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Western North Carolina’s Source for Weekly News, Entertainment, Arts, and Outdoor Information

April 5-11, 2017 Vol. 18 Iss. 45

Dillsboro river park gets unanimous approval Page 4 Town denies train’s request for Fry Street closure Page 14

CONTENTS On the Cover: The Haywood County Republican Party has been embroiled in a power struggle over the past several months, culminating in the mass overthrow of a conservative patriot faction by the mainstream branch of the party. (Page 6)

News Dillsboro river park get unanimous approval .............................................................. 4 High hopes in Hazelwood hang on revamped parking lot .................................... 5 Sylva to vote on funding for one lane Mill Street .................................................... 10 Election season begins for Cherokee council race .............................................. 11 Town denies train’s request for Fry Street closure ................................................ 12 Folkmoot’s Cultural Conversations ..............................................................................14 More Trump budget cuts hit home ..............................................................................18 Strange bedfellows emerge in HB 2 ‘repeal’ .......................................................... 19 School board resolution targets Presnell House Bill ............................................ 21 Business News ................................................................................................................ 23

Opinion One small step toward ending discrimination ..........................................................24

A&E Tony Award nominee, WCU professor Terrence Mann on acting, life ............ 30

Outdoors Walking Lake Junaluska fuels Hill’s fight against cancer ......................................42

Back Then

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April 5-11, 2017

A fox sighting is always a delight j................................................................................ 55

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news

Dillsboro river park gets unanimous approval Final execution will depend on grant awards

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER new river park in Dillsboro is no longer just a proposal after the Jackson County Commissioners voted unanimously April 3 to approve an economic development deal between the county and Western North Carolina Outdoor Development, a company owned by Jackson County businessman Kelly Custer.

“The overwhelming feeling for me is I’m just excited to really get to work now and to actually make this happen,” Custer said in a follow-up interview. “I appreciate all the feedback and the comments. I spent a lot of time over the last couple of weeks listening to the public concerns, and that will continue. We hope to continue to hear from people and work with everyone to make this project happen.”

Under the deal, Custer will receive a 7acre tract of land along the Tuckasegee River for $50,000, well below its market value of $751,000. In addition, the county will provide $847,000 in water and sewer infrastructure, $74,000 in site prep and $45,000 in hydrologic studies. Custer will develop the property — along with 13 contiguous acres he’s purchased from private owners — into an outdoor adventure park offering camping, rafting, tubing, fishing and amenities such as a zipline or climbing wall.

Including the $350,000 land purchase, the county’s costs will total $926,000.

However, the county expects to more than recoup those dollars over the life of the 10year agreement. Custer will have to meet cer-

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April 5-11, 2017

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tain benchmarks for tax revenue generation and create at least 10 full-time jobs paying a minimum $14 per hour. Continued public access to the waterfront will be guaranteed, and Custer will have to construct greenway paths and grant the county easements to those paths.

It’s still possible that the deal could fall through, however. The agreement will move

Leading up to the final decision, commissioners held a public hearing March 20 that drew about 75 people, with 20 of them offering comment. The speakers were overwhelmingly supportive of the idea, but most of them had some questions or concerns for commissioners to address. In the two weeks since, county staff has been working to answer the questions raised.

A 7-acre piece of county land near Dillsboro will become a riverside adventure park. Holly Kays photo

forward only if the county is awarded the trio of grants it applied for to cover $400,000 of the $847,000 cost of water and sewer extension. Economic Development Director Rich Price says that the applications have been received favorably thus far, but he hasn’t been notified of any awards yet. He expects to hear within a matter of weeks.

Three people who spoke during the March 20 hearing returned for the April 3 decision to reiterate their concerns. Roger Clapp, executive director of the Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee River, said that WATR recognizes the benefits the project could bring to the area economy and to stewardship of the river but feels that the density of the planned development “may be

Questions and answers

ability to secure loans and otherwise conduct business, Price said.

After listening to an hour of public comment on the proposed river park during a March 20 hearing, commissioners sent county staff lists of questions to answer before the vote. Economic Development Director Rich Price addressed those questions during the board’s April 3 meeting.

Is public access guaranteed?

“There is no restriction on who or whom may flow through that property to get access to the river,” Price said.

Anyone — even a competing rafting company — would have free rein to use the river access. The county will also hold easements on the property for access to greenways and to water and sewer facilities. There are still some variables to navigate before exact greenway locations can be determined, but the agreement stipulates that easements be added once those walkways are developed.

Does the agreement guarantee actual job creation?

The contract stipulates that Kelly Custer, who owns the developing company Western North Carolina Outdoor Development, create at least 10 fulltime jobs paying a minimum of $14 per hour.

Any vendor that Custer contracts with would have to provide the county with baseline employment data so that only jobs added after the contract began would count toward the job creation requirement.

When the 10-year agreement ends, will the property be protected against undesirable uses?

Existing county ordinances — combined with the greenway easements and river access guarantees that will be attached to the deed — should be sufficient to protect against future uses that aren’t respectful of the site, Price said. Industrial operations such as asphalt plants and commercial junkyards must be at least a quarter-mile away from any residence, and there are many houses within that radius, added Planning Director Michael Poston.

Further restrictions are unnecessary and would only hinder Custer’s

Does the plan address traffic and pedestrian issues?

“These are ongoing concerns that are going to require ongoing attention,” Price said.

The N.C. Department of Transportation won’t begin a traffic assessment until the development is built, but the roads to be most affected by the river park — North River Road and Mockingbird Lane — have already been flagged in the Jackson County Comprehensive Transportation Plan as needing modernization.

Efforts are also underway to ensure pedestrian access from downtown to the river park, Price said. Dillsboro has spent the past year planning a walking route from Monteith Park on the Sylva side of Dillsboro all the way into downtown and across the river to the site of the future river park. Price and Poston are already looking into options for construction a footbridge across the river.

overwhelming.” He also stressed the importance of ensuring that a pedestrian connector is built between the new park, downtown Dillsboro and Monteith Park.

T.J. Walker of the Dillsboro Inn and area resident Valerie Harrison also spoke, expressing their concerns about the traffic issues that the development could bring with it. Walker pointed out that nobody from the N.C. Department of Transportation had attended either this meeting or the March 20 hearing, calling the fact “worrisome.”

“We are for this development,” Walker said. “But we want some good growth management.”

Commissioners ultimately concluded that the deal would be in the county’s best interest, with all five voting in favor of it.

Chairman Brian McMahan said that, in his view, the agreement would support the county’s two main goals: to improve river access and spur economic development.

“We are providing a much greater access for recreational opportunities along that stretch of the river than exists there now,” he said, and on top of that the potential of the project to spur economic development in Dillsboro and the county as a whole is “very significant.”

“I grew up in the backyard of Dillsboro, and I’ve watched that little town. I can remember when the river was black,” said Commissioner Charles Elders. “It was a big thrill when the river was cleaned up then.”

If that cleaned-up river can become a tourist draw capable of stopping people on their way to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park or Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, Elders said, “then we have a good chance of building Dillsboro back up.”

“This is not a ‘we’re going to sign this agreement and stop working on these things,’” Price said. “These are ongoing and will be ongoing concerns that will take a lot of work to mitigate.”

With drought sometimes a reality, will water levels be sufficient to support a rafting enterprise?

“The good thing about this project is there are multiple revenue streams,” Price said. “This is not dependent on whether you can put a raft in the river and send a whole family down … River levels are going to fluctuate. It is a risk that is inherent to this particular industry.”

Where will rafters put in and take out?

The public access area at Barkers Creek is most likely to be used, Price said, and it appears to be sufficient to handle Custer’s future customers in addition to existing users. However, if conflict does occur, there is space to expand the parking area there. Passive activities like tubing could be done elsewhere so as to relieve any congestion.

How will the development affect wildlife?

Price discussed the issue with Justin McVey, district wildlife biologist for the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, and came back with a favorable verdict.

“It may be a little increase in capacity, but certainly nothing to a point that could cause any harm to creatures indigenous to the waterway,” Price said.

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Barber Shop on Brown Avenue.

Repaving and restriping the lot will the expand capacity by 50 cars, for a total of 81 parking spots.

On March 28, Waynesville aldermen approved final design standards for the lot, which will include an area for public art, decorative lighting, charging stations for electric vehicles and, notably, public restrooms.

The placement of those restrooms — in the center of the lot, for best visibility — also opens up the possibility of small street fairs or festivals taking place on the block; they’ll appear similar to existing city public restrooms in the parking lot on Miller Street.

“Hazelwood Village has a really nice thing going on,” Feichter said. “You’ve got

Welcome to Ingles -

Tyger River Smart Farms You may notice some bright green live basil plants in the produce section of your Ingles Market with a "Tyger River Smart Farm" sticker.

Final plans for the Hazelwood parking lot were approved March 28. Town of Waynesville photo

Hydroponic growing allows CEO and President, Ryan Oates and his employees to carefully control temperature and nutrients. All nutrients are delivered through the plant's root system by water. Ryan, a graduate of Clemson University (Biological Sciences) and Miami University of Ohio (Plant Molecular Biology) is thrilled to have his plants at Ingles, "I grew up shopping at Ingles and it makes me so proud to see my basil plants in my local Ingles store!"

Smoky Mountain News

the soap company, the restaurant, the REACH store and the pharmacy — I think that has the potential to add to the momentum I think is occurring down there.”

The makeover is expected to cost about $175,000, and Public Services Director David Foster said construction would begin possibly as early as this week, once permits are approved.

Foster added that construction should take about 10 weeks, and that the town is shooting for completion before tourism season hits in earnest this summer.

Feichter is optimistic about how increased economic activity away from the area served by the Downtown Waynesville Association could make Waynesville a more vibrant community, and hints that the town may not stop at the revamped Hazelwood lot.

“You could include Frog Level in that — there are defined areas here. You’ve got downtown, Hazelwood Village and Frog Level,” Feichter said. “From my perspective as a board member, I think we need to lend a hand in those other areas when we can, because all of Waynesville benefits when it’s not just downtown thriving. I think that parking lot is going to help Hazelwood thrive.”

Tyger River Smart Farm (www.tygerriversmartfarm.com) is a hydroponic operation that grows basil, lettuces and other leafy greens using hydroponic methods. This means the plants are grown in a greenhouse instead of in the field and they are grown in water rather than soil. Their automated greenhouse is in Greer, SC and they supply live herbs like basil as well as arugula, Swiss chard, lettuce and kale to retailers like Ingles and restaurants in Upstate SC.

April 5-11, 2017

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER small assortment of businesses in the 400 block of Hazelwood Avenue have been flourishing of late despite suffering through decades of decline, but an expanded parking lot may just be the key to increased prosperity in the once heavily industrialized area.

“I think it’s wonderful,” said Waynesville Alderman Jon Feichter. “I think it’s going to be a real benefit to Hazelwood. I think it’s needed and it’s going to be beneficial.”

Preserving the identity of Hazelwood — at one time a separate town but now part of Waynesville — hasn’t exactly been a top priority for Waynesville since a financial collapse prompted the annexation in 1995.

But as Waynesville looks to diversify itself beyond the bustling downtown Main Street tourist corridor, development in Hazelwood has taken on a new urgency.

Key to that development is parking.

“I think it’s a pretty big problem,” Feichter said. “I’ve talked to a couple of business owners down there, and one of the guys said it would be a big boon to his business. I can really see this jumpstarting development.”

A small lot on Hazelwood Avenue containing around 31 spaces currently serves as the only off-street parking available in that area; anecdotal evidence from shoppers consistently mentions the difficulty in parking that leads some to avoid the strip altogether.

Last fall, the Waynesville Board of Aldermen voted to re-lease the lot from the property owner, the Viola N. Forga Living Trust, at $850 per month for five years. The town has the option to renew the lease four more times in five-year increments, with a 9-percent lease payment increase at each renewal.

The town and will be responsible for the perpetual upkeep of the lot, including cleaning, repairing and disposing of the trash, but Waynesville’s stewardship of the lot doesn’t end there.

Work has already begun on the site, which includes demolishing two structures, the Olde Time Insurance building off Hazelwood Avenue — ignited in a controlled burn for the purpose of training local firefighters last month — and Bill’s

news

High hopes in Hazelwood hang on revamped parking lot

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news

Haywood GOP leaders overthrown

The large turn-out at the annual precinct gathering of the Haywood GOP was a pivotal moment for the party. It reflected the growing footprint of Republicans in the county, and led to an overthrow of the patriot faction that was at the party’s helm. Becky Johnson photo

BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER power struggle has embroiled the Haywood County Republican Party over the past several months, culminating in the mass overthrow of a conservative “patriot” faction by the mainstream branch of the party.

The story of internal turmoil within the Haywood GOP is a familiar one. Feuding factions have been at loggerheads for several years running. But the latest commotion is more than just another chapter in the same old tug-of-war.

The turbulence that has marked the past four years may have finally been quelled. A swift and stealthy plot recently expelled the patriot bloc blamed for the unrest and paved the way for a stronger party.

“We are getting our feet under ourselves now and can be a positive force,” said Kevin Ensley, a member of the mainstream Republicans and a Haywood County commissioner. “The negative stuff, we need to leave it at the door. We need to be positive and work toward our common goals.”

The patriot bloc had seized the reins of the party two years ago following a prolonged fight for control. Its members gradually entrenched themselves as precinct chairs, gaining a large majority on the 30-member executive committee, the party’s decisionmaking body.

But in an unprecedented political maneuver, the mainstream branch of the party rallied its troops to take back control.

Mainstream Republicans ousted the patriot faction en masse several weeks ago by recruiting their own slate to run for precinct chairs.

When the dust settled, only two members 6

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April 5-11, 2017

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Coming next week What happened exactly to cause a wedge in the Haywood County GOP, and is there any hope of finding common ground?

Meanwhile, the splintering of Haywood’s GOP is a microcosm of the national debate over the two party system. Are party establishments doing enough to embrace grassroots movements in their ranks, and are their tents big enough to hold everyone? of the patriot faction managed to hang onto their precinct chairs. The rest were defeated, dramatically reshaping the makeup of the party’s executive committee.

“We have a new wave of precinct chairs so our executive committee is a little bit more stable now,” said Hannah Strum. “We have new people, we have new energy and new ideas.”

Things aren’t so rosy for the patriot faction, however.

“What really stings is that the very people who worked side-by-side with us, all of a sudden just flip-flopped,” said Jeremy Davis, a leader of the patriot faction and party finance chair until the overthrow.

Joy Diettle, a relative newcomer to the local party, doesn’t understand why the mainstream branch has such contempt and hostility toward the patriot faction.

“I didn’t anticipate it being so corrupt at the local county level where it is neighbor against neighbor and friend against friend,” Diettle said.

Despite their unwavering tenacity for conservative principles, members of the patriot

bloc were seen by many as troublemakers.

They were too radical for the mainstream Republicans in Haywood County and were accused of preventing growth of the party.

Only time will tell what impact their ousting will have. Will mainstream Republicans be turned off by the disruptive faction of patriots now come back to the table? Or has the party lost its grassroots core of loyal, steadfast conservatives?

“The folks they just electioneered out of the Haywood County Republican Party were the folks that raised the money — the people who got things done, who showed up to man tables, and the people who invested in fundraisers,” said Paul Yeager, an ousted member of the patriot faction.

They aren’t going away, however. They’ve now started their own group called the Haywood Republican Alliance to channel their energy.

“I have been a Republican for 40 years and nobody can stop me,” said Eddie Cabe, a leader of the patriot faction. “They want to silence the Christian conservative grassroots movement because we are not for the establishment.”

Like Davis, Cabe feels betrayed.

“It really hurt my feelings they don’t want good conservative, Christian, veteran, patriots in their midst,” Cabe said.

Cabe lives and breathes conservative principles, almost to a fault. There are no shades of gray in Cabe’s book, and those who don’t share his core values aren’t true Republicans in his eyes — and he will condemn them publicly for disloyalty.

“If you don’t agree with them on every issue, then you aren’t a Republican to them,” said Ensley, who’s been in the patriots’

crosshairs for years.

Cabe is a prolific master of Facebook and harnessing social media to spread patriot ideology. Not all his posts are political in nature, however. Cabe is known to share prepper tips, like a video on pressure-cooking a raccoon, how to build a trip-wire alarm around your home’s perimeter or harness rainwater. He sprinkles his posts with inspiring quotes from famous conservatives, degrading jabs at Democrats, and passages from the Constitution.

But Facebook has also proved a perfect medium for chastising mainstream Republicans like Ensley who have sold out the party in Cabe’s eyes. Cabe readily labels them “commies” and “socialists” and calls them “crooked” and “underhanded.”

Some in Cabe’s own camp even cringe when he goes on the rampage.

“Even some of the folks on my side of this mess, if they decide they don’t like somebody they will attack them at every turn. They will pile on based on their personal prejudices about that person rather than the actual issue,” Yeager said.

Nonetheless, the party establishment should be inclusive rather than shutting people down.

“Eddie is a bit of a firebrand and a bomb thrower, but he has a voice and has the right to use it,” Yeager said.

Indeed, attempts by the party establishment to silence the patriot faction only made them get louder, creating a vicious cycle.

“You need to accept them and embrace them,” said Philip Wight, a Maggie Valley Republican who sympathizes with the patriot faction.

Haywood County GOP Chairman Ken Henson said the internal turmoil is partly due to growing pains.

“There’s no more division in ours than there is in any other party,” Henson said.

“But we’ve built it up so big, and any time you do that the noise is going to get bigger.”

Henson helped orchestrate the overthrow of the patriot faction, and claims it was necessary to move the party forward.

“We recruited our people and they recruited their people. We just got more people than they did. Get over it and move on,” Henson said.

FOR THE GREATER GOOD

Whether the ousting will serve the party’s greater good, one effect is undeniable: it left a trail of hurt feelings and betrayal that could remain a black eye on the Haywood GOP’s new leadership for some time to come.

“Do you disenfranchise people and ruin friendships and send people away with a bad taste in their mouth?” asked Wight.

To those who orchestrated the overthrow, the ends justified the means. The party’s future was at stake. But it was unethical, and thus wrong, according to K.G. Watson, a Haywood County conservative who claims allegiance to neither side per se.

“People who do things that are underhanded always have some meritorious reason in their mind why they did it,” said Watson. “There is a short-term gain maybe,

S EE GOP, PAGE 8

Patriot faction of Haywood GOP blindsided by ousting E

“Down at the end of the table there were a group of men looking at a sheet of paper. I walk over to them and they quickly folded it up and tucked it in their pocket looking sheepish,” Diettle said.

Jeremy Davis, a member of the patriot faction sitting at Diettle’s table, asked point blank what the paper was all about.

“I said ‘What’d ya have there?’ And he

POSITIVE PARTY “They probably realized they were being manipulated but thought they were supporting a friend and it was the right thing to do,” Diettle said.

Davis doesn’t blame those who were recruited to the precinct gathering but instead sees them as pawns.

“I bet 98 percent of people had no idea what was going to happen,” Davis said.

It wasn’t until the precinct gathering

leading. They had the air of an official party hand-out, and most in attendance took the lists as gospel.

“It was implied these are your official candidates,” Watson said. “It was a scam.”

Watson was impressed at the orchestration that went into the overthrow, but found it deceitful.

“It was a mass effort, and if it had been an honest effort I would not be talking to you right now,” Watson said. “These kind of things create long-standing animosity and if you are really trying to get on the same page you can’t do things like that.”

ALL’S FAIR IN POLITICS The political strategy that went into the precinct gathering was indeed immense. But there’s nothing wrong with that, according to Lynda Bennett, the newly elected party secretary from the mainstream branch of the

April 5-11, 2017 More than dozen members of the patriot faction were ousted from their leadership roles at the Haywood GOP’s annual precinct gathering, thanks to political gamesmanship engineered by the mainstream party establishment. Becky Johnson photo said, ‘This is the list of people I was given to vote for to keep this one guy from getting a seat,’” Davis recounted.

Little did the man know that Davis was that “one guy.”

Someone across the table silently shook his head, trying to silence the man with the paper from saying anything more to Davis.

But Davis quickly Jeremy Davis snatched the paper.

What he saw was a cheat sheet of names to vote for in the precinct election — names for precinct chair, vice chair, secretary and over a dozen delegates.

Cabe has since realized what was on the sheet of paper at his table as well, and

“I said ‘I am not going to play a crooked game with crooked people.’ It was clear the whole thing was being manipulated. This was not honest, open governance.”

— Eddie Cabe

ended that blindsided members of the patriot faction realized the same story had unfolded all over the room that day.

“I was sitting there rather dumfounded at what had occurred and I didn’t know what was going on at other precinct tables with the cheat sheets,” said Paul Yeager. “The gentleman who ran against me openly admitted he’d been asked to come and run to keep me from getting chair.”

R. G. Watson, a member of the patriot faction who witnessed the precinct overthrow, believes the cheat sheets were mis-

Haywood GOP. “There was a lot of legwork and a lot of effort went into getting that number of people to come out. It had never been that well organized before,” Bennett said.

Bennett said there’s often competition for party offices, particularly at the district and state level, where conventions are rife with campaigning for leadership positions.

“Somebody gives you a button, somebody else gives you a hat, somebody gives

Smoky Mountain News

t m eBY B ECKY JOHNSON mSTAFF WRITER ddie Cabe suspected something big was m afoot in the weeks leading up to the annual precinct gathering of the e Haywood County Republican Party. s But he didn’t realize just how big until he ysaw cars parked all over the grass and a lcheck-in line snaking out the door — both stelltale signs of the showdown waiting inside. l Cabe and his patriot faction had grown at odds with the party establishment of late, tbut neither side was going quietly. The past -several months had been marked by accusations of collusion, shifting allegiances, email bsparring, social media shaming and shouting tmatches.

The factions wrestled over control of the -party headquarters, argued over when and ewhere to hold meetings, debated who volunteered more hours, eswapped character ybarbs, and even tried to tstrip each other from the party bank account and nconfiscate each others ekeys to headquarters.

Meanwhile, behind nthe scenes, a group of .party insiders began Eddie Cabe ustrategizing the ouster of the patriot faction. wThe plan: to push them out of their precinct -chair positions and off the party’s executive committee. y When the countywide precinct gathering -rolled around in February, Cabe and his ”patriot faction were oblivious to the coup about to unfold, however.

“This was all done in secret behind closed doors,” Cabe said.

But as they funneled in to the metal swarehouse in Bethel — the site of the GOP agathering — it was swarming with unfamildiar faces. The expansive floor was lined with srows of folding tables labeled with signs for each of the 30 precincts in the county. n When Cabe finally found the table with dhis precinct name on it, he was surprised to see so many people. Years’ past, it was just ,him and his wife and a couple others at best ssitting around the table at the annual precinct dgathering. But this year, there were a dozen. a Cabe noticed one woman had a folded spiece of paper and was surreptitiously showing it to few others. He didn’t think anything -of it at first, but gradually grew suspicious.

- “She got up and showed other people the dpiece of paper and whispered in their ear ,and came and sat back down,” Cabe said.

Meanwhile, a similar story was playing out a few tables over at Joy Diettle’s precinct.

walked out.

“I said ‘I am not going to play a crooked game with crooked people.’ It was clear the whole thing was being manipulated. This was not honest, open governance,” Cabe said.

Diettle wonders whether those who came out to vote the line of the party establishment knew if they were complicit in a coup.

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GOP, CONTINUED FROM 6 but for years this will come back to haunt them. They will have trouble recruiting good, honest people.”

To Lynda Bennett, it’s just the opposite. A persistent dark cloud was keeping people away from the party, and that’s gone now.

“People don’t volunteer to do things that are hard or unpleasant. Volunteer-based organizations need to be upbeat and focused on the issues and ideas that people want to participate in,” said Bennett, who was recently elected party secretary. “They don’t have time to be involved in something that is not uplifting or positive.”

The patriot faction was stifling the party at a time it should have been gaining strength. A record 225 people attended the county precinct meeting this year.

“We were never able to bring all these people in before,” Bennett said.

That’s because the vibe was too negative, added Pat Bennett, Lynda’s husband.

“We wanted to have a positive party, not a negative party,” said Pat Bennett, who claimed a precinct chairmanship in the upset elections. “Anybody can be against something and anybody can complain, but we want to be positive and move forward.”

The number of registered Republicans has grown substantially over the past decade.

Historically, Haywood was a Democratic stronghold. Republicans were the minority and their only recourse was throwing stones.

But now, Republicans in Haywood are winning elections thanks to a shift in voter demographics.

“If we are going to be elected then we have to lead,” Ensley said. “We can’t be a reactionary ‘no’ vote all the time. We have to be a solution-based party. We can’t just be the party that’s in the way and being obstructionists.”

OUT OF THE WOODWORK

Smoky Mountain News

Of the record breaking crowd at this year’s annual precinct gathering — topping more than 200 — half had never been to a party function or meeting in their life.

To Cabe, that was deceitful. Newcomers were recruited to flood the precinct elections for the express purpose of ousting the patriots.

“No one at my table had I ever seen at a party meeting before,” Cabe said.

To the mainstream Republicans, the story is a far different one. It’s a story of victory, of a rising Republican tide and momentum. The larger take-away: the party is harnessing untapped energy and growing its base in Haywood.

“I am looking forward confidentially to the party growing,” said Pat Carr, a leader of the mainstream branch and newly elected party treasurer. “We have been a minority party here forever and I am really glad to see so much interest. There is enthusiasm from new folks. I am really pleased to see more people participating.”

The groundswell is due in part to last November’s victories at the polls, with Haywood voters electing Republicans in 8 local, state and national races.

“I think the presidential election allowed us to become energized,” Lynda Bennett said.

One of the newcomers to the party was Ron Muse, a Waynesville businessman who’d been a Democrat, at least on paper, until two years ago. Like many Southern Democrats of his generation, he could no longer identify with the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, and he finally realigned his party registration to match his beliefs.

“I just changed horses,” Muse said.

But Muse was too turned off by the infighting to get involved in the local party until now.

“There were a bunch of quarrels. It was just a hostile environment. Three or four people had a certain thing they wanted to push and had their little clans,” Muse said.

Muse heard there was a movement afoot to chart a new course, and agreed to run for a precinct chair. But Muse said he didn’t set out to push anyone out of the party.

“The people I have talked to aren’t mad at those people. We want them to be part of us, not just a clique,” Muse said. “Everybody that reads this article is welcome to come to the next meeting.”

The infusion of new blood in the party also includes Timothy Reynolds of Clyde, who moved to Haywood County three years ago from Kansas City. After Trump’s victory, Reynolds wanted to get involved in the local party and be part of the change that was coming in America. He stopped into the party headquarters one day this winter and heard about the upcoming precinct gathering, and decided to go.

“We can’t be a reactionary ‘no’ vote all the time. We have to be a solution-based party. We can’t just be the party that’s in the way and being obstructionists.”

— Kevin Ensley, Haywood commissioner

Reynolds’ precinct of North Clyde wasn’t one of the contested ones. Only a few people from his precinct came, and no one else was vying for the chair, so he stepped up.

He’s not privy to the ins and outs of the internal strife, and was only vaguely aware of it when he showed up for the precinct gathering.

“The drama needs to end and hopefully they got it resolved. I don’t want to see anybody feel like they got pushed out,” Reynolds said. “I don’t think you can walk away just because you have conflict. You can always resolve conflict.”

It’s too soon to say whether the sides are ready to put the past behind them.

“That will be proven on down the road, but I hope so,” Muse said.

But those who’ve been in the trenches don’t see it that way.

“I think at this point we have gone way

Haywood GOP Party Chair Ken Henson and Vice Chair Debbie King were once allies of the patriot faction, but recently switched allegiances and helped orchestrate their defeat. Becky Johnson photo

POSITIVE PARTY past being able to work things out,” Yeager said.

COMING BACK TO THE TABLE Division is hardly new for the Haywood GOP. Overthrows aren’t new either, but power shifts in the past weren’t as sudden or swift. It took the patriots over two years to get control of the party by gradually wearing down the mainstream with vile, personal attacks until they gave up, leaving the patriots at the helm by default.

But many of the party faithful run off by the tactics of the patriot faction have now come back to the table, including Hannah and Brian Strum. After incessant browbeating and name calling, they finally walked away two years ago.

“We didn’t stop being involved politically.

We still went to political functions, but we didn’t participate in the Haywood Republican Party,” said Hannah Strum. “We just took a break from the Haywood County party.”

But that changed when the party chair, Ken Henson, reached back out to them a few months ago.

“He reached out to both of us and said ‘Would you consider being involved again?’ and we said ‘We sure would’ and he said ‘Come on,’” Brian recounted.

Hannah was re-elected as chair of her Clyde precinct.

“We feel very excited,” Hannah said. “We see a lot of positive things coming to the Republican Party now and we are looking forward to that and getting re-involved.”

The plan to re-engage some of those who left the local party in disgust would only work, however, if there were a critical mass of mainstream Republicans on board.

“We were certainly willing to do our part.

We were very hopeful it would work,” Hannah said. “We all made the decision to come together and be on the same team and work together to overcome these obstacles

we’ve had the past four years and move forward in a positive direction as a whole.”

Brian Strum said they were willing to put their hurt feelings aside for the greater good of the local party.

“We love the party enough and we were dedicated enough to our philosophical zeitgeist so to speak, that it led us back to being involved,” he said.

A few mainstream Republicans had hung in there all along, including former chair of the Haywood GOP Pat Carr.

“If you are going to be in politics you have to have a pretty thick skin because there will always be somebody who wants to throw rocks at you,” Carr said.

Carr spent years in the crosshairs of the patriot faction and was even the target of an impeachment attempt.

She stepped down as chair two years ago, but is now back in a leadership position as the newly elected party secretary.

Carr thought a minute when asked whether she would have taken on a leadership role again if the patriot faction was still in control of the executive committee.

“Would I have been willing to? No, because in my view most of those folks tend to be divisive rather than contributory,” Carr said. “If I anticipated they would have held a majority on the executive committee, I would not have been interested. They were obstructive instead of contributing. I am sure they see it quite differently, but the thing is we turned our folks out.”

Kevin Ensley, a Haywood County commissioner considered public enemy number one by the patriot faction, always saw the patriot faction as a vocal minority that could easily be overthrown if mainstream Republicans came together.

“I’ve always said what we need to do is get people to the precinct meetings and get the people voted out who are causing problems,” Ensley said. So when the moment arrived, he was on board.

“They wanted to turn it around and get it to where we can do some positive things. To not help with that would be a hypocrite,” Ensley said.

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April 5-11, 2017

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you a pen — it is not uncommon. It’s common,” Bennett said.

Pat Carr, a long-time party leader from the mainstream branch, said the groundswell of Republicans who came out for the precinct gathering has been a long time coming for a party that’s risen above its minority status in Haywood. The momentum from Trump’s win, and the success of local Republican candidates on the ballot last fall, created the perfect storm.

“There was tremendous enthusiasm and I wanted to capitalize on that. It was a good time to strike while the iron was hot,” said Carr, the newly elected party treasurer. “All of us really worked to organize the precincts so we would have representation across the county. Many are new people and probably have new ideas. We can always use more talent.”

- At the end of the day, more than a dozen omembers of the patriot faction were ousted from their precinct seats. Only two patriots - managed to stay in the game.

“There was enough people that came this ttime that cared and were interested in makding their voices heard,” said Pat Bennett, a Republican from Maggie Valley who’s been einvolved in the local party since the 1970s.

- Bennett, who won the precinct chair for gMaggie Valley, readily admits that he recruited people to turn out gand vote for him. f “I worked hard to get that precinct eturnout,” he said. l“When I decided I wantwed it, I called all the people I knew who were eRepublicans and ask nthem to come vote for Philip Wight me. I actually picked up ,two people in my car sand drove them there because they were in wheelchairs. They were there to vote for me.” d But that’s how elections work, he said.

- “The other side — if you want to call it lthat — had a good opportunity to call their supporters as well,” said Lisa Womack, a ,long-time party member. d Philip Wight, a member of the patriot facrtion who Bennett ousted as Maggie precinct achair, said he would have saved himself the dtime and trouble of going to the precinct -meeting if he’d known it was going to be a set yup. Wight was glad to serve as precinct chair eif it needed filling, but wasn’t gunning for a showdown over the volunteer title. e CLEAN SWEEP t y To silence the patriot faction, the mainsstream branch needed to seize a critical mass of precinct chair seats. If the patriot faction tmaintained a toehold on the executive comemittee, the party would remain bogged ”down by infighting and disarray. e “If I’m going to do something, we are going to do it all the way,” said Pat Bennett. t“I wanted to see unity in the party.” o Leo Phillips, a Republican from Murphy ”who’s active in the party at the state and district level, saw the show of force at

chair who recently switched camps from the door off every time church is open and then Haywood’s precinct gathering first-hand. He patriot faction to mainstream branch, initial- come out here and be deceptive?” made the rounds to 14 counties during ly denied there was a concerted effort to creThose who witnessed it may be leery of March to drop in on their annual convenate cheat sheets. When asked about their ori- the party turning on them one day, too. They tions and campaign for the title of 11th gin, she postulated the lists were just a coinmay always be leery of any organization District Party Chair. Haywood turned out cidence. that used so much political maneuvering more people than any of the other convenBut the lists had clearly been orchestratto take control of the leadership of the tions he attended. local party.

“I was very impressed with the enthusi- ed, with the font, type size and formatting identical from precinct to precinct.

“Yeah you have recruited a lot of new asm and numbers that came out,” Phillips blood to the table, but once they see the said. style, they aren’t going to have Regardless of what motivated people, the TAYING POWER leadership patience for that and it will collapse again point is they came out, he said.

“Whenever you get those kind of numIt remains to be seen whether the masses and you will end up with that core small group that ran the party before,” said bers and there’s that much enthusiasm and recruited to pull off the overthrow of the Mark Zaffron, who claims to be neutral, they are part of the process of the party elecpatriot faction will stick with the party. but doesn’t like how the patriot faction tion, then it is a good thing. It is democracy “They tried to stack the executive comwas treated. at its very basic,” Phillips said. mittee. But in few months they won’t have a For many, it was the first time they ever The election of precinct chairs and offiquorum to get anything done,” said Terry cers within a party is a lot like a primary, Ramey, who claims to be neutral but sympa- came to a party function or got involved in the local party other than voting on election with people of the same political stripes run- thizes with the patriot faction. day. But that’s the first step to building a ning against each other. It can be more diffiWatson agreed. more active party, and Lynda cult emotionally than running Bennett believes they will have against the opposing party. staying power.

“During elections, only one “They said it was fascinating side wins and only side loses,” and interesting and enjoyed the said Lynda Bennett. “Feelings do process. They thought it was get hurt but you have to let the interesting and fun,” she said. process of voting take place and There’s a reason some of the let people make their decisions people who came for the of who they want to lead.” precinct gathering hadn’t shown Phillips’ run for district chair up at party functions before. isn’t his first bid for higher They hadn’t felt comfortable or office in the party. He’s tried welcome, but being personally before and lost, but didn’t take invited to get involved changed his marbles and go home. that, said Womack.

“I didn’t leave the sandbox.

“Some of the people who You got to stay in there,” didn’t feel comfortable coming Phillips said. before turned out for this To the masses, precinct event,” Womack said. “We were meetings are elusive and all very uplifted by the record obscure. But they are the attendance. We were very, very essence of political parties in encouraged and realized the America, the very backbone the other group doesn’t have that party is built on. big of a following. The general The chain of command in a feeling is that really and truly party doesn’t flow from the top they are a minority that has a down like the military, but very, very narrow viewpoint.” instead flows from the ground Bennett said the party was up, starting with precincts. being held back by strife and Each precinct — thousands The grassroots patriot faction believes it's their duty to rein in govern- negative energy, but hopes that of them all across America — elect chairs and delegates to ment corruption and defend the liberty of the common man, conveyed will now change.

“We were never able to bring their county party, which in here by Terry Ramey sporting a “Tyranny Reponse Unit” T-shirt at a turn elects delegates to the discounty commissioner meeting. File photo all these people in,” Bennett said. “We wanted to create an trict, state and national party environment that was more celconventions. ebratory and happier and more The national party platforms “There was tremendous enthusiasm and I positive. It is essential that we define the public’s view of sociestay on a positive footing to ty and influence the nation’s wanted to capitalize on that. It was a good keep this level of activity.” direction on a grand scale at, time to strike while the iron was hot.”

Some of the patriots are but it all starts at the grassroots known for their bareknuckle tacprecinct meetings.

— Pat Carr, Haywood GOP treasurer tics, from public cussing outs in This grassroots process was mass emails to made-up accusaviolated in Haywood County, tions of malfeasance against their foes.

Cabe said. The election of precinct chairs and “If you try to build a party with people But the party insiders who planned the delegates was orchestrated from the top down, who aren’t interested or are immature to the heist of the precinct meetings did something with mercenaries brought in to carry out the political process they aren’t going to come worse, at least in Watson’s view. The exormarching orders for the establishment. back to meetings,” Watson said. “They cism of the patriot faction was akin to a Cabe thinks the same voting laws that aren’t people you can count on. They won’t nuclear option, Watson said. apply to elections should apply to the party’s be active.”

“It is the last thing you would try if the own selection of officers and delegates.

Another problem is trust. Some newcomparty was going under, but it wasn’t going “It would be a felony to go into where ers may not have realized they were being under, it was riding the crest of big victory,” people are voting and lay down a list of peoused as pawns in a power coup. “What they Watson said. “They had to go throw some ple they should vote for,” Cabe said. did may be legal but it is unethical,” Ramey more fuel on the fire.”

Debbie King, the Haywood GOP vice said. “How can these people knock the church 9

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Sylva to vote on funding for Mill Street lane reduction Town’s total investment would be $33,000

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER plan to turn two-lane Mill Street in Sylva into a one-lane road will soon move forward if town commissioners vote to fund the project during their next meeting, at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 13.

“I think this would make our town a lot more walker-friendly, safer,” said Commissioner David Nestler when the board discussed the project during a March 30 work session. “I think we’re lucky to get this deal from DOT (N.C. Department of Transportation). We need to move on it.”

By reducing the number of lanes, the town would be able to expand parking availability downtown, a plus for Mill Street merchants who have complained that the parking situation interferes with their ability to attract customers.

The plan would provide about 40 parking spaces on Mill Street, converting what is now the left lane into angled parking stretching from Mill Street’s intersection with Main until it reaches Landis Street. The lane reduction isn’t expected to impede traffic flow, as the plans include removing the traffic light that’s currently at the intersection of Mill, Spring and Allen streets. On the block between Mill and Main, one lane of

Be heard Sylva’s commissioners plan to vote on whether to appropriate $20,000 toward a permanent lane reduction on Mill Street during their next regular meeting, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 13, at the Sylva Municipal Hall. At all town meetings, public comments on any topic are accepted as long as they are five minutes or less.

April 5-11, 2017

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Spring Street would close — traffic could come uphill to turn onto Main Street but couldn’t go downhill to turn onto Mill — and a stop sign would control traffic coming from Allen Street to Mill Street, not a traffic light.

Of the five commissioners, three voted in favor of the plan when the town endorsed the concept in August 2016. Commissioner Mary Gelbaugh was the sole opposing vote, with Commissioner Harold Hensley, who was absent during that meeting, expressing opposition as well.

Last summer, Gelbaugh said she felt the lane reduction would unnecessarily impede traffic and wasn’t a wise use of money for the perennially cash-strapped town.

“We don’t really have parking problems on Mill Street,” she said in August. “This is a pretty expensive fix to a problem that I don’t

Smoky Mountain News

see as a problem.”

The entire project — including sidewalks, traffic signals and a new pedestrian flasher at the Landis Street intersection — will cost about $65,000. However, the town will pay only about half of that. Sylva has already purchased pedestrian flashers for the Landis Street intersection, a cost of about $13,000.

On April 13, the board will vote on whether to appropriate $20,000 from the town’s fund

balance, of which $10,000 will go to address the disjointed sidewalk situation currently existing on Mill Street and $10,000 will go toward the core project. The DOT has set up a small construction fund for the project totaling $32,000 of state money.

Some details have yet to be nailed down.

Exact locations of loading zones and handicapped spots will be determined after the lane reduction is com-

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A plan to reduce Sylva’s Mill Street from two lanes to one would also include closing the lane of Spring Street (pictured) that runs from Main Street downhill to Mill. Holly Kays photo

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he race for Cherokee Tribal Council will feature 45 candidates competing for 12 seats around the horseshoe table when the new session begins in October.

Three of those seats are open for the taking, with Vice Chairman Brandon Jones, of Snowbird; Councilmember Teresa McCoy, of Big Cove; and Councilmember Alan “B” Ensley, of Yellowhill, all opting not to run for re-election.

Conversely, three former councilmembers and one former vice chief will be seeking a seat on council. Former Vice Chief Larry Blythe, who served under former Principal Chief Michell Hicks, is running to represent the Snowbird/Cherokee County township. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ Secretary of State Terri Henry, whose time on Tribal Council included serving as chairwoman 2013-2015, will look to regain her seat representing Painttown.

Likewise, Perry Shell will seek to rejoin the horseshoe as a Big Cove councilmember.

David Wolfe is running for a seat representing Yellowhill.

All four of these candidates lost their seats in tribal government in 2015, with Wolfe losing a bid to serve as chief and the remaining three ousted by challengers for their positions.

The primary elections will be held Thursday, June 1, with voter registration open through Friday, May 26. After the primary, the top four vote-getters from each township will advance to the general election, which will be held Thursday, Sept. 7.

The top two vote-getters from each township following the general election will win a seat on the Tribal Council. Councilmembers serve two-year terms, with all seats up for election every odd-numbered year.

Tribal members can register to vote in person at the EBCI Board of Elections office, which is inside the Ginger Lynn Welch Complex at 810 Acquoni Road. The phone number is 828.359.6361.

plete, and Public Works Director Dan Shaeffer is considering how to arrange the new sidewalks and create features such as patio areas.

For his part, Hensley — who is against the lane reduction — believes that if one lane of Spring Street is to be closed, the town might as well go ahead and close the one-block section in its entirety.

“You could have picnic tables, you could have the whole thing if Spring Street is closed both ways,” Hensley said. “If you just close one way, you have the same thing you have now — a street.”

“I think the reason they suggested closing it coming down is because of the sight access,” replied Mayor Lynda Sossamon.

“There’s limited sight.”

It also makes eliminating the traffic light easier, Nestler added, with a stop sign able to replace the existing light.

However, Shaeffer said, it wouldn’t hurt for the town to do a trial run before going through with the entire project.

“One thing I would like to recommend to

the board is to try this by closing the lefthand turn off Main Street going down to Mill Street, eliminate the light on Allen Street,” he said. “Just do away with it and see how it moves.”

None of the commissioners expressed interest in doing a trial run, but the town has already had a couple chances to see what effect the lane closure might have. When a fire hit downtown in 2014, one lane was temporarily closed out of necessarity and used as parking instead. Some in the downtown community felt that the lane closure might be a good long-term arrangement. The town also got a taste of what a closure on Spring Street could mean last year, when the block between Mill and Main streets was closed during the filming of “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.”

While Hensley and Gelbaugh still have their reservations about the lane reduction, the majority of the board seemed to feel that the feedback from those instances was favorable and that the project would benefit downtown in the long-term.

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Election season begins for Cherokee council race The candidates Painttown Janet Ruth Arch, Terri Henry, Mark Hicks, Marie Junaluska*, Cherie Rose, Tommye Saunooke*, Lisa Taylor, Yona Wade Birdtown Gilbert Crowe, Jr., Robert Bob Driver, Gary Ledford, Boyd Owle , Albert Rose*, Ashley Sessions, Travis Smith*, Curtis Wildcatt, Michael Youngdeer Yellowhill Lloyd Arneach, Jr., Mary Crowe, Anita Lossiah*, Charles Penick, Thomas Wahnetah, David Wolfe Big Cove James Henry Bradley, Richard French*, Lavita Hill, Jim Panther, Fred Penick, Perry Shell, Damian Solis, Sheila Standingdeer, Joshua Cody Swayney, Lori Taylor Wolfetown/Big Y Bo Crowe*, Jarrett Crowe, James Jumper, Samuel F. Reed, Dennis Edward Bill Taylor*, Jeremy Wilson Snowbird/Cherokee County Larry Blythe, Bucky Brown, Isaiah Chekelelee, Phillip Ellington, Janell Rattler, Adam Wachacha*

April 5-11, 2017

*Denotes incumbent

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Town denies train’s request for Fry Street closure

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR im Albritton was visibly shaken up when she walked out of Bryson City Town Hall on Monday night.

“You made the wrong decision,” she yelled to Alderman Rick Bryson as he walked to his car following the brief board of aldermen meeting.

As vice president and general manager of the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, Albritton has been fighting the same battle with the town for several years, and this year she lost.

In a 3-1 vote, the town board denied the railroad’s request to close Fry Street in downtown Bryson City for 56 days from November to January during the train’s popular Polar Express excursions.

Fry Street — a short thoroughfare with the train depot sitting to the left and several merchants to the right — is where passengers congregate before and after a train ride. Albritton says the street closure during the train’s busiest event is needed for safety precautions.

“I just don’t understand the board’s logic in denying this request,” she said. “There are 84,000 people getting on and off the train during Polar Express — on Saturdays that’s five trains a day. This is a matter of public safety.”

The town boardroom was packed full of people eagerly awaiting the town’s final decision on the closure. The Swain County

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April 5-11, 2017

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Chamber of Commerce has been encouraging its members to show support at the meeting for the train’s request as the Polar Express rides are a huge tourism draw, but Mayor Tom Sutton made it clear at the beginning of the discussion that he was not going to allow public comment on the topic. Supporters and opponents did have a chance to speak at the town’s March 20 meeting.

Alderman Heidi Woodard was the only supporter of the railroad’s request. While there haven’t been any major pedestrian accidents yet, she said she’d hate to make a decision that could increase the chances of someone getting injured.

“If you have three trains running that night — that’s 700 people getting off the train and 700 people waiting to board — that’s 1,400 people milling around in this area,” she said.

Woodard motioned to approve the closure of Fry Street but it failed for lack of a second.

Bryson then read a prepared statement before suggesting a partial closure of the street as a compromise to appease the railroad as well as the other merchants on Fry Street who have concerns about the closure affecting their business traffic.

Contrary to statements made at the March 20 meeting, Bryson said the town had no desire or authority to interfere with a legally conducted business and had no intentions of preventing the Polar Express event from happening.

Merchants on Fry Street complained last year that their business dropped off during the winter months when the town agreed to close Fry Street for the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad’s Polar Express event.

“I feel comfortable speaking for other implied threat has now been exposed for members of the board when I say that we are what it is — a red herring.”

Bryson proposed closing off the front enthusiastic supporters of the Polar Express event,” he said. “It’s a boost to the prosperity entrance of Fry Street that faces Everett Street of the town, and it is not our intent to impede but leaving the entrance from Depot Street open. The partial closure on the L-shaped it in any way.”

However, Bryson said without document- street would give the railroad room for staged evidence that an accident has occurred on ing its passengers and also allow pedestrians Fry Street and with the minimum traffic on to access the merchants on Fry Street.

“A level playing field for all is vital to the small street, he wasn’t willing to completely close the street again to the potential detriment of the “There are 84,000 people adjacent merchants. He said the town had already improved the getting on and off the train during conditions on Fry Street by putPolar Express — on Saturdays ting up better markers and installing two safety crosswalks. that’s five trains a day. This is a “What would likely be harmed, however, are the busimatter of public safety.” nesses that are located on the — Kim Albritton, general manager, south side of Fry Street. In the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad past, they have recorded an average of 30 percent falloff in their business when Fry Street was closed for maintaining our community standard of fairness,” Bryson said. “This board is charged Polar Express,” Bryson said.

Bryson City Attorney Fred Moody said he with holding to that standard, not aiding one felt the need to advise the board, though he enterprise at the expense of others.”

The board approved Bryson’s motion, said it wasn’t his place to say anything as their though Woodard was opposed. attorney.

While some residents and merchants in “But if a business can’t make a living with 84,000 people passing by on foot, then some- Bryon City have accused the town and county thing is wrong with their business model,” he government of giving special treatment to the railroad for many years, Albritton said she said, with applause from the audience.

Bryson also followed up on a claim made couldn’t understand why people would be at the March 20 meeting in which he said against something that is an economic driver Albritton implied the railroad could lose its for Swain County.

“A rising tide floats all boats — everyone Polar Express licensing agreement with Warner Brothers if the town refused to close benefits from the Polar Express,” she said.

When asked about the Warner Brothers Fry Street during the event. He contacted the vice president of the division of Warner licensing, Albritton said the agent Bryson Brothers that controls the license for Polar spoke to wasn’t in a position to respond to the safety concerns with Fry Street. Even though Express directly to ask about the issue.

“When asked if she knew of Fry Street or Bryson said the town wasn’t trying to interhad any concerns with the implied safety fere with a private business, she said, that is issues there, her response indicated that she exactly what he and the board are doing.

“Rick (Bryson) wants an example of a did not know where Fry Street was, even though she had personally been to Bryson pedestrian being hit before they’ll do someCity and had ridden the train,” he said. “This thing? That makes no sense,” she said.

Canton to hire summer crews news

The town of Canton will be accepting applications from March 20 through April 21 to hire summer crews in the town’s street department.

Applications can be obtained at Canton Town Hall and Pisgah and Tuscola High Schools and should be submitted to the Town Hall located at 58 Park Street.

For information regarding lifeguard and concessions jobs, email parks@cantonnc.com.

HCC holds free Amazon workshop

The Small Business Center at Haywood Community College will offer a free seminar, “A Guide to Selling on Amazon,” from 6 to 9 p.m.

Wednesday, April 26, in HCC’s Regional High eTechnology Center auditorium. n Amazon is the fastest way to start selling online. In this fast-paced class, learn how to regis. ter online, choose the account that fits your goals, and list an item on Amazon to maximize your r profitability. Learn how to ship your items and minimize your expenses. t The speaker is Nick Hawks. He is an education t specialist trained by eBay. He has over 20 years’ t experience of buying and selling antiques and cold lectibles.

Visit sbc.haywood.edu or call 828.627.4512 to s register.

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Lake Junaluska wins six awards

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April 5-11, 2017

Lake Junaluska has won six awards from the United Methodist Association of Communicators for video production, publications, social media, photography and campaign planning.

UMAC is a professional organization that honors excellence for United Methodist communicators across the country.

“We are so proud of our communications and marketing team,” said Jack Ewing, executive -director of Lake Junaluska. “Anyone who has dbeen observing our publications, web resources eand social media has observed the high level of excellence that is consistently produced. To be ,recognized as one of the premiere United Methodist organizations in our communications nefforts is humbling.” y See the winning entries at ewww.lakejunaluska.com/news. e e r

KNOCK

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Folkmoot’s Cultural Conversations

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT

Identifying identity undreds, if not thousands of “civic ambassador” programs begin each month in cities and counties across the nation, including in Haywood County, where the Chamber of Commerce’s eight-session Leadership Haywood program yearly produces a dozen or more “civic ambassadors” armed with firsthand knowledge of how all sectors of the community might work together in harmony.

Folkmoot’s Cultural Conversations program, on the other hand, produces “cultural ambassadors” armed with firsthand knowledge of how all sectors of the community might live together in harmony.

And although it may not appear so on the calm surface of “business as usual” in Western North Carolina, the deep tensions below the surface aren’t as muddied as they used to be.

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THE UNEXAMINED LIFE

Smoky Mountain News

April 5-11, 2017

As we sat around the table during our first session, in one big circle, Cultural Conversations facilitator Angela Dove laid out the ground rules for the upcoming ses-

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sions.

Quite unlike Leadership Haywood — which utilizes speakers and on-site tours to transmit information from the source to the student — Cultural Conversations’ students are its sources.

Our role as participants, Dove said, was to be polite, to keep an open mind and to speak only for ourselves.

Her role, she explained, was to guide, to probe and to encourage fair participation by everyone.

Further ground rules include uttering the word “ouch” if we’re offended by something someone said, and maintaining the confidentiality of what is said.

Accordingly, I can’t share with you the results of my partner interview during this initial session, but I can say I didn’t hear anyone say “ouch.”

What struck me most about the interviews was that the questions we asked each other everyone should probably be asking themselves right now.

How do you define yourself — is it by your career? Your family relationships? Your ethnic heritage?

Ethnic traditions from Europe, Africa, South and North America were all repre-

That being said, I suppose we’re all prone to being discriminated against in certain situations — but some more than others.

I also suppose we’re all prone to discriminating against others in certain situations — but some more than others.

So how is our society evolving? How do your beliefs about race, gender, sexuality and bathrooms compared to those of your parents? And of their parents?

While some things may be different, some things certainly stay the same; how do you react when your parents — or grandparents, or friends, or colleagues — make casual or direct expressions of prejudice?

Difficult questions to ask of anyone, to be sure — but Socratic tradition holds that the unexamined life is not worth living, so examine we did.

Folkmoot Friendship Center.

What we found were very fine distinctions between the terms of discrimination prejuAt some point, those traditions make us dice, racism and stereotyping. realize that there exist others of different Think about it — they’re used interprovenance, which in turn leads to the realchangeably at times, but are in ization that we are, in fact, all different to reality points on a spectrum of someone, somewhere. sented in that big circle, and are passed down through familial relations no matter where that family may live.

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racial and ethnic intolerance in America.

That intolerance isn’t foreign to Western North Carolina. While North Carolina is a fairly diverse state, it’s also fairly large and much of that diversity is concentrated down east.

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the state as a whole is 69 percent white, however, Haywood County hovers around 96 percent. Jackson County is at 81 percent, and Swain 66 percent.

Unique to this region is the enduring presence of the area’s original inhabitants — Native Americans, especially the Cherokee. They make up a whopping 27 percent of the population in Swain County, and 9 percent in Jackson County.

African-Americans account for but a tiny fraction of minority populations in WNC counties, and are just a third or less of Hispanic populations.

With such small minority populations, it may be surprising and counterintuitive to learn that within a hundred or so miles of where you likely now sit, there are at least 10 active hate groups.

THE HATE DEBATE

April 5-11, 2017 Smoky Mountain News

The Loyal White Knights of the KKK bills itself as the largest and most active klan in America.

Headquartered in Vale, N.C., the controversial group has distributed handbills aimed at recruitment and plans a whitesonly cross burning in Asheboro in May, but disputes the “hate group” label bestowed upon it in a recent report by the well-known Southern Poverty Law Center.

“We do not hate any group of people!” their website reads. “However, we do hate some things that certain groups are doing to our race and our nation. We hate drugs, homosexuality, abortion and race-mixing, because these things go against God’s law and they are destroying all white nations.”

Similar groups operate in East Tennessee, North Georgia and Upstate South Carolina but lest ye think hate is exclusive to whites, the SPLC lists Louis Farrakhan’s Nation of Islam — which has a chapter in Greenville — as a hate group as well.

It’s hard to imagine Folkmoot’s “cultural ambassadors” directly combating groups like the Loyal White Knights of the KKK or the Nation of Islam, and indeed these groups still have the right to spread their message.

It’s also hard to imagine these cultural ambassadors — especially as social mores evolve — joining, supporting or even abiding the structural racism of organized hate groups like the anti-LGBTQ True Light Pentecostal Church in Spartanburg.

What’s not hard to imagine is that the SPLC identifies more than 900 hate groups in the United States and with 31, North Carolina ranks ninth. Ouch.

This is part two of a series chronicling SMN Staff Writer Cory Vaillancourt’s participation in Folkmoot’s inaugural Cultural Conversations program. Check back next week for another installment. For more information about Folkmoot, visit www.folkmoot.org.

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Jackson ponders $20 million health building Educational facility would develop needed workforce, boost area economy

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER new health sciences building at Southwestern Community College would allow an additional 288 students to prepare for in-demand health careers in Western North Carolina, and while the Jackson County Commissioners are excited about the project, paying the $19.8 million estimated price tag will be a challenge. In the 2016 master plan that first conceptualized the building, the cost was pegged at $16.3 million, but construction costs have since risen, and the county has several other major capital projects that it’s also pursuing.

“It’s a beautiful building, beautiful setting, but we have to figure out how do we pay for it and make other things happen,” said Commissioner Mickey Luker. “I’m not willing to tie us down as a county for that project only and put other projects on the backburner.”

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COUNTING THE COST The project could use $5.45 million from the Connect N.C. Bond that passed last year, and the quarter-penny sales tax that Jackson

County voters approved — also last year — is now producing $1.2 million annually that can go toward capital projects at SCC or Jackson County Schools. But relying solely on those funds would mean tying up that revenue stream for a significant number of years, and commissioners are aware that the final cost will likely wind up somewhere north of $19.8 million. Most projects wind up with cost overruns of some sort, and the estimate does not include audio-visual equipment, furniture or classroom equipment. Those costs could be substantial.

Initial plans call for a 55,265-square-foot, four-floor building with a working clinic, an eight-bed nursing lab and a lab area for a brand-new surgical technology program, a position that is in high demand among area hospitals. The first floor would include two labs each for occupational therapy and physical therapy, along with a physical therapy gym and a simulated bedroom, bathroom and kitchen.

Separate labs and classrooms are planned for a variety of other health programs as well.

Commissioners are leery of pledging the quarter-cent sales tax revenues solely to the health sciences building. Though marketing leading up to the referendum vote was clear that the health building would be the first priority and that revenues would be for both the community college and the school system, several commissioners said that the perception in their communities was that the school

County commissioners support plans to build a new health sciences building at Southwestern Community College but admit that funding the $19.8 million project could be challenging. Donated graphic system would be the main beneficiary.

“I think we have to be careful how we handle that,” said Commissioner Boyce Deitz during the March 14 work session when the project was discussed.

But, replied Commission Chairman Brian McMahan, the health sciences building was at the forefront of marketing efforts leading up to the referendum, and just last year the county voted to give the public schools $9 million for much-needed facility repairs.

That’s no small amount of money, and it had seemed that everyone was in agreement that the health building should be the top priority if the sales tax were approved.

“What I heard from our local school officials is, ‘We are willing to give up revenue from that one-fourth sales tax for a time to give the community college a chance to see this project become reality,’” McMahan said.

Commissioners could decide to split the revenue from the sales tax, designating a certain percentage for the school system and a certain percentage for SCC. Or they could funnel all proceeds to the health building for a certain period of time, or else keep using that revenue stream until the building is fully paid for. The county’s general fund or its fund balance could also come into play.

Winding up the meeting, com-

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April 5-11, 2017

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April 5-11, 2017

SCC President Don Tomas acknowledged that the project would be expensive but emphasized its likely benefit to Jackson County and the region as a whole.

“The community college is an economic engine, and this building provides the poten-tial of 288 more possible jobs within our comemunity in a highly skilled and much-needed oand demanded area,” Tomas said. e In fall 2016, SCC admitted 243 students to its health sciences programs but turned away e538. Of those 538, 288 were qualified to enter -the program but were denied due to lack of aspace. And that’s considering that SCC is curdrently the largest provider of health sciences reducation among community colleges in gWestern North Carolina. The school has 27 proygrams of study compared to two at Haywood dCommunity College, six at Tri-County Community College and 17 at AshevilleBuncombe Technical Community College.

With the new building in place, those 288 students could enroll. The extra space would allow 75 more students without even hiring additional faculty or staff, while admitting 288 more students would require hiring eight or nine more people.

According to Tomas, more graduates in the health sciences field are sorely needed in

WNC. He’s spoken with long-term care facilities that are unable to fill all their beds — not because there aren’t patients who want those beds, but because there aren’t enough nurses to care for the people who would fill them.

Conversations with area hospitals have revealed a nursing shortage as well, with hospitals using traveling nurses and outsourcing consultants to recruit nurses.

“The need is there,” Tomas said.

The graduates of the new building would benefit the region beyond their contribution to healthcare services in WNC, said William Brothers, SCC’s vice president for financial and administrative services. Health care workers earn good salaries, and his estimates show that the new graduates would produce $10 million in new annual salary dollars. That income would in turn benefit the whole region as wages are spent on food and housing and retail and a variety of other expenditures.

“I view this as not just a new building, but I think this is really a chance to grow the area infrastructure,” Brothers said. “And when you look at the salaries these jobs generate, these are the kinds of jobs that keep people in Jackson County.”

About 93 percent of the jobs to be created by the health sciences building would offer wages above the rate required for the 10 jobs to be added through the economic development deal the county approved April 3 for a river park near Dillsboro, Adams observed.

“There is not a more pure form of economic development than what you are looking at right now,” he said.

“This is a workforce development project as much as it is an educational project, and I think that’s important for us to keep in our minds,” McMahan agreed in a follow-up interview. “We’re doing more than building an educational development facility. We’re actually building a workforce development center.”

Now, the county just has to figure out how to pay for it.

Changing jobs or retiring? We can help you explore all of your options for putting your retirement planning picture into focus.

Call when you’re ready to talk.

Crisis communication workshop at WCU A Western Carolina University professor and consultant will lead a one-day workshop focusing on “Crisis Communication Planning and Response: How to Communicate Before, During and After a Crisis” from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, April 7, at WCU’s instructional site at Biltmore Park Town Square in Asheville.

Betty Farmer, professor of communication and public relations and owner of Farmer Communications, developed the workshop in response to research that reveals many organizations are not adequately prepared to respond quickly and effectively when a crisis hits.

The workshop fee is $149. To register, call 828.227.7397 or visit pdp.wcu.edu.

Larry East CFP® First Vice President – Investments 52 Walnut St., Suite 6 Waynesville, NC 28786 Office: (828) 456-7407 larry.east@wellsfargoadvisors.com https://home.wellsfargoadvisors.com/larry.east

Granville Younce , CFP® Financial Advisor 52 Walnut Street, Suite 6 Waynesville, NC 28786 Office: (828) 456-7407 granville.younce@wfadvisors.com www.home.wellsfargoadvisors.com/granville.younce

Smoky Mountain News

Larry East CFP® First Vice President – Investments 52 Walnut St., Suite 6 Waynesville, NC 28786 Office: (828) 456-7407 larry.east@wellsfargoadvisors.com https://home.wellsfargoadvisors.com/larry.east

Discover science at the library Granville Younce , CFP® Financial Advisor 52 Walnut Street, Suite 6 Waynesville, NC 28786 Office: (828) 456-7407 granville.younce@wfadvisors.com www.home.wellsfargoadvisors.com/granville.younce

Investment and Insurance Products: NOT FDIC Insured NO Bank Guarantee MAY Lose Value Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. © 2016 Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC. All rights reserved.

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April is National Science Month, and libraries in Macon, Jackson and Swain counties are focusing on the topic with displays, programs, hands-on activities and more. From workshops on vegetable gardening, animal habitats and building robots, to viewing the stars in a portable planetarium, STEM takes center stage during the month of April at all Fontana Regional Library locations.

As part of the North Carolina Science Festival held throughout the state April 7-23, Jackson County Public Library and Macon County Public Library will host official Festival events focusing on science and technology. At the Jackson County Public Library on April 11, children will use recycled materials to design and build a container to protect a raw egg from a high fall, as well as build catapults to launch marshmallow Peeps.

At the Macon County Public Library in Franklin on April 20, families and the public of all ages can visit the portable planetarium and participate in hands-on science activities during a Family Science Night.

For a full schedule, visit www.fontanalib.org.

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missioners decided to hear Jackson Schools’ capital needs during the April 11 work session before making any decisions. After that, County Manager Don Adams and Finance Director Darlene Fox will come up with an array of financing options for commissioners to consider.

“I think we can get to the point where it will work if we’re creative and we do some really smart financing options,” McMahan said.

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More Trump budget cuts hit home

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER enewed concerns about the local impact of President Donald Trump’s proposed budget cuts and his attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act could affect some of Haywood County’s neediest — and smallest — residents.

“Obviously we don’t participate in what goes on with the Trump administration,” said Haywood County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Kirk Kirkpatrick. “But what we have to do is react to the decisions that are made by the federal government.”

Those decisions have already sparked controversy throughout Southern Appalachia, a region so poverty-laden that myriad federal programs have been created to address basic economic needs over more than half a century.

Retired pediatrician Dr. Stephen Wall brought his concerns to the county April 3 in the form of a resolution presented during the public comment portion of the regular board meeting.

Wall, who practiced in Haywood County for 28 years, said that over 4,000 people in the county have health insurance thanks to the Affordable Care Act and an additional 4,000 children are insured through Medicaid or the Supplemental Children’s Health Insurance Program, also

April 5-11, 2017

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known as Health Choice.

“I’ve had over 120,000 patient encounters, so I speak with some experience about what people go through in this county,” Wall said, adding that more than half the children he’s seen are on Medicaid or Health Choice. “With the current threat of cutting these programs, along with many other socially beneficial programs, there’s this real sense of jeopardy that people are feeling in this county — people who really are some of our neediest citizens.”

Wall’s resolution also mentions that the termination of or dramatic reduction in funding to these and other federal programs like home heating assistance and Meals on Wheels would possibly cause “irreparable harm and even death” to thousands of county residents.

“When I think about these cuts,” said Patsy Davis, executive director of local social service agency Mountain Projects, “I think about a mission trip I went on to a third-world country. Every one of these items prevents us from becoming a third world country.”

Davis said seven programs administered

by Mountain Projects face complete defunding, which would slash her budget by $2 million from its usual $13 million.

“I estimate at minimum 3,000 people would be affected,” she said, referring to people who take advantage of the foster

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Meadows,” Wall said.

Haywood County Commissioner Brandon Rogers acknowledges Wall’s apprehension, but says he stands with Meadows grandparents program, the senior companon both the budget and on health care. ions program, weatherization and LIHEAP “There are some concerns, however I services, a high-school dropout prevention support the administration and the deciinitiative and self-help housing. sions that they’re making,” said Rogers, who “Most of them are working people, holdis one of two Republicans on the board. ing down low wage jobs and can’t afford Trump’s proposed cuts resonate well with medical insurance, or their employers don’t those who hold that providing subsidized offer medical insurance,” Wall said. “Their health care and funding organizations like children are reliant on these programs and the Appalachian Regional Commission, the the idea of an $800 billion cut in Medicaid Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Environmental Protection Agency should not be core functions of the federal government.

Prior to the Affordable Care Act, Americans — especially the working poor — found the invisible hand of the health care market digging in to increasingly empty pockets, and everyone from Meadows to Kirkpatrick agrees something needs to be done.

“Unfortunately there’s a need to provide health insurance for children and the elderly,” Kirkpatrick said. “What Retired pediatrician Dr. Stephen Wall asked Haywood County happens is, they look to commissioners to send a message to Washington, D.C., about the county to try to take Affordable Care Act repeal. Cory Vaillancourt photo care of some of those issues, so it could be something we have to be concerned about.”

That concern affects Davis’ Mountain “With the current threat of Projects as well; she said that health care cutting these programs, cuts would only mean more clients clamoring for Mountain Projects programs. along with many other “These cuts target the most vulnerable in our society,” she said. socially beneficial The resolution as presented by Wall may programs, there’s this real never receive formal consideration, not that it might sway state legislators even if it was sense of jeopardy that passed. people are feeling in this Previous county resolutions to Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, Rep. Mike Clampitt, Rcounty.”

Bryson City and Rep. Michele Presnell, RBurnsville, that had advocated for an — Dr. Stephen Wall increased room occupancy tax and a change in how the county’s tax collector is employed both fell on deaf ears earlier this year. over the next eight to nine years is to me If nothing else, Wall’s resolution was absolutely immoral and unconscionable, no symbolic in calling for Haywood County’s matter what system — Christian or Judaic national and state reps to “oppose any cuts — you hold to.” in health care and other critical programs for Wall said he’s taken these concerns to the residents of Haywood County” and “fix Congressman Mark Meadows, R-Asheville, the shortcomings of the ACA” without abolmany times. ishing it completely.

“I would say he is indifferent,” Wall said.

“I don’t think there’s any perfect system,” Calling Meadows “indifferent” doesn’t Wall said. “Certainly Medicaid, the accurately portray his stance, as it suggests Affordable Care Act and Medicare all have an ambivalence that simply isn’t there; their problems, which can be fixed. If you Meadows is actively opposed to this form of look at other countries, we are the only socialized medicine, instead suggesting developed country in the world — of the 20 health care could be made more affordable leading industrialized countries — that by implementing “cost control” measures doesn’t have universal health care for all its that have failed to gain traction in the past, citizens. How can we justify that? The banklike tort reform. ruptcy distress, the anxiety this causes citi“I feel that our county commissioners need to go on record to our elected represen- zens is something that can be dealt with. It’s unnecessary and it’s cruel.” tatives, especially Congressman Mark

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over bathroom, changing room and shower access while simultaneously banning nondiscrimination ordinances by local governments until 2020.

It also leaves open the potential for discrimination against members of the LGBTQ community, meaning nothing’s really changed for them.

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LOCAL REACTION Like Presnell, Western North Carolina’s other legislators — Rep. Kevin Corbin, RFranklin, Rep. Mike Clampitt, R-Bryson City, and Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin — also voted on the repeal of HB2.

Unlike Presnell, they all voted for the repeal — but for different reasons.

Corbin said that HB142 is not so much a “repeal� of HB2 as it is a reset that reverts bathroom policies to what they were before Charlotte “interfered� by passing its non-discrimination ordinance.

A news release put out by Clampitt said he voted for the bill because it strengthens

“This basically resets things to as they were, which will give us a little bit of time to figure out where we are going.�

April 5-11, 2017

— Sen. Jim Davis

state law on “shower and locker room protections� and offers “an outright preemption on regulation of access of multi-occupant facilities.�

Davis was more circumspect in his analysis; he said he was happy that the repeal, however inadequate some may feel it is, has a bright side. “This basically resets things to as they were, which will give us a little bit of time to figure out where we are going,� he said.

As to where it’s going, Davis thinks final resolution of the issue may be years off. “I think it’ll end up in the Supreme Court,� he said. “It will probably center on the issue of defining gender, and defining gender identity. That’s really the only grey area here.�

Moving forward, Davis was adamant that he hoped everyone could be accommodated with a solution that doesn’t leave anyone feeling violated. “What people do in the privacy of their own home is not our concern, but accommodating those people in public facilities is,� he said. “Even though it's a very small fraction of our population, my position has always been that I will not compromise the privacy rights of anybody.�

Smoky Mountain News

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER n admittedly imperfect compromise that could end the tempest of controversy surrounding North Carolina’s HB2 has been reached, but not everybody’s seeing rainbows after the storm.

Although the “repeal� may be satisfactory to moderates on both sides of the aisle, e groups on the left say it doesn’t go far enough while groups on the right say it goes too far, making strange bedfellows out of LGBTQ groups and religious ultraconservatives. “I voted not to repeal HB2 because it was a better bill then HB142,� said Rep. Michele Presnell, RBurnsville. “I told my constituents I would vote no.�

The bill passed the House 70 to 48 after Michele Presnell passing the Senate 32 to 16, and neither chamber voted strictly along party lines; in the house, 15 Democrats voted no, along with 33 Republicans like Presnell.

Who uses what bathroom suddenly became a multi-billion dollar economic issue not long after the Charlotte City Council passed an ordinance prohibiting discrimination in public facilities.

While not controversial on its face, that ordinance’s inclusion of gender identity — those who self-identify as a gender different than that listed on their birth certificate — as a protected class prompted the North Carolina General Assembly to rush back into special session a month after the Charlotte ordinance and pass the controversial HB2.

Made law in just under 12 hours on March 23, 2016, the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act famously dictated that persons must use the bathroom in accordance with the sex on their birth certificates, and infamously resulted in a wide-ranging economic boycott that cost North Carolina both r jobs and tourists.

That December, the Charlotte City Council repealed the provocative ordinance, signaling that a compromise brokered by the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association might soon end with the legislature repealing HB2.

That compromise finally materialized on March 30, in the form of HB142, which repeals HB2 in its entirety and may or may not have to do with the NCAA’s March 28 threat to remove future tournaments from basketball-crazy N.C. until at least 2022 were it not.

The catch is that the new law also grants to the legislature the sole regulatory power

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April 5-11, 2017

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What’s in a name?

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Cost could keep Franklin aldermen from changing their name

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR “What’s an alderman?” is a common question town officials hear when trying to explain what they do to members of the public.

Franklin Alderman Brandon McMahan said the confused faces usually subside when he tells people that an alderman is the same thing as a town councilmember.

The town board has been debating the outdated term lately and held a public hearing Monday night to get input from constituents on whether the town aldermen should change their title to town council.

Mayor Bob Scott has been supportive of the change for two reasons — to clear up the confusion and to be more inclusive by using a gender-neutral term that refers to men and women serving on the board.

“This town is changing — we’re a hightech center, we’re a regional medical center, a tourist destination, new restaurants are coming in, we’re a center for environmental groups and the arts. It’s time to move into that period and this is one of the ways we do it,” Scott told the board Monday night.

“This allows us to be gender neutral and I for one can’t see where there’s any harm in doing that.”

Lili Vitale is a senior at Franklin High School and is also interning with the town of Franklin this semester. Since alderman literally translates into “old man,” she said she was in favor of getting rid of the archaic term.

“I believe it’s of paramount importance to get younger generations involved in local government, but when we use archaic terms such as aldermen it is unappealing to young women who may have aspirations of some day being on the town board,” Vitale said.

Laurie Beegle, a patrol sergeant for the Franklin Police Department, also encouraged the town to make the change. When she first started with the force, she said her badge said “policewoman.”

“At the time I accepted it because I was a rookie,” she said.

But through the years, terms have changed. Her next badge read “policeman” and then at some point the town policy changed and all gender references were removed. Now she said everyone on the force is a “police officer,” which makes the most sense.

“It would be welcoming to everyone to change it to council,” Beegle said.

Nancy Scott, a former alderman and also Mayor Scott’s wife, said she would appreciate using the more inclusive term as “alderman” did present certain awkwardness.

Susannah Kuppers, who said she represented a local group of progressive women, said research showed that language is a

powerful reflection of history and specific words can shape perceptions. She agreed that using councilmember would be a better representation.

Joyce Handley, a former alderman for the town, was the only one who spoke against the change.

“I served eight years as an alderman — I knew that was going to be my title and it never bothered me — I knew my sex,” she said. “To me it’s history — a lot of people have held that office and we held it to do our jobs. I think a lot of young women coming up today won’t care if they’re called alderman or council member.”

Handley also said taxpayers should know the financial burden of making such a change.

Scott said the cost would be minimal — legally the town can reprint one page to place at the beginning of its charter saying that the term alderman in the ordinance book is now council. That one page would cost $18.50.

Town Manager Summer Woodard said the town could do it that way or could go ahead and reprint the entire ordinance book and make the change on every page.

For the 276-page book, the worst-case scenario cost could be about $5,000.

Alderman Billy Mashburn, who is against the change, said changing all the board’s name plates would also cost money — about $100 apiece.

Again, Woodard said the nameplates could just be replaced over time as people on the board roll off.

Town Attorney John Henning Jr. also mentioned that the town has to spend money periodically to reprint the ordinance book anyway when changes are made to town policies.

Alderman Barbara McRae thanked everyone for their comments. In her research, she said she found that at one point the town board was referred to as commissioners — showing that it hasn’t always been aldermen.

“It obviously means a lot to the young women, and what you call someone does matter,” she said.

Alderman Patti Abel said she tended to agree with Handley that women don’t really care about what the title is and are only concerned with doing the job.

“I knew what the job was — and I’m not into political correctness. I couldn’t care less what I’m called,” she said. “If it doesn’t cost us money I’m fine with it, but I don’t like to send the message the job you do is in the name that it holds.”

McMahan agreed that he doesn’t mind the change if it makes it easier for people to understand and is more inclusive, but he might change his mind if the town has to spend a lot of money.

The town had planned on voting on the matter until Henning informed them that town policy says the board can’t vote on a change to its charter until the next regular meeting following a public hearing. The board’s next meeting is May 2.

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER fter expressing his outrage early last month over a bill that would make school board elections partisan in Haywood County, Chairman Chuck Francis and the Haywood County School Board have formally spoken out against it.

“We want to let our legislative body in Raleigh know what we would prefer that our boards remain nonpartisan,” Francis said.

Enabling legislation for the board was enacted in 1964; it’s been non-partisan ever since. Not surprisingly, the bill, sponsored

by Rep. Michele Presnell, R-Burnsville, took school board members — including Francis — completely by surprise March 9.

Presnell’s HB 265 wouldn’t change the districts from which members are elected — Bethel, Clyde, Crabtree/Iron Duff and Fines Creek get one member each, Beaverdam and Waynesville two — and the chairman would continue to run countywide, but starting in 2018 anyone running for any of those offices would have to file as a Democrat, a Libertarian or a Republican.

Francis said he first learned about HB 265, which was introduced March 7 and offers similar consequences for Beaufort, Dare, Hyde, Madison and Yancey counties, in an email from the North Carolina School Board Association, rather than from Presnell herself.

A

He also said it’s his understanding that Madison and Yancey counties — which Presnell represents, in addition to part of Haywood County — found out just like he did.

A March 22 report by the Madison County News Record and Sentinel backs up that claim and also says that each of the five members of the Madison County Board of Education opposes the bill, with the board’s lone Republican Lori Hagan Massey saying she was “1,000 percent against it.”

The vigorous opposition in Madison could stem from the fact that school board elections were indeed partisan in the county until a 1994 change made them as they are today.

A majority of the Haywood County School Board — from both parties — likewise immediately opposed Presnell’s bill and told The Smoky Mountain News so on March 15.

In addition to Democrats Chuck Francis and Vice Chairman Jim Harley Francis, Republicans Ann Barrett, Scott Smith and Ronnie Clark said at the time that they didn’t support it; Chuck Francis and Barrett cited their desire to keep partisan politics out of schools, while Jim Harley Francis decried what he felt was Presnell’s lack of communication.

On April 3, Francis, Barrett, and the rest of the board made known their opposition

Clampitt view on HB 265 Haywood County’s veteran Republican Representative Michele Presnell is this year joined in the General Assembly by freshman Rep. Mike Clampitt, R-Bryson City.

Having two representatives is an advantage or a disadvantage for Haywood County, depending on who’s asked, and who’s asking, but Clampitt’s votes are every bit as important as his those of his senior colleague.

And although Clampitt doesn’t always vote with Presnell, he said he does support her HB 265, which would make school board elections partisan in Beaufort, Dare, Haywood, Hyde, Madison and Yancey counties.

“We have had partisan elections in Swain County pretty much forever,” Clampitt said of his home county. “I know for a fact at least since 1977, but as long as I can remember.”

Clampitt said that due to that practice in Swain, he didn’t see any problems with making the races partisan in Haywood County.

“It’s just another tool in the toolbox,” to help voters decide, he said.

to HB 265 by unanimously passing a resolution specifically opposing such a change.

The resolution posits that board members are responsible to students and parents, not political parties, and that injecting party politics into school board elections, school board policy and the hiring of teachers as well as administrators should not be influenced by political party affiliation.

For her part, Presnell said in a newsletter March 14 that school board elections are already partisan in all but name.

“Pretending that school board elections are non-partisan does not change the fact that candidates are affiliated with and get broad support from political parties,” she

wrote. Presnell also thinks that making school board elections partisan will help voters make better decisions at the polls.

Francis said he’d asked local Republican leaders to oppose HB 265, but it’s not clear if that or the school board’s resolution would sway the fiercely independent Presnell, who even breaks with her own Republican Party at times, most recently by voting no on HB 142 — the so-called HB2 repeal.

As of April 4, HB 265 had passed a first reading in the House and made it out of the Committee on State and Local Government; currently, it’s before the Committee on Elections and Ethics Law.

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Mother-daughter duo, Sheree Rose (right) and Mallory Bermudez, co-own the shop located at 1360 Asheville Road.

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Turquoise Elephant opens in Waynesville Mallory Bermudez and Sheree Rose, a motherdaughter team, recently opened The Turquoise Elephant boutique in Waynesville.

The Turquoise Elephant carries leggings, cardigans, tunics, jewelry, scarves, and vests in bright colors and prints. Celebrating over two months in business, the boutique is already adding new and innovative items.

The Turquoise Elephant is located across from Waynesville Pizza Company at 1360 Asheville Road in Waynesville. The boutique is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday.

Macon EDC announces BizWeek events The Macon County Economic Development Commission has announced planned activities for BizWeek 2017, April 17-21.

BizWeek kicks off at 8 a.m. Monday, April 17 with the Small Business Center at Southwestern Community College’s Social Media Summit in Franklin featuring Lady Bizness, Chisa Pennix- Brown.

BizWeek continues Tuesday, April 18, with two networking events, the Women’s Business Networking Luncheon, to be held at 11 a.m. at Entegra Bank’s Corporate Center in Franklin and the CEC Entrepreneur Networking Night VII at 5:30 p.m. at the Ugly Dog Pub in Highlands. The Highlands’ event will feature Dr. Steve Morse, the director of the Hospitality and Tourism Program at Western Carolina University.

The week concludes at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 20, with the BizWeek 2017 Banquet at the Bloemsma Barn.

This year’s keynote speaker will be Ken Flynt, Associate Dean for the College of Business at Western Carolina University. During his 36-year business career Flynt was a bank entrepreneur, having been CEO or founder of four commercial banks and two mortgage banks.

Registration is required at www.maconedc.com or by calling 828.369.2306.

Lake Junaluska hires new programing director Lake Junaluska recently hired Mitzi Johnson to oversee programs, events and ministries.

In this position, Johnson will oversee the Summer

Smoky Mountain News

Worship Series, Choir Music Weekend, youth events, and other programs and events at Lake Junaluska. Johnson said she plans to draw ideas from the community, event attendees and her own personal experiences to develop an inclusive new approach to programming.

Johnson is an ordained elder in the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church. She most recently served as the pastor of spiritual formation at University United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill. She is a graduate of Duke Divinity School and UNC-Chapel Hill. Before attending seminary, Johnson worked as a corporate trainer, developing programming for Fortune 500 companies.

Ultrastar to manage Harrah’s bowling center The UltraStar Multi-tainment Center at Harrah’s Casino and Resort is on track to be open by September.

“We’re excited to keep growing and to bring Ultrastar into the fold,” said Brooks Robinson, regional senior vice president and general manager. “Ultrastar has proven to be a great partner already during this early planning phase. They going to help us extend the Harrah’s Cherokee experience to an even wider range of guests in this terrific family-friendly venue, which will help make Harrah’s Cherokee a destination for tourists as well as members of our own communities.”

Nearly 52,000 square feet, the bowling complex will house 24 bowling lanes; full service dining serving two meals daily and eight lanes on the second floor available to guests 21 and older and will cater to group events and parties.

Deatra Soop (left) and Bobbi Jones of Andy Shaw Ford in Sylva were recently named the 2016 No. 1 and No. 2 Ford Service Advisors for the entire Charlotte Region of Ford Motor Company. Donated photo

Sylva dealership receives excellence award Bobbi Jones and Deatra Soop with Andy Shaw Ford in Sylva were recently named the 2016 No. 1 and No. 2 Ford Service Advisors for the entire Charlotte Region of Ford Motor Company.

The Ford Charlotte Region represents 141 dealerships in North and South Carolina with over 400 Service Advisors. Selection for this honor is based upon several criteria; among them are total retail sales and more importantly overall customer satisfaction.

Jones has been in the automotive industry since 1992 and a Service Advisor for Ford since 2008. She has been a member of the Andy Shaw Ford Team since 2012. Soop has been a Service Advisor for over 25 years and worked for Andy Shaw Ford since 2007.

Maggie Wellness donates to Haywood Waterways Maggie Valley Wellness Center donated 10 percent of its proceeds in January through March to the Haywood Waterways Association.

“Haywood County holds something very precious and rare — water that comes directly from our mountains and nowhere else,” said owner Candra Smith.

“Everyone that lives in this community is influenced or connected to their waterways in some way. Haywood Waterways’ wish is for our children and future generations of Haywood County to be able to enjoy and appreciate these pristine waterways.”

Cashiers resort to stay in the family High Hampton Inn & Country Club will remain in the McKee family after negotiations to sell the resort were terminated.

The historic North Carolina resort has been in the McKee family since Will McKee’s grandfather, E.L. McKee, purchased the property in 1922. For three generations High Hampton Inn has been under the guidance of the McKee family.

Manuel de Juan has been named as the new general manager. He has been an asset to the High Hampton Inn team for more than 12 years. www.highhamptoninn.com or 800.334.2551.

Nielsen recognized for client satisfaction The American Institute of Family Law Attorneys has recognized the exceptional performance of North Carolina’s Family Law Attorney Joshua D. Nielsen as Two Years 10 Best Family Law Attorney for Client Satisfaction.

Attorneys who are selected to the “10 Best” list must pass AIOFLA’s rigorous selection process, which is based on client and/or peer nominations, thorough research, and AIOFLA’s independent evaluation.

One of the most significant aspects of the selection process involves attorneys’ relationships and reputation among his or her clients. Contact Joshua D. Nielsen directly at 828.246.9360 or www.nielsenlegal.com.

Cashiers develops workforce initiative The Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce recently identified workforce development as a priority issue to act on this coming year.

It is a complex problem encompassing recruitment, training, retention, housing, transportation, scheduling and more but the chamber is committed to address its many aspects to make incremental progress toward a long-term solution.

The chamber would like to better understand its business community’s most pressing needs in this regard.

828.743.5191 or visit www.cashiersareachamber.com.

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• Southwestern Community College will hold two job fairs in April — from 9 to 11 a.m. on April 7 and April 28 in the Burrell Conference Center on SCC’s Jackson Campus. Job seekers should dress professionally and bring copies of their resumes. Call 828.339.4000, visit www.southwesterncc.edu, or stop by your nearest SCC location.

• Allen Newland, owner of A Shot Above WNC Aerial Photography, is the first and currently only Commercial UAS Operator in the region area who can legally fly a drone at night in a Commercial Operation now that the FAA has approved him for a Waiver 107.29 Daylight Operation. www.ashot-above.com.

ALSO:

• The Swain County Annual Chamber Banquet will be held from 6 to 9 p.m.

Thursday, April 20, at the Fryemont Inn. One Leg Up Jazz Band will provide entertainment. Early bird tickets are $30 each, with tickets after April 7 priced at $35 each. Call 828.488.3681 or email Tanner at info@greatsmokies.com to purchase tickets.

• Celia Watkins recently joined Christopher Wenzel MD – Facial Plastics & Aesthetic Services in Clyde. Watkins brings almost 10 years of aesthetic experience and has been instrumental in helping with the marketing aspect of the practice. Watkins is a Haywood County native who has worked in healthcare since 2001. www.wncentdoctors.com.

• Becky Seymour of Waynesville has opened a new videography business — Shmeckie Media LLC. Services include video production, VHS to DVD transferring and Cinemagraphs.

Email shmeckiemedia@gmail.com or visit www.shmeckiemedia.com.

24

Opinion

Smoky Mountain News

One small step toward ending discrimination N

Trump still holds the upper hand To the Editor: The media is crowing over this so-called big loss for Trump by having to postpone the elimination of Obamacare.

Not so fast. This is a major move forward.

Let’s go back to December 24, 2009, in the dead of night when the Senate Democrats passed this thing with nary a Republican vote.

When Congress goes skulking about you can be sure they are up to mischief.

But all Congress knew then that a bill requiring an entire population to buy insurance, whether they needed it or not, would result in huge profits for insurance companies and also benefit for-profit-hospitals as it turned out.

Now here comes Trump. Nobody in D.C., home of the insurance company lobbyists, thought this man would win so they did not divest their fat portfolios of insurance stock. As long as they knew Obama would veto them the GOP was happy enough to send up repeal bills.

But now the tables are turned and the truth exposed. Trump holds the upper hand.

He will wait patiently, allowing them time to dump their stocks and he’ll go back for full repeal later on, possibly even after the Congress alone must face the collapse of the system they both profited from and tolerated.

“Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive,” Sir Walter Scott.

Cornelia Scott Cree Waynesville

Insubordinate public servants To the Editor: If you were the boss of three employees (let’s call them Mark Meadows, Thom Tillis,

passing any anti-discrimination ordinances until 2020.

Discriminating against someone because of their sexuality should be illegal. Imagine anyone supporting a similar law if it targeted a race or religion.

But it does do away with the whole bathroom portion of the bill, that insidious mandate that if someone is using a government restroom it must correlate to the sex on their birth certificate. The whole argument here from HB2 supporters that they wanted to Editor keep men out of women’s restrooms was totally a straw man, a way of avoiding the real issue — that HB2 supporters do not support the rights of transgender people.

There’s little doubt that the compromise legislation was

Scott McLeod

orth Carolina and its citizens are better off with HB2’s repeal. It’s a giant step forward, and despite criticism from the right and the left, I am glad we have at least moved the ball closer to the endzone.

HB2 was an embarrassment, a bad joke whose punchlines kept North Carolina in the crosshairs of pundits and comedians. The bill was morally wrong.

Oh, and in addition to the moral bankruptcy it symbolized, it was also a bad business deal for North Carolina. Enlightened entrepreneurs and industrial leaders viewed it as a “do not enter NC” albatross. Remember PayPal was the first to back out of its commitment to build a 400-employee facility near Charlotte. A recent Associated Press report put the state’s financial losses from the bill at $3.7 billion.

There is still work to do. Even with the repeal, people can still be fired for being gay or transgender. In this day and age that is unacceptable. The new law prevents localities from

LETTERS and Richard Burr) and they repeatedly refused to meet with you and even refused to answer your questions about the way they were doing their jobs, how would you feel about it? Frustrated? Disrespected? Outraged?

Our elected officials are public servants who are supposed to be working for us, who are supposed to be improving our quality of life. That’s why we pay them.

So how is it that despite many requests and demonstrations, our representatives have stubbornly refused to hold town halls, have refused to meet with us as a group to answer our questions face to face?

I was puzzled about this until I realized that these politicians do not regard us as their constituents. Constituents are people you feel you have to respect — people you feel you’re answerable to. Clearly, Meadows, Tillis, and Burr have not been acting as if they work for us. It’s not us they feel obliged to represent.

They do, however, seem to regard Republican Party heads, special-interest groups, and billionaire donors, such as Betsy DeVos, as their bosses. Apparently, if we want their ear, we need to pony up $70,000 in campaign contributions.

So what would you do if you were the boss of three employees who were stubbornly insubordinate? Employees who ignored your repeated requests for a meeting? Wouldn’t you fire them?

Bill Spencer Cullowhee

A conservative wants to conserve To the Editor: I am a conservative. I conserve. A conservative wisely preserves, conserves and saves. A conservative secures and manages that which is available, to maintain or increase as possi-

passed more out of a concern for the state’s economy than its gay or transgender citizens. Legislative leaders and Gov. Roy Cooper both want this state’s economy to continue its comeback, and so this imperfect and flawed bill is the result.

Many of Gov. Cooper’s supporters are up in arms over the bill’s ban on anti-discrimination ordinances. To listen to them, it seems some would rather keep the HB2 status quo and use it for political bantering rather than accept the compromise.

On the other side, the “boys must be boys and girls must be girls” crowd is up in arms. Many of them won’t be happy until we have police at every bathroom inspecting people’s privates. Please.

So we inch forward in this once-progressive state, leaving behind the bathroom bill but refusing to ban discrimination based on sexuality. It’s called a compromise, and it will work as a temporary fix. Stay tuned.

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

ble or necessary, across all resources.

As a child of the depression and the World War that followed, I learned to conserve.

Everyone did. As a young wife and mother in later years, putting into practice the lessons of my youth, I sometimes made wrong choices by selecting what I thought was the wise, less expensive product or action. In the long run I would sometimes find that my conservative selection was more costly, and was not an effective choice to meet my goals. And so I learned.

Learning is something that our present day self-described “conservatives” apparently either cannot or refuse to do. Giving lip service to the word “conserve” as an interchangeable for “savings” does not result in actual long-term savings on any level — local, state, or national.

Cutting programs simply due to their expense does not relieve the oft-threatened future burdens to our children. Without real thought, or perhaps necessary judicious trimming, you are ultimately increasing the problems these cut programs help solve.

Numerous published reports by verifiably non-partisan research agencies are willfully ignored and discounted by bluster and public ballyhoo. Certified fiscal records (past and projected) that disprove the numerous willfully false claims and clearly misapplied conservation are blithely dismissed as “fake.”

So, even though you mislabel me and those who share more humane positions which actually result in both human and fiscal savings, we so-called liberals ultimately are, by more accurately applied definition, the “truly conservative.”

Shirley Ches Franklin

Freshmen legislators are led astray To the Editor: Like Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, and others

before them, Rep. Mike Clampitt, R-Bryson City, and Kevin Corbin, R-Franklin, have been seduced by the dark side in Raleigh. It used to only happen when local politicians went to Washington, but now it has infected our state government as well.

Just Davis co-sponsored the current law allowing fracking of our water supply throughout North Carolina and voting for HB2, Clampitt and Corbin have been cajoled into introducing HB 249, the so-called “Economic Terrorist” bill.

This would label anyone an “Economic Terrorist” for briefly occupying a road as a part of a protest, enhancing punishment for this “terrorist activity.”

How many Patriots during our American Revolution would have been labeled “Economic Terrorists” according to this bill?

When our elected officials refuse to listen to their electorate, even hiding from their constituents, what other non-violent means do we have to express our views under the First Amendment?

With HB 249, we have another highly divisive, extremist and unconstitutional piece of legislation looking to solve a problem that for the most part doesn’t exist.

Clampitt and Corbin would be wise to continue to think for themselves and do the right thing in Raleigh, rather than fall into groupthink.

We the people would be better served if those who control our General Assembly focused on improving our health care, child care, public education, job opportunities, and wages in rural North Carolina. If you agree, let them know.

Dan Kowal Macon County

S EE LETTERS, PAGE 26

Chris Cox

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Heels convert an easy layup. Karnowski looks about as much like a basketball player as I look a Victoria’s Secret model. Then again, if a gang of bikers suddenly storms the floor, you definitely want Karnowski on your team.

(9:26 p.m.) The refs aren’t calling anything. This is ridiculous! The game is clearly fixed! Sorry, I was channeling my dad there for a minute. Karnowski is playing like a butcher at a tea party (I am not sure what that even means, but it feels right). He keeps missing easy shots. The Heels lead by a point.

(9:38 p.m.) After trading a series of baskets, the Zags hit a couple of big threes and ease ahead by five points about midway through the first half. Have I confessed yet that I was once a student at North Carolina State? That I had a poster of David Thompson on my bedroom wall when I was in the seventh grade? That I was in the Owen Hall underground the night the Wolfpack won the national championship against Houston in 1983? Hating the Tar Heels is part of my DNA, and yet, I will remain objective and professional throughout this commentary. Yes, another basket by the Zags! 21-14!

(9:45 p.m.) A five-point run by the Tarheels. TV timeout. Time for some pretzels to calm these jitters. Get the Zags some, too.

(9:55 p.m.) I am imagining my Facebook friends who are Tarheel fans — there must be 500 of them — need a deep tissue massage about now. The Heels make a run, then commit a turnover and take an ill-advised shot or two, and the Zags go back up by seven. Both teams have missed quite a few makeable shots. As Howard Cosell might say, play is a little ragged. I wish I still had that tape recorder. Zags 30, Heels 25.

(10:10 p.m.) The Zags seem to have forgotten all about those deadly three-point shots they were making earlier in the half.

Now they are intent on driving into the lane on every possession, perhaps forgetting that the Heels have three skyscrapers inside just waiting to swat away any shot.

Consequently, the Heels cut the lead to three at the half. It’s anybody’s game. As Cosell once said, “Sports is human life in microcosm.” Let us all reflect on that observation during the halftime break.

(10:32 p.m.) That halftime break was a portrait of misery, approximately as long and dreary as my freshman year in high school. Praise be for the mute button on the remote control. I can see Roy Williams talking, but I can’t hear him, dadgummit.

(10:33 p.m.) It took the Zags about 30 seconds to squander their lead, thanks to two stupid turnovers. They look rattled.

Not only that, but every call is going against them, right, Dad? I can feel that pool money draining away. This is why we can’t have nice things. The Heels are on an 8-0

April 5-11, 2017

was all set to write another column on Donald Trump, who somehow seems more unhinged with each passing week, but when I sat down to write it, I had an epiphany: it is opening day of baseball season, spring is the air, and the NCAA basketball championship is just hours away.

Simply put, I am in too good a mood to write about Trumplethinskin.

This week, I would rather eat a bowl of thumbtacks than spend one more minute thinking about him.

Instead, I am going to do someColumnist thing I have always wanted to do and was, most likely, born to do. I am going to write about the national championship game between North Carolina and Gonzaga game in real time.

We are still about half an hour before tip-off, so let me preface my commentary on the game by making a confession. As a child, I once got a little cassette tape recorder for Christmas. For a brief period, I enjoyed playing “60 Minutes.” I was Mike Wallace and my brother and sister were corporate embezzlers that I took turns grilling with my rapid-fire questions until they broke under pressure or ran crying to mom.

When I got bored with that, I switched to sports, inventing NBA playoff games in my head and narrating them into the recorder.

Perhaps unable to confront the rather astonishing weirdness of her firstborn, my poor mother resorted to a rationalization.

Maybe I would become the next Howard Cosell. That is what she said when she found me in the basement, excitedly explaining to my imaginary audience via my tape recorder how exquisitely Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain could execute the pick-and-roll.

I thought Cosell was pretty creepy, but I did like the idea of becoming rich and famous by talking about sports on television. That seemed like a pretty good job, as jobs go. I ended up pursuing a different career, but tonight, I am going to give it a shot. Ladies and gentlemen, it’s game time!

(9:17 pm) In the interest of full disclosure, I picked Gonzaga to win the championship in my league pool, so I stand to pocket a nice little wad of cash if the Zags can pull this off. As a professional, I will not allow this to color my commentary, though I will say, as the teams are being introduced, that I detect a certain sense of destiny in the Gonzaga players, and a peculiar tightness in the Tar Heels. Hmmm...

(9:20 p.m.) Tip-off. Carolina jumps out to an early lead when Gonzaga’s center, Grizzly Adams — I mean Przemek Karnowski, throws the ball away and the

to play. Looks like we’re going down to the last shot, which, if the trend continues, will probably be hoisted completely over the backboard. Heels 66, Zags 65.

(11:35 p.m.) Isaiah Hicks drives the lane, hangs in the air, and makes a running one-hander to give the Heels a three-point lead, and then the Zags completely lose their poise and commit consecutive turnovers. Game over. Well, there goes that pool money. Just as I reflect for a moment on how happy I am for my Tar Heel friends and begin to feel right proud of myself for my grace and maturity, the CBS camera pans over to all of the Carolina fans decked out in their Carolina blue shirts, and I have a flashback to my freshman year at NC State, when a group for Carolina frat boys informed me one night on Franklin Street that State was a school for “degenerate farmers” and “losers who couldn’t get in at Carolina.”

Well, boys, we’ve all grown up a lot since then, haven’t we? This is your night, but it’s my column, and I’m giving my old friend Howard Cosell the last word, which you can put in the trunk of your cute little baby blue Beemers and take with you: “Sports is the toy department of life.”

Put that in your Davidoff cigar and smoke it.

(Chris Cox is a writer and teacher. jchriscox@live.com.)

opinion

Admit it Tar Heel fans, you were squirming

run, and suddenly up by five. Time for another glass of Chardonnay for my Tar Heel friends!

(10:43 p.m.) But wait! Consecutive three-point plays and the Zags are suddenly back on top by a point. Somewhere, one of my Tarheel friends just knocked over his Chardonnay into the crab dip. We got ourselves a game!

(11:00 p.m.) Man, this game is uglier than a three-dollar haircut. Both teams are playing as if they discovered the game of basketball earlier today while out hunting and gathering. Predictably, on Facebook, fans on both sides are screaming hysterically about how terrible the referees are. If my Dad were here, he’d say something unprintable. If Howard Cosell were here, he’d say something pithy about Joe Frazier. Zags 47, Heels 47. Does anybody want to win this thing? The Zags are shooting 18 percent in the second half. That’s worse than a Toby Keith album.

(11:24 p.m.) Damn it, Beavis, this game is harder to watch than an Adam Sandler movie. Turnovers, fouls galore, horrific shot selection, terrible calls, missed free throws.

It’s like watching giraffes ice skate. Three minutes to go, Heels up by one. The Washington Generals could have won this game.

(11:31 p.m.) The Heels convert a threepoint play to go back up by one with 1:30

From Hwy. 19/23 take Exit 104 towards Lake Junaluska; continue 1/2 mile to Haywood Medical Park on the left.

find us at: facebook.com/smnews

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Smoky Mountain News

April 5-11, 2017

opinion

LETTERS, CONTINUED FROM 24

Get the money out of politics To the Editor: We are loudly and frequently reminded of the many things that we are supposed to be afraid of every day. However, I cannot help but notice that among these repetitive ravings corporate America’s complete lack of a moral compass is conspicuously absent.

Perhaps my fellow citizens have failed to notice that we, as a society, have invested a great deal of trust, power and authority in legal entities whose only reason for existing is to make a profit. These companies, many of which provide vital services such as food and energy production and distribution, are so focused on the bottom line that they feel justified in using their positions as integral components of society to buy politicians.

These misguided politicians then strip away any regulations from their corporate patrons, allowing them to recklessly pursue profit without having to consider their moral duty to the very society they service.

Receiving a reward for a job well done is one thing, but behaving like a parasite sucking its host dry is quite another.

To help combat this internal threat, contact your state representatives and tell them you want to get money out of politics then go to www.ncwethepeople.org to learn more.

Cory Lomax Sylva

One day we may have healthcare for all To the Editor: Our Congressman Mark Meadows may have forgotten the needs of the voters who elected him. While Meadows wants to “drive down healthcare costs and insurance premiums,” his real aim seems to be eliminating government regulation and support for affordable medical care.

Meadows considers the Affordable Care Act “yet another healthcare entitlement” to be repealed. All subsidies and tax credits that help participants buy insurance would be eliminated. Clearly that would have a disastrous effect on thousands of industrious District 11 citizens who provide help for

their families through Obamacare.

Rep. Meadows, a self-described fiscal hawk, believes driving down government costs is a priority. But a Western North Carolina food stand worker recently said, “It needs to be less about money and more about people.” She and her mother are scared that skyrocketing increases in prescription drug and hospitalization costs may do them in.

They and other Carolina workers interviewed on a national news program remarked that “maybe a ‘Medicare for All’ system would be better.” One local maintenance worker commented, “If you are going to help me, help me 100 percent, like other countries like Canada do.”

Ohio Representative John Conyers has submitted HR 676 – the “Expanded & Improved Medicare for All Act” to the 115th Congress. His bill can be properly funded using existing resources for healthcare revenue and small tax increases. All people would have the freedom to choose their health providers, and the end result would be vastly lower costs to individual families, corporations, and the government.

We cannot and should not allow TeaParty Republicans to harm struggling families. If enough of us speak up for affordable, universal healthcare for all hard-working Americans, perhaps Rep. Meadows and the rest of Congress will enact a humane and fiscally-responsible healthcare bill like “Medicare for All.” Frank L. Fox Asheville

The president must be impeached To the Editor: It’s terrible that such a thing has come to pass, that the “so-called President” must be removed, but it is absolutely, critically necessary. The man has not exhibited the first indication of knowledge, skill, or ability to serve in this or any other position. If he remains in office, our country will suffer damage the likes of which haven’t been seen in ages. His only skill is the short con — he’s pulling money out of our pockets with both hands in violation of the The Foreign Emoluments Clause, Article I, Section 9, Clause 8 and the Domestic Emoluments Clause, Article II, Section 1, Clause 7, of the United States Constitution.

Our congressional representatives should

We can’t trust anything Trump says

BY NORMAN HOFFMAN G UEST COLUMNIST A guest column by Joseph Trisha in the March 22 edition (www.smokymountainnews.com/archives/item/19589) makes a plea for unity and putting aside opposition to President Trump. This would be more credible if the Republicans had done the same for Obama when he became president instead of opposing virtually anything that Obama accepted or supported.

The difference with current concerns about Trump is that his political career is based on lies. His initial ascent in politics, his campaign, and his presidency all have a foundation based on lies. He gained national prominence with the lie that Obama was not born in the U.S. — as if that made a difference. McCain, Romney, and Cruz were all born in foreign countries, yet that was not an issue. Why? Because their mothers, like Obama’s, were all American citizens — and they were white.

During the campaign, Trump lied about almost everything form the Clinton Foundation to unemployment statistics.

Trump claimed unemployment was not around 5 percent as the data showed, but as high as 40 percent, which was ridiculous even for a lot of minority subpopulations.

As soon as he became president, the 5 percent figure was declared accurate.

Trump lied about giving healthcare to everyone. In point of fact, the TrumpCare bill that he pushed was nothing but a tax cut for the wealthiest. It did not increase healthcare coverage to anyone. More than 20 million people covered by the Affordable Care Act would have lost coverbring charges against him.

His incessant attacks on our institutions of government are designed to obfuscate his lack of ability, creating a diversion while he works to tear our country apart. He is the benchmark example of one who cries “Fire” in a crowded theater, creating chaos where there was at least a semblance of order and sanity.

Please start this process so that America can begin to progress again, you must not allow us to be controlled by a madman.

William Aylor Swain County

age. Insurance would not have been more affordable for anyone. What the TrumpCare bill did was cut the taxes on the rich in the ACA that help pay for subsidies for those who would otherwise not have coverage.

Trump claimed he had no business with Russia, but his son stated that Russians were involved with a disproportionate proportion of the Trump family businesses. In 2014 Trump bragged that he did business with Russian oligarchs. Last year his son-in-law met with Russian bank officials who also have ties to the Russian spy agency and possible involvement in money laundering.

The previous columnist stated, “President Trump has accomplished many positive changes…” However, Trump has no positive accomplishments. The alleged saving of 800 jobs at Carrier was a case of smoke and mirrors. A recent news report indicated that Carrier was cutting 700 jobs in Indiana. Other jobs were also cut. The so-called saved jobs were not going overseas in the first place.

The writer correctly indicates that the debt is an important issue, but not for Trump. His new budget would cut taxes for the wealthy and increase the debt. It makes no economic or mathematical sense to cut taxes if you want to cut the deficit or national debt. One does not take a pay cut to be better able to pay the mortgage. Tax cuts have never improved the economy or created jobs — they have only added to the deficit.

In short, we cannot believe anything President Trump or his administration say.

Their history is to say one thing and do the opposite.

(Norman Hoffman lives in Waynesville and can be reached at wncfacts@gmail.com.)

Why so much disrespect for Trump?

To the Editor: From where comes all this hate and disrespect directed at the President?

I expect and respect differing opinions, especially when it comes to politics, but not the blatant disrespect expressed in recent letters, “our one term — or less — President Donald Rump,” from one who spent a career in military service.

We have seen our military

F

All viewpoints are welcome for letters to the editor or guest columns. Send to Scott McLeod at info@smokymountainnews.com, fax to 828.452.3585, or mail to PO Box 629, Waynesville, NC 28786.

26

severely diminished over the past eight years, and we now have a president who is pledged to rebuilding it so that our beloved country can be safe from those emboldened by a weak 44th president. President Trump — that’s with an uppercase “T” not an “R,” was elected an a platform of “Making America Great Again.” Evidently his detractors do not share this vision or desire. They would prefer to revert to the years of national decline. For this attitude, I express only my disappointment in them I am registered as “unaffiliated” and voted for both Democrats and Republicans in the past election.

Otis Sizemore Maggie Valley

Employers should provide benefits To the Editor: I have one thing to say to the business owners who feel that equal pay for equal work, safety and environmental regulations, and providing benefits to full-time employees instead of hiring part-time employees to avoid doing so, would constitute an “undue financial burden.”

If you cannot afford to participate in these fair and reasonable business practices, perhaps you should consider another line of work. Hopefully for you, your employer will have a different opinion regarding the business they operate.

Judy Stockinger Franklin

AMMONS DRIVE-IN RESTAURANT & DAIRY BAR 1451 Dellwwod Rd., Waynesville.

828.926.0734. Open 7 days a week 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Celebrating over 25 years.

Enjoy world famous hot dogs as well as burgers, seafood, hushpuppies, hot wings and chicken. Be sure to save room for dessert.

The cobbler, pie and cake selections are sure to satisfy any sweet tooth.

APPLE ANDY’S RESTAURANT 3483 Soco Road, Maggie Valley located in Market Square. 828.944.0626. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Wednesday and Thursday.

Serving the freshest homemade sandwiches, wraps, and entrees such as country fried steak and grilled flounder. Full salad bar and made from scratch sides like potato salad, pinto beans and macaroni and cheese. www.appleandys.com BLOSSOM ON MAIN 128 N. Main Street, Waynesville.

828.454.5400. Open for lunch and dinner

from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Sunday. Mild, medium, to hot and spicy, our food is cooked to your like-able temperature.

Forget the myth that all Thai food is spicy.

Traditional Thai food is known to be quite healthy, making use of natural and fresh ingredients, paired with lots of spices, herbs, and vegetables. Vegetarians and health conscious individuals will not be disappointed as fresh vegetables and tofu are available in most of our menu as well as wines and saki chosen to compliment the unique flavors of Thai cuisine.

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

Blue-plates and local fresh vegetables daily.

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

BOGART’S 303 S. Main St., Waynesville. 828.452.1313.

Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Carry out available. Located in downtown Waynesville, Bogart’s has been long-time noted for great steaks, soups, and salads. Casual family atmosphere in a rustic old-time setting with a menu noted for its practical value. Live Bluegrass/String Band

music every Thursday. Walking distance of Waynesville’s unique shops and seasonal festival activities and within one mile of Waynesville Country Club.

BOURBON BARREL BEEF & ALE 454 Hazelwood Ave., Waynesville, 828.452.9191. Lunch served 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Monday through Saturday. Dinner 5 to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

Closed on Sunday. We specialize in hand-cut, all natural steaks from local farms, incredible burgers, and other classic american comfort foods that are made using only the finest local and sustainable ingredients available.

BREAKING BREAD CAFÉ 6147 Hwy 276 S. Bethel (at the Mobil Gas Station) 828.648.3838 Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Chef owned and operated. Our salads are made in house using local seasonal vegetables. Fresh roasted ham, turkey and roast beef used in our hoagies. We hand make our own eggplant and chicken parmesan, pork meatballs and hamburgers. We use 1st quality fresh not preprepared products to make sure you get the best food for a reasonable price. We make vegetarian, gluten free and sugar free items.

Call or go to Facebook (Breaking Bread Café NC) to find out what our specials are.

BRYSON CITY CORK & BEAN A MOUNTAIN SOCIAL HOUSE 16 Everett St.,Bryson City. 828.488.1934.

Open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday brunch 9 a.m. to

Happy Easter Sunday, April 16

Easter Buffet 11:30 AM — 3 PM Reservations Required: 828.456.3551 Adults: $30.95* • Young at Heart Age 70+: $22.95* Ages 6-12: $12.95* • Under Age 5: Free *Prices Do Not Include Tax & Gratuity.

Further Discounts Do Not Apply to Young-at-Heart Price

Real New Yorkers.

Real Italians. Real Pizza.

Dine-In ~ Take Out ~ Delivery

An Authentic Italian Pizzeria & Restaurant from New York to the Blue Ridge.

Just to serve you!

Featuring: Calzones · Stromboli Subs · Pasta and More

Smoky Mountain News

To the Editor: We the people of these United States deserve a better way to put into power those who run for office. Money is currently the primary player in our elections. Morally, this is wrong!

There is a ballot measure, the We the People Act (HB 453 and S 354), making its way through the legislative process stating that corporations are not people and money is not speech. This ballot measure opens to the people of North Carolina a chance to vote on the measure in 2018.

Contact your legislators in the Committee On Rules and Operations of the Senate and tell them to pass S 354 out of committee and to the floor of the Senate.

Contact your legislators in the Committee On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House and tell them to pass H453 out of committee and to the floor of the House.

One person, one vote is our constitutional right. Your input is very important. Go to www.ncwethepeople.org to read and sign the petition. Encourage your family and friends to get on board. Contact your representatives. They need to know of your support. Remember, corporations have no soul!

Joan Palmroos Otto

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

April 5-11, 2017

Take the money out of politics

tasteTHEmountains

NOW OPEN SUNDAYS NOON to 8 P.M. Monday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

176 COUNTRY CLUB DRIVE, WAYNESVILLE, NC 828.456.3551

243 Paragon Parkway | Clyde

828-476-5058

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Easter Dinner

Easter Specials April 16 / Noon - 7:00 PM Baked Sliced Ham with Pineapple Orange Glaze $16.99 Cranberry-apple Glazed Roast Pork Loin $18.99 Stuffed Tomato and Basil Chicken $18.99 All entrees above served with warm rolls and butter, soup or salad and choice of side.

Regular menu including our succulent prime rib also available.

RESERVATIONS APPRECIATED 828.926.1817 jarthurs.com 2843 Soco Rd. Maggie Valley

April 5-11, 2017

Currently serving Thursday through Saturday at 4:30 and Sunday from noon until 7:00 PM

5

$

OFF

Smoky Mountain News

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tasteTHEmountains 3p.m., Full Menu 3 to 9 p.m. Serving fresh and delicious weekday morning lite fare, lunch, dinner, and brunch. Freshly prepared menu offerings range from house-made soups & salads, lite fare & tapas, crepes, specialty sandwiches and burgers. Be sure not to miss the bold flavors and creative combinations that make up the daily Chef Supper Specials starting at 5pm every day.

Followed by a tempting selection of desserts prepared daily by our chefs and other local bakers. Enjoy craft beers on tap, as well as our full bar and eclectic wine list.

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

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

CHURCH STREET DEPOT 34 Church Street, downtown Waynesville.

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

CITY LIGHTS CAFE Spring Street in downtown Sylva.

828.587.2233. Open Monday-Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tasty, healthy and quick. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, espresso, beer and wine.

Come taste the savory and sweet crepes, grilled paninis, fresh, organic salads, soups and more. Outside patio seating. Free Wi-Fi, pet-friendly. Live music and lots of events.

Check the web calendar at citylightscafe.com.

THE CLASSIC WINESELLER 20 Church Street, Waynesville.

828.452.6000. Underground retail wine and craft beer shop, restaurant, and intimate live music venue. Kitchen opens at 4 p.m.

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

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

828.926.1820 Winter hours: Wednesday

through Sunday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Family Style at Country Vittles is not a buffet.

Instead our waitresses will bring your food piping hot from the kitchen right to your table and as many refills as you want. So if you have a big appetite, but sure to ask your waitress about our family style service.

FERRARA PIZZA & PASTA 243 Paragon Parkway, Clyde.

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

FILLING STATION DELI 145 Everett St., Bryson City, 828.488.1919.

Open Monday through Wednesday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sundays (in October) 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Locals always know best, and this is one place they know well. From the high-quality hot pressed sandwiches and the huge portions of hand-cut fries to the specialty frozen sandwiches and homemade Southern desserts, you will not leave this top-rated deli hungry.

FRANKIE’S ITALIAN TRATTORIA 1037 Soco Rd. Maggie Valley.

828.926.6216 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Monday-Saturday. Father and son team Frank and Louis Perrone cook up dinners steeped in Italian tradition. With recipies passed down from generations gone by, the Perrones have brought a bit of Italy to Maggie Valley. frankiestrattoria.com FROGS LEAP PUBLIC HOUSE 44 Church St., Downtown Waynesville 828.456.1930 Serving lunch 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; Dinner 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday. Frogs Leap is a farm to table restaurant focused on local, sustainable, natural and organic products prepared in modern regional dishes. Seasonal menu focuses on Southern comfort foods with upscale flavors. www.frogsleappublichouse.com.

GUADALUPE CAFÉ 606 W. Main Street, Sylva. 828.586.9877.

Open 7 days a week at 5 p.m. Located in the historic Hooper’s Drugstore, Guadalupe Café is a chef-owned and operated restaurant serving Caribbean inspired fare compliment-

J. ARTHUR’S RESTAURANT AT MAGGIE VALLEY U.S. 19 in Maggie Valley. 828.926.1817.

Open for dinner at 4 p.m., Thursday through Saturday; noon to 7 p.m. on Sundays. Worldfamous prime rib, steaks, fresh seafood, gorgonzola cheese and salads. All ABC permits and open year-round. Children always welcome. Take-out menu. Excellent service and hospitality. Reservations appreciated.

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

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

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

MAD BATTER FOOD & FILM 617 W. Main Street Downtown Sylva.

828.586.3555. Open Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Sunday brunch 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Handtossed pizza, steak sandwiches, wraps, salads and desserts. All made from scratch.

Beer and wine. Free movies Thursday trought Saturday. Visit madbatterfoodfilm.com for this week’s shows.

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

828.926.1616. maggievalleyclub.com/dine.

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

MOUNTAIN PERKS ESPRESSO BAR & CAFÉ 9 Depot St., Bryson City. 828.488.9561.

Open Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. With music at the Depot. Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Life is too short for bad coffee. We feature wonderful breakfast and lunch selections. Bagels, wraps, soups, sandwiches, salads and quiche with a variety of specialty coffees, teas and smoothies. Various desserts.

NEWFOUND LODGE RESTAURANT 1303 Tsali Blvd, Cherokee (Located on 441 North at entrance to GSMNP).

828.497.4590. Open 7 a.m. daily.

Established in 1946 and serving breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. Family style dining for adults and children.

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APPÉTIT Y’AL N L BO

Good through April 30, 2017.

Does not include tax, alcohol or gratuity.

Nutrition Facts serving size : ab out 50 p ag es Am ount per Serving Calories 0 % Daily Value * Tot al Fat 0g

895 RUSS AVE. • WAYNESVILLE

828-452-5822

1941 CHAMPION DR. • CANTON

828-646-3750

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ed by a quirky selection of wines and microbrews. Supporting local farmers of organic produce, livestock, hand-crafted cheese, and using sustainably harvested seafood.

Sunday–Thursday 11 a.m.–10 p.m Friday & Saturday 11 a.m.–11 p.m.

207 Paragon Parkway, Clyde

828-456-1997 blueroostersoutherngrill.com Monday-Friday Open at 11am

Real Local Families, Real Local Farms, Real Local Food

0%

Reg ional New s

100%

Op inion

100%

Outd oors

100%

Art s

100%

Entert ainm ent

100%

Classified s

100%

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

tasteTHEmountains PAPERTOWN GRILL 153 Main St., Canton. 828.648.1455 Open 7 days a week 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Serving the local community with great, scratch-made country cooking. Breakfast is served all day. Daily specials including Monday meatloaf, chicken and dumplings on Thursdays and Friday fish.

PASQUALE’S 1863 South Main Street, Waynesville. Off exit 98, 828.454.5002. Open for lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Sunday.

Classic Italian dishes, exceptional steaks and seafood (available in full and lighter sizes), thin crust pizza, homemade soups, salads hand tossed at your table. Fine wine and beer selection. Casual atmosphere, dine indoors, outside on the patio or at the bar. Reservations appreciated.

PATIO BISTRO 30 Church Street, Waynesville.

828.454.0070. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Breakfast bagels and sandwiches, gourmet coffee, deli sandwiches for lunch with homemade soups, quiches, and desserts. Wide selection of wine and beer. Outdoor and indoor dining.

SAGEBRUSH STEAKHOUSE 1941 Champion Drive, Canton 828.646.3750 895 Russ Ave., Waynesville 828.452.5822. Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Carry out available.

Sagebrush features hand carved steaks, chicken and award winning BBQ ribs. We have fresh salads, seasonal vegetables and scrumptious deserts. Extensive selection of local craft beers and a full bar. Catering special events is one of our specialties.

SMOKEY SHADOWS LODGE 323 Smoky Shadows Lane, Maggie Valley 828.926.0001. Check Facebook page for hours, which vary. Call early when serving because restaurant fills up fast. Remember when families joined each other at the table for a delicious homemade meal and shared stories about their day? That time is now at

We’re open every evening for dinner until 9 p.m.

Join us for tasty burritos, tacos, quesadillas or crepes!

3 E JACKSON ST. • SYLVA, NC

www.CityLightsCafe.com

WAYNESVILLE’S BEST BURGERS

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

Open seven days a week. Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday 3 p.m.-11 p.m., Sunday 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Family-owned for 30 years. Serving hand-tossed pizza made to order, pasta, subs, gourmet salads, calzones and seafood. Also serving excellent prime rib on Thursdays. Dine in or take out available. Located across from the Fire Station.

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

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

Tucked away inside Waynesville Inn, the Tap Room Bar & Grill has an approachable menu designed around locally sourced, sustainable, farm-to-table ingredients. Full bar and wine cellar. www.thewaynesvilleinn.com.

TRAILHEAD CAFE & BAKERY 18 N Main Street, Waynesville.

828.452.3881 Open 7 days a week Monday-Saturday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. You will find a delicious selection of pastries & donuts, breakfast & lunch along with a fresh coffee & barista selection. Happy Trails!

VITO’S PIZZA 607 Highlands Rd., Franklin.

828.369.9890. Established here in in 1998. Come to Franklin and enjoy our laid back place, a place you can sit back, relax and enjoy our 62” HDTV. Our Pizza dough, sauce, meatballs, and sausage are all made from scratch by Vito. The recipes have been in the family for 50 years (don’t ask for the recipes cuz’ you won’t get it!) Each Pizza is hand tossed and made with TLC. You’re welcome to watch your pizza being created.

WAYNESVILLE PIZZA COMPANY 32 Felmet Street, Waynesville.

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

MON.-SAT. 11 A.M.-8 P.M.

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Sun. 12-9 p.m.

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828.926.0201

The Rendezvous RESTAURANT & LOUNGE At the Maggie Valley Inn

Music by Steve Whiddon “The Piano Man”

Smoky Mountain News

SALTY DOG’S SEAFOOD & GRILL 3567 Soco Road, Maggie Valley.

828.926.9105. Open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. Full service bar and restaurant located in the center of Maggie Valley.

Featuring daily $6 lunch specials and daily dinner specials such as $1 Taco Tuesdays and 45¢ Wednesday Wings. Backyard Bar is open every weekend thru October. Join us for every NFL game.

SMOKY MOUNTAIN SUB SHOP 29 Miller Street Waynesville 828.456.3400. Open from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. A Waynesville tradition, the Smoky Mountain Sub Shop has been serving great food for over 20 years. Come in and enjoy the relaxed, casual atmosphere. Sub breads are baked fresh every morning in Waynesville. Using only the freshest ingredients in home-made soups, salads and sandwiches. Come in and see for yourself why Smoky Mountain Sub Shop was voted # 1 in Haywood County. Locally owned and operated.

April 5-11, 2017

RENDEZVOUS RESTAURANT AND BAR Maggie Valley Inn and Conference Center 70 Soco Road, Maggie Valley 828.926.0201 Home of the Maggie Valley Pizzeria. We deliver after 4 p.m. daily to all of Maggie Valley, J-Creek area, and Lake Junaluska. Monday through Wednesday: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. country buffet and salad bar from 5 to 9 p.m. $11.95 with Steve Whiddon on piano. Friday and Saturday: 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday 11:30 to 8 p.m. 11:30 to 3 p.m. family style, fried chicken, ham, fried fish, salad bar, along with all the fixings, $11.95. Check out our events and menu at rendezvousmaggievalley.com

Smokey Shadows. The menus are customizable for your special event. Group of eight or more can schedule their own dinner.

70 Soco Road, Maggie Valley 828.926.0201 29

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A&E

Smoky Mountain News

The art of being in ‘the now’ Tony Award nominee, WCU professor Terrence Mann on acting, life

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER hen you’re in the presence of Terrence Mann, you find yourself within reach of an energy — a vibe, perhaps — where you know this person standing before you is a creative reservoir of unknown depths.

A three-time Tony Award nominee (twice for “Best Actor,” once for “Best Featured Actor”), Mann has performed in small playhouses and renowned theatre companies up and down the Eastern Seaboard, with his numerous roles on Broadway bringing him international acclaim. He was Charles in “Pippin,” Javert in “Les Miserables,” Frank N. Furter in “The Rocky Horror Show,” the Beast in “Beauty and the Beast,” and Rum Tum Tugger in “Cats,” just to name a handful.

He’s also the distinguished professor in musical theatre at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. In his current role as “teacher” and “director,” Mann has become a cornerstone of academia at WCU, where the musical theatre program has received national attention for its immensely talented and highlyregarded student productions.

With the upcoming classic Vietnam War musical “Hair” set to hit the stage on April 5-9 at WCU’s Bardo Arts Center, Mann sat down with The Smoky Mountain News to discuss his career, how “Hair” holds a timeless message of love and power, and what it means to live in “the now.”

Terrence Mann.

Garret K. Woodward photo

W

Garret K. Woodward: You’re 65 years old.

Have you seen any kind of repurpose in the craft that you love that is theatre, or justification in your career?

Terrence Mann: No, I just find the older I get, the less I know.

point in the early part of [an artist’s] career, that “hell or high water, this is what I’m going to do…”

TM: I never had that epiphany or that “eureka” moment. I just have always done it.

My mom worked at a travel agency and my dad was a social worker, but they were both musicians and both singers. On the weekends we had parties, so I was always doing it. At church I was always doing it, always playing music and doing plays. High school I was doing it. It was just something I always was doing. To this day, I have no expectation. Anything that I got was a gift. You ask me to do this children’s theatre in Raleigh. Yeah, I’ll go do that. You ask me to do this Shakespeare festival. Yeah, I’ll do that.

Go to New York? I’ll go audition for some offBroadway stuff. Get a play. Now I get a Broadway show? I didn’t have any sort of brass ring to grab.

GKW: With that said, though, does that mean you’ve always been aware of being in the moment, rather than worrying about the past or the future?

TM: Correct. That’s exactly right.

GKW: So, you’re in the now always?

TM: I’m in the now always. And I don’t take it for granted. This may all go away tomorrow.

The older you get, the more you start to own that.

GKW: I agree with that. But, that’s the wisdom, that’s the paradox, right?

TM: It is the paradox. It’s the conundrum, too. I just find, the older I get, the more I just want to learn. I remember John Huston, a very famous film director, he was being interviewed in his 80s, he just finished the last film he did.

They were asking him, you’ve done everything, you’ve won everything, you’ve been everywhere, what do you want to do now? He said, “I just hope to stay interested.” And that’s pretty much it, you just want to hope that you stay interested in what you’re doing.

That has happened to me a couple of different times, where I thought I’m just done with this, I’m bored with being an actor. Then, I’ll do a project with a certain director, all of a sudden

Gimme a head of ‘Hair’ A production of the classic musical “Hair” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. April 5-7, 8 p.m.

April 8 and 3 p.m. April 9 in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University.

“Hair,” the beloved and controversial 1960s show that defined the rock-musical, tells the story of the Tribe, a group of politically active, long-haired hippies of the “Age of Aquarius” living a bohemian life in New York City. Claude, his good friend Berger, their roommate Sheila and all of their friends struggle to balance their young lives, loves, and the sexual revolution with their rebellion against the war and a society they stand at odds with. Claude must decide whether to resist the draft as his friends have done, or to succumb to social and familial pressures to serve in Vietnam, compromising his pacifistic principles and risking his life.

This production contains strong language and adult themes.

Tickets are $22 for adults, $17 for WCU faculty/staff and seniors, $7 for students/child. bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.

“I’m in the now always.

This may all go away tomorrow. The older you get, the more you start to own that.”

— Terrence Mann

[I think], “Oh, I can look at it through that part of the prism, that paradoxical prism of art.”

GKW: With anything in the creative arts, there’s always that inner conversation at some

GKW: …that you can’t control anything.

But, the funny part is, when you realize you can’t control anything is when you actually start having clarity…

TM: Yes. Exactly right. You have to let it all go for the important stuff to be there, you know?

GKW: You were in Broadway in the 1980s.

That was one of the meccas [of theatre], such a really interesting era of theatre, being in the epicenter of the world…

TM: That was the British Invasion of musicals, and long runs started then, [too]. [What sticks out was] how lucky I was. I got to do “Cats.” For whatever it was, it was glorified

S EE MANN, PAGE 33

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

Garret K. Woodward’s father, Frank, and niece, Lucy, on their recent visit to Waynesville.

Virtuoso Celtic fiddler Jamie Laval will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 8, at The Strand at It was familiar, yet weird.

38 Main in Waynesville.

Over the last two weeks I’ve crossed paths twice with my The Scottish Tartans Museum will host a “Clan immediate family. Once down in Camp” and dance celebration on Saturday, St. Augustine, Florida, for my April 8, in downtown Franklin. father’s 75th birthday and this past weekend in Waynesville, as A community benefit showcase for The Canary my parents, little sister and niece Coalition will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. came to visit me in Western Wednesday, April 5, at The Mad Batter Food North Carolina. & Film in Sylva.

Being snowbirds from Upstate Lees at the Depot (Dillsboro) will be hosting a New York, my folks pass through “Tap Takeover” by Terrapin Brewing (of Haywood County a few times a Athens, Georgia) from noon to 11 p.m. year going back and forth Saturday, April 15. between the sunshine of Northern Florida and the frigid Local artist Susan Lingg’s “Sip & Paint” class cold of the North Country. For will be from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 7, my sister and almost 3-year-old at the Cullowhee Mountain Arts office in niece, it was their first time seedowntown Sylva. ing where I live, work and play in Southern Appalachia.

For the first 18 years of my the same blood that runs vigorously life I lived with them in a small town on the through my veins.

Canadian Border. I know them, better than I took off after high school. I wanted to anyone else, and yet, here I am at 32, and get as far away from anything I knew those though their core traits are the same, I’m first 18 years. It wasn’t to escape my family. I still peeling back new layers of their being love my family, quirks and all. And I find, in conversation. Nothing has changed, the more I meet other peoples’ families, I which is mostly good, in terms of laughter realize just how quirky and weird and wild and shenanigans. But, everyone is getting we all actually are, a common denominator older, a tad greyer in their hair, a few more that crosses all races, religious backgrounds well-earned wrinkles on the faces filled with and economic statuses.

Asheville photographer and writer

Sue Wasserman will sign copies of her new book, A Moment’s Notice.

3 EAST JACKSON STREET • SYLVA

828/586-9499 • citylightsnc.com

mobile technology to help you get a lot less mobile.

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HOT PICKS 1 2 3 4 5

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April 5-11, 2017

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree

arts & entertainment

This must be the place

I hit the road, with eyes aimed ahead.

And I always knew when I did come full circle in my endless miles, winding up back at the starting line of my hometown and down home folks from my youth, that they’d all still be there, still joking around, sometimes yelling, sometimes delving into odd details of their personal lives, but always “still there,” for me at least — the true sign of a family in times of need amid the trials and tribulations of everyday life in the unknown cosmos.

Seeing my toddler niece run around Waynesville has been completely surreal for me. Living here for the better part of the last five years, she was born right around the time I celebrated my second anniversary in Haywood County. And here she is — in the here and now — shrieking in pure joy as I chase her around the hotel room patio, only to stop and turn to me and say, with a genuine smile, “I love you, Garret.”

When did I become such a family man?

Seems to have snuck up on me in my older years. How wild, eh? I’ve been wandering and pondering since I graduated high school, some 14 years ago, with a lifelong mission to never cease to be curious or chasing that elusive horizon, as Tom Petty sings, “Well I don’t know what I’ve been told/You never slow down, you never grow old/I’m tired of screwing up, I’m tired of goin’ down/I’m tired of myself, I’m tired of this town/Oh my my, oh hell yes/Honey put on that party dress/Buy me a drink, sing me a song/Take me as I come ‘cause I can’t stay long …”

Part of me wonders if my ongoing (journalistic?) odyssey is to keep one step ahead of the one thing myself and none of you (not even you, ladies and gents) can control — getting old. The further I am from my immediate family and extended hometown, the less I’m aware of my starting point decaying with businesses closed and streets empty, the less I’m aware of my parents becoming senior citizens, the less I’m aware my sister being a mother of a child rapidly growing up and coming into her own, all while I’m over a thousand miles away.

The more you avoid the inevitable of time and your place within it, I suppose, the harder it is to come to grips with the world moving onward, with or without you present for the moment(s). I’m finding truth in that as my stride gets a tad slower these days, my eyes and ears drifting upward and around, aimed at sights and sounds of whatever beauty I’m lucky to witness and interact with on a daily basis.

I often wonder if, ultimately, I’ll ever try to revive the roots of my native North Country. It’s a long-held dream to get back there someday. Though, in a perfect world, maybe I could inhabit both Upstate New York and Western North Carolina. In a simple twist of fate, these Great Smoky and Blue Ridge mountain ranges have become a refuge for my restless soul, quite possibly the only place I’ve actually ever felt truly at home.

And yet, there I am, happily chasing my niece around, swinging her up and down, smiles in every direction, realizing that happiness is wherever family is — no matter the distance, physically or emotionally.

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

Log on. Plan a trip.

And start kicking back.

31

On the beat WCU ‘First Thursday’ series The 2016-17 First Thursday Old-Time and Bluegrass Concert and Jam Series at Western Carolina University will continue with singersongwriter Lee Knight on Thursday, April 6.

Knight’s 7 p.m. performance of string music will be held in the ground-floor auditorium of H.F. Robinson Administration Building. It will be followed by an 8 p.m. jam session in which local musicians are invited to participate.

Knight currently works as a folk singer, storyteller and outdoor leader, performing at concerts, workshops, Elderhostels, festivals, camps and schools. He leads hikes,

canoe trips and guides whitewater rafts. He plays various instruments, including the five-string banjo, various guitars, the Appalachian dulcimer, the mouth bow, the Cherokee flute and the Cherokee rattle, as well as the Native American drum.

Sponsored by WCU’s Mountain Heritage Center, the First Thursday concerts and jam sessions will continue through this spring, with programs from 7 to 9 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month.

The events are free and open to the public. Pickers and singers of all ages and experience levels are invited to take part in the jam sessions, which also are open to those who just want to listen.

For more information, call the Mountain Heritage Center at 828.227.7129.

April 5-11, 2017

The Strand welcomes acclaimed Celtic fiddler Virtuoso Celtic fiddler Jamie Laval will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 8, at The Strand at 38 Main in Waynesville.

A musical journey through the Scottish Highlands, U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion Laval enraptures audiences with his passionate performances of traditional music of Scotland, Ireland, Brittany and Quebec.

He blends an ancient art form with stunning virtuosity and contemporary flair that resonates with families, youth, seniors, and devotees of ethnic, jazz, and classical music. Laval performed on Dave Matthews’ platinum album “Some Devil” and gave a private performance for Her Majesty the Queen.

Laval’s newest album, “Murmurs and Drones,” won the popular vote for “Best

Smoky Mountain News

• Andrews Brewing Company (Andrews) will host Troy Underwood (singer-songwriter) April 7, Blue Revue April 8 and Liz Nance (singer-songwriter) April 14. All shows are free and begin at 5 p.m. www.andrewsbrewing.com.

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• The Canton Armory will host “Winter Pickin’ in the Armory” at 7 p.m. every first and third Friday of the month. The event includes mountain music, vintage country, clogging and dancing. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Free. www.cantonnc.com.

• The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host James Hammel (singer-songwriter) April 7, Joe Cruz (piano/pop) April 8 and 14.

All events are free and begin at 7 p.m.

There will also be a “Speakeasy Night” with Russ Wilson’s “Hot 4” (jazz/swing) at 7:15 p.m. April 15 ($40 per person, which includes dinner). 828.452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com.

• Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host Doctor Paul April 8 and the “Hiker Bash”

Concert for The Canary Coalition

Ol’ Dirty Bathtub will perform during The Canary Coalition fundraiser on April 5 in Sylva.

World Traditional Album” in the 2012 Independent Music Awards.

The evening combines toe-tapping melodies, amusing and informative stories, foot percussion and an innovative arrangement style to create a beautiful atmosphere of the Scottish Highlands.

Tickets are $18. www.38main.com.

April 15. Shows are free and begin at 7:30 p.m. www.curraheebrew.com.

• Derailed Bar & Lounge (Bryson City) will have music at 7 p.m. on Saturdays.

828.488.8898.

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host The Tyler Kittle Jazz Trio April 8 and Bobby G (acoustic/folk) April 15. All shows are free and begin at 7 p.m. www.froglevelbrewing.com.

• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will have an Open Mic night April 5 and 12, and a jazz night with the Kittle/Collings Duo April 6 and 13. All events are free and begin at 8 p.m. www.innovation-brewing.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Andrew Scotchie & The River Rats (rock/blues) April 8, Frank Lee & Allie Burbrink (bluegrass/Americana) April 14 and Grandpa’s Cough Medicine (newgrass) April 15. All shows are free and begin at 8

A community benefit showcase for The Canary Coalition will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 5, at The Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva.

Live, local music will be provided by local bluegrass group Ol’ Dirty Bathtub and the Liberty Baptist Church Choir. In addition, the Education Director of the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, Barbara Duncan, will speak and sing original songs. And tribe member Gil Jackson will speak on events at Standing Rock, North Dakota, in relation to the effort to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline. There will also be a silent auction of items donated by local businesses for the cause. The event is free and open to the public.

The Canary Coalition is a nonprofit grassroots public health/environmental

p.m. 828.349.2337 or www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Nantahala Brewing Company (Bryson City) will host Frank Lee (Americana) April 7 and Grandpa’s Cough Medicine (Americana) April 8. All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m. www.nantahalabrewing.com.

• No Name Sports Pub (Sylva) will host Chris Monteith Karaoke April 7, Modern Strangers (fastgrass) April 8 and Fumblebuckers (fastgrass) April 14. All shows are free and begin at 9:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.nonamesportspub.com.

ALSO:

• The Oconaluftee Visitor Center (Cherokee) will host a back porch old-time music jam from 1 to 3 p.m. April 15. All are welcome to come play or simply sit and listen to sounds of Southern Appalachia.

• Satulah Mountain Brewing (Highlands) will host “Hoppy Hour” and an open mic with

organization with a focus on air pollution and climate change. The organization is currently working on an array of legislative and regulatory public policy initiatives related to energy and the environment. The Canary Coalition also is coordinating the Solarize WNC campaign in Jackson, Macon, Swain and Haywood Counties.

To help raise money for The Canary Coalition you may become a sponsor of this event by sending a donation to P.O. Box 653, Sylva, N.C. 28779 or donating on location at the day of the fundraiser. Donations may also be made online via PAYPAL at www.canarycoalition.org.

828.631.3447 or info@canarycoalition.org.

Susan at 6 p.m. on Thursdays and live music on Friday evenings. 828.482.9794 or www.satulahmountainbrewing.com.

• Sneak E Squirrel Brewing (Sylva) will The Caribbean Cowboys (pop/rock) April 7.

There will also be line dancing every Friday at 7 p.m. and contra dancing every other Friday at 8 p.m. 828.586.6440.

• The Strand at 38 Main (Waynesville) will host South Carolina guitarist Jacob Johnson at 8 p.m. April 15 (tickets are $10) and an “Open Mic” night from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturdays. All are welcome. 828.283.0079 or www.38main.com.

• Western Carolina University (Cullowhee) will host a Student Recital 1:25 p.m. April 5, William Schaffer (horn) 7:30 p.m. April 7, Community Chorus 4 p.m. April 9 and Brass Ensemble 5:30 p.m. April 18 in the Recital Hall of the Coulter Building. Country musician Austin Moody will perform at 7 p.m.

April 10 in UC Illusions (UC 309). www.wcu.edu.

On the beat

MANN, CONTINUED FROM 30 children’s theatre, yeah, but it was a real seminal piece of theatre. It was like, “Wow, I’m going to be working for at least a couple of years.” Then, lightning struck twice with me working with the same folks in “Les Miserables.” I was so lucky to be in the right place at the right time with whatever goods they were looking for.

JACOB JOHNSON AT THE STRAND Acclaimed South Carolina guitarist Jacob Johnson will perform at 8 p.m.

Saturday, April 15, at The Strand at 38 Main in Waynesville. Tickets are $10. www.38main.com.

Auburn faculty trio guest recital

Bryson City community jam

There will be a performance of the Taikoza Japanese Drummers at 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 18, in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University.

Taikoza uses the powerful rhythms of the Taiko drums. The Taiko is a large, barrel-like drum that can fill the air with the sounds of rolling thunder. Big drums, powerful rhythms, and electrifying, room-thumping energy. Drawing from Japan’s rich tradition of music and performance, Taikoza has created a new sound using a variety of traditional instruments. In addition to drums of assorted sizes, Taikoza incorporates the shakuhachi, the fue (both bamboo flutes) and the Koto (a 13-string instrument).

Tickets are $20 for adults/seniors, $15 WCU faculty/staff and $5 student/child. For tickets, visit bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.

A community music jam will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 6, at the Marianna Black Library in Bryson City.

Anyone with a guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, dulcimer, anything unplugged, are invited to join. Singers are also welcomed..

The jam is facilitated by Larry Barnett of Grampa’s Music in Bryson City.

The community jams offer a chance for musicians of all ages and levels of ability to share music they have learned over the years or learn old-time mountain songs. The music jams are offered to the public each first and third Thursday of the month — year-round.

This program received support from the North Carolina Arts Council, an agency funded by the State of North Carolina and the National Endowment of the Arts.

828.488.3030.

Editor’s Note: The full audio interview with Terrence Mann is currently up on YouTube. Search: “Terrence Mann Garret K. Woodward.”

Smoky Mountain News

Taikoza Japanese Drummers

GKW: So, when you see it onstage now, I wonder if there’s any thought process that goes through your head when you compare it to where we are today, “nothing’s the same, everything’s the same”…

TM: Well, that’s exactly it. Nothing’s changed and everything’s changed. The players are different, but the issues are the same. The problems are the same, the politics, the social conscious is the same. And I cannot believe that we’re actually sitting here talking about this in 2017, that we’re been slapped back into 1961, practically.

That’s what “Hair” is all about. I know this sounds corny, but the show is about love. There is love and there is power, and you subscribe to one or the other. And you can be conflicted your whole life trying to go back and forth, but, at the end of the day, you can only do one of those.

April 5-11, 2017

The Western Carolina University School of Music will host a guest recital featuring faculty from Auburn University at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 7.

The performance will be held in the recital hall of the Coulter Building on the WCU campus. It is free and open to the public. The theme of the recital is “Songs for the Horn.”

Performing will be Auburn University Department of Music members William Schaffer, assistant professor of horn and music theory, playing horn; Matthew Wood, associate professor of low brass, on trombone; and Josh Pifer, music lecturer and piano instructor, on piano.

“Schaffer and his colleagues from Auburn are bringing a program of really lovely pieces that should be very enjoyable for everyone,” said Travis Bennett, WCU associate professor of horn. “I’m really looking forward to this performance.”

For more information, call the WCU School of Music at 828.227.7242.

GKW: Now, “Hair,” always been one of my favorite productions. You being 65, that would mean you were a teenager going into adulthood as the Vietnam War was going on. Does this play have any personal meaning to you?

TM: Yeah, this play resonates for me in a very real, “I lived it” kind of way. In 1968, I was a junior in high school. Then, I went to college (Jacksonville University) in the fall of 1969. I remember getting those draft cards, deciding whether or not we were going to burn them, protesting on the steps of the courthouse in Jacksonville, being arrested. I was just sort of understanding what it all was, and I was jumping on the bandwagon.

I knew what was right and I knew what was wrong, but more importantly, for me, they started drafting us out of college. And I got drafted and I had to go for my pre-induction physical. We’re going to be drafted and we were going to be sent over there to be killed.

And the guys that I knew in my high school that did come back were fucked up. I got my papers to report to the Jacksonville bus terminal on December 17 at 5:30 a.m. And the

night before, I got so drunk and overslept and missed it. I called them up and I said I’d missed it. They said “fine, you’re going to go in the next month, January 21.” And that year, [President] Richard Nixon gave his “State of the Union Address” and said there will be no inductees into the services for the months January, February and March, so put the number “365” onto your existing number. So, that’s how I got out of the Army.

33

‘The Lamentable Career of Braxton Bragg’

KARE ‘Spring Thing’ boosts child abuse awareness

Chickamauga-Chattanooga NMP Park Ranger W. Lee White will explore the career of the irascible Braxton Bragg during the next Western North Carolina Civil War Round Table meeting. The presentation will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, April 10, in the H.F. Robinson Auditorium at Western Carolina University.

White, who spoke before the WNCCWRT in January 2015, returns this time to give context to the fitful Southern military command structure in the Western Theater, assessing causes and consequences of the Army of the Tennessee during the early stages of the war.

Those wishing to join speaker White for dinner may do so at Bogart’s in Sylva at 5 p.m. Late comers can meet up in the auditorium at 6:30 p.m. for a light refreshmentsocial with White’s presentation to begin shortly thereafter.

A native of Georgia, White’s expertise is in the Western Theater, and it is only natural that Gen. Braxton Bragg would become a part of White’s wheelhouse on the round table and symposium circuit. However, White is faced with the tough task of making one of the South’s reviled personalities, if not sympathetic at least historically significant.

Bragg, a native of North Carolina, was

In recognition of Child Abuse Awareness Month, KARE (Kids Advocacy Resource Effort) will host a “Spring Thing” from 3 to 5 p.m.

Tuesday, April 18, at its office in Waynesville.

The open house carnival will include inflatable obstacles, games, and a cookout. The drop-in event caters to children of any age and will give families an opportunity to tour the facility, meet staff members, and learn about programs available in Haywood County.

Guests can play games and enjoy supper at no cost. Children will also receive a token to return for free new books.

KARE, founded in 1991, seeks to end child abuse and neglect through advocacy, education and support. KARE advocates for victims of physical and sexual abuse and also provides free parent education through the Parents as Teachers and Positive Parenting programs.

For questions, contact KARE at 828.456.8995. Alternate rain date is May 2.

DONATE

April 5-11, 2017

arts & entertainment

On the street

SHOP VOLUNTEER

Braxton Bragg. born in 1817 in Warrenton. Attending the USMA at West Point, Bragg graduated fifth in the Class of 1837. It was the lasting relationships developed during the MexicanAmerican War that would foretell the political alliances in the Confederate command structure less than 20 years later. Bragg’s 3rd Artillery provided support to then Col.

Jefferson Davis’ Mississippi Rifles at the Battle of Buena Vista.

Joining the Confederate Army, Bragg would serve with distinction as a corps commander at Shiloh. The reorganization of the Confederate command (due to Gen. Albert S. Johnston’s death) of the Western Theater, would make Bragg commander of the then Army of Mississippi (eventually Army of Tennessee) in the summer of 1862. All throughout his career he had the reputation of rigid disciplinarian, inflexibility, blameshifting, and quarrelsome. Avoiding psychohistory, he simply did not get along nor “play well with others.”

It was in the autumn of ‘62 when embarking on the joint operation (the Heartland Offensive) with Kirby Smith and his Army of East Tennessee that Bragg’s character flaws were no longer just his, but were to become intertwined with his command’s morale and hamper the Southern war effort.

Canvassing recent historiography on the Confederate’s seventh highest-ranking general does not necessarily exonerate Bragg, but examines more closely the role of his subordinates and that of the political leadership in Richmond for the command debacle in the West.

828.648.2488.

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On the street

ALSO:

• The “Groovy Gathering” will be at Saturday, April 8, at the Gooder Grove Hostel in Franklin. Hiker cookout, bonfire, beer and good vibes. 828.332.0228.

• There will be a “Homebrewing Eco Forum” at 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 7, at the UU Fellowship Hall in Franklin. No bathtub brewing here. Homebrewing has come a long way since grandpa’s “tonic.” Simple equipment is readily available and has made homebrewing fun, safe and easy. John Duncan of the Sneak E Squirrel Brewing in Sylva will describe how easy it is to make a brew, which perfectly matches your personal taste.

And it’s legal. All are welcome to meet and

greet at 5:30 p.m. and bring a covered dish to share at 6 p.m. 828.524.3691.

• There will be a free wine tasting from 1 to 5 p.m. April 7 and 14 at Bosu’s Wine Shop in Waynesville. www.waynesvillewine.com or 828.452.0120.

• A wine tasting will be held from 2 to 5 p.m.

April 7 and 14 at Papou’s Wine Shop in Sylva. $5 per person. www.papouswineshop.com or 828.586.6300.

• The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host a wine tasting on Wednesdays and a craft beer tasting on Thursdays. Both events run from 4 to 8 p.m. There will also be tapas from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. www.classicwineseller.com.

• Free cooking demonstrations will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturdays at Country Traditions in Dillsboro. Eat samples and taste house wines for $3 a glass. All recipes posted online. www.countrytraditionsnc.com.

Smoky Mountain News

• Lees at the Depot (Dillsboro) will be hosting a “Tap Takeover” by Terrapin Brewing (of Athens, Georgia) from noon to 11 p.m.

Saturday, April 15. Food and beer pairings, discounts and “swag” from Terrapin.

828.339.1700 or www.leeswine.com.

kids book, small Scottish flag, Tartan teddy bear keychain, and a Scottie dog tin of Walkers Shortbread. This package is over $50 in value.

Raffles will take place at 8:30 p.m. Tickets will be on sale until the evening of the event.

Raffle tickets will be available at the Scottish Tartans Museum Gift Shop and the Rathskellar.

Homemade shortbread will be on sale.

For more information, call 828.421.7771.

April 5-11, 2017

The Scottish Tartans Museum will host a “Clan Camp” and dance celebration on Saturday, April 8, in downtown Franklin.

Spring is here. Neighbors, friends, hikers, and visitors enjoy sharing memories of the past and making new ones. April 6 is set aside by Congress as Tartan Day to recognize the myriad of Scottish American contributions. This day also commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath by Scottish nobles lords, and clergy on April 6, 1320. It was the first declaration of independence of a small country, Scotland, controlled by a much larger country, England.

A special Tartan Celebration is planned for April 8. Breacan Clann (Scottish Tartans Museum’s living history group) invites you to delve into the past of Scotland in a visual way. “Clan Camp” will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will be a reenactment camp with sword demonstrations, 16th-18th century clothing, weaving, and other crafts. It is a chance to learn about Highland culture during those eras. This will take place at Franklin Town Hall’s lawn, across the street from the Scottish Tartans Museum. Free admission.

The event continues with toe tapping, swirling melodies at the Rathskellar Coffee Haus & Pub from 7 p.m. until close. This part of the Tartan event is also free admission. Live music will be provided by Celtic Keg Stand.

There will be two raffles to benefit the Scottish Tartans Museum. One is a Scottish Claymore sword. Tickets are $5 each or 6 tickets for $20. The sword is a $70 value. The second raffle is a kids basket of assorted items.

Items include an Excalibur “LARP” sword,

arts & entertainment

Franklin Tartan celebration

35

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On the wall

Sylva pottery workshop The monthly Creating Mason Erlacher.

Community Workshop will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 15, in the Atrium of the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva.

Local artist Mason Erlacher will be showing participants how to make a simple pinch pot. Erlacher will then give participants a few tutorials of a variety of decoration techniques using a “spring theme” so they can decide how they would like to decorate the pinch pots.

Erlacher started making pottery about two years ago. She first learned the ceramic arts at Southwestern Community College, where she received her AFA and is continuing her studies there through SCC’s Heritage Arts Program. She is The class is limited to 10 people. For furthe owner of Mason Claine Pottery.

This event is co-sponsored by the Friends ther information and to sign up for the class, of the Jackson County Public Library. The call the library at 828.586.2016. This proJackson County Public Library is a member of gram is free of charge. www.fontanalib.org.

Fontana Regional Library.

Macon painter exhibit

The 49th Annual Student Reception will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 20, at the Western Carolina University Fine Arts Museum. The exhibit will be on display April 3-28 in the museum.

Colorado-based artist Martha Russo serves as juror for this exhibition that features the best of new and innovative creative expression in a variety of media by undergraduates at WCU. The exhibition is supported in part by the Western Carolina University Office of the Chancellor Arts & Cultural Events at WCU, WCU College of Fine & Performing Arts WCU School of Art & Design. museum@wcu.edu or 828.227.3591.

HCAC seeking postcard art To help celebrate Haywood County Arts Council’s 40th Anniversary, they are planning a new and exciting exhibition as part of their “A Ruby Anniversary show” in May — an HCAC benefit sale of original, postcard-sized works by established and

emerging artists in our region.

Any artist can contribute to this sale.

The postcard portion of this show is a fundraiser, and any postcard submitted to the event will be considered a donation to the Ruby Celebration of HCAC’s 40th year.

There will be no commissions paid to artists for these gifts. However, you will have a great artistic impact and help support the arts in Haywood County in an original way. To enter, simply bring your postcard (at least 3-1/2 inches high x 5 inches long, no larger than 4-1/4 inches high x 6 inches long) to the Haywood County Arts Council now through April 10.

Please note that though the art must be postcard-sized, it does not have to be made of paper: clay, wood, metal, and other 3-D artists are welcome to participate.

This offers a unique opportunity for buyers to acquire original, postcard-sized artwork for only $40 each. Offered on a first-come, first-served basis, and silently auctioned throughout the month, each piece is exhibited anonymously, and the identity of the artist is revealed only after the work is purchased. With the playing field leveled, all participants can take home a piece by a well-known artist, or one who’s just making their debut in the art world.

For questions, email info@haywoodarts.org or call 828.452.0593.

A G U A R A N T E E D G R E AT N I G H T O U T

nal works of art. She may be contacted at 828.524.5078 or by email at volkerks@frontier.com.

POISON

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ALSO:

• The “Healing Through Art” exhibit will be held April 7-29 at the Gallery & Gifts showroom at the Haywood County Arts Council in downtown Waynesville. See artistic pieces aimed at touching the lives of people through creativity, all while healing individuals and communities. www.haywoodarts.org.

• “Speed Sisters” will be screened at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 5, in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University. The film documents the activities of the first allwoman racecar driving team in the Middle

East. Part of the WCU Arts and Cultural Events series, the screenings are free and open to the public. bardoartscenter.wcu.edu or 828.227.2479.

• Paint Nite Waynesville will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville. Sign up on the Paint Night Waynesville Facebook page (search event: Brush N. Brew) or call Robin Smathers at 828.400.9560. paintnitewaynesville@gmail.com.

• Artist Damaris Pierce will offer Zentangle drawing workshops on April 8 at her Waynesville studio. www.drawingitin.com or 828.254.0988.

• There will be a “Thursday Painters Open Studio” from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. at the Franklin Uptown Gallery. Bring a bag lunch, project and supplies. Free to the public. Membership not required. For information, call 828.349.4607.

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Smoky Mountain News

• The Franklin Uptown Gallery will hold its monthly meeting on Monday, April 10, in downtown Franklin. Jon Houglum, a well established oil painter and noted art instructor, will give a presentation on composition and color at 12:30 p.m. The general meeting will follow. The event is open to the public and refreshments will be served. 828.349.4706.

April 5-11, 2017

There will be an exhibit showcasing the work of painter Sharon Ann Volker through the month of April at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.

Volker is a self-taught artist. Her work has been profiled in the Asheville CitizenTimes and the Macon County News. She has also won gold and silver medals in a variety of competitions, including second place in the state of North Carolina in 2007 at the Senior Games, “Silver Arts” division.

Volker is a full-time resident of Otto and can create detailed reproductions and origi-

WCU student art showcase

37

On the wall

arts & entertainment

On the stage

April 5-11, 2017

Love and loss, before Facebook A new work from Lyn Donley and C.J. Deering, titled “The Loves of Elaine,” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. April 7-8 and 1415 and 2 p.m. April 9 and 16 in the Feichter Studio at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.

So, what happens when your mother passes away in her 90s and you discover a box filled with love letters from scores of men stretching over decades? You write a play.

The idea for the piece came when

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Both are forming soon.

Call to join or inquire about more information.

Donley told Deering about discovering a treasure trove of love letters that Lyn’s mother had received from a multitude of men that spanned over 30 years.

The letters are filled with passion, love, desire and sadness — reminding them both of what life and love was like before email and Facebook.

Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for students. The Harmons’ Den Bistro will be open for dining before the evening performances and for Sunday Brunch.

Patrons do not have to be attending the performance to dine in the Bistro.

To make reservations for the play or for dinner, call the HART box office at 828.456.6322 or go online to www.harttheatre.org.

• The Highlands Performing Arts Center will continue the “Live via Satellite” series with The MET Opera’s production of “Nabucco”

by Verdi at 12:55 p.m. Saturday, April 8.

There will be a pre-opera discussion hosted by Beverly Wichman before each screening at 12:30 p.m. Tickets are available online at www.highlandspac.org, at the door or by calling 828.526.9047.

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Sponsored by the Jackson County Arts Council, the next “Artist Talk” will feature Sylva resident and artist Melba Cooper at 6 p.m. Monday, April 10, in the Community Room of the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva.

The “Path of the Pollen” PowerPoint presentation will feature the process of development of her ongoing series of works in the medium of cold wax/oil. The series, “Pollination” invites you into her abstract intuitive paintings inspired by the honeybee.

“The plight of the bees has prompted me to explore this essential insect’s powerful meaning through current research and traditional symbols. I imagine and long for the hum of a sacred regard for the Earth,” Cooper said.

Cooper will also provide a display of sketches and resource material along with several original paintings. After 35 years of

teaching art, she retired to Sylva. She has continued her development as a painter through the study of cold wax painting with contemporary masters Lisa Pressman and Rebecca Crowell. Both conduct workshops through Cullowhee Mountain Arts which featured Cooper’s work in October 2016.

There is no charge for this event and is family friendly. These events are sponsored monthly by the Jackson County Arts Council as an effort to celebrate the many artists and art forms in Jackson County.

828.507.9820 or www.jacksoncountyarts.org.

Like painting and wine?

Local artist workshop and retreat community center Cullowhee Mountain Arts will host another “Up in the Studio” event in its main office located in downtown Sylva directly above Hollifield Jewelers at 598 Main Street.

For April, local artist Susan Lingg’s “Sip & Paint” class is scheduled from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 7. The $35 registration fee includes all materials, appetizers, and a donation wine and sparkling water bar.

Start with a fresh canvas and a glass of wine or sparkling water. No experience is necessary with Lingg guiding you through to your own impression of the evening’s featured painting, a Smoky Mountain Landscape. Make it a special date for painting and socializing, or just come and bring your own joyful self and join the party.

Register online at www.cullowheemountainarts.org/up-in-the-studio-events or call 828.342.6913 or email norma@cullowheemountainarts.org. Registration closes at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 6.

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The 29th annual “Easter Hat Parade” celebration will be held on at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 15, in downtown Dillsboro.

The day begins with an Easter Egg Hunt at 10:30 a.m. that starts at Dogwood Crafters, followed with hat making also at 10:30 a.m. (also at Dogwood Crafters), all while the Easter Bunny will be in attendance for photos. The parade will be at 2 p.m. at Town Hall.

“The first couple of years the number of participants in the parade were less than 24,” said Event Coordinator Brenda Anders. “But each year the event has grown, until we have had over 200 hat contest entries in past parades.”

The prizes for the hat contest are simple and mostly handmade. The categories include the largest, smallest, most outrageous, best use of fresh flowers, hat that traveled the farthest, youngest, and best dog.

828.506.8331 or www.visitdillsboro.org.

With the celebration of Easter around the corner, below are several events in communities around our region, from church gatherings to Easter egg hunts, brunch to live music.

BRYSON CITY

CULLOWHEE

• The Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department will hold its annual Easter Egg Hunt at noon Saturday, April 8, at the recreation park. For ages 10 and under. Prizes awarded to all children who find “Golden Eggs.” There will be a decorated Easter Egg Contest prior to the hunt. 828.293.3053 or visit rec.jacksonnc.org.

• The Easter Family Festival weekend will be April 14-16 at Fontana Village Resort. A full weekend of fun including scenic lake tours, sunrise church service, history films, corn hole tournament, egg dying, water balloon toss, scavenger hunt, campfire, marshmallow roast, and more, including an Easter feast at the Mountview Restaurant.

800.849.2258 or www.fontanavillage.com.

FRANKLIN • There will be an Easter Egg Hunt for ages 0-10 at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 11, at the Macon County Public Library.

• An Easter Egg Hunt will be on Saturday, April 15, at the Macon County Rec Park. Admission is one canned food item donation, benefitting CareNet. Registration at 11:30 a.m.

• There will be children’s activities held on Saturday, April 15, at The Factory. The Easter Bunny will be onsite for photos from 1 to 2 p.m. Contests, giveaways and more. There will be a $3.99 kids pizza buffet with adult purchase. 828.349.8888 or www.thefactory.bz.

WAYNESVILLE • There will be an Easter Egg Hunt for all ages at 4 p.m. Thursday, April 13, at the Waynesville Public Library. In case of bad weather, the event will be held inside the library. Refreshments, crafts and lots of eggs. 828.356.2511.

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• The Easter Eggstravaganza will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 15, at Darnell Farms. Easter Egg Hunt, egg dying, games and baby bunny rabbit photo booth.

• The Peanuts Easter Beagle Express Train will be at 11 a.m. April 14-15 at the Bryson City Train Depot. Enjoy the characters of Charlie Brown, Snoopy and crew. Easter Egg Hunt, crafts, snacks, and more.

800.872.4681 or www.gsmr.com.

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April 5-11, 2017

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40

Books

Smoky Mountain News

An ancient story well told n Jennifer Frick-Ruppert’s statement of intent at the back of her book, The Legend of Skyco, she states “While this is a story of fiction, I have adhered to the factual information that is available about the Carolinian Algonquins — the names, the cultural customs from historical records and natives of the Southeast, as well as accurate biological detail.”

And this is exactly what she has done in what is an extraordinary coming-of-age Writer story of a young Algonquin boy living along the Chowan River on the western Albemarle Sound near the coast of North Carolina in the area just west of the Outer Banks. Written primarily for older children and young adults, this book should be of interest to adults of all ages and anyone interested in Native American history, as it certainly kept my interest as a book that once I started I couldn’t put down.

Set in the pre-contact era during the 1500s before the arrival of Europeans in this section of the Southeast, Frick-Ruppert tells the story of Skyco, a real historical figure, as he goes through the various initiation stages with all the requisite tests and trials in becoming a man. Hence the book’s subtitle: “Spirit Quest.” We are introduced to Skyco as he saves the life of his village’s chief from an angry bear. We then view the world through his eyes in detailed observations of nature (the author is an environmental scientist teaching at Brevard College) and his apprenticeship with the tribal shaman as he learns the deeper lessons of the natural and spiritual worlds.

We learn about the workings of an ant colony and life as an ant from the ant’s perspective. We learn how to build a fishing weir and how to think like a fish. We are with Skyco on a hunting trip. We accompany Skyco on a raid against a nearby hostile village; experience the power of the black drink; learn how to build a canoe; to tan a deer hide; forage for edible plants; participate in a spirit quest and annual ceremonials and celebrations; see him become a falcon; and finally experience the grueling Husquenaugh ritual of becoming a man.

Thomas Crowe

I

For Ruppert, the devil is in the details and this book is filled with them. In places it reads like an anthropologist’s or biologist’s notebook, only written as inspired fiction. On page 63 we get a detailed description of a bald cypress:

in the wintertime the way a balding man loses his hair in old age. The most important aspect of cypress wood is that it does not decay. A canoe made of cypress wood just might last forever.”

In more ethnological passages we learn of how life was lived in a cultural sense. On page “In the spring the trees bear hundreds of large, 79 we are introduced to some of Skyco’s friends and learn how they came to have their colorful, bell-shaped, open flowers. Each flower is painted with a strip of orange near the base of the names. “Ascopo’s name came from a sweet bay tree, important to carvers because they used its white sweet-smelling wood to create food utensils. His brother, Kaiauk, was named for a gull. How his mother knew he would turn out to be a noisy busy-body was beyond my ken, but his name sure seemed to fit him.”

The examples of rich research and knowledge of the natural world abound as we travel with Skyco, his teachers, and his Native American tribesmen through one adventure after another — to the coast and the high dunes of Ocracoke Island and back again as Skyco gains greater insight and wisdom into the lessons of the interdependence of all things and all systems. “The world was vast, and I was a tiny part of it. The boundaries we people set were arbitrary and barely even recognizable from a distance. If I hadn’t known that the long-leaf savannah with the pocosin swamp was a boundary of no-man’s land between tribes, I would have The Legend of Skyco: Spirit Quest by Jennifer Frick-Ruppert. never known that I was in Amberjack Publishing, 2017. 309 pages.

Mangoak territory. It was just land passing into more land, yellowish petals. Below the orange slip, next to the not a single boundary line in sight. Animals, cone where the stamens of the flower attach, there air, plants and water all passed through these human boundaries. Everything but men. Their lies a sweet band of nectar. Insects often visit the presence and boundaries seemed eerily tempoflowers to lap up the nectar, but as children, we rary.” lick the sweet bands just as happily. We even colAmidst all this detail — which is imporlect the petals and dry them to store for later in tant for young readers — The Legend of the season. Bald cypress is an unusual tree, for Skyco reads like a bedtime story that at times although it has tiny needles, it loses those needles

seems a little like fantasy. In his initiation lessons from the tribal medicine man Roncommock, Skyco literally becomes an ant, a fish and a falcon. We witness “the birth of the sun from the sea.” But in the end it is the story of a young man’s journey into the world of wisdom and simplicity. As his teacher explains to him as Skyco is learning how to fish, it all boils down to a few simple lessons.

Perhaps the greatest of these is to slow down: “‘You are moving too fast and not paying attention,’ Roncommock says to Skyco.

‘Slow down. If you create too much water movement the prey can feel you coming.

Move slowly and watch for the tiniest protrusion of an antenna.’ Slowing down and moving more gently so that I barely advanced upstream, I began to notice the legs and antennae that I hadn’t seen before.”

If nothing else, The Legend of Skyco is an important book for our mainstream urbanindustrial culture that in general has little knowledge of the natural world and essentially no initiation rites, ceremonies, nor celebrations for young men or women coming of age.

Nothing that deliberately defines those transitions from one stage of life to another. But this book is just as entertaining as it is informative.

In essence it’s a great ride in a literary time machine that takes us back to what some might say was “a better time.” When things were just as God or The Great Spirit made them and when we humans were more at home and at one with it all. Lucky are we to be travelers on this great ride with Jennifer FrickRuppert and the historical characters she has brought back to life through her fiction.

And the “ride” doesn’t end with “Spirit Quest,” as this is only the first book of a series on the adventures of Skyco. So, don’t miss this one or the author events that Jennifer Frick-Ruppert will be doing in our area during April and this spring — the first of which will be the official launch at Highlands Books in Brevard on April 28. Or as Skyco’s totem animal might say: “be there or be bear.”

Thomas Crowe is a regular writer for the Smoky Mountain News. He was Director for the Project to Identify and Protect Native American Sacred Sites in the Southern Appalachians (PIPNASS) during the 1980s and 1990s. The project’s archives are now housed in the Special Collections Library at Appalachian State University in Boone. He can be reached at newnativepress@hotmail.com.

Through the lens of life Asheville photographer and writer Sue Wasserman will sign copies of her new book, A Moment’s Notice, at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 8, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.

Comprised of pieces about gratitude, patience, presence, and other meditations inspired by mountain nature, A Moment’s Notice is at once a field guide to the region and a meditation on what it means to exist in the world. Wasserman casts her well-trained eye on Southern Appalachian wildlife and translates what she sees and experiences in nature into thoughtful reflections. Included are the common names of the flora and fauna depicted.

A freelance writer, Wasserman’s work has appeared in The New York Times, Southern Living, American Style, as well as The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and The Asheville Citizen-Times.

828.586.9499.

2017 Spring

WilD

flower Pilgrimage A FIVE-DAY EXPLORATION OF PLANT AND ANIMAL LIFE IN THE SMOKIES April 11-15, 2017

W.L. MILLS CONFERENCE CENTER GATLINBURG, TENNESSEE

Register at lakejunaluska.com/run. Kids Fun Run starts at 10 a.m.

CHILDREN'S EASTER EGG HUNT, 11:30 A.M. Children ages 12 and under are invited to join us for our annual Easter Egg Hunt located near Stuart Auditorium. Free and open to the public.

AT LAKE JUNALUSKA

Sunday, April 16 SUNDAY MORNING SUNRISE SERVICE, 7 A.M. A powerful Sunrise Service at the Amphitheater near the Cross.

EASTER BREAKFAST BUFFET AT LAMBUTH INN, 7:30 - 9:30 A.M. Tickets available at the Lambuth Inn front desk on Easter morning.

EASTER LUNCH BUFFET AT THE TERRACE, 11:30 A.M. - 2:30 P.M. Call 828-454-6662 to make a reservation.

lakejunaluska.com/easter | 828-452-2881 Smoky Mountain News

Choose from 144 guided walks and indoor talks led by 110 professional leaders!

5K ROAD RACE & WALK, 9 A.M.

Easter

April 5-11, 2017

GATLINBURG, TENNESSEE

Saturday, April 15

Learn about wildflowers, birds, bears, medicinal plants, butterflies, ecology, plant identification, nature photography & sketching, natural and cultural history & more in the Smokies.

Email springwildflowerpilgrimage@gmail.com to receive email updates

For more details go to:

springwildflowerpilgrimage.org reclaim your weekend

|

visitnc.com/parks

41

Outdoors

Smoky Mountain News

42

A perfect place Walking Lake Junaluska fuels Hill’s fight against cancer

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER on and Chrissy Hill were all set for their retirement in the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee, having bought a house and moved themselves north from their longtime home in Macon, Georgia. Then they took a quick visit to Haywood County, and things changed pretty quickly.

“We came over here for the weekend, and I said, ‘OK, this is it,” said Chrissy Hill, 57.

It’s now been five years since they sold the house in Tennessee, bought one in Maggie Valley, and began exploring all the mountains had to offer. The couple had always been active, running and biking long distances and — increasingly, after moving to Western North Carolina — conquering area hiking trails. Hill did Mount LeConte twice, and remembers well the 9-mile hike she did to Hemphill Bald. It was the first time she saw an elk.

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Throughout her fight with brain cancer, Chrissy Hill relied on the beauty of Lake Junaluska to keep her spirits high and her muscles strong. Holly Kays photo

Swans, which are just one of many waterfowl species to live on Lake Junaluska, glide across the lake during early spring. Holly Kays photo

“That was pretty amazing,” she said.

Their dream for retirement together was working out perfectly, until the day in February 2016 that Hill was diagnosed with brain cancer. She’d been having symptoms for about six weeks beforehand, many of them dismissible things like turning on the blinkers

instead of the engine when getting in the car.

But she knew she was in trouble when she got out the scissors and just couldn’t figure out how to fit her fingers into the holes.

“All of a sudden, this hit us like a ton of bricks,” she said. “In a day you don’t know how much your life changes.”

Four days later, Hill was starting the first of her 10 rounds of chemotherapy and a new routine began to take shape. She’d be in the hospital six to eight days for chemo, go home for two weeks, and then return for six to eight days more. She felt weak and tired a lot, but she never gave up on being active.

“I’m a regular exerciser, so sitting on my butt in the hospital wasn’t my idea of a good time,” she explained.

The walking path around Lake Junaluska became Hill’s anchor of sanity. Two or three times a week, she was there — maybe walking slowly, or taking numerous breaks, and possibly even wearing a mask to protect her weakened immune system against mold spores floating through the air — but she never let her cancer keep her from getting outside. And Ron never stopped supporting her determination to stay active.

“I’d walk, I’d get tired, and Ron — poor Ron — he had the patience,” Hill said. “He didn’t want me out here by myself. My balance was off, so he’d have to walk with me.

I’m so glad I kept doing it.”

Hill became something of an expert on the lake and its inhabitants — human and other — during her regular walks around its perimeter. She’d see the same people show up time after time, and some of them became her friends. She’d be encouraged by the fact that it wasn’t only healthy people who took advantage of the walking path. She met a couple other people who were in chemo too, some men in wheelchairs and a guy who had had a stroke.

Then there were the birds. She now knows which species make their homes on the lake, and where along the path she’s most likely to spot them. She’s heard a rumor that one of the swans has a nest with eggs already laid, and she can’t wait to see the soon-to-come cygnets start gliding across the lake.

Hill had to be away from the lake for a while, though, during a two-and-a-half-month stay in Durham for a stem cell transplant at Duke University. She rented a furnished apartment, with her husband staying with her during the week and various family members coming in for weekends. The clinic and the apartment — which was professionally cleaned regularly to get rid of germs — were the only two places she was allowed to be.

“It was awful,” she said. “It was like being in prison.”

She’d get up every morning and walk around the apartment complex, which had two pools that doctors wouldn’t allow her to swim in, but it wasn’t the same as her strolls around Lake Junaluska.

Hill finished her last chemo treatment in October and spent the next couple months working to get her strength back. She’s in

Get your run on Spring is in the air, and it’s time to get out the running shoes and start moving. April 5Ks planned across the region will provide a chance to do just that. n The Med Dash 5K will be held Saturday, April 8, at Smoky Mountain High School in Sylva to raise money for students participating in the school’s HOSA chapter of future health professionals, allowing them to participate in state and regional competitions. The course will begin and end at the school’s track on Fairview Road and include pavement, gravel and grass. $20.

Register at www.imathlete.com. n The Friends of the Lake 5K will give an excuse to jog through springtime at Lake Junaluska when it steps off at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 15, at Lake Junaluska’s Weldon Gymnasium. All profits will go to Friends of the Lake, which helps maintain the grounds and recreational facilities at an annual cost of more than $250,000. $30, or $15 for youth 18 and under. www.lakejunaluska.com/events/worship/easter/ru n. n The Pisgah Pavement Pounder 5K will start at Pisgah High School at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 22, offering a mostly level course and the chance to help underprivileged students.

Proceeds will provide food, clothing and other necessities to students whose needs are identified by the school social worker. $20 through April 15. Register at www.imathlete.com. n The Greening Up the Mountains 5K will once more take over Mark Watson Park in Sylva at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 22, with more than 100 people likely to jumpstart the day with a jog along the relatively flat course. Proceeds benefit the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department. $15. Register at www.greeningupthemountains.com/5k_run. n The New Vision Gymnastics Flippin’ 5K will run along the Little Tennessee River Greenway at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 29, in Franklin.

Proceeds will benefit the New Vision Gymnastics Competitive Team. $25, and $15 for the Lil’ Flippers Fun Run to start at 8:30 a.m. Register at www.active.com.

remission but has to travel to Duke once every three months for a brain MRI, to check whether the cancer is returning.

As Easter approaches, Hill is preparing to run in the Friends of the Lake 5K that will traverse the lake’s trails on Saturday, April 15.

Proceeds from the event go into Friends of the Lake’s work to maintain the grounds, a painstaking effort that costs more than $250,000 each year.

Hill won’t be running alone. Ron, who can more often be found finishing marathons than starting 5Ks, will be going with her. Her friend Melanie will be joining in, too, and Hill’s working to convince a couple she’s become fast friends with during her regular lakeside walks to participate as well.

“Lake Junaluska is such a great resource to our community,” she said, “and we all need to do our part to keep this place perfect.”

Donated photo

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A volunteer helps clean up around Lake Junaluska.

Help beautify Lake Junaluska Trash will be picked up, planting beds will be prepared and windows will be washed during Lake Junaluska Beautification Day 8 a.m. to noon Thursday, April 6.

Projects will center on the most heavily trafficked areas of the property, such as the walking trail and North Lakeshore Drive.

The tasks will be diverse, and all will be out-

doors. The Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center is working in partnership with the Junaluskans — a service group at the lake — to organize the event. Food, supplies and tools will be provided.

Sign up with Rachel Watkins, rwatkins@lakejunaluska.com or 828.454.6702, or online at www.lakejunaluska.com/volunteer.

OPEN THROUGH APRIL 28

Help plant trees in Clyde

Shoot for soccer camp Summer may still be a ways away, but it’s not too early to plan for soccer camp. Both Haywood and Jackson County recreation departments are offering multiple options for anyone looking to spend some time on the field. n AYSO Soccer Camp will be held June 2630 for ages 4-18 at Vance Street Park in Waynesville. A variety of programs will be offered, each geared to a different age group, and costs will range from $149 to $205.

haywood.edu/registration 828.627.4500

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Registration is open for Church League Softball in Jackson County, with sign-up available through April 16.

Games will start the first week in May and be played Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Complex in Cullowhee. The league is limited to 10 teams.

Contact Molly Neary, 828.293.3053 or register online at rec.jacksonnc.org.

Register at 888.857.6222 or www.aysosoccercamps.org. n Challenger Sports’ British Soccer Camp will return to Waynesville July 24-28, available for players ages 3-14. British Soccer Camp is based on the most innovative approaches to coaching soccer in the U.S. and Canada. Prices range from $85 to $192.

A free jersey is included through June 9.

Daniel Hummel, 828.456.2030 or dhummel@waynesvillenc.gov. n British Soccer Camp will be offered for kids ages 3 to 16 July 24-28 at the Jackson County Recreation Park in Cullowhee.

Multiple registration options are available, ranging from $45 to $143. www.challengersports.com. n The Challenger Sports Female Development Soccer Camp will be offered July 24-28 at the Waynesville Recreation Center. A half-day camp for girls 6-14 and a full-day camp for girls 8-14 will be offered, costing $158 and $202, respectively. Led by an all-female staff, the camp will seek to maximize the development of female players and to encourage their growth into confident, competitive, driven and determined athletes.

Register at www.challengersports.com.

ENROLL TODAY!

April 5-11, 2017

Tree-lovers are invited to help plant trees at River’s Edge Park in Clyde beginning at 1 p.m.

Friday, April 7.

Part of a larger park improvement project, the planting will help stem the extensive erosion issues present now. In addition to protecting and stabilizing riverbanks, the trees will reduce the power of floodwaters, filter pollutants washing off the land and keep the park’s soil in place.

Volunteers should bring gloves, boots, sunscreen and bug spray. The park is located on Thickety Road close to downtown Clyde. Haywood Waterways Association, which is organizing the event, will provide light refreshments.

Eric Romaniszyn, info@haywoodwaterways.org or 828.476.4667.

Softball sign-ups open in Jackson

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Specially designed ski-walking poles increase upper body exertion. Donated photo

Learn how to ski walk

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As many as 20 people have been gathering at Monteith Park in Dillsboro the past few weeks as part of a new group dedicated to learning ski walking — and even more are welcome to join the crew that will meet there 5:30 to 7 p.m. Mondays through May 22.

Ski walking, a training tool used by competitive cross-country skiers to maintain strength in the off-season, is a walking technique that uses a specially designed pole, allowing for active use of the upper body through use of a Nordic ski strap. Ski walking results in increased circulation, strength and heart rate without a perceived increase in exertion. The metabolic rate while ski walking is 20 percent higher than while walking with 30 percent less stress on weight-bearing joints.

Poles provided. Organized by Jackson County Cooperative Extension. Register by calling 828.586.4009.

Get a jump on healthy living A healthy living festival will be held 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 8, at the Cullowhee Recreation Center.

Health screenings, free samples, giveaways and information about opportunities for healthy living within the community will make the day special. Free. 828.293.3053.

Smoky Mountain News

Senior Games coming to Jackson

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The Smoky Mountain Senior Games are coming to Jackson County, and registration closes on April 7.

Events, open to anyone 50 or over, will be held April 24 through May 22. Seniors can compete in a variety of events, including basketball shooting, football throwing, softball throwing, horseshoes, shuffleboard, bocce, cornhole, track and field, bowling, golf, tennis, table tennis, pickleball and croquet. Silver Arts events in heritage, visual, literary and performing arts categories are also available. $15 entry fee covers as many events as an individual may wish to participate in, with additional fees for golf and bowling.

Register with the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department, www.rec.jacksonnc.org.

Museum receives historic donation ments with values between $1,200 and $2,500 — the donation has a total value of roughly $50,000. The items will be used in museum exhibits, with about 20 rods offered for private sale. Those that aren’t sold will be used as reserves in the museum’s rod raffles to raise money for a future aquarium.

The museum is located at 210 Main Street in Bryson City. Admission is free and it’s open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, as well as 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturdays.

Museum Director Alan Baker (center) stands with Bob and Barbara Bagerski and the donation they brought the museum. Donated

Blooming wildflowers, sparkling cascades and clear pools along Big Creek in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will make a 10-mile hike slated for Tuesday, April 11, an unforgettable one.

The route, to include Mouse Creek Falls and Midnight Hole, will be led by Asheville horticulturist and hiker Dolly McLean, and hikers will learn more about how the park is treating ash trees along the trail to protect them from the invasive emerald ash borer.

Big Creek. Donated photo

photo

Organized by Friends of the Smokies, the hike is part of the nonprofit’s Classic Hikes series that showcases the park’s most iconic trails — and Friends of the Smokies’ role in preserving them. Hikes are held the second Tuesday of each month. $20 for members and

Kids to cast a line

All-female fly fishing weekend coming to Mills River

Spring Hike Week will return to Fontana Village Resort April 17-21, with a full slate of events and lectures for guests wanting to explore the mountains and the plants that grow in them.

Guided hikes and lectures will cover the Nantahala National Forest, Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A scenic lake cruise and tour of Fontana Lake will be offered as well.

Back at the resort, guest speakers will discuss a range of topics — wildcrafter Ila Hatter will speak on weather signs and portents, Dale Little of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will discuss forest management and Jessica Wehr of Wehrloom Honey will talk about beekeeping. Live music and an evening bonfire also held.

Free. A full itinerary is available at www.fontanavillage.com/calendar-ofevents.html.

Jim Mills.

Donated photo

Rod wizard will appear at TU meeting The man known as the rod wizard of Raven Fork will discuss the intricacies of fly rod building at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 11, at Rendezvous Restaurant in Maggie Valley.

Jim Mills, who lives in the Whittier area, is an avid fisherman and a longtime builder of custom-made bamboo fly rods designed to deliver a satisfying fishing experience.

The program is offered in conjunction with the Trout Unlimited Cataloochee Chapter’s regular monthly meeting. Participants are invited to come early and eat dinner.

Free. tucataloochee427@gmail.com.

Smoky Mountain News

A women-only fly fishing weekend will be offered April 21-23 at the North Mills River Recreation Area and Campground in Henderson County.

Open to anglers of all skill levels, the three-day program will be broken down into five skill-building sessions, with participants rotating through each one. Sessions include stream ecology, equipment, knot tying, fly casting and lure presentation.

Experienced instructors will demonstrate basic casting technique and offer one-onone instruction.

Participants will stay at the campground, with some group tents available. $125 covers instruction, equipment, camping and lunch on Saturday. Offered by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission as part of the Becoming an Outdoors Woman program. Space is limited. Register with B.B. Gillen at bb.gillen@ncwildlife.org or 919.218.3638.

Hike the week away

April 5-11, 2017

Kids will learn the basics of fishing during a two-day camp running 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

April 12-13 at the Ralph J. Andrews Campground and Cashiers Recreation Center.

Camp will teach casting, bait and lure selection, retrieving techniques, how to tie hooks and more. Curriculum is geared toward kids with little to no experience. Parents can drop off at either the Cullowhee or the Cashiers recreation center, with transportation from Cullowhee to Cashiers provided. $40, with space limited. Register at rec.jacksonnc.org.

$35 for nonmembers, with one-year membership included. Proceeds benefit the Trails Forever Program, which supports trail rehabilitation in the park.

Register at www.hike.friendsofthesmokies.org.

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The Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians received the largest single donation it’s ever seen when Georgia resident Bob Bagerski gifted the museum with 50 handcrafted bamboo fly rods, 50 reels, six split willow creels, five wooden rod cases, four nets and three rod caddies.

“Needless to say the museum is in complete awe and is very excited to receive this donation,” said museum volunteer Bob Nanney.

Several of the rods are high-end instru-

Walk with wildflowers and rushing waters

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Photograph the flowers

Spring beauty. Diane Jettinghoff photo

A field trip to botanist Dan Pittillo’s fabulous array of wildflowers and an accompanying lesson in wildflower photography will be offered 2-4 p.m.

Saturday, April 8, through the Sylva Photo Club.

Pittillo, a retired biology professor from Western Carolina University, taught biology, dendrology, botany and natural history for more than 40 years. His fall color predictions were closely followed for 25 years.

Reservations required with Tony Wu, 828.226.3840. Annual photo club membership is $20 or $10 for students. www.sylvaphotoclub.wordpress.com.

Become a wildflower expert

April 5-11, 2017

The forest floor comes alive in the springtime, and local plant expert Adam Bigelow will discuss the flowering faces that make up that tapestry at 7 p.m.

Thursday, April 6, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva.

Bigelow will discuss basic techniques for identifying flowers as well as the stories of the plants themselves — the origins of Adam Bigelow. their names, their benefits, Donated photo their uses and their relationship to each other, the forest and humans. Vivid wildflower photos will also be on hand.

Free. Co-sponsored by Friends of the Jackson County Public Library. 828.586.2016.

Smoky Mountain News

Look back on the 2016 wildfires The historic 2016 wildfire season will be discussed during a U.S. Forest Service program at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 6, at Tartan Hall of the First Presbyterian Church in Franklin.

The presentation — to focus on the Nantahala Ranger District — will cover organization of suppression resources, cooperative efforts, suppression repair activities and future Forest Service restoration activities. A question-and-answer session will follow.

828.524.6441.

Birding walks take flight in Franklin The 3rd Gateway to the Smokies Half Marathon follows nearly the exact same course as previous years, begining on Main Street in beautiful downtown Waynesville and winding through neighborhoods & scenic farmlands to finish in Frog Level, a revitalized railroad district listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

New this year is the 4-Miler, which starts and finishes at the same place as the Half Marathon.

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The 2016 wildfires left trees at Wayah Bald in Macon County black from crown to root. Most areas inside the fires’ perimeters burned much less intensely, however. Holly Kays photo

Spring has arrived, and weekly birding walks have begun for the Franklin Bird Club.

Walks are held at various locations along the Little Tennessee River Greenway in Franklin, beginning at 8 a.m. on Wednesdays, with the next one slated for April 12 and starting from Big Bear Shelter.

For more detailed information on weekly meeting locations, visit www.franklinbirdclub.com or call 828.524.5234.

Outdoor farmers market returns to Sylva The Jackson County Farmers Market has moved outside for the season, operating 9 a.m. to noon each Saturday at Bridge Park on Railroad Avenue in Sylva.

Everything found at the market is locally grown, raised or made — items range from goat cheese to strawberries to plant starts to artisan crafts, with plenty more besides. www.jacksoncountyfarmersmarket.org.

Catch a glimpse of old-time farming Percheron draft horses will demonstrate the old way of working the land during “Old Time Plowing and Folkways,” 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 8, at the Cradle of Forestry in America.

David and Diane Burnette, of Haywood

County, will lead the demonstration and — weather permitting — plow the Cradle’s vegetable garden along the Biltmore Campus Trail in the process. Simultaneously, the Cradle’s living history volunteers will be on hand to demonstrate crafts such as woodworking, candlemaking and blacksmithing among the site’s historic buildings.

The event is the season’s first in a robust schedule of special programs planned throughout the year. Admission is $5 for adults and free for youth under 16, with America the Beautiful, Golden Age and Every Kid in a Park passes honored. In addition to trails and interpretive events, the site also includes a visitor center with hands-on exhibits and an Adventure Zone designed to reach children with autism and engage young families.

The Cradle of Forestry is located off of U.S. 276 in the Pisgah National Forest, about 35 miles south of Waynesville. A full schedule of events is online at www.cradleofforestry.com/events.

WNC Calendar COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS • Haywood Habitat for Humanity will hold information sessions for applicants at at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 30, at the Canton Library, and at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 18, at Long’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Waynesville. 452.7960.

• A TED talk discussion on “Your elusive creative genius” will be offered on Wednesday, April 5, at the Waynesville Library. 15-20 minute talk followed by discussion. Registration required: 356.2507 or kolsen@haywoodnc.net.

• An Easter Buffet will be offered from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on April 16 at Lake Junaluska. on • Input is being sought for the Canton Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan from 6-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18, at the Colonial Theater in Canton.

• The Haywood County Public Library Foundation’s inaugural presidential volunteer service awards ceremony is at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19, at the Colonial Theatre in Franklin. 356.2504.

• Applications are being accepted for the Haywood County Farm Bureau Scholarship. Students must be graduating seniors, currently enrolled in a Haywood County school or enrolled in a two- or four-year school and a resident of Haywood County. 2.5 GPA or better.

452.1425 or Karen_greene@ncfbssc.com.

• The Jackson County Department of Public Health is seeking input from residents who have used its services or who have thoughts on the health needs of Jackson County. http://health.jacksonnc.org/surveys.

• Information sessions for Evergreen Foundation grants will be offered at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 12, at Graham County Library in Robbinsville; 1:30 p.m. on April 12 at Marianna Black Library in Bryson City; 10 a.m. on April 19 at Macon County Public Library in Franklin; 12:30 p.m. on April 19 at Jackson County Public Library in Sylva; and at 2 p.m. on April 19 at the Haywood County Public Library in Waynesville. Proposals are due at 5 p.m. on May 31. Register for info session: dcoleman@evergreennc.org or 421.7483. www.evergreenfoundationnc.org.

BUSINESS & EDUCATION • Summer and fall registration for Haywood Community College is underway through April 28. 627.4500 or haywood.edu.

• Western Carolina University will hold multiple information sessions for parents interested in enrolling their children in the Catamount School, a new laboratory school being established for grades six through eight at Smoky Mountain High School. Sessions are at 4:30 p.m. on April 6 at Scotts Creek School; at 6:15 p.m. on April 25 at the Jackson County Public Library and at 5:30 p.m. on May 4 at Cullowhee Valley School. 227.7311.

• A “Customer Service for Small Business” seminar will be offered by Haywood Community College’s Small Business Center from 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, April 6, at the HCC Regional High Technology in Clyde. Register or get info: SBC.Haywood.edu or 627.4512.

• WordPress, Part 2, will be offered at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 11, at Macon County Public Library in Franklin. Register: 524.3600.

• The Macon County Economic Development Commission will present Bizweek from April 17-21.

Events include Southwestern Community College’s Social Media Summit at 8 a.m. on Monday, April 17, in Franklin; and two networking events on Tuesday, April 18: the Women’s Business Networking Luncheon at 11 a.m. at Entegra Bank’s Corporate Center in Franklin;

All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted. and the CEC Entrepreneur Networking Night VII at 5:30 p.m. at Ugly Dog Pub in Highlands. Banquet is at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 20, at the Bloemsma Barn.

Registration required: www.maconedc.com.

FUNDRAISERS AND BENEFITS • Ol’ Dirty Bathtub (bluegrass) and the Liberty Baptist Church Choir will perform at the Canary Coalition’s fundraising event from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 5, at the Mad Batter Food and Film in Sylva. Silent auction. Canary Coalition is a nonprofit grassroots organization focused on air quality, climate change and environmental justice issues. www.canarycoalition.org, 631.3447 or info@canarycoalition.org.

• The New Library Campaign Committee is hosting a fundraiser from 5-7 p.m. on Monday, April 17, at The Fryemont Inn in Bryson City. Wine tasting with heavy hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction. Tickets: $20; on sale at Marianna Black Library and at Friends of the Library Used Book Store in Bryson City. Deadline for buying tickets is Friday, April 7.

VOLUNTEERS & VENDORS • A training session for volunteers interested in assisting visitors at and near the Oconaluftee Visitor Center of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be held from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Friday, April 7, at the Oconaluftee Multi-Purpose Room near Cherokee.

Register: 497.1914 or Kathleen_stuart@nps.gov.

• Greening up the Mountains Festival is seeking artists, mountain crafters, environmental and food vendors to apply for a booth in its 20th festival, which is from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on April 22. Applications available at www.greeningupthemountains.com, or call 631.4587.

HEALTH MATTERS • The Good Samaritan clinic of Haywood County seeks volunteers to help uninsured patients receive medications, vision care and other health and spiritual-related services in Waynesville. Clinic is open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Monday through Thursday and from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. on Friday. 454.5287 or crocco@gcshaywood.org.

• The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on April 5 at Haywood Regional Medical Center Health & Fitness Center in Clyde.

Redcrossblood.org or 800.RED.CROSS (800.733.2767).

• The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on April 6 at Lowe’s in Sylva.

Redcrossblood.org or 800.RED.CROSS (800.733.2767).

• The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 1-5:30 p.m. on April 7 at Jackson County Department on Aging in Sylva. Redcrossblood.org or 800.RED.CROSS (800.733.2767).

• The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on April 10 at Swain Community Hospital in Bryson City. Redcrossblood.org or 800.RED.CROSS (800.733.2767).

• Gerald King, M.D., of Western Carolina Orthopaedic Specialists will present a “Talk with a Doc” dinner seminar on “From Pain to Performance: Hip & Knee Replacement” at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 11, in the Haywood Regional Medical Center Café in Clyde.

Healthy meal will be served. RSVP required: 800.424.3627.

• Affordable Health Screenings for serious, chronic con-

Smoky Mountain News

ditions will be offered on April 11 at 4192 Soco Road in Maggie Valley. Check for plaque buildup in your arteries, cholesterol levels, diabetes risk and more.

Preregistration required: 877.237.1287 or www.lifelinescreening.com.

• A blood drive will be held by the American Red Cross from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on Monday, April 10, at Swain Community Hospital. Appointments: 800.RED.CROSS (800.733.2767). Info: www.redcrossblood.org.

• “Ready … Set … Baby” prenatal breastfeeding class will be offered at 6 p.m. on Monday, April 17, at the Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency.

Pregnant mothers-to-be and support persons welcome.

Registration required: 356.2207 or 452.2211.

• The eighth annual Health Living Festival is from 9 a.m.-noon on Saturday, April 18, at the Cullowhee Recreation Center. Health screenings and 25 exhibitors encourage participants to live well. 587.8292.

RECREATION AND FITNESS • Registration deadline is April 16 for the church league softball through the Jackson County Parks & Recreation Department. League starts the first week of May. Info: 293.3053. Register: rec.jacksonnc.org.

• Registration for a spring golf league till April 11 through the Jackson County Recreation Department. $10 fee to enter and $20 per week to golf course. League is at 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Smoky Mountain Country Club.

Register at www.rec.jacksonnc.org.

• An opportunity to learn ski walking is offered from 5:30-7 p.m. on Mondays through May 22 at Monteith Park in Dillsboro. A training tool used by competitive cross-country skiers to maintain strength in the offseason. 356.4009.

SPIRITUAL • Easter sunrise service is at 7 a.m. on April 16 at the Junaluska Cross and Lake Junaluska.

• An Easter Sunrise Service is at 6:30 a.m. on April 16 at the Maggie Valley Pavilion. Refreshments to follow.

Sponsored by the Maggie Valley Civic Association.

POLITICAL • Indivisible Swain County NC meets at 6 p.m. on April 5 at the Historic Calhoun Hotel in Bryson City. Topics: environmental and healthcare issues. 488.1118.

• The Jackson County Democratic Party will hold its annual convention from 10 a.m.-noon on Saturday, April 8, at the community room of the Jakson County Public Library in Sylva. Delegates will be elected to district and state conventions as well as to state- and districtlevel positions.

• A lunch-and-discussion group will be held by the League of Women Voters at noon on the second Thursday of each month at Tartan Hall of the First Presbyterian Church in Franklin. RSVP for lunch: lwvmacon@wild-dog-mountain.info or 524.8369.

AUTHORS AND BOOKS • As part of the Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poet Series, the Marianna Black Library will host Swain High School student Jade Shuler and Pat Riviere-Seel, the Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poet for the Western Region of North Carolina, at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 5, in Bryson City. 488.3030.

• The Theme Team Book Club will meet from 2-4 p.m. on Friday, April 7, at the Waynesville Library. Topic is: A fresh start: Books about starting over. Registration required: 356.2507 or kolsen@haywoodnc.net.

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Visit www.smokymountainnews.com and click on Calendar for: ■ Complete listings of local music scene ■ Regional festivals ■ Art gallery events and openings ■ Complete listings of recreational offerings at regional health and fitness centers ■ Civic and social club gatherings • Asheville photographer and writer Sue Wasserman will sign copies of her new book, A Moment’s Notice, at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 8, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. 586.9499.

SENIOR ACTIVITIES • Registration is underway through April 7 for the Haywood County Senior Games. Register online at torch.ncseniorgames.org or from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays at Haywood County Recreation & Parks in Waynesville. Games start on April 17.

• Registration is underway through April 7 for the Smoky Mountain Senior Games in Jackson County.

Games are open to ages 50 and older from April 24-May 22. $15 entry fee. www.rec.jacksonnc.org.

• Registration is underway through April 15 for the Macon County Senior Games. $20. Info: 706.782.7614 or 349.2090.

• Harris Palliative Care will provide free living with assistance from 9 a.m.-noon on Wednesday, April 19, in Harris Regional Hospital’s private dining room. Bring photo identification. 586.7145.

EASTER EVENTS • The “Howl In at Full Moon Farm” is scheduled for 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, April 8. Theme is “Easter Egg Hunt.”

Opportunity to meet wolfdogs. Stay for potluck at 5 p.m. ($5 donation). For info and directions: 664.9818, info@fullmoonfarm.org or fullmoonfarm.org.

• An Easter Egg Hunt is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 8, at the Recreation Park in Cullowhee for ages 10 and under. Rain date is 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 9.

• The Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department will hold their annual Easter Egg Hunt at noon Saturday, April 8. Held at the recreation park for ages 10 and under. Prizes awarded to all children who find “Golden Eggs.” There will be a decorated Easter Egg Contest prior to the hunt. 828.293.3053 or go to rec.jacksonnc.org.

• An Easter Egg Hunt will be offered at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 11, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. For ages 0-10. 524.3600.

• There will be an Easter Egg Hunt for all ages at 4 p.m. Thursday, April 13, at the Waynesville Public Library. In case of bad weather, the event will be held inside the library. Refreshments, crafts and lots of eggs. 828.356.2511.

• The Peanuts Easter Beagle Express Train will be at 11 a.m. April 14-15 at the Bryson City Train Depot. Enjoy the characters of Charlie Brown, Snoopy and crew.

Easter Egg Hunt, crafts, snacks, and more.

800.872.4681 or www.gsmr.com.

• The Easter Family Festival weekend will be April 1416 at Fontana Village Resort. A full weekend of fun including scenic lake tours, sunrise church service, history films, corn hole tournament, egg dying, water bal-

wnc calendar

loon toss, scavenger hunt, campfire, marshmallow roast, and more, including an Easter feast at the Mountview Restaurant. 800.849.2258 or www.fontanavillage.com.

• An Easter Egg Hunt is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on April 15 at the Macon County Rec Park on April 15. For ages 12 and under. Afterward, the Factory offers visits with the Easter Bunny from 1-2 p.m.; a $3.99 kids pizza buffet with adult purchase, Easter Egg scavenger hunt, contests, giveaways and more.

FranklinFun.com or 349.8888.

• There will be children’s activities held on Saturday, April 15, at The Factory. The Easter Bunny will be onsite for photos from 1 to 2 p.m. Contests, giveaways and more. There will be a $3.99 kids pizza buffet with adult purchase. 828.349.8888 or www.thefactory.bz.

• Dillsboro’s Easter Hat Parade will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 15. Hat table, activities, photos with Easter Bunny and a parade at 2 p.m. 506.8331 or visitdillsboro.com.

• The Easter Eggstravaganza will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 15 at Darnell Farms.

Easter Egg Hunt, egg dying, games and baby bunny rabbit photo booth.

• The annual Eastern Egg Hunt is from 11:30 a.m.noon on April 15 at Lake Junaluska near Stuart Auditorium, Memorial Chapel and the Labyrinth. For ages 12 and under.

• The Town of Canton Easter Egg Hunt is at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 15, at Canton Recreation Park.

Hunts are for ages 12 and under. Sponsored by Canton Police Department.

• An Easter Buffet will be offered from 11:30 a.m.2:30 p.m. on April 16 at Lake Junaluska.

• A Spring Thing will be held by KARE (Kids Advocacy Resource Effort from 3-5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18, at 1159 N. Main St. in Waynesville. Rain date is May 2.

Inflatable obstacles, games and a cookout.

April 5-11, 2017

KIDS & FAMILIES • Open enrollment is underway for the 2017-18 school year for Haywood Christian Academy. www.HaywoodChristianAcademy.org. Info: 627.0229.

• Nature Nuts: Amphibians will be presented to ages 4-7 from 9-11 a.m. on April 7 and 17 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. Registration required: http://tinyurl.com/jq4r6x3. Info: 877.4423.

• Eco-Explorers: Birding by Ear will be offered to ages 8-13 from 1-3 p.m. on April 7 and 17 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. Registration required: http://tinyurl.com/jq4r6x3. Info: 877.4423.

Smoky Mountain News

• Birdhouse Basics will be offered to ages 7-up from 2-3:30 p.m. on April 8 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. Registration required: http://tinyurl.com/jq4r6x3. Info: 877.4423.

• A Kids Fishing Camp is offered from 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. on April 12-13 at the Cashiers Rec Center.

Transportation provided from Cullowhee Rec Center.

Learn basics of fishing. Preregistration required.

293.3053 or http://rec.jacksonnc.org.

• Summit Charter School’s environmental education program will be on display at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 14, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.

524.3600.

• Kindergarten registration is at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19, at Iotla Valley Elementary School.

• Kids’ Introduction to Fly Fishing will be offered to ages 8-15 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on April 18 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard.

Registration required: http://tinyurl.com/jq4r6x3. Info: 877.4423.

• A program on Tracking will be offered to ages 8-15 from 1-3 p.m. on April 19 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. Registration required: 48 http://tinyurl.com/jq4r6x3. Info: 877.4423.

• Registration has begun for Youth Spring Soccer through the Jackson County Parks & Recreation Department. Open to players born between 2003-12.

Birth certificates required for first-time players. $55. www.rec.jacksonnc.org.

• Registration is underway for this summer’s Adventure Day Camp at Lake Logan. One-week camps start on June 19. For grades 1-5. $225 weekly fee.

Snacks, crafts, activities, guest speakers and adventure. Susan@lakelogan.org or 646.0095.

ONGOING KIDS ACTIVITIES AND CLUBS • A Tuesday Library Club for ages 5-12 meets at 4 p.m. each Tuesday (except for the fifth Tuesday on months that occurs) at the Canton Library. Hands-on activities like exercise, cooking, LEGOs, science experiments and crafts. 648.2924 or kpunch@haywoodnc.net.

• Culture Club on the second Wednesday of the month, 1 to 2 p.m. for K-6 graders. Guest speakers, books, photos, crafts and food from different countries and cultures. Macon County Public Library. 524.3600.

KIDS MOVIES • “Beauty and the Beast is being shown at The Strand on Main on April 5-6 at 7 p.m. in Waynesville. Check website www.38main.com for ticket prices.

•”Smufs: The Lost Village is playing on April 7 at 7 p.m. and April 8 at 12 p.m., 1:55 p.m. and 3:50 p.m., April 9 at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., and 7 p.m., and April 10-13 at 7 p.m. at The Strand on Main in Waynesville.

See website at www.38main.com for ticket prices.

• A children’s movie about what’s really going on with your pets at home when you’re not there will be shown at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 11, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. 524.3600.

• “Art Beats for Kids” will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. on Thursdays at the Charles Heath Gallery in Bryson City.

A new project every week. $20 per child, with includes lesson, materials and snack. To register, call 828.538.2054.

A&E

• Stories, songs and a craft are offered for ages zerosix (and caregivers) at 10:30 a.m. each Tuesday at the Canton Library. 648.2924.

• A program called “Imagine”, an art program for children 8-12 meets at 2 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Jackson County Public Library. Program contains art, writing, and drama. 586.2016.

• Rompin’ Stompin’, an hourlong storytime with music, movement and books, is held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursdays at the Canton Library and at 11 a.m. on Thursdays at the Waynesville Library. For ages zero to six. 648.2924.

• Rompin’ Stompin’, an hourlong storytime with music, movement and books, is held at 11 a.m. on Fridays at the Canton Library. For ages zero to six.

648.2924.

• Crafternoons are at 2:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month at Hudson Library in Highlands.

• Library Olympics will be held at 2 p.m. on Fridays at Jackson County Public Library. Children age 5 and up get active through relay races, bingo, mini golf.

586.2016.

• Family Story Time is held on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. at the Canton Public Library. Ages 0-6. Stories, songs, dance and crafting. 648.2924.

• Storytimes are held at 10 and 10:40 a.m. every Thursday at Hudson Library in Highlands.

• Fun Friday, everything science, is held at 4 p.m. on Fridays at Jackson County Public Library. 586.2016.

• Rock and Read is at 11 a.m. on Tuesdays at Jackson County Public Library. 586-2016.

• WNC Martial Arts will hold karate classes from 67:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at the Old Armory in Waynesville. For more info, contact Margaret Williams at 301.0649 or mvwilliams39@gmail.com.

• Book Buddies for ages 0-3 is from 9:30-10:15 a.m. on Tuesday at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville.

• Page Pals for ages 3-5 is from 10:30-11:15 a.m. on Tuesday at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville.

• Macon County 4-H Needlers club, a group of youth learning the art and expression of knitting and crochet crafts, meets on the second Tuesday of each month.

For information, call 349.2046.

• A Lego Club meet the second Wednesday of the month at 5 p.m. at Cashiers Community Library.

743.0215.

• Crazy 8 Math Adventure Club on Tuesdays 3:30 p.m.

- 4:15 p.m. for grades K-2 at the Macon County Public Library. 524.3600.

FESTIVALS AND SPECIAL EVENTS • Author and former U.S. poet laureate Billy Collins will be featured at the 15th annual Spring Literary Festival, which is scheduled through April 6 at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. A number of other writers including Stephen Clingman, Paul Worley and more will also be featured. Litfestival.org or 227.7264.

• Sign-ups are underway for the 18th annual Taste of Chocolate, which is April 15 at the Maggie Valley Country Club. Categories are amateur, bed and breakfast, professional and baker’s choice. 356.2833 or jchicoine@mountainprojects.org.

• Spring Garden Fair is April 7-8 at the Cherokee Indian Fairgrounds in Cherokee. Vendors, demonstrations, classes, educational materials, door prizes and more. Open noon-6 p.m. on Friday and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday. legendweaversstudios@gmail.com or 736.3798.

• A Health Living Festival is scheduled for 9 a.m.noon on Saturday, April 8, at the Cullowhee Recreation Center. Health screenings, samples, community opportunities for healthy living, giveaways.

• Greening Up the Mountains Festival is from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on April 22 on the streets of downtown Sylva. Food, children’s activities and multiple regional music acts. www.greeningupthemountains.com; 631.4587 or greeningupthemountains@gmail.com.

FOOD & DRINK • Lees at the Depot (Dillsboro) will be hosting a “Tap Takeover” by Terrapin Brewing (of Athens, Georgia) from noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, April 15. Food and beer pairings, discounts and “swag” from Terrapin.

828.339.1700 or www.leeswine.com.

• As part of Beer Month in Jackson County, the following establishments are offering specials in April: Sneak E. Squirrel is re-releasing some of its most-popular experimental beers; Innovation Brewing is releasing a sour beer and hosting a chocolate and beer pairing; Baxley’s Chocolates is offering a chocolate box to pair with specific beers; Heinzelmännchen Brewery is hosting its 13th anniversary party on April 22.

ON STAGE & IN CONCERT • The Canton Armory will host “Winter Pickin’ in the Armory” at 7 p.m. every first and third Friday of the month. The event includes mountain music, vintage

country, clogging and dancing. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Free. www.cantonnc.com.

• The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host Joe Cruz (piano/pop) April 8, and James Hammel (singersongwriter) April 7. All events begin at 7 p.m.

828.452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com.

• The rock musical “Hair” will be presented from Wednesday through Sunday, April 5-9, at Western Carolina University’s John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center in Cullowhee. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday through Friday, at 8 p.m. on Saturday and at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets: $16 for WCU faculty and staff and seniors; $22 for adults, $10 for students on show day and $7 in advance. Tickets available at bardoartscenter.wcu.edu or by calling 227.2479.

• The 2016-17 First Thursday Old-Time and Bluegrass Concert and Jam Series at Western Carolina University will continue with singer-songwriter Lee Knight on Thursday, April 6 at 7 p.m. in the ground-floor auditorium of H.F. Robinson Administration Building. It will be followed by an 8 p.m. jam session. First Thursday concerts and jam sessions will continue through this spring, with programs from 7 to 9 p.m. each month.

Free. 227.7129.

• Western Carolina University’s School of Music will host a guest recital featuring faculty from Auburn University at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 7, in the recital hall of the Coulter Building in Cullowhee. Theme is “Songs for the Horn.” http://tinyurl.com/oafrskd or 227.7242.

• “The Loves of Elaine” will be presented from April 716 in Feichter Studio at HART in Waynesville. A new work from Lyn Donley and C.J. Deering. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on April 7-8 and 14-15, and at 2 p.m. on April 9 and 16. $10 for adults; $7 for students. Harmon’s Den Bistro will be open for dining before the evening performances and for Sunday brunch. Reservations: 456.6322 or www.harttheatre.org.

• The MET Opera’s “Nabucco” will be shown at 12:55 p.m. on Saturday, April 8, at the Highlands Performing Arts Center at 507 Chestnut Street in Highlands. Preopera discussion at 12:30 p.m. led by Beverly Wichman. Tickets available at www.highlandspac.org, at the door or by calling 526.9047.

• An “Evening of Celtic Music and Stories” featuring Jamie Laval is at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 8, at The Strand in Waynesville. Laval is a U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion. $18 in advance; $22 at the door; $10 for students with school ID card. www.38main.com or 283.0079.

• The Bolshoi Ballet’s presentation of “A Hero For Our Time” will be shown at 12:55 p.m. on Sunday, April 9, at the Highlands Performing Arts Center in Highlands.

Tickets at highlandspac.org, at the door or 526.9047.

• Acclaimed South Carolina guitarist Jacob Johnson will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 15, at The Strand at 38 Main in Waynesville. Tickets are $10. www.38main.com.

• The National Theatre of London’s production of “Hedda Gabler” by Ibsen will be presented live via satellite at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 15, at the Highlands Performing Arts Center in Highlands.

Tickets at highlandspac.org, at the door or 526.9047.

• Western Carolina University’s ACE Committee, the Student Art Education Club and the university’s Fine Art Museum will present Taikoza Japanese Drummers at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18, at the Bardo Arts Center in Cullowhee. Free for students; $20 for others.

Pre-registration required: tcbowers1@catamount.wcu.edu (students) or hensley@wcu.edu (all others).

CLASSES AND PROGRAMS • “Country Roads: Pathways to Our Artistic Heritage” will be presented by Libba Feichter from 4-5 p.m. on

Thursday, April 6, at the Folkmoot Center in Waynesville.

• A Spring/Easter ceramics class will be offered from 10 a.m.-noon on Thursday, April 6, at Dillsboro Masonic Lodge. $11. Register: 586.2248 or junettapell@hotmail.com.

• A community program on “Homebrewing” is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Friday, April 7, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Hall in Franklin. Covered dish at 6 p.m. 524.3691 or SandiDonn2@yahoo.com.

• “Mounds, Towns and Scared Fires: the Cherokee Cultural Landscape in Swain County” is the title of the Swain County Genealogical and Historical Society, which meets at 6:30 p.m. on April 6 at the Swain County Regional Business Education and Training Center in Bryson City.

• Postcard art is being accepted for the Haywood County Arts Council’s 40th anniversary exhibition: “A Ruby Anniversary Show.” Proceeds support the arts in Haywood County. Show is in May. Submissions (at least 3-1/2 inches high X 5 inches long; no larger than 4-1/4 inches high by 6 inches long) accepted through April 10. Questions: info@haywoodarts.org or 452.0593.

• Chickamauga-Chattanooga NMP Park Ranger W. Lee White will explore the career of the irascible Braxton Bragg during the Western North Carolina Civil War Round Table at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 10, in the H.F. Robinson Auditorium on the campus of Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. Dinner at 5 p.m. at Bogart’s in Sylva; light refreshment social at 6:30 p.m. at auditorium in Cullowhee. 648.2488.

• A diorama peeps contest will be held on Monday, April 17, at Marianna Black Library in Bryson city.

Entries due between April 10-12. 488.3030.

• A two-day workshop of woodcarving will be offered from 1-5 p.m. on April 13-14 at the Dillsboro Masonic Lodge. Led by Ron Yount of Dogwood Crafters. $17.

Register: 586.2248 or junettapell@hotmail.com.

ART SHOWINGS AND GALLERIES • Penland Gallery opens its exhibition season by displaying pieces from 32 artists working different styles and materials. The exhibition is on display now and runs through May 14. 765.6211 or penland.org/gallery.

• “Soft Diplomacy: Quilting Cultural Diplomacy in Liberia” is on exhibit through May 5 at the Western Carolina University Fine Art Museum at Bardo Arts Center in Cullowhee. 227.3591.

• An art reception for Sharon Volker is scheduled for noon-3 p.m. on April 6, in the Macon County Public Library Meeting Room in Franklin. Volker’s art and jewelry are on display throughout April. 524.3600.

• “Coming Together: Healing Through Art,” an exhibit featuring a variety of local artists, will be on display from April 7-29 at Haywood County Arts Council Gallery & Gifts in Waynesville. Presented by the Haywood County Arts Council. 452.0593, info@haywoodarts.org or HaywoodArts.org.

• The “Artist Talk” for April, sponsored by the Jackson

• “Cave of Forgotten Dreams,” a documentary, will be screened at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 6, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. 524.3600.

• Free movies are shown every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva.

Madbatterfoodfilm.com.

Outdoors

• Learn about “Spring Wildflowers of Southern Appalachian” with Adam Bigelow in a six-week course that will be offered in two separate sessions: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Mondays through April 24 or on Tuesdays through April 25. Cost is $150 for the series. Singleday rates available. Info or to register: bigelownc@gmail.com.

• Volunteers are invited to help the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and Trout Unlimited Cataloochee chapter stock the West Fork of the Pigeon River at 1S0:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 6. Meet at parking lot past Lake Logan and before Sunburst Campground off N.C. 215 across from the shooting range. Tucataloochee427@gmail.com

• On the Water: East Fork French Broad will be offered from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on April 6 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. Learn about delayed-harvest trout regulations, wading, reading the water and more. Registration required: http://tinyurl.com/jq4r6x3. Info: 877.4423. Learn about delayed-harvest trout regulations, wading, reading the water and more.

• Lake Junaluska Beautification Day is from 8 a.m.noon on April 6. Projects will center on highly trafficked areas. Sign up: www.lakejunaluska.com/volunteer, rwatkins@lakejunaluska.com or 454.6702.

• The U.S. Forest Service will provide a program summarizing last fall’s fires in the Nantahala Ranger District at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 6, at Tartan Hall at First Presbyterian Church in Franklin.

• Town of Clyde and Haywood Waterways Association are seeking volunteers to plant trees at River’s Edge Park starting at 1 p.m. on Friday, April 7, near downtown Clyde. info@haywoodwaterways.org or 476.4667.

• Introduction to Tenkara, the traditional form of Japanese fly fishing, will be offered to participants 14 and older from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on April 8 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard.

Registration required: http://tinyurl.com/jq4r6x3. Info: 877.4423.

Smoky Mountain News

•The 49th Annual Student Reception will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 20, at the Western Carolina University Fine Arts Museum. The exhibit will be on display through April 28 in the museum. museum@wcu.edu or 227.3591.

• Western Carolina University’s ACE Committee, the Student Art Education Club and the university’s Fine Art Museum will present “Speed Sisters” –a documentary in the Southern Circuit series, at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 5, in Room 130 of the Bardo Arts Center in Cullowhee. Free for students; $20 for others.

Pre-registration required: tcbowers1@catamount.wcu.edu (students) or hensley@wcu.edu (all others).

April 5-11, 2017

• The Franklin Uptown Gallery has its monthly meeting at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, April 10, at 30 E. Main Street in Franklin. Presentation by Jon Houglum.

349.4706.

FILM & SCREEN

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• A discussion on Afghanistan and Pakistan, part of the Great Decisions Series, is scheduled for 5:15-6:45 p.m. on Thursday, April 6, at the Waynesville Library.

Series is focused on critical global issues facing America today. Registration required: 356.2507 or kolsen@haywoodnc.net.

County Arts Council, will feature Sylva resident and artist Melba Cooper from 6-7 p.m. on Monday, April 10, at the Jackson County Library Community Room in Sylva. 507.9820, info@jacksoncountyarts.org or http://jacksoncountyarts.org.

• A Bird Walk along the Greenway will be offered at 8 a.m. on April 12 in Franklin. Meet at Big Bear Shelter parking area. http://franklinbirdclub.com or 524.5234.

• An evening of songs about space and the human

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Talk with a Doc &KPPGT Series

Talk with a

DOC

experience of discovering the cosmos will be offered at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 14, at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute in Rosman. Featuring songs and storytelling of Stan Clardy. Part of the NC Science Festival (www.ncsciencefestival.org). Reservations required. $20 per adult; $15 for students/seniors/military; $5 for children ages 6-11; free for children 5 and younger. Pay at ww.pari.edu or by calling 862.5554.

Info: schappell@pari.edu.

www.ncwildlife.org/learning/courses-seminars-workshops/bow, bb.gillen@ncwildlife.org or 919.218.3638.

• A Bird Walk along the Greenway will be offered at 8 a.m. on April 19 in Franklin. Meet at Salali Lane; parking is off Fox Ridge Road just south of Franklin Flea Market on Highlands Road. http://franklinbirdclub.com or 524.5234.

• An exhibit chronicling the history of dugout canoes in the Americas will be on display through May 2 at the Baker Exhibit Center of the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville.

• The Franklin Appalachian Trail Community Council meets at 10 a.m. every second Tuesday at Rathskeller Coffee House in Franklin. Franklintraildays.com. • A spring wildflower hike is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 8, in the Big Creek Watershed of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Led by Donna Machen. Free for members; $5 donation for nonmembers. Sign up: 476.4667 or Christine.haywoodwaterways@gmail.com. Membership starts at $25. http://hikingthecarolinas.com/bigc.php.

Talk with a Doc is a complimentary dinner program that features a variety of healthcare providers speaking on health topics of interest to you.

Dr. Gerald King of Western Carolina Orthopaedic Associates will be presenting on From Pain to Performance: Hip & Knee Replacement. Join other people looking to improve their health at the next Talk with a Doc event.

Tuesda[

#RTKN r 6 PM

Event location: April 5-11, 2017

Haywood Regional Medical Center CafĂŠ

• The 33rd annual Tuckasegee River Cleanup starts with registration at 11 a.m. on April 8 on the University Center Lawn at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. • The Cradle of Forestry in America historic site begins its season on April 8 with a living history event titled “Old Time Plowing and folkwaysâ€? in Pisgah Forest.

David and Diane Burnett of Haywood County will demonstrate how their Percheron draft horses work the land. The site is open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily until Nov. 5. www.cradleofforestry.com. • The 67th annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage will be held April 11-15 in Gatlinburg. www.springwildflowerpilgrimage.org. • The U.S. Forest Service and Mainspring officials will celebrate the transfer of 427 acres (Rickman Creek Property) to the USFS from 11 a.m.-noon on April 11 at Cowee Baptist Church in Franklin. RSVP by April 6. sburdette@mainspringconserves.org or 524.2711, ext.

301. • A discussion on Nuclear Security, part of the Great Decisions Series, is scheduled for 5:15-6:45 p.m. on Thursday, April 13, at the Waynesville Library. Series is focused on critical global issues facing America today.

Registration required: 356.2507 or kolsen@haywoodnc.net. • Easter on the Trail is Saturday, April 15. Sign up to make or deliver snacks: 369.8915.

RSVP by calling

Smoky Mountain News

800.424.DOCS (3627)

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MyHaywoodRegional.com

Puzzles can be found on page 54.

These are only the answers.

• North Carolina residents are invited to participate in the “NC’s Candid Crittersâ€? – the largest camera trap survey ever. Residents of Jackson, Macon and Swain Counties can participate in a brief online training process then borrow a camera trap from any Fontana Regional Library location. Info: NCCandidCritters.org or www.fontanalib.org.

FARM AND GARDEN • The Jackson county Farmers Market is from 9 a.m.noon each Saturday at Bridge Park on Railroad Ave. in Sylva. www.jacksoncountyfarmersmarket.org.

393.5236. • Extension Master Gardener volunteer Jim Janke will offer a presentation on the basics of soils and getting a garden ready for growing season at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 5, at the Extension office in Waynesville. 456.3575. • A Master Gardener Plant Clinic is offered every business day from April 17-Sept. 22. Call 456.3575 with any gardening question.

COMPETITIVE EDGE • The Med Dash 5K will be held Saturday, April 8, at Smoky Mountain High School in Sylva to raise money for students participating in the school’s HOSA chapter of future health professionals. The course will begin and end at the school’s track on Fairview Road and include pavement, gravel and grass. $20. Register at www.imathlete.com. • Registration is underway for the Friends of the Lake 5K Road Race & Walk, which is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 15, at Lake Junaluska. Supports recreation opportunities of Lake Junaluska. Register: www.lakejunaluska.com/run, 454.6680 or developmentoffice@lakejunaluska.com. • Registration deadline for Greening Up the Mountains festival 5K is April 19. Race is at 9 a.m. on April 22. $17.50 to register. Register at https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/Sylva/GreeningUptheM ountains. Info: www.greeningupthemountains.com or 631.4587.

HIKING CLUBS

• The Currahee Brewer Hiker Bash is scheduled for Saturday, April 15, at Currahee Brewing. Part of Franklin Trail Days in Macon County. 634.0078.

• The First Baptist Church of Franklin offers its annual free hiker breakfast seven days per week through April 9. All-you-can-eat pancakes and bacon are on the menu with van pickup from the Budget Inn, Sapphire Inn and Gooder Grove. 369.9559.

• A solar eclipse community forum is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18, at the Albert CarltonCashiers community Library. Ann Self of the Village Green and Nick Breedlove of Jackson County Tourism Development Authority will brief attendees on regional plans for the total eclipse event, which is Aug. 21.

• “Hiking on the Appalachian Trail Around Franklinâ€? will be presented by Bill Van Horn at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 6, in the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. 524.3600.

• The Wilderness Society Southern Appalachian Office will host a guided hike on Wednesday, April 19, in the Southern Nantahala Wilderness near franklin. Five miles round-trip, moderate-to-somewhat-strenuous with an elevation gain of 1,500 feet. RSVP required: michelle_Ruigrok@tws.org or 587.9453

• A hiker cookout is scheduled for Saturday, April 8, at Gooder Grove in Franklin. 332.0228.

• Registration is underway for a women-only fly-fishing weekend, which is April 21-23 at the North Mills River Recreation Area and Campground in Henderson County. $125 registration fee. Preregistration required: www.ncwildlife.org/bow. Register or get more info: bb.gillen@ncwildlife.org or 919.218.3638. • Registration is underway for a women-only fly-fishing weekend from April 21-23 at the North Mills River Recreation Area and Campground in Henderson County. $125 registration fee. Preregistration required:

• The Nantahala Hiking Club will take a moderate fourmile hike on Saturday, April 8, to Rough Run Falls and High Falls north of Glenville. Reservations:743.1079.

• An eight-mile trek through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 8, at the Wolf Ridge Trail to access Twentymile loop. Moderate to strenuous. $10 for Great Smoky Mountains Association members and $35 for non-members. Register: http://conta.cc/2mUKyow. • Friends of the Smokies’ will have a classic hike on Tuesday, April 11, to Big Creek in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Dolly McLean will lead the moderately strenuous hike. $20 for members or $35 for new members. Register: www.Hike.FriendsoftheSmokies.org.

PRIME REAL ESTATE Advertise in The Smoky Mountain News

ANNOUNCEMENTS

MarketPlace information: The Smoky Mountain News Marketplace has a distribution of 16,000 every week to over 500 locations across in Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties along with the Qualla Boundary and west Buncombe County. For a link to our MarketPlace Web site, which also contains a link to all of our MarketPlace display advertisers’ Web sites, visit www.smokymountainnews.com.

Rates:

■ Free — Lost or found pet ads.

■ $5 — Residential yard sale ads, ■ $5 — Non-business items that sell for less than $150.

■ $15 — Classified ads that are 50 words or less; each additional line is $2.

If your ad is 10 words or less, it will be displayed with a larger type.

■ $3 — Border around ad and $5 — Picture with ad or colored background.

■ $50 — Non-business items, 25 words or less. 3 month or till sold.

■ $300 — Statewide classifieds run in 117 participating newspapers with 1.6 million circulation. Up to 25 words.

■ All classified ads must be pre-paid.

FARMHOUSE ESTATE SALE Something for Everyone!

Tools, Riding Lawn Mower, Antiques, Housewares, Lots of Art. Rain or Shine!

105 Old Orchard Rd. Waynesville (off Ratcliff Cove) Friday 9am-5pm, Sat. 9am-3pm Presented by Frog Pond Estate Sales and Downsizing

BOOKKEEPING/ ACCOUNTING BOOKKEEPING SERVICES Affordable. Local. Personable.

Now Accepting New Clients.

Helping Small Business www.pagetwonc.com Or Call 828.400.6839

Classified Advertising: Scott Collier, phone 828.452.4251; fax 828.452.3585 classads@smokymountainnews.com

Great Smokies Storage 10’x20’

92

$

20’x20’

160

$

ONE MONTH

FREE WITH 12-MONTH CONTRACT

828.506.4112 or 828.507.8828 Conveniently located off 19/23 by Thad Woods Auction

PAINTING JAMISON CUSTOM PAINTING & PRESSURE WASHING Interior, exterior, all your pressure washing needs and more.

Specialize in Removal of Carpenter Bees - Cedar or Log Homes or Painted or Siding!

Call or Text Now for a Free Estimate at 828.508.9727

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FREE ESTIMATES! Call 1.800.698.9217 BATHTUB REFINISHING Renew or change the color of your bathtub, tile or sink. Fiberglass repair specialists! 5 year warranty.

Locally owned since 1989.

CarolinasTubDoctor.com.

888.988.4430.

SAFE STEP WALK-IN TUB: Alert for Seniors. Bathroom falls can be fatal. Approved by Arthritis Foundation. Therapeutic Jets. Less Than 4 Inch Step-In. Wide Door.

Anti-Slip Floors. American Made.

Installation Included. Call Now 800.701.9850 to receive $750 Off. DAVE’S CUSTOM HOMES OF WNC, Free Estimates & Competitive rates. References avail. upon request. Specializing in: Log Homes, remodeling, decks, new construction, repairs & additions.

Owner/Builder: Dave Donaldson.

Licensed/Insured. 828.631.0747

FROG POND ESTATE SALES HELPING IN HARD TIMES

DOWNSIZING ESTATE SALES CLEAN OUT SERVICE • COMPANY TRANSFER • DIVORCE • LOST LOVED ONE

WE ARE KNOWN FOR HONESTY & INTEGRITY 828-734-3874 18 COMMERCE STREET WAYNESVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28786 WWW.FROGLEVELDOWNSIZING.COM

CONSTRUCTION/ REMODELING HAYWOOD BUILDERS Garage Doors, New Installations Service & Repairs, 828.456.6051 100 Charles St. Waynesville Employee Owned.

CARS A-1 DONATE YOUR CAR For Breast Cancer! Help United Breast Foundation Education, Prevention, & Support Programs. Fast Free Pickup - 24 Hr Response - Tax Deduction 855.418.0760.

CARS/TRUCKS WANTED!!!

Top Dollar Offer! Free Towing From Home, Office or Body Shop. All Makes/Models 2000-2016. Same Day Pick-Up Available! Call Now: 1.800.761.9396 SAPA DONATE YOUR CAR, Truck Or Boat To Heritage For The Blind. Free 3 Day Vacation, Tax Deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care Of. CALL 1.800.416.1496 DRIVE WITH UBER. No experience is required, but you'll need a Smartphone. It's fun and easy. For more information, call: 1.800.655.7452 DONATE YOUR CAR TO CHARITY. Receive maximum value of write off for your taxes. Running or not!

All conditions accepted. Free pickup. Call for details. 855.972.0354 STOP PAYING FOR EXPENSIVE Auto Repairs! Get discounted warranty coverage from the wholesale source, and don’t pay for expensive covered repairs! Start saving now!

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BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FINANCIAL SOLUTION! Start Today! Get $500-$5000 Monthly! No experience, return phone calls. No selling, Not multi level marketing & NOT A JOB. Must have access to internet, Computer and phone. Serious Entrepreneurs Only. 1.888.812.1214 SAPA

WNC MarketPlace

BUSINESS CLOSING

EMPLOYMENT

BAKERY/CAFE CLOSING Appliances & Furniture for Sale.

GE Convection Oven, Coolman Display Cases (Refrigerated & Dry, Lighted), Refrigerator, End Load Bun Rack & Pans, Commercial Work Table, Indoor Table Sets (2), Chest Freezers (2), Cash Register.

For More Info Contact: venturosgooditalianeats@gmail. com

MAD BATTER In Downtown Sylva is now hiring for Full-Time Kitchen Help.

Come by and Fill Out an Application, Tueday - Friday Between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m.

LOCAL DRIVERS WANTED! Be your own boss. Flexible hours.

Unlimited earning potential.

Must be 21 with valid U.S. drivers license, insurance & reliable vehicle. Call 855.750.9313

April 5-11, 2017

JELLY - A BEAUTIFUL FLUFF BALL KITTY WITH SHADES OF GRAY AND ORANGE FUR. SHE IS ABOUT THREE YEARS OLD. JELLY IS A FRIENDLY GIRL, AND WELCOMES ATTENTION AND PETTING FROM EVERYONE SHE MEETS. SHE'LL BE A GREAT FAMILY COMPANION KITTY. GABBY - A TYPICAL GOOFBALL LOVE-BUG PITTIE GIRL, ONLY ABOUT ONE YEAR OLD. SHE IS STILL VERY MUCH A PUPPY, EXTREMELY PLAYFUL AND FAIRLY HIGH ENERGY. SHE WILL DO WELL WITH AN ACTIVE FAMILY WITH TIME FOR GIVING HER PLAYTIME AND TRAINING.

FULL TIME BOOKKEEPER/ PAYROLL ADMIN. POSITION Available. Accounting Degree or equivalent work experience with minimum of 2 years’ experience with QuickBooks, full knowledge of accounts payable, accounts receivable helpful, indirect cost accounting a plus. Must have experience with on-line data base payroll management. Excellent computer skills required, experience with Microsoft Excel and Word. Applications available at DisAbility Partners, 525 Mineral Springs Drive, Sylva.

Please call Gale at 828.631.1167 for more information.

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS RAILROAD IN BRYSON CITY Is currently hiring! We currently have vacancies for Marketing Administrative Assistant, Ticket Agents, Reservationists, Parking Attendant, Musician, Show Conductor, Cook, First Class Server, Food Runner, Property Maintenance Worker and Rear Brakeman in Train Operations. Earn train passes, retail and food discounts, passes to area attractions, and more! Full job descriptions and applications are available at www.gsmr.com/jobs You may also get an application from the Bryson City Depot located at 226 Everett Street in Bryson City.

NUCLEAR POWER Paid Training, great salary, benefits, $ for school. Gain valued skills. No exp needed. HS grads ages 17-34. Call Mon-Fri 800.662.7419.

AIRLINE MECHANIC TRAINING Get FAA certification to fix planes.

Approved for military benefits. Financial Aid if qualified. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance 866.441. 6890 DRIVER TRAINEES NEEDED! Learn to drive for Stevens Transport! NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED! New drivers can earn $900+ per week! PAID CDL TRAINING! Stevens covers all costs! 1.888.748.4137 drive4stevens.com FTCC Fayetteville Technical Community College is now accepting applications for the following positions: Digital Content and Social Media Specialist For detailed information and to apply, please visit our employment portal at: https://faytechcc.peopleadmin.comHuman Resources Office Phone: 910.678.7342 Internet: http://www.faytechcc.edu An Equal Opportunity Employer SPECIAL OPS U.S. NAVY Elite training. Daring missions.

Generous pay/benefits. HS grads ages 17-30. Do you have what it takes? Call Monday-Friday 800.662.7419.

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

SERVICE SPECIAL OIL CHANGE

1895

with service appointment

www.smokymountainnews.com

EMPLOYMENT

NICOL ARMS APARTMENTS

$

Offering 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments, Starting at $400 Section 8 Accepted - Handicapped Accessible Units When Available

OFFICE HOURS:

Includes Free Multi-point Inspection

Monday & Wednesday 8:00am - 4:00pm 168 E. Nicol Arms Road Sylva, NC 28779

860 Tunnel Road, Asheville, NC

(828) 298-4911

Always Fast, Fair & Friendly!

www.hyundaiofasheville.com

Phone# 1.828.273.3639 TDD# 1.800.735.2962 This is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

COMPLETE HOME INSPECTION SERVICES

Moving or Buying?

Let Us Help You.

HAYWOOD HOME INSPECTIONS

52

EMPLOYMENT

828.734.3609 | haywoodhomeinsp@gmail.com

Your Total Tree Service Company Removals, View Pruning, Stump Grinding, Chipping, Cabling

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Specialist Serving WNC & NE Georgia since 1984 Storm Damage Clean-up Hazardous Removals with Low Ground Impact Lightning Protections for Trees Plant Healthcare Programs • Insured

828-421-0067 or treedr@dnet.net

EMPLOYMENT LOCAL DRIVERS WANTED! Be your own boss. Flexible hours.

Unlimited earning potential.

Must be 21 with valid U.S. drivers license, insurance & reliable vehicle. Call 855.750.9313 DRIVE WITH UBER. No experience is required, but you'll need a Smartphone. It's fun and easy. For more information, call: 1.800.655.7452 MEDICAL BILLING TRAINEES NEED! Train at Home for a new career now at CTI! NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED! Online Training can get you job ready! 1.888.512.7122 HS Diploma/GED & Computer needed. careertechnical.edu/nc

REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCEMENT LEASE TO OWN 1/2 Acre Lots with Mobile Homes & Empty 1/2 Acre + Lots!

Located Next to Cherokee Indian Reservation, 2.5 Miles from Harrah’s Cherokee Casino.

For More Information Please Call 828.506.0578 PROTECT YOUR HOME With fully customizable security and 24/7 monitoring right from your smartphone. Receive up to $1500 in equipment, free (restrictions apply). Call 1.800.941.7987 OUR HUNTERS WILL PAY TOP $$$ To hunt your land. Call for a free Base Camp Leasing info packet and quote. 866.309.1507. www.basecampleasing.com

REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCEMENT PUBLISHER’S NOTICE All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention, to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18 This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All dwellings advertised on equal opportunity basis.

SAVE YOUR HOME! Are you behind paying your MORTGAGE? Denied a Loan Modification? Is the bank threatening foreclosure? CALL Homeowner’s Relief Line now for Help! 888.944.6492 MOVING OUT OF STATE? Best Interstate Moving and Storage offers a FREE Quote and A Price Plus Promise. Call 877.648.6473 Now!

CAVALIER ARMS APARTMENTS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS Offering 1, 2 & 3 Bedroom Apartments, Starting at $400 Section 8 Accepted - Rental Assistance When Available Handicapped Accessible Units When Available

OFFICE HOURS: Wednesday 12:30pm - 4:00pm & Friday. 8:00am- 4:00pm 50 Duckett Cove Road, Waynesville

Phone # 1-828-456-6776 TDD # 1-800-725-2962 Equal Housing Opportunity

HOMES FOR SALE

BEAUTIFUL 4/BR 2/BA HOME 15 Boxwood Terrace, Canton, NC. Ready to move in with 2,300 sq. ft., Newly renovated with Master Suite, Laundry & Walk-in Closet.

Adequate Storage & Lots of Character. Walking Distance to Library & Main Street. $274,000 Call Alesia for more info 828.400.9943 BRUCE MCGOVERN A Full Service Realtor, Locally Owned and Operated mcgovernpropertymgt@gmail.com McGovern Property Management 828.283.2112.

LOOKING FOR A MINI FARM? This rustic house and land is located in the Henson Cove Area of Canton, NC. Includes a Barn, 2 Acres, 2 Streams, a Pond and a Forest of Bamboo. Asking $195K. For more info or to preview house and property, call Alesia at 828.400.9943

COMM. PROP. FOR RENT

STORAGE SPACE FOR RENT CLIMATE CONTROLLED STORAGE FOR YOU 1 Month Free with 12 Month Rental. Maggie Valley, Hwy. 19, 1106 Soco Rd. For more information call Torry

maggievalleyselfstorage.com 12X28 STORAGE UNIT FOR RENT In Tuckaseegee, Half Mile Down Hwy. 281. $130/mo. For More Info Call 828.450.0534.

GREAT SMOKIES STORAGE Conveniently located off 19/23

by Thad Woods Auction. Available for lease now: 10’x10’ units for $55, 20’x20’ units for $160.

Get one month FREE with 12 month contract. Call 828.507.8828 or 828.506.4112 for more info.

147 WALNUT STREET • WAYNESVILLE

MEDICAL

828.506.7137

aspivey@sunburstrealty.com

A PLACE FOR MOM. The nation’s largest senior living referral service. Contact our trusted, local experts today! Our service is FREE/no obligation. CALL 1.800.319.8705

www.sunburstrealty.com/amy-spivey

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844.538.9403 GOT KNEE PAIN? Back Pain? Shoulder Pain? Get a pain-relieving brace at little or NO cost to you. Medicare Patients Call Health Hotline Now! 800.480.7503

Haywood Properties - haywoodproperties.com • Steve Cox - info@haywoodproperties.com

MOUNTAIN REALTY

Mieko

Keller Williams Realty kellerwilliamswaynesville.com • Julie Lapkoff - julielapkoff.yourkwagent.com • Yvonne Kolomechuk - yvonneksells.yourkwagent.com • The Morris Team - www.themorristeamnc.com

Thomson BROKER/REALTOR®

Cell (828) 226-2298

mthomson@remax-waynesvillenc.com www.ncsmokies.com

Lakeshore Realty

2177 Russ Avenue Waynesville NC 28786

• Phyllis Robinson - lakeshore@lakejunaluska.com

Mountain Home Properties 391-63

Mike Stamey

mstamey@beverly-hanks.com

828-508-9607

SUFFERING FROM HEARING LOSS? You might qualify for ListenClear’s FREE 45-day, in-home trial of revolutionary, practically invisible, hearing aids. Experience the difference - FOR FREE! Call 844.715.3358.

mountaindream.com • Sammie Powell - smokiesproperty.com

McGovern Real Estate & Property Management • Bruce McGovern - shamrock13.com

Realty World Heritage Realty

LIFE ALERT. 24/7. One press of a button sends help FAST! Medical, Fire, Burglar.

Even if you can’t reach a phone!

FREE Brochure. CALL 800.734.2638

OXYGEN Anytime. Anywhere. No tanks to refill. No deliveries. The All-New Inogen One G4 is only 2.8 pounds!

FAA approved! FREE info kit: 866.732.9512

beverly-hanks.com Ann Eavenson - anneavenson@beverly-hanks.com George Escaravage - gescar@beverly-hanks.com Randy Flanigan - randyflanigan@beverly-hanks.com Michelle McElroy - michellemcelroy@beverly-hanks.com Marilynn Obrig - marilynnobrig@beverly-hanks.com Brooke Parrott - brookeparrott@beverly-hanks.com Catherine Proben - cproben@beverly-hanks.com Ellen Sither - ellensither@beverly-hanks.com Mike Stamey - mikestamey@beverly-hanks.com Pamela Williams - pamelawilliams@beverly-hanks.com

ERA Sunburst Realty - sunburstrealty.com • Amy Spivey - amyspivey.com • Rick Boarder - sunburstrealty.com

HAVE YOU OR A LOVED ONE Had lung cancer? Call NOW to see if you are eligible for compensation! 1.877.218.2021.

LUNG CANCER? And Age 60+? You And Your Family May Be Entitled To Significant Cash Award. Call 1.866.590.3140 for Information. No Risk. No Money Out Of Pocket.

Beverly Hanks & Associates • • • • • • • • • •

ACORN STAIRLIFTS. The AFFORDABLE solution to your stairs! **Limited time -$250 Off Your Stairlift Purchase!** Buy Direct & SAVE. Please call 1.800.615.4064 for FREE DVD and brochure.

DIAGNOSED WITH MESOTHELIOMA Or Asbestos Lung Cancer? If so, you and your family may be entitled to a substantial financial award. We can help you get cash quick! Call 24/7: 888.707.9877

Haywood County Real Estate Agents

74 NORTH MAIN ST. • WAYNESVILLE, NC

www.beverly-hanks.com

realtyworldheritage.com • Carolyn Lauter realtyworldheritage.com/realestate/viewagent/7766 • Martha Sawyer realtyworldheritage.com/realestate/viewagent/7769

RE/MAX — Mountain Realty

Mountain Realty

Ron Breese Broker/Owner

2177 Russ Ave. Waynesville, NC 28786 Cell: 828.400.9029 ron@ronbreese.com

www.ronbreese.com

• • • • • • •

remax-waynesvillenc.com | remax-maggievalleync.com Brian K. Noland - brianknoland.com Holly Fletcher - hollyfletcher1975@gmail.com Judy Meyers - jameyers@charter.net Mieko Thomson - ncsmokies.com The Real Team - the-real-team.com Ron Breese - ronbreese.com Dan Womack - womackdan@aol.com

smokymountainnews.com

828.734.6500, 828.734.6700

SFR, ECO, GREEN

April 5-11, 2017

PROFESSIONAL MEETING SPACE Located in Waynesville, Holds up to 90 People. Suitable for Seminars, Family Gatherings, Worship, Ect. Kitchen Area, Wifi/ Screen. For More Information and Rates for ROOM 1902 Call 828.454.7445 or 828.551.8960

YOGA At The Fitness Connection.

Starts April 3rd, First Class Free!

Call Karen at 828.476.0179 or Sara at 828.550.1640 for more information.

WNC MarketPlace

ADT SECURITY Protects your home & family from “what if” scenarios. Fire, flood, burglary or carbon monoxide, ADT provides 24/7 security. Don’t wait! Call Now! 888.618.5327

HEALTH & FITNESS

Rob Roland Realty • Rob Roland - rroland33@gmail.com

Each office independently owned & operated.

find us at: facebook.com/smnews

TO ADVERTISE IN THE NEXT ISSUE 828.452.4251 | ads@smokymountainnews.com 53

www.smokymountainnews.com

April 5-11, 2017

WNC MarketPlace

Super

54

SPLITTING THE LAND

CROSSWORD

eight lands split literally in this puzzle) ACROSS 74 Horace work 1 Bullfights 75 Numbers on clothing 9 Taft or Tell tags 16 Artistic work 77 Apprehend 20 Natural balm 78 Sub in a deli 21 Pundit Huffington 79 Motion “yes” 22 One of four on a dia80 First-time driver, often mond 81 SI mass unit 23 Lightning rod inventor 82 Apt., e.g.

25 Partly open 84 Manet works 26 Yoko who married 86 Old Brooke Shields John sitcom 27 Chant syllables 90 “Good goin’, kid!”

28 One paying dues: 94 Egg opener?

Abbr.

95 R-V link 29 Photo, e.g.

96 With 8-Down and 30 Pop or jazz, in 113-Across, big Baja Germany resort 33 Throw with force 98 City east of Wichita 35 Biblical “verily” 99 Peculiar 37 Like much deep-dish 102 AFB truant pizza 105 Earthworm 40 Arctic slab 108 Verdant spot in an 41 Pretty — picture urban area 42 Roadwork marker 111 Hits hard 43 Morales of “Rapa Nui” 112 An inert gas 44 Name a price of 113 See 96-Across 46 Shaming cluck 114 Archaic verb suffix 48 Gleeful laugh 115 Stifle legally 50 Remotely 116 Back-to-sch. day 57 Old TV’s “— Na Na” 117 Kuwaiti VIP 58 Zee preceder 118 Social networks or 59 City just west of video games Sparks 125 Uncourteous 60 Former coin of Italy 126 Virgin Mary’s mother: 61 The norm Abbr.

64 Orem’s place 127 Groups of spread66 — Marcus (high-end sheet figures retailer) 128 Went hastily 69 Male and female 129 Kitchen scourers 70 Org. for cavity fixers 130 Kind of 71 Korea, e.g. (or any of

DOWN 56 Simplified 1 Jitney cousin 58 Having rapid rotation 2 Cry at 1-Across 61 Histories 3 Actor Palillo 62 “Goodbye” 4 Ones crying 63 Tore down “Hallelujah!”

65 Be of help to 5 Daughter of Donald 67 Pub. staffers Trump 68 IV part 6 Test version 69 Sty noise 7 Onassis’ nickname 72 Smeltery residue 8 See 96-Across 73 One elocuting 9 In a kind way 76 Within: Prefix 10 Investments for later 81 Is sure about yrs.

83 Spellbind 11 Hoopster Jeremy 85 Like Keelung residents 12 Leo Delibes opera 87 Dale riding Buttermilk 13 Covered with foliage 88 — Reader (quarterly 14 Creature digest) 15 Dude 89 Anna of fashion 16 First lady Michelle 90 Basics 17 — party (sleepover) 91 Audacious 18 Applications 92 Roll topping 19 Tennis great Williams 93 Knitter’s ball 24 Beef up 97 It spits out moola 29 That is, to Livy 99 Leering sorts 30 Livy’s 1,300 100 Solicit, as business 31 “This looks very bad” 101 Opt 32 Relating to China: 103 Receptive regarding Prefix 104 Cafe drinks 33 Wash (down) 106 Adorns 34 Uncle Sam’s land 107 Cafe lures 35 Rural assent to a lady 109 Dog- — 36 “That’s a lie” 110 Cut-rate 38 Italian ice creams 115 Wedding ring 39 China’s — -tzu 116 Prefix with carpal 45 Merited fate 118 Mag. edition 47 Frilly veggie 119 Virusoid material 49 Sounds upon impact 120 Cruel Amin 51 Zellweger of the 121 Atlas vehicle screen 122 Wildcat’s lair 52 Video game losses 123 “FWIW” part 53 Navel variety 124 Enzyme ending 54 Watergate president 55 Belief system

answers on page 50

LAWN & GARDEN BORING/CARPENTER BEE TRAPS No Chemicals, Poisons or Anything to Harm the Environment.

Handmade in Haywood County. 1 for $20, 2 or More for $15 each.

828.593.8321 HEMLOCK HEALERS, INC. Dedicated to Saving Our Hemlocks. Owner/Operator Frank Varvoutis, NC Pesticide Applicator’s License #22864. 48 Spruce St. Maggie Valley, NC 828.734.7819 828.926.7883, Email: hemlockhealers@yahoo.com

PERSONAL YOUR AD COULD REACH 1.6 MILLION HOMES ACROSS NC! Your classified ad could be reaching over 1.6 Million Homes across North Carolina! Place your ad with The Smoky Mountain News on the NC Statewide Classified Ad Network- 118 NC newspapers for a low cost of $330 for 25-word ad to appear in each paper! Additional words are $10 each. The whole state at your fingertips! It's a smart advertising buy! Call Scott Collier at 828.452.4251 or for more information visit the N.C. Press Association's website at www.ncpress.com MAKE A CONNECTION. Real People, Flirty Chat. Meet singles right now! Call LiveLinks. Try it FREE. Call now 1.888.909.9978 18+. SAPA

SCHOOLS/ INSTRUCTION MAKE YOUR H.S. DIPLOMA Your New Years Resolution In 2017. Work at your own pace. Nationally accredited. Call for FREE BROCHURE. 1.904.381.1935. www.fcahighschool.org SAPA

SERVICES AFFORDABLE, HIGH SPEED Broadband Satellite internet anywhere in the U.S. Order now and save $100. Plans start at $39.99/month. Call Exede @ 1.844.612.1043.

HUGHESNET: Gen4 satellite internet is ultra fast and secure. Plans as low as $39.99 in select areas. Call 1.800.916.7609 now to get a $50 Gift Card!

LOWER THAT CELL PHONE BILL. Get 2 lines of unlimited data for $100/mo. with AutoPay—taxes & fees included. Video streaming & Mobile Hotspot included. Limited offer/Restrictions Apply. Call Today and Save. 877.731.7558 NO ACCESS TO INTERNET? Get Affordable, high speed broadband satellite internet anywhere in the U.S. Find a service provider in your area PLUS order now and save $100. Call 844.612.1043 Now. SAVE MONEY WITH SOLAR! Custom Designed Systems, Free Maintenance, Free Quote & Design. No Out of Pocket Costs.

Call now! 855.466.2931

WANTED TO BUY - WANTED TO BUY U.S./ Foreign Coins! Call Dan

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A fox sighting is always a delight Editor’s note: This column first appeared in an April 2006 edition of The Smoky Mountain News.

I

George Ellison

n the natural world here in the Blue Ridge, there are certain visual images that rivet the attention of human beholders. One such is a timber rattlesnake suddenly encountered in the wild. That sight literally galvanizes the senses. The vibrating rattletipped tail sounds its uncanny almostmusical warning … you freeze in midstep, holding your Columnist breath but unaware that you are doing so … the hair on the back of your neck stands on end … the event remains imprinted in your memory bank.

Another sort of image — that of a red fox suddenly glimpsed — is one of pure delight. Elizabeth and I have encountered red foxes with some frequency through the years. But, for whatever reason, an encounter I had in the mid-1990s registered with me in great detail. I was driving alone south of Asheville on the Blue Ridge Parkway. A light early morning mist was

BACK THEN swirling in my truck’s headlights. As if from out of nowhere, the fox suddenly appeared, moving across the roadway with nimble feet in a dainty trot. On the roadside embankment, it paused, lifted a front paw, and turned to look at the oncoming vehicle. The animal's eyes looked into mine without fear.

It was simply curious. With heightened awareness, I could see drops of moisture clinging to the hairs that outlined the creature’s silhouette. That was the image — a fox in the rain — that remains with me. Then, with a single catlike bound, it disappeared as quickly as it had appeared in a graceful flow of movement.

Sometimes a red fox will be encountered that lives up to its name; that is, it will be a vivid red. But most red foxes Elizabeth and I have seen displayed a tawny rusty-red to reddish-yellow coloration. Sometimes they will even closely resemble a gray fox. And since a gray fox often has some reddish tinges in its coat, the two species found in the Blue Ridge can be confused. But a gray fox is smaller than a red

fox and the tip of its tail is dark gray or black. The red fox always displays a whitetipped tail.

There has been some debate as to whether or not the red fox is actually native to North America. The editors of The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mammals (1980) noted that, “In the mid-18th century, red foxes were imported from England and released in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia by landowners who enjoyed riding

to the hounds. At the time, the gray fox — not a good substitute for the red, as it cannot run as fast or as long — had not yet expanded its range north into these areas.

The red foxes that now populate almost all

of the states are combined strains derived from the interbreeding of imported foxes with native races, which, encouraged by settlement, gradually expanded their range.”

On the other hand, in The World of the Red Fox (1969) Leonard Lee Rue III quoted New Englander Thomas Morton, who in 1634 recorded that, “The Foxes are of two coloures; the one redd, the other gray … and are of good furre; they doe not stinke, as the Foxes of England.”

Be that as it may, both the red fox (juhla) and the gray fox (inali) have secured places in Cherokee lore. If an individual who was setting off on a journey should startle a fox that looked back and barked, this was a sure sign that a relative or neighbor would soon die. A fox howling near one's house warned of an impending illness by one of the humans residing therein. But foxes could also be helpful. One of the Cherokee sacred formulas contained an incantation evoking them as a curative for frostbite. Advance scouts sent out to locate enemies mimicked the barks and yips of foxes to stay in touch with one another. Portrayed in one of the stories as a quick-witted trickster, a fox was responsible for the loss of most of the bear’s tail, which had at one time been long and bushy.

George Ellison is a naturalist and writer. He can be reached at info@georgeellison.com.

April 5-11, 2017 Smoky Mountain News

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