Community Almanac

Lake Junaluska Women meet

On Flag Day at Lake Junaluska, about 50 of Junaluska Woman’s Club’s 75 members gathered for a luncheon at Lakeside Bistro.

Lake Junaluska Executive Director Ken Howle provided an informative program. Rev. Rebecca Mathis provided both the blessing and benediction. The club’s Co-presidents Kitten Ervin and Lynda Varner presided, Vice President Nancy Hood introduced the speaker, Treasurer Mary Haggard provided the club’s financial report, Secretary Jan Lemasters made several announcements plus assisted Lynda Varner in selling tickets for the popular annual JWC summer fashion show fundraiser, Membership Chairman Grace Gattis provided name tags and membership forms, and club Historian Merritt Hampton (Casper) provided the HerStory Moment on the topic of “1921 red flag porch visiting etiquette and 2021 porch pop-ups at Lake J” including announcing there will be several small group pop-up activities to look forward to this season.

New leadership to support Haywood library

The Friends of Haywood County Library, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting the library staff and activities, elected new members to the board.

New Officers: President: Tess Thais; Vice President: Hylah Birenbaum; Recording Secretary: Pam Witczak; Corresponding Secretary: Krystal Irvin; Treasurer: Martin Pensak and Immediate Past President: Susan Trahan.

New Directors for 2021-2023: Jennifer Wilkes: Director at Large, Liaison to the Arts Council; Deb Wiley: Director at Large, Public Relations/Publicity/Newsletter and Carol Clarke; Director at Large. Current Directors for 2020-2022 are Kevin Murphy, Marilyn Sullivan and Jan Boyd.

The Friends are known for their annual book sale, which was canceled last year due to COVID19. A limited sale is being planned for the end of August.

HRMC lifts visitor restrictions

Haywood Regional Medical Center has lifted additional visitation restrictions as of June 23. New guidelines will allow guests of all ages to visit inpatients and accompany outpatients or those seeking ER care.

General visitation hours are 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The new guidelines are effective immediately.

Visitors of all ages are welcome. Visitors will have temperature automatically taken upon entering, and each should read the attestation to confirm lack of COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival. One visitor per patient (18 or older) may be allowed to stay overnight in patient room. Any restrictions on number of visitors per room at once will be decided by the individual department. ER patients are limited to two visitors. All visitors must continue to mask. COVID-19 visitation will be decided on a case-by-case basis.

For additional updates on how the hospital is working to maintain a safe and supportive environment during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit myhaywoodregional.com.

Zonta of Franklin installs new members

At the June meeting, Zonta Franklin members welcomed new officers, board members and members: Michelle Masta (board member), Dorothy Mitchell (member), Amy Szpara (member), Shirley Speed (member) and Deb Williams (vice-president).

Zonta Franklin is the only Zonta club in North Carolina and our state’s representative of Zonta International, an organization dedicated to securing the rights of women throughout the world. Some of Zonta’s work is advocacy for ending violence against women, ending child marriage and supporting ERA continuation. Zonta promotes the means to gain education for girls and the rights of women in the workplace, amongst other causes.

For more information visit www.zontafranklinnc.org.

Altrusa supports Pigeon Center

Altrusa of Waynesville adopted the Pigeon Community Multicultural Development Center as a service project.

The Pigeon Center has multiple programs, including historical preservation initiatives, oral history projects and celebration of African American history and diverse cultures. School age children can connect and grow at after-school and summer enrichment programs, senior citizens may share meals and camaraderie at regularly scheduled events, community members can use computers for free and borrow books from their lending library and anyone can request an emergency food box. The Pigeon Center serves approximately 50 children in the all-day summer enrichment program and a smaller group in the traditional afterschool program.

Throughout the year, the Altrusa Club has engaged in multiple activities at the center, including baking desserts for their Fish Fry Fundraiser, washing pillows and blankets after a fire, donating tubs for storage, organizing and packing holiday decorations, donating books for their lending library and for rewards for students’ appropriate behavior and reading with the students.

If you would like to network with other energetic service-minded individuals in the Haywood County area, make new friends, learn new skills and give back to the community, consider joining Altrusa International of Waynesville and visit waynesvillealtrusa.org or call 828.734.1307.

Harrah’s donates to MANNA

For over 20 years, Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos have supported MANNA (Mountain Area Nutritional Needs Alliance) Food Bank, a nonprofit organization that assists in providing food to families of Western North Carolina.

To date, Harrah’s Cherokee has donated over $298,000 to MANNA. This year, the company is continuing its allegiance by pledging to be an annual sponsor for MANNA’s upcoming signature events, Empty Bowls and the Blue Jean Ball. As a sponsor, Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos will contribute $30,000 to the nonprofit organization.

The continued support of Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos alone has helped provide well over one million meals across Western North Carolina, as stated by Mary Nesbitt, Chief Development Officer of MANNA Food Bank.

Breast cancer walk returns

Western North Carolina in the fight against the deadly disease. Early registration is now open for teams and individuals online at MakingStridesWalk.org/AshevilleNC.

The noncompetitive, family-friendly event raises money to help the American Cancer Society fund groundbreaking breast cancer research and provide patient services like free rides to chemo, free places to stay near treatment, and a live 24/7 cancer helpline.

Area residents can form teams, join teams, walk as individuals, or make donations to support the local Making Strides Against Breast Cancer movement. Sponsorship and volunteer opportunities available.

Pack Square Park is located at 80 Court Plaza in downtown Asheville. The 2021 walk will follow CDC guidelines as well as all state and local mandates. For additional information, call the American Cancer Society at 800.227.2345 or visit MakingStridesWalk.org/AshevilleNC.

Haywood NAACP elects officers

Haywood County NAACP elected new officers at its June meeting.

Officers: Rev. Carl Matthews, (President); Dorothea Stewart, (first Vice President);

Carol Eggleston, (second Vice President); Katherine Bartel, (Secretary); Carolyn Wallace, (Assistant Secretary); Susan Grimm Florence, (Assistant Secretary); Chuck Dickson, (Treasurer) and Rev. Walter Bryson, (Assistant Treasurer).

The Education Task Force, working with Jackson County NAACP, is waiting to hear if they will get a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for $200,000 to expand their work in Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain Counties.

The Community Remembrance Project is planning educational events for the community about race issues.

The new Political Action committee is chaired by Mary Grace Lodico. This group will be watching the state legislature and keeping track of upcoming elections and related issues, and registering voters.

The Legal Redress Committee receives complaints of racial discrimination from community members.

Worship at Junaluska

All are invited to attend the Summer Worship Series at Lake Junaluska through Aug. 1.

The series includes spirited Sunday morning worship services led by inspirational preachers. All services will be held in the open-air Amphitheater below the Lake Junaluska Cross at 9 a.m. unless otherwise indicated. Preachers in Residence will also be present at other weekly worship offerings, including evening Vespers and labyrinth prayer walks.

The theme for this year’s Summer Worship Series is “Through the Storm, God Offers Hope for a New Day.”

To learn more about the Summer Worship Series, visit lakejunaluska.com/summerworship.