Smoky Mountain News | November 9, 2022

On the Cover:

A piece of Haywood County is going to Washington, D.C. as a 78-foot tall red spruce harvested from the Pisgah-Nantahala National Forest will be this year’s U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. (Page 30) Ruby, as the tree is known, was loaded up on a truck and taken to the nation’s capital. James Edward Mills of Choose Outdoors photo

News

Haywood County Special Olympics receives makeover..........................................4 WCU rolls out scholarship guarantee program..........................................................5 Tribe partners on $55 million Kentucky horse race track........................................6 Cherokee Council updates ethics ordinance..............................................................7 Counties may combine opioid settlement funds for treatment center................8 N.C.’s Local Government Commission returns to its roots..................................10 Haywood student nominated to advise State Board of Education....................12 Rob Saunooke announces campaign for chief........................................................15 Another death at the Jackson County Detention Center......................................16 N.C. Supreme Court orders state to fund Leandro Plan......................................17

Opinion

Older generations are failing the young

A&E

I am one of you forever: A conversation with Fred Chappell..............................26 Bringing Van Gogh home: the value of art books....................................................29

Outdoors

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Haywood County Special Olympics receives makeover

Coming out the pandemic, the program will offer new opportunities

BY KYLE P ERROTTI N EWS E DITOR

Haywood County residents with special needs have long treasured the Special Olympics Spring Games, but now they’ll have a reason to celebrate and compete throughout the year.

The efforts being undertaken by new coordinators and board members will include some significant changes to the way Special Olympics is run in Haywood County. To begin with, the group is looking to open a new office in Waynesville, and perhaps even more importantly, they are going to offer new sports and activities for athletes to enjoy during all seasons.

Among the people spearheading the effort to broaden Haywood County Special Olympics’ offerings are co-coordinators Matt Shell, Brandi Stephenson and Brook Messer. Shell, a lieutenant with Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, has a special-needs son who is an athlete, and Messer has a brother who competes in Special Olympics as an adult.

Ironically, the effort to increase options for athletes was born out of the pandemic, a time when everything, including Special Olympics, was shut down.

“They didn’t have Spring Games for a couple years, just because of the North Carolina office saying ‘hey, you can’t do that,’” Shell said. “Last year, the guy that was heading things up was at Waynesville Parks and Rec, but he left. Brandi worked really hard this year to put together as a Spring Games for our student athletes.”

The jarring changes and the hard work required to pull off last year’s games lit a fire under the new organizers, and that fire has spread to others involved in Haywood County Special Olympics. Now, the board includes people from all over Haywood County with diverse duties and opinions, including Daniel Blagg, who has long organized the torch run, and other representatives from relevant organizations.

“We wanted to bring community stakeholders to the table, you know, from all facets of the county, especially those that work in the special needs community,” Shell said.

Having such a committed board seemed to necessitate a designated a space to do business, which led the group to search for an office in Waynesville. Not only will that office provide a good meeting spot — which can also host office hours — it gives a centralized

storage location for banners, tents, backdrops and sports equipment.

While the Spring Games have long been the cornerstone of Haywood County Special Olympics, Shell pointed out that the new office and new efforts of the board will open up even more year-round opportunities.

“There are fall tournaments, there are summer games and there are USA games,” he said.

And with the right volunteers, athletes can work to hone their skills any time in any number of sports.

“If somebody comes to me and says … I’m a tennis coach, and I’m willing to work with you, I’d say, ‘OK, let’s start a tennis program,’” Shell said. “We’ve talked about equestrian sports. I talked to a lady last Monday who said she owns her own place with horses. She’s like, ‘do you have an equestrian coach?’ I said no, and she was like, ‘can I be it?’ And I’m like, ‘OK, we get started equestrian programming.’”

Special Olympics’ new endeavors will include even more “student advisors” who will work with youth athletes to learn and grow. Those student advisors will be vital in ensuring continued engagement in the new sports being offered.

opportunities for competition, but it will also be even more of a community event that will feature a kickoff celebration — essentially a kind of pep rally to send the athletes off into competition with plenty of confidence and positive energy.

“We’re going to have an Olympic Village, and we’re going to bring in food trucks and vendors,” Shell said. “We’re maybe even going to have some live music. We want it to be a chance for everyone to recognize the special needs community.”

Like with the year-round programming, Stephenson said she hopes plenty of volunteers will turn out for the new and improved Spring Games.

the same abilities, the same personality sometimes. So that’s really cool. And I know that he loves that there’s peer students that work with him and help him out. It’s just a way for him to kind of experience normalcy, and I think that’s the way a lot of them probably view this, and it’s a way for them to be a part of something.”

“We were offering golf this fall,” Shell said. “We’re offering basketball. There’s roller skating, bowling, and we’re trying to get bocce ball going.”

And the opportunities may even extend beyond Haywood’s borders.

“We got to meet Buncombe County’s new coordinator and Transylvania’s new coordinator,” Shell said. “You know, we all want to try to work together to have multi-county things go on. I mean, it’s limitless what you really can do.”

That said, Spring Games will still be a huge part of Haywood County Special Olympics. The next Spring Games, which will likely take place in early May 2023, will feature the beloved torch run and offer plenty of

“We want this to be a unifying event where those folks without disabilities are helping students with disabilities or adults with disabilities to learn the game,” she said.

When asked what it means to Shell that his special-needs son has something like Special Olympics in his life, it was hard for him to suppress his emotions. He quickly referred to the Special Olympics motto, which is “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in my attempt.” That, he said, is the heart of it.

“It’s all he talks about,” Shell said of his son. “It’s a way for them to connect to other kids they don’t usually get a chance to. My son, he’s homebound, so he doesn’t go to a school. It’s kind of a rare opportunity to be with other kids and other people that have

With all the new and exciting things going on with Haywood County Special Olympics, Stephenson highlighted that there are still plenty of needs. While adult athletes are usually kept up to speed on their opportunities through community outlets such as Arc of Haywood and other services, student athletes who aren’t in the public school system can be tough to contact. This makes social media even more important.

“The word we need to spread is, number one, we’re back. And we’re going to offer more than we have in the past. With that, we really need coaches and volunteers,” Stephenson said, adding that she encourages folks around the community, even those who don’t have special needs relatives or aren’t stakeholders to let others know what Haywood County Special Olympics is up to.

Special Olympics is free for all participants in Haywood County. Anyone who has any questions or is interested in donating or volunteering can contact Haywood County Special Olympics through its Facebook page or via email at haywood@sonc.net.

Brandi Stephenson (left), Matt Shell (center), and Brook Messer (right), have spearheaded the new efforts to improve Haywood County Special Olympics.

“The word we need to spread is, number one, we’re back. And we’re going to offer more than we have in the past. With that, we really need coaches and volunteers.”

— Brandi Stephenson

WCU rolls out scholarship guarantee program

Thank You

Greg West

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF W RITER

This fall, Western Carolina University will launch a pilot program that guarantees undergraduate students up to $3,000 per year in scholarships over the course of their four-year college career. Called Catamount Commitment, the program is a repackaging of Western’s existing scholarship resources that aims to help students and their parents better count the cost of college before enrolling.

“We saw an opportunity to be more transparent and market to families more information about the aid and the expectation of support they could receive from Western over the life of the enrollment, over a four-year period,” Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Sam Miller said during a Nov. 4 Board of Trustees retreat in Highlands. “It will help them plan for the future. The current process didn’t allow for them to know about all of their opportunities until literally just a few weeks before the deadline to commit to a fouryear institution.”

This year, prospective students who apply by Jan. 2 have only to look at the grid already online to find out how much scholarship support they can expect if admitted. Students with a high school GPA of 4.0 or above will receive $3,000 each year. The annual award is $2,000 for students with a 3.8-3.99 GPA, $1,500 for a 3.65-3.79 GPA and $1,000 for a GPA below 3.65.

“That’s a gamechanger, I think,” said Board of Trustees Chairman Bob Roberts. “That can really, really put us on the map.”

The award will only be good for four years of fall and spring enrollment, and to keep the scholarship students must be enrolled in at

least 12 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 3.0. The awards will be funded through WCU’s existing general scholarships, with any program-specific or athletic scholarships stacking on top of the Catamount Commitment offer. However, Miller said, some transitional funding will be needed to initially launch the program. Those funding sources have already been identified.

The Catamount Commitment program combines with the N.C. Promise Tuition Plan, which brings undergraduate tuition for in-state students at WCU down to $500 per semester. For the 2022-23 academic year, instate undergraduate students pay $3,578.58 per semester in tuition and fees, not including fees for meals or lodging.

“If a student reaches the top tier of the scholarship plus N.C. Promise they’ve got an investment of nearly $6,000 in their education,” said Provost Richard Starnes. “That’s a tremendous amount of investment of public dollars or institutional dollars in an age of disinvestment.”

Trustee Haden Boliek said that N.C. Promise combined with Catamount Commitment will make it possible for a student to pay their way through college with a 20-hour-per-week job, graduating debt-free.

“That’s a heck of a deal,” she said.

The program is still new, so its parameters might change in the future. But WCU will keep the four-year commitment it makes to the freshman class entering in 2024, Miller said.

“It was a huge undertaking of folks to get to this point, and a lot of folks trying to think differently than what we’ve thought about in the past, so I give everyone a ton of credit for this,” said Chancellor Kelli R. Brown. “I think it’s exciting.”

Ingles Nutrition Notes

written by Ingles Dietitian Leah McGrath

WHERE’S THE PROTEIN?

A balanced eating plan that includes sources of protein is satisfying, and also helps build and maintain muscle mass. Protein is found in a variety of foods, not just animal products; and these foods don’t JUST have protein, most have other vitamins, minerals and nutrients that are beneficial. You don’t have to eat just one type of food, so be sure to mix it up during your meals and enjoy fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds and whole grains along with protein-rich foods for balance and variety. Some foods that are a good source of protein: Food item/serving size Protein Cal/serving Additional nutrients

1 large egg 6g 80 cal vitamins A, D, E, choline, iron, folate

½ c. tofu 6g 95 cal calcium, iron

1c. cooked quinoa 8g 220 cal fiber, folate, magnesium

½ c. hummus 8g 200 cal fiber, iron

½ c. cooked black beans 8g 115 cal fiber, iron

8 oz. cow’s milk (2%) 8g 125 cal calcium, potassium, vitamin D

8 oz soy beverage 5-8g 110-120 cal (added) calcium, vit D, riboflavin, vit A

2 TBSP peanut butter 8g 190 cal B vitamins, potassium

1 oz pork (loin,broiled) 8g 70 cal thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, B6

1 oz flank steak,cooked 8g 55 cal vitamins B6 & B12, iron, zinc

1 oz tuna(canned in water) 7-8g 35 cal omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin B12

1 oz cooked, bnls, 9g 55 cal selenium, vit B6, niacin skinless chicken breast

½ c. cottage cheese 11g 115 cal calcium, vitamin B12

*Note: Calorie amounts listed may vary depending on type/brand and preparation method and in some cases have been rounded.

Tribe partners on Kentucky horse race track

states to race, so we are ready to welcome our friends from across the country to come here and add to the legacy and tradition that is Kentucky horse racing.”

During a special-called meeting Monday, Oct. 31, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission approved a change in control for Revolutionary Racing Kentucky that gives the EBCI an influential role. Previously, the company had been owned by Prentice Salter and the Lucas Family Trust. Now RRKY Acquisition, LLC — a wholly owned subsidiary of EBCI Holdings, LLC, which is owned by the EBCI — owns 49% of the company. The majority 51% share is owned by a different LLC, ELS-RRKY Holdings LLC, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of ELS Gaming, LLC — an affiliate of the previous owners of Revolutionary Racing Kentucky.

B AYS S

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is

bring the state’s first track dedicated to quarterhorse racing to a 200-acre property outside of Ashland, Kentucky, with a groundbreaking ceremony held Friday, Oct. 28.

“I give my thanks and gratitude to Tribal Council for having the foresight to support this deal and to EBCI Holdings, LLC, for bringing opportunities to the EBCI,” Principal Chief Richard Sneed said in an Oct. 29 Facebook post.

According to a press release from developer Revolutionary Racing Kentucky, racing at the new facility, called Boyd County Downs, will start in 2024. Designed by Populous in consultation with the Kentucky Quarter Horse Racing Association, it will be Kentucky’s first track dedicated to quarter horses and will also feature an equestrian center and entertainment complex. The racetrack will feature a 660-yard sprint track and daily purses of $500,000, and the facility will support 200 “good-paying” full-time jobs and provide nearly $1 million annually in new tax revenues..

While racing will serve as its centerpiece, plans call for year-round use for quarter horse shows and competitions, as well as an adjacent entertainment complex. Those investments are expected to generate nearly $1 million in new local tax revenues each year.

The project is a “game-changing milestone,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said.

“This is a historic day for the thousands of quarter horse owners who call Kentucky home,” said Kentucky Quarter Horse Racing Association President Richard Connelley. “For decades, we’ve had to travel to other

The Commission had previously approved Revolutionary Racing Kentucky’s racing license during a July 26 meeting. In a unanimous vote, it granted the company the state’s ninth and final horse racing license, approving it to conduct live horse racing, simulcasting and pari-mutuel wagering starting in 2023.

The $55 million facility under construction in Ashland will not be complete when the license takes effect in 2023. The six race dates approved for 2023 will instead take place at Red Mile in Lexington, the Commission decided.

Boyd County Downs is likely the project in Kentucky Tribal Council approved in a special-called meeting April 13 under the code name “Project Thoroughbred.” The

Cherokee Central Schools gets funding for cost-of-living, minimum wage increase

BY HOLLY KAYS

STAFF W RITER

The Cherokee Tribal Council allocated an additional $1.38 million to Cherokee Central Schools during an Oct. 24 Annual Council session, increasing the school system’s minimum wage to $15 per hour and giving employees a cost-of-living increase.

Ashford Smith, finance director at Cherokee Boys Club, said the funding was needed to match minimum wage increases set by the state and the tribe during their most recent budget seasons. While the state budget conversation was heavily focused on teacher salaries, it also included funding to raise the minimum wage for support staff like custodians to $15 an hour. In the budget that took effect Oct. 1, the tribe also raised its minimum wage to $15 an hour.

“We’re not trying to create a system that directly competes with the EBCI because we realize we’re all one big family, but at the same time we now have employees that are happy at the school, they love working at the school,” Smith said. “But now they have to look at the financial decision in front of them and say, hey, we may have to move on and work at the tribe.”

The money will also provide a cost-of-living raise to allow salaries to keep up with inflation. The request is coming in separately from CCS’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget

request because much has changed regarding inflation and salary comparisons since the school system began its budget process in March.

“The outlook now is completely different than it was in March when we began these discussions, at every level of the government,” Smith said.

CCS will apply the cost-of-living increase using the same method the tribe applied with its most recent increase. The raise will not include elected officials or coaching stipends, Smith said.

Tribal Council proved favorable to the request, approving it with a unanimous vote.

This nearly 200-acre property in Boyd County, Kentucky, is being developed as the state’s first race track dedicated to quarter horse racing.

Revolutionary Racing Kentucky photo

Cherokee Council updates ethics ordinance

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF W RITER

During an Oct. 17 Annual Council meeting, the Cherokee Tribal Council approved an ordinance that strengthens ethics laws for tribal officials — but struck a proposed change that would have restricted their activity for a year after leaving office.

Put forward by the Audit and Ethics Committee, the ordinance seeks to prevent tribal officials from using their position for monetary gain. While the ordinance had previously said that no tribal official could enter into a contract to provide goods or services to any tribal entity, enterprise or program, the updated version clarifies that the restriction also applies to “any business entity in which a tribal official has a personal interest.”

“The original interpretation that we were given from the attorney general was only tribal officials as an individual, but there’s concern that tribal officials who own businesses are taking advantage of that,” said Tasheena Parker, chair of the Ethics Review Committee, a subcommittee of the Audit and Ethics Committee.

The new ordinance also gives the Office of Internal Audit and Ethics the power to issue monetary fines for ethics violations, up to $5,000. The office will use a matrix to determine fines in specific cases, based on severity of the offense, previous history and aggravating circumstances. No decision has yet been made as to how the fine money will be used, Parker said.

Big Cove Rep. Teresa McCoy said that, while she wouldn’t oppose the legislation, she was not in favor of giving the Office of Internal Audit and Ethics the power to issue fines.

“I think that once you start issuing fines

vote gave EBCI Holdings the green light to bid on two gaming projects that would allow the LLC to expand into a new jurisdiction. Tribal Council’s vote allowed EBCI Holdings to make a deposit of $2.5 million and, if selected, receive an additional $25 million from the tribe to invest for an equity stake of 44%, and to obtain debt financing for an additional $62 million.

During that meeting, Secretary of Finance Cory Blankenship said that 75% of the profits would flow back to the tribe, with EBCI Holdings retaining 25% to run the administrative side of its operations. Tribal Council will determine how the profits are to be spent through a revenue allocation plan to be considered at some point in the future.

The $55 million racetrack project is one of many eight- and nine-figure investments the tribe has approved over the last couple years. In August, ground broke on a $650 million casino development project in

in the amount of $5,000, I think y’all are outside your scope at that point,” she said. “I think if it’s a $5,000 issue it needs to be sent directly to court and let them make that decision.”

However, McCoy — and the remainder of Tribal Council — vehemently opposed a final proposed ordinance change, referred to as the “cooling off period.”

Under the proposed language, for a year after leaving office no tribal official could contract with the tribe or take a paid appointment to any committee, authority, board or commission chosen by the Tribal Council or Executive Office.

“A lot of people who come here already had a life prior to coming here, and in that situation I don’t see where it’s ethically correct to punish them for a year after they leave,” she said. “I just don’t understand that.”

For example, McCoy said, her family owns a trout farm and sells trout to the tribe. Under the proposed change, should she lose an election or decide to sit out a race, she would be ineligible to continue that contract for a full year.

“I can’t agree with this either,” said Vice Chair Albert Rose. “Seems like it’s a punishment for sitting on a board, being a councilmember, whatever. I can’t support this section at all.”

Yellowhill Rep. T.W. Saunooke noted that secretaries are appointed positions as well, so under the proposed language a new chief would not be able to reappoint any secretaries employed by the previous administration.

The conversation ended with a unanimous vote to strike the section outlining the cooling-off period, followed by a unanimous vote to pass the ordinance as amended.

Danville, Virginia, in which EBCI Holdings has a 49.5% stake. The LLC has also purchased casino operations at Caesars Southern Indiana through a $280 million approval from Tribal Council.

During an Oct. 24 session, Tribal Council approved $324 million for Kituwah LLC to purchase a sports-related brand and develop associated resort projects, also approving $55 million earlier in the same meeting for various other Kituwah LLC investments. Those votes brought the tribe’s total investment in Kituwah LLC over the last two years up to $504 million, of which $110 million is dedicated to development efforts at a 200-acre property off Interstate 40 in Sevier County.

The tribe has approved a $275 million expansion to the Valley River Casino in Murphy, a 30% stake in a $54.5 million hotel project in Pigeon Forge and $39 million for the new hotel at the Sequoyah National Golf Club.

Holidays

Western counties may combine opioid settlement funds for regional treatment center

BY C ORY VAILLANCOURT P OLITICS E DITOR

No matter how it all shakes out in the end, Nov. 3, 2022 will be looked upon as a historic day in Western North Carolina as regional leaders took the first few tenuous steps towards creating an enduring partnership to combat the opioid epidemic.

“We don’t have all the answers, but that’s what we’re navigating,” said Rep. Mark Pless (R-Haywood). “We’ll walk these paths, and we’ll walk them together.”

Pless spoke to a group of local elected officials and administrators at Holly Springs Baptist Church in Macon County, all of whom had gathered to discuss pooling their relatively small amounts of settlement funds from the national opioid settlement over the next 18 years.

The total figure is upwards of $22 million, which would be used to fund the operations of a regional rehabilitation center. The regional approach is, for now, the first of its kind.

“Our whole idea, and Rep. Pless has agreed to take the lead on it as one of our legislators, is to get the eight western counties — we’re including Transylvania in that now — to agree to work together on this,” said Sen. Kevin Corbin (R-Macon).

Building trust and cooperation among eight counties is one thing, but there are plenty of other challenges that await the counties if they end up participating. Those challenges boil down to three main areas — staffing, site selection and sustainability.

“They’re all equally important as far as being challenges,” said Rep. Mike Clampitt (R-Swain), who spoke in favor of the proposal at the meeting. “The thing is, I think we get settled down and identify a location that’s going to be amicable to everyone, and that’s a several step process. Once we get the location down, then we can identify the other parts and facets to it. It’s sort of like the spokes of a wheel, we’ve got a center hub to get started, and then we need the spokes to put it all back together.”

Staffing the facility could be more difficult than usual, given the incredible demand for medical professionals in the current labor market. Affordable housing for those professionals is another problem altogether.

Selecting a site will be just as challenging.

Macon County Commissioner Ronnie Beale said that Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), which owns the former Angel Medical Center in Franklin, wouldn’t allow that building to be used for a rehabilitation facility because it would eventually become a competitor to HCA.

Pless, however, still thinks Macon County would be a good central location for such a facility.

“Originally, the $50 million that was requested in the budget was to work on the

Angel facility and make it habitable for what we wanted to do with it, but now that that’s off the table,” he said. “We’re back to square one looking at how much it’s going to cost us to be able to do this.”

Pless said he’d make an ask at the General Assembly for the millions that would be needed to construct a new building or rehab an existing one.

“We want to be able to go in and have a hard number so that the state of North Carolina can seek funding to build a structure that they could do rehabilitation in, so we take that initial cost off of the counties,” said Pless. “And then the counties would be able to orchestrate or organize however they’re going to keep it going with some of the drug settlement money.”

Beale said he’d identified two sites in

Macon County that could be suitable.

“If I put something like this in Haywood County, Buncombe County is going to fill it up,” Pless said. “They have so many people out there that need help. We need to be in the western part of North Carolina.”

If the facility ends up accepting Medicare and/or Medicaid, it would not have the ability to refuse people for treatment based on residency.

The biggest challenge the collaborative effort will face may be sustainability. Derek Roland, Macon County manager, said he thinks the partner should operate the facility, as it’s out of county government’s expertise. Pless mentioned that there may be a need to partner with a hospital or medical system to ensure the facility is run properly, and profitably.

Pless also added that it might take three years to get a treatment center up and running, and then after the 18 years are up, hopefully the partner has found a way to make it profitable as the opioid settlement money from counties stops flowing.

Shelly Foreman, regional community relations director for Vaya Health, brought up what she said was the elephant in the room.

“The vast majority of people using these facilities don’t have insurance, don’t have Medicare or Medicaid,” Foreman said. “So the question becomes, who pays for those folks and how do you make this sustainable?”

The next step in the process, as determined by the assembled group, is to come up with a dollar figure for the building that Pless can take to the General Assembly as it

Rep. Mark Pless (R-Haywood) is taking the lead on bringing an opioid treatment center to Western North Carolina. Cory Vaillancourt photo

begins its budgeting process early in 2023. Pless wants that figure by March.

Jackson County Manager Don Adams said he’d expect a full-on feasibility study — a tall order for such a short timeframe, and an expensive one at that.

“The vast majority of people using these facilities don’t have insurance, don’t have Medicare or Medicaid. So the question becomes, who pays for those folks and how do you make this sustainable?”

— Shelly Foreman, regional community relations director for Vaya Health

Clampitt asked Russ Harris, executive director of the Southwestern Commission, if they had the money to front for the study. Harris said no.

Jack Horton, former Haywood County manager and now the elected mayor of Franklin, suggested the counties use some of the settlement money to kick off the feasibility study so it could be completed in time for Pless to make a General Assembly ask by March.

If the study can’t be funded or completed

in time, Pless said he may need to ask the General Assembly for money to fund the study, and then come back and ask for construction funds in the short session in 2024, which would push the opening back by another year.

Chief District Court Judge Roy Wijewickrama, who also attended the meeting, said he’s on the front lines of the opioid epidemic and that having a treatment center in the region — as soon as possible — would have a profound effect on outcomes for the defendants he sees.

“I deal with this every single day, from Waynesville to Murphy,” said Wijewickrama, who is currently part of the effort to create a judicially managed accountability and recovery court in Haywood County.

Eventually, Wijewickrama wants to expand the recovery court to all the counties in the 30th Judicial District, but for now there’s only funding for two years in Haywood. Approximately 20 to 25 program participants will enter a guilty plea and then begin the 18-to-24-month program, making regular progress reports to the court.

“I can’t say it’s going to solve the drug problem in our communities, but it can have an impact,” he said, adding that people in the program will need in-patient treatment for the recovery court to be effective.

“If you’re addicted to methamphetamine, the recovery rate without the proper treatment is less than 10%. It’s almost impossible to come off meth without in-patient treatment,” he said. “If we were able to pull this off, that would be huge.”

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Judge Roy Wijewickrama considers in-patient rehabilitation a critical component of the fight against opioid abuse. Cory Vaillancourt photo

NC’s Local Government Commission returns to its roots in Western North Carolina

BY C ORY VAILLANCOURT P OLITICS E DITOR

Although little-known, there’s an agency within the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer that has a tremendous impact on everything from local water quality to municipal property taxes — and it got its start because of a bad situation right here in Western North Carolina, nearly 100 years ago.

“The main function of the Local Government Commission is to be an oversight board for nearly 1,100 entities that want to borrow money,” said Dale Folwell, North Carolina’s state treasurer. “There are 100 counties, 548 cities, water and sewer districts, universities, airport authorities and hospitals, for example.”

Folwell chairs the LGC, which meets monthly to consider a variety of requests from public bodies across the state. The LGC’s board is comprised of Folwell, State Auditor Beth Wood, Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and Secretary of Revenue Ronald Penny, along with five other appointed members. Three of them are appointed by the governor, one by the Senate, and one by the House.

Formed by the General Assembly in 1931, the LGC acts mainly as a financial watchdog to help keep overzealous municipalities out of financial trouble, like Asheville was at that time.

“We’ve been one of only about 13 states that have been able to maintain our triple-A bond rating during the most volatile period in the modern era, and I think part of that is based on the strength of the Local Government Commission,” Folwell said. “It sends a clear message to Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and Fitch that we’re always focused on trying to figure out what’s right, get it right and keep it right.”

After the stock market crashed in 1929, the subsequent economic downturn hit Asheville hard. Half a dozen banks closed down and the town found itself more than $8 million in debt (equivalent to $156 million today) because of bonds used to pay for infrastructure improvements during the roaring 1920s.

That debt hampered Asheville for another 46 years until it was finally paid off on June 30, 1976.

Ironically, the town’s indebtedness may have saved it from becoming another cookie-

been one of only about 13 states that have been able to maintain our triple-A bond rating during the most volatile period in the modern era, and I think part of that is based on the strength of the Local Government Commission.”

—

Dale Folwell, North Carolina state treasurer

cutter glass and steel skyscraper town. Funds weren’t readily available for urban renewal, so many deco-style 1920s-era buildings remain today. However, the ignominious distinction of having the highest per-capita debt in the nation wasn’t exactly something for residents to cheer.

Had the LGC been in place at the time, it’s highly likely it would have curbed or quashed some of the runaway borrowing of the previous decade, saving Asheville residents millions in taxes over the ensuing decades.

On Nov. 1, Folwell brought the LGC to Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, where it held only its second meeting ever outside the confines of the state’s capital in Raleigh.

“We met last month in Tyrrell County. It’s one of the lowest income counties in North Carolina, if not the United States, and so we thought that after taking it east, we should also take it west,” he said. “We have citizens

here who live closer to four other state capitals than they do to Raleigh. We thought it would be great to bring Raleigh to you for once instead of you having to come to Raleigh.”

The agenda for the meeting was fairly typical, and served as a microcosm of the fiscal and development-related issues facing North Carolina today.

First up was the community of Winnabow, in Brunswick County. Residents there requested that the LGC sign off on its petition to incorporate as a chartered municipality.

But the proposed town would have just 6,700 residents, and commission members expressed concerns about the proposed town’s tax base, lack of fiscal management experience, insufficient knowledge of state statutes governing municipalities and overall viability.

Current challenges, which include finding and paying for qualified staff members and the suite of software products they’d need to operate a municipal government, also weighed heavily against the wannabe town. In the end, the LGC rejected Winnabow’s request, fearing it would just end up on the UAL. The UAL, or unit assistance list, is where public bodies that run afoul of fiscal controls end up, and it’s not a good place to be.

Per statutory authority, the LGC assumes control of local governments or public authorities that can no longer manage their own financial affairs by impounding their books and records. The LGC can levy taxes, expend revenues, adopt budgets or apply other financial controls when needed.

Currently, there are six municipalities on the UAL, and one sanitary district.

The Cliffside Sanitary District, in Rutherford County, was designated as distressed in September, 2019 after it was determined that its sewer system had become too expensive to operate.

Kingstown, in Cleveland County, has been on the list since early in 2020, due to financial reporting issues.

In October, 2021, Cumberland County’s Spring Lake made the list after the elected board allowed the town’s general fund to fall into a deficit.

That same month, Robersonville, in Martin County, was added to the list because it failed to file required audits for three years in a row.

In Wayne County, Pikeville incurred too much debt against too little cash, so it joined the list in April, 2021.

Eureka, also in Wayne County, illegally used unavailable fund balance to balance its sewer fund and has been on the list since 2019.

East Laurinburg, in Scotland County, made the list in November 2021, after the state auditor discovered that town funds had been expended for personal use by the town’s finance officer.

But it’s not all doom and gloom at the LGC; a number of agenda items the commission ended up approving at the meeting show how a growing state and its local governments meet the needs of some of their most vulnerable residents.

The North Carolina Capital Facilities Finance Agency, which provides tax-exempt financing to nonprofits engaged in providing

State Auditor Beth Wood (left) and Treasurer Dale Folwell (center) review their notes as Chancellor Kelli R. Brown (right) looks on during a Nov. 1 meeting of the Local Government Commission in Cullowhee. Cory Vaillancourt photo

“We’ve

elementary and secondary education, won approval to issue $9.7 million in conduit revenue bonds, which will be lent to Aces for Autism, a nonprofit educational center in Winterville.

Aces for Autism will use the money to create a 32,000 square-foot building on its 24acre campus that will be used for everything from food service to one-on-one therapy.

The Raleigh Housing Authority was given permission to issue $27 million in conduit revenue bonds, which will be used for affordable housing.

The 4.6-acre project is called Millner Commons, and will transform an old Presbyterian church into 156 units available to people aged 55 and older. All units will be available to people making less than 60% of the area’s median income, with 10% of them reserved for people with incomes less than 30% of the area’s median, and another 10% reserved for people with disabilities or people who were formerly unsheltered.

A similar, much larger project was also approved by the LGC. The North Carolina Medical Care Commission can now issue $105 million in conduit revenue bonds for a 250,000 square-foot addition to The Forest at Duke, a 47-acre independent living retirement community that already has 234 independent living units, 34 assisted living units, and 58 skilled nursing beds.

The need for more housing of this type is evidenced by the fact that 93% of the proposed units are already reserved.

On a more local level, the Town of Waynesville recently appeared before the commission; this past May, the LGC approved Waynesville’s request to borrow $1.9 million to reimburse itself for a land purchase that will serve as the location for a new fire station as well as to purchase a new tanker truck and refinance existing public works building improvement debt.

A number of elected officials and municipal administrators from Western North Carolina turned up to observe the meeting in Cullowhee, including Rep. Karl Gillespie (RMacon), Rep. Mike Clampitt (R-Swain), Jackson County Commissioner Gayle Woody and Franklin Town Manager Amie Owens, who previously spent eight years in Waynesville government.

“We do have the possibility to appear before this board. We were approved for some financing through the State Revolving Fund for our water treatment facility, our phase two on that,” Owens said. “Unfortunately, once we got the preliminary engineering report, the cost had doubled, so we do have the potential to come back and request additional funds through the SRF.”

Owens said she was using the Cullowhee meeting as an opportunity to learn more about the LGC in the event her government needs to make a request in the future.

“It was valuable because we need to know what the LGC is looking for related to information that we can provide for them or the data they can use to make their decision, so that we know exactly what they need so that we’re not stumbling around and having elongated conversations,” she said. “We just need to be succinct and have all of our information together before we get here.”

Haywood student nominated to advise State Board of Education

BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF W RITER

Lily Seymour has been asked to join the State Board of Education as a student advisor. The Haywood County student’s appointment comes after hard work on other local and state advisory boards. During a recognition at the Nov. 3 Haywood County School Board meeting, Haywood County Schools administration sang her praises.

“When Lily speaks, we listen,” said Lori Fox, Principal at Haywood County Early College.

A few years ago, Seymour was chosen to be a student representative to the Haywood County Schools’ Superintendent’s Advisory Council. Students were nominated by their principals for the position; Seymour is a student at Haywood County Early College.

Assistant Superintendent Jill Barker said that creating the local advisory council was one of the most important things Haywood County Schools administration has ever done. When you hear it from the kids, she said, it changes everything.

“During those meetings, she’s one of the most poised, articulate young women that I’ve ever been around. I would want her by my side; she could really help me do my job,” joked Barker. “She is so awesome.”

A couple of years later, Haywood County Schools had the opportunity to form a committee for Portrait of a Graduate, a statewide initiative created by the Department of Public Instruction. Finalized on Oct. 18, Portrait of a Graduate sought to define the skills and mindset students need for success after high school. Community members, public school students, teachers, parents and administrators worked together to come up with this “portrait.”

“There was and remains a steady need for students to develop skills outside of what we consider traditional technical skills and academic knowledge,” said State Superintendent Catherine Truitt in a press release Oct. 18. “Data also shows us that durable skills, like the ones included in the Portrait, are in high demand among employers and beneficial to students regardless of the path they choose – be it college, career or military. This newly unveiled statewide Portrait is an important way we can allow, encourage and invite schools to begin emphasizing durable skills in the classroom, and is a tool that will help students develop these competencies during their time in North Carolina public schools.”

Over the course of three months, teams of volunteers collaborated to determine the key competencies that would be included in the final portrait. The design teams included representatives from across the education sector, including the NC Community College System, NC Independent Colleges and Universities, the University of North

Carolina System, BestNC, myFutureNC, Communities in Schools, the NC Department of Commerce, the Emerging Issues Institute, the Institute for Emerging Issues’ rural faith community network and the NC Chamber of Commerce.

The portrait includes seven competencies — adaptability, collaboration, communication, critical thinking, empathy, learner’s mindset and personal responsibility. DPI administration says that school districts can use the Portrait to enhance classroom learning, as it pairs academic rigor with the skills and mindsets that will help prepare North Carolina students for an ever-changing world.

“She was one of the students we selected to be a part of that, and those were virtual meetings,” said Barker. “She represented Haywood County very well, she made her voice heard and she caught the attention of a lot of people. One of them was our district consultant for DPI, who we have a great relationship with, Jeremy Gibbs.”

Not long after meetings concluded, Gibbs asked Barker whether Seymour would like to go to Raleigh and be a part of the unveiling of Portrait of a Graduate. She not only met State Superintendent Catherine Truitt, but other members of the State Board of Education during the public ceremony.

“She had a voice at that table,” said Barker. “And she really caught the attention of the State Board of Education.”

So much so that she was asked to be a student advisor to the State Board of Education. Seymour will be traveling to Raleigh once a month to partake in meetings, including closed sessions.

“We’re going to be represented in Raleigh every month,” said Barker. “When I talk to our principals about how important school improvement is and district improvement planning is, this is why. The vision for that was about that voice, and now she’s in Raleigh. I’m so proud of you Lily Seymour. She’s going to change the world one day, I can feel it.”

Fox noted the commitment that Seymour is undertaking, traveling over 500 miles each month, staying in a hotel room for two nights, all to better public education in North Carolina.

“That is important,” said Fox. “It’s important that she’s the first one from the Western Region, Raleigh needs to hear from the west. It’s important that she represents Haywood County Schools. I’m most proud that she represents Haywood Early College. She’s very articulate, she’s wise beyond her years, she’s genuine.”

Two student advisor positions had long been a part of the State Board of Education until a three-year period from 2016-2019 when state officials argued over a law that aimed to take the responsibility of appointment from the governor and put it in the hands of the state superintendent. At the behest of students and administrators, the student advisor positions were reinstated in 2020.

Student advisors do not vote on agenda items but are encouraged to give input during meetings and engage with board members throughout meetings and breaks. Like voting board members, student advisors receive agenda packets well before meetings so they can prepare input and discuss relevant issues with peers at their own school.

“We’re very proud of her and just thankful for this opportunity,” said Fox. “And she knows, she’s going to learn so much on how policy is made and who it affects, that the ripples continue from the mountains to the coast on the policies that they’re making.”

“I just want to thank especially you guys for this opportunity, because without attending these meetings that I was nominated for, I would have never gone to Raleigh and gotten this opportunity in the first place,” said Seymour. “So thank you.”

Lily Seymour stands alongside (from left) Trevor Putnam , Lori Fox and Jill Barker. HCS photo

Rob Saunooke announces campaign for chief

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF W RITER

Robert Osley Saunooke, an attorney who has argued cases in state, tribal and federal jurisdictions across the country, has announced his candidacy in the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ 2023 principal chief election.

“If elected I will bring with me to the office of Principal Chief a working knowledge of economic development, cultural sensitivity and unity to bring our tribe together and work for a stronger future,” Saunooke wrote in a letter announcing his candidacy. “Investing in Cherokee, its people, elders, youth and economy should be our primary goal.”

Saunooke, a resident of Yellowhill, is a graduate of Brigham Young University and the law school at Washington and Lee University in Virginia. He has practiced law since 1992, in 1997 opening the first law office on the Qualla Boundary. He represented baseball star Jose Canseco during his 2005 testimony before the U.S. Congress, and in 2014 he received national recognition from the National Women Bar Association for his program on missing and murdered indigenous women. Among other appointments, Saunooke co-chairs the American Bar Association’s Minority Judicial Clerkship Program and is a past president of the National Native American Bar Association.

“For the past 30 years I have advised tribes around the country on legal and economic issues,” he wrote. “I have served on

national, state and local governmental organizations. I have built relationships with major industry, economic and political leaders throughout the country. When our tribe has needed assistance on legal issues I have stepped up to help and often been the only person available. “

Saunooke is admitted to practice in many courts and jurisdictions, ranging from the U.S. Supreme Court to four different Circuit Courts of Appeals to the Seminole Tribal Court to the Florida Bar, among others. However, Saunooke is not currently licensed in North Carolina and was banned from practicing on the Qualla Boundary in 2018 after a tribal judge found he had improperly represented a client despite not being licensed in North Carolina, as tribal law requires. During the 2017 impeachment hearing that resulted in the controversial removal of former Principal Chief Patrick Lambert, Saunooke represented Tribal Council in arguing that charges in the articles of impeachment warranted removal.

Saunooke will face competition from incumbent Chief Richard Sneed and Wolfetown Rep. Bo Crowe in his quest to fill the tribe’s top executive office. While Sneed and Crowe have both won multiple tribal elections in past years, this would be Saunooke’s first elected position.

The next chief will serve a four-year term extending to October 2027. The 2023 election will also seat a vice chief, 12 Tribal Council members and three school board members. Voters will weigh in on referendum questions seeking to institute term limits for Tribal Council members and to shift the current two-year terms to staggered fouryear terms.

Candidate filing begins March 6, 2023. A Primary Election Thursday, June 1, 2023, will whittle the list of candidates down to two per seat, with a General Election Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, determining the winners.

Vecinos awarded grant from Hispanic Federation

Recently, Vecinos, serving a large Hispanic/Latino community in the six western counties of North Carolina, was granted $25,000 by The Hispanic Federation. The grant will be used to assist low-income, uninsured Hispanic people in Western North Carolina who have been impacted by COVID-19.

The Hispanic Federation is a premier Hispanic nonprofit that seeks to empower and advance the Hispanic community, support Hispanic families, and strengthen Hispanic institutions. They support the Hispanic communities by partnering with other nonprofits that serve these communities. Over $4.2 million has helped with a wide range of social services from food to health-

care, to cash and housing assistance.

Vecinos is a bilingual, nonprofit, free clinic based in Cullowhee that serves the uninsured, low-income population in Western North Carolina with out-patient and mobile primary and mental health clinical and supportive services. Many patients are Hispanic and have been impacted by COVID-19, from health impact to job insecurity. To assist the community in need and to meet the goals of the grant, Vecinos’ outreach staff identifies individuals in need of food, helps with rent and utilities, and provides access to COVID testing and safety kits for the community.

For more information regarding Vecinos’ work in WNC, email info@vecinosinc.org.

Robert Saunooke.

Another death at the Jackson County Detention Center

BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF W RITER

For the fifth time in eight years, and the second time since July, someone has died while incarcerated at the Jackson County Detention Center.

Kevin Scott Watson, 30, of Sylva passed away at the detention center on Oct. 20 after being found unresponsive in his cell. According to Chief Deputy Matthew Wike, detention center medical staff and detention officers initiated life saving measures immediately and summoned EMS to the jail.

Watson was being held on a $190,000 secured bond after being arrested Oct. 19 on drug related charges after a traffic stop made by Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputies.

On Oct. 20, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations received a request from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch to investigate the death of an inmate at the Jackson County Detention Center. The SBI investigation is ongoing and no additional information is available at this time. SBI investigative files are never made public. Once the investigation is complete, the case will be submitted to the District Attorney’s Office, which will determine whether or not to press criminal charges.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office has not published a press release concerning the incident, and Sheriff Chip Hall could not be reached for comment.

Watson’s death follows closely on the heels of the death of Eddie Columbus Taylor, 45, who died while detained in the Jackson County Detention Center in June. Late last year, Jackson County paid $725,000 in a wrongful death lawsuit after Melissa Middleton Rice died by suicide while left alone in the jail’s booking room in 2019. There have been two other suicide deaths inside the Jackson County Detention Center in the past eight years. Charles “Chuckie” Moose died on Nov. 21, 2014, and Steve Ross on March 13, 2015.

Earlier this year the Jackson County Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of a body scanner to assist the sheriff’s department in screening people as they come into the detention center. Total cost for the scanner was $148,730 and the equipment was accepted on Sept. 7. According to Wike, detention staff were trained by the vendor on Sept. 27 and 28, and the system was fully operational on Sept. 29.

Commissioner Gayle Woody told The Smoky Mountain News that this body scanner was an important aspect of addressing jail safety.

“We understand what’s going on and we

“Even though you have somebody in custody, you’re trusted with their safety,” said Farmer. “We’ve got to take every precaution we can to make sure that the search techniques you’re using are correct. If you have a work release that’s coming in and out and you think it’s the work release that’s the issue, then number one will be to shut that work release down. Number two, talk to whoever’s in charge during that shift, find out the issue. Ultimately, if it happens in your jail, you’re responsible for that death. So we’ve got to make sure that people are trained well. Prisoners transporting contraband inside their bodies has been a thing that’s been ongoing. Your search techniques have to be spot on because they’ll do a lot of different things that you aren’t expecting them to do.”

are directly addressing it,” said Woody. Jackson County Sheriff is up for election this year, but Sheriff Hall is not seeking reelection. Competing for his seat are Democrat Rick Buchanan and Republican Doug Farmer. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8. While on the campaign trail, both candidates spoke with the Smoky Mountain News about the importance of adequate searches for jail safety.

“There’s nothing that takes the place of training your employees,” said Buchanan. “Since [Taylor’s death], the county has purchased an x-ray machine. It’s not a pretty thing that individuals when they’re arrested or brought into jail are strip searched and everything like that, but you still may miss something because you can’t look everywhere. With that being said, I think the body scanner is going to aid and help, but again, people have to be trained in that, and nothing takes the place of training.”

According to his obituary, Watson is survived by his three daughters, brother, sister, grandmother and girlfriend.

Five people have died while incarcerated in the Jackson County Detention Center since 2014.

On Nov. 4, the North Carolina Supreme Court ruled that it could compel the state to fund the Leandro Plan.

NC Supreme Court orders state to fund Leandro Plan

BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF W RITER

The latest development in the Leandro v. The state of North Carolina court case came last week when the North Carolina Supreme Court ruled that state officials can be ordered to transfer the funds necessary to fully fund a sound basic education to the state’s k-12 public schools.

“It’s our constitutional duty to ensure every child has access to a sound basic education,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “As the NC Supreme Court has affirmed today, we must do more for our students all across North Carolina.”

The Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s ruling from 2021 requiring the state to fund the Leandro Plan, an eight-year remedial plan with specific investments to ensure all children have access to a sound basic education.

The initial order of $1.75 billion to fund the plan was lowered to $785 million by a trial judge following the passage of the 2021 state budget.

“Today’s ruling reaffirming that the General Assembly must fund the Leandro education plan is a victory for everyone who believes all students, regardless of their background, deserve to receive a fully funded education that prepares them for the future,” said North Carolina Association of

Haywood County Operation nets 112 grams of fentanyl

Over four days, Haywood County Sheriff’s Office Deputies and agency partners led a largescale operation that resulted in the seizure of 63 grams of methamphetamine, 112 grams of Fentanyl, 2.4 grams of cocaine, 6.8 grams of opioids and the arrests of 37 people.

On Oct. 19, deputies with the Criminal Suppression Unit/Narcotics Unit of the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Waynesville Police Department, Maggie Valley Police Department, Canton Police Department

Educators President Tamika Walker Kelly in a statement.

The Leandro case, after almost 30 years, remains one of the most prominent education policy issues in North Carolina. In 1994, five low-wealth school districts filed a lawsuit against the state arguing that their schools didn’t have the funding needed to provide an equal education for their public school children. In 1997 and again in 2004, the North Carolina Supreme Court ruled that the state has a constitutional obligation to ensure all children have access to a sound basic education.

In 2018, a judge ordered WestEd, an independent educational consultant to recommend ways the state could comply with the court rulings. Parties to the case used their findings to create what became known as the Leandro Plan, which laid out the need for $5 billion in funding over an eightyear period.

In March of this year, the Supreme Court agreed to hear arguments to the case again after the passage of the new state budget, and Judge Michael Robinson ruled that the state was responsible for funding the comprehensive remedial plan, but could not be ordered to do so. This decision led to the case coming before the court yet again in August 2022, to determine whether the court could compel the state to fund the plan.

and North Carolina Probation and Parole participated in a large-scale operation focused on targeting drug traffickers in our community.

In addition to the many traffic stops, K9 deployments, and searches, significant arrests and seizures were made. Law Enforcement Officers seized 63 grams of methamphetamine, 112 grams of Fentanyl, 2.4 grams of cocaine and 6.8 grams of opioids, which resulted in the arrest of 37 people, 57 charges and the serving of 16 warrants.

If anyone has information regarding drug trafficking in Haywood County, please call the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office Crime Stoppers Tipline at 1.877.922.7463 or visit the Community Concerns Portal at haywoodncsheriff.com/community-tips-concerns.

“Since the start of the Leandro legal battle, an entire generation of students in North Carolina has lost out on what it means to have a fully funded education,” said Walker Kelly. “Our legislators have done us all a disservice by not providing adequate resources for our schools to be successful and it is up to us to hold them accountable to the constitution of our state.”

Writing for the majority, Justice Robin Hudson made it clear that the court was done waiting for the North Carolina General Assembly to fulfill its duty to the public school system.

“In the eighteen years since [Leandro II, Hoke County Board of Education v. State], despite some steps forward and back, the foundational basis for the ruling of Leandro II has remained unchanged: today, as in 2004, far too many North Carolina schoolchildren, especially those historically marginalized, are not afforded their constitutional right to the opportunity to a sound basic education,” wrote Hudson. “As foreshadowed in Leandro II, the State has proven — for an entire generation — either unable or unwilling to fulfill its constitutional duty. Now, this Court must determine whether that duty is a binding obligation or an unenforceable suggestion. We hold the former: the State may not indefinitely violate the constitutional rights of North Carolina school children without consequence.”

The 4-3 decision was made along party lines with Democratic justices in the majority. With two seats up for election this year,

the makeup of the court could soon change.

Rep. Mark Pless (R-Haywood) told The Smoky Mountain News he does not believe the court can compel legislators to fund the Leandro Plan.

“In my research, it can’t be funded the way they’re trying to fund it by the constitution of North Carolina,” said Pless. “It has to be done by a bill. A ruling from the court system can’t free up the money because the representatives — Senate, House and of course the governor — that has to be done by a public bill. And I honestly believe, if we go around that, if you get a budget that you disagree with, all you have to do is go get a judge that says ‘hey, you should have gotten this amount of money, $500 million here, a billion dollars there.’ All they have to do is get a judge or someone to be sympathetic to the situation. We can’t allow that to happen.”

The federal government provides around 8% of funding for public schools, states are responsible for about 46% and local governments about 45%. In North Carolina, average per pupil spending is just over $9,000 while the national average is $12,519. North Carolina ranks about 34th in the nation for teacher pay. Teachers in the state make an average of $37,049; the national average is $54,150.

“We see every day the disparities in this state between affluent and marginalized communities and we know that today’s ruling takes us one step closer to allowing every student to grow and thrive in their public schools.”

Rumble's Top 11 Fall Beers

STEFANEE SHERMAN·

‘Tis the season for pumpkin, spice and all things brewed to taste nice. If you’re like me you may not be the biggest fan of pumpkin spice lattes, but I am a fan of all things fall and all things beer. The whole idea behind craft beers is to offer your taste buds a new sensation, so why not delight them with something exciting this fall.

As a Budweiser lover through and through, transitioning to craft beers was strange but finding a style I enjoyed was the gateway to other delicious flavors. IPAs are at the top of my list, but with that being said, I tend to want something on the warmer and spicier side once fall rolls around. And by warm and spicy, I mean delicious flavors such as apple,

pumpkin, and mixed spices.

Fall beers are a staple of most brewing companies. They are all trying to create a pumpkin spice beer that converts us. I stand by some flavors not mixing (here’s looking at you pineapple on pizza), but there are some pumpkin beers I can get on board with. Bearing the right amount of coffee to pumpkin and the heaviness of a stout is where I find my happy place in the world of pumpkin beer. But to each their own and in the realm of giving pumpkin a fair showing in today’s list, I did consult with some of my PSL lovers to get their opinions. Without further ado, below is a list of delicious fall beers, in no particular order:

Wicked Weed Pumpkin Spice Latte

Southern Pines Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew Imperial Stout

Sycamore Apple Pie3

Sycamore Pumpkin Latte Blonde

Highland Clawhammer Oktoberfest

New Belgium Atomic Pumpkin

Sierra Nevada Northern Hemisphere IPA

Booneshine Peak Week

Deep River Pumpkin Pie Porter

Blowing Rock “Mel Electrum” Honey Amber

Bonus beer for my gluten-free friends:

Bold Rock Fall Ciders11

If you allow yourself an open mind and take time to try at least a few of these fall beers, you may realize there are several that you love and look forward to year after year. Cheers to a tasty season!

Rumble is a weekly e-newsletter created by women, for women and about women. It is published by The Smoky Mountain News and delivered to your inbox each Thursday. The goal is to offer readers a beautifully curated email that will inspire and motivate women to live their best lives. By hearing the challenges and successes of other women, we hope you will find an opportunity to live, love, learn and grow in your own unique way.

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WCU alumnus providing leadership gifts

Steve Couch, a 1985 graduate of WCU with a degree in industrial technology, is having a major impact on the lives of current students and student-athletes.

Twenty-six students in WCU’s College of Engineering and Technology have received financial assistance through the Carlton O. and Margaret W. Couch Scholarship Fund initially established through a gift of $25,000 from Couch in 2010. That endowed fund now stands at the $150,000 mark after additional contributions made over the years and will reach $500,000 through a planned estate gift pledge made in 2018.

The most recent example of Couch’s legacy of giving is a June 2022 pledge totaling $250,000 over the next five years to benefit the Catamount athletics program. The gift commitment includes $75,000 for the Catamount Club, $25,000 for the men’s basketball program and $150,000 toward athletics facility renovations.

“Steve is enhancing the lives of so many Western Carolina University students and Catamount student-athletes through his ongoing acts of generosity, while honoring his family and leaving a legacy of his own,” said Jamie T. Raynor, vice chancellor for advancement. “The university depends upon loyal and consistent donors such as Steve to help us provide the transformative power of higher education to our students and to enhance their academic and extracurricular experiences during their time with us.”

Shortly after endowing the scholarship fund in his parents’ memory, Couch was invited by then-Chancellor John W. Bardo to return to Cullowhee to tell his story at the university’s annual scholarship luncheon, which pairs donors with the students who benefit from their gifts.

“I just about got kicked out of Western my second year because my grades were so bad. I had a professor who also was my adviser, and he sat me down and set me straight. He said, ‘Your parents are paying for you to be here to get a college education, so you better straighten up or just go on home.’ He may have officially been teaching me Economics 203, but what he really taught me was Life 101,” Couch said.

After that academic intervention, Couch began hitting the books in earnest, improving his grades to the point where he made the dean’s list his final two semesters.

His sister, Janice Couch Thompson, is a retired guidance counselor in Durham County Schools who volunteers as coordinator of the Couch Oil Cares Scholarship Program, which is affiliated with the Durham Bulls Minor League Baseball team. Six high school seniors are awarded $1,000 each during a Bulls baseball game each July, with 42 students receiving awards totaling $42,000 over the eight years since the program was created in 2015. Couch called it a highlight of his life to be back involved with his alma mater.

“Full circle, and it’s really the way it’s meant to be for alumni – giving back to the organization so they can continue to have a positive impact on current students.”

Although Couch did not participate in intercollegiate athletics as a student-athlete during his time at WCU, he said he has been a loyal fan of the Catamounts since he first set foot on campus and noted that improvements to athletics facilities are an important part of the school’s future.

For more information on creating an endowed fund or supporting funds for immediate use to help students pursue their higher education goals, contact the WCU Division of Advancement at 828.227.7124 or advancement@wcu.edu, or visit the website give.wcu.edu.

Haywood youth selected in World War II D-Day immersion study abroad

Adam Clay Boyd, age 9 of Haywood County, was selected as one of seven students in the nation between the ages of 8-12 as an ambassador with the Bridge to History (B2H) program, a part of the nonprofit organization Operation Meatball.

Boyd traveled 10 days between England and Normandy, France, to study the events of the D-Day Invasions by the Allied Forces of Britain, Canada

and the United States of America as part of Operation Overlord beginning June 6, 1944. Adam was the only student selected from North Carolina and joined students from Florida, Texas, Kentucky and Illinois along with their parent chaperones and staff with the Bridge to History program. The delegation traveled Sept. 30 – Oct. 10, 2022.

Over the course of the nine-day overseas bootcamp, Adam and the B2H children walked the battlefields, felt the sands of Omaha Beach between their fingers, climbed in old German bunkers, talked with allied veterans of World War II and their families, learned facets of military life, met their young French counterparts, paid their respects to the war fallen in special ceremonies at

the cemeteries, and saw how a nation responds to oppression and liberation.

The students are called “Bridge to History Ambassadors” because when the trip ends, their mission is only beginning. When the children return stateside, they will have been commissioned to take what they have learned and apply it to their lives at home.

UNC Asheville awarded $110,000 by SECU

Twenty UNC Asheville students spent their summer engaged in hands-on, community-based

internships across North Carolina thanks to a $110,000 grant from the SECU Foundation.

The SECU Public Fellows Internship Program, now in its third year at UNC Asheville and implemented across 16 universities in the UNC System, is designed to connect talented undergraduate students with meaningful on-the-job experience with a local agency or organization, while providing a unique learning opportunity to allow students to give back to their community.

For UNC Asheville students, internship partners for summer 2022 included Pisgah Legal, Asheville Humane Society, Mountain BizWorks, Girl Scouts, and MAHEC, as well as new host sites, Asheville Art Museum, Blue Ridge Public Radio, Land of Sky Regional Council, and the Small Business Technology Development Center.

This year’s program also included a new kickoff orientation and keynote address on diversity in the workplace by career coach Tiffany Waddell Tate.

“I decided to become a part of the SECU Public Fellows Internship program because it provided a way to have a meaningful and useful summer job,” said health and wellness promotion major Maggie Martin, who interned with the Girl Scouts Peak to Piedmont program.

Learn more about each student’s experience in their own words at: https://stories.unca.edu/2022secu-public-fellows.

Students accepted into the program earned $15.50 an hour to work full-time from June to August 2022, earning three academic credit hours in the process. UNC Asheville students interested in applying should email career@unca.eduexpressing their interest.

The UNC Asheville Career Center is currently seeking host sites for the 2023 SECU Public Fellows Internship Program. To be eligible, sites must submit an application and meet the following criteria:

• North Carolina-based and North Carolinaserving

• Commitment to improve lives for rural North Carolinians

• Non-profit or government agency

• Minimum of three full-time employees

• Subject to approval from SECU Foundation

Contact Cate Marshall at cmarsha3@unca.edu or Lisa Mann at mann@unca.edu for more details or to apply.

Spring registration at HCC now open

Spring semester registration at Haywood Community College is now open.

HCC offers a variety of courses delivered in an array of methods to fit all schedules. From in-person to entirely online, the college has what students need to create a flexible schedule for those who are employed or may also be balancing a family, making it easy to get the credentials needed to move forward.

Through the generosity of donors, HCC has a variety of scholarship opportunities available to students.

For more information and for scholarship eligibility requirements, visit haywood.edu or call 828.627.2821.

Janice Couch Thompson shares a moment with her brother, Steve Couch.

A subtle eclipse, a reminder of what we’ve lost

As Lori and I walked our dog through the roads in our subdivision this morning before sunrise, Election Day, we hoped for no fog and no clouds so we could witness the lunar eclipse. It was indeed crystal clear, the stars were out, and for most of the walk we watched as the Earth’s shadow slowly moved across the full moon near the western horizon. It’s a subtle celestial show, the darker orange/yellow slowly covering the brighter yellow/white. Otherworldly.

The slight difference in color was surely noticeable and gorgeous, but totally unlike a total solar eclipse when the sun is blacked out by the moon.

Being a journalist and having been bombarded over the last couple months by election coverage, that concept of subtle differences was stuck in my head as I sat down to finish a column after our walk. As it turns out, what I’d started writing yesterday was put away for another week. I wanted to write about all the subtle differences in American political beliefs versus the chasm that exists over a handful of issues. How has that middle ground become so ignored and elusive, while the issues that divide are always front and center?

As a teen and young adult in the 1970s and 1980s, it seems the big political fights were over welfare and social programs, how much to spend on the military, what were the income tax rates that were fair for most Americans. There was much to agree on: most support the military, most are OK with paying our fair share of taxes, most are considerate and generous enough to support welfare for those in need, and

We’ve got to control kudzu

To the Editor:

Whether we like it or not, tourism sustains a quality of life for all WNC residents. This tourism naturally comes from living in area with a bounty of visual beauty that people come to see and experience. Fall is just one great example of this visual beauty and is also one example of the economic lifeblood that tourism provides for WNC residents as people visit and spend money to see the fall leaves change.

This make me wonder what happens when our beautiful fall colors provided by the hardwood trees are increasingly overtaken and killed off by kudzu? Fall is the perfect time to see our region’s future given the exponential growth of kudzu. And what that future looks like is vast expanses of gray dying kudzu leaves which is not a pretty sight visually and hence not a pretty sight for the future our tourism-based economy.

However, when I mention kudzu to people who live here and people who represent us I often get a shrug of the shoulders as if it doesn’t matter or that a solution is not possible.

most are not racists or bigots. Certainly the cultural issues were also important then, and there were hard-fought battles over race, drugs, guns, women’s rights, abortion, immigration, sexuality and more. But there was a middle, and it was seen as admirable and honorable to be able to compromise, to give in a little on one’s heartfelt beliefs, to sacrifice in order to reach common ground that kept the country moving forward.

Now, cultural issues are center stage and it’s an all or nothing game. For instance, as we reported a couple of weeks ago, the safety net entitlement programs so important for most Americans could become a bargaining chip as Congress and the president argue over raising the debt ceiling.

Truth is both parties have run deficits since the last balanced budget in the Clinton Administration. If you’re red, your party helped contribute to the deficit. If you’re blue, well, same thing; your party helped create the deficit.

Today, though, it’s what differentiates us that grabs all the headlines and fills the vacuum that is the internet. Now, even talk about secession and splitting the country has become — if not commonplace — at least a topic of conversation, one born out of the frustration of not being able to find shared values.

LETTERS

Or, even worse from our elected officials, a lack of understanding of how important what an area looks like and its crucial connection to tourist wanting to visit an area.

I would like to think that as kudzu continues to spread exponentially with no action and overtakes views on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Smoky Mountains and Clingmans Dome and other major tourist sights that people will take action. If this is true, then why are we waiting?

Where are the elected representatives discussing and teaming up with conservation groups, universities, residents and the government to come up with solutions? I don’t see that happening and I refuse to believe that there are no answers from a country that could engineer a successful Coronavirus vaccine in under a year but can’t invent a kudzu herbicide or some other solution for the visual blight of kudzu? In closing, I don’t think there will be many people in the future coming to see kudzu leaves change to gray in WNC or drive the future renamed “Kudzu Parkway,” and that spells trouble for the residents of WNC.

Tim Holloran Sylva

I often run into a long-time friend at the gym, and we exchange small talk. Just last week the subject turned to politics on the agenda. He’s a smart guy, is well read and up to date on news and politics.

“It might be OK if we just split the country up, give the Republicans part and Democrats parts. I mean, there just doesn’t seem to be any middle ground anymore,” he said.

We joked about how both sides would want some of the warm parts of the country and how that might shake out. It all sounds far-fetched, but Rich Lowry, editor of the conservative icon National Review, recently reported on a survey by the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.

“That poll found that about 50 percent of Donald Trump voters and 40 percent of Joe Biden voters agreed to some extent with the proposition that the country should split up, with either red or blue states seceding,” Lowry wrote.

When this edition hits the streets on Wednesday, Nov. 9, we could be headed toward a crisis regarding election results that could turn up the heated rhetoric we’re all tired of hearing. If that happens no or during the 2024 presidential election, I’m just not sure what the future holds for the U.S.

Me, I’m thinking back to that eclipse, the oranges and yellows. So many hues mixing beautifully together. Perhaps leaders and the rest of us can recapture the middle, the give and take of politics, the subtle art of compromise with compassion. Perhaps.

(Scott

McLeod can be reached at info@smokymountainnews.com)

Air the laundry. 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 or mail to PO Box 629, Waynesville, NC, 28786

Editor

Scott McLeod

Older generations are failing the young

Did you know a family in Denmark uses, on average, four single-use grocery bags per year while American families use one per day?

Next time you’re in Walmart, stand at the self-checkout area for a moment and observe how many people use a plastic bag for a single item, a box of canned drinks or a container of laundry detergent with a handle. These items are easier to carry without a bag, yet customers still use one. It requires significant restraint not to inform them that each plastic bag takes 1,000 years to degrade in a landfill. I try to model appropriate behavior by not bagging boxes or items with handles and by using reusable bags.

A recent study led by Bath University and spanning 10 countries illustrated the depth of anxiety young people are experiencing toward climate change as well as feelings of betrayal from adults and politicians.

Results of this study indicated nearly 60 % of participants said they felt very worried or extremely worried. More than 45 % said feelings about the climate affect their daily lives. Three-quarters said the future was frightening. Over half said humanity is doomed. Two-thirds reported feeling sad, afraid and anxious. Many felt fear, anger, despair, grief and shame — as well as hope.

One 16-year-old said: “It’s different for young people — for us, the destruction of the planet is personal.”

With it being election season, political topics are on every news outlet and social media platform. I can get on a soapbox about several, but the focus of this column is climate change. That’s because if the earth implodes via flood, fire, extreme temperatures or lack of breathable air, no other political issue will really matter because none of us will survive. In my opinion, climate change should be a priority on everyone’s agenda.

Some folks get turned off when they hear the phrases “global warming” or “climate change” because maybe they’re too broad and elusive. To help with this, I’ve included several fast facts from earth.org.

1. We are certain we caused it.

2. The last decade was the hottest in 125,000 years.

3. The ocean absorbs most of the heat we produce.

4. CO2 is at its highest in 2 million years.

5. We are losing 1.2 trillion tons of ice per year.

6. Air pollution kills more than 9 million

people per year.

7. Extreme weather patterns are humandriven.

8. Global warming is reversible, at least partially.

9. Humans collectively lost 302.4 billion work hours to excessive heat in 2019.

10. Several locations may become uninhabitable due to extreme heat by the end of the century.

11. The cost of inaction is higher than the opposite.

12. Livestock are responsible for 14.5% of global greenhouse gases.

In congruence with the Bath University study, I asked several young people in my own sphere how they feel about climate change. They said they’re frustrated because they’re the ones who will inherit the planet and will have to deal with the irresponsibility of older generations. The kids in my life all have reusable water bottles and remind me to get reusable grocery bags out of the car before going into the store. They love to shop at thrift stores, ride their bike or walk to town, and are curious about electric vehicles and planes. They are passionate when they speak or write of what’s happening to our beloved Mother Earth. They are doing their part, as best they can with the resources they have.

We should all be inspired by them.

It astounds me when people act like climate change is a lesser issue. There are massive amounts of quantifiable data indicating we are killing our beautiful planet but everyone goes about their day consuming plastics, gobbling up gas and eating meat with every meal.

The earth is a coherent, self-regulated collection of physical, chemical, geological and biological elements and forces that interact to maintain homeostasis and balance between the input of energy from the sun and the thermal sink of energy into space. The way we treat the planet is making this impossible. Earth’s collection of systems is similar to the human body. If the human body is dehydrated, running a fever and inhaling toxic gases, it would fail to thrive as well.

The planet is always on my mind but especially during a political season. I don’t think it’s fair that other countries, such as Denmark, are trying so hard to live sustainably while Americans selfishly consume and live with little respect and regard for the health of our planet. The truth of the matter is that individual changes can make a difference, so if you don’t make a shift for your own sake, do it for the young people in your lives. Let’s rebuild their faith in us.

(Susanna Shetley is a writer, editor and digital media specialist with The Smoky Mountain News, Smoky Mountain Living, and Mountain South Medial. susanna.b@smokymountainnews.com.)

ColumnistSusanna Shetley

I am one of you forever

A conversation with Fred Chappell

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD ARTS & E NTERTAINMENT E DITOR

In conversation, Fred Chappell is a man of few words and sentiments. Perhaps that’s because he uses all of his vocabulary and emotions to spill across the blank page.

As one of the most beloved and acclaimed writers in North Carolina and greater Southern Appalachia, Chappell, a Haywood County native, has accumulated a vast catalog of work, dozens of books poetry and prose — covering the vast unknowns and intricate beauty of the world around us, many through the lens of the mountains of his youth.

Throughout his 86 years on this earth, Chappell has received an array of honors, including the Bollingen Prize, the T. S. Eliot Award and the Thomas Wolfe Prize. From 1997 to 2002, he was the poet laureate of North Carolina.

Recently, Chappell has become the subject of a new documentary about his life and career. Titled, “I Am One of You Forever,” the film, directed by Michael Frierson, takes an in-depth look at one of the most important literary voices to ever emerge from the Tar Heel State.

The documentary rolls through Chappell’s early years in Haywood County, the evolution of his craft, and his decades-long tenure as a professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

But, at its core, the film puts a spotlight on a writer and educator whose words are eternal-

ly etched in the hearts and minds of those lucky enough to crack open one of his books — a timeless literary voice of reason amid uncertain times.

Smoky Mountain News: What’s it been like to have a documentary made about your life?

Fred Chappell: Embarrassing. It’s too much. You know, I just did what I had to do, and I didn’t expect people to pay much attention to it. So, it’s kind of extravagant.

SMN: But, at same time, it’s interesting to look back at the journey from there to here.

FC: Yeah. Of course, that’s always interesting. It’s like reading an old diary or something like that. But, what’s most interesting is watching Michael Frierson put it together, photograph it and put it in continuity. He’s a very interesting filmmaker — I admire him.

[The film title] is a title of a novel [of mine]. It’s probably the best-known novel I’ve written, and the novel ends with a question — are you with us or not? Are you one of us or not? And, when you close the book, the title answers the question, and that was kind of fun to do.

SMN: Your roots are in Haywood County. What’s your relationship with Western North Carolina at this chapter in your life?

FC: Well, I’m not very mobile these days. At 86, you don’t travel around very much, but I still have ties up there. My sister, of course, who is very dear to me, she lives in Asheville. So, that’s the way I keep up with what’s going in that part of the world [by] talking to my sister.

SMN: What really sticks out about those early

It seems to me, [poetry is] the most natural kind of a speech there is. It’s the most natural, the most elevated, and the most fun — poetry is always attractive.”

— Fred Chappell

years of you roaming around Haywood County?

FC: Well, I didn’t roam around Haywood County very much. I was a farm boy, which means you start work at 5:30 in the morning and you go to bed at 8:30 [at night]. So, I didn’t roam around very much, but my friends did. And, every once in a while, I’d get to go with them. I remember Haywood County very vividly, and with a variety of emotions.

SMN: What about the mountains themselves? What is it that makes them so magical to you?

FC: Same as everybody else. The way they look. The way they smell. The way they are profiled against the sky. All that stuff — just take a picture and you got it.

SMN: Part of the documentary talks about the 40 years you taught at UNCG. Was teaching always something that you wanted to get into, or is that just how the story of your life unfolded?

FC: That’s what I wanted to do was teach college. That was always my goal. That was my

mission in life, to teach school, and that’s what I did. So, I was mostly very happy with it. I enjoyed my colleagues, enjoyed my students. I wasn’t always crazy about the administration, but nobody ever is.

SMN: What were some of the core values for you as a writer and an educator that you put across with teaching the craft of writing?

FC: Well, the craft of writing depends upon the same thing as a craft of teaching — just shut up and listen.

SMN: What’s your productivity these days, in terms of writing?

FC: Very little. It’s time for me to shut up. I don’t think the world needs to hear any more from me. But, I write on request, private poems and so forth. But, I have no ambition [anymore]. [However], I do have a new book [of poetry] coming out in 2024.

SMN: What is it about poetry? Why was that always the medium of the written word that worked for you, that spoke to you the most?

FC: It seems to me, [poetry is] the most natural kind of a speech there is. It’s the most natural, the most elevated, and the most fun — poetry is always attractive. Everybody is immersed in poetry, whether they know it or not.

SMN: What has the culmination of your life — as a writer, educator, and so on — taught you about what it means to be a human being?

FC: It’s taught me that I didn’t deserve what happened to me — I was too lucky for my own good.

At 86 years old, acclaimed writer and Haywood County native Fred Chappell has a new documentary out about his life and career. (File photo)

This must be the place

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

well, the not-so-good. And, for that, I remain thankful.

in mind

It’s a dreary early late fall afternoon here at my folks’ farmhouse, tucked away on a side road, just off Route 22 outside of Plattsburgh, New York. And although the red, orange and yellow leaves on the ground signal November, the odd 70+ degree temperatures say otherwise.

Early this morning, mere minutes before the expected rainstorm rolled in, I hopped into the truck and motored out to nearby Point au Roche State Park, arguably my most favorite spot on the planet to go for a run. I’ve been running the dirt trails along the ancient waters of Lake Champlain since I was in middle school.

At age 37, the magic of those trails and the canopy of trees throughout the property remains, more so now as an adult who still has retained the childlike wonder of curiosity, exploration, and discovery. Lace up the running shoes, zip up the windbreaker, lock up the truck, and start trotting down the trail.

As I meander down into the woods, so do the thoughts swirling around my mind. The warmth of early November in the North Country, as I remember growing up here, with Halloween usually the kickoff to a cold, impending wind. Several trick-or-treat campaigns on the Canadian Border with snowflakes fluttering down from above along Smith Street in Rouses Point.

It’s been a while since I’ve been in Clinton County this time of year. But, with Nov 4 being my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary, I found myself packing up the truck in front of my Waynesville apartment last Wednesday and making the 1,100-mile trek again above the MasonDixon Line.

A half-century together, how wild, eh? With anything in life lasting that long — love, friendships, careers — there’s always a rollercoaster of experiences, moments, and emotions. The key is how much you’re willing to handle, and willing to put forth in an effort to once again find stable ground, physically and emotionally? Sure, there’s been some tough years in my parents’ marriage, but the good has always outweighed,

Kathy and Frank married at a church bordering the campus of the State University of New York in Plattsburgh. She was 23, he was 30. They had been dating for a short period before taking the plunge. It wasn’t really a traditional wedding beyond the church setting, which was to please their respective parental units.

My mother, a flower child of the 1960s, wanted everything simple. No wedding dress

HOT PICKS

1Renowned storyteller Donald Davis will hold a special performance at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, in the Queen Auditorium at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville.

2Worldwide sensation Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernàndez will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee.

3A stage production of “Once Upon a Mattress” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11-12, 18-19 and 2 p.m. Nov. 13 and 20, at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.

4The Veterans Day Parade & Ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 11, on Main Street in Franklin.

5The popular “Polar Express” train ride will resume rides on select dates starting on Nov. 10 from the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad depot in downtown Bryson City.

formative years, Frank had no interest in having children of his own. One of five siblings, Kathy still wanted kids of her own, but it wasn’t in the cards, at least not until 13 years later when I came into the world in 1985. Though I was planned, my little sister was not a couple years thereafter.

or tuxedo. No frills. No wedding rings, either. My father, a blue-collar working class man, was just along for the ride. He didn’t care what the wedding looked like, as long as my mom was happy and content with what would unfold on Nov. 4, 1972.

Back then, my mother had just started her career as a special education teacher, my father a corrections officer at a prison a couple towns over from Plattsburgh. They first met at The Bistro, a now long-gone bar in the city. A fiercely independent bachelor who bought a new Ford Mustang each year, Frank had no interest in dating or marriage.

But, that was until a mutual friend dragged my father away from the pool table at The Bistro and introduced him to Kathy. Once they sealed their nuptials, my folks bought a house, acquired some dogs and cats (and rescued a horse), and started to build a life together on Smith Street in Rouses Point.

One of eight kids, who pretty much raised all his younger siblings for most of his

In the years and decades since, Kathy and Frank have traveled the globe together, never once meeting a stranger, with each interaction of connectivity and new friendship always filled with laughter and curiosity. Instead of possessions, my parents viewed their time and money as smartly spent on experiences, fine dining, good wine, and even better company — something not lost on me as I make my way along the journey of life, continually stopping to smell the roses and take notice of one’s surroundings of people, places, and things.

And, I think of those countless moments with Kathy and Frank over the years, where I consider myself lucky to not only get along with my parents, I also look forward to hanging out with them. Memories of adventures in Irelands, Maine, Montana, New York City, Canada and, over the last 10 years, numerous nights of beautiful mischief amid Waynesville and greater Western North Carolina when they swing in to visit me.

Thus, last Friday evening, we gathered at Irises Café & Wine Bar in downtown Plattsburgh to raise a toast to 50 years of Kathy and Frank. Also in attendance, my little sister and brother-in-law with their three kids, and my Aunt Cheryl and Uncle Craig. Simple and to the point. Nothing crazy, just good wine and fine dining, the celebrated couple surrounded by those who know them the best and love them the most.

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

It takes a lifetime to find, a life like the life you had

The Plattsburgh farmhouse.

(Garret K. Woodward photo)

Folk, soul at Mountain Layers

Beloved singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Alma Russ will hit the stage at 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13, at Mountain Layers Brewing Company in Bryson City.

Based out of Western North Carolina and with her unique brand of “patchwork music” (country, folk and Appalachian

styles pieced together), Russ enjoys playing guitar, banjo and fiddle.

Russ was also a contestant on “American Idol” Season 16. Her most recent album, “Fool’s Gold,” was recorded in an abandoned church in the West Texas desert while Russ was on a national tour.

Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 or mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com. For more information on Russ, click on almarussofficial.com.

Mariachi legend to play WCU

Interested in learning the dulcimer?

The Pic’ & Play Mountain Dulcimer Players will be resuming in-person jam sessions at the St. John’s Episcopal Church basement fellowship hall in Sylva.

The group welcomes all beginners and experienced dulcimer players, including mountain (lap) dulcimer and hammered dulcimer players. Songs played include traditional mountain tunes, hymns and more modern music. The group meets at 1:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Saturday of every month in the basement of St. John’s.

Pic’ & Play has been playing together since 1995. The more experienced members welcome new players, help them navigate their instruments, and guide them through some of the basics of tuning, strumming and playing.

The mountain dulcimer, also known as a fretted dulcimer or a lap dulcimer, is a uniquely American instrument. It evolved from the German scheitholz sometime in the early 1800s in Appalachia and was largely known only in this region until popularized more broadly in the 1950s.

For more information, call Kathy Jaqua at 828.349.3930 or Don Selzer at 828.293.0074.

México de José Hernàndez will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee.

The Grammy-nominated band is fronted by fifth-generation Mariachi musician Mastero Hernàndez, who is an internationally recognized musician, composer and educator. He has recorded with respected names in the industry, including Selena, Vincente Fernandez, Luis Miquel, Bryan Adams and the Beach Boys.

While his family tree is rooted in the Mariachi musicians that hail from La Sierra del Tigre region of Jalisco, Hernàndez built on that foundation to grow Mariachi music in new territories, musical genres, and in the hearts of new audiences.

After forming Mariachi Sol de Mexico in 1981, Hernàndez charismatic arrangements and first-class musical direction led the group to instant and lasting success: playing in sold out halls from Madison Square Garden to Beijing, China and Pyongyang, North Korea.

Known as the “world’s premiere Mariachi group,” they gained the attention of the White House and have been invited to play for five U.S. presidents from Ronald Reagan to Barack Obama.

Hernandez’s classical arrangements have led to them sharing the stage with symphony orchestras such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Santa Rosa Symphony, San Francisco Symphony and Jalisco Symphony.

To purchase tickets, click on arts.wcu.edu/explore.

Alma Russ. (File photo)

On the beat

• 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 balsamfallsbrewing.com.

• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host a semi-regular acoustic jam with the Main Street NoTones from 7 to 9 p.m. every first and third Thursday of the month. Free and open to the public. For more information, click on blueridgebeerhub.com.

• Boojum Brewing (Waynesville) will host karaoke at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, trivia at 7 p.m. on Thursdays and BadRabbit Nov. 12. All shows begin at 9 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 828.246.0350 or boojumbrewing.com.

• Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host Roscoe’s Roadhouse 7 p.m. Nov. 12. Free and open to the public. 828.634.0078 or curraheebrew.com.

• Farm At Old Edwards (Highlands) will host the “Orchard Sessions” on select dates. Tickets start at $25 per person. For tickets, click on oldedwardshospitality.com/orchardsessions.

• Folkmoot Friendship Center (Waynesville) will host Darren Nicholson with Tim McWilliams, William Ritter & Audie Blaylock (Americana/bluegrass) 7 p.m. Nov. 17. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. For tickets, click on folkmoot.org.

• Fontana Village Resort Wildwood Grill will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 800.849.2258 or fontanavillage.com.

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) 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. 828.454.5664 or froglevelbrewing.com.

• Frog Quarters (Franklin) will host live music every Saturday. All shows are free and are held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Located at 573 East Main St. littletennessee.org or 828.369.8488.

• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will host “Trivia Night w/Kirk” from 7 to 9 p.m. every Tuesday, Open Mic Night every Wednesday, Alma Russ (Americana/folk) Nov. 10 and Christina Chand Nov. 17. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. innovation-brewing.com.

• Innovation Station (Dillsboro) will host “Music Bingo” with Hibiscus Sunshine every Wednesday and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All events begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. innovation-brewing.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host April B. 6 p.m. Nov. 12. All shows begin at 7 p.m.

unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host Trivia Night at 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday, Old Time Jam 6:30 p.m. every Thursday and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Marianna Black Library (Bryson City) Community Jam will resume in April. Free and open to the public. 828.488.3030 or fontanalib.org/brysoncity.

• Moss Valley (Franklin) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. Food trucks and beverages available onsite. Bring a lawn chair. Presented by Drake Software.

ends. 828.482.9794 or satulahmountainbrewing.com.

• The Scotsman (Waynesville) will host The Carter Giegerich Trio (Celtic/bluegrass) from 2 to 5 p.m. every Sunday, The Jon Cox Band (rock/country) Nov. 12, Ginny McAfee (singersongwriter) 8 p.m. Nov. 17 and Arnold Hill (rock/jam) Nov. 19. All shows begin at 9 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.6292 or scotsmanpublic.com.

• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, click on smokymountainarts.com or 828.524.1598.

• Southern Porch (Canton) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.492.8009 or southern-porch.com.

ALSO:

• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host Open Mic Night with Ivor Sparks every Wednesday, Scott James Stambaugh (singersongwriter) Nov. 11, Granny’s Mason Jar (Americana) Nov. 12, Alma Russ (Americana/folk) 5 p.m. Nov. 13, Steve Heffker (singer-songwriter) Nov. 18, Twelfth Fret (Americana) Nov. 19 and Wyatt Espalin (singer-songwriter) 5 p.m. Nov. 20. All shows begin at 6 p.m unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 or mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.

• Nantahala Brewing (Sylva) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.641.9797 or nantahalabrewing.com.

• Nantahala Outdoor Center (Nantahala Gorge) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 5 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. noc.com.

• Orchard Coffee (Waynesville) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. 828.246.9264 or orchardcoffeeroasters.com.

• Quirky Birds Treehouse & Bistro (Dillsboro) will host Open Mic Night at 7 p.m. every Tuesday and Shane Meade & The Sound (indie/soul) 7 p.m. Nov. 18. Free and open to the public. 828.586.1717 or facebook.com/quirkybirdstreehouse.

• 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. 828.369.6796.

• Salty’s Dogs Seafood & Grill (Maggie Valley) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.926.9105.

• Satulah Mountain Brewing (Highlands) will host semi-regular live music on the week-

• Stecoah Valley Center (Robbinsville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.479.3364 or stecoahvalleycenter.com.

• The Ugly Dog Pub (Cashiers) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. 828.743.3000 or theuglydogpub.com.

• Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host Jay Dee Gee Nov. 10, Rock Holler Nov. 11, Ali Randolf Nov. 12, JC “The ParrotHead” Nov. 16, Kim & Curtis Jones Nov. 17, Brian Ashley Jones Nov. 18 and Jon Cox (country/rock) Nov. 19. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.2488.

• Valley Cigar & Wine Co. (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows are at 2 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.944.0686 or valleycigarandwineco.com.

• Valley Tavern (Maggie Valley) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.926.7440 or valley-tavern.com.

• Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 9:30 p.m. 828.456.4750 or facebook.com/waternhole.bar.

• Whiteside Brewing (Cashiers) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.743.6000 or whitesidebrewing.com.

• Wine Bar & Cellar (Sylva) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.631.3075 or facebook.com/thewinebarandcellar.

• Yonder Community Market (Franklin) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. Donations encouraged. 828.200.2169 or eatrealfoodinc.com.

VETERANS APPRECIATION EVENT

VETERANS APPRECIATION EVENT

Friday, November 11

8AM – 10AM 734 N. Main St., Waynesville

Organized by the Haywood County Democratic Party

Our veterans and volunteers thank you for your service.

Paid for by the Haywood County Democrats

Celtic Sunday's W/The Carter Giegerich Trio - 2-5pm

Incredible Celtic Folk - Every Sunday Relaxation Along With Your Guinness!

LIVE MUSIC EVERY THURSDAY 8PM

Thursday, November 10th

Live Music w/Christina Chandler - 8-10pm Singer-Songwriter-Americana-Country-Rock

Saturday, November 12th

• BONAFIDE celtic Jam 4pm-5:30/6pm

• The Jon Cox Band Presented by Adamas Entertainment - 9pm-12amRock-Folk-Country-Americana

Thursday, November 17th

Live Music w/Ginny McAfee 8-10pm Americana - Rock - Blues

Saturday, November 19th

Live Music w/ ARNOLD HILL 9pm- 12am Alternative, Americana Rock Youth Villages Holiday Heroes Fundraiser

Mon-Thurs: 4PM-12AM | Fri & Sat: 12PM-12AM | Sun: 10AM-12AM

Haywood Democrats invite local military veterans to join us for a free breakfast

On the street

• “Holiday Craft Fair” will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Memorial United Methodist Church in Franklin. For more information, click on franklin-chamber.com.

• “Christmas Hayrides Through the Lights” will run on Wednesdays through Saturdays until Dec. 23 at Darnell Farms in Bryson City. Enjoy the hayride and a cup of hot cocoa. Limited Seating available. Reservations are priority with limited walkins. darnellfarms.com or call 828.488.2376.

• The Veterans Day Parade & Ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 11, on Main Street in Franklin. The parade will leave from the Franklin Town Hall. The Veterans Ceremony will follow at 11 a.m. in the Gazebo on the Square. Lineup begins at 10 a.m. franklin-chamber.com.

• “Festival of Trees” annual charity gala will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, at Reflections at the Pond in Canton. Proceeds will go to the KARE House:

Haywood County’s children’s advocacy center. For tickets or to make a donation, click on secure.qgiv.com/event/ festivaloftrees2022/register.

• The popular “Polar Express” train ride will resume rides on select dates starting on Nov. 10 from the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad depot in downtown Bryson City. For a complete listing of departure dates and times, call 800.872.4681 or click on gsmr.com.

• “Letters to Santa, Cocoa & Cookies” will be offered by the Swain County Heritage Museum and Visitor Center in Bryson City. Complimentary hot cocoa and cookies. Kids will love the opportunity to write and mail their letters to Santa. Materials provided, with the last day to submit letters being Christmas Eve. greatsmokies.com.

• “Christmas Lights Drive-Thru” will be held Nov. 10-Dec. 31 at the Great Smoky Mountains Event Park in Bryson City. For more information, a full schedule of activities and/or to purchase tickets, click on greatsmokies.com/christmas-light-showbryson-city.

Japanese tea ceremony

In partnership with the Japan Outreach Initiative coordinator at Western Carolina University, the Marianna Black Library will be hosting a Japanese Tea Ceremony event from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, at the library in Bryson City.

Nanaka Okamura, a Japan Outreach Initiative (JOI) coordinator will lead this workshop. Nanaka came to the United States last July, and has been teaching Japanese culture, including Japanese Calligraphy, origami, seasonal events, etc. and the Japanese language to people in the community.

In this 60-minute workshop, learn about Japanese tea culture and then participants will enjoy matcha tea together. To register for this program, contact Nanaka at nokamura@wcu.edu, or visit her at instagram.com/nnk_joi19_wcu or facebook.com/japanwithnanaka.

The Marianna Black Library, a member of the Fontana Regional Library, is located in Downtown Bryson City at the corner of Academy and Rector.

For more information, call the library at 828.488.3030.

• “Flights & Bites” will be held starting at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays at Bosu’s Wine Shop in downtown Waynesville. For more information on upcoming events, wine tastings and special dinners, click on waynesvillewine.com.

• A free wine tasting will be held 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.

• “Take A Flight” with four new wines every Friday and Saturdays at the Bryson City Wine Market. Select from a gourmet selection of charcuterie to enjoy with your wines. Educational classes and other events are also available. For more information, call 828.538.0420.

• “Uncorked: Wine & Rail Pairing Experience” will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 3 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. For more information and/or to register, call 800.872.4681 or click on gsmr.com.

On the wall

• “Holiday Craft Fair” will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Memorial United Methodist Church in Franklin. franklin-chamber.com.

• “Our Mountain Music Traditions” exhibition will be showcased through Nov. 13 at the Haywood County Arts Council in downtown Waynesville. Works of art that use music as its inspiration, with a focus on bluegrass, Appalachian and mountain music. For more information, click on haywoodarts.org.

• “Cultivating Collections: Glass” exhibition will be on display through Dec. 9 in the Fine Art Museum at the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. Regular museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and until 7 p.m. on Thursday. 828.227.ARTS or visit bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.

• Southwestern Community College Swain Arts Center (Bryson City) will host an array of workshops for adults and kids. southwesterncc.edu/scc-locations/swain-center.

• “Holiday Art Market” will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Nantahala School for the Arts in Bryson City. For more information, click on facebook.com/scc.nsa

• Dogwood Crafters in Dillsboro will host an array of upcoming art classes and workshops. dogwoodcrafters.com/classes.html or call 828.586.2248.

Donald Davis to spin yarns

Presented by Blue Ridge Books and Folkmoot USA, renowned storyteller

Donald Davis will hold a special performance at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, in the Queen Auditorium at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville.

Growing up in Waynesville, Davis has fond memories of spending time with his relatives and running around the hills of

Western North Carolina

“All of the stories are original and about growing up. They’re about trouble because those are the events in which we learn from. It’s all about learning and things that move us forward,” Davis said. “They’re all funny, even if they may be sad. They’re all set in the mountains of North Carolina. Some of the stories I tell have come through my family, but it can be a double story because I’ll tell you about that person and then the story.”

After earning a B.A. in English at Davidson College, Davis graduated from Duke University Divinity School. For over 20 years, he was a minister in the United Methodist Church. In 1989, Davis became a full-time storyteller, traveling across the country, returning each year to the storytelling festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee. When not traveling, Davis makes his home on Ocracoke Island.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Admission is $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Tickets are available in-person or by phone through Blue Ridge Books (828.456.6000) or Folkmoot USA (828.452.2997), both located in Waynesville.

As well, refreshments will be available onsite, including a local food truck. For more information, click on folkmoot.org.

HART’s ‘Once Upon a Mattress’

Contact Caitlin Bledsoe at 828-926-4831

A stage production of “Once Upon a Mattress” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1112, 18-19 and 2 p.m. Nov. 13 and 20 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.

Many moons ago in a far-off kingdom, Queen Aggravain decreed no couples could marry until her son, Prince Dauntless, found a bride. Princesses came from far and wide to win the hand of the prince, but none could pass the impossible tests given to them by the Queen.

That is, until the “shy” swamp princess, Winnifred the Woebegone (or Fred), showed up. Would she be able to pass the Sensitivity Test, marry her prince and help Lady Larkin and Sir Harry to the altar?

Carried on a wave of wonderful songs, by

turns hilarious and raucous, romantic and melodic, this rollicking spin on the classic tale The Princess and the Pea provides some side-splitting shenanigans. For after all, a princess is a delicate thing.

“This is truly a spectacle with fabulous costumes designed by Lise Hoffman, with assistance by Becky Johnson, and a wonderful set by Nora Bierce,” said Director Shelia Sumpter. “With creative lighting by Dana Wm. Bierce, and the professional music direction of Maria Frost, this is a production that is certain to be enjoyed by all.”

For more information and/or to purchase tickets, click on harttheatre.org or call the Box Office at 828.456.6322. Winter Box Office Hours are from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

• A stage production of the “Beauty & The Beast” musical will be held at 7 p.m. Nov. 1112, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. The classic story tells of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. The enchantment never ends in this romantic and beloved take on the classic fairytale. A two-act musical production presented by The Overlook Theatre Company. Tickets are $13 for students, $17 for adults. To purchase tickets or to find out more information, click on smokymountainarts.com or call 866.273.4615.

Donald Davis. (File photo)

The cast of ‘Once Upon a Mattress.’ (Courtesy of HART photo)

Bringing Van Gogh home: the value of art books

Recently I wrote an article on the American artist Edward Hopper and his vision of solitude and alienation. Though I used the internet to hyperlink pictures of his paintings to those discussed in my essay, I also went to my local library, where — this was a bit of a miracle — I found three volumes of his work.

As I flipped through those books on Hopper, taking pleasure in the paintings, in the comparisons of his techniques with those of other artists, and in the extensive commentaries of the editors, memories of exploring other art books drifted through my mind. Ten years ago or so, I had enjoyed strolling through these collections of paintings, feasting the eye on works by artists as radically diverse as Caravaggio and Mary Cassatt.

Those Hopper books reminded me that somewhere along the road my penchant for perusing art paper and print had vanished. At almost the same time, I came to see the educational value of these books. It was Norman Rockwell rather than Hopper who taught me this lesson.

My wife loved Rockwell’s work, and as a consequence we owned two weighty books of his paintings. As our children grew into early adolescence, we shared these books with them, explaining the pictures, but mostly allowing the kids to absorb his works with limited guidance from us. Occasionally, in this same way I’ve brought his paintings to the attention of my grandchildren.

On a visit to my daughter in midOctober, I brought along a Rockwell book from the public library. My five-year-old grandson, the youngest member in this branch of the family, looked at the cover and then at a couple of paintings, and said, “I saw this Rockwell before with you, Grandpa.”

That’s the day I discovered the power of such books, their ability to bequeath to our young people beauty through painting. Just as importantly, I found that the the subject matter of art also allows us to acquaint kids with the myths, history and stories that are the foundation of our culture.

For the younger crew, Rockwell offers a fine starting place in this endeavor. In “Norman Rockwell: A Sixty Year Perspective,” with text by Thomas Buechner,

Sylva monthly book club

we find the wonderful painting “The Bonds of Enchantment,” where two boys lying faceto-face are reading books while above them float ethereal figures from nursery rhymes and pirate stories. Rockwell’s “The Problem We All Live With,” in which a little black girl in a white dress walks to school between federal marshals past a wall smeared with

for example, or James Whistler, they can easily search out paintings and biographical particulars online.

Such art can also inspire the stories we tell the little ones at bedtime. Many parents read to their children, almost always from illustrated books, and the stories we find in paintings may prove to be the perfect springboard for entertainment as well. Diego Velazquez’s “Las Meninas” (the maids of honor) with its crowded room may raise questions and speculation: Who are these young women? Who is the man in black standing in the doorway? Why might a nun be there? (For the very young, we might explain what a nun is.) Even a painting so lacking in action and so tranquil as Fragonard’s “A Young Girl Reading” might give rise to discussion and the chance for a parent to invent a story for the girl and her book.

thrown tomatoes, gave me a chance to talk about racism and the Jim Crow policies of our nation 70 years ago.

For interested teenagers, books like Sister Wendy Beckett’s “The Story of Painting,” which I also own, is an excellent comprehensive guide not only to Western art, but to its history as well. Here we find written explorations of the past, the stories of saints and Biblical figures employed by painters over the centuries, and the ongoing commentary by a nun who over her lifetime became a serious student of art. The Civil War paintings of Mort Künstler might heighten a high schooler’s interest in that bloody struggle between North and South.

And if these same students, or for that matter, any of the rest of us, want more information on a particular artist, Francesco Goya

For the rest of us, contemplating the paintings of artists like Rembrandt, Renoir, or Rosa Bonheur deepens the soul and the meaning of the world around us. The mother who has lost a child surely looks at Michelangelo’s “Pieta” with different eyes than most other viewers of that statue. Renoir’s “The Boating Party Lunch” may remind an old man of the keg parties of his youth, when the promises of the future looked as bright and sure as the faces of those in this painting.

At any rate, winter is already tapping at the door, and browsing books of art can be wonderfully fortifying when frost silvers the lawn and a North wind is rattling the branches on the trees. Open up one of those colorful volumes, pour yourself a glass of wine or a cup of hot chocolate, invite a companion or two — a friend, a lover, a child — to share this moment, and comfort and a quiet joy are almost guaranteed.

(Jeff Minick reviews books and has written four of his own: two novels, “Amanda Bell” and “Dust On Their Wings,” and two works of nonfiction, “Learning As I Go” and “Movies Make the Man.” minick0301@gmail.com)

The Jackson County Public Library in Sylva is starting a new monthly program. Each month, a library staff member will be discussing some of the new book titles that the library has received. Particular attention will be paid to “under the radar” titles and authors, new releases and other books that the staff is excited about. All are welcome and no registration is required. For more information on when the club will meet, please call the library at 828.586.2016. This club is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Jackson County Public Library. The JCPL is a member of Fontana Regional Library (fontanalib.org).

WriterJeff Minick

I’M NOT JUST HERE TO PUT IN THE HOURS. I’M HERE TO PUT IN THE YEARS.

Merry Christmas, from Haywood

Tree to serve as Capitol Christmas tree, prompt spruce restoration efforts

BY HOLLY KAYS OUTDOORS E DITOR

Sometime around 1940, a red spruce seedling pushed above the forest floor in southern Haywood County. Its roots drank from the moist soil, and each year the tree grew taller and stronger.

The nearby logging road was eventually paved, widened, and christened N.C. 215. Increasing numbers of cars climbed it each year, especially after the ridgetop road just uphill, the Blue Ridge Parkway, was completed. As the decades ticked by, the number of cars roaring through the tree’s neighborhood reached into the millions. Eventually, their drivers could see the treetop from the road, towering over the rest of the trees in the forest.

Last week, the tree — named Ruby — began its own journey along the road over which it has long stood sentry. In a ceremony Wednesday, Nov. 2, it was cut down and loaded into a trailer destined for Washington, D.C., where Ruby will soon decorate the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building as this year’s Capitol Christmas Tree.

“Over this past year, we combed the

mountainsides of the Pisgah and the Nantahala National Forest looking for just the right tree, and we think Ruby is just that,” Lorie Stroup, U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Coordinator, said during the harvest ceremony. “Along with that we conducted over 100 conservation education outreach events across the state, and our work will continue for years to come with our red spruce restoration efforts.”

Each year, one of the country’s national forests supplies the towering tree that serves as a national symbol of celebration on the West Lawn. For the first time since 1998 — and the third time in history — that tree comes from the Pisgah-Nantahala National Forest.

It’s also the third time in history that a red spruce will adorn the West Lawn, and the first time a red spruce will come from the PisgahNantahala.

“The red spruce is an iconic tree species in Southern Appalachia,” Pisgah-Nantahala Forest Supervisor James Melonas said during the ceremony.

THEFUTUREOFREDSPRUCE

The high-elevation spruce-fir forests where red spruce grow are among the region’s most imperiled ecosystems, prompting the Forest Service to intertwine restoration efforts with

Track the tree

efforts,” said Southern Highlands Reserve’s communications director Holly Renehan.

Initially, the Reserve was just growing seedlings for use in their own gardens, but a chance meeting with a wildlife biologist resulted in a partnership with The Nature Conservancy to produce more trees for restoration projects. Increasing the viability and size of these spruce-fir islands in the sky, as well as restoring their connectivity to one another, means a better chance of survival for the forests and all species that inhabit them.

the tree harvest. While the 78-foot tree no longer towers above the canopy along N.C. 215, its cones have been gathered into a paper grocery bag that now resides at the Southern Highlands Reserve, a cultivator of native plants in Lake Toxaway that specializes in producing red spruce seedlings.

“It’s something that I never thought I would do in my career,” said Executive Director Kelly Holdbrooks. “It’s kind of a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I’m honored to be part of it.”

Holdbrooks and her staff became accidental experts on propagating red spruce, a notoriously difficult tree to produce. Young red spruce trees are more sensitive to environmental stressors than mature trees, but the Southern Highlands Reserve developed methods to effectively grow and transplant these trees that result in a 90% success rate — something that’s “really unheard of in reforestation

In 2015, that partnership expanded to include various state, federal, nonprofit and university organizations and was named the Southern Appalachian Spruce Restoration Initiative. Now, Southern Highlands Reserve is now working to fulfill the Forest Service’s request for 50,000 red spruce trees. So far they’ve grown about 10,000, with 6,000 planted on public land in North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia thus far.

That’s a lot of trees, and they’ve produced them all using a pair of 20-year-old hoop houses.

But a higher-tech future is on the horizon. With Ruby’s harvest, the Forest Service announced $250,000 in funding toward a new greenhouse to be managed by Southern Highlands Reserve. The 1,800-square-foot facility will nearly triple the Reserve’s current nursery space and incorporate technology to help staff better care for the young trees.

“If we’re able to produce 2,000 seedlings a year with those (old hoop houses), the sky’s the limit with what we’re

After the harvest ceremony, Ruby makes her way down N.C. 215, ultimately destined for Washington, D.C.

James Edward Mills/Choose Outdoors photos

Motorcycle crash sparks Smokies wildfire

A wildfire that started near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s western edge following a motorcycle crash Sunday, Nov. 6, had been 90% contained at 40 acres as of Monday evening, Nov. 7.

The motorcyclist lost control while riding U.S. 129 near Chilhowee Lake, colliding into the roadside, after which the bike was engulfed in flames, starting the wildfire. The biker was able to safely exit the accident site before the fire erupted.

The forest abutting U.S. 129 is blackened following a wildfire started Nov. 6. NPS photo

About 60 wildland firefighters assisted in fire suppression Nov. 7, with 24-hour rainfall between a quarter and half an inch aiding their efforts. Crews established a hand-dug firebreak line along the perimeter to prevent growth in the park’s backcountry. Wildland firefighting operations included a hotshot crew, hand crews and a Type 2 helicopter operation from the U.S. Forest Service, along with a hand crew and Type 6 engine crew from the National Park Service Appalachian Piedmont Coastal Fire Management Zone module.

going to be able to do with state-of-the- art technology,” Holdbrooks said.

The overall project will cost about $1 million, with the Forest Service committing $50,000 and the National Forest Foundation raising $200,000 more. Holdbrooks expects to break ground in 2024, with supply chain issues likely to be the main obstacle to getting started. Manufacturing the greenhouse pieces will take six to eight months.

It’s a long-term project, but so is growing trees. The shortage of spruce-fir forest in today’s Southern Appalachians is the result of forces acting for decades before Ruby first sprouted as a seedling. First there was the frenzy of logging in the late 1800s and early 1900s, accompanied by construction of railroads through the rugged terrain. There were hot-burning wildfires, then torrential rains that swept away the charred soil, eliminating any seeds that may have been stored there. The balsam wooly adelgid killed off swaths of balsam trees, and mid-century air pollution damaged the already fragile environment.

“I am happy to report that the red spruce is the least in decline of the conifers, so it’s our best hope, and that’s why we’re planting red spruce back on the land,” Holdbrooks said.

‘FORFUTUREGENERATIONS’

Ruby is on tour now, making stops throughout North Carolina and Virginia as she heads toward her scheduled Nov. 18 delivery to the West Lawn in D.C. on a specially decaled Kenworth T680.

Accompanying her to D.C. will be 80 smaller trees from Christmas tree farms across the state, many of which will be delivered to military families at the Andrews Air Force Base. The Forest Service

doubled its goal of 6,000 donated, handmade ornaments to decorate the trees. After Christmas is over, Ruby’s wood will be used to make musical instruments.

When it’s time to light the tree for the Christmas season, fourth grader Coche Tiger, a student at New Kituwah Academy in Cherokee, will do the honors. He was chosen through an application process that included a question about the environment and his Cherokee culture.

Though he’s only 9, Tiger is well aware of the ancient stories his people tell about how the trees that cover our mountains came to be. During the Nov. 2 ceremony, he told the Cherokee legend of the evergreen tree. In the story, when they were created all the trees and animals were asked to stay awake for seven nights, fasting and praying, but as each night passed, a few more fall asleep. By the seventh night, only a few remained awake. The animals that persevered to the end were given the power to see and go about in the dark. The trees — spruce, pine, cedar, holly hemlock and laurel — were given the ability to keep their leaves all year and to give provide medicine to the Cherokee people.

“Therefore, these trees are sacred and used for medicine by the Cherokee people,” Tiger said.

Towering to 78 feet, Ruby had about 12 inches of height for each year of life. Story, history, and the passing of time are all bound up in the presence of a large, old tree like her. But to plant a spruce seed is to believe in the future.

“When you plant forests and when you plant trees, you’re planting those for generations behind you,” said Holdbrooks. “I think that’s the message I want people to understand. When you’re doing this kind of work, you’re doing it for future generations.”

An enormous crane was required to safely harvest Ruby.

Coche Tiger tells the Cherokee legend of the evergreen trees as EBCI Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources Joey Owle looks on.

The tree was harvested by Rodney Smith, a 30-year employee of the Uwharrie National Forest with support from Dover Crane and Bartlett Tree Experts.

For some people, a 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) is part of a process of reflection. YTT can provide direction, clarity, and insight about your life trajectory, even if you never teach, and help you get on track if you’re not satisfied with where you’re headed. It will challenge you, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation turns 25

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation’s past projects include the construction of restrooms at

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation will celebrate its 25th anniversary during an event 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, at the Highland Brewing Company Event

Catch the Mountainfilm festival

Center in Asheville.

“We are so happy to celebrate this milestone with the people who cherish the national park in their backyard,” said Foundation CEO Carolyn Ward. “Their support makes a visible impact on the Parkway and means that generations to come will be able to experience the landscape, history, and culture the park holds.”

The celebration will highlight the projects and programs made possible thanks to donors, volunteers and community partners. Guests will enjoy drinks, hors d’ouevres, live music and a ceremony announcing members of the new AbbottEverhardt Society.

Since 1997, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation has provided more than $20 million to support the Parkway. Past projects include building bathrooms and expanded parking at Graveyard Fields, rehabilitating the amphitheater at Mount Pisgah campground, installing new exhibits at Craggy Gardens and Waterrock Knob and clearing overgrown vegetation at overlooks. The Foundation is currently raising money to replace the weathered viewing platform atop Mount Pisgah, among other initiatives.

Tickets are $25 and available at brpfoundation.org/events.

The Mountainfilm festival, featuring films representing culturally rich, adventure-packed and engaging documentary selections, will come to Asheville at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19.

The films will be shown at New Belgium Brewing Company, with doors to open at 6 p.m. Buy a general admission ticket for $25, with raffle tickets $5 or $20 for five. Proceeds benefit host Muddy Sneakers, a nonprofit supporting experiential, outdoor science education.

Learn more or buy tickets at muddysneakers.org/mfot.

Visit the ‘Photo Ark’

Through Jan. 8, a traveling exhibition of the National Geographic Photo Ark will be on display in the Baker Exhibit Hall at the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville.

The National Geographic Photo Ark is a compelling and visually powerful project aiming to photograph species living in the world’s zoos and wildlife sanctuaries, creating an archival record for generations to come. The project also provides a hopeful platform for conservation and shines a light on people and organizations working to preserve species worldwide.

The exhibit features the work of National Geographic photographer and Fellow Joel Sartore, highlighting more than 50 of Sartore’s most compelling images to put visitors face-to-face with the animals of the National Geographic Photo Ark.

Worldwide, extinction threatens more than 26,000 species. Using a scientific framework to identify the world’s most Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered species, the National Geographic Photo Ark EDGE of Existence Fellowship Program builds conservation capacity in targeted regions across the globe to protect some of the most threatened, dis-

tinct and wonderful species on the planet by funding and training local conservationists.

The exhibit is free, though a standard

fee of $16 per car is required to park at the Arboretum. Learn more about the project at natgeophotoark.org.

Graveyard Fields, the popular hiking destination at milepost 418 on the Parkway. Vicki Dameron photo

The endangered Malayan tiger, shown at the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo, is one of the imperiled species featured in the National Geographic Photo Ark. Joel Sartore/National Geographic Photo Ark photo

Hike the Waynesville Watershed

A strenuous 4-mile hike exploring the Waynesville Watershed will embark at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 17.

The group will meet at the town’s water treatment plant and return by 2 p.m. This 8,000-acre watershed is not typically open to the public and provides drinking water for many Haywood County residents.

Hike High Bethel

Hikers should bring lunch and water and be prepared to hike through mud. No pets. Space is limited to 15 people. Free for Haywood Waterways members with a $5 donation requested from nonmembers.

Reserve a spot with Christine O’Brien, christine.haywoodwaterways@gmail.com or 828.476.4667, ext. 1.

Take a hike on the High Bethel Loop at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, with the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department.

This 7-mile hike will leave from the Cashiers/Glenville Recreation Center and is rated moderate to difficult, with an elevation gain of 1,700 feet and estimated hiking time of five to six hours. The hike is open to ages 10 and up, with hikers under 18 to be accompanied by a parent.

Register for $5 at jcprd.recdesk.com/community/program.

Survey work prompts

Laurel Falls closure

Laurel Falls Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is closed weekdays through Thursday, Nov. 17, to accommodate survey work.

During the closure period, geotechnical crews will use a drill rig to sample the ground under the trail and behind retaining walls along the trail corridor. The

results will inform proposed designs for trail tread and retaining wall improvements as part of the Laurel Falls Trail rehabilitation project.

The trail will be closed Monday through Thursday during the survey period but fully open weekends. Some survey work may occur Fridays, but the trail will still be open for hiking on these days.

For information about the planning process for the Laurel Falls Trail rehabilitation, visit parkplanning.nps.gov/laurelfalls.

Discover the Appalachian Trail

Amber and Joshua Niven, authors of “Discovering the Appalachian Trail,” will hold a fireside chat about the book noon to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Swain County.

Participants will warm up by the fire with coffee and tales from the backcountry as the authors talk about their time on the A.T., what’s in their packs for long-distance treks and how the A.T. brought them together — and spurred them to write a book. Stick around for a Q&A and a short story about a hike in the Smokies by long-time local and former N.O.C. guide Ricky Adams. Complete with full-color photography, the book profiles hikes suited to every ability level along with mile-by-mile directional cues, sidebars and maps. Amber and Joshua Niven live in Madison County with their children.

In the Nov. 2 map, only six of North Carolina’s 100 counties were free of any drought designation. N.C. Drought Advisory Council map

Drought conditions spread statewide

Despite significant rainfall in the mountains last week, drought continues to expand in the western region and across North Carolina.

In the most recent drought map released Nov. 2, three counties — Graham, Macon and Swain — are now classified as experiencing severe drought, up from just one Oct. 27. A small piece of Cherokee County is also seeing severe drought conditions. An additional 20 North Carolina counties are in moderate

drought, including Cherokee, Clay, Haywood, Jackson, Henderson, Transylvania and Buncombe counties. Seventy-one counties are abnormally dry — leaving only six counties without a drought designation.

During the month of October, the N.C. Forest Service dealt with 347 fires on 705 acres statewide.

Drought maps are published every Thursday at ncdrought.org based on data collected as of 8 a.m. the previous Tuesday.

New hours at Asheville Arboretum

Winter hours are now in effect at the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville. Through Nov. 16, the property will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Between Nov. 16 and Dec. 31, the Arboretum will close at 5 p.m. so staff can prepare for Winter Lights. Entry gates close one hour before the property.

Farmland preservation dollars available

Through Dec. 19, county governments and nonprofits can apply for funding to complete farmland preservation projects through the N.C. Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund.

According to Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, a study from the American Farmland Trust projects North Carolina losing more than a million acres of agricultural land in the next two decades. Farmland preservation grants can help stem the tide.

Grants are available for agricultural conservation easements on working lands used for agricultural production; to support public-private enterprise programs that promote profitable and sustainable agricultural, horticultural and forestland activities; and for the development of agricultural plans. Landowners interested in preserving their farms through conservation easements must work with county governments or land trusts to apply for grant funds.

Applications and guidelines are available at ncadfp.org/Cycle16.htm. Call 919.707.3074 for more information.

biking at Chestnut Mountain

Youth ages 11-18 are invited to head to Chestnut Mountain Park in Canton 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 19, for coaching on basic mountain biking skills.

Coaches will see participants through beginner and intermediate trails at Chestnut Mountain Park, with loaner bikes and helmets available. Sign up at bit.ly/haywoodrec.

COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Cowee School Farmer’s Market is held Wednesdays from 3-6 p.m., at 51 Cowee School Drive in Franklin. The market has produce, plant starts, eggs, baked goods, flowers, food trucks and music. For more information or for an application, visit www.coweeschool.org or call 828.369.4080.

• Share Your View, a community conversation about local issues, news and information needs will be hosted 5:30-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, at Western Carolina University. For more information, or to register visit tinyurl.com/8uyrec3w.

• Dillsboro Lights and Luminaries will take place 5-9 p.m. Dec. 2-3 and 9-10. There will be live music, visits with Santa, shops and restaurants open late, and free old-fashioned buggy rides.

• Smoky Mountain Christmas Light Spectacular will take place 6-10 p.m. Nov. 10-Dec. 31, at the Great Smoky Mountain Event Park. BrysonCityChristman.com

B USINESS & E DUCATION

• The Environmental Leadership Club at HCC will host a STEM Speaker Series from noon-1 p.m. Thursday Nov. 10. Speakers Baker Perry, Tanya Poole and Tommy Cabe will each give a 30 minute presentation and answer questions for 20 minutes. For more information contact Susan Roberts sroberts@haywood.edu or 828.565.4218.

• Retired WCU professor Daryl Hale will give a presentation on the life of noted German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, in the Community Room of the Jackson County Public Library. The event is free, no registration required. For more information call the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva at 828.586.2016 or email jcpl-adults@fontanalib.org.

• Cherokee journalist Rebecca Nagle will deliver this year’s Cooper Memorial Lecture in Cherokee Studies at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, at Western Carolina’s UC Theater, and 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian.

• Chess 101 will take place 3:30-5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, at the Canton Branch of the Haywood County Public Library. Ideal for all ages, no registration required. For more information call 828.356.2567.

• Join Balsam Mountain Trust and learn to leave the leaves in fall 3:30-4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, at the Waynesville Branch of the Haywood County Public Library. Ideal for all ages. For more information call 828.356.2511 or email lisa.hartzell@haywoodcountync.gov.

FUNDRAISERS AND B ENEFITS

• Festival of Trees, annual charity gala in support of Haywood County Children’s Advocacy Center, will take place at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, at Reflections at the Pond, 489 Wood Lily Drive, in Canton. To purchase tickets visit https://secure.qgiv.com/event/festivaloftrees2022/register/.

• To honor and thank U.S. military personnel on Veterans Day, Autobell Car Wash will offer all veterans and active-duty service members a free Ride-Thru Exterior car wash, or an equivalent credit toward another wash option, at all Autobell locations in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland on Friday, Nov.11. No coupon, barcode, or ID is required.

• For the second consecutive year, local military veterans will be honored on Veterans Day with a free breakfast 8-0 a.m. Friday, Nov. 11, at the Haywood County Democratic Headquarters. Democrat Headquarters is located at 734 N. Main St., Waynesville.

n All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted.

n To have your item listed email to calendar@smokymountainnews.com

H EALTHAND WELLNESS

• Every third Thursday of the month The Mariana Black Library in Bryson City, in partnership with the VAYA Health, hosts a free educational series on adult mental health from 2-3 p.m. “A Rainbow of Mental Health: An Introduction” course will be held Thursday, Nov. 17. To register go to vayahealth.com/calendar or call the library at 488.3030. Registration is required.

CLUBS AND M EETINGS

• The Canton Branch Creative Writing Group meets 10:30 a.m.-noon on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. For more information, email Jennifer at jennifer.stuart@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2561.

AUTHORSAND B OOKS

• Storyteller Donald Davis will perform at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, at the Folkmoot Friendship Center Queen Auditorium. The event is presented by Blue Ridge Books and Folkmoot USA. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Visit Blue Ridge Books in store or by phone at 828.456.6000 or Folkmoot USA at 828.452.2997 or at folkmoot.org.

• The Jackson County Public Library is hosting the monthly book discussion group at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, in the Conference Room. The book to be discussed this month is “There There” by Tommy Orange. Registration is required, email JCPL-Adults@fontanalib.org.

K IDS & FAMILIES

• Move and Groove Storytime takes place 10:30-11 a.m. every Thursday, at the Canton branch of the Haywood County Public Library. Exciting, interactive music and movement story time ideal for children 2-6 years old. For more information contact Ashlyn at ashlyn.godleski@haywoodcountync.gov or at 828.356.2567.

• Mother Goose Storytime takes place 10:30-11 a.m. every Wednesday, at the Waynesville branch of the Haywood County Public Library. Ideal for children from birth to 2 years old. For more information, contact Lisa at lisa.hartzell@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2511.

• Wiggle Worms Storytime takes place 10:30-11 a.m. every Tuesday, at the Waynesville branch of the Haywood County Public Library. Ideal for children 2-6 years old. For more information contact Lisa at lisa.hartzell@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2511.

• Next Chapter Book Club Haywood is a fun, energetic and highly interactive book club, ideal for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The group meets every second and fourth Monday of the month. For more information, email Jennifer at jennifer.stuart@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2561.

• Storytime takes place at 10 a.m. every Tuesday at the Macon County Library. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.

• Toddler’s Rock takes place at 10 a.m. every Monday at the Macon County Library. Get ready to rock with songs, books, rhymes and playing with instruments. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.

• The Jackson County Public Library is hosting a Dinovember Family Night at 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, in the Community room. There will be dinosaur-themed games, crafts, and more. For more information call the library at 828.586.2016.

A&E

• Karaoke takes place at 7 p.m. every Friday at the Meadowlark Motel in Maggie Valley. Call 828.926.1717 or visit meadowlarkmotel.com.

• Mountain Makers Craft Market will be held from noon-4 p.m. the first Sunday of each month at 308 North Haywood St. in downtown Waynesville. Over two dozen artisans selling handmade and vintage goods. Special events will be held when scheduled. mountainmakersmarket.com.

• “Once Upon a Mattress” will be performed Friday and Saturday, Nov. 11 and 12 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. at HART Theatre. Get tickets at harttheatre.org or by calling 828.456.6322.

F OODAND D RINK

• BBQ and Live Music takes place at 6 p.m. every Saturday at the Meadowlark Motel. Call 828.926.1717 or visit meadowlarkmotel.com.

• “Flights & Bites” will be held starting at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays at Bosu’s Wine Shop in downtown Waynesville. For more information on upcoming events, wine tastings and special dinners, click on waynesvillewine.com.

• A free wine tasting will be held from 6-8 p.m. every Thursday and 2-5 p.m. every Saturday at The Wine Bar & Cellar in Sylva. 828.631.3075.

• Take a trip around the world with four different wines every Friday 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and Saturday 11a.m.-6 p.m. at the Bryson City Wine Market. Pick from artisan Charcuterie Foods to enjoy with wines. 828.538.0420.

• Cooking classes take place at the McKinley Edwards Inn from 6-8:30 p.m. on Thursday nights. To reserve your spot call 828.488.9626.

CLASSESAND PROGRAMS

• Folkmoot USA and Daydreamz Project will host two lantern making classes from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at the Folkmoot center. For more information on any of these events, visit daydreamzproject.org or call 828.476.4231 or email info@daydreamzproject.org.

• Community dance classes for all levels and ages will take place this fall, September through November at the Wortham Center for Performing Arts. For more information and tickets visit stewartowendance.com/classes or worthamarts.org/classes.

• Chess 101 takes place from 3:30-4:30 p.m. every Friday in the Canton Branch of the Haywood County Public Library. No registration required, for more information call 828.648.2924.

• Wired Wednesday, one-on-one technology help is available at 3-5 p.m. every Wednesday at the Canton Branch of the Haywood County Library. For more information or to register, call 828.648.2924.

• Uptown Gallery, 30 East Main St. Franklin, will be offering Children’s Art Classes Wednesdays afternoons. Adult workshops in watercolor, acrylic paint pouring, encaustic and glass fusing are also offered. Free painting is available 10 a.m.-3 p.m. every Monday in the classroom. A membership meeting takes place on the

Visit www.smokymountainnews.com and click on Calendar for:

n Complete listings of local music scene

n Regional festivals

n Art gallery events and openings

n Complete listings of recreational offerings at health and fitness centers

n Civic and social club gatherings

second Sunday of the month at 3 p.m. All are welcome. Call 828.349.4607 for more information.

ART SHOWINGS AND GALLERIES

• “Thursday Painters” group will be held from 10 a.m.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. 828.349.4607 or pm14034@yahoo.com.

Outdoors

• “Slippery Salamanders of the Southern Appalachians” will be presented by Jason Love, associate director of the Highlands Biological Station, at 6 p.m. Nov. 10, at the Franklin Library. All are welcome nantahalahikingclub.org.

• Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department will lead a trip to the Lost Sea and Sweet Water Valley Farm Thursday Nov. 10. The Lost Sea is the largest natural underground lake in the United States. Cost for the round trip, plus tickets to the Lost Sea and Sweet Water Valley Farm is $48 for members and $50 for non-members. For more information email tplowman@waynesvillenc.gov or call 828.456.2030 ext. 2508.

• An empowering festival for female mountain bikers will come to the Nantahala Outdoor Center Friday, Nov. 11, to Sunday, Nov. 13, the inaugural Women’s Pedal Fest. Learn more or sign up at noc.com/events.

• A fly fishing excursion Saturday, Nov. 12, will offer the chance to cast the West Fork of the Pigeon River with an expert angler. Call 828.452.6789 to inquire about loaners. Sign up at bit.ly/haywoodrec.

• Howard Browers will hold a discussion on ducks at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov.15, at the Waynesville Branch of the Haywood County Library. No registration required.

• Take a hike on the High Bethel Loop at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, with the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department. Register for $5 at jcprd.recdesk.com/community/program.

• The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation will celebrate its 25th anniversary during an event 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, at the Highland Brewing Company Event Center in Asheville. Tickets are $25 and available at BRPFoundation.org/events.

• A strenuous 4-mile hike exploring the Waynesville Watershed will embark at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 17. Reserve a spot with Christine O’Brien, Christine.haywoodwaterways@gmail.com or 828.476.4667, ext. 1.

• Youth ages 11-18 are invited to head to Chestnut Mountain Park in Canton 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Nov. 19, for coaching on basic mountain biking skills. Coaches will see participants through beginner and intermediate trails at Chestnut Mountain Park, with loaner bikes and helmets available. Sign up at bit.ly/haywoodrec.

Note: Yard sale ads require an address. This location will be displayed on a map on www.wncmarketplace.com p: 828.452.4251 · f:828.452.3585 classads@smokymountainnews.com www.wncmarketplace.com

Legals

NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION

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ates, Inc. (VA#321), Real Estate Brokers & Auctioneers 800-551-3588.

Employment

THE JACKSON COUNTY DEPARTMENT

or mailed to the Jackson County Department of Social Services at 15

28779 or the NC Works Career Center. Applications will be taken until November 18, 2022.

Auction

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Announcements

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Of Social Services is recruiting for an Income Maintenance Supervisor II. This position supervises Family and Children’s Medicaid staff. This position requires considerable knowledge of all income maintenance programs, forms, and documents used in determining eligibility. Applicants must be knowledgeable of the use of the income maintenance manuals and knowledgeable of needs, problems, and attitudes of disadvantaged persons, have general knowledge of all agency programs and services and have the ability to learn basic supervisory/management skills, have the ability to communicate effectively with workers, supervisors, applicants, and community agencies to obtain pertinent data and to interpret rules and regulations. Minimum requirements are three years of experience as a caseworker or investigator in an income maintenance program, preferably with one year of supervisory experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. The starting salary is $41,484.28, depending on education and experience. The application for employment is available online at www.jcdss.org. Applications may be dropped off

THE JACKSON COUNTY DEPARTMENT Of Social Services is recruit ing for an Adult Services Social Worker. This position investigates reports of adult abuse and neglect, provides case management for at-risk

monitors clients receiving Special Assistance In-home services. This position also provides ongoing case management for guardianships, payeeships, individual and family adjustments, in-home aide services, and case management of substantiated adult protective service cases. Other duties include general intake and community outreach services. Requires limited availability after hours and on weekends as-needed. The starting salary is $43,558.50, if fully

year degree in a Human will be given to applicants with a Master’s or Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and experience providing Social Work services. Applicants should complete an application which is located at www.jcdss. org and submit it to the Jackson County Department of Social Services,

NC 28779 or the Sylva branch of the NC Works

Career Center. Applications will be taken until November 18, 2022.

THE JACKSON COUNTY DEPARTMENT

Of Social Services is recruiting for a Community Social Services Assistant. Duties primarily involve transporting foster children for a variety of purposes such as visits with parents, medical appointments, counseling, education, or training. Candidates for this position should be highly dependable, adaptable, have the ability to lift children and car seats, have completed high school, interact well with children, and have a valid NC driver’s license with a good driving record. The starting salary is $28,078.19. Applicants should complete an application for Jackson County which is located at www.jcdss. org and submit it to the Jackson County Department of Social Services,

NC 28779 or the Sylva branch of the NC Works Career Center. Applications will be taken until November 18, 2022.

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Real Estate Announcements

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise ‘any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination’. Familial status includes children under 18 living with parents or legal guardians and pregnant women. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate in violation of this law. All dwellings advertised on equal opportunity basis.

Haywood Co. Real Estate Agents

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate- Heritage

• Carolyn Lauter - carolyn@bhgheritage.com

Beverly Hanks & Associates- beverly-hanks.com

• Billie Green - bgreen@beverly-hanks.com

• Brian K. Noland - brianknoland.com

• Anne Page - apage@beverly-hanks.com

• Jerry Powell - jpowell@beverly-hanks.com

• Catherine Proben - cproben@beverly-hanks.com

• Ellen Sither - esither@beverly-hanks.com

• Mike Stamey - mikestamey@beverly-hanks.com

• Karen Hollingsed- khollingsed@beverly-hanks.com

• Billy Case- billycase@beverly-hanks.com

• Laura Thomas - lthomas@beverly-hanks.com

• John Keith - jkeith@beverly-hanks.com

• Randall Rogers - rrogers@beverly-hanks.com

• Susan Hooper - shooper@beverly-hanks.com

• Hunter Wyman - hwyman@beverly-hanks.com

• Julie Lapkoff - julielapkoff@beverly-hanks.com

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Emerson Group - emersongroupus.com

• George Escaravage - george@emersongroupus.com

• Chuck Brown - chuck@emersongroupus.com

ERA Sunburst Realty - sunburstrealty.com

• Amy Spivey - amyspivey.com

• Rick Border - sunburstrealty.com

• Randy Flanigan - 706-207-9436

• Steve Mauldin - 828-734-4864

Keller Williams Realty - kellerwilliamswaynesville.com

• The Morris Team - www.themorristeamnc.com

Lakeshore Realty

• Phyllis Robinson - lakeshore@lakejunaluska.com

Mountain Dreams Realty- maggievalleyhomesales.com

• Lyndia Massey- buyfromlyndia@yahoo.com

Mountain Creek Real Estate

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McGovern Real Estate & Property Management

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• DeAnn Suchy - deann.suchy@premiersir.com

• Kaye Matthews - kaye.matthews@premiersir.com

RE/MAX Executive - remax-waynesvillenc.com remax-maggievalleync.com

• The Real Team - TheRealTeamNC.com

• Ron Breese - ronbreese.com

• Landen Stevenson- landen@landenkstevenson.com

• Dan Womack - womackdan@aol.com

• Mary Hansen - mwhansen@charter.net

• David Willet - davidwillet1@live.com

• Sara Sherman - sarashermanncrealtor@gmail.com

• David Rogers- davidr@remax-waynesville.com

• Judy Meyers - jameyers@charter.net

Rob Roland Realty • Rob Roland - 828-400-1923

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