Outdoors

A time for change

Outdoor Mission Camp expands its focus under new name

BY HOLLY KAYS S TAFF WRITER N 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.

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,”

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

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.”

New Sunday hunting meeting scheduled

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

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.

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 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.”

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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?

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 10.9- mile hike of Sugarland Mountain June 9; a 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. 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. Bob Carr photo

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.

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Help protect the Tuck 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.

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.

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

Volunteers collect tree phenology data. NPS photo

with Israel Golden at Israel_golden@partner.nps.gov. Phenology research efforts

across the country are detailed at www.usanpn.org.

Vote for your favorite GSMA project

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.

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Enrollment open for ag protection programs

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

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

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. outdoors

Public input sought on forestry project

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.

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

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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 5:30- 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31, in Clyde. Info and Registration: SBC.Haywood.edu or 627.4512. • 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. • 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. • 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. • 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

Visit www.smokymountainnews.com and click on Calendar for: n Complete listings of local music scene n Regional festivals n Art gallery events and openings n Complete listings of recreational

offerings at health and fitness centers n Civic and social club gatherings

camps for children who have disabilities. www.campabilitywnc.org. Purchase tickets here: www.eventbrite.com. • 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. •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. • 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.

• 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. • 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. • “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. • 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. • 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. • “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. • “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. • 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 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. • 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. • 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. reserve a copy The Adventures of Dr. Dorothy Jarrod Volume 1: The Oracle, please call City Lights Bookstore at 586.9499. • 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. • 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.

KIDS & FAMILIES • Kid Create: An art and music experience for kindergarten-fourth grade students is offered from 3:30- 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at First Baptist Church in Waynesville. Fbcwaynesville.org/after-school/kidcreate. • 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 6- 8 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

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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.

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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. • “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.

A&E

Smoky Mountain News 42 • 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: daigre1@yahoo.com or 593.1647. • 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 • 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 12- 20). 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 30- May 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. • Landmark Learning will offer courses in Wilderness First Responder, dates: March 7-15 and March 14-22 in Cullowhee. Info: www.landmarklearning.org. • 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. • 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.

madelyn.niemeyer@nestrealty.com | 828.782.3257 NestRealty.com/Asheville

• 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. • The Nantahala Hiking Club holds a Saturday Work Hike on the fourth Saturday of each month. 369.1983.

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. • 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.

KAREN HOLLINGSED BROKER ASSOCIATE (828) 734-6222 KHOLLINGSED@BEVERLY-HANKS.COM

74 N. Main St. Waynesville, NC 828.452.5809

FARM AND GARDEN • 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. • 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).

HIKING CLUBS • 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. • 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. • 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. • Carolina Mountain Club will take an 11.2-mile hike with a 2,000- foot ascent on Wednesday, Feb. 26, from Spivey Gap to Nolichucky River. Info and reservations: 380.1452 or desraylet@aol.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.

Randall Rogers BROKER ASSOCIATE ————————————— (828) 734-8862 RROGERS@BEVERLY-HANKS.COM I Am Proud of Our Mountains and Would Love to Show You Around!

Catherine Proben Cell: 828-734-9157 Office: 828-452-5809 cproben@beverly-hanks.com

Dan Womack BROKER 828.243.1126

MOUNTAIN REALTY 71 N. Main St. • Waynesville, NC 828-564-9393

Real Experience. Real Service. Real Results. 828.452.3727 www.TheRealTeamNC.com

RE/MAX EXECUTIVE

71 N. Main Street Waynesville

The Original Home Town Real Estate Agency Since 1970 February 19-25, 2020

Market PLACEWNC

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

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

Automobiles

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.

Business Opportunities

GOT LAND? Our Hunters will Pay Top $$$ to hunt your land. Call for a FREE info packet & Quote. 1-866- 309-1507, www.BaseCampLeasing.com

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) 593- 3580. (828) 593-3580

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 RUDUHODWHG¿HOGDQG 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 7LPHZLWK%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¿WV3OHDVH 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.

FTCC- Fayetteville 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:// faytechcc.peopleadmin.com/

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%HQH¿WV are available. Interested applicants should e-mail their resume to sanders@ccvn.com or fax them to 828-536- 4510. Resumes will be accepted until February 28, 2020. Equal Opportunity Employer - Veterans encouraged to apply sanders@ccvn. com

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 $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 of- ¿FHDW0RQWJRPHU\ Street. The deadline to apply is March 1st. No phone calls please.

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 RUDUHODWHG¿HOG0XVW have knowledge and H[SHULHQFHLQQRQSUR¿W operations, grant management, supervision, public speaking, grant writing and fundraising. Please complete an online job application by visiting www.mountainprojects.org EOE/AA

Homes For Sale

HOME FOR SALE Beautiful 3 bedroom/2 bathroom home on Balsam Mountain. Completely renovated, move-in ready. FireSODFHKDUGZRRGÀRRUV RSHQÀRRUSODQRQH level, half basement. For sale by owner. $228,000, Call Ron. (828) 508-0951

Pets

DOMESTIC SHORTHAIR – ORANGE/ BUFF TABBY 10 yrROGFRQ¿GHQWODG\ZLWK big personality! Very sweet; enjoy attention but don’t need it all the time. (828) 761-2001 publicrelations@ashevillehumane.org

USE SEAL N HEAL® 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

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. Paved private road surrounds 3 sides of lot, 3200 feet elevation among the Christmas Tree growers. $27,500 Robin Jones 803-622- 0187 (803) 622-0187 robinjonesrealtysc@ gmail.com

Rentals ATTENTION TIMESHARE OWNERS! Were you victim to dishonest sales tactics? Overpromised?! Overpaid?! We’ll legally resolve your timeshare nightmare and stop the payments! CALL Timeshare Compliance FREE CONSULTATION! 919-324-0167

FLORIDA VACATION! Orlando + Daytona Beach Florida Vacation! Enjoy 7 Days and 6 Nights with Hertz, Enterprise or Alamo Car Rental Included - Only $298.00. 12 months to use. Call Now! 1-866- 494-3020 (24/7).

Services

Home Improvement

ATTENTION HOMEOWNERS: Government Loan Program. Up to $25,000 has been VHW DVLGH IRU 4XDOL¿HG home improvements. Roofs, Siding, Windows. Low Monthly Payments NO MONEY DOWN 888-878-6443

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REDBONE COONHOUND MIX – RED/ BROWN A 2 year old handsome guy with ÀRSS\HDUVDQGJUHDW howl! A bit timid but making progress. (828) 761-2001 publicrelations@ashevillehumane.org

Where Quality Comes First

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 • Tom Johnson - tomsj7@gmail.com • Sherell Johnson - sherellwj@aol.com WNC Real Estate Store • Jeff Baldwin - jeff@WNCforMe.com • Melanie Hoffman - mhoffmanrealestate@gmail.com • Thomas Hoffman - thoffman1@me.com

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 your launch vehicle? 74 Wind section player 75 Quaint oath 76 Just a - (somewhat) 77 Hissing snake sound 78 Ice-skating food fish? 80 Mexican menu items 84 Blast maker 85 "Mammal" has three 86 "Thank you, Henri" 87 Opra part 91 PR concern 94 Farmer's motto? 97 Risen from sleep 100 Seemingly endless time 101 Park oneself 102 Dwelling: Abbr. 103 Tirades about the trials of being a mother? 109 Not switched off 111 Ace 112 Art style 113 Sofa 115 Spanish for "queen" 116 Wax theatrical 118 Actor Moranis playing a garbage sweeper? 121 12-inch stick 122 Small toiletry case 123 Pay the penalty 124 First-aid plant 125 Fencing blades 126 Part of NYPD: Abbr. 127 Tightly wound 128 Give away temporarily

DOWN 1 Squid dish 2 Expanse 3 Sports squad that rarely has home games 4 Vivarin rival 5 Fourth mo. 6 Belt holder 7 Longtime con 8 Split evenly 9 Lucy's TV pal 10 32nd pres. 11 Actress Wiest 12 Disguised, for short 13 Alternatives to Pepsis 14 Tapioca-yielding tree 15 Hoppy drink 16 1972-77 Broadway musical 17 Explanation 18 Queued up 24 Tennyson's "- Arden" 25 More elusive 30 Astron. distance 33 Little pouch 35 Like the vbs. "eat" and "lie" 36 Tiny dog 39 Get bested by 43 TV network north of the USA 44 Ty-D- - (bathroom brand) 45 Slo- - (fuse type) 46 Riga native 47 Brawl 48 Athena's bird 51 Sam once in the Senate 52 Trees yielding wood for ships 53 Mythical hell 54 Dramatist Clifford 56 Collect 57 Conductor Zubin - 58 Cake icer 59 Countryish 60 Cell terminal 61 Yukon maker 62 Cut short 63 Harp on gloatingly 64 Anterior 67 Cut short 70 Suffix with neat or peace 71 "- tell ya!" 72 Problems for vain types 73 Tide targets 79 Shin's place 81 Noted coach Parseghian 82 Bygone AT&T rival 83 Slump 86 Home of Monte Carlo 88 Vehicle ownership certificate 89 Get drunk 90 Trapped 91 34th prez 92 Corporate marriages 93 Avonlea girl 94 Hide - hair 95 It's nothing 96 Comical Cheri 97 Current unit 98 Pre-race stretch, say 99 "King Ralph" actor Peter 100 Ocular cleansing receptacle 104 One way to mark debits 105 Uninspired 106 Like skim milk 107 Mozart's "Cos fan -" 108 "Danke -" 110 Prenatal 114 Egg layers 117 Golf gadget 119 Model-making set 120 "Annabel -"

ANSWERS ON PAGE 38

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Yard Sales

YARD AND MOVING SALE ANTIQUES Sat Feb 22nd, 2020 from 09:00 AM - 03:00 PM, Native American artifacts, antiques, china, collectables, art, books, check out photos on Facebook Marketplace. 298 East Street, Waynesville, NC 28786

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, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle! Answers on 38

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”

According 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 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

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 and others.

The Trump administration announced rollbacks to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in 2017. The MBTA was enacted in 1918 to protect birds from being slaughtered to satisfy the millinery trade. In the 1970s the MBTA was expanded to protect birds from “incidental take,” allowing industries, etc., to be prosecuted and fined for “accidentally” killing birds.

The BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 killed or injured nearly a million coastal birds and devastated coastal habitat. BP was fined $100 million under the MBTA 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 of Virginia began plans to expand the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, it knew development 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 penalties for incidental take and the artificial island sank.

The changes to the MBTA haven’t been codified yet and public comment is open till March 19. You can read the proposals at https://www.regulations.gov/docket?d=fwshq-mb-2018-0090; and you can go here to comment, https://www.regulations.gov/. Sometimes hope needs help. (Don Hendershot is a writer and naturalist. His book, A Year From the Naturalist’s Corner, Vol. 1, is available at regional bookstores or by contacting Don at ddihen1@bellsouth.net) Bobolinks are regular migrants through WNC and their numbers have declined by more than 60 percent since 1966. Don Hendershot photo

Haywood Cancer Center is pleased to welcome REBECCA ROQUES-DAVIS, M.D.

Board Certified in Medical Oncology

Dr. Roques-Davis has joined Jennifer Heaberlin, D.O. and Charles Thomas, M.D., F.A.C.R.O.

ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS! 828-456-5214

WAYNESVILLE OFFICE 74 North Main Street | (828) 634 -7333

Get details on any property in the MLS. Go to beverly-hanks.com and enter the MLS# into the quick search.

Fines Creek | 4BR, 3BA, 1HB | $755,000 | #3270937

Canton | 3BR, 1BA $100,000 | #3501611

Waynesville | 3BR, 2BA $370,000 | #3412647 Sylva | 3BR, 2BA, 1HB $339,000 | #3509320

The Glade | 3BR, 3BA, 1HB $345,000 | #3512828

Sylva Vista Development | 3BR, 3BA $379,000 | #3145666

Brannon Forest | 3BR, 2BA, 1HB $379,900 | #3378815

Walker-In-The-Hills | 2BR, 2BA $399,000 | #3489146

Lucky Cove Estates | 3BR, 3BA $499,900 | #3516363 Eagles Nest Mountain | 3BR, 3BA, 1HB $447,000 | #3500262

Waynesville | 3BR, 2BA, 2HB $490,000 | #3521400

Wildcat Cliff Estates | 3BR, 3BA $585,000 | #3493867

Smoky Mountain Retreat | 3BR, 3BA, 1HB $587,500 | #3504583