Smoky Mountain News | February 19, 2020

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February 19-25, 2020 Vol. 21 Iss. 38

Haywood commissioners face primary opponents Page 3 Cherokee, Sylva pass food truck ordinances Page 9

CONTENTS

STAFF

On the Cover: The story of how former slaves in Haywood County had their rightful land taken away from them was unintentionally uncovered by a University of Pittsburgh professor doing research into his wife’s family heritage. The property is located in the Pigeon community and has since been parceled out.

(Page 6) An unsigned painting that hangs in the Pigeon Center depicts a Civil War-era scene of plantation life. Cory Vaillancourt photo

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News Haywood commissioners face Primary Election opponents ..................................3 Virginia casino bills move forward ..................................................................................8 Cherokee, Sylva pass food truck ordinances ............................................................9 Morris announces internet speed, access increases ............................................10 Big moves for Nantahala Brewing ..............................................................................11 Work begins on Haywood County budget ..............................................................12 Charter renewed for Shining Rock Classical Academy ......................................13 Macon starts preliminary budget talks ......................................................................14 Council approves purchase of Franklin properties ................................................16 Pancake Day fundraiser free to community ..............................................................17 Health News ......................................................................................................................19

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A&E A conversation with Jay Blakesberg ..........................................................................24

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Haywood commissioners face Primary Election opponents T

Jennifer Best

Terry Ramey

JENNIFER BEST • Age: 52 • Residence: Clyde area • Occupation: Insurance agent • Political experience: First campaign KEVIN ENSLEY (I) • Age: 58 • Residence: Waynesville area • Occupation: Land surveyor • Political experience: Four-term Haywood County commissioner TERRY RAMEY • Age: 65 • Residence: Clyde area • Occupation: Retired from Dayco, small business owner • Political experience: Several unsuccessful commissioner campaigns BRANDON ROGERS (I) • Age: 48 • Residence: Canton area • Occupation: Small business owner • Political experience: First-term Haywood commissioner laws. So I think it would have been OK to say we strongly support the Second Amendment.”

Given that some of the top issues in this year’s race weren’t even really issues at all four years ago, Best said it’s hard to forecast what the board might have to deal with if she’s elected to a four-year term.

“It’s been very interesting to me how quickly the topics change,” she said. “For us locally, depending on what happens at a national level if our president changes or if our elected officials at the state level change, we could come back to discussions about Second Amendment again. If not, then I really believe that we could be having conversations that involve growth and prosperity.”

Like Best, Terry Ramey said he’s frustrated with what he calls the current board’s lack of conservatism.

“Based on just what I’ve heard and what I’ve seen, I think people are a little bit disappointed in some of the stuff that they’ve voted on that people wasn’t aware of, and some of the way they’ve spent some money, stuff that they thought the Republicans might be more conservative about,” said Ramey, who’s run unsuccessfully for commissioner a few times now. In 2016, he ran on the Democratic ticket.

Chief among those concerns is the Second Amendment sanctuary resolution Haywood County didn’t pass. Ramey thinks the “Constitution protecting” resolution the county did pass didn’t go nearly far enough.

“No, I do not. I think when they took that oath to get that job, I think that’s all they did in that resolution that they passed is reaffirmed that oath, and to me that makes it sound like — the reason I wouldn’t have

Smoky Mountain News

of proactive and I like to approach things a little differently,” Best said. “We have to know that one decision will instigate another decision to come.”

A prime example of that is the redevelopment of the old hospital into affordable housing for veterans and the elderly, which will displace Haywood County Schools’ central administration; they have to be out this year, and there’s still no word on where they’re headed.

“Haywood County has grown greater than Madison County and Henderson County as sisters to Buncombe County. We’ve seen more growth than those other two counties have, and with that growth comes a lot of change,” she said. “If we’re not ‘hands on the plow’ about what our future is gonna look like and we’re not driving in the direction we want to go, then I don’t know if the outcome will be what we’re all hoping for.”

While we’re all hoping for an end to the opioid crisis, Best says there’s still more that can be done on a county level. A member of the “Just say no” generation, she believes more education is one of those things, but she also thinks that it’s going to take better coordination among law enforcement, the judicial system and county agencies.

One step commissioners have taken may have been a misstep, according to Best.

“I’m not particularly comfortable with a needle exchange program,” she said. “For the majority of people either they don’t understand that it’s there, [and] when they hear about it, it’s very frightening to them. When they understand all of the things that that program offers someone with an addiction issue, I don’t know that it’s proven itself to be effective. I think their numbers are not convincing.”

Instead, Best points to a Philadelphia program that offers patients who have overdosed immediate entry into a treatment facility and would like to see something similar implemented here.

Homelessness is a similar problem in that there’s no one easy fix; Best’s not eager to rush off proposing solutions before understanding more about the problem.

“I would like to know who our homeless population is,” she said. “Is it a mental health issue? Is it an employment issue? Is it a substance abuse issue? To give you a broad answer to say, ‘We don’t have affordable housing’ or ‘We don’t have good mental health solutions,’ I think that’s too broad of a statement. I personally would need to know why we have homeless, who they are, and then I think we can start to approach that with a little different take on how we handle it.”

Board Chairman Kevin Ensley was recently appointed to the Town of Waynesville’s Homelessness Task Force as a representative of county government. In the event he’s not in office in November, Best said she’d be happy to serve there.

A strong Second Amendment supporter, Best said she was “bothered” by how Haywood County handled citizen calls for a Second Amendment sanctuary resolution.

On Jan. 7 hundreds packed the courthouse demanding one, and on Jan. 22, the board passed a “Constitution protecting” resolution that some view as too little, some view as too much and some view as totally unnecessary.

“Any county resolution would not hold weight or stand firm against state and federal laws. It would be just a resolution, but the flip side of that is I think it’s very important to be very direct about what we’re interested in and what our beliefs are and where we stand on that,” she said. “So yes, I believe it could have been stronger. A resolution that says we support the Constitution is just a resolution. Like I said, it doesn’t hold against state or federal

(I) denotes incumbent

February 19-25, 2020

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER wo years ago, voters in Haywood County made some decisions at the polls that were at odds with not only the contemporary political climate in Western North Carolina, but also with almost two centuries of tradition.

Across the nation Democrats made big gains, largely in response to disapproval of President Donald Trump’s first two years.

Across the state, it was the same thing — Democrats broke the Republican supermajority in the General Assembly and returned a Democrat to one of Haywood’s two House seats.

The Haywood County Board of Commissioners, however, saw the opposite happen.

The election of Republicans Tommy Long and Mark Pless placed the board in GOP control for probably the first time in history. Longtime Commissioner Kevin Ensley was elevated to chairman, and firstterm Commissioner Brandon Rogers to vicechairman.

Ensley and Rogers are up for re-election this year, but they won’t be getting a free pass to the Nov. 3 General Election. Two other Republicans, Jennifer Best and Terry Ramey, are looking to knock out one or both of them in the March 3 Primary Election because they think the board isn’t quite conservative enough, despite the 4-to-1 Republican majority.

“Republicans and the true conservatives in the community feel like they’re not getting what they voted for,” said Jennifer Best, an insurance agent who’s hoping to be one of two Republicans who will face two Democrats in November. “I feel like there are concerns about where we’re headed.”

Best’s concerns include spending and transparency, in addition to the problems that most communities across the United States share — homelessness, drugs, housing and education, to name just a few.

Many of those concerns ultimately circle back to money, and the county’s willingness or ability to spend it in furtherance of addressing those problems. Haywood County’s probably never been in a stronger position financially, and has spent years rebuilding a healthy fund balance on one of the lowest tax rates in the state.

“We do have some debt. It’s not terrible,” said Best. “They’ve worked to kind of get rid of some of that, but we have some more that we could be getting paid off a little quicker than not.”

But finances aren’t her main concern — Best takes issue with the way she says the board has managed the changes that are coming to the county.

“The board has become reactive instead

Haywood County commissioner

S EE HAYWOOD, PAGE 4 3

Smoky Mountain News

February 19-25, 2020

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HAYWOOD, CONTINUED FROM 3 voted for that — it makes me think they weren’t serious about their oath to start with if they have to reaffirm it,” he said. “If you look at it, it has no teeth. Any resolution that they put out there, wouldn’t have no teeth, but it would send a strong message that we we’re not going to spend our money to defend an unconstitutional law.”

Ramey also thinks the county needs to send a strong message that prison is no way to deal with the opioid epidemic.

“We need to get with different officials at the state level, and judges, and try to get some more rehabs. I know by law right now that the judges can’t make them go to rehab,” he said. “They can give them prison time, but they can’t make them go to rehab. I think what we need to get some kind of law passed to where they can give them mandatory rehabilitation. I think prison isn’t going to help them, other than give them time to sit around and figure out how not to get caught next time.”

Funding such an effort is something Ramey said he’d support, but the county’s other key social issue — homelessness — doesn’t seem to come with such a simple solution; other states, Ramey said, seem to be having some success and he’d like to know more about that they’re doing.

Eliminating the problem would enhance the quality of life not only for the homeless themselves, but also for the county’s commercial enterprises that often bear the brunt of the impact.

“We’d be saving business people money by them not getting broke into,” he said.

“Mostly these are drug addicts wanting to do that but the homeless, they’re going to eat.”

Other major issues mentioned by Ramey are the county’s shuttered Francis Farm landfill, which costs money to maintain and monitor. To a larger extent, that relates to what the county does with the land that it owns.

A frequent target of criticism has been a large plot of land located just off Jonathan Creek Road purchased back before the Great Recession. Intended as a sporting complex, most agree that ship has sailed, so the county has been shopping the parcel to developers with little luck, even after spending thousands of dollars on a botched dirt-spreading project intended to maximize the amount of usable land on the site.

ennifer Best and Terry Ramey certainly have some ideas on how to make Haywood County a better place, but Commissioner Brandon Rogers should probably tell them that learning what’s possible, and what’s not, takes time.

“Starting out, there’s a learning curve,” said Rogers, who’s currently finishing up his first term. “Probably one of the big first surprises was how little control that the commissioners have of our budget.”

More than 75 percent of Haywood’s yearly budget spending is mandated by the state or federal government, leaving surprisingly little wiggle room for commissioners’ wish lists. Still, Rogers believes that his board has delivered on the hefty expectations heaped upon this Republican-controlled board.

“I feel that we’ve done a great job,” he said.

“We’ve done a good job reducing our debt, which our debt since I was elected in 2016 has dropped by about 25 percent, which equates to a little over $4 million a year, which is pretty substantial.”

The county’s fund balance — in essence, a savings account — is also incredibly robust after years of dangerously low levels that would have left the county in dire shape if some sort of disaster were to occur.

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Brandon Rogers “A lot of that has to do with our conservative approach and that’s definitely the biggest story of the last four years in my opinion, the financial position in this county,” he said. “I mean, our bond rating did increase this past year along with our savings going up and the debt coming down. I want to continue being a conservative board like we are.”

Although the county will likely take a few hits on fund balance this year — paying for state-mandated voting machines, and perhaps a new emergency communications sys-

tem for first responders — a countywide property revaluation currently underway could help increase revenues, as could some much-needed economic development.

“We are getting a whole lot more ‘bites,’ if you will, from folks that I feel like we would have never have been contacted by if we hadn’t done this,” Rogers said of the economic development partnership Haywood County entered into with the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce back in 2018.

Bites, yes — but the county has yet to “reel in” any actual jobs for the $100,000 a year or so it spends with the Asheville chamber to market Haywood’s properties. Landing just one, however, would pay for the deal in pretty short order, and then keep paying back in perpetuity through property taxes.

“In my business, I’ve hired nine folks. So you know, you get some small business that hires 15 or 20 people and then if you get a bunch of them, sometimes that’s like getting one big hit,” he said. “But we’ve been talking lately about trying to sweeten the pot a little bit more, to try to get businesses in.”

A reserve deputy with the Haywood County Sheriff ’s Office, Rogers understands the impact that opioids and homelessness have on the office and says he supports the job the office has done on both, but also says more state and federal funding is needed.

“Being a commissioner has actually given me the necessary experience and I’ve built some good relationships up the chain with Sen. [Jim] Davis and our representatives and even [Congressman Mark] Meadows,” he said. “Since being elected as a commissioner I’ve spent a whole lot more time with all those folks, on the phone and face to face, and that helps you as a commissioner to move the county forward.”

Rogers has also been active in the county’s effort to address the affordable housing crisis thorough his service on the board of local social service agency Mountain Projects.

“We’ve got some property that we’re getting ready to start some — they’re not really calling them tiny homes, but it is a tiny home — and hopefully we’re gonna make communities,” Rogers said. “As a commissioner, I want to do anything we can to support them.

If it’s financially, to do whatever we can to get them off and running.”

The Second Amendment sanctuary issue has cast a long shadow on this election, probably more for sitting commissioners than for

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A similar issue is the old hospital — most agree that its conversion to affordable housing is a good thing, however, finding a new home for the school administrators that currently use it will have to happen this year.

Building something new would be expensive and renovating an existing space will be time—consuming; Ramey thinks the county should have jumped all over the Russ Avenue Kmart that recently closed.

“Where else are we going to find a place that big with that close proximity to the bypass, with every bit of property they need to combine all of their stuff in one place?” he asked.

Unlike other commissioners, Ramey is retired and said that’s a good reason why he should be top on the list of Republican Primary voters March 3.

“I’ve got all the time in the world. People can get in contact with me anytime,” he said.

“You know and everybody knows that I’ll stand up for the people and do what’s right for the people. I believe that we can get a lot of this stuff paid down and have smaller debts so we could eventually maybe reduce taxes.”

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“When I got re-elected in 2008, the fund balance was at 9 percent, and I remember we needed a loan for the new DSS building,” he said. “I didn’t go, but the other four commissioners went to the Local Government Commission in Raleigh and they basically browbeat us about the fund balance being so low.”

Fund balance is usually expressed as a percentage of yearly revenue; that 9 percent figure would have been good for about a month’s worth of operations if the county experienced some sort of disaster — flooding, or a ransomware attack, for example — that interrupted normal revenue collection and operations.

“We basically were very conservative and we didn’t touch the fund balance, and now the fund balance has grown to 37 percent and then our debt, people always screamed about, ‘Oh we got all this debt,’ and they always throw out these numbers that aren’t correct,” Ensley said. “But our debt this year is going to be less than it was in 2004. I wish Mark Meadows and President Trump and Congress could say that their debt is less than it was when I took office.”

In short, the county’s in a much different and much better financial situation today than it was when Ensley first won a seat on the board.

“I’d love to be a new commissioner coming in today,” he said, before clarifying that position. “In fact, it would be a little bit overwhelming because you’ve got to maintain this. I’m not saying it’s as good as it can get, but it’s pretty dang good, and our tax rate is 25th lowest in the state. So 75 counties are higher.”

Keeping fund balance high and debt low is always a challenge and will be again this year with a number of items requiring attention.

The three biggest — opioids, homelessness and affordable housing — are all linked.

While Ensley thinks we may be “topping out” on the opioid crisis due to greater awareness and a number of state laws that limit prescriptions, his discussions with the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition have led

February 19-25, 2020

d s their challengers. While much of the ballot s box praise/blame could focus on the board e Chairman Kevin Ensley, Rogers was probably s the most active and engaged supporter amongst the other commissioners. n Rogers said he felt the county did the right t thing by passing the “Constitution protecth ing” resolution as opposed to an actual d “Second Amendment sanctuary” resolution. e “We wanted to cover all of our constitur tional rights because what will be next, our e freedom of speech?” he asked. “Our freedom t of religion?” e While Haywood’s resolution does include explicit recognition of the Second s Amendment — the only amendment given s such status within the document — Rogers l said he wished it had more teeth.

“Our resolution says we want to protect all of our constitutional rights, specifically y the Second Amendment,” he said. “I believe e that it is our right to bear arms that protects - all of our other rights, and against a tyranniI cal government.”

Some Second Amendment sanctuary rest olutions passed in Virginia explicitly state that those jurisdictions would not enforce e duly passed laws, something Ensley thinks - would be a violation of his oath to support r the constitution.

“Personally, I’d like to have done a lot more, but as a commissioner, you can’t ask people to violate the Constitution, because we swore an oath to uphold it,” he said. “We felt like when we drafted our resolution that we needed to stay within the bounds of not asking people to break the law.”

Ensley also referenced so-called “immigrant sanctuary cities” like Asheville, which has refused to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in basically the same way some have called for municipalities to refuse to enforce gun laws.

“If we start picking and choosing the laws we obey,” he said, “we’re probably going to end up in places we shouldn’t be.”

Instead, Ensley remains focused on the work he and other commissioners have done in bolstering the county’s financial position.

optimistic about the impending revaluation of county property slated to take effect in 2021.

Every few years, the county recalculates the value of all real estate within it; that number, multiplied by the tax rate, gives a solid estimate of what sort of revenue the county can expect in a given budget year.

The last revaluation, conducted in 2017, was disappointing. After struggling to recover from the Great Recession of 2008, hopes were high that property values had increased but instead, they were largely flat or even negative in some areas. That meant that with a constant tax rate but lower values, revenue would be lower, necessitating a tax increase or major budget cuts to maintain status quo.

As of now, commissioners are optimistic that huge gains in property valuation are coming.

“We’re hearing a 20-plus percent increase in value,” Ensley said. “Last time it was -2 percent, and the time before that it was -2 percent.”

That would put commissioners in a very good position to pay down debt or purchase much-needed equipment. It would also allow commissioners, should they choose, to lower the tax rate because in theory, a 20 percent increase in property values would mean that a 20 percent lower tax rate would generate the same amount of revenue.

“That’s just economic reality, you know, it’s not like we’re making this up,” he said “It’s based on sales and that’s where it will be, so we’ll have to lower the rate to remain revenueneutral, and that’s what I’m always committed to.”

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to thoughts of mental health treatment in the county’s detention center.

Affordable housing has been a concern of Ensley’s for some time, especially given his work as a land surveyor.

“On affordable housing we need to show contractors and developers how the smaller one- and two-bedroom apartments are profitable versus the larger ones,” he said. “I think there’s a big need for that, because the sheriff was telling me that we have people living in the homeless shelter that are employed full time.”

Homelessness, he said, can result from a combination of drug addiction and the lack of affordable housing as well as the county’s service-based economy, which often doesn’t pay enough to help workers avoid housing cost burden in excess of 30 percent of their monthly incomes.

Better-paying jobs has always been a goal of the county’s economic development efforts, and even though the county has yet to see results from the Asheville Chamber partnership, it spends less money on that partnership than it did when economic development was handled in-house.

“I do feel like we’re getting a lot of bang for our buck, if you will, so hopefully we’ll land something,” he said. “I think I calculated the other day between the Beaverdam site and the Walmart — when we bought the old Dayco site and transformed it into Walmart — I think those two sites bring in half a million dollars in revenue a year to the county, and that doesn’t include the sales tax.”

And in perhaps the rosiest statement on revenue to come out quite some time, Ensley is

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In Fitzgerald’s fields

Smoky Mountain News

February 19-25, 2020

A modern-day plot of lands near Waynesville given to former slaves roughly corresponds to an area in the Pigeon community.

Cory Vaillancourt photo illustration

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER n Fitzgerald’s fields they toiled, sun-dappled and rain-soaked, caked in mud and in blood and in sweat. They raised corn and peas and potatoes and children and they always had plenty of butter and honey and wool so long as with ceaseless toil they coaxed the stubborn mountainside into giving up its seasonal blessings.

They worked about as hard as, and had about as much as, any other poor white Reconstruction-era Waynesville farmer except for the rights expressed in that document which begins, “We the people” because they were still somehow less than that.

But these former slaves found themselves with something more than many, for the land upon which they toiled was eventually given to them by a most unconventional man, in a most unconventional manner; these weren’t Fitzgerald’s fields anymore, they were Isaac’s and Stephen’s and Dinah’s. They were Lanah’s fields and Miner’s fields and Phoebe’s fields, where the mud and the blood and the sweat mingled both before emancipation, and after.

I

bout five years ago, University of Pittsburgh Professor of Art and Architecture Kirk Savage found himself in Waynesville’s Historic Haywood Courthouse performing research on his wife’s 6

A

great-great-grandfather William Holland Thomas, who plays an important role in the saga of the Cherokee people.

It was there that he uncovered the story of a Haywood County man named Asa Fitzgerald.

“I learned about it really quite by accident,” said Savage, who was leafing through huge bound volumes in the Register of Deeds office.

“I saw a deed made out to formerly enslaved people. That sparked my curiosity because I have a longstanding interest in the history of slavery and also in the Reconstruction period and how freed slaves were able to, or were not able to, recoup their lives or create new lives for themselves, post-slavery.”

After intensive research, Savage penned an exhaustive 12,000-word story for the prestigious history journal Lapham’s Quarterly, which was published this past December.

Titled, “A personal act of reparation,” Savage’s work introduces us to Fitzgerald, a Western North Carolina native born in 1824 who became one of Haywood County’s few attorneys just after his 21st birthday.

In 1849, Fitzgerald married Julia Benners, daughter of a wealthy New Bern slaveholder.

The marriage made Fitzgerald a slaveholder.

Although already an adherent to the temperance movement by the tender age of 15, Fitzgerald wasn’t known to be especially religious until the deaths of his first two children and his younger brother in the 1850s.

“I saw a deed made out to formerly enslaved people. That sparked my curiosity because I have a longstanding interest in the history of slavery and also in the Reconstruction period and how freed slaves were able to, or were not able to, recoup their lives or create new lives for themselves, post-slavery.”

— Kirk Savage

He consoled himself in his Bible, and when he emerged from his melancholia announced that he’d been called to preach.

He also privately told his wife that he now considered it sinful to own other humans.

Such notions were not only scandalous, they were also dangerous — a risk to the established order of things, not just in

Haywood County but all across the pre-Civil War South.

After a brief period of religious study in New Hampshire in 1856, Fitzgerald returned to the mountains openly and adamantly antislavery. In 1858, he offered his slaves $100 each and passage to Liberia.

They declined; it was a land they’d never known and a culture as foreign to them as any other, but their greatest fear was that it might break up the extended family unit that was really the only thing they had of their own.

Instead, all but one of Fitzgerald’s slaves were sold to his wife’s siblings, Joseph Benners and Sarah Norwood. The last, called Isaac, was sent to another local family, the Allmans.

Relieved of the moral burden of slaveholding, Fitzgerald spent the Civil War preaching in Waynesville’s black community, neglecting his legal work even as his own financial position began to deteriorate.

After the war, a war of another sort erupted, this one not between blue and grey but between Reconstructionist Republicans and the Democrats who supported the old order by forming terrorist organizations like the Ku Klux Klan. The violence, Savage writes, perturbed Fitzgerald so that he redoubled his efforts to compensate his former slaves.

In 1870, Fitzgerald began pestering his wife to sign a deed conveying 330 acres of land to nine formerly enslaved people, all of whom were descendants of one of her father’s slaves, a deceased woman named Venus.

Eventually, his wife relented.

The conveyance was shocking enough, but the reasons behind it even more so; as Savage outlines in Lapham’s, the land wasn’t a gift, or a payment, or a bonus, or a reward for faithful service — it was repayment for labor that had been stolen from Venus, from her ancestors, and from her descendants.

“To Isaac, Miner, Juliet & Phillis, children of Venus deceased; & Stephen, Venus, Phoebe, Dinah, & Lanah, children of said Phillis, colored persons and formerly slaves,” Fitzgerald wrote in the deed, “witnesseth that for and in consideration of services performed by them and their ancestors while in slavery, part of the proceeds of which (with labor performed for us amounting to three thousand four hundred dollars) has been inherited and received by the undersigned … and believing that it is the will of God that we the parties of the first part shall restore to the parties of the second part the proceeds of their labor which has come into our hands and pay them what is right and just for the labor performed by them for us, the said John A.B. Fitzgerald & Julia his wife have bargained and sold … the following tracts or parcels of land.”

Those tracts were divvied up into eight separate parcels in two distinct groups. Most were 30 acres each, but some were nearly double or more than triple that. Although Savage could tell from the deed who owned what, it took a local man to tell him where, exactly, Fitzgerald’s fields are.

evin Ensley is probably best known as a longtime Haywood County commissioner and current chairman of the board, but he’s also a land surveyor by trade.

“Kirk Savage called me,” Ensley said.

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“I think it’s remarkable that you see what the culture was going through at that time because basically he left it to his slaves out of a commitment, and his wife and his kids after he died basically took it back through the court system.”

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— Kevin Ensley

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Read the full story

Smoky Mountain News

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February 19-25, 2020

s f Although ownership of Dix Hill cemetery has been uncertain, it may have a link to Asa Fitzgerald. Cory Vaillancourt photo f s . “They were looking for a surveyor that maybe could figure out where some old deeds were. I love doing that, because when you’re a surs veyor you’re kind of a historian, too.”

Kirk Savage’s “A personal act of reparation” was published in Lapham’s Quarterly and serves t Ensley plotted the deed and began the as the basis for this piece. Read the full story — with additional detail — online at d effort to place the parcels onto a map of modwww.laphamsquarterly.org/roundtable/personal-act-reparation. r ern day Haywood County. m “You just kinda have a hunch on where fields as masters of their own destinies, puryou’re going to go, so I started looking at GIS tions to Fitzgerald.

Savage said that at the same time suing that most American of dreams, until n maps and looking at the shapes, trying to figure out where it fit,” he said. “Well, the main Fitzgerald transferred his land to his former they were robbed of those Waynesville - tract was right off Highway 276 going out of slaves, he also sold a nearby tract to the chil- parcels in that most American of ways — dren of a Confederate veteran named William with naught but a pen. d Waynesville, on the right.” n He’s talking about Waynesville’s historic Swanger. Somehow, that land ended up in When Asa Fitzgerald passed away in m African American neighborhood, known as possession of a man named Shelton, who 1878, his wife Julia quickly filed suit to built upon it the handsome home now known reclaim Fitzgerald’s fields. The defendants f the Pigeon community. d Heading eastbound on Pigeon Street from as the Shelton House. asked that the case be removed to federal That “Swanger tract” lies just west of court, where African Americans could give - North Main Street, the road slopes down a d steep hill and then winds past a number of Fitzgerald’s fields. Between them is much of testimony and serve on juries. That s landmarks, including the Shelton House, the the Pigeon community, including Dix Hill. request was denied, but the case was t Haywood Arts Regional Theatre, Mount Recently, the town assumed control of the moved to Jackson County because defend Olive Baptist Church, Mount Zion cemetery after years of donating resources to dants felt they couldn’t get a fair trial in s Missionary Baptist Church, the Pigeon its upkeep. Crumbling and neglected, the Haywood. s Community Multicultural Development knobby bald home to potentially thousands The case of Fitzgerald v. Allman finally y Center and the site of a former Rosenwald of graves had languished for almost a century came to trial in 1881; Fitzgerald’s wife alleged under uncertain ownership. & school. that her husband Asa was insane when he Preservation planning consultant Sybil conveyed the property to his former slaves. e A little past that is Dix Hill, the county’s segregated cemetery. A little past that, down Argintar has been working with the town on The proof? Only an insane person would t on the right, is a large parcel of land that a number of initiatives, and just finished the freely give more than 300 acres of land to his National Register application for the Pigeon former slaves. t Ensley identified as the site. y It’s a fortuitous discovery that couldn’t Street School now home to the Pigeon Center.

“I think it’s remarkable that you see h have come at a better time; the Pigeon com- She thinks the discovery is important and what the culture was going through at that d munity is currently undergoing a cultural could prove more so in the future. time because basically he left it to his “This will be definitely part of the docu- slaves out of a commitment, and his wife , revitalization fostered by the Town of Waynesville’s efforts to improve sidewalks mentation of that area, and of the black com- and his kids after he died basically took it and roads and construct a park, as well as munity,” said Argintar. “It certainly should back through the court system,” Ensley a place the Pigeon Center on the National become part of the record of that area.” said. “And you see how the courts really r Register of Historic Places. didn’t respect the African American comt There’s also talk of a “cultural campus” n cold dewy mornings and long hot munity because basically it went to the days Isaac and Miner and Phoebe and North Carolina Supreme Court, and then linking several of those landmarks, which are . already linked by real or potential connecthe rest of them toiled in their own that was it.”

Savage lamented the effect the decision might have had on Asa, who would likely have been quite upset to see his personal act of reparation undone by his own family.

“Here was somebody who actually tried to make reparations and he was stripped of the ability to do that in the end after his death,” Savage said.

The repercussions of the court’s decision were felt farther than just in Fitzgerald’s fields and now open up quite a can of worms in light of contemporary discussions about possible reparations to formerly enslaved peoples in the United States.

“The people that he made reparations to were stripped of their land. It just shows you how deep this problem is,” said Savage. “Part of the reason I wanted to track the outcomes of those African Americans who lost their land was I wanted to show that this has generational impacts that continue probably up to the present day.”

Savage was actually able to locate a few remaining family members related to the people who were given land by Fitzgerald — those of Phoebe in particular.

“And they of course knew nothing about the story,” he said. “Nothing at all.”

Today, Fitzgerald’s fields are a hodgepodge of parcels that scarcely resemble the tracts laid out in the deed. Dozens of private homes are now located on parts of the land, including some impressive ridgetop homes valued upward of $750,000.

“To know how hard it was to work the land back then, to get that land cleared and then the crops and then to know that they just came back and took it was just really sad to me, to see that happen,” said Ensley.

“Fitzgerald was trying to right a wrong.”

The mud and the blood and the sweat are still there, in Fitzgerald’s fields, where slaves toiled for a master, and then for themselves, and then were cast away.

“It was such a grievous wrong. It compounded the wrong of slavery. We have a responsibility to acknowledge the intergenerational impacts and devastation that stories like this caused. We need to acknowledge it and we then we need to do something about it,” Savage said. “I don’t know, I’m not a policymaker. I’m not talking about whether we should cut checks or give funds to educational institutions or whatever, but we need to do something right.”

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Cherokee, Sylva pass food truck ordinances

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER he landscape got a bit brighter for food truck owners following a pair of decisions in Cherokee and Sylva this month.

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Smoky Mountain News

February 19-25, 2020

RESTRICTIONS LIFTED IN CHEROKEE During Tribal Council Feb. 6, members voted unanimously to pass an ordinance change that lifted an unintentional ban on food trucks operating within the Qualla Boundary. Currently, tribal law prevents the sale of meat and seafood products from “any nonpermanent structure,” but food trucks were not the target of that prohibition when the law was originally written.

“You guys may recall that many years ago there were situations where there were these individuals driving up and down the road selling frozen meats out of the back of a truck,” said Terri Henry, executive director of the Tribal Employment Rights Office. “That I think is what the intent of this ordinance was designed for, and we support that.”

However, she said, several people have approached TERO wanting the chance to get into the food truck business, prompting the organization to propose a change to the existing law. The newly passed version of the ordinance maintains the ban on the sale of meats and seafood from nonpermanent structures but offers three exemptions.

The first exemption — delivery units transferring products between approved processors and markets — was in the original law, but two new exemptions mean the ban will not apply to mobile food units and pushcarts, provided they possess all permits and licenses required by the state and the tribe.

“What we’re trying to do is recognize that 20, 30 years later we’ve got a situation where we’re currently in a food desert, because most of the restaurants are closed,” said Henry. “But besides that we’d like to open up opportunity for some of our tribal members to become entrepreneurs, to have mobile food trucks or trailers that they could actually be TERO-certified to be able

to conduct that kind of business.”

There is currently a pathway for food trucks to operate on the Qualla Boundary, the result of a memorandum of understanding that allows vendors to receive a business license from the tribe provided they first receive a permit from the county, Henry said.

But this change would make licensing possible through tribal channels alone and also open up the opportunity for vendors to become TERO-certified.

“I think this is just an added luxury for people who come up and work around the casino, and for tribal members as well,” said Birdtown Representative Boyd Owle. “We don’t have any places to eat here except for fast food, so I think this is an added asset to the Qualla Boundary, to the tribe, for visitors and workers and tribal members alike.”

Council members were generally supportive of the proposal but questioned whether the change would allow food trucks operating within the area affected by the Blue Ridge Law to sell alcohol as well.

“I think we need to have a conversation with the [Alcohol Law Enforcement] or [Alcohol Beverage Control Commission],” said Chairman Adam Wachacha. “If it’s going to qualify for the Blue Ridge, I’d rather see it in a permanent structure and not some mobile unit that’s driving around town.”

The Blue Ridge Law is a state law that says tourism establishments — including hotels and restaurants — located within 1.5 miles of a Blue Ridge Parkway on-ramp can receive alcohol permits without a local referendum vote. In recent years, it’s allowed for several restaurants located on the Qualla Boundary but off casino property to begin offering alcohol, a development that’s proven quite controversial.

Cherokee citizens have traditionally been staunchly opposed to alcohol sales on their land; the casino was dry for the first decade of its existence until a referendum allowing alcohol sales on casino property — and only on casino property — passed in 2009.

Henry told Tribal Council that TERO had only food in mind when drafting the food truck ordinance, not alcohol. Randall Crowe, an attorney for TERO, assured Tribal Council that much more than the

proposed change would be required to allow alcohol sales from food trucks.

“We’d have to make an ordinance change before we could even think about it,” Crowe said. “As someone who has tried to do something in the alcohol industry, it’s not that easy to sell alcohol in Cherokee. It would be a long, drawn-out process.”

SYLVA AMENDS FOOD TRUCK ORDINANCE Food trucks are already allowed in Sylva, but on Feb. 13 town commissioners passed an ordinance change updating the original food truck rules passed in 2017. Back then, commissioners had noted a desire to circle back after the rules had been implemented to look at what is and is not working.

Many of the changes had to do with giving food trucks the chance to vend from public parking spaces, a practice that had previously been banned. The amended ordinance allows the board of commissioners or its designee to

Virginia casino bills move forward Current language would stymie Cherokee proposal

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER n Virginia last week, both the House and Senate passed versions of a bill that would allow for casino gambling in the state, but if those bills are enacted as currently drafted the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will be out of luck on its plan to 8 build a casino near Bristol.

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The House version, introduced by Republican Delegate Barry D. Knight of District 81 in Virginia Beach, passed on Feb. 11 with a vote of 61-33 and is now in the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology. The Senate version — introduced by Democratic Senator L. Louise Lucas of District 18 in southeastern Virginia — also passed on Feb. 11, with a similarly proportioned vote of 29-11. It is now in the House Committee on General Laws.

The bills have some significant differences, perhaps most notably the disparity in

tax rates. The House version would tax casino revenues at 15 to 28 percent, depending on total adjusted gross receipts, while the Senate version proposes a much larger tax obligation, with a range of 27 to 40 percent.

By contrast, the EBCI is currently required to give the state 5 percent of its revenue from live table games, with that cut eventually inching up to 8 percent by 2032.

However, the tribe’s status as a sovereign nation puts strict legal limits on the state’s ability to generate revenue from casinos on federal trust land; the Virginia venture

give a food truck permission to locate on a specific parking space in city limits.

Under the amended ordinances, food trucks would pay a daily fee of $25 to use town-owned parking spaces. Different fees, already contained in the existing fee schedule, would apply for special events like Greening Up The Mountains and Concerts on the Creek.

One other change speaks to a concern expressed by food cart vendor Curt Collins during an October discussion on the ordinance. Collins was concerned that the existing ordinance could be interpreted as prohibiting food truck customers from using public trash cans, a restriction he said was unfair. The amended ordinance makes it clear that food truck vendors are prohibited from placing trash in town receptacles and must remove their own garbage and recycling. However, it does not place restrictions on food truck customers.

The ordinance amendments passed unanimously following a public hearing in which nobody gave public comment.

would be a commercial project operating outside the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, so those limits would not apply.

Despite differences, the bills also contain many similar provisions — including parameters that would allow casinos to be built only within five specific cities selected using parameters such as unemployment, population and poverty rates. Those cities are Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Richmond.

That stipulation could spell trouble for the proposed Cherokee development, which would occur on 350 acres along Interstate 81 adjacent to The Pinnacle retail complex, located near but not within the city of Bristol. The

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Smoky Mountain News

licenses should be awarded using a competitive process in which all projects are put on the table and the best ones chosen.

Secondly, the report recommended that a committee evaluate and select proposals to operate and develop any authorized casinos. Neither bill incorporates either recommendation.

It would be “inconceivable” for the state to reject those recommendations, Habeeb said.

Principal Chief Richard Sneed and The Pinnacle developer Steve Johnson announced their plan to build a “major casino resort” on the tract Jan. 7, stating that in addition to gaming the development would offer a variety of entertainment options, including an outdoor concert venue, recreational facilities and a hotel with an indoor water park.

But it’s not the only proposal on the table for the Bristol area. Hard Rock International declared plans for a casino within Bristol city limits in 2018. While Habeeb characterizes that project as a “small casino at a mall site” — unlike the “bigger, multifaceted development” the Cherokee want to build — the folks behind the Hard Rock project beg to differ. In an open letter posted Jan. 24, developers Jim McGlothlin and Clyde Stacy described their project as a “family-friendly venue” that would feature 600 hotel rooms as well as a large concert hall, criticizing the tribe as an “out-of-state casino owner” trying “at the eleventh hour” to protect its own interests. However, they wrote, it is “really doubtful at this point” that the Cherokee project will come to fruition.

Habeeb disagrees with that prediction.

“It’s not surprising to me that it is where it is right now, because it started that way,” he said of the legislation. “There is a lot of time for it to get done right.”

The House bill can be tracked at lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?

201+ful+HB4, and the Senate Bill can be tracked at lis.virginia.gov/ cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+sum+SB36.

February 19-25, 2020

location would not qualify as a possible casino site under the current bill language.

“If the final bill signed by the governor is limited to those jurisdictional lines, the project with Cherokee you’re looking at is not in those jurisdictional lines,” said Greg Habeeb, a lobbyist representing the EBCI in this matter.

The legislative session, which began Jan. 8, lasts 60 days. Afterward, the governor has six weeks to amend the passed bills that land on his desk, and from there the legislature reconvenes to decide what to do about the governor’s amendments. Habeeb is hopeful that situation will change before all is said and done.

“In addition to casinos, the General Assembly is debating sports betting, they’re debating tabletop poker machines, they’re debating skill games — there’s a ton of gaming and gambling debates going on, so they’re all connected,” he said. “This stuff has been going all over the place for the last three to four weeks, and I expect it to keep going all over the place until April when the governor finishes his work.”

A former member of the legislative body — he represented District 8 as a Republican in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2011 to 2018 — Habeeb is now a partner at Gentry Locke Attorneys with significant insight into the workings of state government. For the most part, he said, the bills follow the recommendations of a November report issued by the Joint Legislative Review & Audit Commission.

That report was completed in response to a 2019 law directing that such a report be produced. The law laid out parameters for allowing casino gambling in the state but included a clause that said the law would not become effective unless re-enacted in the 2020 session.

While both the House and Senate bills passed last week generally follow JLARC’s recommendations, there are two major exceptions to that rule, said Habeeb.

First, JLARC recommended that casino

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Morris announces internet speed, access increases

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER orris Broadband has significantly upgraded and expanded its service in Macon and Jackson counties, increasing both its download speeds and its service area as the new decade begins.

The lowest-tier package now offers download speeds of 25 megabits per second, up from a previous bottom tier of 10 megabits per second. Customers can now access gigabit service as well.

“In today’s fast-paced world, we recognize the necessity of a strong, evolving broadband product for the businesses and citizens of Western North Carolina. It is our first priority,” said Morris General Manager Tony Carter.

Western North Carolina’s spotty internet availability and slow speeds have been a frequent topic of discussion among elected leaders, business owners and residents alike, with a 2019 report from the internet service comparison website www.highspeedinternet.com naming Sylva as the nation’s slowest city for internet.

However, two public-private partnerships are allowing Morris Broadband to significantly expand access in both Jackson and Macon.

In 2018, Western Carolina University announced that it would partner with Morris, allowing the Hendersonville-based company to install its broadband lines on poles owned by Western Carolina Power, which provides electricity to people in the Cullowhee area.

When complete, the project will provide high-speed internet access to 750 homes.

Morris has currently passed the 400-home mark and is now in the third and final phrase of the project, expecting to reach all 750 homes by May. Over in Macon County, Morris expects to reach an additional 226 homes as the result of a grant it received from the GREAT Grant

Work to install new broadband lines on WCU power poles began in 2018 and is expected to wrap up by May. File photo

February 19-25, 2020

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Program, which is offered through the state’s Broadband Infrastructure Office and stands for Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology. The program was created in 2018, when the N.C. General Assembly appropriated $10 million to further broadband access statewide. In 2019, follow-up legislation stated that $15 million should be appropriated each fiscal year through 20282029. Grants can be given for projects in Tier 1 and Tier 2 counties.

The $667,000 Macon County project will include $433,550 in grant money along with a $233,450 investment from Morris. The grant requires installation to be complete by June 2021, but Carter expects the work to wrap up by the end of this year.

The 226 homes are located in various outlying areas of the county. Expanded access will affect homes on Gibson Cove Road, Granny Kate Lane, Stoudemire Drive, Schurman Cove Road, Annes Lane, Gibson Cove Estates Road, Willow Wind Heights, Willowbrook Estates, Bryson City Road, Iotla Church Road, Quail Hollow Road, Riverbend Road, Liner Drive, Iotla Hill Drive, Olsen Drive, Bennett Road, Sanderstown Road,

Rain Ridge Road, Red Fox Lane, Buster Cabe Road, Tranquil Road, Holbrooks Road, Piney Grove Road, Lee Bates Road, Kangas Drive, Country Walk, Circle Trace, Dillon Drive, Main Trace, Center Trace, East Trace, Southern Trace, Dowdle Mountain Road, Wells Grove Road, Jennings Drive, Angel Cove Road, Chapel Cove Circle, Brookshire Lane, Oakridge Drive and Hunters Trail.

Morris Communications has been around since 1945, but the company got into the broadband business in 2009, when it bought out Mediacom. Since then, Morris has been working to improve the infrastructure it inherited.

“It’s always been our goal to build an infrastructure so we could keep up with the speed demand,” said Carter. “We’ve been working toward continued increases since we took over.”

Currently, Morris — which also offers cable TV — has 3,500 customers in Jackson County and 3,800 in Macon. Of those, 2,400 in Jackson County and 3,400 in Macon use internet services. The true figure is likely higher for Jackson, said Carter, because Morris serves a good number of apartment

HealthPATH

complexes that count as a single customer but serve multiple individual households.

While improving speed and access is obviously important, it’s difficult to achieve in rural areas. On a per-home basis, it’s simply more expensive to offer access in rural, mountainous places.

“With the grants that are coming out, it’s making it more and more feasible to do that in Macon County,” said Carter. “In Jackson County it was a very collaborative effort with WCU to make that happen.”

Those relationships also influenced the recent speed increases Morris announced.

WCU wanted its customers to be able to access at least 25 mbps, and projects proposing 25 mbps speeds gain preference in the GREAT Grant Program. So, those partnerships spurred Morris to make its service faster.

While these improvements are significant, they’re not pervasive. There are still many areas across the region where internet access is negligible or downright absent. While Carter said his company has a “great working relationship” with Duke Power, the public shouldn’t expect a power line collaboration like the one underway with WCU anytime soon.

“I don’t think right now it would be able to go to the extent that the WCU relationship has because WCU really stepped in,” he said. “It was a major project for them too in the tree cutting they had to do and the pole replacement they had to do, which is one obstacle in expanding in rural areas.”

There’s a bit more to those partnerships than slapping some cable atop existing poles and calling it a day — there are expenses involved, and somebody has to be willing and able to bear them.

There’s also the issue of scale.

“We’re all smaller entities, and we can identify our resources quickly and what needs to be done,” said Carter. “With Duke, they’re a large company, and it would take a lot of effort to get to that point.”

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Nantahala Brewing at 61 Depot Street in Bryson City.

Big moves for Nantahala Brewing

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the Burger Bar property.

“We expect you all to have lots of questions and we want everyone to know that this was a tough, but exciting, decision for us, and one that we’ve been considering over the past year,” Rowland said. “The memories we’ve made at our original location are too numerous to list, but the opportunity to move into a space where we can consolidate our resources and have plenty of room to grow were too great to ignore. Like all great adventures, there are beginnings, middles and ends, but in essence they are not linear. They are just points on a circle and where one chapter ends another one begins.”

Aside from the Burger Bar, Nantahala Brewing also owns and operates an outpost taproom in downtown Sylva, a relatively new location that has become a social hub of the mountain town.

The Smoky Mountain News will have a full feature article in next week’s newspaper about Nantahala Brewing’s plans moving forward. www.nantahalabrewing.com.

— Garret K. Woodward, staff writer

February 19-25, 2020

n Monday afternoon, Joe Rowland, owner of Nantahala Brewing, announced the consolidation of its original brewery and taproom in Bryson City, a move which will shift the entire infrastructure of the production facility and taproom to its Burger Bar just down the road.

“After nearly nine years of operating our taproom and production brewery at 61 Depot Street in Bryson City, we have outgrown it,” Rowland said in a post on the brewery’s Facebook page on Feb. 17. “Over the last two years, we’ve made a lot of big changes to the layout and functionality of both sides of our taproom and brewery, and though they solved some short-term challenges, our long-term goals cannot be achieved in the space where we started it all.”

Nantahala will temporarily close its taproom while they prepare to combine it with the Burger Bar in the historic RC Cola Bottling Plant. As well, there will be a “Leap Year Taproom Throwdown” on Saturday, Feb. 29, at the original brewery before it is permanently closed and operations head to

Grant workshop for TDA funding

Celebrate Black History Month The Haywood County NAACP chapter will hold its monthly meeting at 2 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 22, in the basement at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 28 Mt. Olive Road (just off of Pigeon Street, look for two steeples).

The group will be celebrating Black History Month with a presentation by local historian Sybil Argintar. She has been researching the history of African Americans in Haywood County. There will also be updates from NAACP’s working committees, as they continue to plan a bus trip for spring.

All people of good will are welcome to participate.

Become A Member Today!

Contact the Membership Department for More Info — 828-926-4831

Smoky Mountain News

The Haywood County Tourism Development Authority has announced the timeline for 3% and 1% partnership funding for 2020-21.

To be eligible for funding, applicants must attend a mandatory partnership workshop at 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. Feb. 27 at the TDA Visitor Center located at 1110 Soco Rd. Applications for 1% funding are due March 31 and applications for 3% funding are due April 9. For guidelines about applications, visit www.haywoodtda.com beginning Feb. 27.

For more information, call 828.944.0761.

1819 Country Club Drive Maggie Valley, NC

M AG G I E VA LLEY C LU B . CO M 11

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Work begins on Haywood County budget

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER aywood County’s financial position remains strong ahead of talks about next year’s budget, but a host of challenges will test commissioners’ resolve to keep spending low and fund balance high.

“We’re meeting our obligations by not spending more than we’re bringing in,” Haywood County Manager Bryant Morehead told commissioners on Feb. 17.

Since 2013, the county’s general fund has grown from $70.2 million to $79.7 million in 2019. Morehead reported fiscal year 2019 expenditures of $80,561,541 and revenues of $83,279,099, but the FY 2020 budget, which ends on June 30, was amended to $89.9 million.

Perhaps the county’s biggest success over the past 15 years is in rebuilding fund balance, which was a dangerously low 11.58 percent of expenditures in 2006 but has since grown to a healthy 37.32 percent.

Yearly debt payments were more than $8 million a year in 2015, but have since declined substantially. In the current fiscal year, debt payments will amount to $5.8 million, but over the next three years that number will drop by about $150,000 a year.

Beginning in 2023, larger chunks of debt will be retired and payments will drop to less than $5 million a year. By 2026, they’ll be less than $3.5 million a year, with all debt retired by 2029 — if commissioners don’t incur any more in the interim.

If they do, at least they’ll be able to borrow at a good rate — in November 2018, Moody’s Investors Service upgraded the county’s credit rating to AAA. According to Moody’s, “Obligations rated as AA are considered to be high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.”

Specific reasons for that include “a healthy financial position, a manageable debt burden, and a low pension liability.”

There’s still room for improvement on that rating, but Morehead said there aren’t clearly quantifiable goals that the county can

Smoky Mountain News

February 19-25, 2020

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Waynesville names homelessness task force members

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER lthough there was more than a little wrangling over logistics, the Town of Waynesville has finally announced the membership of its newly created homelessness task force.

The idea of forming a task force to address issue of homelessness first emerged during elections for the town board and mayor last fall, after business owners in the historic Frog Level district complained about what appeared to be an increase in the local transient population.

The issue quickly took over the cam-

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Haywood County’s debt is projected to drop dramatically over the coming years.

Haywood County photo

aim for to make the jump.

“They have an equation and part of it is fund balance, but they also look at your economy,” he said. “One of the things that hurts us is we don’t have a lot of sites for economic development so we’re kind of behind the eight ball on that.”

Real and personal property taxes are coming in ahead of projected levels, as are motor vehicle taxes and sales taxes, which were budgeted at a 7 percent increase over last year but are currently hovering around 10 percent.

Health insurance spending has ranged from a recent low of $4.2 million in 2014 to a high of $10.1 million in this most recent budget year, but the change from Crescent to Aetna seems to be working right now, and only minimal increases are projected for next year.

“These are probably the best numbers as a commissioner I’ve ever seen,” said Commissioner Kevin Ensley.

With all that being said, commissioners must now grapple with the requests that will

inevitably pop up once department budgets become available.

Total employment by the county has dropped from 9.42 employees per 1,000 population in 2006 to 8.4 employees per 1,000 residents in the current year, but that could change, as Morehead said he expects requests for several new positions in the Sheriff ’s office as well as the Department of Health and Human Services.

How much employees are paid has been a recent topic of budget discussions that will again emerge; cost of living allowances began in 2016 but were skipped 2017 and then reinstituted in 2018, 2019 and 2020 but have never really kept pace with increases in the consumer price index.

Then there’s the usual round of vehicle replacements and fleet maintenance, and the replacement of aging IT equipment.

Those items, however, pale in comparison to a number of proposed capital projects that would cause the county to incur more long-

paign, and a forum held at Frog Level Brewing drew dozens of citizens eager to voice their concerns. After evaluating more than 30 applications, each member of the board of aldermen made three selections to compliment the nine institutional selections made by Mayor Gary Caldwell.

Caldwell appointed Alderman Anthony Sutton, Waynesville’s new Police Chief David Adams (or his designee), Haywood County Sheriff Greg Christopher (or his designee), Bill Guy of The Open Door, Mandy Haithcox of Pathways, Patsy Davis of Mountain Projects, Brandon Wilson of Veterans Services, Teresa Pierce of Frog Level’s Panacea and Haywood County Commission Chairman Kevin Ensley.

Alderman Chuck Dickson appointed Bob Cummings, Dale Burris and Amy MurphyNugen, who will serve as interim chair.

Alderman Jon Feichter selected former

The idea of forming a task force to address issue of homelessness first emerged during elections for the town board and mayor last fall.

DEA agent and recent alderman candidate Joey Reece, Juleah Berliner and Nathan Cartwright.

Alderman Anthony Sutton chose Joslyn Schaefer, Laura Howell and Keri Guidry.

Alderman and Mayor Pro Tem Julia Freeman picked Linda Nulsen, Jon Lynn McDermott and Neese Morris.

The work of the task force will soon begin, but even during the time it’s taken to

term debt, making that credit rating all the more important.

Proposed are a new EMS base for the Clyde area, and depending on the results of a forthcoming study the potential expansion of the county detention center. A longstanding request for resources by Haywood County’s library system could finally gain some traction this year as well.

Commissioner Kirk Kirkpatrick pushed for renovations or construction, and Commissioner Kevin Ensley directed Morehead to begin looking at options and price tags.

“I think we’ve put it off too long,” Ensley said.

While the county won’t be able to pay for the capital project requests solely with fund balance, some of it could be used for initial architectural and engineering fees related to those projects.

“To me, when we’re sitting on that much fund balance, that’s our people’s money,” Kirkpatrick said. “We want a healthy fund balance, but not overly healthy.”

Another issue with which commissioners will have to deal — this year — is the impending move of Haywood County Schools’ administration from the old hospital, which is being converted to affordable housing for veterans and the elderly.

“We know the clock’s ticking, and we’ve got to help find them a home,” said Morehead.

The Feb. 17 meeting was only the initial foray into what will as usual be an extended process involving substantial public input.

On April 20, commissioners will hold another work session, this one dealing specifically with the budgetary needs of the county’s school system. On May 4, another work session will be held, delving deeper into departmental budgets.

The manager’s budget — a solid final draft of proposed changes — will be submitted to commissioners on May 18. After that, a public hearing will be held on May 26, with possible budget adoption scheduled for the board’s regular meeting on June 1.

Per state law, budgets must be passed by June 30, leaving Haywood commissioners plenty of time if things don’t go exactly as planned. populate the board, the landscape of homelessness has changed.

A few weeks ago it was learned that the lease of The Open Door, a food ministry located in Frog Level, would not be renewed this coming summer. The organization is currently looking for new digs, but hasn’t yet announced where or when they’ll move.

Many have blamed the availability of services at The Open Door for the proliferation of crime and vandalism in Frog Level, but it remains to be seen whether The Open Door is serving a population that exists in the area, is drawing that population from other areas, or a little bit of both.

What also remains to be seen is if The Open Door’s new location will be welcomed with open arms by neighbors and neighboring businesses.

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SRCA’s testing scores made a comeback in 2019 just in time for its charter renewal when its School Performance Grade report showed a final score of 67 — a full 11 points over 2018’s year’s score of 56.

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Smoky Mountain News

Additionally, Shining Rock’s overall School Performance Grade (SPG) as reported by the DPI declined from 70 in its first year to 65 for the 2016-17 school year, placing it exactly in the middle of all 163 charter schools in North Carolina. By contrast, the lowest SPG of any school in Haywood County — other than Shining Rock — was a 67.

However, SRCA’s testing scores made a comeback in 2019 just in time for its charter renewal when its School Performance Grade report showed a final score of 67 — a full 11 points over 2018’s year’s score of 56.

SRCA was one of seven charter schools to be renewed for seven years while five were approved for 10 years. Only one charter school — Ignite Innovation Academy in Greenville — received a non-renewal. The school opened in 2016 and was graded an F school for three years, didn’t meet growth expectations and dropped in enrollment.

With its charter renewed, SRCA continues to focus on improving academic measures, establishing a permanent facility and growing the school to include all highschool grades.

SRCA is holding open enrollment for the 2020-2021 school year through April 3. For more information, visit srca.teamcfa.school.

AUTO SALES CONSULTANT

February 19-25, 2020

BY J ESSI STONE r N EWS E DITOR d he North Carolina State Board of d Education recently voted to renew the charter for Shining Rock Classical y Academy for another seven years.

The public charter school — which has r a focus on experiential learning — opened d in Waynesville in the fall of 2015 with a l couple hundred students in kindergarten o through sixth grade and now the school enrolls 309 students in kindergarten h through eighth grade. ” “I am extremely proud of Shining Rock d earning a seven-year renewal. It affirms that Haywood County has another public school s choice that is providing our citizens with the - education they expect for our children,” said ’ Head of School Joshua Morgan. h SRCA’s board of directors had to undergo r a two-year process for the charter renewal — a process where the state reviews all facets e of SRCA’s performance and governance outd comes, including a comprehensive review of academic, financial, procedural, and coml munity processes and outcomes. d “This is a day for celebrating the hard work of our staff, school leader, families, and - board members to create a great place to y learn and thrive. While the renewal process s has been challenging and allowed us to - reflect on improvements, we have also been able to demonstrate our successes and student achievements,” said SRCA Board l Chairwoman Michelle Haynes.

The Charter School Advisory Board is a responsible for monitoring all charter schools h in North Carolina and the renewal cycle repe resents an opportunity to hold charter schools accountable for all school operations, y including academic achievement. Each chars ter school is granted an initial five-year chars ter. To remain in operation, a charter must be renewed, and the CSAB uses established criteria to determine if a school is eligible for a 10-, 7-, 5-, or 3-year renewal. Underperforming charter schools may be denied a renewal.

“The closest comparison in terms of rigor and comprehensive review of our results that most people would be familiar with would be the AdvanceED certifications. Having served on a review team previously, these reviews are a snapshot of a school or system and how they are operating at that moment. The big differences are that the charter renewal process is an active two-year review of school activities,” Morgan said. “Public district schools in the state do not undergo such a renewal process and are allowed to continue to operate indefinitely even if they are considered continually low-performing. Charter schools in our state are regularly closed if they aren’t meeting the requirements. The

rigorous renewal process for charter schools is an assurance to all stakeholders that we at SRCA represent a high-quality choice for the children of our community.”

A number of community concerns over the last couple of years called into question whether SRCA would receive a good review from the CSAB and a longer charter renewal from the state board of education.

Based on a grading rubric from the state, a seven-year renewal requires no significant compliance issues for the past two years, financially sound audits for the last two years and academic outcomes comparable to local school district in two of the last three years. It appeared Shining Rock’s history of poor academic performance might prevent the school from receiving the seven-year renewal, but it didn’t.

According to data released by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction for the 2016-17 school year, Shining Rock finished dead last in nine of 17 major performance benchmarks compared to Haywood’s other public schools.

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Charter renewed for Shining Rock Classical Academy

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BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR acon County continues to find itself in a secure financial position heading into the 2020-21 fiscal budget process, but commissioners still face a number of challenges when it comes to prioritizing the county’s growing needs.

In their initial budget planning meeting Feb. 6, commissioners each discussed their priorities and heard from several department heads regarding their challenges and funding requests.

County Manager Derek Roland reminded the board of accomplishments that came out of the current fiscal budget as well as an early outlook for the next year.

During the 2019-20 budget process, the board ultimately decided to increase its revenue-neutral property tax rate from 36.9 cents per $100 of assessed value to 37.4 cents in order to cover additional needs within the Macon County Schools system.

Commissioners agreed to fund $500,000 more for school operations, $250,000 for school capital outlay, $310,000 in technology needs and two additional STEM program positions.

Macon County completed a $6 million expansion project at South Macon Elementary to add six classrooms and renovate the cafeteria.

Roland said the county also worked on increasing efficiencies to cut costs, including replacing all county facility lighting with LED light bulbs. The county budgeted $185,000 for the project but ended up only paying $75,000 by using county staff to complete the project and by receiving rebates from Duke Energy.

As far as public safety enhancements, Roland said the county’s 26 road deputies are now equipped with body cameras as well as dash cameras. The county also invested in telecommunication improvements and hired two additional 911 dispatchers to meet the increased call volumes.

Other staff needs were met by adding two new employees at the Department of Social Services and a full-time receptionist at the senior services center.

In 2019, Macon County completed a revaluation process and 2020 will be the first year those updated property values take effect. Last year’s property tax collection rate was over 98 percent.

“Like every other year we always have challenges and the past few years one challenge has been with health insurance,” Roland said. “We saw a 24 percent increase last year from our provider — that’s a $740,000 increase and the county picked up $500,000 of that.”

Commissioners decided to switch over to the North Carolina insurance funding pool, which means the county will only see a 4 percent increase in health insurance costs in the coming fiscal year. The county will need to absorb another 1.2 percent increase in retirement costs.

While the county has been working to

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update its employee pay plan in recent years, Roland reminded the board that several county departments still aren’t where they need to be on the pay scale.

“There are still some departments where our grades need to be adjusted for retaining and recruiting employees,” he said.

Macon County’s fund balance continues to grow as the county continues to be conservative with revenues. With more than $24 million sitting in the fund balance, that rep-

more research needs to be done.

Commissioner Ronnie Beale, the other school liaison, mentioned the possibility of hiring a child psychologist to work within the school system. He said Swain and a few other far west counties received state funding to hire child psychologists. With more mental health funding cuts expected from the state, he said the school system was going to suffer.

Other funding cuts from the state will

Macon County recently completed a $6 million expansion project at South Macon Elementary School. File photo resents about half of the county’s $51 million annual budget.

“How did we gain in fund balance? We underspent the budget in the general fund by $1.7 million,” Roland said. “We take a conservative approach to sales tax — we were $306,000 above the original budgeted amount and excess sales tax plays a key role in building our capital reserve fund.”

PUBLIC EDUCATION Superintendent Chris Baldwin said there’s still many unknowns in the state budget for public education. With the state budget standoff in Raleigh, he said it took a series of “mini budgets” to get them through the fall.

The state is looking at salary increases for certain teachers, but just like last year’s round of raises Baldwin said some school employees are left out of that, including custodians, clerical, cafeteria and bus drivers.

“Last year, if you recall, the board appropriated funds to cover the cost of increases for those left out by the state — a 2 percent one time cost of living increase,” Baldwin said.

Baldwin also told commissioners that the school system needs more support to handle the mental health needs of its student body.

“We’ve met with the school principals and guidance counselors and the main thing they’re concerned about is serving the mental health needs of our students,” he said.

“Our teachers and counselors are not equipped to deal with some of the mental health issues we’re dealing with today.”

Commissioner Gary Shields, the public education liaison to the county board, said the school system is trying everything it can to implement programs to help children but

also impact the school system, Baldwin said.

Beginning in 2011, Macon County Schools had to start cutting funds from arts and music programs.

“Many parents and school employees want to see it back at the middle school level and improved throughout our system, and I can’t argue with that,” Baldwin said.

Even if the school system gets more funding to restore music and art classes, space to hold those classes is also an issue since the state started implementing smaller classroom size requirements. Baldwin said Cartoogechaye and East Franklin Elementary won’t have an art or music classroom because those classes will be needed for basic instructional space. Art and music will be taught from a mobile cart going to each class.

By the 2021-22 school year, first-grade classes can’t exceed 16 students and secondand third-grades classes can’t exceed 17 students.

“So if we have 18 second-graders, we’ll have to have two teachers and two classrooms,” Baldwin said. He added that those restrictions could be changed through legislation and that if the state would increase funding for teacher assistants, instruction could be improved without having to have more classrooms and teachers.

BOARD COMMENTS Commission Chairman Jim Tate had a couple of suggestions as the board moves into the budget process. To continue being conservative and making sure funds are being used responsibly, he said the board might want to consider establishing a maximum debt policy and a maximum debt

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Fatal stabbing in Hyder Mountain community

Debate over Second Amendment sanctuary continues in Macon More than a hundred people crammed Franklin’s Macon County courthouse to speak both for and against designating the county a “Second Amendment sanctuary” on Feb. 11, but the debate left more questions than answers and resulted in no action being taken.

The meeting was the second time this year residents have weighed in on the controversial subject; on Jan. 14, a number of people also appeared before commissioners. At

Franklin to hold planning meeting Franklin Town Council will hold a strategic planning retreat this coming weekend.

The council will meet at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, at Oak Hill Bed and Breakfast, 1689 Old Murphy Road, Franklin, and will gather again at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, at town hall, 95 E. Main Street, Franklin.

The meetings are both open to the public. that time, only a few North Carolina counties had passed such resolutions, which carry no legal weight but express a community’s values in support of the right to bear arms.

Since then, more than 50 counties have either passed or formally considered such resolutions. On Jan. 21, Haywood County commissioners responded to calls for a Second Amendment sanctuary of their own by passing a “Constitution protecting” resolution that expresses support for the entire Constitution, but also outlines specific support for the Second Amendment.

Macon County commissioners may consider one of several competing resolutions at their next meeting, which will take place on Tuesday, March 10.

TRUCKS

2017 2014 2014 2010 2014 2015 2010 2014 2006 2002 2017 2001 2015 2019 2016 2019 2019 2012 2017 2019 2019 2019 2003

SUVS

2020 2020 2006 2017 2018 2017 2010 2017 2019 2018 2018 2019 2013 2019 2011 2017 2017 2016 2019 2019 2007 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 2019 2018 2018 2018 2019

Make Chevrolet Chevrolet CHEVROLET Chevrolet Chevrolet Chevrolet Chevrolet Chevrolet Ford Ford Kia Mazda Nissan Nissan Nissan Subaru Subaru Subaru Subaru Toyota

Model Camaro Camaro CORVETTE Corvette Impala Malibu Malibu Volt Crown Victoria Fusion Rio Mazda3 Altima Maxima Sentra Forester Impreza Legacy Outback Corolla

Miles 27,114 9,016 97,171 16,113 118,535 75,216 19,222 85,273 74,655 110,655 206,231 37,599 11,499 39,701 95,516 112,770 39,087 71,294 42,189

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Miles 40,020 136,375 139,498 149,055 109,316 78,342 109,215 68,435 210,299 266,707 29,423 168,903 93,281 15,542 54,317 35,396 25,747 135,306 147,376 26,497 27,911 22,199 230,992

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Miles 15,585 13,485 166,016 43,424 18,363 19,524 131,529 61,185 23,521 38,351 37,096 43,285 100,483 13,433 163,390 30,865 37,689 70,872 15,693 45,316 132,742 14,489 38,511 38,969 35,408 38,296 38,162 43,271 38,403 41,686 32,712

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Improvement Plan placed the Nantahala library/community center as a tier 3 priority, but he wants to see that moved up. Before a new building can be considered, the county needs to decide on the best location for it and adequate space in the community is lacking.

“We’ve talked about it for four years and we’re still in the same place. What does it take to get it off the ground?” Higdon asked.

Gillespie agreed the project should be a higher priority. In his opinion, the new building should be a multi-purpose facility that will not only house a library and community center, but also have space for the sheriff ’s office, the health department and other county services that aren’t easily accessible to the Nantahala community.

Higdon asked for the second year in a row for the county to address the low pay for convenience center employees, who are still all considered part-time employees making $8 an hour with no insurance or retirement benefits.

“We can do better than that for the vital service they provide,” he said.

Lastly, Higdon suggested cutting the $75,000 budget line item for the community funding pool, an allocation divvied up each year to local nonprofits that apply for program funding.

“I acknowledge the value of all these nonprofits in the county, but I’ve never been in favor of taking taxpayer dollars and selectively funding nonprofits,” he said.

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February 19-25, 2020

service based on expenditures.

“It looks like our fund balance is over 50 percent now. I’d like the board to consider a policy maybe to set a maximum for what the fund balance should be,” he said, adding that anything over 50 percent could be designated for paying off debts.

In his comments, Beale asked to look into the possibility and costs associated with enclosing the pool at the rec center so students competing in swimming have a place to practice year around.

He also wants the board to continue pushing broadband expansion and helping those projects underway move along. The board approved some funding for a project in Highlands and Otto but is still trying to work through the legalities associated with government bodies helping private providers.

Meeting with other groups, Beale said the board should expect to get a $37,000 request from the Community Care Clinic to pay for a new provider and a $20,000 request from the Macon County Fair Association for roof repairs.

Commissioner Karl Gillespie said he’d like the board to continue to look into improving its technology in order to improve efficiencies. He also echoed what Beale said about continuing to invest in broadband.

Commissioner Paul Higdon said he wants the board to make the needed infrastructure projects in Nantahala a higher priority. The recently completed Capital

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Haywood County deputies responded to a residence on Long Branch Road in the Hyder Mountain community around 10 a.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 18, in reference to an emergency stabbing.

Sheriff ’s deputies and emergency medical services responded to the call. Upon law enforcement’s arrival, deputies learned one man was injured (stab wounds) another was deceased and the perpetrator was still inside the residence. The man with injuries was transported to the hospital.

The suspect initially refused to exit the house. Shortly after deputies used verbal deescalation measures, the suspect exited the

house and was arrested without incident. The three men involved in this situation are related to each other.

More details will be released as they become available.

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Pancake Day fundraiser free to community

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR he beloved community fundraiser known as Pancake Day will return Tuesday, Feb. 25, to First United Methodist Church of Waynesville.

This year marks the 65th anniversary of the church’s largest fundraiser and also marks the second year the event will be free to community members. In past years, people have paid $8 a ticket to get the all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast with sides of sausage and bacon, but the event has become so successful and supported that the organizers thought they’d make it free.

“We are planning for the event to be completely free to the community,” said church member and event organizer Patrick Bradshaw. “Last year was a huge success and we hope to serve even more community members this year.”

In the past, the event has raised as much as $25,000 for facility improvements, scholarships and mission trips, but what the congregation has found is that the community steps up to donate even when the meal tickets are free. From donated food to sponsorships that underwrite the entire event, the fundraiser has become more of a way for the church to

February 19-25, 2020

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“We are able to do this because of the generosity of our community partnerships and our congregation.

So many have stepped up to say, ‘we want to be a part of this.’”

Volunteers prepare pancakes at First United Methodist Church of Waynesville. Donated photo

— Patrick Bradshaw

connect to the community it serves.

“We want to emphasize that we are able to do this because of the generosity of our community partnerships and our congregation.

So many have stepped up to say, ‘we want to be a part of this,’” Bradshaw said.

The event is a major undertaking that takes months to plan and about a week to execute using many volunteers and multiple kitchens in the church. The customer service provided by volunteers serving the public could compete with any five-star restaurant as they continue to fill your plate and your cup with a smile.

LECONTE CENTER, PIGEON FORGE

MARCH 4 -7

Last year’s event served more than 3,000 people for free and utilized 1,000 hours of volunteer labor to pull it off. To break it down — that’s more than 4,000 napkins, 600 pounds of pancake mix, 70 dozen eggs, 700 pounds of bacon, 30 pounds of coffee, 50 gallons of syrup, 2,000 cartons of milk and more than 3,000 pieces of sausage.

Keeping with the community focus, this year’s theme for Pancake Day was inspired

by Mr. Rogers — “Won’t you be my neighbor?” Pancake Day has become a tradition in Haywood County no matter what church people attend and even if they don’t attend

church. You never know who you’ll end up sitting and fellowshipping with while you enjoy those buckwheat and buttermilk pancakes.

“It’s about building relationships — relationships we’ve been building for 60 years and even before Pancake Day,” said committee member Mary Lee Sease. “This is just one more thing we can do to continue that effort.”

Pancake Day will be held from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, at FUMC inside the Christian Growth Center Christian Growth Center located at 566 S. Haywood St., Waynesville.

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town’s water towers in East Franklin. Town Attorney John Henning Jr. said the owner Jerry Porter was willing to sell the parcel to the town at tax value — $26,660.

“This property has a clear advantage for future expansion,” he said regarding the town’s water and sewer infrastructure.

Since the purpose of buying the property is for future water and sewer infrastructure, the town will pay for it with revenue from the water and sewer enterprise account.

In other business, the town will move forward with enforcing its minimum housing standards in response to complaints about an abandoned home located at 118 Wilkie Street. Town Planner Justin Setser told the town council neighbors have been complaining about the house since September 2019. He received an administrative search warrant to inspect the property, which was deemed dilapidated. Renters had been living there prior and had left most of their belongings behind when they were evicted. Setser met with the owner in the fall and ended up granting an extension since he was ensured cleanup work would begin.

“At first the owner worked with us and did clean up a lot of the garbage on the property and removed several of the junk cars, but cleanup stopped after Thanksgiving, and we haven’t had any communication with the property owner since that time,” he said. “It’s exceeded 90 days. I need the council to give legal direction to move forward at this point.”

Henning said the town would need to file a lawsuit in order to get the owner to demolish the home. If the owner refuses, the town can seek a judgment and get permission to demolish the home and then go after the owner to reimburse the town for the cost.

Setzer said the house was valued at $33,660 but is now valued at $690. The board voted unanimously to file the lawsuit and start the proceedings.

Charter school accepting new students

Thursday February 27 6-8pm

Hart Theater Waynesville

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ttendees select a bowl handcrafted by local WNC potters and enjoy a meal of various soup tastings, bread and dessert donated by local restaurants. The bowl guests take home serves as a reminder of all of the empty bowls in our community as well as the warm hearts that work to fill them.

TICKETS Early Entry (Advance Purchase Only): $40/adult, $15/child Advance Purchase General Admission: $25/adult, $10/child General Admission at the Door: $30/adult, $15/child Soup Only (No Bowl): $15/adult, $5/child

Learn about voting at library How to be an Information Superstar in a World of Fake News and the Internet will be a program offered at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, at the Jackson County Public Library.

Library staffer Danielle Duffy will lead participants through the last election information event.

Participants will be given the tools to double check the information that they see online and in their social media threads, both text and images. The group will also look at some reliable websites and library resources. This event will be hands-on in the computer lab on the second floor of the library.

For more information, call the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva at 828.586.2016. This event is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Jackson County Public Library.

Smoky Mountain News

Mountain Discovery Charter School is a free, public, K-8 charter school located in Bryson City and serves students from Swain, Jackson, Macon, Haywood, and Graham counties.

Mountain Discovery utilizes experiential learning, creativity, and high personal and academic expectations. MDCS fosters a love of the natural world through its focus on outdoor education. All students are actively engaged in learning that has value and consequence beyond the classroom.

Interested students may be enrolled using the link on our website, www.mountaindiscovery.org, through March 6.

Empty Bowls 2nd Annual

February 19-25, 2020

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR ranklin Town Council recently approved purchasing two parcels of land in the downtown area for a total cost of $206,660.

In a 4-1 vote with Councilmember David Culpepper opposing, the town council approved purchasing the former Texaco property at 196 West Palmer Street for $180,000.

“I think $180,000 is well over market value for the property,” Culpepper said.

Councilmember Joe Collins agreed but added that the town really needs the property near its police department and fire department for future utility expansions.

“I’m having a hard time thinking it’s really worth the price we’re willing to pay for it — especially to the average person — but I’d have a harder time if someone came and bought it at that price or a lesser price,” Collins said. “With enough years, I think the sting of paying a few dollars more than I think we should will go away, and for that reason I will be in favor of the purchase.”

Councilmember Jack Horton said there were some concerns about potential environmental issues on the property but that the town had been assured that there are no underground oil tanks or contamination issues. The town has a letter from the Department of Environmental Resources stating “no further actions” are required for the property. “(The property) is important to future town utilities — we’ll need to reroute a sewer line soon through there and it’s close to the police department and fire station,” Horton said.

The town purchased the property, which is 0.67 acres, from the Sloan family. The town will pay for the property out of fund balance.

The second piece of property the town voted unanimously to purchase was 0.43 acres at 311 Clyde Street that adjoins the

Haywood Pathways Center’s

news

Council approves purchase of Franklin properties

Visit haywoodpathwayscenter.org to purchase tickets.

For questions or to donate, please contact us at 828-246-0332 or mandy@haywoodpathways.org 17

news

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Health

Smoky Mountain News

Jackson schools hold health fair Students at Blue Ridge School and Blue Ridge Early College concluded a week-long focus on health and wellness with a community health fair and blood drive on Friday, Feb. 14.

Numerous volunteers, agencies, and organizations participated in the Valentine’s Day event with the theme “Love Yourself to Health.”

Throughout the day, students rotated through stations where they received health-related information on issues appropriate for their age. For elementary students, topics included exercise, safety, dental care and healthy snacking while high school students focused on risky behaviors, personal relationships, setting boundaries and staying safe during summer activities. Meanwhile, community members gave blood and received health screenings.

New urgent care opens in Waynesville Mercy Urgent Care has opened its eighth and newest location at 120 Frazier St. A, in Waynesville.

The Waynesville location, just off the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway exit 102, officially opened to patients on Feb. 4. Located in the Waynesville Pavilion shopping center near Publix, Mercy Urgent Care Waynesville will be open seven days per week: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturdays and Sundays.

This new location will bring high-quality, affordable and convenient medical care for nonlife-threatening illnesses and injuries to Haywood County, giving patients in the Waynesville area access to walk-in care at a fraction of the cost of an ER visit.

Mercy Urgent Care, as an independent provider, accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield and all other major insurance carriers; offers a self-pay option for those without insurance, with simple, tiered “fee for service” pricing; and has a Compassionate Care financial assistance program for qualifying patients. www.mercyurgentcare.org.

What’s in your medicine cabinet?

The upcoming Ladies Night Out program, “What’s in Your Medicine Cabinet?” will be held at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 25 in the cafeteria at Angel Medical Center.

All women are invited to attend this meeting

and are asked to encourage all the women in their life, who are over the age of 13 years, to attend with them. This month’s charity and proceeds will go to REACH. Items they need include bottled water, canned soups and spaghetti and meatballs, packed snacks (gummies, chips, peanut butter crackers, breakfast and granola bars), toilet tissue, paper towels, hand sanitizer and personal hygiene items. Monetary donations are also welcomed.

Ladies Night Out is a partnership between Macon County Public Health and Angel Medical Center to provide free monthly programs on a variety of health topics for women with an emphasis on the importance of regular health screenings.

Health foundation awards $2.5 million Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation recently approved $2.5 million in grants to 53 area nonprofits.

When HCHF’s Board of Directors came together last February as a newly classified nonprofit with a new mission to “Improve the health and wellbeing of those in the Highlands, Cashiers, and surrounding communities,” they knew it was a big goal.

Through the journey of conducting Listening Sessions, Community Outreach Meetings, and committing over 2,000 hours toward grant review, the Programs and Grants Committee and the Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation Board of Directors has learned so much about our community and the incredible strengths it possesses through existing nonprofits as well as the roadblocks to health that are prevalent in our community.

“The Foundation looks forward to another tremendously impactful year in 2020, as it will unveil strategic priorities that will truly move the

needle forward for Highlands, Cashiers, and the surrounding communities,” said Robin Tindall, executive director and CEO of the Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation.

Suicide prevention training Suicide prevention training will be offered from 2 to 3 p.m. Thursday, March, 12, at the Waynesville Library, 678 S. Haywood St. Presented by the Suicide Prevention Team at the Veterans Administration, the presentation will cover a brief overview of suicide in the veteran and civilian population. Information will also be presented on suicide myths and misinformation, the risk factors for suicide and the components of the S.A.V.E. model (Signs of suicide, Asking about suicide, Validating feelings, Encouraging help and Expediting treatment). Registration required.

Email kathleen.olsen@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2507. Refreshments provided by the Friends of the Library.

Harm Reduction Coalition gets grant The National Association of County and City Health Officials — representing the country’s nearly 3,000 local health departments — has awarded over $600,000 in funding to seven Overdose Response Strategy states to help address the opioid crisis in their communities.

Atlanta-Carolinas HIDTA and North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition will receive $49,420 award. Last year’s ORS pilot project funding enabled the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition and the Overdose Response Strategy Public Health Analyst to expand jail-based overdose prevention education programs in Cumberland, Catawba and Haywood counties. This second year of funding will allow them to continue operating the program by supporting staff who provide the jail-based overdose education and linkage to care upon exit. Funding will also enable the team to develop and implement a training component for jail staff on the opioid epidemic and overdose risks, and will help to further evaluation efforts.

Robbinsville practice hires social worker Appalachian Mountain Community Health Centers (AMCHC) announced that John Shirey, LCSW, LCAS, a licensed clinical social worker specializing in behavioral health, has joined Tallulah Community Health Center, located at 409 Tallulah Rd., in Robbinsville.

The addition of Shirey allows AMCHC to expand its behavioral health services in the Graham County community. Shirey is an Asheville native and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veteran. He received his bachelor’s in psychology from UNC Asheville, and a master’s in social work from Western Carolina University.

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The Tallulah Community Health Center is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. The clinic provides primary care and behavioral health services. It serves self-pay, Medicaid, Medicare and traditionally insured patients. The organization also offers discounted pricing based on family size and income. To schedule an appointment, call 828.479.6434.

REACH to hold volunteer training REACH of Haywood County (domestic violence/sexual assault/elder abuse prevention and intervention non-profit) is seeking new volunteers and will hold a Volunteer Training Day from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29, at the REACH office, 627 N. Main St., Waynesville. Lunch and snacks will be provided for all participants.

Volunteers can offer help in several areas, including one able-bodied assistance at the Within Reach Resale Store in Hazelwood, answering calls referred from the answering service on the helpline after hours and weekends and assisting as a Friend of REACH on fundraising, special events and client assistance committees.

The morning training will be general information about REACH, domestic violence and sexual assault. After lunch training will be specifically for helpline volunteers. Participants do not have to attend the afternoon session if not training for the helpline. RSVP to Buffy Queen, REACH Community Educator, 828.456.7898, or BQreach@aol.com by Feb. 25, as notebooks will be prepared for all participants.

HRMC renewed as Chest Pain Center Haywood Regional Medical Center has received Chest Pain Center Accreditation from the American College of Cardiology Accreditation Services.

Hospitals that have received ACC accreditation have achieved a higher level of expertise in dealing with patients who arrive with symptoms of a heart attack. They emphasize the importance of standardized diagnostic and treatment programs that provide more efficient and effective evaluation as well as more appropriate and rapid treatment of patients with chest pain and other heart attack symptoms. They also serve as a point of entry into the healthcare system to evaluate and treat other medical problems, and they help to promote a healthier lifestyle in an attempt to reduce the risk factors for heart attack.

“Renewing our Chest Pain Center accreditation, which we first received in 2016, is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our clinical team, our community partners and the ACC, who have been working collaboratively to ensure our hospital is prepared to provide high quality care to patients when heart attacks strike,” said Rod Harkleroad, CEO at HRMC. “Our top priority is to provide quality healthcare close to home, and this accomplishment demonstrates one of the many ways we continually work to enhance and improve our service.”

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Opinion

Smoky Mountain News

A glut of information can paralyze voters T

Senate loses power with impeachment To the Editor: The President of the United States (no longer to be confused, or considered synonymous with, “Leader of the Free World”) confessed on an almost daily basis to having used foreign aid as a lure to coerce the head of a foreign government (an ally under attack by a common foe) to make a public announcement that it’s investigating his political opponent in the upcoming election. He’s even bragged about being untouchable because he’s sitting on the evidence while refusing to cooperate or allow certain officials to testify.

Trump was successfully impeached because Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives did their job. But his trial in the Senate stalled when the Majority Leader — who had already demonstrated his contempt for procedure by arbitrarily strongarming the previous President out of a Supreme Court nomination — took a similarly bold approach to trivial details, such as hearing testimony from witnesses.

That Senate Republicans would buy into Alan Dershowitz’ cockamamie, inane rhetorical hogwash was extreme even for them. Dershowitz, in defending the President, asserted that since “every public official ... believes that his election is in the public interest,” therefore, “if a president does something that he believes will help him get elected is in the public interest, that cannot be the kind of quid promo that results in impeachment.” And to think, Harvard

range in 2014, that means in some counties more than twice as many people in this age group went to the polls in 2018.

That simple fact tells us that efforts to engage this part of the electorate are having some success.

So, what’s stopping others from voting? Here’s what a 25-year-old working professional told our reporter: “I know I should vote but I don’t. I don’t even know who my options are to vote for and haven’t found that info to be easily accessible.”

Another 27-year-old blamed a lack of information and misinformation for keeping him from confidently striding Editor into a voting booth.

“Being unsure what sources are credible and not just selling a candidate, which leads to the vote feeling somewhat like a shot in the dark and it’s not just positive options. A random vote can help a negative power.

The ‘it doesn’t take long’ argument rarely includes the research portion of the casting a vote.”

As I edited the stor,y I thought about how our high schools have become so focused on testing that they don’t likely spend enough time on civics and history, I thought about how even at our universities so many have become entirely focused on career preparation that they don’t learn about critical

Scott McLeod

he phones we carry everywhere contain or have access to more information than the largest libraries in the world, many times more. It’s the same with our laptops, tablets, desktops or whatever digital device one prefers. All the collected knowledge of science, literature, mathematics and the arts that humans have amassed since the dawn of civilization is right there at our fingertips.

It’s both amazing and overwhelming. Information overload, however, leads to just as many problems as it solves. A story from last week’s Smoky Mountain News illustrates that point. It also — at least by my way of thinking — is a good plug for the reliability of the old-fashioned newspaper, whether consumed in print or online.

We wrote about people in their late teens and twenties taking part in elections — which translates to actively participating in the civic life of the community they call home — and found there were some pleasantly surprising, but also baffling, conclusions.

As it turns out, 18- to 25-year-old voter participation is on the rise. From the 2014 to 2018 election, voter turnout among this age group was up by double-digit percentages in nearly every county in our coverage area of Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties. For those four counties, the average turnout among this age group was 30 percent (which was close to the statewide average). That may not sound so good, but considering that turnout was in the 12 to 20 percent

LETTERS University actually pays this looney-toon to teach law.

So, what are we left with? We seem to be cursed with an assemblage of elected officials to whom the Constitution of the United States means nothing, to whom taking an oath (in God’s name) means nothing, to whom representative government, checks and balances, democracy, and the rule of law, mean nothing.

The United States Senate, by acquitting Donald Trump, has chosen to reject evidence of wrongdoing on the part of the president whose abuse of power the Founders specifically created the Senate to counteract.

Americans have no choice but to conclude that self-centered fear of intervention by Trump into their reelection campaigns has made Republican senators not just supporters of this incorrigible, unmanageable and unchangeable president, but eager accomplices in his aggressive and egregious misuse of executive privilege and (perhaps unwittingly) decisively weakening their own power.

It’s almost as if these senators thought themselves unworthy (with the exception of Mitt Romney (Republican of Utah) of removing this unfit president from office despite their constitutional and moral responsibility to do so if the evidence warranted it and (despite new evidence having been barred from the trial by Sen. Mitch McConnell and Republican senators) from what we knew already, this president clearly met the criteria justifying impeachment and removal from office.

No one described the Senate trial better than Ross K. Baker, distinguished professor of

thinking and have a difficult time analyzing all that information at their fingertips.

More importantly, though, it made me realize how the important role that local newspapers play in our civic life has been diminished. I don’t care if you live in New York City or Bryson City, the best — and most trusted — place to get factual stories about candidates running for office is almost always the local newspaper. Whether it’s simple questionnaire or a story about an important issue, nine times out of 10 you’ll find useful, factual information in the local newspaper.

That’s just what we do.

And even if a reader may disagree with what shows up in the opinion or letters section of a newspaper, that doesn’t change the validity of the news stories. Despite the harping by some politicians who simply don’t like what’s reported, fake news is rarely found in newspapers.

The primary election in North Carolina is just a few weeks away. Search our website and you’ll find Republican and Democratic sample ballots for all our counties, and with that in hand you can research the candidates in each specific race.

Find an hour to squirrel away somewhere and do your homework by searching reliable news sites. Our community, our state, and our country at least deserve the amount of time it will take to make an informed choice.

(Scott McLeod can be reached at info@smokymounrtainnews.com)

political science at Rutgers University, when he said: “What we are witnessing is a Senate in the act of institutional suicide.”

It has been stated and written in one way or another by so many writers ... the Founders tried to lay what they perceived would be a permanent foundation for a new nation striving toward its ideals and future greatness. They clearly anticipated and feared someone like Donald Trump, and tried their level best to give us the remedies and protections we’d need to shield and preserve our people and our nation. Unfortunately, because senators chose to violate their oaths and to disregard the Constitution, the safeguards were unable to protect us from the president’s wrongful acts. Let us hope the Republic the framers envisioned doesn’t fail as well.

David L. Snell Franklin

The annual state of the lies To the Editor: During his State of the Union address to Congress, President Donald Trump repeated more than 20 of his more common lies according to fact checking organizations. To be clear, these are not misstatements. They are flat-out lies that have been debunked.

In my opinion, the most egregious was his contention that he and the Republicans are protecting the coverage for preexisting conditions. While Trump was making that statement his administration was in court suing to eliminate such protections.

Trump claimed that drug prices went down this year. However, there are reports that pharmaceutical companies had actually raised prices on a range of medications.

Payments by third party payers did not show a decrease. Only if someone switched from a name brand medication to a generic would you expect a decrease in prices.

Then there is the Trump claim that this is the best economy ever – made more than 250 times before. But by a variety of measures this is false. The rate of growth is the same or maybe now a bit less than under Obama and lower than it was from 1997-1999 under Clinton. Unemployment was lower during Lyndon Johnson’s administration and was also lower in 1953. The gross domestic product rate of increase was more during the 1950s and 1960s than during Trump’s administration.

Trump keeps claiming that his tax cuts were the biggest in history. Reagan’s tax cuts were larger. But to slow the deficits those cuts created, Reagan also raised taxes a number of times. In Trump’s case his tax cut has increased the national debt by trillions of dollars without doing much, if anything, for the economy. The vast majority of the cuts benefited the top 5 percent. This week we find out that to pay for those tax cuts Trump proposes to cut Social Security and Medicare.

Trump claimed that the net worth of the bottom half of wage earners increased 47 percent. According to economists this is total BS. Nothing supports the claim. Even if there was some indication of a percent increase, it is likely to be largely a statistical illusion. Many low-wage earners have no net worth — they live paycheck to paycheck.

tory” under Trump’s definition. In reality the manufacturing sector of the economy is in a bit of a recession. Some companies may be starting new production, but others, like Harley Davidson have moved to other countries due to Trump’s trade war tariffs.

Just about anything Trump claims needs to be considered a lie unless proved otherwise, because the odds are that he is lying.

Look at what he actually does, not what he says.

Norman Hoffman Waynesville

Chris Cox

The Law Offices of

Jeffrey W. Norris & Associates, PLLC

828-452-2221

Norris Professional Building 177 North Main St., Waynesville www.norrisandassoc.com www.norriselderservices.com

Smoky Mountain News

Anything bigger than zero will look like a big percentage increase.

Trump repeatedly claims that he is investing $2.2 trillion to “rebuild” the military. The reality is that Trump is adding up the budgets for three years. The truth is his annual budgets for the military were no bigger than Obama’s.

What about those 12,000 factories that Trump claimed America had gained? About 80 percent of those “factories” employ fewer than 6 people. If you run a bicycle shop that puts together custom bicycles, you are a “fac-

I

If you have limited mobility, contact us about an in-home visit.

February 19-25, 2020

f I could go back now and talk to my 12year-old self, I’d tell him a few things.

First, most of these grown-ups that you think are awful are, in fact, pretty awful, so try to relax a little.

Second, you know those kids in your school that you can’t stand, the really mean ones? It doesn’t turn out so well for most of them. It turns out that karma’s a thing.

Columnist Most important of all, don’t be in such a rush to grow up. Yeah, there are some good things to look forward to, but there are also quite a few things you’ll hate about being an adult, things that just do not seem fair. For example, you know that thick blonde hair of yours that the beauticians rave about, the hair that is always getting tangled and driving you nuts? You’ll lose most of it before you hit 40.

You know that beautiful, smooth skin that you want so bad to sprout whiskers?

One day, it will be hairy, dry, and flaky.

You’ll discover the joy of skin tags, but you’ll still get blemishes like a teenager. Fun, right?

You’ll wake up with aches and pains that seem to have no antecedent. You know how you wake up sore from lifting weights in physical education class or from running sprints in basketball practice? When you grow up, there will be days when you pull a hamstring reaching for the body wash in the shower. You’ll injure yourself sweeping or unloading groceries from the car. You’ll have a chiropractor on speed dial. You’ll learn to gobble ibuprofen like a box of orange Tic Tacs.

By the time I get around to explaining the joys of paying taxes and home ownership, my 12-year-old self is going to yawn, lie about having diarrhea, and scamper out of there like a squirrel in a thunderstorm. I didn’t even get around to telling him about the worst thing of all: car payments.

I don’t know about you, but I really hate car payments. I have a long, ugly history of

Estate Planning Estate Administration Trustee Services

opinion

The painful reality of car shopping

making car payments. It seems to me that I have been making car payments about every 10 days for nearly 30 years, and that every time I make one of these payments, it leaves me with about $28 to get me through the following two weeks until pay day. It takes more imagination than I have to survive on lentils and green split peas every day for two weeks.

There have been times in my life when my car payment has been more expensive than my rent or mortgage payment. I’m no life coach, but I suspect if your car payment is more expensive than your mortgage payment, you may need to re-evaluate a few things. Or get a life coach. Or develop an unquenchable hunger for lentils.

Is there any satisfaction in life that can compare to making the very last payment on a car? By the time you make it, if your car is still running at all — and it probably won’t be unless it is a Toyota or a Honda — it will have developed an array of unsettling “quirks,” have more dings and dents than a potato, and smell vaguely of rancid milk, probably from an Arby’s mocha shake your son spilled in the backseat four years ago and “forgot” to tell you about.

But you say this: “Who cares? This car is paid off. This car is all mine, right down to the lug nuts. I will never, ever make another car payment. Goodbye, lentils!”

My spouse and I paid off our cars at about the same time. For two glorious years, we’ve been car payment free, which means we’ve been able to blow all of that money on fun extravagances such as braces for our children’s teeth and college tuition for our oldest.

Each of our cars has about the same amount of miles it would take to drive to the moon. Each is what you might call “weathered,” or “lived in,” if you are kindly disposed. I don’t care, since my car meets my two major requirements: 1) it runs; 2) it is paid for.

Unfortunately, my spouse is now in a profession that demands that she drive a presentable car, and not just a presentable car (whether either of our cars qualify is strictly in the eye of the beholder), but a car that is actually impressive, a car that might impress a client. So, we’re car shopping again. We’ll soon be making car payments again. Of course we will.

“Cool, a new car!” my 12-year-old self would no doubt say.

I don’t know why I even bother with this kid.

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

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Carver's

MAGGIE VALLEY RESTAURANT since 1952

Daily Specials: Soups, Sandwiches & Southern Dishes

Featured Dishes: Fresh Fried Chicken, Rainbow Trout, Country Ham, Pork-chops & more

Breakfast : Omelets, Pancakes, Biscuits & Gravy!

Breakfast served all day!

OPEN DAILY 7 A.M. TO 8 P.M. SUNDAY 8 A.M. TO 8 P.M. CLOSED TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY 2804 SOCO RD. • MAGGIE VALLEY 828.926.0425 • Facebook.com/carversmvr Instagram- @carvers_mvr

We Accept Reservations & Offer Online Ordering

Join us Sundays 6-9PM

LIVE MUSIC!

Gluten Free Options Available

Bluegrass: Sons of Ralph

New Party Room Available ~ ~ ~ ~ Book Us for Your Next Event ~ ~

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

watamisushinoodles.com · 828.246.6888

Smoky Mountain News

February 19-25, 2020

33 S. Main St. #101 · Waynesville

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

sandwiches, shareables and daily specials that pair perfectly with our beer.

BLUE ROOSTER SOUTHERN GRILL 207 Paragon Parkway, Clyde, Lakeside Plaza at the old Wal-Mart. 828.456.1997. Open Monday through Friday. Friendly and fun family atmosphere. Local, handmade Southern cuisine. Fresh-cut salads; slow-simmered soups; flame grilled burgers and steaks, and homemade signature desserts.

Blue-plates and local fresh vegetables daily.

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

CHURCH STREET DEPOT 34 Church Street, downtown Waynesville.

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

BOOJUM BREWING COMPANY 50 N Main Street, Waynesville.

828.246.0350. Taproom Open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday & Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Gem Bar Open Tuesday through Sunday 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. Enjoy lunch, dinner or drinks at Boojum’s Downtown Waynesville restaurant & bar. Choose from 16 taps of our fresh, delicious & ever rotating Boojum Beer plus cider, wine & craft cocktails. The taproom features seasonal pub faire including tasty burgers,

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

From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday dinner starting at 5 p.m. “Best of” Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator Magazine. Set in a distinguished atmosphere with an exceptional menu. Extensive selection of wine and beer. Reservations honored.

CITY LIGHTS CAFE Spring Street in downtown Sylva.

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

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

Outside patio seating. Free Wi-Fi, pet-friendly.

Live music and lots of events. Check the web calendar at citylightscafe.com.

THE CLASSIC WINESELLER 20 Church Street, Waynesville.

828.452.6000. Underground retail wine and

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

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

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

828.926.1820 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; closed Tuesdays.

Family Style at Country Vittles is not a buffet. Instead our waitresses will bring your food piping hot from the kitchen right to your table and as many refills as you want. So if you have a big appetite, but sure to ask your waitress about our family style service.

FERRARA PIZZA & PASTA 243 Paragon Parkway, Clyde.

828.476.5058. Open Monday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; closed Sunday. Real New Yorkers. Real Italians. Real Pizza. A full service authentic Italian pizzeria and restaurant from New York to the Blue Ridge. Dine in, take out, and delivery. Check out our daily lunch specials plus customer appreciation nights on Monday and Tuesday 5 to 9 p.m. with large cheese pizzas for $9.95.

FIREFLY TAPS & GRILL 128 N. Main St., Waynesville 828.454.5400. Simple, delicious food. A must experience in WNC. Located in downtown Waynesville with an atmosphere that will warm your heart and your belly! Local and regional beers on tap. Full bar, vegetari-

tasteTHE mountains an options, kids menu, and more.

Reservations accepted. Daily specials. Live music every Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m.

Open Mon.-Sat. 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Sunday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

HARMON’S DEN BISTRO 250 Pigeon St., Waynesville 828.456.6322. Harmon’s Den is located in the Fangmeyer Theater at HART. Open 5:309 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday (Bistro closes at 7:30 p.m. on nights when there is a show in the Fangmeyer Theater) with Sunday brunch at 11 a.m. that includes breakfast and lunch items. Harmon’s Den offers a complete menu with cocktails, wine list, and area beers on tap. Enjoy casual dining with the guarantee of making it to the performance in time, then rub shoulders with the cast afterward with post-show food and beverage service. Reservations recommended. www.harmonsden.harttheatre.org HAZELWOOD FARMACY & SODA FOUNTAIN 429 Hazelwood Avenue, Waynesville.

828.246.6996. Open six days a week, closed Wednesday. 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday brunch 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Breakfast until noon, old-fashioned luncheonette and diner comfort food.

Historic full service soda fountain.

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

828.648.4193. 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday; Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Serving breakfast, lunch, nd dinner.

The restaurant has a 1950s & 60s theme decorated with memorabilia from that era.

KANINI’S 1196 N. Main St., Waynesville.

828.452.5187. Lunch Monday-Saturday from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., eat in or carry out. Closed Sunday. A made-from-scratch

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

Open seven days a week. Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday 3 p.m.-11 p.m., Sunday 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Family-owned for 30 years. Serving hand-tossed pizza made to order, pasta, subs, salads, and seafood.

MAD BATTER KITCHEN 617 W. Main St, Downtown Sylva.

828.586.3555. In collaboration with Lazy Hiker Brewing Co. Open 7 days a week; Saturday & Sunday Brunch until 2 p.m.

Hand-tossed pizza, local grass-fed beef and rice bowls. Scratch-made and beer inspired menu with lots of vegetarian, vegan & gluten free options. Free live music and movies. Visit madbatterkitchen.net for this week’s events.

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

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

Tucked away inside Waynesville Inn, the Tap Room Bar & Grill has an approachable menu designed around locally sourced, sustainable, farm-to-table ingredients.

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

828.926.1616. maggievalleyclub.com/dine.

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

MAGGIE VALLEY RESTAURANT 2804 Soco Road, Maggie Valley.

828.926.0425. 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Daily specials including soups, sandwiches and southern dishes along with featured dishes such as fresh fried chicken, rainbow trout, country ham, pork chops and more. Breakfast all day including omelets, pancakes, biscuits & gravy. facebook.com/carversmvr; instagram @carvers_mvr.

RENDEZVOUS RESTAURANT AND BAR Maggie Valley Inn and Conference Center 70 Soco Road, Maggie Valley 828.926.0201 Home of the Maggie Valley Pizzeria. We deliver after 4 p.m. daily to all of Maggie Valley, J-Creek area, and Lake Junaluska.

Monday through Wednesday: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. country buffet and salad bar from 5 to 9 p.m. $11.95 with Steve Whiddon on piano.

Friday and Saturday: 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday 11:30 to 8 p.m. 11:30 to 3 p.m. family style, fried chicken, ham, fried fish, salad bar, along with all the fixings, $11.95.

Check out our events and menu at rendezvousmaggievalley.com SOUTH PHILLY ITALIAN PASTA & SUBS 2768 Asheville Hwy., Canton.

828.593.3580. Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday noon to 6 p.m.

Pick-up or carryout only. Call in orders. Pasta and subs. Large portions!

VITO’S PIZZA 607 Highlands Rd., Franklin.

828.369.9890. Established here in in 1998. Come to Franklin and enjoy our laid back place, a place you can sit back, relax and enjoy our 62” HDTV. Our Pizza dough, sauce, meatballs, and sausage are all made from scratch by Vito.

WATAMI SUSHI AND NOODLES RESTAURANT 33 S. Main Street, Waynesville.

828.231.3476. Open 7 days a week serving lunch and dinner. 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 4:30 p.m.-9 p.m. on Monday-Thursday; 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 11:30 a.m.9 p.m. Sunday. Healthy, fresh, delicious and high-quality Asian food such as Sushi and Sashimi, Hibachi and Teriyaki, Pad Thai, Wok Lo Men and Thai Coconut Noodle Soup.

Sushi, Hibachi and Teriyaki lunch specials every day. Gluten free options available. Full sushi bar and new chocolate wine bar. New party room available for weddings, birthdays or special occasions. Live bluegrass Sundays from 6-9 p.m. with Sons of Ralph.

Reservations and online ordering available. www.watamisushinoodles.com

Mon/Wed/Thurs 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Friday/Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Closed Tuesday

Sunday 12-9 p.m.

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

ORDER CATERING ONLINE No Lines No Waiting!

CityLightsCafe.com 828.587.2233 3 E JACKSON ST • SYLVA, NC

Nutrition Facts serving size : ab out 50 p ag es

WAYNESVILLE PIZZA COMPANY 32 Felmet Street, Waynesville.

828.246.0927. Open Monday through Friday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 10 p.m.; Sunday noon to 9 p.m.; closed Tuesdays. Opened in May 2016, The Waynesville Pizza Company has earned a reputation for having the best hand-tossed pizza in the area. Featuring a custom bar with more than 20 beers and a rustic, family friendly dining room. Menu includes salads, burgers, wraps, hot and cold sandwiches, gourmet pizza, homemade desserts, and a loaded salad bar. The Cuban sandwich is considered by most to be the best in town.

Am ount per Serving Calories 0 % Daily Value * Tot al Fat 0g

0%

Reg ional New s

100%

Op inion

100%

Outd oors

100%

Art s

100%

Entert ainm ent

100%

Classified s

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

Award-winning BBQ, brisket, and ribs, all with sides made fresh daily.

Advertise here.

828.452.4251 www.smokymountainnews.com

Smoky Mountain News

DINE-IN, TAKEOUT, OR CATERING!

Smoky Mountain News

February 19-25, 2020

JOEY'S PANCAKE HOUSE 4309 Soco Rd Maggie Valley.

828.926.0212. Open seven days a week! 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. Joey’s is a family-friendly restaurant that has been serving breakfast to locals and visitors of Western North Carolina for decades. Featuring a large variety of tempting pancakes, golden waffles, country style cured ham and seasonal specials spiked with flavor, Joey's is sure to please all appetites. Join us for what has become a tradition in these parts, breakfast at Joey’s.

kitchen using fresh ingredients. Offering a variety of meals to go from frozen meals to be stored and cooked later to “Dinners to Go” that are made fresh and ready to enjoyed that day. We also specialize in catering any event from from corporate lunches to weddings. kaninis.com

8721 Carolina Blvd. Clyde 828-507-6209

Serving all of WNC

www.hitthepitbbq.com

23

24

A&E

Smoky Mountain News

That path is for your steps alone

Jerry Garcia of The Grateful Dead (photo credit: Jay Blakesberg)

A conversation with Jay Blakesberg

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER f a picture is worth a thousand words, then the images of Jay Blakesberg are worth a thousand notes.

Initially following and photographing the melodic cosmic force that was The Grateful Dead from the late 1970s onward, Blakesberg has traveled the country and the world over, always in search of these serendipitous blinkof-an-eye encounters and interactions that define not only a scene and a generation, but also a culture and the essence of the humanity — love, compassion, rhythm.

At 58, Blakesberg has remained one of the most highly sought-after photographers in the industry for several decades, with subjects ranging from B.B. King to Tom Waits, The Rolling Stones to Dave Matthews Band, David Byrne to John Lee Hooker.

And yet, he’s still in the trenches at music festivals large and small, chasing after the “next big thing” or standing within reach of musical royalty — ready to capture the moment for all to see.

I

Smoky Mountain News: With your photography showcase, it really circles back to why all of us are so attracted to live music, and especially with The Grateful Dead itself — capturing these moments in this magic that you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

Jay Blakesberg: Absolutely. Any of these bands that are in the jam world, no two shows will be exactly the same, right? So, these people [in the audience] push those limits, those musicians [onstage] push those limits — [everyone taking] these risks in hopes of creating these more profound, magical moments.

[With music], you are kind of reliving your youth and you’re like, “Oh my God, this song brings back so many memories.” And that’s what live music does — it brings you to these places and these times in your life.

[Like when] you’re listening to the radio and a song comes on. I remember hearing [The Beatles] “Hey Jude” come on the radio, and it brings me back to being in my brother’s car in 1970 and hearing it on AM radio in New York [while] driving down to the Jersey Shore.

The hair stands up on the back of your neck and you get goosebumps — music transports us to all these places.

SMN: Which the same can be said about your photography, too.

Jay Blakesberg.

Want to go?

“Between the Dark and Light: The Grateful Dead Photography of Jay Blakesberg” will be held 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, at The Grey Eagle in Asheville.

Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 day of show. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit www.thegreyeagle.com. If you would like to view Blakesberg’s work for purchase, visit www.blakesberg.com.

JB: And [with] my photographs, I want them to do the same thing. Take us back to those moments where the hair stands up on the back of your neck and you get goosebumps because you’re like, “Holy shit, this was my experience also. [And] I’ve never been able to put it into words.”

[And I’m up there] talking about this thing that we all did together and showing these photographs, [where] it brings [them] right back to that moment when [they were] 20 or 25 or 30 or 35 or whatever it was — having this experience that is now this experience that has brought [them] to who [they are in their] life today.

SMN: Why was photography the creative

medium by which you can express yourself most accurately, passionately and artistically?

JB: It’s just what I chose to do. When I first started taking pictures, I really liked it. It really turned me on and made me feel good. It made me connected. It gave me a purpose. It gave me something to do. It connected me to a scene and connected me to an experience.

You know, [back in the day] I’d go in my basement and make 8x10 black and white prints. I’d give them to my friends and they would put them on their bedroom walls with thumbtacks, and it connected us. We have these experiences and we have these photographs to remember those experiences.

And as time went on, it became more important for me to document these experiences. At a certain point, I realized that I was documenting a really important segment of pop culture history. [I was a] visual anthropologist and I should keep doing this because it was good for everybody.

Eventually, it turned it into a career and a profession where here I am now — traveling around the country, talking about my experience and showing my photographs.

Editor’s Note: If you would like to listen to the audio stream of this conversation, go to YouTube and search: “Jay Blakesberg Garret K. Woodward.”

“At a certain point, I realized that I was documenting a really important segment of pop culture history. [I was a] visual anthropologist and I should keep doing this because it was good for everybody.”

— Jay Blakesberg

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

Jeremy Garrett and Garret K. Woodward.

The “Mardi Gras in the Mountains” celebration will kick off at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, in downtown Franklin.

Boojum Brewing Company (Waynesville) will host Darren Nicholson Band (Americana/alt-country) 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21.

awoke in the guest bedroom and it took me a few The reception for the 52nd annual Juried seconds to realize where I Undergraduate exhibition will be held from 5 to 7 was. Tampa, Florida, was the p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, in the Fine Art Museum destination this past weekend.

Star Atrium in the Bardo Arts Center on the And there I was amid Gulf campus of Western Carolina University.

Coast sunshine and beautiful chaos only found in the There will be another installment of “Comedy depths of the unknown night.

Night” at 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, at Mad The purpose of this latest Anthony’s Taproom & Restaurant in Waynesville. excursion was part business, Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host Andrew part leisure. I was heading Thelston Band (rock/jam) 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21. down to Tampa anyhow to f meet up with some folks in the craft beer and music careers of all involved. These were familiar industry to talk about some ideas we’d like to implement in the Western North Carolina and beloved faces, many of which I didn’t even know a year ago, let alone when I brewing and live music scenes. moved to Western North Carolina in 2012.

That, and my buddies The Infamous Turning 35 a couple of weeks ago, I’ve Stringdusters just so happened to be perreally had a “What does it all mean?” vibe forming at my friend’s brewery and music and attitude rolling through my head. venue in Ybor City. Since the Dusters were Halfway between age 20 and 50. This weird, in town, I figured it’d be an ideal time to surreal spot where you’re young enough to interview fiddler/singer Jeremy Garrett for ” Rolling Stone about his new solo album, have mobility and youthful exuberance (fingers crossed) and yet you’re old enough to be which was recorded and produced by aware of just how big and wondrous the Organic Records in Arden (home of world is — with a more defined and clear Crossroads Studio). focus of what it is you are sincerely meant to But, the underlying tone of the trip was do in your time and place on this planet. this surreal sense of big changes, personally For myself, it’s always been about the and professionally, within the lives and

I

SHOWTIMES Feb. 18, 19, & 20: Parasite Sat., Feb. 22 in The Loft: Bolt VISIT OUR LOUNGE FOR: • Local Ice Cream • Beer & WIne • Full Coffee Bar • Theater Snacks

Kids & Family Love The Strand!

For Latest Movie Times:

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CASUAL FINE DINING WITH LIVE MUSIC COVERED PATIO LATE NIGHT MENU

KITCHEN 743 TUESDAY THRU SUNDAY FROM 5PM UNTIL...

SUNDAY BRUNCH 10AM TO 2PM

Smoky Mountain News

HOT PICKS 1 2 3 4 5

Established in 1942

February 19-25, 2020

And no matter what may come f to shine, the dream will always be mine

arts & entertainment

This must be the place

written word, the one thing I (hopefully) offer society in the name of peace, love and compassion between humanity and the grand cosmos. And it is the written word by which I’ve acquired this vehicle and catalyst to pursue my wildest dreams with a reckless abandon.

The gratitude is flowing through my heart and soul as I’m writing this column, all while sitting at a table in the St. PeteClearwater International Airport awaiting my flight back to Asheville, cold beer within reach, my thoughts ricocheting across this blank page like they always do, especially in moments of transition.

That gratitude reverberated through this Tampa trip, the crazy notion that everything and everyone around me is a result of the written word. It’s a long way from home back in the North Country of Upstate New York, and an even longer way from the old days of pounding on newspaper doors in hopes of somebody taking a chance on an underemployed writer.

Now, these paragraphs are not meant to push forward any false notion of self. More so, it’s about being sincerely appreciative of every single opportunity that has come my way, and never forgetting those long nights spent on the road chasing after some aspiration I had back in college of being a writer.

Tampa, Tampa, Tampa. It was weird to step out of the airport and feel that warm breeze, a far cry from the cold wind and snow experienced a few hours prior in Haywood County. Though I’ll always be a person who feels most at home in the mountains, there’s just something so appealing and mesmerizing about that Florida sunshine.

Cruising along causeways over silent waters in the midnight hour. Drinks in bars filled with neon lights and loud music. Get up with the morning sun to do it all over again. Turn that pasty Irish skin of mine to a shiny tan amid countless freckles that’ll finally reveal themselves in the right temperature. Snapshots of a weekend now fleeting into memory.

The whirlwind weekend came to a culmination while at Rock Brothers Brewing in Ybor City. With the Stringdusters onstage in the packed upstairs venue, my friends and I saluted the fiery performance, and also each other, these different backgrounds and starting points, each ultimately coming together and forming these lifelong bonds — through craft beer, music, journalism and an unrelenting zest to strive for greatness every day.

Winter is quickly giving way to spring, as the cycle of life starts all over again. I’m always sad to see the cold months disappear, the sentimentality of the holidays, good cheer and all that stuff that is meant to eliminate the winter blues in the presence of loved ones, near and far.

And though I’m not sure what this new phase will hold, I do know that I’ll be rushing towards that horizon with head held high, the wind at my back if I’m lucky. I mean, what else is there to do in the universe but chase after passion and truth? And with the “golden rule” safely tucked in your back pocket, the world is truly your oyster.

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

AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE EVENTS 743 HAYWOOD RD • WEST ASHEVILLE

ISISASHEVILLE.COM 828.575.2737

25

arts & entertainment

On the beat

Darren Nicholson and Steve Sutton. (photo: Garret K. Woodward)

Smoky Mountain News

February 19-25, 2020

Steve Sutton Memorial Concert There will be a special concert in memory of late banjo great Steve Sutton from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday, March 8, in the Queen Auditorium at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville.

Performers include the Darren Nicholson Band, Crowe Brothers, Mark Bumgarner, Marc Pruett, Hazel Creek, Bill Kaman, Mike Hunter, Malcolm Holcombe, and the Whitewater Bluegrass Co. The concert is an opportunity for his many friends to raise money for the International Bluegrass Music Association trust fund and for a scholarship in his name for music students at Waynesville’s Tuscola High School.

A longtime member of the Darren Nicholson Band and Whitewater Bluegrass Company, Sutton was 60 years old when he passed away in his sleep on May 13, 2017, one day shy of his 61st birthday.

“I basically owe my musical career to him,” said mandolinist Darren Nicholson of International Bluegrass Music

Rising country star in Franklin

Country music singer-songwriter Ashley Campbell will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.

Her music combines the old-school country sound with contemporary Americana, rootsy folk, and country-pop. She is a multitalented entertainer who attracts the spotlight with her style, talent, and unique sound.

Campbell is authentic and has a deep appreciation for the history and traditions of country music. She has music in her blood and showbusiness in her genes.

Campbell graduated from Pepperdine 26

Association “Entertainer of the Year” bluegrass act Balsam Range, who was Sutton’s best friend and longtime collaborator. “He got me my first professional job, which led to all the relationships that are still relevant in my current career. Steve believed in me so much that he took me to Strains of Music in Waynesville and paid cash for a Gibson mandolin. Steve was kind to everyone he met and helped countless people — he just had a good heart.”

A Grammy-nominated, multiple IBMA award-winner himself, Sutton graduated from Tuscola High School in Waynesville.

Upon graduation, he was simultaneously offered gigs with the “Godfather of Bluegrass” Bill Monroe and bluegrass legend Jimmy Martin.

“But, Jimmy offered me something like $10 more a week, so I took it,” Sutton chuckled in a 2015 interview with The Smoky Mountain News.

In 1974, Sutton joined Martin on the road, kicking off a career that took him across the globe, ultimately gracing the Grand Ole Opry stage numerous times.

Sutton also had stints with Alecia Nugent and Rhonda Vincent. And through his lifelong pursuit of bluegrass and mountain music, Sutton also remembered where it all began, alongside banjo great and Bluegrass Hall of Famer Raymond Fairchild. “[Steve’s] talent and free-flowing sense of humor constantly fed that professional effort to the highest levels,” said Marc Pruett, Grammy-winning banjoist of Balsam Range. “Steve was a valued, respected member of a heritage-schooled, living culture. He was ‘the real deal,’ and his warm smile and larger-than-life talent leaves a void in our mountains that can’t be filled.”

Tickets to the performance are $35 in advance. Dinner is ticketed separately for $12 and begins at 6 p.m. More information about tickets can be obtained by calling 828.452.2997.

To purchase tickets online, visit www.showclix.com/event/second-annualsteve-sutton-memorial-concert.

University with a degree in theater in 2009.

She aspired to be an actress and dreamed of appearing on “Saturday Night Live.” When she was cast in a role that required her to learn how to play the banjo, that all changed.

She fell in love with the instrument and decided to focus on music.

Campbell chose to put a music career on hold so she could help care for her father, country music legend Glen Campbell, while he was ill. In 2015, she released the single, “Remembering,” which is about her father’s struggles with Alzheimer’s disease. She released her debut album, “The Lonely One,” in 2018.

Tickets start at $15 per person. To purchase tickets, visit www.greatmountainmusic.com or call 828.273.4615.

Cold Mountain lineup revealed

Futurebirds.

The Cold Mountain Music Festival is proud to announce the lineup for its fourth annual event happening June 5-6 at the picturesque Lake Logan Conference Center in Canton.

Grammy-winning newgrass pioneer Sam Bush Band will headline the weekend-long retreat, with additional appearances by fastrising alt-country sensation Charley Crockett, West Coast folk-rock outfit Blitzen Trapper, critically acclaimed troubadour Amythyst Kiah, regional rock powerhouse Futurebirds, Americana/indie singer-songwriter sensation Sierra Ferrell, and more.

With less than half a decade of programming under its belt, Cold Mountain Music Festival has already been recognized as one of the Southeast’s goldmines for live music, outdoor recreation, and family-oriented activities.

Located just outside of Asheville in one of Western North Carolina’s most pristine stretches of land, Cold Mountain utilizes the vibrant Pisgah National Forest as its playground and encourages exploration throughout the two-day immersive experience.

In addition to heavy-hitting ensembles from the national frontlines, Friday night’s bill will shine a light on the region’s abundant local talent, welcoming an all-star cast of bands to the stage.

With highlights including the celebrated Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters, Pierce Edens, Joe Lasher, and Camp Henry (which calls Lake Logan home) alum Noah Proudfoot & The Botanicals, attendees will enjoy a curated dose of entertainment with a community thread tying it all together.

Having started as an effort to raise awareness for Camp Henry and the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina, Cold Mountain Music Festival continues to support the mission of inclusivity and engage participants from all backgrounds.

Weekend passes are on sale now on the Cold Mountain Music website. General admission passes are available for $75, and youth passes for those aged 12-17 can be purchased for $40 apiece. Overnight camping spots and catered breakfast meal tickets are also available for $75 (per site) and $12-$15 (per person), respectively. Group discounts may be applied for parties of 15 or more.

Enter the code “DioWNC” at checkout to purchase each pass (minimum 15) for $60 each.

Cold Mountain Music Festival is presented by Ingles Markets, with partners iHeartMedia and Haywood County Tourism Development Authority. www.coldmountainmusic.org.

Ashley Campbell.

On the beat

Candace Hardin Reading & Book Signing

arts & entertainment

Bookstore

Saturday, Feb. 22 3PM 3 EAST JACKSON STREET • SYLVA

828/586-9499 • citylightsnc.com

Meghan Hayes

Singer-songwriter at The Strand

February 19-25, 2020

Americana/folk musician Meghan Hayes will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, at The Strand at 38 Main in Waynesville.

Last year saw the release of the third record from East Nashville songwriter. Hard on the heels of a divorce from a 20-year marriage, the songs on “Seen Enough Leavers” are tough, sonically diverse and lyrically driven.

Sometimes folky, sometimes reaching into the realms of pop and rock but always grounded in the art of songwriting itself, this album is by far Hayes’s most ambitious recording to date.

Tickets are $10 per person. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit www.38main.com.

Helping Hands fundraiser

Smoky Mountain News

The Helping Hands of Haywood will host a fundraiser with a performance by The Remainders at 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb.29, at UpCountry Brewing in Asheville.

The organization is completely run by volunteers. Its first goal is to raise money for a family in transitional housing to ease the burden of paying for utilities. They have partnered with REACH Initiative for this goal, they’ll provide the home for a family and we will pay utilities. Families that are provided with after-care are much less likely to return to homelessness.

Helping Hands aims to assist people experiencing homelessness, addiction, and mental health issues. They are dedicated to filling in the missing pieces that existing nonprofits and programs currently provide.

For more information, email helpinghandsofhaywood@gmail.com or call 828.508.3420.

27

arts & entertainment

On the beat • Andrews Brewing Company (Andrews) will host the “Lounge Series” at its Calaboose location with Tom Edwards Feb. 21, Blue Revue Feb. 22, Bill Vespasian 4 p.m. Feb. 23, Brother! Feb. 28, Feather Feb. 29 and Scott Stambaugh 4 p.m. March 1. All shows are free and begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.andrewsbrewing.com.

• BearWaters Brewing (Canton) will host Bohemian Jean (singer/songwriter) from 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 21. Free.

• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host an acoustic jam with Main St. NoTones from 6 to 9 p.m. Feb. 20 and 27. Free and open to the public. www.blueridgebeerhub.com.

• Boojum Brewing Company (Waynesville) will host a bluegrass open mic every Wednesday, an all-genres open mic every Thursday, Darren Nicholson Band (Americana/alt-country) Feb. 21, Andrew Thelston Band (indie/rock) Feb. 22 and DJ Point Five 9:30 p.m. Feb. 29. All shows begin at 9 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.boojumbrewing.com.

• Elevated Mountain Distilling Company (Maggie Valley) will host Shadowfields (swampgrass) Feb. 21. All shows begin at 7 p.m. 828.944.0766 or www.elevatedmountain.com.

• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will have an Open Mic night Feb. 19 and 26, and a jazz night with the Kittle/Collings Duo Feb. 20 and 27, with Feather 3 p.m. Feb. 23. All events are free and begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.innovationbrewing.com.

• Innovation Station (Dillsboro) will host Isaiah Breedlove Feb. 22 and Lip Sync Battle Feb. 28. 7 p.m. www.innovation-brewing.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host an open mic night at 6:30 p.m. every Thursday, Kirk Fleta Feb. 21, Natti Love Joys Feb. 22, Dirty Dave & The Pony Express Feb. 28 and The Log Noggins 8 p.m. Feb. 28. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host Andrew Thelston Band (rock/jam) Feb. 21, Shabudikah Feb. 22, Natti Love Joys “Bob Marley Celebration” Feb. 28 and The Maggie Valley Band (Americana/indie) Feb. 29. All shows are at 8 p.m. www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host the “Stone Soup” open mic night every Tuesday, Scott James Stambaugh (singersongwriter) Feb. 21, Somebody’s Child (Americana) Feb. 22, Andrew Chastain (singer-songwriter) Feb. 28 and Frank & Allie Lee (Americana/old-time) Feb. 29. All shows are free and begin at 7 p.m. www.mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.

ALSO:

• Nantahala Brewing (Sylva) will host Into The Fog 8 p.m. Feb. 21, Dirty Grass Players 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22 and Arnold Hill Feb. 28. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. www.nantahalabrewing.com.

• Orchard Coffee (Waynesville) will host Michael Flynn 7:30 p.m. Feb. 21. www.orchardcoffeeroasters.com.

• Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Pub (Franklin) will Heidi Holton Feb. 21, Scott Stetson Feb. 22, Scott Stambaugh Feb. 28 and Nate Hadley Feb. 29. Shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. www.rathskellerfranklin.com.

• Salty Dog’s (Maggie Valley) will have Karaoke with Jason Wyatt at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays, Mile High (classic rock) 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays, and

a Trivia w/Kelsey Jo 8 p.m. Thursdays.

• Satulah Mountain Brewing (Highlands) will host “Hoppy Hour” and an open mic at 6 p.m. on Thursdays and live music on Friday evenings. 828.482.9794 or www.satulahmountainbrewing.com.

• Snowbird Mountains Brewing (Andrews) will host Bill Vespasian (singer-songwriter) 7 p.m. Feb. 22. Free and open to the public.

678.410.3035 or www.snowbirdmountainsbrewery.com.

• The Strand at 38 Main (Waynesville) will host an “Open Mic” night from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturdays and Meghan Hayes (singersongwriter) 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28 (admission is $10). 828.283.0079 or www.38main.com.

• The Ugly Dog Pub (Cashiers) will host Bluegrass Thursdays w/Benny Queen at 6:30 p.m. 828.743.3000.

• The Ugly Dog Pub (Highlands) will host Bluegrass w/Nitrograss Wednesdays at 7 p.m. 828.526.8364.

• The Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will host an “Open Mic Night” on Mondays, karaoke on Thursdays and semi-regular music on Fridays and Saturdays. All events at 9:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

828.456.4750.

Celebrate with

Literature!

Smoky Mountain News

February 19-25, 2020

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host

Pullin’ Strings (Grateful Dead tribute) Feb. 21, Heidi Holton (blues/folk) Feb. 28 and ‘Round the Fire & Friends (Americana/jam) 8 p.m. Feb. 29. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. www.froglevelbrewing.com.

Magazines - Newspapers 428 HAZELWOOD Ave.

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On the street

There is an open call currently underway for artisans, vendors and environmentally-themed booths at the 23rd annual Greening Up the Mountains, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 25, in downtown Sylva.

Celebrating the new spring in the mountains, the festival has become a beloved regional event. The festival typically enjoys crowds upwards 12,000 attendees and has 175 vendor booth spaces. In addition to a variety of arts, crafts, and food vendors, attendees can enjoy a 5K run, youth talent contest, beverage arts featuring local craft breweries and live music throughout the day.

Applications can be downloaded at www.greeningupthemountains.com and will be accepted through March 15.

For more information, email greeningupthemountains@gmail.com.

Waynesville historic speaker series

Waller is the author of several bestselling books, including Wild Bill Donovan: The Spymaster Who Created the OSS and Modern American Espionage; The Commandos: The Inside Story of America’s Secret Soldiers; and Disciples: The World War II Missions of the CIA Directors Who Fought for Wild Bill Donovan. His latest book is Lincoln’s Spies: Their Secret War to Save the Nation.

The Civil War Roundtable’s schedule will continue on Tuesday, April 14, with Dr. Judkin Browning who will focus on the impact of the war on the Northern and Southern home front. Michael Hardy returns on Monday, May 11, to discuss Stuart’s Tar Heels. Thomas Thibeault will speak about Robert Smalls on Monday, June 8.

More information can be found at www.wnccwrt.com.

• Thursday, April 2: “Touching the Face of History: The Story of The Plott Hound,” presented by Bob Plott. Hear stories of the origins of North Carolina’s official state dog, the Plott Hound. From Germany to the mountains of North Carolina, the breed’s 200-year history resulted in the development of what many consider to be one of the world’s finest hunting breeds.

• Thursday, May 7: “History as Inspiration,” presented by Thomas Woltz. A world-renowned landscape architect, Woltz will discuss the role of history and culture in his designs of public spaces. Through a selection of park projects in Western North Carolina, Texas, Tennessee and New Zealand, he will illustrate how his personal history inspires designs that connect people and the places they live.

Free and open to the public. In case of snow, the event will be automatically rescheduled for the second Thursday of the month.

‘Mardi Gras in the Mountains’ The “Mardi Gras in the Mountains” celebration will kick off at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, in downtown Franklin.

The historic Shelton House in Waynesville is currently in need of volunteers for an array of upcoming events.

Alongside help for events and gatherings, the organization is also seeking a docent, gift shop attendee, data entry person, landscaper, handyperson, and other positions.

Upcoming main events include the Blue Ridge Heritage Festival June 19-21, Shelton House Halloween “Haunting on the Hill” Oct. 27-31 and Shelton House “Tinsel Trail & Appalachian Christmas.”

For more information, visit www.sheltonhouse.org or call 828.452.1551.

Smoky Mountain News

Presented by The Town of Waynesville Historic Preservation Commission, the 5th annual “Haywood Ramblings” will once again take place this spring.

A speaker series on the historic resources and rich cultural heritage of Waynesville and Haywood County, the events will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month at the Town Hall in Waynesville.

• Thursday, March 5: “The Mountaineer: History in The Moment,” presented by Kathy Ross. Unlike history books, newspapers record events from an immediate perspective, with no takebacks once they are published. This talk will take a look at some of The Mountaineer’s most spectacular, peculiar, and even painful stories of the past century as they were perceived at the time.

Douglas Waller.

Open call for volunteers

February 19-25, 2020

The Western NC Civil War Roundtable is pleased to welcome Douglas Waller on Monday, March 9, at The Waynesville Inn Golf Resort and Spa. The evening’s agenda begins at 5 p.m. with a meet and greet dinner at the Tap Room within The Waynesville Inn Golf Resort and Spa. Dinner will be followed with a social at 6:30 p.m. The meeting and free presentation will commence at 7 p.m. in the Mountaineer room on the second floor of The Waynesville Inn. Waller will be speaking on Abraham Lincoln’s Spies. He will tell the story of the dangerous espionage and covert operations during the Civil War. He will feature four important Union agents and spy ring leaders: Allan Pinkerton, whose detective agency had already brought him fame nationwide; Lafayette Baker, who ran counter-espionage operations in Washington for the War Department; George Sharpe, a New York lawyer, who spied for generals Joseph Hooker, George Meade, and Ulysses S. Grant; and Elizabeth Van Lew, who ran a Union espionage ring in Richmond.

Behind these secret agents was Abraham Lincoln, who became an avid consumer of intelligence and a ruthless aficionado of covert action. The phone tapping, human collection and aerial snooping seen today can be traced back to the Civil War. Waller holds a B.A. in English from Wake Forest University, as well as an M.A. in Urban Administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He is a former correspondent for Newsweek and Time, where he covered the CIA, Pentagon, State Department, White House, and Congress.

Help bring the community together in fellowship and celebration in the heart of winter to recognize the beginning of Lent.

Local merchants, restaurants and breweries will have food and drink that reflect Mardi Gras.

Parade at 2 p.m. with a Children’s Costume Contest, Pet Costume Contest and Pantomime Music Parade. All proceeds to benefit the Appalachian Animal Rescue Center.

Contact Susie Colbert at 828.369.0092 for details on participation, sponsorships and volunteers.

arts & entertainment

WNC Civil War Roundtable

Open call for Greening Up

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arts & entertainment

On the wall

February 19-25, 2020

Folk school offers ‘Local Standby’ program Western North Carolina residents are now eligible for half-off tuition for all 2020 classes at John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown.

The Local Standby program provides full and part-time residents 50 percent off any full-tuition course on a space-available, standby basis. Students can participate in an array of week-long and weekend classes including blacksmithing, pottery,

Sylva Art + Design Committee art event

Smoky Mountain News

The Sylva Art + Design Committee is pleased to announce a unique pop-up gallery event that will feature the artistic creations of children ages 5-18 in the Western North Carolina region.

“Nature Through A Child’s Eye” will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 4, at Viva Arts Studio in downtown Sylva.

The event will focus on environmentally themed artwork created by the youth of our community in order to highlight a uniquely honest perspective on a global topic.

The show will aim to encompass the use of all art mediums including ceramics, painting, sculpture, drawing, and multimedia so long as dimensions do not exceed 12x12 inches. All submissions will be available for purchase and can be picked up after the completion of the exhibition.

All funds raised throughout the duration of the show will be equally distributed between SADC and the Sylva Community Garden in order to further the betterment of the community through arts, education, and environmental awareness.

For further information, contact the Sylva + Design Committee at 30 Art

jewelry, woodworking, and cooking.

Nineteen counties are eligible for the Local Standby program, including Cherokee, Clay, Buncombe, Henderson, Macon, Jackson, Swain, Madison, Graham, and Transylvania counties in North Carolina including the Qualla Boundary; Fannin, Gilmer, Rabun, Towns, and Union counties in Georgia; and Polk and Monroe county in Tennessee.

In its 95th year, John C. Campbell Folk School is expanding on a newly finalized strategic plan to strengthen local community relations and enhance programming to diversify its student base. Created with the help of instructors, students, and local communities, the plan also includes improvements to infrastructure, development of staff and resident artists, and continued financial strength.

All students interested must request a “Local Standby” discount at the time of registration and will be confirmed 14 days before the class start date. Students must present a valid driver’s license, voter registration card, or tax bill showing their local address.

For more detail on class information and descriptions, visit www.folkschool.org or call the registration office at 800.FOLK.SCHOOL.

sylvaartdesign@gmail.com or Viva Arts Studio at vivaartsstudio@gmail.com.

You can also follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sylvapublicart or on Instagram @sylvaarts.

WCU Juried Undergraduate exhibition, reception The reception for the 52nd annual Juried Undergraduate exhibition will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, in the Fine Art Museum Star Atrium in the Bardo Arts Center on the campus of Western Carolina University.

Currently being showcased, the exhibition is one of the longest-running Catamount art traditions.

For emerging artists, this exhibition is an extraordinary opportunity to share their artwork with a larger public and to enhance their skills in presenting artwork in a professional gallery setting.

This year, the exhibition is juried by Tracey Morgan, owner of Tracey Morgan Gallery in Asheville. For more information, visit bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.

James Lyle.

‘Brainstorming a Superhero’ James Lyle will be offering a “Sequential Art Class Series” beginning on March 7 and running through May 23 at the Haywood County Arts Council in Waynesville.

In this session, the class will participate in a group exercise dealing with the process of creating a “superhero” (or any other type of character in any media, really).

The group will spend time providing ideas for a collectively created character and along the way learn a bit about comic book history as well as the process of brainstorming ideas.

Students will want to bring along their own sketchpads, pencils, etc. to allow them to write down notes as well as create additional secondary characters as this process tends to bubble over into many ideas that cannot be used in the collective character design.

Make your reservation and pre-payment today. Class fee is $20 for HCAC members or $25 for non-members. Cash and Checks made payable to James Lyle. Call 828.452.0593 for more information. www.haywoodarts.org.

• Fiber Sunday will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, in Room 104 at The Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center in Franklin. Bring a textile project you are working on from spinning, knitting, weaving, rug hooking, baskets, etc. Call or email Teresa Bouchonnet at 828.349.3878 or bouchonnet@coweetextiles.com if you have any questions.

• The Macon County Art Association will present a special workshop with Betsey Sloan teaching a class making sheep out of gourds from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29, at the Uptown Gallery in Franklin.

For more information call the gallery at 828.349.4607 or visit www.franklinuptowngallery.com.

• The Weekly Open Studio art classes will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Haywood County Arts Council in Waynesville, Instructor will be Betina Morgan. Open to all artists, at any stage of development, and in the medium of your choice. Cost is $25 per class. There will also be a Youth Art Class from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. on Wednesdays. Cost is $15 per class. Contact Morgan at 828.550.6190 or email bmk.morgan@yahoo.com.

ALSO:

• The Museum of the Cherokee Indian’s exhibit, “People of the Clay: Contemporary Cherokee Potters,” features more than 60 potters from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Cherokee Nation, and more than one hundred works from 1900 to the present. The exhibit will run through April.

• Stonehouse Pottery (Waynesville) will be doing an Open Studio Tour and Sale the first Sunday of each month to help support our local nonprofits. Each month highlights a different artist and that artist chooses his or her nonprofit. The March 1 event will benefit Women of Waynesville, an organization that supports the needs of women and children in Haywood County.

• A “Beginner Step-By-Step” adult painting class will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville. There is also a class at 6:30 p.m. on the last Wednesday of the month at Balsam Fall Brewing in Sylva. Cost is $25 with all supplies provided. For more information on paint dates and/or to RSVP, contact Robin Arramae at 828.400.9560 or wncpaintevents@gmail.com.

On the wall

This year marks the eighth year of the ArtShare exhibit at the Haywood County Arts Council in Waynesville. ArtShare runs from March 6-28.

ArtShare is a showing of fine works of art which have been donated to or consigned with the HCAC. The HCAC welcomes pieces from collectors that may be downsizing, changing décor, or who wish to consign estate items to benefit the arts in this community. ArtShare was born out of a desire to allow collectors to be able to pass on art for someone else to enjoy.

The HCAC will accept donations or consigned items in the gallery on March 2 or 3.

Inventory sheets are due no later than Feb. 26. Even if collectors have participated in the past, we encourage them to participate again. Artists may participate by sharing their own work, but only if donating.

If you have questions, please call the HCAC at 828.452.0593. For more information about donating, including show contracts and inventory lists, visit www.haywoodarts.org.

arts & entertainment

HCAC ‘ArtShare’ returns

‘Affrilachian Artist’ studio exhibit

Smoky Mountain News

smokymountainnews.com

February 19-25, 2020

The “Affrilachian Artist Travelling Studio” exhibit will run through Feb. 29 at the Haywood County Arts Council in Waynesville.

The showcase is designed to invite dialogue about the presence and experience of people of color in our region. The exhibition features four African-American artists and selected work which celebrates the land or the lived experiences of Western North Carolina and the Appalachian region.

Marie T. Cochran, founding curator of the Affrilachian Artist Project will present the work in a diverse array of media and styles from folk art to contemporary art.

Cochran is featured in the book Southern Women, produced by the editors of Garden & Gun magazine. Her artwork is included in the exhibition Appalachia NOW at the Asheville Art Museum.

Featured artists in this show are: LaKeisha Blount, Rahkie Mateen, Trey Miles, and the late Victoria Casey-McDonald. The artists represent a range of ages. Some are local residents and others are alumni of Western Carolina University.

Gallery are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Cochran will host a gallery talk from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 15, at HCAC. As well, the closing reception will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29, at HCAC. www.haywoodarts.org.

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arts & entertainment

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The Highlands Performing Arts Center will present “Live via Satellite’ the National Theatre of London’s production of “Present Laughter” at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22.

Matthew Warchus directs Andrew Scott (BBC’s Sherlock, Fleabag) in Noël Coward’s provocative comedy “Present Laughter.” As he prepares to embark on an overseas tour, star actor Garry Essendine’s colorful life is in danger of spiraling out of control.

Engulfed by an escalating identity crisis as his many and various relationships compete for his attention, Garry’s few remaining days at home are a chaotic whirlwind of love, sex, panic and soul-searching.

Captured live from The Old Vic in London, “Present Laughter” is a giddy and surprisingly modern reflection on fame, desire and loneliness.

Tickets are available online at www.highlandspac.org, www.highlandsperformingarts.com or at the door.

Billy Case, CCIM

February 19-25, 2020

(828) 508-4527 | billycase@naibeverly-hanks.c com

Cary Goff, as well as Chesney Goodson and Ryan Cox. Hosted by Cory Thompson.

Goff is a writer/comedian out of Asheville and has performed around the southeast. He’s showcased in the Laugh Your Asheville Off Festival, been a finalist in the Port City Comedy Competition and a semi-finalist in the Carolina’s Funniest Stand-Up Comic Competition.

Goff has enjoyed performing with comedians such as Joe DeRosa, Rory Scovel, Joe Zimmerman, Doug Stanhope, Tom Segura and Jarrod Harris, among others. He also writes satire for the Asheville Disclaimer in the alt-weekly Mountain Xpress as well as The Simpleton Review.

Admission is $5 at the door. Ages 18 and over permitted. For more information, call 828.246.9249.

Get ready for spring!

Smoky Mountain News

this issue can be delivered to you Sometimes it's a little better to travel than to arrive — Robert M. Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance killboy.com photo

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W W W. b l u e r i d g e m o t o r c y c l i n g m a g a z i n e . c o m

Cary Goff.

‘Comedy Night’ at Mad Anthony’s There will be another installment of “Comedy Night” at 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, at Mad Anthony’s Taproom & Restaurant in Waynesville.

Comedians include acclaimed stand-up

• The “Western Carolina Comedy Showcase” will be held at 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, in The Gem downstairs taproom at Boojum Brewing in Waynesville.

Beth Fronczak will host live performances by Clinton Ricks, Rowan Young and Brad Sativa. Admission is $5 at the door. Ages 21 and up. www.boojumbrewing.com.

ALSO:

Books

Smoky Mountain News

33

A sea journey well-told ’m on page 289 of a 308-page book by Brian Doyle called The Plover and am having fun. The book takes place in present time on the high seas of the Pacific Ocean by an author who has been compared to Joseph Conrad, Robert Louis Stevenson, Jack London and even Gabriel Garcia Marquez. A young man sets out in a small craft in order to get away from humanity and modern civilization and to make his life and his “country” the sea.

Talk about conflict! If Writer the natural forces of the oceanic landscape aren’t enough, there are plenty more humanrelated conflicts to come.

And, yes, I’m having fun with the conflicts as well as the amazing storytelling and one could even say poetic quality of Doyle’s writing. As I’m nearing the conclusion of this novel I’m already feeling the tears when I actually reach the end. So, I’ve already ordered two more of Doyle’s books (he is no longer with us, but was, thank goodness, a prolific writer) from the Jackson County Library in Sylva.

To properly review The Plover and give one a decent experience of Doyle’s story and writing style would take the whole issue of this week’s Smoky Mountain News, as I’d have to share with you at least several lengthy passages from this book as evidence of Doyle’s subtle literary brilliance as well as his amazing insights into human psychology and history, marine biology, ornithology and the present-day relationship with all of these. So, here, let me show you what I’m talking about. This, a passage from the early pages of the book with the story’s main character, Declan, getting ready to set sail from the northwest coast of the U.S. and out into the Pacific Ocean: “Dawn like an eye opening, the Plover rocking gently. A pregnant silence, a deep silence filled with waiting, the invisible musicians with their transparent hands poised over their evanescent instruments; and then a lorikeet whistles in the woods; and then the

Thomas Crowe

I

inquisitive quizzical koels ask their quiet questions, and then a sea of warblers all at once as if by command, by signal, by the descent of a baton only they can see; and then

the deluge, pigeons and doves, noddies and tattlers, godwits and turnstones, curlews and pipers, teal and widgeon, boobies and petrels, shimbrels and phalarope, and o my little terns!”

City Lights reading, book signing Candice Hardin Littlejohn will hold a signing and discussion of her latest novel, The Adventures of Dr. Dorothy Jarrod Volume 1: The Oracle, at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.

A recently divorced dead language specialist, Dr. Dorothy Jarrod, moves from her North Carolina hometown to teach at a far off community college and to escape her ex-husband. While teaching, she receives an offer to partake in an expedition to Scotland, where dis-

With his Faulkner-like sentence structure, he follows that up a few pages later with this inspired proclamation from the minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources and Foreign Affairs on the island of Tungaru, who is being interviewed by a major Atoll culture newspaper in the Gilbert Islands and who is running for office: “I wish to make the poverties die. I wish to establish a republic of free people beholding to no fading empire or nation or country at all. I wish to establish a republic where every tenth person, male or female, young or old, is chosen a National Dreamer. I wish to establish an army of thinkers who will imagine and execute ways for the republic to borrow the energy of the sea which is our mother.

And finally I wish to establish many more things, gently and respectfully, without guns or shouting.

I think we are all children even if we have old bodies and we should make a republic that runs on the wonder of children whether we are old or

covery and adventure await.

Littlejohn is a Western North Carolina native, originating from Haywood County. A lifelong writer, she got her start submitting to the Rockmart Journal at the age of 6.

She once dreamed of starting her own literary magazine and is now the editor and publisher of the Bohemian Renaissance Literary Magazine, a literary magazine for those who wish to read the works of up-and-coming writers and artists in the Southeastern United States.

She also has a poetry collection titled Bared Expectations, a collection of poems dealing in a broad range of subjects and mean-

young children.”

From here we are passengers on Declan’s boat, The Plover, named after the species of bird with that name, and experience the unexpected trials and tribulations of everything from modern-day sea pirates to boat-smashing storms. At the end of the book Declan’s small craft has become full of Marquez-like characters and various birds all crammed onto a small boat, yet finding ways to interact and survive amicably. Doyle is a master at creating character as well as writing environmental and animal description.

But perhaps nothing in the book matches his portraits of the character of the ocean itself: “Maybe the ocean thinks. Maybe the ocean licks its islands every night like mothers lick their cubs.

This could be. Maybe the ocean remembers the old days when the worlds were just made and there was naught upon the waters but storms upon the sea; the ocean’s wild and tumultuous youth. Maybe all the smaller seas and oceans are the children of the mother of oceans. Maybe the ocean stares at the stars and yearns for the oceans on other worlds. This could be.”

I’m on page 292 now and am reading this passage spoken by one of the characters which more or less sums up Doyle’s philosophy for his lively seafaring story: “Ideas take on lives of their own and become quite real.

One of the most fascinating things about human beings is your imagination and how it can create something that was never in the world before in billions of years and will never be in the world again in that form in billions of years to come.” I’ve reached the end of Brian Doyle’s book The Plover. On the back cover it reads: “this is a rapturous, heartfelt celebration of life’s surprising paths.” Enticing praise, this. And from this reader’s experience, Doyle delivers.

Thomas Crowe is a regular contributor to The Smoky Mountain News and is the author of an historical novel The Watcher and a collection of short stories titled Firsts. He lives in the Tuckasegee community of Jackson County and can be reached at newnativepress@hotmail.com

ings, such as emotions, dreams and expectations.

To reserve a copy The Adventures of Dr. Dorothy Jarrod Volume 1: The Oracle, call City Lights Bookstore at 828.586.9499.

• Monthly Poetry Reading at Panacea Coffeehouse in Waynesville.

Last Saturdays every month at 2 p.m. Bring your poetry, essays and writings to share.

Be sure to order drinks and snacks and tip the staff of Panacea. For more information, contact Morella Poe at poevampyre@gmail.com.

ALSO:

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Outdoors

Smoky Mountain News

Jamie and Ruffin Shackleford have been running summer camps at Outdoor Mission Camp fulltime since 2008, but going forward, the organization will shift its focus to a more supportive community role.

Holly Kays photo

A time for change Outdoor Mission Camp expands its focus under new name

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER either Jamie and nor Ruffin Shackleford ever attended summer camp as children, but they believe they were built to lead it.

Jamie first heeded that calling at the tender age of 10, when she invited all the neighborhood 3- and 4-year-olds to attend her threeday-a-week backyard summer camp. All it cost them was a quarter to help pay for snacks.

Meanwhile, the Shacklefords spent their separate childhoods living life outside. Jamie started skiing at age 9, backpacking at 11 and paddling at 13. Ruffin’s childhood included ample exploration of the West Texas deserts with his father, who was head of the art department the University of Houston, and summers on horseback at Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley.

“When we got married we had that passion for wilderness and the outdoors, and we knew that someday we would like to have a full-time wilderness ministry,” said Jamie.

N

THE WAKEUP CALL For a long time, that ministry had to be part-time. Ruffin worked as a power plant

manager, and together the couple has raised six children and given a home to 14 foster kids. Still, they found ways to fit their calling into the complexities of daily life. While living in Colorado, they started a small business leading cross-country ski trips and winter camping trips through the mountains. By the time they moved back east, most of their own kids were grown, so they began a program that took court-involved youth on backcountry adventures in lieu of a stay at juvenile detention.

“It was a really neat experience,” said Jamie. “We saw so many changed lives that a friend encouraged us to start a chapter of Youth for Christ.”

They did, in 2001 chartering a chapter of Youth For Christ in Roxboro that now continues as an independent nonprofit serving 900 kids each week.

Throughout all of this, backcountry sessions were limited to three weeks in the summer, when Ruffin would use his vacation time to run summer camp. In 2004, they started building the log cabin that now serves as Outdoor Mission Camp’s main building, and in 2008 Ruffin quit his job so that he and Jamie could run camp full-time. The SHERPA program — a summer discipleship program for college students, many of them from other countries, who would help lead camp sessions.

“That was very fulfilling for a number of years, and then we had some big life changes, and I think that precipitated this change,”

said Jamie. “Ruffin had a stroke three years ago, and we lost all our parents within two and a half years of each other. It was pretty traumatic, and we were so busy we didn’t have time to grieve. Before you knew it we were worn out and knowing that we needed to do something a little different.”

The experience forced Jamie, 62, and Ruffin, 65, to take a hard look at their lives, at their organization and at the future.

“That was like a wakeup call for us,” said Ruffin of his stroke. “We hadn’t been that in tune with the reality that change is coming.

And it is coming.”

That realization, coupled with a change of focus for Outdoor Mission Camp’s parent organization Youth For Christ, means that things up on the mountain will look a lot different going into the new decade. For one, OMC is no longer affiliated with YFC. It’s now an independent nonprofit officially called Outdoor Mission Community.

The parting of ways with YFC was done by mutual agreement, said Jamie. YFC is in the midst of a campaign to unify the focus of its various chapters, centering those efforts on ministry to 11-to-18-year-olds within school campuses. That had never been what OMC was about. It made sense for OMC to leave the YFC umbrella.

EXPANDING THE MISSION It also made sense for OMC to re-examine its own focus.

“We kind of started outreach as lone wolves doing this, and it worked for a while because we were young, we had a tremendous amount of vision, a lot of experience, a lot of capacity ourselves. It could work for a while

like that,” said Ruffin. “But as we get older, as our lives change, as the outreach expands, pretty quickly it goes beyond what two people could do or what a host of volunteers could even do.”

Under its new name of Outdoor Mission Community, OMC will no longer be in the business of planning, hosting and running its own schedule of camps. Instead, the nonprofit will work as a support organization that helps other groups and organizations provide wilderness experiences to people of all ages and backgrounds.

“It needs to embrace what many different people in the community can bring to the table,” said Ruffin. “We hope that’s what we’re doing is providing a vehicle so many people could come in and have a greater impact on our community.”

This could manifest in a variety of ways.

OMC could facilitate adventures by equipping groups with the bikes, canoes and other outdoors gear it’s accumulated over the years. It could help the group with planning, or securing the proper permitting, or finding volunteers. OMC could also provide training opportunities and raise money for grants funding wilderness experiences for people who normally wouldn’t have the opportunity.

“We’re really excited about the potential of that, really empowering others to pursue these same passions and visions,” said Jamie.

Camp Ability WNC is a good example of the type of support OMC hopes to offer. For seven years, OMC partnered with the organizers of Camp Ability, which is a summer camp designed for children with special needs. Last year, with help from the Shacklefords, Camp Ability was able to become a standalone 501c3 nonprofit.

“That’s a good example I see as to how we could share something,” said Ruffin. “In that case it was experience and wisdom.”

There’s no better place than WNC for an organization like Outdoor Mission Community to flourish, the Shacklefords believe.

“We’ve got great hiking clubs in this area, people who are already interested in the water in our community, people who are already interested in the national park,” said Jamie.

“We have really great resources in our community that might be interested in sharing those passions with other people.”

Currently, the Shacklefords are working to grow the board overseeing the nonprofit.

They hope to eventually end up with an active board that will take a real leadership role in the organization’s future.

“I’m really hoping that in a couple of years we can hire a new director and I can step back and be on the board and watch things grow,” said Jamie. “That’s what we did with Youth for Christ Roxboro, and it flourished.”

THE NEXT GENERATION Throughout their careers in wilderness adventure, the Shacklefords have emphasized inclusion and outreach.

New Sunday hunting meeting scheduled

outdoors

An online meeting has been added to the existing schedule of public hearings to discuss Sunday hunting on game lands in North Carolina, and it will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20.

Participants will need to log on to zoom.us/j/623274594 by 7 p.m. for the meeting consisting of a short presentation, interactive polling questions and a discussion about activities, values and opinions regarding Sunday hunting on game lands. The original

schedule of six meetings included a Feb. 13 public hearing in Clyde.

The Outdoor Heritage Act of 2015 removed a prohibition on Sunday hunting with firearms that had been in place in North Carolina since 1868. The Outdoor Heritage Enhanced Act of 2017 then allowed for Sunday hunting on public lands. After that law passed, the Wildlife Commission began gathering data and public input to help inform its decision on whether to allow Sunday hunting on game lands.

On Sundays, hunters will still be prohibited from hunting with a firearm between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., hunting deer with dogs and hunting within 500 yards of a place of worship.

Macon 4-H holds plant sale The annual Macon County 4-H Plant Sale is underway, with orders accepted for a variety of fruit and berry plants through Friday, March 13.

Offerings include grapes, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries, as well as apple, cherry, peach, pear and plum trees. For the first time, the sale will also offer a bee food seed pack.

Pickup will be April 1-2, with all proceeds benefitting Macon County 4-H. Order forms are available at the 4-H office or online at http://bit.ly/plantsaleform. Return forms with payment to the office, located at 193 Thomas Heights Road, Franklin, N.C. 28734.

Help wanted

828.456.3021

HaywoodChamber.com

Business of The Month: Better Homes & Garden Real Estate 1986 Soco Rd, Maggie Valley • 828-926-5200

LEFT TO RIGHT: Chase Kress – Stanberry Insurance, Tom Mallette, Christine Mallette, owners of Better Homes & Garden Real Estate.

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Smoky Mountain News

The outdoors isn’t just for the middle-class white families who make up the lion’s share of visitors to national parks — it’s for everybody.

In the past, many of OMC’s camps have focused on kids who normally wouldn’t have the money or opportunity to spend a week in the woods. The La Aventura camp focuses specifically on Hispanic teens, while other sessions work with kids from the inner city.

“There’s a world of need out there, said Jamie. “We’re called to meet it, every single one of us, and share what we have with others. They are our neighbors.”

They’re also our future. America’s racial makeup is becoming ever more diverse, but visitors to its public lands remain disproportionately white. If those resources are to remain protected in the generations to come, buy-in from all ethnic groups is essential. As Ruffin used to tell his employees at the power plant, you never wash a rented car.

“As we look at the change in demographics, there will be more and more

28 Walnut St. Waynesville

February 19-25, 2020

OMC is excited about its new identity as Outdoor Mission Community and is looking for partners to help it realize its new vision of supporting area organizations interested in getting people of all ages and ethnicities out in the woods.

A volunteer training session to include wilderness first aid, ages and stages, reflective listening, top rope belaying, leave no trace, debriefing, storytelling and abuse prevention will be held in May. To get more information, join the board or discuss partnering on an event, contact OMC at info@outdoormissioncamp.org or 336.583.9932.

minorities in our country,” said Ruffin. “If they don’t have ownership of our national parks, it will not be taken care of. So that means a lot to us, to share ownership of the national park on a greater scale.”

It’s not just about ethnic inclusion, though. It’s also about generational inclusion. Kids today spend less time outdoors than they did even five years ago, according to the recently released 2019 Outdoor Participation Report from the Outdoor Foundation.

“Kids went on 15 percent fewer annual outings in 2018 than they did in 2012. The decline in youth activity was particularly concerning as youth participation is a strong indicator of future activity,” the report reads. “In fact, adults that were active outside as children were twice as likely to be active when they became adults.”

That’s a problem in need of a solution, said Ruffin.

“That generation, they’re going to be gone in a flash,” he said of his own age group. “The young people that are not getting out into the park are the ones all of a sudden that inherit this. What are they inheriting? They don’t have a clue what they’re inheriting.”

He and Jamie look forward to working with the WNC community to reach out and touch lives in a way that will instill a love for the outdoors and a passion for life in general. Camp is an important ingredient to meeting that goal, but it can’t be the only ingredient. There’s a role for everybody to play.

“They need many touches in their life,” Ruffin said of the youth OMC seeks to influence. “Camp provides an intense one, but after that they need a mentorship of some sort, and that can come from a number of difference places, but that ongoing mentorship is super important to reinforce and encourage somebody that’s made a positive choice to change their lives when they’re up here at camp.”

facebook.com/smnews 35

February 19-25, 2020

outdoors

Water champions honored Haywood Waterways Association had a hard time choosing from the many people and organizations deserving of its annual awards recognizing outstanding effort to protect Haywood County’s waterways. Five winners received three awards during the organization’s annual membership dinner in December 2019.

The Pigeon River Award, which recognizes individuals or organizations making a significant contribution to protecting Haywood County’s land and water resources, was bestowed upon three winners.

The Haywood County Agricultural Advisory Board received the award for its work to protect farmland and green space from development. The Voluntary Ag District and Enhanced Voluntary Ag District programs the board started have protected more than 15,000 acres and served as models for other counties. The organization has also helped farmers protect 1,800 acres using conservation easements.

The North Carolina chapter of The Conservation Fund received an award for helping to permanently protect more than 7,000 acres in Maggie Valley. The work has focused on protecting Maggie’s drinking water supply, with 52 percent of Campbell Creek

and 35 percent of Upper Jonathan Creek protected to date.

The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy was the third organization recognized. Since 1993, the nonprofit has protected more than 12,000 acres of land in Haywood County, including Cataloochee Ranch, Waynesville Watershed, Canton’s Rough Creek Watershed and Cold Mountain Game Lands. In the past year alone, SAHC has helped nine property owners permanently protect more than 760 acres.

The Big Creek Award for Partner of the Year went to Dave Angel of Elevated Mountain Distilling Company in Maggie Valley, who gave land to the town for establishment of Elevated Park. The property includes 160 linear feet of frontage on Jonathan Creek, which was severely eroding prior to a streambank restoration project being completed. Angel donated 10 asphalt parking spaces adjacent to Elevated Park to be removed so a stormwater collection and treatment device called a bioswale could be built, and he regularly hosts and supports Haywood Waterways events.

The Richard T. Alexander Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Jim Pearson, who in one year put in more than 450 hours of labor to remove 200 bags of trash. Estimated at 8,000 pounds, most of the trash came from the place where Richland Creek enters Lake Junaluska.

Sick & Tired of Being Sick & Tired?

Hike the classic trails in 2020 The schedule for this season’s Classic Hikes of the Smokies series from Friends of the Smokies is now available, with 10 guided day hikes planned on the second

Tuesday of each month from March to December to help hikers experience the Great Smoky Mountains National Park while raising money to maintain the park’s nearly 900 miles of trails.

Planned hikes include: an easy 5.1-mile hike of Elkmont Loop March 10; an easy 3.6-mile hike from Porters Creek to Fern Falls April 14; a moderate 3.5-mile hike of the Chimney Tops May 12; a moderate 10.9mile hike of Sugarland Mountain June 9; a

Plunge logs fundraising record This year’s Plunge Benefit-t-t-ing Kids in the Creek and Environmental Education raised a record $39,000 when 113 plungers braved 43-degree water on Saturday, Feb.1, in Canton.

Held each year on Super Bowl Saturday, the Plunge invites participants to dip a toe or fully immerse themselves in frigid wintery water while raising money for Haywood Waterways Association’s environmental education programming.

Now in its eighth year, the event surpassed its fundraising goal of $35,000. Success was due partially to generous support from a total 151 sponsors.

Learn more at haywoodwaterways.org.

Smoky Mountain News

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Let our pharmacist show you natural ways to strengthen your immune system.

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moderate 6-mile hike of the Cataloochee Divide Trail July 14; a 7.4-mile hike of the Boogerman Loop on Aug. 11; a difficult 11.6-mile hike of the Appalachian Trail to Mt. Cammerer Sept.

Bob Carr photo 8; an easy 3.6-mile hike to Andrews Bald Oct. 13; a difficult 11.8-mile hike of Lost Cove Loop Nov. 10; and a moderate 6-mile hike of Smokemont Loop Dec. 8.

Each hike is led by a member of the “Hike Advisory Team,” a group of Western North Carolina volunteers committed to preserving and protecting the park while sharing their diverse experiences.

Hikes are $20 for Friends of the Smokies members and $35 for new or renewing members, a price that includes membership plus one hike. Money raised benefits the Smokies Trails Forever Program, which seeks to rebuild and rehabilitate high-use trails in the Smokies. Register for the whole series at a discounted rate of $180. Learn more or register at hike.friendsofthesmokies.org.

find us at: facebook.com/smnews

Get involved with the Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee River during a special event at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, in the Community Room of the Jackson County Public Library.

WATR will have signups for the rebuilding of East LaPorte River Access Park, sediment testing and more, and attendees will be trained to test the water in their own

backyards in order to contribute to a larger database.

This event is designed to find and train team leaders and team members for a stream watch group, do a rehabilitation of watershed rivers and streams, and find volunteers to do behind-the-scenes work. A new smartphone app will help potential volunteers find themselves in WATR. For more information, call 828.586.2016.

Eat chili to support the environment The second annual Fundraising Chili Cookoff will be held 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at Elevated Mountain Distilling Company in Maggie Valley to raise money for Haywood Waterways Association.

Last year’s inaugural event raised about $3,000 to support environmental education and conservation efforts in Haywood County. Chili cookers are wanted, with signup open through March 5.

The event will include live music by Bona Fide, a tap takeover by 7 Clans Brewing and amaretto from Oak City Amaretto.

There is space for 15 chili cookers, with a maximum of four people per team and a $35 entry fee.

Contestants must cook at least two gallons of chili. Chili eaters can buy tickets for $15 in advance or $20 day-of, with children 12 and under free. Register at charity.gofundme.com/hwa2ndchilicookoff.

outdoors February 19-25, 2020

Smoky Mountain News

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outdoors February 19-25, 2020

Prescribed burn proposed for the Nantahala Forest A prescribed burning project proposed for the Nantahala Ranger District of the Nantahala National Forest is open for public comment through March 4.

Under the proposal, burning would be conducted on 28 permanent wildlife openings across the district, totaling about 47 acres in Macon and Jackson counties. The authorization would remain in place for 10 years, allowing the Forest Service to conduct multiple burn treatments.

Burns would be conducted during the dormant season, generally between Oct. 15 and April 15, on days when leaf litter in the surrounding forest is too wet to burn, allowing field edges to serve as containment lines.

The project would not cause any ground disturbance. It would kill encroaching vegetation and consume coarse dead vegetation that is overtaking the fields, impeding the growth of plants animals depend on for food.

Comments must be received by March 4 and can be emailed to comments-southernnorth-carolina-nantahalanantahala@fs.fed.us; mailed to Steverson Moffat, NEPA Planning Team Leader, Nantahala Ranger District, 123 Woodland Drive, Murphy, NC 28906; or called in to 828.837.5152. They must include a name and address, title of the proposed action, specific substantive comments and a signature.

Help track nature’s patterns Adopt a plot in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to be part of a team attempting to track nature’s calendar, and get started by attending a training session 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29, at Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee. A second training will be offered 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at the Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg.

Training will cover topics such as tree identification techniques, stages of tree change throughout the year, fruit and flower identification and phenology data collection protocols. Volunteers will monitor their adopted plot at least twice per month, from the first leaf bud in spring to the final leaf drop in fall. The project helps scientists better understand how changing weather patterns affect our diverse ecosystem and the timing of wildflower blooms and fall color.

Experience is not necessary, and plots are available near parking areas at several park locations. Register for the training

Tires Brakes Alignment Road Service Tractor Tires

Smoky Mountain News

across the country are detailed at www.usanpn.org.

Three Great Smoky Mountains Association projects are up for the Public Lands Alliance 2020 Partnership Awards, and voting is open through March 4 to select the recipient of the Partners Choice Award.

Projects up for the award are Back of Beyond: A Horace Kephart Biography by George Ellison and Janet McCue, for Publication of the Year; the Species-a-Day Perpetual Calendar for Innovative Product of the Year; and Millers Historical Demonstrations for Outstanding Public Engagement.

Winners will be announced March 4 at a ceremony held during the annual PLA conference in Arlington, Virginia. Help choose the winner of the Partners Choice Award by voting at pr.easypromosapp.com/p/887518.

Authorized Motor Fleet Management Maintenance

M ONDAY-F RIDAY 7:30-5:00 • WAYNESVILLE P LAZA 828-456-5387 • WAYNESVILLETIRE . COM

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with Israel Golden at Israel_golden@partner.nps.gov. Phenology research efforts

Vote for your favorite GSMA project

WAYNESVILLE TIRE, INC. • • • • •

Volunteers collect tree phenology data. NPS photo

Puzzles can be found on page 46 These are only the answers.

Enrollment open for ag protection programs outdoors

Agricultural producers have until March 15 to enroll in the Agriculture Risk Loss and Price Loss Coverage programs from the Farm Service Agency.

An estimated 1.5 million producers are expected to enroll prior to the deadline; by enrolling soon, producers will beat the rush and allow FSA offices to better deliver their services. The programs provide financial protections to farmers from substantial drops in crop prices or revenues and are vital economic safety nets for most American farms.

Until March 15, producers who have not yet enrolled in ARC or PLC for 2019 can enroll for both 2019 and 2020 during the same visit to an FSA county office unless yield updates are requested.

Additionally, farm owners have a one-time opportunity to update PLC payment yields that take effect beginning with crop year 2020. If the owner accompanies the producer to the office, the yield update and enrollments may be completed during the same office visit.

Generous donation feeds the hungry

Gene Christopher of Christopher Farms consistently supports the Haywood Gleaners by donating his fruits and vegetables. Donated photo opportunities at www.haywoodgleaners.org.

Canton teen recognized for ag leadership A Canton student was one of six youth statewide to win the 2020 AgYouth Leadership Award from Carolina Farm Credit.

Jadyn Denty won this honor intended to recognize students who excel in the classroom and community as leaders in their FFA chapters and 4-H clubs. The AgYouth Leadership Program is open to any junior or senior student in good standing at school and in an FFA or 4-H program.

Award recipients were chosen by the AgYouth Leadership Committee from among more than 80 applicants. Winners will be eligible for scholarships awarded in May, with applications for the 2021 program opening in July.

Public comment is open for a proposed project in the Nantahala Ranger District of the Nantahala National Forest.

The U.S. Forest Service is proposing 451 acres of crown touch release treatments on 28 stands located in Jackson, Macon and Swain counties. The treatment would include using chainsaws to cut tree saplings down and to cut grape and smoke vines that compete with selected trees.

The endeavor would aim to increase the abundance of and reallocate space to trees like oaks that produce hard mast, trees that are underrepresented in a given forest type,

healthy and vigorous trees with good form and crowns, and trees that benefit wildlife.

No herbicide would be used, and no ground disturbance would occur.

Work would begin immediately after the decision document is signed on stands that had been previously cleared and are 10 to 20 years old.

Comments must be received by March 5 and can be emailed to comments-southernnorth-carolina-nantahalanantahala@fs.fed.us; mailed to Steverson Moffat, NEPA Planning Team Leader, Nantahala Ranger District, 123 Woodland Drive, Murphy, NC 28906; or called in to 828.837.5152. They must include a name and address, title of the proposed action, specific substantive comments and a signature.

Smoky Mountain News

Public input sought on forestry project

February 19-25, 2020

The generosity of Waynesville farmer Gene Christopher has allowed the Haywood Gleaners to gather, box and deliver more than 4,000 pounds of apples to the food insecure of Haywood County in the past month.

For the past several years, Christopher has allowed the Haywood Gleaners to glean a variety of fruits and vegetables from his farm, and recently he extended an invitation to the group to “glean� from his warehouse cooler, pulling from post-harvested bins of Fuji, Rome and red delicious apples.

In addition to the apples, Christopher donated new, expensive, grocery store-quality boxes in which to pack the apples. The two tons of apples were distributed to more than 30 recipient partner locations that assist food insecure people.

Since 2012, the Gleaners have received calls from Christopher and other local growers, the Mountain Research Station and home gardeners who continue to share their bounty with those challenged with food insecurity. Find out about volunteer

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WNC Calendar

Smoky Mountain News

COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS • The largest recreational ski race program in the world, NASTAR Public Racing, will be held from 9-11 a.m. on Saturdays through the end of February in Cataloochee. Fun, competitive and easily accessible racing program that allows racers of all ages and abilities to compare themselves with each other, regardless of when and where they race, using a racer handicap system. Cost: $10 for two runs or $20 for unlimited runs. Register at the resort or nastar.com.

• WNC Bridge Foundation will hold nine listening sessions in February across Western NC, including Haywood and Jackson Counties. The foundation awarded $3 million to local nonprofits last year. Complete list of sessions: https://tinyurl.com/tngtsyg. RSVP: grants@wncbridge.org. More info: WNCBridge.org.

• Laurel Ridge Country Club is opening its doors to the public in February for discount golf, Sunday brunch (11 a.m.-2 p.m.), and more. Info and reservations: 452.0545, ext. 140.

• The Haywood County Tourism Development Authority will hold a mandatory partnership funding workshop at 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. on Feb. 27 at 1110 Soco Road in Maggie Valley. Must attend to apply for funding; applications are due by March 31. RSVP or get more info: 944.0761. Guidelines and applications available on Feb. 27: www.haywoodtda.com.

• Tax-Aide volunteers will be available to assist with federal and state income tax preparation and filing through April 14 at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. Service is provided by appointment from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays. Appointments: 524.3600 or visit the library at 149 Siler Road.

• Volunteers are available to assist with federal and state income tax preparation and filing through April 14 at two locations in Jackson County. Assistance is provided on a first-come, first-serve basis from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays at the Department on Aging in Sylva. The same service is also provided by appointment from 2:30-6:45 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. Appointments: 586.2016.

• Southwestern Community College is seeking nominations for the SCC Foundation’s second-annual Distinguished Alumni Award. Deadline is March 1.

Nomination form: www.southwesterncc.edu/award. Info: 339.4227 or k_posey@southwesterncc.edu.

• Southwestern Community College will host a pair of job fairs from 1-4 p.m. on March 4-5 on the college’s Jackson Campus in Sylva. Healthcare Career Fair is March 4; General Job and Career Fair is March 5. Info for job seekers and employers: m_despeaux@southwesterncc.edu or 339.4212.

• Western Carolina University will host “National History Day” competition for middle and high school students from noon-5 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, in Cullowhee.

Students will display projects based on the theme “Breaking Barriers in History.” jswigger@wcu.edu.

BUSINESS & EDUCATION • Registration is underway for a “Steps to Financial Literacy Seminar” that will be offered by Haywood Community College’s Small Business Center from 9-11 a.m. on Feb. 20 in the College’s Regional High Tech Center, Room 3021, in Waynesville. Info and registration: SBC.Haywood.edu or 627.4512.

• Registration is underway for a “Website Construction 101: Learn the Basics of Coding” workshop that will be offered by Western Carolina University’s Office of Professional Growth and Enrichment department from 9

n All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted. n To have your item listed email to calendar@smokymountainnews.com a.m.–3:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21, and again on Friday, April 3, for those who want a next-level course.

Registration fee: $139. For info and to register: pdp.wcu.edu and click on “For-profit and Nonprofit Professional Development Workshops” or 227.7397.

• Southwestern Community College’s Small Business Center will host a regional learning session for the Visit NC Farms app from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Feb. 26 in Sylva.

Opportunity for agriculture, tourism and economic development leaders across the state to learn more about the app and get involved. Preregistration required: bit.ly/VisitNCFarms or Victoria.patterson@ncagr.gov.

• Registration is underway for an employment law workshop entitled “What Every Outdoor Business Must Know about Employment Law” that will be offered by Western Carolina University’s Office of Professional Growth and Enrichment from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27, at WCU Biltmore Park in Asheville.

Networking lunch from 1-2 p.m. Registration fee: $89.

For info and to register: learn.wcu.edu/outdoor-employment-law or 227.7397.

• Registration is underway for a “Business Plan Bootcamp” offered by Haywood Community College’s Small Business Center from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28, in the college’s Public Services Training Facility, Room 9105, in Clyde. Speaker is Russ Seagle, executive director of the Sequoyah Fund in Cherokee. For info or to register: SBC.Haywood.edu or 627.4512.

• Haywood Community College’s Small Business Center is accepting registrations for a nonprofit summit from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3-4, in the college’s Public Services Training Facility, Room 9105, in Clyde.

To register or get more info: SBC.Haywood.edu or 627.4512.

• Registration is underway for a two-part workshop entitled “The Tenets of Project Management” that will be offered by Western Carolina University’s Office of Professional Growth and Enrichment from 9 a.m.-noon on consecutive Tuesdays, March 17-24, at WCU Biltmore Park in Asheville. Early bird registration fee (through Feb. 14): $249; fee after Feb. 15: $279. For info or to register: pdp.wcu.edu or 227.7397.

• Western Carolina University’s Office of Professional Growth and Enrichment is accepting registrations for a workshop entitled “Understanding the Unique Culture of Military Applicants” that will be held from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, at WCU Biltmore Park in Asheville. Cost $89; includes a networking lunch. For info or to register: pdp.wcu.edu and click on: “For-profit and Nonprofit Professional Development Workshops” or call 227.7397.

• Registration is underway for “The School Leadership for Equity Summit” that will be offered from 8:30 a.m.4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 20, at the Crest Center in Asheville. Theme is “What is Equity?” Hear from regional, state and national educational leaders about how they are building equitable and socially just classrooms, schools and districts. Registration fee: $85; includes light breakfast and lunch. Info: jrweiler@email.wcu.edu. Info about registration: https://tinyurl.com/ugdbm6c OR 227.7397.

• Registration is underway for a seminar entitled “How to Write a Business Plan,” which will be offered by Haywood Community College’s Small Business Center from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, in Clyde.

Info and Registration: SBC.Haywood.edu or 627.4512.

• Registration is underway for “Marketing Your Business,” a seminar that will be offered by Haywood Community College’s Small Business Center from 5:308:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31, in Clyde. Info and Registration: SBC.Haywood.edu or 627.4512.

Visit www.smokymountainnews.com and click on Calendar for: n n n n

Complete listings of local music scene Regional festivals Art gallery events and openings Complete listings of recreational offerings at health and fitness centers n Civic and social club gatherings

• Western Carolina University’s Office of Professional Growth and Enrichment is accepting registration for a two-part, Six Sigma Whitebelt training that will be offered from 9 a.m.-noon on Tuesdays, April 7 and 14, at WCU Biltmore Park in Asheville. Topics include team dynamics in Lean Six Sigma projects, tenets of effective project charters, valid measuring systems and more.

Registration fee: $249 before March 7 or $279 after. For info or to register: pdp.wcu.edu or 227.7397.

camps for children who have disabilities. www.campabilitywnc.org. Purchase tickets here: www.eventbrite.com.

• Submissions are being accepted for Southwestern Community College’s Cultural Fusion art/literature contest, which will be featured during the Cultural Fusion Festival on Wednesday, April 15, on the college’s Jackson Campus. Submissions accepted through April 1 in “Artwork or Photography” or “Literature (poetry, short stories, prose).” Info: 339.4325, tknott@southwesterncc.edu or SouthwesternCC.edu.

• Haywood Waterways and Elevated Mountain Distilling will hold their second annual Fundraising Chili Cookoff from 6-9 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, at Elevated Mountain Distilling, 3732 Soco Rd., in Maggie Valley.

Entry fee for cookers: $35. Pre-sale tickets for Chili Eaters: $15; $20 day of. Tickets available at: https://tinyurl.com/s8v6y8s. Info: caitlinw.hwa@gmail.com or 476.4667, ext. 12.

• Registration is underway for several session of a Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician program through Landmark Learning. Upcoming sessions include May 23-June 19, July 11-Aug. 7 and Oct. 3-30. www.landmarklearning.org.

•There will be a special concert in memory of late banjo great Steve Sutton from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday, March 8, in the Queen Auditorium at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville. Performers include the Darren Nicholson Band, Crowe Brothers, Mark Bumgarner, Marc Pruett, Hazel Creek, Bill Kaman, Mike Hunter, Malcolm Holcombe, and the Whitewater Bluegrass Co. $35 in advance. Money raised will go toward the International Bluegrass Music Association trust fund and for a scholarship in his name for music students at Waynesville’s Tuscola High School. Dinner is ticketed separately for $12 and begins at 6 p.m.

452.2997. www.showclix.com/event/second-annualsteve-sutton-memorial-concert.

• The Jackson County Public Library in Sylva will be starting a monthly documentary series called “DocuWednesday” at 4 p.m. on the last Wednesday of each month. The movies will be shown in the beautiful movie theater in the Community Room. At the end of each movie, the staff member who selected that documentary will lead a short discussion with the public. If you would like to know what movie will be showing each month, email Benjamin Woody at bwoody@fontanalib.org to be placed on an email list.

586.2016. www.fontanalib.org.

FUNDRAISERS AND BENEFITS • Raffle tickets on sale now for a chance to win a $250 Ingles gift card, $100 Walmart card or a $50 Butts on the Creek gift card. All proceeds raised will go to Camp Ability, who provides activities and summer camp for children in Western North Carolina who have disabilities. www.campabilitywnc.org. Raffle tickets are $1 for 1 ticket, $5 for 6 tickets, or $10 for 15 tickets. Drawing will be held at the fundraising concert on March 7.

Winners do not have to be in attendance to win. Buy tickets by contacting Wende Goode at 246.2256.

• Tickets are on sale now for the second annual Empty Bowls Fundraiser, held by Haywood Pathways Center, at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 27 at HART Theater in Waynesville.

Cost ranges from $25-40 for adults and $10-15 for children. Purchase tickets: haywoodpathwayscenter.org, at Pathways Center, 179 Hemlock St. in Waynesville or 246.0332.

• Helping Hands of Haywood will have a benefit concert with music from The Remainders band at 9 p.m. on Feb. 29, at Upcountry Brewing, 1042 Haywood Road in Asheville. Goal is to raise money for a family in transitional housing to ease the burden of paying for utilities.

508.3420.

• Bowl for Kids’ Sake is set for Feb. 29 and March 14 for Swain and Haywood County, respectively. Fundraiser for Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Western North Carolina.

Times, places, registrations and more: bbbswnc.org.

• A three-band concert will benefit Camp Ability at 6 p.m. on March 7. Purchase tickets online to hear The Resonant Rouges, the Greenliners and Red Clay Revival as they perform a benefit concert at the Colonial Theater in Canton. Tickets are $10 with all proceeds going to Camp Ability, which provides activities and

• Tickets are on sale for the inaugural Great Smokies Eco Adventure, a multifaceted fundraising event for Discover Life in America set for April 19-21 near Gatlinburg, Tenn. Includes glamping at A Walk in the Woods’ luxurious off-grid camp near Cosby, gourmet food and drink, guided nature hikes and live music.

Cost: $1,500. Proceeds support DLiA, which coordinates the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory in the park. Tickets: www.dlia.org.

VOLUNTEERS & VENDORS • The Haywood Rotary Club will hold a Rise Against Hunger meal packaging event from 9:30-11:30 a.m. on Feb. 22 at Haywood Community College’s Sunrise Café in Clyde. Sign up or make a donation: https://tinyurl.com/vmqmytb.

• Junaluska Elementary School 3rd-5th grade students are seeking volunteers to help with a Random Acts of Kindness Week project. Their goal is to pack 30,000 meals with Rise Against Hunger. Planning meeting is at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27, at Junaluska Elementary.

Info: jsollie@haywood.k12.nc.us or 456.2407.

• REACH of Haywood County is seeking new volunteers and will hold a Volunteer Training Day from 9:30 a.m.4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 29, at the REACH office, 627 N. Main St., in Waynesville. REACH is a domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse prevention and intervention nonprofit. RSVP: 456.7898 or BQreach@aol.com.

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park rangers are recruiting volunteers to adopt a monitoring plot in areas throughout the park, with a three-hour training workshop scheduled for 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 29, at Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee. Effort to track nature’s calendar, or phenology. Collect info as part of a research project. To register: Israel_golden@partner.nps.gov. Info: www.usanpn.org.

• There is an open call currently underway for artisans, vendors and environmentally-themed booths at the 23rd annual Greening Up the Mountains, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 25, in downtown Sylva. Applications can be downloaded at www.greeningupthemountains.com and will be accepted through March 15. greeningupthemountains@gmail.com.

• Feline Urgent Rescue is seeking volunteers and sponsors. Info: 422.2704, www.furofwnc.org, www.facebook.com/furofwnc or 844.888.CATS (2287).

• Cat adoption hours are from noon-5 p.m. on Fridays and noon-4 p.m. on Saturdays at 453 Jones Cove Road in Clyde. Adoption fee: $10 for cats one-year and older. Check out available cats at www.petharbor.com.

452.1329 or 550.3662.

HEALTH MATTERS • A “Grieving Pet Loss” group meets from 10-11:30 a.m. on Saturdays in Waynesville. Cost: $10 per session. Register: 476.7728.

• Community Acupuncture will be offered from noon-5 on Wednesdays and 1-6 p.m. on Fridays at Sylva Yoga. sylvayoga@gmail.com.

• Mindfulness Meditation is offered at 7:30 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at Sylva Yoga. sylvayoga@gmail.com.

• The Haywood County Senior Resource Center holds a dementia caregivers support group from 4:30-6 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday each month in Waynesville.

356.2800 or www.haywoodseniors.org.

• “Riding the Waves of Cancer” meets from 2:30-4 p.m. on Thursdays at the Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center. Physician referral from an oncologist or cancer doctor is required: Myhaywoodregional.com/yogaforcancer. 452.8691.

• Dogwood Insight Center presents health talks at 6:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month.

• Free childbirth and breastfeeding classes are available at Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva. Classes are offered bimonthly on an ongoing basis. Register or get more info: 586.7907.

• Angel Medical Center’s diabetes support group meets at 4 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month in the AMC dining room. 369.4166.

• A Tuesday Meditation Group meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Franklin.

RECREATION AND FITNESS • The High Mountain Squares will host their Mardi Gras Dance from 6:15-8:45 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21, at the Robert C. Carpenter Community Building on Georgia Road in Franklin. Western-style square dancing, mainstream and levels. 787.2324, 332.0001, 727.599.1440 or 706.746.5426.

• ZUMBA is offered at First United Methodist in Waynesville in the Youth Room on Thursdays at 6 p.m. starting Feb. 20 with Patti Burke. Check Facebook page Patti Burke Zumba Students for additional information such as holiday or weather related cancelations. $5 per class. https://pattiburke.zumba.com • ZUMBA is offered at Dance Tonight Haywood Studio, 62 ½ Main Street in Canton on Saturdays, at 10 a.m. with Patti Burke. Check Facebook page Patti Burke Zumba Students for additional information such as holiday or weather related cancelations. $5 per class.

• A session on “Understanding Childhood Trauma” will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20, at the Bryson City Methodist Church. Film “Resilience” will be played, and counselor Neil Holden will share strategies to help with interventions. Hot dog dinner and child care for ages 3-12. Register by Feb. 17: 488.4455 or www.renewbrysoncity.org.

• Registration is underway through the end of February for a women’s volleyball league that will be offered Tuesday nights beginning March 17 at the Cullowhee Recreation Center. Fee is $200 per team or join a free-agent team for $25. Coaches meeting is at 6 p.m. on March 5. Info and registration: 293.3053, ext. 6, or andrewsherling@jacksonnc.org.

• Plant-Based Group meets at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20, at 280 Marsh Lily Lane in Sylva. Discuss natural approaches to getting hormones in balance and improving heart health. Bring plant-based dish to share if possible.

• Reduced-price skiing and snowboarding will be offered through the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department from 5:30-10:30 p.m. on Fridays through March 6 at Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley. Register: www.rec.jacksonnc.org, 293.3053, ext. 9 or mollyneary@jacksonnc.org.

• “Meditating with the Five Senses” will be offered from noon-2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, at Waynesville Yoga Center. Cost: $30. Reservations and info: 246.6570 or WaynesvilleYogaCenter.com.

• Co-Dependents Anonymous, a support group for those wishing to create more fulfilling relationships with themselves and others, will meet from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Fridays at the Friendship House, 566 S. Haywood St., in Waynesville. http://coda.org.

• “Nourishing You” – an introductory “Yoga for Cancer” class, is offered from 1:30-2:30 p.m. on Fridays at the Haywood Breast Center in Waynesville.

Taught by Kim Mulholland, Mindful Yoga for Cancer Duke Integrative Medicine Trainer. Info: 452.8691 or MyHaywoodRegional.com/YogaforCancer.

• Jackson County Department of Public Health is offering diabetes self-management education as well as medical nutrition therapy. Info: 587.8240 or http://health.jacksonnc.org/wic.

• The North Carolina Writers' Network-West will sponsor The Literary Hour at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month. at the Keith House on the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown. This reading is free of charge and open to the public.

• Canton Book Club meets at 3:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month, at the Canton Library.

648.2924.

• Cookin’ the Books will be held at noon on the last Wednesday of the month at the Waynesville Public Library. A book club focused on cookbooks. All members choose a recipe from the book and bring it to share. The group will discuss the good and bad aspects of the chosen cookbook. 356.2507.

SENIOR ACTIVITIES • The “Senior Follies” will return to Macon County.

This event is part of the SilverARTS division of the N.C. Senior Games. In partnership with the Macon County Senior Games, the Arts Council will be producing the 2020 “Senior Follies” show. The games will be held April 27 through May 16. Anyone age 50 and over who resides in Macon County for at least three months a year can participate. Performing artists may compete in the following categories/disciplines: Comedy/Drama, Dance/Line Dance, Instrumental, or Vocal Music. peekaboomom@gmail.com.

• A Parkinson’s Support Group is held at 2 p.m. on the last Wednesday of each month at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 356.2800.

• The STEAM Club meets at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at Marianna Black Library in Bryson City. STEAM is Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math. Info: 488.3030, ext. 130.

• Homeschoolers get special rates at Cataloochee Ski Area by presenting their homeschool credentials on Tuesdays at the ticket center. Rates are $25 for lift tickets and $50 for lift, lesson and rental. Lift and rental ticket is $35. Rates apply only to skiing from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

• Wednesdays are family days at Cataloochee Ski Area with children 17-under receiving a free lift ticket when accompanied by a parent purchasing a full-price adult lift ticket. Regular rental and lesson rates apply.

Only on non-holiday Wednesdays.

• The Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department’s Base Camp Summer Camp will hold an open house for parents at 6 p.m. on Feb. 20 and 27 – and at 9 a.m. on Feb. 29 – at the Waynesville Recreation Center.

Info: 456.2030 or cmiller@waynesvillenc.gov.

• The 13th annual Father Daughter Dance is set for 68 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, in the Christian Life Center at Sylva First United Methodist Church. $30 per couple (in advance) or $40 (at the door), $5 for each additional daughter. Info: 586.2358.

• Sign-ups are underway for “Mardi Gras in the Mountains,” a children’s costume contest, pet costume contest and pantomime music parade that will be held on Feb. 22 on Main Street in Franklin.

Proceeds benefit Appalachian Animal Rescue Center

Now Open at Our New Haywood County Location

POLITICAL • The Cashiers/Glenville Republican Party precinct meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20, at the VFW Post, 4012 Highway 107N in Glenville.

743.6491 or 743.0910.

• The Haywood County NAACP will meet at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 28 Mt. Olive Road in Waynesville. Celebration of Black History Month with presentation by local historian Sybil Argintar.

• The Smoky Mountain Republican Women will host a candidate forum from 3:30-6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, at the United Community Bank in Robbinsville.

Submit questions in advance: 371.8247 or 295.2105.

AUTHORS AND BOOKS • Candice Hardin Littlejohn will hold a signing and discussion of her latest novel, The Adventures of Dr. Dorothy Jarrod Volume 1: The Oracle, at 3 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 22, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. To

1700 Russ Avenue • Waynesville, NC 28786 • 828-452-2216 Open Your Account Today!

We’re helping families in Western North Carolina meet their financial goals!

• Savings • Checking with ID Theft Recovery • Auto Loans • Mortgage Loans • Free Electronic & Convenience Services

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Full Service ATM accepts deposits and dispenses cash!

Smoky Mountain News

• “Spine-Tacular: Movement Strategies for a Healthy Spine” will be offered from 1-2:15 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 23, at Waynesville Yoga Center. Cost: $15. Reservations and info: 246.6570 or WaynesvilleYogaCenter.com.

• A poetry reading is held at 2 p.m. on the last Saturday of each month at Panacea in Waynesville.

Bring poetry, essays and writings. poevampyre@gmail.com.

KIDS & FAMILIES • Kid Create: An art and music experience for kindergarten-fourth grade students is offered from 3:305:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at First Baptist Church in Waynesville. Fbcwaynesville.org/after-school/kidcreate.

February 19-25, 2020

• “Yoga for Back Care” will be offered from noon-1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15, at Waynesville Yoga Center.

Cost: $15. Reservations and info: 246.6570 or WaynesvilleYogaCenter.com.

reserve a copy The Adventures of Dr. Dorothy Jarrod Volume 1: The Oracle, please call City Lights Bookstore at 586.9499.

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• The historic Shelton House in Waynesville is currently in need of volunteers for an array of upcoming events. Alongside help for events and gatherings, the organization is also seeking a docent, gift shop attendee, data entry person, landscaper, handyperson, and other positions. Upcoming main events include the Blue Ridge Heritage Festival June 19-21, Shelton House Halloween “Haunting on the Hill” Oct. 27-31 and Shelton House “Tinsel Trail & Appalachian Christmas.” www.sheltonhouse.org or 452.1551.

We are a full service financial institution serving Haywood & surrounding counties.

Local Decisions | Local Offices | Local people | Local Commitment Learn more when you visit our website: mountaincu.org

41

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in Franklin. For details on participation, sponsorships and volunteers: 369.0092.

• The Sylva Art + Design Committee is pleased to announce a unique pop-up gallery event that will feature the artistic creations of children ages 5-18 in the Western North Carolina region. “Nature Through A Child’s Eye” will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 4, at Viva Arts Studio in downtown Sylva. If you have a child that you think may want to be a participant ages of 5-18 apply by emailing sylvaartdesign@gmail.com or vivaartsstudio@gmail.com.

Facebook at www.facebook.com/sylvapublicart or on Instagram @sylvaarts. All submissions will be available for purchase and can be picked up after the completion of the exhibition. All money raised will be equally distributed between SADC and the Sylva Community Garden in order to further the betterment of the community through arts, education, and environmental awareness.

• Mountain Discovery Charter School, a K-8 charter school in Bryson City, is holding open enrollment through March 6 at www.mountaindiscovery.org.

• Registration is underway for the Challenger International Soccer Camp, which will be offered to ages 3-14 from July 20-24 at the Waynesville Recreation Center. Costs vary based on age group from $90-197. Separate goalkeeper and scorer program is $25 for ages 6-14 from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday. Register: challengersports.com. Info: 456.2030 or dhummel@waynesvillenc.gov.

KIDS FILMS • “Sonic the Hedgehog” will be showing through Feb. 20 at Smoky Mountain Cinema in Waynesville Plaza.

Visit www.fandango.com or smokymountaincinema.com for showtimes, pricing & tickets. Info on Facebook or 246.0588.

February 19-25, 2020

• “Bolt” will be showing Feb. 22 at 11 a.m. as part of the free Saturday morning promotion at The Strand on Main in downtown Waynesville. 38main.com or 283.0079 • “Bee Movie” will be showing Feb. 29 at 11 a.m. as part of the free Saturday morning promotion at The Strand on Main in downtown Waynesville. 38main.com or 283.0079 • “I Still Believe” will start showing March 13 through March 17 at Smoky Mountain Cinema in Waynesville Plaza. Visit www.fandango.com or smokymountaincinema.com for showtimes, pricing & tickets. Info on Facebook or 246.0588.

• The Cold Mountain Music Festival is proud to announce the lineup for its 4th annual event happening June 5-6 at the picturesque Lake Logan Conference Center in Canton. Weekend passes are on sale now on the Cold Mountain Music website. General admission passes are available for $75, and youth passes for those aged 12-17 can be purchased for $40 apiece. Overnight camping spots and catered breakfast meal tickets are also available for $75 (per site) and $12-$15 (per person), respectively. Group discounts may be applied for parties of 15 or more.

Enter the code “DioWNC” at checkout to purchase each pass (minimum 15) for $60 each. www.coldmountainmusic.org.

FOOD & DRINK • Bosu’s Wine Shop in Waynesville is offering lunch on Saturdays, “Lunch with us” from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring fresh seasonal menu with outdoor seating weather permitting. 452.0120 or www.waynesvillewine.com.

• Bryson City Wine Market offers flights from 4-7 p.m. on Fridays and from 2-5 p.m. on Saturdays. Flight of four wines for $5.

• Bosu’s Wine Shop in Waynesville will host five for $5 Wine Tasting from 5 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays. Come taste five magnificent wines and dine on Chef Bryan’s gourmet cuisine. 452.0120 or www.waynesvillewine.com.

• Secret Wine Bar is hosted by Bosu’s in Waynesville on Fridays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Contact for more information and make reservations. 452.1020.

• A free wine tasting will be held from 1-5 p.m. on Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Bosu Wine Shop in Waynesville. 452.0120 or www.waynesvillewine.com.

Bosu’s will host a Cocktails & Lunch on Saturday’s.

Serving house-made champagne cocktails from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. www.waynesvillewine.com • A free wine tasting will be held from 2-5 p.m. on Saturdays at Papou’s Wine Shop in Sylva. www.papouswineshop.com or 631.3075.

• A game day will occur from 2-9 p.m. every third Saturday of the month at Papou’s Wine Shop & Bar in Sylva. Bring dice, cards or board games.

586.6300.

• A wine tasting will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays The Classic Wineseller in Waynesville.

Free with dinner ($15 minimum). 452.6000.

ON STAGE & IN CONCERT

Smoky Mountain News

A&E • The “Mardi Gras in the Mountains” celebration will kickoff at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, in downtown Franklin. Help bring the community together in fellowship and celebration in the heart of winter to recognize the beginning of Lent. Local merchants, restaurants and breweries will have food and drink that reflect Mardi Gras. Parade at 2 p.m. with a Children’s Costume Contest, Pet Costume Contest and Pantemine Music Parade. All proceeds to benefit the Appalachian Animal Rescue Center. Contact Susie Colbert at 369.0092 for details on participation, sponsorships and volunteers.

• The Veterans of Foreign Wars Riders Group Post 5202 will hold its ninth annual “Bikers in Boxers, As Bare as You Dare” event from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on March 7 in Waynesville. Entertainment, food, prizes and comradery. Donations: $10, $25 and $30.

Includes meal, door prizes and entertainment. Info: 42 daigre1@yahoo.com or 593.1647.

• Country music singer-songwriter Ashley Campbell will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.

Tickets start at $15 per person. www.greatmountainmusic.com or 273.4615.

• Orchard Coffee (Waynesville) will host Michael Flynn 7:30 p.m. Feb. 21. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, call 246.9264 or click on www.orchardcoffeeroasters.com.

• Country music singer-songwriter Ashley Campbell will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. $15 per person. www.greatmountainmusic.com or 273.4615.

• The Highlands Performing Arts Center will present “Live via Satellite’ the National Theatre of London’s production of “Present Laughter” at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22.

Tickets are available online at www.highlandspac.org, www.highlandsperformingarts.com or at the door.

• The “Western Carolina Comedy Showcase” will be held at 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, in The Gem downstairs taproom at Boojum Brewing in Waynesville.

Beth Fronczak will host live performances by Clinton

Ricks, Rowan Young and Brad Sativa. Admission is $5 at the door. Ages 21 and up. www.boojumbrewing.com.

• Tickets are on sale now for the “Americana Concert” featuring Balsam Range and the Atlanta Pops Orchestra. Event is set for 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 24, at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. Early bird tickets on sale for $75 (VIP), $30 (general admission, ages 21-over) and $20 (general admission, ages 1220). After May 1, prices are $85, $40 and $25. Info: www.haywoodarts.org.

CLASSES AND PROGRAMS • The Jackson County Public Library offers e-services support from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. on Tuesdays in Sylva. For those with new devices or need help accessing library resources. Appointments: 586.2016.

• A pop-up book club will be held from 2-4 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20, in the Waynesville Library Auditorium. Read whatever book you choose and be prepared to share about it with others.

• Marianna Black Library will host a pair of classes making a Garden Bench miniature from 6-8:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 20-21, in the library auditorium in Bryson City. Led by Renae Dotson.

Supply cost: $20. Preregistration required: 342.8919.

• Macon County Art Association will have Mardi Gras masks handmade by members for sale at the Uptown Gallery until the Mardi Gras celebration in Franklin on Feb. 22.

• Fiber Sunday will take place from 2 to 5 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 23, in Room 104 at The Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center in Franklin. Bring a textile project you are working on from spinning, knitting, weaving, rug hooking, baskets, etc. Call or email Teresa Bouchonnet at 349.3878 or bouchonnet@coweetextiles.com if you have any questions.

• A program entitled: “Voting: How and Why” will be presented at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. Info: 586.2016.

• Betsey Sloan will be teaching a class making sheep out of gourds from 1 to 3 p.m. on Feb. 29 at the Uptown Gallery in Franklin. 349.4607 or www.franklinuptowngallery.com.

• The Macon County Art Association’s Uptown Gallery will host a class on making sheep out of gourds from 1-3 p.m. on Feb. 29 at 30 E. Main St. in Franklin. Use fiber dyes to make scarves. Info: 349.4607 or www.franklinuptowngallery.com.

• “The Mountaineer: History in the Moment” will be presented by Kathy Ross from 4-5 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, in the Waynesville Town Hall Board room, 9 South Main Street, as part of the Haywood Ramblings Series.

• James Lyle will be offering a “Sequential Art Class Series” beginning on March 7 and running through May 23 at the Haywood County Arts Council in Waynesville. In this session, the class will participate in a group exercise dealing with the process of creating a “superhero” (or any other type of character in any media, really). Make your reservation and pre-payment today. Class fee is $20 for HCAC members or $25 for non-members. Cash and Checks made payable to James Lyle. Please call 828.452.0593 for more information. www.haywoodarts.org.

• The Western NC Civil War Roundtable will feature a presentation on “Abraham Lincoln’s Spies” by Douglas Waller at 7 p.m. on March 9 at the Waynesville Inn Golf Resort and Spa. Meet-and-greet dinner at 5 p.m.; social at 6:30 p.m.

ART SHOWINGS AND GALLERIES • The “Affrilachian Artist Travelling Studio” exhibit will run through Feb. 29 at the Haywood County Arts

Council in Waynesville. Gallery are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Closing reception will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 29, at HCAC. www.haywoodarts.org.

• “HCC Clay in Retrospect” runs now through April 22 and is located on the second floor of the Creative Arts Building on the HCC campus. The public is invited to a closing reception from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, with a gallery talk beginning at 4:30 p.m. “HCC Clay in Restrospect” is an exhibition featuring the work of 20 artists from the college’s 46 years of clay programming. Mandatory coursework includes photography of finished pieces for gaining entrance into craft shows, creating a business plan, and designing and building a studio tailored to fit production needs.

627.4671 or eareason@haywood.edu.

• Jenean Hornbuckle, a landscape painter, is currently showing her works, at the Rotunda Gallery in the Sylva library. info@jacksoncountyarts.org or 507.9820.

• Western Carolina University’s Mountain Heritage Center will host an exhibit by Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist José Galvez on Latino life in North Carolina in the museum’s second-floor gallery at Hunter Library. The center’s first bilingual exhibit, “Al Norte al Norte” will be on display through Friday, April 10. Admission is free. The 51 black-and-white photos are from a 10-year project to capture images of daily life of Latinos living in North Carolina, from business owners to farmers at work, multi-generations of families at home and at church, and other candid moments. The gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday. 227.7129.

FILM & SCREEN • “Birds of Prey” will be showing through Feb. 20 at Smoky Mountain Cinema in Waynesville Plaza. Visit www.fandango.com or smokymountaincinema.com for showtimes, pricing & tickets. Info on Facebook or 246.0588.

• “The Gentlemen” will be showing through Feb. 19 at Smoky Mountain Cinema in Waynesville Plaza. Visit www.fandango.com or smokymountaincinema.com for showtimes, pricing & tickets. Info on Facebook or 246.0588.

• “Call of the Wild” will be start showing Feb. 20 through Feb. 27 at Smoky Mountain Cinema in Waynesville Plaza. Visit www.fandango.com or smokymountaincinema.com for showtimes, pricing & tickets.

Info on Facebook or 246.0588.

• “The Invisible Man” will be start showing Feb. 27 through March 5 at Smoky Mountain Cinema in Waynesville Plaza. Visit www.fandango.com or smokymountaincinema.com for showtimes, pricing & tickets.

Info on Facebook or 246.0588.

Outdoors

• An opportunity to learn about winter hikes and waterfalls in Western North Carolina will be offered from 7-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20, at REI in Asheville. Registration required: www.rei.com/events.

• The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will hold an online meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20, to seek feedback from the public, agency constituents and stakeholders to help identify issues and options related to Sunday hunting on game lands. To participate: https://zoom.us/j/623274594.

• Registration is underway for the 10th annual Three River Fly Fishing Festival, which will be held April 30May 2 in Highlands. Entry: $450 per team before Feb. 28 or $500 after. For info, to register or sponsor: hilary@highlandhiker.com or 526.0441.

• Landmark Learning is offering several options to

take a Wilderness First Responder Recertification class, Feb. 28 in Cullowhee and March 1 in Brevard. Registration is also underway for courses on www.landmarklearning.org.

Susan Hooper

• Landmark Learning will offer courses in Wilderness First Responder, dates: March 7-15 and March 14-22 in Cullowhee. Info: www.landmarklearning.org.

MADELYN NIEMEYER

(828) 400-1078

REAL ESTATE BROKER

& Junie

shooper@beverly-hanks.com

• Learn how to get the most out of a trip to America’s most-visited national park during a program offered from 7-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11 at REI in Asheville. Offered by Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

• Registration is underway for the Landmark Outdoor Educator Semester, which is offered May 14-June 30, through Landmark Learning. www.landmarklearning.org.

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READY TO MOVE BOLDLY?

BROKER ASSOCIATE —————————————

madelyn.niemeyer@nestrealty.com | 828.782.3257 NestRealty.com/Asheville

• Sons of the American Legion will present a Turkey Shoot at 9 a.m. every Saturday through April at 171 Legion Dr. in Waynesville. $2 per round; refreshments provided. Weather permitting. 456.8691.

• The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Hatchery Supported Trout Waters is open from 7 a.m. until one-half-hour after sunset until last day of February. Info: https://tinyurl.com/yae8ffqn.

KAREN HOLLINGSED BROKER ASSOCIATE

• The Nantahala Hiking Club holds a Saturday Work Hike on the fourth Saturday of each month. 369.1983.

(828) 734-6222

KHOLLINGSED@BEVERLY-HANKS.COM

COMPETITIVE EDGE • The Cataloochee Thursday Night Race League is open to skiers and snowboarders 18 years or older from 7-8:30 p.m. on Thursdays through Feb. 27. Individuals race against the clock on a modified GS or slalom course for the better of two runs. The top three challengers in men’s and women’s age divisions win prizes. Helmets and goggles required. $15 to race or $35 for race entry and night lift ticket. https://tinyurl.com/y9ys99hu.

74 N. Main St. Waynesville, NC

828.452.5809

• Registration is underway for Lake Junaluska’s Annual Friends of the Lake 5K, which is Saturday, April 11. Provides financial support for maintaining the walking trail and other recreation opportunities.

Registration before March $26: $30 adults, $15 students and kids fun run is free for ages 10-under. www.lakejunaluska.com/run.

Dan Womack BROKER

828.

FARM AND GARDEN

MOUNTAIN REALTY

71 N. Main St. • Waynesville, NC

• The annual Haywood County Extension Master Gardener plant sale is underway and accepting pre-paid orders through Feb. 27. Forms are available at www.haywood.ces.ncsu.edu, 456.3575 or mgarticles@charter.net.

• Orders are being accepted through Friday, March 13, for the Macon County 4-H Club’s annual plant sale. Fundraiser. Info and order form: https://tinyurl.com/rw39w7x.

• Local farmers can stop by the Cooperative Extension Office on Acquoni Road from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every fourth Friday to learn about USDA Farm Service Agency programs in the 2014 Farm Bill. Info: 488.2684, ext. 2 (Wednesday through Friday) or 524.3175, ext. 2 (Monday through Wednesday).

828-564-9393

I Am Proud of Our Mountains and Would Love to Show You Around!

Real Experience.

Real Service. Real Results.

Randall Rogers BROKER ASSOCIATE —————————————

828.452.3727

(828) 734-8862

www.TheRealTeamNC.com

RROGERS@BEVERLY-HANKS.COM

HIKING CLUBS • The Nantahala Hiking club will take an easy, 1.5-mile hike with an elevation change of 200 feet on Sunday, Feb. 23, on Lakeside Trail.

Info and reservations: 526.6480.

EXECUTIVE

• Carolina Mountain Club will take a 12-mile hike with a 1,500-foot ascent on Sunday, Feb. 23, on Buck Spring Trail. Info and reservations: 704.877.7804 or waltersharon204@gmail.com.

Catherine Proben

• Carolina Mountain Club will take an 11.2-mile hike with a 2,000foot ascent on Wednesday, Feb. 26, from Spivey Gap to Nolichucky River. Info and reservations: 380.1452 or desraylet@aol.com.

cproben@beverly-hanks.com

• The Nantahala Hiking Club will take a moderate, six-mile hike with an elevation change of 800 feet on Saturday, Feb. 29, from Sawmill Gap to Rocky Bald Ridge and Wine Springs. 524.5298.

• Carolina Mountain Club will hold a 10-mile hike with a 500-foot ascent on Saturday, Feb. 29, at Asheville Camino del Norte Walk. Info and reservations: 450.0747 or danny@hikertohiker.com.

71 N. Main Street Waynesville

The Original Home Town Real Estate Agency Since 1970

Cell: 828-734-9157 Office: 828-452-5809

74 N. Main St., Waynesville, NC

828.452.5809

Smoky Mountain News

RE/MAX

• The Nantahala Hiking Club will take a strenuous six-mile hike with an elevation change of 1,000 feet on Sunday, Feb. 23, on the Bartram Trail. Info and reservations: 421.4178.

February 19-25, 2020

• Registration is underway for the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project’s annual Business of Farming Conference, which will be held from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on Feb. 22 at the AB Tech Conference Center in Asheville. Cost: $95. asapconnections.org or 236.1282.

243.1126

147 Walnut St. • Waynesville 828-456-7376 • 1-800-627-1210

www.sunburstrealty.com

43

Market WNC PLACE

Automobiles

Business Opportunities

MarketPlace information:

The Smoky Mountain News Marketplace has a distribution of 16,000 copies across 500 locations in Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties, including the Qualla Boundary and west Buncombe County.

Visit www.wncmarketplace.com to place your ad!

Rates: • • • •

• •

• • • • • •

$15 — Classified ads that are 25 words, 25¢ per word after.

Free — Lost or found pet ads. $6 — Residential yard sale ads.* $1 — Yard Sale Rain Insurance Yard sale rained out? Call us by 10a.m.

Monday for your ad to run again FREE Legal N otices — 25¢ per word $375 — Statewide classifieds run in 170 participating newspapers with 1.1+ million circulation. (Limit 25 words or less) Boost Online — Have your ad featured at top of category online $4 Boost in Print Add Photo $6 Bold ad $2 Yellow, Green, Pink or Blue Highlight $4 Border $4

GOT LAND? Our Hunters will Pay Top $$$ to hunt your land.

Call for a FREE info packet & Quote. 1-866309-1507, www.BaseCampLeasing.com

2000 ACURA INTEGRA Reduced! $600 She was my daily driver for 5 years. Needs some work to run. Great for mechanically inclined person or use for spare parts. Clean title.

270,000 miles. Must pick up. West Waynesville. More pics on wncmarketplace.com. Call or text. 828.246.8092.

Leave message if no answer.

Employment CANTON RESTAURANT HIRING! South Philly Italian Pasta & Subs in Canton, N.C. is hiring for assistant manager and other positions! No experience necessary; we offer full training. Room for growth. Dependable applicants only. Excellent working atmosphere. (828) 5933580. (828) 593-3580

Note: Highlighted ads automatically generate a border so if you’re placing an ad online and select a highlight color, the “add border” feature will not be available on the screen.

Note: Yard sale ads require an address. This location will be displayed on a map on www.wncmarketplace.com

p: 828.452.4251 · f:828.452.3585 classads@smokymountainnews.com www.wncmarketplace.com 44

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NEW! Submit ads online!

February 19-25, 2020

AUTO SALES CONSULTANT Do you want to be a part of a family-owned and locally operated business that has served the area for over 65 years? Earning the trust of our customers, employees and community is what drives us to be better. Taylor Ford is proud to be a fast-paced, high-energy, forward-thinking company that is looking for experienced professionals with all of the same attributes!

What We’re Looking For: Our growing Sales department is looking for ambitious and self-motivated people to join our team.

Automotive experience is preferred. If you are looking for an opportunity to grow and develop your career, apply here! Contact Dean Howell. (828) 452-5111 rdhowell1@yahoo.com CENTER SUPERVISOR Kneedler Child Development - WCU - Jackson County. Must have a BS Degree in Early Childhood RU D UHODWHG ¿HOG DQG Administrative Level III Credentials, basic computer knowledge, 2 yrs. experience in NC Day Care Regulations, 1-2 yrs. supervisory experience and good judgement skills. Full 7LPH ZLWK %HQH¿WV $16.00 per hour. Applications will be taken at: www.mountainprojects. org. EOE/AA

HEADSTART FAMILY SERVICE WORKER - Haywood County.

AA Required in Social Work, Counseling, Human/Family Services. BA Preferred.

Good Record Keeping/ Paperwork Exp. Preferred. This Position Requires Good Time Management, Good Judgement and Problem Solving Skills & the Ability to Work Well with Diverse Families.

This is a 10 1/2 - 11 1/2 Month Position with Full 7LPH %HQH¿WV 3OHDVH Visit our Website: www. mountainprojects.org and Fill Out an Application. EOE/AA

PART TIME HOUSEKEEPER Jonathan Creek Inn is now hiring a part time housekeeper. Candidates must have a valid drivers license, and pass a pre-employment drug screening.

Weekend availability is a must!

Please apply in person.

FTCCFayetteville Technical Community College is now accepting applications for the following positions: Paramedic Instructor, Coordinator for Military Business Center, Secretary II - Military Business Center, Senior Secretary- Admission, Instructional Lab Technician. For detailed information and to apply, please visit our employment portal at: https:// fay techcc.peopleadmin.com/ WNC MarketPlace

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE Carolina Mountain Cablevision, Inc., a locally owned and operated Cable TV/Internet/Telephone Service Provider, is seeking applications/ resumes for a Customer Service Representative.

The successful applicant will need the following skills: Customer Service experience with the ability to handle customers and other members of the public in a courteous and professional manner; computer experience is a must – experience with Microsoft Programs a must; good communications skills in person, on the phone, and written (by hand or computer); the ability to be self-motivated and work independently but also the ability to function as part of a team as needed; the ability to handle stressful, hectic situations in a professional manner; the ability to multi-task; and the ability to work overtime as needed.

Individuals with IT/ Networking experience and/or knowledge of cable television products and services along with the other skills listed will be given preferential consideration. High school diploma or the equivalent required.

Salary is dependent on H[SHULHQFH %HQHÂżWV are available. Interested applicants should e-mail their resume to sanders@ccvn.com or fax them to 828-5364510. Resumes will be accepted until February 28, 2020. Equal Opportunity Employer - Veterans encouraged to apply sanders@ccvn. com

$125 per week. This is a perfect opportunity for local retirees or for those seeking additional work on Wednesdays. Applicants must have reliable transportation, including a vehicle which can haul or carry approximately 3,000 bundled newspapers. Newspapers are bundled for bulk delivery to businesses and storefronts along 50 locations. To apply, pick up an application at our Waynesville ofÂżFH DW 0RQWJRPHU\ Street. The deadline to apply is March 1st. No phone calls please.

NEWSPAPER DELIVERY PERSON Do you have a car, a license and Wednesdays free?

The Smoky Mountain News is hiring a dependable newspaper delivery person for our Macon County route.

This position is considered contract and is year round. Pay is

Pets

DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Full-time Haywood & Jackson Co. Mountain Projects, Inc. is seeking to hire an Assistant Executive Director. Applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree in business, public administration RU D UHODWHG ¿HOG 0XVW have knowledge and H[SHULHQFH LQ QRQ SUR¿W operations, grant management, supervision, public speaking, grant writing and fundraising.

Please complete an online job application by visiting www.mountainprojects.org EOE/AA

DOMESTIC SHORTHAIR – ORANGE/ BUFF TABBY 10 yrROG FRQ¿GHQW ODG\ ZLWK big personality! Very sweet; enjoy attention but don’t need it all the time. (828) 761-2001 publicrelations@ashevillehumane.org USE SEAL N HEALŽ To seal wounds on dogs & cats with a bitter taste to prevent gnawing, allow healing. N.C. Clampitt Hardware 828-488-2782, www. kennelvax.com

Real Estate Announcements

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LOT FOR SALE 1/2 acre lot out of the John Denver Biodome area just minutes to Waynesville & Maggie Valley off Hwy. 276. Beautiful rolling pasture and mountain views, septic approved.

Homes For Sale Paved private road surrounds 3 sides of HOME FOR SALE lot, 3200 feet elevation Beautiful 3 bedroom/2 among the Christmas bathroom home on Tree growers. $27,500 Balsam Mountain.

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REDBONE COONHOUND MIX – RED/ BROWN A 2 year old handsome guy with ÀRSS\ HDUV DQG JUHDW howl! A bit timid but making progress. (828) 761-2001 publicrelations@ashevillehumane.org

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Haywood Co. Real Estate Agents Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices/Great Smokys Realty - www.4Smokys.com Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate- Heritage • Carolyn Lauter - carolyn@bhgheritage.com Beverly Hanks & Associates- beverly-hanks.com • Ann Eavenson - anneavenson@beverly-hanks.com • Billie Green - bgreen@beverly-hanks.com • Michelle McElroy- michellemcelroy@beverly-hanks.com • Steve Mauldin - smauldin@beverly-hanks.com • Brian K. Noland - brianknoland.com • Anne Page - apage@beverly-hanks.com • Brooke Parrott - bparrott@beverly-hanks.com • Jerry Powell - jpowell@beverly-hanks.com • Catherine Proben - cproben@beverly-hanks.com • Ellen Sither - ellensither@beverly-hanks.com • Mike Stamey - mikestamey@beverly-hanks.com • Karen Hollingsed- khollingsed@beverly-hanks.com • Billy Case- billycase@beverly-hanks.com • Laura Thomas - lthomas@beverly-hanks.com • John Keith - jkeith@beverly-hanks.com • Randall Rogers - rrogers@beverly-hanks.com • Susan Hooper - shooper@beverly-hanks.com • Hunter Wyman - hwyman@beverly-hanks.com

Christie’s Ivester Jackson Blackstream

• George Escaravage - george@IJBProperties.com ERA Sunburst Realty - sunburstrealty.com • Amy Spivey - amyspivey.com • Rick Border - sunburstrealty.com

Jerry Lee Mountain Realty Jerry Lee Hatley- jerryhatley@bellsouth.net Keller Williams Realty - kellerwilliamswaynesville.com • The Morris Team - www.themorristeamnc.com • Julie Lapkoff - julielapkoff@kw.com

Lakeshore Realty

• Phyllis Robinson - lakeshore@lakejunaluska.com

Mountain Dreams Realty- maggievalleyhomesales.com Mountain Home Properties mountaindream.com • Cindy Dubose - cdubose@mountaindream.com

McGovern Real Estate & Property Management • Bruce McGovern - shamrock13.com

Nest Realty • Madelyn Niemeyer - Madelyn.niemeyer@nestrealty.com

RE/MAX Executive - remax-waynesvillenc.com remax-maggievalleync.com Holly Fletcher - holly@hollyfletchernc.com The Real Team - TheRealTeamNC.com Ron Breese - ronbreese.com Landen Stevenson- landen@landenkstevenson.com Dan Womack - womackdan@aol.com Mary & Roger Hansen - mwhansen@charter.net David Rogers - davidr@remax-waynesvillenc.com Juli Rogers - julimeaserogers@gmail.com Rob Roland Realty - robrolandrealty.com

• • • • • • • •

• Rob Roland - rroland33@gmail.com

The Smoky Mountain Retreat at Eagles Nest Where Quality Comes First

WAYNESVILLE, NC • 828.454.0464 • Fully Insured

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WNC Real Estate Store • Jeff Baldwin - jeff@WNCforMe.com • Melanie Hoffman - mhoffmanrealestate@gmail.com • Thomas Hoffman - thoffman1@me.com

TO ADVERTISE IN THE NEXT ISSUE 828.452.4251 | ads@smokymountainnews.com WNC MarketPlace

45

SUPER

CROSSWORD

DOING PR WORK ACROSS 1 Maize 5 1980s TV's "Kate & -" 10 Bank acct. underwriter 14 Resort isle near Naples 19 Cock- - (mixed dog breed) 20 Pencil end 21 Prehistoric beast, briefly 22 ALF or ET 23 Pool hall champion?

26 Flower calyx part 27 Off - (sporadically) 28 Small flycatcher 29 Christmas songs 31 Omega preceder 32 Passover crackers 34 Place where pizza dough is flattened?

37 "We - not amused" 38 Ripken of the diamond 40 Angriness 41 Actress De Carlo 42 Get the shoe mender on the phone?

47 Marine eel 49 Poetic foot 50 Pertaining to the sun 51 Still wrapped 52 In spite of the fact that, for short 55 King Arthur's home 58 Commercial in which all of one's fury is unleashed?

62 Fido's sound 65 Faced 66 Phileas Fogg creator Jules 68 Like a slob's bed 69 Blowtorch the exterior of

74 75 76 77 78 80 84 85 86 87 91 94 97 100 101 102 103 109 111 112 113 115 116 118 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128

your launch vehicle?

Wind section player Quaint oath Just a - (somewhat) Hissing snake sound Ice-skating food fish?

Mexican menu items Blast maker "Mammal" has three "Thank you, Henri" Opra part PR concern Farmer's motto?

Risen from sleep Seemingly endless time Park oneself Dwelling: Abbr.

Tirades about the trials of being a mother?

Not switched off Ace Art style Sofa Spanish for "queen" Wax theatrical Actor Moranis playing a garbage sweeper?

12-inch stick Small toiletry case Pay the penalty First-aid plant Fencing blades Part of NYPD: Abbr.

Tightly wound Give away temporarily

DOWN 1 Squid dish 2 Expanse 3 Sports squad that rarely has home games

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 24 25 30 33 35 36 39 43 44 45 46 47 48 51 52 53 54 56 57 58 59 60

Vivarin rival Fourth mo.

Belt holder Longtime con Split evenly Lucy's TV pal 32nd pres.

Actress Wiest Disguised, for short Alternatives to Pepsis Tapioca-yielding tree Hoppy drink 1972-77 Broadway musical Explanation Queued up Tennyson's "- Arden" More elusive Astron. distance Little pouch Like the vbs. "eat" and "lie" Tiny dog Get bested by TV network north of the USA Ty-D- - (bathroom brand) Slo- - (fuse type) Riga native Brawl Athena's bird Sam once in the Senate Trees yielding wood for ships Mythical hell Dramatist Clifford Collect Conductor Zubin Cake icer Countryish Cell terminal

61 62 63 64 67 70 71 72 73 79 81 82 83 86 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 104 105 106 107 108 110 114 117 119 120

Yukon maker Cut short Harp on gloatingly Anterior Cut short Suffix with neat or peace "- tell ya!"

Problems for vain types Tide targets Shin's place Noted coach Parseghian Bygone AT&T rival Slump Home of Monte Carlo Vehicle ownership certificate Get drunk Trapped 34th prez Corporate marriages Avonlea girl Hide - hair It's nothing Comical Cheri Current unit Pre-race stretch, say "King Ralph" actor Peter Ocular cleansing receptacle One way to mark debits Uninspired Like skim milk Mozart's "Cos fan -" "Danke -" Prenatal Egg layers Golf gadget Model-making set "Annabel -"

ANSWERS ON PAGE 38

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SPACE AVAILABLE 828 | 452 | 4251

SUDOKU Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, Answers on 38 the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

46

www.smokymountainnews.com

February 19-25, 2020

WNC MarketPlace

The naturalist’s corner

BY DON H ENDERSHOT

Remember when hope was the thing with feathers?

Emily Dickinson wrote of that feathered hope in 1861: “Hope is the thing with feathers — That perches in the soul — And sings the tune without the words — And never stops — at all” ccording to Birdwatching Magazine something else happened in 1861 that had great impact on things with feathers. The magazine noted in a piece showing a timeline of the extinction of the passenger pigeon, “By 1861, an intercontinental [railroad] line would be completed, making it possible to share pigeon locations with a nationwide audience, including professional hunters.” This was one year after a flight of pigeons at Fort Mississauga, Ontario, was estimated to exceed one billion birds.

Around 35 years later — 1895 — the last passenger pigeon nest and egg to be found in the wild was found near Minneapolis.

American poet and nature writer

A

Christopher Cokinos rekindled that feathered hope in 2000 with his book (named after Dickinson’s poem) Hope is the Thing with Feathers. Cokinos delves into the extinction of six iconic species of birds — passenger pigeon, ivory-billed woodpecker, Carolina parakeet, heath hen, Labrador duck and great auk. He uses personal anecdotes, historical bird-sleuthing and science to illustrate these billions of pieces of feathered hope were obliterated out of ignorance, greed and an anthropogenic hubris, which is manifesting again today. And birds are paying dearly.

A recent report in the Journal Science noted an estimated 2.9 billion North American birds have been lost over the last 50 years. Since the founding of the United States there have been only two bedrock acts implemented that protect birds directly — the Endangered Species Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and both are under attack. The Trump administration announced rollbacks to the Endangered Species Act in late 2019. Seventeen states and numerous environmental organizations have filed suit to try and stop the rollbacks, but there has been no definitive outcome at this point. The Endangered Species Act is

and that money was used to restore much needed bird habitat. The Trump rollbacks are designed to release individuals and/or companies from being prosecuted for incidental take and we already know how that plays out.

When the state Bobolinks are regular of Virginia began migrants through WNC plans to expand the and their numbers have Chesapeake Bay declined by more than Bridge, it knew 60 percent since 1966. development Don Hendershot photo would eradicate nesting habitat for 25,000 different seabirds. To compensate, the state was planning to create an artificial island to replace that habitat. The Trump administration weighed in noting changes to the MBTA had eliminated and others. penalties for incidental take and the artifiThe Trump administration announced rollbacks to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in cial island sank.

The changes to the MBTA haven’t been 2017. The MBTA was enacted in 1918 to procodified yet and public comment is open till tect birds from being slaughtered to satisfy March 19. You can read the proposals at the millinery trade. In the 1970s the MBTA https://www.regulations.gov/docket?d=fwswas expanded to protect birds from “incihq-mb-2018-0090; and you can go here to dental take,” allowing industries, etc., to be comment, https://www.regulations.gov/. prosecuted and fined for “accidentally” Sometimes hope needs help. killing birds.

(Don Hendershot is a writer and naturalist.

The BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in His book, A Year From the Naturalist’s Corner, 2010 killed or injured nearly a million Vol. 1, is available at regional bookstores or by coastal birds and devastated coastal habitat. contacting Don at ddihen1@bellsouth.net) BP was fined $100 million under the MBTA directly responsible for saving or, at least, halting the loss of the bald eagle, peregrine falcon, brown pelican, Kirtland’s warbler, red-cockaded woodpecker, whopping crane, golden-cheeked warbler, California condor

is pleased to welcome REBECCA ROQUES-DAVIS, M.D.

February 19-25, 2020

Haywood Cancer Center

Board Certified in Medical Oncology Dr. Roques-Davis has joined Jennifer Heaberlin, D.O. and Charles Thomas, M.D., F.A.C.R.O.

828-456-5214

Smoky Mountain News

ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS!

49 Spicewood Dr Suite 10B • Clyde 47

WAYNESVILLE OFFICE 74 North Main Street | (828) 634 -7333

Smoky Mountain News

February 19-25, 2020

Get details on any property in the MLS. Go to beverly-hanks.com and enter the MLS# into the quick search.

Canton | 3BR, 1BA $100,000 | #3501611

Sylva | 3BR, 2BA, 1HB $339,000 | #3509320

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Brannon Forest | 3BR, 2BA, 1HB $379,900 | #3378815

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Waynesville | 3BR, 2BA, 2HB $490,000 | #3521400

Lucky Cove Estates | 3BR, 3BA $499,900 | #3516363

Wildcat Cliff Estates | 3BR, 3BA $585,000 | #3493867

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BEVERLY|HANKS.COM 48

Fines Creek | 4BR, 3BA, 1HB | $755,000 | #3270937

CALL TODAY (828) 634|7333