Haywood Community College, renowned for many programs including its robust arts department, is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Ahead of the celebration, The Smoky Mountain News looks back at HCC’s roots and how the college stepped up to help out local folks during some tough times. (Page 19) Donated photo
News
Canton seeks operators for wastewater plant............................................................4
Haywood still waiting on millions in FEMA reimbursements..................................5
Haywood schools lead region in achievement scores..............................................6
Fontana library board navigates turbulent times without legal counsel..............8
Marianna Black Library celebrates expansion ..........................................................11
New Democratic challenger takes aim at Edwards................................................12
Macon County cancels Burningtown-Iotla Fire Department contract..............16
Macon County delays action on health board consolidation................................17
Opinion
A love letter to friends across the aisle......................................................................20
Preventive health measures important........................................................................21
A&E
Happily disappearing to Snowbird Mountain Lodge..............................................22
WCU faculty guide post-Helene recovery study for NC Arboretum................30 The Joyful Botanist: On the mend................................................................................35
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S UBSCRIPTIONS
Canton seeks operators for wastewater plant
BY C ORY VAILLANCOURT
OLITICS E DITOR
When the Pactiv Evergreen paper mill in Canton closed after more than a century of operations in June 2023, the shockwaves went far beyond the hundreds of workers who lost their jobs. The closure of the 115-year-old plant left behind an enormous industrial footprint in the heart of town, a community reeling from impending economic collapse and a wastewater treatment system that had been built to serve the mill rather than the municipality. More than two years later, the consequences are still unfolding, and Canton is now seeking outside operators to manage the oversized facility as it works toward a permanent solution.
“This is just the next step in what we’ve been talking about,” said Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers. “We’re going to control our own destiny with wastewater, but we have to look at all the possibilities to run wastewater and run it as safely, cheaply and efficiently as possible.”
The town issued a notice earlier this month inviting certified contract operators to submit letters of interest by Sept. 30. The wastewater treatment plant, constructed in the 1960s to process industrial effluent from the mill, had in the past treated up to 30 million gallons a day.
Since the mill closed, daily flow has fallen to around 1.2 million gallons. That figure includes not only municipal sewage but also stormwater, landfill leachate and remnants of mill wastewater still running through the system. The imbalance between plant capacity and actual demand is a costly problem. Oversized infrastructure requires more energy, more staffing and more maintenance than a right-sized system would.
Canton officials say upgrades are inevitable, with the town considering a purchase of the plant and design work for a retrofit possibly beginning in 2026.
Another option on the table is to replace the existing facility with a modular packaged plant more in line with the town’s current and future needs. Until those choices are made, the town wants a professional operator to bridge the gap but hasn’t ruled out hiring town employees to do it.
“We may,” Smathers said. “But is it cheaper and better not to do it that way?”
Smathers reiterated his top priority was that the plant was run well — and run safely — but payroll costs, insurance and staff time managing human resources issues would all be at play if the town was to choose outside operators.
Applicants must hold the proper certifications from North Carolina’s Water Pollution Control System Operators Certification Commission and demonstrate compliance with state rules. The town anticipates at least a one-year contract with the possibility of renewal. Copies of the existing NPDES permit will be provided to interested operators.
The request represents more than a routine procurement; it’s the latest chapter in a story that began on March 6, 2023, when Pactiv Evergreen stunned Canton with its announcement that the mill would close. The decision ended decades of papermaking in Haywood County and pulled one of the region’s largest taxpayers and water users out of the local economy. When the mill’s whistle blew for the last time that June, Canton faced the immediate challenge of not just job loss but also who would control, pay for and maintain the wastewater plant.
opment of the sprawling site. For the town, the purchase also opened the door to a deal for the wastewater plant footprint.
In June, Canton moved forward with a plan to acquire about 35 acres of west-side property, including the treatment plant, as part of its long-term wastewater resiliency strategy. Around the same time, state lawmakers approved a Hurricane Helene relief bill that included $16 million to help Canton secure the land. Local leaders described the appropri-
For decades, the mill ran the facility, treating both its own industrial waste and the town’s sewage. The arrangement insulated Canton from the full cost of operating such a large plant.
Then came Hurricane Helene in September 2024. The storm inundated Western North Carolina, straining infrastructure across the region and highlighting the vulnerability of Canton’s aging plant. Recovery costs mounted and the town’s already thin resources were stretched further.
With Pactiv gone, officials scrambled to negotiate a temporary contract with Eric Spirtas, the mill parcel’s new owner, to keep the plant running while they weighed long-term options.
A breakthrough came on Jan. 10, 2025, when Spirtas purchased the mill property. The sale ended Pactiv’s presence in Canton and set the stage for demolition and eventual redevel-
Even with those steps, challenges remain. The current plant is not only too large but also outdated. Bringing it into compliance with modern standards will be expensive, and building a new facility from scratch could cost tens of millions of dollars. Either path will take years to complete, during which Canton must keep the existing system operating safely and legally.
Canton cannot afford to risk service disruptions or regulatory violations as it navigates the transition and by turning to professional operators now, the town hopes to stabilize the present while it plans for the future.
Town officials say they reserve the right to modify, reschedule or cancel the request.
Canton CFO Natalie Walker told The Smoky Mountain News Sept. 15 that the town is currently spending $140,000 a month on wastewater treatment.
The wastewater treatment plant at the old paper mill site in Canton has been a topic of major concern since early 2023. File photo
Haywood still waiting on millions in FEMA reimbursements
BY C ORY VAILLANCOURT
P OLITICS E DITOR
It’s beginning to sound like a broken record — nearly a year after Hurricane Helene tore through Western North Carolina, Haywood County government has received only 4% of the money it is owed from the federal government, leaving officials frustrated and taxpayers effectively footing the bill.
“The next is update on FEMA projects and reimbursement progress,” Chair Kevin Ensley said to open a discussion on the matter at the Sept. 15 Haywood County Commission meeting. “Our finance director, Kristian Owen, is here to give us the bad news on that.”
Owen told Haywood County commissioners during the meeting that while FEMA has approved some small projects, the largest and costliest reimbursements remain tied up in a bureaucratic maze.
According to Owen, the county has about $15.8 million in total eligible expenses. So far, FEMA has reimbursed only $623,288.
Some projects have been fully approved. Lodging and meals for emergency responders, totaling about $610,000, and law enforcement mutual aid reimbursements for Clay County, just under $13,000, have been paid. FEMA has also obligated $1.07 million for right-of-way debris removal and nearly $100,000 for emergency operations center materials.
But the real money is elsewhere. A single line item — waterway debris removal — totals nearly $13.9 million and is still marked “pending application completion.”
Another $19,500 in private property debris removal is also pending.
Owen explained that these projects face round after round of “RFIs,” or requests for information. Each packet can contain 30 to 50 questions, many of them repetitive.
“Debris is debris. It’s all the same answers, but we have to answer those each time we get an email,” she said. “It’s very inefficient.”
Commissioners have been frustrated by the magnitude of the delay. Commissioner Brandon Rogers calculated that the unpaid balance was equivalent to about 15 cents on the county’s 55-cent property tax rate.
“That kind of puts it into perspective on what we’re lacking,” Rogers said. “It’s truly unfair. It probably sounds like we’re throwing some rocks, but I guess we are. When we’re owed this much money, we need our money — and we need it quicker.”
Rogers, who traveled with the American Flood Coalition to Washington, D.C. on Sept. 16 to meet with federal officials, said he planned to make the county’s case directly.
“The only thing I care about leaving with is a check,” he said.
Commissioners also asked Owen to compare Helene’s reimbursement process to that of Tropical Storm Fred in 2021. That disas-
ter cost the county less than $5 million, and FEMA denied only $76.
“We did see some payment lag with Fred as well,” Owen said. “But there was not the upfront delay like there is with Helene. We’re getting immediate kickbacks with all those RFIs, and that really slows the process down.”
Beyond debris removal, the county is still tallying expenses for labor, equipment and emergency protective measures. Hundreds of staff timesheets must be reconciled with FEMA’s granular reporting requirements, and every county vehicle used in the response — from patrol cars to forklifts — must be logged with hours and rates.
Even the loss of roughly 80 road signs is an open project, with an estimated replacement cost of $40,000 still awaiting FEMA development.
total project costs for management. With $15.8 million in play, Haywood expects to claim about $790,000 for staff time and outside contractors who have been working the paperwork.
While the presentation was steeped in numbers, commissioners returned again and again to the human and financial toll of waiting on Washington.
“We’ve been decimated by this hurricane, so what I want to say is, ’Why don’t you help us some more with this?’” Ensley offered.
Commissioner Jennifer Best voiced a mix of empathy and exasperation.
“Who would have ever thought in the mountains of Western North Carolina, we would have such a vocabulary for hurricanes and floods?” Best asked. “It’s difficult for folks who make decisions at higher levels than us to understand how impactful the damage to the river is, because it’s so different than what we expect on the coast.”
Rogers added another sharp note of irony about FEMA’s duplicative demands.
“We already had a project that was approved, the check is on the way, and they still sent a request for information,” he said.
For now, Haywood continues to bridge the gap with local funds, a rainy-day reserve and a short-term loan approved earlier this summer. But the longer FEMA takes, the longer county taxpayers bear the risk.
“If we don’t have proper documentation and follow procurement processes, then we don’t get reimbursed,” Owen said. “We don’t try to slow things down, but sometimes we have to stop, take a breath and say, we’ve got to have this or we won’t get reimbursed.”
Cory Vaillancourt photo
Haywood schools lead region in achievement scores
Early colleges dominate WNC rankings, but gaps persist
BY C ORY VAILLANCOURT P OLITICS E DITOR
Another year, another set of numbers, and once again the mountains tell a complicated story of educational achievement.
As in years past, Haywood County set the regional pace, with the highest-performing high school (Haywood Early College), the highest-performing middle school (Bethel) and the highest-performing elementary school (Riverbend) based on achievement scores issued by the Department of Public Instruction for schools in The Smoky Mountain News core coverage area of Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties.
Overall, Haywood slipped from its all-time high of sixth statewide — out of 115 public school districts — to 11th. During the past decade, Haywood’s public schools have rarely ranked outside the top 10.
What DPI calls the “school performance grade” includes more than a single number. Under the current model, “achievement score” counts for 80% of the school grade, while “growth score” counts for 20%. Elementary and middle school metrics are more limited, however high school performance includes not only academic achievement scores but also ACT/WorkKeys, Biology and four-year graduation rates.
A full list of all schools stats in the state is available by visiting public.tableau.com/app/profile/ncdpi.k12.gov.
HAYWOOD COUNTY
In recent years, SMN reporting tracked Haywood’s move from seventh to sixth statewide and documented gains across Western North Carolina as classrooms steadied after COVID disruptions. Those threads run through this year’s scores. During the 2024-25 school year, the county spent an average of $2,769 in operational funding on each of its 6,487 students.
The achievement score snapshot shows the full span of outcomes this year, with the county’s three public high schools again earning high marks despite tremendous disruption due to Hurricane Helene last September.
At the upper end is Haywood Early College at 98.3, with Pisgah High School following at 79.9 and Tuscola High School at 75.3. Central Haywood High School, the county’s alternative school designed to serve students who may not thrive in traditional high school environments, came in at 57.1.
The comparison between the four high schools isn’t exactly apples-to-apples, as Haywood Early College — one of several “early college” programs across the region — is designed to give motivated students the chance to earn both a high school diploma and up to two years of transferable college credit, or even an associate degree at no cost while still in high school, through a partnership with Haywood Community College.
Haywood Early College ranks as the top school of any grade span in NCDPI’s western region, narrowly edging out Buncombe County’s Nesbitt Discovery Academy at 98.0. Since its founding in 2006, the program has been so successful that county officials are now considering an “innovative middle school” to give dedicated students an opportunity for more advanced coursework.
Pisgah remains the top non-early college public high school in the entire western region.
Haywood’s middle schools are essential feeders to Pisgah, Tuscola and the early college and all share some of the credit for high achievement in the county’s high schools. Bethel Middle School was tops in the SMN coverage area with a 72.2 achievement score, followed by Canton Middle School at 59.9 and Waynesville Middle School at 54.9.
Haywood’s elementary schools, in turn, feed the middle schools. Chronic overperformer Riverbend Elementary posted an 85.3 achievement score, good for top marks in the entire western region, although the score represents a decline from its 2023 mark of 93.5.
Junaluska Elementary’s 73.9 represents a 1.6-point improvement over 2024. Bethel Elementary’s 70.9 score is a big contributor to the performance of Bethel Middle and Pisgah High but is slightly off its 2023 tally of 74.1
“Everyone did a phenomenal job getting us to where we are, even with the 21 days we missed due to the hurricane,” said Chuck Francis, longtime chair of the Haywood County Schools board. “We’ve tried to offer board support for administrators and to use resources wisely.”
Francis has presided over one of the greatest stories in Western North Carolina educational circles in the past three decades — when he first joined the board 25 years ago, the district ranked somewhere in the 40s. Now, it’s consistently among the top 10% of public school districts in the state.
Francis said that although the loss of classroom time did have an impact on this year’s scores, the district still performed well because it doesn’t micromanage administrators or teachers.
“We just stay out of their way,” Francis said. North Canton (68.1), Hazelwood (61.6), and Jonathan Valley (60.5) round out the roster of high performers, with Clyde and Meadowbrook dropping to post-COVID lows of 50.0 and 46.0, respectively.
JACKSON COUNTY
As in Haywood County, Jackson County’s Early College is the highest performing school by achievement score with a 76.3 mark, but that’s significantly lower than its 2023 postCOVID high mark of 87.5.
The county’s Blue Ridge Early College, however, was one of the region’s worst, with a 40.2 achievement score. The school has never scored above 50.0 in the post-COVID era, and is down from 2024’s 40.4.
Superintendent Dana Ayers did not return multiple calls asking about the scores.
Among upper-grade schools, Blue Ridge School earned a 60.3, while Smoky Mountain High School was the strongest performer of the traditional schools with a 65.1. The school had earned a 66.1 score in 2022, a 65.4 score in 2023 and a 64.2 last year, showing that it’s moving in the right direction; however, these results indicate that at the middle and high school levels, achievement scores trend higher overall than in the elementary grades, though the F
File photo
variation between schools remains significant.
In Jackson County’s elementary schools, Smokey Mountain Elementary posted the lowest achievement score in the SMN coverage area at 32.9, while Cullowhee Valley and Scotts Creek performed somewhat better at 45.3 and 46.1, respectively. Fairview School scored notably higher with 57.7, showing stronger outcomes compared with its elementary peers but still down from a post-COVID high of 60.5.
Jackson County spends $2,361 in operational funding for each of its 3,424 students.
MACON COUNTY
Again — and as in Haywood and Jackson counties — Macon County’s Early College High School was the top performer in the county and among the top in the region with a solid 83.8 achievement score, down from a post-COVID high of 89.2 in 2022 but up significantly from 2024’s 74.6.
Macon Virtual Academy, an online public high school offered by the school district, also showed strong performance with an achievement score of 81.1 — an incredible gain from scores of 29.4 and 30.5 in 2022 and 2024, respectively.
Franklin High School weighed in with a respectable 70.0, trailing only Macon’s and Haywood’s high schools in the SMN coverage area.
Macon County’s middle-grade schools posted modest results, with Macon Middle School earning an achievement score of 50.6 and Mountain View Intermediate close behind at 49.2. These scores place both schools in the lower half of the county’s performance spectrum, suggesting that students in the middle grades may face more challenges compared with their peers at other levels.
Elementary school results varied widely across the district. South Macon Elementary stood out with a strong 60.8, narrowly topping Cartoogechaye Elementary at 60.2. Iotla Valley Elementary posted a mid-range score of 52.6, while Highlands School, which serves multiple grade levels, came in at 54.3.
At the lower end, East Franklin Elementary recorded a 48.2, and Nantahala School scored 47.6, both trailing the county’s highest-performing elementary schools by more than 10 points.
Superintendent Josh Lynch did not respond to multiple inquires from SMN about the scores.
Macon County spends $2,375 in operational funding on each of its 4,417 students.
SWAIN COUNTY
Swain County’s lone public high school, Swain County High, reported an achievement score of 64.2 — a strong performance given the relatively poor scores of its feeders.
Superintendent Mark Sale did not respond to multiple calls about the scores.
Swain West Elementary, the weakest performer in the county and one of the worst in the region, posted an achievement score of 40.2. Its sister school, Swain West Elementary, earned 51.9. Swain Middle School earned an achievement score of 46.1, keeping them all well below most of their contemporaries in the SMN coverage area.
Additionally, Swain County does not post its annual budget online, making it difficult for the public to ascertain the level of per-student funding.
CHARTER SCHOOLS
In 1996, the North Carolina General Assembly authorized the creation of charter schools, establishing them as publicly funded schools of choice with more operational independence than traditional district schools — although they receive taxpayer funds, they remain unaccountable to taxpayers because their governing boards are not elected by taxpayers, as they are in traditional public schools.
A major change came in 2011 when another NCGA bill removed the statewide cap of 100 charters, spurring rapid growth. Supporters of charter schools say they empower parents by giving them broader educational choices, while critics argue they divert taxpayer dollars from high-performing public schools to low-performing private institutions, undermining the financial stability of the state’s traditional system and jeopardizing the quality of education for traditional public school students.
ter schools. Three of the four counties in the SMN coverage area have a public charter school — Haywood, Jackson and Swain.
Swain County’s Mountain Discovery School, which offers multiple grade levels, earned an achievement score of 56.0, far below Swain County High School’s 64.2 but above the county’s elementary and middle schools.
Jackson County’s Summit Charter School, which also draws students from Macon County due to its location in Cashiers, earned a 72.4 and as such is the only public charter school in the SMN coverage area to outperform any of its counties’ traditional public high schools, although the Jackson and Macon early colleges still surpass Summit’s achievement score. Blue Ridge Early College, however, remains an outlier at just 40.0.
Jackson County also has the only “lab school” west of Appalachian State University — part of a state initiative created by the NC General Assembly in 2016. One of the goals was to “improve student performance in local school administrative units with low-performing schools,” according to northcarolina.edu.
These schools are operated by UNC system universities in partnership with local school districts. Although not technically a charter school, the Catamount School is not technically a public school, either. Offering grades 6-8 and an achievement score of 60.0, it remains competitive with county and regional middle schools.
Haywood County’s only public charter school, Shining Rock Classical Academy, earned an achievement score 53.6.
Of the county’s 16 public schools, Shining Rock placed 14th.
According to the NCDPI’s 2025 school report, there are 206 charter schools in the state. Not one of them outperformed Haywood Early College in 2025. Only 24 outperformed Pisgah High School, and only 37 outperformed Tuscola High School.
In the NCDPI’s western region, there are 15 public char-
Haywood commemorates Helene this week with events
Haywood County will mark the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene this week with a series of commemorations beginning during the opening ceremonies of the annual Haywood County Fair. At 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 25, a proclamation will be read at the Smoky Mountain Event Center in Waynesville, and attendees will have the chance to recognize first responders, volunteers and partner organizations that have played a role in recovery. Throughout the weekend, the sheriff’s office, emergency services and development services will maintain booths at the fair, offering information on recovery resources and ongoing efforts tied to Helene.
The observances will culminate in a remembrance ceremony at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27, on the steps of the historic Haywood County Courthouse in Waynesville — almost exactly one year to the hour during which the catastrophic storm thrashed the region. Officials say the gathering will provide a solemn moment to honor the lives lost, reflect on the community’s resilience and acknowledge the progress still to be made.
Of the 15 charter schools in the NCDPI’s western region, Shining Rock placed 13th.
Of the state’s 206 charter schools, Shining Rock placed 127th.
Since COVID, the school has consistently ranked among the worst in Haywood County, achievement-wise, never topping a score of 55.8.
Day of resilience set in Waynesville
The Smoky Mountain Long Term Recovery Group will host a free “Day of Resilience” event on Saturday, Sept. 20, from noon to 5 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Waynesville, 566 S. Haywood St. The gathering marks one year since Hurricane Helene and is
designed as both a remembrance and a step toward healing. A licensed counselor will lead a “flood talk,” and disaster preparedness and recovery resources will be available. The family-friendly afternoon also includes music, art, games, yoga, bouncy houses and food trucks. Organizers say all are welcome, whether attending in grief, reflection or solidarity with the broader community. For more information, visit smltrg.org,
Flying Blind
Fontana library board navigates turbulent times without legal counsel
BY KYLE P ERROTTI N EWS E DITOR
As tension develops among Fontana Regional Library trustees and a seismic shift lies ahead in about nine months, the board is plugging ahead without an attorney.
The July FRL meeting was the last for former board attorney Rady Large, who had offered his services pro bono for about the last two years but had to resign upon taking a job with Western Carolina University. Just prior to that meeting, Jackson County commissioners had voted to withdraw from the library system it had belonged to for the last 80 years, likely leaving Macon and Swain counties as the only two remaining members.
Large recommended the board retain legal services from a multi-partner firm.
“You guys, as a board, have a lot of issues that normally an attorney that would be representing a library board would not address,” Large said. “There’s a lot of municipal law and constitutional law that you guys are going to be advised on, and so my biggest piece of advice is, it would be in your best interest to get on retaining legal counsel ASAP.”
Along with needing an attorney during
the process to establish a new agreement with Macon and Swain counties, the withdrawal could bring about a whole of issues related to personnel, finances and more that would necessitate a legal review. Also, while a recent press release from the FRL board notes that “No library materials have been removed from any FRL library due to objectionable content,” there were no promises made that, moving forward, that would continue to be the case. Censoring content has brought libraries across the nation lawsuits. All this is in addition to typical legal pitfalls like public records requests.
NEW ITEMS
During the Sept. 9 meeting, there were a few topics brought up that board member Cynthia Womble mentioned could need legal review. Her logic in these comments was that board members don’t know what they don’t know, and to assume that something is simple enough to not warrant legal review is the kind of faulty logic that could lead a lawsuit.
During a discussion of changes to the circulation policy, trustees discussed the language on the application for a library card. Board member Lori Richards moved to
Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Either way, Monnat’s objection was for naught; the board voted 6-1 in favor of the
Prior to that vote, Womble asked whether an attorney had reviewed the changes to the circulation policy.
“We’re changing the language; I would be concerned in making sure that an attorney reviewed it again,” she said.
The board also discussed adopting its first ever public comment policy. Before, public comments had been guided by procedures. The public comment committee, which met twice between the July and September meetings, decided to adopt a full policy. Notably, the policy states that trustees aren’t required to hear oral public comments when not in a board meeting. Basically, the board members were worried about harassment in public places. While such harassment can quickly rise to the level of a misdemeanor, some board members wanted to see it in the policy.
approve a new circulation policy, which included new language on the application for library cards.
Board member Tony Monnat delayed the vote, noting that previously, the application stated that the library system doesn’t discriminate on the basis of “race, color, religion, national, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identify or gender expression, age, disability or other gender information.” He was curious why that was replaced by a statement that simply said the library “does not discriminate in provision of administration of library services.”
Bill McGaha, the newly minted board chair, answered Monnat’s question.
“It’s redundant. We don’t discriminate against anyone based on anything, period,” McGaha said.
Monnat said he still had issues, considering he’d always seen such a statement on the “untold numbers” of forms he’s signed in his years, adding that he’d seen the same statement on Smoky Mountain High School’s and Jackson County government’s websites. Trustee Deborah Smith mentioned that there are some questions not mentioned in that statement — such as immigration status and whether someone is unhoused. To try to include all will always end in the exclusion of some, she argued.
“You could go on and on and on. You could continually be revising it,” she said.
However, it’s not that simple. The groups mentioned in the standard federal nondiscrimination statement like the one FRL used before are included for a reason. They are protected classes under the likes of The Civil
Womble also asked about obtaining a legal opinion on this, since it was codifying something that could be met with allegations of First Amendment violations, perhaps in ways the board couldn’t imagine. In a move likely not to be met with legal scrutiny, the board also decided to get rid of its ethics statement. First adopted about two years ago, the statement has been a point of contention over the last several months. The ethics statement had been amended by a committee and was brought back before the board Sept. 9. Womble said that during the first ethics committee meeting in July, she expressed concern that the last line of the statement, which said the board would support the efforts of the librarians to “combat censorship,” was going to be removed.
This was debated at the Sept. 9 meeting. Womble’s concern is that if there is no commitment against censorship, beyond it being antithetical to the library system’s ethos, it could lead to lawsuits, as it has in other states over the last couple of years.
Richards pointed out that the development policy already addresses censorship, implying that including in the ethics statement is redundant. Womble elaborated on her concern, adding that without such a line in the ethics statement, it would be easy to simply change the development policy to allow for censorship without any pushback.
“My concern, is that the next revision of the collection development policy will, in fact, have censorship in it, and it'll be ethical because it won't be against our ethics statement,” Womble said.
Ultimately, in a sort of damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don’t moment, Womble moved to get rid of the ethics statement altogether. At the mention of getting rid of the statement, McGaha perked up.
“I wish I’d talked to you about this before because I feel the same way,” he said to Womble, adding that an ethics statement isn’t required by law anyway, so it’s just another item that can get in the way of the board’s ability to conduct business. The board voted 6-1 in favor F
Former FRL board Vice Chair Tony Monnat and newly elected Chair Bill McGaha share a look while debating the diversity statement in the library card application. Kyle Perrotti photo
FINDING COUNSEL
At one point, the board talked about hiring an attorney or firm. In the past, Director Tracy Fitzmaurice would handle such a task. She provided a brief update on her efforts, saying that on Large’s recommendation, she reached out to Asheville powerhouse Van Winkle Law Firm but hadn’t heard back. Some other leads were dead ends, but Fitzmaurice said there are still a few more to reach out to.
Trustee Kathy Smith moved to form a committee to conduct a search for legal counsel and provide a nominee to the board for a vote.
“I find no authority for the director to unilaterally hire an attorney,” Smith said.
This was challenged by Womble and Monnat, who said that those kinds of tasks had always been handled by the director and that just because it isn’t stated in the bylaws that the director has to make the choice doesn’t mean the board needs to step in.
“I think that what I see happening with this board is a move toward micromanagement and wanting to have personal individual oversight of every decision that is made, which tells me that you don’t trust our regional director and are not supporting them in day-to-day operations,” Womble said. “It also tells me that you are assuming that anything that’s not spelled out in the bylaws as belonging to the regional director somehow belongs to the board instead as an authority.”
Trustee Marva Jennings framed things a bit differently. With all the work Fitzmaurice had put into getting a new finance director over the last two months, the board would be doing her a favor by relieving her of the task, Jennings said.
“I see this more as helping Tracy find an attorney rather than taking over from Tracy,” she added.
The board voted a 3-3 split with McGaha abstaining, meaning the motion failed. Fitzmaurice said she would continue reaching out to attorneys and law firms.
MORE ALLEGATIONS OF MICROMANAGEMENT
Only days prior to the meeting on Sept. 9, Womble and Monnat announced their resignations from their chair and vice chair positions, respectively. While they didn’t leave the board entirely, those positions were vacant heading into the Sept. 9 meeting, so McGaha led the meeting as an interim chair before being elected to the position at the end of the meeting. In addition, Cheryl Taylor, a new board member from Swain County, became the vice chair and Kathy Smith of Macon County became the new secretary, filling the seat McGaha vacated to become chair.
Womble was voted in as chair during the July meeting. At that time, she was the only one who seemed willing to serve. However, she told The Smoky Mountain News that she feels she didn’t have the confidence and
trust of board members. She also felt like she felt so strongly on certain issues that she struggled maintaining neutrality, something the board chair is supposed to do in an effort to foster constructive debate and free discourse during meetings.
The board typically conducted business in an uneventful matter until just a couple of years ago, when a movement swept the nation in which conservative cultural influencers and pundits began calling for people to scrutinize local libraries over the inclusion of LGBTQ content on their shelves and events on their calendars.
Since then, a faction that espouses that ideology has gained a majority on the FRL board, and Jackson County commissioners voted to pull out of the library system, which both costs county taxpayers more money and weakens the overall FRL system that still includes Swain and Macon counties.
“I tried to be collaborative and congenial and professional in running meetings and setting up agendas and committees, and I was pretty much thwarted at every turn when I tried to rein board members in,” she said.
“I can be of more use being able to defend and advocate for library staff and headquarters staff and for freedoms and rights I believe in by not being constrained by being the chair anymore,” she added.
Womble took that mindset into the Sept. 9 meeting during the discussion about seeking legal counsel and on other topics.
About three hours into the meeting, as things seemed to be winding toward a conclusion, Richards floated one more idea. Curious about programming, she asked Fitzmaurice if she could compile basic data about the last year’s programming — names and dates of programming, the nature of events, how much they cost and how many people attended.
Fitzmaurice said that she could feasibly do that going forward, but to go back and try to fill in data from the over 1,000 programs would take “an inordinate amount of time.”
Womble voiced her frustration with the idea.
“So you want them to go back and recreate a document that they didn’t collect data in this way for the last year so that you can then go and micromanage the programs they run in the future?” Womble said to Richards.
Richards said she wouldn’t micromanage, but when asked, she also struggled to state why such data was needed and what decisions it may inform. In recent years, programming at libraries has been at the heart of that larger debate about libraries’ independence and whether their books and programming are appropriate for families. This wasn’t discussed during the debate over the data collection, but the undertones were heavy.
Defending Richards’ request, Kathy Smith said she’d be interested in learning more about programming, saying right now it feels like a “big black box.”
“If you’re signed up in the newsletters,” Fitzmaurice said, “you can see every event in those newsletters.”
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Marianna Black Library celebrates expansion after more than a decade of false starts
BY LILY LEVIN STAFF W RITER
Marianna Black Library in Bryson City was an outdated facility by 2010, so staff commissioned a feasibility study. On Sept. 10, the library held a groundbreaking for its $7.1 million expansion and renovation, 15 years down the line.
According to Ellen Snodgrass, chair of the Marianna Black Library Board of Trustees, the library has fundraised just under 90% of the $7.1 million needed for the project. The remainder will likely come through public fundraising from small individual donors.
“We have people who are doing job interviews here online. We have NC Works here … tax people, healthcare people, Big Brothers Big Sisters, tutoring. We have no [private] place to do that,” Snodgrass said.
When asked about how the library might support folks looking to enroll in different social services, Snodgrass said while the library can’t afford to add more staff, having privacy to fill out forms will be helpful.
“We do work with the health department. We’re going to have a blood pressure station in here,” she said.
Delfield told The Smoky Mountain News that the expansion is expected to take 14 months, “but I’m saying 16 months.”
Officials celebrate Marianna Black Library Sept. 10 groundbreaking, (left to right) Robin Ramsey, representing U.S. Sen. Tom Tillis; Rep. Mike Clampitt; State Sen. Kevin Corbin; Commissioners Tanner Lawson, Philip Carson and Bobby Jenkins; Library Board Chair Ellen Snodgrass; Swain County Librarian Jeff Delfield and Bryson City Mayor Tom Sutton celebrate library renovation. Lily Levin photo
Those at the event last Wednesday exuded pride as they celebrated a project that weathered several false starts throughout its planning stages but has ultimately succeeded.
County Librarian Jeff Delfield said that after the 2010 feasibility study, “we were going to have a brand-new building, and then that kind of fell through.”
The staff found another space but met the same outcome. They didn’t start applying for grants until 2022 after county commissioners appropriated $500,000 to the project. Even then, there were a couple of economic hiccups.
“The bid came in a little too high, so we had to figure it out,” Delfield said.
The library held a groundbreaking in 2023 — and another groundbreaking in 2024.
“If you had asked me a month ago, ‘When is the groundbreaking?’ I jokingly would say, ‘March of 2023,’” he said with a chuckle.
Delfield explained that the main goal of expanding the library was to provide a longer list of services. The renovation will add a teen area, small meeting rooms, co-working spaces, an Appalachian studies room and a community room. The library will also have an expanded children’s area.
State and local officials praised the community for its support and library staff for providing a thorough construction plan. Together, Sen. Kevin Corbin (RMacon) and Rep. Mike Clampitt (R-Swain) secured $3.2 million for the expansion. U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis secured $1 million in federal funding.
Corbin said if the same thing were to happen in Mecklenburg County, “no one would notice … But when you do that in Swain County … it’s a big deal because it really adds to the community.”
While libraries have become the focus of culture war debates — especially throughout the Fontana Regional Library system — enthusiasm for the expansion was unanimous among the crowd of attendees.
Clampitt said Robin Ramsey, regional representative for Tillis, had told him “‘the public library is more than a library. It’s a community hub.’ And I could not agree more.”
When asked if he had any final comments, Delfield said, “It’s been a long time coming, and I’m so happy … I’ve been working on this project for — no exaggeration — 15 years.”
Adam Bigelow Democrats take aim at Edwards
New challenger enters District 11 contest
BY C ORY VAILLANCOURT
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The field for one of North Carolina’s most closely watched congressional races grew again this week with the entry of Dr. Richard Hudspeth, a physician with deep ties to the region who says his experience caring for mountain families gives him a unique perspective on what Chuck Edwards has failed to deliver.
“We’ve seen this disastrous dismantling of health care infrastructure, erosion of trust in medical information and really draconian cuts to critical research that, for me, threatens future medical advances, and I just can’t sit idly by while we destroy what we built,” Hudspeth told The Smoky Mountain News Sept. 12. “I’m running for Congress to defeat Chuck Edwards because he voted to cut billions from our rural health care system, and in the meantime, as far as I can tell, he’s done nothing to make it easier for the hard-working families that I serve to put food on their table, pay for medicines, to put a roof over their head.”
North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District. Earlier this summer, the Democratic field was jolted by controversy over the annual Democratic gala, when questions over candidate participation prompted the resignation of the party chair and the reworking of the lineup.
Not long after, Moe Davis, a former congressional candidate and one of the better-known names in the district, dropped out, leaving more room for candidates Jamie Ager, Zelda Briarwood, Paul Maddox and now Hudspeth. Chris Harjes, who entered the field last spring, is still in — sort of. Harjes told SMN Sept. 12 that while he wouldn’t file as a candidate in December, he would continue his campaign by “picking on Chuck and his puppeteers online” and is encouraging supporters to donate to state Rep. Lindsey Prather (DBuncombe), Democratic Senate candidate and former governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice Anita Earls.
Edwards, meanwhile, has not yet drawn a Primary Election opponent, although he may. His 2024 Primary opponent, Christian Reagan, said on Facebook after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Sept. 10 that he was considering another bid.
Ridge Health until last year, is widely known in professional and community circles. Born and raised largely in Chicago, Hudspeth moved to North Carolina in the early 1980s. A graduate of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill medical school, Hudspeth traces the roots of his medical career to a unique source.
“One of the things that I ended up doing was serving at Mother Teresa’s Home for the Destitute and the Dying in Kolkata,” he said. “I remember vividly, even to this day, that I saw a young man who really wasn’t older than myself at the time die needlessly from tuberculosis simply because of poverty and lack of access to health care. Seeing how his life could have been spared with just a few dollars more, that’s when I decided, truly, that I wanted to be a doctor and dedicate my life to service, a life of helping those who are left out and left behind.”
Hudspeth’s candidacy comes amid rapid shifts in the race for
stay on the sidelines” after witnessing such a horrific spectacle.
Outside observers are also beginning to take note of the 2026 race. The Cook Political Report, which had long rated NC-11 as solidly Republican, recently shifted its forecast to “likely Republican,” signaling that national Democrats could see the district as competitive.
The Cook Report story, which came out shortly before Western Carolina University political science professor Chris Cooper broke the news of Hudspeth’s FEC filing, mentioned that Republican incumbent Rep. Chuck Edwards “could face a serious challenge from Democrat Jamie Ager, a meat farmer who comes from a political family” and that the 11th District “is one of the few regions of the country that trended left between 2020 and 2024, bucking the national rightward trend.”
The shift reflects not only the perceived strength of Democratic recruitment but also the mounting vulnerabilities of Edwards.
Dr. Richard Hudspeth’s entry into the race has been rumored for some time.
Richard Hudspeth photo
The Republican Party apparatus in the district has hardly been a model of stability. Internal fractures, resignations and questions of leadership have all plagued the GOP’s local infrastructure at the very moment Democrats are presenting new faces and new messages. Hudspeth, with his medical background and emphasis on service, will test whether Democrats can capitalize on the moment to mount their most serious challenge to Edwards yet.
Among the main issues for voters to consider is the impact of federal cuts to Medicaid and Medicare in the “Big Beautiful Bill” that Edwards supported in Congress.
“That bill that passed will do really almost irreparable harm to rural health care in North Carolina,” Hudspeth said. “It will potentially destroy and likely destroy our Medicaid expansion. I think I bring that health care expertise to try and get to Congress in order to save Medicaid, but also Medicare.”
But even before Edwards’ vote — and before the effects of the BBB become apparent in 2026 — health care affordability had long been a problem. Hudspeth is calling for a public-private nonprofit partnership to ameliorate at least some of the sting.
“When I was at the community health center, under my leadership, we were able to quadruple the number of clinical sites where people could receive care. We quadrupled the number of patients with access to care. We were able to quadruple the number of providers who are now serving in our rural clinics in Western North Carolina, and we were able to quadruple our workforce to nearly over 700 employees and we did that all without an increase in our federal health center grant,” he said. “To me, that’s a model that we can use to get affordable care for people across Western North Carolina.”
But health care cuts aren’t the only impending problem for working families contained in the BBB; it also reauthorized President Donald Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, which were heavily slanted towards the wealthy.
“Chuck Edwards voted to add trillions of dollars to our debt, to give tax breaks to the rich and take money essentially out of our pocket by reducing our ability to access healthcare without any real noticeable impact on our ability to put food on the table,” Hudspeth said. “I think that he has failed us in so many ways.”
Asked what he believes is Edwards’ greatest failure, Hudspeth echoed voices that have been steadily growing louder since earlier this year.
“He is a member of the powerful appropriations committee, and he really isn’t using that for the people that he represents,” Hudspeth said. “When we think about, for example, the Hurricane Helene response from the federal government, he has not been able to bring the necessary resources to Western North Carolina in order to help us after this traumatic and dramatic natural disaster.”
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said he authored will only bring an estimated $9-15 billion to the state.
On housing affordability, Hudspeth said the federal government can and should help address the region’s housing crisis by supporting “forever affordable housing” through creative financing rather than simply handing money to developers. Drawing on his experience expanding community health centers through public–private nonprofit partnerships, he argued that federal dollars could serve as seed money loaned to local organizations, allowing them to build long-term mortgage models that keep housing permanently affordable.
Hudspeth frames his many of his views through the sharp lens of a physician, saying gun violence should be treated like medical issues are.
“I think any needless loss of life is tragic,” he said of Kirk’s murder and of crime in general, including the recent killing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte. “First, our country needs to recognize it for the public health emergency that it is and then treat it as such. And to treat it as such means to understand it, invest in curing it and move forward as a culture to alter this epidemic of violence that we have.”
On that same note, he described environmental stewardship — specifically, the lack of congressional funding for the region’s National Parks and National Forests — as a generational duty tied to clean air, clean water and protected spaces essential for human health.
family. I’ve been trained to help and not judge, and I’m going to bring that to Congress and work on finding programs and legislation that can again respect individual rights to make health care decisions for themselves.”
Abroad, Hudspeth said U.S. security depends on supporting Ukraine and rebuilding dismantled aid programs, and on Gaza he urged electing “peacemakers” to address violence worldwide.
Domestically, he pledged support for LGBTQ rights.
“I go back to Mother Teresa. She had a powerful influence on me, and she once said — and these words have stuck with me my whole life — if you spend all your time judging people, you won’t have any time to love them,” he said. “We definitely need to live more of her words in our times right now.”
Hudspeth said education is central to his campaign, shaped in part by his wife’s career as a second-grade teacher. He said every child deserves access to a high-quality education and that the federal government is failing to uphold that promise, pointing to underpaid teachers, overcrowded classrooms and inadequate resources as evidence of neglect.
“Chuck Edwards voted to add trillions of dollars to our debt, to give tax breaks to the rich and take money essentially out of our pocket by reducing our ability to access healthcare without any real noticeable impact on our ability to put food on the table. I think that he has failed us in so many ways.”
Dr. Richard Hudspeth
Cherokee sovereignty and cannabis, two issues Edwards has threatened the tribe over, are also a precarious balance of individual liberty and public responsibility.
Hudspeth stressed respect for the tribe’s selfdetermination but weighs that against his concerns about addiction and the need for a comprehensive health system. He said he hadn’t yet formulated a strong position on the rescheduling of cannabis at the federal level. That mentality appears similar to his position on abortion, in that decisions must remain between women and their families, while prevention through education and access to birth control can help keep abortion rare.
“Infertility, lack of access to birth control, miscarriages, maternal death, unintended pregnancies, fatal fetal anomalies — I’ve seen it all. And after a lifetime of serving women and their families, I’ve learned that there’s not always one answer,” he said. “There’s not an answer that works for everyone, but there is an answer that works for that woman and her
“Just like public health — every dollar that goes into public education is an investment in our future,” he said. “I don’t believe we are investing wisely in that future.”
Citing decades-old attempts by Republicans to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, Hudspeth answered in what has also been a recurring theme of his — that it’s easier to destroy than it is to build.
“If they’re not happy with the way things are going, what are they doing to replace that? The federal government does have a good bit of funds involved in public education already. Just to destroy things without really learning how to create a more effective program, if you object to its effectiveness, is honestly a bit of cowardice and thoughtlessness,” he said.
Democrats can win NC-11, he said, by appealing to unaffiliated voters with “common sense” solutions, but getting those solutions in front of voters who now have several choices before them takes big money. How does Hudspeth plan to raise it?
“We’re going to find out,” he said. “It’s all-hands-on-deck. I’m not a billionaire. I’m not personally able to finance my own campaign, and even if I could, I don’t think it’s the right thing to do. This is going to require a campaign that resonates with individuals and voters in our district, and everyone is going to have to contribute, and we’ll see how that goes.”
Macon County delays action on health board consolidation
Macon County has delayed action on consolidating its health board and seems to have taken a commissioner takeover completely off the table.
On July 8, commissioners began working on a strategy to create a consolidated human services agency with the aim of reducing what multiple people called “silos” that can allow government authorities to operate inefficiently or even perhaps in direct opposition to each other without even knowing it.
As people filed in for the public hearing, an overflow room had to open up to accommodate everyone who wanted to listen, most of whom seemed stand in stark opposition to a commission takeover. While many came to the public comment session ready to speak strongly against the idea that the commissioners could assume control of the agency with the power to hire and fire employees and decide policy and procedures. However, they were met with a surprise.
The draft resolution that was passed out to members of the public was for creation of a consolidated human services agency beginning in 2026. At that time, the previous board of health would be terminated, and commissioners would appoint new board members.
Commenters lamented the quick pivot by commissioners, with many noting that they
were prepared to address the possibility that the commissioners may in fact take over the health board. Still, there was plenty to say.
For example, Constance Neeley talked about broader concerns with public health, including rapid and drastic changes at the federal level under HHS
Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. More locally, she voiced her concern over what she called “bullying” of the health board by commissioners during the fact-finding process.
Many simply asked the commissioners to hold off on voting for at least a month, to give both those elected officials and members of the public time to gain a full understanding of what that change might look like.
Also commenting were health department employees Jessica Jones and Jamie Rodgers, who reiterated what other employees had said during earlier public meeting, that there were serious issues with morale that need to be addressed one way or the other, or as Rodgers put it, a “lack of leadership and corrective actions.”
that the board is dedicated to fostering trust between members, employees and the pub-
“Our board has not had time to discuss what the new processes would be either,” he said, adding that he thinks it’s best that the board remain intact as is until members have time to discuss what consolidation may look like.
low commissioners. For example, Commissioner Gary Shields said he’d prefer to wait and nail down the details.
“Let’s do it right the first time,” Shields said.
File photo
Following the public comment session, new health board Director Garrett Higdon, appointed just days prior, thanked the board for highlighting the “ongoing problem” with the health department. While he promised
While Commissioner John Shearl, also a member of the board, motivated by how many health department employees had voiced concerns and frustration to him, wanted to vote to consolidate right away. However, that view wasn’t shared by his fel-
“I think just in good faith, I say give the current board right now some time to implement this,” said Commissioner Danny Antoine.
The board ultimately decided to table the matter at this point.
Perhaps seeing the writing on the wall, that a new board would likely mean a new director appointment, on Friday, Sept. 11, Macon County announced the retirement of Public Health Director Kathy McGaha, who will sign off on 30 years of service in the county at the end of 2025. The release noted that McGaha’s leadership during the pandemic and beyond were marked by “resilience, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to equity and community well-being.”
“Kathy’s vision and leadership have transformed our department into a more agile, inclusive and community-centered organization,” said Garrett Higdon, Board of Health Chairman, in the release. “Her legacy will continue to shape public health in Macon County for years to come.”
Macon County cancels Burningtown-Iotla
Fire Department contract
BY KYLE P ERROTTI N EWS E DITOR
After over a year of discussion, Macon County has canceled is contract with the Burningtown-Iotla Fire Department and has begun working toward changing the Cowee Fire Department’s contract to provide permanent coverage to the areas BIFR used to have jurisdiction over.
Commissioners, it was noted that the following Friday, Commissioners Barry Breeden and Danny Antoine also came out and observed firefighters execute the procedures to haul water, often required in the rural fire district as hydrants are few and far between.
The standard is that firefighters should be able to establish a flow rate of 250 gal-
The Macon County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to terminate the contract with Burningtown-Iotla Fire Department. From YouTube
The Office of the State Fire Marshal conducted an unannounced inspection on Aug. 26. While the department passed, it was with the lowest possible score.
At the Sept. 9 meeting of Macon County
lons per minute within five minutes of arriving on-scene, and they must provide continuous flow for two hours.
As the test began, there was a traffic collision call that necessi-
tated a response, so Chief Kenneth McCaskill headed out on the call as the others stayed back to complete the procedure. While Breeden said he thought the effort was honest, he also thought there was a lack of leadership once the chief was gone, and the task was completed inefficiently. He considered that the anomaly was the perfect opportunity to see how the crew could respond during an uncertain change of events.
“What we saw was a good effort. They’re good people, great women and men out there trying to do the best they can, but there was a serious lack of leadership, which I think was the perfect scenario. If the chief isn’t there, who’s in charge?” Breeden said.
Ultimately, both Breeden and Antoine stated that they felt the department was not up to standard, admitting that while they may not have expertise in fighting fires, they consulted with people who do.
The vote to terminate the contract was unanimous.
McCaskill, who spent a good deal of time during both the August and September meetings fighting for the continued existence of his department, voiced concern that if the department’s contract were terminated, there would be unresolved debt that would become the burden of the department’s nonprofit board; however, County Attorney Eric Ridenour indicated that the county could likely handle absorbing that debt, as well as repurposing its equipment.
On Sept. 11, Cowee Fire Chief Dustin Pendergrass issued a release confirming that it had entered into an agreement with the county to “ensure uninterrupted emergency coverage.”
“The 5-mile protection area from our Oak Grove Station and our Mason Branch Station will provide adequate coverage to a majority of the Burningtown and Iotla communities,” Pendergrass wrote.
However, the statement indicates that BIFR isn’t fully cooperating and hadn’t yet granted CVFR access to its facilities.
“If the BIFR Board of Directors refuse to cooperate with CVFR’s Board of Directors, several homes in the Upper Burningtown area could potentially lose their ISO Class 4 Rating. I strongly encourage them to relinquish control of both fire stations and all equipment,” Pendergrass wrote. “The Citizens of Burningtown and Iotla own these buildings and this equipment, and we are prepared to work in a professional and timely manner to ensure the safety and protection of the citizens.”
Pendergrass further noted that the current situation shouldn’t have an immediate impact on insurance rates.
“Soon we will go through a full ISO inspection where we hope to lower your rate to a Class 3 to match what we currently provide to the citizens of Cowee and Oak Grove,” Pendergrass wrote.
Pendergrass ended the release by stating that the department hopes to hold a community meeting open to residents of Burningtown, Iotla, Cowee and Oak Grove communities.
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Haywood Community College celebrates 60 years of progress, looks to many more
BY LILY LEVIN STAFF WRITER
As Haywood Community College celebrates its 60-year anniversary Thursday, Sept. 18, administrators are reflecting on more than a half-century of progress while looking ahead to the institution’s evolving legacy.
To celebrate the milestone, an event will be held from 2-5 p.m. in the Hemlock Building and is open to the community, although $60 donations are encouraged. Speeches will begin at 2:30 p.m., with remarks from HCC President Shelley White, a few college retirees, former students, a current student and current faculty and staff.
White told The Smoky Mountain News that the college was able to include voices of people involved in the official development of the college, including early board members and faculty, in the 60-year book and video.
Both will be released at the event.
“We’re excited about sharing that with the community,” White said.
Starting at 3:45 p.m., attendees can participate in walking tours of the new campus Art Trail every 15 minutes.
The Art Trail consists of six different works, including a mural depicting the college’s first key educational programs by Billy Smith, an artist from Western North Carolina. In the dahlia garden, the series features a 5-foot-tall dahlia by locally known sculptor Grace Cathey; in the Zen Garden, an 8-foot harmonic gong by Stefan Bonitz, the creator of downtown Waynesville’s banjo players statue.
within the county,” White said.
Other pieces include a wire bobcat by Josh Cote on a bench in front of the nursing building; the Waynesville Rotary Centennial Peace Pole, which celebrates the rotary’s centennial celebration and a butterfly garden bench created by Professional Craft Wood Instructor Brian Wurst and his students.
“We offer Professional Crafts ... and we do fiber, clay, jewelry and wood,” said Executive Director of Haywood Community College Foundation Hylah Birenbaum, adding that the art pieces bring “another dimension to our Professional Crafts program.”
The Art Trail isn’t only a practical measure; it makes the college more aesthetically pleasing to members of the Haywood community.
“It gives another reason for people to come to campus,” Birenbaum said, whether that be for taking classes — or simply to walk, explore, play disc golf or take prom photos.
While the six pieces are here to stay, the college is looking to acquire more for the art trail in the years to come.
“We’re working with a new artist for next year, so hopefully we’ll have some donations, since that’s the keys to keep this going every year,” Birenbaum said.
tory, so planting more trees means creating more opportunities for academic inquiry.
It’s also about keeping the campus beautiful.
“We had some trees that we lost during Helene. And so, as a part of that replanting, they’ve identified several other areas that needed some additional tree growth,” said White.
White said the current director for campus development, who oversees the arboretum, had the idea to plant 60 trees on campus this year — and the college ran with it. Michelle Harris, director of engagement and marketing at HCC, explained that students use the grounds as a labora-
Though the college officially began in 1965, it wasn’t until the early-to-mid 1970s that students and faculty began moving into the buildings on the property.
HCC acquired the Joseph H. Nanney Regional High Technology Center in 1986, where it established machining, technical and trade programs. The curriculum is consistently updated to meet the demands of modern technology.
Haywood Community College is part of the county’s rapid response network, a group of community partners providing information and resources after mass layoffs like the 2023 closure of the Canton Paper Mill.
The college is now using state funding from the paper mill closure to renovate the RHTC and upgrade and expand skilled trade programs like electrical and welding, machining and industrial systems.
HCC will be opening the Workforce Outdoor Training Center within the next year, offering CDL truck driver and electrical line worker train-
“Those programs have not been accessible in the further west [of North Carolina], and we’re excited to bring those to this region,” White said.
“We just launched three new programs this past fall,” Harris said, “and again, being able to say, ‘What are the needs? How can we meet them?’”
White told SMN that establishing a tuitionfree guarantee program was another futurefocused move on behalf of the college. In 2019, HCC began offering free tuition to any Haywood County resident high school graduates with a qualifying high school GPA and HCC credit enrollment hours.
“They were one of the first foundations in the state to do that. Other programs have followed, and there’s been statewide programs that have come to fruition,” she said.
After enrolling in a second Haywood Community College semester, a student may apply to the Lavender Fund, which helps with non-hurricane related student emergencies such as rent, childcare and groceries.
“It’s a one-time emergency fund just to get them over that hump,” Birenbaum said, adding that the fund is available once per year on a case-by-case basis.
In general, the maximum amount given to any student is $1,000, though exceptions can be made due to rising inflation.
In fact, investment in the visual aesthetic of campus was present as early as HCC’s founding in 1965.
“One of the original board members, their vision was that this location be one of the most beautifully landscaped areas within Haywood County,” White said.
This vision culminated in the 1977 establishment of the campus arboretum.
“And 60 years later, we’re still committed to [a beautifully landscaped area],” she said.
CELEBRATING PROGRESS, MOVING AHEAD
It all started when industrialist A. L. Freedlander donated a portion of land for Haywood Community College “in a location where it could grow and be a significant presence
“Two years ago, [the ask for Lavender funds] was about $16,000 and last year it was close to 50,000 ... I don’t know if there’s more exposure ... or more need. A blend of both? Probably,” Birenbaum said.
“Our goal is to raise a million dollars [for the Lavender Fund] to help with that,” she added.
As for Helene-related emergency needs, the college has a separate fund entirely.
When the storm hit, “although we were closed to our students for two weeks, we were able to be a resource for the community,” White recounted.
HCC qualified for FEMA assistance based on minor damage it had sustained from Helene: a few fallen trees and a large storm drain in need of repair.
The part of campus that hadn’t lost internet and power temporarily hosted community agencies and an engineering business assisting with storm recovery. The college offered its showers, laundry rooms, water and food to any employee or student.
“A lot of our students are non-traditional, so they’re 25age plus, and they might not have a lot of family support,” Birenbaum said.
The Art Trail features a wire bobcat created by Josh Cote. Lily Levin photo
HCC President Shelley White. File photo
A love letter to friends across the aisle
Dear friend,
We are living in tumultuous times, and I’m writing to say I am sorry. I know I’ve done and said things that hurt you, that made you furrow your brow in confusion, wondering if you ever knew me at all. I know you’ve rolled your eyes at something politically-slanted I’ve posted on social media. To be honest, your words and posts have conjured the same reactions for me.
What happened to us? What happened to us coming together for the betterment of ourselves, our families and the world around us?
You are family. And that is more important than political affiliations.
You are my sports-mom friend. Our kids are teammates. We’re forever bound in that special way that comes from watching our children compete together.
You were the teacher of my children. The one who taught them to read, who held them if a friend hurt their feelings or when there was turmoil at home.
You were my childhood playmate. We challenged each other on the monkey bars and giggled over boys. I still know the number to your old landline.
You were a college roommate, someone I looked up to for being driven and bold in her dreams. You inspired me. You were my co-teacher. We created lesson plans together, worried about our students and relied on one another to get through the day.
Democrats need to stand proud
To the Editor:
Vice President J.D. Vance recently made a remark about protesters in Washington, D.C., calling them stupid white hippies who are in their nineties and need to go home and take a nap. In addition, he said they have never felt danger in their entire lives. Imagine dismissing a whole generation of people who lived through the civil rights era and the resultant violence, the Vietnam War and the protests, as well as the Kent State massacre, all of which occurred more than a decade before he was born. How can he know what danger we encountered in those years?
In 1968 I registered as a Democrat, an obvious choice. I identified with the people fighting for civil rights, for voting rights, for women’s rights, for justice for all. There was no doubt in my mind then or now. In my early years I often voted for independents, being a product of the 1960s, but in time I learned that throwing my vote to a candidate that cannot win is not an effective use of my voice. Like it or not, we are a two-party system.
Democrats have let Republicans define them for too long now. We have been called socialists, communists, traitors, pedophiles. When Newt Gingrich became Speaker of the House, Democrats became “the enemy” for the first time. And when Barack Obama was elected president, Democrats were defined as un-American, satanists, un-Christian. Obama
We all grew up differently. We continue to evolve differently, and that’s OK. How mundane the world would be if we were all the same.
My parents were public school teachers. They weren’t staunch Democrats or Republicans. My mom was a working mother. Both my parents had multiple jobs to make ends meet. They each dealt with trauma as kids and that trickled into their parenting. We didn’t have guns in our house. My mother passed away from cancer, drowning in medical bills.
I am a mother. I went through a divorce. I’m now part of a blended family. I am an independent, openminded woman who loves the arts.
I believe that skin color is like a mask that comes with side effects. Which mask were you lucky or unlucky enough to get?
My faith is strong, but it’s not linear. It wasn’t handed to me. I fought for it. It’s a blend of spiritual practices and philosophies. I believe that God is the highest power, that the holy spirit dances with our souls and that Jesus was not only the most influential person in history but continues to be the great mediator and a model for how we should treat one another.
Am I trying to explain my core ideologies in a few para-
LETTERS
was called a Muslim, which should make no difference in a democratic country, but it did. Now as the current administration runs roughshod over our rights, Democrats seem unable to pull together a united message. Increasing numbers of Democrats are switching to unaffiliated status. Somehow that has become an honorable thing to do when now, more than ever, we people need to come together in opposition to what is happening in our country. That opposition is, and will be, protesting the policies of the administration, communicating with our representatives in Congress, and yes, voting for Democrats. Why is it hard to say, “I am a proud Democrat?” Democrats are responsible for equal voting rights, for social security, for Medicare and Medicaid, all social programs attempting to create a balance among rich and poor, old and young, Black and White, men and women, and individuals of sexual and religious differences. In enacting these laws, among many, there have been no qualifications related to political or religious allegiance.
As I think about my party, the Democratic Party, I hope people are paying attention. Democrats are under attack by the current administration. Voicing concerns about crime rates, a Republican president is sending armed military into predominantly Democratic cities. The president is also threatening to send troops to other Democratic cities. Republican governors are sending National Guard troops to these same cities in
graphs? Not necessarily, but I’m offering insight as to why I am the way I am. You have your own history and reasons why you are the way you are.
Our beliefs and opinions aren’t our identities, nor espousing them is why we’re here on earth. We are here to shine our light, to extend grace, be of service to others and come together in the name of humanity.
Exhausted from the back-and-forth and the online algorithms meant to keep us fighting, aimed to leave us in a lowfrequency, agitated state?
Let’s choose differently.
Let’s go on a walk. Let’s get off the internet. Let’s share recipes. Let’s have coffee together. Let’s talk about our kids. Let’s trade books. Let’s enjoy the great outdoors. Let’s truly listen to each other. Let’s remember where we started, why we’re friends, what really matters.
The great spiritual teacher, Wayne Dyer, said, “If a thought or behavior divides us, it is not of God; if it unites us, it is of God.” In other words, we are better together.
I loved you before, I love you now, and I will love you after the political landscape stabilizes. I see you and I know you see me. Why are we letting biases suffocate our hearts? They are reactions. Ego-driven statements. Fear-based soundbites. But love?
There is nothing greater than love.
Friend, please forgive me. I forgive you. Always, Susanna
support of the president’s agenda. Republican cities, and states, with higher crime rates are
not on the radar. Every American should be worried by this attack on Democrats.
This is not the America we aspire to. We have lived together in communities, gone to church together, sent our children to school together without being concerned about our voting preferences. We did not worship our president or hate anyone who spoke against him.
I hope you consider coming back to the Democratic Party if you were a member. If you have been independent, I hope you will join us. If you are a Republican who opposes the actions of the current administration, come over to the other side. You don’t have to stay forever.
It is time to quit asking what Democrats
can do for us and think about how we can help Democrats overcome the takeover of our country by a singular autocrat wannabe. The kind of division we are seeing cannot prevail in a democracy, and we are in danger of losing the peace we have worked hard for. A president who is creating chaos, pitting Republicans against Democrats, rural people against urban dwellers in his own country doesn’t deserve to be president. Neither do the Republicans under his sway. If Republicans have their way, Democrats will never be able to enact legislation again. It will be up to Democrats to vote them out. Be one with them.
Margaret Pickett Highlands
SMN provides a community service
To the Editor: I have been a weekly reader of The Smoky Mountain News since its inception in 1999. I am proud of (Publisher/Editor) Scott McLeod. He welcomes dialogue. He presents opinions that most Americans can accept (most of the time).
Susanna Shetley
Preventive health measures important
To the Editor:
Thank you for including the article by SMN News Editor Kyle Perrotti, "COVID mounts late summer surge amid onset of flu season" in the Aug. 27 edition of The Smoky Mountain News. The article was-well written, factual, informative and encouraging. Dr. Mark Jaben, M.D., Haywood County Medical Director, provided vital, scientificbased information that desperately needs to be shared with the readers of your paper, and beyond.
With the rapidly approaching fall and winter weather, it is important for the health and well-being of all of us that everyone take basic preventive health precautions to minimize the spread of infections such as COVID, Flu, RSV, pertussis (whooping cough), and a wide variety of "garden" viruses. It is important that we get vaccinated for flu, RSV (especially if you are in a high-risk group). We need to monitor closely the availability of COVID vaccines and get vaccinated as soon as they become "safely" accessible — hopefully soon. It is important to be careful entering crowded indoor spaces, to wash hands frequently, to wear good masks — preferably N-95 — if/when you may come into contact with others who may be suffering from respiratory illnesses, and to isolate yourself if you get viral respiratory symptoms.
SMN is a wonderful publication, a wonderful community service. Disclosure — he is my son-in-law.
William Sullivan Raleigh
Don’t spend tax dollars in Buncombe
To the Editor:
The Haywood County Board of Commissioners has been transferring $75,000 annually, since 2018, to BuncombeAsheville Chamber of Commerce for a “Joint Economic Development” initiative to attract businesses and jobs to Haywood County.
After requesting documented proof of the initiative's outcome from our board’s chairman, and a Freedom of Information Act request to the county manager, no documented evidence has been provided showing that our $650,000 investment to date has led to a single new business or job in Haywood County.
The Mountaineer published an article about this joint agreement which states, “The team approach between the chambers has worked well, landing $2.3 billion in investments and 17,000 jobs for the region, meeting documents stated. While none of the investment was directly in Haywood County, in two and a half years, the county has had 27 site visits and been a finalist in three projects.”
So, despite Haywood County's hundreds
We, the under-signees of this letter, serve as members of the Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency Board. We strongly support the efforts of Dr. Mark Jaben, M.D., Haywood County Medical Director; Dr. Sarah Banks, PhD, Haywood County Public Health Services Division Director; and the entire staff of the Public Health Services Division of our agency. We trust the leadership they provide to the residents of Haywood County. They are realistic in their approaches to providing disease prevention and control, maternal health and child health programs, health education and re-sources, emergency preparedness and reasonable access for the underserved populations of our county and beyond. The Public Health Division is a trusted neighbor/partner, educator, safety net and advocate for all.
Again, the Perrotti article was wonderful. Thank you for publishing it. While the focus was on Haywood County, we believe that everyone in our region and beyond needs to be the audience who reads it.
Members of the Haywood County Health and Human Services Board
Ella Churchill, Seth Hipkins, Mary Coker (DVM), Larry A. Reeves, Ann E. Geers, Ph.D, Phil Creger, Pharmaceutical Doctor, MHA, Stephen Wall, MD, Barbara Timmington
of thousands of dollars to BuncombeAsheville, only Asheville has benefited from the program. Haywood County has seen no new businesses, revenue, or jobs from the $2.3 billion and 17,000 jobs Asheville has attracted.
The article suggests that regardless of our contribution, Buncombe-Asheville’s Chamber of Commerce would have continued implementing its economic development plan to attract businesses to its area and draw Haywood County workers to fill jobs created by those businesses. The difference? Haywood County would not be financially contributing to a program that benefits only Asheville.
Remember, a city’s chamber of commerce prioritizes growing businesses and jobs within its own area. Any company expressing interest in relocating, the Buncombe-Asheville Chamber of Commerce will naturally persuade them to settle in their city, not in Haywood County. Ms. Hyatt’s report shows this has been the actual outcome of this program.
Our county commissioners' failure to invest our taxes in our county’s economic development wastes our resources and forces our residents to travel to Asheville for jobs or relocate out of Haywood County.
In my view, our board of commissioners is not being transparent about these expenditures or behind-the-scenes deals that are not in the best interest of our taxpayers.
L.E. Cossette Waynesville
Ingles Nutrition N
Notes
written by Ingles Dietitian Leah M
WHY FRESH VEGETTAABLES WAYSNECESSARAREN’TALLWWAAY RY Y McGrath
ARENT AL
YS NECESSAR
esh vegetables, especially when they’r
I love buying fr re e in seaso t mean that fr look/smell great. But this doesn’ roozen and canned don’t deserve a place in your fridge, pantry or in your recipes.
Look for sales on frozen and canned vegetables and stock up, ones that can easily be added to soups, stews and casseroles.
Here are some ideas.
Frroozen:
• Mixed vegetables — add to soups and stews, stir fryy, , casseroles.
n, and they d vegetables especially on . oles.
• Edamame — with shell - use these as a high protein snack; without the shell - add to stir fry
• Beans — make beans dishes faster with pre-cooked and frozen beans like lima and butter beans. Frozen green beans are good for making casseroles.
Canned:
• T Toomato — use for sauces and soups
• Beans — chickpeas (garbanzo) can be used to make your own hummus, roasted and seasoned as a snack, and added to salads; black beans can be combined with rice and topped with salsa and grated cheese for an easy and economical meal Y Yoou can also mix black beans with leftover shredded
Leah McGrath, RDN, LDN
Ingles Market Corporate Dietitian
Leah McGrath - Dietitian
Solitude is gratitude
Happily disappearing to Snowbird Mountain Lodge
absorbing the beauty of quiet. It conjured a recent post on social media I came across from a friend, which stated: “We didn’t know how quiet the world used to be — until the noise never stopped.”
Honestly? I felt like a kid again here, just like I used to at summer camp in Vermont or spending time at my grandparents’ cabin on Lake Champlain in the shadow of the Adirondack Mountains. Those slumbers remain tucked away for safekeeping in my memory. And I thought that kind of sincere melting into the bedsheets after a long, bountiful day would remain elusive nowadays — the sounds of cicadas and a lone owl lulling you to sleep. But there I was at Snowbird.
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD
ARTS & E
NTERTAINMENT E DITOR
There’s a certain feeling you get when you cross over the Graham County line. For most “outsiders,” whether it be nearby East Tennessee or origin points from any incoming direction, it’s a sense of genuine curiosity and wonder, where you don’t know what to expect around the next curve. And that’s half the fun, you dig?
The same can be said for folks who even live in greater Western North Carolina. If you call Swain, Macon, Jackson or Haywood counties home, Graham can seem like the edge of the earth if you keep driving far enough west. And yet, that’s the true beauty to what lies in these parts — pure solitude.
It’s the remote nature found in this far-off corner of WNC that holds such a specific hold on one’s heart and soul, either consciously or subconsciously. The awe-inspiring tranquility and happenstance camaraderie found here is rare and hard to grasp, especially in a 21st century world of digital technology, white noise and nonstop distraction. And I will always seek it out.
To be blunt, it can be an adjustment (a much-needed shift) to sit with yourself and just be “you” when face-to-face with such ancient beauty in these mountains, this spiritual realm where time doesn’t really exist. But you do, and so does the moment that’s unfolding in real time while you’re here, and present for whatever adventure may appear. So, why not engage and see where the day takes you, eh?
For someone like me, who has wandered (and driven) seemingly every corner of Southern Appalachia, when I was approached to do a story about the Snowbird Mountain Lodge (just outside of Robbinsville), I didn’t know what to expect. What folks will I cross paths with? What will I stumble across in the process? Where to from this starting point?
Cruising along N.C. 143, the last of the summer sunshine pierced through the tree canopy hovering over the s-curve mountain road. Pulling up to the Snowbird, I was imme-
diately greeted with stunning panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Wandering over to the side porch of the picturesque lodge (built in 1941), I marveled at the seemingly endless mountains, the ridges undulating like waves on the open ocean.
or trout (coupled with a fine Oregon pinot noir or California chardonnay) at dinner in
smell of wormy chestnut in the perfectly aged décor of the lodge or wandering down to nearby Lake Santeetlah to canoe or go for a swim.
“There are no televisions here,” the front
And then there’s the “pick your own adventure” book that is Graham County. By late morning, it’s hiking underneath the massive tulip poplar trees hiding mightily in the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. Or the slight chill of an impending fall overtaking Huckleberry Bald, where I trotted up the old logging road and disappeared into the woods, finally alone and at peace with whatever it is ricocheting in my restless mind.
It’s meandering along the snug two-lane
the lodge justifies your intent as an adult who enjoys the finer things in life, it’s the sounds of crickets outside your window in the midnight hour that reminds you just what it means to never lose the childlike wonder of exploration and discovery, especially in the presence of Mother Nature.
Which is why places like the Snowbird remain sacred, and should be cradled as so by the general public and the curious alike.
Simply put, you can’t recreate what this place is just overnight. It takes decades of humanity inhabiting it, all atop countless you-had-to-bethere moments made in sheer joy that form such a unique, cherished property. It’s the
ber as I did in Room No. 17. No construction noises like I hear every morning near my apartment along Russ Avenue in downtown Waynesville. No garbage trucks. No mail trucks. No incessant noise of a whirlwind modern society constantly in motion.
That tranquility at Snowbird is shockingly refreshing. But more so, it made me realize just how much I actually missed normalcy of sleep, and of self. That, and the notion of just standing still and listening to nothing, merely
fireplace in the cozy bar or adjacent dining room. Following the four-course meal, I ended the evening at the Summer House, the screened-in open air lounge with a gas fireplace. The flames illuminate the space. I cracked open one of my all-time favorite books, a dog-eared copy of Jack Kerouac’s seminal 1958 novel, “The Dharma Bums.”
Reading the pages in my own time, and at S EE
PAGE 25
The Snowbird Mountain Lodge is located in Graham County. Keen Eye Marketing photos
This must be the place
A leftover quote from a recent interview. Garret K. Woodward photo
sweaty trot amid Mother Nature never ends — it only gets more and more vital and important with age.
I think of the homeless man and the man in the wheelchair. I think of being in the presence of Hollywood A-list celebrities and Grammy winners yesterday at a big-name bluegrass festival right over the mountains from Waynesville. And now? I’m happily in the presence of good, hardworking blue-collar folk come mornin’. They work hard. They have hopes and fears. They love and they hurt. And they stand tall. All of which I find genuine solidarity with, for I am also strolling that same path towards true appreciation for everything life has to offer.
‘Little red wagon, little red bike, I ain’t no monkey, but I know what I like’
ing. Back to work by this time tomorrow. Spend your free time cleaning your clothes. And I’m in the same boat, too. But, I like to multitask and do some writing, soon parking myself at the seating counter in front of the big window overlooking the large grocery store parking lot (and store itself). I ran out of laundry detergent and had to walk over to the store, amid grabbing a couple of other items. The clouds hang low over the ancient Blue Ridge Mountains cradling all of us in this moment. The crisp air signals an early fall is acomin’. Summer is quickly fading into the rearview mirror. Although there are traces of it still left in my rusty, musty pickup truck. Dust from dirt roads traversed in July in South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and Colorado. A bear spray container (thankfully unused) that kept me company on all those trail runs in the Rocky Mountains.
I walk across the parking lot to the grocery store and notice a homeless man standing next to the trash can at the front entrance. Somebody hands him a dollar and he immediately walks inside. As I’m grabbing my items, I can overhear the man. He’s slightly confused trying to stick the dollar into the self-checkout. “Sir, you need a debit/credit card to use this line,” the store employee politely tells him. He stares at her blankly, then meanders over to the regular line and goes on his way. Wandering down the aisles, I grabbed the prized sriracha I’ve been wanting. Give me all that spicy and garlic taste for bacon and eggs in the morning, leftover pizza whenever. I also pick up some kinetic tape for my ankles for running, of which I’ve been able to properly mitigate pain in my heels. I then make a quick stop at the in-store Starbucks for a breakfast
just cruising along. There are several bags from other stores nearby hanging off the back of the chair. He’s well on his way to finishing his shopping list for the day.
I stop at my old pickup truck and pop down the tailgate, soon enjoying my breakfast sandwich (with sriracha) and vanilla cappuccino. I think to myself, “This ole truck ain’t so bad, nor is the tiny apartment I’ve called home for many years.” I chew on the sandwich and ponder, and with gusto for the former and the latter of the unfolding moment.
The rent for my humble abode is very agreeable, especially in a red hot regional real estate market. Lord knows if I could afford to live here much longer if I didn’t have my spot. I’m a journalist, not a millionaire. Sure, the tub faucet leaks and the water heater is on the fritz, but at least I can take a hot shower whenever I need to.
The truck itself can get me to and from anywhere I need to be, bringing me all across this great big country of ours, adventures awaiting around every corner. Rocketing down the highways and interstates of America, always in search of people, places and things that catch my eye — “all things beautiful and true,” as I say. That ethos is steadfast and intact.
And there’s enough funds in my quaint bank account to buy as many breakfast sandwiches and vanilla cappuccinos as I damn well please. I gaze down at my other purchases and see the kinetic tape. I thank my lucky stars to be able to continue to be physically fit enough to climb mountains and run along backcountry roads to my heart’s desire. I’d go absolutely crazy if I couldn’t disappear into the woods in a joyous jog, the eternal quest for a gloriously
And then there was that meaningful conversation I had last night with two longtime dear friends over a nightcap at The Scotsman Public House before we parted ways and headed back to our respective homes. We talked about the past year, what we’ve seen, heard, felt and also been through. Again, solidarity. Again, true appreciation. Hearty laughter throughout. Big bear hugs upon our departure.
I love any and all people and situations I may find myself in. It’s one of the key pillars of why I continue down this road of life as a writer and journalist. I think of time and place, and also perspective. It’s not lost on me, never has been. I thank my parents for that. They instilled in me a deep, honest curiosity for fellow man and whatever you encounter.
And I’ve also been on a big Bob Dylan “Blood on the Tracks” kick lately, with “Buckets of Rain” really getting the repeat button pushed by yours truly: “Life is sad/Life is a bust/All ya can do is do what you must/You do what you must do and ya do it well.”
The gratitude remains, as it always should in the here and now of existence. For don’tcha know it’s all a dream we dream?
Life is beautiful, grasp for it, y’all.
HOT PICKS
1
Wells Events & Reception Center (Waynesville) will host Darren Nicholson (Americana/bluegrass) at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18.
2
The annual Highlands Porchfest music festival from 1-6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21, in Highlands.
3
Famed regional act Whitewater Bluegrass Co. will perform at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center in Franklin.
4
A special stage production of “A Little Night Music” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 19-20, 25-27 and 2 p.m. Sept. 21 and 28 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.
5
The 15th annual “Youth Arts Festival” will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Jackson County Green Energy Park in Dillsboro.
my own pace — the unfolding scene of a waning moon over the darkened mountain silhouettes seen in the distance — the words I came across perfectly summed up my experience here, and thereafter: “The closer you get to real matter, rock air fire and wood, boy, the more spiritual the world is.”
Want to go?
A legendary spot for rest and relaxation, the Snowbird Mountain Lodge is located just outside of Robbinsville.
An all-inclusive mountain retreat, guests are served a full breakfast and a four-course dinner onsite, with a picnicstyle lunch also provided.
Beyond numerous amenities around the property (Fireside Bar, tennis court, yoga, etc.), Snowbird offers complimentary guest access to Lake Santeetlah, with canoes, kayaks and paddleboards available for use.
To note, dinner service is open to the public via reservation. There’s also an array of specialized events, including the “American Classics Wine Dinner” (Oct. 4), “Thanksgiving Dinner” (Nov. 27) and “Bourbon Dinner” (Dec. 6).
For more information and/or to make a reservation, visit snowbirdlodge.com or call 828.479.3433.
On the wall
• “Didanisisgi Gadagwatli: A Showcase of Pottery from the Mud Dauber Community Workshop,” is now on display at the Museum of the Cherokee People in Cherokee. On view through May 2026, the exhibition features works by students of Tara McCoy (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians). For more information, visit motcp.org.
• WNC Paint Events will host painting sessions throughout the region on select dates. For more information and/or to sign up, visit wncpaint.events.
‘Youth Arts Festival’
The 15th annual “Youth Arts Festival” will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Jackson County Green Energy Park in Dillsboro.
Children’s activities, live artisan demonstrations and much more. Food will be available for purchase. Only satellite parking will be available on WBI Drive with a free shuttle available.
The event is free and open to the public. For information, call 828.631.0271 or visit jcgep.org.
Artisan demonstrations will be held in Dillsboro Sept. 20. File photo
‘Layers’ opens at HCAC
The latest exhibition from the Haywood County Arts Council, “Layers” is now on display through Monday, Oct. 27, at the HCAC in downtown Waynesville.
Art is all about layers — of ink in a relief print, layers of batting and fabric in a quilt and background layering in an oil painting. This exhibit is all about celebrating the different layers of mediums that artists use to create their masterpieces.
Free and open to the public. For more information, visit haywoodarts.org.
• 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. 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.
• 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 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.
• 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.
Abstract art, surrealism showcase
With the exhibit dubbed “Faces of the Unseen,” artwork by Ralph Verano will be on display through the month of September at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.
Verano’s character-driven art represents his love of abstract art and surrealism with a desire to create something unique and original. His work has evolved over time because of his willingness to experiment with different techniques, ideas and styles.
Verano has always felt that discovery is the most important element in his work, and the need to challenge himself is what maintains his interest in the thing that has been his passion since he was a child.
The exhibit is free and open to the public. For more information, visit rverano.blogspot.com.
A work by Dori Settles. File photo
On the beat
Bluegrass legend to play Wells Center
Acclaimed Americana/bluegrass artist Darren Nicholson will hit the stage for an intimate performance at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, at the Wells Events & Reception Center in Waynesville.
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.
To note, the first set will be audience requests, with the second set an open community jam. Advance online tickets are $30 per person, with day-of-show and at-the-door admission $35.
For more information and/or to purchase tickets, call 828.476.5070 or visit simpletix.com/e/an-evening-with-darrennicholson-tickets-223011.
Reggae, soul returns to Lazy Hiker
The Natti Love Joys will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, at Lazy Hiker Brewing in Sylva
A roots-rock-reggae band that has been playing live since 2003, the group consists of husband and wife duo Anthony “Jatti” Allen and Sonia “Marla” Allen (formerly Sonia Abel).
Jatti was previously the bassist for the reggae group The Congos, while Marla originates from the cult all female reggae group Love Joys, where she recorded two albums under the legendary Wackies label run by Lloyd Barnes (Bullwackie).
The show is free and open to the public. For more information, visit lazyhikerbrewing.com.
Community jam
A community jam will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, on the front patio of the Marianna Black Library in Bryson City. Anyone with a guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, dulcimer or anything unplugged is invited to join. Singers are also welcomed to join in or you can just stop by and listen. The jam is facilitated by Larry Barnett of the Sawmill Creek Porch Band.
The community jams offer a chance for musicians of all ages and levels of ability to share music they have learned over the years or learn old-time mountain songs. The music jams are offered to the public each first and third Thursday of the month — spring, summer, fall.
This program received support from the North Carolina Arts Council, an agency funded by the State of North Carolina and the National Endowment of the Arts.
For more information, call 828.488.3030.
A renowned group of Malawian traditional musicians, the Peter Mawanga Trio will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville. Mawanga is an acclaimed Malawian artist and cultural ambassador known for Nyanja Afro-Vibes, which is a powerful blend of traditional instruments and contemporary sounds. Admission is “pay what you can,” with a suggested ticket donation of $25. The Spotted Banana food truck will also be onsite.
For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit folkmoot.org or call 828.452.2997.
• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host Doug & Lisa (acoustic) 5 p.m. Sept. 20. All shows begin at 5 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.246.9320 / facebook.com/brbeerhub.
• Cataloochee Ranch (Maggie Valley) will host Brian Ashley Jones & Melanie Jones (Americana) Sept. 17 and Kelly Morris (Americana/indie) Sept. 24. All shows begin at 5 p.m. unless otherwise noted. For tickets and reservations, visit cataloocheeranch.com/ranch-events.
Folkmoot welcomes Mawanga ALSO:
Monk (singer-songwriter) 3 p.m. Sept. 28. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.454.5664 / froglevelbrewing.com.
• Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host Bob Zullo (guitar/vocals) 7:15 p.m. Sept. 19 ($10 cover). The kitchen and wine bar open at 4 p.m. 828.452.6000 or classicwineseller.com.
• Farm At Old Edwards (Highlands) will host the “Orchard Sessions” with Erick Baker (singer-songwriter) Oct. 8. 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/orchard-sessions.
• Friday Night Live Concert Series (Highlands) will host Curtis Blackwell & Dixie Bluegrass Boys Sept. 19 and Nitrograss (Americana/bluegrass) Sept. 26. 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. Tuesdays, Marley’s Chain Sept. 19, Andrew Scotchie (rock/blues) Sept. 20, Paul Edelman (singersongwriter) 3 p.m. Sept. 21, The Young Ones Sept. 25, Wes Ganey (singer-songwriter) Sept. 26, 81 Drifters Sept. 27 and Adi the
• Happ’s Place (Glenville) will host Rock Holler Sept. 19, Doug Ramsey (singersongwriter) Sept. 20, Corey Stevenson (singer-songwriter) Sept. 24, Charles Walker (singer-songwriter) Sept. 26 and Dillon & Company Duo Sept. 27. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.742.5700 / happsplace.com.
• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee) will host Flatland Cavalry (Americana) Sept. 19. For tickets, visit caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.
• Highlander Mountain House (Highlands) will host “Blues & Brews” with Scott Low 6-9 p.m. Thursdays ($5 cover), Zorki (singer-songwriter) 13 p.m. Saturdays, “Bluegrass Brunch” 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sundays (free) and the “Salon Series” with Kendall Marvel (singer-songwriter) 8:30 p.m. Sept. 25 ($41.84 per person, tax included). 828.526.2590 / highlandermountainhouse.com.
• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Bryan & Al (rock) Sept. 19 and Blue Jazz (blues/soul) Sept. 20. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 / lazyhikerbrewing.com.
• Meadowlark Motel (Maggie Valley) will host a “Bluegrass Jam” 5-7 p.m. Sundays, Amos Jackson (R&B/soul) Sept. 18 and Adrianne Blanks & The Oracles (Americana) Sept. 20. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
and genres performing across 14 venues in the heart of downtown Highlands, this has become a much-anticipated event each year. Highlands Porchfest is free to attend. This is made possible by the generous contributions of sponsors and volunteers.
For more information about Highlands Porchfest and a full schedule of artists/venues, visit highlandsporchfest.com.
Free and open to the public. 828.926.1717 / meadowlarkmotel.com.
• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host “Open Mic Night” with Frank Lee every Thursday, Shane Meade (indie/folk) Sept. 19, Bird In Hand (Americana/folk) Sept. 20, Frank Lee (Americana/old-time) 5 p.m. Sept. 21, Somebody’s Child (Americana) Sept. 26, Ron Neill (singer-songwriter) Sept. 27 and Mountain Gypsy (Americana) 5 p.m. Sept. 28. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 / mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.
• Nantahala Outdoor Center (Nantahala Gorge) will The Log Noggins (rock) 2 p.m. Sept. 27 and Whitewater Bluegrass Company (Americana/bluegrass) 5 p.m. Sept. 27. Free and open to the public. 828.785.5082 / noc.com.
• Pickin’ On The Square (Franklin) will host Carolina 441 (southern rock) Sept. 27. All shows begin at 6 p.m. at the Gazebo in downtown. Free and open to the public. franklinnc.com/pickinon-the-square.html.
• Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Pub (Franklin) will host “Karaoke” 7 p.m. Wednesdays, “Trivia Night” 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, “Open Mic” 6:30 p.m. Fridays, Joe Munoz (singer-songwriter) Sept. 19, Ernest Collins (singer-songwriter) Sept. 20, R.A. Nightingale (singer-songwriter) 6:30 p.m Sept. 23 and Jamie Rasso (singer-songwriter) Sept. 27. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.369.6796 / facebook.com/rathskellercoffeebarandpub.
Ezra & Katie. File photo
Peter Mawanga will play Waynesville Sept. 18. Donated photo
On the beat
Bird in Hand returns to Mountain Layers
Jackson County Americana/folk duo Bird in Hand will perform at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at Mountain Layers Brewing Company in Bryson City.
The road less traveled has always been the way for husband-and-wife duo Bird in Hand. Bryan & Megan Thurman call the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina home and the region is directly reflected in their music. Bird in Hand is upbeat and new while still rooted in the traditions of American folk.
The two have played all over the Appalachian region, as well as across the country, and share an onstage chemistry that demands attention. They need to be seen live to understand the meaning of “Appalachian Thunder Folk.”
The show is free and open to the public. For more information, go to mountainlayersbrewingcompany.co
Americana, bluegrass in Franklin
Famed regional act Whitewater Bluegrass Co. will perform at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center in Franklin.
For over 40 years, the Whitewater Bluegrass Co. has captivated audiences throughout the southeast with their blend of bluegrass music, country ballads, mountain swing, rockabilly and down-home humor. With the WBC, mountain culture is a celebration of music, song and dance.
Tickets are $15 adults, $7.50 children ages 16 and under. For more information and/or purchase tickets, call 828.369.4080 or visit coweeschool.org/music.
• Santé Wine Bar (Sylva) will host semi-regular live music on Sundays. All shows begin at 5 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.631.3075 / facebook.com/thewinebarandcellar.
• Saturdays On Pine Concert Series (Highlands) will host Brandon Crocker Trio Sept. 20 and Shedhouse Trio & Darren Nicholson (Americana) Sept. 27. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. highlandschamber.org.
• Sauced (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.246.9585 / saucedwnc.com.
• Scotsman (Waynesville) will host Ryan Furstenburg (Americana) Sept. 18, Bridget Gossett Trio (blues/rock) Sept. 19, Trippin’ Up The Stairs (Celtic) 2 p.m. Sept. 21, Moonshine State (alt-country) Sept. 25, Celtic Road (Celtic/world) 4 p.m. Sept. 27, Timothy Nave Trio (country/folk) Sept. 27 and Brian Dooley & Joseph Marino (Celtic/world) 2 p.m. Sept. 28. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.6292 / scotsmanpublic.com.
• Slanted Window Tasting Station (Franklin) will host Madison Owenby (singer-songwriter) 6 p.m. Sept. 19, Diana Nouveau (singer-songwriter) 4 p.m. Sept. 21 and Seth & Sara (Americana) 6 p.m. Sept. 26. 828.276.9463 / slantedwindow.com.
• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host Departure (Journey tribute/classic rock) 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27. 866.273.4615 / smokymountainarts.com.
• Trailborn (Highlands) will host its “Carolina Concert Series” with Melissa McKinney (Americana/soul) Sept. 18 and Remedy 58 (blues/soul) Sept. 25. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.482.1581 or trailborn.com/highlands.
• Valley Cigar & Wine Co. (Waynesville) will host Bridget Gossett Trio (blues/rock) 2 p.m. Sept. 21, Amos Jackson (R&B/soul) 6 p.m. Sept. 26 and Alma Russ (Americana/folk) 2 p.m. Sept. 28. Free and open to the public. 828.944.0686 / valleycigarandwineco.com.
• Valley Tavern (Maggie Valley) will host “Karaoke with Jason” Tuesdays, “Tom’s Trivia Night” 6 p.m. Wednesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows and events begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.926.7440 / valley-tavern.com.
• Vineyard At High Holly (Scaly Mountain) will host Breeze Cable (singer-songwriter) 3 p.m. Sept. 19, Jordan Denton (singer-songwriter) Sept. 21, R.A. Nightingale (singer-songwriter) 3 p.m. Sept. 26 and Blue Jazz (blues/jazz) Sept. 28. All shows begin at 2 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.482.5573 / thevineyardathighholly.com.
• Western Carolina Brew & Wine (Highlands) will host live music 4-6 p.m. Saturdays, “Music Bingo” 6-8 p.m. Saturdays, Christian Jones (singer-songwriter) 5 p.m. Sept. 19 and Breeze Cable (singer-songwriter) 5 p.m. Sept. 27. Free and open to the public. 828.342.6707 / wcbrewandwine.com.
• Find more at smokymountainnews.com/arts
WBC will play Franklin Sept. 20. File photo
On the street
WCU’s ‘Mountain Heritage Day’
On the table
• Balsam Mountain Inn (Balsam) will host “Wind Down Wine Flight” 6 p.m. Thursdays. 828.283.0145 / thebalsammountaininn.com.
MHD will be in Cullowhee next week. File photo
A beloved long-time Western North Carolina tradition, the annual “Mountain Heritage Day” celebration will be held Sept. 22-27 on the campus of Western Carolina University in Cullowhee.
The festival of Southern Appalachian traditions and culture is renowned as a showcase of bluegrass, old-time and traditional music, as well as family activities, food vendors, artisan demonstrations and the region’s finest arts and crafts booths.
The event is free and open to the public. For more information, updates and a full schedule of events, go to mountainheritageday.com.
• 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 semi-regular tap-takeovers 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
On the stage
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.
HART presents ‘A Little Night Music’
‘A Little Night Music’ will be at HART on select dates. File photo
A special stage production of “A Little Night Music” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 19-20, 25-27 and 2 p.m. Sept. 21 and 28 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.
Set in Sweden at the turn of the century, Stephen Sondheim’s “A Little Night Music” follows a tangled web of romantic entanglements over one magical summer evening, brought to life at HART with a live orchestra.
Tickets start at $19 with seating upgrades and discounts for seniors/students available. For more information, call the box office at 828.456.6322 or visit harttheatre.org.
• Western Carolina University (Cullowhee) will host a stage production of “Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, at the Bardo Arts Center Performance Hall. For tickets, visit arts.wcu.edu/hamlet.
• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. For tickets, click on caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.
• Highlands Performing Arts Center (Highlands) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. mountaintheatre.com / 828.526.9047.
• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. smokymountainarts.com / 866.273.4615.
ALSO:
• Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. 828.369.4080 / coweeschool.org/music.
• Peacock Performing Arts Center (Hayesville) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. thepeacocknc.org / 828.389.ARTS.
Author says China is playing the long game
(Editor’s note: This is the second part of Anne Bevilacqua’s review of “The Long Game: China’s Grand Strategy to Displace American Order.” The first part can be found at smokymountainnews.com.)
Until 2014, no U.S. adversary, including Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, had managed to achieve even 60% of American GDP. In that year, China became the first, and did so “quietly,” says Rush Doshi, political scientist and author of “The Long Game: China’s Grand Strategy to Displace American Order.” It is clear that Washington’s relationship to this emerging superpower is of criti-cal importance.
Does China have a grand strategy to equal or even replace the U.S. as world leader? Doshi argues yes, and his book offers an unprecedented amount of evidence from Chinese sources, many obtained with difficulty, especially after the increased restrictions applied under the leadership of current Chinese President Xi Jinping. There is debate in Washington about China’s ambitions, between the “believers,” who believe with Doshi that China wants to be at least equal, if not dominant, and “skeptics,” who think that China has no such desires.
Doshi speculates about a world under CCP principles: “Chinese order would likely be more coercive than the present order, consensual in ways that primarily benefit connected elites even at the expense of voting publics, and considered legitimate mostly to those few who it directly rewards.”
Surveillance and censorship techniques are already among China’s foremost technological advances. Outside of the workings of the government, “Party cells can be found in almost all institutions — as wide-ranging as law firms, private companies and non-profit organizations.” The Party can both direct and monitor, and it works to spread its principles and sell its surveillance innovations to other countries.
The stakes are critical, as “The Long Game” points out. Any kind of dominance by China, whether regional or global, would certainly be less liberal than dominance by a democracy. The word “liberal,” in this context, means adherence to the rule of law and to freedom of speech. In today’s China, government is the one-party rule of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), structured firmly under Leninist principles of maintaining power at the top. The Party dictates what the law is, and speech is tightly controlled. It is the antithesis of democracy, and a world order based on such principles would look different from the order that we now know. Criticism of China, today, is not criticism of the Chinese people.
At the same time, it is sometimes hard for Westerners to take the Party seriously. Its structure seems old-fashioned and its pronouncements sound “wooden.” And yet, Doshi emphasizes, it is remarkably powerful and can act with remarkable efficiency. Most rising powers do not have a grand strategy. “The Long Game” describes that term as a specific goal with strategy carefully planned to achieve that goal. The strategy consists of a coordination of economic, political, and military plans. That level of coordination is “rare.” Nazi Germany had a grand strategy and the U.S. had one during the Cold War, but most great powers do not have one. Doshi’s central point is that the CCP has one.
If the center of the CCP vision for the future is a “community of shared future for mankind,” a phrase used by “countless” officials, and based on a Leninist power structure, numerous China observers have concluded that 2049 is a target date. That year marks the 100-year anniversary of the founding of the Party. For those who believe that the CCP aims to equal or surpass the U.S. in global influence, there is debate over how to respond.
Some say accommodate China’s increasing power, and work for cooperation, but Doshi says there is no guarantee that the CCP would honor commitments, and plenty of recent history suggesting it would not. Some say try to change China towards a more freedom-supporting direction, through engagement or by supporting reformists. But since the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre, the Party has acted increasingly defensive. It has put in place a strong form of “patriotic education,” has become increas-
‘Where Dark Things Rise’ reading
ingly intolerant of dissent, and has increased censorship and surveillance. And, “it is highly unlikely reformers exist at the highest levels.”
Ignoring China would be foolish, if not impossible. It is a big country and “on track to surpass the United States in economic size.” If we retreated from the world stage, the CCP would gladly fill the void and push its repressive ways. Democracy is a threat to its position of power. The CCP would actively work to undermine democratic structures, including ours, and would continue to try to interfere with existing alliances.
Doshi argues persuasively that neither efforts to placate China nor efforts to change China would be successful, and concludes that “the most logical remaining alternative is a strategy of competition.” This should involve both a weakening of China’s attempts to achieve dominance and a renewed effort to build up the “foundation of U.S. order,” which in itself is based on democratic principles.
Intelligent competition, he says, would be what is called “asymmetric.” In other words, we can’t compete “dollar-for-dollar, ship-for-ship, or loan-for-loan.” China’s economic size precludes that. We must be strategic. “The United States has to be as good as or better than its opponent in the effectiveness with which resources are used,” said Andrew Marshall, State Department official, in 1973. That observation holds today and “The Long Game” gives many suggestions for action. Among them, careful planning, supporting local journalism around the world to help expose Chinese corruption, helping countries adopt regulations on Chinese investments and advertising, countering Chinese influence in the U.N., joining Chinese multi-country organizations, and increasing Chinese-language capability in our institutions.
Doshi does not believe that America is in decline. He describes several periods in our history when that was a popular opinion, and points out that we have “enviable advantages: a young population, financial dominance, abundant resources, peaceful borders, strong alliances and an innovative economy.” We worry about inequality and polarization, but he says that these issues are also global issues.
There is a wealth of common sense and patient explanation here, all built upon extensive scholar-ship and evidence, all offering an important understanding of our world today.
(Anne Bevilacqua is a book lover who lives in Haywood County. abev1@yahoo.com.)
Writer Andrew K. Clark will share his new novel, “Where Dark Things Rise,” in conversation with Emily Naser-Hall at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.
The novel follows 16-year-old Mina, who navigates poverty, family struggles and prejudice in the Southern Appalachians — while hiding a dark secret: she can command supernatural beings known as the “Shadow Faces.” Free and open to the public. For more information, call 828.586.9499 or visit citylightsnc.com.
grants, including the one for the Arboretum project, were awarded to faculty at WCU.
Titled “A Case Study — Planning for the Reforestation of Damaged Areas at the North Carolina Arboretum Due to Hurricane Helene,” the project documents the development of an initial reforestation and site restoration plan for the public garden, research center and conservation site nestled within Pisgah National Forest, just south of Asheville.
Operated through a public-private partnership affiliated with the UNC System, the Arboretum serves as a hub for environmental education, scientific research and ecological stewardship in the Southern Appalachian mountains.
Situated near the junction of the Blue Ridge Parkway and N.C. Highway 191, the Arboretum is recognized for its diverse botanical collections, native plant landscapes and extensive trail system that supports public recreation and educational programming. It is located in one of the most ecologically diverse temperate forests in the world.
High winds and devastating floods spawned by heavy rains from Hurricane Helene swept through the mountains of WNC on Sept. 27, 2024, producing catastrophic damage, claiming numerous lives and leaving many people homeless.
In the 434-acre Arboretum, the storm toppled more than 5,000 trees, causing prolonged trail closures and ecological disruption — along with a loss of visitors and a negative impact on the regional tourism economy.
Helene’s damage affected trails, roads, gardens and exhibit areas, resulting in a monthlong closure for cleanup and recovery of high traffic areas. Although access to the gardens and main facilities was restored, many trails and natural areas remain closed because of debris and safety concerns.
As the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene’s arrival in Western North Carolina approaches, two faculty members in Western Carolina University’s College of Business served as project managers for an in-depth study of storm damage to the North Carolina Arboretum in an effort to develop a plan for its recovery.
In addition to assessing damage, removing hazardous trees, controlling erosion and planning reforestation efforts within the boundaries of the Arboretum, the project is also designed to provide a roadmap for storm recovery and ecological restoration efforts at public green spaces across the Southeastern United States.
The effort was managed by Ed Wright, professor emeritus of management and former director of WCU’s Corporation for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, with assistance from Hollye Moss, WCU professor of management.
Relying on the expertise of forestry experts to develop the recovery plan, Wright and Moss worked alongside Drake Fowler, executive director of the Arboretum, in partnership with the North Carolina Forest Service.
Fowler said that the involvement of faculty members with backgrounds in project management proved extremely useful to efforts to develop a more strategic recovery plan for the Arboretum.
“When we engaged the academic community at a time we were thinking about the dayto-day and the tactical, it allowed us to step back and think more long term about how our recovery might inform others who are asking the same questions we are,” he said. “It gave us the head space we needed to engage our staff and our experts to think about our endgame in reforestation and some of the opportunities we might find from looking forward beyond the initial recovery.”
The project revealed some possible new directions for the Arboretum in addition to basic recovery, including setting aside some of the affected areas for study of the blightstricken American chestnut and converting some areas into a grassland or bald, similar to Max Patch.
“The academic focus really helped us approach the problems that we encountered and document the process so that municipalities, after they get through dealing with the
human needs, could come to the Arboretum and we could show them how we approached things,” Fowler said. “Western really provided the framework and discipline for us.”
Fowler also commended EcoForesters, a nonprofit dedicated to conserving and restoring Appalachian forests through education and stewardship, for its role in mapping damaged areas of the property. Andy Tait, the organization’s senior forestry director, led that effort.
The recovery study was made possible by a planning grant from the North Carolina Collaboratory, a statewide entity established by the General Assembly to utilize and disseminate the research expertise across the University of North Carolina System on environmental, natural resources, public health, education, technology and infrastructure issues.
In response to the hurricane, the NC Collaboratory issued 21 “rapid grants” of $10,000 to academic institutions across the state to fund projects spanning a wide range of disciplines including forest recovery, flood modeling, infrastructure assessment and emergency communication. Ten of those
As preliminary efforts to address the damage in the Arboretum were underway, the North Carolina Collaboratory on Oct. 10, 2024, notified institutions of the UNC System that grants were available for faculty to help with recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene.
That’s where Wright and Moss entered the picture with their proposal to manage the creation of a plan to reforest and repair the heavily damaged areas of the Arboretum.
“We developed a multi-phase planning process using aerial drone footage, normalized difference vegetation index (or NDVI) satellite imagery and ecozone analysis,” Wright said. “The study identified eight priority zones, each evaluated for site conditions, ecological significance and restoration goals. Our decision-making frameworks integrated biodiversity, fire risk, erosion control, aesthetics and educational potential. The plan also emphasizes the selection of native species, community involvement and sustainable landscape design.”
The project began in January 2025 with a review of videos created by interns who flew drones over the property to assess the damage, with special attention F
Recovery study project manager Ed Wright from Western Carolina University (background) and Mac Franklin, director of horticulture at the North Carolina Arboretum, examine trees felled by the storm. Donated photo
Bear appetites at seasonal high
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission advises that black bears’ eating behavior changes in the late summer through fall. They significantly increase their food consumption to prepare for the colder months when natural food is less available. It’s called hyperphagia and it means “extreme appetite.” Which means they are on the search.
With this level of food consumption, which can last through early winter, bears can put on 3 pounds per day and gain anywhere from 20% to close to 100% of their summer weight!
Bears are opportunistic eaters. During hyperphagia, black bears travel extensively, sometimes beyond their home ranges, to search for food for up to 20 hours per day. This results in more chances for humans and bears to come in close proximity with each other. NCWRC experiences an increase in reports of bears in public and residential areas, in the woods and on roadways during this period. The agency suggests some ways to avoid bear encounters to help keep both humans and bears safer.
Bears are typically most active at dawn and dusk. Steps to avoid a vehicle collision with a bear or any wildlife include:
• If driving with a passenger, put them on wildlife watch.
• Always drive at a reasonable speed and follow the speed limit.
Grant brings Cashiers Greenway Ramble closer to completion
The extended Cashiers Greenway Ramble is one step closer to completion thanks to a $212,000 grant from Jackson County.
The grant contributes to the $4 million in funding needed to complete the Ramble’s five-mile network of pathways, sidewalks, boardwalks and public spaces.
What began in the early 2000s as the Cashiers Walking Trail, a mulch-lined loop created by local innkeeper Bob Dews and fellow
paid to areas with heavy blowdowns, erosion or debris. Some of the facility’s property remained accessible by trails, offering a first-hand look, while satellite maps from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provided comparisons of the Arboretum property before and after Hurricane Helene.
Following several subsequent meetings and additional tours of the property with a variety of experts, the study partners agreed on a goal of developing a comprehensive forest restoration plan that considered various factors — such as aesthetics, wildlife habitat, soil erosion, fire risk, biodiversity and others — that could serve as a model for the region while simultaneously creating a plan specific to the Arboretum, said Moss.
• At night, consider driving below the speed limit to give yourself more stopping time and scan the sides of the road for eyeshine at night.
• Pay extra attention in areas where bushes and trees are close to the road.
• Most insurance companies advise that if you see an animal
business owners, has evolved into a long-term vision for connectivity and community. Today, the initiative is guided by a master plan developed by Equinox Environmental and informed by the 2018 Cashiers Small Area Plan and the 2022 Urban Land Institute Advisory Report.
The expanded Ramble reflects the features of a “smart village,” including WiFi, lighting, and 911 access, as well as pocket parks, educational features, public art and informational kiosks.
A one-mile loop opened in July 2024, with another major section accessible through The Village Green, home to the popular StoryWalk.
and historically significant trees in any replanting,” she said. “The plan emphasizes the importance of ecological responsibility, stakeholder engagement and educational opportunities to teach the public about forest restoration and management.”
With the initial study funded by the Collaboratory completed, implementing the resulting plan for the Arboretum will require several years and additional financial support from the state, community and grants, Moss and Wright said.
“The plan emphasizes the importance of ecological responsibility, stakeholder engagement and educational opportunities to teach the public about forest restoration and management.”
Hollye Moss, WCU professor of management
“Components of the plan for the Arboretum include clearing the grounds and paths of obstructions with 60-foot clearance of both sides of trails, removing debris that affects the safety and appearance of the Arboretum, and consideration of diverse species such as shortleaf pine
Looking at the bigger picture, the study also led to the development of an innovative project worksheet that could be used for ecological restoration efforts at public green spaces across the Southeast. The worksheet identifies 26 factors across six categories to be evaluated to determine each site’s suitability for species selection and meeting desired long-term reforestation goals, a design that could be a tool for any reforestation effort in the Appalachian region, the researchers said.
in the road, honk your horn repeatedly, flash your high beams and try to avoid it if you can do so safely. Do not swerve into another lane or slam on your brakes unless you know you can do so safely.
Bearwise.org is a comprehensive resource that offers proven methods to avoid attracting bears.
Six At-Home BearWise Basics for coexisting with black bears provide important steps to keeping bears from looking for food at or near homes and public places.
NCWRC suggests residents secure their property now to avoid bears denning there. Bearwise.org offers instructions to prevent denning in crawlspaces, or under porches and decks. Bears have been known to den and give birth under bushes and brush piles, or piles of building materials, vacant buildings, garages, storage sheds or vacation homes that are vacant over the winter.
Contact the N.C. Wildlife Helpline at 866.318.2401 Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or your local district wildlife biologist for questions or to report information about a bear incident. For more information on black bears, visit bearwise.org.
Future sections will continue to expand the network, connecting neighborhoods, businesses and cultural destinations across Cashiers.
The Cashiers Greenway Ramble is designed to make Cashiers safer, healthier and more connected — increasing opportunities for local businesses while enriching cultural and educational experiences in ways that honor the community’s unique character.
Local artists, builders, donors, property owners and volunteers are already contributing time and resources to make this vision a reality. To volunteer, donate, or view the trail map, visit walkcashiers.visioncashiers.com.
Bear activity is high right now. Donated photo
The Joyful Botanist
BY ADAM B IGELOW
On the mend
Ihave been thinking a lot about healing lately. How it happens, how long it can take and the differences between healing emotional wounds and physical wounds, not to mention psychic and spiritual wounds. And to no one’s surprise, I’ve been thinking about plants: how they heal themselves, how they help heal the land, and how they help us in our own healing of body and spirit.
In Western North Carolina and east Tennessee, the impacts and memories of Hurricane Helene’s devastation are still fresh and present as we approach the one-year anniversary of the storm. We are still healing from a major wound that for many in the region encompasses all forms of injury, physical and emotional, psychic and spiritual.
The land is still healing, and its scars and recovery efforts will be seen for generations to come. From the flooded creeks and rivers, to the landslides and washouts, to the many upon many trees that came down in the winds and rain, healing has already begun.
Plants heal in many ways. They heal their own injuries through a process that is very different from how animals, like humans, heal. Trees use a process called compartmentalization that allows them to seal off a wound or infection and grow around the damage to keep it from spreading. You’ve seen this in the burls that form on trees that are highly valued to wood turners and furniture makers. Maybe our own scars have value unseen?
efforts have been halted. In response, they will grow new flowers that we can enjoy all summer long.
Plants also offer themselves to aid in our own healing. There is healing that comes from eating healthy vegetables. Dried herbs taken as teas or made into medicine are incredibly helpful and effective in healing most garden-variety ailments and injuries. And time spent in nature, surrounded by plants, has direct benefits to our emotional and mental well-being. This is documented in many ways and expressed beautifully in the work of E.O. Wilson and his biophilia hypothesis, which states that humans have an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life.
Herbaceous plants like wildflowers also utilize compartmentalization when recovering from injury. If they can successfully seal off the wound, plants can reroute the pathways (xylem and phloem) used for transportation of water, nutrients, sugars and carbohydrates. If the damage to a stem or branch is too great, the plant can seal off and often self-prune the damaged parts.
They then regrow and continue their mission of growth and reproduction. You can see this in simple gardening acts like deadheading, where spent flowers are removed before they go to seed. This sends a signal to the plant that their reproductive
Plants heal the land through many different and interrelated processes, especially after disturbances. Plants will quickly cover exposed ground, helping to retain soil and moisture, necessary for life and regrowth. Plants native to a bioregion also heal the land by being in relationship with all the other shared organisms in a space through coevolved relationships with everything from soil microorganisms to associated insects, and by helping to feed animals great and small.
No matter what it is you are healing from, or where you are on your own personal or collective healing journeys, plants are there for you. Tell your troubles to the trees and sing songs to the wildflowers. Sometimes they’re the only ones that seem to be listening. They will hear you, and if you pay close attention, you may also hear them speaking to you.
(The Joyful Botanist leads weekly wildflower walks most Fridays and offers consultations and private group tours through Bigelow’s Botanical Excursions. bigelownc@gmail.com.)
Monarch butterfly and asters on the Blue Ridge Parkway during fall migration. Adam Bigelow photo
DEQ announces $10 million home repair readiness program in WNC
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality State Energy Office announced a $10 million Home Repair Weatherization Readiness Program to supplement North Carolina’s existing Weatherization Assistance Program. The new funding covers counties damaged by Hurricane Helene and identified as “Most Impacted and Distressed”
deferral lists. Households are placed on the deferral list if a house needs major repairs or other work that is not eligible for WAP funding. This program seeks to also address households on the WAP’s waitlists.
“This new weatherization readiness funding is an important piece of the comprehensive effort to accelerate long-term recovery and strengthen energy resilience in communities hit hard by Helene,” said Reid Wilson, DEQ Secretary. “These projects will drive down home utility bills and ensure safer, healthier and more energy-efficient homes for families who need it most.”
Weatherization can reduce energy usage at the household level by making energy-efficient upgrades such as installing insulation,
SEO is awarding $6 million in readiness funding to the Western Piedmont Council of Governments and $4 million to the following current WAP service providers: Blue Ridge Community Action, Blue Ridge Opportunity Commission, Community Action Opportunities, Four Square Community Action, ICARE Inc., Macon County Government, Mountain Projects Inc., WAMY Community Action, Yadkin Valley Economic Development District. The program’s goal is to serve more than 575 households.
Puzzles can be found on page 38
As part of North Carolina’s Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 – Part II (SL 2024-53), these funds provide flexibility to resolve home repair issues for affected homes on the WAP
replacing inefficient HVAC systems and sealing air leaks. By making households energy efficient, DEQ is helping to lower carbon emissions while reducing overall strain on the electric grid, making the grid and homes more resilient to extreme weather.
For more information about the DEQ State Energy Office, visit deq.nc.gov/state-energyoffice.
For more information on the DEQ Weatherization Assistance Program, visit deq.nc.gov/energy-climate/state-energyoffice/weatherization-assistance-program. For more information on the Western Piedmont Council of Governments, visit wpcog.org
USDA to provide $1 billion to flood and wildfire-impacted livestock producers
Eligible livestock producers will receive disaster recovery assistance through the Emergency Livestock Relief Program for 2023 and 2024 Flood and Wildfire to help offset increased supplemental feed costs due to a qualifying flood or qualifying wildfire in calendar years 2023 and 2024. The program is expected to provide approximately $1 billion in recovery benefits. Sign-up is currently underway. Livestock producers have until Oct. 31, 2025, to apply for assistance.
To streamline program delivery, the USDA Farm Service Agency has determined eligible counties with qualifying floods and qualifying wildfires in 2023 and 2024. For losses in these counties, livestock producers are not required to submit supporting documentation for floods or wildfires. A list of approved counties is available at fsa.usda.gov/elrp.
Eligible producers can receive up to 60% of one month of calculated feed costs for a qualifying wildfire or three months for a qualifying flood using the same monthly feed cost calculation that is used for LFP.
Contact your local FSA county office for more information.
Hyatt named executive director of regional land trust
Mainspring Conservation Trust has named Sylva resident Jeremy Hyatt as its new Executive Director.
Hyatt, a Tribal citizen of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, brings more than 15 years of leadership experience in government, natural resources and cultural preservation. He previously served as Secretary of Operations for the
EBCI, overseeing 17 programs, 400 employees and an $80 million budget. His work included developing key infrastructure and recreation projects such as the Fire Mountain Trails. Most recently, he held a development role with the Museum of the Cherokee People.
“These places are where I grew up — the rivers and streams I played in as a child, the trails I rode, and the woods I camped in,” Hyatt said. “I consider myself of this place, so it’s incredible to work with an organization that affirms our shared responsibility for stewarding our environment, cultural heritages, and communities.”
Mountain Life Festival comes to Cherokee
Experience the rich traditions of Appalachian Mountain life at the annual Mountain Life Festival, happening Sept. 20 at the Mountain Farm Museum, located just behind the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in Cherokee.
Running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., this free, family-friendly event offers a unique opportunity to explore the cultural heritage of the Southern Appalachian region through interactive demonstrations, live music and hands-on activities. The festival celebrates the legacy of the many families who once lived on the lands that later became Great Smoky Mountains National Park, preserving the diverse customs and skills passed down through generations.
Visitors can engage with living historians and cultural demonstrators to learn what daily life was like in the mountains. Highlights include traditional sorghum milling, hearth cooking, apple butter making, apple cider pressing, broom making, hominy preparation and demonstrations of Cherokee culture. Seasonal activities will also showcase the crafts and customs that defined autumn in the region’s past.
No reservations are required, but visitors are reminded that a parking tag is required for all vehicles parking for longer than 15 minutes. Parking tags can be obtained in advance online or at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center.
Visitors can engage with living historians and cultural demonstrators to learn what daily life was like in the mountains. Donated photo
Founded in 1997, Mainspring has conserved thousands of acres of land and working farms, along with miles of streams and riverbanks in the Southern Blue Ridge. With offices in Franklin and Andrews, the nonprofit partners with landowners, agencies, and communities to protect the region’s natural and cultural heritage.
To learn more about the nonprofit, visit mainspringconserves.org.
Hyatt, a Tribal citizen of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, brings more than 15 years of leadership experience in government, natural resources and cultural preservation. Donated photo
Market PLACE WNC
MarketPlace information:
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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE DISTRICT COURT DIVISION
COUNTY OF HAYWOOD
FILE NO. 24 CV 001815430
BROOKE M FISH, PLAINTIFF V. JEFF L FISH, JR. DEFENDANT
NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION
TO: JEFF L. FISH, JR. Last Known Address: 16 Jackson Drive Waynesville, NC 28786
Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been action. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: The Plaintiff is seeking an Absolute Divorce from the Defendant.
You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than October 27, 2025 , being forty (40) days after the date this notice, and upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the court for the relief sought.
This 15 th day of September, 2025.
DONALD N. PATTEN
Attorney for Plaintiff 46 South Main Street
Waynesville , NC 28786
By:______ Donald N Patten
DONALD N. PATTEN
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
Case No.25E000283-490
Randall Dean Penrod,
Executor of the Estate of Orville Ray Penrod of Jackson County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons hav ing claims against the Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before Dec 03 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment.
Executor c/o Coward, Hicks & Siler 705 W Main Street Sylva, NC 28779
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
Case No.25E000508-430
Mary Bryson, having
of the Estate of Dorothy Yarborough Lucas of Haywood County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons hav ing claims against the Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before Dec 17 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment.
Executor 1316 Jones Cove Rd Clyde, NC 28721
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
Case No.25E000479-430
Peggy S. Bolden, having
istrator of the Estate of Randy Lee Bolden of Haywood County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons hav ing claims against the Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before Dec 10 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment.
Administrator c/o Ann Hines Davis 95 Depot Street Waynesville, NC 28786
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1 It's on either side of a weather front
8 Like some paincausing toenails
15 Award for "Nomadland"
20 Decay of a plant's stalk
21 Suave, glib sort
22 1/24 of a day, in French
23 Astronauts' advisory group?
25 Blows gently
26 NHL great Bobby
27 Dot in la mer
28 Candied nut given to a kid to quell a tantrum?
30 Advice for Fonda when she has a grievance?
35 Finds a new purpose for
36 Saudi export
37 Adele's vocal range
38 Without remuneration
41 Big cheese
44 RBI, e.g.
45 "Lily White" novelist Susan
46 Colo.-to-Ga. direction
49 Present, as the whole group
51 Small car manufactured in Poland's capital?
54 Optimal nutrient amt.
55 In -- of (replacing)
57 Suffix with hero or opal
58 Common brown rodent
59 Give praise to sellers of stolen goods?
63 Regarding 64 Like the horse favored to win
65 Units of gold purity
70 Zest or Dial
73 Fighting between Dracula and Lestat?
80 Puts into operation 85 Partner of neither
Land of Lima and llamas 87 "So that's it!" 88 Halt hubbub? 91 Is scornful of 93 Pork product
Ocean trip 95 Oolong and Darjeeling
97 List details
Isn't truthful with
Orch. section for timpani, triangles, etc. 100 Jet to JFK, once 101 Tater Tots maker 104 Give solace to actor Mike?
109 Win the contest? 113 -- Grande
Meadow 115 From Havana, e.g.
Noting the
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