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May 11-17, 2022 Vol. 23 Iss. 50
How an overturn of Roe may affect NC Page 4 Sylva’s Quin Theater shuts its doors Page 22
CONTENTS On the Cover: Although the symptoms of PTSD have been noted for millennia, researchers haven’t had much luck in treating it — until now. A new treatment utilizing an old psychedelic compound called MDMA is being pioneered right here in Waynesville. (Pages 6-10)
News What it means for NC if Roe v. Wade is overturned ................................................4 Haywood tourism boom continues ................................................................................5 Negotiations continue on Ela Dam removal ..............................................................11 Sylva temporarily closes Spring Street ......................................................................13 Equinox Ranch is up and running ................................................................................14 Graphic video shows Cawthorn in compromising scene ....................................15 EBCI approves $75 million for ‘themed spectacle’................................................16 Education briefs..................................................................................................................19
Opinion Living in WNC is getting harder for workers ............................................................20 Teaching my children the power of mindset ..............................................................21
A&E Credits roll on Quin Theater ..........................................................................................22 Books: ‘The Book of Candlelight’ and ‘Human Smoke’ ........................................29
Outdoors
Smoky Mountain News
May 11-17, 2022
After 15 years of forecasting, Local Yokel is shifting focus ..................................30 No new CWD cases discovered after processing samples................................32
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What it means for NC if Roe v. Wade is overturned BY KYLE PERROTTI N EWS E DITOR hen President Donald Trump appointed conservative jurist Amy Coney Barrett to the United States Supreme Court, there was an outcry among pro-choice activists afraid Roe v. Wade — the 1973 case that protects a woman’s right to an abortion — would be overturned. Now, a leaked draft SCOTUS opinion seems to confirm those fears and would leave legislation regulating abortion up to individual states, including North Carolina, which has a Democratic governor but is likely to maintain its Republican majority in both its House and Senate.
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Smoky Mountain News
May 11-17, 2022
A MONUMENTAL DECISION The draft opinion, first published alongside a Politico story, rules on a Mississippi law that would ban abortions after 15 weeks. Many pro-choice activists are afraid women will lose reproductive rights, while some voiced concern over the court’s willingness to change what has long been held as established law. Conservative commentators lamented such a monumental leak may undermine the independent nature of the court. However, as the nation waits to see what the final opinion may look like, the question remains: how will this affect North Carolina, an outlier among many other Southern states that would immediately be able to enforce strict anti-abortion laws upon overturning Roe? The draft repudiates not only the precedent established by Roe, noting that “[it] was egregiously wrong from the start,” but also the closely related Casey v. Planned Parenthood, which was published nearly two decades later and upheld Roe while allowing for some restrictions. “The inescapable conclusion is that a right to abortion is not deeply rooted in the Nation’s history and traditions,” Alito’s opinion reads. It’s important to note that the leaked document, which has been verified as authentic by Chief Justice John Roberts, is still only a draft and justices can change their votes. However, given the conservative makeup of the court, that seems unlikely. The Politico story notes that the other four justices appointed by Republican Presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump had voted with Alito after hearing oral arguments in December of last year, a fact that remained “unchanged” at the time of publication. The three Democrat-appointed justices are working on one or more dissents. The article mentions that it’s unclear how Roberts, who was the swing vote on the previous, more balanced court, will rule.
THE TAR HEEL PERSPECTIVE In June of last year, a three-judge panel of the 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals upheld a lower court’s ruling that a North Carolina 4 law banning abortions after 20 weeks that
had been on the books since 1973 was unconstitutional. That law was challenged after the General Assembly voted in 2015 in favor of a bill that narrowed medical exemptions. Now, an even more restrictive law could be on the table if Roe is overturned. Former North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice Bob Orr said that if Roe is overturned, if any new laws were appealed, the state Supreme Court would likely be the final arbiter. “You would start out in the trial court, then through court of appeals and up to Supreme Court, which has the final say in matters of the North Carolina Constitution,” Orr said. The focus of such challenges would likely be the state’s “Law of the Land” clause, Section 19, which offers equal protection like the 14th Amendment. Orr noted that the argument regarding the “Law of the Land” that prochoice advocates may make would be similar to one some conservatives made regarding a hot-button issue of the last two years. “There’s an implied right of privacy in the North Carolina Constitution, and it applies in a range of ways,” Orr said. “If you think about it, if you brought a lawsuit claiming the government couldn’t force you to wear a mask, you’d arguably say that’s infringing on a constitutional right to privacy, a right to determine whether I want to use a mask.” Notably, there are two state Supreme Court seats up for election this year, both held by Democratic incumbents. If a Republican wins just one of those seats, it’ll sway the balance of the court, likely making it far more likely to rule to uphold a restrictive anti-abortion law. The recent news regarding the leaked draft only heightens the importance of those races for voters who care about access to abortion. “We’ve seen with both parties at different times a strong willingness to take their cases that deal with these kinds of hot-button constitutional issues to the Supreme Court,” said Orr. “If you’ve lost in the legislature, you can accept it or you can litigate it. I certainly think there will be no hesitancy even if the makeup of the court shifts significantly.”
THE POLITICAL ANGLE For a more restrictive anti-abortion bill to become law, Republicans will likely have to gain enough seats in the General Assembly to secure a supermajority capable of overriding any vetoes by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. Western Carolina University professor Chris Cooper, who heads up the school’s political science department, said he thinks Republicans aren’t likely to win enough of those elections to gain that veto-proof majority. “I think everyone’s expectations will be that Republicans will hold the majority in both chambers,” Cooper said. “But they’re not likely to get the super majority, and if they do get one, it’ll be the Senate.” Cooper said you can expect to hear about this issue on the state level more in the coming months.
“This is the federal government making a decision that is going to change state politics in a fundamental way, so it reinforces importance of state politics in our lives,” Cooper said. “The tough thing for state Republicans and Democrats is going to be to making that connection to voters. People will this as a SCOTUS decision, and average voters won’t see it having to do with [WNC legislators] Kevin Corbin, Mike Clampitt and Brian Turner, but it has everything to do with Kevin Corbin, Mike Clampitt and Brian Turner.”
posals that would outright ban all abortions with no exceptions. “I would support any legislation that would reduce the killing of unborn babies in North Carolina.” When talking about the draft opinion, Ballard echoed a common sentiment expressed especially by conservatives that the leak of the draft itself was an egregious attempt to undermine the integrity of the court, one that Roberts mentioned in his statement. “To the extent this betrayal of the confidences of the Court was intended to under-
Ralph Hise
Deanna Ballard
“This is the federal government making a decision that is going to change state politics in a fundamental way, so it reinforces importance of state politics in our lives.” — Western Carolina University professor Chris Cooper
Cooper said he expects to see each party use abortion, and specifically the impending SCOTUS opinion, as a rallying cry. While Democrats may be more inclined to make it a major issue leading up to November’s General Election, it could even play a part in this week prior to the Republican primaries. Most notably, it may be talked about over the next week in the race for Senate District 47, which runs from Clyde up to Sparta. Because of the way the new district was drawn, two high-profile incumbents, Ralph Hise and Deanna Ballard, will likely seek anything that can differentiate one from the other to gain an edge. In interviews with The Smoky Mountain News, Hise and Ballard conveyed their strong anti-abortion stances. “There is no sliding scale for me when it comes to life,” Ballard said. While Hise didn’t make that kind of specific statement, he did note that he’s been “100% pro-life” and that he’s been a sponsor on multiple bills that would restrict abortion. “I want to see no abortion in the state,” he said, adding that he doesn’t know of any pro-
mine the integrity of our operations, it will not succeed,” Roberts said in the statement. “The work of the Court will not be affected in any way … This was a singular and egregious breach of that trust that is an affront to the Court and the community of public servants who work here.” “The whole leak itself is really sad,” Ballard said. Both Hise and Ballard mentioned that they will use their pro-life views in their campaigns but noted that isn’t any different than what they’d already been doing. “I have tried in every way through my record in the legislature, as well as my campaign, to show that I have a pro-life record,” Hise said, adding that he’s been endorsed by the highly conservative NC Values Coalition. “I even had a mail page out [last] week speaking to what I’ve done as to bills I’ve sponsored,” Ballard said. “I’ve been consistent with what I’ve said.” The Politico story notes that the final SCOTUS opinion regarding the Mississippi abortion law case is expected to be published in about two months.
BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS E DITOR hen Haywood TDA Executive Director Lynn Collins showed up to the Haywood County Board of Commissioners meeting to deliver her midyear report on May 2, her opening statement didn’t exactly take anyone by surprise. “As you can see, things are still going quite well for tourism in Haywood County,”
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Ingles Nutrition Notes written by Ingles Dietitian Leah McGrath WHAT TO DO IF YOU CAN’T FIND INFANT FORMULA
Smoky Mountain News
Starting in 2020 we saw some shortages of infant formula. In late February of 2022, Abbott Nutrition products were part of a voluntary recall and then one of their manufacturing facilities was closed due to a suspected bacterial contamination – suddenly the situation escalated. Because so many infants had to be switched to other formulas, there was a ripple effect throughout the whole category that created more shortages. If you’re a parent or caregiver and have had difficulty finding the brand of formula you usually buy; here are some tips: 1. Talk to your pediatrician, pediatric dietitian, or WIC office about trying or switching to another comparable formula. US store brand formulas are all FDA approved. 2. When searching for formula use apps and search on the formula name and not just one store. 3. Contact the formula maker by phone or email to see if it is possible to order on-line. 4. Ask friends and family members to watch for and buy formula when they are out shopping 5. If you are in a community group on Facebook or on an app, ask for people to let you know if they see product in an area store 6. Contact local food shelters/pantries or food banks. Please DON’T: stockpile formula Also, please DON’T: make your own formula or feed infants under 12 months of age cow or goat’s milk or non-dairy alternatives as this can cause serious health problems.
May 11-17, 2022
Collins said. All five zip codes that receive a share of room occupancy tax collections (Canton, Clyde, Lake Junaluska, Maggie Valley and Waynesville) reported being between 1832% above year-to-date projections, according to data provided by Collins. Every month from July 2021 through January 2022, each zip code exceeded projections except for Lake Junaluska in November, Clyde in December and January, and Canton in September — likely because much of the town was still digging out from mid-August flooding that destroyed parts of downtown. The strong results, which are measured by a fiscal year that begins on July 1, are the continuation of a trend that’s been apparent for at least six years. Beginning in 2007, the TDA usually collected about $900,000 per year until finally hitting the $1 million mark in 2014-15. In 2015-16, the TDA collected $1.22 million for the entire fiscal year. The next year, it was $1.43 million. In 2017-18 it grew to $1.56 million. Then, $1.6 million in 2018-2019. The Coronavirus Pandemic year of 201920 included four months — March, April, May and June — during which widespread closures impacted the hospitality industry generally, and hotels specifically. Total tax collections dipped that year to $1.54 million, but came roaring back during the 2020-21 fiscal year, at $2.55 million. Although data for February, March and April aren’t yet available, and collections for May and June haven’t happened yet, the
TDA already reports collections of $1.80 million for the current fiscal year, with five months of data still outstanding. “It looks like we are on track to hit the $3 million mark this year,” Collins said. “You can see that last year, 2021, we collected more than a million dollars more than we had in the previous year.” Room occupancy is also tracked by accommodation categories; Collins said that in January of this year, the county reached an all-time high in the percentage of visitors who booked vacation rentals, which gobbled up 79% of the market as opposed to campgrounds, hotels and bed and breakfasts. A Visitors flock to Cabell Tice’s report contracted by Orchard Coffee in Waynesville. the TDA says File photo that in February 2021, there were 899 listings for vacation rentals in the county, but in February 2022, there were 1,344. As the post-COVID landscape changes for tourism in Haywood County, the TDA will return to a tried-and-true marketing campaign. Before COVID, they embraced the clever “Hay Now” campaign, but during the pandemic, switched to “Embrace unusual,” apropos for the unusual times. Now, it’s back to “Hay Now.” “They [Crawford Strategies] have updated the ‘Hay Now’ logo and they have added a new tagline for us,” Collins said. “All of the taglines start with ‘Hey would,’ [like] ‘Haywood you like to step things up? Haywood you like to go with the flow? Haywood you like to get high?’ for a hiking shot.” Collins said the TDA had such a great year last year that the governing board decided to designate $500,000 from fund balance for a one-time special project fund for capital projects. All five zip codes were represented in the eight applications received by the TDA last week. Some sent two. Hopefully, Collins said, the TDA will award the money in June. Projects will have two years to be completed. Applications total more than $500,000, so not all projects will be funded. “It looks like we’re having another good year this year so maybe we can award some additional funds for those projects,” she said.
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Leah McGrath, RDN, LDN Ingles Market Corporate Dietitian
@InglesDietitian Leah McGrath - Dietitian Ingles Markets… caring about your health
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news Smoky Mountain News
May 11-17, 2022
Dr. Raymond Turpin sees hope in a new treatment for PTSD. Jeffrey Delannoy photo
MDMA as medicine Stemming the tide of veteran suicides in Western North Carolina
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BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS E DITOR
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round midnight on Christmas Eve in 2006, Jonathan Lubecky found himself alone in a Raleigh tavern listening to church bells chiming off in the distance. In the cold dark streets with tears streaming down his face, he sought them out, but he was really in search of something more — solace from the posttraumatic stress disorder he’d acquired while serving in a combat zone as a United States Marine.
Miraculously, Jonathan Lubecky didn’t die on Christmas Eve in 2006. A manufactur-
Jonathan Lubecky, seen here outside the White House in 2019, continues to advocate for increased access to psychedelics like MDMA for PTSD patients. Donated photo
“All along, I’ve been interested in psychedelics as medicines and being used for mental health treatment.” — Dr. Raymond Turpin
with the VA. “And then on Nov. 4, 2013, I slit my wrists, which was my final suicide attempt.” The history of ineffective treatments for PTSD parallels the history of PTSD itself. First described by the ancient Greeks, PTSD has been known for millennia by different names — shell shock, war nerves, combat neurosis, soldier’s heart. It’s not limited to combat veterans or veterans in general and can affect anyone who’s been through acute or chronic trauma, be it emotional, physical or sexual. Roughly 12 million Americans are walking around with PTSD in any given year,
according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Civilians experience comparatively less trauma than members of the armed forces. Studies from the VA suggest that 15% of Vietnam veterans, 12% of Gulf War veterans and somewhere from 11-20% of veterans from operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom have PTSD. In 2019, about 17 civilians per 100,000 committed suicide, while the rate for veterans was closer to 27. Jonathan Lubecky may have continued on his path to becoming one of them, but after his last unsuccessful suicide attempt, someone at the Charleston VA slid a folded up note across the table, told him not to tell anyone about it and not to open it until he got home.
BICYCLE In his Waynesville office, the bearded, bespectacled Dr. Raymond Turpin sits behind a modest desk piled with papers, folders and a webcam. The place screams “calm,”
Smoky Mountain News
SOLDIER’S HEART
er’s defect in the cartridge prevented the round from leaving the barrel. “You still get a bang,” Lubecky said. “And I did it in front of a mirror. I thought I was dead. And I was like, ‘This is what dead is?’” Born in Ohio, Lubecky reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island nine days after graduating high school in 1995 and served as a C-130 loadmaster until he left the Marines in 1999. He returned after the Sept. 11 terror attacks, and was sworn into the North Carolina National Guard three days after the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003. Iraq’s Balad Air Base, where Lubecky was stationed in 2005 and 2006, was the target of thousands upon thousands of mortar attacks. Each and every day, Lubecky said, the dry desert air rained steel. Sirens blared. Soldiers scrambled. Defensive weapons roared as explosions peppered the base, leaving the distinct smell of cordite wafting over them all. There’s also one specific incident Lubecky doesn’t want to talk about. Then, as he prepared to return home in late 2006, his life rapidly became a country music song. His wife took their dog, sold his motorcycle and moved in with another man, leaving him only an empty house in Sanford, not far from Fort Bragg. “Occasionally you could hear helicopters flying overhead or impacts from artillery. When I started hearing those and they weren’t there,” he said, “I realized I was starting to have a problem. Things devolved rapidly from there.” That’s what led Lubecky, weeks later, to that lonely Christmas Eve at the bar and the church and the monument and the hospital and his face in the mirror with a gun against his head. It was his first suicide attempt, and he’d try four more times over the next eight years, all the while still searching. “They had me on I think a total of 42 pills a day for mental health and chronic pain and stuff like that,” said Lubecky of his experience
May 11-17, 2022
Until recently PTSD wasn’t well understood. Until very recently it wasn’t taken seriously. There weren’t many options for people like Lubecky, who had been home from Iraq for less than 60 days. When Lubecky finally found the bells of Sacred Heart, the century-old neo-gothic cathedral was so full that he was turned away. He lingered near the North Carolina Veterans Monument for a time, staring up at the solitary white obelisk of Mt. Airy granite topped by a dark bronze Lady Liberty hoisting a tobacco leaf high above her head. He was trying to figure out the best way to kill himself. Something from his training popped into his thoughts, so Lubecky hopped in his car and drove to the Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg. He told them he wanted to take his own life. They gave him six Xanax and said not to take them all at once or he would succeed. Instead Lubecky drove home, downed a fifth of vodka, put a Beretta to his temple and pulled the trigger. More than 15 years later, an estimated 22 American veterans still commit suicide each day as thousands more are left searching for something Jonathan Lubecky couldn’t find on that Christmas Eve. Stigma associated with seeking mental health assistance and a general lack of education about PTSD both contribute to the death toll, as do palliative treatments that don’t nearly help all of the people all of the time. That may soon change, and Western North Carolina is at the tip of the spear thanks to a promising new treatment that involves an overlooked psychedelic compound called MDMA.
S EE MDMA, PAGE 8 7
MDMA, CONTINUED FROM 7
Smoky Mountain News
May 11-17, 2022
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with soothing natural light streaming through the partially drawn window shades, casting sepia hues over the rich wood trim. Strewn about the high-ceilinged room are several chairs and couches where patients of the Pearl Psychedelic Institute come to discuss their trauma with Turpin. A Georgia native, Turpin was an advertising major at the University of Georgia in the mid-1980s until he had his first encounter with psilocybin, the active ingredient in hallucinogenic mushrooms. The experience led him to change his major to psychology and earn a master’s degree at West Georgia College, and then a PhD at the California Institute of Integral Studies. He moved to Waynesville in 2001. “All along, I’ve been interested in psychedelics as medicines and being used for mental health treatment,” Turpin said. Psychedelics are a class of compounds that trigger dramatically altered states of consciousness. Natural psychedelics like peyote and psilocybin have been known to humans for thousands of years and were sometimes utilized in religious or spiritual ceremonies. Recreational users also consumed them for the pleasant physical and emotional effects they can produce, alongside auditory and visual hallucinations. More than a century ago, the pharmaceutical industry began to study these compounds and isolate or synthesize new ones, hoping to find some commercial use for the relatively potent substances. Swiss chemist Albert Hoffman first synthesized LSD in 1938 but experienced the psychedelic effects firsthand on April 19, 1943 — now called “Bicycle Day,” because of Hoffman’s interesting ride home from work. Bicycle Day is also recognized as the dawn of the modern psychedelic age. Wayne State University professor Dr. Calvin Stevens invented ketamine in the early 1960s, which ended up being a go-to surgical anesthetic on the battlefields of Vietnam. Now, it’s an FDA-approved nasal spray that treats depression. MDMA, discovered by Dr. Anton Köllisch of Merck Pharmaceuticals in 1912, sat on a shelf until a Dow chemist named Dr. Alexander Shulgin rediscovered it in 1976, and began testing it on himself. Through ever-increasing dosages, Shulgin eventually experienced the psychoactive effects of MDMA and suggested to his friend, Oakland psychologist Leo Zeff, that it might be good for psychotherapy. At one time, Turpin said, there were around 4,000 mental health professionals legally using MDMA in their psychotherapy practices. But MDMA had also been adopted by the early-1980s underground party culture, where it was used recreationally as a supplement to the loud music, colorful flashing lights and gyrating revelers. Users reported feelings of euphoria, increased energy, sensory elevation and tactile stimulation that earned MDMA the moniker of “ecstasy,” or simply, “X.” More recently, it’s been called “Molly.” Blowback ensued, and by 1988, MDMA 8
Published data suggest that MDMA has value as a post-traumatic stress disorder treatment. Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies infographic
was classified as a Schedule I narcotic by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, along with heroin, LSD, marijuana, methaqualone (quaaludes) and peyote. Schedule I substances are defined as “drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” In the mid-1990s, Dr. Charles Grob of UCLA received FDA permission to conduct the first phase-one study on the physiological and psychological effects of MDMA in healthy volunteers. “Other than a temporary elevation in heart rate and blood pressure, and maybe body temperature, people could tolerate it well and there weren’t any adverse effects,” Turpin said. “That opened the door to phase two, which was where they actually started to look at it for PTSD. And there was a lot of evidence from the legal period there during those 10 years in the late 1970s/early 1980s that it might be very effective with people who had traumatic histories.” In 2017, Turpin returned to the California Institute of Integral Studies for a certificate program in psychedelic studies and research, where he met Dr. Michael Mithoefer and his wife Annie, a registered nurse. Mithoefer conducted one of the seminal phase two studies testing MDMA’s suitability for treating PTSD. “The results were really pretty strong,” said Turpin. “These were folks that had severe chronic PTSD for an average of 17 or 18 years. One year after the protocol, 67% of the people that had entered the study with PTSD no longer qualified for [a diagnosis of] PTSD.”
A BATHTUB FULL OF PUPPIES When Lubecky got home, unfolded the note and read it, it simply said, “Google
MDMA PTSD.” Once he did, he learned that the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies was conducting a phase two clinical trial, run by the Mithoefers. Founded in 1986, MAPS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focusing on the development of cultural, legal and med-
“I’ll be honest, I didn’t think this was going to work. That’s entirely why I volunteered. I’m like, ‘I’m going to die any day, I might as well try this.’ And then it was a miracle.” — Jonathan Lubecky
ical shifts in the careful use of psychedelics for mental and spiritual healing. “Interestingly enough, I returned from Iraq on Nov. 22, 2006, and I took my first dose of MDMA on Nov. 22, 2014,” Lubecky said. “So, on Nov. 22 of this year, I will have been healed of PTSD as long as I had it.” But it’s not as simple as just taking a single pill and walking away feeling better. There’s a strict screening process meant to weed out people who could experience an adverse reaction from MDMA’s known side effects — elevated blood pressure and heart rate. Then, there are three 90-minute prep sessions where therapists get to know the patient and answer questions about the treatment.
Next comes the dosing session, during which two therapists administer the drug via a pill and sit with the patient for between six and eight hours. Sometimes the patient will don eyeshades, or headphones, and listen to calming instrumental music. Other times, they’ll talk with therapists as they go through the experience. “It kind of felt like I was in a tight wetsuit in a hot tub,” Lubecky said. “It’s like doing therapy while being hugged by everyone in the world who loves you in a bathtub full of puppies licking your face.” The patient will go on to spend the night and then participate in an integration session following breakfast the next morning, trying to make sense of what was happening during the dosing session. Typically, three dosing sessions followed by integration sessions will take place over the course of four to six months. After that, no further MDMA use by the patient is anticipated. What’s actually happening during those dosing sessions is the untangling of complicated processes in the brain that have become dysfunctional due to trauma. “When somebody is undergoing an overwhelming psychological emotional experience, certain higher functions of the brain shut down, and the brain reverts to more primitive processing,” Turpin said. “The information that’s coming in from the traumatic memory — the things people are seeing, what they’re hearing, what they’re smelling — they don’t go through proper processing channels, like a normal memory would. It basically gets stuck in the brain in an improper area where it just sits there. And that’s why people have intrusive memories, nightmares, flashbacks. It’s all this highly charged, fragmented information.” That information tends to pop up randomly, or when external sensations trigger a re-experiencing of the traumatic event. “It’s just kind of living in a state of fear,” said Turpin. “There could be a car backfiring. They could smell somebody’s cologne that reminds them of the smell of the person that raped them. It tends to really throw the body into a state of shock almost.” Such episodes can leave those suffering from PTSD with hypervigilance, but they can also result in the desire for physical seclusion and mental isolation with or without the use of alcohol or other illicit drugs. The only two FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of PTSD, Paxil and Zoloft, are antidepressants and don’t really treat the underlying cause of PTSD. They’re often prescribed in conjunction with other drugs to combat the effects of PTSD, like sleeplessness and nightmares. A 2009 study pegged their effectiveness at between 20-30%, although Turpin said it’s maybe 50% at best. “What we’ve done for years in treatment is try to give people drugs that have tried to basically throw a blanket on those symptoms and to mitigate those symptoms so that people can go out and function,” Turpin said. “Unfortunately, we haven’t done a very good job with those drugs.”
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What MDMA does, according to Turpin, is shut down the amygdalae — the fire alarm of the brain that triggers the normal fight-orflight response to trauma. That allows the trauma to be processed by the prefrontal cortex, the way it should have happened in the first place. The positive results from Mithoefer’s phase two trial, in which Lubecky was a participant, led to the third phase of trials conducted by MAPS. “I think they’re expected to probably do phase three through this year and then wrap it up and turn in hopefully a new drug application to the FDA early next year,” Turpin said. “The hope is that it’ll be approved, but there’s a special program that the FDA has, called ‘expanded access’ or ‘compassionate use.’” The FDA has approved 10 sites nationwide for the compassionate use program, effectively clearing the way for 50 people to receive the MDMA treatment. Four sites are expected to be up and running soon, but Turpin’s Waynesville practice has a bit of a head start on the other three. “Mithoefer was my mentor for that [certificate] program, and they were moving to Asheville,” Turpin said. “That’s how the conversation got started about maybe getting an expanded access site in Asheville, and since I was over here in Waynesville, I was kind of interested to see if we could pull it off in Waynesville, too.” Currently, two patients are in the screening process and on track for treatment later this year, which would make Waynesville the first expanded access site in the world for the compassionate use of MDMA to treat PTSD. “I’ll be honest,” Lubecky said. “I didn’t think this was going to work. That’s entirely why I volunteered. I’m like, ‘I’m going to die any day, I might as well try this.’ And then it was a miracle.” Lubecky hasn’t taken MDMA since his initial doses in 2016 and continues to advo-
Find help If you or someone you know is contemplating self-harm, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800.273.8255. The work of MAPS and the Pearl Psychedelic Institute, both of which are nonprofits, is primarily funded through donations. To learn more or to help, visit pearlpsychedelicinstitute.org/donate.
Marine Michael Ferguson (left) rides out of Fallujah after 28 days of near-constant firefights. Donated photo
“I never really found [a medication] that even came close to working. Most of what I was given at the time had a side effect of suicidal ideation. That’s the last thing that a person in my position needs is more encouragement towards that.” — Michael Ferguson
cate for the treatment he thinks saved his life, which is good news for other veterans like Waynesville resident Michael Ferguson, who hasn’t yet had the opportunity to go through the MDMA treatment process. Ferguson joined the Marine Corps just before the terror attacks of Sept. 11, and became part of a FAST company — Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team. After the invasion of Iraq, he spent 28 days fighting in the Battle of Fallujah.
“Fallujah was kind of, firefight, break. Firefight, break. You’d hear morning prayer about 5 a.m. and you’d know everybody was getting up and pretty soon they were going to come find where you are today. At times I remember being on rooftops and looking out over the city and it looked like the entire city was on fire,” Ferguson said. “It’s hard for me to explain it or put it into words and grasp it. It’s still odd to me that that’s what I did.” Ferguson said he had trouble adjusting
when he returned home and was fired from his first nine jobs for his quarrelsome behavior. He still sees snipers lurking in open windows and improvised explosive devices on the sides of Western North Carolina’s roads. Finally, a Vietnam veteran recognized Ferguson’s symptoms and encouraged him to visit the VA. From 2006 until he was formally diagnosed with PTSD in 2014, he went through several different therapy programs and was on 11 different medications. “I never really found one that even came close to working. Most of what I was given at the time had a side effect of suicidal ideation,” he said. “That’s the last thing that a person in my position needs is more encouragement towards that.” Ferguson stopped taking medications for PTSD several years ago. He said he still contemplates self-harm but continues to fight it, in hopes that one day soon he’ll find the solace that Lubecky found — perhaps in the research and treatment Turpin and MAPS are currently conducting. “When you deal with death that much at such a young age, once something’s on the table, it’s hard to remove it off the table,” he said. “Even today I definitely don’t have an intent or a will [to commit suicide] but it’s still something I think about. It’s always going to be on the table. The process is just keeping it on the table and not putting it into action. And every day that we do that, we win.”
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In use since 1925, Ela Dam sits above an ecologically important stretch of river. Holly Kays photo
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Sediment removal efforts on the river began Dec. 21, 2021, and continued through March 15. At that point, in-river operations halted to avoid impacting spawning season, especially for the rare sicklefin redhorse fish. Spawning season necessitates a pause lasting until June. Before sediment removal resumes, FERC as well as resource agencies, will need to review the affected river segment, Ahlrichs wrote. Northbrook has no specific remediation plans right now, because any further efforts would reflect the river’s condition come June. “Moreover, we foresee the potential for conflicts over regulatory jurisdiction among federal, state and local agencies regarding remediation issues, and different judgements over the merits of further remediation approaches,” Ahlrichs wrote. “Such potential conflicts may or may not emerge, but if they do, the concern is that resulting litigation will absorb resources better directed to improving the Oconaluftee River.” Northbrook and coalition members are targeting June to have a finalized dam removal agreement ready to present to stakeholders and agencies, Ahlrichs wrote. If that presentation is well received, then the parties could proceed with a formal application to FERC. Terms could include Northbrook surrendering its license, or an interim license transfer to a designee of the coalition. However, Ahlrichs wrote, the parties want to hammer out these terms in private before bringing forward a proposed agreement. “We are certain that attempting to negotiate these kinds of arrangements in an open public forum would be impossible,” he wrote. “Any results will be available for public comment and the Commission’s review, but in the interest of a rational process, we would not anticipate filing with the Commission any interim proposals, contract drafts or similar negotiation materials.”
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BY HOLLY KAYS OUTDOORS E DITOR ccording to public documents filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, a decision on whether to pursue removal of the Ela Dam in Swain County is coming up in the next month or so. The dam, which made headlines last October after a massive sediment release blanketed the downstream river and presumably wiped out the aquatic communities established there, sits half a mile above the confluence of the Tuckasegee and Oconaluftee rivers and is owned by Northbrook Power Management. In February, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians announced an effort to lead a coalition to get the dam removed completely. Public documents filed shortly thereafter showed that Northbrook intended to support the removal efforts, but subsequent filings reveal that the company sees continued remediation and support of dam removal as an either/or proposition. “Licensee has made clear to the ECBI (and its growing coalition of interested parties and agencies – termed here the “EBCI Coalition”) that it cannot afford to both pursue more sediment remediation and/or mitigation and/or litigation regarding the Bryson Event, and then further surrender the investment value of the project to enable a decommissioning,” reads a letter from Northbrook Power Management President Chuck Ahlrichs to FERC Secretary Kimberley Bose filed March 31 in response to an information request from the agency. Northbrook could contribute its investment in the dam to the coalition’s dam removal project as an alternative to further mitigation or litigation, Ahlrichs wrote. But it can’t afford to do both, and it also can’t afford to pay for the removal itself. “The EBCI Coalition would need to develop decommissioning plans and locate funding to implement those plans,” he wrote.
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Sylva temporarily closes Spring Street
the same period of time. There will be a public hearing for community input on downtown public restroom locations and adjacent open-air areas at the May 12 Board of Commissioners meeting. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. and will take place in Town Hall.
Drake Software Appoints New President and CEO
Software has never been stronger. Dom has the track record, FinTech experience, and leadership that will take this company to the next level in product delivery and customer service.” This tax season, Drake Software served a record Dominic (Dom) Morea number of over 70,000 tax professional clients, and its products continue to meet or exceed all quality targets.
Chairman Euan Menzies states, “I am very pleased with the excellent contributions from my Drake Software colleagues which led to the strong performance during the most recent tax season. Drake Software made progress on all fronts over the past year, making strategic investments across many facets of the business which led to customer growth. I am delighted to welcome Dom as the new CEO, and I am confident he will have a major positive impact as we move forward.” Drake Software’s new President and CEO Dom Morea added, “I’ve spent my career in industry-leading financial service and technology firms and have great admiration for Drake Software’s reputation for excellence in product development and customer service. I am honored to join Drake Software and have the opportunity to enable the talented members of this company to achieve new levels of success where we will continue to drive innovation and service quality within the tax industry.”
Drake Software announced today the appointment of Dominic (Dom) Morea as President and CEO. Interim CEO Euan Menzies will continue in his role as Chairman of Drake Software. Dom Morea comes to Drake Software with a strong background of more than 20 years’ experience in FinTech, working with Fiserv and First Data Corporation. He served most recently as Global Head of Fiserv’s Prepaid business. The Fiserv Prepaid business is one of the world’s largest payment service providers, supporting billions of transactions annually across the globe and millions of consumer/app users. Drake Software’s Founder and current Board Member Phil Drake said, “Drake
Downtown Sylva.
HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER ommunity support is emerging for a skatepark in Sylva. In the meantime, will the town purchase a temporary half-pipe? This is the latest idea from Sylva Commissioners to be considered for inclusion in the FY 2022-23 budget. A grassroots organization of Jackson County residents, the Sylva Skatepark Project, has been advocating for the construction of a skatepark in the county for the last several months. Both the town of Sylva and the county commission have been receptive to the group’s endeavors, but it is unclear which entity would foot the bill for the future park. With Sylva approaching the end of its budget process for the upcoming fiscal year, there are talks of purchasing a temporary half-pipe until the skatepark construction can be finalized. At a May 5 budget workshop commissioner Greg McPherson brought up the idea of adding a line item to the budget for the purchase of a halfpipe. “I’ve got a 16-by-8-foot ramp, $7,000, and I think it takes a day to put it together,” said McPherson. McPherson said the ramp he had looked at cost around $7,500 and prices ranged up to $10,000. The structures come in parts that can be put together and taken back apart again to move. Commissioners discussed several potential locations for the halfpipe, including Bridge Park, the area behind Sylva’s pool and the Frontier lot. Both Public Works Director Jake Scott and Sylva Police Chief Chris Hatton quickly vetoed the idea of putting a half pipe behind the pool, reminding commissioners that the location is already rife with delinquent activity. “We spend a lot of time at Poteet and Bridge Park, dealing with some pretty serious issues from school kids,” said Hatton. “For Jake and I, you’re asking for a lot of trouble.” Mayor Linda Sossamon suggested asking the county if the skate ramp could be placed at Mark Watson Park, noting that the park is flat, and has lighting and bathrooms. “I think [a temporary ramp] is a good idea since we don’t know how long it’s going to take for the other to get finalized,” said Sossamon. “I just don’t want our town’s toddlers to learn new words,” said Hatton. Town Manager Paige Dowling asked commissioners to send her a cost estimate and said that she would then speak to Jackson County Recreation Director Rusty Ellis. Dowling said it would be her recommendation to use American Rescue Funds to purchase the ramp since one of the acceptable uses for that money is parks and recreation. “This is a short-term fix while we have the longer discussion,” said Commissioner David Nestler. All commissioners expressed that they were on board with purchasing the temporary halfpipe. The board will continue its budget discussion with the formal presentation of the FY 202223 budget at its May 12 meeting, held at 5:30 p.m. at Town Hall. The Sylva Skatepark Project meets at 6 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays of the month at Bridge Park. 13
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Rose Bauguess, regional planner for the North Carolina Department of Transportation, who suggested getting consensus from the board as soon as possible resulting in the decision at the May 5 meeting. Bauguess suggested closing Spring Street early in May so that Mother’s Day weekend, Western Carolina
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University’s graduation weekend and Memorial Day weekend — busy weekends for Sylva — could all potentially be part of the traffic study. At the May 5 meeting, commissioners reached a consensus and were all on board with closing Spring Street, at least temporarily to determine how it would affect downtown traffic. Railroad Avenue will also temporarily change back to a two-way street during
May 11-17, 2022
Through State Capital Infrastructure Funds, direct appropriations in the state budget, the town was allocated $250,000 for public restrooms. Earlier this year, commissioners discussed the merits of building public bathrooms on Spring Street and at the old railroad depot. The town had originally planned to get a consensus about the trial road closure from board members at its May 12 meeting. However, staff consulted with
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HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER he Town of Sylva closed Spring Street, between Mill Street and Main Street beginning May 6. The closure will last for approximately three weeks. The purpose of the closure is to push all traffic headed westbound down Mill Street, and circling onto Main Street, down to Landis Street, without the option to turn left onto Spring Street. This portion of Spring Street is one proposed location for the construction of public restrooms in downtown Sylva. The town wants to determine whether closing Spring Street permanently for the public restrooms would be too much of an impediment to downtown traffic flow. There will be traffic counters on Landis Street counting vehicles traveling both ways, as well as a sign on Mill Street giving drivers early notice that Spring Street is closed. When the town opens Spring Street back up, one of those traffic counters will be moved to Spring Street so that traffic can be counted there. “That will give us at least really rough numbers about what amount of traffic we displaced by doing this,” said Public Works Director Jake Scott. “If we try this, we will have a better idea of what would happen to traffic,” said Town Manager Paige Dowling. “Where would it back up? Will it back up on Mill Street turning onto Landis, will people on Landis not be able to turn onto Mill? And what kind of delay would it make?”
Sylva contemplates buying temporary half-pipe
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Equinox Ranch is up and running HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER ot long after pulling off the busy NC 107 onto the small, single-lane road leading to Equinox Ranch, leafy green trees form a tunnel over a narrow street. From the driveway of the recently remodeled house, the sounds of the highway are exchanged for something more natural — birdsong, the remnants of an afternoon rain shower dripping onto the forest floor, rushing water from the nearby Tuckasegee River. The sensation is one of leaving the hustle and bustle of the modern world behind. This is exactly what Margo Capparelli had in mind when she envisioned Equinox Ranch. A place for veterans to take a step back from everyday life and get a handle on the process of healing. “A lot of veterans really love to be here,” said Capparelli. “It’s away from the civilian world, they don’t have to go anywhere.” The idea for Equinox Ranch grew out of Capparelli’s experience with the veteran community. Fourteen years ago, she took a job teaching for the University of Maryland’s European division. This meant teaching classes on U.S. military bases in Djibouti, Bahrain and Kuwait. Following this introduction to military life and the challenges faced by veterans, Capparelli earned her master’s in psychology and began working for the National Veterans Suicide Hotline answering phone calls. It was through this work, on the other end of the line with veterans in the midst of desperation, that the idea for Equinox Ranch began to grow — a place of respite, farremoved from the trials of everyday life that veterans often struggle to deal with after military service. “It’s part of the PTSD. As you go home, you pretend that life is great, and you keep it down and you keep it down,” said Capparelli. “Roy, who owns the radio station here, he’s a Vietnam veteran and he always describes it as trying to keep a big beach ball underwater. You can do it, but you’re living in the past. You can’t really enjoy the present. The civilian world is messy.” Renovating the 1980s house into a place where veterans can come and stay for weeks at a time has been a years-long process. Capparelli and her board acquired the property in Cullowhee in 2017 and have been working to outfit it ever since. What used to be a four-bedroom house is now a 10-bedroom facility with a large group kitchen, meeting room and a private therapy room, all of which is ADA accessible and dog friendly. The meeting and therapeutic rooms are situated in what used to be a two-car garage, connected to the house by a paved, covered walkway. “I always wanted the meeting space to be outside of the living conditions,” said Capparelli. “I just think that’s better for therapeutic reasons.” This required a total renovation of the interior of the house, knocking down walls
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in some places and installing them in others. New flooring, new doors, new paint, new windows, updated water and sewer — the list goes on. “We’re just happy that we have enough space and all the things we need to run our program,” said Capparelli. All of the work to transform the house was done by volunteers, many of whom
ity. She is a handywoman who seems to be able to do just about anything that needs getting done around a construction or renovation site. As she and Capparelli lead the way around Equinox, it is clear that Brazier knows where every nail, wire and pipe is located. She can tell someone where every wall of the original house stood in comparison to the walls that divide the place now. She spoke of digging out the earth that surrounded the house’s foundation by hand in order to facilitate repairs and install windows on the bottom floor.
“It took us a year,” said brazier. “We literally had to dig everything up, redo things, redo the front, everything.” Capparelli has been — Margo Capparelli overwhelmed with gratitude. Were it not for the hard work of volunteers like Brazier and generous donations of matewere part of veterans groups or just interestrials from members of the community — ed individuals who came to believe in every piece of material necessary for the renCapparelli’s vision. One of those was Diane ovation was made available through donaBrazier. A retired Air Force veteran, Brazier tions — the project wouldn’t be nearly as far read about Capparelli’s project in a women’s along as it is. Western Carolina University magazine. On a trip from Florida to New was especially helpful in providing volunteer York, she stopped in for a couple nights to services and assistance throughout the renohelp out before moving on. vation process. “I painted a room, did some floors, and “The university’s been great to us in then I said, ‘I’ll be back. I don’t know when, many, many ways,” said Capparelli. “We’ve but I’ll be back,’” said Brazier. had staff and students doing all kinds of That was several years ago. The baththings for us. The service learning departroom she painted isn’t even in the house ment, they just gave us an award for being a anymore, but Brazier, like so many others good community member.” who pass through Equinox Ranch, did come Even though the renovation is complete, back and stayed long-term to become instrumental in building out the inside of the facil- Brazier and Capparelli are brimming with
“A lot of veterans really love to be here. It’s away from the civilian world, they don’t have to go anywhere.”
ideas for the future. They see themselves turning the old shed beyond the garageturned-meeting room into a music and art studio for creative therapy. They also want to continue renovating the 23-acre property for outdoor activities. “Who knows what the future brings? We’ve got 23 acres in total, and we’re talking about raising vegetables, and possibly having a horse or two down the road, perhaps chickens,” Capparelli said with a smile. “We have a goat; bees were the first to arrive, but I’m sure once we get ahead, other animals will just show up.” What will visiting veterans experience at Equinox Ranch? Unlike many programs that aim to address PTSD, veterans are invited to stay at Equinox Ranch for two-week stretches, multiple times. While on the ranch, they will have access to a number of therapies, but importantly, they will also be in a calm environment, where outdoor recreation opportunities are abundant, as they work through trauma and recovery. Both Capparelli and Brazier see this as key to what Equinox is offering. “Going in once a week and seeking therapy, it’s not like being immersed in it and living it and being able to process it while it comes up,” said Brazier. “Something might get triggered, and then you have to deal with it, and it comes up when you get home. Whereas here, they have the space to deal with it, even if they just walk to the river, they have the space to deal with it. If they want to go into a private therapy session, they can do that too.” The outdoor opportunities available at Equinox Ranch are abundant. Right now, a group of volunteers offer classes such as fly fishing and beekeeping, but Capparelli hopes to eventually employ a fulltime staff that would be in charge of leading these activities. “The veterans seem to love bees,” she said. “And when I think about it, it’s because the bees are a nice little military. It’s not messy. A lot of veterans, when they come out of the service, it’s messy, and you don’t know what the rules are like you do in the military.” Capparelli also hopes to provide educational opportunities for the community. She sees a gap in the care that veterans need, and the level of knowledge most people have about PTSD. Equinox will be instrumental in helping veterans and families learn about the intricacies of PTSD and the best tactics for handling the hardship. “I think that a little education can go a long way to understanding people’s behavior,” she said. The next step is getting people through the doors of Equinox Ranch. Though the facility just started offering its two-week programs over the last couple of months, they have been met with a great response. Capparelli and her team are prepared to assist veterans from Jackson County, and all over the United States, in their process of healing.
Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-Henderson) speaks at a rally in Macon County in July, 2020. Cory Vaillancourt photo
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regardless of when this video was taken. We don’t have any further comment at this time.” Cawthorn acknowledged the authenticity of the video in a tweet, but didn’t provide information on where, when or by whom the video was shot. “A new hit against me just dropped.” Cawthorn wrote. “Years ago, in this video, I was being crass with a friend, trying to be funny. We were acting foolish, and joking. “A new hit against me just dropped. That’s it. I’m NOT “Years ago, in this video, I was being backing down. I told you there would be a crass with a friend, trying to be funny. drip drip campaign. Blackmail won’t win. We were acting foolish, and joking.” We will.” — Rep. Madison Cawthorn North Carolina’s Primary Election will take place on Tuesday, May 17, although in-person early voting is have consequences. This video was passed nearly halfway complete. Cawthorn faces a to us by a former supporter and big donor field of seven Republican challengers. If no of Rep. Cawthorn that wishes to remain single candidate gets more than 30% of the anonymous. Only Madison Cawthorn vote, a runoff between the top two finishers knows the date, location, names and ages of will take place on Tuesday, July 26. participants, or whether they are Cawthorn Six Democrats are also vying for the staff. Ask him for any of this information. right to face the Republican nominee in We do not know those details. We do know November. Rep. Cawthorn shouldn’t be in Congress safe-for-work video continues, until finally someone off camera calls the naked man “Madison” and asks him to stop. David B. Wheeler, president of the PAC, issued the following statement on the website: “Madison Cawthorn should resign from Congress today. While his sexual orientation or behavior behind closed doors is no interest whatsoever to us, his actions should
Video shows Rep. Cawthorn in compromising scene
Web host yanks Cawthorn video, PAC hacked
tent was never posted on the site, nor was it able to be viewed by visitors to the site. Wheeler also noted that the website’s bandwidth settings had been downgraded, causing latency issues with the site while it was up. He thinks it was all a hack. “I mean, the timing was just too coincidental to have not been directly related,” he said. After being down for around 18 hours, the website was re-launched – sans video – on the morning of May 6. “At that point, we were well over 300,000 downloads so we didn’t care,” Wheeler said. Wheeler said the video drew record traffic to the site, especially after major news sites and Twitter influencers took note of it on the evening of May 4. Since then it’s been mentioned in Rolling Stone and on comedian Trevor Noah’s The Daily Show. — Cory Vaillancourt, Politics Editor
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Just 24 hours after posting a graphic video of controversial congressman Madison Cawthorn, the web host of the site where it first appeared demanded the video be removed, citing terms of service violations. “I guess it was considered adult in nature,” said David Wheeler, president of American Muckrakers PAC, better known as firemadison.com. “They never really told us.” While the site was down, Wheeler said they discovered someone had inserted pornographic content into the folders on the back end of the website where photos and videos were stored. The pornographic con-
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remain anonymous.” The PAC has mercilessly hounded Cawthorn with ethics complaints, leaked audio from whistleblowers and other grievances since shortly after Cawthorn was elected. In the video, which looks to have been shot in a hotel room, a man who appears to be Cawthorn is seen in a state of undress grinding on another person while uttering an exaggerated series of grunts and groans. The other person is only seen for a moment, and has not yet been identified. Others in the room laugh as the not-
May 11-17, 2022
BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS E DITOR et another video that depicts embattled Western North Carolina Republican congressman Madison Cawthorn in a compromising situation has surfaced, according to a story first reported May 4 by The News & Observer. The story cites the American Muckrakers PAC, better known as firemadison.com, as the source of the video. A statement on the firemadison.com website says the video was sent to the PAC by a former supporter “who asked to
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Transatlantic partnership Tribal Council approves $75 million for ‘themed spectacle,’ site development at Exit 407 BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER ne of the world’s top amusement park companies, France-based Puy du Fou, is partnering with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to create a “themed spectacle” centering Cherokee history at the 200acre property under development by Kituwah LLC, at Exit 407 of Interstate 40 in Sevier County. The Cherokee Tribal Council voted 11-1 May 5 to appropriate $75 million for the project, with $45 million of that budgeted to build the attraction and $30 million for site development costs on the entire 80-acre section of property slated for Phase 1 development. The Puy du Fou project is expected to command 4-5 acres when it opens in 2024. “This project in Tennessee developed together with the EBCI means a lot for us: it will initiate our presence on the American soil, where there are so many great stories to tell,” Nicolas de Villiers, Chairman & Artistic Director of Puy du Fou. “As lovers of history and cultural roots, we are proud and honored to partner with the EBCI Tribe to achieve this goal.” Twice elected “Best Theme Park in the World,” Puy du Fou operates an original flagship park in France that draws more than 2.3 million visitors each year and trails only Disneyland Paris for the country’s highest number. The park offers multiple shows, period villages and more than half a dozen on-site resorts custom-designed and built with authenticity as a focal point. The company now has attractions in Spain, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and China. This would be its first foray into the American market, and as part of the agreement Kituwah LLC would have the first right of refusal on any future projects in the United States. “We are excited to take the first steps towards developing this world-class attraction that will help support our nation economically while creating a new platform to share dimensions of Cherokee history many have never heard,” Tribal Council Chairman Richard French said in a statement.
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May 11-17, 2022
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THE CONCEPT The tribe’s relationship with Puy du Fou at Exit 407 will be similar to its relationship to Caesar’s Entertainment at its casinos. The tribe will own the property, the building and the business through a newly formed company called Cherokee Rose that is in turn owned by Kituwah LLC, but Puy du Fou will design and operate the attraction. The attraction itself will consist of 125,000175,000 square feet of “retail-tainment,” dining and entertainment space, featuring an immersive walk-through show that will be the first of its kind in the United States, said Matthew Cross, CEO of OE Experiences, the Knoxville-based experience development company that has represented Kituwah and The 407 in their global search for ideal partners. “The closest example would be something like Titanic there in Pigeon Forge where you’re walking through a themed space, but this is a lot more focused on the immersion and the authenticity of actually being there,” Cross said. “And these sets are augmented with live actors, which is sort of Puy du Fou’s signature style.” “The vocation of Puy du Fou is to tell stories in an innovative, original and rooted way,” said Puy du Fou’s international press officer Manon Rigaudeau. “This new immersive show is the embodiment of this vocation: it will plunge visitors into the heart of a moving epic, from the Appalachians to the plains of Champagne.” Puy du Fou is one of the only companies in the world that does its own creative design and operates the attraction, allowing them to “seamlessly integrate” guest experiences to the space. The show itself will feature the “authentic and heartbreaking” story of Cherokee heroism during World War I through a “fully immersive” walk-through show that will take guests on a “patriotic and moving journey for the entire family,” according to a press release. “These are Cherokee that did actually participate on behalf of the Allies, and this expe-
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rience will put you right in the action as someone that travels overseas with them and has this experience,” said Cross. “Our goal, as is the goal with any experience, is to have it be highly transformative. This will be a very emotional but very positive story, and we hope everyone leaves with a sense of awe over a story that a lot of people don’t know about and I think deserves to be told.”
against the proposal. “I just feel that money could be better spent,” he said. “Why don’t we spend $75 million and buy every tribal member a home?”
PROGRESS ON THE 407
Buc-ee’s, the first company to announce its partnership with Kituwah, is now working on vertical construction of what will be the EBATE IN OUNCIL world’s largest convenience store when it During discussion in Tribal Council May opens next summer. The entire 80 acres of 5, Big Cove Rep. Teresa McCoy said that the Phase 1 is now under letters of intent from proposal met a favorable response from Big restaurants, retail chains and concepts lookCove residents when she discussed it with ing to build there. While those letters are them during a meeting. She said that she also non-binding, Cross expects the announcewas “comfortable” with the decision, despite ment from Puy du Fou to spur those companies to make their own public commitments. the high price tag. In December, Tribal Council voted to allow another of its LLCs, EBCI Holdings, pursue construction of a sports betting bar on the property. In addition to the work at Buc-ee’s, fine grading has begun for construction of a Marriott Courtyard owned by Kituwah LLC. The tribe hopes to see that facility open in 2023, but achieving that goal will be “challenging” given current supply Leaders from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Puy du Fou chain issues, Cross said. and Kituwah LLC gather during a visit in France to discuss the Cross said he doesn’t partnership. Donated photo anticipate any zoning issues with the develop“If we give our people the information, ment because the property was designated a they will read it and make their own decisions tourism improvement district prior to the and eradicate the fear of just seeing us sitting tribe’s purchasing it in 2019. However, he here and handing out $75 million, because said the developers are discussing how the current labor shortage could impact develit’s scary,” she said. “It is.” Birdtown Rep. Albert Rose was the sole opment plans and considering potential vote against the project. He took issue with solutions, including workforce housing, and the fact that the tribe, not Puy du Fou, would are evaluating infrastructure needs in the be paying to build the attraction and ques- community too. “A lot of new timelines start all at once tioned what the return on investment would be. His gut feeling is that it’s not a good deal, after a milestone like this, but we’re putting a lot of focus on the City of Sevierville, Sevier he said. “Commercial gaming, you’re going to get County and Tennessee Department of a return pretty quick,” he said. “This, I don’t Transportation about the infrastructure in the area, and what’s necessary to support not just know when were going to get it back.” Enrolled member Ernest Tiger also spoke our development, but the community itself.”
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May 11-17, 2022
BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER ribal Council voted last week to spend $15 million for the tribal government to acquire 95 acres of trust land for housing and cannabis production. Authorized in two separate resolutions during the May 5 Council meeting, the purchase includes the Pioneer Cherokee Motel, Hampton Inn and Chestnut Tree Inn along U.S. 19, as well as a parcel on Acquoni Road and a 37.7-acre parcel behind Harrah’s Cherokee Casino. Speaking on behalf of the Lands Acquisition Committee, which vetted the proposals prior to bringing them before Council, Principal Chief Richard Sneed said that both groups of properties were appraised prior to the pandemic, with those assessments coming in about $3.5 million higher than the final asking price. “We can only assume that the value is more now,” Sneed said. Birdtown Rep. Boyd Owle praised the purchase as a good deal for the tribe. “We’ve been vying after this property here for a while,” he said. “It’s been on the market. We’ve talked about it. I think it’s a great move.” The land behind the Pioneer Motel that abuts the Oconaluftee River would be used to grow medicinal cannabis for the tribe’s recently approved medical cannabis program, which is still in the development process. The three hotels, as well as the dozen small cabins on the Pioneer Motel property, will be used to address the ongoing housing crisis. “Combined, Resort and Valley River, we’re now over 1,000 open positions with no relief in sight,” Sneed said. “And the main driver is the same that it is for all of Western North Carolina — there’s no affordable housing.” As first presented, both resolutions state that the properties would be used for workforce housing, but Council struck down those provisions. Members recognize that housing is an acute issue — but they don’t want to see the properties used solely to house casino workers who may or may not be tribal members. “When we’re talking about workforce, we need to not just talk about business workforce,” said Big Cove Rep. Teresa McCoy. “We need teachers, we need health professionals in the hospital. We need professionals across this Boundary to help us get through. My point is that they’re looking for housing, too.”
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Tribe buys land for housing, cannabis production
People who have recently graduated from substance abuse recovery programs, been evicted or survived a house fire could also benefit from expanded housing opportunities, McCoy said. She didn’t meet any resistance from her colleagues around the horseshoe, who voted unanimously to approve amendments striking sentences in the resolutions designating the projects for workforce housing. The first resolution, which committed the tribe to spending $10 million to buy the Pioneer Motel, the parcel on Acquoni Road and the Painttown property, passed with Yellowhill Rep. David Wolfe, Snowbird/Cherokee County Rep. Adam Wachacha and Painttown Reps. Tommye Saunooke and Dike Sneed all opposed. The tracts are currently owned by Debra Cooper MacCourtney, Susan Cooper Spees, James David Cooper, Janene Cooper Lancaster and Dustina Cheryle Cooper. The second, which approved $5 million for the 9.5 acres that includes the Hampton Inn and Chestnut Tree Inn, passed unanimously. Those properties are currently owned by Debra Cooper MacCourtney, Susan Cooper Spees, James David Cooper, Janene Cooper Lancaster, Dustina Cheryle Cooper and Candler Ray Cooper. In addition to the purchases on trust land, Tribal Council approved resolutions authorizing purchase of an additional 29 acres of deeded land in Jackson and Swain counties. The larger property, a 23-acre parcel on Sheeprock Cove Road in Whittier owned by enrolled members Thomas Ray and Clara Janet Wahnetah, will be purchased for the assessed value of $250,000. The tribe plans to use it for housing, but that plan elicited skepticism from Yellowhill Rep. T.W. Saunooke, who has 25 years of experience in the construction industry. Due to the topography and the need for septic and well on each parcel, Saunooke said the property couldn’t supply enough house sites to make the purchase price worth it. He ultimately voted against the resolution. Meanwhile, Chief Sneed said that even if the acreage provides only four house sites, that’s still a per-house land cost that is “not astronomical” in today’s climate. “Given the topography of where we live, everything we do from this point forward is going to have those same challenges,” he said. “All of the easily buildable stuff that used to be agricultural land, that got built on first.” Council also approved $119,000 to purchase 5.76 acres of land currently belonging to enrolled member Alyne Stamper, located on Goose Creek Road in Swain County. That decision was not controversial, passing unanimously. The property is adjacent to the 345-acre Coopers Creek tract that was recently taken into federal trust. The tribe plans to build 250 housing units there over the coming years. “We actually need this piece of property to go along with the water tank tower up at the top of the piece,” said T.W. Saunooke. “I think it’s a good deal for us.”
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Smoky Mountain News May 11-17, 2022
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Education
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Loss of twin babies drives SCC student to find renewed purpose n the spring of 2019, Kristin Farmer suffered some of the most extreme heartbreak a mom could ever know. She gave birth to twin sons, Kolton and Kooper, on Mother’s Day. They arrived prematurely and suffered from Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome because their lungs had not fully formed. When doctors ran out of options, Kristin was forced to say goodbye to her baby boys way too soon. “I tried to hold it together,” she recalled, fighting back tears. “It’s still hard, but I have to keep going.” Kristin found inspiration to do just that when she reflected on how a respiratory therapist at the hospital cared for her and her sons in their final hours. In a season of extreme darkness, his kindness provided a guiding light and an idea for how to move forward. “I decided to go to school and make a difference,” she recalled, “if not for me, for [Kolton and Kooper]. I knew I needed to try and connect with other people. It just pushed me more to go into healthcare.” In the fall of 2020, Kristin enrolled in Southwestern Community College’s Respiratory Therapy program. In the two years since, she has excelled. The Canton resident’s grades are among the top in her class, and she recently became the first SCC student in recent memory to become a Region I Finalist for the state’s Gov. Robert W. Scott Student Leadership Award. This weekend, exactly three years after the most devastating moments of her life, she’ll be the featured speaker at the Health Sciences Division graduation ceremony, which starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 14, in Myers Auditorium at the college’s Jackson Campus. “I told myself, ‘I can’t believe I made it this far,’” she said in the days leading up to her pinning ceremony, which is ironically on May 12. “I can’t believe I’ve done all this in the last three years.” It hasn’t always been easy. One of her clinical rotations took her back to the same Neonatal Intensive Care Unit where she’d said her goodbyes to Kolton and Kooper. And the Neonatal-Pediatric Respiratory Care class at SCC was especially difficult. She credited her faith, her family and sup-
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port from SCC faculty and staff members with helping her through some challenging moments. She specifically mentioned SCC Counselor Shannon Shafhausen with helping her realize that she needed to work through her emotions – and her schoolwork – at her own pace. Along the way, Kristin earned the respect and admiration of her instructors and college administrators.
Kristin Farmer.
“The fact that she’s gone through so many obstacles, but she is able to focus on her future is so impressive to me,” said Gretchen Guelcher, SCC’s Respiratory Therapy Program Coordinator. “She pushes through. She has persevered, and she has come out on top.” Cheryl Contino-Conner, SCC’s Dean of Students, called Kristin “an inspiration.” This weekend will no doubt be emotional for Kristin, but she feels surrounded by love and support as she prepares to start the next chapter in her life. “I know that not all people have the same beliefs as me, but I do have hope that Kolton and Kooper are looking down, and that they’d be proud,” Kristin said. “I realize that there are still people on earth who need you when something like this happens, and I hope I can make a difference in somebody’s else’s life just like others have done for me.”
WCU honors former scholar Ed Broadwell with doctorate of humane letters Western Carolina University Board of Trustees awarded former trustee, former N.C. Board of Governors and retired banker Freeman Edward “Ed” Broadwell Jr., with its highest honorary degree, doctorate of humane letters, as part of its commencement ceremonies Saturday, May 7. Broadwell’s contributions go far beyond just serving on the WCU Board of Trustees. He and his wife, Donna, joined forces with Home Trust Bank in 2015 to create a fund to provide significant scholarship assistance annually to deserving WCU students from the region. “My mother and father, who have passed away, would be as shocked and appreciative as our family and friends are today,” Broadwell told the crowd Saturday afternoon. “This recognition certainly should be shared with all of them and the supporting team at HomeTrust Bank who made my professional and personal journey so rewarding.” In addition to serving five years as a WCU trustee member, Broadwell served 12 years on the University of North Carolina Board of Governors from 1995-2007. He was inducted into the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 2013, the highest award for state service granted by the governor of the state of North Carolina. For contributions nationally, Broadwell served on the Federal Reserve’s Thrift Institutions Advisory Council from 2008 to 2010 and was presicent of that council in 2010. As far as other contributions not limited to international community, innovations and entrepreneurship, Broadwell has numerous other awards, board service, philanthropic activities and contributions of his time and expertiese that have impacted our communities and fellow citizens, WCU’s Class of 2022, which featured more than 2,150 students, was the largest graduating class of the university. This was in part because those students were the first to finish school benefiting from NC Promise, which lowered tuition to $500 per semester for in-state students.
Haywood Community College Ranked Among Top 10 Community Colleges in the Nation Haywood Community College has been ranked among the top 10 community colleges in the nation. In a new study,
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SmartAsset analyzed the student-to-faculty ratio, graduation/transfer rates, and the cost of tuition and fees at more than 800 community colleges nationwide, and HCC ranked number nine overall. According to the report, HCC has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8-to-1, tied for ninthbest among all 801 schools. HCC also has a graduation and transfer rate of 59%, while tuition and fees in 2020-2021 were $2,580 for in-state students.
Free meals ending for Jackson County students as COVID relief expires
When schools pivoted to remote learning in March 2020 due to COVID-19, pandemic relief funds were allocated by the federal government to prop up school nutrition programs and offset the impact of food insecurity while school buildings were closed. Since then, all K-12 students have been eligible to receive free meals from school cafeterias. A requested extension of the pandemic relief funds was not included in an omnibus spending bill approved by the U.S. Congress earlier this year which means the free meal waivers will expire when academic programs conclude this summer. As a result, free and reduced-price meals during the 2022-23 school year will only be available to families who participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). Families with students in Jackson County Public Schools can find the online application for the NSLP at family.titank12.com. Those who need assistance with the form or do not have Internet access can call (828) 586-2311 ext. 1936. The application window for the 2022-23 school year opens August 1. Families who applied and were approved for the NSLP during the current school year will have a 30-day grace period after school begins in August to complete the application for 2022-23. Their current status for free or reduced-price meals will be retained during the grace period. Students who did not apply for the program during the current school year will be charged the full amount for meals on the first day of school in August. However, families can still apply and be approved for the 2021-22 school year and receive the 30-day grace period in August to complete the application for 2022-23. All families, regardless of income, who have students in Jackson County Public Schools are strongly encouraged to complete the online application for the NSLP. Many important school programs are sustained by federal funding that is tied directly to the percentage of students who qualify for the program.
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Opinion
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Living in WNC is getting harder for workers T
Your primary vote is important To the Editor: Decisions made at all levels of government (President and Congress in Washington, D.C., General Assembly in Raleigh and county commissioners, sheriffs, courts, etc.) affect our daily lives. All federal laws passed by the U.S. Congress directly impact us in our local communities. How our N.C. representatives and senators vote on issues such as fracking, Medicaid expansion, education, etc. , is critical. Every four years we vote for a U.S. President as well as for Congress and local officials. Every two years the midterm elections are held that come near the middle of each president’s term. It is important to vote in this year’s midterm because it promises to have a large affect on the direction of the country. Why are midterm elections so important? Whoever controls the House and/or the Senate controls the direction of the country. The majority party determines who leads important congressional committees. A president’s ability to accomplish his or her agenda depends on whether their party controls the two houses of Congress. Most of the attention of midterm elections is focused on the two chambers of Congress: the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. Members of the House are elected for two-year terms, so all 435 seats are up for election during the midterms. Senators are elected to staggered six-year terms. A third of the 100 seats will be up for election in the 2022 midterm elections. North Carolina will
are for Buncombe County, but things are much the same in the region west of Asheville. The fact is there are fewer rentals and not as many professional jobs, so the problem is exacerbated. The rental market is one story, while those wanting to buy face an even steeper hill to climb. Here’s a paragraph from Canopy Multiple Listing Service — which covers Burke, Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania and Yancey counties — that was released last week:
Scott McLeod
he affordable housing crisis looms as this region’s most pressing problem. And so far, no one has proposed any kind of sweeping proposal that will solve it. The numbers that back this up are out there for anyone willing to do just a little research. The Dogwood Health Trust — the foundation created by the proceeds of the Mission Hospital sale to HCA Healthcare — released a report back in December that painted the picture and backed it up with numbers. By 2025, the region will need 20,000 more units for lowincome households; of that number, 14,000 will be needed in just Buncombe, Haywood and Henderson counties. The study — done by Bowen National Research — also found that 48 percent of households in Buncombe County are already costburdened when it comes to housing. That means a household pays more than 30 percent of its income just to pay for a place to live, before they’ve bought food, cars, heating fuel, health insurance, etc.; nearly two-thirds in Buncombe County are “severely cost-burdened,” meaning they pay half or more of their income toward housing costs. One more heartbreaking stat: nearly 60 percent of households in this region don’t have the minimum $40,000 income needed to afford the average monthly rent on a one-bedroom apartment, which is $1,069 a month. Some of these numbers
Tight inventory continues to pressure prices, which continued to rise. Both the median sales price ($375,000) and the average sales price ($449,120) rose by Editor 17.3 percent and 14 percent year-overyear, while the average list price rose 3.3 percent year-over-year to $476,967. To afford that $375,000 house, according to several on-line mortgage calculators, you’ll need a down payment of $75,000 (20%) and earnings of $55,955 per year. Those houses are simply out of reach for most people in this region.
LETTERS be electing one U.S. senator this year for the position of Sen. Richard Burr, who is not running for re-election. This year’s midterms are critical for a few more reasons, according to political experts. For one, they serve as a thermometer that can forecast the temperature of the next presidential election. But more importantly, they could deliver both the Senate and House to the Republican Party. Currently, the Democrats have a razor-thin majority in the Senate because of Vice President Kamala Harris’ ability to cast a tie-breaking vote. The House is also currently under Democratic control. The Democrats risk losing this majority unless they turn out for this election. Please vote in the upcoming primary election. Early voting started April 28 and goes through May 14. The primary election day is May 17. Be an informed voter. Don’t believe the negative ads you see on TV or what is mailed to you. If the person running for office is currently serving, check out their voting record. If they have not been in office, check out their platform and look at what they have done in their lives. Your vote is important in selecting our next senator and member of the House of Representatives as well as judges, as their actions affect all of our everyday lives. Regardless of what party you are or what candidates you support, please exercise your right to vote by absentee ballot, early voting or on the Primary Election Day May 17. Your future as well as the future of your children and grandchildren is at stake. Mary Herr Cherokee
Sit around any coffee shop or pub and talk to the young workers of this region, and they are fretting about how they’ll ever be able to get into a house. So, what solutions have been discussed? Is it even feasible to think the private sector can solve this problem? There are several efforts underway from local governments to force new developers of apartment complexes to allocate a portion of their projects for affordable housing needs. Good idea, but just a drop in the bucket. Projects like the old hospital in Waynesville will help seniors — which is great — but again, the crisis is so large these few projects will barely make a dent. Commissioners in Buncombe County are talking about changing the room tax legislation to allocate a portion of that revenue — which comes from tourists who stay overnight — toward affordable housing and other projects. Some are suggesting the county take up to 50 percent of the room tax. Buncombe rakes in about $41 million a year. I’m not sure what the answer is, but there are some of us who think affordable housing is likely this region’s most pressing issue. If workers can’t find a place to live, the businesses looking for workers likely won’t find them. Something has to give. (Scott McLeod can be reached at info@smokymountainnews.com.)
Inflation hurts consumers and small businesses To the Editor: Is inflation eating into your budget? Is your small business struggling to stay open? High prices at the grocery checkout or the gas pump are likely the result of huge corporations passing along costs to you because they can. Sure, there are other factors affecting the economy such as supply chain issues and restrictions due to the war in Ukraine. But more and more data show that big corporations are passing along any new costs to consumers and then some. Consider the price of meat. Did you know that the majority of meat processing (beef, chicken, and pork) is controlled by four giant corporations (Cargill, Tyson, JBS, National Beef Packing Co.)? When these corporations control that much of the market, they also control prices. Instead of absorbing new costs, they hike up prices and in return make more and more money for their shareholders. These four corporations reported a 120% collective jump in their gross profits since the pandemic. What about toilet paper? Three corporations (Proctor & Gamble, Kimberly Clark and Georgia-Pacific) produce 80% of U.S. toilet paper. These corporations reap record profits, all the while passing along costs to consumers because they can.
If you have an Amazon Prime membership, then prepare to pay 16% more this year. Amazon says it is because of increased costs and inflation. This rationale seems pretty flimsy for a company that reported gross profits of $197.48 BILLION in 2021. That is $197,480,000,000 in profits in just one year. And it’s a 29.3% increase over profits reported for 2020. When is enough profit enough? Consumers are hurting. The same applies for small businesses, too.
Huge corporations are raising prices because they can, because they have no competition. They are hurting consumers, small businesses and the U.S. economy all the while reaping higher and higher profits than ever before. Think about that the next time you pay for groceries. Jean Wright Franklin
Teaching my children the power of mindset
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better emotional regulation, among other positive effects. Tasks that often stimulate flow include painting, writing, cooking, graphic design work, baking, gardening, creating, running, swimming, skiing or playing a musical instrument. While formal research has primarily focused on the experience of flow within structured leisure activities such as sports, education and artistic pursuits, it is important to recognize its applicability to other aspects of life including a route to joy and well being. Psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi cites 10 overarching factors that accompany a state of flow. They are: 1. Intrinsic rewards 2. Clear goals that, while challenging, are attainable 3. Complete focus on the activity itself 4. Feelings of personal control over the situation and the outcome 5. Serenity and a loss of self-consciousness 6. Immediate feedback 7. Balance between skill level and the challenge 8. Lack of awareness of physical needs 9. Strong concentration and focused attention 10. A feeling of timelessness Most of us can recall a time when we’ve achieved this euphoric state, but wouldn’t it be nice to reach flow on a more regular basis? To do this, ensure your skills are well matched to the task. For instance, a marathon runner will achieve flow during a race if they have trained appropriately but would fail to achieve flow if they tried to run 26.2 miles untrained. In other words, gaining practice, experience, and expertise in an activity will make it more likely that you will achieve flow in the future. Other strategies include stretching your skills, setting clear goals, avoiding interruptions and distractions, and focusing on the process as opposed to the end state. For my son’s track meet, we talked about keeping his mind on the race at hand and achieving his PR instead of thinking about winning. I wish I would have learned about flow when I was younger, but as they say, better late than never. In my opinion, the most interesting aspect of flow is that it’s completely internal. There is no concern with what others think or external motivation. It’s all about achieving a higher purpose and level within one’s self, and I love that because while I don’t have control over other people, I can harness control over my own actions and emotions. As a parent, it’s exciting to teach my children philosophies and strategies that will not only help them excel in the shortterm but will move with them throughout their lives and hopefully make the journey more rewarding and satisfying. (Susanna Shetley is an editor, writer and digital media specialist. sussana.b@smokymountainnews.com)
May 11-17, 2022
t is no wonder collegiate athletes are required to take a sports psychology course and why higher-level athletes, such as Olympians, focus as much on their mental stat as they do physical training. Further, I’m realizing more and more that the tactics athletes use such as visualization, self talk, goal setting and achieving a state of flow are not only helpful on the field and the Columnist court but also in everyday life. My younger son is currently playing Little League baseball while my older son just finished a season of middle school track. With both boys, I’ve had discussions about mind over matter when it comes to their respective sports. Whether it’s being up to bat or jumping hurdles, both boys need to be in the right headspace. Our thoughts are extraordinarily powerful, and I don’t think kids are ever too young to learn that it’s not all about who has the most physical prowess. There’s more to it than that. With the boys being new to these concepts, they initially thought I was half joking or that it all sounded a bit too mystical, but after receiving verification from other important adults in their lives, they started to realize I was onto something. We even turned to Google to offer them additional proof that sports psychology is an integral component of an athlete’s life. We learned that core areas of focus for a sports psychologist include attentional focus, mental toughness, visualization and goal-setting, motivation and team-building, rehabilitation and overcoming anxiety. Even the youngest athletes can benefit from these strategies. It should be noted these tactics aren’t meant to help individuals win every game, race or match. They are used to increase enjoyment and development and to decrease fear and burnout. Sports psychology methods are also used for everyday athletes who simply want to embrace an exercise routine or ensure they complete a training plan for an upcoming event such as a triathlon. Achieving a state of flow is another element of sports psychology that filters into our daily realities. My middle-schooler qualified for several events at last weekend’s state track meet, as did my boyfriend‘s daughter. They were both a little nervous, so on the way to the event we listened to a podcast about flow. If you’ve never heard of flow, it is a state of mind in which a person becomes fully immersed in an activity. Flow experiences can occur in various ways for different people and often happens when you are doing something you enjoy and in which you are quite skilled. Flow is associated with increased happiness, higher intrinsic motivation, greater creativity, and
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Smoky Mountain News
Credits roll on Quin Theater HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER ince Johnny and Paulene Maney opened the doors to the Quin Theater in 1978, it has been a community staple and the home to many memories made. When the final credits rolled on April 26, it marked the end of an era not just for the Maney family, but for all of Sylva. “We had been discussing [the closing] amongst ourselves,” said Chris Maney. “My parents have been in the theater industry for 44 years. They built the theater when I was eight years old, and I started working there when I was 14.” After years of running a theater that was almost always open seven days per week, the Maneys decided they were ready to enjoy retirement with their family. “In the entertainment business, especially a theater, you’re on call anytime the theater’s open,” said Maney. “We were open seven days a week, all day long on Friday, Saturday and Sundays, “It made us feel and we were just wore out.” The abrupt nature of the really good that closure, a Facebook announcement on the same day the thewe had been ater would close, felt like the able to be a part easiest way to part with the vast community that had of their movie become so invested in Quin going experience Theater over the course of its lifetime. for so long.” “If we had said, we’re gonna close in a month, then for that — Chris Maney entire month, we’d be saying goodbye to people we’ve been friends with and gotten to know, and mentally didn’t think we could handle it,” said Maney. “It was just a lot. So we decided that we were going to close it, they picked the date and that’s the day we shut her down.” Contrary to popular suspicion, the theater did not close due to pandemic hardship or lack of profitability in today’s age of streaming abundance. Rather, it was time for the family that had been at the helm since the beginning to take their leave. Like many businesses in the area, Quin Theater did have to close temporarily during the Coronavirus Pandemic. According to Maney, the family kept the movie theater closed for about 18 months total. “It was tough, getting through that time, but we had reopened and people were starting to come back, the crowds were coming back,” said Maney. When the theater was able to open back up, the Maneys noticed some changes to the business. Around this time, many of the large movie studios, like Warner Brothers, had deals with streaming services to make movies available at home the same day they were released in theaters. “We noticed a fall off then,” said Maney. “But then when they stopped allowing them to stream on opening weekend, our numbers were going back up.” According to Maney, the family has had several inquiries
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The poster from Quin Theater’s opening weekend in 1978. Donated photo
from people looking to lease the building that housed the Quin Theater. Some of those entities inquiring would like to reopen it as a movie theater, some would use it for other purposes, but nothing is set in stone and meetings have yet to take place. “We would love to see them keep it as a theater,” said Maney. “We’re just kind of feeling our way around with it. Kind of seeing what’s going on.” Regardless of what comes next, it is a bittersweet goodbye for the family. “It’s very emotional, lots and lots and lots of memories,” said Maney. “I hear people say, if the walls could talk, and my wife runs our Facebook page and the response we got, the overwhelming memories that come back when you get to talking to
friends and family and people, that have posted on our website, it made us feel really good that we had been able to be a part of their movie going experience for so long.” Under the post that announced the closure of Quin Theater, people shared their cherished memories. Several wrote about working at Quin for their first job; others reminisced about first dates at the theater, and some of those couples are still together years later. Still others shared memories of going to the theater as children and expressed how meaningful it was to then take their own children to the spectacle that is movies on the big screen at the same place. Quin Theater witnessed a lot of change in its 44 years and from the community response it is clear it will be sorely missed.
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD
Every day it comes to this, catch the things you might have missed
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Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 13, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.
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Blues Traveler will perform at 9 p.m. Friday, May 13, at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort.
From the Elvis Presley songbook, a production of “All Shook Up” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. May 1314, 20-21, 27-28, June 2-4 and at 2 p.m. May 15, 22, 29 and June 5 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theater in Waynesville. Featuring local art, barbecue and wine, the “Smoky Spring Festival & Art Show” will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 14, at the Bryson City Wine Market.
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May 11-17, 2022
Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host Natti Love Joys (reggae/soul) at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 14.
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and started taking an inventory of where I stand, whether physically, emotionally, financially, etc. For every big milestone in my writing career, there’s also been the discarded remains of former relationships, friendships, missed birthdays and anniversaries, and so on. I’ve never taken for granted that what I love to do in my everyday life (write, see live music, meet new people, indepth conversations, the outdoors, traveling) is what I’ve made into my career. The line between work and play is blurred, and had been for a long, long time. But, it’s also a double-edged sword, as in when something on either side of the blurred line goes wrong, you’re unable to contain and compartmentalize the problem at hand in an effort to find a solution. In
Smoky Mountain News
eeling a bit deflated lately. It’s funny how one thing just triggers everything else, this domino effect that tumbles and echoes throughout the infinite physical and emotional chambers of your body, mind and soul. And usually (seemingly) out of nowhere. The deflation is writing-related, where every-so-often an obstacle appears that just throws everything else into whack. To preface, everything is fine (100 percent) with my newspaper work at this fine publication, etc. I love, adore and am absolutely grateful for this gig, the foundation of my everyday existence. But, the balloon pop comes from the pursuit of dreams beyond that — way beyond the size and scope of what it is I am doing, trying to do, and ultimately want to do within the realm of the written word. A rather large obstacle appeared this past week and it has me stopped in my tracks, at least for the moment — sizing up the object, grasping what the object means, and how to properly proceed and pivot around, over or through said object. It’s also at this point where there’s also a piece of your subconscious that goes, “Dude, fuck it. Why put yourself through this?” But, as I’ve done for the last 16 years as a journalist running towards the endless horizon of dreams long-held, I ignore that question and keep going. Pain is pleasure, eh? Push on ahead towards the new, unknown day. Like everything worthwhile in life, there are peaks and valleys. Ups and downs. Chaos and beauty. Ying and yang. Take the good with the bad. Thus, this morning was one of those mornings where I woke up with that question bouncing through my mind: “Why put yourself through this?” Anyone who puts their dream ahead of everything else can attest to that damn query. Anyhow, I sat on my apartment porch
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If you’re always thinking ahead and worried about what’s next, then does the joy and glory you’ve cultivated to that point just go out the window, ignored by your fear of being left behind and pushed aside, left on the side of the road of your dreams because you didn’t have your thumb pointed out to catch a ride to the next stop along the line of unknown characters, places and spaces? Sure does. To which, if you’ve read this far down, you can see where I overanalyzed myself into a minor existential crisis on my apartment porch, with the only cure being to write it out and purge these heavy, overbearing thoughts out of my soul (hence this column). In closing, I’m a work in progress. What came before today are memories and moments that can never be taken away from me, always hanging proudly and lovingly on the walls of my mind. What tomorrow brings is out of my control. All I can do is put my best foot forward each day I’m lucky enough to awaken into, radiating the positivity and connectivity that resides at the core of my being, and just remaining grateful for the journey and the work at hand (and those people alongside you), whatever the outcome or whatever shifts in the road may appear — that’s the beauty of life, am I right? Current vibes and mentality (to bring about balance once again): “When you define yourself by what you do, then you’re lost when you can’t do it. But, no one can take away who you are.” Life is beautiful, grasp for it, y’all.
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This must be the place
essence, the whole thing crumbles until you find enough physical and emotional energy to start the rebuild process. It’s rough to spend 16 years of your life — day in, day out — with a singular goal and focus, only to have these hiccups that just tear apart any and all footing held. Of course, I’m not naive, well aware this is part of the deal you make within yourself at the starting line of your dreams that — come hell or high water — it’s all worth it, seeing as your living your dream in real time, whether you see it at that moment or, perhaps, acknowledge it in hindsight. And as I’ve been having all of these thoughts lately, I came across a clip of guitarist Cory Wong interviewing bassist Victor Wooten, where Wooten talked about people whose identity is all wrapped up in their art (musicians, writers, etc.), and where the pandemic and shutdown really brought forth an identity crisis for those artists (myself included). With everything shutdown, now what do I (we) do? Your life revolves around constant motion, interaction and creation. Everything stops, so who even am I anymore? I sincerely felt all of that through the shutdown, with traces of those thoughts still running rampant in my mind, for good or ill. Wooten went on to say, “When you define yourself by what you do, then you’re lost when you can’t do it. But, no one can take away who you are.” All of this rolls into my next thought this morning of being cognizant of “the now.” If you’re not living in “the now,” then is anything you’re chasing after actually worth it?
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On the beat arts & entertainment
‘Bluegrass Boogie’ welcomes Unspoken Tradition
Blues Traveler.
Blues Traveler rolls into WNC Iconic Grammy Award-winning blues/rock act Blues Traveler will perform at 9 p.m. Friday, May 13, at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. The jam-band gained popularity after the 1994 release of its hit studio album “Four,” which included the radio hits “Run-Around” and “Hook.” In 2018, “Hurry Up & Hang Around” kicked off a new era with the guys firing on all cylinders. However, they look back and leap forward on their 14th full-length album, “Traveler’s Blues.” The group is best known for their improvisational live shows. Tickets start at $22.50 per person. For tickets, caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.
May 11-17, 2022
Mountain News in 2016. “And with country music, too, my wife (country legend Connie Smith) calls it the ‘cry of the heart.’ And I think true bluegrass, I’m talking the real way back there stuff, that’s what I listen to more than anything else, even today — it still speaks to me.” Tickets start at $29 per person. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, call 866.273.4615 or click on smokymountainarts.com.
Bryson City community jam Smoky Mountain News
Marty Stuart. (photo: Alysse Gafkjen)
Marty Stuart to play Franklin
Country and bluegrass musical legend Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 13, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. “Well, to me, [bluegrass music] is home. As a musician, it’s just as complicated as classical music in a lot of terms. The dexterity required is incredible, but to combine dexterity with heart and soul, and make it something that touches somebody, that’s 24 something special,” Stuart told The Smoky
A community jam will be held from 67:30 p.m. Thursday, May 19, 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 the Sawmill Creek Porch Band. 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 — spring, summer, fall. 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.
Unspoken Tradition. (photo: Sandlin Gaither) Featuring acclaimed Appalachian acoustic act Unspoken Tradition & The Carter Giegerich Trio, the next installment of the beloved “Bluegrass Boogie” concert series will be held from 6-10 p.m. Saturday, May 21, in the Queen Auditorium in the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville. Mountain Home Recording Artist Unspoken Tradition is about new, original Bluegrass. Inspired by their own influences and the roots of traditional and newgrass music, this North Carolina based quintet brings a sound that is both impassioned and nostalgic, hard-driving and sincere. The group’s 2020-21 singles have all charted in the Bluegrass Today Top 20, including “California” (#1), “Irons in the Fire” (#2) and “Carolina and Tennessee” (#4). Its 2019 release from Mountain Home Music Company, “Myths We Tell Our
Mountain Heart.
Mountain Heart returns to Cowee School Acclaimed bluegrass/jam act Mountain Heart will perform 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 21, on the lawn stage at the Historic Cowee School in Franklin. The band has been fearlessly revolutioniz-
Young,” debuted at #5 on the Billboard Bluegrass charts and has seen five top-charting radio singles, including a #1 spot on the Bluegrass Today chart for “Dark Side of the Mountain.” A talented multi-instrumentalist, Carter Giegerich is well-known as the dobro player in popular Western North Carolina “party grass” ensemble Ol’ Dirty Bathtub. Giegerich is also a member of several renowned Americana, roots and folk groups around the mountains of Southern Appalachia. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 day of show. This event is presented by Adamas Entertainment & Folkmoot LIVE! For more information and/or to purchase tickets, click on folkmoot.org. You can also go to eventbrite.com and search “Bluegrass Boogie.”
ing the way acoustic music can be presented and played, its name has been synonymous with cutting-edge excellence in acoustic music circles since the group’s creation. Mountain Heart, or its individual members, have been nominated for Grammys, ACM, and CMA awards. The band has also been nominated for, and won, multiple IBMAs. They have appeared on the revered stage of the Grand Ole Opry in excess of 130 times and have shared the stage with acts ranging from Lynyrd Skynyrd, Montgomery Gentry, Merle Haggard, George Jones and Brad Paisley to Alison Krauss, Tony Rice, The Avett Brothers, Yonder Mountain String Band, The Punch Brothers, Levon Helm, John Fogerty, and many more. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children ages 6-16. Under age 6 free. Rain or shine. Tickets available at coweeschool.org/music.
On the beat
• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host a semi-regular acoustic jam with the Main Street NoTones from 7-9 p.m. on Thursdays. Free and open to the public. For more information, click on blueridgebeerhub.com.
• Nantahala Brewing (Sylva) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 828.641.9797 or nantahalabrewing.com.
• Boojum Brewing (Waynesville) will host karaoke at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, trivia at 7 p.m. on Thursdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 9 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 828.246.0350 or boojumbrewing.com.
• Pickin’ On The Square (Franklin) will host Lisa & The Boys (variety) May 14 and The Johnny Webb Band (country) May 28. All shows begin at 6 p.m. at the Gazebo in downtown. Free and open to the public. franklinnc.com/pickin-on-the-square.html.
• The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host Bob Zullo (guitars/vocals) May 14 and The Russ Wilson Duo (vocals/guitar) May 21. All shows begin at 7 p.m. Limited seating. Reservations are highly recommended. 828.452.6000 or classicwineseller.com. • Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host Mountain Heart (Americana/bluegrass) 5 p.m. May 21. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children. 828.369.4080 or coweeschool.org/music. • Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host Diana New 7 p.m. May 14. Free and open to the public. 828.634.0078 or curraheebrew.com.
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• Friday Night Live (Highlands) host The Johnny Webb Band (country) May 13 and Jay Drummonds (country) May 20 at Town Square on Main Street. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. highlandschamber.org.
The Natti Love Joys will perform at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 14, at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville. A roots-rock-reggae band that has been playing live since 2003, the group consists of husband and wife duo Anthony “Jatti” Allen and Sonia “Marla” Allen (formerly Sonia Abel). Jatti was previously the bassist for the reggae group The Congos, while Marla originates from the cult all female reggae group Love Joys, where she recorded two albums under the legendary Wackies label run by Lloyd Barnes (Bullwackie). Free and open to the public. froglevelbrewing.com/events. • Innovation Station (Dillsboro) will host “Music Bingo” w/Hibiscus Sunshine at 7 p.m. every Wednesday, Creekside Live Band Karaoke 7 p.m. May 20 and Divas On Tap “Night of Neon” 8:30 p.m. May 21. All events are free and open to the public. innovationbrewing.com.
• Satulah Mountain Brewing (Highlands) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.482.9794 or satulahmountainbrewing.com. • Saturdays On Pine (Highlands) will host The Breakfast Club (1980s tribute) May 14 and The Caribbean Cowboys (variety/oldies) May 21 at Kelsey-Hutchinson Park on Pine Street. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. highlandschamber.org.
• Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host Cliff Williamson (singer-songwriter) May 11, Random Act of Music May 12, Tricia Ann Band May 1 and Rock Holler May 14. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.538.2488. • Valley Tavern (Maggie Valley) will host Brian Walsh 6 p.m. May 12 and Mile High 3 p.m. May 15, Two Armadillos 6 p.m. May 19 and Andrew Thelston Band 3 p.m. May 22. Free and open to the public. 828.926.7440 or valley-tavern.com. • Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 9:30 p.m. 828.456.4750 or facebook.com/waternhole.bar. • Whiteside Brewing (Cashiers) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.743.6000 or whitesidebrewing.com.
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• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host “Karaoke Night” May 13, Scott James Stambaugh (singer-songwriter) May 14 and Roscoe’s Road Show May 21. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com.
• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee) will host Blues Traveler (rock/jam) 9 p.m. May 13. Tickets start at $22.50 per person. For tickets, caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.
• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host Trivia Night at 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday, Old Time Jam 6:30 p.m. every Thursday, Somebody’s Child (Americana) May 13 and Colby Deitz (singer-songwriter) May 20. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com.
• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will host Paul Edelman (singer-songwriter) May 12, The 81 Drifters May 14 and Old Sap (Americana/folk) May 19. All shows begin at 7 p.m. Free and open to the public. innovation-brewing.com.
• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host Scott James Stambaugh (singer-songwriter) May 13, George Ausman (singersongwriter) May 14, Steve Heffker (singersongwriter) May 20, Granny’s Mason Jar (Americana/folk) May 21 and Kate Thomas
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• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host The NeverB’s May 13, Natti Love Joys (reggae/soul) May 14, Krave Amiko May 20 and Syrrup May 21. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.454.5664 or froglevelbrewing.com.
Reggae, soul at Frog Level
• Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Pub (Franklin) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. rathskellerfranklin.com.
• The Ugly Dog Pub (Cashiers) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. 828.743.3000 or theuglydogpub.com.
May 11-17, 2022
• Elevated Mountain Distilling Company (Maggie Valley) will host an Open Mic Night 7-9 p.m. on Wednesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.734.1084 or elevatedmountain.com.
Natti Love Joys.
• The Scotsman (Waynesville) will host live music on the first Friday of every month. All shows begin at 9 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.246.6292 or scotsmanpublic.com.
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(singer-songwriter) May 22. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 or mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.
• Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host an open mic from 8-10 p.m. every Thursday. Free and open to the public. 828.631.1987 or balsamfallsbrewing.com.
Contact Caitlin Bledsoe at 828-926-4831 for information.
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On the street
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Do you like strawberries?
Macon County art scholarship The Arts Council of Macon County will accept applications through Sunday, May 15, for its annual $1,000 Arts Scholarship. Guidelines and application forms are available from any Macon County high school guidance office, online at artscouncilofmacon.org, and from the Arts Council office. Macon County residents of all ages wishing to pursue a college degree in the performing, literary, visual/graphic arts, or arts education may apply. Applicants must submit to an in-person interview the afternoon of Thursday, May 26. The recipient is chosen on the basis of talent, commitment, career aspirations, and financial need. The scholarship was established in 1988 to help talented and deserving Macon County residents prepare for a career in the arts. For more information contact any high school guidance office or the Arts Council, 828.524.ARTS or arts4all@dnet.net.
May 11-17, 2022
• Echo Valley Gem Show will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 11-14 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 15 at 6456 Sylva Road in Franklin. For more information, email mbellpoint@gmail.com.
The annual Strawberry Jam festival will be held May 21-22 at Darnell Farms in Bryson City. The Darnell family celebrates their locally grown strawberry crop. Enjoy local music (starting at 11 a.m. each day), local food, fresh fruits and vegetables, craft vendors, plow demonstrations, children’s play area, hayrides, fishing, camping, and much more. Admission is free. Donations accepted for the upkeep and maintenance of the farm. For a full schedule of bands and activities, click on darnellfarms.com or call 828.488.2376.
• “Art After Dark” will be held from 6-9 p.m. each first Friday of the month (MayDecember) in downtown Waynesville. 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. Dates include June 3, July 1, Aug. 5, Sept. 2, Oct. 7, Nov. 4 and Dec. 2. For more information, click on facebook.com/galleriesofhaywoodcounty.
• Weekly festive gatherings are underway at the Rickman Store in Macon County. Mainspring Conservation Trust and the Friends of the Rickman Store (FORS) invite the community and visitors to the region to visit this historic building every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 828.369.5595 or visit “Friends of the Rickman Store” on Facebook.
• “Smoky Spring Festival & Art Show” will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 14, at the Bryson City Wine Market. The event will host Charles Heath Studios and Hinnant Family Vineyards to benefit the Rotary Club of Bryson City High School Scholarship Fund.
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Enjoy local art, barbecue and wine, with live music by Wineaux Jones. There will also be a silent auction. For more information, call 828.538.0420. • WNC Paint Events brings you “Paint & Sip.” This is a two-hour event, and you leave with your painting. Anyone 21 and up are welcome. Events will be held at the following locations once a month: 828 Market on Main (Waynesville), Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva), BearWaters Brewing (Canton), Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) and the Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Pub (Franklin). For more information, click on wncpaint.events.
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• Mountain Makers Craft Market will be held from noon to 4 p.m. the first Sunday of each month at 308 North Haywood St. in downtown Waynesville. Over two dozen artisans selling handmade and vintage goods. Special events will be held when scheduled. Mountainmakersmarket.com. • “Thursday Painters” group will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursdays at The Uptown Gallery in Franklin. Free and open to the public. All skill levels and mediums are welcome. Participants are responsible for their own project and a bag lunch. For more information, call The Uptown Gallery at 828.349.4607 or contact Pat Mennenger at pm14034@yahoo.com. franklinuptowngallery.com. • A “Foreign Film Series” will be held at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. Each month, on the second and fourth Friday, two movies from around the globe will be shown. This program is in the Community Room and is free of charge. Masks are required in all Jackson County buildings. To find out what movie will be shown and/or for more information, please call the library at 828.586.2016. This event is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Jackson County Public Library. The Jackson County Public Library is a member of Fontana Regional Library. To learn more, click on fontanalib.org.
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• “Flights & Bites” will be held starting at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays at Bosu’s Wine Shop in downtown Waynesville. waynesvillewine.com.
• “Take A Flight” with four new wines every Friday and Saturdays at the Bryson City Wine Market. Select from a gourmet selection of charcuterie to enjoy with your wines. Educational classes and other events are also available. 828.538.0420.
ALSO:
• “Uncorked: Wine & Rail Pairing Experience” will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on select dates at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City. Full service all-adult first-class car. Wine pairings with a meal, and more. 800.872.4681 or gsmr.com.
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• A free wine tasting will be held from 6-8 p.m. every Thursday and 2-5 p.m. every Saturday at The Wine Bar & Cellar in Sylva. 828.631.3075.
3 EAST JACKSON STREET • SYLVA
May 11-17, 2022
Jenna Kranz from Uncomplicated Kitchen will host a special culinary workshop at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 17, in the Atrium of the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. Kranz will teach patrons how to make pasta sauce, which is a quick and easy way to jazz up any meal (not just pasta). She will also instruct attendees on how to turn affordable produce into snazzy sauce. “Uncomplicated Kitchen is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Western North Carolina. We work to improve food security through educational outreach,” Kranz said. “Our mission is to teach community members how to plan meals, shop for ingredients, and cook healthy, simple and affordable recipes.” This program is free of charge. Sign-up is required. Space is limited. For more information and/or to register, call the library at 828.586.2016. This event is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Jackson County Public Library. The Jackson County Public Library is a member of Fontana Regional Library (fontanalib.org).
SAT., MAY 14 at 3PM
4175 Tellico Rd., Franklin, NC
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A Year Without Months
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Jenna Kranz.
A stocked catch out pond with Rainbow, Brook, Brown & Golden trout.
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On the stage arts & entertainment
HART gets ‘All Shook Up’ e Reciev
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8 Locations Serving you in Western North Carolina 1700 Russ Avenue, Waynesville, NC · 452-2216 219 Haywood Street, Asheville, NC · 252-8234 1453 Sand Hill Road, Candler, NC · 667-7245 3270 Hendersonville Road, Fletcher, NC · 684-9999 746 East Main Street, Franklin, NC · 524-4464 8005 NC Highway 141, Murphy, NC · 837-0460 30 Highway 107, Sylva, NC · 586-0425 3533 US 441 North, Whittier, NC · 497-6211
Smoky Mountain News
May 11-17, 2022
Local Decisions | Local Offices | Local people | Local Commitment
o S e v a H We
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Celebrating
26 Affairs of the Heart Years
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120 N. Main St. • Waynesville 828.452.0526 • affairsoftheheartnc.com
From the Elvis Presley songbook, a production of “All Shook Up” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. May 13-14, 20-21, 27-28, June 2-4 and at 2 p.m. May 15, 22, 29 and June 5 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theater in Waynesville. “All Shook Up” is an American jukebox musical that premiered on Broadway in 2005. It was written by Joe DiPietro, who gave you recent HART hits like “The Last Romance,” “Over the River and through the Woods” and the Tony Award winning musical “Memphis.” It’s 1955 and Chad, a hip-swiveling, guitar-playing roustabout, is being released from prison somewhere out in the Midwest. In a nearby dreary little town, Natalie, a young
mechanic, dreams of love and adventure, all while she yearns for true love to take her away, not realizing that her best friend Dennis has a secret crush on her. As she and the town sing the blues in the local honky-tonk bar, they’re interrupted by the roar of a motorcycle: it’s Chad. He needs a mechanic and Natalie, instantly smitten, promises to fix his broken-down bike. Tangled webs are woven as Chad incites rebelliousness in a town with a “Decency Act” outlawing loud music, public necking and tight pants. Tickets start at $14 per person. To make reservations, call the HART Box Office at 828.456.6322 or go to harttheatre.org to make reservations online.
• A stage production of the beloved tale “Alice in Wonderland” will be held on select dates throughout this spring at the Mountainside Theatre in Cherokee. The production is an original work by Havoc Movement Company that will be joining the Cherokee Historical Association for the spring season. For tickets, click on cherokeehistorical.org/ alice-in-wonderland.
will go directly to the theater. The pub will also donate 25% of the night’s drink receipts to the theater to assist in the restoration efforts. As well, the theater is always happy to accept additional donations. 828.538.2488.
ALSO:
• Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host “Improv Night” by the Smoky Mountain Community Theater at 7 p.m. May 24. Ages 21 and up. There will be a $5 cover, which
• The Haywood Arts Regional Theater in Waynesville is currently offering a wide variety of classes in the theater arts for all ages, young and old. Whether you are just starting out or want to hone your skills, HART has opportunities for you. For more information, contact HART Artistic Director Candice Dickinson at 646.647.4546 or email candice@harttheatre.org.
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On the shelf ‘The Book of Candlelight’ and ‘Human Smoke’
Jeff Minick
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At first, Danny is presumed to have died from drowning, only the evidence doesn’t stack up. He left his house in the middle of the night without telling his wife where he was going, and his truck is found miles from the river. Nora begins to suspect foul play, but she’s missing a motive. Soon the four women of the Society become involved with what increasingly seems a crime, working with Nora’s friend, Sheriff Grant McCabe. When a second body turns up, the townspeople know they have a murderer in their midst, and the Society cranks up its investigation. So the story is intriguing and well-told. Then there’s Sheldon Vega, an older Cuban-American newly arrived in town who begins helping Nora in the bookstore. He’s sharp, witty, and full of good ideas for the shop. He keeps both Nora and the reader smiling. When Nora gently asks him about his love life, this dialogue ensues: “I don’t have romantic partners,” Sheldon said. “I’m a starfish. Have been my whole life.” “A starfish?” “Someone who isn’t interested in sex. If None of the Above were added to the LBGTQ acronym, that would be me. I’d be the N.”
Grab your bestie and join us for a good time! This retreat will have you nurturing your relationship while enjoying nature, adventure + yoga. Come grow alongside each other as you clear energetic blocks and rejuvenate your mind/body connection at scenic Lake Junaluska.
Local pricing available! Visit our website for details and to register.
274 S. MAIN ST. WAYNESVILLE 828.246.6570 WAYNESVILLEYOGACENTER.COM
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In addition to being amused by Sheldon, I’m a sucker for quotations, and every chapter starts with one. In the Reader’s Guide at the end of the novel, Ellery Adams asks of these quotations, “Which was your favorite?” I liked several, but these words by the Impressionist painter Edgar Degas would top my list: “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” Finally, reading novels like “The Book of Candlelight” gives us men insights into
••• Recently, I reread parts of Nicholson Baker’s “Human Smoke: The Beginnings of World War II, the End of Civilization.” (I would have bestowed that subtitle on World War I as well.) Here Baker gives readers hundreds of examples, some taken from the headlines of the day, some from diaries and reminiscences, of the events leading up to the Second World War and the first two years of that conflict: the decisions, right and wrong, that brought on this terrible war with its lies and propaganda, its countless brutal killings, and the suffering it inflicted on so many millions of people. On a smaller scale, at least for now, the war between Russia and Ukraine provides us with a similar stage built on deceits and horrors, with the added possibility of the use of nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, some of our leaders, Republicans and Democrats, throw more money into this conflict, raising the stakes and risking deeper American involvement rather than seeking every route possible to stop the fighting. This month Americans celebrate two major holidays: Mother’s Day and Memorial Day. No mother wants her children coming home in body bags. Nor do our memorials need more names added to the lists of the dead. “Blessed are the peacemakers,” the Old Book says, “for they will be called children of God.” Our country and the world need those peacemakers right now. (Jeff Minick reviews books and has written four of his own: two novels, “Amanda Bell” and “Dust On Their Wings,” and two works of nonfiction, “Learning As I Go” and “Movies Make the Man.” minick0301@gmail.com)
at Lake Junaluska
May 11-17, 2022
ome men pick up a copy of Ellery Adams’ “The Book of Candlelight: A Secret, Book, and Scone Society Novel” (Kensington Publishing Corp., 2020, 320 pages) might read the blurb, flip through a few pages, and return the novel to its shelf, judging it a chick-lit book and unworthy of their attention. They’d be right on one level. Most of the central characters are women, and the sensibilities of “The Book of Candlelight” are definitely female. The members of A Writer Secret, Book, and Scone Society are Nora Pennington, Hester Winthrop, Estella Sadler, and June Dixon. Respectively, they operate a bookshop, a bakery, a salon and spa, and a thermal pools operation, and they drive this story. But those guys would also be wrong. There are any number of good reasons why men might take delight in “The Book of Candlelight.” First up is the plot. Set in the fictious town of Miracle Springs in Western North Carolina, this story centers on Nora and Miracle Books, the shop where she sells an array of books, antique and vintage items, and coffee and treats. She’s also gained a reputation for what she calls bibliotherapy, matching troubled readers with books that give them insights into their difficulties. Business is brisk, and she’s made some close friends in town. With the exception of the heavy rains that have flooded part of Miracle Springs, all’s reasonably well in Nora’s world. And then she finds the body of the young potter she has just befriended in the flooded river.
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One long, one short:
women. Here, for instance, we learn a bit about female friendships. The women in the Society are bound together in part because they’ve all shared certain personal secrets with one another, with the key word being shared. That circumstance alone binds them tightly together. As Nora says of the Society, “If I didn’t have June, Estella, and Hester, I wouldn’t be able to handle everything that’s happened over the past year.” We also see female empathy in play. After Danny’s murder, it’s the women of the town who visit his beloved Marie, taking her small gifts, offering hugs and words of encouragement, and even helping her start fresh in business. If you like a good mystery with solid characters, some bits of wisdom, and lots of literary talk, you’ll enjoy “The Book of Candlelight.” Even you guys.
BRING YOUR BESTIE YOGA RETREAT
New monthly book club The Jackson County Public Library in Sylva is starting a new monthly program. Each month, a library staff member will be discussing some of the new book titles that the library has received. Particular attention will be paid to “under the radar” titles and authors, new releases, and other books that the staff is excited about. All are welcome and no registration is required. For more information on when the club will meet, please call the library at 828.586.2016. This club is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Jackson County Public Library. The JCPL is a member of Fontana Regional Library (fontanalib.org).
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Right in rain After 15 years of forecasting, Local Yokel is shifting focus
A Brocken spectre, a phenomenon that occurs when the sun is low, magnifies a shadow cast upon the upper surfaces of clouds that sit lower than the mountain from which the shadow is cast. Steve Reinhold/Appalachian Adventure Company photo
BY HOLLY KAYS OUTDOORS E DITOR reston Jacobsen, a man some know better as the Local Yokel Weather guy, comes by his love of meteorology honestly. “Since I’m such an observer — I can’t stop observing and taking note of things and thinking— that data helps calm that and centralizes that desire to observe that weather is a neat thing to watch play out,” he said. “It’s always in motion.” Jacobsen’s dad was a weather nut too, a guy who grew up wanting to be a hurricane hunter, but when his eyesight disqualified him from that career path, entered the business world instead. Born in New Orleans, Jacobsen lived in hurricane country until middle school, when his father’s career moved them north to Charlotte. “We used to map hurricanes every season on a giant four-by-six poster every year on a wall,” said Jacobsen. “The Weather Channel was always on. Local on the Eights was like a background noise in our house.” When Jacobsen asked how hurricanes form, or what causes a rainbow to spread across the sky, his dad had an answer. As he grew toward adulthood, those conversations inspired him to keep asking questions, and keep looking for answers.
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SELF-TAUGHT FORECASTER That desire eventually gave birth to Local Yokel Weather, an endeavor Jacobsen, now 35, launched shortly after finishing his sophomore year at Western Carolina University. While living in Jackson County, Jacobsen grew frustrated with what he terms the “megaweathers” — The Weather Channel and Accuweather, for instance — posting forecasts that bore little similarity to on-the-ground
results. They’d call for 1-2 inches of snow in Sylva, and town would get flurries while the Plott Balsams would pick up 3-6 inches. “Seeing the microclimates at play and watching the forecast never match up, I was very interested in learning how to fix that,” Jacobsen said. Jacobsen wasn’t a meteorology major. He went to school for environmental science and hydrology, but he considers himself to be very
Preston Jacobsen holds the new remote weather stations he plans to install soon near Pinnacle Peak in Sylva. Holly Kays photo
much a “numbers person” and a “pattern person.” So he formed Local Yokel and started forecasting. He quickly realized how difficult it was to do well, so after finishing his degree he took more classes at the University of North Carolina-Asheville, positioning himself as a self-taught local forecaster. “Through time I fine-tuned that forecasting skill and also along the way, in tandem,
added stations where I could,” he said. “The slogan was, ‘Local weather for local people.’ This was the only outlet forecasting for this spot in this spot.” The data used to build forecasts for the mountains comes mainly from the two nearest National Weather Service stations, in Morristown, Tennessee, and Greer, South Carolina. Those locations shoot radar beams into the sky to gather information about what’s happening in the atmosphere, and forecasters crunch the data to guess at how those conditions might translate to future weather observations. But those radar beams can’t travel through mountains, so they have to be tilted at a higher-than-optimal angle to clear the ridges marking the region’s edge. This means the beams miss the lower air layers, important information for forecasters trying to predict how atmospheric forces and mountain topography might interact. While developments in the last decade or so have made the radar beams more effective, large areas of the mountain region still rely on limited forecasting data. “The Escarpment and the Great Balsams tend to block a good portion of Southwestern North Carolina, and then the Smokies and the Black Mountains as well as Grandfather, they tend to block the radar for folks in Marion and Old Fort, Wilmington on the shadow side,” said Jacobsen. Jacobsen honed his forecasting skills by paying careful attention to local features — ridges, creeks, hollers and coves — and how they might affect temperature, rainfall or wind. And from the beginning, he also prioritized improving localized data collection, something that’s sorely lacking in many areas of the mountain region. “I think the only edge I held was the local insight and the stations I put in those areas that didn’t exist,” he said. “They didn’t necessarily help with forecasting, but they helped with real time, and/or validation that the forecast was correct.” Jacobsen currently has six weather stations installed at various locations across the region, and as he nears the 15th anniversary of Local Yokel’s creation, he expects these stations — and the new ones he hopes to add — to become his main focus.
SHIFTING FOCUS This year, Jacobsen told his 3,200 Twitter followers that he’s done forecasting. After 15 years, he’s gotten tired of it; meanwhile, other outlets have improved their own forecasts. He no longer feels the need to be as aggressive as he has been with producing detailed predictions to inform the public. “I’ve always wanted to be niche,” said Jacobsen. “I’ve never wanted to do what everybody else is doing.” Instead of producing regular forecasts, Jacobsen plans to shift toward covering storm events and focusing on fundraising for more weather stations in places where they don’t exist — and, in his view,
GSMA projects pull in awards
Schoolhouse Ridge Trail reopens
The inaugural Strawberry Jam Half Marathon/5K will step off Saturday, May 21, in Bryson City, 7:30 a.m. for the half marathon and 7:45 a.m. for the 5K. Both races start and end downtown and will be held in conjunction with the annual Strawberry Jam Festival at Darnell Farms. The half marathon course will include a segment on the farmland, and runners will also go twice through the outer edge of the Deep Creek section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Both races offer “very flat” courses, according to a press release from organizer Glory Hound Events. Registration is $70 for the half marathon and $35 for the 5K. Sign up at gloryhoundevents.com.
Hikers and mountain bikers can once more use Schoolhouse Ridge Trail in the Pisgah National Forest after its closure earlier this year to restore the trail’s lower 1.5 miles. High Country Conservation LLC relocated about 1 mile of trail and rehabilitated a halfmile of existing trail. The relocation resulted in construction of a new singletrack trail and closure of unsustainable fall-line sections. The new trail transitions in and out of original trail sections that were improved along the ridge. The trail is located in the Grandfather Ranger District in the Wilson Creek area of Caldwell County and connects to Mortimer Campground.
Kids survival camp coming to Clyde
of Appalachian music.” During the awards, Turner also received the Weatherford Award for Best Nonfiction Book for his scholarly memoir The Harlan Renaissance: Stories of Black Life in Appalachian Coal Towns, published last year by West Virginia University Press. “Sepia Tones” is produced by Great Smoky Mountains Association and funded through the African American Experiences in the Smokies project in collaboration with Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is distributed through GSMA’s existing podcast, “Smoky Mountain Air.”
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remote areas that can be used by people that are already utilizing the outdoors,” he said. “So Panthertown, Pinnacle Peak, Chestnut Mountain Park are good examples of where we can drop a weather station and send (the data) to people so they can use it however they see fit, whether that’s getting ready for their day or put some science to it and use the data.” Though Local Yokel was an income-producing business between 2010 and 2018, right now it’s more like an intense hobby. At heart, Jacobsen isn’t the ad salesmen he needed to be to keep Local Yokel turning a worthwhile profit. Between his family, his bookkeeping business and his job as finance manager for the Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards, right now he only ends up with an hour or so per day to work on Local Yokel. But he views weather as a lifetime pursuit. Local Yokel has already seen plenty of change in its 15-year history, and Jacobsen expects even more shifts as the story continues. If he’s learned anything over the past decade and a half, it’s that it’s hard to predict the future.
Send your kid off to learn wilderness survival this summer with the Piked Antler Project, a camp in Clyde. ■ Adventure Survival Summer Camp will teach boys and girls basic through intermediate wilderness skills, including safe knife handling, map and compass use, basic wilderness first aid, survival structure construction, campfire building, navigation using stars and moon, water purification and basic animal tracking as well as self-esteem, respect for self and others, ownership of one’s actions and growth mindset. Camp dates are June 6-10 and July 11-15. ■ Anti-kidnapping/Survive, Evade, Resist and Escape camp for kids is designed specifically around wilderness survival. Students will learn how to navigate and survive in the temperate rainforests of the Blue Ridge Mountain. In addition to the skills taught in Survival Summer Camp, the Kids Adventure SERE course will include more advanced life skills like kidnapping avoidance, being aware of surroundings, using intuition, camouflage and concealment, picking handcuffs and zip ties, and self-defense. Dates are June 27-July 1 and July 25-29. Sessions cost $315 per camper. Ages 10-13. Learn more or sign up at pikedantlerproject.com.
May 11-17, 2022
probably never will unless he puts them there. “I’m trying to push that envelope as much as I can to grab data from spots that traditionally have never seen any centers or maybe have failed for different reasons,” he said. “I want this level of network to outlast my time.” The next addition to that network will be in place soon near Pinnacle Peak, Sylva’s flagship viewpoint at the top of the town’s former watershed. Money from a GoFundMe campaign paid for the $1,500 remote cellular station — though Jacobsen is also investing $500 of his own money — and plans to install it at the same elevation as Pinnacle Peak but not on the peak itself, where it might impact the view or incur increased risk of vandalism. It’s the first remote station Jacobsen has ever purchased, and he’s excited. Always before, setting up a new weather station involved procuring a standalone computer, using a cord to connect the station to the computer, and setting it up so the computer would stay dry and powered up. “I’d like to see more weather stations in
Race into strawberry season
outdoors
The Great Smoky Mountains Association has earned some recognition recently for producing top-tier educational materials. ■ A chapter book for young readers titled A Search for Safe Passage received the coveted Publication of the Year Award from the Public Lands Alliance Partnership in the category for organizations with more than $1.5 million gross revenue. Written by Creative Services Director Frances Figart and illustrated by Graphic Designer Emma DuFort, both of GSMA, the book introduces readers to problems and solutions surrounding the global issues of road ecology and species migration from the perspective of bear, dear, elk and other animals. The book was inspired by Figart’s work with Safe Passage: The I-40 Pigeon River Gorge Wildlife Crossing Project, a large regional collaborative working to make a 28-mile stretch of highway in Western North Carolina and East Tennessee safer for both wildlife and humans. It includes a nonfiction section with educational lessons about animal habitat requirements, behavior, migration patterns and road ecology problems and solutions developed with input from international and local experts. ■ The Storybook Trail of the Smokies, which launched in April 2021 to promote literacy in nature, received the Outstanding Public Engagement for Program/Service at this year’s Public Lands Alliance Partnership Awards. A partnership between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, GSMA and the University of Tennessee Extension Institute of Agriculture, the program was funded by a grant from the Juanita H. Fasola Foundation Inc. Five different books for various reading levels were displayed along the Cosby Nature Trail along with educational prompts to encourage interaction with the trail. ■ “Sepia Tones: Exploring Black Appalachian Music,” an ongoing podcast miniseries, received the e-Appalachian Award at the 45th annual
Appalachian Studies Association Conference. The award recognizes an outstanding media source that provides insight into Appalachia and its people or gives Appalachians a vital community service. “Sepia Tones,” is co-hosted by Dr. William Turner and Dr. Ted Olson and according to e-Appalachia Committee Chair Sophia Enriquez represents “an invaluable step toward more truthful, just and complete stories
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No new CWD cases discovered after processing samples outdoors
After processing about 7,000 deer tissue samples, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission hasn’t found any instances of Chronic Wasting Disease outside the single positive result returned from a deer in Yadkin County. During the 2021-2022 season, biologists collected more than 7,200 deer tissue samples from hunters, meat processers, taxidermists, roadkills and sick deer. Those samples were sent to the Wisconsin Veterinarian Diagnostic Lab. “We are still collecting samples from roadkill, depredation harvest and late submissions, but we feel confident enough with these results to move forward and focus our CWD response plan efforts in Yadkin County and the surrounding areas,” said Brad Howard, wildlife management division chief with the Wildlife Commission. CWD is a fatal, transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, caused by abnormal prion proteins, that affects white-tailed deer and other cervids, including elk. The Wildlife Commission has also initiated temporary rules aimed to improve testing efforts and reducing human-assisted CWD spread. A public hearing on those rules will be held 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, May 12, in Yadkin County, with a virtual option
Chronic wasting disease is a fatal infection that affects deer, elk and other cervid species. Ken Taylor/NWRC photo
available and written comments accepted through May 20. To read or comment on the rules or to
join the hearing, visit ncwildlife.org/proposed-regulations. To learn more about CWD, visit ncwildlife.org/cwd.
Botanize along the riverbank May 11-17, 2022
Experience the marvels of spring from the bow of a kayak 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 14, on the Little Tennessee River. Adam Bigelow of Bigelow Botany and Excursions will lead this experience in riverbank botany for Alarka Expeditions. The paddle is rated easy to moderate in difficulty. Cost is $70 with boat rental or $50 for those who bring their own boat. Register at alarkaexpeditions.com.
Polish up the Pigeon RETAIL HOURS
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The arboretum bonsai collection contains more than 100 specimens.
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Pick up the Pigeon River during a cleanup 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, May 14, in Canton. The group will meet at Pigeon River Outfitters and disperse to pick up trash along the river, greenway and town. Pigeon River Outfitters will offer free shuttles around town or upstream to get participants started on a cleanup float, with tubes, kayaks and canoes provided free of charge on a firstcome, first-served basis. Volunteers are also welcome to bring their own boats. Gloves, trash bags, trash grabbers and safety vests provided. Bring a towel. Participants will receive a discount on their first pint at BearWaters Brewing. Organized by Haywood Waterways Association. RSVP by May 13 at christine.haywoodwaterways@gmail.com or 828.476.4667, ext. 11.
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Arboretum celebrates World Bonsai Day May 14 is World Bonsai Day, and the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville will celebrate in style May 14-15 as its outdoor bonsai exhibit reopens for the season. In the garden, Blue Ridge Bonsai Society members will offer demonstrations and dis-
plays illustrating stages of bonsai tree development, with volunteers and club members on hand to answer questions. Meanwhile, artist Robert Wallace will offer a display of bonsai pottery in the Education Center, and a series of videos featuring Arboretum Bonsai Curator Arthur Joura will be shown there too. Events are free, though a $16 parking fee applies to non-members.
New design on display at Quilt Garden The Quilt Garden at the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville now features a brand new design titled “North Carolina Lily,” inspired by the state’s wildflower — the Carolina lily. Every two years, arboretum staff choose a new pattern for the Quilt Garden, a collaboration between lead designer Clara Curtis and the Seasonal Landscape Exhibits Team. Traditional quilting patterns inspire the designs, and careful plant selection translates them to the garden. The arboretum is open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., with a $16 parking fee. After two years of closure due to COVID, the Education Center has recently reopened, featuring new services and exhibits for students and guests.
ThePriintHauss.c . co om m
runs Simple Life Mountain Retreat and Campground and is grateful for programs like Appalachian Farm School that are helping the next generation of farmers find their way.
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641 North Main Street, WAYN NESVILLE, NC (3/10 Mile North of the Couurthouse)
“There are pieces of the puzzle that I don’t understand,” said Wamsley, who started Simple Life in 2010 and has recently started adding apple and Christmas trees to his property in Graham County. “Just like beekeeping, apple trees and Christmas trees — those are three different facets of the business. The farm schools have taught me to diversify and stay on the cutting edge of farming.” On the other end of the experience spectrum were participants Natalie Rayburn and Patrick Cardona-Cosner, who aim to open a fee-based, trout fishing operation on private property in Tusckasegee. Rayburn and Cardon-Cosner picked up some valuable insights and connections through the farm school. Marne Harris, SCC’s Small Business Center Director, organized the series, with Tonya Snider of TenBiz facilitating. Representatives of six area farms participated. m_harris@southwesterncc.edu or 828.339.4211.
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May 11-17, 2022
Despite representing different spectrums of the agricultural community, participants in this year’s Appalachian Farm School have at least one thing in common: They all have expansion goals centered around agritourism. The eight-week farm school, which is organized and overseen annually by Southwestern Community College’s Small Business Center, provides existing and aspiring entrepreneurs with the resources and training they need to enhance or launch their operations. The weekly series concluded on Feb. 28 with final presentations by each participating farm. It marked the Appalachian Farm School’s eighth consecutive year, and — as with all services provided by SCC’s Small Business Center — participation is free of charge. “We eventually want to have an Airbnb or two on the property,” said Jarod Schoeberl, who attended the series with his wife, Maggie, and their 1-year-old daughter Ayda. The Schoeberls run a small farm in Cullowhee with poultry, rabbits and plans to add small livestock and more in the near future. “We’re new to North Carolina, we just moved here two years ago, so we had no idea there were so many resources as kind of wannabe farmers,” Maggie Schoeberl said. “Just learning about the extension office, and having an opportunity to network with other farmers who are doing similar things — it’s all been extremely helpful.” Also attending the class was Robbinsville resident Alan Wamsley, who
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Appalachian Farm School draws diverse ag interests
Online event to explore impact of food traditions
Tomato Growers offering scholarship North Carolina college students have until May 31 to apply for a $1,000 scholarship from the N.C. Tomato Growers Association. The award will be given based on demonstrated academic achievement, initiative, leadership, financial need and
extracurricular activities. Any North Carolina resident who pursues a horticulture or agribusiness undergraduate or graduate degree at a four-year North Carolina college or university may apply. The scholarship is contingent on recipients maintaining at least a 2.5 GPA during the scholarship period and being enrolled for the entire school year. For more information or applications, visit nctomatoes.com.
After a multi-year absence, the 8th edition of the
Waynesville Main Street Mile will take place on
Saturday, June 11
Smoky Mountain News
A live, online-only presentation will explore the impact traditional foods have on Native American communities across the United States, at 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 18. Women from various indigenous communities will discuss how pursuing stronger ties with traditional foods and preparation can strengthen our ties with ourselves. It’s offered as part of the Museum of the Cherokee Indian’s Spring Lecture Series on food sovereignty and is free to join. Join at bit.ly/3Fm9ZsG.
and will benefit REACH of Haywood County
SIGN UP NOW!
runsignup.com/Race/NC/Waynesville/WaynesvilleMainStreetMile 33
outdoors
Star ornaments made out of old maps are one of many options for hand-made decorations. USFS photo
Help decorate the Capitol Christmas tree
May 11-17, 2022
The U.S. Forest Service is collecting Christmas ornaments to decorate the North Carolina tree set to adorn the U.S. Capitol this Christmas. The National Forests in North Carolina has been selected to provide the 2022 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, the third time it’s been charged with that task. “The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree or ‘the People’s Tree’ is a wonderful opportunity to exhibit North Carolina’s talented individuals and their passion for our public lands,” said Lorie Stroup, U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree coordinator. “We want our communities to shine by decorating the tree with handmade ornaments that capture what the state is known for and the diversity of people, places, plants and animals. We encourage the use of natural, recyclable and repurposed materials for ornaments.” The Forest Service needs two types of
ornaments: 4,000 large ornaments that are 9-12 inches, colorful, reflective and weatherproof; and 2,000 small ornaments that are 4-6 inches, lightweight, colorful and not necessarily weatherproof, as they will be placed indoors. Crafters should not use sharp materials that might pose a danger to cutting or nicking tree lighting wires, and ornaments may not include commercial logos or be divisive or offensive. The tree’s theme will be “From the Mountains to the Sea.” Ornaments are due by Sept. 1 and can be mailed to U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, 160 Zillicoa St., Asheville, NC 28801, or taken to drop-off sites listed at uscapitolchristmastree.com, which also contains complete ornament guidelines. For additional information about how to get a group or community involved, contact Sheryl Bran at sheryl.bryan@usda.gov or 828.257.4271.
Smoky Mountain News
Talk trails with author Amy Camp
34
Puzzles can be found on page 38 These are only the answers.
Amy Camp, author of “Deciding on Trails: 7 Practices of Healthy Trail Towns,” will log in for a virtual book club meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 25. The book serves as a call to action for trail communities and dedicated people who want to cultivate a trail culture and embrace best practices for trail towns. The book is available at local bookstores and libraries. Hosted by Mainspring Conservation Trust. Register by contacting Rachel Newcomb at rnewcomb@mainspringconserves.org or 828.524.2711, ext. 305.
Follow Grandma Gatewood’s A.T. adventure A documentary telling the story of the first woman to through-hike the Appalachian Trail alone will be screened at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 12, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. The Grandma Gatewood Story follows Emma Gatewood on her epic journey, which took place when she was 67 years old. The screening is part of the Nantahala Hiking Club’s regular monthly meeting and open to all regardless of membership.
Emma “Grandma” Gatewood. Donated photo
WNC Calendar COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS • The Jackson County Farmers Market meets every Saturday November through March 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and April through October 9 a.m.-noon at Bridge Park in Sylva, 110 Railroad St. Special events listed on Facebook and Instagram. • Cowee School Farmer’s Market will be held from Wednesdays from - 6 p.m., at 51 Cowee School Drive in Franklin. The market has produce, plant starts, eggs, baked goods, flowers, food trucks and music. For more information or for an application, visit coweeschool.org or call 828.369.4080.
FUNDRAISERS AND BENEFITS • Celebrate Mother’s Day with Unete from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, May 15, at the American Legion in Waynesville. Admission is free, there will be dancing, inflatables, door prizes, handmade tamales, frijoles charros, traditional Mexican rice and a wealth of resources. For more information in English call 828.400.9285, for information in Spanish call 828.279.8533.
VOLUNTEERS & VENDORS • Highlands Volunteer Fair will take place from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. May 19, at the Highlands Civic Center. The free event will bring together those willing to volunteer with the nonprofit organizations that them. For more information about the Volunteer Fair and other Highlands events, visit highlands chamber.org.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS • Swain County Caring Corner Free Clinic is open Thursday’s 4-9 p.m. at Restoration House (Bryson City United Methodist Church). Office hours are Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9 a.m.-noon. Call 828.341.1998 to see if you qualify to receive free medical care from volunteer providers.
AUTHORS AND BOOKS • Friends of the Haywood County Public Library will host an evening with local author Renea Winchester from 6 to 8 p.m. May 19 at the York Dining Commons on Lake Junaluska. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. For more information contact folhaywoodcounty@gmail.com. • Amy Camp, author of “Deciding on Trails: 7 Practices of Healthy Trail Towns,” will log in for a virtual book club meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 25. Hosted by Mainspring Conservation Trust. Register by contacting Rachel Newcomb at rnewcomb@mainspringconserves.org or 828.524.2711, ext. 305.
A&E
n All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted. n To have your item listed email to calendar@smokymountainnews.com everyone is encouraged to join. Call 828.371.8247 for more information or email swaincountyheritagefest@gmail.com. • Echo Valley Gem Show will be held from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. May 11-14 and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. May 15 at 6456 Sylva Road in Franklin. For more information, email mbellpoint@gmail.com. • “Smoky Spring Festival & Art Show” will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 14, at the Bryson City Wine Market. For more information, call 828.538.0420. • Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host “Improv Night” by the Smoky Mountain Community Theater at 7 p.m. May 24. Ages 21 and up. There will be a $5 cover, which will go directly to the theater. The pub will also donate 25% of the night’s drink receipts to the theater to assist in the restoration efforts. As well, the theater is always happy to accept additional donations. 828.538.2488. • Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host an open mic from 8-10 p.m. every Thursday. Free and open to the public. 828.631.1987 or balsamfallsbrewing.com. • Boojum Brewing (Waynesville) will host karaoke at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, trivia at 7 p.m. on Thursdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 9 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 828.246.0350 or boojumbrewing.com. • The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host Bob Zullo (guitars/vocals) May 14 and The Russ Wilson Duo (vocals/guitar) May 21. All shows begin at 7 p.m. Limited seating. Reservations are highly recommended. 828.452.6000 or classicwineseller.com. • Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host Mountain Heart (Americana/bluegrass) 5 p.m. May 21. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children. 828.369.4080 or coweeschool.org/music. • Elevated Mountain Distilling Company (Maggie Valley) will host an Open Mic Night 7-9 p.m. on Wednesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.734.1084 or elevatedmountain.com. • Friday Night Live (Highlands) host The Johnny Webb Band (country) May 13 and Jay Drummonds (country) May 20 at Town Square on Main Street. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. highlandschamber.org. • Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host The NeverB’s May 13, Natti Love Joys (reggae/soul) May 14, Krave Amiko May 20 and Syrrup May 21. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.454.5664 or froglevelbrewing.com. • Innovation Station (Dillsboro) will host “Music Bingo” w/Hibiscus Sunshine at 7 p.m. every Wednesday, Creekside Live Band Karaoke 7 p.m. May 20 and Divas On Tap “Night of Neon” 8:30 p.m. May 21. All events are free and open to the public. innovation-brewing.com.
• Mountain Makers Craft Market will be held from noon to 4 p.m. the first Sunday of each month at 308 North Haywood St. in downtown Waynesville. Over two dozen artisans selling handmade and vintage goods. Special events will be held when scheduled. mountainmakersmarket.com.
• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host “Karaoke Night” May 13, Scott James Stambaugh (singer-songwriter) May 14 and Roscoe’s Road Show May 21. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com.
• The Annual Swain County Heritage Festival will kick off at 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 27, at Riverfront Park on Mitchell Street in Bryson City. Festivities will continue at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 28. No admission fee and
• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host Scott James Stambaugh (singer-songwriter) May 13, George Ausman (singer-songwriter) May 14, Steve Heffker (singer-songwriter) May 20, Granny’s Mason Jar
Smoky Mountain News
(Americana/folk) May 21 and Kate Thomas (singersongwriter) May 22. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 or mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com. • Pickin’ On The Square (Franklin) will host Lisa & The Boys (variety) May 14 and The Johnny Webb Band (country) May 28. All shows begin at 6 p.m. at the Gazebo in downtown. Free and open to the public. franklinnc.com/pickin-on-the-square.html. • Saturdays On Pine (Highlands) will host The Breakfast Club (1980s tribute) May 14 and The Caribbean Cowboys (variety/oldies) May 21 at Kelsey-Hutchinson Park on Pine Street. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. highlandschamber.org. • The Scotsman (Waynesville) will host live music on the first Friday of every month. All shows begin at 9 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.246.6292 or scotsmanpublic.com. • Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host Cliff Williamson (singer-songwriter) May 11, Random Act of Music May 12, Tricia Ann Band May 1 and Rock Holler May 14. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.538.2488.
FOOD AND DRINK • May Day Hosted Weekend with Celebrity Chef Chadwick Boyd will take place Friday through Sunday, May 13-15, at Half-mile Farm. For more information visit oldedwardshospitality.com • A cooking class “How to Make Pasta Sauce” will take place at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 17, at the Jackson County Public Library, hosted by Jenna Kranz from Uncomplicated Kitchen. To register and for more information, please call the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva at 828.586.2016. • A live, online-only presentation will explore the impact traditional foods have on Native American communities across the United States, at 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 18. Women from various indigenous communities will discuss how pursuing stronger ties with traditional foods and preparation can strengthen our ties with ourselves. It’s offered as part of the Museum of the Cherokee Indian’s Spring Lecture Series on food sovereignty and is free to join. Join at bit.ly/3Fm9ZsG. • “Flights & Bites” will be held starting at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays at Bosu’s Wine Shop in downtown Waynesville. For more information on upcoming events, wine tastings and special dinners, click on waynesvillewine.com.
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Visit www.smokymountainnews.com and click on Calendar for: n n n n
Complete listings of local music scene Regional festivals Art gallery events and openings Complete listings of recreational offerings at health and fitness centers n Civic and social club gatherings • Experience the marvels of spring from the bow of a kayak 1-6 p.m. Saturday, May 14, on the Little Tennessee River. Adam Bigelow of Bigelow Botany and Excursions will lead this experience in riverbank botany for Alarka Expeditions. The paddle is rated easy to moderate in difficulty. Cost is $70 with boat rental or $50 for those who bring their own boat. Register at alarkaexpeditions.com. • Pick up the Pigeon River during a cleanup 9-10 a.m. Saturday, May 14, in Canton. Organized by Haywood Waterways Association. RSVP by May 13 to Christine O’Brien at christine.haywoodwaterways@gmail.com or 828.476.4667, ext. 11. • The WNC Bigfoot Festival is planned for May 14-15 in Marion. The Southeast’s premier Bigfoot event will feature education panels, a Bigfoot calling contest and other family-friendly activities. For more information, visit marionbigfootfestival.com. • World Bonsai Day will take place May 14 at the North Carolina Arboretum. For more information call 828.665.2492 or visit ncarboretum.org. • The Highlands Biological Foundation’s spring education event “Rain Check: Water on the Highlands Plateau” will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 14, at the Highlands Nature Center in Highlands. Tickets are $50 per person and include the lecture, lunch and one field trip. Workshop. Learn more and purchase tickets at highlands biological.org or call 828.526.2221. • Learn the ABCs of fly fishing or brush up on your skills with two-day courses offered through the Haywood County Recreation Department. Courses will be held at the park below Lake Junaluska Dam, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Fridays. Beginner courses offered May 13 and 20, again on July 15 and 22, intermediate courses offered June 10 and 17, again on Aug. 12 and 19. Cost is $10 to enroll, with no fishing license required and loaner rods available. Call 828.456.6789 to sign up.
• A free wine tasting will be held from 6-8 p.m. every Thursday and 2-5 p.m. every Saturday at The Wine Bar & Cellar in Sylva. 828.631.3075.
• The inaugural Strawberry Jam Half Marathon/5K will step off Saturday, May 21, in Bryson City, 7:30 a.m. for the half marathon and 7:45 a.m. for the 5K. Registration is $70 for the half marathon and $35 for the 5K. Sign up at gloryhoundevents.com.
• Take a trip around the world with four different wines every Friday 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and Saturday 11a.m.-6 p.m. at the Bryson City Wine Market. Pick from artisan Charcuterie Foods to enjoy with wines. 828.538.0420.
• The annual Strawberry Jam festival will be held May 21-22 at Darnell Farms in Bryson City. For a full schedule of bands and activities, click on darnellfarms.com or call 828.488.2376.
• Cooking classes take place at the McKinley Edwards Inn from 6-8:30 p.m. on Thursday nights. To reserve your spot call 828.488.9626.
Outdoors
• A documentary telling the story of the first woman to through-hike the Appalachian Trail alone will be screened at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 12, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. The screening is part of the Nantahala Hiking Club’s regular monthly meeting and open to all regardless of membership.
FARM AND GARDEN • Bill Messina, garden manager at Ace Hardware in Franklin, will speak at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 13, at the Environmental Resource Center on Lakeshore Drive in Franklin. The talk is offered as part of the Macon County Master Gardener Association’s regular monthly meeting, and all are welcome to attend. • Sylva Garden Club Yard Sale at Bridge Park is May 21. The Sylva Garden Club works to maintain the planters along Main Street and the cradles on the bridges. The yard sale proceeds will help provide the flowers. We also take care of flower beds in Centennial Park. You indicated that you would write an article printing the Yard Sale.
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GROUP HOME STAFF NEEDED: Full time benH¿WHG SRVLWLRQ DYDLODEOH in Waynesville. Paraprofessional will participate in the care of residents by providing guidance, supervision, medication and prompting as needed. High School diploma, driver’s license, documentation required. Interested person may contact 828-778-0260 for more information.
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Legal Notices NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF HAYWOOD IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE # 22 E 277 IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ALASKA H. PRESLEY, Decedent. Jill Holland McClure has TXDOL¿HG DV ([HFXWUL[ RI the Estate of Alaska H. Presley, deceased, late of Haywood County, North Carolina. This is to QRWLI\ DOO SHUVRQV ¿UPV and corporations having claims against the estate to present such claims to Jill Holland McClure at 34 Nathaniel Drive, Waynesville, NC 28786 on or before the 2nd day of August, 2022; or this Notice will be pled in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the
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CITY NAMESAKES ACROSS 1 June hrs. 4 Cobbling tool 7 Birthstone after opal 12 Run-down 73-Down 19 Deep musing 21 Calm down 22 Filled pasta squares 23 Shady public walk 24 1909 Literature Nobelist [Alabama] 26 Runner-up of tennis' 2017 U.S. Open [Wisconsin] 28 Enkindled 29 Authorize to 30 "Ye olde" place 31 Quarterback Brady 32 Counterparts of egos 35 Cutely shy 38 Cosmetics company founder [Montana] 46 Paris-based cultural gp. 49 Mysterious letters 50 Washington subway system, familiarly 51 Alfred Lunt's comedy partner [Massachusetts] 54 Poker champ Ungar 55 Spicy cuisine 56 Last line on an invoice 57 Abu -- (emirate) 59 Navy off. 60 Plaintiff 61 "Today" co-anchor [Georgia] 67 Take in 70 Higher 71 Take in 72 "Jane Eyre" novelist [North Carolina] 79 Goad 83 Go bad
84 -- -ski bar 85 Sedentary 88 LAX stats 90 Comic Carrey 91 Star of the reality show subtitled "Life's a Tripp" [Connecticut] 95 Birthstone after ruby 97 "The Liberty Bell" march composer 98 Passionate 99 "Weeds" actress [New Jersey] 103 -- Plaines 104 Mag heads 105 That lad's 106 Motorola competitor 109 Saturate 112 Iceberg part 113 "National Velvet" novelist [Oklahoma] 119 1970 #1 hit for The Guess Who that's apt for this puzzle? 124 "Woe Is I" author Patricia T. -125 Price ceiling 126 Part of FDA: Abbr. 127 Toto's owner 128 Having been banished 129 Decade units 130 Golf course units: Abbr. 131 Grafton's "-- for Outlaw" DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Druggist's weight unit Acting Ward Tube spot Retort to "Am not!" State of a surviving wife Romance novelist Banks Stun with a charge Stay in line Good friends
10 $$$ holder 11 Passionate 12 Greek society 13 Delay 14 Abel's mom 15 Broadcast 16 -- weevil 17 Healing plant 18 Donation 20 Send out 25 See 31-Down 27 Kenan's sitcom buddy 31 With 25-Down, perch for a nest 32 Night demon 33 Mil. award 34 "Keep it in" 35 Niche sects 36 "The joke's --!" 37 "Fiddler on the Roof" matchmaker 39 Age 40 Ursuline, e.g. 41 Actress Miller 42 Fido's jingler 43 Antiquated anesthetic 44 From Tehran 45 Clamor 47 Spider web, at times 48 Toronto-based gridiron org. 52 Sorority letters 53 Caddy drink 54 "Zip it up!" 57 "Aw, rats!" 58 Suffix with social 62 Old Saturn SUVs 63 LAPD alert 64 "Weekend Edition" network 65 Natal lead-in 66 Set of seven 68 Similar to
69 Superbly done tasks 72 Delicate pancake 73 The Ritz, e.g. 74 Pong creator 75 Overused 76 Pro -77 -- for tat 78 Rock's Brian 80 Irritated 81 Sheeplike 82 Auto dings 86 Northwestern Pacific fish 87 ER skill 89 Large or medium 91 Enjoys some 1940s jazz 92 Regret 93 Syr. neighbor 94 Hefty Cinch -96 "Old man" 97 Slope on which a vessel is built 100 Wispy 101 Pol. wild card 102 Unimportant person 107 Stravinsky and Sikorsky 108 Part of A.D. 109 Indian dress 110 Arab nation 111 Singer Seeger 112 Racket grip enhancer 113 "The Circle" actress Watson 114 Brand of hair remover 115 Stay-the-night sites 116 Informed of 117 Utah city near Provo 118 Abstainers from alcohol 120 Writer Stout 121 French for "here" 122 Shortstop Ripken 123 Poem type
ANSWERS ON PAGE 34
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Smoky Mountain News May 11-17, 2022
