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May 3-9, 2017 Vol. 18 Iss. 49

Baby deliveries to cease at Angel Medical Center Page 4 Cherokee court doesn’t uphold Grand Council votes Page 22

CONTENTS On the Cover: In the first of an ongoing series, The Smoky Mountain News examines Haywood County’s economic development efforts and what defines economic success in a rural community in Western North Carolina. (Page 7) Michele Dolezel, Haywood Community College Computer-Integrated Machining student, works on a piece of machinery at HCC’s Regional High Technology Center. HCC photo

News Baby deliveries to cease at Angel Medical Center .................................................. 4 Harris Regional prepared to deliver more babies ......................................................5 Community backlash ensues following AMC decision ............................................6 SCC lays claim to quarter-cent sales tax ..................................................................11 Jackson schools up budget request to county ........................................................14 Haywood County may dip in to fund balance ..........................................................16 New fire districts approved despite opposition ...................................................... 17 Cavy-crazed crowd convenes, competes ................................................................ 18 Cherokee court declines to uphold Grand Council votes .................................. 22 Community Almanac ........................................................................................................25

May 3-9, 2017

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Baby deliveries to cease at Angel Medical

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR difficult decision for Mission Health will now present a difficult decision for expecting mothers in Macon County.

With Mission’s announcement that labor and deliveries at Angel Medical Center in Franklin will cease by July 14, pregnant women will have to decide whether they want to deliver at Harris Regional Hospital — a Duke LifePoint hospital — 25 minutes away in Sylva or travel an hour and a half to deliver at Mission Hospital in Asheville.

“We are very sorry we cannot keep this program open — we looked at every possibility we could conceive of … we just couldn’t find a way,” Mission Health CEO Ron Paulus said Friday morning during a press conference. The decision was made based on Mission’s current finances, the increasing costs of labor and delivery services and anticipated fallout from the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act. Even though the decision to close labor and delivery will have wide-reaching implications for Macon County, Mission Health held a press conference regarding Angel Medical at 8 a.m. Friday in Asheville after an official announcement was made Tuesday, April 25.

AMC will stop delivering babies but will continue to provide pre- and post-natal services, gynecological services, surgical procedures as well as preventive, routine and complex care for women of all ages.

Karen Gorby, president of Angel Medical Center, said labor and delivery was costing the hospital too much money at the detriment of other needed health programs. The program loses $1 million to $2 million a year.

“We realized that continuing that service would put the hospital at risk,” said Gorby, who joined Mission about a year ago. “It was really about sustainability for all residents of Macon County and believe me it’s a tough decision.”

The announcement caught Macon’s citizens off-guard, including local government officials, state legislators and hospital administrators at Harris Regional in Sylva.

Rep. Kevin Corbin, R-Franklin, said he was made aware of the decision by Mission’s lobbyist in Raleigh on Monday, April 24 — a day before the press release was issued. While he understands the financial challenges, he thinks it’s a shortsighted mistake on Mission’s part.

“I think it’s a step backward for medical services in our area,” Corbin said. “I get the business side of it and I understand that it’s not profitable and it’s not growing, but any business has areas that individually aren’t profitable but contribute to the overall success of the organization. I just think it’s a mistake.”

Corbin doesn’t foresee many people driving from Macon to Asheville to deliver 4 babies. He predicts Macon residents will do

Smoky Mountain News

May 3-9, 2017

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what they did years ago during a time Angel Medical didn’t deliver babies — they’ll go to Sylva for pre-natal care, obstetrics, delivery and pediatric services.

“And while they’re over there, they’ll go shopping, buy groceries and get gas,” he said.

“It will set Franklin back 20 years.”

CHANGE OF PLANS Last May, Mission Health announced that it would invest $4.3 million into expanding the women’s unit at Angel Medical Center, which included adding one ADA compliant delivery room/recovery room, four ADAcompliant post partum patient rooms and relocating and expanding the nursery.

“The expansion of Angel Medical Center Women’s Unit will accommodate the growing number of births in our region,” the press release stated. “When the project has been completed, the medical center will feature 9 Post Partum Rooms and 4 Labor Delivery Recovery rooms.”

By the numbers Total number of babies born at Angel Medical Center for the last five years 2012........................................................ 161 2013........................................................ 205 2014........................................................ 206 2015........................................................ 367 2016........................................................ 374 When asked what had changed since that announcement, Paulus said a closer examination of the AMC facility by architects revealed more structural problems than originally anticipated. He said renovating and repairing the problems in the building would have cost more than $50 million — $5 million more than it would cost to build a brand new hospital in Franklin.

When the expansion was first discussed, Paulus said Mission was seeing a significant shift in where women were deciding to deliver their babies. More women were coming from Sylva to Angel Medical to deliver, which made Paulus concerned about whether Harris would continue to offer labor and delivery.

“I had concerns Harris may decide not to deliver babies and there has to be an option available in that region,” he said.

Around that same time, Harris made the announcement it would be investing $6 million to expand its women’s unit.

“No longer did we need to consider the possibility of no service being available,” Paulus said.

Mission ended up backing off of the expansion plans for AMC. Despite the May 2016 press release that stated the expansion was needed to keep up

Mission Health CEO Ron Paulus and Angel Medical Center President Karen Gorby speak at a press conference held in Asheville last Friday. Jessi Stone photo with the increasing births in the region, Paulus said the number of births was never increasing — only the number of women choosing to travel from other counties to AMC. When asked how many babies were born at AMC last year, Gorby said about 400.

However, Paulus was quick to say that number was a “recent phenomenon” and the average was more like 260 babies born each year at AMC. “Demographically we all know there is no increase in the demand for labor and delivery — there is no population increase,” he said.

Mission’s press release stated that about 25 percent of women in surrounding counties, including Jackson, Swain and Macon, were already delivering their babies at Mission in Asheville. Specifically looking at Macon County, a majority of those women still give birth at Angel.

According to data from Jon Yeatman, Mission Health’s chief strategy officer, Mission Health delivered 302 women from Macon County — 258 at Angel Medical Center and 44 at Mission Hospital.

Again, Paulus said the increase in babies being born at AMC was due to a market shares shift from Sylva, but not due to growing population or changing demographics in the region.

STATE OF RURAL HEALTH CARE According to Paulus, the closure of the labor and delivery unit at AMC has to be done for financial reasons — a culmination of the demographics of Western North Carolina, the North Carolina Legislature’s decision not to expand Medicaid, and proposed legislation to repeal and replace ACA. Paulus attributed the hardships to the current state of health care in rural America. More than 100 rural hospitals have closed in recent years and less than half of rural county hospitals provide labor and delivery services.

“We live in a world unfortunately where

health care is not being supported the way it needs to be and no more tragically so than within rural America,” he said.

The ACA was designed to improve health care in rural America, Paulus said, by providing federal subsidies for people who couldn’t afford the insurance premiums and expanding Medicaid to provide a better safety net and better reimbursement for nonprofit health systems like Mission.

However, the North Carolina Legislature chose not to expand Medicaid, which led to a larger gap of people without health coverage and left Mission with more “no-pay” patients and less reimbursement from Medicaid and Medicare.

“We should be about $8 million better off after ACA than before ACA, but because North Carolina didn’t expand Medicaid — and during the last government shut down they implemented 2 percent sequestration cuts across the board — we’re $34 million behind instead of $8 million ahead,” Paulus said. “That creates an extraordinary pressure for Mission Health and again each and every one of our member hospitals. If we were to roll forward what we do today and just let that play itself out over the next nine years, Mission Health would increasingly be losing money.”

Paulus went on to say the “dirty little secret” of health care is that Medicare and Medicaid pay far below the hospital’s cost of delivering care. In a normal market, the ratio for privately insured patients and those with government subsidies or who are uninsured is usually about 50/50. But since 75 percent of Mission’s patients are on a government plan or have no insurance at all, Paulus said Mission is left with little options to make up the difference.

“The way health care systems make up the difference is by shifting that additional cost onto commercial insurers,” he said. “There just aren’t people to shift the cost to because those government insurers mandate the price

S EE B IRTHS, PAGE 6

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Karen Gorby, president of Angel Medical Center, gives a tour of AMC to show how the aging building is in great need of renovations. Jessi Stone photo if Mission doesn’t receive any opposition from other local health care systems. Since Harris Regional Hospital has been an “excellent competitor and colleague,” Paulus said he had no reason to think that would be the case.

“If they don’t become antagonistic just because they can — and again I don’t think they will — that will enable us to get through the CON (Certificate of Need) process very rapidly,” Paulus said.

The location of the new hospital also hasn’t been decided. The current hospital campus is about 11 acres containing multiple facilities, but Gorby said Mission does own about 9 acres about a block away from the current campus that could be used for a new hospital.

When asked if the new facility would be smaller, Green said 9 acres would be suffi-

Harris prepared to deliver more babies

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able to participate in a smooth transition of care for patients,” he said.

Harris administrators might have more concerns about the impact of Mission’s decision on their operations if the hospital wasn’t already in the middle of completing a $6 million renovation and expansion to its labor and delivery unit.

Mission will stop delivering babies at AMC as of July 14, but Harris’ birthing center expansion won’t be complete until the end of 2017 if everything stays on schedule.

Steve Heatherly Heatherly still doesn’t anticipate space to be a problem during that gap. The expansion is focused on providing a more state-of-the-art and comfortable environment for patients as opposed to adding more space.

“Obviously from a volume perspective that dynamic will change over time,” he said.

“I’m really grateful we were already doing the construction project because it will create a more efficient environment for patients to be cared for — but I don’t think it changes our

business model.”

Mission’s decision does change Harris’ plans moving forward regarding staffing.

Heatherly said Harris will likely have to hire more providers and expand operation hours at its outpatient centers in Franklin and Bryson City to accommodate the growing need for prenatal and postnatal care through Harris.

While those offices are only open once a week right now, Dr. Sabine Kelischek, an OB/GYN for Harris Women’s Care, said she’d love to see them fully utilized to make sure women have the full range of services available through Harris.

Harris already delivers an average of 450 babies a year, though there have been years deliveries were 600 or more.

“So the idea we can take a large number of patients who are currently getting care in Franklin and effectively and efficiently provide that care here is really not an issue as far as space capacity of the unit,” Kelischek said.

For patients who choose to continue receiving prenatal and postnatal services through AMC but want their Mission-affiliated doctor to deliver their baby at Harris, Mission and Harris administrators say that is not a problem.

cient for AMC’s needs.

“When you design from scratch you can design a much more efficient and effective space,” she said.

Paulus said the new hospital investment was just one more example of Mission’s strong commitment to the community. He said Mission has been investing in AMC long before it took over management in 2013. He said Mission loaned AMC money without any other contract because the hospital was going bankrupt and was at risk of closing.

“Angel lost $1.4 million accumulatively from 2008 to 2017 with a peak loss of $4 million a year before we assumed management,” Paulus said. “We dramatically slowed losses but even this year Angel is $3.4 million behind forecast not because it’s bad or Karen (Gorby) is a bad leader but because of the vagaries of health care.”

“Harris Regional Hospital has an open medical staff, which means any provider who is willing to comply with the medical staff bylaws and call requirements can apply for privileges,” Heatherly said.

While most of the discussion has been centered on Mission and Harris, Haywood Regional Medical Center, also a Duke LifePoint affiliate, also still delivers babies.

The Women’s Care Center is led by board certified OB/GYN specialists, pediatricians and nurse midwife staff, along with Director of Women’s Care Services Tonya Chitwood, and a team of 17 registered nurses.

The Women’s Care Center is comprised of six labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum suites, four post-surgical suites, two designated triage rooms and a Level 1 nursery that supports babies born prematurely or those with unique healthcare needs.

“We are more than capable of assisting any patients throughout our region, including those in Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Transylvania and other surrounding counties,” said HRMC CEO Rod Harkleroad.

“Labor and delivery continues to be a muchneeded service, and we are proud to offer advanced care through HRMC’s Women’s Care Center, which was recently recognized by the March of Dimes for reducing early elective deliveries to fewer than 1 percent.” 5

Smoky Mountain News

f e — n n BY J ESSI STONE n N EWS E DITOR s ith the current expansion of its New e Generations Family Birthing Center, y Harris Regional Hospital couldn’t be o in a better position to handle an anticipated t influx of patients for labor and delivery , services. g Administrators at Harris, a Duke LifePoint Healthcare affiliated for-profit hospital, called e a press conference last Wednesday just after d Mission Health made its announcement to f stop labor and deliver services at Angel o Medical Center in Franklin. Without the servh ice at AMC, expecting mothers will have to d decide whether they want to travel 20-plus t miles to Sylva, 45 miles to Haywood Regional t Medical Center or 70 miles to Mission d Hospital in Asheville to deliver. p Harris CEO Steve Heatherly said he was as shocked as everyone else when he heard the e news on Monday, April 24, but assured the t community that Harris would work cooperae tively with Mission to make sure patients get e the service they need in the region whether it’s e through a Mission or a Duke LifePoint hospital.

“We’re confident in the ability of our providers, our staff and our facilities to be

renovating the current building would have cost more than $50 million compared to $43 million for a new one. Not having a labor and delivery unit designed into the new hospital will also save Mission up to $7 million when it comes time for construction.

“Our decision making process focused on the community’s most important needs,” he said. “We painfully chose — with not one of us ever wanting to make that decision knowing it does create disruption and challenges and is less than ideal circumstances for members of the community — that we did need to close L&D services.”

AMC President Karen Gorby said the current facility is aging — with the oldest building being 60 years old — and has been added on to and renovated as much as possible.

AMC even has a floor between the second and third floor called 2 3/4 floor, which is being used for office spaces. She said the inpatient rooms aren’t large enough to accommodate family members and physician rounds.

Jill Hoggard Green, chief operating officer for Mission Health, said Mission would probably spend up tot $3 million over the next few years just to keep AMC operating properly.

The timeline for when the new hospital will be built is still unclear.

“We have to go through extensive planning — it could be two to three years before we can even think about having a new facility,” Gorby said. “We want to do it right and make sure we have members from the community giving us feedback on the design.”

Paulus said the timeline could be shorter

May 3-9, 2017

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR long with the announcement to stop labor and delivery services at Angel Medical Center, Mission Health also announced plans to build a new, state-of-theart $43 million hospital for the Franklin community.

Mission Health CEO Ron Paulus said the huge investment shows Mission’s continued investment in Macon County and AMC. According to Mission’s press release, the $43 million contribution is the “single largest investment in the history of Macon County.”

“This is an incredibly exciting time for Angel Medical Center and Macon County.

There has never been more change than in today’s health care environment — from fedaeral policy, to care delivery to technology and othe ever-growing demands on our facilities.

It’s our responsibility as board leadership to tbe thoughtful, adapt to meet the needs of our nvalued communities and ensure sustainability for decades to come,” said Angel Medical hCenter Board Chair Jane Kimsey. “Our -remarkable investment in this new facility tsupports our vision to deliver the highest -quality services and an exceptional patient, tfamily and team member experience for the tlong-term benefit of Macon County’s patients and families.” e Mission Health underwent a comprehenasive facility evaluation and assessment of eAMC and determined that construction of a snew facility was needed instead of renovating dthe current, outdated structures. Paulus said

news

Mission to invest $45 million for new hospital in Franklin

news

Getting over the mountain Community backlash ensues following AMC decision

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR acon County residents have made a clear statement that they oppose Mission Health’s decision to discontinue labor and delivery services at Angel Medical Center in Franklin.

About 40 people gathered at the gazebo in downtown Franklin Sunday afternoon to express their opinions about how the labor and delivery closure at AMC will impact the community.

“I am very much against this as I think most people in the county are for many reasons,” said Dan Kowal. “I think it’s dangerous for women to have to go over that mountain to get to Sylva or Asheville in the middle of winter or at night or in a storm. I think it’s bad for our economy if we can’t attract young people here, new businesses, etc., because that’s what they’re looking for.”

While Mission CEO Ron Paulus stated the decision was made for financial reasons, residents in Macon County aren’t buying it. If Mission Health — a nonprofit health system — is losing up to $2 million a year on the labor and delivery program at AMC but made $61 million in profit last year, Kowal said he didn’t understand why some of that profit couldn’t be used to pay for the program. He also pointed out that Paulus earns an annual salary of more than $700,000 a year.

Park Davis said he thinks Paulus is being disingenuous when he says it costs too much to operate the labor and delivery unit at AMC. “How does he think he’ll save any money by delivering those same babies in Asheville?

Medicaid and Medicare will still reimburse the same amounts for those patients in Asheville,” he said.

May 3-9, 2017

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B IRTHS, CONTINUED FROM 4

Smoky Mountain News

they pay to us and we have no influence on that and they don’t take into account our cost to provide care.”

The average patient within the Mission Health system saw a 1.4 percent increase in the cost of services last year, which generated about $21 million in new revenue going forward, but Paulus said Mission’s input costs — drugs, medical devices and supplies — have risen much faster than 1.4 percent.

Mission Health also gave all of its 14,000 employees a raise last year, which cost a whopping $37 million. Paulus said Mission Health now needed to cut $37 million just to break even moving into next year.

Paulus said he’s not hopeful that the health care situation is going to improve when looking at the proposals being put forth by Republican legislators in Washington, D.C. “In every reform scenario that’s been dis6

Carmela Birolin has lived in Franklin for 25 years. She had her second child at AMC and her daughter is pregnant and due on July 14 — the same day AMC will stop delivery services.

“I don’t want to see this happen — it’s 2017, why in the world are they even thinking about this?” she said.

She said she was supposed to have her second child at Harris because of complications during her first pregnancy, but her second child was coming much quicker than anticipated.

“I was crowning by the time I got to Winn Dixie,” she said.

Her husband barely got her to the emergency room at Angel Medical before her daughter was born.

“If it wasn’t for Angel, I would not have been able to deliver her over that mountain,” she said.

Lauren Hickman, a Franklin mother and a childbirth doula, said women would lose some of their options with the closure of labor and delivery at AMC. For example, she said Harris does not perform VBAC births — a vaginal birth after a woman has had a previous cesarean — but AMC does. Women who want a VBAC will have to drive to Asheville now.

“In that hour and a half to Asheville, a lot of things can happen — and we’re not just talking about one person’s life — we’re talking about two people’s lives,” she said. “I don’t want to get too political, but I think this is a wake up call for everyone. I think until we change the way that our health care system is run in this country, this is not going to change.”

Even more people showed up the town of Franklin board meeting Monday night to talk about the issue.

Maggie McRae, a retired certified nurse midwife at Harris, said the number of babies has increased at AMC because women followed their nurse midwives who moved from Harris to AMC. She said AMC gave those midwives more options when it came to delivery, including VBAC and water births.

“Nurse midwives feel an openness at Angel they didn’t have at Harris,” she said.

Nancy Scott said this decision would have a huge impact on local women as well as Macon County’s future economy.

“We don’t want this to be a retirement only community — we need this labor and delivery service at our hospital,” she said.

“They’re coming up with $45 million for a new hospital — we don’t need a new hospital. We need these services.”

For a poor, rural community like Franklin, Carol Peterson, an OB/GYN who was recruited to start the L&D unit at AMC, said many residents wouldn’t have the capacity to get to Asheville to deliver their babies.

“They will come to the hospital and we will deliver them and we will lose people,” she said. “Doctors and nurses will get jobs — they’re not going to be unemployed — it’s the people who really need this service who don’t have resources to get out.”

The Franklin Board of Aldermen unanimously approved sending a letter to Paulus

asking that Mission reconsider its decision even if it means considering cuts to another program.

No one from Mission Health attended the town meeting or the community forum on Sunday to offer feedback to residents. A press conference regarding the decision was held in Asheville at 8 a.m. Friday, April 28.

Paulus did say during the press conference that the decision was one that couldn’t be avoided and maintains it’s the best decision for the community in order to keep AMC open.

“I realize some people don’t think we’re very smart but I think we’re pretty good — the objective evidence by outside observers verifies that feeling,” he said. “We’ve made the decision to invest $45 million in that community … and we don’t do that because we’re stupid. We do it because we care deeply about that community. We accept people won’t see it that way all the time, but that’s what leadership is — doing the right thing even when you’re going to be disliked about it.”

cussed those impacts range from really bad to tragic,” he said.

If the so-called “Trumpcare” bill passes in its current form, the health insurance subsidies that have been available under ACA would be replaced with a flat tax credit at a much lower amount. For example, a family of four making $40,000 a year would receive a subsidy of $23,000 to be able to afford an ACA health care plan. Under the proposed replacement plan, that same family would only receive a $10,000 tax credit.

“And that’s nothing compared to the impacts on the elderly,” Paulus said. “That’s why in many media reports — for those who have actually studied and understand and it’s so hard to understand — that this has been called the anti-elderly act.”

With the aging population in Asheville and the surrounding communities, Paulus said it’s no big surprise a recent study ranked Asheville No. 10 on a list of cities that would

be most impacted by Trumpcare.

All these factors add up to a financial disaster for Mission if it doesn’t change course.

Paulus said Mission would see a $412 million loss over nine years unless something changes. Last year, Mission had $61 million in net income. Even though it’s a nonprofit health system, Paulus said that income is needed so Mission can continue to invest in new technology, build new facilities and pay its employees.

Some might accuse Mission of wasteful spending or ineffectiveness, Paulus said, “but reality is just the opposite — if we weren’t better than most already we’d be bankrupt.” He said the average nonprofit health system loses about 8 percent on every Medicare patient while Mission loses only 2.5 percent.

“We have been named in the top 15 health systems in the U.S. using objective data for five out of six years — that’s never been done

by any health system before,” Paulus said.

Megan Browning, a mother who had her children at Angel Medical Center in Franklin, speaks out against the closure of labor and deliver services at AMC during a rally last Sunday.

Jessi Stone photo

TRANSITION PLAN

With the delivering of babies set to end July 14, Angel Medical has already begun the transition process for the labor and delivery support staff, which encompasses about 25 employees.

The labor and delivery unit employs four obstetricians, three nurse midwives, nurses and other support staff.

Gorby said Mission’s Career Exploration Center would be assisting displaced employees to help them find another job offer within the Mission system if they choose to take it. If they choose to leave the health care system, she said Mission would provide them a severance package.

Paulus said Angel currently has 24 and Highlands-Cashiers Hospital has about 18 open positions for nurses and physicians.

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Beaverdam Industrial Park in Canton is just one of many economic development efforts underway in Haywood County. Cory Vaillancourt photo

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The past, present, DOING BUSINESS Editor’s note: This is the first in an ongoing eand future of series of stories examining Haywood County’s n economic development efforts. sHaywood County’s n economic development goods or services from New Bern, New York

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Evergreen Inc. Paper Products.............1024 Haywood County Schools....................... 883 Haywood Regional Medical Center.........808 Consolidated Metco............................... 475 Haywood County Government................ 471 Walmart................................................. 391 Haywood Vocational Opportunities........ 335 HVO........................................................ 329 Giles Chemical.......................................225 Town of Waynesville............................... 173 (Full time employees) No longer whale-hunting, economic developers in rural America realize that dreams of landing a 1,000-employee manufacturing plant are just that — dreams.

In their waking hours, professionals like Clasby and Hipps are thinking big by thinking small.

“I think anything under 50 employees, that’s the sweet spot for us,” Hipps said.

Those employees — whether 50 at a startup tech company or 450 at a medical products manufacturer — will be accompanied by, on average, another 1.53 persons in their household, according to U.S. Census Bureau data from 2016.

Some in that household will attend public schools — another huge county economic engine — but everyone in that household will, at some point, consume health care products or services.

Despite who pays for it, or how — as is the subject of ongoing national debate — a robust medical community is the salve to many a county’s economy across the country.

“When you have a community that’s our

Smoky Mountain News

n HE PPALACHIAN ADVANTAGE n f Think of Haywood County as a bathtub. , When money is spent in the community -from outside of it, water is gushing into the tub through the faucet. This happens when dpeople buy goods or services from Haywood 8County producers.

When Haywood County residents buy

or New Delhi, the bathtub drain opens and money leaves the community.

When a local business buys an advertisement from a local newspaper, water is sloshed around inside the tub.

Healthy communities open the faucet by attracting, enhancing or retaining those who sell goods and services to the outside world; at the same time, those communities plug the drain by supporting local businesses whenever possible.

Declining communities are just the opposite, and are particularly vulnerable during recessions and depressions. They can’t attract new businesses, and existing businesses aren’t expanding or are leaving altogether, resulting in fewer “exports” and fewer options for locals to buy local.

Charged with helping to fill Haywood County’s tub are a number of national, state and local organizations, the foremost of which are the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce and the Haywood Economic Development Council.

Haywood County’s bubbly bathwater contains a variety of economic sectors, each an independent bubble of varying size, but each adhering to another, different bubble — all connected somehow, bobbing up and down in that tub.

Historically, agriculture has always been one of the bigger bubbles in the local economy; Haywood County is home to more than 700 farms covering almost 90 of the county’s 555 square miles.

“I think agriculture is doing great here,” said CeCe Hipps, president of the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce. “What I’m noticing is the smaller, little niche agriculture entities — the hydroponics stuff and herbs,

Top 10 employers in Haywood County

May 3-9, 2017

tBY CORY VAILLANCOURT -STAFF WRITER C new business or a new family moving to town isn’t solely due to the luck of the e draw.

— Likewise, a shuttered mill or dilapidated sneighborhood isn’t solely due to being dealt a ebad hand.

- Each occurs thanks to a complex set of facetors not far removed from a card game; playters compete against each other for a reward eusing both skills and dollar bills independent -of the cards they’re dealt. n There are winners and there are losers in the world of economic development, to be sure — the well-financed players who are dealt great hands can and do dominate the game.

Not among those well-financed players — the likes of the Mecklenburgs, the Wakes and the Buncombes — is one rural county in Western North Carolina that, despite modest dmeans and a middling hand, has through nsavvy play and plain gumption managed to dstay in the game. s But as the players, the pot, the rules and even the definition of “winning” in economic rdevelopment continue to change with every sshuffle of the deck, how does Haywood County stack up when the chips are down?

Those retail businesses — big-box stores like Walmart and Best Buy, or smalltown mom-and-pops — rely on the manufacturing sector to produce the products they sell.

Drastic downturns in American manufacturing during the 1970s that were further aggravated by NAFTA in the 1990s didn’t spare Haywood; when longtime local anchors of the sector like Dayco, Wellco and Lea Furniture left town, they also left a huge hole in the economy and altered the very fabric of this blue-collar community.

“We’re still looking for manufacturing,” said Clasby. “But we’re looking for advanced manufacturing, and we’ve been successful in that here locally, going for the small and medium-size businesses.”

With that trend comes a concerted effort to fully utilize the 10-plus acre Beaverdam Industrial Park in Canton, which is currently home to a few large operations but has room for more.

Other local companies like ConMet, Evergreen Paper, Giles Chemical, Haywood Vocational Opportunities and Sonoco Plastics, however, remain and continue to produce millions of dollars worth of products each year and employ hundreds of workers each.

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What’s in the cards?

instead of having big old tracts, where they just grow lots and lots of corn.”

Haywood Economic Development Council Executive Director Mark Clasby said one of the things he’s most proud of is the Buy Haywood program, started more than a decade ago.

“The idea was that we would help the producers, and in this case we’re talking about the tomato and pepper producers here in the county,” said Clasby. “We started thinking, ‘How do we get them into the grocery stores?’”

Getting produce into grocery stores opens the spigot, while keeping cattle in the county closes the drain.

“There’s a lot of cattle producers, not only in Haywood County, but in Buncombe and the surrounding areas,” he said. “When the cattle producers have to transport their cattle to South Carolina or Tennessee, the cattle lose weight on the trip, and you get paid by the pound.”

With livestock markets in Canton and Asheville closed, the Haywood Advancement Foundation — of which Clasby also serves as executive director — saw an opportunity and helped with the construction of the WNC Regional Livestock Center in Canton, which not only keeps cattle here but also attracts business from across the region.

Tourism also attracts business from across the region, state and country. In the post-flood era, tourism spending has surged from $98 million in 2004 to $168 million in 2015 (28th most among the state’s 100 counties), saving county residents an average of almost $260 a year in taxes.

“It’s been pretty dramatic growth,” Clasby said, pointing to a graph showing that even during the Great Recession, Haywood County’s tourism industry remained stable, but for two years of flat revenues in 2008 and 2009.

Today, increasing regional competition from destinations offering newer, more relevant amenities could begin to drain some of those dollars away from the county, especially as the region’s premiere destination for decades — the Ghost Town in the Sky amusement park in Maggie Valley — is now but an economic spectre.

Haywood County’s Tourism Development Authority helps market the area and is funded by a room occupancy tax, but thus far hasn’t been able to obtain an increase in that rate from the General Assembly.

“We could benefit greatly by having some additional hotels and motels in the area, as well as some additional attractions,” Hipps said.

Closely related to tourism is the retail sector of Haywood County’s economy, and one need only look to crowded Main Street in Waynesville on a crisp fall afternoon to see why.

To date, more than $12.4 million has been collected in sales tax in the county since July 1, 2016, up 4.8 percent over a similar period in 2015.

Like the TDA, the Downtown Waynesville Association has for decades marketed the strip as a destination, but unlike the TDA, the DWA has been able to use some of the tax revenue it’s given for product development – in this case, aesthetic improvements.

S EE CARDS, PAGE 8 7

May 3-9, 2017

news

Down in the flood

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER eCe Hipps is one of the very few people in North Carolina who can say that she was at the epicenter of the two most significant postwar economic expansions in the state.

Born on a naval base in Norfolk, Virginia, but raised in Black Mountain, Hipps, an Appalachian State University alum with a background in special needs education, began working for the Chamber of Commerce in Cary as the Research Triangle Park was experiencing explosive growth in the late 1980s, thanks to the likes of high-tech firms like IBM, pharmaceutical giants like Burroughs Wellcome and dozens of others who flocked to the region due to government incentives and top-notch universities.

“I just watched this little town just absolutely explode,” she said.

In 2002, Hipps went to work for the Chamber of Commerce in Asheville, which was in the midst of a 60 percent population increase from the 1980s through today.

“Both of those chambers were experiencing extreme growth and I hit it at about the right time,” she said.

Hipps estimates the Cary chamber more than doubled its roster of 400 members while she was there, as did Asheville, which had about 800.

“When you go through that kind of growth in any chamber organization, that’s a lot of hard work, to get to that point,” she said. “You’ve got to always be ready for that kind of growth.”

Ready for growth, Hipps became president of the 400member Haywood County Chamber of Commerce upon leaving Asheville’s chamber in late 2004, but probably didn’t know what she was wading into.

On the night of September 7, 2004, the yet-potent remnants of Hurricane Frances laid down a curtain of cool mountain rain in Western North Carolina that quickly saturated watersheds.

About a week later, Hurricane Ivan’s lingering leftovers dropped on the region another half-dozen inches of rain that caused deadly mudslides and loosed the Pigeon River from its banks.

Canton and Clyde bore the brunt of the damage in Haywood County, just as an entrepreneur and department store heir with a big-city aviation background was dipping his toes into the oft-murky waters of economic development.

“Being an entrepreneur, I never would’ve dreamed — if you’d have asked me 30 or 40 years ago — that this is what

C

CARDS, CONTINUED FROM 7

Smoky Mountain News

size that has a hospital, that is a huge asset.

Having a hospital with the name Duke LifePoint behind it is another bonus,” said Hipps.

The Haywood Regional Medical Center — then a public hospital — was purchased

by Duke in 2014 after years of shaky performance that included Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements being yanked by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in 2008.

“That’s when we hit rock bottom,” Hipps said. “But now that the hospital is privately owned, there’s more money and more resources for them to use so they can survive on their own.”

Consequently, this once-underperforming sector appears poised for growth, no matter what might happen on the national stage.

“There are a lot of opportunities,” Hipps said. “And you can’t leave out Mission [Health 8 System, a non-profit community hospital sys-

D.C., until Marriott recruited him to become the regional vice president for its airline catering division.

“I learned that I didn’t like that business very much,” Clasby laughed. “Food is challenging. But I learned a lot, and I had some great teachers.”

Once that company was sold to a group of private investors, Clasby bought a 3M business in South Florida. But back home in Oklahoma, his family’s 300-unit department store chain was being sold to Citicorp Venture Capital, who asked him to help run the operation after the sale.

He ended up staying there for about a decade. After a few more Haywood Chamber President CeCe Hipps (above) and Economic Development years in the greeting card business Council director Mark Clasby (below) share responsibility for economic development in with his then-wife, Clasby landed in Haywood County. Cory Vaillancourt photos Haywood County and began in 2003 working for the EDC, which was at that time called the Economic Development Commission.

The floods of 2004 were a watermark in the history of Haywood County; when people talk about the doings, it’s either “pre-flood“ or “post-flood.”

Pre-flood, Clasby and Hipps had only just begun to work on economic expansion in their roles at the commission and the chamber but instead had to concentrate on helping businesses get their heads above water first.

And they did — just in time to see the looming clouds of the Great Recession on the horizon.

“We had almost 700 members I’d be doing,” said Mark Clasby, executive director of at the start of the recession,” Hipps said. “We lost real estate, Haywood County’s Economic Development Council. “But it’s construction, small shops. That has been slow to come back amazing how your experiences prepare you for things. It’ll be for us. They consider us as a marketing expense, and that’s 14 years this summer that I’ve been doing this.” the first thing everyone cuts, is their marketing budget.”

An Oklahoman, Clasby has been in Haywood County for Since then, Clasby and Hipps haven’t had to face a disasalmost a quarter-century. He used his degree in aviation ter of that scale, but they still continue to fight to attract management from Embry-Riddle to land a job with every job and every resident they can, until the only thing American Airlines, living in New York and Washington, flowing through Haywood County’s streets is a river of cash.

tem]. They are competitors, but competition is good in this community, and we need it.”

That Haywood County’s economy has fared better than many even as the health care sector was endangered is somewhat remarkable in itself.

“It’s a major segment here in Haywood County, and as far as wages they certainly pay quite well,” said Clasby. “Just the hospital is about the third-largest employer here in the county, and if you add in all the auxiliary and dependent businesses, it’s hard to put a number on it.”

Dependent businesses — anything from physicians practices to auto dealerships — are ultimately begun by entrepreneurs who, while not exactly in a bubble of their own, chart the undercurrents of each economic sector.

Encouraging and facilitating entrepreneurship can bear great returns, but homegrown heroes like BearWaters Brewing in Canton and Elevated Mountain Distillery in Maggie Valley — winner of the Haywood Chamber’s 2015

DOING BUSINESS Business Start-up Competition — aren’t the only gamblers in that game.

Also at the table are members of the county’s real estate industry, who are seeing high demand, low inventory and a sales volume that’s rebounded from 2011’s $166 million to $236 million in 2016.

But in today’s internet economy, the sector with the most to gain or lose is probably the creative and cultural sector — the artists and artisans, coders and creators, dancers, designers, decorators, painters, performers, photographers and writers who contribute as much beauty and truth as money itself.

Overwhelmingly self-employed or working in small enclaves, the creative economy is an oft-overlooked player with assets that ripple outward through any community, like a leaky faucet that drips, drips, drips into the tub.

ATTRACT AND REPEL

Existing economic sectors in Haywood County can and do expand and contract, and so can be said to both attract and repel growth opportunities.

This occurs for a variety of reasons.

The nearly immutable challenge in Haywood County since its inception has been the region’s mountainous terrain.

“Our largest employers are our school system, our hospital and Evergreen, so we need to look at where we can we put another Evergreen,” Hipps said. “The challenge is the land — trying to find another piece of land that you can put an Evergreen on.”

Scarcity of buildable land has led naturally to unaffordable residential and dated commercial building stock, as well as a dearth of multi-unit development.

This in turn limits population, which hurts Haywood County’s chances of attracting larger regional or

F

Haywood County Economic sectors AVERAGE # WORKERS

AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting................ 229..............................$528.70 Utilities........................................................................89............................. $1,251.60 Construction...............................................................719..............................$630.67 Manufacturing..........................................................2,489............................ $989.39 Wholesale Trade......................................................... 175..............................$935.29 Retail Trade.............................................................. 2,900............................ $443.09 Transportation and Warehousing...............................185..............................$835.01 Information................................................................ 136..............................$972.31 Finance and Insurance.............................................. 425..............................$908.86 Real Estate ............................................................... 172..............................$535.58 Professional, Scientific and Technical Service.......... 450..............................$765.07 Management of Companies and Enterprises..............43............................. $1,087.27 Administrative and Support and Waste Services...... 566 .............................$456.53 Educational Services................................................ 1,618............................ $664.70 Health Care and Social Assistance.......................... 2,665............................ $764.82 Arts, Entertainment and Recreation ......................... 354..............................$315.14 Accommodation and Food Services..........................2,160............................ $254.04 Other Services (except Public Administration).......... 564............................. $457.96 Public Administration...............................................1,081............................ $697.20 (Source: Haywood County Economic Development Council)

CAUSE AND EFFECT

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How can you learn more about farming or get your kids to learn more?

Most of us did not grow up on farms and we may not even see a farm on our daily commute to work or school. How can we learn more about local agriculture and farming and how can we teach our children about the process of how food gets onto the shelves at the local Ingles Market?

Here are a few resources whether you are a parent, teacher or just want to learn more on your own.

1

Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP) www.asapconnections.org

ASAP has an annual farm tour and they also work to help local farmers market their products through farmers markets/tailgate markets and with retailers using resources like the "Local Foods Guide" ( available at some area Ingles Markets). Additionally ASAP runs the "Growing Minds" program that helps schools with school gardens, local foods cooking classes, and farm field trips to local farms.

2

NC Farm Bureau www.ncfb.org • www.ncagintheclassroom.com

Offers resources for teachers like lesson plans for various grades to teach about aspects of farming including types of farms, myths and stereotypes about farming as well as some of the challenges farmers face. Their website also identifies a book of the month that has an agriculture or farming theme. You can also have children to on-line "shopping trips" to test their knowledge of label claims and see excerpts from the movie, "Farmland" about various types and sizes of farms. The NC Farm Bureau may also be able to help connect students and classes with local farms that are able to accommodate tours.

3

NC Cooperative Extension Service www.ces.ncsu.edu

Most counties in the U.S. have a Cooperative Extension office. In North Carolina these are part of the NC State University and the offices are staffed by educated and trained individuals and there are offices in Buncombe, Haywood and Henderson counties. Cooperative Extension offices often offer glasses in gardening as well as opportunities for youth to learn more about farming, animal care and agriculture through the 4-H program and competing in the state fair. They also operate Farm to School programs( https://localfood.ces.ncsu.edu/local-food-farm-to-school/ ) that help communities activate programs like school gardens, Farm to Cafeteria and more.

Smoky Mountain News

national chains.

“We’ve approached people like Fresh Market before,” said Hipps. “And that’s one of the problems we have. The way that our demographics show up, it doesn’t show the influx of tourists that we get in the summer Lwealthy months — and when we say summer, we are dtalking about spring through Christmas.” d Another limiting factor — again, due to lthe topography — is infrastructure. Sewer and water connections can be hard to come by or expensive to create, and the kind of nbroadband speeds needed to attract serious ntech ventures or even telecommuters from Asheville aren’t yet available in the county’s -rural areas, despite a number of local efforts. d But the nearly immortal asset in Haywood rCounty has also been the region’s mountaineous terrain; it’s unique, it’s exclusive to the dregion, and it can’t be purchased at any price.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, -the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Pisgah and -Nantahala national forests are world-famous fdestinations that contribute demonstrably to the quality of life — an important factor hwhen a company decides to locate here, or to expand here.

For families, the county’s award-winning

WHEN:

May 3-9, 2017

ConMet’s Canton Plant will soon see huge growth. Cory Vaillancourt photo

public school system — ranked 11th out of 115 in the state — is a major draw, as are the relatively short commutes offered by Interstate 40 and Interstate 26.

Both also make for easy access to major metropolitan areas in the Southeast that many businesses desire; indeed, Western Carolina Freightliner’s recent move from Asheville was predicated on finding good access to an interstate. In its new Canton location, it will be just dozens of feet from I-40.

The company wouldn’t have left Asheville, however, if it couldn’t be assured that a quality workforce awaited in its new home.

“Every single roundtable we’ve had, that has been the number one issue,” said Hipps.

“When companies are sitting in that boardroom, that’s one of the things they’re checking off — is that workforce available? If I’m going to bring in a high-tech manufacturing type of facility, or medical facility, is the workforce there?”

Issues with educational attainment, work ethic and even drug testing hamper every county’s workforce, and Haywood’s probably no more so than the next.

But given the importance of a skilled workforce to employers like Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, efforts are underway to augment workforce preparedness, including a chamber partnership with the TDA to create coursework for a hospitality training program, and a revitalization of Pisgah High School’s industrial education programs made possible by a $100,000 grant from General Electric.

Monthly Sidewalk Sale

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SECTOR

LOCAL POTTERY ARTISTS

In life, it is said that virtue is its own reward; in economics, it is said that reward is its own virtue.

So how is that reward measured? And by whom?

S EE CARDS, PAGE 10

9

Economics is one of the most information-hungry disciplines out there; strangely, it’s sometimes difficult to quantify the bottom line on growth or contraction attributable to economic development activities of the EDC and others.

“Visually, sometimes you can see it, but sometimes it’s a little more challenging to put numbers to it,” Clasby said.

While plenty of organizations track basic economic data like wage growth and employment, uniform standards for measuring economic development outcomes are far from plentiful and of unknown utility.

The mechanisms of economic development on a state and local level do provide for a means by which to judge economic consequences on a case-by-case basis, however.

In the case of Western Carolina Freightliner, an inter-local agreement between Haywood County and the Town of Canton has the county contributing $200,000 towards infrastructure improvements to the former An-Ton auto dealership on Champion Drive that will house WCF. The payback is expected to take five to seven years.

“They’re going to create 35 jobs initially, and that’s probably going to grow to 60 within five years,” Clasby said. WCF will also collect sales tax on trucks, parts and repairs, part of which comes back to Haywood County and Canton.

“If I’m working on a project and they’re asking for incentives, I’m asking, ‘How many

people are you going to hire?’ I’ll set a minimum there, and the county has a policy, kind of a guideline.”

But does an apples-to-apples comparison of outcomes, or a set of best practices, even exist?

“Probably not,” said Tom Tveidt, an economist who lives in Haywood County whose Syneva Economics supplies governmental and corporate decision-makers with objective economic data from which to plan economic development initiatives. “I’m sure some people have taken a stab at it.”

Haywood County Commissioner Mike Sorrells serves on the EDC board and is a small businessman. He looks at a number of different parameters before deciding if something should be incentivized.

A recent designation by the North Carolina Department of Commerce, however, could have a undesired effect on incentivization in the future for Haywood County; a tiered system used for the state’s economic development programs assigns a 1 to 100 score to each county in the state based on indicators of economic distress.

Companies looking for economic incentives can receive far more in state aid by investing in counties ranked in the bottom 40, called “tier 1” communities, or in the next 40 counties, called tier 2 communities, than they can in the top 20 tier 3 communities.

The problem is, retirees who flock to Haywood County because of low taxes and a high quality of life drive up the county’s median income, creating what some local officials call a “false positive” that pushes Haywood into tier 3 and limits the amount of tax breaks

The paper mill in Canton — known by many names over the years — has been a major contributor to Haywood County’s economy for more than a century. Cory Vaillancourt photo

DOING BUSINESS the county can — and, based on true economic conditions, should — distribute.

On the regional level, a 2015 initiative by then-Gov. Pat McCrory eliminated regional economic development agencies like the Advantage West Economic Development Group — which helped attract Sierra Nevada to Fletcher and fought for economic development in WNC —under a statewide Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.

Now, with President Donald Trump’s budget proposals being debated in

Washington, organizations like the Appalachian Regional Commission are facing unforeseen funding challenges and the western counties served by the MountainWest Partnership fully understand that the chips are down.

Over the coming weeks and months, The Smoky Mountain News will explore the realities of a rural, mountainous community fighting to find success in the face of challenges.

Each of the sectors and topics in this overview will be explored in greater depth to determine whether Haywood County’s holdin’ or foldin’ – and how well it’s played the hand it’s been dealt.

May 3-9, 2017

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CARDS, CONTINUED FROM 9

MAY 9-13

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Smoky Mountain News

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WHAT WAS PROMISED

e g t s

It’s unclear whether voters will be miffed by the lopsided allocation. When Jackson County voters passed the quarter-cent sales tax last year, they were told the money would go to SCC and Jackson County Schools. If anything, voters thought it would favor the school system, according to some.

“I think the public perception was that it would, at the least, be split 50-50,” Luker said in an interview.

SCC President Don Tomas and Jackson Schools Superintendent Mike Murray campaigned for the quarter-cent sales tax hand in hand.

“We campaigned it together, and we

J

The quarter-cent sales tax approved by Jackson County voters last year is designated to go toward capital projects for Jackson County Schools and Southwestern Community College, but SCC will get the lion’s share for the first several years to fund a $20 million health sciences building.

SCC is getting $5.4 million for the project thanks to the state bond referendum in 2015.

The remaining $14.6 million will come from the quarter-cent sales tax.

Here’s how the budget proposal breaks down: • The entirety of the sales tax proceeds for four years will go to SCC for the health sciences building, amounting to $4.5 million.

• The county will take out a $10 million loan to cover the rest and pay it off over 15 years.

Annual debt payments will be $1 million initially, but will decrease year over year, leaving more and more available for the school system as time goes on.

• Meanwhile, the sales tax proceeds will presumably grow as consumer spending increases year over year, likewise making more and more available to the school system as time goes on. The sales tax revenue is projected to grow from $1.2 million this year to $1.9 million by 2024.

• The school system won’t see any money from the quarter-cent sales tax until 2020. Its share would then grow from $500,000 in 2020 to $900,000 by 2024.

• As debt payments on the health building drop, SCC’s share would drop from a million a year initially, to only $900,000 by 2024.

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Smoky Mountain News

Stretching the quarter-cent sales tax

S EE SCC, PAGE 12

May 3-9, 2017

e Plans to build a $20 million health sciences building at Southwestern Community College have broad support among the Jackson County Commissioners, but there’s disagreement as to . how the project should be funded. Donated graphic w rBY B ECKY JOHNSON before the school system finally gets an sSTAFF WRITER equal share. ackson County Schools has found itself County commissioners are ultimately the at the back of the line to get a piece of ones to decide how the quarter-cent sales tax the quarter-cent sales tax voters passed money is divvied up. They expressed conlast year. cern during a budget workshop last week Jackson voters approved a quarter-cent over the funding plan that favors SCC in the sales tax last May on the premise it would go near term. to the public school system and “I have been one of the biggest advocates Southwestern Community College for capital of saying ‘Let’s not take all of our sales tax projects. monies away from the schools,’” said But the school system won’t see a dime of Commissioner Mickey Luker. “I don’t want the sales tax money for four years, according the taxpayers, the mothers, the parents, to to the latest county budget proposal. come and say ‘This board was not working Instead, all the sales tax money for the next in the best interest of our school system.’” four years will go to SCC for a new $20 milCommissioner Boyce Dietz agreed he lion health sciences building. didn’t want to “cut them short.”

SCC will continue to get the majority of However, county commissioners feel like the sales tax money for another four years they have no choice but to fund the SCC

worked it together,” Tomas said.

But it is ultimately up to county commissioners to prioritize how it is spent, Tomas said.

Technically, there was no pledge nor promise that the money would be split evenly between the two entities.

“When we worked to get this sales tax, there was never any conversation about percentages or amounts that would go to SCC or the schools,” Commissioner Brian McMahan said in an interview.

But there was an unspoken expectation of an even split, according to School Board Chairman Ken Henke.

“It was promoted as going to the education system. In terms of SCC getting so much or the public schools getting so much, there isn’t a finite answer for that,” Henke said. “I thought the majority would go to public schools and part would go to SCC.” Henke was surprised to hear that likely won’t be the case after all.

“That’s a first right there,” Henke said, after learning of the latest budget proposal from a reporter. “For right now, all I can say is that is not the story we received.”

County officials apparently had not yet briefed school officials on the budget proposal they arrived at during last week’s workshop that would give the majority to SCC for years to come.

At the workshop, McMahan said Jackson County Schools Superintendent Mike Murray was OK with funding the SCC health

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Lopsided allocation favors SCC project over Jackson County Schools

health sciences building, even if it means the schools have to wait several years for their share of the sales tax money.

The health sciences building was touted publicly as part-and-parcel to the quartercent sale tax. It appeared on brochures, posters and Power Points as a shining example of what the quarter-cent sales tax would be used for if passed.

Meanwhile, the school system doesn’t have a glamorous signature project to ask for. Its wish list is filled with pesky maintenance backlogs, like replacing carpet, drop ceilings and fire alarms.

Commissioners believe the school system has enough existing funding of its own to peck away at those for the next few years until some of the quarter-cent sales tax gets freed up.

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sciences building, even if that meant the school system would have to wait to get its share of the funding down the road.

But the school board chairman apparently didn’t realize just how long that would be. “I don’t think I misunderstood, but I was thinking we said SCC could have it that first year and then the next year we would get it,�

Henke said. “As a school system, we said we would support SCC. We will allow our share to go to SCC to help them pay for that science building, and then the following year, it would go to the public schools.�

The quarter-cent sales tax has been rolling in since October, and is on track to bring in $1.2 million a year initially.

Jackson County Manager Don Adams said the county has “just been throwing it in the pot� for education, pending a decision on “where it gets expended.�

The statewide bond referendum that passed in 2015 earmarked $5.4 million for the SCC health sciences building. How to pay for the rest of it was a major impetus for the local quarter-cent sales tax vote in the first place. “It was about how we as a community could make the other ends meet,� Tomas said.

The health field is one of the most rapidly growing economic sectors, but SCC is unable to meet workforce demands due to a lack of space. SCC turned down hundreds of students this year in various health sciences degrees. “With the new building, we would be able to accept 288 more health sciences students than we presently can,� Tomas said. “By training more students each year, we’ll be able to help address many of the shortages in the regional healthcare industry.�

Tomas said that message helped drive the quarter-cent sales tax campaign. “I think we were very open and upfront in the campaign,� Tomas said.

But the math wasn’t clear until recently.

Neither the public, nor commissioners, realized that funding the health sciences building would also mean no funding schools projects — at least in the short run.

Smoky Mountain News

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Jackson County commissioners realized they were between a rock and a hard place in March. That’s when SCC presented a revised estimate for the health sciences building.

It was $3 million higher than initial projections. A campus master plan from 2015 had pegged the health sciences building around $16.5 million. But the revised price tag presented to commissioners in March put the cost at nearly $20 million.

Jackson County Manager Don Adams was tasked by commissioners with the herculean task of balancing the dueling requests for the quarter-cent sales tax revenue. Was it possible to fund the $20 million SCC health sciences building without compromising the needs of the school system?

The school system didn’t put forward a big-ticket ask for the sales tax money. It’s to-do list was only $2.5 million: $1 million

Jackson County Schools is in the midst of a $9 million capital campaign to get its school buildings up to par, but needs still remain. For instance, at Smoky Mountain High School, the school system is still looking for money to repair a leaky pump, install a drop ceiling and cover the student sidewalk to the buses. Holly Kays photo

Who’s got it, who doesn’t Jackson County was among 21 counties in the state with a quarter-cent sales tax on the ballot in 2016, but its passage was a rarity. The sales tax failed in 19 of the 21 counties, but was passed in Jackson by a landslide with nearly two-thirds of the vote, signaling widespread public support for the idea of earmarking funds for the school system and Southwestern Community College.

Statewide, 31 counties have passed a quarter-cent sales tax over the past decade, but far more have tried and failed. There have been 127 attempts — some counties have tried more than once — with only a one-in-four success rate.

Haywood County passed a quarter-cent

sales tax in 2008 to fund projects at Haywood Community College. It was the first in Western North Carolina to self-impose the quarter-cent sales tax, and one of the first in the state. That same year, 34 other counties had a quarter-cent sales tax on their local ballot, but Haywood was one of only three counties where it passed.

Buncombe followed suit in 2011, pledging the money for AB-Tech, and Jackson joined the club in 2016. Swain County has put the quarter-cent sales tax on its ballot twice — in 2012 and 2016 — and it failed both times. Graham also tried and failed twice, and Henderson has tried and failed three times. Cherokee County tried once and failed, but succeeded its second time.

Macon County has never tried.

Nearly everywhere it’s passed, the sale tax was earmarked for public schools or community college projects.

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Luker, a staunch opponent of letting SCC suck the quarter-cent sales tax dry, seemed satisfied with the plan Adams came up with.

“There were a few of us that were willing to hold out and say ‘We are not willing to take all this money away from the school system,’” Luker said.

For now, however, it looks like a go, as long as SCC doesn’t hit cost overruns, Luker said.

“Once the bids come in, that may be when we have to have this whole dialogue of saying ‘Look that’s not going to happen,’” Luker said.

Luker said he was concerned SCC would come back to the county for more money for furniture, equipment and technology — which don’t appear to be included in the current $20 million price tag.

“We all know you are going to have to equip it somehow,” Luker said. “Are they going to come back and say ‘Oh we have to have $6 million for equipment inside?’”

“That’s a good question to ask,” Dietz said.

“Because at that point we are tapped out,” Luker said.

It’s also a legitimate question to ask in light of a half-million surprise budget request last month for unanticipated construction costs from SCC. SCC’s budget request to the county — on top of the quarter-cent sales tax money for the health sciences building — included $314,000 for a parking lot and $225,000 for higher than expected costs for a new maintenance building on the schedule. The parking lot is related to the new health sciences building and should have been foreseen, Adams said.

“You always need to consider additional parking with an additional facility,” Adams said.

The cost overrun on the maintenance building was due to site work that hadn’t been taken into consideration as part of the initial construction plan.

As for an additional ask down the road to equip the new health sciences building, Adams said he didn’t think so. The understanding is that SCC will get state money for that.

However, it’s worth pointing out that the new building will have increased overhead of $250,000 a year that would have to come from somewhere.

“When the facility goes online there will be an increased operational cost,” Adams said.

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for a high school track and softball field and another $1.5 million in repair backlogs — things like upgrading fire alarms, replacing bathroom sinks, installing covers over walkways, putting in security glass, and so forth.

In fact, the school’s list was small enough that it could use existing money of its own to cover it all, Adams proposed.

Adams came up with a plan that relies on an existing stream of capital funding that the school system already gets, and is entitled to under state statute.

“We are showing them a road map for the funding that’s available,” Adams told commissioners.

The school system is currently in the midst Don Tomas of completing $9 million worth of capital improvements, however. The county allocated the money last year to allow Jackson Schools to get moving with its more pressing needs, like replacing ready-tofail roofs and HVAC systems.

Mike Murray The plan for the school to pay for its additional $2.5 million in projects out of its own reserves gives commissioners the political cover to claim the school’s needs are being met. But Adams admitted the school system could have other needs in mind for its existing capital reserves.

“They may have other things pop up in two years and it will be incumbent on the school board whether they reprioritize or not,” Adams said.

Jackson County Schools Finance Director Gwen Edwards believes it would be too risky for the school system to burn through its capital reserve budget. What if there was an emergency and the schools had no money in their capital reserve to fix it?

Commissioners have not sent SCC back to the drawing board to cut costs for the health sciences building.

“We have not asked that and I don’t think we will,” McMahan said. “It would compromise the whole project.”

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More staff, higher pay boost Jackson schools budget request

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER ith an eye to improving student performance and employee retention, Jackson County Public Schools has upped its budget ask to the Jackson County Commissioners — by 25 percent over the allocation given the past seven years.

“Since I’ve been here in the last six years, nothing’s really changed in what we’ve requested in our operating budget, mainly because of capital needs,” Superintendent Mike Murray told commissioners during an April 11 work session. “This presentation is going to be a little different.”

Murray inherited some significant facilities issues when he took the helm, spending the past six years working to fix failing roofs, replace old HVAC systems and address a host of other issues at play in aging buildings. Last year, commissioners approved $9 million in funding to address the school system’s most pressing capital needs, and Jackson Schools is currently in the process of carrying out those projects.

Nonleaky roofs and proper heating and cooling are the most basic prerequisites for learning to occur, but there is ample need for more funding when it comes to actual classroom operations, Murray told commissioners. Many programs and initiatives have remained on the backburner while the school system has focused on getting capital needs addressed, but Jackson Schools will need additional positions and better compensation for staff if its students are to thrive.

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“We’re not willing to accept our current rankings,” Murry said. “With both SCC (Southwestern Community College) and WCU (Western Carolina University) in our backyards, we have the smartest kids in the state. There is absolutely no reason we should be in that midpack range.”

The requested $1.4 million budget increase would bring the school system’s total operating budget to $8.2 million — a 21 percent increase over the $6.8 million it had been receiving. Murray’s task is to convince commissioners that the new expenditures are necessary. The commissioners’ task is to decide whether they are and — perhaps more importantly — where the money might come from amid a host of other budget requests from other entities and departments. Over the past month, school system leaders have been going back and forth with commissioners to clarify their requests, answer questions and make their case.

New teachers $105,700 In order to keep class sizes for kindergarten through the third grade at 20 or lower, the school district will need to hire two new teachers. The cost is markedly lower than the $610,700 Jackson Schools originally anticipated needing to hire 11 new teachers — a state law had been passed mandating lower class sizes in grades K-3, but it did not include funding for the additional teachers. However, lawmakers later

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Smoky Mountain News

Is a Will Enough?

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granted a one-year reprieve for compliance, and it’s possible that funding could be attached to the mandate when it is implemented.

Technology program staff $254,500-$305,900 Jackson Schools has been increasing its inventory of digital devices to promote student learning, decreasing the ratio from one device per 2.75 students in 2012 to 1 for every 1.58 students by 2016. However, Murray wants funding to hire three instructional technology facilitators and one technology technician.

“That initiative will not work unless we sustain it,” he said. “I really want to push on this, because we need to hire additional people for this initiative to not only do well but to capitalize on the investment we’ve already made.”

The three facilitators would join the one already employed by the school system to help teachers effectively integrate technology into their lessons and troubleshoot any issues that arise — creating, Murray said, an “engaging learning environment that empowers students to take responsibility for their own learning.”

The technician would help with issues related to the technology itself. It’s possible the school system would request the county to fund two of these positions rather than just one, as a change to a federal funding stream it had counted on makes that funding slightly less certain.

Academic intervention staff $343,200 Murray believes that the school system’s academic performance will improve if it secures these 6.5 school-based intervention positions.

The interventionists would pull kids out in small groups for intensive instruction.

The goal is to close the gaps between lowperforming students and their target grade level before the gaps widen to become an insurmountable barrier. The concept is part of the N.C. Multi-Tiered System of Support, a state-endorsed framework to which Jackson Schools hopes to convert.

Jackson Schools had previously had similar employees, called instructional coaches, but that program “crashed and burned,” Murray said. The problem, he said, was that the coaches also worked on teacher evaluations and so were treated more like administrators than coworkers. This time, that won’t be the case.

“We need classroom teachers to see this as support, not administration,” Murray said. “We’re geared up to make an impact with this, and we’re really excited.”

Funding lost to WCU lab school $158,500 When the Catamount School opens on the Smoky Mountain High School campus this fall, the goal is that it will have 75 students enrolled. But, while the school will be located on Jackson Schools property, it will be run by WCU and the per-student funding that Jackson Schools would otherwise receive for the students enrolled there will go to WCU instead. This will create a loss in funding for Jackson Schools.

While the school system will no longer be responsible for educating the students who leave, its costs won’t necessarily go down a proportional amount.

Students will come from various

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Retention has been a struggle for Jackson Schools — for positions ranging from teachers to custodians — and low compensation could be to blame.

“We’ve had an electrician position open for four months. We cannot fill it. Nobody wants to work for what we will pay,” Gwen Edwards, the district’s finance officer, told commissioners.

In the 2015-16 school year, turnover was 16.4 percent — higher by several percentage points than any neighboring county.

Murray wants to raise the local supplement to state teacher pay from 2 percent to 3.5 percent — except he doesn’t want it to go only to teachers, as it has in the past. He wants a 3.5 percent supplement for all fulltime employees.

“If you don’t pay them enough, they’ll not only not stay, they’ll go next door,” Murray said. “We invest in people, telling them what to do, moving them in the right direction, and they’re going to move on to Haywood County. That can’t happen.”

New pay scale for administrators $423,000

CAPITAL NEEDS While the school district is in the midst of carrying out a $9 million, county-funded capital campaign, Murray also increased his request for capital funding, asking for an additional $375,00 for preventive maintenance and roof maintenance, as well as $1.4 million to knock out a variety of smaller projects such as upgraded fire alarms and window replacements.

“With capital, we’ve been basically doing reactive type things,” he said. “We would like to see us get in a more proactive stance.”

In addition, he said, commissioners should start thinking about funding a couple larger projects — namely, a new softball field and track — in a coming budget year.

“These future things do not need to be 15 years from now,” Murray said. “They need to be in the planning stages now.”

THE BUDGET PROCESS

Encourage professional growth $46,000 With the state no longer offering teachers a pay hike for completing a master’s degree, Jackson Schools hopes to start offer-

Commissioners haven’t said much thus far about what they think of the requests or how likely they might be to secure funding.

And that’s likely because they’ll have a lot to consider beyond the mere merits of the needs.

Southwestern Community College is planning a $20 million health sciences building, for which the county will provide the bulk of the funding. And commissioners are facing a full menu of other hefty capital needs as well — a new or renovated health department, a new animal shelter and expanded courtroom space, for starters.

Then there are all the existing line items whose costs increase each year.

Commissioners will have a lot of information to receive and process before they can decide how much of the school system’s budget request they can fund for 2017-2018.

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Altrusa of Waynesville celebrated the centennial by challenging members to volunteer 100 hours during the fiscal year, collect 100 books to donate to local charities and collectively submit 100 random acts of kindness for the “Pay It Forward Project.” www.waynesvillealtrusa.org.

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North Carolina ranks 50th nationwide for principal and assistant principal pay, with Jackson’s principals actually getting paid on the teacher pay scale as it’s higher than their own. This is setting the district up for a leadership void, with would-be administrators having little incentive to take on additional responsibility without additional compensation.

“Yes, it’s $423,000,” Murray said. “I’m going to tell you it’s more than necessary if we’re going to keep our administrators in place.”

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ing a local incentive for pursuing higher education. In addition, the request calls for a $750 bonus for teachers who get licensed in hard-to-staff areas such as science, special education and math.

“We want to be unique in our region in striving for those qualified educators,” said Associate Superintendent Kim Elliott. “This initiative will benefit all of our students and help us retain those master’s-level teachers who are not being paid on the master’s level.”

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classrooms throughout the county, so it’s unlikely that transfers will be concentrated enough that the school system could simply let a teaching position go to make up the difference.

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Haywood County may dip into fund balance

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER aywood County commissioners have set a date for the required public hearing in advance of passing next year’s budget — an especially important one, considering County Manager Ira Dove’s prediction that the county could see itself forced to use over $2 million from the county’s fund balance to keep things in a state of equilibrium.

“Not exactly,” said Democratic Commissioner Mike Sorrells when asked if he was nervous about the prospect. “We have a pretty healthy fund balance. Maybe if we were struggling I would be.”

Dove said that the county’s recent revaluation — which indicated a slight decrease in property values that will reduce property tax revenue — was one factor in his supposition.

Smoky Mountain News

May 3-9, 2017

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An unfunded mandate from the state demanding new voting machines will cost Haywood County $890,000 and changes to the schools system’s funding formula will add an additional $480,000 to this year’s budget.

Public hearing The Haywood County Board of County Commissioners will hear public comments regarding the proposed FY 2018-19 budget, which is expected to be released to the public May 15.

• Location: Historic Haywood County Courthouse • Date: Thursday, June 1 • Time: 5:30 p.m.

Despite sales tax revenues coming in at a higher-than-normal clip and debt service payments for the Haywood Justice Center dropping off the budget soon, an unfunded mandate from the state demanding new voting machines will cost Haywood County $890,000 and changes to the schools system’s funding formula will add an additional $480,000 to this year’s budget.

A Haywood County resolution mandates the county carry an 11 percent balance, but Dove and County Finance Director Julie Davis said that 16 percent is a bare minimum that would ensure liquidity in the case of disaster or downturn.

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New fire districts approved despite opposition

“When I was elected in 2002, we were always taking money out of the fund balance,” said Republican Commissioner Kevin Ensley. At that time, the balance was below 10 percent. “We haven’t touched it since [about 2008].”

Ensley agreed with Sorrells in that he wasn’t nervous about the situation either; he said he felt that Haywood County was entering more stable, more “normal” economic times, unlike the Great Recession that necessitated drastic cuts.

Akin to an emergency stash of cash, the fund balance grows each year unless it’s used; Ensley said that keeping too many taxpayer dollars above that emergency level doesn’t make sense.

Smoky Mountain News

The county’s fund balance is currently hovering in the “mid to high 20’s,” Dove said, probably around 27 percent. North Carolina’s Local Government Commission demands at least 8 percent of the government’s total expenditures in reserves, which would cover county operations for about a month.

Dove cautioned that commissioners shouldn’t “get into the habit” of using fund balance to plug holes in the budget; however, the only other real options are to raise taxes, raise fees or cut services, things no one seems interested in doing.

He said it’s possible the county’s balance could dip as low as 22.5 percent — still a strong position for the county’s coffers.

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May 3-9, 2017

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER ake Junaluska residents opposed to a new Waynesville Fire District in their neighborhood will get one anyway, after a 2-1 vote by the Haywood County Board of Commissioners May 1.

“This change won’t change any response for the fire department,” said Haywood County Fire Marshal Johnny Glance.

In January, the town of Waynesville asked Haywood County commissioners to create several new fire districts for areas that, through errors or omission over the years, were not currently assigned to a fire district.

The districts, named Waynesville Rural Fire Districts number two through six, were proposed April 17 and cover small pockets of land in the Knollwood, Reinhart and Shingle Cove subdivisions, as well as at Lake Junaluska.

But at that April 17 meeting, residents of Lake Junaluska lined up to ask commissioners to allow the Junaluska Community Volunteer Fire Department to service District #2, instead of the Waynesville Fire Department, citing better response times.

“As we went into that two-week period [after the April 17 meeting and before the May 1 vote], there were some people from that community who had not been heard that were very favorable [to Waynesville],” Commissioner Mike Sorrells said, adding that he gauged Waynesville’s support at about 50 percent.

The Waynesville Fire Department has

“When you look at the map of what Lake Junaluska has and what Waynesville has, it just makes sense,” he said.

Sorrells further justified his vote by pointing out that residents do retain some recourse.

“This does not stop citizens from coming back to you with their own petition,” Glance told commissioners during the meeting.

Residents may jointly or individually petition commissioners for removal from the new district and for inclusion in the existing Lake Junaluska Fire District provided their property is contiguous to the Lake Junaluska District, and in the case of multiple properties, contiguous to each other.

Additionally, all residents of any property seeking a change must sign the petition, meaning that in the case of condos or other multi-unit residences, a majority of owners simply won’t do — 100 percent of owners must be on board with the change.

After submitting the petition, any change would have to go through the same public hearing process that created the new districts.

The other districts, Waynesville Rural Fire Districts numbered three through six, all passed without opposition from commissioners; the revenue collected from these areas will be negligible, especially since some contain mostly vacant land.

Commissioner Bill Upton was out of town and did not attend the meeting.

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Lake Junaluska residents included

served the area for more than five decades, during which time residents of Lake Junaluska paid just $4 per water connection, per month, for fire protection on some of the area’s most valuable homes — an inequitable rate considering the 6 to 10 cents per $100 assessed property value other residents pay. Sorrells said that there had been no issues with service over the years.

That $4 was upped to $8 last summer, but making the new district Waynesville’s turf — at a 6 cents per $100 rate — will earn the town an additional $100,000 per year beginning July 1.

That additional revenue will help pay for the eight new firefighters the town hired last year to comply with OSHA staffing recommendations; the hirings resulted in an almost 10 percent jump in Waynesville property taxes.

Had the district not been approved, it would have instead cost Waynesville about $80,000 in revenue from the current monthly charges.

Republican Commissioner Kevin Ensley was the lone “nay” on the board, which rarely sees dissenting votes cast; continuing a theme of cooperation dating back to former Board Chairman Mark Swanger’s tenure, commissioners often craft compromises that lead to most votes being unanimous.

Ensley said he agreed that the Junaluska Fire Department should cover the lake district.

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Cavy-crazed crowd convenes, competes

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER he stakes were as high as the hopes last weekend as competitors from across North America came together at the Haywood County Fairgrounds to see whose luxuriously-locked little rodent would be deemed best in breed by a discerning panel of judges.

“This doesn’t happen every day, in every place,” said Margo Purdy, secretary of the North Carolina Cavy Breeders Association.

They’re not pigs and they don’t come from Guinea, but based on their scientific name Cavia porcellus — which means “excretory canal” and “piggy” in Latin — “cavy” is the name fanciers have wisely given Guinea Pigs.

“Cavy” also rhymes with “gravy.”

“This is one of the largest cavy shows in the country, so you have all your top competitors here, competing with their very best animals,” said Jessica Pearson, who traveled all the way from Stillman Valley, Illinois, to attend her first North Carolina Cavy Breeders Association show.

Two competitive classes — an open division and a youth division — had entered a

May 3-9, 2017

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total of 624 cavies in the competition, which were brought to the area for the four-day event by 113 exhibitors, some of whom had come from as far as California, or even Canada.

Entry fees ranged from $6 to $8 per animal.

Purdy explained that at smaller shows, not all 13 breeds of cavy that are officially recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association — under whose auspices the cavy is judged despite the fact that they’re not related — will be represented.

But at the “Biscuits ‘n’ Cavy National Guinea Pig Show,” they were.

“There’re so many breeds and colors that you have quite a selection,” she said. “It’s a Guinea Pig underneath all that hair, but they look really different.”

And oh — that hair!

Commercial breeds of cavy as sold at pet stores aren’t generally showable, Purdy said, but reputable dealers offering lines of Peruvian Satin, American and Texel boars and sows can fetch as much as $50 for the most sought-after.

“When I got into this, I went to some of the top breeders that have been doing this a while, competitively, and continuously,” said

A competition cavy awaits judging with its peers at the Haywood County Fairgrounds.

Cory Vaillancourt photo

Pearson, who’s been mentored in breedcraft for about a year.

A superior cavy can be detected by its opulent, robust coat, sometimes 6 inches in length and always painstakingly styled; indeed, most of the immaculately coiffed cavies at the competition sported such sumptuous, blow-dried strands of black, brown, white, or roan red hair that Vidal Sassoon himself might say, “Ooh la la!”

Cavies, however, aren’t all show and no go.

“In layman’s terms, we’re looking for a nice, clean, solid-built, well conditioned little animal that meets the breed standards,” said Jim Hupp, an ARBA judge from Kokomo,

WITH WASABI AIOLI AND MANGO CHUTNEY

Margo Purdy (left) poses with one of her cavies at the Biscuits ‘n’ Cavy National Guinea Pig Show April 29. Cory Vaillancourt photo

Smoky Mountain News

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ASIAN-ANDEAN FUSION BBQ CUY Cuy

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Indiana. “It’s a lot of work. Breeders make sure they keep them clean, keep their nails trimmed, keep them fed properly and housed properly. It’s very important.”

Hupp said that becoming a judge for the ARBA is an intensive process that involves studying the breeds, working as an assistant to another judge eight times and taking two separate tests.

When not under ARBA scrutiny, competition cavies also make great pets due to their demeanor, their demands, their cost and the companionship they provide, Purdy said.

“Basically they’re a prey animal,” said Purdy of the noble

Connecting pets and people’s plates

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER side from commercial and competition breeds of Cavia porecellus, there exists a livestock breed given the name “cuy,” likely due to indigenous Andeans’ imitation of the squealy wheeks emitted by the adorable rodents.

“They’re commonly eaten in South America, and I’m sure there are cultures and areas in other places where this would not be an unusual thing — to have them be consumed,” said Secretary of the North Carolina Cavy Breeders Association Margo Purdy, who added that eating Guinea Pig “has not taken off yet” in the United States.

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Cultural bias against eating rodents may play a role in American demand for the meat, which is economical and nutritious, as may the unpleasant notion of consuming what is considered by many to be a loving pet.

An adult cuy can weigh from 2 to 4 pounds, is low in fat, low in cholesterol, has more protein per serving than beef, chicken, lamb or pork, and in a conundrum that would befuddle Elmer Fudd himself, tastes like a cross between duck and rabbit.

Although they’re hard to find fresh and dressed, it can be done in some larger American communities, to the tune of about $15 per pound.

• 3 or 4 young cuy, skinned, dressed and cleaned • 4 T cumin • Salt • Pepper

Mango chutney • • • • • • • • •

2 C sugar 1 C white vinegar 4-5 mangoes, peeled and diced 1 C onion, chopped 1/2 C yellow raisins 1/4 C crystallized ginger, minced 1 clove garlic, minced 1 t whole mustard seeds 1/4 t chili pepper flakes

Wasabi aioli • • • • •

1/2 cup mayonnaise 2 t wasabi powder 1 t rice vinegar 1 t soy sauce 1/4 t ground ginger

1) Dry and drain cleaned cuys by suspending upside down in a windy place for two hours. Rub cumin on the outside, salt and pepper the thoracic cavity, and refrigerate overnight.

2) While you’re waiting on that, combine the sugar and vinegar in a quart pot. Boil.

Add the mango, onion, raisins, crystallized ginger, garlic, mustard seed and chili pepper flakes. Return to boil, then simmer 45 minutes until mixture becomes slightly syrupy. Pour into small canning jars, seal tightly. Immerse jars in water in a tall pot, boil for 15 minutes. Remove and allow jars to set at room temperature.

3) Next, combine the mayonnaise, wasabi powder, rice vinegar, soy sauce and ground ginger. Cover and chill overnight.

4) Then, run a skewer through the cuy’s mouth from head to tail. Place over a hot fire, rotating periodically until desired degree of doneness. Alternately, cuy may be quartered and cooked directly on grill.

5) Serve right off the fire, over plantains, corn and/or red peppers, garnished with aioli and chutney.

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May 3-9, 2017

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beasts. “That’s what makes them flighty or nervous, but also, they’re not going to turn and stand their ground — it’s hard to get them to bite, but if kids or people handle them roughly, that can happen.”

In addition to possessing a golden retriever-esque tolerance for tiny hands, they don’t take up much space, either.

“If you live in an apartment and want a great dane or a miniature horse or whatever, well you might not be able to have that,” she said.

Maintaining a small caviary is also relatively inexpensive and can provide for hours of enjoyable company.

“They have a lot of interesting noises that they make,” Purdy said of the occasional “Wheek!

Wheek!” which South Americans — from whence the species originates — pronounce “Kwee! Kwee!”

“A very common activity is to sit down in the evening, watch TV, take them out, put them on your lap, and they’ll snuggle down. It’s like having a lap dog,” she said. “It’s very cute to watch them walk around.”

As with most hobbies, cavy breeding and competition can become a grueling, road-weary lifestyle that is more of a burden than a blessing, financially.

But also as with most hobbies, it’s not the competition that really matters — it’s the camaraderie.

“I can say one thing,” Hupp said. “People you meet in this hobby turn out to be excellent friends. I know it’s a little like, ‘A rodent hobby?!’ But the friendships you make in this hobby, they’re like any other hobby I guess — I’m in dogs, also — you just meet those certain special people, and they become very good friends. That’s my positive.”

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Smoky Mountain News May 3-9, 2017

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Grand Council’s authority uncertain Cherokee court ruling declines to uphold Grand Council votes; Supreme Court to review decision

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER recent ruling from the Cherokee Tribal Court has called the authority of Grand Council into question. Temporary Associate Judge Sharon Tracey Barrett denied a request for a court order stopping Tribal Council from pursuing impeachment against Principal Chief Patrick Lambert, though 84 percent of enrolled members who cast ballots during an April 18 Grand Council session voted to repeal the impeachment legislation.

“At this time,” reads Barrett’s April 26 decision, “Plaintiffs have not shown that Cherokee custom, tradition or precedent give the enactments of a Grand Council the force of law, especially in the absence of subsequent action thereon by the Tribal Council.”

However, the ruling does not amount to a legal green light for Tribal Council’s efforts to remove Lambert from office. The ruling responded to Lambert’s request for a prelimi-

GRAND COUNCIL’S LEGITIMACY QUESTIONED Barrett upheld her earlier decision that Tribal Council has no authority to suspend Lambert from office, as it attempted to do in an April 6 resolution. But she did not conclude that Grand Council’s decisions have historically held the force of law, or that the Grand Council held April 18 was conducted in accordance with tribal traditions.

In some historical examples, Barrett wrote, there is evidence that action from Tribal Council was needed to validate decisions of the Grand Council. For example,

Smoky Mountain News

May 3-9, 2017

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nary injunction, a relatively rare action in which the court concludes that, even before holding a full trial, it’s evident that the defendants will likely lose and that irreparable harm will result if the action in question isn’t halted. Barrett decided that Lambert’s case — represented by Asheville-based attorney Scott Jones — had not met that high standard.

However, the Cherokee Supreme Court has granted a request from Attorney General Danny Davis — who has intervened in the case — to review that decision. A hearing is scheduled for May 10, the day after the May 9 hearing during which the Supreme Court will hear arguments on a variety of other impeachment-related complaints.

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rules governing the 1979 Grand Council stated that passed resolutions should go before Tribal Council during a special session, and that Tribal Council would carry out those resolutions in ordinance form.

Similar language appeared in the rules published for the Grand Council called in February 1996. However, no such stipulation was included in the rules governing the April 18 Grand Council.

“These rules (for April 18) plainly vary from the rules of prior Grand Councils in numerous significant ways … Among other things, these rules provide no role whatsoever for the Tribal Council in the process of adopting the resolutions of Grand Council as ordinances,” Barrett wrote.

Barrett also questioned whether the April 18 Grand Council could be considered a council representing all enrolled members, pointing out issues with the way the meeting was noticed and the vote taken. In previous Grand Councils, she wrote, notices, rules and agendas had appeared in The Cherokee One Feather well ahead of time, while this Grand Council was first announced on Lambert’s public Facebook page, six days beforehand. Notices were sent in the mail, but evidence had not been offered to show that those notices went to all enrolled members. The meeting was not advertised in The One Feather.

In addition, Barrett wrote, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Board of Elections

Dates ahead n 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 9: Budget Council will be held. n 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 9: The Cherokee Supreme Court will hear arguments on a variety of issues, including Tribal Council’s authority to suspend the chief, the legality of decisions made during secret meetings of Tribal Council, whether due process of law was violated and the legitimacy of the investigation on which Tribal Council is basing its impeachment efforts. n 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 10: The Cherokee Supreme Court will hear arguments on the authority of Grand Council to override Tribal Council and on the legitimacy of the Grand Council held April 18. n 8:30 a.m. Thursday, May 11: Tribal Council will be held.

was not involved in the voting, and many people cast their votes before discussion was complete and voice votes taken.

Amendments were added to some items from the floor, but there was no opportunity for people who had already turned in a ballot to change their votes if they so desired.

“The court does not find that the Grand Council held on April 18, 2017 was conducted in accordance with the laws, customs, traditions or precedents of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians,” Barrett wrote. “Instead, the Grand Council represented a display of public support by numerous enrolled members of the Plaintiff

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May 3-9, 2017 Smoky Mountain News

There is potential for the court to reverse its decision. The Cherokee Supreme Court granted Davis’ request that the higher court review Barrett’s ruling, and a hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 10.

Afterward, the court can either grant the preliminary injunction — meaning that impeachment proceedings would cease — or it could deny the request, meaning the proceedings could continue.

But even if the request were denied, the lawsuit would continue. True to its name, a preliminary injunction is a preliminary action — one taken before the full case can be entered and argued. A hearing on all the facts and legal issues at play will likely be scheduled for some later date. However, if the Supreme Court denies the preliminary injunction, Tribal Council will be free to pursue impeachment while the lawsuit plays out.

If an impeachment hearing is held and Tribal Council votes to remove Lambert, a new lawsuit could result. In her ruling, Barrett allowed that a vote to remove him would raise “significant questions” about what the law says.

For example, it’s unclear whether the Charter gives Tribal Council the power to actually remove an elected official from office, or merely the power to accuse that official of wrongdoing. The tribe’s Charter says only that elected officials who violate their oath of office “may be impeached by a two-thirds vote of council.” It does not explicitly say that council can remove impeached officials, and tribal law doesn’t clarify the issue any further.

“Further, a question might, in the future, be presented in this case if the Tribal Council enacts a two-thirds final vote upon impeachment, because the governmental body that issues articles of impeachment do not customarily hear impeachment trials,” Barrett wrote. “It appears that such an approach would be a contravention of the practices in most, if not all, legislatures in other jurisdictions.”

In both the state and federal government, the House of Representatives has the power to draft articles of impeachment, but the Senate conducts the hearing and holds the final vote on whether the official should be removed from office. But the tribe does not have a bicameral legislature, and tribal law contains no mention of these powers being divided.

No impeachment hearing will be held until the Supreme Court comes back with a ruling following the Mary 9-10 court hearings.

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Tribe, including many friends and supporters of Plaintiff Chief, for him and for the measures that were considered.”

The Grand Council drew 1,355 people, with 1,242 turning in a ballot and 1,140 voting on the impeachment issue. Of those, 84 percent voted to rescind the resolutions Tribal Council had passed to start impeachment proceedings against Lambert.

Attendance was less than 10 percent of the tribe’s membership, but the number of voters was 31 percent of the number who voted in the chief ’s race in 2015.

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Fines Creek - 4BR, 3BA, 1HB $1,150,000 #3270937

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May 3-9, 2017

Rock House Cove - 3BR, 2BA, 1HB $259,000 #3272662

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Community Almanac Art commission named Main Street champs The 2016 N.C. Main Street Champions for Downtown Waynesville are the members of the Waynesville Public Art Commission.

Main Street Champions, individuals who work and advocate for downtown revitalization across the state were recognized for their commitment this morning at an awards ceremony breakfast in Shelby. Thirty-six individuals received honors for their contributions in 2016.

A visual part of the success of the Downtown Waynesville Association includes the ongoing partnership of the Waynesville Public Art Commission. Since its inception, the commission has been responsible for placing more than 12 pieces of art in town.

Smoky Mountain News

Technicians certified to check car seats Safe Kids Jackson County hosted a Child Passenger Safety Technician Training on March 1316 at the Emergency Operations Center in Sylva, NC. Many organizations and agencies sent representatives to participate in the training. After four days of classroom education and hands-on learning, each of the 21 participants passed the certification test to become Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians.

Training was funded through the Great Smokies Health Foundation.

828.587.8227.

History tour to Shenandoah Valley

Waynesville Public Art Commission named 2016 N.C. Main Street Champions for Downtown Waynesville.

Help Stamp Out Hunger in Haywood County

Health foundation donation saves lives

The 25th Annual Letter Carriers food drive will take place in Haywood County on Saturday, May 13.

It is by far the largest single source of food for the four main food pantries that serve folks in need: Haywood Christian Ministry, The Salvation Army, The Open Door, and Canton Community Kitchen.

Contributing is easy — before the regular mail pick up on Saturday, May 13, leave bags of unopened, non-perishable food items by your mailbox.

Letter carriers or food drive volunteers will pick up the bags and deliver them to the food agencies.

Last year, more than 31,000 pounds of food were collected and distributed to those in need.

828.456.4838, or visit www.nalc.org.

For the past two years, Haywood Healthcare Foundation has raised funds to provide Automated External Defibrillators to local police departments.

Due to the availability of these devices, lives have been saved which otherwise might have had very different outcomes. Waynesville Police Chief Bill Hollingsed recently honored several officers for their quick responses and life-saving techniques.

Every year, the Haywood Healthcare Foundation hosts events for the sole purpose of meeting unmet healthcare needs. Its top three initiatives this year are substance abuse, mental health and chronic disease. www.haywoodhealthcarefoundation.org or 828.452.8343.

Mediation training offered in Franklin Mountain Mediation Services is offering its Community Mediation Training May 23 through May 25, in Franklin.

Participants will learn the mediation process and are equipped with the tools needed to effectively deal with conflict and develop productive resolution. The training is being held at the First United Methodist Church of Franklin, 66 Harrison Ave., Franklin. The number of participants is limited and space must be reserved by Wednesday, May 17. The tuition fee of $250 covers instruction plus manuals, handouts and refreshments.

Call Lorraine at 828.631.5252 or email mmsbryson@dnet.net.

Join the members and friends of the WNCCWRT for its Spring Tour Friday, May 12, through Monday, May 15, up the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia to visit several Civil War Battlefields in the vicinity of Front Royal.

Group base will be the Front Royal Quality Inn on Skyline Drive where rooms are reserved for the Round Table at the rate of $291.61 (first floor) for three nights. Breakfast is included. Reserve your room by May 8 under the Civil War Round Table Confirmation #506287526 by calling 540.635.3161.

Contact Richard Smith at 828.293.5924 for information on carpooling or caravanning.

New pastor at Lake Junaluska First Baptist Nick Smith recently began his new role as the pastor of Lake Junaluska First Baptist Church in Clyde.

Smith served previously at Lake Junaluska as Associate/Youth Pastor beginning in 2002 and, from 2005 to 2006, he served as interim pastor for the church. He has also served the Lord as a World Changers Worship Speaker, Pastor of Long View Baptist Church in Franklin and Meadow Grove Baptist Church in Hayesville. Nick also launched and pastored a church in 2014, Center Church of Murphy. www.ljfbc.org.

Hospice House receives $50,000 grant

Fine Creek awarded $3,600 grant

Hospice House Foundation of WNC received a $50,000 grant from the Richard J. Reynolds, III and Marie M. Reynolds Foundation in Winston-Salem to support the construction of a hospice inpatient facility in Franklin.

SECU Hospice House, with six patient suites, will serve hospice patients from Macon, Jackson, Swain, Graham, Clay, and Cherokee counties, the Qualla Boundry, and Northeast Georgia. HHFWNC anticipates serving roughly 200 hospice patients per year.

828.524.6375 or www.hhfwnc.org.

The Fund for Haywood County, an affiliate of The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, recently presented a check for $3,600 to the Fines Creek Community Association for utility costs and supplemental food within its MANNA Pantry.

“The Pantry feeds more than 60 families monthly. The oldest recipient is 93 years old and the youngest is 2 months old,” said Board Chairman Charles Hornbostel. “The pantry’s mission is to ‘protect the heart of the community and serve its people’ and the pantry is central to the mission.” www.fundforhaywoodcounty.org.

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• The 2017 Relay For Life of Haywood County Annual Survivor Dinner will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday May 9, at the Canton Armory. All survivors who still would like to attend the dinner need to RSVP with Mark Scott at 828.627.6137. The Relay For Life/ Haywood County One County/One Cause will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, May 12, at the Canton Rec. Park.

• Swain Clean Cleanup will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 13, at Ingles in Bryson City. Volunteers will target areas of Bryson Walk, Toot Hollow Road and Buckner Branch.

• An American Girl Tea Party to benefit REACH of Macon County will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 13, at Cowee Baptist Church. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. Hot teas, finger foods, a raffle for an American Girl Doll of the Year, and prizes. Tickets are $10 for children, $25 for adults. 828.369.5544 or visit www.reachofmaconcounty.org.

ALSO:

• HIGHTS, a nonprofit located in Jackson County, is partnering with the Evergreen Foundation to open Resilient Seed Sawmill. HIGHTS is dedicated to solving community challenges by teaching relevant job skills to clients that have been identified as the most at-risk of incarceration, drug and alcohol addiction, mental health issues, and community violence. www.hights.org.

• Students at Cartoogechaye Elementary School participated in a food drive in conjunction with St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church Food Pantry. Mrs. Brown’s fourthgrade class brought in 349 pounds and Mrs. Rholetter’s third grade class brought in 239 pounds. The total amount of food collected was 2,188 pounds.

• Safe Kids Jackson County, the Injury and Substance Abuse Prevention Action Team, local law enforcement, and others participated in an Operation Medicine Drop event at Mark’s Pharmacy on Saturday, March 25. At this event, 57,424 dosage units were collected to include 14,774 prescription dosage units, 28,400 over-the-counter dosage units, and 14,250 unknown dosage units.

• A firetruck pull to benefit Relay for Life of Franklin will be held at 11 a.m. May 6 in the Big Lots parking lot in Franklin. Hamburger and hotdog lunch.

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Opinion

Smoky Mountain News

‘Born in Franklin’ may never be heard again A

What’s surprising in this decision is that Franklin is not some little hick town in the hinterlands. Yes, it is a small, rural community, but it is in decent economic shape. It’s burgeoning downtown features many successful entrepreneurs, it has the software and retail giant Drake Enterprises that provides about 800 jobs, and its nearness to metro Atlanta and to many outdoor treasures makes it a hotspot for travel and Editor tourists. Like much of Western North Carolina, it has a fascinating and vibrant mix of long-time local families and transplants.

But that doesn’t matter when it comes to the one sector of our economy that defies most normal business truths. Health care isn’t completely private, isn’t completely government-run, and isn’t funded completely by health insurances companies.

Here’s what Mission CEO Ron Paulus said at a news conference:

Scott McLeod

t some point in the future, here’s something you might never hear again: “I was born in Franklin.”

Look no further than this Macon County town if you want stare right in the face of the agonizing state of the health care crisis in this country. Due strictly to bottom-line concerns, officials who run Angel Medical Center say come July the hospital will no longer deliver babies. Too expensive, too much of a losing proposition.

It doesn’t matter how you feel about Obamacare or some other as-of-yet unreleased GOP plan, but the truth is that too many Americans are getting a raw deal when it comes to health care. I mean think about that: delivering babies is a losing proposition for a hospital.

Normal business practices are not relevant in our health care system. One would think that if you provide a young family with a lifeaffirming, positive experience having children, you would have just earned lifelong customers who would seek your services again and again and again when other ailments came along. Send this family to another community to deliver, and, well, you might not get that family back in your health care system.

“We are very sorry that we cannot keep this program open. We looked at every possibility that we could conceive of … we just couldn’t find a way.”

Paulus blamed changes to the Affordable Care Act, cuts to Medicaid and Medicare, and the North Carolina General Assembly’s refusal to expand government subsidized health care for the poor for Mission being $34 million behind in its revenue projections for this year.

State leaders certainly played a role in what is playing out in Franklin. Their refusal to expand Medicaid — which is government subsidized health care for the very poor — because of its association with the Affordable Care Act is totally the work of the GOP-led General Assembly and former Gov. Pat McCrory. Thirty-one states have expanded Medicaid, and they are getting our tax dollars.

Though North Carolina is now supposedly considering the expansion, in some cases — like at Angel Medical Center — the damage is already done.

That refusal cost the state billions of dollars in federal money and left many working poor in a coverage gap — making too much money (around $20,000) to get tax credits to

N.C. Senate back dangerous measure that could re-write U.S. Constitution Russian paratroopers dropping on the White House lawn could scarcely do more damage to the United States than what the North Carolina Senate called for last week: a convention of the states to tear up the U.S. Constitution. How Donald Trump would love that.

SJR 36, passed by a vote of 29 to 20, is a memorial to Congress to summon a convention “limited” to proposing amendments that would “impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and for members of Congress.”

Those are all terrible ideas, much the worse for being transparently vague. One of the schemes featured on the web site of the far-right lobby that’s promoting a convention calls for allowing the states to overturn any federal law or Supreme Court decision when threefourths of them — that’s 38 states — agree to do so. The nation would become as weak as it was under the Articles of Confederation that the Constitution replaced. It would become heaven on earth for the plutocrats and hell on earth for everyone else.

A convention of the states is one of the means provided in Article V for amending the Constitution, but there never has been one, and for good reason. It’s dangerous. To have such an event in a country that’s as polarized as ours is now, and as vulnerable as ours is to right-wing money, would be historically irresponsible.

It’s far from certain that the convention’s agenda could be limited no matter what the Congress might say. The Constitution itself, it bears remembering, was written by a convention whose duty, as proclaimed by the Congress of the day, was limited explicitly to revising the ineffective Articles of Confederation. It set out to scrap them instead.

Nothing in Article V provides for limiting the agenda of a convention or even for how delegates would be chosen. Election isn’t mentioned. The only caveat is that three-fourths of the states would have

to ratify the convention’s work product, as with any amendment originating in Congress.

One of the plots festering on the far right is to repeal the 18th Amendment and let the legislatures — the gerrymandered legislatures — appoint U.S. senators again. Another is to repeal the birthright citizenship guaranteed by the 14th Amendment and quite likely the equal protection of laws as well. Freedom of the press and of speech would be on life support too. Abortion, immigration, guns, the separation of church and state — every conceivable hot-button issue — would be in the cauldron.

All this would play neatly into the designs of the right-wing lobby, “Citizens for Self-Government,” that boasts 10 states in its pocket so far. One of its major funders, at $500,000 two years ago, is Robert Mercer, a significant financial backer of Donald Trump’s election, who reportedly made a start-up investment in Breitbart News, and is closely connected to Trump adviser Stephen Bannon. Salon has called the convention movement “a billionaire funded coup.”

The danger is real. The Republican Party now controls 33 legislatures, just one shy of the number needed to call a convention. The convention lobby is working on those that haven’t succumbed yet.

The nasty piece of work that the North Carolina Senate passed, with five responsible Republicans courageously voting “no,” sits in a House committee that may not act on it this year. Then again, it may.

Regrettably, Rep. Mike Clampitt, R-Bryson City, is one of the House version’s co-sponsors. (Jim Davis, R-Franklin, was absent when the Senate voted.) Clampitt could not be doing a greater disservice to our country had he set out to blow up the Capitol, the Washington Monument, and the Statue of Liberty.

(Martin A. Dyckman is a retired journalist who worked in Florida and now lives in Asheville. dyckmanm@bellsouth.net.)

buy insurance and not poor enough to qualify under Medicaid rules. So when they go to hospitals, hospitals don’t get paid. Hospitals lose money. Like at Angel. And so they have to cut services, like delivering babies.

State leaders, here is where you can take a bow and acknowledge your role in what is happening in Franklin.

At Angel Medical Center in Franklin — which Mission owns — 77 percent of the patients are either uninsured or on Medicaid and Medicare. Reimbursed subsidies for that care does not cover cost of delivering that care, Paulus said.

In most markets the split between private insurance and those getting subsidies or are uninsured is closer to 50-50, so hospitals can shift costs to insurers.

Paulus said, “There just aren’t enough people to shift that cost to.”

There are no easy answers to this situation. The reality is that the quality of life for Franklin residents will be worse come July as we continue to rural areas slip further and further behind their urban counterparts.

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

Party fracturing not necessarily bad To the Editor: We know that the modern newspaper, in fact all media, feeds on controversy, some of it made up for ratings and sales and then hammered to death when nothing else is happening. The fact that there is conflict in Haywood County is barely new. In fact, if there were none we should be worried. Gen. George S Patton said, “When everyone is thinking the same thing, someone is not thinking.” As political correctness dies a needed death more division should come forth.

This past election demonstrated that there are four political parties forming. Both Democrats and Republicans were — are — divided. The ultra-left which wears vagina suits and expects free college education is one — the far left progressives. Since socialism has never progressed anywhere that will always be popular but not effective.

The middle group of Democrats — the old DNC which relies on a steady supply of jobs in the bureaucracy is still around and strong. We used to call this “the court house gang” even when they were Republicans.

Meanwhile the GOP is divided into the corporate bunch, which relies on big donors and a state of inertia, and finally the Tea Party types, who are focused on the Constitution, law and order, and stability in the job market.

S EE LETTERS, PAGE 27

“What? Over? Did you say ‘over’? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!”

— John “Bluto” Blutarsky, Animal House, 1978 “I mean had Andrew Jackson been a little bit later you wouldn’t have had the Civil War. He was a very tough person, but he had a big heart …. People don’t realize, you know, the Civil War, if you think about it, why?”

— Donald J. Trump, White House, 2017

Chris Cox

B

John Belushi in ‘Animal House.’

To the Editor: While the ACA is being re-considered I am asking why did we allow the insurance industry to convince us that the head is somehow not part of the body? We know that dental and medical illnesses contribute to, or actually cause, other illnesses. For many years mental health was not covered by insurance or covered at a lower benefit than “medical” services. Not so long ago insurers relented and agreed to cover mental health services like any other illness.

Insurers deemed dental treatment outside of “medical” care. Those of us who have had dental insurance know that benefits are often limited to $500 annually with many services covered at 50 percent.

Let commissioners hire tax collector To the Editor: I read the recent letter by Rep. Mike Clampitt, R-Bryson City, and would just like to say that I disagree and believe that the taxpayers in Haywood County need this to be an appointed position, like the rest of the state, for the following reasons: n One, typically no pays attention to this “race” and low voter turnout is common. n Second, I trust the judgment of the administration and county officials to pick a qualified person to do this job. n Third, Haywood County cannot afford the loss of tax collection and the risk of another totally inept candidate winning office due to straight party voters.

Mylan Sessions Clyde

Smoky Mountain News

You’re just JEALOUS because you don’t have what we have!”

I hate to break it to you, America, but Trump is just a terrible boyfriend. He isn’t going to keep any of those promises he made, all of those sweet nothings he whispered into your ears during the campaign.

Hillary isn’t going to jail. Mexico isn’t going to pay for the wall, which will probably never be built. He is not going to lower the deficit (once those huge tax cuts for his corporate cronies kick in, the deficit will skyrocket). He is not going to provide a better health care plan. He is not … oh, I can’t go on like this. It is too depressing, and you’re still in the honeymoon phase. You’re only going to get upset with anyone who tells you the truth about him. We’ve all been there. It does not end well.

In the meantime, we and the rest of the world must figure out how we’re going to muddle through these next few years until America wakes up and realizes that even John Blutarsky would make a better president than Donald Trump. And a better boyfriend.

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

Mental health should be covered

May 3-9, 2017

y now, you would think we would be getting used to this, and yet the President of United States keeps finding new and astonishing ways to lower our expectations of him.

To be fair, when I say “a lot of us,” I mainly mean people who already had fairly low expectations to begin with.

According to the polls I have seen, the majority of Trump voters continue to support him, regardless of what he says or does, which really cannot come as much of a surprise, considering that he bragged about sexually assaulting women, openly mocked a disabled person, and incited violence at his campaign rallies, and was elected anyway.

I understand that there was a widespread, visceral hatred for Hillary Clinton. I Columnist was never a big fan of the Clinton dynasty myself, and I continue to believe that almost ANYBODY else (are you listening, Joe Biden?) would have beaten Trump in the election. But what point is there in rehashing the past? Trump is president, and after a hundred days, we — and the world — are still trying to adjust.

One of the things I am having the hardest time adjusting to is the steady stream of Trump spokespeople and apologists who must translate what he says (“this is what he meant”), or downplay it (“that is not what he meant”), or deny it (“that is not what he said”). They characterize him as a man who speaks off the cuff, and therefore should be given a lot of latitude. In other words, when he says something really,

astoundingly stupid, as he did this week in his comments about the Civil War, we should just laugh it off, punch each other in the arm, and say, “Isn’t he REFRESHING!” But it isn’t refreshing when the leader of the free world says things that the average eighth-grader could refute. It is disturbing and embarrassing. And it is a sad day indeed when half of America is like a high school kid with a crush trying to make excuses for an awful boyfriend or girlfriend.

“You just don’t KNOW him like I do!” (sniff sniff ) “He’s not at all what you think he is. I’m the one that knows him, not you.

The problem is that the game pieces keep moving. A new generation comes along with a different outlook on government. The millennnials, for example, are less interested in political parties and more interested in policy. They are registering as No Party or Independent.

The next 20 years will decide who comes out ahead but I would not be surprised to see new official parties forming on a national scale.

Cornelia Scott Cree Maggie Valley

Please contact your representatives and request parity for dental care and keeping mental health coverage at current levels.

Instead of tweaking the ACA, some think Medicare could be extended to all.

Everyone would be covered, with few exclusions (except for dental care, of course). “Alternative facts” are being promulgated that Medicare is somehow socialism, but it is not paid for by the government. Participants pay a premium and co-pays are required for most benefits.

Judy Stockinger Franklin

opinion

This just isn’t going to get any better

LETTERS, CONTINUED FROM 26

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tasteTHEmountains 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 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.

Smoky Mountain News

May 3-9, 2017

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 bag-

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 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

APPÉTIT Y’AL N L BO

Mother’s Day Sunday Brunch 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

3 E JACKSON ST. • SYLVA, NC

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

www.CityLightsCafe.com

243 Paragon Parkway, Clyde. 828.476.5058.

Open Monday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday 12 to 8 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 complimented by a quirky selection of wines and microbrews.

Supporting local farmers of organic produce, livestock, hand-crafted cheese, and using sustainably harvested seafood.

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

WAYNESVILLE’S BEST BURGERS

207 Paragon Parkway, Clyde

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

Real Local Families, Real Local Farms, Real Local Food

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

34 CHURCH ST. WAYNESVILLE 828.246.6505 Mtwitter.com/ChurchStDepot C facebook.com/ChurchStreetDepot

tasteTHEmountains 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.

JOEY’S PANCAKE HOUSE 4309 Soco Rd Maggie Valley.

828.926.0212. Winter hours: 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., closed Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Joey’s is a family style restaurant that has been serving breakfast to the locals and visitors of Western North Carolina since 1966. Featuring a large variety of tempting pancakes, golden waffles, country style cured ham and seasonal specials spiked with flavor, Joey’s is sure to please all appetites.

Join us for what has become a tradition in these parts, breakfast at Joey’s.

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.

LOS AMIGOS 366 Russ Ave. in the Bi-Lo Plaza.

828.456.7870. Open from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch and 5 to 10 p.m. for dinner Monday through Friday and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Enjoy the lunch prices Monday through Sunday, also enjoy our outdoor patio.

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.

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.

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

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 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.

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.

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

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 homemade soups, salads and sandwiches. Come in and see for yourself why Smoky Mountain

Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Saturday 12 p.m.-10 p.m.

Closed Tues.

Sun. 12-9 p.m.

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

Sub Shop was voted # 1 in Haywood County.

Locally owned and operated.

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.

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

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.

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.

May 3-9, 2017

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.

country cooking. Breakfast is served all day.

Daily specials including Monday meatloaf, chicken and dumplings on Thursdays and Friday fish.

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

243 Paragon Parkway | Clyde

828-476-5058

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Smoky Mountain News

The art of making it HCC ‘Crafting Your Success’ summit

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER o, you have the talent, imagination and output of an artist. But, do you also have the drive, business savvy and staying power?

“Tell your story, get involved in your community, and share your passion,” said Brad Dodson.

Standing in front of an audience of around 50 people, Dodson was the keynote speaker at the recent “Crafting Your Success” summit, which was hosted by Haywood Community College in Clyde.

Owner/artist at Mud Dabbers Pottery, Dodson spoke at length about what it means to be an artist, to run a business (with two locations in Waynesville and Brevard), and to attain longevity in both realms.

Brad Dodson “I teach every single day, and by doing that, I feel like I’m doing a service for our community and for other artists,” he said. “Don’t look at just what is out there, but what isn’t out there, too. Find new markets, new products. Get involved in your community, whether it be with dogs, with church or with the environment. Find something else you’re passionate about — it will help your business, your soul and your community.”

Throughout the daylong summit, regional artisans and HCC professional crafts students attended seminars that addressed the short-

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term and long-term needs of an artist trying to find financial, creative and social stability in an often crowded and haphazard marketplace.

“Being an entrepreneur can be very isolating. Being an entrepreneur and also an artist can block out the rest of the world,” said Tonya Wilson Snider, one of the seminar leaders and owner of Sylva-based TenBiz, which helps guide small business owner in training, mentoring and problem solving. “Sell yourself, sell your image. Communication is very important

The takeaway: HCC summit

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER tanding in the back of the classroom at Haywood Community College, I found myself with as many questions as I did answers.

During the “Crafting Your Success” summit at HCC, what I took away, more than anything, is the mere fact that common sense ain’t that common — especially in terms of the crucial crossroads of a successful business and creative fulfilment.

As the arts/entertainment editor here at The Smoky Mountain News, I spend countless hours, days and weeks wandering around the backwoods and backroads of Western North Carolina. I’m in search of passion, whether it be in the hands of weavers, blacksmiths, woodworkers, musicians, painters, photographers or any medium within the creative arts.

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in the business world, but it’s also something we really have to work on.”

The summit provided a round-robin dialogue where a wide spectrum of ages, backgrounds, mediums and experiences came together in hopes of walking away with vital knowledge on what works, what doesn’t and “where to from here?” when starting up, maintaining and growing an artisan business.

“We have such an opportunity to preserve the history [of these artisan crafts],” said Delaney Smith, a visual artist who was also a guest speaker at the summit. “And there’s a lot we have to build on. As craftspeople, this gives us a voice in not only our own lives, but also in the lives around us.”

“Get involved in your community, whether it be with dogs, with church or with the environment. Find something else you’re passionate about — it will help your business, your soul and your community.”

— Brad Dodson

The “Crafting Your Success” summit occurred on April 26 at Haywood Community College in Clyde.

Garret K. Woodward photo

And yet, as I try and showcase these incredibly talented characters to our readership, I’m also in awe of how they aren’t as well-known as they should be. Their work is intricate and unique, something of intrinsic and monetary value, but why is it their wares are either gathering dust on the shelves, their presence in the modern world barely scratching the surface?

What it comes down to is the mere fact having talent is one thing, but applying that talent to encourage and cultivate success is a whole other ballgame. And that is truth. You could be the most mesmerizing bluegrass picker or the most vibrant painter, but, at the same time, might never leave the front door of your dreams without the proper social and business skills needed to gain traction in your aspirations.

Thus, here are some things to think about: • Business cards — Get them as fast as you can, hand them out at every opportunity that presents itself. And also be sure to get them in return, where you can contact those connections and folks. You just never know who could be a good connection for your business. Be open to all avenues that you cross paths with, regardless if they may or may not be in the creative arts.

• Conversation — In social situations, interact with those you might not know personally in a room, seeing as most peo-

ple will initially gravitate toward those they are friends with.

Make eye contact, be sincere with your words, find common ground, listen to what the other person has to say, and also ask them questions as to what they do and where they’re from.

Conversation is data gathering.

• Media — Social media, newspapers, magazines, radio and television are your friend. You can never underestimate the power of media and its readership/viewers. And when you create and nurture relationships with media outlets, those long-term relationships can result in a hub of connections and collaborations.

• You — The single most important things in your business’ success is “you.” Are you doing at least one thing a day to get one more step closer to achieving your dreams? Are you calling back connections? Are you finding the appropriate (and ideal) partners and collaborators in your projects? Is where you are today where you wanted to be this time last year? What about where you what to be next year, in five years, in a decade?

Lastly, as your arts/entertainment editor, I’m at your disposal. Contact me, find me, talk to me, for I’m here to listen and promote any and all art forms in our backyard: garret@smokymountainnews.com or 828.452.4251.

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

Garret K. Woodward and Dave Davies of The Kinks.

‘In my heart, I am just a boy …’

I

“Until we can really trust each other as human beings, we’re never going to make a breakthrough. In letting go, you see more.”

— Dave Davies

“Oh, I don’t like [that],” I think we just drag the whole thing down. I think we have to be optimistic. Because we tried pessimism, and it didn’t really work — we’ve got to be realistic. It’s like music. If you’re with a set of guys, wanting to go in a certain direction, then you play to encourage and inspire each other. If you’re playing just to make people feel bad, where’s that going to go? What’s the point?

We’re constantly in a state of flux, we’re composing our lives just like musicians.

Editor’s Note: Dave Davies new solo record “Open Road: Dave Davies & Russ Davies” is now out. www.davedavies.com.

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Smoky Mountain News

t was during the first sip of my Legendary singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale second beer when it struck will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at me.

The Strand at 38 Main in Waynesville.

“Let’s go see Dave Davies.”

A production of “The Nerd” will continue Sitting in Bobby’s Idle Hour onstage at 7:30 p.m. May 5-6 and 11-12 and Tavern in the depths of Nashville 2 p.m. May 7 and 14 at the Haywood Arts this past Sunday, a pouring rain Regional Theatre in Waynesville. fell upon downtown with tornado warnings flashing across the The Art After Dark 2017 season will kickoff TV behind the bar. After decidfrom 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 5, in downtown ing to stay another night, and Waynesville. finding out Davies was playing that evening at City Winery, the The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host a last-minute mischief became fundraiser for Haywood County Special clear — we had to see the rock Olympics from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 4. legend in the flesh.

The 87th annual Ramp Convention will be Guitarist and founding memheld from noon to 5 p.m. May 6-7 at the ber of The Kinks, Davies is — American Legion Post #47 in Waynesville. quite literally — the foundation of not only what rock-n-roll is, in exist — only memories and moments withterms of sound and attitude, but also what in songs immortal. it means to be an inspiring and gracious artist on the grand stage of life. In the halfSmoky Mountain News: When I century since The Kinks roared into pop cul[watched your] show, you talk a lot about the ture with their timeless melodies, the rebeljoys of life. And it feels like that there’s this lious freedom of the music and lyrics still curious wonder within you that hasn’t left strike a vital and urgent chord in where we you since childhood… stand today as a global society.

Dave Davies: Well, I’ve always tried to Onstage, Davies is a shining light — of hold onto it. As you get older, it seems you optimism, positivity, and compassion. see things, innocence and purity, old and Moving around between iconic Kinks selecnew. It’s important to try and see things tions (“You Really Got Me,” “All Day And All Of The Night,” “I’m Not Like Everybody from a different angle, “Oh, wow, never seen that before.” It’s always been important. We Else”) and his recent solo material (“Path Is all go through the doom and gloom, the ups Long,” “Open Road”), the Rock and Roll and down. But, if you get lost in that low Hall of Famer aims to bring together a point, sometimes you can’t get back. roomful of strangers. His voice and signature guitar tone find common ground SMN: And that’s one of the things we between all souls within earshot, ultimately love about rock-n-roll, that when you play exposing the true beauty within each and every one of us, where time and age doesn’t those songs time doesn’t exist …

SMN: What do you see these days when you look out there? I’m in the U.S. and you’re from Britain, both these countries are going through huge changes.

DD: In my view, we need to trust the earth and the universe a bit more. Because, we don’t know anything, do we? We have to allow things to happen more. Until we can really trust each other as human beings, we’re never going to make a breakthrough.

In letting go, you see more. These prejudices and attitudes just blind us, blocks us from what’s going on. They’re just obstacles put in front of us to stop us from reaching out. I’m a big science fiction fan, and I think there’s so much wisdom that you can inject with alternative ways of thinking.

Science fiction cultivates the area of imagi-

SMN: Are you optimistic about the future?

DD: Yeah. Because I think, as individuals and collectively, we’re capable of changing our situation. We don’t know what we do when we really think about what we want and with [other] people, and start thinking,

May 3-9, 2017

HOT PICKS 1 2 3 4 5

SMN: You just turned 70 in February. Do you see a rebirth at this age?

DD: I think so, yeah. A friend of mine, who is a philosopher and was The Kinks first manager, said, “It’s easier when you get 70.”

Maybe he meant for reflecting and concentration. I do find I can concentrate a lot better than I did when I was younger [and] trying to do everything all at once. Because you can only physically, mentally and emotionally do so much. There’s always going to be someone who wants to pull you down, that’s just the nature of things.

nation. We don’t know what we really are.

We see what we think we are, but there may be much more.

arts & entertainment

This must be the place

DD: That’s very true. And it’s a bit like that onstage. When you get into the show, you feel like you’re in your own time zone with the audience, where time is irrelevant.

Dr. John Highsmith

www.TeethTomorrowAsheville.com

31

arts & entertainment

On the beat • Andrews Brewing Company (Andrews) will host Alma & Tommy (bluegrass/folk) May 5, Somebody’s Child (Americana) May 6, Heidi Holton (blues/folk) May 12 and Hope Giffin Duo (Americana) May 13. All shows are free and begin at 6 p.m. There is also an open mic “Jammin’ with Heidi” on Wednesdays from noon to 6 p.m. www.andrewsbrewing.com.

• The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host Sheila Gordon (piano/vocals) May 12 and Joe Cruz (piano/pop) May 13.

828.452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com.

• Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host Bradley Carter (singer-songwriter) May 6.

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

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host PMA (reggae/rock) album release party May 6, Karaoke May 12 and “Bluestime with The Ramcats” May 13. All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m. 828.349.2337 or www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Nantahala Brewing Company (Bryson City) will host live music on Friday and Saturday evenings. All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m. www.nantahalabrewing.com.

• No Name Sports Pub (Sylva) will host live music on Friday and Saturday evenings. All shows are free and begin at 9:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.nonamesportspub.com.

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host Hoot & Holler (newgrass) 1 p.m. May 13. All shows are free. www.froglevelbrewing.com.

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

• Heinzelmannchen Brewery (Sylva) will have live music and a potluck from 6 to 8 p.m.

May 4 and 11. www.yourgnometownbrewery.com.

• Sneak E Squirrel Brewing (Sylva) will host line dancing every Friday at 7 p.m. and contra dancing every other Friday at 8 p.m.

828.586.6440.

• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will have an Open Mic night May 3 and 10, and a jazz night with the Kittle/Collings Duo May 4 and 11. All events are free and begin at 8 p.m. www.innovation-brewing.com.

• The Strand at 38 Main (Waynesville) will host legendary singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale at 7:30 p.m. May 6 (tickets are $25) and an “Open Mic” night from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturdays. All are welcome.

828.283.0079 or www.38main.com.

• Derailed Bar & Lounge (Bryson City) will have music at 7 p.m. on Saturdays. 828.488.8898.

‘An Evening with Jim Lauderdale’

ALSO:

Smoky Mountain News

May 3-9, 2017

Americana icon Jim Lauderdale will play Waynesville on May 6. Scott Simontacchi photo

• Iotla Valley Elementary School (Franklin) will host acclaimed act Mountain Faith (bluegrass/gospel) during the “Leadership & Literature Tasting Buffet” at 6 p.m. May 4.

Tickets are $25 per person, which includes a show ticket and meal. 828.524.2938.

• The Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will host Bender Kills (rock) May 5 and Grandpa’s Cough Medicine (newgrass) May 12. All shows begin at 9:30 p.m.

828.456.4750.

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Legendary singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at The Strand at 38 Main in Waynesville.

Two-time Grammy-winning singer and master songwriter Jim Lauderdale is both a “songwriter’s songwriter,” who’s written/co-written many modern classics for iconic artists, as well as an intuitive sideman, who’s enhanced the music of a bevy of esteemed musicians. As a solo artist, since 1986, he's created a body work spanning 28 albums of imaginative roots music, encompassing country, bluegrass, soul, R&B and rock.

Throughout his three-decade career, Lauderdale has helped pave the way for the current Americana movement, recording albums and writing songs that cross genres from country, rock, folk and bluegrass. He has written songs and worked with some of the finest artists in traditional and modern music, including Robert Hunter, Ralph Stanley, Elvis Costello, George Strait, Buddy Miller, Lucinda Williams, John Oates, Solomon Burke, Lee Ann Womack, Old Crow Medicine Show, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Blake Shelton, the Dixie Chicks, Vince Gill, Patty Loveless, and Gary Allan among many, many others.

Tickets are $25 per person. Purchase tickets at The Strand or online at www.38main.com.

On the beat

D

A community music jam will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 4, 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 to join in or you can just stop by and listen.

The jam is facilitated by Larry Barnett of

For more information on the book and where to purchase it, visit www.facebook.com/yobrodobro.

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 — yearround. 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.

Smoky Mountain News

Bryson City community jam

May 3-9, 2017

iving into the rich, vibrant and controversial history of bluegrass music, If You Can’t Play, Get Off the Stage: Bluegrass in Western North Carolina and Beyond is the debut work from Garret K. Woodward, arts/entertainment editor for The Smoky Mountain News.

Woodward will be holding a reading, bluegrass discussion and book signing at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 13, at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville. The event is free and open to the public. Post-reading beverages will be had at Boojum Brewing Company on Main Street in Waynesville.

The book features interviews, profiles, quotes and conversations with the biggest names in bluegrass, mountain and string music, including: Balsam Range, Bobby Osborne, Claire Lynch, David Grisman, David Holt, Del McCoury, Doyle Lawson, Jesse McReynolds, John Cowan, Larry Sparks, Marty Stuart, Peter Rowan, Raymond Fairchild, Rhiannon Giddens, Rhonda Vincent, Ricky Skaggs, Sam Bush, Tim O’Brien, and many more.

Woodward was born and raised in the tiny Canadian border town of Rouses Point, New York — on the shores of Lake Champlain and in the shadow of the Adirondack Mountains. He graduated from Quinnipiac University (Hamden, Connecticut) in 2007 with degrees in journalism and history.

After stints in Lake Placid, New York, and County Kerry, Ireland, he landed his first reporting gig at the Teton Valley News in Driggs, Idaho. In 2008, the Idaho Press Club awarded him first place for “Best Light Feature” for his story “Chasing the American Dream of Breakfast.”

From there, Woodward crisscrossed America for several years as a music journal-

arts & entertainment

‘If You Can’t Play, Get Off the Stage’

ist, covering backyard get-togethers and renowned festivals like Burning Man, Rothbury, Grand Targhee, Outside Lands and Wakarusa. Since 2012, he has been the arts/entertainment editor for The Smoky Mountain News, and was recently named the music editor for Smoky Mountain Living magazine, both based in Waynesville, North Carolina.

In 2015, he won first place in the North Carolina Press Association awards for “Arts & Entertainment Reporting” for his cover story “Bless Your Heart — The State of Women in Bluegrass.” In 2016, Woodward was nominated for “Bluegrass Print/Media Person of the Year” by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA). The NCPA also recognized him with another first place in 2016 for “Lighter Columns” for his weekly column in The Smoky Mountain News, “This must be the place.”

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On the street arts & entertainment

WOW Kentucky Derby fundraiser

Darren Nicholson Band.

Do you like ramps?

Women of Waynesville, a nonprofit organization that supports the needs of women and children in Haywood County, will present its inaugural “Kentucky Derby Gala Fundraiser” from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at The Waynesville Inn. The event will be held out on the terrace of Waynesville Inn overlooking the golf course and gorgeous mountain views. Guests can help themselves to an array of heavy southern hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar with everything you’ll need to make a mint julep.

Attendees can watch the races throughout the afternoon on big screen TVs and will have an opportunity to place bets on four different Kentucky Derby races with a chance to win cash prizes. The event will also feature a Derby Hat and Derby Bowtie contest judged by local stylish celebrities.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Girls on the Run, a program that trains young girls to run a 5K and also builds self-confidence. Several Haywood County elementary schools have utilized this national curriculum locally to inspire girls to be physically and mentally prepared for life’s challenges.

Tickets for the Kentucky Derby fundraiser are $35 each and can be purchased at www.eventbrite.com/e/kentucky-derbygala-fundraiser-tickets-33061166840.

For more information or to become a sponsor for the event, call 828.550.9978.

Since forming in 2012, WOW has raised more than $150,000 for local charities in Haywood County.

To find out more about WOW, visit www.womenofwaynesville.org or follow them on Facebook.

‘Mountain Youth Talent Contest’

• Instrumentalists — Individual or Group (feature instruments such as banjo, fiddle, guitar, dulcimer, mandolin playing old timey songs, old gospel songs, bluegrass, heritage tunes) • Dance — Individual or Group (Clogging, Square Dance, Irish Folk Dance, Native American Dance) Certificates and 4-H ribbons are awarded to all contest participants. “Best of Show” first, second, and third places will be awarded. First and second place “Best of Show” winners will participate in the final contest of the season on the Heritage Stage at Western Carolina University’s Mountain Heritage Day on Saturday, Sept. 30.

To enter, complete an online entry form

by May 12. Information, guidelines and entry forms are available at the Jackson County 4-H blog: jackson4-h.blogspot.com.

For more information, contact Kerri Rayburn, 4-H administrative assistant at 828.586.4009 or kerri_rayburn@ncsu.edu.

The 87th annual Ramp Convention will be held from noon to 5 p.m. May 6-7 at the American Legion Post #47 in Waynesville.

Family friendly activities, corn hole tournament, ramp eating contest, and “King & Queen of the Ramp” winners. There will also be live music from the Darren Nicholson Band (Americana/bluegrass), Carolina Hearts (Americana) and Mile High (rock/classics).

Tickets are $8 pre-event, $10 day of event, which includes a meal. Tickets without a meal are $8 day of event.

828.550.6691.

Smoky Mountain News

May 3-9, 2017

Canyon Kitchen additions, dinner series

34

Located in the rustically elegant Jennings Barn at the foot of Cow Rock Mountain in Lonesome Valley, Canyon Kitchen is now open for the 2017 season.

To kick off the season, Canyon Kitchen will host special culinary events and wine dinners on Wednesdays throughout the month of May. The first scheduled for May

3 is a dinner featuring Guest Chef Meherwan Irani from Chai Pani. The next event, on May 10, is a fundraiser for the Hospice House. On May 17, guests can enjoy a Coupe Cocktail Dinner with cocktail book author, Brian Hoffman, of Hoffman Media. Lastly, they will close out the month May 24 with a wine dinner featuring Chateau Montelena.

For more information or reservations, visit www.lonesomevalley.com or call 828.743.7967.

To showcase the musical and vocal talents of our children, Jackson County 4-H, in association with Catch the Spirit of Appalachia, will again produce the “Mountain Youth Talent Contest” during the Stecoah Valley Spring Bluegrass Festival. The event will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 20, in Robbinsville.

Participants in this contest must exhibit a talent that will reflect Appalachian heritage adhere to the qualifications and rules set up by the organizers of the talent contest and the Stecoah Valley Center.

Categories of the contest include: • Poetry/Storytelling (writings about heritage, items of historical significance, old timey ways) • Vocal Performance — Individual or Group (old timey songs, old gospel songs, bluegrass, heritage tunes)

On the street #8

Spennd the day exactlyy as

the Cherokkees would.

T Thr Three centuries c nturri s ago. o

arts & entertainment

His tor ic A dv ent u r e

WINE TASTING, SILENT AUCTION TO BENEFIT CAT RESCUE

The Oconallufttee Indian Village is a near-p n erfeect re-creation of life, justt as it was, in an 18th-centur u y Cherokee village.

From m historic dwellings to anccient weap e onr y, it’s lik ke a histor y book come to vivid, v exciting life.

VisitCherokeeNC.com | 82 28.359.6490

• The Western North Carolina Civil War Round Table will host the program “From East to West and Back Again, Mapping the History of North Carolina” at 6:30 p.m.

Monday, May 8, at the HF Robinson Auditorium on the Western Carolina University campus. Open to the public.

May 3-9, 2017

There will be a free wine tasting from 1 to 5 p.m. May 6 and 13 at Bosu’s Wine Shop in Waynesville. Feline Urgent Rescue (FUR) of Western North Carolina will also host an evening of wine and appetizers from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at Bosu’s. Atop discounts on single wine bottles and cases, there will also be a silent auction, featuring local artwork, jewelry and gift certificates.

RSVP online at www.furofwnc.org. Cost is $30 per person and includes three wine tasting tickets. Sponsorships available for $125, which includes two admissions and a bottle of Mosseland wine. www.waynesvillewine.com or 828.452.0120.

ALSO:

Smoky Mountain News

• The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host a fundraiser for Haywood County Special Olympics from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 4. The cost is $60 per person. The price includes a four-course dinner and a reverse raffle silent auction. www.classicwineseller.com.

• Free cooking demonstrations will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturdays at Country Traditions in Dillsboro. Watch the demonstrations, eat samples and taste house wines for $3 a glass. All recipes posted online. www.countrytraditionsnc.com.

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arts & entertainment

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Smoky Mountain News

May 3-9, 2017

A G U A R A N T E E D G R E AT N I G H T O U T

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On the wall

Since 2012, CMA has attracted international attention for its unique format and distinguished level of art workshops and programs held locally on the WCU campus, nearby Waynesville at Lake Logan Episcopal Retreat Center, Sante Fe/Taos, New Mexico and Gloucester, Massachusetts. CMA is offering several workshops this year along the eastern seaboard in Snow Hill, Maryland. In what has become an annual event, this past January saw CMA travel across the globe to hold two weeks of workshops in Takapuna, New Zealand.

Cullowhee Mountain Arts is a local, but internationally recognized grassroots nonprofit organization providing the Summer Artists Workshop series at WCU, an established annual summer event on the Western campus introducing artists and educators from all walks of life to our Western North Carolina Region.

erinecastellan.com

HCC ‘Visiting Artist Lecture Series’ Haywood Community College will host Asheville artist Erin Castellan as part of the “Visiting Artist Lecture Series” at 4 p.m.

Thursday, May 4, in Clyde. The event will be held in room 7105 of the Creative Arts

Macon craft fair The second annual Cartoogechaye Christian Fellowship craft fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at the Memorial United Methodist Church in Franklin.

There will be around 30 artists and

crafters selling their handcrafted items, along with a bake sale and food sales. The Cartoogechaye Christian Fellowship (CCF) is a nonprofit organization of seven participating churches in western Macon County. The proceeds of the Craft Fair will be used to benefit Cartoogechaye Elementary School, their students, PTO and other programs.

May 3-9, 2017

Cullowhee Mountain Arts of Sylva announces eight scholarships available for the Cullowhee Mountain Arts Summer Arts Workshop Series at Western Carolina University.

Three weeks of workshops will run during the month of June beginning June 11.

Application deadline is May 5. Through the Jackson County Arts Council Grassroots grant (JCAC), CMA is matching funds to provide eight, half-tuition scholarships open to all regional artists living in Jackson County. To apply, go to the JCAC webpage or the CMA webpage: www.cullowheemountainarts.org/scholarships or call Director Norma Hendrix 828.342.6913.

The Summer of 2017 Cullowhee Mountain Arts Summer Arts Series will be held at WCU mid-June to the end of June, bringing 16 artists, their students, and their workshops to the region.

arts & entertainment

CMA scholarships available

Building on the main campus.

Castellan creates colorful, painterly collages using hand-embroidery, knitting, crochet and various found and painted fabrics.

She fully embraces thread and other textile materials as her ‘paint’ and enjoys the expressive range these tactile materials can offer.

Castellan’s embroidered paintings have been exhibited at galleries and museums across the United States, including Blue Spiral 1 in Asheville, the William King Museum in Abingdon, Virginia, and the State Museum of Pennsylvania. Recently her work was selected to appear in “New American Paintings, No. 118.”

Castellan holds a bachelor’s degree in textile design from the Rhode Island School of Design and a master’s degree in painting from Indiana University's Henry Radford Hope School of Fine Arts. She was a 2012-2013 Artist-in-Residence at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts and a 2016 Society for Contemporary Craft LEAP Award finalist.

For more information about this event, call 828.565.4240 or visit www.haywood.edu.

On the stage • Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host Dave Stone Comedy featuring several stand-up comics at 8 p.m. May 12. www.curraheebrew.com.

A production of “The Nerd” will continue onstage at 7:30 p.m. May 5-6 and 11-12 and 2 p.m. May 7 and 14 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.

Written by Larry Shue, “The Nerd” premiered in 1981 in London’s West End and then transferred to Broadway. It quickly became a regional theater smash hit. It was followed in 1983 by “The Foreigner,” which became as big a hit Off-Broadway. When Shue was getting ready for his Broadway debut as an actor in “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” in 1985, he was killed in a plane crash in Virginia. The theater world felt it had lost one of most promising new playwrights.

Tickets are $25.68 per person. www.harttheatre.org or 828.456.6322.

• The Haywood Christian Academy’s Night of the Arts will bring together all of your favorite Dr. Seuss characters onstage in “Seussical, Jr.” at 6:30 p.m. May 4-5 at the school on 1400 Clyde Road in Clyde. This will be a fantastical musical extravaganza featuring HCA students. You can purchase a ticket online at: https://haywoodchristianacademy.churchcenteronline.com/registrations/events/62418. Tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for HCA students. For more information, contact the school office at 828.627.0229 or visit www.haywoodchristianacademy.org.

ALSO:

Smoky Mountain News

HART extends ‘The Nerd’

37

arts & entertainment

On the wall Interested in calligraphy?

Dogwood Crafters Co-Op announces a two-day calligraphy workshop as part of their ongoing commitment to offering heritage craft instruction. The workshop will be from 10 a.m. to noon May 4 and May 11 at the Dillsboro Masonic Lodge.

Cheryl Thompson, a long-time member of Dogwood Crafters, will share the basic strokes and lettering techniques used in calligraphy. Cost of the class is $14, payable on the first day.

To register, call Dogwood Crafters at 828.586.2248 or email junettapell@hotmail.com.

HCAC art camp

Smoky Mountain News

May 3-9, 2017

The Waynesville Recreation Center has partnered with the Haywood County Arts Council to offer a weeklong art camp from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 19-23.

The camp is for rising third through seventh graders. There are still spots left for your child to participate in this exciting day camp, which will offer a variety of arts experiences. Classes include drama, guitar, collage, jewelry, poetry,

38

painting, and more.

“We were so excited to have this opportunity to work with the Waynesville Rec. Center on an art camp — we’ve worked to create lots of variety during the week, introducing participants to all kinds of art. This is the type of camp I would have loved to participate in as a child,” said HCAC Executive Director Lindsey Solomon.

Price is $135 for the week. To register, call the Waynesville Recreation Center at 828.456.2030.

Waynesville’s Art After Dark returns

Balsam craft show A “Spring Craft Show” will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at the Balsam Fire Department.

On display will be local handmade arts and crafts including: baskets, chair bottoming, crocheted items, hand-sewn items, hand-stitched and stamped greeting cards, oil paintings and prints, small hand painted tiles, wooden spoons, jewelry, wood carvings, paper quilling in barn wood frames and ceramics, among other crafts.

The event is held indoors with ample parking. A portion of the entry fees will benefit the fire department.

PREPARE TO LEAD IN THE PUBLIC AND NONPROFIT SECTORS

This Asheville-based program is now accepting applications for summer enrollment.

The Art After Dark 2017 season will kickoff from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 5, in downtown Waynesville.

Each first Friday of the month (May-December), Main Street transforms into an evening of art, music, finger foods, beverages and shopping as artisan studios and galleries keep their doors open later for local residents and visitors.

Participants include Burr Studio, Cedar Hill Studios, Earthworks Gallery, Haywood County Arts Council’s Gallery & Gifts, The Jeweler’s Workbench, Moose Crossing Burl Wood Gallery, T. Pennington Art Gallery, Twigs and Leaves Gallery and The Village Framer.

Free event. www.waynesvillegalleryassociation.com.

TWO PAINTING EVENTS “Paint Nite Waynesville” will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville.

“Painting at the Porch” will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at Southern Porch in Canton. Sign up on the Paint Night Waynesville Facebook page (search event: Brush N. Brew) or call 828.400.9560. paintnitewaynesville@gmail.com.

• The Smoky Mountain Quilters Guild will meet at 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 8, at Tartan Hall in Franklin. www.smokymtnquilters.org.

Highlands. Visitors are always welcome.

The club typically meets in Sylva the first Tuesday and In Cashiers the second Thursday of every month.

• There will be an open house and preMother’s Day sale at Pincu Pottery and Sawmill Creek Pottery from 1 to 4 p.m.

Sunday, May 7. www.pincupottery.com.

• 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 lunch, project and supplies. Free to the public. Membership not required.

828.349.4607.

• The next meeting of the Western North Carolina Woodturners Club, Inc. will be at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 13, at the Bascom in

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May 5, 6, 11,* 12, 13 at 7:30 pm May 7, 14 at 2:00 pm Adults $24 Seniors $22 Students $11 *Special $16 tickets for all Adults on Thursdays.

Special $8 Tickets for all Students on Thursdays & Sundays.

The Performing Arts Center at the Shelton House 250 Pigeon St. in Waynesville, NC

For More Information and Tickets:

828-456-6322 | www.harttheatre.org This project was supported by the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

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40

Books

Smoky Mountain News

Need I say more? The power of wit hen verbally attacked and left speechless by an assailant, who among us has not long afterwards pondered the mot juste that might have left our assailant gasping for breath on the canvas, that perfect riposte that would have left us the winner standing in the ring?

Some of us have contemplated as well our last words. Let’s say you’re careening down a country road near Waynesville, North Carolina.

You’re doing 50 on a 35 mile per hour road, you hang a curve, and suddenly a concrete truck is rushWriter ing straight at you on that narrow highway.

What are your last words? Do you quote Stonewall Jackson: “Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees?” Or do you just scream “S**t” as your final farewell to earth before heading off to shake hands with Saint Peter? I am reasonably and ashamedly certain what I would say. (Please accept my regrets ahead of time, Pete).

Then there are the dinners and parties.

There you are listening to someone drone on about local real estate property searches.

Wouldn’t it be great fun simply to quote Oscar Wilde, apropos of nothing: “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars?” Who knows? By quoting Wilde, or by tossing off some other random favorite epigram, you might change the direction of the entire evening, and your own life, forever. If nothing else, the conversation might switch to something more enlivening, as in whether that cheese, egg, and vegetable dish served by your winsome hostess was a frittata or a quiche.

Jeff Minick

W

Perhaps we should all stuff ourselves with aphorisms, maxims, quotations, and apothegms, using them like banners to impress our acquaintances, brandishing them

like sabers to cut down our enemies, and presenting them like bouquets of roses to win the affections of friends and lovers.

Yet how few of us do so! In my personal library, for example, are several collections of venerable quotations and humorous maledictions — Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations;

New NASCAR photo book Deb Williams will present her new work Images of Modern America: Charlotte Motor Speedway at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville.

A Canton native, Williams is an award-winning motorsports journalist who has covered events at Charlotte since 1979. This is her fifth book and her second on Charlotte Motor Speedway. The photographs are from the speedway’s archives.

When Charlotte Motor Speedway opened in June 1960, the track built by Bruton Smith and Curtis Turner became a cornerstone in the decade that launched NASCAR’s superspeedway era. Stock car racing’s first paved 1.5-mile track immediately grabbed the motorsports world’s attention with the young sport’s longest event — a 600-mile race. And the track never left the spotlight, despite struggling through several years of bankruptcy. After regaining control of his beloved track in 1975, Smith, along with former speedway general manager H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler and current president Marcus Smith, transformed the facility into a groundbreaking showplace with trackside condominiums, a 16,000-square-foot high-definition television screen, the luxurious Speedway Club, VIP suites, stadium seating,

Woods’ A Treasury of the Familiar; Phillips’ What They Said; Bryne’s The 2,548 Best Things Anybody Ever Said; and a few other volumes I am too lazy to track down. Do I open these treasure houses, remove some of the gems stored within, and through memorization enrich myself by making these beauties my own?

Nope. I browse these vaults from time to time, but never commit to memory the silver and gold they offer.

Some of you reading my words may be wiser or more ambitious than I. Below are a few maxims or aphorisms or whatever you wish to call them to help you get started at building your own hoard of epigrams. All of these beauties come from The 2,548 Best Things Anybody Ever Said, a deceptive title that should read “The 2,548 Best Humorous Things Anybody Ever Said.” Here you are: • The income tax has made liars out of more Americans than golf. Will Rogers (Tax season is upon us as I write these words. I agree with Will: the IRS has made us a nation of con artists and CPAs.) • Some guy hit my fender, and I said to him, “Be fruitful and multiply,” but not in those words. Woody Allen (I should practice this one in preparation for my encounter with that cement truck.)

• A cucumber should be well-sliced, dressed with pepper and vinegar, and then thrown out. Samuel Johnson (Witty, but I like cucumbers. Besides, Johnson was mistaken on other occasions as well. In his famous dictionary, he wrote that oats were a grain which in England were given to horses and in Scotland to men, to which a Scot supposedly replied:

and the first superspeedway in NASCAR’s modern era to host night racing. The historic speedway has always been a favorite with Hollywood filmmakers and in recent years has expanded into a multiuse motorsports facility. www.blueridgebooksnc.com.

‘The Saga of Sam Hunnicutt’ Jim Casada will be presenting “The Saga of Sam Hunnicutt: A True Swain County Original” at 6:30 p.m. May 4 at the Swain County Regional Business Education and Training Center in Bryson City. The event will be part of the Swain County Genealogical and Historical Society meeting.

Some would say that Hunnicutt was the hunter for the ages, an expert geologist, a natural historian, a yodeler, a turkey-panther-bobcat caller, and a songbird imitator. One of his lifelong pursuits was seeking gold, silver and precious stones. He was a noted “sanger” (ginseng digger). Hunnicutt was a self-proclaimed “perfect hunter and fisherman.” He was the author of Twenty Years of Hunting and Fishing in the Great Smoky Mountains, which was possibly the first book ever written by a Swain County native.

“Yes, and that is why in England you have such fine horses, and in Scotland we have such fine men.”)

• Old people shouldn’t eat health foods. They need all the preservatives they can get. Robert Orben (Agreed. Remember too, old folks, that for centuries sailors used wine, rum, and whisky as preservatives, sometimes even storing human bodies in casks of alcohol until they could reach shore. So raise a glass in those trembling fingers and warble out “Bottom’s up, buckos!” at the nursing home!)

• When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become President; I’m beginning to believe it. Clarence Darrow (This remark mirrors my opinion regarding most of the presidents of my lifetime.)

• If a writer has to rob his mother he will not hesitate; the “Ode On A Grecian Urn” is worth any number of old ladies. William Faulkner (If you know any writers, I’d take Faulkner’s epigram to heart. Beware of divulging deep confidences, for writers truly are a band of thieves.

Open yourself to us, and we pull up the truck and start hauling parts of you away.)

• I knew I was an unwanted baby when I saw that my bath toys were a toaster and a radio.

Joan Rivers (Thank you, Ms. Rivers. I have long wondered why I associate English muffins and classical music instead of a rubber duckie with bathing.)

• All God’s children are not beautiful. Most of God’s children are, in fact, barely presentable.

Fran Lebowitz (Fran always tells it as it is. So does the large mirror in my bathroom.)

• He who laughs, lasts. Mary Pettibone Poole (Words of wisdom for nearly every situation, funerals excepted. And even funerals may be occasions for mirth. I am, of course, thinking of my own demise. Laugh as you will.

To those of you laughing with me, bottom’s up. To those of you laughing at me, well, be fruitful and multiply.)

Western Carolina University and its Friends of the Hunter Library have reprinted Hunnicutt’s book as the first volume of a new annual series bringing rare items back into print and making them available to the reading public.

Conversation and refreshments will follow the presentation. This is open to the public and there is no admission charge.

City Lights open mic The NetWest program of the North Carolina Writers Network will host an open mic night at 7 p.m. Friday, May 5, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.

Folks are encouraged to bring their poetry or short pieces to share. Sign-ups begin at 6:45 p.m. for 10-minute reading session.

The North Carolina Writers’ Network connects, promotes, and serves the writers of this state. They provide education in the craft and business of writing, opportunities for recognition and critique of literary work, resources for writers at all stages of development, support for and advocacy of the literary heritage of North Carolina, and a community for those who write. www.ncwriters.org.

Haywood County’s

Real Estate Resource May 3-9, 2017

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Smoky Mountain News

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42

Outdoors

Smoky Mountain News

Voices from the trail A.T. thru-hikers talk about trail names, motivations, and the on-trail experience

A raincloud rolls through the view from Hump Mountain. Holly Kays photos

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER y pack was plenty heavy as I set out north on the Appalachian Trial from Carvers Gap, but with my phone on airplane mode and three days in the woods ahead of me, my steps felt light. The sun was warm and bright as a friend and I climbed those initial balds, my dog running joyful circles through the grass. The trail soon gave way to still-bare forests whose floors were alive with wildflowers, the sinking sun casting an enchanting glow over the whole scene.

Of course, the 15 mile-section of trail would have its challenges — winds so strong I couldn’t stand upright when hiking over Hump Mountain, an oncoming bank of dark clouds causing me to question what I would do should they contain lightning. A sleepless night as wind whipped the tent canvas, creating constant noise. Threat of rain that, fortu-

M

nately, ended with little output except for a few passing showers.

If I’d been doing all 2,190 miles, like the many thru-hikers now on the trail, the challenges would have been much heftier. I would have been in the mountains during last week’s days of heavy rain. My appetite would be enormous, and my pack too small to contain all those calories. And I’d probably be nursing aches and pains and injuries that constantly complained as I marched my way to Maine.

But for those who had already put 380 miles behind them to arrive at the Roan Mountain section, which straddles the North Carolina-Tennessee line between Boone and Johnson City, the joys outweighed the pain.

They spoke of blooming flowers, on-trail camaraderie and a reinvigorated appreciation for life — a life in which the A.T. will forever loom large.

The sun prepares to rise opposite a tent camped near Overmountain Shelter.

From left to right: Sean Hartigan, Rhiannon Kirby, Braxton Kehr, Mitchell Groenhof.

Bad Company

By April 27, four members of Bad Company, a loose association of 8 to 10 hikers, had reached the Doll Flats area about 3 miles from the town of Roan Mountain. They took a break from their fantasies about giant hamburgers and loaded french fries to chat about their experiences so far.

Rhiannon “Bullseye” Kirby, 23, and Sean “Snowmonkey” Hartigan, 24 Clyde, N.C. RK: He graduated in May of last year and I graduated in December. Two years ago we met and we both mutually wanted to hike the A.T. And then we started dating and then we started planning a trip together. We’d done a few backpacking trips together, which kind of broke us in.

SH: I think a big thing about wanting to do the A.T. was we both love the outdoors, and living in North Carolina gave us so many opportunities to hike around here, and we just kind of fell in love with nature. But the A.T.’s so much more than that because there’s a great community and we made great friends already, and this is like our family now. There’s more than we expected. If somebody was to say, ‘What did you expect to get out of the A.T.?’ I’d say, ‘I don’t really know.’ Now I’m starting to learn what I’m starting to get out of the A.T. Just every day is new challenges and — RK: New appreciations.

SH: That’s a good word for that.

RK: Like the specific birds or — SH: The sun. Sometimes seeing the sun is one of the most amazing things.

RK: The food. Making the best dinner on the trail. Adding cream cheese to your pasta.

SH: Finding new meals.

RK: It’s the little things. I definitely feel like that is a great motto for the trail. You really know what the little things are and how to appreciate them.

Mitchell “Hype” Groenhof, 27 St. Paul, Minn.

“I got my name just because I was so hyped up the first day. I wanted to do the trail since I

was — my oldest brother told me about the A.T. when I was I think 13 or 14 and I always thought it was really cool but I never thought I could do it.

I’m not the most organized person. I knew that physically I’d push through, I wouldn’t care, I’d be able to do it, but I’ve wanted to do it for so long.

But then my wife, she just came home from work one day and said, ‘Hey, you want to do the A.T.?’ and without expecting me to say yes I said, ‘Absolutely,’ because I’d always wanted to and I knew with her I could figure out mentally all the preparation. Now she has a trail baby, so I had to send her home — she’s home, she’s pregnant!

With twins — it’s going to be twins. I’m telling you. I ‘know’ she’s pregnant with twins. Now here I am and I have until the 10th to get off the trail, unfortunately. I gotta get a job because neither of us have jobs right now, we barely have insurance.

I’m going to get 500 miles under my belt, and that’s cool. I’ll be back.”

F

Hiking the A.T. Completing the entire 2,190 miles of the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) in one trip is a mammoth undertaking. Each year, thousands of hikers attempt a thru-hike; only about one in four makes it all the way. n A typical thru-hiker takes 5 to 7 months to hike the entire A.T. n After deciding when and where to begin and then registering your thru-hike, you will need to plan your resupply points and know the camping regulations along the A.T. n Learn the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s expectations for hikers who want to be officially recognized as a 2,000-miler. n In addition to these logistics, physical and mental preparations become important factors in a successful thru-hike. n About 17,500 people have hiked the entire A.T. since its completion in the 1930s.

Source: The Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Drought beats a retreat

Braxton “Kirby” Kehr, 30 Anchorage, Alaska

Noah Williams.

“I’m doing the A.T. because it’s always been a dream of mine since I first heard about it, and it’s a great little sense of adventure before I feel like I need to get my foot in the career door. I am a fisheries and wildlife biologist by trade, so really just anything in that field, probably a lot of technician work to start out, hopefully somewhere on the west coast, because I want to explore that a little bit too. Hopefully I can do that for a little while and then go to grad school for fisheries and wildlife biology. So this is right up my alley, something I’ve always studied

about and learned about, and now I want to live it for a while. I really want to elongate this for as long as possible, make it last, make the vacation last for as long as I can.”

Carolina.

From farmers markets to restaurants and roadside stands, the guide provides a variety of options for enjoying local food. It also

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Maureen McCann.

SHOP VOLUNTEER

Maureen “Amtrak” McCann, 57 Boise, Idaho “I totally love watching the forest change.

When I first got out here it was nothing but leaves or mud, and now it’s flowers and depending what elevation you’re at different things are blooming. You’ll see them blooming, then you won’t see them for a while, then you’ll change elevation and you’ll see them again.

That is just amazing. I’m a hiker so I knew some of that but never saw it every single day, happening every single hour. That is something that you can’t, I don’t think, express to people and they really would get it. I love this, but I don’t see me going through this again. It’s really hard on your body. I won’t stop hiking, but now I’m coming up on over 350 miles and coming up on six weeks. It’s just really, really hard on your body. And I thought it would be just muscular, so you would get stronger, but it’s tendons and ligaments and they don’t really get stronger.

They just get injured and then you have to baby them, which is something I didn’t anticipate.

It’s kind of tough. And it’s not just my age group that’s going through that. What it’s turned into for me is I feel like I’m doing section hikes from certain towns to certain towns, which really translates from shower to shower. Right now I feel like I’m going to Damascus, and once I get to Damascus I’ll kind of come up with a plan.

My brain has it set up that I’m just doing fiveto-seven-day section hikes and when I get there I’m like, ‘My next hike is —.’ I’m not thinking Katahdin. I don’t think that way. I think that would lose you.”

A healthy cooking workshop 10-11:30 a.m.

Thursday, May 11, at the Pigeon Community Center in Waynesville will give a hands-on lesson in how to cook fresh produce.

The menu, roasted vegetables and cucumber salad, is a repeat of that offered at the successful inaugural workshop in March.

Future workshops with different menus will likely be held in the future.

The workshop is offered by the Haywood Gleaners, an organization that captures produce that would otherwise go to waste and distributes it to those in need. The organization has a variety of volunteer openings available.

Free, with space limited. Register at haywoodgleaners@gmail.com.

WALNUT VILLAGE SHOPPING CENTER 268-267

331 Walnut Street Waynesville

828.246.9135 HaywoodHabitat.org

Smoky Mountain News

Noah Williams, 23 Charlotte, N.C.

Learn how to cook the perfect veggies

May 3-9, 2017

“It was like the second day on the trail and the guy I was walking with, we randomly met and we were talking about trail names — what they might be, and nicknames we’d had in the past — and I told him how my last name was Kehr and my first initial was B and when I was in the Army it was ‘Kehr B’ and how much I hated that name, and he said, ‘You hate that name? Your name’s Kirby now.’ I’ve had to own it and go with it, but I’m out here because I’m kind of between careers, looking for inspiration.

I’ve had compartment syndrome for a number of years. That’s one of the reasons I was medically retired out of the Army, and I let myself get fat. I let it rule my life and I was afraid to go walking and hiking and all that kind of stuff and I finally decided that I wasn’t going to let it rule my life anymore. I’ve had issues with it on the trail, but otherwise pretty good, and I’m quite proud of myself. And I’ve lost 25.6 pounds.”

The new Local Food Guide from the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project is here, including more than 800 listings of places to find local food in Western North

includes new sections, such as a regional chart of farms to visit, popular you-pick items and the stories behind some of the region’s farms, chefs and farm-to-fork experiences.

Free print copies will be distributed through Western North Carolina and are also available at ASAP’s office on West Haywood Street in Asheville. A list of distribution points is online at www.asapconnections.org.

outdoors

Severe drought is nearly vanquished in North Carolina, with the number of counties in that designation the lowest it’s been since June 2016.

Currently, only Clay County is designated as experiencing extreme drought, whereas all seven westernmost counties were included in that list as of April 18. The remaining six counties are now categorized as experiencing moderate drought, with an additional 32 counties listed as abnormally dry.

Drought designations are updated every Thursday at www.ncdrought.org.

The new local food guide is here

@SmokyMtnNews 43

outdoors

Garden at the Cradle of Forestry Garden Day at the Cradle of Forestry in America will involve the public in learning about the Cradle’s gardens and preparing them for the season ahead, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday, May 6.

The day will begin with planting in the heritage garden along the Biltmore Campus Trail and end with a walk to the Cradle’s monarch waystation, discussing host and nectar plants along the way. The day will also include a cleanup of the Cradle’s pollinator garden, a chance to make native pollinator seed bombs and a presentation on the Cradle’s efforts to convert lawn areas into wildlife-friendly meadows. $5 for adults and free for youth under 16.

Friends of the Cradle, America the Beautiful, Golden Passports and Every Kid in a Park passes accepted.

The Cradle of Forestry is located in the Pisgah National Forest along U.S. 276, about 35 miles south of Waynesville. 828.877.3130 or www.cradleofforestry.com.

May 3-9, 2017

Walk among the wildflowers An expedition in search of spring wildflowers will be offered 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 6, at the Balsam Mountain Preserve.

Balsam Mountain Trust naturalists will lead the way along the preserve’s Double Top Trail, home to many blooms found nowhere else on the property. Register with Rose Wall at 828.631.1061 or education@bmtrust.org.

find us at: facebook.com/smnews

Butterfly house to arrive at N.C. Arboretum A walk-through butterfly nursery and butterfly house will introduce visitors to a variety of local butterfly species beginning May 13 at the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville.

In addition to the seasonal exhibit, called Winged Wonders, a new sculpture by Waynesville artist Grace Cathey called Life of the Monarch will be unveiled May 13 in the forest meadow. The sculpture is a colorful, upright kaleidoscope design featuring the various stages of the monarch’s life cycle.

Throughout the season, the Arboretum’s gardens will feature plants and flowers that support butterflies, new interpretive signage about butterflies and other pollinators and a butterfly quilt block pattern in the Quilt Garden.

The emphasis on butterflies is part of the Arboretum’s overall effort to raise awareness for pollinators.

“In nature, new growth often leads to new opportunities for plants and animals,” said George Briggs, executive director of The North Carolina Arboretum. “With these additions, we hope that we can continue to grow our mission of connecting people with plants, and provide more opportunities to educate our visitors, members and students.”

All Arboretum exhibits are free with a $14 per vehicle parking fee.

The Arboretum’s Quilt Garden is planted in a butterfly quilt block pattern. Donated photo

Stock up for gardening season The frost-free date is just around the corner, and a pair of upcoming events will give gardeners the chance to snag some top-notch local specimens for their backyards. n A plant sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at the Macon County Environmental Resource Center in Franklin will offer a variety of plants from the Macon County Master Gardeners. The center is located at 1624 Lakeside Drive. 828.349.2046. n Gardeners and growers from across the region will sell their wares at the Whole Bloomin’ Thing Spring Festival, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 13, in Waynesville’s Frog Level District. Flowering baskets, vegetables, herbs, berry bushes, potted plants, trees and perennials will all be sold. In addition, the Haywood County Master Gardeners will have a booth where they will field plant questions of all sorts. Region-specific garden almanacs and garden gloves will also be available. www.historicfroglevel.com.

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Smoky Mountain News

Tuesdays at 6 p.m.

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Cowboy League Thursdays at 6 p.m.

Concealed Carry Class: 80/BYO gun 90/gun & ammo provided $

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Pre-concealed carry & post-concealed carry classes also available

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35/Half-hour $60/Hour

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outdoors

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Mac Brown. Donated photo

Casting master to speak in Maggie Master caster Mac Brown, of Bryson City, will speak at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 9, at the Rendezvous Restaurant in Maggie Valley.

Brown will discuss his latest book, due out in August, as well as sub-surface nymphing techniques. The author of the acclaimed fly casting handbook Casting Angles, Brown is a certified Master Casting Instructor whose work has appeared in Field and Stream, Outdoor Life and ESPN, among others. He was named angler of the

year by Field and Stream and started Western Carolina University’s fly-fishing programs in the mid-1990s.

Brown is currently a professional guide through his company Mac Brown Fly Fishing.

The talk is offered as part of Trout Unlimited Cataloochee’s regular monthly meeting. Come early to eat dinner beforehand. macbrownflyfish.com.

Earn a boating safety cert May 3-9, 2017

A boating safety course will be offered 6-9 p.m. May 15-16 at Haywood Community College, giving participants a shot at a certification required to operate vessels propelled by a motor of 10 horsepower or greater.

Participants must attend both sessions and pass a written exam. The free course is offered as a partnership between HCC and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. Additional courses will be held at HCC June 6-7, July 17-18, Aug. 7-8 and Sept. 25-26.

Register at www.ncwildlife.org by selecting the “Learning” tab.

Half marathon to run through Waynesville

4-miler through May 4. Proceeds benefit the Haywood Chamber of Commerce.

Registration and a route map are available at haywoodchamber.com/events-calendar/signature-events/gateway-to-the-smokies-half-marathon.

Bike rodeo returns

The annual Jackson County Bike Rodeo will return 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 13, at the Jackson County Recreation Center in Cullowhee.

Stations will offer kids the chance to learn how to ride, hone beginner and advanced bike skills, go on a group ride, see a bike trick demo and get their bikes and helmets inspected. Adults will also get to learn, with stations showing how to change a tire, adjust a seat or fix a chain. A variety of door prizes will be given.

Sponsored by a long list of community partners. Ruby Lawrence, 828.587.8227.

Smoky Mountain News

Runners will take to the streets of Waynesville Saturday, May 6, when the Gateway to the Smokies Half Marathon takes off for its third year.

The race will begin at 7:30 a.m. from downtown, with a new 4-mile route offered this year. Runners will wind along Waynesville’s streets and through its neighborhoods before finishing up in the Frog Level Historic District.

For those who want to participate, there’s still time to sign up. Registration is $70 for the half marathon and $30 for the

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outdoors

Cataloochee volunteers needed Volunteers are needed to help rangers manage traffic and establish safe wildlife viewing areas in the Cataloochee Valley area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Located in Haywood County, Cataloochee is a remote area that has become a year-round destination since elk were reintroduced there in 2001. Volunteers will educate visitors about the area’s natural and cultural resources and inform them about park regulations. When elk are present, volunteers will focus on traffic management and educating visitors about elk.

Volunteers are in particular demand for Saturday and Sunday afternoons, and evenings on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. They typically work at least one fourhour shift per week May through midNovember, traveling by ATV, bicycle or foot.

A training session is required prior to starting, with the session to be scheduled based on interest. Contact Karl Danforth, karl_danforth@nps.gov.

Help keep the Smokies clean

Smoky Mountain News

May 3-9, 2017

An upcoming work day in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will clear the roadsides of litter accumulated over the winter, 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday, May 9, on Lakeview Drive near Bryson City.

The park maintains 250 miles of roads,

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which require mowing during the summer months. The workday, organized by the Great Smoky Mountains Association, will prepare Lakeview for mowing by getting rid of debris and litter.

RSVP to Adam Monroe by Friday, May 5, at 828.497.1949.

View from Hemphill Bald. File photo

Elk in Cataloochee Valley. Esther Blakely photo

Explore Hemphill Bald A 13.6-mile hike blending the Hemphill Bald, Caldwell Fork and Rough Fork trails in the Haywood County portion of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will offer faroff views, babbling brooks and forests dominated by hemlock, buckeye and wildflowers on Saturday, May 6.

Offered as part of the Great Smoky Mountains Association’s Hiking 101 series, the hike will be led by GSMA member Lloyd Shiver.

As part of the trek, hikers will learn about Leave No Trace principles, citizen science techniques and the past fall’s wildfires. $10 for GSMA members and $35 for nonmembers. Register at http://conta.cc/2qp7Nd3.

Get schooled in the Smokies From history lessons to wildlife explorations, four courses offered by the Smoky Mountain Field School this month will provide plenty of opportunity for a deepened understanding of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. n Separate offerings of “Historic Cataloochee Valley, Smoky Mountain Elk & More” will be held Saturdays, May 6 and 20, in Cataloochee Valley. Instructor Esther Blakely will transport students back in time to one of the park’s most beautiful and remote places. Course runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. n “Introduction to Tree Identification” will take students on several short walks through various elevations and habitats Saturday, May 6. Instructor Mac Post,

Ph.D., will teach several methods of identifying trees using bark, twig and leaf traits.

Course runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. n “Bears of Our Smokies” will give a crash course in bear habits and how to avoid troublesome encounters, all peppered with fascinating facts about the Smokies black bear, on Saturday, May 20. Instructor Joey Holt is an Appalachian Bear Rescue board member who has hiked all 900 miles of Smokies trails. Course runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

All courses cost $79, with registration online at smfs.utk.edu. The Smoky Mountain Field School is a partnership of the University of Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and is now in its 40th year.

Smokies trails see status changes Closures and openings have resulted in status Reconstructed foot log on the changes for some trails in the Great Smoky Mountains Ramsey Cascades Trail. NPS photo National Park. n The Ramsey Cascades Trail is now open, having been closed since August 2016 when a foot log was damaged by a fallen tree. The log spanned a section of Ramsey Prong that was too dangerous for hikers to safely rock-hop across the river. n The Little River Trail in the Elkmont area of the park is now fully open following a month-long closure as structures along the trail scheduled for demolition were removed. n The Jakes Creek Trail in the Elkmont area will be closed from the trailhead to its junction with Cucumber Gap Trail through May 26, though it will be open during all weekends and backcountry campsites will remain accessible. n The Rainbow Falls Trail will be closed from 7 a.m. Mondays to 5:30 p.m. Thursdays from May 8 to Nov. 16 for a trail rehabilitation project. The trailhead parking lot will also be closed through June 15 but will reopen afterward.

Get out and get birding Birders will have ample opportunity to get outside with fellow avian aficionados over the next couple of weeks. n A beginners birding session will be offered leaving 7:30 a.m. Saturday, May 6, from Founders Park in Highlands. Romney Bathurst will lead the route through Highlands Biological Station and Sunset Rocks. Offered by the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society. 828.526.1939 or www.highlandsaudubonsociety.org. n A bird walk along the Little Tennessee River Greeenway in Franklin will leave at 8

a.m. from Salali Lane. Organized by the Franklin Bird Club, which offers weekly walks Wednesday mornings. 828.524.5234. n Birders Ellen and Jim Shelton will lead a bird walk along Flat Mountain Road, with participants leaving from Founders Park in Highlands at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, May 13.

Offered by the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society. 828.526.1939 or www.highlandsaudubonsociety.org. n The Sheltons will lead a second bird walk on Tuesday, May 16, this time exploring the Walnut Gap area with an 8 a.m. carpool leaving from Franklin. Offered by the Franklin Bird Club. Sign up at 828.524.5234.

WNC Calendar COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS • A Leadership and Literature Tasting Buffet, with special guest Mountain Faith, is scheduled for May 4, to support Iotla Valley Elementary. Tickets: $25.

• Macon County Schools and the Macon Parks and Recreation Department will host the second-annual Softball Tournament for Students with Special Needs starting with elementary students at 5:15 p.m. on May 11. The Macon Middle School and Franklin High School feature game is at 6:15 p.m. at Parker Meadows Complex. 342.0798 or 371.1397.

• The Haywood County Animal Services will hold its rabies clinic from 5-6:30 p.m. on the following dates and at the following locations: May 15 at Canton Middle School; May 16, at Jonathan Valley School; May 17, at Waynesville Middle School; May 18, at Bethel Elementary School; May 19, at Riverbend School and Clyde Elementary School. 456.5338.

• Haywood Habitat for Humanity will hold its last information sessions for applicants at 6 p.m. on May 18, at Long’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Waynesville.

452.7960.

• 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.

BUSINESS & EDUCATION • Western Carolina University will hold an 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 at 5:30 p.m. on May 4 at Cullowhee Valley School. 227.7311.

• Haywood Community College’s Small Business Center will host a seminar entitled “How to Prepare for a Lender” from 9-11 a.m. on May 4, in HCC’s Regional High Technology Center, Room 3021. Led by Tonya Wilson Snider. Info or register: SBC.Haywood.edu or 627.4512.

• Haywood Community College will hold a graduation ceremony for high school equivalency diploma, adult high school and career college at 7 p.m. on May 5, in the HCC Charles Beall Auditorium in Clyde. 627.4648.

• A shoplifting prevention seminar will be offered for area business by the Waynesville Police Department at 9 a.m. on May 5, at Mast General Store in Waynesville.

• Pincu Pottery & Sawmill Creek Pottery will hold an Open House and 2nds Sale from 1-4 p.m. on May 7, at 80 Highway 28 South in Bryson City. Refreshments and cake by Raquel’s Creative Cakes.

• An in-depth review of the role of The Jewish Family Services in Western North Carolina will be presented by the Asheville Jewish Business Forum’s monthly meeting at 5:30 p.m. on May 9, at Earth Fare’s community room in Asheville. Preregister: AshevilleJBF@aol.com. Info: bginbc@aol.com or 215.208.0646.

All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted. training and connections needed to successfully secure funding for their businesses or nonprofits. www.ShowMetheMoneyConference.com.

FUNDRAISERS AND BENEFITS • Tickets are on sale now for the Ducks on the Tuck “Duck Draw Raffle” to benefit Southwestern Community College’s New Century Scholars program that assures last-dollar tuition to middle school students in Jackson, Macon and Swain Counties. More than 30 prizes available including a 50-inch smart flatscreen television.

Drawing is May 12. Tickets are $5 each or $25 for six and available from current New Century Scholars, their coordinators in each county and from SCC: 339.4227 k_posey@southwesterncc.edu. A related “Where’s Tucker” social media selfie photo contest is also going on. More at www.southwesterncc.edu/ducksonthetuck.

• A fundraiser for the Haywood County Special Olympics will be held from 6-8 p.m. on May 4, at The Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. $60 per person includes a four-course dinner and a reverse raffle silent auction.

RSVP: 456.2030 or tpetrea@waynesvillenc.gov.

• Women of Waynesville, a nonprofit organization that supports the needs of women and children in Haywood County, will present its inaugural “Kentucky Derby Gala Fundraiser” from 4 to 8 p.m. May 6, at The Waynesville Inn. Proceeds from the event will benefit Girls on the Run, a program that trains young girls to run a 5K and also builds self-confidence. Tickets for the Kentucky Derby fundraiser are $35 each and can be purchased at www.eventbrite.com/e/kentucky-derby-gala-fundraisertickets-33061166840. To find out more about WOW, visit www.womenofwaynesville.org or follow them on Facebook.

• Tickets are on sale for “Sharing Our Passion for Compassion” – a charity dining event to benefit Hospice House Foundation of WNC. Features guest speaker and author Hattie Bryant, who will speak about “taking control of end-of-life decisions.” Event is at 6:30 p.m. on May 10 at Canyon Kitchen in Cashiers. $175 per person. www.hhfwnc.org, 524.8261 or micheleralderson@gmail.com.

• The Relay for Life of Haywood County Annual One County/One Cause will be held at 6 p.m. on May 12, at the Canton Rec. Park. 627.6137.

• The 25th annual Letter Carriers food drive takes place on May 13, in Haywood County. Largest single source of food for the four main pantries in the county. Leave bags of unopened, nonperishable food items by your mailbox before regular mail pickup that day. 456.4838 or www.nalc.org.

• “Smooch for a Pooch” will be part of the Haywood Square block party from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on May 13. A canine kissing booth will raise money for Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation. 456.3753 or www.thedoghousewaynesville.com.

VOLUNTEERS & VENDORS

Smoky Mountain News

• Town of Dillsboro will be hosting two more arts and craft shows open to vendors from the surrounding region. Over 40 artisans for each of these festivals are needed, artisans who will be displaying and demonstrating their hand made arts and crafts from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Family entertainment and festival food will be available during each show. Next show is Saturday, Aug. 20 — The Dillsboro Summer Arts & Crafts Market showcases local art and fine crafts, with a focus on family and children activities. Application due by June 1. Vendors may apply for shows by downloading an application from the town’s website, www.visitdillsboro.org. For more information, call Connie Hogan at 586.3511 or email festivals@visitdillsboro.org.

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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 www.rec.jacksonnc.org.

HEALTH MATTERS • Relay for Life Day of Hope, featuring fun and food, is from 5-8 p.m. on May 9, at Gazebo Creekside Café in Franklin. Ten percent of sales go to Relay for Life of Franklin.

• Adult Children of Alcoholics and Dysfunctional Families (ACA) meets at noon on Saturdays at the First United Methodist Church Outreach Center at 171 Main St. in Franklin. 407.758.6433 or adultchildren.org.

• “Your Amazing Newborn” classes will be offered for new parents from 7-9 p.m. on Thursdays, May 4, Sept. 7 and Nov. 16 at Haywood Regional Medical Center.

MyHaywoodRegional.com/ParentClasses or 452.8440.

• A workshop on Zentangle, a method for relaxing, increasing focus and sparking creativity, will be offered from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on May 13. $42 per person. www.haywoodarts.org.

• “Latest Advances in Women’s Health” is the topic of the “Talk with a Doc” dinner seminar at 6 p.m. on May 16, at the Haywood Regional Medical Center Café in Clyde. Featuring David Kirk, M.D., and Jody Schmit, Certified Nurse Midwife. RSVP required: 800.424.DOCS. • 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 Haywood County Health & Human Services Public Health Services Division is offering a Night Clinic from 4-6:30 p.m. on the third Monday of every month in Waynesville. Services include family planning, immunizations, pregnancy testing, STD testing and treatment. Appointments: 452.6675.

• The Jackson County Department of Public Health will offer a general clinic from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 587.8225.

• A Food Addicts Anonymous Twelve-Step fellowship group meets at 5:30 p.m. on Mondays at Grace Church in the Mountains in Waynesville. www.foodaddictsanonymous.org.

RECREATION AND FITNESS • Open play and practice for adult coed volleyball will be offered at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays in May and June at the Waynesville Recreation Center. $4 per person for nonmembers; free for members. 456.2030.

• The Haywood County Board of Realtors’ Annual Lendor/Vendor Fair is scheduled for 10 a.m. on May 9, at Laurel Ridge Country Club. RSVP: exec@hcbor.org.

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park is seeking volunteers to assist rangers with managing traffic and establishing safe wildlife viewing areas within the Cataloochee Valley area. To register for training or get more info: karl_danforth@nps.gov.

• The High Mountain Squares will host their Cinco de Mayo Mexican Dance from 6:15-8:45 p.m. on May 4, at the Memorial United Methodist Church in Franklin. Dr. Jim Duncan from Otto will be the caller. Western-style square dancing, mainstream and levels. 342.1560, 332.0001 or www.highmountainsquares.com.

• “Show Me the Money Conference + Funding Expo” will be held May 11-12 at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Asheville. Attendees will get access to the tools,

• The Great Smoky Mountains National Park seeks volunteers to help maintain roads from 9 a.m. on Monday and Tuesday, May 8-9. Info and RSVP: 497.1949 by May 5.

• Registration for a Women’s Tennis League through the Jackson County Recreation Department will run through May 28. $10 singles, $20 doubles. For ages 14-up.

• Registration for a Men’s Racquetball League through the Jackson County Recreation Department will run through May 28. $10 singles, $20 doubles. For ages 14up. www.rec.jacksonnc.org.

• Registration for an adult soccer league through the Jackson County Recreation Department will run through May 21. $200 per team. For ages 14-up. Games will be on Thursday nights in Cullowhee. www.rec.jacksonnc.org.

• Yoga is being offered at the Fitness Connection in Waynesville. First class is free. Info: 476.0179 or 550.1640.

• 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 • Youth for Christ’s Outdoor Mission Camp will sponsor “Clash of Champions!” - an evening of dinner, competition and games – at 5 p.m. on May 7 at the First Baptist Church in Maggie Valley. Area youth are invited to attend. 926.3253.

POLITICAL • Immigration issues in Macon County will be discussed with commissioner Ronnie Beale in an Eco Forum starting at 5:30 p.m. on May 5, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Hall in Franklin. Covered dish supper followed by 6:30 p.m. program. 524.3691.

• The next meeting of the Haywood County Republican Party Executive Committee will be at 6 p.m. on May 9, at the Colonial Theater Annex in Canton. 506.0205.

• The Haywood County Libertarian Party is now meeting at Blue Ridge Books on Main Street from 4:30-6 p.m. every second Monday of the month. These meetings will be for discussion on current events, and are open to the public.

• 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 • The NetWest program of the North Carolina Writers Network will host an open mic night at 7 p.m. May 5, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.

Folks are encouraged to bring their poetry or short pieces to share. Sign-ups begin at 6:45 p.m. for 10minute reading session. www.ncwriters.org.

• Author Deb Williams, a Canton native, will present her fifth book – and her second on Charlotte Motor Speedway – at 3 p.m. on May 6, at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville. www.blueridgebooksnc.com.

wnc calendar

• Garret K. Woodward, arts/entertainment editor for The Smoky Mountain News.

Woodward will be holding a reading, bluegrass discussion and book signing at 3 p.m. May 13, at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville. Debuing his work “If You Can’t Play, Get Off the Stage: Bluegrass in Western North Carolina and Beyond”. www.facebook.com/yobrodobro.

SENIOR ACTIVITIES • A budgeting program will be offered at 9:30 a.m. on May 3, at the Senior Resource Center in Haywood County. Taught by Lynn Heinrichs. Register: 356.2800 or stop by the Senior Resource Center.

KIDS & FAMILIES • Open enrollment is underway for the 2017-18 school year for Haywood Christian Academy. www.HaywoodChristianAcademy.org. Info: 627.0229.

• Nature program will be offered from 9-10:30 a.m. (for ages 3-5) and 4-5:30 p.m. (K-3rd grade) on May 17 at the Cullowhee Recreation Center. http://rec.jacksonnc.org.

• Nature Explorer activities and games will be offered for grades K-3rd from 4-5:30 p.m. on May 3 at the Cashiers/Glenville Recreation Center. http://rec.jacksonnc.org.

May 3-9, 2017

• “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2” is being shown on May 5 at 7 p.m. and 9:50 p.m., May 6 at 12 p.m. and 2:50 p.m., May 7 at 1 p.m., 4 p.m., and 7 p.m., and May 8-11 at 7 p.m. at The Strand on Main in Waynesville. 38main.com.

• A family movie will be shown at 10:30 a.m. every Friday at Hudson Library in Highlands.

KIDS STORY TIMES HAYWOOD • Mother Goose Time, a story time for babies and toddlers (5 months to 2 years) and their parents/caregivers, is held at 11 a.m. on Tuesdays at the Waynesville Library. 452.5169 • Family Story Time, 11 a.m. Wednesdays at the Waynesville Public Library. Stories, songs, crafts.

452.5169.

• Movers and Shakers story time is at 11 a.m. every Thursday at the Waynesville Library. For all ages.

Movement, books, songs and more. 452.5169.

• Family storytime with crafts, second Saturday of the month at 10:30 a.m. at the Waynesville library. 4525169.

• Kindergarten registration for Nantahala School is from noon-3 p.m. on May 5.

• Family story time for ages zero to six years old is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. each Tuesday at the Canton Library. 648.2924.

• An Eco-Explorers: Stream Stats program will be open to ages 8-13 from 1-3 p.m. on May 6 & 15 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard.

Registration required: http://tinyurl.com/jq4r6x3. Info: 877.4423.

• Registration deadline for the Mountain Youth Talent Contest is May 12. http://jackson4-h.blogspot.com.

Event is May 20 during the Stecoah Valley Spring Bluegrass Festival in Robbinsville. Info: kerri.rayburn@ncsu.edu, heather_gordon@ncsu.edu or 586.4009.

• The Jackson County Recreation Department will hold its annual bike rodeo from 9 a.m.-noon on Saturday, May 13, in Cullowhee. Bike safety checks, helmet inspections, learning to ride and more. 587.8227 or 587.8226.

• A nature program for ages 3-third grade is scheduled for May 17 through the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department. Program for 3-5 year olds starts at 9 a.m.; program for K-3rd grade is from 45:30 p.m. http://rec.jacksonnc.org.

• 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.

• Early registration is underway through May 26 for a summer volleyball camp at Waynesville Recreation Center. Camp is for those entering third through 12th grades. Camp director is Amy Mull, coach for the Asheville Trailblazers. $85 before May 26; 100 after.

Camp is from 9 a.m.-noon on June 12-15. Info or register: amymull@bellsouth.net.

• 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 adven48 ture. Susan@lakelogan.org or 646.0095.

in Highlands. Children (grades K-6) practice early reading skills by reading to a canine companion. Info: www.fontanalib.org, www.readingpaws.org or 526.3031.

• A family movie will be shown at 3:30 p.m. on May 9, at Marianna Black Library in Bryson City. Movie’s about a bickering mother and daughter who awake to find they’ve switched bodies. Info, including movie title: 488.3030.

• Nature Discovery activities and games will be offered for ages 3-5 from 9-10:30 a.m. on May 3 at the Cashiers/Glenville Recreation Center. http://rec.jacksonnc.org.

• A Nature Nuts program on “Stream Investigation” will be offered to ages 4-7 from 9-11 a.m. on May 6 & 15 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. Registration required: http://tinyurl.com/jq4r6x3. Info: 877.4423.

Smoky Mountain News

KIDS FILMS

JACKSON • Baby Storytime is at 11 a.m. on Thursdays at the Jackson County Public Library. Songs, fingerplays and stories for infants through toddlers. 586.2016 • Kid’s story time Saturdays, 11 a.m., all ages at City Lights in Sylva 586.9449.

• Kids story time, Fridays 11 a.m., Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. at Jackson County Public Library. Story time includes books, puppets, finger plays, songs and crafts. 586.2016.

• Pre-school story time, second Wednesday, 11 a.m. at Cashiers Community Library. 743.0215.

• Rock and Read storytime, 11 a.m. on Tuesdays at the Jackson County Public Library. 586.2016

SWAIN • Preschool Story time, Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m., Marianna Black Library. After a book or two is read, the children participate in games, songs, finger plays, puppet play and make a craft to take home.

488.3030.

MACON • Paws 4 Reading, a family story time, will be held from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. second Thursday of the month at Macon County Public Library. Children can read to a therapy dog. (grades K-6). 524.3600.

• Toddlers Rock, Mondays, 10 a.m., Macon Public Library. Music, movement and instruments (Designed for children 0-24 months, but all ages are welcome).

• Family Story Time is held at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.

524.3600.

• Family Story Time for ages 0 to 7 years is held at 10 a.m. on Thursdays at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. 524.3600.

A&E FESTIVALS AND SPECIAL EVENTS • The Art After Dark 2017 season will kickoff from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 5, in downtown Waynesville. Each first Friday of the month (May-December), Main Street transforms into an evening of art, music, finger foods, beverages and shopping as artisan studios and galleries keep their doors open later for local residents and visitors. www.waynesvillegalleryassociation.com.

ters from several of Dr. Seuss’ books – at 6:30 p.m. on May 4-5 at 1400 Old Clyde Road in Clyde. Tickets: https://haywoodchristianacademy.churchcenteronline.com/registrations/events/62418. Info: 627.0229 or www.haywoodchristianacademy.org.

• Legendary singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at The Strand at 38 Main in Waynesville. Tickets are $25 per person.

You can purchase tickets at The Strand or online at www.38main.com.

• The Haywood Community Chorus will present “Gospel to Gershwin” featuring Robert Ray’s Gospel Mass at 4 p.m. on May 7, at the Waynesville First United Methodist Church.

• Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host Dave Stone Comedy featuring several stand-up comics at 8 p.m.

May 12. www.curraheebrew.com.

• Chris Rock will perform at Harrah’s in Cherokee on May 25 at 8 p.m.

• Tickets are on sale for Leslie Jones’ comedy performance, which is July 1 at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino. www.ticketmaster.com or 800.745.3000.

• Thunder in the Smokies is May 5-7 at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds.

CLASSES AND PROGRAMS

• The 87th annual Ramp Convention is May 6-7, at American Legion Post No. 47 in Waynesville.

Saturday’s featured bands are Carolina Hearts and Mile High. Food vendors, 50-50 raffles. Corn hole tournament from 1-5 p.m. Car show from 1-4 p.m.; dinner is 6-9 p.m. on Saturday. Sunday’s featured band is the Darren Nicholson Band. 550.6691.

• “Local History and the National Register” will be presented by a panel of local historians from 4-5 p.m. on May 4, at the Folkmoot Center in Waynesville. Prior to the panel discussion, the Waynesville Archives Museum will hold an open house from 2-4 p.mk. on the second floor of the Historic Courthouse. 456.8647.

• A Firetruck Pull called “Pulling for a Cure” will be held at 11 a.m. on May 6 at the Big Lots Parking Lot in Franklin. Sponsored by Macon County Emergency Personnel Relay for Life Team. 421.7822 or 342.8215.

• A discussion on Latin America, part of the Great Decisions Series, is scheduled for 5:15-6:45 p.m. on May 4, at the Waynesville Library. Series is focused on critical global issues facing America today. Registration required: 356.2507 or kolsen@haywoodnc.net.

• The 14th annual Tourism Day will be celebrated from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on May 12, at the N.C. Welcome Center at mile marker 6 on Interstate 26. Featuring fiddler Roger Howell and friends as well as 23-time National Clogging Champions: the Bailey Mountain Cloggers of Mars Hill University. 689.4257 or vsealock@nccommerce.com.

• The Whole Bloomin’ Thing Spring Festival is from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on May 13, in Waynesville’s Frog Level District. www.historicfroglevel.com.

• The annual Appalachian Lifestyle Celebration will take place June 10, on Main Street in Waynesville.

456.3517 or www.downtownwaynesville.com.

FOOD & DRINK • Located in the rustically elegant Jennings Barn at the foot of Cow Rock Mountain in Lonesome Valley, Canyon Kitchen will be kicking off the season with special culinary events and wine dinners every Wednesday throughout the month of May. The first scheduled is a dinner featuring Guest Chef Meherwan Irani from Chai Pani on May 3. The next event, on May 10, is a fundraiser for the Hospice House. On May 17, guests can enjoy a Coupe Cocktail Dinner with cocktail book author, Brian Hoffman, of Hoffman Media.

Lastly, they will close out the month with a wine dinner featuring Chateau Montelena. www.lonesomevalley.com or call 743.7967.

ON STAGE & IN CONCERT • Tickets are on sale now for a 3 Doors Down performance as a fundraiser for the Better Life Foundation on Oct. 21 at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or 800.745.3000.

• Bilingual Story time – 6 to 6:30 p.m., on Thursday, Nov. 10. Program reads a children’s book in English and Spanish at the Macon County Public Library.

526.3600.

• “The Nerd” by Larry Shue is playing at the HART Theatre in Waynesville. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on May 5-6, and May 11-13 and at 2 p.m. on May 7 and May 14. Tickets: 456.6322 or www.harttheatre.org.

• Paws 4 Reading, a family story time, will be held from 3:30-5:30 p.m. every Tuesday at Hudson Library

• Haywood Christian Academy students will put on a performance of “Seussical, Ja.” – featuring charac-

• Jim Casada will present “The Saga of Sam Hunnicutt: A True Swain County Original” during the May 4 meeting of the Swain County Genealogical and Historical Society. Meeting is at 6:30 p.m. at the Swain County Regional Business Education and Training Center in Bryson City.

• Mini’s on the Dragon (MOTD) car club will visit the Green Energy Park May 4-6 in Dillsboro. Part of an annual gathering of Mini-Cooper drivers from all over North America who meet at Fontana Village to drive the Tail of the Dragon and other twisty roads in the region. www.JCGEP.org.

• A “Spring Wildflower & Nature Photography” program will be offered by the Smoky Mountain Field School from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on May 6. $95. www.smfs.utk.edu or 865.974.0150.

• A spring craft show will be held from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on May 6, at the Balsam Fire Department. A variety of local handmade arts and crafts will be on display. A portion of entry fees benefit the fire department.

• The second annual Craft Fair sponsored by the Cartoogechaye Christian Fellowship will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on May 6 at the Memorial United Methodist Church in Franklin. Approximately 30 artists and crafters will sell hand-crafted items. Bake sale and food sales.

• A Racial Equity Workshop will be offered from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on May 8, at the Sylva Library.

Examine characteristics of modern day racial inequality and more. www.surveymonkey.com/r/QYPQRT2.

• Registration deadline is May 8 to join the WNC Civil War from May 12-15. $30 nonrefundable fee per person. Hotel rate is $291.61 for three days; breakfast included. Reserve room by calling 540.635.3161. Info: 593.5924 or 648.2488.

• The Western North Carolina Civil War Round Table will feature Michael Hill’s “The Old North State at War: The North Carolina Civil War Atlas” at 7 p.m. on May 8, at H.F. Robinson Auditorium at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. Light refreshments at 6:30 p.m. www.ncmarkers.com.

wnc calendar

• Smoky Mountain Quilters Guild will welcome storyteller Muriel Pfaff as Martha Washington at 9:30 a.m. on May 8, at Tartan Hall in Franklin. Dressed in authentic period costume, Pfaff will present Martha Washington’s story and insights about our nation’s first first lady and her everyday life. www.smokymtnquilters.org.

• American Legion Post 104 meets at 7 p.m. on May 8, at the Post Hall at 915 West Main Street in Sylva.

Officers will be elected for the coming membership year, which starts July 1. Meal at 6 p.m. ($6).

293.5835.

• A discussion on the South China Sea, part of the Great Decisions Series, is scheduled for 5:15-6:45 p.m. on May 11, at the Waynesville Library. Series is focused on critical global issues facing America today.

Registration required: 356.2507 or kolsen@haywoodnc.net.

• The Western North Carolina Woodturners Club, Inc., meets at 9 a.m. on May 13, at the Bascom in Highlands.

• A workshop on how to make a seasonal wreath will be offered by the N.C. Cooperative Extension Office in Sylva from 9 a.m.-noon on May 15. Register and get supply list: 586.4009.

• Writer and conservationist Brent Martin is leading a workshop on 18th century naturalist and artist William Bartram from May 15-19 at the Highlands Biological Station. $400. http://highlandsbiological.org/summer2017, brent_marting@tws.org or 524.7400.

• Cullowhee Mountain Arts of Sylva announces eight scholarships available for the Cullowhee Mountain Arts Summer Arts Workshop Series at Western Carolina University. Three weeks of workshops will run during the month of June beginning June 11. Application deadline is May 5. Through the Jackson County Arts Council Grassroots grant (JCAC), CMA is matching funds to provide eight, half-tuition scholarships open to all regional artists living in Jackson County. To apply, go to the JCAC webpage or the CMA webpage: www.cullowheemountainarts.org/scholarships or call Director Norma Hendrix 342.6913.

May 3-9, 2017

ART SHOWINGS AND GALLERIES • Haywood Community College will host Asheville artist Erin Castellan as part of the Visiting Artist Lecture Series at 4 p.m. on May 4, in room 7105 of the Creative Arts Building on the main campus. In Clyde. 565.4240 or haywood.edu.

• 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.

• The “Women Painters of the Southeast” exhibition will run through May 5 in the Fine Arts Museum at Western Carolina University. www.wcu.edu.

• New artist and medium will be featured every month at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 356.2800.

• As part of the Arts Council’s Integrated Arts initiative, a sampling of works by renowned Macon County sculptor Nelson Nichols (www.nicholssculpture.com) will be displayed at this event. Executed in stone, bronze, and wood, Nichols’ sculptural body of work

Puzzles can be found on page 54.

These are only the answers.

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Smoky Mountain News

• The Western North Carolina “Artists Count” project is hosting a series of exhibitions to highlight the rich visual contributions made by area artists. The first such exhibit, “Smoky Mountains Sampler” is now open at the Welcome Center north of Asheville on Interstate 26. Southwestern Community College instructors Ed McIlvaine and Susan Coe as well as SCC student Kari McIlvaine have their pottery on display through July.

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

49

wnc calendar

reflects his unique style, Spiritual Expressionism, encompassing anatomical/figurative pieces in classical realism, a series of abstract interpretations, a series illustrating universal/spiritual concepts, and an environmentally inspired series including sculptures of endangered/threatened species. Admission is by donation; $7 is suggested. arts4all@dnet.net or 524.ARTS (2787).

FILM & SCREEN • “The Fate of the Furious” is now playing at The Strand on Main in Waynesville. Show times are May 34 at 7 p.m. www.38main.com.

• A new action movie starring Will Smith and Margot Robbie will be shown at 2 p.m. on May 4, in the Macon County Public Library Meeting Room in Franklin. Movie’s about a secret government agency that recruits some of the most dangerous incarcerated super-villains to form a defensive task force.

524.3600.

• “I Am Not Your Negro” will be shown on May 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva.

Free.

• A classic 1944 drama starring Bette Davis will be shown at 2 p.m. on May 5, in the Macon County Public Library Meeting Room in Franklin. It’s about a woman forced into a loveless marriage with an older man.

524.3600.

• “A Dogs Purpose” will be shown on May 5 at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva. Free.

• “Weight of the Nation: Choices,” a documentary, will be shown at 2 p.m. on May 11, in the Macon County Public Library Meeting Room in Franklin. 524.3600.

May 3-9, 2017

• A classic 1957 western starring Glenn Ford will be shown at 2 p.m. on May 12, in the Macon County Public Library Meeting Room in Franklin. Movie’s about a broke, small-time rancher who’s hired by a stagecoach line to put a big-time captured outlaw leader on a train. 524.3600.

• Free movies are shown every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva.

Madbatterfoodfilm.com.

Outdoors • A program entitled “From the Earth to the Universe” will be presented at 2 p.m. on May 3, in the Macon County Public Library Planetarium in Franklin.

524.3600.

Smoky Mountain News

• The Franklin Bird Club will have a bird walk along the Greenway at 8 a.m. on May 3. Meet at the Big Bear shelter parking area. 524.5234.

50

• Mainspring Conservation Trust will host a “Read the Landscape” on Piney Knob Hike as part of its 20-for20 Events and Celebration on May 4 in Murphy. http://tinyurl.com/lwcvb4g.

• An Introduction to Fly Fishing will be offered for ages 12-up from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on May 4 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard.

Registration required: http://tinyurl.com/jq4r6x3. Info: 877.4423.

• “Wildflower Whimsy” is scheduled for May 5-6 at the Highlands Biological Station in Highlands.

Fundraiser for the Highlands Biological Foundation, which supports the facility’s botanical garden, laboratory and nature center. Wildflower display and opportunity to learn about fire ecology. Event runs from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Mday 5 and from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on May 6. $75 for members; $100 for nonmembers. http://highlandsbiological.org/wildflower-whimsy

• An Introduction to Tenkara – the traditional form of Japanese fly fishing – will be offered for ages 14-up from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on May 6 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. Registration required: http://tinyurl.com/jq4r6x3. Info: 877.4423.

• Birding for beginners and beyond will be offered by the Highlands Audubon Society at 7:30 a.m. on May 6 at Founders Park in Highlands. www.highlandsaudubonsociety.org or 526.1939.

• The Smoky Mountain Field School will offer a program on the “Care & Release of Orphaned & Injured Black Bear Cubs” from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on May 6. Led

by Coy Blair. $79. www.smfs.utk.edu or 865.974.0150 • A program entitled “Historic Cataloochee Valley, Smoky Mountain Elk & More” will be offered by the Smoky Mountain Field School from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on May 6. $79. www.smfs.utk.edu or 865.974.0150.

• An Introduction to Fly-Casting & Fly Fishing will be offered by the Smoky Mountain Field School from 1-4 p.m. on May 6. Led by Greg Ward. $79. www.smfs.utk.edu or 865.974.0150.

• An Introduction to Tree Identification will be offered by the Smoky Mountain Field School from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on May 6. Led by Dr. Mac Post. $79. www.smfs.utk.edu or 865.974.0150.

• Balsam Mountain Trust will hold a “Double Top Expedition” from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on May 6, at Balsam Mountain Preserve’s Double Top Trail.

Wildflowers, unique blooms.

BalsamMountainTrust.org.

• “An Evening with Mac Brown” will be featured at the Trout Unlimited Cataloochee meeting at 6:30 p.m. on May 9 at Rendezvous Restaurant in Maggie Valley.

Topic is “Nymphing and Subsurface Strategies.”

736.1469, macbrownflyfish@gmail.com or http://macbrownflyfish.com.

• “On the Water: North Fork Mills River” will be offered to ages 12-up from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on May 9 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard.

Practice fly-fishing skills under supervision of experienced instructors. Registration required: http://tinyurl.com/jq4r6x3. Info: 877.4423.

• The Wilderness Society’s Southern Appalachian Office will host a “Birding Downtown Sylva” outing from 8-10 a.m. on May 9. RSVP required: michelle_ruigrok@tws.org or 587.9453. Info: http://wilderness.org.

• The Franklin Bird Club will have a bird walk along the Greenway at 8 a.m. on May 10. Meet at Salali Lane; parking is off Fox Ridge Road just south of Franklin Flea Market on Highlands Road. 524.5234.

• “On the Water: Little River” will be offered to ages 12-up from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on May 11 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. Practice flyfishing skills under supervision of experienced instructors. Registration required: http://tinyurl.com/jq4r6x3. Info: 877.4423.

• A Birding Hike will be offered to ages 12-up from 9 a.m.-noon on May 12 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. Registration required: http://tinyurl.com/jq4r6x3. Info: 877.4423.

• The Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute will offer “Light: It’s All Astronmers Get, or What To Do When It’s Raining Outside” at 7 p.m. on May 12, in Rosman. $20 for adults; $15 for students/seniors/military; $5 for children ages 6-11. Ages 5-under get in free. Register and pay: www.pari.edu or 862.5554.

Info: schappell@pari.edu.

• A Swain Clean Cleanup starts at 9 a.m. on May 13, at Ingles of Bryson City.

• The Cherokee Day of Caring is May 15-18 at the Cherokee Indian Fairgrounds. 497.5550.

• Boating safety courses will be offered from 6-9 p.m. on May 15-16 in Building 3300, Room 3322, at Haywood Community College in Clyde. Participants must attend both evenings. Register: www.ncwildlife.org.

• Birds & Beer (or wine or tea) is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on May 16 at the Ugly Dog in Cashiers. Spirited discussion of birds and birding. . www.highlandsaudubonsociety.org or 526.1939.

• A cycling ride leaves at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays from Smoky Mountain Bicycles in Macon County. Routes vary with distances typically 15-25 miles. Road bikes only. A no drop ride. Organized by Smoky Mountain Bicycles, 369.2881 or info@smokymtnbikes.com.

• A 25-mile cycling ride covering the back roads from Sylva to Balsam leaves at 6 p.m. Tuesdays from Motion Makers Bicycle Shop in Sylva. The route includes 1,600 feet of elevation gain. Organized by Motion Makers, 586.6925.

• An easy cycling ride aiming to help people ease into a healthier lifestyle through cycling is offered Thursday mornings in the Canton area, typically covering 8-10 miles. Road bikes are preferred and helmets are required. Nobody will be left behind. A partnership of Bicycle Haywood N.C., the Blue Ridge Bike Club and MountainWise. For specific start times and locations: mttrantham@hotmail.com.

• A ride for cyclists at the intermediate level and above will be offered at 6 p.m. on Thursdays, with starting points alternating between the Waynesville Recreation Center and the Canton Recreation Park.

The season starts April 27 with a ride leaving from Waynesville. Cyclists regroup as necessary and typically cover about 20 miles over the course of an hour and a half. Bob Clark, bobclarklaw@gmail.com.

• A beginner-friendly social cycling ride for women will begin at 6:15 p.m. on Mondays from the Bent Creek Ledford Parking Lot, covering 5-to-8 miles of mountain bike trails. Organized By Motion Makers Bicycle Shop. 633.2227.

• A training cycling ride for women who know how to handle a mountain bike but want to go faster will start at 6:15 p.m. on Wednesdays from the Ledford parking lot at Bent Creek. The rides will cover 8-to-12 miles and use more technical trails than the beginner’s ride. Organized by Motion Makers Bicycle Shop.

633.2227.

• New this year is the Sunday Gravel Ride, which will leave from Motion Makers in Asheville at 8 a.m. all summer for a 40-mile ride on paved and gravel roads to Oskar Blues Brewery in Brevard. Organized by Motion Makers Bicycle Shop. 828.633.2227.

FARM AND GARDEN • Garden Day is scheduled for 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on May 6, at The Cradle of Forestry in Pisgah Forest. Programs include first plantings in the heritage garden (10 a.m.noon); cleaning up the Cradle’s wildlife habitat and pollinator garden (1-2 p.m.), making and catapulting native pollinator seed bombs (2-2:45 p.m.), an indoor presentation on efforts to convert lawn areas to meadow (3-4 p.m.), walk to and presentation at monarch waystation (4-4:45 p.m.). $5 admission; free for children under age of 16. www.cradleofforestry.com.

• Birding with Ellen and Jim Shelton is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. on May 13. Meet at Founders Park in Highlands. www.highlandsaudubonsociety.org or 526.1939.

• A plant sale will be held from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on May 6, at the Macon County Environmental Resource Center, 1624 Lakeside Drive in Franklin. A variety of plants from the Macon County Master Gardeners.

349.2046.

• “Cades Cove: A Window to the Past” will be offered by the Smoky Mountain Field School from 9:30 a.m.4:30 p.m. on May 13. $79. www.smfs.utk.edu or 865.974.0150.

• An in-depth Organic Pest Management Seminar for gardeners will be offered by the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service on three dates in May. Sessions are from 10 a.m.-noon on May 8 at the Swain Extension

Center in Bryson City and from 6-8 p.m. on May 11 at the Jackson Extension Center in Sylva. Info: 586.4009, 488.3848 or clbriden@ncsu.edu.

• The Macon County Master Gardener’s Annual Plant Sale will be held from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on May 6 at the Environmental Resource Center at 1624 Lakeside Drive in Franklin. Rain or shine.

• Cradle of Forestry will hold a Garden Day event from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on May 6, in Pisgah Forest. $5 for ages 16-up; free for youth. www. cradleofforestry.com/event/garden-day.

• Need advice on spring planting projects or what to plant when? Drop by the master gardener booth at the Whole Bloomin’ Thing Festival on May 14, in Waynesville.

• “Flight of the Pollinators” will be presented by Balsam Mountain Trust from 4-5:30 p.m. on May 16, at the Waynesville Library.

FARMERS MARKET • 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.

• A community tailgate market for local growers is open from 3-7 p.m. every Wednesday at The Village Green Commons in Cashiers. 734.3434, info@villagegreencashiersnc.com or www.villagegreencashiersnc.com.

• Haywood Historic Farmers Market is held from 8 a.m.noon on Wednesdays and Saturdays in the parking lot of HART Theatre in Waynesville. haywoodfarmersmarket@gmail.com, www.waynesvillefarmersmarket.com or www.facebook.com/HaywoodHistoricFarmersMarket.

• The Original Waynesville Tailgate Market is from 8 a.m.-noon on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 171 Legion Drive in Waynesville (behind Bogart’s).

456.1830 or vrogers12@att.net.

• The Jackson County Farmers Market will be on Saturdays from 9 a.m.-noon at Bridge Park located in Sylva. Info: 393.5236. jacksoncountyfarmersmarket@gmail.com or website jacksoncountyfarmersmarket.org.

• The ‘Whee Farmer’s Market is open from 4 p.m. to dusk every Tuesday at the University Inn on 563 N. Country Club Drive in Cullowhee, behind the entrance to the Village of Forest Hills off Highway 107 across from Western Carolina University. 476.0334. www.facebook.com/CullowheeFarmersMarket.

• The Franklin Farmers Tailgate Market is from 8 a.m.-noon on Saturdays on East Palmer Street across from Drake Software in Franklin. 349.2049 or alan_durden@ncsu.edu.

• Swain County Farmers Market will be open from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Fridays starting May 5 through October at the barn on Island Street in Bryson City. 488.3848 or Christine_bredenkamp@ncsu.edu.

COMPETITIVE EDGE • Gateway to the Smokies Half Marathon is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 6, in Waynesville. $70 for half-marathon or $30 for four-miler. Proceeds benefit the Haywood Chamber of Commerce. Register by May 4: http://tinyurl.com/kjf7ak4.

• The Mother’s Day 5K is May 14 at the Kituwah Mounds in Bryson City. 359.6783.

HIKING CLUBS • An easy, 2.5-mile hike will be offered from 9 a.m.noon on May 4, on the Piney Knob Bike and Hiking Trails near Murphy. Led by Johnny Strawn, who will teach some beginner-level plan identification. RSVP

by April 27: sposey@mainspringconserves.org or 837.6383.

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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.

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Preference will be given to applicants with a Master's or Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and/or experience providing Social Work services. Applicants should complete a NC State application form (PD-107) and submit it to Jackson County Social Services, 15 Griffin Street, Sylva, NC 28779, or the Sylva branch of the NC Division of Workforce Solutions as soon as possible.

FTCC Fayetteville Technical Community College is now accepting applications for the following positions: Automotive Systems Technology Instructor, Financial Accountant. For detailed information and to apply, please visit our employment portal: https://faytechcc.peopleadmin.com Human Resources Office Phone: 910.678.7342 Internet: http://www.faytechcc.edu An Equal Opportunity Employer

EMPLOYMENT FTCC Fayetteville Technical Community College is now accepting applications for the following positions: Business Administration Instructor, Business Administration/ Human Resources Management Instructor, Certified Nursing Assistant Instructor-Con. Ed Division, Director of Library Services, Latent Evidence/Criminal Justice Instructor, Senior Vice President for Business and Finance. For detailed information and to apply, please visit our employment portal at: https://faytechcc.peopleadmin.com Human Resources Office Phone: 910.678.7342 Internet: http://www.faytechcc.edu An Equal Opportunity Employer

FINANCIAL BEWARE OF LOAN FRAUD. Please check with the Better Business Bureau or Consumer Protection Agency before sending any money to any loan company.

SAPA BUYING A HOME Need a mortgage? Or, have a home and want to lower your monthly fees and refinance? Getting a mortgage is quicker and easier than ever. Call now! 844.251.5563 YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIVE With Bad Credit and High Interest Rates! Get a FREE Consultation Today, and Start Improving your Credit Now. Call 855.705.7246 Today!

FURNITURE COMPARE QUALITY & PRICE Shop Tupelo’s, 828.926.8778.

HAYWOOD BEDDING, INC. The best bedding at the best price!

533 Hazelwood Ave. Waynesville 828.456.4240 KILL BED BUGS & THEIR EGGS! Buy Harris Bed Bug Killers/KIT Complete Treatment System. Hardware Stores, The Home Depot, homedepot.com

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828.593.8321

PETS HAYWOOD SPAY/NEUTER 828.452.1329

Prevent Unwanted Litters!

The Heat Is On! Spay/Neuter For Haywood Pets As Low As $10.

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COMPLETE HOME INSPECTION SERVICES

Moving or Buying?

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HAYWOOD HOME INSPECTIONS 828.734.3609 | haywoodhomeinsp@gmail.com

SFR, ECO, GREEN

147 WALNUT STREET • WAYNESVILLE

828.506.7137

aspivey@sunburstrealty.com

www.sunburstrealty.com/amy-spivey

REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCEMENT

REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCEMENT MOVING OUT OF STATE? Best Interstate Moving and Storage offers a FREE Quote and A Price Plus Promise. Call 877.648.6473 Now!

MOUNTAINS OF NC Log sided 1,340 sf cabin on 1.84 acres $159,900 Great views, lg loft w/ pict windows, fpl, huge deck 828.286.1666

NEW DOUBLE-WIDE MOBILE Home on leased lot. 3BR/2BA with split bedroom plan. L/R with built-in entertainment center.

Formal D/R. Small 6 unit mobile home park in Thickety area of Clyde. $93,750. Financing available. No credit-no problem. $365/mo. lot rent.

OPEN HOUSE: 5/6 and 5/7 from 1:00-4:00. 70 Weasel Way, Clyde.

828.777.0312.

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 intention, to make 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 not accept advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All dwellings advertised on equal opportunity basis.

Mike Stamey

mstamey@beverly-hanks.com

828-508-9607

HOMES FOR SALE

NEW SINGLE-WIDE MOBILE Home On leased lot. 2BR/2BA with split bedroom plan. Small six unit mobile home park in Thickety area of Clyde. $61,900.

Financing available. No credit-no problem. $335/mo. lot rent.

OPEN HOUSE: 5/6 and 5/7 from 1:00-4:00. 67 Weasel Way, Clyde.

828.777.0312.

BRUCE MCGOVERN A Full Service Realtor, Locally Owned and Operated mcgovernpropertymgt@gmail.com McGovern Property Management 828.283.2112.

www.beverly-hanks.com

Ann Eavenson R B A ESIDENTIAL

ROKER

SSOCIATE

ann@beverly-hanks.com

www.beverly-hanks.com

828.506.0542

828.452.5809 office

Catherine Proben Cell: 828-734-9157 Office: 828-452-5809

cproben@beverly-hanks.com

74 N. Main St., Waynesville, NC

828.452.5809

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

RE/MAX

EXECUTIVE

Mieko

Thomson BROKER/REALTOR®

Cell (828) 226-2298

www.ncsmokies.com homes@ncsmokies.com

WAYNESVILLE NORTH CAROLINA

OFFICE HOURS: Monday & Wednesday 8:00am - 4:00pm 168 E. Nicol Arms Road Sylva, NC 28779

Phone# 1.828.273.3639 TDD# 1.800.735.2962 This is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

Haywood Properties - haywoodproperties.com • Steve Cox - info@haywoodproperties.com

Keller Williams Realty kellerwilliamswaynesville.com • Julie Lapkoff - julielapkoff.yourkwagent.com • Yvonne Kolomechuk - yvonneksells.yourkwagent.com • The Morris Team - www.themorristeamnc.com

Lakeshore Realty

mountaindream.com • Sammie Powell - smokiesproperty.com

McGovern Real Estate & Property Management • Bruce McGovern - shamrock13.com

Realty World Heritage Realty realtyworldheritage.com • Carolyn Lauter realtyworldheritage.com/realestate/viewagent/7766 • Martha Sawyer realtyworldheritage.com/realestate/viewagent/7769

RE/MAX

EXECUTIVE

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

Offering 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments, Starting at $400 Section 8 Accepted - Handicapped Accessible Units When Available

ERA Sunburst Realty - sunburstrealty.com • Amy Spivey - amyspivey.com • Rick Boarder - sunburstrealty.com

RE/MAX — Mountain Realty

NICOL ARMS APARTMENTS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

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

Mountain Home Properties

Offering 1, 2 & 3 Bedroom Apartments, Starting at $400 Handicapped Accessible Units When Available

• • • • • • • • • •

• Phyllis Robinson - lakeshore@lakejunaluska.com

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS Section 8 Accepted - Rental Assistance When Available -

Beverly Hanks & Associates

May 3-9, 2017

CAVALIER ARMS APARTMENTS

74 NORTH MAIN ST. • WAYNESVILLE, NC

Haywood County Real Estate Agents

WNC MarketPlace

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

395-62

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

May 3-9, 2017

WNC MarketPlace

Super

54

CROSSWORD

FOWL TASTING ACROSS 1 Kitchen head 5 Sail holders 10 Belt locale 15 Swedish auto 19 Verdi slave 20 Greek market of old 21 Act announcer 22 Big, wild cat 23 Start of a riddle 26 See 129-Across 27 In a way, informally 28 Tour crew member 29 Awaiting 31 Sit-up muscles 33 Below zero: Abbr.

34 Cozy retreat 36 Ear-related 37 Cheering words 40 Riddle, part 2 45 Et — (and others, in Latin) 46 Like — of sunshine 47 Like half the integers 48 “— culpa” 49 Nation south of Kenya 51 — tai (cocktail) 53 Feline zodiac sign 55 Titanic call 58 Riddle, part 3 63 “The Good Wife” airer 65 Bucks and bulls 66 Attach 67 Lt.’s underling 68 Bandit-hunting band 69 Keys hitting piano keys 71 Heckling 73 Giggle sound 74 Scoundrel 75 Sharp left or right in

a ring 76 Carry- — (plane totes) 77 Shearable male 78 Little kitchen raider 79 Riddle, part 4 84 Well-suited 85 Special time span 86 Hurly-burly 87 Masses near tonsils 90 Big tippler 92 Ring king Muhammad 94 Students at Yale 95 Small cut 96 End of the riddle 102 Like quiche 103 “No men” palace area 104 Longtime delivery co.

105 Wrestler’s win 106 Alley- — pass 108 Cuts into the surface of 110 Juarez wife 113 “The Lorax” author 117 Concealed obstacle 118 Riddle’s answer 122 “Citizen” of film 123 Pass on 124 Slip away from 125 Gillette brand name 126 — -Pei (kind of dog) 127 ISP customers 128 Fix, as a bow 129 With 26-Across, skills of the past DOWN 1 Raven calls 2 Old Ritz rival 3 German river to the

Fulda 4 Daydream 5 — -jongg 6 Stress or sun, to some 7 Big Apple district 8 Hooky-playing 9 Smoothing machine 10 Existed 11 Grant with six Grammys 12 I, to Hans 13 Perceiving 14 Memphis loc.

15 Patty flipper 16 Northern lights, e.g.

17 Acela offerer 18 In a low way 24 Diner’s bill 25 Prefix with byte or watt 30 In no peril 32 Welsh city and county 34 Pulled off 35 Opposite of crosswise, archaically 37 Traitor type 38 Menu phrase 39 Retrospect 41 Ovine zodiac sign 42 Coal-rich German region 43 Make null 44 With frenzy 50 More wan 51 Fashioned 52 Rival of iOS 54 Canon shooter line 55 Gliding like a supermodel 56 Gridiron great Merlin 57 Clay target sport 59 Judo-like cardio fad 60 Anxious

61 Hypothetical missing links 62 Trouble 63 Magna — (document of 1215) 64 Weakly hit fly ball 70 Give a line to 71 Many a Net game 72 Grooving on 73 Likes at once 75 Rattle 77 Base of a number system 80 Crumbly cheese 81 Drizzle, e.g.

82 Barn bundle 83 Sachet bit 88 Cutting barb 89 KGB figure 90 Actor Rod 91 Resistance measures 93 “— Miserables” 94 Make heroic 96 Scrambling kitchen tools 97 ESPN’s Storm 98 Mysteries 99 Shoves 100 Duel blade 101 Evening meal 107 —Kosh B’Gosh (clothing brand) 109 Pale tan 110 “The — the limit!”

111 Lick soundly 112 German auto 114 Until 115 Quaint letter starter 116 See 120-Down 119 — -de-France 120 With 116-Down, a tot travels in it 121 “Well, I’ll be!”

answers on page 49

HOMES FOR SALE

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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

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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.

MEDICAL

HAVE YOU OR A LOVED ONE Had lung cancer? Call NOW to see if you are eligible for compensation! 1.877.218.2021.

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ITEMS FOR SALE 2-BURNER COLMAN PERFECT Flow Stove - New (In Box). Price includes 2 New Cast Iron Skillets New Copco 1.5 qt. Stainless Coffee Maker & 4 16.4 oz. Propane Canisters. $80.00 For more info 828.456.6117 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.

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YARD SALES YARD SALE-BAKE SALE & HOTDOG Dinner @ Shoal Creek Baptist Church in Whittier, May 5- 11:00 a.m. Until, May 6- 8:00 a.m. Until.

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Presented by Frog Pond Estate Sales & Downsizing

WEEKLY SUDOKU Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.

Answers on Page 49

Moonshine stills weren’t the only stills Editor’s note: This column first appeared in at May 2003 edition of The Smoky Mountain News.

A

BACK THEN

George Ellison

ll this spring, golden birch catkins were dangling throughout the woodlands of the Smokies region. These are the male, pollen-carrying part of the sweet birch (Betula lenta), also known as black, cherry, or mahogany birch.

They served as a reminder that moonshine stills weren’t the only kind of stills that once proliferated the region.

Columnist Indeed, there was a time more than a century ago — way back in the 1800s — when birch stills were more common than moonshine stills. For one thing, they weren’t illegal and didn’t need to be hidden.

Birch stills were used to produce the extract known variously as birch oil or oil of wintergreen. This wintergreen extract was used to flavor candies, medicines and drugs.

Another source for the extract had been the dainty little woodlands plant named wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens), also called checkerberry or teaberry. But sweet

birch became the more popular source in the latter part of the 19th century.

The only description I’ve been able to find for a birch still is contained in John Parris’ These Storied Mountains (1972). In a chapter aptly titled “The Birch Distillery,” he quotes an old-timer named Bergin Arrowwood: “When I was a boy, my father had a still that he would move about through the mountains to wherever he run on a good stand of sweet birches. Back then sweet birch was the source of wintergreen oil.

“He would strip the bark from the sweet birches and distill the oil. His still was made out of two-inch wood that would hold steam.

There was a cap over it and a pipe or worm went into it. It had a furnace like an old-time molasses furnace.

“As the oil was distilled, it came out of the worm and dropped off into a can of water.

Instead of floatin’ like most oils, it sank to the bottom of the can of water.

“It would take a day and night to make a run, which would be from about a half gallon to three quarts. It fetched $1.25 a pint and folks back then thought that was pretty good money.”

Arrowwood is correct. In the 19th century, $1.25 for a full day’s (and night’s) work was very good money. For instance, as late

as the 1930s construction workers along the Blue Ridge Parkway were paid just 30 cents an hour. But, of course, they thought that was “pretty good money,” and it was.

The problem with birch distilling, however, was the devastating amounts of sweet birch required to produce a single quart of oil. After all of the choice bark from the larger trees had been stripped and processed, the birch distillers turned to birch saplings — using both bark and wood chips — as their source. It required 100 or so of these saplings to render a single quart of the oil from the crude stills.

The sweet birch stands in our forests were spared total decimation by the fortuitous development of synthetic oil of wintergreen. This process combines wood alcohol and salicylic acid.

Old-time mountaineers also made beer, tea, and syrup from the sap of the sweet birch tree via processes that one can still uti-

lize. The tea-making process is real simple.

Gather a little bark and strip out the inner red side. Cut this inner bark into small pieces and pour boiling water over it.

Making birch syrup is probably a waste of time. After going to the trouble to tap the trees in early spring, you’ll only get about a pint of syrup per 10 gallons of boiled sap.

A recipe for birch beer that reads as follows appears in several sources: “Tap the trunk as the Sugar Maple is tapped, in spring when the sap is rising and the buds are just swelling; jug the sap and throw in a handful of shelled corn, and natural fermentation ... will finish the job for you.”

One of the sources appends the warning about birch beer: “It has a reputation for stimulating the appetite. But more than a glass or two at a time is liable to stimulate other things, for it has a kick like a mule.”

George Ellison is a naturalist and writer. He can be reached at info@georgeellison.com.

May 3-9, 2017

Meet Charlotte Figi.

At just 3 months old, she experienced her first seizure, an experience that would send her family on a path that would change the world. Charlotte was suffering from 300 grand mal seizures per week when they met the Stanley Brothers, who had been developing proprietary hemp genetics. Together they created a hemp oil extract that was introduced into Charlotte’s diet in hopes of providing her relief.

Charlotte didn’t have a single seizure during the first seven days of treatment, which was a clear sign that the Figis had stumbled onto something extraordinary.

Smoky Mountain News

Today she is a nine year old who is thriving and enjoying life. The Stanley brothers assure consumers that the oil maintains a 30:1 ratio of CBD to THC. THC is the psychoactive compound that produces the “high” effect in marijuana. Thanks to Charlotte’s Web, Charlotte can now live life like a normal child. She is able to feed herself and sleep through the night. Her autistic symptoms have virtually disappeared. As such, her mind is clear, and her attention is focused. Her brain is recovering, and she is happy.

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828-202-8143 CleanSweepFireplace.com 55

May 3-9, 2017 Smoky Mountain News

UPCOMING SHO OWS:

56

JUNE 30

JULY 14, 15, 1 21, & 22

AUGUST 11

AUGUST 19