SMN 11 25 15

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015 Vol. 17 Iss. 26 Western North Carolina’s Source for Weekly News, Entertainment, Arts, and Outdoor Information www.smokymountainnews.com

Macon County commissioner to seek House seat Page 12 Coming down the mountain at Cataloochee Page 40

THE COMEBACK KID Small businesses help Hazelwood rebound

From Our Family To Yours,

CONTENTS On the Cover: It was once a bustling hub of industry along the railroad tracks, but as the factories began shutting down, so did the liveliness of the small community of Hazelwood. While it’s no longer an incorporated town since being absorbed

by Waynesville, Hazelwood has seen a recent resurgence of thriving small businesses bringing new personality to the area. (Page 6) A group of women on a girl's getaway weekend in Waynesville pose with bags outside Hazelwood Soap Company.

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SPRING REGISTRATION NOW OPEN THROUGH DECEMBER 4

HAYWOOD.EDU

Haywood Dems scramble to recruit candidates ....................................................4 Support small businesses Saturday ..........................................................................5 Nonprofit to install StoryWalks in Franklin ..............................................................11 Macon commissioner to seek House seat ............................................................12 Webster mayor considered for tourism position ..................................................13 Lead mitigation to begin at SCC firing range ......................................................14 SBI investigates former SCC employees .............................................................. 15 Hawthorn Heights open new Bryson City shelter ..............................................16 Brasstown Possum Drop gets bad news in court ..............................................19

Opinion A banquet table of issues, one bite at a time ........................................................24

A&E Christmas in Appalachia ..............................................................................................28

Outdoors Coming down the mountain at Cataloochee ........................................................40

The naturalist’s corner Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

Half a hunert ....................................................................................................................55

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BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER he ballot for Haywood County commissioner could be a sparse one based on rumblings of who’s running — and more notably who’s not running.

Long-time Commissioner Mark Swanger has made it clear he won’t run again, but surprisingly, no one from the Democrats’ camp has emerged yet for the open seat.

The clock is ticking, with candidate sign-up getting underway next week, yet Democrats are still struggling to fill what appears to be a major void on their party’s ticket.

“The 2016 commissioners race is critically important due to the departure of Chairman Mark Swanger and the experience he brings to the job,” said Myrna Campbell, chair of the Haywood County Democratic Party.

Two of the five seats on the Haywood board of commissioners are up for election in 2016 — those currently held by Swanger and Republican Kevin Ensley.

So far, Ensley is the only candidate from either party who has publicly said he will run.

Swanger has been at the helm of the county board for so long it’s possible his party had grown complacent, failing to groom prospective candidates and simply counting on Swanger to stay on board indefinitely. But Swanger is intent on his decision not to run again, a message he went public with a couple months ago to get the gears turning on who could run in his shoes.

Democratic party insiders have indeed been working to recruit candidates, pinning hopes on a couple of strong prospects, but they have decided not to do it in the end.

The party has now ramped up its strategy with an all-hands-on-deck approach as the candidate sign-up period closes in.

“I’m working with a search committee composed of Democratic precinct chairs to identify a diverse group of prospects from different areas of the county. We hope to have commitments from at least two prospective candidates by early next week,” Campbell said.

Another hurdle is how early the candidate filing period is. Filing has historically been in February.

But the primary election in North Carolina was moved up from May to March 15 by a

vote of the Republican General Assembly this summer — and the earlier primary dictated an early candidate filing period.

“I think a lot of people aren’t aware that the filing period starts next week,” Campbell said.

Four of the five county commissioners are currently Democrats, which has always been par for the course in Haywood County.

Democrats have historically dominated local politics here, holding the vast majority thanks to their edge over registered Republicans.

But over the past decade, registered

Democrats have lost ground as the number of unaffiliated voters has risen. Democrats have dropped from over 50 percent of registered voters to only 41 percent.

Democrats still outnumber Republicans in Haywood, however, which makes the dearth of Democratic candidates stepping forward so far all the more peculiar.

One of the prospects approached about running was Laura Leatherwood, a vice president at Haywood Community College.

Leatherwood said it could be a possibility some day, but not right now.

“I appreciate the confidence that people have in me but the timing is simply not right for me right now,” Leatherwood said. “My first priority is Haywood Community College.”

Another candidate approached by the party was Lynn Milner, who serves on the Haywood County school board.

“I was thinking very seriously about it but I have decided not to,” Milner said late last week. “I really analyzed it and I prayed about it. I think I could have done a good job and the county needed someone who could do a good job. But I am enjoying what I am doing now.”

By that, Milner means her roles on the school board — she couldn’t be on both — and serving on nonprofit boards like Mountain Projects.

Asked whether she was turned off from the idea because she didn’t want to deal with the name-calling and conspiracy theories hurled by a group of cyber critics who make sport of lambasting the commissioners, Milner said that had nothing to do with it.

“Absolutely not. I like a challenge,” Milner said.

Republican primary likely to be competitive in Haywood

candidates who Ensley would have to fend off in order to make it past the primary.

The primary will be a litmus test for Republican voters to decide which brand of conservative they more closely identify with.

Kenneth Henson, chair of the Haywood Republican Party, said his camp will prevail.

“If we had a face off between the true Republican Party in Haywood County, the true conservative Republican Party, against the liberal wing Republican Party, they can’t even compete with us,” Henson said.

But that’s not how Ensley sees it.

“I feel like I am a pragmatic conservative Republican. The Libertarian Republicans have a different platform.

They don’t want any government spending whatsoever, but we have to have services that the public expects,” Ensley said.

Ensley said anyone who challenges his ideals as a Republican is off base.

“I was a Republican before being a Republican was cool, through thick and thin. If the Republican Party wants to go with a Libertarian, they can pick that in the primary, Ensley said.

Denny King, a Republican who has run in the past two commissioner elections, has not

yet declared whether he will run. He came within 300 votes of winning in the general election in 2012 and 200 votes in 2014. Some speculate that his wife Debbie King may run this time.

“We are still in discussion with friends, family and supporters. We will make an announcement soon,” the Kings said in an email statement.

Windy McKinney, a Libertarian who ran for county commissioner two years ago, said she has too much on her plate right now to run again this time. McKinney did surprisingly well for a Libertarian candidate, thanks in large part to a Libertarian wing of the local Republican party endorsing her, donating to her and campaigning for her.

There’s potentially a sleeper candidate who could emerge in the race down in the road.

Anyone can run as an unaffiliated candidate, but since they don’t have to go through a party primary election, they can sign-up to run anytime before June 24.

It might seem like an easy way to walk onto the fall ballot, but there’s a catch: to run as an unaffiliated candidate you need petition signatures from 4 percent of registered voters in the county — which would be roughly 1,700.

- By Becky Johnson, staff writer

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Haywood County Commissioner Kevin Ensley announced this week that he will run again for the county board in 2016.

Ensley has served three terms as commissioner, the only Republican to ever serve that many terms in the history of Haywood County where local politics have historically been dominated by Democrats.

Ensley is likely to face opposition in the primary election from within his own party. Only two Republican candidates will advance past the primary, and political observers expect there will be at least two more in addition to Ensley, leading to a competitive primary to see who will advance.

The Republican Party has splintered in Haywood County in recent years, with moderate, mainstream Republicans like Ensley being run out of the party apparatus by a right-wing faction with Libertarian leanings.

The camp that currently controls the party leadership will no doubt have its own slate of

New primary date The primary election has been accelerated in North Carolina from May to March 15.

That’s pushed up the candidate sign-up period for all races from late February to early December. Candidate filing begins.

Dec. 1

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Being Thankful on Thanksgiving I am not a big fan of the “don’t eat that” messages on Thanksgiving or the ones that try and shock you with “Did you know that ______has ____fat/calories/ingredients/additives?"

Instead of focusing on the negatives, how about if we talk about flavor and variety of food?

How about if we give thanks if we do have food options and encourage others to do the same? What if we just appreciate if we can CHOOSE to eat less of something as opposed to HAVING to eat less because we HAVE LESS? Let’s talk about enjoying time with family and friends, taking walks, watching a football game, playing board games, cooking meals together, and baking bread or treats for neighbors who can’t. Let’s focus on donating to food banks and shelters to give those in need a wonderful Thanksgiving or help serve a Thanksgiving meal.

It’s ONE DAY....let’s enjoy it and give thanks!

Smoky Mountain News

farms viable and preserves access to local products while protecting farmland and the rural character of the region.”

The Shop Small Contest runs through Friday, Dec. 25. A winner will be drawn on Wednesday, Dec. 30. The prize is a seasonal pantry full-year membership from Copper Pot & Wooden Spoon. Complete contest details and #ShopSmall ideas can be found at BuyHaywood.com.

The increased hype over Black Friday has caused some to boycott the day altogether. Consumers have expressed their disappointment with big retailers being open on Thanksgiving Day to further capitalize on the most lucrative shopping weekend of the year. If stores are open, it means employees and diehard deal finders aren’t spending the holiday celebrating in the traditional manner — with family and food.

Still, other retailers refuse to open on the holiday, including Gamestop, Staples, Lowe’s, Petsmart, Tractor Supply Co., and many more. Outdoor retail giant REI has taken it a step further by not opening on Black Friday either. Instead, the company is encouraging people to use the day after thanksgiving to get outdoors.

The Blue Ridge Parkway has joined REI’s “Out Outside” campaign and will host a hike at Craggy Pinnacle at Milepost 364.1 from 2 to 4 p.m. on Nov. 27 for the community. The Craggy Pinnacle Trail is 0.7 miles one way and offers panoramic views of surrounding mountains. Parking is available at Craggy Dome Parking Overlook.

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR What would Western North Carolina’s small towns be like without a strong base of small businesses?

As the foundation of many local economies, small businesses need the support from the community throughout the year but especially during the holidays.

Small Business Saturday, which falls on Nov. 28 this year, is an opportunity to support the local small businesses that provide economic vitality and quality of life to the community.

The idea is for shoppers to designate a portion of their holiday spending on Nov. 28 for purchases at locally owned businesses. Many groups are getting behind the effort, including Buy Haywood and the North Carolina Community Colleges Small Business Center Network.

“Small Business Saturday, is just one day of many to celebrate the local independent merchants and restaurants that make our community unique,” said Katy Gould, director of HCC’s Small Business Center. “These businesses contribute directly to our quality of life, the place we call home.”

Black Friday is still a popular tradition at the big box stores, but the popularity and support behind the Shop Local Saturday initiative has been growing steadily since introduced in 2010 by American Express. A survey conducted recently by the National Federation of Independent Business and American Express shows that a record number of shoppers plan to shop local on Small Business Saturday.

The survey found that a record 55 percent of U.S. consumers are aware of Small Business Saturday, while 83 percent say Small Business Saturday makes them want to shop local and shop small all year long.

According to the fourth-annual Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey, 80 percent of consumers are willing to pay slightly more for an item if it is purchased from a small, independently owned retailer as opposed to online or at a large retailer. On average, consumers are planning to do 35 percent of their holiday shopping at small businesses.

“That’s really encouraging,” said Gregg Thompson, North Carolina state director of the National Federation of Independent Business. “When you shop local and shop small, you’re supporting your community.

When you shop at a chain store, most of the money goes back to some corporate office

HOLIDAY MASSAGE PACAKGES news

Support small businesses Saturday

somewhere else, but when you support small, most of that money stays here at home.”

Buy Haywood, a grant-funded initiative in Haywood County to support local farmers and locally grown products, is asking people to support farm-to-table restaurants, fresh markets, local farmers and local Christmas tree farms this year and have a chance to win prizes.

Each time participants shop small, enter the contest by leaving a post on Buy Haywood’s Facebook page detailing the local partner supported and automatically get entered to win. The more you shop, the more you post, the greater your chances of winning.

“Join our efforts and ‘purchase with a purpose’ by using your holiday shopping dollars to invest in the agricultural backbone of Haywood County,” said Tina Masciarelli, Buy Haywood project coordinator. “Support of local agripreneurs keeps

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Back in the saddle Once given up for dead, Hazelwood is beating the odds one small business at a time

“To see Hazelwood thrive again is so shop windows and nail up new signs is a testament that Hazelwood’s rebound is not a important to me,” said Prevost.

By Prevost’s estimation, the new passing fad, but here to stay.

The troupe of visiting sisters paused to Hazelwood has kept one of its most imporoff-load their parcels in a car trunk before tant qualities: “It’s friendly, like it used to be,” continuing their morning shopping down the she said.

For Diana Laursen, it’s the authenticity street at Robin Blu. En route, they passed an old-timer clad in overalls, working his way that sets Hazelwood apart.

“What you see is what you get,” Diana down the sidewalk with a parcel of his own — a prescription bag he’d just picked up from said.

“It’s real,” John Laursen added.

Waynesville Pharmacy.

It captured the classic blend of locals and tourists that co-exists on the streets of LL IN THE FAMILY Hazelwood.

“You can get a gun, your prescription, When Hazelwood started down the long coffee, soap, baked goods … and something road of revitalization, competing for tourist monogrammed,” said Diane Laursen, the traffic with the likes of downtown owner of Hazelwood Soap Company. Waynesville seemed like a long shot.

“Whether it’s moms jetting in for a quick Not any more. Hazelwood’s no longer a gift, or guys from the gun store, it’s every place just for locals in the know. As word demographic.” spreads about Hazelwood’s authentic, wellDiana’s husband John was behind the worn charm, tourists are finding their way counter checking out customers. there in larger numbers.

“How many six-foot-seven guys do you “Believe it or not we get a lot of tourists in. know who can do this?” John said, plucking a A lot more now than we used to, probably in piece of tissue paper, whipping it through the the past three to four years,” said Cecil Brown, air with a flourish and artfully nesting it in a owner of Hazelwood Gun and Tactical. gift bag.

“It’s all about the flick of the wrist,” he “Thirty years ago, I said, demonstrating again in slow motion. thought Hazelwood would Meanwhile, a young couple in jogging clothes passed slices of hand-crafted soap be leveled and this is back and forth, smelling the signature scents.

Andrew Rutledge, 27, brought his fiance up where Walmart would be.” for a weekend visit to his family’s mountain — Pam Allen, Nettie’s Bakery house. He’d been coming here his whole life, but had never strolled around Hazelwood before.

“It was always a drivethough to get to Waynesville,” Rutledge said.

It wasn’t always that way of course.

Bo Prevost remembers Hazelwood’s heyday, ticking of the gone-but-not-forgotten haunts of Mrs. Little’s Variety Shop, Mr. Claudel’s furniture store, Ralph’s Cash Grocery and Mr. Bolin’s shoe shop.

“Hazelwood was bustling way back them,” said Prevost.

Half a dozen factories hummed in Hazelwood in those golden decades of industry following World War II, when the whole town woke Kevin Duckett was a pioneer of Hazelwood’s revitalization each morning to the sound of when he opened of Smoky Mountain Coffee Roasters there the factory whistle.

10 years ago, which plays a vital role as the community’s Prevost’s grandfather owned one of Hazelwood’s gathering place. Becky Johnson photo stalwart plants — Unagusta furniture factory — and her dad and three Ask Hazelwood’s merchants who the uncles helped run it. biggest drawing card is on the street and you The town was built on the backs of its blue- won’t get a straight answer. collar workers. But as the factories that defined “Who is the anchor? Everyone probably Hazelwood closed one after the other, the hat thinks somebody different is the anchor,” shops, shoe shops, grocers and lunch counters said John Burgin, the largest building owner closed, too. The bustling factory town in Hazelwood. “That’s a good thing. The devolved into a mostly deserted streetscape. problem with a single anchor is when an Hazelwood wasn’t alone. Corporate anchor leaves everything dries up.” chains like Walmart were a death knell for The symbiotic relationship of Hazelwood main streets and small towns everywhere. merchants is part of the secret to their success.

But somehow Hazelwood has beat the odds.

S EE HAZELWOOD, PAGE 8

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

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Hazelwood has been a supportive environment for small business entrepreneurs like Kristen Allen, a pastry chef and owner of Nettie’s Bakery. Becky Johnson photo

Smoky Mountain News

BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER It was barely 11 a.m. and Hazelwood was hopping.

The scent of freshly roasted coffee beans spilled out of Smoky Mountain Coffee Roasters. Two doors down, a pair of workmen on ladders balanced a sign for a new artist studio. Across the street, a pack of women with shopping bags on their elbows strolled out of Hazelwood Soap Company.

The group of sisters was in town for a girls’ weekend — a pilgrimage they make every couple of years back to the place they grew up. They’ve seen the evolution of Hazelwood play out in broad strokes, like the uncle who shows up for Thanksgiving every three years and can’t believe how much his nephews have grown.

“It was just a little dumpy country cross6 roads for so long,” said Chris Vinh, who lives

in Arlington, Virginia, now. “It’s nice to see it become a destination. As we came across the railroad tracks this time it was like ‘Oh my gosh, look!’ There’s more new shops every time we come back.”

Hazelwood has been surprising people with its by-the-bootstraps success story for years. Most had written Hazelwood off as a has-been, a fading relic of small-town America killed off by the rise of big-box stores.

“Thirty years ago, I thought Hazelwood would be leveled and this is where Walmart would be,” said Pam Allen, who runs Nettie’s Bakery in Hazelwood with her daughter.

But Hazelwood refused to accept that fate.

“Hazelwood has really gone through a transformation,” said Kevin Duckett, owner of Smoky Mountain Coffee Roasters.

The storyline of Hazelwood’s revitalization has been playing out for over a decade now. Each wave of merchants to light up new

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There are currently fewer than 45 parking spaces to go around in Hazelwood — 12 parallel spots along the street and 31 in a public parking lot.

As far as problems go, a parking shortage isn’t a bad one to have.

“I always tell my tenants parking is a double-edged sword. When it starts getting difficult to park then you know you are where need to be,” said John Burgin, one of the largest property owners in the business district.

Town Manager Marcy Onieal said the parking expansion will hopefully set Hazelwood up for the future.

“We are talking about doubling or tripling the available spaces. If they become so successful that this is also not enough capacity, then we would have to address that at that time,” Onieal said.

Plans under way for Plott hound art piece in Hazelwood

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Smoky Mountain News

the public parking lot. It would mean giving up a couple spaces, however, a tough sell given Hazelwood’s parking crunch.

Now, with plans by the town to double the number of parking spaces, it’s a plausible sacrifice. The Plott hound sculpture will become the focal point for a mini town square with benches and street trees along the front edge of the parking lot.

“It will help bring more awareness and attention to Hazelwood,” McClure said.

As soon as the art commission gets final space parameters from the town, it will start the process of picking an artist, McClure said.

Artists will be invited to submit concept drawings and the finalists will be invited to make a formal presentation.

The Plott hound traces its lineage to the Plott family, who settled in the area over 200 years ago, bringing with them a specially cultivated line of bear dogs from their native Germany. The Plott hound is the official state dog, and a roadside historical marker honoring the breed’s history lies a half-mile up the road where the Hazelwood gives way to the countryside of Plott Creek Valley.

— By Becky Johnson

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

Maxed out: parking crunch in Hazelwood will soon be fixed

Back on the street, the Allens were thrilled to hear a parking expansion was in the works.

“Tell the town thank you from Nettie’s Bakery,” Pam said. “The parking and benches and trees go hand in hand with the gentrification that is happening in Hazelwood.”

So far, business parking behind the shops can accommodate most employees, so they aren’t competing for spots with their own customers.

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throughout.

The new-andimproved parking lot calls for a small landscaped square with benches and a public art sculpture of a Plott Hound.

“You want a public amenity to draw people in,” Foster explained.

The improvements will arguably make the parking lot more valuable, however. The town didn’t want to foot the bill for improvements and ending up with a bigger monthly lease to boot.

“We have offered to increase our rent payments because we will be getting more spaces, but by the same token because we are fronting the money for the improvements, the propThe steady march of new businesses moving in to Hazelwood, the latest being Studio G, erty owner acknowledges which opened last week, has led to a chronic parking shortage. Becky Johnson photo that the town is investing in their property,” said Town Manager Marcy Onieal. lone public parking lot hasn’t kept pace.

While the deal isn’t finalized, the town has “We know more parking is needed,” said reached a tentative agreement that lease payDavid Foster, the town of Waynesville’s pubments won’t be increased — amounting to a lic services director. break on what would otherwise be a lease hike “It’s a growing area,” agreed Daryl — in exchange for the town paying for the Hannah, the town’s street superintendent. upgrades. If it’s inked according to plan, work Without enough parking, “People will would be completed as soon as it’s warm bypass it altogether, which we don’t want.” enough in the spring to put down asphalt.

The town’s in a tight spot, however. It wants to do its part for Hazelwood by providing parking, but the town doesn’t own

BY B ECKY JOHNSON any property in Hazelwood.

STAFF WRITER The public parking lot that anchors aynesville is stepping up to the plate Hazelwood now is leased by the town for to solve a parking bottleneck in $650 a month from the Forga family, longHazelwood Village, with plans to time property owners in Hazelwood. The azelwood will soon be home to a double the size of the public parking lot and town has been on a month-to-month lease sculpture of a Plott hound, the fabled spiff up its curb appeal. for more two years now while working out a bear-hunting breed steeped in local No one feels the parking crunch more new long-term lease with the Forga family. lore and history. than Pam and Kristen Allen, the motherThe town wants to give the parking lot a It will be the 10th public art installment daughter duo behind Nettie’s Bakery, a makeover — expanding the number of by the Waynesville Public Art Commission, bookend on the far end of Hazelwood’s spaces from 31 to at least 60, and as many as but the only one so far to grace the streets shopping district.

90, as well as adding trees, better lighting of Hazelwood.

“We get a lot of complaints that there is and a few benches.

Hazelwood has been on the short list not enough parking,” said Pam. “I think it would be a great investment for a public art installation for a few years, “At least five times a day,” said Kristen. for all of Hazelwood,” Hannah said. but faced a major dilemma.

“They say they drive around until someIt’s also the town’s way of supporting eco“It was really difficult to find a place to thing opens up,” Pam said. nomic development and revitalization. put something,” said Nick DePaolo, chair There’s fewer than 45 parking spaces to “When’s the last time you went to of the public art commission. go around in Hazelwood — 12 parallel spots Walmart and couldn’t find somewhere to While the majority of public art instalalong the street and 31 in a public parking park? It provides a small retail district the lations are along Main Street, for the past lot. There’s a few do-it-yourself spots if you ability to compete with the larger retail comtwo years the art commission has moved know where to look, but the shortage is plexes,” Foster said. beyond the downtown core — while still undeniable.

The parking lot expansion and improvelooking for places where a piece would be “I think they could grow more if they had ments will cost up to $100,000, an expense properly appreciated. more parking,” said Gene Messer, who’s in approved earlier this month by the town “When trying to find a place for public town to get a prescription at Waynesville board. art, part of it is finding a place where pedesPharmacy one morning last week.

To gain more spaces, the parking lot will trians are,” said Micah McClure, vice chair “We got here at 10 a.m. and I thought be expanded to the rear and into the far left of the public art commission. ‘whoa, what are all these cars doing here?’” said corner, wrapping around the back of Hazelwood village fit the bill, but there Julie Reed, who was walking back to her car Hazelwood Soap Company. The cinderblock wasn’t any where to put it — buildings after shopping at Hazelwood Soap Company. building, long home to Bill’s Barber Shop, tightly hug the sidewalks, and the sideWith Hazelwood’s storefronts nearly full which recently closed, will be bulldozed. walks themselves are too narrow — except and shoppers lingering longer, Hazelwood’s Trees and lighting would be installed

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Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

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HAZELWOOD, CONTINUED FROM 6 “We are piggy backing off each other,” said Kevin Duckett, owner of Smoky Mountain Coffee Roasters.

Some people stop to pick up custom embroidery and grab coffee to-go next door.

Others come to get a prescription filled and browse at the REACH thrift store while they’re waiting.

“We all send customers to each other. It is how small business works. Through common geography, we all work together,” Diana Laursen said.

Robanne Morris, the owner of Robin Blu, said the foot traffic sent her way from fellow Hazelwood merchants helped her get established.

“They were great about telling people to come down and see me. We do the same,” Morris said.

Morris often sees couples split up on the sidewalk in front of her shop, the women coming her way and the men disappearing inside Hazelwood Gun and Tactical.

“The wives go to Robin Blu across the street to shop and the men folks come here,” said Cecil Brown, 59, owner of Hazelwood Gun and Tactical.

The number of shops has finally reached a critical mass to put Hazelwood on the map as a destination — a turning point Katie Seymour has witnessed in the five years since opening her family-run monogram, embroidery and gift shop Lily Belles.

“People used to come to one place for one thing, and now people are coming and staying longer,” Seymour said.

FINDING A NICHE

Smoky Mountain News

Hazelwood has a long history of boutique stores embedded in its DNA, and that’s made it a hot spot for entrepreneurs — so much so that storefronts are getting hard to come by.

When the mother-daughter team of Pam and Kristen Allen started looking for the right location to open a boutique bakery two years ago, they knew Hazelwood was the place.

“This was the only location we wanted,” said Pam of Nettie’s Bakery.

Down the street, Hazelwood Soap Company is hip enough and chic enough to make it on the streets of Soho. But the Laursens are married to Hazelwood.

“It’s our namesake,” Diana Laursen said.

The soap company was one of Hazelwood’s early pioneers 10 years ago, and the two are now like childhood friends who’ve grown up together.

But the Laursens faced a hard reality a couple years ago: space constraints they’d worked around for years as a mere nuisance were hampering business operations.

“We were a part of Hazelwood, a part of the neighborhood, but we were cinched,” Diana said.

They needed more finished inventory to keep pace with demand, but that meant keeping more empty bottles on hand, and they had no space to store more bottles. They wanted to expand without leaving Hazelwood, but real estate wasn’t exactly plentiful in the one-block downtown.

“We made do until one day we thought, ‘I 8

wonder what they are doing over there across the street?’” Diana said.

The building was gutted by a fire, a total loss. But any footprint in the heart of Hazelwood, even a burned out shell, was a limited commodity.

A couple days later — “true to Hazelwood form,” Diana said — they ran into the building’s owner, Chris Forga, at Hazelwood’s signature restaurant, Bourbon Barrel Beef and Ale, and struck a deal.

They weren’t the only ones in Hazelwood facing a space crunch. This month, Smoky Mountain Coffee Roasters expanded its seating to accommodate its growing crowds.

“I had people walk out because there was no place to sit,” Duckett said.

For 20 years, Duckett has had a booming wholesale business, supplying dozens of restaurants, other cafes and specialty grocers with his branded locally roasted coffee.

Now for the first time, the retail business

“I’ve head people come to Hazelwood and say ‘I am buying all my Christmas presents here.’ That is a huge gift — to have a community that is so committed to seeing our little area thrive.”

Robanne and Jack Morris took on a top-to-bottom renovation of one of Hazelwood’s run-down buildings, breathing new life into the street and giving rise to Robin Blu, an eclectic home décor and chic gift shop. Textile Artist Suzanne Gernandt (below) and her husband John opened a working studio and gallery in Hazelwood last week, the latest addition to jump on the bandwagon. Becky Johnson photos

— Katie Seymour, Lily Belles

Duckett does out of his own Hazelwood storefront is bringing in as much revenue as his wholesale line.

Hazelwood’s latest arrival, Studio G, just pulled the brown paper off the windows last week, revealing a new textile art studio and gallery.

“This is probably more space than I need for myself, but I couldn’t pass it up — it is just too great a space,” said Suzanne Gernandt, fiddling with a display of handdyed scarves.

Gernandt formerly ran Textures Gallery on Main Street in downtown Waynesville, but closed down in 2011 and relocated to the River Arts District in Asheville.

“More and more I just wanted to come back to Waynesville. I wanted to be a part of my own community again,” she said.

She wanted to be in Hazelwood, but it seemed full.

She was getting coffee at Smoky Mountain Roasters one day when she ran into Duckett and learned Hazelwood Soap Company was moving into bigger digs across the street, and their old space would be up for grabs. Gernandt snatched it.

It’s this sort of quick turnover that proves Hazelwood has hit its stride.

Serendipity is a common theme in Hazelwood. It was for Jack Morris, who bought one of Hazelwood’s last rundown buildings in 2010. It was in need of massive renovation, and there were times he wasn’t sure his investment had been a wise one. But then nature gave him a nudge.

A terrible windstorm hit Waynesville and blew the already tattered roof off into the middle of Hazelwood Avenue. Unfortunately, he was on a family cruise at the time, oblivious to the disaster back home until the ship docked and he found his voicemail flooded with messages from Waynesville Police officers who’d spent a morning dragging pieces of the roof out of the road.

It must have been fate, because Morris’ wife, Robanne, decided the time was right for her to have that shop she always wanted.

“He wasn’t sure when he was going to renovate it until I said I wanted a shop. I always had that in my mind, that I’d like to have a shop one day,” said Robanne, who has a natural flair for design.

Robin Blu was born, a shop known for its vintage home décor and eclectic gifts, and has proved a major drawing card for Hazelwood

— not to mention filling in one of the last gaps in the streetscape.

KEEPING IT REAL

Hazelwood doesn’t have the bells and whistles of Main Street. They don’t have a formal merchant’s group to put on events or host ribbon cuttings. They don’t collect dues to pay for seasonal street decor or do collective marketing. And there’s no newsletter to keep merchants informed of happenings up and down the street.

Merchants rely on word of mouth to stay abreast of Hazelwood news, and they like it that way.

But the informality isn’t always perfect.

Word can travel slowly, especially to merchants at the far ends of the street.

Two weeks after brown paper

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Meet John Burgin, the wizard of Hazelwood

news

BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER rom the outside, John Burgin looks like a lucky guy, a guy in the right place at the right time to cash in on the revitalization sweeping Hazelwood.

The largest property owner in this up-and-coming burg, Burgin owns nearly a whole city block, a continuous line of one dozen storefronts with a West-Asheville vibe that’s a hotspot for budding entrepreneurs.

What few realize: Burgin is the architect behind it all.

“I felt like if I could get ahold of some of this property down here it could be turned around,” said Burgin, a wellknown local contractor.

When Burgin bought his first building in Hazelwood nearly 20 years ago, most storefronts were vacant and rundown. He slowly but methodically set a vision in motion to bring back Hazelwood.

Burgin quickly realized one building wouldn’t be enough to effect real change in this forgotten side of town, however.

“I could try to put tenants in these shops all day long, but as long as the buildings next door were taped up with pawn shops in them I couldn’t,” Burgin said. “If next door the gutters are falling off, the roof is leaking, it wouldn’t work. I realized I needed to control it.”

So after renovating one building, he bought the next, and then the next, and then the next — the last of his acquisitions falling into place earlier this year when he snagged the old First Citizens bank building on the corner.

Burgin was the missing ingredient Hazelwood needed. He was a contractor with a passion, willing to invest the upfront time and capital to create storefronts tenants could move into.

Burgin was able to do what a typical real estate investor couldn’t or wouldn’t. He was willing to sink his own money and labor into the building renovations, a critical factor because no bank would have lent the money.

“They would loan you money based on the property as it was at the time, not the speculative value of what you thought it could be or future leases,” Burgin said.

It also took someone with a long view, willing to wait for a payoff years down the road. Burgin was patient, and he didn’t worry about quickly recouping the cost of his investment through rent prices.

“That would have knocked out a lot of these folks who couldn’t pay what you call Main Street prices. I was able to keep the leases affordable so people could afford to be here,” Burgin said.

Burgin never saw it as a gamble.

John Burgin.

Becky Johnson photo

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A TEAM EFFORT

ence,” Seymour said.

Seymour opened her family-run monogram and embroidery gift shop in Hazelwood five years ago and is widely sought out for quality custom embroidery of bags, boutique clothing, uniforms and more.

“We have people tell us all the time you could be on Main Street, but this is where we want to be,” said Seymour. “I love that it is a little off the beaten path. Buildings have stories, and I think people feel that when they come into Hazelwood. It offers a sense of community that you want to feel a part of.”

Today’s merchants relish that past, but few know of it firsthand. Cecil Brown, owner of Hazelwood Gun and Tactical, is an exception. He grew up just two blocks away.

“Back when I was a boy all the buildings were full,” Brown recalled. And for the first time in a long time, that’s true again.

Smoky Mountain News

Restoring Hazelwood’s streetscape has filled a nagging void and restored a missing sense of community for the townspeople of Hazelwood. Hanging onto their identity was hard enough after being absorbed by neighboring Waynesville in the 1990s. The vacant business district was a daily reminder of what they used to be.

Still, the vast majority that lay eyes on Hazelwood every day do so through a car windshield, en route from one side of town to the other.

Only those who stop to smell the coffee roasting or steak grilling or soap mixing or cakes baking can truly understand the rhythm that’s returned to Hazelwood’s main street.

“We all feel like a family,” said Pam Allen from Nettie’s Bakery.

Merchants credit shoppers in large part for bringing Hazelwood back from the brink.

“A lot of people who come here want to shop local,” said Robanne Morris of Robin Blu. Hazelwood’s revitalization might not have been possible without the shop local movement and a conscious intent to support small businesses.

“I’ve head people come to Hazelwood and say ‘I am buying all my Christmas presents here.’ That is a huge gift — to have a community that is so committed to seeing our little area thrive,” said Katie Seymour of Lily Belles.

To Seymour, bringing Hazelwood’s streetscape back to life has been a team effort between the merchants and loyal customers.

“People want to make a difference, and I think that overall people are seeing that. They are the first step to making a difference. It starts small but together it makes a differ-

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

came off the windows of the new Studio G art gallery, some merchants were still in the dark about who had moved into their ‘hood.

There’s other trade-offs to not having a formal dues-paying merchants association.

Downtown Waynesville has brighter holiday lights and garland-wrapped lampposts — paid for thanks to a special tax levied downtown to support the work of the Downtown Waynesville Association.

Hazelwood, meanwhile, is making do with retro tinsel-tufted bell shapes mounted to telephone poles, inherited after downtown had no use for them anymore.

Some Hazelwood merchants may see it as a slight to get downtown Waynesville’s rejects, but honestly, the hand-me-down decorations are perfect for Hazelwood, Laursen said.

“They’re vintage. I like them. New ones wouldn’t look right,” Laursen said.

Rebuilding Hazelwood from the ground up has taken more “I was pretty sure it would work,” he said. And it did. than construction know-how. Burgin has worked to court ten“It is pretty much the picture of what I had envisioned.” ants and build a compatible and diverse mix of shops.

But he admits the recession tested his vision.

“I always wanted a nice restaurant, I always wanted a “When the collapse came in 2008, I was wondering then,” coffee shop. I always wanted Burgin said. some retail,” Burgin said. “I’m He suspended rent increases “I always wanted a nice pretty much an average Joe, so I built into tenants’ leases to help thought ‘What would I like?’ We them through the bad times. restaurant, I always wanted a have this eclectic group of tenants “We were all in it together,” coffee shop. I always wanted that all sort of support each Burgin said. other. That was somewhat done Ask any of Burgin’s tenants, some retail. I’m pretty much by design also.” and he’s a benevolent landlord. an average Joe, so I thought, Burgin has also said “no” to Many revitalization stories like tenants he feared would pull Hazelwood become a victim of ‘What would I like?’”

Hazelwood down, even evicting their own success. The merchants one that was a bad fit for the comwho pioneer the comeback can get — John Burgin, Hazelwood munity. Burgin had rented a storepriced out of their own neighborproperty owner front to a man claiming he would hood once it takes off. But Burgin open a pizza joint, but in reality, has kept his lease prices low. he opened a private drinking club and pool hall.

Burgin has a knack for finding a building’s true essence, “That’s not what I wanted. I didn’t want those black curstripping back the layers to find the original ceilings, the old tains hanging in the window. That’s not what I wanted down hardwood floors, and brick walls buried over the years. The here at all. It was tough to get him out,” Burgin said.

First Citizens bank building, his latest renovation job, had Burgin, 54, is the man of the hour in Hazelwood, although three layers of flooring — carpet, plywood, tile, more plywood few realize it given his humble nature. Those who do give him — and three different drop ceilings. a knowing nod when they pass him on the sidewalk, and It’s the last piece of the puzzle on Burgin’s side of the more and more he hears the line, “I am so glad you did this.” street, and he’s fielding calls daily.

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Franklin nonprofit to install StoryWalks around town

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BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR ranklin will soon be joining other communities around the world who are incorporating a love for reading with a love of the outdoors.

Read2Me, a community initiative in Macon County whose mission is to get books into the hands of children, is working to install StoryWalks at the Little Tennessee Greenway in downtown and the new Parker Meadows Recreational Complex.

When Brittney Raby of Franklin, a member of the Read2Me board, visited Carolina Beach with her family last summer, she walked with her 2-year-old son Turner around the town’s greenway.

“During our first loop around the greenway we came across a StoryWalk. It was the first time I had ever seen or heard of such an idea and I just loved it,” Raby said.

“After the first day, as soon as we got to the greenway the second day, my son sprinted to the boards and wanted to read the story over and over again and by the time we left, he had memorized all of the active components to the walk.”

She shared the idea with the Read2Me board when she returned to Franklin and they embraced the idea. StoryWalks can be done in a number of ways, but Raby said Read2Me decided to model Macon’s storyboards after the ones at Carolina Beach. The boards will be printed on sturdy quarterinch thick composite metal sign panel with full color graphics. The graphics will have a matte finish UV laminate and the boards will have a five- to six-year lifespan. Goshen

greenway. Read2Me members voted on the Timber Frames has donated its time and talsecond title and selected “Bugliest Bug.” ents to the project and have committed to Raby said both books were selected based on build the boards for Read2Me at no cost. their beautiful colors and visual aspects — “Ideally, the top surface of the board will the titles are also relevant to the locations be removable. So while the wood in the they will be featured. ground is permanent, the actual part of the “Read2Me is comprised of teachers, literStoryWalk that has the book can be taken off and interchanged with other ones period- acy specials, retired educators and parents, ically,” Raby said. “That way, the same book wont be at the same spot for the entire five years.”

Read2Me has worked with Macon County officials to install the first StoryWalks on county recreation property and the Rotary Club of Franklin is allowing the first one to be installed on its sponsored portion of the greenway.

Daybreak Rotary members also want to help dig the holes and install the first walk. The second StoryWalk will be installed at the new Parker Meadows Recreation Park.

“The park has a mile-long walking trail and is the perfect spot for a walk,” Raby said.

Read2Me is in the process of securing publishing rights to print the Turner Raby, 2, of Franklin, books. They contracted with Curious enjoys the StoryWalk while on City, the same company Carolina vacation in Carolina Beach.

Beach used for its Story Walks.

Donated photo “They handle a lot of the process and bring a uniformed look to the and all of their expertise areas had opinions StoryWalks,” Raby said. “Because StoryWalks are a fairly new concept, publish- on which books would be best and why,” she said. “We plan to do one a year after this ers are working to build community profiles year, if funding is available so hopefully on literacy rates, library visitation rates and more titles and books will also soon be part community size.”

Since Curious City has already duplicated of our StoryWalk library.”

The contract with Curious City is for six books for StoryWalks across the country, $1,200, which includes their work to get the Read2Me chose book titles from that selecpublishing rights and the design of the stotion. Franklin Rotary selected the book ryboards. Read2Me will have the boards “Pond Babies” to be installed along the

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Take a stroll, read a book

printed locally for about $600 each. Enough money has been secured for the first StoryWalk, but the organization still needs about $500 more to pay for the second one.

Businesses and organizations that donate to the project will have their logo featured on the very first board of the story.

By the time Read2Me secures the publisher’s permission to reprint the books, it will be winter so installation of the boards will be postponed until spring.

“One of the most fun parts of the StoryWalks is having a big celebration to unveil the project to the community, and we would love to do that on a spring day and have the whole community involved,” Raby said.

As for future locations, Read2Me is talking with a local Girl Scout who wants to create a StoryWalk as one of her Girl Scout projects. She wants to write the story herself and has already asked one of her teachers to illustrate it. Raby said she hopes that walk can be installed at the school system’s central office or the local library so it can be “checked out” temporarily at different locations.

“We also plan to work with Main Street merchants to have a Main Street Walk,” she said. “That project won’t cost nearly as much because of instead of permanent boards for the walks, the StoryWalk would be laminated in storefront windows for shoppers to read as they pass by.”

Raby said the project would fit perfectly with Read2Me’s goal of raising awareness of the importance of early literacy and Franklin’s goal of offering family-friendly outdoor activities.

“When Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont, developed the idea of the StoryWalk, she did so with those things in mind,” she said. “Replicating that idea and the project in Macon County will not only give our residents something fun to do with their families, but hopefully it will give the visitors to our area something to look forward to.”

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Macon commissioner to seek state office

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR acon County Commission Chairman Kevin Corbin announced his plans Monday night to run next year for the North Carolina House of Representatives.

Corbin’s decision to run for the District 120 seat came just hours after Rep. Roger West, R-Marble, announced that he wouldn’t seek re-election next year. West is currently serving his eighth term as a state representative serving Clay, Cherokee, Graham and Macon counties.

“Roger West has been a friend of mine for a long time and I told him if he ever decided not to run then I would,” Corbin told a packed room at the Macon County Courthouse. “And I plan to win or I wouldn’t be filing.”

The courtroom was full of fellow Republicans who attended the press conference to show their support for Corbin, including West, Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, District Attorney Ashley Welch, Commission Vice Chairman Jim Tate and a representative from U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis’ office. Commissioners from other counties within the district were also present, including Graham County commissioner Connie Orr and Cherokee County commissioner Cal Stiles.

Corbin said he intended to be done with local politics when he came off the school

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seat on Dec. 1 and will continue to serve as a commissioner until the November 2016 election. If he is elected to the House, he hopes Tate, his commission vice chairman, will move into his chairman seat.

“Of course my biggest regret is that I won’t be a Macon County Commission Chairman Kevin Corbin announces county his intentions to run for the North Carolina House of commisRepresentatives with fellow Republican supporters standing by. sioner Jessi Stone photo anymore, but Jim going to run for the Senate and if he won, he (Tate) is the smartest person I know — no one is more capable of being chairman,” wanted Corbin to complete his two remainCorbin said. ing years on the county board. Corbin Corbin said West had been one of the admitted that he told his wife Beth that he most influential legislators in Raleigh during didn’t think Davis would win — but he did his years of service and said he would need win by less than 200 votes. his support through the campaigning and “Jim is the reason I’m a commissioner even after the election. today,” Corbin joked.

West said he fully supported Corbin’s Corbin completed Davis’ term and then candidacy and would do anything he could was re-elected for a four-year term. He said to help him. Davis echoed West’s comments he planned to sign up to run for the House board in 2006, but then he made a promise to Sen. Davis. Davis, who was a county commissioner at the time, told Corbin he was

and also offered a piece of advice. He said Corbin was blessed that his family, including his wife Beth and their children Maggie and Matt, supported his decision to run for state office because of the time commitment involved.

“It’s really a sacrifice for the entire family,” Davis said.

Orr promised the support of her entire family in Graham County for Corbin’s campaign.

“One of Kevin’s strongest attributes is he always seeks divine guidance and I’ve always appreciated that,” she said.

Since the pay for a North Carolina representative is less than $14,000 a year, Corbin joked that he would definitely be keeping his day job in Franklin.

Corbin, a Macon County native, owns and operates Corbin Insurance in Franklin.

He served for 16 years on the Macon County School Board as chairman and currently serves as the chairman of the Region A Council of Government, the Board of Trustees for Southwestern Community College and the Franklin Chamber of Commerce Board.

Representatives from the Macon County Republican Party were present for the announcement, but Corbin said they could not yet endorse him to be fair to any other GOP candidates who might sign up to challenge Corbin in the primary.

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Jackson tourism board considers JOIN US FOR ARTS EVENTS AT WCU Webster mayor for director job

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BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER f the selection panel’s pick gets the backing of the full board, Jackson County’s likely to have a new tourism director in place by the time 2016 rolls around.

After narrowing the field of five applicants down to two — Nick Breedlove and Jaki Brendle — the panel conducted a second round of interviews and came out with a clear consensus. The panel was “crystal clear,” said Tourism Development Authority Chairman Robert Jumper, that it Nick Breedlove would be recommending Breedlove for the position.

Jumper didn’t want to move forward based on a “knee-jerk reaction,” however, so after the interviews finished Friday, Nov. 20, he waited until the following Monday to poll the panel once more.

Their response hadn’t changed.

“Out of five really good ones, I feel we have the top candidate,” Jumper said.

The TDA wasn’t planning to vote on its final choice until January, as they’d expected the panel to need more time to mull its recommendation and didn’t have a regular December meeting planned. But the consensus was so clear that Jumper called a special meeting for Dec. 9 so the entire board can meet Breedlove, ask him questions and vote on the hire.

“I think he brings enthusiasm for the county,” said Jumper. “He has a good network inside and outside the county, which is valuable to us, and I think he’s going to quickly build a strong relationship with the directors and with the agency partners and with the county. We’re hoping for good things out of those relationships.”

Currently wearing multiple hats as mayor of Webster – at 30, Breedlove is the youngest mayor in North Carolina — a reporter for The Sylva Herald and photographer with his own business, Nick Breedlove Photography, Breedlove has deep roots in Jackson County. He grew up there, went to Western Carolina University and has taken an active role in local leadership.

Breedlove said it’s too early to comment on the panel’s recommendation, as the rest of the board has yet to weigh in, but in his application he expressed enthusiasm for the work.

“I am truly excited at the opportunity to assist the JCTDA in expanding tourism visitation to the county,” he wrote.

At the moment, the TDA isn’t hiring a permanent staff position — rather, the board requested bids for a one-year contract with a scope of work mirroring the responsibilities that would be expected of

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a staff director.

That’s likely to be a temporary situation. Formed in 2012, the TDA has no paid staff — by contrast, the Haywood County TDA has four employees — and had always planned to bring a director on board. The process moved forward over the past year or so as the TDA’s workload got too big for the volunteer board of directors to handle. The board decided to go with the contract idea, Jumper said, to allow a trial run of sorts in which the responsibilities and lines of authority could be ironed out before the board locked itself into a permanent hire.

Framing the position as a contract job resulted in a somewhat unanticipated mix of applicants, with some bids coming from companies that would have divvied responsibilities between multiple people.

That wasn’t something the panel liked, and those bidders were eliminated.

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this, we weren’t content with that,” Clifford Meads, head of the TDA’s marketing committee, said at the board’s November meeting.

Breedlove, on the other hand, would be carrying out all the director’s responsibilities himself and understands that the TDA sees it as a full-time gig, eventually moving to a permanent position, Jumper said.

Specifics such as salary haven’t been discussed beyond the bid amount Breedlove put on paper — his $54,000 bid was near the bottom of the range of proposals the TDA received, the lowest of which was Brendle’s $53,000 — but the board likely wouldn’t try to offer less than $54,000 if they selected Breedlove, Jumper said. Contract workers are responsible for a greater share of their taxes than employees and don’t receive benefits, so the compensation should reflect that Jumper said.

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Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

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Planning for cleanup SCC gears up to get rid of lead contamination near shooting range

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER fter measuring lead levels of more than 200 times the state limit for safety near its shooting range, Southwestern Community College is getting ready for some potentially pricy cleanup.

“The bottom line is if you shoot lead into soil, you’re going to have a lead issue,” said James Bevers, environmental project manager for ECS Carolinas, the company SCC is contracting with to develop a cleanup plan.

SCC has operated the shooting range, which is located on land leased from the county, for 30 years, never once cleaning the lead bullets out of the clay berm at the far end of the range. Over the years, the bank has accumulated an estimated 60 tons of lead, a fact brought to SCC’s attention in spring of 2014. Environmental Protection Agency rules don’t require cleanup at active shooting ranges, but after realizing the problem SCC took measures to keep lead from moving downhill, off-site.

For an area of about 2,500 square feet just downhill from the range, however, those measures came too late. Testing showed that the soil — and water in the seasonal stream that flows nearby en route to the Tuckasegee River — had severely elevated levels of lead.

“I think we’re kind of at the point of needing to move forward with some corrective actions,” County Manager Chuck Wooten told the Jackson County Board of Commissioners last week.

ECS has come up with a plan that Bevers describes as simple, but not necessarily inexpensive. Basically, cleanup will involve taking the impacted soil, section by section, mixing it with a phosphate, taking it to a landfill, and replacing it with clean soil.

“It’s not a new process. It’s been used quite often,” said John Stewart, chief geologist with ECS. Unlike many other contaminants, lead doesn’t disperse quickly or easily through the environment. It binds with soil, so for the lead to move, the soil has to move.

Unless, that is, the concentration gets too high. That’s when lead becomes more likely to be driven deeper and deeper in the soil as water moves through it, a process called leaching. For that reason, even landfills can’t take soil with lead concentration above a certain amount, but mixing the soil with phosphate gives it something to bind to, keeping it from leaching.

“The lead doesn’t go away,” Stewart explained. “What it does is the lead adheres to the phosphate, chemically stays there, locks it so it cannot leach out.”

But it will likely cost a pretty penny to 14 treat the estimated 270 cubic yards of soil

■ Soil samples for the area to be treated ranged from 9.9 to 58,000 milligrams per kilogram of lead. The safety threshold is 270 mg/kg. Of the 30 samples taken, 23 were above the threshold.

■ Sediment samples along the drainage from the range to the Tuckasegee River ranged from 49.3 mg/kg to 902 mg/kg. Of the nine samples taken, five were above the safety threshold of 270 mg/kg.

■ Surface water samples in the drainage ranged from less than 10 µ/L to 539 µ/L. Of the six samples taken, four were above the safety threshold of 25 µ/L. Source: ECS Carolina

for facilities.

“It really is Southwestern’s problem, but when it comes down to it, if there’s a problem it’s really our problem as well,” Wooten said.

Unless the cleanup costs prove unprecedentedly low, SCC will likely look to the county for help. Which has some commissioners questioning if there’s a better way to run the range.

“Obviously it’s a great service until it comes time to pay for the remediation. And who pays for that?” said Commissioner Vicki Greene.

The range is used as a training ground for all sorts of law enforcement and security agencies. Everyone — from the Jackson County Sheriff ’s Department to the Balsam Mountain Preserve security force — trains there. Use is free for state and local agencies, but federal agencies and private companies pay $70 per person, per day.

The cleanup might be expensive, but

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Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

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By the numbers

lead concentrations, Stewart said, are by the riverbank, where samples of the drainage area yielded readings of 365 milligrams per kilogram for the soil and 286 micrograms per liter for the surface water. The safe levels are 270 mg/kg and 25 μ/L, respectively.

“There is concern about that, which is why we’re making them clean this up now,” said Roberta Proctor, the chemist for the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality who is working with SCC on the issue.

It’s possible that the work could be done by the end of the year, Stewart said, though it will all depend on the schedules of the contractors that bid and on how holidays affect the work.

It’s not going to be the last commissioners hear of lead troubles at SCC. The school is working to institute Best Management Practices on the range itself to reduce need for more remediation down the road — one of the key recommendations is replacing the clay berm with sand, which is easier to peri-

Sediment (S) and surface water (SW) samples ECS Carolinas took along the drainage that flows through the shooting range at SCC showed lead levels far above the levels considered safe, which are 270 mg/kg and 25 µg/L, respectively. ECS Carolinas graphic using Google Earth image that are going to need it. The project hasn’t gone out to bid yet, the job will likely cost between $100 to $200 per ton for the estimated 400 tons of soil — between $40,000 and $80,000. That’s an all-inclusive cost, however, that includes everything from clearing brush to treating the soil to dumping it in the landfill.

The good news where cost is concerned, however, is that 270 cubic yards is likely a pretty solid estimate. Lead spreads downward, not laterally, and its spread on the site is limited by the rock layer that’s about five feet down.

The key, though, is to get it cleaned up fast, because right now lead-containing runoff from the contaminated area is heading straight to the Tuckasegee River, which is just about 15 or 20 feet away from the road that goes by the shooting range. The highest

odically rid of lead — as well as to address the issue that prompted SCC to bring the subject of the shooting range up to commissioners in the first place: splashback in the berm. When they first broached the topic last spring, the concern was that the berm was so full of old bullets that some shots were ricocheting back toward the shooters.

After the soil cleanup is done, McMahan said, the county will likely need to do something about the range itself.

Which is itself a whole other discussion, because while SCC, as the lessee of the property, is technically the one responsible, it’s basically dependent on the county for the funds to make the cleanup happen. For community colleges — as well as, largely, K-12 schools — the state pays for staff and classroom needs, while the county foots the bill

the county doesn’t really have a choice other than to pay the bill. And when SCC’s lease is up in 2021, the school doesn’t really have a choice other than to continue using the property as a shooting range. It’s a service it needs to provide, and vacating the site would be hugely expensive, as that’s when all the EPA regulations regarding cleanup on the range itself would kick in.

But there’s good news, Bevers said. Now that the school knows what the problem is and has been advised of the Best Management Practices it can use going forward, it’s unlikely to be hit with emergency cleanup tasks like this during the remaining life of the range.

“As long as they keep on top of that, there should be minimal amounts of future problems,” Bevers said.

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BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER State Bureau of Investigations probe is looking into possible wrongdoing on the part of a pair of former Southwestern Community College employees.

Last week, investigators visited the college, search warrant in hand, to look for evidence that Christy Deaver, 40, who until Oct. 5 served as SCC’s director of student records, had abused her position to get her student loan payments deferred.

People with outstanding student loans can put off payment and interest of those loans by enrolling in at least six credit hours of coursework. After launching their own internal investigation, SCC officials found that Deaver “had (allegedly) used her position to enroll herself into Southwestern Community College courses and then withdraw from those courses in an attempt to defer repayments of her student loan(s),” according to a search warrant.

Deaver wasn’t the only one at which the finger of suspicion Christy Deaver pointed during the course of SCC’s investigation. The school found evidence that Fairley Pollock, 38, who resigned her position June 5 to take a job at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, may have been engaged in the alleged enroll-withdraw routine, as well as Deaver’s husband Ricky Deaver, 42, who did not work Fairley Pollock for the school.

The SCC investigation concluded in October. Deaver resigned her position on Oct. 5, citing “personal reasons.” On Oct. 14, Cliff Statler, SCC’s vice president for finance and administrative services, notified SBI of the school’s findings, as state law requires when there’s a possible crime involving state property.

In North Carolina, it’s illegal to use a government computer to “devise or execute any scheme or artifice to defraud” or to “obtain property or service by means of false or fraudulent pretenses.”

It’s this crime — accessing government computers — that the SBI is investigating, though no charges have yet been filed.

Pollock and Deaver had both been longtime employees of SCC, with Deaver starting work at the college in 1997 and Pollock in 2005. Now director of educational partnerships at AB Tech, Pollock has not seen any change in employment status since starting work there this summer, according to AB Tech’s communications director Kerri Glover. The college has no comment to offer on the investigation, Glover said.

Tyler Goode, spokesman for SCC, also declined to comment on the school’s behalf except to say that SCC is fully cooperating with the investigation.

After filing the search warrant, the SBI investigators seized a slew of documents — including accounts receivable records, federal loan servicer history and enrollment records, for starters — pertaining to Ricky Deaver, Christy Deaver and Pollock.

Neither Christy Deaver nor Pollock had responded to requests for comment as of press time.

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SBI investigates former SCC employees

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The new Hawthorn Heights youth shelter in Bryson City is a 6,400-square foot house that includes nine bedrooms, two bathrooms and plenty of office space where Children’s Hope Alliance staff can provide outpatient therapy. The open floor plan makes it easier for staff to supervise teens staying there. Jessi Stone photo

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR hile the former Hawthorn Heights teen shelter presented a number of challenges, the only challenge for teens moving into the new shelter will be calling dibs on their favorite room.

Hawthorn Heights in Bryson City has provided a temporary refuge for homeless and runaway teenagers since 1976. The old shelter house on Patterson Avenue was cramped for space and the layout created visibility problems, which made it harder to supervise the teens.

“The kids are so excited and asking ‘when do we get to move in?’” said Debra Malloy, youth care worker at the shelter. “We’ve been waiting for this for a long time.”

Since the shelter became a part of a larger organization — Children’s Hope Alliance — last year, fundraising efforts began to find a more suitable facility. The Children’s Hope Alliance formed last year when Barium Springs children’s home and the Grandfather Home for Children in Banner Elk merged to better utilize resources.

The new shelter still houses only nine teens at a time, but now they will all have their own room instead of having a bunk mate. Instead of a small twin-size bed, they will each have a full-size bed. Instead of all nine having to share one small bathroom, the boys and the girls will each have their own bathroom. Individuals, businesses and organizations in the community have donated all the furnishings for the house.

The 6,400-square-foot house also has a much larger kitchen, living area, recreation area and a full basement. About $840,000 was raised for the first phase of the project, but funds are still needed to finish the office spaces in the basement. The offices in the

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Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

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basement will be used by Children’s Hope Alliance staff to provide therapy services to the teens staying there.

“We’ve been blessed to have the Children’s Hope Alliance come along to provide all these resources,” said Kara Long, Hawthorn Heights program manager.

Hawthorn Heights is the only emergency runaway and homeless youth shelter west of Asheville. Teens age 12-17 come to the shelter in a variety of ways, Long said. They can be recommended there from all over the region by the juvenile court system for minor offenses, departments of social services, guidance counselors or parents who need some help.

“Some teens refer themselves,” Long said.

“It doesn’t happen all the time but it’s not uncommon to have a kid knock on our door in the middle of the night.”

Long said some teens just need a few days away from a stressful family situation while others may be in need of a long-term foster care home. Teens staying at the shelter must adhere to a strict set of house rules and perform chores in order to earn points they can redeem for different house rewards.

“Aside from offering them a safe place to stay, we want to give them structure,” Long said. “We put them on a strict house schedule with times for studying, dinner, chores and bedtime — that alone can be stabilizing for them.”

The staff also makes sure teens staying at the shelter have all their basic needs met — medical care, dental appointments, eye exams, glasses and more.

Hawthorn Heights is only licensed through the state as a temporary shelter, which means the goal is provide the teens with a safe place to stay until a more permanent home can be found. In the meantime, the staff works to prepare them for a

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR espite the recent election, the Maggie Valley Board of Aldermen still has an empty seat to fill.

Alderman Saralyn Price won her writein campaign for mayor earlier this month, which means a fourth board member is needed to complete the two years remaining on her term as alderman.

The board could have choosen a number of methods to fill the vacant seat. They could take the next highest vote-getter from the Nov. 3 election or they could advertise for the seat and conduct interviews before making an appointment. The board chose to do the latter.

Town Manager Nathan Clark said the board would begin accepting candidate applications following its organizational meeting, which will be held at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 1, in the Town Hall boardroom. Newly re-elected aldermen Janet Banks and Phillip Wight and mayor-elect Price will be sworn into office before the board sets a meeting time and appoints the mayor pro-tem.

Clark said applications would be

D

The former Hawthorn Heights facility was cramped for space with up to nine teenagers having to share one bathroom. Jessi Stone photo successful transition within 90 days. That could include teaching conflict resolution, anger management or tutoring for school.

The teens are monitored at all times with at least two youth care workers in the home.

Matthew Patterson has been employed at Hawthorn Heights for two years and loves working with the teens. He helps set up appointments for them, takes them to school and makes sure they are fed.

“I’m also here just to entertain them — tell them stories and jokes,” he said. “I teach them new ways of doing things. We like to focus on life skills, like how to cook and how

to find a job.”

Malloy, a fellow youth care worker, said she enjoys getting to know all the teens at the shelter and helping them get to where they want to be. She said it’s a bittersweet moment when they leave.

“I love getting to know their personalities — you learn how resilient they are,” she said.

“It’s not sad and they aren’t broken — they are fun and funny.”

For more information about Hawthorn Heights or services provided by Children’s Hope Alliance, visit www.childrenshopealliance.org.

accepted until Jan. 15, and then the board would begin interviews. Living in the 28751 zip code is the only requirement to run for the position. He hopes a new board member will be appointed sometime in February.

Billy Case and Nikki McCauley, two candidates that ran for aldermen this year but didn’t make the cut — said they both plan to apply for the position. In his third attempt to serve on the Maggie board, Case received the third highest number of votes in the election — 29 votes behind incumbent Phillip Wight.

McCauley received only 46 votes.

Mayoral candidate Jasay Ketchum, who received only 27 votes compared to Saralyn Price’s 233 votes, said he would also apply for the board position after giving it a lot of thought.

Mayoral candidate Justin Phillips, who received 84 votes, said he had no desire to apply for the alderman position or to be involved in local politics at all now.

Making an appointment to the board has proved difficult for Maggie Valley in the past. When former alderman Phil Aldridge resigned from his post in August 2012, the board went through the same process of taking applications and interviewing candidates. However, the remaining aldermen and the mayor couldn’t agree on an appointment. The stalemate continued for more than a year until Janet Banks was elected to fill the unexpired two-year term during the 2013 election.

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Council pledges support for extending language immersion program

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER ith the school year nearing its midpoint, sixth-graders at New Kituwah Academy in Cherokee are starting to ask an increasingly urgent question: Will I have to change schools next year?

“These kids don’t know if they’re going to be there next year,” Bo Taylor, father of one of the sixth-graders and executive director of the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, told Tribal Council this month. “They don’t know and they’re asking. That’s kind of unsettling.”

A Cherokee language immersion school, New Kituwah is still a somewhat young endeavor for the tribe, with this year’s sixth graders representing the first crop of students to have been surrounded by the language since they were babies. In a community in which just over 200 people are still fluent in the native language, that’s a proud milestone.

“We’re not losing our language because of these children,” said Myrtle Driver, a Cherokee beloved woman and fluent speaker.

“It’s our speakers that we are losing. And we’re leaving the burden of carrying on the language on the shoulders of these precious children.”

Started in 2004, the school began with students ages 2 through kindergarten. Upon moving into its present building in 2009, the goal was to expand New Kituwah one grade at a time to cover birth through fifth grade.

The school reached that goal in 2014, when it welcomed its first fifth-grade class.

But the academy’s leaders didn’t rest long, approaching Tribal Council in March with a resolution asking that the tribe agree “to support the planning and development of an expansion for New Kituwah Academy.”

The expansion in question was development of a middle school, to be housed in the old high school building.

Bill Taylor, then vice chair and now chairman of Tribal Council, said the idea was “just

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Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

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“I think this school and these children are the heartbeat of our tribe.”

— Councilmember Albert Rose

A sign over the front door of New Kituwah Language Academy signals the beginning of Cherokee language immersion. Becky Johnson photo perfect,” an expression of support that the rest of council shared. They passed the resolution unanimously.

“I think this school and these children are the heartbeat of our tribe,” Councilmember Albert Rose, of Birdtown, said in March. “I’m just glad to be part of pushing this through, and you have my support on anything you need.”

Though the old high school building is not yet occupied, New Kituwah was able to add a sixth grade this year, but unfortunately the decision to expand into the middle school grades kicked off just as elections heated up for the offices of principal chief, vice chief and tribal council, as well as three school board seats. So nothing much happened between March and November, when Bo Taylor approached council asking that they start moving forward.

“The building can be down the road,” he

Brasstown Possum Drop gets bad news in court

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER rasstown might be facing another possumless Possum Drop this year after a Wake County judge shot down the state’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA. The latest in a years-long history of legislation, lawsuit, counter-legislation and counter-lawsuit, the case involves a law North Carolina passed this year that suspends all state wildlife laws pertaining to possums between Dec. 29 and Jan. 2 of each year — dates which, not so coincidentally, sandwich the annual possum-centered New Year’s celebration in Brasstown. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Roger West, a Republican from 18 Marble, which is just about 20 minutes from Brasstown.

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honest discussion about whether or not this is going to be an immersion school or whether it’s basically going to be a charter school,” Lambert said. The Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma, he said, has a similar endeavor going on but opted not to carry the immersion program through the higher grades.

“They discovered that full immersion for 12 years is, at this point in our history, just not possible to do,” Lambert said. How, for instance, do you teach college prep biology in a language that lacks words for many of the terms found in a standard textbook?

On the other hand, said Councilmember Adam Wachacha, of Snowbird, what if council shifted its focus from upper-level language immersion to providing more opportunities for elementary immersion?

said. “What’s important is getting these positions filled. Their teachers need to be in place.

What I’d really like to say is, ‘Are we going to school next year?’”

When faced with that direct question, council members were unambiguous with their support.

“I think I can speak for all 12 members sitting up here. You all will be going to school next year,” Bill Taylor said as applause broke out from the audience.

What’s still unclear, however, is exactly what that will look like. Council and Principal Chief Patrick Lambert support the work of New Kituwah, but different leaders have different ideas about how to go about the next phase. Can the immersion curriculum indeed continue on through the high school grades, or is that just not feasible right now?

“It’s just simply a matter of having real,

Superior Court Judge Bryan Collins had some strong words about West’s law in his Nov. 13 denial of the state’s motion to dismiss.

A law that provides “a financial benefit to a select group of businesses that happened to be favored by Representative West,” he wrote, “does not constitute a legitimate government purpose. It is the essence of impermissible economic protectionism.”

Collins also wrote that there’s evidence the law was born of “animosity” toward animal welfare groups such as PETA, which has been taking the Possum Drop issue up in court since 2012.

“The purpose to discriminate and silence animal welfare groups in an effort to protect a powerful industry cannot justify passage of a discriminatory law,” Collins wrote.

But Clay Logan, organizer of the annual event and owner of Clay’s Corner in Brasstown — the self-proclaimed “opossum capital of the world” — said that’s not what the Possum Drop is about at all. It’s not about harming wildlife or sticking it to PETA. It’s just a chance to ring in the New Year in a

“When we talk about saving a language, are we saving the language throughout the tribe, and that’s where my community comes from,” Wachacha said. “We’re not putting enough effort into the outlying areas of the tribe.”

The Snowbird community, which Wachacha represents, is an hour’s drive from Cherokee. Kids growing up there, he pointed out, can’t partake in all New Kituwah has to offer without, as he put it, “taking part of their childhood away to save a language.”

“If we’re going to save our language, we need to make sure each of them has an opportunity to learn it,” he said.

With Bill Taylor’s verbal commitment to make sure that a sixth-grade class exists at New Kituwah next year, the students sitting in the audience during the exchange likely left feeling more hopeful than when they came in.

But plenty of discussion — and perusal of Lambert’s suggested budget, which council was not ready to vote on at this month’s meeting — will likely take place before a final decision on the mechanics of fulfilling that commitment is reached.

family-friendly, alcohol-free, patriotic and light-hearted way.

“Some folks in this country can’t respect that, so they seek an advantage through the court system which by and far has swung too far to protect special interests,” he said in a statement.

Next stop for the Possum Drop is a Dec. 11 court date in which Collins will decide whether to grant PETA’s motion for a preliminary injunction. If he rules in their favor, possum protections will continue pending a final decision, meaning no live possum at the 2015-16 Possum Drop.

“The Opossum Drop’s screaming crowds, thumping music and fireworks are what frighten opossums most,” said Jeff Kerr, general counsel for PETA, so the organization hopes that the festivities will go forward in a possumless fashion.

Logan is rooting for the opposite outcome.

“We are going to keep having the opossum drop as part of our community celebration of the New Year unless some judge rules against our patriotism and prayers,” he wrote.

“It’s just that simple. That’s the way I see it.”

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Planning director search hits a roadblock

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER ackson County had been without a planning director for half a year when commissioners sent out a job offer this month.

But the offer came back rejected, and the position will have to stay vacant for a little while longer.

The mismatch was less about the specifics of the offer than about the job itself, said County Manager Chuck Wooten. Though the county had been advertising a planning director’s job all along, the candidate in question had his eye on a position that hadn’t yet been created — director of development services.

The position, which would be an upperlevel administrative job over the planning and permitting/code enforcement departments, had been recommended in a performance audit the county had done this fall of the two departments, but creating such a job is far from a done deal. It may never even happen.

“He was almost asking for a position that didn’t exist,” said Commission Chairman Brian McMahan.

“We never got to the point about talking about whether the salary was satisfactory, unsatisfactory or not,” Wooten added. The candidate had simply decided that a development services job, like the hypothetical one being batted around in Jackson, would be a better next step for him than a department head role.

Which was unfortunate, because commis-

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

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sioners had already decided that the other two people in the final three wouldn’t be right for the job. Commissioners won’t necessarily have to re-open the search, however. The search committee had initially narrowed the pool down to five people, referring the final three to commissioners for in-person interviews.

“We felt like we ought to go back and at least interview the other two we didn’t do face-to-face,” McMahan said.

If one of those two people winds up coming on board as the county’s new planning director, Wooten said, then the timeline on getting a new person in place will be set back only another two to three weeks — which, when you consider the position has already been vacant for six moths, isn’t too significant.

But there’s a real possibility that commissioners will have to completely start over, which will involve advertising, reviewing resumes and going through multiple rounds of interviews.

“If that’s the case,” Wooten said, “we’re looking at 60 to 90 days.”

Commissioners are committed to finding the right person for the job. But they’re also aware that the to-do list for the yet-to-be-found planning director is piling up quickly. Since Green left, they’ve been putting planning-related decisions and hires on hold as much as possible until a new director could be hired.

In the recently completed planning and permitting/code enforcement audit, filling the

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These partners helped preserve and protect Great Smoky Mountains National Park through their cash, in-kind gifts of goods and services, and event sponsorships of $250 or more during the last year to Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

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Appalachian Trail Conservancy Asheville Dental Care Asheville Radio Group Beverly-Hanks Biltmore Restorative Medicine BorgWarner Boyd Mountain Log Cabins Cane Creek Cataloochee Valley Tours Champion Credit Union Cherokee Preservation Foundation Combined Federal Campaign SE NC Combined Federal Campaign Smoky Mountain Region Combined Federal Campaign WNC Community Foundation of WNC Dixon Hughes Goodman Duke Energy

The background Jackson County’s last planning director, Gerald Green, resigned in May to take a job overseeing the Metropolitan Planning Commission, which handles planning for Knoxville and Knox County, Tennessee.

But commissioners didn’t move to replace him right away because Green’s departure lined up with an explosion of concern over how responsibilities were being shared and rules enforced in the planning and permitting/code enforcement departments. The myriad questions that arose at that time prompted commissioners to ask for a performance audit of the two departments from Charlottebased Benchmark Planning.

They decided it would be best to wait on hiring until after those recommendations came back. director’s position and hiring an empty planning position in the Planning Department were listed as the first and second organizational priorities, respectively. Commissioners had decided to hold off on hiring the vacant planning position until a director came on board to help choose someone.

In addition, the planning department is now responsible for enforcing the county’s steep slope ordinance, so extra manpower is needed there. And since the county has passed

ENO Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Fletcher Warehousing Company Foundation For The Carolinas Glass Foundation Google Grainger Matching Charitable Gifts Program Great Smoky Mountains Association Great Smoky Mountains Employee/Alumni Association Hi-Wire Brewing HomeTrust Bank Industry Nine Intentional Growth Center Mast General Store Montreat College Nantahala Brewing Company

The report took four months to complete but returned with largely favorable feedback.

Issues in the two departments, Benchmark said, were due mainly to misunderstanding, not to negligence or nefarious intent. But the report did offer a number of suggestions for improvement. One of those suggestions was that the county hire an assistant county manager to jointly oversee the two departments.

That’s a job description that piqued the interest of the candidate to whom commissioners ultimately extended an offer for the planning director job. But such a position would demand a high salary that commissioners don’t seem to consider worth the benefit, especially with a county revaluation coming up that would lower the property tax base.

“At this point I don’t know that we’ll ever create that position,” said Commission Chairman Brian McMahan.

its new cell tower ordinance, applications have been coming in. Then there’s the slate of ordinances that commissioners would like to see the Planning Board — assisted by the planning director — review. It will take a full staff to deal with all that in a timely manner.

“We need to move forward and get that staffing level at the level that it’s budgeted to,” Wooten said. “Right now we’re reactive rather than proactive, so we want to move forward as quick as we can.”

National Ecological Observatory Network National Park Foundation NC License Plates NC State Employees Combined Campaign NOC Publix Roberts & Stevens Smoky Mountain Living Magazine Smoky Mountain News The Biltmore Company The Swag Mountaintop Inn Triangle Community Foundation Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program Webb Investment Services Wells Fargo

Bear plates help the Smokies.Through individuals purchasing plates, $438,000 was brought in for the Park in 2015.

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320-45

Support for seasonal depression in Swain

Jackson County Sheriff ’s Office was contacted Nov. 20 by the Jackson County Emergency Management Office after owners of the property at 944 Highway 107S, Sylva, located some old dynamite stored in a basement below the unoccupied business.

The dynamite had already been relocated outside the building and placed in the grass about 25 feet off of U.S. 107. The North Carolina Department of Transportation was contacted to set up a lane closure for the right hand lane headed south on the highway.

Explosive technicians from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations were requested and arrived on scene.

A determination was made to mitigate the dynamite with a controlled explosion but transporting the aged dynamite any further would put people at risk. A robot was used to relocate the dynamite to the grassy median on U.S. 107 and a controlled charge was used to destroy the dynamite. During this time, both south and northbound lanes were closed on U.S. 107 for about 45 minutes.

A two-part educational series titled “Holiday Challenges – Dealing with Depression and Anxiety” will be offered from noon to 12:45 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, at Senior Life Solutions at Swain Community Hospital in Bryson City.

The sessions will be led by licensed clinical social worker John Stoeckel. The two events will complement each other and can be attended individually or in succession.

Everyone is welcome to attend the free events and may register by calling 828.4884044.

Mini grants available to local governments, nonprofits

Applications due for Maggie tourism funding

Macon County Health Department is offering a Diabetes Prevention Program to help people stay healthy.

A trained lifestyle coach is available to assist those with pre-diabetes learn how to lose weight, become more physically active and reduce stress. This program is offered at a low cost and for those who qualify, there are scholarships available. Enroll at Macon County Public Health. Classes start in January 2016.

828.349.2455.

828.456.1940 98 N. Main St., Waynesville twigsandleaves.com

Students to exhibit environmental art Students at five Haywood County Schools will exhibit their new “environmental art” sculptures using recyclable litter as their material.

The art classes of Pisgah High, Tuscola High and Bethel, Canton and Waynesville Middle Schools will hold a grand opening for the exhibit at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1 in the Waynesville Town Hall lobby located at 9 South Main Street.

Everyone is invited to view this highly novel artwork of the students. Refreshments will be provided.

Titled “Recycle Your Art Out,” this artistic display of environmental stewardship is sponsored by the Commission For a Clean County (CCC), Haywood County’s land-based environmental group. The CCC presented the “Litter Troll” program to the kindergarten and first grades for the last three years.

Free Thanksgiving dinner offered in Franklin A free community Thanksgiving dinner will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 26, at the First Presbyterian Church in Franklin, 26 Church Street.

Meals are available at no charge for dining in and for take-out. Limited home delivery of take-out and transportation for dining in are also available. The meal is made possible by the generosity of many people and organizations and the dedication and effort of dozens of volunteers from throughout the community.

Smoky Mountain News

Project funding applications are now being accepted by the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority for the 28751 (Maggie Valley) zip code area.

This funding is for tourism projects that take place before June 30, 2016. For potential new applicants who have not applied for TDA funding previously, there will be a mandatory workshop at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 2, at the Maggie Valley Town Hall. The application deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18.

Applications should be sent or delivered to the Haywood County TDA office at 44 North Main Street, Waynesville.

The applications can be found online at www.haywoodcountytourismdevelopment .com/partnership-funding.

828.452.0152.

Macon Health offers diabetes prevention

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

The Southwestern Commission is seeking proposals for funding from local governments and nonprofits in its seven county service area (Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain).

The Appalachian Regional Commission’s funded “Opt-In Implementation Fund” is providing mini-grants up to $10,000 to implement economic development strategies from the “Opt-In Regional Vision.” Proposals must also address ARC goals and North Carolina strategies for implementing these goals.

For detailed grant guidelines, visit www.regiona.org. Applications are due by Jan. 6, 2016. For questions, email sarah@regiona.org.

news

Dynamite incident shuts down U.S. 107

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Business

Smoky Mountain News

Oak Hill named one of best B&Bs Oak Hill on Love Lane Bed and Breakfast in Waynesville was recently named among “The 50 best B&Bs in America” by Business Insider — a business, celebrity and technology news website.

Business Insider worked with wellknown BedandBreakfast.com, the world’s most comprehensive bed and breakfast search engine representing nearly 80,000 rooms domestically, to compile a list of the top 50 bed and breakfasts in the U.S. Properties considered were from the Diamond Oak Hill on Love Lane Bed and Breakfast in Collection, an exclusive group of luxury inns that are professionally inspect- Waynesville was recently named among ‘The 50 best B&Bs in America’ by Business Insider. Donated photo ed and evaluated on a 200-point scale.

With an estimated 17,000 B&Bs existing in the U.S., Oak Hill owner and innkeeper Shell Isenberg said he was honored.

“It’s an incredible honor to be singled out as one of the 50 best. We knew when we fell in love with our historic little town of Waynesville, that our guests would find a myriad of wonderful experiences here in these mountains,” he said.

Oak Hill on Love Lane B&B, built in 1898, is on the National Register of Historic Places and is well known by long-time locals. Descendants of the Ray family, Robert “Bobby” Breese, one of the grandchildren who grew up in the house, and his son Ron still reside in Waynesville. www.oakhillonlovelane.com.

Gould receives Small Business Center award Katy Gould, director of Haywood Community College’s Small Business Center, was recently recognized as the 2015 NC Small Business Center Network’s Rookie of the Year.

The award is designed to recognize new directors that have been in the Katy Gould position for two years or less for outstanding performance on the job and for significant growth in their center. Gould joined HCC in February 2014 and followed in the footsteps of the college’s previous director, who was a seasoned veteran with many years of experience.

• Mountain Credit Union raised $7,500 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation this year during its third “Tee It Up For Diabetes” golf tournament at Lake Junaluska Golf Course. This year’s donation was doubled from the amount raised last year during the tournament.

• Chester Bartlett, a local real estate veteran, is now the new broker/owner of RE/MAX Awenasa in downtown Bryson City. RE/MAX Awenasa will be located at 114 Everett Street and currently features four residential real estate professionals with more than 22 years of combined expe-

“Haywood Community College is fortunate to have Katy Gould at the helm in our Small Business Center,” said HCC President Dr. Barbara Parker. “Small businesses are such an integral part of our economy in Haywood County, and Katy is highly committed to ensuring they have the resources they need to be successful.”

Partnership yields $58,000 grant for SCC Through a partnership with AshevilleBuncombe Technical Community College, Southwestern Community College has received grant funding of more than $58,000 to launch a “Skilled Workers Get Jobs 2.0” program over the next three years.

The funding is provided by the National Science Foundation Advanced Technology Education Grant with the primary goal of nar-

rience. Visit www.AwenasaRealty.com or call 828.736.0907.

• Franklin Picture Framing, “the affordable custom framer,” recently opened for business.

Franklin Picture Framing is a new home based custom frame shop located at 90 Prentiss View Drive. Co-owners Jeff Norman and Scott Watkins specialize in framing anything from the ordinary to the extraordinary.

828.524.9525 or visit www.franklinpictureframing.com.

ALSO:

rowing the gender equity enrollment and persistence gap among female students in targeted advanced technology education priority areas.

828.339.4427 or j_white@southwesterncc.edu.

Harrah’s installs energy efficient lighting Harrah’s Cherokee recently installed a new LED lighting system at the resort’s casino parking garage that will dramatically decrease the annual environmental impact as well as improve lighting conditions.

Before the updated lighting system, the parking garage alone had an average annual energy consumption of over 1.3 million kilowatt hours. After installation, the lighting system will now use only about 173,000 kilowatt hours per year — a staggering 87 percent reduction. Comparatively speaking, it’s the equivalent of saving more than 80,000 trees or taking 260 cars off the road.

QuickBooks seminar offered through HCC A free QuickBooks-Processing Payroll seminar will be held 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, at Haywood Community College auditorium.

Participants will learn how to prepare for the payroll process by finding the needed information on the Internal Revenue Service, NCDOR and Employment Security websites, from the details of complying with withholding requirements for taxes to the process for applying for an employer identification number and other state identification numbers. Jeffrey Weathers of Integrity Bookkeeping Services will present.

Visit sbc.haywood.edu or call 828.627.4512 for additional information.

Affordable counseling services available More affordable counseling services are available in Haywood County now thanks to the expansion of The Partnership for Pastoral

• Dr. Tami Shearer of Western Carolina Animal Pain Clinic of Sylva was awarded an Exceptional Achievement Award for the global advancement of acupuncture, herbal therapies and other branches of Chinese Veterinary Medicine. The World Association of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine distributed the award at the 17th Annual International TCVM Conference at the Chi Institute campus in Reddick, Florida.

• Southwestern Community College was awarded a $1,000 grant from Western Carolina University’s College of Education and

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Counseling of Western North Carolina.

A recent affiliation with Waynesville counselor Edward “Ned” Martin with Spring Counseling PLLC has allowed services to be offered to the residents of this community.

The Partnership is a not-for-profit organization providing low-income, uninsured, and underinsured communities of WNC access to affordable counseling since 1996. Its counseling services are defined as brief, supportive and preventative and are not for long-term therapy or medication management. The level of financial assistance is determined on the basis of total household income and family size. Copayments can be as low as $10 per session.

828.275.7279 or www.ppcwnc.org.

SCC offers series of free eBay seminars

A series of free seminars designed to help entrepreneurs leverage the selling power of eBay will be held Dec. 7-8 at Southwestern Community College’s Small Business Center.

Teaching the series will be Nick Hawks, a top-rated eBay Power Seller with 16 years experience in the well-known online marketplace.

The seminars are set for 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Monday and from 1-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. on Tuesday. All seminars are at SCC’s Macon Campus. Participants will need to attend all three seminars as they build on one another.

To register, go to www.ncsbc.net.

SCC offers free marketing seminars

Online marketing and social media business coach Martin Brossman will present two seminars on Dec. 3 for Southwestern Community College’s Small Business Center. From 1-4 p.m. on SCC’s Macon Campus, Brossman will discuss “Obtaining Positive Online Reviews That Lead to More Business and How to Deal with the Negative Ones.” Brossman’s other seminar, entitled “Getting More Business by Getting on Local Directories for Business Owners,” is from 6-9 p.m. in the Burrell Building on SCC’s Jackson Campus. Both seminars are free and open to the public. To register, go to www.ncsbc.net.

Allied Professions to establish mentorship relationships for students in SCC’s early childhood education program as well as students who plan to continue their studies in preschool through 12th-grade education programs at Western Carolina University. www.southwesterncc.edu or 828.306.7001.

• Haywood Tourism Development Authority visitor centers are now operating on a winter schedule. The Waynesville Visitor Center will be open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and Maggie Valley Visitor Center will be open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

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Opinion

Smoky Mountain News

A banquet table of issues, one bite at a time S

FIBBING POLITICIANS At first it seemed like a normal part of the vigorous bluster of the presidential primary season, but it kept happening. So I do a little research and discover the real truth: this crop of GOP candidates is lying more than any group before. The problem, though, is that so many voters take so little time to seek out the facts that the candidates are getting away with it; in fact, in some cases they are being lauded for it because they come off as strong and unpolitician like by attacking those — mostly the media — who accuse them of playing loose with the truth.

Donald Trump and Ben Carson are the leading fabricators of facts, but Trump is likely the clear winner. Somehow, he is still leading the field and often touted by supporters for being blunt and talking off the cuff, as if that is an acceptable reason for lying.

Here are the Trump falsehoods that come to mind quickly: • The latest is that he saw “thousands and thousands” of people in New Jersey cheering on Sept 11, 2001, and that the United States was accepting 250,000 Syrian refugees. Neither bears any resemblance to the truth.

• Claiming he never called Florida Sen. Marco Rubio the “personal senator” of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. He did just that, and flatly denied it during one of the debates.

• Proclaimed that Ford Motor Company was canceling plans for a plant in Mexico due to his “badgering.” Plans moving ahead full steam, according to Ford.

Then there’s the Ben Carson’s application and acceptance to West Point, which never happened. He also, as he quipped in one debate, did not have a close relationship with a dietary supplement company. Truth is he has been paid handsomely by the company and flat-out lied about it. We won’t go into the questions about his troubled past which, as it turns out, may not have been as troubled has he claims.

Next up for whoppers is Carly Fiorina, who got a bump in the polls after the debate where she said on national television that she watched a Planned Parenthood film that showed “a fully formed fetus on the table, its heart beating, its legs kicking while someone says, ‘We have to keep it alive to harvest its brain.’”

That video clip simply does not exist. Oh, and as for her business acumen, she cites her job creation skills while at Hewlitt Packard despite the undisputed fact that the company cut 30,000 workers while she was CEO.

Now is the time to finish Green Energy Park To the Editor: Currently, Jackson County’s Green Energy Park is not self-sustaining. Neither are parks and public schools. Perhaps if all children were homeschooled, the county could save millions of dollars. But they add intrinsic value to the community just like GEP. GEP needs money from the county because

I’m not surprised politicians embellish the truth; what’s surprising is that it is becoming OK — no, even seemingly somehow honorable to some constituents — to flat out deny the lie and often do so by blaming the media.

As the New York Times editorial board said of Trump: “His right to spew nonsense is protected by the Constitution, but the public doesn’t need to swallow it.”

Scott McLeod

o much going on locally and around the world that it’s just a tough week to bear down on a subject to write about. So let’s just run through the “column ideas” list and clean things out as we head toward December. It’s the beginning of the holidays and I’ll pretend I’m sitting with my chair pulled up close to the table. The Thanksgiving dinner is laid out banquet style with so much food it’s almost impossible to choose what to eat. I give up, and instead will try a little of everything. Here we go …

TURNING THE TABLES

As a career media person, I’m used to criticism and open to listening when someone says we’ve made a mistake or when we’re accused of showing bias. Comes with the territory.

The most oxymoronic jab out there right now, though, is when the leading conservative commentators — namely Sean Hannity, Bill O’Reilly and Rush Limbaugh — characterize the mainstream newspapers and television networks as the “media elite.”

If someone can explain that one to me, please do. I mean, those three guys just mentioned toss this phrase around every day, when the sobering, hard-to-believe reality is they are the embodiment of the media elite: millionaire commentators who control what gets discussed on airwaves, in the pages of this country’s newspapers, and even during presidential debates. If there is some cabal calling the shots in the media, these guys are the leaders, not CNN or the New York Times.

Editor

IGNORANCE – AND INSPIRATION – OF YOUTH The most disturbing revelation during the protests at the University of Missouri was the utter lack of knowledge — and therefore lack of respect — for the press and the First Amendment.

If you remember, the college students were passionate enough to take to the campus quad to deliver a message that they would not accept the university’s utter lack of response to racial problems. They used their First Amendment right to organize peacefully and protest just as the founders imagined citizens would.

Just as a reminder, here is the text of the First Amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

But the students damaged their credibility by trying to prevent reporters and photographers from doing their job. Google “Missouri student protests” if you can’t remember and you can see exactly what I’m talking about.

These students’ actions led to the resignation of university

the original plans were never realized. There were only two spaces available for artists for the majority of GEP’s existence: the metal shop and the glass torch studio. On a very limited budget Timm Muth was able to split off part of the metal shop to create a stained glass studio.

Had the original plans been adequately funded perhaps we would be welcoming more artists, tourists, and community members.

Luckily the support of the current county board can help finish what was started years ago.

officials and got national media. But you can’t rally behind the First Amendment unless you embrace its full ramifications, which includes freedom of the press

UNLIKELY BEDFELLOWS Remember the crowd who showed up last year at a Jackson County commissioners meeting to vehemently protest a move to weaken that county’s steep slope ordinance? Talk about strange bedfellows, but they were arguing from the same philosophical stance as those who came to the Haywood commissioners last week asking for a moratorium on incinerators.

One group, though, was made up of almost all liberal, progressive Democrats while the other was led by leaders of the Haywood County Republican Party.

The irony of this is just too rich to ignore. Here’s an excerpt from SMN Reporter Becky Johnson’s story in last week’s edition about the Haywood citizens from the Beaverdam community seeking a moratorium on incinerators: “The debate over land use — whether development should have guidelines or be solely up to free enterprise — often shakes out along party lines.

“Democrats are more likely to believe in land-use planning while Republicans are more likely to have a laissez-faire philosophy.

“But the discussion playing out in Haywood has been a party role reversal. West, Davis and King — advocates of a moratorium on incinerators — are leaders of the local Republican Party.

“The commissioners who rejected the idea of a moratorium are mostly Democrats.”

Perhaps the Hawyood GOP and the left-leaning stalwarts of planning in Jackson County can get break bread together at some point during the holidays.

THE CARROT OR THE STICK?

Most people probably didn’t notice, but Waynesville’s smoking ban took effect last week. From now on, it’s illegal to light up on public sidewalks and on town of Waynesville property.

Some argue the ban will deter tourism while others say it will lead to positive publicity for the town and promote healthy habits.

I think it’s bound to be a non-issue. At heart I’m very libertarian on issues like smoking, thinking we don’t need legislation to influence personal habits (good or bad). But I also know plenty of people who simply can’t be around smoke without getting nauseous or just fuming mad.

The town is taking the right approach, promising not to arrest anyone for lighting up illegally. It’s still a little to “big brother-ish” for me, but at least it’s a warm, cuddly big brother.

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

Expanding GEP is feasible. It’s also an efficient way to recycle the methane gases from the landfill. We are ready to establish a board full of professionals — engineers, attorneys, accountants, and others — for the non-profit GEP so that we can apply for federal grants to make the GEP self-sustaining.

We plan to investigate grants to place solar energy panels on the landfill and sell the extra energy to Duke Energy. Further, it’s better to convert the methane into usable energy instead of burning it off and adding to our

greenhouse problems.

The potential of GEP will only be realized when given the resources to shine. With the support of the current county board, now is the time to finish what was promised over a decade ago.

Robert Estep Whittier

(Editor’s note: Estep has been both a teacher and a student at the Green Energy Park in Dillsboro)

Does Lake Junaluska need Waynesville?

Is the free market free for everyone?

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Smoky Mountain News

To the Editor: “I am a conservative Republican, a firm believer in free market capitalism. A free market system allows all parties to compete, which ensures the best and most competitive product emerges, and ensures a fair, democratic process,” said Sarah Palin. It’s too bad most elected Republicans disagree with Ms. Palin.

Take the pharmaceutical industry, for example. By law, Medicare cannot negotiate the price for prescription drugs. Whatever a drug company wants to charge that is the price we pay. This is the opposite of a free market. The cost of this policy is billions of dollars of extra costs to the U.S. taxpayers.

Defenders of the pharmaceutical industry say they need the extra billions in profits to do research new drugs. The truth is that the drug industry spends 19 times more on marketing than on research and development.

How much does your “bundle” cost? The telecom industry and its four corporate giants — AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, and Time Warner — have a virtual lock on the Internet backbone, the “pipes” that carry data. They control the price of access. In many cities there is no competition, you pay what they charge.

We in the U.S. pay on average three times what other developed countries pay. A $150 bundle in North Carolina might cost $15 in South Korea, or $45 in England.

Twenty-nine Republican House members have cosponsored “The Internet Freedom Act.” This law would preserve the monopoly and prevent regulation to force competition.

Together, the 29 Republican cosponsors have received over $800,000 in campaign contributions from these four companies. I am sure they have no trouble paying their cable bill.

Power from the sun is free, except in North Carolina. The budget bill signed by Gov. Pat McCrory killed the alternative energy subsidies. Republicans say the solar industry is now mature enough to directly compete with coal and gas. Then the former Duke energy executive McCory signed HB 245, which forbids competition by third party solar companies.

This bill effectively gave Duke Energy a monopoly on power generation in the state.

And now, Duke Energy has sued a small firm which installed a solar system on a small black church because it violated Duke’s new monopoly status. Let me get this straight; Republicans kill all solar subsides to create real completion in the solar industry , then make it illegal for companies to compete. Perfect!

Is this the kind of “free market capitalism” that the Republicans believe in? I wonder if Sarah Palin would agree.

Louis Vitale Franklin

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

To the Editor: Here we go again. Another article (Nov. 18 Smoky Mountain News or at www.smokymountainnews.com/news/item/16735) regarding the annexation of Lake Junaluska that only shows one side of the issue, those who have been trying to get this through the legislature. I would like to shed some light on what I consider half-truths or perhaps mistaken innuendos that are stated in this article.

“Lake Junaluska homeowners still support it, too.” Partially true. Many homeowners support it, but there are also some who do not.

Unfortunately there are also a lot of non-resident owners who don’t understand what is going on. This is a very important issue which those looking to annex do not want to discuss (more on this later). I personally spoke with some of these people over the summer.

“Clearly the expectation was we would be supported in finding a democratically determined outcome.” I find this statement particularly disturbing for two very important reasons. Our local state representative, Joe Sam Queen, supports the annexation. If the “pros” can be represented in Raleigh, isn’t it in the democratic process for those against it to have someone to represent us in Raleigh?

Rep. Michele Presnell was lambasted in the article for her efforts to defeat this bill. “Her subversive role working against the merger was strongly suspected but difficult to prove ....” Sounds like she was really doing something horrible. No, it sounds like she is working for those of us who are against the bill.

All of that brings me to the most important part of the democratic process. Should this bill pass, it would then be voted on by the residents of Lake Junaluska and Waynesville who are legally registered in Haywood County.

You know that word “disenfranchised” that we hear so much about when it comes to voting?

Well, at least half of Lake Junaluska property owners would not be allowed to vote. Talk about disenfranchised voters on something as important as the issue of annexation!

Many of our former full-time residents are now in retirement homes or reside elsewhere but still retain their homes here and come to stay for a while. Some are still working, so they can only come up here for vacations. Some are retired but live in the eastern part of our state but like to come to cool off in the mountains in the summer. To not give these people the right to determine if they want to pay Waynesville taxes for the rest of their lives is )anything but democratic. “... the community is at a loss to understand why a bill giving the community the right to self-determination was blocked.” As just, only half of the community would determine the destiny for all in the community.

We would not “be in limbo” if this annexation which has been going on for three years would be dropped and lets start planning for our future without Waynesville. Yes, our fees will go up, but I would rather pay money to our residential services and know my money awas going for our water, sewer, roads, etc. We yhave nothing in writing that says what )Waynesville will do once we start giving them

our tax money, only promises, which could change in years to come.

By the way, we have a terrific residential services manager who in the year he has been here has cut our water losses greatly to acceptable standards, and done some major sewer improvements and more are in the works.

Why do we need Waynesville?

Gretchen Branning Lake Junaluska

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tasteTHEmountains Taste the Mountains is an ever-evolving paid section of places to dine in Western North Carolina. If you would like to be included in the listing please contact our advertising department at 828.452.4251 APPLE ANDY'S RESTAURANT 3483 Soco Road, Maggie Valley located in Market Square. 828.944.0626. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Wednesday and Thursday.

Serving the freshest homemade sandwiches, wraps, and entrees such as country fried steak and grilled flounder. Full salad bar and made from scratch sides like potato salad, pinto beans and macaroni and cheese. www.appleandys.com APPLE CREEK CAFE 32 Felmet St., Waynesville. 828.456.9888.

Traditional Lunch Monday-Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Family Style Lunch Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Family Style Dinner Monday-Saturday 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Home to an extensive build your own sandwich menu as well as specialty salads, soups burgers and more. With local ingredients and made-fromscratch recipes using a variety of good-for-you ingredients Apple Creek Cafe is sure to become your favorite spot.

BLUE ROOSTER SOUTHERN GRILL 207 Paragon Parkway, Clyde, Lakeside Plaza

at the old Wal-Mart. 828.456.1997. Open Monday through Friday. Friendly and fun family atmosphere. Local, handmade Southern cuisine. Fresh-cut salads; slow-simmered soups; flame grilled burgers and steaks, and homemade signature desserts. Blue-plates and local fresh vegetables daily. Brown bagging is permitted. Private parties, catering, and take-out available. Call-ahead seating available.

BOURBON BARREL BEEF & ALE 454 Hazelwood Ave., Waynesville, 828.452.9191. Lunch served 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dinner nightly from 4 p.m. Closed on Sunday. We specialize in hand-cut, all natural steaks, fresh fish, and other classic American comfort foods that are made using only the finest local and sustainable ingredients available. We also feature a great selection of craft beers from local artisan brewers, and of course an extensive selection of small batch bourbons and whiskey. The Barrel is a friendly and casual neighborhood dining experience where our guests enjoy a great meal without breaking the bank.

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

vegetarian, gluten free and sugar free items.

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

CATALOOCHEE RANCH 119 Ranch Dr., Maggie Valley.

828.926.1401. We serve three meals a day on Friday and Saturday, and some Sundays.

Join us for family-style breakfast from 8 to 9:30 a.m. – with eggs, bacon, sausage, grits and oatmeal, fresh fruit, sometimes French toast or pancakes, and always all-you-can-eat.

Lunch from 12 to 2 p.m. In the evening, social hour begins at 6 p.m. Dinner is served at 7 p.m., with entrees that include prime rib, baked ham and herb-baked chicken, complemented by seasonal vegetables, homemade breads, jellies and desserts. We also offer a fine selection of wine and beer. So come enjoy mile-high mountaintop dining with a spectacular view. Please call for reservations and more dining information.

CHURCH STREET DEPOT 34 Church Street, downtown Waynesville.

828.246.6505. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Mouthwatering all beef burgers and dogs, hand-dipped, hand-spun real ice cream shakes and floats, fresh handcut fries. Locally sourced beef. Indoor and outdoor dining. facebook.com/ChurchStreetDepot, twitter.com/ChurchStDepot.

CITY BAKERY 18 N. Main St. Waynesville 828.452.3881.

Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. to

3 p.m. Join us in our historic location for scratch made soups and daily specials.

Breakfast is made to order daily: Gourmet cheddar & scallion biscuits served with bacon, sausage and eggs; smoked trout bagel plate; quiche and fresh fruit parfait. We bake a wide variety of breads daily, specializing in traditional french breads. All of our breads are hand shaped. Lunch: Fresh salads, panini sandwiches. Enjoy outdoor dinning on the deck. Private room available for meetings.

CITY LIGHTS CAFE Spring Street in downtown Sylva.

828.587.2233. Open Monday-Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tasty, healthy and quick. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, espresso, beer and wine. Come taste the savory and sweet crepes, grilled paninis, fresh, organic salads, soups and more.

Outside patio seating. Free Wi-Fi, pet-friendly.

Live music and lots of events. Check the web calendar at citylightscafe.com.

THE CLASSIC WINESELLER 20 Church Street, Waynesville. 828.452.6000.

Underground retail wine and craft beer shop, restaurant, and intimate live music venue.

Kitchen opens at 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday serving freshly prepared small plates, tapas, charcuterie, desserts. Enjoy live music every Friday and Saturday night at 7pm. www.classicwineseller.com. Also on facebook and twitter.

CORK & CLEAVER 176 Country Club Drive, Waynesville.

828.456.3551. Reservations recommended.

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

828.926.1820 Open Wednesday and Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; closed Monday and Tuesday. Family Style at Country Vittles is not a buffet. Instead our waitresses will bring your food piping hot from the kitchen right to your table and as many refills as you want. So if you have a big appetite, but sure to ask your waitress about our family style service.

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

Wednesday-Saturday dinner starting at 4:30 p.m.; Sunday Noon to 8 p.m. World-famous prime rib, steaks, fresh seafood, gorgonzola cheese and salads. All ABC permits and open year-round. Children always welcome.

Take-out menu. Excellent service and hospitality. Reservations appreciated.

JUKEBOX JUNCTION U.S. 276 and N.C. 110 intersection, Bethel. 828.648.4193. 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

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

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

828.926.1616. maggievalleyclub.com/dine.

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

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

Open Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. With music at the Depot. Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Life

PATIO BISTRO 30 Church Street, Waynesville.

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

RENDEZVOUS RESTAURANT AND BAR Maggie Valley Inn and Conference Center 828.926.0201 Open Monday-Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m and Sunday 7:30 a.m to 9 p.m. Full service restaurant serving steaks, prime rib, seafood and dinner specials.

ROB’S HOT DOG SHACK 42 Montgomery St., Waynesville 828.707.7033. Open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Rob’s serves gourmet hot dogs and has homemade side items. Outdoor and indoor dining, café style restaurant. Locally owned and operated.

Family oriented business.

SOUTHERN BOOT, LOUISIANA CUISINE 67 Branner Avenue, Waynesville.

828.246.0053 Open 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Monday-Saturday. Southern Boot serves delicious Louisianian food while providing a friendly music venue for musicians of all ages. Feel at home no matter where you’re from. Greeting all customers at the door with a smile.

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

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

Located across from the Fire Station.

TAP ROOM SPORTS BAR & GRILL 176 Country Club Dr. Waynesville 828.456.5988. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Enjoy soups, sandwiches, salads and hearty appetizers along with a full bar menu in our casual, smoke-free neighborhood grill.

TWIN MAPLES FARMHOUSE 63 North Hill Street, Waynesville.

828.452.7837. Open for Sunday brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Located just two blocks from downtown Waynesville, Twin Maples is available for weddings, receptions, family reunions, birthday parties, showers, luncheons, corporate meetings and retreats.

CREEKSIDE DINING CRAFT BEER & FULL BAR Daily Specials MON.-SAT. 11 A.M.-8 P.M.

34 CHURCH ST. WAYNESVILLE 828.246.6505 twitter.com/ChurchStDepot M C facebook.com/ChurchStreetDepot TUESDAY: 75¢ Oysters after 4pm WEDNESDAY: AYCE Fish & Shrimp THURSDAY: Closed. Happy Thanksgiving!

FRIDAY: Surf-N-Turf Special SATURDAY: Seafood Trio SUNDAY: Low Country Boil

Open for Breakfast MON.-SAT. 8 A.M.

SATURDAY BLOODY MARY BAR Serving Food until 10 p.m. Weekdays and until 11 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays Closed Mondays

828.586.1985

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

828.586.3555. Open Monday through Wednesday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Handtossed pizza, steak sandwiches, wraps, salads and desserts. All made from scratch.

Beer and wine. Free movies with showtimes at 6:30 and 9 p.m. with a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. Visit madbatterfoodandfilm.com for this week’s shows.

PASQUALE’S 1863 South Main Street, Waynesville. Off exit 98, 828.454.5002. Open for lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Sunday.

Classic Italian dishes, exceptional steaks and seafood (available in full and lighter sizes), thin crust pizza, homemade soups, salads hand tossed at your table. Fine wine and beer selection. Casual atmosphere, dine indoors, outside on the patio or at the bar. Reservations appreciated.

REEKSIDE COYSTER HOUSE & GRILL

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

JOEY'S PANCAKE HOUSE 4309 Soco Rd Maggie Valley.

828.926.0212. Joey’s is a family style restaurant that has been serving breakfast to the locals and visitors of Western North Carolina since 1966. Featuring a large variety of tempting pancakes, golden waffles, country style cured ham and seasonal specials spiked with flavor, Joey's is sure to please all appetites. Join us for what has become a tradition in these parts, breakfast at Joey’s.

is too short for bad coffee. We feature wonderful breakfast and lunch selections.

Bagels, wraps, soups, sandwiches, salads and quiche with a variety of specialty coffees, teas and smoothies. Various desserts.

320-21

4:30-9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday Sunday brunch 11 a.m. to 2 pm. Tucked away inside Waynesville Inn, Cork & Cleaver has an approachable menu designed around locally sourced, sustainable, farm-to-table ingredients. Chef Ed Kaminski prepares American cuisine from local, organic vegetables grown in Western North Carolina.

Full bar and wine cellar. www.thewaynesvilleinn.com.

320-22

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Smoky Mountain News

Christmas in Appalachia

A

s the temperatures drop in Western North Carolina, the fun only heats up. The holiday season here is filled with events and activities aimed to celebrate the best way we know how — with friends, family and visitors alike.

Families can partake in wagon rides, iceless skating, craft sales and art demonstrations, all the while enjoying authentic mountain music, clogging and parades through several downtowns. These are just some of the innumerable activities to be had. Each and every date, time and place can be found within this section, each community around the region opening their arms to share in the winter festivities.

It’s a winter wonderland out there. It’s yours for the taking, so reach out and grasp all Southern Appalachia has to offer.

LIGHTS & LUMINARIES (DILLSBORO) • Friday, Dec. 4: Western Carolina University and Southwestern Community College Night.

The university’s Pride of the Mountains “Purple Thunder” premier winter drum line will kick off the festival at 6 p.m. On this first night, Dillsboro merchants will offer a 10-percent discount to WCU and SCC students, faculty, and staff who show their college ID card when making purchases.

WCU and SCC festival attendees also will be able to enter a drawing for a basket of merchandise and gift certificates donated by the merchants. WCU’s Early Music Ensemble, an a cappella style group will perform music from the Renaissance period, and WCU Athletics’ mascot Paws will be present as “Santa Paws.”

Beginning at the Jarrett House, SCC’s Spanish club will be caroling throughout the town in Spanish and English. At Tunnel Mountain Crafts, Craig and Kim Neidlinger of “12th Fret” will entertain from 6 to 8 p.m.

• Dec. 4-5: Set up in front of Dogwood Crafters will be a 4-H fundraiser silent auction for summer camp scholarships. The group will provide decorated wreaths where individuals are encouraged to bid on the wreaths over the two evenings of the Festival. The wreaths will go to the highest bidders at 7:45 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. You do not need to be present to win. For more information, contact Heather Gordon, 828.586.4009. At Dogwood Crafters, guitarist Ron Smith will entertain during both nights.

The old Bradley’s General Store will feature the Victory Baptist Church Choir on Dec. 5.

• Friday, Dec. 11: Open Invitation for Choir Night.

Church groups are invited to sing Christmas Carols at various places in Dillsboro. Contact Lisa Potts at 828.586.5391 or drop by in person at Venturo’s Bakery. The Dillsboro Chocolate

Factory will have the Smoky Mountain Ensemble Band in front of store from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The old Bradley’s General Store will also have soloist Tammy Drinnon.

• Saturday, Dec. 12: The old Bradley’s General Store will welcome guitarist and singer John Morgan, who will play intermittently with the Faith Baptist Youth Group.

BALSAM • The Balsam Christmas Arts & Crafts Show will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, at the Balsam/WilletsOchre Hill Volunteer Fire Department. An array of crafts will be for sale, including painting/prints of local scenery, handmade soaps, salves, lavender gifts, handcrafted pottery, handmade baskets, hand stitched and stamped greeting cards, handcrafted jewelry, stained glass boxes, embellished lamp shades, wreaths, scarves, bags and pocket books, among other items. A portion of all entry fees will benefit the fire department. The event is free and open to the public.

BRASSTOWN • A dramatic reading of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” will be presented at 7 p.m.

Dec. 9 at the John C. Campbell Folk School.

Bob Grove will don period costume and adopt varied characters’ voices as he changes his tune from “Bah, Humbug!” to “Merry Christmas!” At 8 p.m. that evening, the acclaimed Brasstown Morris Dancers will present an energetic holiday performance.

• David Vowell will celebrate the holidays with a serious and humorous stories and songs at 7 p.m. Dec. 10 at the John C. Campbell Folk School.

• The Brasstown Ringers’ Holiday Concert will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at the John C. Campbell Folk

S EE CHRISTMAS, PAGE 30

Lights & Luminaries bring Christmas wonder to Dillsboro The Festival of Lights & Luminaries will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 4-5 and 11-12 in downtown Dillsboro.

With more than 2,500 candles in white bags lining the streets, the lights set the town aglow, the town will create a winter wonderland at the corner of Front and Webster streets.

Inviting aromas slip from inside the open shops where you are provided complimentary refreshments, music and voices raised in song, and have opportunities to purchase special selections for Christmas giving.

Lavishing then in the warm glow of the holiday evening, you can experience old-fashioned horse and buggy rides, and the real reason for the season in the middle of town with a live nativity scene at Jarrett Memorial Baptist Church. The church will showcase the Nativity at 6:30 p.m., with the Fellowship Hall open for a warm break from the cold where refreshments will be provided.

Children will love the Christmas atmosphere for they will find Rudolph and Santa’s elves strolling along the streets

passing out candy canes, and they can share their wants and wishes at Santa’s Workshop in Town Hall.

The former Bradley’s building will be open for entertainment, and Haywood Smokehouse will provide warm drinks for folks to enjoy and warm up while listening to the local musicians and singers. At Riverbend Frozen Delights, the talking bear, “Dills,” will entertain while festivalgoers enjoy winter ice cream. And at Nancy Tut’s Christmas Shop, Carmela Brooks will entertain inside with song and guitar.

Dogwood Crafters will have music each night, plus “millions” of cookies. Inside the Dillsboro Chocolate Factory a bluegrass group will be performing favorite Christmas tunes all four nights. The C.J. Harris Parlor at Riverwood Shops (located behind Oaks Gallery) will be open for the third year the four nights of Dillsboro’s Luminaries.

This year Bob and Susan Leveille will present a Scots-Irish theme with activities for children young and old. Hostesses will offer refreshments and hot cider, the reading of stories, decorating the live tree and other fun surprises for all. Across from Oaks Gallery, Karen Barnes at Riverwood Pottery invites you to stop by and visit with her.

All events are free. www.mountainlovers.com

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

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century terrorism and unknown wolves in sheep’s clothing at the door. But, remember, you will never know the hardships of someone unless you step into their shoes.

One of my biggest influences — in terms of morals, ethics, and how to handle hostile and turbulent times — is to turn the pages of the Harper Lee masterpiece To Kill a Mockingbird. Take into account the main character, the voice of reason, Atticus Finch.

His words echo just as strong and vibrant as they did the first time they were typed onto a blank piece of paper: • “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view … until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”

• “You just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don’t you let’em get your goat.

Try fighting with your head for a change.”

• “This time we aren’t fighting the Yankees, we’re fighting our friends. But remember this, no matter how bitter things get, they’re still our friends and this is still our home.”

However this current cookie of refugees and terrorism crumbles will determine the trajectory of our country’s fate. Let’s work together. Since when do you automatically hate your neighbor just because they don’t agree with you? Isn’t a true democracy where all voices, from all perspectives and opinions, come together and find the best way to navigate tough waters? We’re all Americans.

We’re all in this together. Don’t forget how lucky we are to wake up everyday in a country that gave us a chance.

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

Step Up For Your Neighborhood Haywood Community College Small Business Center

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

What happened, America?

Since when are we such a disheartened country? Sure, you might not want the Syrian refugees here. And yes, you have a right to, and should, be worried at the atrocities committed abroad (Paris, Beirut, Africa, etcetera). Of course, we have our own problems at home, lots of problems — childhood poverty, homeless veterans, outdated infrastructure, a lacking educational system, haphazard health care, just to name a few.

But, I urge all of you, to stop the hate, stop pointing fingers and yelling as loud as you can.

Shouting online, as in public, never gets anything done. It only Garret K. Woodward photo makes people look at you weird, and unwilling to listen to the crazy dude in the corner spouting off racism, bigotry, sexism and what not. No matter what, even in our modern world, I still love America. I still feel blessed and happy that I Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will was lucky enough to be born here. host the “Hayweird Holiday Jam” and food And a large part of that happiness drive with Soldier’s Heart (Americana/rock), comes from the mere fact we are the Petticoat Government (Americana) and voice of reason for humanity, a harHelena Hunt (singer-songwriter) at 8 p.m. bor in the stormy seas of the world.

Friday, Nov. 27.

We are an island of peace and A daytime art show and brunch will be held at safety in an uncertain and violent 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29, at The Cut Cocktail atmosphere outside our borders.

Lounge in downtown Sylva.

Sure, we can’t possibly shoulder the troubles of the entire world, BearWaters Brewing Company (Waynesville) but we should try, for who else will have The Dirty Soul Revival (rock/blues) at will? We have been the leaders of 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. justice in the world for a century Award-winning bluegrass band Dailey & now, and with that, we do have a Vincent will kick off the holiday show season social responsibility. Nobody has with their Christmas Show at 7:30 p.m. the power and influence that we Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Smoky Mountain do, and if we turn our backs, on Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. people, on politics, on the world, then all will be lost.

Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will have Ol’ Dirty I’m not taking a side on the Bathtub (Americana/bluegrass) at 8 p.m. refugee issue. Rather, I want you all Wednesday, Nov. 25. to think hard on what it means to be an American, where your family came from, and what they went same Germans who helped develop the through to get to our shores. Remember, the atomic bomb)? Probably not. most beautiful portrait of our country is paintClosing our borders and taking a neutral, ed with all the skin colors of the earth. We, at silent stance is what ultimately led Adolf the end of the day, are a civilized society. We Hitler to power. We stood by and watched (try to) work together and come to a solution Europe burn before we jumped in, thankfulwhen dire problems arise. I believe in my ly not when it was too late, at least in some heart of hearts that if we fall victim to hate and respects. Now, what he did was, on a grand anger, then we lose sense of what makes this scale, unfathomable. And wasn’t one of our country great. If we lower ourselves to their darkest hours as a country when we alienatISIS bullshit, we all might as well be a roomful ed Japanese-Americans during that war, putof chimps throwing our feces at each other. ting them in internment camps? Do we realHistory always repeats itself. Know your ly want to backtrack instead of making sensihistory, because what’s going on now across ble progress? Now, as in the past, something the world has happened over and over, and needs to be done, even during these trouover again. Would we have won World War bling days — we are the moral compass.

II if we didn’t take in German refugees Keep in mind that the same horrible, barescaping the Nazis and the Holocaust (the baric violence happening today has hap-

arts & entertainment

This must be the place

pened for centuries. I was raised a Christian, and in my religious teachings — the word of the Bible — we were taught to preserve moral ethics and also perpetuate a sense of justice when it comes to those trying to reek havoc on fellow man. Heck, some of the most barbaric acts were committed by Christians during the Middle Ages and the Crusades, where untold scores of innocent and persecuted peoples were slaughtered. And yet, do those actions define all Christians throughout the course of history? Of course not. This isn’t the first time we’re in this predicament, nor will it be the last, sadly.

All of us (unless you’re a native) came from immigrant families, many of which were running away from atrocities overseas, or simply the idea of starting a new life, a better life, in the land of the free and the home of the brave. Yes, we need to be as careful and meticulous as possible in our decision-making in this new world of 21st

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arts & entertainment

CHRISTMAS, CONTINUED FROM 28 School. The talented regional ensemble will showcase Christmas favorites along with spirited new selections. Donations are welcome.

• A Christmas party will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 19 at the John C. Campbell Folk School. Santa Claus will make a special appearance, and will listen to good girls’ and boys’ Christmas wish lists. Kids will also enjoy music, dancing, games, and refreshments. At 8 p.m. that evening, a Holiday Contra Dance will welcome couples and singles of all experience levels, including beginners. Listen to local musicians, bring refreshments to share, and catch the holiday spirit. www.folkschool.org or 828.837.2775.

BRYSON CITY

Smoky Mountain News

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

• The 41st annual “Biggest Little Christmas Parade in the Smokies” will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, in downtown. Floats, fire trucks, classic cars, beauty queens and Santa. www.greatsmokies.com/christmas.

• The Nanta Claus Christmas Children’s Benefit will from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, at Nantahala Brewing. Attendees asked to bring toy donations. Several holiday craft beers to be on tap and worst sweater contest. Free. www.nantahalabrewing.com.

• The Bryson City Spirit of Christmas celebration will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 28 at the corner of Mitchell and Everett Street. Join friends and neighbors for caroling from the train caboose to the town square for the town Christmas Tree lighting ceremony. Afterward enjoy a Christmas concert on the square or stop by the visitor’s center for hot cocoa and cookies, letter writing to Santa, and a visit with St. Nick himself. In the true spirit of Christmas, bring a canned good to donate to the food pantry or a new unwrapped gift for the local toy drive. 828.488.3681.

• The 12th annual United Methodist Women’s Cookie Walk and Bazaar will be at 9 a.m.

Dec. 5 at the United Methodist Church on Main Street. Homemade holiday treats.

828.488.8970.

• A stage production of the “Babes in Toyland” musical will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 45 and 11-12 and at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 6 and 13 at the Smoky Mountain Community Theatre.

The musical — with memorable songs by Victor Herbert — weaves together various characters from Mother Goose nursery rhymes into a Christmas-themed musical extravaganza. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children. info@smctheatre.com or 828.488.8227.

• Breakfast with Santa will be from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Bryson City Rescue Squad. $3. Bring your own camera for photos. 828.488.3681 or 800.867.9246.

• The Polar Express themed train is now running at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad depot. The classic children’s book comes to life as the train departs for a special visit at the “North Pole.” Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story. The train arrives to find Santa Claus waiting. Santa boards the train, greeting each child and presenting them with their 30

own silver sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as they return back to the depot. For times and prices, click on www.gsmr.com or 800.872.4681.

• The Swain County Genealogical & Historical Society will host a holiday auction at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3 at the SCGHS library on Main Street. All proceeds will be used to purchase a projector and new computer.

Items are currently being sought for the auction. Refreshments served.

• The Appalachian Toymaker & Storyteller will be making wooden toys and telling tales on select dates and times at The Storytelling Center of the Southern Appalachian. www.psalmsofthesouth.com or 828.488.5705.

CANTON • The Canton Christmas Parade will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, in downtown.

Professional motorcross racer Shane McElrath will be the Grand Marshall. Free hot chocolate, with food trucks onsite. 828.235.2760.

• The “Christmas Worship in a Stable” living nativity scene will be recreated from 5:30 to 6:10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at the 3rd Generation Barn Loft on Frank Mann Road. It will feature a short walk-through of live cast and animals, background music and scripture to illuminate a sense of awe and peace remembering the true meaning of Christmas. In addition, patrons will have the opportunity to donate a non-perishable food item at the Manger for The Community Kitchen soup kitchen. Free.

CASHIERS • The “Christmas on the Green” celebration will be Friday, Nov. 27 at the Village Green.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be onsite from 2 to 5 p.m. The 60-foot spruce “Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony” will be from 5 to 6 p.m.

There will also be carolers, holiday music, s’mores, bonfire, and more.

CHEROKEE • The Cherokee Christmas Parade will be at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, in downtown.

Floats, bands, Santa and more.

• The Cherokee Lights and Legends Christmas will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays from Dec. 5 through Jan. 2 at the Cherokee Indian Fair Grounds.

Interactive displays of Cherokee legends, ice skating, carnival rides, bonfire, mini-golf, and more. Admission is free, with varying prices for skating and other activities. www.visitcherokeenc.com.

• The Holiday Homecoming celebration will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Holiday crafts, cider, traditional music and more.

CLYDE • Haywood Community College’s Creative Arts Department will host a holiday craft sale from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, in the Mary Cornwell Gallery of the Creative Arts Building. The show consists of art from students in the Professional Crafts Programs

The “Hard Candy Christmas” art and craft show in Cullowhee. something new. The mountain beekeeper will bring honey, bees wax candles and wax ornaments. Purchase a fresh mountain greenery wreath or scented dried fruit rope for your house. Order a Christmas quilt and meet the artisan who made it. Admission is $4.50 for adults, children under 12 free. www.mountainartisans.net or djhunter@dnet.net.

and continuing education from all mediums including wood, metal, clay, fiber, and more.

Artists and instructors will be on hand.

Students in the program represent a wide range of experience. The arts and crafts at the holiday sale showcase students’ technical skills learned in the program as well as their individual style and creativity. creativearts.haywood.edu.

CULLOWHEE

FONTANA

• The stage performance of “3 Redneck Tenors Christmas Spec-tac-yule” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, in the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center at Western Carolina University. The performance is part of the 2015-16 Galaxy of Stars Series at WCU. Wearing mullets on their heads and stomping their feet, these unique vocalists whoop and holler through holiday music, providing head-to-toe fun for the whole family. Tickets are $21 for adults, $16 for WCU faculty and staff, $15 apiece for groups of 20 or more, and $7 for students and children. www.bardoartscenter.wcu.edu or 828.227.2479.

• The 28th annual “Hard Candy Christmas” Art & Craft Show will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 27-28 in the Ramsey Center at Western Carolina University. The event features authentic crafts from the hands of 100 regional and local artists and craftsmen. The idea for the show originates from the depression days in the mountains, when Christmas was still celebrated, no matter how lean the year had been. Santa always left stockings stuffed with apples, oranges and hard candy. The best gifts were handmade with love. There will be selections of clay art, woodcrafts, master jewelers, folk art, glass art, and specialty sweets and breads. Collectors of Old World Santa’s, heirloom ornaments and miniatures always find

• The “Christmas in the Smokies” holiday celebration will run from Dec. 1-31 at Fontana Village Resort. Winter fun, holiday festivities and events.

800.849.2258 or www.fontanavillage.com.

FRANKLIN

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• The annual tree lighting “Winter Wonderland” ceremony and candlelight service will be at 7 p.m.

Nov. 28 on the town square, with free cider, cookies, wagon rides and live music.

• The Christmas Parade will be 3 p.m. Nov. 29 in downtown. 828.524.3161 or www.franklin-chamber.com or www.holidaysinfranklin.com.

“Cookies with Santa” will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, at the Macon County Community Building. $5.

The second annual Cowee Christmas will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, at the Old Cowee School. Arts and crafts sale, live demonstrations, Santa Claus, live music, exhibits, and more. Christmas tree lighting at 6 p.m. www.coweeschool.org.

The Brasstown Ringers will celebrate the holiday season with a performance at 7 p.m.

Dec. 4 at the First Methodist Church.

828.524.4530.

The Raleigh Ringers will perform at 4 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 6, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts. Since its founding in 1990, The Raleigh Ringers has been dazzling audi-

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ences with unique interpretations of sacred, secular and popular music, including famous rock ‘n’ roll tunes arranged just for handbells. Noted particularly for their creative, artistic interpretation, The Raleigh Ringers have established themselves as America’s premiere professional ensemble.

Tickets are $17. www.greatmountainmusic.com or 866.273.4615.

Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus will be from 7 to 10 a.m. Dec. 12 at Fatz Café. $7 per person. Professional portraits available.

A benefit for the Relay for Life of Franklin.

828.342.9804.

The Heritage Christmas Progressive Celebration will be Dec. 4-5. There will be holiday wine, cheese and appetizers at 5 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Macon County Historical Museum, followed by dessert at the Scottish Tartans Museum from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The celebration continues from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Historic Cowee School. Patrons will receive an evergreen Christmas sway and Christmas ornament fired by the Cowee potters. Tickets are $30 per person. Tickets are available at the Scottish Tartans Museum and the Macon County Historical Museum.

Rockapella will perform at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 19, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts. Since the early ‘90s when they first achieved national television fame on PBS’s “Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego?,” they’ve toured the globe and provided a funky powerful soundtrack to several generations of vocal music fans, while keeping it all fresh along the way. With buckets of catchy original pop songs, and complete contemporary revisions of sparkling Motown, pop, and soul classics, this group has always been the one to watch. Now they’re better than ever with this one-of-a-kind Christmas show. Tickets start at $20. www.greatmountainmusic.com.

“Silver Bells & Cocktails” will be at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at Tessentee Farms. Hosted by REACH of Macon County. Tickets are $100 a seat or a table for $1,000. Live music, local beers, wine, champagne, auction, and more.

828.369.5544 or aanderson@reachofmaconcounty.org.

“It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11 and 18 at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts. This beloved American holiday classic comes to captivating life as a live 1940s radio broadcast. With the help of an ensemble that brings a few dozen characters to the stage, the story of idealistic George Bailey unfolds as he considers ending his life one fateful Christmas Eve. Tickets are $12. www.greatmountainmusic.com or 866.273.4615.

• The Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will be at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, in downtown. Santa, caroling and refreshments. www.highlandschamber.org.

• The Highlands Olde Mountain Christmas

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Smoky Mountain News Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

arts & entertainment

CHRISTMAS, CONTINUED FROM 31

LAKE JUNALUSKA • “Appalachian Christmas” at the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center will deliver the nostalgic charm of mountain hospitality to visitors on Dec. 11-13. The annual festive weekend features live music, hearty meals and local artistry. Festivities include Handel’s “Messiah,” featuring the Lake Junaluska Singers and regional orchestra and choir; Classic Sounds of Christmas, a concert by the Lake Junaluska Singers; the Appalachian Christmas Craft Show, showcasing the work of dozens of local artisans; and a matinee concert by The Cockman Family, a local treasure. All events are open to the public. Individual concert tickets and two- and three-night lodging packages are available. Tickets are $22.50 for reserved seating, $17.50 for general admission seating. Children ages 18 and under may attend for free in general admission seating.

Packages include lodging, meals, concert tickets and tickets to visit the Biltmore Estate. For more information on the event schedule or to buy concert tickets, visit www.lakejunaluska.com/christmas or call 800.222.4930.

STECOAH

SYLVA

• The Sylva Christmas Parade will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, in downtown.

• The “End of the Season Art Sale” will be held from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 4-5 at

WAYNESVILLE • The Waynesville Christmas Parade will be at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7, on Main Street in downtown. www.downtownwaynesville.com or 828.456.3517.

• “Holly Days” will be held Dec. 4-7 in down-

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Smoky Mountain News

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Dec. 10-12 and at 3 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and $7 for students. www.harttheater.org or 828.456.6322.

The Smoky Mountain Model Railroaders will host a “Christmas Open House” from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 5-6 at their headquarters located behind Sagebrush Steakhouse on Russ Avenue. Free.

The Blue Ridge Big Band will host “A Big Band Christmas” at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, at The Strand at 38 Main. Traditional-style 18-piece American big band performing classic jazzy Christmas compositions. Tickets are $10 for adults, $6 for students. www.38main.com.

“A Night before Christmas” will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, on Main Street in downtown. Shops, galleries and restaurants are open late. Hundreds of luminaries line the sidewalks. Enjoy carolers, live music, Santa, storytelling, and old fashioned wagon rides. Stroll through the Tour of Bethlehem with a live nativity and bustling first century marketplace. www.downtownwaynesville.com.

The “Twelve Days of Christmas” will be Dec. 13-24 in downtown. www.downtownwaynesville.com.

A “Celebration of the Season’s Multicultural Holidays” will be held from 5 to 8 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Pigeon Multicultural Development Center. The event will include a potluck dinner, a sharing of holiday customs from different cultures and music from a variety of traditions. The event is $10 per person, with proceeds going to the center.

828.456.7232.

A wreath-making class will be offered from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Cooperative Extension Office on Raccoon Road. Master gardeners will provide the materials. Cost of class is $20.

Proceeds fund horticultural projects and grants in Haywood County. To register, call 828.456.3575 or mgarticles@charter.net.

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

• The Christmas in the Mountain indoor arts and crafts show will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Stecoah Valley Center. www.stecoahvalleycenter.com.

town. Live music, art, authors, demonstrations, and more. www.downtownwaynesville.com.

• The Haywood Community Chorus will hold their Christmas concert at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, at the First United Methodist Church.

The performance will feature John Rutter’s latest extended work, “The Gift of Life,” a six movement choral celebration of the living earth, life, and creation, offering a vast array of moods from contemplative and prayerful to powerful and majestic. In addition, to performing four movements of “The Gift of Life,” the 66 member chorus will sing several Rutter favorites, such as “The Lord is My Shepherd,” as well as several of Rutter’s most popular and heart-warming Christmas carols. Admission is free, but donations accepted.

• The Folkmoot Family “Fa-La-La-La” musical event will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Hazelwood. Local musicians will be performing holiday tunes and guests are encouraged to sing a long. At this event, Folkmoot is auditioning its newly renovated auditorium by opening its doors to the community. The holiday concert will include performances by Voices In The Laurel, Saxophone Wassails of the Community Band, Karin Lyle and Blackberry Jam. Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $5 for ages 5-18 years old, and under 5 years old are free. Ticket includes homemade pie, hot cider and a hot chocolate bar.

• The holiday production of “Home For Christmas” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m.

arts & entertainment

Parade will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, in downtown. www.highlandschamber.org.

Gallery One in downtown. Christmas and holiday gift ideas. Several artists will offer their works (paintings, photographs, knitted pieces, jewelry, and glass work) at a discount (up to 30-percent off the usual price).

These artists include Pam Haddock, Jim Smythe, Tim Lewis, Joseph Meigs, Tim Jacobs, Clint Hardin, Ginny Welsh and Fitzallen Eldridge. Iva Veazey will be playing on the piano during the sale. Presented by the Jackson County Visual Arts Association.

• The “Christmas Extravaganza” gingerbread man decorating with The Krektones will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20, at The Cut Cocktail Lounge in downtown.

• The Sylva Garden Club with host a Christmas Tea & Crafts from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Dec. 1 at the First United Methodist Church. Suggested donation is $10. All proceeds go directly to fund SGC beautification projects. www.facebook.com/sylvagardenclub.com.

• Breakfast with Santa will be from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Jackson County Senior Center. $5 for breakfast, free for children ages 10 and under.

828.586.4944.

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arts & entertainment

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Dailey & Vincent will play Franklin on Dec. 5. Donated photo Award-winning bluegrass band Dailey & Vincent will kick off the holiday show season with their Christmas Show at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.

Jamie Dailey plays guitar and bass and sings tenor and baritone lead, as well as harmony vocals. He began his career as a member of the highly acclaimed group Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. He has recorded with such greats as Dolly Parton and Rhonda Vincent, and has appeared in multiple Gaither Homecoming videos. He was also a guest on Ricky Skaggs’ Grammywinning “Brand New Strings” album.

Darrin Vincent plays upright bass and mandolin and sings baritone lead vocals. His career began at a very young age when he started performing with his family band, The Sally Mountain Show. Vincent won five Grammy awards as a member of Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, and has received many other awards as well. He has also recorded with Dolly Parton and performed with a multitude of other artists including Nora Jones, Vince Gill and Keith Urban.

Tickets start at $18 each. www.greatmountainmusic.com or 866.273.4615.

Trumpet star joins WCU Jazz Ensemble The Western Carolina University Jazz Ensemble will present a special fall concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, on campus in the recital hall of the Coulter Building.

Bill Warfield, trumpeter, recording artist and associate professor of jazz at Lehigh University, will be the featured performer.

The student jazz ensemble will join him on original compositions, as well as his arrangements of songs by Herbie Hancock, Lee Morgan, Dave Stryker, Donald Byrd and Kenny Dorham.

In a varied career as composer, arranger, leader and sideman, Warfield has performed with a widerange of musicians, including Ornette Coleman, Mel Torme, David Sanborn and Randy Brecker. He has performed at Birdland, The Blue Note, and Iridium jazz clubs in New York City, and directs the New York Jazz Repertory Orchestra. The Bill Warfield and Hell’s Kitchen Funk Orchestra’s latest CD “Mercy,

Mercy, Mercy” was a Downbeat magazine editor’s pick in August.

Free. www.wcu.edu.

WCU jam series welcomes Highway 74

The 2015-16 First Thursday Old-Time and Bluegrass Jam Series will continue with Highway 74 at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, in the Mountain Heritage Center at Western Carolina University.

The performance of bluegrass and mountain music will be followed by an 8 p.m. jam session in which local musicians are invited to participate. The concerts and jam sessions will continue at the center through next spring, with programs from 7 to 9 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month. Pickers and singers of all ages and experience levels are invited to take part in the jam sessions, which also are open to those who just want to listen.

Free.

828.227.7129.

On the beat • John C. Campbell Folk School (Brasstown) will host David Brose and Kathleen Seacrest at 7 p.m. Dec. 7. www.folkschool.org or 828.837.2775.

• The Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Pub will have Tom Johnson (singer-songwriter) Nov. 27. All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m. www.rathskellerfranklin.com.

• City Lights Café (Sylva) will host The Freestylers on Nov. 27 and Cygne Dec. 4. All shows begin at 7 p.m. www.citylightscafe.com.

• Mad Anthony’s Bottle Shop & Beer Garden (Waynesville) will have Heidi Holton (blues/folk) at 9 p.m. Dec. 4. Free.

• The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will have and The Blue Ribbon Healers (swampytonk) Nov. 27 and Joe Cruz (piano/pop) Nov. 28. All shows are free and begin at 7 p.m.

828.452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com.

• Marianna Black Library (Bryson City) will hold community music jam from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3. Anyone with a guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, dulcimer, anything unplugged, are invited to join. Singers are also welcomed to join in or you can just stop by and listen. Free.

828.488.3030.

• Salty Dog’s (Maggie Valley) will have Karaoke with Jason Wyatt at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and 8 p.m. on Fridays, and Mile High at 8 p.m. on Wednesdays. All events will run through the month of November. The Randy Mason Band will also perform at 8 p.m. Nov. 28.

• First Presbyterian Church (Franklin) will host a “Concert for CareNet” at 3 p.m. Dec. 6. First $1,000 raised will be matched dollar-for-dollar. www.franklin-chamber.com.

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will have Guitar Man 7 p.m. Nov. 27, Southside of the Tracks Nov. 28, Bobby G Dec. 4 and Jacked Up Joe Dec. 5. All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

828.454.5664 or www.froglevelbrewing.com.

• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will have an Open Mic night Nov. 25 and Dec. 2, and a jazz night with the Kittle/Collings Duo Nov. 26 and Dec. 3. Ol’ Dirty Bathtub (Americana/bluegrass) will also be performing Nov. 25. All events begin at 8 p.m. www.innovation-brewing.com.

Dulcimer Winter Weekend at Lake J

• Satulah Mountain Brewing (Highlands) will have Jimandi (folk/rock) every Wednesday at 7 p.m. and a rotating series of local performers on Fridays at 9 p.m.

828.482.9794 or www.satulahmountainbrewing.com.

ALSO:

• Tipping Point Brewing (Waynesville) will have Heidi Holton (blues/folk) at 8 p.m. Nov. 27 and Darren Nicholson of Balsam Range (Americana/bluegrass) 6:30 p.m. Dec. 2.

Free. www.tippingpointtavern.com.

• Mixers Bar & Nightclub (Franklin) will have Longshot (rock) Nov. 28. All shows begin at 9 p.m. 828.369.9211.

• No Name Sports Pub (Sylva) will have Pat Reedy & The Long Time Goners Nov. 27 and a Karaoke/Dance Party Nov. 28. All shows are free and begin at 9 p.m.

• Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will host the “Hayweird Holiday Jam” with Soldier’s Heart (Americana/rock), Petticoat Government (Americana) and Helena Hunt (singer-songwriter) at 8 p.m. Nov. 27 ($5 per person, with a food drive going on as well), and Ashli Rose (singer-songwriter) 9 p.m.

Nov. 28.

• A back porch old-time music jam will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in Cherokee. All welcome to come play or simply sit and listen to sounds of Southern Appalachia.

Western Carolina University’s Office of Continuing and Professional Education will hold its 11th annual Mountain Dulcimer Winter Weekend Jan. 7-10 in the Lambuth Inn at the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center.

The conference will offer more than 50 hours of instruction on the mountain dulcimer, hammered dulcimer and guitar.

Participants will be able to take classes that focus on multiple instruments and a variety of topics will be presented, including music theory, tab reading/writing skills, improvisation and advanced dulcimer ensemble skills.

Winter Weekend instructors will include Larry and Elaine Conger, Judy House, Joe Collins, Paul Andry, Jim Miller, Guy and Sharrie George, and Jess Dickinson. Evening activities will include staff performances and a music sharing session. Miller will lead jam sessions throughout the conference.

Registration is $159 per person for dulcimer-playing participants through Dec. 12, and $199 thereafter. $40 for non-playing participants. Registration does not include meals or accommodations. Space is limited.

800.222.4930 or www.dulcimeru.wcu.edu or 828.227.7397.

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

Changing Employers?

arts & entertainment

• BearWaters Brewing Company (Waynesville) will have ClawHoss Trio on Dec. 4 and The Dirty Soul Revival (rock/blues) Dec. 5. All shows begin at 8 p.m. www.bwbrewing.com.

We can help Understanding new benefits 401K Rollovers Signing up for new 401K Deferred Compensation Plans

Smoky Mountain News

Please keep in mind that rolling over assets to an IRA is just one of multiple options for your retirement plan. Each option has different advantages, disadvantages, investment options, and fees & expenses which should be understood and carefully considered. Investing and maintaining assets in an IRA will generally involve higher costs than those associated with employer-sponsored retirement plans. We recommend you consult with your current plan administrator before making any decisions regarding your retirement assets.

Larry East, CFP® Vice President - Investments

J. Chad Muri, CRPC

Financial Advisor

Shannon E. Carlock

Senior Registered Client Associate

828.456.7407

Investment and insurance products: NOT FDIC Insured NO Bank Guarantee MAY Lose Value Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Member SIPC, is a registered broker-dealer and a separate non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.

52 Walnut St., Suite #6 Waynesville, NC 28786 Next to Haywood County Chamber of Commerce

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arts & entertainment

Friday & S Saturday, y, November 27 & 28, 8, 10 0 am – 5 pm

Cullowhee Mountain ARTS gala Self-guided tour of 11 Studios and Galleries in Graham and Swain Counties

Hunting Boy Wood Carving

Sleepy Hollow Farm

Wehrloom Honey & Essentials

Taylor’s Greenhouse

Yellow Branch Pottery & Cheese

Bee Global Studio Gallery

The Charles Heath Gallery

Wild Fern Studios & Gallery

Elizabeth Ellison Watercolors

Pincu Pottery

Plus the dozens of artists showcased at the Stecoah Artisans Gallery Schoolhouse Café open for light refreshments Maps available at each artist’s studio, at the Stecoah Artisans Gallery, and online at StecoahValleyCenter.com/tour Use Our Mobile Tour Guide

121 Schoolhouse Road, Stecoah (Robbinsville)

Smoky Mountain News

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

828-479-3364

36

On the wall

A benefit for Cullowhee Mountain ARTS, the “Gala Imagine” will be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, in the Grand Ballroom at Western Carolina University.

The event will include an evening of artisan wine and beer, dinner and music. There will also be art greeting cards, silent auction, door prizes and more. Holiday or “Re Imagined” attire suggested.

An acclaimed nonprofit organization, Cullowhee Mountain ARTS is a yearly The Cullowhee Mountain ARTS ‘Gala Imagine’ will series of art and creative writing workshops, youth be Dec. 5 at WCU. art camps and the FAMorganization to continue its scholarship proCMA invitational art exhibit. CMA brings a grams for our regional public school teachdistinguished faculty, with national and ers, artists and writers, and provides funds international reputations, to teach five-day for WCU student assistantships. Sponsors workshops offered in book arts, ceramics, for the program include Harrah’s, Patrick creative writing, mixed media, painting and McGuire Dentistry, Hollifield Jewelers, printmaking. The workshop environment Stanberry Insurance, Ray’s Florist and The provides an immersion experience in a speSylva Herald. cific area, supplemented with lectures, Tickets are $60. demonstrations, portfolio talks, readings www.cullowheemountainarts.org or and presentations.

Funds raised from the Gala undergird the 828.342.6913.

Recycle your art out!

Five Haywood County Schools will exhibit their new “environmental art” sculptures using recyclable litter as their material. The art classes of Pisgah High, Tuscola High and Bethel, Canton and Waynesville Middle Schools will have their Grand Opening Exhibit at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, in the Waynesville Town Hall lobby (the Police Station building) on Main Street.

Everyone is invited to this reception to view this highly novel artwork of the students and to have refreshments. Titled “Recycle your art out,” this artistic display of environmental stewardship is sponsored by the Commission For a Clean County (CCC), Haywood County’s land-based environmental group.

After this initial Grand Opening at the Waynesville Town Hall, the sculptures will be exhibited at the Waynesville Public Library, as well as at locations in Canton, Clyde and Maggie Valley.

• An open call for vendors is currently underway for the craft and home-based business extravaganza to be held Dec. 4-5 at the Whistlestop Mall in Franklin. To reserve a space, call 828.200.2532.

• A daytime art show and brunch will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29, at The Cut Cocktail Lounge in downtown Sylva.

• The annual “Fireside Sale” will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown.

The event showcases fine crafts made by Folk School instructors and other talented artisans. Shoppers can browse for forged iron, jewelry, quilts, turned wood, fiber, photography, and much more. Visit the Folk School’s Craft Shop during the Fireside Sale, and save 15-percent on a great selection of finely made crafts. The Craft Shop will offer these savings from Nov. 27 through Dec. 24. www.folkschool.org or 828.837.2775.

ALSO:

• An artist reception for Kay Smith will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.

Her work, the month-long “Blooming Flowers” art exhibit, will feature a collection of 21 vibrant flowers by Smith. Open to the public, with refreshments and a visit with the artist available. www.kaysfineart.com.

• The films “Inside Out” (Nov. 27-28), “Amy” (Dec. 3), “Shaun the Sheep” (Dec. 4) and “Mr. Holmes” (Dec. 5) will be screened at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva. Showtimes are 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, with a 2 p.m. matinee also on Saturday. Free. For a full schedule of dates and times, click on www.madbatterfoodandfilm.com.

On the street

The World Series of Poker will hold a circuit event Nov. 26-Dec. 7 at Harrah’s Cherokee.

The competition will include two seniors’ events, a ladies event and a main event with a $1 million guaranteed pot. Buy-ins range from $65 to $1,675 and all registration will take place at the event, which begins at noon Thursday, Nov. 26. www.harrahscherokee.com or www.wsop.com.

• A free wine tasting will be held from 1 to 5 p.m.

Nov. 28 and Dec. 5 at Bosu’s Wine Shop in Waynesville.

There are also still seats available for the 23rd annual “Champagne Tasting Extravaganza” from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3. Tickets for the extravaganza are $40 per person. www.waynesvillewine.com or 828.452.0120.

ALSO:

• A “Yoga 101: De-stress for the Holidays” class will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, in the auditorium at the Waynesville Public Library.

Signup required. 828.356.2507 or kolsen@haywoodnc.net.

• A Thanksgiving celebration of bingo, games and food will be Nov. 26 at The Cut Cocktail Lounge in Sylva. All welcome.

• A Blue Plate Special fundraiser will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 25 at The Community Table in Sylva. Different specials are catered by different restaurants each month. $5 minimum donation, dine-in or carryout. 828.586.6782 to place your order. All proceeds benefit The Community Table’s mission to provide nutritious meals to our neighbors in need in a welcoming environment.

• A wine tasting will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 25 and Dec. 2 at The Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. Free with dinner ($15 minimum).

828.452.6000.

• There will be a “Tasty Tuesday: Winter Seasonals” at 7 p.m. Dec. 1 and 8 at Mad Anthony’s Bottle Shop & Beer Garden.

• The Canton Christmas Home Tour will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6. Tickets are $10, children under 12 are free. Tickets can be purchased at the Canton Museum or Polly’s Florist on Main Street in Canton or at any of the homes the day of the tour.

The Canton Educational Foundation organizes the tour and the all the money made from the day goes toward the Miss Labor Day Scholarships.

828.400.0699.

• The “Community Christmas Cheer Breakfast” will be held from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at the First Presbyterian Church. Family pictures with Santa, with Christmas music presented by the Tuscola Band Ensemble. Donations accepted.

828.456.3243 or 828.926.1421.

Auditions for radio re-creation of ‘Blackbeard’s Ghost’ Auditions will be held for the upcoming radio re-creation of “Blackbeard’s Ghost and the Queen Ann’s Revenge” from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, in the Breese Gymnasium at Western Carolina University.

“Blackbeard’s Ghost” will be the eighth in a series of academic-based entertainment productions mounted in collaboration with three departments and two colleges at WCU. The 2016 production is being led by director Peter Savage, music director Bruce Frazier, and writer and producer Don Connelly.

The auditions will consist of reading small sections of the script that will be available to view in the office of WCU’s School of Stage and Screen (Stillwell 233) beginning Monday, Nov. 30. No prior acting experience is required. A signup sheet with audition time slots also will be posted in the office.

The radio show will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 17, in the Bardo Arts Center. Tickets are $10 and will go on sale Jan. 11. Proceeds are used to fund scholarships in participating academic departments. psavage@wcu.edu.

arts & entertainment

World Series of Poker returns to Harrah’s

On the stage

• The holiday classic “The Nutcracker” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, in the Bardo Fine Arts Center at Western Carolina University. “The Nutcracker” appeals to adults and children, and features action, a variety of dances and lavish sets and costumes. $10 for adults, $5 for students. bardoartscenter.wcu.edu or 828.227.2479.

ALSO:

• An “Appalachian Dance” class for kids will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Dec. 1, 8, 15 and 22 at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville. Classes feature flat-foot dancing, buck dancing, clogging and square dance styles unique to the Haywood County mountains. For kids 6th grade and under. $40 per person for four classes. 828.452.2997 and info@folkmoot.org.

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

SATURDAY, NOV. 28 3 P.M.

Peter Loewer: Solving Deer Problems & Other Gardening Dilemmas

in This Week’s Edition of Smoky Mountain News 320-20

Smoky Mountain News

Look for Our Holiday Catalog Insert

3 E. JACKSON ST. SYLVA

@SmokyMtnNews

828/586-9499 citylightsnc.com

Bookstore

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38

Books

Smoky Mountain News

Irving still churning out sublime writing venue of Mysteries is John Irving’s fourteenth novel and it marks another amazing tale from an author who has been writing for half a century. For those of us who read The World According to Garp (1978) and A Prayer for Owen Meany (1989) — two works that remain best sellers — the reader may rest assured that we are once more in a familiar John Irving landscape: a world replete with abandoned children, transvestites, a guilt-ridden protagoWriter nist, faithful dogs, shocking crimes and bizarre, disturbing rituals, not to mention a generous amount of explicit sex. This time out, Irving adds a new theme — occultism and the supernatural.

In the opening chapter, Irving launches a plot with two time frames. His 54-year-old protagonist, a famous novelist, Juan Diago Guererro, has undertaken a journey to Manila in an attempt to fulfill a promise that he made 40 years earlier to an anonymous young draft dodger. However, the novelist is in failing health and has a rigid daily medication that requires him to alternate between doses of beta-blockers and viagra. Suffering from hypertension and erectile dysfunction, Juan Diago finds himself living in two worlds — the real world of his trip to Manila (2011) and the dream/memory world of his childhood (1970).

When Juan Diago “returns” to his childhood, he is back in a garbage dump outside Oaxaca, Mexico, where he and his sister, Lupe, are scavengers, sorting glass, copper and tin for the dump boss, Rivera. It is a nightmarish setting which Juan Diago compares to hell since the dump fires burn constantly.

It is also the home of hundreds of stray dogs which are often rabid and die in the dump and are thrown into the fires. It is here that Juan Diago learns to read the books that

Gary Carden

A

he snatches from the dump fires and, within a brother and sister take up residence in a local circus where they hope to live by Lupe’s ability short time, acquires a reputation since he to read people’s minds. Their plans miscarry learns to read several languages. Lupe has the and Juan Diago moves to Iowa with his new ability to read people’s minds, but since she is adoptive parents (both of which are HIV posia semi-hysteric and has malformed vocal tive). chords, no one can understand her except So, out of this wreckage, Juan Diago surJuan Diago. vives. After the deaths of his adoptive parents, Their mother, Esperanza is a cleaning lady he emerges as a gifted writer and spend severand part-time prostitute who is despised by al decades as one of the most notable her daughter, Lupe, who is also a relentless critic of the Catholic church and spends much Mexican-American writers. It is only now, in the latter part of his life that of her time denouncing Juan Diago remembers his the numerous effigies of promise to a young Mary, the mother of American draft-dodger who Christ. However, Lupe told him about his father’s feels a affinity for the death in the Philippines and huge statue of Our Lady his hope that he would one of Guadalupe which she day visit his father’s grave. feels is the true “Mother” So it is that Juan Diago tells of the Mexican people the doomed your man that since she is darkhe will fulfill his wish for skinned. him and make the promised A number of monks journey to the Philippines. and inhabitants of the Now, about those two dump attempt to protect time frames. The one sumJuan Diago and his sister, marized above is Juan but it is a hazardous Diago’s childhood and his environment. In time, precarious early years. The Esperanza is killed by a Avenue of Mysteries begins huge effigy of Mary with the 54-year-old protagwhich falls on the cleanonist boarding a plane to ing woman while she is Avenue of Mysteries by John Irving. begin a long journey with attempting to clean it. In Simon & Schuster, 2015. 480 pages. frequent detours. Juan Lupe’s mind, her mother Diago is armed with a stock was murdered by the of medication that his trusted doctor has effigy and she vows to take revenge. It well given him with some strict instructions about may be that she succeeds! taking them in the prescribed manner. Early However, both Juan Diago and Lupe are into the trip, the writer finds himself in the doomed as are the majority of ill-begotten company of a mother and daughter who characters that become friends or protectors assure him that they are there to see he has an of the children. Eventually, Juan Diago is run enjoyable trip. Who are they? Poor Juan Diago over by Rivera’s truck, rendering him a cripnever get past first names: Miriam and ple for life. After Esperanza’s death, a transDorothy. vestite named Flor and a Catholic acolyte As the journey continues, the two attracnamed Edwardo (who loves to wear gaudy tive women go to considerable trouble to Hawaiian shirts) attempt to save the children “entertain” Juan Diago. All of the travel plans by “adopting” them and moving to Iowa. The action is too late for Lupe, who dies one of the have been made by one of the old teacher’s former students, Clark French, who is also a most bizarre deaths in this novel when the

Deer problems and gardening dilemmas Asheville artist and gardening expert Peter Loewer will celebrate the reissue of Solving Deer Problems at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.

Loewer will discuss methods on keeping these denizens of field and forest out of your carefully cultivated gardens. He will also take questions on other gardening topics. Loewer has contributed to many national gardening magazines and is the author and illustrator of many gardening books. He is vice president of the Botanical Gardens in Asheville.

828.586.9499.

writer. Eventually, the plans become a tug of war between Clark and the two women.

Eventually, Clark becomes alarmed and suggests that there is something “sinister” about the two women. He even goes so far as to compare them to “succubi,” which are evil spirits that bewitch men and render them helpless through marathon sexual encounters.

At first, Juan Diago thinks that Clark is simply jealous. But slowly, he begins to notice things ... like Dorothy and Miriam do not cast reflections in mirrors and when he awakes at night beside them, Juan Diago cannot detect a heart beat in either of the two women. Could it be? Are they there to bring on the heart attack that Juan Diago’s doctor has warned him about?

There is much in this novel that is bewildering, but there is also something else. Here and there are are patches of fantastic writing.

For example, Irving’s description of the crazed stampede up the steps of the temple (the Avenue of Mysteries) that houses the Lady of Guadalupe: There were platoons of businessmen, blindfolded and tied together, all whipping themselves in a frenzy; hundreds of nuns, knee-walked up the steps with blood streaming down their legs; the air was full of screams and lamentations, farmers and peasants mutilating their faces with knives and all crawling upwards, all screaming, ‘Mother, help me!’

Often, Lupe, Juan Diago’s hysterical sister delivers a kind of symphony of obscenity and curses that constitutes an attack on the Catholic church and its doctrines. Indeed, the heart of this novel seems to be a blistering attack on Catholicism and the massive suffering that it has inflicted on the poverty-stricken people of Mexico.

Avenue of the Mysteries left me a bit stunned. Certainly, it is unforgettable. I may return to Irving’s early works which are also filled with suffering and tragedy, but somehow, the past novels seem more redemptive ... and not a one of them has a “succubi.”

• The “What do I read next?” event will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2, at the Waynesville Public Library. Signup required.

Refreshments provided. 828.356.2507.

• New York Times bestselling writer William R. Forstchen will present his new work One Year After from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at Books Unlimited in Franklin. 828.369.7942.

ALSO:

• Author Ann Woodford will present her book When All God’s Children Get Together: A Celebration of the Lives and Music of African American People in Far Western North Carolina at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville. www.blueridgebooksnc.com.

• New York Times bestselling writer Kate Alcott will present her book A Touch of Stardust at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville. From the author of The Dressmaker comes a novel that takes you behind the scenes of the filming of “Gone with the Wind,” while turning the spotlight on the passionate romance between its dashing leading man, Clark Gable, and the blithe, free-spirited actress Carole Lombard.

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

Smoky Mountain News

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Outdoors

Smoky Mountain News

Coming down the mountain Cataloochee turns attention to user experience

By Garret K. Woodward · Staff writer

Cataloochee at a glance Celebrating its 54th season, Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley has become a mainstay and storied mountain playground for skiers and snowboards from Western North Carolina and beyond.

Cataloochee Ski Area photo

It’s a feeling that Chris Bates can’t shake.

“Being outside, in the winter, on the mountain — there’s nothing like it,” he said.

“There’s a sense of exhilaration when you’re on a pair of skis. It’s a rush I’ve never gotten enough of.”

Bates, who has been the general manager at Cataloochee Ski Area for 17 years, is sitting inside the main lodge high above Maggie Valley this past Monday morning. Gazing out the windows onto the snowy slopes, the troves of eager skiers and snowboarders already cruising down the mountain, Bates can’t help to be excited that the 54th season at “Cat” got underway this week.

“Some of it is relief,” he chuckled.

“Typically, we’d have already been open for three weeks by now, but with the warm fall we had, we had to wait. And, with the recent cold snap, we were able to coat the first few trails with snow within one day.”

“Coat” as in the state-of-the-art snowmaking equipment that has put “Cat” on the map in recent years as not only one of the first ski areas to open nationally, but also one of the most efficient and high-tech in terms of what they are able to do with where they are located and how (or if ) the weather cooperates with them.

“With our location we realize we’re going to have warm and cold days, where we need to capitalize on our cold days,” Bates said.

“What used to take us four or five days to make enough snow for the trails now takes between eight and 10 hours.”

But, Bates noted with a slight grin, it isn’t just all about business practices when figuring out when to open the “Cat.” “A lot of it is that we’re skiers who run this company when it comes to getting out there and getting the mountain ready — we want to

get out and ski, too,” he said. “Our initial design years ago was to get to a point where we could work within a day to make enough snow to open, and we’ve done that.”

Stepping into the lodge around lunchtime, Ski Patrol Director Wayne Morgan kicks the snow off his boots. Grabbing a nearby table, he removes his gloves, facemask, goggles, helmet, scarf, and jacket, only to reveal a large smile as droplets of melted snow fall from his hair.

“It’s total freedom up there,” he said. “I don’t know really how to explain it. You come down that hill with the biggest grin on your face, which says it all.”

In his 12th season at “Cat,” Morgan looks at the ski area as something special in Western North Carolina.

“All the employees are like family here,” he said. “What it comes down to here is one thing — snow. Any day on the mountain is a good day.”

Growing up on the coast of North Carolina, where sandy beaches and flip-flops reign supreme, Morgan didn’t try skiing until he went to college in the mountains near Boone, home to Sugar Mountain and Beech Mountain. He then spent his career as an educator in Henderson County. But he never stopped skiing. After working at Wolf Laurel (Mars Hill) and a ski shop near Asheville, he soon was approached about being in ski patrol, a position he has held to this day at “Cat.” “And I get to go work and do this everyday?” he laughed. “From growing up on the beach, once I got to the mountains, I never left.”

Morgan recommends that anyone interested in skiing should take a lesson first. See what you need to do from experts instead of

doing trial and error on your own.

Yes, you can learn to ski in a day, but, like fishing, it takes a lifetime to master.

“I equate it to golf,” Morgan said.

“You can hit a golf ball. You can ski down a mountain.

But, I don’t know Chris Bates any golfers that aren’t trying to improve their game. It’s about learning, always getting better, and, most of all, having fun.”

Originally from New Jersey, Bates, who learned how to ski at age 3, has been involved in Wayne Morgan this industry for most of his life.

Working in and around ski around in the northeast, he eventually landed in Haywood County, a place he felt his talents and aspirations could thrive.

“And in the last 17 years, we’ve doubled our terrain [to 50 acres], we’ve achieved our goals in terms of snowmaking, where now our focus is shifting to the whole experience,” he said.

With a trademark family-friendly atmosphere, “Cat” has always looked at ways to hone in on what makes the mountain great — the people who ski and snowboard it daily. It’s about making

F

■ Elevation: 5,400 feet ■ Vertical Drop: 740 feet ■ Trails: 18 (8 beginner, 7 intermediate, 3 expert) ■ Longest Run: Upper and Lower Snowbird (3,500 feet) ■ Lifts: 5 (quad, triple, double chair, two moving carpet) ■ Skiable Acres: 50 ■ Snowmaking: 100 percent ■ Day: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, non-holiday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Holidays ■ Half Day: 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekday and weekends.

■ Twilight Skiing: 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.

■ Night Skiing: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

■ Marathon: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays; 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekends.

■ Rates: Non-holiday/weekday/twilight are $30 for juniors, $40 for adults, with $23 (junior) and $33 (adult) for half-day, $20 (junior) and $24 (adult) for night, and $40 (junior) and $54 (adult) for marathon.

Holiday/weekend/twilight are $47 for juniors, $65 for adults, with $38 (junior) and $53 (adult) for half-day, $28 (junior) and $32 (adult) for night, and $60 (junior) and $75 (adult) for marathon. Season passes are also available.

■ Programs/Deals: Cataloochee offers several midweek programs and packages such as our “Kids Stay and Ski Free,” “Drive, Slide, & Stay” and a free “Intro to Skiing or Riding” program. Outer gear rentals, such as overall bibs and jackets and accessories, can be found at The Shop at Cataloochee, the mountain gift shop. Bib and jacket rentals are available there for a nominal fee plus deposit.

■ Rentals: Over 4,000 sets of skis and snowboard equipment, available at the ski area and at Cataloochee Ski & Sports Shop in Maggie Valley.

■ Tubing: Multiple runs available at Tube World in Maggie Valley. Park is located on Soco Road, four miles from ski area.

■ Racing: www.cataloochee.com/learn-toslide/school-race-programs.

800.768.0285 or 828.926.0285. www.cataloochee.com.

WNC’S LARGEST OUTDOOR SPECIALTY SHOP outdoors

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Watch Santa practice his chimney technique Santa Claus will start training for the big day with rappels down Chimney Rock 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 and 12, at Chimney Rock State Park.

Claus will perform a series of 200-foot rappels on one of the world’s tallest chimneys in preparation for Christmas Even gift delivery as life holiday music, hot cocoa, cookies, kids’ activities, live animals and, of course, greetings from Mrs. Claus, keep things lively below.

Free with park admission. Chimney Rock State Park is located off U.S. 64 in Rutherford County, about 90 minutes from Waynesville. 800.277.9611

Storewide Holiday Sale! (*Full priced merchandise) Excludes UGG, The North Face, Thermals

(These items 10% off!)

Friday 8am Door Busters!

Socks • Sunglasses • Binoculars • knives

Sale Ends Sunday Nov. 29th

78 Siler Rd./441 South/Franklin/828.524.9061

www.threeeaglesoutfitters.net

Protect your world Auto ~ Home Life ~ Retirement

Smoky Mountain News

sure the first-time skier/snowboarder has an equally pleasant experience compared to a veteran snow hound.

“If we can make their first day or two on the a snow a lot more conducive to learning and having fun, then they will come away from the mountain excited and wanting to become skiers or snowboarders, that’s where it all Of the many goals Cataloochee Ski Area is focusing on for the future, starts,” Bates said. expanding their ‘Learn to Ski’ program has become a top priority.

Alongside its expanding “Learn to Ski” programs, which is something unique to North “Cat” is also increasing its rental options, Carolina and the Southeast in general,” where any and all can simply head up the Bates said. “It’s a great feeling to see people mountain, pick up the gear they need and pulling into the parking lot today — all immediately hit the slopes. smiles today, all ready to go skiing.”

“We get around 140 days of skiing here,

30% OFF Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

A pair of tunnel closures on the Blue Ridge Parkway will impact travel and trail access beginning Dec. 1 and lasting through spring.

■ Repairs to Buck Springs Tunnel at Milepost 407.3 will require a closure from Milepost 405.5 at N.C. 151 to Milepost 408.8 near Mt. Pisgah.

■ Repairs to Tanbark Tunnel at Milepost 374.4 will require a closure from Milepost 364.1 at Craggy Dome Parking Overlook to Milepost 375.6 at Ox Creek Road.

“We recognize the popularity of these areas for local communities and the traveling public and we regret any inconveniences,” said Parkway Superintendent Mark Woods. “However, just as it’s important to take care of regular maintenance on your home, the historic tunnels on the Parkway require maintenance from time to time.”

The projects will involve repairs to deteriorating concrete tunnel liners, drainage systems, stone tunnel portals and the road surface.

Real-time closure information for the Parkway is available at maps.nps.gov/blri/road-closures/.

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76023

Projects to close Parkway sections

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Nutrition Facts outdoors

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

% Daily Value * Tot al Fat 0g

0%

Reg ional New s

100%

Op inion

100%

Outd oors

100%

Art s

100%

Entert ainm ent

100%

Classified s

100%

* Percent Weekly values b ased on Hayw ood, Jackson, M acon, Sw ain and Buncom b e d iet s.

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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Litter sculptureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to be unveiled An environmental art exhibit featuring the creations of art classes from five Haywood County schools will open at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, in the Waynesville Town Hall lobby on Main Street.

Titled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Recycle Your Art Out,â&#x20AC;? this artistic display is part of a competition sponsored by Commission for a Clean County. The initiative challenged students to create sculptures out of litter, with Pisgah High, Tuscola High, Bethel Middle, Canton Middle and Waynesville Middle schools joining in. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a most exciting project of the CCC and one which we hope will raise environmental awareness and also go big-time in the schools,â&#x20AC;? said JoAnna Swanson of the CCC. Participation awards â&#x20AC;&#x201D; handmade plaques from recycled barn wood â&#x20AC;&#x201D; will be given, and refreshments served. After the Dec. 1 event, sculptures will be moved for display at locations throughout the county.

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

Watersheds the focus of 2016 Soil and Water Conservation contest Teachers wanting to get their kids thinking about the watershed they live in might want to consider building the â&#x20AC;&#x153;We All Live in a Watershedâ&#x20AC;? contest into their curriculum this year.

Sponsored by county Soil and Water Conservation District offices, the contest offers prize money and a chance to compete at the state level. Children in third through fifth grade can enter a poster contest, sixth-graders can submit an essay or slide show, seventh- and eighth-graders can compete as public speakers, and ninth-graders can enter a design contest.

All entries must speak to the theme â&#x20AC;&#x153;We All Live in a Watershed.â&#x20AC;?

Submission deadlines vary by district but are generally scheduled for late January.

Students who wish to participate but are not a member of a class that is participating can turn in entries to county Soil and Water Conservation District office.

Smoky Mountain News

Give cooking oil a second life

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When the turkey is done this Thanksgiving, recycle the vegetable oil rather than pouring it down the drain. â&#x2013; Haywood County recycling centers accept waste vegetable oil cooled and stored in a plastic bottle with a sealable lid. â&#x2013; Macon County accepts used cooking oil at its Franklin landfill and Highlands transfer station, where it can be poured into a designated storage container.

Cooking oil can be reprocessed as biodiesel and home heating oil, reducing waste in landfills and waterways. When poured down the drain, oil clogs pipes and sewer lines, incurring high maintenance bills.

Solid grease or veggie oil that is mixed with animal fats cannot be recycled. Place these materials in a container to solidify and then throw it in the trash.

Grant protects Haywood farm with easement

Thanks to a grant, 116 acres of the Glance Cove Farm in Haywood County will be protected with a conservation easement. Donated photo the strong agricultural economy of the county and region.”

Owned by Dennis and Tammy Francis, the farm started out as a cattle, hay, tobacco

and corn operation owned by the Glance family. The Francis family then purchased it, and their son plans to continue the family farming tradition.

Parkway Foundation recognized for tourism contributions The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation was recently awarded the Tourism Excellence Award from by the N.C. Travel Industry Association.

“We’re so happy our mission to preserve and protect the Parkway results in visitors building a deep connection to this wondrous mountain landscape,” said a statement from the Foundation.

A nonprofit that works to secure funding and carry out projects to improve visitor experience on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Foundation has given more than $9 million to Parkway projects and programs since its inception in 1997. www.brpfoundation.org/

A citizen science project aiming to get the scoop on otters in the Smokies is seeking “Otter Spotters” to record their observations.

Volunteers record any otter sightings and observations within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and submit them — plus photos — to the project.

“We are naturally drawn to an animal that appears to spend much of its time at play,” said Tiffany Beachy, Tremont’s citizen science coordinator. “In addition, they are important aquatic predators and have a vital, positive impact on the streams they occupy.”

Streams with otters tend to have greater fish and mussel diversity, better water quality and improved nutrient distribution over those without.

River otters are native to the area but were eliminated from the Smokies in the 1990s as habitat destruction and uncontrolled fur trapping took their tool. A reintroduction program released 137 otters to the park between 1986 and 1994, and while initial monitoring showed the otters took well to their new homes, no long-term monitoring was established.

To record otter sightings and submit photos, select “join this project” at www.inaturalist.org/projects/otter-spotter-in-greatsmoky-mountains-national-park or download the iNaturalist app and search “Otter Spotter in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.”

Tiffany Beachy, tiffany@gsmit.org.

The holiday season is right around the corner.

Have you ever wanted to treat yourself to a “healthy new you”?

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

THE FAMILY CARE CENTER

outdoors

The Glance Cove Farm in the Crabtree area of Haywood County will keep its agricultural character for a long, long time following placement of a conservation easement using a $317,000 grant from the N.C. Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund.

The easement, which pertains to 116 acres of the 236-acre farm, “will allow for a farm that has been in one family for over a century to remain as such for the foreseeable future,” the Haywood Soil and Water Conservation District, the easement holder, wrote in the grant application. The easement would allow farming operations to continue but protect against urban encroachment.

“Being situated in the scenic area of Crabtree in Haywood County makes this property a prime target for conversion to house sites,” the grant application says, with another section adding, “If this farm is protected as farmland, it will provide local food for the consumer and help continue

Otter spotters wanted

Smoky Mountain News

We can help you set your goals and reach them at the Family Care Center.

Call 828-554-5565 to make an appointment.

77 Painttown Road (Hwy. 19) • Cherokee, NC

Dr. Michael Toedt 43

outdoors

Get outside for the holidays The Blue Ridge Parkway is supporting fresh air over shopping malls to launch the

Christmas season, offering two excuses to get outside and have fun rather than shop: ■ At 2-4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27, the Parkway will hold an Instameet at Craggy Pinnacle, milepost 364.1 in support of REI’s “Opt Outside” campaign. An Instameet is a gathering where Instagram users get together to take photos for posting to the social media site. Park staff will guide hikes along the 0.7-mile trail at 2 and 3 p.m. from the Craggy Dome parking lot.

The event will be cancelled in case of wintery weather, with Parkway closures posted at www.nps.gov/maps/blri/road-closures.

■ In a twist on the #GivingTuesday movement, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation will celebrate #GivingViewsDay on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Parkway users are encouraged to use the hash tag when sharing photos of their favorite Parkway vistas through Dec. 1, with Foundation staff following suit and sharing the stories behind their favorite views. The campaign aims to inspire Parkway users to donate funds the Foundation will use to safeguard the Parkway’s vistas for future generations. www.brpfoundation.org.

Explore the Smokies on Black Friday The Great Smoky Mountains National Park will offer a chance to ditch the malls on Black Friday with a ranger-led hike on the Little Cataloochee Trail at 10 a.m.

Friday, Nov. 27.

This 5-mile roundtrip hike follows an old road that once allowed travel between the Big Cataloochee and Little Cataloochee communities before the park was formed.

The group will stop at the Hannah cabin, Little Cataloochee Church and cemetery, the Cook cabin and several old homesites along the way.

After 2.5 miles, hikers can either follow the group back to the parking lot or explore the area further at their own pace.

The group will assemble in the parking area on the left just after entering Cataloochee Valley. From there, participants will follow the ranger to drive 5 miles to the Little Cataloochee trailhead.

Park rangers will lead a pair of other hikes that day on the Tennessee side of the park, as well. Hikes to Abrams Falls in Cades Cove and through Cucumber Gap

near Elkmont, both 5-mile routes, will take place at the same time as the Cataloochee hike.

828.497.1904.

The Smokies offer plenty of opportunity for Black Friday hikes. NPS photo

Turkey Day run to support reading

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

A 5K on Thanksgiving Day in Franklin will aim to pre-empt Turkey Day poundage gained while also raising money to get kids reading.

The Cold Turkey 5K will be held at 9:30 a.m. and will start from 877 Ulco Drive, closely following the Little Turkeys FUN! Run/Walk for kids, beginning at 9 a.m.

All money raised will go to Read2Me, a community initiative in Macon County that works to put books in kids’ hands and encourage parents to read with them daily. In addition the race, the event will include a raffle for tasty prizes including two complete Thanksgiving dinners from Ingles.

Register at 8 a.m. the day of the event. $30 for the 5K; $15 for kids run/walk.

Dave Linn, 828.421.7637.

Learn to make a fly fishing leader Anglers hankering to build their own furled leaders will have a chance to learn at a meeting of the Tuckaseigee River Chapter of Trout Unlimited at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, at United Community Bank in Sylva.

Willie Cope will teach attendees how to build and use these leaders following a shared meal. The evening will also include a chance to win a custom-built rod by Whittier craftsman Jim Mills. $5 for dinner. tkubit@frontier.com.

Smoky Mountain News

Free ton of pellets delivered with purchase of new pellet stove and installation.

828-333-5456 cleansweepfireplace.com 320-61

Chimney Inspections, Repairs & More

FIND US AT

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Discussion of Cherokee relationship to water highlights HWA dinner

facebook.com/smnews

The special relationship of the Cherokee people to their waterways will be the focus of a program held in conjunction with Haywood Waterways Association’s annual membership dinner and awards ceremony from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 10.

Barbara Duncan, education director at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, will share Cherokee folklore surrounding the Pigeon River and waterways in general to

accompaniment from musicians with the Cherokee Friends. The Friends are a volunteer group of cultural ambassadors organized through the museum.

The evening will also include Haywood Waterways’ holiday buffet dinner, short business meeting, 2015 year in review, silent auction and awards ceremony. $15 for dinner. RSVP by Wednesday, Dec. 2 to Christine O’Brien, 828.476.4667 or christine.haywoodwaterways@gmail.com.

Awards for drinking water defenders Projects that have gone above and beyond to protect public drinking water can get some kudos through awards from the N.C. Source Water Collaborative, which is currently seeking nominations.

The six categories are surface water planning, groundwater planning, surface water implementation, groundwater implementation, education and leadership.

A statewide partnership to protect drinking water, the Source Water Collaborative was founded in 2011 from a team of nonprofits, universities, agencies, regional councils of government and professional associations.

Dec. 1 is the deadline for nominations. www.ncswc.org/Awards.

WNC Calendar COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS • The World Series of Poker will hold a circuit event from Nov. 26-Dec. 7 at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. The competition will include two seniors’ events, a ladies event, and a main event with a $1 million guaranteed pot. Buy-ins range from $65 to $1,675 and all registration will take place at the event, which begins at noon Thursday, Nov. 26. www.harrahscherokee.com or www.wsop.com.

• Light Up the Night: A Vigil for the Paris Climate Talks is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 29, at Grove Park on Charlotte Street.

• A back porch old-time music jam will be held from 13 p.m. on Dec. 5 at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in Cherokee.

BUSINESS & EDUCATION • The Haywood Chamber of Commerce will host “Issues & Eggs” from 8-9 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 2, at Laurel Ridge Country Club in Waynesville.

Visit www.smokymountainnews.com and click on Calendar for: ■ Complete listings of local music scene ■ Regional festivals ■ Art gallery events and openings ■ Complete listings of recreational offerings at regional health and fitness centers ■ Civic and social club gatherings proceeds from the raffles going to their numerous programs. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the Canton Senior Center and the Haywood County Senior Resource Center. Drawing is Dec. 9. 356.2813.

• Contributions are being sought for the Glenville Area Historical Society’s historical museum, which plans to open next year. historicalsocietyglenvillearea@yahoo.com or 743.1658.

• A free Quickbooks-Processing Payroll Seminar will be presented by the Small Business Center at Haywood Community College from 6-9 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 1, in the HCC Auditorium in Clyde. Presenter if Jeffrey Weathers of Integrity Bookkeeping Services.

SBC.Haywood.edu or 627.4512.

• A Blue Plate Special fundraiser will be held from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 25 at The Community Table in Sylva.

Different specials are catered by different restaurants each month. $5 minimum donation, dine-in or carryout.

828.586.6782 to place your order. All proceeds benefit The Community Table’s mission to provide nutritious meals to our neighbors in need in a welcoming environment.

• A free presentation on editing and publishing will be offered at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 1, at the Canton Branch Library. Refreshments and presentation by local author and freelance editor A.D. Reed. Free. 648.2924.

• A Relay For Life Day of Hope fundraiser is scheduled for 5-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 1, at Zaxby’s of Franklin.

Ten percent of total sales go to Relay for Life of Franklin.

• A program on how to use Movie Maker to create digital photo albums on a DVD is scheduled for 10 a.m.noon on Tuesday, Dec. 1, at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center. $5. Register at the center or call 356.2800.

• A Christmas Tea & Crafts event will be hosted by the Sylva Garden Club from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on Dec. 1 at First United Methodist Church of Sylva. Hors d’oeuvres, sweets and beverages. Specialty pecans, silent auction and raffle for door prize. Suggested donation is $10 per ticket; available from SGC members and at the door. Proceeds go to fund SGC beautification projects. www.facebook.com/SylvaGardenClub.

• Online marketing and social media business coach Martin Brossman will present two seminars on Dec. 3 for Southwestern Community College’s Small Business Center. “Obtaining Positive Online Reviews” will be from 1-4 p.m. on SCC’s Macon Campus while “Getting More Business by Getting on Local Directories for Business Owners” is from 6-9 p.m. in the Burrell Building on SCC’s Jackson Campus. Registration required: www.nsbc.net. Info: 339.4211 or t_henry@southwesterncc.edu.

• “From Pearl Harbor to 9-11, will America always be at war?” will be the topic for the Franklin Open Forum at 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 7, at the Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Pub, in Franklin. Dialogue, not debate. 371.1020.

• A series of free seminars designed to help entrepreneurs leverage the selling power of eBay will be offered through Southwestern Community College’s Small Business Center on Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 7-8 at SCC’s Macon Campus. Presenter Nick Hawks, a toprated eBay Power Seller, will offer the seminars from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Monday and from 1-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. on Tuesday. Registration required: www.nsbc.net.

Info: 339.4211 or t_henry@southwesterncc.edu.

FUNDRAISERS AND BENEFITS • Volunteers are being sought for the N.C. Arboretum’s second-annual Winter Lights exhibit, which runs through Jan. 2. Three-acre nightly walking tour featuring more than 200,000 lights. http://tinyurl.com/ov5cjka.

• A benefit raffle is currently underway at the Canton Senior Center. The prize is a gift basket valued at over $1,000, filled with gift certificates and other goods.

Funding, in general, has been cut over the years, with

• The Swain County Genealogical & Historical Society will host a holiday auction at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3, at the SCGHS library on Main Street. All proceeds will be used to purchase a projector and new computer. Items are currently being sought for the auction. Refreshments served.

• A “Celebration of the Season’s Multicultural Holidays” will be held from 5-8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Pigeon Multicultural Development Center. The event will include a potluck dinner, a sharing of holiday customs from different cultures and music from a variety of traditions. The event is $10 per person, with proceeds going to the center. 456.7232.

• Tickets are available for a charity concert supporting Hospice House Foundation of WNC. Featured act will be Emporium, a six-piece band from Asheville, at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, at Highlands Performing Arts Center.

Tickets are $30. www.highlandspac.net. 524.6375 or 421.2831.

• The Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department (JCPRD) will host a Saturday Sampler Fitness Fundraiser to benefit The Christmas Connection from 10-11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Cullowhee fitness facility. Minimum donation is $10. The department will waive its $5 daily pass fee. Christmas Connection provides new toys and clothing for children during the holidays. bfarmer@wcu.edu or 227.3804.

• Cullowhee Mountain Arts will hold its second annual benefit celebration at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, in the Western Carolina University Center Grand Ballroom in Cullowhee. “Gala Imaginé” will benefit CMA, a grassroots non-profit committed to nurturing the arts

Smoky Mountain News

throughout the region. Decorations, artisan wine and beer, chef-inspired dinner, artist-designed greeting cards, door prizes, drawings and more. $60 per person.

Purchase at www.cullowheemountainarts.org/GalaImagine or by calling 342.6913.

• First Presbyterian Church (Franklin) will host a “Concert for CareNet” at 3 p.m. on Dec. 6. First $1,000 raised will be matched dollar-for-dollar. www.franklinchamber.com.

• The Haywood Educational Foundation will present its Canton Christmas Tour of Homes from 1-5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7. Tickets are $10 per person; children under 12 are free. Funds raised support the Miss Labor Day scholarships. Tickets are on sale at Polly’s Florist and Clyde’s Florist.

• “Silver Bells & Cocktails” will be at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at Tessentee Farms. Hosted by REACH of Macon County.

Tickets are $100 a seat or a table for $1,000. Live music, local beers, wine, champagne, auction, and more. 369.5544 or aanderson@reachofmaconcounty.org.

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All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted. title of a Ladies Night Out presentation by Dr. Anita Renshler, family nurse practitioner from Angel Medical, at 4 and 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 8 in the cafeteria of Angel Medical Center in Franklin.

• The Macon County Cancer Support Group meets at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 10, in the cafeteria of Angel Medical Center in Franklin. Light refreshments and free gifts.

RECREATION AND FITNESS • A “Yoga 101: De-stress for the Holidays” class will be held from 1-3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4, in the auditorium at the Waynesville Public Library. Signup required.

356.2507 or kolsen@haywoodnc.net.

POLITICAL CORNER HOLIDAY GIVING • Operation Christmas Box is being organized to benefit homebound elderly Jackson County residents. Giftwrapped boxes with pop top canned goods, paper towels, soap, personal-care items, non-perishable food items and more will be accepted through Dec. 1 at the Jackson County Department on Aging. 631.8041 or 586.8562.

• Toys for Tots drive on from 3 to 9 p.m. Dec. 10 and 11 at the Smoky Mountain Holiday Bazaar located at Barkers Creek Community Building. Free admission.

Bring an unwrapped toy to be entered into a raffle. Door prizes, drawing contest for kids, face painting, food samples/vendors, holiday displays from local crafters, and several more free activities. More information on Facebook.

HEALTH MATTERS • The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Nov. 27 at United Community Bank in Bryson City. 800.733.2767 or redcrossblood.org.

• In observance of national Hospice and Palliative Care Month, LifePath Hospice and Palliative Care will hold an open house from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 30, at its office located at 81 Medical Park Loop, Suite 204.

• A free program on “Communication Skills in Dementia” is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 2, at the Haywood Senior Resource Center. Leading the program will be Dr. Lisa Verges, a psychiatrist with MemoryCare, a community-based, non-profit organization. Stop by the center to register or call 356.2800.

• A refresher training for Emergency Medical Technicians is scheduled for Dec. 2-4 in Cullowhee.

Program meets core National Registry of EMT’s requirement for recertification. 293.5384 or main@landmarklearning.edu.

• LifePath Hospice and Palliative Care will hold its annual Tree of Remembrance ceremony at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3, in the Harris Regional Hospital cafeteria and private dining room with an opportunity for memorial and honorary ornaments to be placed on the tree. Hot chocolate, coffee, cider and desserts will be served. 631.1702.

• A free educational lunch-and-learn event on “boomeritis” will be presented by Harris Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine at noon on Friday, Dec. 4, in the Harris Regional Hospital’s boardroom. Lunch will be served. Register by calling 631.8889.

• “Do I Take a Tylenol or Call an Ambulance?” is the

• The Town of Maggie Valley will hold oath of office ceremonies and reception at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, at Maggie Valley Town Hall. All are invited.

• The Town of Canton will hold oath of office ceremonies and reception for the Board of Aldermen at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, at Colonial Theater in Canton.

• A “People’s Pilgramage for the Paris Climate Talks” is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6.

• Swain County Democrat Cherokee-Whittiers precinct will have a potluck and meeting from 5-6:30 p.m. on Dec. 7 at the Birdtown Gym. 736.9500.

THE SPIRITUAL SIDE • Vine of the Mountains Church is starting its Advent series “The Light that Leads us Home”, at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 29, at its location in the Frog Level district of Waynesville. The series will run through December. www.thevine.cc.

• The “Christmas Worship in a Stable” living nativity scene will be recreated from 5:30-6:10 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, at the 3rd Generation Barn Loft on Frank Mann Road. It will feature a short walk-through of live cast and animals, background music and scripture to illuminate a sense of awe and peace remembering the true meaning of Christmas. In addition, patrons will have the opportunity to donate a non-perishable food item at the Manger for The Community Kitchen soup kitchen. Free.

• The 12th annual United Methodist Women’s Cookie Walk and Bazaar will be at 9 a.m. on Dec. 5 at the United Methodist Church on Main Street. Homemade holiday treats. 488.8970.

• “Appalachian Christmas” at the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center will deliver the nostalgic charm of mountain hospitality to visitors on Dec. 11-13.

The annual festive weekend features live music, hearty meals and local artistry. Festivities include Handel’s “Messiah,” featuring the Lake Junaluska Singers and regional orchestra and choir; Classic Sounds of Christmas, a concert by the Lake Junaluska Singers; the Appalachian Christmas Craft Show, showcasing the work of dozens of local artisans; and a matinee concert

by The Cockman Family, a local treasure. www.lakejunaluska.com/christmas or call 800.222.4930.

AUTHORS AND BOOKS • Writer Debra Jenkins will present her book “In the Midst” from 5-8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 28, at Books Unlimited in Franklin.

wnc calendar

• New York Times bestselling author Kate Alcott will present her novel “A Touch of Stardust” at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 28, at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville.

456.6000, blueridgebooks@ymail.com or www.blueridgebooksnc.com.

• A “What Do I Read Next” event is scheduled for 1-3 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 2, at the Waynesville Library Auditorium.

• New York Times bestselling author William R. Forstschen will present his book “One Year After” from 5-8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, at Books Unlimited in Franklin. 369.7942.

• Ann Woodford will present “When All God’s Children Get Together: A Celebration of the Lives and Music of African-American People in Far Western North Carolina” at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville. 456.6000 or blueridgebooks@ymail.com.

SENIOR ACTIVITIES • Reservations are being accepted for a senior trip to see Christmas at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. The trip is Dec. 10. Organized by the Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department. Cost is $10. 456.2030 or tpetrea@waynesvillenc.gov.

Cost is $65 for members per mini-camp or $80 for nonmembers. tpetrea@waynesvillenc.gov or 456.2030.

Winter fun, holiday festivities and events.

800.849.2258 or www.fontanavillage.com.

• Folkmoot is offering Appalachian Dance Class 101 from 6-7 p.m. starting Dec. 1 at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville. For kids in sixth grade and younger. Kim Ross of the J. Creek Cloggers is the instructor. Classes are also Dec. 8, 15 and 22. $40 a month for four classes. 452.2997 or info@folkmoot.org.

• The second annual Cowee Christmas will be from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 4, at the Old Cowee School. Arts and crafts sale, live demonstrations, Santa Claus, live music, exhibits, and more.

Christmas tree lighting at 6 p.m. www.coweeschool.org.

KIDS MOVIES • “Inside Out” is being shown for free on Saturdays in November at noon and 2 p.m. at the Strand in Waynesville. 283.0079.

• The films “Inside Out” (Nov. 27-28) and “Shaun the Sheep” (Dec. 4) will be screened at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva. Showtimes are 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.

Thursday through Saturday, with a 2 p.m. matinee also on Saturday. Free. For a full schedule of dates and times, click on www.madbatterfoodandfilm.com.

• A family movie will be shown at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 1, at Marianna Black Library in Bryson City. Holiday adventure is about nine-year-old Rebecca Harrell, who still believes in Santa despite remonstrations of her parents and taunts of her peers. Free.

488.3030.

KIDS & FAMILIES • The Appalachian Toymaker & Storyteller will be making wooden toys and telling tales on select dates and times at The Storytelling Center of the Southern Appalachian. www.psalmsofthesouth.com or 488.5705.

Smoky Mountain News

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

• Reservations for the Winter Break Mini Camp through the Waynesville Recreation Center will go on sale Nov. 27. For pre-K through seventh grade.

Deadline is Dec. 15. Offered twice: Dec. 21-23 and Dec. 28-30. Times are 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. each day.

A&E FESTIVALS AND SPECIAL EVENTS • The “Christmas in the Smokies” holiday celebration will run from Dec. 1-31 at Fontana Village Resort.

Thanksgiving Specials!

Magic Motion Music Clocks

Fun, Affordable Gifts in Downtown Waynesville!

Candles • Puzzles • Flags & Mailbox Covers Sauces, Rubs & Candy • Jewelry • Scarves

Affairs of the Heart

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

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• Cherokee Lights and Legends event will be held from 6-9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays starting Dec. 5 through Jan. 2 at the Cherokee Fair Grounds. Lights display, live Santa Claus, synthetic ice rink, bizarre, food vendors, interactive legend exhibits and a 40foot Christmas tree. Food. Fireworks start at 9 p.m. $5 for everyone 13 and over; $3 for ages 6-12; children five and younger are free. friehusk@nc-cherokee.com, angehern@nc-cherokee.com, 359.6492 or 359.6473.

• “A Night before Christmas” will be held from 6-9 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12, on Main Street in downtown Waynesville. www.downtownwaynesville.com.

• Art After Dark is from 6-9 p.m. on the first Friday of every month in Downtown Waynesville and Historic Frog Level. Stroll through participating galleries.

Waynesvillegalleryassociation.com.

HOLIDAY EVENTS

Come By and See Our

The face changes on the hour as melodies play!

• The Festival of Lights & Luminaries will be held from 5-9 p.m. on Dec. 4-5 and 11-12 in downtown Dillsboro. Free. More than 2,500 candles in white bags will line the streets. Complimentary refreshments, open shops and music. Western Carolina Univeristy’s “Purple Thunder” drum line performs Dec. 4; silent auction for decorated wreaths is Dec. 4-5; Choir night is Dec. 11; guitarist and singer John Morgan performs Dec. 12. www.mountainlovers.com.

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• A free community Thanksgiving Dinner is offered from noon-2 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 26, at Franklin First Presbyterian Church.

• A Thanksgiving celebration of bingo, games and food will be Nov. 26 at The Cut Cocktail Lounge in Sylva. All welcome.

• Thanksgiving at Fontana Village will feature a campfire and marshmallow roast (7 p.m. on Nov. 25), a 2.5-mile hike (11 a.m. on Nov. 26), clogging lessons, a hayride and a dance (4:30 p.m. on Nov. 26), a pontoon boat ride (2-3 p.m. on Nov. 27; $15 for adults; $7.50-ages 5-12); and a turkey shoot (9:30 a.m. on Nov. 28). www.fontanavillage.com.

• The “Christmas on the Green” celebration will be Friday, Nov. 27, at the Village Green. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be onsite from 2 to 5 p.m. The 60-foot spruce “Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony” will be from 5 to 6 p.m. There will also be carolers, holiday music, s’mores, bonfire, and more.

• The Bryson City Spirit of Christmas celebration is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. on Nov. 28 at the corner of Mitchell and Everett Street. Christmas tree lighting ceremony and concert; visit from Santa. Bring a canned good or unwrapped new toy to donate.

488.3681.

• The Highlands Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will be at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, in downtown. Santa, caroling and refreshment. www.highlandschamber.org.

• The annual tree lighting “Winter Wonderland” ceremony and candlelight service will be at 7 p.m. on Nov. 28 on the Franklin town square, with free cider, cookies, wagon rides and live music. “Winter Wonderland” will also be celebrated on Dec. 5. 524.3161, www.franklin-chamber.com or www.holidaysinfranklin.com.

• Marianna Black Library (Bryson City) will hold a holiday community music jam from 6-7:30 p.m. on Dec. 3. Free. 488.3030.

• The Brasstown Ringers will celebrate the holiday season with a performance at 7 p.m. on Dec. 4 at the First Methodist Church. 524.4530.

• “Holly Days” will be held Dec. 4-7 in downtown Waynesville. Live music, art, authors, demonstrations, and more. www.downtownwaynesville.com.

• Breakfast with Santa will be from 8:30-10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Jackson County Senior Center. $5 for breakfast, free for children ages 10 and under. 586.4944.

• Santa Claus will start training for the big day with 200-foot rappels down Chimney Rock from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturdays, Dec. 5-12, at Chimney Rock State Park. 800.277.9611.

• The Smoky Mountain Model Railroaders will host a “Christmas Open House” from 2-4 p.m. on Dec. 5-6 at their headquarters located behind Sagebrush Steakhouse on Russ Avenue. Free.

• Breakfast with Santa will be from 8-10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Bryson City Rescue Squad. $3.

Bring your own camera for photos. 488.3681 or 800.867.9246.

• The 12th annual United Methodist Women’s Cookie Walk and Bazaar will be at 9 a.m. on Dec. 5 at the United Methodist Church on Main Street. Homemade holiday treats. 488.8970.

• First Presbyterian Church will hold a “Community Christmas Cheer Breakfast” from 8-11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, in Waynesville. Family pictures with Santa, Christmas music by the Tuscola Band Ensemble, Christmas carols with the Presbyterian singers and a Christmas Boutique. 456.3243 or 926.1421.

• Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus will be from 710 a.m. on Dec. 12 at Fatz Café. $7 per person.

Professional portraits available. A benefit for the Relay for Life of Franklin. 342.9804.

• The “Twelve Days of Christmas” will be Dec. 13-24 in downtown Waynesville. www.downtownwaynesville.com.

• The Holiday Homecoming celebration will be from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Holiday crafts, cider, traditional music and more.

• The Polar Express themed train is now running at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad depot. www.gsmr.com or 800.872.4681.

• The Sylva Christmas Parade, “The Songs and Sounds of Christmas” is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Dec. 5. Parade starts at the Sylva fire department with a rain date of Dec. 6 at 3 p.m.

• The Cherokee Christmas Parade will be at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, in downtown. Floats, bands, Santa and more.

• The Waynesville Christmas Parade “Joy to the World” is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Dec. 7. downtownwaynesville.com.

• The 41st annual Cashiers Christmas Parade is scheduled for noon on Saturday, Dec. 12, featuring the theme “O Christmas Tree.” www.cashiersareachamber.com.

FOOD & DRINK • A wine tasting will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Nov. 25 and Dec 2 at The Classic Wineseller in Waynesville.

Free with dinner ($15 minimum). 452.6000.

• A free wine tasting will be held from 1-5 p.m. on Nov. 28 and Dec. 5 at Bosu’s Wine Shop in Waynesville. There are also still seats available for the 23rd annual “Champagne Tasting Extravaganza” from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3. Tickets for are $40 per person. www.waynesvillewine.com or 452.0120.

• There will be a “Tasty Tuesday: Winter Seasonals” at 7 p.m. on Dec. 1 and 8 at Mad Anthony’s Bottle Shop & Beer Garden.

• Reservations are being accepted through Dec. 4 for a wine-and-food pairing dinner, which is set for 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 10, at Grandview Lodge. $45 per person, plus tax and gratuities. 246.2409.

ON STAGE & IN CONCERT • The Blue Ribbon Healers perform “Swankytonk” (old-timey Gypsey, blues and jazz vocals) at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 27, at the Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. 452.6000. www.classicwineseller.com.

• The Freestylers perform at 7 p.m. on Nov. 27 at City Lights Café in Sylva.

• Joe Cruz (piano, vocals) performs at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 28, at the Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. 452.6000.

• A performance of the holiday classic “The Nutcracker” is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 1, at the Bardo Center on Western Carolina University’s campus in Cullowhee. Tickets are $10 for the general public and $5 for students. www.bardoartscenter.wcu.edu or 227.2479.

• The Western Carolina University Jazz Ensemble will feature recording artist Bill Warfield (trumpet) at its fall concert at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 1, in the recital hall of the Coulter Building in Cullowhee. Free. www.wcu.edu • The First Thursday Old-Time and Bluegrass Jam Series will feature Highway 74 at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3, in the Mountain Heritage Center at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. Free. 227.7129.

• Cygne performs Dec. 4 at City Lights Café in Sylva.

• The Franklin Christmas Parade is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Nov. 29. 524.3161

• A stage production of the “Babes in Toyland” musical will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 4-5 and 11-12 and at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 6 and 13 at the Smoky Mountain Community Theatre. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children. info@smctheatre.com or 488.8227.

• The Canton Christmas Parade “Miracle on Main” is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Dec. 3, starting with the tree lighting at 5 p.m. at Sorrells Street Park in downtown Canton. The Town will provide free hot chocolate as

• The Folkmoot Family “Fa-La-La-La” musical event will be from 7-9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4, at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Hazelwood. Local musicians will be performing holiday tunes and guests are

PARADES

Smoky Mountain News

• A Christmas party will be held from 1-3 p.m. on Dec. 19 at the John C. Campbell Folk School. Santa Claus will make a special appearance, and will listen to good girls’ and boys’ Christmas wish lists. Kids will also enjoy music, dancing, games, and refreshments.

At 8 p.m. that evening, a Holiday Contra Dance will welcome couples and singles of all experience levels, including beginners. Listen to local musicians, bring refreshments to share, and catch the holiday spirit. www.folkschool.org or 837.2775.

• The Highlands Christmas Parade is scheduled for Dec. 5 at 11 a.m. www.highlandschamber.org.

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

• “Cookies with Santa” will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 8, at the Macon County Community Building. $5.

long as supplies last. Food trucks will also be onsite for food purchases. Bring a can of food to donate.

235-2760.

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• The Heritage Christmas Progressive Celebration will be Dec. 4-5. There will be holiday wine, cheese and appetizers at 5 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Macon County Historical Museum, followed by dessert at the Scottish Tartans Museum from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The celebration continues from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Historic Cowee School. Patrons will receive an evergreen Christmas sway and Christmas ornament fired by the Cowee potters. Tickets are $30 per person. Tickets are available at the Scottish Tartans Museum and the Macon County Historical Museum.

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encouraged to sing along. Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $5 for ages 5-18 years old, and under 5 years old are free. Ticket includes homemade pie, hot cider and a hot chocolate bar.

• Auditions for the upcoming radio re-creation of “Blackbeard’s Ghost and the Queen Ann’s Revenge” will be held from 1- 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, in Breese Gymnasium on the campus of Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. The show will be presented on March 17. psavage@wcu.edu.

• Dailey & Vincent (bluegrass) perform at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. Tickets start at $18. www.greatmountainmusic.com or 866.273.4615.

• The Raleigh Ringers will perform at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are $17. www.greatmountainmusic.com or 866.273.4615.

• The Blue Ridge Big Band will host “A Big Band Christmas” at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6, at The Strand at 38 Main. Traditional-style 18-piece American big band performing classic jazzy Christmas compositions. Tickets are $10 for adults, $6 for students. www.38main.com.

• The Haywood Community Chorus will hold their Christmas concert at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6, at the First United Methodist Church in Waynesville. The performance will feature John Rutter’s latest extended work, “The Gift of Life,” a six movement choral celebration of the living earth, life, and creation, offering a vast array of moods from contemplative and prayerful to powerful and majestic Admission is free, but donations accepted.

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

• John C. Campbell Folk School (Brasstown) will host David Brose and Kathleen Seacrest at 7 p.m. on Dec. 7. www.folkschool.org or 837.2775.

• A dramatic reading of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” will be presented at 7 p.m. on Dec. 9 at the John C. Campbell Folk School. Bob Grove will don period costume and adopt varied characters’ voices as he changes his tune from “Bah, Humbug!” to “Merry Christmas!” At 8 p.m. that evening, the acclaimed Brasstown Morris Dancers will present an energetic holiday performance.

• The holiday production of “Home For Christmas” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 10-12 and at 3 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and $7 for students. www.harttheater.org or 456.6322.

• David Vowell will celebrate the holidays with a serious and humorous stories and songs at 7 p.m. on Dec. 10 at the John C. Campbell Folk School.

• Tickets are on sale for a performance by magicians Penn and Teller, who will be on stage Dec. 11 at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. 800.745.3000.

Smoky Mountain News

• Trippin’ Hardie performs Dec. 11 at City Lights Café in Sylva.

• The stage performance of “3 Redneck Tenors Christmas Spec-tac-yule” will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 11, in the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center at Western Carolina University.

Tickets cost $21 for adults, $16 for WCU faculty and staff, $15 apiece for groups of 20 or more, and $7 for students and children. www.bardoartscenter.wcu.edu or 227.2479.

• The Brasstown Ringers’ Holiday Concert will be at 7 p.m. on Dec. 11 at the John C. Campbell Folk School.

• Tickets are on sale for Lake Junaluska Singers’ presentation of Handel’s Messiah, which is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 11, at Stuart Auditorium at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center. Tickets start at $17.50. www.lakejunaluska.com/events/singers/concert_tickets/ or 800.222.4930. lakejunaluska.com.

• The “It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11-18 at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are 48 $12. www.greatmountainmusic.com or 866.273.4615.

• Tickets are on sale for the Cockman Family in Concert at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12, at Stuart Auditorium at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center. Tickets start at $17.50. www.lakejunaluska.com/events/singers/concert_tickets/ or 800.222.4930. lakejunaluska.com.

• Tickets are on sale for Lake Junaluska Singers’ Christmas Concert, which is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12, at Stuart Auditorium at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center. Tickets start at $17.50. www.lakejunaluska.com/events/singers/concert_tickets/ or 800.222.4930. lakejunaluska.com.

• Rockapella will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets start at $20. www.greatmountainmusic.com.

CLASSES AND PROGRAMS • Mountain Artisans will present the 28th annual “Hard Candy Christmas” Arts & Crafts show from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Nov. 27-28 at Western Carolina University’s Ramsey Center in Cullowhee. $4.50 for adults; 12 and under are admitted free. www.mountainartisans.net or djhunter@dnet.net.

• The 14th annual “Stecoah Arts & Crafts Drive About Tour” will be from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Nov. 27-28 in Bryson City, Stecoah and Robbinsville. Self-guided. www.stecoahvalleycenter.com.

• Shop Small Saturday is Nov. 28.

• The Balsam Christmas Arts & Crafts Show will be held from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 28, at the Balsam/Willets-Ochre Hill Volunteer Fire Department.

An array of crafts will be for sale, including painting/prints of local scenery, handmade soaps, salves, lavender gifts, handcrafted pottery, handmade baskets, hand stitched and stamped greeting cards, handcrafted jewelry, stained glass boxes, embellished lamp shades, wreaths, scarves, bags and pocket books, among other items. The event is free and open to the public.

• The Rail Line Wine Experience “MacNeill Uncorked” will be held from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on Nov. 28 at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in the Bryson City Train Depot. Features wines selected by French Broad Vignerons to pair with your meal. Age 21 and over only. $109 per person. www.gsmr.com.

• As part of Native American Heritage Month (November), The Museum of the Cherokee Indian will host “Ancient Skills: Learn Fire-Making, Atlati, Blowgun, Chunky Game” with Cherokee Friends from 1-4 p.m. on Nov. 28 in Cherokee. $20 for adults; $10 for children ages 6-13; children must be accompanied by an adult. 497.3481, ext. 300, or www.cherokeemuseum.org.

• Annual Haywood County Master Gardener WreathMaking event is Saturday, Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to noon or 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cooperative Extension Office in Waynesville. $20, includes materials. Reserve spot by calling 456.3575 or mgarticles@charter.net.

• Haywood Community College’s Creative Arts Department will host a holiday craft sale from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3 and from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4, in the Mary Cornwell Gallery of the Creative Arts Building. The show consists of art from students in the Professional Crafts Programs and continuing education from all mediums including wood, metal, clay, fiber, and more. creativearts.haywood.edu.

• Crafts & More Extravaganza will be Dec. 4 & 5 from 9 to 4 at the Whistlestop Mall. Holiday crafts, soaps, baked goods, plants, survival stoves, books, jewelry, and more will be for sale. Home-based businesses are included. Music, raffles, and silent auction. Proceeds benefit The Fathers House building renovation fund.

Help rebuild lives and eliminate homelessness. Call 369.6180 for information or vendor forms.

• The “End of the Season Art Sale” will be held from

11 a.m.- 8 p.m. on Dec. 4-5 at Gallery One in downtown. Christmas and holiday gift ideas. Several artists will offer their works (paintings, photographs, knitted pieces, jewelry, and glass work) at a discount (up to 30-percent off the usual price).

• The Jackson County Farmers Market will have a Holiday Bazaar from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Dec. 5 and Dec. 12 at the Community Table in Sylva. 399.0290.

• The Christmas in the Mountain indoor arts and crafts show will be from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Dec. 5 at the Stecoah Valley Center. www.stecoahvalleycenter.com.

• A wreath-making class will be offered from 10 a.m. to noon and 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Cooperative Extension Office on Raccoon Road in Waynesville. Master gardeners will provide the materials. Cost of class is $20. Proceeds fund horticultural projects and grants in Haywood County. To register, call 456.3575 or mgarticles@charter.net.

• The annual “Fireside Sale” will be held from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6, at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown. The event showcases fine crafts made by Folk School instructors and other talented artisans. Shoppers can browse for forged iron, jewelry, quilts, turned wood, fiber, photography, and much more. Visit the Folk School’s Craft Shop during the Fireside Sale, and save 15-percent on a great selection of finely made crafts. The Craft Shop will offer these savings from Nov. 27 through Dec. 24. www.folkschool.org or 837.2775.

• As part of Native American Heritage Month (November), The Museum of the Cherokee Indian will host free storytelling with Jerry Wolfe, Beloved Man of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, from 1-2 p.m. on Fridays in Cherokee. 497.3481, ext. 300, or www.cherokeemuseum.org.

• As part of Native American Heritage Month (November), The Museum of the Cherokee Indian will host free arts and crafts demonstrations as well as primitive skills demonstrations on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons in Cherokee. 497.3481, ext. 300, or www.cherokeemuseum.org.

ART SHOWINGS AND GALLERIES • A daytime art show and brunch will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 29, at The Cut Cocktail Lounge in downtown Sylva.

• Five Haywood County Schools will exhibit “environmental art” sculptures with a grand opening at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 1, in the Waynesville Town Hall lobby on Main Street. Art classes of Pisgah and Tuscola High and Bethel, Canton and Waynesville Middle Schools created the sculptures using recyclable litter. After the opening, the sculptures will be on display at the Waynesville Public Library and other locations throughout the county.

• An artist reception for Kay Smith will be held from 4-6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 2, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. Her work, the month-long “Blooming Flowers” art exhibit, will feature a collection of 21 vibrant flowers by Smith. Open to the public, with refreshments and a visit with the artist available. www.kaysfineart.com.

• The Haywood County Arts Council’s “It’s a Small, Small Work” will run from till Dec. 26 at the council’s Gallery & Gifts in downtown Waynesville. Most prices will be between $50-$125, with nothing over $300.

Supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division or the Department of Cultural Resources. www.haywoodarts.org, info@haywoodarts.org or 828.452.0593.

FILM & SCREEN • A screening of “Mr. Holmes” will be held at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Nov. 27 and 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Nov. 28 at The Strand at 38 Main in Waynesville.

• The films “Amy” (Dec. 3) and “Mr. Holmes” (Dec. 5) will be screened at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva.

Showtimes are 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, with a 2 p.m. matinee also on Saturday.

Free. For a full schedule of dates and times, click on www.madbatterfoodandfilm.com.

• A new movie starring Bradley Cooper, Rachel McAdams and Emma Stone will be shown at 2 and 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3, in the Macon County Public Library’s Meeting Room. A celebrated military contractor returns to the site of his greatest career triumphs.

PG-13; 1:45. 524.3600.

• A classic movie starring Greer Carson and Walter Pidgeon will be shown at 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4, in the Macon County Public Library’s Meeting Room.

Based on a true story: Edna Gladney lost her son when he was young then later opened an orphanage for children whose parents are unknown. 1:39. 524.3600.

• Adult movie time, 6:30 p.m. Mondays at Jackson County Public Library. Call for title of movie.

586.2016.

Outdoors • Blue Ridge Parkway will join REI’s “Opt Outside” campaign with an Instameet from 2-5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 27, at Craggy Pinnacle (Milepost 364.1). Hikes begin at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. www.nps.gov.

• Asheville artist and gardening expert Peter Loewer will celebrate the reissue of Solving Deer Problems at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 28, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. 586.9499.

• The Jackson County Farmers Market is held each week until Christmas indoors at the Community Table on Central Avenue next to the pool and Poteet Park from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Info: jacksoncountyfarmersmarket@gmail.com or jacksoncountyfarmersmarket.org.

FARM AND GARDEN • Applications are being accepted for the Haywood County Extension’s 2016 Master Gardener Class.

Trainings are Tuesday mornings from Jan. 5-April 19.

Apply by Dec. 30. 456.3575 or sarah_scott@ncsu.edu.

• Master Gardener Greens Market will be open on Saturday, Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the KFC parking lot in Waynesville. Proceeds from the market go to fund horticultural projects and grants in Haywood County.

COMPETITIVE EDGE • Cold Turkey 5k & Little Turkeys Fun Run/Walk in Franklin to be held on Nov. 25. Little Turkeys starts at 9 a.m. with 5K starting at 9:30 a.m. $30.

Raceentry.com/races/cold-turkey-5k/2015/register.

• The FBLA 5K Color Run is scheduled for Nov. 28 at Parker Meadows Sports Complex in Franklin. Funds raised will support Relay for Life and FBLA competitions. Race starts at 9:45 a.m.; children’s race is at 11 a.m. $5 meals served. $15 entry fee for 18 and under; $25 for adults. 421.2850, 524.6467 or http://fhsred.com/activities/fbla/.

HIKING CLUBS • The Great Smoky Mountains National Park will host a five-mile hike to Abrams Falls in Cades Cove at 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 27. 865.448.4104.

• The Great Smoky Mountains National Park will host a five-mile hike on the Little Cataloochee Trail at 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 27. 497.1904.

• The Great Smoky Mountains National Park will host a 4.8-mile hike of Cucumber Gap near Elkmont at 9 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 27. 865.436.1291.

wnc calendar

MountainEats.com Let your smartphone be your guide!

• Find restaurants nearby • Read descriptions and explore menus • View photos and interactive maps It’s that simple!

An online dining directory for Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: 866.452.2251

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

A

bi-monthly magazine that covers the southern Appalachian mountains and celebrates the area’s environmental riches, its people, culture, music, art, crafts and special places. Each issue relies on regional writers and photographers to bring the Appalachians to life.

In this issue:

PLUS ADVENTURE, CUISINE, READING, MUSIC, ARTS & MORE

SUBSCRIBE:

Smoky Mountain News

Fresh Spins on Time-Honored Craftsmanship Heritage Apples Bear Fruit for Appalachian Farmers The Haunting Story of Rugby, Tennessee Pumpkin and Persimmon Fall Recipes

www.smliv.com OR

866.452.2251

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• Nantahala Hiking Club will host a seven-mile hike with an elevation gain of 800 feet on Saturday, Nov. 28. For more info, contact leader Gail Lehman at 524.5298.

services from 8 to 11 a.m. on a first-come, firstserved basis, on Tuesdays through Thursdays at SCC’s Jackson Campus in Sylva. 339.4238, southwesterncc.edu or rmccall@southwesterncc.edu.

• Kidney Smart Classes are held from 4:30-6 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month in the third-floor video conference room at Angel Medical Center in Franklin. 369.9474.

• Carolina Mountain Club will have a nine-mile hike of Butter Gap Loop on Nov. 28. Elevation gain of 2,000 feet. For more info, contact leader Amy Treverton at 216.3914 or athikerbabe@gmail.com.

• Human Resource Development class, SCC Swain Center. Get help with resume writing, job searches, online job applications completions, and much more.

SCC Swain Center, Jennifer Ashlock, 366.2000 or Yvonne Price, 366.2002.

• Kidney Smart Classes are held from 7:30-9 a.m. on the third Thursday of each month at DaVita Sylva Dialysis Center. Call Sue (631.0430) for more info.

• The Nantahala Hiking Club will have a five-mile hike to William’s Pulpit on the Bartram Trail, with an elevation change of 800 feet, on Saturday, Dec. 5. For more info, contact leader Mary Stone at 369.7352.

• Nantahala Hiking club will have a 2.5-mile hike with a 200-foot elevation change on Sunday, Dec. 6.

For more info, contact leader Kay Coriell at 369.6820.

Ongoing BUSINESS & EDUCATION • Free GED test-preparation classes offered by Southwestern Community College, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Mondays through Thursdays and 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Wednesdays and Fridays, SCC Swain Center, Room 101. Instruction in other college and career readiness activities including computer skills, resume writing, filling out job applications, job searches, college entrance exam prep, college applications, financial aid and more. 366.2000 or stop by the Swain Center.

• Guidance on looking for a job or gaining basic job skills will be available from 1-4 p.m. each Wednesday at the Macon County Public Library. One-on-one help from a Southwestern Community College employability instructor. 524.3600.

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

• Tech-savvy questions will be answered from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. every Tuesday in the month of January at the Jackson County Library. 586.2016.

• The Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley is now open for its 2015 season. The museum showcases one of the rarest collections of vintage motorcycles and antique automobiles. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday through Monday. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors age 65 and up, and $6 for children. www.wheelsthroughtime.com.

• Entrepreneurship training available online through HCC Small Business Center through a partnership with Hewlett Packard and the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship. Access courses at www.ncsbc.net, call 627.4512 or kgould@haywood.edu. Information about upcoming workshops is available on the HCC Small Business Center website at SBC.Haywood.edu.

Smoky Mountain News

• Southwestern Community College cosmetology students are offering haircuts, manicures and nail tech

• Southwestern Community College offers "Employability" labs 8 a.m. to noon Mondays and Wednesday, room 104, Oaks Hall, Southwestern Community College, Jackson Campus; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Mondays and Wednesdays, and 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Tuesdays and Thursdays, Room 104, SCC Macon Annex; 8 a.m. to noon Mondays and Wednesdays, SCC Swain Center; and 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays, Cherokee Vocational Center, Cherokee.

• One-on-One Computer Support Program available at the Jackson County Public Library. Individual appointments are set up by the Adult Services Department, 586.2016 for more information.

• Spanish Club Round Table Discussions, noon to 1 p.m. Thursdays, gazebo at the Macon Campus of Southwestern Community College.

• Entrepreneur Skills Network business skills meetings, 6 to 7:30 p.m. every Monday in the Jackson County Justice and Administration Building, Sylva.

Experienced and startup entrepreneurs are welcome.

586.5466 or esn4meetings@gmail.com.

• Haywood Community College offers Get a Job workshops, which include: Basic Computer Skills from 10 a.m. to noon every Tuesday; Create a Great Resume workshop from 2 to 4 p.m. every Tuesday; Job Search Basics from 10 a.m. to noon every Wednesday; Interview Tips from 10 a.m. to noon every Thursday; Customer Service Excellence from 2 to 4 p.m. every Thursday; Time Management from 10 a.m. to noon every Monday; Your Electronic Portfolio from 10 a.m. to noon every Friday; Spanish Translation Career Coaching and Self-paced English Study from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Friday; Career Coaches are available for individual help from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. 564.5093 or 246.9233.

• Ready to Read, adult literacy program to help those who are illiterate or need to improve/strengthen their reading skills, 10 a.m. to noon, Tuesdays and Thursdays, Genealogy Study Room on the second floor of Jackson County Public Library. 586.2016.

HEALTH MATTERS • A health-centered lunch and learn will be held on the third Thursday of every other month starting with the noon event on Aug. 20 at Swain Medical Park. Free light lunch will be served. Presented by Swain County Hospital and Swain County Health Department.

586.7734 or info@westcare.org.

• Kidney Smart Classes are held from 2:30-4:30 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month at DaVita Waynesville Dialysis Center. For info, call Clark at 627.2907.

• A pro bono clinic will provide physical therapy services to underserved and underinsured populations of Western North Carolina from 6-8:30 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of every month on the first floor of the Health and Human Sciences Building in Cullowhee. For information, contact the clinic at 227.3527 or MAPPTClinic@wcu.edu.

• Ladies Night Out, 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month in the cafeteria at Angel Medical Center. 349.2426.

• Free dental clinic for low-income patients, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays by appointment at Blue Ridge Mountains Health Project Dental Clinic on the upper level of Laurel Terrace in Cashiers.

743.3393.

• The Community Care Clinic of Highlands-Cashiers, 5 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, provides free care to uninsured patients who meet financial need requirements and live or work in Highlands and Cashiers. $10 donation suggested. The clinic is in the Macon County Recreation and Health Building off Buck Creek Road.

526.1991.

• Heart Healthy Exercise Group meets at 8:30 a.m.

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the Highlands Civic Center. $15 per month. 526.3556.

• Outpatient Diabetes Classes are offered from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. bimonthly at Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva, and from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. monthly at Swain County Hospital in Bryson City.

586.7734.

• Teen Prepared Childbirth Classes are offered at Angel Medical Center. 369.4421.

KIDS & FAMILIES • Homework Help, 3 to 5 p.m. Mondays for students in grades 2 through 6, Canton Branch Library. Former schoolteacher turned Youth Services Librarian Katy Punch offers homework help on a first-come, firstserved basis. Katy, 648.2924.

• Young Warrior Jiu Jitsu Classes, 5-5:45 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Basulto Academy of Defense in Waynesville. Classes are open to boys and

girls ages 6 and older. For more information on these or other classes contact 230.5056 or www.wncbjj.com.

• A community breastfeeding information and support group is held from 10:30-noon on the first Saturday of each month in the main lobby of the Smoky Mountain OB/GYN office in Sylva. Free. Brandi Nations at 587.8214.

• Homeschool PE classes have started at the Recreation Center in Cullowhee on Thursdays for ages 5-9 and 10-14. $20. 293.3053.

RECREATION & FITNESS Yoga • Yoga classes for all levels are held at 5:30 p.m. every Monday, 9 a.m. every Tuesday, 5:30 p.m. every Wednesday and 9 a.m. every Friday at Nurture Wellness Studio in Bryson City. 400.9616 or www.nurturewellnessstudio.com.

• Pilates Fusion now offered at Waynesville Park and Rec, 9-9:45 a.m. Every Saturday starting Oct. 4, Waynesville Recreation Center. Call for admission prices. 456.2030.

• Drop-in yoga: beginners, 10 a.m. Mondays; beyond beginners, 4 p.m. Wednesdays, Lake Junaluska Kern Building Fitness Center. $10 per person, per class. No registration required. Taught by Rumi Kakareka, a certified yoga instructor with 20 years experience.

703.966.7138 or rkakareka@me.com.

• Stand Up Paddle Board YOGA, 9 to 10:30 a.m.

Saturdays, Fontana Lake. 342.6444, www.brysoncitystandup.com/sup-yoga.

• Qi Gong/Yoga/Pilates classes are from noon to 1 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays at The Creative Thought Center of Waynesville. Love offering. 456.9697 or email waynesvillectc@aol.com.

• Weekly yoga classes, Maggie Valley Wellness Center.

All classes (except chair) are $12 per drop in or $40 for four classes.

• Adult chair yoga and more, 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Chestnut Hill Highlands; noon Mondays and 11 a.m.

Fridays, United Universalist Fellowship of Franklin, 89 Sierra Dr., Franklin. Benefits KIDS Place. 941.894.2898 to register.

320-63

Great Smokies Storage 10’x20’ $

92

20’x20’ $

160

ONE MONTH

FREE WITH 12-MONTH CONTRACT

828.506.4112 or 828.507.8828

50

• Kidney Smart Classes are held from 3-4:30 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at EBCI Health and Medical in Cherokee. For info, call Sue at 361.0430.

Visit www.smokymountainnews.com and click on Calendar for: ■ Complete listings of local music scene ■ Regional festivals ■ Art gallery events and openings ■ Complete listings of recreational offerings at regional health and fitness centers ■ Civic and social club gatherings

Conveniently located off 19/23 by Thad Woods Auction

Puzzles can be found on page 54.

These are only the answers.

PRIME REAL ESTATE Advertise in The Smoky Mountain News

ANNOUNCEMENTS

MarketPlace information:

ANTIQUE STORE CLOSING Huge Sale! Furniture, Glassware, Tools, Jewelry, Books, Toys & More. Come get a Great Deal at 58 Commerce St,, Waynesville.

Mon. - Sat., 10am - 5pm.

Thanksgiving & Sun. 1pm - 5pm

The Smoky Mountain News Marketplace has a distribution of 16,000 every week to over 500 locations across in Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties along with the Qualla Boundary and west Buncombe County. For a link to our MarketPlace Web site, which also contains a link to all of our MarketPlace display advertisers’ Web sites, visit www.smokymountainnews.com.

Rates:

ARTS & CRAFTS

■ Free — Lost or found pet ads.

■ $5 — Residential yard sale ads, ■ $5 — Non-business items that sell for less than $150.

■ $15 — Classified ads that are 50 words or less; each additional line is $2.

If your ad is 10 words or less, it will be displayed with a larger type.

■ $3 — Border around ad and $5 — Picture with ad or colored background.

■ $50 — Non-business items, 25 words or less. 3 month or till sold.

■ $300 — Statewide classifieds run in 117 participating newspapers with 1.6 million circulation. Up to 25 words.

■ All classified ads must be pre-paid.

THE TABLE COMPANY Handcrafted Elegant Rustic Furnishings for the Home or Office.

Custom Woodworking. Tables, Beds, Entry Doors, Stair Railings and More. Reclaimed Woods, Live Edge Slabs, Wormy Chestnut, Oak, Walnut & Cherry. Visit us at THETABLECO.COM Call David Tripp 828.342.0589, Showroom Coming Soon.

Classified Advertising:

AUCTION

Scott Collier, phone 828.452.4251; fax 828.452.3585 classads@smokymountainnews.com

21ST ANNUAL ABSOLUTE AUCTION. Tues. Dec. 29 @ 8am, Lumberton, NC. 100 Const Items, 150 Trucks (35) 40' and 20' Containers. Will Sell At 12(noon) - Absolute Consignments will be taken until Dec. 17. www.meekinsauction.com.

NCLN 858 - 10% BP

WAYNESVILLE TIRE, COO

INC.

R

Di

sC Ov ER E

ATR

PE

Serving Haywood, Jackson & Surrounding Counties

CARWILE AUCTIONS INC.Wednesday, December 9th, 1 p.m.

362 Acres, Prince Edward Co. Cattle Farm, Timber, Watershed Lake! www.carwileauctions.com VAAR392. 434.547.9100.

Offering:

MAJOR-BRAND TIRES FOR CARS, LIGHT & MEDIUM-DUTY TRUCKS, AND FARM TIRES.

Service truck available for on-site repairs LEE & PATTY ENSLEY, OWNERS

MON-FRI 7:30-5:00 • WAYNESVILLE PLAZA

828-456-5387

320-84

ONLINE REAL ESTATE AUCTION 721 Moody Bridge Rd., Cullowhee, NC. 3br/2bath home and 10 acres.

Bidding starts Dec. 1st, 2015.

Full details - BrooksAuctionServices.com 864.379.1011.

NCRE#25534. NCAUC#9822.

REAL ESTATE AUCTION: ±30 Properties Selling in NC & SC Spartanburg Marriott. December 9th 12PM Lyons Group.

888.420.0011. SCAL3630. www.lyonsauctiongroup.com The Ligon Company.

NCAL8951 RUN YOUR CLASSIFIED In 100 North Carolina newspapers for only $375 for a 25-word ad.

Call this newspaper or 919.516.8009 for details.

AUCTION

AUCTION- ONLINE ONLY. Shop, Farm, Construction Equipment, Forklifts, Bandsaws, Welders, Scissorlifts, Dumpsters, ATV's - Over 670 lots. STX Machine & Fabrication, Pelham, NC. Bidding Ends Dec 1st. 919.545.0412 RogersAuction.com NCFL7360 TAX SEIZURE AUCTION Saturday, December 5 at 10am.

201 S. Central Ave., Locust, NC. Selling Seized Trucks, Cars, Tractors, Tools seized by NC Department of Revenue due to Unpaid Taxes. www.ClassicAuctions.com.

704.791.8825. NCAF5479.

WATERFRONT PROPERTY AUCTION Two Spectacular Coastal NC HomeSites. 3.8+/-Acres, Sandy Beaches on Pamlico River, 1.4+/-Acres on North Creek Beaufort-County, Online Bidding Ends December 2. www.HouseAuctionCompany.com.

252.729.1162. NCAL#7889

BUILDING MATERIALS

HAYWOOD BUILDERS Garage Doors, New Installations Service & Repairs, 828.456.6051 100 Charles St. Waynesville Employee Owned.

CONSTRUCTION/ REMODELING

ACORN STAIRLIFTS. The Affordable Solution to your stairs! **Limited time -$250 Off Your Stairlift Purchase!** Buy Direct & SAVE. Please call 1.800.291.2712 for FREE DVD and brochure.

ALL THINGS BASEMENTY! Basement Systems Inc. Call us for all of your basement needs! Waterproofing, Finishing, Structural Repairs, Humidity and Mold Control.

FREE ESTIMATES! Call 1.800.698.9217 DAVE’S CUSTOM HOMES OF WNC, INC Free Estimates & Competitive rates. References avail. upon request. Specializing in: Log Homes, remodeling, decks, new construction, repairs & additions.

Owner/Builder: Dave Donaldson.

Licensed/Insured. 828.631.0747 or 828.508.0316

CONSTRUCTION/ REMODELING

SAFE STEP WALK-IN TUB. Alert for Seniors. Bathroom falls can be fatal. Approved by Arthritis Foundation. Therapeutic Jets. Less Than 4 Inch Step-In. Wide Door.

Anti-Slip Floors. American Made.

Installation Included. Call 800.807.7219 for $750 Off. FIND THE RIGHT CARPET, Flooring & Window Treatments.

Ask about our 50% off specials & our Low Price Guarantee. Offer Expires Soon. Call now 888.546.0135 SAPA SULLIVAN HARDWOOD FLOORS Installation- Finish - Refinish 828.399.1847.

CARS -

A-1 DONATE YOUR CAR For Breast Cancer! Help United Breast Foundation education, prevention, & support programs.

Fast Free Pickup - 24 Hr Response Tax Deduction 855.306.7348 SAPA TOP CASH FOR CARS, Call Now For An Instant Offer. Top Dollar Paid, Any Car/Truck, Any Condition. Running or Not. Free Pick-up/Tow. 1.800.761.9396 SAPA

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

FLIP HUD HOUSES ONLINE. Free book & videos reveal how to buy for pennies on dollar. Limited offer. Flip or rent. Get yours in now.

HUDCAROLINA.COM. MAKE $1000 WEEKLY!!

Mailing Brochures From Home.

Helping Home Workers Since 2001!

Genuine Opportunity. NO Experience Required. Start Immediately. www.NewMailers.com SAPA AVIATION GRADS Work with JetBlue, Boeing, Delta & others - start here with hands-on training for FAA certification.

Financial aid if qualified. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance.

877.300.9494.

R

WNC MarketPlace

EMPLOYMENT CAN YOU DIG IT? Heavy Equipment Operator Career!

We Offer Training and Certifications Running Bulldozers, Backhoes and Excavators. Lifetime Job Placement. VA Benefits Eligible!

1.866.362.6497 DRIVER TRAINEES Paid CDL Training! Stevens Transport will cover all costs! No Experience Needed! Earn $800 per week!

Local CDL Training!

1.888.748.4137 drive4stevens.com $1000 WEEKLY!!

Mailing Brochures From Home.

Helping home workers since 2001.

Genuine Opportunity. NO Experience Required. Start Immediately. www.MailingMembers.com SAPA

www.smokymountainnews.com

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

AVIATION GRADS Work With Jetblue, Boeing, Delta, And Others- Start Here With Hands-On Training For FAA Certification. Financial Aid If Qualified.

Call Aviation Institute Of Maintenance 1.866.724.5403 SAPA

EMPLOYMENT FTCC Fayetteville Technical Community College is now accepting applications for the following positions: Computer Information Technology Instructor. Paramedic InstructorContinuing Education. Automotive Systems Technology Instructor.

Programmer/Analyst. Grant Writer.

Health & Physical Education Instructor. For detailed information and to apply, please visit our employment portal at: https://faytechcc.peopleadmin.com/. Human Resources Office. Phone: 910.678.8378 Internet: http://www.faytechcc.edu. EOE REAL ESTATE - SALES Seeking a Self-Motivated Sales Professional for In-House Timeshare Sales at an Established Resort in Maggie Valley, NC. We are a Timeshare Management Company with a Great Reputation and Over 30 yrs. exp. Flexible Hours, Great Pay and Minimal Supervision if You Have What it Takes to be the Best.

NC Real Estate License Required.

Please email your resume to: pnimphius@spmresorts.com

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

REAL ESTATE - SALES Broker in Charge Required for Established Management Company Operating in Maggie Valley, NC. Candidate Should Possess NC Broker License and be Broker in Charge Eligible. Please Email Your Resume to: pnimphius@spmresorts.com IN-HOME AIDE - HAYWOOD CO. Candidates must have a High School Diploma/GED, Valid NC Driver’s License, Transportation, Effective Oral Communication & Listening Skills, and Legible Hand Writing Skills. Flexible Hours M-F, up to 29 Hrs. per Week. Duties include assisting elderly in their home w/ light Housekeeping and errands. Some Benefits Apply. Applications will be taken at Mountain Projects, Inc. 2251 Old Balsam Rd., Waynesville or 25 Schulman St., Sylva or You may go to our website: www.mountainprojects.org EOE/AA NEED MEDICAL BILLING TRAINEES! Doctors & Hospitals need Medical Office Staff! No Experienced Needed! Online Training gets you job ready! HS Diploma/GED & Computer needed. Careertechnical.edu/nc.

1.888.512.7122 DRIVER TRAINEES Paid CDL Training! Stevens Transport will cover all costs! No Experience Needed! Earn $800 per week!

Local CDL Training!

1.888.748.4137 drive4stevens.com

MARIE - A MIXED BREED DOG ABOUT 7 MONTHS OLD, WEIGHING A WHOPPING 11 LBS. SHE IS SO SWEET AND CUTE, SHE'LL BE A DELIGHTFUL FAMILY COMPANION OR BEST FRIEND TO A SINGLE PERSON. SHE HAS A BROTHER TOO, NAMED DONNIE, SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO ADOPT A PAIR OF PUPS, HERE'S YOUR CHANCE! MARIO BATALI - AN ADORABLE TUXEDO KITTEN ABOUT 9 WEEKS OLD. HE IS VERY FRIENDLY AND CUTE, AND VERY PLAYFUL AND ENERGETIC. HE'LL PROVIDE A LOT OF ENTERTAINMENT AND LAUGHS FOR HIS ADOPTED FAMILY! HE ALSO HAS A SISTER, JULIA CHILD, IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO ADOPT A PAIR OF KITTENS.

MONEY FOR SCHOOL Potentially get full tuition & great career with U.S. Navy. Paid training, medical/dental, vacation. HS grads ages 17-34. Call Mon-Fri Call Now for more information 800.662.7419.

SAPA

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

SAPA SELL YOUR STRUCTURED Settlement or annuity payments for CASH NOW. You don't have to wait for your future payments any longer! Call 1.800.316.0271.

SOCIAL SECURITY Disability Benefits. Unable to work? Denied benefits? We Can Help! WIN or Pay Nothing! Contact Bill Gordon & Associates at 1.800.670.4805 to start your application today! SAPA

FURNITURE COMPARE QUALITY & PRICE Shop Tupelo’s, 828.926.8778.

HAYWOOD BEDDING, INC. The best bedding at the best price!

533 Hazelwood Ave. Waynesville 828.456.4240

PETS HAYWOOD SPAY/NEUTER 828.452.1329

IMMEDIATE OPENINGS NOW! Home Every Week. Excellent Pay w/Benefits, 100% No Touch Freight, 75% Drop & Hook. Class A CDL w/1 Yr. Exp. Req. Call Today Call 888.219.8039.

WANT TO FLATBED? Call us! - Free Healthcare! Hiring Class A CDL Drivers for Regional & OTR. Pay starting at 40cpm. Call 864.649.2063 or visit drive4jgr.com EOE. WEEKLY HOME TIME For SE Regional! Earn up to $0.45 CPM w/bonuses. Plus $2500 Sign On Bonus! Call 888.408.5275 or SuperServiceLLC.com

BLUE RIDGE MTNS NCViews, views, views! New 1,300 sf.

2bed/2bath cabin features loft, pict. windows, large stone fpl, huge deck. $154,900.

828.286.2981.

LEASE TO OWN 1/2 Acre Lots with Mobile Homes & Empty 1/2 Acre + Lots!

Located Next to Cherokee Indian Reservation, 2.5 Miles from Harrah’s Cherokee Casino.

For More Information Please Call 828.506.0578

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

RUN YOUR CLASSIFIED In 100 North Carolina newspapers for only $375 for a 25-word ad.

Call this newspaper or 919.516.8009 for details.

ROOMMATE WANTED NICE PLACE TO STAY Looking for a live-in, To do light housework. Compensation of Room/Board. 2/BR in a nice neighborhood. For more info call Donnie at 706.335.6496.

NICOL ARMS APARTMENTS Offering 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments, Starting at $400

Prevent Unwanted Litters!

The Heat Is On! Spay/Neuter For Haywood Pets As Low As $10.

Operation Pit is in Effect!

Free Spay/Neuter, Microchip & Vaccines For Haywood Pitbull Types & Mixes!

Hours:

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

jsmith201@kw.com 320-70

52

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

67 ACRES OFF PRESSLEY CREEK IN CULLOWHEE NEAR WCU. Includes 2/BR 2/BA, 1600 sq. ft. house, workshop & garage.

Property borders Forest Service and offers long range views to the Parkway. Good road system in, several potential additional house sites, very private, good potential family compound, ideal for conservation easement.

Reduced to $345,500 Details at: www.918gapbranch.com or Call 828.586.0165

Section 8 Accepted - Handicapped Accessible Units When Available

828-734-8765

Office: 828-926-5155 kellerwilliamswaynesville.com 214-64

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCEMENT

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

Jerry Smith

434 Russ Ave. • Waynesville

REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCEMENT

OFFICE HOURS: Tues. & Wed. 10:00am - 5:00pm & Thurs. 10:00am- 12:00pm 168 E. Nicol Arms Road Sylva, NC 28779

Phone# 1.828.586.3346 TDD# 1.800.725.2962 Equal Housing Opportunity

OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK

Haywood Bedding, Inc. Sleep & Seat Shop

www.haywoodbedding.com 320-27

EXIT 100 ON THE BYPASS

533 HAZELWOOD AVE. • WAYNESVILLE

EXECUTIVE LONGTERM RENTALS

STORAGE SPACE FOR RENT GREAT SMOKIES STORAGE Conveniently located off 19/23

by Thad Woods Auction. Available for lease now: 10’x10’ units for $55, 20’x20’ units for $160.

Get one month FREE with 12 month contract. Call 828.507.8828 or 828.506.4112 for more info.

CLIMATE CONTROLLED STORAGE FOR YOU

828.734.6500, 828.734.6700 maggievalleyselfstorage.com

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

www.sunburstrealty.com/amy-spivey

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Lifestyle Properties — vistasofwestfield.com Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices • Margie MacDonald - margie@4smokys.com

Beverly Hanks & Associates

Commitment, consistency, results.

Carolyn Lauter Broker/ABR 1986 SOCO ROAD, HWY 19 • MAGGIE VALLEY, NC 28751

828.734.4822 Cell • www.carolynlauter.com carolyn.lauter@realtyworldheritage.com

320-01

• • • • • • •

beverly-hanks.com Michelle McElroy - MichelleMcElroy@beverly-hanks.com Marilynn Obrig - MarilynnObrig@beverly-hanks.com Mike Stamey - MikeStamey@beverly-hanks.com Ellen Sither - EllenSither@beverly-hanks.com Brooke Parrott - BrookeParrott@beverly-hanks.com Randy Flanigan - RandyFlanigan@beverly-hanks.com Pamela Williams - PamelaWilliams@beverly-hanks.com

Emerson Group • George Escaravage — gke333@gmail.com

ERA Sunburst Realty — sunburstrealty.com • Amy Spivey — sunburstrealty.com

MEDICAL A PLACE FOR MOM. The nation’s largest senior living referral service. Contact our trusted, local experts today! Our service is FREE/no obligation. CALL 1.800.319.8705 SAPA

Haywood Properties — haywoodproperties.com • Steve Cox — info@haywoodproperties.com

ACORN STAIRLIFTS. The Affordable Solution to your stairs! **Limited time -$250 Off Your Stairlift Purchase! **Buy Direct & SAVE. Please call 1.800.211.9233 for FREE DVD and brochure. SAPA

Lakeshore Realty

GOT KNEE PAIN? Back Pain? Shoulder Pain? Get a pain-relieving brace at little or NO cost to you. Medicare Patients Call Health Hotline Now! 1.800.480.7503 SAPA HEALTH INSURANCE IS REQUIRED. You might be paying too much.

It’s time to stop wasting money.

Get great coverage for less. Call today 888.679.2426 SAPA LIFE ALERT. 24/7.

One press of a button sends help Fast! Medical, Fire, Burglar. Even if you can't reach a phone! Free Brochure. Call 800.316.0745.

STOP OVERPAYING For your prescriptions! Save up to 93%! Call our licensed Canadian and International pharmacy service to compare prices and get $15.00 off your first prescription and FREE Shipping.

1.800.265.0768 SAPA VIAGRA & CIALIS USERS! Cut your drug costs! SAVE $$! 50 Pills for $99.00. FREE Shipping!

100% Guaranteed and Discreet.

CALL 1.800.290.0314 SAPA

Keller Williams Realty kellerwilliamswaynesville.com • Sam Hopkins — samhopkins.kwrealty.com • Phyllis Robinson - lakeshore@lakejunaluska.com

Mountain Home Properties

Committed to Exceeding Expectations

Marilynn Obrig

Residential Broker Associate

(828) 550-2810

mobrig@Beverly-Hanks.com

www.Beverly-Hanks.com

mountaindream.com • Sammie Powell — smokiesproperty.com

McGovern Real Estate & Property Management • Bruce McGovern — shamrock13.com

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

RE/MAX — Mountain Realty

MOUNTAIN REALTY Steve D. Mauldin smauldin61@charter.net

828.734.4864 MOUNTAIN REALTY

• • • • • • •

remax-waynesvillenc.com | remax-maggievalleync.com Brian K. Noland — brianknoland.com Mieko Thomson — ncsmokies.com The Morris Team — maggievalleyproperty.com The Real Team — the-real-team.com Ron Breese — ronbreese.com Dan Womack — womackdan@aol.com Catherine Proben — cp@catherineproben.com

26 North Main Street Waynesville, NC 28785

The Seller’s Agency — listwithphil.com

828.564.9393

• Phil Ferguson — philferguson@bellsouth.net

sMauldin.REMAXagent.com

find us at: facebook.com/smnews

smokymountainnews.com

1 Month Free with 12 Month Rental. Maggie Valley, Hwy. 19, 1106 Soco Rd. For more information call Torry

CHAMPION SUPPLY Janitorial supplies. Professional cleaning products, vacuums, janitorial paper products, swimming pool chemicals, environmentally friendly chemicals, indoor & outdoor light bulbs, odor elimination products, equipment repair including household vacuums. Free delivery across WNC. www.championsupply.com 800.222.0581, 828.225.1075.

828.506.7137

aspivey@sunburstrealty.com

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT Approx. 450 sq. ft., Kitchenette with Microwave, Sink and Undercounter Fridge. 2 Seperate areas for 2 Offices and a Storage Room in Back. All Heat, AC & Util. are Included at $695/mo. High Traffic Area at 850 N. Main St. Waynesville. Contact Sharon 828.421.8812

BORING/CARPENTER BEE TRAPS No Chemicals, Poisons or Anything to Harm the Environment.

Handmade in Haywood County. 1 for $20, 2 or More for $15 each.

828.593.8321

Haywood County Real Estate Agents

147 WALNUT STREET • WAYNESVILLE

WNC MarketPlace

COMM. PROP. FOR RENT

FOR SALE

SFR, ECO, GREEN

320-05

PROPERTY RENTAL ON CASCADING CREEK Sophisticated and distinctive in its beauty, this 3/BR, 3.5/BA Lodge Styled Home creates a new experience with every open door.

Surrounded by the luscious mountain range that gives the Great Smoky Mountains it’s name, its hard not to feel at home. Newly custom reconstruction embraces the authentic feel that the handmade furnishings

by High Country Furniture gives.

Accompanied with a full finished basement-turned pool room, the possibilities are endless in this ideal mountain vacation home.

Less than 8 min. to I-40. $1,850 per month plus utilities.

Also Available for Sale!

Motivated Seller Reduced Price of $379,000, Taking Offers.

Fully Furnished. For more info 865.603.8167

PLANTS/SHRUBS SPRUCE CHRISTMAS TREES From 4’ to 15’, $12 each - you cut/dig. ALSO Landscaping Plants: Box Woods, Arborvitae, Maple & Kousa Dogwood. Farm located south of Franklin, 441 to Addington Bridge Rd., to Middle Skeenah Rd., to Whispering Meadows Rd. Call Doyle Chambers 828.884.4584 in Brevard for more info.

TO ADVERTISE IN THE NEXT ISSUE 828.452.4251 | ads@smokymountainnews.com 53

www.smokymountainnews.com

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015

WNC MarketPlace

Super

54

CROSSWORD

70 “— ask is that ...”

72 Laryngitic pigeon’s comment?

ACROSS 75 Positive 1 Start for legal or chute 76 Sir Walter Scott novel 5 Dame Nellie of opera 10 Dems’ rival political gp. 78 Muhammad and Laila of the ring 13 B flat’s equivalent 79 — cava 19 Portent 81 Soldier of Seoul 20 Diarist Nin 21 “No —, ands or buts!” 82 Situation when a fuel gauge is at 50%?

22 Person ogling 84 Balking beast 23 Escorted one’s rival?

85 “Oro y —” (motto of 26 Lemon-lime soft drink Montana) 27 Wipe the slate clean 87 Prefix with cyclist 28 Stand in an art studio 88 Got old due to excess 29 Saint — (Caribbean 90 “— always say ...” island) 91 Address for a lady 31 Ending for dull or 94 1976-81 sketch show drunk 95 Watch over a 787?

32 Border 101 As a group 33 Dress in Goa 104 One making an 35 Weekend time spent attempt with pals?

38 Luau strings, for short 106 Tech caller 107 Walk with no lights 40 Large, red apple varion? ety 110 Tax doc. whizzes 43 “Be quiet!”

44 Actors in a film featur- 112 Plains tribe 113 Mouthwash bottle ing church ministers? abbr.

46 Position 114 Did autumn yard work 49 Ticked (off) 115 Peter & Gordon’s “— 50 “— takers?”

Pieces” 51 Nasal partition 118 Loft 53 Moray, say 120 Species-crossing 55 One-named flamenco 122 Things that a drumentertainer playing lush has?

58 Rowdydow 125 Like sweethearts 60 Cry to comic Sales 126 Stooge name when he’s losing his grip?

127 Like many shiny 65 With 66-Across, floors drudge’s routine 128 Impressionist 66 See 65-Across 129 Seesaw 68 Army post 130 Quit delaying 69 More audacious L-IMINATION

“There’s — in My Soup!”

59 Narc hirer 61 Clarinets’ kin 62 “Star Trek” lieutenant DOWN 63 Politico Ross 1 Turn on, as a PC 64 California city on I-5 2 Unfinished Kafka novel 67 Garlic mayo 3 Dubs differently 68 Toppled 4 Picnic pests 71 Barbaric 5 — tai 73 Bank safe 6 — -coated tablet 74 Rite Aid rival 7 Tourist town on Maui 77 — Solo 8 Small pieces 80 Lhasa — 9 Tennis great Arthur 83 TV watchdog 10 JPEG alternative 84 1998 Sarah McLachlan 11 Long past song 12 False: Prefix 86 Stead 13 Town in central Italy 89 911 gp.

14 Capital of Minnesota 90 “— -Ca-Dabra” (1974 15 Laugh sound 16 Daughter of King Minos song) 91 Blockbuster 17 Outline again 92 Pain reliever 18 Chemically colored in 93 Genial advance 94 Try to find 24 Actor Studi 96 Big Apple cab words 25 Exile isle 97 Testified under oath, 30 Saclike body growth old-style 34 Out of whack 98 Uranium 235, for one 36 Parvenus 99 Web habitue 37 Bottom-line red ink 100 Food store 39 With 57-Down, map 102 Try hard book for an astronomer 41 Old filling station name 103 Parasol, e.g.

105 Short parody 42 Beatified Fr. woman 108 Skin: Prefix 45 — about (roughly) 109 — committee 47 — del Este, Uruguay 111 Religious day of rest: 48 Texter’s “Holy cow!”

Abbr.

52 In a fake way 53 2001 bankruptcy com- 116 41st U.S. pres.

117 Actor Epps pany 119 Frog cousin 54 Juan’s “that” 121 Go to seed 55 Jenny — 123 To this point 56 Turkish confection 124 34th U.S. pres.

57 See 39-Down 58 Emeril Lagasse’s 131 Veil wearer 132 Contradict

answers on page 50

PERSONAL A LOVING, HANDS ON, Childless couple seeks to adopt.

Warm, laughter filled home. Financial security, Expenses PAID. Judi & Jamie at 1.888.492.6077 SAPA A UNIQUE ADOPTIONS, Let Us Help! Personalized Adoption Plans. Financial Assistance, Housing, Relocation And More. Giving The Gift Of Life? You Deserve The Best. Call Us First!

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SAPA ARE YOU PREGNANT? A single professional woman seeks to adopt. Will be hands-on mom with financial security. Let’s help each other. Expenses paid Text/Call Kim & Adam 1.800.790.5260 SAPA MAKE A CONNECTION. Real People, Flirty Chat. Meet singles right now! Call LiveLinks. Try it FREE. Call now 1.888.909.9978 18+. SAPA STRUGGLING WITH DRUGS Or Alcohol? Addicted to Pills? Talk to someone who cares. Call The Addiction Hope & Help Line for a free Assessment. 800.511.6075

SCHOOLS/ INSTRUCTION EARN YOUR High School Diploma at home in a few short weeks. Work at your own pace. First Coast Academy. Nationally accredited. Call for free brochure. 1.800.658.1180, extension 82. www.fcahighschool.org SAPA

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WEEKLY SUDOKU Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.

Answers on Page 50

The naturalist’s corner

BY DON H ENDERSHOT

Half a hunert There’s nothing I like better than mixing pleasure with pleasure.

Last weekend, I got to spend three wonderful nights in a 12-by-24-foot cabin on the banks of the Ouachita River in northeast Louisiana near where I grew up. The cabin is a joint venture between one dear old friend I reconnected with a few years back and one dear new friend that I met a few years back.

Gil White and I grew up in Mer Rouge, Louisiana, and attended school together from grades one through 12. I reconnected with Gil when I began trekking over to Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge for the Great Backyard Bird Count. And that’s about the same time I met Burg Ransom.

Burg is an outstanding nature photographer and spends much of his time at BBLNWR, which is conveniently right in his backyard.

And the cabin is located about 15 to 20 minutes from the refuge.

Burg and Gil have a group of friends, local and from across the Southeast, and they converge at the cabin each spring and fall for a camp cookout. They have been gracious enough to offer me a standing invitation for these soirees and I attend when I

can, plus they are kind enough to offer the cabin on those years I can make it to BBLNWR for the GBBC. This past weekend was the fall cookout. It’s hard to imagine a more enjoyable evening than good friends, good food, a campfire, a couple of great horned owls, a smattering of coyotes and a couple of flights of snow geese thrown in for good measure.

Then to top it off I got to slip away to the refuge for a few hours Sunday. Not really prime time for birding — I was there from around 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. But I wound up with 52 species, which I was quite happy with. I am always happy to be somewhere I can find warblers (other than yellowrumped) and vireos this time of year. Last Sunday, along with yellow-rumps, I had pine warbler, orange-crowned warbler and common yellowthroat. The common yellowthroat and a couple of the pine warblers were in pretty bright plumage. I also found a couple of blue-headed vireos in nice plumage.

I got really great looks at a couple of raptors. At different times, I had a mature redshouldered hawk and a mature Cooper’s hawk perched within 50 feet of me. I actually walked under the red-shouldered on the

Ransom-White Chateau & Spa on the Ouachita River. Don Hendershot photo trail and it never flew. There were lots of hermit thrushes to look at and at one time I was nearly bowled over by a mixed flock of rubycrowned and golden-crowned kinglets plus Carolina chickadees and tufted titmice.

It was a good day for woodpeckers despite not seeing or hearing a single pileated. I ticked all the other common ones off including hairy, downy, red-bellied, yellowbellied sapsucker and yellow-shafted flicker.

Sparrows were so-so. I recorded white-

throated, song, chipping and swamp. I didn’t see any field sparrows or fox sparrows at the refuge despite the fact they were both common at the cabin.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed for another cross-country jaunt in February for the GBBC, but for now, the wood stove is crackling, it’s dark outside and I’m anticipating owls and coyotes again.

(Don Hendershot is a writer and naturalist. He can be reached a ddihen1@bellsouth.net.)

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015 Smoky Mountain News 55

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Smoky Mountain News Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2015