Folkmoot’s Summerfest kicked off last weekend with an evening soirée and will ramp up its main events this weekend in Waynesville and Canton, bringing in regional groups representing different cultures to perform over multiples days. Pictured here is Yeli Ensemble, which will hit the stage Saturday in Waynesville. (Page 20) Jeff Coffin photo, africanashville.com
News
Henley named WCU interim band director..................................................................4
Swain County considers rules of conduct for commissioners..............................5
Unfunded state mandate will cost local governments more than money..........6
Haywood awards nearly $6 million for affordable housing developments........7 Canton mill parcel rezoned................................................................................................8
Pactiv sells Waynesville plant, Pine Bluff facility for $110 million........................9 Consultant report ignores Haywood’s working class............................................10 Canton meeting focuses on accountability, transparency....................................11
Census bureau to conduct 2026 field test in Cherokee......................................13
Commission on Future of NC Elections presents findings ................................15
Opinion
Democrats need to learn a lesson................................................................................18 A&E
Macon County hosts ‘Gemboree’................................................................................25 HART to present ‘Footloose’..........................................................................................26
Outdoors
U.S. poet laureate unveils Poetry in the Parks project..........................................28 Notes from a Plant Nerd: Magnolia Sweet as Sugar............................................34
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RETAIL AND DRAFT
Henley named interim director of athletic bands at WCU
Henley had been the assistant director of athletic bands under director Jack Eaddy Jr. who announced his departure July 5 to take a teaching position at the University of Georgia.
Matt Henley has been named interim director of athletic bands at Western Carolina University and will lead the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band this upcoming season while a national search is underway for a permanent director.
Henley had been the assistant director of athletic bands under director Jack Eaddy Jr. who announced his departure July 5 to take a teaching position at the University of
“It has been an honor to lead this illustrious organization,” Eaddy said when his departure was made public. “I am fortunate to have helped POTM return from COVID-19 and continue the rich tradition of excellence. We have had many great performances, amazing trips, some life-changing experiences and become better people, and a better organization in the process.”
Eaddy extended his gratitude to the welcoming community to which he and his family became a part of.
“I thank POTM, the university and the community for embracing my family and welcoming us,” he said. “It is hard leaving an organization with such a rich legacy and supportive community. A special thank you to my colleagues who helped me become a part of the Catamount family. POTM members: don’t forget the special entity POTM is. Cherish it and honor the tradition of the Long Purple Line.”
George Brown, dean of the David Orr Belcher College of Fine and Performing Arts was enthusiastic about having Henley take the helm.
“We are excited and grateful that Matt is stepping into the role of interim director of athletic bands for this next season,” Brown said. “Matt’s experience, professionalism and most importantly, passion for the Long Purple Line of the Pride of the Mountains will ensure the grand traditions of POTM and the high quality of their halftime show will continue to serve our students and Catamount fans.”
Henley earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music at WCU. As the assistant director, his duties included assisting with POTM and the two “Cathouse bands,” which play at all home basketball games, and the dynamic “Purple Thunder” basketball drum line. He also teaches and arranges for the marching percussion program.
In addition to his teaching duties, he composes, arranges, adjudicates and is a prominent percussion clinician across the U.S.
HCC signs transfer agreement with Western Governors University
Graduates and employees will have access to personalized learning pathways to higher education
On Friday, June 21, leaders from Haywood Community College and Western Governors University participated in a signing ceremony on campus to formalize a new transfer agreement between the two institutions.
HCC graduates and employees will now have access to flexible, personalized learning pathways to higher education and professional development through WGU. The agreement is further intended to formalize the transfer of applicable academic credits between the schools.
Additionally, HCC graduates, staff and faculty will be able to apply for specially designated WGU Community College Partner Scholarships valued at $2,500 each. Tuition is around $4,000 per six-month term for most WGU bachelor’s degree programs.
As a competency-based university, WGU offers students the option to take as many
courses as they want per term with the consent of their assigned program mentor.
WGU’s programs are designed to fit into busy work and home schedules.
Founded in 1997, WGU is an accredited, online nonprofit university offering more than 80 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in healthcare, IT, business and K-12
education. The university has more than 175,000 students enrolled nationwide, including more than 5,300 in North Carolina.
“We are pleased to partner with WGU to provide accessible higher education pathways for HCC students,” said Shelley White, president of HCC. These key partnerships open the door to a variety of important career options, many right here at home.”
“Haywood Community College has been a beacon of higher education in Western North Carolina since the 1960s and has continued to evolve to meet the needs of surrounding employers and communities,” said Ben Coulter, chancellor of WGU North Carolina and Southeast regional director of WGU. “As a resident of Maggie Valley, I am especially pleased to see this new partnership and know that it will produce positive results for decades to come.”
To learn more about Haywood Community College, visit www.haywood.edu. For more information about WGU, visit www.wgu.edu.
WGU North Carolina Chancellor Ben Coulter and HCC President Shelley White shake hands after signing the agreement. Donated photo
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Swain County Commission weighs code of conduct
BY KYLE P ERROTTI N EWS E DITOR
Following a lengthy closed session during the Swain County Board of Commission’s July 2 work session, commission chair Kevin Seagle said the board had reached a consensus that it would obtain the advice of a lawyer to draft a code of conduct.
The decision comes on the heels of Commissioner David loftis being expelled from a meeting last month after a hot mic caught him in a heated argument with another commissioner during a closed session.
In the minute leading up to the verbal altercation, voices can be heard discussing problems with snakes on properties, presumably discussing how an animal control officer may handle that situation. In the background a couple of voices grow louder and suddenly a woman is heard saying in a calm tone, “We need law enforcement now.”
Within seconds, a man’s voice can be heard saying, “I will beat your butt.”
“Don’t you ever stick your nose into something I’m doing,” the voice continues.
In a June 24 interview with The Smoky Mountain News, Loftis admitted that he’d been expelled from the meeting but that there were no charges following the incident. While
he wouldn’t say who he was angry at because the altercation occurred during a closed session, he did admit that the issue being debated was the animal control officer position.
When asked whether he was concerned about any kind of sanction from his fellow board members, Loftis stated his opinion bluntly.
“To tell you the truth, I don’t care what they do,” he said. “A bunch of crooks in my opinion.”
Prior to the board going to a closed session, Commissioner Roger Parsons said both the altercation and Loftis’ words to SMN were “embarrassing.”
“I think that people should taste their words before they spit them out. I don’t think I’m a crook. In fact, I’m positive I’m not, and I’ve never told a lie to a commissioner at this table, and I’ve never said anything that wasn’t true to my knowledge to any commissioner at this table,” Parsons said. “I just want us to have a little sense of decorum and good behavior and manners and work together to get the business of this county done in a civil manner that brings pride to our citizens. It’s heartbreaking for me to see what some of our meetings have turned into.”
Haywood man guilty of stalking, pointing pistol at deputy
District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch today announced that a Haywood County jury found a defendant guilty of stalking a couple and, during one of the incidents, pointing a pistol at a deputy.
On Feb. 11, 2023, Earl Mitchell Phillips, 72, of Waynesville, parked his truck, lights off, near the couple’s home and in view of their house. One of the victims and a neighbor heard a gun being fired.
A judge had previously forbade Phillips to contact the victims as a condition of conviction for stalking after he assaulted the wife. He was told to have no contact and to stay at least 100 yards from the couple’s residence.
When Phillips defied the order and showed up on Feb. 11, 2022, the wife called 911.
I’ll point it where I want.”
He complied with an order to drop the revolver, but resisted being handcuffed.
A few days prior, on Feb. 8, 2023, the couple reported Phillips had parked his truck in the middle of the road near their home, a violation of the judge’s order.
Haywood County Deputy Zach Wood and Deputy Michael Elkins arrived at the scene. They discovered Phillips sitting in his truck on a nearby logging road. When the deputies approached the truck, Phillips pointed a revolver at Wood’s head.
Phillips told the deputies, “It’s my gun
There also was a stalking incident on Feb. 7, 2023, when he drove several times – slowly –by the residence.
Jury members found Phillips guilty of felony assault of a law enforcement officer; felony stalking and misdemeanor resisting public officer.
Superior Court Judge William T. Stetzer sentenced Phillips to an active prison term of 60 to 84 months for the assault with a firearm on a law enforcement officer, consolidating the misdemeanor resist charge for the purpose of sentencing; plus, handed down six to 17 months suspended for stalking and 36 months of supervised probation.
Assistant District Attorney Jeff Jones prosecuted the case.
Earl Mitchell Phillips
Unfunded state mandate will cost local governments more than money
BY C ORY VAILLANCOURT
Buried deep within a 40-page regulatory reform bill that became law last week, a new policy handed down by the Republican-led General Assembly will require tax collectors in every North Carolina county and municipality to install a sign “in a conspicuous manner” on each parcel subject to a lien for delinquent property taxes.
Local government administrators want the provision repealed, saying that will present a host of logistical challenges, cost more money than it recovers and engender ill will from property owners.
“This was sent down from the state,” said Sebastian Cothran, Haywood County’s tax collector. “It’s not my policy, it’s not Haywood County Commissioners’ policy. It’s policy put down on us by the state.”
Property tax bills go out around Sept. 1 each year in Haywood County. Owners of real property who have not paid their taxes by Jan. 6 are subsequently considered delinquent, and the bills begin accruing interest.
State law already stipulates that the names of the delinquents be published in a local newspaper between March 1 and June 1, but Session Law 2024-45 takes that a step further — directing the tax collector’s office to visit each parcel during that same time period and install a sign listing the owner of record, a brief description of the parcel, the principal amount of taxes owed and a statement that warns of penalties up to and including foreclosure.
Property owners who become delinquent still have time to avoid seeing their name in print — and on a sign — if they pay their balance before that publication window, however those who are delinquent but have agreed to extended monthly payment plans will receive no such grace.
Cothran said that in his county of 62,000 residents, there are usually around 3,000 delinquencies each year.
“We’re not even sure how much time it would take per sign,” said Bryant Morehead, Haywood County’s manager. “I mean, if this was a highly urbanized area and you had big subdivisions, you could put those in [more easily].”
Haywood County is not a highly urbanized area; from the Cruso community in the south to Fines Creek in the north, the 554-square mile county features very low population densities outside of its four incorporated municipalities. Morehead doesn’t think the county has the available resources to perform the work and may have to fund an unplanned, dedicated, inhouse position, or hire a contractor, or both. Whatever approach the county adopts, the process will take time — weeks or months, maybe — and cost taxpayers money.
tion customized for each parcel, unlike the mass-produced campaign signs that sprout up around the state during election season.
Upon delivery, the signs would have to be sorted, matched to the proper parcel, queued for delivery on a pre-planned route in a dedicated vehicle, installed on the proper parcels and documented through photographs or staff reports.
“And then safety comes in to view,” said Morehead.
In Haywood County, it’s generally considered unwise for a person to go wandering around on private property uninvited, no matter whose authority grants them the right to be there.
Physical access to delinquent parcels might even require written right-of-entry agreements with property owners, as with the cleanup of debris that recently took place on the Pigeon River after devastating flooding in 2021. Although the tax office doesn’t need such approvals for its regular reappraisal visits to private property, Morehead said they’d have to consult with County Attorney Frank Queen to be sure the
The decision to require signs to be placed on properties whose owners are delinquent on taxes came from legislation out of Raleigh that doesn’t have much support from elected officials in Western North Carolina. From Wikipedia
The law does not provide funding to counties and municipalities to carry out the task, leaving those who do pay their taxes on the hook for the cost of publicly shaming those who don’t.
“It happens all the time,” Morehead said. “[The General Assembly] shifts costs to us all the time. Sometimes, you see a reason that serves the public. This one strikes me as a little odd. I think we lose money on it. I don’t think that it will generate additional revenue.”
Then there’s the logistics of wrangling the signs themselves, which Morehead said the county hasn’t yet priced out. Obviously, each sign would have to contain unique informa-
county is in the clear with the signs.
“Gosh, if we had to have 3,000 right-of-entry agreements, we’d never get it done,” Morehead said.
Therein lies another challenge, according to Cothran.
“On some parcels, it might be impossible if they’re ‘landlocked,’” he said, referring to parcels with no public road access or parcels where there is no access other than to walk across someone else’s private property to get there.
The statute is also silent on what happens if — after all that time, money and effort — the property owner removes the sign immediately after it’s installed. Would the tax collector’s office have to go back out and install a new sign? How many times? How would the tax collector know the sign had been removed in the first place? Could the property owner face fines or prosecution for removing a sign?
If the ultimate goal of the law is to decrease delinquencies and increase tax collections, it’s not likely to be effective, Cothran said.
“Probably not very, because I’d say right now, with the newspaper [publishing delinquencies], there’s very few people that do anything [in response]. I mean, there’s maybe five to 10 that I remember coming in saying they saw their name in the papers so they’re coming in to pay,” Cothran said. “It’s very few. I mean, this may make some people come in, but it’s going to make people mad more than anything.”
Due to their size, Haywood County’s incorporated municipalities have fewer delinquencies, but also have smaller staffs with which to implement the policy.
Waynesville’s Tax Collector Sharon Augustini said the town published 290 delinquencies for this past year. Wanda Lurvey, Canton’s tax collector, said she’d published about 200, despite her astonishing 99.33% collection rate. Maggie Valley Tax Collector Leslie Arrington said the town published about a hundred. Clyde Town Administrator Joy Garland said she had 53.
Arrington, Lurvey and Clyde’s Kim Castaneda are all onewoman tax departments.
Jackson County Tax Collector Brandi Henson said her most recent publication included 1,399 delinquencies. Amanda Murajda, tax collector for the town of Sylva, pegged her total at 133.
Abby Braswell, Macon County’s tax administrator, did not return a call from The Smoky Mountain News about her county’s delinquencies, but Franklin Town Manager Amie Owens said she had 189.
Swain County tax collector April Hampton reported 3,423, although some of those were personal property delinquencies, which are not covered by the sign ordinance. In Bryson City, Town Manager Sam Pattillo counted 106.
Outside the mountain west, Rockingham County Manager Lance Metzler said that in his county of 93,000 people, he’d have to install about a thousand signs, even though his county staff — like most local government units — doesn’t have any excess capacity to perform the work.
Metzler supports a repeal of the provision, which was included in a bill originally filed in the Senate in April 2023 that contains a hodge-podge of regulatory reforms, including who needs to be licensed to be a barber, how much training a massage therapist needs and who gets to appoint directors to the boards of state-owned railroads.
Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper did not sign the bill, taking umbrage with the railroad issue, but he didn’t veto it either, so it became law without his signature 10 days after it was presented to him.
The bill was sponsored by Sen. W. Ted Anderson (RCleveland), Sen. Steve Jarvis (R-Davidson) and Sen. Carl Ford (R-Rowan), none of whom responded to a message from SMN asking who put the provision in the bill, or why.
Rep. Mark Pless (R-Haywood) also wants to know the answers to those questions and agrees that the cost to local governments isn’t worth the effort.
“When we go back [to Raleigh] my plan is to try to get an understanding of how it happened and why, and then try to get it changed before the sign posting date,” Pless told SMN July 14.
There may not be enough time left in this year’s short session to accomplish that, but when the General Assembly convenes after the New Year, there’s still a small window before tax collectors have to implement the policy in earnest.
“There’s a lot of us in the General Assembly who are former county commissioners and aldermen and mayors,” said Pless, a former Haywood County commissioner himself. “I’m hopeful they’ll be willing to stand up and say ‘no.’”
Rep. Mike Clampitt (R-Swain) said he would also support a repeal effort.
“This was supposed to be a regulatory reform bill, and I’m all about regulatory reform,” Clampitt said. “But this is regulatory overreach.”
Karl Gillespie, the Republican who represents Cherokee, Clay, Graham and Macon counties in the House, is open to looking at the provision for a possible repeal effort, he told SMN.
Gillespie’s fellow Macon County Republican legislator, Sen. Kevin Corbin, said he’s heard from multiple administrators in his sprawling Senate district, which encompasses all of far Western North Carolina, and said they found the policy problematic. Corbin thinks the policy wasn’t vetted very well with the folks charged with implementation.
“We all think this needs to be repealed, and we’re going to do what it takes to get it done,” Corbin said.
Haywood awards nearly $6 million for affordable housing developments
Development Committee that will increase affordable housing stock at no cost to Haywood County taxpayers.
“It’s been very important to me because I wanted to make sure that even though the county was awarded this tremendous amount of money, that we were good stewards of that, and that it met with the keeping I guess of who Haywood County is, and that we’re developing housing and projects that are in keeping with Haywood County,” said Commissioner Jennifer Best, who made the motion to approve the recommendations.
“We didn’t want something that was less in quality or had a stigma about it, so I appreciate all the hard work.”
No Haywood County taxpayer money is involved in the projects. The funds come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency as part of a package of aid in the wake of deadly flooding in 2021.
The county, state, region and nation have been struggling with a housing affordability problem for some time now, and answers
homes is one of the few options to flatten the curve on soaring home prices.
And as the third-fastest growing county in the 18-county Western North Carolina region, Haywood County’s demand for housing certainly isn’t decreasing.
According to data provided by Canopy MLS, in May, the average sales price for a home in Haywood County was $420,572 — the lowest in the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The three other counties in the MSA all reported average sales prices more than $100,000 higher than Haywood’s, including Buncombe ($694,958), Henderson ($524,859) and Madison ($577,775). Farther west, Jackson County’s average sales price for May was $632,764.
Comments made by Haywood County Community and Economic Development Director David Francis during the July 15 Board of Commissioners meeting indicate that 52% of Haywood County renters are costburdened, defined as paying more than 30% of gross income on housing costs. A further 20% are what’s called “extremely cost burdened,” defined as paying more than 50% of
Mountain Housing Opportunities on five acres off Howell Mill Road and called Balsam Edge.
Once complete in the fourth quarter of 2026, the development will contain 84 units, 100% of which will be set aside for individuals making less than 80% of the area median income, defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as $46,200 for an individual and $66,000 for a family of four.
Of the 84 units, 14% will be set aside for individuals with physical impairments and 2% will be equipped to accommodate individuals with sight or hearing impairments. Onebedroom units will be around 660 square feet, with two-bedroom units at 1,000 square feet and three-bedroom units 1,250 square feet.
The total cost of the development is projected to be $21.5 million. MHO will be responsible for acquiring the balance of the project cost, but will utilize tax credits and other funding sources to bridge the gap.
The smaller funding recommendation, just under $2.5 million, went to a single-family development by local social services agency
Nantahala Health Foundation launches grant cycle to benefit youth
Nantahala Health Foundation will launch its next competitive grant opportunity on July 1 with a focus on investing in educational, healthcare and workforce programs that benefit youth and young adults, ages 5 to 24.
Among the things some children and young adults need to thrive are a sense of belonging and community, healthy relationships that surround and support them, access to quality healthcare and schools, and, as they move into adulthood, job opportunities that ensure they can provide for themselves and their families later in life.
Since 2019, the foundation has been working to improve
Haywood County children, youth need loving foster homes
The COVID pandemic may seem like ancient history to most western North Carolinians, but foster children in Haywood County are still feeling its ripple effects. Due to abuse, neglect or other adverse circumstances, they need stable and supportive temporary homes and there are not enough foster homes.
“At last count, we have over 130 children in foster care in
health and well-being for everyone, said Executive Director Lori Bailey. This year’s focus on children and young adults marks a modest shift in the foundation’s priorities to create measurable change for good.
The foundation’s grantmaking work has invested nearly $3.5 million into regional programs over the last five years and mobilized more than $15 million for enhanced health outcomes. This latest grant cycle, which opens online July 1, is anticipated to invest up to $300,000 in additional grant dollars into the region. Award announcements are expected in December.
Though not required to apply, agency representatives are
Haywood County, but because of a shortage of licensed foster homes, fewer than 30 of them are currently living here,” said Jennifer Armellini, regional foster care manager for Lutheran Services Carolinas (LSC), a Salisbury-based nonprofit.
LSC provides a wide range of foster care programs in western North Carolina. It recruits foster parents for typical children and youth, as well as for those who need special care due to emotional, behavioral, medical and/or other needs. Foster children range in age from birth to young adulthood, and foster parents from all walks of life are welcome.
23 units. Dogwood Health Trust made a grant for the land acquisition back in 2021, and has also committed to paying for phases one and two of the environmental reports required by HUD.
Counselors at Mountain Projects will help prospective first-time home buyers understand the responsibilities of home ownership and carrying a mortgage. Some may even contribute “sweat equity” to the building of the home, which can be counted towards a down payment.
“That whole process is baked into this program,” said Francis.
Commission Chairman Kevin Ensley’s wife used to work for Mountain Projects, so he said he knows a lot more than most people about the agency’s operations.
“The self-help housing is kind of like Habitat for Humanity,” Ensley said. “They do build sweat equity. Mountain Projects, that program builds more homes than Habitat does, by a lot, in Haywood County.”
Ensley said he knows several people who have been able to get into homes because of such programs.
invited to attend an in-person presentation to learn more about the foundation’s funding priority and application details, including how and when to apply, what criteria will be reviewed, and what outcomes the foundation expects. Sessions are planned for early July in Franklin and Murphy. Registration is requested so that adequate space can be reserved for each session. Visit NantahalaHealthFoundation.org/grantmaking or call 828.634.1527 to register.
NHF is asking for public support to amplify its efforts. Fundraising for this effort has begun, with a year-end goal of $50,000 coming from individuals and business leaders who share the foundation’s values and want to be a part of improving the lives of our youngest citizens.
LSC also offers a Transitional Living Program for youth ages 15 to 21 who will soon age out of the foster care system. They are placed in licensed homes and receive personalized coaching to build independence skills.
LSC’s local foster care programs are funded in part by Dogwood Health Trust, an Asheville-based private foundation focused on improving the health and well-being of western North Carolinians. To learn more about becoming a foster parent, please contact Whitney Burton at wburton@lscarolinas.net or 828.283.0126.
Canton mill parcel rezoned
BY C ORY VAILLANCOURT
P OLITICS E DITOR
Arezoning of the former paper mill parcel in Canton has replaced an expiring industrial development moratorium, maintaining the town’s limited control of the site despite the possibility of an impending sale to a developer with unknown intentions.
“The citizens of this town and county must have a say in what is the best output down there,” said Zeb Smathers, Canton’s mayor, during a July 11 meeting.
Formerly, the site was zoned as heavy industrial, which, generally speaking, had allowed for uses such as manufacturing and warehousing.
Permitted uses in the town’s zoning ordinance for heavy industrial districts include automobile wrecking yards; brick, tile and plastics manufacturing; large events like circuses and fairs; iron and steel foundries; hatcheries; industrial machinery repair; tool manufacturing; meatpacking and chicken processing; and the storage of gasoline or other bulk gases, flammable or not.
The heavy industrial classification also allows all uses permitted in light industrial districts, which includes automobile sales service, parking, storing and washing establishments; bakeries; banks; bottling plants; textile manufacturing and a host of other, lower-impact industries along with mobile home parks and single or multi-family residential dwellings.
On July 1, Canton’s planning board unanimously recommended the rezoning to the town’s governing board for approval, finding that the proposed rezoning is consistent with the goals of the town’s land use plan — specifically, “to conserve flood-prone lands and support strategic development/redevelopment decisions to mitigate flood events” and to “achieve higher development standards through regulation and infrastructure investments,” per the staff report.
“With the closing of the paper mill, the property will certainly be viewed by investors for new developments,” the report reads. “Given the current Heavy Industrial zoning designation, permitted developments could be highly impactful, even disruptive, uses.”
Canton’s Board of Aldermen/women unanimously approved the recommendation on July 11.
Now, half of the 185-acre site east of the Pigeon River is designated as general business, which allows for an array of retail and commercial uses along with single or multi-family dwellings under certain circumstances.
The other half of the parcel, west of the Pigeon River, is classified as light industrial, allowing all of the lower-impact manufacturing uses permitted in the zoning ordinance but none of the higher-impact uses permitted under its previous heavy industrial classification.
Canton’s Planning Director Byron Hickox told the governing board that the rezoning would also effectively prohibit cryptocurrency mining — a highly disruptive use that generated embarrassing national headlines for Cherokee County in 2022, when county officials were caught flat-footed after a crypto mining company located there.
“As a zoning and land use practice, generally what differentiates light and medium industrial from heavy industrial is things like energy consumption, water output, pollutant output, discharges, water usage, things like that,” Hickox said. “A layman’s definition is if you drove by the building, you might not have any idea what goes on in there. You’re not going to see a giant spike in water usage, electrical interference noise. You’re certainly not going to see smokestacks.”
On March 6, 2023, the 115-year-old paper mill’s owner, Pactiv Evergreen, shocked the region by telling employees that the mill would close in less than three months, throwing roughly 1,000 people out of work and creating an economic ripple effect that reverberated through supporting industries and local businesses, all the way down to mom-and-pop
retail and dining establishments.
Smathers and other officials from the town, county and state were given no advance notification whatsoever by Pactiv, which created a health care coverage crisis for soonto-be unemployed workers and left local nonprofit and educational institutions scrambling to support them.
A few months later, on July 13, 2023, Canton imposed a moratorium on all development approvals within light industrial and heavy industrial districts. The move was seen as a way for the town to claim a seat at the negotiating table, as Pactiv hadn’t included the town in development discussions and local leaders including Smathers didn’t trust Pactiv to look out for the town’s best interests after the shameful manner in which the $6 billion multinational corporation chose to exit the community.
“What this does in a specific sense is basically say to [Pactiv] and to any developer or anyone involved with Evergreen that the Town of Canton and her citizens are going to be part of this conversation,” Smathers said at the time.
ment.
Smathers said he’s been pleased with his interactions with the company thus far.
“I can commend Spirtas,” he said. “I told someone, I’ve had more interactions with Eric Spirtas — the CEO of this company who is in a due diligence period — in the last month than in my entire life with anyone representing Pactiv Evergreen, period.”
Smathers said he hadn’t consulted Spirtas on the specifics of the rezoning, but as it was town-initiated, it could be changed at any time by request of the property owner if the request aligns with the town’s land use policies and after approval from the planning board and the governing board.
“This allows us to send a signal across the region that we still have plenty of buildings in our downtown, and businesses — some open, some vacant,” Smathers said. “We have [Interstate] 40, we’ve got the corridor up Radio Hill. People need to understand Haywood County and Canton are open for business. There was a time and place for hurt, and it’s still tough, but this is not a permanency … If you want to bring your job from anywhere — your restaurant, your commercial business, your manufacturing — we want you in
This past May, St. Louis-based Spirtas Worldwide, a management consulting firm, submitted a letter of intent to purchase the parcel from Pactiv. The deal’s not yet final, as Spirtas remains in the midst of a due diligence period.
It remains unclear what Spirtas will do with the parcel if the deal does indeed go through; the company has a long history of major projects like the mill parcel and can serve as an à la carte contractor handling specific tasks like demolition and remediation, or can be a turnkey developer all the way up to construction, tenant acquisition and property manage-
Reached by phone on July 14, Spirtas said his company is “in the meat” of the diligence period right now and explained that while zoning is often reactive — in response to a request or a specific project — in this case, it’s proactive.
“Canton has to be responsible for Canton and take the right steps to protect its interests,” he said. “Canton is zoning in the direction they want to go.”
If the deal between Pactiv and his company is executed, Spirtas said anything he would bring to Canton’s governing board would be logical and worthwhile.
New zoning classifications have changed permitted uses on the 185-acre mill parcel in Canton. Town of Canton photo
Pactiv sells Waynesville plant, Pine Bluff facility for $110 million
Pactiv Evergreen, owner of the nowshuttered paper mill in Canton, announced last week that it had agreed to sell its Pine Bluff, Arkansas paper mill and an extrusion facility off Howell Mill Road in Waynesville to a South American company for $110 million during the fourth quarter of 2024, if traditional closing conditions are met and foreign antitrust regulators approve.
The largest pulp manufacturer in the world, Suzano is valued at roughly $15 billion. The company supplies pulp to other manufacturers but also makes its own line of hygiene products, including paper towels, napkins, diapers, wipes and, under license from Kimberly Clark Corporation, Kleenex brand tissues.
Seemingly keen to expand in the North American market, Suzano announced in
Throughout the process of closing the Canton paper mill, which finally took place last June, Pactiv maintained that it was conducting a companywide strategic alternatives review, specifically exploring options for the Waynesville and Pine Bluff facilities in the wake of the Canton shutdown. The sale agreement concludes that process, according to a press release issued by Pactiv July 12.
“This transaction is consistent with our disciplined focus on value creation, and we expect it to reduce the capital intensity of our business, improve our cash flow profile and further strengthen our balance sheet,” said Michael King, Pactiv’s president and CEO.
The Pine Bluff paper mill produces liquid packaging board and cup stock for food and beverage packaging. The Waynesville facility provides extrusion capacity for Pine Bluff’s liquid packaging board.
Brazilian paper company Suzano, the prospective buyer, has agreed with Pactiv to supply both the board and the extrusion capacity to Pactiv after the deal is complete. Pactiv said Suzano has also offered to keep Pine Bluff and Waynesville workers employed.
early May it would make a $15 billion play for Memphis-based International Paper, however unnamed sources cited by Reuters said that was likely to be rejected as insufficient. Weeks later, it was.
Suzano was also rumored to be in the mix of potential buyers for the Canton mill before St. Louis-based Spirtas Worldwide inked a letter of intent with Pactiv, but that deal hasn’t gone down yet.
According to a July 12 release by BusinessWire, Suzano’s Executive Vice President of Paper and Packaging Fabio Almeida, the transaction was in line with the company’s overall strategy.
“We are entering the North American market as a competitive producer of paperboard, taking on quality assets that are strategically well-located from an operational and logistical perspective, and opening new opportunities for growth,” Almeida said. “As a business with 100 years of history behind us, we see this deal as an investment into our future and we look forward to building a long-lasting and positive relationship with the teams at Pine Bluff and Waynesville, as well as the local communities around both facilities.”
— Cory Vaillancourt, Politics Editor
Pactiv’s Waynesville facility will soon be under new management, if the deal goes through.
Cory Vaillancourt photo
Whose future? Consultant report ignores Haywood’s working class
BY C ORY VAILLANCOURT P OLITICS E DITOR
Consultants finally delivered to Haywood County commissioners a report on the results of a secretive, long-awaited “listening post exercise” meant to chart Haywood County’s economic development vision — revealing in the process that there was no input from average working-class residents, an omission that may prompt some to question the applicability of the report’s findings despite the project’s tagline of “stronger
“leaders and stakeholders” were not part of it.
Public sector interviews were conducted with elected officials, nonprofit leaders and workforce/education experts along with environmental, law enforcement, planning and health care administrators.
Private sector interviews were conducted with people involved in the management of banking and finance, construction and engineering, hospitality, manufacturing, utilities and media outlets including The Smoky Mountain News.
Fripp said the interviews took about an hour each and generated more than 400 pages of transcripts.
The original discussion of the project in February also mentioned a third group, “community/other.” However SRV’s July 15 report
Tourism growth was also recognized as a strong economic driver for the region. Most of the “stakeholders” interviewed, however, likely directly benefit from tourism; however, any comments from workers in the hospitality and seasonal tourism industries who generally experience long hours, low wages and lack of benefits were not reported.
David Lilly, a Sylva-based growth and development advisor who also worked on the exercise, highlighted areas of concern from the report.
Public transportation is nearly nonexistent. Aging infrastructure impedes economic development potential, which is already stymied by a lack of developable land and the same real estate market pressures that make housing affordability a struggle for workers. Retirees are tipping the balance of local demographics and also having an impact on housing market dynamics.
Per Canopy MLS, the average sales price of a Haywood County home in May was
When first contacted about the project in May, CEO of lead consultant Shining Rock Ventures Jesse Fripp canceled a scheduled meeting with The Smoky Mountain News and subsequently refused to answer any questions about the exercise.
The exercise consisted of 39 interviews conducted by SRV — by invitation only — with people described as “leaders and stakeholders” in the community, including 22 in the public sector and 17 from the private sector.
“There was a real sense of people leaning into the future and being focused on finding a workable path,” Fripp told commissioners during a July 15 presentation. The names of those
SRV did participate in two “Issues and Eggs” feedback sessions, which are hosted at Lake Junaluska by the Haywood Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development, but no interviews or free and open meetings accessible to the general public were conducted as part of the exercise.
The report said interview participants expressed high levels of satisfaction with community engagement in specific successful projects as well as with local environmental conservation efforts and sustainability initiatives. Positive consensus was reached on the results of rural broadband expansion and the community’s collaboration during crises.
“That creates some challenges with younger citizens looking for housing or looking for cost-effective living in the region,” Lilly said, echoing headlines from
One noteworthy finding in the report is what Fripp described as a degree of enthusiasm around the possible introduction of countywide zoning — a hot-button topic for decades — as part of a master planning process that could better balance the needs of the county’s residents with the needs of the county’s so-called “leaders and stake-
“We talked a little bit about the zoning question — again, not a theme that there was a lot of enthusiasm around, probably no surprise — but an interesting openness to exploring how a master planning exercise could put a roadmap around a common vision towards how we would like to see the county move forward and protect and preserve its natural assets and commu-
According to a Feb. 19 presentation to commissioners about the exercise, a draft report and a final report was due in midApril, and the final report was to be made
A copy of the final results of the “listening post” exercise was not posted along with the meeting’s agenda on July 12, limiting the public’s ability to learn who was interviewed for the exercise and review specific findings before the July 15 meeting; however, the full presentation by Fripp and Lilly is available on the county’s YouTube channel.
Outgoing Community and Economic Development Director David Francis, who will soon transition into the role of executive director at the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce, said back in February that the plan was not intended as policy and emphasized that it was merely advisory in nature.
No taxpayer money was utilized to pay for the $56,000 study, which was funded by a $50,000 grant from the Dogwood Health Trust and $6,338 from the Chamber.
“listening post” exercise to Haywood County commissioners on July 15. Haywood County photo
Canton meeting focuses on accountability, transparency
BY C ORY VAILLANCOURT P OLITICS E DITOR
With the eyes of the state, the region and the county on the Town of Canton — flood recovery is approaching its third year and the sting of losing a major employer last June is still fresh — Canton’s governing board took the opportunity to reiterate its core missions of transparency and accountability during a special called meeting on the morning of July 16.
“We have public trust, as the board, and that’s what gives us our legitimacy,” said Alderman Ralph Hamlett. “When we say things as a board, our reputation is on the line. It’s reported in the press. If we lose that legitimacy, then we can’t operate as a board.”
$50,000 in revenue from the town’s tax return. Those inflows will eventually be used to reimburse fund balance, keeping the project out of taxpayer’s wallets.
“We’re elected by the people to make these types of decisions and be transparent and to be focused and be vigilant,” Alderwoman Kristina Proctor said. “This is an example of [why] we need to continue that. This is important for us, for transparency, for our citizens to trust us, but also for the resiliency of Canton, and this is a very important project, like Mayor Smathers said. Transitions, as we’re going through right now in the town of Canton, are notoriously difficult, especially for us. That doesn’t mean we can drop the ball.”
Completing the playground has been a priority for the town’s elected leaders;
Canton’s town government and administration have faced incredible challenges over the past three years. Cory Vaillancourt photo
The action comes after town staff, stretched to its limits and still operating out of a temporary modular structure on Ison Street after town hall was destroyed by flooding in 2021, presented the board with a budget amendment to temporarily fund the completion of the highly anticipated all-abilities playground.
Previously, the playground was thought to be fully funded by grants and private donations, however, Canton CFO Natalie Walker said she was recently made aware of $161,874 in additional expenses that hadn’t been included in her budgeting of the $800,000 project.
The budget amendment, passed for the current fiscal year, transfers $120,000 in fund balance to the general fund so crucial deadlines for ordering materials and services aren’t missed.
Walker said the town anticipates a $150,000 unmet needs grant from the North Carolina Department of Emergency Management as well as approximately
Waynesville is currently home to the only allabilities playground in the area, and Smathers has been eager to demonstrate progress as the town recovers from the twin tragedies of the past three years.
Another management miscue took place on July 11, when several items that weren’t listed on the town’s agenda for the meeting were heard at the end of the meeting, to the surprise of some.
Although legal and relatively pedestrian — approval of a Community Development Block Grant and the approval of an application for engineering approval of phase two of water treatment plant upgrades — failing to produce a comprehensive, updated agenda prior to a governing board meeting is considered poor form and could lead to unfounded allegations of secrecy.
“I’m going to say this as mayor,” Smathers said. “The process of approving public funding and grants will not happen unless it is published on the agenda when it goes to the public. That is not how we do business.”
Macon tables floodplain ordinance decision
BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF W RITER
After an outpouring of opposition from members of the public over the course of several county commission meetings, Macon County Commissioners chose to table a vote on the flood damage prevention, soil erosion and sedimentation control and water supply watershed protection ordinances for meetings over the next several months.
“This board here wants to hear from you,” said Chairman Gary Shields. “But also, I want to hear from you again as single groups.”
Commissioners held public hearings on all three ordinances at their July 9 meeting. However, prior to the start of the public hearings, Shields announced that following the hearings he would ask for motions to table the ordinances for later dates.
“Three different ordinances — I’m not sure my brain can stack all that together in one night,” Shields said. “So I’m going to ask, and [commissioners] have to approve this too, when we get down to having to make a motion of what we’re going to do, I’m going to ask that the motion be made so that we table it.”
Shields presented a plan in which the board would take up one of three ordinances at each meeting throughout August, September and October. Commissioner Josh Young, who originally introduced the proposed changes to the board, also spoke in support of Shields’ plan prior to the start of the public hearings.
“I agree with what Mr. Shields just said,” Young told the board and the public. “I think we should table the floodplain [ordinance] and have more community discussion. I have no issue with that, and actually I encourage that, and I do say thank you for the emails, and thank you for your time.”
Back in March, at the behest of members of the public who came to commissioners with complaints about a few aspects of the three ordinances, commissioners directed the planning board to review them as they are currently written. The planning board came up with some recommended changes and put the ordinances, as well as the decision to revise them or keep them as they are, back in the hands of the county commission.
“These are not things that I pulled out of thin air,” Young said during a May meeting of the county commission. “These are real issues that people in the public, people in the community have come to me about over the years.”
The first of the recommended changes the county is considering involves the soil erosion and sedimentation control ordinance. The state requires county ordinances to stipulate plans for soil and erosion control on any project that disturbs one acre of land or more. Macon County’s current ordinance is stricter, requiring such plans and restrictions for land disturbances of half an acre or more.
The second proposed change would remove the clause
Rivers
Members of the public opposed to amending the ordinances have been outspoken during public meetings since the planning board took up the issue this spring. The July 9 meeting saw the most input from the public yet with commissioners having to move their meeting to the upper courtroom in order to accommodate the crowd of over 100 people. Despite the plan to table the ordinances, the commission still held public hearings on all three issues and listened to over two hours’ worth of public comment, all of which came from those opposed to any changes to the ordinances.
Prior to public comment during the July 9 meeting County Manager Derek Roland announced that County Planner Caleb Gibson was being appointed the floodplain and watershed administrator.
“If there’s ever been a better example of baptism by fire, I don’t know of it,” said Roland before asking Gibson to
review the recommended changes for the commission as well as the public. “He’s doing a great job, and we appreciate his willingness to step up and you will see shortly he is a quick study and we’re pleased to have him here for us tonight.”
Gibson has been in the planning department for over a year now and is moving into the role of floodplain administrator following the resignation of the Director of Planning and Code Enforcement Joe Allen.
Eight people spoke out against changes to the soil erosion and sedimentation control ordinance, after which Shields made a motion to table the ordinance until the board’s August meeting. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Danny Antoine and passed 3-2 with Commissioners Young and John Shearl voting against.
Seven people spoke against changes to the water supply watershed protection ordinance.
“This is a variance that allows commercial-type properties to request and be granted more allowable impervious service area up to 70%,” said Gibson. “Like I said this is normally for businesses, and this I guess would be a business if
According to Gibson, the watershed in Highlands allows for 12% impervious service and around Cartoogechaye allows
Shields made a motion to table the discussion of recommended changes to the watershed ordinance until the board’s September meeting. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Antoine and passed by a 3-2 margin with Young and Shearl dissenting.
Nineteen people spoke during the public hearing against changes to the flood damage prevention ordinance including aquatic biologist Bill McLarney, Executive Director of Mainspring Conservation Trust Jordan Smith, current Vice Chairman of the Macon County Planning Board Lee Walters, Western Regional Director of Mountain True Callie Moore, Macon County Farm Bureau Board of Directors representative Kevin McCaskill, previous Planning Board Chairman and contractor Lewis Penland and co-owner of Alarka Expeditions Angela Faye-Martin.
Following the last public hearing Commissioner Antoine said he was ready to leave the ordinances as they are currently written without making any changes.
“My personal thoughts on this are pretty simple,” said Antoine. “After hearing you all and learning so much from you all, and I do believe I’ve learned a lot from hearing what everyone has said tonight, I’m currently for keeping these ordinances as they are with no changes. And I personally wish we could have just voted on this tonight to move forward.”
Shields made a motion to table the discussion on the flood damage prevention ordinance until the board’s October meeting. Young seconded the motion and all commissioners voted in favor.
in Western North Carolina, although normally peaceful, are prone to flash flooding. Hannah McLeod photo
Census bureau to conduct 2026 field test in Cherokee
BY KYLE P ERROTTI
N EWS E DITOR
In 2026, the United States Census Bureau is conducting three field tests in “American Indian Areas” to prepare for unique challenges presented in those areas ahead of the 2030 census. Last week, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Council voted to approve the field test.
“Due to unique challenges surrounding data collection in American Indian Areas, the Census Bureau is particularly focused on improving engagement and outreach practices with tribal nations to increase participation,” the approved resolution reads.
Three representatives from the Census Bureau were present to discuss what people can expect from the field test. They were introduced by EBCI Public Health and Human Services Director Anita Lossiah, who headed up a recent EBCI internal census project. Lossiah told council that she was happy with the results of that effort.
“The online and electronic participation was higher than the state and national average so we’re very proud of that,” Lossiah said.
Unlike the U.S. Census, which is mailed to individual homes in addition to being accessible online, the EBCI Census was administered solely online. In a Smoky Mountain News story published last year, Lossiah said her team was not doing any door-to-door outreach to connect people with resources to complete the census but has been working to get the message out on multiple channels.
The results of the tribe’s census will be used to deter-
The 2026 field test will look to those living on the Qualla Boundary and other EBCI lands like a traditional census.
File photo
mine the weighted votes for council members based on the populations of the communities represented. Voting outcomes on the 12-person Tribal Council are calculated using a weighted voting system, with the value of each
member’s vote ranging from six to 12, depending on the population of the community they represent.
Along with complying with tribal law and determining the weighted vote, the census also collected a wide array of data, including members’ housing situations, health, personal priorities and even Cherokee language proficiency.
“I think that might be one of the reasons they’re interested in us is because we’ve been active in doing our own census,” Lossiah said last week.
Daniel P. Doyle from the Census Bureau noted that the 2026 field test will look to those living on the Qualla Boundary and other EBCI lands like a “traditional census.”
“We will send enumerators and field staff out and they’ll be knocking on doors,” he said, adding that completion of the census can be done using a paper form or online. “We will offer multiple modes of participation.”
Principal Chief Michell Hicks asked what benefits the tribe may see from its participation in the field test. The trio explained that helping the census bureau hone its practices helps all federally recognized tribes in the long run.
“An accurate count helps with funding for the tribes… so getting an accurate count is important,” said one of the Census Bureau representatives who identified herself as a Tribal Relations Specialist and member of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. “We apply for different grants through tribal nations, whether through HUD or other agencies, and they use whatever data when it comes to funding and handing out grants. We’ll see what works in Indian country before 2030.”
Test sites will be announced July 22.
Commission on Future of NC elections presents findings on election administration
The more than 60 members of the Commission represent the geographic, racial, age, ideological and gender diversity of the state, with individuals from various sectors, including the business, legal and academic communities.
Leaders from around the state recently found North Carolina Elections to be fair and secure with opportunities for increased funding, safety measures and improved civic education.
Last Monday, the Commission on the Future of NC Elections convened its second all-commission meeting at Catawba College to present findings on the safety and security of the North Carolina election system and make recommendations for improvements. The findings showed North Carolina elections are currently administered securely and professionally, with slight improvements recommended, a finding that is especially relevant at a moment where 29% of likely voters in North Carolina lack trust in the elections system.
“We know that we have a growing state, and election laws have changed, districts have changed, and the number of people voting has changed since 2020. This Commission is a way to increase public awareness about how things work in NC for both newcomers and long-time residents” said Bob Orr, co-Chair for the NC Network for Fair, Safe and Secure Elections.
11 cross-partisan committees composed of scholars, business leaders and community members, each diligently examined a topic — from voter access and registration to ballot security and cyber security — to identify strengths and potential weaknesses of aspects of the electoral process. The more than 60 members of the Commission — which includes numerous people from Western North Carolina — represent the geographic, racial, age, ideological and gender diversity of the state, with individuals from various sectors, including the business, legal and academic communities.
“I am grateful for the hard work of the various committees in researching the North Carolina election system, best practices and voter perceptions. This cross-partisan group showed that we have a lot of agreement on election security in North Carolina, although there are always areas for improvement,” noted Jennifer Roberts, co-Chair for the NC Network for Fair, Safe
and Secure Elections.
Additional findings from the Commissions included:
Ballot integrity and vote counting is highly secured: North Carolina has a very strong ballot integrity process that the public should be made aware of. This includes paper backup for every single vote, a strict ballot machine certification process and laws against any electronic ballot marking device connecting to the internet. Public awareness initiatives have been suggested to increase public trust.
Increased need for resources and safety precautions for election workers: An increase in public spending on elections will increase participation. Public awareness of this issue could lead to responsive county and state budgets to better equip elections staff for their high volume of work, especially during election season. De-escalation training, public education, salary increases and increased security might be considered.
Allegations of fraud are miniscule: The NC State board website shows all the cases of alleged fraud between the years of 2015 to 2022 found only 674, or 0.002% of all votes cast were alleged to be fraudulent. The site does not show whether the allegations were found to be true. Public awareness initiatives can highlight the negligible fraud in North Carolina elections and the redundant systems that catch fraud or human errors that occur.
• There is a need for improved voter access: Polling shows a need for better access across the board for groups of voters, including disabled voters, English as a second language citizens and college students, that limit their ability to exercise their right to vote. Improved guidelines that can be used consistently across counties can ensure accessibility across the state.
• Information on ballots cast is publicly searchable, increasing transparency: The North Carolina election system tracks and records online whether a person has cast a ballot or not (though their ballot choices remain secret). Alerting the public to transparency measures that show whether a
voter has cast a ballot can help to allay concerns of voter fraud.
• There has been a rise in unaffiliated candidates and voters: Unaffiliated voters in NC are growing faster than any other party or registration. However, unaffiliated candidates face steep challenges to be placed on a partisan ballot. Changes to the rule stating that unaffiliated voters cannot serve on Boards of Election might also be considered.
• Some topics will require further exploration. Committees identified areas for further investigation that may get more study and conclusions in the fall. These areas include:
• Voter ID: The process and consistency of application of voter ID requirements is not as straightforward and uniform as it could be.
• Redistricting: The redistricting process has challenges, but a path to an independent commission remains to be identified.
• Contested elections: There is concern among committee members that if the outcome for “any elected office” is contested, the NCGA can decide it under Article VI of the NC Constitution and NCGS 163182.13A.
• Ranked Choice Voting: Some committees worried about the expense and turnout of second primaries. RCV was discussed but a conclusion has not yet been reached.
As part of its commitment to public education the Commission is hosting a series of hearings in 26 cities across the state over the next three months. These Trusted Elections town halls, free and open to the public, will address common “election myths” through expert testimonies and provide an accurate understanding of election administration and integrity in North Carolina.
A draft report of findings is available online at gmmb.app.box.com/s/se1w860x30z0o9j3d xuty9ewksexxt43. The Committee will publish a final, comprehensive report of its findings and proposed reforms in January 2025, as more learnings may arise from the 2024 election cycle.
Stock illustration
SMOKY MOUNTAIN
Alzheimer walk welcomes WNC participants
On Saturday, Oct. 5, WNC residents will join the fight against Alzheimer’s disease at the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s — the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research.
Presented by Deerfield Charitable Foundation, the Alzheimer’s AssociationWestern Carolina Chapter will be hosting Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Asheville at Carrier Park located at 220 Amboy Road in Asheville. Check-in opens at 9 a.m. with an Opening Ceremony at 10 a.m. and a Walk Start at 10:30 a.m.
Participants can honor those affected by Alzheimer’s with the poignant Promise Garden ceremony — a missionfocused experience that signifies our solidarity in the fight against the disease. During the ceremony, walkers will carry flowers of various colors, each color representing their personal connection to the disease.
The Walk to End Alzheimer’s won’t be held until October, but participants are encouraged to register ahead of time. Donated photo
To register as a participant or team captain or to learn more about becoming a sponsor or volunteer of Walk to End Alzheimer’s, visit act.alz.org/Asheville or call 800.272.3900.
Revitalized Cashiers greenway reopens
At 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 24, there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce to open phase one of the Cashiers Greenway Ramble. The entire community is invited to the ribbon cutting to witness a significant piece of Cashiers’ history in the making.
The Cashiers Greenway Ramble will connect residents and visitors to the heart of our community, promoting a more walkable and vibrant environment.
According to a 2019 study by the Urban Land Institute, walkability and connectivity are crucial for preserving Cashiers’ unique character and charm. This initiative will address the village’s growth, ensuring that the essence of Cashiers is maintained. Ashton Harris, President of the Chamber of Commerce Board said, “Cashiers is growing, and change is inevitable. Walk Cashiers is exactly what we need to preserve and protect what we love about being here – trails and sidewalks will allow people to walk everywhere, parks will provide natural areas. It will also support our small businesses.”
Phase One, a one-mile stretch beginning and ending at the Chamber of Commerce, is now open. The new Thomas Taulbee Memorial Entrance is named in honor of the Chamber’s late executive director. Local businesses were involved in the design, landscaping and construction. This initial
section previews the full 5-mile network, showing the transformative potential the initiative has for improving our quality of life, preserving natural beauty and offering opportunities for meaningful connection.
Canton hosts National Night Out
Come out to Sorrells Street Park in downtown Canton from 5-8 p.m. on Aug. 6 to build relationships with the law enforcement officers who keep our communities safe.
According to a flyer promoting the event, National Night Out is also an opportunity to “bring back a sense of community.”
Waynesville church hosts exhibit of The Saint John’s Bible Prints
Waynesville’s Grace Church in the Mountains will host an exhibit featuring 20 gallery-sized prints from The Saint John’s Bible, the first handwritten and illuminated Bible since the invention of the printing press. The exhibit will be open to the public from Aug. 11–Sept. 22.
The Saint John’s Bible is a modern masterpiece that combines ancient techniques of illumination
Award Finalist in 2022, she has been published in Connecticut Review, New Plains Review, Heimat Review and other journals and is finishing a fulllength poetry collection about a journey to Egypt. Calby says she enjoys fried chicken and biscuits a bit too much and strenuous hikes not enough.
Karen Luke Jackson's stories, essays and poems have appeared in numerous journals including the Atlanta Review, Susurrus, Reckon Review, Braided Way and Nobody’s Home. She has also authored three poetry collections. A member of the North Carolina Writers’ Network and the North Carolina Poetry Society, Jackson draws inspiration from contemplative practices, clowning, family lore and the goats grazing beside her cottage in Flat Rock.
The Literary Hour is free and open to everyone. It is offered every third Thursday of the month through November and brings local writers to the campus to share their work with the community. Students and faculty of the school are welcome to attend the readings.
Macon County hosts community shred event
From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. On Monday, July 29, there will be a community shred day event at town hall in Franklin. This is sponsored by Civic and Local Government Credit Unions.
Museum hosts brick fundraiser
and calligraphy with contemporary themes and technology. Its intricate illustrations and exquisite craftsmanship have captured the awe and admiration of viewers worldwide. This exhibit offers an exceptional opportunity to experience these masterpieces up close. Commissioned by Saint John’s Abbey and University, this hand-written and illuminated Bible aims to ignite the spiritual imagination of people across the globe.
In addition to the prints, Grace Church in the Mountains will have on loan a copy of the Gospels and Acts from The Saint John’s Bible, which will be used for liturgical purposes throughout the exhibition period.
For more information and exhibit hours, please visit gracewaynesville.com or contact Grace Church in the Mountains, 394 N. Haywood St. at 828.456.6029 or admin@gracewaynesville.com.
Local writers to read at folk school
The next Literary Hour at the John C. Campbell Folk School will feature two talented North Carolina writers Kathleen Calby and Karen Luke Jackson. The Literary Hour, sponsored by the North Carolina Writers’ Network-West, meets on campus in the Keith House at 7 p.m., Thursday, July 18.
Poet Kathleen Calby lives in Hendersonville and hosts biweekly events for the North Carolina Writers Network. Kelsay Books published her chapbook “Flirting with Owls” in 2023. A Rash Poetry
The Haywood County Historical & Genealogical Society is seeking support to raise funds for repairs of The Museum of Haywood County History at The Shook Smathers House by hosting a brick fundraiser.
The Society is a volunteer-run nonprofit organization that operates the museum in the circa 1795 historic house built by Jacob Shook. The Museum has multiple rooms representing various aspects of county life including a military room, a pioneer women’s room, an industrial room and a communities room which highlights the many rural communities in Haywood County. Many of the artifacts date back to the early 1800s and the third floor features a chapel that was used for worship during that period.
Two sizes of bricks are offered: a 4”x8” ( $100) and an 8”x8” ($225). They may be purchased through the Society’s at nchchgs.org/brick-fundraiser.
Bricks can be engraved with a business, family or association’s name, in memory of a loved one or to honor someone special. The bricks will be used to repave the existing entrance walkway to the Museum.
The Museum is located at 178 Morgan St. in Clyde and is open for tours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Advance arrangements can be made to schedule a tour on a different day by calling 828.564.1044. Brochures for the brick fundraiser may also be picked up at the Museum if online purchasing is not a preference.
Tax-deductible donations can be made by mailing a check payable to HCHGS and mailed to P.O. Box 444, Waynesville, NC, 28786.
The problem of childhood hunger can be fixed
BY MARY B ETH C OCHRAN G UEST C OLUMNIST
Arecent town hall in Cullowhee laid out a heartbreaking problem in our public schools, as well as a sensible solution. The problem is hunger. The solution is to provide free meals to all students in our public schools. But, how do we get there?
One in six of our children goes hungry every day. In rural communities, this number can be as high as one in three. As one can imagine, hungry kids cannot learn. They go to school to train for a successful life, and yet many students across our state find themselves distracted by the gnawing in their empty stomachs. Their ability to pay attention and focus on assignments lags, and they often become irritable. All the while, many are ashamed to ask for help.
At the town hall hosted by the nonpartisan School Meals for All North Carolina coalition, school nutrition staff, educators and other advocates shared information about the impact that food insecurity has on families in Western North Carolina. We also learned about school meals issues and how additional resources like food pantries are in demand due to the need that exists in our region.
The information shared was a reminder of why I am passionate about advocating for school meals for all in North Carolina. I care deeply about the wellbeing and success of our
Democrats need to learn a lesson
To the Editor:
Millions of people tuned in to the debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump on June 27. What did we see? No one could deny that we saw a president clearly diminished cognitively. There were many who were not surprised because they had not insulated themselves in a bubble of denial spun by the likes of the mainstream media, those who had been going on about how Joe Biden was “sharp as a tack.” What we also saw was the rank dishonesty of the media. After years of downplaying any reports or videos of his decline, attacking them as partisan hits or disinformation or cheap fakes, are we to believe that they were suddenly taken by surprise as, undoubtedly, those who consumed their product were? Oh no, they knew! The Democrat Party knew. The press was their Praetorian Guard and they thought they could get away with it and drag feeble Joe across the finish line. However, they got caught, and at a very inconvenient time. It may be that they are stuck with Kamala Harris to replace him, which is poetic justice for having her as a DEI selection in the first place.
What are thinking people to do with this knowledge? Even in the best of times we should not accept “The Big Con” as a proper way of governing, but, having volatility around the globe we can even less afford to indulge those who treat us as fools. The Democrat Party has been described by David Sacks as a collection of interests whose goal is
students because I am a mother and grandmother to 18 grandchildren. My family has relied on no-cost school meals for years. When I reflect on the statistic that one in 3 three children in rural communities go hungry daily in North Carolina, I think about my 18 grandbabies. I watch them playing and imagine that six of them are struggling with not having enough to eat — trying to keep up with the others but finding it so difficult. The prisoners in our state are fed three meals a day, yet children are going hungry while they are at school. It doesn’t have to be this way.
Fortunately, there’s a clear solution to how we can change this dire situation: provide school meals to all students, at no cost to their families. The School Meals for All NC coalition is leading this charge by working with the N.C. General Assembly to end hunger in our classrooms. Thanks in part to the coalition’s efforts, state lawmakers added provisions to the state budget that prohibited schools from withholding student records or keeping students from participating in graduation due to school meal debt. It also permanently eliminated the reduced-priced lunch co-pay. This means that students who qualify for reduced price meals now permanently receive both breakfast and lunch at school at no cost to their families.
There is also public support for this solution in North Carolina. According to a poll conducted in 2023, 81% of
LETTERS
to stay in power in order to loot the republic by rewarding favored constituencies with government largesse while being protected by their lackeys in the media.
The Democrat Party is anything but and needs to be thoroughly repudiated at the polls. If Donald Trump wins, it should be accepted, unlike what happened in 2016. This is what happens in a real democracy, not “our democracy” which is code for one-party Democrat rule in perpetuity. The party needs to be destroyed in order to save it. Maybe out of the shattered remnants a sane party in opposition to the Republicans can emerge. It is not healthy for extended one-party rule due to the unfortunate corruption of human nature. Democrats, take your lumps, learn to lose gracefully, and purge the radical, hateful and mentally ill elements, and let them go their own way and get the help they need. We will all be better off for it.
Dave Parker Sylva
You
have to stand for something
To the Editor:
Do we want to be a country where opinion is more important than fact? How is it that some people proclaim that Christians are being oppressed, when there has been no instance of anyone being denied the ability to worship as they see fit? It's misinformation designed to rile people up.
If we relied on some basic knowledge
North Carolina voters are in favor of school meals for all. This is important, because there is more work to do.
Many hard-working families in Western North Carolina and around the state still do not qualify for no-cost meals. As an example, a North Carolina family of four that has an annual household income of $55,500 does not qualify for reducedprice meals. In fact, nearly 20% of children in North Carolina who don’t have enough to eat live in families that don’t qualify.
And even for those who do qualify for reduced-price meals, actually going through the necessary administrative process can be a challenge. Parents might make an error or get confused while trying to navigate the administrative ins-and-outs.
That’s why providing school meals for all, at no cost to families, is the simple solution. It removes many of the barriers that prevent students from accessing the nutrition they need to succeed. Eight states are already doing this and are seeing improved academic outcomes, better attendance and fewer disciplinary issues.
I will continue being an advocate for free school meals because I want to make sure that no child goes hungry in North Carolina. Won’t you join me?
(Mary Beth Cochran is a mom, grandma, homemaker, a “School Meals for All NC” champion and a “Mom's Rising” Fellow. She lives in Clyde.)
(facts), we would understand that a former president is not being persecuted by our current president, but is being lawfully prosecuted by ordinary citizens who found his actions to be offensive and illegal. Once again, more misinformation designed to incite.
Do we want to be a country that continues to be the beacon of knowledge, technology and human rights, or do we want to continue to whine that life’s not fair, and it’s all Biden’s (or Obama’s) fault? See the pattern?
Do we want to be a country where liberty and justice for all is a real thing, or continue to allow the wealthy and corporations to have more rights than the rest of us?
Do we want a country in which we need to choose one candidate (incumbent president), experienced and diplomatic, who speaks of ways to unite us toward positive goals, and invites discussion to work together to achieve a "more perfect union,” or another candidate (and entire party) whose campaign only consists of calling the other candidate (without evidence) old, feeble, corrupt, radical, flatulent or whatever the insult of the day happens to be?
I hear so many people trying to simplify the situation by saying that we just need to converse with each other. Sounds like a wonderful idea, but what do we talk about when one presidential candidate, and a huge chunk of one political party who worships him, wants to insist on a cognitive test for his opponent, and then can’t remember the name of his own doctor, and who rants about possibly being electrocuted by a sinking electrically powered boat, or eaten by nearby sharks? Why is it not important that the potential leader of the free world be able to speak in
coherent sentences? How do you converse with an entire political party that rejects a big step forward to solving our immigration policies, and instead uses the confusion at our southern border as a campaign issue to blame the current administration? More misinformation.
A popular Republican former Ohio Governor, John Kasich, once said "you have to stand FOR something."
Currently, there seems to be a very large portion of the electorate that stands for nothing, and has no specific policies for us to consider, but would rather claim to be victims, and blame some or all of our country's ills on the current administration, or anyone who is not straight, white, or Christian.
Please prove me wrong.
Project 2025 must be defeated
To the Editor:
Mark Ballinger Sylva
The biggest threat to American democracy that no one is talking about is waiting in the wings, ready to be rolled out as soon as a “conservative” (MAGA) Republican presidency is voted in. I am talking about the “Mandate for Leadership,” a.ka. “Project 2025,” the 900+ page brainchild of the extremist Heritage Foundation that is a blueprint for guiding Trump’s second term in office if he is reelected. If allowed to be implemented, it will transform the USA we know into a far-right authoritarian state à la Victor Orban’s Hungary. It is no less than a plan to re-make
F
This document is so long and all-encompassing as to be overwhelming. One of its main objectives is the dismantling of what it calls the “deep state.” A key goal of Project 2025 is to purge all governmental agencies of federal workers and to replace them with Trump loyalists. Trump and his supporters consider the federal workforce hostile, but really that bureaucracy houses subject-area experts, scientists and diplomats — American citizens, public servants — who carry out the work of our government’s many agencies. They predict the weather, engage in basic science, keep abreast of best practices in many fields (including education, law enforcement, health care, medical research, defense, international relations) to advise our president and legislators.
What they disparagingly call the “deep state” are the guardrails of democracy. They are mainly what saved us from Trump’s worst impulses during his term in office. Project 2025 proposes a complete overhaul of all federal agencies, replacing experienced civil servants with employees whose main qualification is loyalty to the president rather than experience or expertise.
Trump’s’ recent claim that he has “no idea who is behind” Project 2025 so as not to alarm moderates and independents is another of his endless lies. Twenty-nine of the 37 authors of Project 2025 are former members of the Trump administration. The Trump campaign is basically Project 2025, and his Make America Great Again PAC created the website TrumpProject2025.com.
Other items in Project 2025 include mass arrests and deportations of undocumented people, ending the prosecutions of far-right groups like the Proud Boys and giving additional tax breaks to large corporations and the ultra-wealthy. Trump has said that climate change is a hoax, despite the effects of climate change we see every day like excessive heat, wildfires and storms. Project 2025 calls for ending clean energy incentives and ending fossil-fuel regulations which would only worsen the effects of climate change. It also calls for the prosecution of Trump’s “enemies” and the takeover of law enforcement in blue cities and states.
If this turn toward authoritarianism alarms you as it does me, if the recent decisions of our Supreme Court limiting our freedoms and bestowing on presidents the rights of kings feel wrong to you, then start paying attention. Google Project 2025! Vote for Democrats up and down the ballot to preserve our democracy! This election is too important to sit out!
Nilofer Couture Cullowhee
Voting can change your life
To the Editor:
How can you connect at the community, regional, state and national level? At all levels, you can educate yourself on what can be done to improve your county. This leads to being familiar with individuals that comprise your government and what each office
is able to accomplish in resolving problems and planning for the future. You can seek out information on all candidates for each office including examining the incumbent record, comparing the candidates’ views with your own and voting for your preferred candidates.
Five reasons to vote:
• Your informed vote holds elected officials accountable.
• The policies/laws enacted by elected officials affect your life.
• You pay taxes that provide salaries for officials and they determine how taxes will be spent.
• Rights are not guaranteed.
• Your view on issues affecting government matters.
Individuals can also take action within government and non-profit entities. At the local level, you can assist with community cleanup, paint the playground, build ramps, volunteer with an agency or take part in other ways to improve the place where you live. Also, you can attend a meeting of the town board or county commissioners to voice your views about upcoming decisions. At the regional level, there are groups that remove invasive plant species, monitor water quality and do creek/river cleanups.
At the state level, you can participate in activities that implement state programssome of these are related to wildlife management efforts. Also, you can examine the voting record of your state representatives and contact them to voice how a particular bill may affect your interests. This can influence legislation when the bill comes up for a vote.
At the national level, you can communicate with your representatives in the legislature when a bill is important to you. There may also be opportunities to band together with others to amplify your voices to your representatives.
Take positive action this year, educate yourself on the candidates and make a plan to vote.
Susan Bogardus Cullowhee
Moderates should talk to each other
To the Editor:
There have been several interesting letters to the editor in The Sylva Herald and the Smoky Mountain News over the past few weeks. I agreed with some of their lines of thoughts and ideas; with others I did not agree. But they were all trying to express their ideas, and I will give them that. My thoughts during this period have crossed many lines, but my key focus has been our democracy. Such a wonderful institution created by our forefathers. I wonder how they would feel if they could see all the different translations of their work in America now. Some literal and some with a hard twist either too far to the right or too far to the left.
I will say it again, I think this is a great country where moderates on the left need to sit down with moderates on the right and talk. Not only talk but listen. Only then can
we get proper legislation passed to address the many problems that occur in an economy this large and a country this diverse. Talk, listen, and move forward! Tom Baker Sylva
Biden still the best candidate
To the Editor:
Donald Trump’s association with and love of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has taught him and his cohorts how to prepare mentally for a fight. Thus, his Gish gallop of negativity for faking out his opponent, getting under his skin, and making outrageous demands. This is all found in Chapter 1 of the Dictator’s Playbook. They want their opponent at a disadvantage; most debaters have a moral code and wouldn’t dare play dirty. Trump has no such scruples and regularly steps out of bounds.
That’s exactly the script that the convicted felon, rapist and treasonous Putin prodigy followed at the debate and afterwards.
The editorial board of the New York Times, insurrectionists, Leonard Leo and the Heritage Foundation joined in that plan. After Trump spewed hate for 90 minutes, they had the audacity to demand that the honest, hard-working, compassionate and vastly experienced Joe Biden quit! This caused widespread panic and outrage in Democratic voters, which the right and some on the left rejoiced over.
Most people just want to be free to live their lives and raise their families the best way they know how. They have no idea the “mindmeld” the former president and his minions are performing. Unfortunately, seeing an election like a bloodsport could cause good people to withdraw from politics altogether, out of disgust or confusion.
But, in their haste to save their candidate from prison, the Supreme Court has made a monumental miscalculation in handing down this presidential immunity ruling prematurely, so that it applies to our present leader, too.
If the justices can say that our leader is a king, it’s executive action time, Joe. Add four new pro-Democracy judges to the Extreme Court and turn it back into the Supreme Court. Their approval ratings will explode! Immune. Immune. Immune. Immune.
I will do all I can to back our statesman, Biden, and fight tooth and nail against bullies and cheaters who want to take us back to pre-civil rights days.
We don't give in. We fight. All we have to do is stand firm and have one more “NO!” in our bag of tricks than they have.
Caryl Brt Haywood County
Pride is not a virtue
To the Editor:
I have no hatred towards anyone who chooses a different lifestyle than me. The vast majority of Americans do not care about an individual's sexual preference or what books
they read. However, with the onset of gender surgeries (a.ka. mutilations) in children and biological males unfairly competing in women's sports, there is a problem.
LGBT agendas have been masked in love and inclusion, yet this doctrine accomplishes nothing but controversy. Since the shift a few years ago to pursue minors and disenfranchise women, a rabid and vocal minority within LGBT have decided to censor rational discussion. This is a direct attack on free speech and democracy. Vocabulary has been corrupted in a tomfoolery effort to appear victimized even though major corporations and federal government advertise and promote LGBT. That’s certainly not oppression or being part of a resistance. Veterans and POTUS only get one day of recognition; why is society forced into a month of Pride?
Many within the LGBT ranks (e.g. gaysagainstgroomers.com) are unhappy with the shift toward political idiocy and encouraging the transitioning of children abetted by allies and the medical bureaucracy driven by profits. Why must drag queens and libraries recruit impressionable children instead of reading to the elderly, the homeless, or the sick and needy?
When society is heading into unchartered waters, it would be wise to consider the fences that have provided stable structure to our existence as a species. Because some within LGBT have thoughtlessly torn down those fences in a belligerent attempt to validate sexual narcissism, overall support for LGBT has plummeted according to numerous independent polls. This fad movement proves that when identity is based on something as narrow sexual desire, the overall ideology is merely pronouncements of slavery to fashionable whims and not community oriented. It is revealing when the LGBT “community” encourages destructive surgeries but then abandons youthful transitioners who regret their decision.
At the current rate of in-your-face propaganda, LGBT is going to lose everything they have gained. LGBT need to clean up outliers targeting children and the inconsistencies in their circles. The whole concept of DEI pisses off most people and only furthers division which never brings differing ideas together. LGBT already have the same equal rights. Idealistic visions can quickly descend to color revolutions of totalitarian oppression as LGBT desire government to be the enforcer of their ideology on anyone who disagrees. There is no inclusivity when a tiny minority shout down others to prevent sensible discussion of the proven dangers to children.
So, let's make a deal. If we cherish freedom and tolerance — which is different from “acceptance” — then heterosexuals promise not to clamor for special recognition and Christians pledge not to demand a biblical worldview be forced upon anyone by government or collectivist bullying. In return, LGBT will stop claiming victimhood status and will cease recruiting children into this perversion. And if you are born a guy, don't go into women's restrooms or compete in women's sports. It only causes trouble. Jeff Rockwell
Folkmoot kicks off annual Summer Fest with soirée
BY MARRAH STE. MARIE
SMN I NTERN
Folkmoot kicked off its 41st Summer Fest celebration last Thursday with its Summer Soirée. Guests gathered at the Folkmoot Friendship Center to travel the world together without boarding an airplane.
Upon arrival, attendees were given a passport with a space to get a stamp from each country they “traveled” to. As attendees walked up and down the hall of the building, in each room was a different country to experience.
Each country greeted attendees as soon as they entered while stamping their passports. After being stamped, attendees were able to enjoy a traditional dish from the country they were in while listening to its music. Multiple countries were represented, including India, Greece, The United States, Italy, Mexico and more.
At the end, attendees gathered in the India room where Tiffany Saini performed a dance. Saini concluded the performance teaching the crowd traditional dances.
“Growing up in [Asheville], it’s really important for me to
share my culture and my dance with the community,” Saini said. “It really means a lot to me.”
As well as beginning the Summer Fest, the Summer Soirée served as a fundraiser for Folkmoot and its iconic International Day celebration. Donations were collected throughout the event, an online auction was held and Nina Howard, a Haywood County local, displayed art for sale.
Howard has been a part of Folkmoot since 1992. She began by selling pieces of small art at art carts; now she has an event coming up where she will be painting while a live cellist performs.
“Folkmoot is like coming home at this point,” Howard said. “I’ve been following a thread, watching an evolution and a rebirthing. That’s what Folkmoot is.”
Alicia Blanton, executive director of Folkmoot, decided after the pandemic that the organization’s practices were not sustainable. To potentially grow the celebration back into what it had been before, it had to shrink and break up performances to generate excitement for larger events.
“In the past, we hadn’t been able to do regular events,”
Blanton said. “We are like a lot of other arts and cultural organizations. The pandemic hit us hard, and we had a history of a lot of not sustainability so we’re trying to work on that.”
So far, Folkmoot has held six concerts, and the organization plans to host plenty more after International Day. Blanton worked closely to find acts with Ed Thanz, a former music educator and performer. Thanz volunteered with Folkmoot for several years when he began helping find performers for concerts, the Summer Soirée, International Evening and International Day.
Thanz booked one live act for the International Evening in Canton on Friday, July 19. He also promised completely new acts for this year’s International Day.
Folkmoot’s International Day will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 20, on Main Street in Waynesville. It is free to attend. There will be two stages with rotating performances all day and plenty of food to try. There will also be over 70 vendors and free kids’ activities.
Anyone interested in volunteering for the festival can visit folkmoot.org/volunteer.
International Day
Folkmoot Day will take place Saturday, July 20, on Main Street in Waynesville. With a 40-year history, the Folkmoot USA International Day has a long-established audience. The 2023 festival welcomed thousands of guests who enjoyed 70+ vendors, two stages with performances by Appalachian and international cultural performers, free kids’ activities and many tasty food options.
Folkmoot International Evening will take place Friday, July 19, at Sorrell’s Park located at 8 Sorrels St. in Canton. Peruse an internationally inspired farmer’s market with food trucks from Mill Town Market. Enjoy a dance parade inspired by international and Appalachian communities. End the evening with a live performance.
4 p.m. — Milltown Market starts
6:30 p.m. — Parade
7:30 p.m. — Jackson Grimm Trio performs
9 p.m. — Event ends
Folkmoot USA. File photos
This must be the place
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD
‘Lost man singing for his soul, I saw it on Rio Bravo’
Hello from Room 205 of the Dude Rancher Lodge on North 29th Street in the heart of Billings, Montana. It’s 10:29 a.m. Already 82 degrees with a hot sun. Expected to top out ‘round 100 degrees when all is said and done on this Wednesday.
It’s almost been exactly a year since my girlfriend, Sarah, and I ventured through here and took a chance on the Dude Rancher amid late night travels during our trek from Denver, Colorado, to Whitefish, Montana. And we enjoyed it so much, we’re here again as an anchor point between Minneapolis, Minnesota and Whitefish.
Opened in 1950, the Dude Rancher is chock-full of genuine old western charm. The carpet design throughout the building features numerous branding logos from local ranches (either long gone or still intact) used to mark cattle. Wooden beams across the ceilings of the cozy rooms. Brick walls and big comfy beds. Strong coffee.
The plan today is to make the 3.5-hour jaunt from Billings to Great Falls, Montana, to position ourselves with the last 3.5-hour part of the journey to Whitefish, which will be Thursday from Great Falls through Glacier National Park. High, jagged peaks and low, robust valleys. Dry summer heat and cold mountain streams. Heaven on earth, truth-be-told.
For now, thoughts and visions of the first couple of days of this trip of curious wandering and intrinsic pondering. Waking up Monday morning in Minneapolis, it was decided to take the Interstate 94 to Interstate 90 route via rural Minnesota and North Dakota, eventually venturing into Montana and unknown points beyond.
By Monday afternoon, we found ourselves standing in front of an enormous art
installation of an otter. “Otto the Otter” was the creature’s name, signifying the popular Otter Trail Scenic Byway. Initially, I was in search of a barber shop, seeing as I didn’t manage to get my haircut in preparation for the west before we left Western North Carolina. No dice on an open barber shop in these parts.
But, we ended up at the nearby Prairie Wetlands Learning Center. Tossing on my running clothes and shoes, I trotted along the dirt and gravel paths winding through the wide swath of grasslands protected for nature and nature lovers alike.
Meandering through the scenery, thoughts of how all of the Great Plains once looked like this before the Industrial Revolution reared its head in the late 19th century. Before railroads and the destruction of man, which one is immediately reminded of as I-94 rushes by the wetlands within earshot.
No matter, the peaceful ways and means of the property conjured a sense of gratitude running through my body and mind. Onward to Fargo, North Dakota, in search of dinner. Landed at the Wurst Bier Hall in the depths of the city. Smoked German meats from just down the road and a pristine German ale to wash it all down. The sun faded quickly into night as we drove four hours to Dickinson.
Awoke Tuesday morning in the bright sunshine of Dickinson. Found a barber shop around the corner. Stepping into Queen City Barber Shop and being greeted by the owner, Jeremy. He’s been the owner for 14 years and apprenticed for five years back then before taking it over from the previous owner who operated the space for 45 years. All total, the business has been in existence for 94 years.
Talk of corn now knee-high and “blooming a little early for this time of the year with all the rain we’ve had.” An older gentleman sauntered to get his ears lowered and reminded all within earshot that “yesterday
was the 15th anniversary of the tornado.”
An EF3 tornado. Lots of destruction. Thankfully, nobody was killed or seriously injured. It’s known as the “7-8-9” tornado for the date by which it occurred. “Yeah, it tore through the south side of town,” Jeremy informed me before trimming my beard. By early afternoon, the rental car pulled into the Painted Canyon Visitor Center, part of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park near Medora, North Dakota. It was stunning as to the immediate transition from endless grasslands into the high-desert emptiness of “The Badlands.” Massive mounds of ancient dirt and rock swallowed up by the heat of another dry summer.
Tossing on the ole running attire, I jogged down a nearby desolate dirt road in the afternoon heat. Big-rig trucks and tractor-trailers passed by occasionally, each coming from or heading to oil derricks dotting the horizon like mechanical dinosaurs. Dust clouds kicked up by the trucks. But, no matter, I was in my element of finding an ideal rhythm in my pace, my life, all as it unfolds in real time.
Swinging into nearby Medora, it was a late lunch at the Little Missouri Saloon. Packed out with tourists from every corner of the country. Only seats left at the bar counter. Cold drinks on a hot day. A hearty meal. Right as we left, I gave my seat to an older gentleman looking for the same sustenance.
His name was Butch Goodall. Looked to be about my father’s age, late 70s/early 80s or so. Adorned in a pristine cowboy hat, tucked-in button up shirt, pressed jeans and polished boots.
Butch’s handshake was like shaking hello with a large baseball glove, sturdy and firm. He’s lived in Western North Dakota his whole life and owns “a ranch up north.” He spoke of his grandfather, who “ran 3,000 head of cattle here from Wyoming in 1883. Our family has been here ever since.”
In the fleeting distance along 1-94 before crossing over the Montana state line, I noticed a small lake not far off the highway. Then, there was a sign stating “Camel Hump Lake.” We decided to pull off the road and check out this body of water. Why not, eh?
Dusty roads and rolling hills. Buttes high and mighty in the background of this vast,
HOT PICKS
1
A special production of “Footloose” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. July 18-19, 25-27 and 2 p.m. July 14, 20-21 and 28 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.
2
“An Appalachian Evening” series will continue with a performance by The Jeff Little Trio at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 20, in the Lynn L. Shields Auditorium at the Stecoah Valley Center in Robbinsville.
3
The popular Chamber Music Society of the Carolinas (CMSC) will perform at 4 p.m. July 21 and 28 at First United Methodist Church in Waynesville.
4
The 15th annual “Concerts on the Creek” music series will feature Americana/bluegrass act Asheville Junction at 7 p.m. Friday, July 19, at Bridge Park in downtown Sylva.
5 Appalachian/indie act Jackson Grimm & The Bull Moose Party will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 20, at The Scotsman in Waynesville.
seemingly never-ending and enchanting landscape. Parking at Camel Hump Lake, we observed a plethora of swallows in their nests in a cliff across the water. A lone otter was swiftly moving along the shoreline, a flock of Canada geese in the foreground. The sun now beginning its descent, it was time to make our way back to I-94 and try to make Billings before nightfall.
Leaving Camel Hump Lake, we noticed a team of horses in a field further down the road. We stopped and got out of the vehicle and simply watched them from the other side of the old fence. Sarah smiled in appreciation of the moment at-hand. I concurred with my own grin of delight in the endless wonders of the universe.
Life is beautiful, grasp for it, y’all.
Somewhere outside of Miles City, Montana. Garret K. Woodward photo
On the beat
• Balsam Mountain Inn (Balsam) will host an “Open Jam” 6 p.m. every Tuesday and Scott Ainslie (Americana/blues) 7 p.m. July 27. 828.283.0145 / thebalsammountaininn.com.
• Bevel Bar (Waynesville) will host We Three Swing at 8 p.m. every first Saturday of the month and semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.246.0996 / bevelbar.com.
• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host Doug & Lisa July 27. All shows begin at 5 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.246.9320 / blueridgebeerhub.com.
• Blue Stage (Andrews) will host “Open Mic Night” 5 p.m. every Friday, Amanda Cook Band (Americana) 7 p.m. July 20 ($20 admission) and “Andrews Idol: Season 3” 7:30 p.m. July 27. 828.361.2534 / thebluestage.com.
• Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host Buncombe Turnpike (Americana/bluegrass) 6 p.m. July 27 ($20 adults, $10 ages 6-16, free ages 6 and under). 828.369.4080 / coweeschool.org/music.
• Farm At Old Edwards (Highlands) will host the “Orchard Sessions” with Matt Rogers (singersongwriter) Aug. 15. All shows begin at 6 p.m. 866.526.8008 / oldedwardshospitality.com/orchardsessions.
• Folkmoot Friendship Center (Waynesville) will host its annual “Folkmoot International” events July 1920. 828.452.2997 / folkmoot.org.
• Friday Night Live (Highlands) will host Leadfoot Lily July 19 and Kettle July 26 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 Tuesdays Jazz Series with We Three Swing at 5:30 p.m. each week, Adrianne Blanks & The Oracles July 18, The Hi-Hearts July 19, Tuxedo Junction (pop/oldies) July 20, Syrrup 3 p.m. July 21, Rich Manz Trio (acoustic/oldies) July 25, Bridget Gossett Duo (Americana) July 26, Jon Cox Band (country/rock) July 27 and Taylor Watkins (singer-songwriter) 3 p.m. July 28. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.454.5664 / froglevelbrewing.com.
• Frog Quarters (Franklin) will host live music from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays with Jim Austin’s Classic Country Band (Americana/ country) July 20 and Charlie Simmons & Paul Linser (Americana/country) July 27. Free and open to the public. Located at 573 East Main St. 828.369.8488 / littletennessee.org.
• Groovin’ on the Green (Cashiers) will host The Wobblers July 19. Shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. Donations encouraged. villagegreencashiersnc.com/concerts.
• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee) will host Buddy Guy (blues/rock) 7:30 p.m. July 27. caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.
Americana, folk at Scotsman
Appalachian/indie act Jackson Grimm & The Bull Moose Party will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 20, at The Scotsman in Waynesville.
Grimm marries folk/pop melodies with the lonesome sound of traditional Appalachian music. In a region with a strong music culture, it is no surprise that Grimm’s songwriting is representative of his musical birthplace: Asheville.
His songs run the gambit from an homage to a traditional country waltz in “If Not For You,” an unrequited love song driven by a Beatles-esque melody in “I’d Hold You (But I Don’t Wanna Hold You),” to a drunken party-grass song à la Old Crow Medicine Show in “Last Train Home.”
The performance is free and open to the public. For more information, call 828.246.6292 or go to scotsmanpublic.com.
Chamber music returns to Waynesville
The popular Chamber Music Society of the Carolinas (CMSC) will perform at 4 p.m. July 21 and 28 at First United Methodist Church in Waynesville.
Featuring the Jasper String Quartet, Tesla Quartet and other talented special guests, performances are creative, joyful, up-close and intimate.
“It’s music that transcends sitting in your seat,” said J Freivogel, founding and current first violinist of the Jasper String Quartet. “Experience the thrilling nature of live performance during the CMSC concerts. Come hear top-notch musicians and see their craft up close. Watch the way they create and hear the musical ‘conversation’ between instruments.”
Single tickets are $30, with season tickets $100. Students will be admitted free. Donations to the CMSC can be made online and are appreciated to support these performances.
For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to cms-carolinas.com. Tickets are also available at the door by cash/check.
Bryson City community jam
A community jam will be held from 67:30 p.m. Thursday, July 18, at the Marianna Black Library in Bryson City.
Anyone with a guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, dulcimer or anything unplugged is 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.-For more information, call 828.488.3030.
‘Concerts on the Creek’
The Town of Sylva, Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department and Jackson County Chamber of Commerce are proud to present the 15th season of the annual “Concerts on the Creek” music series.
Americana/bluegrass act Asheville Junction will hit the stage at 7 p.m. Friday, July 19, at Bridge Park in downtown Sylva.
The group features multiple harmonies, hot fiddlin’ and instrumentals, beautiful ballads, beloved standards, unique covers and originals.
“Concerts on the Creek” are held every Friday night from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Everyone is encouraged to bring a chair or blanket. These events are free, but donations are encouraged. Dogs must be on a leash. No smoking, vaping, coolers or tents are allowed. There will be food trucks on site for this event. For more information, call the chamber at 828.586.2155, visit mountainlovers.com/concerts-onthe-creek or go to the “Concerts on the Creek” Facebook page.
Jackson Grimm will play Waynesville July 20. File photo
Jasper String Quartet will play in Waynesville in July. Donated photo
Asheville Junction will play Sylva July 19. File photo
• Highlander Mountain House (Highlands) will host “Blues & Brews” on Thursday evenings, “Sunday Bluegrass Residency” from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and Mike Cooley (singer-songwriter) 8:30 p.m. July 25 ($45 per person). 828.526.2590 / highlandermountainhouse.com.
• Highlands Performing Arts Center will host Quartet For The End Of Time 5 p.m. July 20. 828.526.9047 / highlandsperformingarts.com.
• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will host “Monday Night Trivia” every week, “Open Mic w/Phil” Wednesdays, Andrew Danner (singer-songwriter) July 20 and Jason Lyles (singer-songwriter) July 27. All shows and events begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.586.9678/ innovation-brewing.com.
• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Scott Stambaugh (singer-songwriter) July 20 and “Miss 1980s Something Pageant” July 27. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 / lazyhikerbrewing.com.
• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host “Music Bingo” 6:30 p.m. Mondays, Scott Stambaugh (singer-songwriter) July 19 and Blue Jazz (blues/jazz) July 26. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 / lazyhikerbrewing.com.
• Nantahala Outdoor Center (Nantahala Gorge) will host Cynthia McDermott (singersongwriter) 3 p.m. July 18, Whitney Monge (soul/rock) 5 p.m. July 19, Terry H. (singersongwriter) 2 p.m. July 20, Beer & Loathing (rock/funk) 5 p.m. July 20, Blue (soul/blues) 2 p.m. July 21, Kate Leigh Bryant (singer-songwriter) 3 p.m. July 25, Asheville Junction (Americana/bluegrass) 5 p.m. July 26, Mama & The Ruckus (soul/rock) 5 p.m. July 27 and Blue (soul/blues) 2 p.m. July 28. Free and open to the public. 828.785.5082 / noc.com.
• Otto Community Center (Otto) will host James Thompson (Americana) 6 p.m. July 19. Bring a beverage and snack of your choice. Free and open to the public. 770.335.0967 / go2ottonc.com.
• Peacock Performing Arts Center (Hayesville) will host Free Bird (Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute) 6:30 p.m. Aug. 3 ($42 per person). All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 828.389.ARTS / thepeacocknc.org.
• Pickin’ In The Park (Canton) will host Hill Country (band) & Southern Appalachian (dancers) July 19 and Brothers Rathbone (band) & Green Valley (dancers) July 26. Shows are 6-9 p.m. at the Canton Rec Park located at 77 Penland St. Free and open to the public. cantonnc.com/pickin-in-the-park.
• Pickin’ On The Square (Franklin) will host Run Katie Run (Americana/country) July 27. 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.
• Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Pub (Franklin) will host Karaoke 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Trivia Night 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Michael Kitchens (singer-songwriter) 7 p.m. July 19, Robby Craig & The Late Bloomers (Americana) 7 p.m. July 20, “Open Mic” w/Dirty Dave 6:30 p.m. July 26 and David Lloyd (singer-songwriter) 6 p.m. July 27. Free and open to the public. 828.369.6796 / facebook.com/rathskellercoffeebarandpub.
• Saturdays On Pine (Highlands) will host Lazrluvr July 20 and The Breakfast Club July 27 at Kelsey-Hutchinson Park on Pine Street. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. highlandschamber.org.
• Scotsman (Waynesville) will host Thomas (Americana/rock) July 18, Jackson Grimm & The Bull Moose Party (Americana/folk) July 20, Rene Russell (Americana/rock) July 25 and The Borrowed Band (country) July 27. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.6292 / scotsmanpublic.com.
• Slanted Window Tasting Station (Franklin) will host Takat 6 p.m. July 19, Blue Jazz (blues/jazz) 5 p.m. July 20 and Harvest String Duo 5 p.m. July 21. 828.276.9463 / slantedwindow.com.
ALSO:
• Stecoah Valley Center (Robbinsville) will host a Community Jam 5:30-7:30 p.m. every third Thursday of the month, Jeff Little Trio (Americana/indie) July 20 ($25 adults, $10 students) and Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’Blues (blues/rock) July 27 ($18 adults, $10 students). All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 828.479.3364 / stecoahvalleycenter.com.
• Stubborn Bull (Highlands) will host “Live Music Mondays” w/Austin Mauldin (singersongwriter) July 22. All shows begin at 5:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. the-stubborn-bull.com.
• Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host Cliff Williamson July 17 (free), Blue (Americana/bluegrass) July 18 (free), Blackwater Station July 19, Carolina Freightshakers (classic rock/country gold) July 20, Cliff Williamson July 24 (free), Karaoke w/Lori July 25 (free), Whiskey Mountain July 26 and Second Chance July 27. All shows are $5 at the door unless otherwise noted and begin at 8 p.m. 828.538.2488 / unpluggedpub.com.
• Yonder Community Market (Franklin) will host Jim Austin Classic Country Band (Americana/country) 6:30 p.m. every first and third Thursday of the month (free) and Will Kimbrough (singer-songwriter) 4 p.m. July 28 ($20 suggested donation). Admission by encouraged donation unless otherwise noted as a ticketed event. Family friendly, dog friendly. 828.200.2169 / eatrealfoodinc.com.
• More at smokymountainnews.com/arts
Haywood Community Band venue change
The Haywood Community Band (HCB) has announced a change of venue for the three remaining 2024 season Maggie Valley concerts to the Calvary Road Baptist Church.
“Calvary Road’s facility is the perfect location to address our increased band membership and growing audience,” said HCB Treasurer Paul Draper. “The facility has the stage and sound technology required, lots of seating and parking, and ensures that we can perform rain or shine.”
The first concert will be held at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, July 21. Themed “Patriotic Fanfare,” the performance happens to coincide with Maggie Valley’s 50th Birthday Celebration the same weekend. Maggie Valley Alderman Tim Wise will welcome guests to the concert.
The music will all have an Americana feel and guest vocalist Sam Bogan will sing two numbers. Bogan is currently the band director at Waynesville Middle School and is also a Specialist in the 208th Army Reserve Band from Concord.
Other show dates at the Calvary Road Baptist Church include the “Summer Fun” show at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 18 and “Scares & Legends” 6:30 p.m. Sept. 15.
There will also be HCB performances at 4 p.m. Aug. 25 at Stuart Auditorium in Lake Junaluska (“All Summer Long”) and 4 p.m. Oct. 20 at the First United Methodist Church in Waynesville (“Frightacular”).
All shows are free and open to the public. For more information, please visit haywoodcommunityband.com.
‘An Appalachian Evening’
The “An Appalachian Evening” series will continue with a performance by The Jeff Little Trio at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 20, in the Lynn L. Shields Auditorium at the Stecoah Valley Center in Robbinsville.
The annual summer concert series offers an ever-changing schedule of bluegrass, folk and oldtime mountain music by awardwinning artists — quality entertainment for the entire family.
Rich in cultural heritage, the series continues to be a favorite with locals and visitors alike. The concert will be held in the air-conditioned Lynn L. Shields Auditorium.
influenced by the mountain flat-picked guitar tradition, is breathtaking in its speed, precision and clarity. In 2014, Little was inducted into the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame. Tickets are $25 for adults, $10 for stu-
The piano rarely plays a prominent part in Appalachian or Americana music and is seldom the lead instrument. Jeff Little is an exception — and a remarkable one.
His distinctive two-handed style, much
On the street
dents grade K-12. Dinner will also be available for purchase in the Schoolhouse Cafe starting at 6 p.m.
For more information and/or to purchase tickets, call 828.479.3364 or go to stecoahvalleycenter.com.
Ready for the Gemboree?
The 57th annual Macon County Gemboree will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 2627 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 28 at the Macon County Community Building in Franklin. Rough and cut gems, minerals, fine jewelry, supplies, beads, door prizes, dealers, exhibits, demonstrations and more. Sponsored by the Franklin Chamber of Commerce and the Macon County Gem & Mineral Society.
Daily admission is $3 and free for ages 15 and under. For more information, call 828.524.3161 or go to franklin-chamber.com.
Haywood Community Band. File photo
Jeff Little Trio will play Stecoah July 20. File photo
On the stage
‘Footloose’ will play on select dates in July at HART.
On the wall
• “July Makers Market” will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 27, in The Lineside at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville. Local arts/crafts vendors and more. Free and open to the public. 828.454.5664 or froglevelbrewing.com.
• Nantahala Arts & Crafts Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 27, at the Nantahala River Rafting launch corner at the intersection of U.S. 19/74 and Wayah Road. Local/regional artisan vendors and more. For more information, call 407.973.4020 or email leewalters@hotmail.com.
• Dillsboro Art Walk will be held from 2-7 p.m. Saturday, July 20, along Front Street in downtown Dillsboro. Throughout the town, talented artists will be stationed in front of participating merchants, transforming sidewalks into open-air studios. From cozy restaurants to boutique stores, each venue offers a unique backdrop for artistic exploration. Free and open to the public. visitdillsboro.org.
• Nantahala Outdoor Center (Nantahala Gorge) will host a “Summer Artisan Market” from noon to 5 p.m. the second Saturday of the month (May-September). Free and open to the public. noc.com.
• “Art & Artisan Walk” will be held from 5-8 p.m. every third Thursday of the month (May-December) in Bryson City. Stroll the streets in the evening and discover handcrafted items, artwork, jewelry, pottery, antiques and more. Look for the yellow and blue balloons identifying participating busi-
HART to present ‘Footloose’
A special production of “Footloose” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. July 18-19, 25-27 and 2 p.m. July 14, 20-21 and 28 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in
This high-energy musical promises to ignite the stage with unforgettable performances, classic 1980s hits and a compelling story of youthful rebellion and the quest for freedom.
In the small town of Bomont, dancing and loud music are forbidden, and the joy of youth is stifled by rigid conformity. Enter Ren McCormack, a spirited teenager from Chicago, who challenges the oppressive norms and ignites a movement that changes the town for-
Under the direction of HART’s talented team, “Footloose” explores themes of individuality, expression and the transformative power of art.
“‘Footloose’ is not just a nostalgic
nesses hosting artists. greatsmokies.com.
• “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, live music, finger foods, beverages and shopping as artisan studios and galleries keep their doors open later for local residents and visitors alike. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, go to downtownwaynesville.com.
• Marianna Black Library (Bryson City) will host an adult arts and crafts program at 1 p.m. every second Thursday of the month. Ages 16 and up. Space is limited to 10 participants. Free and open to the public. To register, call 828.488.3030 or email vroberson@fontanalib.org.
• CRE828 (Waynesville) will offer a selection of art classes and workshops at its studio located at 1283 Asheville Road. Workshops will include art journaling, watercoloring, mixed media, acrylic painting and more. For a full list of classes, go to cre828.com. For more information on CRE828, email dawn@cre828.com or call 828.283.0523.
• Gallery Zella (Bryson City) will be hosting an array of artist receptions, exhibits and showcases. The gallery is open from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. For more information, go to galleryzella.com or call 517.881.0959.
• Waynesville Photography Club meets at 7 p.m. every third Monday each month on the second floor of the Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center in Clyde. The club is a non-
romp through the neon-lit streets of the 80s,” said HART Artistic Director & Director of Footloose Candice Dickinson. “It’s a testament to the enduring power of art to transcend boundaries and spark revolutions. At its core, Footloose is a rallying cry for individuality, expression and the relentless pursuit of freedom.”
With a cast of 37 performers ranging from seasoned HART veterans to fresh faces making their stage debut, audiences can expect powerhouse performances of iconic 1980’s anthems such as “Holdin’ Out for a Hero,” “Let’s Hear it for the Boy,” “Almost Paradise” and “Footloose.”
To make reservations, call the HART Box Office at 828.456.6322 or go to harttheatre.org. HART Box Office hours are Tuesday-Friday from noon to 5 p.m. HART is located at 250 Pigeon Street in Waynesville.
profit organization that exists for the enjoyment of photography and the improvement of one’s skills. They welcome photographers of all skill levels to share ideas and images at the monthly meetings. For more information, email waynesvillephotoclub@charter.net or follow them on Facebook: Waynesville Photography Club.
• Haywood County Arts Council (Waynesville) will offer a wide-range of classes, events and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. The HCAC gallery is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. For more information and a full schedule, go to haywoodarts.org.
• Jackson County Green Energy Park (Dillsboro) will be offering a slew of classes, events and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. For more information and a full schedule, go to jcgep.org.
• Southwestern Community College Swain Arts Center (Bryson City) will host an array of workshops for adults and kids. For more information on the upcoming classes and/or to sign-up, go to southwesterncc.edu/scclocations/swain-center.
• Dogwood Crafters in Dillsboro will offer a selection of upcoming art classes and workshops. For more information and a full schedule of activities, go to dogwoodcrafters.com/classes or call 828.586.2248.
• Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host semi-regular arts and crafts workshops. For more information, go to coweeschool.org/events.
• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host a special stage production of “Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” at 7 p.m. July 19-20. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, call 866.273.4615 or go to smokymountainarts.com.
ALSO:
• Peacock Performing Arts Center (Hayesville) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays unless otherwise noted. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to thepeacocknc.org or call 828.389.ARTS.
• Highlands Performing Arts Center will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. For more information, a full schedule of events and/or to purchase tickets, go to highlandsperformingarts.com.
Experience ‘Textures’
The Haywood County Arts Council’s (HCAC) latest exhibit, “Textures,” will run through Sept. 1 at the HCAC gallery on Main Street in downtown Waynesville. Showcasing a rich tapestry of artistic mediums including ceramics, woodwork, felt, mosaic, fabric, macrame, collage and more, this diversified exhibition promises to have something for every art enthusiast. For more information, go to haywoodarts.org.
Works by Lori Axelrod will be displayed at HCAC. Donated photo
Donated photo
A bird’s eye view of feathered friends
In a remarkable book that combines ecopoetry, poetic prose and personal and scientific information by award-winning African-American ornithologist and professor at Clemson University, J. Drew Lanham, birds are the major focus, with Lanham even giving us a semi-humorous list of rules for birders. “Sparrow
Envy: Field Guide to Birds and Lesser
Beast” (Hub City
Writer’s Project, 104 pages), then, is a melange of sections, styles and subject matter. The largest section in this book is comprised of poems about birds: heron, woodcock, woodthrush, waxwings, warbler, grackles, peregrine, wren, gull, eagle and owl, to name but a few.
be/’Warm-Sea Wanderer.’/An identity worthy of its tropic-trotting status.” In the piece titled “New Names for Plural Birds” he gives us “A Congress of crows/A Whir of hummingbirds/A Palette of painted buntings/A Tide of shorebirds/A Herd of cowbirds/A Privilege of all birds white—“
What’s remarkable about the poems is that Lanham has created a voice that is, in fact, musical, creating rhythms, even melodies, through a kind of alchemy of alliteration. It’s as if he’s trying to describe these various bird species by replicating their songs. Or as he says in the poem “Wood Thrush Id:” “It’s not so much about identifying what birds are, as feeling who birds are.”
In lines such as this line from a prose poem titled “Necessary Greed” we can get a lyrical sense of this voice: “The shadow bird, the olive-backed spiral song slinger; the Swainson’s thrush skulking haint-like in my sideyeard thicket for the past few days.” Lanham will also throw in an occasional rhyme scheme to add another dimension to his self-harmonizing sonatas as he refers to the bird songs he knows by heart. Lines and descriptions like these are often combined in his poems with words of wisdom—recollections or perceptions from personal experience and long days over the course of many years as a nature lover and a student of the birds. “If wildness is a wish then I’m rubbing the lamp hard for a million more wandering moments.” And: “All I witness is worthy of worship. Wild things are not burdened with guilt or sin.” Or in his poem “Deer Worship”: “Commandments don’t come in ten, but one — just be.”
One of the most entertaining poems in this collection is “Octoroon Warbler,” where Lanham renames some of his favorite birds according to their physical properties or personalities — remembering the identity of the birds for what they are. “The sea-going petrel with the artist’s moniker shall now
With compassion, intellect, creativity and musicality, Lanham narrows his focus down to simply his love of nature toward the
end of the book in “Love For A Song.” “The surge, that overwhelming inexplicable thing in a swallow’s joyous flight or the dawning of new light that melds heart and head into sensual soul in that moment of truly seeing — that is love.” In that same section in the prose piece “In Rememberance,” this short sentiment and a fitting end-piece for his book: “At the end—to be loved and loving. That will be grand. Children chattering and grown to good. Woodlands walked and wandered. Surf sauntered through. Trees scaled to spy on the waking wood. Streaking stars hauling wishes through an ink black sky. A lingering embrace.”
(Thomas Crowe is a regular contributor to The Smoky Mountain News and author of the multi-awardwinning nonfiction nature memoir“
Zoro’s Field: My Life in the Appalachian Woods.” His review of “Sparrow Envy” first appeared in Rain Taxi Review.)
“The shadow bird, the olive-backed spiral song slinger; the Swainson’s thrush skulking haint-like in my sideyeard thicket for the past few days.”
Writer
Thomas Crowe
‘You Are Here’ U.S.
poet laureate unveils Poetry in the Parks project
Amap — from a trailhead to a mall directory — has seen that little arrow or star or red dot accompanied by the words “you are here.” For most people, those words serve to situate us within a particular environment. For United States Poet Laureate Ada Limón, those words inspired a national initiative bridging poetry and nature.
Poetry in the Parks is part of Limón’s signature project as the 24th Poet Laureate of the United States. Together with the National Park Service and Library of Congress, Limón and the Poetry Society of America have worked to install poetry on picnic tables in seven national parks across the country.
As public works of art, each picnic table will feature a historic American poem selected by Limón, intended to encourage visitors to pay deeper attention to their surroundings and connect with the natural world.
“Poetry can really make you pay attention,” Limón said of the project. “It can make you think because it slows you down. You don’t read poetry for meaning. You read poetry for feeling. I think that’s a really important differentiation.”
Limón is traveling to each of the seven parks this summer and fall to unveil the installations and is set to do so at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Saturday, July 20.
“For me, the impulse for this project was to really combine two of my greatest loves, and that’s poetry and the natural world,” Limón told The Smoky Mountain News.
In addition to the physical installations, Limón has edited and introduced an anthology of new nature poems titled “You Are Here,” which includes 50 poems from some of the nation’s most accomplished poets living and working today.
and wrote a poem that will be engraved on NASA’s Eruopa Clipper Spacecraft that will be launched to the second moon of Jupiter in October of this year.
“There’s not a lot of answers in poetry, and there’s not a lot of answers in nature … Poetry makes room for breath, but it also makes room for a sense of what is unexplainable. Poetry is the natural language for the natural world.”
When Limón assumed the role of poet laureate of the United States, she began to conceive of a project that could explore the union of nature and poetry — something that has been a mainstay in her own work.
“Those are the two things that give people the most hope and the biggest sense of wonder and awe,” Limón said. “I think of them as twins in a way.”
For the poet laureate, nature and poetry serve similar, grounding purposes in people’s lives.
“There’s not a lot of answers in poetry, and there’s not a lot of answers in nature. … Poetry makes room for breath, but it also makes room for a sense of what is unexplainable,” said Limón. “Poetry is the natural language F
United States Poet Laureate Ada Limón is visiting several National Parks as part of a project to bridge poetry and nature. Adalimon.net photo
— Ada Limón
Oconaluftee Visitor Center. File photo
for the natural world.”
Both the anthology and the park project are also intended to allow artists and readers to be in conversation with the natural world around them as landscapes and ecosystems are altered by the effects of human development and climate change.
“That’s the kind of language the earth needs — not a summing up, but instead a deep attention. And I think poetry at its core is the language of deep attention,” said Limón. “The anthology really speaks to that element, which is sort of the dailyness of nature, the precarity of nature and where we are right now as the climate crisis changes and shifts our landscape.”
“Just paying attention and even just writing what you see in front of you can be enough. It doesn’t always have to be transformed. You can really just sit and receive the world and write what you see.”
— Ada Limón
As a location at one of seven national parks chosen for the physical installation portion of the project, a picnic table permanently emblazoned with a poem will be unveiled at the Smokies’ Oconaluftee Visitor Center this weekend.
“I love the Great Smoky Mountains. I have lived in Lexington, Kentucky, for 14 years so it’s an easy drive for us and I’ve spent a great deal of time there and have loved it,” said Limón. “The rivers are one of my favorite parts of the Smoky Mountains.”
For the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Limón chose a poem by one of her longtime favorite poets, Lucille Clifton, titled “the earth is a living thing.”
“With the Smoky Mountains, you have this incredible bear habitat, first of all, and I also feel like, in this particular poem, there’s a speaking to the tenderness of the earth and the way there’s a sort of touching of the earth and it felt very intimate to me,” Limón said of choosing the poem. “Because the Smoky Mountains don’t have those really dramatic peaks, but instead there is a softness.”
Lucille Clifton (1936-2010) was an award-winning poet, fiction writer and author of children’s books. Her poetry collection “Blessing the Boats: New & Selected Poems 1988-2000” won the National Book Award for Poetry. In 1988 she became the only author to have two collections selected in the same year as finalists for the Pulitzer Prize. Included in her many other accolades are the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize, the Poetry Society of America’s Robert Frost Medal and an Emmy Award.
“Lucille Clifton is one of my top-five all-
time favorite poets,” said Limón. “I’ve been reading her since I was 15 years old. All of her books mean the world to me. She’s really an essential poet to me and it felt like putting an essential poet in an essential place was also a real gift to get to do.”
The poem speaks of the earth as “a black shambling bear… a black hawk circling… a fish black blind in the belly of water… a diamond blind in the black belly of coal… a black and living thing… a favorite child.”
around the national park,” said Limón.
The installations are created on picnic tables designed so the tops extend beyond the benches so they are accessible to differently abled readers.
At each Poetry in the Parks installation visitors will find a prompt to engage with, a call to action of sorts. Seemingly simple at first glance — what would you write in response to the landscape around you? — Limón has come to believe that this
scape is.”
It was important for Limón that the prompt doesn’t call for a poem specifically, but simply asks visitors what they would write. It could be a poem, but it could also be a sentence, a word, or just a thought.
“People can be intimidated by the word poem… so it could be anything,” Limón said. “Just paying attention and even just writing what you see in front of you can be enough. It doesn’t always have to be transformed. You can really just sit and receive the world and write what you see.”
For Limón, writing about nature, writing in nature and writing to this prompt all create a sense of reciprocity that brings her deeper into communion and understanding with the world around her. This is what collaborators on the project hope will happen for anyone who picks up the “You Are Here” anthology or visits a
In addition to the physical installations, Limón has edited and introduced an anthology of new nature poems entitled “You Are Here,” which includes 50 poems from some of the nation’s most accomplished poets living and working today. Donated photo
Included among the poems chosen for other parks around the country are poets like Mary Oliver, A. R. Ammons, Francisco X. Alarcón, Jean Valentine, June Jordan and Ofelia Zepeda — the only living poet selected for the physical installations and a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation.
“I really wanted each individual poem to speak to the natural landscape that’s
prompt might be the one she has been writing to for a very long time.
“This might be the prompt I’ve been using my whole life,” said Limón. “This might be what I write to every day. This might be it. I think that maybe it’s a core prompt of my life, that I enter the world and wake up in the morning and think, ‘what would I write in response to the landscape around me?’ whatever that land-
“For
me, the impulse for this project was to really combine two of my greatest loves, and that’s poetry and the natural world.”
— Ada Limón
“What is it to think of receiving the world? That might be a gift in and of itself, to write towards that receiving and to think of that as an act of gratitude and presence instead of the pressure we put on ourselves [to write poetry],” Limón said. “Think of it as a reciprocal relationship. Think of it as an offering. Something is being received in turn, something is being offered.”
Adalimon.net photo
Join HWA for a West Fork workshop
Haywood Waterways Association and Haywood Community College invites the public to discover the amazing aquatic life living in the West Fork Pigeon River on July 19. Participants will rotate through three stations where they will learn about the local fish and benthic communities. Snorkeling gear, underwater viewing boxes and nets will be provided.
The event is part of Haywood Waterways’ “Get to Know Your Watershed” series of outdoor recreation activities. Donated photo
The event is part of Haywood Waterways’ “Get to Know Your Watershed” series of outdoor recreation activities. The organization works to maintain and improve Haywood County waterways through education, citizen engagement and partnerships.
The workshop will be held July 19 from noon to 2 p.m. Meet up at Jukebox Junction in Bethel. The event is free for members and a $5 donation for nonmembers. Haywood Waterways memberships start at $25/yr. RSVP by 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 17, to Mackenzie Tenan at mackenzie@haywoodwaterways.org or 828.476.4667, ext. 2.
Fireside chat and workday
One of Friends of Panthertown’s upcoming programs includes a “Fireside Chat” in which it will share information about the organization and current projects with partner WATR (Watershed Association of the Tuckaseegee River), as well as educational information about stream health and monitoring in the Tuckasegee Watershed. There will be a fire and s’mores.
This program will be held from 5-7 p.m. on July 19 in Sylva at 116 Central Street, 828.269.4453, kaci@panthertown.org.
The third Saturday of the month trail workday falls on Saturday, July 20, at the Cold Mountain Gap Trailhead from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Workdays and programs will be at Panthertown unless otherwise stated.
Friends of Panthertown is the non-profit organization dedicated to maintaining the trails in Panthertown Valley, extending a conservation mindset into our surrounding communities and hosting many different educational outreach programs for anyone interested.
For more information, please visit panthertown.org/events, email kaci@panthertown.org or call 828.269.4453.
Moderate drought expands in WNC
Most areas of Western North Carolina are now in a moderate drought.From ncdrought.org
Although most of the state saw some rainfall in the past week, it was not enough to improve dry conditions, leading the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council (DMAC) to expand its severe and moderate drought classifications across the state. Now, almost all of Western North Carolina is in moderate drought status.
“This June was the driest on record for the state and one of the warmest,” said Klaus Albertin, chair of the DMAC. “As a result, the state has quickly gone from normal in May to very, very dry. Rain during the last week slowed the rapid drying, but was not enough to improve areas. The southern Coastal Plain saw no rain for another week, resulting in expansion of severe drought in the area and introduction of extreme drought in Columbus County.”
Groundwater and surface water reservoirs typically see higher demand for water during the summer and the ongoing drought conditions could result in water restrictions. Some counties have updated their water conservation status on ncdrought.org.
For areas in moderate drought, or D1, DMAC recommends water users should adhere to local water use restrictions, project water needs and available water supply for 90 days, among other recommendations.
“The National Weather Service is forecasting rainfall of 1 to 4 inches across eastern North Carolina in the next week, so the drought conditions may ease up there,” Albertin said. “Unfortunately, damage to many crops may already be done.”
Trail volunteers visit Japan for exchange
This July, the Carolina Mountain Club (CMC) is embarking on a landmark journey to Japan, marking a momentous step in the club’s history. This international exchange aims to foster global collaboration in trail conservation and management. Representing the CMC delegation are President Les Love, Appalachian Trail Supervisor Paul Curtin and Councilor for Communications David Huff. Their mission is to promote sustainable trail practices worldwide and strengthen cultural ties.
The delegation will engage with the teams managing the Shin-Etsu Trail and the Michinoku Coastal Trail. The Shin-Etsu Trail, inspired by the Appalachian Trail, offers a blend of mountain beauty and hiking challenges, while the Michinoku Coastal Trail features stunning coastal landscapes. This exchange underscores
CMC’s dedication to trail stewardship, as they share their expertise in trail maintenance, club operations and best practices with their Japanese counterparts.
A highlight of the trip is the planned meeting with Sarah Jones Decker, a CMC member and author of “The Appalachian Trail: Backcountry Shelters, Lean-Tos, and Huts.” Together, they will hike Mount Fuji and experience sunrise at the summit, symbolizing the union of cultural and environmental appreciation.
This visit reciprocates last year’s successful engagement, where representatives from the Shin-Etsu and Michinoku Coastal Trails visited the United States. They collaborated with CMC and explored the Appalachian Trail, sharing insights that enriched both parties’ approaches to trail management.
For further information, updates and insights from this inspiring journey, please follow the Carolina Mountain Club on their official website and social media platforms.
NC hunters harvest near-record number of turkeys
Results from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission’s (NCWRC) 2024 Wild Turkey Harvest Summary report show that hunters recorded 24,074 birds harvested statewide in 2024, including 2,372 birds taken during the youth season. Hunters harvested 15 fewer turkeys than last year’s record total, making the 2024 Spring Turkey season the second-highest year on record. Both the Mountain and Coastal ecoregions reported increases in harvest numbers compared to the 2023 season, particularly in the Coastal region.
These numbers include the following trends:
• Harvest during the week-long youth season increased by 11%.
• Harvest in the Coastal region increased by 13%.
• Harvest in the Mountains increased by 8%.
• Harvest in the Piedmont increased by 2%.
• Harvest on game lands increased by 5%.
• Number of adult gobblers harvested increased by 11%.
• Number of jakes harvested decreased by 10%.
• Jakes comprised 10% of the harvest, a 1% decrease.
NCWRC posts annual harvest summaries on its website for all game species, as well as live harvest reports that are available throughout the hunting season.
Mountain Credit Union hosts Tee it Up for Diabetes golf tournament
Mountain Credit Union (MCU) held its annual Tee it Up for Diabetes Golf Tournament on Wednesday, May 29, 2024.
After a day of perfect weather, MCU announced a donation of $12,000 to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). JDRF is the leading global organization funding Type 1 diabetes (T1D) research whose mission is to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications.
Brooke Mize, Development Director of the
North Carolina Chapter for JDRF, expressed her gratitude, stating, “We are incredibly thankful to Mountain Credit Union and all the participants of the Tee it Up for Diabetes Golf Tournament. Their generous donations over the years have topped the $70,000.00 mark and have significantly advanced our mission to find a cure for Type 1 diabetes and improve the lives of those affected by the disease.”
Join Franklin Bird Club for walks
The Franklin Bird Club leads walks along the Greenway on Wednesday mornings at 8 a.m. through September. Walks start at alternating locations: Macon County Public Library, Big Bear Park and Salali Lane.
The public is welcome. All walks are weather dependent. Additional information, including directions to each location and a bird club check list can be found at littletennessee.org/franklin-bird-club Schedule for upcoming walks:
• July 24, meet at Salali Lane.
• July 31, meet at the Macon County Library parking lot.
• Aug. 7, meet at Big Bear near the playground.
• Aug. 14, meet at Salali Lane.
Input sought for Pisgah View plan
The third public information meeting for the Pisgah View State Park Master Plan will be held from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1, at the Upper Hominy Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department at 1795 Pisgah Highway in Candler.
Pisgah View is the 35th state park added to the North Carolina state parks system, and the tenth state park in the mountain region of the state.
Equinox Environmental in Asheville is working with the division and the public to develop the master plan, initially identifying both the recreation, educational and conservation needs for the park.
The northern front country (Ranch) and
state park
Citizens are encouraged to drop in at any time and can expect to spend up to 30 minutes to review, discuss and weigh in on the master plan for the park. The open house-style public meeting will allow feedback from the community.
The master plan will encompass 20 years and covers the entire state park, spanning over 1,600 acres in Buncombe and Haywood counties, within Spring Mountain and the Southern Appalachian escarpment.
southern front country (Bens Cove) access areas will have various camping, event space, day use, equestrian trails, hiking trails and roadway alignment. The public meeting will evaluate and synthesize the comments gathered at the last meeting into a final plan for review.
An online public comment is available for those who cannot attend the public meeting. Interested residents can review the concepts by visiting ncparks.gov/pisgah-view-planning.
Haywood Extension hosts ‘learn to grow’ classes
Anyone interested in learning to grow fall vegetables is encouraged to attend the Haywood County Extension Office’s “learn to grow” class.
The class is part of a series hosted by the extension office.
The fall vegetables class will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at the extension office in Haywood County at 589 Raccoon Rd. A $10 registration is required, payable at the door by cash or check). To register, call 828.456.3575.
Pisgah View is the 35th
added to the North Carolina state parks system, and the 10th state park in the mountain region of the state. Donated photo
This class will teach people what they need to know to grow a robust vegetable garden during the cooler fall months. Donated photo
Notes from a Plant Nerd
BY ADAM B IGELOW
Magnolia Sweet as Sugar
My dog Magnolia and I have been together for around 16 years. She’s a good dog. We used to wander all over the mountains searching for wildflowers, waterfalls and beautiful views. These days, we mostly walk up the driveway to the mailbox and back. She’s a sweet old lady who is nearing the end of her life. And I will miss my friend when she is gone.
I do not allow dogs on my weekly wildflower walks for a few reasons, mostly because if I stop and point to a flower to teach about it, that’s right where the dog goes, sniffing and snuffling to see what our excitement is all about, wondering if they can eat it. But not Magnolia the dog. We worked out an arrangement long ago that when I stop in the woods to identify, adore and photograph a wildflower she would not come close, but would go lay down a good distance away and wait for me to get back to walking. She may have laid on some flowers and plants, but not the one I was loving on. She’s a good old dog.
And speaking of old magnolias, did you know that the magnolia family of plants (Magnoliaceae) is the oldest flowering plant family in the world? They’re so old that their flowers evolved before insects evolved wings and the ability to fly, and members of the magnolia family are still primarily pollinated by beetles due to this long evolutionary relationship. The lineage of the magnolia family goes back in the fossil record 95 million years. Fossilized leaves of the cucumber tree (Magnolia acuminata), one of the species that grows in Southern Appalachia, have been shown to be around 20 million years old and are still identifiable to species. That’s a really long time ago.
Of the seven species of trees in the magnolia genus, four can be found growing wild in the woods of Southern Appalachia. And none of those is the famous southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) that most people think of when they picture a magnolia. That species grows along the coastal plain and piedmont of the deep south. While it certainly is planted in landscapes, they do not attain the height and grandeur of those in its native range.
The sweet bay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) can be found in Polk and possibly Transylvania counties but is much more common in the piedmont and coastal areas of the state. The cucumber magnolia (Magnolia acuminata) is found in the mountains and gets its name from the shape and color of the emerging fruit structure that is said to resemble a cucumber. It does not taste like a cucumber, how-
ever. I did that work for you. You’re welcome. The leaves of the cucumber tree come to a distinctive point that looks stretched out and serve as a drip-tip that focuses water to the base of the tree during rains. That pointed shape is called acuminate in botanical terminology.
honor of a Scottish botanist named John Fraser. The mountain magnolia is easily identifiable, as long as you can see the leaves. Where the leaf base attaches to the leaf stem, or petiole, the leaf actually goes below the attachment and then
The umbrella magnolia (Magnolia tripetala) gets its name from the leaves that are said to be so big that during a rainstorm you could pull of a leaf and use it as an umbrella. This species has a wide distribution in North Carolina and can be found growing across the state from the mountains to the coast. Like all magnolia trees in the state, it has beautiful large white flowers that emit a sweet fragrance to attract pollinating beetles.
The last of the magnolia trees that can be found growing in the mountains is the mountain magnolia (Magnolia fraseri), also called the Fraser magnolia, as it was named in
This kind of leaf attachment is called auriculate, which means ears.
When I adopted my good dog so many years ago, her name was Maggie. I knew that I wanted to name my next pet after a plant, so I lengthened her name to Magnolia. I even gave her the full name of Magnolia fraseri, because of the ears.
(Adam Bigelow lives in Cullowhee. He leads weekly wildflower walks most Fridays and offers consultations and private group tours through Bigelow’s Botanical Excursions. bigelownc@gmail.com.)
Ms. Magnolia, the good dog, has a fitting name.
Adam Bigelow photo
WNC events and happenings
COMMUNITY EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
• The Arc of Haywood will host an informational meeting about the feasibility of a day program tailored for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Haywood County from 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, July 23, and 1-2 p.m. Thursday, July 25, in the Faith Classroom at First United Methodist Church in Waynesville.
• Cruso Farmer’s Market takes place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Tuesday at the Cruso Community Center.
• The Jackson County Farmers Market meets every Saturday November through March 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and April through October 9 a.m. to noon at Bridge Park in Sylva. Special events listed on Facebook and Instagram.
• The Jackson Arts Market takes place from 1-5 p.m. every Saturday at 533 West Main St. in Sylva with live music and an array of local artists.
• Cowee School Farmer's Market is held Wednesdays from 3-6 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 www.coweeschool.org or call 828.369.4080.
H EALTH AND WELLNESS
• The Pollinators Foundation offers weekly Mindful Movement Qigong classes for all ages to reduce stress and improve health and well-being. Classes take place 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Folkmoot Center in Waynesville. For more information visit thepollinatorsfoundation.org or contact Marga Fripp at margacfripp@gmail.com 828.4224.1398.
• The Pollinators Foundation and The Share Project host weekly Happy Hour Nature Walks 4:30-5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at Lake Junaluska. The group meets at the Labyrinth. For more information visit thepollinatorsfoundation.org or contact Marga Fripp at margacfripp@gmail.com 828.4224.1398.
• Mountain Area pregnancy Services and the WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor work together to provide a casual support group for prenatal and breastfeeding individuals from 1-2 p.m. on Tuesdays at Mountain Area Pregnancy Services, 177 N Main St. Waynesville. All are welcome, registration is recommended. For more information, please call 828.558.4550.
FUNDRAISERS & VOLUNTEERS
• The Women’s Guild of St. Francis Church will hold its annual Good Stuff Sale from noon to 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16 and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17 at the church, 299 Maple St. in Franklin. The event supports the Guild’s ministry activities.
CLUBS AND M EETINGS
• The Western Carolina Cribbage Club meets every Monday at 6 p.m. An eclectic group of young and old, male and female, the group supplies boards, cards, pegs and are always willing to help those still learn-
ing the finer points of the game. For more information contact kei3ph@bellsouth.net.
• Chess 101 takes place 3:30-4:30 p.m. every Friday at the Canton Branch of the Haywood County Library. For more information, email Ashlyn Godleski at ashlyn.godleski@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2567.
• The Canton Branch of the Haywood County Public Library Creative Writing Group meets 10:30 a.m. to noon on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. For more information, email Jennifer at jennifer.stuart@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2561.
• Knit Night takes place at 5:30-7:30 p.m. every second Tuesday of the month at The Stecoah Valley Center. The event is free and open to the public. RSVP is recommended: 828.479.3364 or amber@stecoahvalleycenter.com.
• A Novel Escape Book Club takes place at 6:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month at the Novel Escape Bookstore (60 E Main St, Franklin). Every other month one book is selected for discussion. On alternate months the meeting is round-table discussion in which participants share what they’ve read lately. For more information call the bookstore at 828.369.9059 or visit anovelescapefranklin.wordpress.com.
• Silent Book Club takes place at 6:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at the Novel Escape Bookstore (60 E Main St, Franklin). Bring your own book and whatever makes you feel cozy and enjoy a quiet, uninterrupted hour of reading amongst friends.
K IDS AND FAMILIES
• On Mondays, the Macon County Library will host Lady Violet, a King Charles Spaniel service dog, for children to practice their reading skills. Children who feel nervous reading aloud to an adult tend to feel more comfortable with a pet or a service animal. Sign up for a time to read with Lady Violet or to one of the library’s reading friends at the children’s desk or call 828.524.3600.
• On Tuesdays, Kelly Curtis will offer reading services to families from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at the Macon County Public Library. Families may sign up for a 30-minute time spot at the children’s desk or by calling 828.524.3600.
• Creative Writing Club will take place at 3:30 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of every month at the Macon County Public Library. The writing club is intended for ages 8-12. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.
• Move and Groove Storytime takes place 10:30-11 a.m. every Thursday, at the Canton branch of the Haywood County Public Library. Exciting, interactive music and movement story time ideal for children 2-6 years old. For more information contact Ashlyn at ashlyn.godleski@haywoodcountync.gov or at 828.356.2567.
• Mother Goose Storytime takes place 10:30-11 a.m. every Wednesday, at the Waynesville branch of the Haywood County Public Library. Ideal for children from birth to 2 years old. For more information, contact Lisa at lisa.hartzell@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2511.
• Wiggle Worms Storytime takes place 10:30-11 a.m.
every Tuesday, at the Waynesville branch of the Haywood County Public Library. Ideal for children 2-6 years old. For more information contact Lisa at lisa.hartzell@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2511.
• Next Chapter Book Club Haywood is a fun, energetic and highly interactive book club, ideal for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The group meets every second and fourth Monday of the month. For more information, email Jennifer at jennifer.stuart@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2561.
• Storytime takes place at 10 a.m. every Tuesday at the Macon County Library. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.
• Toddler’s Rock takes place at 10 a.m. every Monday at the Macon County Library. Get ready to rock with songs, books, rhymes and playing with instruments. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.
• Culture Talk takes place at 2 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month at the Macon County Public Library. Travel the world from inside your library. This event features guest speakers and food sampling from the location being discussed. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.
• Art afternoon takes place at 3:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month at the Macon County Public Library. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.
A&E
• Groovin on the Green takes place 6-8:30 p.m. every Friday in The Village Green all summer. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, picnics and coolers welcome. For more information visit discoverjackson.com.
• “Time of War” at Oconaluftee Indian Village takes place at noon and 3 p.m. every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. A short battle reenactment performed by actors from “Unto These Hill” and reenactors from Oconaluftee Indian Village come together to depict what happens when a British militia invades a Cherokee town. Tickets can be purchased at cherokeehistorical.org or by calling 828.497.2111.
• Pickin’ in the Park takes place takes place 6-9 p.m. every Friday at the Canton Recreation Park. The events are free and open to the public. For more information visit cantonnc.com/pickin-in-the-park.
• Paint and Sip at Waynesville Art School will be held every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 7-9:30 p.m. To learn more and register call 828.246.9869 or visit PaintAndSipWaynesville.com/upcoming-events. Registration is required, $45.
• 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.
• Smoky Mountain Event Center presents Bingo Night with doors opening at 4:30 p.m. and games starting at 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday and fourth Monday of the month. For more information visit smokymountaineventcenter.com.
MarketPlace information:
The Smoky Mountain News Marketplace has a distribution of 16,000 copies across 500 locations in Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties, including the Qualla Boundary and west Buncombe County. Visit www.wncmarketplace.com to place your ad!
Rates:
• $15 — Classified ads that are 25 words, 25¢ per word after.
• Free — Lost or found pet ads.
• $6 — Residential yard sale ads.*
• $1 — Yard Sale Rain Insurance Yard sale rained out? Call us by 10a.m. Monday for your ad to run again FREE
• $375 — Statewide classifieds run in 170 participating newspapers with 1.1+ million circulation. (Limit 25 words or less)
• Boost Online — Have your ad featured at top of category online $4
• Boost in Print
• Add Photo $6
• Bold ad $2
• Yellow, Green, Pink or Blue Highlight $4
• Border $4
Note: Highlighted ads automatically generate a border so if you’re placing an ad online and select a highlight color, the “add border” feature will not be available on the screen.
Note: Yard sale ads require an address. This location will be displayed on a map on www.wncmarketplace.com
Kinney Oct 10 2024, or Administrator 2183 Belmar St Newton, NC 28658
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
Case No.2024 E 000442
Steven J Amodio Oct 17 2024, or
Fiduciary
2506 Beaver Ter North Port, FL 34286
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
Case No.2024E 000437
Linda Page-WilliamsOct 17 2024, or
Executor
105 W Main St. Franklin, NC 28734
Announcements
HOOPER REUNIONJULY 20TH
GOT AN UNWANTED CAR?
Auction BUTTERMILK FARMS ANTIQUES & AUCTOIN com Building Materials
STEEL BUILDINGS-
Employment
PART-TIME DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center is seeking a part-time (15 hrs/ week) Director of Development and PR, responsible for directing all aspects of the organization’s fundraising efforts and public relations to ensure the continuous advancement of its mission and
Full description at coweeschool.org.
HELP WANTED
Home Goods
PREPARE FOR POWER OUTAGES TODAY-
ANSWERS ON PAGE 34
SUDOKU
Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!
