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A&E
Smoky Mountain News
Frog Level Brewing finds new owners n a move that’s been a year or so in the making, 7 Clans Brewing has recently purchased Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville. “Seven Clans are already aware of the brewing industry,” said Clark Williams, founder/owner of Frog Level Brewing. “They want to keep the name the same, [as well as] the staff, recipes and overall vibe. They’ll also add new beers and fresh ideas to the place.” Based out of Cherokee, 7 Clans Brewing, owned by Morgan and Travis Crisp, has had its ales crafted onsite at BearWaters Brewing in Canton until the business was able to find its own home for production and a taproom. As of the last calendar year, Frog Level Brewing produced 225 barrels, with production expected to increase in 2020. Its taproom currently has 10 employees. For Williams, who launched the brewery in 2011 (the first Haywood County brewery of the modern craft beer era), seeing the business he created change hands is bittersweet. But, he’s ready for new adventures and endeavors in this next chapter of his life. “My goal was to always make a place where I could expand people’s knowledge of Waynesville, make us a destination to come back to,” Williams said. “Seeing [all these old] photos of people enjoying our beer at the lake and at the beach or on a mountain or hike means more to me because those people choose to have fun and include our beer.” www.froglevelbrewing.com or www.7clansbrewing.com.
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“My goal was to always make a place where I could expand people’s knowledge of Waynesville, make us a destination to come back to.” — Clark Williams, founder/owner of Frog Level Brewing
Folk School offers ‘Local Standby’ program Western North Carolina residents are now eligible for halfoff tuition for all 2020 classes at John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown. The Local Standby program provides full and part-time residents 50 percent off any full-tuition course on a space-available, standby basis. Students can participate in an array of week-long and weekend classes including blacksmithing, pottery, jewelry, woodworking, and cooking. Nineteen counties are eligible for the Local Standby program, including Cherokee, Clay, Buncombe, Henderson, Macon, Jackson, Swain, Madison, Graham, and Transylvania counties in North Carolina including the Qualla Boundary; Fannin, Gilmer, Rabun, Towns, and Union counties in Georgia; and Polk and Monroe county in Tennessee. In its 95th year, John C. Campbell Folk School is expanding on a newly finalized strategic plan to strengthen local community relations and enhance programming to diversify its student base. Created with the help of instructors, students, and local communities, the plan also includes improvements to
infrastructure, development of staff and resident artists, and continued financial strength. All students interested must request a “Local Standby” discount at the time of registration and will be confirmed 14 days before the class start date. Students must present a valid driver’s license, voter registration card, or tax bill showing their local address. For more detail on class information and descriptions, visit www.folkschool.org or call 800.FOLK.SCHOOL. Founded in 1925, John C. Campbell Folk School is a not-forprofit 501(c)(3) organization offering adults over 850 week-long and weekend classes year-round in traditional and contemporary craft, music, and dance. The Folk School is a Historic District and a landmark on the National Registry of Historic Places. Through values of joy, kindness, and stewardship in a noncompetitive environment, the Folk School hopes to transform lives and bring others together for experiences in learning that spark their self-discovery.
