35 minute read
Futurebirds fly into the Salvage Station
Givin’ it the old college try
Daniel Womack of Futurebirds
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
On its new four-song EP, “Bloomin’,” Athens, Georgia-based rock outfit Futurebirds tapped Carl Broemel to not only produce the album, but also collaborate, as heard on the powerhouse track “Blue Eyed Girl.”
Guitarist for rock juggernaut My Morning Jacket, Broemel is yet another step onward and upward for the ‘Birds — arguably the wildest, most intriguing and invigorating ensemble in America right now. Some 12 years into its coast-to-coast musical odyssey, the ‘Birds remain a steadfast, ever-evolving entity of sonic textures and lyrical aptitude.
And it’s that “hell or high water” mentality the ‘Birds have retained at its core since its inception that lies at the foundation of this current, bountiful chapter for the band — a raucous stage presence and intricate artistic purpose of unlimited possibility and potential.
Want to go?
Rising rockers Futurebirds and Moon Taxi will perform at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, on the outdoor stage at the Salvage Station in Asheville.
Sparkle City Disco will kick off the show. Doors open at 5 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 day of show (general admission).
For more information and/or to purchase, go to www.salvagestation.com and click on the “Events” tab.
Smoky Mountain News: Futurebirds were lining up for a breakthrough year in 2020. New album. National tour. Then, the shutdown. What’s been your big takeaway with that, and with live music slowly coming back?
Daniel Womack (guitarist): Personally, I’ve just been reflecting a lot, honestly. On just what we’ve gone through these past 12 years as a band. We’ve been touring relentlessly pretty much the whole time until 2020.
And [during the shutdown], I’ve been going through pictures, going through memories. It was the first time in a long time that I’ve been like, “Wow, we’ve really been through a lot.” We’ve been through all the clichés of van life and being a band on the road for the past decade.
And feeling successful for the first time also, in a way that we had never been. Everything was so crazy during the pandemic. But, for some reason, we stayed afloat, and even thrived at certain points.
I think if it weren’t for putting in the groundwork and the road work that we did for the past decade — building relationships with our fans — then [our post-pandemic survival] wouldn’t have even been possible.
SMN: And that’s what I hear from a lot of longtime musicians and bands. They all say the key to being successful in the music industry is, “don’t quit.”
DW: Yeah. I mean, some people had told us that after that decade mark [things would start to happen]. You know, it’s true, even for regular businesses. Things just started happening.
I remember people [would tell us to] “just keep going.” And we were probably eight or nine [years together] at that point. That’s just one of those things [where we thought] it wouldn’t happen to us. But, as soon as we hit the decade mark, things started to fall into place a little bit.
Then, we released [the album] “Teamwork” two months before the pandemic actually hit. But I think we’re now starting to see the result of all that [momentum], getting back on the road in a more consistent way these last few months. We’re selling out pre-sale tickets everywhere, which hasn’t ever really happened, to be honest with you.
And I think that’s a result of “Teamwork” leading into “Bloomin’” with Carl, as well. Those two releases and everything else that we’ve done the past decade or more is the reason we’re doing what we’re doing today, which is staying afloat and staying busy.
SMN: After all the blood, sweat and tears, everything is now starting to come into focus.
DW: Absolutely. We’ve very grateful as to how it’s going right now, that level of gratitude that we’ve got. For many years, it wasn’t like that. I remember there’d be 50 people or whatever [at a show]. Now, it’s consistent [sold out concerts] all over the Southeast and up into New York. It’s motivating and energizing — we’re always looking at the next level, which is part of our nature.
And yet, all of us did at some point — deep down — knew that this was where it was going, and that we were capable of this. You’re never certain, but that’s part of the reason we’re here — we never quit.
It has taken a decade or so to get to this point as to what’s actually happening. There have been so many ups and down, peaks and valleys, during that decade, too. But, if you can make it to the other side, I think you’re good to go. Everything starts building on itself.
We have a long way to go. We have a lot of work to do. But we’re stoked that this is the case. It’s good now, but it’s just the beginning — this next level is just the beginning.
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD
Ode to the bluegrass awards, ode to a sea change
Finishing my beer and burger, I emerged from the depths of Jimmy V’s bar in the lobby of the Sheraton hotel in downtown Raleigh last Thursday evening. In a sport coat, dress shirt and bolo tie, I headed for the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts.
That evening was the 32nd annual International Bluegrass Music Association award show.
Normally, the red carpet would be lined the entire way with marquee stars and record label executives. But, in this current era of the pandemic, the red carpet was a ghost town, with barely anyone stepping up to the bar during the cocktail hour in the lobby of the center.
Grabbing a bourbon on the rocks, I turned around and noticed my ole buddy C.J. Lewandowski on the patio. Lead singer/mandolinist for the Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, the East Tennessee group was up for “Entertainer of the Year” later that night.
We shook hands and caught up, ultimately realizing we hadn’t seen each other in almost two years, which is wild, considering we’d cross paths often backstage at music festivals and running around in the same social circles.
So, I ask him, what it is about bluegrass that simply pulls so deep within you?
“It’s real. There’s very little between you and an audience member when you’re up there onstage — it’s you, your voice, your instrument, and a microphone that just carries that sound,” Lewandowski said. “And there’s nothing else — it’s just raw and real. And that’s what we want. We’re talking about things on that stage that we can’t talk about in person. So, it’s good to connect, and that’s what people need right now.”
Entering the auditorium for the award show, it was an eerie scene. Usually it’d be a sold-out affair, where everyone is in tuxedos and black dresses or rhinestone (i.e. Doyle Lawson). But, the venue was less than half full, with most of the prime real estate in terms of front row seating empty. Thus, I found myself in the half-full front row reserved for “Entertainer of the Year” nominees.
Throughout the showcase and live broadcast, there were several key moments. Alison Krauss being inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame. As too were The Stoneman
HOT PICKS
1The Mountain High Music, Craft & Car Show will take place Saturday, Oct. 9, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.
2The Ricky Gunter Band will perform at a flood relief benefit on Thursday, Oct. 7, at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds, alongside Tricia Ann, Ryan Perry Band, Kayla McKinney, Shooting Creek, J Creek Cloggers, Gene Pool, and Shane Aikens.
3Americana/folk singer-songwriter Woolybooger will perform at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville.
4Elevated Mountain Distillery and Feline Urgent Rescue (FUR) will co-sponsor the Moonshine & Felines fundraiser, which will be held from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, at the distillery in Maggie Valley.
5The third annual Smoky Mountain Arts Festival will be held from noon to 6 p.m. Oct. 9, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 10 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 11 under the big tent behind Gallery Zella in Bryson City. Family, who also performed (with 83-yearold banjoist Roni and 87-year-old mandolinist Donna onstage). And a fiery cover of “Eastbound and Down” by the Po’ Ramblin’ Boys all decked out in suits formerly owned by late country star Mel Tillis.
Haywood County’s own Balsam Range was awarded its third “Song of the Year” honor for “Richest Man.” It was another feather in the cap for the legendary bluegrass quintet, who have also taken home “Entertainer of the Year” and “Album of the Year” twice in both categories over the years.
“I think the ‘Song of the Year’ award is incredibly important. We’ve worked really hard over the last 15 years to select songs that impact people and represent us well,” said Balsam Range lead singer/fiddler Buddy Melton. “A good friend of ours, [the late] Tony Rice told me one time, ‘great music and great songs are timeless.’ To me, this award means we can hopefully live on through our music.”
But, perhaps the most poignant — more so eye-opening — moment of the award show came at the end of the night with the “Entertainer of the Year” going to 29-yearold guitar sensation Billy Strings.
Now, to those in the know, it’s no surprise at all to see Billy & Co. pick up this recognition. As of late, they are the biggest string band on the planet. They’re the future of the “high, lonesome sound,” and of its survival. Billy has brought legions of new fans and the curious alike into the bluegrass world, whether they realized it or not.
And it’s wild to think of when Billy Strings rolled through Haywood County just four years ago to play the Cold Mountain Music Festival in Lake Logan. I was well-aware of him by that point. I knew this dude had “it,” and alerted my friends to catch his early afternoon slot (which was sparsely attended).
He blew the doors off CMMF, then simply wandered into the crowd to make friends. Now? He’s packing out arenas across the country and selling out world-class stages like Red Rocks — all while converting a whole new generation of music freaks into lifelong bluegrass lovers.
Many bluegrass purists and elitists tend to forget that, well, the “Father of Bluegrass” himself, the late Bill Monroe, was, in all seriousness, a rebel. When he first combined New Orleans Dixieland jazz with blues and gospel into this whole new thing he called “bluegrass,” he was a rebel, and way beyond his time.
And Monroe never ceases to be influenced by any and all sounds coming from any and all directions — country, rock, jazz, pop, etc. He was a sponge. Always listening. Always absorbing. Always picking something new up to put into his own toolbox for later use, which is something of a kindred spirit when you place Strings right next to Monroe.
Strings winning “Entertainer of the Year” represents a sea change, a seismic shift in the bluegrass world. The next chapter of the “high, lonesome sound” is right here and now. As they say, “you’re either on the bus or you’re off the bus.” And the Strings bus right now is blasting down that endless cosmic highway of melody and intent.
Life is beautiful, grasp for it, y’all.
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Balsam Range.
The Mountain High Music, Craft & Car Show will take place Saturday, Oct. 9, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.
The daylong event will include a music festival, several craft vendors and a car show. The music schedule is as follows: Mountain Faith Band w/KornBread Kreek (11 a.m.), Blue Highway (2 p.m.), clogging exhibition and show (4:15 p.m.) and Balsam Range (7:30 p.m.).
In terms of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), Balsam Range has taken home “Entertainer of the Year” (2014, 2018), “Album of the Year” (2013, 2017), “Song of the Year” (2011, 2015, 2021) and “Vocal Group of the Year” (2014, 2015), aside from several individual honors with Buddy Melton named “Male Vocalist of the Year” (2014, 2018) and Tim Surrett “Bass Player of the Year” (2018).
Admission to the all-day music festival is $55. The car show and craft fair are free to attend. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit www.smokymountainarts.com or call 828.524.1598.
Victoria to play Innovation
Singer-songwriter Anna Victoria will perform at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10, at the Innovation Station in Dillsboro.
The performance is free and open to the public. To learn more about Anna Victoria, visit www.facebook.com/annavictoriamusic.
For more information and a complete schedule of events at the brewery, visit www.innovation-brewing.com.
J.J. Hipps.
The Bardo Arts Center (BAC) Performance Hall will open the fall 2021 season with a brand-new production, “Seeing Sound: A Musical Journey of Water and Light,” which will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 14-15 at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee.
This unique immersive experience offers an answer to the question: if we could see sound, what would we see? “Seeing Sound” is an original BAC produc-
tion that synthesizes live music across genres into light. Each note creates its own color that will be registered by an LED that first shines its light into water, allowing the rippling reflections of color to project into the space.
“Seeing Sound” is a collaboration across the different departments in Belcher College, along with members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), who are coming together to celebrate the miracle of water as interpreted through music and light. The production is also pulling technical resources from the WCU School of Stage and Screen, artists from the WCU School of Art and Design, and musicians/composers from the WCU School of Music.
Synesthesia is a condition in which individuals often experience stimulation in multiple senses when an experience is meant to only stimulate one. For example, often individuals say they can "see music as colors" when they hear it. This idea sparked an incredible process that led to “Seeing Sound: A Musical Journey of Water and Light,” where all audiences will have the opportunity to truly see music transformed into color before their eyes. The production will feature a wide variety of musicians across a broad spectrum of genres, offering something for almost anyone to enjoy.
Find tickets and further information at arts.wcu.edu/seeingsound. The BAC Box Office can be reached at 828.227.2479 and will reopen with ticket sales at 10 a.m. Oct. 1. Masks are mandatory at all WCU in-person events, which include Bardo Arts Center.
Bryson City community jam
A community jam will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 7, at the Marianna Black Library in Bryson City.
Anyone with a guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, dulcimer, anything unplugged, are invited to join. Singers are also welcomed to join in or you can just stop by and listen. The jam is facilitated by Larry Barnett of the Sawmill Creek Porch Band.
The music jams are offered to the public each first and third Thursday of the month — year-round. The next jam will be Oct. 21.
This program received support from the North Carolina Arts Council, an agency funded by the State of North Carolina and the National Endowment of the Arts. 828.488.3030.
Ready for ‘Apple Jam’?
Presented by Adamas Entertainment and The Smoky Mountain News, the inaugural “Apple Jam” music gathering will take place from 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, in The Smoky Mountain News parking lot at 144 Montgomery Street in downtown Waynesville.
Hitting the stage will be beloved local singer-songwriter Chris Minick (4:30 p.m.), regional blues/rock guitar wizard J.J. Hipps (6 p.m.) and Asheville alt-country/indie sensation Gold Rose (7:45 p.m.).
The show is free (with a suggested donation of $15). Craft beer and a food truck will also be onsite. Lawn chairs and blankets are allowed.
For more information, contact Smoky Mountain News Arts & Entertainment Editor Garret K. Woodward at garret@smokymountainnews.com.
Ricky Gunter.
Gunter wins two Josie Music Awards
Tennessee, on Sept. 17, with two big awards.
Each year, the Josie Music Association hosts an awards competition for independent artists. Last year, 38,000 submissions from a variety of categories resulted in almost 1,000 nominations across a broad range of musical styles and genres. Gunter won Vocalist of the Year in the country/male category, and also won the all ages vocal competition.
Gunter will next appear at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds on Thursday, Oct. 7, alongside Tricia Ann, Ryan Perry Band, Kayla McKinney, Shooting Creek, J Creek Cloggers, Gene Pool and Shane Aikens.
The event, a benefit for victims of the recent floods that impacted Haywood County, begins at noon and is a partnership between the Ricky Gunter Band and Hillbilly Jam.
Call 828.734.4317 or visit www.facebook.com/rickyguntermusic.
BLUES, ROOTS AT FROG LEVEL
Americana/folk singer-songwriter Woolybooger (above) will perform at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville. Dubbed “music to grow your hair out to,” the Murphy, North Carolina, musician is well-regarded for his mix of blues and roots music into a unique Southern Appalachian tone. Free and open to the public. 828.454.5664 or www.froglevelbrewing.com.
• Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host an open mic from 8 to 10 p.m. every Thursday.
Free and open to the public. 828.631.1987 or www.balsamfallsbrewing.com.
• Boojum Brewing (Waynesville) will host karaoke at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, trivia at 7 p.m. on Thursdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 9 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.0350 or www.boojumbrewing.com.
• The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host Sheila Gordon (piano/vocals) Oct. 9 ($10 show cover) and Joseph Hasty (guitar/vocals) Oct. 16 (dinner/show is $57 per person). All shows begin at 7 p.m.
Limited seating. Reservations required. 828.452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com.
ALSO:
• Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.369.4080 or www.coweeschool.org.
• Elevated Mountain Distilling Company will host an Open Mic Night 7 to 9 p.m. on
Wednesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.734.1084 or www.elevatedmountain.com.
• Friday Night Live (Highlands) will be held at the Town Square from 6 to 8:30 p.m. with
Frank & Allie (Americana/folk) Oct. 8 and
Silly Ridge Roundup Oct. 15. Free and open to the public. www.highlandschamber.org. Syrrup 2 p.m. Oct. 10, Smooth Goose Oct. 15, Sugar & The Cubes Oct. 16 and Gin Mill Pickers Oct. 17. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.454.5664 or www.froglevelbrewing.com.
• Innovation Station (Dillsboro) will host Anna
Victoria (singer-songwriter) Oct. 10. All events are free and begin at 2 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.innovation-brewing.com.
• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. www.innovation-brewing.com.
• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Yard
Karaoke 7 p.m. Oct. 8 and Scoundrel’s
Lounge Oct. 23. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.
• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host
Scoundrel’s Lounge Oct. 22. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.
• Maggie Valley Pavilion will host the
Haywood Community Band at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 17. Free and open to the public. Bring your own lawn chair. Donations accepted.
• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 or www.mtnlayersbeer.com. • Nantahala Brewing (Sylva) will host Shane
Meade & The Sound (rock/soul) 8 p.m. Nov. 5. 828.641.9797 or www.nantahalabrewing.com.
• “Pickin’ on the Square” (Franklin) will host live music Oct. 9 and The Band Intermission (variety) Oct. 16. All shows start at 7 p.m.
Free and open to the public. Located on Main
Street. www.franklin-chamber.com.
• Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Pub (Franklin) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. www.rathskellerfranklin.com.
• Satulah Mountain Brewing (Highlands) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.482.9794 or www.satulahmountainbrewing.com.
• Saturdays On Pine (Highlands) will be held at the Kelsey-Hutchinson Park from 6 to 8:30 p.m. with Nitrograss (bluegrass/Americana) Oct. 9 and Rockbillys
Oct. 16. Free and open to the public. www.highlandschamber.org.
• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing
Arts (Franklin) will host “Hotel California: A
Salute to the Eagle” at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 7.
Tickets start at $18, with priority seating available. For more information and to pur• Southern Porch (Canton) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.492.8009 or www.southern-porch.com.
• The Ugly Dog Pub (Cashiers) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. 828.743.3000 or www.theuglydogpub.com.
• Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host
Blackjack Country Oct. 7, TNT Oct. 8, Karaoke w/Joel Oct. 14, Jason Lee Wilson & James
County Oct. 15 and Carolina Freighshakers
Oct. 16. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.538.2488.
• Valley Tavern (Maggie Valley) will host
Bohemian Jean (classic rock/Americana) 6-9 p.m. Oct. 9. 828.926.7440 or www.valley-tavern.com.
• Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will host karaoke on Thursday nights, an
Oktoberfest celebration 8 p.m. Oct. 9 and
Humps & The Blackouts “Halloween
Extravaganza” 9 p.m. Oct. 30. 828.456.4750 or www.facebook.com/waternhole.bar.
• Whiteside Brewing (Cashiers) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.743.6000 or www.whitesidebrewing.com.
arts & entertainment HART play, painter combine forces
When the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre (HART) in Waynesville needed a custom-painted portrait of an actor with his six-foot invisible rabbit friend, local painter Barbara Brook hopped to the task.
Working on a 5-foot canvas, Brook created the hero Elwood P. Dowd and pal Harvey on a scale to complement the family library stage set. Brook bookends her rabbit piece with her solo painting show at HART, on display in the mainstage lobby during the run of the play.
The production of “Harvey” will hit HART’s mainstage at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15-16, 21-23 and at 2 p.m. Oct. 17 and 24.
Brook says she started the oil painting with a traditional "family portrait” arrangement, using a photo of the lead Jack Heinen and the imaginary Harvey. "He’s a real rabbit, just a giant one," said Brook. “The portrait looks like the actor, and I chose a dark background to give it a classical feel."
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1944 for playwright Mary Chase, the play “Harvey” has a reputation as a comedy, and offers a view on the impact of mental illness before medications were prevalent.
It was made into a 1950s movie starring Jimmy Stewart and Josephine Hull. Hull originated the role on Broadway and won an Oscar for her film performance as Elwood’s sister Veta, who grows increasingly disturbed by her brother’s behavior. Originally an oil painter, Brook took up watercolors 30 years ago, when her interest was sparked by her grandmother’s self-portrait. Utilizing a glazing technique that brings luminosity to the work, Brook's paintings have earned recognition and numerous awards. Brook teaches classes locally in watercolor and in Batik painting, which involves “resist painting” with wax and watercolors on textured rice paper. She is a member of the Southern Watercolor Society, the Watercolor Society of NC, the Transparent Watercolor Society of America, and serves on the Board of the Haywood County Arts Council.
For more information and/or to purchase tickets, click on www.harttheatre.org.
Elevated Mountain Distillery and Feline Urgent Rescue (FUR) will co-sponsor the Moonshine & Felines fundraiser to benefit the cats and kittens of FUR. The event will be held from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, at the distillery in Maggie Valley.
For $30, folks can enjoy a fun evening of music with dinner courtesy of Wolf Street Bistro, a silent auction, raffles for unique, locally sourced goodies, and a 50/50 raffle. Then, the Ryan Perry Band will take the stage at 8 p.m. (admission is included in the ticket price).
Sponsorships are also available for $125 and include two entry fees, two meals, two tickets to the Rick Perry concert (and recognition at the event).
Elevated Mountain Distillery is located at 3732 Soco Road in Maggie Valley. FUR’s annual meeting will kick off the event at 4:30. Tickets can be purchased at the door or at www.furofwnc.org.
All proceeds benefit Feline Urgent Rescue of Western North Carolina, a nonprofit dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of abused, abandoned and neglected cats.
For more information about FUR, visit or call 844.888.CATS (2287).
Triple-Win Climate Solutions: Readers tell how they mitigate climate change
Nature never did betray the heart that loved her. —William Wordsworth, 1798
Jan Jacobson, Haywood County, is the first to respond to our request for readers’ actions to mitigate climate change. Ms. Jacobson has made numerous, easy changes, she writes, “to lessen my impact on our planet.” Her response below includes lists of what to do and information on buying.
Please send us your own climate-mitigating solutions for an upcoming column to mjcinwnc@gmail.com. Subject line: My climate project.
IN THE BATHROOM:
• Bar soap, bar shampoo, bar hair conditioner, deodorant in glass container, and dental tabs instead of toothpaste. As always, buying locally is best.
To see the range of options, check these US sources: Eco Roots has zero-waste everything for personal grooming, from shampoo to dental floss to razors. ecoroots.us/collections/gifts-ideas-for-bathbody • "Meow Meow Tweet" meowmeowtweet.com
No shipping fee for orders over $40.00. • The Earthling Company has low-waste skin care, soaps, shampoos, conditioners, theearthlingco.com/pages/about-the-earthling-com • I buy toilet paper, tissue, paper towels from
Who Gives a Crap. They make products from 100 percent recycled paper in recycled paper packaging: us.whogivesacrap.org
LAUNDRY:
My laundry detergent is from DROPPS. Pods are packaged in cardboard. Locally, you can buy cardboard/paper-packaged dishwasher detergent on the natural/organic shelves of supermarket kitchen-laundry aisles.
KITCHEN AND SHOPPING:
• Cloth bags for groceries/produce (no-brainer!) • Buy nothing that comes in plastic 'netting' ? clementine oranges, potatoes, onions, etc.
Take your own reusable, washable mesh bags for each type of food. • I use only diluted Dr. Bonner's soaps and re-use a spray-type bottle. Same with white vinegar and water. Do not purchase any cleaning products in spray-type or pump-type bottles. • My stainless garbage can with insert eliminates plastic garbage bags. I haven't used plastic garbage bags since January 2020. To absorb moist food, line with biodegradable newspaper. Better yet, invest in a composter if you have a yard. See how-to videos by First
United Methodist Church Waynesville at www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocwv2_hente&li st=plhx3f3va161segxwjp62sbaje0xjrvmie&in dex=3
FOOD AND DRINK: CLOTHING AND OTHER FABRICS:
I buy wine from the US instead of buying wines shipped from European or other countries.
RECYCLING:
Hearing aid batteries and all others can be recycled. I collect my discards into a jar. When it's full, I take it to a county convenience center.
HAYWOOD COUNTY RECYCLING:
“There are no tipping fees on regular household waste hauled into our Materials Recovery Facility [off Jones Cove Road on Recycle Road]. No tipping fees are charged for tires or appliances.” Open Monday-Saturday 7 a.m.-5 p.m. See www.haywoodcountync.gov/314/Materials-Recovery-Facility • Lists of other items to recycle: www.haywoodcountync.gov/322/recycling-in-haywoodcounty • Note: Staples office supplies also takes used batteries, electronic devices, and most larger electronics including fax machines and even coffee brewers. For the complete list, go to www.staples.com/sbd/cre/marketing/sustainability-center/recycling-services/electronics/
My daughter lives in a part of New York where they have a fabric recycling area, so I take fabric (t-shirts, old linen, etc.) to her and she drops it off for me. And, she belongs to a "We Buy Nothing" group; if someone is done using something,
they post a notice on their Facebook page and give it away. This is for people who don't want to buy more stuff and who want to avoid throwing more stuff in the trash.
See WNC Climate Action Coalition for other Triple-win articles and more: wncclimateaction.com Editor Mary Jane Curry, co-founder WNC Climate
Action Coalition; and Climate Reality® Leader MJCinWNC@gmail.com
• The “Haunted School” will be held from 7 p.m. to midnight Oct. 8-9, 15-16, 22-23 and 29-31 at the Fines Creek Community Center.
Admission is $10 per person. Must be age 13 and up to enter without an adult. The
Haywood County government has issued a required mask mandate while inside all county buildings as of ALSO: Aug. 2, so all visitors must wear a mask. If you don’t have one, one will be provided for you. There will also be temperature checks on both you and our monsters to ensure your safety. Social distancing may add time to your wait, so please be prepared and patient. All proceeds support local scholarship funding and community needs. For more information, go to www.facebook.com/nchauntedschool.
• Mountain Makers Craft Market will be held from noon to 4 p.m. the first Sunday of each month at 308 North Haywood Street in downtown Waynesville. Over two dozen artisans selling handmade and vintage goods.
Special events will be held when scheduled. www.mountainmakersmarket.com.
• Farmer’s Market (with artisans) will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays and
Saturdays through October at 117 Island
Street in Bryson City. Stop by the old barn by the river for local, homegrown produce, as well as baked goods, jellies and preserves, authentic crafts, and more. Food truck, picnic tables and a strolling musician. Leashed pets are welcome. Outdoor event. Current
Covid-19 safety protocols will be followed and enforced. 828.488.7857.
On the table
• The “BBQ & Brews Dinner Train” will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on select dates at the
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson
City. Full service all-adult first class car.
Craft beer pairings with a meal, and more.
For more information and/or to register, call 800.872.4681 or click on www.gsmr.com.
• “Dillsboro After Five” will take place from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays in downtown Dillsboro. Start with a visit to the
Jackson County Farmers Market located in the Innovation Station parking lot. Stay for dinner and take advantage of late-hour shopping. www.mountainlovers.com.
• There will be a free wine tasting from 6 to 8 p.m. every Thursday and 2 to 5 p.m. every
Saturday at The Wine Bar & Cellar in Sylva. 828.631.3075.
• The “Uncorked: Wine & Rail Pairing
Experience” will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on select dates at the Great Smoky
Mountains Railroad in Bryson City. Full service all-adult first class car. Wine pairings with a meal, and more. 800.872.4681 or www.gsmr.com.
HaywoodBuilders.com 100 Charles St. WAYNESVILLE
your friendly, local blue box — smoky mountain news
Open call for ‘Milestone’ submissions
Submissions are now being taken for the 2021 edition of the Milestone, the biennial art and literary review published by Southwestern Community College.
Milestone showcases the creative expressions of local writers and visual artists. The periodical is representative of the abundance of talent in the region and seeks to foster creative potential by providing artists an opportunity to gain public awareness.
All residents of Jackson, Macon and Swain counties and the Qualla Boundary, as well as SCC students and alumni, are eligible. Only unpublished work may be submitted. Prose should not exceed 2,000 words, and should be limited to two pages in length.
Writers may submit more than one work. All writing must be double-spaced and submitted in paper format or via email. In addition, each page must be numbered, and the author’s name, address, telephone number and email address should be included on the last page of each submission.
Visual artists and photographers may submit only black and white copies of original artwork and must also include name, address, telephone number, email address, title of work and photo caption (if applicable) on the back of each submission. Artists and photographers may also submit more than one work.
First- and second-place 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.
Literary submissions must be postmarked by Dec. 3, 2021, and sent to SCC Milestone, Attn. Hannah Sykes; 447 College Drive; Sylva, NC 28779 or via email to milestone@southwesterncc.edu.
Submissions in visual art must be postmarked by the same date and sent to the same address, Attn. Hannah Sykes or via email to milestone@southwesterncc.edu.
For more information, contact Hannah Sykes at 828.339.4463 or h_sykes@southwesterncc.edu.
Smoky Mountain Arts Festival
The third annual Smoky Mountain Arts Festival will be held from noon to 6 p.m. Oct. 9, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 10 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 11 under the big tent behind Gallery Zella in Bryson City.
There will also be a free reception from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10. This art expo and art competition will feature paintings, photography, jewelry and pottery by the best local artistic talent in the Great Smoky Mountains alongside internationally renowned artists.
In addition, a dozen emerging community artists will showcase their artwork from the Swain Arts Center. Visitors are encouraged to browse and vote for the “People's Choice” award in four categories. Live music will also be provided by Frank & Allie and Joseph Camuglia.
The event is rain or shine. Free and open to the public. For more information, go to www.greatsmokies.com and click on the “Events” tab.
Torn paper painting class
Hosted by artisan Wendy Cordwell, a “Torn Paper Painting” workshop will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, at the Haywood County Arts Council in downtown Waynesville.
Creating a torn paper painting involves several steps. First, you draw and paint your image on a wooden panel. Next, you paint assorted papers in colors needed using fluid acrylic paints.
These papers can be from old books, music, maps, etc. Using these papers, you tear tiny pieces and glue them onto your painting one at a time. Once you have completed the painting, you varnish it to preserve it.
For more information, click on www.haywoodarts.org.
A work by Wendy Cordwell. A work by Tom Lotshaw.
HCAC wildlife art showcase
Presented by the Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC), the exhibit “Bear, Elk, Trout — Oh My!” will run through Oct. 30 at the HCAC in downtown Waynesville.
HCAC artist members were tasked with exploring the diversity and abundance of Western North Carolina’s unique ecosystem through the wildlife that calls it home.
The variability in elevation, climate, soils and geology in the Southern Appalachian region accounts for at least 80 species of amphibians and reptiles, 175 species of terrestrial birds, 65 species of mammals and at least 25,000 species of invertebrates.
The exhibit will include local animals of all kinds, in a variety of mediums from photography to sculpture. Each piece will include a brief paragraph which discusses the animal’s special habitat, elevation where it can be found, food sources, or why it is unique to the WNC area.
“This exhibit really meets all three prongs of HCAC’s mission, which is to promote artists, art education, and innovation in art,” said Morgan Beryl, HCAC’s executive director.
Appropriately, the exhibit is sponsored by Appalachian Wildlife Refuge, a local nonprofit saving orphaned and injured wildlife.
Gallery goers who would like to support the wild ones are challenged to bring an easy to pick up item to donate that will help care for the wildlife in need. A complete wish list can be found on the refuge’s website: www.appalachianwild.org/wishlist.
A demonstration for the exhibit is planned with Wendy Cordwell from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, at the HCAC. Cordwell, a participating HCAC artist member, will demonstrate a torn paper painting technique. www.haywoodarts.org.
• Artist Kelly Lay is currently displaying her
“Macro Photography Message in Prisms” work at the Macon County Public Library in
Franklin. The library is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Free and open to the public.
• To elevate the Dillsboro experience for the month of October, local businesses will be celebrating with “Dillsboro’s Downhome Harvest.” The community is inviting artisans to set up a booth in front of businesses from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Friday and
Saturday. The Great Smoky Railroad will be arriving daily at 1:15 p.m. There will be
“walking scarecrows,” face painting, trickor-treating, and more. If interested, contact
Connie Hogan at chogan4196@gmail.com. themes of labor and endurance in his video art practice with metaphoric references to African American identity, history, and experience. Regular museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and until 7 p.m. Thursday. arts.wcu.edu/jeffersonpinder.
• An art contest (ages 5 years and up) will be held through Oct. 14 at the Marianna
Black library in Bryson City. A fun night complete with face painting for children and other activities will also take place during the “Gallery Night” event from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19. The theme of the contest is “It’s a Beautiful World.”
• The “Thursday Painters” group will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursdays at The Uptown Gallery in Franklin. Free and open to the public. All skill levels and mediums are welcome. Participants are responsible for their own project and a bag lunch. For more information, call The
Uptown Gallery at 828.349.4607 or contact
Pat Mennenger at pm14034@yahoo.com. www.franklinuptowngallery.com.
ALSO:
Bringing her immortal words to the big stage, a production of “The Diary of Anne Frank” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 7-9 and at 2 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.
“In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart.” These simple words written by a 13-year-old girl in the height of World War II have become an essential part of how we remember one of the darkest times in human history. “The Diary of Anne Frank” illuminates the coming-of-age of a passionate, funny, and complex girl in the face of religious persecution.
“Anne’s story leaves the audience with a lot of hope in a time when people are maybe feeling very hopeless,” said Director Julie Kinter. “Anne is unbeaten by what's going on in the world outside of the annex. She has nightmares, she knows her friends have been taken and died, but she finds in herself a resilience and a purpose in spite of it all.”
Frank’s true personality is fleshed out in this adaptation written by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, which took unedited diary entries to show the true hope and spirit of Anne Frank. “The Diary of Anne Frank” has a little bit of everything with really funny moments, beautiful and sweet moments, and some dark times as well.
“If I could have the audience take away one thing from this play, it would be that finding that empathy and compassion for another person, despite our differences, is the key to mankind surviving,” Kinter said.
HART requires all patrons to wear a mask while at the theatre. Tickets are available by visiting www.harttheatre.org or by calling the HART box office at 828.456.6322 from 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. This show is suitable for all ages.
Want to learn theater?
This fall, there will be a slew of theater classes offered by the HART Arts Academy through Nov. 3 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.
Adult classes include directing, beginner tap, and musical theater vocals. Kids classes include a wide-range of dancing, acting, singing, directing and improvisational courses.
Learn more about these opportunities and sign up for classes by visiting www.harttheatre.org, clicking on the “Kids at Hart” tab and scrolling to “Classes & Camps” page. Masks and social distancing will be required for all courses.
Dracula hits the big stage
The Mountainside Theatre in Cherokee will host the world premiere of “Dracula: The Failings of Men,” written by debut playwright Benedetto Robinson.
The production is an original work by Havoc Movement Company, which will be joining the Cherokee Historical Association for the fall season.
The show features a cast packed with livestunt powerhouses as well as aerial effects that have been designed to bring the vampires to (supernatural) life.
The story begins as a ghost ship washes ashore near London in 1897 and an ancient evil goes searching for blood. “Dracula” is an action-horror reimagining of the classic Bram Stoker novel as an immersive show.
The audience will literally walk alongside Ada Van Helsing as she battles against the darkness in this high-action adaptation. Masks will be required for all attendees.
Performances will run through Oct. 31. Tickets are $30 or $20 for enrolled members. VIP Experiences are available for an extra $20. www.cherokeehistorical.org/dracula.
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