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July 27-August 2, 2016 Vol. 18 Iss. 09

Big dollars at stake in Haywood hospital tax appeal Page 4 Folkmoot International Dance Festival SPECIAL SECTION

CONTENTS

STAFF

On the Cover: Artist Christopher Holt — who was raised in Waynesville and now lives and works in Asheville — recently visited Cuba, painting scenes from old Havana, the village of Cojimar that was an inspiration to Ernest Hemingway, and the tobacco region of Vinales. In this week’s Smoky Mountain News, he discusses visiting just as Cuba is opening to Americans, his impressions of the people he met and the challenges facing the island’s citizens. (Cover by Micah McClure, Christopher Holt painting, Wyman Tannehill photo)

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News Jackson passes industrial development ordinance ..................................................3 Big money at stake in outcome of HRMC tax value appeal ..................................4 Jackson also hoping for higher tax value for its hospital ........................................ 5 Plan in place to remediate lead at SCC shooting range ........................................ 7 Swain hoping for additional meeting with TVA to discuss houseboat ban ......9 Cherokee to create ethics office for government ..................................................10

Opinion Let’s get all the school closing issues out in the open ..........................................16 If you can’t decide on Trump or Clinton, we can help ............................................17

Books Outdoors Bird banding provides researchers with valuable data ........................................34

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Planning for industry

Jackson’s new industrial ordinance limits fracking, emphasizes traffic considerations

FOCUS ON FRACKING

In terms of everyday impact, an ordinance change aimed at keeping big industrial rigs off country roads too small to handle them will likely be the most significant. “Right now they can have impacts on any road,” Poston told the planning board in May. “It could be a small dirt road. Is it designed to handle that?” The revised ordinance requires that industries covered under the ordinance be located along a main road — an artery like U.S. 441, U.S. 23 or N.C. 107. If the industry wants to locate somewhere else, it has to have a traffic engineer complete a traffic assessment looking at potential congestion and functionality issues between the site and nearest primary road. A newly revised industrial development ordinance in Jackson County will attempt to keep new industrial businesses After reviewing the along main thoroughfares like N.C. 107 (above). A Shot Above photo report, the planning 3

Smoky Mountain News

The industrial development ordinance swiveled to the radar of the newly elected board of commissioners shortly after their December 2014 swearing in as a way to protect the county from fracking, then a hotbutton issue. The state had just finished a circuit of public hearings asking for input on newly drafted rules to govern the industry in North Carolina. Statewide, the hearing in Cullowhee was the most heavily attended, drawing a roster of speakers unanimously opposed to fracking in this neck of the woods. Because the state law allowing fracking explicitly stated that local governments couldn’t outlaw it in their jurisdictions, the new, predominantly Democrat board began looking for creative ways to keep the industry at bay — even contacting the Natural Resources Defense Council for legal advice. As a result, fracking was listed under the mining definition during the planning board’s very first meeting to discuss the ordinance, back in April 2015. “In general we don’t want to set a lot of conditions to prohibit something. We just prohibit it,” planning board chair Scott Baker said at the board’s May meeting, acknowledging the unique situation caused by the state law’s ban on local prohibitions. “In this case using the mining ordinance

PLANNING FOR TRAFFIC

July 27-August 2, 2016

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER fter sixteen months of meetings, a change of planning director and a nearly complete turnover of membership on the Jackson County Planning Board, an updated industrial development ordinance is now in place for the county. The new document looks similar to the old one, which was completed in 2002, but with a few key changes: hydraulic fracturing — or fracking — is explicitly listed under the mining industries the ordinance governs, and a process is outlined requiring industrial businesses to consider their impact on road transportation. “The attention they Michael Poston (the planning board) paid to it and the care they took in going through it in making these changes is what accounts for that (two-year) timeframe and how looking at the ordinance there’s not a whole new structure of how we are going to address these issues,” said Jackson Planning Director Michael Poston.

that is pretty restrictive pretty much covers most scenarios that would allow it (fracking) to happen.” Subsequent work sessions went through the 16-page ordinance line-by-line, scouring the document for definitions in need of updating and stipulations in need of changing. One noticeable difference is that fracking is included throughout the ordinance, rather just in the definition of mining, making it clear throughout that all of the setback and screening regulations that apply to other mining operations apply to fracking. According to geology’s best guess, however, Western North Carolina’s oil and gas reserves are small at best, so despite the emotional nature of the issue, fracking is unlikely to ever come to the area. In fact, Jackson County isn’t exactly a Mecca for any other heavy industries, either — Poston couldn’t find record of any heavy industry permits being issued since the original ordinance passed in 2002. That doesn’t mean the rules aren’t important to have in place, Commission Chairman Brian McMahan said. “We don’t want to wait until we’re in a bind and all of a sudden someone puts in an application and we come in and try to make changes,” he said. “It’s good to do it now and try to be proactive.”

industrial business. In fact, the only person who spoke during the public hearing preceding commissioners’ vote on the ordinance was of the persuasion that the rules aren’t strong enough. Donna Dupree, a Balsam resident who’s been an outspoken opponent of fracking, told commissioners that the county should require heavy industry to show proof of liability insurance and to post a bond before beginning any mining activities. She also requested a larger fine for ordinance violations — $1,000 instead of $500 per day — and that the setback from homes, schools and hospitals be increased from one-quarter mile to oneBecause the state law allowing half mile. Poston addressed Dupree’s fracking explicitly stated that local concerns before the vote, governments couldn’t outlaw it in asserting that it’s not “commonplace to hold a bond or their jurisdictions, the new, require a certain amount of predominantly Democrat board liability insurance on classes of businesses” and that setbegan looking for creative ways to back requirements can be surprisingly restrictive at seemkeep the industry at bay. ingly short distances when you consider the entire 360degree circle around a particular point. Newer ordinances, like the Cullowhee and U.S. 441 Corridor planning ordinances, have Make the setback too big, and pretty soon there’s no location in the county capable of stipulations regarding traffic, and it’s not an fulfilling the requirement. uncommon consideration in other local gov“The question becomes where’s the balernments across the state, Poston said. “If you’ve got one of these businesses and ance at?” he said. There may always be questions and disyou’re not locating on your major thoroughcussions and possibilities for changes to the fares like your 107s, your 441, you’d have to ordinance, McMahan said, but he thanked address how the transportation that’s created by that use, how it affects the existing net- the planning board for the document they had arrived at. work,” Poston said. “For the purpose of today,” he said, “this Poston said his office hasn’t received any negative feedback from people involved with is a good start.” department can either OK the permit or give the applicant the option of completing a more intensive Transportation Impact Analysis, whose results would be considered by the Jackson County Board of Adjustment in a quasi-judicial hearing, a proceeding similar to a court case. To get a permit, the analysis would have to show that the traffic wouldn’t have any adverse impacts, that the use is consistent with the county’s land use plan, and that it wouldn’t endanger public health, safety or the natural environment. This ordinance isn’t the first in Jackson to consider traffic in land use decisions.

High stakes in hospital tax dispute BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER aywood Regional Medical Center and county officials are locked in a dispute over how much the hospital should pay in property taxes. Both sides made their cases last week during a formal property tax hearing, offering up vastly different opinions of how much the hospital and surrounding campus are worth. Pegging the hospital’s tax value is a high-stakes affair, with a lot of dough on the line come tax day. “LifePoint doesn’t want to be a villain. They just want to be taxed fairly at what the market value of this hospital really is,” said Will Clark, a property tax consultant with the Altus Group representing Duke LifePoint in the appeal. The hospital claims its property value — including the surrounding campus, fitness center and Homestead Hospice — is only $22 million, amounting to $124,000 in property taxes a year. But the county claims it’s worth $43 million, amounting to $244,000 in property taxes a year. The appeal last week went before the Board of Equalization and Review, a fivemember panel of local citizens appointed by county commissioners for the sole purpose of hearing property tax appeals. The board made a swift decision, unanimously siding with the county. But it’s still early in the game. When the stakes are this high, the appeal at the local level is often just a pit stop in a drawn out process that eventually ends up being settled by the Property Tax Commission in Raleigh.

A hearing over the property tax value of Haywood Regional Medical Center was held last week by the Board of Equalization and Review, which sided with the county. Duke LifePoint could still seek recourse through the N.C. Property Tax Commission, so for now, the dispute remains ongoing. Becky Johnson photo

Smoky Mountain News

July 27-August 2, 2016

NOT WORTH ALL THAT Duke LifePoint’s chief argument in the appeal was simply pointing out the hospital’s sale price two years ago when it was purchased from the county. What better way to determine the hospital’s worth than its sale price, Clark said. Duke LifePoint bought Haywood Regional for $22.2 million, so that’s the value, Clark said. The sale price of $22 million wasn’t arrived at lightly. It was the result of a yearlong negotiation and based on detailed calcu-

lations of the hospital’s assets, market potential and finances, Clark said. While it sounds logical, the county disagreed. There was more to the sale price than meets the eye, explained Haywood County Tax Administrator David Francis. “My opinion is the sale was under duress,” Francis said. The hospital was struggling financially — a common plight for smaller, independent hospitals everywhere, ultimately forcing them to consolidate into the arms of larger systems. At the time of the sale, the hospital owed $8.5 million on an emergency line of credit that it used to cover cash operational shortfalls. The clock was ticking to pay off the line of credit, but Haywood Regional never had enough left over at year end to make a dent on it.

Why all the drama now? Historically, Haywood Regional Medical Center was exempt from property taxes as non-profit. That changed following its acquisition in 2014 by Duke LifePoint, a forprofit hospital network. The hospital is now obligated to pay county property taxes based on the market value of its land and buildings. Therein

Profit from the sale would finally allow the hospital to get out from under the debt. And to Francis, the sense of urgency to find a buyer qualified its sale as a fire sale, and not a reflection of actual market value. “A lot of the sale price was going to pay off debt, a lot of debt at that,” Francis said. Jimmy Flynn, a member of the Equalization and Review Board, agreed. He likened it to a homeowner being forced to sell at any price to avoid a foreclosure. “If you have a home owner that is having to sell below market value to pay the loans off, then I don’t know if that is an arms-length transaction,” Flynn said. “It was more of a distress sale. To me, it was in economic trouble and to me that impacted the sale.” “If it is economically distressed, then why appraise it so high?” Clark countered.

lies the rub: what’s the going price of a hospital these days? Haywood County and Duke LifePoint not only disagree on the property value, but also the value of its taxable equipment, from IV poles to MRI machines. The difference of opinion adds to more than $150,000 on the hospital’s annual tax bill to the county. The value determined now will not only impact this year’s payments, but also create a baseline for the hospital’s annual taxes from here on out — with more than a million dollars at stake over the next decade depending on who prevails in the property tax battle. Calculating the value of the hospital and its campus for the first time was a herculean effort.

IN ROUGH SHAPE?

Duke LifePoint also argued that the hospital has a litany of infrastructure problems and physical faults — which negatively impact the hospital’s worth. Haywood Regional had been losing money or barely breaking even for years leading up to the sale, and as a result, had failed to stay on top of maintenance and upkeep, Clark claimed. “You have a struggling hospital both financially and physically,” Clark said. “They were economically in trouble and didn’t have money to pay for maintenance.” Clark presented a report cataloging the hospital’s shortcomings, from outdated plumbing to obsolete electronic record systems. Duke LifePoint inherited a giant to-do list of infrastructure

Given the complexity, the county tax office has brought in three outside consultants, each with specialized expertise: Stan Duncan, retired veteran property assessor from Hendersonville and former local government liaison for the state property tax division; Ron McCarthy, commercial property appraisal expert with RS&M Appraisal Services; and Phil Evans, independent business tax auditor with Evans & Associates in Charlotte. LifePoint has its own share of heavy hitters in its corner, including: Will Clark, property tax dispute expert with the Altus Group; Jack DaBell, LifePoint’s in-house tax specialist; and Ken Fancolly with Avery Healthcare Appraisal out of Kansas.

Around the state

Person Memorial Hospital in Roxboro, 110 beds • Year purchased by Duke LifePoint: 2011 • County’s appraised value: $17.3 million • Duke LifePoint’s counter value: $11.8 million • Status: An appeal was filed with the N.C. Property Tax Commission, but the parties settled on their own for a final value of $15.9 million. Maria Parham Medical Center in Henderson, 102 beds • Year purchased by Duke LifePoint: 2011 • County’s appraised value: $66 million • Duke LifePoint’s counter value: $29 million • Status: An appeal was filed with the N.C. Property Tax Commission, but the parties settled last year on their own for a final value of $50 million. Wilson Medical Center in Wilson, 294 beds • Year purchased by Duke LifePoint: 2014 • County’s appraised value: $64 million • Duke LifePoint’s counter value: $32 million • Status: An appeal went all the way to the N.C. Property Tax Commission, which ruled summarily in Duke LifePoint’s favor, setting

Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva, 86 beds • Year purchased by Duke LifePoint: 2014 • County’s appraised value: $48.9 million • Duke LifePoint’s counter value: $13 million • Status: An appeal process is underway. A hearing was held by the Jackson County Board of Equalization and Review last week, but a decision is still forthcoming. Duke LifePoint could still take its appeal to the Property Tax Commission if it disagrees with the local verdict. Swain Community Hospital in Bryson City, 48 beds • Year purchased by Duke LifePoint: 2014 • County’s appraised value: $5.1 million • Duke LifePoint’s counter value: Duke LifePoint did not appeal the county’s assessed value. Rutherfordton Regional Health System in Rutherfordton, 143 beds • Year purchased by Duke LifePoint: 2014 • Status: No appeal was filed over the county’s assessed property value. However, an appeal was filed over the value of a rehab center and group care home under the hospital’s umbrella. Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory, 355 beds • Year purchased by Duke LifePoint: 2016 • Status: Too soon after the purchase to know whether Duke LifePoint will appeal the property value. Central Carolina Hospital in Sanford, 137 beds • Year purchased by Duke LifePoint: 2016 • Status: Too soon after the purchase to know whether Duke LifePoint will appeal the property value

Clark agreed, to a point. “LifePoint has all the intentions of putting money into this hospital and turning it around. But currently the market value is $22 million, which is what they paid for it,” Clark said. Clark conceded that the hospital’s value may one day be worth more, but not yet. “Everyone would agree they are going to make some significant investments in this hospital, and at that point, fine, increase the value of the property,” Clark said. Aside from the hospital’s general condition, Clark argued that the hospital was becoming functionally obsolete due to its age of 40 years old. All hospitals depreciate in value over time due to technology advancements and changing industry standards. For example, Haywood Regional has 12-foot-high ceilings, while the industry standard today is 14.5 feet, Clark said. But the county and Duke LifePoint disagree on the pace of depreciation. The county claims the hospital is 30 percent depreciated. “That’s wildly wrong,” Clark said. “The hospital should be 80 percent depreciated.” Clark also played more subtly to the county’s good will, suggesting that the county should be appreciative that Duke LifePoint

BATTLE OF THE LISTS Meanwhile, a secondary tax appeal is playing out over the value of the hospital’s taxable equipment. Every scrap of equipment, from IV polls and desk chairs to MRI machines and computer systems, are subject to property tax. The county has yet to get its hands on an accurate equipment list, however. The county keeps asking, but the list keeps changing. “At one time they provided a list of historical costs to our auditor and now they don’t want to use that list and want to use a new list,” Francis said. LifePoint’s Senior Tax Specialist Jack DaBell admitted the first list was wrong — it was one they had inherited when purchasing

S EE HRMC, PAGE 6

Smoky Mountain News

repairs and improvements that had been put off over the years because the money wasn’t there, Clark said. Again, the county disagreed. Francis said he didn’t think the condition of the hospital is as bad as Clark made it out to be. “Duke LifePoint did not pay $22 million for an old decrepit hospital,” Francis countered. Flynn also questioned the characterization. “I’d like some clarity — is that hospital that bad in condition?” Flynn asked. Clark was between a rock and a hard place when it came to bashing the state of the hospital. While the image of a struggling hospital rife with outdated infrastructure would help the case for a lower property value, it’s not exactly the image Duke LifePoint wants to portray to the general public. To the contrary, Duke LifePoint has invested millions in infrastructure improvements and physical upgrades over the past two years and public confidence in the hospital has been restored. Francis said he’s heard that the hospital is doing great. “I think the census numbers are up, is that not correct?” Francis said. “The Duke LifePoint brand has had an impact on that, and the culture there has significantly turned around.”

emerged as a savior for the struggling hospital in Haywood, as well as the hospitals in neighboring Jackson and Swain counties, which were bought in tandem with Haywood. “Duke LifePoint came to this market with good intentions to try to turn these hospitals around,” Clark said. “This is not only an investment in the hospital, but an investment in the community. They just want to be treated fairly like anybody else would.” Francis said they wouldn’t have bought Haywood Regional “if they didn’t think there was money to be made here.” Duke LifePoint has been on an acquisition streak in North Carolina. Five years ago, it had no hospitals in the state, but it now has nine. LifePoint has a network of more than 60 hospitals and 30 outpatient centers in 20 states.

he jury is still out on a property tax challenge being waged by Harris Regional Hospital, which claims its property is only worth a quarter of what the county says it is. Jackson County’s property tax office has pegged the value of Harris Regional Hospital and its related medical offices at $48.9 million — with its main 77-acre campus accounting for $42.3 million of that. The hospital countered that the property value is only $13 million. The dueling values would make a substantial difference when it comes to the hospital’s property tax bill — $388,000 in town and county property taxes annually if the county has its way versus only $103,000 if the hospital has its way. Duke LifePoint, the hospital network that owns Harris, took its case to the Jackson County Board of Equalization and Review last week. The board heard from both sides, but due to a full docket of property value appeals to be heard that day, they didn’t have time to discuss it and tabled a decision until August. The consultant representing Duke LifePoint in the appeal, Will Clark of the Altus Group, argued that outdated infrastructure and lack of routine maintenance detracted from the hospital’s value. Members of the Equalization and Review Board asked Clark if he had examples of other hospital sales to support the case for a $13 million value. They also asked whether Duke LifePoint had hired an independent appraiser to conduct a certified appraisal of the hospital. According to Jackson Tax Administrator Bobby McMahan, Clark didn’t have that sort of documentation. Harris was purchased by Duke LifePoint in August 2014. LifePoint had shelled out $25 million for both Harris and the much smaller Swain Community Hospital, also pledging to make $43 million in capital investments as part of the deal. “I wasn’t surprised to get a challenge,” McMahan said at the time the appeal was filed. “But I was a little surprised that their opinion of value was as low as it is, that it was $13 million.” Harris was historically a non-profit and exempt from property taxes prior to its purchase by Duke LifePoint, when it became a for-profit entity. While Harris paid taxes for the first time in 2015, it didn’t file an appeal over the value until this year, which happens to coincide with a countywide property revaluation. The last tax revaluation was completed in 2008. The tax office plans to send 2016 bills out within the month.

July 27-August 2, 2016

While the image of a struggling hospital rife with outdated infrastructure would help the case for a lower property value, it’s not exactly the image Duke LifePoint wants to portray to the general public.

No decision yet on Jackson hospital appeal

news

Duke LifePoint has formally disputed its property taxes in five of the seven counties where it has purchased a local hospital between 2011 and 2014. It purchased two more hospitals this year, making it too soon to tell whether an appeal may be forthcoming.

the value at $32 million. “It was a very disappointing decision,” said Randy Faircloth, tax administer in Wilson County.

— By Holly Kays, staff writer 5

Smoky Mountain News

July 27-August 2, 2016

news

HRMC, CONTINUED FROM 5 the hospital in 2014. The list had 5,000 assets, but some of those don’t exist anymore, he said. “We had to find what was still there from that list and then after that put together an inventory of everything else that is there on site that maybe isn’t on the historic asset list or is unable to be matched back to an asset on the historic asset list,” DaBell said. “Our effort was to be very complete in the inventory.” The county hasn’t found it to be very complete, however. “I still feel like we are too far apart and I feel like we don’t have all the information we need,” Francis said. An audit of the list was conducted based on county officials’ institutional knowledge of the hospital, coupled with the services of a consultant who specializes in business equipment tax audits. They found several items missing from the equipment list and others vastly undervalued — calling into question the veracity of the list as a whole. One source of contention was a suite of electronic medical records software purchased by the hospital for more than $8 million, yet listed by LifePoint as worth less than $400,000, Francis said. That led to some debate over whether the computer software is in use anymore. “They don’t know if they are still using it or not,” Francis said. Another question surrounded a new backup generator that didn’t appear on the equipment list from LifePoint. Members of the tax appeal board signaled their frustration over the shifting lists. “It does concern me that we continue to have missing information on both sides. At some point we have to come to an end about the exchange of information,” said Mary Ann Enloe, a member of the Equalization and Review Board. “Would it be fair to say we have demonstrated the original list is inaccurate?” LifePoint’s consultant Ken Fancolly asked. “I don’t know that we can say that at this time. I don’t know we are there just yet,” Francis said. Another challenge was last minute additions to the list before the hearing. “We need to have all that information in

A secondary tax appeal is playing out over the value of the hospital’s taxable equipment. Every scrap of equipment, from IV polls and desk chairs to MRI machines and computer systems, are subject to property tax. time to study it,” said Evelyn Cooper, chair of the Equalization and Review Board. In Vance County, Duke LifePoint has been at odds with the county over its hospital equipment list for three years. Vance County Tax Collector Portia Brooks said they, too, have struggled with shifting lists. “They kept saying they didn’t have it, and we were like ‘We need the entire list,’” Brooks said. Not wanting to wait as long as Vance has, the tax appeal board decided to cut off the back and forth and render a verdict after last week’s hearing. They voted once again to uphold the county’s position on the hospital’s equipment value. The county claims the value of the equipment in the hospital is $16 million.

LifePoint claims the equipment value is $10 million — but the two numbers aren’t apples to apples. Duke LifePoint’s equipment value of $10 million includes the whole gamut of medical facilities under its umbrella — myriad doctors’ practices, two urgent care centers, an outpatient surgery center, the fitness center and hospice center. The county’s estimate of $16 million is for the hospital alone, as it hasn’t yet dived in to the equipment list for the related medical offices and facilities.

WHAT’S NEXT While the county and hospital showed no sign of compromise going into the hear-

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ing, there’s ample time for negotiations to play out before the appeal works its way up the chain to the state Property Tax Commission. So far, Duke LifePoint hasn’t produced an independent, objective appraisal to counter the county’s value. Its case instead was more ethereal and anecdotal, citing functional obsolescence, economic challenges and deferred maintenance. LifePoint may now cough up more tangible documentation. That would provide evidence the county has thus far been lacking to determine whether it’s too high. But as of the hearing last week, Duke LifePoint hadn’t been willing to show its hand with anything concrete, making the hearing more of a trial balloon on LifePoint’s part. A property value assessment is supposed to be rooted in defensible and quantifiable calculations. It’s not like buying a car, where one side high-balls and the other low-balls, and they haggle their way to a meeting somewhere in the middle. But in reality, both sides have to weigh the benefits of giving a little ground rather than going to the mat.

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Plenty of Pork I recently visited one of Smithfield Foods farms and processing facility in Tarheel, NC. You can read about my experience at the farm our blog at inglesnutrition.blogspot.com/2016/07/plenty-of-pork-visit-to-smithfield-foods.html

A primer on pork:

Soil is tested for lead on a shooting range at Southwestern Community College. Donated photo

Sow = a female hog that has had piglets Gilt = a female hog that has not yet reproduced Boar = a reproductively sound male Farrowing = the birth of a litter of pigs Market Hog = a pig that is 5-6 months old and weighs approximately 250 lbs that is ready for slaughter.

Did you know? 1. The typical gestation period (pregnancy) for a sow is 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days. 2. Farrowing stalls/crates are used to protect the newborn piglets from being crushed by the sow, keep them at a comfortable temperature (with heating pads) but still give them access to nurse. 3. Pigs supply much more than just pork and bacon including insulin, heart valves, lubricants, paint brushes and more! Sources: (in addition to blog above) https://quizlet.com/3085231/swine-vocabulary-flash-cards/

Smoky Mountain News

with the company paying specially licensed truckers and a higher tipping fee to get the job done. If a truck were to get into an accident and spill its load somewhere along the way, SCC would be liable. And if, perhaps decades from now, lead contamination were found at the landfill, it could be traced back to the college, which would still be liable. “I think the driving factor in choosing treatment on-site is there’s much less liability down the road, literally and figuratively,” Bevers said. Commissioners approved SCC’s recommendation last week to accept a bid from Salisbury-based Contaminant Control for $190,000. While SCC is in charge of the project, the college deferred to commissioners to approve the bid, as the undertaking would be funded from the county budget. Completing the job will also require a $47,000 payment to ECS, which will oversee the project and conduct follow-up environmental sampling to ensure that soil underneath the hauled-off portion is indeed uncontaminated. That brings the total cost of the cleanup to $237,000. Bevers hopes to see work begin in the next couple of weeks. From there, the project will take about a month to complete. “I think SCC is doing what needs to be done,” said Commissioner Vicki Greene.

July 27-August 2, 2016

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER fter more than two years of tests and evaluations, the end is now in sight for an effort to remove 450 tons of lead-contaminated soil from a shooting range at Southwestern Community College. The job will cost $237,000, but by the end of the summer the soil should be excavated, treated, hauled away and replaced with new, uncontaminated soil. “We’re moving as fast as we can, but we’re trying to make sure we’re hitting all the right checklists to make sure it’s all done right,” said Jim Bevers, environmental project manager with ECS Carolinas, the company whose consulting services SCC has enlisted on the issue. The shooting range, which is used for law enforcement training, has been around for more than three decades, with the clay berm at the end of it consistently pelted with lead bullets during that time, accumulating an estimated 60 tons of lead, with the Tuckasegee River flowing just downhill. That realization led the school to begin working with the Department of Environmental Quality in 2014 to test the area for contamination. Because the range is still active, the lead doesn’t have to be removed from the berm itself, though SCC has been working to implement best management practices to reduce lead accumulation and spread in the future. Elevated lead levels, however, were discovered in an area downhill from the range itself. According to Bevers, that’s because at some point, somewhere during the shooting range’s lifetime, someone moved lead-contaminated soil from the range to another spot on the property. While tests revealed no lead contamination in the nearby Tuckasegee, it became imperative to fix the problem before a water quality issue resulted. The school thought it was all ready to move ahead on the project at the end of 2015, but a staff transition at the DEQ led to a new case manager who recommended another round of testing to look for a new round of contaminants. Testing revealed elevated levels of arsenic, antimony and PAHs — polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, compounds that are produced during combustion.

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Lead cleanup poised to start at SCC

Bevers said the test results won’t impact the cleanup plan, however. The same treatment planned to neutralize lead in the soil will work on arsenic and antimony, and PAH isn’t something landfills worry about when deciding whether or not to accept a load. SCC had two choices when it came to getting rid of the soil: get it treated on-site so it could be disposed of at any run-of-the-mill landfill, or get it hauled away untreated to one of the country’s few hazardous waste landfills. Bids for the two options came in nearly identical, with the hazardous disposal quoted at $1,000 more than the non-hazardous disposal. “Treating it pretty much prepares you to have a very minimal if at all liability issue that would fall back on either the college or the county,” Don Tomas, SCC’s president, told Jackson County Commissioners. “Untreated, there are things that could potentially happen en route.” If disposed as hazardous, the soil would have to be hauled all the way to Michigan,

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July 27-August 2, 2016

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A recent decision requiring houseboats to disappear from Fontana Lake within 30 years has sparked opposition from local leaders. Jessi Stone photo

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schools and churches for Fontana Lake, also hundreds of jobs. Enough is enough.” If the houseboats are removed, he said, Swain and Graham counties would lose tax money from houseboats and the revenue from lake users. Even though the TVA’s mission includes providing affordable electricity and flood control to the communities it serves,

“Swain and Graham counties lost over 3,000 citizens and over 300 homes, businesses, schools and churches for Fontana Lake, also hundreds of jobs. Enough is enough.”

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July 27-August 2, 2016

— David Monteith

Monteith pointed out that Swain County does not receive those services while people in Tennessee do. TVA cited improper disposal of sewage from houseboats as one reason they needed to be permanently removed from the lakes, but Swain County officials and Meadows say that’s a false claim when it comes to Fontana Lake, and they have the water quality results to back it up. Monteith and the Fontana Lake Waste Recovery Board were responsible for writing an ordinance years ago that requires all houseboats to have a restroom and that every boat dock has a pump-out boat to pump out the waste from all houseboats. While this meeting was not open to the public, Monteith said he suggested to TVA board members that they hold public meetings in Swain and Graham counties to hear concerns from people.

Smoky Mountain News

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR embers of the Tennessee Valley Authority board of directors recently requested a meeting with Swain and Graham County officials to discuss the TVA’s recent decision to remove all 1,800 houseboats from its 49 lakes within the next 30 years. The meeting was called at the request of U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows, R-Cashiers, who has been trying to convince the TVA to reverse its ruling or exempt the 350 houseboat owners on Fontana Lake from the new policy. Meadows, U.S. Sen. Richard Burr and U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis all sent aides to the meeting to join David Monteith, chairman of the Fontana Lake Waste Recovery board, Graham County Commission chairman, Swain County Commission Chairman Phil Carson and Swain County Manager Kevin King for the meeting. As part of its ruling back in May, TVA promised to work closely with each lake community to ensure the economic impact of removing the houses is minimal. Swain and Graham will be impacted more than other communities in TVA’s jurisdiction since a majority of both counties’ land is owned by the federal government. Fontana recreation is a major part of the local tourism economy. Like many residents who have deep roots in Swain County, Monteith sees the TVA decision as just one more thing the federal government has taken away from the people. Swain and Graham lost many of its assets when the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was created and when land was flooded to create Fontana Lake. “My opinion that I told the TVA board was that TVA has taken enough from Swain County — over 7,000 acres and over 4,000 acres from Graham County,” Monteith said. “Swain and Graham counties lost over 3,000 citizens and over 300 homes, businesses,

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Swain officials discuss houseboats with TVA

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July 27-August 2, 2016

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Ethics rules passed in Cherokee Legislation to keep tribal officials accountable BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER ribal government is expected to gain on openness and accountability following passage of a pair of laws in Cherokee Tribal Council this month. After more than a year of work, the tribe now has a code of ethics and a mechanism to ensure the new standards are enforced. “What this does is make sure that we behave, that we don’t do stuff, and when we’re accused of doing stuff that it will be investigated and we can get some response back to our community,” said Councilmember Teresa McCoy, of Big Cove, moving to pass the legislation. Council unanimously passed an ordinance to create the Office of Government Ethics, an independent office tasked with investigating and ensuring discipline for ethical violations. “It’s one thing to have a rule in place, but to not have a way to enforce it is the problem,” McCoy said. “This will enforce it.” The legislation describes an office staffed with a tribal ethics officer, clerk and administrative workers that will operate separately from both the executive and legislative branches of government. An Ethics Review Board will be in charge of governing the office’s activities, though the legislation does not outline requirements to sit on the board or describe who will appoint its members — that will be decided through future legislation, the ordinance says. The office itself is still concept as much as reality. Tribal Council is currently beginning budget hearings for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1, and funding for the new ethics office will be part of those discussions. That process will impact how quickly the office is set up and what final form it takes. In the meantime, the new ethics rules will still apply, with the tribe’s Office of Internal Audit — that office focuses mainly on financial issues — administering the ethics code until the new office is created. While the tribe has had an ethical code of sorts since 1995, the new rules, which the committee spent more than a year developing, are far more extensive and clearly spelled out than the tribe’s existing code of conduct. “It’s appearance,” Kevin Jackson, a former member of the ethics commission, told councilmembers during a May work session. “When you start looking at these things, ethically it’s the appearance to the public that we have to be very careful with.” Ten of the 12 councilmembers voted to pass the rules, with Chairman Bill Taylor, of Wolfetown, and Travis Smith, of Birdtown, abstaining. The new rules include a definitions sec-

tion — absent in the existing legislation — that leaves no doubt as to what is meant by words such as “conflict of interest,” “immediate family,” and “tribal official.” “Immediate family” was the only term defined in the previous legislation, but the new rules greatly expand its meaning beyond the earlier scope of spouse, sibling, parent or child. The definition now includes in-laws, grandparents and grandchildren, step-parents and step-children, foster parents and foster children as well as aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. It also allows the closeness of the relationship to be considered — if you’re not married to someone but you live with them, for example, that qualifies as immediate family under the new law. Tribal officials — the definition includes elected and appointed positions — are now required to report any instances of corruption they know about, report gifts and set up public forums for tribal members to speak on this issues important to them. They’re forbidden from taking or accepting bribes, participating in decisions or discussions that could affect their personal interests — such as, for example, pushing to hire a relative’s contracting firm for a tribal project — or withholding public documents not explicitly deemed private under tribal code. The law also prohibits tribal officials from making unauthorized public statements that others could perceive to represent the tribe as a whole. The provision harkens back to a 2014 incident in which then-Principal Chief Michell Hicks traveled to the Washington Redskins’ field with members of Cherokee’s American Legion post, who served as color guard on the field. During the ceremony, Hicks said the words, “Hail to the Redskins,” which caused an uproar back home. “Redskins” is considered an offensive term by many in the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and the tribe had not endorsed Hicks’ statement. Principal Chief Patrick Lambert, who took office in October 2015, has publicly supported efforts to make tribal government more open and accountable to its people. Lambert is in the midst of an intensive audit into government spending over the 12 years of the previous administration, presenting preliminary findings in April that showed thousands of dollars in cash advances, thousands more at clothing stores such as Victoria’s Secret and Joseph A. Bank, and rentals for stretch limousines — all on tribal credit cards. Lambert said he would push for federal charges in connection with the expenditures. Regarding the ethics legislation, Lambert was quick to give his blessing. “I am proud that Tribal Council passed the new Ethics Law and look forward to signing/ratifying that law as soon as possible,” he wrote in a Facebook post three days after the law passed.

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SEPT. 17 OCT. 1

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HCC hosts free Latino Business Start Up series he Small Business Center at Haywood Community College in partnership with The Support Center and the Western Women’s Business Center will offer a free Hispanic Latino Business Start Up series in August. “Business Management Basics/Los Basicos de Administracion Epresarial” will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 16. “Intro to Business Finance/Introduccion a Las Finanzas del Negocio” will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 23. “Business Marketing Essentials/Los Basicos del Mercadeo del Negocio” will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 30. All three seminars will be in Spanish and held from 6 until 8:30 p.m. at the Pigeon Community Development Center in Waynesville. “Business Management Basics/Los Basicos de Administracion Epresarial” will cover some of the basic steps to starting and running your own business, including topics such as legal entity formation and identifying your business model. Esta clase se trata de los pasos iniciales de empezar y administrar su propio negocio, se incluye temas tal comoentidades legales y describer su modelo de negocio. “Intro to Business Finance/Introduccion a Las Finanzas del Negocio” will cover some of the basics of

Smoky Mountain News

July 27-August 2, 2016

I-40 work to cause traffic delays Work to complete a safety project in an area of I-40 near the North CarolinaTennessee border that in the past has been prone to rockslides will require a lane reduction in each direction for about three weeks, beginning Wednesday, July 27. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction for a one-mile stretch near exit seven (Cold Springs Creek Road) so crews can safely mill, pave and stripe the highway, as well as install new drainage and construct a new median barrier wall.

small business accounting and financial management. Topics such as bookkeeping options and understanding financial statements will be covered. En esta clase hablamos de los básicos de llevar la contabilidad en un negocio, miraremos maneras de mantener sus libros y entender los estados financieros.

“Business Marketing Essentials/ Los Básicos del Mercadeo del Negocio” will focus on some of the basics of marketing your small business, such as identifying and reaching your target market and establishing the right price. Esta sesión se trata del mercadeo de su negocio pequeño, hablaremos acerca de cómo reconocer y llegar a su mercado objetivo y como establecer el precio correcto. Visit sbc.haywood.edu or call 828.627.4512 Motorists should expect significant delays in the area, especially during times of heavy traffic, and plan accordingly. The prime hours to travel will be in the early morning. Because of the lane reductions, tractor trailers and other vehicles with a width greater than 14 feet will be required to take an alternate route for safety of all motorists passing through the area. Some permits for wider loads have been granted, allowing those vehicles to pass. That alternate route for wider vehicles and motorists who want to avoid the expected backups is taking I-26 West to Johnson City, Tenn., then following I-81 South until it re-connects with I-40 outside of Dandridge, Tenn.

It is a 55-mile route, but at interstate speed will take less than an hour, and would save time when there are significant backups at the construction site. The project is expected to be finished before Labor Day weekend. Drivers can check on the status of the traffic in that area by calling 511 and following the voice prompts, or by visiting the Traveler Services section of NCDOT.gov or following NCDOT on Twitter.

Summer Safety Bash is July 30 The New Generations Family Birthing Center at Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva — in partnership with Safe Kids Jackson County — will present the Summer Safety Bash 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, July 30, in the parking lot of Harris Women’s Care across the street from the hospital. The free event will include a bouncy house, hot car safety display, certified car seat installations, car seat checks and car seat giveaways, sunscreen safety tips, Zika virus information, and ambulance and fire truck tours. The pediatricians of Harris Pediatric Care, obstetricians/gynecologists of Harris Women’s Care, physicians and pediatrician of Swain Family Care, emergency medical technicians and paramedics with Harris EMS, and representatives from local law enforcement and area fire departments will be on hand to visit with children and families. Free lemonade, popsicles and other giveaways will be available throughout the event. The hospital will complete a $6 million renovation to the New Generations Family Birthing Center on the third floor of Harris Regional Hospital, home to nearly 600 deliveries each year. Information on community education classes and architectural drawings of the new space will be available at the Summer Bash event.

Pigeon Center receives $4,000 from WOW Pigeon Community Multicultural Development Center, a Haywood County nonprofit, has received a $4,000 donation from Women of Waynesville that will be used

Work starts on new bowling center

A new bowling entertainment center complex will open in late 2017 on the grounds of Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. A Tribal Council passed a resolution in February to build the $13 million Bowling Entertainment Center. The resolution, submitted by Principal Chief Patrick Lambert,J has the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indiansf responsible for half or roughly $6.5 million of the price tag with the TCGE (Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise) being responsible for the other half. w A groundbreaking ceremony for the complex was held July 19. “We’ve all waited a long time for this day,” said Chief Lambert. “Today is a very important day for our Tribe and our casino enterprise. Today, we break ground on a new facility — a new Bowling Center that will serve our people and our casino customers. This project has been a long time coming, and it will be delivered completely debt-free.” The 50,000-square-foot Center will consist of two floors. The first floor will contain 16 bowling lanes, a food and beverage outlet, and an arcade. The second floor will contain eight bowling lanes, a bar, and a potential food area.

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to provide student scholarships for the center’s summer enrichment program. For almost 15 years, the Pigeon Community Multicultural Development Center has offered a widespread variety of youth-based programs that are open to everyone in the community. There is not a qualifying or disqualifying application attached to the center or its services. The summer enrichment programs includes reading and math tutoring that has been built into the program with the intention of keeping the children on track in between school years. The students also enjoy activities such as field trips to Cherokee and cultural museums, cook outs, hiking, playing in the local creeks to swimming at the Rec Center and going to Carowinds. To find out more about the PCMDC, call 828.452.7232 and ask for Lin or Tausha Forney. www.womenofwaynesville.com.

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New beer to benefit conservation trust

Divorce help offered in Bryson City

Forum to discuss national conventions

“What are your impressions and takeaways from the Republican and Democratic national conventions?” will be the topic for

The Annual Picnic of the Swain County Genealogical and Historical Society will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 4 at Morgan Pavilion on Deep Creek Road. The society is providing barbecue and participants should bring a covered dish for the potluck meal. Anyone interested in participating in the preservation of local history and learning about genealogy is welcome to attend. The SCGHS is an active nonprofit organization with a mission of preserving local history and genealogy. Meetings are held the first Thursday of each month and usually include a presentation by an interesting speaker on a topic of local interest. Meetings are open to the public and there is no admission charge. Membership in the society is $25 per year.

in FoCUs

Observations from the Ground A symposium, art show and discussion on life in Cuba featuring three WNC residents who recently visited the island nation.

Christopher Holt Waynesville native, artist, teacher

Wyman Tannehill Waynesville native, actor, cinematographer, comedy festival organizer

FFA programs receive budget boost Future Farmer of America (FFA) programs in Haywood, Madison and Yancey counties will receive $12,000 each as part of the state budget signed by Gov. Pat McCrory. Money allocated to FFA programs may be used for a pilot program related to animal science and agricultural crop planting, including greenhouses and hydroponics. “Students who participate in FFA programs stand as role models in our community,” said Rep. Michelle Presnell, R-Burnsville. “I have the pleasure of meeting with them when they visit the General Assembly each year, and I am proud the budget we passed offers a boost to FFA programs in my district.” All high school FFA programs in counties Presnell represents were allocated funds through the Tobacco Trust Fund.

Jon Elliston WNC journalist who has studied the Cuban media

What’s life in Cuba like right now? Artist Christopher Holt traveled around the island and set up his easel, painting various scenes, meeting and talking to Cubans from all walks of life. Wyman Tannehill accompanied Holt, taking photos and video of the trip. Jon Elliston, who has been visiting Cuba for 20 years, surveyed how mass communication in Cuba has and hasn't changed amidst the recent landmark changes in CubanU.S. relations.

Aug. 4 · The Strand at 38 Main · Waynesville PRE-EVENT SOCIAL: 6:30 P.M. SYMPOSIUM: 7 P.M. Q&A: 7:30 P.M.

Smoky Mountain News

The First Baptist Church in Bryson City is offering an opportunity to find help and healing from divorce during a 13-week program held at 6 p.m. every Saturday starting Aug. 6 at the church. The program is led with an interesting and useful video seminar featuring topics such as “The Road to Healing - Finding Help;” “Facing My Anger;” Facing My Loneliness;” “KidCare” and “Moving On.” Professionally produced DVD seminars with interviews from “Divorce Care” participants, authors, ministers, therapists and authorities on healing from divorce, provide fodder for thoughtprovoking conversation. Visit www.divorcecare.org or call 828.488.2679.

Swain Genealogical Society to hold picnic

CUBA July 27-August 2, 2016

The Canada Fire Department in Jackson County is hosting a benefit for the Terry McCall family after the family of six lost everything in a house fire on June 28. The benefit will start at 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, at the Canada Fire Department, 149 Charley’s Creek Road, Tuckasegee. The fundraiser will include a hot dog supper, cakewalk, bluegrass singing with Jordon’s Crossroads, and silent auction/raffle, for a homemade quilt and a muzzle loader. Please bring a cake for the cakewalk. Terry McCall is the assistant chief of Canada Fire Department and all donations will go to his family. Donation can also be sent through a GoFundMe Account https://www.gofundme.com/2bsg6s4 or by mailing a donation to Canada Fire Dept. c/o Terry McCall, checks payable to Terry McCall, P.O. Box 58, Tuckasegee, NC 28783.

the Franklin Open Forum to be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 1, at the Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Pub, located at 58 Stewart Street, Franklin. Those interested in an open exchange of ideas (dialogue, not debate) are invited to attend. 828.371.1020.

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Firefighters hold benefit for local family

Mainspring Conservation Trust will benefit from a collaboration with Lazy Hiker Brewing Company to create Needmore Ale, which will be released at 5:30 p.m. on July 28 at the brewery. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the ale will go to the Franklinbased conservation organization. Lazy Hiker Brewing Company is located in downtown Franklin.

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Dakota Payne won second place, HCC Electrical student Andrew Shelton won third place, HCC Building Construction Technology student Damon McDaniels finished in third place, and HCC Building Construction Technology student Wes Sears came in fourth place. The event was held in Greensboro. SkillsUSA NC is the largest showcase of Career and Technical Education in North Carolina. This annual leadership and skills conference brings together more than 1,900 North Carolina high school and postsecondary students to compete in over 100 hands-on trade, technical, and leadership contests.

SCC accepting art and literary submissions Recent Southwestern Community College graduates surround William Brothers (third from left), dean of career technologies, between commencement ceremonies on May 10 at the Jackson Campus in Sylva. Brothers is co-chair of the college’s Quality Enhancement Plan committee, which is developing a new initiative titled PEAK that will be implemented next year. Donated photo

SCC launches ‘PEAK’ initiative PEAK, which stands for “Professional Expectations, Attendance and Knowledge,” is the name of Southwestern Community College’s new Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) — an essential element in the re-accreditation process through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The decision to focus on developing work-ready professionals was made after seeking and receiving significant feedback from regional employers. PEAK will be available for the first time in the spring semester of 2017 on a limited “pilot” basis in order for officials to get feedback and make any necessary modifications before full implementation begins in the fall 2017 semester. www.southwesterncc.edu/peak or 828.339.4264.

Wingate receives HCC alumni award Danny Wingate, a 1977 Business Administration graduate of Haywood Community College, recently received the HCC Outstanding Alumni Award recipient for 2016. Wingate is vice president of Haywood Builders Supply where he has worked for 44 years. After graduating from Pisgah High School, Wingate was drafted into the Army and served in Vietnam. When he returned to Haywood County, he married and moved to Waynesville. Wingate got a job at Haywood Builders Supply in the warehouse and yard making $1.65 an hour. He soon decided to take advantage of the GI Bill and started evening classes at HCC to learn the business aspect of the company.

SCC Auto Club presents car show Southwestern Community College’s Automotive Club will hold its annual car show in conjunction with the Mountain High

BBQ Festival on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 12-13, at the Wayne Proffitt Agricultural Center in Franklin. “The money we raise goes into scholarship funds and into our club,” said David Myers, coordinator of SCC’s automotive systems technology program. This year’s show will feature all years, makes and models. Vehicles will be separated into two categories: 1974 and older, and 1975 and newer. Top prize will get $350 while second place receives $150. Space fills up well in advance of the event, so call the Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce (828.524.3161 or 888.368.2328) or contact Myers at d_myers@southwesterncc.edu to reserve a space.

HCC students bring home four SkillsUSA awards Haywood Community College students recently competed in SkillsUSA NC where they brought home four awards. HCC Electrical Systems Technology student

Submissions are now being accepted for the 2017 edition of Milestone, the biennial art and literary review published by Southwestern Community College. Milestone is a publication that showcases the creative expressions of local writers and visual artists. All residents of Jackson, Macon, Swain counties and the Qualla Boundary, as well as SCC students and alumni, are eligible for submission. Literary submissions must be postmarked by Dec. 5 and sent to SCC Milestone: Attn. Toni Knott; 447 College Drive; Sylva, NC 28779 or via email to tknott@southwesterncc.edu. Submissions in visual art must be postmarked by the same date and sent to the same address: Attn. Bob Keeling, or via email to bkeeling@southwesterncc.edu. 828.339.4314 or 828.339.4325.

Walter and Betty James Scholarship launches Francis Cove United Methodist Church recently started the Walter and Betty James Memorial Scholarship at Haywood Community College. Both were members of the church and retirees of the college. Walter James was the first Dean of Students and Betty James was the secretary to the first two presidents of the college. The pair both started working at the college within two years of the formation of the school. “Having a scholarship set up in their names would have touched them both very deeply,” said Paula Bostic, James’ daughter. “Our family is very pleased that Mama and Daddy’s legacy of promoting education will live on through the Walter and Betty James Memorial Scholarship and we are grateful to Francis Cove UMC for setting it up.” 828.565.4170.

SCC receives 9/11 artifacts Two large segments of heavy, rusting metal arrived recently at Southwestern

Community College’s Public Safety Training Center in Franklin. Much more than an I-beam and a portion of subway track, they are artifacts from the worst act of terrorism in United States history. They used to lie below the World Trade Center twin towers in New York City and will soon serve as local memorials to American heroes of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Dowdle indicated he hopes to work with SCC students and possibly SCC’s program at the LBJ Job Corps in Franklin to finalize designs for the monuments. He also plans to collaborate with local leaders on the mostappropriate locations for placing the finished memorials. In the meantime, the artifacts will be stored in a secure location at the PSTC.

UP, UP AND AWAY Taleigh Verrault, a rising seventh-grader at Scotts Creek Elementary, launches her model rocket during Southwestern Community College’s Summer STEM Academy. Donated photo

Law enforcement professionals sharpen skills at SCC

Pressure Box is a part of continuing education training offered to regional law enforcement agencies at Southwestern Community College’s Jackson Campus. Though a series of drills, officers learn how to be prepared for a number of high-pressure situations. The recent weeklong training was conducted by Kirk Hensley, a N.C. state trooper who will oversee a similar program in September at SCC’s Public Safety Training Center in Franklin. Using Glock pistols outfitted with paintball pellets, officers also freshened up their skills and techniques with a variety of drills such as firing at bouncing tennis balls and other targets. www.southwesterncc.edu/pstc or call 828.306.7041.

Special Collections at Western Carolina University’s Hunter Library recently received a gift of a Cherokee language version of E.B. White’s classic children’s book Charlotte’s Web. The one-of-200 edition of Charlotte’s Web was translated into the Cherokee syllabary developed by Sequoyah by Myrtle Driver Johnson, a “Beloved Woman” of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. In turn, WCU presented the New Kituwah Academy, a Cherokee immersion school, with card games for learning Cherokee pronouns and a Cherokee language board game, created by graphic design students and produced by the university’s print shop. www.wcu.edu/hunter-library or 828.227.7485.

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WCU receives Cherokee language ‘Charlotte’s Web’

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Causby appointed to NCCAT Board of Trustees Cory S. Causby of Waynesville was appointed by Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger to the Board of Trustees of the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, a recognized national leader in professional development programming. Causby, a 17-year veteran of the human resources and payroll offices at Western Carolina University, is the university’s associate vice chancellor for human resources.

July 27-August 2, 2016

• Gabrianne Ivey and Purshotam Aruwani represented Macon County at the 2016 NC 4H Citizenship Focus in June. Over a three-day period, Gabrianne and Purshotam learned about North Carolina government, active citizenship and had the opportunity to see our state government in action.

ALSO:

• Haywood Community College recently signed an Articulation Agreement with the University of North Carolina at Greensboro providing a path for HCC Honors Program graduates to earn full university honors from UNC-G’s Lloyd International Honors College. For more information, call 828.627.4575. • Eleven current participants in Southwestern Community College’s Upward Bound program set a goal last year to apply for $1 million in scholarship funding. Many individuals reached their personal goals as the group collectively completed $1,286,172. The seniors attended high schools in Sylva, Franklin, Cherokee and Bryson City.

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Smoky Mountain News

• Heather Whitt, a Swain County High School senior and Southwestern Community College Upward Bound participant, has been awarded the Ronald A. Hammond Scholarship to attend the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. The full-tuition award totals about $182,000 across four years.

@SmokyMtnNews 15

Opinion

Smoky Mountain News

School closing lawsuit should move forward hope the lawsuit by Mark Melrose against the Haywood County School System has its day in court, and was gratified last week when a judge did not stop it from proceeding. Melrose — whose daughter was a student at Central Elementary School — has sued the school system over its decision to close the school. Judge Joe Crosswhite immediately snuffed the effort by Melrose to keep the school open through an injunction, but at this point the remainder of the suit is going forward. “ … we’ll be able to engage in disEditor covery to find out other details in this case, and eventually we’ll be able to present to the court the issue concerning the Open Meetings Law, the violation of board policy and whether they did the study correctly or not,” said Melrose after the initial hearing on the suit. The process the school board used in making this emotionally fraught decision is important. When government entities run by elected officials make these hard decisions, process is important. All of the discussions and documents — for the most part — should be part of the public record. And that’s my problem with Central’s closing. I won’t argue that it was a mistake to close the small school that had

Scott McLeod

I’ll be calling, and you might want to listen To the Editor: About those phone calls -— you know the ones I mean — an unknown person is calling, and it’s clearly a political call. Well, I’m one of those people! Let me tell you about my calls, why I call, and what they’re about. You might want to take my calls. I know that many of you say you’re sick of politics so just tune out “all things political.” You only think you tune them out. There is no escape from TV ads or stuff roaring through the ozone and coming to you via the internet. Some of that information — realized or not, true or not — sticks in some back corner of your brain. I’m a precinct chairperson and am usually calling simply to let you know about an event or meeting that you may not have heard about or noticed in the community calendar sections of all our local news papers. Sometimes both of our local major political parties spend expensive but worthwhile, dollars on printed ads, flyers or posters. You may not have seen any of these in the media or on our internet contact lists either, so we (helpfully and hopefully) phone you to invite your attendance. In the first words out of my mouth I’ll tell you who I am, that I’m local, I live near you, and why I’m calling. If you don’t hang up or otherwise dismiss me, I promise you my conversation will be short and to the point. Most of my calls are usually only to the people of my party. Closer to the election, I may call you to remind you of what our new North

a declining student population and was being under-utilized. School systems in this era of miserly financial support from the state legislature and a never-raise-property-taxes mentality locally must be judicious stewards of the money they get. They have a tough task in balancing budgets and allocating funding in a way that is best for students and staff. On the other hand, school leaders have a solemn obligation to parents and taxpayers. Central’s proposed closing was announced in January and the vote to shutter its doors came in February. School officials said there was a lot of background work prior to making those decisions, but there was no media coverage, no public dissemination of information and no citizen input into all that studying, analysis and discussion. All of that occurred very quietly. In defending the school board’s actions, its attorney Pat Smathers said at a school board meeting that “you don’t put something out formally that you are going to close a school unless it is something you have really got to do.” Last week David Teague, the father of a recent Haywood County Schools graduate, argued in a guest column (www.smokymountainnews.com/opinion/item/18073) for many of the same points being raised here. He made this point as to why he thought the lawsuit should move forward:

“The process by which school board committees, and the school board itself, evaluated their options is important for

Carolina laws require of you so your vote will count, I’ll call you about dates, times and places for early voting. Sometimes I may even be calling some of you who are registered as unaffiliated (aka, independent) voters. That said, let me remind Independents that you set yourselves up to hear from both Democrats and Republicans, so you might want to rethink your registration (there’s a deadline for changing that too). We may think we have a pretty good idea of which party you favor, but we’ll hedge our bets and call you just the same. Of course, if you really want to chat I’ll advocate for my party. That is entirely up to you. Unless I’m phone banking for a candidate (a whole other type call), my opening words are simply “Hi, I’m Shirl, and I’m your East Franklin precinct chairperson for the Democratic Party. I’m calling to let you know that we’re having an event” — a breakfast, a dinner, a BBQ, our annual precinct meeting, or a whole party gathering such as county convention or to meet a candidate. Just be nice! Listen, and say “thank you.” (I’ll bet my Republican counterpart agrees.) It’s important to learn and know, even if you think you know it all — indeed, that is something none of us can do. That said, I’ll be calling soon! Shirley Ches Franklin

Trumpeting fear to a gullible electorate To the Editor: After listening to Donald Trump’ s speech, I

the public to understand, and not only for the obvious reasons of relocating students and staff or controlling expenses. Decisions of this magnitude don’t just affect students and staff. They affect the regular activities of hundreds of other people and that could mean everything from where they stop for coffee or drop off their vehicles for repairs, to scheduling appointments or community activities around school events. Every part of the decision-making process suggests the public needs to be informed and engaged about the options under consideration before a vote is taken.”

And then there is the video of the January 2016 school board meeting that shows Superintendent Anne Garrett and school board members fretting that some would think Central’s closing was happening so they would have a location for a new central office. Statements from that video directly contradict public statements made a month later regarding the future use of Central Elementary School once it was closed. There are valid questions about the process used and the explanations from school officials. Sometimes lawsuits are frivolous and simply waste time and money, both precious resources for public officials. In this case, the opposite is true. We need some answers. (Scott McLeod can be reached at info@smokymountainnews.com.)

LOOKING FOR OPINIONS The Smoky Mountain News encourages readers to express their opinions through letters to the editor or guest columns. All viewpoints are welcome. Send to Scott McLeod at info@smokymountainnews.com., fax to 828.452.3585, or mail to PO Box 629, Waynesville, NC, 28786.

got the feeling that the earth was spinning out of its orbit and about to crash into the sun, and only Donald Trump could save us. According to Mr. Trump, crime is out of control, there is was a terrorist behind every building, Illegals are flooding across the border, and our very social fabric was coming apart. Only he, Donald Trump, has the secret plan to save us. This very emotional plea for nationalism, America First, is just what many unhappy citizens what to hear. Much of what he said has no basis in fact, but a fact-based appeal was never his intent. Don’t get me wrong, there are lots of problems in this country and we do live in a very dangerous world. But the picture he paints is false and the solutions to the problems we face involve more than just, “I am Donald Trump, trust me.” For example, in 2013 the violent crime rate was the lowest since 1970. About a third of that current crime is drug related. Where is the solution to the drug problem? It’s not “law and order” and more jails. We already incarcerate

more of our citizens than any other country. Obama said illegal “immigration is lower than it’s been in 40 years.” Politifact rated this statement as MOSTLY TRUE. The fact is, illegal immigration is at a very low rate. We do not need a wall with Mexico, we need a comprehensive immigration policy. I did not hear anything about that in the speech. The Middle East is a mess. The always simmering Sunni-Shiite civil war was reignited by our invasion of Iraq, and now Isis poses a threat worldwide. The greatest danger we face is homegrown ISIS followers seeking a violent suicide. Our best defense is the Muslim community. Every one of their leaders has pledged to cooperate in rooting out these terrorists. Yet Mr. Trump wants to ban all Muslims and turn that community into the enemy. This is not a solution. It is like pouring gasoline on the fire. Race relations feel like they are at a low ebb. But, in fact, we are far from the bad old days of the race riots of the 1960s. Still, many have never accepted the fact that Barack Obama is our President. That, together with the recent police shootings and murders of police officers, has put the country on edge. Mr. Trump has done nothing to calm this dangerous undercurrent of hate. In fact his actions have tended to only increase it. His call for “law and order” has sent the wrong message to both sides. This does not sound like a solution . Perhaps in the coming months Mr. Trump will propose real solutions the terrible state of affairs he sees. But, at the moment, it appears all he sees is a way to channel the anger of his followers into victory for himself. Louis Vitale Franklin

Chris Cox

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AMMONS DRIVE-IN RESTAURANT & DAIRY BAR 1451 Dellwwod Rd., Waynesville. 828.926.0734. Open 7 days a week 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Celebrating over 25 years. Enjoy world famous hot dogs as well as burgers, seafood, hushpuppies, hot wings and chicken. Be sure to save room for dessert. The cobbler, pie and cake selections are sure to satisfy any sweet tooth. APPLE ANDY'S RESTAURANT 3483 Soco Road, Maggie Valley located in Market Square. 828.944.0626. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Wednesday and Thursday. Serving the freshest homemade sandwiches, wraps, and entrees such as country fried steak and grilled flounder. Full salad bar and made from scratch sides like potato salad, pinto beans and macaroni and cheese. APPLE CREEK CAFE 111 N. Main St., Waynesville. 828.456.9888. Open 7 days a week. We are excited to be on Main St. serving lunch and dinner with a full bar. Our menu

includes items such as blackberry salmon, fettuccine alfredo, hand-cut steaks, great burgers, sandwiches, salads and more. Join us for live music every Friday and Saturday nights. Friday 6 to 9 p.m. live piano music. Saturday 6 to 9 p.m. live jazz music. 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; slowsimmered 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. BOGART’S 303 S. Main St., Waynesville. 828.452.1313. Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Carry out available. Located in downtown Waynesville, Bogart’s has been long-time noted for great steaks, soups, and salads. Casual family atmosphere in a rustic old-time setting with a menu noted for its practical value. Live Bluegrass/String Band music every Thursday. Walking distance of Waynesville’s unique shops and seasonal festival activities and within one mile of Waynesville Country Club. BOURBON BARREL BEEF & ALE 454 Hazelwood Ave., Waynesville, 828.452.9191. Lunch served 11:30 a.m. to

Welcome back. To 1932.

Come take a wagon ride with us, back to the beginnings of the Ranch. In celebration of our 83rd season, we’ll be serving up “Way Back When” dinners in an authentic re-creation of Mr. Tom o and Miss Judy’s first primitive fishing camp. Just call us for reservations, then come join us on July 29th for mountain trout and mountain music. And Cataloochee Ranch enjoy old-fashioned hospitality a mile high. 1 19 R anch D rive, M aggie Valley , NC 2875 1 | www.C ataloochee R anch.com | ( 828) 926-1401

Smoky Mountain News

get a wider and wider gap between the rich and the poor. And you get a shrinking middle class. Add a few wars to the picture — wars you cannot fund due to those tax cuts — and you have a recipe for disaster, which is what we had in 2008 during the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression. President Obama deserves credit for his role in the recovery, which has been painful and gradual. His presidency has had its share of flaws, but if he could run for a third term, I am convinced he would win in a landslide. Since he cannot, Americans have been forced to choose among a Whitman’s Sampler of “business as usual” candidates or outsiders who might once have been considered too extreme (in the case of Bernie Sanders) or too inexperienced or even cartoonish (in the case of Trump) to be taken seriously as anything more than a novelty. All we have to do to see the American electorate’s anger with politics as usual is to study the success of Trump and Sanders, and then contrast that with the woeful performance of Jeb Bush, who was once reckoned by some to be the most politically astute member of the Bush dynasty. At least some of Sanders’ success is surely a similar distaste for that other political dynasty, the Clintons. People liked Bill because he had an easy charm and he sold himself as that young upstart from Hope, Arkansas. He was folksy, but he was also a Rhodes Scholar. He seemed like a guy you could have a beer and a barbecue sandwich with, compassionate but also tough if he needed to be. That was the image he sold, and people bought it. Hillary has been a much tougher sell. Compared to Bill, she can be a little stiff. She is whip smart and tough, but she can also be defiant and tone deaf. Americans were more forgiving of Bill’s faults than they are of hers, fair or not. Many times, you get the sense that she is being judged more on the basis of her personality than her character. She may have prevailed to win the nomination, but the fact that a self-proclaimed “Democratic socialist” with such a slight legislative background got as far as he did against her should be enough to send shock waves through the party. I have no idea what is going to happen in this election. There is still a long way to go, and Americans are faced with a choice between two candidates that a great percentage of them cannot stand the sight of. Hopefully, the parties will reflect and learn something from all of this. Or Americans will. Or maybe we’ll all move to Canada. (Chris Cox is a writer and teacher who lives in Haywood County. jchriscox@live.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

July 27-August 2, 2016

n our way back from the coast on Saturday in bumper-to-bumper traffic just outside Charleston, I saw a billboard that not only made me laugh out loud, but also summed up this year’s election better than any political commentary I have heard or read. Some clever realtor put up a picture of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, with a banner that read, “Moving to Canada? We can help you sell Columnist your home.” It is funny because it taps into an essential truth — that this is a battle between two candidates who could scarcely be more feared or despised by millions of Americans — and in so doing, delivers the punch line in the same conversation taking place in households all across the country: If Hillary is elected, we’re moving to Canada. If Trump is elected, we’re moving to Canada. Trump is the P.T. Barnum of politics, a charlatan and a blowhard who has come along at just the right time to do what many people — and I admit that I am one of them — thought could not be done. He has won the nomination of the Republican Party without the support of the Fox News and without the support of rank-and-file Republican leaders and commentators, many of whom railed for months against him to no avail. Poor George Will wrote a number of scathing columns, blasting Trump and pleading with the party to come to its senses before it was too late. When it became too late, Will actually left the party. Welcome to the Twilight Zone of American politics in 2016. Trump does not have the support of the Republican political machine. Indeed, he has thumbed his nose at it, which would have been political suicide in previous elections. But this is not just any election. The immense popularity of Trump and Bernie Sanders reflects a profound dissatisfaction with status quo politics. Maybe the reason Trump can sneer at the Republican base is that millions of Americans have been voting for the “anointed” Republican candidates for years, and where has it gotten them? It is abundantly clear by now that trickle-down economics does not work. When you cut taxes for the wealthy, you don’t get more jobs for the middle class. You just get a much wealthier ruling class. When you break up unions and fight against even modest increases in the minimum wage, you

tasteTHEmountains opinion

If neither candidate suits you, well, we can help O

August 20th Call Joey’s for info

50th Anniversary Picnic for Past & Present Employees 4309 Soco Rd. Maggie Valley

(828) 926-0212

tasteTHEmountains

10% OFF for Folkmoot Performers *alcohol not included

Tuesdays: All you can eat chicken bites - $1199

Thursdays:

All you can eat ribs - $1599 895 Russ Ave. • Waynesville

828-452-5822

Sunday–Thursday 11 a.m.–10 p.m Friday & Saturday 11 a.m.–11 p.m.

Smoky Mountain News

July 27-August 2, 2016

355-15

BREAKING BREAD CAFÉ 6147 Hwy 276 S. Bethel (at the Mobil Gas Station) 828.648.3838 Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Chef owned and operated. Our salads are made in house using local seasonal vegetables. Fresh roasted ham, turkey and roast beef used in our hoagies. We hand make our own eggplant and chicken parmesan, pork meatballs and hamburgers. We use 1st quality fresh not preprepared products to make sure you get the best food for a reasonable price. We make vegetarian, gluten free and sugar free items. Call or go to Facebook (Breaking Bread Café NC) to find out what our specials are. BRYSON CITY CORK & BEAN A MOUNTAIN SOCIAL HOUSE 16 Everett St.,Bryson City. 828.488.1934. Open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday brunch 9 a.m. to 3p.m., Full Menu 3 to 9 p.m. Serving fresh and delicious weekday morning lite fare, lunch, dinner, and brunch. Freshly prepared menu offerings range from house-made soups & salads, lite fare & tapas, crepes, specialty sandwiches and burgers. Be sure not to miss the bold flavors and creative combinations that make up the daily Chef Supper Specials starting at 5pm every day. Followed by a tempting selection of desserts prepared daily by our chefs and other local bakers. Enjoy craft beers on tap, as well as our full bar and eclectic wine list. CATALOOCHEE RANCH 119 Ranch Dr., Maggie Valley. 828.926.1401. Family-style breakfast seven days a week, from 8 am to 9:30 am – with eggs, bacon, sausage, grits and oatmeal, fresh fruit, sometimes French toast or pancakes, and always all-you-can-eat. Lunch every day from 12:00 till 2 pm. Evening cookouts on the terrace on weekends and Wednesdays, featuring steaks, ribs, chicken, and pork chops, to name a few. Bountiful family-style dinners on Monday, Tuesday and

REWARDS PROGRAM!

Thursday, with entrees that include prime rib, baked ham and herb-baked chicken, complemented by seasonal vegetables, homemade breads, jellies and desserts. We also offer a fine selection of wine and beer. The evening social hour starts at 6 pm, and dinner is served starting at 7 pm. So join us for mile-high mountaintop dining with a spectacular view. 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 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.

6306 Pigeon Road Canton, NC

(828) 648-4546

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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. FILLING STATION DELI 145 Everett St., Bryson City, 828.488.1919. Open Monday through Wednesday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sundays (in October) 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Locals always know best, and this is one place they know well. From the highquality hot pressed sandwiches and the huge portions of hand-cut fries to the specialty frozen sandwiches and homemade Southern desserts, you will not leave this top-rated deli hungry. FRANKIE’S ITALIAN TRATTORIA 1037 Soco Rd. Maggie Valley. 828.926.6216 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Father and son team Frank and Louis Perrone cook up dinners steeped in Italian tradition. With recipies passed down from generations gone by, the Perrones have brought a bit of Italy to Maggie Valley. frankiestrattoria.com

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.

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.

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.

J. ARTHUR’S RESTAURANT AT MAGGIE VALLEY U.S. 19 in Maggie Valley. 828.926.1817. Open nightly for dinner at 4 p.m.; Friday through Sunday 12 to 4 p.m. for lunch. Daily luncheon special at $6.99. 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.

COUNTRY VITTLES: FAMILY STYLE RESTAURANT 3589 Soco Rd, Maggie Valley. 828.926.1820 Open Wednesday and Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; closed Monday and Tuesday. Family Style at Country Vittles is not a buffet. Instead our waitresses

JOEY'S PANCAKE HOUSE 4309 Soco Rd Maggie Valley. 828.926.0212. Open daily 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., closed Thursdays. Joey’s is a family style restaurant that has been serving breakfast to the locals and visitors of Western North Carolina since 1966. Featuring a large

Nutrition Facts

APPÉTIT Y’AL N L BO

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

MON-SAT: 7 A.M.-8 P.M. SUN: 8:30 A.M.-3 P.M. 18

2:30 p.m. Dinner nightly from 5 p.m. Closed on Sunday. We specialize in hand-cut, all natural steaks, fresh fish, and other classic American comfort foods that are made using only the finest local and sustainable ingredients available. We also feature a great selection of craft beers from local artisan brewers, and of course an extensive selection of small batch bourbons and whiskey. The Barrel is a friendly and casual neighborhood dining experience where our guests enjoy a great meal without breaking the bank.

Calories 0 % Daily Value * Tot al Fat 0g

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Real Local Families, Real Local Farms, Real Local Food

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JUKEBOX JUNCTION U.S. 276 and N.C. 110 intersection, Bethel. 828.648.4193. 7 a.m. to 9 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. MAD BATTER FOOD & FILM 617 W. Main Street Downtown Sylva. 828.586.3555. Open Monday through Wednesday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Handtossed pizza, steak sandwiches, wraps, salads and desserts. All made from scratch. Beer and wine. Free movies with showtimes at 6:30 and 9 p.m. with a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. Visit madbatterfoodandfilm.com for this week’s shows. MAGGIE VALLEY CLUB 1819 Country Club Dr., Maggie Valley. 828.926.1616. maggievalleyclub.com/dine. Open seasonally for lunch and dinner. Fine and casual fireside dining in welcoming atmosphere. Full bar. Reservations accepted.

NEWFOUND LODGE RESTAURANT 1303 Tsali Blvd, Cherokee (Located on 441 North at entrance to GSMNP). 828.497.4590. Open 7 a.m. daily. Established in 1946 and serving breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. Family style dining for adults and children. PAPERTOWN GRILL 153 Main St., Canton. 828.648.1455 Open 7 days a week 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Serving the local community with great, scratch-made country cooking. Breakfast is served all day. Daily specials including Monday meatloaf, chicken and dumplings on Thursdays and Friday fish.

RENDEZVOUS RESTAURANT AND BAR Maggie Valley Inn and Conference Center 828.926.0201 Open Monday-Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m and Sunday 7:30 a.m to 9 p.m. Full service restaurant serving steaks, prime rib, seafood and dinner specials. SAGEBRUSH STEAKHOUSE 1941 Champion Drive. Canton 828-6463750 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. SMOKEY SHADOWS LODGE 323 Smoky Shadows Lane, Maggie Valley 828.926.0001. Check Facebook page for hours, which vary. Call early when serving because restaurant fills up fast. Remember when families joined each other at the table for a delicious homemade meal and shared stories about their day? That time is now at Smokey Shadows. The menus are customizable for your special event. Group of eight or more can schedule their own dinner. SMOKY MOUNTAIN SUB SHOP 29 Miller Street Waynesville 828.456.3400. Open from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. A Waynesville tradition, the Smoky Mountain Sub Shop has been serving great food for over 20 years. Come in and enjoy the relaxed, casual atmosphere. Sub breads are baked fresh every morning in Waynesville. Using only the freshest ingredients in home-made soups, salads and sandwiches. Come in and see for yourself why Smoky Mountain Sub Shop was voted # 1 in Haywood County. Locally owned and operated.

BREAKFAST & DINNER DAILY SUNDAY LUNCH by reservation

Open for Breakfast MON.-SAT. 8 A.M. 3 E JACKSON ST. • SYLVA, NC

456.9498 • www.balsaminn.net

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Call us for all of your catering needs Come see us for A Taste of Scottland at theHistoric Farmers Market Located in the HART Parking Lot

(828) 452-7837 WaynesvilleCatering.com 355-17

MEDITERRANEAN

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SPEEDY’S PIZZA 285 Main Street, Sylva. 828.586.3800. Open seven days a week. Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday 3 p.m.-11 p.m., Sunday 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Family-owned for 30 years. Serving hand-tossed pizza made to order, pasta, subs, gourmet salads, calzones and seafood. Also serving excellent prime rib on Thursdays. Dine in or take out available. Located across from the Fire Station.

1863 S. Main Street • Waynesville 828.454.5002 Hwy. 19/23 Exit 98 LUNCH & DINNER TUES. - SUN.

www.pasqualesnc.com

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, quich-

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. VITO’S PIZZA 607 Highlands Rd., Franklin. 828.369.9890. Established here in in 1998. Come to Franklin and enjoy our laid back place, a place you can sit back, relax and enjoy our 62” HDTV. Our Pizza dough, sauce, meatballs, and sausage are all made from scratch by Vito.

LIVE MUSIC TUESDAY NIGHTS! 7-9 P.M. Upcoming Bands: August 9th & 30th - Ben Phan SAGEBRUSH OF CANTON 1941 Champion Dr. Canton

828-646-3750 Sun-Thur 11 AM - 10 PM Fri-Sat 11 AM - 11 PM

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PASQUALE’S 1863 South Main Street, Waynesville. Off exit 98, 828.454.5002. Open for lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Sunday. Classic Italian dishes, exceptional steaks and seafood (available in full and lighter sizes), thin crust pizza, homemade soups, salads hand tossed at your table. Fine wine and beer selection. Casual atmosphere, dine indoors, outside on the patio or at the bar. Reservations appreciated.

July 27-August 2, 2016

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.

es, and desserts. Wide selection of wine and beer. Outdoor and indoor dining.

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variety of tempting pancakes, golden waffles, country style cured ham and seasonal specials spiked with flavor, Joey's is sure to please all appetites. Join us for what has become a tradition in these parts, breakfast at Joey’s.

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

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

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Smoky Mountain News

‘It is silly not to hope, he thought…’

— Ernest Hemingway, “The Old Man and The Sea”

WNC artist visits Cuba in search of its political and cultural meaning in the 21st century

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER t’s about 855 miles between the quiet mountain town of Waynesville, North Carolina and the urban hustle and bustle of Havana, Cuba. And yet, when painter Christopher Holt opens up his portfolio one recent morning at Panacea Coffeehouse in the Frog Level district of Waynesville, that distance gets a lot shorter. One-by-one, Holt leafs through dozens of his watercolor and oil paintings, all of which depict the vibrant sounds, scents and sights of the foreign country. The island nation and its people flood his thoughts and words when speaking at length over his recent trip there. Born in Asheville and raised in Waynesville, Holt has traversed the globe, in search of not Christopher Holt only himself — as an artist and as a human being — but also in hopes of telling the story of mankind. It’s a visual tale, with brush and a blank canvas, which connects the dots of different people, landscapes, cultures, and ways of life. His travels have taken him to Cairo, Egypt, last year to paint the city and its history, and Tahrir Square, which was ground zero of the Egyptian Revolution in 2011 during the Arab Spring uprising in the Middle East. And next year, he’ll be heading to Jerusalem to paint a “Good Samaritan” fresco for the Order of St. John humanitarian aid effort in the war-torn country. But, this year — this past March — Holt jumped on an airplane in Miami and headed 228 miles over the Straits of Florida to Havana. Although the country itself has been off-limits for Americans since the United States government placed a trade and travel embargo on Cuba in 1962 (due to the country falling under communist reign with the revolution led by Fidel Castro and Che Guevara in 1959), the two nations are now beginning to thaw what are some of the last vestiges of Cold War relations. Amid the loosening of the embargos and recent visits from President Obama and The Rolling Stones, the third world country is poised to find itself at the political and economic table of the 21st century, especially in terms of global trade and cultural exchange. And at the center of this next chapter in the his-

“It’s so hard to capture everything, but the story in the paintings, in Cuba — it’s the people.” — Christopher Holt

tory of Cuba comes the endless curiosity and bond of friendship emerging between both sides of the American/Cuban relationship, with Holt having a front row seat on the interaction, one that is seen and felt through his works of art.

A street scene by Christopher Holt depicting a part of Old Havana. Top: The famous Floridita bar and restaurant in downtown Havana. Wyman Tannehill photo

Smoky Mountain News: You’ve done other trips similar to this, where you’re traveling and sketching a landscape and its people. Where did the interest in Cuba come about? Christopher Holt: Well, as it was kind of warming to the possibility of having the Americans having the ability to go, as soon as that started happening, I got interested in going as soon as possible. SMN: Were you familiar with the culture at all beforehand?

CH: Through the Cuban music and their art, and also Jon Lee Anderson’s biography “Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life.”

SMN: From my perspective, it must be one of those places that the landscape is just as colorful as the people and the culture? CH: It’s true. And the Cubans have a high regard for art. There is a lot of street painting. One of the things I ran into — which was right on the Paseo del Prado, the central walking street in the heart of Havana — was that they had free art classes every Saturday and Sunday. It’s free for the public. They set up artists of all sorts — painters, sculptors — and everyone is there making things. You sign up, pull up a chair, and create. Even during the beginning of

S EE CUBA, PAGE 23

An Artist’s Visit to Cuba

BY CHRISTOPHER HOLT S PECIAL TO SMN

When my plane touched down at Havana International Airport to loud applause from the passengers on board, I knew there was going to be something different about this trip.

This notion that we’re the one’s who are out to ruin the island is a peculiar one. As far as I can tell, we aren’t the only one’s participating in the capitalism that rules the planet, and it often seems to me that we are perhaps the most generous bunch as well. We are oft described as loud and obnoxious, but this too seems a bit unfair. I won’t start the rap sheet of global generalizations here as each of us lucky travelers of well-todo nations bring our own set of troubles to the table. McDonald’s didn’t open up all across the globe because no one was eating it, nor did American corporations succeed without a tax shelter here and a foreign investment there. Bottom line, don’t take the bait, and let those lovely English, Canadian, and French couples take a good look in the mirror. Visiting Cuba really is to take a trip back in time. Its former glory isn’t hard to imagine as you feast on the sights of Havana. Despite its decay and years of disrepair, its

grandeur is clearly evident. A 1957 Ford Convertible passes you by, music wafts down to the street from an open window, and an open bottle of rum is always close by. Yet, the struggle to make it is not even below the surface here. It is all around.

THROUGH THE EYES OF THE ARTIST I was lucky to meet a few artists on my journey that helped me to see the island with Cuban eyes. One thing you are sure to find here are new friends, as we are the Gods in the eyes of the Cubans. Many of them have friends or family here and they know us from our music and movies, and of course, our dreams. One of my friends, whose name I will withhold out of his own respect of and fear for his government, put it like this: “You can survive in Cuba. There aren’t many homeless people and even

though there are food shortages you won’t starve. But you will be hungry. Not only for food but also for the opportunity to make it on your own. The chance to take the future into your own hands and whether you succeed or not, at least you Americans are able to do it on your own.” He goes on to make these points a bit more clear, especially in the eyes of the firsttime traveler trying to see beyond the layers of fun and music, rum and cigars, to see the real Cuba. He says: Cuba is like a mother who brings you into the world, and then leaves you to survive on your own. You are a mute slave living in a quiet hell, and no matter what you do, there is only so far you can go before your endeavors are capped off by the government with no more opportunity to keep growing. My friend was quite unique is his willingness to engage in political conversation. Many don’t really like to talk about it at all, as the old risks are ever present in a society that is continuously reminded about the revolution. To be honest, in many ways it feels

Smoky Mountain News

The forbidden fruit of the Americas was opening its doors a little wider for its friends from the USA and I wanted to see it as soon as possible. As it turned out, I wasn’t alone. The week of my arrival, the Castro brothers were welcoming a few more notable guests: The Obamas and Rolling Stones — perhaps the truest sign of global warming. After a three-and-a-half-hour wait to collect my painting gear amidst the black-clad security guards as gristled as rock-n-roll roadies, I walked out into a crowd of teary-eyed Cubans welcoming another loved one home at last. It was a sight that could become more commonplace as the five-decade standoff between two neighbors comes to a close. Everywhere in Cuba one keeps hearing, “before it gets ruined by the Americans.” However, what I found was that perhaps the Cubans need us now more than ever. Food shortages, joblessness, and a lack of hope plague the big island. I just read an article about a boat of Cubans that made it to the Florida Keys that quoted one of the refugees saying, “What you have here is a nest of hope, what you have there is a nest of scorpions.”

July 27-August 2, 2016

You can get answers to that question and more first-hand information about the island nation during a symposium and art show about Cuba that will take place at 7 p.m. on Aug 4 at The Strand at 38 Main in downtown Waynesville. “Cuba in Focus; Observations from the Ground” will feature artist Christopher Holt, a Waynesville native living in Asheville; videographer and photographer Wyman Tannehill, also a Waynesville native now living and working in Asheville; and longtime Western North Carolina journalist Jon Elliston, who has visited Cuba regularly for the past 20 years. The trio was in Cuba in March of this year, the same month President Obama and The Rolling Stones made well-publicized visits to the island. Holt traveled around the island and set up his easel and painted various scenes, meeting and talking to Cubans from all walks of life. Tannehill, a filmmaker, accompanied Holt and took photos and video of the trip. Elliston, meanwhile, surveyed how mass communication in Cuba has and hasn’t changed amidst the recent landmark changes in Cuban-U.S. relations. The event will include a pre-event social beginning at 6:30 p.m. The 7 p.m. symposium will include a short presentation by each, followed by an informal question-and-answer session. There will be a showing and sale of some of Holt’s paintings from Cuba, and also a showing of Tannehill’s photos and videos. The symposium and art show are sponsored by The Haywood County Arts Council, The Strand Theater and The Smoky Mountain News.

arts & entertainment

Discussion to focus on Cuba

A painting by Christopher Holt of Cojimar, the town near Havana where Ernest Hemingway supposedly was inspired to write The Old Man and the Sea. Below: Christopher Holt in Havana. Wyman Tannehill photo

S EE ARTIST, PAGE 23 21

arts & entertainment

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ARTIST, CONTINUED FROM 21 as if the revolution just happened yesterday. Billboards and presidential posters pop up all over the country. I noticed documentaries in black and white on more than one occasion coming from one of the three channels of state supported television, eschewing the victories of Fidel and Che. There are also the members of the CDR or Committees for the Defense of the Revolution. Established in 1960, they are the eyes and ears of the revolution. There is a member of the CDR on every single block in Cuba. This is the long arm of the human rights violations that have been taking place on the island under the guise of Fidel’s revolution.

Wyman Tannehill photo

arts & entertainment

A depiction of the historic Havana skyline. Below: Christopher Holt talks with a Cuban woman while painting in downtown Havana.

CHANGE IS COMING

CUBA, CONTINUED FROM 21 the reign of the Castro brothers they put a lot of emphasis on the arts and the culture.

SMN: Did you have a plan of action before you arrived in Cuba? CH: I wanted to be in Havana and spend a good time there seeing what I could. And I really wanted to, and did, go to the Vuelta regions of the Pinar del Rio, which is the one of the great tobacco growing regions of the world. My grandparents and great-grandparents were tobacco farmers here in Haywood County. I had a desire to see that down there, and it takes place there today just like it was 50 years ago here. There’s a big ox pulling a

“I might be in one spot for three days, and the same people come by, they tell me about their lives, their street corner of the city that’s their home.” — Christopher Holt

plow and it’s all small farmers. There are some big plantations, but, for the most part, some of the world’s greatest tobacco is produced one small farm at a time. SMN: It’s like a whole new world right in front of you with a blank canvas to paint on. CH: That’s right. Exactly. That’s what traveling is all about. So, The Rolling Stones just came on (“Beast of Burden” plays overhead in the coffeehouse). The Stones came and played the free show in Cuba the week I arrived. And that was incredible. For me, in America, I’ve seen big concerts and I’ve seen The Stones in the States. But, for the Cubans to see this huge rock show, with the big

screens and the whole stage setup was amazing because they’d never seen something like that. Over a half-million people were at that show. And when “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” came on it was chillingly surreal — I thought, “This is Cuba.” SMN: So, when you set up and paint, what were you looking for, or were things finding you? CH: I came prepared. I have all my materials with me. And when traveling, you meet people. In the Vuelta, I told the Airbnb there that I was an artist coming to Cuba to paint.

S EE CUBA, PAGE 24

Smoky Mountain News

SMN: Did that put things in perspective for you, seeing as many Americans feel jaded towards the “American Dream” these days? CH: If you take a global perspective, you see that the “American Dream” is very much alive. It definitely has its pitfalls and terrible daily stories coming at you. But, whether you’re in Cairo or Havana or wherever, the daily struggle people go through in those countries far surpasses what most people go through in America. I’m not saying we don’t have our struggling class, because we sure do. People of the world are all kind of together, and then there are the plays and movements of the governments worldwide that are separate from what the struggle is — it doesn’t matter where you are.

July 27-August 2, 2016

SMN: What was it like being an artist walking around there? CH: Well, besides the regard given to artists, the Cubans also love Americans. For people living in Cuba, the “American Dream” is very much alive. For those Cubans that made it off the island, they’re succeeding far beyond what’s capable for a regular citizen on the island.

Yet some of the island is changing. An easy way to see it is when you come upon a Wi-Fi hotspot in Havana and see the crowds of young people huddled over an iPhone or an entire family Facetiming with a relative in Miami. Technology is connecting the island to its lost loved ones as well as to each other, albeit very slowly. I was lucky to be visiting Cuba at a time when I could cross paths with a friend and journalist, Jon Elliston of Asheville, who has managed to make 20 trips to Cuba over the past 15 years. His knowledge of the country and experience with the media gave me a perceptive advantage. His focus is on the people’s access to media and the Internet and how it is changing. A very interesting topic indeed, seeing as now, there is only about 5 percent of the population of 11 million using the Internet. So it seems that the real revolution going on in the country is not one desiring to take up arms and overthrow the government, but more of a rising desire to simply be connected. It’s a population more interested in making friends than losing itself in political ideologies that don’t feed, clothe, or culturally sustain them. The fact is that most Cubans are too poor to use the Internet. Can you even imagine a world where you don’t use the Internet? You have to use the internet to book your camping trips in the national park, let alone do business, pay bills, or god forbid, text someone! The nation’s average monthly salary is around $24, so spending $2 an hour to connect to an internet that is already filtered and extremely slow makes the idea of uploading a photo to your Facebook account seem pretty ludicrous. However, there are plenty of young people, lovers, and family members crowded around their phones in the country’s Wi-Fi hotspots connecting with each other. It’s our desire to connect that will ultimately bring real change to Cuba. The government’s desire to slowly spoon feed its citizens’ broadband access can only last so long now that the American cruise ships are making port in Havana. 23

arts & entertainment

Christopher Holt painting in Vinales, a tobacco-growing region of Cuba. Wyman Tannehill photo

“I end up spending two days on his farm, helping put up the tobacco. It was a full circle type of thing, just like being on a tobacco farm in Haywood County and sharing a drink of moonshine.” — Chris Holt

SMN: What do you think about the warming of relations between the United States and Cuba, and what that might mean to the fate of Cuban culture? CH: Well, for one, we have a lot to learn about each other. I don’t think Americans will ruin Cuba. With every first world country, you have to take some good with the bad. But, with our arrival and care and investment in that country, it’s needed. They need what we have. They need money. They need interest in their country. They need modern medicine. And we could use some of their culture, the idea of utilizing what we have without the need for excess. Their idea of community, their reliance upon their neighbors is a way of life.

Smoky Mountain News

July 27-August 2, 2016

CUBA, CONTINUED FROM 23 And they introduced me to a local artist and guide, who is also a photographer, named Francisco. This guy spoke a little bit of English. He had a great eye as a photographer, and had little resources to create his art. My friend Wyman (Tannehill, a Waynesville native, childhood friend of Holt, and photographer) was able to get him a digital camera. I mean, talk about someone moved to tears. I had already met Francisco, and messaged Wyman before he met me down in Cuba to bring a digital camera for him. Francisco was using an old Fuji camera. SMN: What was Francisco telling you about being an artist growing up in that space? CH: That everyday life is a struggle. It’s one thing to try and make it as a Cuban in general; it’s another thing to try and make it as a Cuban artist. One time the actor Ed Harris came to Cuba and Francisco met him. Ed ended up sending him some oil paint. And Francisco still has that tube of paint, unused, because it was so precious and hard to find. The access to materials and abilities to find things to use and to create is very difficult. I asked Francisco if we could get to a spot to overlook the valleys, and he said yes. We set off before sunrise, climbing this mountain in the jungle, in the dark, carrying all of my materials, sweating completely through my clothes. Got to the top as the sun rose. SMN: What’s going through your head right now during all of this? CH: That this is why I do what I do. Being an artist, and painting life, people when they see you appreciating their place, it doesn’t matter where you are, they respect that and they feel a bit of pride just that you are looking upon where they live with respect.

SMN: How much does the clock and “time” play into life down there? CH: Well, you’ll have people in the valleys 24 getting up at 4 a.m. and riding their horse

CH: Well, when I was in Cairo for five weeks last year, three years or so after the Arab Spring uprising in Tahrir Square, and there I was doing a watercolor in the square with not a soul around. It was almost like that revolution had been swept under the rug. What was interesting to me, after being in Cuba, was it is like the revolution happened yesterday, where the revolution was as present today as it was over 50 years ago when Fidel and Che rode into Havana. You walk down the streets in Havana, and you might have this nice hotel here, then next door is a family home, where the windows are falling apart, and there’s a black and white television playing a documentary about the revolution on one of the two channels in the country. The propaganda is all still there, and it was something that kept getting my attention — the isolated bubble of the country, the frozenness of where it still stands today.

across the valley to get to work. Then, you have Havana, which is live action all hours of the day. It never stops in the city. In places like Havana, you’re living room is not in your house, it’s on the street. There’s always something going on, always somebody coming and going. SMN: I like your style of painting, where not one line is wasted, and yet not one line is missing. And you’ve mentioned before of an Eastern influence on your work, where I look at your paintings and see this kind of like visual haiku aspect to the pieces. CH: You know, I really appreciate that kind of observation. I do have kind of a minimalist approach. Not a line wasted, that’s what we all strive for, in any form of art. Watercolors especially lend themselves to that kind of movement. With watercolor, I like that I can get things down quickly, I can capture a more synched moment in real time, where with oil painting, you have to spend hours or days dedicated to a spot. And when you’re traveling, you have to figure out the best way to use your time with what you want to create. My travel style has led me to do the watercolors, take the watercolors back to my studio, and work from there into larger oil paintings or other art forms.

SMN: What’s going on around you when you’re working on the streets? CH: The ones on the street, sometimes I have 10 kids leaning over my shoulders for hours, kids with popsicles, and like anywhere else, they like seeing the art going down, happening in front of them. I’m talking while I’m working. I’m getting to know them. I’ll give them a dollar to get a couple sodas because it’s so hot down there. I might be in one spot for three days, and the same people come by, they tell me about their lives, their street corner of the city that’s their home. SMN: What’s the scene of the first painting? CH: The first place was Cojimar, the fishing village where Ernest Hemingway was inspired to write “The Old Man and The Sea.” President Obama had just left Cuba, The Stones were just arriving, Havana was packed, so I headed to Cojimar. I went out and painted this Spanish fortress, and they had all these fisherman pulled together there. SMN: What was the last painting? CH: This watercolor of the Prado, looking straight down it to the capital building. SMN: Have you noticed any change in yourself?

SMN: It’s funny you say all of that, because you could easily apply that community love and preservation of culture to Western North Carolina and greater Southern Appalachia, where you have a place very isolated from the rest of the United States that came into modernity with the creation of the national park and the interstate. CH: Yes. Especially going to the tobacco country. I went to this farm and met this guy Nana. A total jokester. He ends up offering a drink of rum. I end up spending two days on his farm, helping put up the tobacco. It was a full circle type of thing, just like being on a tobacco farm in Haywood County and sharing a drink of moonshine.

SMN: What do you see in your paintings in hindsight, now that you’re back in the States? CH: It’s so hard to capture everything, but the story in the paintings, in Cuba — it’s the people. All of those people I met. Watching Nana meticulously going up and down the rows of the tobacco field, checking everything, where that piece of dirt is his entire life. Those experiences just make me want to tell the story of the world even more. And the story is, is that we’re all related here on Earth, we’re all one big family. In this country right now, in the United States, we can all use the reminder that we’re all brothers and sisters — love and friendship is truly the only way to get by in this world.

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Faith alone Ugandan group changes lives through performance BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER ust prior to the 2016 Folkmoot Wanderlust Gala, Folkmoot staff, sound technicians, photographers and performers scurried about behind the stage.

In the dark and speaking half a dozen different languages, they stroked smartphones, tablets and telephoto lenses while helping to tie off the ribbons and bows that seemed to adorn every costume. Those costumes, however, were of an

overwhelmingly familiar, overwhelmingly European flavor – Finland, France and Poland are part of Europe proper, while the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Peru all retain European influence from Spain. Even the cultures of the Chinese and Japanese are not so foreign to Americans, largely due to many years of economic intercourse. Likewise with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The thirty-plus Ugandans lounging in a small backstage dressing room were another matter entirely. “It is exciting! Some of them are seeing

Members of the Imani Milele group clowning around backstage (above). Imani Milele performs at the Folkmoot Wanderlust Gala July 21.

North Carolina’s International Festival

Cory Vaillancourt photos

some of the things you have for the first time,” said Sam Straxy, tour director of Imani Milele. The Sebastian, Florida-based choral group has been touring the United States since 2013, but the lineup is different each season. This year, as in years past, most of the 21 singers, dancers and percussionists average 10 years of age, but there are a few high school and even college students as well — many of whom haven’t been to the U.S. before. “They never would have imagined there is a machine that cleans dishes,” Straxy said. “They never would have imagined that there is a machine that does laundry, because it is so different for them. They look at the highways, and it’s a cobweb of all of these different things.” Much of America is probably beyond belief for the members of Imani Milele. The strife-torn Republic of Uganda is located in east-central Africa — a region itself awash in strife. Bordered by the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan and Tanzania, Uganda was a British protectorate from 1894 until a wave of decolonialization spread across Africa in the 1960s. Uganda’s first independent government lasted until 1966 when a constitutional coup replaced the king with the prime minister, who himself was deposed by Idi Amin in 1971; Amin spent the next 8 years establishing a legacy as one of history’s most brutal dictators. The post-Amin era saw similar instability, as well as the rise of another of history’s greatest criminals — Joseph Kony, whose Lord’s Resistance Army has been accused of heinous war crimes, including the utilization of child soldiers, child sex trafficking, the death of 100,000 non-combatants and the displacement of almost 2 million people. LRA activity has ebbed in recent years, but Uganda continues to find itself struggling to emerge from more than a century of foreign domination and civil unrest. The country ranks 164th out of 166 on the 2014 Human Development Index, and despite slashing poverty in half over the last 25 years — it was 56 percent — much of the population still lives on less than $3 a day, especially in rural areas. Children are often the most severely affected by poverty; blameless and helpless, they suffer consequences they don’t understand for reasons they can’t comprehend, leaving them little to subsist on but faith alone. “Imani, which is our name, it’s a Swahili word which means ‘believe,’” Straxy said. “We’re a non-profit organization that’s based out of Uganda that’s taking care of over 3,000 orphaned and mistreated children. We rescue, educate and develop them. The choir is the promotion arm of that message.” Imani Milele Children Inc. traces its roots to 1989, when founder Rev. Moses Ssemanda Mbuga rescued three orphans from a suburb of the capital Kampala. Mbuga is the son of the late Rev. Ezekiel Mbuga, a religious activist who was jailed during the Amin

Schedule of Events ■ 2 p.m. Blue Ridge Community College, Flat Rock/Hendersonville. All groups. Tickets $15.75 to $31. ■ 7 p.m. Hazel Robinson Amphitheater, Asheville, Montford Neighborhood. Five groups. Tickets $5 to $16.

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Thursday, July 28 ■ 5 p.m. Parade, Franklin. Free. ■ 7 p.m. Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, Franklin. All groups. Adult seating $31-$21.

Friday, July 29 ■ 4 p.m. Folkmoot Promenade, Pack Park Place, Asheville. All groups. Free. ■ 7 p.m. Diana Wortham Theater, Asheville. All groups. Tickets $16.05 to $33.17.

Saturday, July 30

■ 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. International Festival Day, Main Street, Waynesville. All groups. Free event. ■ 9 p.m. International Dance Party, The Orange Peel, Asheville. All groups. Ages 16 and over $15.

Sunday, July 31 ■ 7 p.m. Candlelight Closing, Stuart Auditorium, Lake Junaluska. All groups. Adult seating: $30-$20; students and children are 50 percent off adult tickets.

Find more information at www.folkmootusa.org.

“So Morris comes in the program, he grows up, we support him, we bring him on tour. He had finished high school, he was getting ready to join college. He was here [in the U.S.] on tour in 2014, and we traveled all over. As we do performances in areas, we also try to find people who can counsel them through education,” said Straxy. While performing in the Dallas area, one of those counsellors — a pilot with United Airlines — took a liking to Morris and decided to help him attend college in the U.S. “So we returned to Uganda and said, ‘What does Morris want to study?’ He wants to pursue a degree in engineering,” Straxy said. “So we were eventually able to bring Morris to the United States because that family wanted to bring him to a college in Dallas.” Straxy recently caught up with Morris. “So the neat thing, the success here, is that at the beginning of this tour I was able to fly to Dallas-Fort Worth and meet with Morris’ family as well as Morris, and they gave me a report that ever since he joined college he has never had anything except A’s. Not even a B-plus! So that’s really wonderful.” Wonderful, and believable. “You look at these children and their circumstance and you think they don’t have really a future,” said Straxy. “They really do.” Imani Milele will continue to perform at select Folkmoot 2016 events through the end of the schedule; the current U.S. tour runs through November. For more information on the group, its remaining Folkmoot events, or the balance of its tour schedule, visit www.imanimilele.com.

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regime, which was known for the imprisonment, torture and execution of Christians. Rev. Ezekiel Mbuga miraculously survived persecution only to die in a car accident in 1984; since then his son has tried to carry on his vision, installing water wells and constructing classrooms in underprivileged areas while continuing to give Ugandan children a chance at a real future. “They come from all kinds of abuse. Some have been abandoned by their parents, and others have come from situations where they were mistreated, dropped on the streets, beaten by relatives after the death of their parents — being mistreated, abused,” said Straxy. “So we go in to the communities. We have eight locations in Uganda where we have schools and bring in these children. We also have a home, a children’s home. We house them, feed, them, counsel them, guide them.” Over the years, there have been success stories for Mbuga’s organization; indeed, the four college students performing in the group this year have been in the program ever since they were 6, 7, 11 and 13 years old. But one particular boy — named Morris — sticks out in Straxy’s mind as a shining example of the work Imani Milele performs. Straxy said that Morris’ mother separated from his alcoholic father when Morris was very young; they lived next door to prostitutes in what was a drug-infested community where his drunken father would often return to beat both mother and child. Interestingly, it was the neighbors who brought Morris to Imani’s attention. He’s been in the program since he was 7.

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FINLAND: They are so different from our culture, so it’s nice to see what other countries and cultures do.

— Vilma Valiketo (left), KimuranttiKirjavat, on the diversity of this year’s Folkmoot performers.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: It’s not the first time in the United States. I’ve come many times, with my family, and another [dance company] who I came with the first time. But I like it. Now I’m looking a little, because I just came yesterday. It’s very beautiful. It’s very nice — the people are very nice, everybody’s happy.

North Carolina’s International Festival

— Monica Vargas, M & K Dance Studio, on visiting the United States.

PHOTOS BY CORY VAILLANCOURT

EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS: Some people might not be aware if they’re not from the area that there are indigenous people here in this land. I think it’s important for us to remind people that we are still here, and not only are we still here, we still have our culture, we still have our language, we still have our dances and songs, we still practice our ceremonies. We’re still who we’ve always been.

It’s really great — there’s so many countries here and I have seen so much different performances from different countries and it’s been so awesome.

— Sanni Kauppinen (right), KimuranttiKirjavat, on watching other groups at Folkmoot.

— Mike Crowe, Tsa-la-Gi Touring Program Dancers, on the preservation of culture.

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FRANCE: It’s a very big country. Very beautiful. Lot of parts, lot of difference — it’s amazing. My first time was in California. It was like a dream. It’s the first time of this group in USA and it’s a very good fit for this group, and great for every dancer, performer and musician in the group. — Adrien Boyreau, Lo Gerbo Baudo, on traveling across the United States.

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POLAND: We really like the South of the U.S. We were up North, I don’t say it’s worse — it’s different. We were in New York, and Washington. We really like it here — it kind of feels as home. The hospitality of people around here is great. We were surprised at the welcome. There is a lot of stereotypes about Americans you hear in Europe, and the last thing I expected was a sincere, warm, outgoing attitude. It’s very very friendly. The people here want to make us feel good.

PERU: We travel to different countries. It’s our fifth festival this year, already two in France. We like a lot of the people, so friendly. The people is really friendly, the place is really beautiful. We think you have a different city not like other festivals and different in this part of the country, and we love it so much. — Maggie Ormeno (left) with Jofre Cardenis, Multicolor Espectaculos, on North Carolina.

— Phillip Christopher (above, left) Song and Dance Ensemble, Warsaw University of Technology, on the American South.

We have everything really, here at the festival that we want. We have a time to rest, we have a lot of food, many kinds of food. It’s just like a vacation, you know’? — Anya Christopher (above, right) Song and Dance Ensemble, Warsaw University of Technology, on how she’s enjoying the festival.

— Norma Silva (right), Ballet Folklorico South Texas College, on the international nature of Folkmoot.

JAPAN: I have never seen this in Japan before, like this. Everything is huge, compared to Japan. — Tatsuya Maruyama, Hibiki Rengo-kai, on his first time in the United States.

I’m looking forward to getting to know a lot of the different cultures more, getting to interact with a lot more people, a lot more people around here. Everybody’s been very kind and we’re super excited to come back eventually and give a full performance. — Robert Barrera (left), Ballet Folklorico South Texas College, on staying in Waynesville.

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MEXICO: It’s been pretty amazing. It’s a totally different experience. This is the first one we have done that’s international. We’re getting to know a lot of other cultures, and new friends.

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Sam Love Queen and the values of Folkmoot BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER n May, the auditorium in the Folkmoot Friendship Center was dedicated to a man instrumental in establishing Waynesville and its environs as one of the most important centers of folk culture in the nation. Aside from his work as a square dancer and square dance caller, as well as his repu-

King George’s visit to the city named after England’s most loathed rebel was given the usual fanfare afforded a foreign dignitary, but there was serious business at hand given Adolph Hitler’s increasingly alarming actions in Europe. Less than three weeks earlier, he’d signed the “Pact of Steel” with Mussolini’s fascist Italy and would go on to sign a non-aggression pact with Stalin’s Soviet Union August 23.

in the promotion and preservation of contemporary American folk culture of the time. Rather than invite an orchestra or opera — both of which hold distinctly European roots — to perform, and perhaps as a demonstration to the king and queen of how American culture had held true to, but developed independently of, its ancestral British source, Eleanor Roosevelt tapped Charlie Seeger, an American musicologist

North Carolina’s International Festival

Soco Gap Dancers. Square Dance History Project

tation for being “the dancing-est man in all the land,” the story of how that man came to be so honored is today the stuff of legend. On the morning of Thursday June 8, 1939, the world stood at the brink of war as President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt stood on a train platform, waiting to meet a queen and a king. Haywood County Native Sam Love Queen, the “King of the Square Dance,” was on his way to the White House. The Roosevelts would indeed meet Queen, but they were actually waiting that morning at the beautiful Daniel Burnhamdesigned Union Station in Washington, D.C., for a different queen and king. Shortly after 10:30 a.m. the first reigning British monarch to set foot on American soil — King George VI — stepped off a train with his wife, Queen Elizabeth. By noon they had been shown to their rooms at the White House. Thirty minutes later they were received by diplomats in the East Room. Around 2 p.m., they joined the Prime Minister of Canada, William L. Mackenzie King, for lunch. An hour later, the President took the king and queen on a sightseeing tour by car, and then to a garden party at the British Embassy.

Two days after that, Great Britain signed a mutual assistance treaty with Poland, which was invaded by Germany eight days after that, marking the beginning of a sixyear conflagration known as World War II that would leave more than 70 million dead. But on that harried, hectic afternoon in June, Hitler was already known to be eyeing Poland. Thus King George had the unenviable task of courting the support of Roosevelt’s depression-plagued America, where resentment over getting tangled up in Britain’s World War I effort still lingered and the armed forces were but an outdated skeleton crew. As the afternoon drew to a close, Roosevelt — in no great rush to join another distant, brutal European scrum — went swimming. He rejoined the king and queen in the State Dining Room at 8 p.m. as dinner for 86 was served. At 10, the entertainment for the evening began. According to White House Records, 325 people were invited to the “Musicale,” and 324 attended; whoever missed that event missed out on a chance to see not only the leaders of powerful nations, but also leaders

(and father of legendary folk singer Pete Seeger) to organize the event. Another prominent American musicologist, Alan Lomax, was also present, although in a slightly different capacity than that for which he is best known by audiophiles today. From 1937 to 1942, Lomax served as Assistant in Charge of the Archive of Folk Song of the Library of Congress, during which time he traveled across the country with a tape recorder gathering oral histories focusing on authentic folk culture. In the process, he made precious and irreplaceable recordings of Woody Guthrie, Jelly Roll Morton, and McKinley Morganfield — better known as Muddy Waters — before most people had even heard of them. That night, Lomax played the banjo and sang, performing the cowboy ballads “Whoopee, Ti Yi Yo, Get Along, Little Dogies” and “The Old Chisholm Trail,” just after the North Carolina Spiritual Singers performed Nell Hunter’s arrangements of three old Negro spirituals — “De Ol’ Ark’s A Moverin,” “Wade in the Water” and “I Don’t Feel Noways Tired.” The end of the evening was Sam Love Queen’s time to shine. Queen’s Soco Gap Square Dance Team — by then, nationally

renowned — demonstrated “dances handed down through generations” by “rural people from the mountains of Western North Carolina, near Asheville, most of whom live on their own farms where they raise fruit, grow stock and do diversified farming.” Queen’s team performed such dances as the Wagon Wheel, the Ocean Wave, the King’s Highway, Dive and Shoot the Owl, and, fittingly, the London Bridge. In a 1981 interview, Lomax recalled that the king and queen were “right up close to the edge of the stage. I don’t think I was ever more frightened in my whole life. Roosevelt was on the front row with his head cocked over, smiling and swinging in time to the music,” he said. “Oh, yes, he loved that concert, he was having a ball.” Legend has it that Queen Elizabeth — mother of England’s current Queen Elizabeth — remarked that the Soco Gap Square Dancers’ performance reminded her of a dance from Wales, called clogging. This is, supposedly, how the dance got its name. Roosevelt has always been known as a cultured president, especially for his time, and the fact that he’d chosen an integrated group of performers — Nell Hunter was African American, as were the Works Progress Administration-backed North Carolina Spiritual Singers — further demonstrated to the king and queen that American diversity is an asset, not a liability. Sam Love Queen had also learned many of his dances from Bob Love, an African-American blacksmith from Waynesville. Around midnight the entertainment ended, but the king and queen’s visit continued, culminating in what is known as the “hot dog summit” three days later. Roosevelt served the king and queen hot dogs in Hyde Park, New York, much to the horror of his more “civilized” advisors. As they all discussed the ominous situation in Europe, a turning point in international relations was then and there reached — the luncheon prompted Roosevelt to begin advocating to Congress on behalf of Great Britain, even though the queen ate her hot dog with a fork and knife. And although Sam Love Queen didn’t have much to do with the rest of their visit, his presence as an ambassador of Maggie Valley, of Haywood County, of North Carolina and of the United States brought him, for one night, to center stage at an important global summit where Americans demonstrated both their past and their present while its leaders demonstrated their unwillingness to live in a future where the values of Folkmoot — peace, love and international friendship — could be infringed upon by a Nazi regime based on warmongering, racial superiority and religious extremism. Important information in this story was garnered from the file “Soco Gap Dancers at the White House,” from the Square Dance History Project, accessed July 25, 2016, http://squaredancehistory.org/items/show/1087.

The Tip of the Iceberg BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER fter talking with staff, volunteers and last year’s groups, Folkmoot Executive Director Angie Schwab decided that this year, she wanted to give performers more of a chance to experience contemporary American culture. The venue she selected for the event is Asheville’s Orange Peel, and the multidisciplinary, multicultural, multitalented man she picked for the job is Oso Rey. Rey grew up well east of L.A., but despite the name, he isn’t Hispanic. “I grew up in Southern California, so I’m

Join the party The Folkmoot 2016 International Dance Party takes place at 9 p.m. on Sat., July 30 at the Orange Peel, 101 Biltmore St., Asheville. The event is open to those 16 and over; tickets are $15. For more information visit www.orangepeel.net.

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North Carolina’s International Festival

professor. “My wife and I had a bar in Southern California that we were running, and it just felt like it wasn’t the best spot to raise a 1year-old. So we visited Asheville for a week in May 2006,” he said, “and by September we were here.” Over the past four years, Rey has gotten even deeper into the music scene, concentrating on electronic production, which led him to start DJing. But Rey — an artist at heart, whatever the medium — also mutated his sculpture background into graphic design, and, as of late, watercolors. Consequently, the poster for the International Dance Party is one of his original watercolors, based on what has become the unofficial theme for this year’s festival. “Angie Schwab, the director, she and I had a lot of conversations over the past Artist/DJ Oso Rey’s watercolor poster art. Facebook photo half year about the event, and that it’s Hispanic once removed,” laughed Bear the first of its kind for Folkmoot,” said Rey. King, better known by his nom-de-guerre “The image of the iceberg was a big one; Oso Rey, which, in Spanish, means “Bear with culture, we only see the tip of the iceKing.” berg, whereas it’s so much deeper underRey has spent more than 25 years perneath the water.” forming in bands, but moved to Asheville in The night of the event, Rey’s work — 2006 after being tipped off to its vibrant art including the event poster — will be on disand music scene by his former sculpture play at Pulp, the Orange Peel’s downstairs

nod here and there, it was freaking me out — so I said, ‘I just need to find the commonality.’” That commonality is a globally known third-world superstar with African, European, Spanish, and Motown influences who was so visionary and so far ahead of his time that he had to create his own style of music — known now as “Reggae” — just to express himself. “The one good place to start,” said Rey, “is Bob Marley. I think of international superstars that touch so many different genres and spread peace and the idea of unity, he’s the center point. If you had to choose one musician that also puts out a message in the vibe of what a Folkmoot dance party should be, in my opinion, it would be Bob Marley.” Marley was born the son of a SyrianJewish Englishman and an Afro-Jamaican mother. He grew up listening to Jamaican country music, melded it with American R&B, and tossed all of that on top of a raggedy, slowed-down facsimile of British Ska. “There’s a lot of that influence, a lot of different styles of music from the 60s into the 70s,” Rey said. “That’s the kinda groove, where I’m mostly coming from.” Rey hopes the international audience will appreciate the selections he’s made, and thinks everyone in the diverse audience will find something they’re familiar with — and something they’re not. “Everyone’s touched by rhythm and sound,” he said. “Everyone.”

FolkmootUSA

Folkmoot dance party at Asheville’s Orange Peel gives a peek below the cultural waterline

bar/gallery space. “It’s watercolors, but a lot of it, I have it replicated onto wood, and directly onto metal. So any time you’d have negative space like the white of the watercolor paper, now you’ve got wood grain, or you’re going to see the reflectiveness of the aluminum, whatever the material is. It’s kinda fun, because it’s a whole different thing,” he said. Another “whole different thing” Rey’s put together is his performance set for the event; utilizing electronic production tools, he’s assembled a special selection of music especially crafted to give listeners a peek below the cultural waterline. “When you’re listening to a ‘song,’ there might be three different tracks playing, a drum kit from somewhere else, a melody from another song, a vocal hook from a different song, and all of a sudden there might be eight, nine, layers happening to create one thing, which is wild,” Rey said. So how, exactly, does an American from Southern California put together an evening of music designed to satisfy Europeans, South Americans, Asians, Africans, Native Americans and native Ashevillians? “When I got around to focusing on the event, I went down the rabbit hole into pop music in China, pop music in Finland, all that stuff,” he said. “There’s some really trippy rabbit holes you can go down, but I basically just wanted to find some common denominators, and more than anything it’s in the rhythms. So instead of going for specifics and giving each country a little

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July 21-31, 2016

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brought us together on a hot summer night, in some backwoods field or dive bar around the corner. And they were also a security blanket for those of us who left the North Country to seek our fortune, their records finding their way into our stereos as we were thousands of miles from home, but the distance and space between home and far away was erased within the lyrics and guitar chords. Living in Western North Carolina these days, I put on The Hip every-so-often, probably more often than I actually realize. All those faces and places that are familiar to me, way back there in Upstate New York — those old lovers and long gone family members, those lifelong friends and unforgettable characters — they appear across my field-of-vision when I put on “Phantom Power” — the yellow record that held the key to the secrets of me, the “where to from here?” question that always seems to emerge underneath a silent twilight moon as I look up into the sky. With The Hip embarking on this bittersweet tour, I don’t look at it with sadness, but more so with an attitude of gratitude and love — a victory lap by a band that will forever hold a special place within the soundtrack of my life, of all our lives, as we all push a little further on down the road. Life is beautiful, grasp for it, y’all.

July 27-August 2, 2016

I noticed it two rows behind me. Sitting at the cold, hard tables of my eighth-grade science class in the fall of 1998, I “An Appalachian Evening,” a weekly thwarted away my boredom by bluegrass/Americana summer concert series, gazing around the room, somewill return with Balsam Range at 7:30 p.m. times at the clock slowly ticking Saturday, July 30, at the Stecoah Valley Cultural away on the wall, sometimes at Arts Center in Robbinsville. the cute girl at the next table I’d The production of the cult classic “The Rocky hope to someday kiss at a midHorror Picture Show” will hit the stage at 8 p.m. dle school dance. July 29-Aug. 1 at the Smoky Mountain Turning around to grab Community Theatre in Bryson City. something from my backpack, I noticed it. Two rows back, this The “Concerts on the Creek” series will host bright yellow album cover. The The Darren Nicholson Band owner of the record was my (Americana/bluegrass) at 7 p.m. Friday, friend Jesse, quite possibly the July 29, at the Bridge Park Pavilion in Sylva. only popular kid in my grade that ever gave me the time of day. The NetWest program of the North Carolina Jesse loved music, and we shared Writers Network will host an open mic night at a mutual bond, a melodic kin7 p.m. Friday, July 29, at City Lights Bookstore ship, over the usual bands and in Sylva. musicians that teenagers first The Frog Level Harmonic Dixieland Band will come across — Jimi Hendrix, perform during the annual Parish Fair will be The Rolling Stones, Bob Marley. held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 30, And as the bell rang and class at the Grace Church in the Mountains in was dismissed, I approached Waynesville. Jesse’s table. I inquired about the yellow album. Department Store, tucked within the record “‘Phantom Power’ by The Tragically section between TLC and UB40. Back in sciHip,” he said. ence class, Jesse and I would compare notes “Who?” I replied. “You don’t know The Hip?” he shot back. about the album, about the legendary Canadian band, and how Gord and Co. were He put the CD into his handheld player (with 15-second skip protection), placing the such a unique and singular sound — nobody sounded like The Hip, and nobody ever will. headphones over my ears. Immediately, the Amid the recent news of Gord being diagloud thump of a kick drum and catchy rock nosed with terminal brain cancer, and the guitar riff echoed throughout my body. band embarking on (what some might say is) Soon, the unmistakable voice of Gord a farewell tour this summer, my thoughts Downie roared ahead of the instruments, began to drift to the power of The Hip, and leading the charge of opening track “Poets.” how they will forever be linked to the musical I was sold. A few days later, I tracked fabric of my native North Country. down “Phantom Power” at the nearby Ames

Give me a rollicking Saturday night in the North Country, and I’ll give you someone throwing a dollar in the jukebox and requesting “Wheat Kings” or “Bobcaygeon” at last call.

PICK

arts & entertainment

This must be the place

For my 14th birthday (Feb. 5, 1999), my mother drove Jesse and I to see The Hip right over the border at the Molson Centre in Montreal. Immersed in an arena-sized cloud of weed smoke, Jesse and I somehow were able to buy a couple Molson Canadians. We saluted the beers high in the air, to Gord and Co. onstage, to my birthday, and to the unknowns that lay ahead in the impending minefield that would soon be high school. As I got older, as we all got older, what remained in the background was always The Hip. Give me a rollicking Saturday night in the North Country, and I’ll give you someone throwing a dollar in the jukebox and requesting “Wheat Kings” or “Bobcaygeon” at last call, or a local cover band of your old friends blasting through yet another glorious “New Orleans Is Sinking.” The Hip have always been there for us, which makes it that much harder to think of them not being around, physically and melodically. The Hip was (and is) “our band,” where their songs spoke of the cold, unforgiving winters we all take pride in facing and surviving every year. Their tunes

*expires Aug. 31, 2016

461 MOODY FARM ROAD 828.944.0288 MAGGIEVALLEYWELLNESS.COM

On the beat arts & entertainment

Lasher to headline Hillbilly Jam

‘An Appalachian Evening’ welcomes Balsam Range Celebrating its 17th season, “An Appalachian Evening,” a weekly bluegrass/Americana summer concert series, will return with Balsam Range at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 30, at the Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center in Robbinsville. The 2016 series will also include: Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper (Aug. 6), The Walking Roots Band (Aug. 13), The Jeff Little Trio (Aug. 20) and Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen (Aug. 27). For more information or to purchase tickets, click on www.stecoahvalleycenter.com or 828.479.3364.

July 27-August 2, 2016

‘Concerts on the Creek’ goes Americana The 7th annual “Concerts on the Creek” series will host The Darren Nicholson Band (Americana/bluegrass) at 7 p.m. Friday, July 29, at the Bridge Park Pavilion in Sylva. Other shows are as follows: Buchanan Boys (rock) Aug. 5, Ol’ Dirty Bathtub

• Andrews Brewing Company will host Troy Underwood (Americana) 6 p.m. July 29 and Porch 40 (funk/rock) 7 p.m. July 30. All shows are free. www.andrewsbrewing.com.

Smoky Mountain News

• Apple Creek Café (Waynesville) will host an evening of piano music on Fridays and jazz on Saturdays. Both events are free and run from 6 to 9 p.m. 828.456.9888 or www.applecreekcafe.com. • BearWaters Brewing Company (Waynesville) will have live music and Doc Brown BBQ at 6 p.m. July 28 and Aug. 4. 828.246.0602 or www.bwbrewing.com. • The Bryson City Train Depot concert series will host Liz & AJ Nance (Americana/folk) July 30 and an artist to be announced on Aug. 6. All shows are free and begin at 6:30 p.m. www.greatsmokies.com.

• The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host Dulci Ellenberger & Kevin Williams (Americana/pop) July 29, Jazz Night with Richard Shulman & Jesse Earl Junior July 30, Jay Brown (pop/jazz) Aug. 5 and Joe Cruz (piano/pop) Aug. 6. All shows are free and 26

(Americana) Aug. 12, Porch 40 (rock/funk) Aug. 19, surprise band on Aug. 26, and Erica Nicole (country) Sept. 2. Concerts are free, with donations accepted. Chairs and blankets are allowed. www.mountainlovers.com or 828.586.2155.

begin at 7 p.m. 828.452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com.

Country/rock act Joe Lasher Jr. will play Hillbilly Jam on July 30. The annual Hillbilly Jam will be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 29-30 at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. The musical lineup includes Joe Lasher Jr., Raymond Fairchild, Neon Truckers, Electric Circus, Stone Crazy Band, Steve Brown & The Hurricane Ridge Band, SmokeRise, and many more. More than a music festival, Hillbilly Jam is both a serious and humorous celebration of Appalachian culture. The event will feature working moonshine stills, arts and crafts, and food vendors. The country’s only traveling

Aaron Lewis (country/rock) at 9 p.m. July 29. www.harrahscherokee.com.

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

• Heinzelmannchen Brewery (Sylva) will host Henry Wong (acoustic/folk) at 6 p.m. July 28. www.yourgnometownbrewery.com.

• The First Presbyterian Church (Franklin) will host a fundraising concert for the Black Mountain Home for Children, Youth & Families at 3 p.m. Aug. 7. 828.524.4755.

• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will have an Open Mic night July 27 and Aug. 3, and a jazz night with the Kittle/Collings Duo July 28 and Aug. 4. All events begin at 8 p.m. www.innovation-brewing.com.

• The “Friday Night Live” concert series at the Town Square in Highlands will host The Johnny Webb Band (country) July 29 and Mountain Dulcimer Group (bluegrass) Aug. 5. Both shows are free and begin at 6 p.m. www.highlandschamber.org.

ALSO:

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host Reverend Finster 3 p.m. July 30 and Bohemian Jean (rock/pop) 7 p.m. Aug. 6. All shows are free. 828.454.5664 or www.froglevelbrewing.com. • Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort will host

• Mad Anthony’s Bottle Shop & Beer Garden (Waynesville) will host Helena Hunt (singersongwriter) July 29, Badnew & Summer Jones July 30 and The Brothers Gillespie (Americana) Aug. 5. All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m. 828.246.9249. • Marianna Black Library (Bryson City) will host Larry Barnett & Blue Smith (Americana/bluegrass) at 7 p.m. July 28 and a community music jam from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 4. Anyone with a guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, dulcimer, anything unplugged, are invited to join. Singers are also welcomed to join in or you can just stop by and

9/11 memorial will also appear at the festival. In addition to musical entertainment, Hillbilly Jam will host several celebrity guests, including Big Juicy from truTV’s “Lizard Lick Towing,” the “Real Hatfields & McCoys,” Digger Manes, Mark Ramsey and Roy Grooms from Discovery Channel’s TV series “Moonshiners” and more. Activities will also include a dog show, the Show ‘n Shine Car and Motorcycle Show. Admission is $10 per day. All ages admitted. For a full schedule of events, click on www.thehillbillyjam.com.

listen. Free. 828.488.3030. • The Nantahala Outdoor Center (Bryson City) will host Corn Bread Ted & The Butterbeans (ragtime/blues) July 29, Rollin’ in the Hay (bluegrass/Americana) July 30, The Freight Hoppers (Americana/folk) Aug. 5 and Asheville New Grass (Americana/jam) Aug. 6. All shows are free and begin at 6 p.m. www.noc.com. • Nantahala Brewing Company (Bryson City) will host The Colby Deitz Band (Americana/bluegrass) July 29. All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m. www.nantahalabrewing.com. • No Name Sports Pub (Sylva) will host Red Honey (surf/punk) July 29 and Hearts Gone South (honky-tonk) July 30. All shows are free and begin at 9:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.nonamesportspub.com. • The Oconaluftee Visitor Center (Cherokee) will host a back porch old-time music jam from 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 6. All are welcome to come play or simply sit and listen to sounds of Southern Appalachia.

On the beat

The Isaacs will play Aug. 6 in Franklin.

The Isaacs return to Franklin Internationally acclaimed country and bluegrass gospel family group The Isaacs will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. The group has won multiple awards throughout a career that spans across more than 30 years. Some of the awards they have to their acclaim are Gospel Voice Song of the Year, Dove Award for Bluegrass Album of the Year and International Country Gospel Music Association award for top Bluegrass Album of the Year. They’ve made guest appearances alongside many artists including Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley, Vince Gill, Ralph Stanley, Mark Lowry, and many others. Tickets are $25 for adults, $12.50 for students. www.greatmountainmusic.com or 866.273.4615.

The “Songwriters in the Round” series will continue with Jerry Vandiver, Tim Buppert and Leslie Satcher at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, at the Balsam Mountain Inn. Vandiver has seen his songs recorded by Tim McGraw, Phil Vassar, Lonestar, Barbara Mandrell, Lee Greenwood and The Oak Ridge Boys, among others. He scored a top five single with Gene Watson’s “Don’t Waste It On The Blues,” a top 20 on Wild Rose’s “Go Down Swingin’” and a number two on Tim McGraw’s “For A Little While.” Not long after she moved to Nashville two decades ago, Satcher met Naomi Judd, who helped her hone her songwriting skills. As the years went along, her songs have been covered by artists such as Joe Diffie, Sara Evans, Lee Ann Womack, Wade Hayes, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, Pam Tillis, and Willie Nelson. A successful songwriter and one of Nashville’s most sought after singers, Buppert has performed with Trisha Yearwood, Michael Peterson, Paul Brandt, Anita Cochran, Kevin Sharp and Meredith Edwards.

The Balsam Mountain Inn began the “Songwriters in the Round” series 15 years ago, and modeled it after similar performances at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe. Balsam’s performers are most often the Nashvillearea 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 ticket price, and seating begins at 6 p.m. For more information or to make a reservation, click on www.balsammountaininn.net or call 828.456.9498.

‘Groovin’ on the Green’ rocks out The “Groovin’ on the Green” concert series will host Miss Kitty & The Big City (pop/rock) at 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 29, at The Village Green in Cashiers. Other performs include: Erica Nicole (pop/country) Aug. 5, The Buchanan Boys (country/rock) Aug. 12, Julie Gribble (Americana) Aug. 19, Rockell Scott (pop/piano) Aug. 26 and Hurricane Creek (rock/blues) Sept. 2. All show are free and open to the public. www.villagegreencashiersnc.com.

BREW BQ

Registration for the Voices in the Laurel SummerVoice Music Camp is now open. The camp will take place Aug. 1-5 at the First Baptist Church of Waynesville. SummerVoice is open to singers in all area counties who will be entering first through 12th grades in the fall. They will be divided into age groups to participate in a variety of musical experiences. Children in first and second grade can enjoy the half-day program from 8:45 a.m. to noon, and is $85 for the week. Rising thirdthrough 12th-graders will experience full days of musical fun from 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:45 a.m. to

noon on Friday, and is $145 for the week. Campers will learn to sing with proper vocal technique and in two- and three-part harmony. In addition, participants will select an instrument (piano, guitar, percussion, violin or a capella for the older kids). Some choral numbers will include choreography. The funfilled week will end with a demonstration concert on Friday. The camp fee also includes snacks, professional instructors and a t-shirt. Voices in the Laurel is a Haywood Countybased nonprofit performance choir for young people ranging from first grade through 12th grade from Haywood, Buncombe, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties under the direction of Martha Brown. www.voicesinthelaurel.org or 828.734.9163.

38 SPECIAL OCTOBER 7

SEPTEMBER 17

STYX

OCTOBER 15

Visit ticketmaster.com or call 1-800-745-3000 to purchase tickets. Caesars.com

Smoky Mountain News

SummerVoice Music Camp

FOREIGNER

July 27-August 2, 2016

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

CAROLINA’S BEST BARBECUE AND BEER AUGUST 27

arts & entertainment

Vandiver, Buppert, Satcher at ‘Songwriters’

arts & entertainment

On the beat Sparky & Rhonda at Cradle of Forestry

WNC's Largest Selection of Granite & Quartz.

Sparky & Rhonda Rucker (Americana/folk) will play the Songcatchers Music Series at 4 p.m. Sunday, July 31, at the Cradle of Forestry in America. Admission for all shows is $6 for ages 16 and older, $3 for youth 15 and under and America the Beautiful and Golden Age pass holders. 828.877.3130 or www.cradleofforestry.org.

Solid Surface Specialists

62 Communications Dr., Waynesville • Appointments Suggested

(828) 452-4747 WWW.SSS-TOPS.COM

real estate

auction

5,530+/- sf Home Auctions Friday July 29 WAYNESVILLE, NC • 355 Spring Cove Road 5BR 5.5BA home with multiple living areas and island kitchen. Patios and decks, creek, pond and long range mountain views. Nominal Opening Bid: $100,000 Auctions: 4pm Fri July 29 on site or bid live from anywhere at auctionnetwork.com

ART DARK:

AFTER AUG. 5 6-9 P.M.

MEGHAN BERNARD

WILL BE DOING CLAY / ART DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE GALLERY.

Smoky Mountain News

July 27-August 2, 2016

800.982.0425 • williamsauction.com

“WHERE ART DANCES WITH NATURE”

98 NORTH MAIN ST. • WAYNESVILLE, NC • 828.456.1940 28

MON.-SAT.10-5:30 • SUN.1-4 • WWW.TWIGSANDLEAVES.COM

• The “Pickin’ On The Square” (Franklin) concert series will continue with Paradise 56 (blues/reggae) July 30 and Subject to Change (bluegrass) Aug. 6. All shows are free and begin at 7:30 p.m. A community jam begins at 6:30 p.m. www.franklinnc.com or 828.524.2516. • Pub 319 (Waynesville) will host Andrew Rickman (rock/country) Aug. 5. All shows begin at 9 p.m. 828.456.3040. • The Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Pub (Franklin) will host Wyatt Espalin (singersongerwriter) July 29, Twelft Fret (Americana) July 30 and an 80s Flashback Aug. 6. All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m. www.rathskellerfranklin.com.

30 and Nitrograss (bluegrass) Aug. 6. Shows are free and begin at 6 p.m. www.highlandschamber.org. • The Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host Kellie Pickler (country) at 7:30 p.m. July 30. www.greatmountainmusic.com. • Sneak E Squirrel Brewing (Sylva) will host The Caribbean Cowboys (rock/pop) 8 p.m. July 30, Contra Dancing on the Patio 7 p.m. Aug. 5 and Deeper Well 8 p.m. Aug. 6. There will also be a “Funk to What?” open jam at 8 p.m. every Thursday. 828.586.6440.

ALSO:

• The Stompin’ Ground (Maggie Valley) is now open for live mountain music and clogging at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. 828.926.1288.

• Salty Dog’s (Maggie Valley) will have Karaoke with Jason Wyatt on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with Mile High (rock) at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. Andrew Rickman (rock/acoustic) will also perform on Saturdays. All events begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

• Tipping Point Brewing (Waynesville) will host The Breedlove Brothers (Americana) 9 p.m. July 29. Both shows are free. 828.246.9230.

• Sapphire Mountain Brewing Company (Sapphire) will host a jazz brunch with Tyler Kittle & Friends from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Sundays. 828.743.0220.

• The Ugly Dog Pub (Highlands) will host a weekly Appalachian music night from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Wednesdays with Nitrograss. 828.526.8364 or www.theuglydogpub.com.

• Satulah Mountain Brewing (Highlands) will host “Hoppy Hour” and an open mic with Jimandi at 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays, “Funky Friday” with Bud Davis at 7 p.m. on Fridays and Isaish Breedlove (Americana) at 7 p.m. on Saturdays. 828.482.9794 or www.satulahmountainbrewing.com.

• The United Methodist Church (Webster) will host Robert Holquist & Linda Stewart at 5:30 p.m. July 31. A reception honoring the artists will be held on the church lawn following the performance. www.mountainlovers.com.

• The “Saturday’s on the Pine” concert series at Kelsey Hutchinson Park in Highlands will host The Buchanan Boys (country/rock) July

• The Ugly Dog Pub (Cashiers) will host a “Bluegrass Mix-Up” night at 7 p.m. on Thursdays. 828.743.3000.

• The Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will host Porch 40 (funk/rock) July 29 and Gary Wylie & Friends Aug. 6. All shows begin at 9 p.m.

On the street

• The annual Parish Fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 30, at the Grace Church in the Mountains in Waynesville. Donations of items are always welcomed. All proceeds from the fair benefit Haywood County nonprofit organizations. There will also be a flea market, onsite food vendors,

and live music from the Frog Level Harmonic Dixieland Band. 828.456.6029. • The 28th annual Missions Bazaar will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 29-30 at the Wayne Proffitt Agricultural Center on the Macon County Fairgrounds in Franklin. 828.524.3267 or www.franklin-chamber.com.

ALSO:

• Stone Cutting Saturday will start at 9 a.m. Aug. 6 at the Mason Mountain Mine in Franklin. 828.524.4570 or www.tjrocks.org. • The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad presents The Wizard of Oz train ride at the GSMR depot in Bryson City. The 2.5-hour roundtrip journey will retell the story of the beloved movie, The Wizard of Oz, on board a real train. The adventure operates July 28-31 and Aug 4-7. Exact excursion times and ticket prices are available by calling

RETURNS The 51st annual Macon County Gemboree will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 28-July 31 at the Macon County Community Building in Franklin. Sponsored by the Macon County Gem and Mineral Society. www.franklin-chamber.com.

Second Bryson City brewery to open The Mountain Layers Brewing Company has begun construction on a seven-barrel craft microbrewery and taproom located on Everett Street in downtown Bryson City. Once complete, the brewery will feature a family-friendly taproom with bars on two levels, including an outdoor upper deck where you can enjoy handcrafted beer while overlooking downtown Bryson City and the Tuckasegee River. Co-founders Kim and Mark Pettit found their home in Swain County after 15 years of vacationing in the area. Their relocation to the Swain County from Minnesota came in 2014 by a combination of Kim’s ability to work from home and Mark’s early retirement from 30 years of public service. Joining them in launching the new

800.872.4681 or by visiting www.gsmr.com. Tickets begin at $48 for adults (13+) and $38 for children (2-12). • The Highlands Road Gem Show will be held July 28-July 31 at the corner of U.S. 441 and Highlands Road in Franklin. Rock, minerals, rough and cut gems, supplies, and more. Admission is free. 828.369.6341 or vwproperties@gmail.com. • There will be a food preservation class held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, at The Community Kitchen in Canton. To signup, call 828.648.2924. • There will be a yoga class at 11 a.m. July 28 and Aug. 4 at the Hudson Library in Highlands. Free. 828.526.3031. • A bingo night will run at 5:45 p.m. on Thursdays through Sept. 1 at the Maggie Valley Pavilion. Cash prizes and concessions by Moonshine Grill. Sponsored by the Maggie

brewery is Noah McIntee, who will serve as head brewer and general manager. McIntee comes to Mountain Layers from just down the road in Franklin, where he built and launched Lazy Hiker Brewing Company. Prior to that, McIntee was director of brewing operations for Pearl Street Grill & Brewery in a position overseeing their two brewpubs in downtown Buffalo, New York. “Mountain Layers is being built on an infectious passion for community and people — two of the core traits that define craft beer culture,” McIntee said. “I’m honored to be working with Mark and Kim in this exciting venture that embraces and explores the many layers of this amazing region.” There are plans for a grand opening this fall. For more information, contact Mark at mark@mtnlayersbeer.com or McIntee at noah@mtnlayersbeer.com www.facebook.com/mtnlayersbeer or www.mtnlayersbeer.com.

Valley Civic Association. 828.926.7630. • A wine tasting will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. July 30 and Aug. 6 at Papou’s Wine Shop in Sylva. $5 per person. www.papouswineshop.com or 828.586.6300. • A free wine tasting will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. July 30 and Aug. 6 at Bosu’s Wine Shop in Waynesville. www.waynesvillewine.com or 828.452.0120. • A wine tasting will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. July 30 and Aug. 6 at The Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. Free with dinner ($15 minimum). There will also be a craft beer tasting and taco night on June 30 and July 7. 828.452.6000.

Smoky Mountain News

• The ceremonial Cherokee bonfires will run from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday through Oct. 1 Spend an evening with the Cherokee people by a roaring fire. Listen as Cherokee storytellers in period dress from the 17th century spin tales of days gone by, myths and mysteries passed down through the ages and talk of the history. Learn Cherokee survival skills and experience the dance. Your hosts will provide light refreshments, which include marshmallows for roasting and drinks. Guests sit by the fire near the Oconaluftee riverside enjoying a unique and entertaining experience. The events are free and open to the public. www.visitcherokeenc.com.

MACON GEMBOREE

July 27-August 2, 2016

The official 2016 Downtown Dog Walk TThe 11th annual Sarge’s Animal Rescue shirt will be available for $15 for adults and Foundation “Dog Walk” will be held at 10 $10 for children. The T-shirts will also be on a.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, at the Haywood sale at pre-registration and at the dog walk. County Courthouse in Waynesville. For information Sarge’s work to save dogs This fundraiser, supporting the dogs and and cats in Haywood County, visit cats of Haywood County, is a much-loved www.sargeandfriends.org or “Like” Sarge’s community event. Hundreds of pets and Facebook page or call 828.246.9050. their owners attend the event every year. The walk begins and ends at the Haywood County Courthouse on Main Street in Waynesville. Following the dog walk, there will be contests, with 99.9 KISS Country personalities Eddie Foxx and Sharon Green returning as guest judges. Attendees will see dogs compete in bestdressed dog, best dog trick and best tail wagging dog. Registration forms are available at www.sargeandfriends.org. There is a $15 fee for each dog walking in the event. This fee includes a dog walk goody bag and dog bandana. Registration forms also include a Partners’ Pledge Form to allow walkers to gather donations from friends and family. There will be prizes for people collecting the most money with their “teams” on the Partner Pledge form. Sarge’s “Dog Walk” will be Anyone who collects at Aug. 6 in downtown least $20 in donations Waynesville. Carol Viau photo receives a free T-shirt.

arts & entertainment

Sarge’s ‘Dog Walk’

• 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. 29

arts & entertainment July 27-August 2, 2016 Smoky Mountain News 30

On the stage

On the street

Play showcases Kephart, National Park

Celebrate WNC train history Playwright and storyteller Gary Carden.

A piece of Smoky Mountain history will come to the stage when “Outlander,” written by award-winning storyteller Gary Carden, accompanied with mountain music by Joe Penland, will be presented at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 31, at UNCAsheville’s Reuter Center. The play, which tells the story of the creation of Great Smoky Mountain National Park, will be performed by The Autumn Players of Asheville Community Theatre. Following the performance, Carden will lead a discussion of the controversies and conflicts between longtime mountain residents and the “outsiders” who advocated preservation through establishment of national park lands. Carden, a native of Sylva, is a collector of Appalachian and Cherokee folklore, a professional storyteller, and is a long-time columnist and book reviewer for The Smoky Mountain News. He received the North Carolina Arts Council Award for Literature in 2012 and the Brown-Hudson Folklore Award in 2006. His books include Appalachian Bestiary (Gary Carden,

• The production of the cult classic “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” will hit the stage at 8 p.m. July 29-Aug. 1 at the Smoky Mountain Community Theatre in Bryson City. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students. www.smctheatre.com. • “Steel Magnolias” will be performed Aug. 4-20 at the Highlands Playhouse. Tickets are $38 per person, $15 for children up to age 12. For complete show times and ticket information, click on www.highlandsplayhouse.org. • The Unto These Hills outdoor drama will run at 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday

2013), Mason Jars in the Flood & Other Stories (Parkway Publishers, 2000) and Belled Buzzard, Hucksters & Grieving Spectres: Strange & True Talks of the Appalachian Mountains (Down Home Press, 1994). Penland, born and raised in Madison County, learned the traditional ballads of the Western North Carolina mountains from his elders and has shared this music, along with his original songs, with audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. His recordings include “The Answer to My Prayer,” “Standing on Tradition” and “On Shakey Ground.” This performance is a joint project of The Autumn Players of Asheville Community Theatre, and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at UNC Asheville, bringing together a group of seasoned actors with an internationally acclaimed learning community for seniors. Seating will be general admission with tickets $6 at the door. For more information, visit olliasheville.com/special-programs or call OLLI at 828.251.6140.

through Aug. 13 at the Mountainside Theater in Cherokee. The acclaimed outdoor drama traces the Cherokee people through the eons, through the zenith of their power, through the heartbreak of the Trail of Tears, finally ending, appropriately, in the present day, where the Cherokee people, much like their newly re-scripted drama, continue to rewrite their place in the world. General admission tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children ages 6-12 and free for children under age 5. Reserved tickets also available. 866.554.4557 or www.visitcherokenc.com.

ALSO:

for adults and free for youth under 16 years of age. America the Beautiful, Golden Age and Every Kid in a Park passes are honored. Admission includes the new film, “First in Forestry: Carl Alwin Schenck and the Biltmore Forest School,” the Forest Discovery Center with 15 hands-on exhibits, scavenger hunts, the Adventure Zone, and historic cabins and antique equipment on two paved interpretive trails. The Cradle of Forestry is located on U.S. 276 in the Pisgah National Forest, six miles

The Cradle of Forestry invites the public to enjoy a program about Western North Carolina's logging train history and the 1915 Climax logging locomotive on Saturday, July 30, on display at the Cradle. Visitors will learn about the locomotive and explore the rich history of a time when many livelihoods depended on logging trains winding their way through the area's forest coves. Western North Carolina train historian Jerry Ledford will present a slide program at 10:30 a.m. and again at 2 p.m. The program features old photographs of the real people and places that are part of local logging history. After each program Ledford will lead the group on the wheelchair accessible Forest Festival Trail to see the Cradle's old Climax locomotive and discuss its history and mechanics. The Asheville Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society members will display a hands-on railroad yard and HO scale switching layout. Learn how Many livelihoods depended on logging trains winding their way to move railroad cars through the area's forest coves. Margaret Hester photo within the yard, how to switch tracks, and set up an entire train from engine to caboose. north of Looking Glass Falls and four miles Enjoy seeing pictures from Southern south of the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost Railway in the 1950s, old railroad lanterns, 412. For more information call and other railroad memorabilia. 828.877.3130 or go to Admission to the Cradle of Forestry is $5 www.cradleofforestry.com.

Cataloochee ‘Way Back When’ dinner The “Way Back When” trout dinner will continue at 5:30 p.m. Friday, July 29, at the Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley. The dinner showcases a recreation meal, music, storytelling and atmosphere of a 1930s Appalachian trout camp. Enjoy a wagon ride across the ranch property amid the authentic re-creation of Mr. Tom and Miss Judy Alexander’s first fishing camp. Cost is $39.95 per person, plus tax and gratuity. The dinner will also be held Aug. 12

and 26, and Sept. 2 and 16. To RSVP, call 828.926.1401 or 800.868.1401 or www.cataloocheeranch.com.

On the wall FUNDRAISER RETURNS TO HAYWOOD The Haywood County Arts Council’s “Gallery & Gifts” (formerly Gallery 86) is hosting their annual ArtShare exhibit Aug. 5-27 in downtown Waynesville. ArtShare is a fundraising exhibit of fine works of art, both original and prints, which have been donated, or consigned with the Haywood County Arts Council for the purpose of financially underwriting the ongoing operating costs of the nonprofit organization. www.haywoodarts.org.

• “Paint & Pour,” an Appalachian Art Farm Benefit, will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva. Cost is $25 per person, with all materials included. www.madbatterfoodfilm.com. • The Potter’s Wheel Series will feature Susan Coe from noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 5 at The Wild Fern in Bryson City. www.greatsmokies.com. • There will be a “Raku Beadmaking” workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. July 28-29 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 30 at Riverwood Pottery in Dillsboro. Cost is $120 per person. 828.586.3601 or www.riverwoodpottery.com.

• The Dusty Pallet is the newest art gallery in Franklin. The studio is located in downtown at 52 East Main Street. Are you ready for a paint party? For only $35, the gallery provides everything you need to create your own masterpiece. Watch for our days and times at their website, www.thedustypallet.com. Call and schedule your group at 828.524.5676. The shop is open Monday,

• The Adult Coloring Group will meet at 2 p.m. on Fridays in the Living Room of the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. An afternoon of creativity and camaraderie. Supplies are provided, or bring your own. Beginners are welcome as well as those who already enjoy this new trend. kmoe@fontanalib.org or 828.524.3600.

ALSO:

• “Stitch,” the community gathering of those interested in crochet, knit and needlepoint, meet at 2:30 p.m. every first Sunday of the month at the Canton Public Library. All ages and skill levels welcome. www.haywoodlibrary.org. • The “Movies on Everett” summer film series will screen “The Blind Side” July 29. All films are free and start at 8:30 p.m. www.greatsmokies.com. • Mad Batter Food & Film (Sylva) will screen “Demolition” (July 28), “Batman vs. Superman” (July 29), “Dirty Dancing” (July 30), “Elvis & Nixon” (Aug. 4), “Miracles From Heaven” (Aug. 5) and “Lego DC Comics Superheros” (Aug. 6). Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Fridays; and 2 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Saturdays. www.madbatterfoodfilm.com.

Run for somebody else’s life. Countdown

D AY S

The 3rd Annual Richard Richard’s ’s Run Run Ru 5K F Fun Run Brain Cancer Sat. Aug. un R un u for Br ain Canc er - S at. A ug. 6, 10 am No trophies this year, but the challenge is the same. e. This 5K Fu un Run/W Wa alk takes you across the mile-high meadows and along the forest trails of Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valle a y, with a cookout lunch av vailable for purchase after ward at the Ranch. Registration is $10 online ine or $15 on race da ay. And brain cancer research, the ultimate challenge, will be the victor.

Smoky Mountain News

• Gallery Zella (Bryson City) will host live music, hors d'ouevres, wine and newly unveiled art collections. Artists featured for July 29 are Jo Ridge Kelley, impressionist painter; and Diannah Beauregard, jewelry designer. $25 per couple, which can be applied toward purchase of $100 or more. www.greatsmokies.com.

Blacksmith and metalsmith Brock Martin will host a “Beginning Bladesmithing Class” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 6-7 at the Jackson County Green Energy Park in Dillsboro. Participants will begin by making a simple butter knife from mild steel in order to learn the processes involved in shaping a knife. Students will then progress to making a blade from a higher-carbon railroad spike or spring steel. The instructor will cover grain properties, annealing, heattreating of knives, and use differential hardening to temper our blades. No prior experience required. Students must wear closed toe shoes (preferably leather), long pants, and cotton clothing, and should bring a lunch. Cost is $215, with materials included. To register, call 828.631.0271 or www.jcgep.org.

Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Wednesday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. • “Art Beats for Kids” will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. July 28 at the Charles Heath Gallery in Bryson City. A new project every week. $20 per child, with includes lesson, materials and snack. To register, call 828.538.2054.

Want to learn bladesmithing?

July 27-August 2, 2016

• Paint Nite Waynesville will be held at 7 p.m. on Fridays at the Panacea Coffeehouse. Grab a cup of coffee, glass of wine or pint of craft beer and get creative. $20 per person. Group rates available. Sign up at Panacea or call host Robin Smathers at 828.400.9560. paintnitewaynesville@gmail.com.

Art After Dark will continue from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5, in downtown Waynesville. Enjoy a stroll through working studios and galleries on Main Street and Depot Street. Festive Art After Dark flags denote participating galleries, including the Haywood County Arts Council Gallery and

Gifts, Burr Studio, Earthworks Gallery, The Jeweler’s Workbench, Studio SG, Twigs & Leaves Gallery, TPennington Art Gallery, Cedar Hill Studios, Moose Crossing Burl Wood Gallery, and the Village Framer. www.downtownwaynesville.com or www.waynesvillegalleryassociation.com.

arts & entertainment

ARTSHARE

Waynesville’s Art After Dark

richar richardsrun.org dsrun.org Proceeds benefit Duke University’s Tisch i Brain Tu um Center. umor EVENT SPONSORS: MedicaSoft, Joey’s Pancake House, Cataloochee Ranch, Cataloochee Ski Area, Smoky Mountain News, High Country Furniture & Design, Camelia and Ron Ray, Nancy Rutland, Cari and Bill Gradison, Jean Carterr, Donna and James Sublett. Sublet

Books

Smoky Mountain News

Bradbury created a genre all his own L There he graduated high school, and too poor to attend college, sold newspapers on a street corner, read incessantly, and

Jeff Minick

ast year a storm of controversy erupted over the destruction of writer Ray Bradbury’s home in Los Angeles. Architect Thom Mayne purchased the property, obtained a demolition order, and razed the 2,400-squarefoot house. Some Bradbury fans—and if you don’t know the work of Ray Bradbury, begin with his early short stories or his novel, Fahrenheit 451—were upset by this destruction, while some builders and Writer other commentators declared the home “banal” and nothing of consequence. Meanwhile, the Center for Ray Bradbury Studies at Indiana University, which owns many of Bradbury’s personal possessions, announced plans to recreate the author’s office in homage to him. Homes associated with certain writers are, of course, sometimes preserved as monuments to their former owners. In Western North Carolina, for example, the Asheville boarding house in which Thomas Wolfe grew up and Carl Sandburg’s Flat Rock farm, Connemara, continue to attract visitors. In this particular case, with the items belonging to Bradbury having been removed from the property, we might sympathize with Mr. Mayne, who claims he didn’t know of Bradbury’s literary fame and who has promised to erect a memorial to him on the property. Whether you’ve read him or not, Ray Bradbury was an American treasure, both in terms of his personal life and in his writing. Though labeled a writer of fantasy and science fiction, in my opinion Bradbury really created a genre all his own. His writing was never “hardcore” science fiction nor did it fit what we regard as “fantasy” today. He specialized in the short story, and his tales dealt more with human virtues and vices than with space ships or odd creatures. In The Martian Chronicles, for example, Bradbury wrote of early explorers and settlers on Mars, yet his stories clearly serve as allegories for the European migrations to the Americas. The details regarding Bradbury’s biography also seem particularly American. Born and raised in his early years in the Midwest, Bradbury moved at age 14 with his family to Hollywood.

The House of Bradbury by Nicole Meier. Spark Press, 2016. 261 pages. wrote short stories every day. Gradually, he garnered both honors and a huge readership. He also wrote screenplays and television scripts, most notably John Huston’s Moby Dick, and tried his hand in genres ranging from space operas to poetry. (I am always amused that the man who wrote so much of space travel never learned, in California of all places, to drive an automobile.) What I personally admired most about Bradbury was his approach to writing. Many years ago, I listened to an interview with him. Up until then, the writers I had read complained about the difficulties of the craft: writing is “bleeding from the fingertips,” “the most hateful kind of work,” and so on. But in his interview — I am paraphrasing here — Bradbury said: “Writing should be fun. If it’s not fun, why would you do it?” Why indeed? In The House of Bradbury (Spark Press, 2016, $17, 261 pages), novelist Nicole Meier takes Bradbury’s advice and has some fun. Meier imagines a scenario in which the Bradbury home is

not destroyed, but instead finds a new owner in failed novelist Mia Gladwell. Aided in the purchase by Carson, her exfiancé and a Hollywood producer, Mia hopes living in the author’s home will inspire her to become a better writer. Yet before she has a proper chance to settle into her new home Mia finds herself confronted by problems and mysteries. Her sister Emma’s marriage to Tom, a history professor, suddenly seems troubled by a flirtatious undergraduate. Carson shows up, reminds Mia of her debt to him regarding the house, and asks her to take a young movie star, Zoe, under her wing and to keep her sober for her next film, an arrangement to which Mia reluctantly agrees. Meanwhile, a series of mysterious drawings appear on Mia’s porch. She soon realizes these drawings are related to Bradbury’s short stories, but can’t fathom the motives of the invisible artist leaving these bits of paper. As happens to most of us when drawn into the lives and problems of others, Mia finds herself growing and taking some different directions in her life. Soon, too, she is writing with confidence again, taking her inspiration from the house and the new people it has brought into her world. What was most amusing in The House of Bradbury was Meier’s take on the house itself. Given her acquaintance with various details — the worn appliances, the color of the walls and countertops, the condition of the floors — Meier surely toured the Bradbury home before its demolition. She has a good deal of fun in the exchanges between Mia, who absolutely loves the old home, and sister Emma, whom Mia calls “Martha Stewart’s clone” and who criticizes the house from rooftop to basement. In this hot, uneasy summer of politics and violence, Meier offers her readers a light and refreshing breeze of a book. Enjoy!

Bryson pens political novel Before he became a candidate for Congress from WNC’s 11th District, Frederick E. (Rick) Bryson was a writer, having published over 1,000 technical articles and three novels. His latest novel The Jefferson Legion, is unusual in that it contains parallels to his campaign for Congress. “This book is about what would happen in the United States if the people lost faith in government, because it served only big business and special interests,” Bryson said, citing the fact that 93 percent of the American people believe that our present Congress is doing a poor job. The setting is in Southern Appalachia, primarily the Nantahala National Forest of Western North Carolina. The principal character, William Campbell, is a Jefferson-quoting fugitive who has formed a militia group (The Legion) to undermine the federal government by a number of creative, but nonviolent means, mostly via the Internet. Eventually, the group takes on a Robin Hood-esque nature, stealing from the Federal Reserve and helping disabled people up and down Appalachia. At the same time, the legion targets the federal capital for special mischief, shutting down computers, sending out false letters to fire high-ranking military personnel, and scaring the daylights out of the government with a commandeered drone. The Jefferson Legion is published as an ebook, from Ex-LEnce Publishing, Website: www.ex-l-ence.com. It is also available on Amazon.

• The NetWest program of the North Carolina Writers Network will host an open mic night at 7 p.m. Friday, July 29, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. Folks are encouraged to bring their poetry or short pieces to share. www.citylightsnc.com or 828.586.9499. • Writer Martha Lemasters will host a book signing and discussion on her work The Step at 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5, at the Hudson Library in Highlands. The story is about one woman’s Journey to finding her own happiness and success during the Apollo Space Program. 828.526.3031. • Author Kim DeLozier will hold a discussion on her new book Bear in the Back Seat: Adventures of a Wildlife Ranger from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 29 at the Swain County Visitor Center in Bryson City. www.greatsmokies.com.

ALSO:

Appalachian Storyteller in a Feed Sack Dress Author Amy Ammons Garza will host a book signing for her work, Appalachian Storyteller in a Feed Sack Dress, at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. “To tell your own story, it takes courage, a sense of humor and hope,” Garza said. “In this book, I’m telling the story of my life as I lived it, in storytelling fashion. Each chapter is a story in itself.” Born and raised in Western North Carolina with a grandfather who impressed upon her to save family stories, Garza realized early on how important it was to save heritage. Therefore, when she began to write, she had a purpose. The books she has written before this, books that make up the story of her extended family, took years to accumulate, and while she was busy writing, her whole life changed, almost in between the words. Here is a compelling story of a mountain girl who found the courage she needed in her own life as she listened and then retold the stories of her family and her heritage, becoming the storyteller. Refreshments provided. City Lights Bookstore at 828.586.9499.

AUGUSTA TCONCERT WEEKEND LAKE JUNALUSKA

Diane E. Sherrill, Attorney

Is a Will Enough?

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FREE LUNCHEON SEMINAR

August 17th FRIDAY, AUGUST 5

SATURDAY, AUGUST 6

11:30 AM

Mountain Faith is a contemporary bluegrass band made famous by their 2015 turn on America’s Got Talent.

and The King’s Brass

Best Western River Escape Inn Dillsboro • Reservation Suggested

Mountain Faith

Tim Zimmerman

The King’s Brass play classic hymns with contemporary flair.

Both concerts take place in Stuart Auditorium at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $18.

828.586.4051

nctrustlawyer.com

Ages 18 and under are free.

BOOK NOW: www.lakejunaluska.com/concerts or (800) 222-4930

28 Maple St. • Sylva

July 27-August 2, 2016 Smoky Mountain News 33

Outdoors

Smoky Mountain News

Winged wonder Bird study gets up close with WNC’s avian residents

Mark Hopey readies an indigo bunting for release. BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER loud cover keeps the summer morning cool as Mark Hopey makes the rounds below Cowee Mound. By 8:30 a.m., he and his two wildlife technicians have already been working at the Franklin-area site for nearly three hours, making hay while the sun doesn’t shine — or at least doesn’t shine with the heat it will gather soon. Hopey glances down a small trail leading to a net — higher than his head, wide as a volleyball net and strung with fine black netting — before walking on past. No birds there, but he’ll inspect it closer on the way back, just to make sure. There’s nothing at the second net, either, but just as he approaches the third a pair of feathery black-and-white bodies spiral straight into it, simultaneously snared by the dark weave. “Wow, that’s not something you see every day,” Hopey remarks. They’re black-and-white warblers, he declares, pulling a brown paper lunch bag — the empty bag is devoid of lunch — out of his back pocket and marking it in black sharpie to note the time, location, sex and species of the bird in question. Then he reaches for the net, gently untangling the closest warbler from the netting. He places the bird in the bag, twists the top shut, and stows it in a fold of the net while he repeats the process with the second warbler and an indigo bunting that’s been caught at the other end of the net. Feathers flutter against the brown paper as Hopey walks back down the path, toward the fold-up table that acts as a workstation for his

Every bird has its own personality, and cardinals tend to let their displeasure be known — audibly — when it comes to being handled (above). Cedar waxwings (below) are the only bird that grows red wax from the tips of its wing feathers. The wax comes from holly berries they consume. Holly Kays photos

team. He compares notes with the two technicians, who are as impressed with the story of the two warblers simultaneously hitting the net as Hopey was when he witnessed the event. But there’s not much time for chatting. Between the three of them, they’ve collected five birds that must be banded, measured and inspected for a host of data ranging from feather condition to body fat before the timer goes off, declaring that it’s time to release the birds and check the nets once more. Nets are to be inspected on a constant half-hour cycle during the six or so hours the team is out each day, a requirement that, like nearly every other detail of the undertaking, is outlined higher up the food chain by the folks at the California-based Institute for Bird Populations.

MONITORING A COMMUNITY The bird banding study, which Hopey’s been involved with for six years, is referred to as MAPS — Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship — and is actually a continent-wide study that’s been going on since 1989, comprising 1,200 stations in most states and Canadian provinces. Hopey, director of the nonprofit Southern Appalachian Raptor Research, got interested in MAPS as a way to help build a detailed picture of migratory bird populations, the way they interact with their habitats and challenges to their success. Mainspring Conservation Trust contracts with him to complete the work, funding the endeavor through a grant from the Cherokee Preservation Foundation. MAPS protocol demands at least eight samples from each site

Take a bird in the hand Getting an up-close look at the birds whose feathers and songs decorate the forest can be a rare treat, but an ongoing volunteer opportunity offers the chance to do just that. Southern Appalachian Raptor Research spends much of every summer capturing songbirds, taking data on their size and condition, and releasing them back into the air. Volunteers are needed to help the scientists out and get an inside look at how the research works. Dates remaining for this summer are: ■ Thursday, July 28, at Tessentee Bottomland Preserve in Macon County. ■ Saturday, July 30, at Cowee Mound in Macon County. ■ Sunday, July 31, at Big Bald Banding Station in Madison County. ■ Wednesday, Aug. 3, at Welch Farm in Clay County. ■ Saturday, Aug. 6, at Tessentee Bottomland Preserve in Macon County ■ Sunday, Aug. 7, at Tessentee Bottomland Preserve in Macon County. ■ Tuesday, Aug. 9, at Big Bald Banding Station in Madison County. Sampling runs from 6 a.m. to noon each day, with volunteers welcome for any or all of that timeframe. Dates are subject to change based on weather, so RSVPs are important. Directions to banding locations are on the SARR website. In addition to hosting individual volunteers, SARR also does free educational programs by request at its data collection sites. SARR’s breeding bird monitoring work is funded by Mainspring Conservation Trust through a grant from the Cherokee Preservation Foundation. Other sponsors of the work include the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the Franklin Bird Club and the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society. Mark Hopey, 828.736.1217 or bigbaldbanding@gmail.com www.bigbaldbanding.org.

in the spring and summer months. With four sites to monitor in locations ranging from Madison County to Clay County, Hopey’s summers are filled with fieldwork. “Every other day we’re out here, almost,” he said. But he doesn’t mind. It’s hard to complain when your office is outdoors among fields, flowers and singing birds, and Hopey’s come to believe strongly in the MAPS project and the power of the data it collects. There are plenty of bird population studies out there that rely on at-a-distance observations through binoculars, which of course is a lot more comfortable for the birds. But this kind of hands-on study allows the team to collect a range of information that would be difficult to determine otherwise. “This type of study gives me information from each bird,” Hopey said. “Not only species, age and gen-

EMPHASIS ON EDUCATION

Free well assessments will be available throughout the region Aug. 6-10 through a partnership between the Environmental Protection Agency and the nonprofit Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project. The assessment gives owners a chance to understand potential risks and vulnerabilities that

could impact their drinking water, considering everything from site conditions to geology to well construction. The assessor will provide recommendations to keep the well safe from contamination. Schedule visits, which take one to two hours, with Janice Tatum, 984.222.4304 or jtatum@sercap.org.

find us at: facebook.com/smnews

Two fatalities related to waterfalls occurred in the Pisgah National Forest last week. On July 16, a man from Western North Carolina jumped off the top of Elk River Falls in the Appalachian Ranger District. His body was recovered from the deep pool at the base of the falls two days later. On July 21, an Atlanta-area woman was wading in the stream that flows over Rainbow Falls in the Pisgah Ranger District when she lost her footing and was swept over the falls by the current. These are the first waterfall-related fatalities in the Pisgah and Appalachian ranger districts this year, but there have been several others on nearby state and private waterfalls, as well as numerous non-fatal injuries. When visiting a waterfall, remember: ■ It’s best to enjoy waterfalls from a safe

distance — always heed warning signs indicating danger and stay on established trails. ■ Never climb around waterfalls or play in the water above one — rocks can be slippery and currents near waterfalls can be quite swift. ■ Never jump off waterfalls or dive into pools at the base of the falls, as rocks and

Secret Falls. File photo

logs can be hidden beneath the surface and swirling currents can drag you underwater. ■ Don’t use the fact that someone else has just performed a stunt on a waterfall as permission to try. Waterfalls are constantly changing with varying flows and erosion of rocks, so conditions can change from one moment to the next.

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SMOKY MOUNTAIN TROLLS Handmade in the mountains, each one has it’s own personality!

Smoky Mountain News

Free well assessments offered

Fatalities prompt caution when visiting waterfalls

July 27-August 2, 2016

Data collected in Western North Carolina will help with the overall effort to understand and bolster bird populations, but for his part, Hopey places much of his focus on impacting the people around him. “For me at least, it’s about getting kids out here to appreciate the complexity and wonder of what’s around them,” he said, “rather than just seeing it on a screen or at a zoo.” The more people come out and see bird banding in action, he reasons, the more people will value wildlife and the habitat it needs to stay healthy. “Good God, it’s the most undervalued thing in the country,” he said. Southern Appalachian Raptor Research publishes all its MAPS field dates online, welcoming anyone — regardless of experience level — to come out for the morning. The organization also hosts a smattering of kid-oriented field days throughout the year. It’s pretty amazing to come face-to-face with striking birds like cedar waxwings or indigo buntings, and the team is always looking to share the wonder. That’s what got Lisa Marie Norvill, one of Hopey’s two field technicians, interested in the project. Originally from Queens, New York, Norvill came to Western North Carolina to study fisheries and wildlife management at Haywood Community College. While a student, she did some volunteer work with SARR and jumped at the chance to get a paid job with the organization. “I just fell in love with bird banding,” she said. “I had never seen this type of thing before.” The privilege of getting to wake up in the morning and hold such a variety of beautiful birds in her hand isn’t something Norvill takes for granted. She takes joy in getting to know each bird, the personality that accompanies each species. “Every single bird is a little bit different,” she said. “You get to know them personally by doing this, which is a real treat.” Growing up the New York City metropolis, wildlife and the natural places it inhabits were far away. In fact, Norvill’s interest in birds grew from the fact that they’re one of the few natural sights you can see when looking through the window over a city block. Keeping birds around, she believes, is key to maintaining wonder in the world and also to spurring humanity forward — we still have plenty to learn, she said, from watching the birds. “Birds are an animal that can do the one thing we can’t do, ever,” she said. “We can make planes, but we can’t fly.”

outdoors

der, but it gives condition, which is a big part of looking at how the community of birds is doing.” The data sheet notes the state of the bird’s various types of plumage, how much fat it carries, whether it’s in breeding mode and plenty of other points. The netting approach also makes it easier to prove how many of which birds are there. If a captured bird doesn’t have a band on its leg, then the team knows it’s an individual they’ve never seen before. That’s a lot different than binocular-based observations, when it can be hard to tell whether that towhee singing in the oak tree is the same bird you heard five minutes ago or a different one. “When you take the time to set up traps, you’re going to get information you’ll never get by listening and looking,” Hopey said. For instance, one year at the Tessentee banding site in Macon County, one-third of the birds captured were indigo buntings — a pretty abnormal proportion, but the next year observations switched to a more typical mix. Similarly, one year 146 of the 202 birds banded at the Big Bald site in Madison County were slate-colored juncos. “It was new to me that it happens quite a bit on a scale we’re not really aware of,” Hopey said. But despite having six years of intense observation under his belt, Hopey’s loath to speculate on trends and changes in the bird populations he studies. Part of that is because MAPS is such a big study, and he’s not the guy in charge of crunching numbers and drawing conclusions. And part of it is because many of the bird species passing through the banding stations aren’t permanent residents. They’re migrants who come all the way from their wintering grounds in Central and South America to breed in the Southern Appalachians — in the course of 3,000 miles, there are plenty of variables impacting populations that have nothing to do with what’s going on in Western North Carolina. Those who are tasked with analyzing the data have written hundreds of scientific papers on their findings, with IBP reciting the three main findings from the years of study on its website: survival rates of young birds can be as important as productivity to population change; conditions on wintering grounds and migration routes can carry over to affect birds the following summer; and weather can have a huge impact on success. The thought is that the conglomeration of data will lead to better understanding of the birds’ challenges and inform how best to address those challenges.

Affairs of the Heart

————————————————————————————— 120 N. Main St. • Waynesville, NC • 828.452.0526

outdoors

Pass on a legacy of land ethic People with a passion for educating the next generation in conservation stewardship and land ethics are the target of an upcoming workshop 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10, at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee. The Leopold Education Project, named for famed conservationist Aldo Leopold, is an innovative, interdisciplinary conservation ethics curriculum targeted to grades six through 12, increasing awareness of the land and how to make responsible choices for the planet. $20, with registration requested by July 29 with Robert Hawk, 828.488.3848 or robert_hawk@ncsu.edu.

Snakes may be the creatures most likely to elicit shouts of fear, but a lecture 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4, at the Highlands Nature Center will show the useful side of venomous snakes. Naturalist Carlton Burke will discuss human attitudes toward snakes — venomous and non-venomous — the various species in the Southeast, their natural history and how their venom has benefited science and medicine. Burke will have live snakes in tow to accompany his points. An interpretive naturalist and educator, Burke operates Carolina Mountain Naturalists, which offers wildlife and nature programs to various schools and camps. His other hats include Blue Ridge Naturalist Certificate Program teacher, Cradle of Forestry educator and federally licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Free. Part of the Zahner Conservation Lecture Series and sponsored by Ruth and Tom Claiborne and Mary Todd and Jim Davis. www.highlandsbiological.org or 828.526.2221.

Corn snake. Donated photo

High schoolers conquer the Rockies After biking more than 300 miles through the Rocky Mountains, the group of five high schoolers involved in Western Carolina University’s Project Discovery program had accumulated a long list of firsts. “It was a very good trip,” said Emma Dingle, a rising 10th-grader at Swain County High School. “I should’ve kept a list of everything.” The Project Discovery program, funded by the U.S. Department of Education and hosted by WCU, was a combination of challenge, leadership development and personal discovery.

“I feel like we learned a lot about group dynamics and how a group actually works,” said Dustin Leo, also a rising 10th-grader at Swain. “We learned a lot of different systems that help identify how a group is ready and how to adapt to group readiness. When we had to do our own leader of the day tasks, it really helped a lot to understand how to move the group forward.” The group, led by project director Todd Murdock, began its ride in Silverthorne, Colorado and ended up in Platoro, Colorado. The 13-day trip featured several 4 a.m. wakeup calls before riding some 50-mile stretches, or climbing elevations as high as 11,542-foot Hoosier Pass. “I’ll remember the views,” Dingle said. “For example, at the top of Hoosier Pass it looked like ‘The Sound of Music,’ the introductory shot.” www.projectdiscovery.wcu.edu.

July 27-August 2, 2016

Summertime snowfields shine on the Rockies as the Project Discovery students make a long climb. WCU photo

The helpful side of snakes

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Blue Ridge Breakaway rolls nearer outdoors

the traditional polka dot jerseys. The Blue Ridge Breakaway will return Register soon to get the early bird fee of for its seventh year, offering the views of $41 for the shortest route and $56 for the Haywood County roads and the Blue Ridge Parkway from a bicycle seat on Saturday, Aug. The Blue Ridge 20. Breakaway will be held With rides ranging Saturday, Aug. 20. File photo from 25 to 100 miles, the Breakaway offers a challenge for all skill levels in a noncompetitive atmosphere that prioritizes fun over speed — though the steep slopes of the Smokies offer plenty of that, too. New this year is a race within the ride, offering riders the chance to put on a burst three longer ones. After Aug. 1, rates go up of speed from the Burnette Siding Baptist to $46 and $66, respectively. Church to the on-ramp at the Blue Ridge The ride is organized by the Haywood Parkway. The fastest male and female riders County Chamber of Commerce. to complete the segment will be crowned www.blueridgebreakaway.com. King and Queen of the Mountain, winning

Senior croquet group forms The Waynesville Parks & Recreation Department is sponsoring the Wednesday Croquet Group from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. The group will meet at Vance Street Park across from the shelter. This is for senior croquet players ages 55 or older. The skill level involved is beginner and above. The court is marked and equipment will be provided. Free. 828.456.2030 or email dhummel@waynesvillenc.gov.

A weekend of free classes from REI — held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 30-31 at Carrier Park in Asheville — will offer the opportunity to build up outdoor skills. REI’s outdoor experts will be around to offer tips on everything from roadside bike repair to water filtration. Free energy snacks from Clif, Nuun and Aloe Gator will be on hand, and a free yoga class will offer calm Sunday morning. Free, with registration recommended. www.rei.com/learn.html.

July 27-August 2, 2016

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Calling all kids for Cherokee trout derby A two-day event to drive home a love of fishing in children will take over Cherokee Aug. 5-6 as the annual Talking Trees Children’s Trout Derby takes off again. The weekend will begin with hours of excitement at the Cherokee Indian Fair Grounds 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5, where kids will get to ride zip lines and other attractions and have a chance for free fishing

gear. Things will continue early Saturday morning with fishing 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Oconaluftee Island Park. The day will feature $20,000 in prizes, celebrity guests and live animal exhibits. Free, with breakfast and lunch provided Saturday. Registration takes place Aug. 5. Cherokee fishing permits are required for those 12 and older, available for purchase at locations listed on www.fishcherokee.com. 800.438.1601 or travel@nccherokee.com. www.visitcherokeenc.com.

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A weeklong series of hands-on outdoors classes will give youth 8-15 a chance to get comfortable in the woods with a choice of sessions running from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 1-5 or Aug. 8-12 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education near Brevard. With the “Week in the Woods” program, participants will learn about tracking, using a compass, survival skills and wildlife — and they’ll spend a day hiking to the top of John Rock. Free, with registration required. The Pisgah Center is adjacent to the Bobby N. Setzer Fish Hatchery, near Brevard off of U.S. 276. Register at www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/EducationCenters/Pisgah/EventRegistration.aspx. 828.877.4423.

Happy birthday, Smokey Bear

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Smokey Bear will celebrate his 71st birthday with a fun-filled day at the Cradle of Forestry in America 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6. Long a symbol of wildland fire prevention, Smokey will help cut a birthday cake to share and meet his friends as they celebrate with games, singing and seeing firefighting equipment up close. Children will leave with party favor bags including a book, The True Story of Smokey Bear, and families are welcome to pack a picnic. $6 for ages 16 and older; $3 for youth under 16; free for Smokey the Bear is looking for friends to help celebrate children under 4 with America the Beautiful passes and his 71st birthday. Donated photo Golden Age Passports accepted. The Cradle of Forestry is located on U.S. 276 in Transylvania County, about 35 miles from Waynesville. www.cradleofforestry.org.

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Local naturalist releases hiking guide

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Artists, wild animals and wine will draw a crowd to Addison Farms Vineyards in Leicester, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6. A fundraiser to support Appalachian Wild’s work to help injured and orphaned wildlife, the free event — Wild Art 2016: The Show to Benefit Appalachian Wildlife Refuge — will feature the work of 10 Western North Carolina artists. The artists will arrive at the vineyard on Friday to begin creating new works of art, with those pieces plus other work displayed for sale Saturday. Attendees will be able to watch as artist Tony Corbitt, of Asheville, paints an animal on location. The evening will also include a raffle for a special wine experience with Addison Farms and wine tastings for $8. Funds raised will go toward Appalachian Wild’s goal to establish a wildlife rehabilitation facility. “The community is struggling to care for the ever-growing number of wild animals in crisis each year,” said president and co-founder, Kimberly Brewster. “A facility is urgently needed, and our top priority is to secure a location and open a regional ‘wildlife 911’ to provide critical support to the wildlife rehabilitation network.” www.appalachianwild.org.

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Naturalist Ken Czarnomski — in partnership with the the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority — has released the third installment in a series of unique local hiking guides. The Blackrock Mountain Hiking Guide leads hiking enthusiasts on a 4.6-mile adventure that has the ability to be extended into as much as a 10.8-mile hike if preferred. This guide was of particular interest to Czarnomski due to the trail’s relationship to local land conservation efforts and the special history of the Plott Balsams. “Two years ago, I approached Southern Appalachian Highland Conservancy for permission to map there,” said Czarnomski. “In 2015, they approved the effort. Later, they put me in touch with Bill Holman, N.C. Director of The Conservation Fund, who was really knowledgeable about the local conservation efforts.” The guide is hand-drawn and illustrated by Czarnomski.

The partnership with the TDA came together in 2013 with an idea to create a one-of-a-kind Haywood County-specific hiking guide, starting with Purchase Knob. The map was so popular that it was followed up with a second, Sam’s Summit Loop Trail, and now the the Blackrock Mountain Hiking Guide. “I have worked closely with Ken from his very first guide until now and have personally hiked with him several times. I can honestly say he is one of the most knowledgeable and dedicated naturalists in this area, who has a deep passion for our mountains. I am proud of his continued efforts to expose people to the joys of hiking,” said Anna Jorstad, Communications Manager for the Haywood County TDA. The new guide includes the history of the Plott family and the hunting dog breed named after them, which is now the state dog. There is also information about the actual mountain range. For more information on the guides or to pick up your own copy of the free Blackrock Mountain Hiking Guide, stop by the Haywood County Visitor Center at 1110 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, N.C., 28751.

WNC Calendar COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS • The annual Haywood County Friends of the Library Book Sale is scheduled for July 28-30 at the Waynesville Branch. Hours are 9 a.m.-7 p.m. on Thursday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday.

BUSINESS & EDUCATION • A computer class on Excel II will be offered at 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday, July 27, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. 586.2016. • A Business After Hours event is set for 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, July 28, at 705 Highlands Cove Drive in Highlands. Networking receptions and showcases. $10 for nonmembers, applicable to annual members. RSVP: 743.5191 or info@cashiersareachamber.com. • The United States Police Canine (K-9) Field Trial Certifications will be held Aug. 8-12 in Haywood County. Donations needed for an Aug. 10 raffle. 736.3317, 926.0867 or bgilmore@waynesvillenc.gov. • Hunter Safety courses will be offered by Haywood Community College and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission from 6-9 p.m. on Aug. 8-9 at HCC’s Campus, Building 3300, Room 3322, in Clyde. More courses will be offered Sept. 19-20, Oct. 17-18 and Nov. 14-15. Pre-registration required: www.ncwildlife.org. • The Maggie Valley Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Board of Directors Meeting/Annual Dinner and Award Ceremony starting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 9, at Maggie Valley Club. 926.1686 or www.maggievalley.org.

FUNDRAISERS AND BENEFITS • The 28th annual Missions Bazaar will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 29-30 at the Wayne Proffitt Agricultural Center on the Macon County Fairgrounds in Franklin. 828.524.3267 or www.franklin-chamber.com. • Registration deadline is Aug. 4 for a dodgeball tournament to benefit Safe Kids Macon County. The event starts at 10 a.m. on Aug. 20. $125 registration fee per team in the youth division; $150 for adult teams. bringingit2life@gmail.com. • Richard’s Gala and Auction at Cataloochee Guest Ranch to Benefit Brain Cancer Research on Friday, August 5 at 5:30 pm. $75 tickets. Champagne reception, silent auction, dinner, music and fine wines, followed by an exciting live auction. Silent Auction is open for bids at www.richardsgala.org. • The Haywood County Arts Council’s “Gallery & Gifts” (formerly Gallery 86) is hosting their annual ArtShare exhibit Aug. 5-27 in downtown Waynesville. www.haywoodarts.org. • Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation will hold its 11th annual Downtown Dog Walk at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 6, in Waynesville. Supports Sarge’s work with homeless dogs and cats of Haywood County. $15 for each dog walking in the event. Registration forms: www.sargeandfriends.org. 246.1950. • PAWS is accepting donations for their upcoming slient aution to be held at their 13th Annual Wine Tasting fundraiser on Sept. 3. Donations will be accepted until August 15. pawsbrysoncity@yahoo.com or 488.0418. • Tickets are available for the Southwestern Community College Foundation’s second annual “Bluegrass, Blue Jeans and Bling” gala, which is Aug. 13 at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. Performances by Grammy nominee and seven-time International Bluegrass Music Association Award winner Darren Nicholson and his band as well as classics singer Steve Johannessen.

All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted. Sponsorships range from $1,500-$5,000, and individual tickets are $150. www.southwesterncc.edu/gala, 339.4227 or k_posey@southwesterncc.edu. • The Maggie Valley Lions Club will be holding its 8th Annual 4-Person Captain’s Choice Scramble at Maggie Valley Club on Thursday, August 18th. The cost is $65.00 per person, which includes coffee and rolls before, Lunch, and a Door Prize worth at least $25.00. All proceeds from this event go to Sight, Hearing and Community programs in and around Maggie Valley, NC. 828-452-1905 or colf828@hotmail.com. • Haywood County Tourism Development Authority is now offering smaller, single replicas quilt trail blocks for purchase. A portion of the cost of each block will go to the Friends of the Haywood County Animal Shelter to construct a new, much needed animal shelter. The 16x16 inch blocks will feature either a cat or dog will be available in four background colors — blue, purple, brown, and green. The blocks are priced at $65 each with 85 percent of the proceeds being donated to raise funds to build the new Haywood County Animal Shelter. 944.0761 or stop by 1110 Soco Road in Maggie Valley.

HEALTH MATTERS • An American Red Cross Blood Drive is set for 10 a.m.3 p.m. on Wednesday, July 27, at the Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 356.2800 or haywoodseniors.org. • An acupuncture clinic will be offered at 7:15 p.m. on July 27 at Waynesville Wellness. 356.5577. • A tired leg/varicose vein educational program will be offered at 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 28, at the Vein Center at Haywood Regional Medical Center in Clyde. Led by Dr. Al Mina, MD, FACS; and Dr. Joshua Rudd, DO. RSVP required: 452.8346. • Yoga at the Library is at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 4, in the Community Room of the Hudson Library in Highlands. 526.3031. • A 13-week program designed to help those affected by divorce will start at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 6, in the West Wing Lobby of First Baptist Church in Bryson City. The series is entitled “Divorce Care” and will be led by Steve Grissom of Wake Forest. Program meets from 6-8 p.m. each Saturday through Nov. 5. www.divorcecare.org or 488.2679.

RECREATION AND FITNESS • Bubble soccer is held every Thursday in July through the Jackson County Recreation Department. Women play from 7-7:45 p.m.; co-ed is from 7:45-9 p.m. $1 each time you play. Must be 18 or older. 293.3053. • High Mountain Squares will host their 34th anniversary Dance, July 29 at the Trinity Assembly church in Franklin. 342.1560 or www.highmountainsquare.

POLITICAL • Impressions and takeaways from the Republican and Democratic national conventions will be the topic for the Franklin Open Forum - Monday, August 1 at 7:00pm. Franklin Open Forum is a moderated discussion group, meeting at the Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Pub, located Downtown at 58 Stewart Street, Franklin. (Below and behind Books Unlimited.) Those interested in an open exchange of ideas (dialog, not debate) are invited to attend. For more information, call 371-1020. • A lunch-and-discussion group will be held by the League of Women Voters at noon on the second

Smoky Mountain News

Thursday of each month at Tartan Hall of the First Presbyterian Church in Franklin. RSVP for lunch: lwvmacon@wild-dog-mountain.info or 524.8369. • Highlands Mayor Patrick Taylor has coffee and an open public discussion with Highlands residents from 11 a.m.-noon on the last Friday of each month at Hudson Library in Highlands. www.fontanalib.org or 526.3031.

THE SPIRITUAL SIDE • The Frog Level Harmonic Dixieland Band will perform during the annual Parish Fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 30, at the Grace Church in the Mountains in Waynesville. 456.6029. • Dr. Tony Campolo, internationally known author, evangelist and activist, will be the featured speaker at 10:30 a.m. on July 31 in historic Stuart Auditorium at Lake Junaluska. Part of the Summer Worship Series. http://lakejunaluska.com/summer-worship. • The United Methodist Church (Webster) will host Robert Holquist & Linda Stewart at 5:30 p.m. July 31. A reception honoring the artists will be held on the church lawn following the performance. www.mountainlovers.com. • Bob Holquist will sing a recital as the final part of this year’s “Summer Evening in Webster” series at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 31, at Webster United Methodist Church. Linda Stewart will accompany. • Festival of Wisdom and Grace Conference is scheduled for Monday through Thursday, Aug. 1-4, at the Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center. Worship, workshops, professional training and fellowship relating to the second half of life. www.lakejunaluska.com/wisdom-and-grace. • Bishop Larry Goodpaster, Bishop of the WNC Conference of the United Methodist Church, will be the featured speaker at 10:30 a.m. on Aug. 7 in historic Stuart Auditorium at Lake Junaluska. Part of the Summer Worship Series. http://lakejunaluska.com/summer-worship. • The First Presbyterian Church (Franklin) will host a fundraising concert for the Black Mountain Home for Children, Youth & Families at 3 p.m. Aug. 7. 828.524.4755. • “Barnyard” Vacation Bible School will be offered for ages 4-14 from Aug. 9-14 at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Clyde. Meets from 3-5:30 p.m. on Aug. 9-12 and from 9:30-noon on Aug. 13-14. Register: 456.6493.

AUTHORS AND BOOKS • The Theme Team Book Club will be presented by the Waynesville Library from 2-4 p.m. on the first Friday of each month. Pick any book from a chosen them; each participant gets a chance to discuss his/her book. Signup required: 356.2507 or kolsen@haywoodnc.net. • The NetWest program of the North Carolina Writers Network will host an open mic night at 7 p.m. Friday, July 29, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. www.citylightsnc.com or 586.9499. • Author Kim DeLozier will hold a discussion on her new book Bear in the Back Seat: Adventures of a Wildlife Ranger from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 29 at the Swain County Visitor Center in Bryson City. www.greatsmokies.com. • Bob Mustin will present his new book Collateral Damage and Stories at 3 p.m. Saturday, July 30, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. • Martha Lemasters will read from and sign copies of her new memoir, “The Step: One Woman’s Journey to finding her own happiness and success during the

SENIOR ACTIVITIES • An opportunity to learn about the Haywood Gleaners is set for 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 2, at the Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 356.2800 or haywoodseniors.org. • An iPhone/iPad user group meets from 2-4:30 p.m. on Aug. 2, Aug. 30, Sept. 6 and Sept. 20 at the Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 356.2800 or haywoodseniors.org. • A lunch picnic for seniors is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 4, at Waterrock Knob through the Haywood County Senior Resource Center. $10 includes lunch, drink and sweet treat. Meet at the center at 11 a.m. 356.2800. • An AARP Smart Driver program will be offered from 12:30-5 p.m. on Aug. 4 at the Jackson County Senior Center in Sylva. $15 for AARP members; $20 for nonmembers. Register: 926.8948.

KIDS & FAMILIES • Entries are now being accepted for the Mountain Youth Talent Contest to be held at the 12th Annual Franklin Area Folk Festival on August 20, 2016 at Cowee School, Arts & Heritage Center. The entry deadline is August 12. All youth ages 5-18 who perform traditional mountain music, dance, or storytelling are invited to participate in this year’s Mountain Youth Talent Contest. jackson4-h.blogspot.com or 586-4009 or kerri_rayburn@ncsu.edu. • Registration is underway through Aug. 5 for fall youth soccer through the Jackson County Parks and Recreation. $55. Open to players with birth years from 2003-2012. Volunteer coaches needed. 293.3053. • Kindergarten Readiness Storytime is from 10-10:30 a.m. on Fridays throughout July at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. 524.3600. • Teen Olympics will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 27, at Jackson County Public Library. 586.2016. • Games and party for grades 3-6 is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 27, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. 524.3600. • Animal Tracks with live animals will be presented by the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences for ages 4-up at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 27, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. 524.3600. • “Wildlife Studies” will be the topic of a Junior Forester program for ages 8-12 from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on July 27 at the Cradle of Forestry in Pisgah Forest. $4 for youth; $2.50 for adults. Registration required: 877.3130. www.cradleofforestry.com.

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• “Animal Tracks and Signs” will be presented July 27-28 at three area libraries. The program from the N.C. Museum of Natural Science is at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 27, at Marianna Black Library in Bryson City; at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 28, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva and at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 28, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. • A program entitled “To See or Not to See: Camouflage” will be offered from 10:30 a.m.-noon and from 1:30-3 p.m. on July 28 at the Cradle of Forestry in Pisgah Forest. Part of the “Woodsy Owl’s Curiosity Club,” which meets Thursdays through Aug. 11. $4 per child or $2.50 per adult. Register: 877.3130. www.cradleofforestry.org. • Games, storytime and a party are scheduled for 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 28, at the Macon Library in Franklin. For ages 0-7. • An “Animal Tracks” program will be offered at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 28, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. 586.2016. • A children’s story time is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Friday, July 29, at the Jackson County Public Library. 586.2016. • Fabulous Fit Friday for all ages is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Friday, July 29, at Macon Library in Franklin. • Pizza and a movie for everyone who completed the summer reading program is scheduled for 3 p.m. on July 29 at Hudson Library in Highlands. Registration required: 526.3031 or www.fontanalib.org. • An Ice Cream party is scheduled for 1 p.m. on July 30 at Hudson Library in Highlands. 526.3031 or www.fontanalib.org. • Chef in Training program for grades K-6 is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 30, at Macon Library in Franklin.

July 27-August 2, 2016

• “Nature Connects®, Art with LEGO® Bricks” will be on display from July 30-Oct. 23 at the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville. www.ncarboretum.org. • Kids Fishing Day for ages 5-15 is scheduled for July 30 through the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department. Register by July 29. $5. 293.3053, 631.2020 or www.facebook.com/jacksonrecreationandparks. • “Week in the Woods” will be offered from 9 a.m.noon on Aug. 1-5 at Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. Focus is on outdoor skills and safety, tracking, using a compass, survival skills and more. Registration required: http://www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/EducationCenters/ Pisgah/EventRegistration.aspx.

Smoky Mountain News

• A “Nature Nuts: Skunks” program for ages 4-7 is scheduled for 9-11 a.m. on Aug. 2 and 20 at Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. Registration required: http://www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/EducationCenters/ Pisgah/EventRegistration.aspx.

• An “Eco-Explorers: Compass” program will be offered to ages 8-15 from 1-3 p.m. on Aug. 2 and 20 at Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. Registration required: http://www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/EducationCenters/ Pisgah/EventRegistration.aspx. • A Back to School event will be held Aug. 3 in Cherokee. angehern@nc-cherokee.com or 359.6473. • A program entitled “Woodsy’s Garden: Plants” will be offered from 10:30 a.m.-noon and from 1:30-3 p.m. on Aug. 4 at the Cradle of Forestry in Pisgah Forest. Part of the “Woodsy Owl’s Curiosity Club,” which meets Thursdays through Aug. 11. $4 per child or $2.50 per adult. Register: 877.3130. www.cradleofforestry.org. • “Forests Reduce, Reuse and Recycle” will be the topic of a Junior Forester program for ages 8-12 from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Aug. 4 at the Cradle of Forestry in Pisgah Forest. $4 for youth; $2.50 for

adults. Registration required: 877.3130. www.cradleofforestry.com. • Talking Trees Children’s Trout Derby is on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 5-6, at Oconaluftee Island Park in Cherokee. Event is from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Friday and from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sunday. $20,000 in prizes, celebrity guests and live animal exhibits. Registration is Aug. 5. Fishing permits required for ages 12 and older. www.fishcherokeee.com, 800.438.1601 or travel@nc-cherokee.com. • The Macon County 4-H will present a “District 4-H Activity – Fontana Fun Day” from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on Aug. 5 for ages 10-18. Cost is $12. 349.2046. • Smokey Bear’s Birthday Party will be observed from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 6, at the Cradle of Forestry in Pisgah Forest. 877.3130. www.cradleofforestry.com. • A Tracking class for ages 8-15 will be offered from 9-11 a.m. on Aug. 6 at Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. Registration required: http://www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/EducationCenters/ Pisgah/EventRegistration.aspx. • “Week in the Woods” will be offered for ages 8-15 from 9 a.m.-noon on Aug. 8-12 at Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. Focus is on outdoor skills and safety, tracking, using a compass, survival skills and more. Registration required: http://www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/EducationCenters/ Pisgah/EventRegistration.aspx. • A Fun Day in Franklin, presented by the Macon County 4-H, is scheduled for 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Aug. 9. For ages 5-18. Cost is $12. 349.2046. • LEGO Club for ages 5-12 meets at 4 p.m. on Aug. 9 at Canton Library. 648.2924 or kpunch@haywoodnc.net. • The Macon County 4-H will present a “Stain Glass Art” program from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:303:30 p.m. on Aug. 10. For ages 5-18. Cost is $6. 349.2046.

SUMMER CAMP • Voices in the Laurel will host its seventh-annual SummerVoice Music Camp from Aug. 1-5 at First Baptist Church in Waynesville. Theme is “A GLEEful Summer.” Tuition: $85 for first and second graders; $145 for third-through-12th graders. www.voicesinthelaurel.org or 734.9163.

KIDS MOVIES • “Secret Life of Pets” will be shown at 7 p.m. on July 27-28, at the Strand in Waynesville. • The “Movies on Everett” summer film series will screen “The Blind Side” July 29. All films are free and start at 8:30 p.m. www.greatsmokies.com. • A children’s movie, rated PG, is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 30, at Macon Library in Franklin. • A family movie will be shown at 2 p.m. on Aug. 1 at the Canton Library. Info, including movie title: 648.2924 or kpunch@haywoodnc.net. • A family movie will be shown at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 2, at the Marianna Black Library in Bryson City. Movie’s about an 11-year-old from Los Angeles aiming to make the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. Info, including movie title: 488.3030. • A teen movie rated PG-13 will be shown at 2 p.m. on Aug. 3 at Canton Library. 648.2924 or kpunch@haywoodnc.net. • A family movie raged G will be shown at 2 p.m. on Aug. 8 at Canton Library. 648.2924 or kpunch@haywoodnc.net. • A family movie will be shown 1 p.m. on Monday’s during the summer at Jackson County Public Library. 586.2016.

• Family story time for ages zero to six years old is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. each Tuesday at the Canton Library. 648.2924.

A&E FESTIVALS AND SPECIAL EVENTS • The 2016 Folkmoot festival closes on July 31. International Festival Day in downtown Waynesville on July 30, free and open to the public. Folkmoot 2016 – Candlelight Closing on July 31 from 7 to 9 p.m. Experience the wonder of dance, music, costumes and culture at this ALL GROUP, farewell performance. For listing of other events during the festival or to purchase tickets, please go to www.folkmootusa.org or call 452.2997. • The 51st annual Macon County Gemboree is Thursday through Sunday, July 28-31, at the Macon County Community Building. $2 admission for adults; free for ages 12-under. 800.336.7829 or 524.3161. • The annual Parish Fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 30, at the Grace Church in the Mountains in Waynesville. Donations of items are always welcomed. All proceeds benefit Haywood County nonprofit organizations. There will also be a flea market, onsite food vendors, and live music from the Frog Level Harmonic Dixieland Band. 456.6029. • The annual Hillbilly Jam will be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 29-30 at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. The musical lineup includes Joe Lasher Jr., Raymond Fairchild, Neon Truckers, Electric Circus, Stone Crazy Band, Steve Brown & The Hurricane Ridge Band, SmokeRise, and many more. Activities will also include a dog show, the Show ‘n Shine Car and Motorcycle Show. Admission is $10 per day. All ages admitted. For a full schedule of events, click on www.thehillbillyjam.com. • Art After Dark will continue from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5, in downtown Waynesville. www.downtownwaynesville.com or www.waynesvillegalleryassociation.com. • Reservations are being accepted for the Southwestern Community College Auto Club’s annual car show, which is Aug. 12-13 at the Wayne Proffitt Agricultural Center in Franklin in conjunction with the Mountain High BBQ Festival. Two categories: 1974 and older; 1975 and newer. Entry fees are $10 for Friday only; $20 for Friday and Saturday or $25 for Saturday. Top prize is $350; second place gets $150. Info and reservations: 524.3161, 888.368.2328 or d_myers@southwesterncc.edu.

FOOD & DRINK • The next “Way Back When” trout dinner will be at 5:30 p.m. Friday, July 29, at the Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley. $39.95 per person, plus tax and gratuity. The dinner will also be held Aug. 12 and 26, and Sept. 2 and 16. To RSVP, call 828.926.1401 or 800.868.1401 or www.cataloocheeranch.com.

ON STAGE & IN CONCERT • The Unto These Hills outdoor drama will run at 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday through Aug. 13 at the Mountainside Theater in Cherokee. 866.554.4557 or www.visitcherokenc.com. • “Jesus Christ Superstar” will be presented from July 8-31 at HART in Waynesville. Show times are 7:30 p.m. on July 28-30 and at 2 p.m. on July 31. Tickets: 456.6322 or www.harttheatre.org.

• “THE WIZARD OF OZ™” train ride at the Great Smoky Mountain Railroads depot in Bryson City. Operates July 28-31 and Aug. 4-7. Exact times and ticket prices available by calling 800.872.4681 or by visiting www.gsmr.com. • The production of the cult classic “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is on stage at 8 p.m. July 29-Aug. 1 at the Smoky Mountain Community Theatre in Bryson City. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students. www.smctheatre.com. • Larry Barnett and Blue Smith will perform traditional music at 7 p.m. on July 28 at Marianna Black Library in Bryson City. 488.3030. • Free dulcimer concerts will be offered on July 28 and 30 at Western Carolina University. Mountain dulcimers will be featured at 7 p.m. on July 28 in the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center; hammer dulcimer will be featured at 7 p.m. on July 30 in the theater of A.K. Hinds University Center. 227.7397. • Country/rock star Aaron Lewis will perform at 9 p.m. Friday, July 29, at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. The show is ages 21 and over. www.ticketmaster.com or call 800.745.3000. • Kellie Pickler, a small-town North Carolina native who competed on NBC’s “American Idol” and then again when she won ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 30, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. Tickets start at $45 each. www.greatmountainmusic.com or 866.273.4615. • Award-winning storyteller Gary Carden will present “Outlander” at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 31, at UNC Asheville’s Reuter Center. Mountain music by Joe Penland. Tickets: $6. http://olliasheville.com/specialprograms or 251.6140. • A concert featuring Balsam Range (www.balsamrange.com) with opening act Tellico (www.tellicoband.com) is from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 4, at Highland Brewing Company’s Event Center in Asheville. Tickets: https://www.highlandbrewing.com/whatsup/event/feast-to-the-beat/ . • “Steel Magnolias” will be performed Aug. 4-20 at the Highlands Playhouse. Tickets are $38 per person, $15 for children up to age 12. For complete show times and ticket information, click on www.highlandsplayhouse.org. • Mountain Faith will perform on Friday, August 5 at 7:30 p.m. at Stuart Auditorium, Lake Junaluska. Tickets are $18. Ages 18 and under are free. Tickets are available online at www.lakejunaluska.com/concerts http://www.lakejunaluska.com/concerts or by phone, 800-222-4930. • The “Songwriters in the Round” series will continue with Jerry Vandiver, Tim Buppert and Leslie Satcher at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, at the Balsam Mountain Inn. The Balsam Mountain Inn began the “Songwriters in the Round” series 15 years ago, and modeled it after similar performances at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe. A buffet dinner is included in the $49 ticket price, and seating begins at 6 p.m. For more information or to make a reservation, click on www.balsammountaininn.net or call 828.456.9498. • Tim Zimmerman and The King’s Brass will be in concert at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 6, at Stuart Auditorium in Lake Junaluska. Tickets range from $1823. www.LakeJunaluska.com/singers-august-concert or 800.222.4930.

OUTDOOR MUSIC • Renowned bluegrass/gospel group Balsam Range, winner of the 2014 International Bluegrass Music Association award for “Entertainer of the Year,” will perform at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 27, on the lawn of the A.K. Hinds University Center at Western Carolina University. The event is free and open to the public. www.balsamrange.com.

• The “Friday Night Live” concert series at the Town Square in Highlands will host The Johnny Webb Band (country) July 29 and Mountain Dulcimer Group (bluegrass) Aug. 5. Both begin at 6 p.m. www.highlandschamber.org.

• The “Saturday’s on the Pine” concert series at Kelsey Hutchinson Park in Highlands will host The Buchanan Boys (country/rock) July 30 and Nitrograss (bluegrass) Aug. 6. Begins at 6 p.m. www.highlandschamber.org. • The 7th annual “Concerts on the Creek” series will host Darren Nicholson Band (American/bluegrass) July 29 and Buchanan Boys (rock) Aug. 5, at the Bridge Park Pavilion in Sylva. • The Nantahala Outdoor Center (Bryson City) will host Corn Bread Ted & The Butterbeans (ragtime/blues) July 29, Rollin’ in the Hay (bluegrass/Americana) July 30, The Freight Hoppers (Americana/folk) Aug. 5 and Asheville New Grass (Americana/jam) Aug. 6. All shows are free and begin at 6 p.m. www.noc.com. • Liz & AJ Nance (Americana/folk) performs as part of the Bryson City Train Depot concert series at 6:30 p.m. on July 30. www.greatsmokies.com. • Balsam Range performs at 6 p.m. on July 30 at Stecoah Valley Center as part of the Appalachian Evening series. Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper will play August 6. www.stecoahvalleycenter.com/performance.html. • Sparky & Rhonda Rucker (Americana/folk) will play the Songcatchers Music Series at 4 p.m. Sunday, July 31, at the Cradle of Forestry in America. Admission for all shows is $6 for ages 16 and older, $3 for youth 15 and under and America the Beautiful and Golden Age pass holders. 877.3130 or www.cradleofforestry.org. • Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper perform at 6 p.m. on Aug. 6 at Stecoah Valley Center as part of the Appalachian Evening series. www.stecoahvalleycenter.com/performance.html.

CLASSES AND PROGRAMS • Fiber Sunday is from 2-5 p.m. on Sunday, July 31, at Cowee School Heritage Center in Franklin. 349.3878 or bouchonnet@coweetextiles.com. • Doreyl Ammons Cain will offer an outside landscape pastel painting class from 2-5 p.m. on Aug 6 at the Nature’s Home Preserve in Tuckasegee. 293.2239. • Annual Picnic of the Swain County Genealogical and Historical Society will be August 4 at 6:30 p.m. at Morgan Pavilion, Recreation Park, Deep Creek Road. The Society is providing BBQ and participants should bring a covered dish.

• The Dusty Pallet is the newest art gallery in Franklin. The studio is located in downtown at 52 East Main Street. For only $35, the gallery provides everything you need to create your own masterpiece. Watch for our days and times at their website, www.thedustypallet.com. Call and schedule your group at 524.5676. • Cribbage is at 6:30 p.m. every Tuesday at the Maggie Valley Inn. 410.440.7652 or 926.3978.

• A basketmaking workshop will be led by Donna Pollock from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 28, at the Dillsboro Masonic Lodge. Cost is $20. Register by July 21. 586.2435 or junettapell@hotmail.com. • A Viking round shield class will be taught by Brock Martin of WarFire Forge from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 30-31 at the Jackson County Green Energy Park in Dillsboro. Cost is $265, materials included. To register, call 631.0271 or www.jcgep.org. • A Paint and Pour party is scheduled for 6-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 2, at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva. $25 includes materials, instruction and demo. Pre-registration required: appalachianartfarm@gmail.com or prepay using paypal. • Stone Cutting Saturday will start at 9 a.m. Aug. 6 at the Mason Mountain Mine in Franklin. 828.524.4570 or www.tjrocks.org. • Blacksmith and metalsmith Brock Martin will host a “Beginning Bladesmithing Class” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 6-7 at the Jackson County Green Energy Park in Dillsboro. Participants will begin by making a simple butter knife from mild steel Cost is $215, with materials included. To register, call 631.0271 or www.jcgep.org.

ART SHOWINGS AND GALLERIES • “Uranian Willy Appalachian Super Art Extravaganza Event” featuring 21 multimedia pieces by William Earle Wheeler will be on display through July 30 at Panacea Coffeehouse in Waynesville. 316.1675. • Gallery Zella (Bryson City) will host live music, hors d’ouevres, wine and newly unveiled art collections. Artists featured for July 29 are Jo Ridge Kelley, impressionist painter; and Diannah Beauregard, jewelry designer. $25 per couple, which can be applied toward purchase of $100 or more. www.greatsmokies.com. • “Wild Art 2016: The Show to Benefit Appalachian Wildlife Refuge” is scheduled for noon-5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 6, at the Addison Farms Vineyards at 4005 New Leicester Highway, 20 minutes northwest of downtown Asheville. Raffle, wine tastings and more. kimberly@appalachianwild.org. • A touring exhibition of work by artist Wendy Maruyama is on display at the Penland Gallery in Penland. www.penland.org. • The graduating class of Haywood Community College’s professional crafts program is exhibiting exhibit class members’ best work at the 2016 Graduate Show, which runs through Aug. 7 at the Southern Highland Craft Guild Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville. Work includes clay, jewelry, fiber, metal and wood. The center is open from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

FILM & SCREEN • Adult movie time, 6:30 p.m. Mondays at Jackson County Public Library. Call for title of movie. 586.2016. • Mad Batter Food & Film (Sylva) will screen “Demolitions” (July 28), “Batman vs. Superman” (July 29), “Demolition” (July 28) and “Dirty Dancing” (July 30), “Elvis & Nixon” (Aug. 4), “Miracles from Heaven” (Aug. 5) and “Lego DC Comics Superheros” (Aug. 6). Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Fridays; and 2 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Saturdays. www.madbatterfoodfilm.com. • An Appalachian-based movie will be shown at 9:30 a.m.

Smoky Mountain News

• Submissions are now being accepted for the 2017 edition of Milestone, the biennial art and literary review published by Southwestern Community College. First- and secondplace cash prizes will be awarded in three categories: Poetry, Prose (short story or nonfiction works) and Visual Arts, including photography. In addition, one cash prize will be awarded for Cover Art. Open to residents of Jackson, Macon, Swain counties and the Qualla Boundary – as well as SCC students and alumni. Info and submissions (by Dec. 5): tknott@southwesterncc.edu or bkeeling@southwesterncc.edu. Info: 339.4314 or 339.4325.

• The Highlands Road Gem Show will be held July 28-July 31 at the corner of U.S. 441 and Highlands Road in Franklin. Rock, minerals, rough and cut gems, supplies, and more. Admission is free. 828.369.6341 or vwproperties@gmail.com.

July 27-August 2, 2016

• The “Groovin’ on the Green” concert series will host Miss Kitty & The Big City (pop/rock) at 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 29, and Erica Nicole (pop/country) Aug. 5 at The Village Green in Cashiers. Free. www.villagegreencashiersnc.com.

• The fourth-annual Cupcake Challenge is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 28, at the Canton Library. Theme is “Celebrating Appalachian Arts.” 648.2924.

wnc calendar

• The “Pickin’ On The Square” concert series will continue with Paradise 56 (blues/reggae) July 30 and Subject to Change (bluegrass) Aug. 6. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. A community jam begins at 6:30 p.m. www.franklinnc.com or 524.2516.

• Doreyl Ammons Cain will offer a portrait pastel painting class from 1:30-4:30 p.m. on July 28 at the Cashiers Senior Center. 293.2239.

wnc calendar

on Wednesday, July 27, at the Canton Library. Starring Bill Murray and Robert Duvall. Info, including movie title: 648.2924. • A screening of the documentary “The Sad & Beautiful World of Sparklehorse” will be presented at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 28, in the Community Room of the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. Film is about an alt-rock band and its founder. Co-sponsored by Friends of the Jackson County Public Library. 586.2016. • A classic 1966 comedy starring Audrey Hepburn and Peter O’Toole will be shown at 2 p.m. on Friday, July 29, at the Macon County Public Library Meeting Room in Franklin. A legendary art collector unknowingly sends a fake sculpture to a prestigious Paris museum. For info, including title, call 524.3600. 2:03.

Outdoors • An Emergency Medical Technician and WMI Wilderness Upgrade for the Medical Prrofessional will be offered on Aug. 1-5 - in Cullowhee. Register: 293.5384 or main@landmarklearning.edu. • Bleu Moon Productions’ “Tom Dooley: A Wilkes County Legend” will have performances specifically for Jackson, Haywood, Macon and Swain Counties at 8 p.m. on July 27 and July 30 at Forest’s Edge Amphitheatre in Wilkesboro. Residents of the aforementioned counties get $5 off the original $15 ticket price. www.tomdooleync.com or 336.426.2538.

July 27-August 2, 2016

• A Zahner Lecture on “The Ocean’s Invisible Forest: Insights into the Ecology of Phytoplankton” will be presented at 6:30 p.m. on July 28 at the Highlands Botanical Garden at the Highlands Biological Station. 586.2221 or www.highlandsbiological.org. • An “Animal Tracks” program will presented by the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 27, at Hudson Library in Highlands. 526.3031 or www.fontanalib.org. • A bird walk along the greenway is scheduled for 8 a.m. on July 27 in Franklin. Meet at Big Bear Shelter parking area. Franklinbirdclub.com or 524.5234. • Blue Ridge Parkway rangers will present a “Tall Tales to Tell on Trails” program at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 28, at the visitor center at Milepost 384. Registration required: 298.5330, ext. 304. • Retired Great Smoky Mountains National Park wildlife ranger Kim Delozier will discuss his books “Bear in the Back Seat I & II” from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Friday, July 29, at Bryson City’s National Park Visitor Center and Heritage Museum. www.SmokiesInformation.org or 888.898.9102, Ext. 325, 222 or 254.

Smoky Mountain News

• The Whitewater Junior Olympics are July 29-31 on the Nantahala River. Hosted by the Nantahala Racing Club. Slalom, downriver and freestyle competitions as well as

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 duckie-cross, yard games and free paddling on standup paddleboards. Register by July 27. $45 and open to ages 18-under. www.nantahalaracingclub.com/events/junior-olympics or on any event day for a $20 late fee. www.nantahalaracingclub.com. • The Cradle of Forestry invites the public to enjoy a program about western North Carolina’s logging train history and the 1915 Climax logging locomotive on Saturday, July 30, on display at the Cradle. Western North Carolina train historian Jerry Ledford will present a slide program at 10:30 a.m. and again at 2 p.m. Admission to the Cradle of Forestry is $5 for adults and free for youth under 16 years of age. 877.3130 or www.cradleofforestry.com. • A “Backyard Wildlife Photography Workshop” will be led by Larry Thompson from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, July 30, at the Balsam Community Center. Pre-registration required. Cost is $40. Send check to: Larry Thompson, P.O. Box 390; Balsam, N.C. 28707. Info: 452.5414 or lvthompson@earthlink.net. • Highlands Plateau Audubon Society birding with Russ Regnery is at 8 a.m. on Aug. 6 at the K-H Founders Park in Highlands. • Highlands Plateau Audubon Society will have its annual summer picnic at 6 p.m. on Aug. 7 at the Recreation Center Pavilion in Highlands. • Volunteers are needed to assist with the Alum Cave Trail Restoration Project every Wednesday through Sept. 13. Pre-registration required: friendsofthesmokies.org. • A whitewater release is scheduled for Saturday, July 30, at High Falls at Glenville Dam in Jackson County along N.C. 107. Hikers and anglers should take the release into account. • Train History Day is July 30 at the Cradle of Forestry in Transylvania County. 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. – old photographs and a talk by WNC train historian Jerry Ledford on local logging train history. www.cradleofforestry.org or 877.3130. • Free classes to help you build up outdoor skills will be offered by REI from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on July 30-31 at Carrier Park in Asheville. Register: www.rei.com/learn.html. • A program on “Animal Adventures along the Equator:

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From Africa to Ecuador” will be presented by Ed and Cindy Boos at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 1 at Hudson Library in Highlands. Mixer at 7 p.m. • Knot-Tying 101 will be offered on Aug. 3 at the Jackson County Recreation Center in Cashiers. Register: 293.3053 or 631.2020. Info: www.facebook.com/jacksonrecreationandparks.

HIKING CLUBS • Blue Ridge Parkway rangers will lead a moderate, 2.5-mile roundtrip hike at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 29, along the French Broad River floodway. Meet at the dirt pull-off on the northern end of the French Broad River Bridge at Milepost 393.5. 298.5330, ext. 304.

• A fishing clinic will be offered from 9-11 a.m. on Aug. 4 at the Test Farm. Register or get more info: tanya.poole@ncwildlife.org or 329.3472.

• Carolina Mountain Club will hold a 10-mile hike with a 2,400-foot ascent on July 30 on Pine Mountain Loop II. For info and reservations, contact leader Barbara Morgan at 460.7066 or barbc129@gmail.com.

• A “Fly Tying for the Beginner” class will be offered for ages 12-up from 1-4 p.m. on Aug. 6 at Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. Registration required: http://www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/EducationCenters/Pi sgah/EventRegistration.aspx.

• The Nantahala Hiking Club will take a seven-mile, moderate hike with an elevation change of 400 feet along the Bartram Trail on Saturday, July 30. Visitors welcome. Infor and reservations: 864.784.2124.

• A Zahner Lecture on “Night Sky Mysteries” will be presented from 8:30-9:30 p.m. on Aug. 9 at the Highlands Botanical Garden at the Highlands Biological Station. 586.2221 or www.highlandsbiological.org. • The Leopold Education Project, aimed a educating the next generation in conservation stewardship, will meet from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 10, at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee. $20; registration requested by July 20. 488.3848.

FARM AND GARDEN • A food preservation class will be taught by Julie Sawyer at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 2, in Canton. Registration required: 648.2924. • A “Gardening for Pollinators” program will be offered at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 4, in the Macon County Public Library Meeting Room in Franklin. http://balsammountainpreserve.com/the-nature-center/the-trust.

COMPETITIVE EDGE • RICHARD’S 3rd Annual 5K FUN RUN/WALK 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 6. Course will across mile-high meadows and along forest trails at Cataloochee Guest Ranch in Maggie Valley. The self-timed run crosses the ranch grounds at an elevation of 5,200 feet near the border of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Lunch available for purchase afterwards. Proceeds from the event will benefit Duke University’s Tisch Brain Tumor Center. Register today for the run/walk at www.richardsrun.org. The fee is just $10 in advance and $15 the day of the race. • Registration is underway for the Summer Blast Twilight Spring triathlon, which is Aug. 13 at Lake Chatuge. www.raceodysseyevents.com, tri20001@msn.com or 389.6982. • The Path to the Breakaway, a group for women 18 and older, meets regularly in preparation for the Blue Ridge Breakaway on Saturday, Aug. 20. Offered by BicycleHaywoodNC. Registration for the race is $41 (by Aug. 1) for the shortest route. www.blueridgebreakaway.com or bobclarklaw@gmail.com.

• Early registration deadline for a backpacking trip through Cataloochee is July 31. The trip is Sept. 9-10. $99 for non-GSMA Hemlock members; free for members. Hike is led by Chris Hoge of Wildland Trecking. www.smokiesinformation.org/info/backpacking. • Carolina Mountain Club will have a seven-mile hike with a 1,540-foot elevation gain on July 31 at Pisgah Ridge Loop. Info and reservations: Janet Onan (698.3237, 606.5188 or janonan59@gmail.com). • Carolina Mountain Club will have a four-mile hike with a 950-foot ascent on July 31 at Frying Pan Tower. For info and reservations, contact leader Ron Navik at 585.662.8047 or ron.navik@gmail.com. • The Nantahala Hiking Club will take a three-mile easy hike on Aug. 1 near Highlands to Secret Falls, which falls 60 feet to a pool suitable for wading and perhaps swimming. Meet at Bi–Lo parking lot in Franklin at 10 a.m., drive 40 miles round trip. Call leader Chris Frederico, 772.233.7277, for reservations. Visitors welcome. • An eight-mile hike in the Black Mountains near Burnsville is scheduled for 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 6. RSVP requested: 587.9453. • The Nantahala Hiking Club will take a two-mile easy hike, with an elevation change of 150 feet., on Aug. 7 to Big Laurel Falls and Mooney Falls, two easy trails along creeks in the Standing Indian Area. Meet at Westgate Plaza in Franklin at 2 p.m., drive 40 miles round trip. Call leader Mary Stone, 369.7352, for reservations. Visitors and children welcome. • Carolina Mountain Club will have an all-day, 10.5mile hike with a 1,500-foot elevation gain on Sunday, Aug. 7, at NC 215 to Buckeye Gap and Fork Ridge. For reservations and info, contact leader Paul Benson at 273.2098 or pdbenson@charter.net. • Carolina Mountain Club will have a half-day, fivemile hike with a 790-foot descent on Aug. 7 from Mill Ridge to Hot Springs. 790-foot ascent. For info and reservations, contact leader Jack Dalton: 622.3704 or jackdalton9@gmail.com. • Hike of the Week is at 10 a.m. every Friday at varying locations along the parkway. Led by National Park Service rangers. www.nps.gov/blri or 298.5330, ext. 304.

Puzzles can be found on page 46. These are only the answers.

PRIME REAL ESTATE Advertise in The Smoky Mountain News

LEGAL NOTICES

MarketPlace information:

CALL OF SPECIAL INFORMATION MEETING OF MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC A special information meeting of Mountain Projects, Inc., a North Carolina Nonprofit Corporation, is hereby called to be held on the First day of August, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. at the Administration building conference room located at 2251 Old Balsam Road Waynesville, NC. It is desired by the Board of Directors of the corporation that a potential loan be secured from Rural Development, United States Department of Agriculture, in order to obtain sufficient funds for the purchase and renovation of a future facility at 2177 Asheville Road Waynesville, NC. All or substantially all of the assets and property of the corporation acquired as part of this project may be encumbered to by the loan agreement.

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.

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■ 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.

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MON-FRI 7:30-5:00 • WAYNESVILLE PLAZA

828-456-5387

AUCTION BID ON-SITE & ONLINE! Construction Equipment & Trucks 8/2 @ 9 AM, Richmond, VAHave Equipment/Trucks To Sell? Accepting Consignments Thru 7/29 www.motleys.como 804.232.3300 x4 VAAL#16 AUCTION, Online w/ Bid Center, Olde Beau Golf & Country Club, Golf Course, Lots, Land & Houses, Roaring Gap, NC, Begins Closing 8/4/16, Selling Regardless of Price at the End of the Auction, ironhorseauction.com, 800.997.2248, NCAL3936

AUCTION

ANTIQUE TRACTORS, CLASSIC CARS AUCTION, Vintage John Deere Tractors, 1953 CHEVROLET Truck, Corvettes, Motorcycle, Online Only Auction, Bidding Ends JULY 28TH @ 7:00PM – Morehead City, NC www.HouseAuctionCompany.com 252.729.1162 NCAL#7889 REAL ESTATE AUCTION. Aug. 17, 2 PM. 25,742+/- SF office building on 3.92+/- ac. located 3 blocks from downtown Burlington and Amtrak. The building, constructed in 1942, has been renovated. Two outparcels for potential development. Approximately 50% leased for annual income of $88,500. Property is one block from Rt. 87 and 3 mi. from I-40/85. Will be sold for highest bid over $525,000. Inspections: Wed., Aug. 3 and 10, Noon - 2 PM. Address: 236 N. Mebane St, Burlington, NC 27217. 5% buyer's premium added to high bid. For information, contact Woltz & Associates, Inc. (NC #7560) Real Estate Brokers & Auctioneers, 800.551.3588, or visit www.woltz.com PUBLIC AUCTION Wednesday, August 3, 10am 924 North College St. Charlotte, NC Liquidation of Charlotte's Oldest Restaurant Equipment Dealer. Large quantity of New & Used Equipment! 704.791.8825. ncalf5479. www.classicauctions.com RUN YOUR CLASSIFIED In 101 North Carolina newspapers for only $375 for a 25-word ad. Call this newspaper or 919.516.8009 for details.

CONSTRUCTION/ REMODELING

ACORN STAIRLIFTS. The Affordable solution to your stairs! **Limited time -$250 Off Your Stairlift Purchase!** Buy Direct & SAVE. Please call 1.800.291.2712 for FREE DVD and brochure. ALL THINGS BASEMENTY! Basement Systems Inc. Call us for all of your basement needs! Waterproofing, Finishing, Structural Repairs, Humidity and Mold Control. Free Estimates! Call 1.800.698.9217 BATHTUB REFINISHING Renew or change the color of your bathtub, tile or sink. Fiberglass repair specialists! 5 year warranty. Locally owned since 1989. CarolinasTubDoctor.com. 888.988.4430. DAVE’S CUSTOM HOMES OF WNC, INC Free Estimates & Competitive rates. References avail. upon request. Specializing in: Log Homes, remodeling, decks, new construction, repairs & additions. Owner/Builder: Dave Donaldson. Licensed/Insured. 828.631.0747 or 828.508.0316 HAYWOOD BUILDERS Garage Doors, New Installations Service & Repairs, 828.456.6051 100 Charles St. Waynesville Employee Owned. SAFE STEP WALK-IN TUB. Alert for Seniors. Bathroom falls can be fatal. Approved by Arthritis Foundation. Therapeutic Jets. Less Than 4 Inch Step-In. Wide Door. Anti-Slip Floors. American Made. Installation Included. Call 800.807.7219 for $750 Off.

WNC MarketPlace

CONSTRUCTION/ REMODELING WANTED 20 HOMES Needing Roofs, Siding/Windows Government set aside up to $25,000 per household for improvements. No money down. Payment $59/Mo. Senior/Miitary Discounts 888.878.6443 *wac

PAINTING JAMISON CUSTOM PAINTING & PRESSURE WASHING Interior, exterior, all your pressure washing needs and more. Specialize in Removal of Carpenter Bees - Cedar or Log Homes or Painted or Siding! Call or Text Now for a Free Estimate at 828.508.9727

CARS A-1 DONATE YOUR CAR For Breast Cancer! Help United Breast Foundation Education, Prevention, & Support Programs. Fast Free Pickup - 24 Hr Response - Tax Deduction 855.306.7348 SAPA

www.smokymountainnews.com

July 27-August 2, 2016

CAPITAL CLASSIC CARS Buying All European & Classic Cars. ANY Condition. ANY Location. Porsche, Mercedes, Jaguar & More! Top Dollar PAID. CapitalClassicCars.com Steve Nicholas 1.571.282.5153 SAPA

DOES YOUR AUTO CLUB OFFER No hassle service and rewards? Call American Auto Club (ACA) & Get $200 in ACARewards! (new members only) Roadside Assistance & Monthly Rewards. Call 800.867.3193. SAPA

CARS -

EMPLOYMENT

ANTIQUE TRACTORS, CLASSICCars Auction, Vintage John Deere Tractors, 1953 CHEVROLET Truck, Corvettes, Motorcycle, ONLINE ONLY AUCTION, Bidding Ends JULY 28TH @ 7:00PM-Morehead City, NC www.HouseAuctionCompany.com 252.729.1162 NCAL#7889 CARS/TRUCKS WANTED!!! Top Dollar! Free Towing. All Makes/ Models 2000-2016. Same Day! Call Now: 1.800.761.9396 SAPA

MOTORCYCLES CRAZY BOB’S BIKER STUFF Jackets, Chaps, Vests, Helmets, Rain Gear, Saddlebags, Sissy Bar Bags, Tool Bags, Stickers, Patches. We also got you covered with 50 Sizes of Tarps: Heavy Duty Silver, Brown & Green, Blue & Silver, Blue & Camo. 1880 Dellwood Rd., Waynesville 828.926.1177

PETS HAYWOOD SPAY/NEUTER 828.452.1329

Prevent Unwanted Litters! The Heat Is On! Spay/Neuter For Haywood Pets As Low As $10. Operation Pit is in Effect! Free Spay/Neuter, Microchip & Vaccines For Haywood Pitbull Types & Mixes! Hours:

Tuesday-Friday, 12 Noon - 6 pm 182 Richland Street, Waynesville

JOPLIN HAD A LITTER OF PUPS RECENTLY, BUT NOW THEY'VE MOVED ON AND IT IS HER TURN TO FIND A FOREVER FAMILY. SHE IS A LOVELY YOUNG ADULT MIXED BREED--WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT MIX SHE IS, WE JUST KNOW SHE IS WONDERFUL AND WE ALL LOVE HER AT THE ADOPTION CENTER. SCARLETTE A BEAUTIFUL TABBY KITTEN ABOUT 12 WEEKS OLD. WE CAUGHT HER NAPPING WHEN WE TOOK HER PHOTOS, SO SHE LOOKS SLEEPY--BUT SHE IS A TYPICAL KITTEN FULL OF PLAYFUL ENERGY AND MISCHIEF. SHE'LL BE A DELIGHT TO HER NEW FAMILY.

B.H. GRANING LANDSCAPES, INC Now hiring for the position of crew member - the grass is growing and so is our business come join our team. Full-time year round work, competitive wages, good work environment. Please call 828.586.8303 for more info or email resume to: roger.murajda@bhlandscapes. com DRIVER TRAINEES Paid CDL Training! Stevens Transport Will Cover All Costs! No Experience Needed! Earn $800 per week! Local CDL Training! 1.888.748.4137 drive4stevens.com DRIVERS: REGIONAL & OTR Company: Complete Benefits Package. O/OP’s and Lease. Payment Options for 2012 Cascadia’s, Just Sign and Drive. CDL-A 2yrs Exp. Billy 855.204.6535 FAYETTEVILLE TECHNICAL Community College is now accepting applications for the following positions: Dean of College and Career Readiness. For detailed information and to apply, please visit our employment portal at: https://faytechcc.peopleadmin.com / Human Resources Office Phone: 910.678.8378 Internet: http://www.faytechcc.edu An Equal Opportunity Employer. FULL CHARGE ACCOUNTANT Sylva, NC based not-for-profit organization is seeking a fulltime Accountant to handle all accounting functions including general ledger, payroll, accounts receivable and account payable. Applicants should have accounting education and several years hands-on accounting experience. Good working knowledge of Excel and Word are required. Please send resume to: jobs@websterenterprises.com CDL A or B DRIVERS Needed to transfer vehicles from area customers to various locations throughout U.S.-Noforced dispatch- We specialize in connecting the dots and reducing deadhead. Safety Incentives! Call 1.800.501.3783 or apply at: www.mamotransportation.com/driv eaway-jobs-transport-driverswanted/.

EMPLOYMENT GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS RAILROAD IN BRYSON CITY Is currently hiring for our Property Maintenance Department. We currently have vacancies for a year-round Property Maintenance Supervisor and a Property Maintenance & Special Events Props/ Set Design Manager. We also have a vacancy for a Seasonal Property Maintenance Worker. Earn train passes, retail & food discounts, passes to area attractions and more! Full Job Descriptions and Applications are Available at: www.gsmr.com/jobs ADVERTISE YOUR Job Opening, Event, Items For Sale, Auction etc. in this newspaper plus 100 other newspapers across the state for only $375. For more information, contact the classified department of this newspaper or call NCPS 919.516.8018, email: ads@ncpress.com HEAD START DIRECTOR Mountain Projects is seeking applicants for Head Start/Early Start Director for Haywood and Jackson Counties. Applicants must have a Bachelor Degree in related field but a Master’s Degree is preferred. A minimum of 3 years experience is required including supervision and budget management. Knowledge of Early Childhood Education is preferred. Applicant must be able to travel locally and out of the area, work a flexible work schedule, and work with diverse populations. Strong written and oral skill is necessary. Applications will be accepted through the summer. Resumes submitted without completed applications will not be considered. Mountain Projects, Inc 2251 Old Balsam Rd., Waynesville, NC 28786 www.mountainprojects.org EOE/AA HIGH-TECH CAREER With U.S. Navy. Elite tech training w/great pay, benefits, vacation, $ for school. HS grads ages 17-34. Call Mon-Fri 800.662.7419.

CUSTOMER SERVICE ADVOCATE Resolve problems, concerns, insurance, coding and billing questions, manages all incoming internal and external customer phone calls, e-mails. Send your resume and salary to: skan76@outlook.com

AVIATION GRADS Work with JetBlue, Boeing, Delta and others- start here with hands on training for FAA certification. Financial aid if qualified. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance 866.724.5403 SAPA

COLONIAL LIFE Seeking Experienced Benefits Counselors. Immediate Income Potential! All training provided. LA&H license. Contact Jennifer: 843.323.6015. JAngelich@ColonialLife.com.

NUCLEAR POWER Paid Training, great salary, benefits, $ for school. Gain valued skills. No exp needed. HS grads ages 17-34. Call Mon-Fri 800.662.7419.

EMPLOYMENT HUD HOUSING INSPECTOR Haywood/Jackson County. Associate Degree Preferred, Ability to Work in Diversified Situations, Ability to Travel in Remote Locations, Computer Literate Excel/Word Required. Basic Knowledge of Property & Rental Management Preferred. Travel Required. Please Apply at: www.mountainprojects.org or 2251 Old Balsam Rd., Waynesville, NC 28786 EOE/AA

JACKSON CO. PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES IS NOW PARTNERED WITH MERIDIAN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES We are currently recruiting for the following positions in Child Services: • Clinicians for Outpatient Services • Clinicians for Day Treatment Services • Clinicians for Intensive In-Home Services • Clinicians for DJJ Populations • Qualified Professionals for Day Treatment Services • Qualified Professionals for Intensive In-Home Services Please visit the employment section of our website for further information about any positions listed and apply directly by submitting an application and resume. www.meridianbhs.org NEED MEDICAL BILLING TRAINEES! Doctors & Hospitals need Medical Office Staff! No Experience Needed! Online Training gets you job ready! HS Diploma/GED & Computer needed. Careertechnical.edu/nc. 1.888.512.7122. MAD BATTER FOOD & FILM In Downtown Sylva is Hiring Experienced Cooks and PartTime Dishwashers. Please Apply in Person Tues. - Fri., 2pm - 5pm TRAIN AT HOME For a new career as an accounting assistant! Call for more info about our online training program! Learn to process Payroll, Invoices & more! Job placement assistance when completed. HS Diploma/GED required. 1.888.407.7063.

FINANCIAL BEWARE OF LOAN FRAUD. Please check with the Better Business Bureau or Consumer Protection Agency before sending any money to any loan company. SAPA

FINANCIAL ATTENTION! Landscapers, Carpet Cleaners, Handymen and General Contractors! Get Up to $250,000 in Business Cash, Credit and or Financing! 800.417.6360 Ext 7118, www. ExpertFundingSpecialists.INFO LOWEST HOME MORTGAGE RATES & Fast Approvals by Phone!!!! Programs available for Good & Bad Credit. Call 910.401.3153 Today for a Free Consultation. SAPA 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. SOCIAL SECURITY Disability Benefits. Unable to work? Denied benefits? We Can Help! WIN or Pay Nothing! Contact Bill Gordon & Associates at 1.800.670.4805 to start your application today!

FURNITURE COMPARE QUALITY & PRICE Shop Tupelo’s, 828.926.8778. HAYWOOD BEDDING, INC. The best bedding at the best price! 533 Hazelwood Ave. Waynesville 828.456.4240

LAWN & GARDEN 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 HEMLOCK HEALERS, INC. Dedicated to Saving Our Hemlocks. Owner/Operator Frank Varvoutis, NC Pesticide Applicator’s License #22864. 48 Spruce St. Maggie Valley, NC 828.734.7819 828.926.7883, Email: hemlockhealers@yahoo.com

HEAVY EQUIPMENT

SAWMILLS From only $4397.00- Make & Save Money with your own bandmill- Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship! FREE Info/DVD: www.NorwoodSawmills.com. 1.800.578.1363 Ext.300N

REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCEMENT LAKE FRONT LIQUIDATION! Saturday July 30th! 5+/- Acres $9,900. Breathtaking Lake Views! Call today to book your preview showing! 1.888.270.4695. Don’t miss out! 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

REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCEMENT

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 an equal opportunity basis.

BRUCE MCGOVERN A Full Service Realtor, Locally Owned and Operated mcgovernpropertymgt@gmail.com McGovern Property Management 828.283.2112.

APT. FOR RENT UNFURNISHED DOWNTOWN SYLVA APARTMENT For Rent. Full Kitchen, Washer & Dryer. For Details Email: madevans@yahoo.com

Haywood County Real Estate Agents

147 Walnut Street • WayneSville

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

828.506.7137

aspivey@sunburstrealty.com

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Lifestyle Properties — vistasofwestfield.com

www.amyspivey.com

Beverly Hanks & Associates

ROB ROLAND

828-400-1923

RROLAND33@GMAIL.COM

maggievalleyselfstorage.com 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.

Find the home you are looking for at www.robrolandrealty.com

Ann Eavenson R B A ESIDENTIAL

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 1.800.319.8705 SAPA GOT KNEE PAIN? Back Pain? Shoulder Pain? Get a pain-relieving brace at little or NO cost to you. Medicare Patients Call Health Hotline Now! 800.480.7503

ROKER

SSOCIATE

ann@beverly-hanks.com

MEDICAL www.beverly-hanks.com

828.506.0542

828.452.5809 office

• • • •

Catherine Proben - cproben@beverly-hanks.com Ellen Sither - EllenSither@beverly-hanks.com Mike Stamey - MikeStamey@beverly-hanks.com Pamela Williams - PamelaWilliams@beverly-hanks.com

Emerson Group • George Escaravage - george@emersongroupus.com

ERA Sunburst Realty - sunburstrealty.com • Amy Spivey - amyspivey.com • Rick Boarder - sunburstrealty.com Haywood Properties - haywoodproperties.com • Steve Cox - info@haywoodproperties.com Keller Williams Realty kellerwilliamswaynesville.com • Sam Hopkins - samhopkins.kwrealty.com

Lakeshore Realty • Phyllis Robinson - lakeshore@lakejunaluska.com

LIFE ALERT. 24/7. One press of a button sends help FAST! Medical, Fire, Burglar. Even if you can’t reach a phone! FREE Brochure. Call 800.734.2638

Mountain Home Properties mountaindream.com • Sammie Powell - smokiesproperty.com

McGovern Real Estate & Property Management

VIAGRA & CIALIS USERS! Cut your drug costs! SAVE $$! 50 Pills for $99.00. FREE Shipping! 100% Guaranteed and Discreet. CALL 1.800.290.0314 SAPA

• Bruce McGovern - shamrock13.com

Realty World Heritage Realty

RIVER PARK APARTMENTS

EMERSON

——————————————

realtyworldheritage.com • Carolyn Lauter realtyworldheritage.com/realestate/viewagent/7766 • Martha Sawyer realtyworldheritage.com/realestate/viewagent/7769

RE/MAX — Mountain Realty

GROUP

• Brian K. Noland - brianknoland.com

7 BEAVERDAM ROAD - SUITE 207

• The Real Team - the-real-team.com

George Escaravage BROKER/REALTOR ASHEVILLE, NC 28804 | WWW.EMERSONGROUPUS.COM

828.400.0901 george@emersongroupus.com

find us at: facebook.com/smnews

remax-waynesvillenc.com | remax-maggievalleync.com • Mieko Thomson - ncsmokies.com • The Morris Team - maggievalleyproperty.com

smokymountainnews.com

93 Wind Crest Ridge in Dillsboro. Social community designed for the Elderly (62 or older) or persons with disabilities, has regularly scheduled, varied activities. Energy efficient, affordable 1 BR apts. AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY! Rental Assistance Available. Accessible units designed for persons with disabilities subject to availability. $25 application fee; credit/criminal required. Call site for information 828.631.0124. Office hours are M-Th 1-3 pm or by appointment. Equal Housing Opportunity. This institution is professionally managed by Partnership Property Management, an equal opportunity provider, and employer.

• • • • •

beverly-hanks.com Ann Eavenson - AnnEavenson@beverly-hanks.com Randy Flanigan - RandyFlanigan@beverly-hanks.com Michelle McElroy - MichelleMcElroy@beverly-hanks.com Marilynn Obrig - MarilynnObrig@beverly-hanks.com Brooke Parrott - BrookeParrott@beverly-hanks.com

July 27-August 2, 2016

HOMES FOR SALE

SFR, ECO, GREEN

355-02

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

FLAGLER BEACH FLORIDA Oceanfront Vacation Rentals Tripadvisor Award, Furnished Studio, 1-2-3 BR’s, Full Kitchen, WiFi, TV, Pool. Seasonal Specials 1.386.517.6700 or www.fbvr.net

WNC MarketPlace

OCONALUFTEE RIVER, WHITTIER Waterfront View Improved Building Sites for Sale by Owner. State Maintained Rd. Access, Gated, House-Sites Cut In, Well, Electric, 3 Bedroom Septic In, Gravel Drives, Dock, Southern Exposure, Private, Ready to Build. Call to See: 828.788.6879, Don’t Wait!

VACATION RENTALS

• Ron Breese - ronbreese.com • Dan Womack - womackdan@aol.com

TO ADVERTISE IN THE NEXT ISSUE 828.452.4251 | ads@smokymountainnews.com 45

www.smokymountainnews.com

July 27-August 2, 2016

WNC MarketPlace

Super

PROPELLING ANSWER

CROSSWORD

76 Fit of petty annoyance ACROSS 79 Defiant sorts 1 Syria’s president since 81 “Fer — out loud!” 2000 84 Riddle, part 4 6 Devalue 87 Biker’s bike, infor13 Most optimistic mally 20 Fry lightly 88 Voting sheet 21 Pilot in “Star Wars” 89 Seeing things 22 Everywhere 90 Best Picture of 2012 23 Start of a riddle 91 Illusion artist M.C. 26 Bull-themed tequila — brand 93 Fritz’s “the” 27 Bewildered 94 Pop singer Lisa 28 Fore and — 95 Swimming star Janet 29 Baseballer Stengel 96 End of the riddle 30 “— pro nobis” 100 Put frosting on (“pray for us”) 101 President pro — 32 Top-secret govt. 102 Greek letter after pi group 103 Turn to hit 34 Be a stinker 107 “Give — kiss!” 36 Riddle, part 2 109 Having skill 47 Thwart 112 Vigorless state 48 Big name in elevator 117 Riddle’s answer safety 121 Dermal art 49 — Lankan 122 3-D model of a 50 Farmer, e.g. scene 51 Grain tower 123 Sasha’s sis 52 P.O. part 124 Patroness of 53 Like forests Quebec: Abbr. 55 Singer Falana 125 Pen user’s stain 56 Riddle, part 3 126 Lute of India 59 Morale restorer 60 General Electric co- DOWN founder 1 Life — know it 61 Ending for switch 2 Comic Mort 62 Venom 3 Raw beef fat 64 Curtain fixture 4 — charge (costing 65 Cheer at a 59-Across zip) 67 “Miami Ink” channel 5 Tigers’ home 69 Not talking 6 “Evita” narrator 70 Chinese philosophy 7 “If I — nickel for ...” 73 Neighbor of 8 Slaughter in baseball Mozambique 9 Climbs

10 Fertilizer compound 11 “Xanadu” band, briefly 12 Director Ephron 13 One giving a tirade 14 On in years 15 Smooth raincoat 16 Fort Dodge’s state 17 Days before holidays 18 Dried and withered 19 Deuce topper 24 Rhino part 25 “Yes, alas” 31 In on — thing 33 Big name in old fables 35 Jumpy 36 Dryer go-with 37 Spanish city or province 38 Installed anew, as floor tiles 39 Kris — (‘90s rap duo) 40 Common answer at the door 41 Saltpeter 42 Organization 43 Film director Christopher 44 Many a missing GI 45 “Little” Dickens girl 46 Strong cart without sides 52 Prescribing punishment 53 Tam-o’-shanter, e.g. 54 Wedge filling a gap 57 Mosque holy book 58 Kiddie 59 Foe of Paris 63 Is an Internet explorer 66 “Funny joke!”

68 Mongrel mutt 70 Largest city in Iran 71 Makes flush 72 Absorb gradually 73 Power 74 Crazy notion 75 Archipelago makeup 77 Fluid in refrigeration 78 Lobby 80 “Huzzah!” 81 Gnaw on 82 Itchy eruption 83 Service org. for females 85 Kazakh journalist of film 86 Giant in grills 88 — -a-brac 92 Book version 94 Loosens (up) 95 People who lend their names to things 97 Downfall 98 “Sure, whatever” 99 Persian ruler 103 Rented residences: Abbr. 104 “— does it!” 105 Eight-bit unit 106 Dog in “The Thin Man” 108 “... — can’t get up!” 110 Clear hurdles 111 Red monster of kids’ TV 113 Morales of “Freejack” 114 Thaw 115 Large pelvic bones 116 Way yonder 118 Hoodwink 119 Victory 120 Tit for —

answers on page 42

PERSONAL MAKE A CONNECTION. Real People, Flirty Chat. Meet singles right now! Call LiveLinks. Try it FREE. Call now 1.888.909.9978 18+. SAPA 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 $330 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

WANTED TO BUY

CASH FOR UNEXPIRED Diabetic Test Strips! Free shipping. Best Prices & 24 hr payment! Call 1.855.378.1147 www.TestStripSearch.com Habla Espanol SAPA 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. WE BUY DAMAGED VEHICLES! Top Dollar Offer. Free Towing From Anywhere. All Makes/Models 20002015 Wanted. America’s Top Car Buyer! Call Now: 1.800.761.9396 SAPA

ENTERTAINMENT SCOTTISH TARTANS MUSEUM 86 East Main St., Franklin, Open 10am- 5pm, Mon - Sat. Come & let us find your Scottish Connection! 828.584.7472 or visit us at: www.scottishtartans.org. ULTIMATE BUNDLE From DIRECTV & AT&T. 2-Year Price Guarantee -Just $89.99/ month (TV/fast internet/phone) FREE Whole-Home Genie HD-DVR Upgrade. New Customers Only. Call Today 1.800.849.3514

SCHOOLS/ INSTRUCTION EARN YOUR High School Diploma from home, at your own pace, in as little as a few weeks. Tablet with every $100 enrollment. 1.800.658.1180 or www.fcahighschool.com for free brochure. SAPA

SERVICES FAST INTERNET! HughesNet Satellite Internet. HighSpeed. Avail Anywhere. Speeds to 15 mbps. Starting at $59.99/mo. Call for Limited Time Price? 1.800.916.7609 SAPA SAVE ON Internet and TV bundles! Order the best exclusive cable and satellite deals in your area! If eligible, get up to $300 in Visa Gift Cards. CALL NOW! 1.800.791.0713 SAPA

SERVICES 19.99/mo. DIRECTV HD Channels + Genie HD DVR + 3 months FREE HBO, SHOW, MAX & STARZ + FREE NFL Sunday Ticket! Call Now 888.437.6598 SAPA AT&T U-VERSE INTERNET Starting at $15/month or TV & Internet starting at $49/month for 12 months with 1-year agreement. Call 1.800.898.3127 to learn more. DISH TV 190 Channels plus Highspeed Internet Only $49.94/mo! Ask about a 3 year price guarantee & get Netflix included for 1 year! Call Today 1.800.351.0850 SAPA EXEDE HIGH SPEED INTERNET. Plans from $39/mo. Blazing Fast Broadband in areas cable can’t reach. Great for business or home. We Install Fast. 1.888.822.0480. SAPA LOWER YOUR TV, Internet & Phone Bill!!! Fast Internet from $15/mo - qualifying service. Limited Offer. Plus, qualified callers get a FREE $300 Gift Card. Call Today!! 844.613.2228 SAPA PROTECT YOUR HOME With fully customizable security and 24/7 monitoring right from your smartphone. Receive up to $1500 in equipment, free (restrictions apply). Call 1.800.375.5168 REDUCE YOUR CABLE BILL. Get a Home Satellite System installed FREE with packages starting under $1 per day. Free HD/DVR upgrade to new callers. Call 844.600.8891 Today!! SAPA

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 42

The golden beetle is a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;drop of molten goldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Few who see the â&#x20AC;&#x153;gold bugâ&#x20AC;? forget it. It is one of the most striking insects in the Puget Sound area. The golden tortoise beetle is a stunning, vibrant metallic gold color. It has a magical quality, not only because of the brilliance of its color, but also because the brilliance isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t permanent.Â MetrionaÂ can alter color within a short time period. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Louise Kulzer, online â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bug of the Monthâ&#x20AC;?

George Ellison

henever I go walking here in Bryson City, I cross the river on the townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s middle bridge and come back via the lower bridge. While crossing the bridges, I never fail to pause and look down into the water. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something irresistible about moving water. I sometimes see bream, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass or the big bottom-feeding suckers called red horse. Columnist There are always mallards and Canada geese hanging around as well as the occasional great blue heron. Along the banks above and below the bridges thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a tangled profusion of plants.

BACK THEN Towering above everything else are clusters of bull thistle, a gathering of mauve-colored Joe Pye weed, and the butter-colored flowering heads of green-headed coneflower. Down lower is a stand of soapwort. Interlaced throughout the foliage are strands of dodder and hedge bindweed. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to confuse the various bindweed species with those classified as morning glories or wild potato vines. In general, the latter display heart-shaped leaves with rounded bases whereas bindweeds display arrowshaped leaves with points at their bases. Hedge bindweed flowers are, in my opinion, as pretty as any of the various color forms displayed by morning glory â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and their leaves are more distinctive. One morning some time ago, I had a powerful pair of 10x50 binoculars with me. I wanted to watch the great egret, which wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t there. But, while peering through the binoculars down into the bindweed, I spotted a gleaming insect on one of the leaves that could justly be described as â&#x20AC;&#x153;a drop of molten gold.â&#x20AC;? It was a golden tortoise beetle, a critter about a quarter of an inch in length and breadth that does, in fact, resemble a tiny tortoise. Golden tortoise beetles (see the upper leaf in the illustration) will feed on morning

TAKE THE RIDE OF YOUR LIFE!

The Hawk (105.7 miles) â&#x20AC;˘ The Trout (76.43 miles) Both covering sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

glory and other closely related species, but they seem to prefer hedge bindweed, the leaves of which are often perforated with the holes they create. I first learned to look

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The Panther (50.8 miles) â&#x20AC;˘ The Rabbit (25.8 miles) All routes will begin at the Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center. Riders will explore mountain valleys near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Pisgah National Forest and in the shadow of Cold Mountain.

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Smoky Mountain News

July 27-August 2, 2016

7TH ANNUAL BLUE RIDGE AUG20 2016 BREAKAWAY

Elizabeth Ellison illustration

for golden tortoise beetles in Neltje Blanchanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wild Flowers (1926), one of those old-time books of the sort that always seem to be chocked full of information not only about plants but also their pollinators and predators. Therein, it was Blanchan who first described the insect as â&#x20AC;&#x153;a drop of molten gold.â&#x20AC;? She also quoted William Hamilton Gibson, the 19th century lecturer on natural history, who had observed that this beetle, which is quick and difficult to catch, has several color forms: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nor is the golden sheen all the resource of the little insect; for in the space of a few seconds, as you hold him in your hand, he has become a milky iridescent opal, now mother-of-pearl, and finally crawls before you in coat of dull orange.â&#x20AC;? Such wonders will you see if you get out the door and go walking. (George Ellison is a naturalist and writer. He can be reached at info@georgeellison.com.)

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Smoky Mountain News July 27-August 2, 2016