make the team more effective and efficient by
“I think a lot of folks, whether it’s themselves or their family or their neighbors, are starting to feel the pain of potentially losing their Medicaid coverage, getting rid of Head Start, getting rid of Meals on Wheels, cutting staff at the VA. There’s nothing good for Western North Carolina in the agenda that Chuck Edwards is committed to.”
Davis thinks he may be able to make some inroads with veterans upset with their treatment under Trump, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Collins.
“Yeah, I think so. I mean, I think veterans as a whole are not stupid people. They’re people that committed to serve the country and I think they can see what’s happening. Cutting staff and funding at the VA, it’s not good for veterans,” Davis said. “I think veterans in this district, while they may tend to lean conservative, they’re also practical and realistic, and I think we can win some of those folks who in the past might have gone the other way by focusing on the reality of what Chuck Edwards and the Republicans want to do to veterans.”
“People
are, I think, energized, and that’s what I’m seeing. I’ve been out to a couple of the Democratic county conventions and turnout has been recordsetting. I think people are focused and willing to put their money and their effort behind trying to do what we
can to preserve democracy and look after people.”
During his last campaign, Davis raised nearly $2.5 million. He thinks it will take at least $3 million to run a competitive race this time around, but he’s not overly concerned with economic instability affecting donors, noting that ActBlue just had its largest fundraising quarter ever.
“People are, I think, energized, and that’s what I’m seeing. I’ve been out to a couple of the Democratic county conventions and turnout has been record-setting,” he said. “I think people are focused and willing to put their money and their effort behind trying to do what we can to preserve democracy and look after people.”
If the money comes, Davis may have a few other factors trending in his favor that could make the race closer than his 2020 bid. The president’s party typically loses seats during mid-term elections, Cook’s Political Report pegs the district at R+5, davesredistricting.org says the district performed at 53.8% for Republicans from 2016 to 2022 and the regular protests against Trump and Edwards in towns large and small across the rural 11th suggest a level of engagement that hasn’t been present in the past.
Compared to previous Democratic congressional candidates in the 11th District, Davis performed best in rural counties.
On X, Davis said he’s still “getting the pieces in place and will make it official soon.”
Candidate filing for the 2026 General Election begins at noon on Dec. 1 and ends at noon on Dec. 19. The 2026 Primary Election is set for March 3, 2026.
Retired Air Force Col. Moe Davis tells The Smoky Mountain News he’ll run for the 11th Congressional District seat currently held by Rep. Chuck Edwards in 2026. From Facebook
Moe Davis
Moe Davis
KARE calls attention to child abuse in the community
BY KYLE P ERROTTI N EWS E DITOR
Members of the community, including numerous people from several law enforcement agencies, gathered on the lawn in front of Haywood County’s historic courthouse last Wednesday for an event to highlight a growing problem in our community — child abuse.
The event, put on by Kids Advocacy Resource Effort (KARE), featured several speakers, who all read from a list of 383 cases the nonprofit handled last year. However, instead of using the children’s names attached to each case, the 11 speakers referred to each simply as either John Doe or Jane Doe, followed by their age.
According to KARE’s website, the organization is a nationally accredited child advocacy center dedicated to supporting children and families affected by child abuse, neglect or exploitation.
“We accomplish this through comprehensive services including outreach, advocacy, specialized interventions, and a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach,” the website says.
“All our services are provided at no cost to ensure accessibility and to minimize further trauma to survivors and their families,” it adds. “By offering a wide range of support in a single location, we aim to foster a safe and nurturing environment for all those we serve.”
District Attorney Ashley Welch’s office handles criminal child abuse cases. At the event, she discussed how important these cases are and how important community awareness around this issue is.
“We appreciate the efforts of KARE House in bringing awareness to victims of child abuse,” Welch said. “No one, particularly our most vulnerable, should be subjected to others’ exploitation. This office will continue to vigorously prosecute perpetrators.”
KARE’s assistant director, Abby Bearden, said that the community awareness event was modeled after something a child advocacy center in Dallas has done in the past.
“This was meant to be impactful, meant to help our community understand that child abuse and neglect happen no matter where you are,” Bearden said. “There are children who experience the unthinkable, so we wanted people to understand this is something that is real and deserves real attention.”
Bearden also noted that the problem of child abuse in the community appears to be getting worse. While she said there are usually about 250 cases each year, last year’s 383 cases serve as a stark sign that this problem is likely growing.
Members of the community turned out to raise awareness surrounding the increase in child abuse cases
Quintin Ellison photo
Following the event, Haywood County Sheriff Bill Wilke offered a statement reaffirming his office’s commitment to not only the issue, but also KARE.
“On behalf of the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, I want to express how proud we are to stand alongside the KARE House in their tireless efforts to bring awareness to child abuse in Haywood County,” Wilke said. “Protecting our most vulnerable is one of our highest priorities, and we are grateful for the work KARE does every day to support children and families in crisis. Together, we are committed to building safer, stronger communities and putting an end to child abuse.”
“We are already on track to see similar numbers this year,” she said. “We can play the blame game with whatever we want; there are all kinds of reasons the number can be higher. But it’s higher.”
Ultimately, Bearden said she hopes last week’s community awareness event hit its mark, revealing for folks the severity of the issue to hopefully inspire action.
“What we really hoped to do is help people understand we exist,” she said. “I feel like a lot of people don’t necessarily know about KARE and the work that we do.”
KARE’s services are free of charge, and Bearden said all barriers are removed so any child can have a safe place to share their story. For more information, visit karehouse.org.
May Day mayday
Translating Democratic enthusiasm into election wins
BY P OLITICS
about what that means for rural Southern Appalachia.
“We’re an economy run on tourism, and if people don’t have that disposable income, they aren’t going to show up
Prior to its appropriation by communist regimes, International Workers Day — May Day — was first commemorated in honor of Chicago workers killed while striking for an eight-hour workday. This past May Day, concerned citizens from across the United States and across Western North Carolina used the opportunity to spotlight issues important to working Americans, to continue the seemingly endless protests against the Trump Administration and to recruit candidates who can win.
“Everybody’s pretty annoyed about how expensive groceries are,” said Garrett Lagan, chair of the Swain County Democratic party.
Lagan and a few dozen others gathered May 1 at the courthouse in Bryson City, passing around a petition of support for the Economic Security Act, filed in the North Carolina General Assembly on March 6. Among other proworker measures, the bill would phase in a $22 hourly minimum wage, end the tipped minimum wage and legalize public employee unions.
Rising costs and sagging wages have left workers with the short end of the economic stick, so to speak, and with the
But it wasn’t just workers’ issues that brought a few dozen people out to the Swain County rally; demonstrations that began the day Trump was sworn in have endured in cities large and small, across the nation — many on a regular basis.
“Nothing motivates people to get involved like seeing things that they love and care about attacked,” said Lagan, a therapist by trade. “They are seeing a lot of things that they love and care about, things that they believe already made Swain County great, get attacked. So they’re coming
there chose Trump in all three of his runs for president, the first two by more than 58% and the last by more than 61%. Public demonstrations in Swain County were rare or nonexistent during Trump’s first term, just as they were in Macon County, where voters chose Trump by just over 68% all three times.
“They’re saying that they need to cut $880 billion out of Medicaid and Social Security,” said Lisa Walker at a rally in Franklin earlier on May 1. “That impacts 14,000 Social Security recipients [in Macon County]. My husband and I are retired, and our 401ks have taken a hit. Prices have gone up, and they’re threatening to cut Social Security. Any one of those factors is a concern. When you put them all together, it’s incredibly disturbing.”
Franklin saw a large crowd of demonstrators across from Big Bear Park on May 1, not much smaller than during the national series of “hands off” rallies on April 5. At the same time, over in Jackson County, an even larger gathering on Sylva’s Mill Street drew honks and waves from what seemed to be thousands of cars, right around rush hour.
“We’re here answering a national call to go to the streets, to say what we believe, which is that the Trump administration is calling for things that are so radical that they are hurting people,” said F
Franklin’s May Day rally on
1 was held near Big Bear Park and drew a large crowd of demonstrators. Bob Scott photo
United Way of Haywood receives $25,000 grant to expand post-Helene efforts
Duke Energy Foundation has awarded United Way of Haywood County a $25,000 grant to expand its post-Helene efforts in Western North Carolina. The funding is part of $500,000 in new grants from Duke Energy Foundation awarded to 20 nonprofits supporting long-term recovery efforts in Western North Carolina.
dispensary, arguing that the Cooper Creek farm where the cannabis plants are cultivated may not be big enough. It isn’t known publicly whether this is true or not.
Bradley’s amendment would have allowed for enrolled members to gain licensure through the tribe’s cannabis control board, under which they would be subject to the same testing and requirements as plants and products currently sold at the dispensary. Bradley said to deny tribal members the opportunity to benefit economically from the cannabis industry would be not only
Thanks to the generosity of Duke Energy Foundation, the United Way of Haywood County has been able to help families with furniture, household goods and a washer and dryer when they return to their restored homes.
“In the face of Helene’s historic damage, we have been in awe of the resilience and teamwork of our mountain communities,” said Kendal Bowman, Duke Energy’s North Carolina president. “As we work to restrengthen the electric grid in Western North Carolina, we will continue joining together with nonprofit partners to help build back our communities piece by piece.”
For more information on Duke Energy Foundation and its initiatives, visit duke-energy.com/foundation.
sure that such a step would be in the tribe’s best interest at the time, referencing pushback from federal lawmakers on the initial passage of the ordinance to allow for adult recreational use, especially from Sen. Thom Tillis.
“[Tillis] wrote a very direct letter to every legal agency in the United States around this operation, so there’s a lot of eyes on us making sure that we’re doing things with the testing and keeping things safe … We need to keep these things in mind and protect our community and our sovereignty,” Hicks said.
The tribe’s dispensary has been opened for over a year now. File photo
“It seems to me more production is needed so it would make sense that any enrolled members with the means to do so should be able to go to the CCB and apply for those licenses,” he said.
While some Tribal Council representatives seemed open to or even outright supportive of that change to the amendment, some folks, including members of the cannabis control board, seemed hesitant. Principal Chief Michel Hicks said he wasn’t
Bucky Brown brought up his opposition to the enrolled members’ participation in the commercial side of the cannabis venture, saying he both didn’t think it could be as wellregulated and that the tribe itself could see less revenue from the dispensary.
“We’ve got too much invested in it,” he said.
Ultimately, the section allowing such economic involvement was killed at that April meeting and wasn’t even discussed last week.
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Bartram Academy to resume five-day schedule
BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF W RITER
At its April 28 meeting, the Macon County Board of Education approved a request from Bartram Academy Principal Brian Moffitt to return the school to a five day per week schedule in preparation for its integration into the new Franklin High School.
“I’m asking that the board reconsider that for us, returning to a five-day schedule so that we can really start to prepare for our transition to Franklin High School in the fall of 2027,” Moffitt said in a presentation to the board.
Bartram Academy is Macon County’s alternative high school. Previously known as Union Academy, the school rebranded before the start of the 2023-24 school year in part of an effort to make a deeper, positive transformation at the school.
The new name honored the legacy of naturalist and explorer William Bartram, whose contributions to the fields of botany, exploration and environmental conservation aligned with the school’s mission to inspire, explore, innovate and lead.
lot of different responses, and it has worked very well for us,” said Moffitt. “But it was borne out of the necessity that we only had two core teachers to teach all of the high school core classes.”
While the school still isn’t fully staffed, administration aims to reduce the number of changes to the school between now and its integration into Franklin High School.
“We didn’t want to wait until that time [fall 2027] to make a change, going from our schedule as different as it is, more like a community college schedule, adapting to work with Franklin’s four-period schedule. So, this gets us back to a little more normalcy,” said Moffitt.
The school will still be able to have five periods of 75-minute classes, including its advisory homeroom that it has with students every day. This period is a time for working on social emotional skills, career development and preparing for life after high school.
“It also gives us the opportunity for maintaining flexibility for students coming that may be behind or lacking credits; it still gives us the opportunity to offer all classes that we possibly can for our students,” said Moffitt.
Transitioning back to a five-day schedule this year will allow the school two full years before it makes its next transition into the new high school.
“Our team felt that we were at a point where Union Academy needed a fresh start,” said Moffitt at the time. “We want to shed any negative connotations that may be attached to our school and begin a new adventure. Just as William Bartram’s exploration through Macon County shaped the world of science and discovery in our area, we want to encourage our students to be curious and to explore the world around them.”
At that time, the school had only two core subject teachers.
“We have two big vacancies; we are without an English teacher, and we are without a math teacher,” Moffitt told the board at the time. “I could say that in a different way; we’re without a math department and we are without an English department.”
Transitioning back to a five-day schedule this year will allow the school two full years before it makes its next transition into the new high school.
In part to address those shortfalls, the board allowed the school to transition to a four-day schedule like many public schools used during the return to in-person classes during the pandemic.
“You guys graciously approved for us two years ago our amended schedule, very different in the world of education, it has elicited a
Early in 2023, the school system began looking at the possibility of consolidation of the alternative high school and Franklin High School to put it in a better position to win the Needs Based Public School Capital Fund grant in order to construct a new high school. One of the qualifiers for that grant was consolidation of two schools.
Administration and the school board posited that the move would not only increase the county’s chances of winning a grant for a new high school, but it would also benefit the students of the alternative high school who would have access to more resources through FHS.
In January of last year the Department of Public Instruction announced Macon County was the recipient of the $62 million grant to build a new high school. Since then, construction on the project has begun and plans are in place for the school to open for the 2027-28 school year.
File photo
Free lunch eligibility trending downward in Macon
its free meal program for more than two more years.
“The generosity of the commissioners is wonderful, but I’m not sure we’ll be able to count on that every year,” said
There are currently nine schools in Macon County that offer free lunches in low-income areas. File photo
schools that adopt CEP are reimbursed using a formula based on the percentage of students categorically eligible for free meals based on their participation in other programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Family (TANF) or Medicaid benefits, as well as children who are certified for free meals without an application because they are homeless, migrant, enrolled in Head Start or in foster care.
Any district, group of schools in a district or individual school with 25% or more students participating in these programs qualify for CEP.
Once a certain school qualifies for the CEP program, thereby allowing all students at the school to access free breakfast and lunch, that school remains in the program and can continue offering no cost meals for a five-year period, after which the school is reassessed.
Schools in Macon County currently operate under CEP based on data from the 2022-23 school year.
“Our identified student percentage for that year was 53.45%, which means that we’ve been feeding kids for free at those nine schools and 85.5% of those meals are reimbursed for free,” said School Nutrition Director David Lightner.
The nutrition department has been trying to add Highlands School and Franklin High School to the CEP program, which means rerunning the data.
“When we look at the 2024-25 school year, our identified student percentage has dropped to 37.43%, which means only 55.89% of meals would be reimbursed at the free rate,” said Lightner.
Macon County Schools will therefore not be able to add FHS or Highlands School to the CEP schools for the coming year and will continue to operate based on the 2022-23 data.
The CEP program allows schools to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students without collecting household applications for free and reduced lunch. Instead,
APRIL RENEWALS
“The data has been trending downwards since I started eight years ago, so I’m just going to put this out there that we’ve got two more years that we can use our current data,” said Lightner. “We’re looking at the likely possibility of losing several of our CEP
Managing the visitor experience is no easy task
I’m sitting alone in the cockpit of the boat anchored at Cape Lookout National Seashore off the coast of North Carolina in the early morning, and I’m about to write a column about tourism. Sipping my coffee, though, I’m distracted as a cool May breeze rattles the halyards.
A huge loggerhead turtle keeps surfacing around the boat, the massive snout poking above the water as she (I imagine here to nest) exhales and then gulps for air while likely feeding in these pristine waters. I can’t concentrate while imagining her journey of a thousand miles back to this nesting site, and her size — these turtles can reach 300 pounds — means she must be 30 or more years old. Her presence and the occasional sightings as she surfaces remind me of why Lori and I take such immense pleasure in travel, discovering new places and soaking up the experiences in places we’ve been to before (like Cape Lookout).
This is National Travel and Tourism Week, and since we’re traveling along the coast in our little sail-boat, that subject has been front and center. We’ve been to New Bern, Ocracoke, Oriental and now Cape Lookout, the conditions — strong winds, cool temps — perfect, just what those in charge of tourism would order up if they were able.
The challenge for those in charge of tourism is not easy. If you live in one of the most beauti-ful places on the earth — like we in Western North Carolina — then you have to walk a fine line between commodification of the place you love and the desire to attract and accom-modate those who come to see it.
We met the mayor of Oriental, a small coastal town known
Standing up for our country
To The Editor:
On April 5 over 1,000 American citizens showed up at the Haywood County historic courthouse to stand up for democracy and our Constitution. We were not “bussed” in and we most certainly weren’t paid to be there. Some folks would like you to believe that all the citi-zens that were there were not locals — hate to be the bearer of bad news, many were Haywood County natives. The demographics were across the board — young, old, in-between, male, female, retirees, workers, member of the LBGQ+, Democrats, Republicans and Independents — a cross-section of our county peacefully standing sideby-side.
This peaceful and diverse group had one thing in common, the saving of democracy, our Constitution, our country. We are tired of waking up each day and looking to see what rights are being taken away or being threatened. The SAVE Act will disenfranchise many female voters simply because they changed their name when they got married; the executive branch is looking into being able to
as the sailing capital of the state, while listening to some live music at our favorite marina. The town is growing, facing the challenges of gentrification. She jokingly said it was her goal to keep more people from moving to the town. A joke, but I get it.
We are traveling with our great friends, the Valentes, who live in Summit County, Colorado, the center of that state’s ski industry. Among their friends, they say the same sentiment often crops up: how to maintain the charm and culture you’ve grown to love while still accommodating those who choose to visit, spend their money with local businesses, and then perhaps dream themselves of moving there when the time is right.
Over the last 50 years, I’ve witnessed the great cities of Europe — Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Madrid and others — become so overrun by tourists from around the world that their citizens sometimes protest against measures aimed at increasing or accommodating tourism.
I’ve never had a head-in-the-sand attitude toward visitors, tourism and growth. I know why people love places like Waynesville, Sylva and Bryson City, so I’d be a hypocrite for advocating for stopping tourism promotions. Quite the opposite — and this is more difficult — is to stay involved and knowledgeable about what is going on in these sectors and
LETTERS
deport American citizens to the hellhole in El Salvador with no due process; legal immigrants are being deported without due process and without having a criminal record; a tariff on pharmaceuticals was just announced — will we be able to afford our medication; and, the list goes on and on.
Some folks claim that DOGE has found fraud, waste and abuse and has saved money. But, is anyone talking about the weekly golf trips to Florida that are costing tax payers over $3 million each or a birthday parade that is estimated to cost $100 million?
As long as democracy and our Constitution are under attack, you will continue to see us peacefully standing up for our country.
Mary Ford, Major, USAF (retired) Waynesville
We are watching futures be ruined
To The Editor:
Taking the long view of life, I love my God, my country, my family and friends, and really,
Haywood TDA open house May 8
The Haywood County Tourism Development Authority will host an open house Thursday, May 8, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Haywood County Visitor Center, 91 N. Lakeshore Drive, in celebration of National Travel and Tourism Week.
Residents, tourism partners, business owners and anyone interested in local tourism are invited to attend. The event includes snacks, drinks, door prizes, goodie bags and photo opportunities. Prizes include more than $1,250 in local gift certificates and a chance to win a free quarter-page ad in the 2026 Haywood Visitors Guide, valued at $700.
“This is a great opportunity for the community to see what we do, ask questions and learn how tourism directly benefits the people and places of Haywood County,” said Executive Director Corrina Ruffieux.
The event is drop-in and open to the public.
trying to get involved and play a part so tourism happens right, so the benefits outweigh the negatives. We have appointed boards managing tourism in all our Western North Carolina counties, and those folks make important decisions. Their meetings are public, and citizens are welcome to attend. Meanwhile, the turtle is finished with her early morning antics. Time to pull anchor and move on. There’s plenty more to discover.
(Scott McLeod can be reached at info@smokymountainnews.com.)
just people in general. Like many of us, I go to bed at night and pray that God help our country to find its way in this current climate of division and fear and anxiety.
We are watching, if we’re paying attention, the dismantling of our government and the ruin of our financial resources. We’re seeing the most precious and most delicate
Editor Scott McLeod
This must be the place
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD
‘You
can capture every instant, live your life like it’s a stage’
Wednesday. Late morning. Another bluebird sky day here in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Warm rays of sunshine greeted my face when I stepped off the porch of my humble abode apartment in downtown Waynesville. Put the truck in drive and begin the day.
To preface, as per usual, I’m not really sure where this week’s column is headed in real time, all while my fingers are currently rolling across the keyboard. The slight rush of caffeine pushing through my veins while I sit in Panacea Coffee Company. The sounds of indie-rockers Blitzen Trapper echoing through my headphones.
And I felt an urge to just simply type and see if anything sticks to the walls of my mind, perhaps even circle back to the original point by the time you get to the last line on this page. The urge, you see, came while I put the truck in drive and merged onto a bustling Walnut Street, eventually towards our newsroom on Montgomery.
With all four windows of my quad-cab truck rolled down, I cruised down Walnut to Russ Avenue, the incessant construction of the two bridges ever-present (especially the noise when I try to sleep in). Motor over to the Starbucks drive-thru for a much-needed cappuccino. When I was handed the drink, I immediately noticed the barista scribbled “You Rock” on the cardboard cup. I smiled.
Onto Dellwood City Road. Drift by the Waynesville Elks Lodge and the new townhouses being built in haste next door, quickly casting a shadow over the nearby baseball field in dire need of repairs since being taken out by floodwaters due to Hurricane Helene last fall.
Drift by Charlie’s Corner, which is showing more activity in its renovation since it also was devastated and shut-down by Helene. It was my go-to spot to snag some cold domestic beers on my way home from work. Drift over the newly-reopened Frog Level bridge on Depot Street. The bridge remains old and tired, but the construction folks did a bang-up job is being able to keep it steady and usable until a more-permanent solution is found (or much-needed funds acquired).
Drift by the once-inhabited buildings on Depot. Before Helene, these places brought so much life to the historic district. Now? It’s a ghost town mostly along this section of Depot. The front door of what used to be Cultivate Flower Shop still smeared with mud, the smell of which forever burned in the brains of all of us. To that, the former owners of Cultivate recently moved back to New York, the demise of their business a big
soul when I first drove into town. All people and things familiar to me were (and remain) about 1,100 miles due north in Upstate New York. When I moved to Western North Carolina in 2012, I’d been to Asheville before, but I came to Waynesville sight unseen.
It’s truth. I jumped on this gig with the newspaper out of desperation for a full-time position and a deep need for creative fulfillment. Heck, I slept under my news desk that whole first week on the job until I was able to get my first paycheck and put down rent on an apartment. Luckily, these many years and countless stories later, I remain as curious and passionate about my work as ever.
And I remember those days. Back in 2012. Even then, Waynesville was a pretty quiet town. I remember folks saying how much the town has changed. And yet, I see so much change since I’ve been here, too. That’s just the ebb and flow of time and place, you know? Sheesh, I remember when the only place you get a cold beer and watch football on Sunday was Bogart’s Steakhouse. Now? Options galore.
factor. We miss them and wish them well. Push up the hill on Depot. Wave to the owners of Singletree Heritage Kitchen at the intersection of Depot and Branner Avenue. Those folks are such a welcomed addition to our community. Greet them hello in passing out as they work on their garden before the lunch rush arrives like clockwork. A quick flashback in my memory when that building was a repair shop years ago, where I’d get my oil changed in the same spot as where the dining room is currently located.
Turn right onto Branner, up another hill and a left on Miller Street. Another right onto Montgomery. Roll up to the newspaper office like a bat out of hell, a slight cloud of dust enveloping the pickup truck when I throw the vehicle into park and grab for my workbag. Mosey on into the newsroom. Check my messages. Print out some interview transcripts to prepare for writing my articles and meeting deadlines.
Say hello to some of my co-workers. Enjoyable small chat about the weather and upcoming plans for the weekend. Wander back to my desk, this job as a journalist that I’ve been doing for 18 years professionally, 13 of which here at The Smoky Mountain News. Back to the truck with the windows rolled down. Sunshine. Pedal down. Cruise Main Street. By beloved establishments I’ve supported for years: Boojum Brewing, Mast General Store, Haywood County Arts Council. By other buildings that once-housed spots dearly missed: Tipping Point Brewing, Earthworks Gallery, City Bakery, The Strand Theater. By spots somewhat new-to-town, but have quickly become pillars of Waynesville: Orchard Coffee, Axe & Awl Leatherworks.
Thirteen years and counting calling Waynesville home. I didn’t know a single
No matter, for what truly means something is the continued magnet that Waynesville will always be when it comes to hardworking folks of pure intent who find themselves drawn to this region from origin points unknown. I myself was one of the pieces of shiny metal (probably a pinball in my restless nature) that was pulled in by the magnetic forces of good people and a genuine sense of community.
Life is beautiful, grasp for it, y’all.
HOT PICKS
1
As part of the “Cowee School Concert Series,” Americana/ bluegrass ensemble Aubrey Eisenman & The Clydes will perform at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at the Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center in Franklin.
2
Americana/bluegrass act the Darren Nicholson Band will hit the stage for an intimate performance at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, May 11, at the Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley.
3
The 22nd annual Whole Bloomin’ Thing Festival will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 10, in the Historic Frog Level District of Waynesville.
4
“Mother’s Day Gemboree” will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 9-10 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 11 at the Macon County Community Building in Franklin.
5
A stage production of “Junie B. Jones Kids!” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. May 9, 16 and 2 p.m. May 10-11, 17-18 at Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.
Wine and words at 5 Walnut in Asheville. Garret K. Woodward photo
On the beat
Bluegrass legend returns to Cataloochee Ranch
• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host Doug & Lisa May 31. All shows begin at 5 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.246.9320 / blueridgebeerhub.com.
• Cataloochee Ranch (Maggie Valley) will host Darren Nicholson Band (Americana/bluegrass) 11:30 a.m. May 11 and Marc & Anita Pruett (Americana/bluegrass) May 14. All shows begin at 5 p.m. unless otherwise noted. For tickets and reservations, visit cataloocheeranch.com/ranch-events/live-music.
]• Concerts On The Creek (Sylva) will host Shane Meade & The Sound (rock/soul) May 23 and Natti Love Joys (reggae/roots) May 30. All shows begin at 7 p.m. Everyone is encouraged to bring a chair or blanket. These events are free, but donations are encouraged. 828.586.2155 / mountainlovers.com/concerts-on-the-creek.
• Farm At Old Edwards (Highlands) will host the “Orchard Sessions” with Matt Rogers (singer-songwriter) May 21. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Admission is $50 per person, with discounts rates available for hotel guests and members. 866.526.8008 / oldedwardshospitality.com/orchardsessions.
• First United Methodist Church (Franklin) will host the Brasstown Ringers Handbell Choir, Mountain Voices Community Chorus and Pinnacle Brass 7 p.m. May 9. The event is a benefit for FUMC Hurricane Helene relief fund.
• Folkmoot Friendship Center (Waynesville) will host Las Montanitas (Latin/world) May 22. Tickets are “pay what you can” ($25, $15, $5). 828.452.2997 / folkmoot.org.
• Friday Night Live Concert Series (Highlands) will host Doug Ramsey (singer-songwriter) May 16 and Foxfire Boys (Americana/bluegrass) May 23. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. highlandschamber.org.
• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host “Jazz On The Level” 5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Adi The Monk May 7, Smashing Mouths (rock/pop) May 9, Stomper Kitty May 10, Adrianne Blanks & The Oracles May 11,
Americana/bluegrass act the Darren Nicholson Band will hit the stage for an intimate performance at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, May 11, at the Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley.
A Grammy-nominee and winner of 13 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) awards, Nicholson has taken his own brand of mountain music around the world.
A regular for years on the Grand Ole Opry and a founding member of acclaimed bluegrass group Balsam Range, Nicholson now spends his time recording, writing new songs and performing as a solo act.
For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit cataloocheeranch.com/ranchevents/live-music.
Eirann’s Call May 15, Krave Amiko May 16, Asheville Junction 3 p.m. May 17 and Justin Moyar (singer-songwriter) 3 p.m. May 18. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.454.5664 / froglevelbrewing.com.
• Harmony Hall (Franklin) will host Ron Carter (organist) 4 p.m. May 10. Free and open to the public. Donations accepted. 828.524.ARTS / arts4all@dnet.net.
• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee) will host The Temptations and The Four Tops (Motown/soul) 9 p.m. May 9. For tickets, visit caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.
• Highlander Mountain House (Highlands) will host “Blues & Brews” 6-9 p.m. Thursdays ($5 cover), Zorki (singer-songwriter) 1-3 p.m. Saturdays, “Bluegrass Brunch” 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sundays (free) and the “Salon Series” with Thomas Johnson (Americana/indie-folk) 8:30 p.m. May 8 (admission is $28.52 per person, tax included). 828.526.2590 / highlandermountainhouse.com.
• Highlands Performing Arts Center will host Steep Canyon Rangers (Americana/bluegrass) 4 p.m. May 11. Tickets are $50 per person with seating upgrades available. 828.526.9047 / highlandsperformingarts.com.
• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will host “Monday Night Trivia” every week, “Open Mic with Phil” on Wednesdays, Quentin LaChance (singersongwriter) May 10 and Shane Meade (indie/soul) May 17. All shows and events begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.586.9678/ innovation-brewing.com.
• John C. Campbell Folk School (Brasstown) will host a “Community Jam” 7 p.m. on Thursdays (at the nearby Crown Restaurant) and semi-regular live music throughout the week on its campus. folkschool.org.
• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Cody Marlowe (rock/soul) May 10, Lewendahl (R&B/soul) May 16 and Blue Jazz (blues/jazz) May 17. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public.
828.349.2337 / lazyhikerbrewing.com.
• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host “Music Bingo” 6:30 p.m. Mondays, Cody Marlowe (rock/soul) May 9 and Blue Jazz (blues/jazz) May 16. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. 828.349.2337 / lazyhikerbrewing.com.
• Listening Room (Franklin) will host Rod MacDonald (singer-songwriter) 2:30 p.m. June 7. Suggested donation $20. Located at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
• Macon County Public Library (Franklin) will host The Vagabonds (Americana) at 2 p.m. the first and third Monday and a “Song Circle” open jam from 3-6 p.m. the first Tuesday each month. Free and open to the public. 828.524.3600 or fontanalib.org.
• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host “Open Mic Night” with Frank Lee every Thursday, Scott James Stambaugh (singersongwriter) May 9, Mountain Gypsy (Americana) May 16, Bird In Hand (Americana/indie) May 17 and Singin’ & Sippin’ (Americana) 5 p.m. May 18. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 / mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.
• Otto Community Center (Otto) will host James Thompson (Americana) 5 p.m. May 16. Bring a beverage and snack of your choice. Free and open to the public. 770.335.0967 / go2ottonc.com.
• Peacock Performing Arts Center (Hayesville) will host “Peacock Rhythm & Arts Festival” May 24 (starting at noon). All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. For tickets, 828.389.ARTS / thepeacocknc.org.
• Saturdays On Pine Concert Series (Highlands) will host Nashville Jukebox May 10 and Gotcha Groove May 17. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. highlandschamber.org.
• Scotsman (Waynesville) will host Bobby G (Americana/acoustic) May 8, Celtic Road Jam (Celtic/world) 4 p.m. May 10, Shane Meade (indie/soul) May 15, Celtic Road Jam
(Celtic/world) 4 p.m. May 17 and Fancy & The Gentlemen (rock) May 17. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.6292 / scotsmanpublic.com.
• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host Brothers Of The Heart (country/gospel) 7 p.m. May 19. Tickets start at $33 with seating upgrades available. 866.273.4615 / smokymountainarts.com.
• Trailborn (Highlands) will host its “Carolina Concert Series” with Juan (singer-songwriter) May 8 and Melissa McKinney (Americana/soul) May 15. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.482.1581 or trailborn.com/highlands.
• Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host Mountain Gypsy (Americana) May 8 (free), Caribbean Cowboys (rock/oldies) May 9, Tricia Ann Band (country/rock) May 10, “Line Dancing Lessons” 7 p.m. May 14 (free), “Karaoke Night with Lori” May 15 (free), Topper May 16 and Rock Holler May 17. All shows are $5 at the door unless otherwise noted and begin at 8 p.m. 828.538.2488 / unpluggedpub.com.
• Valley Cigar & Wine Co. (Waynesville) will host Rich Manz Trio (acoustic/oldies) 3:30 p.m. May 10 and Pat Sheridan & Friends (Americana/country) 2 p.m. May 17. Free and open to the public. 828.944.0686 / valleycigarandwineco.com.
• Vineyard At High Holly (Scaly Mountain) will host Tim Austin (singer-songwriter) May 11. All shows begin at 2 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.482.5573 / thevineyardathighholly.com.
• Yonder Community Market (Franklin) will host Will Kimbrough (singer-songwriter) 4 p.m. May 25. Family/dog friendly. 828.200.2169 / eatrealfoodinc.com.
• Find more at smokymountainnews.com/arts
Haywood Community Band launches 2025 season
The Haywood Community Band (HCB) will kick off its 2025 season with a special concert, a “Celebration of Song and Dance,” at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 18, at the Calvary Road Baptist Church in Maggie Valley.
“Calvary Road’s facility is the perfect location to address our increased band membership and growing audience,” said HCB Treasurer Paul Draper. “The facility has the stage and sound technology required, lots of seating and parking, and ensures that we can perform rain or shine.” All shows are free and open to the public. For more information and/or a full schedule of upcoming HCB performances, visit haywoodcommunityband.com.
Darren Nicholson will play Maggie Valley May 11.
File photo
Americana, bluegrass at Cowee School
Eisenman & The Clydes will perform at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at the Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center in Franklin.
vocals, John Duncan (fiddle), Justin Eisenman (guitar/vocals) and James Kylen (drums). Since their 2018 signing to Mountain Fever/Travianna Records, they have had two singles on the Grassicana Charts for almost a year. As well, their album “Bowerbird” was on Roots Music “Top 50 Albums” for 2019.
Admission is $15 for adults, $7.50 for kids ages 16 and under. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit coweeschool.org/music or call 828.369.4080.
On the stage
HART presents ‘Junie B. Jones Kids!’
The world premiere of “Junie B. Jones Kids!,” a brandnew adaptation of the beloved children’s book series, will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. May 9, 16 and 2 p.m. May 10-11, 17-18 at Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.
The production is brought to life through a partnership with Musical Theatre International (MTI). As part of MTI’s exclusive pilot program, HART is the first theatre in the country to debut this kidfriendly musical — and local audiences will be the very first to experience it. Featuring a cast of young performers ages 6 to 12, “Junie B. Jones Kids!” is a quickpaced, heartwarming production that invites audiences into the colorful world of Junie B., a spirited first-grader navigating school, friendships and the little surprises of growing up.
Packed with catchy songs, big laughs and plenty of heart, this 30-minute musical is designed with families in mind — ideal for kids, grandkids or anyone who’s young at heart.
• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee) will host semi-regular comedians on the weekends. For tickets, visit caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.
• Highlands Performing Arts Center (Highlands) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. mountaintheatre.com / 828.526.9047.
This production marks the HART directorial debut of Annie Dragoo, a recent Western North Carolina transplant and Tony-nominated educator, bringing her nationally recognized talent and passion for youth theatre to the HART stage.
Opening Mother’s Day weekend, moms will receive free concessions at the May 11 performance. Tickets are $15 for adults, $7 for students.
For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit harttheatre.org or call the box office at 828.456.6322.
• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. smokymountainarts.com / 866.273.4615.
• Peacock Performing Arts Center (Hayesville) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. thepeacocknc.org / 828.389.ARTS.
Aubrey Eisenman & The Clydes will play Franklin May 10. File photo
On the wall
A special gem show will be in Franklin May 9-11. File photo
Haywood Arts ‘Quilted Expressions’
The Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) will present “Quilted Expressions: A Celebration of Block-Based
‘Mother’s Day Gemboree’
The “Mother’s Day Gemboree” will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 9-10 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 11 at the Macon County Community Building in Franklin. Rough and cut gems, minerals, fine jewelry, supplies, beads, door prizes, dealers, exhibits, demonstrations and more.
Sponsored by the Franklin Chamber of Commerce and the Macon County Gem & Mineral Society. For more information, visit franklin-chamber.com.
• “Spring Craft & More Fling” will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at the Great Smoky Mountains Event Park in Bryson City. Local crafters, antique sellers and more. 828.488.3848.
• “Historic Places Art Contest” is now underway through May 20 for area students. In honor of “National Historic Preservation Month,” the contest invites students to create a visual representation of a historic structure or place that is meaningful in your community. Submissions must be turned in by 4 p.m. May 20 at the Jackson County Planning Department in Sylva. For more information, call Ashley Clapsaddle at 828.631.2283 or email ashleyclapsaddle@jacksonnc.org.
• WNC Paint Events will host painting ses-
On the table
sions throughout the region on select dates. For more information and/or to sign up, visit wncpaint.events.
• Marianna Black Library (Bryson City) will host “ArtWorks” at 1 p.m. every second Thursday of the month. Come create your own masterpiece. The materials for art works are supplied and participants are welcome to bring ideas and supplies to share with each other. Ages 16 and up. Space limited to 10 participants. Free and open to the public. 828.488.3030 / vroberson@fontanalib.org.
• CRE828 (Waynesville) will offer a selection of art classes and workshops at its studio located at 1283 Asheville Road. Workshops will include art journaling, watercoloring, mixed media, acrylic painting and more. 828.283.0523 / cre828.com.
Do
you like strawberries?
Art,” an innovative exhibit that reimagines the traditional quilt, through June 2 at HCAC’s Haywood Handmade Gallery in downtown Waynesville.
This unique showcase challenges conventional ideas of quilting and expands the definition of what a quilt can be. Artists working in all mediums have been invited to create pieces inspired by the structure and tradition of quilts, with each artwork limited to a maximum size of 12-by-12 inches.
From textiles and mixed media to painting and sculpture, the exhibit highlights the beauty of block-based design across various artistic disciplines.
“This show is an exploration of pattern, form, and storytelling,” says HCAC Executive Director Tonya Harwood “Quilting has long been a symbol of community, craftsmanship and creativity. This exhibit honors that tradition while pushing boundaries in exciting new ways.”
“Quilted Expressions” is part of HCAC’s ongoing mission to celebrate artistic innovation and support both emerging and established artists. The Haywood Handmade Gallery, run entirely by dedicated volunteers, is a cornerstone of Waynesville’s growing arts scene.
The exhibit is free and open to the public. For more information, visit haywoodarts.org or email director@haywoodarts.org.
A work from Christine Schlageter. Donated photo
• Gallery Zella (Bryson City) will be hosting an array of artist receptions, exhibits and showcases. 517.881.0959 / galleryzella.com.
• Waynesville Photography Club meets at 7 p.m. every third Monday each month on the second floor of the Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center in Clyde. The club is a nonprofit organization that exists for the enjoyment of photography and the improvement of one’s skills. The club welcomes photographers of all skill levels to share ideas and images at the monthly meetings. waynesvillephotoclub@charter.net.
• Haywood County Arts Council (Waynesville) will offer a wide range of classes, events and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. 828.452.0593 / haywoodarts.org.
The 23rd annual Strawberry Jam festival will be held May 17-18 at Darnell Farms in Bryson City.
The Darnell family celebrates their locally grown strawberry crop. Enjoy live music, local food, fresh fruits/vegetables, craft vendors, plow demonstrations, children’s play area, hayrides, fishing, camping and much more. For more information, visit darnellfarms.com or call 828.488.2376.
The Strawberry Jam festival returns May 17-18. File photo
• Jackson County Green Energy Park (Dillsboro) will be offering a slew of classes, events and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. 828.631.0271 / jcgep.org.
• Southwestern Community College Swain Arts Center (Bryson City) will host an array of workshops for adults and kids. 828.339.4000 / southwesterncc.edu/scclocations/swain-center.
• Dogwood Crafters in Dillsboro will offer a selection of upcoming art classes and workshops. 828.586.2248 / dogwoodcrafters.com.
• Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host semi-regular arts and crafts workshops. 828.369.4080 / coweeschool.org.
• Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will have its wine bar open 4-8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. 828.452.6000 / classicwineseller.com.
• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host semiregular taptakeovers from local and regional breweries on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.246.9320 / blueridgebeerhub.com.
• “Flights & Bites” will be held starting at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays at Bosu’s Wine Shop in downtown Waynesville. 828.452.0120 / waynesvillewine.com.
• “Take A Flight” with four new wines every Friday and Saturdays at the Bryson City Wine Market. Select from a gourmet selection of charcuterie to enjoy with your wines. Educational classes and other events are also available. 828.538.0420.
• “Uncorked: Wine & Rail Pairing Experience” will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on select dates at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City. Full service all-adult first class car. Wine pairings with a meal, and more. There will also be a special “Beer Train” on select dates. 800.872.4681 / gsmr.com.
Vincent van Gogh from a female perspective
Iwas gifted the book “The Secret Life of Sunflowers” (by Marta Molnar, 2022, 399 pages) and told I would like it. Usually, this kind of gift ends up not being what it was purported to be by the gift-giver. However, there are exceptions, and this was one of them. In a book that is really two books with alternating chapters and totally different time frames and characters, it is a bit of a bipolar read. But there are connections that one can follow if reading the complete book as designed.
On the other hand, one could, as I did, read each story separately and get two good reads for the price of one. The storyline that captivated my interest the most was the story of Vincent van Gogh and his brother Theo as told from the perspective of Theo’s wife Johanna Bonger. Done with what was obviously meticulous research, Marta Molnar has created a wonderfully written biographical map of the brothers van Gogh from a female’s intimate first-person perspective.
The story begins with Johanna’s romantic encounter with Theo and his persistent flirtations that she initially resists, not wanting to commit to anything permanent, but rather seeking to live an independent life of her own. But as things often happen, the aggressor often wins out and in this case Theo’s love for Johanna wins out and they are married. Almost from the get-go after the wedding, Vincent becomes a major player in the story’s narrative — with all his trials and tribulations many of us know about having read the myriad biographies of this famous artist. But Vincent’s life, here, is couched in the perspective of the young Johanna and the life she is leading with Theo, whose main focus is on being promoter and caretaker for his brother. Through all of this familiar history, Molnar gives us exquisite dialogue between the three main characters that is so well done as to come off almost visually as a painting itself, with Molnar creating pictures for us readers coming out of the mouths of her characters.
In “The Secret Life of Sunflowers,” starting in 1887, we travel from Amsterdam in the Netherlands, to Paris (1988, 89, 90,), then back to Amsterdam (1890) where Theo sets up a gallery of Vincent’s paintings for sale with the idea of supporting Vincent so
that he can continue painting. As Molnar writes and Johanna ponders, “The paintings on the walls reminded me daily why Theo believed in Vincent. Winter might have ruled outside, but our home was bathed in summer. The pale pink of almond blossoms were joined by the robust blue of irises, and
ly, and in all the prolific activity and trauma of the times.
But as we know, all good things must come to an end and Vincent dies at an early age and without the kind of artistic recognition both he and Theo were predicting. With Vincent’s death, Theo goes into a deep depression which finds him, eventually, in a mental hospital followed by an early death. This leaves Johanna, not only a grieving widow, but the sole heir of Vincent’s collection of well over a hundred paintings and a box of hundreds of letters written to Theo in Vincent’s hand. The rest of the story is Johanna’s journey to becoming an art dealer herself, and the primary promoter of Vincent’s paintings. After inquiring with some of the most notable art dealers and gallery owners in Paris, London and the U.S., and getting nothing but rejections, she returns to Amsterdam in a last-ditch effort to sell Vincent’s work.
the indomitable yellow of sunflowers. At times, I felt as if the colors were singing together and calling me to dance. I swore the miracle of Vincent’s painting would not remain forever locked away in our apartment.”
We get all the drama of those years and journeys back and forth from the Netherlands and Paris, including Vincent’s bipolar mental issues and relative poverty, as well as a glimpse of the Paris arts scene during that time period including many nowfamous names in the visual arts world, including Monet, Holst, Gauguin, Degas, Renoir, Cezanne, etc. In what becomes a love story, Johanna has fallen madly in love with her husband, Theo, and is fully ensconced in his life and work promoting his brother’s work; and we, as readers, are there in Paris and the Netherlands with them, romantical-
City Lights welcomes Bowles, Winchester
“Clouds covered the sky, the sun unable to break through to warm the air. I did not take that as an omen. It was just Dutch winter. But I was shivering by the time I reached Arti et Amicitiae’s white neo-classical building on Gracht Ronkin,” she writes.
With determination and a little “help from above,” she gains an audience with the owner of the gallery and convinces him to take on Vincent’s work. And the rest, as we say, is history.
This is the end of the Van Gogh sections of “The Secret Life of Sunflowers” Meanwhile, one hundred and thirty-five years later, the story in Molnar’s “2nd book” takes place in New York with the story of Emsley Wilson and the discovery of Johanna’s diary recounting her romantic history of the Impressionist arts movement of the 19th century. But the review of “book 2” is for another time, yet one that is also welltold from Marta Molnar’s talented pen.
(Thomas Crowe is a regular contribuor to Smoky Mountain News and Smoky Mountain Living and is the author of the award-winning memoir “Zoro’s Field: My Life in the Appalachian Woods.”)
Melanie Sue Bowles will join Renea Winchester for a conversation about their books, publishing and Bowles’ work at the Proud Spirit Horse Sanctuary at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. Bowles, founder of the nearly 35-year-old sanctuary, is an award-winning author of three nonfiction books and a contributor to equestrian magazines. Winchester, an Appalachian native, is the author of several
works, including the SIBAnominated “Farming, Friends & Fried Bologna Sandwiches,” and has received multiple literary awards. Free and open to the public. 828.586.9499 / citylightsnc.com.
Writer
Thomas Crowe
Troxler encourages horse owners to vaccinate against mosquito-borne diseases and rabies
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler is encouraging equine owners to have their animals vaccinated against Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis and West Nile Virus.
“Mosquito-breeding season in North Carolina lasts from spring until the first frost and horses are at risk if not properly vaccinated,” Troxler said. “EEE is fatal 90% of the time in horses and WNV has a fatality rate of 30%. However, both diseases are preventable by vaccination.”
State Veterinarian Dr. Mike Martin recommends that equine owners talk to their veterinarians about an effective vaccination protocol to protect horses from mosquito-borne diseases. The combination vaccination initially requires multiple injections for horses, mules and donkeys that have no prior vaccination history.
Haywood County offers warning amid tick season
Spring and summer mean more time outdoors, but they also mean tick season. Ticks can carry serious diseases like Lyme disease, so take these steps to protect yourself and your loved ones. Haywood County Environmental Health offers these simple tips:
• Dress Smart: Wear long sleeves, long pants and closed-toe shoes. Tuck pants into socks to keep ticks from crawling up your legs.
• Use Repellent: Apply EPA-registered insect repellents that contain DEET, picaridin or permethrin (on clothing only).
• Stay on Trails:
Join Franklin Bird club for Macon County walks
Mosquitoes can breed in any puddle that lasts for more than four days, so removing any source of standing water can reduce the chance of exposing animals to WNV or EEE. Keeping horses in stalls at night, using insect screens and fans, and turning off lights after dusk can also help reduce exposure to mosquitoes. Insect repellants can be effective if used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Symptoms of EEE include impaired vision, aimless wandering, head pressing, circling, inability to swallow, irregular staggering gait, paralysis, convulsions and death. Once a horse has been bitten by an infected mosquito, it may take three to 10 days for symptoms to appear.
Symptoms of WNV include fever, weakness or paralysis of hind limbs, impaired vision, head pressing, seizures and aimless wandering.
People, horses and birds can become infected from a bite by a mosquito carrying these diseases, but there is no evidence that horses can transmit these viruses to other horses, birds or people through direct contact.
Avoid tall grass, brush and wooded areas where ticks thrive. Stick to the center of hiking trails.
• Check Yourself and Pets: After being outdoors, do a full-body tick check. Don’t forget behind the knees, underarms and scalp. Check pets, too.
• Shower Soon: Showering within two hours of coming inside can help remove ticks and reduce your risk of infection.
• Remove Ticks Promptly: Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick close to the skin and pull upward steadily. Clean the bite area with alcohol or soap and water.
• Stay safe, stay vigilant and enjoy the outdoors responsibly. For more information, visit cdc.gov/ticks.
The Franklin Bird Club leads walks along the Greenway on Wednesday mornings at 8 a.m. through September. Walks start at alternating locations: Macon County Public Library, Big Bear Park and Salali Lane.
The public is welcome. All walks are weather dependent. Additional information, including directions to each location and a bird club check list can be found at littletennessee.org/franklin-bird-club.
Schedule and meeting places for upcoming walks:
• May 14: Meet at Big Bear parking lot
• May 21: Meet at Salali Lane parking lot
• May 28: Meet at the Macon County Library parking lot
Haywood Master Gardeners host plant clinic
Do you have a gardening question? NC State Extension Master Gardener volunteers are available to answer your questions about lawns, vegetables, flowers, trees and ornamental plants; disease, insect, weed or wildlife problems; soils (including soil test results) and fertilizers; freeze and frost damage; and cultural and chemical solutions to pest problems. Email haywoodemgv@gmail.com with a detailed description of the problem, plant or insect. Send clear digital photos if possible.
Questions can also be answered by calling 828.456.3575 and describing a home gardening issue to the receptionist. Either way, an Extension Master Gardener volunteer from Haywood County will get back to you within a few days with research-based information.
Experts will be on hand to answer questions.
MarketPlace information:
The Smoky Mountain News Marketplace has a distribution of 16,000 copies across 500 locations in Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties, including the Qualla Boundary and west Buncombe County. Visit www.wncmarketplace.com to place your ad!
Rates:
• $15 — Classified ads that are 25 words, 25¢ per word after.
• Free — Lost or found pet ads.
• $6 — Residential yard sale ads.*
• $1 — Yard Sale Rain Insurance Yard sale rained out? Call us by 10a.m. Monday for your ad to run again FREE
• $375 — Statewide classifieds run in 170 participating newspapers with 1.1+ million circulation. (Limit 25 words or less)
• Boost Online — Have your ad featured at top of category online $4
• Boost in Print
• Add Photo $6
• Bold ad $2
• Yellow, Green, Pink or Blue Highlight $4
• Border $4
Note: Highlighted ads automatically generate a border so if you’re placing an ad online and select a highlight color, the “add border” feature will not be available on the screen.
Note: Yard sale ads require an address. This location will be displayed on a map on www.wncmarketplace.com
