Buncombe Commissioner wants Cawthorn’s seat ................................................2

While summer camps were on hiatus during the height of the pandemic in 2020, many camps in Western North Carolina are reopening for summer 2021 with COVID-19 protocols in place. Parents will need to plan now to reserve a spot at some of the more popular week-long camps. (Page 4) Summer Camp Guide

Kids return to Camp Watia this summer ......................................................................5 Proud past, bright future: Camp Henry soldiers on ..................................................6 Rec Center delays summer camp decision ................................................................6 Waynesville Art School empowers kids ......................................................................7

News

HERE plans homeless shelter for Jackson ................................................................9 WCU women create local branch of University Women ....................................10 Tough decisions in store for Waynesville budget ..................................................12 Feichter pushes for affordable housing in Waynesville ........................................13 Jackson forecasts budget increase ............................................................................14 Macon moves forward with middle school renovations ........................................18 Buncombe Commissioner wants Cawthorn’s seat ................................................20

Opinion

A long overdue plan to cut childhood poverty ........................................................24 Getting my hands dirty and loving it............................................................................25

Big Nick’s Barbecue carries on family tradition ......................................................26

Outdoors

Group works for safer wildlife crossings on I-40 ....................................................30

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289 Access Road, Waynesville ∙ 4524343 32 Asheville Hwy, Sylva ∙ 5868950 188 Georgia Road, Franklin ∙ 3494534 49 McDowell Street, Asheville ∙ 2547716 35 NC Hwy 141, Murphy ∙ 8358389

We are open

to continue to provide essential services to patients. We will provide a safe environment to our patients and staff. We are following protocol recommended by the CDC and local and state health departments.

Accepting New Patients

Dr. William Banks

Dr. Brian Carbonell Dr. Robert DelBene

Dr. Dennis Dawson Dr. Robert Przynosch

Dr. Ma Davis

Summer camps

Haywood County

• SOAR Summer Adventure Camp. Sessions start June 5 through Aug. 7. Tuition ranges from $3,100 to $4,700 depending on the program. www.soarnc.org or 828.456.3435. • Smoky Mountain Sk8way. Eight-week day camp from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. June 8 through Aug. 7. Ages 6-14. $160 a week. 828.246.9124. Enrollment form at www.SmokyMountainSk8way.com. • Camp Henry at Lake Logan. Sessions June 6 through July 27. Cost ranges from $395 to $1,275 for different camps. Scholarships available. www.camphenry.net or 828.475.9264. • Waynesville Art School. Sessions begin June 1 and run through Aug. 13. Costs vary. www.waynesvilleartschool.com/summercamp-general-info or 828.246.9869. • Camp Daniel Boone. Sessions start on June 6 and run through July 18. Most sessions are already sold out, but some remain. www.campdanielboone.com or 828.254.6189 x121.

Jackson County

• British Soccer Camp. June 7-11; July 19-23.

Cullowhee. $97-$143. Ages 3-16. jcprd.recdesk.com. 828.631.2020. • Jackson County Fun for Kids Day Camp.

Cashiers and Cullowhee. June to early

August, with 2021 details TBD. Kindergarten through sixth grade. jcprd.recdesk.com. 828.631.2020. • Summer Symposium for Marching Arts. July 11-15. WCU campus. www.prideofthemountains.com. • SOAR Family Weekend Adventure. May 7-8.

Balsam. $500 per family; ages 8-18. • SOAR Llama Trek Camp. June 6-15, June 20-29, July 4-13, July 18-27, Aug. 1-10.

Balsam. $3,350-$3,550; ages 8-10. www.soarnc.org. • SOAR Classic Adventure Camp. June 5-15,

June 19-29, July 3-13, July 17-27, July 31 to

Aug. 10. Balsam. $3,350-$3,550; ages 1118. www.soarnc.org. • SOAR Canoeing Camp. June 5-15, June 1929, July 3-13, July 17-27, July 31 to Aug. 10.

Balsam. $3,350-$3,550; ages 11-18. www.soarnc.org. • SOAR Horseback Riding Camp. Jun 6-16,

June 20-30, July 4-14, July 18-28, Aug. 111. Balsam. $3,650-$3,850; ages 11-18. www.soarnc.org. • SOAR Expedition Camp. June 10-26, July 117, July 22 to Aug. 7. Balsam. $4,550; ages 13-18. www.soarnc.org. • SOAR Academic Discovery Camp. June 8 to

July 2; July 8 to Aug. 1. Balsam. $5,600.

Ages 11-18. www.soarnc.org. • SOAR Twice Exceptional Adventure. June 10-26, July 1-17. Balsam. $4,600. Ages 1215. www.soarnc.org. • WCU typically offers an array of summer camp activities but is still deciding when and if to hold them this year. Check www.wcu.edu/engage/professional-enrichment/camps-and-programs-for-kids for updates.

Macon County

• New Vision

Training Center.

Summer day camp opportunities for gymnastics, ninja training, bouldering, outside play, arts and crafts, games, and much more. Full days and half days. Snacks will be provided. Bring your own lunch. Ages 3-12. www.newvisiontrainingcenter.com or 828.524.1904. • Macon County Schools Summer Edventure

Camp. 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. June 14 through July 31. Ages 5-12. Registration costs $30 on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Tuition is $1,057. Deadline is May 28. Call

Lenora Clifton at 828.524.4414, Ext. 324 or https://sec.macon.k12.nc.us. • Bascom Art Center in Highlands. Summer art camp for ages 7-14. Sessions begin

June 19 through Aug. 14. $175 a week. www.thebascom.org or 828.526.4949. • Danny Antoine’s Martial Arts & Fitness

Academy in Franklin. Monday through

Friday starting May 28 through Aug. 23. $135 per week. Each child must be sent with a packed lunch, two snacks, and a bottle of water. To register, call 828.332.0418. • Nantahala Learning Center Summer

Program. $25-$35 per day Monday through

Friday. Registration fee is $50. All field trip admission, transportation expenses, and materials is budgeted into the registration fee. Call 219.689.3443 for more info or visit www.nlcfranklin.com/summer-program. • Boys and Girls Club in Cashiers Summer

Camp. 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily June 3 through July 26. $415 per student/$350 for additional family members. info@bgcplateau.org or 828.743.2775.

Swain County

• YMCA Camp Watia. Weeklong sessions from

June 13 through Aug. 13 for ages 7 to 15.

Due to the pandemic, enrollment is currently capped, and a waiting list is available for families. $450-$750. Financial assistance available. www.ymcacampwatia.org. • Nantahala Outdoor Center. Whitewater kayaking camp. Spots are limited. Five-day sessions in June and July. For ages 9 to 17.

Starting at $900. 828.785.4977 or https://noc.com/courses/summer-daycamps/. • Camp Living Water Christian camp. Teen

Camp (13-17) July 4-16; Junior Camp (712) July 25-30. $490 per camper. www.camplivingwater.com/summer-camp or 828.488.6012.

Buncombe County

• Asheville Music School Summer Camps:

Offering many different week-long day camps for ages 4-18. Campers learn different styles of music in a fun, team-oriented group setting. Camps include Rock Camp,

Ukulele Camp, Harry Potter-themed Strings

Camp, Music Explorations, Pop Rock Camp,

Fiddle Camp, and more. Full-day camps run

Mon-Fri, 9am - 4pm, half-day camps run 9am- 12pm, or 1pm - 4pm. Price range: $190-$350. Contact Program Director Kylie Irvin: programs@ashevillemusicschool.org. Full details at ashevillemusicschool.org • Asheville Performing Arts Academy Summer Camps. June 7 - Aug. 13, prices and ages vary. Visit https://theapaa.com/programs/summer. • Discovery Camp. North Carolina

Arboretum. Weekly camps 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

June 7 - July 2 and July 19 - Aug. 13. Visit https://www.ncarboretum.org/educationprograms/discovery-camp/. • WNC Nature Center Summer Camp. For students entering first grade through fourth grade in fall 2021. Camps run 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 14 - Aug. 6. wildwnc.org/education/summer-camp/ • Summer day camps at the YMCA of

Asheville. Ages 4-14. https://ymcawnc.org/summerdaycamps • Great Smokies Young Writers Workshop.

Two-week session via Zoom, for two hours/day (one hour of poetry and one hour of prose, with a half hour break in between) with dates and times TBA. This workshop is open to rising 9th graders through rising first-year college students. Visit greatsmokies.unca.edu/young-writers-workshop/ • STEAM Studio SkillSet. July 5-9 [full day]

Make Your Own Guitar (girls & non-binary age 13 - 18) $520. Tools and processes include Fusion 360, CNC Router, Waterjet, soldering circuits, hand tools. No experience necessary. July 12-16 [half day] Chirps and

Chimes (girls and non-binary age 11 - 15) $415. Participants will make birdhouses and copper pipe windchimes. July 19-23

Illuminations (girls and non-binary age 13 - 18) $520. Participants will weld a pendant lamp, construct a wood and rice paper lamp, and sew a soft circuit. July 26-30

Furniture (girls and non-binary age 13 - 18) $520. Participants will build and customize a wooden bench. Email jregan@unca.edu or visit https://steamstudio.unca.edu/projects/skillset/. • Rockbrook Camp in Brevard. An overnight summer camp for girls ages 6-16. Two-, three- or four-week sessions available. ACA accredited and founded in 1921.