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

July 5-11, 2017 Vol. 19 Iss. 06

Haywood GOP considers ‘disloyalty resolution’ Page 11 Sylva embraces the Mountains-to-Sea Trail Page 42

CONTENTS

STAFF

On the Cover: Macon County has been included in a state pilot program to see if setting flat fees for court-appointed lawyers will save some money, but lawyers throughout the 30th Judicial District have concerns the flat-fee model could hinder indigent defendants from receiving adequate and vigorous representation.

(Page 6)

News Freshman enrollment at WCU high for 2017 ............................................................ 4 Growing the greens in Haywood County .................................................................... 8 Election season begins for municipalities ................................................................ 10 ‘Disloyalty resolution’ targets Haywood GOP members ......................................11 Forest management planning process moves forward ........................................ 12 Macon forms task force to fix fire service inconsistencies .................................. 14 Waynesville discretionary spending reveals trends ................................................15 Town allocated funds to pave Frog Level parking lot ............................................ 17 Canton remembers jiving with beloved radio DJ .................................................... 18 State charges dropped in Gatlinburg fires .............................................................. 21 Business Briefs ..................................................................................................................23

Opinion

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Politics may fail us, but our ideals endure ................................................................ 24

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Freshman enrollment at Western Carolina high for ‘17 Increased rate could be due to tuition reduction program

ADDRESSING FINANCIAL AID

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER he tuition reduction program N.C. Promise won’t go into effect until 2018, but its impending implementation could already be affecting Western Carolina University’s enrollment numbers.

“This is the number that has everyone kind of shaking in their boots,” Mike Langford, WCU’s director of undergraduate admissions, told the university’s board of trustees June 1. “Right now 2,178 have committed to attend (in fall 2017).”

That’s 97 more than at the same point last year and 242 more than the number attending the first day of classes in fall 2016 — a significant increase, especially considering that the school actually sent acceptance letters to slightly fewer students than it did last year. By June 30, 2,147 freshmen had committed to attend.

As of the end of May, WCU had received 19,533 applications compared to 18,282 at the same point in 2016 and admitted 7,431 of those applicants compared to 7,445 admitted last year.

“We hit most of our targets except commitments,” Langford told trustees. “We got a stronger commitment rate than we expected based on our historical record, and I think that is largely due to N.C. Promise.”

When the program goes into effect next year, tuition for in-state undergraduates will be capped at $500 per semester at three University of North Carolina System schools — including WCU. This year’s high commitment rate could indicate that prospective students are already anticipating the upcoming tuition reduction. And that could mean that this year’s admissions cycle contains some lessons for dealing with the effects of N.C. Promise going forward.

WCU might start placing some applicants on a waitlist while it gives the actual admission offers, Langford said — a model typical of highly selective universities.

“It’s also possible we have to have a smaller freshman class next academic year in order to accommodate the larger interest,” he continued. “We might retain them at a higher rate, so it’s not just the one-time impact of admitting a freshman class.”

Not that long ago, retaining freshman students through to the sophomore year was a struggle for Western, with only 67 percent of first-year students returning as sophomores in 2007, but the school has worked to boost that number and celebrated an 80 percent retention milestone in 2015. Langford theorizes that the number might see another jump once the lower

While N.C. Promise will substantially reduce the cost of attendance at Western, a four-year education in Cullowhee will still carry a considerable price tag. In addition to the $500 tuition, students would still be responsible for paying fees and costs for meal plans and dorms or apartments. The total cost to an in-state student living on campus with an average meal plan would therefore sit around $14,000 per year under N.C. Promise, down from $17,000.

With a high number of students who come from lower-income families or are the first in their families to attend college, boosting affordability is key in Cullowhee.

Over the past five years, WCU’s leadership has been working to overhaul its scholarship offerings and take a bite out of student indebtedness. At WCU, 72.6 percent of students carry a loan, with graduates leaving school with an average loan size of $24,000.

“There’s still a challenge in meeting student needs in terms of affordability,” Phil Cauley, director of student recruitment and transitions, told trustees June 1.

Five years ago, WCU completed a scholarship audit that led to the conclusion that scholarships at the university were “kind of a jumble” with no central source of information for scholarship opportunities.

Western then created the director of university scholarships position to lead an overhaul of the system.

Tasks have included reviewing existing scholarships to ensure that they comply with current standards — for example, some older awards were restricted based on the applicant’s race or gender — making sure that all available scholarships are awarded and identifying any additional funds that could be used for a scholarship.

As of the end of May, during 2016-17 WCU had awarded 736 scholarships to 599 students for a total of $11 million, with individual award amounts ranging from $109 to more than $16,000.

There’s still work to do, especially when it comes to wrangling the constant question of whether to emphasize giving as many awards as possible or giving as large amounts as possible.

“Do you give a lot of money to a few, or do you give a lesser amount to more?”

Cauley asked. “At least our philosophy has been trying to find that sweet spot.”

That “sweet spot” being awarding a large number of students for outstanding classroom performance while also making the awards big enough that they have an actual financial impact for the recipient.

Another goal involves allowing more flexibility on applica-

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tuition resulting from N.C. Promise gives students another incentive to stay at Western.

CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS Demographics will also affect the future of enrollment at WCU. Projections through 2030 show an overall decrease in the number of graduating high school seniors in the United States. While numbers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia aren’t

expected to decline as much as the rest of the Southeast, these states will still see lower numbers of graduates and will likely face greater competition for students from schools in other parts of the region.

In North Carolina, Langford said, 2017 is expected to see one of the smallest graduating classes over the next 10 years, with nearly 81,000 fewer graduates than 2013.

Nationwide, and likely statewide as well, demographics of those graduates will see a shift. The decline will come mainly from those students identifying as white, with their numbers falling by 178,000 nationwide from 2017 to 2030. The number of black students will fall slightly, by about 10,000.

Numbers of Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander students, however, will increase significantly, with 105,000 more Hispanic students and 57,000 more Asian students. For every 100 Caucasian students lost, Langford said, 150 non-white students will be gained — Hispanic enrollment will increase by more than 50 percent by 2025.

“It could mean lots of different things in lots of different ways,” Langford said of the trends.

At the most basic level, the stats mean that Western is set to become a more diverse place. Practically, that could translate to a

greater need for bilingual admissions counselors and bilingual promotional materials.

New student groups could form to support the needs and interests of the diversified student body. And Western could also find itself upping the services it provides to firstgeneration students. Serving students who are the first in their family to go to college has historically been a focus for the university, but the demographics indicate that demand for those services could increase in the future.

Western has already taken some steps toward anticipating the future. Admissions has hired some bilingual counselors, and last year the university created the position of chief diversity officer, hiring Ricardo Nazario-Colon to fill the role.

With competition for admissions increasing and demographic trends indicating a shift in the future, some things could change at Western over the coming years. However, Langford stressed, Western’s identity and Western’s mission will stay the same.

“I would like to make sure that people understand who we are here in Western North Carolina, that Western’s not trying to become anything that it hasn’t already been,” he said. “We are here for Western North Carolina.”

A limited number of spots are still available for students interested in enrolling in the Catamount School, the new laboratory school being established at Smoky Mountain High School by Western Carolina University for Jackson County children in grades six, seven and eight.

The mission of the Catamount School is to provide a learning community in which all students are valued and that promotes health and wellness and a commitment to learning through experience in a caring, collaborative and inclusive environment.

The school will have the capacity to serve 25 students in each of the eligible grade levels (six through eight). All Jackson County students in grades six, seven and eight are eligible to apply for enrollment in the school.

For more information or to apply, visit the website catamountschool.wcu.edu or contact Dinsdale at rsdinsdale@wcu.edu.

Ammons plan ninth annual reunion The ninth annual Ammons family reunion will be held on Saturday, July 15, at the Holly Springs Historical Community Building, 2720 Cat Creek Road, Franklin. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m.

At the reunion, family members will have the opportunity to interact with other Ammons relatives who are traveling long distances eager to explore their family heritage.

As in the past reunions, a full day is planned with photo opportunities and a lunch prepared by Martha Ammons Peak (owner of Martha’s Kitchen in Franklin). Attendees will be delighted in the talents of Jackson County siblings Amy Ammons Garza, Doreyl Ammons Cain and David Franklin Ammons, who will present mountain storytelling with spontaneous artwork and family stories.

Door prizes of art, books, crafts and other unique creations from local Ammons families will be awarded during the reunion.

www.franklinford.net

Smoky Mountain News

FREE Oil Change & Service for Every Teacher in Macon County Just Our Way of Saying Thanks

July 5-11, 2017

tion and award timelines. For most undergraduate students, the existing schedule makes sense. But for others, such as graduate students, the schedule might not make sense and could prove cumbersome to achieving their educational goals on time.

Western’s ability to make college affordable will also depend on what happens at the federal level. It’s uncertain what the final budget, the first to be passed under the administration of President Donald Trump, will look like, but Trump’s proposed budget included significant cuts to the Federal Work-Study Program and elimination of the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, which goes to students with an expected family contribution of $0.

Additionally, the Federal Perkins Loan Program, a subsidized loan program, is set to expire on Sept. 30 and will require congressional action to continue.

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Limited seats available at Catamount School

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State tries to curb indigent defense expenses Flat fee program being tested in Macon courts

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR ourt-appointed lawyers are the crux of the U.S justice system because it is their duty to ensure every U.S. citizen is granted their constitutional right to a fair trial, but many lawyers in Western North Carolina are concerned a new pilot program implemented by the state could threaten that right.

Macon is one of six counties across the state that is being included in a pilot program in which court-appointed lawyers are compensated using a flat-fee schedule instead of an hourly rate. According to data from the Indigent Defense Office of North Carolina, indigent defense costs increased 168 percent between 1989 and 1999 while caseloads increased by 90 percent. Capital defense costs rose 338 percent during the same time period.

“Ultimately the goal is for the state to save money, which always sounds like a good thing — but you have to balance that against the constitutional rights of individuals,” said David Moore, the attorney for Macon County Social Services.

Many lawyers in Macon and the rest of the 30th Judicial District are concerned the flat-fee plan could David Moore impact the number of lawyers who choose to serve as court-appointed lawyers, which could in turn affect the quality of representation for indigent defendants.

“Lawyers that are concerned about the system express that a flat fee may not allow them to spend the time necessary to provide effective representation for their clients in more difficult cases,” said Thomas Maher, executive director of the state Office of Indigent Defense Services. “We have tried to address this concern by allowing judges to make additional payment when a case is extraordinary in terms of the time it would take to provide effective representation.”

Maher made a trip from Durham to Franklin in April to give a presentation about the pilot program and answer lawyers’ questions and concerns. The IDS and its 13-member governing board were created in 2000 with the passage of the Indigent Defense Services Act. IDS was instructed last year through legislation to look for ways to cut down on the state’s indigent defense costs, which is how the flat fee program came to be.

Maher presented a detailed fee schedule that clearly lays out how a court-appointed lawyer will be paid per service whether it’s a Class A felony, a DUI charge, a child custody 6 dispute or a probation violation.

Smoky Mountain News

July 5-11, 2017

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Rich Cassady, an attorney in Macon County, took his name off the list for criminal indigent defense after attending the meeting with IDS back in April.

“I got off the misdemeanor list shortly after our meeting with Thomas Maher of Indigent Defense Services. I had removed myself from the felony list last September,” he said. “True to form for attorneys, some stayed on the list because their choice was to either work for peanuts or start driving for Uber, and at least one out-of-county attorney got on the Macon County list because he smelled opportunity. If he wants to drive 70 miles round trip several times for $185 (misdemeanor), $230 (felony) or $300 (DWI) he’s welcome to it.”

Cassady is obviously not a supporter of the flat-fee pilot program as it puts lawyers between Ashley Welch, District Attorney for the 30th Judicial District, which includes the a rock and a hard place seven counties west of Buncombe. File photo when it comes to fulfilling their duties and “I believe that the program was created to titioners with our own individual law firms.” their ability to make a determine whether fee schedules would lead Besides the difference in the districts, the living.

Rich Cassady to more predictability in spending and save 30th Judicial just doesn’t have the high num“I pointed out to Mr. money,” Maher said. “There are other juris- bers of lawyers like the cities to the east of the Maher at our meeting that the Legislature dictions that use flat fees, and I do not know state. Considering the district includes seven was pitting an attorney’s duty to zealously if they have any published studies regarding spread-out rural counties, the ratio is much defend a client against his duty to feed himthe potential cost savings or the impact on smaller. self and his family,” Cassady said. “Who can the quality of representation.”

“There’s not a lot of lawyers in this district put hours into a case for $185? This model and there’s even fewer attorneys that do par- turns criminal defense into a volume busirepresentation — we already don’t have ness like Walmart.”

IFFERENCES BY DISTRICT ent The concern is that if lawyers know many,” Moore said. “As a result, when the flat Cabarrus and Rowan are the only two fee was instituted, we had more lawyers come they’re only going to get $300 for a DUI case, counties in the state currently using a flat-fee off the list. We’re down to six lawyers total they’ll be quicker to just make a plea deal instead of going above and beyond to make system. Unlike Macon, those counties also now (for parent representation).” the best decision for their client. serve as their own districts — Sometimes District Court cases District 19A and District 19C, are simple and can be resolved respectively. However, Macon is with only a couple of hours one of seven counties included invested, but others are compliin the 30th Judicial District.

Flat-fee pay schedule for court-appointed lawyers in Macon County, cated and require hours of The 30th Judicial is also difwhich was chosen to participate in a state pilot program overseen by research, hours of travel time ferent because it doesn’t contain the Indigent Defense Office. and hours of sitting in court a public defenders office. waiting for their client’s name to Instead, the judicial system State average Flat fee come up on the docket. relies on private lawyers to opt Class A-D felonies.....................................$543........................$400 “The only way an attorney in to serving as court-appointed All other felonies....................................... $265........................$230 will make money is to plead the lawyers for indigent defense.

Class A1 misdemeanors............................$204........................$200 cases as soon as he can,” Only about 15 counties in the Class 1-3 misdemeanors.......................... $176........................$185 Cassady said. “Who can afford state actually have a public Probation violations.................................. $171........................$185 to sit around in the Macon defender’s office, meaning DWI............................................................$297........................$300 County Courthouse all day lawyers are full-time public Civil and criminal contempt......................$165........................$185 behind docket call, 50 breaks, defenders who are paid by the Juvenile felonies........................................N/A.......................... $500 lunch, and inmate cases just to state.

Juvenile misdemeanors............................. $226........................$200 finally get to plead their cases Danya Ledford Vanhook is a Child welfare.............................................N/A.......................... $500 later in the afternoon?” private attorney handling cases Termination of parental rights.................. $475........................$500 Cassady said this program throughout the seven-county would only work financially for district and is also on the courtlawyers if the court-appointed list stays lean appointed list to accept all types of cases in they can take on enough cases to make District and Superior Court (except murder EFENSE SHORTAGE and the money work for them. If too many are on charges) in Haywood, Jackson and Swain counties. She knows from experience that The flat-fee schedule is putting more pres- the list, the cases will be spread too thin — making time for court-appointed cases is dif- sure on a judicial system that is already strug- being on the list won’t have any financial benficult for a small, private law firm within such gling to keep enough lawyers on the lists for efit for lawyers taking time away from their a large district. criminal defense and child custody cases. private practices for the public service.

A thin list is what the district has right “We, as private counsel, are self-employed Many lawyers took their name off the courtby our own law firms or work for a private law appointed list when hourly rates dropped to now. As an elected official, it’s difficult for firm owned by another private attorney,” she $55, and now more are coming off with the Ashley Welch, the 30th Judicial District Attorney, to have a personal opinion on the said. “Most of us are self-employed sole prac- pilot program.

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By the numbers

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28 30

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29A 27B

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22B 19C

27A 26

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17A 15A

14 15B

Effective January 1, 2015. Note: Districts 9 and 9B, and districts 20B, 20C, and 20D are districts for electoral purposes only. They are combined for administrative purposes.

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3A 8

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Copyright 2014, School of Government, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

FAIR FEES?

“According to the data provided by the Indigent Defense Services or IDS, the Macon County averages for criminal cases and the new flat fee system is fairly in line,” Vanhook said. “Sometimes it was a little more and sometimes a little less, but overall looks like the flat fee system for criminal District Court will fairly compensate private court-appointed attorneys who accept indigent work in Criminal District court only.”

While there’s no average cost data available for Superior Court and currently no proposal to extend the flat fee system to Superior Court, Vanhook said the data provided by IDS for private attorneys taking on DSS court cases was “wholly inadequate.”

CHILD CUSTODY It’s not about the money at all for Moore, who has practiced law for 18 years and has worked in child custody cases for more than 10 years. Moore is paid by the county to represent DSS in child custody cases. He’s not representing the parents’ in the custody case, but he understands the parents have every right to fight for their children. And if parents can’t afford their own counsel, then they have every right to a court-appointed lawyer to represent their interests.

Moore said his main worry is that less court-appointed lawyers will mean longer waits for children to be placed into a secure home.

“My concern is for the children in the system — there’s a constitutional right for parents to have that representation and ultimately if parents aren’t represented, that causes delays in permanent placement for the children,” he said. “We are allowing the financial constraints the General Assembly is imposing to potentially affect the wellbeing and permanency for children.”

Vanhook agreed that DSS cases involving the termination of parental rights are arguably the most important constitutional right that can be taken away from a person in District Court — and it’s a right the state legislature has put a $500 value on.

“If we spent 8 to 10 hours, which is typically the absolute minimum an attorney

The judicial system relies on private lawyers to opt in to serving as court-appointed lawyers for indigent defense.

She said she is considering getting on the court-appointed DSS list in Macon if she sees more lawyers coming off. Being on the list will help her collect more data for IDS to show them the DSS fees aren’t adequate.

Vanhook is from Macon County, is a former District Court Judge for the district and a former DSS attorney for Graham and Buncombe counties.

WHAT’S TO COME?

The flat-fee program in Macon was supposed to be implemented by the end of April but it didn’t actually get underway until June 1. Lawyers are saying it’s too soon to see any real impact on the district.

Moore said he hasn’t had any new cases filed since June 1, but that could change in July.

“We could have 10 new cases in July — you just never know — but I do expect it will have a negative impact in the long term,” Moore said. “The question is where is that impact felt and by whom is it felt.”

While Vanhook is staying optimistic, she does fear more experienced lawyers will come off the lists, leaving indigent clients in the hands of new, inexperienced lawyers who need the work.

“In order to prevent this, our District Court judges, who are so wonderful, have encouraged all of the qualified attorneys to stay on the court-appointed list in DSS Court, and have assured us that they will fairly compensate us,” she said. “So, as of now, we are trusting the judges to do right by us, and we are still accepting these cases.”

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Smoky Mountain News

Maher said during his presentation that a flat-fee schedule — if successful — would also help the state create a uniform, standardized system across the state instead of having different payment plans in each district.

Macon is included with Burke, Davidson, Iredell, Lincoln and Watauga counties to test out the pilot program.

“Macon and the other counties were picked because the legislature required two large counties, two medium and two small counties for the pilot, and we tried to find counties that meet these criteria and in which there appeared to be a healthy indigent defense system already operating,” Maher said.

Many of the established fees fall below the state average — $400 for a Class A-D felony, $200 for a Class A1 misdemeanor, $300 for a DUI and $185 for a probation violation.

In a case with multiple charges per defendant, IDS says the court-appointed lawyer

will be compensated based on the highest original charge of all the charges being resolved at the same time. For example, if a court-appointed lawyer is dealing with a defendant who has a misdemeanor and a DUI charge, the lawyer will receive the higher $300 DUI fee.

IDS is still working on “extraordinary pay guidelines” in an effort to cover those cases which, either because they are complicated or lengthy, cannot be fairly compensated under a flat fee system. For example, a DWI that is litigated in both the District and Superior Court may be submitted to the presiding judge for payment under the hourly rather than the flat fee rate.

“See, there is a caveat to the flat fee schedule — you can apply to the judge in Danya Vanhook cases where you've had to work well over the 810 hours, which is the only amount of time that would be fairly compensated by the flat fee of $500,” Vanhook said. “So if you've had to work 20-60 hours, and that's going to be pretty much in every case, the judge can elect to forgo the flat fee because it would be a gross underpayment, and pay at the $55 per hour rate.”

The state sets the hourly rates for courtappointed lawyers. Before the recession, Moore said hourly rates for noncapital cases was $75 but the legislature cut it down to $55 an hour as part of budget cuts.

“It still sounds like a lot of money, but it’s not a lot of money, especially if have to pay overhead,” Moore said of the hourly rate. “A lawyer’s average rate in this region is $150 to $250 an hour.”

So $400 for a felony charge is sufficient if the lawyer only spent two or three hours on the case, but many cases will require more time than that. Some DUI charges will be pleaded out quickly, making the $300 fee reasonable, but other times it will only cover a fraction of the lawyer’s time. The hope is court-appointed lawyers won’t see much of a difference in pay, as it will be a wash over time.

July 5-11, 2017

state pilot program, especially since she’s never been on the criminal defense side of the courtroom. She does know that just the implementation of the flat-fee schedule in Macon has already caused a shortage of court-appointed lawyers.

“The number of people on the courtappointed list has dramatically decreased just since April,” Welch said. “There’s only four on the list for District Court in Macon County — we had 12 to 15 when I was an assistant DA.” Vanhook remains hopeful that lawyers will stay on the court-appointed list because of their ethical responsibility and belief that every person is entitled to competent, vigorous legal counsel.

“Even though they are taking a loss, it’s an emotional, visceral response that someone has got to stand up to DSS for the poorest and most disadvantaged members of our society,” she said. “But, at the same time, we have children of our own and have to feed our families. The flat fee would not be sustainable, so what it does is encourage lawyers just to do the bare minimum, because that's all you're getting paid for anyway.”

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NORTH CAROLINA DISTRICT COURT DISTRICTS

would ever spend on something so important, which would be $440-$550 under the current rate of $55/hour, then $500 a pop is fair. So looking on the surface, it looks fair,” she said.

But in reality, Vanhook said lawyers spend closer to 40 to 60 hours on each case involving abuse, neglect, dependency or termination of parental rights case, which would be $2,200-$3,300 at $55 per hour. Under these circumstances, she says the flat-fee schedule is unfair and grossly undercompensates court-appointed lawyers.

“The reason we spend so much time on these types of cases is that we have to in order to effectively represent our clients to defend their constitutional right to parent against a government agency with all its resources behind it (DSS),” Vanhook said. “Our clients only have us. We who practice indigent defense for parents must spend many hours reviewing medical, psychiatric, psychological evidence, attending multiple court dates and meetings, and advocating tirelessly for our clients, not to mention driving all over this judicial district.”

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The idyllic splendor of the Mountain Research Station belies the important agricultural research that takes place at the facility. Cory Vaillancourt photo

July 5-11, 2017

What’s in the cards?

Growing the greens

Smoky Mountain News

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER he cultivation of agriculture is the first and most important way Homo sapiens differentiate themselves from other creatures.

It’s literally been that important, for thousands of years.

Safe, efficient and reliable food production is still the cornerstone of any organized society and makes possible population increases that grow economies and create wealth.

It’s been no different in Haywood County; since the region was first settled by the Cherokee and then later by Europeans, agriculture has been an important economic sector that not only feeds families but also generates millions of dollars in sales each year.

Modern agriculture, however, is far removed from the small Cherokee villages and simple family homesteads of the Cataloochee Valley’s yesteryear; industry consolidation throughout the last half of the 20th century corporatized agriculture more than ever before.

Now, with large-scale agriculture disappearing across the county and across the country, small-scale niche producers face challenges in both delivering and producing new products while competing with growers 8 half a world away.

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But Haywood County is doing all it can to augment its diminishing but still robust agricultural industry; the presence of a cattle market, a consumer program and a research station all point to a countywide commitment towards growing greens – not just the rubbery leaves of Burley tobacco, but cold hard cash.

PAID BY THE POUND Just east of downtown Waynesville, off the aptly-named Test Farm Road, sits 400 acres on which Kaleb Rathbone’s been stomping around for years.

“I started working here in high school,” Rathbone said.

Rathbone graduated from Tuscola High School, earned his bachelor’s degree in environmental and soil science from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, earned a master’s degree in agricultural operations from UT-Martin, and is now the superintendent of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Mountain Research Station.

“Our research program is divided between crops and livestock,” he said.

“Everything from Christmas trees, row crops like corn and soybeans, a lot of horticulture work, tomato breeding, broccoli, peppers ….

Pretty much if it’s grown in this area, we are or have done research on it.”

Beef, he said, is still the largest segment of

agriculture in Western North Carolina.

“It’s a product of our topography. You can’t grow corn or soybeans on the side of that hill,” he said, pointing in the direction of the rolling knolls that hug the research station’s perimeter. “You use what you’ve got.”

That cattle breeding research taking place at the MRS has benefitted producers; however, a bigger economic development challenge solved years ago by a small cadre of state and local economic development agencies has had far more impact on Haywood County’s agricultural sector than any fatted calf ever could.

DOING BUSINESS As livestock markets in Canton and Asheville closed, Mark Clasby’s Haywood Advancement Foundation helped create the WNC Regional Livestock Center in Canton.

When cattle producers transport their cattle to distant markets, the cattle lose weight on the trip.

“You get paid by the pound,” Clasby said.

Keeping cattle here — as well as drawing cattle from across the region — creates an important hub of economic activity in a county where the number of animal and animal-related establishments has dropped by 46 percent from 1997 to 2012, according to the USDA. Revenue over that period, however, dropped just 23 percent, indicating that the Regional Livestock Center has helped stem the loss.

Crop producers in Haywood County have over that same period seen a similar decline in the number of establishments — 34 percent — but also have seen revenue growth of 15 percent.

Some of that gain can probably be attributed to another Haywood Economic Development Council effort — Buy Haywood.

Begun in 2007, the grant-funded Buy Haywood Market Development Program connects local consumers with local producers that produce everything from tomatoes to honey to trout caviar while attempting to fuse agriculture and tourism into the burgeoning new industry of agritourism.

“It was started specifically to help get local tomatoes and peppers into grocery stores,” said Buy Haywood Project Coordinator Tina Masciarelli.

Masciarelli’s helmed the program, which runs on an extremely lean average budget of $10,000 to $15,000, for five years now; that tomato effort having proved successful inspired the group to branch out with a number of other marketing initiatives aimed and helping consumers put local produce on their tables — including newer products like beer and whisky.

“We’re always looking for new markets for Haywood County products,” she said.

Those products in turn are influenced by the work of Rathbone and the MRS. “The majority of crop work we do is associated with plant breeding and genetic improve-

— Kaleb Rathbone, Mountain Research Station

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July 5-11, 2017

“In the last farm bill there was a provision that allowed states to establish a research program for industrial hemp, state by state.

Kentucky was one of the first ones and they’ve had it going for a while,” Rathbone said. “In North Carolina, I believe it was last year the General Assembly passed authorization for our state to form the Industrial Hemp Commission which was charged with the task of establishing a research program.”

A small crop of hemp seedlings — with

AGRICULTURE

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“Pretty much if it’s grown in this area, we are or have done research on it.”

tiny sawtoothed leaves — now dots the persimmon-colored soil at MRS. “It’s very strict,” Rathbone said. “I had to send in the GPS coordinates on this particular field. If I were to grow hemp in a field right over there, it would be just like growing marijuana — it would be illegal.”

Rathbone’s hemp contains a very low amount of THC — the active ingredient in cannabis that produces the “high” — and can’t be used recreationally.

But it can be used for all manner of fibrous products, from paper to rope, and would be a rarity in the horticultural world — it’s not often a new crop makes an appearance in a farmer’s field.

Research at the MRS — which generates 70 percent of its yearly revenue from its own sales — can take anywhere from 5 to 15 years to finally reach consumers, but the industrial hemp has much further to go; Rathbone said that due to its illegality, it’s missed out on more than half a century of research that has benefitted other plants like tomatoes and corn.

“We don’t even know what soil pH is best,” he said.

As producers and growers in Haywood County look to the future of the industry, the biggest problems appear on a global and national scale; last spring, Haywood County Farm Bureau President Don Smart said that the major challenges in the industry aren’t pests or rainfall, but health care and immigration — specifically finding enough workers.

But with support from Rathbone’s MRS, Canton’s livestock center and Masciarelli’s Buy Haywood program, those local producers have all the encouragement they need to continue growing the greens.

“We can confidently say that we’ve helped boost sales,” Masciarelli said. “The anecdotes are overwhelming.”

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ment,” he said. “There’s a large pocket of tomato production in this area. N.C. State has a tomato breeding program that’s pretty much dedicated to and focuses on Western North Carolina and the majority of the commercial varieties growers are using were developed here or at the station in Mills River.”

Tobacco remains an important but diminishing cash crop in the county, and as such, much research still takes place on the crop.

“North Carolina is still the largest tobacco-producing state, and still plays a very vital economic role in our state,” Rathbone said.

“You don’t think about it, but farmers in Haywood County are in direct competition with growers in Brazil or Malawi or Mexico.”

In addition to perfecting the cultivation of old mainstays like tomatoes and tobacco, Rathbone’s got a new crop this year — one that hasn’t (legally) been planted in Haywood County in five decades or more.

ANIMALS & ANIMAL PRODUCTS CROPS Haywood County’s first legal crop of industrial hemp sprouts from the soil at the Mountain Research Station in Waynesville. Cory Vaillancourt photo

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Agriculture

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Election season begins for municipalities

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER s the candidate sign-up period for November’s municipal elections opens at noon on Friday, July 7, voters in most municipalities will start to learn who’s in, who’s out, who’s moving on and who’s moving up.

The towns of Canton, Maggie Valley, Clyde, Sylva, Dillsboro, Forest Hills, Franklin, Webster and Bryson City will all hold elections.

Perhaps the biggest changes could come in Canton, where longtime Mayor Mike Ray recently made his intentions clear.

“I was reading to a fourth-grade class in Bethel a few months ago,” Ray said. “They asked if I was going to be mayor again and I said I wasn’t.”

Although those fourth-graders have known for a few months, Ray made his first public statement on re-election when asked at the conclusion of a June 29 Canton Board of Aldermen meeting; he cited his own children and grandchildren as one big reason for his retirement from public service.

Ray said that after the looks of concern faded from the faces of the students in Bethel, he assured them that someone would come along to lead the town.

That someone could be Canton Alderman Zeb Smathers, who has widely been seen as a strong prospect for the job.

“That was the first I’d heard of [Ray’s intention],” said Smathers of a Smoky Mountain News tweet breaking the news June 29.

Accordingly, Smathers declined to speculate on his candidacy on account of Ray’s abrupt notice, but did say that he’d since been asked by town employees and people across the county to consider replacing Ray. Smathers said he’d discuss the matter with his wife, and that Cantonians would learn of his decision if and when he makes his candidacy official. Zeb Smathers is the son of Pat Smathers, a past, long-term mayor of Canton.

Smathers’ alderman seat is up, meaning he could run for alderman, run for mayor, or decline to stand for any office and instead retire to his law practice while nursing a ruptured Achilles tendon that’s kept him from standing for anything for weeks.

Canton Alderman Carole Edwards’ seat is

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July 5-11, 2017

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also up for reelection; although she did not return a message sent June 30 seeking comment, it’s been rumored that she isn’t interested in serving in that role again, and there’s been little mention of her having mayoral aspirations, despite topping the 2013 “pick four” ballot with 365 votes to Smathers’ 362 in a contest that also saw current board members Gail Mull and Dr. Ralph Hamlett gain seats with 359 and 316 votes, respectively.

In Maggie Valley, seats currently occupied

by Aldermen Mike Eveland and Clayton Davis are up for re-election.

“I have not made a decision yet about whether to pursue being an alderman,” said Davis July 1.

Alderman Mike Eveland was a bit more decisive.

Municipal election timeline

Canton Mayor Mike Ray (left) will not be seeking re-election, while Canton Alderman Zeb Smathers (right) is considering a run for mayor. File photo

• • • • • • •

July 7 Municipal candidate filing begins July 21 Municipal candidate filing ends Oct. 6 Absentee by mail requests begin Oct. 13 Voter registration deadline Oct. 19 One Stop voting begins Oct. 31 Absentee by mail requests end Nov. 1-6 Absentee requests for sickness, disability accepted • Nov. 4 One Stop voting ends • Nov. 7 Election Day “My plan as of right now is that I’m probably going to run,” Eveland said July 1. “A lot of things I ran on four years ago have been fixed, and things seem to be headed in the right direction.”

Eveland cited the “great job” Maggie Valley Town Manager Nathan Clark has been doing, satisfaction with the town attorney, better cooperation among the board and more stability in the town’s insurance expenditures as examples of what’s right with Maggie Valley right now.

Two alderman seats in Clyde — those of Jim Trantham and Frank Lay — are also up for re-election in what Haywood County Board of Elections Director Robbie Inman

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again. The three commissioners could not be reached by deadline.

Both aldermen up for election in Bryson City, Rick Bryson and Janine Crisp confirmed they would be running for another term.

In Franklin, terms are up for councilmembers Barbara McRae, Billy Mashburn and Patti Abel and Mayor Bob Scott. Abel will not be running again and Mashburn and McRae were not able to be reached before deadline.

Scott confirmed he would be seeking a third term as mayor. Even though Franklin council members serve four-year terms, the mayor only serves two-year terms.

Highlands Mayor Patrick Taylor and Commissioners Amy Patterson and Donnie Calloway are up for re-election.

Candidates may register during the signup period by visiting their county’s Board of Elections office.

Voters should be registered by Oct. 13 to participate in this year’s election, which will be held Nov. 7. One stop voting starts Oct. 19 and ends Nov. 4, and absentee ballots may be requested by mail from Oct. 6-31.

Jessi Stone and Holly Kays contributed to this story.

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said was the smallest municipal election of the county’s four-year election cycle.

Inman also said that the candidate-filing period both opens and closes “promptly” at noon and lasts from July 7 to July 21.

In Jackson County, the Sylva town board has two commissioner seats up for election.

While Commissioner Mary Gelbaugh said she plans to run again, Commissioner Barbara Hamilton couldn’t be reached for comment.

All five aldermen and the mayor of Dillsboro will be up for re-election. Aldermen Beaufort Riddle and David Gates said they will run again, but Alderman David Jones and Mayor Mike Fitzgerald are undecided.

Aldermen Jimmy Cabe and Tim Parris couldn’t be reached for comment.

Two councilmembers and the mayor of Forest Hills are also up for re-election. Mayor Kolleen Begely will run again and so will councilmember Clark Corwin.

Councilmember Carl Hooper is undecided.

In Webster, seats held by Mayor Tracy Rodes and Commissioners Alan Grant, Danell Moses and Leigh Anne Young are up for election. Rodes said she plans to run

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The Haywood Republican Alliance is a conservative splinter group of the state-recognized county party, with which it shares common roots and a contemptuous history.

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Woodhouse said via email July 1 that without commenting on “specifics of any situation that may or may not occur,� state and county organizational plans outline a procedure that “at some point would require/allow all sides to present their case for judgment.�

He went on to cite a section of the party’s state plan that says that any member of a committee organized under the plan may be removed after formal charges signed by the lesser of either 50 committee members or one-third of the committee have been furnished to the accused two weeks prior to any vote and after the “opportunity to present a defense� occurs.

Once proper service has been rendered, a two-thirds vote by members of the committee is sufficient to remove a member only on charges of gross inefficiency, party disloyalty or failure to comply with various organizational plans.

An additional request to confirm details regarding the reported resolution was answered by NCGOP District 11 Chairman Aubrey Woodard, who said there would be no further comment on the matter at this time.

Iff you can’t ’ tell lll, l no one else can eitther!

July 5-11, 2017

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER n a story that sounds like it should have come out of Moscow in 1938 or Havana in 1961 rather than Waynesville in 2017, several Haywood County citizens have allegedly been charged with political “party disloyalty.�

According to an email sent July 1 by Haywood Republican Alliance member Eddie Cabe and a blog publication by local conservative activist Monroe Miller, the Haywood County Republican Party allegedly held an unannounced closed session during a special called meeting May 23, during which a resolution accusing five current and eformer HCGOP members of “party disloyalty� was passed by a vote of 12 to 2. n HCGOP and N.C. Republican Party offidcials would neither confirm nor deny that any such resolution exists, who might be -named in it, whether it was passed, what dconsequences it might carry for those named tin it, if or when those so named would be eable to speak in their own defense, and if or when those so named will be formally notiafied of any actions taken against them. n “This is ridiculous,� said HRA member eJeremy Davis.

The HRA is a conservative splinter group of the state-recognized county party, with d ewhich it shares common roots and a contemptuous history. Miller, who was in atten-dance at the meeting, was also one of the faccused and also one of the two “no� votes.

He reported that the others named with ohim in the party disloyalty resolution — lwhich was read aloud, with no printed copies 9yet available to anyone — were HRA memebers Davis, Richard West and Paul Yeager.

Cabe’s email was to request a verification of the charge against him and was addressed s to NCGOP Chairman Robin Hayes, Vice Chair Michelle Nix, Haywood County Republican Party Chairman Ken Henson and more than 50 other activists, party officials and news outlets.

He claimed in his email that the county party has a dormant website and no working phone number, and that HCGOP Chair Ken Henson and Vice Chair Debbie King “refuse to answer questions.�

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‘Disloyalty resolution’ allegedly targets five

If passed as Miller reports it was, the resolution would bar individuals named in it from holding office in the HCGOP for five years, according to Davis.

Such a move would in essence preempt a possible return to the HCGOP by HRA members, who were ousted from power in the more mainstream HCGOP during a counterinsurgency staged at party elections this past spring. “They are terrified we will take it back,�

Davis said.

When asked for comment, local and state Republican Party officials were reluctant, but did shed some light on the procedural requirements of such a resolution.

Emails to Henson and King went unanswered, but Ted Carr, vice chairman for the HCGOP’s Cecil precinct and former party chair, told The Smoky Mountain News that it would be “inappropriate� for any HCGOP executive member to comment specifically on an event held in a closed session, and referred comments to Dallas Woodhouse, the NCGOP’s executive director.

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Forest management planning process moves forward New documents map out management areas

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER hile a draft forest management plan is still nearly a year away, a group of recently released documents gives a glimpse into how the U.S. Forest Service might ultimately manage the 1.2 million acres in the Pisgah-Nantahala National Forest over the next 20 years.

Maps showing management areas, goals for each type of management area, descriptions of each of the forest’s unique geographic areas and a list of special interest areas are all contained in the documents that the Forest Service put out for public comment.

And, while different stakeholders have different opinions on what’s been written so far, opinion on the Forest Service’s process seems to be running high.

“I can’t commend the Forest Service enough on how they’ve rolled this out and how transparent they’ve been,” said David Whitmire, a hunter and outfitter who is also a member of the Stakeholders Forum for the Nantahala and Pisgah Plan Revision. “I think it’s fantastic.”

“It’s great that the Forest Service is putting a lot of time and energy into setting context,” added Jill Gottesman, conservation specialist for The Wilderness Society’s Southern Appalachian Regional Office and an alternate on the forum.

July 5-11, 2017

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Smoky Mountain News

The new documents divide the forest into 12 different geographic areas, distinct landscapes that contain their own unique ecology and identity. With each area, the Forest Service has included a description of the area’s history and notable places, a map of management areas and a list of management goals.

Michelle Aldridge, planning officer for the Forest Service, compares the geographic areas to cities and the management areas within them to zoning districts. Just like most cities have areas zoned as residential, commercial and industrial, each geographic area has areas designated for interface, matrix or backcountry management.

It’s a markedly different scheme than the current plan, which defines 21 different types of management areas. In the plan currently under construction, just three management types — interface, matrix and backcountry — would cover the bulk of the for12 est, with a few other management types —

New forest planning materials released Open houses seeking input on the developing forest management plan for the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests are planned throughout the summer, with the public invited to learn about and comment on the latest round of documents released as part of the process.

• 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, July 11, at Tartan Hall in Franklin.

• 6-8 p.m. Thursday, July 13, at the Pisgah Ranger District Office in Brevard.

• 3-6 p.m. Tuesday, July 25, at the Cheoah Ranger District Office in Robbinsville.

• 3-6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8, at the Brasstown Community Center in Brasstown.

The recently released documents outline the management areas assigned to each area of the forest, divide the forest into 12 distinct landscapes, and include information on special interest areas the Forest Service has identified.

The open houses will be drop-in style, with comments accepted and information given. Comments can also be submitted by Aug. 31 to NCplanrevision@fs.fed.us with the subject line “Spring 2017 material Plan Building Blocks” or by mail to Attn: Plan Revision, National Forests in North Carolina, 160A Zillicoa St, Asheville, NC 28801.

Forest planning documents are online at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/nfsnc/ncprevision. concentrated recreation areas, administrative sites, Appalachian Trail, National Scenic Byways, heritage corridors, Wild and Scenic Rivers, special interest areas and research natural areas, and wilderness — appearing less frequently for a total of 12 different management area types.

“One of the things we heard loud and clear is our (current) plan had too many different management areas,” Aldridge said.

“We wanted to provide clarity about where different things could occur, but we thought we could make it a simpler management area concept.”

The three main management types form a sort of gradient across the forest. Interface areas, generally about 1 mile wide, follow existing roads and are the places where human impact and population are likely to be the highest. The matrix area contains the most acreage and serves as a “connective tis-

A mountain biker pedals across a creek in the Pisgah National Forest. File photo sue” between the interface and the backcountry. The backcountry, meanwhile, is managed to be remote and often roadless, with large blocks of relatively undisturbed forest.

In the backcountry, management will emphasize habitat for species that need large blocks of older forest to thrive, and while timber harvest will be allowed there, it will be used to accomplish “site-specific restoration goals” and wouldn’t happen frequently, the pre-draft plan says.

Meanwhile, management in the matrix and interface areas will be substantially more active. In both areas, the focus will be on creating young forest habitat to bolster populations of game species, with 650-1,200 acres harvested each year — though more harvest would be possible with funding from partner organizations and use of prescribed fire.

“With expanding opportunities, including with partners where possible, this work could accomplish up to approximately 3,000 to 4,000 acres annually,” the document says.

In the interface areas, management would seek to minimize any impacts to access roads or to the scenic beauty visitors experience as they drive past. Extra care would also be taken to prevent spread of invasive species, as spots closer to roads and other public areas are more susceptible to such issues. Meanwhile, management in the matrix will seek to make young forest more frequent — likely using timber harvest and fire to achieve the goal — than in the interface. Some road construction would be permitted to facilitate such management.

FEEDBACK FROM STAKEHOLDERS Reaction to the preliminary management area designations varies.

“I like the flexibility that they get in those

areas,” Whitmire said. “That’s what we look forward to is flexibility to get some of this regeneration work done in the forest. Matrix and interface does a lot of that.”

Whitmire has been an advocate of increased logging in the national forest so as to create more of the young forest habitats that game animals such as grouse and deer need to thrive, and he likes that the new management area scheme provides the possibility of timber harvest across much of the forest. He hopes to see partnerships with other groups allow the Forest Service to boost young forest habitat to somewhere between 10 to 12 percent of the forest’s total acreage.

For her part, Gottesman is withholding judgment on how well the draft management areas might work until more information is released.

“There’s a lot of questions still out there as far as in the interface and matrix areas where different types of restoration and timber management are going to be happening,” she said. “We’d like to see more clearly stated guidelines from the Forest Service on how that does occur in those places.”

“I think it’s a workable concept,” Josh Kelly, public lands biologist for MountainTrue and stakeholders forum member, said of the revised management areas. “But we’re going to need to see more details to understand how that’s going to work. Right now I don’t see any distinction between interface and matrix.”

Aldridge made it clear that just because a piece of land is mapped as being in the matrix or interface doesn’t mean that it’s eligible for timber harvest. The forest plan materials include various stipulations for where harvest can occur based on characteristics like the steepness of the land and its proximity to waterways.

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“When we go to decide where to do our work, we have to factor in all sorts of conditions,” Aldridge explained. “Slopes and water and scenery and recreation and heavy use. We also think about where is the place that will be most effective for achieving our forest health goals.”

Both Gottesman and Kelly, however, want to see more parameters in black and white. The new documents “go a long way toward setting the guidelines,” Gottesman said, but they don’t explicitly require forest managers to consider “really special areas” such as old growth forest and state natural areas.

“We feel like there needs to be stringent protections and language in the plan about how they’ll be treated,” she said.

Speaking of special areas, both Kelly and Gottesman believe that places The Wilderness Society has identified as “mountain treasures” deserving of protection wouldn’t get that protection if the draft management area boundaries stand.

In particular, both named Daniel Ridge and Cedar Rock Mountain in the Pisgah Ranger District as areas needing more protection. Gottesman added Santeelah Creek oin Graham County and Lickstone Ridge in Haywood County to the list and believes that the backcountry area around Fires Creek in Cherokee County should be expanded.

“They’re not mountain treasures that we’d like to see recommended for wilderness, but they are all really spectacular places that we feel need to get that backcountry area or special interest area assignment,” Gottesman said.

For his part, Jim Gray of the Ruffed Grouse Society, who is also a stakeholders forum member, believes that the plan should allow for more young forest creation in the Pisgah National Forest.

“I see more possibility for better wildlife habitat and wildlife abundance in how the Nantahala is designated. I see less so in the Pisgah,” he said.

Whitmire, meanwhile, said that he’s holding off on making any specific comments until he finishes hearing from sportsmen across the region. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Council, of which Whitmire is a leader, is currently holding meetings to gather input.

Folks such as Whitmire, Gottesman, Gray and Kelly have been giving their time and attention to the forest management plan’s development since 2014, when the process began, and it will be more than a year before a final plan is adopted.

“I tallied up all the trips I made last year, and I put over 4,400 miles on my truck just going to these meetings,” Gray said. “It’s a major investment.”

The effort has been gargantuan, Aldridge said, from all those involved.

“I cannot undervalue how much time and effort folks have put into this,” she said.

“There are differences of opinion and there always will be when it comes to managing multiple uses, but we’re trying to work to find the strongest solution that can help the greatest good.”

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July 5-11, 2017

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Macon forms task force to fix fire service inconsistencies

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR acon County Commissioners hope a newly established Fire Task Force will be able to create more consistency among the county’s 11 fire districts.

These inconsistencies in fees and management, which have been laid out in a 157-page Macon County Fire Protection Study, led to one commissioner — Paul Higdon — voting against the final 2017-18 budget proposal.

Among Higdon’s problems with the budget was a fire tax increase for the Franklin and Burningtown Fire Districts without addressing the discrepancies between all departments first.

Specifically, Higdon was not happy about Burningtown Fire District asking the county for more operating funds to meet the needs of a new substation constructed last year.

Higdon thought the price tag was too high and didn’t like that the county had to allocate more money to the department to operate the second substation. He wants more oversight over the fire districts’ capital projects.

Following several community input meetings, the new $440,000 substation was built fives miles away from the main station to cut down on response times in the rural district.

The fire department used $100,000 it had saved up and took out a $320,000 loan to make it happen. The 7,000-square-foot substation can also serve as a community center with plenty of meeting space and a kitchen.

Despite Higdon’s concerns with the fire districts, the county budget passed anyway.

The budget also included funding for the Fire Task Force to get started under the direction of Emergency Management Director Warren Cabe.

Right now the fire districts operate and are funded differently — some collect a flat fee while others have a tax rate; some districts

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Cabe also wants contracts between fire pay their volunteers while others don’t; some unteer until the late 1990s, now eight of the have multiple stations and large districts districts have at least one paid position — districts and the county to stipulate that if a while others have one station and a very low Franklin Fire Department has seven paid department should dissolve, any major capipositions. There are drawbacks to only hav- tal assets would immediately transfer to the square mileage to cover.

“The ultimate goal would be a unified ing a volunteer firefighter force though — the county government for the purpose of fire emergency service system with all agencies cost of fire insurance for homeowners is protection.

He would also like to see a uniform platworking together to accomplish a common much greater in the rural districts compared goal,” Cabe wrote in the fire protection study. to the municipal districts. Macon County form for all department data, which is essen“One of the most important things to accom- could get that cost down by staffing each fire tial for long-term planning, and more county plish, even if no recommendations are pur- station with two full-time firefighters to pro- oversight for each department’s budget and sued and no changes are implemented, is the vide 24-hour coverage but it would cost $5 overall financial health.

“Several inconsistencies were initiation of the open discussion about noted between what departments planning for the future of the fire servindicated their funding sources and ice in Macon County.” percentages were with this study comMany counties and municipalities pared to what was submitted with the have had to spend big bucks lately to Budget Tax rate budget process last year,” Cabe said. hire more paid firefighters as the num- Burningtown........................$191,356.................... .0867 Under North Carolina law, local ber of volunteers continues to Clarks Chapel..................... $313,886.................... .0765 governments are not required to prodecrease. The town of Waynesville Cowee..................................$305,115.................... .1103 vide fire protection for residents and spent $500,000 to hire eight new fire- Cullasaja.............................$248,540.................... .0537 services do not have to be equal but fighters and increased its tax rate to Mountain Valley...................$135,273.................... .127 often rely on the amount of funding pay for it.

Nantahala........................... $222,941.................... .0643 available. Even though it’s not However, Macon County still has a Otto..................................... $304,738.................... .065 required, most municipalities and good number of dedicated volunteers, Scaly Mountain................... $117,670.................... .0486 counties consider fire protection a especially at the more rural districts. West Macon.........................$300,783.................... .0681 vital service and choose to either fund Only 17 out of the county’s 350 fire- Franklin...............................$667,804.................... .0445 the service from the general fund, fighters are in paid positions. Highlands............................$367,923.................... .0108 through creating fire taxing districts Commissioners and Cabe don’t want to or some combination of both. see that volunteer force change as long Macon County chose to establish “County million a year in personnel costs alone. as they are able to provide adequate services.

After collecting data from fire districts service districts” in 1999 to finance, provide However, Macon still has many challenges when it comes to fire protection — and through a public survey, Cabe outlined and maintain one or more authorized servicrecruiting and retaining reliable volunteers, several recommendations in his comprehen- es, including fire, EMS and rescue services.

One of Cabe’s recommendations is to managing the increased volume of service sive report. He recommended a policy change calls, providing an increased level of training to more clearly define performance levels for explore the option of converting from 11 to handle the complexity of calls and main- fire departments and integrate it into revised service districts for fire protection to one to three service districts in an effort to stancontracts with the county. taining financial stability.

“The recommendation of this study is to dardize the fire service fee system across the The volunteer force may still be going strong, but Cabe’s comprehensive report base the performance on the Insurance country. It would not imply eliminating or shows the cost of doing business is still Service Office (ISO) level of service provided consolidating any departments — just the increasing. All of the fire districts’ budgets by the department, which directly impacts funding formula.

To read the complete fire protection have increased 100 to 300 percent since 1999. the potential customers in the fire districts study, visit www.maconnc.org.

While Macon’s fire districts were all vol- financially,” Cabe wrote.

Macon County’s Fire Districts

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The Pigeon Community Multicultural Development Center will recieve $5,000 of utility assistance this year. Cory Vaillancourt photo

Waynesville discretionary spending reveals trends

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the roof during the organization’s important summer programs.

Other recipients of amounts ranging from $500 to $6,000 include the 30th Judicial District’s domestic violence program, the American Red Cross, ARC of Haywood County, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Commission for a Clean County, Disabled American Veterans, HART, the Haywood County Arts Council, Haywood Pathways Center, the Historic Frog Level Merchants Association, KARE, Haywood County Meals on Wheels, a MLK breakfast, Mountain Mediation, Mountain Projects, the Salvation Army, Tuscola High School’s AFJROTC, the United Way of Haywood County, the Waynesville Historic Preservation Commission and the Waynesville Public Art Commission.

Undesignated funds designated for future use total $5,000.

Not making requests this year were the Babe Ruth Little League, the Good Samaritan Clinic and the Haywood County Rescue Squad. All had sought and been granted contributions in prior years.

Making requests for the first time were the Clyde Fire Department ($4,500), Friends of the Smokies ($5,000) and the Historic Frog Level Merchants Association ($4,500). Frog Level got $4,000, but Clyde and Friends got nothing.

Also left out in the cold, again, were the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce and the Haywood Economic Development Council.

The Chamber’s request for $20,000 was not granted, nor was the EDC’s $5,000 ask.

The Chamber hasn’t received a contribution from the town since 2013’s $2,500; the EDC last saw a contribution in 2012, which was $2,000.

Conversely, the Town of Sylva had slated a $2,500 contribution for the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce in its proposed 2017-18 budget; the Town of Franklin proposed to fund the Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce at $4,000 in its 201718 proposed budget as it had in 2016-17.

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July 5-11, 2017

l d t g t d aBY CORY VAILLANCOURT dSTAFF WRITER , n each year’s budget, the Town of s Waynesville makes discretionary special appropriations contributions to a plethora of local nonprofits that help support y eeverything from festivals to food for seniors.

- This year’s slate, approved at a Waynesville Board of Aldermen meeting oJune 27, shows total appropriations of 1$119,000 against requests of $190,400. o That $119,000 is down 27 percent from -$163,000 in 2016-17, continuing a trend efrom 2015-16 when spending topped r$192,000 — the highest amount of special eappropriations spending dating back to at least the 2012-13 budget year. n Like last year, more than 30 organizations were funded this year, with some of the largest contributions going to some of the most high-profile organizations in town — the Downtown Waynesville Association, Folkmoot and REACH of Haywood County.

The DWA was given the greatest amount at $14,000 — down from $17,000 last year and lower than its requested $15,900 for general operating funds, program funds and a Christmas parade.

Folkmoot scored $10,000 for festival support for the fifth year in a row, but saw a $25,000 request for capital improvements go unanswered; Folkmoot had garnered $70,000 in capital improvement contributions from the town beginning in 2014, including $25,000 last year.

Domestic violence advocacy group REACH has received $46,000 from the town over the past five budget years, including $10,000 in each of the last three budget years; its $12,000 request for 2017-18 will result in a $10,000 contribution.

In-kind utility assistance totaling $10,000 will be rendered to the Open Door Kitchen in Frog Level, the Shelton House Museum of N.C. Handicrafts, and the drafty Pigeon Community Multicultural Development Center, where aging windows and a blazing sun blast utility bills through

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Funds flowing into streetscaping

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER ith all the attention paid to downtown Waynesville’s bustling Main Street, the Frog Level Historic District is often overlooked by tourists and the town board alike.

But that could all change as a slate of improvements scheduled for forgotten Frog Level could signal the resurgence of a community ripe with potential.

“Main Street [and the Downtown Waynesville Association] does a good job, but we want to give people the opportunity to understand that there is life in Waynesville off of Main Street,” said Mel Fergenbaum, president of the Historic Frog Level Merchants Association.

Located just downhill from Main Street — literally and figuratively — the small business district centered around Commerce and Depot streets is home to the highly-regarded Panacea Coffeehouse as well as one of the area’s best creekside drinking spots at Frog Level Brewing.

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July 5-11, 2017

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LIFE EVENTS THAT TRIGGER A SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD

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Frog Level facelift

budget’s special allocations was Frog Level, however, isn’t part another fortuitous Frog Level of the DWA, and likely never will first — $4,500 (see Spending, be; its tax base is much lower page 15). than the DWA’s, meaning that Fergenbaum thinks it’s the large-scale improvements are few first-ever grant from the town to and far between and incorporahis merchants association, and tion into the DWA would drain town records seem to agree. resources away from the very “There are a couple of things Main Street merchants who fund we have that earmarked for,” he it — a tough sell. said, adding that decisions One glaring need for years in would probably be made at an Frog Level has been the upcoming association board Commerce Street parking lot meeting but they were likely to that abuts the Blue Ridge be of the beautification and Southern Railroad tracks that streetscaping variety. support nearby Giles Chemical.

The grant is notable not only Waynesville Town Manager Tank cars from the Blue Ridge Southern Railroad sit next to the in that it’s Frog Level Merchants’ Rob Hites recently renegotiated crowded Frog Level parking lot. Cory Vaillancourt photo first from the town, but also that the town’s lease on the lot — last it comes in a tight budget year done with the Norfolk and Town Engineer Preston Gregg has been that also saw reduced special allocation fundSouthern Railroad back in 1992.

That lease was $200 per month on a directed to begin costing out grading, ing to the DWA from $17,000 in 2016-17 to month-to-month basis even after Norfolk paving and a decorative fence meant to sep- $14,000 in 2017-18.

The Frog Level parking lot makeover is and Southern sold the track to BRSR, accord- arate pedestrians from the railroad tracks, ing to Hites; the new lease with BRSR has a but will also have to solve an engineering similar to an ongoing effort in Waynesville’s term of 10 years at $167 a month with a three- challenge relating to the increased rainwater Hazelwood neighborhood that will bring year, 3 percent escalator — just enough to runoff expected when the gravel lot becomes lights, restrooms and public art as well as a pavement. pave job and chargers for electric cars. cover BRSR’s property taxes on the lot.

Although work wouldn’t commence until Both efforts — located a ways away from After 10 years, the contract becomes month-to-month, but BRSR could only break after tourist season is over, Fergenbaum the retail/tourism powerhouse that is downthe lease if it were to install another track, thinks the upgraded parking lot will be a town Waynesville’s Main Street — signal a new effort by the town to augment other assuring town officials that improvements game-changer for Frog Level.

“As far as tourists go, we want to project urban cores. made to the property could be justified.

“Whatever we do in Frog Level,” “They can’t just come in after we’ve done the image of a safe and historic place,” he said.

Aldermen approved the new lease June Fergenbaum said, “it will benefit the town of the work and take the property back and park a semi truck on it or use it for storage,” said 27, at the same meeting where the town’s Waynesville and Haywood County as a 2017-18 budget was adopted; within that whole.”

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‘It’s five past five and time to jive’ Moonlighting mailman’s star won’t fade

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER s the sun rises over Papertown one bright morning in 1958, a 30-year-old African-American by the name of Nathaniel Lowery wakes up and, like hun-

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that loves you the most, Nat the Cat.” Up on Radio Hill, Nathaniel Lowery was known as “Nat the Cat.” A Haywood County native born in 1928, Lowery got a job at Champion after graduating from high school in Gastonia, then did a stint in the service, and then returned to Champion.

“He was calling a ball game at Reynolds High School,” said Alice Lowery, his wife of

Owned by local businessman Sidney Watts, WWIT — which stood for “Where the Wheels of Industry Turn” — hired Nat the Cat during that transition, probably raising eyebrows in a still-segregated South.

“It was ahead of its time,” said Canton Town Alderman Dr. Ralph Hamlett, who was a popular disc jockey at WWIT in his own right in the years after Nat the Cat’s departure and refused to answer questions

Legendary 1950s DJ Nat “The Cat” Lowery drops the needle on The Clovers’ 1958 Atlantic Records hit “All About You” at WWIT-AM in Canton.

Smoky Mountain News

July 5-11, 2017

Alice Lowery photo

“He was as much as star in Haywood County as Elvis.”

dreds of others, heads for the mill.

Unlike everyone else, Lowery is carrying a record crate jammed with the latest 45RPM singles by artists like the Coasters, the Crew-Cuts and the Clovers.

Lowery delivers mail inside Canton’s Champion Paper plant until lunch, during which he usually answers his own fan mail.

Back to work and eyeing the clock, Lowery skips out with his crate at five to five and croons into the microphone his trademark intro just 10 minutes later: “It’s five 18 past five and time to jive – this is your host

— Canton Alderwoman Gail Mull

almost 50 years. “I think someone from WWIT was there and heard him and asked him about coming to the radio station.”

Reynolds was Haywood County’s segregated high school, and is currently the location of a proposed community center by alumnus and husband of Motown legend Gladys Knight, Billy McDowell.

Canton’s WWIT 970 AM first aired in 1949. After spending much of the 1950s playing Big Band artists like Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller, the station began a transition to Top 40 just before the 1960s.

on the record regarding his own radio moniker. “It shattered color lines.”

Although Nat was an African-American DJ playing rhythm and blues and jazz appreciated by Haywood County’s small AfricanAmerican community, he also gained a large following with the proverbial sock-hopping, soda shop-hanging, white 1960s kids who lived in the buckle of the Bible belt in Southern Appalachia — his audience stretched as far as Eastern Tennessee.

“He was well known, and people still remember him today, white and black,” said

Alice Lowery.

“He was as much as star in Haywood County as Elvis,” said Canton Alderwoman Gail Mull. “He was a personality. A star.”

Unlike today’s on-demand gratification instantly rendered by an ever-increasing array of glowing rectangles, Nat the Cat’s listeners had to make specific plans to be within earshot of a transistor by five past five, which is perhaps why memories of him remain so vivid more than a half century later.

“At that time, radio was so important,” Mull said. “As teenagers [in Canton] we rode around, drove to Waynesville, drove to Asheville, and we listened to the radio. Nat the Cat is the man.”

Mull, who is retired from Champion, also worked with Nat the Cat at the mill for a number of years.

“He always had a story and always had a smile,” she said. “He was just in person as he was on the radio.”

Radio in Haywood County during Nat the Cat’s time mostly consisted of religious programming and “mountain music,” making his playlist that much more notable.

“He just liked music,” his wife said. “He didn’t have any talent for playing an instrument or anything, I think he just liked music.”

She explained that he had to supply his own records; he’d buy them, bring them to the station, play them, and then bring them home each night after his hour-long show had ended.

“He enjoyed it, he prepared for it,” she said. “He would get his music together and he did a lot of preparation before he would get there.”

Nat the Cat doubtless set the yearly summer soundtracks for an entire generation of kids coming of age in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s; how many a first dance — or a first kiss — he provoked can never be known, but Nat the Cat was otherwise loathe to get involved in domestic squabbles.

“He had a lot of call-ins and letters. He took a lot of requests and they would want him to play songs for their boyfriend or girlfriend, and sometimes if they had broken up, they would want him to say something about it, but he never got into any of that,” she laughed.

Nat the Cat’s show expanded to 90 minutes on Saturdays, after which he’d turn right back around and host a Sunday gospel hour the next morning.

Then it was right back to work at the mill on Monday.

Alice Lowery said that her husband carried on in this way for about a decade, and thinks he left when the station changed formats during the mid- or late-1960s.

“He retired from it,” except for occasional private gigs at Asheville clubs, she said.

“He was a good husband, a good father and good provider who enjoyed life.”

Nathaniel Lowery passed away in 2008 and is buried in the Crawford Ray Memorial Gardens in Clyde, but for those who remember this pioneering local DJ and the discs he spun, it’s still five past five and always time to jive, and Nat the Cat will never be forgotten.

“Yeah, I still have a lot of his records,” Lowery said. “A lot.”

TDA fine-tunes its approach news

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT management, search engine optimization STAFF WRITER management, as well as media planning, ouble-digit increases in both monthly placement and management. and year-to-date tourist spending “They’re very instrumental in our adverhave the Haywood County Tourism tising and marketing campaigns, our webDevelopment Authority flush with cash, but site,” Collins said, noting that the contract still seeking to build on better-than-projectwas a slight increase over the previous ed collections. year’s. “It’s a crucial component of what we “I’m very optimistic,” said TDA do and we couldn’t do it without them.”

Executive Director Lynn Collins after a June Another crucial component according 28 meeting that saw the organization’s to Collins is the TDA’s printed visitor guide.

April revenue figures released.

“A lot of people like to have that, to plan The TDA’s budget year runs from July 1 to June 30, so April’s data represents fivesixths of a year; every municipality in the 1 percent group was up over the year, with Lake Junaluska and Clyde continuing to lead the pack in percentage increases.

New lodgings in Clyde and a new tax designation for parts of Lake Junaluska account for much of the growth in those jurisdictions. Year-todate growth was 67 percent and 103 per- Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center photo cent, respectively.

The jurisdiction that collects the most their trip or use as a reference while they’re room tax revenue — Maggie Valley — saw here. This year our inquiries have gone up strong growth of 22 percent, while Canton tremendously — people get the visitors posted a gain of 11 percent to Waynesville’s guide in anticipation of making a trip to 8 percent. help them make a decision on what area The TDA’s 3 percent pool saw related they’re going. They may order half a dozen gains, posting double-digit performance guides and that may be the deciding factor.” over projections for each month of the The TDA approved a new vendor for its budget thus far and coming in at 31 percent printed guide this year, Akron, Ohio-based over projected revenue so far this year.

Lunar Cow. The smallest gain of 15 percent was In addition to designing, printing and reported for January and the largest was a filling the visitor’s guide with content, the staggering 67 percent in March. company says it will sell $40,000 of adverSandwiched between them was a tasty 27 tising, lowering the TDA’s total cost to less percent gain for February, suggesting than $3,000. tourism industry growth in the county durPreviously, the TDA had to pay for its ing what is traditionally the off-season; own printing — around $25,000 — but April’s collections ended up 54 percent over contracted for design and content services projections. with The Smoky Mountain News, which Although the revenue projections made sold advertising for the guide in exchange by the TDA were conservative, the 3 percent for whatever revenue could thereby be genpool is still up 17 percent over actual reverated. enue collected in the 2015-16 budget year.

That figure was around $33,000 last “The overall picture is very good,” said year, but if it were only $10,000, the TDA TDA Finance Committee Chairman and still would have gotten the goods, with the Maggie Valley Alderman Mike Eveland dursupplier on the hook for the staff time ing the meeting, which also saw the group involved. renew the branding debate over “Haywood” If Lunar Cow comes up slightly short in versus “Smokies,” contract with a new venthe ad sales department “there are some dor, and renew a contract with an existing adjustments they can make” in terms of vendor. cover quality or possibly even print quantiGreenville, South Carolina-based ty, Collins said.

Crawford Strategies, the TDA’s current If Lunar Cow comes up way short, it’s advertising agency of record, was rewarded possible the TDA could be left holding the with another 1-year contract worth $48,000 bag on the $43,000 deal. plus $6,150 per month for creative and “I don’t see that happening,” Collins technical support, search engine marketing said.

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July 5-11, 2017 Smoky Mountain News 19

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July 5-11, 2017

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State charges dropped in Gatlinburg fires

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER tate charges against the two teenagers arrested in connection with November’s deadly Gatlinburg fires have been dropped, but prosecution could resume with federal charges.

After a seven-month investigation, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation concluded that there was no way to prove that the teens who allegedly started the Chimney

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Tops II Fire in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park were directly responsible for the deaths and property damage that resulted when the fire swept through Gatlinburg.

“But for the winds that reached speeds in excess of 80 miles per hour, it is unlikely and improbable that the Chimney Tops II Fire would have left the Great Smoky Mountains

National Park and reached Gatlinburg,” reads a press release from the office of James Dunn, Fourth Judicial District Attorney in Tennessee.

The windstorm whipped the flames into a frenzy, and downed power lines resulted in multiple other ignition points to a tinderdry forest. With fire coming from sources

“Once the investigation confirmed multiple fire with multiple points of origin, it became impossible to prove which fire may have caused the death of an individual or damage to a particular structure.”

Haywood Arts Council receives $4,500

Fund for Haywood receives major gift

Mauney Cove convenience site re-opens in Waynesville

Waynesville resident Ann Mitchell Coley remembered Haywood County in her estate plans and, as a result, The Fund for Haywood County recently received a gift of more than $100,000. The Fund’s Advisory Board is in the midst of a campaign to grow the endowment to $1.5 million.

“Ann Coley’s generosity and planning will mean a great deal

The Mauney Cove Convenience Center in Waynesville is now re-open after being under construction since late February.

“This convenience center is a significant upgrade for our citizens to take waste and recyclables that will last for generations to come. With over 250,000 visits per year, it is Haywood County’s busiest convenience center,” said David Francis, Haywood County

solid waste administrator.

The expanded site has wider lanes with new compactors for waste and recycling drop-off. Oil, batteries and scrap metal are also accepted at the site. Tires, commercial and medical waste is not accepted at convenience centers.

Haywood County has 10 convenience center sites and the Material Recovery Facility in Clyde that are managed by Consolidated Waste Services. The White Oak Landfill in Fines Creek is operated by Santek Waste Services.

Franklin Chamber moves into new office

Smoky Mountain News

With a $4,500 grant from The Fund for Haywood County, the Haywood Arts Council will engage a marketing firm to update its organizational identity and better communicate the scope and impact of services and relationships with artists, other organizations and the broader community.

Haywood Arts Council Board Chair Frank Queen commented, “I am thrilled to acknowledge the investment by The Fund for Haywood County. This will be leveraged into a new face for the Arts Council on its 40th birthday.” www.FundforHaywoodCounty.org.

to the people of Haywood County for generations to come,” said advisory board Chair Christine Mallette.

Coley was a native of Wake County. She was a graduate of St. Mary's School in Raleigh and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She was a world traveler and owned a real estate concern in Spain and an import export business in Barcelona.

Upon retirement in Haywood County, Coley continued her interest in the financial world and her love of books and research in the spiritual and healing arts.

The Fund for Haywood County, an affiliate of The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, grows through taxdeductible contributions. The returns are used to make grants to support nonprofits in Haywood County.

Call 828.734.0570 or visit www.FundforHaywoodCounty.org.

July 5-11, 2017

The Nov. 28, 2016 firestorm completely destroyed parts of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Holly Kays photo

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Federal charges could ensue

other than the Chimney Tops II Fire, “it became impossible to prove which fire may have caused the death of an individual or damage to a particular structure,” the press release says.

If it’s impossible the prove that the Chimney Tops II Fire caused the damage in Gatlinburg and surrounding areas, then the alleged crime occurred only within the national park, and not on state land.

Starting a fire in a national park, as the two juveniles allegedly did, is still a crime, but it’s not in the state’s jurisdiction.

Prosecution would require action from the U.S. Department of Justice. The park hopes to make that happen.

“The National Park Service Investigative Services Branch will continue to work with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation,” said park spokesperson Dana Soehn. “As the next step, the National Park Service will present the case to the U.S. Attorney’s office.”

The teenagers, whose identities were never released, were initially charged with aggravated arson for allegedly starting a small fire on the north spire of the Chimney Tops Nov. 23. The fire ballooned to more than 17,000 acres when winds stronger than 80 miles per hour carried the fire down the mountain and through Gatlinburg and parts of Pigeon Forge Nov. 28. The fire resulted in the deaths of 14 people and more than $500 million in damage, with firefighting costs of more than $7 million.

Record-breaking drought created perfect conditions for widespread wildfires in fall 2016, with about 48,000 acres burning on the national forests in North Carolina west of Asheville in addition to the 17,000-acre Chimney Tops 2 Fire. Multiple other small fires burned in the Smokies and on the Blue Ridge Parkway, with blazes also occurring east of Asheville and across the state line into Georgia and South Carolina.

In most cases, arson was the suspected cause, but in Western North Carolina arrests were made in connection with only two fires.

The Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce & Welcome Center recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially mark the opening of its new facility at 98 Hyatt Road, Franklin.

The new 8,000-square-foot location has some unique features including a walk-through space displaying attractions in the area, a large souvenir shop, a small kids area, brochure racks, a seminar room, staff offices and rental office space.

The Welcome Center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, May through October and Monday through Friday, November through April. Visitors and locals alike are welcome to come in, browse and see all there is to do while in the Franklin area. 21

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Sunday Soiree C O N C E R T

S E R I E S

July 5-11, 2017

Brought to you by Smoky Mountain News

Secret Agent 23 Skidoo

Empire Strikes Brass

www.secretagent23skidoo.com

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Sunday, July 23 · 7 p.m. $10 PER PERSON / KIDS UNDER 5 ARE FREE

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A portion of the proceeds will go to a scholarship fund to benefit Haywood County Schools graduates pursuing a music degree in college.

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Outside the Folkmoot Friendship Center · 112 Virginia Avenue · Waynesville Food and beverage available for purchase. Tickets: 828.452.2997, folkmoot.org or at the door.

Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs.

Business

Smoky Mountain News

Farm Tables, Etc. opens in Canton Farm Tables, Etc. recently opened at 127 Main Street in Canton.

Until this opening, owner Harris Clark said his sales were based on word-of-mouth, taking his products to Charlotte, Greenville and Spartanburg.

Now with the storefront, local sales have increased.

“Main Street in Canton is booming,” Clark said.

“The town is so excited to help us. Our success means their success. The community is also very supportive. We love to sell locally and would love to become a fixture in the community.”

Clark started his business in 2008 to continue the tradition of using barn wood to make rustic style, high quality pieces. His tables, bed swings, and joggling boards are crafted to show the character of the wood without using stains so that the natural beauty of the patina comes out in every piece. www.farmtablesetc.com.

Harrah’s announces leadership promotions Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos has made two promotions within the regional leadership team — Sharon Montague has accepted the position of Regional Director of Total Service and Sean Ross has accepted the position of Regional Vice President of Casino Marketing.

Ross, who joined Harrah’s in 2002, will lead four departments. Montague, who started as the office manager to the general manager in 1998, will work toward enriching guests’ experiences by coordinating and taking action based on customer feedback.

Leadership Haywood has become one of the most prestigious programs of the Haywood Chamber and Haywood County. Each year, a select group of local leaders learn not only what is going on in our business community but, how they can make a difference. The program builds community relations through in-depth view of cultural, economic, historic, social, educational, and environmental and government resources.

Apply at www.haywoodchamber.com.

Jackson ambassadors elect officers

Whistle Stop Furniture recently celebrated a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony at its new location at 3590 Georgia Road.

The company, founded by Scott and Tami Zuiderveen in 2001, started as a used furniture store in the former Whistle Stop Mall but quickly grew to offer a wide selection of furniture. In addition to furniture, the store now offers a full line of environmentally friendly stains and paints, custom finishing services, accessories, rugs and Melissa & Doug toys.

The new showroom features a wide variety of pieces to furnish living rooms, bedroom and dining rooms, as well as accessories and pieces to decorate your home and office.

The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors have elected new officers for 2017.

Chairperson is Karen Walston, the Bug Lady of WNC, who has worked in the pest control business over 10 years, covering most of Western North Carolina and beyond.

Vice Chairperson is Megan Orr Sheets, the general manager at Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Sylva, assistant general manager at Best Western Plus River Escape Inn & Suites, and director of sales at Nightstar Lodging.

Secretary Beth Bell works in commercial and bulk executive/sales for Morris Broadband. She has over 20 years in the cable TV industry, and currently covers Jackson, Henderson, Ashe and McDowell Counties.

Beginning her fourth year as the Ambassadors’ media coordinator is Amy Ammons Garza, co-founder for Catch the Spirit of Appalachia, and currently on the board of the Appalachian Women’s Museum.

Apply for Haywood Leadership program

Improvements at Old Edwards farm

The Haywood County Chamber of Commerce is taking applications to participate in the 2017-18 Leadership Haywood program.

Old Edwards Hospitality Group is completing some major enhancements to its luxury country inn Half-Mile Farm and is preparing to reopen in June.

Whistlestop celebrates new location

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• Entegra Bank recently donated $5,000 to the Franklin Chamber of Commerce’s Community Enrichment Foundation. The foundation was established for promoting commerce, sponsoring education, helping the improvement of trade, and supporting industry for the residents and business in the Macon County area on a nonprofit basis.

• Mountain Favors has moved to 113 N. Main Street, the historic rock building that until recently housed the Christmas Everyday shop.

In addition to having local favorites, Mountain Favors offer wonderful products from across the state to make a perfect gift basket for any occasion. www.mountainfavors.com or call 828.734.4281.

ALSO:

The company made the first round of improvements over the winter of 2015-16 after purchasing the historic inn in June of 2015. The most recent enhancements include 12 new luxury guestrooms; a second dining room/special event space; an expanded pool deck; Jacuzzi and trickling waterfall at the pool area, along with a rock wall for privacy; bathrooms at the pool area; Garden House with panoramic window-walls and a fireplace; and a circular drive to create a complete loop for guests to smoothly arrive and depart.

Construction on the interior of the 12 new luxury guestrooms will continue through the summer and will be completed in October 2017.

WLOS hires manager Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., following the retirement of Jack Connors, has promoted Joseph Fishleigh to General Manager for WLOS-TV (ABC) in the Asheville, NC/Greenville, S.C. market.

Fishleigh will also be responsible for oversight of WMYA-TV (MNT), which is programmed by Sinclair under a time brokerage agreement.

“We are excited to announce the promotion of Joe to General Manager from our Director of Sales,” said Steve Marks, EVP & Chief Operating Officer of Sinclair’s television group. “There is just no question of Joe’s love for the community as he served as General Sales Manager and General Manager 20 years ago. Joe’s experience in the broadcast industry and his involvement in the Asheville community will be an asset to the stations and the viewers.”

Jackson airport wins safety award The North Carolina Division of Aviation awarded its 2017 Airport Safety Mark of Distinction Award to the Jackson County Airport at the North Carolina Airports Association recent annual con-

• Spenceberry Antiques, Downtown Waynesville’s newest antique store, opened at 184 N. Main Street offering an expansive collection of antique, vintage, and retro items.

Owner Teresa Spencer plans to remain open as much as possible including extended hours during all downtown events.

• H.H. Clothier, a new lady’s clothing store, will soon be opening at 142 N. Main Street in Downtown Waynesville. Also visit H.H. Walker and Company, located at 335 N. Haywood Street.

ference.

Jackson County was chosen from the 72 public airports in N.C., which include 10 commercial air carrier airports and 62 general aviation airports. The award commends Jackson County for its “dedicated efforts, professionalism, and commitment to safety.”

The Jackson County Airport Authority, with the support of the county commissioners, has been working to improve and upgrade the airport, including widening the runway, new runway lighting, the establishment of a published FAA instrument approach, and the addition of an Automated Weather Observation System.

Haywood Family Eye celebrates 62 years Haywood Family Eye Care is hosting a Founder’s Day Celebration on July 13, to celebrate 62 years in business.

The event will be a celebration of the business’s history, with refreshments and special promotions, including 25 percent off sunglasses and frames with prescription lenses offered at a special savings of buy one frame, get the second free. All four doctors will be present.

Haywood Family Eye Care, 29 N. Main Street, has been located on Main Street in Downtown Waynesville for several generations.

828.456.8361 or visit www.haywoodfamilyeye.com.

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Opinion

Smoky Mountain News

Politics may fail us, but our ideals endure A

Was this all a dream? he other night while channel-surfing I stumbled upon an online Sunday School class sponsored by a host of Baptist churches in the Southeast. I was amazed at the participants, all dressed in $1,000 suits.

There was Donald Trump, Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell, Neil Gorsuch, Rex Tillerson, Mike Pence and Franklin Graham. Each dignitary sported a Christian symbol in the form of a tie clasp, lapel pin or cufflinks. The emcee looked nervous at the prospect of dealing with such prominent American politicians.

“Gentlemen, I want to cover only five foundational Biblical tenets here tonight for the benefit of our dedicated viewing audience to see for themselves the state of our Christian impact on the U.S. Some might view this particular show as a preview of the leaders needed to develop a theocracy in American government. If you know the answer simply press your green ‘Reply’ button on your console.”

“Number one: What is the first commandment?”

Only silence ensued. “Well, gentlemen, the correct answer is, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.’

“Number two: What is the first question a human ever asked God?” Once again silence.

“When Cain slayed Abel he asked God, ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’

“Number three: What did Jesus tell the rich man to do with his worldly possessions?”

Nothing but embarrassed silence.

“Gentlemen,” the emcee nervously asserted, “Jesus said, ‘If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.’

“Number four: What did Jesus say to his disciples about the rich man?”

I don’t have to tell you there was no response button pressed on this question either.

“Answer: ‘And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.’” At this point the emcee looked a little bewildered.

“I think I’ll skip the fifth prepared question. We’ve

T

American identity. But his reasoning might surprise some.

The argument was that when Americans held their religious beliefs more deeply, then they were able to more easily separate civic life from religion. Religion fed the soul, politics gave structure to their community and country. It was easier to come together and reach compromises when it came to politics, which did not come near the importance of one’s religion.

Now, he argues, we have forsaken religion and replaced it with politics.

Editor Politics now defines who we are instead of merely providing the rules and dictums by which we run our communities and states and country. When one’s belief about health care or gun rights or education takes on the aura of a religious conviction, there’s no room for compromise. Adversaries become enemies, not merely neighbors who disagree.

Scott McLeod

s I sit to write a day before Independence Day, it seems I keep hearing voices questioning whether the shared American identity that has driven this country through so many travails will survive what the modern world is throwing at us.

It’s hard to define just what that shared identity is. Is it our very basic belief in freedom and the will to protect it at all costs? Is it that every person should have the opportunity to rise to the level of his or her ability? Or the belief that honor, justice and morality as enshrined by the founders set us apart from other nations? Corny as it sounds, those statements ring true for me.

Perhaps more important is the need to ascertain how our shared identity has been sustained despite the pettiness of politics that tends to tear us apart.

I heard a story on National Public Radio a few weeks ago that went to the heart of this issue. In that segment, the scholar being interviewed conjectured that the demise of organized religion has played a significant role in the loss of our

had a real good show tonight. Let the fifth question be simply this: Do you profess to be a Christian?”

My! My! The console board lit up like a Christmas tree. Each man bellowed into his microphone: “You bet your bottom dollar.” Most in the audience went wild in admiration of their prominent political leaders. However, a precious few raised their eyebrows in disbelief.

Before I awoke the next morning I drifted into the R.E.M. phase of sleep. I dreamed that the famous Russian writer, Leo Tolstoy, walked over to Franklin Graham’s console, pressed the button and said for the whole world to hear: “Christ’s teaching is not generally understood in its true, simple and direct sense even in these days, when the light of the Gospel has penetrated even to the darkest recesses of human consciousness; when in the words of Christ, that which was spoken in the ear is proclaimed from the housetops; and when the Gospel is influencing every side of human life — domestic, economic, civic, legislative, and international. This lack of true understanding of Christ’s words at such a time would be inexplicable, if there were not causes to account for it.

“One of these causes is the fact that believers and unbelievers are firmly persuaded that they have understood Christ’s teaching a long time, and that they understand it so fully, indubitably, and conclusively that it can have no other significance than the one they attribute to it. And the reason of this conviction is that the false interpretation and consequent misapprehension of the Gospel is an error of such long standing. Even the strongest current of water cannot add a drop to a cup which is already full.”

I was in awe of Tolstoy’s confident delivery of his brief message. So much so that I went to my bookshelf, pulled out The Kingdom of God is Within You and reread the words he had written many years ago. Most of you know Tolstoy better for his two other very famous works — War and Peace and Anna Keranina.

I suppose dreams are supposed to be a little entangled and hard to understand. I hope my memory is correct and that I actually saw the evangelical show. That it, too, wasn’t merely a dream…

Dave Waldrop Webster

There seems a certain amount of truth to this argument, at least among some. But there’s also a large segment of our population — the majority, I hope — who see the tragedy of an uncompromising political system. Are there enough among us who can put their political beliefs in one box and their notion of what it is to be an American in another, and thereby act for the greater good of the country instead of letting the tail wag the dog?

Look, America is so full of contradictions that it is amazing we are still here. From lofty ideals to morally corrupt actions, we have much to take pride in and much to atone for.

But it’s those ideals that have to define us, and they have to be lofty. Freedom. Human rights. Charity. Dignity. Strength.

Honor. To be patriotic is to believe that we must continue to aim high while admitting our failings.

And there’s little doubt that politics is failing us right now.

So, all that’s left is belief that our unique American identity will endure. One can only hope.

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

Trump pushes boundaries of legality

To the Editor: On Sunday morning, July 2, Donald Trump tweeted a short doctored video clip of him attacking an individual whose face was covered with a CNN (Cable Network News) logo. If you have not seen it, you should.

The original video was filmed in 2007 and taken from WrestleMania 23 where Mr. Trump took part in the fake action by a simulated attack on WWE chairman Vince McMahon. In the current video, the face of Mr. McMahon is covered by the logo of CNN, thus portraying an attack by Mr. Trump on a CNN reporter or possibly the CNN network itself.

Let us be perfectly clear here, this is an incitement of violence against the reporters and employees of the CNN network by the President of the United States. When I was growing up, I was taught by my father and other responsible men in the community to never make threats that I was not willing to carry out.

Most of these men were veterans of World War II and had seen the results of violence. They had the perspective that threats were not funny, nor were they a game. Threats, even in jest, are serious, because too often someone will take them seriously and act on them in a serious manner.

Does this video mean that CNN reporters should hire bodyguards or begin carrying a gun to protect themselves from the Trump supporter that may not be mentally stable? This is not an indictment of Trump supporters. We know that that there are unstable persons of every political persuasion. We only have to look to the recent shooting of Republican representatives at a baseball practice in Virginia to see this fact. But I am pretty sure that we should not be fanning the flames of intolerance through this type of tweeted video In plain terms, if I were to post a video of me attacking a person upon whom I had superimposed the face of Donald Trump, I am pretty sure that the Secret Service and the FBI would be looking into my background and investigating me. Were I to state that I wanted to attack and/or kill the President, I would be arrested as a threat to not only the President but to the nation. If that is so, then what makes it right for Donald Trump to perform that very act on an individual associated with CNN? David Frost, while interviewing Richard Nixon, once asked if the President of the United States could give an illegal order. Nixon’s reply was that if it was an order from the President, then it could not be illegal. We pretty much know how that turned out: Watergate.

We need to ask ourselves if we have reached that point in our lives and our political system that whatever the President says is legal and law. We need to examine our political parties, governmental systems, and our souls to see if we are alright with the direction that our country is taking. I, personally, am not.

Luther Jones Sylva

S EE LETTERS, PAGE 25

ART AFTER DARK: Demonstration by Featured Artist

Jenny Buckner

July 7 • 6-9 P.M.

Smoky Mountain News

Susanna Barbee

cious and spent time talking with us. We also talked to our server and a few patrons who were dining. During the hour we were there, a number of former employees, including Brenda’s very first dishwasher, stopped by our table so we interviewed them as well.

I edited the video with the iMovie app, posted it on YouTube and shared it on Facebook. To date, the Joey’s video has been viewed 596 times. People adore that place and the video offers a living, breathing relic where one can hear the clinking of the plates, feel the hustle-bustle of the restaurant, and listen to Brenda who has become something of a legend in these parts. A video offers something different than print media.

The video received so much traction community members began to ask questions about “Talk of Haywood,” so our next video was a segment where our team explained our hopes and goals for the show.

Last week, we filmed at the new BearWaters Brewing location in downtown Canton. If you haven’t ventured over there yet, you’ve got to give it a try. The building is beautiful, the beer and food are delicious, and the scenic outdoor seating is right on the river.

Unlike my other clients, “Talk of Haywood” is more like a hobby, something we’re doing because we adore where we live and want the world to know about Haywood County. Further, we not only want it to be a helpful source of information for locals, we hope the videos are viewed by people all over the country or globe and they help bring new visitors to our town.

If you’re curious about “Talk of Haywood” and want to learn more, we’re on Facebook at facebook.com/talkofhaywood and on YouTube as “Talk of Haywood.”

When people ask me what I do for a living, I often say I’m a storyteller because no matter what platform I’m using, whether it’s this newspaper, a blog, or a social media channel, it’s all about the story behind the person or the business. While facts and stats persuade people, stories inspire people.

So, no matter how crazy or busy I feel, I’m forever grateful to love my work and live in a place where adventurous potential exists in every day.

(Susanna Barbee is a writer who lives in Haywood County. susanna.barbee@gmail.com.)

To the Editor: Last week’s letters to the editor were critical of the proposed healthcare reform. HRMC executives write, “Without coverage, many ...[are] left without access to the healthcare service they need ....” If HRMC is turning away patients, they are in violation of federal law.

The writers hope for “a bipartisan solution.”

I don’t remember them advocating that for Obamacare, which had no Republican support.

They wail about “Medicaid cuts,” but the only “cuts” are to the rate of increase. Even the far left Politico admits, “Medicaid spending goes up under any scenario. It’s just at a far lower rate under the Republican health care bills.”

Elsewhere, they have written in opposition to proposed per capita caps for Medicaid, but never complained about Clinton’s proposal of caps in 1995. Tom Daschle, Obama’s first choice for running HHS, said Congress should fund states’ Medicaid programs on a capped basis. Where was the outrage then?

They cavil that “Medicaid ‘cuts’ could have a detrimental impact ... for many years to come,” but ignore that every study shows that Medicaid enrollees have outcomes that are no better than those with no insurance.

Certainly, these health care executives must be familiar with the CDC’s WONDER database which shows, in the decade before

July 5-11, 2017

I call myself an adventurer.

While I do love to travel, adventuring isn’t just about experiencing new places and seeing new things. In my mind, a true adventurer works to find novelty and excitement in the seemingly mundane, in her everyday surroundings.

But, there’s also a downside. Those of us who enjoy new adventures often take on more than we can handle and juggle too many balls at once. I’ve written before about working from home. I’m a freelance writer, blogger and social Columnist media manager.

Other than the writing part, the other jobs didn’t even exist when I was a high school freshman trying to decide what my lifelong profession would be. Those of us in my field are still figuring out the best ways to be productive and innovative.

Working from home can be tricky and requires a lot of self-discipline, organizing, vision planning, time chunking, list making, and so on. When folks come to me with a new intriguing opportunity, I’m like a child in a candy store. Instead of saying no because of my already-robust workload, I often say yes and add one more task or activity to my list which seems to grow by the minute.

But then again, if I say no just because I have too much going on, I worry I’ll miss out on the next best assignment.

The latest project is called “Talk of Haywood.” A friend of mine and local business owner came to me with an idea based on something she saw in another town.

This other town started videoing local businesses and events with the goal of promoting the greatness of the place they live.

My friend thought, “Why not do the same in Haywood County?”

From food to beer to music to local businesses to art to outdoor excursions to natural beauty, there are few places on earth as wonderful as this gem we call home.

My friend also approached two other people about her idea, so we’re a team of four. Shortly after she developed the team we found out Joey’s Pancake House was closing. With no equipment other than my iPhone, we went to Joey’s and filmed.

Brenda O’Keefe was extraordinarily gra-

Health bill critics ignore facts

ObamaCare, the all-cause mean death rate for ages 15-64 was 310.4 per 100,000 and never higher than 313.5. For 2014-2015, the rate jumped to 320.4.

What is responsible for the surge?

Increased insurance coverage or health care?

How’s “Primum non nocere” working out for us? Why are they focusing on all the “whatifs” of reform instead of the realities of the morbidity that ObamaCare wrought?

Many of the claims they make are directly from the Commonwealth Fund, which has been mocked by various publications including the Institute of Economic Affairs, National Center for Policy Analysis, Forbes and the Federalist. One describes their “studies” as “advocacy pieces masquerading as research.”

Maybe the next criticism they will come up with is that if I like my plan or my doctor, I might not be able to keep them. Or, that instead of saving $2,500 on my premiums, they will double and my deductibles will soar.

Dr. Wall asks, “Why does President Trump not ask the Senate to have open hearings?

Why the secrecy and the rush to get this done before any public or expert input. We must demand answers.” Did he demand answers when Senate Democrats discussed ObamaCare in secret? ObamaCare architect Jonathan Gruber said the bill’s inherent “lack of transparency is a huge political advantage” in selling it. There are your “answers,” Dr. Wall.

Remember, if you want to tick off a conservative, lie to them. If you want to tick off a liberal, tell them the truth.

Timothy Van Eck Whittier

opinion

Finding daily adventure in a place I love

LETTERS, CONTINUED FROM 24

“WHERE ART DANCES WITH NATURE” 98 NORTH MAIN ST. • WAYNESVILLE, NC • 828.456.1940 MON.-SAT.10-5:30 • SUN.1-4 • WWW.TWIGSANDLEAVES.COM

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

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

3 E JACKSON ST. • SYLVA, NC

www.CityLightsCafe.com

Taste the Mountains is an ever-evolving paid section of places to dine in Western North Carolina. If you would like to be included in the listing please contact our advertising department at 828.452.4251 BLOSSOM ON MAIN 128 N. Main Street, Waynesville.

828.454.5400. Open for lunch and dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Sunday. Mild, medium, to hot and spicy, our food is cooked to your like-able temperature.

Forget the myth that all Thai food is spicy.

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

July 5-11, 2017

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

Blue-plates and local fresh vegetables daily.

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

128 N. Main St., Waynesville

WINE • BEER • SAKE

Smoky Mountain News

Gluten-Free, Vegan & Vegetarian options

BOURBON BARREL BEEF & ALE 454 Hazelwood Ave., Waynesville, 828.452.9191. Lunch served 11:30 a.m. to

Nutrition Facts

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

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

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

CITY LIGHTS CAFE Spring Street in downtown Sylva.

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

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

Check the web calendar at citylightscafe.com.

CATALOOCHEE RANCH 119 Ranch Dr., Maggie Valley.

828.926.1401. Family-style breakfast seven days a week, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. – with eggs, bacon, sausage, grits and oatmeal, fresh fruit, sometimes French toast or pancakes, and always all-you-can-eat. Lunch menu every day from 12 to 2 p.m. Dinner becomes a gourmet experience this year with the arrival of our new Chef CJ, whose training and skills include French, Mediterranean, Asian, Middle Eastern and, of course, New Age Southern cuisine. Saturday night will feature an evening cookout on the terrace, with choices such as Korean barbecue and shrimp. On all other nights of the week, the chef will prepare gourmet plated dinners with locally sourced vegetables, homemade breads, jellies and desserts. We also offer a fine selection of wine and beer. The evening social hour starts at 6pm, and dinner is served starting at 7 p.m. Please call for reservations.

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

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

CHURCH STREET DEPOT 34 Church Street, downtown Waynesville.

828.246.6505. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday

THE CLASSIC WINESELLER 20 Church Street, Waynesville.

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

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

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

828.926.1820 Winter hours: Wednesday through Sunday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Family Style at Country Vittles is not a buffet.

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

EVERETT HOTEL & BISTRO 16 Everett St.,Bryson City. 828.488.1934.

Open daily for dinner at 4:30 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday Brunch from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; dinner from 4:30-9:30 p.m. Serving fresh and delicious weekday morning lite fare, lunch, dinner, and brunch. Freshly prepared menu offerings range from house-made soups & salads, lite fare & tapas, crepes, specialty sandwiches and burgers. Be sure not to miss the bold flavors and creative combinations that make up the daily Chef Supper Specials. Followed by a tempting selection of desserts prepared daily by our chefs and other local bakers. Enjoy craft beers on tap, as well as our full bar and eclectic wine list.

We e’ll fee ed your spirit, to oo.

serving size : ab out 50 p ag es Am ount per Serving Calories 0

COME PLAY NAME THAT SONG TRIVIA WITH US! July 11th 6:30 - 8PM Make Reservations Today!

Hours:11:30-9:00

(828) 454-5400 26

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

Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Carry out available. Located in downtown Waynesville, Bogart’s has been long-time noted for great steaks, soups, and salads. Casual family atmosphere in a rustic old-time setting with a menu noted for its practical value. Live Bluegrass/String Band music every Thursday. Walking distance of Waynesville’s unique shops and seasonal festival activities and within one mile of Waynesville Country Club.

2:30 p.m.; Monday through Saturday. Dinner 5 to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

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

BlossomOnMain.com

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G Gourmet di dinners, created d by b our new chef. h f Casu C uall lunches l h and breakfasts. And, all a around you, a feast for the e eyes that only nature could crea ate. We like to t chee Ranch think of it as a little tas ste of heaven. Catalooc Reservations (828) 926-1401 ~ 119 Ranch Drive, Maggie Valley ~ Cata aloocheeRanch.com

tasteTHEmountains FERRARA PIZZA & PASTA 243 Paragon Parkway, Clyde.

828.476.5058. Open Monday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday 12 to 8 p.m. Real New Yorkers. Real Italians. Real Pizza. A full service authentic Italian pizzeria and restaurant from New York to the Blue Ridge. Dine in, take out, and delivery. Check out our daily lunch specials plus customer appreciation nights on Monday and Tuesday 5 to 9 p.m. with large cheese pizzas for $9.95.

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

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

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

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

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

Monday-Saturday. Father and son team Frank and Louis Perrone cook up dinners steeped in Italian tradition. With recipies passed down from generations gone by, the Perrones have brought a bit of Italy to Maggie Valley.

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

828.926.1616. maggievalleyclub.com/dine.

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

FROGS LEAP PUBLIC HOUSE 44 Church St., Downtown Waynesville 828.456.1930 Serving lunch 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; Dinner 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday. Frogs Leap is a farm to table restaurant focused on local, sustainable, natural and organic products prepared in modern regional dishes. Seasonal menu focuses on Southern comfort foods with upscale flavors. www.frogsleappublichouse.com.

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

Open for dinner at 4:30 to 9 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. World-famous prime rib, steaks, fresh seafood, gorgonzola cheese and salads. All ABC permits and open year-round.

Children always welcome. Take-out menu.

Excellent service and hospitality.

Reservations appreciated.

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

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

PATIO BISTRO 30 Church Street, Waynesville.

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

Outdoor and indoor dining.

RENDEZVOUS RESTAURANT AND BAR Maggie Valley Inn and Conference Center 70 Soco Road, Maggie Valley 828.926.0201 Home of the Maggie Valley Pizzeria. We deliver after 4 p.m. daily to all of Maggie Valley, J-Creek area, and Lake Junaluska.

Monday through Wednesday: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. country buffet and salad bar from 5 to 9 p.m. $11.95 with Steve Whiddon on piano.

Friday and Saturday: 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday 11:30 to 8 p.m. 11:30 to 3 p.m. family style, fried chicken, ham, fried fish, salad bar, along with all the fixings, $11.95.

Check out our events and menu at rendezvousmaggievalley.com SAGEBRUSH STEAKHOUSE 1941 Champion Drive, Canton 828.646.3750 895 Russ Ave., Waynesville

828.452.5822. Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Carry out available.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TRAILHEAD CAFE & BAKERY 18 N Main Street, Waynesville.

828.452.3881 Open 7 days a week. You will find a delicious selection of pastries & donuts, breakfast & lunch along with a fresh coffee & barista selection. Happy Trails!

WAYNESVILLE PIZZA COMPANY 32 Felmet Street, Waynesville.

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

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

Closed Tues.

Sun. 12-9 p.m.

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

Serving Lunch & Dinner at BearWaters Brewing 101 PARK ST. CANTON 828.492.1422 PIGEONRIVERGRILLE.COM

Real New Yorkers.

Real Italians. Real Pizza.

Dine-In ~ Take Out ~ Delivery

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

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Featuring: Calzones · Stromboli Subs · Pasta and More

207 Paragon Parkway, Clyde

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

Real Local Families, Real Local Farms, Real Local Food

Smoky Mountain News

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

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828.648.4193. 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday; Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Serving breakfast, lunch, nd dinner. The restaurant has a 1950s & 60s theme decorated with memorabilia from that era.

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

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

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A&E

Smoky Mountain News

The next chapter

Entering into its second decade of operation, Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville (above) is owned

by Jo Gilley and Allison Lee (right). Garret K. Woodward photo

Blue Ridge Books celebrates 10 years

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER itting at a booth in the back of her store on recent morning, Allison Lee remembers the days long ago when her father ran a small-town business.

“My father was an independent store owner, a dime store, then later a hardware store,” she recalled. “I grew up on a Main

S

Street in a small town, and when I was young I worked for my parents. I learned to count back change, ring things up on the old register. And it always meant a lot to my family about who the customers were, and how you serve the community. When he passed away some 17 years ago, some of the first people to land on my mother’s door were longtime customers.”

Co-owner of Blue Ridge Books in downtown Waynesville, Lee has run the store with Jo Gilley for the last seven years. And as Blue Ridge Books celebrates 10 years of operation

Want to go?

In celebration of its 10th birthday, Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville will host an array of events throughout the month of July, including a special event with New York Times bestselling author and Western Carolina University Professor Ron Rash on July 25.

• 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 11: “Mountain Writers of North Carolina — Reading and Writing to be Relevant.” The Mountain Writers meet each month at Blue Ridge Books. Anyone interested in writing is welcome to come to the celebration and join the discussion on relating to your reader in today’s world. The conversation will be led by Shane McElrath, MA, lecturer in English at WCU. Cake will be served.

• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 12: “Hand-made Ecuadorian Treasures — READ Sale.” READ stands for “Rural Education, Advancement and Development” and is a nonprofit organization.

Come browse and purchase items (jewelry, alpaca blankets and more) made by the indigenous people of the rural Andean Region of Ecuador. All proceeds will go to supply libraries in that area.

• Thursday, July 13: “It’s a Party!” The official 10th birthday of Blue Ridge Books. There will be free cake and coffee all day until they run out.

• Friday, July 14: “Indoor Yard Sale!” Don’t miss the opportunity

this month, Lee can’t help but be thankful for the countless customers that look to the business as something of importance — economically, academically, and intrinsically.

“Ten years is a long time,” Lee said. “Ten years is a long time in this day and age, in this economy, with technology and online purchasing. It’s a long time for a Main Street business — and we’re proud of that.”

Finding herself in and out of the publishing industry throughout her life — working at a women’s bookstore during graduate school in Durham and later at the highly-touted Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh — Lee sees the importance of what she and Gilley do, each and every day.

Of the many initiatives and partnerships Blue Ridge Books has garnered, none stand taller than the one with the Head Start programs in Haywood and Jackson counties. Atop the register at the bookstore, there’s a change jar. And all of that change, along with generous donations from the Smoky Mountain Chess Club (which plays in the store every Thursday afternoon), has provided hundreds of books for young children.

“Each student has been able to take home three books a year, all purchased by our customers and using discounts,” Lee smiled. “And the kids learn about how you care for a book, how you open a book, and how you read a story — it’s so important to get children reading early on.”

So, what about the “Amazon question”?

“I remember working in Raleigh when the first big box stores arrived. How do you stay in business when you have these big box bookstores? Well, you focus on what you do, and what you do well,” Lee emphasized. “[With Amazon], it is what it is, and people are going to make decisions on the priorities they have, and to the ability that you are able to buy within your community is so very helpful. Amazon can track your purchases and try to suggest

to stock up on some great bargain books and more.

• Saturday, July 15: “Share the Love of the Smokies” The Friends of the Smokies welcome Daniel S. Pierce, author of Hazel Creek: The Life and Death of an Iconic Mountain Community. Dr. Pierce will discuss the once thriving community of Hazel Creek and how it vanished as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was established.

• Sunday, July 16: “Get a ‘Head Start’ on Reading.” For the past few years, Blue Ridge Books customers have donated pennies, dollars and more to help purchase books for children enrolled in Head Start in Haywood and Jackson counties. The bookstore has also donated hundreds of books for the children to take home and now invites you to help purchase books for the classrooms.

Just purchase a book to donate from the Head Start display and they’ll discount your entire purchase.

• 11 a.m. Monday, July 17: “Barks and Books.” Come meet Blue Ridge Books’ furry friends — therapy dogs, Julip, Mavis and Raya Sunshine. Blue Ridge Books loves dogs, and are inviting dog lovers of all ages to come and meet these wonderful working animals. Children may choose to bring a book and read a story to a dog or just come to meet these loving pooches.

• 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 18: “Book Club Bash.” The Haywood County Public Library has helped Blue Ridge Books plan an evening for book club members (although all book lovers are

“Ten years is a long time in this day and age, in this economy, with technology and online purchasing. It’s a long time for a Main Street business — and we’re proud of that.”

— Allison Lee, Blue Ridge Books

things by some algorithm, but it’s never going to be like somebody that knows you. We have customers where over the years I’d help choose their Christmas gifts for their grandchildren, and it’s because I’ve known their family for years.”

When asked about what, perhaps, her hopes are for the next decade at Blue Ridge Books, Lee is quick to respond, with a smile and glint in her eye of someone who’s genuinely tapped into her surroundings.

“We love coming to work, we really do,” Lee said. “It’s about being led by your love of books, trying to respond the best you can to your customers, and knowing who your customers are — what they want, what they need, and how to be involved in the community.

welcome). They will welcome Eric Svenson, who was raised in the book business and has worked for HarperCollins publishers for over 25 years. Svenson will give a sneak preview of books that will be released in the fall and bring lots of prizes.

• 3 p.m. Wednesday, July 19: “An Afternoon with a Scientist!” Join children’s science author and college biology instructor Dawn Cusick for a time of science exploration for children. Cusick will be joined and helped by the women from Parents as Teachers, who specialize in learning activities for the very young.

• 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday, July 20: “Free Chess Lessons for All Ages and Levels of Players.” Every Thursday afternoon you’ll find members of the Smoky Mountain Chess Club playing Chess in Blue Ridge Books meeting room — friendly games, rated games and sometime tournament play. At this event, the members will offer free chess lessons to anyone with an interest in the game.

If you already know how to play, come and challenge one of the most experienced players.

• 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 25: “Ron Rash reading.” Rash will be at Blue Ridge Books to help celebrate its anniversary and also the release of his novel, The Risen, in paperback. Rash will read, answer your questions, and sign books. Blue Ridge Books will have copies of all of Rash’s books available for purchase. www.blueridgebooksnc.com or 828.456.6000.

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

The 2012 “Fourth of July” celebration in Rouses Point, New York.

Popular Australian hard rock act October Rage will perform at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, July 8, at the Water’n Hole Bar & Grill in Waynesville.

I remembered those places, and those faces.

Scrolling through Facebook The “An Appalachian Evening” summer — through the “fun in the sun” concert series will continue with 2014 IBMA Fourth of July photos — in my “Entertainer of the Year” Balsam Range at office on Monday morning, I 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 8, at the Stecoah couldn’t help but have this feelValley Center. ing of longing to see and interact with friends and family celebratThe annual “Week of Rock” celebration will ing the holiday weekend back continue through July 8 at Nantahala Brewing home in Upstate New York. in Bryson City.

Seeing as we’re putting Concerts on the Creek will host Darren together this issue in your hands Nicholson Band (country/Americana) at 7 a day early, as to hopefully p.m. Friday, July 7, at Bridge Park in (maybe?) having a day off to downtown Sylva. enjoy the 4th, here we all are — journalists, graphic designers, “Art After Dark” will be from 6 to 9 p.m. advertising folks and publisher Friday, July 7, in downtown Waynesville.

— bouncing around our newsroom, piecing together another Fourth of July. It’s the one day of the year edition of The Smoky Mountain News like that the entire town emerges and gathers, some 56-page puzzle. cold Labatt Blue beers hoisted high, hot dogs As a kid, I was pretty lucky to grow up in and hamburgers on the grill, fireworks the town I did. Rouses Point, New York.

Population: 2,100. It is (or was?) the quintes- exploding from seemingly every backyard.

I can’t stress how picturesque the 4th is sential “All-American” town, along the in Rouses Point. It’s like something out of a shores of Lake Champlain. And, regardless classic film, this “Pleasantville” feel to it, and of current economic conditions, there still is it still has that magic dust sprinkled over the no bigger day in my hometown than the

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July 5-11, 2017

The year is half-over, my cup half-full

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arts & entertainment

This must be the place

community whenever that day rolls around.

Usually, during my childhood, the day would start with a bike ride down my street to round up my cronies. We’d bike less than a mile to my grandparent’s camp (aka “lake house”) and go swimming for most of the morning. Then, bike into town for lunch and youthful shenanigans. Shoot up and down Lake Street. Watch the never-ending parade, then find some prime real estate on the lakeshore to sit underneath the massive firework display at dusk.

By college, it was all about closing down the local watering holes on the 4th. Home for the summer, seeing all your old high school friends, everyone full of piss and vinegar, catching up amid the background noise of some cover band blasting some Tragically Hip or April Wine song. Come 2 a.m. we’d wander down to the camp and do some twilight swimming, maybe have a small fire and a nightcap on the beach.

These days, I rarely get back home, let alone actually be there when the 4th rolls around. The last one that really sticks out was the summer of 2012, exactly one month before I moved to Waynesville. At that time, I was in cahoots with my publisher, Scott McLeod, doing back and forth phone interviews to see if I was “the man for the job” of arts and entertainment editor.

And while I was throwing down some Labatt Blues amid my peers, I remember mulling over the idea of me relocating to Southern Appalachia. I needed to make a move, and make one soon, in terms of my “career,” and all signs seemed to point to Western North Carolina.

There was this girl I had just started to “see” as the summer of 2012 kicked off. And, by the time the 4th rolled around, we were hanging out pretty regularly. There definitely was some chemistry between us, but I found myself growing distant, especially during the 4th, as the writing on the wall became as clear as my intentions to leave the area, in search of that “something else” beyond the horizon. It’s like those lines in “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers), “I dig you baby, but I got to keep movin’ on, keep movin’ n… I feel summer creepin’ in and I’m tired of this town again …

Well, I don’t know, but I’ve been told, you never slow down, you never grow old, I’m tired of screwin’ up, tired of going down, tired of myself, tired of this town …”

It’s exactly 1,024 miles from Waynesville, North Carolina, to Rouses Point, New York.

And yet, it feels so much farther in my memories. I remember that town, and all those people, faces that were pillars of my childhood and early adulthood. A lot are six feet below, with the vast majority sporting more grey hair and well-earned wrinkles these days (myself included).

Every single one of us has a “hometown,” and it probably looked and felt very similar to mine, in this kind of “Wonder Years” nostalgia that strikes you on some lonely drive from Point A to Point B, so far away from you physically, but so close as images play across the dashboard, all as you continue to push ahead, into the knowns and unknowns of tomorrow.

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

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arts & entertainment

On the beat

DARREN NICHOLSON AT THE CREEK Concerts on the Creek will host Darren Nicholson Band (country/Americana) at 7 p.m. Friday, July 7, at Bridge Park in downtown Sylva. The Business (funk/soul) will play at 6:30 p.m. July 4. Ol’ Dirty Bathtub (bluegrass/Americana) will hit the stage on July 14. Free.

828.586.2155 or www.mountainlovers.com.

Americana at Marianna

July 5-11, 2017

As part of a “Summer Music Series,” the Marianna Black Library presents an evening of eclectic folk music with Dusk Weaver at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 13, in Bryson City.

The awarding winning poet, singersongwriter, storyteller, and author serves

up a delightful smorgasbord of “StorySong Americana,” with toe-tapping rhythms that “make one laugh, cry, care, and think.”

This program is free and open to area residents and visitors. Snacks and refreshments will be provided by the Friends of the Marianna Black Library. The library is located at the corner of Academy and Rector.

For more information or driving directions call the library at 828.488.3030 or visit www.fontanalib.org/brysoncity.

Jamie Kent (country/soul) will play July 7 during the ‘Week of Rock’ celebration in Bryson City.

Nantahala ‘Week of Rock’ The annual “Week of Rock” celebration will continue through July 8 at Nantahala Brewing in Bryson City.

Live music will be provided by Shane Meade & The Sound (soul/rock) July 5, Carolina Wray (indie/southern) July 6, Jamie Kent (country/soul) July 7 and Georgia Flood (rock/jam) July 8.

All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.nantahalabrewing.com.

• Andrews Brewing Company (Andrews) will host Heidi Holton (blues/folk) July 7, Liz Nance (singer-songwriter) July 14 and Austin & Katie Coleman (Americana/folk) July 15.

All shows are free and begin at 6 p.m. There will also be a “Bluegrass Jam with Heidi” at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays. www.andrewsbrewing.com.

• Bogart’s Restaurant & Tavern (Waynesville) will host Carolina Blue (bluegrass) July 6 and Eddie Rose & Highway 40 (bluegrass) July 13.

All shows are free and begin at 6:30 p.m.

Smoky Mountain News

ALSO:

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• The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host James Hammel (guitar/vocals) July 7, Joe Cruz (piano/pop) July 8 and 15, and Tiny & Her Pony (Americana) July 14. All shows are free and begin at 7 p.m. 828.452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com.

• Concerts on the Creek (Sylva) will host Darren Nicholson Band (country/rock) July 7 and Ol’ Dirty Bathtub (Americana/bluegrass) July 14 in Bridge Park. All shows are free and begin at 7 p.m. 828.586.2155 or www.mountainlovers.com.

• Concerts on the Square (Hayesville) will host Stone Cold Country (southern rock/country) July 14. All shows are free and begin at 7 p.m. www.cccra-nc.org.

• Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host Limited Distance July 8 and Wyatt Espalin (singer-songwriter) July 15. Shows are free and begin at 7:30 p.m. www.curraheebrew.com.

• The Cut Cocktail Lounge (Sylva) will host an open mic night at 8 p.m. on Mondays. All welcome. 828.631.4795.

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

828.488.8898.

• Friday Night Live (Highlands) will host Foxfire Boys (Americana) July 7 and Tallulah River Band (Americana) July 14. All shows are free and begin at 6 p.m. www.highlandschamber.org.

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host Blues Revue (bluegrass) July 8, Paul H. Davis (singer-songwriter) July 13, Marc Keller (singer-songwriter) July 14, Hunter Grigg (singer-songwriter) 4:30 p.m. July 15 and Old North State (bluegrass) July 15. All shows are free and begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.froglevelbrewing.com.

• Groovin’ on the Green (Cashiers) will host Hurricane Creek (rock/country) July 7 at The Village Green. Joe Lasher Jr. (country/rock) will perform July 21. All shows are free and begin at 6:30 p.m. www.visitcashiersvalley.com.

On the beat

October Rage.

Popular Australian hard rock act October Rage will perform at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, July 8, at the Water’n Hole Bar & Grill in Waynesville.

The group was conceived by brothers Nicholas and William Roberts in late 2008 and completed with the addition of Kai Chambers and John McMullen in 2012. The Newcastle New South Wales Australia based unit set about writing hook driven, hard hitting rock tunes and quickly gained a strong tail wind after taking out a song writing

• Heinzelmannchen Brewery (Sylva) will have live music from 6 to 8 p.m. July 6 and 13. www.yourgnometownbrewery.com.

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

• The Nantahala Outdoor Center (Nantahala Gorge) will host Ol’ Dirty Bathtub (Americana/bluegrass) July 8 and Empire Strikes Brass (funk/soul) July 15.

All shows are free and begin at 6 p.m. www.noc.com.

• No Name Sports Pub (Sylva) will host Karaoke w/Chris Monteith July 7, A.P.E. (rock) July 8, The Hardin Draw (folk/rock) July 14 and PMA (reggae/soul) July 15. All shows are free and begin at 9:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.nonamesportspub.com.

ALSO:

• Music on the River (Cherokee) will host AM Superstars (alternative) July 7, Aaron Jones (honky-tonk) July 8, Eastern Blues Band (jazz/blues) July 14 and Will Hayes Band (country/rock) July 15 on the Oconaluftee River Stage. All shows are free and begin at 7 p.m. www.visitcherokeenc.com.

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

• Nantahala Brewing Company (Bryson City) will host the “Week of Rock” with Shane Meade & The Sound (soul/rock) July 5, Carolina Wray (indie/southern) July 6,

• Pickin’ in the Park (Canton) will be held at 7 p.m. July 7 and 14 at the Recreation Park.

Free and open to the public. www.cantonnc.com.

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

Anyone with a guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, dulcimer, anything unplugged, are

• Pickin’ on the Square (Franklin) will host Tugalo Holler (newgrass) July 8 and The Elderly Brothers (beach/rock) July 15. All shows are free and begin at 7:30 p.m. www.townoffranklinnc.com.

• The Rendezvous (Maggie Valley) will host Corbitt Brothers (southern rock) 7 p.m. July 7, Stone Crazy (pop/rock) 6 p.m. July 8 and Andalyn (rock/country) 3 p.m. July 9.

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

• Saturdays on Pine (Highlands) will host Lyric (soul/funk) July 8 and The Buchanan Boys (country/rock) July 15. All shows are free and begin at 6 p.m. www.highlandschamber.org.

• Southern Porch (Canton) will host Marc Keller (singer-songwriter) July 6, Jason Whitaker (singer-songwriter) July 7, Ashley Heath (singer-songwriter) July 8, Keil Smith & Randy Mason (singer-songwriter) July 11, Whiskey River Band (Americana) July 13, Bryce Denton (singer-songwriter) July 14 and Aaron LaFalce (singer-songwriter) July 15. All shows are free and begin at 7 p.m. www.southern-porch.com.

WNC gets in the tub Popular Jackson County Americana/bluegrass group Ol’ Dirty Bathtub will perform during Concerts on the Creek at 7 p.m. Friday, July 14, in Sylva.

The group will also play at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 15, at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. www.facebook.com/oldirtybathtub.

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

828.586.6440.

• The Strand at 38 Main (Waynesville) will host an “Open Mic” night from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturdays. 828.283.0079 or www.38main.com.

• Tunes on the Tuck (Bryson City) will host and The Freight Hoppers (Americana) July 8 and Pickxen (Americana/country) July 15 at Riverfront Park. All shows are free and begin at 7 p.m. www.greatsmokies.com.

• The Ugly Dog Pub (Cashiers) will host Lyric (soul/rock) July 7 and The Orange Constant July 14. All shows begin at 9 p.m.

• The Ugly Dog Pub (Highlands) will host Lyric (soul/rock) July 8 and The Buchanan Boys (country/rock) July 15. All shows begin at 9:30 p.m.

• Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will host Tony LaFalce (singer-songwriter) July 7 and October Rage (Aussie/hard rock) July 8.

All shows begin at 9:30 p.m.

• Waynesville Pizza Company will have an open mic night at 7 p.m. July 10. Free and open to the public. 828.246.0927 or www.waynesvillepizza.com.

Smoky Mountain News

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Shane Davis (singer-songwriter) July 7, Troy Underwood (singer-songwriter) July 14 and Porch 40 (rock/jam) July 15. All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m. 828.349.2337 or www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

Jamie Kent (country/soul) July 7, Georgia Flood (rock/jam) July 8, Hail Cassius Neptune July 14 and Day Like This July 15.

All shows are free and at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.nantahalabrewing.com.

Bryson City community jam

Ol’ Dirty Bathtub

July 5-11, 2017

• Guadalupe Café (Sylva) will host Folks’ Songs (world/fusion) from 7 to 9 p.m. on Fridays. Free.

competition, winning the support slot on Bon Jovi's Australian leg of their Circle World Tour in 2010.

Off the back of Australian touring, the band set its sights on the U.S. active rock market. Clocking up hundreds of shows and thousands of miles sharing the stage with some heavyweights including Buckcherry, Puddle Of Mudd, Steel Panther, Sevendust, Alien Ant Farm and Saliva, just to name a few.

Admission is $5 per person. www.octoberrage.com.

Americana duo Sugar Barnes and Dave Magill will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 6, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.

The unlikely collaboration of Karen “Sugar” Barnes, a blues singer, and Dave Magill, a country musician, was not something either of them expected, to say the least. But, unexpected can be a very good thing — a visit to one of their concerts shows a connection that transcends categories.

The rich harmonies and impeccable instrumentals they lend each other are a strong cohesive thread that runs throughout their music and ties their styles together in a performance that both entertains and informs. Their song list, an eclectic mix of oldtime blues, country classics, and originals, has a depth and texture that fits any occasion.

The show is free and open to the public.

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 Grampa’s Music in Bryson City.

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

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

828.488.3030.

arts & entertainment

Ready for some Aussie rock?

Country, blues in Franklin

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On the beat arts & entertainment

K-12 $10. Tickets are a pre-show dinner is also available for purchase. www.stecoahvalleycenter.com.

Rockin’ out at Groovin’ Rock/country act Hurricane Creek will perform during the Groovin’ on the Green concert series at 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 7, at The Village Green in Cashiers. Joe Lasher Jr. (country/rock) will play July 21. Free. www.visitcashiersvalley.com.

Balsam Range.

‘Appalachian Evening’ with Balsam Range

Smoky Mountain News

July 5-11, 2017

The “An Appalachian Evening� summer concert series will continue with 2014 IBMA “Entertainer of the Year� Balsam Range at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 8, at the Stecoah Valley Center.

The annual bluegrass/mountain music series will also feature Helen White & Wayne Henderson (July 15), The Synder Family (July 22), Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper (July 29), The Bankesters (Aug. 5), The Freight Hoppers (Aug. 12), The Jeff Little Trio (Aug. 19) and The Kruger Brothers (Aug. 26).

Tickets for the Balsam Range performance are $30 for adults, students and grades

The Little Town Players will present its second annual country music showcase at 7:30 p.m. July 14-15 and 3 p.m. July 16 at the Swain County Arts Center in Bryson City.

Directed by Ricky Sanford, a Swain County native and the founder of The Little Town Playhouse, a Bryson City theater ensemble, “Country 101� spans 50 years of country music performed with singing and dancing by the Little Town Players.

Tickets are $10 for adults (18 and up), $5 for students ages five to 17, and free for children ages 4 and under. For information, visit the Little Town Playhouse Facebook page or call 828.226.5637 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Monday through Friday.

Ashley Heath comes to Sylva A musical concert featuring Ashley Heath will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 11, in the Community Room at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva.

With a blend of original soul Americana music, Heath has been arising as one of Asheville's finest musicians with “velvety� vocals and a bluesy guitar style. Raised in Madison County, she has developed a strong passion for country, blues, and folk music.

She recently released an album of original material, “A Different Stream.�

This program is free and open to the public. The event is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Jackson County Public Library. For more information, call the library at 828.586.2016. The Jackson County Public Library is a member of Fontana Regional Library (www.fontanalib.org).

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Bryson City country music showcase

July 7, 8, 13,* 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29 at 7:30 pm July 9, 16, 23, 30 at 2:00 pm Adults $26 Seniors $24 Students $13 *Special $16 tickets for all Adults on Thursday, July 13.

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

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

For More Information and Tickets:

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

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arts & entertainment

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On the beat

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‘Mountain Families & American Folk Music’ The Jackson County Genealogical Society’s program “Mountain Families & American Folk Music” will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 14, at the Historic Jackson County Courthouse in Sylva.

Featured performers will be “Mountain Heritage Award” winners and Jackson County natives The Deitz Family. From bluegrass to country to old-time fiddle tunes, they play “the music that gets us off of our couches and down to our church or community center, where we once again come face-to-face with the people who make this place special.”

Refreshments will be served after the program. All JCGS events are free of charge and the public is welcome. For more information, visit them on Facebook or call 828.631.2646.

Smoky Mountain News

• Morris is a poet and songwriter, solo performer and band leader, and a sometimes playwright and actor from Knoxville, Tennessee. Morris served as the Jack E. Reese Writer-in-Residence at University of Tennessee from 2004-2008, and was inducted into the East Tennessee Writers Hall of Fame in 2009.

• Senior music writer at The Tennessean in Nashville and senior lecturer in country music at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music, Cooper has also worked in the studio as a performer, producer or session musician with Tom T. Hall, Todd Snider, Emmylou Harris, Nanci Griffith, Patty Griffin, Ricky Skaggs, Kenny Chesney, and many more.

The Balsam Mountain Inn began its Songwriters in the Round series 20 years ago, and modeled it after similar performances at Nashville’s Bluebird Café. Balsam’s performers are most often the Nashville-area songwriters who pen lyrics performed by country and western stars. Many performances feature Grammy and CMA award winners, and all include writers of many top-ranked songs.

A buffet dinner is included in the $49.50 price. To purchase tickets, call 828.456.9498 or www.balsammountaininn.net.

July 5-11, 2017

The “Songwriters in the Round” series will host Don Schlitz, RB Morris and Peter Cooper starting at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 15, at Balsam Mountain Inn. • Schlitz is one of the most beloved songwriters in the history of country music.

His chart-topping songs — among them “The Gambler,” “On the Other Hand,” “Forever and Ever, Amen,” “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her,“ The Greatest” and “When You Say Nothing At All” — are touchstones and inspirations. His works have been recorded

by Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis, The Judds, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Tanya Tucker, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Keith Whitley, Alison Krauss, and many others.

Schlitz’s 50 Top Ten singles include 24 No. 1 country hits. He has won three CMA “Song of the Year” awards, two Academy of Country Music “Song of the Year” prizes, two Grammy Awards, and four consecutive (1988-91) ASCAP Country “Songwriter of the Year” trophies. Schlitz was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Association Hall of Fame in 1993, and the Songwriters Hall of Fame (with Bob Seger and Gordon Lightfoot) in 2012. He’ll also be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in October.

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arts & entertainment

On the street • The Appalachian Heritage Festival will kickoff at 9 p.m. Saturday, July 15, in downtown Franklin. Heritage demonstrations, live music, and more. www.franklin-chamber.com.

• Sneak E Squirrel Brewing (Sylva) will host the Jackson County Corn Hole Association on Monday evenings ($5 buy in, 100-percent payout), Karaoke with Captain Moose from 7 to 11 p.m. on Tuesdays, Trivia at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and a Guitar Hero Tournament at 7 p.m. on Thursdays. 828.586.6440.

• The Brian Center of Waynesville will be hosting a “Red, White & Blue” community celebration from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday, July 8.

There will be an “AllAmerican” style cookout that includes Nathan hotdogs, chips and drinks. There will be corn hole games and a toddler bouncy house (5 years and under). The Brian Center is located at 516 Wall Street in downtown Waynesville. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 828.452.3154.

ALSO:

July 5-11, 2017

• “The Wizard of Oz” train will depart at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. July 14-16 at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad depot in Bryson City. For tickets, visit www.gsmr.com.

• Feline Urgent Rescue (FUR) of Western North Carolina will host a barbecue fundraiser from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. July 15 at the Winchester Creek Country Club in Waynesville. Tickets are $25 per person.

Bring a bag of cat food and receive a “swag bag” from sponsors. For more information, furofwncpowell@gmail.com or 828.421.1290.

Smoky Mountain News

• The High Mountain Squares will host their "Beach Party Dance" from 6:15 to 8:45 p.m. Friday, July 7, at the Memorial United Methodist Church in Franklin. Ace McGee will be calling. Western Style Square Dancing, main/stream and plus

• The Swain County Genealogical & Historic Society will release the “Glimpses of the Past: A Historical Calendar of Swain County” calendar at its next meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 6, at the

WOW’s ‘Mind Over Wine’ The Women of Waynesville (WOW) will present the “Mind Over Wine” fundraiser from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 13, at the Cork & Cleaver in the Waynesville Inn Resort.

Alongside food and wine pairings, entertainment will be provided by “Reality Twisting: The Magic of Dr. Brett Senor,” a mentalist.

Proceeds from the event go to the ongoing community efforts of WOW, which focuses on helping local women and children.

Tickets are $25 per person. For more information and to purchase tickets, call 828.550.9978 or visit https://tinyurl.com/yd9g94mm www.womenofwaynesville.org.

Swain County Regional Business Education and Training Center in Bryson City. Calendars are $20 apiece.

• There will be a free wine tasting from 1 to 5 p.m. July 8 and 15 at Bosu’s Wine Shop in Waynesville. www.waynesvillewine.com or 828.452.0120.

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

The life of Rose Greenhow Debbie Black of the N.C. Dept. of Natural & Cultural Resource will host a presentation on Rose Greenhow during the next Western North Carolina Civil War Round Table meeting. The presentation will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, July 10, in the H.F. Robinson Auditorium at Western Carolina University.

Greenhow was an ardent Southern activist before the Civil War. She and her sister came to live with an aunt in Washington, D.C., after the murder of her father. The introduction of both prominent and public figures during her education served her well in the years to come.

After her early years as a spy, the Jefferson Davis administration used her as courier and liaison to both England and France, during which time she kept a detailed diary. That was how Blake came to know Greenhow, as she was charged with Rose O'Neal Greenhow with her youngest daughter and transcribing the European namesake, “Little” Rose, at the Old Capitol Prison, Greenhow Diaries that were in the Washington, D.C., 1862. Creative Commons possession of the N.C. Archives.

Those wishing to join speaker White for dinner may do so at Bogart’s in Sylva at 5 p.m. Late comers can meet up in the auditorium at 6:30 p.m. for a light refreshment-social with the presentation to begin shortly thereafter.

828.648.2488.

Cherokee History and Culture Institute Focusing on Cherokee archaeology, history, folklore, literature, geography and anthropology, the Cherokee History and Culture Institute will be held July 10-14 at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian.

There will be field trips to the Kituhwa Mound, Nikwasi Mound, Oconaluftee Indian Village, “Unto These Hills,” and more. The institute will be taught by Barbara Duncan, Ph.D., education director. There will also be Cherokee presenters: archaeologist, storyteller, dancers and potter. Open to all educators.

Cost is $500 for educators, discount for museum members ($400) and $100 for EBCI members. For more information or to register, email bduncan@cherokeemuseum.org or call 828.497.3481 (ext. 306).

Bonfires in Cherokee

The Cherokee Bonfire & Storytelling will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 28 at the Oconaluftee Islands Park. Sit by a bonfire, alongside a river, and listen to some of Cherokee’s best storytellers. The bonfire is free and open to the public. www.visitcherokeenc.com.

Bookstore

your friendly, local blue box — smoky mountain news 34

levels. New dancer lessons will begin Aug. 14. Everyone is welcome. For information, call 828.342.1560 or 828.332.0001 or www.highmountainsquares.com.

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On the street arts & entertainment

‘Religion in Early America’

T

July 5-11, 2017 Smoky Mountain News

he World Methodist Museum in Lake Junaluska announces its participation in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History exhibit. The “Religion in Early America” exhibition is currently open to the public.

The Francis Asbury wooden trunk and a first edition hymnal written by John and Charles Wesley when they were at Oxford are included in the exhibition and are on a one-year loan. The inaugural exhibit in the Nicholas F. and Eugenia Taubman Gallery will trace the distinctive way that religion developed in the early American republic.

It will focus on three themes: the diversity of religious traditions in early America, the principle of freedom of religion that was incorporated in the U.S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights and became a guiding American ideal, and the growth of different religions in the new American republic after the nation was formed. The exhibition will include a wide array of national treasures, a statement from the Smithsonian explains.

Asbury’s small wooden trunk, covered in leather, contained this early Bishop’s worldly possessions. He traveled more than a quarter of a million miles as a circuit rider and assigned many young men to cover territory as preachers from lower Georgia to upper Maine. Asbury is credited with being the person most influential in adding Methodists to America’s religions. The hymnal, “Hymns and Sacred Poems” is an original that was published in 1742 and contains the songs sung in early American Methodist services. These items will be returned to the

World Methodist Museum at the end of the yearlong exhibit.

“We are very excited to be included in this important exhibition,” explains Bishop Ivan Abrahams, general secretary of the World Methodist Council. “It is indeed an honor to be in this display and be part of the important message it shares. We are aware of the number of irreplaceable historical artifacts at the Museum and are pleased when others are also cognizant of this.”

World Methodist Museum Director Jackie Bolden explained that it was thrilling to be part of this exhibit and assist in promoting its phenomenal historical content.

“In keeping with this year’s theme at the National Museum of American History, ‘The Nation We Build Together,’ we, too, invite our museum guests to explore the evolution of America’s founding principles, ideas and ideals and how they developed over time,” Bolden said.

Bolden was present on June 23 for the opening media day at the Smithsonian, prior to the public opening.

“Including World Methodist Museum objects with national treasures from the Smithsonian’s permanent collection such as George Washington’s christening robe from 1732, ‘The Jefferson Bible,’ and many other significant religious artifacts across numerous dominations is important. It reminds us that our history continues to shape who we are as individuals and as a country,” Bolden said.

The displays will remain at the National Museum of American History for one year and are open for public viewing. To learn more, visit www.americanhistory.si.edu.

The World Methodist Museum, located at 475 Lakeshore Drive, Lake Junaluska, is open year-round, Tuesdays through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For information, visit www.methodistmuseum.org, on Facebook or call 828.456.7242.

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arts & entertainment

On the wall WCU holds visual arts camp Western Carolina University’s Office of Professional Growth and Enrichment will hold a three-day visual arts camp for rising sixth- through eighth-grade students beginning Monday, July 17.

In sessions from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., campers will explore art techniques ranging from different usages of color, line, shape and form through collage, painting, drawing, sketching and block printmaking. At the conclusion on Wednesday, July 19, students will showcase their art for special guests, family and friends.

Cost is $79 with limited space available on a first-come, first-served basis, with all materials and lunch at the campus Courtyard Dining Hall included. Needs-based scholarships are available, with more information by contacting Rachel York-Bridgers at rybridgers@wcu.edu or 828.227.3937.

For more information, go to camps.wcu.edu and click on “Jackson County Arts Alive.”

July 5-11, 2017

Enter Swain’s photography contest The Swain Arts Center will host its first Open Juried Photography Competition on Aug. 19. The theme is “Nature Photography.”

Submissions should be made online no later than July 17 (jpg format). Participants will be notified on July 22 if their submissions have been accepted for the competition.

The submission fee is $15 per single entry.

If you submit four or more images, the fee is $60. The application is available at www.swainartscenter.com.

Photographs accepted for the competition should be delivered to the Swain Arts

Center on Aug. 12. The Photography Competition Judging and Reception will be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, at the Swain Arts Center in Bryson City.

Prizes are: First Place, $200 and invitation to display photographs at Gallery Zella in Bryson City. Second Place, $100. Third Place, $50. Two Honorable Mention Awards will be given. These photographers will be invited to participate in future exhibits at the Swain Arts Center.

For additional information, contact Rachel Lackey, director of the Swain Arts Center.

Macon Arts seeks board members The Arts Council of Macon County is accepting nominations to its board of directors through Friday, July 21.

This fall, the council will begin work on a new strategic plan based on the outcomes of a year-long community arts assessment conducted in conjunction with the North Carolina Arts Council. As they move into this important work, they invite capable, committed representatives from across the county to bring their voices to our table.

Board responsibilities include attending monthly meetings held the first Tuesdays, 6:01 to 7:30 p.m. in the council office in downtown Franklin; active involvement in council — sponsored events; fundraising and member recruitment; and advocacy for the council and the arts in general.

The council board will review all nominations, and candidates will be invited to attend the Aug, 1 board meeting.

For more information, contact Arts Council President Jann Ramsey at cjramsey@earthlink.net or 828.332.0568.

Johnny Horne photo

‘Photographing the Solar Eclipse’ safely The Sylva Photo Club will present “Photographing the Solar Eclipse” with Roger Bacon at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 8, in the Cullowee Methodist Church on the campus of Western Carolina University.

Photographing the eclipse is very challenging to get a good image and can harm your eyes if not done properly. Topics will include how to use your telephoto lens, time lapse of the whole event, using Live View, and safety for your eyes and your camera. Bacon will also talk about equipment and techniques with sources for more information.

“Share and Tell” will follow and is choice of participant. Please download on a USB any pictures you would like to share.

Cost for this program is a $5 donation for visitors (applied to membership).

Membership to the Sylva Photo Club is a $20 donation; $10 for students per year.

sylvaphotoclub.wordpress.com, Facebook at Sylva Photo Club or sylvaphotoclub@gmail.com or 828.226.3840.

Solar eclipse photography

With a little over two months to go before the solar eclipse, Southwestern Community College is gearing up for the once-in-a-lifetime event by hosting a presentation by photographer Johnny Horne at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 13, in Myers Auditorium on SCC’s Jackson Campus.

This presentation will be a how-to on photographing the solar eclipse, which will occur on Aug. 21.

The session will also include information for budding and amateur photographers who wish to take pictures of planets, stars and astronomical events.

828.339.4265 or l_parlett@southwesterncc.edu.

Diane E. Sherrill, Attorney

Smoky Mountain News

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Franklin painting exhibit, reception

Gallery show celebrates sharing This year marks the fifth year of the Haywood County Arts Council’s (HCAC) “ArtShare” exhibit at its Gallery & Gifts showroom in downtown Waynesville.

“ArtShare” is a showing of fine works of art which have been donated to or consigned with the HCAC. The HCAC welcomes pieces from collectors that may be downsizing, changing décor, or who wish to consign estate items to benefit the arts.

The HCAC will accept donations or consigned items in the gallery beginning July 11. Artists may share their own work, but only if donating. If you have questions, email Tom Irwin at 33rockyknob@gmail.com or call the HCAC at 828.452.0593. “ArtShare” runs from Aug. 4-26. www.haywoodarts.org.

There will be an art reception with Kay Smith and Jim Smythe from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 8, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.

Smith and Smythe will be exhibiting a collection of their artwork at the library during the month of July. The show will present some of each artist's work, as well as some collaborative pieces.

Both artists have diverse artistic backgrounds and painting styles: Smythe with his loose abstract structure in every medium and Smith’s tighter and more realistic interpretations. Yet, both strive to get to the core of the subject being presented and depict its fundamental essence, all the while inviting the viewer to form their own personal perspective. www.kaysfineart.com or jamessmythe.wordpress.com.

HCAC ‘Mountainside Pilates” fundraiser As part of its 40th anniversary celebrations, the Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) will host a “Mountainside Pilates” fundraiser on Thursday, July 13, in Waynesville.

The event will be hosted by arts patrons Karla and George Escaravage, Jody and Bradley Escaravage, and instructor Erin Owen of Waynesville Pilates.

The evening will begin with a 6:15 p.m. reception, including champagne cocktails,

The Mountain Artisan Series will continue with a “Create Your Own Journal” class at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, July 13, at the Waynesville Library Auditorium.

Journaling has many positive benefits: strengthen self-discipline, spark creativity, document your life, boost memory, and much more. And to make the experience even more personal and gratifying, learn how to make your own journal. Local hiking and journaling enthusiast Kent Stewart will show you how. Each participant will leave with two small journals and the skills needed to make more.

Registration is required and space is very limited. To register, call 828.356.2507 or kolsen@haywoodnc.net.

Waynesville’s ‘Art After Dark’ The next “Art After Dark” will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 7, in downtown Waynesville.

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

Acclaimed painter Jenny Buckner will be doing live demonstrations at Twigs and Leaves, with jeweler Terry Thompson and singer-songwriter Chris Minick at Jewelers Workbench, the “Annual Members Show” and guitarist Martin Vee at Gallery & Gifts, and textile artist Betsy Meyer at Village Framer.

It is free to attend “Art After Dark.” www.waynesvillegalleryassociation.com.

Smoky Mountain News

Haywood Community College Creative Arts will offer a Kid’s Camp for ages 8 through 12 the week of July 24-28 in Clyde.

The music and crafts camp will run from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Cost of the camp is $450. Participants will start the day off with two music sessions led by Bryan and Julie McConnell. During the afternoon session, participants will choose from a variety of crafts and projects led by Cheryl Wilkes.

All supplies are included. Students will need to bring beverages, snacks and lunch.

Space is limited. To reserve a spot or for more information, call 828.565.4240. www.haywood.edu.

at the Escaravage home, followed by a challenging, but accessible Pilates workout, heavy hors d’oeuvres and sunset views to close out the evening. Tickets are $75 per person, and space is limited to 25 people.

To purchase tickets, visit www.haywoodarts.org/special-events. Space is limited. Guests should bring their own Pilates/yoga mats if possible, but email info@haywoodarts.org if you need to borrow equipment. The evening is rain or shine.

An intermediate bladesmithing class with Brock Martin will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 15-16 at the Jackson County Green Energy Park in Dillsboro.

In this course, students will forge a high

Want to create a journal?

July 5-11, 2017

HCC Creative Arts Kid’s Camp

Interested in bladesmithing?

carbon blade(s) with more of a focus on fit and finish. More time will be spent on handle construction as well as forging the blade more cleanly.

Students must wear closed toe shoes (preferably leather), long pants, and cotton clothing, and should bring a lunch.

Pre-registration is required. Cost is $265 per person, which includes materials, due at registration. www.jcgep.org.

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On the wall

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Smoky Mountain News July 5-11, 2017

arts & entertainment

On the wall strong focus on coldwork.

• Amy Putansu will teach an intermediate/advanced weaving workshop introducing the ondulé technique.

The books, printmaking, and letterpress workshops are open to students of any skill level: beginners welcome. The clay workshop welcomes all skill levels, but stu-

• The Haywood County Arts Council “Members Show” will run July 7-29 at Gallery & Gifts in downtown Waynesville.

The showcase will feature an array of local artisans and art mediums. Free and open to the public.

828.452.0593 or www.haywoodarts.org.

ALSO:

• The Heritage Arts Summer Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 8 at Southwestern Community College’s Bryson City campus. Local artisans, live demonstrations and music, and more. www.greatsmokies.com.

dents must bring bisque-fired pots for the wood firing. The glass and weaving workshops require intermediate to advanced skill level.

Complete information is available in the workshops section of the Penland website: www.penland.org. To enroll, call the Penland registrar at 828.765.2359, ext.

1306. The Penland Standby Program offers discounts to area residents who take unfilled spaces in Penland classes shortly before the classes begin.

• The documentary “An American Legend — Horace Kephart, His Life & Legacy” will be screened at 7 p.m. July 7 and 2 p.m. July 8 at the Swain Arts Center in Bryson City. Free admission. 856.436.7318.

• There will be a “Thursday Painters Open Studio” from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. at the Franklin Uptown Gallery. Bring a bag lunch, project and supplies. Free to the public. Membership not required. The gallery will also present “Art Adventures,” a handson demonstration creating textures with Carol Conti, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, May 21. For information, call 828.349.4607.

• The Franklin Uptown Gallery will hold its monthly meeting at 1 p.m. Monday, July 10, on Main Street in downtown. Cy Amrich, a lapidary and member of the Gem and Mineral Society of Franklin, will demonstrate cabochon cutting. The demonstration is free and open to the public. For information, contact the gallery at 828.349.4607.

• Acclaimed Bryson City painter Elizabeth Ellison’s newest exhibit, “Spirit of Place,” will run through Sept. 4 at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville. Exhibit support is provided by The North Carolina Arboretum Society and Smoky Mountain Living magazine. www.smliv.com.

• A “Youth Art Class” will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon every Saturday at the Appalachian Art Farm on 22 Morris Street in Sylva. All ages welcome. $10 includes instruction, materials and snack. For more information, email appalachianartfarm@gmail.com or find them on Facebook.

• “Paint Nite Waynesville” will be held at 6:30 p.m. every other Thursday (July 6 and 20) at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville. Sign up on the Facebook page (search event: Brush N. Brew) or call Robin Smathers at 828.400.9560. paintnitewaynesville@gmail.com.

• “Movies on Everett” will screen the film “Rogue One — A Star Wars Story” at 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 7, at the Caboose in downtown Bryson City. There will be screening of “The Wizard of Oz” on July 14. Free and open to the public. www.greatsmokies.com.

On the stage Swing into ‘Tarzan’

‘Fiddler on the Roof’ returns to HART The beloved production of “Fiddler on the Roof ” will hit the stage July 7 through July 30 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.

The production will feature a cast of 30 with a live orchestra, elaborate backdrops, and a big bash on opening night in the theater’s lobby. HART last produced “Fiddler on the Roof ” in 1990 at The Strand Theater in downtown Waynesville. The show was a

major hit for the group and helped launch the theater’s growth into one of Western North Carolina’s most respected companies.

That production starred Dr. Stephen Wall in the lead role of Tevye and HART Executive Director, Steven Lloyd, made his first appearance on the HART Stage as the butcher Lazar Wolf.

Fast forward 28 years and the new production is being directed by Lloyd with a cast that includes: Jeffrey Streitfeld, Lyn Donley, Martine Jacobs, Kelsey Sewell, Sydney Lyles, Reagan Mulvey, Chelcy Frost, Ryan Albinus, Adam Lentini, Charlie Cannon, Strother Stingley, Susan Rudniak, Tabitha Judy, Fleming Bell, Madison Sugg, Randy Robins, George Heard, Zada Hooten, David Yeates, Dylan Renken, Tom Dewees, Lucretia Bell, Ashlyn Clark, Bonnie DeMarco, Sierra Earl, Noelle Frost, Maria Frost, Drake Frost, Melody Goldberg, Turner Henline, Jordan Hollifield, Tammie Crawford Schwab and Madison Turner.

“Fiddler on the Roof ” is based on Tevye and his Daughters (or Tevye the Dairyman) and other tales by Sholem Aleichem. The

story centers on Tevye, the father of five daughters, and his attempts to maintain his Jewish religious and cultural traditions as outside influences encroach upon the family's lives. He must cope both with the strong-willed actions of his three older daughters, who wish to marry for love — each one's choice of a husband moves further away from the customs of his faith — and with the edict of the Tsar that evicts the Jews from their village.

HART’s production will have performances at 7:30 p.m. July 7-8, 13-15, 20-22 and 27-29, and at 2 p.m. July 9, 16, 23 and 30.

Special discount tickets are available for the Thursday, July 13 performance. Patrons may also make reservations to dine at Harmons’ Den Bistro located in the HART Theater complex, which offers dinner seating beginning at 5:45 p.m. and Sunday Brunch at 12:30 p.m. The bistro’s menu can be viewed on the HART website. Patrons can make reservations online at www.harttheatre.org or by calling the HART Box Office at 828.456.6322 from 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Smoky Mountain News

A production of Disney’s Broadway musical “Tarzan” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. July 14-15 and 21-22 at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.

Washed up on the shores of West Africa, an infant boy is taken in and raised by gorillas who name him Tarzan. Apart from striving for acceptance from his ape father, Tarzan's life is mostly monkey business until a human expedition treks into his tribe's territory, and he encounters creatures like himself for the first time. Tarzan struggles to navigate a jungle, thick with emotion, as he discovers his animal upbringing clashing with his human instincts.

Based on Disney's epic animated musical adventure and Edgar Rice Burrough’s Tarzan of the Apes, “Tarzan” features heartpumping music by rock legend, Phil Collins, and a book by Tony Award-winning playwright, David Henry Hwang. High-flying

excitement and hits, like the Academy Award winning “You’ll Be in My Heart,” as well as “Son of Man” and “Two Worlds,” make “Tarzan” an unforgettable theatrical experience. A full two-act production.

Presented by the Overlook Theatre Company. Tickets are $12 for students, $17 for adults.

866.273.4615 or www.greatmountainmusic.com.

July 5-11, 2017

The Penland School of Crafts has open spaces in its fifth summer session available at half-tuition to area residents.

The discount is available to residents of the following Western North Carolina counties: Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Cherokee, Graham, Clay, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, and Yancey; and the following counties in East Tennessee: Carter, Cocke, Greene, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington. Regular room and board charges apply, but students are not required to stay on campus.

The two-and-a-half-week session runs July 23 through Aug. 8 with spaces in books, clay, hot glass, letterpress, printmaking, and weaving.

• The books workshop, led by Beth Schaible, will cover several different binding structures including longstitch with leather or paper covers, Coptic binding, and other folded structures.

• The clay workshop, taught by Kevin Crowe, will begin with loading and firing Penland’s large wood kiln, followed by lots of wheelthrowing.

• Students in Clay Harmon’s workshop in photogravure printmaking will create photographic images on the etching press using nontoxic polymer plates.

• Sarah Bryant’s workshop will combine letterpress printing and bookbinding in the creation of expressive books.

• Devin Burgess will offer an intermediate/advanced hot glass class with a

• Dogwood Crafters will offer a Jewelry Making workshop from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, July 11, at the Dillsboro Masonic Lodge. Participants will create a bracelet or a pair of earrings from beads. The instructor will have a supply of beads to select from, or participants may bring their own beads if they wish. Cost is $6. Register to attend by July 3 by calling 828.586.2248.

arts & entertainment

Penland School discounts for area residents

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Books

Smoky Mountain News

Beaches and great mysteries go hand in hand or many people, summer means vacation, and vacation means beach. For readers, the beach in turn means packing books to be read for pleasure, books whose pages can absorb a bit of water or a splash of sun-tan lotion, page turners whose plots drive you through the story.

Vicki Delany’s Elementary, She Read: A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery (Crooked Lane Publishers, 2017, 309 pages) is ideal for reading seaside. The Writer novel is set in West London on Cape Cod, so the sand and ocean are a part of the terrain. The protagonist, Gemma Doyle, a witty English woman living on the Cape to manage her uncle’s Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, will delight all but the dourest readers. The Sherlock Holmes details and trivia included in the story should entrance those familiar with the detective of Baker Street as well as those who have never read anything about him.

When the story opens, we meet Gemma working in the shop while next door her close friend, Jayne Wilson, operates Mrs. Hudson’s, a teashop and bakery. When a woman who briefly visited the bookshop turns up murdered at a local hotel, possibly in connection with a magazine Gemma finds in her shop — an 1887 Beeton’s Christmas Annual, the issue containing Conan Doyle’s first published Sherlock Holmes story, “A Study in Scarlet” — the local police, one female officer in particular, suspect Gemma of committing the crime.

Accompanied by Jayne, who plays Dr.

Jeff Minick

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Watson to Gemma’s Holmes, our intrepid protagonist sets off to solve the murder herself. During this hunt, she encounters an exboyfriend, a pushy reporter, various eccentrics intrigued by all things Sherlock Holmes, millionaires with financial problems, and nosey neighbors. The murder of a second woman drives Gemma and Jayne to redouble their efforts to apprehend the murderer before another body finds its way to the morgue.

Though many of the characters in Elementary, She Read are appealing — my own favorites were Jayne Wilson, Uncle

Arthur, Moriarity the cat, and even Louise Estrada, the angry police officer — it is Gemma Doyle who brings the story to life. She has the Holmesian gifts for observation and making connections, yet she remains fully a woman, treasuring her friends, enjoying life, and looking for love.

Those of us who take such pleasure in Elementary, She Read can only hope that Vicki Delaney, a Canadian and author of more than 20 mysteries, will continue to bring us tales of Gemma, her bookshop, and her adventures on Cape Cod. In G-Man: A Bob Lee Swagger Novel (Blue Rider Press, 2017, 449 pages), Stephen Hunter gives us yet another saga of the Swagger clan and their involvement in law enforcement and our country’s wars. When Bob Lee Swagger, an aging veteran of Vietnam and a world-renowned marksman and gun expert, sells his family’s old home to developers, the workers hired to tear down the house unearth a hidden lockbox. The contents of that box — a .45 automatic and a 1934 thousand-dollar bill — lead Swagger on a hunt to uncover the secrets of his grandfather’s past as a lawman and as a father.

Here the story shifts back and forth from the present, which becomes increasingly dangerous for Swagger, to the 1930s and the gangsters who were then making themselves into legends: John Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd, Baby Face Nelson, Bonnie and Clyde. Stephen Hunter does a bang-up job creating that era of shoot-outs and bank robberies, that time

when the U.S. Division of Investigation — now called the FBI — was first making a name for itself. The FBI recruits Charles Swagger, hero of the Great War and an Arkansas sheriff who helped in the ambush of Bonnie and Clyde, and sends him to Chicago to teach inexperienced agents the proper use of firearms. Here Swagger finds himself not only instructing the agents, but leading them as well against criminals like Dillinger and Nelson, whose real name was Lester Gillis.

Hunter does an outstanding job transporting us back to the ‘thirties, recreating the greasy spoon cafes, the movies, the automobiles, the clothing and the importance, especially for the gangsters, of looking sharp in their appearance. The Great Depression gripped the country, and reading G-Man, we can feel the grit of the Chicago streets and the hardships faced by so many workers and farmers of that era.

In his “Acknowledgements” at the end of G-Man, Hunter shares with us his motivation in writing this novel: “I have wanted to write a Baby Face book for decades, but, as usual, the impetus that turned ambition to labor was ire, a big motive for cranky old men.” He goes on to tell his readers that “the object of my anger was Michael Mann’s movie desecration of 1934 in his idiotic version of Bryan Burroughs majestic Public Enemies,” a nonfiction account of the crime wave of that era and the rise of the FBI. Hunter so loved the book, and was so upset by the movie’s twisted account of events, particularly with its focus on Dillinger, that he gave us G-Man. Because the Bob Lee Swagger stories are among my favorite suspense novels, I hope Mr. Hunter finds other upsets as well. In this case, ne man’s ire is another man’s pleasure.

Stay angry, Mr. Hunter, and keep the books coming.

City Lights open mic

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

Folks are encouraged to bring their poetry or short pieces to share. Sign-ups begin at 6:45 p.m. for 10-minute reading session. The North Carolina Writers’ Network connects, promotes, and serves the writers of this state. They provide education in the craft and business of writing, opportunities for recognition and critique of literary work, resources for writers at all stages of development, support for and advocacy of the literary heritage of North Carolina, and a community for those who write. www.ncwriters.org.

ALSO:

• Jon Decker will present his book Golf Is My Life at 1p.m. Saturday, July 8, at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville. The game of golf has allowed Jon to play and teach the game while moving in career and social circles unimaginable by a boy who grew up in the mountains of Western North Carolina. This book contains amazing stories and life-changing occurrences in a journey among some of golf’s greatest players, world-class athletes, and Hall of Fame coaches.

Do you like urban fantasy?

Local urban fantasy authors Lauren Devora and Randi Janelle will hold a reading at 3 p.m. Saturday, July 15, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.

They’ll invite you to partake in a quiz “Are you Living an Urban Fantasy Novel?”

Devora has been writing ever since she knew how to use a pencil. Children of Lilith was first imagined during a particularly rough session of math homework when Devora was 15. That night the story gained 25 pages and a cast of characters. Her math homework was never finished. Now after 10 years, she is beyond giddy to witness her book go off into the world.

Janelle is an author, photographer, performance poet, yoga instructor and cat whisperer. She calls Asheville home, but has lived and toured in Australia and New Zealand, and understands the phrases “fair dinkum” and “keen as.” She’s writing a novel series; the first is The Story: Deviation and the second book, The Story: Possession is making its way into this world.

To reserve copies of their books, call City Lights Bookstore at 828.586.9499.

NASA comes to the library

July 20 - 30

Folkmoot Festival A FESTIV AL A OF FOLK D ANCE & W ORLD CULTURE C ultural A ctivities, Live Music, Danc e Instruction, Perf ormanc es July 5-11, 2017

Thanks to a new nationwide outreach program, NASA resources are coming to Western North Carolina.

Fontana Regional Library has been selected as one of only 75 libraries in the country to participate in the NASA@ My Library initiative.

Fontana Regional Library system consists of the six libraries in Macon, Jackson, and Swain counties, including the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.

Macon County Public Library will use these NASA@ My Library resources at the “Intergalactic Zone” children’s program at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 6. This program is geared for children ages 0-10 and will feature stations with a variety of hands-on, space-related activities for kids.

Immediately preceding this event at 10 a.m., the library will have an intergalactic story time.

The NASA@ My Library program is designed to increase and enhance science, technology, engineering, and math learning opportunities around the country, especially for geographic areas and populations currently underserved in STEM education.

As a NASA@ My Library partner, Fontana Regional Library will receive specialized staff training and support for public programs on STEM topics, as well as activity kits and materials for use in hands-on educational programs for the public. The partnership also makes NASA subject experts available to the Library as program presenters.

The project is offered by the National Center for Interactive Learning (NCIL) at the Space Science Institute (SSI) in partnership with the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office, the Pacific Science Center, Cornerstones of Science and the Education Development Center. Support comes from NASA’s Science Mission Directorate.

For more information, call the Macon County Public Library in Franklin at 828.524.3600 or visit www.fontanalib.org.

Williams releases second book

Reserv e Your o Tickets Today! o

Folkmoot.org

Smoky Mountain News

Donna Glee Williams will present her second novel, Dreamers, at 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 14, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.

Driven by duty toward a dreamless death…

By the time she’s 16, the town’s Dreamer has long ago given up her own life. She only dreams for others now, every morning delivering up to them the divine guidance that comes to her in the night. In exchange, they treat the Dreamer like their queen. All her bodily needs are provided, but love and relationships are forbidden to her.

Now something unexpected is happening.

Something entirely new. A foreign man has come to the village, wearing a scarlet vest and a gold finger-ring that is far, far too good for a mere Water-Bearer. His strange amber eyes have found the Dreamer’s and she longs to be free.

But maybe freedom isn’t the only cost of being the Dreamer: When her dreams begin to question the authority of the self-serving Chief Interpreter, will she survive his fury?

To reserve copies of Dreamers, call City Lights Bookstore at 828.586.9499.

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Outdoors

Smoky Mountain News

Becoming a trail town

The Mountains-to-Sea Trail contains a segment that routes hikers right through downtown Sylva. File photo

Sylva embraces the Mountains-to-Sea Trail

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER hite dots will soon pepper the sidewalks of downtown Sylva as the town sets out to claim its identity as a trail town and mark the official route of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, which runs through Sylva on its way from Clingmans Dome to the Outer Banks.

The trail traverses the state of North Carolina, offering a walking route 1,175 miles long that, true to its name, takes hikers from the state’s highest mountains to its interface with the sea. And a section of the trail travels right through downtown Sylva, something that Sylva attorney and Friends of the MST board member Jay Coward is urging town leaders to capitalize on. He also has plans to speak to the Dillsboro Board of Aldermen.

“Trail towns and trail communities we think have an element of economic develop-

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One day, 1,175 miles Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail is recruiting hundreds of North Carolinians to ensure that all 1,175 miles of the MST get hiked during the MST in a Day event Saturday, Sept. 9.

“I am very much wanting the mayor of the town of Sylva to hike part of that trail that day,” Friends board member Jay Coward told Sylva commissioners June 22.

The statewide hike will commemorate a speech that Howard Lee, then N.C. Secretary of Natural Resources and Community Development, gave on that day in 1977 telling a National Trails Symposium in Waynesville that North Carolina should create “a state trail from the mountains to the coast, leading through communities as well as natural areas.”

The speech was the catalyst for a walking route that now stretches through 36 counties from Clingmans Dome to the Outer Banks.

About 700 miles of the route use actual trail, with connecting back roads comprising the remainder.

The typical hike for MST in a Day participants will be 3-5 miles, with registration open at www.mstinaday.org. The route includes legs in Swain, Jackson and Haywood counties.

The event is part of Friends of the MST’s 40th anniversary celebrations, which includes a $200,000 fundraising campaign to purchase bridges, boardwalks, signs, tools and materials. www.mountainstoseatrail.org.

ment very much like trail towns do for the Appalachian Trail,” he told town commissioners during their June 22 meeting. “We think that if you look at the impact that a trail town has on the community that you would welcome it being something you would want to promote.”

Unlike the A.T., however, the MST is not a completed trail. While the goal is to create a continuous off-road trail across the state, 500 miles of the route currently run alongside back roads rather than on backcountry trails.

The section that comes through Sylva goes down from Deep Creek to the edge of Bryson City and then up Thomas Valley to travel through Dillsboro and Sylva before climbing up to Waterrock Knob through Pinnacle Park.

An alternate segment goes through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The route is laid out in the MST trail guide available free online, but it’s not all marked on the ground. Adding trail markers would make the town a more welcoming place for thruhikers, raise awareness for the trail’s location and allow the town to give input as to where exactly the route should pass. For example, Coward said, trail guides currently connect downtown and Pinnacle Park via Chipper Curve Road, but sending hikers up U.S. 23 and down Hospital Road to Skyland Drive might be a better way to go, as that would route them past a variety of businesses that would be useful to them as they continue

their trek — grocery stores, restaurants and a pharmacy, for starters.

“It goes that way better than it does through Chipper Curve in terms of the things that the town of Sylva has to offer,” Coward told commissioners, who seemed to agree. “I think with a little emphasis on the way finding you could change that route.”

LESSONS FROM THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL Compared to the Appalachian Trail, thruhiker traffic on the MST is low, with just over 70 people completing the trail since its founder Allen de Hart hiked it in 1997.

However, interest has increased along with the number of trail miles constructed and

The Mountains-to-Sea route travels up Pinnacle Park, past Blackrock to the Blue Ridge Parkway and Waterrock Knob. File photo

publicity surrounding the trail. The number of completed hikes per year varied between zero and five until 2010, but since then the tally has grown substantially, with 13 people completing the route in 2016 alone.

It’s likely that number will continue to grow. Even the A.T. was once an obscure route with completed thru-hikes few and far between. The trail was planned and built over the course of 16 years from 1921 to 1937, with only 59 people completing a thru-hike in its first 33 years, according to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy website. However, use began to rise in the 1970s with 785 completions that decade and continued to grow by leaps and bounds, with 6,008 people thru hiking so far since 2010.

That rise in popularity has translated into economic gains for

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Picnic for water quality

Volunteers stand with trash pulled out of the water during a stream cleanup with Haywood Waterways. File photo

WNC water plants honored for extra-clean water The N.C. Division of Water Resources has honored 49 water treatment plants statewide for surpassing federal and state drinking water standards, and five WNC plants made the list.

Those plants honored include: Waynesville’s Allens Creek plant, Maggie Valley Sanitary District, Western Carolina University, Andrews and Robbinsville’s Rock Creek plant.

Plants on the list had exceedingly low measures of cloudiness caused by particulates, which can interfere with disinfection and provide a medium for microbial growth. While all drinking water systems must meet strict state and federal standards, these systems met performance goals that are significantly more stringent. During 2016, the plants served nearly three million North Carolina residents.

Sylva’s leaders are well aware of the beauty of the place where they live and the economic value of outdoors-related tourism. Hiking, fly fishing and paddling

ATOWN VOLLEYBALL ACADEMY July 10th - 12th Monday - Wedneday Camp Sessions: Four days for two hour sessions daily Note: If you can’t make the day, $75 for two days Ages: Grades 7th - 12th Price: $100 (includes shirt and snack) Time: 6 - 8PM Place: Waynesville Recreation Center Make Checks payable to “ATown.” Mail check to: ATown Volleyball Academy 407 Whitehall Road Anderson, SC 29625

Smoky Mountain News

A FEATHER IN THE CAP

are already marketing focuses for the county’s Tourism Development Authority. But pushing its status as a trail town would further bolster Sylva’s outdoors credentials.

“I’d love to support all of this,” Commissioner Greg McPherson said following Coward’s presentation. “It’s another feather in our environmental cap.”

“I think that there is a great economic benefit for it,” agreed Town Manager Paige Dowling in a follow-up interview. “And I will allow since Sylva’s already on the map, it lets us showcase attributes we already have, like Pinnacle Park.”

Sylva is one of three places in the state that are identified as optimal trail town locations, Coward said, with the others being Hillsborough and Elkin. Elkin has already put MST trail markers through its downtown — Dowling said that she’d been to a conference in Elkin and learned how the trail had people stopping at restaurants, hotels and various stores in town.

In the future, Coward said, Friends of the MST would like to develop a formal trail town application process, much like that the Appalachian Trail Conservancy maintains. However, the new trail markers will go in long before any of that is figured out. Friends of the MST is planning a statewide event Sept. 9, during which every inch of the MST will be hiked in a single day — it’s important that the markers be in place by then.

“We’ll try to move it along as quickly as we can, particularly because it’s summer, and summer and fall we have the most hikers,” Dowling said.

The 14th annual Mountain Wildlife Days will offer opportunities for all ages to get back to nature July 14-15 at the Sapphire Valley Resort.

Friday, July 14, will feature three choices for a morning excursion — an 8 a.m. bird walk led by Highlands Plateau Audubon Society President Russell Regnery, a 9:30 a.m. 2-mile hike to Whitewide Mountain and a 9:30 a.m. moderate 3.5-mile hike to Naturalist Michael two waterfalls in Panthertown Skinner. SMN photo Valley — and a 3:30 p.m. owl program by naturalist Carlton Burke.

An evening program at 7 p.m.

Friday, July 14, will feature Christian comedian Geraldine Regan and her puppet Ricky, followed by bear expert and photographer Bill Lea, who will share his insights during the program “Understanding the Misunderstood Black Bear.”

Saturday, July 15, will begin at 9:30 a.m., when exhibits and the silent auction open, with a schedule of naturalist presentations to follow. Naturalist Michael Skinner and his birds of prey will the Friday night program is $7, with chilpresent “Raptors of Balsam Mountain dren free. Reservations are required for Trust’s Nature Center” at 10 a.m.; wildlife Friday’s bird walks and hikes through the rehabilitation specialist Carlton Burke will Sapphire Valley Resort Community present “Appalachian Wild” with the help Center, 828.743.7663. of small mammals, reptiles and amphibwww.mountainwildlifedays.com. ians at 11 a.m.; Rob Gudger and his

July 5-11, 2017

trailside towns that have worked to capitalize on their proximity to the A.T. “There is an economic benefit to a town that’s known as a trail town, regardless of what the trail is,” said Bob Scott, mayor of Franklin, a designated Appalachian Trail Community. “It draws a lot of people.”

During thru-hiker season, backpackstrapped hikers are a common sight on the streets of Franklin as they stop to spend a night in the comfort of a hotel, replenish their food supplies, get their gear fixed or replaced at one of the area outfitters, or attend to any one of a number of needs.

That all lifts up the local businesses. And being able to market itself as a trail town also makes Franklin a more attractive destination for families and other folks who might not want to thru-hike but do want a vacation full of day-hiking with a comfortable bed at night. Scott called the designation “a win-win” and congratulated Sylva for orienting itself as a trail town.

“I don’t really see a lot of downside,” he said. “Your hikers when they come in for resupply, they’re not really impacting your infrastructure like the motorized tourists are. And the hikers, they just tend to be very down-to-earth, literally. We enjoy having them. I don’t know of any problems we’ve ever had with the thru-hikers.”

wolves will present “Wolves, Wolf-dogs and Your Dogs” at 1 p.m.; and the North Georgia Zoo will give a close-up look at some of their most unusual animals with “Unique Animals from Around the World” at 2 p.m. The silent auction will also end at 2 p.m.

Proceeds benefit Mountain Wildlife Days’ Western North Carolina Wildlife Outreach educational programs.

Admission for Saturday’s events is $8 and

outdoors

Haywood Waterways Association will hold a stream cleanup and its annual summer picnic Saturday, July 15, at the Vance Street Park pavilion adjacent to the Waynesville Recreation Center.

The stream cleanup will commence at 10:30 a.m. with the picnic held 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Open to members and non-members alike, the picnic is a chance to learn about Haywood Waterways’ work to protect and improve the water for all users. Food and drinks provided with attendees welcome to bring something to share.

RSVP by July 13 to Christine O’Brien, 828.476.4667 or Christine.haywoodwaterways@gmail.com

Wild times in Sapphire

WAYNESVILLE

PARKS AND RECREATION For more info please call

828.456.2030 828.456.2030

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outdoors

Water quality projects receive Pigeon River Fund grants Environmental groups working to improve water quality, aquatic habitat and recreational access recently saw $182,000 in grants from the Pigeon River Fund of the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, with most of that money going to Haywood County organizations.

Land acquisition: n Maggie Valley Sanitary District, $30,000.

Along with other funds, the grant will help purchase the 88-acre Bradley property in an area crucial to protecting drinking water from Johnson Branch. n Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, $30,000.

Along with other funds, the grant will help acquire the 273-acre Boyd Parcel near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for addition to the Silvers Game Lands, managed by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. n The Conservation Fund, $30,000. Along with other funds, the grant will help buy the 93-acre Urban Property on the north side of Maggie Valley, which helps protect the watershed that provides the valley’s drinking water.

Canton greenway: n Haywood Waterways Association, $10,500.

HWA will install river access steps and riparian vegetation near BearWaters Brewing in

Canton as part of a greenway extension. n Town of Canton, $30,000. In partnership with HWA, the town will establish a river run between the Canton Recreation Park and BearWaters. The grant will cover engineering and design costs for an ADA-accessible boat launch to the Pigeon River.

Other: n Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, $16,000.

The funds will go toward development of a comprehensive plan for management of the recent 5,329-acre addition to the Blue Ridge Parkway at Waterrock Knob. n Haywood County Schools, $2,000. A new water collection system in the Pisgah High School Pulp and Paper Technology Lab will reduce the wastewater that must be treated

by Evergreen Packaging and increase student awareness of water conservation and recycling in the paper industry. n Haywood Waterways Association, $14,000.

The Shelton Branch Stream Relocation Project at Vance Street Park in Waynesville will include stream relocation, bank stabilization and educational signage.

Since its creation in 1996, the Pigeon River Fund has awarded $6.4 million for water conservation and education in Haywood, Buncombe and Madison counties. The money comes from Duke Energy in exchange for the company’s damming the Pigeon River for hydropower. The fund is managed by the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina. The next application deadline for grant funds is Sept. 15. www.cfwnc.org.

A Blue Ridge Parkway ranger leads a group up to Devil’s Courthouse. File photo

Climb to Devil’s Courthouse Fantastic panoramic views of four states will wait at the end of a ranger-led hike to Devils Courthouse at 10 a.m. Friday, July 7.

Along the 1-mile roundtrip hike, Blue

Ridge Parkway rangers will explain where the overlook’s unusual name came from and who presides over the area today. The group will meet at Devil’s Courthouse Overlook, located at milepost 422.2, with participants needing water, walking shoes and clothing for changeable weather.

828.298.5330, ext. 304.

Wander through a wetland A hike through a rare mountain wetland will squish forward at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 15, on conserved property owned by the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School.

Jason Love, site manager at Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory in Macon County, will lead the hike, offering an overview of the wetland, showing some of the unusual plants that grow there and pointing out features of the habitat.

The two-hour event, organized by Mainspring Conservation Trust, will cover less than 1 mile but involve bushwaking through briars and cut-grass on muddy ground. Space is limited, with RSVPs required to Sharon Burdette at sburdette@mainspringconserves.org.

Smoky Mountain News

July 5-11, 2017

Learn from a Smokies ranger {Celebrating the Southern Appalachians}

Smoky Mountain Living celebrates the mountain region’s culture, music, art, and special places. We tell our stories for those who are lucky enough to live here and those who want to stay in touch with the place they love.

Subscribe or learn more at smliv.com MAGAZINE

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From moon phases to Southern sayings, ranger programs in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will offer a unique perspective on a unique place all summer long. n A one-hour program on the signs — such as moon phase — that people once used to decide when to plant their gardens will be offered at 3 p.m. Wednesdays at the Davis House in the Mountain Farm Museum near the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. n The meaning and history behind common Southern sayings — such as “don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater” — and how they connect to mountain farm life will come to life during the 45-minute program “As papaw used to say…” at 1 p.m.

Fridays at the Davis House porch in the Mountain Farm Museum at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center.

n Learn about the history of elk in the Smokies and hang around as the large animals come into the fields during a program at 5:30 p.m. Fridays, July 14, July 28 and Aug. 11, at the Palmer House in Cataloochee Valley. n Hear the story of the elk’s return to the Smokies — after more than a century of absence — during the 45-minute program “Welcome Home!” at 4 p.m. Saturdays on the Oconaluftee Visitor Center porch. n Bring a lawn chair and cup of coffee while a park ranger discusses how fire can benefit forest health during the one-hour program “What Smokey Didn’t Tell You,” offered at 7 p.m. Saturdays in Smokemont Campground between C-Loop and D-Loop.

All programs are offered weekly through Aug. 12 unless otherwise noted.

828.497.1904.

Book chronicles a year on Smokies trails A man who spent the National Park Service Centennial hiking one million steps on trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will share the book he wrote about the experience during a slate of upcoming readings this month.

Readings will be held: n 3:30 p.m. Friday, July 14, at the Hudson Library in Highlands. n 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 19, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. n 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 26, at the Albert Carlton-Cashiers Library in Cashiers. n 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21, at the Waynesville Public Library in Waynesville.

Ben Anderson’s book, Smokies Chronicle: One Year of Hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, draws from the observations he jotted in a 30-year-old notebook while hiking more than 400 miles on all or part of 71 park trails. The book includes 40 personal narratives describing Anderson’s experiences along the trail, as well as information about the park’s history, flora and fauna.

The newly formed Power of the Produce Club at the Jackson County Farmers Market will give kids a chance to engage with local farmers during the market on Saturdays July 15, 22 and 29.

From 10-11 a.m. POP will include activities such as food art and scavenger hunts that prompt children to have conversations with farmers and learn about new fruits and vegetables.

Kids will receive a prize for each day they attend and a $5 farmers market voucher.

Space limited with kids admitted on a first-come, first-served basis. A caretaker must be in attendance. Sponsored by The Great Smokies Health Foundation, Harris Regional Hospital, Western Carolina University’s Dietetic Internship Program,

The Jackson County Department of Public Health, Jackson County Farmers Market

plant at home. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Free. Located at 277 W. Main Street, across from the Lazy Hiker Brewery.

Kids ages 5-12 will get an introduction to freshwater fishing during Youth Fishing Day, 9-11:30 a.m. Saturday, June 17, at the Cashiers/Glenville Recreation Center.

After meeting at the rec center, the group will walk to the pond between that building and the library, where the kids will learn the basics of catch-and-release fishing using spin casters and live bait.

Equipment provided. $5, with sign-ups at www.rec.jacksonnc.org. Organized by Jackson County Parks and Recreation.

July 5-11, 2017

A trip to Skyview Ranch will give Macon County youth an up-close look at a fiber farm, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, July 12.

The group will meet at the Macon County Extension Office in Franklin and then leave for its destination. Open to ages 9-18. $2. Participants must have a 4-H enrollment form and medical form on file prior to joining in. Part of an ongoing schedule of Summer Relief youth activities. Register in person or through mail, with payment, at 193 Thomas Heights Road, Franklin, N.C. 28734.

828.349.2046.

Canning season is coming Get ready for canning season with a free canner lid check and farmers market presentation Tuesday, July 11, at the Cashiers Senior Center.

Sherrie Peeler of the Jackson County Extension Center will give canner lids a once-over from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Jackson County Farmers Market Manager Lisa McBride will present “More in my Basket at the Market” at 12:30 p.m.

828.586.4009.

Brownfield lands a beehive A restored brownfield property in Franklin is now home to a hive of Carniolan honeybees.

The bees and some equipment were donated by Larry Cooper of Riverbirch Bees, with Jean Hunnicutt providing additional equipment and Jordan Smith making the stand.

The old Duncan Oil site, located next to the Mainspring Conservation Trust office, has been a Mainspring project since the land trust purchased the 1.5-acre property in 2015. A brownfields agreement from the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, a Cherokee Preservation Fund grant and $30,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency funded the cleanup.

Smoky Mountain News

A pair of gardening workshops will commence at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 8, at the Share & Serve Garden in Franklin.

A presentation on preserving the summer harvest will teach the basics of preserving, including the hot water bath method and freezing, with food safety rules included. Participants will receive a pack of canning materials and a copy of the Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving.

Simultaneously, the program “Gardening with Children” will give kids a chance to pick, wash and eat produce from the garden and hear a story about Bear and Hare’s gardening partnership. Families will receive a copy of the book and seeds to

Tagged fish worth $10,000 will swim the waters of Cherokee during the Tim Hill Memorial Trout Derby July 15-16.

The Qualla Boundary’s 30 miles of freestone streams, stocked with a variety of brook, brown, golden and rainbow trout, and smallmouth bass, will provide a gratifying setting for anglers of all skill levels. Tagged fish are redeemable for cash prices based on the color of the tag at the Cherokee Welcome Center’s The Qualla Boundary contains 30 Beetle Stage miles of streams stocked with a Pavilion at 498 variety of fish species. File photo Tsali Boulevard.

Cherokee fishing permits are required for anglers 12 years and older, for $10 apiece, with contest entry an additional $11. Permits and entries are available at a variety of Cherokee businesses and online at www.FishCherokee.com.

Paula Price, 828.359.6110 or paprice@nc-cherokee.com.

Fishing 101 and the Healthy for Life Action Team of Healthy Carolinians.

Lisa McBride, 828.393.5236.

Visit a fiber farm

Brush up for harvest time

Fish for cash in Cherokee outdoors

Jackson Farmers Market launches kids club

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outdoors

Zahner Lecture Series kicks off with garden talk

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Smoky Mountain News

July 5-11, 2017

353-02

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MOUNTAIN SOUVENIRS • Canned Possum • Bear Poop • Shot Glasses • Bean Shooters • Postcards • Corn on the Cob Toilet Paper • & Much More!

A series of free lectures on natural history and conservation will kick off at 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, July 13, at the Highlands Nature Center, with a talk by Dr. Larry Mellichamp, professor emeritus at UNC-Charlotte, about the Highlands Botanical Garden.

The garden was established in 1962 as a refuge and demonstration garden for the diverse flora of the Southern Appalachians.

It’s home to nearly 500 species of mosses, ferns, wildflowers, shrubs and trees in forest, wetland and old-growth plant communities connected by a series of trails and boardwalks.

Mellichamp was a professor of botany and director of the university’s botanical gardens during his time at UNC-Charlotte and has written many books and articles on plants and garTurks cap lily. Donated photo dening.

The free lecture is part of the Zahner Lecture Series, with lectures offered at 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays at the Highlands Nature Center through Sept. 14. A full schedule is online at www.highlandsbiological.org.

828.526.2221.

Travel through geologic time An 8.8-mile hike Saturday, July 15, will offer a crash course on the major geologic features of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and how they fit into the broader geology of the region.

Taught by Dr. Gray Dean, this new Smoky Mountain Field School class will explore exposed rock types, the evidence they provide of the region’s geologic history and the broad geologic processes that formed the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

A cooperative effort between the park and the University of Tennessee, the field school draws from more than 30 experts teaching more than 80 diverse sessions, with classes held in locations throughout the park. $79. Register at www.smfs.utk.edu or call 865.974.0150.

Ginseng permitting underway Prospective ginseng gatherers have until July 19 to apply for permits to gather on the Pisgah-Nantahala National Forest this year.

Only 136 permits will be issued, with permit holders to be decided through a lottery system. Each permit allows collection of 1-3 wet pounds of wild ginseng Sept. 1-15 in the ranger district where the permit is issued. No harvest is allowed in designated wilderness and research areas, and district rangers may further limit harvest areas.

Those interested in a permit must submit their name and address to a ranger district office by July 19, either in person or over the phone. Email requests will not be accepted.

Written notifications will be mailed to those selected in the lottery by Aug. 19 with permits issued from Aug. 21 to Sept. 1.

The current regulations have been in place since 2013, when the U.S. Forest Service tightened them due to reductions in

wild ginseng populations. The Forest Service plans to increase law enforcement efforts to reduce poaching. Illegally remov-

Ginseng. SMN photo ing a wild ginseng plant or its parts from the national forest without a permit can result in a $5,000 fine and six-month prison sentence. www.fs.usda.gov/nfsnc.

WNC Calendar COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS • “4th of July Celebration” begins at 6 p.m.

Wednesday, July 5, at Sorrells Street Park in Canton.

Live music, dancing, food and craft vendors.

Watermelons will be provided for free, with children’s watermelon roll and seed spitting contests to commence. Fireworks at dusk. www.cantonnc.com or 828.648.2363.

• Fontana Regional Library has been selected as one of only 75 libraries in the country to participate in the NASA@ My Library initiative. The Libraries will receive specialized staff training and support for public programs on STEM topics, as well as activity kits and materials for use in hands-on educational programs for the public. The partnership also makes NASA subject experts available to the Library as program presenters.

First event using the resources is a children’s program on July 6.

• The Brian Center of Waynesville is hosting a Red, White & Blue community celebration from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, July 8. Hot dogs, chips and drinks.

Corn hole games and toddler bouncy house. 452.3154.

• Smoky Mountain Toastmasters will hold a meet and greet event at 6:30 p.m. on July 10 at the Entegra Bank Conference Room across from Walmart in Waynesville.

400.1041 or 400.5074.

• The Arts Council of Macon County is accepting nominations to its board of directors through Friday, July 21.To nominate someone or for more information, please contact Arts Council of Macon County President Jann Ramsey at cjramsey@earthlink.net or 332.0568.

• Grace Church in the Mountains is accepting grant applications from non-profit organizations in Haywood County. Distributions from the church’s Annual Parish Fair will be given to local charities. Application deadline is July 26. Fair is Saturday, July 29. Application forms available at the church office. 456.6029 or gracewaynesville@msn.com.

BUSINESS & EDUCATION • Registration is underway for a summer institute for educators that will be offered July 10-14 at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. 40-hour, interdisciplinary course on Cherokee archaeology, history, anthropology, geography, folklore and literature. 497.3481, ext 306, bduncan@cherokeemuseum.org or www.cherokeemuseum.org.

• A meeting of current and former employees of the Waynesville plant of Champion/Blue Ridge/Evergreen is held at 8 a.m. on the first Monday of each month at BoJangles near Lake Junaluska’s entrance.

• Registration is underway for the Western Women’s Business Center’s third annual conference entitled: “Her Story, Her Journey,” which will be held from 8:30 a.m.3:30 p.m. on June 22 at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville. Includes performance by Asheville artist Leeda “Lyric” Jones as well as a variety of speakers.

Register or get more info: www.carolinasmallbusiness.org/initiatives/wwbcconference2017 or 633.5065.

All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted.

Outing, which is July 7 at Springdale Country Club. Cost per player is $75. Proceeds support the Life Transformation Program, which helps men and women go from homelessness to independent, productive citizens in Haywood County. Register: www.haywoodpathwayscenter.org or 246.0332.

• Boy Scout Troop 370 will hold a car wash and car show from 1-5 p.m. on Saturday, July 8, at Advance Auto of Waynesville. Car show entry fee: $20 per car.

Events are to raise money for attending the Sea Base High Adventure Camp.

• The Women of Waynesville will present the “Mind Over Wine” fundraiser from 6-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 13, at the Cork & Cleaver in the Waynesville Inn Resort.

Food and wine pairings; performance by “Reality Twisting: The Magic of Dr. Brett Senor” – a mentalist.

Proceeds support local women and children. $25 per person. 550.9978 or www.womenofwaynesville.org.

• As part of its 40th anniversary celebrations, the Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) will host a “Mountainside Pilates” fundraiser on Thursday, July 13 at 6:30 p.m., in Waynesville. The event will be hosted by arts patrons Karla and George Escaravage, Jody and Bradley Escaravage, and instructor Erin Owen of Waynesville Pilates. The evening will include champagne cocktails, followed by a challenging, but accessible pilates workout, heavy hors d’oeuvres and sunset views. Tickets are $75 per person, and space is limited to 25 people. www.haywoodarts.org/special-events.

• Mountain Wildlife Days’ silent auction event will be held July 14-15 at the Sapphire Valley Resort. Adult and children activities. Live animals, expert commentary, music.

Items supplied by more than 20 Cashiers, Highlands and Asheville merchants. Fundraiser for Mountain Wildlife Outreach. www.mountainwildlifedays.com.

• Maggie Valley United Methodist Church will host its 14th annual barbecue and gospel sing from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, July 15, at “the barn” across the creek from the church. Musical performances by Angie Toomey, Subject-2-Change and the Maggie Valley UMC choir. $8. Proceeds benefit missions. 926.9794.

• Feline Urgent Rescue of WNC will hold a “Smoked to Purrfection” BBQ fundraiser from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 15, at the Winchester Creek Country Club in Waynesville. $25. Annual meeting is at 4:30 p.m.

Bring a bag of cat food, and receive a Swag Bag from sponsors. furofwncpowell@gmail.com or 421.1290.

• Highlands Biological Foundation will present “A Brushy Face Soiree” fundraiser at 6 p.m. on Sunday, July 16, in Highlands. $200 per person. Supports Highlands Botanical Garden, Highlands Nature Center and the Highlands Biological Laboratory. 526.2221.

• Gala on the Green, a fundraiser for Folkmoot USA, is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 20. Multi-cultural cuisine prepared by local chefs. $150 per couple. laura@folkmoot.org, www.folkmootusa.org or 452.2997.

• Donations are being accepted to help renovate the piano in the Elementary building of the old Fines Creek School. 593.7042.

FUNDRAISERS AND BENEFITS • “Glimpses of the Past: A Historical Calendar of Swain County” will debut at the Swain County Genealogical & Historical Society’s meeting at 6:30 p.m. on July 6 at the Swain County Regional Business Education and Training Center in Bryson City. 18-month calendars are $20 each.

• Registration is underway for the 2017 Charitable Golf

VOLUNTEERS & VENDORS • The Town of Canton is accepting submissions for the 111th Labor Day Festival “A Celebration of All Things Made in Western North Carolina” until 4 p.m. on Aug. 21. Send artist bio, photos and sample of work to: Town of Canton, Attn.: Canton Labor Day; 58 Park Street; Canton, NC 28716. 648.2363.

Smoky Mountain News

HEALTH MATTERS • A “Walk With A Doc” program is scheduled for 10 a.m. each Saturday at the Lake Junaluska Kern Center or Canton Rec Park. On July 10, the topic is “Pain Relief With Movement” featuring Certified Nurse Midwife Jody Schmit. MyHaywoodRegional.com/WalkwithaDoc. • “Ready … Set … Baby” prenatal breastfeeding class will be offered at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 13, at the Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency. Pregnant mothers-to-be and support persons welcome. Registration required: 356.2207 or 452.2211.

• “Native Voices: Native Peoples’ Concepts of Health and Illness” will be on exhibit through July 31 at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva.

RECREATION AND FITNESS

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Visit www.smokymountainnews.com and click on Calendar for: ■ Complete listings of local music scene ■ Regional festivals ■ Art gallery events and openings ■ Complete listings of recreational offerings at regional health and fitness centers ■ Civic and social club gatherings • Donna Glee Williams will present her second novel, Dreamers, at 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 14, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. To reserve copies of Dreamers, please call City Lights Bookstore at 586.9499.

• The High Mountain Squares will host a “Beach Party Dance” from 6:15-8:45 p.m. on Friday, July 7, at the Memorial United Methodist Church in Franklin. Westernstyle square dancing, mainstream and levels.

342.1560, 332.0001 or www.highmountainsquares.com.

• Daniel Pierce, UNC Asheville history professor, will present and discuss his book “Hazel Creek: The Life and Death of an Iconic Mountain Community” at 3 p.m. on July 15 at Blue Ridge Bookstore in Waynesville. www.SmokiesInformation.org or 888.898.9102, ext. 254.

• Cherokee Day at the Asheville Tourists game is July 14 at McCormick Field in Asheville. 359.6492.

• Local urban fantasy authors Lauren Devora and Randi Janelle will hold a reading at 3 p.m. Saturday, July 15, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.

• An opportunity the Bellyak (prone paddling/lay-on-top kayaking) will be offered through the Jackson County Parks & Recreation department at 11 a.m. on July 8, July 22 and Aug. 20. $30. Rec.jacksonnc.org or 293.3053.

• Jackson County Rec Department will have disc golf tournaments at 10 a.m. on July 15 and Aug. 19. Cost is $5 for singles or $10 for doubles. www.rec.jacksonnc.org.

SPIRITUAL • Rev. Bob Bowling will be the featured speaker at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 9, in Stuart Auditorium at Lake Junaluska. Part of the Summer Worship Series. The Lake Junaluska Singers will lead worship music.

• Rev. Mary Beth Blinn, lead pastor of Fairlington United Methodist Church (UMC) in Alexandria, Va., will be the featured speaker at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 16, in Stuart Auditorium at Lake Junaluska. Part of the Summer Worship Series. The Lake Junaluska Singers will lead worship music.

POLITICAL • The Canary Coalition will host its Wake-Up event from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 6, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. Progressive speakers and sing-along sessions.

AUTHORS AND BOOKS • An Open Mic Night is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, July 7, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. Bring poetry or short pieces to share. 586.9499.

• A book discussion on “Grandma Gatewood’s Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail” is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 13, at the Canton Public Library. Register

by July 5: 648.2924.

• Ben Anderson will hold book signings for “Smokies Chronicle: A Year of Hiking in Great Smoky Mountains National Park” on the following dates/locations: 3:30 p.m. on Friday, July 14, at Hudson Library in Highlands; 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 19, at Macon County Public Library in Franklin; 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 26, at Albert Carlton Library in Cashiers; and at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21, at the Waynesville Public Library. parthemore@blairpub.com or 800.222.9796.

They’ll invite you to partake in a quiz “Are you Living an Urban Fantasy Novel?” To reserve copies of their books, please call City Lights Bookstore at 586.9499.

• Swain County Genealogical Historical Society will sponsor a book day from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, July 15, at the Swain County Business Ed Center in Bryson City. Anyone who’s written or compiled books about WNC can display and sell books. 488.2932.

• Blue Ridge Books will celebrate its 10th anniversary with an evening for book club members and book lovers in the community at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 18, in Waynesville. 456.6000.

• A book discussion on “Better Together: Restoring the American Community” is set for 2-3 p.m. on Tuesday, July 18, at the Waynesville Library. Register by July 11: 356.2507.

SENIOR ACTIVITIES • A Medicare 101 program will be presented at 2 p.m. on Monday, July 10, at the Waynesville Library. Led by John Chicoine from the Senior Resource Center.

356.2833.

• An Elder Orphan support group for elderly people without nearby family for support and care will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 11, at the Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 356.2800 or garden_girrl@yahoo.com.

KIDS & FAMILIES • Registration for Fall Soccer is through July 30 with the Jackson County Recreation Department. $55. For players born between 2004-13. Games will be on Saturdays. www.rec.jacksonnc.org.

• Macon County youth will take a hike to Secret Falls from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Wednesday, July 5, near Highlands. For ages 9-18. $2. Must have 4-H enrollment form and medical form on file. Register at Macon County Extension Office or mail to 193 Thomas Heights Road, Franklin, NC, 28734. Info: 349.2046.

• Macon County Public Library will use these NASA@ My Library resources at the “Intergalactic Zone” children’s program at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 6. This program is geared for children ages 0-10 and will feature stations with a variety of hands-on, space-related

• A “Youth Art Class” will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon every Saturday at the Appalachian Art Farm on 22 Morris Street in Sylva. All ages welcome. $10 includes instruction, materials and snack. For more information, email appalachianartfarm@gmail.com or find them on Facebook.

• A Youth Art Class is held from 10:30 a.m.-noon every Saturday at 22 Morris St. in Sylva. $10 includes instruction, materials and a snack. appalachianartfarm@gmail.com.

• A Week in the Water program is scheduled for 9 a.m.-noon on July 10-14 at the N.C. Wildlife Resource Commission’s Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. For ages 4-7. Registration required: http://tinyurl.com/jq4r6x3.

• Marianna Black Library will present “Build a Better World” – a summer learning program – through July 30 in Bryson City. Children will be awarded prizes for reading (or being read to) 15 minutes each day.

488.3030.

• Crafts Week – Visit a Fiber Farm, part of the Macon County 4-H Summer Relief program, is set for 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. on July 12 at Skyview Ranch. Meet at the Extension Office. For ages 9-18. $2.

• As part of the “Build a Better World” summer reading program, Marianna Black Library will have movies at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, story time for ages 3-5 at 10:30 a.m.on Wednesdays and a summer learning program each Thursday. www.fontanalib.org or 488.3030.

• “The Wizard of Oz” train will depart at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. July 14-16 at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad depot in Bryson City. For tickets, click on www.gsmr.com.

• Nature Nuts: Wild Woodlands program will be offered to ages 4-7 from 9-11 a.m. on July 15 and July 24 at the N.C. Wildlife Resource Commission’s Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. Registration required: http://tinyurl.com/jq4r6x3.

July 5-11, 2017

• Eco Explorers: Salamanders program will be offered to ages 8-13 from 1-3 p.m. on July 15 and July 24 at the N.C. Wildlife Resource Commission’s Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. Registration required: http://tinyurl.com/jq4r6x3.

• A Week in the Creek program will be offered to ages 6-10 on July 17-21 at the N.C. Wildlife Resource Commission’s Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. Focus is on water quality and the fish and wildlife that depend on local water systems.

Registration required: http://tinyurl.com/jq4r6x3.

• Power of the Produce Club for children will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturdays, July 15-29, at the Jackson County Farmers Market in Sylva. Activities, food art, scavenger hunt and more. 393.5236.

• A “Fishing 101” class for ages 5-12 is scheduled for 9-11:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 17, at the Cashiers/Glenville Recreation Center. Intro to freshwater fishing. $5. Equipment provided. www.rec.jacksonnc.org.

• The Macon County 4-H will hold a “Crafts Week: Sew a Pillowcase and Service Project” program from 10

Smoky Mountain News

• Registration has begun for Youth Spring Soccer through the Jackson County Parks & Recreation Department. Open to players born between 2003-12.

Birth certificates required for first-time players. $55. www.rec.jacksonnc.org.

• As part of Macon County 4-H Summer Relief, a Science Week Waterfall Hike is scheduled for 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on July 5. Meet at the Extension Office. $2; for ages 9-18.

• Crafts Week – Make a Recycled Craft, part of the Macon County 4-H Summer Relief program, is set for 9 a.m.-noon on July 14, at the Cooperative Extension Office. For ages 9-18. $2.

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a.m.-2 p.m. on July 19-21 at the Cooperative Extension Office in Franklin. For ages 8-18. Cost: $8 if attending only the first two days; free to attend all three days.

• Haywood County Public Library’s summer reading program, themed “Build a Better World,” runs through Monday, July 31. Register at any of the library system’s branches. www.haywoodlibrary.org.

• A Junior Forester Program is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, through Aug. 9, at the Cradle of Forestry in Pisgah Forest. http://tinyurl.com/y87c3gqn.

Cullowhee. Explore different art techniques. $79.

Needs-based scholarships available. rybridgers@wcu.edu or 227.3937.

• A Trekkers camp for ages 11-14 is set for July 18-21 at the Highlands Nature Center. 526.2623.

• Registration is underway for a British Soccer Camp, which is July 24-28, at the Cullowhee Recreation Park. www.challengersports.com.

• Registration is underway for Haywood Community College Creative Arts’ “Kid’s Camp” for ages 8-12 the week of July 24-28, in Clyde. $450. Music sessions and variety of crafts and projects. All supplies included. Students need to bring beverages, snacks and lunch. 565.4240.

KIDS FILMS • “Despicable Me 3” will be shown on July 5-7 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., July 8-9 at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., and 7 p.m., and July 10-13 at 7 p.m. at The Strand on Main in Waynesville. Tickets can be purchased at www.38main.com.

CAMPS • The Jackson Soil and Water Conservation District will hold Camp WILD (Wilderness, Investigating, Learning, Discovery) for rising seventh and eighth graders from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. on July 10-13 at the Jackson County Recreation Center. $35; scholarships available on as-needed basis. Register by June 16.

586.5465 or janefitzgerald@jacksonnc.org.

• Western Carolina University’s Office of Professional Growth and Enrichment will hold a three-day visual arts camp for rising sixth- through eighth-grade students from Monday through Wednesday, July 17-19, in

Puzzles can be found on page 54.

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FOOD & DRINK • Sneak E Squirrel Brewing (Sylva) will host the Jackson County Corn Hole Association on Monday evenings ($5 buy in, 100-percent payout), Karaoke with Captain Moose from 7 to 11 p.m. on Tuesdays, Trivia at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and a Guitar Hero Tournament at 7 p.m. on Thursdays. 828.586.6440.

ON STAGE & IN CONCERT • Sugar Barnes and Dave Magill (Americana) perform at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 6, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.

• A family movie will be shown at 10:30 a.m. every Friday at Hudson Library in Highlands.

• James Hammel (guitar/vocals) performs at 7 p.m. on July 7 at The Classic Wineseller in Waynesville.

452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com.

• Woodsy Owl’s Curiosity Club meets from 10:30 a.m.3 p.m. on through Aug. 10, at the Cradle of Forestry in Pisgah Forest. Outdoor-oriented activity each day explores a different forest-related theme. For ages 47. $4 per child per program; accompanying adults admitted for $2.50. http://tinyurl.com/yc7u5unk.

• Registration is underway for kids’ fishing events, which will be offered from 9-11 a.m. on June 24, July 15 and Aug. 5, at the Mountain Research Station in Waynesville. Presented by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. Learn how to cast, put on bait and remove fish from a hook. Tanya.poole@ncwildlife.org or 329.3472.

• Folkmoot, North Carolina’s International Folk Festival, is July 20-30, in towns throughout Western North Carolina. Folk dance and world culture featuring ambassadors and dance performing groups from India, Netherlands, Russia, Israel and more – as well as local Appalachian and Cherokee dancers and musicians. Performances in Waynesville, Clyde, Lake Junaluska, Maggie Valley, Canton, Cherokee, Franklin, Hickory, Asheville and Hendersonville. Parade of Nations is at 10 a.m. in downtown Waynesville. For complete schedule of performances, and to purchase tickets, visit www.folkmootusa.org. 452.2997.

• “Movies on Everett” will screen the film “Rogue One — A Star Wars Story” at 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 7, at the Caboose in downtown Bryson City. There will be screening of “The Wized of Oz” on July 14. Free and open to the public. www.greatsmokies.com.

A&E FESTIVALS AND SPECIAL EVENTS • The Waynesville Gallery Association will present “Art After Dark” from 6-9 p.m. on Friday, July 7, in downtown Waynesville. Refreshments and live music. www.waynesvillegalleryassociation.com.

• The 20th annual Sweet Corn Festival is from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, July 8, at St. Cyprian’s Church at 216 Roller Mill Road in Franklin. Silent auction, vendors, trail walks, food, live entertainment and more. www.allsaintsfranklin.org.

• The Heritage Arts Summer Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 8 at Southwestern Community College’s Bryson City campus. Local artisans, live demonstrations and music, and more. www.greatsmokies.com.

• The Appalachian Heritage Festival will kickoff at 9 p.m. Saturday, July 15, in downtown Franklin. Heritage demonstrations, live music, and more. www.franklinchamber.com.

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activities for kids. Immediately preceding this event at 10 a.m., the library will have an intergalactic story time. 524.3600 or www.fontanalib.org.

• “Fiddler on the Roof” will open July 7 at HART Theatre in Waynesville. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday’s through Saturdays and at 2 p.m. on Sundays through July 30. www.harttheatre.org or 456.6322.

• Joe Cruz (piano/pop) performs at 7 p.m. on July 8 at The Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. 452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com.

• Crooked Pine will perform at the Cradle of Forestry in America’s annual Songcatchers Music Series at 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 9, in Pisgah Forest. $6 for ages 16-up; $3 for 15-under. 877.3130 or www.cradleofforestry.org.

• Ashley Heath will perform soul/Americana music at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 11, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. 586.2016.

• Duck Weaver will perform eclectic folk music at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 13, at the Marianna Black Library in Bryson City. Part of the Summer Music Series. 488.3030.

• A production of Disney’s Broadway musical “Tarzan” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. July 14-15 and 21-22 at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. Presented by the Overlook Theatre Company. Tickets are $12 for students, $17 for adults.

866.273.4615 or www.greatmountainmusic.com.

• The “Songwriters in the Round” series will host Don Schlitz, RB Morris and Peter Cooper starting at 6 p.m.

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Saturday, July 15, at Balsam Mountain Inn. A buffet dinner is included in the $49.50 price. To purchase tickets, call 828.456.9498 or www.balsammountaininn.net.

• Chatham County Line (acoustic. American roots, rock-n-roll) will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 18, at Cataloochee Guest Ranch in Maggie Valley.

• Tickets are on sale now for a 3 Doors Down performance as a fundraiser for the Better Life Foundation on Oct. 21 at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or 800.745.3000.

• “Unto These Hills” drama will be performed at 8 p.m. nightly through Aug. 19 at 688 Drama Road in Cherokee. A reimagining of the Cherokee Story. http://tinyurl.com/ycm83jwv.

SUMMER MUSIC SERIES • The “Week of Rock” music celebration presents Shane Meade & The Sound (soul/rock) on July 5; Carolina Wray (indie/southern) on July 6; Jamie Kent (country/soul) on July 7; and Georgia Flood (rock/jam) on July 8 at Nantahala Brewing in Bryson City. All shows at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.nantahalabrewing.com.

• The “Concerts on the Creek” series at Bridge Park in Sylva will host The Darren Nicholson Band (Americana/bluegrass) on July 7 and Ol’ Dirty Bathtub (American/bluegrass) on July 14. Both shows are free and begin at 7 p.m. www.mountainlovers.com.

• The “An Appalachian Evening” summer concert series will feature Balsam Range (July 8) and Helen White & Wayne Henderson on July 15 at the Stecoah Valley Center. All shows at 7:30 p.m. www.stecoahvalleycenter.com for tickets.

• Concerts on the Square will continue with Stone Cold Country (southern rock/country on July 14 and Southern Vantage (classic rock/blues) on July 21 at the town square in Hayesville. www.cccra-nc.org.

• “Saturdays on Pine” will host Lyric on July 8 and Buchanan Boys on July 15 at Kelsy-Hutchinson Park in Highlands. All shows are at 6 p.m. www.highlandschamber.org.

• The “Pickin’ On The Square” concert series will host Tugalo Holler (newgrass) on July 8 and The Elderly Brothers (pop/beach) on July 15. All shows are free and begin at 7:30 p.m. www.townoffranklinnc.com or 524.2516.

• The “Tunes on the Tuck” concert series will host Grandpa’s Music (bluegrass/mountain) on August 5.

All shows are free and begin at 7 p.m. www.greatsmokies.com.

• Pickin’ in the Park (Canton) will be held at 7 p.m.

July 7 and 14 at the Recreation Park. Free and open to the public. www.cantonnc.com.

• “Music on the River” series will host AM Superstars (alternative) performs July 7, and Aaron Jones (honky tonk) performs July 8 at the Cherokee Welcome Center

CLASSES AND PROGRAMS • “The Illuminated Moment: A Flash Fiction Workshop with Beth Keefauver” will be offered from 6-8:30 p.m. on Thursdays through July 6 at the Thomas Wolfe Memorial in Asheville. Offered through UNC Asheville’s Great Smokies Writing Program. Students explore the tension and resonance between narrative and lyrical elements. $152.50 for state residents. $20 nonrefundable application fee for new students. Info or to register: http://unca.edu/gswp or 250.2353.

• Kananesgi Spider Market is July 7-8 at the Cherokee Fairgrounds. 399.0835.

• Registration is underway for Penland School of Crafts’ fifth summer session, which runs from July 23Aug. 8. Spaces available in books, clay, hot glass, letterpress, printmaking and weaving. Discounts available for area residents. 765.2359, ext. 1306.

• The Haywood County Arts Council is July 7-29. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Monday through Saturday. 452.0593 or www.haywoodarts.org.

• Gayle Haynie, July’s Shelton House Crafter Showcase recipient, will present techniques, inspirations and background at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 8, in the Shelton House Barn. 452.1551.

• A jewelry making class will be offered from 10 a.m.noon on Tuesday, July 11, at the Dillsboro Masonic Lodge. Led by Judy Wilkey, Dogwood Crafters member. $6. Register by July 3: 586.2248.

• A “Paint and Pour” program will be presented by the Appalachian Art Farm from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 11, at Mad Batter in Sylva. $25. myriahstrivelli@gmail.com.

• Pottery at Claymates, part of the Macon County 4-H Summer Relief program, is set for 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. on July 11 in Dillsboro. Meet at the Extension Office. $10.

•• A “MAPS!” program on map apps will be presented at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 12, in the Macon County Public Library Meeting Room in Franklin. iPhone/iPad user’s group. 524.3600.

• “The Body Code” will be presented at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 12 in the Macon County Public Library planetarium in Franklin. Explore the carotid artery, eye, brain, ear, heart and more. 524.3600.

• Penland School of Crafts has open spaces in its first summer session available at half tuition to area residents. Complete information is available in the workshops section of the Penland website: www.penland.org. 765.2359, ext 1306.

• Photographer Johnny Horne will offer a presentation

• A “Create Your Own Journal” program is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 13, in the Waynesville Library Auditorium. Led by Kent Stewart. Registration required: 356.2507 or kolsen@haywoodnc.net.

• “The Deitz Family’s History American Folk Music” will be presented at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 14, at the Jackson County Genealogical Society’s meeting at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. www.jcgsnc.org or 631.2646.

• An intermediate bladesmithing class with Brock Martin from WarFire Forge will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 15-16 at the Jackson County Green Energy Park in Dillsboro. Pre-registration is required. Cost is $265 per person, which includes materials, due at registration. www.jcgep.org.

• “One Story: A Fiction Workshop with Abigail DeWitt” will be offered from 6-8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, through July 17, at RiverLink at 170 Lyman Street in Asheville. Offered through UNC Asheville’s Great Smokies Writing Program. Helps writers uncover their best material and discuss how to shape it into compelling narratives $152.50 for state residents. $20 nonrefundable application fee for new students. Info or to register: http://unca.edu/gswp or 250.2353.

• “Paint Nite Waynesville” will be held at 6:30 p.m. every other Thursday at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville. There will also be “Painting at the Porch” at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Southern Porch in Canton. Sign up for either event on the Paint Night Waynesville Facebook page (search event: Brush N.

•The Sylva Photo Club will present “Photographing the Solar Eclipse” with Roger Bacon at 2 p.m.

Saturday, July 8, in the Cullowee Methodist Church on the campus of Western Carolina University. sylvaphotoclub@gmail.com or 226.3840.

Meet Charlotte Figi.

• Appalachian Art Farm will present a Collage Art Class entitled “Cards You’ve Been Dealt” from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, July 8, at 22 Morris St. in Sylva. $15. Led by Kansas Heiskell Cook. myriahstrivelli@gmail.com.

• “Let’s Talk About It,” an opportunity to discuss Beryl Markham’s “West With the Night” is set for 4-6 p.m. on July 8, in the Waynesville Library auditorium. Future session will feature Beryl Markha’s “West With the Night” (July 20).

• Appalachian Art Farm will present an Expression Session: Music Class from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, July 8, at 22 Morris St. in Sylva. $15. Led by multi-instrumentalist Paul Stehling. myriahstrivelli@gmail.com.

• A Youth Art Class will be presented by the Appalachian Art Farm from 10:30 a.m.-noon on Saturday, July 8, at 22 Morris St. in Sylva. $10. myriahstrivelli@gmail.com.

• Focusing on Cherokee archaeology, history, folklore, literature, geography and anthropology, the Cherokee History and Culture Institute will be held July 10-14 at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. There will be field trips to the Kituhwa Mound, Nikwasi Mound, Oconaluftee Indian Village, “Unto These Hills,” and more. The institute will be taught by Barbara Duncan, Ph.D., education director. There will also be Cherokee presenters: archaeologist, storyteller, dancers and potter. Open to educators of all kinds. Cost is $500 for educators, discount for museum members ($400) and $100 for EBCI members. For more information or to register, email bduncan@cherokeemuseum.org or call 497.3481 (ext: 306).

• Debbie Blake, as ardent Southern activist Rose

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Smoky Mountain News

• The “Groovin’ on the Green” concert series at The Village Green in Cashiers will host Hurricane Creek (Americana) on July 7 and Joe Lasher Jr. (country/rock) on July 21. Both shows are free and begin at 6:30 p.m. www.villagegreencashiersnc.com.

• Laura Boosinger and Josh Goforth will perform at the Cradle of Forestry in America’s annual Songcatchers Music Series at 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 16, in Pisgah Forest. $6 for ages 16-up; $3 for 15under. 877.3130 or www.cradleofforestry.org.

• The Franklin Uptown Gallery will hold its monthly meeting at 1 p.m. Monday, July 10, on Main Street in downtown. Cy Amrich, a lapidary and member of the Gem and Mineral Society of Franklin, will demonstrate cabochon cutting. The demonstration is free and open to the public. 349.4607.

on photographing the solar eclipse at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 13, at Southwestern Community College’s Jackson Campus in Sylva. Horne was staff photographer for the “Fayetteville Observer” for 44 years and is contributing editor for “Sky and Telescope” magazine. 339.4265 or l_parlett@southwesterncc.edu.

July 5-11, 2017

• The “Friday Night Live” concert series at the Town Square in Highlands will host Foxfire Boys on July 7 and Tallulah River Band on July 14. Free and begins at 6 p.m. www.highlandschamber.org.

• “Music on the River” series will host Eastern Blues Band (jazz and blues) on July 14 and Will Hayes Band (classic country/rock) on July 15at the Cherokee Welcome Center Kiosk in Cherokee. Shows start at 7 p.m. 359.6490 or travel@nc-cherokee.com.

O’Neal Greenhow, will be featured at the WNC Civil War Round Table meeting at 7 p.m. on July 10 at the HF Robinson Building at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. Dinner at 5 p.m. at Bogart’s and social hour at 6:30 p.m. 648.2488 or 293.5924.

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• The Little Town Players are pleased to present its second annual country music showcase at 7:30 p.m.

July 14-15 and 3 p.m. July 16 at the Swain County Arts Center in Bryson City. Tickets are $10 for adults (18 and up), $5 for students ages five to 17, and free for children ages 4 and under. For information, visit the Little Town Playhouse Facebook page or call 226.5637 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Kiosk in Cherokee. Shows start at 7 p.m. 359.6490 or travel@nc-cherokee.com.

366 RUSS AVE, WAYNESVILLE | 828.452.0911 BiLo Shopping Center | facebook.com/kimspharmacy

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Brew) or call Robin Smathers at 828.400.9560. paintnitewaynesville@gmail.com.

• “Summer Writing Workout: A Fiction and Creative Nonfiction Workshop with Heather Newton” will be offered from 6-8:30 p.m. on Mondays through July 17 at the West Asheville Flatiron Writers Room at 5 Covington Street in Asheville. Offered through UNC Asheville’s Great Smokies Writing Program. Course focuses on practical ways to make writing an integral part of life. $152.50 for state residents. $20 nonrefundable application fee for new students. Info or to register: http://unca.edu/gswp or 250.2353.

• The Swain Arts Center will host its first Open Juried Photography Competition on Aug. 19. The theme is “Nature Photography.” Submissions should be made online no later than July 17 (jpg format). Participants will be notified on July 22 if their submissions have been accepted for the competition. The submission fee is $15 per single entry. If you submit four or more images, the fee is $60. The application is available at www.swainartscenter.com. For additional information, please contact Rachel Lackey, director of the Swain Arts Center.

ART SHOWINGS AND GALLERIES • The Haywood County Arts Council “Members Show” will run July 7-29 at Gallery & Gifts in downtown Waynesville. The showcase will feature an array of local artisans and art mediums. Free and open to the public. 828.452.0593 or www.haywoodarts.org.

• Haywood County Arts council is accepting donations or consigned items from July 11-21 for its “ArtShare” exhibit – a showing of fine works of art. Exhibit runs from Aug. 4-26. 33rockyknob@gmail.com or 452.0593.

July 5-11, 2017

• An art reception for Kay Smith and Jim Smythe will be held from 4-6 p.m. on Saturday, July 8, in the Macon County Public Library’s meeting room in Franklin. A collection of their art is on display throughout the month. 524.3600.

• Several exhibitions are on display this summer at the Western Carolina University Fine Art Museum at the Bardo Arts Center. “Water Portraits: Barbara Tyroler” is on exhibition until Aug. 25 “Print Plus One: Beyond the Glass Matrix” by various artists at Harvey K. Littleton Studios in Spruce Pine has a closing reception from 5-7 p.m. on July 27. “Ancient Forms, Modern Minds: Contemporary Cherokee Ceramics” is on display through Nov. 10. 227.ARTS or bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.

• “Spirit of Place: Artwork by Elizabeth Ellison” – an art exhibit – will be on display through Sept. 4. at the Asheville Arboretum.

Smoky Mountain News

• The inaugural Shelton House Crafter Showcase is on display at the Shelton House and the Museum of North Carolina Handicrafts in Waynesville. www.sheltonhouse.org or info@sheltonhouse.org.

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• The graduating class of Haywood Community College’s Professional Crafts program will exhibit their best work from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily through Sept. 24 at the Southern Highland Craft Guild Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville. 627.4673 or haywood.edu.

• A new exhibition titled “Within the Margins: Contemporary Ceramics,” curated by Steven Young Lee, will be on display at Penland Gallery off Penland Road near Spruce Pine in Mitchell County. 765.6211 or penland.org/gallery.

• The Western North Carolina “Artists Count” project is hosting a series of exhibitions to highlight the rich visual contributions made by area artists. The first such exhibit, “Smoky Mountains Sampler” is now open at the Welcome Center north of Asheville on Interstate 26. Southwestern Community College instructors Ed McIlvaine and Susan Coe as well as SCC student Kari McIlvaine have their pottery on display through July.

• New artist and medium will be featured every month at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 356.2800.

FILM & SCREEN • The documentary “An American Legend — Horace Kephart, His Life & Legacy” will be screened at 7 p.m.

July 7 and 2 p.m. July 8 at the Swain Arts Center in Bryson City. Free admission. 856.436.7318.

• Free movies are shown every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva.

Madbatterfoodfilm.com.

Outdoors • Smoky Mountain Field School will offer a variety of hikes, classes and programs throughout July. For a schedule and to register, visit www.smfs.utk.edu or call 865.974.0150.

• Volunteers are needed to help scientists collect data on songbirds throughout the summer. Dates include: July 5, July 14, July 23 and Aug. 2 at Cowee Mound in Macon County and July 7, July 17, July 26 and Aug. 4 at Kituwah Mound in Swain County. 736.1217, bigbaldbanding@gmail.com or www.bigbaldbanding.org.

• A “Salamander Spotlight” program is scheduled for 9 p.m. on July 5 at the Highlands Biological Station. $5.

• “Take in the View with a Ranger” program is held from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on the first and third Thursday of each month on the deck of the Pisgah Inn. Ask questions and learn about the Blue Ridge Parkway’s natural and cultural history.

• Biomonitoring surveys of breeding birds is scheduled for 7-11 a.m. on July 5, 14, 23 and Aug. 2 – weather permitting – at the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ Cowee Mount near Franklin. https://bigbaldbanding.org/calendar, bigbaldbanding@gmail.com or 736.1217.

• A Salamander Spotlight is set for 9-10 p.m. on July 5 at the Nature Center at the Highlands Biological Station. 526.2221.

• Franklin Bird Club will have a bird walk along the greenway at 8 a.m. on July 5. Meet at Big Bear Shelter parking area at 8 a.m. 524.5234.

• Tremont Institute is holding Bird Banding days on July 6-7, July 13, July 26, July 31 and Aug. 2 in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. http://vimeo.com/220345535. http://gsmit.org/birds.

• A snorkeling experience will be offered by Haywood Waterways Association and Haywood Community College from 12:30-3:30 p.m. on July 8. Meet at the Jukebox Junction Soda Shoppe. RSVP by July 6: Christine.haywoodwaterways@gmail.com or 476.4667.

• The U.S. Forest Service will hold an open house from 6-8 p.m. on July 11 at the Nantahala Ranger District at Tartan Hall in Franklin. Talk with USFS staff about local issues, district projects and forest plan revision. www.fs.usda.gov/goto/nfsnc/ncprevision.

• The Nantahala Ranger District will have an open house from 6-8 p.m. on July 11 at Tartan Hall in Franklin. Learn about the Forest Plan Revision Process and ask informal questions about other issues. www.fs.usda.gov/goto/nfsnc/nprevision.

• The Highlands Plateau Audubon Society will have its “Birds & Beer” gathering at 5:30 p.m. on July 11 at Slab Town Pizza in Cashiers. Spirited discussion of birds and birding. www.highlandsaudubonsociety.org or 526.1939.

• Franklin Bird Club will have a bird walk along the greenway at 8 a.m. on July 12. Meet at Salali Lane;

park off Fox Ridge road just south of Franklin Flea Market on Highlands Road. https://franklinbirdclub.com or 524.5234.

• A Zahner Lecture on “The Highlands Botanical Garden” will be presented at 6:30 p.m. on July 13 at the Nature Center at the Highlands Biological Station.

526.2221.

• Registration is underway for the Tim Hill Memorial Trout Derby, which is July 15-16, in Cherokee. $10,000 in prizes. $11 charge plus $10 daily permit. Register at a variety of businesses within Cherokee or at www.FishCherokee.com. Info: 359.6110 or 788.3013.

• Introduction to Fly Fishing will be offered from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on July 15 at the N.C. Wildlife Resource Commission’s Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. For ages 12-up. Registration required: http://tinyurl.com/jq4r6x3.

• Haywood Waterways Association will host its annual summer picnic from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, July 15, at the Vance Street Park pavilion near the Waynesville Recreation Center. RSVP by July 13: 476.4667 or Christine.haywoodwaterways@gmail.com. www.haywoodwaterways.org.

• An Introduction to Fly Fishing will be offered to ages 12-up from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. on July 18 at the N.C. Wildlife Resource Commission’s Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. Registration required: http://tinyurl.com/jq4r6x3.

• Registration is underway for the 34th annual Cullowhee Native Plant Conference, which is July 1922. Nativeplantconference.wcu.edu.

• Through Aug. 12, Great Smoky Mountains National Park will hold daily Ranger-Guided programs. www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/kidsyouth/index.htm.

• A six-week course on “Wildflowers of Southern Appalachia” with guide Adam Bigelow meets from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. every Monday through July 24. $150 for the series or $40 a single hike. bigelownc@gmail.com or www.facebook.com/BigelowsBotanicalExcursions.

• Boating safety courses will be offered from 6-9 p.m. on July 17-18 in Building 3300, Room 3322, at Haywood Community College in Clyde. Participants must attend both evenings. Register: www.ncwildlife.org.

• Kim Brand, field organizer for Audubon North Carolina, speaks at 7 p.m. on July 18 in the rear meeting room of Hudson Library in Highlands. www.highlandsaudubonsociety.org or 526.1939.

• A discussion on Panthertown Valley’s unique geology and natural features will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 18, at the Albert Carlton Cashiers Community Library. Bill Jacobs will deliver the talk. friends@panthertown.org.

FARM AND GARDEN • The First United Methodist Church Share and Serve Garden will host dual gardening workshops at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 8, at 277 W. Main St. in Franklin.

Workshops are “Managing Your Summer Garden No. 3” and “Gardening with Children.”

• Pressure canner lid checks will be offered from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 11, at the Cashiers Senior Center. 586.4009.

• “More in My Basket at the Market” classes are offered in July and September at the Cooperative Extension Service in Waynesville. Learn benefits of shopping at the farmer’s market. Info and to register: 456.3575.

FARMERS MARKET • The Jackson county Farmers Market is from 9 a.m.noon each Saturday at Bridge Park on Railroad Ave. in Sylva. www.jacksoncountyfarmersmarket.org.

393.5236.

• A community tailgate market for local growers is

open from 3-7 p.m. every Wednesday at The Village Green Commons in Cashiers. 734.3434, info@villagegreencashiersnc.com or www.villagegreencashiersnc.com.

• Haywood Historic Farmers Market is held from 8 a.m.-noon on Wednesdays and Saturdays in the parking lot of HART Theatre in Waynesville. haywoodfarmersmarket@gmail.com, www.waynesvillefarmersmarket.com or www.facebook.com/HaywoodHistoricFarmersMarket.

• The Original Waynesville Tailgate Market is from 8 a.m.-noon on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 171 Legion Drive in Waynesville (behind Bogart’s).

456.1830 or vrogers12@att.net.

• The Jackson County Farmers Market will be on Saturdays from 9 a.m.-noon at Bridge Park located in Sylva. Info: 393.5236. jacksoncountyfarmersmarket@gmail.com or website jacksoncountyfarmersmarket.org.

• The ‘Whee Farmer’s Market is open from 4 p.m. to dusk every Tuesday at the University Inn on 563 N. Country Club Drive in Cullowhee, behind the entrance to the Village of Forest Hills off Highway 107 across from Western Carolina University. 476.0334. www.facebook.com/CullowheeFarmersMarket.

• The Franklin Farmers Tailgate Market is from 8 a.m.-noon on Saturdays on East Palmer Street across from Drake Software in Franklin. 349.2049 or alan_durden@ncsu.edu.

• Swain County Farmers Market will be open from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Fridays through October at the barn on Island Street in Bryson City. 488.3848 or Christine_bredenkamp@ncsu.edu.

HIKING CLUBS • Carolina Mountain Club will have an 8.2-mile hike with a 1,500-foot ascent at 8:30 a.m. on July 5 from Pin Oak Gap to Laurel Fork Shelter. Info and to register: 667.0723, 231.9444 or cakoep29@gmail.com.

• Blue Ridge Parkway rangers will lead a moderate, 1-mile round-trip hike at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 7, to the top of Devil’s Courthouse. Meet at milepost 422.2.

298.5330, ext. 304.

• Carolina Mountain Club will have a 5.3-mile hike with an 800-foot ascent on July 9 from Flat Laurel Creek Trail to Sam Knob Trail Junction. 505.0471, 860.798.9905 or mwbromberg@yahoo.com.

• Registration is underway for a three-day women’s backpacking trip to the Twentymile area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Trip is Tuesday through Thursday, July 18-20. Strenuous. $250 due by July 10. http://conta.cc/2roxf2t.

• Mainspring Conservation Trust will host a wetland bog hike from 9-11 a.m. on July 15 in Rabun County, Ga. http://tinyurl.com/ycwhgrh6.

• Carolina Mountain Club will hold an 8.2-mile hike with a 1,500-foot ascent on July 16 from Pin Oak Gap to Laurel Fork Shelter. 667.0723, 231.9444 or cakoep29@gmail.com.

OUTDOOR CLUBS • The Jackson County Poultry Club will hold its regular meeting on the third Thursday of each month at the Jackson County Cooperative Extension Office. The club is for adults and children and includes a monthly meeting with a program and a support network for those raising birds. For info, call 586.4009 or write heather_gordon@ncsu.edu.

• The North Carolina Catch program, a three-phase conservation education effort focusing on aquatic environments, will be offered through May 15. The program is offered by the Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department. Free for members; daily admission for non-members. 456.2030 or tpetrea@waynesvillenc.gov.

PRIME REAL ESTATE Advertise in The Smoky Mountain News

ANNOUNCEMENTS

MarketPlace information: The Smoky Mountain News Marketplace has a distribution of 16,000 every week to over 500 locations across in Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties along with the Qualla Boundary and west Buncombe County. For a link to our MarketPlace Web site, which also contains a link to all of our MarketPlace display advertisers’ Web sites, visit www.smokymountainnews.com.

Rates:

■ Free — Lost or found pet ads.

■ $5 — Residential yard sale ads, ■ $5 — Non-business items that sell for less than $150.

■ $15 — Classified ads that are 50 words or less; each additional line is $2.

If your ad is 10 words or less, it will be displayed with a larger type.

■ $3 — Border around ad and $5 — Picture with ad or colored background.

■ $50 — Non-business items, 25 words or less. 3 month or till sold.

■ $300 — Statewide classifieds run in 117 participating newspapers with 1.6 million circulation. Up to 25 words.

■ All classified ads must be pre-paid.

Classified Advertising: Scott Collier, phone 828.452.4251; fax 828.452.3585 classads@smokymountainnews.com

Great Smokies Storage 10’x20’ $

92

20’x20’ $

160

HOOPER FAMILY REUNION -July 8th Noon Covered Dish Luncheon at Hiawassee Fair Grounds, Hiawassee, GA. All relations of Absolum and Clemmons Hooper, Adolphus Stephens and Extended Families are Welcome. Call Barbara with any questions 706.581.2016 or Hooper Reunion Facebook.

AUCTION

AUCTION ONLINE ONLY AUCTION Antiques, Furniture, Tools, and More! Ends Tuesday, July 18th at 2:00pm. Rogers Realty & Auction Co., Inc., 336.789.2926, www.rogersauctiongroup.com, NCAL #685

BUILDING MATERIALS HAYWOOD BUILDERS Garage Doors, New Installations Service & Repairs, 828.456.6051 100 Charles St. Waynesville Employee Owned.

GOT MOLDOr think you might have it? Mold can be hazardous to you and your family’s health! Get rid of it now!

Call our experts and get a quote today! 844.766.3858

YOUR AD COULD REACH 1.6 MILLION HOMES ACROSS NC! Your classified ad could be reaching over 1.6 Million Homes across North Carolina! Place your ad with The Smoky Mountain News on the NC Statewide Classified Ad Network- 118 NC newspapers for a low cost of $375 for 25-word ad to appear in each paper! Additional words are $10 each. The whole state at your fingertips! It's a smart advertising buy! Call Scott Collier at 828.452.4251 or for more information visit the N.C. Press Association's website at www.ncpress.com

CONSTRUCTION/ REMODELING ACORN STAIRLIFTS. The Affordable Solution to your stairs! **Limited time -$250 Off Your Stairlift Purchase!** Buy Direct & SAVE. Please call 1.800.615.4064 for FREE DVD and brochure.

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CARS AUTO INSURANCE STARTING AT $49/month! Call for your fee rate comparison to see how much you can save! Call: 855.970.1224 DONATE YOUR CAR TO CHARITY. Receive maximum value of write off for your taxes. Running or not!

All conditions accepted. Free pickup. Call for details. 855.972.0354

WNC MarketPlace

CARS -

CARS -

CARS/TRUCKS WANTED!!!

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888.203.1373

EMPLOYMENT

A-1 DONATE YOUR CAR For Breast Cancer! Help United Breast Foundation Education, Prevention, & Support Programs.

Fast Free Pickup - 24 Hr Response Tax Deduction 855.418.0760.

SAPA

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EMPLOYMENT

- FRONT DESK Full Time or Part Time: Maggie Valley Cabin Resort Seeks a Versatile, Energetic & Experienced Front Desk Employee. Customer Service & Computer Exp. Req. Weekends, Nights & Holidays a Must! Call for more info 828.926.1388 HOME WORKERS!!

Easy Legitimate Work, Great Pay! Assemble Products At Home And Other Mystery Shopping Opportunities Galore - No Experience Needed.

For More Details, Send $2.00 With A Self-Addressed, Stamped Envelope to: Publishers Market Source, P.O. Box 1122, Merrillville, IN 46411 - HOUSEKEEPING Full Time or Part Time: Maggie Valley Cabin Resort Seeks an Energetic & Experienced Housekeeper. Valid Driver’s License Required. For more info Call 828.926.1388

CALI - A PRETTY TORBIE AND WHITE FEMALE ABOUT THREE YEARS OLD. SHE HAS A SWEET PERSONALITY, IS FRIENDLY AND CONFIDENT, AND LOVES HUMAN ATTENTION AND PETTING. SHE'LL BE A TERRIFIC FELINE COMPANION TO HER LUCKY ADOPTERS.

AIRLINE MECHANIC TRAINING Get FAA certification to fix planes.

Approved for military benefits.

Financial Aid if qualified. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance 866.441.6890 FTCC Fayetteville Technical Community College is now accepting applications for the following positions: Assistant Director of Financial Aid Operations, Communication Instructor, Criminal Justice Technology Instructor, Cyber Security/COMPTIA Certified Instructor, Health & Physical Education Instructor, Paramedic Instructor, Spanish Instructor (10-month contract), For detailed information and to apply, please visit our employment portal at: https://faytechcc.peopleadmin.com/, Human Resources Office Phone: 910.678.7342 Internet: http://www.faytechcc.edu An Equal Opportunity Employer SAPA

NICOL ARMS APARTMENTS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS Offering 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments, Starting at $400

July 5-11, 2017

Section 8 Accepted - Handicapped Accessible Units When Available TEDDY - ADORABLE LITTLE PUREBRED POM ABOUT 7 YEARS OLD. HE WAS SURRENDERED BECAUSE HE WASN'T CRAZY ABOUT A TODDLER IN THE FAMILY--NO ACTUAL BITING, BUT LITTLE KIDS & SOME DOGS MAKE TEDDY NERVOUS. HE'LL BE HAPPIEST WITH AN OLDER COUPLE OR SINGLE PERSON WHO WILL DOTE ON HIM.

Monday & Wednesday 8:00am - 4:00pm 168 E. Nicol Arms Road Sylva, NC 28779

SPECIAL OPS U.S. NAVY. Elite training. Daring missions.

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NUCLEAR POWERPaid Training, great salary, benefits, $ for school. Gain valued skills. No exp needed. HS grads ages 17-34. Call 800.662.7419.

SAPA COME WORK WITH US At the Pigeon River Grille, at Bear Waters Brewery, 101 Park St., Canton. Looking for people with initiative and a good attitude to join our Counter/Wait Staff. Please stop by for an application to be a part of our fun committed team.

BRUCE MCGOVERN A Full Service Realtor, Locally Owned and Operated mcgovernpropertymgt@gmail.com McGovern Property Management 828.283.2112.

SAVE YOUR HOME! Are you behind paying your MORTGAGE? Denied a Loan Modification? Is the bank threatening foreclosure? CALL Homeowner’s Relief Line now for the Help You Need 855.282.4732 MOUNTAINS OF NC Chalet Style 1,340 sf cabin on 1.84 acres $159,900. Great views, lg loft w/ pict windows, fpl, huge deck. Call Now for more information 828.286.1666 SAPA SAVE YOUR HOME! Are you behind paying your MORTGAGE? Denied a Loan Modification? Is the bank threatening foreclosure? CALL Homeowner’s Relief Line now for Help 855.282.4732

CAVALIER ARMS APARTMENTS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS Offering 1, 2 & 3 Bedroom Apartments, Starting at $400 Section 8 Accepted - Rental Assistance When Available Handicapped Accessible Units When Available

Phone # 1-828-456-6776 TDD # 1-800-725-2962

Phone# 1.828.273.3639 TDD# 1.800.735.2962

Equal Housing Opportunity

This is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

$

95

18

with service appointment

www.smokymountainnews.com

LOOKING FOR HONEST SALES People. Reply to: Supervisor, 131 Franklin Plaza, Ste. 334, Franklin, NC, 28734. Send legal size S.A.S.E. Info to Follow!

HOMES FOR SALE

OFFICE HOURS: Wednesday 12:30pm - 4:00pm & Friday. 8:00am- 4:00pm 50 Duckett Cove Road, Waynesville

OFFICE HOURS:

Blow out sale... everything must GO!!

SERVICE SPECIAL OIL CHANGE

52

EMPLOYMENT

Includes Free Multi-point Inspection

Fully Licensed & Insured “I Will Show Up”

860 Tunnel Road, Asheville, NC

(828) 298-4911

TL’S

828.476.1097

Always Fast, Fair & Friendly!

Driveways Decks

Free Estimates

Gutters Staining

Siding Painting

www.hyundaiofasheville.com

WWW.IWILLSHOWUP.COM

USAGolfCart.com

COMPLETE HOME INSPECTION SERVICES

SALES SERVICE RENTALS 828-734-4644

Metal Art & Home Decor

Great treasures for the home and garden.

Fun gifts for that special someone or occasion. www.tlsmetalart.com

Moving or Buying?

Let Us Help You.

HAYWOOD HOME INSPECTIONS 828.734.3609 | haywoodhomeinsp@gmail.com

2723 Soco Rd. MAGGIE VALLEY

Store: 828-944-0701 Cell: 828-734-1665

SFR, ECO, GREEN

147 WALNUT STREET • WAYNESVILLE

828.506.7137

aspivey@sunburstrealty.com

www.sunburstrealty.com/amy-spivey

REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCEMENT

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention, to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18 This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All dwellings advertised on equal opportunity basis.

LETS CATCH’EM STEALIN! Cameras Don’t Lie. Get 4 Cameras and DVR Recorder with upgraded Security system. $49.95 installed.

Free Video Doorbell Camera. Call Now! 1.318.503.2210

COMM. PROP. FOR RENT

STORAGE SPACE FOR RENT CLIMATE CONTROLLED STORAGE FOR YOU 1 Month Free with 12 Month Rental. Maggie Valley, Hwy. 19, 1106 Soco Rd. For more information call Torry

828.734.6500, 828.734.6700 maggievalleyselfstorage.com

FLAGLER BEACH FLORIDA Oceanfront Vacation Rental, Tripadvisor Award, Furnished Studio, 1-2-3 BR’s, Full Kitchens, WiFi, TV, Pool. Seasonal Specials.

1.386.517.6700 or www.fbvr.net

Ron Breese Broker/Owner

Haywood County Real Estate Agents

2177 Russ Ave. Waynesville, NC 28786 Cell: 828.400.9029 ron@ronbreese.com

www.ronbreese.com

Beverly Hanks & Associates

Each office independently owned & operated.

Mike Stamey

mstamey@beverly-hanks.com

828-508-9607

FOR SALE BORING/CARPENTER BEE TRAPS No Chemicals, Poisons or Anything to Harm the Environment.

Handmade in Haywood County. 1 for $20, 2 or More for $15 each.

828.593.8321 CHAMPION SUPPLY Janitorial supplies. Professional cleaning products, vacuums, janitorial paper products, swimming pool chemicals, environmentally friendly chemicals, indoor & outdoor light bulbs, odor elimination products, equipment repair including household vacuums. Free delivery across WNC. www.championsupply.com 800.222.0581, FREE - SLEEPER/SOFA Exc. Cond. You Haul. Maggie Valley 832.567.1113 METAL ART & HOME DECOR SALE Yard/Garden Art, Signs, Flags, Suns & Other Collectibles. Everything must be Sold. Whole Sale Buyers Welcome. Ping Pong & Foosball Table, Michelob Tiffany Lamps, Neon Signs, Displays, Birdhouses & Chimes. 828.734.1665.

WANTED TO BUY - WANTED TO BUY U.S./ Foreign Coins! Call Dan

828.421.1616 SELL YOUR STRUCTURED Settlement or annuity payments for CASH NOW. You don't have to wait for your future payments any longer! Call 1.800.316.0271

74 NORTH MAIN ST. • WAYNESVILLE, NC

www.beverly-hanks.com

Committed to Exceeding Expectations

Marilynn Obrig

Residential Broker Associate

(828) 550-2810

mobrig@Beverly-Hanks.com

www.Beverly-Hanks.com

——————————————

GEORGE

ESCARAVAGE BROKER/REALTOR

—————————————— 28 WOODLAND ASTER WAY

ASHEVILLE, NC 28804

828.400.0901

GESCAR@BEVERLY-HANKS.COM

BEVERLY-HANKS.COM

beverly-hanks.com Pam Braun - pbraun@beverly-hanks.com Pauletter Childers -paulettechilders@beverly-hanks.com Ann Eavenson - anneavenson@beverly-hanks.com George Escaravage - gescar@beverly-hanks.com Billie Green - BGreen@beverly-hanks.com Michelle McElroy - michellemcelroy@beverly-hanks.com Marilynn Obrig - marilynnobrig@beverly-hanks.com Brian K. Noland - brianknoland.com Anne Page - apage@beverly-hanks.com Brooke Parrott - brookeparrott@beverly-hanks.com Jerry Powell - jpowell@beverly-hanks.com Catherine Proben - cproben@beverly-hanks.com Ellen Sither - ellensither@beverly-hanks.com Mike Stamey - mikestamey@beverly-hanks.com Pamela Williams - pamelawilliams@beverly-hanks.com

ERA Sunburst Realty - sunburstrealty.com • Amy Spivey - amyspivey.com • Rick Boarder - sunburstrealty.com Keller Williams Realty kellerwilliamswaynesville.com • Julie Lapkoff - 828-273-6607 • Yvonne Kolomechuk - yvonneksells.yourkwagent.com • The Morris Team - www.themorristeamnc.com

Lakeshore Realty • Phyllis Robinson - lakeshore@lakejunaluska.com

Mountain Home Properties mountaindream.com • Cindy Dubose - cdubose@mountaindream.com

McGovern Real Estate & Property Management • Bruce McGovern - shamrock13.com

Realty World Heritage Realty realtyworldheritage.com • Carolyn Lauter realtyworldheritage.com/realestate/viewagent/7766 • Martha Sawyer realtyworldheritage.com/realestate/viewagent/7769

RE/MAX — Mountain Realty • • • • • •

MEDICAL WELLNESS ADVOCATE mydoterra.com/blueridge wellness A PLACE FOR MOM. The nation's largest senior living referral service. Contact our trusted, local experts today! Our service is FREE/no obligation. CALL 1.800.717.0139

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

remax-waynesvillenc.com | remax-maggievalleync.com Holly Fletcher - hollyfletcher1975@gmail.com Judy Meyers - jameyers@charter.net Mieko Thomson - ncsmokies.com The Real Team - the-real-team.com Ron Breese - ronbreese.com Dan Womack - womackdan@aol.com

smokymountainnews.com

PROFESSIONAL MEETING SPACE Located in Waynesville, Holds up to 90 People. Suitable for Seminars, Family Gatherings, Worship, Ect. Kitchen Area, Wifi/ Screen. For More Information and Rates for ROOM 1902 Call 828.454.7445 or 828.551.8960

VACATION RENTALS

EXECUTIVE

July 5-11, 2017

MOUNTAINS OF NC Log sided 1,340 sf cabin on 1.84 acres $159,900 Great views, lg loft w/ pict windows, fpl, huge deck 828.286.1666

GREAT SMOKIES STORAGE Conveniently located off 19/23

by Thad Woods Auction. Available for lease now: 10’x10’ units for $55, 20’x20’ units for $160.

Get one month FREE with 12 month contract. Call 828.507.8828 or 828.506.4112 for more info.

RE/MAX

WNC MarketPlace

LEASE TO OWN 1/2 Acre Lots with Mobile Homes & Empty 1/2 Acre + Lots!

Located Next to Cherokee Indian Reservation, 2.5 Miles from Harrah’s Cherokee Casino.

For More Information Please Call 828.506.0578

STORAGE SPACE FOR RENT

Rob Roland Realty • Rob Roland - rroland33@gmail.com

find us at: facebook.com/smnews

TO ADVERTISE IN THE NEXT ISSUE 828.452.4251 | ads@smokymountainnews.com 53

www.smokymountainnews.com

July 5-11, 2017

WNC MarketPlace

Super

54

CROSSWORD

SEVENTH HOLE ACROSS 1 Diamond shape 8 Swank 14 Hit on the bean 20 “Winnie-the-Pooh” author 21 Crescent-shaped 22 Have a thought 23 Bishop, e.g.

24 Apparel 25 It’s hung and hit at fiesta 26 Start of an instruction 29 “Anne of Green Gables” novelist Lucy — Montgomery 30 “— have thought it?”

31 Instruction, part 2 39 Reindeer herders’ region 45 Burrow 46 Scottish estate owner 47 1976 title film role for Robby Benson 48 Gin-and-lime cocktails 50 Weeper of Greek myth 52 Kitchen appliance brand 53 Everything considered 54 Instruction, part 3 59 Catholic bigwigs 60 Huge time unit 61 Elf 62 With 41-Down, town near New London, Connecticut 63 — about (near)

64 Have — (know someone with clout) 65 Weak type 69 Terrif 70 NFL goals 71 See 97-Down 72 Instruction, part 4 79 Steamers, e.g.

80 Barbera’s partner in cartoons 81 Artist Rousseau 82 Onion’s kin 84 Proceeds 87 Coffee option 90 Plaza Hotel girl of kid-lit 91 Venus, just before dawn 92 Instruction, part 5 94 — Field (Mets’ home) 96 One all, e.g.

97 End of the instruction 109 Team novice 110 Warrant 111 Actor Gary 113 Bee or ant 114 More timid 115 Put to use 116 Mall stands 117 Shines and smooths 118 Vended

9 Skating jump 10 Animated bug film 11 Go via sea 12 Scattered, as seeds 13 “For cryin’ out loud!”

14 Two-footed 15 Aesir god 16 Confined, with “up” 17 Jack of early latenight TV 18 Bluesy James 19 Merger, e.g.

27 Knitting stitch 28 E. — (gut bacteria) 31 Band 32 Couscous alternative 33 Opens, as a gas tank 34 Sock variety 35 Film units 36 Baseball’s Martinez 37 Shamrock’s land 38 Revered one 40 Dinner piece 41 See 62-Across 42 Open a bit 43 Taboo thing 44 Unhearing 47 Carlisle of the GoGo’s 49 Awful smell 51 Indirect route DOWN 55 Tobacco pipes 1 Musical talk 56 Get clothed 2 Mata — 57 Is 3 It’s a sign 58 Material for some 4 Vibraphonist Jackson cans 5 Ho-hum 63 Alley- — 6 Inopportune 65 Lambaste 7 Shilly-shally 66 Rome’s land, in 8 Model Schiffer France

67 Acacia relative 68 Badger 69 Incline 71 Resell tickets 72 Mississippi senator Cochran 73 “Mary — Little Lamb” 74 One of the deadly sins 75 Santa — (some winds) 76 Lead-in to spore 77 67-Down, for one 78 Personal quirks 83 Article-preceding summary 85 Marks of distinction 86 Cat Nation tribe 88 Pollination organs 89 Pate de — gras 92 Truck fuel 93 Vessel with a bag, maybe 95 Streetcars 97 With 71-Across, French avant-garde composer 98 TV actress Anderson 99 Ho-hum 100 — out (barely earns) 101 Lit candle bit 102 “Hmm ... yes” 103 Zap, as leftovers 104 Arduous hike 105 Lost traction 106 Solder, say 107 Jannings of old films 108 Demolish 112 Actor Romero

answers on page 48

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Financing options and special offers available. Call NOW! 888.812.6928

SCHOOLS/ INSTRUCTION AIRLINE MECHANIC TRAINING Get FAA certification to fix planes.

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1.800.417.2903 INDEPENDENCE UNIVERSITY. Offering Associate’s, Bachelor’s & Master’s Degree Programs. Study online around your schedule!

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YOUR AD COULD REACH 1.6 MILLION HOMES ACROSS NC! Your classified ad could be reaching over 1.6 Million Homes across North Carolina! Place your ad with The Smoky Mountain News on the NC Statewide Classified Ad Network- 118 NC newspapers for a low cost of $375 for 25-word ad to appear in each paper! Additional words are $10 each. The whole state at your fingertips! It's a smart advertising buy! Call Scott Collier at 828.452.4251 or for more information visit the N.C. Press Association's website at www.ncpress.com

WEEKLY SUDOKU Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.

Answers on Page 48

BY DON H ENDERSHOT

Escargot — no here was much concern regarding the noonday globe snail, Petera clarkia nantahala, after the Tellico Fire burned through the Nantahala Gorge last fall. The noonday globe is a federally endangered species known only from a small region of calcareous cliffs in the Nantahala Gorge in Swain County.

The noonday globe’s shell is about threequarters of an inch wide and one-half inch high. The shell is shiny and reddish in color and generally contains five and one-half coarse grooves or whorls. The noonday seems to have a preference for mature forests with large trees, great plant diversity, deep leaf litter and exposed calcareous rocks.

It should be pointed out that while the noonday globe is quite rare — this habitat, with its abundant calcium, is snail heaven.

Calcium is a major component of all snail shells and an area rich in calcium, as long as it fits other parameters like moisture, etc., makes good habitat and the noonday globe shares these high calcareous cliffs in the gorge with 29 other species of snails.

But because their numbers are few, their range is limited and their habitat isn’t easily

T

accessed, little is known of the life history of the noonday globe. They are known to be more active during wet weather, when they can regularly be found on the surface of the forest floor rather than under the moist litter.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife biologist Jason Mays headed a team of biologists surveying the gorge to try and determine how the noonday globe fared. The biologists surveyed in March and early spring before spring vegetation emerged, and they were pleasantly surprised. According to a recent press release, Mays noted, “When forest fires came through the gorge last winter, people were worried it may have been driven to extinction. On the face of it, you wouldn’t expect snails to cope too well with forest fire. We discovered the snail not only survived the fire, but it’s found across a much broader swath of the gorge’s southern face than we ever realized.”

I spoke with Mays over the phone and he said the Tellico Fire actually made the searching easier. He noted the fire removed the leaf litter, leaving bare ground. Mays said that prior to the fire he would use a small rake to clear away the leaf litter, “I would rake a small area, maybe a square

Noonday globe snail. U.S. Fish & Wildlife photo

snails were found in adjacent areas that provided good habitat. According to Mays the range is now believed to comprise about 5 miles and reach nearly to the ridge tops.

Biologists estimated a population of more than 3,000 noonday globes in the area of the gorge thought to provide the best habitat. No one is talking about removing the noonday globe from the Endangered

Species List at this time but these numbers are promising according to Fish & Wildlife.

Mays said he also took advantage of easier surveying conditions this spring to expand his search for the noonday globe in and around the gorge. Mays noted there is another subspecies of Petera clarkia — P. clarkia clarkia — that is very similar to the noonday globe but the two have not been found to hybridize. He said that when he moved away from the core noonday habitat he would began to find more of the P. clarkia clarkia and fewer P. clarkia nantahala and that where it was noticeably drier the noonday was altogether absent.

Mays theorized, and was quick to admit that it was speculation and likely couldn’t be proved without serious genetic research, that the noonday globe probably sometime in the distant past, speciated from the more common P. clarkia clarkia — becoming a habitat specialist adapted to the wet calcareous rocks and bare soil of the recesses of the Nantahala Gorge.

So the Tellico Fire not only didn’t bake the noonday globe, it gave U.S. Fish & Wildlife biologists a better look.

(Don Hendershot is a naturalist and a writer who lives in Haywood County. He can be reached at ddihen1@bellsouth.net)

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meter to survey, then move on and rake another meter,” he said. “But with the leaf litter gone, I could just walk through the forest, probably surveying five meters at a time.”

Before this spring’s survey it was believed the noonday globe was restricted to about 2 miles of cliff face in the gorge. Mays said the easier surveying conditions this spring allowed a larger, more thorough search and

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